Tag Archives: featured

Downtown, Festival

YYC Pizza Week Starts Friday!

For ten days (Sept 22 – Oct 1) nearly 50 restaurants will have a special pizza.  Many of these Pizza’s will have outrageous toppings.  You’ll be able to pick up a pizza passport from participating restaurants and collect stamps for the opportunity to win prizes.

A few spots that don’t have pizza offering will have pizza-themed items like pizza burgers and pizza poutine.  From every $20, $3 will be donated to Calgary Meals on Wheels.

 

Check out their site for locations and menus http://www.yycpizzaweek.com/

17th Ave, Restaurant

Nando’s

Nando’s location on 17th Ave

Something a little different today, for the most part I want to avoid franchises or corporate restaurants here on Choosing Urban.  If that’s the case then why Nando’s?  It’s a little different, not quite the regular here in Calgary.  At the end of the day it’s just chicken, and they do have fries, so maybe not that different.  

Nando’s sandwich board out on 17th

When the building that was a TD bank was renovating and expanding, I was hopeful for a clothing retailer, something unique, with men’s and women’s clothes.  While we didn’t get that, we got a relocated H&R Block (from down the street) and later Nando’s.  I was pleased to see the investment along this block, and the south side of 17th.  It’s less true today, but for the longest time it felt like the north side got all the love.

When ever our daughter sees this she says “Red Chicken Daddy” “You wanna go there?”
Nando’s Patio on 17th

Nando’s is a restaurant chain originating in Johannesburg South Africa in 1987.  Over the years they’ve gone through extensive expansion mostly in Africa, Asia and the UK.  However they have a presence here in Canada as well as the US.  Their food is Mozambican-Portuguese on account of its peri peri spices.  Peri-peri being a Swahili word adopted by the Portuguese for hot peppers.  Their signature dish is flame grilled peri peri chicken served in quarters, halves and whole.  Traditional sides are rice, corn, macho peas, coleslaw and peri-peri vegetables.  

Nando’s Kitchen
Nando’s round booth, our daughter calls it “sitting in an egg”
Nando’s lively dining room

Nando’s atmosphere and presentation fall into the fast casual category.  Inside are wooden surfaces and lively colors.  Their seating has a mix of tables, booths and a single long table at bar height.  Seated at your table you can go over everything at your leisure.  They have a selection of appetizers, salads, chicken dishes, sandwiches and wraps.  All of their chicken dishes can be ordered with one or two sides.  As well they have platters to share which we’ll have to try soon.  Nando’s is reasonably priced, but it is easy to get carried away with addons.  Your biggest decision will be how hot do you go?  All dishes can be made with five options for heat and flavouring.  And while hot it hot, it’s not coated in hot sauce, it’s not wing night at the pub.  Meaning if you enjoy hot food you’ll find the “xtra hot” is easier to make it through.  Once you’ve decided take your table number up to the counter to order.  

Nando’s here’s a good sense of their decor

At the counter you can order any alcohol you’d like with your meal, they have red and white wines, Sangria and beer.  I was surprised to see their beers are on tap and not bottled. With your order placed at the counter you need to make one more stop on the way back to your table.  The stop at a side station allows you to pick up additional sauces, cutlery and any fountain drinks you’ve ordered.  

Nandos’ has just recently added some new items to their menu, which prompted our most recent trip

We’ve been to Nando’s five or six times since they opened.  I always look over their dessert items but in honesty I order to much food to have room for a dessert.  Of note they have a Portugese custard tart called “Pasteis de Natas”, as well as a chocolate cake, a cheesecake, ice cream and a bottomless frozen yogurt.  

Nandos’ has just recently added some new items to their menu, which prompted our most recent trip

I really enjoy their chicken it’s cooked right, flavourful and spicy.  The spiced rice is really nice and on our last visit I had corn on the cob for a side.  Our daughter likes the fries and the rice and it depends on the day if she’s up for chicken, but we get the same at home regarding chicken.  I know these are showing up in more and more places but we first saw it here, self serve pop machine with flavour mixing options.  My wife loves this thing, and I too like getting a lime ginger ale.  

