Avenue May 2022

avenuecalgary.com

WE

05.22 / $6.50

CALGARY

31 BEST THINGS TO

EAT & DRINK

RIGHT NOW

into the woods INSIDE AND OUT Why houseplants are hot and patio style is ultra-cool

A modern home with a mid-century vibe

WHAT’S NEW IN GOLDEN Thrilling activities and unique new stays in the B.C. mountain town

I n co m pa ra b l e Aspire to a whole new level of luxury Capella offers estate-inspired single level residences up to 1,786 sq. ft. in University District. Your luxurious new home features a bungalow feel, heated private garage, and a vibrant, exciting community that connects sustainability, people and retailers in ways never seen before. Enjoy brunch with family and friends at one of the many local eateries, followed by a relaxing walk in a nearby urban park.

Visit us at 4410 University Avenue NW, Calgary or call 403.516.5840 to learn more.

SINGLE LEVEL RESIDENCES Urban Luxury Homes

CONTEMPORA RY CO ND O S Move-in Late 2022

www.LiveinAwe.ca

AGING REDESIGNED

Will Garden Loft work for my aging parent?

Garden Loft is ideal for someone who needs assistance to remain independent and has a family who is willing to help. The unit’s supportive interior has 25 features that make life easier and safer, such as adjustable height countertops that allow you to sit down to cook and clean up. The family’s backyard location is only steps away if help is needed but separate enough to maintain everyone’s privacy. The result is convenience and peace of mind for you - companionship and continued independence for your parent.

Join Dr. John Brown for a webinar exploring how older adults and their families can use Garden Loft to create a high-quality, independent, age-in-place future.

Wednesday May 25, 6:00 - 7:00pm Photography by Michael Grondin

Reserve at www.gardenloft.ca

Book a virtual or in-person tour of our Show Suite www.gardenloft.ca Housebrand, celebrating 25 years of residential design-build in Calgary

garden loft

ASPEN WOODS • A1189325 • 8 ASPEN RIDGE GREEN SW • 6 BEDROOMS | 5.5 BATHROOMS • $2,048,000 BUILD YOUR DREAM HOME WITH VAASTU HOMES on a beautiful lot with 123 frontage across from the ravine in the estate community of Aspen Ridge, surrounded by mature trees & large estate lots!

Vaastu Homes has been building exquisite homes for 12 years and no detail will be spared in this 6 bedroom, 5.5 bath home offering over 4,800 sq ft of luxurious living space!

The main level will present hardwood floors, soaring 10 ft ceilings, illuminated with recessed lighting and stylish light fixtures. The show stopping chef's kitchen will be finished with quartz or granite countertops, an island/eating bar, plenty of storage & a $45K allowance for all appliances. An elegant, curved staircase leads to the second level introducing a bonus room with access to a balcony, 4 bedrooms, each with a walk-in closet & 3 with private ensuite baths. The master retreat will boast a lavish 5 piece ensuite with heated floors,

Tanyaeklundgroup.ca Direct (403) 863-7434

dual sinks, a freestanding soaker tub, separate shower with access to the huge walk-in closet. Basement development will consist of in-floor heat, a large family/media room with wet bar, exercise room, 2 additional bedrooms with walk-in closets & a 3 piece bath.

Further features include central air conditioning, 2 Lennox high-efficiency furnaces, a gas line for BBQ hookup, an oversized triple attached garage, exposed aggregate walkways + driveway & sunny west side yard. Located close to excellent schools such as Rundle College, Webber Academy, Calgary Academy, and the new Guardian Angel School. This home is also conveniently located close to shopping, public transit & downtown.

This home can be completely customized and the builder has an allowance to work with a designer. The build period will be approximately 12 months from the time of an accepted offer!

Each office is independently owned and operated.

ADVERTISING FEATURE

WELCOME TO LUXURY COUNTRY LIVING AT

HAMILTON HEIGHTS Trico Homes’ new community perfectly combines luxury living in a country estate setting

Build the home of your dreams just minutes south of Calgary in the historic and scenic DeWinton area. Exclusively being built by Trico Homes, Hamilton Heights blends the appeal of a private retreat with the beauty of a country estate setting and nearby urban conveniences.

“These homes will offer breathtaking mountain views, peace and quiet and, most of all, more space to build the home that will welcome family and friends for all the milestones and moments that make a beautiful life,” says Glenda Schwartz, Director of Marketing with Trico Homes.

U LT R A E S TAT E L I V I N G

Endless Views.

Limited Opportunity.

18 E XTRAO RDINA RY RESIDE NC ES O N 2 .5 + AC RE HOM ESITES, E AC H W ITH A P RIVATE , GATE D E NTRA NCE

CUSTOM LIVING

Hamilton Heights offers the unique opportunity to build a one-of-a-kind private retreat with luxurious high-end finishes. Comprised of 18, 2.5-acre lots, each with private gated entrances and triple garages, residents can build a bungalow, 1.5-storey or two-storey home.

Enjoy hours of natural light in a bungalow with large pane windows; entertain extra guests in a 1.5-storey with a bonus room and adjacent bar; or enjoy your morning coffee on the master-bedroom balcony in a two-storey.

This new community has something for everyone, from families, executives, or those looking for the perfect private space to entertain.

Nearby amenities include Strathcona Tweedsmuir School, the Calgary Polo Club, and plenty of walking trails to enjoy the Foothills County scenery. Plus, Hamilton Heights is a 10-minute commute to Calgary or Okotoks. So, come home to ultra-estate living and the joy of your very own private retreat.

build your estate home from the $Ms

The new height of luxury, just minutes south of Calgary.

A Signature Home Collection exclusively by Trico Homes contact us today: Clint Pilon, Area Sales Manager hamiltonheights@tricohomes.com 403.995.0290

Come home to Ultra Estate Living in a neighbourhood for those who want more.

More gorgeous mountain views, more peace and quiet, more privacy. And most of all, more space to build the dream home that will welcome family and friends for all of the milestones and moments that make a beautiful life.

· bungalow, 1.5- and 2-storey homes with triple-car garages · personalize your home with luxurious fit and finishes, already included

V I S I T O U R S A L E S C E N T R E I N C A L G A R Y AT 8 L E G A C Y C I R C L E S E Four Time Best For The World Honoree

Learn more at hhestates.ca

2004 - 2021

For more information on Hamilton Heights, visit hhestates.ca.

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05.22 22

on the cover A stunning home in Lakeview designed by Shaun Ford & Co. and DeJong Design Associates.

Read more on page 38.

Photo by Jared Sych

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12 Editor’s Note 50 Work of Art

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D E PA R T M E N T S 17 Detours Did you know honeybees are an invasive species in Alberta? Find out more about our native bees, along with other buzzworthy facts about bee life in the province. Plus, an Indigenous art exhibit at Fort Calgary that fuses traditional Métis craft, natural materials and modern technology; winemaker Chris Fodor’s list of favourite hangouts and activities in and around Calgary; and this month’s locally produced podcast pick and new and noteworthy selections.

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FE AT UR ES 46 Mountains From the thrills at the Golden Skybridge adventure park to a roundup of recentlylaunched hotel, lodge and camping accommodations, we take a look at what’s new and exciting in Golden, B.C.

22 Best Things to Eat & Drink Our annual list of the tastiest treats available around the city that you can take home and enjoy — one for each day in the month of May. Sweets and savouries, foods and drinks, there’s something here for every palate.

By Carmen Cheng and Chanry Thach

31 Inside-Outside Home Decor A look at how to go all out (or all in) when it comes to home decor right now, whether that involves filling your indoor spaces with plants or jazzing up your outdoor spaces with trendy patio furniture and accessories.

By Tsering Asha and Paige Johnston 38 Natural Beauty Peek inside a beautiful custom home in Lakeview that embraces natural materials throughout its interior and integrates seamlessly with the adjacent parkland.

By Paige Johnston

MAY 2022

B E S T T H I N G S T O E AT A N D D E C O R P H O T O S B Y J A R E D S Y C H ; S U S P E N S I O N B R I D G E P H O T O B Y T H E R E S A S T O R M

contents

@PY_LENS

out&about avenuecalgary.com

BRO’S TO GO Breakfast sandwiches too good to skip! From the creators of The Bro’kin Yolk. @brostogo | brostogo.ca

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o

ur perspectives on our living spaces have shifted over the past couple of years. The directives to stay inside our homes for indeterminate periods stoked a longing in many of us for the natural world. If we couldn’t be out in that world, the next best thing was to bring the natural world inside — one pot at a time.

Look around and you’ll notice this renewed appreciation for houseplants is everywhere: From trendy restaurants to tiny apartments, our love of greenery is growing strong. While big garden centres remain perennially trusted outlets for houseplants, the city has also blossomed with independent plant boutiques. These small shops provide a more auteur-driven approach, with carefully curated stock and a clearly defined point of view in matters of pot choice and placement: To rotate your plants or not to rotate them; that is, in fact, a question!

