Rhona-Mae A.'s Profile

Georgios offers a wide variety of hair and beauty services: hair cutting, colour, styling, body waxing, eyelash and eyebrow tinting, wigs and hair pieces.

My previous stylist moved away and I didn't rush into just getting anybody to work on my stubborn Asian hair. One day, a student came in with a stellar hair colouring job and cut. When I complimented her hair, she said, "Touch it! It's so soft!" And yes, it was silky soft, so I asked for her stylist. Her name is Brenda.

Well, Brenda is truly top notch. When I first saw her in January, she tsked tsked about my hair. My highlights had lost their fire and my roots weren't looking very well. She used three different shades of brown to colour my hair. "Brown?" I yelped. "But I have black hair?!?" She said it's a combo that works well on most ethnic hair. Sure enough, it was perfectly natural looking and silky soft. I asked for a style that said "I'm professional, snazzy and single" and she delivered.

Last month, she called to let me know her new Magma colour book came in. Magma is designed for thick, ethnic hair and does the bleaching and colouring in one step. No heat. Brenda is really big on NOT over processing hair.

Brenda deserves a standing ovation for what she had to go through on my hair. She followed the directions to the tee and yet only faint tinges of the red-brown sneak streaks remained.

Attempt #2 was a rousing success. Brenda squeezed me in on Saturday and told me to bring a book since she was going to duke it out with my hair. I brought some work with me so I didn't really mind how long it took. She even helped me come up with a great title for the article I was writing.

Brenda kept me wrapped in the foils for 105 minutes! That's probably 3X longer than the average person. We chanced about 10 - 15 minutes under heat. She checked my hair at regular intervals, so my hair was in good hands. The sneak streaks are a glorious red-brown and my hair is once again, so soft, silky and shiny.

She didn't charge me for the failed attempt (naturally), nor did she charge me for the second attempt, since she claimed she was experimenting. I had to give her something to treat herself with because she worked so hard to get my hair to cooperate. Brenda is even going to submit our experience as a case study to Wella (producers of Magma) so that other stylists and clients can benefit from what we learned.

If you have "stubborn, Asian hair" or "stubborn, [any ethnicity] hair" you have to see Brenda. She won't give up until she gets the perfect look for you (and becomes best friends with your hair). If you have normal hair, she'll do magic with your hair. If you are losing your hair, she will work with you to get the right hair pieces for you.

Brenda also volunteers her time with the Canadian Cancer Society Wig Bank and Look Good Feel Better Workshops.

Friendly, prompt and efficient describe Mark's work at Calkhoven Piano Tuning.

I've lost track of how many years Mark has tuned my piano. Over 15 years, I think. My whole family calls on Mark to tune their pianos. No complaints, whatsoever. He'll drive anywhere in the city as well as the surrounding area (e.g., Okotoks, High River, Strathmore).

A few years ago, Mark added piano repairs and refurbishing to his services. He came over quickly when I busted one of my strings when practicing a tricky part a little too viciously. Seriously though, he can handle a complete piano refurbishing, not just broken strings.

If you need a height-adjustable piano footstool, Mark's your man. Well-crafted and much more affordable than what you'd get at some music retailers.

If you're looking to buy a used piano, you can call Mark to inspect it (you know, like getting a mechanic to look over a used car).

Mark is a Registered Piano Tuner and has served on the Board for the Piano Technicians' Guild.

What a great find! Thanks to Lindsay for letting the yelp universe know about Praga.

Praga Cafe is very quaint and clean. There are seven tables and a bar. Two dart boards and a small TV.

The decor is burgundy and gold, which reminded me of some of the concert halls in Europe. The windows are big so it feels airy. When I looked up, way up, I was delighted to see chandeliers - just like the concert halls in Europe! The walls are adorned with artwork featuring scenes of the Czech Republic.

Alas, they were playing playing a local radio station. With decor like that, it would have been nice to have some Czech folk music or at least some music by Smetana, Dvoràk or Janácek. Minor detail.

My friend got lost trying to find the place (hint: go to the strip mall with a purple Le Chateau outlet). Kudos to the server and the patron at the bar for giving her directions.

The menu has changed with the new management. I like how everything is listed in Czech first with English subtitles. They still offer a mix of traditional Czech dishes and standard café/deli fare.

We ordered the two most popular dishes. Shortly after placing our order, the plates came out. I'm sure it was less than a 10 minute wait.

