living inner-city€¦ · livinginner-city friday, sept. 28, 2012 n°4 parks prince’s island is a...

LIVINGINNER-CITY

FRIdaY, SEpT. 28, 2012 N°4

paRkSprince’s Island is a natural oasis smack dab in the heart of the city. //4

Last chance to catch this year’s flicks at the Calgary International Film Fest. //6

What’s been done and what is planned to revitalize the neighbourhood. //10

FILm FEST EaST vILLagE

FOOD & WINE issue

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LIVINGINNER-CITY

Parks/4 Festivals/6 Buying inner-city/8 east village/10

Food columnist and

restaurant reviewer john

gilchrist tackles inner-city

eateries/12-15calgaryherald.com/innercityliving

Inner-CIty LIvIng is a publication of the Calgary Herald’s Special Projects

Department

COvER: East village. Image by gavin Young, Calgary Herald // Special projects manager: Barb Livingstone, 403-235-7339; [email protected] // Special projects co-ordinator/designer: karen petkau, 403-235-7513; [email protected]

calgaryherald.com/innercityliving

3

FRIdaY, SEpTEmBER 28, 2012 N°4

There are a few great reasons why nearly three-quarters of the units at Alura are already

sold, making the Beltline condo tower one of the best selling new highrises in inner-city Calgary.

With some of the lowest prices of any highrise in downtown Calgary, Alura is equally attractive to both owner/users and investor/landlords who want a sure return on their investment, says Clay Hamdon, president of Cove Properties Ltd.

But more than that, he adds, the quality of construction and level of finishing is already evident, even though Alura is still in the early stages of building. Thanks to its outstanding sister tower, Nuera — which is located next door to Alura — prospective buyers can see and appreciate first-hand the high qual-ity they can expect when they move into their all-new Alura homes.

“Our reputation as highrise-construction experts who complete a project when we say we will — and in the manner we promise — is unparalleled in Calgary,” says Hamdon, noting Alura is already a full year ahead of schedule. The tower is expected to reach its full height by mid-2013, with occupan-cies commencing mid-2014.

“With the parkade and retail podium already built, our construc-tion timetable has been condensed from three years to two years, which is very good news for our buyers,” adds Hamdon.

Like Nuera, Alura offers beauti-fully finished condo units in a thriv-ing inner-city location just steps from all of downtown’s best bou-tiques, restaurants, nightclubs, arts and sports venues, as well as walking paths and an LRT hub — but at a price that’s actually under current market value in the area.

Another buyer benefit is access to twice the amenities of a single-tower project: in addition to the lounge and business centre in Alura, owners can also access the state-of-the-art fitness centre and Pilates studio next door at Nuera. Residents of both buildings will have exclusive access to a spectacular landscaped

garden terrace that will bridge the two towers.

Meanwhile, 25,000 square feet of retail space on the main floor will give residents easy access to all the conveniences they could want just steps from their front door.

Suites feature smartly designed open layouts, ample-sized bedrooms and high-quality finishings, such as maple cabinets and ceramic tiles.

The most stunning aspect of each unit at Alura, however, is the

impressive floor-to-ceiling “curtain glass” walls, which allow for pan-oramic vistas of the foothills during the day and city views at night.

With construction well underway, the 277-unit building is nearly 70 per cent sold; just 87 condos remain, including two-bedroom units start-ing at $326,800 and one-bedroom units from $281,800 on the 28th floor. Top-floor, west-facing pent-house units, with breathtaking mountain views, are still available

for $311,800. “All of our trades are contracted,

the crane is up and in place and the concrete has started to pour,” says Hamdon. “Things are running full-out at the site, and there is no stop-ping us now.”

Meanwhile, Cove Properties is hosting a gala reception for own-ers, guests and realtors on Oct. 3 to launch Alura’s new show suite and remodeled sales centre. For more information, go to AluraLiving.ca.

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LIVINGINNER-CITY

FOOD & WINE

IC4


4

When it comes time to renewing a 40-year-old home, sometimes the

best option is to start anew.That’s what Yvonne and Heinz

Lauper did when they commis-sioned Albi Homes’ Inner City and Custom Division to build a new home for them in Varsity.

“My parents built the original house, and we still have our origi-nal neighbours,” says Yvonne. “We considered renovating, but decided it would cost us almost as much as new construction. And we didn’t want to deal with the surprises that would inevitably come along.

“We have a lovely view lot that just screamed for a walkout.”

The couple wanted a main-floor master bedroom and two bedrooms for their older sons in the walkout level (the original home was a two-

storey design).The new home covers 2,315

square feet on the main floor and 1,700 finished square feet in the walkout basement, with three bed-rooms plus flex and two full and two half baths.

“I was very focused in what I wanted,” says Yvonne. “When I came to Albi and we met with them, I had my layman’s plan drawn out and I had my specifications for each of the rooms listed, so they knew exactly what I wanted.”

