Alberta

After deciding to pack up camp and head east, Greg and I spent time thinking about the mementos we'd like to carry back to Newfoundland and Labrador with us before departing Edmonton. We decided that we'd like to carry back memories of our weekend trips to Banff and Jasper National Parks, the mid-century modern buildings around Edmonton and the neon signs on Whyte Avenue.

Banff welcomed us on Saturday afternoons when we headed due south-west of Calgary for a break from the glitz. Jasper was our getaway for Thanksgiving 2008 and Victoria Day 2009. Scattered in gift shops around the parks are vintage and replica 'vintage' posters of the parks and the Canadian Pacific rail lines that crawl through them. To remember our weekends away, we purchased one such 'vintage' poster and framed it in an ever-popular Ikea Ribba frame. It now welcomes visitors in our foyer.

We also chose to keep guests informed, and visually stimulated, by adding to our collection of coffee table books with the Art Gallery of Alberta's Capital Modern. A flick through the pages of this picture book reminds me of the long walks Greg and I weaved during our first months together in the city. The history of buildings that I walked past daily was largely unknown to me until making this purchase. I'm always fascinated to learn more about the history of seemingly common-folk places in my very neighbourhood.

Finally, we purchased a yet-to-be-assembled picture rack that will eventually hold photos Greg took of neon signs in the neighbourhoods of Strathcona and Garneau, and across British Columbia on our summer vacation. I've long had a soft spot for neon signs and look forward to expanding on our collection as the list of our past travel destinations continues to expand.

Stools

While browsing the Antique Mall on Gateway Boulevard last Sunday, Greg and I stumbled upon two mid-century fiberglass bar stools. I thought about the pair all week and am delighted to report that we welcomed the stools to our home on Saturday. Thankfully no one else snatched them up before us. Our stools remind me of these stools, minus the hefty price tag. I've got plans to restore the fibreglass shells and spray the bases with rust-proof paint.

Speaking of great design finds, check out Edmonton's Izm. I am struck by the beauty of Hypnotizm (a bench).

Anywhere

Feeling a little 'kd lang's Anywhere But Here', my mind is drifting to getaways, and new adventures and possibilities that exist beyond my current place. I need to reinvigorate my soul.

If I could be anywhere but here, I wouldn't mind being:

• On a sail boat wearing horizontal stripes on the Caribbean
• At the Manukubra Ranch participating in cooking glasses
• Seated at a desk writing short stories while eating peppermint sticks
• On the beach in Dubai meeting Greg's twin brother and his wife
• Exposed to new tastes and smells in Greece and Turkey on a culinary tour
• With my whole extended family laughing around a campfire after a delicious cook up
• Creative by making fun film videos on Super 8 like these
• In the United Kingdom on a Rothermere Fellowship

Photo via Courage My Love.

Origami

In case you too were not in the know, the Art Gallery of Alberta at Enterprise Square hosts Art for Lunch on the last Thursday of every month from 12:10-12:50 in the Atrium. While I'm often found eating at my desk, sipping soup at Soul Soup, collecting books from the library or browsing Club Monaco during lunch, this is a great alternative to add to the mix.

On April 30, AGA staff and special guests will discuss origami and show participants how to fold tessellated planes, modular dragons and the basic swan. What a fun idea! I loved playing with origami paper and owned a few books on folding techniques when I was younger. Sadly, I think I'll be out of town that day, but plan to attend Art for Lunch in May.

The photo of the classical kusudama above is from Origami Nut.

Born

Happy Birthday Gregory!

These yummy carrot cake and lemon cupcakes were showcased on Cupcakes Take The Cake. They perfectly match Greg's and my dessert sensibilities. 

On the topic of cupcakes, I am looking forward to checking out Edmonton's cupcake cafes - Flirt Cupcakes (101 Street and Whyte) and the new Fuss Cupcakes (Whyte and 104 Street), which is set to open in April. For details on the Edmonton cupcake scene click here.

I am also excited about Design Sponge's new Calgary city guide!

Happy St. Patrick's Day everyone!

J'adore

Feeling sunny, warm and positive on this chilly Monday, I would like to share some things I'm loving right now. Having an unexpected lunch with Greg downtown today put me in a great mood to forge through the week. I hope you're all having a great day!

1. Adrian Johnson's Illustrations - some of which I've printed for my inspiration board.

2. Culina Highlands - Greg and I celebrated turning a year older with two of our great friends at the restaurant on Saturday. I highly recommend the goat cheese wrapped in phyllo with red lentils and fresh greens as a main, and the olive and prune tapanade with grilled bread for a starter. Yum!

