“I want to say that the type of things I collect is what raised me. I can’t explain the fixation with it–it’s something that’s always been there. I guess it’s what led me to complete my education at the Alberta College of Art and Design. I’ve always been into it, which is why it’s all around my home.

I’ve watched Power Rangers since it aired in 1993. It was one of those things that I feel I’ve lapsed back into. A lot of kids want to things when they grow up, but for me, it’s something that I came back to as a grown up. It’s odd how many like-minded people there are in this particular fanbase. There’s a lot of people who live the messages that the show was trying to convey: teamwork, honesty, courage.Other fans take to the style of the show: the monsters, the costumes, the suits. It’s a wide variety of fans. I’d like to say that the show has a lot of good morals. Along with The Power Rangers, I grew up with Superman and it’s really the moral code that’s resonated with me.

The collection, ha, ha! My parents were really frugal in their spending on stuff like this for me and my brothers when we were children. Now as an adult, I can fulfill those childhood dreams. I probably have about seventeen different and complete Power Ranger suits of different styles all over this house (boots, gloves, helmets, accessories). In addition I have over fifty helmets. What you see here is just a small part of it.

Our Ranger group goes to conventions regularly. I’m lucky to have found enough people interested in Power Rangers to make a community out of. People from Edmonton, Calgary, the surrounding area.

Sunnyside has always been a happening area. It seems like you’re close to everything. I’ve lived here for…well, going on six years. Yeah, it feels like there’s always something good happening. It’s close to the art school, it’s central. It also helps that I work in the neighbourhood. I’m technically the sous-chef/assistant-manager at Julio’s Barrio on Memorial Drive and 10th Street.

Here’s something… today is my birthday.” Wayne, Assistant Kitchen Manager at Julio’s Barrio, Sunnyside Resident, Power Ranger.

“We start off with a Malteaser sugar rim, and use a hot chocolate mix that we made ourselves. Then we add banana extract, whipping cream, a banana chip, and a cherry that’s been soaking in bourbon. It’s great, but it’s the Bullett Bourbon we put into the hot chocolate that makes it the best.” Jax, Midtown Kitchen & Bar, 10th Street NW.

YYC Hot Chocolate Festival is on right now, with 9 of the 32 participating restaurants located in Hillhurst-Sunnyside. All month these businesses compete for popular votes as to who has the best hot chocolate. Proceeds going to Meals on Wheels. www.yychotchocolate.com

“Ooh, it’s our turmeric and black pepper hot chocolate. It’s also got cinnamon, orange, chocolate, sugar, marshmallow… I’m actually not supposed to say how we make it, but it’s amazing. Make sure you drop a gum ball into the jar to show that you’re supporting Meals On Wheels!” Kerrie, Red Bush Tea and Coffee Company, 10th Street.

YYC Hot Chocolate Festival is on right now, with 9 of the 32 participating restaurants located in Hillhurst-Sunnyside. All month these businesses compete for popular votes as to who has the best hot chocolate. Proceeds going to Meals on Wheels. www.yychotchocolate.com

“We start with raw dates–it’s a natural sweetener, then we use mesquite to give it a nice caramel flavour as well as all the nutrients it has. We build that onto a base of chaga and coconut milk, and then steam up the whole thing. We also use vanilla, cacao paste, and cacao powder.

The hot chocolate is really good for you and it tastes amazing. The one ingredient you can’t get anywhere else is the feel-good, raw, loving energy that we put into every cup!” Wild & Raw Superfood + Juice Bar, Kensington Road.

YYC Hot Chocolate Festival is on right now, with 9 of the 32 participating restaurants located in Hillhurst-Sunnyside. All month these businesses compete for popular votes as to who has the best hot chocolate. Proceeds going to Meals on Wheels. www.yychotchocolate.com

“For the YYC Hot Chocolate Festival, we’ve made a Black Forest Hot Chocolate. We use a chocolate sauce made from dark chocolate. It’s just awesome. Then we steam it up with some cherry and homogenized milk. Finally, we top it off with vanilla whip cream and a cherry. I put extra love into this one.” Elzbeth, Barrista at Higher Ground, Kensington Road.

YYC Hot Chocolate Festival is on right now, with 9 of the 32 participating restaurants located in Hillhurst-Sunnyside. All month these businesses compete for popular votes as to who has the best hot chocolate. Proceeds going to Meals on Wheels. www.yychotchocolate.com

“We’re doing a ‘Liquid Cupcake’ for the YYC Hot Chocolate Festival. It’s a red velvet infused milk steamed with two pieces of dark chocolate. We finish it off with a buttercream whip cream.” Monogram Pop-up Coffee Shop at Crave Cupcakes on Kensington Road.

YYC Hot Chocolate Festival is on right now, with 9 of the 32 participating restaurants located in Hillhurst-Sunnyside. All month these businesses compete for popular votes as to who has the best hot chocolate. Proceeds going to Meals on Wheels. www.yychotchocolate.com

“We specialize in Third World made art, folk art, and hand-made accessories. We travel all over the world buying items as directly as we can from small businesses, Fair Trade organizations, development projects. We originally started bringing in pieces from Central and South America, but now we buy from Nepal, Thailand and places in Asia.

We’ve been here on Kensington Road for twenty-two years.

This neighbourhood? I like that it’s, well… there’s a few things.

I like the mix here in Kensington. While being in the inner city, it has a friendly, walkable neighbourhood. It’s got the river, parks on all sides, a good mixture of small, independent businesses. It’s an older neighbourhood and it’s got a lot of great things here.

When I was a young child, my grandmother used to live up the hill, so I grew up in this area. I actually lived in the Sunnyhill housing co-op for a while.

There’s a lot of wonderful people here.” Steve Burger, Owner of Mañana Imports, 1132 Kensington Road NW.

“What do I like about Sunnyside? Hmmmmm…

I guess I like the fact that it’s always changing. There’s always somewhere new to eat, some place to shop, something new to check out. It’s cool how much this neighbourhood changes through the seasons. Just look up!”

“There’s so much happening here, at any time of day, at any time of the year. This little neighbourhood has a sense of energy that never seems to quit, but it never stays the same.

I’m totally excited to see what the new condo developments are going to do to the community. There’s going to be life everywhere you turn!”