My friend had the chicken schnitzel while I ordered the Kureci Kapsa, which is rolled chicken stuffed with asparagus, olives and Brie. The meat in both dishes was tender. We both chose shredded potato with basil and cream as our side dish. What a refreshing combination!

My friend passed on dessert, while I had the crèpe filled with fresh fruit and ice cream. You certainly get your money's worth with this! It was the plumpest crèpe I have ever seen, bursting with fresh apples, oranges and bananas. The vanilla ice cream was a nice complement. On the side was a healthy (or should I say unhealthy?) dollop of freshly made whipped cream.

One thing we learned from the new owners is that the Praga website is from the previous owner's time period. Unfortunately, the previous owners didn't give them the password to update the website, so the menu with the 10% coupon are outdated.

We went seeking something "fun" and "different" when we picked Praga Café. We couldn't have picked a better place!

I have been going to Sushi Ginza - both this location and the one in Willowpark - for several years now. I am sad to say that my experience has become increasingly dissatisfying with each successive visit.

The place was bustling when my companions and I arrived. We understood that service would be a little slow until the supper rush cleared. However, service remained slow even after the first rush cleared out.

Two of my companions and I each ordered a Sushi Combo B while the fourth member in our party ordered a Tonkatsu Curry Rice Bowl.

It was mediocre. Actually, it reminded me of the sushi take-out you can get at Sobey's. Only I would have paid $9.99 instead of $14.95. The California Rolls were passable but not great. The Tako sushi made my tummy roll over while the Tuna sushi remained as mushy as the last time I ate a tuna sushi there.

As for the Tonkatsu Curry, my friend said that it wasn't exactly bland. "Flavorful but not spicy" enough for his liking.

We never did get our water.

There are definitely better sushi joints in town. As for Sushi Ginza, the days of long ago when the tonkatsu was plump, juicy and flavorful; the service attentive and the parking was stellar are just a fading memory.

Minus 1 star for mediocre food. Minus another for mediocre service, although I get the sense some of my companions might even deduct another 1/2 star.

I was rather sad when our neighbourhood Decker's Fish & Chips closed down. That's why I was delighted to see that The British Chippy rose from its ashes, so to speak.

They have done wonders with the interior. As Decker's, it was relaxing, nautical, simple. As Chippy's, it's warm brown and sleeker. The large screen TV showing British shows is a nice touch, although I miss the daily newspapers that its predecessor had for those waiting for their takeout orders. That would have made my 10 minute wait go faster, although today, I was just as happy to sit and close my eyes for a few minutes.

The chips are huge. Well done. As Willman says, they're tasty. My haddock was huge. It hung off of my plate by a good couple of inches. Not too much batter and not too greasy. Very smooth on the palette. Done up fresh.

Piecewise? Not bad. I used to get two pieces of haddock when it was Decker's (sorry, I can't help but compare Chippy to its predecessor). I just got one piece with my lunch. Mind you, it was big.

They put three packs of tartar in my bag. Nice. I miss the paper product container and newspaper wrap that Decker's used. It seemed more "British" that way. The British Chippy does have plain paper wrap that they put over the Styrofoam container.

Their menu isn't as extensive as Decker's, but I imagine it will grow in time. I'd like to try some of the meat pies next time.

I love my Honda Fit!

I just had to get that off my chest. Okotoks Honda (formerly "High River Honda") has been around for years and years.

My search began a couple of years ago for a "cute hatchback that's good on gas, is reliable and could fit three sword cases, their owners, Maestro's kennel and Maestro" led to nothing but frustration in Calgary. Several dealerships treated me like a "dumb female". Several models failed my test miserably.

I wound up with a 2007 Honda Fit from these guys. Terry, John and Bernie treated me like a normal person. It probably helped that my dad came with me. They showed me the 2007 Fit, which just came out in North America (aka "Jazz" in Europe and Asia). I LOVE the Magic Seats(R) because of their three modes: Utility Mode (think "station wagon"), Relax Mode (think "full length bed") and Tall Mode (think "bike"). I invented a new mode - "Gig Mode", which is a combination of all three modes, to accommodate my keyboard, speakers and gear.

Today called for the Utility Mode to cart my winter tires. The fog made me late but they took it in stride. I was in and out in just under an hour for my tire swap, which seems to be the standard during 90% of my visits there.  

Prices are pretty good (TIP: Labour rate is reasonable when you go outside of the city). They explain everything to you in terms that make sense. They can also fit you in within a day or two for regular appointments.

Friendly folks.

Their new digs in Okotoks are more spacious. The lounge area is pretty cushy and they have a good selection of junk and semi-healthy food in their vending machine. Cold cream too for your coffee or tea. Bonus!

