17th Avenue

#117 I walk this park every time I am on 17^th Avenue Southwest. Whether it’s Best Buy, London Drug’s, Tutti Frutti, Shoppers Drug Mart, or Analog Coffee, I can’t help but sit for 15 minutes or so just to relax and watch the world go by.
If it’s cold, I grab a hot drink from the previously mentioned Analog Coffee. Even a small ice cream from Tutti Frutti will do the trick but more often than not, just a semi daily walk to and from home to just enjoy a quiet, clean, and vibrant park. Even next to the expensive washroom facing Analog Coffee on 7^th Street Southwest is entertaining. Great park to people watch unlike Central Memorial Park which is larger and across from Sheldon Chumir Health Centre as well as next to a branch of the Calgary Public Library or what used to be from what I am told.
This park often has weekend festivals where local businesses attempt to pawn their wares and drum up business. Usually crowded even on snow days like today, I appreciate this small gem. In the summer, a seat is not to be found (all that people watching). With a mixture of evergreen trees and seasonal trees, always a spot away from the bright sun.
The weekend getaway this is not far away and very affordable. With free parking after 6pm Saturday through 9am Monday (holidays also free) and Calgary Transit Route 7 rolling by regularly, no excuse not spend some time away from the real world.
See you again real soon!

Uptown girl
She’s been living in her uptown world
I bet she’s never had a backstreet guy
I bet her momma never told her why…
A few weeks ago, this Downtown Guy really enjoyed his stroll down 17^th Avenue and I hope to repeat the experience. 17^th Avenue is on the South end of the Beltline district and is a vibrant area with a dense concentration of bars, restaurants, nightclubs, and shops (and quiet residential areas behind). A work friend of mine lives here and really enjoys her life in this happening neighbourhood.
The street is effectively Calgary’s primary «party street». The street also «dead-​ends» at the Stampede Grounds on its east side, and is thus central to the party-​like atmosphere that overtakes the city during the Calgary Stampede festival. 17^th Avenue was nicknamed the «Red Mile» in 2004 during the playoff run of the Calgary Flames. During this time, it was not uncommon to see over many thousands of fans crowding the street and its bars and pubs on game nights.