CentreCity

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. 

Fuse Fest at Shaw Millennium Park

Local art, artisans, musicians and extreme athletes are coming together this Saturday August 27th for a big old outdoor party and they want you there to help make it even more fun. Calgary's hugely popular Market Collective is taking part in  Fuse Fest at Shaw Millennium Park. It's an outdoor affair running from 12 - 6 p.m. At FUSE Fest, you'll also have a chance to take in some amazing skateboard demos along with a huge skateboard competition, dancers, extreme parkour performers, musical acts from Transit, Samantha Savage Smith and much more.

The event is sponsored in part by Calgary Arts Development. And FUSE Fresh Local Culture Fest is free for everyone so spread the word, tell your friends and have one last big summer bash in the Centre City.

For more information about FUSE Fest at Shaw Millennium Park, click here to get to their Facebook page. You can follow their Twitter account here if you're looking for updates on what's happening with this local culture festival this Saturday at the park.

 

Go With the Bow River Flow

(Bow River Flow photo from last year by Arusha Centre) 

Sometimes there are events scheduled in the Centre City that are big; so big, in fact, that it's a little dizzying to try to keep track of all the stuff that is planned for the occasion. The Bow River Flow, which runs Sunday August 22nd, is that kind of event.

It's a human-powered transportation festival and it has three key objectives: community building for all ages, celebrate green transit culture and develop Calgary's flourishing arts scene. Translation: don't be shy, join in on the fun, bring your bike, your favourite running shoes, your skateboards and prepare to rock your socks off!

There will be races (both on foot and bike), yoga, road hockey, bikini boot camp, Nordic walking, bike demos and tune ups and live music - and of course...so much more. It's free for all ages and while several of the events are happening outside Centre City parameters, there's still lots planned for right around the Eau Claire Market area. You'll want to study the Bow River Flow schedule first and pick and choose what you want to take part in.

For more information about this exciting event, click here to see their Facebook page.

And the main Bow River Flow website is here.

Hidden Centre City Revealed

It's time again for another Hidden Centre City reveal photo and clue.  

Each Monday, we post a section of a photograph taken from somewhere in the Centre City (click here for parameters).  The photos are meant to be a little more difficult for people to figure out, thus the title "Hidden Centre City".  We're looking to showcase unique aspects of design, architecture and style found in the core.  The photos will be from places we might not always get to in our day-to-day travels within the Centre City.  It's meant to inspire us all to get out there and explore our Calgary a little more.  

Here's the full photo from last week: 

(photo by "Vlastula")

Mike guessed correctly - it is the ceiling from Flames Central.  Good job!  For obvious reasons, we've had sports on the brain lately.  

And now on to this week's photo clue...it's a tricky one: 

 

If you have any guesses as to what this is and where it is, make sure to leave us a comment.  Thanks for playing along.  We'll post the answer next Monday. 

Battle of Alberta - Board Game Style

Wouldn't it be nice if we had a magic wand to help change the direction the Calgary Flames seem to be heading right now? There's always hope, though. Everyone knows the motivating powers of the Flames fan are monumental!

And you know, there is one surefire way to help Calgary win another game. Hasbro is putting out a Canadian edition of their Monopoly game and they're asking people to vote for their pick of the city that will rest on the Boardwalk. It's the most coveted spot and we want it - we can't take no for an answer! Mayor Dave Bronconnier says Calgary on the Boardwalk is a no-brainer. “In international and national surveys, Calgary has been named the city with the highest quality of life and economic potential, safest city and cleanest city" - and Calgarians are proud of that.  It's time to ensure the rest of the country knows that as well.  

 

So here's where the power of the motivated, civic-minded Calgarian comes in.  We're asking you to vote.  Get Calgary on the Boardwalk please!  Tell your friends to vote. Ask your pets to vote.  We have complete control over this one. Treat it like a battle of Alberta if you like...in fact, Edmonton is on the list as well - and they're receiving plenty of votes. We can't let them beat us. To read more about the new Monopoly game and why being on the Boardwalk matters to us, click here and here.  

And vote here. Vote every day until February 7th.  Make it part of your morning routine. Coffee. Vote. 

