Edmonton Fun: Flaneuring Off-The-Beaten-Path

Usually when I visit another city I like to stay downtown and explore the City Centre neighbourhoods, but on my most recent visit to Edmonton I decided to stay on the south side in Airbnb Lane Home (i.e. a home above a back lane garage) in a neighbourhood called Ritchie. It was a great decision as Ritchie an off-the-beaten path hidden gem. It is home to several independent roasteries and cafes, as well as several breweries with pubs and yes, an artisan ice cream shop.  It was also a chance to experience what lane home living is like.

I also spent time visiting with friends, which meant I was able to flaneur in three other neighbourhoods - Pleasant View, Laurier Heights and Parkview. We also had a chance to explore the Edmonton’s amazing river valley and yes we did walk along Jasper Avenue (Edmonton’s downtown main street).

I thought it would be fun to share with you some of the fun flaneur finds I found. Let the flaneuring begin.  

Every time we flaneured the Ritchie neighbourhood we found another fun painted lady.

While walking Edmonton’s amazing River Valley parks and green spaces we came upon this strange creature. Turns out it was a new climbing wall being erected. Too much fun.

Another fun find were these artworks installed under the Tawatina bridge.

There are 500+ paintings of local flora and fauna and history of First Nation, Metis and early settlers.

Found this fun travel sticker collection on a vehicle in the alley right behind our lane house.

Another fun surprise was this public artwork. I immediately thought it might be a work by Jill Anholt and sure enough it was. I found this somewhat ironic as I recently posted a blog about Jill’s sculptures in Calgary.

While waiting from my coffee at The Columian on 99thj I saw these and thought how great they would be for the Calgary Stampede.

Found this Wishing Tree on our way back from Kind ice cream shop in Ritchie.

Along 80th Ave just west off of 99th Street I discovered a group of funky buildings and a quirky house. The yellow building is a law office.

Find thrift store is a fun find with its unique entrance that feels like you are on stage. Very Fun!

Find even offers fun “Surprise Boxes” where you can take your chances. I was tempted but didn’t buy one.

I loved this sandwich board.

I wonder if Jane is part of the Theatre Company?

Too funny…Marcus lives in my ‘hood in Calgary. Found this house turned ice cream parlour when parking to get coffee and muffin across the street at The Columbian on 99th.

Edmonton seems to have a lot of fun ice cream parlours like Kind in Ritchie.

Or Aunt Rue in Parkallen.

It was a fun surprise to come upon this mini-main street in Parkallen a residential neighbourhood.

Looked up and quickly grabbed this photo of the historic High Level Bridge street car going by. The bridge and the street car are 100+ years old. It links Old Strathcona to downtown.

I was gobsmacked by this new brutalist building along Ritchie’s Ale Street that is home to Blind Enthusiasm brewery. There are three craft breweries on 78th Ave just west of 99th Street and several others in the immediate vicinity.

We were driving by this strange building on a residential street and when I asked our friends what is this and they said “a library.” They were kind enough to stop and let me literally jump out and take a few photos. I love fun, funky and quirky architecture.

When I saw these three towers in the west end of downtown Edmonton I immediately thought of “three sisters” mountains in Canmore. Who knows why?

Also in the west end of Edmonton downtown is the Paul Kane Park a lovely oasis where locals come to sit and relax. Kane (1810 to 1871) was an Irish born Canadian painter who is famous for field sketches of Western Canada’s indigenous people’s lives.

Located off the beaten path on 11811 105th Ave is The Art of Cake and The Red Door. The latter is open only Friday and Saturday nights with its speak easy atmosphere.

The Art of Cake cafe is funky space where you get to enjoy their decadent cakes and pastries. Yes they also have soup, sandwiches etc.

And the cakes are indeed works of art.

We had to have a Tuxedo Cookie as they are a Winnipeg staple.

The Strawberry Coconut Square was very good.

While flanuering the streets near our friend’s house in Laurier Heights I noticed they have unique street signs that included established in 1956. What a great idea?

Last Word

We enjoyed our Lane Home stay. The alley was very quiet except for when the garage door opened and closed but that wasn’t very often. We often like to explore back lanes looking for treasures, so it was fun to have the lane as our front door. It was a great opportunity to live like a local in another city.

The Ritchie neighbourhood has an interesting history as its development began with the arrival of the Calgary Edmonton railway in 1891 and continued with Edmonton Yukon and Pacific lines in 1902.  The old industrial buildings are perfect for roasteries and breweries, which are the catalyst for the community’s fun new infill homes many of which incorporate metal siding that fits with the community’s industrial history. We will be back.