Articles

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Hanging around at home

Enjoying some relaxing time off doesn’t always mean having to travel far distances and spending lots of cash. Choosing a staycation means sticking to local attractions and events during day trips that generally don’t involve long travel times or accommodations.  

Staycations have always been a choice for cost-conscious families, but became especially popular during the travel restrictions brought on by COVID-19. In these days of the rising cost of pretty much everything, staycations are a budget friendly way to explore one’s own geographic area. While not all staycations are cost free, they usually come with a much lower price tag than travelling abroad.

Here are five suggestions for staycations in and around Edmonton and area. 

Festivals

Edmonton is often referred to as “Festival City” for a reason, given the multitude of celebrations going on throughout the summer. Some of them come with a price tag, like the Edmonton Folk Music Festival, where you can discover new music and enjoy rising and major stars not only in folk, but other genres like blues and gospel. If your budget is tighter, the Edmonton International Street Performers Festival has no admission, while the Caribbean-flavoured CariWest festival features the city’s largest outdoor parade. The Works Art & Design Festival has free exhibits in Churchill Square and other locations, along with a music stage and food trucks. The Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival features a mixed bag of plays to experience. The indoor shows are ticketed, but folks can also enjoy the outdoor shows admission-free.

Attractions

Edmonton has numerous attractions where individuals, couples, and families can make a day of it. Explore the city’s history at Fort Edmonton Park, and take a ride on an actual steam train (a 1919 Baldwin Locomotive). The Edmonton Valley Zoo has hundreds of animals in both outdoor and indoor viewing areas, and is open year-round. 

Explore the botanical gardens within the glass pyramids at the Muttart Conservatory. All of these places have gift shops with souvenirs, and places to sit down and get refreshments. There are admission fees, as well as extra charges for some activities. Information about all of the City of Edmonton’s attractions is available at the City’s website (edmonton.ca), so you can plan your budget before you go.

Farmers’ Markets

Shop—and eat—local by touring farmers’ markets. St. Albert boasts the largest outdoor farmers’ market in Canada and is an adventure to explore. In Edmonton, the Old Strathcona Farmers’ Market operates indoors year-round. Another year-round indoor choice is Bountiful Farmers’ Market on the southeast side of the city. 

Edmonton also has a number of seasonal farmers’ markets such as Callingwood (open Sundays and Wednesdays), and the Downtown Farmers’ Market, which has returned to 104 Street. Vendors at farmers’ markets often have free samples, plus there are usually food trucks or in-house eateries to get something more substantial to eat. Enjoy the entertainment from buskers while you have your meal.

Edmonton’s River Valley

As Canada’s largest continuous urban parkland system, Edmonton’s River Valley runs through the city with 180 km of paths suitable for walking, jogging, and cycling. Along the way there are around 20 named parks with amenities such as picnic sites, washrooms, and playgrounds. You can literally go from one end of the city to the other via the trails leading to attractions like Fort Edmonton and the Chinese pagoda at Louise McKinney Park. 

Load up your backpack with snacks, sunscreen, and plenty of water. The River Valley offers a low-to-no cost opportunity to get outside, exercise, and enjoy nature. Being on some of those trails can feel like you’re not even in the city at all.  

Road Tripping

Many fun and interesting attractions are located within two hours of the greater Edmonton area. If you have access to a vehicle, you can check out famous roadside attractions like the big sausage in Mundare and continue east to the giant pysanka (Ukrainian Easter egg) in Vegreville. Elk Island Park is also a popular day trip destination where you can see plains bison in person.

No vehicle? No problem. For a $15 reservation (including park entrance fees) you can take the Parkbus on early Saturday mornings from the downtown MEC and Royal Alberta Museum and return later that afternoon.

[post_title] => Staycations [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => closed [post_password] => [post_name] => staycations [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2025-04-23 14:41:56 [post_modified_gmt] => 2025-04-23 20:41:56 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://summercity.wpenginepowered.com/?p=21514 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [ID] => 0 [filter] => raw [_excerpt] => Hanging around at home Enjoying some relaxing time off doesn’t always mean having to travel far distances and spending lots of cash. Choosing a staycation means sticking to local attractions … ) 1

Models\Post Object ( [_post] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 21511 [post_author] => 3 [post_date] => 2025-04-23 14:32:44 [post_date_gmt] => 2025-04-23 20:32:44 [post_content] =>

Trails on the city’s river banks can yield a few surprises.

Every summer Edmonton’s River Valley becomes a slithering green ribbon of lush tree-surrounded trails along the North Saskatchewan River. Alberta’s capital city boasts 160 km of urban parkland, the largest stretch of its kind in North America. Well-maintained paths of dirt, gravel, pavement, wooden boardwalks, stairs, bridges and even a funicular sprawl throughout the city for cyclists, runners, nature enthusiasts and dog walkers alike to refresh mind and body. 

While dozens of paths winding through the valley, here’s a look at three very popular trails.