3. MGMT's - Time to Pretend - Greg and I played their album yesterday while taking a drive around some curious Edmonton neighbourhoods. I enjoyed the modern and environmentally friendly homes in Riverbend.

4. This photo of Audrey Hepburn from Now Voyager. Though I recently have had a haircut, I love her short bangs.

Bakelite

While browsing in shops along the Whyte strip a few weekends ago, Greg and I came across a fun antique shop, Traveller Antiques, that we'd never wandered into before. Though our collective design style is more teak and chrome than Victorian, we had fun scanning over Alberta landscapes in the basement, and smelling the rich mahogany of the dining tables of a past era. There were beautiful glass vases and china tea cups and a funny framed leprechaun card that served as a reminder of the design and cartoon style of the turn of the century.

With all the delights before us, my eyes focused in on a case of colourful Bakelite bracelets. I've mentioned before that I have a soft spot for chunky jewelry. To elaborate, though I'm not normally an Angelina Jolie follower, I did admire her green earrings and ring at the 2009 Oscars on Sunday evening. To note, I am fully aware that style media has been raking her over the coals for that choice, but I support it. A hunk of stylised colourful plastic can make an outfit in my mind.

In thinking about the Traveller's Bakelite stock today, I thought I'd share some beautiful pieces from the same time period. Bakelite was developed between 1907-1909 by Belgian Dr. Leo Baekeland and is the first plastic made from synthetic components. In 1993, it was named a National Historical Chemical Landmark.

Run to your grandmother's jewelry box to see if you can unearth a Bakelite piece she may have worn in the 1930s or 1940s. Perhaps she is willing to trade it for a few hours of assistance with her spring cleaning. I love the lines and colour of these bracelets. I think jumble sales would be a great place to find this sort of jewelry at a bargain.

(The photo of Jolie is from Socialite Life, while the snaps of the Bakelite pieces came from the Naughty Secretary's Club and Galessa's Plastics.)

Food Styling

The takeaway hamburger that never looks as juicy as in its television commercial. The home cooked meal that never looks as colourful as in the recipe book. The key lime pie that never looks as perfectly presented as in the clips of a cooking show.

The presentation of food in our society can be deceptive. It can also be appetizing. A photograph of any type of food can make my mouth water if taken correctly. I get cravings for food simply by seeing a picture. Photos make me interested in tasting new foods. Photos are a gateway for discovering new styles of cooking. Photos make me think about ways to breath new life into routine ingredients. I enjoy recipes, and I am drawn to recipes often through the photos that accompany them. I am also drawn to food photography because it reveals the shapes and colours of food that we so often miss in our hectic day to day lives.

The central player in the visual representation of the taste, flavour, colour and shape of food is the food stylist. I have never quite understood how one finds oneself working as a food stylist. It seems an unlikely career foisted on a high school student by their guidance councillor. Food styling and food photography seems brilliantly interesting, but would have never occurred to me when I was thinking ahead to my own employment possibilities. Perhaps people find their passion through photography, painting or sketching still life, cooking school or design for other mediums. Undoubtedly, the path varies.

In searching for cooking classes in the Edmonton area, I came across the website of a local food stylist - Fabulous Food Creations. I enjoy the simplicity of backdrop in these photos. The white screens, counter tops and dishes allow the colour and shape of the food to take centre stage. The beauty of a grilled pepper or red onion is amazing. I admit, rarely when I am slicing and dicing for my own home cooked meals, do I take the time to really think about the form and beauty of the foods I am using to sustain myself.

Greg has mused about purchasing a new camera and turning back to an older hobby of taking photographs. I have to admit, looking at these simple photos makes me want to encourage him further to pursue that passion, even if his ideas about taking photos are less about food, and more about people and scenery than mine are.

The photos on this post were each taken by Lovoni Walker of Fabulous Food Creations.

Edmonton

Edmonton, Alberta - the 'City of Festivals'

A view of Edmonton from the South Side

Edmonton is part oil capital, part prairie wild west, part agricultural hub. It is a city where Volvo was once more likely to sell grain trucks than family sedans. Hugging the banks of the North Saskatchewan River, Edmonton is a city born from natural resources. In the 1700s, the Hudson Bay Company established Fort Edmonton as a major trading post. In the late 1880s, the city was a stopping point for those heading to the Yukon and Alaska to capitalize on the Klondike Gold Rush. In the 1940s, the city struck black gold and grew throughout the 20th century as oil prices rose, and retracted as the cost per barrel retreated.