It was then up to Albi’s designers

and contractors to make this dream home a reality, says operations man-ager Lewis Pfeifer.

“It’s very important to keep our clients in the loop,” he says. “We are in touch with Yvonne and Heinz on a weekly basis, keeping them updated of what was happening.”

He says Albi likes to have regularly scheduled walk-throughs throughout the project to ensure homeowners are kept abreast of the progress. This hands-on approach is what sets Albi Homes apart from its competition.

Yvonne says Albi’s design experts took her original plan and augment-ed it, adding “arches and little details that I, as a layman, wouldn’t think of — such as, ‘how about turning this around, taking advantage of the view.’ It was nice to see someone taking your thoughts and making them into something wonderful.”

Pfeifer says while Albi is associ-ated with suburban new-builds, its Inner City and Custom Division continues to raise the bar on new-home construction in established neighbourhoods.

Albi will break down the project, arrange suppliers and subcontrac-tors and pull the correct permits. Customers have access to Albi’s Galleria interior design studio to help find the right styles and fin-ishes.

Yvonne’s priority was to create a functional home.

“A lot of high-end builders pad the space but we wanted each space to be functional,” she says. “It’s truly our dream home.”

For more information, call 403-203-1898 or visit AlbiHomes.com.

alBi homes takes plans and makes

one couple’s dream home a

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core esseNtIaLs Parks

island Park a retreat From Big citywords: cara casey // images: cara casey

In the midst of the traffic and chaos of the downtown core, tucked between memorial drive to the north and the lagoon to the south sits Calgary’s version of New York’s Central park.

Named after peter anthony prince, the founder of the Eau Claire Lumber mill, prince’s Island park was purchased by the city in

1947 after the mill closed in 1945. The island was originally created after the Eau Claire and Bow River Lumber Company dug a channel to get logs closer to the sawmill from kananaskis country.

While Calgary has always been a city known for its expansive parks and outdoor spaces, prince’s Island is somewhat of a special retreat.

Surrounded by skyscrapers, it is a sort of hideaway from the pressures of the big city.

Not only a summer hangout spot for those who love to run, relax, rollerblade and the like, it is also a cultural hub for the city’s biggest festivals.

Les Siemieniuk, general manager of the Calgary Folk music Festival held every July

in the park for the past 33 years, believes it is the perfect venue.

“We’re part of the city’s fabric now,” says Siemieniuk. “The park is all about having a vibrant city and a vibrant downtown. most people come to the park because they want to be in the heart of the action.”

also held within the park every summer is Shakespeare in the park, a production put on in joint partnership between Theatre Calgary and mount Royal University.

accessible to all, mount Royal company co-ordinator Haysam kadri says the park exposes a variety of individuals to cultural and artistic events that they might not otherwise seek out.

/11

pRINCE’S ISLaNd paRk IS CaLgaRY’S vERSION OF NEW YORk’S CENTRaL paRk, OFFERINg a TRaNqUIL gETaWaY FROm THE HUSTLE aNd BUSTLE OF CITY LIvINg..

a Princely Place

Fans desperate to get closer to their favourite stars are willingly injecting themselves with live viruses harvested from sick celebrities.

So is the plot of antiviral, the first feature from Brandon Cronenberg that will be showcased at the Calgary International Film Festival Black Carpet gala this evening.

The film, an eerie ode to today’s society, strife with celebrity obsession and fear of infectious diseases, is a shining example of where CIFF excels — putting the spotlight on obscure features, shorts and documentaries

that might otherwise not be shown in the city.“We’re continuing to develop as a

discovery festival,” says Steve Schroeder, CIFF executive director.

“Instead of focusing only on the films and the filmmakers that are big news right now, we’re looking under a lot of rocks to find the filmmakers who we think are going to be the ones that are really going to be celebrated in a few years.”

more than 150 multi-genre movies from around the world will have been screened at CIFF 2012 by the time the curtains close on

Sunday, including martin villeneuve’s debut mars et avril.

This romantic sci-fi set in futuristic montreal will be screened tomorrow night at the CIFF Closing gala, with an after party set to follow at double Zero pizza.“We certainly want to find some discovery films that we’re showcasing that other festivals haven’t, but we’re also trying to show some of the best of the films that have been winning awards or highlighted at other international film

festivals,” says Brenda Lieberman, CIFF programming manager. “We look for films that we think our Calgary audience will want to see, in a variety of styles and genres.”

Since launching 13 years ago, CIFF has continually evolved to meet the expectations of its diverse audience, from the younger art school crowd and innovative 30-somethings to those out for a movie date night. This year is no exception.

/10


6

FestIVaLs calgary international Film Festival

movie maniathree days remain oF Film Festwords: Paula trotter// images: calgary herald archive

aNTIvIRaL dIRECTOR BRaNdON

CRONENBERg, LEFT, aNd aCTOR CaLEB

LaNdRY JONES.

Forget about commuting! A growing trend for urban professionals is creating a live-

work environment that suits their professional and personal lives.

