Hi from New Brunswick. I am going to Edmonton next Sunday till Friday at a conference for Women's Shelters at the Shaw Center. I am staying at the Crown Plaza fairly closeby. Any hints for restaurants, cafes, bakeries, etc. in that area - and is that considered "downtown" Edmonton? Are there any arthouse type movie theaters...nice walks along the River (is there a River?), etc., etc. I will likely be tied up during the but will have morning and evening to work with. Thanks for any hints...oh, yeh...is there a downtown market?

I am not from Edmonton, but my husband is so we know it fairly well.

Edmonton is very easy to navigate, streets run north-south and avenues east-west, and are in in numerical order.

Your conference venue and hotel are right downtown.

Your hotel backs on to the Saskatchewan River and there are lots of walking trails down to the river.

The MacDonald Hotel is very close to you has a lovely patio if the weather is fine, and a very comfortable library style bar if not. Walk over for a relaxing drink.

For good restaurants the Hardware Grill on Jasper at about 98th, and Cafe Select on 106th Street off Jasper are both within walking distance.

Further west on Jasper (Jasper being the main east-west drag!) between about 112th and 118th you will find lots of the more run of the mill chain restaurants like Earls and Joey Tomato.

Unfortunately you have just missed the Fringe Festival, which is big in Edmonton, but the area where it is held (Strathcona) is worth a visit. That is the area around Whyte (82nd) Avenue a few blocks in from 109th Street (a main north-south street). There are neat stores and lots of restaurants, we like Packrat Louies, but there are lots to choose from. There is a farmer's market on 83rd and 103rd but it is on Saturday mornings, so you will miss it.

Have fun!

You're going to be in my favorite part of the city! Lucky you!
Adding on to Sheena's very wise advice, I'd also suggest that you look for:
1. Sorrentino's is a few short blocks from the Shaw Convention Center. A lovely Italian restaurant with delish food and a great atmosphere. Here's their contact info and address. There are several locations, but this one is the original restaurant that Carmelo Rago opened with his father-in-law in 1979. They also have a location in the south side in the Whyte Avenue neighbourhood. See #5 below!

2. The Westin Hotel is also close-by on the way to Sorrentino's, and they have a good cafe and also a very good restaurant.

3. French Meadows Artisan Bakery is a few blocks away on Jasper Avenue...great rustic breads! Check it out here!

4. Cafe Select, a favorite of mine, serves excellent food and killer desserts! Here's their website.

5. The Strathcona Farmer's Market is located at 10310 83rd Avenue, in the heart of Old Strathcona. I think it is on Saturdays, but you can check to see if it is on Sunday, as well. That's in the Whyte Avenue area, which is an eclectic collection of streets full of shops and cafes and stellar places to hang out! I love the pasta at Chianti's right on Whyte and 105th Avenue. YUM!

Here's a list of good places to eat along White Avenue.

Yes, your hotel and the Shaw Convention Center are in the downtown area, and yes there is a river...the North Saskatchewan...with beautiful walking paths, acres of park-like locations...a beautiful area!

There is an art theatre on 109th Street, just before it crosses Whyte Avenue. I think it is called the Garneau. Here's the link to the Edmonton movie guide. Look for the Princess also, as it has some art films now and then.

Any other questions, please ask...I'm happy to help.

I'll be in Edmonton this coming weekend for the Labour Day long weekend, and I'll be shopping for all of the stuff for a furnished condo, so if we are there at the same time, we could meet for lunch if you have time! Is this the weekend you are going to be in Edmonton?

"The Edmonton-based restaurant chain, well-known for its annual homage to the little clove with clout, each year donates the proceeds from the Garlic Stomp, its gala fundraising event, to Sorrentino’s Compassion House. This year, restaurateurs Stella and Carmelo Rago have named an additional beneficiary of the Garlic Stomp—held May 5 at the Shaw Conference Centre—the Lois Hole Hospital for Women." ~ From an Edmonton Journal article about Sorrentino's owners and their philanthropy. Every year they hold a garlic festival for a fundraiser for various hospitals!
Brenda

Thanks Sheena...thanks Brenda! That's just the kind of info I was needing to know! This message board (well, at least the people who frequent it )is awesome! I am going on September 7th...so won't be there this weekend. Thanks for the thought though Brenda!

