'''South Central''' pertains to the area south of the river, but still very urban and centralized in Edmonton. It is a very artsy, trendy, and edgy area. It is on top of trends in all types of design before they hit mainstream and along with that it has some neat architecture and festivals. It includes the communities of Strathcona, Garneau, Queen Alexandra Windsor Heights, Mill Creek (east Strathcona), Bonnie Doon, Belgravia, Strathearn,Ritchie, and much more.

Understand

The majority of South Central was once encompassed by the town of Strathcona (and before South Edmonton was it's name), which held the University of Alberta and was a nice little place south of Edmonton. Calgary Trail was the Main Street and Whyte Avenue (today a major urban area) was similar. The High Level Bridge (with pedestrian, vehicular, streetcar, and rail with the ability to cross) was the only way to get from Edmonton to Strathcona for a bit.

In 1912, Edmonton annexed the city that was just smaller than Edmonton itself. The next little while saw a building boom and in the 1950s, the University of Alberta began expanding like crazy. The area of town has stood up well economically over time, and in the 1930s the University of Alberta grew with many new buildings too.

In the 1970s, the area began to deteriorate and fall apart (except University of Alberta area) like many old neighbourhoods in the City of Edmonton and the area actually had a humongous freeway plan that would destroy it. Luckily activists were against the demolition of Old Strathcona district and it's beautiful heritage buildings, despite a few already demolished and the freeway plan was trashed and the Old Strathcona district was named a historic district, which lead to revitalisation in the next decade.

In the 1980s, the city made it a plan to revitalize "Old Strathcona", particularily Whyte Ave. which would come to be the city's main nightlife and retail district. This saw rise to a lot of artsy profesionals moving to the area around Whyte Ave, along with artsy fest(ival)s like Edmonton Fringe starting. The 90s saw growth to Whyte Ave as a bar and shopping area.

Most recently, the city is trying to clean it up a bit from it's grunge and continue making it a liveable community, or, district. The University of Alberta is still growing and Mill Creek is seeing lots of infill (residentially). Many new families are finding home in the areas south of Whyte Ave, like Queen Alexandra and Belgravia.

Get in

By car

There are multiple ways of getting to &/or from other districts in Old Strathcona-University. From the southeast, using Sherwood Park Freeway which turns into Whyte Avenue would be the best, or from Agryll Road, from which you could easily get on from Sherwood Park Freeway or 75th, and then just turn north onto Gateway BLVD, and head north to get into Old Strathcona-University. From the west end, try taking 107 Ave and turn south onto Groat Road and go S until the University Ave. You could also take Whitemud until Fox Drive, where you'd head NE/turn left onto Belgravia Road which is your first chance to turn anywhere (and it is a dead end) until 114th St where you would turn northbound, continue on there until University ave where you are pretty much in Old Strathcona-University. From the central area, take 109th Street downtown, across the bridge which turns into 109 St in the South Central. To get back to downtown or other central areas, use 109 Street, '''but''' turn right/east onto Walterdale Hill NW because you need a different bridge. You could also use Groat Road. For each other district, go back the way you came.

By bus

By air

Getting in from Edmonton International Airport is very easy. All you need to do is turn northbound on the Queen Elizabeth Highway as you would getting into Edmonton. Stay on that until you hit 76 Ave, and from then on northward, you are in Old Strathcona-University.

Get around

By bus

Like most parts of the town, south central has good bus stops. There are a lot of stops in every neighbourhood. The exceedingly popular, Whyte Ave NW, though, only has 2 parts with stops (WestBound and EastBound - so four) by bus until 99 St so be wary of that.

By train

South Central has 2 LRT stations - Health Sciences and University with some more under construction. The frequency is 2-5 minutes during the day, and 7-8 at night.

By car

South Central has good connections via 4 arteries-109th Street, (Whyte) 82nd Avenue, Calgary Trail, and Gateway Boulevard. Aside from that it is very navigablle even on Residential streets as it mostly follows a grid. If you are in gridlock, you can easily just go over a block and still make it because it is built with grid road.

See

  • Hawrelak Park. est of Groat Road, north of 87 avenue NW.

