[Jimby]

My dinner with Andrea at Pic Niq in the historic Grain Exchange building downtown.

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after dinner, we went downstairs to Beat Niq which is a jazz club.
before the crowd arrived:

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Dapp Theory from New York

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Andy, the pianist, and leader of the band who is from Toronto, had the fastest fingers i have ever seen flying over 3 keyboards

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espressotinis

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The Bow, one of two billion dollar office projects downtown. The Bow will have 2 million sq ft of space across part of 2 city blocks and 58 floors in height. It will be the tallest building in Canada outside of downtown Toronto. It was designed by Lord Foster. Sixth Avenue will re-open by July.


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cranes on Bankers Court (office building), Union Square (condos), and Homburg Harris Centre west tower (office)

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groovy peace and love VW

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wind calming sculptures at Bankers Hall

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Stephen Avenue Walk, vehicles are allowed after 6 pm. City hall is at the end of the mall.

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The (Hudson's) Bay Arcade on 1 St SW

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The former Palace Theatre, now Flames Central. It will be packed for the play-offs. The Cult is sold out.

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Murietta's Restaurant and bar in the restored Alberta Hotel

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this shot reminded me of a horrible game in my childhood I barely survived called Red Rover where the opposing team would try to break through your line. Calgary pedestrians are usually obediant but these ones were even more so waiting for the walk light because they could see all the cops who were standing right behind me.

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Olympic Plaza with city hall in the background. Calgary hosted the 1988 Winter Olympics and medal ceremonies were held nightly at Olympic Plaza downtown.

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The Junos are being held in Calgary Saturday and Sunday April 5 and 6. The Junos are the Canadian music industry awards, like the Grammys.
On Thursday April 3, there was a free concert in Olympic Plaza to kick off the Juno weekend.
We don't usually have giant displays of flowers outdoors in early April.

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MacLeod Trail was closed for the concert and EMS was prepared for anything.
Apparently this trailer was outfitted for Nascar legend Dale Earnhardt Sr. who died before he could take delivery of it so the City of Calgary EMS department bought it out of the Bargainfinder (jk). I have no idea if this is really true, but that's what I was told by a friend who was told that by a paramedic at the concert.

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It was nice to walk down the street knowing it was closed to traffic. These limos were for the musical talent.

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The building behind the trains is Rocky Mountain Plaza where the U.S. Consulate is located.

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Teatro on Olympic Plaza

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line-up for hotdogs

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the headlining act was Bedouin Soundclash

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convention centre wall of windows

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mural on the CUPS building (Calgary Urban Projects Society)

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wall in Chinatown


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London, the first two of four condo towers with retail, in south central Calgary near a CTrain station. The first tower is sold out.

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the view from Renfrew in the NE looking south of downtown, about to head down the hill to Bridgeland

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blackbird - "All your life, You were only waiting for this moment to arise"


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Tom Campbell Hill

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Tom Sawyer got old

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reflections in Centrium Place


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Xenex condos

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Torode office building

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5 West - non-identical twin condo towers

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crane #58 in Calgary on the site of low income housing, a fire hall, and a condo tower called Solaire

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Keep Walking

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The Anglican Cathedral, the Church of the Redeemer, with Rocky Mountain Plaza behind

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Peter's Drive-in on a Friday night. Peter's is a Calgary landmark on the TransCanada "highway".
Normal people do not dress like that in Calgary in April!

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This is my new exit for home, part of a $110 million interchange which has improved my driving life (GE5 = Glenmore Trail/Elbow Drive/5th Street).
Thanks for having a look at my pics!

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[Evergrey]

I'm confused by your title... is Calgary known as a country music mecca?

[Jimby]

I'm confused by your title... is Calgary known as a country music mecca?

Sorry to confuse you, the stereotype is we are a country and western music mecca, but I don't like country so I won't have any in my thread! This weekend with the Juno Music Awards in Calgary, and with my pics of listening to jazz at Beat Niq, I thought it would be appropriate to have a bit of a music theme to the thread.

[Top Of The Park]

...Calgary has got to be the most cosmopolitan city for it's size in the world.

[Pinion]

I'm confused by your title... is Calgary known as a country music mecca?

Not so much music but otherwise it's basically Texas North.

The stereotype translation is like this:

Calgary=Dallas
Vancouver=San Francisco
Toronto=New York
Montreal=Paris

[Jimby]

The American city that I hear Calgary compared to the most is Denver. I don't see that we have anything in common with Dallas.
Maybe we would be closer to resembling a mini Houston!
However the American city we are most connected to in spirit, and try to emulate the most is, I think, Los Angeles, although I'm not trying to say Calgary is in the same league as L.A.
We even have a subdivision called Monterrey with a California Boulevard and other California city names which ironically has a strong Spanish speaking community living there.
I would have to say:
Vancouver - Seattle (internationally I would compare Vancouver to Hong Kong, Rio, San Francisco, Sydney, and Capetown as one of the world's most beautiful ocean harbour settings for a city)
Toronto - Chicago (nothing compares to New York)
Montreal - Boston (they both have their own takes on their own languages, and they both have long histories as North American cities)

BTW, there aren't any cowboy hats in any of my pictures.