Edmonton is many things: the capital of Alberta, the once gateway for mail, food and medicine to Northern Canada, and the least dense city over 1 million in Canada. For a long time, Edmonton was home to the world's largest indoor mall and parking lot. For the past seven months, Edmonton has been my stomping ground.

If you happen to find yourself in the 'City of Champions' (the city's official slogan), here's what I recommend.

Where to Stay: If you're brought to the city for business meetings or the like, you'll likely want to orient yourself in the downtown and close to transit so that you're able to commute painlessly to meetings and still have a chance to check out the wider reaches of the city. If modern styling is your thing, book a room at the Matrix Hotel on 100th Ave and 106th Street. If you prefer a Canadian Pacific traditional resting place, hang you hat at the Fairmont Hotel MacDonald on 100th Ave and 100th Street.

The Matrix Hotel

If you're in Edmonton to catch a festival, concert or to shop and eat good food, you cannot go wrong with the Metterra on Whyte Avenue.

Where to Eat: If you have only one day in which to gorge yourself in Edmonton, spend breakfast eating a cinnamon bun at the Sugar Bowl in Garneau, grab a famous veggie burger at the Blue Plate Diner in the Warehouse District, and eat Alberta beef in blue cheese and chocolate sauce at Culina in Mill Creek. Before heading out of town the next morning, skip Tim Hortons and grab your morning coffee at Leva on 111 Street.

Leva

Other notable restaurants include Parkallen Restaurant in Parkallen, Red Ox Inn in Bonnie Doon and Wild Tangerine in Oliver.

Where to Drink: For food and drinks in a casual, modern atmosphere, try Delux Burger in Crestwood/Parkview and order a Hurricane. For a formal nightcap, you'll fit the bill at the Confederation Lounge at the MacDonald. For a great selection of wine and an intimate environ, you'll want to check out Passa Tempo in Mill Creek. For beer and pub food, you cannot beat The Next Act in Old Strathona.

Delux Burger Bar

Where to Shop: For Canadian designs, check out Nokomis and Stanley Carroll. With a photo of your grandma, Nokomis will give you 10 per cent off your purchase, while Stanley works in the basement of his shop and will do customer alternations of his designs, if required. Both are located on Whyte Avenue. To complete your browsing in Whyte, check out The Junque Cellar (under Gravity Pope) for household flair from the 1950-80s.

Nokomis

No tour of Edmonton would be complete without a viewing of the excess and scale of the West Edmonton Mall. WEM makes a great place to stretch your legs on a deep freeze afternoon of an Edmonton winter. I'd be inclined to direct you to my favourite shop, Club Monaco, but you can find that outlet in any major Canadian city. For Americans though, it is worth a browse for the best work wear.

Sites to See: The bison at Elk Island National Park east of Edmonton. The Muttart Conservatory along the banks of the Saskatchewan River. The Alberta Art Gallery in Enterprise Square on Jasper Avenue. The Old Strathcona Farmer's Market at 1 pm on a Saturday. A flick at the deco Garneau Theatre on 109 Street.

Muttart Conservatory

Magpie

Though they're universally seen as pests, I think magpies are quite adorable. In fact, upon first glance this summer I mistook one for a blue jay. Magpies are certainly more eye-catching than the seagulls to which I am accustomed. I've taken to addressing each magpie I come across as 'Magpie Junior'. I like to think they give a little wink when they hear such a greeting.

City Guides

Move over Frommer's, Design Sponge's city guides are the new travel must-read before jetting off on your next vacation. Finding these guides, for everywhere from Savannah to Milan, combined with my recent attempt to do the same for Saskatoon yesterday, has inspired me to consider writing my own guides for Edmonton, St. John's and perhaps Calgary. My time logged in Kingston, Ontario might also qualify me to list a few must-see haunts. I plan to post the guides over the coming weeks.

This is one of my favourite parts of Edmonton - the view from our apartment:

Date Night

With Valentine's Day right around the corner, I'm feeling aglow with the emphasis on love and friendship all around me. Normally at this time of year De Beers would be running tennis bracelet commercials on all the networks, but in 2009 the recessionary climate has shifted the advertising of presents to celebrate Cupid from diamonds to DIY. The absence of these commercial trappings makes focusing on the actual relationships with your spouse, friends and family that much easier. Midwinter is a great time to spark new friendships and remind your loved ones how much you care about them. I think simplicity and sincerity is the theme to pursue this Valentine's Day.

