Best of Calgary is a celebration of the people, places and voices that make Calgary an amazing place to live and call home.

Written by: Kelsey Woods

Another year of celebrations and city-wide awards has almost come to an end - a bittersweet feeling as always. We want to thank each and every one of you who voted, attended workshops, sponsored events and helped us celebrate the people, places and businesses that make Calgary such a wonderful place to live. We are in the final week of workshops and want to encourage you to get out and interact with some of Calgary’s finest talent. With only seven days remaining, we still have eight workshops for you to engage, learn and indulge with your friends, family and neighbours as we celebrate the best of the best in our very own Calgary, Alberta.

WOMEN'S STYLING WORKSHOP WITH REDBLOOM SALON

Date: Monday, May 27 @ 6-8pm

This interactive workshop will provide valuable tricks of the trade to help you style your hair like a pro in the comfort of your own home. All proceeds will be donated to Water Aid so grab your best gal, friend, sister or just your blowdryer and hit this workshop solo, because good hair is life.

DATE NIGHT YYC INSTAGRAM WORKSHOP

Date: Tuesday, May 28 @ 7-9pm

Learn how to curate, cultivate and optimize your account from the best. Whether you’re small time or you’ve blown up to 10,000 followers, the dedicated team at It’s Date Night will teach you tips, tricks and strategies to gain more followers, views, likes, comments, the works.

BEST OF CALGARY COMMUNITY DAY - BRIDGING THE DIVIDE

Date: Wednesday, May 29 @1-3pm

Based on a recent article in The Sprawl highlighting the fact that Calgary is the most income unequal city in Canada, we have brought together a panel of speakers to discuss this topic in detail and bring forth some solutions. Food and beverages throughout the afternoon to be provided by Community Natural Foods.

FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT WORKSHOP WITH FIRST CALGARY

Date: Wednesday, May 29 @ 6-8pm

The team at First Calgary Financial and one of Calgary's best breweries Last Best Brewery have paired up to share goal-setting insights, tools and tips to get YOU to your next big dream faster. Enjoy specialty cocktails, delicious bites paired with an innovative financial planning workshop with the team at First Calgary.

LITTLE FREE PANTRY

Date: Thursday, May 30 @ 5:30-7:00pm

What started off as a small gesture from a local NE community member has turned into a neighbourhood fixture. Margot Baker set up a free pantry in her front yard over a year and a half ago to help provide groceries for those in need. As the pantry became more well-known, she struggled to keep up with demand, but her fellow neighbours pitched in to help keep the pantry running. Learn how you too can bring Little Free Pantry to your neighbourhood!

LIVE MUSIC AT THE IRONWOOD

Date: Thursday, May 30 @ 7-10pm

Drop in for some live tunes and cold drinks at Calgary’s Best Place for Live Music - The Ironwood in Inglewood. Enjoy music from local band the Wooden Horseman as you sing and dance the night away. Cover is $15 at the door - see you there!

ST. LOUIS HOTEL THROWBACK HORSE RACING

Date: Friday, May 31 @12-2pm

This event is for invited guests only.

Enjoy a Friday afternoon lunch of chicken and chips at St. Louis Hotel, just like it was 1985 again.

For nearly two decades, until the early 2000s, St. Louis regular George Stephenson would frequent the local watering hold ever Friday at noon with his friends and coworkers, successfully convincing everyone to not go back to work. They would play imaginary "horse races" – writing horse names on a napkin, each choosing a horse, and then would listen to George’s animated telling of the horse race made up on the spot. The game eventually caught the next table’s attention, and the next, and the next, before finally engulfing the entire bar with George yelling out the race details through a microphone at the front.

Well Calgary, we’re bringing back indoor horse racing so that YOU too can participate.

What better way to end the week, the month, and the 2019 Best of Calgary lab series than with your very own vintage horse race experience in a historic Calgary landmark. The race will be hosted by Dave Kelly and feature guest announcers. Enjoy a couple of brews and a tasty meal of chicken and chips, while you try your luck at races without leaving the city. Proceeds of this event are in support of In the Lead which is a strengths-based leadership program for high school students that incorporates both mentoring and volunteering components.

BONUS WORKSHOP: GUYS’ NIGHT OUT

Thursday, June 6 @ 6-9pm

We couldn’t squeeze all the fun into the month of May, so we have one final workshop for you to attend this June. Cannibale will be serving up beard trims to all the lucky gents while you sip away on local beer and browse the best men’s attire in the city. Shop gravitypope for all your signature pieces, daily essentials and shoes for all occasions. Shopping, beard trims and beer to drink all in one location? Guys, this is shopping at its finest.

And with that said, we leave you to experience the final 2019 Best of Calgary workshops. Thank you for your support, Calgary, and we’ll see you next year!

Kelsey Woods is the Content & Editorial Manager for Best of Calgary.