Anita Smith is wearing purple work gloves and has a walkie talkie clipped to shirt when I meet her at W.E. Graham Park a few days before the Saskatoon Fringe Festival is set to begin. She and her team of staff and volunteers are setting up for the festival and are not letting city construction get in the way of hosting another wonderful festival.

It has been another busy year for Anita. As Artistic and Executive Director of Saskatoon's 25th Street Theatre Company, she has overseen a year of innovative and engaging theatre productions. She also found time to direct a Shakespeare on the Saskatchewan production of Much Ado About Nothing this summer. Anita is pulled in many different directions, and I am always grateful for the time she makes to appear on the podcast.

This year's Fringe Festival is bringing theatre productions from across North America, around the world, and in our own backyard, to four theatres in the Broadway neighbourhood from July 30th to August 8th. The festival is also creating community through innovative programming including a local theatre company made up of teens who are producing their own fringe play!

Anita shares stories and details about this year's festival, along with the challenges posed by another year of construction in the Broadway neighbourhood, in our conversation. She also shares why this will be her final year at the helm of the Fringe Festival.

I hope to see you at one of the plays during the festival and thank you for continuing to support a local, independent podcast here in Saskatoon! Don't forget that Season 9 of YXE Underground launches on September 10th wherever you find your favourite podcasts!

Cheers...Eric

• Host, Producer, Editor: Eric Anderson
• Theme Music: Andrew Dickson
• Website: https://www.yxeunderground.com
• Recorded: On Treaty 6 Territory and the traditional homeland of the Metis

There is always something happening in Saskatoon during the summertime. From Shakespeare on the Saskatchewan and the Fringe Festival, to the Saskatoon Ex and Rock the River, there is something for everyone to enjoy in our community.

Last week, my wife and I went for a walk on the Train Bridge on a beautiful afternoon. We don't often walk in that area of the city, and reminded me of how beautiful the views are of the South Saskatchewan River standing on the Train Bridge. It also gave me an idea for a summer bonus episode of the podcast: hidden gems to experience during a Saskatoon summer. Not that the Train Bridge is a hidden gem, but it's not a place I frequent.

I reached out to my friend, and one of Saskatoon's greatest ambassadors, Darby Sutherland, to see if she would like to be on the podcast to share some ideas and give some suggestions of hidden gems in our community this summer. Darby is the Destination PR and Earned Media Manager for Discover Saskatoon. She works with media from across Canada and around the world who wish to experience all that Saskatoon has to offer. If there is something cool and interesting happening in Saskatoon, it's a safe bet Darby knows about it.

When I emailed Darby to pitch this idea, I suggested we do it at the TD SaskJazz Fest before the Modest Mouse concert. I was hoping she would be going, and as you will hear in the episode, she did indeed have a ticket (as did 4,500 other people...it was a fantastic show!).

Darby shares a host of great locations and experiences listeners should check out this summer. I'll put the list with links below. A big thank you to Darby for turning this idea into reality. I hope you enjoy this episode and have a wonderful summer here in Saskatoon! Cheers...Eric

Darby's List:

• Prairie Lily Coffee Shop
• Sulu Takeaway Lunch Window
• Meewasin's Beaver Themed Walking Tour
• Pokey's Pinball Cafe Patio
• Black Fox Live Music Weekends
• Champetre County
• Glamping at Blackstrap Provincial Park
• Par 3 Course on Valley Road
• Burritos at Shelter Brewing

• Host, Producer, Editor: Eric Anderson
• Theme Music: Andrew Dickson
• Website: https://www.yxeunderground.com
• Recorded: On Treaty 6 Territory and the traditional homeland of the Metis

When was the last time you felt free to be creative? To just let loose and tap into your creativity in an inviting and supportive space?

I was thinking about these points when I took in the Something Sketchy – Bad Drawing Only event in January.

This gathering comes from the wonderful mind of Jaymie Raefta, a Saskatoon illustrator and artist who has become one of my favourite people in the past few years.

Once every few months in a warehouse space in Riversdale, Jaymie hosts a gathering of people who love to draw, no matter their ability, and encourages them to draw badly. Very badly.

Jaymie, who uses they/them pronouns, emcees the evening. They embrace the role with the vigor and charm of a late-night television talk show host. Jaymie’s quick wit and humour, along with quirky musical selections, create the perfect vibe for people to draw.

The drawing comes from specific prompts which Jaymie comes up with. My favourite was the following: draw your favourite co-worker as a cold baked potato.

You have two minutes to complete your drawing, and at the end of each round, the table votes on the best bad drawing.

What I love about these Something Sketchy nights is the creative community they are forming in Saskatoon. The room was packed with more than 30 people who giggled and laughed throughout the night while making new friends and reconnecting with old ones.

The people came from all walks of life: artists, graphic designers, potters, and even a mailman. You will hear from these people how much it means to them to have a devoted set time and space to be creative in this episode, and you will hear why these Something Sketchy nights mean so much to Jaymie.

This has been an amazing season of YXE Underground, and I am so thrilled to end it with such a fun and meaningful episode.

If you want to learn more about the Something Sketchy – Bad Drawing events, look up Plastic Salad on Instagram. This is an illustration collective created by Jaymie to promote illustration in Saskatchewan, and there’s a Something Sketchy event happening on Wednesday, June 17th, from 6:30pm-8:30pm that you should totally check out!

A big thank you to Jaymie and everyone at the Something Sketchy for letting me share their stories on the podcast.

If you have enjoyed this episode and are a fan of the podcast, please feel free to leave a glowing 5-star review and share it with your friends. Word of mouth is, I think, the best way to share podcasts, and so I really do appreciate your support in spreading the word about YXE Underground.

You can find the podcast on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. Simply search YXE Underground.

A big thank you to all of you listeners for continuing to support a local, independent podcast. It means the world. I will drop a few bonus episodes this summer, but Season 9 will launch in September. I can’t wait to share more stories of people and organizations who are making a difference here in Saskatoon. If you have someone who you think should be on the podcast, send me an email: ericandersonyxe@gmail.com

I would like to acknowledge these interview were gathered on Treaty Six territory and the traditional homeland of Metis.

YXE Underground is a production of the Salthammer Production Company. My name is Eric Anderson. Thank you so much listening and we’ll talk to you soon, Saskatoon.

• Host, Producer, Editor: Eric Anderson
• Theme Music: Andrew Dickson
• Website: https://www.yxeunderground.com
• Recorded: On Treaty 6 Territory and the traditional homeland of the Metis