DESTINATION DOWNTOWN
CITY STREETS
The streets of Downtown Regina are bustling with energy and bursting with excitement.  Here at WRITE ON TIME we are trying to capture some of that excitement for our readers and clients.  Be sure to check back to this page for new details on downtown projects, business openings, events and news.  This first part covers the major destination streets and why you want to experience them!  All copy and articles are exclusively written by us.  Enjoy!
***Exciting, Eclectic...ELEVENTH***

Eleventh Avenue was one-way for many years. In 2010, along with a few other roadways, it was converted to two-way traffic to accommodate new development and bus routes. It has been a refreshing eye-opener for everyone! Motorists, and even pedestrians, now have a different perspective and are seeing it in a whole new way. It is making them slow down, stop, and look at what the street has to offer. From high-finance to high-fashion, 11th has a bit of everything. In more than one way, and definitely more than two ways, this is an avenue for everyone.

To begin with, there is the Cornwall Centre, Southern Saskatchewan's largest shopping mall, with three levels and 100 shops and services. It is visually stunning and architecturally significant because of the historic building facades incorporated into the exterior and the interior. Outside the mall, you will see why local entrepreneurs have always found a welcoming home on 11th Avenue. You will find a wide array of stores featuring clothing, books, comics, gifts, accessories, and many of those unique, hard to find items. Outdoor sidewalk sales are especially popular during the summer. There are dining options both on 11th and immediately adjacent, ensuring you never have to stray too far from shopping to grab a bite to eat.

Eleventh Avenue occupies a strategic position downtown as the epicenter of commerce, business, and retail. It is always busy and something is always happening. It is an experience you will enjoy immensely, and will make you want to keep coming back for more.
***Hip, Happening...HAMILTON***

When you look at old pictures of Hamilton Street, circa 1960's-1970's, you will see a thriving, bustling strip jam-packed with businesses. Walking along the street today in 2010, you will see...exactly the same thing. Well, not exactly. Back then, the pubs were getting rundown, the hotels were showing their age, and most of the establishments had those signs that stuck out over the doorways. However, in its heyday, Hamilton was an integral part of downtown Regina. It has always been a product of its time and a reflection of a changing society. Once again, as in the past, Hamilton Street is a downtown destination and is looking better than ever.

Today's Hamilton Street bears little resemblance to that of days gone by. History has been preserved in a number of beautiful storefronts and facades, but it now has a cosmopolitan, modern feel. Sleek, striking skyscrapers line the street, and in their shadows lie a burgeoning fashion district, a restaurant row, and much more. It is a paradise for stopping, shopping, and strolling. There are trendy, high-end clothing stores for both men and women. There are food outlets serving everything from pitas and pizza to Thai and Middle Eastern fare. Specialty stores offer those items you just can't find anywhere else. Best of all, most of the businesses are independent, locally-owned and operated.

When you visit Hamilton Street, you'll first want to look. Look up...for an impressive view of high-rise office towers with a new one on the way. Then look down and all around. Take it in. Appreciate the architecture. Savour the shops and services. You will then rediscover the recaptured glory of Hamilton Street in a brand new way.
A shot of beautiful 11th Avenue on a sunny summer day
Hamilton Street circa 1960's, in all her neon glory...
...and today's sleek and modern Hamilton!
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***Stylish, Sensational...SCARTH***

Imagine a place with quaint cobblestones, benches, flowers, and charming turn of the century buildings. People are everywhere...buskers singing and playing instruments, hot dog vendors, couples enjoying a cappuccino outdoors, shoppers rushing to the next store, business men and women enjoying a power lunch. What is this wonderful, diverse place? You don't have to look very far! It is a place where people want to be. It is a beloved institution and gathering place. It is Scarth Street, the heart of downtown Regina.

Scarth Street is a special place for many reasons. It begins with the Frederick W. Hill Mall, a totally pedestrian plaza with qualities reminiscent of Europe and New Orleans. The old meets the new and the past and present collide. Soaring high above Scarth are the Twin Towers, downtown's most iconic and recognizable landmarks. Proceeding south, you will find Victoria Park, which is currently undergoing a dramatic makeover and transformation. When completed, it will be so much more than just a park. It will be a dazzling showpiece that will offer the best in cultural activities, festivals, recreation, photo opportunities, and much more.

