Weekend In Calgary

European Fashion Weeks F/W 2010:...

Weekend In Calgary

| Sunday March 14, 2010

The first Canadian city to play host to the Winter Olympics and the hometown of supermodel Heather Marks and Glee’s Cory Monteith, Calgary is not quite the winter-cold, cowboy-overrun city you may have imagined it to be. We have the insider scoop on how to properly enjoy Calgary - there's something for everyone.

The Stampede Queen and Princesses march on horseback in the Stampede Parade

The Stampede: Also known as the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth, the Calgary Stampede draws one million visitors each year. The ten-day July event isn’t just for genuine barrel racers and ranchers: you’ll find everyone from restaurant employees to news anchors getting their hoe-down in western wear. Start your day with a city-wide stampede breakfast and end it at the riveting Grandstand show.

The view from the top of Lake Louise Ski Area and Mountain Resort

The Rocky Mountains: You’ll start seeing the Rockies within an hour’s drive west of Calgary. Ski or snowboard at your choice of world-class resorts, or reach the mountain’s peak via gondola. Skate amidst the ice sculptures on frozen Lake Louise, or wait a few months for its scintillating aquamarine colour to come back to life.

The new Holt Renfrew

Stephen Avenue: Bustling with live performances and local culture, the pedestrian Stephen Avenue is the perfect place to people watch on a summer afternoon. The strip has been welcoming world fashion retailers as of late with a Betsey Johnson store and a new Holt Renfrew.

Watch the chef prepare your dinner via Mercato's open concept kitchen

17th Avenue and 4th Street: Shop like a local on the youthful 17th Avenue, with obligatory stops at clothier Purr and shoe institution Gravity Pope. Turn the corner onto 4th Street where you’ll find Mercato, the authentic neighbourhood Italian eatery.

Sushi Legend Globefish

Kensington: This is the 17th Avenue of the north, with famed sushi. Globefish is a must: it’s a favourite among locals, including the NHL's Calgary Flames.

The Badlands on a summer afternoon

The Badlands: Located 90 minutes northeast of Calgary, the Badlands are home to some of the richest dinosaur fossil deposits in the world. See many of them on display at the Royal Tyrrell Museum of Paleontology, located near the town of Drumheller.

by Julie-Anne Cleyn