Avi Urban’s development The Block caters to this burgeoning demand, offering up a supreme investment — townhomes that have already been zoned for live-work.

“As the pioneers of work-live spaces in Calgary (at Olive in Bridgeland), Avi Urban has already set a precedent for what live-work spaces can be, and continues to develop new and innovative live-work options,” says president of Avi Urban Charron Ungar.

The Block’s unique urban town-homes range from 1,138 to more than 1,600 square feet and start in the $570,000s.

They feature an attached two-car garage, perfect for converting into a

functional office or studio space.Located in the heart of trendy

17th Avenue in sought-after Lower Mount Royal, The Block will be situated in one of Calgary’s oldest and most thriving communities.

With its unique blend of state-of-the-art fashionable shops, tantaliz-ing eateries and entertainment ven-ues, professional services and histor-ic buildings, 17th Avenue embodies Old World charm and small town appeal, with all the conveniences of an ‘of the moment’ vibrant city.

And like the area in which it is located, The Block will be anything but mainstream.

Built in a U-shape with central courtyard, the development will be void of interior hallways and instead will have exterior walkways around the scenic courtyard.

In addition to being a work-live property, townhomes will also boast private courtyard access.

When the work day is done, buyers can relax in their luxurious double master bedrooms and open-concept living spaces, complete with oversized windows.

Other features include hardwood floors, full-height tile backsplashes in bathrooms and kitchens, stain-less-steel appliances and floating

vanities in bathrooms. Not only can buyers personalize

their interior features and finishes but they can even choose the colour of their garage doors.

Whichever door colour buyers choose, that colour will then be co-ordinated throughout the home, and

on a feature wall inside the unit. “It is not just a door,” says Ungar.

“It is a reflection of your style.”But with only six townhomes

available, there’s not many more chances to create an inspirational space to both live and work in.

“This is a rare opportunity to

find functional living space with incredible office or studio potential right off 17th Avenue,” says Ungar. “Buyers do not want to miss out.” To learn more about how you can achieve your ideal work/live space and discover more about The Block, visit AviUrban.com.

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You can’t keep time in a bottle, but you can potentially buy it by choosing Calgary’s inner-city real estate.

“The days are long, and the years are short,” says Tracy Chesebrough about balancing multiple demands as parents and business owners.

Tracy and husband Ken have watched their two kids grow in the few years that have gone by since moving into their infill home built in 2010 in Altadore.

The community is located in southwest Calgary bordered by Crowchild Trail, 14th Street and the commercial strip on 33 Avenue S.W., also known as Marda Loop.

Two businesses, two kids, play dates, mommy-daddy nights out, activities, plus a dozen or so sessions each month with classroom aids and speech therapists for their son who has Down’s syndrome put time at a premium for the Chesebroughs. Living close to the core was a strategic move to gain some extra hours in their day which cannot be spared on the road.

The couple moved to Calgary from Ontario in October 2000, and the trip west served double-duty as both a honeymoon and a search for a piece of the prosperity for which Cowtown had become known.

The family settled into a bungalow in south Calgary, but began looking for a new community a few years ago when their designated public school turned down nine-year-old Cole’s admission.

“We knew we wanted inner city,” says Tracy, adding the field was narrowed to the community of Altadore based on the school’s policy for integrating Cole and a

classroom aid. “It was important we had a right attitude from the principal — once we met him, we looked for a house,” says Tracy, adding Cole’s six-year old sister Grace also attended the school.

Their two-storey attached infill rose to the top of the list when Ken first laid eyes on the rich tones of the central kitchen.

“Once I saw it, I loved it,” says Ken. Spanning a little more than 1,800 square

feet on the top two floors of their infill duplex — plus a developed basement with office, a guest suite for a nanny and a TV lounge — the couple admits homes at an equivalent price are probably double the size in the suburbs, and with a larger lot.

Marc Doll, a realtor and the president of the Marda Loop Communities Association, agrees, but is an advocate of the area as a resident.

He says the area is home to apartments near the $300,000-mark and original ’50s-era bungalows can be had, starting around $550,000. New duplex infills are about $800,000 and many homes are more than $1 million.

It is not very often inner-city neighbourhoods are considered by families, says Doll, but his clients and neighbours are 30- to 45-year-old couples who are having children later than average.

“It is interesting — a community in transition. Altadore is a flashback in time,” he explains, adding at any given time, there’s a bungalow on 50- or 60-foot-wide lot removed by developers, and replaced with a pair of infills.

Remaining in a central location was imperative to the Chesebrough’s business: Tracy or Ken could be required to attend an emergency at one of their 3,300 rental units.

At the time of the move, Tracy also owned a business — a fashionable furniture store popular with interior designers.

After five years, she chose to close it, but furnishing their abode like a show home was a given, thanks to some key pieces from the

store. Investment value played a

part in choosing Altadore, as the couple believes homes close to downtown are more likely to hold value should the economy take a turn. Access to transit for when Cole is a teenager was also

important, as their street is close to a major bus line.

