On the edge of the Y

I’ve recently been asked to speak on a panel at the International Payment Summit as a generation Y-er. Is that me? Or am I an X. And does it really matter?

According to Wikepedia, different sources cite different dates of when Generation Y officially begins. Some say late 1970s others pinpoint the exact year to be 1982. This puts me on the cusp (though my friend Alice points out that I’m really X and not Y and I should suck it up).

Looking at the traits of Y, I can see that as being more me then X. This may be the same thing as me pointing out how my traits match my astrological birth sign. But I think it technology and world events contribute to the way you see and interact with the world.

Generation Y is molded by a world shaped by technology and as Wikepedia says: The rise of instant communication technologies made possible through use of the internet has made us more peer-orientated. One could say I was an early adopter. I had a Basic for Kids book (covered in Michael Jackson stickers) and spent weekends programming DOS on my Dad’s computer. Though I remember a time before the infiltration of computer technology into our every day, it has been a big part of my life, even more so today than ever before.

Generation X spans from the 60s to the 80s - but I can’t see how that large range of people born almost 20 years apart can be that similar. Especially as year on year new technology was changing the way we interacted with the world.

So I’ll stick with being Generation XY. A hybrid. That overlapping “MTV generation” time that a few of us are firmly entrenched in. I’ll be as Generation Y as I can be in March. And if wikipedia is right, all I need is some pokeman cards and I’ll fit right in.

An American Geography Lesson

I’m seeing a constant stream of Tweets pointing out the fact that the US (and the ”news” source Fox as well) doesn’t have a firm grasp on geography. Or a even a firm grasp on searching for images on Google.



As a Canadian, I know the wrath that my fellow Canucks rain down on anyone who mistakes us for Americans. We may sound the same but other than that… So let’s compare us in terms of our knowledge of geography. Over in the UK, we laugh at Fox’s mapping errors but why didn’t anyone catch it?

Though it’s funny to spread around that Americans don’t know their geography, it resonates in me as an opportunity to reflect on the difference in education in the states vs Canada. In the US, education is inward focused. Students (in Primary and Secondary school) learn about America and it’s states, memorize the capitals and their spellings, but, according to my cousins who grew up there, little else.

You can see this in action if you have ever watched the game show Jeopardy hosted by Alex Trebec. It’s funny to watch the obviously highly intelligent contestents answer Advanced Astrophysics questions and then fall apart at a Canadian Geography category. Every question becomes “what is Ontario” and “What is Toronto” as if no other place exists North of the border.

In Canada, it seems we learn about almost everyone else but ourselves. We do a brief run down of Canadian history and geography when we are 10 and then it’s off to the global races. Europe, Asia, South America, Australia and of course America. We too have to learn the names of the states and their capitals.

With the downturn of the economy, cuts to education, overcrowded classrooms and overworked/ under qualified teachers, I have to wonder if geography is the only thing that is going to continue to be effected. Or will only the rich be able to be educated in the birth lotto that happens throughout the states.

Even worse, we now have to look to the UK as we watch the same thing happen to our education system. Will the Conservative gift of funding cuts, tuition hikes and over stressed teachers lead us in the same direction as the states. Give it 10 years and see how many maps we start getting wrong.

Sunday lunch at the Coach and Horses

Coach and Horses
173-175 Clapham Park Road
London, United Kingdom, SW4 7EX

One of the things I promised myself at the beginning of January is no work on the weekends (Or at least Sundays). So though my work was poking out of my bag, I thought Sunday lunch and a film was in order. As only the Ritzy had tickets left for Black Swan, we decided something close to Brixton would be the best bet. First pub on our tour was the Grey Goose. Not only was it fully booked out, but the place was too loud for any type of conversation.

Next pub down the road. The Coach and Horses. First thing I see is two old men having a smoke outside with their pints of Guinness still inside at a table by the door. Hmmm. Old man pub. This is going to be dodgy. Or so I thought.

Though the place was fairly empty and rugby was on the big screen (it’s OK - me and my Australian flatmate like Rugby), we thought we’d give it a try. And there was a fireplace. I can’t resist a bit of fire. Ooo. And a little bit of indie music playing through the speakers. And, well, the barmen were pretty hot.

