Sylvan Lake Day Trip

On Saturday morning, Jenn and I joined May on a day trip to Sylvan Lake in celebration of her birthday.

The weather was perfect for the drive – sunny but not overly warm. We reached our destination within the estimated two hours, and after parking the car, wandered around town.
Beach
Jenn does her best at channeling rehab-ready starlets (Hoodie? Check. Large sunglasses? Check. Oversized bag? Check.)
Jenn’s bag. Too cute.
Rain had been forecasted for the day, so we were a tad surprised at how sunny it turned out to be. But because none of us had brought swimming gear along, we had to make do with eating and shopping – overall, not a bad way to spend a lazy Saturday.
Marina
We had lunch at the Bayview Cafe (5100 Lakeshore Drive), situated next to the Lake on the ground floor of the Chateau Suites. The food was of the heat-and-serve variety, but for a light lunch, didn’t end up being too bad at all.
My Cannelloni
May’s Rotini
Jenn and her Breakfast Wrap
May and I pose with her Whimsical Cupcakes (which I picked up at the City Centre Market that morning)
For dessert, we couldn’t pass up a visit to The Big Moo (4603 Lakeshore Drive), a retro ice cream parlour on the town’s main strip. With checkered floors, a large yellow menu board, and an ice cream counter that seems to go on forever, it’s a fun way to revive one’s childhood spirit.
My scoop of White Moccachino
Jenn and May enjoy their treats on the water
We were amazed when we looked at our watches to find out that it was already past 5 – time flies, especially during these last days of summer. Happy birthday May!

Another Chain, Another Disappointment: Applebee’s Neighbourhood Grill & Bar

It was a sad Thursday indeed when Bettina and I couldn’t come up with any more inspiring southside eateries than Applebee’s (10390 51 Avenue). But as we both hadn’t been there before, it wasn’t a total loss, as we are always up to try new restaurants.

This particular building has a history of failed establishments attached to it – changing hands from The Cheesecake Cafe to Maxwell Taylor’s to EMW and now to its current tenant. I hadn’t been to EMW, so I’m not sure how much of the interior remains from the previous design, but for a “neighbourhood grill & bar” (a tagline suspiciously similar to Kelsey’s might I add), the decor is quite sleek – dark wood, large vases, spot lighting. I hate to say it, but it’s almost nicer than the menu allows at face value.
Like Kelsey’s and Ricki’s, the casual, family-friendly menu at Applebee’s boasts an unsurprising variety of sandwiches, burgers, and pastas. I had to laugh at our over-eager server (who was probably not more than 13 years old), who introduced, with karate-chop flare, their featured “Irresist-A-Bowls.” Though tempting, I bypassed the specials and chose the Three Cheese Penne (mozzarella, provolone and parmesan cheeses top off a rich mix of penne pasta, Italian-seasoned grilled chicken, diced tomatoes, fresh basil and Alfredo sauce), while Bettina ordered a Chicken Sandwich.
The wait wasn’t unbearable, but by the time our food had been delivered, most of the patrons had cleared out – at this rate, I wondered if we would be seeing another “For Lease” sign soon. As for our entrees, the portion sizes were unforgivably small. Perhaps it was my oversight to order pasta, but I couldn’t help but think that for a mere $2 more at Olive Garden, I would have had access to unlimited salad and breadsticks; or at Denny’s, for $4 less, I’d receive twice as much food. Applebee’s might offer “healthy” portion sizes, but somehow that seems like the optimistic point of view.
In my quest to try as many restaurants as possible, I can’t just overlook the chains. That said, these generic, no-concept chains haven’t had a good track record so far.
Menu
Interior
Three Cheese Penne
Chicken Sandwich

TV Notes

  • By the end of summer, I get so used to being without appointment television that I can already feel the regret when I return to my old ways come the onslaught of season premieres. There is one show I am currently watching on a regular basis, however – The Hills season 3 began airing a few weeks ago. Three episodes in, I do think Spencer is being edited somewhat unfairly, and is not being given the opportunity to respond to the questions he has been asked in certain scenes. Of course, with his immature outburst about Lauren at the close of “Meet the Parents,” I don’t pity him too much. TelevisionWithoutPity has started to recap the show, if anyone is interested (as much as I enjoy The Hills, I can’t imagine having to summarize it).
  • Prison Break premieres its third season on September 17, but I was able to watch quite a bit of the first episode already (unfortunately, the video doesn’t seem to be available any longer). It looks promising, but not as nail-biting as when the characters are on the run.
  • A show I stumbled upon this summer is The Next Food Network Star. Besides featuring all of my favorite television chefs (Giada! Bobby!), it provides viewers with a behind-the-scenes glimpse of how multi-faceted the cooking personalities have to be. They’re down to the final four.

