Jill Browne, from home and away

Starbucks at the Westin Hotel, Calgary. Photo by Jill Browne, February 22, 2011.

Monday, March 28, 2011

Home: Calgary, Alberta, Canada

The picture shows the Westin Hotel on 4th Avenue SW, downtown. It’s still one of the leading business hotels, with a great location for people who have meetings right downtown.

I haven’t visited the Starbucks in there yet.

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Home: Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Primal Grounds, 3003 – 37 Street SW

Looks like it might have started life as a Dairy Queen. Run by a lady who makes soup and sells it at the Kingsland Farmers’ Market.

We didn’t want soup, we wanted breakfast, and we weren’t disappointed. The choice was limited; this isn’t primarily a breakfast place. Limited but excellent: the breakfast bagel was a meal and a half, fresh and nice.

Great latte as the name suggests.

I always thought it would be cool to have a coffee shop in the Provincial Court building and call it Reasonable and Probable Grounds. Another one in the old Court of Appeal building, called Grounds for Appeal of course.

The shadow of a hawthorn tree, by Jill Browne. Calgary, February 13, 2011.

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Home: Calgary, Alberta, Canada

That picture of the shadow of the hawthorn tree is from Sunday. Today I noticed the shadow again, but since we’ve had light fluffy snow all day, the branches’ shadows look twice as thick.

Wednesday is Breakfast With Suzanne Day!

Today: Cora’s in MacKenzie Town. Or maybe that was just MacKenzie. And maybe it’s McKenzie. Anyway, if you live in Calgary, you know what Mac or McKenzie is. The restaurant isn’t obvious but it’s in the same little corner on 130th just east of Deerfoot as The Keg.

The food today: Bacon, scrambled eggs, fruit, blueberry crepes and a latte. Beans as an extra (for the protein, dear).

What we found out when it arrived is there was also toast and potatoes.

Enough food for a day, in other words.

Nice food. Atmosphere better than Ricky’s, not as relaxing as Over Easy, my current #1 pick. I think I prefer Nellie’s in the Loop to Cora’s for the #2 spot, but only by a whisker, and it’s only if we get the right table. For the food, Cora’s, for the atmosphere, Nellie’s, so take your pick.

We were at about plus 12 on the weekend. Minus 17 today with snow.

And unfortunately when I went for a grit refill, the box was empty. Oh no! May have to buy cat litter if we don’t get grit, for our sidewalk.

Monday, February 14, 2011

Home: Calgary, Alberta, Canada

I’m not sure how much imagination I have when it comes to finding a new breakfast spot every week but I’m going to need ideas by Wednesday morning, and the Wednesday after that, and the Wednesday after that, as long as we can manage.

Need suggestions.

Should serve breakfast, not just an early lunch.

Must have good coffee.

That’s about it.

Ideas? Please?

Thanks!

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Home: Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Yippee! Wednesday. It’s become my breakfast out with Suzanne day. The rule is, never the same place twice.

It’s going to be a hard rule to keep, because I’ve really liked a couple of the places.

Today: Over Easy on Edmonton Trail. Never been there before.

Decor is fun and relaxing, a sort of 50s meets Danish modern with a blackboard on the ceiling for good measure. Nice big front windows.

Delicious omelette with artichokes and other good stuff (not on the regular menu, it was the special). Good coffee.

Reasonable price. I am a bad reporter. Too lazy to pull out my receipt and have a look but in the neighbourhood of $11 sounds about right.

The food was good, the restaurant was not empty but not packed, just pleasantly humming.

Very friendly, attentive servers.

Liked it and that’s no yolk.

😉

Friday, January 28, 2011

Home: Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Yeah, I go for coffee a lot. It’s my main social outlet. I rarely go out at night (too lazy), like to watch movies at home on NetFlix instead of going to the theatre, hate shopping, do like eating at restaurants, but the thing I do most is go for coffee.

So I know who goes to what coffee shops and when.

One of my regular spots has had a bit of a change in the regulars over the last ten years or so (hard to believe it’s been that long, but it has). Still, I see more men in there than women, at least, I see the same men more often than I see the same women.

The current crop are semi-retired guys. Earlier regulars include one very scared and nervous guy, and one stern looking guy who is actually very friendly and kind (gives his seat to a pregnant lady, that sort of thing).

The only woman regular (besides me) is a lady I haven’t seen for a while, and I think that’s for a good reason. She used to come in during her recovery from what must have been a horrid car accident. I hope she’s back at work now.

And for a while there was the nurse from abroad studying to get her Canadian credentials. I hope she made it and is working too. She seemed like the sort of caring person I would like to have should I ever need a nurse.

It’s just a daily human drama out there in Cow Town.

Thursday, January 6, 2011.

Home: Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Weather today: Beautiful sunny winter day, temperature at mid-day just above freezing.

I’m meeting a friend for lunch tomorrow and trying to think of where we should go.  This put me on the track of thinking about coffee and the indy coffee spots I’ve tried around town.

The truth is, I drink a lot of coffee from Starbucks, because I like the taste, and I like the atmosphere, except when it’s crowded.

I also go to The Second Cup, which is a Canadian coffee franchise.  Like the taste, like the atmosphere of my two favourite Second Cup locations.

I know that some people prefer to go indy when there’s a choice, and I agree, it’s a good thing to do.

So, if you love coffee and you wonder where on earth to find an indy coffee place in Calgary, the first place I’ll suggest is Kawa, on 8th Street SW between 13th and 14th Avenue.

Kawa Espresso Bar

Why people like it:  the coffee.  This is for people who really enjoy the taste and smell of good coffee, and at least some (probably all) of their coffee is organic.

I like the coffee, but I will warn you that wherever you find parking around here, you’ll have to pay for it. I am happy with the decor but I don’t find it as inviting as some people do.

Kawa has some devoted, I mean really devoted, fans.  Their coffee is as good as people say.

More coffee places to come.