What is there to do in this city?

[Superflyer]

So my wife and I have had two saturdays in the last month to ourselves, which is something unheard of, but that is another story. So anyways both times we were looking for things to do and came up blank. Last night we went to the Necks game but after that there was nothing to do. Sure there are the bars and stuff but we are not into that.
So my question what is there to do in this city besides Flames\Hitmen\Necks\Stamps?
I guess this does not have to be this weekend or the upcoming weekend but what is there to do in this city at all anytimes? It might be just us since we do not get many evenings to ourselves so we are not used to finding things to do.

[GirlySports]

There really isn't much to do. Calgary is a working/drinking town. It's a city that some will say lacks "Culture"

I can't even think of much to do. The Zoo? Heritage Park? COP? Plantarium? A nice romantic skate at the Olympic Oval?

[flylock shox]

If it's still kicking around, I'd recommend One Yellow Rabbit theatre downtown.

[Claeren]

Theatre in general, although i like Theatre Junction which often has good shows on for a good price. www.theatrejunction.com

Beat Niq Jazz Club is often a cool place for a drink and good adult music, and Murreitta's across the street often also has live music - usually pretty good and not really 'bar scene' type stuff. http://www.beatniq.com/ http://www.murrietas.ca/

Chocolate Bar (14 St & 17th Ave) or even better Nectar (Inglewood) have good & great (respectively) late dessert options that can be a nice break from the everyday and a chance to chat? http://www.nectardesserts.com/

You can go for Bubble Tea, like in Chinatown at Peerless Pearl.

Personally though my favorite is a board game or card game with friends (Carcassonne!), but you'd need friends? lol



Summer time opens up more options though. Easier to go for a walk or sit out on a patio on 17th or 4th or Stehen Ave, etc.


Those are all night options, if you need day options too you are just being a bit lazy IMHO. There is TONS to do in the city, not to mention the surrounding area.

I am not sure of any city in the world in which you can subtract all sports, bars, and clubs and still have a ton to do at night?? We don't have Broadway shows but... ?


Claeren.

[I_H8_Crawford]

Hookers and Blow

[/obligatory reference]

[Traditional_Ale]

People who say Calgary has no culture need to throw their TVs away...

[SarichFan]

Originally Posted by Traditional_Ale

People who say Calgary has no culture need to throw their TVs away...

Those that say Calgary has culture need to travel more...

[Claeren]

Originally Posted by Traditional_Ale

People who say Calgary has no culture need to throw their TVs away...

I agree!

And it is cyclical! The more you search out things to do in the city the more things will be provided to do over time!

Without a market for it, there are less options then there otherwise would be.

The more people just complain, the less options there are.

And really, if there is something you can think of that can't be done in the city but is offered so easily in some other city (so not dependent on a warmer climate and/or 1000+ years of civic history) why not start a business and offer that very thing?

Of course when you are a tourist you don't want to 'waste your time' and as such 'plan on what to see' and/or 'search out the coolest things to do'. And then you come home and complain on your way to the chesterfield...



Claeren.

[JD]

Originally Posted by SarichFan

Those that say Calgary has culture need to travel more...

Culture is something more easily observed when it's different than your own.

The things you do on a day-to-day basis in Calgary are things someone from another place would see as your culture.

So for you to say you've seen culture in other places and that means there is no culture here is, well, kind of insulting to yourself.

My opinion.

[Traditional_Ale]

Originally Posted by SarichFan

Those that say Calgary has culture need to travel more...

14 countries across three continents lived or drank beer playing music.

But hey, hows that game of Guitar Hero going for ya?


* * *

This town has a tonne of really awesome underground scenes for all walks of life, art, and music. The problem is that too many people in Calgary can't seem to unplug from their TOP 40 EVERYTHING OR IT SUCKS mentality. Actually, Calgary can't seem for the most part to unplug at all.

Also, the HiFi is showing ZEITGEIST. Theres something to do for a start, that may not be too much of a stretch for the drone-clones out there.

Pick up a FFWD, it's free.

[SarichFan]

Originally Posted by Traditional_Ale

14 countries across three continents lived or drank beer playing music.

But hey, hows that game of Guitar Hero going for ya?

I travel alot buddy.. Calgary doesn't hold a Candle to most towns, even going to Vancouver there's a stark contrast in a feeling of Culture.

It is getting ALOT better though due to the population growth though. But Downtown is still a ghostown after 6:30.

Now Calgary to Paris? It makes Calgary look like Kamsack Saskatchewan

[peter12]

Originally Posted by Traditional_Ale

People who say Calgary has no culture need to throw their TVs away...

I agree. This city is pretty good even in comparison with a lot of other North American cities.

Ever go to Ottawa? Yikes...

[peter12]

Originally Posted by SarichFan

I travel alot buddy.. Calgary doesn't hold a Candle to most towns, even going to Vancouver there's a stark contrast in a feeling of Culture.

It is getting ALOT better though due to the population growth though. But Downtown is still a ghostown after 6:30.

Now Calgary to Paris? It makes Calgary look like Kamsack Saskatchewan

I hate the condescending use of "buddy"...

Calgary to Paris? No **** Sherlock.

Vancouver is pretty good. Toronto is great. Montreal is world-class. I'd still put Calgary over every single other city in this country, probably on the same level as Halifax.

EDIT: In regards to the whole "Calgary's downtown is a ghost town after 6:30"... What a load of garbage, sure the core may be dead, because that's where the offices are... Places like 17th and 11th Ave are pretty busy until well into the night.