The Cooking Chronicles: Chocolate Amaretti Cake

After being repeatedly exposed to photos of Giada’s Chocolate Amaretti Cake, I decided I had to try out the recipe.

Being without a large food processor, I wasn’t able to follow the instructions to a T. After grinding the sliced almonds and amaretti cookies separately, I incorporated the morsels into the butter mixture by hand. I also ended up baking the cake for longer than the proposed time, and wasn’t able to remove the finished product from the springfoam pan until much later, resulting in a slightly piecemeal presentation.

Not being a huge fan of almonds to begin with probably should have clued me into not making an amaretti-based cake, but somehow I didn’t expect the entire cake to taste and smell like it had been dosed with artificial almond extract. My Mum claimed the texture to be like that of a brownie, but I think it was spongier than that, and not as rich or tasty.

Perhaps I messed up the measurements, but I likely will not be making this cake again. Anyone interested in half a box of amaretti cookies?

Chocolate Amaretti Cake

Live & Let Fringe: Wrap-up

It was a year of many Fringe firsts for me, including the purchase of a Frequent Fringer pass, Die-Nasty, a deep-fried chocolate bar, and more plays than I’ve ever seen over the course of one festival. I also continued my role as a Fringe Evangelist, exposing two more newbies to the wonders of indoor productions (I’ll do a better job of pre-screening plays for my sister though, else Felicia may never again return to theatre). And of course, who could forget the controversial changes to the ticketing system? It was high drama scrutinized in the media, in line-ups, and on stage.

Despite all of this, Live & Let Fringe left me unsatisfied. It could have been the concentration of great plays I saw at the opening of the festival (as opposed to this weekend), or the consistently grey weather throughout, but there was just something missing from 007.

For those who haven’t gotten their fix, holdovers start this Wednesday. Although I’m disappointed that my pick of the Fringe, Madagascar, was left off of the schedule, I’d recommend The Power of Ignorance (which might play better to a larger crowd in the Arts Barns).

Only 355 days before the madness begins again – see you next year!

Live & Let Fringe: Day 10

After brunch, May and I headed down to the Fringe site to catch Chance Moments (Stage 11). One of the few productions I picked based on its written description in the program, the play catalogued a series of snapshots integral to the rise – and fall – of a couple’s relationship. The script and direction themselves weren’t bad (the use of everyday objects as scene starters was a nice touch), but the acting was simply not there. Kyle Schroter in particular was flat, emotionless, and couldn’t grasp the concept of pacing and beats. The production ran ten minutes short of its advertised show length, indicative of an all-too rushed delivery, and the actors’ inability to embrace poignant pauses. As a whole, the story was one that I have seen done better elsewhere (last year’s 52 Pick-up, for example), and with anaemic acting, Chance Moments ended up being one of my weakest picks this Fringe.

To round out the festival, I met up with Dickson for his selection of El Muchacho (Stage 1). A musical primarily starring teens, the plot had been adapted from Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Mikado (whatever that meant). A complicated “love story” involving an executioner, a blood-thirsty president, his guitaristo son, and a chica nicknamed Dum-Dum, the ninety minute production seemed to go on and on. There were also a number of offbeat pop culture references (including a snipe about Ryan Smyth) that Dickson didn’t appreciate – he felt they distracted from the play as a whole. A few days ago, I came across a review of this play in the Journal, and although I didn’t read the text of the article, the headline stuck in my mind – “Easy on the eyes, but often hard on the ears.” Too true. Lead male singer John Tribiger, as the tale’s Romeo, could not hold a note, and more often than not, was inaudible. Thankfully, the lead female, Katherine Carleton, could sing, but with her talent, it’s a wonder how she was cast opposite Tribiger. All this being said, I guess I shouldn’t be too hard on this group of kids; I can’t imagine getting up on stage to act, let alone sing. So bravo for their effort…but the onus will simply be on me to avoid amateur musicals in the future.

Only for the View: Riverside Bistro at Courtyard Marriott

Annie, Janice, May and I finally followed through on our year-long quest to eat at the Courtyard Marriott’s Riverside Bistro (99 Street & Jasper Avenue).

Meeting for brunch on a grey Saturday, it wasn’t the best weather to enjoy one of the best views of the city, but it did make us appreciate one of the last true summer weekends (Annie spotted some leaves on trees below that were already changing color). It was a bit chilly out, so we opted to eat indoors, but we made the most of it with a nice corner table with a great view of the river valley. The restaurant was surprisingly quiet, as we shared the dining room with only one other table. It was a sign.

I was disappointed that the Bistro didn’t offer a brunch menu, but I made do with the Alberta Beef Dip and a side of lentil chicken curry soup. The dish was far from what I would expect from a hotel restaurant. The soup was good, and the beef was all right, but the bread had obviously been flash-thawed from the freezer, resulting in a soggy and half-baked bun. Janice and May found their food sub-par as well.

