Tag Calgary
Grey Cup Festivities Light Up Stephens Avenue
The Grey Cup (Canada’s equivalent of the Super Bowl) is being held in Calgary this Sunday. If you are the witty, bookish and urbane type, you might not be paying much attention to it. However, there’s some fun happenings going on at Stephen’s Avenue and the Olympic Plaza, which you should definitely check out. Enmax has set up some neat little lighting displays to light up the buildings. Fortunately, goatse images are being kept to a minimum.
Your Guide to Calgary Online
Calgary is a great place to hang out, but you have to dig a little to unearth the gems. Fortunately, there’s a growing scene online dedicated to getting the cool spots the credit they deserve. I’ve made a list of sites that will help you take advantage of all the things this fine city has to offer. CalgaryIsAwesome.com has a group of contributors from all over the city, and has its thumb on the pulse of what’s happening.
A hot dog Takeru Kobayashi could love - Tubby Dog
Hipsters agree: that Tubby Dog is tasty.
Food that'll stick to your ribs at the Lido Cafe
[Update: sadly, the Lido Cafe is no more, but the memories remain] In Calgary a restaurant can be here today and gone tomorrow, and when I saw that the Lido Cafe was closed I was really bummed out. Fortunately, it turned out they were just spiffying the place up, and have kept the diner feel that keeps the locals coming back. I went with my friend Kevin at about 6PM, and a charming waitress got our orders.
Chicken on the Way - it's... so... good!
Good fried chicken is easy to come by these days - it certainly *sounds*like everyone has their own deep-fat fryer. Top-tier fried chicken, then, is worth mentioning. Chicken on the Way has been serving up hot and delicious chicken since 1958, and is a Calgary landmark. With a quirky 60’s decor (and one big-ass chicken statue), it’s definitely a hard restaurant to miss. If you’re looking for a filling meal, I’d suggest the Snack Pack.
The Coolest Puppet Show You'll See
When one makes a list of the top theatre companies in Calgary, there’s no doubt that the Green Fools is on the list. Having seen their latest performance called “Isis: A Shadow Opera,” I can say they’ve only further cemented their position. With top-notch musicianship, a great story, and prime local talent, this is a puppet show you’ll want to see. One would imagine that three people doing full-motion puppetry on a solitary overhead projector would be insanely difficult.
Sien Lok Park, a waterfront wonder
When people think of the Calgary downtown waterfront, they probably think of Eau Claire and Prince’s Island Park. However, just east of Princes Island is a cultural haven of early Chinese influence in Calgary known as Sien Lok Park. Established in 1982 by the Sien Lok Society, the park is a response to the increasing urban development that is threatening Chinatown. Not only that, it’s a pleasant park to spend a day in.
Riley Park - Some kind of pleasant
When Riley Park was given to the city back in 1908, it was an area for Calgary’s best cricket players to show off their stuff. 100 years later, Riley Park is more than a simple cricket green. Splendid gardens, a wading pool, and a band shell make for a versatile park in the Kensington area. During the summer time there are flowers of every colour in neat little patterns that speak of the care and attention that is put into the gardens.
DeVille Coffee is Devilishly Delicious
Being a fan of tasty cappuccino, I know that you can’t walk into a Starbucks and expect something exceptional. When you want something that is above average, you need to go a place that cares. You need to check out some of Calgary’s fine local coffee shops, and DeVille Luxury Coffee & Pastries is one of those shops. It isn’t coffee alone that makes DeVille excel: they’ve got the coffeehouse mood down.
BA Johnston and Shotgun Jimmie play the Ship and Anchor
Having left Sackville, New Brunswick just as the music scene started blossoming (a la Sappyfest), I long for the sound that I know from those days. Sitting in George’s Fabulous Roadhouse, I would hear Shotgun & Jaybird, the Port City All-Stars, Gary Flanagan, and more - always exciting, fresh, innovative. When I heard that BA Johnston and Shotgun Jimmie were swinging through the Ship and Anchor on 17th Ave, I knew I had to go.