Culture Vulture

Time to Wander and Observe

2011-10-12T16:28:00.000-07:00

The time has come for a change - CV is being put to rest and a new chapter begins here: wanderobserve.wordpress.com

Thank you for visiting and taking the time over the past 6 years to read, comment and share. Looking forward to seeing you over at WO.

NF
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Life as your most important work of art

2011-08-22T09:25:00.000-07:00

My horoscopes this week are both full of great advice and assurance:
- Put the emphasis on the quality of your adventures more than on what you produce
- Regard your life as your most important work of art
- The sword above your head is not going to fall.

Sounds good! So I'm getting on with it.

creatively speaking
Created by Sheila Heti and hosted by Misha Glouberman,The Trampoline Hall Lecture Series was a welcome addition to Montreal this past month. An evening of three lectures by "amateurs on random topics" was well-executed and thoroughly entertaining. It was set up as part of the book launch for Misha Glouberman's new book (intro and collaboration with Heti) "The Chairs are where the People Go: How to live, work and play in the city". THL is on regularly in Toronto and will hopefully be an ongoing event in Montreal.

inspired by
While I figure out how to make the most of travel and work over the next few months it helps to read that mobile work is increasingly on the rise and of personal experiences related to passion in play and work. Found OttsWorld a blog by "Sherry, a corporate cube dweller turned nomadic traveller".

pages
The Ground Beneath Her Feet - Salman Rushdie . Requires enough time to absorb the often dense, detailed stories embedded in this novel, but does not disappoint. The imagery, humour and socio-commentary make it like all others well worth it. His talent in combining pop culture and myth reminds me why I love fiction.

yum!
Ellefsen - if you're in the mood for blinis or smorebrod, check it out. New to the area, simple decor, looking forward to trying some of their mains. I can't imagine a cod poutine, but if you try it (and vouch for it) maybe I will.

Finally tried teas at Camellia Sinensis, all excellent - lovely tea room next door also.

happening
www.ecocity2011.com - in Montreal this year get your activism on.
NDG Arts Week

Ca m'interesse
Opera Piccola - inaugeral concert at Theatre Outremont this weekend.

Travel
Oct - Dec : Central [most of] and South America [Peru]. Planning is a full-time job - send any suggestions, right now it's all open.

All I know is what I don't

2011-07-14T11:16:00.000-07:00

Never really knowing what tomorrow brings - here's some stuff that recently made up part of the picture:

creatively speaking
Kid Koala is at it again with this latest project The Space Cadet Headphone Tour

inspired by
This creative take inspired by "movember" to raise awareness for cervical cancer

pages
Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese - another ambitious attempt of a physician writing fiction. A decent read, but the detail is often in the wrong place as this review points out.

The Best Laid Plans finally got around to reading this - often overwritten and old school in its "canadianess" - but I can see why it has general (easy) appeal. Not sure one novel makes a novelist...

scene
Beginners excellent writing and acting, one of my faves this year.

Tree of Life lots of hype about this film - I can't say I loved it, but appreciate its ambitious scope.

Live and Become amazing story, powerful film - highly recommended.

yum!
Trying Fushi hope the reviews are right!

Travel
Chicago up next - looking forward to a week of urban discovery

a wide world of webs

2011-06-26T11:54:00.000-07:00

Spent the last two weeks working/living in Toronto - wonderfully exhausting as usual. Thanks to all my hosts who shared space and time. Much to catch up on and note from the journey:

creatively speaking
Rhizome - "dedicated to the creation, presentation, preservation, and critique of emerging artistic practices that engage technology"

66 Ideas Inc. - G&M article about "a think tank that churns out colourful, creative possibilities of transformation.."

inspired by
Edible City

Toronto furniture bank

pages
Bastard of Istanbul - finally got around to reading something by Elik Shafak. The translation is stiff at times but interesting treatment of the discussion of the Armenian slaughter in Turkey (1914-18)and present day identity politics.

Love and Obstacles (video of Hemon reading) - great collection of linked short stories by Aleksandar Hemon of Sarajevo and his new home in the U.S.. look forward to reading more.

scene
Midnight in Paris like Woody Allen's two most recent films, this is easy, fun, charming.

yum!
Via Toronto - had a lovely/local meal at Local Kitchen and Wine bar

Travel
Thumbs up on my first experience with airbnb.com - heard many good things from friends and fellow travellers also over the last week.

Up Next
Montreal Jazz Festival - going to see Rich Aucoin, Misses Satchmo, Galactic, Misteure Valaire, Poirier Sound System and La Excelencia Cubanos.

What gets you up in the morning?

2011-06-14T07:22:00.000-07:00

From an Adverblog Q&A with Mariano Dorfman, Founder, Executive Creative Director and Partner of Icolic, based in Argentina.

"Q1. What is the one thing about your job that gets you out of bed in the morning?
That every day is different. That every day there are new challenges. That every day I fall in love with new projects. And, of course, that every day the "big idea" may come up."

creatively speaking
Toasting the message

Nike Snowboarding

inspired by
Housing works

Try being a farmer

pages
Super Sad True Love Story (video trailer) - great read, looking forward to Aburdistan

scene
I love you Phillip Morris easy, summer film

Up Next
Working, eating and absorbing life through Toronto, collecting notes

Spring Forward

2011-05-11T14:08:00.000-07:00

Amazing collection of stuff piling up over the last couple of months. Spending more time outside with all senses in gear, which (hopefully) means more consistent 'reportage'...here we go:

[Creatively Speaking]
Sauna pants. I honestly don't know what to say about this. it just is.

On another note, saw this in NYC, fun idea for daily scribbling: http://www.simplediary.com

[Geek Chic]
http://inmaps.linkedinlabs.com/ displays your connections visually

Bespoke Bikes - yes please.

[Words]
Read 'The Last Crossing' by Guy Vanderhague, took awhile but realized I saw every detail he wrote once I gave it the right time and attention.

Have 'The Amazing Absorbing Boy'on the go by Rabindranath Maharaj. Story of a Trinidadian teen who moves to Regent Park, Toronto.

'Solo' by Rana Dasgupta is up next, hopefully will be warm enough to read in the hammock.

[Sounds]
The latest from James Blake, Beastie Boys, Lykke Li, Esparanza Spalding and Amos Lee all taking turns.

[I spy]
While window shopping in NYC, spotted the work of Sean Slaney. Can't find much else on him, yet.

[Opinions]
Election Day was a dark one this past month - lest we forget here's a site to keep bookmarked: http://100reasons.ca/

[Yum]
Had a nice meal at Domus in Ottawa last week, all locally-derived ingredients and interesting combinations. The mushroom bisque was a standout.

Looking forward to trying Su Shian Yuang, a vegetarian Vietnamese resto here in mtl.

City Living

2011-04-12T03:39:00.000-07:00

Was in Havana and NYC recently, still get overwhelmed by the sheer scale of the buildings in both cities. You need to 'escape' to smaller pockets (and avoid weekends if possible) in order to breath and enjoy what are still amazing cities.

