Archive for September, 2009

The thing I have been waiting for has finally happened:  Vendome Cafe on the corner of 2nd Avenue and 9th Street NW is opening its doors 8:00am, Thursday, October 1st!

I had the opportunity to get an inside look at what we can expect, and let me tell you, this is definitely the new cafe to check out in the Kensington area.  As the love child of Teatro restaurant downtown, this cafe features free wireless, gourmet goods, and the kind of friendly staffers that will make you feel right at home.   If their early gatherings are any indication of what we can expect, the communities of Sunnyside and Kensington are in for a real treat….every morning until 5pm…come and check it out!

We are 30 years in, we have 1 Stanley Cup, but we look great. I didn’t think we could get much better than last years team who looked really good during the regular season but then got choked out in the first round, but this years squad has me impresssed.

Yes I know Michael Cammalleri, the 39 goal scorer is gone, and we have a new coach but look at all the new additions. Jay Bouwmeester is arguably one of the best defensemen in the league and Nigel Dawes is set to have a huge breakout year, and surrounded by some talent might just help that happen. It will also be nice to see a healthy Rene Bourque who in an injury plagued season scored 21 goals and 19 assists last year in 58 games. Returning are all our favorites; Kiprusoff, Phaneuf, Regehr, Jokinen, Langkow, Conroy, and of course Iggy will be wearing the “C”. Unfortunately the little guy didn’t make it.

Calgary starts their season tomorrow night at the dome facing off against the well hated Vancouver Canucks. Game time is 8 pm and you can catch the game on CBC.

Also in the spirit of a good Canadian hockey rivalry, me and my boy Jef Choy from vancouverisawesome.com, have a little bet going on for the game. Who ever team looses has to grow some really bad facial hair in tribute to Lanny McDonald or Harold Snepsts.

Go Flames Go!

Got an awesome dog? EMAIL in their name, breed, favorite treats, other information you want to include and pictures to have your pal featured on CalgaryisAwesome!

Today’s dog featured on BLOG YOUR DOG is Heather’s BFF- Eli! Here is what she has to say about him:

NAME: Eli BREED: mostly mutt (but we were told he is a cockapoo and german spitz cross) FAVORITE SNACK: Rawhide OTHER INFO: Eli is 9 months old and the cousin to Molly #2.  They are partners in crime and usually spend an afternoon or two tearing up Molly’s house as they wrestle and chase each other around.  Squeaker toys are the best things EVER and usually only last 15 minutes (if they are of the stuffed variety).  Recently discovering the joys of Sandy Beach River Park, nothing makes him happier to run, swim, and play in the mud (much to his owner’s cringing from then having a completely covered swamp creature to take home).  His dad loves pirates so he has taught Eli to “Yarrrrrr” (sitting with one paw in the air forming a little hook).  So guard those squeak toys, Eli’s coming! (Editors Note: Eli is definitely giving Chapeau a run for his money in the cute category! I haven’t stopped smiling since i downloaded his pictures! CUTIE PIE!)

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Makeout Videotape – Heat Wave from ryan anderson on Vimeo.

Flat Tires

Makeout Videotape
Labcoast
Jasper Baydala

Marquee Room
Wednesday October 7th
9 p.m.
$8 @ door.

Heres a tiny fall web advertisement for a good friend of mine, Kelly Agapi.

Chow Down in Cowtown is an (almost!) weekly account of Calgary’s most awesome eats from Ceci n’est pas un food blog.

Some people may be surprised that this little hole-in-the-wall Japanese place is still surviving despite much larger competition across the street, but considering that the same building houses two deli/diners that claim to specialize in Montreal smoked meat, I suppose anything can happen in Marda Loop.

I first tried El’s Japanese Fusion two summers ago, when one of the trainers at the gym where I worked took me there for lunch. He is Korean, so he liked/likes the Korean-owned El’s because he could chat up the owners and sometimes score a free salad or soup (the same goes for Sushi Hanami). The lunch menu then was tiny, and we always opted for the bento boxes anyway just because they were quick and easy, so I was a little taken aback when I went for supper on Friday night to find that the menu is actually pretty huge!
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We’re giving away one pair of tickets to Sean Kingston’s show on October 1st along with an opportunity to meet him in person!!!

Sean will be in town promoting his newest album “Tomorrow” and all you have to do to enter this contest is send us a quick email about what your plans are for “tomorrow” and why you want to hang out with Sean Kingston! Simple as that!

All entries will be put into a random draw and the winner will be announced next week!
Send entries to events@calgaryisawesome.com

Unless you live under a rock, you have surely heard that the Calgary International Film Festival is happening right now.

There are some true gems playing this year including a whole slew of environmental films- Notably, the Arusha Centre in conjunction with Green Peace, The Indigenous Environment Network, The Sierra Club Prairie Chapter and Public Interest Alberta present the screening a great film and the Sundance Film Festival 2009 Official Selection, H2Oil- an eye-opening documentary, ‘H2Oil follows a voyage of discovery, heartbreak and politicization in the stories of those attempting to defend water in Alberta against tar sands expansion. Unlikely alliances are built and lives are changed as they come up against the largest industrial project in human history.’

Sure to sell out, this film is screening at Cineplex Eau Claire Market on Saturday October 3rd, 2009 at 2:00pm
Tickets available at the door – 100% Calgary Dollars accepted

For the full CIFF schedule of events, click the following link: http://calgaryfilm.com/2009/schedule/day/1/

Brasstronaut – Old World Lies from Salazar on Vimeo.

*Late Notice!
TONIGHT at the PALAMINO
Brasstronaut LIVE

One of the best things about going for a walk are stumbling upon totally AWESOME art pieces, big or small. I picked this piece to post, because I think it takes a certain kinda person to climb up all that way to make something truly unique for everyone to enjoy…