c/edmonton-chat

12

beth_sanchez47•9h ago

I tried two different ways to clear ice off my driveway last winter and one was a total disaster

So I had this bright idea to use hot water to melt the ice after a big freeze in January. I poured about two gallons of boiling water on a patch near my front steps and it just turned into this massive sheet of black ice that was worse than before. My neighbor came out laughing and told me to try the cheap regular salt from the hardware store on 82 Ave instead. That salty stuff worked in like 20 minutes and I didn't almost break my neck. Has anyone else made that dumb hot water mistake or am I the only one?

14

kim_sanchez19•1d ago

Spent $600 on a winter jacket I thought was overkill. Totally wrong.

I was against dropping that much on a Canada Goose parka. Thought it was just branding hype. Then last January hit -40 and my old coat couldn't handle the wind. After one commute from downtown to Southgate I caved. Now I get why people pay that. Anyone else here worn down by Edmonton winters enough to pay up?

25

sethp26•1d ago

Finally gave in and tried the south side farmers market over the downtown one

Finally gave in and tried the south side farmers market over the downtown one. I've been a downtown market loyalist for like 3 years but my buddy kept pushing the south side one so I gave it a shot last Saturday. The parking alone was worth the switch - found a spot in 5 minutes instead of hunting for 20 near 104 Street. Picked up a flat of strawberries for $12 from a guy near the entrance, way cheaper than the $16 I usually pay downtown. The produce felt a bit more local and less like stuff shipped in from California. I'm still not sold on the vibe though, downtown has better live music usually. Anyone else find one market better for certain things?

19

rivera.keith•3d ago

Heard a kid at Whyte Ave coffee shop say "vibe check" instead of "how are you" and it hit me how slang changes every 5 years

It was a Tuesday afternoon at Transcend Coffee and this teenager just casually drops that on his friend who nodded back like it was normal, and I realized I still say "cool beans" from 1998 which my nephew laughs at every time, has anyone else noticed how fast the lingo shifts around here?

2

mia_anderson•5d ago

Vent: Got yelled at for parking in my own spot at Southgate Mall today

Some guy in a truck blocked me in and started honking cause he thought I stole his parking stall. I showed him my monthly pass and he just drove off without saying sorry. Has anyone else had issues with people fighting over spots in that lot?

0

lee_ward54•5d ago

Can we talk about those cheap grow lights I got off Kijiji?

Last spring I bought a 4-pack of those purple LED grow lights for $60 from some guy out in Sherwood Park. I figured they'd be fine for starting my tomatoes and peppers indoors. First 2 weeks they worked okay, but by week 3 the diodes started flickering and one just died. I ended up losing about 30 seedlings because they got all leggy and weak. Spent another $120 on a proper T5 setup from Greenland Garden Centre after that. Anyone else get burned by those cheap knockoff lights around here?

13

smith.anna•8d ago

Swapped my morning coffee for green tea this month and it actually stuck

I was a die hard dark roast guy for years, two big mugs before noon. But my afternoon crash kept getting worse, so a buddy from work dared me to try green tea for 30 days. Day 5 I almost gave up because it tasted like hot grass, but now my energy feels more even through the afternoon. Anyone else make a switch like this and actually keep it going?

8

jamesrivera•8d ago

Drove past the old Reynolds district mall last weekend and barely recognized the place

It used to be the spot for Friday night hangs back in the 90s, but now they've torn down half the parking lot for those new townhouses has anyone else seen how fast that area got rebuilt?

2

gonzalez.vera•8d ago

Had to pick between two bus routes to get home after school yesterday

I was stuck deciding between the 4 that goes through Whyte Ave but takes forever or the 9 that's faster but drops you off way further from my house. I gambled on the 9 and it was 15 minutes quicker but I had to walk 6 blocks in the rain. Anyone else ever make a bad call on a bus route and regret it right away?

9

angelacooper•12d ago

My fridge died mid-July and I lost $200 in groceries

Came home from work on a Thursday to find my 12-year-old Kenmore fridge humming but not cooling at all. Everything in there was warm to the touch, meat and dairy had to go straight in the trash. Ended up hauling the stuff to my neighbor's spare fridge and ordering a new one from Trail Appliances that same night. Has anyone else had a fridge just give up with zero warning like that?

26

evan_anderson•12d ago

Shoutout to the guy at the LRT station who gave me directions to the Legislature grounds last Tuesday

I was about to take the wrong bus from Corona Station when this older fella pointed me to the right route, saving me a 40 minute detour, has anyone else actually had good luck asking strangers for help downtown?

26

aaron_flores84•12d ago

Why I think the new bike lane on Whyte Ave was a mistake

I was biking home last Tuesday and nearly got hit by a car turning right because the lane puts you right in the blind spot. The city should have kept the old shared road setup instead of this separate lane chaos. Has anyone else had close calls there?

21

the_nathan•13d ago

The crosswalk at Jasper and 109th got a countdown timer last month

I walk that corner every day to get to work and for like 3 years I was just guessing how long I had to cross. Now I know it's 22 seconds which is plenty but it still feels weird to not have to sprint. Did the city finally get funding for these or did someone complain enough?

