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RAW BAR AND HOTEL ARTS  

Raw Bar Hat Trick       

Raw Bar features special pre-game meals on Flames Game Nights throughout the 2011-12 season and into the playoffs. The Raw Bar Hat Trick includes a beverage course, appetizer and entrée for $35.00 including complimentary self-parking in our surface lot.  Park at Hotel Arts, dine at Raw Bar and head over to the Scotiabank Saddledome to watch the Flames play.  It's a winning combination for a memorable night.  For reservations, please contact the Raw Bar at 403.206.9565.

Stay in Style at Hotel Arts

Set your inner shopaholic free when you book weekend stays at Hotel Arts.

Hotel Arts is steps away from an array of exciting shopping options...perfect for travelers coming to town to stock up on gifts for the holidays or something special for you.  From exclusive brands and couture designs to unbelievable sales, Calgary's downtown makes it easy to find everything you've been looking for within walking distance of Hotel Arts. Add to that a thriving nightlife and diverse dining options, Hotel Arts is definitely the place to stay.

Book your STAY in STYLE package today and save.

Your package includes: 

• One night's stay in a Luxury Room
• Breakfast for two in the Raw Bar @ Hotel Arts
• Complimentary self-parking in our heated underground parkade
• Complimentary Internet
• $75 CORE Shopping Centre Gift Card (for each night's stay up to a maximum of 3)

Valid for weekend stays Thursday thru Sunday inclusive from November 3 - December 30, 2011.

Click here to book.

COCKTAIL RECIPE 

With the chill of winter in the air, Raw Bar is changing up its cocktail menu to reflect more of the seasonal flavours characteristic of this time of year.  Raw Bartender Colin Tait has prepared another memorable cocktail to celebrate the Fall with some crisp, seasonal flavours.

Autumn Song

A crisp juniper berry and... tea syrup that's then mixed with G'vine Floral Gin, a touch of Aperol Italian Aperitif and elements of dandelion and burdock, balanced out with a little citrus that conjures up images of autumn at its peak.

Ingredients

Collins Glass

1 ¾ oz G'Vine Floral Gin

1.3 oz Juniper Berry Tea Syrup

0.3 oz Lemon Juice

3 Dashes of Dandelion Bitters

0.3 oz Aperol Italian Aperitif

Rosemary Stem (for garnish)

Recipe       

• Add all ingredients to Boston Glass and shake
• Fill Collins Glass with large ice
• Half fill the Collins Glass with soda
• Double strain the ingredients from the Boston Glass into the soda 
• Garnish with a stem of Rosemary 

Drop by the Raw Bar to try out the Autumn Song and some of the other amazing cocktail creations by Coin Tait and the Raw Bartenders.  Our new winter cocktail menu is launching shortly. Visit our website to check out the new list as well as to find links to video recipes for preparing several of these tasty elixirs.

CHEF'S TABLE AND THE INN     

CHRISTMAS IN KENSINGTON  

For shopping that is outside of the ordinary, join us in Kensington Village this holiday shopping season to find that perfect and unique gift.  With over 150 eclectic shops and boutiques, you are sure to find something for everyone on your list.  While you're here, have brunch at the Inn, grab a latte, or come in for a glass of wine or dinner at Chef's Table once you have exhausted your shopping muscles.  Keep an eye out for our roaming Santa and his elves every Saturday and Sunday starting November 26th.  

Don't forget to ask retailers or Elves for the Kensington Christmas Coupon Book and take advantage of specials and discounts at many retailers and businesses in the Village.

Pick up your Holiday Passport, collect stamps at businesses shown on the map, and you could win a trip to the 5-star Solara Resort in Canmore!  No purchase necessary.  The lucky winner will be drawn by Up! 97.7 at the end of December...

Thursday December 1st is late night shopping in Kensington!  Select stores will remain open until 9pm, offering specials and goodies to get you in the Christmas shopping spirit.  Leave the mall crowds behind and join us in Kensington Village.  It's a perfect time to drop by Chef's Table for a memorable meal to fuel your shopping energies.

CHRISTMAS TREES 

Don't you love the smell of a fresh pine tree at Christmas?   For the past 15 years, Rotary Clubs of Calgary have held an annual Christmas tree fundraiser by trucking in white pine Christmas trees (long, soft needles) to sell in support of a local charity.

The Calgary Crowchild Urban Spirits Chapter of Rotary Club is raising money for a little known charity called Newborns in Need.  This is a charity organized by the maternity ward staff at the Peter Lougheed Centre.  In their daily work, they see families who are unable to afford the basic necessities for their newborns, so the staff have started this charity to provide diapers, formula, bottles and clothing to some very deserving families.  Newborns in Need receives no outside funding and relies on the goodwill of others to obtain the basics. With the Christmas Tree Sale, Rotarians are hoping to build up the supplies at Newborns in Need so more babies can be helped.

