My dinner with Andrea at Pic Niq in the historic Grain Exchange building downtown.
after dinner, we went downstairs to Beat Niq which is a jazz club.
before the crowd arrived:
Dapp Theory from New York
Andy, the pianist, and leader of the band who is from Toronto, had the fastest fingers i have ever seen flying over 3 keyboards
espressotinis
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.
cranes on Bankers Court (office building), Union Square (condos), and Homburg Harris Centre west tower (office)
groovy peace and love VW
wind calming sculptures at Bankers Hall
Stephen Avenue Walk, vehicles are allowed after 6 pm. City hall is at the end of the mall.
The (Hudson's) Bay Arcade on 1 St SW
The former Palace Theatre, now Flames Central. It will be packed for the play-offs. The Cult is sold out.
Murietta's Restaurant and bar in the restored Alberta Hotel
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.
Olympic Plaza with city hall in the background. Calgary hosted the 1988 Winter Olympics and medal ceremonies were held nightly at Olympic Plaza downtown.
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.
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.
It was nice to walk down the street knowing it was closed to traffic. These limos were for the musical talent.
The building behind the trains is Rocky Mountain Plaza where the U.S. Consulate is located.
Teatro on Olympic Plaza
line-up for hotdogs
the headlining act was Bedouin Soundclash
convention centre wall of windows
mural on the CUPS building (Calgary Urban Projects Society)
wall in Chinatown
London, the first two of four condo towers with retail, in south central Calgary near a CTrain station. The first tower is sold out.
the view from Renfrew in the NE looking south of downtown, about to head down the hill to Bridgeland
blackbird - "All your life, You were only waiting for this moment to arise"
Tom Campbell Hill
Tom Sawyer got old
reflections in Centrium Place
Xenex condos
Torode office building
5 West - non-identical twin condo towers
crane #58 in Calgary on the site of low income housing, a fire hall, and a condo tower called Solaire
Keep Walking
The Anglican Cathedral, the Church of the Redeemer, with Rocky Mountain Plaza behind
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!
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!