Photo by Lisa Murphy-Lamb

Photo by Lisa Murphy-Lamb

The restaurant is beautiful and elegant with a contemporary feel.  Dark wood, interesting lighting, glass walls and lush drapes offer a sense of luxury.  We were seated at an intimate booth built in a semi-circle fashion.  Instead of sitting across from each other we sat beside one another and looked out over the dining room.  Behind us were more traditional booths and private tables.

Complimentary still and sparkling water is offered and replenished throughout the meal.  The restaurant creates their own sparkling water.

The first course was an apple and celery root soup garnished with smoked ham hock.  It was a creamy bowl of soup with a fantastic flavour.  The ham hock balanced the creamy soup nicely.

It was when the second course, spring creek braised short rib served in a bowl of polenta topped with braised greens was served that I knew my family was on their own for dinner.  The polenta, also creamy, was a perfect accompaniment to the short rib which was tender and delicious.  The portion was more than ample for a lunchtime meal.  I was happy and satisfied when I finished and there was still dessert to go.

Photo by Lisa Murphy-Lamb

Photo by Lisa Murphy-Lamb

Dessert was a lemon tart topped with raspberry sorbet with plenty of tartness to balance the creaminess of the preceding two dishes.  If I had the luxury to linger, I would have held off on the dessert and enjoyed a coffee with it as the first two courses were very filling.

Dine Out Calgary  was an excellent excuse to check out Rush, a restaurant I knew very little about.  The very satisfying three-course lunch experience ($25) with a good friend has left me eager to return and check out the regular menu.

Call ahead for free valet parking at night.

www.rushrestaurant.com

Dine Out Calgary starts this Friday, March 5th and runs until Sunday, March 14th. There’s over 90 restaurants participating this year and that means a lot of great dining choices. To help you with your decision our blog writers have chosen their top picks for the 10 days. First up Wil Knoll

I started to go to the gym before Christmas and had been somewhat committed to my 10k runs, and keeping my weight down around the 160lbs mark. The Scotiabank Calgary Marathon is just months away, and I need to be ready.

Christmas came and I battled it. New Year’s came and I hung out with the whereswalter.ca crew (two young Calgarians enjoying the life in a 31 foot Winnebago named Walter) in Las Vegas… Then High Performance Rodeo came and there was drinking more nights out of the week then not.

So, just as I’m starting to trend back down towards the happy 160lbs that is only 5 measly little pounds away, downtown Calgary puts together Dine Out Calgary.

Obviously, you’ll be seeing more of me at the Y in the coming weeks… Here are a few of my picks for Dine Out Calgary. Since over the next 10 days they will be offering a set menu for Dine Out Calgary, I’m going to just give a taste of some of the locations.

Laurier Lounge

Billed as a fondue joint, Laurier Lounge is in a bit of an interesting spot. I had driven past it countless times headed west on 11th Ave, but never noticed that it was there. After enjoying its atmosphere once, I’ve got to put it on the list. This old house feels intimate and classy. The staff are knowledgeable, and the tight quarters feel cozy, not constraining. Great for an intimate date or an upscale birthday party.

Ironwood Stage and Grill

The Ironwood has become one of my favorite spots for live music in Calgary, as its layout and feel is right for smaller rock and blues shows. When Kris Demeanor did his first production of “Buzz Job”, the Ironwood WAS the last venue that Cal Cavendish played. It has a nice deep long bar where being the guy sitting there drinking alone isn’t a necessarily a bad thing, as the crowd of locals are friendly and inviting. Friendly staff, good tunes, and a quieter side of Calgary. Great for beers away from the rat race after a long day.

Muse Restaurant

The interior of Muse wraps back around itself creating several independent areas that each have a bit of personality. There are little nooks that provide a bit of privacy, and a larger open area around the well stocked bar. A rich buttery light bathes the arches and curves of the space creating a soothing view for the eye to drink in. The music is a complement to the space, never drowning out conversation. Sexy and modern feeling with hints of something exotic, it’s great for first dates and rendezvous.