On the flipside, the lockdowns and restrictions also turned our gaze outward.

Since March 2020, there have been several extended periods where outdoors was the only option for gathering and entertaining, leading to the idea that our al fresco areas should be as stylish and inviting as our interior spaces. So, it’s no surprise that a lot of patio furniture is looking more like living room furniture, as people seek out

SHELLEY ARNUSCH EDITOR IN CHIEF s a r n u s c h @ re d p o i n t m e d i a . c a

Inside & Out Avenue’s Made In Alberta markets are back this month at two new downtown venues! Shop for products created here in the province on May 18 at Bow Valley Square and May 19 at Centennial Place. For more information, visit MadeInAlbertaAwards.ca.

colours, patterns and styles that reflect their individual design preferences. You can read more about home decor from the inside-out and the outside-in starting on Page 31.

Following that story, take a peek inside our truly stunning cover home, where the integration of the outside and inside was a key design consideration, from an interior wall made of a porous clay that serves as a natural filter for the home and various species of wood used throughout, to a two-sided fireplace that warms both the interior and exterior living spaces.

In this issue, we also celebrate the return of our popular annual roundup of the best things to eat (and drink) in Calgary right now. Local foodie writers Carmen Cheng and Chanry Thach teamed up to curate this year’s list of 31 tasty treats (one for each day of the month of May) that you can take home and try.

There’s truly something for every palate, whether you enjoy meat and dairy, eat vegan or observe a gluten-free diet. But what’s also great about this list is that it serves as a way to explore the city, to let your tastebuds direct you to a new neighbourhood or market as you hunt down something mouth-wateringly delicious.

As the weather warms up and we are increasingly inspired to venture forth, who knows what other wonderful things will be out there to discover?

T H A N K YO U TO T H I S YEAR’S SPONSORS

2022 12

MAY 2022

P H O T O B Y H E AT H E R S A I T Z ; C L O T H I N G S T Y L I N G B Y G R A V I T Y P O P E

E D ITOR ’ S N OTE

403-240-0111 countrylivingfurnishings.com

@countrylivingfurnishings 3919 A Richmond Road SW, Calgary AB, T3E 4P2

RedPoint Media & Marketing Solutions

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Editor in Chief Shelley Arnusch, sarnusch@redpointmedia.ca

1721 29 Ave. S.W., Suite 375

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Staff Photographer Jared Sych

info@redpointmedia.ca

Editorial Interns Kendall Bistretzan, Lysandra Nothing

AvenueCalgary.com

Digital Editorial Intern Chris Landry

Facebook Avenue Magazine — Calgary

Graphic Design Intern Juwaan Luzny

Twitter @AvenueMagazine

Contributors Carmen Cheng, Paige Johnston, Michaela Ream, Jarrett Sitter,

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INNOVATION Our annual look at the Calgary-based companies, individuals and organizations making waves globally and creating a vibrant innovation economy in our city.

Published 11 times a year by RedPoint

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FUN IN THE SUN

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From easy road trips to updates on some of our top local attractions, we’re celebrating the summer to come!

(2022) by RedPoint Media & Marketing Solutions. No part of this publication may be

We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada

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BRUNCH TIME Start planning your summer brunch dates with this roundup of spots in the city that are putting spins on our favourite meal.

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and the value of the traditional and current oral practices of the Blackfoot Confederacy, the Tsuut’ina and Stoney Nakoda Nations, the Métis Nation (Region 3), and all people who

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make their homes in the Treaty 7 region of Southern Alberta.

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MAY 2022

P H OTO BY J A R E D SYC H

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Where friends and family come together to enjoy the good thing in life.

Dance and music to feed your soul.

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Fri, Sat, Sun 10:00am - 6:00pm Local Vendors Fresh Produce Free Entry

Active Learning Park 7 Days a Week 9:00am - 5:00pm

April 28 – May 15, 2022

at the DJD Dance Centre

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Detours [A

NOTEBOOK OF THE CITY

]

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In honeybee hives, workers are all female and, unlike male drone bees, are the only ones with a stinger.

Alberta’s native bees belong to one of six families: Andrenidae, Apidae, Colletidae, Halictidae, Megachilidae or Melittidae.

4 Cuckoo bees, a parasite found in every species, lay their eggs in other bees’ nests and when the larvae hatch, eat all the host’s pollen — and sometimes their larvae, too.

3 At 25 mm long, the largest bee in Alberta is the Nevada bumblebee (Bombus nevadensis).

5 Sweat bees, known for being attracted to our perspiration, are some of the prettiest native bees, in shades of metallic green, blue or copper.

NATIVE BEES VS. HONEYBEES HONEYBEES ARE NOT THE ONLY BEES IN ALBERTA .

HERE’S THE BUZZ ON OUR LOCAL SPECIES.

I L L U S T R AT I O N B Y J A R E T T S I T T E R

H

oneybees are fascinating: They communicate with one another by dancing, they’re the only insects that produce food that people eat, and, in this part of the world, they are a foreign species.

Honeybees were introduced to North America in the early 1600s and are now considered a domesticated species. In Alberta, there are around 25 billion honeybees involved in avenuecalgary.com

commercial honey production.

But with all the buzz around honeybees, less is known about the 322 species of bees native to Alberta.

While native bees don’t produce honey, they play a crucial role in pollinating canola. Compared to honeybees, they live much more solitary lives. Bumblebees, for example, live in colonies of 50 to 100 bees and prefer dead wood and ground burrows to busy hives. Not all are yellow and black. Some are

snow-white, others emerald green; some are minuscule, and others are as big as a thumb.

Native bees are also under threat, with more than 40 per cent vulnerable to extinction. Part of their decline is from pesticides and climate change, but direct competition for food with honeybees is a key cause. Native bees are specialist foragers, meaning they only harvest nectar from certain native plants like prairie crocuses and Saskatoon

shrubs. Comparatively, the highly efficient honeybee will forage from any plant. Wild colonies of escaped honeybees also introduce parasites and diseases — like the crippling deformed wing — to native bees, further devastating populations. As a result, native bees are being starved out of their own habitats. So, when it comes to “saving the bees,” native bees are just as buzzworthy as their honey-producing counterparts.

—Michaela Ream 17

A S T O L D T O LY S A N D R A N O T H I N G

the list

CHRIS FODOR

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INGLEWOOD NIGHT MARKET “This is the most relaxed and familyfriendly market in the city, in the bestvibes neighbourhood. Go early to avoid the largest crowds.”

SOUTHLAND LEISURE CENTRE WAVEPOOL “If the weather outside isn’t great, we like to hit up Southland Leisure Centre. We love the variety of activities, including the wavepool, slides and aquatic play structures.”

BAKER CREEK MOUNTAIN RESORT “We love to stay at Baker Creek, just outside of Lake Louise on the Bow Valley Parkway. Authentic log cabins without TVs or cell service — it’s great to unplug!”

CHEF’S TASTING MENU AT SAUVAGE “An experience not to miss is the chef’s tasting [dinner] at Sauvage restaurant in Canmore — terroir-driven menus, an intimate atmosphere and an amazing patio.”

BRUNCH AT THE ZOO “Both my kids and my inner child love the zoo. It’s quite educational for our kids to see animals up close and learn about them. Go for the Safari Sunday Brunch — a steal of a deal at $45 for adults and $28 for kids, including zoo admission.”

SPRUCE MEADOWS “Beautiful grounds, gardens and a huge amount of food choices. It’s also home to the amazing Cavalry FC!”

TINI VIETNAMESE RESTAURANT “Since I work late a lot, I prefer to eat earlier in the day. A small detour on my commute [from Okotoks] is TiNi Vietnamese in Seton. The bright, open room is fabulous to eat in, and there is an amazing large patio. They also have a dedicated gluten-free menu, and the staff is super friendly and helpful.”

GLOBALFEST “Food, music, performances and FIREWORKS! Need I say more?”

WINE TASTINGS AT CITY & COUNTRY “I love hosting wine tastings. Connecting with others over a variety of wines is a passion of mine, and so much fun for everyone.”

may 2022

P H OTO O F C H R I S F O D O R BY J A R E D SYC H ; B A K E R C R E E K P H OTO BY N I C K F I T Z H A R D I N G E ; I N G L E W O O D N I G H T M A R K E T P H O T O B Y B R A E D E N PA R K ; Z O O P H O T O C O U R T E S Y O F T H E C A L G A R Y Z O O

ith nearly 30 years of experience in the hospitality industry, Chris Fodor has worked in restaurants, pubs, hotels, catering and, most significantly, wineries. He fell in love with wine while in Australia in 2004 and worked at a winery on Vancouver Island from 2006 to 2013.

