Calgary, the hip cultural centre of the New West: NY Times

[SpitFire40]

Originally Posted by fanforever1986

It may cost more, but theres a hell of a lot more to do then there used to be.

Like what? Go to a newer more expensive restaraunt or bar? Whup dee doo.

[Ducay]

Calgary has minimal culture and nightlife, any european city over 500,000 people have us beat about 100x over.
I hate saying it, but even Vancouver is miles above us.

[TheDragon]

Originally Posted by Reggie Dunlop

They forgot to mention that Calgary has a FCUK store.

Now that there's the height of So-fisty-cation.

BAH-HAHA!

Agreed.

[4X4]

Originally Posted by Ducay

Calgary has minimal culture and nightlife, any european city over 500,000 people have us beat about 100x over.

Yaa. But I think it has alot to do with

a) Calgary is so spread out. Gotta drive to get anywhere... Better not drink!

b) Winter is cold. Nobody wants to be outside on a cold night (even just to walk to another establishment.



I don't think that Calgary is the cultural wasteland that some people think it is. Calgarians just seem to enjoy things like pubs for hockey games and karaoke, movies, entertaining guests at home... Our houses are pretty big, not like europeans flats and townhouses. Getting out of the house is damn near manditory if you want to enjoy your evening.

Besides, who want to go anywhere in this town when if you look at somebody's shirt, he thinks you're looking for a fight. That's where I think Calgary lacks culture.

[Ozy_Flame]

The only nice thing to see in Calgary these days is the plethora of new developments going up in downtown; the progress is unreal.

However, all the other good aspects of our Calgary community has disappeared almost as fast as this city is growing; this place does not feel like the Calgary I grew up in. And it's not so much the the growth itself, per say, but rather the speed at which it's happening and the negative results associated with it. NO Customer service anymore, NO Community spirit, NO regard for the well-being of your fellow man....

Just money, money, money, and how you go about moving up in this world by acquring material possessions from our gargantuan oil wealth.

But that's just my opinion.

[Mr.Coffee]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

Calgary is not cultural right now, and won't be for a while. It's 'chic', especially during the boom, but nowhere near the cultural megapolis that NY City is. This article is weird to me.

And just for the record, I'm moving to Tokyo in January. I have been there and looked into it, it is actually CHEAPER to live in downtown Tokyo than it is Calgary, despite what polls and marketing surveys are conducted. This city is bloody expensive, and I can't wait to get the hell out again.

Prices HAVE gotten a little out of hand... I agree. Are you sure about that though? What kind of figures were you comparing for Calgary/Tokyo?

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

The only nice thing to see in Calgary these days is the plethora of new developments going up in downtown; the progress is unreal.

However, all the other good aspects of our Calgary community has disappeared almost as fast as this city is growing; this place does not feel like the Calgary I grew up in. And it's not so much the the growth itself, per say, but rather the speed at which it's happening and the negative results associated with it. NO Customer service anymore, NO Community spirit, NO regard for the well-being of your fellow man....

Just money, money, money, and how you go about moving up in this world by acquring material possessions from our gargantuan oil wealth.

But that's just my opinion.

Tend to agree Calgary as a whole does seem a whole lot more materialistic as it grows... but that's because there is a lot of money being made. I'm thinking I will move to a small town and commute daily or weekly type thing, because your right community spirit just doesn't seem there like it used to be.

As for 4x4, I'm not sure what guys are looking to fight all the time? Do you mean at nightclubs?

[4X4]

Originally Posted by Mr.Coffee

As for 4x4, I'm not sure what guys are looking to fight all the time? Do you mean at nightclubs?

Don't know. It just seems like whenever I open a newspaper there was a stabbing at a nightclub or when I go to a pub or bar some tough guy is trying to start something with anybody (strangers, friends of mine, me).
Fights are a pretty common occurrance at Calgary bars and pubs. You haven't noticed?

14 months in Europe and wayyy too many of those nights spent at bars and I saw a total of 5 fights. I've been back in Calgary less than 2 months and for the 3 times I went to the bar I saw 2 fights.

