About King's

Edmonton - like you never knew before

Live, Work, and Study in Edmonton

Edmonton is the capital of Alberta and its growing population is more than one million people. It is known as Canada's Festival City and residents enjoy an endless number of activities throughout the year.

Edmonton's booming economy has helped to propel the city's growth. It is often referred to as a "gateway to the north," where much of the recent oil exploration has been taking place. You can find a wealth of information on the city by clicking here.

Weather at a Glance (p.61)
- Coldest Month: January
- Warmest Month: July
- Wettest Month: July
- Sunniest Month: July (Edmontonians soak up 2299.09 hours of sun each year, placing 12th in the country)
- snowfall has been recorded in Edmonton in every month except July

Monthly Average Temperatures (Celcius)

5 Things to do in Winter (p.63)

- Cross country ski in the river valley. There are numerous lighted and groomed river valley trails. Gold Bar Park is a favorite for all skill levels, but you might also try Capilano, Rundle, Goldstick, Kinsmen, and Snow Valley parks. Maps available at www.edmonton.ca (ski map).
- Tempt fate on a tobaggan hill. Another fine thing about the river valley: on those banks, tobaggans fly. Several options dot the valley. Check www.edmonton.ca (tobagganing) for more.
- Zone out at the Muttart Conservatory. On a bitter morning when even the snow squeaks in agony, the conservatory's four striking glass pyramids at 9626 96A St offer sweet relief. Here you can migrate from steaming jungle to temperate forest to floral paradise before taking lunch in the central courtyard.
- Look up! Count stars. Take advantage of the Beaver Hills Dark Sky Preserve just east of Edmonton to drink in the Milky Way and scan for Northern Lights. For a guided tour of the heavens, hook up with a local expert through Roayl Astronomical Society of Canada (www.edmontonrasc.com) or Telus World of Science (www.odyssium.com). Gotta love those long nights.
- Spend a night in Fantasyland. Okay, so you can't dream winter away, but you can spend a night in Africa or Hollywood or an Arabian dessert. Nearly there, anyway at the West Edmonton Mall's Fantasyland Hotel.

Restaurants

CBC Personality and Edmonton Journal writer Gilbert Bouchard's Top 5 Must-Visit Dining Locales: (p. 180)

1. Motoraunt (12406 - 66 St): Let's start with the ugly. This odd-ball eatery may look like it was dropped nastily onto its log, having been built in a jury-rigged fashioned around an old double-decker bus, but much to the ire of municipal rule makers and NIMBY types, the burgers and fries served up here are as divine as the restaurant itself is aesthetically unpleasing. Also, the joint boasts some of the largest serving sizes in town (i.e., how many others serve a burger that feeds four?), so don't come knocking at this rocking bus unless you're willing to pound it back.

2. Barb & Ernie's Restaurant (9906 - 72 Ave): This is another joint that isn't shy about the portions, delicate eating habits and/or a quiet dining environment. One of Edmonton's most long-lived eateries, most famous for it humongous breakfasts and outrageous options, this German eatery became an institution as much for its hard-core Albertan plain-talking and friendly ways as its food. You're not just eating the best ruck stop omelet you've ever had at Barb & Ernie's, you're eating a big slice of Alberta culinary history.

3. Bistro Praha Gourmet Cafe (10168 - 100A St): Speaking of history, the Bistro Praha has got to be one of Edmonton's oldest and longest-lived European bistros and one of the grandfathers of the city's coffeehouse trade. A virtual oasis of dining pleasure back in the early 80s when Edmonton's downtown was way less hopping than it is now, the Bistro may not be the last word in trendsetter's hangouts in the 21st century, but it still offers up a civilized atmosphere (yes, a bit worse for the wear) and a darn tasty array of continental delights.

4. Cafe Select (10018 - 106 St) and/or Da-De-O (10548a Whyte Ave): These two unrelated restaurants are only being grouped together for effect: both historically well-run and well-designed eateries, they are also the yesterday and the today of dining hipness.

5. Unheard of Restaurant (9602 - 82 Ave): As the name implies, this exquisite little eatery nestled at the uncool end of Whyte Avenue near the Mill Creek Ravine is both a culinary delight and not exactly a household name. Famous for its profoundly sedate and civilized atmostphere as well as a sophisticated and deft menu, this restaurant is a rare gem in an eating out universe boasting more rhinestones than genuine sparklers. Eat here once and you'll be torn as to whether you should brag ceaselessly about your time here, or keep it your neat little secret.

More wonderful and delicious places to dine:
9th St Bistro
Union Bank Inn
Cafe de Ville
Packrat Louie's
Lagano Skies
Hulbert's
Jack's Grill

Author Cheryl Mahaffy's 5 Best Kept Edmonton Secrets: (P. 191)

1. Highlands shopping district. After coffee and a browse at Mandolin Books & Coffee Company (6419 - 112 Ave), smarten up your home with finds from one-of-a-kind shops. Then repair to either of the street's two fine eateries, La Boheme (French) or Bacon (vegetarian with a twist).

2. Railway bike trails. Boom-city traffic got you down? Psst, here's a secret: Use the trails. You'll avoid crowds, minimize the lights and get where you are going in a flash. Thanks to the newish trail alongside the LRT tracks, coupled with the Railtown bikeway, I can finally bike across the river to the UofA without breaking into (much of) a sweat.

3. The King's University College. Students from around the world pilgrimage to 9125 - 50 St to study with renowned music facilty, soak up a libertal arts education in intimate calssrooms and do undergraduate research with scientists who are authoring some of tomorrow's textbooks. Yet herds of Edmontonians march off to classrooms where the body count numbers in the hundreds. Another home-town prphet looking for an audience, perhaps? (note: we didn't pay her for this endorsement!)

4. Cityfarm Edmonton. Once upon a time just a few years ago, this unique playground overlooking the North Saskatchewan River sprouted from the fertile mids of folks who wnat to help Edmontonians stay connected to the land. Here kids and the young at heart can cook bannock in a clay oven, gather eggs warm from the nest, build all sorts of things and grow their own lunch. Cityfarm is located at Riverbend Gardens, one of several fertile farms within city limits that may be perserved as part of a proposed Northeast Green Zone.

5. The Carrot Community Arts Coffeehouse. The name's quite a mouthful, and no wonder. Here's a spot that puts mouths in action - eating, drinking ,singing, telling tales, digesting art and just chewing the fat. You'll find Carrot at 9351 - 118 Ave, along a segment of Alberta Avenue that is reviving through a concerted grassroot effort. Why Carrot? Think Paul Cezanne: "The day is coming when a single carrot, freshly observed, will set off a revolution."

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