Friday's Top Five - Fav Places in Edmonton

Brrrrr the weather has definitely changed this week.  I had to scrape the frost off my car in the mornings and wear more layers to work.

Sunday is my birthday - I can't believe I will be 36, I really feel much younger.  Tonight my parents are taking my youngest brother (who's birthday is on Monday),and myself out for dinner.  Saturday I am attending a wedding with my BFF Kristine.  Sunday my other brother is coming over for dinner and cake.  Actually I think I will have my mom make cupcakes, that way there will not be a whole cake to eat.  Too much temptation.   

For four and a half years I lived 300 km to the south in Calgary.  Most of the time I didn't notice much difference between living there, and living here in Edmonton.  There is more traffic, especially at rush hour.  In fact there is actual rush hour traffic that made my commute to work 2 or 3 times as long as it would have been on a weekend.  When I first moved to Calgary, there were some shops there that Edmonton did not have (Williams Sonoma, Restoration Hardware, Pottery Barn), but this is no longer the case.  No Save-On-Foods for groceries, but Calgary did have Co-Op.  I did love the view of the mountains on a clear day, especially from a high point on the west side of the city.  The ability to be walking around Banff in under 1.5 hours was a nice perk.

A big upside of the separation from my ex was my move back to Edmonton.  Back to the familiar streets where I was raised.  I love being back home.  Looking back I still can't quite figure out why we didn't consider him moving up here, but that is now a moot point.

It's a little different this time around, as I work downtown.  I wore out a pair of shoes this summer by hitting the pavement on my lunch hours.  I enjoy the walk from Bay Station, up 104 Street, to my office.  Since I am temporarily living with my parents in the SW, I have spent more than one Saturday walking from one side of WEM to the other.

There are quite a few places her in Edmonton that I would love to be reacquainted with - places that I know are awesome, but I have not been in a very long time.  I would define this list as "Places In Edmonton I Want to Spend Time at in the Near Future":

5.  Whyte Avenue

The cute, unique shops, yummy places to eat, theatres, and the interesting people.  I would love to check out The 11 O'Clock Number or Die-Nasty at the Varscona.

4.  Telus World of Science

I might have to borrow someone's child to make this one legit.  I am looking forward to Harry Potter:  The Exhibition.  I would also love to pretend to be a CSI at the Forensics Gallery.

3.  Rexall Place

I feel the need to take in an Oilers game and support my boys.  I would wear my jersey (actually I have two, a home one and an away one) and get to yell at the players (instead of yelling at the tv).

2.  Royal Alberta Museum

The Chop Suey on the Prairies exhibit is supposed to be really good.  Plus I love the Wild Alberta Gallery.  I can't remember the last time I went to the museum.

1.  The Art Gallery of Alberta

I want to go for brunch at Zinc and then take in the art.  This sounds like it might make a good girls trip out or a mother/daughter day.

Check out other awesome places in Edmonton at Divulge With Dani, A Warm Cup of Jo, and A Piece of Apple