I’ve tried pretty hard not to make this blog too Edmonton-centric (what if I move one day!), but… Sometimes, you gotta cave. Edmonton has been having a warm winter this year, and it’s been perfect for getting outside and exploring the city! I love the idea of a family-friendly day in downtown Edmonton. If you live in #yeg or you happen to be stopping by, here’s what to do in Edmonton this winter.
I love breakfast, but I find that I don’t often go out for it. Edmonton restaurants are notorious for not taking brunch reservations on the weekends — but wait times can be up to an hour long.
When I’m feeling up to the wait, my favourite breakfast place is Under the High Wheel. But on days where I just want to grab a quick bite with a friend, Cora’s is a standby. They just opened a new location downtown, and it’s right next to my physiotherapist’s office. (Forever shouting out Kerri at Corona Station Physio for her TMJ dry needling technique!)
Cora’s Raspberry 4 Lucie. In background: Western Skillet.
Breakfast at Cora’s on Jasper
I’ll cop to it: I don’t really come across as a Cora’s person. (In fact, when I ‘grammed it last week, I got a text from my friend asking who kidnapped me.) But their new PR gal is an old friend who invited me to their opening, and Cora herself was going to be there — how could I say no!! I had a super-sweet raspberry crepe with a side of sausages, and it was plenty of food for breakfast and an afternoon snack.
The Cora’s on Jasper is located underneath the Day’s Inn on 106th, and it’s owned by Winnie and Kwong, two Bruneian business partners. I love supporting AsAm-owned businesses, so I’m definitely going back for another cappuccino. I can’t speak for those in other franchise outposts, but theirs is pretty darn good. It comes in a cup, which I asked for, but the server also offered it to me in a bowl… Which I have to know more about.
Meeting Cora herself! (Top: Dynamite V-Neck Tunic.)
Cora’s has over 130 locations throughout Canada. And Cora? She’s every bit as amazing as you’d hoped. She’s so lively and committed to the restaurant. She raised three teens as a single mother, and bought a small snack shop in Montreal to support them. With the Cora magic that you can see in her every gesture, she turned it into the breakfast empire that it is today. The company is now run by her son, Nicholas, but she still attends every opening and egg-cracking ceremony!
What to do in Edmonton — and its very own Ice Castle
For a badass-but-family-friendly day out, the Edmonton Ice Castle is open during the day on the weekends. (Otherwise, it opens at 4.) I got the chance to attend their media night with my partner, and we had a blast!
The Ice Castle took us about 25 minutes to go through, so I think it’s a little pricey for a whole family to attend every year — but it’s an awesome date night spot or a once-every-few-years kind of deal. Pick a warmer day so you can enjoy the light-up ice walls and three ice slides. Take what you will from the fact that it’s a short night out: it won’t keep your kids occupied for as long as a museum would, but they’ll enjoy it a heck of a lot more.
The Ice Castles are made from solid ice walls and hand-hung icicles, with an average wall thickness of 120 inches. On the whole, the structure is estimated to weigh 250 000 000 pounds, which includes the utterly ridiculous ice couch. (I totally got heckled while taking this photo, which didn’t stop me for a second!)
Wearing: Babaton Pearce Wool Coat in Tailor Tan. Michael Kors Savannah Tote (hiding in pics).
The best bars in Edmonton for cocktails
If you’d like a nightcap once the kids are already in bed (or with your family), there are a few great locations that aren’t far from Cora’s and the Ice Castle. What to do in Edmonton gets tricky, especially during the week, as our businesses tend to close pretty early.
That being said, we do have a few great cocktail bars that are worth checking out! My favourite right now is Clementine, where you can get any of their 25 favourite classic cocktails for only $9 on Tuesdays. I’m a big fan of their penicillin — a must for lovers of smokey scotches. They offer a semi-traditional absinthe service as well, if you love liquorice!