Don Quijote’s

Don Quijote’s has a beat, a vibe, and a Mediterranean feel to it. During the summer nights, when the windows are open a warm breeze blows through, you can believe that you’re actually thousands of miles away basking in the authentic feel of this place. Dance is a way of life for many of the regulars at Quijote’s, with amazing live tunes complemented by some of the best tango and flamenco I’ve ever seen. But the Spanish smile is ever present and no one is excluded from the dance floor. This is your “something different” date, and nights out with groups that enjoy wearing big smiles.

Please leave a comment if you have a recommendation to add or you want to share your Dine Out experience. You can also fill out the Dine Out Calgary survey for a chance to win a gift certificate to one of the amazing Dine Out Calgary restaurants.

Dine Out Calgary starts this Friday, March 5th and runs until Sunday, March 14th. There’s over 90 restaurants participating this year and that means a lot of great dining choices. To help you with your decision our blog writers have chosen their top picks for the 10 days. First up Derrick Plotsky

Decisions, decisions, decisions. Life is full of decisions. And the most recent life-changing decision that I have to deal with? Where to go for Dine Out Calgary. I know, my life is so difficult. But there are just so many amazing places to choose from with so many different types of food; no matter what you like you’ll be able to find someplace to go.

For my first anniversary my wife and I decided to go to Murrietas for supper. That was a great decision on our part as it was a spectacular supper. The music was really nice and wasn’t too loud. The servers that we had treated us great and were extremely helpful. And the food, oh the food. The steak I had was cooked perfectly to my liking and even the potatoes and vegetables were great (usually I am not a big fan). So when I saw that they had something for Dine Out Calgary I knew it would probably be really good. And the menu definitely sounds great. I think the roasted half chicken with risotto sounds amazing, especially when coupled with the chocolate banana bread pudding for dessert. So, if you want a nice night out that won’t break the bank then definitely check Murrieta’s out.

When I was doing my Bachelor’s degree in Victoria there was this one Irish pub called The Irish Times that me and my friends frequented quite often. And ever since moving to Calgary (when I have the money) I’ve been trying to find someplace that is as good. Dine Out Calgary provides me with the perfect excuse to go out and try one more Irish Pub in Calgary. This time I decided to go to Ceili’s. Why that one? What can I say, I’m a sucker for fish and chips. And the chocolate Guiness pudding doesn’t sound too bad either. Be sure to get a good beer when you’re there.

I admit, I know absolutely nothing about the Jupiter Restaurant and Lounge in Kensington. But their menu for Dine Out Calgary sounds good to me. And the lunch is only $15! This menu had me at the calamari for an appetizer as that is one of my favourite appetizers. And the chicken souvlaki wrap with a chocolate mousse dessert sounds good too. Did I mention it’s only $15?

Please leave a comment if you have a recommendation to add or you want to share your Dine Out experience. You can also fill out the Dine Out Calgary survey for a chance to win a gift certificate to one of the amazing Dine Out Calgary restaurants.

Dine Out Calgary starts this Friday, March 5th and runs until Sunday, March 14th. There’s over 90 restaurants participating this year and that means a lot of great dining choices. To help you with your decision our blog writers have chosen their top picks for the 10 days. Next up Lisa Murphy-Lamb

Here is our problem:  My husband is away on business travel a lot.  This means most of his meals are eaten out while I am at home cooking for the family.  When we are together in the same city at the same time, he looks forward to some home cooking and I look forward to him taking me out. Unless I’m prepared with a solid suggestion for a restaurant that is enticing and easy to get to, his business-travel weariness takes over and he begs to stay in and nosh on something homemade and healthy.

Here is one solution:  Dine out Calgary which begins Friday, March 5 and runs until Sunday, March 14. During Dine out Calgary, participating restaurants offer a 3-course menu at a set price point especially for the event.  This is a great enticement to come and try out some local restaurants, but better than that for me is the website which lists the restaurants and what they are serving.  With access to menus, location and price I am well prepared for when my husband returns from Rio and Buenos Aires (I know, right?) next week.

So with a little research by way of my computer perched on top of my cookbooks, here are my top three picks for Dine out Calgary week.  Fingers crossed I talk him into at least joining me at one of them.

