Café of the Future in Calgary!

On Thursday, May 12th, Second Cup Coffee Co.™ officially unveiled its first-ever café of the future in Calgary at 1919 Southland Drive SW. The new Second Cup Coffee Co.™ design reflects a new independent spirit, a commitment to the world's finest coffee, and the company’s vision to be the coffee brand most passionately committed to quality and innovation. The welcoming café revolves around the company's brand pillars of superior quality, optimism, collaboration, creativity and community, and focuses on the individual customer experience. The new café is the 12th new concept Second Cup Coffee Co.™ to be opened in Canada and represents an important milestone in the company's three-year strategic plan, showcasing the Second Cup obsession with bringing the ultimate coffee experience to Canadians.

 
They're bringing the true meaning of a Coffee Bar to us with their new features that include:

Slow Bar: where Second Cup Coffee Co.™ blends art and science for the ultimate cup of coffee. This is where handcrafted beverages shine with an interactive seating area that allows customers to connect with baristas, hone their coffee tasting skills, and learn about coffee and the process of making a perfect cup. The Slow Bar features an expanded portfolio of the world’s most exceptional, specialty coffees exclusive to Second Cup Coffee Co.™ including estate blends as well as light-roast, limited-edition microlot beans. These coffees will be rotated throughout the year to ensure the peak of freshness and quality. Customers can enjoy these exceptional blends made from one of two revolutionary brewing technologies: - Pour-Over produces a noticeably more delicate and complex brew than conventional drip machines. This handcrafted, customized technique is popular with coffee connoisseurs.
- Steampunk, a ground-breaking coffee and tea brewing system, is true theatre in motion. Artful craftsmanship meets innovative engineering and delivers unprecedented extraction, temperature control and thermal stability for a great coffee that can be precisely tailored to specific tastes.

Milk Bar where dairy options are “on tap” in a fun custom design.

 Multiple seating options to address needs of customers, whether they’re looking for a private area to work, a table for visiting with friends, or a communal experience at the Slow Bar.

At this event I was given a media gift bag that included a $50 gift card that I'm going to pass on to a lucky reader of my blog so they can go out to the Second Cup Braeside and have a fantastic experience like I had the chance to enjoy.

I'm going to be giving away this $50 Gift Card from Second Cup. Winner will be announced on Wednesday, May 25th at 10:00pm - Comment in this post to be entered to win!

Only for a limited time.?!?!?

Excuse me as I droll all over my desk. I'm having a moment right now...

Just got this email from Tim Hortons "...these Tims Signature Donuts are a decadent treat any time you want something sweet. Try the NEW Strawberry Shortcake, Chocolate Whoopie Pie, and Raspberry Truffle donut today! Only for a limited time."

The only part I'm not OK with is the part that says "Only for a limited time." - Right?!?!

Cirque Du Soleil - Luzia

Today I got news of a Cirque show that sits close to home. Cirque - Luzia!

Not much has actually been given to media outside of Toronto, Montreal and San Francisco, the 3 cities that the tour is already set to Tour, but I've managed to compile info from their website, Facebook and other online sources.

Their Facebook page describes it as "Discover LUZIA, where a waking dram transports you to an imaginary Mexico. Experience a wondrous world that inspires you to explore your senses, enveloped in light and nutured by rain." This leads me to believe that there's some "O" inspired acts coming to this show as they've proved an amazing success and delivery with this show for many years now.

A media release on their website gives this description: "LUZIA takes you to an imaginary Mexico, like in a waking dream, where light quenches the spirit and rain soothes the soul.

Freely inspired by Mexico, LUZIA is a poetic and acrobatic ode to the rich, vibrant culture of a country whose wealth stems from an extraordinary mix of influences and creative collisions – a land that inspires awe with its breathtaking landscapes and architectural wonders, buoyed by the indomitable spirit of its people. The tableaux of LUZIA weave an intricate, contemporary mosaic that awakens your senses and transports you to a place suspended between dreams and reality."

I'm unsure if the fact that I'm Mexican makes me more excited about the review given by The Montreal Gazete: "Cirque Du Soleil's Luzia unveils a Mexican Dreamscape" you have to check out the article, it makes me want to go even more! "Directed by Daniele Finzi Pasca, Luzia provides us with a glimpse into a dream-like Mexico that is simultaneously traditional and modern".

Calgary is not in their map yet to bring this show... But I really hope they do, the history and traditions that Luzia goes into, seemed perfect!

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#KeepARoof for the YWCA of Calgary

 

Women become homeless for many reasons. Some have lost their jobs, others are fleeing violent, unhealthy relationships or have health breakdowns. Many women also struggle with substance abuse or mental health issues. All have one thing in common; they are vulnerable and need a safe, warm and compassionate place to land.

This is my second year volunteering to become a “Homeless Hero” for 1 night tonight (May 5^th) I`ll be taking part in this adventure, “Keep a Roof Over Their Heads” for the YWCA. I`ll be experiencing what it is like for a woman that has nowhere else to go. This may include a women fleeing domestic abuse in the middle of the night or a young person that simply can’t afford rent and has been evicted and can’t go home. Hopefully this is nobody in our circles of family and friends…..but it happens all the time. Doesn’t matter if’s its -35 on a Monday night…..there are women in need. Most of these women get up and go to jobs the next day and depend on donations to keep the shelter open.

Every dollar counts and I’m trying to raise as little or as much as possible. If, and only if, you have $5 or $10 to spare for this cause, please donate.  If you could pass this around your office, friends or family that could help support the cause, I would really appreciate that too.

Here is the link to donate:

http://bit.ly/2482GMe 

#TrueBLue - Mount Royal University

A Few Weeks ago I was asked if I would like to be featured in True Blue, an Alumni Section for Mount Royal University. I'm a proud MRC/MRU Alum and I'm always available to do anything for them. Here's the small little article published on their website.

