River City Writer

The alternate title for this post could be: Todd Babiak’s opinion holds too much influence over me.

Actually, that’s not entirely true. I’ve been considering looking for a house on or near Alberta Avenue (118th Avenue) for a while now. Todd’s column—Arts on the Ave brings soul to the city—in the Edmonton Journal today just made me want to find a home in that area even more.

I’ll be honest, one of the main reasons that I want to live on Alberta Avenue is the price. Homes in that area are much more affordable than in most other parts of the city. This is partly because it is considered a bad neighbourhood.

This is true to some extent, but the area has been cleaned up a lot in recent years, and is experiencing something of a renaissance. The arts community has been slowly moving into the area for the past few years, as it’s been one of the only areas that starving artists have been able to afford a home.

This influx of artistic types has created a strong community, and this community has been actively working to clean up the neighbourhood, and turn it into a great place to live and work. This not only means that Alberta Avenue is no longer the crappy neighbourhood it once was, it also means that it’s a pretty darn cool place to live if you’re an artist (which, I like to pretend that I am).

I’ll admit, it’s still a pretty rough area. It’s not nearly as bad as it once was, though. And, I’ve heard a few stories about people who have recently moved to the area. The vast majority of these stories have been encouraging. The few that haven’t could just as easily occurred in any other part of the city.

Besides, if I get in now, I might just find myself living in one of River City’s coolest communities in a couple of years. And, if, by some hilarious accident of fate, I’ve created a family and outgrown the home that I’ve purchased (which will likely be very small), I’ll probably be able to sell it for a rather nice profit.

Last night, I had a date, and we went to Doan’s Vietnamese Restaurant (south side location) for dinner. Doan’s has long been one of my favourite restaurants in the city (either location—both are equally good, in my opinion), so I figured that we couldn’t go wrong. It’s also rarely busy—a table is usually guaranteed without a wait, even on the weekend—and the food is inexpensive.

My favourite dish on the menu is the Seafood Sizzling Platter, but I don’t order it often, as it’s one of the most expensive items on the menu (approx. $17). Last night, I opted for the Prawns, Beef & Pork Vermicelli dish. I honestly didn’t even look at the price, but I think it was around $10 or $12. My date ordered one of the Combinations for 1. Specifically, she ordered the chicken combo (Combo A).

Each of the Combo for 1 dishes comes with a small bowl of wonton soup, and a main course of rice, vegetables, and whatever meat is in the combo (beef, pork, prawns, or chicken are the options). Each of these combo plates is about $10. The prawn combo is slightly more expensive at $11.

If you’re not feeling particularly adventurous, the Combo for 1 dishes are a safe bet. They aren’t bland or boring, but they’re not particularly creative or unique, either. They are a safe, inexpensive option for more cautious diners. I’ve been known to order a combo plate myself, from time to time.

While I find that most of the food I order at Doan’s to be quite flavourful, the vermicelli dish wasn’t. I found it very bland, even after adding soy sauce and hot chili sauce to it. The special fish sauce might have given it some zing, but I’m not a huge fan of fish sauce, so I didn’t try it.

I’ve ordered vermicelli dishes at Doan’s before, and had the same problem. I’d much rather order one of the many lemongrass dishes, or the Seafood Sizzling Platter that I’m so fond of. I think I’ll try and remember to stay clear of the bland vermicelli dishes from now on.

I ordered a Tsingtao beer with my meal, which went well. As tends to be the case with beer, if you order a drink from the same region as the food you’re eating, it will likely compliment it well. Tsingtao is a Chinese beer so, while it isn’t Vietnamese, it comes from Asia, and goes well with most Asian food (though, I have a feeling that it wouldn’t work as well with Japanese food). At $4.75 for a bottle, the Tsingtao was a very good price, considering what you typically pay for imported beer in other restaurants.

In terms of service, I have to admit that the south side location is much better than the downtown location. I tend to go downtown more often, just because it’s so close to my apartment, but the service is very slow, and very poor most of the time. It’s rare that I even get my water glass refilled before the end of my meal at the downtown location. The south side location provides much faster, and far more attentive service than the downtown location.