Together Greg and I enjoy routine, but we're trying out something new for both of us this February 14th (more about that in a later post). For those of you interested in trying something new with your beau, the Alberta Art Gallery in Enterprise Square offers drop-in-art classes ($10 a pop) on Thursday evenings from 7-9 pm. Each class is instructed by a professional artist and includes all supplies. The classes this month focus on drawing emotions, figure drawing and printmaking. Wouldn't dinner out at The Blue Plate Diner followed by an art class make a fun date night?

Ikea

Yesterday afternoon, Greg and I found ourselves in the epicentre of big-box-shopping-land, Ikea. Greg regularly 'hosts' tv shows with a lint roller for a microphone as we scour the aisles and rides the carts in the self-serve furniture warehouse. I roll my eyes, but think of the time I was caught at the grocery store for stepping into the massive milk freezer to look for a 4L 1 per cent. Yesterday was marked with less antics, but we did enjoy ourselves. We checked out red cabinets we both loved, discussed the serious pros of having a dining table and a computer in the kitchen, swooned over Stockholm series chairs and tried to find healthy house plants for $1.30. For the brown lounger chair I blogged about on the weekend, we picked up this:

To ensure we're well-equipped to host some friends for a casual pasta dinner, we bought 2 more of these:

To rid ourselves of banker box style magazine holders, we purchased these:

Ikea makes for a fun winter outing. Where else can you get a soda, hot dog and ice cream cone for less than $5 while redecorating your place?

Wild Tangerine

Order the house special. Do your research. Do not be afraid to try the dish critics rave about even if you're not initially drawn to it. This is a lesson I am happy to say I have learned.

When living in St. John's I enjoyed reading Karl Wells' reviews of local haunts. Reading those critiques was different than reading a restaurant review in Edmonton though - chances are I'd been there before and had my own take on the kitchen's offerings. Karl's insights were simply a yardstick to measure my own opinions against.

In discovering Original Fare Dot Com, I have taken to reading reviews before dining out at a new cafe. Before heading to Culina, I heard overwhelming praise for the steak with dirty mashed potatoes, blue cheese and chocolate sauce. I tried it. I loved it. I look forward to eating it again. I rarely order red meat at a restaurant and tend to think chocolate is best served for dessert. This said, I am very happy I took a leap and trusted the view of the foodies.

Last evening, Greg and I joined some friends at Wild Tangerine. Before leaving the apartment, I read review after review that sang the praises of the shrimp lollipops with wasabi yogurt. I am not normally the biggest fan of wasabi; I do not mix it with my soy sauce when eating an unagi roll. However, the shrimp skewers wrapped in angel-hair phyllo pastry were memorable. The yogurt had a welcome kick. I will be sure to order them again.

The decor of the restaurant was fun too. Check it out:

Wild Tangerine is located in Oliver and is run by brother and sister team, Wilson and Judy Wu. Call ahead; reservations are highly recommended.

Royal Bison

All Edmontonians interested in buying local jewelry, artwork, photographs, soaps and journals should check out the Royal Bison Craft Fair on Gateway Boulevard today. Greg found this cupcake pin cushion for me at the fall installment of the Royal Bison.

Design Sponge

A short while ago, I wrote about considering the decision to buy a house or a condo. As favour in discussions on this matter have tipped towards purchasing a condominium, I cannot help but be inspired by the sneak peeks offered into the homes of people working in the art and design world on Design Sponge Online Dot Com. The ability to get an inside glimpse into so many beautifully decorated homes takes my love of people watching to a whole new level. These sneak peeks describe the function of the rooms, the decision-making process on how to decorate and the ultimate need to surround yourself with things you find beautiful. I have been collecting images from this site for the past few weeks and today, as I eat lunch and scan the saved jpgs, I notice trends in my design preferences.

1. White walls with colourful furniture, wall hangings and accessories.

2. A modern minimalist vibe.

3. A desire for a home that reflects casual, everyday living.

4. Industrial kitchens.

Here are some of my favourite rooms:

The graphic nature of the prints combined with the country flair of the pillows and the Gerber daisies creates an uncomplicated, easily replicable room.

I would have never thought to combine red chairs with lime green walls, but here it works. In this complete renovation, the homeowners created a modern kitchen worthy of the finest boutique restaurants.

This Brooklyn apartment is everything I love about white walls - the walls allow the colour of even the most basic accessory to pop. I adore the hot pink doilie and the portrait pillow with the striped chair.

This Portland home is ideal. It is stocked full of discussion pieces, yet feels light and spacious. This living room is a throw back to the modern era without seeming as if it is in a time warp.