  • Rutherford House. 1153 Saskatchewan Drive NW.

  • '''Strathcona Historic District''' (bordered by 88 Avenue in the north, 76 Avenue in the south, 111 Street in the west, and 102 Street in the east) is full of trendy shopping and a vibrant nightlife cluster. The industrial chic place is centered on Whyte Avenue which is a major shopping district, but do not forget the amazing nightlife found in this corridor. This area is full of a lot of architecturally pleasing houses too. There is also a lot of historic commerical buildings that were once churches, different stores, different offices, and industrial. If this is what you are looking for, then Old Strathcona is your pick!
  • Old Strathcona Mural Tour. hyte Avenue NW between 99 and 109 St NW. This tour provides a look at fourty electric boxes painted in mural. A free brochure is available for where to go, call 780.437.4182. Remember, don't do this tour at night.

  • Muttart Conservatory. 626 - 96A Street. 80 496-8755. 80 496-8747. ttp://www.muttartconservatory.ca/. Closed for renovation until April of 2009.

  • '''Gallagher Park''' is a beautiful park near the Muttart. It is nice for a picnic and nice cleancut grass and offers fantabulous views of downtown.
  • Edmonton Queen. after's Landing 9734 - 98 Avenue. pring/Summer only. 780) 424-2628. ttp://www.edmontonqueen.com/index.php. hu-Sa Boards: 11am, 2:00pm, 5:30 pm; Su 3pm and 5:30pm course of 2 hours. The Queen is a very unique attraction in the city and is near central. The Queen is a riverboat which takes a cruise through the river over the course of around a hour. They give magnificent views and skyline views. This should not be missed. You can take cruises with a dinner if you choose. Call to book. Reservations are strongly recommended for all types of cruises and are required at least 48 hours in advance for our Dinner Cruises. Reservations cannot be cancelled or refunded.

    Architecture

  • '''Mill Creek Architecture Walk''', between 102 Street in the west, Whyte Ave in the south, 85 St. in the east and the river in the north. Check out any part in this area. This is a beautiful and cute, one-of-a-kind neighborhood lined with nice old-style houses and buildings, some refurbished and is home to a lot of infill, which means a lot of modern homes are being built. They come in funky styles and clash interestingly with the older structures. Great for someone interested in design because there's some really beautiful houses. Nice quiet walk.
  • University of Alberta. ound by 116 St/117 St (changes between those two at 87 Ave), E by 110 St until 87th until 112 St NW, S by 82 Ave, N by Sask Dr. NW. This area has a lot of architecture styles. It has some old gems near Sask Dr. A lot of it is brutalist buildings that once had horrible street access but have been retrofitted. There has also been recent development with some mediocre modern tecture.

  • Whyte Ave. etween 109 and 100 St NW. Outside of the area between 103 and 105 Street, upon first glance, there probably isn't anything that "pops". But, there are tons of architecture that's appealing, although it depends on your style. There is a bunch of historical buildings between 102 and 105 Str. NW that would please most. Aside from that there is some 1960s/early modern structures that are typical of that time frame. They are simple and use little detailing and elegant lines.

    Do

    Because Old Strathcona being within this district, there is endless choices for movies, sports, festivals, and events.

  • '''University of Alberta Golden Bears'''
  • '''Kinsmen Pitch'n'Putt''', 10661-91st Avenue, 780-432-1626, [http://www.kinsmen-edmonton.ca/webpages/pitch_n_putt.htm]. - behind the Kinsmen Sport Centre, on the south bank of the river valley (Public: par 54, 1222 yards) This is a true pitch-and-putt, with the holes averaging about 65 yards, and none over 100 yards. You can enjoy a pleasant two-hour walk with two or three clubs in your bag. Greens fees are low, club rentals are available, and the course is friendly for families looking for a spot to golf with the kids.
  • The Mill Creek Trails. ill Creek Ravine[s]. Wind through well put trails in Mill Creek ravine[s] along the Mill Creek. Covered with beautiful trees and geography, you wouldn't think you were only 5 blocks from the bustling Whyte Ave. Definitely be careful in winter. Great for walking, running, biking, etc.

