April 15, 2014 | CREBNow

You Can Always Go Downtown

For those in search of community, culture and culinary delights, Calgary's inner city is the perfect place to call home.

For those seeking a home in communities bordering the downtown core, walkability is a huge factor when it comes to inner city life.

"The biggest thing I love about living in the inner city is not needing a car to get to everything," said Beltline resident Mark Pfeifer. "I can walk to everything I need to including work, grocery stores, parks, the river, pubs, restaurants etc. I do have a car, but it is primarily used to get out of the city, generally to the mountains." With a mix of single-family, condominium and apartment offerings those who make their place in the inner city are an eclectic mix. Hipsters rub elbows with business buffs in locales such as 17th Avenue's Ship and Anchor while young moms hitting the parks with their little ones can stop for a chat with seniors who have made their home in places like the Fountains of Mission Retirement Residence in the Mission district.

"Another thing I love is that there [are] always people around which makes for a more vibrant neighbourhood," said Pfeifer. "I grew up in the suburbs of Edmonton, St. Albert, and moved into the suburbs of Calgary, Tuscany, but ever since I moved to the inner city, I could never see myself moving out of it."

For those with a love of the arts and a love of the outdoors, the Beltline's Barb Scott Park will be opening to the public this June at 12th Avenue and Ninth Street. The parks namesake was 24 year council veteran Barb Scott who served Ward 8 starting in 1971. Currently under construction in the park is the art installation Chinook Arc, an interactive art piece which will utilize colour and light.

Within the inner city lies Calgary's Centre City. Bordered by the Bow and Elbow Rivers to the north and east, 17th Avenue to the south and 14th Street to the West, Centre City is where almost 160,000 Calgarians work and 35,000 Calgarians call home. Community projects within the Centre City include the Clean to the Core program strengthening safety and vitality in the area and the Bridge Banner Project which engages local artists utilizing the seven bridges leading into the downtown core.

Community Natural Foods
Committed to offering up unrefined, organic foods and sustainable lifestyle products to name a few Community Natural Foods has five locations in the city including The Community Cafe at the 10th Avenue Market. Stretching beyond their physical locations, Community Natural Foods' website shares tips on everything from Easter lamb to natural spring cleaning.



 

 

The Plaza Theatre
First a garage, The Plaza was transformed into a theatre in 1935 with the first film Mr. Skitch starring Will Rogers. Today the Plaza looks much the same as it did all those years ago and is one of the few remaining art house theatres in Calgary showing both mainstream and independent films not available at larger theatres. The Plaza is home to events and festivals such as the Fairy Tales Film Festival and an annual showing of The Rocky Horror Picture Show.



 

 

 

RiverWalk
Just another aspect of the reemergence of Calgary's East Village, RiverWalk will eventually make its way along four kilometres of the south side of the Bow River. The walkway is being completed in three stages and includes outlooks, a public plaza and plenty of pathways and quiet spots for walkers, bikers, tourists and locals alike.



 

 

 

 

 

NOtaBLE Restaurant
Voted second for fine dining in all of Calgary according to the popular foodie site Urbanspoon, NOtaBLE in Montgomery is one of the city's most popular restaurants. Featuring the culinary creations of Chef Michael Noble, NOtaBLE includes dishes organic spring salmon, Saltspring Island mussels, Innisfail lamb sirloin and the restaurants signature Stilton cheesecake. As stated on the website Chef Noble says, "Don't think fine dining, think great food."

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