You know you're a Calgarian when...

[Prototype]

Bonzai is less a tree, more a waterslide.

[Robbob]

Originally Posted by Prottotype

Bonzai is less a tree, more a waterslide.

LOL I acctually remember that puedso water park. Curse you London condos

[Flames in 07]

You can think back and remember that you would watch the flames from section "SS2"
or you can thing way back and remember that you would watch the flames from seat number "283"

[Bob]

Originally Posted by worth

Holy crap! Kid Street!

I knew some kids in like the second grade who went on that show. They totally tanked, but it was cool nonetheless.

Also, that reminds me of some other show they had with a guy dressed like a cowboy. The Buck Shot Show?

[redforever]

Originally Posted by Hart50

You're an old Calgarian when you remember:

-getting drunk in the TradeWinds Tavern on 20 cent draft;
-you know where and what Happy Valley is;
-Dog N' Suds;
-Opus 69 Record Store;
-Black Sheep Clothing store;
-Bench clearing brawls at the Centennial Games;
-who Henry Viney is;
-Miles for Millions;
-CKXL;
-the original Claudios

Sigh, OK, I'll admit it, I know who Henry Viney was((

But not the rest of the list

[Rifleman]

You know you're a Calgarian when...

- you think it sucks that the Calgary Tower is no longer the tallest building, (and kinda wish they could extend it.)

- the city roads give you 15 feet to merge and 30 to yield.

- you don't know when you'll arrive at your destination because of construction.

- you make all your money in oil, but spend it all on gas.

- you went to the Stampede a lot as a kid for the rides, but now go for the mini-doughnuts.

- you don't do any work for 10 days in July.

- when you drive guests into the city center via Memorial, you point out the Drop-In Centre and call it the "Homeless Hilton".

- whenever the Superman movie comes on, you tell out of towners that certain scenes were shot in Calgary.

- you know who Heidi and Howdy are.

- you go to your favorite fast food restaurant, only to find it closed at 4pm because of the labor shortage.

- you'd rather watch a Flames game than go to a Stampeder's game.


...Speaking of Ginger Beef, that style of cooking it did start in Calgary. A friend of mine is the nephew of Louis and Alice Chan, and he told me this more than a decade ago.

For the longest time, if you ordered 'Ginger Beef' in other cities, you did NOT get the same thing.

[Flames in 07]

Originally Posted by Rifleman

You know you're a Calgarian when...

- you think it sucks that the Calgary Tower is no longer the tallest building, (and kinda wish they could extend it.)

- the city roads give you 15 feet to merge and 30 to yield.

- you don't know when you'll arrive at your destination because of construction.

- you make all your money in oil, but spend it all on gas.

- you went to the Stampede a lot as a kid for the rides, but now go for the mini-doughnuts.

- you don't do any work for 10 days in July.

- when you drive guests into the city center via Memorial, you point out the Drop-In Centre and call it the "Homeless Hilton".

- whenever the Superman movie comes on, you tell out of towners that certain scenes were shot in Calgary.

- you know who Heidi and Howdy are.

- you go to your favorite fast food restaurant, only to find it closed at 4pm because of the labor shortage.

- you'd rather watch a Flames game than go to a Stampeder's game.


...Speaking of Ginger Beef, that style of cooking it did start in Calgary. A friend of mine is the nephew of Louis and Alice Chan, and he told me this more than a decade ago.

For the longest time, if you ordered 'Ginger Beef' in other cities, you did NOT get the same thing.

And that that baby superman that lifted that car is a Calgarian.

[Prototype]

Originally Posted by Rifleman

- you went to the Stampede a lot as a kid for the rides, but now go for the beer, if you even go at all.

Fixed...

[JiriHrdina]

With all the mentions of Chuck E Cheese and Bullwinkles I'm surprised no one's mentioned the other one that was all midevial themed...the Enchanted Castle? Something like that.

Other ones:
....you miss going to the Drive-In movies at the Corral or before that...the Sundance off Edmonton trail
....you saw all 3 of the Star Wars triology at the Palace before it became a nightclub and then Flames Central
...you went and saw one of the many defunct soccer teams at Mawata Stadium downtown.
...when you moved into your house in Beddington Heights across the street was...a farm.

[redforever]

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

With all the mentions of Chuck E Cheese and Bullwinkles I'm surprised no one's mentioned the other one that was all midevial themed...the Enchanted Castle? Something like that.

