Monthly Archives: May 2018

17th Ave, Attraction, Blog, Festival, Restaurant, Summer

Summer at last!

After a winter like that Summer is finally here.  We’ve been out visiting our favorite parks and spent nearly two hours at one close to home.  Our daughter is happy to not be wearing giant coats and boots, but she’s not the only one. We want to box up our winter clothes, then put those boxes in a trunk and then store that trunk in someone’s garage in the suburbs.

4th Street overflows with our city’s biggest festival. From 13th Ave all the way to 26th Ave. Lilac Fest is this Sunday 10am – 6pm.

Lilac Fest returns to 4th street in Mission this weekend!  We’ll be going down as a family with a goal of more than walking around.  Our daughter has been every year since she was born, but this year I hope we can hear some bands and enjoy more than just a hotdog.

Road construction on 17th resumed, from May 1st to Stampede. Then breaks for Summer and picks up after labor day. The Current phase sees the avenue ripped up from 4th St to 7th St.

Meanwhile construction of 17th resumed at the beginning of May and will go hard until Stampede begins.  We’re visiting all of our favorites places like Steeling Home, Analog Coffee and 1410. Of note we were at 1410 for brunch on a hot Sunday where the rooftop patio was 19 degrees at 10:30am.  That day my father was in town and we took a walk from Mission along the Elbow River to Ft. Calgary and the East Village. The pathways along there are far from busy but it’s a walk I’ll enjoy taking again.

Stock photo of 1410’s showing 1410’s excellent rooftop patio.
The was April the 28th, by far the hottest day we’d had yet! Try the French Toast.

In other 17th Ave happenings, Butter Block bakery opened back in February.  Situated in the Devenish building, they are a proper Bakery offering treats for pickup.  It took us a few months to make it over there, and when we did it was late in the day with few options left.  We will be back on a less busy Saturday morning.

Butter Block is located here, in the historic Devenish building.

Roosevelt is gone, I’ve added them to my list for a future article about places you should have tried before they disappeared.  (It’s a long list with some outstanding places on it) In its place is Hostel. Is it still a 933 Group restaurant? I have no idea.  My daughter and I visited Hostel last Thursday, while it’s interior is not my style in the least they have of course the same patio. Here you’ll find all food items are $10 and drinks are $5.  Check them out and I hope to fill you in on our experience shortly.

The patio at the new “Hostel” “So now that we’re on the Patio what do we do?

With Summer upon us, we’ll be enjoying all our usual urban spots but also venturing out to new places near and far from the core.  Our daughter is at the perfect age for Calaway Park so you can bet we’ll be there. At the opposite end of the spectrum is our favorite Riley Park, we plan on being there a great deal this Summer.

This was taken on my third trip to Calaway, and our daughter’s first. All have been fun visits but this was the first time I was a Dad.
Riley Park, two previous years we visited this oasis once a year, then last year it was six visits.

Summer means Ice Cream, I feel a future article coming on, “ Urban Ice Cream” or “Choosing Rocky Road”.  Another visit for our family with be the Zoo and the new Panda exhibit. We’ll be there soon, but not really in a hurry, we’ll wait for the initial crowds to lessen.  If that’s even possible.

Typical ice cream line at “Made by Marcus” day or night.

Look forward to some future posts, I’m working on an article about playgrounds in the inner city, and parks & pathways and of course highlighting restaurant experiences.

I hope to have an article about our city’s large parks in the coming weeks. This is at “Pearce Estate Park” in Inglewood.
Have you tried your luck at the track? Make your way to Century Down Race Track and Casino. We visited last year on an open house day with a tour and our daughter saw many cool things.
Skyline Luge wasn’t nearly as scary as someone worried. I’ll have an article about our adventure later this Summer.
East Village Junction’s Pop-Up Retail Park has returned for another year. Open Monday from Noon till 8pm, and Sat & Sun 10am till 6pm. Check it out at 439 8th Ave SE.
East Village Junction’s Pop-Up Retail Park has returned for another year. Open Monday from Noon till 8pm, and Sat & Sun 10am till 6pm. Check it out at 439 8th Ave SE. Expect entertainment and food trucks, check their site for scedules.

