E-Delivery

Various spreads The Yards magazine 12 E D M O N T O N ' S C E N T R A L M A G A Z I N E S P R I N G 2 0 1 6 T H E YA R D S S P R I N G 2 0 1 6 13 B Y N I K K I W I A R T @ NIKKIWIART Small is big usan forsey has two babies, and like any good mother, she pretends she doesn't have a favourite. But she does. "You're supposed to love all your kids equally, but this is my baby and I would have been happy with this," she says, voice hushed, finger pointed at a reclaimed wood table in the corner of Cask & Barrel. She and Wayne Jones, her partner in life and business, opened the 1,300-sq.-ft. bar in 2012 with the intent of providing good beer, wine and scotch to an older and refined crowd. When it first opened in the Confederation Building on 104 St., Forsey was there every day, open to close. But nowadays, Cask's bigger sister Rocky Mountain Icehouse gets most of her attention. Nearly three times Cask's size, the restaurant in the Jasper Block building one street northwest opened in July 2015 and Forsey calls it the colicky one of the two. "It's way easier to open up a smaller place, and make sure it's successful, than a bigger one," says Forsey, who, like Jones, has 20-plus years in hospitality behind her. "This place could do the same amount of sales that [Icehouse] could do with half the staff." In Edmonton's core, where bigger appears to be better—bigger arena, bigger museum, bigger univer- sity—smaller isn't just surviving; it's thriving. Yet our streets don't provide enough of these fine-grain, hole-in-the-wall businesses that let people like Forsey and Jones take a risk, succeed, then grow. Anyone who's walked Toronto, Montreal or a great number of cities' downtown streets knows the sight of a trail of sandwich boards—each one indicating another small business. On one side of one block you could enter and exit a dozen doors. The store bays are long and narrow. Their owners, usually behind a counter. "You need to have a lot of really great small retail bays to have small business," says Ian O'Don- nell, vice president of the Downtown Edmonton Community League. "That's something we've been challenged by, because we've moved or redeveloped a lot of the older sites that Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal have retained." There is, however, a movement afoot to rewrite this in the core, and Lisa Baroldi, co-founder of the urban networking vehicle Designing Downtown, can point to the cause: "You've got really creative entrepreneurs pushing developers in different directions and making demands to do different things," says the Oliver resident. The Icon Towers on 104 St., developed by Langham Developments Ltd., are good examples of that push, what with those residential towers' podiums playing host to a variety of small retailers and restaurants. Soon Langham's Fox Towers will repeat this exactly one block north. More offices and towers along 124 St. and Jasper Ave. are being built or retrofitted with small storefronts, but our core still lags behind most other cities', to say nothing of the small bays available on Whyte Ave. just across the river. But if the dozens of cranes reaching over the skyline mean anything, it's that big change is possible. developers have their reasons for going "big." Big tenants usually bring with them an established clientele and financial stability, plus having one large tenant instead of many small tenants is easier to manage. "It's more difficult for mom and pop shops to provide a background and history and demonstrated financials than, say, a 7/11 or an Earl's," says O'Donnell. "So landlords will typically prefer to have a brand name." Eric Slatter is a leasing agent with Colliers Why small retail matters 14 E D M O N T O N ' S C E N T R A L M A G A Z I N E F A L L 2 0 1 5 T H E Y A R D S F A L L 2 0 1 5 15 ou come to know a place very well once you've walked its every road, five days a week, for the last four years. For instance, Janet Heikel, the postwoman in charge of a small but densely populated Oliver route, knows the next buildings to be supplanted by towers. She also knows which property's residents are miffed that said towers will shade their pool. She knows which notable people go to which hair salon and she's pretty sure she knows who's addicted to online shopping. She knows the owner of the new izakaya is related to the owner of the new dental lab, and thanks to them, she now knows the best sushi and best dentists city-wide. And she knows that four times a year a certain community newsmaga- zine will add several pounds and hours to her shift, which she's not too happy about. She also knows to begin every day on the north side of her route, where seniors apartments Ansgar Villa and Kiwanis Place are. "They have a certain time that the mail has to come," said the Canada Post worker of 28 years during a walkabout in July. "And let me tell you, they know everything." Not just seniors, but construction workers and secre- taries