Nando’s calls these their “PERi-PERi Chippers, I’ve seen something very similar at a few places now, and they are always very good, with Nando’s being no exception, except here you can dip them in spicy PERi-PERi sauces!
Nando’s ¼ Chicken (Leg + Thigh) $7.95 on it’s own or $12.95 with 2 sides, here shown with PERi-PERi vegetables
Nando’s Kids Chicken Strips with Fries $8.50
Nando’s corn on the cob $375
Nando’s double skewers shown with spiced rice $9.35 on it’s own or $14.35 with two sides

Is it good for kids?  Yes.  They have a kids menu, high chairs, and more non pop drinks than water, with apple and orange juice, milk and chocolate milk.  I like that there’s some new flavors for our daughter to try and we can skip the fries if we want.  

Nando’s table number stand

Lastly if you enjoy Nando’s various sauces they had for you to add to your dinner you can buy a bottle to take home for $6.99.

Downtown, East Village, Festival, Mission

Beakerhead starts Wednesday!

or what is Beakerhead?

  • Since: 2013
  • Date: 5 Days Wed-Sun, September 13th – 17th
  • Time: Most events 11am – 8pm
  • Where: All over see official site for locations
  • What: 60 events, shows, experiments and workshops
  • https://beakerhead.com/
  • Google Pics: Link
  • Beakerhead 2017 Program Guide DOWNLOAD

 

  • BEAKERNIGHT
  • Saturday 7pm – 11pm
  • Fort Calgary and East Village River Walk
  • “Science’s Biggest Street Party”
video
play-sharp-fill

Beakerhead is an outdoor exhibit of art, science and engineering, it takes place over five days and several sites.  It is a great chance to see the city come together to experience something unique.  From what I understand Beakerhead doesn’t travel, it is a Calgary event.  Some of the exhibits do travel to other events.  I have to confess, in all my years I’ve only been to one exhibit and that was two years ago.  This year our family’s taking in the sights and sounds of Beakerhead.  We’ll check out one or two of the exhibits outside the east village area during the week.  Then Stephen Ave on Friday night, and the big site’s on Saturday.  I want to see my little girl see the “Serpent Mother”, I’m sure she’ll call it a dragon.

Learn more about Beakerhead and it’s past events on the Wiki page with this: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beakerhead

Learn more about UofC’s involvement with Beakerhead in UToday with this: http://ucalgary.ca/utoday/issue/2017-09-12/explore-your-science-curiosity-beakerhead-2017

Nearly all the exhibits are free and sound awesome to check out.  Will there be food trucks in the area?  I don’t know, but seems likely.  Will it be cancelled it it rains?  They say no way, it will happen rain or shine.  I think it’s going to be a great spectacle and I hope to get some awesome pictures.

Come down, check it out, share your stories.

To see information about all the exhibits including times and locations with pictures follow this: https://beakerhead.com/events

  • Be sure to check out these exhibits
  • Loop – Interactive Musical Installation Link
  • Bowwave – Illuminated Art on the banks of the Bow Link 
  • Mars 112 – It’s a showhome, On Mars Link
  • Serpent Mother – Pyrotechnic Spectacle Link  Check it out!
  • Impulse – Lit up giant motion aware Teeter-Tooters! Link 
  • Scent Bar – Theatrical sensory experiences Link
  • Engineered Eats – Creative foods and beverages from 25 bars and restaurants Link
  • Malted Milkshake Madness – Learn the science and create Link
  • Beakerbar – Cold brews and chemical cocktails are yours for the tasting Link
17th Ave, Restaurant

Golden Bell

  • Opened:  Before 2012
  • Address:  1112 – 17th Ave SW
  • Kid Friendly:  w/Highchairs, w/Kids Menu
  • Website: http://www.goldenbell.ca/
  • Google Pics: Link

I grew up in a B.C. mountain town in the eighties.  Restaurant options were, steak, burgers, pizza and pastas.  As a result years ago when I was asked if I liked Vietnamese food, I could only say I’d never had it.

My first experience with Vietnamese was a spicy phở.  I didn’t like it much, but enough that we went back soon and I tried a vermicelli dish, I loved it!  It’s been sixteen years and I should try pho again, but I really just enjoy my vermicelli too much.  Maybe soon.  I hear you’re less open to new foods the older you get, so I need to push that clock back.

