The top city in Canada? Calgary

[4X4]

Disclaimer** I only read to post 140 before getting really annoyed by Muta and Ozy...

You guys are arguing what? Last week you said you live in westbrook or shaganappi. Now you're railing hillhurst? Hillhurst is closer to DT than you are, boys.
And this culture experience? Maybe you've never left your 5 km radius, but there are live band venues all over the city.
Next up, you're dissing peopel that live in cookie cutter houses? You live in an apartment building! What difference is there? Do you think that every suite in your building is different and "unique"? More cultured? Does your building look any different than the one next to it?
And urban sprawl... Nice numbers you've got there, muta. Are you factoring into to your equations that the city of Van has cities right at it's borders? Perhaps this leads to a higher density?
Man, you guys really just sound like you're complaining for the sake of complaining.
About the only thing your neighbourhood offers is Aussie Rules. Other than that, you're living in the armpit of calgary. At least Mcleod tr has a bunch of different restaurants, bars, clubs, even live music (red onion), movie theaters, grocery stores, commercial and office spaces, car dealerships, malls... Ditto for crowchild north. 36th street NE? Deerfoot south, even westhills.
Us suburbanites in our barren wastelands need not go far to get what we want and need. So go ahead and whine about urban sprawl... You're travelling farther than most suburbanites for your day to day needs.

[urban1]

You have to drive everywhere however. You cant leave your house and go for a walk stop for a drink and then stop for groceries at the local market, pick up some steaks at the butcher, and then walk through the local park on the way home. Even though every thing might be 5 minutes away by car, its not walkable and it doesnt help create a "community."

That said, one thing you almost get to, is that a city is what you make out of it.

Take a drive towards the centre of the city and youll find many trendy areas and streets that have restaurants, cafes, pubs, lounges, etc filled on any given night of the week. Theres art gallerys, live theatre, live music, etc... Just because its not in your local shopping centre, doesnt mean it doesnt exist in Calgary.

Ive also experienced the opposite attitude. When I lived in Montreal, I had many people tell me how great Montreal is and how much it has to offer in the way of culture and arts, etc. Yet these same people would work downtown and then rush home to the burbs on the South shore or take the train back home out of the city and never spend anytime in the city of Montreal in the evenings or weekends.

Calgary is what it is. A relatively new city thats experienced a recent boom and an explosion in population. Its not NYC or London or Toronto or Montreal. Its also not Winnipeg, Regina, or Thunder Bay.

But in the end, any city is what you make out of it.

I have many friends and acquaintances who complain that Calgary has no culture, no nightlife, and nothing to offer. If you live far in the burbs and rush straight home after work (regardless of where you work) then yes, likely the city has nothing to offer for you other than the neighbourhood pub located in the stripmall next to the grocery store and gas station.

Originally Posted by 4X4

Disclaimer** I only read to post 140 before getting really annoyed by Muta and Ozy...

You guys are arguing what? Last week you said you live in westbrook or shaganappi. Now you're railing hillhurst? Hillhurst is closer to DT than you are, boys.
And this culture experience? Maybe you've never left your 5 km radius, but there are live band venues all over the city.
Next up, you're dissing peopel that live in cookie cutter houses? You live in an apartment building! What difference is there? Do you think that every suite in your building is different and "unique"? More cultured? Does your building look any different than the one next to it?
And urban sprawl... Nice numbers you've got there, muta. Are you factoring into to your equations that the city of Van has cities right at it's borders? Perhaps this leads to a higher density?
Man, you guys really just sound like you're complaining for the sake of complaining.
About the only thing your neighbourhood offers is Aussie Rules. Other than that, you're living in the armpit of calgary. At least Mcleod tr has a bunch of different restaurants, bars, clubs, even live music (red onion), movie theaters, grocery stores, commercial and office spaces, car dealerships, malls... Ditto for crowchild north. 36th street NE? Deerfoot south, even westhills.
Us suburbanites in our barren wastelands need not go far to get what we want and need. So go ahead and whine about urban sprawl... You're travelling farther than most suburbanites for your day to day needs.

