Tonight, after work, I stopped by Joyce on 4th. It's an Irish Pub and I think I wrote about it earlier. It has these weird ass harp chairs which are huge....
One thing about this place is that it's got cheap ass food during the week. On Mondays, you can snag wings for FOUR cents each. Now I've never gone, but at 4 cents a piece......even bad quality wings are OK. They sell Big Rock and Wild Rose pints for 5 bucks (now considered a deal to me) for Happy Hour. The place is kinda low key and you can go sit alone...or with 100 friends if you want. I was there tonight and some very loud dood was there....same guy I experienced weeks ago at OJ's in the Mission. Why....do you have to be a dickhead man ?
Joyce has good breakfast, it's 4 bucks for Eggs Benny and hash browns. And it's served till 1 PM for people that have trouble getting outta bed. It's worth it. I'm not sure how they make Eggs Benny, but it's pretty good.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Native Culture
In Ontario, I had little to no exposure to native culture. Growing up in Toronto, you're exposed to the 150 different cultures and languages, but you never really get to know native culture because it barely exists.
I find it absolutely interesting. For starters, you meet people with last names like "Goodrunner" & almost 100% of these people break the standard stereotype of natives being drunk bums. It's one thing I notice about Calgary....people are so galvanized on this issue. I'm really not sure how you can label an entire culture because of a few people that don't have their life together. I'm a white guy, the dood that did the Oklahoma bombings was a white guy...but we're not really the same. Dig ?
I find it absolutely interesting. For starters, you meet people with last names like "Goodrunner" & almost 100% of these people break the standard stereotype of natives being drunk bums. It's one thing I notice about Calgary....people are so galvanized on this issue. I'm really not sure how you can label an entire culture because of a few people that don't have their life together. I'm a white guy, the dood that did the Oklahoma bombings was a white guy...but we're not really the same. Dig ?
So it's been almost 1 year
I just spent the last hour re-reading what I wrote. It makes me laugh that I gave a shit about things like "how slow people drive". It makes me realize how fast my life in Ontario was...and how angry & bitter I was for a long time. Ironically, I work more out here than I do back home, but I'm more relaxed. Least I think
So 11 months have passed since I left Ontario. I guess the first question is, do I miss it? The answer...for the most part is no. Calgary is a positive place to live and pretty progressive. One thing that truly pisses me off is listening to people back home tell me how "redneck" it is out here. My answer is whatever and get over it.
Calgary isn't without it's problems...but generally it's a pretty positive city, maybe sometimes with a touch too much money. Regardless, if you want to carve out your dream here, you can. Over the past year I've learned to slow down when driving. I've learned to let people in. I've learned that when people say "hi" in the hall, you say hi back...because thats just normal behaviour. I've even learned to like the Calgary Flames & admit it's fun to pick on "Leaf Nation" doods back home. LOL, last place too.
So 11 months have passed since I left Ontario. I guess the first question is, do I miss it? The answer...for the most part is no. Calgary is a positive place to live and pretty progressive. One thing that truly pisses me off is listening to people back home tell me how "redneck" it is out here. My answer is whatever and get over it.
Calgary isn't without it's problems...but generally it's a pretty positive city, maybe sometimes with a touch too much money. Regardless, if you want to carve out your dream here, you can. Over the past year I've learned to slow down when driving. I've learned to let people in. I've learned that when people say "hi" in the hall, you say hi back...because thats just normal behaviour. I've even learned to like the Calgary Flames & admit it's fun to pick on "Leaf Nation" doods back home. LOL, last place too.
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Bar: Singapore Sam's
A few weeks back I was out late and went to Singapore Sam's with friends. It's on 11th Ave near 4th in a small strip plaza.
This is a great late night place....it's a sorta after party outlet where people go after they split from the bar. It's a Chinese restaurant..with a cheesy Canadian flare to it. When I was in there, they were playing bad disco and even worse dance music on the speakers, but it worked. It's also incredibly dark so you can barely see the person you are with. The food is decent, but it works for the after club thing. Only problem is, parking in the area sucks...so it's a bitch to find a place to stick the car if you are driving.