The Belvedere used to be the placed we’d go into for a drink when we were dressed up for a company party or a wedding.  We loved what the Belvedere refers to as the New York atmosphere, with high backed chairs and deep bench seating.  Scotch, martinis and then, cigars, were what we stayed for.  In all the times we went into drink, I only ate in the dining room once. I am aware of  The Belvedere’s reputation for superb cuisine.  It has been considered one of Calgary’s best restaurants for many years boasting fresh ingredients and impeccable service.  During Dine Out Calgary week there is only one dining option: gourmet with wine pairings ($85) and I think with The Belvedere that is all they need to offer.  The menu is both exotic (truffles) and local (Alberta beef tenderloin).  This applies to the wine pairings as well.

Bistro Piq Niq offers two dining choices in this intimate downtown restaurant.  Lunch is offered for $25 and dinner  for $35.  Both are three course meals but unlike The Belvedere where the menu is set, Bistro Piq Niq’s chef Andrew Trinier offers a small choice for entrees both at lunch and dinner.  Both dining experiences begin with the chef’s soup and end with Callebaut Mousse au Chocolat.  Check out their website to see what the chef has in mind for entrees.

Rush is a restaurant I know nothing about which is truly the best kind of restaurant, in my opinion, to try out during Dine Out Calgary week.  Having moved out of the country for two years, Rush is one of the many talked about restaurants which opened up while we were gone.  I know very little about this place except by what my friends have said, and all reports have been favourable.  Having only driven past it once, I was struck by the glass exterior and am personally drawn to contemporary places, both in architecture and food.  Rush fits the bill. Executive Chef Justin Leboe creates an innovative contemporary North American menu.  The set lunch menu is not up yet for perusing but the gourmet dinner menu ($85) is.  I took a look, and not completely understanding all the ingredients on the menu, having it set and served without me having to order will suit me, and my travel wearied husband just fine.

Please leave a comment if you have a recommendation to add or you want to share your Dine Out experience. You can also fill out the Dine Out Calgary survey for a chance to win a gift certificate to one of the amazing Dine Out Calgary restaurants.

Dine Out Calgary starts this Friday, March 5th and runs until Sunday, March 14th. There’s over 90 restaurants participating this year and that means a lot of great dining choices. To help you with your decision our blog writers have chosen their top picks for the 10 days.  First up Sophy Kors

I always look forward to Dine Out Calgary because it’s a great chance to try new (to me) restaurants. I imagine that eventually I’ll run out, but I don’t think that’ll be anytime soon. With so many choices it’s a hard choice, but the three that I hope to try Blink, Koi and CHARCUT Roasthouse.

The one thing that all of my choices have in common? Dessert!

Blink
Bacon, beef and … Earl Grey ice cream?! I am a dessert person and everyone who has even a slight acquaintance probably knows this already. Between the broek farm ham hock and split pea soup with crispy bacon and the spring creek ranch flat iron of beef it would be hard to go wrong here. The dessert sounds amazing, even though I don’t usually like ice cream as a dessert; the flavours are so interesting I have to try them. And since I know my date will order toffee pudding, I can always steal some of his if he looks away.

Koi
The menu is what caught my attention here. All the ingredients sound fresh and delicious and there’s a lot of choice. The combination appetizer has a bit of everything and for the main you can choose vegetarian, beef, salmon, chicken and prawns. Koi is perfect for going with a group of friends, because who wants to eat exactly the same thing? And for dessert? Green tea ice cream.

CHARCUT Roasthouse
This is a newly opened restaurant in Le Germain hotel and I know I’m not the only one looking forward to trying it. Their menu for Dine Out Calgary changes daily, but judging from the sample menus, it will be a pleasant surprise. ‘Lunch all at Once’ sounds like a great solution to the ‘where to go for a nice lunch and still be back on time’ problem. They have two combinations to choose from, one comes with coffee to go and the other with dessert and coffee to go (no points for which one I’ll choose).

Please leave a comment if you have a recommendation to add or you want to share your Dine Out experience. You can also fill out the Dine Out Calgary survey for a chance to win a gift certificate to one of the amazing Dine Out Calgary restaurants.

