“One of my favourite places in Edmonton is the creative community inside the Co-Lofts,” says makeup artist Calvin Alexander. “It’s this hidden pocket of photographers, designers, beauty artists and services, tattoo studios and creative people all working under one roof — the kind of space where there’s always something being made.”
It’s a kind of homecoming for Alexander. A decade ago he was working in the same location with another beauty collective. “There was this energy to the space that felt bigger than Edmonton to me — more like the warehouse studios you’d stumble into in New York.”
In what he calls a “full circle moment,” he and a friend now have their own space in the Co-Lofts: CRU Beauty Loft. They frequently work with other businesses in the space, including Pedersen Studio and MODE Models.
“It still feels like one of the most inspiring and collaborative corners of the city,” Alexander says. “For me, it represents a side of Edmonton that people don’t always see — creative, independent, and quietly cool.”
If there’s anything to be gleaned from this series: we Edmontonians love food and we love being outdoors. When we’re not slurping noodles or lingering over brunch, we’re taking scenic strolls, stopping at dog parks and snapping pictures at river valley vistas. Delve into this year’s list of Edmontonians’ favourite things — with best-loved picks from a variety of noteworthy locals who span the arts, business, sports and non-profit realms — to help build your own summer bucket list. And if you can’t make it beyond your backyard, you can at least follow this foolproof formula and enjoy something tasty in the sunshine.
