Coffee with Scribbles and Sass

What a long day.... out of bed at 6 and in front of my computer in the lab at 6:30....but super productive! Put together a solid presentation for my lab meeting, and have my project back on track with feasible future directions.

After work I headed down 17th ave to Cafe Beano to meet Laura from Scribbles and Sass...if you haven't checked her blog out yet, I'd highly recommend you click on over there.

Did you do it? Did you click it?

And since the Chinook we've all been enjoying here in Calgary for the last week or so finally blew itself out, and the temperature dropped about 15 degrees today, I decided it was time to get this puppy out.

Oh yeah, knockoff spirit hood time! love it!

Laura and I met to chat about a great Canadian Charity Yoga-extraveganza that's coming up in March. Laura is one of the fantastic lady behind the scenes here in Calgary, and she's convinced me to help out too (didn't really take much convincing because it's a great cause, and who doesn't love mass yoga events?)

The organization I'm talking about it Power Of Movement. This is a Yoga event taking place all across Canada to raise funds for the Arthritis Foundation, which raises funds and awareness to support research into a group of conditions which affect over 4.6 million Canadians (including children!). So while you can expect to see more about this group and event from me as we approach March, click on over to their website to learn more of what it's about and register!

And we chatted about lots of other stuff too! Like how we're both from Ontario, both half Italian, both 17th ave. And as for Cafe Beano... I've never been in before (not a coffee drinker) but it's a super cute cafe, great atmosphere, great, friendly service, and cozy!

A cup of Tea and The power of movement....oh and a kick ass pipette pen!

On the walk home I was stopped in my tracks by something I saw in the front window of Steeling Home (one of my favourite shops!).

All kinds of amazing Christmas Tree ornaments! Pay day is Friday... I'll be rushing to take some of these home with me for sure!

Uptown 17th : The Big Cheese

Ever just crave poutine....or perogies? How about both?

The Big Cheese Poutinerie on 17th ave SW can give it to you.

This is one of those hole in the wall spots that is perfect for your lunch break, or for 2am post bar feasting, and I've enjoyed it for both those reasons. They've got like 30 odd flavours on the menu, sorted into what kind of meat your getting with all that cheese and gravey (or veggie options too!) along with a special each month.

On special, that I was sure to come back for again before the month was out, is the Perogy Poutine, Cheese Curds and Gravy, plus caramelized onions, bacon bits and sour cream....oh and whole perogies fried up fresh as well!

 Turns out I wasn't the only one coming back for it, because they added it to the regular menu. (Which is maybe a good thing cause it's amazing...and maybe bad, because I haven't tried any other flavours since).

Anyways you can see what I pigged out on for lunch today....sooo much goodness in one small paper box.

If you love poutine, I challenge you to find a better place in this city to get it, or with friendlier staff. Big Cheese, you have a special place in my heart...and in my stomach!

Uptown 17th - Galaxie Diner on 11th

Recently some friends and I finally went to check out this little diner....literally around the corner from my apartment.

Galaxie Diner -  all day Calgary Breakfast.

And although we ate it at a normal breakfast time, I'd likely have to agree.

With it's 1950's retro aesthetic, and true diner set up you have to expect great things right? It is a bit tight inside, so expect a bit of a wait for a table during peak breakfast hours.

But once the food comes....soooo good, I had the french toast with bottomless hash browns. And don't forget to add grilled banana to it, and use lots of real maple syrup.

When I packed up the second slice, I got another huge scoop of hash browns to go as well, free!

Other menu highlights include:

• Calgary's only omelette of choice - get as many  things in your omelette as you want
• Montreal Smoked Meat Hash - done up the way any good hash should be
• The breakfast burritos - two huge burritos for only $14 again with bottomless hash browns

Anyways if you're in the neighbourhood, this place is for sure worth trying! They also have an all day lunch menu..... only down side is they're only open until mid-afternoon...at which point I'm pretty sure they just move next door to Myhre's Deli... the Montreal Smoked Meat shop next door (still have to try this one).

Dinner for One

Ever just need an entire day to yourself to just do nothing? Today was mostly that (minus a 4km run with the boy this morning during which my legs nearly gave up on life, but at least the sun was shining).

This afternoon was spent cozy in my bed with a book (Lord of Chaos, Robert Jordan....I'm rereading the Wheel of Time). Then as dinner time rolled around I took a wander around Uptown 17th... picked up some Starbucks (the new Very Berry Hibiscus Refresher super tasty) and grabbed a dinner for 1 from King's.

Made with something they're calling 'green coffee extract' I thought it was one: pretty tasty and two: unfortunately mostly ice in the cup. I saw an ad in a magazine that they should be selling canned versions and 'VIA' just add to water packets but saw neither in the store...are these in Canada? I would like them for work probably.

What I ate for dinner in front of my TV.... King's Chinese Food, dinner for one with chicken chop suey and sweet and sour chicken balls...enough food for dinner tonight and lunch tomorrow, all for 10.45 after tax. King's is right around the corner, and ready in 10min, free delivery if you're feeling lazy or spend $25, and huuuge portion sizes, fresh food. Only down side is the spring rolls taste a tiny bit like curry...it's a bit odd.

But that's just another thing I love about living in Uptown 17th....chinese food for dinner when ever I want it....even if my waist line won't be pleased with me. While I waited I walked down the street to Daily Globe News on 17th and picked up a copy of OM Yoga...and was shocked at seriously how many amazing magazines this little hole in the wall shop has.

Tonight I am changing up the look of my blog slightly.... chilling in my bra since it is hot as funk in my apartment and catching up on blogs (since I've missed out on that while traveling for the last month).

And oh yes, that is a Palm Bay with my dinner.... and I won't be judged, it was delicious!