Archive for October 8th, 2008

I had a meeting with some people from Taxi today and when I received the directions - “515 Richards. The lobby is a cafe.” - I didn’t really get it.

Then I got there. The lobby is a cafe. As in the receptionist is also a barista.

Want a tall decaf latte? She’ll set you up. Need a meeting with a rep? She can do that too.

It’s a pretty cool and innovative concept, but that’s what you’d expect from an advertising agency, wouldn’t you?

The sandwich board sign says “Good Coffee. Good Karma,” and that’s what Taxi is about.

As Chris Reynolds from Taxi explained to me:

‘Good Karma’ refers specifically to our use of Fair Trade and organic products. We only serve Certified FT coffee and tea, and seek other products with similar characteristics, where possible. For example, Taxi travel mugs are purchased through a Fair Trade broker who works with other similar organizations to actually enter factories in distant markets and observe working conditions, making sure that the Fair Trade ethic is maintained.

The Taxi Cafe is not like the other coffee shops in the area, with free wifi and gaggles of students and bloggers nursing one latte for 5 hours. It has a very cool, classy, architectural vibe and is more of a comfortable place to wait for an appointment, as opposed to a place you’d crash for a final cram session.

The cafe doesn’t really make a lot of money. It’s there more as a conversation piece and an enabler for the java infused staff inside.

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I still think Thanksgiving comes to early in Canada. Just last week it was nearly 30 degrees, this weekend we’re fattening up with squash and stuffing and pumpkin pie for the winter.

It’s odd, and honestly, it does bug me.

The American Thanksgiving is too late, somewhere around Halloween would be perfect. But that’s not what this is about. It is about celebrating our long standing traditions with family, friends, fowl and … WINE!

I had Jen lay out some picks for Thanksgiving, and sharing them today gives you enough time to get them before the weekend.

Beringer White Zinfandel - $8.99
“This is just a classic pairing,” says Jen. “It just goes.”

Rosemount Traminer Riesling - $13.50

Pink - $12.99
Thanksgiving is our first fall festival, why not get the party season off to a popping start with a little bubble? It’s fun, the colour is great, the packaging is flirty and it won’t break your budget to bring a bottle as a hostess gift.

Greg Norman Chardonnay - $24.99
If your turkey comes out of the oven drier than Utah on Sunday, then switching things up with a honey filled chardonnay like this will do the trick. Who needs a butterball? This wine is just melting with it.

Wolf Blass Shiraz Viognier - $29.99
Jen says “If you get upset with the family at the table, forget the turkey, just grab the bottle and cuddle up by yourself next to the fireplace.” This one is something different to try since nobody usually pairs red wine with turkey, but the big fruit in this bottle will grab hold of the turkey like it was cranberry sauce. “I love that wine,” Jen moans.

The Blog According to Buzz. Spread the word, ya heard?