By Sarah Sussman
The East Village, one of Calgary’s oldest historic neighbourhoods, recently underwent a huge revitalization that has made it one of the most sought-after areas in Calgary. Here are the spots to check out during a day in East Village. [Photo credit: istockphoto.com/jewhyte]
Home of the new National Music Centre, the $191-million Studio Bell is one of the most exciting new developments in the city of Calgary. The centre opened on Canada Day 2016 and has quickly become the mecca for Calgary’s music community.
The 160,000-square foot centre features a 300-seat performance hall, as well as broadcast facilities, acoustic and electronic sound labs and more. The building features five levels of rotating interactive exhibits and displays to teach you everything you ever wanted to know about music in Canada.
Try your hand at playing a new instrument, or check out Canadian memorabilia and artifacts, such as Avril Lavigne’s guitar from the Girlfriend music video. Public programming and special events also take place throughout the week. Studio Bell is also home to The Canadian Music Hall of Fame, the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame and the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame. Studio Bell is open Wednesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m.
Long considered one of Calgary’s most infamous historical buildings, the King Edward Hotel originally opened in 1905 on the street formerly known as the “Whisky Row.” The hotel was established as the city’s first-ever desegregated bar and went on to become a live blues music venue in the 1980s. Over the years, the King Edward Hotel played host to blues legends such as Buddy Guy, Otis Rush and more.
The bar shut down in 2004, but was restored in conjunction with the construction of the Studio Bell National Music Centre. The bar reopened during the 2016 Calgary Stampede as a pop-up live music venue with headlining performances courtesy of Tum Hus, Dick Damron, Petunia and the Vipers and more. The National Music Centre plans to use the space for more pop-up live music shows in the future.
Established by the Northwest Mounted Police in 1875 as Fort Brisebois, Fort Calgary set the foundation for what eventually became the city of Calgary. Fort Calgary was purchased by the City of Calgary in 1974, reopening as a historic site and museum.
Fort Calgary is open daily from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. and is geared towards children and families. Enjoy the museum’s many interactive exhibits including a historic virtual streetcar tour, a replica Mountie jail and more.
For on-site dining, book a reservation at the new Deane House for regional Canadian cuisine courtesy of chef Jamie Harling. Overlooking the scenic surrounding river and gardens, the Deane House was built in 1906 for Captain Richard Deane, the former Superintendent of Fort Calgary. Two popular entrée options at the restaurant include Driview Farms lamb loin with confit neck, roasted root vegetables and béarnaise as well as Alberta lamb ribs served with Monogram Coffee BBQ sauce, toasted sunflower seeds and scallion. A tasting menu is also available for $100.
This former Simmons mattress factory reopened in the summer of 2015 as the East Village’s dining hub and community gathering space. The building currently houses three tenants – Charbar, Phil & Sebastian Coffee Roasters and Sidewalk Citizen Bakery.
Head to Phil & Sebastian Coffee for locally-roasted coffee and freshly baked artisanal pasties. Stop in to Sidewalk Citizen for Canadian-Mediterranean pastries and baked goods, including one of the best croissants in Calgary.
For upscale Argentinian dining with a Spanish-Italian influence, book a reservation at Charbar for lunch or dinner. The restaurant has a superstar culinary team behind it, including co-chef and co-owners Connie DeSousa and John Jackson – both of Charcut Roast House – as well as Chopped Canada-winning chef Jessica Pelland. Popular entrees on the menu include thick deep-dish sourdough pizza (crust courtesy of Sidewalk Citizen Bakery), wood-fire grilled chicken and hardwood charred albacore tuna with romesco sauce, capers and shaved fennel. Reservations are recommended.
For a picturesque, no-cost East Village experience, head over to the Langevin Bridge as the sun sets to take in the views from the gateway to the neighbourhood. The 100-year old bridge has 156 RGB LED lights, each containing 36 one-watt lamps, making for a grand total of more than 1,000 individual LED lights. The lights change colour daily in accordance with holidays and seasons. Calgarians can even submit requests to get their choice of colours illuminated on the bridge for special occasions and events. Head over to the East Village website and fill out a quick form with your date preference and colour choice.
Though the revitalized East Village remains an emerging Calgary destination, there’s no shortage of exciting and enjoyable ways to spend a day in the historic neighbourhood.