We started going to Golden Bell in 2013, a few years after it opened.  It was excellent.  I’m not going to say it’s the best in the city, I even have one on my own list that I hold a little higher.  However we go here more.  Why then?  Because it’s good, consistent and at the right price point for frequent visits.

When our daughter was less than a year old we took her here.  We both wanted her to be familiar with more flavours and spices at a younger age than either of use were.  Well it was a big hit, she ate lemongrass chicken, spring rolls, bean sprouts, rice vermicelli and developed a love for fish sauce.

Deep fried spring rolls (4 rolls) ($6.95)

We frequent Golden Bell about once a month, however we were there last week in addition to this week, and that’s hardly rare.  If you need a more accurate count let’s just say 18 times a year.  We always get an order of spring rolls for our daughter and cut them up to cool for her.  She get’s a little dish of fish sauce for dipping.  Honestly she’s all about dipping.  If you can dip it, she’ll eat it.  

Delicious Grilled Chicken Salad Rolls (3 rolls) ($7.95)

Golden Bell is located on a busy area of 17th ave right next door to the Boston Pizza.  They have a small patio out front that holds four tables.  Inside is a modest interior with about twelve tables and a bar that seats another three.  However I’ve never seen anyone sit at the bar.  That being said we are usually there between 5-6, and I have seen the restaurant much busier around 7.  Golden  Bell is licenced and you can enjoy from a small selection of beer.

My wife and I mostly order the same rice vermicelli dish I’ve been ordering for a decade and a half.  At Golden Bell that is number 72B,  Charbroiled lemongrass chicken and a single diced spring roll, served on rice vermicelli noodles with bean sprouts, lettuce, shredded cucumber and carrots, topped with ground peanuts and green onion.  On the side is a bowl of the beloved fish sauce for you to add to your desired mixture.  I’m told that an intention is to preserve the various textures of the food and not let it turn soggy.  As a result you should add fish sauce to the dish sparingly, only enough to coat the vermicelli so that they’re not in one big clump.  I pour the whole bowl in and look for more.

Charbroiled lemon grass chicken and spring rolls (white meat) ($11.75)
I can’t find where they’ll sell me more of this. However peanut sauce is $0.75 for a dish.

What I love about my rice vermicelli dish is the mix of textures.  The rice noodles are so fine and then the chicken and few spring rolls mixed in and bean sprouts, it’s just fun to eat.  The flavours of the lemongrass chicken with the fish sauce together is what makes the meal for me.  What is fish sauce?  Well really it is Nước chắm, this accompanies many vietnamese dishes and is a sweet, spicy, sour and fishy sauce.  It’s made with fish sauce, lime juice, garlic, chili peppers and some shredded carrot.  There are various of course, but this gives you an idea if you’re not familiar.

Where I do change things up is with appetizers, which I almost always order.  At Golden Bell they have a smallish list of appetizers, but all the favorites are here.  There are spring rolls, (both pork and vegetable), shrimp salad rolls and chicken salad rolls as well as chicken wings and ginger beef.  I haven’t seen canadian style ginger beef at other vietnamese restaurants.  However let’s not fool ourselves and call it chinese, so why not have it here too.  Afterall our daughter also loves the ginger beef.  

Delicious Grilled Chicken Salad Rolls (3 rolls) ($7.95)

When bringing little ones out for vietnamese start with spring rolls.  The texture is easy and approachable.  Our daughter likes the vermicelli noodles, however has a hard time chewing and breaking them down, she might cough and even choke.  I prevent this by cutting them up superfine.  Don’t do it to mine, but she needs it.  The lemongrass chicken I also cut up small for her, like any other food.  Golden Bell uses nice tender cuts of chicken and our daughter has never had difficulty chewing them, neither have I.  The ginger beef, also requires cutting up for her and is mildly spicy, so depending on your child’s feeling about spice you may need to consume this one yourself.

One last thing must be mentioned when talking about Vietnamese cuisine.  The sauces, hoisin, fish, peanut, shrimp paste, tuong, soy and hot chilli.  Try them all, add them to everything, dip everything.  Hoisin sauces are nearly the same everywhere, but peanuts sauces can have a lot of variety.  Golden Bell’s peanut sauce white it is distinctly peanut, it isn’t overwhelmingly so.  I’ve had peanut sauces where it tastes like a thinned down peanut butter.  Not necessarily bad, but good to know.