Gold Bar Park to Rundle Park

Starting in the far east side of the city and following the river until the crossing at Ainsworth Dyer Memorial Bridge, this beautiful path is fairly level for a leisurely and scenic stroll along the bank, lush grasses and through wooded areas. The Rundle Park footbridge marks the trail’s end, enabling users to catch a view of the river, one of only a couple spots on the path where that’s possible. This 6.5-km round trip would take an hour or two to complete. 

Hawrelak Park to Mackenzie Ravine  

Flat and boasting wide footpaths, this popular year-round destination is a perfect place for some all-inclusive exercise before or after an outdoor lunch, as the entrance to the path is at Hawrelak Park’s Picnic Site 2. At four km long and taking up to an hour to complete, this trail stands out due to the fact it has large sections along it where dogs are allowed off leash.

Whitemud Creek Trail

A change in elevation of up to 449 feet may sound daunting, but this six-km path is considered an easy hike that is relatively flat with moments of incline and can be covered in 90 minutes. The ravine here is home to an old growth forest with some of the tallest trees in the city.

[post_title] => River Valley Adventures [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => closed [post_password] => [post_name] => river-valley-adventures [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2025-04-23 14:32:47 [post_modified_gmt] => 2025-04-23 20:32:47 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://summercity.wpenginepowered.com/?p=21511 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [_excerpt] => Trails on the city’s river banks can yield a few surprises. Every summer Edmonton’s River Valley becomes a slithering green ribbon of lush tree-surrounded trails along the North Saskatchewan River. … ) 1

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Soundwalks can be anything from inspirational to therapeutic

Scott Smallwood’s first soundwalk took place in Australia in 2003.

“I had no idea what it was. It was at a conference, and I just showed up where I was told to go.”

Scott Smallwood, musician, sound artist, and professor of music at the University of Alberta admits.

Under the guidance of Canadian soundwalk pioneer Hildegard Westerkamp, Smallwood and about 15 or 20 other people moved silently through the streets of Melbourne. There were only three rules: follow Westerkamp and keep together, and don't speak to each other or to anyone else. Most importantly, open your ears to the sounds that you normally block out in the process of your day.  

“In the end, we all gathered around a big tree and we kind of related our experiences of listening to the city that way. So, it was just kind of intentional and that's really all a soundwalk is.”

Smallwood explains

That’s the simplest explanation of a term that carries so much meaning. Smallwood, who has led his own soundwalks on the streets of Edmonton, acknowledges that he’s been on one where the guide secretly populated the walk with musicians, and others where the walk is self-guided with signs along the way. If the barest explanation is that a soundwalk is a walk with intense focus on the environment, then anything goes.

Composer R. Murray Schafer and members of the World Soundscape Project are generally agreed to have first coined the term in Vancouver in the 1970s, but there are a lot of cooks in this kitchen. Probably the most notable is Pauline Oliveros, an American musical multi-hyphenate, academic, and proponent of what she called “deep listening.” For many people soundwalks are a way to release themselves from purpose and simply exist in the moment, seeing and hearing what they normally ignore as they go about their day. For others, there’s a connection to how we listen to everything, sounds and music included.   

“It's a practice that Pauline used to teach people,” says Ian Crutchley, composer, educator, and artistic director of New Music Edmonton. “There are many people doing soundwalks who have no other real experience with contemporary music, and it's used as kind of a wellness thing. So, it’s really about the individual experience. It's really offering people the opportunity to basically stop doing everything else, except maybe walk and look, but mostly just to walk and let your ears find what they will.”

Multi-disciplinary artist Mika Haykowsky was first introduced to soundwalks during her undergrad studies at the U of A. Initially, she would take an audio recorder and capture sounds in the environment, which she would then layer to create soundscapes. Those sounds would then be brought into a physical space so people could listen through speakers or headphones.

In December of 2024 she was asked by New Music Edmonton to lead a soundwalk.  

“I created a map and had people follow me in a single file, about five paces between us, and we just walked in silence for about 40 to maybe an hour,” she recounts. “We started in Riverdale and walked across the Tawatinâ Bridge.”

Haykowsky chose that route because of the train sounds above, followed by the sounds of the forest on the other side. Squirrels, birds, and other animals acted as sonic punctuation as they warned each other of human interlopers. The most important thing for Haykowsky was following the sun, because the soundwalk took place on Dec. 21, the solstice.

“It was kind of this almost ritualistic walk for me, kind of celebrating the really short days and the long nights. It was about what we can hear during those short days, and what we can appreciate around us.”

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One way to take all the guilt out of creating comfort foods, is ensuring all the ingredients are healthy.. Take advantage of local fresh fruits galore, brightening the summer and our plates. With foliage in abundance, let's explore this season’s offerings for heightened yet simple cuisine. What’s even cooler is that a few of these recipes don’t require a stove or oven.