Theres this idiotic tough guy mentality in Calgary that makes us look like hicks. I can't comment on other major cities in NA because I've never spent more than a few nights.

[Mr.Coffee]

Originally Posted by 4X4

Don't know. It just seems like whenever I open a newspaper there was a stabbing at a nightclub or when I go to a pub or bar some tough guy is trying to start something with anybody (strangers, friends of mine, me).
Fights are a pretty common occurrance at Calgary bars and pubs. You haven't noticed?

14 months in Europe and wayyy too many of those nights spent at bars and I saw a total of 5 fights. I've been back in Calgary less than 2 months and for the 3 times I went to the bar I saw 2 fights.

Theres this idiotic tough guy mentality in Calgary that makes us look like hicks. I can't comment on other major cities in NA because I've never spent more than a few nights.

Maybe I've just gotten used to it. I know if you show people respect they won't fight you though, and isn't there tough guy mentalities worldwide? I'm not so sure that its just a Calgary thing, but I agree they do happen in bars. However, I've never really had a problem.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

Calgary is not cultural right now, and won't be for a while. It's 'chic', especially during the boom, but nowhere near the cultural megapolis that NY City is. This article is weird to me.

I dont think the article is trying to compare Calgary to such cities, but trying to argue that Calgary is growing as a cultural spot. Certantly we still lag behind other major centres, but as the city grows, its tastes diversify, and the entertainment options follow suit.

[Flame On]

Originally Posted by 4X4

Yaa. But I think it has alot to do with

a) Calgary is so spread out. Gotta drive to get anywhere... Better not drink!

b) Winter is cold. Nobody wants to be outside on a cold night (even just to walk to another establishment.



I don't think that Calgary is the cultural wasteland that some people think it is. Calgarians just seem to enjoy things like pubs for hockey games and karaoke, movies, entertaining guests at home... Our houses are pretty big, not like europeans flats and townhouses. Getting out of the house is damn near manditory if you want to enjoy your evening.

Besides, who want to go anywhere in this town when if you look at somebody's shirt, he thinks you're looking for a fight. That's where I think Calgary lacks culture.

Boy is that ever worse in europe or at least in the uk. I feel 10 times safer here.

[Flame On]

And it's only the second city in North America to have a Bentley dealership. Although that's not arts/culture admitedly.

[4X4]

Originally Posted by Flame On

Boy is that ever worse in europe or at least in the uk. I feel 10 times safer here.

Really? In London and Glasgow I had nary a prob. Likewise Amsterdam, Zurich and all over Italy. I was in Rome for over a year and saw just 5 fights. And the ones I saw were quick fistfights where the combatants walked away afterward without friends jumping in. I thought it was pretty classy.

Oh, the other thing is that nobody gets ticked off if they bust you checking out their g/f or wife. In fact, (in Italy, anyway), they'll crack you a wry smile as though to say "you wish.. But go ahead and look at what I'm tapping".

[Ozy_Flame]

Originally Posted by Mr.Coffee

Prices HAVE gotten a little out of hand... I agree. Are you sure about that though? What kind of figures were you comparing for Calgary/Tokyo?

Well generally there are lists out there that suggest Tokyo and Japan is one of the worlds most expensive cities to live in. However, I have been there, and have done some research on the internet.

For example, through Sakura House, I can get a two-bedroom, fully-furnished apartment in Asakusa (10 minute train to Shimbashi), for 900,000 yen per month - 450,000 yen each per month - $450, including water (but not electricity). It's meant for Gaijin (caucasians) who are working there, and thus are comparable to the lifestyle homes found here in Canada. So it's no more than $600 each per month to live in this apartment with utilities, internet, and other minor household costs. I don't watch TV, so I don't need a TV connection either.

