Karen Durrie is a Calgary freelance writer and editor. She digs traipsing through the city’s storied neighbourhoods, quaffing on patios and collecting vintage clocks. In summer, she can be found elbow-deep in her heirloom tomato garden. In winter, she’s often face-deep in snow on the ski slopes. Karen’s work has appeared in the Calgary Herald, Postmedia special publications, National Post, Swerve and Avenue magazine.
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Besides being essential to the Canadian wardrobe, there’s just something about sweaters. They’re the one piece of clothing that wraps you in warmth and security, whether they’re gossamer-thin spring cardigans or cozy, chunky cable knits worn to keep out winter’s icy bite. They can also be casual or sophisticated. These are some of the sweetest spots in which to find sweaters.
The Caesar was invented in 1969 by bar manager Walter Chell as a signature cocktail for an Italian restaurant in the Calgary Inn, now The Westin Calgary. Any city bar worth its salt features this concoction of vodka, Clamato, Worcestershire sauce and spices with celery salt-and-peppered rim. Here are some great places to hit to quaff this quintessential Calgary cocktail. [Image credit: iStock.com/Lauri Patterson.
It’s OK to go out and dine alone, on purpose. Really! Sometimes you’re out and about on your own, and you’re hankering for a decent nosh, so you pop into a place and plunk down. Sometimes you’re in that headspace where you want a good meal with just a book or tablet for companionship. You need no excuses, no apologies. Treat yourself. Here are some restaurants that fit the bill.
Calgary’s first inhabitants settled here more than 11,000 years ago, but the first European settlers didn’t arrive until 1873, two years before it became a North-West Mounted Police post. Over the decades, Calgary’s historic buildings have faced fires, floods and demolition, but we’ve managed to maintain some gems – some of which house top restaurants. Here is a handful of eateries that dwell in heritage digs.
Rushing water, sloppy slush, sub-zero snow and toe-numbing temperatures are all part of winter in Calgary. But keeping feet dry and frostbite-free is easy with the right footwear for the job. Here are some of the best bets in town for winter boot buying.
Canadian pet and pet-supply stores do big business – $6.5 billion annually. Big-box pet stores are plentiful, but it’s the independent stores that really shine when it comes to long-term community relationships and customer loyalty. Here are some of the best places in Calgary to find finned, furry, scaly or feathered friends, and all the trappings they need to keep them happy in your home.
It’s not tough to find gifts that incorporate green. Eco-friendly items may be ethically sourced, locally made, fashioned from organic materials or created without the use of harmful chemicals. Calgary is loaded with shops that either specialize in, or carry, eco-friendly merchandise. Here are a few such ethical, sustainable businesses. [Image credit: iStock.com/dolgachov]
Taming kids’ tresses takes finesse, skill and patience. It also helps to have a sense of humour when you're dealing with wiggly, giggly clients. Fun chairs, music, TVs and splashy colours can help, too. Here are some of the best places in Calgary to get little noggins neatened.
There’s something special about selecting wearable art that speaks to your own sense of style. The symbols and materials you wear make your own personal philosophical or cultural statement. Handcrafted jewellery in Calgary comes in myriad forms – from Wilma Flintstone rustic to Greta Garbo elegant, and every feathered, flowered or Swarovski-studded shade in between. Here’s where to find handcrafted wares in YYC.
When temperatures dip and the blustery days nip at our necks, scarves are a mandatory part of our wardrobe, but wrapping up can also be a fashion statement. From chunky knitted scarves like Grandma purled on her needles to fun, funky or artsy, Calgary shops carry scarves to suit a variety of styles and budgets.