Hang onto your heads, Edmonton’s historic Garneau Theatre is going nowhere fast, and Metro Cinema is the new star of the show.

With a line-up of indie flicks, cross-Canada touring films and retro movies as old as the theatre’s 1940 doors, Metro plans to host interactive events, bring in film directors for premieres (meet the filmmakers of The Future is Now! on August 12th) and blend the best in recent local shorts with Japanese fare from the '60s.

And if you’re into gore, mark your Metro calendar with August’s DEDfest 2011 for kung-fu masterpieces and an underground horror fête you’d never thought you’d see on the big screen. Only now you can.

Screenings start August 5th, while the official grand opening weekend will be held September 16-18.
—Caroline Gault

Metro Cinema, Garneau Theatre, 8712-109 St.,
 Edmonton, 780-425-9212, www.metrocinema.org

Now that Hermione has a pixie cut and is attending Oxford, Harry’s been nude onstage and we’ve developed an awkward May-December crush on Ron, we’re looking for a new series to submerse us into the world of magic.

Described as a subversive Harry Potter for grown-ups, Lev Grossman’s The Magicians introduces us to Quentin Coldwater, a melancholic genius who attends the magical Brakebills Academy and discovers the less enchanting side of wizardry, pounding back more beer than butterbeer. We’ve already pre-ordered the sequel, The Magician King for our fall reading list.

Maybe we’ll give platform 9 and ¾ just one more try…. —Jennifer Nachshen

$14.44 at Amazon.ca

In the summertime I like “Cocaine Trade”, “Calypso Hippo,” and “Pump It.” In the summertime I want to be an Autistic.

Along with word wizards Christian Hansen & the Autistics, that is, the Edmonton-based electro-disco-pop-punk band that takes the stage to a whole new dimension (think sparklers, litres of sweat and glowing fluorescents against a keyboard, cowbell, and synth).

While the release of their sophomore album after Power Leopard ($9.99 on iTunes) won't happen until spring 2012, we’re already excited about the new album title, Dance Floor Death Core and the foursome’s upgrade to a fifth member, a drum set, and a guitar.

As Calgary Stampeders get their country on, the Autistic crowd with the controversial name will be shooting animated, electrified music videos with E-town extras (this time for “Ma-Me-O” and “Pill Popper”).

Only these guys and gals could come up with such idioms. —Caroline Gault

You could play “O Canada” on repeat, or you could stock your patriotic playlist with these tunes and rock your Canada Day BBQ true north style.

Junior Boys - "A Truly Happy Ending"

The Slew - "Problem Child"

Caribou - "Selfish Boy"

Miracle Fortress - "Tracers"

Shout Out Out Out Out - "Bad Choices"

Chilly Gonzales - "You Can Dance"

Jacques Green - "Another Girl"

Zeus - "How Does It Feel" 

Sloan - "G Turns to D"

Austra - "Lose It"

The Zolas – "You’re Too Cool"

Brasstronaut – "Hearts Trompet"

Broken Social Scene – "World Sick" 

Rural Alberta Advantage – "Stamp" 

Arcade Fire – "Sprawl II"

Crystal Castles – "Celestica"

Coeur de Pirate – "Comme des enfants (Le Matos Remix)"

Chromeo – "Fancy Footwork" 

Feist – "1234" 

Stars – "Take me to the riot"

—KD & AG

A new tale by writer and Globe columnist Tabatha Southey is called It Must Be Tall as a Lighthouse  and has illustrations by architect Will Alsop—but it's not about bricks and glass.

It is about, and to, her son. It is a valentine. “For Basil,” goes the inscription, “I never bought you an iguana. And for Alice.” Southey's kiddies should be proud. Her words are lilting and capricious, then heart-catching; Alsop's drawings, inky and naive.

Your inner-child will say “read it again” and “please.” —SNP

Available July 1 at The Book Bakery, www.thebookbakery.biz

We started off obsessed with Sassy and then grew up into Jane. But when irreverent editor, Jane Pratt, put away her red pen and razor-sharp wit, we had to be content with magazines that taught us how to toe the femininity line.

XOJane is Pratt’s new web magazine “where women go when they are being selfish, and where their selfishness is applauded.” With great advice on how to Do this Don’t, much needed makeunders and terrific tips for us techy types, we know where to go when we’re feeling more clever than Cosmo.

Now that’s sassy stuff. —JN

www.xojane.com

It seems that Woody Allen had to move away from New York City to get his mojo back. Following his flings in London and Barcelona, Allen set his eyes on Paris in what is essentially a love letter to the city.

Midnight in Paris’ Woody Allen-esque protagonist Gill (Owen Wilson) is a Hollywood writer who longs for the Parisian jazz era. Sans the Delorean but in true Marty McFly style, Gill ends up jumping back and forth between the present and the past, rubbing elbows with Paris’ most colourful citizens like Hemingway, Stein, Picasso and Dalí.

Lit and art history weren’t this entertaining in school. —AG

Find showtimes here.

Whoever said "you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink" has not seen the spectacle that is Cavalia. In fact, drinking water is a miniscule request.

This horse-powered show boasts the largest touring tent in the world and it is currently pitched at Canada Olympic Park's pinnacle. Fifty-one horses are camped out there as well, granted "camping" is used loosely when their accommodations are the stallion equivalent of a Ritz Carlton.  

Some show highlights include a jaw-dropping performance from Sylvia Zerbini who works her horse whispering magic on eight unbridled horses—Robert Redford has nothing on this woman! Roman riding is also incorporated and involves a rider standing on two galloping geldings, splitting the difference, with one foot on each. Groin pulling good times indeed.

With a combination of awe inspiring artists, dramatic visual effects and some horsin' around, you had better giddy up and get at er' because Cavalia is only in Calgary until June 26. —Kristin Hursh

Tickets from $49.50; Cavalia under the white top at COP until June 26, www.cavalia.net

Part biography, part self-help book, 2010's If You Have to Cry, Go Outside by Kelly Cutrone quickly become a bible for people launching their careers (the title says it all).

In her newly released second book, Normal Gets you Nowhere, New York-based PR maven/reality TV star/author Cutrone focuses on trailblazers who shoved the status quo aside, from Joan of Arc to Amelia Earhart. Cutrone pushes readers to release their "feminine freak" and reevaluate their values and goals to create a successful and authentic life for themselves.

She's no Oprah, but we can definitely hear her roar. —Kim Flanagan

Normal Gets You Nowhere, $16.29 at Amazon.ca

The mysterious and reclusive Calgary artist Chad VanGaalen, whose previous albums were recorded in a basement studio, has emerged, literally and figuratively.

The new album and his fourth, titled Diaper Island—VanGaalen is a father to a three-year-old girl, hence memories of diapers—was recorded in a much larger recording room with a straightforward approach, resulting in it being called the closest thing he’s ever done to a rock album.

There are still plenty of VanGaalen-isms on the album like musings on life and death and instrumentally layered jams (it was recorded on a vintage tape machine after all). But as most critics would agree (us included), it’s “Sara,” a lovely, whistling ditty, and ode to VanGaalen’s partner, that is the apple of the album’s eye. —MG

At iTunes.com