alike have made Heikel an authority on these nine-square blocks, but she needn't their expertise to know that two Jasper Avenue crosswalks along her route—119th and 120 streets—are unsafe. In four years she's seen the aftermath of two serious pedestrian accidents and has heard of countless more. "Police used to park here and tag people who don't stop," said Heikel, pointing to the 119 St. crosswalk controlled by little more than a sign and some white lines. "But after they're gone it's back to the same thing." That's starting to change. Last June, transporta- tion engineers caved under immense pressure from city council and the Oliver Community League, which has raised concerns for years (see p. 18), and deemed those crosswalks—plus two more along the west side of Jasper Ave.—worthy of some traffic lights. Some were installed in August, but lights alone won't tame the seven-lane, 50-kilometre- an-hour road. That's why Jasper Ave. is about to undergo a makeover along 109 St. to 124 St. Public consultations begin this fall and everything is on the table—wider sidewalks, fewer lanes, bike paths, trees, street furniture. Beginning in 2018, it could be the most transformative construction project on the west side of Edmonton's main street in a generation, and set the tone for future road projects across the Capital. But only if the public asks for it; otherwise, the future avenue will resemble the current one, with fresher pavement. The potential redesign was decided after a rather awkward public chiding of the Transportation branch from City Council last December. It was presented in the Capital Budget debates as an $8.8 million road reconstruction, because, unlike the Jasper Ave. redesign east of 109 St., the Oliver portion falls out of the downtown master plan. It's now been refashioned the "Jasper Avenue Street- scape Concept" plan. What's the difference? Imagine you had to renovate your house. Imagine the foundation was so cracked and the floors so pocked and the grass so weeded that the whole thing just needed to be razed and rebuilt. Would you reconstruct it verbatim? Maybe, it if was the perfect house and it suited your needs for the next 40 years. But west Jasper Ave. is far from perfect. Unlike its Downtown side, there are no trees and few benches, and in addition to risky crosswalks, the sidewalks are narrow and the lanes wider for fast traffic flow. There are other problems too: Businesses hollow the public realm with lifestyle posters and barred and blackened windows, while others abut the side- walks with their parking lots. But those are not your property. Those are your neighbours'. Maybe once they see your spectacular new house they'll step up in the way that buildings along Whyte Avenue have since its 1980s transformation. Maybe. Until then, it's just you, your lot and $8.8 million. What are you going to build? Jasper Avenue is not a house. It's a main street. In fact, it was originally called Main Street. It crosses through Downtown and into Edmonton's most populated neighbourhood, one currently undergoing redevelopment and demographic change unprecedented since the 1960s. While surrounding core neighbourhoods shrink, stagnate or see incremental growth, Oliver (as well as Downtown) is growing at the rate of new suburbs. And though 60 per cent of Edmontonians drive to work, the same percentage of Oliver residents don't, meaning they interact with the sidewalks more as JASPER AVENUE IS EDMONTON'S OLDEST AND MOST IMPORTANT STREET. BUT IS 'THE FINEST THOROUGHFARE OF THE GOLDEN WEST' ALSO THE MOST DANGEROUS? B Y O M A R M O U A L L E M EDITOR@THEYARDSYEG.CA Y WHAT THE POSTWOMAN KNOWS 1 6 E D M O N T O N ' S C E N T R A L M A G A Z I N E S U M M E R 2 0 1 6 T H E YA R D S S U M M E R 2 0 1 6 1 7 Edmonton's groundbreaking live music initiative at a glance pearheaded by musician Thom Bennett and supported by the Edmonton Arts Council, as well as advisors like Tommy Banks, the Edmonton Live Music Initiative (ELM) is a three-pronged approach to establish new venues, keep them open and help them thrive. The first point includes establishing one or two "Live Music Districts," and naturally, committee members are strongly considering a chunk of downtown for that designation. The second part involves allowing music venues to stay open an extra hour, until 3:00 a.m., to help venue owners earn more and offset the cost of hiring a band. It's been proposed that alcohol tariffs would be lowered for venues that close before midnight, allowing venues to keep more of the money that would normally go to government. Easy parking Food Open late Usually a cover charge m t w th f s s NEEDLE VINYL TAVERN MERCURY ROOM DENIZEN HALL 9910 CHVRCH OF JOHN (on an event basis; check online) ON THE ROCKS STAGE 104 (opening in June) STARLITE ROOM/BRIXX BOHEMIA CASK AND BARREL VIBE AT THE AGA (once a month) BRITTANY'S LOUNGE $ P $ $ $ $ P $ P P $ P $ P $ $ Nightlife on ELM Street The third part to ELM is launching a