About Calgary City Editor
Calgary City Editor Ricky Zayshley knows a good thing when he sees one. His heart races when he discovers a new hotspot and his mouth waters at the sight of delectable food. After years of living out east, this Prairie boy has found his way back home and can’t wait to dish about sweet finds in his favourite city.
Picture this: I’m driving south on Macleod Trail in my brother’s 1998 Grand Marquis to meet my friend Shauna at Canyon Meadows Cinemas. It’s dark and snowing lightly. (Please note that I’ve never been fully convinced my night vision is very good.) The low fuel light flashes on and I begin to weave my way into the right hand lane; however, the fast-moving bumper-to-bumper traffic makes this impossible and I decide to fill up after I pass Glenmore.
My eye starts to twitch and I instinctively rub it. This causes my contact lens to slide into that mysterious place it sometimes goes behind my eye socket. But it doesn’t come back! My depth perception fades and I start to white knuckle it as I roll my eyes upward, coaxing my contact lens to return to its rightful home on my cornea. I think to myself, “This would never happen in Toronto.”
So, how did I — a smug walk-everywhere Torontonian — wind up in Calgary half blind, driving a family sedan running on fumes? After over ten years of living thousands of kilometers away from my family, I decided to take the plunge and move back to the prairies. And I’m loving it!
I’ve already spent countless hours at amazing coffee shops like Chiasso and Phil & Sebastian — coffee culture in Calgary is alive and well. And I’m literally eating up the brunch scene (can I hear an “amen” for the stuffed french toast at Diner Deluxe?). I’ve even discovered a few out-of-the-way gems that I feel only I know about like the delicious $3 sandwiches at Alpine Sausage (23-3919 Richmond Road S.W.) and the incredibly flavourful Pho Sate soup at Pho Huong Viet (3855 17 Ave. S.W.).
Of course, I’m also adjusting to a few aspects of Calgary living that are less than savory, like aggressive drivers (is it normal to pass somebody by off-roading in the ditch?), and the dry air. To be fair, however, the air here is also very clean. I’ve never felt healthier.
Hopefully my contact lenses behave because I have lots to discover in the New West — new restaurants, new shops, new services and lots of new people. I have lots planned personally, too. I’m searching for the perfect hot yoga studio, redecorating a new home, trying out lots of new recipes and learning how to take perfect pictures.
I can’t wait to tell you all about it.