Calgary, CA – Sunny skies, -1 degrees Celsius, and with my new best friend Google to guide me I’m spending the next two days chasing Jordan Stolz as he competes at the ISU World Cup in Calgary.
The first order of business was to explore the fabulous Deerhead Cafe. It turns out Friday morning breakfast will never be the same without a barbershop serenade with eggs and toast.
The Deerhead Cafe was a quick 13-minute drive south of the airport. First impressions of the square block building in an industrial part of town were a little sketchy… but then, I opened the screen door and you could smell toast and eggs and that warm aroma just pulled me into a meal I will never forget.
A group of six regulars, also known as ‘The Local Board of Directors,’ was holding down the main table. The retired fellas stop every Friday and give customers free entertainment with their harmonizing selection of barbershop music.
I sat next to Roger; he is the deep baritone. Roger sports a colorful vintage sweater, small gold hoop earrings, and dark glasses. “I have glaucoma,” he said. A collapsable red tipped white cane is tucked in his belt.
The group is known as the Stampede City Chorus and when they’re down to just four, they’re the Brass Quartet.
The crooners wake up the quiet diner with traditional favorites like ‘Hello My Baby, Coffee, and In the Good Old Summertime.’
There’s kind applause from one other diner in a nearby booth.
The interior of the Deerhead Cafe is very “That 70’s Show” with wood paneling, dated red vinyl stools at the counter, silver coatracks at each booth and 3 deer heads; hence the name.
Jean, is the most recent owner. She’s quick with a coffee refill and one order of bacon, eggs, hash browns and toast is the standard. She doles out matchbook-size packets of strawberry jelly she’s passing out M&M’s.
There is little time for conversation as the boys are serious about their music. There is one biker in the group, a former mechanic, a couple retired educators, and all were blessed with a love of singing, which is what is keeping them busy during retirement.