The Home Tribe Real Estate Blog

Edmonton’s underground scene is a lot deeper than you might think. We all get stuck in our routines, and as a result, we miss out on what’s right beneath our feet. Intimate bars, cozy eateries, and all sorts of amazing venues are scattered across Edmonton’s core just waiting to be unearthed. Every year we get amazing additions, but it’s difficult to keep up so we asked our office to come up with a list of where we love to spend our time in Edmonton’s underground scene.

Redstar | 2 meters | The Local | Downtown Neighbourhood

The local. Every office needs one. The place where, when it’s been too long a week, you can access a drink in under 3.5 minutes. That time frame is really important so we’re lucky to have Redstar nearby. Sometimes you get stuck with something a bit run down with a couple of taps and that 70s parent’s basement vibe. Redstar is not that. It’s that beautiful combination of wood, kind service without the over-enthusiastic EARLitude, and too many beer options. Come check it out for yourself and see if you can figure out which table is ours on most Fridays after work.

New Tagline: Beers Beneath the Earth

Prairie Noodle House | 3 Meters | Send Noods | Westmount Neighbourhood

It’s ramen if ramen had originated on a farm straight out of a Steinbeck novel. (But like, in Alberta you know) I’m sure there are purists out there who take issue, but ramen is so perfect to adapt to the ingredients that define our province. The squad at Prairie does this purposefully. Everything we love about this shop seems intentional. Its got flavours that remind you of home, nostalgia in a broth, and an explanation for every inclusion, exclusion, and tweak to their food.  If you’re a ramen fan, drop by and check it out. If you’re not a ramen fan, I mean we don’t have much left to say to you… are you sure?

New Tagline: East of Ramen, Noodles of Wrath, To a Broth Unknown (Sorry I don’t know enough Albertan writers)

Cafe Bicyclette | 3 Meters | Winter City | Bonnie Doon Neighbourhood

This place needs even more recognition. It centers the French Quarter in Bonnie Doon and it executes winter city ideals better than anywhere in the city. Imagine if your basement was a quaint French cafe. Now make your house a mansion with a walkout leading to a sunken balcony framed in repurposed door and window frames and provençal garden party lighting. Then to keep everyone warm, lay out blankets across all the seating areas, position heaters overhead and build a fireplace that you keep running all day. It’s like a fairytale. Not enough? Just try the food. Come by on a moderate winter day and drink your coffee near the fire. I mean, I can’t make you do anything, but it snows for 8 months of the year here. Are you ready to live two-thirds of the rest of your life inside?

New Tagline: The Coffee Bar of Narnia

9910 | 3.5 meters | Hip Hop Karaoke | Oliver Neighbourhood

Like you’ve never seen before. Don’t show up the first time expecting to sing. This is a performance. Sign-ups before the event, no screens, a full stage, 99ten’s hip-hop karaoke is everything we need in Edmonton. One of the coolest nights out in town for sure. It’s a loving homage to hip-hop and an unexpectedly high-performance level. The space is gorgeous and the always have something going on if hip-hop karaoke doesn’t sound like your thing. If that is the case, maybe give your head a shake and then try again.

New Tagline: Basement Mixtapes for the Thirsty

Plaza Bowl | 4 meters | Time Machine Realness | Westwood Neighbourhood

Lanes? Where we’re going, we don’t need lanes. Okay, we still need lanes, but Plaza Bowl really is a relic of the 50s. Lovingly maintained by one family since the late 70s, it’s the most attractive bowling alley in the city. I’m sure we’ll see it play host to a Wes Anderson movie in our lifetime. Now you can grab local beers, a late night grilled cheese, and huck balls at some pins. Chase down that turkey and win a pin that you can show off to all of your friends. True to its history, Plaza is everything good about the fifty’s family legacy values without any of the generation’s human rights hiccups… Don’t forget to stretch. The stairs become a lot more difficult after 50 frames and an adventure through their beer fridge.

New Tagline: Bowling in a Bomb Shelter

It’s back. One of the craziest ideas ever executed in Edmonton returns for the world championship. Pitched as “downhill ice cross”, the race involves 4 participants speeding down a steep course completely covered in ice on skates. Yup, downhill skate races are a thing and you need to see it.

The event is a huge draw. It all happens March 9 -10 at a course starting at Jasper Avenue and 96 st. and ends near the river valley below. The course itself is something to see even if you can’t get tickets to watch the races. 455 meters of sheer ice, massive vertical descents, and jumps. Yes, they actually perform jumps on skates while racing.

This one is really weather dependent as the condition of the course requires some cooler temperatures but hopefully not too cold so we can all enjoy a winter day out. SkirtsAFire is happening that weekend too and there are some scheduled events during the afternoon that would make for a great day downtown. Maybe try Yoga in the Art or a Bellydancing workshop if you’re feeling bold. The Nina Haggerty Gallery is hosting an exhibit on that Friday as well. After an afternoon downtown, pick up some coffee and head to the track!

Post Race decisions

Now that you’ve built up an appetite, is it beer, cocktails, or wine?