As for food, I found you can dine in most restaurants and get fed quality, tasty food for less than you could here. For example, most Ramen houses were about $5-$8 per bowl, and were actually quite big. Here in Calgary, there are hardly any Ramen houses, so Pho would be the next similar thing - you're paying $8 minimum for a tasty bowl of Pho, plus tea or a drink, plus tax, PLUS tip. So at the end of the day, this same bowl is usually no more than $8 in Japan (with free tea ALWAY of course, and no tipping), and in Calgary it would be $10-$15. It's just little instances like that. Grocery shopping is also cheaper; for example, Tropicana juice in Tokyo was no more than $3 for a one litre jug; that's what you would pay here for a 350 ml size. And good steak is no more than $10 a cut there, while here you get an obsenely big slice for like $15-$25. If you're living on your own, you definitely don't need that much meat, especially in one sitting.

Public transport is cheap too, and easily affordable if working full-time. I could get from Asakusa to Shimbashi and back for $5 per day, which is generally the price from outside districts to the central Tokyo area. That's about equatable to Calgary ticket prices, but the Tokyo Metro is FAR SUPERIOR to anything Calgary has to offer, and has WAAAY better service and frequency of trains. It's better value than what you pay for in Calgary.

I could go on about how Tokyo can be cheaper, but I think this gives the point. In addition, you can't put a price on safety - Tokyo was an unbeleivably safe city, where people don't lock up their bikes, leave their umbrellas outside, and often times leave their doors unlocked. People respect others property there, and never interfere with others personal space or material goods.

Plus, you can't put a price on the obscene amount of beautiful women in Tokyo - it's a fashion Mecca, and there are both gorgeous locals and foreigners that litter the streets and malls!

Good times all around. Both Calgary and Tokyo have their charms, but dollar-for-dollar, I would pick Tokyo.

[SpitFire40]

Thanks for that info Ozy_Flame. I'd LOVE to live in Japan. But I never thought about it much because I heard it was expensive as hell.

Not sure what I could do for work their... but right now I do work from home that I could be doing anywhere with an internet connection really..

I'll have to do some research myself now!

[Flame On]

Originally Posted by 4X4

Really? In London and Glasgow I had nary a prob. Likewise Amsterdam, Zurich and all over Italy. I was in Rome for over a year and saw just 5 fights. And the ones I saw were quick fistfights where the combatants walked away afterward without friends jumping in. I thought it was pretty classy.

Oh, the other thing is that nobody gets ticked off if they bust you checking out their g/f or wife. In fact, (in Italy, anyway), they'll crack you a wry smile as though to say "you wish.. But go ahead and look at what I'm tapping".

Not in London, where you seem to get away with anything, but elsewhere it's not so good.

[Deelow]

Originally Posted by Reggie Dunlop

They forgot to mention that Calgary has a FCUK store.

Now that there's the height of So-fisty-cation.

But is there a Lacoste store? Because Edmonton has one you know!!!!

[Shazam]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

Good times all around. Both Calgary and Tokyo have their charms, but dollar-for-dollar, I would pick Tokyo.

And Tokyo has tentacles. Lots and lots of tentacles.

[I-Hate-Hulse]

Originally Posted by Deelow

But is there a Lacoste store? Because Edmonton has one you know!!!!

Theres one opening up downtown in TD Square.

What is this focus on clothing - "How to Judge a City", by Sundeep Malthi?

[La Flames Fan]

Originally Posted by troutman

I thought Winnipeg holds that honor.

http://www.myslurpeecup.com/facts.html

Manitoba is the "Slurpee Capital" of the world for the fifth year in a row (2003)! The 7-Eleven stores in Manitoba sell an average of 8,300 Slurpee drinks per store each month, compared to the national monthly rate of 5,900 and provincial rate of 7,200,which makes this Province the world leader in Slurpee sales.


• The top five Slurpee cities are:

1. Winnipeg
2. Calgary
3. Regina
4. Detroit
5. Edmonton

Ah! My Bathroom Reader is from '06! Either way, we're up there.

[Reggie Dunlop]

Originally Posted by I-Hate-Hulse

What is this focus on clothing - "How to Judge a City", by Sundeep Malthi?

Well, it is fun (sorta) to type "FCUK Store."