A snapshot of Calgary Culture

This list from Calgary's Fast Foward Magazine is an excellent glimpse into what Calgary's all about and gives you a better understanding of what you might want to see and experience while you're here.

Depending on if you're into Wine Drinking, Club Dancing, Gallery Gazing, Stampede Breakfast Eating, etc I believe this list, although lengthy, drives home some key opinions about Calgary and our culture. They also give some great ideas for places to hit up before you jet off.

So check it out if you have some time. I would say there are a few things I'd disagree with, but all in all I think they hit the nail on the head.

I hope you enjoy it like I did!

BEST OF CALGARY 2012 LIST
*Courtesy of FFWD*

The Future of Calgary - East Village (EV)

There is an entire area east of downtown, underutilized. About 10 years ago the city started a mission to create a vibrant and dynamic urban expansion of downtown in that space.

Many of you who are traveling via hostels, the Calgary HI Hostel is located in this quarter of the city  and the first thing you need to understand when/if you arrive there is that this area is undergoing a huge overhaul. If you take sometime to explore the area you will see the beauty of the East Village and find the beginnings of a important cultural addition to Calgary.

If you want to see Calgary at its best - an East Village event is where it's at! The East Village is the ideal place to see the potential Calgary has for more culture and community involvement. You can check out all the upcoming opportunities on the EAST VILLAGE WEBSITE.
 

Tourists take advantage of the free ride Tuesdays - you can get a free tour by BikeBike experts of the Calgary area, save some loonies and head to the new and upcoming East Village noon-1PM. You do need a bike though... might be a bit of glitch but you can head to Eau Claire to rent one! Hurry because the snow is coming.

At the moment I only have a few places to recommend to you newcomers to Calgary in the East Village, but my main suggestion is to poke around. Have a stroll down the Riverside Walk, check out Fort Calgary - although in my opinion its not worth the entrance. If anything take the drive to Heritage Park, but that is for a later blog. Continue to the Calgary Zoo pay a visit to the penguins, but stop by the Simmons building - the new heart and beginning of the EV. Take in whatever event is happening that day - maybe the yoga at noon or just a few food trucks poking around.

A delicious destination is the Village Ice Cream "artisanal ice cream and sorbet" which opened this summer with delicious flavours such as Bourbon (swear I could've got drunk), Beets (could almost taste the dirt) and all the vanilla and chocolaty original favourites.

There will be more to write about the East Village in 2014 when construction is estimated to be completed. At the moment you have to keep checking back on facebook as well as the website with the goings on of the EV community and new stores popping up, including the new Village Brewery and grocer coming soon!

A few resources to learn more about the history of East Village include
Calgary Herald Article
FFWD Article



 

Delicious and Famous Calgary

I'm straying from my explanation of the differenet areas of the city to highlight some great events happening in Calgary in the next bit.

If you're around town on Sunday Calgary is having a food festival based on all of the ethical and local food produced in the area. REAP is showcasing the top restaurants, catering companies, and especially grocers - Community Natural Foods - in Calgary. The event is called Food For Thought and it is $25 a ticket if you buy online beforehand or $30 at the door, but its great because that gets you 21 food samples from each vendor.

It is going to be along the riverside walk, in front of the Simmons building in the East Village. Which is fitting since that is the next sector of the city I was going to be touching on. Looking at the list of vendors it will be a great showcase of Calgary's restaurants if you're not familiar with them. Most of my favourites are going including The Coup, Caffe Beano, Boxwood and more.

You can buy tickets here: http://www.reapcalgary.com

I think it'll be a great event and I can't wait to see everyone there. Locals and hopefully some of you tourists alike!

Also, if you have sometime and want to do something off the beaten path the Calgary International Film Festival starts today and runs until September 30th. There are over 150 films, some showcase Canadian talent and a lot more international.

Some top films include: Antiviral, which looks wildly thought provoking, and Rebelle which seems like a hard watch, but fascinatingly important. There is as well some very films on Sunday September 30th at Eau Claire Market for Alberta Spirit - Short Shorts. 

You can check out the entire schedule and film synopsis at https://www.calgaryfilm.com/

The best bit for travellers is most of the films will be featured in the two downtown movie theater; either Eau Claire Market or at the Globe Theatre - 8th Ave and 5th Street.

