International Blues Festival

There are several music festivals throughout the year in Calgary Alberta, but our pick of them all is the International Blue Festival which takes place from August 6th to 9th 2009. The festival takes place outdoors next to the Pumphouse Theatre and this year will feature renowned artists such as The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Savoy Brown, and E.C. Scott. If you can’t wait that long, you’ll be glad to know that the Calgary Midwinter Bluesfest takes place February 23rd to 28th to bring some joy to the long winter months.
For further information about both events, see www.calgarybluesfest.com.

Dim Sum Delights

Calgary’s Chinatown is home to some of the best Chinese restaurants in Alberta and once you are in the district you cannot go far wrong with your choice of restaurant. One element of Chinese food that is very well represented here is the humble dim sum. Very much a lunchtime dish, dim sum is the collective name for a variety of small dishes, often brought to you on a display trolley - simply select the plates that take your fancy and you’re good to go!
Our favorite dim sum restaurant is Harbour City, located at 302 Centre St SE. At lunchtime the restaurant is buzzing with a mainly Chinese crowd, and you may have to wait for a table. Once seated though, the selection of dim sum is excellent, and the great thing about dim sum is that you can take food gradually and eat as much or as little as you want - you only pay for the dishes you take. Highly recommended are the wan ton, pork dumplings and salt and pepper ribs, and you can’t beat a jasmine tea to accompany them. Enjoy!!
Harbour City
302 Centre St SE, Calgary Alberta
Tel: 403 269 8888

Indian Food at its Best

For those of us with a taste for Indian cuisine, the hunt for the best curry is a never ending quest. Well thanks to the Rajdoot restaurant on trendy 4th St SW, that quest may have ended. Our table was booked for a Friday night, and as expected the place was full with a lively atmosphere. We nibbled on the compulsory poppadoms while we browsed the menu and were delighted with our starter of vegetable pakoras and samosas accompanied by the house tamarind sauce. As a main course my wife enjoyed the Yogi’s vegetable dish of the day which was outstanding, and my choice of butter chicken simply melted in the mouth. Not surprisingly the usual accompaniments of basmati rice and naan bread were of the highest standard, and it is no wonder that they have won several wards over the years. Highly recommended!
Rajdoot
2424 4th St SW, Calgary Alberta
Tel: 403 228 7194

Calgary Stampede

The “greatest outdoor show on earth” takes place every July in Calgary Alberta. The Calgary Stampede honours the cowboy heritage of the region and includes rodeo, chuck wagon racing, live country music and a world class fun fair. The main venue for the Stampede is the Calgary Saddledome, but all manner of cowboy inspired events take place throughout the city during the festival. A common site each morning is the Stampede breakfast where pancakes and syrup are served sometimes free to public, and others are invitation only corporate events. Everybody in Calgary, whether they work in a bank or a bar, wears cowboy clothing throughout the Stampede and it really is an event that the whole city looks forward to and takes part in. If you are from Calgary, you are already well aware of the significance of this event, and if you are visiting from elsewhere you should consider coming at this exciting time of year.
For more information, visit the Calgary Stampede website.

The Cochrane Connection

As Calgary continually expands its borders, the charming town of Cochrane Alberta is getting closer and closer to the Calgary city limits and nowadays offers a very real alternative to living one of Calgary’s new far flung suburbs. The town of Cochrane has a strong cowboy heritage that is still very much alive today with its old western style buildings and country appeal. There are several coffee shops and restaurants, as well as unique home stores and boutiques, and some of the best ice cream in Alberta! Mountain lovers will enjoy the tremendous views of the Canadian Rockies and horse lovers will relish in the amount of ranch land surrounding the town. With new homes and condos as well as desirable acreages on offer, buying a home in Cochrane might be the best decision you will ever make. Best of all it’s just a 20 mnute drive from Calgary!

Inner City Chic

If you’re looking for a Calgary home in the centre of the action, and you want to minimize your commute to work then you should take a look at the new Providence Development condos in Mount Royal. Located just 2 blocks from the trendy 17th Ave with its great selection of bars, restaurants and shopping, these new condos have enviable city views while being located in a quiet neighborhood, just the perfect distance from the hustle and bustle.
Take a look at their website to find out more.

Hyatt vs Fairmont Palliser

Anyone searching for a luxury hotel in Calgary is bound to come across some mention of the Fairmont Palliser or the Hyatt Regency, and there is no denying that they are both wonderful places to stay. But how do you choose between them? Well, we went to check them both out for ourselves so we could help you decide, and here is what we found.
Both hotels are located downtown but it is the Hyatt that is really in the heart of the action, right in the middle of the main shopping and restaurant area.
The Hyatt has a modern, lively hotel lounge which is bustling with life throughout the day and especially when business people meet there for an afternoon drink. The Palliser, on the other hand, has a quieter lounge off the main lobby more resembling a gentleman’s club.
As you would expect, the rooms in both hotels are of a very high standard, the main difference being size and decor. The Fairmont’s rooms are finished in a very traditional style, in keeping with the historic nature of the building, while the Hyatt offers modern design and larger rooms.
While you won’t be disappointed with either choice, the 2 hotels are certainly different from each other and depending on your personal taste, you are sure to be drawn to your own favorite.

Chuck Wagon Racing

Saddledome Stadium by Night

Calgary Skyline

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