We decided on a Pork Belly roast dinner for Trish and fish and chips for me and crossed our fingers. No need to fret. The food that came out was rather good. My fish was very lightly battered. Normally I have to take the batter off as it gets too much, but not on this fish. And the chips were amazing. Thick wedges that were crisp like proper roast potatoes on the outside and hot and fluffy on the inside. And it came with a pureed pea and mint side that resembled pesto instead of the typical mushy peas. I preferred it this way.

As for the pork belly, her verdict was tough but tasty and we both thought we’d come there again especially as there were plenty of seats. We wonder how long the old man pub facade will keep the hordes away. A couple artfully strung fairy lights and the place would be packed on the weekends (or maybe it normally is and we beat the crowd?). Still, please don’t change Coach and Horses. We promise we’ll come back as long as you don’t try to get any “ambience.” It just wouldn’t suit.

Did you know you can follow them on Facebook? It’s true but they’re awfully quiet on there: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Coach-Horses-Clapham/

Today I was a Zombie

It’s not every day that you get to be in a zombie film. So when my friend put the word out that they needed two Zombies for a shoot in January, I was the first person to say yes. I, being me/ a girl/ an actor, asked what I had to wear and what I should do with my hair. In Canary Wharf, I’d imagine suits, in Archway, it’d be something entirely different I’m sure. I may have been over thinking this so I brought an array of outfits that were pretty middle of the road (but not TOO pretty in case they had to put blood on it).

On the day, I was the third zombie to be made up. Chris, my co-zombie, was a 4 week old Zombie while I was to be a two week old zombie. The main difference was due to how much skin was rotten by this point. So less rotten skin for me!

I changed before going into makeup and being told I was going to be ripped and bloodied, I put aside my “How to Kill Zombies t-shirt” (I thought it would be ironic) and put on leggings, t-shirt and a long sleeve shirt. Clothes I could live without (and unfortunately were also the least flattering clothing I owned).

Now I’m not sure if I’m supposed to share makeup secrets but I like knowing what goes on behind the scenes. I’m assuming you do too. So here goes. To give my face the crackled, pealing skin look, you take make-up liquid latex and thinly pat it all over the face with a make-up wedge. This type of latex is usually good for those with latex allergies as well. After the latex dries, power it and then apply another thin layer. Liquid foundation goes over top after some more powder. Mine was lightened to make me look more dead. Crackly old flaky skin effect done! Note: do not put too close to the eyes especially on the sensitive and thin under eye area or too close to your hairline. It hurts when you peel it off. Especially if you get the baby hairs in there.



The coolest part was creating the huge hole in my face. All you need alongside the liquid latex is a single layer of toilet paper or tissue. You work around the corners of the tissue with a brush so the edges blend in with the skin. Then you cover it all over with latex, powder and layer again with latex. To get the scar or hole, you cut into the latex in the centre of the tissue. It feels strange as the makeup artist cuts as it feels like they are lifting your skin and with each tug it twangs like a rubber band.

After the cutting is done, a special wound blood is put into the hole. This blood is thicker and is like a goo. The rest of my face was made up with purple and red under my eyes and a touch of red around the face wound. Last touch was to dirty the teeth. This is, I assume, because the undead (or as one clever sound guy called us, the “living challenged”) doesn’t brush their teeth. So out came the tooth enamel. In black. On it went and the only way to get it off would be to brush your teeth. (or in our case we used cucumber baby wipes and our fingernails)

It was fun jerkily running after our brain food or jumping out at the camera. I got so close I almost ate the lens. Well eating is an extreme but it did get fogged up AND had some of my spit on there. What could I do? I’m a zombie. In the end our clothes weren’t bloodied up so I could have worn my ironic t-shirt or something a bit nicer but I wasn’t there to be pretty. I was there to scare the bajeebers out of someone. I think I may have succeeded. The picture below doesn’t do my fear factor justice. Yes it’s a bit blurry but even more to the point, I appear to be doing the robot to keep warm. Maybe we should hold judgement til the film comes out.

