What I Thought of It

Second Cup, McKenzie Towne Centre
30 High St SE
Calgary AB  T2Z 3TB
Phone: 403 257 2805

The Second Cup on High Street SE in Calgary is part of a pleasant little shopping street. It can be a hassle to find and get out of the area, but otherwise it’s a pretty nice location.

Inside, this Second Cup feels spacious, but it actually doesn’t have that much seating. The ambiance is warm, however.

You order at a large counter flanked by large signs overhead. These signs are not much help when you’re not a regular Second Cup customer. Today I settled on a Dole Apple Juice (skipping the coffee) and a slice of poppyseed loaf.

Of course I can’t tell you how the coffee was, but the poppyseed loaf was good. (I thought it seemed more like a piece of cake, but what’s in a name?) It was very fresh, flavorful, and just crammed with poppy seeds.

I was with a group of 6, so we couldn’t find any spot to sit all together. In the end, 3 of us took the couch/low chairs and the other 3 took the high chairs by the window. Nothing wrong with that, but this Second Cup should really offer more places to sit.

Last thoughts: Coffee shops are not really my kind of thing, but they’re great for hanging out with a group. A lot of them try to be upscale lounges, but they don’t quite get the “lounge” part, so they just become expensive places to get coffee and kick back for a bit.

Food ++++
Service ++++
Ambiance +++
Washrooms ++++

The movie Fred Claus (Vince Vaughn) is a Christmas comedy.

Fred Claus is the older brother of Nick Claus (a.k.a. Santa Claus), but Fred chose a different path in life from his saintly sibling (Paul Giamatti). Fred walks on the rough side and is less crazy about giving. As the movie begins, we see Fred in need of capital to start a betting office across the street from the New York Stock Exchange.

Fred decides to hit up Santa for the money. Santa agrees - but only if Fred comes to the North Pole to visit and help out with the Christmas rush.

So Fred is picked up by a reindeer-driven sleigh and brought to the North Pole. Santa welcomes his long-estranged brother and puts him to work. Unfortunately for Santa, he’s being audited this year by an efficiency expert (Kevin Spacey). This guy will do almost anything to kill Christmas.

All these plot twists manage to fill almost 2 hours of movie time.

Last thoughts: Fred Claus is probably not the best Christmas movie ever made, but it’s fun and good for many laughs with the family around Christmas (or any time of year, for that matter).

Go to the TRAILER for a sneak peek.

Genre: Comedy
Length: 116 min
Rating: PG
Story ++++
Cast +++++
Humor +++

The Pendulum, Inglewood
1222 9 Ave SE
Calgary AB  T2G 0T1
Phone: 403 266 6369

The Pendulum is one of many shops in Calgary’s Inglewood district, but it’s pretty easy to find as it’s almost right across from Kane’s Harley Diner.

The Pendulum sells women’s and men’s secondhand clothing and accessories. As soon as you enter The Pendulum you’ll notice the smell of incense. I’m not a fan of incense, but other patrons may like this olfactory experience. The ambiance is homey and alternative, and the staff will make you feel right at home.

On entering, you’ll immediately see a selection of shoes to your right, and then your eyes will spot the racks and racks of well organized clothes in the rest of the space. The clothes are more than just secondhand - they are mostly brand names and a bit more upscale than a thrift store. The staff are friendly and willing to help with whatever you need.

There are 3 dressing rooms in the back with big mirrors for seeing how your off-the-rack selections look on you.

Besides clothing, you’ll find a wide selection of accessories and jewelry at the counter.

All in all, The Pendulum is a great store to browse for unique additions to your wardrobe.

If you’re not looking for “new” clothes but wanting to get rid of clothing that’s still in good condition, The Pendulum accepts clothes for consignment everyday except Saturday.

Last thoughts: Shopping secondhand is certainly more popular during an economic recession. At The Pendulum you’ll find a wide range of secondhand clothing, even for men, that you wouldn’t mind owning even if you could afford to spend more.

Product Range ++++
Service ++++
Ambiance ++++
Tidiness +++

Marv’s Classic Soda Shop
121 Centre Ave W (see map)
Black Diamond AB  T0L 0H0
Phone: 403 933 7001
www.marvsclassics.ca

Hungry for food but hankering for something one-of-a-kind? Then Marv’s is the answer. Marv’s is an authentic-looking 1950s soda shop in the small community of Black Diamond, just 25 minutes southwest of Calgary, which makes it the perfect stop on a mini road trip.

Finding Marv’s in Black Diamond is not difficult - it’s right on the main road going through Black Diamond and across the street from the Pharmasave.

As soon as you enter Marv’s you’ll feel like you’ve traveled back in time. You’ll see a long soda counter with several stools, a big selection of classic candies and retro memorabilia in the store section, and bubble-gum-pink booths in the back inviting you to sit down for Marv’s classic diner fare. Don’t forget to bring quarters: every booth has its own mini jukebox.

The servers are uniformed in matching pink shirtdresses. In keeping with the decor and ambiance, our servers were youthful and cheerful. The service was great and fast, even on the busy day.