Deep fried spring rolls (4 rolls) ($6.95)

I feel that Vietnamese cuisine is “fresher feeling” without the abundance of deep fried items.  There can be a great variety of unique spices and cooking styles in the appetizers at other Vietnamese restaurants and that’s a great way to share and try things out.

I think my revisit to phở is long overdue, maybe a phở soup for me and my daughter to share is in the near future.

Attraction, City Limits

Granary Road

  • Opened 2017 (Park in July / Market in August)
  • Located at 226034 112th St W MD of Foothills
  • Hours: Granary Road Site Link
  • https://www.granaryroad.com/
  • Google Pics: Link
  • Kid Friendly: No High Chairs, No Specific Kids Menu, Large Washrooms include a Change Table
  • We will be visiting Granary Road further to continue to add to this article.


Granary Road is more than a Farmer’s Market, it’s an attraction.  

Situated south of 22X it is outside of the city allowing lots of space for its “Active Learning Park”.  But let’s not get ahead of ourselves, first it’s a farmer’s market.  As a farmer’s market it’s gorgeous, there has been some serious money spent here.  It presents its upscale vendors in surroundings with concrete floors and wood finished walls.  There are high vaulted ceilings and large windows letting in lots of natural light, as well as roll up doors along the front and back. The building is long with the market extending out to both ends with “The Loft Kitchen” in the center.

This is a fast casual restaurant with soups, sandwiches and pastries.  Upstairs is a lounge for local beers and enjoying the view from the 40ft windows looking out over the park.

We visited Granary Road on August 27th, this was the first weekend that the Market, Loft Kitchen and the Park were all open together.  We left our comfort zone of downtown and ventured far south past 22X essentially next door to Spruce Meadows.  Granary Road makes an impression, it is big with lofty goals and lots of potential.

The parking lot has a separate entrance and exit, which I see as good planning for the days to come.  However the parking lot is unpaved, not an issue in August but maybe later, and I don’t think it’s large enough.  It was a little chaotic when it was busier and we were leaving.  Still when your large parking lot isn’t large enough for all of your guests, it’s a great problem to have.  

We arrived at 11am, and were hungry.  We intended to look around and take in the park, however food first.  Considering how far we were from any other options I thought that expecting to have a breakfast/brunch like meal at 11am wouldn’t be a surprise.  However it was, all that was available were sandwiches and soups.  Even the variety was limited as many items were marked with “Coming Soon”.  There was lots of seating, both inside and out.  Given the upscale enviroment I was expecting dishes to take my food to a table.  Not so, the three of us took our sandwiches to a table in brown cardboard takeout boxes.  We tore them down to make eating easier.  It felt odd to sit at a table in such nice surroundings with torn down takeout boxes.  However when I looked around it was what everyone was doing.  It looked like they were equipped to make something more substantial.  I would have loved anything with eggs and ham, however it wasn’t offered yet.  The upstairs wasn’t open, and roped off marked “staff only”.  

Now the prices.  I ordered a latte, in a paper cup ($4.25), a happy planet juice ($4.75) for my daughter, a ham and cheese croissant ($4.75) also for my daughter, lastly a salami and cheese sandwich ($12.75) for myself.  The total with taxes $27!  Now my sandwich was on a baguette, it was Gruyere cheese and Genoa salami.  However the sandwich was not worth $12.75, it was good, but not that good.  I don’t have a problem with higher prices,  however market appropriate.  The latte was fine, the croissant with ham and cheese, even reasonable.  Perhaps I’ve lost track of where Happy Planet’s prices are because 4.75 feels high.  It’s my large and tasty sandwich which left the impression of high prices.  Want to purchase a banana bread to take home for later?  Sure $15, not bad.  Want a slice now with a coffee, sure $3.  Given the math I’d make that $2.  I do want to back off on my attack of the pricing and food options.  It just opened, and pricing things out isn’t easy.

