This is Calgary

<p>Let’s get into the curiosities and constants that make Calgary a wonderful and sometimes frustrating place to call home. One story and conversation at a time. Hosted by Anis Heydari. Every Wednesday.</p>

From chapstick to cowboy boots, newcomers to Calgary talk about moving here

Calgary has been experiencing a rate of population growth not seen since the 1980s. We talk with three newcomers to Calgary — from elsewhere in Canada, Kenya and Ukraine — to hear what surprised them about the big move.

12-18
20:38

How getting 'bums in seats' and competing with Taylor Swift drive live music in YYC

Music venues in Calgary face a lot of challenges when it comes to keeping live music alive in this city. Places like Mikey's or the Blues Can have even had to relocate at times - sometimes repeatedly. We ask what the challenges are when you want to host music in this city - and explain why some say Taylor Swift is the problem, it's her.

12-11
20:12

Why Calgary restaurants are so hot, even Pedro Pascal likes them!

With stars savouring Calgary's many menus, we need to talk about our restaurant scene that's tastier by the day. A Concorde Group boss as well as restaurant critic Elizabeth Carson serve up hot takes with Anis.

12-04
21:22

Real people and spicy councillors. It's city budget time!

Late every fall, city councillors and the mayor huddle up and spend all your tax dollars. From last minute pleas to save pools to which councillor goes to Blowers and Grafton, we break down the budget debate and why you should care.

11-27
20:43

Fixing main streets is throwing us for a (Marda) loop

The City has plans to improve some of the main streets all across Calgary. But just like a home reno, construction often takes longer - and is a worse experience - than you ever expect. So what is even happening when it comes to these main drags? We head to ground zero of Marda Loop's revamp to hear from the people who live there, the businesses that work there, and the City itself.

11-20
22:25

Is Calgary still an Olympic city?

Can't you feel it? Or has the spirit aged out of Calgary, more than 36 years after the Olympic Winter Games hit the city? The bricks that line downtown's Olympic Plaza are the latest physical symbol of Calgary's Olympic legacy that may be going away - so we ask if the city still has a place on the podium.

11-13
22:20

Is Inglewood still Inglewood?

Calgary's quirkiest neighbourhood is known for its independent shops, funky characters and unique vibes. But times are changin' in the city, and Inglewood faces its own pressures from chain restaurants and condo developers. Two Inglewood champions join us to go over the tug of war in town.

11-06
23:02

How the Green Line became a runaway train with no track

We backtrack the saga of the Green Line LRT project over the past few years to explain how and why it's stalled. Josh Pagé walks Anis Heydari through the votes, studies, politics and money that's led to a lot of cash being spent on a train that doesn't go anywhere yet.

10-30
26:40

Behind the scenes of Calgary's iconic honky-tonk, Ranchman's

With the Calgary Stampede looming closer, we take you behind the scenes of one of the city's most legendary hotspots for cowboys and cowgirls alike. We peek behind the saddles at Ranchman's, with someone who has worked there for nearly four decades!

06-19
18:00

All about the downtown penetrator (we swear, it was for cars)

You read that name right. Calgary almost had a freeway called the 'downtown penetrator' — almost! The CBC's Jason Markusoff drops by to explain how Calgary nearly pierced through the core of the city, with what could be the worst name ever for major civic infrastructure.

06-12
16:20

How Calgary's "insane" housing market keeps defying logic

Another month, another bump in housing prices. Condos, duplexes, detached - doesn't matter. Real estate agent Nadine Faule walks us through what it's like to be a buyer out there.

06-05
17:21

Calgary is a country music city, but how?

All that twang had to come from somewhere! Local ethnomusicologist Mike Tod offers us a history lesson, and Southern Alberta's own country star MacKenzie Porter joins us from Nashville to talk about today's country sound.

05-29
21:18

Electric bikes: pathway scourge or convenient car replacement?

It's cycling season in Calgary (if you're not one of the hardcore winter riders putting us all to shame) and the e-bikes are out. We talk about what you can — and what you can't — do on an e-bike, with someone who really loves them.

05-22
15:20

Yes, there ARE more potholes this year in Calgary — so what's going on?

Yeah, it's pothole season. And this year, it FEELS like there are more cracks and crevices than usual. It's not just a feeling! We have facts! The city's chief pothole filler tells us how many there are, and how you can get the one that wrecked your alignment fixed.

05-15
17:18

The magic that wasn't: goodbye to the 90s teal of Eau Claire Market

The Eau Claire Market is soon to be demolished, so it's time to look back at what went right, what went wrong and what's next for the downtown project that never really worked. Failure or not, Calgarians felt strongly about the now-dead mall and the magic it promised, so we talk to a literal magician about what it was like to perform there, and a former city councillor about what it's like to finally say "eau" revoir.

05-08
19:54

Send us your potholes!

We've got a special episode coming up on potholes in Calgary - so we need you to email anis@cbc.ca with the potholes you hate the most. Email us a voice memo with your name, where your pothole is, what's terrible about it - and heck, let us know what you named it (if you name your potholes). It could air on a future episode!

05-06
01:18

Poplar trees are the popular tree Calgary loves to hate

Big, brittle, sticky and fluffy. Calgary is a city of poplar trees, but they aren't always popular with the public. Master arborist Gerard Fournier tells us how we got so many of these trees. And you can blame Ottawa!

05-01
18:06

Calgary is now the Blue Sky City — what?

We're going through a rebrand here in Calgary - we're now the "Blue Sky City!" Do you love it? Do you hate it? Do you have any idea what it means? Brand expert Alyssa Berry joins us on why a lukewarm reception might be perfect.

04-24
20:17

We need to talk about blanket zoning, Calgary

City council is about to decide if it wants to make it simpler to knock down a bungalow and build a row house. This could help ease the affordability crunch, and could lead to neighbourhoods that don't look like they were intended to. With emotion on all sides, we hear from a community opposed, and why the city says it's time to get cozy with this blanket.

04-17
21:29

Calgary has a growing tech sector, and one of its hubs is a fancy parking lot

You know that snazzy parkade near the downtown library? It's part of a maturing tech sector in what's traditionally an oil and gas town. We hear from Platform Calgary, and a medical software company, on how to make it in tech.

04-10
19:39

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