PEDESTRIANS, PARKING & TRAFFIC
One of the many roles we play as a Business Improvement Area (BIA) is to advocate on behalf of businesses and community, to the City to bring about necessary and positive changes that enhance our neighbourhood. Walkability, and the need for increased space for people was a message we heard loud and clear, and were able to advocate for significant changes from the City including expanded patio spaces, reduced patio permitting times, as well as shared street spaces that will reduce vehicle traffic, and increase spaces for people to walk. Info will be rolled out over several weeks from the City.

The City of Edmonton provides ample parking options in and around the Old Strathcona neighbourhood with active on-street EPark Zones. To make parking in these zones easier, you can download the MyEPark app. The Farmer's Market lot is open to customers 6 days a week, free to market goers on Saturday's, underground parking is available at the Roots on Whyte building, and covered parking is available at the Varscona Hotel.

SAFETY & ETIQUETTE ON THE AVE
When visiting, working, or playing in District Whyte we are asking all visitors to follow the guidelines set out by the Province's Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Hinshaw. Those guidelines include practicing physical distancing, wearing a mask if/when you are in a space where physical distancing is not possible, and being respectful and kind to others in your interactions.
Also, please know that each individual business in our neighbourhood, may have specific requirements and guidelines in place based on the needs of their specific business, and those guidelines are in place to keep you safe, and also must be followed. For specific questions about individual business practices, please reach out to the business directly.
We look forward to making District Whyte an area that is safe and enjoyable for everyone! ...

After much brainstorming over the last while about how we can better serve local businesses, we are proud to present a new series of mini-interviews. In this time of hardship, we feel that it is super important to actually get to see the faces behind the businesses that we are urging you to support, hear what challenges they are facing, as well as how they are adapting. In the following weeks, we are going to be featuring businesses in Old Strathcona that are doing an awesome job of pivoting and coming up with innovative ways to keep their doors open while safely serving their community.

First up: @narayannisrestaurant
1) Overview of the business:
Edmonton’s South African-Indian fusion restaurant Narayanni’s has been well-loved for a decade, offering a full-service dining experience with a freshly prepared daily buffet. Narayanni’s prides itself on wholesome, clean eating, with locally sourced and/or organic ingredients whenever possible. Owners Selva (‘Mamma’) and Daya (‘Papa’) Naidoo learned to cook from their parents in South Africa. Their award-winning restaurant, run with the help of their Daughter Youmashni, is located in a historically listed heritage building, Arndt’s Machine Shop. Papa continues his passion for making desserts and frothy cappuccinos while Mamma continues her passion for cooking and service with her finely prepared home-cooked meals.
2) Changes they have made to pivot during COVID-19:
Recent COVID-19 mandates have inspired "Mamma’s Food-to-Go," featuring freshly home-cooked delicacies on a grab-n-go basis. The menu features a wide variety of options, including soup; salad; appetizers; meat entrees; an abundance of vegan & gluten-free entrees; and Papa’s famous desserts. The Menu is available online here: https://narayannis.com/food-to-go

3) How we can rally and support them:
Their Food-To-Go is available two days each week, Wednesday and Friday, freshly cooked in their sanitized health-inspected professional kitchen. Cut off time is 11am on the day of pick-up. Pick-up is available from 4pm – 6pm. Food is packaged and waiting, and customers pay by card. Order through email (info@narayannis.com), Facebook, or phone (780-756-7112). ...