Stephen Av. "Specials"

[seemac70]

Economic downturn? You bet.

Keep your eyes peeled on Stephen Av...

Blink now boasts a prix fixe for lunch and dinner. Mind you the dinner is set between the auspicious hours of 5:00pm and 6:30pm.

In other news Teatro has taken a pretty aggressive stance with four separate incentives... They call it their recession plan, or some such.
Notably, the Sunday night no corkage and chef's tasting menu.

Anyone spy anything else?

[cancowboy]

An interesting column in the Herald today. Many of the deals already noted here.
http://www.calgaryherald.com/business...

Optimism (and change) on Stephen Avenue

A few evenings ago, I strolled down Stephen Avenue to gauge the temperature of dining on our most corporate restaurant row. Now that we're a few months into the recession, I wanted to see how those places that have been so strongly supported by the corporate credit card are faring.

The comments I heard from most chefs and restaurateurs echoed the rumours I've been hearing over the past few months: spending is down; head counts are down; rent, taxes and food costs, however, are not. Many corporate credit cards have been given tighter limits while others have been pulled altogether. And while some places appear to be unaffected--or at least say they are--others are down anywhere from 40 to 60 per cent from last year. But they're not sitting still and crying in their beer. Changes are happening.

more ...

[tex_in_yyc]

Might be nice for some of the Stephen Ave. places to do something to cover parking. As much as I like DiVino, I am sick and tired of being reamed by parking fees in the core, so I just don't go there anymore.

I don't know why the restaurateurs in the area haven't gotten together to put some sort of valet parking scheme together or at least strike a deal with the evil empire (Impark) to subsidize customer parking

[sharonanne]

A valet service would be nice but in the meantime:

James Short 112 – 5 Avenue SW OR 115 – 4 Avenue SW
$2 Evenings everyday 4 pm to 6 am; Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays 6 am to 6 pm.

Petro-Canada 111 - 5 Avenue SW
$2 Evenings from 6 pm to 6 am and weekends.

[cancowboy]

Just to add to sharonanne's reply

Lot # 7
209 - 9 Ave SW (Across the street from Rush; a block from DiVino)
$2 Evenings everyday 4 pm to 6 am; Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays 6 am to 6 pm

On-street parking is free after 6PM - just make sure you aren't in a loading zone or something.

And isn't there still free evening parking on Stephen Ave (after they open up the little gates at the intersections.

[seemac70]

Great posts everyone!

Even the mini debate on the AGLC Act. If you want to dork out and have a bit of a laugh, check out the enforcement orders on the AGLC website. A grand fine here, a grand fine there... Peanuts...

Talk about a toothless watchdog! (Not that I'm complaining.)

Keep 'em coming

[foodie les]

I was at Blink last week and when I called to ask about parking, they said if I parked at the Telus Convention Centre, that they would give me a parking voucher. It made it easy, not having to drive around to find parking.

[pants]

apparently Rush is doing free drinks and appy's from 5-7 thursday and friday this week - they did it thursday last week as well...

[300rwhp]

Rush is free fest is by invite, so how does one get invited?

[John Manzo]

Free DRINKS?? That's a recipe for a lawsuit and also obviously violates new minimum pricing laws. Appies are fine but free drinks is just inviting disaster.

[300rwhp]

i dont think so as it is a private party event.

[maplesugar]

From AGLC's website:

8.2.6 The following types of liquor pricing or practices are prohibited:
a) free liquor specials;
b) more than one (1) drink for a single price (e.g., “2 for 1” or
“triples for the price of a single”); and
c) promotions of “all you can drink for a fixed cost”.

http://www.aglc.gov.ab.ca/pdf/handboo...

If it were open to the general public I'd agree, it'd be a violation but I have yet to find anywhere where they prohibit free drinks at a private event. They'd be shutting down dozens of corporate Stampede Parties every summer if that were the case.

[RodVito]

Lets get back the vital info at hand.....as 300rwhp asked, How do you get an invite????

I host many corporate events each year in my business. If it were illegal to serve free drinks, I wouldnt make any sales. As long as the event is private, or there is 1 person singled out to pick up the tab, the ALCB laws do not apply. However, overserving laws still do, of course.

[John Manzo]

Okay okay OKAY. Message received. It's private. Pants' post did not stipulate this and hers was what I was responding to.

[pants]

I didn't actually attend last week, I was just told about the event by someone that did stop in and that they were going to be doing it again - sounded like the drinks were pretty small anyways....little wee plastic glasses of wine - i didn't realize it was invite only.

[John Manzo]

wee wine- sounds like your typical gallery opening! :-)

[pants]

not stephen ave but Rasoi in marda loop has lowered their prices as well - when they opened most entrees were over $30 but now everything is in the $20 range and delicious.

i notices the blink prix fixe as well, there's always st.germain for $39 and free corkage everyday.

[seemac70]

Good to hear...

Add Catch to the list... Full board of specials, including happy hour oysters for 2 bucks.

Here's to hoping no one gets hurt in these tougher times, but it's nice for the consumer to get a break. Standards will go up some too, hopefully.

[Merry113]

We had a dinner for 11 at St. Germain last night. Amazing service & food. I'm loving the no corkage. For 11 people with cocktails & everyone having 3 courses (but not necessarily) the special, it was $600. That's less than $60 per. The prix fixe was mussels in tomato sauce for starter, leg of lamb for main & pumpkin cheesecake for dessert. I got this & it was amazing!