Tres Carnales (Beer)

Great decision. Now it’s time to head to Tres Carnales for some tacos and beer. It’s been open for a while now but this place still seems like it just opened. There’s always something new and noteworthy on the menu so make sure to convince whomever you’re with to share. There is nothing worse than staring across the table at someone thoroughly enjoying the dish you foolishly passed over on the menu. Make a pact from the beginning to ensure you don’t suffer an unnecessary FOMO.

Woodwork (Cocktails)

We like your style. Find a seat at the bar and commit to getting a hands-on education that, if you’re not careful, you may not remember tomorrow. Start with drinks and ask the bartender to help you pick something if your heart’s not already set. You’ll end up with an incredibly well-balanced drink appropriate for the season which a lot of us stuck in our ways can miss out on. (I unapologetically pretend it’s constantly summer in my mind) Now that you’ve got a drink going, order some food and settle in for the night. It’s one the most relaxing evenings you can have. Good drinks, a beautiful space, and the smell of their wood-fired kitchen.

Tzin (Wine)

Can’t go wrong! Time to book a spot at this cozy wine bar because it fills up fast. Pick a bottle to share with your group and then just fall into a long conversation about Russian authors or some other stimulating topic of your own choice… The Tapas is pretty good here and you should try as much as you can all handle. Spread it out through the night and take snack breaks when the Chekhov discussion gets too heavy. It’s important to pace yourself so that you can complete the entire menu marathon. Good luck.

Hopefully, we’ll see some of you out and about this weekend. Come say hi if you see us!

Crashed Ice Info

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.

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 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 

View All Virginia Park Homes For Sale or All Cromdale Homes For Sale

Thank you for making our 2017 such an amazing year. We can’t wait to keep working closely with all our clients new and old this year. A happy new year to you and all your loved ones. Here’s hoping your 2018 is filled with wonder, excitement, and all that you wished for this year.

Sincerely,

Elisse, Caitlin & Your TruHome Team

P.S. We always appreciate a referral – your trust in us and recommendation of our services to your friends and family means the world!

Okay, after stuffing ourselves for the holidays, it’s time to start thinking about what’s for dinner next year. Is it just us, or have you noticed an increase in vegan and vegetarian options in Edmonton? The city is finally getting some recognition for our most creative and seriously delicious eateries, but what about the new vegan spots diversifying Edmonton’s offerings? These spots are worth a visit whether you’re a vegan or just looking for something new in YEG.

Arcadia

The utopian dream lives on! Arcadia focuses on Alberta beer, good music, meat-free offerings, and conversation. And, they do a pretty good job of it. It’s an awesome idea grounded in socially conscious community development. Their space is great (kid friendly til 8) and it’s contributing to the incredible growth of 124th street.

Here’s what you’re going to do; check the next concert date, text your homebody friends to make plans, layout evening clothes for your homebody friends so they have something other than pyjamas to wear, eat a late lunch, get to Arcadia, order a Fahr North Dunkelweizen and the 124 Street Nachos (complete with Sailin’on coconut bacon), lather, rinse, and repeat until satisfied. You’ll pick up on the vibe quickly and get to experience life on the good ship Albion.

Die Pie 

Can you ever get enough pizza? No. Not up for discussion. That’s why we’re just as excited to see Die Pie bringing plant-based pizza to Jasper Ave. Mari Toni Gerner, Elisse’s sister in law and plant-based culinary expert, tells us that one of the most difficult ways to introduce people to plant-based food is to replicate something they are really familiar with. But, Die Pie is definitely up to that challenge. It all comes down to the vegan cheese. I know there are some pizza aficionados that cringed reading that, but stick with us. This is vegan cheese made by Die Pie in their downtown kitchen (available for purchase I might add). It’s delicious and perfect for their pizzas.

Just try it. They’re set to change the pizza game in Edmonton. Don’t miss out.

The Moth

Yay! Development in the Quarters. It has definitely taken some time but we are happy to see that the area will host Cafe Mosaics’ new venture, The Moth. The restaurant looks stunning, and if you’ve been to Cafe Mosaics, then you know you can expect the food to be worth the visit.

The Moth is trying to highlight raw and nutritious ingredients at a price more people can afford. Again, it seems to be about servicing the community and trying to be a hub for Edmonton’s inner city residents. If you’re in the neighbourhood, check out the Moth and let us know if it lives up to the hype!

It seems the underlying concept of socially conscious community development is pretty consistent across the board. These are Chefs and Entrepreneurs doing purposeful work to help Edmonton grow. If you’re looking to try something new, or you just saw OKJA, send these places some love. Without them, we’ll just keep seeing the same stale restaurants and we’ll never get to see what Edmonton could become.

Good Eating Edmonton,

TruHome

!Shout out to the originals who laid the foundations for vegan Edmonton!

Padmanadi’s (2002)

Cafe Mosaics (2011)

Noorish (2011)

Buckingham (2013)

Every winter, after the first snow, I start to get excited about Christmas. I think to myself, “this year I’m going to be on top of all my shopping, get everything done online, and just hang out in my warm house waiting for Amazon to do the work for me”. And then, every year, I find myself gambling with delivery times or running around town trying to find cute independents where I can buy great last-minute gifts while avoiding the malls. This year is no different, so I’m going to capitalize on it and spread a little holiday love. Here are some of our must-visit local shops for the new year (or if you’re like me, now, quickly, before the 25th).

