Lou Ferrigno, Jeff Goldblum and Elijah Wood Oh My!

by Christina Rowsell

@RadioChristina

The 13th Annual Calgary Comic & Entertainment Expo returns to Calgary April 26-29 at Stampede Park. It's your chance to "geek-out" and get your comic fix. Comics, gaming, horror, fantasy, sci-fi and more! 

There's an impressive line up of stars this year too including Elijah Wood, Jeff Goldblum, Jason Momoa, Anthony Daniels, Megan Follows, Lou Ferrigno and creators Jim Lee, Jae Lee and Rob Liefeld. Plus, see all your favourite characters with the POW! Parade of Wonders on Friday starting at 10:30 a.m. on Stephen Avenue through to Olympic Plaza with Mayor Nenshi as the honorary parade marshall. 

The stars come out to shine on Saturday with Megan Follows at 1:00 p.m., Jeff Goldblum at 5:00 p.m. wrapping up with the Kids Costume showcase at 6:30 p.m. and Master of Cosplay Contest - Western Qualifier at 7:00 p.m.  On Sunday, April 29 Elijah Wood, best known for his role as Frodo Baggins in The Lord of the Rings, will be at the Corral at 11:00 a.m.

Lou Ferrigno Calgary Comic Expo with Christina Rowsell

I had the chance to talk to the original Incredible Hulk, Lou Ferrigno. At 66 he looks incredible saying that, "Pumping iron is a passion of mine." Not only does he look amazing on the outside, he has a huge heart on the inside. He talked to me about why he loves the Comic Expo, "As a child I never had the chance to attend (something like the Comic Expo) - I would have loved to have met a celebrity for support and for confidence. When I see a child and give them a pat on the back they see what I've accomplished it gives them confidence in their lives." Ferrigno explains that he went through challenges as a child through his hearing loss, and this is one way he can give back and give kids the confidence they need to see potential in themselves. 

Lou Ferrigno White Hat Calgary April 2019

On Wednesday April 25, 2019 Lou Ferrigno received the honorary White Hat in Calgary! Well deserved! Thank you for visiting our city and loving who we are! 

Outside of the Calgary Comic & Entertainment Expo, Ferrigno is busy working on a new series called Pumped. He explains that it's like Celebrity Apprentice, except with athletes. It'll air on Discovery early 2019. 

You can listen to my interview with the original Incredible Hulk HERE. To see Lou Ferrigno and the other amazing stars and characters at the Expo visit www.calgaryexpo.com.

Follow @RadioChristina

Christina Rowsell - 
Radio Announcer, Blogger, Photographer, Voice Actor, Mother, Wife, Sister, Daughter and... part time cook (only when she has time - in between driving to the hockey rink, lacrosse and volunteering...)

The Brighter Side Blog is a blog that shares Good News, Great Ideas & Amazing People. If you have a story to share, feel free to contact Christina. Subscribe YouTube Here, Follow on Twitter @RadioChristina, @BrighterSideyyc and LIKE on Facebook ChristinaRowsellMedia and TheBrighterSideyyc. www.christinarowsell.com and SoundCloud https://soundcloud.com/christina-rowsell.

Additionally, Christina and her husband Chad are working on a documentary about Lyme Disease in Alberta called The Tiny Tick. 

Interview with Greta Podleski Yum & Yummer

by Christina Rowsell
@RadioChristina

Yum & Yummer Greta Podleski

Come 4:30pm my kids are asking, "Mom, what's for dinner?" Only to hear me sigh and moan. Sometimes coming up with dinner ideas is the tough part. The other tough part is following recipes. Unless you have a cookbook that has a photo and how-to video for every recipe.

That's what you'll get with Yum & Yummer by Greta Podleski. She says her book has, "Ridiculously tasty recipes that'll blow your mind, not your diet!" I love it. I've already dog-eared the Fabulous Fish Tacos with mango salsa and zesty lime may on page 136. Best part I scan with my iphone/ipad camera and it goes directly to the video link and BINGO, Greta is right there in the kitchen with me!

I had the chance to talk to Greta about her book Yum & Yummer. She's a five-time #1 bestselling cookbook author and this is her first cookbook to include stunning food photos plus how-to videos for every single recipe. Best part is the videos are one minute and they play for you right in your own kitchen! What I love about this book is Greta tells me that 80% of the recipes in this book are gluten-free. This cookbook is right on trend with gluten-free, dairy-free and vegan options, as well as good ol' fashion comforts foods with a healthy twist and "splurge-worthy" treats.

What I loved in our conversation was when I asked her who her testers are. You'll have to listen to the interview to find out. All I can say is Greta now has free snow-plowing for the rest of her life! Plus, you'll find out if she can eat out like the rest of us and enjoy her meal at a restaurant... or is she a critique? Best part was when I found out what her guilty pleasure is! She's a girl after my own heart!

