Stay Another Day
Explore, shop and play in Calgary’s eclectic neighbourhoods
By Silvia Pikal
Downtown
Start your tour of downtown at Studio Bell, an
architectural marvel and home of the national
Music Centre. Five levels of exhibits tell the story
of music in this country. Play an instrument, try
your hand at producing a popular track from a
famous Canadian artist, and learn about Cana-
dian musicians who have impacted the music
scene both at home and abroad.
a few blocks away is independent shop Liz &
Lottie. Browse for gifts such as wallets, jewellery
and paper goods. Then make your way to the
glenbow, one of the largest museums in Western
Canada. its extraordinary art collection boasts
over a million objects, documents and photo-
graphs. Permanent and temporary exhibitions
feature both historical and contemporary art.
next, visit the Calgary Tower for a bird’s-eye
view of downtown from 191 m (627 ft) high. if
the skies are clear, you can see all the way to the
Rocky Mountains. at night, the tower is lit up
thanks to exterior LeD lighting, and it features
light shows during holidays and festivals.
Come back to street level and grab lunch at
Ten Foot Henry. The vegetable-focused menu
frequently appears on best-of lists, with sharing
plates that showcase each veggie—and a small
but tasty selection of fish and meat dishes, to
make everyone happy. For dinner or drinks,
hop over to Bar Von Der Fels wine bar, with its
constantly rotating selection of wines by the glass
and rare wines and champagnes. Down the street,
Proof serves imaginative artisanal cocktails.
Looking for a retreat from city life? Make a trip
to River Café in Prince’s island Park for seasonal
Canadian cuisine. Once surrounded by greenery
on the patio, you’ll forget you’re in the city.
17th avenue
a bustling strip for entertainment and dining,
17th avenue is the place to party or peruse vin-
tage and boutique shops. For a unique souvenir,
visit Steeling Home. This modern general store
sells new and vintage treasures. Pick up a “YYC”
dish towel illustrated with Calgary landmarks.
When it’s time to refuel, vegetarians head to
The Coup for the organic and local veggies—and
for the intimate setting, perfect for a romantic
evening. For exceptional thin-crust pizza, pop
into Una Pizza + Wine. if you’re in the mood to
try several small dishes, Ox Bar de Tapas offers
the Spanish Table, a selection of the chef’s
favourite tapas, showcasing the true dining
experience of Spain. if you’re craving carbs, try
the gnocchi at The Living Room. For drinks after
dinner, order from the selection of rum cocktails
at Ricardo’s Hideaway.
kensington
Kensington has something for everyone. The
Plaza Theatre, a historic art-house theatre, is
steps away from Pages bookstore and unique
shops such as Livingstone & Cavell extraordinary
Toys, worth visiting for kid-approved souvenirs.
For high-quality apparel that is ethically
produced in north america and Japan, stop by
Brooklyn Clothing. To find the perfect bottle of
vino to bring back home, visit Kensington Wine
Market, and be sure to check their wine-tasting
schedule. Forget to pack something? ingear has
an impressive selection of travel accessories.
Satisfy your hunger with a wood-fired neapoli-
tan pizza at Pulcinella. For a latte that features
organic and fair trade coffee beans, climb the
steps to popular local cafe Higher ground.
Clockwise from
top left: Calgary
Stampede.
Scotiabank
Saddledome.
Canada’s Sports Hall
of Fame. Downtown
Calgary. The sunny
River Café. Cyclists
observe the city
skyline. Artistic
plating at Rouge.
Glass floor inside
the Calgary Tower.
The city skyline is
dominated by the
Calgary Tower
inglewood
a historic neighbourhood with a charming
small-town vibe, inglewood has a whole world
to explore within its blocks. Shopaholics have
plenty of choices, from vintage shops to luxury
boutiques. indulge in comfy sleepwear at Shades
of Sleep, or shoes and accessories at Shear Luxu-
ry. The concept shop of fashion designer Lauren
Bagliore is here, too, with one-of-a-kind pieces.
For lunch, don’t miss The eden, a neighbour-
hood bistro that boasts a hearty French-inspired
menu. Put The nash and Off Cut Bar on your list
for elevated comfort food. For intimate fine din-
ing, try Rouge, which was one of only two Cana-
dian restaurants to make the list of S. Pellegrino
World’s 100 Best Restaurants in 2010. afterwards,
visit the esker Foundation, a privately funded art
gallery that showcases groundbreaking contem-
porary art in an open, electrifying space.
Wherever you go, Calgary has much to offer.
Rocky Mountaineer Magazine 2018
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