Now Entering: Calgary
The whole guide. No fluff, no filler.
Inglewood zine libraries, Bridgeland pierogi counters, and the East Village warehouse shows Stampede season pretends don't exist.
Eat & Drink
Counters, kitchens, and the coffee that runs the block.
Bridgeland pierogi counter
Potato-and-cheddar, cabbage, and one seasonal that changes weekly. Fried in butter, sour cream extra.
Vietnamese sub row, International Ave
17th Ave SE has six banh mi shops in eight blocks. Number 2 from the east end is the one.
Kensington bakery, morning only
Sourdough out at 7:30 a.m., gone by 10. Cinnamon buns Saturdays.
Must-Watch
Cinemas, galleries, and the reading series worth setting an alarm for.
Globe Cinema
The city's rep house, single screen, doing 35mm and 70mm when the print exists.
Contemporary Calgary
Housed in the old planetarium. Free Thursday nights, best contemporary programming in the province.
Sled Island unofficial shows
The festival's official line-up is fine. The house shows are where the actual bands play.
Outdoors
Where locals actually go when the weather cooperates.
Nose Hill at dawn
The big prairie hill in the middle of the city. Coyotes at 6 a.m., empty parking lot.
Bow River path east
Ride from downtown past the Zoo to Pearce Estate. Flat, quiet, one great samosa stop halfway.
Kananaskis in shoulder season
Late September, mid-week, before snow. The larch turn yellow and the trails empty out.
Nightlife
Basements, back rooms, and the DJ nights that outlast the trends.
The Palomino basement
Small-room shows under a BBQ joint. Punk, garage, country. The sound is louder than the room deserves.
East Village warehouse nights
Ticketed only, address by DM. The one dance floor that survives Stampede unbothered.
Ship & Anchor patio
The 17th Ave institution. Loud in a good way, cheap in a better way.
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