Page 23 - 03_April-2025

FOR
YEARS,
WAITING
FOR THE
RIGHT
TIME
How long
have you been
talking?
LESS THAN
TWO HOURS
OVER
TWO
HOURS
YES
What are
the vibes?
STEEL WHEELS
PIZZERIA
Sounds like you could
use a sober-ish second
look. Since before you
were old enough to drink,
Steel Wheels has been
the late-night spot for
a rowdy crowd, greasy-
good pizza and authentic
Korean comfort food
(bulgogi if you know
what’s up). Every inch
of this place has been
adorned (not vandal-
ized) by generations of
revellers. We suggest you
share kimchi jjigae — a
spicy, pork belly soup
that’ll wake you up.
10307 85 Ave. NW
780-439-9978
@steelwheelspizzeria
THE MARC
For a first date years in
the making or a mile-
stone worth celebrating,
The Marc strikes the
perfect balance between
fancy and fuss-free.
Intimate, elegant and
effortlessly romantic, this
French bistro has been
a reliable favourite for
15 years. Now stewarded
by Jillian Fonteyne and
Scott Downey of the
Butternut Tree, it remains
ingredient focused with
only slight refinements
to classics like duck
breast, braised short rib,
and crispy croquettes.
9940 106 St. NW
themarc.ca
780-429-2828
I’M NOT
MUCH OF
A TALKER
THIS
COULD
BE THE
ONE!
THERE’S
SOMETHING
OFF
ABOUT
THEM
I’M STILL
FEELING
THEM OUT
Can you
dance?
THE
BOWER
10538 Jasper
Ave.
NO
YES
YES
Can you
sit still?
SPOTLIGHT
CABARET
8217 104
St. NW
BOUNTIFUL
MARKET
Meet somewhere public,
busy and easy to escape
— like Bountiful Market.
Start with a walk around
the warehouse, browsing
bakers and brewers while
mentally noting the exits.
If things improve, grab
tamales or Trinidadian
doubles in the food hall,
letting live music fill in
the awkward silences.
With 120 vendors and
thousands of visitors,
you’re likely to run into
friends, should you need
their help concocting a
reason to leave.
3696 97 St. NW
780-818-3878
bountifulmarkets.com
ART OF CAKE
Whether you’re feeling
them out or letting them
down easy, this airy,
Victorian-styled space
offers cozy corners for
any kind of conversation.
Sweeten the moment
with a pink Blume latte
or feed your feelings with
a salted caramel cake
slice. If sparks fly, come
back on the weekend
when it transforms into
a speakeasy — because
stranger things have hap-
pened. The bakery was
the location for Me and
Mr. Christmas, a corny
holiday movie where
opposites attract despite
all odds and logic.
11811 105 Ave. NW
780-441-1339
theartofcake.ca
NO
23