January 16th, 2010 - Calgary, AB @ Pengrowth Saddledome

[jarmo]

Board members attending: AC, AxlsMainMan, Backslash, charl!edontsurf, Fernando, Giantrobott, jarmo, rhiad, wolftread


Tickets / Map / Venue info


Pre-show:
Unicorn Pub
304 Steven Avenue Mall Calgary, AB T2P 1C2, Canada

[AC]

I'll be there!

Aaron

[AxlsMainMan]

I'm in

[AC]

Just got two sets of tickets. One set in section 109 row 7 and one in 120 row 12. Both are great seats! Just saw Kings of Leon and had the 109 row 7 seats and thought they were amazing. They're the next section from the stage so you don't have to bend your neck too much and you get a good solid view while still being close enough.

[AxlsMainMan]

I'm in Section 109, Row 11

[AC]

I'm in Section 109, Row 11

Perfect. Look for me. I'll be with a girl. haha. PM me closer to the show and we'll slam a beer together.

We need some HTGTH t-shirts!!

[AxlsMainMan]

I'm in Section 109, Row 11

Perfect. Look for me. I'll be with a girl. haha. PM me closer to the show and we'll slam a beer together.

We need some HTGTH t-shirts!!

Sounds good dude, I'll be with my Pops'

[charl!edontsurf]

I'll be there. Fan Package/Floor. 

[Backslash]

Me and the wife are there.  Where we meeting?

[adman2374]

any hotel suggestions, please. must be near the arena. thanks..

[Backslash]

any hotel suggestions, please. must be near the arena. thanks..

What's the price range, if you don't mind my asking.  Hotels in downtown Calgary are super expensive.  I think the Regency Suites is probably your best bet, and even that is probably $150/night.  Check their website: http://www.regencycalgary.com/.  It's about a 20 minute walk or 10 minute cab ride from the Saddledome.

It's an okay hotel, next door to a liquor store and there's a lot of restaurants in the area.  I stayed there on a relocation package with work last year.  I had no problems, but one of my friends stayed a few months after I did and she thought it was pretty dingy.  To each their own, I suppose.

[adman2374]

Thank you. How's the Fairmont? And is it too cold to walk to the arena from there?

[Backslash]

Thank you. How's the Fairmont? And is it too cold to walk to the arena from there?

Can't say I know anyone who's stayed there.  It's much closer than the Regency though, but I think it's a little more pricey.  It's close to the train too, so you can just hop on and ride for 2 minutes to the Dome.

Too cold to walk?  It depends.  In January it can be anywhere from -30 C (-40 with windchill) to +15.  I'd plan for cold weather.  I'm likely walking or taking the train, but I've got seats, so I'll have somewhere to put my layers of clothes when I get there.


Still no answers on beers?  I recommend Morgan's Pub on 17th Ave.  It's an 80s metal bar and about a 10-15 minute walk from the Dome.

[adman2374]

THANK YOU! shit it seems like it gonna be fucking cold!!!

[rhiad]

I'm in! Got my ticket today. I have to see GN'R again after reading about all the excitment from the first show. The GN'R takeover has begun! See you all soon.

[Giantrobott]

Me and my gf will be on the floor, finally!!! \m/

[AC]

Thank you. How's the Fairmont? And is it too cold to walk to the arena from there?

Nicest hotel in Calgary. Prob be the place where any of the band members would stay IF they stayed in a hotel. Close enough to get a cab to the Saddledome too.

Aaron

[AC]

any hotel suggestions, please. must be near the arena. thanks..

There's not much out there in that area of town. Suggest u find a place downtown and take the train or a cab to the Saddledome. Train is 1-2 stops out of downtown and about $2.75 and a cab would be about $10 max w/tip.

Def lots more to do downtown too for bars and restaurants.

[AC]

Anyone have ideas yet on where to meet up? I would suggest somewhere on 17th Ave, perhaps Melrose or there's a great pub just off of 17th on 4th Street called the Rose & Crown. Depends whether you like a pub atmosphere or a more trendy bar atmosphere. Personally like pub atmosphere, and they prob have decent food there too. You can walk to the Dome from the Rose & Crown easily (any place on 17th ave - i.e, the "Red Mile"). If it's -30 then you might be best to get a cab. There is a bar at the dome (a few of them), but atmosphere and cost might turn you off.

