CentreCity

Best Bar None Launches in Calgary

Calgarians love a good night out, and we're fortunate to have so many fantastic bars and restaurants to choose from in our Centre City.

Now is a great time to take that experience to the next level by continuing to enhance the overall safety of going out at night. That's where a new voluntary program called Best Bar None (BBN) steps in.

Launched today, BBN, works to reduce alcohol-related violence in and around licensed venues. This safety initiative is firmly focussed on Calgary’s pubs, clubs, bars and lounges and everyone is invited to take part to help make the city’s nightlife safer and more enjoyable.

BBN is an accreditation and awards program that uses a system of assessment and awards to engage nightspots in responsible management and safe operations. To learn more about the program and also how your establisment can earn Best Bar None (BBN) status, check out this link: bestbarnone.ab.ca. 

Some Centre City team members were at the Bar None Launch event today (which by the way, was a packed room - lots of people inspired and invigorated by the BBN program). Here are a few photos we took (that's The City's Chief Compliance Officer Marc Halat at the podium): 

 

 

(Samples of BBN accreditation and awards)

This new program is a positive opportunity for all parties involved - a great way to build relationships amongst bar owners, licensees, law enforcement, industry partners and community groups; with the ultimate benefit of making a night out safe and fun for all Calgarians.

Safer nightlife means a more vibrant and inviting Centre City. That means everyone wins.

The Best Bar None program has already been launched in Edmonton. The Calgary Best Bar None program is led by Alberta Gaming Liquor Commission (AGLC) with the support of Calgary Police Services and also The City. 

 

Centre City Advent/Event Calendar December 23

It's officially wind-down time in the city. Can you feel it? People are slowing down their frantic gotta-get-all-the-holiday-chores-done-now! pace...many have today off and it's just a good time to take stock - spend time with friends and family and eat. It's really easy to find a great place to dine in our Centre City. So why not take some time today or over the holiday week to try out a new restaurant or two?

This is our final suggestion in our CC Advent/Event Calendar: dine out in the Centre City. Maybe you can even make it a fanciful walk through a park. Boxwood, located in the Central Memorial Park, presents a lovely setting and tasty local eats. Click here to check out their menu. 

And there's also River Cafe which sits proudly in Prince's Island Park - an oasis built out of local fare, comfort food and a view that is beyond compare. Grab some coffee or a hot chocolate on your way there and go for a little walk before you eat. It's truly a gem in on of our favourite Centre City parks. 

 

 

Centre City Advent/Event Calendar Dec. 14

It's another installment of our Centre City Advent/Event Calendar!

Check out this stunning shot of the historic Simmons Building in East Village...we snagged it from the East Village Experience's Twitter feed earlier this week (thank you!) because we want to tell you about an exciting event scheduled there for this coming Saturday. The Simmons Building is about to become overrun with elves in their first ever Elves in the Village Christmas Market.

 

Cream puffs, cheese making kits, sock monkeys, ornaments, pottery, jewelry, clothing, and so much more... You'll find all sorts of great holiday gifts - or treats to fill your own stockings  - at the market on Saturday December 17th between 11:00 am and 5 pm.

 Clare Nolan, from Calgary Municipal Land Corporation (CMLC), says this market is "a great way to invite the community and Calgarians into East Village to see first-hand the transformation of the community."

When asked about about the setting in this historic building and redeveloped area, Nolan explained why it was the perfect choice: "(In order) to create a vibrant and creative community there needs to be a variety of activities and events that bring people together and celebrate a community – this event was a way to do that."

So you know what? The mall atmosphere, mall Santa, mall parking lots can be put on hold on Saturday... come find a festive spark right here in the heart of your city.

Oh and we heard a rumour there will also be an ornament-making station set up...and robots(?!)...and musicians from the National Music Centre will be there for your entertainment. The YYC Food Trucks will also be there in full force so you could grab some lunch after you shop and take a stroll around the RiverWalk, check out how East Village has changed.

We hope to see you there. Bring a donation to the Interfaith Food Bank please!

If you're still craving more information about this event, click here and here.

'Tis the Season: Late Night Ride Home Stands

Hey - have you spotted one of these signs in the Centre City?

 

 

It's the sign for the the Late Night Ride Home Stands (designated areas where taxis can line-up and wait for customers). Twelve of them are located in the Centre City (downtown and surrounding neighbourhoods).

 

These taxi stands are conveniently located near restaurants, theatres and bars and are in operation every Thursday, Friday and Saturday night between the hours of 10 p.m. and 3 a.m. A map of stand locations is available at centrecitytalk.com (or see them below).

 

As the holiday season gets underway, The City of Calgary is reminding citizens they can catch a safe and convenient ride home at one of the Centre City’s Late Night Ride Home Stands.

  

We are also reminding Calgarians to pay close attention to parking signage to avoid parking in the Late Night Ride Home Stands. Drivers who park their cars in these taxi stands during operating hours will be ticketed and towed. By leaving these zones free for taxis, you help ensure Calgarians have a safe ride home.