  • Commercial Hotel - Blues on Whyte. 0329 Whyte Ave.

  • Edmonton Ski Club. 613 96 Avenue NW. 80-465-0852. ttp://www.edmontonskiclub.com. 19-$25 for full day, seniors $9. This facility is in the River Valley south of downtown, near the Muttart Conservatory and only a few minutes from the city center.

    Theatres

  • Garneau Theatre. 712 109 Street NW. 80-433-2212. An indie theatre that has nice staff in a uniform 1950s theatre. Upon entering, you are welcomed to a few steps which brings you to the ticket place, where you say which movie you want to see. Then you are in the next part, concession, which has normal movie theatre stuff, and the butter is real. Then there is the 1 theatre, which is very large, and has a huge balcony seating area. It is very nice and vintage.

  • Princess Theatre. 0337 82 Avenue NW?. 80-433-0728. ttp://rainbowcinemas.ca/about.php?theatre=Princess. Princess Theatre is a cool theate in the centre of vibrant urban life, Whyte Ave. Nestled in a beautiful old building, the interior is a good competitor with nice vintage decor. The staff are super friendly to help you figure out where the theatres are and information. One theatre has the regular theatre setting, along with balcony seating for a truly amazing experience. The movies playing are indies, but that should not be a turn off, as almost all of them are really good. The concession is unbelievably cheap for theatres nowadays. There is a sub theatre, called Princess <font family=Times New Roman>II

  • Varscona Theatre. 0329 83 Avenue NW. 80-433-3399?. ttp://www.varsconatheatre.org/. The Varscona is a nice little theatre with favourites such as Die Nasty, a weekly soap or Oh Susana a monthly favourite!

  • The Yardbird Suite. 1 Tommy Banks Way. orner of 102 Street & 86 Avenue. 80-432-0428. ttp://www.yardbirdsuite.com. Edmonton non-profit jazz club with acts every weekend. The Tuesday jam is $2, and has some good talent. Closed during the summer.

  • Jubilee Auditorium. This place is 113,000 m3 (a.k.a really big, yeah) of performing arts land taken to new levels. The place was built in 1955 near the University of Alberta and is still today one of the biggest performing art's centres in Alberta.

    Festivals

  • Whyte Avenue Artwalk. uly. ttp://www.art-walk.ca/. For three days, studios go to the streets and make a clash of construction and creation. See artwork from many artists and possibly buy some at a sale. You can also create your own artwork at the Gazebo in MacIntrye Park.
  • Edmonton Fringe International Festival. ugust. ttp://www.fringetheatreadventures.ca/index.php/festival. Second largest Fringe Fest in the world, Edmonton's includes over 90 non censored shows from around the Earth. There is so much food vendors and artisans out to sell you high quality stuff at this outdoor place. Performances indoor and out are of high plenty.

  • Heritage Days. awrelak Park. ugust. ttp://www.heritage-festival.com/. This three day event on the first weekend in August combines cultural dances, delicious international food, and some cool cultural items (Japanese fan, Chinese painting, Russian maps, etc.). Be sure to grab a bunch of tickets so you can buy all the food (they use tickets instead and money goes to the food bank). Try taking transit because it is hard to find some parking.

  • Ice on Whyte. 6 Ave and 104 St. anuary. ttp://www.iceonwhyte.ca/. Slide down snow and ice slides, wander through the ice maze, and more showcase wonderful Alberta talent using snow and ice.

  • Edmonton Folk Fest. allagher Park. very August. Beautiful, world class folk music is played and behind that is the thousands of heads making up the massive crowd with the backdrop of the Edmonton skyline. It's a beautiful festival.

  • The EdmontonCanoe TheatreFest. erformed at the Third Space Theatre and U of A_fs Timms Centre Second Playing Space. ebruary. ttp://www.workshopwest.org/thecanoefestival.html. Stories told in neat ways like a solo for a Shakespeare play and talking about marriage and honour killings in the nation and a story by mimes about fresh water. It changes every year and be sure to check it out for neat plays/stories.

