APRIL 1-30 Chocoholics will get their fill during Chocolatefest, Ciao! magazine’s annual celebration of everyone’s favourite indulgence. For the month of April, participating bakeries, restaurants and cafés will offer one or more signature chocolate creations — be they sweet, savoury or sippable — for just $7. Call 204-943-4439 for more information.
Rickard’s Cardigan Autumn Spiced Lager
Winter’s just around the corner, and we’ve got something that will warm you up better than your favourite sweater. Even though it’s served in a cold pint glass, the new Cardigan Autumn Spiced Lager from Rickard’s is the season’s hottest brew. Its cinnamon, nutmeg, clove and brown sugar notes echo a tasty pumpkin pie and will have you pining for a fireplace. Too chilly for a cold drink? Warm some of this preservative-free beer on the stove for a fun twist on the hot toddy. Rickard’s first seasonal beer is wrapped in too-cute sweater label, so look for the distinctive bottle the next time you’re at BC Liquor Stores.—Kristina Urquhart
The Pimm’s Cup and St. Ambroise Pumpkin Beer at National. Photo: Adele Brunnhofer.
While the weather in Calgary sticks to the 20 Celsius mark, it certainly feels like fall has arrived. Though the season just started last Saturday, the trees are turning gold and amber, and an autumnal spirit fills the air. What better way to celebrate continued warm weather and the changing season than grabbing a drink on the patio at National Beer Hall on 17th Avenue SW. (more…)
Stylish Onyx on Spring Garden Road is the spot to see and be seen. On Mondays, the signature mojitos are $7. Wednesdays offer one of the best deals you’ll find downtown: live music, no cover, no corkage fees and half-price apps.
The Economy Shoe Shop on Argyle Street has long been a favourite refuge for Halifax’s popular and fashionable. The beloved downtown bar has a cool vibe, diverse mix of cocktails and—rather unexpectedly—one of the city’s better hamburgers.
Onyx, Photo: julé malet-veale
Soviet-era propaganda posters add a historical flair
Avant-Garde Bar & Gift Shop is easy to miss if you’re not searching for it. Squished in between the booming beats of Ritual Nightclub and the orange glow of iTan Advanced Tanning Studios, the restaurant defines hole-in-the-wall.
Dim lighting and flickering candles contribute to the feeling that you’ve stumbled upon an Ottawa secret, while the walls decorated with Soviet-era propaganda posters evoke a bygone era. All the posters, art, and other merchandise — European sports teams’ baseball hats, polo shirts, hoodies — are for sale.
This Avant-Garde promo poster describes the bar as a cultural hub "where local poets, musicians, artists, designers, and political activitists gather."
When asked about the décor, owner Alex Yugin says, “The Soviet era is very striking artistically and culturally. Every element of décor and every Soviet propaganda poster is surely unlike any traditional pub-related environment. Also, with our family hailing directly from St. Petersburg, Russia, we felt we had a very refreshing and authentic cultural Soviet perspective to offer in comparison to more of a “vintage” North American view.”
The Soviet theme carries over to the menu. For example, classic Russian dishes such as Siberian pelemeni (ground beef dumplings) and borscht are found under the witty heading, “Five-Year Plan Entrees,” referring to Stalin’s five –year plan for stimulating the Soviet Union’s economy. The traditional fare appears alongside more Western-style dishes such as nachos, fittingly named “food stamps nachos,” and a mixed greens salad.