A few years in the school now, Cole is in high demand for play dates and his classmates are drawn to his sweet nature and sense of humour.

“It’s pretty amazing,” says Tracy. “It’s like he has 270 friends at that school. He is truly embraced there.”

Adds Ken: “The other kids take care of him, and take turns spending time and helping him.”

The Chesebroughs know they made the right choice. Initially, they simply hoped their son would have the same learning opportunities as other children.

However, a parent to Cole’s classmate pointed out something Tracy hadn’t considered before. She says, Cole may have benefitted from attending classes with his

peers, but the acceptance and friendships with the other kids have become a more meaningful lesson than anything else taught at the school. //

OntariO family falls in lOve with altadOre areawOrds: lindsay hOlden // images: michelle hOfer

LIVING IT inner-city buyer

inner-city byte//

“we knew we wanted inner city.”

//TRACY CHeSebROuGH

GRACe AND COLe pLAY AT A NeARbY pARK. VIeW

pHOTO GALLeRY AT CALGARYHeRALD.COM/

INNeRCITYLIVING.


8

marda lOOp

marc dOll, president Of marda lOOp cOmmunities assOciatiOn has witnessed a baby bOOm amOng residents in his neighbOurhOOd.

// hOt mix: everyOne is right at hOme in the eclectic mix Of single yOung prOfessiOnals, new families, and retirees whO are the Original hOmeOwners Of the area, sharing in the area amenities:

// parks: parks with play equipment, plus Open space alOng river pathways in the sandy beach area. public pOOls indOOr and OutdOOr, glenmOre athletic park and arenas are a hub fOr seriOus training and family activities.

// schOOls: abOut a dOzen schOOls fOr every grade including private, public, bilingual and faith-Oriented — frOm masters academy and cOllege (k-12) tO central memOrial high (grade 10-12).

// vibe: dOll’s neighbOurs may sit On frOnt pOrches with libatiOn in hand, but there are alsO gOOd watering hOles within walking distance, including Original JOe’s restarurant & bar and the trOp bar & grille On 14 street, as well as garrisOn pub & eatery, fergus & bix restaurant and beer market and uniOn statiOn taphOuse.

// amenities: dOll’s favOurites On 33 avenue s.w. and garrisOn gate include canada safeway, highlander wine & spirits, and springbank cheese cO. there are alsO numerOus venues fOr nails, hair, fitness, pets, nutritiOn, skin, teeth and mOre.

// eating Out: there are many tO chOOse frOm but indian fusiOn lunches at rasOi kitchen and cOffee at phil & sebastian’s are amOng dOll’s recOmmended haunts. a nOt-tO-miss is my favOurite ice cream shOppe at 2048 42th ave. //

fab findTRACY AND GRACe

eNjOY WAffLe CONeS fROM MY fAVOuRITe ICe CReAM SHOppe..


9

THe CHeSebOROuGH fAMILY: KeN, TRACY, GRACe AND COLe..

In 1875, Calgary was a city ripe with possibility. The areas we now refer to as Inglewood and the East village were spotted by the North West mounted police and deemed the perfect place to set-up fort beside the river.

However, over 100 years later, the East village wasn’t exactly thriving. Labelled “seedy” and “skid row,” this part of town was more known for drug use and prostitution than a bustling downtown community.

In 2005, urban planners, city council and the public decided to bring this spot back to life and in 2007, the City put out a bid to architecture firms to come up with a master plan for the area. International firm, Broadway malyan won the bid with its walkability-based European compact-city model.

“The area has a beautiful waterfront surrounded by parks and is next to Fort Calgary,” says phil Bonds, director of urban design in the London office of Broadway malyan. “We knew it could be a residential settlement, as well as a place for businesses.”

To pay for what would be hundreds of millions of dollars worth of infrastructure-

The Red Carpet Opening Night gala on Sept. 20 featured Canadian director deepa mehta’s midnight’s Children, which explores India’s independence through the eyes of two children with magical powers.

Building upon the success of the Black Carpet gala, a horror film showcase, CIFF introduced the green Carpet gala this year to highlight cinema that examines environmental issues. Sundance-award winner Chasing Ice, a documentary that explores the impact global warming has on the glacial landscape, was screened at the inaugural green Carpet gala.

CIFF 2012 also featured a selection of films that champion alberta filmmakers; the Unforgiven Revisited gala to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Clint Eastwood’s western Unforgiven; a spotlight on Japan; and a spotlight on 3-d.

“This year marked the first time that we’ve ever shown a 3-d film at CIFF,” says Schroeder, noting there are now shorts, independent and foreign-language films being made in 3-d. “3-d isn’t just for the Hollywood sci-fi fantasy blockbuster.”

Youth by Youth Cinema, known as the YYC Competition, gives aspiring student filmmakers the opportunity to showcase their working and budding careers at the international film festival.

