CALGARY
P o p u l at i o n :
1,156,686
S q u a r e F o o ta g e :
318.6 sq miles (825.3 km²)
What was your motivation for booking that plane ticket?
Did you ever feel out of your comfort zone?
I was visiting Calgary for the annual Sled Island Music Festival,
I can’t say that ever happened! Rad town, rad
with some really great local and Canadian bands like Operators, as
people, rad food, and rad music.
well as rad international talent like St. Vincent and Spiritualized.
What songs would sum up your trip?
What cool cultural trend did you encounter?
Build an
Igloo
Sled Island! Honestly, you can’t ever go wrong
Calgary Stampede Football team, etc. Came to find out that
with either of these two. Annie Clark is simply
becoming one of the best artists around right
rodeo taking place over 10 days in July. Being a Texas boy, this
Leave knowing how to:
Reverse,” by St. Vincent. They both played at
that, things just started to make sense; the Saddledome, the
Calgary is home to the Calgary Stampede, the world’s largest
Sunniest
Canadian City
“Hey Jane,” by Spiritualized, and “Birth in
I didn’t know it was called Cowtown before! After learning
now. I’m only bitter because we went to rival
got me a little stoked.
high schools in Dallas. Maybe she’ll come to
Stampede with me next year…
Make our mouths water. What was the food scene like?
D o n ’ t E v e n T ry i t:
It’s illegal to pretend to
practice witchcraft
Did you need to travel to get your head right/
and Angela — really good tapas spot on17th Ave in the Mission
get your sanity back? Did it work?
neighborhood of Calgary, which is full of places to eat. Definitely
If anything, this trip was an extension of what
try the churros and get a dope cup of coffee. I don’t even drink
(Seriously they teach this at
the U niversity of Calgary)
We went to some great spots to eat and drink. For sure try out Ox
I do every day, especially during the summer.
coffee, and I loved it. And if you LOVE coffee, you must cruise over
Eat rad food, hang with some cool folks, and
to Phil and Sebastian, who source their coffee from sustainable
see tons of awesome music. Though, doing this
farms all over South America, and roast it all on site. Also check
outside of New York is always refreshing, so it
out Cibo on 17th Ave for delicious cocktails and Italian food. For
was actually much needed!
cheese and charcuterie, hit up Janice Beaton Fine Cheese —
amazing, and attached to a rad restaurant called Farm. Pizzahead?
What was the crowd like at Sled Island? How
Check out UNA Pizza + Wine. Amazing artisanal pizzas and tons of
did you connect or relate to them?
wine. I love wine.
The crowds were really genuine and appreciative. I’m not entirely sure how much indie rock
to t h e M a l l
i n Ca n a d a
Ca lga ry i s h o m e to t h e
Calgary Stampede,
the world’s
largest rodeo
ta k i n g pla c e over
1 0 d ay s i n J uly
rolls through Calgary regularly, since it doesn’t
Sled Island Festival is June 24-28. Each year a different artist
have the reputation of Montreal, Vancouver,
or band acts as the guest curator to set the vibe for the festival.
or Toronto…yet. There is a scene there that’s
Past curators have included Kathleen Hanna and Andrew W.K,
OR ride a horse
What to look out for this year:
ready to pick up, and the city is full of life and
and this year they’ve chosen Godspeed You! Black Emperor. Stay
enthusiasm for culture and music. Top notch,
another couple of days and check out Stampede. That’s my plan,
and I’ll be going back, for sure.
anyways. Check out the National Music Center as well, which has
become the world’s largest keyboard museum. They’re moving
into a new spot next year, which will include the Rolling Stones
mobile production studio.
Wes Martin is a Brooklyn-based editor and avid
concert goer. He’s far too fussy about his hair, and
wants to know: “What do you mean by AVID?”
LEFT TO RIGHT: Crafted Cocktails at Bar C; Wilted Kale at Bar C; Assorted Cheeses at Janice Beaton Fine Cheese; Janice Beaton Fine Cheese
90 . TRAVEL WITH PURPOSE