Sometimes, you need a venue that offers a little bit of everything: accommodation, dining and an elegant space for an event. Kensington Riverside Inn could be exactly what you’re looking for… 

Kensington Riverside Inn

1126 Memorial Drive NW,
Calgary, AB T2N 3E3
Phone: 403.228.4442
Fax: 403.228.9608
Toll Free: 877.313.3733
www.kensingtonriversideinn.com
info@kensingtonriversideinn.com

Kensington Riverside Inn is a premier luxury 19-room boutique inn that combines upscale accommodations with an intimate charm. Located steps from Downtown Calgary along the banks of the picturesque Bow River, it’s a chic and stylish venue with a warm and personal feel.

The whole place has an upscale Bed & Breakfast feel to it. The inn’s superb 40 seat restaurant that was voted Best Hotel Dining in 2009 (Where Magazine), and was voted one of Canada’s best new restaurants for 2008 by enRoute Magazine.

Originally designed by award-winning architect Richard Lindseth, the Kensington Riverside Inn exudes an upscale residential charm with an ambiance that is light, airy, gracious and inviting. The stylish rooms were all individually decorated to make guests feel at home.

The 19 rooms and suites feature triple-sheeted Frette linens, heated towel bars, 42” flat-screen plasma TVs, personal wine cabinets, high-speed wireless Internet, voicemail, high-end furnishings, independent climate control and windows that open. Some rooms also feature gas fireplaces, double jetted Jacuzzi tubs, balconies and patios.

Because of the intimate nature of the inn, parking is limited, but not a deal breaker. The dining room can only hold 40-70 people for sit down dinners, and 80 people for a cocktail style reception wedding, so it’s only suitable for certain types and sizes of events.

For those looking to combine sophisticated elegance with intimate charm, Kensington Riverside Inn provides the perfect marriage of both.

The popular adage “Location! Location! Location!” holds just as true for events as it does for real estate. Carrying on in our ongoing efforts to help you plan your events, today we’ll look at Anderson Ranch.  For those looking to book an event outside of the city, its rustic location comes with nature’s very own majestic backdrop.

Anderson Farm/Rocky Mountain Show Jumping
Phone: (403) 256-7150 
http://www.rmshowjumping.com

Map to Anderson Farm

It is, quite literally, a little piece of heaven.

Located just minutes south of Spruce Meadows and right next to Sirocco Golf Course, Anderson Farm is an idyllic equestrian facility with a beautiful and scenic prairie view.

With its marvelous grounds and stunning view, Anderson Farm is perfect for weddings, family events and children’s parties.

Adding to its allure is the fabulous price: The tent rental is $3000 + GST (may change for next year).  This more than reasonable rental price also has you covered when it comes to extras.

For example, Included in the 40×120 tent is:

• flooring and carpet (rain will not come into the tent this way)
• stage and dance floor
• chivari chairs (this year. may change to folding next year)
• 6’ and 8’ long tables and 5’ round tables (seating eight)
• tent heaters and tent lighting (modern chandeliers)
• power is included unless there’s a large amount needed (a band or event lighting for example)
• ceremony and picture spots available
• lots of free parking
• permanent washrooms – hopefully hooked up by May
• podium for speeches

On the flip side, it’s a bit of a hike to the washrooms which feels a little further in poorer weather, but effective tenting can generally solve the problem.  And wheelchair accessibility to washrooms is not available until the permanent facilities are set up. Make sure you check your dates before booking because the facility provides Show Jumping events and so these days are already booked.

Its proximity to Calgary is ideal for those wanting a get away within a one hour drive of the city – but not perfect for those wanting a more urban experience.

For those who want their event to marry Alberta’s wild with comfort and style, Anderson Ranch has all the ingredients to create a beautifuland unforgettable day, and at a very reasonable price.

If you’ve ever planned an event, chances are good you realized pretty quickly just how important finding the right location is to the success of your function.

We know how hard it can be. And a space that works for one event may not work for another, just as what fits the bill perfectly for one group of people will go over like a lead balloon with another.

So in our ongoing efforts to help you plan your events, we will be regularly featuring some of our favourite venues, complete with insights into what you need to know when considering each one.

Let’s start with the Art Gallery of Calgary.

The Art Gallery Of Calgary
www.artgallerycalgary.org
117 Steven Avenue Mall
Calgary, AB T2P 1B4
(403) 770-1350

There are  several spaces in the Art Gallery of Calgary that work extremely well for business events, including product launches and business meetings. Some of the spaces are pre-equipped with LCD projector and screen, a DVD and CD player and PC hook-ups.

Good electrical outlet availability is throughout the building, making AV needs easy to fulfill, regardless of the occasion.

Not every space is ideal for more personal events, nor will every space work for a full service function. Weddings work well there, provided they are in the right space. The Art Gallery of Calgary lends a particularly cosmopolitan air, and is a stylish backdrop for photo shoots of all kind, including weddings.  It is not, however, an ideal location for family or children’s events.

One of its immediate strengths is, of course, its built in décor, with often stunning works of art both in sculpture form and on the walls. It is truly a one of a kind space that is architecturally and thematically unique and special.

It is centrally located not too far from the Telus convention centre.  It does not, however, have its own dedicated parking garage, though it is not far from a variety of parkades. The Art Gallery is an easy space for suppliers to load in and out of, providing there is no construction in the area.

The Art Gallery of Calgary has a wonderful staff who are very accommodating and very customer service oriented. The venue provides tables and chairs, streamlining the need for outside rentals, and elevators make the space wheelchair friendly.

It is a wonderful venue for higher end events with robust budgets.