This weekend, there is a ton of stuff going on in Calgary; in fact(!) the weekend is so jam-packed that you may want to head to the first great event straight from work, or cocktails, whatever you like…
Friday is always the perfect excuse to let your hair down or loosen your tie and enjoy a bevvie (or more) with friends. Obviously, you’ll want the perfect ensemble that you can take from day to night. Dress to impress that morning and stay in the core after work to hit any one of multitude of great options. With the weather calling for temperatures in the high 20s, take advantage of the warmth and choose a patio as the place to sip libations with friends. We recommend WEST Restaurant (pictured above) rooftop patio. With over 15,000 sq. ft., it’s bound to be packed with Calgary Notables.
After drinks, a quick hop down the street will take you to the locale of the CIFF Black Carpet Gala feature. They’ve got a late night one that is sure to delight…
Rather catch some live entertainment? The Calgary International Improv Festival is also happening this weekend in the Epcor Centre for the Performing Arts. Put on by the Improv Guild – also known as The Curiously Canadian Improv Guild – it formed with a mission to make Calgary the hub of improvisational theatre, where improv actors can practice their art and grow the art form through co-operative projects with local and international companies and artists. Now in its fourth year, the festival will be featuring the talents of a variety of actors including the hilarious Colin Mochrie of Whose Line is it Anyway.
Saturday calls for a day of art as the city will be abuzz with a great selection of art-based events for the Alberta Art Days. This three-day fest (Friday through Sunday) will have hundreds of events taking place throughout the province, ensuring there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Showcasing the province’s artists, arts organizations, and cultural industries while encouraging Albertans to discover the important role the art plays in developing a prosperous, vibrant society.
Sunday we recommend heading to Cantos Music Foundation. For $10 you can have a guided tour with a Cantos interpreter of their collection of nearly 2,000 artifacts including one of the largest collections of keyboard instruments in the world, vintage recording equipment, and the latest technology in recording and sound synthesis. The collection also includes items from Alberta’s musical traditions as well as the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame Collection which currently resides on the Stampede Grounds.