The Restaurant at the End of the Runway

Molsen Bar
Edmonton International Airport
Somewhere behind uS immigration

It was only a couple years ago that I flew out of Edmonton through the US back to London. They separate the US side from the rest of domestic and international travel so you don’t get to use any of the shops or restaurants in the main terminal after security. That’s because you have to go through US immigration before you fly instead of after.

The last time I flew there was nothing there except, if my memory serves me right, a small kiosk with over priced snacks. Now there’s a Hudson News, duty free, an Indigo book kiosk and the Molsen Bar.

Because of my cancelled flight I got to eat there not once, but twice in two days. It had what you would expect from this type of bar/ restaurant. Hockey on the TVs behind the bar 24-7 and the radio on the top 40 channel. Though the food was a tad overpriced (or I’ve forgotten the price of a meal in Edmonton - can someone help me out here?), it was surprisingly good.



First meal was lunch. I settled on a Tuna and Artichoke Panini. Surprisingly it had no egg and no dairy. Yee haw! The fries it came with were hot and crisp and the sandwich grilled to the perfect colour of brown. The filling was a mix of tuna, artichoke hearts, olives and peppers. If you are eating any of the paninis a great tip is to make sure you flip the half of the panini sat on the bottom. If you don’t, the heat of it will make the bread soggy. If you do, it will stay as crisp as the first half. I rounded off my meal with a pint of Canadian with Clamato juice. A very Canadian drink and the perfect way to finish off my what I thought would be my last two hours in Canada.



Fast forward to the next day. Breakfast. This time I’m having a Garden Veggie Breakfast Panini. Unfortunately this is full of eggs, cheese and Hollandaise sauce alongside some tasty grilled veggies. So I opt out of all the animal products and a similar looking sandwich appears in front of me with spicy, thickly cut home fries instead of the skinny ones I had the day before. The home fries are crisp but the sandwich is plain without the additions. It would be 100% better with a bit of mustard but none is available. Still, with a pint of orange juice, this was a good, if startchy way, to start my day.

The worth of a customer (or why I'll never fly United Airlines again)

How United Airlines turned an OK experience, into a bad experience, into a great experience, into a lost customer.



This post was originally going to be in praise of United Airlines about its great customer service. Unfortunately it is now going to be about how they turned a frequently flyer into someone who won’t fly with United Airlines again.

After my flight was moved yesterday, I stayed the 7 hour wait at Edmonton International Airport so my parents didn’t have to drive out twice. It’s not an exciting place let me tell you but I wrote and read and ate and waited. And then waited some more. 12:40 was my flight and they said the plane was there but we had to wait for some reason. 2 hours passed before they said the flight was cancelled. Rear brake failure. So glad to not fly on a plane with no brakes. Easy to take off but very difficult to land.

I felt so bad for some of the other passengers. I had to miss a day of work, and I really needed to be there on Monday. But others were missing starts of vacations and expensive MBA classes and sadly one couple were going to miss their cruise they’d been saving years to go on. The most gutting part is that they could have taken the Denver plane that left 30 minutes before and connected through to Miami if the UA staff would have informed us of the problem instead of telling us the plane was there and we would be travelling soon.



Another hour of little info or assistance until we got our bags and could rebook our flights for the next day. When the UA representative handed me my tickets, I was euphoric. Upgrades to first class! My 10 hour wait and missed first day at work was totally worth it (sorry boss - first class is pretty sweet). I now got one more night with my family and had a 7:49 flight the next morning.

And so day 2 of travel begins



The first flight went without a hitch. First class Edmonton to Chicago. Roomy seats and a snack. The man beside me had to move because the overhead light was broken. Also due to the cold weather, there was no coffee or tea as the pipes were frozen. Slightly concerning that a plane is flying and some of its pipes are frozen but they de-iced the plane which meant we were good to go.

In Chicago, it took me a while to find the first class lounge. There’s no one at any of the customer service desks as they have banks of computers in front of the counter instead. But finally after stumbling into a different lounge (which is pointed out on signs throughout the airport), I was directed to a poorly marked room beside gate C18.



It didn’t matter if was hard to find. It’s exciting to sit in a place where you can eat and drink and lounge to your heart’s content. Of course I didn’t eat too much. I didn’t want to ruin myself before my first First class meal on the flight. The food was good but the Internet was horrible. Not great for a business lounge but at least it was free.

