Calgary

  • February 8th, 2010

    Valentine's Day Gift Guide Calgary

    You can’t buy love, but here's a few ideas for what to get your sweetheart this year.

    Just for You: Designs from the Heart ($56) by Pablo Correa is a collection of works and stories by designers, illustrators and artists from around the world with one common theme: how to say "I love you." At Dick and Jane’s, 831 17th Ave. SW, Calgary, 403-228-1857, www.dickandjanes.ca

    Heart-shape egg rings from Nood ($11.95). Breakfast in bed is good but heart-shaped pancakes or eggs in bed are even better.  At Nood, 820 11th Ave. SW, Calgary, 403-233-9022, www.nooddesign.ca

    You treat him to a Coen Brothers Double Feature of A Serious Man and The Big Lebowski (February 7 and 10) and he treats you to a Fashionista Double Feature of Coco Avant Chanel and The September Issue (February 12, 13 and 15) and you both win. At the Plaza Theatre, 1133 Kensington Rd. NW, Calgary, 403-283-2222, www.theplaza.ca

    Spell it out with a typographic love poster from Uppercase Gallery. Choose from six ($60 each) simple prints that include sentiments such as “love” and “happily ever after.” At www.uppercasegallery.ca

    Take away the “o” and the “e” and love turns into LV. Spoil yourself with a neckalce by Louis Vuitton ($320), in red of course. At Louis Vuitton in Holt Renfrew, 510 Eighth Ave. SW, Calgary, www.louisvuitton.com

    If you can’t say it, let Marvin Gaye sing it with his Number 1’s album ($7.99). It has his biggest hits including the most important one for this occasion of course, “Let’s Get It On.” At iTune.

     

     

  • February 5th, 2010

    Fabulous Baker Boy

    From sourdough to walnut and raisin, Peasant Artisan Bread and Charcuterie by Aviv has us forsaking our carb count and indulging in delicious slices of the good stuff.

    Aviv Fried's breads are available around town, but it’s what he does on Mondays that has us charmed. Every week, he delivers loaves of bread ($6 with portion of the proceeds going to charity) by bicycle to any downtown location. Sign up for the mailing list and each Wednesday you’ll receive a selection of breads to choose from for Monday's delivery, along with "recession package" pairing suggestions (from $12) like honey, cheese or soup.

    Now let's break bread.

    http://peasantfood.tumblr.com

  • February 5th, 2010

    Mother Superior

    So you’re not quite as swift with the Singer as your mom once was.

    Thank goodness there’s another mother who’ll whip up a gorgeous handmade dress for your budding fashionista. With au courant details like 1920s drop waists and Liberty of London fabrics, the modern frocks by Vancouver line Mette will have her standing apart from the crowd.

    And not because she’s wearing a bright orange polyester shift—that was you at age 4.

    Dresses from $40, www.mette.ca

  • February 4th, 2010

    Ethnic Delights

    Cheese plates and veggie platters are classics, but for your next party, go worldly with EthniCity Catering.

    Operated by the Centre for Newcomers, the catering collective creates edible delights from around the world including East Asian flavours, Latin American staples and South Asian items. Impress your guests with pakoras ($2.29) to start, followed by fatouche salad ($3.99) and a main dish of chicken korma with rice ($7.49). The aforementioned classics are also available but your guests will be too busy noshing on samosas and baked fatayer.

    EthniCity Catering, 125-920 36th St. NE, Calgary, 403-537-8809, www.ethnicitycatering.ca



                   
  • February 3rd, 2010

    Mix Tape

    Technically it’s a playlist on our iPod, but to honour the old-school medium, here’s our top five tunes by Calgary acts we can’t seem to get enough of recently.

    1. “Morningside” off Woodpigeon's just released album Die Stadt Muzikanten. While at Nina Ricci, designer Olivier Theyskens used a song off Woodpigeon’s first album for his spring/summer 2009 runway show.

    
2. “Had Enough of It” by The Dudes. Former Calgarian and Broken Social Scene songstress Lisa Lobsinger makes an appearance on this tune from their 2009 Blood Guts Bruises Cuts, the rock ode to the band’s tough year.

    3. “Anatomical Literacy” by Jordan Klassen. This young artist released his first full-length album, Tempest and Winter, last year and had us swooning over his charming melodies with the first listen.

    4. “New Years Eve” by Dojo Workhorse. We dare you to try not to sing along to this feel-good tune by Dan Vacon’s other ensemble (he’s also part of The Dudes). We so hope “she” kissed him that fateful New Year’s Eve.

    5. “Suzie I Love You” by Michael Bernard Fitzgerald. With that raspy voice and adorable look, Fitzgerald makes us all wish we were named Suzie.

    All songs available on iTunes.