Jill Browne, from home and away

Section of LRT just east of Crowchild. Photo by Jill Browne. Calgary, February 1, 2011.

Calgary's new LRT under construction. Photo by Jill Browne. Calgary, February 1, 2011.

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Home: Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Beautiful sunny day! Started out at -25 C and reached -6 by evening.

Last week I was surprised to see how far along the building of the west leg of the LRT (our above-ground light rail transit) is. The chunk they are working on now is massive. I hope the pictures give at least some idea of the size.

Plus 15, by Jill Browne, Calgary, January 31, 2011.

Monday, January 31, 2011

Home: Calgary, Alberta, Canada

It’s about -25 Celsius today for the high. In Medicine Hat, where it gets quite hot in summer, it was -41 with wind chill this morning. (At 40 below, Fahrenheit and Celsius are the same: bloody cold).

I’m grateful to the late Harold Hanen, architect, who promoted the Plus-15 walkway concept here in Calgary, as part of trying to make us a “livable winter city”. As shown in the picture, the Plus-15s are walkways, 15 feet up in the air, connecting many of the downtown buildings. Admittedly, it can take quite a bit longer to go a few blocks via Plus-15, as compared to going outside, but for any distance, they’re great when the weather isn’t so nice.

There has been debate about these things since the idea first came up. “They’ll take away pedestrians from street level! Downtown will be dead!” is the gist of the anti-Plus-15 argument. (Here’s a recent Calgary Herald article about it.)

I beg to differ. Downtown is not dead; the pedestrian life is happening inside when the weather’s poor.

I also take exception to the point in the Calgary Herald article that the Bow building is somehow a better element of “livable winter city” design than the Plus-15.

The article says:

“Calgary planners are starting to think more about the entire year in their work. David Downs, a senior architect and the co-ordinator of urban design and heritage with the City of Calgary, points to The Bow tower under construction downtown as an example. It was designed to maximize sunlight year-round and was aligned to minimize the impact of winter winds. That makes it more energy-efficient, and cosier.”

The Bow building (and I will try not to get started on a rant here) may have its good points, but it is out of scale with the rest of downtown and casts a massive shadow. Shadows = cold. Not a nice thing to do to your neighbours in winter.

More Bow building rants on other days. For today, YAY Plus-15, and thank you, Harold.

Snow on the tree looks like a Christmas card. Photo by Jill Browne, Calgary, January 30, 2011.

Sunday, January 30, 2011

Home: Calgary, Alberta, Canada

The snow continued, though not all day and not as much. But for a little while today THE SUN CAME OUT and it was a beautiful sight.

I think I am getting cabin fever.

Will report on advancing hallucinations etc.

By the way, that lattice thing in front of the tree is almost 2 metres high. The snow is about (very approximately) 30 cm to 50 cm deep, depending where you stand. In other places, there’s almost none thanks to the shelter of the tree.

Snow on a Calgary street. Photo by Jill Browne, Calgary, January 29, 2011.

Saturday, January 29, 2011

Home: Calgary, Alberta, Canada

The snow hit us in a calm and deliberate way. It has been falling steadily all day, but with next to no wind, and also nobody walking in it.

This is perfect, perfect snow. Light, fluffy, beautiful. I didn’t even mind shovelling it.

But a grey day.

In other news, the other day I saw the new LRT under construction near Crowchild. Massive! Want to get back and take some pictures. When the snow has stopped.

TRFKAN (The Restaurant Formerly Known As Nellie’s) is called The Loop Breakfast House now.  This wasn’t obvious to me, not that it matters since I know where to go: 2015 – 33rd Avenue SW, Calgary.

I’ve gone for breakfast (actually more like brunch, it’s a lot of food) about a half-dozen times in the past year, I bet.

Happy every time.

Today:

$11.95 for the Big Al, which is (gasp) 3 eggs, bacon, French toast or pancakes, regular toast, and potatoes. I was still full at dinner time.

My friend: a fruit plate and an omelette.

Both: coffee and milk.  (As in, a serving of milk that you buy, not just a splash in the coffee.)

Total bill, $41.00 before tip.

It’s independent, it’s comfortable, the food is good, and the neighbourhood is developing some atmosphere.  A lot of people would say Marda Loop is already funky and pedestrian-friendly.  Today was too cold to walk around, and I am not sure I would pick the Loop as my destination of choice for a stroll, but yes, it does have some interesting nooks and crannies.

I like The Loop Breakfast House for a casual weekday breakfast or brunch.  Can’t say how it is on weekends; I don’t go out much then!

The Loop Breakfast House in Marda Loop, Calgary. Photo: Jill Browne. January 12, 2011.

theloopbreakfasthouse.ca

403 – 802-2174

2015 – 33rd Avenue SW

Calgary, Alberta

Tuesday, January 11, 2010

Home: Calgary, Alberta, Canada

So cold the emergency brake froze in the on position.

Put outside briefly, the dog stood on three legs even when not peeing.

I watched from the comfort of a warm room.

And it wasn’t even that cold. Only minus 17 C or so. But it’s a dry cold.

Canola field under blue sky. Photo: Doug Bowman, CC License on Flickr.com

Monday, January 10, 2011.

Home: Calgary, Alberta, Canada

It’s still winter.  In fact I think winter is only beginning.  It has its good side, winter does, but today I’m thinking of warmer things.

The cloud ceiling is still over us, and the temperature is down around -17 C.

Frost feathers starting to decorate our windows.

Makes me think back to the brilliant sunshine and the glow of the yellow canola fields.

I wrote Canola has a Glow of its Own back in those glory days of July.

Link to Doug Bowman’s photo

Saturday, January 1, 2011

Calgary, Alberta, Canada: Home

Just realized I haven’t left the house today.  Winter can do that.  We had a brilliant day, but the sun comes up at 8:40 a.m. and goes down at 4:40 p.m.

You snooze, you lose.

But some people in the family got out for a skate on our local lake.  It’s an urban, man-made lake, but out there on the ice, it feels as natural as any other lake.

In years when the ice is very clear, I feel my toes tingling and my knees getting a bit rubbery skating  just a few feet above the cold black water.  And when the ice cracks, or moans, or hisses, or does any of those active ice things, I want to run for shore.

It’s silly really.  They only let us skate on the ice when it’s strong enough to hold the Zamboni!

Happy New Year,

Jill