[The Kid]

Thanks for the pics LFTC. The Junos were pretty good last night and the city was really into the party the entire weekend. Downtown was packed everywhere and the mood was great. Good job Calgary!

[Bigtime]

A great set of pictures LFTC!:tup:

I love how the Juno parties brought people out and about on what is usually still a quiet time of year on the streets(mostly due to weather).

That dudes pants in the Peter's Drive-In shot are awesome, I got to get me a pair of those bad boys! :D

[Calgarian]

I'm confused by your title... is Calgary known as a country music mecca?

Calgary is sometimes referred to as nashville North (which is also the name of the country music venue at the Stampede). Calgary is also home to country music in Canada.

[Rusty van Reddick]

Not so much music but otherwise it's basically Texas North.

The stereotype translation is like this:

Calgary=Dallas
Vancouver=San Francisco
Toronto=New York
Montreal=Paris

Wow, insult us and pat yourself on the back much? Have you ever actually been to Dallas, or Texas?

I'd compare Vancouver to Chicago actually since they're both serial murder capitals- ones where the victims were buried under the killers' property, except in Vancouver nobody gave a damn.

[wild wild west]

I don't really see how Calgary has much in common with Dallas, and aside from the fact that we probably have more in common with Houston or Denver, Calgary - just like every other major Canadian city - is a unique city in its own right, and does not have or need an American "equivalent". Not really sure about the Texas North reference either - similarly I would argue that Alberta is its own unique place, and as such cannot be simply characterized as a Canadian "version" of someplace else.

[Pinion]

Wow, insult us and pat yourself on the back much? Have you ever actually been to Dallas, or Texas?

I'd compare Vancouver to Chicago actually since they're both serial murder capitals- ones where the victims were buried under the killers' property, except in Vancouver nobody gave a damn.

That's laughable. Don't be so sensitive. Put on a cowboy hat and embrace your province's redneck reputation.

Now if you excuse me I have to go smoke some weed and murder a few prostitutes.

[Bucolic Urbanity]

That's laughable. Don't be so sensitive.

There is a reason that the OP is 'furry'...his skin is so thin that he needs to protect himself from the cold.

[Bucolic Urbanity]

Not so much music but otherwise it's basically Texas North.

The stereotype translation is like this:

Calgary=Dallas
Vancouver=San Francisco
Toronto=New York
Montreal=Paris

I'd agree with you on those comparisons, although others will beg to disagree as some will feel that their chosen City has been twinned with a City that they have a beef with.

[JackStraw]

another great Calgary thread. It looks very cool, much like Denver.

[Calgarian]

Calgary has pretty much nothing in common with Dallas. Hoston and Denver maybe, but not Dallas.

Comparing Canadian cities to American is really just silly since Candaian cities are unique, as are American ones. Every city has similarities, but they also have differences.

Now, back to the pictures...

[ColDayMan]

Great shots!

[Jay in Cowtown]

Not really sure about the Texas North reference either


I'd compare Calgary to a cross breed between Houston & Austin... the Texas North statement better describes rural Alberta, which suits me fine.

[zaphod]

Appearance wise Denver and Calgary look very similiar, both are at the foot of the rockies in the high plains and are 80's oil boom towns with similiar looking downtowns that have pedestrian malls and light rail. Denver also had the chance to hold the winter olympics in 1976 but turned it down because the of the cost and enviromental impact...

I bet if you took some random american guy from, say the east coast, and showed them a skyline photo of Calgary they'de guess it was Denver...

At least the way it seems to me, Colorado and Alberta are more rugged western places compared to Texas which is more of southern kind of place, at least in the eastern half of the state where the vast majority of the population lives.

[WhipperSnapper]

Calgary=Dallas
Vancouver=San Francisco
Toronto=New York
Montreal=Paris


I'd agree with you on those comparisons



You certainly need to get out more

[Reesonov]

^ Agreed.

Also, great series of photos. I enjoyed them.

[Modern Design]

Let's see...
1) Great photos!!i love Calgary

2)It hurts me deeply and painfully to see it compared to dallas or any Texan city...Calgary Has no similarities with Dallas Houston or Austin.

3)Comparing Vancouver to Rio , san Francisco is more offending than cursing my mother.


I apologise to the OP since this thread is about his wonderful photos, but i had to post my rant.