You can get a copy of Yum & Yummer at Costco, Chapters/Indigo, Walmart, Shoppers Drug Mar, independent booksellers and online at www.amazon.ca or www.chaptersindigo.ca.

Listen to my interview with Greta Podleski HERE.

 

Looking for a #recipe! Look no further than Yum & Yummer #cookbook by @GretaPodleski She's a girl after my own heart with her guilty pleasure! How-to videos for EVERY recipe! Listen the interview with @RadioChristina here! https://t.co/JpqJ429PWt https://t.co/mXpIKX2w53.

Follow @RadioChristina

Christina Rowsell - Radio Announcer, Blogger, Photographer, Voice Actor, Mother, Wife, Sister, Daughter and... part time cook (only when she has time - in between driving to the hockey rink, lacrosse and volunteering...)

The Brighter Side Blog is a blog that shares Good News, Great Ideas & Amazing People. If you have a story to share, feel free to contact Christina. Subscribe YouTube Here, Follow on Twitter @RadioChristina, @BrighterSideyyc and LIKE on Facebook ChristinaRowsellMedia and TheBrighterSideyyc. www.christinarowsell.com and SoundCloud https://soundcloud.com/christina-rowsell.

Additionally, Christina and her husband Chad are working on a documentary about Lyme Disease in Alberta called The Tiny Tick. 

Calgary Charity Shout Out

by Christina Rowsell

@RadioChristina

Image 123RF

After the terrible and tragic bus accident, the Humboldt Bronco GoFundMe campaign exploded world wide. It began with a goal of raising $5,000 to help the families with their costs. In just over 12 days it raised $15 million. This was the second largest GoFundMe to the nearly $21.5 million raised by Time's Up Legal Defence Fund.

This story took the world by storm. Media around the world talked about it. Honestly, it really hit me hard when I had to talk about it on-air. I'm a mom of two boys who play hockey and I just felt the pain, as did everyone else. 

In honour of raising funds to help people I asked my listeners to text or call me with information on the charitable organizations that are near and dear to their heart. And boy, did they deliver. So I wanted to share other organizations that are in need of support.

Here are a couple of organizations I belong to - www.100WomenCalgary.com and www.100kidscalagry.com. Plus there's https://www.facebook.com/100mencalgary/ and http://www.100mencochrane.com/

Homes For Heroes - They help house Canada's homeless or at-risk Veterans. David Howard, co-founder and president of Homes For Heroes said in an interview with Postmedia that they are confident thy can end the homeless issue facing our veterans within a 10-year period. Homes for Heroes is in the process of building tiny homes for Veterans in Bridgeland. A second village is in the works as well in Edmonton. Howard concluded his interview by saying, "They put their life on the line for us, we have to be there for them." Visit www.homesforheroesfoundation.ca. 

Calgary Charity Shout Out via soft rock 97.7 text:

I would love to tell you about Eagle's Nest Stoney Family Shelter in Morley. They are a small but mighty organization serving on average 176 women and 160 children each year. You can find more info on their website www.eaglesnestshelter.ca. People will have to call to donate but it is well worth it. They are trying to raise funds so that women who come to the shelter are able to get new underwear and bras. It's hard to imagine but true that many come to the shelter not owning these items!!! Thank you so very much for doing this today!!! You hit the nail right on the head when you say so many organizations just need to get the word out. I can't say thank you enough! Lee-Ann Baines from Calgary

Calgary Seniors Resource Society- Escorted Transportation Program helps low income and isolated seniors get to their medical appointments. We desperately need volunteers, we have hundreds of seniors in Calgary waiting to have access to our program but right now we are at capacity until we can recruit more volunteers. Google us and volunteers can call or apply through or website. Thank you so much!! Emma Rudolf Program Coordinator www.calgaryseniors.org/services-and-programs

As a 17 year Cancer Survivor and this type of help unavailable at that time I am a big supporter of this local organization. Wellspring Calgary supporting people living with Cancer and those that support them. Alma Taylor - https://wellspringcalgary.ca/

Handsome Alice Theatre - A charitable organization that is devoted to unleashing female, trans and non-binary voices through the arts. www.handsomealicetheatre.com Thanks! Meg

https://connectsociety.org/ Or the the deaf and hard of hearing - Michelle, Calgary

Thanks for the opportunity to share! REAP Business Association promotes local companies that benefit people and planet. Their website is www.Belocal.org.