Cronenberg, son of famed director david Cronenberg, will walk the black carpet along with producer Niv Fichman for tonight’s screening of antiviral. Both men will participate in a post-film question-and-answer session before the gala celebration moves across the street to vern’s Tavern for a Bio-Hazardous party.

While only three days of CIFF 2012 remain, there is still plenty to take in.

To get the most of the festival before it wraps for another year, Schroeder offered this tip: go see a film that you normally wouldn’t watch.

“Film is about seeing through the eyes of a visionary,” he says. “It’s the chance to see through a different set of eyes. What you see might change the way you see the world. It might also just be an amazing, fun time to come and see your city in a bit of a different light.” //

FestIVaLs ciFF...

revved uP For revitalizationwords: cara casey // image: michelle hoFer

// east village

NeIGhbourhoods east village

inner-city byte//

“i think it will Be a Big catalyst oF develoPment in all areas, including

the Beltline and west village. it will, hoPeFully, start to make PeoPle think

diFFerently aBout the downtown.”

pHIL BONdS, dIRECTOR OF URBaN dESIgN, BROadWaY mOLYaN

THE vIEW FROm RIvERWaLk IN CaLgaRY’S EaST vILLagE.


10

upgrading and development, the City followed a U.S. model of Tax Increment Financing (TIF) — essentially anticipating after paying to upgrade infrastructure, future city tax revenues would be higher due to private investment in the area. Under the TIF plan, the City’s investment would then be recouped.

This $240 million in TIF was also used to found and form the Calgary municipal Land Corporation (CmLC), which is leading the development.

So far, $108 million has been spent upgrading roads, sidewalks and raising the floodplain of the Bow River.

The first two phases of the RiverWalk development, (the pathway system that follows the banks of the Bow) has already been completed opening up the East village to both downtown and the neighbourhood of Inglewood.

Now that the groundwork has been laid, the next phases will bring two mixed-use residential projects with approximately 1,200 condos, as well as the recently announced 208,000-square-foot Hilton Hotel.

The new Calgary public Library will also be located in the district.

an associate dean of environmental design at the University of Calgary, Bev Sandalack says she feels the redevelopment is a catalyst for the future of Calgary urban planning.

“They’re identifying there’s a mix of uses,” Sandalack says. “It will be a place where you live, work and play — in one area. my hope for Calgary is to be not only innovators in oil and gas but innovators in urban design,”

a big part of the international focus on the East village development is the plans for the National music Centre.

Scheduled to break ground in late 2012, the dramatic architecture, which includes a revival of the king Eddy Blues Bar into an artist residence, will be a gateway into downtown.

“after all of these decades, there’s real hope and passion for creating a cultural hub,” says Camie Leard, of the National music Centre. “The king Eddy was the perfect example of that.

“You had doctors and lawyers kicking back with bikers — it was a huge mix. and, hopefully, this will be the result .”

Today, 50 per cent of the ownership of the 20 hectares of the East village has already been established. When the development is complete in approximately 2020, there will be a variety of businesses, and more than 11,000 residents calling this area home.

“I think it will be a big catalyst of development in all areas, including the Beltline and West village,” says Bonds. “It will, hopefully, start to make people think differently about the downtown area and its currently vacant spots.” //

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// ImagE: gavIN YOUNg, CaLgaRY HERaLdpRINCE’S ISLaNd’S CENTRaL LOCaTION aNd BEaUTY WaS a NaTURaL FIT FOR THE 2012 CaLgaRY FOLk mUSIC FESTIvaL.


11

inner-city byte//

“the Park is all aBout having a viBrant city and a viBrant

downtown. most oF the PeoPle come to the Park Because they want

to Be in the heart oF the action.”

//LES SIEmIENIUk, gENERaL maNagER CaLgaRY FOLk mUSIC FESTIvaL

“people who might not have the disposable income or might not be part of the theatre-crowd can stumble upon our show,” says kadri.

“What’s great is that in the last five years, the city has amped up their involvement with cultural events. Calgary is a festival city now.”

another huge draw is the award-winning River Café restaurant tucked in the middle of the park.

accessible only by foot through the park’s paths, whether it’s a snowy day in

december or an august day on the patio, both locals and tourists seek out the spot for special occasions.

“The city revolves busy around us,” says Shelley Smith, general manager of River Café. “We are in the midst of something special here.”

No matter where you are in the downtown core, it’s an easy walk to the park, whether you’re craving a bench to read your book on or a skate on the pond behind the River Café.

“It’s a gem in the city,” says kadri. //

core esseNtIaLs Parks...

So what’s in your neighbourhood?If you live in the Mission area, you’re used to the

wide selection of restaurants along 4th Street S.W. From the raucous Wurst beer hall atmosphere to

the elegant tapas style of Can-dela Lounge, there’s a world of choices.

I’m fond of Aida’s for Leba-nese, Bistro 2210 for French bistro cuisine and the com-pressed bar at Mercato for Italian but I’m always drawn back to the quirky Fleur de Sel. Patrice Durandeau has created the look, the aroma, the taste and the energy of a French brasserie in this tiny space.

