Archive for the ‘ Culture ’ Category


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An important aspect of life is the neighborhood one chooses to live in. The personality of a neighborhood is often defined by the shops and the merchants, as well as with the residential population. Cafes, wine bars and pubs create not only a place to sit and visit with friends or to drink and order food, but many times they offer the local heartbeat of the neighborhood through the artwork that is hung on the walls and the musical notes coming out the front door and onto the sidewalk.While looking for apartments for rent in calgary , one will notice that while there are many such eateries and watering holes along the streets, a few stand out not only for their service and their menu offerings, but for their dedication to the environment and to their fellow local business people.

Caffe Beano has been a local favorite for many years, and walking through the door it is not difficult to understand why. Although the coffee beans are shipped in, the company takes care in ensuring that they come from plantations which are organic and who participate in fair trade and ethical practices. But that is where the import of goods stops. All the other food that is prepared in the coffee shop is made with ingredients, organic when at all possible, from other businesses around the city of Calgary. The beef and other meat that is used in the sandwiches comes from a local farm and is purchased at the Calgary Farmers Market. The Market is where all the produce used in the coffee shop is purchased as well. The pastries, muffins and other baked goods are prepared fresh each day, and once again…all the ingredients are obtained by merchants who are practically down the street from the shop itself.

Two more aspects of a company that strives to further create a sense of community well being, are a sincere support of the arts and a dedication to the environment. This small coffee shop does just that. Long known to be a venue for local musicians and artists to sing and show their wares, Caffe Beano goes one step further and supports local arts and theatre companies as well. Walking from StarlightApts
to the theatre to the cafe and back home again, gives one a sense of completeness not only for a night out on the town, but for the sense of well being in the knowledge that in this world, there are places that exist wherein community is valued and important. Not even the coffee cup lids are overlooked, as all the cups and lids and takeout items are environmentally friendly and are congruent with striving to lower the carbon imprint while increasing the imprint on the soul, the taste buds, and the belly.

Use of Gun Safes Rising


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It is difficult to come of age in America without being exposed to countless images and arguments associated with guns. They exist in toys , games, entertainment programs, and are constantly in the news. Lawmakers debate new ways to control or restrict ownership and whether regulation is needed at all. However, the most common image of a gun is either in the hand of a cop or a criminal, with hunters falling a close third.

A few decades ago, most people kept guns in storage cabinets, closets, and drawers. They may have invested in a specialized cabinet to display their guns, which may or may not have had a lock. Today, however, more and more gun owners are recognizing the value of gun safes, which is causing demand and sales to go up.

These safes come in a variety of sizes and shapes. There are handgun safes , rifle safes, and even cabinets designed to hold dozens of guns. While the latter are usually employed by law enforcement, there are some gun collectors and dealers with enough stock to need the bigger cabinets.

Responsible gun ownership means not just proper handling and cleaning of guns, but taking steps to ensure that they are stored in a manner that keeps them out of the hands of children, criminals, and others who could do harm with them. Gun safes are a good way of accomplishing this.

Tina and Ike’s St. Louis


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The city of St. Louis is one that has arrived at a place where the truly wonderful things about it are coming to light. It’s a great time to be here, for a visit, or for the residents to enjoy the things that the city has to offer. For all the exciting new things the city holds, like excellent restaurants, Saint Louis hotels , and a lively music scene, the past still informs every new movement and moment in the present.

It’s dizzying to see how many famous people had beginnings here, when it was a rising star, and when it was a rather rough place to make a living. Entertainers like Redd Foxx, Miles Davis, and Katherine Dunham all have roots here from various periods, and it’s also the place where Ike Turner began his music career in earnest.

It’s also the place where he met the young singer, Anna Mae Bullock , who would later change her name to Tina, and make a rhythm and rock history that was both stellar and tumultuous. Their torrid relationship has been retold countless times, and the moments when they really shone together are still golden moments in the history of world culture. The story ultimately reveals how she could break free from an abusive relationship, and take that pain as an impetus for a personal revolution. It saved her life, and it also changed the world.