Let’s run it through my usual criteria, it was good, and the place was wonderful to be in.  Let’s give it some months to shake things down.  Adjust the menu for what people are asking for.  When I make plans to spend a significant part of my day there,  I intend for that to include breakfast, but perhaps I’m alone in that.  

They have a beautiful patio with tables and umbrellas (and fabric umbrellas make a big impression on me, larger than they should).  After shopping in the market, I want an afternoon coffee and cake.  I did see an excellent looking cake from one of the market’s vendors, reasonably priced.  However I wasn’t about to carry it out and eat from a box.  They’re building an experience, I’m trying to have an experience, let’s deliver it all the way.  Don’t hear me wrong, we will be back, but  it’s early days for Granary Road.

The Market.  I’ll get this out of the way, where is the produce?  It’s ok, I’ll go else where for vegetables, if it’s not part of Granary Road’s vision.  But then I won’t drive all this way and visit them for sausages and cheese.  Reason?  Well the first place I went for my tomatoes has that as well.  Now again, let’s cut them some slack they just opened, and it’s August.  Not late in the season, but later than farms may have wanted to commit to something.  Again next year will be a better gauge of their total offerings.  That being said right now they have some excellent vendors.  The one that caught my eye the most was Urban Butcher, yes the very same as in Mission.  The walk area did get hard to move in at its busiest, but they are plenty wide enough, it was just busy.

Take a look through our further pictures of the market.  For a complete listing follow this LINK to the market’s vendor listing on their own site.

Lastly let’s talk “Active Learning Park”.  This is 36 acres of play and learning in themed interactive areas.  Everything looks great!  This area is wonderful.  I’d like some more trees for shade, but again they just opened.  What I’d really like to see is a few more interpretive staff.  However those we did see were friendly, knowledgeable and really added to the experience.

Once passing through the gates you follow a path to 11 exhibits and themed play areas.  Most of these areas have climbing structures with slides and ropes.  Everything had great sights to behold.  There are interpretive signs detailing the areas and explaining the themes and learning aspects of the play.

My daughter really enjoyed each area and we had to keep reminding her there was more to see and do.  I felt there are too many signs saying to not climb on things.  Sure the giant mushrooms aren’t meant for climbing, but then don’t have them where you want kids to come and play.  The petting zoo was great and again my daughter really enjoyed it.  There wasn’t as much “petting” as some may want, but we were fine with that.

At the market building there’s even a gift shop.

Here is a LINK to their site’s listing about the park.


The last element I must bring up because people are all over their Facebook and Google pages talking about it.   Admission price.  It’s too high.

  • Children 0-2:  FREE     
  • Children 3 – 14:  $13.00    
  • Adults 15+:  $17.00    
  • Seniors 60+:  $15.00

Let’s be clear the park is for kids.  Meaning it’s not much for adults, expect to walk your kids around and watch them.  To Granary Road, don’t burn the parents goodwill with high prices to watch their kids play.  We spent $47 to walk around and watch our daughter play.  Then another $40 on food when we arrived.  Unfortunately we didn’t spend anything in the market to support the vendors, because our budget was spent and we felt a little burned on $17 admission each.

As far as I’m concerned, $10 per kid with adults being free is what I’m looking for.  But if you really want, leave it at $13 for kids and make it $5 for parents.  Remember you’re charging me to follow my kid around.

There’s great potential in every area of Granary Road.  Everything off-putting isn’t deep rooted in their operation.  These are just first impressions of a very new venture and something of this scale has a lot of growing to go through.  We will be back, but not this year.  We don’t leave downtown often, so we’re not your target audience.  However next year I expect pricing to be trimmed up, restaurant food options to be expanded on, and proper dishes.

Blog

Welcome to Choosing Urban

Whenever I made a particularly involved Facebook post I was told I should make a website.  A website about living downtown.  I’d laugh, and think about it a bit.  That’s as far as I ever got.  

Yet everyday I’m living potential posts.  What’s it like raising a family downtown?  How do we have enough space?  How can it work with only one car?  Where did we just eat out?  Where was that picture taken?  I’d think about it again.  However I set high standards for myself, I’d get overwhelmed at the idea I’d created and never begin.  

