I have been meaning to reply to this thread for a while but forgot about it when it left the front page. I was recently back in Calgary after a few years away and noticed many changes:
-The skyline has drastically changed with the formerly dominating Calgary Tower, Petro Canada building, and Bankers Hall Towers how dwarfed by the new towers.
-The eastern portion of the ring road is complete. It is a nice wide road and a good way to bypass the Deerfoot however why are there lights on the bisecting roads? There was plenty of room for full clover leafs.
-The East Village/St Patricks Island area has been transformed from a sketchy no go zone to a cool family friendly area.
-There is a new massive hospital in the SE filling a big need for that part of the city. I still think Calgary would be better off having 8 smaller hospitals spread throughout the city however.
-Lots of new art everywhere. My favourite is the big blue ring
-My favourite sandwich shop, SubMission, is no more
-Chicken on the way has undergone an expansion across the city. I'm not sure if this is due to an increase in demand for fried chicken or swingers clubs. Speaking of fried chicken, Popeyes is awesome but its' location is not.
-Shawarma places have also undergone an expansion from a few spots in Kensington/the inner city to now filling up the suburbs. It now has to be the 2nd most populous food choice after Vietnamese.
-Big Rock beer has changed their labeling. I don't like it.
Also, to weigh into the ice cream debate, I am too good for anything called "ice cream" and will only eat gelato. Amato Gelato on Kensington road was always my favourite.