Westmount Soap Company

Westmount Soap draws inspiration from the freshest neighbourhoods in Edmonton. They are all about natural ingredients that create soaps that are gentle on the skin. I’m starting out in my neighbourhood – Ritchie – and then exploring up from there. Everything smells so good and the soaps really don’t feel harsh at all. After the dust settles on the holiday season, pick yourself up some soaps, settle in for a relaxing bath, and explore the city. It’s a low effort Edmonton tour.

You can find the Westmount Soap company at the 124th Grand Market and in a few craft fairs in 2018.

Or Visit Them Online At WestmountSoapCompany.ca

Alberta Craft Council

If you’re looking for something unique and produced in Alberta, you need to visit the Alberta Craft Gallery. There is so much to explore and yes, the pieces are for sale. You could get lost for a day in the glasswork, woodwork, pottery, fibre art, jewelry, furniture and home accessories from over 150 artists. I like my gifts to have a story attached to them. This place is perfect for unique home decor. It’ll also make you feel good about yourself for supporting local artists and any shop that can do that is worth a visit.

They have locations in both Edmonton and Calgary. If you want to learn more about the work they’re doing, talk to someone in the store or visit Alberta Craft Council online.

Bear Cat and Bimbo

Bearcat & Bimbo is all about reclamation and repurposing. Elisse has personally known one of the founders, Dan Hallett, for a long time and is not surprised by the awesome creativeness that he and his partner bring to the craft. They do amazing lighting and home decor using unconventional materials. Pick up something interesting for your home or as a gift. These pieces are anything but generic, so at the very least, you need to see some of the work they do. You can check it out on their Facebook or Instagram accounts. They also do custom work if you’ve got something else in mind.

The Colombian Mountain Coffee Company

Coffee! What’s better than that? Coffee with a story. This beautiful couple, Kristin & Santiago Lopez, is bringing their family tradition to Canada and as result of their hard work, we get to enjoy this incredible coffee. We first met them in the salsa world and we are so excited for what they are bringing to the Edmonton coffee scene. The coffee is roasted here in Alberta and if you’ve been lucky enough to encounter this company, you know how good it is.

But, it’s not just about the coffee. It’s more purposeful than that. In addition to visiting the farms that source their roastery, they work to ensure that those farms and co-ops are paid fairly. It’s pride and hard work resulting in a product that’s easy to get behind. Keep a lookout for these two in the coming year including the launch of their new “brick and mortar” location right near Vi’s for Pies.

You can also catch them around town various weeks, be sure to check out their online here.

Edmonton Made

Want to find more local businesses doing great work in Edmonton? “Edmonton Made strives to enhance the exposure of locally based businesses and to make it easy to shop local and find distinctly Edmonton products and experiences. Edmonton Made helps local entrepreneurs tell their stories, grow their audiences, and connects them with the resources they need to be successful.”

Visit the gift shop online at EdmontonMade.com 

Happy Holidays Edmonton!

We want to take a second to thank all of the great people in our community (Edmonton) who make our lives so great. You all make what we do more enjoyable and that keeps us working hard to come up with new ways to better help our clients when it comes to buying or selling Edmonton Real Estate. We look forward to 2018 and hope that we get the opportunity to work with some of your nearest and dearest in their next yeg home hunt or sale – we are always so appreciative of the referrals we get and the trust we have earned. We can not thank our wonderful clients/friends enough!

We also wanted to thank everyone who made it out to this year’s Plaid & Pine Holiday party. And, to those who missed it, we can’t wait to see you next year! (the holiday party photos are now viewable here – be sure to share, like and tag).

This years party was held in support of Sorrentino’s Compassion House. They are doing valuable work for women who need to travel for cancer treatment in Edmonton. The home is so caringly designed and maintained. Everyone deserves to feel at home and safe which is why this organization spoke to us. It really is a haven for so many that would otherwise have to endure much less supportive environments during their treatments. With your help, we managed to raise $700 dollars for their cause. Thank you! Over the year we have also donated a portion of each real estate transactions earnings towards the Children’s Miracle Network and the Realtors Community Foundation (who directly helps hundreds of local charities a year).

All of this wouldn’t have been possible without our generous sponsors. Another huge thank you to River City Financial and Murray & Stadnyk Law. If you’re in need of a mortgage broker or any legal services, we highly recommend both of these organizations. We work frequently with them both, and the experience has been so overwhelmingly positive. We are also extremely appreciative of the generous donations from the Edmonton Oil Kings and the Edmonton Prospects Baseball Club.

River City Financial believes in financial education, we think that is where the power is. We’ll help you get ready for the next steps of home ownership and understand what you can afford.

Murray & Stadnyk Law specializes in corporate commercials, real estate law, wills & estates. Our team of dedicated, experienced lawyers and administration will handle your file in a professional timely manner.

Thank you all for a great year. Happy Holidays from our family to yours! Stay in touch: 587-400-7653

Elisse Moreno, Caitlin Heine & The TruHome Team