On Friday, a treacherous fog rolled over the entire city, and an icy cloud and snow storm had we Calgarians believing it was winter. On Saturday, the sun was shining, the air was crisp, and it was as if the clouds were scared of us — not a one to be found. I heard a rumour once that Calgary is the sunniest city in Canada. I can’t remember where I read it, or who I heard it from, but it is days like this that have me believing that to be true! The Core was all abustle on this Saturday afternoon. My mom, dad, and I parked by the iron horse on Stephen Ave and walked the block to 7th Ave. We turned the corner and found ourselves at my favourite weekend breakfast place: The Palomino Smokehouse.

“Breakfast?” you may ask, “but Beth, the Palomino is a barbecue house that serves ribs, beef brisket, pulled pork, and the like. You must be confused, they don’t have breakfast.” You’re right! They don’t have breakfast. They have the weekend Cowboy Brunch! Which, in my humble, barbecue-loving opinion, is the best brunch in town. We rocked up and walked through the door. It was us, and perhaps only 10 other groups sitting at tables scattered around the bar. We found our seat. It was my parents’ first time to the Cowboy Brunch and they needed a moment to take in the atmosphere. Rock and roll paraphernalia hangs in every empty space on every wall and every pillar. Posters, neon signs, old aluminum beer advertisements, and plates signed by various famous barbecue lovers hang in every corner.

Our server Natalie was so friendly. She remembered me from the other bazillion times I have been for Cowboy Brunch, which made me feel very important. David Bowie sang for us through the speakers as we waited for our food. My plate of pulled pork Eggs Benedict arrived and I felt like a Care Bear with pure joy bursting from my chest; this is what the Palomino breakfast does to me. I wanted to take a photo of the food to share it with and wow the world, but as soon as the plate appeared, I started eating and only remembered the photo as I dove in to lick the plate clean, when it was too late. The server came back to ask if we needed anything else. I couldn’t even dream of fitting another thing in my stomach. We paid our bill and left the Pal— out into more of that glorious sunny sky. Do I sound like a broken record? I’ll never tire of that colour of blue. Thanks for the brunch, Calgary!

Calgarians are indeed a unique kind of Canadian. Some might say we are crazy for living through such long, cold winters. I say, by virtue of our mid-winter respites, we are a bunch of neighbourly optimists. Would we let a few measly days, weeks, or months of below 20 degree temperatures spoil our hopeful and positive disposition? Well, we might if it was months of constant below 20. But no! No matter how cold and icy it gets, no matter how chilly that wind blows, we know that right around the corner is another glorious Chinook to thaw our fair city. Or, that tomorrow the sun will shine so brightly against a clear blue sky, that the temperature will not even matter. And on that day, what will we do? Flock to the streets and drink on patios!

On Saturday, February 6, Joe and I decided to take full advantage of the balmy, 11 degree weather we were having. We donned our lighter, but still super warm, winter coats and head to a Calgary institution, the Ship and Anchor, on 17th ave. We joined the three other groups on the patio, sat at a picnic table directly in the sun, and ordered our first patio beers of 2016. The Ship is a place of no judgement, so I ordered my patio fave — a Pabst Blue Ribbon tallboy with a side of clamato juice. Heaven. I’m in heaven. One very beautiful thing about a day like this is that while the sun shines and warms your face, the weather is just cold enough to keep your beer perfectly chilled. Just glorious.

Tim Huss played some tunes for a packed house inside the bar, and Joe and I were lucky enough to hear his sweet Canadian songs through the speakers. Between the song about the Heinz Ketchup factory and the song called C-A-N-A-D-A, I felt that my day couldn’t be better.

The sun began to disappear behind one of those great, 17th Ave trees, and without that direct sunlight, it was too cold, so we changed picnic tables. Twice. Then the wind began to blow. We started shivering. The server asked if we needed anything. We asked for the bill. She laughed and said, “yeah, it isn’t warm.” I think she was impressed by our dedication. Joe decided it was actually our denial that kept us out there for so long. I think it was our Calgary spirit. The optimists! The neighbourly! The sun-loving, beer-drinking, patio lovers who have been kept inside for far too many months. Thanks for the patio beer, Calgary!

At 7:00 on Thursday evening, my friend Joe and I were walking down Stephen Avenue, on our way to Arts Commons. We were heading to Theatre Calgary’s world premiere of The Little Prince: The Musical. We entered the bustling lobby amidst the other theatre-goers, checked out The Little Prince merchandise table — (The Little Prince jewellery anyone?) and promptly found our seats. I was excited! The world premiere! It was sure to be unforgettable. Dennis Garnhum, the Artistic Director of Theatre Calgary, who was clearly just as excited as I was, prepared us for the spectacle we were about to see.

In many stories themed around magic and believing in something fantastical, it often turns out that the grown ups in the story don’t understand everything because they just do not believe in magic anymore. For example, in The Polar Express, the parents can’t hear the bell because they no longer believe in Christmas magic, or in Hook when adult Peter returns to Neverland and is unable to fly because he knows it’s something humans should not be able to do. Whenever I read or hear a story like this, the same thing always happens: I think, “Challenge accepted!” I refuse to be one of those grown ups that doesn’t believe in magic. From the first scene in The Little Prince: The Musical, I was captivated. I believed! With each sensational and wondrous set change, each incredible costume that was introduced, each enchanting song, and each stunning lighting trick, my breath was taken away. Theatre Calgary have created a world in which anything and everything is possible. A world in which everyone belongs. I sat in the audience and I was the kid who was ringing The Polar Express bell and listening to its sweet, sweet sound. I was the kid who was flying high above Never Neverland with my best friend, Tinkerbell. With laughter, and surprise, and with tears of pure joy filling my eyes, The Little Prince taught me that “the essential is invisible.” Believing in magic was the easiest thing I did all day.

The Little Prince: The Musical runs at Theatre Calgary until February 28. Now, in the words of the Prince himself, “draw me a sheep”.