The Home Tribe Real Estate Blog

A Day in the Ritchie Life

It’s pretty this morning. Fresh snow, excessively large snowflakes, and all of the other things that help us forget how harsh Edmonton winters can get. At Ritchie Rich (that’s our house) we start our Saturdays with coffee and the premier league. It’s a tradition founded on my dog’s inability to wait past 8 AM for breakfast.

This is Zelda. Zelda likes food. Zelda doesn’t suffer fools.

The most important thing to remember about perfectly snowy days is that they’re best experienced at alternating intervals of outdoor and indoor activity. You don’t need much, but make sure you have warm clothes in layers and large windows (preferably near a fireplace).

When we were looking for houses 3 years ago, we knew we had to be close to the Mill Creek Ravine for the pup. Well worn trails line the creek and the bridges cross and recross the creek for miles. It’s quiet early in the morning if you don’t want company, and you can explore the ravine for hours.  

Okay, dog done.

Another important thing to remember about snowy days is that they require warm food and drink. Most experts agree that your consumption levels should directly correlate to the type of day you expect to have. For example, today I expect to spend a moderate amount of time outside, several hours walking, intermittent periods of social interaction, and in a state that fluctuates from hungry, to sleepy, to curious, to excited in no particular order. As such, the logical next step is brunch at Tasty Toms.

Tasty Tom’s

It’s incredible what too much food and a little something in your coffee can do to help your day along. This is the spot and there’s almost nothing I wouldn’t order on the menu. Play it safe with the standard breakfast or really commit to it with something like the chilli cheese omelette. If you’re stuck on breakfast, come back another time to try the burgers.

The people running this shop are amazing so drop by and say hello some time. Speaking of amazing people, check out this brunch crew. It’s the moment you’ve given up on finishing your meal and forced yourself to finish your 3rd coffee (because coffee is life) that you look up surrounded by friends and realize that it’s really simple to keep humans happy. Seriously, don’t miss Tasty Toms.

ALHAMBRA BOOKS 

I thought I’d spend some time exploring the shops around here this afternoon. Alhambra Books is the easiest place to get lost so why not start there!
It’s best to come into places like this without an end goal. No title. No author. No genre. Flip through the shelves, read a few pages here and there, and then just take one based on its cover. Even if you don’t like it, it will make you try something new and it’s unlikely going to cost you more than $4.

Tall overflowing shelves, books stacked to the rafters, and overloaded tables make Alhambra one of my favourite places to hide out. It’s been quiet recently so I don’t feel as weird sitting in the rows exploring new authors. It reminds me of library visits when you were a kid. This place is special. Maybe it’s the smell of old books, or just that the owners are holding onto that same feeling I am. Please come and see it.

La Boule

Don’t judge me. Going to La Boule is part of this assignment. It’s my job to stop and get some carrot cake. Look how perfect their display is. Would you have wanted to miss it? Okay, it’s a must visit spot in Ritchie. Thanks to my colleague Sarah for the heads up!

Warp 1

Warp checks a lot of boxes for me these days. I don’t read a lot of comic books but I’m obsessed with board games and D&D. I recently started a campaign in our office and I wanted to get a reward for my new players. They’ve created some hilarious characters but they’re missing dice so this makes sense.  Come by and see it for yourself. If you’re looking to try something, I think they do drop in evenings for a bunch of different games

ACE Coffee

ACE isn’t normally open but since it’s the weekend we get to see the space and get another coffee. It’s like an inverted ark that houses coffee and donuts! I’m not sure who designed this place but they’ve drastically improved my weekend routine. You can come by to try the coffee Friday to Sunday but they’re busy doing other work during the week.

Biera

It’s the local. Ritchie Market’s quickly become the center of this neighbourhood. This is the place that feels the most like Ritchie to me. You run into your neighbours over drinks or get caught in the puppy party outside Transcend, and it just feels like it’s always been here. Blind Enthusiasm brews out of the market as well so you can follow along as they try out new ideas and perfect your favourites. (and they do growlers so you can get a little to go!) The market is also home to ACME meats so Biera has an incredible offering and the partnerships make me happy to be in a place working together.

Bok Choy for sure. Lot’s of drinks. An unnecessary dessert. You can’t go wrong. Just come and enjoy the space, bring some friends, drink some beer, and meet all the neighbours!

There are obviously a ton of amazing shops left out of this day just because of time constraints, pant waist constraints, and my current brunch preferences. I love Ritchie. Yes, it’s central, it’s well serviced, there are a ton of things to do, but, that’s not it. It fits my lifestyle and I feel connected to the people here. I’m so glad we moved here and I can’t imagine living anywhere else.

Justin Quinn is the director of marketing for TruHome. He’s committed to bringing a strong community focus to our marketing efforts and increasing transparency in the Real Estate Industry. He has lived in the Ritchie neighbourhood for the past three years and obsesses about all things food and drink in Edmonton.

Welcome to luxury in Forest Heights. This fully redesigned home is perfect for the urban professional or growing family. With three bedrooms, two full baths, bonus loft area, and gourmet kitchen – you will not be left wanting anything. Detached two car garage, fenced yard and corner lot – you will have all the space needed to start a new life in this highly desired neighbourhood. Brand new windows, concrete countertops, stylized light fixtures, and hardwood floor make this home, the home not to be missed.

Renovations were completed by Revive Developments whose focus is to “breath new life” into older properties. This was the second project they took on in the community of Forest Heights, however, their updated creations can be found in many popular neighbourhoods including Capilano, Glenora and Laurier Heights.

