If you plan to do any serious shopping (especially gun magazine shopping) in a new city, it’s essential to identify the “hip strip” as soon as possible.
More often than not, the coolest street in town is not conveniently located in the downtown core. It tends to require a complicated transit adventure or a minimum $20 cab fare. This is for the simple reason that hipsters want to make sure you’re serious about invading their territory.
In Edmonton, whose prairie air I am currently inhaling, the must-visit neighbourhood is Old Strathcona and the strip is most definitely Whyte Ave.
The most tourist-pleasing way to get there is actually the High Level Bridge Street Car, which operates between May long weekend and Thanksgiving. The trolley I took dates from 1912 and executes the world’s highest streetcar river crossing. Look at these daredevils in action!
Edmonton’s river valley is surprisingly breathtaking. I think the West Edmonton Mall should consider recreating it inside their epic shopping centre.
The streetcar deposits you and your wallet right on Old Strathcona’s doorstep. Here are a few scenes from the ‘hood:
Farmer’s market, for all your vegetal needs.
Tavern, where you can basically turn yourself into a vegetable if you so desire.
Cool old movie theatre.
You know Whyte Ave is the place to be when it’s endorsed by stylish girls.
A product found in a pin-up shop called Rowena. These are like the training wheels of cigarettes.
Fellow pin-up dress fans, take note: the store also carries Bernie Dexter dresses!
Adorable High Level Streetcar art found in Vivid Print.
Finally, if you’re looking for something more manly than a Bernie Dexter Dress or candy cigarettes, get thee to Cigar Hub newsstand, where the titles include Blade, Personal & Home Defense, Fur-Fish-Game, Tactical Knives, Sportsman’s Bowhunting and Predator Xtreme.
I hardly know which one to subscribe to first.
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Dear Reb,
Despite having only recently discovered your blog through Canada.com, I have already become a huge fan. As a 46 yr old man who has spent the past 30 yrs in the Canadian Army infantry doing “guy stuff”, I’d have thought myself a poor candidate for Reb fandom. No offence, and certainly nothing creepy intended. Just saying.
Anyhow, I really enjoyed your Queen Charlottes series, as well as your more recent Alberta adventures. Where you really sealed the deal though, was in this most recent quest for the ever-elusive “gun magazine” in Edmonton! A girl after my own heart, given that I happen to like guns, live in Edmonton, and am well-familiar with Hub Cigar as THE destination for the best selection of firearms periodicals in the city. Oddly enough, the next best selection can be founded in selected Edmonton-area Save-On Foods and Safeway grocery stores. But I digress.
I trust that you enjoyed your visit to Hub Cigar and found the gun mag selection to your liking. Stay well and keep blogging, Reb. Your youthful exuberance and zest for life along the road less travelled always put a smile on my face. Thanks for what you do!
Regards,
Mark
I hope we get to see you in the green dress, Reb! Great post!
You had me at ‘where to buy gun mags’, but wowsers, nicely vintaged pics there missus! I took the exact same angle of Tavern, just more badlier. I think Rowena might’ve been the shop actuially. But what’s a pin up shop when it’s at home praytell?! Another day, another Canadianism…
Reb!!! Thanks for pointing out my Streetcar print in your blog.
Jason Blower
Oh my gosh, Jason, it was my pleasure! I love your work. That print was definitely the star of the shop.
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