The beginning of the end of my United Airlines love affair

They announced my flight. I gathered my things and walked through the business class line and right to the front. The first class thing has some benefits. They scanned my ticket. It beeped saying I didn’t check in. Wha? Then the attendant went to the desk and returned with a different boarding pass. Economy. Double wha?

She said if I wanted to query it to go to the desk and talk to them myself. I did. They said I shouldn’t have been upgraded. Did I want to talk to a supervisor? Yes.

So I am directed to sit while a supervisor comes. He does. Apparently the UA reps from Edmonton shouldn’t have upgraded me. It’s like worth $10,000. It doesn’t matter if it was a mechanical failure or weather. Even frequent flyers that fly thousands of miles with them wouldn’t get this upgrade. Yes. That’s right. Even their best customers wouldn’t get good service. And this conversation would want me to ever fly with them again? What’s the point of loyalty if this is what treatment you’d get?



Even worse, even though I was ensured my meal request would be transferred over, it wasn’t. So now I’m on an 8 hour flight with a fruit plate and some bread. Brilliant. And my headphones are broken and the man next to me has a broken screen so he has to hold it up the entire journey so he can watch it.

What is the worth of a customer?

I know I didn’t book in first class originally. But for 24 hour blessed hours I was. And then it was taken away with the promise of MAYBE getting a $100 voucher via email. So the UA folk in Edmonton made an error. But anyone who had good customer service skills wouldn’t have said what this supervisor said or did what he did. They would have honoured the error and took it up with their counterparts at the other airport. Instead of making a customer for life, they’ve left me never wanting to fly with them again.

I fly multiple trips to the states and Canada every year and have done for the past 9 years. And the frequency is increasing. In fact I’m speaking at Ungeeked 3 or 4 times this year plus another trip home. As my last trip cost £850 and my trip at the end of October to Toronto cost me £450, that’s already £1300 in their pocket - around $2000 USD - from me in less than 2 months. So am I only worth $100? $100 if they feel like emailing me the voucher that is. You do the math.

Social networks can’t fix everything

So this got me thinking. As I sit here on the airplane in economy, I see advertisements about the United Airlines Facebook and Twitter presence in their in-flight magazine, on their napkins, before their movies (you don’t really want to see “Be a friend. Find us on Facebook. We hope to hear from you soon :)” after a bad experience. And yes. They put the smiley face on there). But no matter how much they are online, will this improve customer service and employee education in their airports, at service desks, on airplanes. Will this help with communication and customer experience? Will this fix broken airplanes? No. Let’s see if United Airlines responds to my comments and what happens because of it. I’m not holding my breath. If my face to face experience with the people who work for United Airlines is anything to go by, I’m expecting nothing at all.

For those interested the flight was UA from Chicago to London. The time I flew…5:51 pm. No one told me their name but if you work for United Airlines, I’m sure you could find out. Maybe a customer service training session could be scheduled?

Birthday celebrations at Yokozuna

Yokozuna
Whitemud Crossing
4121 – 106 Street
Edmonton, AB
www.yokozunarestaurant.ca

I first went to Yokozuna about a year ago when my family took me straight after they picked me up from the airport. My mom is in love with the dragon rolls. It’s fitting that we then returned to celebrate my mom’s birthday there.



Nine of us fit ourselves around the table and the ordering began. First came the tea, which was unlike any I have had before. They serve a unique blend including puffed rice which cuts out the bitterness of the green tea and adds a nutty flavour which made me drink more than I usually do.




Then we had soba noodles in soup, California rolls, tempera, chicken Tappan, the infamous dragon rolls, beef teriyaki, thinly sliced raw beef, and sashimi.



The sashimi bowl was presented as a work of art - too pretty by far to eat.



I settled on a salmon bento box with two types of salad, miso soup, tempera and sashimi. The sashimi was thinner than that at Furusato and though I was told it should be on the thinker side, I liked this thinner cut. It allows me to savour the fish more in one bite instead of feeling overwhelmed by a mouthful of fish. I loved the glass noodle salad that came with it - so refreshing and light with a hint of lemon and cucumber. I wasn’t as keen on the seaweed salad I got as a replacement for the spinach salad. I’m a wakame fan and this was the thin noodle like seaweed. That’s my preference so I can’t fault the restaurant.



