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| - REVIEW #5000!
I have worked for the same company for 26+ years and as part of that journey have had the pleasure and privilege of working with some really neat people. A few of them rise to the top as having a real influence, both personally and professionally. Jim M. is one of those people and when he announced his retirement, it was a given that I would make the trip to Calgary from the San Francisco Bay Area to mark the occasion.
Jim chose his retirement celebration to be at the Schanks Sports Grill among his family and a special sampling of his work friends. Actually, retirement is a bit of a misnomer, as he's already working a number of consulting gigs. He's also a new grandfather which will keep him busy, happy, and engaged.
I arrived early and left near the end. The end was hard to define as old friends flowed from one conversation to the other knowing that this was a special moment that perhaps only closing time could control. I knew many of Jim's friends as well, and was pleased to connect again with Kathy, his Son and Daughter and their significant others.
So what about Schanks? The place is huge, with lots of big TVs, plus a miniature golf course, and a e-driving range. A large amount of food was catered, which was tasty, albeit not all that heart healthy. Beer selection was good and plentiful, and I did have my drive back in mind regarding frequency and quantity. Our party was near the front at the side, which included a wall of TVs featuring NBA Basketball (Warriors), NHL Hockey, and Curling. And since Jim is such a sports fan and collector of jerseys, we all had one on for this celebration. It was a very nice space for our group.
By myself, a visit to Schanks would be a 3-4 Star experience. That's mostly because I'm not a big sports groupie and I find a place of this size to be a bit intimidating. There will also be no Michelin Stars awarded here. This 5 Star Experience reflects a total greater than the sum of its parts, like Wayne Gretzky, or in this case a wonderful retirement party for a wonderful friend and colleague. Let me still grow up a little more to be more like Jim.
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