Happy Calgarianing!

The Perfect Day in Kensington

It would start with a walk down the Bow River Pathway, I personally live in Bowness so I might even be riding my bike east towards downtown.

Usually I haven’t had my caffeine fix because my Tassimo is notoriously out of dispense thingies so I need to decide... which deluxe coffee shop am I choosing to stop at today?

1 Higher Grounds – great internet and delicious food

2 The House – ethical and entertaining

3 The Roasterie – great beans and eclectic people watching spot

So many options, but today I feel like watching my beans get roasted so the Roasterie it is! Plus, I’m on the go with my day in Kensington so I hit up the “walk by” window for extra convenience.

Obviously, I was feeling a bit peckish at this point what with all my decision making and walking. I earned it! So I hit up the original Crave Cupcakes for the most unhealthy and delicious snack. I can’t resist the orig, Crave-o-licious but Nutty over Chocolate (Peanut butter flavoured) cupcake is a close second.

My hands must be crazy full while munching my cupcake and sipping away on coffee so what else is there to do but window shop! My wallet appreciates the looking and not buying aspect of this next activity. I use my illustrious imagination to decorate my “future” apartment where money is no object. Passing by the shops from Urban Barn to the always unique The Cushy Life and Kilian. There's always more classic and long standing stores such as the Hillhurst Hardware, or the Kensington Art Supply who also offer classes to aspiring artists, but I'm just strolling today.

Now that I'm done my treats I head into Purr a local favourite for girls that can afford it. Beautiful and uniquely designed clothes, but ladies only at this location, sorry guys! If you're looking for some more affordable and gently used duds, as I always am, then we'll head to Trend or Peacock Boutique two higher-end consignment stores on 10th street. You can either make some coin with your old clothes and/or grab a whole new outfit for half the price. Because its MY perfect day in Kensington I realize I have an outstanding cheque from Trend for $100 and use some of that to buy some barely worn boots. Wow what a great day I'm having!

I have a quick pop into Oliv a gourmet olive oil, balsamic vinegar and wine shop. Delicious! You could spend all day in there tasting. Onwards and upwards to seeing more of Kensington. I need to fix up my bike so I head to Good Life Community Bike Shop, a non-profit organization, where they not only tune up my bike, but teach me some key skills of my own! Onwards to Oolong Tea house, which is a great spot to sit and rest those walking legs and enjoy a variety of unique teas and mates.

This has been a busy day so far; walking the streets of Kensington, shopping, looking, mainly people watching. Its dinner time now and a girls gotta eat. The thing about this area is that there are just too many options.

Here are my Top "pricier" Restaurants in Kensington:
1 Brasserie
2 Chef's Table
3 Ristorante Pulcinella
4 Muse
5 Tandoori Hut


Top 5 "not as pricey" Restaurants:
1 Vendome Cafe
2 Song Han Vietnamese
3 Tenshi Sushi
4 Marathon Ethiopian
5 Schawarma King

Top 5 Pubs:
1 Kensington Pub
2 Kensington Wine Bar
3 Molly Malones
4 OJ's
5 FATS

I can't even tell you how I make a decison out of all of these, I can just tell you that I love the Brasserie, Wine Bar combo. Go for a dinner and end with drinks and desserts downstairs. You can't go wrong. I always enjoy a walk to ease my full stomach so onwards through sunnyside, the area behind 10th Street. There are great, older houses to check out some more swanky, some more modest, all in all a great gander. The best sight of all is along the top of Kensington, Crescent Road. This is where you can see the best view of the city day and especially sunset/night. Romantic, or just picturesque. There is a set of stairs that lead down the top of the hill and over to Prince's Island Park.

I suggest Kensington to every traveler I meet based on the fact that it's cute, there's enough to see and do, but more importantly it's where the locals are! 

For General Info Check out the Kensington Village website : http://www.visitkensington.com 

A Wee Walk to Kensington

Kensington is one of the areas of Calgary that's just outside the downtown core, but is still considered in the centre. Starting with this area is a natural progression for a few reasons; mainly the accessibility, but also the great atmosphere and shops located in Kensington. The LRT (Calgary's Light Rail Transit) runs parellel to 10th street, a main road in the area.