23

william320•14d ago

Was dead set against the LRT expansion until I saw that bus gridlock on Jasper

I've lived in Edmonton for 12 years and always thought spending billions on the LRT was a waste. Used to argue with my buddy about it all the time while we'd sit in traffic on the bus heading downtown. Then last Wednesday I was waiting at the bus stop on Jasper and 114 Street for 25 minutes. Like 4 buses came all at once and none of them could even move because of all the cars blocking the intersection. Some guy in a delivery van just sat in the middle of the crossing for two full light cycles. I watched people get off the bus and just start walking because it was faster. That moment made me realize the bus system is maxed out and we need something separate from road traffic. Anyone else have a moment where you just changed your whole view on a city project?

30

jamieh76•14d ago

Ran into a guy at Tim Hortons on Whyte who changed how I see city buses

I was grabbing coffee near the University station and this older fella named Dave started chatting about the LRT delays. He told me he's been riding Edmonton Transit for 30 years and actually keeps a log of all the late buses. He showed me his notebook with dates and times, like 47 delays just in January. Has anyone else met a random stranger who totally shifted their view on something as everyday as the bus?

11

jordan184•15d ago

Finally nailed the timing on my morning commute after 6 months of frustration

I was always hitting the tail end of the school zone traffic on 149 Street around 8:10 AM. It added an extra 15 minutes to my drive every single day. Then I tried leaving the house just 7 minutes earlier, at 7:58 instead of 8:05. The difference was huge, I cleared that stretch before the buses even started rolling. Now I get to the office with time to grab a coffee instead of being late. Has anyone else found a tiny time shift that totally fixes their route?

25

the_jade•15d ago

Finally found a decent taco spot in the south side after 8 fails

Stopped at that new place on 34th Ave near the old Canadian Tire lot and their al pastor actually had the pineapple cooked right instead of just sitting on top.

5

the_barbara•15d ago

PSA: stop filling your gas tank after the pump clicks off

I used to always top off my tank, like squeeze in a few more cents after the nozzle clicked. Last month my buddy who runs a garage told me that extra gas just gets sucked into the charcoal canister and can mess up your emissions system. He said he sees one car a week with that problem. Now I just let it click once and stop. Have any of you guys had issues from overfilling?

2

lisa_brown•16d ago

Took me 3 hours to find a parking spot near Whyte Ave last Saturday

I was meeting friends for dinner and ended up circling for 45 minutes before giving up and parking 6 blocks away. Has anyone else noticed how bad the parking has gotten on weekends lately?

15

blakem82•1mo ago

TIL I wasted $80 on a 'pro' bike lock that got cut in 30 seconds in Whyte Ave

Bought a pricey U-lock from a shop near Jasper Ave thinking it'd stop thieves, but some guy with a portable grinder got through it in half a minute outside my work. Anyone else found a lock that actually holds up in this city or am I just kidding myself?

19

blakem82•1mo ago

Blew a tire on the Yellowhead at 5pm rush hour

Hit a pothole near the Capilano bridge exit and my rear tire went flat instantly. Had to pull over on the shoulder with semis flying past at 80 clicks. Anybody know a decent tire shop on the east side that won't try to upsell me on rims?

31

dylan265•1mo ago

Winter tire debate: paid $1,200 for Blizzaks vs using all-seasons for a 3rd Edmonton winter

So I had to make a call back in October about whether to drop cash on proper winter tires or just roll with my all-seasons again. I picked the Blizzaks and put them on my Corolla before that first snow hit. Honestly the difference on 23rd Ave ice was crazy, I stopped way shorter and didn't slide once at those 4-way stops by Southgate. But my buddy Dave says I wasted money and he's been fine on all-seasons for 5 years straight, even driving out to Sherwood Park every day. I'm halfway through the winter and the tires are nice but I wonder if I overhyped the risk. Which side are you on, do you swap to winters or just send it on all-seasons around here?

16

ray648•1mo ago

Spent 3 hours looking for a leak under my sink that was just a loose fitting

Had a slow drip under the kitchen sink that drove me nuts for a week. Checked every pipe and connection like 5 times before my neighbor Gary came over and pointed out the compression nut on the hot water line was barely hand tight. Took me maybe 2 minutes to fix after that. Why do I always assume the problem has to be complicated?

3

the_morgan•1mo ago

Why does nobody talk about how bad the LRT schedule is during summer construction

I was waiting at the Century Park station last Tuesday for 22 minutes because they decided to run single tracking without telling anyone. The digital board said 4 minutes for like 10 straight minutes. I ended up calling my boss and saying I'd be late, which never looks good. Has anyone else had this happen or am I the only one who checks the schedule before heading out?

21

avery_fox93•1mo ago

Talked to a retired cabbie at the garage yesterday...

Had a guy in his 70s drop off his old Ford for a tune up and we got to chatting about downtown Edmonton traffic. He said when he started driving in the 70s, Jasper Ave had half the cars and twice the character. Made me wonder how much the city has changed just since I moved here 10 years ago... Anyone else talk to old timers who make you see this place different?