In what must be her third or fourth breakout role, Kat Dennings plays the creatively named Kat, a prostitute and drug addict who befriends Harrelson’s titular character. We can assume most of their bonding happens off-screen, because not a lot happens on screen to suggest the relationship that materializes. Harrelson is predictably good as Arthur Poppington (who is good as Defendor), a one-note character for obvious reasons. Poppington is mentally challenged, and through a series of misunderstandings is seeking revenge on someone who doesn’t actually exist. I’ve given you enough details to piece together the plot for the most part.

Once you’ve settled into the mood of the film, it’s pretty enjoyable, although it seems like some scenes happen twice just in case you missed it the first time. It’s well worth it to watch Harrelson operate in his comfort zone, and Dennings turn in yet another performance that will convince people her next one will make her a star.

Defendor plays at the Uptown until March 4th.

LAST TRAIN HOME explores the chaos resulting when millions of migrant factory workers return to their families and rural villages from the coastal cities where they’ve gone to work.  Focusing on one family caught up in this commute, this film explores China’s struggle with keeping to traditional ways while establishing itself as a modern  global economic power.

LAST TRAIN HOME
Wednesday, March 3 @ 7:00 pm
Cineplex Odeon Eau Claire Market, 200 Barclay Parade, S.W.
Admission with Doc Soup subscription
Single tickets: $12 in advance at Bird Dog Video (1333 16 Avenue SW) or $14 at the door

And ATP has done such a wonderful job in gifting it with its first time out. From end to end this production sings. Writing, direction, performance, stage, sound and lights… it is the show to see at playRites.

I need to start by raving about the design of this show. The sound design stands out as a textbook example of charmed. It really looked to the source material’s setting for inspiration. The sounds are knitted together so well. Aboriginal throat song sinks into the waning drizzle of static from the radio, as the wind whips and scrapes snow across the barren rocks so vividly that you can see it. Sound is used sparingly, but used so well.

The staging is smart. Simple props and set pieces start out as supplies, and end up becoming home. Over time these objects begin to frame the discussions that are the prison or promise to the women encamped there. The lights bound a beautifully dressed deck that is lit from underneath with white light. The white deck creates the sensation of the cold rock, the foundation for the locale. These smart decisions create a feel of claustrophobia while surrounded by the empty expanse.

And these details all support a splendidly directed showcase of the words of the playwright and the performances of the actors. MacArthur has written two deeply realized challenges to the women who step up to fill the roles. These characters arc, reveal, and speak as real people. Each character has their distinct voice, cadence, and phrases. The motivations are natural, and so honestly human. The actions and interactions? Well, that’s where the fun comes from.

The amount of breath that goes into the roles, filled by Jan Alexandra Smith and Celine Stubel, is staggering. Both of them put in a nuanced performance where the audience is allowed into the internal monologues and state of the characters. At times, MacArthur’s words can become heavy with telling the stories of action, sequences that could be acted. But within the confines of the environment, the monologues seeping out in the barren company of someone you don’t know, are apt. Alexandra Smith and Stubel glow with energy, pouring scorn or welcome or fury or love all over the deck.

The two supporting roles, fleshed out by Kevin Corey and Geoffrey Brown, are staccato notes over the flow of the play. Each brings a tight energy that complements the massive foundations and forward momentum that the ladies have created. No performer was out of place or understated.

It’s great theatre. The seasoned patron and the non-theatre crowd looking for something different on a Friday night will both get something out of this show. ATP has done a wonderful job staging a strong play from MacArthur. You can feel the distance from everywhere, and the shoulder tightening closeness of that one person who puts your teeth on edge. The plot twists around boundaries, ownership, and what we can truly call our own.

I’d be proud to call MacArthur’s Tyland Canadian. We are better for it.

Tyland
By Greg MacArthur

Part of ATP’s playRites Festival
Runs through Saturday, 6 March 2010
Martha Cohen Theatre
www.atplive.com

It’s a play about confusion to a certain extent. Characters are left running over the same sequences again and again, layering more context each go round, trying to understand the meaning of a man, an image, or wax figure. It’s a performer’s show. There is a badge that each of the ensemble involved should be given for plowing through almost two hours straight barely leaving the stage and barely taking a break.

