Tag Calgary
Game 2 of the Scorpions/Vipers series: OMG Jose Canseco is pitching!!!
Game 2 of the Calgary Vipers/Yuma Scorpions finished up tonight, with the Vipers slamming the Scorpions a commanding 16-2. My earlier prediction that this would be one of the most exciting series of the season seems to be coming true, as the night saw player/coach Jose Canseco not only pound in his first home run of the season in the first inning, but also had him as Yuma’s closing pitcher. As well, it was Brian Rios’ last game in the North American League.
Australian Rules Football in Calgary
Since getting hooked on Australian rules football last year, I’ve been wanting to watch a game live. Fortunately, Alberta has an AFL-associated league, and they regularly play games through the summer. I got a chance to go to a game recently and watch the action up close. | | Aussie rules is a mix of rugby, soccer, football, and long-distance running. Oh, and there’s no padding, except maybe a mouth-guard.
Jose Canseco and the Yuma Scorpions versus the Calgary Vipers: Series of the Year
The Calgary Vipers season is heating up as they’ve just finished their first in a five game series against the Yuma Scorpions, winning with a score of 4-1. The Yuma Scorpions are lead by player/manager Jose Canseco, who has captured the awe and ire of the Calgary fans already. The Tuesday game drew an impressive crowd, and with games going up to July 2nd, this is definitely the must-watch series of Vipers’ season.
Boogie Down to Boogie's Burgers
Hidden away on Edmonton Trail is the burger joint that is Peter’s Drive-In Burger’s main rival for burger/fries/shake supremacy. Boogie’s Burgers has been operating for almost as long as Peter’s, making some of the biggest and tastiest burgers in Calgary. Operating since 1969, this restaurant has been creating innovative styles of burger, making serious the claim that they have “The Official Burger of Deliciousness.” Stepping inside of Boogie’s you almost get the feel that you’ve walked into a cool burger joint from the 80’s, as there are coin-operated arcade machines lining the interior, with the classics that one would expect (such as Ms.
Wandering the Tufa Mounds at Big Hill Springs Provincial Park
Out just beyond the outskirts of Calgary, there’s a provincial park that’s unknown to most who live inside the city. Big Hill Springs Provincial Park is a great place to bring a hiking shoes or a mountain bike. With it’s tufa mounds and elegant waterfalls, the park has a trail about 2 to 3 kilometers long, making it ideal for short morning hikes. The trails are primarily dirt, so going during wet season might be a sloppy affair.
The Hipsters Are Starving; Tubby Dog Closed Until Further Notice
EDIT: As of April 15, 2011, Tubby Dog is open and slinging hot dogs again. It’s a sad day in the city of Calgary as the local hot dog institution Tubby Dog appears to be closed for an indeterminate time, depriving hipsters and bar hoppers of tasty hot dogs with unusual toppings. According to the sign on their front window and their Facebook page, it sounds like their water is cut off and they can’t get anyone at the city to tell them when it’s getting turned back on (or even just pick up the phone).
Big Room, Plentiful Wine - The Calgary Co-op Grape Escape
The Grape Escape has made yet another visit to the city of Calgary, where a $50 dollar ticket gets you access to two halls in the BMO Centre full of liquor distributors all trying to win mind share through free drink samples. “Free samples?,” you’re thinking. “Why would you pay $50 to get free samples?” It’s a matter of scale - over 100 tables, all with several kinds of alcohol to give away.
A Fond Farewell to the Calgary Roughnecks
UPDATE: The Roughnecks have been saved by the organization that runs the Calgary Flames. Looking forward to the next season! They say the swan sings its sweetest just before its death. The Calgary Roughnecks, the city’s National Lacrosse League team, is closing up shop after 10 years due to lack of funds. They’ve been unsuccessful getting a large advertiser or a partner, and so the team, with 2 championships in 7 years, is going out swinging.
A Night at the Fairmont Palliser
Tannis and I felt we needed a full day of relaxation, so as our Christmas present we went to Calgary’s Fairmont Palliser, a swanky hotel in the downtown. Our expectations of the place paled in comparison to the real thing - it’s a real class act. We got a suite with an adjoining sitting room and a king size bed. With the exception of the flat screen TV’s and the digital clock, it looked like an upscale 1920’s room.
Ice Sculptures on Stephen Avenue
Tannis and I went for an evening walk through City Centre, and on Stephen Avenue came across some wonderful ice sculptures. Tannis told me that they did this last year as well, but some d-bags knocked them over. It looks like right now the only enemy of these sculptures is the unusually warm weather. The ice has an odd slick texture, so we think they mixed something in with the water, perhaps so that the ice will stay longer in warm weather.