It is one stop outside of the downtown "Free Fare Zone". I recommend saving yourself $2.75 for 30 seconds on the train and either get out and walk across the bridge, or if you're feeling more adventurous risk it and take the train to the next stop - Sunnyside station.

This area is right on the river with paths for running, biking and taking in the nature that surrounds the city centre. If you're downtown (let's say at the Calgary Tower) its easy enough to walk there in about 20 minutes. You cross the Peace Bridge, which looks like a chinese finger trap, over the river and you're basically there.

On the edge of Kensington is the oasis of Riley Park. Whether you want to have a day by the wading pool, watch a recreational cricket game, or play some ultimate frisbee its your green spot. Especially in the summertime, its a great way to have a relaxed day in the sun. In the winter its always fun to go make a snowman or snowfamily if you have the time.

My favourite monthly event in Calgary happens in Kensington on 10th Street: Market Collective. It happens over a weekend where local artisans get together to showcase and mainly sell their creations. It's different each month with unique vendors, musicians, and a themed photography booth scene:

If you're looking for a more consistent event, the Hillhurst Sunnyside Community Centre has a weekly Farmers Market; Wednesdays 3-7, May 30 - October 3. Its about a 5 minute walk from Sunnyside station right near Riley Park. This is one of the best Farmer's Markets in the city as their initiatives are focused on Community Shared Agriculture; its officially local!

For a lot of visitors to the city that are staying downtown its difficult to find a reasonably priced grocery store close to your hotels/hostels. My solution is to head down to Kensington, check out this more-bustling part of the city and grab some items on your way. There is a Safeway right in front of the Sunnyside stop. So you can go for a stroll down 10th Street, Kensington and even 14th and grab some inexpensive eats on the way back. That is, if you can resist the delicious restaurants on your journey.

Those restaurants and pubs are the focus of next weeks blog. I'll have my perfect day in Kensington along with some Top 5 lists rating my favourites in the area.

I know you can't wait...

The Basics of Calgary Life

What a beautiful landscape... as a tourist it is the money shot that we all want to get; a picturesque day in the rockies, warm with a slight breeze, you left the city life behind you in Calgary to come out to serene Banff National Park. 

That's lovely, but how was your trip to Calgary? Were you overwhelmed by homeless on Stephen Avenue or did you unfortunately pay $9 for a beer?

Calgary is a troublesome spot to be a tourist or even just new to the city. Many of us do not associate this because we live here, we have cars, we own bikes, or live in Mission therefore a stones throw to most of Calgary’s goings on. We know where to go.

I have seen first hand the frustration tourists have with hotel locations either out of the city or in the centre, but with proximity to only expensive restaurants and not much nightlife. Don’t even get me started on being a backpacker staying at the two hostels Calgary is “fortunate” enough to have in some questionable locations. There remains a huge lack of information surrounding what is actually fun to do in the city of White Hats. You can really only go to the tower once and loop Stephen Ave five times before you beg for your trip to Banff to come sooner.

So my proposition is to give Non-Calgarians, tourists, and newcomers to the city a chance at actually enjoying their time in our expanding city. I don’t know if it’ll be much easier on the old wallet, but it will at least have you leaving Calgary with a smile on your face and some good times to reminisce about. 

I think we need to start at some basics, Calgary culture.

Calgary has always been the busy city of the west. Oil and gas corporations set the tone for downtown, which makes it thriving during the day but Calgary’s immense urban sprawl issue has created a scarcity in the core after hours. Traffic jams and road rage are a prominent symptom of this suburban lifestyle.

So Calgary has done an excellent job in the last few years in creating atmosphere closer to the city centre. Although, on a Sunday, Monday and Tuesday after sunset downtown feels like a zombie apocalypse, it is the peripheral communities where you will find local Calgarians milling about.

That’s what I’ll focus on in the next few blogs, with actual advice of where to go and what to do in different areas of the city depending on what season you're visiting, budget and how you're traveling. 

Welcome to my blog!

Jacqui (I wish I were traveling so I made a blog about it) Reader