Any other hints of special shops (housewares, silver jewelry, cheese, gourmet foods, etc.) feel free to pass along. We mostly will want to eat within walking distance but if there is a stellar place...there will be 4 of us from NB and we can take a taxi to, let me know! We like a real mixture of restaurants - locally sourced foods, Thai, Japanese, Italian - I'm not sure about perogies though....

Perogies reminds me of one of the worst meals I ever had in my life...hey now wouldn't THAT be a good thread! WORST MEALS OF MY LIFE THAT I ACTUALLY PAID FOR!

I was in Quebec on the highway travelling through. We spent the night at a small hotel and asked where the best pizza could be located. They gave me the directions to place called something like ..."The Poutine King" and I said..."nooooooo...not poutine, pizza!" They said yes, they knew but the poutine place also had great pizza. So I drove in the dark in the rain about 15 minutes in a strange town and found the very full poutine palace. Looked at the menu and realized, of course, that it was in French. I am fairly good with "label and menu" french but I made a slight mistake...when I ordered what I thought was "hot sausage" on my pizza. When I returned home and opened the pizza, I realized that their pizza sauce was essentially "meat sauce" - full of hamburger, so very greasy...the topping I ordered was not hot sausage....it was SMOKED MEAT piled on about 1/2 inch think! You cannot imagine the instant hardening of the arteries that I endured by just opening the box and staring at the yucky mess. We ended up eating pretzels and a mars bar.

Debrah, If you like Indian try the Asian Village on Saskatchewan Drive. I haven't been there for years, but used to go with friends who live in India for part of each year so I feel that is a good recommendation! Saskatchewan Drive runs pretty much parallel to the river on the opposite side to your hotel.

Artworks in Edmonton Centre is an interesting store selling a mix of beautiful items including silver jewellery.

CC on Whyte used to be on Whyte Avenue but they moved to 104a Street. It is an interesting store but I don't know whether there are other stores in the area to make it worth the trip.

There used to be a neat area of stores west on Jasper Avenue until it does a sharp right bend and becomes 124th St. Just down a little street on the left was a grouping of stores....but I cannot remember which street!

Perhaps Marie (Italian Connection) will be able to give better store options as she lives in Edmonton. I am not sure how often she logs in, send her an e-mail or PM.

Wow! Sheena, what a great memory you have! You hit them all bang-on!

Thai restaurants in Edmonton. Recent reviews of The King and I are average to poor, and that's sad, because it was THE thai eatery in the city for years.
Another list of more Thai restaurants in the city.

Italian...Sorrentino's as I mentioned before.

Also try Tasty Tomato, as I've heard only good things about it.

Il Portico is also good!

If you make it to the Whyte Avenue area, Chianti's is a favorite of mine, although I haven't been there for a few months.

Seems that Whyte Avenue is going to fulfill most of your wishes, as there are great specialty shops, silver jewelry in stores and wonderful cafes and restaurants.

Sheena mentions CC on Whyte, the old Cranberry Cottage location. Yes, it is located on the south side, now. I found it when I went to the new location for the second location of the newly-opened Italian Center, and found CC's right beside it! 2 birds with one stone, so to speak. I did about 50% of my Christmas shopping in CC's that day! BUT it is a long way out of the area where you are going to be staying. It's on the south side, on the way to the airport.

The uber-cool area that Sheena talked about is located at the intersection of 102 Avenue and 124th Street, and is called High Street. It's not that far from you, a cab would get you there quickly, there are a couple of great restaurants in the area and some cool shops.

Housewares... Call the Kettle Black. Also located in High Street and another one on Whyte Avenue, I think.

If you are running short of time to bet to the farther out stores, then go to Edmonton Center, a shopping center right downtown and a short walk from the Shaw. Edmonton Center has some good shops and stores, plus a Cineplex with the latest movies, if that's interesting to you.

Holt Renfrew is also close to Edmonton Center...it's a pricier place that a lot of people LOVE!
Ask away, I'll help where I can!
And, yes, it is Edmontonians!

"Whoever said money can't buy happiness simply didn't know where to go shopping." ~ Bo Derek
Brenda