[Ozy_Flame]

Originally Posted by 4X4

You guys are arguing what? Last week you said you live in westbrook or shaganappi. Now you're railing hillhurst? Hillhurst is closer to DT than you are, boys.

Railing Hillhurst? What? Why would I do that? For crying out loud I grew up there! Why the hell would I rail it?

I don't know where you're getting your information dude......You're losing my respect fast with those assertions.

Also, I guess you're right - living in the tallest tower west of downtown and the only one in this entire area is just like every other cookie-cutter residence. Wow was my head screwed on backwards!! Where have I been? My god, these cookes are HOT!!!

And about the commute time dude...It takes me all of 10 minutes to bus it downtown. I'd love to race someone who's driving from Lake Chaparall. Where do you live, good sir? Oh, and for the record, all I have to do is make a 2 minute walk over the Bow Trail bridge and I'm at Safeway for groceries. But I guess it takes me too long to commute, right?


Let's race. =)

[Ozy_Flame]

Originally Posted by 4X4

Disclaimer** I only read to post 140 before getting really annoyed by Muta and Ozy...

You guys are arguing what? Last week you said you live in westbrook or shaganappi. Now you're railing hillhurst? Hillhurst is closer to DT than you are, boys.
And this culture experience? Maybe you've never left your 5 km radius, but there are live band venues all over the city.
Next up, you're dissing peopel that live in cookie cutter houses? You live in an apartment building! What difference is there? Do you think that every suite in your building is different and "unique"? More cultured? Does your building look any different than the one next to it?
And urban sprawl... Nice numbers you've got there, muta. Are you factoring into to your equations that the city of Van has cities right at it's borders? Perhaps this leads to a higher density?
Man, you guys really just sound like you're complaining for the sake of complaining.
About the only thing your neighbourhood offers is Aussie Rules. Other than that, you're living in the armpit of calgary. At least Mcleod tr has a bunch of different restaurants, bars, clubs, even live music (red onion), movie theaters, grocery stores, commercial and office spaces, car dealerships, malls... Ditto for crowchild north. 36th street NE? Deerfoot south, even westhills.
Us suburbanites in our barren wastelands need not go far to get what we want and need. So go ahead and whine about urban sprawl... You're travelling farther than most suburbanites for your day to day needs.

Wow...All I can say is, my cat's breath smells like cat food!!

[jammies]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

Which is why I can't wait to move again. Calgary is an easy, comfortable city to live in that offers safety and a good job. Hey, if that works for some people, then they can roll with it. I can't wait to move back to a place that has a much more developed identity with unique entertainment and a mature artistic scene.

And this is coming from a guy born and raised in Calgary. After I came back from travelling, I just became disenchanted with this place.

If all the tripped-out artistic people leave, no wonder the city doesn't get an identity. Suck it up and stay here, I can't frickin' start a culture scene all by myself!!!!

Seriously, it's a vicious circle - the offbeat people leave because the city is too vanilla, and the city is too vanilla because all the offbeat people leave. It's like we're the minor league affiliate of cool.

[Ozy_Flame]

Originally Posted by jammies

If all the tripped-out artistic people leave, no wonder the city doesn't get an identity. Suck it up and stay here, I can't frickin' start a culture scene all by myself!!!!

Seriously, it's a vicious circle - the offbeat people leave because the city is too vanilla, and the city is too vanilla because all the offbeat people leave. It's like we're the minor league affiliate of cool.

That is the BEST post of this thread, hands down! lol....

Although the part about me staying here, no way, Jose!

[4X4]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

Railing Hillhurst? What? Why would I do that? For crying out loud I grew up there! Why the hell would I rail it?

I don't know where you're getting your information dude......You're losing my respect fast with those assertions.