The Fiddle and The Drum

It has twice been brought to my attention, once in an email from my friend Howard and another time by a poster Greg and I spotted on a street post, that Joni Mitchell has collaborated with the Alberta Ballet on a new full-length production that is set to open in Edmonton later this month. I have never been to a proper ballet, but my interest in doing so has significantly increased since beginning my own dance lessons a few weeks ago. I now have concrete admiration and appreciation for just how difficult it is to master ballet.

The Fiddle and The Drum originally premiered in February 2007 and has since played across North America. According to Alberta Ballet Dot Com, the ballet explores the human spirit's potential to create and destroy; its ability to love and hate; its capacity for war and peace.

I think this ballet would be a great mid-semester treat to reflect on what I have learned. As I practice floor work in the apartment tonight, I cannot imagine the skill it would take to perform ballet live for an expectant audience. For now, I'll focus on combining the correct arm and feet positions.

Aurora Borealis

For as far back as I can remember I have wanted to see the northern lights. Garage calendars handed out to patrons after an oil change can be expected to include a photo of these colourful streaks in the sky. I remember these pictures hanging during one of the winter months in the kitchen during my childhood. Having grown up in St. John's, the lights were an impossibility at that latitude. Once I decided to move to Alberta, I became excited at the possibility of seeing these polar lights. Unfortunately, due to living in the city centre where even stars are usually not visible and not living quite far north enough, I have not yet seen the polar auroras.

To aid in catching a view of the lights, I signed up for a northern lights tracker. Unfortunately, I have yet to receive any emails indicating that the lights are visible in my area. However, I have learned that the lights were named after the Roman Goddess of Dawn, Aurora and the Greek word for north wind, Boreas by French philosopher Pierre Gassendi in 1621. Seeing the northern lights is another reason why I very much want to visit the Yukon or Northwest Territories during my stint in Western Canada.

Farmer's Market

Like clockwork, Greg and I head to the Old Strathcona Farmer's Market most every Saturday. A short 20 minute walk from home, the Market is sure to be a bustle of activity and a great people watching venue. A caveat in our routine - we usually show up at the Market with five minutes until close. As a result, many booths are already packed up and few vegetable vendors have stock remaining. This weekend we made a pact to arrive before 2:55 to have a fulsome opportunity to check out the wares.

The first thing we noticed is the seasonal variation of the Market. Of course we knew the ripe orange peppers and yellow tomatoes would be replaced with red potatoes and turnips, but the range of non-fruit and vegetable items has expanded exponentially since the summer/early fall version of the Market. Yesterday we found a yummy white bean soup, adorable children's plush toys, jellies and jams, and raw chocolate. We considered buying a mounted graphic photo of the Garneau Theatre. We took time to indulge in an Edmonton special - green onion cakes. Yummy!

The Market is a great opportunity to see the work of our fellow city-dwellers. You can find crystals, homemade teas, hand-carved salad spoons, magazines covering the Edmonton art scene, buskers, locally designed clothing and purses, delicious baked goods and spicy sausage. Your eyes will be tempted by jade plants for sale. Your nose will be tempted by perogies and a range of cheeses. You can purchase hand-painted wine glasses, cloth flowers, house numbers, fudge and woolen mittens. The Market is a cornucopia of delights.

I cannot think of a more relaxing and enjoyable way to spend a windy Saturday afternoon in Edmonton. The bonus - once you've milled about the Market there's a whole host of shops to poke in along the strip before heading back to Garneau.

Moving House

In my family's basement hangs a print depicting Newfoundland resettlement. The image is of a house floating across a bay to its new home - a deliberate government action to encourage urbanization. I have long thought about the logistics of floating a house across a body of water and the inevitable stress of wondering whether it would make it to its final destination in top form. While I was walking with Greg this afternoon along Whyte Avenue, I saw an event that drew my mind back to that painting and the controversial resettlement program - a house was sitting right in the middle of the street. Naturally, we took a detour down that side street into Strathcona to check out what was occurring.

The house had been removed from its foundation without even cleaning out the contents of the basement!

The house now sat on the back of a trailer ready to move to its new home.

The house was being prepared to travel down this road two blocks to its new home.

We plan to check back here in a week or so to see how the house has settled on its new foundation.

The question that remains - why would someone move a house two blocks? I cannot help but be impressed by the 'reusing' going on in this situation.

An Update from the Edmonton Journal on February 1: The trailer hauling the house broke on Friday and the movers cannot obtain another permit to move until Tuesday. Until then, the house remains mid-street.