 

This initiative is part of a larger effort being made by The City of Calgary to take a pro-active approach to ensure our Centre City continues to be a vibrant and safe place to work, visit, live and play during the evening and early morning hours.

The Late Night Ride Home Stand program is brought to you through the collaborative efforts of The City of Calgary, the taxi industry and the business community.

Burger Inspiration

(Alley Burger truck shot by buzz.bishop)

We don't know the exact stats but we're gonna go out on a limb and say it's likely that you or someone you know has eaten or at least plans to sample an Alley Burger in the very near future. The Charcut restaurant-born Alley Burger Truck is just one of the many wildly popular mobile food stops in Calgary. These trucks that feed #yyc-ers on a daily basis are hugely exciting for our Centre City. They create a vibrancy on the street wherever they go and they bring people together from all over.

Now the idea of alley eating has spread to other locales. Check out this great article in the Globe and Mail about why concrete dining has become such a hit.

Open House Invitation for the Beltline Clustering Policy

(photo of 17th ave. SW at dusk by acrofish) 

The City of Calgary is hosting an important open house tomorrow afternoon and evening - it's a chance for you to have your say and get involved in a potential planning policy change regarding bars (not including nightclubs) and licensed restaurants for the 17 Avenue SW (between 14 St SW and Macleod Tr SE) and 1 Street SW (between 17 and 10 Avenues SW) areas.  

The proposed change to the Beltline Area Redevelopment Plan could be an important issue for those living or working in, and visiting the Centre City but also to business owners. The suggested amendment to the Plan would be to include both bars and licensed restaurants under the direction (in section 4.3.4b) limiting future development of these types to 50% of any given block on 17 Ave SW and 1 St SW. To read the full formal wording change proposal, click here. 

The open house is happening tomorrow, September 7th (Wednesday) between 4:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. at the Memorial Park Library (Meeting Room #2) at 1221 - 2nd Street SW and it's open to the public. 

 

High-Fives for Being Fifth Most Livable City!

(photo by Stephenccwu)

We've always heard talk from folks all over who think Calgary is a pretty amazing city in which to live...and now it's being confirmed: turns out we're the fifth greatest city in the world to live and we're proud of it!

The Economist Intelligence Unit says we ranked fifth out of 140 cities in their livability survey this year. We're in good company with Toronto (4th) and Vancouver (3rd) just ahead of us; Vienna takes 2nd place and Melbourne takes first. 

Great news for us all. Let's pat each other on the back because after all, it takes great people to make a great city. What do you think is our secret to being such a livable city? We'd love to hear your thoughts so leave a comment when you have a moment. 

To read the full breakdown of the livability rankings, click here. For GlobalTV's news report, click here. 

Food Truck Event Photos

It's safe to say the Taste the Trucks event in the Centre City was a huge success. Hundreds of hungry bellies showed up to see what all the fuss was about. Twitter was abuzz with food photos and tips on where the shortest lineups were.

Lots of eager Calgarians got to try out the fries, burgers, perogies, gelato and much more that were being offered up from the popular trucks on Stephen Avenue downtown.

Here are a few photos we grabbed at lunch time:

 What do you think about this demand for food truck food? Leave us a comment!

Food Truck Event August 11th

Local vendors selling their wares from trucks is known to be a tasty way to create vibrancy and an overall better sense of community in whatever area they set up shop. And by the looks of it, we have many inspired food lovers willing to share their treats with the masses.

Tomorrow, YYC food truckers and their supporters are launching an epicurean event that for many, is a must. They are coming to the Centre City this Thursday August 11th at Stephen Avenue (Convention Centre Block) from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. for your chance to try it all and kick the food truck tires, so to speak. The event is called YYC Taste the Trucks and everyone's invited and it's free!

Who will be there?

Charcut's reknowned "Alley Burger" has had several wildly successful runs so far with their new food truck. Perogy Boyz is gearing up for their much-anticipated launch day on Thursday, there's a "Fries n Dolls" to satisfy your crispy potato cravings, JoJo's BBQ, and so many others...we have to stop writing...this is making us drool! We hope to see you there, rain or shine! Bring your hungry bellies.

(photo taken from Fries n Dolls' Facebook page)

 

 

 

Andres Duany - Public Lecture

You are all invited to a free public lecture by architect Andres Duany. The topic is Agricultural Urbanism: Retooling Cities for the 21st Century.

Here's a brief summary of the talk:

The course of 21st century urbanism will be defined in large part by food. Our connections to it, our relationships with growers and providers and the manner in which we integrate its system elements into the projects and neighbourhoods we build.

New models are needed for viable (and desirable) forms of agriculture and food activities across a wide range of spaces, putting the focus squarely on design. Sustainability is the rallying cry. Urbanism is the operating system.

Join us for an evening of musings and ideas on the subject from Duany, founder of Duany Plater-Zyberk & Company and one of urban planning’s morst influential provacateurs.

FREE! June 17th, 7:30 pm at Glenbow Museum Theatre 130-9 Avenue SE

Here's a talk Duany did previously on the same topic: