Built in 1912, the Grand Theatre is the oldest theatre in Western Canada. But it’s got a decidedly shiny new look since a stunning makeover and reopening a year ago.
Past the coat check and box office are a cool lounge and restaurant called Velvet. I love that the lobby includes this space to eat or just to mingle and have drinks before or after a show. If the main floor is full, head upstairs where there’s another bar and more seating.
I only got a chance to have a nice glass of prosecco, but I’d definitely come back to try the food.
The bathrooms are fun. Hidden behind a pink lit wall, the men’s and women’s stalls are separate but the two areas meet at a long wall of sinks. I was momentarily startled by the man washing his hands next to me, but then I thought, “Well, how progressive!”
I really enjoyed the actual theatre – just intimate enough for couples to steal kisses and just big enough not to get annoyed by them. The acoustics were great. Okay, I have no idea what that really means but everything sounded good to me.
In its heyday, the Grand hosted legendary acts like Fred Astaire. He makes me swoon. So I guess it was aligned in the stars that I swooned a little for the cute boy on stage with just his guitar and the spotlight.
Dave Simpson is a singer/songwriter from Calgary. He tells stories about his pants splitting open on stage and what it’d be like to fall in love with a stripper. He’s a little John Mayer and a little Joe Cocker and very adorable. Check him out here.
(Of course, not as cute as my boyfriend but he’s away and my friends were late, so I was smitten, but only for about 20 minutes.)
Simpson opened for Serena Ryder who was stunning. She just started a cross-Canada tour. Catch her before it’s too late. She’s going to be big, I tell ya. Take a listen here.
The Grand, 608-1st St. SW, Calgary, (403) 205-2922.
For reservations at Velvet, (403) 244-8400.
Open for lunch Mon-Fri, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., dinner Tues-Sat 5 p.m.-close.
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