Marv’s has a great selection of unique burgers, especially its famous Peanut Butter burgers.

We opted for the Bopper Whopper, which has two patties. Order this one judiciously, because the patties were huge. We also got the McGoo Burger, described on the menu as Marv’s best Peanut Butter burger. (Marv’s also has The Elvis, which has peanut butter and banana.) The burgers come solo. If you want fries you have to order the Deluxe. Luckily the prices are pretty good, so go ahead and splurge on tasty fries as a nice addition to the meal.

Taste-wise you can’t go wrong at Marv’s. The patties were nice and juicy and tasted perfect. But be careful: once you’ve eaten at Marv’s you’ll want to keep going back!

Last thoughts: Marv’s is one of those places that make going for a drive on a nice day worthwhile. It’s unlike anything else out there. You haven’t seen the 50s until you’ve been to Marv’s Classic Soda Shop. I can’t wait to go back to try more of their menu.

Food +++++
Service +++++
Ambiance +++++
Washrooms +++++

Find Marv’s Classic Soda Shop on the map.

With all the known (and hidden) health hazards of plastic water bottles, Thermos appears to have made the perfect water bottle to replace the old BPA-containing containers.

This Stainless Steel Bottle from Thermos will keep your beverage cool or warm for up to 12 hours, and it has a great drinking top that’s easy to open even with gloved hands.

I tested this bottle myself for a couple of days, taking juice with me in my car and on a hike. The juice stayed the same temperature even while the outside temperature was way below freezing. While the drink inside is insulated, the bottle will get cold (or hot) on the outside, so keep your gloves on when you grab it.

The Thermos Hydration Bottle opens two ways. First, there is a small cap that’s easy to twist open thanks to the rubber grip. The cap opens to reveal a nice drinking spout that lets you drain the bottle to the last drop. Thermos was smart enough to design a bottle interior that allows all excess liquid to flow out. Below (and tethered to) the small cap is a bigger ring that twists off completely from the bottle mouth for easy filling and cleaning. I personally dislike drinking from the bottle mouth because the metal feels cold on the lips.

My bottle holds 500 ml of fluid. After months of searching, it’s the only stainless steel bottle I’ve found that states compatibility with iced tea, juices, and sports drinks. It was this rare feature that sold me on the bottle.

The outer stainless steel surface comes in a nice metallic blue or red, making this Thermos Hydration Bottle a sleek, eye-catching product.

Last thoughts: For me, the Thermos FBX-500C is the ideal BPA-free bottle. I tried a couple of stainless steel bottles before this one, and this one is the first satisfactory alternative to my trusty old plastic bottle. It’s a great buy for a reasonable price!

Quality +++++
Design +++++
Style ++++
Features ++++
Price ++++

If 500 ml of capacity isn’t enough, then check out this Thermos 26 oz. (770 ml)version.

Dairy Queen All-Beef Chili & Cheese Dog

As a fan of the Canadian TV series Corner Gas, I always enjoy watching Brent Butt devour a Chili Cheese Dog at The Ruby.

So it seemed a fun idea to “pull a Brent” by reviewing the Chili & Cheese Dog from Dairy Queen.

This hot dog is served on a white bun in a cute little box. Like a real hot dog done right, the condiments are placed on top (”dress the dog, not the bun”). In this case, the chili goes on top of the hot dog, and on top of that goes the cheese. By the time I got my Chili and Cheese Dog, the shredded cheese had already melted and almost become one with the dog.

The bun was fresh and the dog - which is made of all beef - was hot when I bit into it.

Taste-wise, the Chili & Cheese dog at the Dairy Queen in High River was pretty good for my first experience of a chili cheese dog. I can see why it’s Brent’s favorite food. The cheesy goodness is a tasty fit with the juicy, beefy hot dog. I will only note that while there was adequate cheese, there was not even close to enough chili. The chili part consisted of sauce, a few beans, and no detectable ground beef. Call me crazy, but I think a Chili Cheese Dog should have equal (and substantial) parts chili and cheese.

Now that I’ve tasted my first one, I’m keen to try the chili cheese dog in other places that sell it.

Last thoughts: With the Chili and Cheese Dog at Dairy Queen you get more than just a hot dog, but this also means an extra 62 grams and 180 calories (the difference between a regular hot dog and the Chili & Cheese Dog). This also means that if a normal hot dog is too small for you, then maybe the Chili & Cheese Dog will fill you up. I think I will continue to stick with regular hot dogs and just switch it up with one of these once in a while.

Nutrition facts: (from the DQ website)

Serving Size (g): 169
Calories: 460
Total Fat (g): 24
Saturated Fat (g): 10
Trans Fat (g): 0.5
Cholesterol (mg): 55
Carbohydrates (g): 40
Fibre (g): 2
Sugar (g): 4
Protein (g): 19
Sodium (mg): 1070

World Trade Center, a movie by Oliver Stone, is - as you guessed - about the September 11, 2001 attacks.

You might expect to see the terrorist hijackings and the planes coming down, but not so. The film World Trade Center is about a team of policemen going in to try and get people out of the first tower after the first plane crashed.