  • Edmonton Intl Film Festival. ctober. ttp://www.edmontonfilmfest.com/. Movie goers rejoice at this festival with short films and documentaries taking the focus. The point is to show unusual places through cinema. Definitely a nice place to go, even with older kids, but you might want to dress up a tiny bit (i.e. sweaters, nice jeans, combed hair), like semi-formal as it is a semi-fancy event.

  • Whyte Avenue Streetsale. hyte Ave between 103 and 105 St. uly. Whyte Avenue between 103 and 105 St is closed to vehicles to make way for a truly vibrant sale. The Whyte Ave Streetsale takes over the street with stores bringing their stuff to the sidewalk with live entertainment for you to listen. While you walk in the middle of the road, outside, you'll be shopping all kinds of neat stuff at neat deals. Something you should not turn down, even if you don't like shopping it's nice to just take in, plus the deals are nice.

    Buy

  • College Plaza. 12th Street between 82 and 85 Avenue. A college-centred shopping strip with some stores and restaurants. Nothing to get you in "shop til ya drop" mode, but a good place to grab a bite or get some basic necessities.

  • HUB Mall. 09-9005 112 Street NW. 80 492 2241?. ttp://www.uofaweb.ualberta.ca/hubmall/. Hub is a tiny, Asian-influenced, mall in the University of Alberta. It is quite dense like an Asian city, and has lured many Asian cultures over the years.

  • '''Just off Whyte''' refers to the area of 104 Street NW ('''do not confuse with 104th Street in downtown on the other side of the river''') between 85 and 72 Avenues. This area is more unknown (except to the Edmontonian, or former Edmontonian) and features many different clothing stores and a very bustling Starbuck's. It is more an overhang of Whyte Avenue.
  • Old Strathcona Farmers Market. 0310 83 Avenue NW. 80 439 1844?. pen Saturdays 8AM-3PM, year round.. You can find it a block north of Whyte Avenue between 103 St. and Calgary Tr. Coming here you can expect fruit, vegetables, fried foods, perogies, eclectic drinks, candy, antiques, souvenirs, clothing, decoration, and toys. Be sure to fill up on free samples, wink.
  • '''Whyte Avenue (82 Ave) and Area''' is the hottest shopping area in the city and is bound by 79 ave in the south (between 99 and 105 St) until 105 street which acts as the border until 81 Avenue which continues until 109 Street. 109 Street is the west border betwn 83 and 81 ave nw. The northern boundary is 83 Ave until 105 street which acts as the border until 85 Ave all the way down to 99 St. The east border is 99 Street until 101 Stret, where that acts as the border until 79 Ave. There the east and south borders match up. The area has the following ''sub-areas'':
  • :*'''Whyte Avenue''', Whyte Ave between 99 and 109 Streets. This is the best area in the shopping zone. It has all kinds of stuff for you, your loved ones, and even your dog too, thanks to Urban Dog! Whyte Avenue carries the best trends for clothing, a lot of which are here even before the actual trend hits mainstreem. Whether the look you are looking for in fashion is formal, indie, yuppie, rocker, prep, skater, new rave, semi formal, urban or whatever, you will find it here with some made in Edmonton items and some from cool brands as well. Some of the clothing places are pricey boutiques, but for those of you looking for a cheaper price, there are still some good options. The area also sells some pretty cool gifts at odd gift shops like Pigs That Fly where you can find odd cards and rare ornaments. There is even a cool bookstore which is called Wee Book Inn, that sells used, rare, and mainstream books. For music, Whyte Avenue is definitely where you should go. It sells records and funky tapes, along with rare CDs and much much more. You can definitely find anything for music here. :*'''Southern Old Strathcona''', anywhere south of Whyte Avenue (this includes stores 20 metres south of it). This area has a few cute little shops such as United Cycle and also a few small boutiques. Nothing too too special, but a nice place to walk more quietly off Whyte Ave. :*'''Northern Old Strathcona''', anywhere north of Whyte (including stores 20 metress from it). This area is home to some very good clothing stores like FS and Queue which carry skater, indie, and urban looks or childrens clothing like Bugs N Berries.

    Specific Retail

  • Colour Blind.

  • Hub Cigar News & Newsstand.