His duck confit and his cassoulet transport us back to France with every bite and the saucy brasserie service is as engaging as the sauces themselves.

If you live in the downtown core there are many fine choices along Stephen Avenue and along the intersecting streets. But have you strolled to the western end of down-town, where, hidden amid the condo towers, Anju resides in an antique brick house? Here, Roy Oh’s modern Korean food lights up palates with richly chili-spiced short ribs and Oh’s own take on bi-bim-bap.

At the other end of 9th Avenue, in what was almost Calgary’s downtown over a century ago, Inglewood sings with variety. Go high-end at Rouge for cos-mopolitan cuisine or try the seared duck on eggs Benedict at the Fine Diner. Or try the double-barrelled

combo of Sugo’s Italian cuisine and Without Papers’ pizzas.

North on Centre Street there’s a multi-cultural collection of eateries ranging from Santorini Greek

Taverna’s take on classic Greek and Shikiji’s wonderful Japanese soups and noodles to the Silver Inn’s addictive ginger beef. A short side step along 16th Avenue takes you to Namskar, one of Calgary’s best northern Indian restau-rants.

(Sure, the butter chicken is good but you have to try the range of lentil and chickpea dishes here.)

And down the hill, past Open Range and Diner De-luxe, to Bridgeland, you’ll find fine Lebanese food at Tazza and robust pizzas at Pimen-to’s Pizzeria.

Rolling into the northwest side of the inner city, there are myriad restaurants in the Hillhurst-Sunnyside area.

Go Ethiopian at Marathon, Mediterranean at Vero, Moroc-can at Sultan’s Tent or Mo-roccan Castle or dive into a Neapolitan pizza at Pulcinella.

Further along, Michael No-ble and his professional team at Notable have brightened a

strip of Bowness Road that’s been mostly notable as the main route into Bowness.

Noble’s take on upscale comfort food has kept every table busy every day since opening.

Heading south on Crowchild — not the friendliest walking strip in the city — we find good restaurants within a stone’s throw of the road. The Crowchild-

hugging community of Glengarry is blessed with the Casel Marche food centre and Cassis Bistro, which has some of the best French food in the city. And North Glenmore Park, flanked by Crowchild and Glenmore Trails has the Pfanntastic Pannenkoek Haus with its Dutch pancakes hidden in a small strip mall.

There’s variety, quality and a full range of cultures within walking distance in Calgary’s inner-city dining scene. It’s enough to make a person throw away the car keys.

Culinary to the core<JOHN GILCHRIST>I

f you live in Calgary’s inner city, you have a wealth of fine restaurants within walking distance.

Not only is a post-dinner walk a perfect meal-settler, with the new 0.05 regulations for drinking, who needs to be getting behind the wheel?


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Inner-city Living’s vintages to check out:Reds:n Bodegas Castano La Casona Old Vines Monastrell 2011; Spain ($5-15)n The Two Oceans 2011 Shiraz; South Africa ($5- $15)n Antinori 2009 Tormaresca Paiara Rosso; red blend; Italy ($5-$15)n Church & State 2009 Coyote Bowl; Shiraz/ Syrah; B.C. ($25-$40)n Colaneri 2009 Visione Syrah; Shiraz/Syrah; Ontario ($25-$40) n Thirty Bench 2008 Small Lot Cabernet Franc; Ontario ($40-$60)Whites:n The Beachhouse 2011 White; white blend; South Africa ($5-$15)n Cono Sur Viognier 2009; table white; Chile ($5- $15)n Michel Torino Cuma 2011 Organic Torrontés; Argentina; ($5-$15)n Cono Sur 2011 Bicycle Riesling; Chile ($5-$15)n Pentage 2009 Viognier; B.C. ($15-$25)n Road 13 Jackpot Castle Vineyard Chardonnay 2009; B.C. ($25-$40)n Tawse 2009 Estate Chardonnay; Ontario ($25-$40)

WINE TASTINGS

LIVINGINNER-CITY

FOOD & WINE

FRENCH CUISINEFleur de Sel’s Cassoulet Grille de Toulouse.

< CalGary hEralD arChIvE>

IC13


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Fine for a corporate lunch or business dinner, it’s also a romantic rendezvous for a seafood soiree for two. Chef Kyle Groves’ bacon-wrapped tuna or poached B.C. spot prawns are always a treat.

And like many Calgary restaurants, Catch adheres to the Ocean Wise program of sustainable seafood so you can feel comfortable about eating its dishes.

Another inner-city market that serves a good chowder is Billings-gate at its in-store Lighthouse Cafe. You know the fish is going to be fresh when it comes right from the market itself.

In addition to the regular menu, the good folks at Billingsgate will happily cook up anything you see in the display cases. Now that’s

handy — and tasty too.If you’re looking for that funky little

hole-in-the-wall crab shack joint with creative dishes and a funky style, check out Big Fish.

