Youth Are Awesome, commonly referred to as YAA, is a blog written by youth for youth.
YAA provides the youth of Calgary a place to amplify their voices and perspectives on what is happening around them.
Youth Are Awesome is a program of Youth Central.
Any views or opinions expressed on this blog belong solely to the author and do not represent those of people or organizations that the blog may be associated with, unless explicitly stated. All content is for informational purposes only.
It's obvious I can never resist the temptation to take a bite first. I mean, we're talking bacon here!
Name of Food: Bacon on a Stick
Where to Buy: Bull’s Eye Cookshack (there’s two, look for the one closer to the Grandstand)
Cost: $2
What makes it worthwhile: Bacon on a stick – pretty awesome, right? It’s a thick cut piece of bacon, both crispy and juicy. I set out yesterday originally looking for some gourmet pretzel sticks, but I couldn’t find them, even after asking a couple of different guest service booths! Yeah, I was disappointed, I’ll have to try again today but let’s get back to the bacon. There’s nothing special about it, it’s simply a piece of bacon! But then again, it’s bacon! For $2, that’s pretty cheap when you look at the rest of the things at Stampede. Don’t expect to get full or anything, it’s just a small treat for a toonie. Or you could get a few of these, you know, so that EpicMealTime would be proud. Tomorrow I shall continue on my look for these gourmet pretzel sticks, but hey, bacon is a good filler.
Where to Buy: Bloom’n Onions near the Corral building (#67).
Cost: A whopping $10
What makes it worthwhile: If you like onions, you’ll like this piece. It tastes like an onion ring with extra oil and dough. It’s basically a huge onion sliced up, opened and dipped into dough. It’s definitely delicious, but the original onion ring is far more superior. This is a great dish to share, and if a few of your friends pitch in I’m sure no one will be fighting for the last bite. This is more of a greasy snack than anything else. If you decide to visit the vendor and want to try something other than onion rings, try the colossal onion. However my money’s better spent with onion rings. Try again, Stampede!
If you are like me and choose to blame Stampede for being over-priced or maybe unreasonable for the expensive food, here is a list of some of the insights which made my trip worthwhile and made the most out of my hard-earned money. Whether you choose to reconnect with your friends over the summer or attend a concert, be sure to check out the available options to make your trip fiscally reasonable.
1. Stampede Bucks: Did you know Stampede has its own currency? This concept gained popularity this year as Stampede authorities made “Stampede Bucks” available executively at all Safeway locations. This also served as an added bonus to having a Costo Membership. You can buy them for $39.99 and you get a $50 credit towards Stampede purchases. In particular, these vouchers can be redeemed for:
Park admission at Park entrances for the 2011 Calgary Stampede
Stampede Rodeo or Evening Show tickets in person at the Stampede Ticket Office. Reserved tickets from $36 to $103. Standing room tickets from $12 to $15 (sold “day of” only).
Midway ride and game coupons at North American Midway Entertainment (N.A.M.E.) ticket booths.
Stampede Store merchandise at Main Store on Stampede Trail (open year round), BMO Centre and Grandstand concourse.
2. Free Pop with 2 Stampede Tickets: With the purchase of two special Stampede tickets, at the regular price of $24, you get to choose any Coca-Cola product (414 mL beverage) absolutly free! This offer is only redeemable in the Macs store inside the Stampede grounds.
3. Free Admissions For Kids: If you plan to take your kids to the Stampede this year, be sure to hunt for specially-marked Coca-Cola boxes. You could save $8 for a kid’s admission by simply buying a special marked box of Diet Coke, Regular Coke or even Coke Zero at any participating retailer. Simply tear the coupon part of the package and bring it to the gate. This offer is only vaild with kids ages 7-12.
4. Save $3 on your way to Stampede: Are you a fan of Trident, Dentyne, Stride, Maynards or Cadbury chocolate? If yes to anyone of these, then all it takes for a $3 rebate is simply presenting 4 outer pacakage wrappers. YES, it really is that easy.
5) Midway Cards: Those blue bands on everyone’s wrists are available for only $36 and allow you to ride all day without having to worry about the tickets and paying for each ride individually. Although these bands are only available on weekdays – July 7, 8, 11 to 15 – they allow you to budget your Stampede accordingly and enjoy all the rides you can with your family and friends.
I took a few bites before remembering to take a picture, I couldn't resist.