In the meantime, don't forget to put on your game face and get ready to ignite that same battle of Alberta fire on the 28th when the Calgary Flames play the Edmonton Oilers. We really can have it all. We're good enough!  

Olympic Spirit Rekindled in Calgary

Time to dust off your Calgary '88 Sun Ice ski-jackets and get ready to fully embrace that winter Olympic spirit.  

The Centre City is hosting several Olympic-themed events in the coming days. So whether you're an arm-chair Olympian, a future gold-medal-winning bobsledder, or just a Calgarian with deep feelings of nostalgia for that Winter Olympic celebratory air, make sure you check out the following free events.  

The Olympic Torch - held by the first Torchbearer selected, Patricia Moreno.

January 16th SNOWBLOWER - High Performance Rodeo is putting on a night of beats, lights, fire performances and maybe even a little dancing.  Beginning at 5 pm, a collective of electronic musicians from all over the world will be playing a live concert at Olympic Plaza.  Some of the featured musicians include Mr. Scruff from Manchester, UK, Pretty Lights from Denver, Colorado (look at their website if you have a moment - it's gorgeous!), Beats Antique from San Francisco, California and Calgary's very own DJ Bruno Changkye.  For full information on this concert, click here.

January 18th - A family friendly event at Olympic Plaza.  Again beginning at 5 pm, this is a chance to take in some great live music, dancers, performers and painters - and you'll see plenty of Calgary Olympians from past Olympic games. And if you're keen to follow the torch as it makes its way to the Plaza, just after 4 pm, it can be seen heading north on McLeod Trail.  Then, it will be carried on a route from 17th Ave. SW, 14th St SW, and 9th Ave. with its final arrival scheduled for 7 pm at Olympic Plaza.

This is your chance to see the beauty of that flame in our city, once again.  You are asked to bring a donation for the Calgary Inter-Faith Food Bank along to the event.  For more information, click here. 

To read more about other 2010 Winter Olympic events in Calgary, and also to learn about road closures during the torch relay festivities click here.

Grey Cup Championship Comes to a Close...With a Close Game...

It was as tight a football game as it could have been - but in the end, the Montreal Alouettes pulled through, beating the Saskatchewan Roughriders 28 to 27.  

The lead up to the 97th Grey Cup Championship was just as exciting as the game itself.  The Centre City was a bustling place with piles of exciting events for Calgarians and visitors to our city to take part in.  It was hard to go anywhere downtown without spotting clusters of green-clad revelers in anticipation of the game.  One great crowd-pleaser of course was the Grey Cup parade on Saturday.  The parade marshall, Calgary's own TV star Elisha Cuthbert, was all smiles and waves in the procession: 

(photo courtesy John Reasbeck)

And not to be outdone by Elisha, Gainer the Gopher made his appearance to lots of cheers: 

(photo courtesy John Reasbeck)

...a wave of green: 

(photo courtesy John Reasbeck) 

Little did they know....the red, white and blue would prevail: 

 (photo courtesy John Reasbeck) 

And let's give a big cheer for these guys - they played a great season...maybe 2010 will be our year! 

 (photo courtesy John Reasbeck)

If any of you managed to take some photos at the Enmax Illuminate Calgary light installation show, which was also a well-attended Grey Cup weekend event, you should enter your favourites in this contest.  Good luck - and thanks to everyone for helping to make Calgary such a great host city to this year's Grey Cup Championships.   

  

The Calm Before the Green (and blue, red and white) Storm...

The finishing touches are being made in Calgary's Centre City to ensure the estimated 15 - 20 thousand visitors to calgary are well-entertained before, during and after the big Grey Cup Championship game.   

Events over the coming days range from free pancake breakfasts to gala affairs and everything in between - and of course then there's the actual game.  

Local musicians, artists and designers will be featured in the Grey Cup festivities and it's pretty much guaranteed there's something for everyone.  

Enmax Illuminate Calgary is the highly anticipated light installation display set to run November 27th and 28th (5 - 11 p.m.).  People who work and live in the centre city have likely had a chance to watch a bit of the set up of the exhibit (with a modicum of bewilderment, no doubt!).  Even if you're not a football fan - you MUST try to get out to see this interactive and awe-inspiring light art display. 