  • The Urban Dog.

  • When Pigs Fly.

    Eat

    Edmonton's Old Strathcona-University area is home to fine dining. It has all kinds of options to sooth your crave. The best selection is for sure in Old Strathcona, with authentic pasta, tea, coffee, Indian food, Tex Mex, and way more. The area around the University has mostly chains such as Earl's.

    Coffee, Smoothie, and treats

  • BLOCK 1912. 0361 82 Ave.. n the heart of Whyte (82nd) Avenue. This coffee shop is a favorite for late night dates, chatting with old friends, and family gatherings. Offers a variety of home-made desserts, gourmet coffees, and healthy lunch and dinner items. There's even a built-in gelateria for those who crave a delicious taste of Italy. If you've got a sweet tooth, you will find some of the best desserts in the city including chocolate cheesecakes. The excellent chai lattes are made from scratch. You'll love the eclectic decor and can't miss the enormous desert painting in the back corner.
  • Levas. 1053 86 Avenue NW. 780) 479-5382.
  • Dabar. 0816 (Whyte)82 Avenue NW. 780) 433-3306.

  • '''Dream Tea House'''
  • Budget

  • Cafe Mosaics. 0844-82 Ave.. 780) 433-9702. Nice cute artistic cafe with a warm and inviting experience. This cafe also has a nice vegetarian meal and all kinds of stuff.

  • '''Chianti's''' has good long menu's with all kinds of variety. Beautiful gourmet food that is arguably Edmonton's best in the Italian department with such friendly service you'd be surprised to find it's prices are pretty cheap as well. A little tid bit - all of their food is made from scratch - no pre making, no store bought, nothing.
  • '''Fiore Cantina''' ,8715 109 Street NW , is a cozy Italian restaurant opposite Garneau. The staff are nice and the menu is full of all kinds of selection. The vegetarian selection is quite good along with veal and pasta menus. The place is charming and not too busy, but it is still quite cheap and good quality food. The interior is something out of Naples or the sort with a cool bakery at the enterance. Make sure to look carefully as the structure blends well with the surroundings so it may be difficult to find.
  • Burger Baron. 908 70 Avenue NW. 780) 433-7634. The classic drive in has a shop in South Central and offers delicious burgers, fries, and chicken and reasonable prices. Food is made when you order.

  • '''Commercial Hotel - Blues on Whyte''', 10329 82 Ave. Rock-bottom prices on beer, with a crowd to match. The bar serves all the low-brow beers, and has a surprisingly good selection at the opposite end of the spectrum - at the best prices in town. You can get Guinness on tap at a good price (for Edmonton), as well as Strongbow cider and several of the Big Rock brews. Live blues music on stage weekday evenings, with a locally-famous open stage on Saturday afternoons (arrive early if you want your own seat).
  • Funky Pickle. 0441 whyte Avenue NW. Some of the best pizza to order in town, with offbeat topping choices. Buy a whole pie or by the slice.

  • '''Yiannis Taverna''', 10444 82nd (Whyte) Ave. Fun place, especially in the summer when the large garage doors in the front open onto the bustling streets of the funky Old Strathcona neighborhood. Loud and busy.
  • Route 99 Diner. 820 99 Street NW. 780) 432-0968?. Vintage 50s/60s memorabilia fills this cute neighbourhood hit in the Mill Creek neighbourhood. Offers greasy burgers, delicious milkshakes, fries, chicken fingers, and all that fancy casual stuff.

    Mid-range

  • Earl's: Campus Style. 629 112 Street NW. 780) 481-5352. A typical Earl's restaurant designed to cater the college people across the road in the University of Alberta. It has a slightly different menu compared to others and it's interiors are definitely unique!

  • Keg. 020 105 Street NW. ttp://kegsteakhouse.com?. This trendy steakhouse of mild prices and typical good food adds sweet spices and juicy meat to almost every meal.

