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. 

 

'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.

And a big congratulations to...

The City of Calgary's Parks team! It was recently awarded the prestigious Parks Excellence Award from the Alberta Parks and Recreation Association for the revitilization of Centre City's historic Central Memorial Park. Check out the Beltline Community website for the story on this latest award.

This Beltline area park, is certainly one of our best public spaces and it's been recognized with several honours. It won a Calgary Heritage Authority Lion Award for landscape conservation and an honourable mention at the Mayor’s Urban Design Awards. 

The park has also been named one of the 100 Best Public Spaces in North America by Planetizen and People for Public Spaces. What's your favourite activity in the park?

Calgary: We're Not Living up to our Stereotypes

Tweet from @jianghomeshi on Friday November 18th, 2011:

"Hey Calgary - You're doing a lousy job of living up to stereotypes. My opening essay/ode to #YYC on Q today: http://www.cbc.ca/q/blog/2011/11/18/jians-essay-on-calgary----live-from-calgary/"

What do you think? Is he spot on? We like all the indirect Centre City references... we'll take that as a pat on the back! :)  

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)

 

 

 

Riverwalk Grand Opening

(photos courtesy CMLC website)

There's been lots of buzz so far about East Village's brand new RiverWalk but now it's time to formally celebrate it with a big grand opening party - and of course, we're all invited! Rock the Walk is happening this Saturday, July 30th between 12 - 4 pm.

A bunch of entertainment and activities are planned for the day. Musical guests include:

• Samantha Savage Smith
• Miesha and the Spanks
• Kris Demeanor and his Crack Band

Calgary's own independent artists market, Market Collective, will also be there to show off the work of more than a dozen local artists and artisans.

RiverWalk is a great addition to Centre City's East Village - it's an inviting promenade and cycling pathway which begins at the Centre Street Bridge and winds east along the river to the Simmons Building.

 

You can RSVP to the event by clicking here and be entered to win a Linus Dutchie Cruiser Bike.

Rock the Walk will be held in the RIverWalk Plaza, behind the historic Simmons Building in East Village, see map below. Run, walk, ride or blade to the event and experience the essence of RiverWalk.

 

Call for Submissions: Mayor's Urban Design Awards

The City of Calgary is on the hunt for new show-stopping design submissions. Does someone you know have an outstanding urban design concept, or is there a Calgary-based plan that has already been implemented somewhere that you think the world needs to know about? 

The Mayor's Urban Design Awards (MUDA) call for submissions' deadline is Thursday, September 15th (at 4 p.m. sharp) and the hope is to find a diverse and inspired roster of applicants. The goal of the awards is of course to showcase the powerful role that urban design takes in making Calgary a truly phenomenal place to live and visit. We're a city rich in great design and ideas - and it's wonderful that the Centre City and its surrounding area is home to much of that top notch style. 

Take a look at some of MUDA's past winners: 

The Calgary Zoo North Entrance – 2009 Winner, Civic Design Projects

Buro Block – 2009 Honourable Mention, Urban Architecture

 
Buro Block – 2009 Honourable Mention, Urban Architecture

Bankers Court – 2009 Winner, Urban Architecture 

The MUDA invitation is to submit entries in the following nine categories: 

1. Conceptual/Theoretical Urban Design Projects
2. Approved or Adopted Urban Design Plans
3. Urban Architecture
4. Civic Design Projects
5. Urban Fragments
6. Community Improvement Projects
7. Student Projects
8. The Mawson Urban Design Award
9. City Edge Development

Eligibility details and steps for submitting are available at www.calgary.ca/muda. 

The Mayor’s Urban Design Awards 2011 Gala will take place on November 2, 2011 at the new Telus World of Science.

MUDA is a co-operative venture between the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC) and The City of Calgary.  MUDA 2011 will serve as the qualifying event for the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC) National Urban Design Awards being held in 2012.