WHAT WE WANT NOW: A SEASON IN THE SUN
Summer—and the easy living that goes with it—is just around the corner. But those lazy, hazy days can be made easier still with the right gear.
GRILL TO GO
The Weber Smokey Joe charcoal barbecue is a portable take on the company’s iconic kettle grill. The Smokey Joe is small (just 14 inches across) but sturdy, making it ideal for a cookout in the park or as a permanent feature of an apartment balcony. $59.99 at Barbecues Galore, 3505 Edmonton Tr. N.E., 403-250-1558, and 5875 9th St. S.E., 403-258-4440, barbecuesgalore.ca.
FLAT OUT IN THE FLATLANDS
Fear not if you’re planning on going somewhere that doesn’t accommodate hammocks. (A field at a music festival, say.) This Fatboy lounge chair from Lamzac only takes seconds to inflate. Better still, you can save your breath; you inflate the Fatboy not by blowing out a lung, but by swinging it around to capture the air. $78 at Mountain Equipment Co-op, 830 10th Ave. S.W., 403-269-2420.
A GOSE IS GOOD FOR A GANDER
What’s a summer barbecue without a couple of beers? Try out the Ponderosa Gose (pronounced GOH-zuh) from Wild Rose Brewery. The website refers to the brew as “your party pal in tropical Alberta.” That seems more than a little tongue-in-cheek, but the gose, with its notes of passion fruit, coriander, and salt, should be pretty lively on the palate. $12 for a four-pack of tall boys at Wild Rose Brewery Taproom, 4580 Quesnay Wood Dr. S.W., 403-7275451, wildrosebrewery.com, and at most Alberta liquor stores.
A SNOOZE IN A BAG
In a pinch, this hammock from the Bay could be used indoors, but it achieves its full potential when hung between a couple of shady trees. All the hanging hardware, including reinforced steel loops, and a storage bag are included. This summer, display your patriotism—the Hudson’s Bay Company played an important role in Canadian history—with your eyes closed. $60 at the Bay, Chinook Centre, 403-255-6121, and four other Calgary locations, thebay.com.
PEDAL PUSHER
The 2017 edition of Mike Morrison’s Calgary by Bike features 170 things to do and places to see around downtown Calgary (40 more than last year). It’s an awesome little book to tuck into your pocket or pannier before you ride off into the sunrise on a daylong cycling staycation. $7.95 online at calgarybybike.ca. A list of local retailers is also available on the website.
THE UPSIDEDOWN PINEAPPLE
These funky shot glasses from W&P Design put the fun in functionality (the lid also serves as a stand for the glass). Use them for their intended purpose (in moderation, of course) or as a funky centrepiece. $50 for a set of two, at The Uncommons, 1325A 9th Ave. S.E., 587-353-9337, theuncommons.ca.
THE UPRIGHT PINEAPPLE
Among its many charms, summer is the season in which tropical shirts can be worn without irony. This blackand-white pineapple button-up is positively classy. $15 at H&M, Core, 403-262-6304, hm.com/ca.
PEEPER KEEPERS
These sunglasses from Cheap Monday are great if you’re looking for shades that aren’t designer but don’t come from the dollar store. And they’re more than just stylish; they have a UV 400 rating to protect your eyes from the harsh summer sun. $40 at Gravity Pope, 1126 17th Ave. S.W., 403-209-0961, gravitypope.com.
POCKET PROJECTOR
This mini-projector from Insignia is billed as being handy for lectures and other presentations. But it’s summer; forget work for a while. With a battery life (rechargeable) of two hours, you could also screen a classic summer comedy or even move the gaming action outdoors. It works with any device that has an HDMI or MHL output. $250 at Best Buy, 901 17th Ave. S.W., 403-541-6090, and four other Calgary locations, bestbuy.ca.