[Pages]
a just review of Isabel's Allende's Island Beneath the Sea.

New Yorkers Jazz - David Lopez Ximeno (in Spanish) - poetry that dives into the writer's relationship with both NYC and Cuba.

Poesia de la Ciudad de La Habana - Angel Augier

[Déja Vu]
Incendie - excellent film based on the play by Wajdi Mouawad.

W - although watching the Bush family for 2hrs is torture, James Brolin does a good job.

Marie and Bruce - surprise find about the breakdown of a marriage based on a play.

[Yum via NYC]
Luckily on a late Monday night, a local gal pointed us to Meme in the West Village

On Tuesday,
Lunch in Harlem at the Society Cafe -excellent meal and good vibe.

For diner decided to re-visit Brown Cafe - which I like because they focus on organic, seasonal menu that changes weekly. And who knew! 1/2 price on all wine tues-thurs (a now more common practise in the city - yay). They also have a great private dinner space next door.

Wednesday - Lucked out again at Bianca in NoHo - a small albeit loud Italian restaurant that has locals buzzing. Incredible value for deliscious regional dishes. Afterward (if you can move) check out Von next door, a wine/beer bar.

Next time - an annual event called "choice eats" curated by Village Voice food critic Robert Sietsma: food from more than trendy 'ethnic' and obscure restaurants. Tix were only $30 incl. drinks and sold out :-)

8 days in Havana

2011-04-03T13:54:00.000-07:00

Havana in one word: layers. Socially, politically, the infrastructure, music, art - so many ways to see and consider how things are presented and acted out in a given day. I spent all my time in Havana, will take another trip someday to explore the coasts, there was definitely enough going on to fill the days and nights without rushing it (which is impossible anyway since the pace is much slower :-).

Here's my take with pics and notes below:

Cuba is heavily dependent on tourism which can make for a less 'authentic' view of the country/city. It's hard to sit for 5 minutes without being approached with a song, picture, offer of a dance or club partner, tourist guide etc. Prostitution is increasing, thanks to foreign men who take advantage of the desperate economic situation. Although funds from some tourism channels do actually get funneled back into the Cuban economy, it's not enough to support the people living there. The gov't funds restoration, social and art projects, but it's not clear how the quality of life and environment are being supported. From the current economic climate, the general guess is not well.

Once you know that doctors take second jobs (as taxi drivers etc.), imagine what life is like for the chambermaid of any given hotel next time you think the convertible peso is 'on par' with the cdn dollar. I bought two books of poetry that should have come to about $20 (which is still inexpensive) but as the prices were in pesos (and not convertibles), the price came to the equivalent of a cdn $1. It was a tough moment and raises some interesting and difficult questions around value in general and commodification of art (still working on it :-). Other bookstores charge in convertibles so it seems more reasonable - no idea how/if the writers see any money in either case.

Galleries/Studios
Visual art was a highlight of this trip - the work is incredible and the spaces are very accessible.

Taller Experimental de Grafica - fantastic stuff in this art workshop where engraving is a focus they offer classes which I would go back for.

Wilfredo Lam gallery of contemp art - mostly donated prints non-cuban painters

As part of the Museum of Fine art, the Cuban contemp art collection is one of the best I have ever seen in one setting. There's a reason so many people recommend it, creatively it's a revealing depiction of Cuban life.

A personal surprise was the Ceramic gallery featuring work of Cuba's leading artists. Beyond bowls and mugs, some really cool installation pieces and sculpture.

Artists
Overall artelista.com is a great ref site, these were two indy galleries I came across while walking around:
http://campillo.artelista.com/
http://oliva.artelista.com/

Best use of space
Toured the cathedrals/churches which like everything in Havana are very large in scale, in one string musicians practise/play - was lucky enough to happen upon a session.

The people you meet (travellers)
A former contemporary dancer who is now a massotherapist and studying to be an osteopath. Visiting her boyfriend who is learning Spanish in Havanna to work on humanitarian projects, she gave me some recommendations for projects in Guatemala, Peru and Bolivia (this must have been fate!)

Met a Turkish couple from Izmir. They spend winters travelling and go home to Turkey for the summer to spend time on their boat. They have travelled extensively, were very interesting and kind - hopefully will meet them again someday in Turkey.

A dancer from Germany, she was just off to Santiago for a couple of weeks but we spent a few hours over a good coffee (not easy to find) chatting about Cuba as she's spent a fair amount of time there and also dances. We discussed the easiest places to go dancing and not get overly-hassled :-)

Two teachers - one from Finland, the other Saskatoon - they've been teachers at an "international" school in Cuba for about 5 yrs.

So thank you Cuba - the pics show the sights and will always help tell more stories :-)

Buying time

2011-03-15T08:13:00.000-07:00

Recently bought a whole lot of time. It's working out well, things are getting done, seen, heard, built and thought about.

Here are a few things that time recently afforded:

[Pages]
The Birthhouse - Amy Mackay

[Seen]
Very different, but equally good stories:

Kind of a funny story
Happy Tears

[Yum via Toronto]
Attempted to keep it light by eating at Fressen (disappointing) and Rawliscious (try the pad thai and a dessert)

[Last Heard]
Black Keys - Brothers
Ray La Montagne
Pierre Lapointe

[Travels]
Havana and NYC up next, for music, art and relaxation

Own People's Art

2011-03-04T05:10:00.000-08:00

Went to the preview night of this year's Art Project Toronto last night, over 200 artists at the exhibition place. Nicely organized with specific sections highlighting emerging artists, the "lemon" competition where all artists could contribute a themed piece (sponsored by a vodka company hence the citrus) and an "installation alley" with sculture, conceptual art and of course, installations.

I finally got to meet Zane Turner who's work I've followed for the last 4 years - a personal pleasure, he's awesome, check it out.

Here are some of the other artists that made me pause:

Laurie Kang

Peter Lee

James Melcher

Anne Renouf

So Yeon Michelle Kim

Kate Tarini

Daniel Bombardier

Matthew Sweig

Ozant Kamaci

Jessica Thalmann

Enjoy!

The sum of all parts

2011-02-28T06:59:00.000-08:00

Connecting the dots is a regular theme these days across the fields of work and play. It's worth noting that one size does not fit all when it comes to where we work - we should change people/environments/tools as needed to foster better communication and creativity.

Here are some things that are part of the daily inspiration:

[Geek Chic]
Attention Surplus - new podcast that "explores the intersection of technology, culture and purpose" - episode #2 is up and about some online options to give back.

[Creatively Speaking]
Excited about the upcoming Artist Project - Toronto, showcasing the talents of Canadian independent artists

[Let's get Digital]
A Facebook integration where your find out your milky future...

[Pages]
A night at the Red Lobster is a short story that was fully satisfying in a novel way.