The Ball is Round Society. We are a non profit that delivers soccer balls to children in underprivileged countries to create social change through sport! We have delivered over 300 soccer balls to over 30 countries! Www.theballisround.ca The Ball is Round Society. We are a non profit that delivers soccer balls to children in underprivileged countries to create social change through sport! We have delivered over 300 soccer balls to over 30 countries! Www.theballisround.ca

Alpha chapter of international women's organization Beta Sigma Phi is hosting a screening of Bridesmaids movie night at the Globe theatre downtown on Thursday, May 10th in support infertility awareness. Prizes, trivia, raffle, henna, bar and much more. Visit our Facebook page Alpha's movie night for tickets or more info. Thank you! Amber

https://thehappybirthdayproject.org This is a charity my bff started. It provides birthday parties to kids in shelters where families can't provide one themselves. This is heartbreakingly some of these kids first ever party. Michelle New Brighton

Meals on wheels! They can always use donations but they really need volunteers. I have been delivering for over 10 years and get such a good feeling every day I deliver. Kathy - https://mealsonwheels.com/

Follow @RadioChristina

Christina Rowsell - Radio Announcer, Blogger, Photographer, Mother, Wife, Sister, Daughter and... part time cook (only when she has time - in between driving to the hockey rink, lacrosse and volunteering...)

The Brighter Side Blog is a blog that shares Good News, Great Ideas & Amazing People. If you have a story to share, feel free to contact Christina. Subscribe YouTube Here, Follow on Twitter @RadioChristina, @BrighterSideyyc and LIKE on Facebook ChristinaRowsellMedia and TheBrighterSideyyc. www.christinarowsell.com and SoundCloud https://soundcloud.com/christina-rowsell.

Additionally, Christina and her husband Chad are working on a documentary about Lyme Disease in Alberta called The Tiny Tick. 

BeatDrop Music DJ Producing Summer Camps

by Christina Rowsell
@RadioChristina

Now, I know I'm dating myself by saying this, but growing up we had a collection of 45's, 8 tracks and cassettes. However, when I got into radio in 1991 we were still using reel-to-reel. NOW that is dating back.

Today, music is distributed for the masses via the internet and digitally reconstructed. Playing in a band out of your garage isn't passé, but you don't need a garage anymore, just Garage Band. It may look complicated, but for my 10-year-old son, he seems to have obtained an interest in electronic house music. So, how was I - a mother who is NOT musically inclined - going to teach him that? Yes, I'm a radio host, but I'm not a musician. That's when I found BeatDrop! They offer classes and summer camps for kids as young as eight-years-old!

Mitch Lee is the owner of BeatDrop and explains what they offer, "BeatDrop is a music production and DJ school. We have courses, classes and workshops for people who are wanting to learn how to make music and DJ."

Hudson Smith DJ

I was interested in learning more about their summer camps after my son took an introduction class in Ableton Live. Summer camps are for kids ages 8-11 and 12-16. The summer camps are a "mash-up" of everything BeatDrop offers from producing music, how sounds are made and how to arrange sound and create music. Plus, there are fun scavenger hunts to record sounds which they include in their music. Additionally the kids learn how it all works on the computer. Then they get a chance to DJ. They take hit songs and songs they like and learn how to mix in between the two and mix from song to song in a seamless way. The kids will use turntables and vinyl and go "old school" and teach them the fundamentals of what a DJ actually does. They get a mix of producing music and DJ'ing throughout the summer camp.

Although my son was interested in the classes, I wondered if he needed to be musically inclined. My son didn't have any experience with music like playing the piano. Lee explains, "We start at ground zero. If they have an interest and a passion - we handle all the rest. We have all the equipment to get them started. They just need to bring headphones."

Have a listen to my conversation with Mitch Lee from BeatDrop HERE to learn more.

To learn more about their summer camps visit http://beatdrop.ca/summer-camp/.

Other cool camp ideas:
Magic Camp with Brent Smith from www.vanishingrabbit.com
Reptile Camp with Jason Clevett from http://www.calgaryreptileparties.com/.

Follow @RadioChristina

Christina Rowsell - Radio Announcer, Blogger, Photographer, Mother, Wife, Sister, Daughter and... part time cook (only when she has time - in between driving to the hockey rink, lacrosse and volunteering...)

The Brighter Side Blog is a blog that shares Good News, Great Ideas & Amazing People. If you have a story to share, feel free to contact Christina. Subscribe YouTube Here, Follow on Twitter @RadioChristina, @BrighterSideyyc and LIKE on Facebook ChristinaRowsellMedia and TheBrighterSideyyc. www.christinarowsell.com and SoundCloud https://soundcloud.com/christina-rowsell.

Additionally, Christina and her husband Chad are working on a documentary about Lyme Disease in Alberta called The Tiny Tick. 