In a nutshell: OK products at stupidly overinflated prices and crappy service.

They have decent products. Their Mask Miracle Noir is supposedly their biggest seller. It's supposed to remove all impurities. There's a funky magnetic block that sucks up the mud, dirt and oils when you glide it across your face. Oh the miracles of the black sea minerals.

But get this: I've found other masks that work just as well under $100. Heck, under $50. Wait, I've even found some that work well under $25.  Oh here's the clincher - there's face care stuff online that works just as well for $10 and less, USD to boot!

I only paid the $100 for the mask because I tried it in Hawaii to great results. Stupid me, I thought it would be cheaper at home. Ooh, steal of a deal of $100 instead of $200. Whatever. In hindsight, I should have paid the $43 USD for the jar that's 3X as big as the one I got here. At least they weren't so pushy there.

I also bought a little gift bag at Premier Spa Boutique once - with lotion, cleanser and the dead sea salt scrub. Good scrub, mediocre cleanser and lotion. I guess that the $50 I paid for the gift bag was reasonable, considering the rest of their prices. They were pushy then too.

Minus one star for their overinflated pricing. The salesguy said I didn't have my facts straight when I told him that it was cheaper in Hawaii. He said it was a different company and that the products were different. With the same logo? The same smell? The same product names?

Minus one star for insulting the customer's intelligence.

Minus two stars for their incredibly pushy sales tactics and service. I have never seen a more aggressive, customer-deaf bunch. Perhaps it's a sales approach that works well in the Mediterranean but it's a huge turn-off here.

The last time I was there, the sales guy was trying to sell me the black mud mask for $100 AND the acne mask for $250. WTF? I only need one of them and really, I should have bought the other one except for HE WOULDN'T LET ME. Then, he proceeded to schmooze me up to buy the nailcare kit for $50.

After telling him at least three times that I'm on a limited budget, he was still pushing me. He kept saying, "What do you mean you can't afford this? Just put on credit card. It's very good deal. You buy today and then you can come in any time for consultation."

Good deal my butt. Ixnay on using the credit card that I'm trying to pay off. Double ixnay on the torture session (er, consultation). Besides, if you have to push someone that much to buy something, there's something fishy.

They've pared down operations in Southcentre in favour of their new Cross Iron Mills location. Good riddance!

Maybe it's the incense. Maybe it's because of all the healing crystals in the room. Or maybe it's because of the soothing colours and yummy tea. Regardless, if you're into crystals, astrology, numerology, meditation, massage, reiki, angels and the like - you'll find that the vibes in this store are tranquil, peaceful and funky.

The Divine Mine has a great selection of oracle cards, from Doreen Virtue's angel cards to fairy cards. Lots of gifts and books on various aspects of spirituality and the occult. They also offer a variety of classes and workshops, such as Reiki Level 1, Astrology Basics, Ego Management Workshop and monthly meditations.

Their selection of healing crystals is pretty respectable for a store their size. They don't have all the crystals as the local lapidaries do, but having been to two lapidaries, I can tell you that the Divine Mine has a more comfortable environment.

The staff is generally warm and very helpful, especially when shopping for presents. Their website is extremely informative too.

They even have healing crystals for pets! Maestro lost his carnelian (for health) a long time ago. However, his jade pendant (for longevity) has been holding steady since we bought in in the spring. Pundits would say that he was meant to have the jade all along.

The quality of their products is excellent. I've gotten numerous compliments on the quality and beauty of the crystals I've gotten myself or as gifts, the jewelry and the jewelry cages for my stones.

Parking is a little tight around the store, which is the main reason for the -1 star. Prices vary from reasonable to "man, I could get this cheaper elsewhere". Mind you, by the time you're done driving all over the city to find that cheaper deal, you might as well just buy it at Divine Mine.

Thanks to Medicalert, I actually wear a medical bracelet.

I thought the medical bracelets in pharmacies were butt-ugly growing up, so I rarely wore mine; much to the chagrin of coworkers and friends (who actually had to try and remember what my big allergies were, just in case). Yeah, I know, stupid me.

I think I've been a Medicalert customer since 2001. I had a big trip that year so ordering a bracelet then would make sense.

Medicalert has a comprehensive website and product offering. I started off with a gold filled personalized bracelet with links because I wanted something that matched the rest of my jewelry - and look good at the same time. When I lost that one, I ordered a gold filled one with pins (not smart). Then, I found the first bracelet just as the second one was dying. Wouldn't you know it? The first one conked out too shortly after.