[Seen]
As a pre-Oscar warm up decided to revisit a few oldies The Godfather (III stinks), Dead Poet's Society and Possible Worlds (Robert Lepage - interesting/odd of course).

[Yum]
Had a great meal of Japanese 'bar food' last week at Godzilla/Ima Dake on St. Catherine W. Excellent choices of fish and a great seafood pancake. They also serve ramen.

[Heard]
New releases from Ron Sexsmith [love the title 'long player, late bloomer'], Hey Rosetta, and Adele's video are all on rotation right now...

[Travels]
Toronto and NYC on the radar, looking forward to a little bump and hustle in both!

And so it begins....

2011-02-16T06:23:00.000-08:00

The year of doing things differently. Work, play, sport, eating - everything is going to be up for grabs and as macro-planned as possible. The interesting part will be discipline (which I generally lack), so I will need to set up some kind of framework in order to get things done. The nice part is, I'll be on my own clock.

otherwise, here's some other things made me tick:

[Geek Chic]
Pre-fab(ulous) housing: Mini Homes by Sustain Design Studio

[Creatively Speaking]
By hand, in small batches, soap by Amarais Artisan

[Let's get Digital]
This could change the way we see things: Google art project

[Screened]
Blue Valentine - well done, not a date movie :-)

[Pages]
Reading Palo Alto by James Franco - short stories of teen angst - uneven but interesting.

[La vie locale]
Talon Courier someone finally delivers!

[Trippin']
Skied Sutton this week - each day was a completelly different experience, from powder to spring skiing and back to -20, magical glades make it all worthwile.

A few of my favourite things...

2011-01-30T07:12:00.000-08:00

.... reading in my deep clawfoot bathtub * staying in bed reading the newspaper * spending the day flitting from one thing to another with no pressing agenda * watching snow fall outside from the inside * laughing until I'm exhausted * short burst of intensive anything...

and the other things that kept or caught my attention this week:

[Geek Chic]
I want to go to there...Alex Bogusky's Fearless Cottage

[Creatively Speaking]
Kid Koala's Music to Draw to is back on for the next three Mondays, 7pm, Theatre St. Catherine (264 St. Catherine).

[Let's get Digital]
The State of Wikipedia

[Yum!]
Le Fabrique - enjoyed a good (albeit slightly too rich) meal with lovely bubbles, a nice option in this stretch of St. Denis. Will definitely tr brunch next.

[Screened]
HOWL - Interesting mix media rendition of Ginsberg's experience and the poem.

[Pages]
Reading Freedom by Jonathan Franzen, has the same underlying tone as the Corrections, curious to see where it goes.

[Ca m'interesse]
Jim Bryson and the Weakerthans in Montreal, Feb 10

[Trippin']
Skied in Maine (Sugarloaf) - great terrain and views, old school vibe including slow chairs :-)

Stepping out

2011-01-03T14:30:00.000-08:00

First two days of the new year are off to a good start, long mornings, daily discoveries and another friend turns 40. Spent a nice long week in Toronto, here's some of what I came across:

[Geek Chic]
Innovative Diaries

[Creatively speaking]
social product development - ideas to the test

[Pages]
Through Black Spruce - Joseph Boyden

The Monocle - briefings on global affairs, business, culture and design

[Scene]
Well, two out of three isn't bad - the film about JP is a waste, but the other two were a pleasure...
- Black Swan
- True Grit
- I'm Still Here

Saw the Julian Schnabel show at the AGO - massive works tied to film. Also stumbled upon their current exhibit on Coach House Press and related art scene.

[Yum!]
Spent a lot of time walking the city supported by the many coffee shops and none disappointed - special mentions to The Tempered Press, Ideal and Ezra's Pound. A good initiative is the Indie Coffee Passport to promote said shops around the city.

Had nice meals at Frank, The Grilled Cheese,Banu,Salt and Paese. All recommended, will be interested to see if Salt will be consistent.

Let the games begin

2010-12-20T18:29:00.000-08:00

Hibernation countdown - starting to pull books, creative projects, ideas and planning to surf and sleep the entire month of February.

Meanwhile have a few weeks of catching up to do with family, friends and brain food. Here's a go of what's in front of me:

[Words]
Re-reading "The Berlin Stories" by Christopher Isherwood
Hating [but tub reading] "The Death of Bunny Munro by Nick Cave
In Spanish & English, "Fully Empowered" by Pablo Neruda

[Opinions]
Check out Urban Food Production

[yum]
While in Toronto next week will be eating at Fressen, Banu and Osteria...reviews to follow

Back to the drawing board...

2010-11-01T18:50:00.000-07:00

As the weather cools, time to change activities and add some layers. Here's a few things that have kept me distracted of late:

[Yum!]
Foxley - Toronto joint that has many small plates of goodness.

[Heard]
Bought a baglama or two in Greece - december holiday with the family may never be the same!

[Ca m'interesse]
People's Food Policy Project

[Lu]
The Winter Vault ****
The Year of the Flood ****
The Friends of Meager Fortune ****
Palestinian Walks: Notes on a Vanishing Landscape ****

15 days in Greece

2010-10-17T15:00:00.000-07:00

Athens
From the lukewarm response I heard about Athens - it's clear not many people really get to know the city. It's an amazing place of contrasts and offers so much to be discovered with relative ease. Had a great time touring sites and galleries, shopping [EU!] and my favourite part, the wholesale districts, central and flea markets. Had nice sunny weather and with a map, set of in a different direction daily.

Stayed at Hotel Attalo - close to everything including the metro, had breakfast room and rooftop bar, very reasonable and helpful, friendly staff.

In addition to eating street food (corn, chestnuts, pretzels) and snacking through the markets, had a great meal at Filema where the waiter treated (and joined for) me to Mastiha, and Bliss, where the organic Greek beer flowed :-)

More on Filema is here http://dineoutathens.blogspot.com

Bought a baglama (small bouzouki) at John Samuelian's shop which was full of local musician and met an Iranian musician who promises to try and visit Montreal on his future Cdn tour...i'll post more info when I hunt down his moo card (which I loved seeing so far away from NA, they remind me of a present day calling card)

Thessaloniki
Greece's second largest city - like Athens very diverse and beautiful in a 'gritty' way (thanks H&J), despite light rain all three days, quickly got the lay of the land and walked it easily.

Stayed at Hotel Egnatia - similar to hotel in Athens, and good location. Thess has a central market and a lovely waterfront to wander along. A university accounts for a large student population, out in force while I was there protesting against the government's and country's financial affairs (which are beyond dire in case you haven't heard - interesting article here from Vanity Fair that I had read on the way over...)

Ate at Mylovos where I had my first (and probably last) glass of Greek wine - just brutal but food and atmosphere was worth it. Thess also has a lot of well known sweet shops (every two feet it seems), so sampled cookies and cream-filled pastries, worked off (I hope) with all those walks.