The food is equally good at either location, but the service is better at the south side location. Having said that, the downtown location isn’t so bad that I’d make a point of driving to the south side because of the difference in service.

For more restaurant reviews and information, check out my Edmonton Restaurant Guide.

Despite the so-called “Alberta Advantage,” most of the Edmontonians I know are strapped for cash. I’m strapped for cash. Maybe it’s just because I associate mostly with writers, artists, and students—people who are stereotypically short of money—but I don’t really see many people enjoying the wealth that has been flowing up from the tar sands for the the past few years.

A lack of money shouldn’t mean a lack of fun, though. I want your help to create a list of fun things that you can do for free in Edmonton. Bonus points if you come up with something that is exclusive to Edmonton. I’ve got a few things to start the list off.

• Take a walk in the river valley. Edmonton has the longest stretch of continuous green space in North America. The river valley is host to a massive trail system, much of which is wooded heavily enough to allow you to forget that you’re in the city for a brief moment. Going for a walk or a run in the river valley is one of the easiest, and cheapest ways to escape the stress of city life. While some people will argue that certain parts of the valley are better than others, I think that the whole stretch is beautiful, and recommend that you check out as many different areas as you can. Other good walks in the city, outside of the river valley include downtown (I love wandering the Core in the autumn, with a good friend to chat with), and Whyte Avenue. Both of these areas happen to be close to the river, so you can experience both nature and concrete in the same walk, if you want.
• Visit your local library. Yes, I’m hitting you with a cliché of “how to have fun for free” lists. One of the cool things about the Edmonton Public Library is that they don’t just have books, music, and movies that you can borrow for free (an adult membership is $12/year, but I’ve been told that they will waive the fee if you are unable to afford it), but they also give free film screenings at the Stanley A. Milner location downtown. I’ve gone to a few of the film screenings they’ve shown, and I’ve yet to be disappointed. I’ve been confused, and uncertain about what think about some of the movies, but I’ve never been disappointed. That said, they show mostly “art house” flicks, so if that’s not your thing, you might not enjoy the movies that are shown in the basement of the library. The Stanley A. Milber library also has an art gallery, that you can view for free. The current exhibit features the photography of Kan Ki Chiu.
• Embrace your inner child: visit a playground. When was the last time that you visited a playground? It might seem silly, but getting together with a group of over-sized kids for a game of sand tag can be surprisingly fun. If you’re into the idea of playing tag, but not into the idea of taking over the local playground, you might want to check out Manhunt.
• Have sex. I can almost guarantee that some joker was going to put this in the comments section. Well, now I’ve beat you to it. Having said that, if you’ve got a willing partner, it’s not a bad suggestion.

I’ve given you some ideas to get started. What other kinds of free fun can you have in Edmonton?

This weekend, I went to New City. I hadn’t been in quite a few months, so I was really looking forward to it, especially since New City is one of my favourite clubs in the city.

There’s just something about rocking out with punks, goths, raver kids, queers, and pretty much any other “weird” subculture that’s totally awesome. Plus, the music is usually pretty ass-kicking.

Saturday happened to be goth night, which I hadn’t realized ahead of time, but it was still a blast. Dark rave music blasted, and was pretty fun to dance to, even though it’s not really my kind of music. Toward the end of the night, the music changed up a bit, and went more toward the punk and neo-mod side of things, which is more my speed. Dancing to “Anarchy in the UK” is a bit of an odd experience, though.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with the New City Compound, it consists of the Likwid Lounge (upstairs) and the Suburbs (downstairs). The Lounge is, as the name indicates, a lounge. There are plush couches, pool tables, and TVs that tend to show cool old school cartoons (Betty Boop, for example).

The Suburbs area is the club. It’s got a huge dance floor, and three separate bars. It’s also got a good-sized stage that’s host to all kinds of punk and rockabilly shows on weekdays. The atmosphere is a cross between the old school rave scene, and the Nightmare Before Christmas.