There is something for everyone...art, beauty salons, coffee shops, clothing stores, music, dining, drinks, dancing, theatre, and even living. Retail and other outlets remain on the ground floor, while the upper floors of some heritage buildings have been converted into lofts and condos. All of this is packed into two city blocks. Living or visiting, you will want to make this a place you spend some time, because on Scarth Street, any time is quality time.
***Vibrant, Vivacious...VICTORIA***

Victoria Avenue is a treasure in downtown Regina. It is a grand, elegant, broad, tree-lined thoroughfare. It is the home of some of the most stunning architecture in the province including many churches, the towering crown-topped City Hall, the angular SaskPower Building, and the legendary palace on the park - the Hotel Saskatchewan Radisson Plaza. Perhaps this street, like no other, best exemplifies how alive and important the past is, but also how far Regina has come.

This is one of the premiere destinations for residents and tourists alike. For Reginans who live on Victoria Avenue, they make their homes in historic apartment buildings, grand old houses, and luxury condos. Visitors can choose from several of the city's top hotels and can always count on a wonderful night's stay. Combining the best of both worlds, Capital Pointe, a new development at the pivotal intersection of Albert Street, will be unlike anything Regina has had before. It will be a 26 story condominium with an attached 10-floor Hilton Garden Inn. It will preside commandingly over downtown, and change the skyline dramatically.

Above all, Victoria Avenue is a place for people. It is a place where you can sit on an outdoor patio and watch the world go by. You can enjoy exquisite cuisine at any number of fine dining establishments. You can experience the hustle and bustle of downtown while at the same time feeling completely removed from it.  Victoria Avenue was named for a Queen, and it is appropriately regal and stately.  You can visit here, work here, or reside here, and you may feel like royalty, but you'll always feel welcome and at home.
The delightful, pedestrian-only Frederick W. Hill Mall on Scarth Street.
ARTIST RENDERING
Regina's new City Square, bordered to the East by Scarth Street, and to the South by Victoria Avenue.
The legendary palace on the park, the Hotel Saskatchewan Radisson Plaza - the Queen's choice.
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***Bold, Bustling...BROAD***

From north or south, Broad Street is a major gateway into downtown, and as such, is one of the busiest streets in the city. Always changing and always exciting, there is something for everyone. A fascinating blend of the old and the new await you. Modern high-rise apartments, hotels, and office towers stand alongside small businesses, restaurants, and historic buildings. The heart of the city is always beating on Broad Street.

If dining is your pleasure, then look no further. The choices are endless, and globally inspired. In addition to fine Canadian and North American fare, there are Latin, Ethiopian, Chinese, Vietnamese, Japanese, and other offerings from around the world. Looking for accommodations? You are in the right place as well. Broad Street, and the immediate vicinity, is the home of some of the city's premiere hotels. If it is entertainment you seek, the intersection at Saskatchewan Drive is home to the top tourist attraction in the province - Casino Regina. Glitzy, glittering, and glamorous, you can enjoy a fun evening of gambling, or take in a show at the Vegas-style Show Lounge.

Broad Street cuts a broad and wide path through downtown. New businesses and restaurants are opening all the time and the majority of them are local and unique to Regina. Some blocks have remained virtually untouched from the past, and others are boldly leading the way into the future even claiming the title of the largest Tim Horton's in Canada! For sure, it is a fast-paced thoroughfare, but it is well worth it to slow down, stop and experience Broad Street.
***Awesome, Aristocratic...ALBERT***

Albert Street was named after a King, and rightfully so. It is the city's most famous, well-known, and well-travelled street. Anyone who has ever been to Regina knows about it, and the people who live here love it. It is a place to work, to live, to dine, to shop, and everything else that life has to offer. The stretch from Saskatchewan Drive to College Avenue embodies everything that a downtown should be, and is.  Every city has it's "main drag" and this is definitely Regina's.  It is often the first impression of Regina, and always a choice location.

Confidence and construction in Regina's downtown has never been stronger, and Albert Street plays a vital role in that. In the months to come, there will not only be a new low-rise office tower being erected, but an exciting complex the likes of which Regina has never seen. It is called Capital Pointe, and is a 26-floor condominium and a 10 floor Hilton Garden Inn. The buzz has started, and the excitement is palpable. It will be a striking, dramatic addition to the already impressive Albert Street scene.

Some have declared Albert Street and Victoria Avenue the crossroads of Regina, and that is a perfect description. It is the very heart of what is now known as the "Green Mile" after the Roughriders victoriously triumphed in the 2007 Grey Cup. People came out by the thousands in the cold of winter, and they met at this intersection downtown because they wanted to be together in celebration in a place dear to their hearts. Albert Street has been around for more than 100 years, but like a fine wine, just gets better with age
Casino Regina, Saskatchewan's #1 tourist attraction, is located at the corner of Broad Street and Saskatchewan Drive
The Plains Hotel will make way for a new Albert Street landmark...
CAPITAL POINTE!
DESTINATION DOWNTOWN