Drag shows and hot turkey sandwiches | Stories

Rob Browatzke spends a lot of his nights in downtown Edmonton.

He’s one of the owners of Evolution Wonderlounge, a gay bar on 103 Street. In September, the club will celebrate its 10th anniversary.

“We are connected to the history and the pageantry of our community,” he says. “And our community is connected to the history and pageantry of downtown Edmonton. We’re very symbiotic.”

For decades, the heart of the city has also been the heart of the gay community—the home of queer clubs, spas, organizations and Pride parades.

Here are five of Rob’s favourite downtown spots to work, relax and reminisce:

A drag performer on stage in front of a live audience

Local drag legend Vanity Fair performs at Evolution Wonderlounge.

Magical moments

Evolution Wonderlounge(external link) (10220 103 Street) plays host to drag queens, karaoke nights, dance parties, fundraisers, and personal milestones. June is Pride Month—and Evo is stacked with events(external link).

“We are there for the most magical moments in people’s lives—when they’re meeting the person they fall in love with or celebrating birthdays,” says Rob.

“We’re also there for their worst nights, when they’ve had a loss or a breakup and they want to be around community. It’s a tremendous responsibility.”

Downtown Edmonton offers a vibrant mix of entertainment, business, education, government and community in the heart of the city. More than 12,000 people live in the core, from students to office workers to artists to entrepreneurs to young families, making it one of the city’s largest neighbourhoods.

Rob and Evolution Wonderlounge are also featured in ‘Say More(external link)‘ a mini doc featuring remarkable local business owners and community leaders within Edmonton’s vibrant 2SLGBTQIA+ community. ‘Say More’ is presented by Explore Edmonton(external link).

Community corner

Audreys Books(external link) (10702 Jasper Avenue), owned by the Budnarchuk family, is the city’s oldest independent bookstore. It features Orlando Corner, a section on queer literature—including Rob’s own novels(external link), inspired by Edmonton’s gay nightlife.

“Orlando Books was a feminist and queer bookstore on Whyte Avenue,” he says. “When that closed [in 2002], all those authors found a home in Orlando Corner at Audreys Books. They do so much for the community, whether it’s book launches or reading or other events.”

A man in a red shirt reads a book standing next to a shelf full of books.

Rob makes a quick pit stop at Orlando Corner in Audreys Books.

Greasy-spoon comfort

Next door to Audreys is the Commodore Restaurant(external link) (10712 Jasper Avenue), downtown’s oldest greasy-spoon diner. Rob adores its hot turkey sandwiches, friendly service and family vibe. (The Gees opened the restaurant in 1942.)

“It’s a great place to go for comfort food,” he say

The park sign reads 'Michael Phair Park' and the park features colourful polka-dot pathways and wall.

Michael Phair Park on 104 Street.

An outdoor escape

Rob heads to Michael Phair Park(external link) (10124 104 Street) when he’s looking for a quick break from work. “It’s a nice place for me to escape to when I have some downtime and want to be sitting outside,” he says.

The parklet is named after Edmonton’s first gay city councillor.

Want to learn more? Rob is also part of the Edmonton Queer History Project. The group created a downloadable map(external link) of downtown’s significant 2SLGBTQ+ locations, including Evolution Wonderlounge, Michael Phair Park and Georgia Baths. Free walking tours(external link) are available throughout the summer.

Signs and steps

The Neon Sign Museum(external link) offers an electrifying look at the city’s history. More than 20 signs of former businesses, including Mike’s News and Georgia Baths, are displayed on the TELUS building and Mercer Warehouse at 104 Street and 104 Avenue.

“The neon signs add some magic to downtown,” says Rob. “Georgia Baths is the first gay business I ever worked at in Edmonton, back in 1999.”

Flashback, a former gay bar, recently added its sign. Coincidentally, the club used to be located steps away from the Neon Sign Museum.