Where Passion Leads Is Back! Calgary Styles.

Hello blog! How I’ve missed you.

I’ve been home from my great Latin American adventure for almost three months now. It feels like an eternity since I’ve seen a beautiful sunset. Being home is great though: it’s safe, my friends and family are here, and Calgary is bursting with life.

When I first started blogging in December 2013, I wanted to see if I would like it. Turns out that I had a great time writing on my trip. When I got back home, my intention was to continue to blog and I knew all along what I wanted to write about: all the cool and interesting events and the yummy culinary scene Calgary has to offer.

I want to share my experiences for a few reasons:

1. Calgary has an outdated cultural reputation. We are so much more than the one and only Stampede.
2. It’s easy to get sucked into the 9-5 routine. Calgary has so much going on. Go experience it! Your couch will be waiting for you.
3. I want to connect with people who love to do what I love.

But I was faced with the dreaded writers’ block. I did some great things to get the creative juices going: a trip to Banff, golfing, an art show, showcasing local, amateur artists, a 30-day yoga challenge, the Lilac Fest, speed dating (yeah, that’s right!), the Calgary half-marathon (not legitimately though…ask me about it, if you’re curious), but last Friday, my heart truly sang again.

So, I’m kicking off my Calgary-based Where Passion Leads blog with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra’s The Cocktail Hour Music of the “Mad Men” Era.

For two hours, a rather older—but generally classy—audience at the Jack Signer Concert Hall got treated to the work of the most animated conductor I’ve ever seen, Maestro Steven Reineke, from Ohio. To be fair, I’ve only been to the orchestra twice before, but this conductor shook his hips, shrugged his shoulders and made his baton dance with more passion than I’ve ever seen. With so much talent and spirit on stage, it was hard not to have a smile on my face.

Stephen Ave — on my way to the Orchestra.

We took a trip in time with music from the ‘40s with Bésame Mucho, the ’50s with Luck be a Lady…I’m not so sure the messaging behind that one still applies:

I know the way you’ve treated other guys you’ve been with
Luck be a lady with me
A lady never leaves her escort
It isn’t fair, it isn’t nice
A lady doesn’t wander all over the room
And blow on some other guys dice
Let’s keep this party polite
Never get out of my sight
Stick with me baby, I’m the guy that you came in with
Luck be lady tonight

The ’60s with These Boots Are Made for Walkin’ and even Moondance from the ‘70s and Amy Winehouse’s You Know I’m No Good, which was slightly odd coming from Max von Essen…think Michael Bublé.  By the end of the night, the crowd was up on its feet, twisting like they hadn’t twisted in year. It was a sweet sight to see.

So, come on; give the Calgary Philharmonic a try. In the fall, they are doing the score to the James Bond movies. How awesome will that be?!