 

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17th Ave, Restaurant

Tubby Dog (Closed)

  • Opened: 2005
  • Address: 1022 17th Ave SW
  • Kid Friendly:  (Smaller Menu Items & Juice)
  • Tuesday: Tacos     Wednesday: Hamburgers
  • Brunch: No
  • Website: Nonfunctional
  • Google Pics: Link
  • The Globe and Mail: Article
  • On The A Side: Article
  • CBC: Article
  • Food Network’s “You Gotta Eat Here!” Episode
Exterior of Tubby Dog on 17th Ave SW

Tubby Dog is a 17th Ave staple, an example of its eclectic and uncorporate vibe.  Inside Tubby Dog feels like an old diner, but with changes that have come with time, and nothing like a modern fast food joint.  To me Tubby Dog defines my idea of late night food. Maybe it’s because some of their hotdogs could only have been come up with after 2am.  Maybe it’s because they used to serve post-midnight lines from a walk-up window. Whatever it is, my past perception was that Tubby Dog was only frequented by a cool alternative crowd.  After all, not just anywhere gets the late night lines.

Welcome to Tubby Dog

That may have once been true, but not today.  First of all there is no “too cool for school” vibe, just super approachable and friendly.  Stepping in, to your right and behind you is a counter along the windows, here a few people can eat while taking in some of the best people watching.  On the left side is the counter to order, with the grill and fryer behind. Running halfway to the back is a prep counter similar to Subway but feeling nothing like it.  On the opposite side are a half dozen arcades from the 80’s & 90’s all functioning and at their original prices. At the back are a few tables and most recently a few modern pinball machines, these machines seem to change out over time.  

Hot Dog Creation Area

Tubby Dog is a hot dog restaurant that specializes in crazy toppings, served with so many of these topping that they are spilling over the sides.  Before 2012 I’d never been to Tubby Dog, the only reason being I’m not much of one for hotdogs. However my perception that it was a cool alternative place got the better of me and I declared we weren’t too square to check it out.  I believe that first visit was in the afternoon, hardly a crazy late night eat, but I did enjoy a hotdog heaped with potato chips.

My usual the “A-Bomb” ($8.50)

After our daughter was born I felt we were cool urban parents bringing her to Tubby Dog.  I’m sure that’s what all the parents there with their kids felt they were too. And why wouldn’t there be kids?  Kids love hot dogs, they are right at home in this place. In honesty the regular dogs are just too large for a kid, but you can get a simple and smaller hotdog for them.  What about Mom and Dad? Well there’s beer too, so you can pretend it’s a late night date like when you first met, until you have to clean up a ketchup accident.

My Daughter and I at Tubby Dog. Here she was less than a year old. The “Tubby Dog” ($8.50) and a A-Bomb ($8.50)

Over the years Tubby dog has expanded their repertoire with poutine and Taco nights and Hamburger nights too.  Watch for the nights when they become a venue for live bands, then the spirit of 17th really comes out. Mellower but no less die hard are their Thursday night screening of the latest Riverdale episodes.  What’s that you ask? Exactly as it sounds, new episodes of Riverdale shot up on a wall about a 100”, grab a dog and enjoy the shocking teen drama. While that’s over for now, watch for its return in September when Riverdale returns.

My wife and our daughter decide what to order
This was taken a few years ago before the new pinball games came in
I told my daughter I played this back in the day
A picture form this year of the new pinball games
The back seating area
Just as a said lots of kids this day
Our daughter still practicing to take on Dad
“This is more my speed Dad!”
“Where’s the screen Dad?”

How about the food?  Well these are serious ⅓ lb hotdogs steamed to perfection or grilled on request.  With any and all toppings you could want.  My favorite is the “A-Bomb”, topped with cheese, bacon bits, mayo, mustard, ketchup, and them potato chips!  It’s delicious, a mix of textures and messier than anything!

My usual the “A-Bomb” ($8.50)

But if that’s too pedestrian for you then you want the “Captain Dog” with peanut butter & jelly and Captain Crunch cereal.  The classic “Tubby Dog” has chili, bacon, cheese, onions and mustard.  Sorry, neither of these are pictured.

The “Harlo” features tons of bacon bits ($8.50)

 

The “Sumo” Japanese Mayo, Seaweed Salad, Wasabi, Pickled Ginger, Lightly Toasted Sesame Seeds ($8.50)

Again for the more adventurous try the “Sumo” Japanese mayo, seaweed salad, wasabi, pickled ginger and lightly toasted sesame seeds.

For options any dog can be made with a veggie dog, turkey dog, bacon wrapped dog or Ukrainian sausage.

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If you’d like a night with more options, come for Tacos on Tuesday night or Hamburgers on Wednesdays. Check out the Google pictures link for images of their tacos, hamburgers, and the hot dog with a fried egg!

Kid Tested!

This is a solid thumbs up!

“Cheese Dog!”
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