The music varies depending on the night of the week, and is different depending on whether you’re upstairs or down, but typical sounds include punk, rockabilly, electro, industrial, and anything that still manages into that vague and undefinable area known as “alternative music.”

In addition to being a bad ass night club, New City is also host to a number of concerts, stand-up comedy events, and punk rock bingo.

In many ways, it’s the gathering place for the alternative subcultures in Edmonton. Essentially, everyone is welcome. If you go on any given Saturday night, you’re likely to see drag queens, hardcore punks, goths, weird shirtless dudes in too-tight leather pants, and the occasional “normal” person, as well.

The only thing you won’t see at New City are the self-absorbed bar star types (both male and female) that you tend to see at a lot of “trendy” clubs. Aside from the fact that these people won’t usually go to New City, the dress code of “no athletic wear” allows the staff to use their discretion to keep out anyone who is likely to cause trouble.

Basically, if you like a crazy atmosphere where pretty much anything goes, New City is the place for you. Whether you’re looking for a laid back time in the Likwid Lounge, or a hardcore party downstairs in the Suburbs, you’ll be hard-pressed to have a bad time at New City.

For more nightlife reviews and information, check out my Edmonton Nightlife Guide.

I’ve been thinking that I’d like to do a nightclub, pub, and bar list, similar to the Edmonton Restaurant Guide that I’m working on (there should be some complete reviews posted in the coming days). I’ve already written an article about Union Hall, and I can think of a few other bars that I’d love to write about.

Despite having a few bars that I love, and would enjoy plugging on River City Writer, I’m not a huge bar-goer.

When I do go out, I tend to stick to the watering holes that I know best. I’ll try something new once in a while but, I’m less adventurous with bars than I am with restaurants. A drink is a drink, I guess, so I’ll stick with a crowd that I’m comfortable with, most of the time.

That’s why I need you to help me create the list.

I’ll do what I can to expand my nightlife exploration, but I need help from my readers if this list is going to be the best that it can be. Tell me some of your favourite bars, pubs, and nightclubs in and around Edmonton. If possible, give me a brief write-up about the place (1 paragraph should be sufficient, but feel free to write more), in case I don’t get to visit the place myself.

While we’re on the subject of reader-generated content, I’m still looking for places to add to the restaurant guide. If you’ve got a place that isn’t on the list yet, let me know about it, and I’ll visit it when I have a chance, and write a review.

Last night, I went to Union Hall. I’d never been before because it’s way out on the south side of the city, and because I’m not generally a fan of huge mega-clubs. Really, I’m not a fan of clubs in general.

With rare exception, I’d rather hangout at a pub, and be able to actually hear what my friends are saying when I’m out. Sometimes, though, loud music and dancing are the thing to do, especially when there is an attractive woman involved.

I have to admit, despite my lack of fondness for over-sized dance clubs, Union was pretty awesome. While I did meet a few vapid girls in line while I was waiting to get in, most of the people in the club were cool, laid back, and friendly. There were none of the typical meatheads and bar stars you usually find at clubs in this city (or any city, for that matter).

The music was pretty damn good, too, despite the fact that they played Limp Bizkit—twice. There’s a good reason that no one has listened to Limp Bizkit for over 6 years. But, I guess when everyone is drunk and rowdy, any kind of aggressive music will do.

Aside from the Limp Bizkit faux pas, the music was rockin’. Most of the clubs in this city play really, really shitty music. Union is one of the few exceptions.

There is one thing about Union that I don’t like. They use the infamous BarLink system. I’m pretty strongly opposed to BarLink, and didn’t realize that they used it until I was already handing over my ID to be scanned.

At that point, I was already in the system, and couldn’t really do anything about it, so I figured that I might as well go inside. Besides, I was meeting a woman, and apparently I’m willing to loosen my principles when an attractive woman is involved.

If you’re opposed to the BarLink system, or have privacy concerns about it, avoid Union Hall. But, if you don’t mind having your ID scanned into the system, or you’re already in the system, it’s definitely worth checking out.

