Microsoft Opens First-Ever Surface Café In Toronto

Next-generation coffee shop offers a first look at the new Surface Pro 3

TORONTO, June 17, 2014 /CNW/ - This Friday, Microsoft will bring their technology to life like never before with the opening of the first-ever Surface Café in downtown Toronto. Combining traditional coffeehouse culture with 21^st century digital solutions, the Café is a collaborative communal environment that will also play host to a series of hands-on workshops with some of the brightest minds in music, photography, illustration and business.

The Surface Café will also offer Torontonians a first look at the all-new Surface Pro 3, the new lightweight tablet from Microsoft that promises the power and performance you expect from a laptop. The Surface Pro 3 also comes equipped with the all-new Surface Pen, which delivers a precise, luxurious drawing and note-taking experience with a single click of the pen.

"Modern coffee shops represent the intersection of professional and personal space – they offer a unique environment where creativity, collaboration and productivity combine. This is exactly what the Surface Pro 3 represents," explains Henrik Gütle, Director, Windows and Surface Business Group, Microsoft Canada. "A uniquely productive device for everything in your life, the Surface Pro 3 lets you work any way you want, at anytime, from virtually anywhere – including your favourite coffee shop. And the Surface Café will bring to life all of the possibilities that the Surface Pro 3 represents."

The following workshops will be offered at the Surface Café:

Friday, June 20
1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.	Mobile Design with Uri Minkoff	Attendees can explore the intersection of fashion and technology with one of the founders of the design company that brought us the Mini M.A.C. handbag and design their own fashion accessory on a Surface device.
6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.	InstaLife with Caitlin Cronenberg	Amateur shutterbugs and seasoned pros can get up close and personal with acclaimed Canadian photographer Caitlin Cronenberg to discuss some of her most iconic images and create one of their own using a Surface device.
Saturday, June 21
11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.	The Digital Comic Strip with Francis Manapul	This session will explore how technology can fuel creativity and collaboration as attendees participate in the real-time creation of a new comic book storyline with Francis Manapul, award-winning writer and illustrator from DC Comics.
6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.	Surface Harmony with The Darcys	Jason Couse and Wes Marksell of Toronto band The Darcys will host an evening of storytelling and creative collaboration, including an intimate performance.
Sunday, June 22
1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.	Your Big Idea and the Surface Pro 3	An unprecedented opportunity for start-ups to learn from – and pitch to – some of Canada's leading business minds, including legendary Canadian entrepreneur, Michael Wekerle. At the end of the workshop, one start-up will win seed money and mentorship from Microsoft BizSpark.

All workshops are free of charge, although pre-registration is required at www.microsoft.ca/surfacecafe.

In addition to being fueled by the new Surface Pro 3, visitors to the Surface Café will be fueled by complimentary coffee beverages. Donations in lieu of payment are being accepted for Microsoft YouthSpark partner Kids Learning Code.

The Surface Café will be open from June 20 – 22 at 399 Queen Street West in Toronto. Full hours of operation are available online at www.microsoft.ca/surfacecafe. A Montreal edition of the Surface Café will follow on June 26, 2014.

"The Surface Café is the physical manifestation of next-generation productivity," concludes Gütle. "We look forward to bringing the city's most creative minds into our space to connect, inspire, innovate and collaborate."

SOURCE: Microsoft Canada Inc.

Kate Burkholder, Veritas Communications, [email protected] / 647-282-0436