Calgary Arts and Culture

Our Local Expert Says:

This is a great spot for people watching. If you are visiting during the summer, find a restaurant along Stephen Ave with a patio and sit and watch the power lunch rush, or the after-work drinks excitement.

Description:

Stephen Ave.'s cobblestone streets mark the core of downtown Calgary. Not only does it offer restaurants, bars and pubs, cafes, shopping, art galleries and more, several of the buildings along the street are more than 100 years old and beautiful architectural works. Check out the Old City Hall, the Hudson's Bay Company and the old Bank of Montreal Building. Also nearby are the Calgary Tower, the main library, and the downtown shopping mall.

Description:

Located right in the center of downtown Calgary inside the Calgary Tower, the Vertigo Theater is comprised of two separate performance areas; The Studio and The Playhouse. Well known for its production of a mystery theater series, Vertigo Theater aims to entice the artistic sides of children with an emphasis on performances for a young audience. As well as being the home of Gallery 2005, a stunning visual arts gallery, Vertigo Theater provides rental opportunities for all types of arts organizations that wish to showcase their works on a grand scale. Visit the theater's website for further information regarding a calendar of events.

Description:

Hosting over 1700 performances yearly, the EPCOR CENTRE for the Performing Arts is Canada's premier cultural mecca. The centre is a six-level complex occupying a full city block in downtown Calgary. The centre includes four theatres, the Jack Singer Concert Hall, rehearsal halls, theatre workshops, offices and meeting rooms. One of three major Canadian arts centres, EPCOR attracts about 300,000 people a year. The centre contains venues ranging from the Georgian-style Martha Bell Theater to the lounge-like Big Secret Theater, and hosts such illustrious companies as Alberta Theater Projects, Theatre Calgary and the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra. EPCOR calls itself "Calgary's home of contagious creativity," and with the community and ingenuity it fosters, it more than lives up to the claim. Visit EPCOR's website for performance schedules and showtimes.

Our Local Expert Says:

Teatro won a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence in 2008,

Description:

The menu and daily specials at this hot spot are created by one of the region's top chefs. The varied selections feature the best of the predictable and the unusual, including Risotto of Chanterelle, butternut squash and ruby chard. The Italian-inspired market cuisine is a favorite of the loyal downtown business lunch and pre-concert crowd. The décor still holds a hint of its roots—the building originally housed the old Dominion Bank. By combining the warmth of the original stone walls and wood floors with a few modern touches, a hip and elegant dining atmosphere was created.

Description:

All forms of art, such as musicals, ballets, plays and concerts have been performed at the grand Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium. This state-of-the art auditorium annually welcomes national as well as international artists and also hosts the Calgery Opera and Alberta ballet. School graduations, community galas, trade shows and other special events are its other offerings. The Hall reopens on September 1, 2005 to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the Province of Alberta as well as the auditorium's 50th anniversary.

Description:

With the plethora of restaurants, cafes and boutiques, Fourth Street is one of Calgary's most popular downtown promenades. Public artwork along the road make a walk along Fourth an even more enjoyable experience. Ten art pieces in all line fourth street from 17th to 26th Avenues. Fun and quirky sculptures such as the strolling cattle of 'Scene and Herd on Fourth' and the giant lounging frogs of 'Hanging Out' make hunting for art fun for both families and art lovers. Self-guided tour pamphlets can be picked up in various businesses along the route.