Name of Food: Turkeytini
Where to Buy: Turkey Drumsticks, in the line of food stands by the BMO and Saddledome.
Cost: $6.50
What makes it worthwhile: The Turkeytini sounds like it could be a concoction of alcohol and turkey, but thankfully it’s not. It’s simply a little turkey dinner served in a plastic martini cup. Turkey, mashed potatoes, turkey stuffing, gravy; it was all there except for the cranberries and well, a plate. The taste is all there and it’s very reminiscent of Christmas. However, I do believe I had this opinion because Christmas was six months ago, so I can compare the two without realising how much better Christmas is than this little meal. I found that it was good because I was definitely hungry but at the same time, while standing in line, I noticed that most of it was made from boxed goods. I personally found that a bit unappealing because let’s face it, Stampede happens once a year, it can’t be that hard to make everything fresh! Had it been that way I’m sure the Turkeytini would have been a number one hit, but here’s something interesting: I get off work in the Grandstand at 5:30 p.m. I walked around for another hour today before finding the food to eat, so we’re talking 6:30 p.m. at least before I’m even eating. I was the first one to order a Turkeytini all day. Underrated or unadvertised or unedible? Out of the three, I’d eliminate the last choice. For $6.50, it’s not really the most expensive and it doesn’t quite fill you up, so it’s fair! Knowing that it was made with packaged ingredients, it was fantastic; knowing that it could have definitely been made better, that leaves me yearning for more. I say for what it’s worth and its uniqueness, do give it a try!
What makes it worthwhile: If you like mashed potatoes, you’ve hit jackpot. This sundae contains the softest mashed potatoes I’ve ever tasted. Mixed with corn, gravy and a piece of juicy and lean beef, this delicacy is quite filling! Is it worth the $7? Maybe, but only if you really like mashed potatoes…and if you’re not super hungry. The addition of the corn adds a nice kick to the potatoes and gravy. It’s not terrible, but it’s not the most amazing dish in the world. If you’re famished, try a steak on a bun near the Big 4 building (#6).
This year, the Calgary Zoo has been featuring various animals every couple months through special events and programs. July and August 2011 will be highlighting a Spotlight on Grizzlies, which includes a variety of events of interest all summer long:
Spotlight on Grizzlies Activity Zone (the week of Monday, July 11th) – learn all kinds of fun facts about bears from Calgary Zoo volunteers
Breaking of the Hugging World Record (Saturday, August 13th) – an attempt to break the world record for the most hugs in 24 hours by hugging the bear mascot
Teddy Bear Picnic (Saturday, August 13th/Sunday, August 14th) – bring your friends and family for a day full of face painting, lawn bowling, horse shoes, entertainment and more!
Add some family fun to your summer by visiting the Calgary Zoo and participating in these limited-edition grizzly bear programs. You can learn more about the Spotlight on Grizzlies promotion by visiting the Calgary Zoo’s website.
Where to Buy: Maggie’s Kubasa across from the Homes by Avi Rotary Dreamhomes
Cost: $5
What makes it worthwhile: The Kubie Kornballs are little balls of well, “korn.” Don’t take it literally, they aren’t balls made out of a metal rock band. Jokes aside, when ordering this you get five corn balls, made with chunks of sausage and jalapeno in the batter. Deep fried to a crispy finish, they remind me of corn dogs without the dog. The good thing about these are that you get the flavour without the urge to cringe from grease. That’s a big plus for me. They are, by definition and status, a bite-sized finger food that is the “Best New Food of 2011!” They do not disappoint as flavour takes it to a whole ‘nother level than normal corn fritters. The combination of the sausage and jalapeno add a great dose of flavour that makes your taste buds go “whoa, that’s something else.” Not only do they dance on your taste buds, but they also add a little more moisture into the ball, which when we’re talking about corn fritters, that’s absolutely crucial! The Kubie Kornballs were made with one purpose, and that is to satisfy; and they definitely deliver.
Where to Buy:Pizza Backerei near the Grandstand building (#280)
Cost: $6
What makes it worthwhile: If you like cheese pizza, you might question the price of this one. It tastes exactly like any other cheese pizza, except it costs so much more (then again, what doesn’t during the wonderful time at Stampede?). There is definitely texture with this pizza, and it feels so odd. The macaroni interferes with the cheesiness of the pizza; not much to compliment about this new item other than the added texture to the plain cheese pizza. As a cheese pizza lover, I would prefer the classic one over this invention. If you really want to buy pizza, try pizza on a stick at #18 and #210 on the map.