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Buckwheat ’n’ Berries Breakfast

While buckwheat is more commonly eaten with savoury meals or roasted for a crunch, it can also make a hearty alternative to oatmeal for breakfast, especially when its earthy aroma is juxtaposed with the freshest local ingredients. 

• buckwheat flakes
• pinch of sea salt
• berries of choice
• cinnamon
• half and half cream
• (most portion sizes are discretionary)

INSTRUCTIONS:

Bring to a boil a little over double the amount of water that you want to make of the buckwheat. Once boiled, slowly stir in the buckwheat. Continue to stir, lowering temperature to a simmer. Add a pinch of salt. Once the buckwheat is cooked, add in some berries. Pour into a bowl, then garnish with cinnamon, the half and half, and more berries. 

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Summer Squash and Rosemary Sauté  

Even if you don’t have a garden, chances are you may be lucky enough to know someone who has more zucchini than they know what to do with! It is also abundant in markets. Best served over rice and quinoa, although it also works well with lamb or chicken.

• 4-5 medium zucchini 
• coconut oil
• sea salt and pepper to taste 
• fresh rosemary, minced
• red onion
• (most portion sizes are discretionary)

INSTRUCTIONS

Cut the zucchinis in half lengthwise, then slice into half moon shapes. Slice the red onions and then heat the pan, adding the coconut oil. Add the zucchini and onion to the pan. Mince the fresh rosemary and then add it as well as the salt and pepper. Finally, sauté for a few minutes, as this dish doesn’t take long to make at all!

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Fully Loaded Bison Pizza

A recipe which I have fine-tuned over the years, this pizza may be unique, but it shares the same tried and true satisfying pizza experience we have all come to expect from any slice worth its salt in cheese!

• 1/2 lb. ground bison
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1/2 c. minced red onions + 2 tbsp sliced
• 1/3 c. fresh cilantro, chopped
• 1/2 serrano pepper
• 2 tbsp. kalamata or black olives
• 1/4 tsp. garlic powder
• 1 clove garlic
• manchego or white cheddar cheese
• soft goat cheese
• olive oil
• pizza crust

INSTRUCTIONS

Put about two tablespoons of olive oil in a small jar with a lid. Add half of the chopped clove of garlic and a pinch of salted pepper. Shake well then set aside. 

After chopping up all the ingredients, oil and heat a pan on medium then add the bison, half of the red onion, serrano, garlic and spices. Once the bison is cooked and the flavours are combined in the pan, turn it off. Take out the pizza crust and use the olive oil as the base layer marinade. After the oil is evenly distributed, add the bison mixture, then the olives and remaining onion. Add the grated manchego or white cheddar cheese and finish off with dollops of goat cheese. Bake according to the instructions on your pizza crust, generally 12-14 minutes at 350°F. Serve with arugula and a drizzle of olive oil on top.

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Arugula Manchego Bee Pollen Salad

Wanna take a more exotic approach to creating some edible greens? Here’s a festive salad with eccentricity!

• arugula
• manchego cheese
• red onion
• bee pollen
• raspberry vinaigrette
• (portion sizes are discretionary)

INSTRUCTIONS

Slice the manchego cheese thinly then break apart into little pieces with your hands. Thinly slice the red onion. Add the arugula to a large salad bowl then cover in the topics and generously pour the raspberry vinaigrette over it. 

Raspberry Vinaigrette

This one is so, so good with freshly picked raspberries, refreshing and bright yet juxtaposed with a darker flavour. The result is a very full-bodied dining experience. 

• A heaping 1/2 c. of raspberries
• 1/4 c. extra virgin olive oil
• 3 tbsp. balsamic vinegar
• 1 tbsp. maple syrup
• pinch of sea salt

Mix all ingredients together in a blender or with an immersion blender. Keep in the refrigerator in an airtight jar. Best if eaten within a few days. 

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Paleo Apple Rhubarb Crumble

Last year I was given several boxes of apples from my neighbour, and it’s possible that many of you have been lucky to receive the same. If not, there are always offers for free apple picking through local channels. Of course, the ones available at the farmer’s market are divine, too. Same goes for rhubarb, it’s the epitome of summer! What’s a bonus is that this recipe is quick to make and quick to bake!

Filling:

• 3 lbs. apples 
• 5 stocks of rhubarb
• 3 tbsp. orange juice
• 2.5 tsp. cinnamon
• 1 tsp. ground ginger
• 1/4 tsp. sea salt
• Crumble:
• 2 c. almond flour
• 1 tbsp. maple syrup
• 4 tbsp. melted coconut oil
• 1/2 tsp. ground ginger
• 1/4 tsp. sea salt

Finely slice the apples and rhubarb then add them to a large pan along with the rest of the filing ingredients. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Bring to a boil then cover the pan and cook on low for 10 minutes. Mix crumble ingredients together while cooking the filling. Place the filling in a 8”x12” dish and top with crumble. Bake for 20 minutes. Delicious warm or cold, try serving it with vanilla ice cream! 