Rotary will deliver the Christmas tree to your door on one of three Saturdays of your choice.  Once you send in your order, you will receive a confirmation email.   Email  christmastreesrotarycrowchild@gmail.com to secure your order form for trees. 

So if you or your company will be buying a Christmas tree this year, please give this some thought.  It's nice to know that your funds will go to something worthy when you're spending the money anyways.   

SAINT GERMAIN UPDATE

After six years operating as one of Calgary's premier French-inspired bistros, Saint Germain has closed their doors as a tenant of Hotel Arts. Although we are saddened to see one of our tenants close down their operations, we are excited about the future opportunities of owning and operating our own restaurant in the space.  Stay tuned for a new restaurant concept to take its place later in 2012.

In the interim, passersby might notice some changes taking place in the space formerly occupied by St. Germain.  Our team is updating the room so that holiday parties can take place at the venue.  Caroline Seymour, Events Services Manager, is fielding inquiries for the space in November and December before we begin construction on the new restaurant.  Caroline can be reached at 403.266.7678 or via email at caroline@hotelarts.ca.   

For all other inquiries related to Saint Germain, please contact Mark Wilson, Vice President & General Manager of the Hotel Arts Group at 403.266.7677 or via email at mark@hotelarts.ca.

BELLA'S BLOG: GRAVE GALA

Last Saturday, I attended the hottest Halloween Party in town at Hotel Arts, Grave Gala. Grave Gala is fun, unique and completely unpredictable! Hosted by the Calgary Opera as their annual fundraiser, it's an experience where you're completely surrounded and embedded in anything to do with Halloween. This year's Grave Gala had a macabre carnival atmosphere with  people walking on stilts, the fat lady singing, girls sitting on hoops hanging from the ceiling, dancing cages and much more. As a guest, you were surrounded by entertainment but also played a essential role in completing the Grave Gala experience as a whole.

Newbies were warned ahead of time that if you weren't going all out on your costume for the event, you had better rethink going to the event. Everyone was completely decked to the nines whether their outfit was sexy, scary or absolutely hilarious. Personally, I was a mix between sexy and scary, dressed up as The Black Swan inspired by the Oscar-winning movie...of course wearing a fabulous pair of my highest black stilettos. This event blew away all my expectations of Halloween 2011!

Forget bars, house parties and sitting on the couch watching scary movies...make plans to attend Grave Gala in 2012! Watch out for ticket sales in the new year at www.calgaryopera.com. Grave Gala 2012 awaits your presence!

REMEMBER TO BREATHE

In late October, tourism stakeholders converged in Banff to attend the Travel Alberta Fall Industry Conference.  Travel Alberta launched their new brand "Remember to Breathe" and a series of videos to support the new approach to marketing our amazing province.

ARTWEAR 2011 

ARTwear 2011 takes place at Hotel Arts again on Thursday, November 10, 2011.  This is the Art Gallery of Calgary's annual fall fashion fundraiser and features a runway show highlighting the season's must-have fashions for men and women from some of Calgary's hottest boutiques and emerging designers. The evening also includes a Fashion Trunk Show Auction where guests will have an opportunity to bid on one-of-a-kind styles from emerging local designers and retailers.

The 9th Annual ARTwear includes a silent auction and promises to be an exceptional experience celebrating the natural pairing of contemporary art and fashion, and the theme of Parisian glamour.

ARTwear tickets are $75 and include standing room at the fashion show as well as musical talent at the after party.  VIP Reception tickets are $200 each and include a reception and Wearable Art Fashion Show at The Art Gallery of Calgary from 5:00pm to 7:00pm.

Tickets can be purchased here!

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

Hotel Arts Group is actively involved in the neighbourhood around us.  Every month, we are dedicated to giving back to the community that supports our businesses and helps to make Calgary such a great place to live, work and play.

Here are a few highlights of some of the groups we are trying to assist:     

• University of Calgary, Faculty of Medicine: They will be hosting their 3rd Annual Rich Man Poor Man Dinner on December 1, 2011 in the in the HRIC Atrium at the Health Science Building. Funds raised will go towards the Global Generation Foundation, a foundation that provides support to Family Medicine programs in areas where quality primary care is needed. A portion of the funds will also go to the Student Run Clinic. To find out more about the event please visit http://www.richmanpoorman.ca/.
• Burnt Thicket Theatre: They will be hosting their annual Christmas Ball and Fundraiser on December 5, 2011. They will be raising funds for their 2012 tour for SHE HAS A NAME performance. Burnt thicket theatre "aims to enliven [restore life to] audiences through original performance". To find out how to get involved visit http://www.burntthicket.com/.  
• Willow Park Wines & Spirits: On November 5, 2011 Willow Park Wines & Spirits will be hosting their 18th Annual Charity Wine Auction. Funds raised from the event focuses on supporting education, health care and senior's needs in our community. Visit http://www.willowpark.net/auctionweek/ for more information.