Still In Edmonton: Loving the City You're In

Poppy Barley calls Edmonton home. In some ways, it’s an unlikely place for a footwear company.

Edmonton is the largest northernmost metropolis with a population over 1 million people. To the west, the Rocky Mountains inspire and to the east, thousands of miles of prairie tundra. Our city is rugged, original and beautiful. It’s a city of risk-takers; making starting anything – even a footwear company – seem normal. I take the view that I could live anywhere in world, and I choose Edmonton because I love the city. (I've even got the official "Still In Edmonton" sticker plastered on my laptop!) Recently, I worked with Edmonton Tourism and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines to host a video about Edmonton in the winter. The video is a mix of the places locals love and landmarks/institutions of Edmonton. As we're all staying home for the holidays, we decided that our Wanderer post should be about our favourite places to shop and eat all within wandering distance of the Poppy Barley office. And before you read on, check out Where Edmonton's "West On Whyte" guide (thanks for including Poppy Barley!).

Drink & Eat

Three Boars (8424 109 St. NW) - Pitctured. Small plates, classic cocktails (especially the gin + tonic) and a really good beer selection. We love the drinks as much as the ambiance. We’ve hosted our staff Christmas party there and two photoshoots. It’s fun and 5 minutes from our office. Farrow Sandwiches & Coffee (8422 109 St. NW) The best sandwiches in Edmonton. We all cry on Tuesdays when Farrow is closed. Daelan, Poppy Barley's developer, goes at least twice a week; it’s that good. (While filming the video for KLM, the Grick Middle sandwich exploded egg all over my face – the sandwiches are that kind of amazing messy.) Café Mosaics (10844 82 Ave. NW) Our neighbourhood vegan and vegetarian watering hole. You feel healthy just sitting inside the restaurant and the food is tasty. Transcend Garneau (8708 - 109 St. NW) - Pictured. Craft roasted coffee made with passion and respect for hardworking farmers. There’s a lot to admire about Transcend, and every cup of coffee shares Transcend’s vision for great coffee. And the huge windows make for sunny mornings on cold winter days. Rosso (8738 109 St. NW) & Café Leva (11053 86 Ave NW) Every company needs a great pizza hangout. We have two: Rosso and Leva. Both spots also dish-up great salads, gelato, coffee, beer and wine. The Next Act (8224 104 St. NW) & MEAT (8216 104 St. NW) Our unfancy, deliciously good pub for beer and burgers co-owned by a super cool woman (hey Saylish!). With the same owners, neighbouring MEAT brings brisket, bourbon and beer to Edmonton. (MEAT provided all the food for men’s launch last year).

Shop

Silk Road Spice Merchant (10818 82 Ave. NW) - Pictured. After you've stocked up on cookbooks at Knifewear, head next store to Silk Road Spice Merchant to find exotic, high-quality spices and salts. You can shop by cuisine - Vietnamese, Greek, French, Moroccan, etc. - or by spice type. And the selection of bitters for cocktails is impressive. Kent of Inglewood (10816-82 Ave. NW) If shaving gear, axes or beard care is your thing, then hustle yourself to Kent of Inglewood, Canada’s best shave shop. Justine and I once spent an entire NYC trip in search on Geo.F.Trumper Sandalwood Skin Food for Justine’s husband, only to discover it was readily available 50 feet from our office in Edmonton. Not in Edmonton? They ship straight across North America. Bamboo Ballroom (8206 104 St. NW) Bamboo Ballroom sells the coolest brands, vintage clothes and accessories. Mostly, we love Bamboo for stocking our favourite Alberta brands - Camp Brand Goods, KIMDER and Suka. Knifewear (10820 82 Ave. NW) - Pictured. With its Japanese knives, curated cookbook selection and chef’s tools, this place is heaven for a foodie, pretend chef like me. They also offer classes for sharpening your knives and cutting life a chef (my knife skills are so poor, I’m embarrassed to sign-up!). Blackbyrd Myoozik (10442 82 Ave. NW) Vinyl, records, tickets, turntables and collectors' items like cedar record crates make Blackbyrd Myoozik the destination for music lovers - and we've got a few at Poppy Barley. Daelan along with two friends started the Northern Sessions (a live performance music video series featuring Edmonton musicians) and Monica's S.O. Kevin is a singer/songwriter/guitarist/drummer working on his first album.