Everyone around the table seemed to enjoy their meals. The California rolls stayed mostly untouched. They were beautiful to look at but way too big. As my step-dad said, he likes sushi to be a pop in your mouth type affair and these were at least three or four so the roll fell apart as you tried to eat it.



I think I may have preferred Yokozuna to Furusato. Of course dining in is always a different experience as are birthday celebrations but I thought the space was brighter, the menu more extensive and better priced. A bonus is as a smaller group, we could have had a private room with paper walls and sliding doors. A place where you take off your shoes and sit on cushions around a low sunk in table. A definite transportation to another world in the middle of the snowy prairies.

Waiting at the airport

I’m a seasoned traveller. But sometimes I even get it wrong like I did this very morning. My flight was moved to 6:55 am. Ugh. I am definitely not a morning person. So when I checked the website, I think my brain deliberately deceived me and instead of reading that the check in closed an hour before the flight, I read check in was open an hour before (though it was confusing on the site - my flight was marked as Air Canada and was actually a combination of UA and Air Canada but I only looked at Air Canada instructions to check in “at least” an hour before.

So my whole family got up at 5 to drive me to Edmonton International on unshovelled roads and blowing snow. A joyful highway trip of nearly no visibility and a truck or two flipped and left in the ditch.

Tried to check in. No luck. 5 minutes late. Check in closed. Any way to still go through. No. Immigration may be busy. I didn’t see a queue, but who’s to argue with the check in desk. And on top of that, she said I needed an ETSA so couldn’t rush me in (I didn’t actually need an ETSA so that made it even later after 3 other people had to clear it up)

Now this has happened to me once before due to a transit failure and I had to buy a new ticket. But that was London and this is Edmonton, so the girl behind the desk kindly moved my flight for free. Phew. A 7 hour wait but instead of sitting in Chicago for 6 hours I got to have a long leisurely breakfast with my family. Things always happen for a reason my mom told me. And she’s right. 3 more hours with the people I love is worth any wait in the world.

Airport eating: Jasper Bar & Grill

Jasper Bar & Grill
Edmonton International Airport
Edmonton, AB

With a lot of time to kill and hungry bellies to be filled, my family and I headed to the Jasper Bar and Grill in Edmonton International Airport. Had the roads been better we would have headed back home for a few hours but no one should have to drive a round trip in zero visibility once, let alone twice.

This place has changed a lot since the renovations and not for the better. It used to be a large L-shaped restaurant and you see into the departures area. The menu was also more extensive and had plenty of options for all types of diets. Now, the restaurant is split into two, one half in the security area and the other half in the check in area and the menus look like a poor Photoshop job by a new graduate.

For you veggies out there (especially the no dairy, no eggs type), this is not the Mecca of goodness you may be hoping for. In fact, it’s pretty bereft of anything substantial for our refined palates. But the service and kindly offered replacements make up for it.



Around the table we had bacon and eggs, an omelette, some toast for my non-breakfasty brother and fruit salad and home fries for me. An odd combo (I should’ve gone for toast) but I love potatoes and couldn’t resist. The portions were large as are most portions in this part of the world and the eggs were fluffy and came with home fries and toast. Oooo. The homefries weren’t great - a bit floppy and overly peppered but the rest was surprisingly tasty and fresh.



The non-stop coffee came in handy and the lovely waitress let me stay until I could check in my bags. Thank goodness for great customer service and coffee refills.

I’d probably eat elsewhere before I headed to the airport, but if you have time to kill before you can check in, it’s not too bad. Especially if it’s a truckload of coffee you’re after.

Are we wasting our power as consumers?

I’ve always believed in the power of the consumer and that, for the most part, it is the only power we have. Democracy isn’t very democratic these days especially when you making your voting decisions based on how to keep the most hated candidate out of office or the one you think will do the least damage.

So to me, spending power is more like democracy than the one where you vote once every few years. It’s a choice we make every day and if we all collectively make these choices together, there can be change.