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Models\Post Object ( [_post] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 21491 [post_author] => 3 [post_date] => 2025-04-22 22:17:16 [post_date_gmt] => 2025-04-23 04:17:16 [post_content] =>

There are times when a simple, classic burger is all you need to satisfy your appetite. Then there are those other occasions when you’re in an adventurous mood and want to take a walk on the culinary wild side. This list is for the latter. From sandwiches within burgers to debatable toppings and zany combinations of all sorts, Edmonton has no shortage of over-the-top options when it comes to burgers. 

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The Poutine at Rival Burger

Atop Rival Burger’s freshly-ground, house-blend, smashed beef patty sits something you would normally think of eating with a fork—a poutine. Using thin spiral fries as a nest to hold the cheese curds and rich gravy, the most famous of all Canadian dishes has been totally re-contextualized as something held by a bun! Still including all the regular fixings such as pickle, tomato, lettuce and also hot maple mustard, The Poutine Burger maintains all the hallmarks of a classic burger, while amping it up into cult Canadiana terrain. Plus, it’s a burger and a side in one!

Hala Kahiki Smash at Fox Burger

Whether pineapple belongs on pizza has been a heated, age-old debate for decades, which could very well make the Hala Kahiki Smash the most divisive burger around. To the credit of Fox Burgers, the zany grilled pineapple is balanced with pickled banana peppers, American Swiss, bacon, iceberg lettuce and terimayo, a teriyaki mayonnaise blend. This combination is a clear attempt to bring luau energy to our northern land, but just like with pizza, not everyone is going to be convinced to put on a Hawaiian shirt and move their hips to some ukulele tunes. Let the debate begin! 

Big Jack at Jack’s Burger Shack

Already a massive undertaking with two patties, sauce, fries, gravy and curds, Jack’s Burger Shack takes their Big Jack burger way over the line by also adding ranch dressing and a grilled cheese sandwich, all within the bun! There is something quite dubious about combing America’s favourite dressing with the Canadian combo of gravy, fries and cheese curd, and while many of these ingredients are all over the top, something about adding ranch dressing and a grilled cheese sandwich to a burger just screams. Whether it’s screaming crazy or genius will have to be up to you to decide. 

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Professor PB&J at Backstairs Burger

Somewhere between a heavenly, sweet breakfast and a hearty, savoury lunch is where espresso peanut butter sits, tying together all of Professor PB&J’s ingredients and making sure you’re wide-eyed enough to take it all in. With a lot going on for your taste buds to put together, the boost in caffeination is a welcome addition to help you focus on the flavours in hand. Backstairs Burgers stacks thick-cut bacon, banana aioli, strawberry sriracha jam, hickory sticks on top of a 3.5-oz smashed patty smothered in espresso-laden peanut butter and turns it into more than the sum of its parts. 

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The Scout at Next Act Pub (main photo is The Scout Burger)

The origin of this Argentinean condiment may not be clear, but its rapid-fire growth in popularity throughout Latin America in the 1900s—and eventually the world—sure is! Chimichurri is a flavourful, uncooked sauce with many regional variations, made up of freshly-chopped herbs, spices, garlic, olive oil and lemon juice or red wine vinegar. The Next Act takes this full-bodied sauce and pairs it with crispy onions, avocado, roasted garlic mayo and “groceries.” That’s their endearing word for lettuce, tomato, pickle and mayo to make The Scout a rarely seen, Latin-influenced burger. 

WHERE TO FIND THEM

Rival Burger

• 12011-111 Ave, Edmonton
• 780-235-6632
• rivalburger.ca

Fox Burger

• 6423-112 Ave., Edmonton. 780-250-0369
• 11003-124 St. Edmonton. 587-599-5205
• foxburger.ca

Jack’s Burger Shack

• 10354 Jasper Ave., Edmonton. 587-525-4889
• 130-15 Perron St., St. Albert. 780-458-0055
• jacksburgershack.ca

Backstairs Burger

• 11010 51 Ave., Edmonton
• 587-499-0576
• backstairsburger.ca

Next Act Pub

• 8224-104 St., Edmonton
• 780-433-9345
• nextactpub.com

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The Edmonton area, also known as Treaty Six Territory, offer diverse ways to enjoy indigenous foods, from passed-down recipes to inventive modern takes, and from fine dining to food truck catering or home delivery. Whether you’d rather dress up for a night of culinary experiences, share casual fare at an event, or munch on traditional recipes from the comfort of your own home, this list has something for everyone interested in connecting to the history of the land. 

Bernadette’s

Owners Chef Scott Jonathan Iserhoff and Svitlana Kravchuk have been shown much appreciation from the community for their launch of Bernadette’s in 2024, an indigenous fine dining experience with “Kokhum’s (Cree for ‘grandmother’) hospitality.” Frequently changing menus featuring local and wild seasonal produce—with dishes largely inspired by Chef Iserhoff’s upbringing in northern Ontario—brings a refreshing edge to this downtown Edmonton restaurant, with dishes such as raw elk, oysters, rotating dumplings, ocheshishak (risotto) and vinaigrettes, bison cheeks and steak, bright cocktails and natural wines. Such items help Bernadette’s mission to share stories and inspiration through food.