Agios Germanos, Prespa
Once off the train in Florina, was picked up and driven about 1 hour north to visit friends in the village of Agios Germanos. As a country mouse the days were filled with walks, talks, eating, drinking and singing [70 songs?] with a day trip to Albania and massage by Spanish hands thrown in for good measure. Hopefully the pictures will do it some justice (given "micro-climate" it was foggy most days) and you can read more here

all trip pics here - let me know if you have any questions.

But....you are!

2010-05-09T15:18:00.000-07:00

Had an interesting week of people preceding their statements with "I'm not [racist, mean, shy, sarcastic] but...". Well guess what, you are. So save the 'but' and the kind of double negative and just say what you have to say! (saddly, we'll still have to listen to it).

En tout cas, the flip side is a whole wack of fun things still abound:

[Creatively speaking]
Some stories are more fun to tell than others, here's a recent example: www.getaloadofmilk.ca.

[Words]
Vous Revoir - not a challenging read, but one I can understand in my ongoing pursuit of french fiction. French cheese!

[Opinions]
My salute to the pie-making moms I love : Pie vs Cake - finally someone breaks it down. [via Leigh's Blitherings]

[Yum!]

Cookies Unite - a fantastic idea to showcase sous-chefs and line cooks from some of the best restaurants in the city, making Mondays something to look forward to.

[Scene]
La nana - A maid trying to hold on to her position after having served a family for 23 years - a good film that stays with you (or at least her eyes)

[Play]
If you drama in your life, this blog is for you - reviews of theatre in Montreal

Top 40

2010-04-25T07:31:00.000-07:00

Hibernation over, and having celebrated 40 years of Spring in March, am looking forward to whatever lies ahead. In the immediate, here's a few things to consider:

[Creatively speaking]
www.legoclick.com, a collection of ideas, inspired moments, quirky stories, solutions and tips - a collaborative platform to inspire people.

[Words]
The Story of Edgar Sawtelle

[Opinions]
Bill Gates talks about ‘vaccines to reduce population’

[Heard]
Last week a Russian Folk Festival brought out a variety (truly) of individual talents, particular enjoyed the russian singing of the French gal.

This week, Joseph Arthur is playing a solo show, should be amazing...

[Travels]
Spent a weekend in Wakefield and surrounding area a few weeks back, lovely meal at Soupcon and music courtesy of the Black Sheep Inn.

Notes from Near and far - a welcome addition to the blogosphere, straight outta Prespa.

Out of Sight

2009-10-25T11:25:00.000-07:00

Amazing what a change of scenery can do - spent a few days in a different city, with different friends, head cleared and vision back.

[Geek Chic]

[Scene sur 5]
The Brothers Bloom (4/5)

[Yum!]
Recent meal in Toronto at Table 17 hit the spot
Appetizers at Harlem, did not...
Lovely lunch at 'ol Caffé la Gaffe finished off a food-filled couple of days...

[Up Next]
Facebook Garage at the SAT
Capitalism - A Love Story

It's up to you...

2009-10-12T18:50:00.000-07:00

Fall's off to a great start, running about town with a 'back to school' vibe - although the student influx is hard to bear, the spike in art/activity is what makes up for the cool weather coming...

[Creatively speaking]
St Henri Art Walk was back on this year, a fantastic day inside and out.

[Read]
3 Day Road - love this book, next up will be Through Black Spruce

[Scene sur 5]
Gamorrah [3/5]
Away from Home [4/5]
Sugar [3/5]

[Heard]
Ramon y su son at L'escalier every sunday [9-12]

[Play]
Rock, Paper, Jacknife - ouch. this is a tough one, not for the light-minded. Definitely got the 'dark and poetic' not quite the 'hopeful'.

Summer Lovin'

2009-09-07T06:40:00.000-07:00

Went to an "end of summer" party this weekend - last chance for corona, gin&tonic, summer dresses. As people "froze" outside, we said goodbye to one quick summer.

[Geek Chic]
How the Internet sees you - digital paths and personas

[Creatively speaking]
What can you do in Three Frames?

[Read]
Water for Elephants - Sara Gruen - good story, 2 day read

[Scene sur 5]
Tetro [4]

[Ca m'interesse]
Globe and Mail has their Fall book list up

Tamale and Other Tricks

2009-08-17T18:56:00.000-07:00

Loving these summer days especially since some were ocean side. This year, pushed my lobster limits by tasting tamale - the green paste shit (literally) that hides within a lobster belly. Oh, how far a girl will go. Otherwise, my insides are pickled from various libations, the rest of August will need time to restore and get ready for a fun Fall.

[Creatively speaking]
OPA! The latest idea that I have yet to realize...

[Let's get Digital]
Personas - how the internet sees you

[Yum!]
Local tomatoes are finally in market - 'nuff said.

[Heard]
A few road trip revivals : Blondie, Neko Case, Fleetwood Mac

[Scene sur 5]
Rudo y Cursi(4)
I love you Man (4)
The Wrestler (3)

[Travels]
Toronto - was all about hot dogs, Holts and the hotel
Nova Scotia - was all about liquids, lobster and lippy ladies
Next up : GOG in PEC, and MH's 40th in NYC...

Where have you been?

2009-07-05T11:59:00.000-07:00

[Geek Chic]
Tweet my Bumper

[Creatively speaking]
The Gilfriend Experience was an interesting film - I'm thinking of it as a flat surface/slice of life and nice to have an escort story w/out a lesson.

[Let's get Digital]
According to Smashing Magazine - 50 beautiful Flash sites

Cool Budgeting : Mint

[Yum!]
Zero 8 - exclude all traces of the main food allergens...interesting but would like to see more vegetarian options in the mains...

[Heard]
Music Analysis - The Lefsetz Letter

[Ca m'interesse]
It's all about the Jazz Festival. Kicked it off with Stevie Wonder, heard Tyler Hornby and Cadero last night, and tonight Patrick Watson. Tuesday the Rocksteady show looks good and I'm sure they'll be many more suprises...

mais, pourquoi pas?

2009-06-01T18:17:00.000-07:00

[Geek Chic]
Feral Food and Edible Landscaping...an ode to my mother who's "lawn" is half oregano

[Creatively speaking]
Robert Polidari [at the MACM]

[Let's get Digital]
Agency World [tip to MH]

[Yum!]
Les Vielles Vignes, Touraine-Mesland, Val de Loire [Clos Chateau Gaillard]

[Ca m'interesse]
Tour de L'isle!

La balançoire

2009-05-23T07:13:00.001-07:00

[Geek Chic]
Try the latest Knowledge Engine

[Creatively speaking]
Wayne Schoenfeld at Gallery SAS

[Let's get Digital]
Great video for an appliance ad

[Yum!]
Café Soufflé de Marie & Anne
100 Marie-Anne W. (corner St-Urbain)

[Scene sur 5]
The 1st Montreal Turkish Film Week

[Reading]
The Anonthology is an experimental project to assess the importance placed on name and reputation over quality of writing. Amongst the writers contained within we have Orange and Genius Prize winners, Booker and Pulitzer Prize nominees. We have one author who’s sold over half a million copies, another who’s written over fifty books. But can you tell which is which? And how does it change the reading experience, not knowing if the author is young or old, male or female?