marketing campaign to promote local music. "There is a huge talent pool in Edmonton and no audience engagement," says Bennett. "I've been doing this 20 years, and there used to be a lot more." Through these efforts, ELM will build a web portal serving as a prime resource to bands, venue owners and other music professionals. The initiative is the first of its kind to get endorsements from two levels of govern- ment—municipal and provincial—and so innovative that Bennett has been invited to speak about it in Toronto and Brighton, England. It's inspired by some of the factors involved in creating Edmonton's golden era of music. Although some industry people have been critical of Edmonton Live Music Initiative's strategies—some believe money is better spent on subsidizing the venue's rental fees, equipment costs and renovations—it's going ahead as planned. by 2015. Austin, Texas—which often earns an Edmonton comparison as a similarly sized, liberal bastion in conservative, oil-soaked America—officially reported last year that the once-heralded "live music capital" was full of musicians living below the poverty line. Closer to home, the core's Four Rooms, Sidetrack Cafe, New City Suburbs and the Artery (recently revived in McCauley as the Aviary) remind us that closing venues in this city is nothing new. "From our conversations with a number of venues, promoters and musicians," says Jenna Turner, communications director of the Edmonton Arts Council, "two [hindrances] arose: the red tape as far as zoning and development, and the not-so-simple issue of building a value and appreciation for live and local music." NEW ON THE SCENE The Aviary The Artery took flight and former owner/operator Phil Muz is set to recapture the magic on 111 Ave., where you can expect a return of alt-rock, folk and all other genres. 9314 111 Ave., facebook.com/artery. edmonton 9910 If you enjoy the DJs at the Common, you'll love what's going on in their basement-turned-into- music-venue for touring electronic, punk, rock and folks acts. 9910 109 St., 99ten.ca The Chvrch of John Denizen Hall introduced its cover band shows to surprising success, so why not repeat the live music success downstairs?The new venue hosts original local and touring acts. 10260 103 St., thechvrchof john.com Stage 104 Formerly the Burg restau- rant, this upstart blends craft cocktails, upscale casual fare by chef Mariano Rodriguez (formerly with Niche) and live music every weekend. 10190 104 St., Twitter.com/stage104yeg The Needle Vinyl Tavern From the minds that birthed the Haven Social Club comes a 400-person venue in the old CKUA building. It features bands at every Happy Hour. 10526 Jasper Ave., theneedle.ca Bylaws, such as minimum parking and closing times, are currently being chal- lenged by passionate citizens. But the latter? Local musicians have the talent, venue- owners have the drive and our reinvigorated core is regaining its former glory. Now all the music scene needs is an excited audience showing its support. This means going to see bands you haven't seen before or buying an extra beer or meal to offset the venues' costs and help increase musician fees. It means taking a photo of the band and posting it to your social media with a link to the band's music and a shout-out to the club. It's dancing with abandon when the moment hits. (It's defin- itely not talking during a song.) Really, it just comes down to truly enjoying music. And what could be easier than that? Bohemia It's not brand new, but with Cara Carson over- taking management and Craig Martel of Wunderbar on bookings, Bohemia has been reborn. 10217 97 St., artmuzak.ca Live by Design an urban planning spur live music venues? Several cities across the world offer examples of how progressive policies can help musicians. For instance, in Melbourne, Australia, under the "agent of change" principle, new developments such as condos being built next to established music venues are now responsible for their own soundproofing, which keeps venues from having to close because of noise complaints. Seattle musicians have priority loading zones in front of venues, which makes it easy to unload those awkward 30 kg amps before and after gigs. It seems simple, but it means the world when you don't have to make six trips in the snow for a drum kit parked five blocks away. And, of course, there's the so-called live music capital, Austin, Tex. Earlier this year, it was proposed to the Austin city council that venues be given a two-year "entertainment" licence with a streamlining permit process. If it passes, the proposal will make it easier to understand whom in local govern- ment is responsible for enforcing venue regulations. Right here at home, some say it's Edmonton's parking regulations that have stalled venues from opening. The Aviary's opening, for instance, was twice delayed last year after a long battle over parking ordinances. • Seven Days of Strumming or supportive spouse required. And