[Traditional_Ale]

Originally Posted by SarichFan

I travel alot buddy.. Calgary doesn't hold a Candle to most towns, even going to Vancouver there's a stark contrast in a feeling of Culture.

It is getting ALOT better though due to the population growth though. But Downtown is still a ghostown after 6:30.

Now Calgary to Paris? It makes Calgary look like Kamsack Saskatchewan

Sorry for razzing you there, but I felt like you attacked me when you told me I needed to travel more becuase I thought Calgary had some culture to it.

My girlfriend and I throw lots of artsy shows. One time we had everything from Industrial music, to Dulcimer ensemble, to a narrator and guitarist doing the sound for a film they shot live off the floor, to spoken word being performed to trance music while the narrator performs japanese rope bondage on another girl.

It goes on and on and on.....done too many little shows to say there is no culture. This town has some venues that allow for some real experimental stuff. And a lot of it is top notch!

* * *

And I've been to Paris twice. Love it there. Can't wait to save enough to take my girl. She's never been.

[SarichFan]

Take it easy Buddy!

Yeah the Paris reference was an obvious, No ****... but if you're looking for culture and have been around a REAL culture people want an atmosphere ala Paris.

Not saying there's no culture in Calgary, that'd be an impossibility in a city this large but it's definetely peanuts to real world class cities.

Not only that but there's not much to do in this city to be active, we only have The Flames... It's too cold, windy, ugly 8 months a year...

I'm moving to Phoenix this summer (When it's a cool 110 F.. eek) and while it's not a cultural hotbed like Paris there is so much to do year round. Every level of sports imaginable, weather good enough to go running every day, hiking all year round, alot of great patio's to relax at YEAR ROUND.

If you've lived in Calgary long enough, it's a very, VERY boring town unless you enjoy the bar/pub scene.

Originally Posted by Traditional_Ale

Sorry for razzing you there, but I felt like you attacked me when you told me I needed to travel more becuase I thought Calgary had some culture to it.
* * *

And I've been to Paris twice. Love it there. Can't wait to save enough to take my girl. She's never been.

Yeah it's all good. Don't worry about it.

But you know that feeling when you go to a place like Paris? You're on another planet almost... Maybe i've just lived in Calgary too long but I can't find that in this city anymore even Vancouver as I mentioned.. go to Robson in a Summer evening and it's Bustling! Calgary can't even hold a candle to that outside of Stampede... and even then, not so much.

[peter12]

Originally Posted by SarichFan

Take it easy Buddy!

Yeah the Paris reference was an obvious, No ****... but if you're looking for culture and have been around a REAL culture people want an atmosphere ala Paris.

Not saying there's no culture in Calgary, that'd be an impossibility in a city this large but it's definetely peanuts to real world class cities.

Not only that but there's not much to do in this city to be active, we only have The Flames... It's too cold, windy, ugly 8 months a year...

I'm moving to Phoenix this summer (When it's a cool 110 F.. eek) and while it's not a cultural hotbed like Paris there is so much to do year round. Every level of sports imaginable, weather good enough to go running every day, hiking all year round, alot of great patio's to relax at YEAR ROUND.

If you've lived in Calgary long enough, it's a very, VERY boring town unless you enjoy the bar/pub scene.

Yeah, I totally disagree. I go hiking year round, enjoy running, and go to to a music show every day of the week. It's a good town.

[Got Miikka?]

Calgary's getting better. It's still a young city relatively speaking; it'll get there.

[Traditional_Ale]

Originally Posted by SarichFan

Not saying there's no culture in Calgary, that'd be an impossibility in a city this large but it's definetely peanuts to real world class cities.

We have the population and cultural diversity to become one of the great world class cities. What is with Calgarians inferiority complex to stay the little-big guy?

Not only that but there's not much to do in this city to be active, we only have The Flames... It's too cold, windy, ugly 8 months a year...

I ride my bicycle year round. Elbow pads and wrist guards in the winter though. If you don't like or don't like dealing with the cold then I guess, but still I think one can be active year round here.

I'm moving to Phoenix this summer (When it's a cool 110 F.. eek) and while it's not a cultural hotbed like Paris there is so much to do year round. Every level of sports imaginable, weather good enough to go running every day, hiking all year round, alot of great patio's to relax at YEAR ROUND.

If the Flames and Coyotes play in the post-season and I somehow make it down there for a game, you can buy me a beer at one of said patios.

If you've lived in Calgary long enough, it's a very, VERY boring town unless you enjoy the bar/pub scene.

I think what I am getting at is that I'm more interested in creating and driving scenes than expecting one to just serve me and my needs perfectly as it exists now. And in a city of a million people, its going to happen one way or another.

[SarichFan]

Originally Posted by peter12

Yeah, I totally disagree. I go hiking year round, enjoy running, and go to to a music show every day of the week. It's a good town.

Year round hiking? It's definetely possible. But Do I really want to go hiking in sub zero temps? No thanks.

That's just me though.. I get no buzz out of cold weather unless i'm on an outdoor rink.

[Burninator]

Originally Posted by SarichFan

Now Calgary to Paris? It makes Calgary look like Kamsack Saskatchewan

And 17th Ave can't hold a candle to The Strip in Las Vegas...

I don't understand why people make this comparison. What's your point? That Calgary isn't as culturally rich as one of the oldest and most famous cities in the world? I don't think anyone was confusing the two cities. It's all relative anyways. Calgary looks like Paris compared to Kamsack Saskatchewan.