Exploring Calgary like a local
Choice restaurants, attractions and shopping in the popular, bustling Alberta city
It’s interesting to check out places you don’t always find in the tourist guides; restaurants, bars and shops where you’re likely to find a good number of locals as well as visitors. Today we take a look at the increasingly cool scene in Calgary.
VIN ROOM MISSION
This hip spot on 4th Street SW offers up everything from charcuterie to lobster nachos or lemon grass chicken meatballs. “I like to eat and I like to drink,” the owner, Phoebe Fung, told me. For a treat, she started my meal with truffle oil popcorn and champagne; a killer combination should the mood strike you at home. She also operates Vin Room West and has a restaurant at Calgary airport. (vinroom.com)
DUMPLING LAB
This cool spot in the heart of downtown is easy on the wallet. For about $13, you’ll get a large helping of Shanghai-style dumplings with sides of seaweed salad and edamame. Mine also came with purple yam dumplings. Take your choice of sauces and try a local kombucha tea or the Oyster Stout from Calgary-based Dandy Brewing, a fun micro-brewery. (dumplinglab.com)
OXBOW
This is the new dining spot at the luscious Kensington Riverside Inn, the only Relais and Chateaux hotel in Calgary. I had lovely lamb with sausage and wild rice, as well as a tasty duck rillette. Current menu items include smoked Alberta bison flank steak and eggplant piccata. It’s an intimate space with a great view of the kitchen. kensingtonriversideinn.com/dining-en.html
KENSINGTON
This is a nice, walkable part of Calgary that’s just a few minutes from downtown. Kismet Clothing and Jewelry focuses on one-of-a-kind dresses, shoes and purses; perfect for folks who don’t want to be seen wearing the same thing as their friends or co-workers. On 10th Street NW, New Age Crystals and Books is a great spot if you’re into the healing power of crystals or love nothing more than firing up your lava lamp on Friday night with The Beatles’ Abbey Road cranked full blast on your vintage record player. Manana Imports features everything from wool scarves to world music CDs and gleaming Buddha statues.
EAST VILLAGE
Liz & Lottie is a slick, urban store on 4th Street SE in the trendy, growing East Village area. The shop is named for the owners’ grandmothers, and how nice is that? You’ll find everything from Status Anxiety purses to pocket bicycle pumps and tiny barbecues made for the growing Calgary condo set. They also have cute baby moccasins and a cheeky book called the My Bed Guest Book that folks can sign if they, um, sleep over. “It’s such a vibrant, growing community,” owner Heidi Blanchette told me. “The East Village is still new but it’s already a great destination.” (lizandlottie.ca)
INGLEWOOD
This has been voted one of Canada’s top neighbourhoods, and it’s one I always love to kick around in when I come to town. Just getting there is fun as you cross over a funky bridge and find yourself among low-rise brick buildings and a huge variety of shops. Kent of Inglewood sells everything from knives to men’s grooming products, while Artesano’s goods range from Marilyn Monroe purses to gnome statues. Lemonciello has stunning home decor items. If you’re tired of shopping, The Esker Foundation is a great spot to stop and admire stimulating works of art.
A TASTE OF ASIA
After your Dumpling Lab meal, wander around Chinatown. The aroma of pork buns wafts through the air as you wander past produce stands selling bright yellow zucchini or wild, pink and green dragon fruit. A few doors east of Centre Street is an alley with a very cool mural of Asian buildings and other scenes in neon pink, orange, blue and green.
THE SOUND OF MUSIC
Studio Bell, home of The National Music Centre, is a gorgeous spot that celebrates Canadian music. You’ll find displays honouring everyone from Drake and Michael Bublé to Gordon Lightfoot and Oscar Peterson. There are plenty of fun, interactive bits and videos to watch and instruments you can try. There’s also a live music venue next door at the old King Edward Hotel. The centre also has the old mobile recording studio used by The Rolling Stones to make their classic 1972 album, Exile on Main St. There’s also a special exhibit about k.d. lang, one of the great voices in Canadian history. (nmc.ca/studiobell)
A GLIMPSE OF THE PAST
It sounds a bit fuddy duddy, but Heritage Park is a marvellous spot south of downtown Calgary. You’ll find cool old buildings that help put the “cow” in Cowtown, as well as a steam train, wagon rides and a paddlewheel boat that plies around Glenmore Reservoir. The park’s Gasoline Alley has gleaming cars from just about every era, including a rare, baby blue Auburn from 1932 and dozens of other gems that have restored and buffed to a shine worthy of the Stanley Cup. The colourful old gas pumps are sleek, stylish and vintage. On a more serious note, Heritage Park also is home to The Famous 5 Centre of Canadian Women, a home that Canadian women’s rights advocate Nellie McClung once lived in. (heritagepark.ca)