Aaron.

[wolftread]

Just FYI...Ticketmaster released some tickets for Calgary...I just picked up Sec. 108, Row 7 and a couple floor seats...I am flying in to Calgary with the wife from San Diego...PM me if you need a GA ticket as I think I only need one...

[AC]

So what's the plan for Calgary dudes?

AC

[jarmo]

If there's any interest, I'm sure we could decide on a pre-show location.




/jarmo

[Backslash]

Rose & Crown is a good location... I'm not a huge fan of the food or the atmosphere, but you can't get much closer to the Dome.  Might be hard to get a table for 5 or 6 pm on a Saturday.

I can make a reservation, how many people we looking at?

EDIT:  I slept on it and it came to me all of a sudden; The Unicorn.  I've been there a few times; service, drinks, and food are better than Rose & Crown imo.   The selling point is it's 2 blocks away from the C Train, which gets us to the Saddledome in less than 5 minutes.  Even if it's -30C we won't have to walk outside more than 3 minutes.  Location is Stephen (8th) Ave. and 2nd St. SW.  Menu is here: http://www.theunicorncalgary.com/docs/Unicorn%20Menu.pdf

[jarmo]

Just agree on and name a place. I'll put the info in the first post.


I'll try to be there as well, depending on my schedule...





/jarmo

[Backslash]

Just agree on and name a place. I'll put the info in the first post.


I'll try to be there as well, depending on my schedule...





/jarmo

Well the wife and I have agreed on The Unicorn.  Others are welcome to join us.   The more the merrier. 

[jarmo]

Added the info to the first post. 



/jarmo

[AC]

Too bad about the meeting place. I can't convince anyone I'm going with to go to that part of town (or that bar in particular). It's a ghost town on Saturday's on Stephen Ave Mall. I still suggesting hitting up something on or just off of 17th Ave where there's some action. Even if you can't reserve/get a table it's all good to stand and have some ambience! 

The Rose & Crown is a huge step up from The Unicorn. There's also some really cool places from (and including) Melrose Bar all the way down to 4th Street SW.

AC

[jarmo]

So the place suggested is too far away from the venue?





/jarmo

[Backslash]

Jarmo,  R&C is no closer than the Unicorn when you factor in that you'd have to walk from there vs. transit from the Unicorn.  I think AC is just looking for a more lively scene than I am. 

Too bad about the meeting place. I can't convince anyone I'm going with to go to that part of town (or that bar in particular). It's a ghost town on Saturday's on Stephen Ave Mall. I still suggesting hitting up something on or just off of 17th Ave where there's some action. Even if you can't reserve/get a table it's all good to stand and have some ambience! 

The Rose & Crown is a huge step up from The Unicorn. There's also some really cool places from (and including) Melrose Bar all the way down to 4th Street SW.

AC

Fine... I don't care where, I just want a brew with some fans.  Jarmo, sorry for all the commotion, change it to the Rose & Crown.  I'd rather stand and eat shitty appetizers with a few fans than just have a quiet dinner for two with the wife at the Unicorn before going to see GNR. 

No need to bother making a reservation, either.  My only concern is that, isn't the R&C a restaurant type at dinner time?  If that's the case, would they let us just stand around?  If they don't, there are lots of other places to go, as AC says.  Melrose is great, but again, that's a sit-down type place at that time of day.

And after the show, when everyone's all good and liquored up, I recommend hitting the Red Mile again.  especially for some Tubby Dog.     Who doesn't love a hotdog that's wrapped in bacon, then deep-friedand topped with chili, hot peppers, sauteed onions, ham, eggs, and cheese?

[jarmo]

So neither place is a pub?

 



/jarmo

[Backslash]

So neither place is a pub?

 



/jarmo

They're both pubs, just not in the traditional sense, I suppose.  Jarmo, I don't know what your definition of a pub is, being that we are from different parts of the world.

I'm a Newfie, so to me, a pub is like an Irish pub.  You go in, sit down, buy a few pints and eat a few appetizers, while talking loudly with buddies over great music or a sports game on a big screen.  The Unicorn is more of this kind of pub.  The Rose & Crown is like this too, but they focus more on their food around dinner time.  At say 8 pm, they are more of a pub. 

Some people call a pub a place where you pay a cover to stand around drinking and try to pick up women on the dance floor while a DJ plays shitty techno music.  A lot of other places on 17th are like that.

Long story short, they're both pubs.  One just concentrates more on food than delivering a pub experience at dinner time.

[jarmo]

A pub is what you find in the UK!



So yeah, a place where they serve food, but that's usually not why people go there.


Some have TVs, quiz machines, pool tables...


Disco? Nah....

Unless you start a drunken dance!




/jarmo

[Backslash]

A pub is what you find in the UK!



So yeah, a place where they serve food, but that's usually not why people go there.


Some have TVs, quiz machines, pool tables...


Disco? Nah....

Unless you start a drunken dance!




/jarmo

Sounds like you want the Atlantic Trap and Gill, which would be my first choice.  Of course, being an East-Coaster, I'm biased, and people from Calgary don't really like the bar.  It's close to a transit station, again 5 minutes from the Saddledome by train.

We're turning this into the Hamilton debate. haha...

I'm open to anywhere though, if AC is set on the Rose and Crown, I don't mind.  The venue doesn't matter, as long as the beer is cold and the company is good.

[jarmo]

The venue doesn't matter, as long as the beer is cold and the company is good.

Yeah!




/jarmo

[AC]

So the place suggested is too far away from the venue?





/jarmo

It's definitely not convenient to walk to the venue from the Unicorn. Like the person said you would take a train. Anything off of 17th Ave SW is walkable to the venue.

AC

[AC]

Jarmo,  R&C is no closer than the Unicorn when you factor in that you'd have to walk from there vs. transit from the Unicorn.  I think AC is just looking for a more lively scene than I am. 

Too bad about the meeting place. I can't convince anyone I'm going with to go to that part of town (or that bar in particular). It's a ghost town on Saturday's on Stephen Ave Mall. I still suggesting hitting up something on or just off of 17th Ave where there's some action. Even if you can't reserve/get a table it's all good to stand and have some ambience! 

The Rose & Crown is a huge step up from The Unicorn. There's also some really cool places from (and including) Melrose Bar all the way down to 4th Street SW.

AC

Fine... I don't care where, I just want a brew with some fans.  Jarmo, sorry for all the commotion, change it to the Rose & Crown.  I'd rather stand and eat shitty appetizers with a few fans than just have a quiet dinner for two with the wife at the Unicorn before going to see GNR. 

No need to bother making a reservation, either.  My only concern is that, isn't the R&C a restaurant type at dinner time?  If that's the case, would they let us just stand around?  If they don't, there are lots of other places to go, as AC says.  Melrose is great, but again, that's a sit-down type place at that time of day.

And after the show, when everyone's all good and liquored up, I recommend hitting the Red Mile again.  especially for some Tubby Dog.     Who doesn't love a hotdog that's wrapped in bacon, then deep-friedand topped with chili, hot peppers, sauteed onions, ham, eggs, and cheese?

Tubby Dog is great.

I think the Rose & Crown is pretty good all times of the day. That time of the day might be "slower" anywhere I guess. Definitely slow on Stephen Ave on the weekends, if not a ghost town. Melrose is pretty hopping all day on Saturday's as it is the "trendy" place to go in Calgary. On the bar side it's usually pretty busy and if the weather holds up as nice as it is right now it's going to be packed. But packed is good if you want ambience. We're thinking of hitting up some sushi on 4th street for dinner and then going out for beers after that. There's also the James Joyce if someone wants a "real" pub...haha. Post what the final decision is and I'll get my peeps to come with (try anyway).

Cheers,
AC

[AC]

The venue doesn't matter, as long as the beer is cold and the company is good.

Yeah!




