I haven’t been into a fireworks store lately, even though I used to drive by one of the more insane ones in the city pretty often. I guess I’ve been missing out, because American software developer Cabel Sasser has been cataloging absurd fireworks packaging for the past few years. If you like silly names and non sequitur stock photography then you’ll get a few laughs.

There’s also some minor blog news—as of now comments will be closed on articles older than 30 days. While I appreciate that people can fill a store with ridiculous fireworks, it’s not so fun having my inbox filled with a constant stream of spam. If you really want to have your say on an older article, just email us the comment and we’ll post it.

Now, on to the news.

Week in review

As I wrote in last week’s roundup, the old Bank of Montreal building—the big green one on Jasper and 101 Street—is going to be torn down to make way for an underground parkade and glass atrium for the EPCOR building. At the time, I had trouble caring. The building has been empty for as long as I can remember. But, I met up with the @SaveBMO63 guys (they’re also on Facebook), and they’ve got some pretty good points. It is a good example of Modernist architecture and quite frankly the city could use more buildings that aren’t bare concrete, not fewer. The issue will be coming before Executive Committee in a couple weeks, so we’ll find out more then if anything can or will be done to save the building.

David Staples thinks Edmonton needs a downtown river walk. Not sure how I feel about this one. Is the river’s edge a place we should be living and working, or is it a natural retreat to be left undeveloped? Up until now the answer has been the latter, and if we start developing the river’s edge it’s hard to go back.

He also wants to take some money earmarked for a pedestrian bridge over the river and use it to improve the trail system instead.

A resident wants 97 Street renamed to Heroes Boulevard in honour of the city’s military.

Up on Alberta Avenue, there’s a project to very literally put eyes on the alley. They’re putting up picture of residents wanting to take back an alley used as an illegal dumping ground. Neat!

I came, I saw, I put food in my face. Mack Male and Sharon Yeo’s first shot at What The Truck?! was a great success, and I’ll be at the next one.

Overpass boom!

Four teams have been invited to submit proposals for the new Royal Alberta Museum.

Coming Up

There is a city council meeting Wednesday. The agenda has been posted, and you can listen live starting at 9:30am.

The Edmonton International Street Performers’ Festival runs from July 8-17 in Churchill Square.