I'm losing your respect with these assertations? I read 150 posts in to this thread and you and muta are finding funny reasons to hate Calgary. You two are talking about culture, space, urban sprawl... Making quite a few 'assertations'. Pretty much all of them have been rebutted (is that a word?) and yet you still go on about these things. Muta has a funky formula to calculate urban sprawl, you're talking about lack of culture, identity...
I tell ya, you're 'losing my respect fast' because you can't see that many of the things you seek are already here. You may be desensitized from being here too long, but they're here. Culture? I guess you don't like the stampede and cowboy schtick, but it's a culture. And it's here. And it's a helluva lot more famous than whatever most cities put on yearly.
Heard about all the festivals we have every year? Seems like every week there's a different one advertised on the overpasses. Lilac, carifest, ummm... there are plenty more...
Identity? Fast paced, wealthy, young, diverse... Go hang around Vancouver and their "starving artists". Check out the other side of the fence. So we don't have a bunch of beatniks and buskers (and yeah, I know it wasn't you that pined for buskers), oops. Guess another nice part of our identity is that every winter, the frost gets rid of the pests. I, for one, love that.
What else? urban sprawl? You think that Calgary is the only city that ever grew out before up? It is a natural progression. Necessity is the mother of invention, my friend. And you can bet the farm that every city will grow outward until it hits a certain point. Calgary may or may not be at that point. As long as we are surrounded by flat, developable land, it will be cheaper to build out. Once outward expansion is no longer feasable, up it will go. And we will invent what we need.

I don't know how a guy can live in a place that has almost everything ans still find so many things to complain about. You've got your choice of housing, employment. You can walk in a park or swim in a lake. You can hike in the mountains, or camp or fish or ski. Go to the orchestra (wait, not anymore) go watch some live music, go to a bar strip. Go hit a museum, drive an hour to one of the most famous museums. Walk all over downtown without going outside. Stand at the top of the Calgary Tower and look down at center street. Then look up to Petro Center and wonder what the view is like from up there. Hit a casino, hit a flames game. Roughnecks. Go to stage west and watch some people fool around for an hour. Eat food from every continent... And still have mother nature in your back yard. World reknowned.
That might not be your thing. But just stop making it sound like this city is all wrong. Just because you can't see the beauty, doesn't mean it isn't there. It just means that you're close minded. Sorry about the assertations.

[Ozy_Flame]

Originally Posted by 4X4

I'm losing your respect with these assertations? I read 150 posts in to this thread and you and muta are finding funny reasons to hate Calgary. You two are talking about culture, space, urban sprawl... Making quite a few 'assertations'. Pretty much all of them have been rebutted (is that a word?) and yet you still go on about these things. Muta has a funky formula to calculate urban sprawl, you're talking about lack of culture, identity...
I tell ya, you're 'losing my respect fast' because you can't see that many of the things you seek are already here. You may be desensitized from being here too long, but they're here. Culture? I guess you don't like the stampede and cowboy schtick, but it's a culture. And it's here. And it's a helluva lot more famous than whatever most cities put on yearly.
Heard about all the festivals we have every year? Seems like every week there's a different one advertised on the overpasses. Lilac, carifest, ummm... there are plenty more...
Identity? Fast paced, wealthy, young, diverse... Go hang around Vancouver and their "starving artists". Check out the other side of the fence. So we don't have a bunch of beatniks and buskers (and yeah, I know it wasn't you that pined for buskers), oops. Guess another nice part of our identity is that every winter, the frost gets rid of the pests. I, for one, love that.
What else? urban sprawl? You think that Calgary is the only city that ever grew out before up? It is a natural progression. Necessity is the mother of invention, my friend. And you can bet the farm that every city will grow outward until it hits a certain point. Calgary may or may not be at that point. As long as we are surrounded by flat, developable land, it will be cheaper to build out. Once outward expansion is no longer feasable, up it will go. And we will invent what we need.