[Ca m'interesse]
Santropol Vélo : community bike shop

Eclectik - MAI's 10th Anniversary

Santogold at Metropolis

Rudo y Cursi

Back to Life

2009-05-02T09:10:00.000-07:00

[Geek Chic]
Atelier Entre-Peaux creates shopping bags, make-up cases and mouse pads made from shredded junk mail.

[Creatively speaking]
BNL MTL - saw The Good Conspiracy in action last night on St. Laurent last night...

[Let's get Digital]
recipes à la tweet: http://twitter.com/cookbook

[Yum!]
Barroco - straight up meat/fish with sidedishes...Nothing 'new' but solid. Good wine, service and intimate setting made for a great meal. They also accomodate vegetarian requests [most likely pasta w/vegetables].

The next night a meal at Los Clasicos hit the spot - a nice addition to Montreal's mexican resto's especially on the 'authenticity' level. Only downside was the entrees weren't heated up well. Otherwise, Hour's review here...

[Scene sur 5]
Doubt [4/5]
Happy Go Lucky [3/5]

[Reading]
American Pastoral
Book of Negroes

Give it up!

2009-05-02T08:58:00.000-07:00

The Little Elves' YARD SALE
Saturday May 30, 2009 !
Let go of material things ...
Make your Spring cleaning worth while...
Give to the Elves !
Indeed, to finance its holiday gift distributions to lone or isolated persons affected by HIV-AIDS, the Foundation will hold a YARD SALE on Saturday May 30th (or the next day if rainy).

The Foundation calls upon its friends who want to give away things it can re-sell.

The Elves are looking for furniture, stoneware, tableware, toys, trinkets, books,cds, dvds, etc., all clean and in good condition.

You can bring your stuff Wednesday, Thursday and Friday May 27, 28 and 29 from 6:30 PM to 9:00 PM to 7000 Molson in Montréal.

The yard sale will take place the following Saturday, at the same address.
In short: The Elves' Yard Sale
When: Saturday May 30, 2009
(next day if rainy)
Time: 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM
Location: 7000 Molson in Montreal
More information : antoine@ptitslutins.org
www.ptitslutins.org

May I?

2009-04-26T10:27:00.001-07:00

[Geek Chic]
Michael Ignatieff: True Patriot Love [?]

[Creatively speaking]
Welcome to the Crocodile - getting Lacostered...

[J'écoute]
Meghan Smith
Karkwa - les tremblements s'immobilisent
Serge Gainsbourg - les 100 plus belles chansons [with the exception of 'bonnie & clyde' '66 - '69 & anything reggae related this is a good collection]

[Déja vu]
Saw Women of Manhattan last week - written in 1986, it pre-dates that other show about women in NYC, focusing on three women and their relationships with each other and men. Well-written and acted, but doesn't push any particular boundaries or offer anything 'new' in this genre/subject.

[Déja lu]
The Tin Drum - never would have imagined magic realism and WWII EU politics together but here it is. Looking forward to seeing the film also.

The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao - great narrative and footnoting - various journeys between the Dominican Republic and United States.

Cockroach - explores life of an 'immigrant' experience in Montreal - the first I've read of Rawi Hage's, will check out Deniro's Game as well.

[Ca m'interesse]
All the Days Before Tomorrow
BNL MTL

Four Feelings in one Day

2009-04-16T11:53:00.000-07:00

Sunday was up canoeing with the ducks, discussion early afternoon of The Tin Drum, followed by a photography lesson, ending with the incredibly difficult viewing of Hunger. Am packed to the mental gills - still in recovery. Here's the rest of what surfaced last week:

[Geek Chic]
Article on "passion" vs "knowledge" based business:

[Creatively speaking]
BakerTweet "is a way for busy bakers to tell the world that something hot and fresh has just come out of the oven....All of the baker's followers get a Twitter alert to tell them that it's bun-time. Or bread time. Or whatever."

[Heard]
Beast last week at Club Soda was FANtastic. Betty Bonifassi's voice was jaw-dropping at some points with excellent band and sound. The finale was good, one killer song [Satan] and some crowd-surfing ended the night. Check them out especially while they are still playing smaller venues.

[Scene]
One Week - good story, cinematography and cool canadian hot spots.

Hunger - interpretation of the events surrounding the 1981 IRA Hunger strike led by Bobby Sands in Maze Prison [difficult film, still digesting].

[Yum!]
http://www.recettes-de-chefs.ca - videos, tricks and tips from restaurant chefs (FR)

[Ca m'interesse]
Earth Day - april 22
Sin Nombre [April 24]
Les Jeudis Salsaliscious

April showers bring...

2009-04-06T16:54:00.000-07:00

Rain is great for a lot of reasons, one of the best is the 'pass' to stay inside, all day, here's what gets discovered:

[Geek Chic]
Food for thought: Permaculture Design for Urban Areas

[Creatively speaking]
Need a Creative Boost?

[Scene]
A Farm for the Future (Runs 49:47)

[Pages]
The Tin Drum - Gunter Grass

[Yum!]
Jerusalem artichokes [also "sunchokes" or "topinambour"] - you can buy them locally and organically, they are really a treat...cooked like a potatoe with the light taste of artichoke.

[Ca m'interesse]
rubberdance group - this week at PDA.

Marching along...

2009-03-29T15:19:00.000-07:00

March was a re-birth of sorts. Got a lot of reading done, skied on wobbly spring legs, have been re-inspired, enjoyed the most serendipitous email exchange and spent four days in a beautiful setting in good company to blow out some candles...

Here's what was going on otherwise:

[Geek Chic]
The Book Cover Archive

[Creatively speaking]
Tribal Fusion - it is one of the hardest things I've ever asked my body to do...example here [via you tube]

[Scene sur 5]
Rachel Getting Married [5]

[mediums]
The Simpsons spoof Adidas' "Celebrate Originality" house party

[inbox]
Know your Mushrooms - playing at Cinema du Parc this week

[Twittered]
Ikea car countdown (FR)
Happy Birthday to Montreal's Laika bar

Spring things

2009-03-23T14:37:00.000-07:00

[Geek Chic]
Remember fixies? What's old is new again.

[Creatively speaking]
Open Design - Ronan Kadushin. A week after seeing "rip: a manifesto" and more discussion around the creative commons licence, happened upon this fella who designs furniture and encourages you to do it to.

Some pics here [via flickr]

[Scene sur 5]
synecdoche new york [3]
frailty** [5]
Zack and Miri make a porno [1]

**on the list of "100 movies you've never seen"

[media]
twofour54.com - "an integrated, state-of-the-art environment that supports and inspires media content creators to flourish in the Middle East and North Africa."

