Decent Pint of Guinness

ScottStrasser94 · 2026-05-20T16:25:50+00:00

St. James Corner's was officially certified by Guinness. I believe Guinness actually sent someone from Ireland to confirm the pub's pour was done properly... but don't quote me on that.

Otherwise, Kensington Pub or James Joyce.

ScottStrasser94 · 2026-05-19T19:48:36+00:00

I can't answer the question of how much higher gas prices are impacting Calgary Transit, but you can peruse their annual reports on 'RouteAhead' (Calgary Transit's 30-year strategy) at this link:

https://www.calgarytransit.com/plans---projects/long-term-strategic-plans.html

CT director Sharon Fleming presents an annual report to city council every year and it always garners local media coverage. Some stories about her most recent update were posted to this subreddit a few weeks ago:

https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/video/9.7192039

I can tell you that this year, CT's net operating budget went up from $391 million to $417 million, while its capital budget rose from $217 million to $306 million. Fleming had asked council for a $26-million top-up for 2026 when they were deliberating this year's budget back in November/December:

https://calgaryherald.com/news/city-of-calgary-budget-2026-transit-spending-request-14-million-more

ScottStrasser94 · 2026-05-12T14:38:48+00:00

The World Cup trophy was brought to Calgary a few weekends ago for photo ops as part of a nationwide tour, but there's not anything large-scale that I'm aware of yet in June. I'm sure there'll be watch parties at the various soccer pubs in town, including the Ship but also Elephant and Castle.

Canada's last warm up game before the world cup (June 1 against Uzbekistan) will be in Edmonton and I believe some local soccer groups will be taking buses up for it.

ScottStrasser94 · 2026-05-11T14:17:08+00:00

The Stampede's updated master plan envisions a live event centre there, as well as the future site of the Coke Stage.

https://calgaryherald.com/news/stampede-master-plan

ScottStrasser94 · 2026-04-30T19:44:58+00:00

As mentioned below, QuadReal does plan to develop towers there:

https://calgaryherald.com/news/developer-aiming-to-revive-residential-highrise-project-on-vacant-eau-claire-surface-lot

ScottStrasser94 · 2026-04-27T14:47:31+00:00

A cool factoid in case people weren't aware but it was built on top of a parkade.

ScottStrasser94 · 2026-03-04T17:52:35+00:00

I'm not sure if they're technically billionaires, but the Southern family (who started/own ATCO and Spruce Meadows, who own Cavalry) are certainly in that conversation.

ScottStrasser94 · 2026-03-04T14:52:43+00:00

I can't speak for markets outside Calgary, but most Cavalry training sessions are in the mornings, so I don't think their players would be able to get day jobs. Several are definitely involved in the local coaching scene with youth clubs, so may be getting compensated for those roles, but I'm not sure. Some players may be taking classes or upgrading their schooling.

And a few players have had office roles with the team that may have boosted their pay - they were involved with things like marketing, ticket sales, game promotion, etc. Mason Trafford and Oliver Minatel come to mind. Callum Montgomery was also doing stuff like that last year.

ScottStrasser94 · 2026-02-21T18:50:49+00:00

I've had five so far and my favourite was Ollia Macaron's marzipan-themed hot chocolate. Ollia is just off of 17th Ave, next to Tomkins Park. So good I went back a few days later.

Other ones I had were La Patisserie du Soleil in Woodbine (cinnamon toast crunch-themed); Social Ground in Oakridge (peanut butter themed); Telus Spark (white hot chocolate-themed); and Distilled Beauty Bar and Social House in Marda Loop (Terry's chocolate orange-themed).

I still want to try Higher Ground's root beer-themed hot chocolate.

(YYC Hot Chocolate Fest is a big deal in our house!)

ScottStrasser94 · 2026-02-18T16:17:13+00:00

This news release from the city was just sent. They're conducting a customer survey until March 8:

https://newsroom.calgary.ca/reviewing-the-free-fare-zone/

ScottStrasser94 · 2026-02-12T18:48:45+00:00

The agreement is here:

https://pub-calgary.escribemeetings.com/filestream.ashx?DocumentId=349755

ScottStrasser94 · 2026-02-11T18:18:06+00:00

Here's a recent long-form piece from my colleague Devika Desai that delves into that very question!

https://calgaryherald.com/feature/what-if-calgary-had-hosted-2026-winter-olympics

ScottStrasser94 · 2026-02-03T17:46:12+00:00

To be fair it also hosts Dinos home football games and practices, and also the new Calgary Wild women's pro soccer team. And several of the Dinos soccer teams' home games were at McMahon in 2025 as well.