I don't know how a guy can live in a place that has almost everything ans still find so many things to complain about. You've got your choice of housing, employment. You can walk in a park or swim in a lake. You can hike in the mountains, or camp or fish or ski. Go to the orchestra (wait, not anymore) go watch some live music, go to a bar strip. Go hit a museum, drive an hour to one of the most famous museums. Walk all over downtown without going outside. Stand at the top of the Calgary Tower and look down at center street. Then look up to Petro Center and wonder what the view is like from up there. Hit a casino, hit a flames game. Roughnecks. Go to stage west and watch some people fool around for an hour. Eat food from every continent... And still have mother nature in your back yard. World reknowned.
That might not be your thing. But just stop making it sound like this city is all wrong. Just because you can't see the beauty, doesn't mean it isn't there. It just means that you're close minded. Sorry about the assertations.

Then Calgary seems right up your alley, mate. Why would you ever want to leave? Everything is here! Man, did I overlook this place, you're absolutely right.

Screw New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Chicago, New Orleans, Mexico City, Rio de Janiero, Buenos Aires, London, Paris, Berlin, Copenhagen, Brussels, Stockholm, Rome, Moscow, Dubai, Casablanca, Johannesburg, Mumbai, Ho Chi Minh City, Bangkok, Phnom Penh, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Jakarta, Seoul, Tapei, Beijing, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Tokyo, Kyoto, Sydney, Melbourne, Auckland...

Hell, screw Reykjavik!

Calgary is the one and only.

Man are my cheeks red.

[4X4]

Brilliant reply. You listed a bunch of cities that have been around for hundreds of years. Yes, I've left. I lived in Rome for over a year. I'm fully aware of what is available, and I did not say that Calgary has it all. I simply pointed out that you're complaining like a little girl.

And don't dis Reykjavik.

[Ozy_Flame]

Originally Posted by 4X4

Brilliant reply. You listed a bunch of cities that have been around for hundreds of years. Yes, I've left. I lived in Rome for over a year. I'm fully aware of what is available, and I did not say that Calgary has it all. I simply pointed out that you're complaining like a little girl.

And don't dis Reykjavik.

LOL...You remind me of my mother with not wanting me to leave home.

Sigh...

I miss the sound of your voice in the morning.

[The Yen Man]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

Already did, and going to Japan at the end of his degree in April.

His dad is making money in geologic business here, and wants his sone to do the same because now is the time to make money.

An incredibly naive reason to pursue a career path, the almighty dollar, if you ask me.

You know what they say. Money doesn't buy happiness, but I'm happy when I can buy whatever I want, whenever I want.

I dunno, I'm pretty content having the pursuit of the almighty dollar as a big contributor to my career path. I work hard to so I can afford to play hard. That's my motto anyways.

[4X4]

Originally Posted by The Yen Man

You know what they say. Money doesn't buy happiness, but I'm happy when I can buy whatever I want, whenever I want.

I dunno, I'm pretty content having the pursuit of the almighty dollar as a big contributor to my career path. I work hard to so I can afford to play hard. That's my motto anyways.

No, no. The quote goes like this: Money can't buy happiness, but it can buy stuff. And I LOVE stuff.

[Muta]

Originally Posted by The Yen Man

You know what they say. Money doesn't buy happiness, but I'm happy when I can buy whatever I want, whenever I want.

I dunno, I'm pretty content having the pursuit of the almighty dollar as a big contributor to my career path. I work hard to so I can afford to play hard. That's my motto anyways.

Hey, if you're in your career path, then more power to you. It doesn't matter what moeny you're making at that point.

But if money is your motivating factor, then hey, knock yourself out. Must be nice to be able to buy whatever you want, when you want. 99.9% of people aren't that lucky.

[Ozy_Flame]

Originally Posted by Muta

Hey, if you're in your career path, then more power to you. It doesn't matter what moeny you're making at that point.

But if money is your motivating factor, then hey, knock yourself out. Must be nice to be able to buy whatever you want, when you want. 99.9% of people aren't that lucky.