Fodor dreamt of having his own winery one day, and that dream became a reality when he and his wife Karen moved back to her home province and opened City & Country Winery in 2020. “Karen is a rancher’s daughter and told me early on that I’m no farmer, but that I would be perfect for an urban winery!” Fodor says.

Located in the Manchester industrial area, home to many of the city’s craft breweries and distilleries, City & Country has a tasting bar up front that’s open to the public, with wine-making facilities in the back. The wines are gluten-free, vegan and free from added colours, flavours and additives, and are made using traditional methods from grapes sourced from around the world.

Here are some of Fodor’s favourite things in and around the city where he chose to set up shop.

Detours local podcast Spotlight

Barn Owl and Moon by Daphne Boyer, created using the artist’s “Berries to Beads” technique.

THE NATURE OF DAPHNE BOYER’S ART

DA P H N E B OY E R P H OTO G R A P H Y CO U RT E SY O F DA P H N E B OY E R ; P O D CA ST I M AG E CO U RT E SY O F T E L U S STO RY H I V E

THE MÉTIS ARTIST’S TECHNIQUE FUSES NATURAL MATERIALS AND TRADITIONAL HANDIWORK.

D

aphne Boyer has always felt called to the natural world.

Her early interests in herbal healing, food harvesting and cultivation led Boyer to a career as a plant scientist. In her 60s, she embarked on an artistic journey, inspired by her attachment to the land and how she observed that attachment through the lens of her Métis heritage. Despite her later start as an artist, Boyer has become known for her innovative, visual works that combine natural-world materials, such as berries or quills, with women’s traditional handiwork, using a technique she invented called “Berries to Beads.”

“Berries are such an essential part of our culture, food and practices,” says Boyer. “I wanted to start with berries because plants are our medicine and our allies.”

Boyer developed Berries to Beads in 2017 while living in Montreal, after working with actual berries proved to be a messy and unfruitful process.

“After months and months of work, avenuecalgary.com

trying to dry and stitch berries, I ended up with jam on my desk and it was a mess,” says Boyer. “But in the process, somehow or another, came this technique that I now use in my work.”

The technique begins with harvesting and gathering berries and other plant material and photographing them individually.

The images can then be manipulated digitally to create artworks in the style of traditional beading.

Her current exhibit, Otipemisiwak, which roughly translates from Cree to “people who live by their own rules,” features pieces Boyer created to honour her great-grandmother,

her grandmother and her mother. One of the artworks, For Clémence (named for her grandmother), is a digital photograph of porcupine quills showing an imagined view out of a teepee smoke hole. The sharp quills symbolize Clémence’s tough and adventurous character, while the bold colours and expanding circles represent the younger generations growing into power to create a balanced and equal society.

“I worked with mostly plant material,” Boyer says. “In the end, I realized there was something moving through me. I became flooded with the colour, texture and form of plants, insects and birds that I felt a need to express, and that is part of what you see in Otipemisiwak.” —Lysandra Nothing

VIEWS FROM CHINATOWN This richly reported podcast, led by award-winning filmmaker and artist Vicki Chau and funded through Telus Storyhive’s inaugural Podcast Edition, is complemented by striking visuals of Chinatown’s streetscapes, murals and buildings. So, watching the podcast (rather than just listening to it) is highly recommended.

Hosts Gabriel Yee and Raymond Lau sit down with local business owners to explore all the ways this community is evolving, covering its transition from an enclave for Chinese immigrants into a diverse hub of culture, art, food and more.

—Tsering Asha Views from Chinatown is available through Telus Optik TV, Storyhive’s YouTube channel or on Spotify.

Otipemisiwak is on display until June 26 at Fort Calgary, 750 9 Ave. S.E., 403-290-1875, fortcalgary.com 19

Detours

NEW & NOTEWORTHY

BY MICHAEL A REAM

Heartprint Threads Weekend Traveller Collection

Bex Vintage C harit y C lic k + Col lec t

Ve r b G h os t E x fo l iat i n g S calp Ne c ta r With its blend of moringa oil, grapefruit extract and biotin to remove buildup of hair products, oils and dead skin, the Verb Ghost Exfoliating Scalp Nectar ($20) is like a spring-clean for your head. It’s also vegan, cruelty-free and suitable for all hair types.

Available at 15 Chatters locations in the Calgary area and at chatters.ca

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If you love shopping for mid-century decor and want to support local charities while you do, Bex Vintage donates 20 per cent from each sale of its Charity Click + Collect items to The Alice Sanctuary, Little Warriors, Alberta Animal Rescue Crew Society and Humane Society International.

1611 14 St. S.W., 403-472-5213, bexvintage.ca

new spa

Beauty Edit This tranquil medi-spa in Willow Park Village offers a range of specialized facial and skin treatments, including Botox®, HydraFacials, CoolSculpting® and more.

Founder and owner Kim Olowa says the spa’s concept is based on “reimagining” the aesthetic experience and “shifting the perception” of these kinds of treatments from intimidating to approachable.

Willow Park Village, 403-300-3348, beautyedit.ca

D O U G : T HE E ASY-G ROW IN G G AR DEN Want to grow your own food? Doug is a no-tool, no-till, self-watering garden kit that comes with pre-portioned amounts of soil, compost, straw and mulch, and a drip irrigation system. The three-by-six-foot raised box is easy to construct and bi-annual soil subscriptions will keep your garden growing for years to come.

Available at growdoug.ca may 2022

C H AT T E R S , B E X V I N TA G E P H O T O S C O U R T E S Y O F R E TA I L E R S ; H E A R T P R I N T T H R E A D S P H O T O B Y J E N N A ; D O U G P H O T O C O U R T E S Y O F L E E M A R T I N E A U ; S PA P H O T O C O U R T E S Y O F B E A U T Y E D I T

These robust bags ($150) come in warm earthy brown and sky blue shades and are made with high-quality, adjustable straps, so they can be worn like a backpack, too. Heartprint Threads has teamed up with Mealshare so that a portion of each bag sale goes towards raising awareness for youth hunger and creating sustainable systems for child nutrition.

Available at six locations in the Calgary area and at heartprintthreads.com

220 – 42 avenue s.e. | 403 287 9255 alloydining.com | @alloyrestaurant events@alloydining.com

Denim Experts.

Styles + fits for every body. avenuecalgary.com

espyexperienceonline.com 21

2022

31 Best things

to Eat & Drink Curators of this year’s list Carmen Cheng (left) and Chanry Thach (right).

BY CARMEN CHENG AND CHANRY THACH PHOTOGRAPHY BY JARED SYCH FOOD STYLING BY CHRIS LANDRY

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may 2022

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F R O M S A V O U RY S A U S A G E S T O P E R F E C T P A S T R I E S , L I P - S M A C K I N G B E V E R A G E S A N D J I G G LY J E L L I E S , B L O G G E R S A N D B F F S ( B E ST F O O D I E F R I E N D S ) C A R M E N C H E N G A N D C H A N RY T H A C H S C O U R E D T H E C I T Y F O R T H E 3 1 B E S T T H I N G S T O E A T A N D D R I N K R I G H T N O W — O N E F O R E A C H D AY O F T H E M O N T H O F M AY.

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Buddy’s Fooman Cinnamon Cookie from Buddy’s Bakery Buttery, crumbly, spiced with cinnamon and filled with walnuts and sugar, the Fooman cookie originates from northern Iran. Buddy’s Bakery is one of the few places in Western Canada making this traditional treat. It's heavenly with a hot beverage; it’s also great crumbled over ice cream — so great that Village Ice Cream created a limited-edition Buddy’s Fooman flavour in 2021. —C.C. 61, 3131 27 St. N.E, 403-452-5264 buddysbakery.ca @buddysbakery.yyc

avenuecalgary.com

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Non-alcoholic Botanical Cocktails

by Wild Folk Last November, Dalia Kohen, former owner of The Coup, took her passion for sustainability and gardening and sprouted Wild Folk: canned nonalcoholic botanical cocktails. Enjoy the negroni or vermouth spritz without the woes of a morning hangover! Both are bursting with vivacious notes of bitter rinds and hints of smoke. —C.T. Sunnyside Natural Market, 330 10 St. N.W., and other retailers drinkwildfolk.com @drinkwildfolk

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Five Brothers Cheese from Luc’s European Meats, Cheese, & Eats One bite of Five Brothers cheese and I am hit with layers of flavour. From Woodstock, Ont., this cheese is aged on cedar planks for a minimum of eight months and is sweet and creamy with a sharp, nutty finish. Try pairing it with Luc’s house-made coffeebacon jam. —C.C. Calgary Farmers’ Market, 510 77 Ave. S.E., 403-909-0374; and Crossroads Market, 1235 26 Ave. S.E. lucseuropeanmeats.ca @lucseuropeanmeats