Mitsoh

Created with a vision to restore and share honoured indigenous foods on a national scale, Mitsoh brings traditional recipes to grocery stores and markets across Canada. Pemmican, a centuries-old foodstuff made with dried game (they use bison), animal tallow and berries, was the founding focus of Mitsoh, as well as dried bison, but owner Ian Gladue has now expanded his product line to also include bannock. Bannock was the focus of his first business, Native Delights, which went from food cart to food truck to restaurant, and still offers food truck and catering services. 

Tee Pee Treats

Owner Curtis Cardinal has come a long way since selling bannock out of his backpack at pow-wows in 2010, though this grass-roots foundation is still apparent in everything he does. Bannock is infused in all of his creations, from hot dogs to cinnamon cheesecake. He still continues “bringing the bannock” through his successful five-star catering business and community event, “Giving Back to the Streets,” which regularly feeds, clothes, and entertains at least 600 Edmonton folks for free. Tee Pee Treats has also had many successful pop-up restaurants and currently offers delivery.

Bannock Broz

After a successful spring-time pop-up tent launch in 2024, followed by a food trailer, owners Joseph Rucchin and his wife Tanya harnessed this momentum to open a more permanent location in Enoch Nation’s community centre. A feel-good price point, weekly specials and a welcoming, relaxed atmosphere with casual food-fair all add to Bannock Broz charm, but the real star of the show is the Philly Cheesesteak sandwich. Loaded with green peppers, steak, onions, and cheese housed in bannock, this fan favourite has patrons near and far regularly making the trip.

Homefire Grill

Launched by the Alberta Indian Investment Corporation, it may not be chef-owned but Homefire Grill is the most longstanding indigenous-run restaurant on this list, serving Edmonton fire-roasted comfort food with local ingredients for 20 years. While there is a lot of Western influence, such as pizzas, burgers, pastas, fries and a simple kid’s menu, many of these dishes feature indigenous ingredients such as elk, bison, Saskatoon berries, bannock and scallops. Their wood burning ovens in the open kitchen—and fireplace in the centre of the dining room—provide both comforting meals and ambience for all ages.

Where to Find Them:

Bernadette’s

• 10114-104 St., Edmonton
• 587-879-4317
• bernadettes.ca

Mitsoh

• 780-760-7668
• mitsoh.com

Tee Pee Treats

• 780-616-9200
• teepeetreats.com

Bannock Broz

• Enoch Community Centre
• Hwy 60, Whitemud Dr., Enoch
• 587-907-8208
• enochcommunitycentre.com/amenities/bannock-broz

Homefire Grill

• 18210-100 Ave. Edmonton
• 780-489-8086
• homefiregrill.ca

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You can show your true patriot love by brandishing the coveted maple leaf all you want, but there are other ways to demonstrate that national pride. For openers, consider these domestic cocktails, ideal to serve on Canada Day.

The Angry Canadian

Credit Calgarian Steve Johnston for this 2013 creation, a Canuck take on the Old Fashioned, and a beverage that just might come in handy given the frosty relationship Canada has with the U.S. But contrary to the demeanour suggested by the beverage’s moniker, this one goes down rather smoothly with a touch of sweetness.

It’s also a simple drink to make, involving two oz. of Canadian (What else, eh?) rye, then adding a tsp. of maple syrup, two dashes of Angostura bitters, a Maraschino cherry and a few ice cubes. 

The B-52

Banff Springs Hotel bartender Peter Fich named this late 1970s creation after his favourite band, the B-52s, and from the contents alone, it’s clear that this shot-glass concoction got the whole Rocky Mountain joint hopping to the point where it became a globally-known shooter.

To get in tune with the drink, start with a layer of coffee liqueur like Kahlua or Tia Maria, very carefully pour another layer of Bailey’s on top, and cap it off cautiously with some Grand Marnier. To prevent the layers from mixing during the whole process, pour the Bailey’s and Grand Marnier into the shot glass over the back of a spoon.

The Caesar

While the origins of this clam-juice beverage vary, the Caesar with which we’re most familiar was the result of a brainchild by Calgary Inn bartender Walter Chell, who in 1969 spent months on the formula before its introduction. The drink, originally dubbed the Bloody Caesar, has since become Canada’s official drink, although it’s still virtually unknown outside the country.

Making a Caesar starts with rubbing the glass rim with lime, before placing the glass upside down on a thin pile of celery salt. Then add 1.5 oz. of vodka, two dashes of Tobasco sauce, three dashes of salt and pepper, and four dashes of Worcestershire sauce and 5 oz. of clamato juice. Then add ice, and mix and garnish with a short celery stick.