I enjoyed Abraham Lincoln Goes to the Theatre. But it is confused, and it tries to explain itself to the audience too often, much like the characters are trying to explain themselves to the world.

I found that a majority of the people that enjoyed the show had spent some time performing themselves. There is something about the play within the play that lives in the warm parts of grade school memories for us. But that’s a bit of an insider’s thing, and the non-performers were left feeling cold, as if they had never been invited in. For a show that could be extremely meta, it puts up a solid wall between the performance and the observer.

What it does well is a discussion about our need as individuals to be remembered, and what it means to be remembered. Do we end up as a footnote, a police report, or a character? And does the ‘character’ represent the truth of an individual any better than the footnote? Does the simple act of saying the names of the long past mean they are remembered at all? Or is it just lip service to a story?

Sadly, the point that Larry Tremblay is making is unclear. And it takes a bit too long to try and talk it out amongst itself.

The set is minimally dressed, honest to being a stage and the nature of rehearsal. The sound design is functional, and the lights do take the time to differentiate between the warm glow of performance, and the harsh wash of fluorescents in the rehearsal hall.

The show is funny. In its best moments it is quite smart and witty. At its worst, it plods and talks in circles. Some people decided to walk out halfway in. Some people thought it was brilliant by the end. I would have trimmed fifteen minutes of it. I wondered if the point, which I could almost taste, was a little distilled in translation. But I did enjoy it, and I laughed heartily most of the way through.

Abraham Lincoln Goes to the Theatre
By Larry Tremblay, translated by Chantal Bilodeau

Part of ATP’s playRites Festival
Runs through Saturday, 6 March 2010
Martha Cohen Theatre
www.atplive.com

“…am I rambling?”
“Eloquently.”

I have to state that the words and images used in this show are beautiful. The writing of the two poets profiled are the standard beautiful words. Specific words are chosen for their emotion and specifics over other words that would have just passed an idea along. There is no doubt that the two are top shelf Victorian poets. There is no doubt that their work is for the ages.

But does that translate well to the stage? Florence Gibson has tried to flesh out the passion and the romance in her new play How Do I Love Thee, which is enjoying its world premiere run at ATP right now.

The largest criticism I have about How Do I Love Thee is that it is a play about poetry, not a play of poetry.

Beyond his Sonnets, Shakespeare’s plays are written as plays. The meter can be used to identify internal states of the characters, to provide hints about breath and sounds. Browning’s words are written to be read of course, savoured in the heart, but they are written as poems.

Unfortunately, for a show that pulls from prolific writers of such quality, it speaks best in its one-liners. The most is communicated on stage in quick bursts, not the long wide thoughts pulled from the Brownings’ poetry. The most laughs are pulled from quick salvos back and forth. I believe that these parts are the writing of Gibson herself, and they do show her ability to motivate characters and have them interact in a believable fashion.

But when shoehorning the massive passions of the poets work into the dialogue, something is lost. The pace falls off, and the conversation does not feel genuine. What may be missing is time. The Brownings’ had a full year or courtship through letters before they even met, but those letters back and forth are chopped apart and turned into an almost Instant Messaging style courtship that we have seen so often in contemporary movies.

To the average ear, it comes out sounding a bit too verbose. It says it all, says it all so beautifully. But it’s missing the breath of time, the anticipation and waiting, and the silence of contemplation that often accompanies great writing.

There is a passion in the writing, don’t get me wrong. There is a passion in the performances given by the playRites ensemble. The staging is apt and functional, with a majority of the deck being well used with action happening at all ends of the thrust. The lighting design deserves a particular nod. One of the light queues, at the height of addiction, is a really twisted organic sequence that trips along with the high and bends the eye. But very obvious synthesized music grates against the beauty of the period, words, and overall design.

Fans of poetry in general will get more out of this show then I did. There is something with promise happening on stage. There is a play in here, but to borrow a line from a greater writer than myself, it is far too eloquent than essential when getting to the meat of it.

How Do I Love Thee
By Florence Gibson

Part of ATP’s playRites Festival
Runs through Sunday, 7 March 2010
Martha Cohen Theatre
www.atplive.com