Put another gold star on Calgary’s list of impressive singer-songwriters.

Reuben Bullock just released his second album Man Made Lakes, recorded in a garage studio with producer Lorrie Matheson. It’s packed with four-part harmonies that swell with emotion and arrangements that push the bounds of the indie folk label.

Bullock’s music is best heard live, but this album is about as a good an imitation of live performance as you are going to get in a digital download.

Cue it up and enjoy a concert for one. —Jaelyn Molyneux

www.reubenbullock.bandcamp.com

Chinese New Year comes in with a roar today kicking off the year of the Dragon in all of its fiery glory. To start the year off right, it is best not to tempt fate and abide by these age-old Chinese superstitions, at least for today.

Put the broom down. If you sweep today you’ll brush away good fortune.

Don’t give anyone a cent. If you lend anything you are setting yourself up to let people borrow from you all year.

While you are at it, don’t swear, talk about death or tell ghost stories.

Pull out the dry shampoo, because you can’t wash your hair today.

Wear red. It’s bright, happy and, you guessed it, lucky.

Be careful who you bump into. The first person you see and the first words you speak set the tone for the year. If you can make it happen, try to see a red bird.

If you are looking for luck, eat kumquats or a chicken with its head on.

Put sharp tools away. Using knives or scissors on New Year’s Day may cut off fortune.

Don’t shed a tear. Cry today and you’ll be crying all year.

No matter what, drag yourself out of bed. Greeting anyone in a bedroom is bad luck. Plus, it’s the Year of the Dragon, get your party dress on and have a good time.

—Jaelyn Molyneux

The magazine that transports us from our couch to far away locations gets a little more real.

From the page to the stage, the Epcor Centre hosts National Geographic Live,  a four-part speaker series that has the explorers behind the famous magazine talking about their discoveries.

The series starts Tuesday, January 17 with underwater photographer Brian Skerry who dives deep to get images of ocean life that include remote waters in the South Pacific and under the iced-over surfaces of Antarctica. As he talks, his pics will be projected on a big screen over the stage of the Jack Singer Concert Hall. The series continues February 2, March 13 and April 25 with a different speaker each evening.

The lecture series lets us be armchair adventurers. —Jaelyn Molyneux

Tickets $19.99 to $49.99. Epcor Centre for the Performing Arts, 205 8 Ave. S.E., Calgary, 403-294-9494, www.epcorcentre.org

Giddy-up Calgary. One Yellow Rabbit’s High Performance Rodeo starts today and goes to the end of the month with its parade of avante garde theatre, music and art shows that will shock and awe and make you glad you got out of the house this chilly January. Here are five performances to look for.

Lucha Vavoom
Masked Mexican wrestlers perform acrobatics in matches that pit good against evil. In between, burlesque performers take to the bullpen.

Taking Shakespeare
One Yellow Rabbit’s original theatre production brings a professor, a student and William Shakespeare together to learn about comedy, tragedy and human understanding.

Site-Specific Spectacular
Join a tour and follow acrobats, dancers and more as they perform on rooftops and in freight elevators around the Calgary Tower and the Epcor Centre.

Limelight
French architect Charles Blanc and British artist Tristan Surtees replace two lights on Olympic Plaza with theatre lights giving passerbys get a chance to step into the light and perform. 

Laurie Anderson
The experimental performance artist takes a turn as artist-in-residence hosting a talk, dinner, multimedia art show and interactive tour of Cantos.

www.hprodeo.ca

As 2011 comes to an end our editors share their New Year's traditions, superstitions and resolutions:

It’s a Greek tradition that finding the hidden coin inside the vasilopita brings good luck and happiness in the coming year. Serano Bakery in Greektown bakes dozens and dozens of the sweet bread. The best part is watching everyone dig through it in the hopes of finding the silver. From $8, Serano Bakery, 830 Pape Ave., Toronto, 416-462-2735, www.seranobakery.com —Athena Tsavliris