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Ghees

by Vresh Foods Ghee is a shelf-stable cooking oil made by clarifying and caramelizing butter. Calgary-based Vresh Foods launched its O.G. Ghee made with Alberta butter in April 2021. The high smoke point makes it ideal for searing meat or pan-frying. I also love using the URB’N Garlic Ghee to make cheesy garlic bread. You can find Vresh ghee in retail locations around the city. —C.C. vreshfoods.com @freshwithvresh

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Banh Mi Charcuterie from My Tho BBQ & Fresh Meats The Hong Kong-style barbecue and Vietnamese-style head cheese and hams are the stars of the show when it comes to My Tho’s banh mi charcuterie platters. My Tho make all the cold cuts themselves — not surprising considering the storefront contains an in-house butcher. In business since 1989, this operation was doing nose-to-tail way before the cool kids. —C.T. 121, 575 28 St. S.E., 403-272-7335 @mythobbqyyc

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Jane’s Tennessee Sweet Tea from Jane Bond BBQ Chef Jenny Burthwright might be known for her lip smackin’ barbecue, crawdads dripping in butter sauce and coconut cornbread (all seriously addictive). But have you had her Tennessee Sweet Tea? Grab a six-pack of these on your way to the mountains for a post-trail treat. It’s balanced, refreshing and great with a splash of bourbon. —C.T. 321, 723 46 Ave. S.E., 403-277-7064 janebondbbq.com, @janebondbbq

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BIY Pastries from Butter Block Thanks to Karen Kong and her team, you can fill your home with the smell of freshly baked goods without pulling out the rolling pin. My go-to is the pandan coconut croissant, followed by the double-baked chocolate hazelnut. You don’t have to stop there: Butter Block has an entire line of bake-ityourself pastries! —C.T. 111, 908 17 Ave. S.W. butterblockyyc.com, @butterblockyyc

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Daniel’s Dill Dip This dip started as a family recipe that makers Daniel Kapeta and Amy Kopp shared with friends.

Their Medicine Hat-based dip business has since spread around Alberta.

I add Daniel’s Dill Dip to my grazing plates, lash it on grilled meats and burgers and even use it as a salad dressing. Vegan, nut-free and dairy-free, this dip is just the right amount of tangy and has a nice zip of freshness. —C.T. Multiple retailers, including Safeway and Sobey’s, danielsdilldip.ca, @danielsdilldip

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The Ukey Sausages

by Tubby Dog The Ukey, by iconic Calgary hot dog maker Tubby Dog, is crafted from owner Jon Truch’s grandfather’s recipe and was on the menu when Tubby Dog launched more than 16 years ago.

Though the original Tubby Dog location on 17th Avenue S.W. has since shuttered, in 2020, Tubby made these sausages available in retail stores across Alberta and British Columbia, so you can now enjoy them wherever you set up your grill. —C.C. tubbydog.com

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Everything Bagel Donut from Holy Cow One of my favourite doughnuts in the city is this savoury one from Holy Cow. The shop’s signature sourdough doughnut is stuffed with whipped green-onion cream cheese, brushed with butter then dipped into the house-made “everything

Sweet Potato Mousse Cake from Wow Bakery I have South Korea to thank for two of my obsessions: BTS and sweet-potato cake. The thought of a sweetpotato cake might raise a few eyebrows, but I assure you, it’s an absolute delight, especially the way Wow Bakery does it. There’s no smoke and mirrors with this cake, rather, simplicity is king — just mashed Japanese sweet potatoes and honey sandwiched between extremely soft mousse cake. It’s creamy and light, with a hint of sweetness. —C.T. Multiple Calgary locations wowbakery.co, @wowbakeryca

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Instant Pho Cups (Pho ăn Liên) from Pho Dau Bo Pho Dau Bo is well known in the city for its fabulous pho served in signature green bowls, loaded with noodles, beef, herbs and a flavourful broth that has been cooked for 16 hours. Originally created as a grab-and-go option for customers during the pandemic, the Instant Pho Cup is a 32-oz. serving of ready-made piping-hot pho that is intended to be guzzled within 15 minutes of being made. Slurping in your parked car is highly encouraged. —C.C. 110, 4909 17 Ave. S.E., 403-272-5160 phodaubovietnamese.com, @phodaubo

TA B L E WA R E

Opposite page: Speckled bowl, $15, small black bowl, $7.95, small white plate, $15, and blue spoon-rest dish, $16, all from Britannia Kitchen & Home; tumbler, $9.95, and green napkin, $35, from The Cookbook Co. Cooks; wooden serving tray, $31, beige and black plates, $25 each, large white plate, $20, and ramen bowl, $25, all from nanao kimono.

Previous page: Tumbler, $12, from The Cookbook Co. Cooks; blue La Creuset dish, $85 (set of four), mint-green bowl, $7.95, fish platter, $29, purple napkin, $33 (set of two), from Britannia Kitchen & Home; green flower plate, $18, from nanao kimono.

may 2022

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Tourtière Pocket Pies from Ma Pies Raise your hand if you’re thankful Corey Ma left his engineering career to make pies. Me. I’m raising my hand. Ma’s pocket pies are buttery and flakey with a perfect pastry-to-filling ratio. I bake them from frozen at home in my toaster oven and I’m floored by how delicate, golden and light the pastry is.

Work your way through the menu, finishing with something sweet like the black-sesame. —C.T. Granary Road Farmers’ Market, 226066 112 St. W., Foothills County, mapies.ca, @ma_pies

bagel” seasoning. Beloved by customers, this doughnut is brought back every weekend alongside six other monthly rotating flavours. You can also pre-order doughnuts from Holy Cow with a minimum 48 hours’ notice. —C.C. 938 2 Ave. N.W., 403-719-1092 holycowgelato.com, @holycowyyc

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Aioli Green Sauce from Latin Food Specialties This Venezuelan creamy garlic and cilantro sauce is made from a family recipe that has been passed down through generations. When Latino Food Specialities Market & Kitchen first opened three years ago, its Latino snacks were served with a side of this sauce. The sauce was so popular with customers that owners Alejandro Rodriguez and Andreina Chavez started selling it in jars. Enjoy it with arepas, quesadillas and grilled meats. —C.C. 12445 Lake Fraser Dr. S.E.; and 6103 Centre St. S.; 403-475-5020 latinfoodspecialties.com, @latinfoodspecialties

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Arabic Style Samosas from Reem’s Kitchen No two samosa recipes are the same, and you can see and taste the difference with Reem’s samosas. I stumbled upon Reem Albrasi’s booth at a farmers’ market last year. Her charming, timid smile is what initially drew me to her tiny table piled high with baked samosas, focaccia, fresh naan and spinach rolls, but the samosas were what brought me back. These beauties are filled with potatoes, green peas, onions, cilantro, curry and a touch of chili. Did I mention they are vegan, too? —C.T. reemskitchen.ca, @reemkitchenyyc

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Celebration Jellies

by Leah Van Loon Stylist Leah Van Loon’s avantgarde take on this nostalgic dessert is like haute couture Jello.

Van Loon’s moulded jellies are amazing to look at, with the perfect jiggle factor. They’re also delicious. Eight-year-old me would have been over-the-moon-ecstatic to receive a dramatic goth-black jiggly jelly made with cherry juice, blackberries and finished with gold leaf. You can order Celebration Jellies by direct-messaging Van Loon on Instagram with minimum one day’s notice. —C.C. @leahvanloon

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Yakitori from Eats of Asia The ultimate snack-on-the-run is Eats of Asia’s yakitori, championed by owner Jay del Corro’s

avenuecalgary.com

Root Beer from Annex Ale Project We are diehard fans of the entire Annex soda line in our house, but the O.G. root beer is the one I’m constantly reaching for, possibly because I’m married to a self-proclaimed root beer connoisseur. The connoisseur and I both love it with a few scoops of ice cream. —C.T. 4323 1 St. S.E., 403-475-4412 annexsodas.com, @annexsodas

chef-in-training son Josh. His yakitori menu includes chicken hearts, aortas and oysters, the round nuggets on the back of the chicken thigh, which are the juiciest part of the bird and should not be missed. Enjoy a few sticks on their own or in a bento. —C.T. Crossroads Market, 1235 26 Ave S.E. 403-801-9453, @eatsofasia

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Serrano Lime Hot Sauce

by Knockout Heat Co. Knockout Heat Co. hot sauces were born of a spicy condiment obsession shared by Empire Provisions founders Karen Kho and Dave Sturies and Lil’ Empire kitchen manager Kevin Nelson.