An example that really resonated with me was the consumer protest against GMOs in foods in 1999. McCain Foods was one of the companies targeted due to their use of genetically modified potatoes. Because a large enough percentage of their customers stopped buying their fries, McCain’s made a decision to refuse to use GMO in their products. Harrison McCain said, “We think genetically modified material is very good science but at the moment, very bad public relations.” He added, “We’ve got too many people worried about eating the product and we’re in the business of giving our customers what they want, not what we think they should have.”

Now, ten years on, where has our power gone? It’s not just what we buy now but what we say and to a large part, who says it. And this comes down to the growing popularity of social networks.

The takeover of Nestlé’s Facebook wall in March 2010 could be a recent example of successful protest via social media. Greenpeace and protesters against the use of palm oil linked to deforestation took to the internet to express their frustration. The business handled it poorly and all eyes were on them. By May 2010 Nestle invited The Forest Trust to audit its supply chain with the promise for all contracts to be cancelled if the firm was found to be responsible for deforestation to produce palm oil.

On the other hand, look at what happened with the Gap. They decided to redesign their logo which caused Twitter and Facebook users to protest against the change. Only a few days after the redesign was released, it was rescinded (you can read the official news release here). But was this the wants of their customers or a small number of people who thought the new logo wasn’t fitting or to be frank, just a really bad design? Yes. Gap changed it back. Power to the people and all that. But what did it really achieve? The money was spent already - there were likely months and months of research and redesign after redesign all wasted.

And now Gap can say they are listening to their customers. But was this the fight we wanted to fight? Are these protests being made by customers or is it a growing number of individuals who protest for the sake of it.

My concern is the use of this power. Yes, changes have been made or companies say they are making them but is it really happening? Are these the right changes? And how are these businesses then using the social networks that spurned them into action to keep their consumers in the dark?

I want social networks to be transparent but as much as we say it is, it’s still not. Nestle probably had comments about its use of palm oil before their Facebook wall was taken over, but they didn’t have to make any changes until that point. And now that they are playing nice, those addicted to their 140 character news source can go away happy to find another thing to be incensed about for a couple of days. Is the Gap still using child labour? Does anyone care? After they listened so promptly to their customers, they show they’re a great company right?

It’s still all about perception - how these businesses look to the outside world and in their eyes, to those with thousands of followers on Twitter or Facebook. Those influencers they want so badly on their side.

I’d love 2011 to be about businesses actually changing. How about spending your logo redesign on improving customer service or making sure your product is made from sustainably sourced products. Or let’s change your business into one that embraces the customer instead of giving them what you think they should have. Let’s work with them and maybe we won’t have these social media “crises” anymore. Isn’t it just common sense?

Sushi from Furusato to go

Furusato Japanese Restaurant
10012 82 Avenue
Edmonton, AB
www.furusatojapaneserestaurant.com

Yesterday when I firmly planted myself at Luzzara, I longingly looked at Furusato across the street. I first experienced Furusato last September when I came for the Edmonton International Film Festival. At that time, I had just started eating fish and seafood again after 10 years of vegan living (being unable to open jars at the age of 30 due to psoriasis affected joints wasn’t cool in my books, so fish got added to my diet and helped immensely). It was great. Maybe not (in my foggy memory) Vancouver sushi house amazing but for the middle of the prairies it was superb. And according to the Edmontonians in Luzzara with me, it is the best in Edmonton.



I trudged through the slush filled street to get some takeaway. Sarah requested Avocado rolls (without the tempura as she can’t have gluten) and I decided on the Tempera & Sashimi combo that includes 3 types of fish and prawn, prawn and veggie tempura, rice and miso soup. I watched the chef make the avocado rolls - chunks of avocado spread across an inner sheet of nori on a thin blanket of rice. Once it’s rolled, he cut paper thin slices of avocado at an amazing speed and fanned them over the top of the long roll. He then rolled it one last time and sliced them into 8 pieces. He left out the prawn tempura but Sarah said it was definitely delicious without it.