Calgary Reptile Party Summer Camp

by Christina Rowsell
@RadioChristina

www.calgaryreptileparties.com

My eight-year-old son has been asking me since he was four if he could get a pet lizard. Naturally, my answer was always, "No." Now I grew up with brothers and they always tried to scare me with snakes, lizards, frogs and worms. I never really had an issue with the lizard or the frogs or the worms for that matter, but ugh, I still struggle with the snakes. Not that I hate them - as I squint my nose up- I'm just not a fan of touching them.

Frogs were my favourite. Growing up in the West Kootenay's we had a ton of tadpoles. And I actually liked watching them evolve. But I still didn't want one as a pet. To be honest, I prefer fur and four legs. I had dogs growing up and plenty of cats. But to have a reptile as a pet wasn't really my favourite.

As for my son, he's always loved dinosaurs, lizards and snakes. So for his 6th birthday I researched Calgary Reptile Parties. I was told about them with glowing reviews from my friend Ellen from Calgary's Child Magazine. Jason Clevett with Reptile Parties Inc., has been teaching people about the proper care and maintenance of reptile education for 10 years. With birthday parties, events, school talks and summer camps I knew I found the right place for my reptile loving son.

What I loveed was the passion of owner Jason Clevett. Since he was a kid, just like my own son, Clevett has had a passion for reptiles an amphibians. He's also volunteered as an assistant gorilla keeper at the Calgary Zoo, traveled to different zoos, nature centres and aquariums to learn more from others in the field. He was also a board member and executive member of The Alberta Reptile and Amphibian Society from 2007-2013, including President in 2010.

www.calgaryreptileparties.com

My son will be back again for the summer camp. So much fun for these kids that are structured to appeal to different age groups. The kids meet up close cold-blooded animals like bearded dragons, amazing frilled dragons, colourful geckos, snakes, tarantulas and scorpions. They may even come face-to-face with an 8ft surinam red-tailed boa constrictor! Perfect for my reptile son to get his reptile fix! (PS - the reptiles go home with Jason - but he does leave the parent with information on how to care for your own reptile pets.)

I had the chance to interview Jason about his summer camps. You can listen to his interview HERE.
To learn more visit www.calgaryreptileparties.com, www.edmontonreptileparties.com and www.canadianreptileencounters.com.

Other cool camp ideas:
Magic Camp with Brent Smith from www.vanishingrabbit.com
BeatDrop Music Production and DJ from Mitch Lee at BeatDrop.

Follow @RadioChristina

Christina Rowsell - Radio Announcer, Blogger, Photographer, Mother, Wife, Sister, Daughter and... part time cook (only when she has time - in between driving to the hockey rink, lacrosse and volunteering...)

The Brighter Side Blog is a blog that shares Good News, Great Ideas & Amazing People. If you have a story to share, feel free to contact Christina. Subscribe YouTube Here, Follow on Twitter @RadioChristina, @BrighterSideyyc and LIKE on Facebook ChristinaRowsellMedia and TheBrighterSideyyc. www.christinarowsell.com and SoundCloud https://soundcloud.com/christina-rowsell.

Additionally, Christina and her husband Chad are working on a documentary about Lyme Disease in Alberta called The Tiny Tick. 

Magic Summer Camp

by Christina Rowsell
@RadioChristina

Summer camps are filling up fast. It's like they're vanishing!! Why not get your kids in a camp they'll remember for a lifetime. Brent Smith from The Vanishing Rabbit Magic Shop offers a Mega Magic Camp.

What a cool idea! When my son was little he so wanted to be a magician. I remember one time when he had a toy car, stuffed it in his sock and said, "Whoa, where did it go?" These camps are open to both boys and girls, children and adults alike! I asked Brent what is the number one trick kids want to know about and he replied, "Card magic."

If you have an aspiring magician in your life, this is the summer camp for him or her. Two camps available for 5-8 and 9-99 at http://www.megamagiccamp.com/. Mega Magic Camp, "Where REAL magicians are made!"

Listen to my interview with Brent here.

Other cool camp ideas:
Reptile Camp with Jason Clevett from http://www.calgaryreptileparties.com/.
DJ and music production camp with Mitch Lee from http://beatdrop.ca/.

Follow @RadioChristina

Christina Rowsell - Radio Announcer, Blogger, Photographer, Mother, Wife, Sister, Daughter and... part time cook (only when she has time - in between driving to the hockey rink, lacrosse and volunteering...)

The Brighter Side Blog is a blog that shares Good News, Great Ideas & Amazing People. If you have a story to share, feel free to contact Christina. Subscribe YouTube Here, Follow on Twitter @RadioChristina, @BrighterSideyyc and LIKE on Facebook ChristinaRowsellMedia and TheBrighterSideyyc. www.christinarowsell.com and SoundCloud https://soundcloud.com/christina-rowsell.

Additionally, Christina and her husband Chad are working on a documentary about Lyme Disease in Alberta called The Tiny Tick.