Tangy and herbaceous with a slow heat that builds over the tongue, Knockout’s Serrano Lime Hot Sauce has become a staple in my kitchen, used liberally on breakfast sandwiches, fried eggs and tacos. —C.C. Empire Provisions, 8409 Elbow Dr. S.W. knockoutheat.com, @knockoutheatco

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Red Miso Bacon

by Respect the Technique Cured in red miso and salt with a hint of konbu, a Japanese kelp, this bacon is packed with umami. The miso also helps with caramelization when it’s cooked, creating a slight sweetness.

The popularity of this bacon has soared since its launch two years ago at a pop-up. A signature item in the Respect the Technique product line, it’s available at several Calgary retailers. —C.C. respectthetechnique.com @respectthetechniqueyyc

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Vegan Cinnamon Buns from Canela Canela owner Veronica Amaya used to make these vegan cinnamon rolls in her daughter’s kitchen before opening up her storefront on Inglewood’s 9th Avenue S.E. Big, fluffy, soft and absolutely delicious, these buns have their own fandom amongst vegans and non-vegans alike.

Don’t stop at just the cinnamon roll: dive head first into the oreo roll, caramel-latte and maplepecan rolls, too! —C.T. 1319 9 Ave. S.E., 403-226-4199 canelayyc.ca, @canelayyc

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Onigiri from True World Foods Onigiri is a Japanese rice ball stuffed with assorted ingredients and wrapped in toasted seaweed, making it a conveniently portable lunch or snack. The tuna-mayo and salmon varieties are the two most popular onigiri at True World Foods. I was wowed by the care that goes into the making of this grab-and-go item. To ensure the seaweed stays crispy, it is separated from the rice by a plastic wrapper: simply follow the instructions on the label to unwrap your onigiri, and enjoy. —C.C. 1826 25 Ave. N.E., 403-235-4024 @trueworldfoodscalgary

TA B L E WA R E

Small white flower bowls, $8 each, green flower plate, $18, blue rectangular plate, $20, and beige plate, $25, all from nanao kimono; small white plate, $15, from Britannia Kitchen & Home; tumbler, $12, from The Cookbook Co. Cooks.

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Take + Bake Frozen Pizzas from Una Pizza + Wine Popular pizza chain Una started retailing bake-at-home pizzas during the pandemic, but what separates this local product from your standard frozen fare is the focus on quality. All toppings are prepared in-house, including the pepperoni, bacon and sausage made with Alberta pork from Bear and Flower Farm. The Take + Bake lineup includes Una favourites margherita, pepperoni, 4-maggi, quattro carne and Tiki. —C.C. Four Calgary locations unapizzeria.com, @unacalgary

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Red Lentil Hummus from River Café I have fond summer memories of sitting on River Café’s patio, savouring a glass of wine and snacking on the red lentil hummus. Made with cold-pressed canola oil and Okanagan Valley sumac for a pop of brightness, this hummus is garnished with canola seed and served with basil pistou and sourdough flatbread. As the weather gets warmer, you can order the hummus as part of River Café’s picnic menu to enjoy in the surrounding park, or wherever you lay down your picnic blanket. —C.C. Prince’s Island Park S.W., 403-261-7670 river-cafe.com, @rivercafeyyc

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Kol Börek from Anatolia Turkish Food You can’t walk by Anatolia without stopping to take in the gorgeous pastries, breads, heating dishes filled with tender lamb shanks and all the other Turkish foods. I’ll usually end up taking home one or two börek. While the gözleme börek is similar to flat bread, the kol börek are flaky

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pastries of handmade phyllo filled with cheese, minced meat or vegetables. The spinach and feta is popular, but my favourite is the cheese börek, which, when heated up just slightly in the oven, gets a little melty and gooey, while the phyllo remains light and crispy. —C.C. Crossroads Market, 1235 26 Ave. S.E.; and Calgary Farmers’ Market, 510 77 Ave. S.E. anatoliaturkishfood.ca, @anatoliaturkishfood

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Pesto Dressing from Cherry Pit Cherry Pit is known for its fresh produce butchery and home delivery services. It also makes great bottled salad dressings. When I tried the pesto dressing, I was blown away by the rich flavour from the basil and pine nuts. Not only do I use it to make tasty salads, but it’s also incredible in chicken salad sandwiches or drizzled over roasted sweet potatoes. —C.C. Calgary Farmers’ Market, 510 77 Ave. S.E. 403-770-9689, betterfresh.ca, @cherrypityyc

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Babka from Sweet Cake and Bake Shop Never had babka before? This half-cake-half-bread masterpiece is sweet, soft and buttery. Baker Shannon Brooks’ chocolate babka is made of rich brioche dough with a smooth and super-chocolatey filling. The folds of chocolate mixed with brioche ensures every bite has the most delectable ratio of bread-to-chocolate. Grab a loaf at Gruman’s Deli locations or order directly through Sweet Cake and Bake Shop. —C.T. sweetcakebakeshop.ca @sweetcakeandbakeshop

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Grandpa’s Olive Oil from Bridgeland Market This olive oil comes from owner Yousef Traya’s family olive grove in Lebanon. The Traya family has tended this olive grove for three generations and still produces their olive oil using the same methods that their great-grandparents employed. For the past seven years, the Traya family has bottled their oil and shipped it to Bridgeland Market here in Calgary. —C.C. 1104 1 Ave. N.E., 403-269-2381 bridgelandmarket.com, @bridgelandmarket

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Chiang Mai Thai Sausages from GR8 Thai Sauce At my place, we keep these sausages in the freezer for whenever we have a craving for Thai food. When it comes to layering the different herbs, spices and traditional flavours Northern Thai cuisine is known for, creator TJ nails it. This delicious spiced-pork sausage is loaded with lemongrass, garlic, cilantro, shallot, green onion, kaffir lime leaves and shrimp paste. I love serving up these links with green papaya salad and a bowl of sticky rice. —C.T. gr8thaisauce.ca, @gr8thaisauce

TA B L E WA R E

Footed cake plate, $70, small white plate, $15, and mint-green bowl, $7.95, all from Britannia Kitchen & Home; tumbler, $9.95, and napkin, $35, from The Cookbook Co. Cooks; beige plate, $25, large white plate, $20, and wooden serving tray, $30, from nanao kimono. may 2022

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Empanadas from Good Fillin’ Locally made frozen empanadas from Good Fillin’ are easy to fry up, making it feasible for Calgarians to enjoy hot, crispy empanadas at home. These gluten-free turnovers come in an assortment of tasty flavours, including more traditional meat varieties, dessert empanadas and even plant-based Thai or barbacoa. —C.C. 438 53 Ave. S.E., goodfillin.ca, @goodfillinyyc

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Mango Lassi from Saffron Street On each visit to Saffron Street, I make a point of picking up a bottle of house-made mango lassi. This lassi contains just four ingredients, so the sweetness from the Alphonso mangoes and cool creaminess from the yogurt truly shine. It is an especially nice pairing with some of the spicier Saffron Street dishes. —C.C. First Street Market, 1327 1 St. S.W. fsmyyc.com/vendor/saffron-street @saffronstreetyyc

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6 New Show Homes OPENING JUNE 18TH

WHERE LIFE COMES TOGETHER Welcome to Livingston, Calgary’s New North. You will find the ideal home, great neighbours, schools, services, and a community created to inspire healthy and active living. At the heart of it all is The Hub – Brookfield’s largest Homeowners Association – with indoor and outdoor amenities that include parks and green spaces, a gym, outdoor rink, tennis courts, and splash park. Live where life comes together.

Homes from the $400Ks Condos | Townhomes | Duplexes Single-Family Homes | Estate Homes

ExperienceLivingston.com

Dee Alausa, owner of Soil & Soul Calgary.

P H OTO BY J A R E D SYC H

INSIDE OUTSIDE H O M E

D E C O R

W H E T H E R YO U WA N T TO M A K E T H E I N S I D E O F YO U R L I V I N G S PA C E F E E L M O R E A L I V E A N D V I B R A N T W I T H P L A N T S O R C R E AT E A N O U T D O O R A R E A W O RT H Y O F YO U R I N D O O R L I V I N G R O O M , H E R E ’S H O W T O G O A L L O U T — A N D A L L I N — T H I S S E A S O N. avenuecalgary.com

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BY TSERING ASHA PHOTOGRAPHY BY JARED SYCH

OUTSIDE IN

IF THE PANDEMIC TAUGHT US ANYTHING, IT’S THAT WE NEED THE NATURAL WORLD IN OUR LIVING SPACES, MAKING HOUSEPLANTS THE MUST-HAVE DECOR FEATURE FOR THESE CURRENT TIMES.

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ouseplants aren’t a trend, but they are trending. You might already have the heart-shaped, ivy leaves of a pothos tumbling down your bookshelf or a small, spiky succulent on your desk.

But, after increasingly living our lives indoors, it seems like we’re yearning even more to bring the outdoors in.