There is an old superstition that says luck, love and prosperity will come to those who dance in the open air on New Year’s Day. A group of friends and I plan on performing a jubilant jig on January 1st in the field across from my apartment. I’m going to keep it up and dance through 2012 when the mood strikes especially when no one is watching. — Jaelyn Molyneux, Calgary editor

Since this is my last post as the Montreal Editor, I’d just like to take the opportunity to thank you all for reading and wish you a very happy New Year! Keep exploring Montreal and enjoying all this great city has to offer!  —Jennifer Nachshen, Montreal editor

This blog post, Top Five Regrets of the Dying, really moved me recently. The top regrets included not letting oneself be happier, and not spending enough time with their kids. No one wished they had made more money, or had been more successful. As a result, my New Year’s resolution is not to do ANY more work on Sundays. —Alexandra Suhner Isenberg, Vancouver fashion editor

Thirty cookbooks and counting, and I only cook, um, maybe once a month. That’s not counting quick lunches, but still… embarrassing. My resolution is to prepare one delicious dinner a week, with a little help from my friends Ferran, Thomas, Heston, Tony, Eric, David, Jamie, Julia, Vikram….— Anya Georgijevic, Vancouver beauty editor

Every year, I set goals, write them down and post them above my desk so they can literally hang over my head all year long. Top of my list for 2012? Go whale-watching. —Kelsey Dundon, Vancouver lifestyle editor

My grandparents used to take care of us kids when my parents when out on the town to celebrate New Year's Eve. Every year right before midnight my grandfather would open the back door to "let the old year out" and then open the front door to "let the new year in". For old time's sake and as a little ode to my amazing grandfather I still do this every year. —Kelsey Mulyk, Managing editor

There's nothing better than curling up with a good book, our editors share their favourite reads:

Will Ferguson’s Canadian Pie serves up slice-of-life stories the humour writer has collected throughout his career, all of which confirm we live in a delightfully quirky country. $32 at Shelf Life Books, 100, 1302 Fourth St. S.W., Calgary, 403-265-1033, www.shelflifebooks.ca — Jaelyn Molyneux, Calgary editor

Watership Down is one of my favourite books. My husband read it recently and he was enamoured. It is the beautiful story of a group of rabbits running away to start a new life, and a perfect feel-good-make-me-smile novel. $9.98 at www.amazon.ca —Alexandra Suhner Isenberg, Vancouver fashion editor

For some spine-tingling spookiness pick up Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children ($14.43), peppered with vintage photographs for a multi-sensorial reading experience. At www.amazon.ca —Jennifer Nachshen, Montreal editor

If you read one book over the holidays, let it be Téa Obreht’s debut novel, The Tiger’s Wife. What a beautifully written book from a young author with startling talent. $12.27 at www.amazon.ca —Athena Tsavliris, Toronto editor

Of the several books published on Coco Chanel just this year, Intimate Chanel gives us an unprecedented glimpse into her private life, thanks to Chanel’s grandniece and only living relative, who opened the family archives to the author. Through family photographs, correspondence, gifts from her friends and lovers, the book has a voyeuristic feel, like rummaging through someone’s secret drawers. In this case, it’s “Auntie Coco’s.”  $42.64 at www.amazon.ca — Anya Georgijevic, Vancouver beauty editor

I really loved Jeffrey Eugenides’s last book, Middlesex, so I’m going to spend some quality time with my couch this holiday and power through his just-published tome The Marriage Plot. $24.31 at www.amazon.ca —Kelsey Dundon, Vancouver lifestyle editor

For a seriously good cry nothing beats the tragic romance of The Time Traveler's Wife by Audery Niffenegger. Make sure you have ample Kleenex, a cozy blanket and glass (or bottle?) of red wine while you wallow in the delicious sadness of this beautifully written novel. $15.88 at www.amazon.ca —Kelsey Mulyk, Managing editor

Over the holidays there is nothing quite as indulgent as spending an afternoon watching your favourite movie, our editors share their top picks:

The Future
The Future begins with a thirty-something couple adopting an injured cat and continues through 30 days of questioning mortality, the need for attention and profound loneliness, all told through the poetic mind of writer/director/ star Miranda July. $34.95 at www.amazon.ca —Jaelyn Molyneux, Calgary editor

Lord of the Rings trilogy
The Christmas tradition I look forward to the most is my annual viewing of the Lord of the Rings trilogy. I always opt for the extended version, and it takes me a few days to watch since I usually fall asleep a couple times. There is nothing better than lounging on the sofa watching good looking, burly guys riding horses and saving Middle Earth. $68.99 for the Special Extended Edition Trilogy at www.amazon.ca. —Alexandra Suhner Isenberg, Vancouver fashion editor

Jersey Shore
I’m only slightly ashamed of my addiction to Jersey Shore, but I’ll break open the boxed wine to enjoy the gang’s pre-rehab antics in Italy from Season Four. $19.99 at  www.amazon.ca —Jennifer Nachshen, Montreal editor

Age of Innocence
Martin Scorsese may be best known for his dark, brooding crime dramas, but this adaptation of Edith Wharton's 1920 Pulitzer Prize-winning, melancholy, yet cleverly funny novel about New York's high society is just as complex. “Period drama?” he’ll ask. “It’s Martin Scorsese,” you’ll explain.  $9.49 at www.amazon.ca — Anya Georgijevic, Vancouver beauty editor

Baz Luhrman’s Romeo + Juliet
I can’t wait to grab my girlfriends and reminisce about a time when “Love Fool” was all over the radio, Claire Danes looked all of 14, and Leo was like ohmigod so cute. $16.98 at www.chapters.indigo.ca —Kelsey Dundon, Vancouver lifestyle editor

Bill Cunningham New York
The Christmas holidays can be crazy, but if I finally get to watch the Bill Cunningham doc in a quiet room with leftover turkey and trimmings, I’ll be very chuffed. $23.99 at www.amazon.ca —Athena Tsavliris, Toronto editor

Amélie
This beautiful French film (shot in Paris) takes you along on a quirky love story just perfect for a snowy day. You'll want to practice your French on your sweetie after watching this adorable film.  $15.68 at www.amazon.ca —Kelsey Mulyk, Managing editor

In the years between 2006 and 2011, Calgary boomed big and busted badly. For those five years, the population held on and shifted a little closer to discovering itself. It’s five years that resonated with George Webber and Aritha van Herk.

The photographer and author teamed-up to create book In this Place. Words from van Herk introduce photos from Webber that together share a story of Calgary showcasing both the overlooked and the obvious. Signs with peeling paint, the flash of the Stampede, the unrealized promise of shiny new condos downtown and the personalities of restaurants in the northeast are all represented with nary a Calgary Tower in sight.

The book represents history that we all just lived through. It’s a great gift for visitors or diehard Calgarians. —Jaelyn Molyneux

$40 at www.amazon.ca

It’s never good form to laugh at another’s disaster, but when we are elbow deep in sugar cookie batter sometimes a chuckle is in order.

From the hilarious website Cake Wrecks comes the book Wreck the Halls: Cake Wrecks Gets "Festive". Flip through the 232-page picture book of holly jolly professional baking disasters iced with misspelled words and questionable artistic execution.

It’s a baker’s delight, unless you were the one who footed the bill. —Jaelyn Molyneux

$12.26 at www.amazon.ca

Refresh your Christmas tunes with this list of contemporary carols.

The Christmas Waltz by She & Him

The Christmas Song by The Raveonettes

Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) by Death Cab for Cutie

Angels from the Realms of Glory by Annie Lennox

Silver Bells by Meaghan Smith

The Cowboys Christmas Ball by The Killers

In the Morning by Jack Johnson

Song for A Winter’s Night by Good Lovelies

Tracks in the Snow by The Civil Wars

O Holy Night by Matt Andersen

—Jaelyn Molyneux