Stampede 2012

[SebC]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

So this is the 100th anniversary of the Stampede and we only get 2 freaking Snowbirds? Not even the whole team? Come on. I would have hoped for something like the Snowbird team plus a couple of CF-18's for good measure.

Weak.

Haha, I basically said the same thing on Facebook. (But what I really want is an Avro Arrow flyover.)

[octothorp]

We were out at heritage park, and the Snowbirds did a few loops around with the full nine-plane, diamond configuration.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by SebC

Haha, I basically said the same thing on Facebook. (But what I really want is an Avro Arrow flyover.)

It's like the Devonian Gardens all over again, I can't take any more Calgary foul ups :-(

[SebC]

nm, going too far off topic

[Sr. Mints]

This is pretty much the extent of my Stampede participation this year:

The bad-ass 1880s cowboy bounty-hunter assassin who sold me my Condo

My opinion on the Calgary Stampede hasn’t changed much in the last ten years: been there, done that, bought the double-deep-fried, sugar-coated t-shirt and $12 pint of beer.

I’m not against, or hate the Stampede, nor do I think ill of anyone who likes to revel in the pseudo-western atmosphere, and I’ve also learned pretty well how to circumvent the craziness and revelry.

And, you know, not many cities get ten days where coming into work drunk at 2:00 p.m. is acceptable. So, hey: the Stampede certainly has some things going for it.

In the summer of 2010, I was viewing five to ten open houses per week when I was in the market to purchase my first home. During Stampede week, my brother came with me to a newly built condo complex, where we were greeted by a man who revived my Stampede spirit.

Dressed in stone-washed black jeans, an urbane collarless pinstriped shirt, a brown bandanna around his neck, and cowboy boots that were aged to perfection, the man also sported a dark cowboy duster coat, a well-worn, matching Smithbilt hat, and to top it all off, spurs that ‘ka-chinked’ with every step.

This dude was bad-ass!

The rest . . .

[getbak]

https://twitter.com/tsnotoole/status/221391769798053888

Dan O'Toole (@tsnotoole)| 'I sure am glad I'm not at the Calgary Stampede.'- said by no one

[Phaneuf]

Does anyone else feel underwhelmed by the 100th year celebrations? I would've expected bigger names at the Coke Stage, Nashville North etc. and there's nothing too different at the grounds besides the Zipline..

[Hack&Lube]

Originally Posted by Komskies

Anyone know where I can buy some of that Centennial Whisky? I went to Willowpark over my lunch hour and they were sold out.

Do you know that Alberta Premium 100% Rye Whisky has been rated top Canadian Whisky of the Year and one of the top worldwide blended whiskies for several years by the Jim Murray's Whisky Bible and several other Whisky connoisseurs?

[killer_carlson]

For those poor saps who live out of town, post pictures of the fun we are missing

[Joborule]

Originally Posted by Phaneuf

Does anyone else feel underwhelmed by the 100th year celebrations? I would've expected bigger names at the Coke Stage, Nashville North etc. and there's nothing too different at the grounds besides the Zipline..

Not really, great vibe in the city. It is disappointing though that the musical acts aren't boosting a bunch of marquee performers though. This should be the year to go all out on the stages.

[SebC]

Anyone have a great spot for photographing the fireworks in the city? I was kind of thinking 26 St SE... you can do the skyline with the Stampede grounds, and maybe catch COP as well.

Why don't you go to Glenmore park on the weekends and get the reflection on the water? They're doing fireworks in the 5 locations around the city on weekends.

I watched them from the bedroom window (the ones that went over the tops of the trees) and they seemed pretty decent.

[Berger_4_]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

Do you know that Alberta Premium 100% Rye Whisky has been rated top Canadian Whisky of the Year and one of the top worldwide blended whiskies for several years by the Jim Murray's Whisky Bible and several other Whisky connoisseurs?

Shut up. Really? I find that incredibly hard to believe. That stuff is gut rot, I'm telling you.

I managed to snag a bottle of the Stampede whiskey when I was down a few weeks ago in the Crowfoot Liquor Store (in the same strip mall sorta thing as Schanks north is). Maybe they've got a few left there.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by SebC

Anyone have a great spot for photographing the fireworks in the city? I was kind of thinking 26 St SE... you can do the skyline with the Stampede grounds, and maybe catch COP as well.

That would probably be good, but a little far away.

A few years ago, I was taking a photography course in the summer, and went out and took photos from a different location each night. One of the places I tried was the parking lot at Max Bell and it was too far away for my camera, and not a great angle to get the fireworks in front of the skyline. 26 St south of 17th would give you a better angle, but would still be far away.

There's a grass area across Blackfoot from Cash Casino that used to have a good view of the Grandstand with the skyline behind it (so you could see the low and high fireworks). That was before the Waterworks building was built, so I don't know if that ruins the view.

[Cecil Terwilliger]

Love stampede. Hello cutie Jen.

[SebC]

Originally Posted by getbak

That would probably be good, but a little far away.

A few years ago, I was taking a photography course in the summer, and went out and took photos from a different location each night. One of the places I tried was the parking lot at Max Bell and it was too far away for my camera, and not a great angle to get the fireworks in front of the skyline. 26 St south of 17th would give you a better angle, but would still be far away.

There's a grass area across Blackfoot from Cash Casino that used to have a good view of the Grandstand with the skyline behind it (so you could see the low and high fireworks). That was before the Waterworks building was built, so I don't know if that ruins the view.

I actually prefer the fireworks to be beside the skyline, rather than directly infront. Distance is an issue though, I top out at 300mm equivalent (but I do prefer the flat perspective). I will likely shoot the regular weeknight fireworks, but for the weekend I want to do something different.

Originally Posted by Puxlut

Why don't you go to Glenmore park on the weekends and get the reflection on the water? They're doing fireworks in the 5 locations around the city on weekends.

I watched them from the bedroom window (the ones that went over the tops of the trees) and they seemed pretty decent.

I may also do that, but I don't see it yielding anything as special as lining up two sets of fireworks with the skyline in between.

[SebC]

Okay, more important question: where exactly do the COP fireworks launch from?

[Suave]

And so the records begin to drop:

Stampede attendance for
Friday, July 6, 2012: 108,455

Same day
for 2011: 81,625

Record same day attendance
was set in 2000 with: 107,268

[MrMastodonFarm]

Thank you Stampede. Did something I've always wanted to do but never done at this point, pick up a girl in the middle of the day. Not saying it's anything special or doing an internet brag but it was a good thing to do before I launch into another relationship. Couldn't have done it without you Calgary Stampede, you old #######.

[Azure]

Just watched a bit of it today. Scoreface sure is involved in a lot of stuff there. I would take a discount too in order to sign in Calgary.