Westworld Alberta

(olds) kurtis kristianson/spl, (canmore uncorked) courtesy crazyweed kitchen S P R I N G 2 0 1 5 | W E S T W O R L D A L B E R T A 11 Elevated Flavour Ready to take tasting up a notch? Canmore Uncorked, the Rockies' newest food fest, is back for round two this April 7–19, and will again be offering progressive dinners: four courses at four different restaurants. The rest of the action centres on prix fixe menus (starting at $19 for three courses) at 25-plus restaurants, a long table dinner, a beer festival and a wine festival. tourismcanmore.com –T.H. Olds Is the New Brew STOMPING GROUND Lined with turn-of-the-century homes, London Road is one of Lethbridge's oldest and most storied neighbourhoods. Most of the original houses were built between 1890 and 1905, during an economic boom that saw the local population quadruple due to coal mining and agriculture oppor- tunities. Though the grocery shops, ice cream bars, butchers and barbershops are long gone, many of the original buildings – like Charles Conybeare house, home of Lethbridge's first lawyer – still stand. Yet you could whiz by in your car a dozen times and be none the wiser. This May, the London Road Jane's Walk offers a chance to slow down and unlock the neighbourhood's secrets. Jane's Walk is a global festival of free walking tours held May 1–3. Dozens of Alberta communities will take part, inspired by the late urban activist Jane Jacobs, who urged people to explore their communities and connect with one another. "People don't really know that much about their neighbourhoods even though they live there," says Andrew Malcolm, community planner for the City of Lethbridge and orga- nizer of the London Road Jane's Walk. Join a tour or lead one in your hometown. janeswalks.org –T.H. T o taste the creations of Alberta's up-and- coming brewmasters, beer aficionados need travel no farther than Olds, 60 kilometres south of Red Deer. Old Skhool brown ale, Hay City wheat ale, Prairie Gold IPA and a yet- to-be named Belgian dubbel – a strong, full- bodied brown – are just some of what's on offer at Olds College Teaching Brewery, a 2,300-square- foot facility developed and run in collaboration with Ontario's Niagara College. Coordinator Peter Johnston-Berresford says the program is ideally located: "Barley is produced in abundance here, and we're an hour away from two of the biggest malting facilities in this country. I can't imagine that Olds won't have another brewery or two in the next five years, and it may be a completely local product." Each month at the school's tasting room and retail store (open noon to 6 p.m. except on Sundays and holidays), you'll find something new, like special cask beers infused with bourbon- soaked wood chips or fruit pulp. Students' concoctions are also available to sample and buy. And watch for special events and brewmasters' dinners throughout the year. oldscollege.ca –S.R.

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