it happened practically over night. The Edmonton of the 1950s was a dry city where men and women were expected to socialize in separate nightclubs. "No entertainment was offered or, for that matter, necessary in these dismal establish- ments," recalls Tommy Banks, who began his career in local clubs before becoming a nationally recognized jazz pianist, talk-show host and senator. But to his and many other musicians' fortune, Alberta broke away from prohibi- tion. "Edmonton's nightlife scene changed suddenly and dramatically," he explains. The Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commis- sion's antecedent was created to maintain a tight and orderly nightlife. Part of this control included prompt midnight shutdowns every night of the week. But the 1960s was a time when dancing was the social function, so the liquor board said if a venue provided a band of three members as entertainment, it would allow drinking until 2:00 am. After some quick calculations, venue owners grabbed their telephones to hire as many bands a week as their rooms could hold. But, as is apparent today, the gig didn't last. Cliff Minchau, a bassist who has been gigging in Edmonton for nearly 50 years, says venues began replacing musicians with strippers and installing VLTs. He says it brought a seedy tone that turned audiences off clubs, and the payout from venue owners kept shrinking. "Bookers wanted two guys who sounded like five guys that they could pay like one guy," Minchau says. And with the advent of turntables, the DJ and disco movements overtook live music as abruptly as a record scratch. No downtown venues founded before the turn of the century remain. Modern main- stays, such as the Starlite Room (established in 2004), have continued to host perform- ances every other day, but these hangers-on are the exception—the live industry decline is practically rote at this point, not only in Edmonton but also abroad. London, England, went from 430 venues in 2007 down to 245 16 E D M O N T O N ' S C E N T R A L M A G A Z I N E W I N T E R 2 0 1 5 T H E YA R D S W I N T E R 2 0 1 5 17 MOST INTERESTING ABODE "Bubble Houses": This set of unmissable brick row-homes along 102 Ave. is rooted in the 1920s, when they were built for the families of workers employed at the nearby railway and hospitals. But their most notable feature—spherical windows—weren't added until a 1980s renovation by the Lord and Wolff architects, in an attempt to modernize the humble exteriors. Aside from the telltale bubbles beloved by sunbathing cats, newer residents have added beautiful landscaping, lush vegetable gardens and flowerpots that envelope the front stoops. 112th and 119th streets on 102 Ave. Runners-Up Mel Hurtig Cabin: The two-story log cabin that looms over the valley of the North Saskatchewan River is one of the last remaining homes of its type within city limits. 9905 115 St. Manasc Penthouse: The rainbow hues of architect Vivian Manasc's glass box atop the New Cambridge Lofts Penthouse gives anyone with a view an unexpected flash of colour and style. 10024 Jasper Ave. –JP BEST SERVICE SAGE: Kitty-corner to Churchill Square, the nonprofit's mandate is giving seniors independence for as long as its safe. By offering programs and service regis- tries, SAGE motivates them to maintain full lives and, in doing so, helps people feel like valued members of the community. One of its many programs, Life Enrichment, proves you're never too old for new experiences like Zumba and ukulele lessons, not to mention meeting new people through its many social outings. 15 Churchill Sq., 780-423-5510, mysage.ca Runners-Up Oliver Primary Care Network: From dietician consultation to mental health coordination, its programs help patients manage their mental and physical well-being and achieve healthy lifestyles. 11910 111 Ave., 780-453-3757, edmontonoliverpcn.com STI Clinic: It's never easy, but the STI clinic staff have a way putting one at ease, with free, confidential testing, counselling and treatment. Beat the waiting room by booking ahead. 11111 Jasper Ave., 780-342-2300, albertahealthservices.ca –AV BEST S P aCES BEST REASON TO STARE AT A WALL Giant Transition mural: This meeting of two giants—one rundown and sweating, the other calm and reassuring—was painstakingly applied to the east side of the John Howard Society Building by artists Josh Holinaty and Luke Ramsey in 2010. Like the society itself, the mural's message is one of resilience. Think of it like those Keep Calm and Carry On posters: A reminder to breathe, relax, and remember that today can be a little better than yesterday. 10010 105 St. Runners-Up En Masse Collective tunnel: The permanent (and City-sanctioned) piece of spray-painted chaos on a multi-use trail features magpies, skeletal Oilers logos and goopy letters declaring "Pure filth!" 99 Ave., between 109 and 110 St. Chez Pierre Cabaret mural: Little kids are delighted by the bubbly and friendly portrait of the building's former owner, Pierre Cochard, while their parents try avoid explaining what, exactly, happens inside. 