Edmonton Journal from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada • 55

Best bike shop: I 1 United Cycle is the biggest and, according to you, the best. But there's a handful of small outfits that get the nod, including George's Cycle RedBike Revolution Cycle Western Cycle er summer Best route for a bike ride: 1 Anywhere in the river valley. The possibilities from Rundle to Laurier and beyond on either end are seemingly endless. "But the river valley is perfect for any occasion!" 2. A route that includes Hawrelak Park 3.

A route that includes the Mill Creek ravine CD CD CD CD CD lit jj 1 Mm 7T Who's up for a jittlC If you're looking to shoot some hooos in the areat outdoors, the Place to be is back at school 1 Jump In! The outdoor swimming pools have begun opening their doors (today's the season teunch at Borden Park and Oliver pools). That is, all except for the venerable Queen Elizabeth Pool, which fell victim this year to age, maintenance issues and a lack of money. But Just as Americans have proved that dead men can be elected, a dead pool can still make the top three list in Edmonton. It is not for us to make the poor, broken Queen suffer one further indignity. No sirree, we'll let the old girl keep her crown for one last best-of list.

1 Mill Creek: "Hands downlir 2. Queen Elizabeth: The Queen is dead, long live the Queen. 3. Oliver Borden Parte "(Borden Park) may be old but the park makes up for that." Worth checking out The spray park on the Red Willow trail in St. Albert: "It's not really a pool, but it serves the same purpose." I Food for thought: 1 "Get a stick and play street hockey, aren't you a Canadian?" wnatever school happens to be closest to where you live, from the UofAtothe neighbourhood junior high.

MOT TO BARE: A rs Ok -r Best outdoor tennis courts: 1 Gameau: "Perfect location, never busy. 2. Kinsmen Some friendly words of advice: "Trie ones up by McNally high school the great view of city skyline." "Right beside the university there are always people willing to play." I ry -J Ui itVw 1 TO BARE OR 55 go for bikinis on girls 38 prefer a one-piece or tankini 0 say "Speedo' for guys 100 say lock it away in trunks place tor loud, live muslei 1. Urban Lounge: The music it sooo loud that you can barely carry on a conversation that Is live music." 2. Red's: "Always great concerts Win blow your ears offl" 3.

SulntracK Cafe: "Stink from decades of spilled beers with toads Of history." for tattoos 9 WW Int place for COOL JAZZ; I.Yardbird Suite: The runaway winner In this category has no hortaqe of tans who have grooved In the "funky little club that Is soon to bet legend." Yes. and the popcorn's pretty good, too. 2. Blues on Whyte Lt Hidden Jan gems: The BUm Chair on 76th Avenue, Second Cup on 149th Street. Bmt sports ban t.Mol 2.

Sohanks 3. Don Cherry's "If you can find a realty good one. let me know. Seriously. I've been looking.

Loowng so rvwn WeH. daar reader, those three dont turn your crank, here are a few smaller places our readers recommend: Darfen's, Nqhrun Club, Jox, and Bo DkWIey's. i thighs? Late-night snack There's nothing quite like the late night, booze-induced munchies when only trench fries will suffice. We asked you to name the best places for nocturnal noshing and you mainly head for the arches. Other, possibly more palatable choices, include: 1 Funky Pickle Pizza 2.

Boston Pizza (recommended: the Boston Brute) 3. Denny's (for Moons Over My Hammy) Still hungry? More good munchies can be found at Sam Wck's, Queen Donair and Cafe Select. There's also some good money riding on a recommendation to Casino Yellowhead who'd have guessed? sJs The best free entertainment The best things in life really are free, and there's no shortage of ways in Edmonton to entertain yourself without dropping a dime. 1. Hanging on Whyte Avenue: From window shopping to people-watching, this is the place to be especially, it would appear, during 2.

The Fringe Festival. What's not to love about the street carnival atmosphere when outdoor events take over the area? 3. River valley Hawrelak Park And then them's people-watching on Jasper Avenue, there are some very 'interesting' people there." And this random thought "Session at the Legislature they have the best actors working (I.e. getting paid for performance) In Alberta." Even better than the Fringe? Hard to say. i -I I scream, you scream, Where's SZ.

-1 1 i I 1 the best place for ice cream? Beet bar to hook up: 1. Overtime 2. Urban Lounge Standard 3. Iron Horse See what a successful meenna can ttma to? "I'm married with a baby nightlife to me means getting up to give mm a bottle. Boat bar to go dancing: 1.

Cook County Saloon 2. Esmeralda's (Ezne's) 3. Suite 69 Overtime "Wherever most of your friends are there to dance with you." 1. Anywhere In the river valley: "Amazing trails; starting at Mill Creek ravine you can go all the way downtown." 2. Hawrolak Parte "It's pretty even and no hills, for the amateur." 3.

Rundle Park: "Good hills, but not too-good hills." For a roll on the other side of the rood, try Ada Boulevard or St Best Discs 1 1 11 1. 1 i i Lt wn Best place Are those his Should we be surprised? wnen we asked who you'd most like to set in short-shorts and who you'd least like to see short-shorts, many people were selecting our premier, Ralph Klein, in both categories. How does that happen? Do we love to inflict pain on ourselves? Most like to see in short-shorts: 1. Ralph Klein 2. Carrie Doll 3.

Singor Mobley Least like to see in short-shorts: 1. Ralph Klein 2. Stephen Mandel i 3. Michael Phairi for desserts: 1 Cheesecake Cafe 2. vl's for Pies 3.

Second Cup "has beautiful goodies." And it's dessert! Let's go for seconds! Block 1912, loved for it's home-made desserts, gelato and coffee. "This is gonna sound pathetic but Ikea's restaurant their chocolate mousse is to die for! And for two bucks a pop one can afford to have seconds! Or thirds!" "Moxie's white chocolate brownie is the best." 1 Marble Slab Creamery: You couldn't rave enough about this place, which opened up its second location on Whyte and 103rd Street. "They put gummy bears in it! GUMMY BEARS! IN ICE CREAM! Mind-blowing!" 2. Block 1912: This arty, European-style cafe on Whyte was named time and again in our survey. You love its coffee, you love its desserts, but more than anything you really, really love its gelato.

"If you've always wanted to put a few extra pounds on here's your chance!" 3. Dairy Queen Baskin Robbins New kid on the block: Lots of you also wanted to put in a good word for the brand-new Bueno Gelato (mainly referred to as "that new place across from You may have forgotten the name, but not the product "Lots of variety and reasonable prices." Latin licks: "Julio's Barrio on Whyte fried ice cream, it is delightful and very nutritious!" cd Give me a pie to go: If there's one thing Edmontonians love, It's their Funky Pickle Pizza. 28 choose The Pickle as the best 'za in the city. "Where else can you get spinach pizza, crispy crusts and honey on top!" 8 choose Royal Pizza. "They add so much cheese." "The pizza is square and absolutely delicious." 6 go for Boston Pizza Some other thoughts: Chicago Deep Dish: "Open late, huge pieces and all for Cant go wrong!" Victoria Pizza: "Great cheese." iHmS MBhi Tf JiTh Ti Daya Naidoo of Block 1912 with daughter Shab'rthra.

The coffee house hit a sweet spot in our survey. EDMONTON JOURNAL SATURDAY, JUNE 4, 2005 EDMONTON JOURNAL 7.