John McLoughlin (Nicolas Cage) is a police officer who knows the towers inside out, since he was involved in making evacuation plans after the World Trade Center bombing the year before. John is called in after the first terrorist-hijacked plane hits Tower 1 of the World Trade Center.

The movie tells of the people who formed the rescue efforts to look for survivors. It also follows the victims’ families, who waited in anxious agony to hear news of their loved ones.

Last thoughts: I was expecting a different kind of movie. The storyline was weak and the movie slow at many points. Personally I don’t care to watch World Trade Center a second time.

Genre: Drama, History (2006)
Length: 128 min
Rating: PG
Story ++
Cast +++

Chili’s Texas Grill
1632 14 Ave NW (see map)
Calgary AB  T2N 1M7
Phone: 403 210 2438

We went for dinner at Chili’s Restaurant adjacent to the North Hill Shopping Centre in Calgary.

Things became awkward as soon as we entered. The hostess seemed a bit “out of it”. We asked for a window booth, and we could see that 4 of them were empty. She led us to the only one that had not been cleared (the other 3 were clean), and we had to wait while she got it ready.

After a couple of minutes we settled down to perusing the menu. Our server showed up shortly after, took our drinks, and brought them soon after. At this point we asked for a bit more time, since the menu was extensive and not that well organized. We did get more time, too much if you ask me.

But eventually our order was taken and the food arrived quickly. I got the Oldtimer Burger, which was nothing special, and the meat did not make me long for more. The patty tasted like it was cooked from frozen and came from a supermarket package. My friend ordered the Terlingua Chili, described on the menu as their “signature chili with tender chunks of beef slow-cooked with onions, peppers & chilies”. Well, there was no hint of any chilies whatsoever. Chili’s chili was bland and lukewarm, extremely disappointing for a dish that should be piping hot and have some kick.

According to the menu, every Chili’s Restaurant has an upside-down picture. The ladies will have a hard time finding it at the North Hill location. (It was hanging in the men’s washroom.)

Last thoughts: I’m not going back to Chili’s Texas Grill. Neither the food nor the service is worth a repeat visit. Calgary has plenty of restaurants that serve much better food in the same price range.

Food ++
Service ++
Ambiance ++++
Washrooms +++

Find Chili’s Texas Grill on the map.

The movie Driving Lessons starts with Ben (Rupert Grint, best known as Ron in the Harry Potter films) taking his driving test, which does not go well at all.

But first, let’s get to know Ben. Ben is 17 years old, an awkward teenager living in an obsessively religious community. His dad is the church pastor, and his mom is a perfect pastor’s wife who’s sometimes even more religious than the Pope.

His mom (Laura Linney) tells him what and what not to do. She gives him driving lessons (poorly), takes him to Bible study, and puts him in the church play with the Girl Scouts. On top of everything, she wants him to find a summer job so that he can make some money to help their elderly houseguest get back on his feet.

Obedient boy that he is, Ben gets a job as a personal assistant to a retired actress, Evie Walton (Julie Walters). It quickly becomes much more than he bargained for, as Ben discovers that Evie is a free spirit who does not conform to any rules.

Propelled by Evie, Ben is thrown into the craziest adventures of his entire life and grows miles in the process.

Last thoughts: Driving Lessons is a fun, quirky film that will have you laughing or grinning throughout. It’s outside the Hollywood formula, so expect something…unexpected. The characters are great, the actors on the mark, and the story an enjoyable ride. Watch Driving Lessons and you’ll see what I mean.

Go to the TRAILER for a sneak peek, and find out more about Driving Lessons on the official movie website.

Genre: Comedy, Drama (2006)
Length: 98 min
Rating: PG-13
Story +++++
Cast +++++
Humor ++++

Welch’s Chocolate Shop
126 Banff Avenue (see map)
Banff AB
Phone: 403 762 3737
www.banffcandy.com

The Welch’s Chocolate Shop has been a part of Banff since 1965, which means that parents can show their kids the candy they loved as kids.

On top of the eye-widening variety of chocolates, Welch’s Chocolate Shop has a jaw-dropping selection of candies. They are crammed into the walls and the aisles - candy as far as the eye can see. You could easily spend a happy hour browsing and exclaiming over all the goodies.

If you like PEZ, then this is the place to be. An entire wall is devoted to PEZ merchandise, and it’s neat to see the store’s private collection above the ones for sale. A fan of real Dutch licorice? Again, Welch’s has plenty to choose from. If you’re longing for any kind of candy from a place far away, chances are good that you’ll find it at Welch’s.

The shop is small and can get crowded with kindred sweet tooths, but that doesn’t seem to bother anyone.

Last thoughts: Welch’s Chocolate Shop is a child’s (and grown-up’s) candy heaven. Just stepping inside and seeing all that candy will make you instantly happy. The only thing I expected to see but did not find were Kinder Surprise Eggs.

Product Range +++++
Service +++
Ambiance ++++
Tidiness ++++

Find Welch’s Chocolate Shop on the map.