A few more years went by.  Again and again I’d be told, “you should put that on a website”.   Again I’d think about it.  I could make a blog, talking about downtown life.  I’d post about car alarms at 3 am, and street closures for festivals, my wife’s four block commute.  Maybe restaurant reviews, and that’s it?  Maybe pictures and reviews of city parks, oh that’s already been done.  How about a site about current events in our city!  Oh I just intimidated myself.  I can’t maintain that website.

Still I think about it.

On Wednesday June 21st, I decided to do it.  I was going to make a website about “Calgary’s Downtown Experience”.  What would it include, what wouldn’t it?  Will I have a strict mission statement?  

It will be about things that interest me and my family about downtown life.  Where does that begin and end?  I’m not sure.  Do I have to define it?  I don’t think so.  In time the objective of the website will become obvious, the tone will evolve, and the scope will grow to suit “Calgary’s Downtown Experience”.

This is my telling of our family’s experience living in downtown Calgary.  Our choice to live downtown was always our preference.  We can’t imagine being anywhere else, we have no ambition to leave, this is ideal for us.  We keep our life focused on downtown, for diversity, for convenience and for enjoyment.  

We’ve chosen downtown and these are our stories.

Eau Claire, Festival, Summer

Taste of Calgary

  • 2017 was Taste of Calgary’s 20th Year
  • Located at Eau Claire’s Plaza
  • Runs for four days, Thursday – Sunday, 11am – 9pm
  • https://www.tasteofcalgary.com/
  • Google Pics: Link
  • Watch this page for updates as we get closer to the 2018 Taste of Calgary

Taste of Calgary is an outdoor food festival where you can enjoy samplings from a variety of Calgary’s unique restaurants.  Not limited to just food, there are also many participants from Calgary’s local craft beers.  While enjoying a variety of food and drinks you can enjoy musical entertainment from the stage.

The map and guide

Admission to the festival grounds is free and includes access to the main stage.  The only cost is for tickets, at one dollar each.  Food costs are then set by the vendors, this is anywhere from 2-5 tickets.

I hadn’t been to Taste of Calgary in many years, I’d enjoyed it before but somehow hadn’t made it back.  This summer we changed that, with family in town we thought it would be a great outing.

One of several ticket booths

We parked only a few blocks away from Eau Claire, which after 6pm is free in the area.  The area was really busy but not to the point of uncomfortable congestion.  There were several ticket booths and we waited very briefly in line to get our own.  Ticket sales are CASH ONLY, no debit or credit.  

This helps keep costs down for the organizers, however given the number of years the festival’s been running, and the organization of everything I was really expecting to be able to pay with debit.  There were ATM’s on site, but with all booths only taking tickets what would the point be in taking out cash for a single point of purchase.

There was more than just food
Food Trucks were also on site, participating and accepting coupons

With a map/guide from the ticket booth you could plan what you want to try or just wander around and see what grabs your attention.  The festival was laid out well, and easy to get around.  There were lots of garbage and recycling areas.  We were there on the first night and there were some gaps where it appeared participants hadn’t set up yet.  No worries however as there were still lots of options.

The beer garden and stage area
Paper St. ‘s Booth
Paper St. Nashville Hot Chicken Sliders: Buttermilk fried chicken tossed in hot sauce, coleslaw, pickle, pepperjack & chipolte ranch (4 Tickets)
Naina’s Kitchen
Naina’s Kitchen – Stuffed Burger: Mozza and Cheddar (5 Tickets)
Naina’s Kitchen – Regular Fried (2 Tickets)
Naina’s Kitchen
Pza – Pizza (4 Tickets)
Pza – Pizza (4 Tickets)

While we were there “Matt Blais” was playing on the stage.  This is entirely subjective but I thought he was excellent, and just the right approachable rock for such an event.

Matt Blais

I’ve read a bunch of people’s opinions from Facebook and Google.  The mixed opinions seem to be about the variety of participants, quality of food, and price, essentially everything.  

Well price, is it cheap?  No I don’t think it is.  But you can be choosy where you spend your tickets, because there are deals to be had.  However I don’t feel you go to an event like this expecting things to be cheap.  I wandered around and picked what I wanted to eat, not what was cheap.   The average price was 4-5 tickets for an item, and for some thing 5 tickets was a lot for what you got.  However for some 5 tickets got you a lot, and there were items for 3 tickets.  Most drinks were 2 tickets, while on the beer sampling side it ranged from 2-3 tickets each.  If it’s a major concern they do list the full menu and prices on the website.  You could easily look it over and plan in advance.  Understand these are samplings, think finger food appetizers, some are larger but the general idea is “a taste”.