[Ruckus]

Wonderful tour, thank you LFTC :)

[sync]

Now if you excuse me I have to go smoke some weed and murder a few prostitutes.

don't forget your umbrella! http://smiliesftw.com/x/mamoru2.gif

[entheosfog]

Great shots!! Good to see some action shots downtown during the Junos.
:tup:

[Wooster]

I was in Calgary during Junos. The city did a fantastic job of hosting, and the city was jumpin'. :tup:

[kool maudit]

...Calgary has got to be the most cosmopolitan city for it's size in the world.


i don't know - maybe swing by that cult show.



(just kidding...i mean, we have monster truck shows in our olympic stadium. such is north american life.)

[shreddog]

Calgary looks nice.

Looks like a nice place to live.

Maybe I should move there.

Wait a sec, I already did.

Thanks LFTC.

[photophan]

Hey, LFTC, your pictures were amazing! I really enjoyed your use of reflection in some of the images.


For those of us who didn't go anywhere near the Junos, it was fun to have a glimpse inside the limo and to see some of the revelry around the downtown area. Thanks!

[PhilippeMtl]

very dynamic pictures!!

[DLLB]

Great series, as always. I really like the way it gave a feel for what was going on dowtown during the free Juno concert.

[Prosciutto]

Great pics. Enjoyed.

[boden]

Enjoyed your photos. Calgary looks sparkling.

[Doug]

Calgary has pretty much nothing in common with Dallas. Hoston and Denver maybe, but not Dallas.

Comparing Canadian cities to American is really just silly since Candaian cities are unique, as are American ones. Every city has similarities, but they also have differences.

Now, back to the pictures...

I lived in Dallas for 2 years and Calgary for 22. Appearance wise, they are nothing alike. Dallas is very midwestern influenced while Calgary is undoubtedly western. However, there are some cultural similarities. Both cities are strongly white collar and middle class. They also share a tendency towards brash self-promotion and an obsession with commercial enterprise.


I've only been to Houston a couple of times, but don't see anything in common with Calgary whatsoever. Both cities are big oil and gas corporate headquarters, but the Calgary oilpatch is very different from that in Houston.

[crazyjoeda]

Not so much music but otherwise it's basically Texas North.

The stereotype translation is like this:

Calgary=Dallas
Vancouver=San Francisco
Toronto=New York
Montreal=Paris


Vancouver=Vancouver
The city stands on its own.

[denveraztec]

Wonderful photos and I could see how Calgary can be compared to Denver in this thread and others on SSP. The historic structures mixed in with all the new reminds me of home. Thanks for sharing your pics!

[Rusty van Reddick]

Calgary=Calgary
The city stands on its own.


Fixed that for ya.

[Jimby]

Thanks for your comments.


North Glenmore Park and Glenmore reservoir - the drinking water for south Calgary, part of the Elbow River.

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native kids playing at Black Bear Crossing on the Tsuu T'ina Nation next to SW Calgary

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Black Bear Crossing was originally called Harvey Barracks and was built as housing for the military on land leased from the Tsuu T'ina. When the military left town, squatters moved in and trashed the place. Most of the housing is condemned now. The federal government is renting apartments in Calgary for band members until new housing can be built on the reserve.


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April 10 record snowfall

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April 11, the snow is rapidly disappearing and the dandelions are popping up.

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we have a small Zimbabwe community here

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This cement truck was heading to that building, Xenex condos

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[Surrealplaces]

Great pictures Living! I somehow had missed this thread, glad I caught it.

[wild wild west]

Loads of great pictures. Re: the Zimbabwean community, I noticed that in recent years Calgary has seen quite an influx of immigrants from various African countries. Nice to see that we are getting a much more diverse array of immigrants than we used to.

[Jimby]

Thanks Surreal and Wild West.
We seem to have lots of people here from southern Africa, mainly white people from South Africa, but also people from other countries like Zimbabwe and Botswana too.
Nando's, a restaurant chain from South Africa - kind of their version of Swiss Chalet - is located on 32 Ave NE and seems popular with the South African community.

[tarapoto]

The American city that I hear Calgary compared to the most is Denver. I don't see that we have anything in common with Dallas.
Maybe we would be closer to resembling a mini Houston!
However the American city we are most connected to in spirit, and try to emulate the most is, I think, Los Angeles, although I'm not trying to say Calgary is in the same league as L.A.
We even have a subdivision called Monterrey with a California Boulevard and other California city names which ironically has a strong Spanish speaking community living there.
I would have to say:
Vancouver - Seattle (internationally I would compare Vancouver to Hong Kong, Rio, San Francisco, Sydney, and Capetown as one of the world's most beautiful ocean harbour settings for a city)
Toronto - Chicago (nothing compares to New York)
Montreal - Boston (they both have their own takes on their own languages, and they both have long histories as North American cities)

BTW, there aren't any cowboy hats in any of my pictures.

Yes when I worked in a warehouse here in Calgary I remember shipping a box to Sunset Blvd. In Calgary, not California. Plus I saw a "Sacramento Drive" the other day

I have also noticed the influx of immigrants from africa. I have met two Tanzanians and a Ugandan in the past week alone