Owned by Dwayne and Alberta Ennest — they also have Open Range and Vue in their portfolio — Big Fish whips up salt and pepper frogs’ legs, pan-roasted walleye, a lamb-

and-lobster burger and fish tacos along with at least six different kinds of oysters at any time.

And, of course, if you like your seafood on the rarer side, there’s always those sushi bars.

(John Gilchrist is a Calgary Herald food writer, a restaurant reviewer and well known author. )

I may want to suggest a favourite Thai restaurant that does a particularly good panang curry prawn dish or a French restaurant that prepares a superb version of Lake Winnipeg pickerel. I might even wax poetic about the wealth of sushi restaurants around us, or toss off a few good places for a quick fish and chips. But often the question is really about where to find simple seafood preparations, done mostly in classic continental or North American styles. We’ve got those places too. Catch is usually the first place that springs to mind.

Located in the historic sandstone Imperial Bank building, in the heart of downtown Calgary, Catch really has two distinct fishy personalities.

The main floor Oyster Bar is a stylish East Coast-style joint with a long, zinc-covered bar, cozy wooden booths and an ocean full of fresh fish to go along with big piles of oysters. So if you want to knock back some crab cakes or a dozen fresh Malpeques, this is the place.

Upstairs, Catch’s newly renovated dining room exudes style and elegance.

Marketfishing

<JOhN GIlChrIST>

Fishing for fresh finds in inner city

Sauvignon BlancPinot Gris Bubbly Italian Muscato.Beer (fried, smoked oysters); light- bodied pilsner or India pale ale (raw, briny oysters)

OYSTER PAIRINGS

here are some inner-city markets to try out and my favourite dishes at them:

CatCh 100 Stephen av-enue S.E., 403-206-0000Dish: Crab cakes in the Oyster Bar, spot prawns in the dining room

Billingsgate Fish Co. lighthouse CaFe 1941 Uxbridge Dr. N.W., 403-269-3474Dish: halibut burger

Big Fish 1112 Edmonton Tr. N.E., 403-277-3403Dish: Fish tacos

Juree’s thai PlaCe 2055 16 ave. N.W., 403-264-6477Dish: Panang curry prawns

Cassis Bistro 2505 17 ave. S.W., 403-262-0036Dish: lake Winnipeg pickerel

sushi CluB K’z1240 Kensington rd. N.W., 403-283-4100Dish: Salmon skin cone

uBu theatre lounge 608 1st St. S.W., 403-265-6440Dish: Sake-steamed mussels

<JOHN GILCHRIST>II hear the question frequently: “Where can I get good seafood?” And I’ve come to real-ize I have to be careful in my answer.

HALIBUT BURGERBillingsgate Fish Co. lighthouse Cafe’s halibut burger.

< COUrTESy, BIllINGSGaTE FISh CO.>

LIVINGINNER-CITY

FOOD & WINE

<JULIE VAN ROSENDAAL>

Lolita’s Lounge presents...Perfect Pairings, the X Factor of

Food and Wine...Intimate, informative seminars by guilded sommelierPaul Martzoukos of Tannin Fine Wines and Alex Solano of Lolita'sLounge and Salt & Pepper Mexican Restaurants.

Together, Paul and Alex are two of the most creative, passionate andpalatable guys of their crafts. They are a "Dynamic Duo" certainto drench you with allof their individual andcombined food andwine knowledge.

Each pairing event will be limited to 12 people, keepingto an intimate group size, allowing for more in depthconversation and examination of the nights topics.

Time 6pm

$125.00

per person/per

seminar

To confirm a spot call Lolita’s Lounge at403 265 5739 or visit our website atwww.lolitaslounge.ca for more information.1413 - 9th Ave. S.E., Calgary,ABHistoric Inglewood

wine knowledge.

Each pairing event will be limited to 12 people, keepingto an intimate group size, allowing for more in depth

Dates• September 20, 2012 - Heartof the Harvest

• October 18, 2012 - Harvest isdone, Let’s Party (bubbles)

• November 22, 2012 - Jack inthe Box (spicy) - with guestChef Jackie Reid

• January 17, 2013 - Complex Food : Simple Wine• February 21, 2013 - Simple Food : Complex Wine• March 21, 2013 -The End? Forgotten Grapes...

crafts. They are a "Dynamic Duo" certain

rt

st ises)in

uest

Macleod Sushi& BBQ

Serving all-you-can-eatSushi and Korean BBQ on the table

5211 Macleod Trail SW (corner of 50 Ave and Macleod Trail)

Tel: 403 252-2999

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INNEr-CITy lIvING

FOOD & WINE GUIDE


14

“I think Calgarians probably started embracing it about 20 years ago,” says Christa Schmidt, director of sales and catering at the Austrian-Canadian Society. “Maybe it’s because there is such a diversity of nationalities here in the city. Or maybe it’s because people like to party before winter sets in — and I definitely think it’s because they like the German sausages, sauerkraut and beer that stands for Oktoberfest.”

