The Gateway Turns 100.

Here is Saturday night's outfit laid out for the big Gateway party! I actually ended up wearing my new crazy tall black patent pumps instead of the gold ones, but the green dress and sparkly black fishnets were a good combo.

The Gateway newspaper is a big part of my past and present. It's where I met tons of great friends, where I starting writing classical music previews and reviews for the Arts and Entertainment section, and it's also where I met Don. We didn't date until several years after the newspaper days, but I still remember he was the nice managing editor who would move his bag and bike helmet off his office chair for me to sit down.

This whole weekend has been a fantastic parade of out-of-towners coming back to our cold city in order to celebrate The Gateway's centennial. Seeing everybody together again brought back lots of fond memories, and I can confidently say (and I'm sure others feel similarly) that I wouldn't be who I am today if it weren't for my stint at The Gateway. There is something about a person's time at that paper that leaves a mark.

Let's get on with the people!

Miss Jhenifer Pabillano, the new media mastermind behind Vancouver's Buzzer Blog.

She and Dave Zeibin (architect extraordinaire) are an item (they also met at the newspaper), and we're so glad that they flew in for the celebration! Dave made a mixed CD for the occasion and Jhen taught me how to use some settings on my camera properly. Love.

Here is Adam Rozenhart sporting his movember.

And a regular old Edmonton friend, Dan, who gets paid to make video games.

Ah, the reunion of besties! When Matt Frehner moved to Toronto I sort of took his place as Leanne's right hand man. But I know I'm no replacement for this superstar who is an editor at The Globe.

Me in a green dress during cocktail hour. Cheers!

Partners in crime: Mike Winters and Fish Griwkowsky.

Not to be outdone, here is Steve Notley of Bob the Angry Flower.

Me and my very first editor, Neal Ozano! Sorry dude, I can't find a link for you and I'm too lazy to look just now. Ozano was ridiculous and mean, but he has a teddy bear-like quality that renders me all affection when I see him.

He announced to those around us that, "[he] made [me]". Go ahead, take all the credit!

Dramatic and faux tearful reunions.

Don was our MC for the evening. Slightly tangential but still articulate.

Our guest speaker, former premier of Alberta, Peter Lougheed, was acknowledged.

We ate dinner and dessert. Yum yum yum.

And I finally got to see my old Arts and Entertainment (and later editor in chief), Dave Alexander! He is all sorts of awesome as the editor in chief at Rue Morgue, a special magazine dedicated to horror films.

I certainly couldn't pass up my photo opportunity with Mr. Lougheed.

And after much talking and toasting there was photographs and merriment.

The lovable guy in the middle there is Daniel Kaszor who now edits at The Post.

And back to back with him is beautiful Lisa Lunn, proud mommy of a fairly new baby girl.

Later on we were tired so it was time to sit. Jhen was teaching me how to use various settings on my camera, so I practiced by taking a photo of Erica Thorkelson.

And you all know Miss Leanne Brown.

We shut the place down and while the crew went in search of a new venue for drinks, Don and I had to get home to relieve the babysitter.

I wore my warmest coat. It's my mom's mink from the 80s. We figured pairing it with Leanne's hat would make me ultra luxury woman.

I had a swell time seeing fun old friends and it made me feel warm and fuzzy inside to catch up with these fine people. I think a lot of people from this weekend would agree that The Gateway has shaped a small (or big) part of who they are. I know I wouldn't be quite so Miss Sarah without my experience from those years.

Edmonton journal columnist and fellow Gateway alumni, Todd Babiak, put it very well in his piece about the Gateway's centennial. We're a bunch of misfits, each in our own way.

I don't usually make such an effort to name names and talk about what people are up to, but in this post I am very proud to say that lots of good friends have gone on to do great things. Even though I wasn't an editor or a die-hard volunteer, I am proud to be a small part of the Gateway's 100 years of publication.

Happy Birthday, Gateway!