They also have sports bands, stainless steel bracelets, copper bracelets, sterling silver bracelets and beaded bracelets, as well as  necklets and medical accessories.

On the back of each medallion, they engrave your file number and most important medical information (E.g., Epileptic, Penicillin allergy, Epipen, etc.). If you were to get into get hurt and lose consciousness, medical professionals worldwide will zoom in on the Medicalert logo. They simply have to call the hot line to get your vital information, such as your doctor, next of kin and further details on your medical conditions.

Place an order online and it's delivered within two to four weeks, or at least, that has been my experience. When you order, they send you a wallet card as well with all your vital information. However, it's much easier (and safer) to keep that at home when traveling. Think about it: what if you were mugged? You'd be giving the mugger very personal information!

They phoned me less than 24 hours after placing my latest order to go over my file. What information did I want on the medallion? What information was I comfortable having just on the file? They could have emailed me but they took the time to call me, which was appreciated. It arrived just in time for my trip to Hawaii this summer.

I have learned that although the gold and gold filled bracelets look pretty, that little bit of gold makes it weak. The bracelets that are made pins holding together the links are even more delicate.

This last round, I ordered a stylish stainless steel bracelet. It's so sturdy that I wear it nearly all the time (except when I'm performing because it hits the keys). It's several steps up from those butt-ugly unpersonalized ones they still sell in the pharmacies.

Home Routes is about enjoying music at its grass roots. In a nutshell, up-and-coming musicians as well as seasoned veterans perform gigs across Canada in small, intimate gatherings at people's homes. Very community oriented. Very intimate.

Artists deliver the same show in a living room that they would present at a folk festival or a concert hall. The difference is that you're in a crowd of 20 - 40 versus hundreds or thousands. It's very easy to chat with the performers during the show and it's exciting to see everything close up, like the subtle signals musicians send each other when they're performing in an ensemble or when they do something that wasn't planned.

Home Routes strives to bring music to rural communities. Artists are booked to perform 12 performances in one of eight circuits that include BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario and the Yukon.

I lucked out this evening. A friend of a friend had an extra ticket to tonight's performance in Calgary featuring Grant Simpson, a stride pianist/singer/songwriter and Kate Weekes, a guitarist/mandolinist/singer/songwriter.

Attendees pitched in by bringing appetizers to share and their own drinks. Some brought chairs. After mingling for 45 minutes or so, we all headed downstairs around 7:30 to the hosts' music room for the performance.

What's neat about Home Routes is that 85% of your ticket price goes to the artist. The series runs mostly on the generosity of volunteer hosts and the community pitching in when they attend. The remaining 15% goes towards administrative costs, such as maintaining the website and booking-related costs.

It was too bad the piano was badly out of tune. It was one of those small console uprights that was against the wall. That's fine for practicing and impromptu performances but it should have been tuned for this performance.

Grant's strength lies in his storytelling and his lyrics. "Stalin's Tango" was a witty way to present Stalin's betrayal by Hitler and his ensuing revenge. "Watch Sylvia Ride" was an inspiring song about a spunky, petite cowgirl who trekked up north with her kids, picked up some homeless kids along the way and ran a ranch. The duets with Kate showed off their chemistry well.

Grant isn't so strong in his technical and musicianship skills. His music lacked rhythmic, harmonic, dynamic and tonal variation. Perhaps it was his set selection for the evening. Either way, Maestro would have left the room had he attended.

Kate was the star of the show. She recently returned from a string of gigs in Japan. Her songs have beautiful lyrics, melodic lines, while her chords and harmonic rhythms were more varied. She has a very sweet and down to earth singing voice.

I enjoyed all her songs enough to race up the stairs to plunk down my $20 for her debut CD. "Land Shaping the People" is her song inspired by paddling 740+ km in the Yukon. It was very easy to envision the river and the trees peppering the landscape for as far as the eye could see. Another favourite was "Red Lantern" which is about leaving a light on for the last dog musher in a race.  

The hosts' home was lovely. They've done a good job decorating. It was an treat to just be there. The food was good but then, home-made appetizers usually are.

I give 5 stars for the concept and set-up of the program but 3.5 stars for tonight's performance, which would give it an overall rating of 4 stars.

Tickets are $15/concert, which is extremely reasonable. They also do season subscriptions.  Since this is community-based, they don't really advertise. Word of mouth is their strongest asset. However, I'm sure if you call or email the Home Routes team, you can arrange to attend an upcoming performance.