[inbox]
Land of Kush - playing at Sala Rossa this week

University of the Streets:latest discussions.

[Twittered]
http://twitter.com/nf_interactive

Where's my tempest?

2009-03-15T08:40:00.000-07:00

Was hoping March would be full of snowstorms for spring skiing but warm temps are putting a damper on it. So, off we go in search of other distractions:

[Geek Chic]
Jane Walkers wanted

[Creatively speaking]
Our Daily Bread - "Austrian filmmaker Nikolaus Geyrhalter’s latest documentary, Our Daily Bread, illustrates grimly in about an hour and a half how all food, crops and animals, raised in the industrial agricultural system qualify as Frankenfoods..."

[cv: this film was timely as I'm also reading Ways of Seeing - essays on perception and objectivity.]

[Heard]
Raphael Saadiq - this Tuesday at Cabaret.

[Scene]
How to lose friends and alienate people - despite a weak cast, Simon Pegg makes this a fun watch.

rip: a manifesto a fantastic and interactive doc that will give you many things including a crash course in copyright 101. Visit the site for info and the opportunity to make your mashup. The filmmaker is present for each screening running a q&a and table of promotional material including a usb with the film. brilliant.

[Ca m'interesse]
FIFA

Slave to the rythm

2009-03-08T14:36:00.000-07:00

Last my cell phone died. Little did I know it would unleash a chain of chaos and update my own understanding of how people [no longer] communicate.

the loss begged the following:

= do you write notes anymore?
= do you wait for a late or possible no-show?
= pay phones are .50 [fyi, had no idea]
= do you use your doorbell or just ask people to ring/text

New phone is now in hand but part of me will miss the 'challenge'...

Bon weekend!

sounds
Under the Snow - indy music fest on now

sites
keeping it clean: Curb advertising [via you tube]

So, what's next?

2009-02-24T14:35:00.000-08:00

All over the map these days - using the the corporate/economic mess to stimulate and evolve my way of thinking/doing/living. I accept full responsibility as an [over]consumer for today's economic climate. I know that buying goods from far away places isn't good for our economy, but I still do it and pay the price in so many ways.

So what better time to hear about Montréal Urban Community Sustainment check it out. They have many programs and just launched a dinner program where people can cook / eat together.

or, what about "coworking" at Station C [french]

Just a few ways share consumption and rethink how isolated we've become...

One Liners

2009-02-16T05:18:00.001-08:00

During the warm snap in the last week, got the chance to run around enjoying the "mild" temps of -15....ah february!

[Geek Chic]
Support canadian publishers and get something useful in your mailbox, buy 2 get 1 free on Canadian magazines.

[Creatively speaking]
Claude Tousignant - nothing like monochramatic exploration in the bleak of winter.

[Heard]
A great night of quirky pop belted out by the wee Lykke Li at Club Soda.

[Pages]
Restless - William Boyd
Ways of Seeing - John Berger

[Yum!]
Ate at Magdala/Mekdala Ethiopian Resto Lounge last week, a wonderful meal, some comments on Chowhound here.

[Ca m'interesse]
Mas - new restaurant on Wellington

Loco Lunes

2009-02-02T19:03:00.000-08:00

[Creatively speaking]

This is brilliant in it's simplicity, won a CASSIE award (2008). Cassies winners were judged on the basis of convincing proof that top business results were substantially caused by the advertising.

Don't re-invent the wheel, turn it.

[Geek Chic]
Nomad Station - media café, adding to my 101 reasons [daily] i love this city.

[Passages]
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is an award-winning novel by the late Swedish author and social conscience journalist Stieg Larsson...more

[Scene]
Gran Torino - a fairly typical story à la Clint Eastwood, really not sure why this is Oscar worthy but worth a rental if the movie you really wanted to see isn't in :-)

Burn after reading - finally got around to see this, as a Cohen fan I appreciate it but not one of their strongest.

[C'a m'interesse - inbox]
Riz en folie
Entre les murs
Voix des Amerique

Good day sunshine...

2009-01-19T06:03:00.000-08:00

[Geek Chic]
bubble calendar

[Creatively speaking]
durex balloon animals - fun for the whole family (unless you're trying to have kids)

[Passages]
Snow by Orhan Pamuk - an interesting read/exploration art and pursuit of happiness through politics, religion and belief systems.

The Magic Mountain by Thomas Mann - so far, the three days at the sanatorium are feeling like the seven years the character ends up spending there. But I will persevere...

[Scene]
Junebug - charming/has moments, generally forgettable...
Jellyfish - award-winning film intersecting the lives of three Israeli women in Tel Aviv.

[Heard]
Joseph Arthur, if you asked me, I would be your Mary. After a FANTASTIC show at Club Soda last Thursday night, I was reminded of why I like this kooky man.

[C'a m'interesse - inbox]
Montreal Girl Geek Dinners

Mundo Montreal

[Headlines: enough said ]
Advertisers in Germany Pull Ads with Nazi Overtones

Walking the walk...

2009-01-14T07:36:00.000-08:00

Walking home from salsa class last night, stopped to pick up tickets for Lykke Li and noticed a gallery space called Vox: Contemporary image. It's good see urban space being renewed/re-used, and while I reading Architecture of Happiness, the actual structure of these spaces will also become more of a focus.

Despite the cold snap, am heading out this week for the Wildside festival and Joseph Arthur, I have high expectations for both. Some news on Arthur's latest here [french].

Recent conversation and a post on Seth's Blog caught my attention, about boundaries. Although I think there's more space between "rigid" and "no boundaries", I tend to fall (stand?)on having some, at times, "open space" both inspires and conspires in freaking me out.

for thought:

Rigid boundaries: What do you do when you hit a wall?

Do you have a tantrum? [ask my mother or my fiscus]
Spend countless resources trying to scale the unscalable? [NO]
Or do you accept reality and put your energy into something else? [YES, sometimes to easily]

No boundaries: When there's nothing but open space:
do you run?
Or shrink?

hmmm.

Signs of my times

2009-01-04T06:21:00.000-08:00

December proved busy but ended a good year on a high note, despite the fact I have crumbled under intense satiation, both mentally and physically. Many good times had with friends and family here are the recent rounds of 'stuff":

New York (Tribeca/Soho) was all about art this time around (with a bit of consumption thrown in for good measure of course), shows ran from live video feeds to saving Coney Island:

[Art in General]
Jan Baracz - Reality Cinema/Live Video
Carlos Motta - The Good Life
Carla Herrera-Prats - Prep Materials
Renata Poljak - Split, Croatia

[New York academy of art]
ultra-concentrated joy: ecstatic drawings by contemporary artists

[The Puffin Room]
Coney Island Maybe - Amusement stalls, not shopping malls (a show dedicated to preserving Coney Island and fighting zoning changes for future development)

[The Broome Street Gallery]
Vincent Arcilesi - Arcilesi in Mexico

Tried Landmarc (and thanks to Clayborn for the Louisiana/Montreal tip)

Almost made it to the Flea Theatre, sorry I missed Dawn [Thomas Bradshaw], but will hopefully return for something else.