/jarmo

At the end of the day this IS all that matters. Will let you guys all decide and will look for the "final" place closer to the show.

How are we going to recognize each other? haha.

AC

[AC]

Here's a link showing the walking distance from Melrose (farthest good place on 17th Ave S.W.) to the Venue:

http://maps.google.ca/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=730+17+Avenue+Southwest,+Calgary,+AB+T2S+0B7+(Melrose+Cafe+%26+Bar)&daddr=MacLeod+Trail+SE+to:MacLeod+Trail+SE+to:51.038432,-114.058267&hl=en&geocode=FZbGCgMdUE0z-SHDJzPVNIWMyClz7_8KH3BxUzGuvGHMtJub-g%3BFejICgMdjpoz-Q%3BFejICgMdjpoz-Q%3B&mra=dme&mrcr=0&mrsp=3&sz=17&via=1,2&dirflg=w&sll=51.039134,-114.056454&sspn=0.005984,0.010761&ie=UTF8&t=h&z=17

Here's a link from the Rose & Crown:

http://maps.google.ca/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=rose+and+crown&daddr=MacLeod+Trail+SE&hl=en&geocode=FVfKCgMdJ2gz-SFNoIdR865iASkZzQs9HHBxUzEjcDEf0a6lkA%3BFejICgMdjpoz-Q&mra=ls&dirflg=w&sll=51.039208,-114.056454&sspn=0.005835,0.010761&ie=UTF8&ll=51.03933,-114.065037&spn=0.011671,0.021522&t=h&z=16

So it's a pretty close walk. Most people from the Flames games and concerts go the 17th Ave route to the Saddledome.

AC

[rhiad]

Hey everyone! I was able to purchase a floor ticket! So, if anyone (or you know anyone) that wants a seat ticket, let me know. Buy me a shirt at the show and the ticket is yours! See all of you soon

[prairie]

I'm in for the pre show.

prairieboy,

[Backslash]

So, have we decided?  Unicorn or Rose & Crown?  I'm open for either, I'll leave it up to J-man. 

How will we recognize each other?  I thought about that.  look for people with GNR shirts on?    maybe just tell the girls at the front we're meeting for the GNR concert.  Depending on how nice they are, they'll help us find each other.  If not, we'll look for Jarmo.  He'll stick out. 

[jarmo]

Guys, pick one.

I trust your judgment. 



/jarmo

[Backslash]

Rose and Crown, 1503 4th St. SW
Calgary, AB T2R 0Y3

Drinking at 4, ask for a seat near the Guns N' Roses fans. 

[jarmo]

I'll see if I can make it there.



/jarmo

[AxlsMainMan]

Anyone going to the Flames game tonight?

[Backslash]

Look for this couple at the bar:

[AC]

Cool, will do. We're off to the James Joyce on 4th Street at 5:00 for dinner and then hopefully will swing by the R&C on the way to the Dome, if not enjoy the show!

_AC

[Backslash]

Heading to the R&C.  Should be there in 30 minutes.  If I don't see you all tonight, enjoy the show!!

 

[Marion68]

Heading to the R&C.  Should be there in 30 minutes.  If I don't see you all tonight, enjoy the show!!

 

yes,enyoy the show and have fun...

[Gunsguy]

Have a killer time this eve

[AxlsMainMan]

Nice meeting all you dudes/dudettes tonight

[Backslash]

Nice meeting all you dudes/dudettes tonight

Yeah, same!  We had a blast!  Fun time at the show as well!

[prairie]

It was great meeting you guys, stay in touch.

prairieboy,

[killingfield]

i just got home last night from a great weekend backpacking through calgary and i had a blast, also they finally activated my account    it was cool meeting everyone at the rose and crown pub last saturday, it was cool, although i was a little drunk (from drinking at a previous pub, and hence why i only ordered coke at the pub) and walking all over 17th ave (getting lost and looking for the place) but I MADE IT! i had to leave early to look for a hotel and buy some underwears... 

the show was great and i will post some pictures i took of the show at the thread in the maing page.

for those interested, check my profile for my main myspace page, and im also looking forward to head to calgary soon around march of july