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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