The Year of the Snake? Or the Year of the Jet?

The Year of the Snake begins tonight according to many Asian cultures. This is a year for change and unpredictable things. So the timing was perfect for the Jet Cafe to buy a new building in the up and coming area of Barton Street.

First, let's make one thing clear - the Jet Cafe on King St. is not closing or moving. King Street is awesome, and the customers that frequent the cafe are awesome. How could anyone give that up?

Jeff and Sarene Valentine, owners of the Jet Cafe, were looking for another property with the idea of being a part of the arts and culture boom in Hamilton. A building became available at 746 Barton, and everything came together. 

The building is a former Portuguese banquet hall, and has all the beautiful craftsmanship you would expect - hardwood floors, chandeliers, tiles. It needed a little TLC, but it's back to its former glory after some renovations. 


Sarene, whose smiling face you might recognize from behind the counter at the Jet Cafe, is a member of a local Taiwanese-Canadian hiking club. Her group christened the new building with a celebration to ring in the year of the snake. 

The large hall easily accommodated the group of about 60, with lots of room to spare. There is a bar area that naturally seemed to attract a constant crowed, including Hamilton councillor Jason Farr, who dropped by to help celebrate. A huge stage anchors the other end of the hall, perfect for firing up a round of karaoke. 

Jeff envisions many uses for the space, and has batted around the idea of artist market with booths, or a live/work studio making use of extra rooms behind the stage for a loft-style apartment. He is also considering launching an alternative wedding venue - a stylish place with an affordable price tag for those that don't want a $30,000 wedding. The possibilities are endless, especially in a city like Hamilton that strongly supports its local businesses. And it is the year of the snake - who knows what could happen?

Glamming up the Ticats

If there's one thing you need to know about the Jet Cafe, it's this: we stand behind our Ticats. 

Jeff, owner of the Jet and a season ticket holder, can tell you everything about the players, the CFL, and sports in general. The Jet is lucky to have hosted many different Ticats for breakfast or lunch - here's a shot of Jeff and one of his brushes with greatness (Henry Burris, Ticat quarterback):

I recently read in the Hamilton Spectator that 90 million women watch pro sports in the U.S. and the audience for the Superbowl is comprised of 45% female viewers. Seriously, almost half of the viewers of the Superbowl are women! This stat has intrigued various corporations of course, and the NFL actually commissioned a designer to come up with a line of super girlie, high fashion NFL gear. Does faux fur, metallic logos and snakeskin-esque leggings belong at a football game?

I decided to check out the merchandise of the Ticats, to see if they were also bedazzling their hoodies and t-shirts to cash in on female fans. Just a block up from the Jet Cafe in the funky International Village sits the offices of the Hamilton Tiger Cats, with its TigerTown store at the main entrance. It's well-stocked with Ticats gear, definitely leaning towards the more traditional sweatshirts, logo hats and toques, plus all the game-day essentials. 
 
There are quite a few nice items for women. 

A vintage-style t-shirt is glammed up with a metallic logo channelling a retro cheerleader. 

A yoga hoodie is perfect for going to a game, or wearing to the gym to show your Ticat pride. 

I like my sporty clothes to look sporty, but to fit like it was made for a girl, which the TigerTown store has nailed. But can you imagine showing up on game-day in a white faux fur vest and snakeskin leggings with stillettos? Just add a football-sized pooch in a purse, and you'd be all set. 

Any other female Ticats fans out there with a different opinion?