The first time Chad Ohman drove through downtown Edmonton, he took an unexpected detour.
“I turned the wrong way and then lights appeared—and they were in my lane,” he says. “I managed to pull off into an alley and I was like ‘Whew!’ I’m a country kid. I remember thinking it was way different than driving country roads.”
After living in Edmonton for more than 10 years, Chad is now a pro at navigating the core. He has an office in the CN Tower. (He works in IT.) He often performs in downtown venues as a member of the Chronos Vocal Ensemble choir. He likes to attend festivals in Churchill Square and dine out at pubs and restaurants in the heart of the city.
“I love our downtown,” he says. “It’s a place to connect and to celebrate what we are as a city. It just feels like home.”
Chad is also the administrator of mstdn.ca, an online community for Canadians. It’s part of the larger Mastodon network, which is one of the alternatives to X, the social media platform previously known as Twitter. More than 35,000 Canadians are part of mstdn.ca. So, too, are emojis of Marvin and Mates, the fun-lovin’ faces of the #MeetMeDowntown campaign.
Here are some of Chad’s favourite downtown destinations:
Views and brews
One of his first core memories is of Constable Ezio Faraone Park. It’s on the southwest edge of downtown, overlooking the High Level Bridge and the Dudley B. Menzies LRT bridge.
“Some of my first photos of Edmonton were around that park,” says Chad. “It’s where you have one of the best vistas of the river valley. It’s just such a nice place to relax.”
The park also hosts Coffee Outside, an outdoor java club from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. every Friday. All are welcome.
Warm vibes
When Chad wants to chill, he heads to Rocky Mountain Icehouse (10516 Jasper Avenue). It’s a bar/restaurant with a chalet feel, owned by downtown residents Wayne Jones and Susan Forsey.
“It’s a great place for having a beer and a chat in a relaxed atmosphere—and it smells great,” says Chad. “It’s the wood in there.”
Wingin’ it
The Underground Tap & Grill (10004 Jasper Avenue) is known for its extensive craft beer selection—72 taps!—but Chad and his partner are fond of the pub’s duck wings.
“Unreal,” he says. “The sauce that comes with them, it’s perfectly paired. It’s amazing.”
Low-cost dishes
El Furniture Warehouse (10765 Jasper Avenue) not only boasts one of the best patios in Edmonton, the bar/restaurant also offers some of the most affordable eats. There’s not a dish priced over $10, including tortillas, bowls, sandwiches and burgers.
Chad’s go-to? The General Tao Bowl with sautéed veggies and rice.
Editor’s note: the pic at the top of the post shows Chad Ohman taking in the views at Constable Ezio Faraone Park on August 27, 2023.