Quality of the food?  Everything I had was excellent, my food was hot and tasty.  This is a dynamic environment and if things weren’t hot I’d be inclined to forgive it.  However quality, to me means freshness and quality cuts of meat.  Everything I had was great.

Variety?  I can’t entertain a criticism of this, there is a great variety.  You can have something entirely pedestrian or go out outside the regular with Taste of Calgary.

17th Ave, Restaurant

Blanco Cantina

Nearly two years ago Blanco Cantina opened on 17th Ave.  To say we were excited for another Mexican option would be putting it mildly.  We have had an influx of Mexican spots (actually since Blanco opened two of them have disappeared) but I think Calgarians have a hunger for it.

First off Blanco comes from the group behind Añejo, The Mission and The Living Room.  They have transformed the space once occupied by Brava Bistro, opening up the restaurant with a rustic vibe and enlarging the patio with, of course, roll up doors.  While the decor is rustic, it is a clean modern rustic with neon signs filling the walls.  The bar of course is a focal point with more tequila options than I’m close to familiar with.

The food menu at Blanco is outstanding, it’s filled with all of the Mexican favorites with a special emphasis put on nachos (these are not to be missed!).  The burritos are huge ($16/$20) with vivid flavours, however I’ve only had them once.  The nachos ($12/$20/$28) on the other hand, we’ve been for three times.  There’s a separate ordering card for the nachos, what size, what toppings, what meat, how about more toppings.  They are huge, and excellent.  I no longer order nachos elsewhere because what would be the point, they’d only be disappointing after these.

On another visit to Blanco we had brunch.  You didn’t know Mexicans did brunch?  Well of course they do, they just do it spicier!  Forgive me as this was some months back.  I had the Blanco Benny ($17) (poached eggs, toasted english muffin, chipotle beef brisket, spicy hollandaise, hash browns, fresh fruit).  I remember it being good, just as described and satisfying, but really just as one would expect it to be.  My wife on the other hand had the Huevos Rancheros ($14) (crispy corn tortillas, refried beans, hash browns, salsa rojo, two fried eggs, crispy bacon, fresh fruit) nothing unusual there right?  Right.  Except this was basically breakfast nachos and amazing.  Do yourself a favor go order this next Sunday.  My daughter had a bacon and eggs with fruit ($12), not actually on the menu.

So here’s where I answer my usual, how is it for kids?  Well there is no kids menu, or high chairs.  However they have been extremely great with my daughter.  On multiple occasions they have made extra effort with her, making her slushy juice drinks ($5) and a cheese quesadilla ($?) .  Taking notice when she wasn’t interested in the world’s greatest nachos (because we were expecting to share them),  so she ordered the Mexican flatbread ($14).  While I wouldn’t suggest their intention is for a “family” restaurant, with a child that can sit and be patient Blanco is a great family spot.

17th Ave, Restaurant

Home & Away

Opened in 2016 at the corner of 17th and 13th you may remember it as where Moxies used to be, is Home & Away.  They completely gutted the building to concrete and studs, there is no trace of Moxies’ layout and aesthetic.  They have gone all out with a sports aesthetic, but that doesn’t mean they have 20 or 30 screens, they have several and a large projection screen they lower for events. Rather it’s the atmosphere that shouts SPORTS, their flooring is made from reclaimed gym floors, their ceiling is styled like a small arena, they have a skateboard wall, as well as many other decorative touches.  Lastly they have games to play, Basketball hoops, Skee Ball, a hockey table and I’m told connect four boards you can bring to your table.  Not to be forgotten is their giant spacious patio, and roll-up windows with outfacing bar seating, it’s like front row seating to the Avenue without the full heat of the patio sun.  The patio itself has been enlarged and now runs the full length of the building, and has some tree’s added it that will be great for some shade in a few years when they get a little bigger.

