Hey, Harper! Whatcha Know About Edmonton?

Well, for one, I was born in Edmonton. I also spent a lot of my young years visiting beloved grandparents there.

Now one of my best friends and her family lives in Edmonton, and so I have taken a couple of wee trips to visit, once again. Amazingly, they live spitting distance from where my grandparents lived. Too cool! 40 years later, my memories were revived, and I have been able to tap into all kinds of forgotten joys. And so I am beginning to feel confident to recommend a few choice spots to you, if you find yourselves in this "progressive island" in a sea of rural conservatism.

If you are a lover of ramen, I had a pretty spectacular bowl of ramen at Menya Mori.

It was truthfully my second favourite bowl of ramen EVER... and I have had a LOT of ramen!

On my latest trip, I was unexpectedly filled with a load of sentimentality for Albera. I have been feeling this a little lately, and as the big skies came into view as our plane landed, it hit me full force. So I was very taken by this fantastic tile art at the Alberta Art Gallery and Shop.

It's by Voyager Art and Tile

Sadly, I am currently trying to live on a budget, but I can see asking my friends to pick this up for me soon. (If I don't go back for it right away...) BFF pointed out how happy the grain elevators look, and I can't unsee it now! LOL. There were so many incredible artists represented at the gallery. Lately, I have been following Indigenous artists who tuft caribou hair into spectacular earrings, and the gallery had some wonderful purses with tufted hair. If you have not seen this art, check it out!

And then.... I was introduced to a superb bakery, Dutchess Bake Shop.

Uhm...there were shortbread with caramel & yuzu, fresh orange & basil sorbet, as well as lovely teas and cherry blossom Matcha lattes...

But the MOST AMAZING find was.........

A PRINCESS CAKE! (Well...a Dutchess Cake by their design.) BFF took a trip with me to London last summer in pursuit of a Princess cake instead of making one for my birthday. A fair trade, I think!

I was also charmed by the fact that mid-afternoon on a Wednesday, the place was full of Yummy Mommies, 1k strollers, and this joyous fellow, in flannels, suspenders, and sporting a love of great French pastries. It's no wonder I am feeling nostalgic. I had just spent time admiring a great display of Pysanka.

Oh. Alberta. Well played!

On a snowy day (there are a few to be had), an hour or two of relaxation at Modern Gravity is pretty cool. Thier slogan is - Get Naked, Relax & Float. How lovely is that? Just Float. (A personal reminder from a favourite movie)

In need of a great coffee after all that relaxation? Local roasters The Columbian Coffee Bar & Roastery

And finally for a lovely end of the the day take in the inventive Dim Sum at Fu's Repair Shop.

Edmonton is underrated, in my opinion. It's full of art, creativity and fun, especially in the summer, with fantastic green spaces and lots to enjoy.