The Donald Sutherland

You’d be hard-pressed to find a cocktail named after a Hollywood-based actor, although the non-alcohol Shirley Temple might immediately spring to mind. But in eastern Canada, film legend Donald Sutherland—best-known for his roles in the original M*A*S*H, Kelly’s Heroes, and the Hunger Games (and recognized by Gen-X types as Kiefer’s dad)—is celebrated with a drink that hearkens his own fondness for Canadian rye whiskey.

Not surprisingly, the base of the concoction is Canadian Club, roughly 2 ¼ oz. of it, mixed with ¾ oz. of Drambuie, complete with an ice cube and garnished with a lemon twist. It’s best imbibed before anyone reminds revelers that the drink is loosely based on the Rusty Nail.

The Maple Leaf

While this entry might suffice as a liquid anthem for the entire country to enjoy, it was actually introduced in 2007 at Toronto’s posh Four Seasons Hotel to inaugurate its new executive chef. 

Creating this Hogtown wonder involves mixing 1 ½ oz. of Canadian rye whiskey with a dash of maple liqueur and a dash of Angostura bitters. The capper, however, is the garnish, created by drizzling maple syrup into a bowl of ice until the stuff morphs into a taffy, which is then skewered with a swizzle stick and dipped into the cocktail.

[post_title] => Canadian Cocktails [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => closed [post_password] => [post_name] => canadian-cocktails [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2025-04-22 17:35:20 [post_modified_gmt] => 2025-04-22 23:35:20 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://summercity.wpenginepowered.com/?p=21483 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [_excerpt] => You can show your true patriot love by brandishing the coveted maple leaf all you want, but there are other ways to demonstrate that national pride. For openers, consider these … ) 1

Models\Post Object ( [_post] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 21478 [post_author] => 3 [post_date] => 2025-04-22 17:28:32 [post_date_gmt] => 2025-04-22 23:28:32 [post_content] =>

A new steak for this summer.

Several decades ago, the bison was an endangered species on the plains. Today, it’s a rising, main-course delicacy gracing consumer plates. 

After overhunting had nearly decimated the bucolic bovine in the 19th century, conservationists spent several years protecting scarce herds and increasing their population. Because of that campaign, eating endangered bison meat subsequently lost taste and accessibility, but that is no longer the case today. Every year witnesses a marked increase in the number of bison and bison ranches, and Alberta is leading the way with nearly half of the national population of farmed herds. 

Clean, lean and flavourful, the mighty bison shares its power with every bite. It may be surprising to some that, despite its wild, free-roaming nature, bison has a smooth-mouth feel—it is not gamey. 

Compared to the far more commonly consumed cow, the bison’s meat is darker and its taste has a deeper complexity with a hint of sweetness. Though, the flavour of beef is greatly impacted by diet, so the degree in which its taste differentiates from bison also has to do with whether the cow was grass-fed, grain-fed or grain-finished. The less grass and more grain eaten, the milder the flavour of beef. 

Due to the naturally lean nature of bison, it has less marbling, but don’t let that scare you away from trying it! Marbling may be considered the epitome of a high-quality prime-cut beef steak, but the finer marbling in bison, loaded with healthier fatty acids, lends to a more tender, robust bite. It is also why the cooking time for bison is a lot shorter than beef, so it’s important to be careful of your timing, as a bison steak can easily become overdone. 

Like beef, bison comes in a variety of cuts, with rib eye having the most marbling. Whatever your bison cut of choice is, it will cook quickly, and cooking hot and fast is the way to go.

To barbecue, whether using a charcoal or a gas barbecue, turn the grill on high and allow it to heat up. Make sure to clean and oil the grates first and make sure the grill is maintaining its high temperature once you start grilling the steaks. A charcoal barbecue is more likely to require more conscientious fine-tuning. 

With an already tantalizing level of flavour depth, barbecuing a bison steak is very simple and satisfying. You can rub garlic powder as well, but all that is needed is some sea salt and a bit of black pepper rubbed onto the steak after patting it dry. The grill time will depend on the size and thickness of your cut, as well as preferred doneness, but because bison meat is so lean, it should never be cooked past medium. On such a high heat, this should only take two to three minutes per side. You can also rotate the steaks while they cook to make sure they are evenly grill-marked. 

Once you’ve grilled them, rest the steaks for about 10 minutes to let the juices settle. They won’t go cold in this time, as they will still be cooking internally for a few minutes after. 

Best paired with bison are local food items, keeping things as fresh as possible. Saskatoon berries and wild rice are ideal options, but any dark berry or whole grain would do to balance the smooth and sweet bite of the bison. 

More than just an increasingly popular meat, bison is also a connection to Alberta’s land and history, whether that be the near extinction they almost faced here, or the deep reverence they were given for many generations before that. 

WHERE TO FIND BISON MEAT

Meat Direct Inc.