The real gem, however, is the drink menu, which consists of three jam-packed pages of cocktails, martinis, shooters, wine, beer, port, sherry, spirits, and liquors. Cocktails such as “Proletarian Omelet,” “Orange Revolution,” and “From Russia with Love” mix the political with the whimsical. A couple of the most popular cocktails include the “Soviet Sunrise,” a mix of lemon-flavoured vodka and special syrup, and “Red October,” which contains vodka, soda, and a mix of syrups. (more…)
Halloween charms from Thomas Sabo
October 31
Celebrate Oct. 31—grown-up style—with autumn-inspired charms from Thomas Sabo. Sure, you’re no longer getting decked out in your ghoulish best, trick-or-treating from house to house, but that doesn’t mean you need to stop celebrating All Hallows’ Eve altogether. Pop by Thomas Sabo’s new Oakridge Centre store to choose charms of your own, or model your bracelet or necklace after the acorn and pumpkin combo shown above. Other options for ringing in this scary holiday: pints of pumpkin ale and creepy, festive decorations at HomeSense.—Jennifer Patterson
More information:
Thomas Sabo, Oakridge Centre, 650 West 41st Ave. 604-263-7226.
www.thomassabo.com
Homesense, 493 Robson St. 604-683-4406.
www.homesense.ca
These fun water bottles from S'Well come in a rainbow of colours
Forget plastic! Cool down on a hot day with a swig from a colourful stainless steel S’Well water bottle ($35; purchase online at www.swellbottle.com). Each one of these sleek canteens comes insulated to keep icy cold drinks chilled for 24 hours or piping hot bevvies sip-ready for 12.—Jennifer Patterson
Bao Bei Chinese Brasserie. Photo by KK Law
Recently named one of the top 10 new restaurants in Canada by enRoute magazine, Bao Bei lives up to its reputation. Set in a lovingly refurbished setting, this modern Chinese brasserie boasts a cool menu and even cooler decor. The small plates convey a decidedly novel Asian influence, such as the combination of stir-fried squid and pork belly or fresh clams with ginger and scallions. A well-stocked bar filled with creative concoctions and smartly chosen wines completes the picture.—Tim Pawsey
Enjoy the fun ambience at Pancho Villa.
On those dark days of winter, head over to Pancho Villa, a Mexican restaurant in the heart of bustling Elgin Street. The traditional fare is on offer, as are their signature dishes: mole enchiladas, arroz con pollo, and chile relleno. With mains ranging from $9 to $16, there should be change left over for a round of “Tropic daiquiris” (mixing together lime, strawberry, and banana) or one of their 40 kinds of tequila. Now that will have you shaking off the winter blahs in no time! 361 Elgin St., 613-234-8872.
Laughing Stock wine
BC’s wine culture continues to boom, particularly on the sun-kissed, lakeside, southwest-facing plateau of the Naramata Bench. This is home to some of the Okanagan’s older plantings, as well as a few more inventive labels. Leading the pack in this year’s releases are Nichol Vineyard Syrah 08, Poplar Grove Cabernet Franc 07, La Frenz Shiraz 08 and Laughing Stock Blind Trust Red 08 (pictured)—a well-balanced blend that reveals its actual varieties only when you sneak a peek under the capsule. Look for them on better wine lists.—Tim Pawsey
Danielle Tatarin of The Keefer Bar. Photo by KK Law
A cool crowd hangs out late at The Keefer Bar (pictured), a recent arrival on Chinatown’s edge. Bar manager Danielle Tatarin wows the locals just as she did the judges at this year’s Giffard International Cocktail Challenge in France, at which she beat out bartenders from around the world to scoop first place. The mood is funky, with Asian small plates and considered concoctions, often tweaked with traditional tinctures, teas and other uncommon ingredients. Find more cool sippin’ next door at Bao Bei Chinese Brasserie and at Gastown’s Pourhouse, The Diamond at Maple Tree Square and Boneta.—Tim Pawsey
Locally made sake makes for a tasty souvenir. Photo by KK Law
Down a small alley on Granville Island, discover small but remarkable Artisan SakeMaker, where Masa Shiroki set up Canada’s first sake maker. Stop by to sample a range of styles (including hand-pressed, premium Junmai and sparkling sake), as well as kasu (favoured by top chefs as a marinade), sauces and dressings, and even a cherry drink. Also available at several Japanese and other restaurants around town.—Tim Pawsey