#BowlsYYC - Fundraising for the Calgary Food Bank

Here are some 2015 Fast Facts about the Calgary Food Bank.

141,271 - This is the number of Calgarians who received emergency food support.

3,000,000 - Meals and snacks were provided to hungry Calgarians

150 - Local agencies and programs received food to distribute to their own clients

44 - Food banks across Canada that received food from the Calgary Food Bank during emergencies.

Are you wondering what can you do to help?

Donate Funds - The Calgary Food Bank is able to stretch every single dollar utilizing their partners.

Donate Food - Here's a list of some items that are more commonly needed.

Donate Your Time - Because time is very valuable, try donating some time and volunteer.

Raise Food & Funds - Start your own Food Drive or Fundraiser in your community.

Or... I saved my favourite for last! - Place your bids on your favourite Bowl in the #BowlsYYC Empty Bowl Benefit 2016! This is my 6th year participating and I Lovebeing able to put in my 2 cents to help. - Click here to see my art throughout the years

The 16th Annual Empty Bowl Benefit raises funds in support of the Calgary Food Bank by soliciting the artistic abilities of Calgary’s local personalities! From real-life artists to your favourite news anchor, the Empty Bowl Benefit brings the community together in a fun, interactive auction.

The funds raised in this auction will go a long way in to providing food and snacks to Calgarians through the Food Link Program, allowing agencies to focus their resources on programming rather than resourcing food.

• Start Date: Wednesday, May 04, 2016 09:00 AM MST
• End Date: Wednesday, May 11, 2016 09:00 PM MST

Feel free to place your bids on my bowl:

  

My Bowl comes with some Swag too: 

• 2 Tickets to Hedley Hello World Tour (Friday, May 13th)
• 2 $50 Certificates to Involtini
• 5 Jugo Juice Freebe Coupons (Free Smoothie or Fresh Pressed Juice)

BID HERE

Or, you could also bid on my friend and Coworker Dryden form KooL Mornings bowl:

  

Brad's bowl comes with some Swag too:

• 2 Tickets to Hedley Hello World Tour (Friday, May 13th)
• 2 $50 Certificates to Involtini
• 5 Jugo Juice Freebe Coupons (Free Smoothie or Fresh Pressed Juice)

BID HERE

Or My other friend and coworker Fraser from WILD Mornings created this Bowl:

Fraser's bowl comes with some Swag too:

• 4 Tickets to the Coca Cola Covert Concert (Thursday, May 26th)
• 2 $50 Certificates to Involtini
• 5 Jugo Juice Freebe Coupons (Free Smoothie or Fresh Pressed Juice)

BID HERE 

Thanks for your continuous support!

Where to go | What to do in - Riviera Maya

Recently a few of my co-workers are flying down to the Mayan Riviera in Mexico and have asked me to give them a few pointers of where to go and what to do when they do down there... Since I was raised in Chetumal, the capital of the State of Quintana Roo (where the city of Cancun is), I do know of a few places in the area that people should have on their to-do & to-go list... And since I`m a natural born foodie with a taste and liking for the best... Restaurant recommendations will always be in any of my lists of any of the places I've visited.

Here's the list I've put together for them:

Tulum Ruins: Tulum is a resort town on Mexico’s Caribbean coast, around 130 km south of Cancun. The 13th-century, walled Mayan archaeological site at Tulum National Park overlooks the sea. It incorporates the clifftop Castillo, built as a watchtower, and the Templo de las Pinturas, with a partially restored mural. Inland, the Cobá archaeological site has pyramid-shaped temples with views over the surrounding jungle.

Once in Tulum, you could check out The Hartwood restaurant. It’s all about the food, local market, local grown fusion style of restaurant that has gotten rave reviews...

Cetli restaurant. It's a Mexican food restaurant... Be ready to be blown away by the exquisite Mexican cuisine that the real Mexico has to offer (No Hard Shell Tacos OR Taco Tuesday)

You could also take the time to travel down to Playa deal Carmen, do some walking along the Main Street and do some shopping. There's lots of options for shopping little nick-nacks and souvenirs. 

Silver will always be a great thing to buy in Mexico as it is the number 1 metal to be found in Mexican mines.

Once you're done shopping and worked out an appetite, head down to explore the restaurants...

La Cueva Del Chango (monkey's cave) or Alux for some delicious Mexican food.

If the time and the day allows you, head out to Cozumel Island. They have boats making hourly trips back and forth from Playa to Cozumel. They do have an early start and a late finish, make sure you check the times for the last boat back to Playa if you're making the trip.

If you go up to Cancun, you have to go Party at Coco Bongo... But you also have to check El Cambalache, it's an Argentinian Style Steakhouse located in Plaza Coco Bongo (Hard Rock Cafe Plaza) and you definitely have to try Los Almendros for authentic Yucatecan Style food... Don't trust the hot peppers. Hot peppers in Mexico are actually HOT. (Not very white people friendly) Remember, you're in Mexico, you're by the sea. Try the seafood! It's fresh and delicious.

You have to try and check out Xel-Ha or Xcaret. They're ecotourism attractions. They are awesome and you should try to check out at least one of them. This time of the year (Winter) the majestic Whale Sharks swim south to warmer waters, see if you can find a local tour that gets you out with them for a swim... They're harmless, think of them as a ginormous dolphin.

Also, check out the ancient Mayan Ruins of Chichen-Itza. There's lots of Mayan/Mexican history in that part of the country. 

Fair Warning. No matter what the slogan says or what your friends have said in college, Not Everything Is Legal in Mexico. We do have laws and we ask tourist not to behave as an 'American Idiot'. Have fun, be safe and have a great time.

Carlos Cuevas. #TravellingCanExican