Ian Doig

The kids are with the babysitter and the night is yours, and all you need to complete a carefree adults-only evening out is a suitably special restaurant. The following eateries encourage visitors to linger over great food and enjoy conversation accompanied by wine or a well-mixed cocktail.

Bringing together toasted English muffins, crisp bacon or ham, eggs poached just right, and of course that rich, creamy Hollandaise sauce, Eggs Benedict is a tricky dish to perfect. But that hasn’t stopped these eateries from doing an exemplary job and getting as close to perfection as you’ll find in Calgary.

Calgary has taken to the so-called locavore food trend with delicious enthusiasm. Alberta-grown and raised ingredients are featured on a host of city menus. From wild boar, lamb, duck and Angus beef to asparagus, fingerling potatoes and honey, these high-quality eats are also often organically and sustainably raised.

With eating local being the biggest restaurant food trend ever, home cooks have turned to the city’s butcher shops to supply cuts of Alberta beef, pork, lamb, chicken and game for their own cuisine adventures. A number of excellent meat boutiques carry a wide variety of cuts, locally produced and otherwise.

For a city so close the Rockies, restaurants featuring mountain views are surprisingly hard to find in Calgary. Though a couple of the Calgary restaurants below do feature westerly alpine sightlines, most of the great views are inward looking, focusing on some the city’s best features, from pedestrian promenades to neighbourhood lakes and the Bow River.

Dining cheaply yet deliciously is not easy in Calgary, but it can be done. The following eateries score big both for their low price points as well as their tasty food and charm. Spend a little, got a lot.

Living in close proximity to the Rocky Mountains, Calgarians have relatively easy access to all sorts of natural rock-climbing experiences. However, when the weather’s not conducive or the drive not doable, climbers both novice and pro can perfect their Spiderman act at a number of city climbing walls.

Mini golf courses may be wee, but they’re acres of fun for kids and adults alike. Great places to take a date or have some multi-generational fun on a family recreational safari, the price of walking these greens is a whole lot cheaper than doing so on their full-sized counterparts.

Hookah or shisha bars allow patrons to enjoy non-tobacco, fruit-flavoured smoke (from mint to mango) with the aid of tabletop water pipes that feature multiple inhaling hoses. A Middle Eastern social and cultural phenomenon, these spots allow patrons to light up the charcoal-fired pipes while enjoying Mediterranean snacks.

You'll have to admit, putting on the Christmastime pounds was delicious. But now that you’ve decided to work off that shortbread, stuffing and mounds of mashed potatoes, these fitness stores can help make the payback smooth, if not painless.

With its proximity to Rocky Mountain ski hills, it’s easy to find excellent winter recreational equipment at Calgary’s many outdoor shops. Here’s a sample of the best spots at which to get your gear.

When winter’s at its icy peak, there’s no better time to get outta Dodge. Whether you’re looking for a little rest and relaxation in warmer climes or after an adventure getaway, these Calgary shops have all the gear you’ll need to make your escape a successful one.