In Toronto Drinks at Lucien, Neapolitan pizza at Pizzaria Libretto and shared some laughs touring The Big Carrot with S and the organic turkey on Dec 24th.

In California [Los Gatos, Sarratoga, Carmel, Monterrey], got my 'hippy' back! Enjoyed moderate weather, lemon trees, long walks - was my first trip in the southern areas. Aside from family time, highlights included winery visits, crepes from an Algerian by the ocean, the many cyclists (I had velo-envy the whole time)and US perspectives on politics in this part of the country. I spent most of the time outdoors (duh) driving with the windows down, enjoying the sun.

How we are linked [Feb]

2008-12-16T20:01:00.000-08:00

The Discovery Index...

Places
Bombay Mahal
Byblos
Lab Cocktail Counter

Spaces
Moka Danse / Salsa
Lion D'or
Sala Rossa
St. Ambroise Cultural Center

Sounds
Joseph Arthur
Lykke Li
Yerba Buena
Fela Kuti
Femi Kuti
Exclaim

Words
Ports of Call - Amin Maalouf
The Walrus
Maisonneuve

Thought / Action
Ways of Seeing
Freegans
Pangea Day
The Nature of Economies - Jane Jacobs
The Shock Doctrine - Naomi Klein

a picture is worth...
Waltz with Bashir
A Touch of Spice
Fugitive Pieces - book & film
100 Movies you've never seen

truly, maddly, deeply

2008-11-30T13:48:00.000-08:00

This is it until the new year, now it's all about friends, family, food and fanfare...

[Geek Chic]
At the CCA - Actions: What You Can Do With the City - a fantastic exhibition on social, environmental, artististic, political contexts and activity in urban environments.

[Creatively speaking]
After happening upon his work in a small town in Nova Scotia, turns out Zane Turner is in Montreal and his work is being shown at Espace B51, a fantastic contemporary gallery on St. Paul.

[Heard]
Via Barcelona, discovered Pablo Diaz-Reixa, the man behind El Guincho, album is El Guincho Alegranza.

[Pages]

I desire a little ruby wine and a book of verses,
Just enough to keep me alive, and half a loaf is needful;
And then, that I and thou should sit in a desolate place
Is better than the kingdom of a sultan.
Edward Heron-Allen (1861-1943) translated from the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam

[Up Next]
December things get crafty at the Souk and Petits Pains

[Yum]

[Travels]
Dervla Murphy - traveller and writer, just a few interesting bits here:

In the midst of a record-setting blizzard in 1963, Dervla Murphy packed a pistol aboard Roz, her Armstrong Cadet bicycle and set off on her first international bicycle tour - a completely self-supported solo trip from Ireland to India. In Yugoslavia, she began keeping a journal instead of mailing letters home. That journal was later published as her first book Full Tilt: Ireland to India with a Bicycle, in which, she describes her adventures through Persia, Pakistan and Afghanistan. She particularly enjoyed Afghanistan and wrote lovingly of that country.

most recent book is about Cuba...

Trivial Pursuits...

2008-11-18T18:59:00.000-08:00

[Geek Chic]
From Greece, a campaign for a chocolate bar - "Love at first site" is a 17 minute interactive film, shot on the Greek island of Paros, and in Athens. [via Adverblog]

[Creatively speaking]
Saw Sympathy for the Devil - this passage sums it up well:

"It is interesting to explore music that was once so defiantly counter-cultural in the intellectual setting of an art museum. By inspiring contemporary artists today, the music takes on new meaning as a part of our cultural history. While times have changed, the ideas of the rock movement are still present. It is a fairly new anomaly that today’s youth actually looks to music of the past rather than what is being created today, citing Led Zeppelin, Queen and the Rolling Stones among their favorite music artists. We’re also familiar with contemporary artists taking a cue from the past with musical rifts sampled from songs that topped the charts years ago resurfacing in current pop hits... " Megan Driscoll, Big, Red & Shiny.

[Scene]
Fugitive Pieces - beautiful film based on the novel
The Visitor - strong performances - story of "illegals" and their relationship to a New Yorker

[Heard]
Discovered Ramón "Mongo" Santamaría - through the track "mama papa tu" (Afro-American Latin (1969) fantastic stuff that will inspire many a dance...

[Pages]
The Line of Beauty - Alan Hollinghurst

BottomFeeder - Taras Grescoe

[Up Next]
CCA - Actions: What You Can Do With the City

The Rover [launch] is an independent review of the arts

[Yum]
On the heels of Marché 27, opening uptown is Greasy Spoon, adding a little more diversity into the Laurier W stretch...

Bits and Passes...

2008-11-09T08:18:00.000-08:00

[Geek Chic]
This just in/box: The Rover is an independent review of the arts - and they are launching this month...

Just finished 'soul bits' which means 'common sense' is now in the gallery...

[Creatively speaking]
CBC ran a program this morning on Cloé St-Marie et Gilles Carles - I'm not a huge folk fan, but her voice and how she carries the poetry of her collaborators is good, here's a song/video...

[Scene]
John and Beatrice - summary here. Not one of my favourites, but an interesting concept.

[Heard]
Monthly dance-fest The Goods is still at Sala Rossa, this month mix of 60-70's soul/funk/afrobeat with some old-school De La Soul thrown into the mix. Great way to bust a move. Love the venue but the sound was crap (shows are usually better), oh, and patchouli - yes, it is still around.

[Pages]
Une Vie Francaise - Jean-Paul Dubois

"A French Life was successful in France because it was just that: it held a mirror up to a nation. Paul's running commentaries on current events may sound like the rants of a barfly, but they are believable. (...) The question is, can the novel have universal appeal ? Despite an elegant translation into (American) English, this is dubious. The characters, with the possible exception of the narrator, are mere shadows." - Henri Astier, Times Literary Supplement

we'll see...

[Up Next]
Down Dangerous Passes Road
Talisman Theatre presents the Montreal English-language premiere of Down Dangerous Passes Road by award-winning author Michel Marc Bouchard, translated by Governor General award-winner Linda Gaboriau.

[Yum]
Finally made it to L'Atelier which is now byob. Inventive menu, nice ambience and service. The only weakness from the table was desserts, but by then we were too full to really care.

[Trails]
Have some pics from recent trip to Colorado - incredibly beautiful and anxious to return for some champagne powder...

The rolling hills of Vermont are beckoning, with the usual blend of hippies and republicans that make it oh so interesting...

mi-octobre?!

2008-10-13T18:17:00.001-07:00

Currently devouring apples - had a week of lobos but my market guy says they're soft now so on to empires...

[Geek Chic]
Great work still coming from Spain, here's a good case on the concept of fear

[Scene]
I was in the mood for documentaries and video guy (growl!) had two winners; First a doc on the 2006 Homeless World Cup, called Kicking It and second, the story of the "actors" who hang out on Hollywood blvd, Confessions of a Superhero.