  • '''Accent European Lounge''', 8223 104 Street (not the trendy downtown leg). Located a half-block north of Whyte (82nd) Avenue, this bistro/bar has a warm, wood-paneled main room with a welcoming bar for those awaiting company or a table. There's also a cheerful west-facing (sunny!) four-table patio in the summer. The menu features wiener schnitzel, steak a la tartare, other European dishes, and hearty salads at good prices. An excellent European beer selection and a busy street scene make this the perfect Fringe Festival patio break.
  • '''Furusato''', 10012 82 Ave. The decor of this attractive, family-run spot emulates a Japanese village restaurant: the walls are wooden panels, and the room is roofed with thatch, while wooden floors and tasteful Japanese wall decorations round out the decor. Sample the special Volcano Rolls (a spicy, oven-hot sushi roll), or the Ika Kara-Age (breaded fried squid with a tangy ginger sauce). All dishes are delivered quickly by friendly and competent staff. The restaurant doesn't take reservations, so try to avoid the frequent line-ups by visiting outside of the main dinner hours (5:30PM-7:30PM). Visitors from Vancouver claim it's better than most Lower Mainland Japanese restaurants, high praise from people who have a broad choice of Japanese restaurants at home.
  • Continental Treat. 0560 Whyte (82) Avenue North West. Not far from Accent European Lounge, this restaurant faces onto busy Whyte Avenue. Its dark wood floor and tables give it a comfortable and slightly upscale air. The menu is eastern European, with top-notch escargot, mussels, dill pickle soup, and French onion soup, among other treats.

  • Korean Village. 729 85 Street. ook carefully. 780) 466-5666. Hidden in a strip mall a few blocks off Whyte (82) Avenue, this restaurant's interior is a rustic Korean lodge. Rugged wooden floors and posts house benches, tables, and tatami-style rooms. The restaurant's major attraction is an all-you-can-eat, self-serve Korean BBQ for $25. A food bar on one wall carries four or more varieties of raw meat and seafood, marinating in appropriate sauces, as well as side vegetable dishes. Load up a plate with goodies, return to your table, and grill to taste on the natural gas hotplate in the center of the table. Tip: ask them to change the grill if yours gets black and horrible. This restaurant is run by a small Korean family that takes great pride in their food and service. This is a must-eat attraction if you are visiting Edmonton. Do not miss it!

  • '''Packrat Louie''', 10335 83 Avenue NW (Whyte Avenue commercial area). This pleasant room features exposed brick in the walls and real cloth on the tables, a little tonier than most Italian restaurants in town. The original menu had a Swiss-Italian emphasis, and even now the dishes are far from conventional pastas you'll find elsewhere. The food is well-prepared and reasonably priced, and you're right in the heart of Whyte Avenue's entertainment zone when you finish your meal - you'll find yourself just a block or two from live theater, repertory cinema, and most of the area's main bars and clubs.
  • High Level Diner. 0912 88 Ave.. ear the High Level Bridge. This is a long-time Edmonton favorite, known for its cozy atmosphere and a broad selection of food. It serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner equally well. For breakfast, try the self-branded hot cereal, a bowl brimming with a half-dozen or more types of hot, flavorful grains. The cereal mixture is also available dry for taking home - it's a great gift to out-of-town Edmontonians pining for a taste of home. The main menu's bias is towards simple but hearty Mediterranean cuisine, but it includes robust dishes from other cultures as well. The Diner serves a number of flavorful vegetarian dishes, and the menu also includes sufficient meat meals to amply satisfy the family carnivore. In summer there is a small patio area which gives a nice view of the surrounding area, good for people watching. The best long island iced tea in the city (made from scratch). On Sunday mornings, arrive early or be prepared for a line at the door.

  • Julio's Barrio:Mexican. 0450 82nd (Whyte) Ave. Julio's serves good Mexican food and lots of it. The menu is extensive, the servings are generous, and the food is the best Mexican fare in town. The great location's interior is colorful, although the tables and chairs - authentic equipale furniture made from roswood and palm slat frames with stretched pig skin - are somewhat eccentric. Fresh home-made salsas, in every temperature from mild to "salsa of mass destruction", accompany free bowls of corn chips before dinner. The bar stocks several Mexican beers as well as the usual domestic brands, and has notable automation in place to speed the creation of margueritas. With friendly but professional service, Julio's is one of Whyte Avenue's busiest eateries, and justifiably so.