My dish was epic - definitely Alberta sized portions. I had at least 10 pieces or so of tempura and 10 pieces of Sashimi plus an ample portion of rice. They did forget to include wasabi so I didn’t get that extra hit of hot that I love but I had more chance to taste the sashimi. It was thicker than I was used to but still tasted fresh and went down well. The salmon had a few stringy bits so it wasn’t as smooth as I’ve had before. The most disappointing was the miso soup. As one of my favourite soups, I look forward to it as a start to any sushi meal. This version had a handful of spinach added. To most people, this would be an amazing addition. Unfortunately, I’m allergic to Spinach and all green leafy lettucey type veggies. So no soup for me.

In total everything came to $28 with a tip and I walked away with 2 full bags of food. We’re off for sushi again tonight for my mom’s birthday so I’ll have to compare the two. Which will be the best in Edmonton according to the taste buds of me? Tonight will be the big test so watch this space for more details.

Luzzara - the best little coffee shop in the west

Luzzara Coffee Bar
10011 82 Avenue
Edmonton, AB
T6E 1Z2
www.luzzara.ca

My trips home to Edmonton now have to include a trip to Luzzara on Whyte Ave. My sister’s office is around the corner so she started going there a year or so ago.  Her daily trips here made her fast friends of the owner, Sarah Jackson. Of course my sister brought me along with her one day, so now Luzzara is a favourite for me as well. What I love is that Luzzara is housed in the front part of a scooter shop with a environmentally friendly hair dressers above. Sarah started her business when she reached a crossroads - instead of going back to school as she originally intended, she started her own business to encorporate her love of coffee and chatting with people.

When you first walk into Luzzara you are always greeted with a smile and the daily specials are written in chalk on the cupboards behind the counter. As the food goes, they get wiped off the board so you don’t have to even ask what’s left (though the ghostly chalky imprints make you envious of the people who came before you). Not only can you get an amazing cup of coffee but you can get a selection of homemade sandwiches and paninis as well as sweet treats from local bakeries. As Sarah has to eat gluten free, there is always something for those who are the same. And for the vegans out there, there is not only soya milk but almond milk for a bit of a change.



Today, I started off with a soya Americano misto with one Splenda - my sister’s drink of choice. As we sat around and chatted (and my sister knitted), I got to try Luzzara specialty - an almond milk mocha. The almond milk makes it taste marshmellowy and reminded me of my first ever coffee I had in Vancouver. It was a mocha. The gateway coffee to get you hooked on a steady diet of coffee related beverages. I’ve even been known to have it black these days.

So if you are in E-town and are craving some coffee, company and a little snackage, go say hi to Sarah. You can also follow her on Twitter at @Luzzara.

Rethinking my blog

So it’s a new year and like most people, I’ve been thinking about what I want to do. Then I looked at my poor neglected blog and thought - hey. This thing needs a little more love and attention then I’ve been giving it. I work on strategy and content in my day job - so why am I not doing the same thing here?

This is going to change! Yes - that’s right. There are going to be posts. And pictures. And stuff. Lots and lots of stuff.  The main problem I have is that my blog is as eclectic as I am. There are random posts about the random things I do and I don’t want it to be too confusing. I had three blogs at one point but now I’ve merged them into this one blog.

There’s no fancy name - I tried a few - so I’ve left it as just me. There can be downsides to that. The name of a blog is like the name of a movie - it tells you what’s in the tin. But other than calling it the random blog, I thought my name would suffice.

So what’s the plan? I’ve fixed the navigation on the blog so there is an upper navigation all about me and the work that I do and then a navigation for the main categories I’ll talk about on my blog. I don’t want to be too regimented but I want to start blogging everyday. So I’m going to take my grandparents advice. Sometimes a paragraph is all you need to tell a story. I’m also going to write more about my work in social media and with communities as well as covering the events I go to and people I meet.  As I’m a big traveller, I’m going to talk more about my travels and places you should go visit -  even be a traveller in my own town!

Lastly I’m going to write more about the food I make. This has been an influence from my sister’s boyfriend Chris who blogs on Eating is the Hard Part.  I’ve been thinking about having more diner parties and so I bought two Vegan cookbooks. I’m going to inflict my cooking on friends once a week (with a few games and drinks thrown in) and talk about it here. I’m also going to veganize my grandma’s recipes - so a little vegan prairie food.

That should cover my eclecticness enough I think. The big question is, what do you want to see? What will make you come back every day and read what I write in this space?