10040 105 St. –MH BEST DOG-WALKING DESTINATION Victoria Park Heritage Trail: This path skirting the north edge of Victoria Golf Course is a quick and easy escape from the urban jungle for you and your fur-babies. Benches lining the heritage trail are perfect to pause and give your pet a treat. Give yourself one too, with a flawless view of Edmonton's Green Jewel. It's well maintained all year long, so regardless of the season the stretch of greenery is a common gathering place for cyclists, fitness junkies and other fur-parents. Trail runs from approx. 100 Ave. and 116 to 121 streets. Runners-Up RJW Mather Memorial Park: There's an official downtown dog park in progress (Alex Decoteau), but until then the historical McKay Avenue School's fenced-in yard remains the core's unofficial off-leash park. 10425 99 Ave. Railtown Park: Following the path of an old railroad, this multi-use trail was envisioned as a quiet commuter path. That is, until the pooches took control. Between 109 and 110 Streets, south of 104 Ave. —BN BEST HERITAGE HIDING IN PLAIN SIGHT Balfour Manor: Sandwiched between towering beige high-rises, this piece of history was built in 1912 as Edmonton's fourth firehall. The Balfour housed horses and horse-drawn equipment that were then used for firefighting, before it was converted to a walk-up apartment and given its distinct Moderne aesthetic, in 1939. But passersby will still make out pieces of the firehall's brick pavement under the front lawn. 10139 116 St. Runners-Up Holowach Tree: Planted by a Ukrainian shop-owner on his property in 1920, the chestnut tree hasn't budged and remains in downtown's heart as a snapshot of the changing seasons. 106 St. and Jasper Ave. El Mirador: Since 1936, this Spanish- inspired 45-unit apartment and calming courtyard has offered respite from monotonous parking lots and offices along Capital Boulevard. 10133-10147 108 St. –JP BEST NEIGHBOURHOOD RECREATION Oliver Outdoor Pool: What's more refreshing on a hot summer day than dipping in an outdoor pool? The City-run facility with full change rooms is housed in Oliver Park, enveloped by nature and smack-dab in the busy neighborhood. If you're more inclined to soak in the sun than swim in the 30-metres- long pool, there are deck chairs (if you're lucky enough to score one) and grassy seating by the concession. Entry is $7 for adults, $4.50 for kids, but you'll have to wait until it reopens next summer. 10315 119 St., edmonton.ca Runners-Up Royal Lawn Bowling Club: Members have enjoyed competitive and recreational lawn bowling at this local institution by the Leg for nearly a century. 9515 107 St., royalbowls.ca Swing 'n Skate: On January and February Sunday afternoons, head to City Hall for free live swing music and dance lessons—on ice too, if you're feeling brave. Sir Winston Churchill Square, 800-463-4667–JP BEST ANNUAL EVENT Edmonton Community League Day: We're a bit biased, but we think the morning-to-night Community League Day festivities by the OCL and DECL—and across the city at its 150-plus community leagues—are pretty rad. The party starts every third Saturday of September, in Beaver Hills Park for free roasted corn and at the Oliver Community Hall for a relaxing afternoon of family- friendly games and neighbourly connections. Then, the DJ arrives and the beer garden opens, to keep the community spirit up all night. efcl.org Runners-Up All is Bright: You'll hardly notice the cold at 124 St.'s outdoor festival, while roasting marshmallows and chomping into food truck fixings in the glow of artsy light installations. 124street.ca/all-is-bright Canada Day: The whole city seemingly comes out to Oliver and Downtown for this dazzling show of light and music on the High Level Bridge and fireworks at the Leg grounds. edmontoncelebratecanada.ca –AV BEST OUTDOOR TRADITION Latitude 53 Patio Party: The best way to start your weekend? A day early. That's why Edmontonians clutter Latitude 53's patio every Thursday evening from mid-June to mid-August. Hosted by a local business with food and DJs, its contemporary art gallery shows off its newest experi- mental exhibitions while the art crowd gets a little exhibitionist with their outfits. Sip and socialize with friends—or make new ones—until you notice the sunset reflected off the glass towers ahead. 10242 106 St., latitude53.org Runners-Up Movies on the Square: Pack up the family and camping chairs every Tuesday night in August when our civic plaza becomes a drive-in movie theatre—minus the cars, shoddy FM channel and admission fees. Churchill Sq. Lighting Up the Leg: The holiday tradition of illumin- ating the entire government grounds at once can leave you breathless, but the best way to bask in the twinkling lights is on skates. 10800 97 Ave. —BN BEST COMMUN I TY of the P h oto v i a F a c ebo o k

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