ENTERTAINMENT
Founder Spotlight
Victor Choy and his brother Jim grew up working in their family ’ s Calgary restaurant , The Grand Café . When
Victor Choy opened his first entertainment venture , a nightclub called Republik , he had ordered inventory for two to three weeks . The nightclub ran out of supplies on the first night . “ It was at that point we knew that we had something special here ,” he says .
Today , the Choy brothers run Concorde Group , an entity behind some of the city ’ s hottest restaurants : Anju ( page 53 ), National ( page 47 ), Sky 360 ( page 49 ), Clive Burger ( page 48 ), and their newest venture Bridgette Bar ( page 47 ).
Gut instincts , a thorough concept , and experience are behind their success , says Victor Choy . “ You look for what ’ s missing in the city .” From the concept and menu , to the taste of music and design of the space , each venture is unique . Clive Burger is a chic revival of a classic burger stand while Anju is an upscale Korean restaurant .
“[ I ] look for what ’ s missing in the city .”
VICTOR CHOY
“ We tend to try to push the design envelope and not create concepts that are very cookie cutter ,” says Choy . “ We ’ re creating an experience for the guest .”
The entrepreneur shared some of his top picks in the city .
One place all travellers to Calgary should go to ? The majestic Rockies .
In town ? The city ’ s amazing architecture ( The National Music Centre ( page 32 ), Peace Bridge , and different neighbourhoods ( East Village , Kensington , Marda Loop , Inglewood .)
Favourite place for a business meeting ? Vintage Chophouse ( page 54 ) or Hy ’ s Steakhouse ( page 54 ).
Where are you on a Friday night ? After dinner with the family I ’ ll go check out a few of our locations , talk to some regulars .
Favourite dish in town ? The grilled octopus at Bridgette Bar . — Seema Dhawan
PHOTOGRAPH : DMC
The following listings include information on festivals , family entertainment , sports events , theatre , dance , and music that the editors judge worthy of your attention , including advertisers in Where Calgary . The map coordinates at the end of each listing ( E4 , E8 etc .) refer to the city maps on pages 59 to 60 . If you have an observation regarding any of our listings , please email editor _ calgary @ where . ca .
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ATTRACTIONS CALAWAY PARK Western Canada ’ s largest outdoor family amusement park has 33 rides , including the new Timber Falls log ride , the thrill ride “ Chaos ,” a roller coaster , interactive bumper boats , daily live stage entertainment , food vendors , midway games , a candy store , shopping , and mini-golf . Calaway RV Park and Campground is located next to the park . Admission includes unlimited rides , stage shows , parking , attractions , and live entertainment . Open daily 10 am - 7 pm . Admission : $ 37.95 ( 7-49 ), $ 31 child ( 3-6 ), $ 29 senior ( 50 +), children 2 and under are free . 245033 Range Rd 33 , 403-240-3822 . Map 1 , F1 www . calawaypark . com
CALGARY TOWER Visit the observation terrace of this 191 m tall landmark for breathtaking views of Calgary and the Rocky Mountains . A complimentary audio guide is included with admission and is available in seven languages . The top of the tower features the revolving Sky 360 restaurant , which serves upscale contemporary cuisine . Two blocks south of the CTrain line downtown . Open daily 9 am - 9 pm . Adult $ 18 , senior ( 65 +) $ 16 , child
( 4 - 12 ) $ 9 , children 3 and under are free . 101 - 9 Ave SW , 403-266-7171 . Map 2 , F5 www . calgarytower . com
CALGARY ZOO The Calgary Zoo is home to wild and woolly creatures from every corner of the earth . More than 1,000 animals from Africa , Eurasia , and the Canadian wilds welcome visitors . Open daily 9 am - 6 pm ( gates close at 5 pm ). Adult $ 23 , senior $ 21 , child $ 15 , children 2 and under are free . Parking is $ 10 per car , or take the CTrain to Zoo Station . 1300 Zoo Rd NE , 403-232-9300 . Map 1 , H7 www . calgaryzoo . com
CALGARY CHINESE CULTURAL CENTRE This is the largest stand-alone cultural centre in Canada at 70,000 sq . ft . Its great central dome is patterned after the Temple of Heaven in Beijing with 561 handcrafted dragons on the ceiling . Five blocks north of the CTrain line downtown . 197 - 1 St SW , 403-262-5071 . Map 3 , D10 www . culturalcentre . ca
FORT CALGARY In 1875 , the North West Mounted Police built Fort Calgary . Today , in its original strategic position where the Bow and Elbow rivers meet , it brings history to life through exhibits and interpretation . Open daily 9 am - 5 pm . Adult $ 12 , $ 11 senior , $ 7 youth ( 7-17 ), $ 5 child ( 3-6 ). 750 - 9 Ave SE , 403-290-1875 . Map 2 , F9 www . fortcalgary . com
GRANARY ROAD This family attraction just outside city limits includes a bistro by the renowned Canadian Rocky Mountain Resorts group , a bakery and coffee shop , and a public market with vendors selling gourmet and handcrafted items . The market overlooks the active learning park : three kilometres of trails wind through a
TIP series of themed exhibits , each one featuring a chance for kids to get active while learning about animals , insects , and agriculture . Look for the giant animatronic spiders , bats , and frogs , get up close and personal with adorable farm animals like pigs and goats , and burn some energy on swings , slides , and ropes . 226034 , 112 St W , Foothills No . 31 , 403-453-7623 . www . granaryroad . com
HERITAGE PARK HISTORICAL VILLAGE This living history museum features attractions and exhibits that span Western Canadian history from the 1860s to the 1950s . Interact with costumed interpreters , ride a steam train , board a paddlewheeler , try antique rides and games , explore pioneer homes and businesses , and more . Yearround attractions include the Gasoline Alley Museum with a display of historic vintage cars , Selkirk Grille restaurant which serves upscale Western Canadian cuisine , and Haskayne Mercantile Block which offers five unique retail stores . Admission : $ 26.35 general ( 15-64 ), $ 20.50 senior ( 65 +), $ 18.75 youth ( 7-14 ), $ 13.50 child ( 3-6 ), children 2 and under are free . Parking is $ 5 per car for up to 7 hours . 1900 Heritage Dr SW , 403-268-8500 . Map 1 , J5 www . heritagepark . ca
INGLEWOOD BIRD SANCTUARY On the Bow River , the bird sanctuary is a 32 hectare ( 79 acre ) wildlife reserve offering more than two kilometres of level trails throughout the riverine forest . More than 265 species of birds and 300 species of plants , plus several kinds of mammals , have been observed in the area . The walking paths are open during daylight hours year-round . Admission by donation . Located on the Bow River at 2425 - 9 Ave SE , 403-268-2489 . Map 1 , H7 www . bsc-eoc . org / national / ibs . html
Aerial views of downtown Calgary were used to illustrate the Manhattan skyline in Superman ( 1978 ).
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