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2005年03月20日
Calgary: The Good and the Bad
Living in different places I am always forced to compare my current environment with all others I have experienced. My current enviroment is Calgary, so while I am here I will share with you a list of the things I like and a list of the things I do not like. Things we like are taken for granted and are revealed only when missing. So the good list will inevitably be shorter than the bad.
Because the list of likes is shorter does not mean that Calgary is a bad city. As I said, the bad things stand out while the good things integrate seamlessly into my life so I will miss pointing out a lot of good things.
Things I like:
- Relatively fresh air
- Running / Cycling / Blading pathways along both sides of the Bow River and through many gorgeous parks
- Many gorgeous parks
- Cheaper fossil fuels
- The "+15" network of pathways that connect downtown buildings 15 feet above the ground
- Decidedly Jazz Danceworks
- Mode Models
- Generally friendly people
- An athletic and healthy trend - everyone is into yoga, pilates, jogging, dancing , etc.
- A view of the beautiful downtown core from almost any part of the city
- Chinooks
- Lots of good libraries and used book stores
- Amazingly well synchronized downtown traffic lights
- Proximity to mountains
- Proximity to dinosaurs
Things I don't like:
- A blind, prejudicial, and entirely unnecessary antipathy towards Toronto
- Many people here are self-obsessed and desperate to impress each other with money, luxury goods, and name dropping. I think it has to do with money here growing faster than sophistication. You might say this happens anywhere, but I notice it much more in Calgary than anywhere else. People in Japan often have a similar attachment to brand names, but people in Calgary will steer a conversation so you know their Louis Vuitton bags are real and were bought on a recent trip to Paris.
- A downtown core desserted by 5:00 pm
- Suburban sprawl
- Commute, work, commute, work, shop in bulk lifestyles
- Antediluvian smoking laws
- Generally freezing cold winters (this one was actually quite mild)
- Perpetually re-elected, hospital demolishing, education cutting, surplus squandering premiere
- Dreadful road infrastructure and traffic laws
- Racist dance clubs and lounges, well, racism in general. It's a very white town. If you "don't fit the dress code" or "age restriction" or "the club's full", it might really be because you're black, asian, or indian.
- On the other hand, it could be the bouncer is holding out for a $20 bribe. Per person.
- While we're on the subject of dance clubs and lounges, many enforce a pretentious and ineffective dress code. In order to create an "upscale" atmosphere, many insist on black dress shoes, no jeans (or no torn jeans), and, recently, no sleeveless shirts. Considering fashionable sneakers have been the trend for a while now and torn jeans are in, they are alienating the very clientelle they would do well to attract.
- The deafening silence - you never hear animated conversations, sales pitches, music pumping from cars... even the trains are silent
- Calgary fashion: if you're normal, you wear fleece and denim, if you're fashionable, you wear jeans, a t-shirt, and a blazer. I'm not Mr. Fashion, but I do like to see more creativity.
Posted by William at 2005年03月20日 05:24