Westworld Alberta

Spring 2014

Westworld Alberta

Issue link: http://westworldmagazine.ama.ab.ca/i/245179

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Horses still make use of the historic Iron Horse Trail in northeastern Alberta. Iron Horse Trailblazers W hen you join the hikers, cyclers, snowmobilers, ATVers and, yes, horses on northeastern Alberta's Iron Horse Trail, you're travelling on 300 km of living history. Trodden by Red River carts in the mid-1800s and used by CN trains from the '20s to the '90s, the trail has three legs that connect 17 communities from its centre at Abilene Junction ("Mile Zero"). One runs southwest to Waskatenau, one northeast to Cold Lake and one southeast to Heinsburg. "Because the trail is on the old railway bed, it goes through boreal forest, parkland and natural wetlands virtually untouched since the 1920s," says Marianne Price, administrative coordinator. The trail leads to campsites, fishing, golf courses – even a UFO landing pad and exhibit, with photos of what appear to be UFOs and crop circles, in the town of St. Paul. Plus, Iron Horse is Canada's longest geocache "power trail," with more than 1,400 caches. Until recently, trailgoers could catch wheelwright Roy Scott hand-building Red River carts in his yard, which backed onto the trail. He's now retired, but one of his carts is on display at Métis Crossing, near Smoky Lake. ironhorsetrail.ca –Shauna Rudd RECORD SHOWING Desperate to find David Bowie's The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust on vinyl? Like your tunes crackly and warm? Head to the Edmonton Music Collectors Show, April 27 at the Central Lions Seniors Recreation Centre (11113 113 Street). If you covet a rare record, be sure to show up for "first choice hour" from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., when the hard-core collectors rush the vendors' tables. Cash only. edmontonmusiccollectorsshow.com Vintage Flavour For a taste of chic that's anything but shabby, look to Edmonton's Alberta Hotel and its stylish watering hole, Tavern 1903, which opened last fall. When the circa-1903 hotel was dismantled in 1984 to make way for Canada Place, its valuable pieces – such as the conical cupola on its roof, its cornice and sandstone from the facade – were stored in warehouses across the city. That is, until architect Gene Dub came along and spearheaded the hotel's reconstruction at 96 Street and Jasper Avenue, just 15 metres west of its original location. The bar's decor blends the salvaged artifacts with expert reproductions. "We only had part of the original ceiling, so we hired a specialist to recreate it in plaster. It's a perfect replica," says Dub. Likewise, nine out of 10 lighting sconces are faux, but we'll bet you a Remy Sidecar that you can't spot the real deal. With the owners of Hardware Grill at the helm, the menu is suitably legendary. Try the "Mozzarella Bar," which offers mozzarella cheeses paired with tasty complements such as bacon jam, fig-onion jam and fennel marmalade. tavern1903.com –S.R. 12 W E S T W O R L D A L B E R TA | S P R I N G 2 0 14 p10-15_AroundAlberta.indd 12 14-01-10 3:37 PM

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