Halloween in the Fish Store

I met these delightful guys in our local pet store...they were friendly helpful and cheerful and really getting into the spirit of Halloween!

Halloween Parties

I meet these students at the university getting ready for a halloween party.
They were applying some very elaborate make-up...and the girls were having fun making up the guys!

Hauling

We have some big trucks in Canada - stuff has to be hauled a long way. This one looks like it's seen better days but it's still going strong.

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Took this shot through the window of a cafe in Kensington. The trees are almost bare of leaves now. It's nice to sit inside out of the cold!

A classic view

I went out to the Rockies today - bit of a break from the city.
Here's the classic view of Lake Louise, not on the usual sunny day but on a cold, grey late October afternoon when the sky was spitting snow.

Fix it in Chinatown

A range of Chinese medicine and remedies is on display in this store in Calgary's Chinatown. This tiny store is crammed full of products. I just wish I knew what they all did - it looks like you could fix almost any problem.
Click on the picture to enlarge it and see the beautiful boxes in more detail.

Shadows of the past

The 'Alberta Mavericks' display at the Glenbow has some great ideas and effects among the exhibits. All are low-key, not obvious, but when you spot them they are very aesthetically satisfying. This display concerns the early Northwest Mounted police. Extracts from two letters are read on surround sound whilst the shadows of the speakers are projected as if inside a tent.
I liked it.

Don't think you'd want to ride him!

Went down to the Glenbow Museum to see the "Giant Baby" exhibition this weekend. You can't take photos of that exhibit but I loved this horse made out of 3km of barbed wire in the Alberta Mavericks exhibition...but I don't think you'd want to ride him!

Snowing again

Taken at 10.00 am this morning. Yes...it's snow...again!

Snowy Tree

Well I guess I can still get excited about how beautiful snow makes everything when it's the first snowfall of the year. But talk to me in March...I may have had enough of snow by then!

Lost in the Snow

It snowed today...lots! Not what we really wanted to see this early in October.
Oh well!
I was walking in Confederation Park in the Northwest of the city when I saw this lost and found poster. I'm pretty sure this cute tropical bird won't be happy if she's still lost and out in the snow.

Street Art Sunday - Smooch

I found this artwork on the side of a wall in the beltline district. This is an area of downtown Calgary that over many years became run down and is now being extensively redeveloped. Skyscrapers are being built, trees are being planted along broad walkways but right now the area is pretty raw.
There are a few, a very few, original buildings standing in an oasis of temporary parking lots and this mural was on the side of one of them. A row of stores that housed an art co-operative, a tattoo parlour and two hair-dressing salons.
I saw one guy was in the chair getting his arm tattooed, three hairdressers chatting at the end of a long day and this couple engaged in long smooch.

Is that a Saddle?

I know this isn't the greatest photo - it was dark and I only had my old point and shoot - but this is the Pengrowth Saddledome, home of the Calgary Flames.
It's called the Saddledome becasue it was designed in the shape of a saddle...Calgary being Cowboy country and all that.
And yes...there is a guy in a cowboy hat in the picture. Lots of people wear them in Calgary - even when it's not Stampede time.

Kipper!

The fans of the Calgary Flames are known as "The C of Red"
...because looking out over the crowd in the Saddledome on a game night, all you see are red jerseys
...a sea of red.
And Kipper is our goal tender - that's his face behind the mask on the banner.
His real name is Mikka Kiprusoff but to everyone in Calgary, he's known as Kipper.

Going to the Game

It was a cold night. We have had some snow. It's not sticking yet but it won't be long before it is.
But cold nights are good for hockey games and last nights game against the Montreal Canadians was a great one...for the Calgary Flames anyway.
Flames won 4-3.

I shot this on the way to the Saddledome...it's that big grey building supposedly designed to look like a saddle!
This is cowboy country you know!
And to prove it...there's a guy in a cowboy hat going to the game.

Whispering Grasses

This is the artwork on one of the bridges that crosses a four lane highway to allow pedestrian access to Nose Hill Park. The bridge is called "Whispering grasses" and was named by local school children. I think the art work represents the rivers and geology of the Calgary area.

Last of the Warm Days

This week has seen Fall's final fling. Colder days are on the way but I took advantage of the warm autumn sun to walk up on Nose Hill and take a shot of the city. Snow is forecast for the week ahead. Brrr!

Diner Deluxe

This is a fabulous old-fashioned diner on Edmonton Trail. Diner Deluxe serves wonderful breakfasts and has amazing lamps everywhere! They're always busy but if you're ever in Calgary it's worth going out of your way to try.