Traditional Bavarian food and beers that conform to the Reinheitsgebot — a beer purity law — are the hallmarks

of this festival. And local party plan-ners are doing everything they can to give Calgarians an authentic taste of Oktoberfest.

Those looking to get the party started this evening have a couple of options. Wurst in Mission is hosting its Oktoberfest Kickoff Party tonight, Sept. 28, and will continue the festivi-ties until Oct. 14. Other Wurst events in the next 17 days include a celebrity keg tapping this evening, an industry sausage-making contest on Sunday, nightly stein-holding competitions and

live oom-pah band performances.The beer hall will host its Stein Hold-

ing Championship on Oct. 13, where one man and one women will both be awarded with a one-year lease on a Wurst stein locker.

And then, of course, there’s the beer.Wurst will be serving the creations of

Hacker-Pschorr Brewery — a historic German brewery and one of only six that is officially allowed to pour beer at Oktoberfest in Munich.

Hacker-Pschorr Oktoberfest Golden Lager is also on tap at Craft Beer Market, along with a few products from Bavarian brewery Erdinger Weißbräu.

Craft, which started celebrating Oktoberfest Sept. 10, is hosting its big party this weekend, complete with a German-inspired menu and dirndl-wearing beer maidens.

“The best part of Oktoberfest is the

energy,” says Alison Robertson, Craft marketing manager. “Everyone is in a celebratory mood and ready to raise a stein with strangers.”

The Austrian-Canadian Cultural Centre, which has been celebrating Oktoberfest in the city for more than 20 years, begins its two-week party with a luncheon on Oct. 4, followed by a dinner and dance on Oct. 5 and 6. Ger-man sausages, schnitzel, pork roast, sauerkraut and traditional desserts are on the menu, as well as a mix of draft beer from Germany, Austria and Alberta’s own Big Rock Brewery.

For entertainment, the centre is bringing in Die Atterseer, a five-man band from Austria that performs tradi-tional German music. The centre brings German and Austrian rituals to the city for the enjoyment of all, especially for new Calgarians from those countries.

NCalgary embraces German beer festival

ow almost 200 years old, Octoberfest began as the marking of a royal wedding in Germany, but this 16-day party has revellers celebrating well beyond Munich city limits.

LIVINGINNER-CITY

FOOD & WINE


15

<PAULA TROTTER>

The dream is for Calgary’s East Village to be a vibrant inner-city neighbourhood

mixing homes, retail, education and recreation.

Every day, that dream gets closer to reality.

This year has been a milestone year for the 20-hectare site nestled between the bustling downtown and historic Fort Calgary and Inglewood, says Clare Nolan, senior manager, marketing and commu-nications with Canada Municipal Land Corp., chief landowner in the East Village.

“It’s been a pivotal year for us,” she says. “In March, we opened our Sales and Experience Centre, an 8,000-square-foot building on the Bow River with sales offices and show suites for our builder partners, Embassy Bosa and FRAM+Slokker. You can also see floor plans, render-

ings, and views from their projects.“The centre is a one-stop destina-

tion for Calgarians and visitors to come down and learn everything about East Village. We have 2,000 square feet of space and it’s all about the community — describing what it will look like when it is com-pleted.”

Already, the two pioneering condominium developments — Embassy Bosa’s Evolution and FRAM+Slokker’s First — are more than 50 per cent sold. And, last spring, Widewaters Group announced plans to build a 315-room Hilton hotel in the com-

munity. All that, combined with ongoing

planning for the National Music Centre and a new central public library, as well as continued develop-ment of the RiverWalk, has made East Village one of Calgary’s hottest addresses.

“Our developer partners are working with us to move forward, and we’re focusing now on identify-ing partners for retail development in the community,” says Nolan. “We’ve worked with retail planning groups to identify the type of retail needed in the area. We see East Village as a hybrid retail approach

that will accommodate both urban village format and niche conve-nience retail.”

The location of East Village, right next to downtown, makes it a unique development opportunity, says Nolan. “Our first residences are building across the street from the river,” she says. “People are real-izing the National Music Centre will be only three blocks away, and there’s a new central library planned, and there’s Fort Calgary, historic buildings – and the third phase of RiverWalk will open soon, wrapping through Fort Calgary and down the Elbow River to 9th Avenue.”

Interest is strong. Nolan says more than 46,000 Calgarian have attended community events — a significant number since the pro-jected population of East Village is 11,000.

“At the centre, people can really see what’s happening in East Village,” says Nolan. “Certainly, a lot has been done already, and there are lots still to be done. But we have the momentum.”

For more information, visit EVExperience.com (which includes links to the developers), or drop by the Sales and Experience Centre at 553 Riverfront Ave. S.E.

Vision for east Village closer to Being realized as area takes shape

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living inner-city€¦ · livinginner-city friday, sept. 28, 2012 n°4 parks prince’s island is a...

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