This is a frequently-updated list of places that I like for one reason or another. I’ll be adding and changing categories as they occur to me. For now, I’m limiting this list to in and around Calgary, but I’ll write about places in other cities in my blog. I’ll provide web links when I can find them. If I can’t, I’ll give addresses and phone numbers.

CINEMA (the art house kind)

The Globe Cinema is a two-screen operation owned by Landmark Cinemas. They operate on a standard week-by-week schedule with the occasional midnight movie to shake things up. Excellent popcorn.

The Plaza Theatre is the only remaining neighbourhood cinema in Calgary. It’s been showing an odd mix of arthouse, mainstream “dollar cinema” leftovers, and Bollywood for the last few years, but new management is attempting to make this a proper rep cinema, with tons of interesting programming, along the lines of the Bloor Cinema in Toronto. This is also the home for Calgary Cinematheque screenings.

The Uptown Stage and Screen is a traditional repertory art-house with two screens (upstairs is raked seating- it used to be the balcony) in the closest thing left to a grand-old-lady cinema in Calgary at the base of an amazingly cool art deco skyscaper to boot. It’s all tattered and characterful, a great space. There’s a very cool nightclub upstairs as well, which is is party central during the insanity of the Calgary International Film Festival.

Additionally, the Cineplex Odeon 6-plex at Eau Claire Market has been showing sort-of indie movies at one, and sometimes more than one, of their screens lately. Eau Claire is being redeveloped starting this summer and unfortunately that means the theatres will be demolished as well.

COFFEE

Bumpy’s has really helped to raise the bar in Calgary since its opening in September, 2005. A lot of people know it more for its excellent food (and rightly so), but coffeegeeks flock here for fantastic espresso prepared with a brand new Elektra Kappa, with beans from Big Mountain and 49th Parallel. Baristas are among the best in town; superb latte art, and this is the first place I’ve ever seen that offers single-origin espressos. A class act.

Caffe Artigiano has opened its first Calgary location and its first outside the Vancouver area at 332 6th Ave SW in the new Centrium building. Beautiful, bright space with the same delicious sandwiches and other food (try the yogurt parfait) as at Vancouver locations. This one has a four-group La Marzocco FB 80 and Calgary’s second Clover, and is open, heavens be praised, seven days a week, currently Sat and Sun 8-5, as well as weekday hours 6-6 M-W and 6-7 Th-F.

Caffe Beano, 1613 9 St SW (no website, yet): Post about its renaissance.

Communitea is actually a 1.5 hour jog west in Canmore, but in addition to being a beautiful, calming space with killer pastries, they are the only place near Calgary to buy (and drink) Intelligentsia Black Cat espresso, one of my faves. They pull shots with a Synesso Cyncra, a beautiful, beautiful thing.

Good Earth Coffeehouse and Bakery is a chain based in Calgary with 11 Calgary locations as I write this (and one more each in Red Deer and Edmonton). I’m not always, or even usually, thrilled with what I get at Good Earth, but they are improving all aspects of their coffee program, with new NS Aurelia machines to better shots to diligent microfoaming of milk. Lately I’ve had some great shots here and there are some talented, motivated baristi, much moreso than I’ve found with other chains. Their bakery is good, sometimes exceptional, and they have killer mac n cheese.

The House Coffee Sanctuary is in Kensington, a neighbourhood awash with mediocre coffeehouses. I was a little hesitant to go back to The House after I found out it was owned by a mega-church in the wilds of the northern suburbs, but they have their priorities in order (no proselytizing, no judgment, and a very laudable community focus with huge support for local arts groups); better still is that they’ve really improved their coffee program. This is the first shop in Calgary to use the very good beans from Mountain View Roasterie, which I extol at various places in my blog.

Java Jamboree in in Cochrane, which is a pretty cute NW suburb of Calgary with a twee, western-themed town centre. But JJ is in a hideous strip mall and gives no indication of the glory inside. JJ was the first coffeehouse in Alberta, and the second in Canada, to purchase a Synesso. They are the only place in Alberta, and one of only a couple in Canada, to brew beans from both 49th Parallel and Josuma (in SF). Latte art photos cover the walls, and the owners LOVE to talk coffee. It’s like a dream. They’re opening a new location near downtown Calgary, at 8th St and 14 Ave SW, which will provide for an interesting corridor among JJ (this one will be called “Kawa Espresso Bar”), Bumpy’s and Beano all within a stone’s throw of one another. There are also two Starbucks in that area- hopefully these three can siphon off that business.

Phil & Sebastian Coffee Company is, like JJ, a pioneer in bringing new equipment into Calgary; in their case, a Clover vacuum/press brewing system. Their espresso machines (yes, current setup is two machines) aren’t seen very often in these parts; a La Marzocco FB-80 and a Synesso. Thanks to P&S we now have a regular source in Calgary for beans from some the reputationally great Novo Coffee in Denver. Their location in the Calgary Farmers’ Market (former Currie Barracks) is neat and convenient, but terrible for conversation. For coffee, though, it’s peerless (just about).

CHEAP EATS

1410 Bier Haus

Babylon, 302-225 28 Street SE (403) 272-2233

Banh Mi Thi Thi, 209 1st St SE, 403-265-5452 and 8th Ave SW just west of the Uptown.

Calgary Farmers’ Market

Co Do

Crossroads Market

Double Greeting Snack House, 113 303 Centre St. SW (403) 266-2766

Felafel King

Fiasco Gelato

Golden Inn, 107A 2nd Ave SE, 403-269-2211

Han’s, 116-303 Centre St SW 403-263-5667

The Holy Grill

Kim Anh Vietnamese Subs, 626 17th Ave SW, 403-228-2380

Koryo

Lina’s Italian Market, 2202 Centre St NE, 403-277-9166

Le Chien Chaud

Midori Japanese Cafe, 1054 17th Ave SW, 403-244-3787

Mirchi, 825 12th Ave SW, 403-245-3663

Nick’s Steakhouse and Pizza

Oishii Village, 1604 14th St SW, 403-229-2881

Ruan Thai, 1302 11th Ave SW, 403-262-7066

Sammy’s Donair, 1235 17th Ave SW, 403-244-4201

Shawarma Knight, 1512 14 St SW, 403-244-3999

Surya

Tiffin Curry and Roti House, 188 28th St SE, 403-273-2420

Trinidad and Tobago Organettes Social Club

Tubby Dog, 1022 17th Ave SW, 403-554-3644

Uptown Sushi

Village Pita Bakery, #208, 255 28th St SE, 403-273-0330

Vogglio d’Pizza, 1514A 14th St SW, 403-228-1228

NOT-SO-CHEAP EATS

Blowfish Sushi Lounge, 625 11 Ave SW, 403-237-8588

Brava Bistro

Buchanan’s

Capo

Centini

Cilantro

Divino

Globefish Sushi and Izakaya

Glory of India

JAROblue Tapas and Lounge

Muse

Opus on 8th

The Orchid Room

River Cafe

Sahara