“I feel like there is actually a healing perspective that comes with connecting with nature,” says interior decorator Natasha Mupambwa of TashDesigns, who recently designed a vertical garden wall for her brother’s restaurant, Mama Africa. “Especially for someone like me who is from Africa, where 90 per cent of the time is always outdoors, always in the garden … it actually gives a sense of home.”

There’s a term for incorporating nature into our built environments and, fortunately, it’s not “plant daddy.” Biophilic design is the practice of connecting to nature within our human-built spaces. If in the span of human history, we’ve spent 99 per cent of our time evolving and adapting to the natural world, then it makes sense that nature is intrinsically tied to our mental, emotional and physical well-being.

“Biophilic design, in my opinion, isn’t a style — it’s a concept,” says Kayla Browne, principal at Bold Workshop Architecture. “It’s just the practice of connecting people and nature within our built environment and communities.” Bold worked with Sturgess Architecture (where Browne is also a senior associate) on the design of Orchard Restaurant, the Beltline hot spot that has become Insta-famous for its floor-to-ceiling foliage. Orchard isn’t the only drinking and dining establishment in town with biophilic tendencies, though. Myriad pots hanging from the ceiling of Ten Foot Henry have long been a defining design feature of the veg-forward restaurant. Newly opened 17th Avenue eatery Maven takes things a step further with an in-house location of the shop Plant it Modern. Plants displayed in the restaurant space are available for purchase.

Over the past two years, boutique plant shops have sprouted up across the city, with owner-proprietors who can field questions on which plants are suited to your lifestyle and home, give advice on propagation or preventative health, and help you level up your personal collection with hard-to-find rares and exotics.

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Natasha Mupambwa of TashDesigns.

“I PARTICULARLY LOVE WHEN A PLANT LOOKS LIKE IT HAS BEEN GROWING SOMEWHERE FOR 20 YEARS.” JESSE GL E ESON, T HE S U NDAY S HO P Soil & Soul Calgary.

May 2022

Jesse Gleeson, owner and operator of The Sunday Shop.

avenuecalgary.com

“With houseplants, they’re living, but in such a different way, in such a different manner,” says Dee Alausa, owner of Soil & Soul Calgary. “They need care. They need humidity. They need love. And they’ll produce different things for you, depending on how you treat them.”

Most tropicals (plants native to tropical regions) are so low maintenance that beginners have a good chance of not killing them. According to Jesse Gleeson, owner and operator of The Sunday Shop, many tropicals have adapted to thriving indoors, making them very popular for apartment dwellers. With an average of 2,396 hours of sunlight annually in Calgary, it’s no surprise that Gleeson carries an abundant stock. Soil & Soul’s Alausa recommends eye-catching alocasias and monsteras, whose massive leaves make them a focal point of any room. ZZ plants, native to East Africa, are drought-tolerant — fitting for Calgary’s dry climate — and come in a variety of sizes.

Not all tropicals are so easy, though. The fiddleleaf fig, a beautiful tropical that will grow as high as a room’s ceiling will allow, requires a practiced green thumb, says Gleeson, someone who can monitor humidity and airflow levels in their homes and notice when leaves retain too much water, which can lead to bacterial infections. That’s not to say wouldbe owners of higher maintenance tropicals should be deterred from bringing them home. As Alausa says: “You just have to follow the rules of your plants and you’re good. It’s pretty straightforward.”

When deciding where to place plants in your home you have to consider that if you do “follow the rules,” the plant will not be the same size it was when you bought it. Gleeson suggests playing with heights by thinking horizontally and vertically.

Pairing taller, statement plants next to shorter ones creates dimension, maximizes your space and prevents common issues like leaves overshadowing each other from light sources, or allowing pests to travel between them. Positioning a plant in a “forever home” can be a signature look, as well. “I pretty much never rotate my plants, ever,” Gleeson says. “Lots of people do because they want it to be full all the way around — I totally get that — but I particularly love when a plant looks like it has been growing somewhere for 20 years. I think it gives it a lot of character.”

In his 600-square-foot apartment, Gleeson’s eightfoot-tall rubber tree takes a sharp 90-degree turn towards the window from the corner where it has always lived. The rubber tree is one of many plants featured on Gleeson’s hobby Instagram account, @PlantFilledApartment. What also stands out in the sea of green is a dotting of white, ceramic pots. Most 33

B Y T S E R I NPlant G APlant SHA

PLANT BOUTIQUE ROUNDUP WHERE TO FIND FABULOUS FOLIAGE IN CALGARY BIG SKY PLANT CO. 1312B, 9 Ave. S.E. (inside Ninth and Brick) big-sky-plant-co.square.site @bigskyplantco THE BOTANIST 408 8 Ave N.E., 403-614-6687 thebotanistcalgary.com @thebotanistcalgary PLANT 1327 9 Ave. S.E., 403-585-4226 plantshop.ca, @plantshopyyc PLANT IT MODERN 1006 17 Ave. S.W. (inside Maven) 403-457-7898, @maven_yyc PLANT PLANT 5, 2501 Alyth Rd. S.E., 403-463-8042 plantplantshop.ca, @plantplantyyc

of the pots for sale at The Sunday Shop are in line with Gleeson’s preferred aesthetic — sleek, devoid of ornamental patterns, in muted, earthy tones (or white or black) with matte finishes. “Pots are a touchy subject,” says Gleeson. “What I think people will love, and what I love, might be completely different. In my opinion, if you get a pot that’s totally ‘out there,’ you’re kind of robbing the contrast of the plant, right? So, when you have a simple white pot, or something like that, and then you have this bright green plant, it’s a really good contrast.”

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At Maven, plants hang from the ceiling in rattan bowls or grow from painted ceramic pots on shelves against orange, yellow and green walls. “It has always been interesting to me how refreshed we feel when we are outdoors in nature, around trees and water, yet, as people, we built a world of metal and plastic,” says Maven owner Percilla Gutscher. “I think people are looking to bring comfort into their surroundings through organic materials: wicker, concrete, water features, pottery and a lot of plants — it instantly makes a space feel lived-in and alive.”

SOIL & SOUL YYC 1016 Macleod Tr. S.E. @soilandsoulyyc SPROUT CALGARY Eau Claire Market, 403-918-3078 sproutcalgary.ca, @sproutcalgary THE SUNDAY SHOP 1314 1 St. S.W., 587-578-3929 thesundayshop.ca, @sundayshopcalgary

S I D E BA R P H OTO CO U RT ESY O F P L A N T P L A N T

Maven owner Percilla Gutscher.

PLANTSIE 1918 9 Ave. S.E., 587-392-3486 plantsie.com, @myplantsie

BY PAIGE JOHNSTON

INSIDE OUT

WE'VE RECENTLY BEEN REMINDED THAT IT'S WHAT'S OUTSIDE THAT COUNTS, AND THAT OUR OUTDOOR SPACES SHOULD BE AS STYLISH AND INVITING AS THE INSIDE OF OUR HOMES.

P H OTO CO U RT ESY O F M A R I A T H OM Á S

MOTO COLLECTION FURNITURE FROM MARIA TOMÁS.

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hether you have a rooftop patio, sprawling backyard, terrace, deck, or high-rise balcony with a view, you can elevate your outdoor space with furniture, accessories, decorative accents and lighting. Here are some of the top decor trends right now to help turn your outdoor living space into the most desirable part of your home.

avenuecalgary.com

“PEOPLE ARE STILL LOOKING FOR PATIO FURNITURE THAT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE PATIO FURNITURE.” RAY DE L E URME , ROCHE B OB OI S

Make it Colourful Currently, there’s a move away from neutrals and traditional wicker toward bolder colour palettes and modern materials. Furniture brands are designing outdoor collections to look more like indoor furniture in a myriad of hues. “People are gaining the same level of appreciation for their outdoor spaces as their indoor spaces,” says Rachel Sawyer of Kit Interior Objects. “We’re seeing that outdoor living spaces are just as important as indoor spaces.”

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The Hot Mesh collection by Blu Dot (available at Kit) comes in different colours of powder-coated steel, and is a contemporary take on the traditional rattan often found in outdoor furniture. “People are using it indoors and outdoors,” Sawyer says.

Make it Custom HOT MESH LOUNGE CHAIR BY BLU DOT,

INFORMEL OUTDOOR SOFA, $9,990

$500, FROM KIT INTERIOR OBJECTS,

(AND UP), FROM ROCHE BOBOIS,

725 11 AVE. S.W., 403-508-2533,

225 10 AVE. S.W., 403- 532-4401,

KITINTERIOROBJECTS.COM

ROCHE-BOBOIS.COM

OUTDOOR DECOR INSPIRATION

Make it Social Well-equipped outdoor kitchens and bars require larger-scale dining tables and chairs, or bar tops with stools, to accommodate growing guestlists. Fire up your contemporary Morso Forno Oven and host your next dinner party outside. Add a projector and screen, and you’ll be set up to host game nights or movie nights, too.

