Black Dog Freehouse in Edmonton submitted Description

The Scene
A word to the wise trying to crash the festivities at the Black Dog during prime hours: bring a shoehorn. The most surefire way to belly up to the bar in one of Whyte Avenue's busiest pubs is to squeeze yourself in between the hardy revelers who frequent the joint. Although the confines of the pub are slightly longer and wider than a standard bowling lane, no one seems to complain about the congestion. In fact, the slight inconvenience adds to the intimacy of the place.

The Crowd
The real appeal of the Black Dog, however, is its blend of tradition and trendiness. Bar signs from the other side of the pond, wartime paraphernalia and a general Celtic feel meshes well with the alt-rock and country pouring out of the speakers. The result? Punkers can share a pint with the suit contingent with nary a raised eyebrow.

The Rest
If fresh air is more your thing, the second-floor Wooftop Patio offers a bird's eye view of Whyte Avenue. Other amenities include the cozy Underdog basement, complete with big-screen TV, full bar and state-of-the-art surround sound system. A big attraction every Saturday afternoon is the Saturday afternoon Hair of the Dog sessions, where open stagers try out their tunes before an encouraging audience. As a monument to these sessions, the Black Dog recently released a CD of open-stagers past and present, which include locals Richard Buckner, Corb Lund Band, Terry Morrison, Luann Kowalek and continental media darling Neko Case.