   

It's Our Party...

...and we'll celebrate if we want to!  

Since we're the host city for the 97th Grey Cup championship, and since our team lost its opportunity to play in the game, here's the deal:  Calgarians still love a chance to celebrate, no matter what the circumstances.  So let's put on our game faces anyway and just paint the town (Stampeders) red, regardless!  Lots of Calgarians are of course still planning to attend the game - they've likely just had to drastically modify their team of choice.  Many others have taken advantage of the situation by putting their Grey Cup championship tickets on the market for upwards of a thousand dollars.  

It's not just about the game, though, people!  The City of Calgary has so many great events planned - you'd be hard pressed to NOT have a good time in the centre city this week and weekend even when your favourite team isn't playing. 

 (photo of Stephen Avenue Grey Cup party set up before the festivities get underway)

Here are some of the highlights of what's on the agenda (full agenda including start and run times here) starting Friday November 27th - and there's a lot of free stuff - perfect for the whole family.  

1.  (Friday, Saturday, Sunday) Calgary Herald Olympic Plaza Family Fan Fest.  This means - pancake breakfasts in November, people! There will also be plenty of exhibits, family-friendly entertainment and music from Em, Souls of Freedom, the Heebee Jeebees, The Dino Martinis, Lindsay Elle and more (check link above for exact dates of band performances). 

2.  (Friday, Saturday, Sunday) Scotiabank CFL Experience at the Telus Convention Centre.  Here's your chance to shake hands with CFL alumni and all-stars.  And you might even want to try some of the interactive camp drills and games they'll have set up.  

3.  (Friday, Saturday, Sunday)  Enmax Street Festival and Stage (Stephen Avenue) - This is being called "The Midway" of the CFL.  It's where you'll find all kinds of CFL-related displays, activities, vendors and performances from The Cripple Creek Fairies, The Lions, The Dudes, Mad Cowboys, Michael Bernard Fitzgerald, Fuzzcat and again - much more (check link above for exact dates for band performances)!

4.  (Friday and Saturday evening) Enmax Illuminate Calgary (Stephen Avenue) - putting on an amazing light show - a must-see for all ages. If you happen to take in any of this event, you have to let us know what you thought of the contemporary light installations.  Click here for a preview. 

5.  (Saturday 11 a.m.) Safeway Grey Cup parade -  route starts at 6th avenue and MacLeod Trail SE and Calgary's own t-v star from "24", Elisha Cuthbert, is the grand marshall.  

6.  (Saturday) CFL/NHL alumni ball hockey and skills tourney. 

*7.  (Sunday) Grey Cup family viewing party - at the Saddledome (*must pre-purchase tickets at Safeway or SportChek for 10 dollars).  So if you've sold your real tickets to the game - and you're still just kind of a little bit itching to see how those other teams do, you can watch it at the Saddledome on the big - really big - screen.  

And lastly, to speak about the so far unspoken...we're taking a straw poll of sorts - who will you be pulling for if you do plan on watching the game? The Saskatchewan Roughriders or the Montreal Alouettes?  We won't tell anyone, we promise!  

Why Not?

While it's an everyday activity for clowns and other circus professionals - chances are it's not how you spend a lazy weekend afternoon. But I'm here to say, "Reconsider!"

This Sunday, The City of Calgary is planning a gigantic, juggling extravaganza, right here in the Centre City's Olympic Plaza.

As part of the WorldSkills cultural celebration, jugglers are being invited to Olympic Plaza Sunday afternoon between 2 and 3 to show off their skills.

"This is a skills exhibition of a different sort and we thought it would be a fun way to celebrate WorldSkills and all the participants coming to Calgary, said Brian Dorscht of The City of Calgary Arts and Culture.”Our aim is to start a world record for the most number of jugglers in one place at one time."

Anyone who wants to participate or watch is welcome. Jugglers must bring their own items to juggle and they must be safe (no knives, swords, chainsaws or nuclear weapons).  Participants are welcome any time after 1 pm to begin warming up. The world record attempt will take place from 2 – 3 pm.