View this Forest Heights listing here.

One of my favourite weekly things to do is to go for coffee or brunch in Edmonton. Prior to kids, we would sleep in and go to a late morning brunch, relax with a cup of coffee and some yummy comfort food. Now, with Harrison, I still love enjoying breakfast brunch, however, in order to keep him busy and give me the quiet time I’m seeking, I am always on the lookout for great family friendly coffee and breakfast places that really work for the whole family. Here are a few of mine and my team’s current favourites:

Juniper Cafe & Bistro

Located in the community of Strathern, this family-friendly bistro is warm and friendly. Here you will enjoy fresh, seasonal and delicious homemade food. For your little ones, you will be delighted with a kid-specific menu, including a “kid’s charcuterie plate”. What makes it even better though is that within the space there is a kid-friendly zone for playing and having fun.

I haven’t yet been, but according to their website, this cafe also offers great options for evenings too with a sharing menu and a nice selection of “adult-drinks”.

Live near Juniper Cafe & Bistro – Discover All Homes For Sale In Strathearn.

The Nook Cafe

If I’m not out with clients on Saturday, my go-to place to visit with my son is The Nook Cafe. Their goal is to “connect people via cozy experiences. The Nook Cafe builds community by inviting closeness through a space of warmth and belonging.” They feature classic favourites such as grilled cheese, french toast and yummy cookies – perfect for picky eaters. In the cafe, there is a wonderful play area complete with an Ikea kitchen, books and other fun toys for young kids. If I could request one thing from this cafe though it would be more hours. As a working mom, it is challenging to come here as they are typically only open during the day Monday through Friday (except Tuesdays they are open until 9pm) and on Saturdays.

Love The Nook Cafe? If you live in Downtown, Boyle Street or Riverdale – you are nearby.

Cafe O Play

Cafe O Play is a favourite hangout for both me and my kids. The kids love it because there are great toys and equipment for the young ones, without big kids getting in the way (I think the cafe is perfect for kids up to about 5 years old). The parents love it because there are amazing lattes, and you can actually get a chance to talk to other adults. A huge bonus, especially during parental leave! They also have healthy snack options at reasonable prices for the entire family. So the next time you want a break from the house, the kids are driving you nuts, you want to catch up with a friend, it’s caffeine-time, or all of the above, check out Cafe O Play!

Live near Cafe O’Play: Edmonton Southwest Homes or St.Albert Homes.

I’m sure there are other great places to enjoy good Edmonton food and have fun with your kids. Be sure to share your favourites with us!

This buyer encompasses everything about Core Living. Her interests in hyper-local, downtown core businesses and community made this purchase in Parkdale the ideal fit.  The cutest home on a mature street, with access to the ever bustling and forever expanding Alberta Avenue will stand out in my memory for a long time.  Quick access to downtown, and long-standing residents that not only take pride in their homes but also enjoy the restoration of them and not just the infill opportunities truly make Parkdale the ideal spot.

Welcome to The View, and true to name, this condo has the best Views in the city. Undoubtedly one of the most unique layouts for a condo you will find on the market today. At just over 1200 Square Feet, this two bedroom, two bathroom condo is sure to impress anyone who comes in. Southwest Exposure from the large balcony looking over the lush River Valley and Downtown City landscape, ensures loads of sunlight during the day and gorgeous city light views at night. This condo is perfect for the downtown professional or a young family who wants to live in the heart of Edmonton close to everything downtown has to offer; as well a quick walk into the adventures of the River Valley. With a tandem, two parking spots, in suite laundry, 9 foot ceilings, large windows, and gorgeous open concept layout – this is a condo not to be missed – you will not find another view like this in the city.

See the listing HERE

This piece was fun because we all love giving our Edmonton neighbourhoods personalities. Some of them are easy like the Whyte Avenue Strathcona area but some are just discovering who they are and it’s fun to watch. For us, we’re all about the core of Edmonton. These are the neighbourhoods we live, work, and play in and they’re communities we try and play an active role in. The music in the video is actually from Jeff Morris a local and we’re lucky that we got a chance to promote people doing cool stuff in the city.

We were really interested in understanding the neighbourhoods that we serve. Because It’s not just a house. It’s a community and it’s your lifestyle. You should have all the information available to you. And it’s going to change throughout your life so we wanted to know how our city itself is ageing and transforming.
Plus it’s pretty fun. We don’t want to take ourselves too seriously.

We’re not just experts because we live in the city but because we dive deeper into the data available to us. We’re really trying to be more than a basic Edmonton real estate experience.
https://www.facebook.com/jeffmorrismusic.ca for more.

** This video was featured on Global! So excited to keep bringing Edmonton more insights on the amazing core neighbourhoods. https://globalnews.ca/video/4025127/our-yeg-at-night-where-to-find-other-single-people-in-edmonton-on-valentines-day 

1. Edmonton Core Communities in and around Downtown
2.  Lake life at it’s best, west of Edmonton on Wabamun, Lake Isle, and Lac Ste Anne.

We get it! Navigating the world of real estate can feel overwhelming for even the most seasoned home buyer. Like you, we were once first time home buyers too and often when we look back on our own journeys and ask “how could it have been better, how could we have understood the process better at that time, how can we better empower our customers in their journey…

This guide is designed to help you feel at ease and be more prepared to make, what could be, the biggest and most exciting purchase of your life.  If this guide doesn’t answer all of your questions, please let us know what’s missing or how it could be improved so that we can make sure future versions of it continue to help others.

Download our Edmonton Home Buyer’s guide here and learn more about the home buying process.