• 13050 St Albert Tr., Edmonton, 587-405-6328
• meatdirectinc.ca

D’Arcy’s Meats

• 176-4211-106 St., Edmonton, 780-438-9202
• 50-40 Chisholm Ave., St. Albert, 780-418-1200
• darcysmeats.ca

Italian Centre Shop

• 10878-95 St., Edmonton, 780-424-4869
• 5028-104A St., Edmonton, 780-989-4869
• 17010 90 Ave., Edmonton, 780 454 4869
• 700-8005 Emerald Dr., Sherwood Park, 780 416 4869
• italiancentre.ca

Noble Premium Bison

• Sold at Safeway locations in the capital region
• noblepremiumbison.com

[post_title] => Bison [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => closed [post_password] => [post_name] => bison [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2025-04-22 17:30:19 [post_modified_gmt] => 2025-04-22 23:30:19 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://summercity.wpenginepowered.com/?p=21478 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [_excerpt] => A new steak for this summer. Several decades ago, the bison was an endangered species on the plains. Today, it’s a rising, main-course delicacy gracing consumer plates.  After overhunting had … ) 1

Models\Post Object ( [_post] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 18251 [post_author] => 3 [post_date] => 2025-04-16 22:00:00 [post_date_gmt] => 2025-04-17 04:00:00 [post_content] =>

One of Canada’s greatest traditions hits the road this summer

One thing the Royal Canadian Mounted Police doesn’t mess with is tradition, which is why its signature Musical Ride has kept its look and repertoire relatively unchanged over the decades. The sight of peace officers in red tunic astride their equine partners continues to be a draw across Canada, entertaining spectators via the attraction’s institutional manoeuvres, from the opening procession to the final criss-cross. This year, as part of the RCMP’s 150th anniversary, folks are in for a treat as the Musical Ride embarks on its first national tour since the pandemic, with performances slated to take place in Alberta. Here’s a look at the venerable Musical Ride by the numbers:

• 3: number of years of service officers dedicate to the Musical Ride
• 4: criteria horses must meet to be part of the Musical Ride (colour, rideability, size, temperament)
• 6: age at which a horse begins its decade of performing in the Musical Ride
• 8: number of Musical Ride horses gifted to Queen Elizabeth II over the years
• 17: maximum height, in hands, of a Musical Ride horse
• 30: average length, in minutes, of Musical Ride
• 32: number of horses used in the Musical Ride
• 40: average number of venues the Musical Ride performs at annually
• 50: Canadian banknote denomination, issued from 1969 to 1979, that featured an image of the Musical Ride on the back
• 150: number of years RCMP has been in existence, including their early days as the Northwest Mounted Police
• 635: maximum weight, in kilograms of a Musical Ride horse
• 720: number of acres of the Musical Ride’s first breeding farm, established in 1939 at Fort Walsh, Saskatchewan
• 1876: first known year of performance of what would eventually evolve into the Musical Ride
• 1887: year of first official Musical Ride, performed in Regina
• 1938: first year the Musical Ride permanently used exclusively black horses to accentuate the riders’ scarlet tunics

WHERE TO CATCH THE RCMP MUSICAL RIDE

RCMP MUSICAL RIDE ALBERTA ITINERARY

July 4-6 & July 8-13: Calgary Stampede, Calgary

July 16: Heritage Acres, Pincher Creek

July 18-20: Westerner Days, Red Deer

July 23: St. Paul Agricultural Society, St. Paul

July 24: Cold Lake Agricultural Society, Cold Lake

July 26 & 27: Lloyd Ex Fair, Lloydminster

July 30: Whitemud Equine Learning Centre Association, Edmonton

Aug. 1-3: Strathmore Stampede, Strathmore

Aug. 6 & 7: Medicine Hat Exhibition, Medicine Hat

Aug. 9 & 10: Century Downs Racetrack & Casino, Rocky View

Aug. 13: Camrose Regional Exhibition, Camrose

Aug. 16: Athabasca & District Agricultural Society, Athabasca 

Aug. 17: Wabasca Lions Club, Wabasca

Aug. 20: High Level Agricultural Society, High Level

Aug. 21: La Crete Field of Dreams Rodeo Clube, La Crete

Aug. 26, Fairview Agricultural Society, Fairview

Aug. 27: Smoky River Agricultural Society, Donnelly

Aug. 29: Whitecourt District Agricultural Society, Whitecourt

Aug. 30: Gymkhana Grounds, Mayerthorpe

Sept. 1 & 3-7: Spruce Meadows, Calgary

Where possible, the stables are open to the public from 9 am to 9 pm daily at each tour stop.  The Musical Ride members encourage the public to visit them and the horses before and after the performances. There, riders can answer any questions and introduce their horses. For itinerary updates, check out rcmp-grc.gc.ca.