Moreover, service was sporadic throughout our meal, as our waiter was apparently also the only bartender available, and was therefore forced to go back and forth between the dining room and two weddings taking place at the hotel that afternoon. He did his best to juggle his tasks, but things were inevitably missed.

Thus, the patio, and not the food, ended up being the main attraction. It reminded me of (television reference) Lauren’s Laguna Beach house, and with a built-in bar and awning, would function as a great venue for an intimate celebration.

So buyer beware – I would recommend drinks at Riverside under ideal conditions.

Dining room

Menu

Alberta Beef Dip

Janice’s Grilled Pork Loin Burger

May’s Maple Barbequed Salmon

Annie’s Zinfandel Fruit Salad

Patio

View from the patio

Live & Let Fringe: Day 9

Before lining up for our play on Friday night, I convinced Mack to join me in another Fringe first – a deep fried chocolate bar. Battered then fried, I can best describe it as a “corn dog gone wrong.” Biting into it, the coating suggests that there was to be something of substance on the inside, while in reality, only a mass of melting chocolate greets you. In the end, the combination of salty, sweet and oily tastes didn’t make for a very pleasing treat. Mack claimed that it was “disgusting,” but said in between mouthfuls of the delicacy, I didn’t believe him. For me anyway, this was both a Fringe first and last.

Mack picked Out of Pocket (Stage 7) as his play of choice this year, a story involving an expectant couple and a pair of homeless people who panhandled on the street in front of their apartment. With the help of a hat and a scarf worn multiple ways, Mark Jenkins and Vanessa Sabourin played all of the characters involved. Sabourin in particular (on the heels of her exceptional performance in Madagascar) seamlessly transitioned from one role to another, and was quite good as the comically nasal mistress Jesse. Mack found the plot to be a bit routine (going the “just desserts” path), and I had to agree. Not a bad play on its own, but compared to the productions I had watched earlier on in the festival, Out of Pocket was just average.

Where Fish Come to Fry: Brit’s Fish & Chips

I had heard that Brit’s Fish & Chips (11603 104 Avenue) served deep fried chocolate bars, but in addition to that (and probably why most people would visit), prepared authentic food that lived up to its name. On Friday, I gave it a try.

The set-up is very casual, with an order counter, a giant menu tacked up on the wall behind it, and cushioned folding chairs. The Brits logo is plastered throughout the restaurant, though for such a small establishment (with only one other location), it’s a little odd a branding force is in play at all. Still, the furnishings are comfortable, and the decorative kitsch of rustic signage actually works to create a welcoming atmosphere.

I ordered a one piece cod meal combo, which came with a drink and my choice of side (mushy peas in this case). The fish was likely freshly prepared, which explained the short waiting period. When the food arrived, I dug into the peas, only to discover they tasted like rehydrated lentils, and not fresh peas. It was my mistake in assuming the dish would be otherwise. The fish, on the other hand, was very good, with a light coating of fried batter that wasn’t too dense or oily. Unfortunately, the same could not be said for the chips, which were a tad too heavy for me (I prefer my fries crisp).

Brit’s shuts down early, at 9pm (I had to wonder if it had to do with a lack of lighting sources in the dining room), so go early for their catch of the day.

Cod and chips with mushy peas
Two piece cod and chips

World Vision One Life Experience

I took some time on Friday to walk through the World Vision One Life Experience, located at the HMV Stage at West Edmonton Mall. I read about the free exhibit a few days ago, and was interested to see how the stories of the children affected by HIV/AIDS would be conveyed.

Upon entering the exhibit, I was given an iPod Shuffle and headphones, and asked to enter a curtained area after pressing play. Participants follow the tracks of one of four children based on true stories. I was Stephen, an 11 year old from Uganda.

The path travelled included pictures of Stephen’s family and a replica of the bed he and his siblings slept in. One night, he and his brother were abducted by the Lord’s Resistance Army, after which Stephen was forced to watch and commit horrible acts of violence. Here, I was invited to pick up a rifle attached to the wall, to feel the weight of the weapon and further immerse myself in the footsteps of the young boy. Luckily, Stephen was rescued from his captors and spent some time in a rehabilitation camp for child soldiers.

Before heading home, Stephen had to take an HIV/AIDS test. At this point, participants were directed to a clinic to sit and reflect on the possibility of infection before being provided with a piece of paper stamped either with a “+” or “-” sign. It was a bit unnerving, even though it wasn’t “real.” Stephen thankfully tested negative, and was reunited with his family.

This is a really unique exhibit because it goes beyond using statistics and images to expose the public to the HIV/AIDS pandemic and other problems being faced by many countries in Africa. The One Life Experience runs until Sunday.

One Life Experience