BT Calgary Blogs

Eric Braeden and Judy Gabriel at a lunch for more than 20 women, at West Restaurant and Bar!

Victor Newman has nothing on the real Eric Braeden, who had thousands of women swooning over him at the Calgary Women Show. Several generations of fans came out to see him in the flesh and asked him questions about his real life. Talk about a captive audience! They hung on his every word: most of which concerned his upbringing, his fitness regime and his advice on maintaining a happy 40+ year marriage! That said, he did dish on some behind-the-scenes trials, tribulations and triumphs that he has experienced throughout his Young and the Restless career.

Speaking of young, I got to interview him at the brand new downtown hot spot, West Restaurant and Bar in Scotia Centre. 20 die hard fans got to hang out with Mr. Braeden in a private dining room, and I was there to witness the mayhem. The Daytime star was relaxed and casual, as was his meal, an Alberta Beef  burger and fries!

He is suave, he is sexy and he is Billy Dee Williams, need I say more!

From the Jovan musk commercials to the movie cult Colt 45, and the Star Wars Franchise, he has done it all. Billy Dee Williams has had a career that any actor would be envious of.  He has had 40+ years in the film and television industry. He is know internationally as “Lando Calrissian” from Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, and Return of the Jedi. Williams can also be seen  in Batman (’89), Moving Target (’96) and Undercover Brother (’02), just to name a few. 

Billy Dee Williams and Judy Gabriel sit down for a chat!

I’ve been a fan of Billy Dee Williams for many years, but finally sitting beside him and talking to him I was mesmerized by his charm and charisma. He is a class act.

English Actor Malcolm McDowell has a career that spans more than forty years. He is one of my favorite actors who is known for his roles in the films If, A Clockwork Orange, Blue Thunder, Tank Girl and O Lucky Man! . He is an amazing actor who has worked both in film and television, including Star Trek Generations, Entourage, Heroes, the animated film Bolt, the 2007 remake of Halloween and  2009’s Halloween II.

Malcolm McDowell and Judy Gabriel hanging out!

I had the pleasure of chatting with him when he was here for the Calgary Comic Book Expo. I have never meet an actor that made me laugh until my belly ached! He is an incredibly smart and witty man but, most of all, he is very down-to-earth and real!

Nimoy beams out, but leaves legacy!

He may have beamed out of Calgary and even retired from television and film, but the legacy of  ‘Spock’ will linger and “live long and prosper” thanks to the town of Vulcan! Leonard Nimoy was honoured with the White Hat and was given the keys to the small town.  He was here for the Calgary Comic Book Expo, where he was swarmed with fans. Nimoy has such a cult following that even I found myself a bit star stuck when chatting with him. We talked about his retirement, his passion for photography, his family life and his thoughts on the recent Internet poll of William Shatner for Governor General of Canada. Mr. Nimoy and I had a great time!

Funk-galactic at Hotel Arts! A Party in benefit of Decidedly Jazz Dance Works was off the hook on Saturday, March 6th.  The 7th annual event titled ‘Possessed’ had music, food, and some funky dance moves by DJD dancers!

Lots great local entertainers came out to support,  from Lobby Entertainment by Lady C, to music from The Superband and DJ Cameron Sound.

Spontaneous performances by DJD dancers. They performed Funk Police (Choreographed by Kaleb Tekeste), Funk Freaks (Choreographed by Dinou Marlett Stuart), Funkgalactic (Choreographed by Deanne Walsh)

Special Appearance by Josh Hilberman.

Next Performances by DJD:

2010: A Tap Oddity at The Grand, March 19-28.

WiseApple at Epcor Centre, Max Bell Theatre, June 9 -20.

It was all glitz and glamour at the 2nd annual 2010 Calgary Choice Awards , which was originally called the Calgary Oscars, until the Academy sent the organizers a letter to change the name.  As per request, the name changed a month ago to Calgary Choice Awards!  Over 400 people attended the red carpet gala – Sold Out Success!  It was a great opportunity for Calgary Small and Medium businesses to strut their stuff and feel like stars, on Saturday March 6th, at Flames Central. 380 companies were nominated by the public before Christmas. Over 5000 people (general public) voted on the nominees. Voting ran from Jan. 15 – Feb. 19, 2010.

Calgary Choice Award Winners

Here is the complete list of winners in each category:

Best in Arts & Culture – Alberta Ballet

Best in Spa/Beauty – CaVaBien Hair Studio & Spa

Best in Hotel/Inn – The Fairmont Palliser

Best in Auto Service – Heninger Toyota

Best in Fitness – Talisman Centre

Best Home Builder – Empire Custom Homes

Best Public Venue/Tourist Attraction – Calgary Zoo

Best Nightclub/Bar/Pub – Ship and Anchor Pub

Best in Children’s Retail – Coffee & S’cream

Best Transportation Provider – WestJet Airlines

Best in Casual Dining Experience – Peters’ Drive-In

Best in Retail Experience Crave Cookies and Cupcakes

Best in Fine Dining Experience – RedWater Rustic Grille

Best Media Personality/Celebrity – Barb Higgins

Best Medical & Health Care Service – Blink Eyewear

Best New Business (under two years) – Bass Pro Shops

Best Independently Owned Business – Cakeworks

Best Employer – Small Business (under 30 employees) – Cakeworks

Best Employer (over 30 employees) – WestJet Airlines

Everyday Hero – Eric Crowell

For more click here