This is a great late night place....it's a sorta after party outlet where people go after they split from the bar. It's a Chinese restaurant..with a cheesy Canadian flare to it. When I was in there, they were playing bad disco and even worse dance music on the speakers, but it worked. It's also incredibly dark so you can barely see the person you are with. The food is decent, but it works for the after club thing. Only problem is, parking in the area sucks...so it's a bitch to find a place to stick the car if you are driving.
Back
Happy New Year.
Life has been incredibly busy for me over the past few months and I haven't posted at all. I'm officially set up in Calgary and....I'd never go back home. Calgary kicks ass.
I get out alot more & such...so I'll write about all things Calgary...even some of the stinky politics and stuff here.
Life has been incredibly busy for me over the past few months and I haven't posted at all. I'm officially set up in Calgary and....I'd never go back home. Calgary kicks ass.
I get out alot more & such...so I'll write about all things Calgary...even some of the stinky politics and stuff here.
Sunday, December 2, 2007
Forever
Seems like forever since I last wrote...but I'll write more and describe where I go, places i eat, etc. 3rd time I've lived here and I'd never go back "home". Calgary is an awesome, friendly city and while I realize some of my friends back east don't like hearing that, oh well. Deal with it.
Next stop, Ouza in the Mission.........and it's so good.
Next stop, Ouza in the Mission.........and it's so good.
Friday, October 5, 2007
The West is Best
Unemployment rates came out today. Looking at the map in the Globe and Mail it's clear that the west is leading the country in jobs & economic growth.
I've been in Calgary now since March of 2007. Putting aside the lousy produce at the store, I've grown to love this city & this province. To be honest, I can't imagine moving back east even if my entire family lives there. The whole scene seems boring & lifeless, tired & old. Calgary's a place where people say hello in the elevator, where people let you in when you're turning in traffic....a place where people are civil and friendly. It's just how you are & it's how you become. The angry road rage I felt back home is long gone...hell now I'm the guy stopping to let someone walk across the road or someone cut in front of me in traffic.
And I've grown to appreciate the independent streak of this province...where people are willing to stand on their own without forever whining to the government for assistance.
But the thing I've most grown sick of is the never ending question I heard from everyone back east "when are you coming back". And the predictable litany of reasons why I should move back, many of them dated stereotypes of Alberta, Calgary & the rest of the west. As if it's somehow some lower form of life. As if Calgary should be some short term stopover for people in need of a job until they "collect their senses" and head back east.
Sorry, really...I'm just not interested in return to eastern Canada & it's miserable, pessimistic mentality.
I am a Calgarian. And pretty damn happy about it.
I've been in Calgary now since March of 2007. Putting aside the lousy produce at the store, I've grown to love this city & this province. To be honest, I can't imagine moving back east even if my entire family lives there. The whole scene seems boring & lifeless, tired & old. Calgary's a place where people say hello in the elevator, where people let you in when you're turning in traffic....a place where people are civil and friendly. It's just how you are & it's how you become. The angry road rage I felt back home is long gone...hell now I'm the guy stopping to let someone walk across the road or someone cut in front of me in traffic.
And I've grown to appreciate the independent streak of this province...where people are willing to stand on their own without forever whining to the government for assistance.
But the thing I've most grown sick of is the never ending question I heard from everyone back east "when are you coming back". And the predictable litany of reasons why I should move back, many of them dated stereotypes of Alberta, Calgary & the rest of the west. As if it's somehow some lower form of life. As if Calgary should be some short term stopover for people in need of a job until they "collect their senses" and head back east.
Sorry, really...I'm just not interested in return to eastern Canada & it's miserable, pessimistic mentality.
I am a Calgarian. And pretty damn happy about it.
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