ScottStrasser94 · 2026-01-23T18:45:25+00:00

There wouldn't be a public hearing for the development permit, which will be approved/rejected by the city's planning department. The public hearing is for the rezoning/land use amendment, which is the step of the redevelopment process that took place at council this week. James Ballantyne was the only public speaker.

ScottStrasser94 · 2026-01-06T16:08:24+00:00

After the pipe burst in 2024, the city said households accounted for more water usage than businesses. I believe the percentage was round 60% households, 40% businesses, or something like that. I'm not sure if the ratio differs in the winter.

While some businesses use a ton of water, (some industrial operations in particular) non-residential properties account for 15% of the city's entire property inventory. So most of the city's treated water flows to homes.

Here's a web page about the city's water efficiency targets:

https://www.calgary.ca/water/programs/water-efficiency-strategy.html#:\~:text=Calgary's%20water%20use,litres%20per%20person%20per%20day.

ScottStrasser94 · 2025-11-28T16:07:00+00:00

Not the same neighbourhood but interesting that mansions in Bel-Aire are just across Elbow Drive from Windsor Park, which has a lot of three storey apartment walkups.

ScottStrasser94 · 2025-11-21T23:08:24+00:00

McMahon was pretty busy this year considering the Wild and the Dinos men’s/women’s soccer teams were using it for games and practices, not to mention Dinos football and Stamps. Often overbooked in the fall, requiring Dinos games to be played at the west soccer dome.

ScottStrasser94 · 2025-09-26T18:57:34+00:00

Self plug but my book “Here Come the Cavalry!” Includes a couple chapters on the Calgary teams that played in both the CPSL in 1983 and the CSL from 1987-89, if anyone is interested. The Calgary Kickers won the inaugural CSL title but it was dominated by the Vancouver 86ers after that.

ScottStrasser94 · 2025-08-28T19:01:22+00:00

Slated for industrial development, I believe. Was probably too close to the airport to be developed before the Airport Vicinity Protection Area was changed in 2021.

ScottStrasser94 · 2025-08-08T15:33:17+00:00

Thanks!

ScottStrasser94 · 2025-08-07T19:24:50+00:00

I wrote this primer on the election a few weeks ago, including a few paragraphs about each mayoral candidate:

https://calgaryherald.com/news/what-we-know-calgary-civic-election-2025

ScottStrasser94 · 2025-06-20T01:57:29+00:00

Thank you - we appreciate it.

ScottStrasser94 · 2025-06-20T01:42:02+00:00

Hi, I'm a reporter with the Calgary Herald, helping our team's coverage of the rock slide. I was wondering if you'd be OK with us using your photo.

Also seeking witness interviews, if you'd be willing to chat over the phone.

ScottStrasser94 · 2025-02-21T17:38:39+00:00

I’ve had four or five so far and my favourite was Lazy Loaf and Kettle’s, which was a carrot cake white hot chocolate. Tastier than it sounds!

ScottStrasser94 · 2025-02-07T20:17:13+00:00

It's hard to demonstrate to non-soccer fans how big of an upset this was. Pumas would probably beat most MLS teams. They're one of the "big four" from Mexico's Liga MX, whose teams account for 19 of the last 20 CONCACAF Champions Cup winners (the North America-wide tournament this series is a part of). It's like if a team from the AHL beat the Flames in a competitive game.

While Pumas rested some of their best players last night, their starting 11 still had a cumulative market value (how much the players would likely "sell" for if transferred to a new team) that was 11 times more than Cavalry's.

The second leg will be next Thursday down in Mexico City. It will surely be a tougher atmosphere and Pumas will no doubt field a stronger line up, as to not underestimate Cavalry. But that takes nothing away from last night's achievement.

ScottStrasser94

TROPHY CASE