  • Max Light Cuisine. 809 109 Street. our blocks south of Whyte Ave. 780) 432-6241?. Cozy restaurant that offers mainly vegetarian cuisine, including vegan options, tofu dishes, as well as some meat dishes.

  • Culina. 914 89 Avenue NW. 780) 437-5588.

  • '''Royal Pizza'''
  • '''The Mills'''
  • '''Flavours Modern Bistro'''
  • Whyte Avenue Boston Pizza.

    Splurge

  • The King and I. 208 107 St NW. 80.433.2222. A stand-by for good Thai food, it's always been a bit pricey, and often the portions are somewhat small. Lunch dining is more economical: you can enjoy a substantial mid-day meal for around ten dollars. Those looking for an authentic experience might consider a different Thai restaurant, as this one is known to cater to "cautious" diners. It's a great introduction to Thai food, however, and beginners won't be disappointed by the flavors. It still serves, by far, the best coconut rice in the city.

  • Von's. 0309 81 Avenue Northwest. Good lobster, steak and other stuff. Expensive, but right on the money if you are looking for good quality stuff.

  • '''Unheardof''', 9602?82 Ave., [http://www.unheardof.com/]. One of Edmonton's finest food establishments, although be aware that this quality comes at a price. The menu is a prix-fixe style, with one or two choices for each course. The meal costs about $60 per person (as of 2006), but if you are looking for excellent eating, and the price does not faze you, look no no further.
  • Red Ox Inn. 420 91 Street NW. ttp://www.theredoxinn.com. Super-friendly staff with mouth watering meals of every variety.

    Drink

    The Whyte Avenue area is the city's most concentrated "party zone" and no doubt has a wide range!

  • Hudson's Whyte. 0307 Whyte Avenue NW. ight in busy Whyte Ave.. 780) 433-4526. ttp://hudsonstaphouse.com? . The original of the Hudson's Taphouses. It offers soothing music among fine alcohol.
  • Filthy McNastys. Flr-10511A 82 Avenue NW. 780) 432-5224.

  • '''Black Dog''', 10524 Whyte Ave. Frequently rated Edmonton's best neighborhood pub in city polls, this friendly drinking spot caters to the young and body-modified (pierced and tattoed) crowd as well as any place on Whyte Avenue. It serves a wide selection of imported and micro-brewed beer at middle-of-the-road prices, features live music on Saturday afternoons, and has one of the city's favorite pub "patios" on their roof - a terrific place to waste a summer afternoon.
  • '''O_fByrne's''', 10616 Whyte Ave. An excellent authentic Irish pub, rather roomy inside with two levels and an outdoor patio open in summer. O'Byrne's is one of 'the' places to be on St. Patrick's Day in Edmonton and throughout the summer months. Although you will want to get there early for that day as there is usually a line out the door from 4pm onwards. O'Byrne's hosts excellent Celtic music on Tuesdays and plays host to a rather eclectic group of performers throughout the week.
  • '''The One on Whyte''', 10544 Whyte Ave. Located in the space occupied by the old Roxy club on the second floor of what used to be Old Strathcona1s favourite bowling alley, the One on Whyte sports an attitude that tones down the nightclub aspect a bit and emphasizes an expanded food menu and more live music. Yes, there are still plenty of opportunities to shake it until closing time, just like the old Roxy, but it seems that the owners are shooting for an entirely new image.
  • '''Purple Onion''', 8032 104 Street (two blocks south of Whyte Avenue). No one knows exactly where the hordes of people that press the flesh at the "P.O." every weekend come from. But come they do, as they have for close to 15 years now. And for anyone who wasn't already cheerful and dazed courtesy of Happy Hour, the DJ helps out with current dance hits and classic rock. Various drink and shooter specials are available, seemingly all the time. And unlike most of the licensed establishments in the area, you probably stand a better chance of getting your beverage faster from one of the numerous waitresses than you will from going to the bar.
  • '''Union Hall''', 9920 62 Ave. Aimed at the classic-rock loving thirty-something set, the Union Hall advertises itself as a place "where the only labels you'll find are on the bottles."
  • Hudsons on Campus.
  • Wooly Bully's. 230 Gateway Boulevard NW. 780) 435-2886.