It's true - we're spending all our money trying to make it through life in the armpit of Calgary.

[Dan02]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

LOL...You remind me of my mother with not wanting me to leave home.

Sigh...

I miss the sound of your voice in the morning.

and you remind me of a rebelious teenager. Not missing those days as much as it seems you miss your mommy. You dont like anything about this city yet still live here. What gives??

[The Yen Man]

Originally Posted by Muta

Hey, if you're in your career path, then more power to you. It doesn't matter what moeny you're making at that point.

But if money is your motivating factor, then hey, knock yourself out. Must be nice to be able to buy whatever you want, when you want. 99.9% of people aren't that lucky.

Hey all I'm saying is, you shouldn't knock a guy just cuz the person uses money as a motivating factor in his career choice. I mean, I'll be honest, I don't like work, whatever it is. That's why they call it work, and not call it play. So I choose one which I don't mind doing, and one that pays me well. That way, I can afford to do stuff I like to do in my spare time.

So yah, its great that some people can choose a career they love. Must be nice. Me, I think work is just that, work. I don't hate my job, and that's all I ask I guess. It pays the bills.

[BlackArcher101]

Frick... all this complaining about Calgary is pissing me off. Try living in Edmonton.

[Muta]

Originally Posted by Dan02

and you remind me of a rebelious teenager. Not missing those days as much as it seems you miss your mommy. You dont like anything about this city yet still live here. What gives??

Financial concerns are none of your business. I'm sure if Ozy could leave right now, he would. Sometimes people can't just spend money on material possessions all the time - they have to support others in need. But I guess you didn't consider that before you posted.

[Muta]

Originally Posted by The Yen Man

Hey all I'm saying is, you shouldn't knock a guy just cuz the person uses money as a motivating factor in his career choice. I mean, I'll be honest, I don't like work, whatever it is. That's why they call it work, and not call it play. So I choose one which I don't mind doing, and one that pays me well. That way, I can afford to do stuff I like to do in my spare time.

So yah, its great that some people can choose a career they love. Must be nice. Me, I think work is just that, work. I don't hate my job, and that's all I ask I guess. It pays the bills.

I'm not knocking anyone here regarding why they work and for what reason.

But life's too short to not try and pursue a career your passionate in. Like you said - if you're going to work hard, why wouldn't you work hard to get into a place you want to be in? Work shouldn't have to be a chore; it should be a thing that you look forward to when you get up everyday.

Regardless of moeny, what are you truly passionate about? Is there a certain industry you'd like to be in?

[Muta]

Originally Posted by 4X4

And this culture experience? Maybe you've never left your 5 km radius, but there are live band venues all over the city.
Next up, you're dissing peopel that live in cookie cutter houses? You live in an apartment building! What difference is there? Do you think that every suite in your building is different and "unique"? More cultured? Does your building look any different than the one next to it?
And urban sprawl... Nice numbers you've got there, muta. Are you factoring into to your equations that the city of Van has cities right at it's borders? Perhaps this leads to a higher density?
Man, you guys really just sound like you're complaining for the sake of complaining.
About the only thing your neighbourhood offers is Aussie Rules. Other than that, you're living in the armpit of calgary. At least Mcleod tr has a bunch of different restaurants, bars, clubs, even live music (red onion), movie theaters, grocery stores, commercial and office spaces, car dealerships, malls... Ditto for crowchild north. 36th street NE? Deerfoot south, even westhills.
Us suburbanites in our barren wastelands need not go far to get what we want and need. So go ahead and whine about urban sprawl... You're travelling farther than most suburbanites for your day to day needs.

This just sounds like complete and utter complaining, and it seems you're all bent out of shape over nothing.

But what do I know. I live in the 'armpit' of Calgary... and if that's the case, I dare you to go venture into other neighborhoods within the city borders. You might want to retract your statement as well, as it is borderline offensive and insulting to the minority families that come to live in this area, and alot of them are VERY hard working and extremely pleasant people.