Make it Sustainable More and more outdoor furniture brands are producing eco-friendly products with reclaimed, recycled or responsibly sourced materials — look for FSC Certified woods, recycled plastics and upcycled materials. Julian Riley of local retailer Maria Tomás recommends the MOTO collection by Brown Jordan, “a green choice overall with a smaller carbon footprint being made here in North America.” Along with its sophisticated styling, the line is still practical and low maintenance, Riley says. Outdoor lighting choices can also keep sustainability front of mind: add solar-powered lanterns and LED string lights to your patio to create a welcoming mood.

Make it Work Working from home can mean working outside.

Fresh air and vitamin D can boost productivity, while being surrounded by natural elements can reduce stress levels and improve mental well-being.

To set up your outdoor workspace, select chairs with good back support and a table with a suitable working height. Add throw cushions for comfort and kidney pillows to assist with lumbar support, while an overhead umbrella will help reduce glare and protect your technological devices.

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BLU DOT CIRCULA COFFEE TABLE, $1,164, FROM KIT INTERIOR OBJECTS

MORSO FORNO OVEN,

9' ROUND SUNBRELLA PATIO

$2,599, FROM HEARTH & HOME,

UMBRELLA WITH FRAME, $550 TO $809,

5740 1A ST. S.W., 403-258-3732,

FROM CRATE AND BARREL,

HEARTHANDHOMEFIREPLACE.COM

SOUTHCENTRE MALL, 403-278-7020, CRATEANDBARREL.CA A L L P H O T O S C O U R T E S Y O F R E TA I L E R S

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BY PAIGE JOHNSTON PHOTOGRAPHY BY EYMERIC WIDLING

natural beauty 38

may 2022

DE COR

LEFT Bringing the outside in: Natural elements, such as wood, handmade bricks and plants, are the stars of this home.

AB OVE The neutral exterior allows the property to blend in with its natural surroundings in Lakeview.

I N T H I S S T R I K I N G H O M E T H AT B A C K S O N TO N O RT H G L E N M O R E PA R K , A C O L L E C T I O N O F S U BT L E — A N D O R G A N I C — D E TA I L S P R O D U C E A B I G I M PA C T. avenuecalgary.com

t first glance, tucked among mature columnar poplars and spruce trees in Lakeview, the contemporary home that Shaun Ford & Co. and DeJong Design Associates created together appears almost understated — a monochromatic palette of ribbed metal and brick working in harmony with its surroundings. But as you move closer, expressive architecture and intricate details emerge that make it clear this design team went for the exact opposite effect.

When the homeowners approached interior designer Shaun Ford about collaborating on a custom house that would back onto North Glenmore Park, he didn’t hesitate.

Having worked with the couple on their previous home, Ford was excited to create a new sanctuary for their growing family. While Ford took on the interior finishes, furniture and decor, designers Marvin DeJong and Mark Haine of DeJong Design Associates carried out the exterior and architecture.

Together, and in close collaboration with the clients, Ford, DeJong and Haine conceived a design where interior and exterior architecture work in tandem and natural materials stand out.

After two years of careful planning and another two years for construction — executed by Waterford Homes — the house was 39

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AU NAT UR EL One of the most distinct features in this home is the mixing of multiple wood species and grains — a design element that, when done thoughtfully, creates “a warm, moody and natural aesthetic,” says designer Shaun Ford. But wood isn’t the only way to achieve this look: Here are Ford’s top tips for adding natural elements to your home.

Go All Out With Wood “The outdoors is a huge part of what we’re all about as Canadians, so a space that’s completely made of wood can create an aesthetic that’s very unique to our environment,” says Ford. “Going all tonal is one approach; another is going high contrast with various woods that play off of each other.”

Layer in Textures On a smaller scale, Ford suggests mixing in natural elements through furniture and decor pieces, such as wood side tables or armchairs, or integrating items that aren’t super polished, like those with cast iron detailing rather than a polished chrome.

Green Light “Plants and greenery add a living element and a sense of home,” says Ford. And the objects that the plants go in are also important, he adds. “We often incorporate beautiful handmade clay pots from Belgium’s Atelier Vierkant into our projects.”

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ABOVE L E F T The vertical slat detail on the headboard in the bedroom is made of the same white oak that’s used in the library space.

“We brought continuity with little pops of the same material used here and there,” says designer Shaun Ford.

AB OVE RI GHT The ensuite has a water closet made of a clay material that produces what Ford describes as a “cave effect.”

B E LOW The Frank Lloyd Wrightinspired fireplace extends to the backyard sitting area, which has a fireplace made of the same bricks.

completed in the summer of 2021.

Upon entering the home, the most striking element is the interesting and intelligent use of space. “Everything in the house flows,” says Ford, who strongly considered how the residents would move between and within all its areas. “It’s a combination of open and communal spaces, and those that are tucked away and hidden.”

One such space is located right in the home’s central hub — the open and inclusive main floor consisting of the kitchen, dining and living areas.

Here, hidden in plain sight, is a door integrated into the kitchen millwork that leads to a library.

Although it’s adjacent to the busy kitchen, this room, composed entirely of four contrasting types of oak, provides remarkable seclusion. Expansive windows within the library invite the outside in, bestowing a view into the backyard, which is filled with greenery and features a covered seating area that shares a brick double-sided fireplace with the home’s indoor living room.

Upstairs, the primary bedroom and ensuite are laid out so that while there’s a sightline from one end of the room to the other, each area feels private — from the spa-like shower located within the water closet to the sleeping space cantilevered over the outdoor patio. From the window there are views into both the kitchen below and may 2022

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backyard beyond. Visual continuity and connectedness continue in the upstairs hallway, where the layout allows the residents to see the front and back of the house simultaneously. “We wanted vistas throughout the house,” says DeJong. “This sense of discovery allows you to always be engaged.”

That engagement also comes through in the unparalleled attention to detail that Ford focused on, as opposed to making large or loud statements.

“We wanted subtlety,” Ford says. Custom details include the staircase’s ostrich leather trim and stitched handrail, geometric hardwood flooring and the chamfered edge of the desk in the library.

In the kitchen, which showcases one-of-akind Italian marble, the island is made to look like a furniture piece and the cabinetry features distinguished hardware and dovetail joinery.

Among the most dominant features of the house 42

AB OVE The library, featuring a bench area that looks out to the backyard, is a space where the homeowners can “close the door, put on some music and relax,” says Ford.

“THIS SENSE OF DISCOVERY ALLOWS YOU TO ALWAYS BE ENGAGED.” MARVI N DE JONG

is the use of beautiful, raw materials: “Almost everything is natural and organic,” says Ford.

Perhaps the crown jewel of the home’s organic features is the breathable clay wall system that runs vertically from the basement to the top floor, and is used in the kitchen and ensuite, too. An inherently porous material, the clay absorbs odours and humidity, acting as a natural filter. Hand-glazed clay wall tile in natural hues is consistent in the washrooms, along with various species of warm woods and earth tones used throughout the home.

The combination of thoughtful planning, intricate details and distinctive materiality by the design team make this a truly cohesive space that has become the homeowners’ sanctuary. “I still can’t believe we live here,” one of the homeowners says.

“The space is a refuge from our busy and stressful work lives; it allows us to decompress.” may 2022

DECOR SOURCE NATURAL BEAUTY, P.38 - 42

Interior design by Shaun Ford & Co., 1184 3 St. S.E., 403-255-0333, shaunfordandco.com Exterior design by DeJong Design Associates, 1217 10 Ave. S.E., 403-640-9440, dejongdesign.com Home built by Waterford Homes, 403-255-4767, waterfordhomes.ca Kitchen millwork by Northmount Ind. Ltd., 110, 2800 107 Ave. S.E., 403-243-0200, northmountindustries.com Kitchen cabinetry and primary bedroom closet by Polyform, polyform.com Italian marble from Stone Selection, 1240 26 Ave. S.E., 403-214-2363, stoneselection.ca Geometric hardwood flooring (library and primary bedroom) by Listone Giordano, listonegiordano.com Living room and library chandeliers from Apparatus, apparatusstudio.com Electrical outlets and switches from Buster + Punch, busterandpunch.com Living room media console from Rimadesio, rimadesio.it Primary bedroom and ensuite artwork by Mark Mullin, represented in Calgary by Paul Kuhn Gallery, 724 11 Ave. S.W., 403-263-1162, paulkuhngallery.com/artists/ mark-mullin

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GOLDEN FROM HIGH-FLYING BUNGEE SWINGS TO VW BUS C AMPING, T HERE ARE A TON OF F RESH E XPERIENCES IN THIS MOUNTAIN TOWN.

