Calgary Citizen newsletter Thursday Jan. 9

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Good morning !

It’s an exciting time for the Calgary Zoo/Wilder Institute as the penguins prepare to walk the grounds once again. Guests have a chance to see the king penguins outside of their habitat as up to 14 penguins participate in a daily march. That includes; ‘Diana’, ‘Grace’, ‘Solomon’, ‘Cleopatra’, ‘Louis’, ‘Phillipe’, ‘Henri’, ‘Napoleon’, ‘George’, ‘Boudicca’, ‘Rupert’, ‘Arthur’, ‘Alfred’, and the juvenile king penguin ‘Augustus’. You can enjoy this experience from Jan. 11 to early March.

👀 In today's edition:

• LA fires cancel Flames game

• Return to office push

• Art scene struggles with attendance

• New food spots opening in 2025

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WORTH KNOWING

⛅️ Today: High 0C, Low -03C. See the 7-day forecast.

🚗 Driving today? Check the current traffic situation, and find the city’s traffic report and road closures.

Calgary Flames game against the LA Kings was postponed due to catastrophic fires in California

Wednesday night’s road game between the Calgary Flames and Los Angeles Kings was postponed by the NHL in a social media announcement “in light of the devastating effects of the wildfires in the Los Angeles area.”

As Global News reports, Calgary Flames TV host said he could smell smoke and see it in the air when they arrived at their hotel in downtown Los Angeles. “It’s obviously a really scary situation,” he told them.

City News is reporting that Sportsnet’s Eric Francis said there was “sizeable” ash falling around the arena as reporters made their way into the arena and masks were being handed out to those in the arena area. “The smell of smoke inside the arena is palpable,” he wrote on X.

In case you missed it the first time

Need to know

⚖️ Lawyer for man accused in Boxing Day death of nine-year-old girl flags mental health concerns to judge.

💸 Less disposable income and more competition is causing the city’s art scene to struggle with low attendance in the post-pandemic world.

⛈️ ‘What would I gain out of it?’ Calgary man is accused of insurance fraud after last year’s historic hailstorm.

🚄 Calgary city council looks at possibility of rail service to airport and what it would look like.

🏘️ A court challenge by a group of residents aiming to overturn city hall's blanket rezoning bylaw has failed.

🏢 Calgary Downtown Association pushes for more workers to return to the office in the core.

👄 Calgary’s dry climate in the winter is known for causing everything from chapped lips to cracked skin, but what can Calgarians do to keep their skin hydrated?

⚖️ ‘Kids get traumatized’: Calgary research looks to reduce stress in family law cases.

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Bring your appetite because 2025 is bringing some great new eateries to sink your teeth into this year

New Year, new food options. Calgary has a multitude of amazing spots to eat and drink and a bunch of new options that either just opened or are opening this year. Here are a few we are looking forward to most.

Pineapple Hall: There’s good news and even better news. There’s a new dining destination in Calgary in the form of a food hall and not only does it have some incredible options but it opened at the end of 2024 so you don’t even have to wait to check it out. Eats from Lonely Mouth, Double Zero Pizza, Clive Burger and Surfy Surfy await you - so what are you waiting for?

Krispy Kreme: It’s true; this donut giant is making a splash in Calgary in 2025 as it takes over the the former Ginger Beef location at 9629 Macleod Trail. The popular US donut chain will likely have long lines when it opens during the first half the year.

Aloha Modern Kitchen: The people behind Avenida Food Hall’s J Spot is opening a new Hawaiian-inspired restaurant this year. It was supposed to open fall of 2024 but their most recent social media post yesterday was looking to hire staff so we think it may not be much longer so stay tuned!

Wander: If you love the fried chicken gem that Calgary chef Nicole Gomes brought to life in Cluck N Cleaver, you’ll be excited to check out Wander when it opens at the Calgary International Airport this year. There’s not a lot of information yet so keep your eyes peeled and check out Cluck N Cleaver in the meantime.

Where to eat and drink

🍴 The Dorian: Have you eaten at this downtown hotel yet? The Dorian is set to become the city’s own Michelin One Key hotel next week and its no surprise with its impeccable dining options led by chef Joshua Dyer -The Wilde on 27, Prologue Cafe, Bistro Novelle, and its in-room dining.

🍴 The Moon Tea House: A stylish downtown destination for bubble tea and coffee. Take advantage of the daily specials to try something new!

Have a food or drink suggestion? Message us and we might share it!

Things to do

🎟️ A Tribute to Bob Marley: The Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, guest conductor Christopher Dragon, and guest musicians are uniting for a one-of-a-kind musical experience celebrating the internationally beloved reggae musician’s 80th anniversary of his birth, Feb. 8 at the Jack Singer.

🎟️ Easy & Healthy Mediterranean Cooking January 22 – Discover great flavours and improve your nutrition with recipes and tips for heart health, brain health or general well-being. (Free virtual class led by AHS Registered Dietitians)*

🎟️ Food & Nutrition: Cancer Recovery for People with Eating Challenges Jan 23 and 30. Learn tips for regaining health during cancer treatment through good nutrition with other survivors. (Free 2-session program by AHS Dietitians) 587-747-0260.*

*Sponsored Listing

Have an event suggestion? Message us and we might share it!

From our readers

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