Other than the BarLink issue, and the occasional poor song selection, I can’t find much to criticize about Union. It claims to be “Edmonton’s only bar with no expectations,” and that’s essentially true (even if it is just marketing speak).

The club’s tag line, “Show up, don’t show off,” is one that’s followed by almost all of the patrons. No one is looking to show off or cause trouble, they’re just looking to have a good time and a great party.

Last week, I asked for people to select their favourite Edmonton restaurants, and let me know what they were. Only a couple of people have added to the list, but I expect that to change soon. I’m still looking for new recommendations for the list, and I will add all of your choices to this list over time.

I’ll also add short reviews based on my experiences with the restaurants. Some of the restaurants on the list are my own additions (although, for now, I’ve mostly kept the list to places that have been recommended by readers), but it’s been a while since I’ve visited most of them. Because I want my reviews to be as up-to-date as possible, I won’t write reviews of my additions until I’ve given them a more recent visit.

It may take a while, but I will do my best to visit every single restaurant that is recommended, even as the list grows over time. Feel free to add your own reviews in the comments section, if they’re particularly helpful, I may use them as the official review for the list (with credit given to you, and a link to your website, if applicable).

Doan’s Vietnamese Restaurant (10130-107 Street & 7909-104 Street) - Vietnamese. Good food and low prices. Read a full review of Doan’s Vietnamese Restaurant.

Double Greeting Wonton House (10212-96 Street) - Chinese

Dynasty Restaurnant (10316-76 Avenu) - Chinese (with Dim Sum)

Garden Bakery (10019-106 Street) - Chinese Bakery & Restaurant

Golden Bird Restaurant (10544-97 Street) - Vietnamese

Highlevel Diner (10912-88 Avenue) - Home-style diner. Good food, friendly atmosphere, and a reasonably priced menu. Read a full reveiw of the Highlevel Diner.

Hoang Long (10715-98 Street - Restaurant; West Edmonton Mall Chinatown - Noodle House; 10041-170 Street - Family Restaurant) - Vietnamese & Thai

Mirama Dining & Lounge (9431 Jasper Avenue) - Chinese (with Dim Sum)

Padmanadi (10626-97 Street) - Indonesian/Vegetarian. Great vegetarian food, especially for the crypto-carnivores out there (fake meat is a big part of the menu). Read a full review of Padmanadi.

Spago (12433-97 Street (only accessible from 97 Street northbound) ) - Portuguese/Seafood

Thanh Thanh Oriental Noodle House (10718-101 Street) - Thai

Two Rooms Cafe (101, 10324 82 Avenue) - Canadian. Excellent food, good prices, and a comfortable, cozy atmosphere. Read a full review of Two Rooms Cafe.

Wild Earth Bakery (8902-99 Street) - North American Bakery/Coffeehouse

Today, dear readers, I open the blog to you. I have a simple question to ask of you: what are Edmonton’s best restaurants? Give me as much information as you like. Ideally, it would be good to at least know the name of the restaurant, and the type of food that they serve. Addresses would be great, as well.

I will compile all of your suggestions into a list, with my own additions, that I will post sometime next week.

In the meantime, I hope everyone has a good weekend. I’m busy packing for a weekend away, hence the rather short post today. I’ve got some great restaurants to tell you about, but I’ll only share if you tell me about your favourites. Sound like a deal?

Thanks to the magic of Facebook, I have recently learned of a great new artist-friendly coffeehouse on Alberta Avenue (118 Avenue), called the Carrot. I haven’t yet been, so I can’t say anything with certainty, but from what I’ve gleaned from the website, it’s a very cool place, with a very cool concept and mission.

The Carrot is a part of the Arts on the Ave group, which is an organization dedicated to the revitalization of Alberta Avenue, by turning it into a community arts destination. I find it very hard not to throw my support behind anyone who is working to revitalize Alberta Avenue (or any of Edmonton’s under-appreciated neighbourhoods), so I’m definitely in favour of this type of organization.

I will do my best to get down to the Carrot later this week and check it out. I’ll write a more in-depth article after I’ve visited the café. In the meantime, visit the Carrot’s official website, or it’s Facebook group.