    Sleep

    Because of hotels on Gateway to the south and Downtown to the north, Edmonton s Old Strathcona-University really does not have much hotels.

    Splurge

  • Strathcona Hotel Edmonton Limited. 0302 82 Avenue NW. 03rd St. and Whyte. 80.439.1992. In a beautiful old building comes this boutique-like hotel right in one of the centres of life-Whyte Ave. Comes with it's old beauty and good views of Whyte Ave and environs. With it being well kept you'd be surprised the building is from 1896.

  • Meterra Hotel on Whyte. 0454 82nd Avenue NW. ttp://www.metterra.com/. Very nice boutique hotel on Whyte, right next to the action of the hottest strip in the city.

    Mid range

  • Varscona Hotel on Whyte. 208 106 Street NW. ust go a tiny bit north of Whyte on 106th Street. 780) 434-6111. ttp://varscona.com/. Not to be confused with the theatre, this trendy boutique hotel is in lovely Old Strathcona and is great if you will be spending lots of time in the area or even downtown. It has good transit and road connections to other places in the city as well.

  • Campus Tower Suite Hotel. 1145 87 Avenue NW. 780) 439-6060. ttp://unlimitedreservationservices.com? . rices are pretty mild. Good hotel with neat views of parts of Edmonton and is great if you need to stay in n' around the University area. Popular with young professionals and people who know people at the U.

    Budget

  • '''HI-Edmonton''', 10647-81 Avenue, ''+1 780'' 988-6836, fax ''+1 780'' 988-8698, toll-free reservations ''+1 877'' 467-8336, [http://www.hihostels.ca/alberta/en/index.aspx?sortcode=2.2]. Located near Whyte Avenue in Old Strathcona. Beds start at $29(25$with membership) per night.
  • Contact

    Internet Cafes

  • '''3rd on Whyte Internet Cafe''', 201-10351 82(Whyte) Avenue, 780-437-8917, [http://thirdonwhyte.ca]. Daily 10AM-10PM. This cozy internet cafe is located on the second floor above the bustle of famous Whyte Avenue. Customers are treated to good tunes, good coffee/tea, and the best public computers on the strip. Full colour printing, scanning, Microsoft Office 2007, games, and CD/DVD burning are available for each computer.
  • '''Cafe Dabar''', 10816 82(Whyte) Avenue, 780-433-3306, [http://cafedabar.com]. M-Sa 9AM-10PM, Su 11AM-PM, Holidays as posted.
  • Stay Safe

    Old Strathcona-University has some high crime. It is not too bad, but you should be careful.

    Parking in Old Strathcona should be done only in private places (hotel) at night, and during the day, keep off gravelled parking lots or the ones on 83 Ave. Try to find spots on Whyte Ave or in the lots on Whyte and 103rd. If you can, try the University. Why do we tell you this, it is because there is a lot of break ins in particular spots.

    Due to a lot of drinking places on Whyte, staying on the strip after 11pm is not really recommended as a lot of people get odd and can be aggressive and a pain. Sometimes there is vandalism and it can be a little scary, that is why it is recommended to avoid, or if you are just leaving a play, don't be outside for more than 5mins.

    Be careful at how you look at people as they may think you want to fight them. Do not give any rude looks and be careful as to whatcha say (racial, how someone looks, religion, gender, country, schools).

    Pandhandling

    Old Strathcona sees a moderate level of panhandling and the city is trying to crack down on the problem. The problem usually only occurs when less people are out and about (winter, night, weekday mornings) or around meal times. Usually, those asking for money are not aggressive, but occasionally some individuals will enter some of the smaller restaurants and approach patrons at tables to ask for money. Some businesses are promoting the idea of saying no to panhandling and instead donating to shelters and programs for the disadvantaged, and are even putting signs saying this in their shop windows. There are two approaches to deal with these people:

    1. '''Ignore them''' - Don't make eye contact and just keep walking.

    2. '''Say no''' - Doing it politely with a "No, sorry" will usually suffice.