Now that I’m officially in Paris, this is one of the sights we saw yesterday! L’arc de Triomphe. Built in order to honour all those who died for France in both the Revolutionary and Napoleonic wars. Underneath the arc, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier from World War I is featured.
If you’re like me and have a great interest in science, this may interest you. A YouTuber who goes by “thunderf00t” claims to have the first video footage of potassium gas. I was skeptical of this claim but it’s been over a week and no one has come out to disprove it, so I searched around the internet for a while looking for videos of potassium gas and found nothing.
[youtube 5hM–wQlOb4]
If you want to see a more thorough explanation of the science in the video click here.
From what I can tell from his other videos, “thunderf00t” is an atheist scientist (though I’m not certain which field of science he specializes in) with a fairly large YouTube channel.
Where to Buy: Outside the Grandstand near Pizza on a Stick (#209)
Cost: $8 plus $1.50 for bacon and cheese
What makes it worthwhile: When you mix sweet, glazed donuts with a salty beef patty, you’ll get Stampede’s own version of the Luther Burger. Does it taste as bad as it sounds? It actually doesn’t! The saltiness is fused with the sweetness of the bun, which is reminiscent of a mix like chocolate covered pretzels or peanuts. The glazed donut is very sticky, but you get a sticker that says “I survived Doughnut Burger”, which may or may not be worth the $8. It’s quite pricey for a unique item, but if you really want to try it then go ahead!
I personally think that a regular burger is far more enjoyable. I love sinking my teeth and fingers into a bun without the fear of stickiness. The beef is quite juicy, but it’s not particularly large. I’d say that if you like A&W patties, you’d definitely like the beef they use. As for the glazed donut, it’s pretty much an ordinary donut split up and used to hold the beef. Each bite is quite unique, depending on the ratio of beef and donut. If you’re a burger junkie and want to change up your burger style…go all out for this! If you’re someone who’s hungry, spend your $8 on something else.
This weekend I was one of the very fortunate, and excited, Calgarians to go to the Calgary Stampede. But on the down side, I missed the parade this year (summer school). Nonetheless, the Stampede was extremely fun. Except for the fact that I’m now short on money. By a lot.
One of the rides at Stampede. Look carefully. I'm on it somewhere.
You couldn’t possibly do everything there was offered without staying the entire day the park was open. For me, I got in free on Sunday! The first thing I did was purchase coupons for midway rides. Although there was an accident last year injuring about 10 people, there was nothing stopping me from going on almost all of them. (But my friend wanted to get off after hearing that her seat kept creaking.) And luckily, I am still alive, writing this blog.
The Birth Map.
While taking a break from the midway rides, we went to go see some cows, chickens and pigs. We then planted some seeds and are currently waiting for germination to occur. You know at Chinook it costs $4 or $5 for photo booths. Well, I took pictures for free! (And the pictures printed right away, unlike Chinook where it takes ages.) There was also a map of the world, on which we stuck pins onto the place we were born. (Someone had placed one in the middle of the Ocean. Cruise, perhaps?)
And of course, the food. It didn’t bother me at all (okay, maybe a smidge) that bubble tea was no longer available this year because of all the other amazing foods. My friends and I wanted to try foods we’ve never had. I ended up having a samosa, which I believe is an Indian pastry. My friends tried a funnel cake for the first time and found that it was excessively sugary (and that’s saying something because my friends love sweet things.)
The Ice Show.
The 10 a.m. Ice Show was packed full by the time I arrived, but there was another one at 2 p.m. It was great that they combined live music, skating, and acrobatics into one show. (Confession: I nearly fell asleep near the end of the show, not because I was bored to sleep but because I was so tired from running around prior to the show.)
I have always pictured myself with a giant stuffed animal placed on my shoulders when I was little and played the games. But today, I ended up playing none of them. Why? They’re set up in such a way that we can’t win easily. Of course, right? Yes, you do play for the fun of it and you can get a cute, but tiny, furry friend you carry in your hands. But is it really worth spending $5 time and time again?
Don’t get me wrong, I love the Stampede. But it’s costly. Should that prevent you from having a lively, enjoyable day that leaves your feet sore by the end of the day? Your call.
Name of Food: Kubie Kornballs