F

or many Calgarians, save diehard outdoor adventurers and skiers heading to Kicking Horse Mountain Resort, the town of Golden on the Alberta-B.C. border is a mere whistle stop for gas and a quick bite along the Trans-Canada. But while eyes have been on the massive reconstruction of the Kicking Horse Canyon section of Highway 1 just to the east, the town of 3,700 has quietly undergone its own metamorphosis. If Golden’s entrepreneurial residents have their way, from now on your view of the former railway and lumber town won’t solely be in the rearview mirror.

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Nestled in a valley between the Purcell and the Rocky Mountains, at the junction of the Columbia and the Kicking Horse — two of Canada’s Heritage Rivers — Golden is an ideal destination for those looking for new things to do in the outdoors this summer. The drive to Golden from Calgary can be done in about three hours. While the Trans-Canada construction continues through this year (it’s projected to end in 2024), the highway will be open all summer to daytime traffic.

Downtown Golden is sporting a spiffy fresh look.

Dike improvements along the Kicking Horse River wrapped up last September with the grand opening of a new riverwalk, transforming the 20th-century utilitarian industrial riverfront south of 9th Avenue.

Along with burying power lines, this project replaced

the dirt alley with a two-toned, wide concrete pathway embedded with geometric pebble-stone waves, benches, lamps and landscaping. The riverwalk invites a stroll, bike ride or a bite and beverage at businesses backing onto it. Several of these businesses are adding sunny outdoor seating or riverside patios with a view of Canada’s longest freestanding timber-frame bridge.

On the streetside of 9th Avenue, improvements continue this summer. A downtown plaza revitalization project is set to transform the underused square in front of the post office into a vibrant public space. Replacing the existing fountain with tables, benches, sunshades and landscaping will connect the main street to the riverwalk and encourage folks to gather. may 2022 May

M OUNTA I NS

Open as of last summer, the Golden Skybridge is the tallest suspension bridge in Canada.

P H O T O C O U R T E S Y O F P U R S U I T / C H R I S A M AT

A BIG PART OF THE CHALLENGE OF CROSSING THE JIGGLY BRIDGE IS REFRAINING FROM GRASPING THE HANDRAILS.

Golden is well known as a hub for extreme sports like paragliding, hang-gliding and downhill mountain biking, but the opening last June of the Golden Skybridge provides a new style of familyfriendly thrills. The adventure park is operated by Pursuit, the mountain attraction company that runs the Banff Gondola.

Canada’s two highest suspension bridges are the big draw here. The first bridge is the tallest, spanning the Hospital Creek Gorge 130 metres above a rushing stream sluicing through the granite crag and tumbling waterfalls far below. (A big part of the challenge of crossing the jiggly bridge is refraining from grasping the handrails.) An interpretive accessible trail weaves through the forest on both sides of the ravine connecting the bridges, with avenuecalgary.com

viewing platforms offering stunning 360-degree mountain, canyon and valley vistas.

As it turns out, the first Skybridge is but a baby step when it comes to testing your mettle for heights.

From the end of the bridge, the trail leads to the harnessing station for three treetop ropes challenge courses, including one designed just for kids, and a thrilling 365 m-long quad zipline back across the canyon. (Alternatively, you can cross over on the second bridge, a mere 80 m high).

The Skybridge base area features a children’s play park and restaurant, The Village Grill. Clambering through treehouses is a great way for young visitors to blow off steam, and their parents can have a drink and a bite while keeping an eye on their kids and enjoying the summer concert series performances.

As of this summer, daring adventurers can also test their grit (and their stomachs) by free-falling on a giant tandem bungee swing, staged from a base area on the other side of the canyon. After the epic drop, the pendulum swings riders back and forth above the treetops and into the spray of the falls.

If bungee swings and ziplines aren’t really your thing, and you’re looking for a quieter, self-guided nature experience in the region, grab your binoculars and head for the Columbia Valley Bird Trail, a new addition to the two-year-old BC Bird Trail. The Columbia Wetlands, the largest intact wetlands in North America, are on the Pacific Flyway and provide a critical resting and feeding area for resident and migratory waterfowl like sandhill cranes and horned grebes.

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Rooms at Riveredge is a new fiveroom boutique hotel in downtown Golden. Each room features a private covered patio adjacent to the riverwalk. Owned by the Dusevic family, longtime proprietors of the Golden Bakery & Deli next door, the rooms feature rustic wooden furniture and wall-mounted electric fireplaces beside the king-size beds. Last December also saw the opening of Basecamp Lodge Golden, a new property from the ever-expanding Canmorebased hospitality brand Basecamp Resorts.

Camp Moose Trail is a glamping (glamourcamping) experience 20 minutes from town in the Blaeberry Valley. The camp has six cozy trapper tents on platforms, with queen beds on handmade log frames and wood stoves to keep the mountain chill off at night. Shared facilities include a large kitchen tent, outdoor stone pizza oven and wood-fired barbecue, a firepit, cedar hot tub, heated shower and sauna. Breakfast is also included.

Nearby in the Blaeberry you can bed down in classic VW buses at Camping in the Woods.

Owner Jeremiah Woods took his van-camping dream to CBC’s Dragon’s Den in 2020 and snared support from Lane Merrifield. The camp currently has five buses set up for overnighting, each with a picnic table, firepit and picket fence.

The camp features a communal flush biffy and the “V-tub,” a VW Beetle convertible turned wood-burning hot tub. Woods is working on five more buses, with the intention of expanding his operation to 10 by year's end.

C LO C K W I S E FROM TOP LEF T Golden's new Riverwalk has turned a formerly unremarkable stretch into a pleasant pedestrian stroll.

A glamping tent at Camp Moose Trail.

Ziplining at the Golden Skybridge adventure park.

VW bus accommodations at Camping in the Woods.

Avenue’s writers and editors are occasionally invited to experience dining or adventure activities as a guest, including some of the experiences in this story. Neither complimentary experiences nor advertising are required for coverage in Avenue.

Neither companies that advertise nor those that provide other incentives are promised editorial coverage, nor do they have the opportunity to review or approve stories before publication.

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may 2022

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W OR K O F A RT

CURATED BY KATHERINE YLITALO

TITLE Partly Cloudy

D AT E 2021

A RT I S T Veronika Pausova

MEDIA Oil on canvas

SIZE 75 inches high by 67 inches wide

L O C AT I O N Esker Foundation, 444, 1011 9 Ave. S.E.

NOTES Part of the exhibition, Veronika Pausova: Fast

his sunny, beguiling oil painting by Toronto-based Veronika Pausova is full of playful twists. Vertical blinds hang from metal rods that span the top and bottom of the canvas, turning it into a window, but with puzzling details and strange logic. Nail-bitten fingers touch the edges of the blinds, reappearing in over a dozen spots.

Each disembodied set of four fingers is meticulously hand-painted, seemingly photographic, and repeated identically like a print or a sticker. They re-enact the gesture of opening (or closing) the blinds as if caught in a time loop, while their cut-out counterparts (dark versions of absent hands) do the same. It’s an effect that suggests the deadpan humour and exasperation of Bill Murray as the weatherman trapped in a cycle of repeating events in the movie Groundhog Day. Most of the blinds in Partly Cloudy share the vibrant yellow and dotted pattern of the central 50

sun, as if cut and collaged from the same fabric.

The subtle physical differences on the surface of the painting are evidence of the techniques Pausova employed.

Pausova, who made a splash in the RBC Canadian Painting Competition for emerging artists in 2017, builds her enigmatic images completely with paint. She likes to begin by brushing a thin wash of oil paint loosely onto a flat canvas and welcoming chance occurrences as she creates an overall pattern by pressing and blotting with scrunched fabric or paper (or, in this case, circular homemade stamps). Yellow is eager to pop forward in Partly Cloudy. If you look closely, you’ll find the yellow circle appears to overlap two of the dark graphite blinds, a trick that brings the radiant sun right into the space of the “window.”

Pausova is garnering attention worldwide, with exhibitions to date in Europe, the U.S., Mexico and Canada. Partly Cloudy was first featured as part of her debut exhibition in London, England,

at Esker until June 26, courtesy of the artist and Simone Subal Gallery.

Pausova is represented

by Simone Subal Gallery in New York and Bradley Ertaskiran in Montreal.

at The Sunday Painter in the spring of 2021. Last December, Simone Subal Gallery of New York displayed the painting at international art fair Art Basel in Miami. Currently, it is a major focal point in the exhibition, Veronika Pausova: Fast Moving Sun, at the Esker Foundation. Assistant curator Elizabeth Diggon selected the 32 paintings in the exhibition in conversation with Pausova.

Drawn from active productions over the last four years, the Esker show introduces the full scope of this rising young Canadian artist. may 2022

P H O T O BY J A R E D S Y C H

Partly Cloudy

Moving Sun, on display

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