First let me say Home & Away has improved hugely from my first visit when they’d been open for only 2 months.  I wish I could say for certain but I think they have knocked their prices down a buck or two across the board as well.  They are very active on social media with daily menu creations.  I’ve enjoyed a few of their Wednesday burger creations.  Most recently it was a half priced Thursday taco creation.  Their Facebook and Google albums are filled with unique menu creations, but they also have regular menu items you can depend on it that’s more your speed.

I like Home & Away’s Daily features, unlike some places where it’s just a soup that changes, this really feels like a timely feature you have been lucky enough to catch.  Additionally they have great happy hour specials that run in an extended happy hour from 11am to 6pm.  There are six items for $6 before 6:00.  They also have more game day specials than I can keep up with.  If you’re hoping you can bring kids, well no worries Home & Away has a kids menu and the games are free on Sundays, so it’s ideal to come by then.

Visit Thursday July 27th

It was Taco day, an excellent day to try a daily special.  This week I really feel that Home & Away’s team has outdone themselves these were delicious.  As taken from their Facebook Post “Tonight’s taco feature from Sous Chef Jeremy are “Pretzel Fried Chicken Taco” with Pretzel Breaded Chicken, Swiss Cheese, Honey Mustard, Shaved Lettuce and Pickled Red Onion”.  These were so good I could have eaten two orders but we also had the Chili Glazed Calamari which I forgot to get a picture of, but expect one at a later date.

These tacos were a wonderful melody of flavours starting with the Pretzel Breaded Chicken, tasty with a wonderful texture, crisp on the outside and tender inside.  The honey mustard and pickled onion was a delicious complement and more fitting than I would have imagined.

My wife enjoyed the “Tijuana Chicken Salad – Queso Fresco, Pico de Gallo, Corn, Black Beans, Cilantro, Radish, Crispy Tortilla Strips, Jalapeno Lime Dressing.  She said it was excellent and enjoyed the freshness really fitting for summer.

My daughter had the “Little League Mac & Cheese – White Cheddar Fondue, Bread Crumbs”.  She gave it a thumbs up, but the really testament was that she ate every last bit, where as our visit nearly a year early she only picked at it.  Truthfully I think she wasn’t that hungry on the previous visit.

My only suggestion, offer a heat rating when you order the Chilli Glazed Calamari, they were excellent and just as advertised, but done with some sauteed hot peppers and “3rd Inning heat” would push it into something unique.

 

Home & Away is an excellent addition to the Avenue, they have real character in their venue and menu, I fully recommend it.

17th Ave, Festival, Mission, Summer

4th Street Lilac Festival

  • Lilacfest is on Sunday June 2, 2019
  • This is the 29th year for the Lilac Festival
  • Along 4th St SW, Between 13 Ave & Elbow Dr
  • 10am to 6pm
  • Website: https://www.lilacfestival.net/

Lilac Fest, to many it’s the start of summer, it the biggest festival in Calgary.  Lilac Fest is a one day event located on 4th street from 13th Ave, south of the downtown core to Elbow drive on the south edge of Mission.  The festival begins with a parade at 10am going down 4th street.  

It runs from 10am to 6pm and features over 500 booths.  These booths are everything from food, crafts, clothes, collectables, imported items, to community organizations.  There are several bands playing on stages, several restaurants with fenced of patios for alcohol.   There is everything you can imagine to see.

I really enjoy Lilac Fest, I like walking from one end to the other getting some street food and seeing everyone glad that summer is finally here.  We’ve brought my daughter every year since she’s been born.  That means one year being pushed in her bassinette, another wearing her in a backpack, another her stumbling along and being picked up repeatedly, and now this year, just trying to keep up to her.

There are lots of activities for kids, from facepainting and games to trampoline jumping.  All of which I hope she can enjoy next year, most things are tough for a little one.  However there are kids everywhere, there are pets everywhere, and people, people, people.  

Don’t expect to park close, but it can be surprising how close you can get just a few streets from 4th.  With all the people there is an army of volunteers keeping the streets litter free and helping people find their way around.  There are multiple bin recycling stations everywhere, with those volunteers helping you use the right bin for you napkin, plate and drink container.  There is a lost kid station, that thankfully I’ve never needed to put through it’s paces.