Other ones:
....you miss going to the Drive-In movies at the Corral or before that...the Sundance off Edmonton trail
....you saw all 3 of the Star Wars triology at the Palace before it became a nightclub and then Flames Central
...you went and saw one of the many defunct soccer teams at Mawata Stadium downtown.
...when you moved into your house in Beddington Heights across the street was...a farm.

They are/were all pretty awful, but we all take/took our kids there because it is/was a kid's atmosphere.

[Kidder]

Originally Posted by burn_this_city

I know Rocky and Bullwinkles was sweet, but what about Easy Street in Chinook..? That place was a pilgrimage to the holy land for kids.. I seriously dreamed of going all the time.. I remember being so depressed when it went under like 15 years ago..

Easy Street, Easy Street
We make good times Easy
Easy Street. Can't be beat
We make good timeeeeeees.....

Ah... It was my mecca.

[4X4]

Originally Posted by Robbob

LOL I acctually remember that puedso water park. Curse you London condos

London Condos have nothing to do with it. Not the same piece of land. I don't know the real reason why Bonzai shut down, but I'd guess that it had to do with:
-short Calgary summers/few days really hot enough for an outdoor waterpark
-location. Location too good. Taxes must be pretty high there. Not exactly highest and best use of the land.
-it kinda sucked. I remember the third slide being pretty cool for some reason, but as for the rest of it...

[redforever]

Originally Posted by 4X4

London Condos have nothing to do with it. Not the same piece of land. I don't know the real reason why Bonzai shut down, but I'd guess that it had to do with:
-short Calgary summers/few days really hot enough for an outdoor waterpark
-location. Location too good. Taxes must be pretty high there. Not exactly highest and best use of the land.
-it kinda sucked. I remember the third slide being pretty cool for some reason, but as for the rest of it...

Yes and no. Tax wise, yes, land worth a lot. But in terms of recreation fun, not really. That facility faced directly west and it was always windy, like crazy windy sometimes. My kids only wanted to go there a few times, they always ended up freezing cold and preferred going to the indoor wave pools.

[4X4]

Originally Posted by redforever

Yes and no. Tax wise, yes, land worth a lot. But in terms of recreation fun, not really. That facility faced directly west and it was always windy, like crazy windy sometimes. My kids only wanted to go there a few times, they always ended up freezing cold and preferred going to the indoor wave pools.

So true. Standing up on the wooden deck, waiting for your turn to go down the slides.... Chilly, even on a warm day.

[IgnitedSoul]

-You're up at 5 in the morning to save front row seats for the Stampede Parade, of course after making a Tim Hortons stop first.

-Hidden in the bottom of some random drawers, you know you still have tokens from Easy Street.

[NSFL]

Originally Posted by flamesdyehard

What a great thread... makes me proud to be a Calgarian, bring back so many good memories.

.... if you carry a snowbrush in your car year round.

Do people actually take their snowbrushes out of the car during the summer? Really doesn't seem worth it at all. 2 Months and it's back in there.

[ResAlien]

for me, maybe they are still around but....

...You remember that Jumbo Video was the greatest VHS store ever. Plus the wicked elephant logo....

[Dion]

Originally Posted by 4X4

London Condos have nothing to do with it. Not the same piece of land. I don't know the real reason why Bonzai shut down, but I'd guess that it had to do with:
-short Calgary summers/few days really hot enough for an outdoor waterpark
-location. Location too good. Taxes must be pretty high there. Not exactly highest and best use of the land.
-it kinda sucked. I remember the third slide being pretty cool for some reason, but as for the rest of it...

It was a sad day when Bonzai shut down. Spent many a summer days shooting down the waterslides. One particular summer day I caught and edge on one of the slides, that was for whatever reason was sticking out, and got a nasty gash on my leg

[Rifleman]

- You've gotten sick at least once by eating from Chicken-On-The-Way.

[Sidney Crosby's Hat]

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

With all the mentions of Chuck E Cheese and Bullwinkles I'm surprised no one's mentioned the other one that was all midevial themed...the Enchanted Castle? Something like that.

I think that's what it was called. On 32 ave NE right? I went there once or twice.

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

...when you moved into your house in Beddington Heights across the street was...a farm.

Close - Huntington Hills... just off Simon's Valley Road! (now Centre Street).