Make room for another a restaurant that does your social life good.

Model Milk is Chef Justin Leboe’s new bistro-style restaurant that’s loud like the best house party you’ve ever been to only better with art deco décor and food. Named for the building’s original 1930s dairy factory, Model Milk has exposed bricks, reclaimed wood beams and lighting made from vintage milk bottles. The restaurant has been renovated for people watching and offers a menu that rotates often on the whim of the kitchen, with everything from shrimp and grits, oysters and fried chicken to meat slow roasted in a Japanese wood smoker.

Recommended serving is two to three times a week, with friends. —Jaelyn Molyneux

Model Milk, 308 17 Ave. S.W., Calgary, 403-265-7343, www.modelmilk.ca

When it comes to most things in life, the general rule is you should never mess with a classic, but sometimes, a little tweaking is a lot of fun.

The Big Cheese Poutinerie, the new 17th Avenue hot spot where you’ll spy plenty of young hipsters with high metabolisms hanging out, serves up over 20 different kinds of poutine, and that’s not including the custom-built options. You can’t go wrong with the classic concoction of potatoes, cheese curds and gravy (from $5.49) but if you’re feeling adventurous, or gluttonous for that matter, opt for the Notorious P.I.G. (pulled pork, double smoked bacon and Italian sausage, from $7.99) and for your daily serving of veggies (it counts), the Loaded Veggie has mushrooms, caramelized onion, roasted peppers and peas (from $6.49). 

Rolling to your car not included. —MG

The Big Cheese Poutinerie, 738 17th Ave. SW, Calgary, 403-457-2873, www.mybigcheese.com

Just when you thought they couldn’t get any cooler, Opening Ceremony owners and designers Humberto Leon and Carol Lim push the envelope to reveal a fresh venture, another collaboration and/or a new location.

Now we can get a little piece, or a few, of the coolness here in the city at Leo Boutique. Exclusive in Calgary to the Mount Royal shop, Opening Ceremony’s spring collection has made quite the entrance with patterned jumpers, textured sundresses, knit shorts and printed tanks. We’re lusting over a scoop-back, striped, floor skimming, fitted dress that combines our lengthy love affair with all things nautical and our new crush on longer hemlines. 

That calls for a closing ceremony of sorts, if you know what we mean. —MG

At Leo Boutique, 810b 16th Ave. SW, Calgary, 403-410-9236, www.leoboutique.com

Maybe it’s the hint of Canadiana cool or an ode to camping in style, but black-and-red checkered patterns (a.k.a. buffalo plaids) get us every time.

The hint of check Tommy Ton captured during the men’s collections in Milan is sublime and you can find buffalo plaid jackets aplenty in vintage stores around town. 

But with its oversized collar, slim fit and crop cut, the Alternative Apparel jacket ($153) is our pick for this trend and a far cry from your father’s baggy cabin work shirt. 

At Divine, 720 17th Ave. SW, Calgary, 403-228-2540, www.divineplanet.com

When the secret’s out on your go-to watering hole and your regular booth is crowded with unrecognizable faces, it’s time to switch time zones.

Forget the Local 510's nightly crowds and head to the hotspot at the crack of dawn (bar-staff dawn, that is) for the new brunch menu.

Well edited with just over a handful of choices, the menu includes classic omelettes, eggs benedicts and chorizo scrambles and a few specialty items like a French toast baguette and chilaquiles.  Or, go light with scones and English muffins with house-made jam served up with bottomless Phil and Sebastian coffee.

But hurry, the secret is out.

Brunch from 11 a.m., Local 510, 510 17th Ave. SW, Calgary, 403-229-4036, www.localtavern.ca

When it begins to look a lot like Christmas, you know it’s layering time. And what better way to visually offset the thermal underwear than by first slipping into something a little sexy.

The new location of She Apparel has our first layer covered. Colourful skivvies by Björn Borg, lacy undies by Affinitas Intimates and fancy bras by Empreinte are just some of the offerings. Now located in The Devenish Building, the one-stop-shop for all things bridal also caters to ladies in white.

She Apparel, 112, 908 17th Ave. SW, Calgary, 403-229-1743, www.sheapparel.com

Move over New York, these days, our “Empire State of Mind” has turned to California cool.

Inspired by a Beverly Hills boutique, the new 17th Avenue Empire Collection shop is an ode to Hollywood glitz and glamour with mirror walls, maple floors, chandeliers and a maze-like space with plenty of fashion-filled nooks.

The boutique’s collections cater to the eclectic 17th Avenue crowd ranging from cardigans by Twelfth Street by Cynthia Vincent, cool tops by Ben Sherman and silk dresses by SuperTrash. There are plenty of gems for the boys too including a denim bar where shoppers can sit, sip on bubbly water and check out the blue jeans.

Empire, 800 16th Ave. SW, Calgary, 403-457-3443, www.empirecollection.ca

Some cleanses are trying (raw almonds and carrot juice for a week straight) and some, no-brainers (bad boyfriends, be gone), but the lathering-up type of cleanse should always be fun.

And what better way to start the day than telling it how it is with the cyprus and orange peel Morning Sucks soap.The collection of witty bath products also includes Better Than A Boyfriend soap and for the feisty cleanser, Mood Swing soap ($11 each).

Just one more reason to stay in the shower a little longer.

At Steeling Home, 1010 17th Ave. SW, Calgary, 403-245-0777, www.steelinghomestore.com

Fashion week street-style photos don’t lie: bracelets are still in vogue. Speaking of, the Voguettes and other fashion editors were again caught sporting handfuls (or should we say wristfuls) of bangles, cuffs and beaded bracelets.

To add to our collection (more is more), we’re eyeing the San Francisco line Presh (from $65). The wraparound styles are tough-girl cool with studs, chain details and metal details but you’ll also find daintier knotted versions that play homage to old-school friendship bracelet.

Now what would our wrist like to wear….

At Rubaiyat, 722 17th Ave. SW, Calgary, 403-228-7192, www.rubaiyatcalgary.com

We first spied Aussie designer Natalie Wood on The Selby, but when we came across her cosmic jacquard leggings, we knew it was true love.

Collaborating with a handful of artists, Wood brings a mix of high fashion and skate wear to her highly graphic collection Something Else. For fall, pair her psychedelic patterned T-shirts with loose trousers and a cardigan and her geometric print dresses with tights and a pair of booties. And best of all, the tunics, oversized sweaters, leggings and tees are uber comfortable while still screaming cool and chic.

There’s something to this.

At The Gallery, 113, 1013 17th Ave. SW, Calgary, www.gallerystyles.com