[post_title] => RCMP Musical Ride - 2025 tour and info [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => closed [post_password] => [post_name] => rcmp-musical-ride [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2025-04-23 15:04:36 [post_modified_gmt] => 2025-04-23 21:04:36 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://summercity.wpenginepowered.com/?p=18251 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [_excerpt] => One of Canada’s greatest traditions hits the road this summer One thing the Royal Canadian Mounted Police doesn’t mess with is tradition, which is why its signature Musical Ride has … ) 1

Models\Post Object ( [_post] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 13951 [post_author] => 3 [post_date] => 2025-04-15 16:04:00 [post_date_gmt] => 2025-04-15 22:04:00 [post_content] =>

Ice cream merchants scoop even deeper for unique flavours

Ice cream is a favourite summer snack enjoyed by people of all ages. But we’re no longer limited to yesteryear faves like chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry. Thanks to some epicurean ingenuity, tastes have expanded to include flavours you never thought would top a cone. Here’s a look at a few of those local offerings.

See Yow

Little BonBon is located in the historic Hull Block in Edmonton’s Chinatown, and is from the same team as Yelo’d on Whyte Avenue. The flavours at Little BonBon are Asian-inspired and include See Yow, a salted caramel ice cream with soy sauce, and a caramel ribbon. This scoop is a sweet and salty adventure. The soy sauce doesn’t dominate, but rather enhances the flavour, resulting in a unique complexity. If you like salted caramel ice cream, you have to try See Yow. 

Marcona Almond & Ganache

A signature flavour at Made By Marcus, this flavour is crunchy and chocolatey. Made by Marcus’ Marcona almond toffee is embedded within a sweet cream base, with a ripple of chocolate ganache adding a rich finish. The flavour is not overly sweet and the nutty, buttery flavour of the Marcona almonds is the star of the scoop.  

Strawberry Calamansi

DRTY Ice Cream is one of Edmonton’s newest gourmet ice cream vendors. But don’t let the name put you off. DRTY serves up ice cream inspired by Filipino sorbetes: hand churned ice cream served as street food from colourful wooden push carts in the Philippines. Sorbetes became known as “dirty ice cream” as a local joke because it was made in and served from the street. Strawberry Calamansi is one of DRTY’s flavourful scoops. Calamansi is a citrus fruit sometimes referred to as Philippine lime. There is a delicate balance between the strawberry and citrus flavours, making for a light, refreshing experience. 

Fig and Cheese

La Carraia has 60 rotating flavours of gelato, bringing these authentic tastes of Florence, Italy to Edmonton—and making it possible to try something different each visit. One of the unique flavours made in-house is Fig and Cheese. The richness and sweetness of the mascarpone ice cream base is complemented by the subtle flavour of fig pieces, which also add texture to the smooth creaminess.

White Chocolate Raspberry

This is one of the signature flavours at gigi’s ice cream, located by The Cheesecake Cafe in Spruce Grove. Chocolate and raspberry is a winning combination, but using white chocolate adds a unique flavour dimension and richness. Gigi’s ice cream creations use the same ingredients as the cheesecakes that are made in the restaurant, so decadence is guaranteed.

Topping It Off

A fun and interesting topping can take the perfect ice cream scoop a step further. For example, at Little BonBon, for an extra charge you can have your ice cream scoop turned into a “bonbon” by having it rolled in cookie crumbs. At Made by Marcus, you can get a large toasted marshmallow torched by hand right before it is served. If chocolate is your thing, Drizzle Ice Cream has a dozen different flavours of Belgian chocolate dips. 

Taking indulgence to a new level, the Guardian reported how some chefs around the world were getting creative with savoury toppings to boost the flavour, like adding stilton to sea salt and caramel ice cream, or serving caviar atop walnut ice cream. 

Adding unconventional toppings to your ice cream can be a matter of personal taste, adventure, and seeing what’s in the pantry. Ben & Jerry’s offers a list of 10 recommended toppings to try, including candied bacon. Also listed is hot sauce and olive oil—the latter causing a viral reaction on social media. 

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LOCATIONS

Drizzle Ice Cream 

10322-81 Ave., Edmonton

Little BonBon Ice Cream

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gigi’s ice cream

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DRTY Ice Cream

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Made By Marcus

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Pinocchio Ice Cream

Pinocchio Ice Cream is available at a number of retailers, restaurants, and cafés in the Capital region and beyond.

pinocchioicecream.ca/locations

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La Carraia

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Drizzle Ice Cream 

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Yelo’d Ice Cream & Bake Shoppe

[post_title] => Ice Cream Flavours and Toppings [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => closed [post_password] => [post_name] => crazy-edmonton-ice-cream-flavors [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2025-04-22 17:17:44 [post_modified_gmt] => 2025-04-22 23:17:44 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://summercity.wpenginepowered.com/?p=13951 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [_excerpt] => Ice cream merchants scoop even deeper for unique flavours Ice cream is a favourite summer snack enjoyed by people of all ages. But we’re no longer limited to yesteryear faves … ) 1