Located on 8222 and Gateway Boulevard, Gravity Pope serves as Edmonton's best link to the fashion world for both men and women. No matter the season, the store is stocked with some of the most cutting edge brands. Raf Simmons (New York), Stephen Schneider (Belgium), Paul Smith (England), Filippa K (Sweden), and Peter Jensen (England) are just a few of the critically acclaimed designers found in-store.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Gravity Pope Tailored Goods
When it comes to fashion, Edmonton usually isn't mentioned in the same breath as New York, London, and Milan. That's not to say there aren't any trendy stores in Edmonton though. My favourite is Gravity Pope Tailored Goods (Not to be confused with Gravity Pope Shoes).
Monday, December 14, 2009
I love coffee. I hate Starbucks. I love Dacapo.
Really, the title says it all. Dacapo is an Italian cafe that serves up some of the best coffee, gelato and pizzas in the city. The trendy cafe has been open since late 2006 but it hasn't been until just recently that I think Dacapo has hit its stride.
The Coffee:
In-house roasted coffee beans and an Elektra espresso machine put Dacapo in an envious position of been equipped with the best-of-the-best. Fortunately the cafe also has the baristas to put the equipment to good use. Led by founder Antonio Bilotta, Dacapo has a skilled group of employees that consistently craft delicious espresso-based beverages. My personal favourite are the cappuccinos. They'll run you $4.25 but they're worth every penny.
The Gelato:
After touring Italy this summer I ate my fair share of gelato so I was eager to compare Dacapo's offerings with what I sampled in Europe. Well, I can confidently say that Dacapo's gelato holds its own against its counterparts in Italy. The cinnamon gelato is my standard order but the revolving door of flavours gives you lots of options. If you feel like trying something really Italian order an affogato: espresso served over gelato.
The Pizza:
Even though authentic Italian pizza is hard to find outside of Italy, Dacapo does a good job re-creating the experience. Their newly expanded menu has several hard to pronounce yet delicious tasting pizzas to choose from. Unlike some other Italian pizza restaurants in Edmonton, I think one of Dacapo's strengths is that their pizza is of a consistent quality. Nothing is more disappointing than a pizza with a soggy crust...
Annoyances:
It's a cash only establishment but there is a debit machine on the premises (You'll be charged $2.00 for withdrawals.). Gift cards can also be purchased to alleviate the need to carry cash.
Personal Plug:
My car recently got stuck in Dacapo's parking lot after a particularly heavy snowfall. I struggled with my car for a few minutes before Antonio helped dig me out. It's that type of service that keeps me going back.
Google Streetview of Dacapo:
Damn tasty food on campus
If there is one thing I don't like about the University of Alberta campus it's the lack of quality food options. I don't mind eating at places like A&W, Edo, and Taco Bell once and a while but not on a daily basis. I am fairly health conscious so I just can't justify fast food very often.
I was pleasantly surprised then to stumble across a new establishment on campus called The Greenhouse - A gourmet salad experience. It shares its location with Good Earth and is in the same building as Earls. Its focus is on tasty, healthy salads that are made in a hurry. I've been to The Greenhouse about 5 times now and my favourite offering is the Jerk Chicken salad. Here is how it's described on the menu:
"Come to Jamaica and you will feel alright." This salad is sure to have you imagining sun, white sandy beaches, drinks with little umbrellas and feeling more than just alright. With every bite fresh mangoes, roasted red onions, sundried cranberries, julienne carrots and feta cheese tossed in a coconut lime vinaigrette served on a bed of spinach showcase bold and authentic flavours reminiscent of those that can only be found while vacationing in the world's spice cupboard, the Caribbean.
A nice description but really, words don't do it justice. In terms of portions, the salads come in two sizes. Regular sized salads cost, on average, about $8.50 while the large salads go for around $12.50. I have a fairly big appetite so I usually go for the large. If you're really hungry you can get a large salad & soup for like $15. Besides the food itself, another good reason for going to The Greenhouse is because of the co-founders Amilcar and Mikhail. They're both great guys and they bring a lot of energy to to the restaurant.
Google Streetview of The Greenhouse:
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