[Read/ing]
Club Dumas by Arturo Perez-Reverte

[Up Next]
Eli Paperboy Reed (w/Duffy]

[Yum]
Ate at Au Cinquième Péché, last week for the second time and they are still going strong, it was all good. Fall menu includes seal (describe by a table mate as "fishy liver")...uh, pass.

Boozy floozies can now settle in at Lab cocktail counter (1351 rue Rachel Est)- despite the offbeat location, it has a lovely bar and the talents are Fab :-)

[Rants* & Raves!]
Politians who say they are "just like me". I don't want "me" running the country, I want someone smarter, wiser, well travelled and disciplined in all the best ways. We need people to lead us, not manage us. SIGH*

--------------

Saw Beck last week and am back in love after a hiatus of about 3 years. I just stopped listening, but last Monday he reminded me of just how innovate and kooky he is. Théatre St. Denis was not a good venue for said show, but all in all it was fun, thanks to an energetic crows. bravo!

Leaves, they are a' falling...

2008-09-28T11:57:00.000-07:00

Fall is a great time for gallery shows, music, book launches, as the leaves fall the stories begin...

[Geek Chic]
First Podcamp Montreal was held weekend of Sept 21, good summary here for the " exciting weekend of unconference"...passionate people, podcasting and peers, what more could you ask for?

[Creatively speaking]
Enjoyed Tout est Parfait, The year my parents went on vacation and, for mild laughs, Baby Mama.

[Read/ing]
Club Dumas by Arturo Perez-Reverte, described by the jacket copy as a "beach book for intellectuals" or, online as "a postmodern adventure"..I'm afraid to find out what either means exactly...but giving it a try.

Local Flavours - Deborah Madison, goodbye berries, it's now all about squash...

[Up Next]
Warhol Live : music and dance in Andy Warhol's work - is yet another excuse to have cocktails on a Friday night...

Sympathy for the Devil - did this influence my parents at all?!

Eli Paperboy Reed (w/Duffy] and Beck...both in October

[Yum]
Ate at L'appartement, not memorable, but decent considering the flux of negative reviews it's had since it opened. Some things still ring true - like lacklustre/inexperienced service, but given it wasn't busy, 6 gals got to yack for about fours hours and enjoy the space (over substance that is...)

[Rants* & Raves!]
Listening to Rex Murphy's Sunday show, a caller points out to Stephane Dion (th guest this week) that "studies have shown that people respond to attack ads", hence, since SD is more of 'high road' kind of politician, the Liberals are sliding in the polls. How I wish SD had replied to the effect that people who like attack ads are those who make up the least educated, least likely to vote anyway boors, who get most of their information from reality television and CNN. Best of all, this comment was made just after SD spend 5 minutes explaining why he doesn't take the Harper path when it comes to bashing oponents. *sigh*

--------------

Question of the week from Lynda Barry's latest collection What it is;
What year is it in your imagination?
Does your imagination know what year it is?
What is an image?

I am only on pg 15!

One Liners: simmering summer

2008-09-07T15:13:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the lapse, life has been connected more by trains, planes and automobiles than the Internet these past few weeks. A whole lot has been ingested, here's my best recap...

[Geek Chic]
If you want to become president, here's your chance, (with this toy, you get a video to pass around - fun times!)

Something for the ladies - say goodbye to landfill and leaks...

[Creatively speaking]
Vancouver art gallery has some good shows on including KRAZY! and a collection of still images from Zhang Huan called Altered States.

[Read/ing]
Work on your top five!..I've got lists to post and they'll be up soon.

[Travels]
Colorado here we come...

[Up Next]
LOVE via YSL

[Yum]
Since my own city still has an odd bi-law about selling cooked food streetside, I get oddly excited by the prospect of 'street food' including hot (veggie) dogs. So, while in Vancouver I happened on upon a vendor who gave me my goods in a whole wheat bun(?!) That's just going too far in my books - bun is essential to a good dog and whole wheat just can't deliver on texture let alone taste. *sigh*.

[Rants & Raves]
People close to me shared some thoughts on our friendship recently, waking me up to the danger of looking for validation in all the wrong places (like work over, uh, life). Their words were inspiring and touching - no wonder they have seats at my last supper.

One Liners

2008-08-11T18:30:00.000-07:00

[Geek Chic]
Gmap Pedometer :

[Creatively speaking]
Do you get aroused from squeezing balloons until they explode? Do you quiver with delight as you watch popcorn pop? Have you ever been patient enough to stand in front of a ripe flower bud for hours to witness its slow explosion into full opening? If you answered yes to any of those questions, you're in for an orgasmically pleasing week, Aries. Lots of things are going to change into something else through the process of eruption or sprouting or bursting forth. I bet you'll dream of undersea volcanoes spurting.
[how can you not love freewill]

[Seen]
Bella,
The Counterfeiters
(and Batman - but I don't think the summer blockbuster needs more hype)

[Pages]
The Invisible Man - Ralph Ellison [take 2]

[Passages]
"[transported] vegetables have come to lack two features of interest: nutrition and flavor. Storage and transport take predictable tolls on volatile plant compounds that subtly add up to taste and food value...a trade-off that amounts to 'Give me every vegetable in every season, even it if tastes like a cardboard picture of its former self."
Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, Barbara Kingsolver

[Yum]
Griffintown café has re-opened and offers Friday night jazz and brunch on the weekends...

Top Five - the game(s) begin

2008-08-04T07:34:00.000-07:00

The latest "project". email yours [miswitlife@gmail.com] if they aren't listed below (and any corrections) -(yes, fiction and non)...

NF
100 years of solitude
Confederency of Dunces
A Fine Balance
Children of the Circus
Fugitives Pieces

JC
Zorba the Greek
The Enormous Room
The Sun also Rises
Jules et Jim
Being and Time

HM
Big Sur
Like Water for Chocolate
Fall on your Knees
Fugitive Pieces
Amazing Adventures of Cavalier & Klay

One Liners

2008-08-04T06:57:00.000-07:00

[Geek Chic]
Summertime in Paris - a mix of painting, sculpture and photography currently at The Parisian Laundry

[Creatively speaking]
Who are you? What's your Type?

[Seen]
My Blueberry Nights - simple, well-acted story about longing.

[Passages]
"If every product containing corn or soybeans were removed from your grocery store, it would look more like a hardware store. Alarmingly, the lightbulbs might be naked, since many packaging materials also now contain cornstarch."
Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, Barbara Kingsolver

[On the road]
My first "clip" pedal ride took me from the south shore, to Fort Chambly, along the Richelieu river, through the farms of St. Phillipe and back across the escalade bride 6hours later in the pouring rain. A long, somewhat exhausting ride, about 125 KM in total, a new level in endurance for my aging self :-).

[Up Next]
La fête Bio Paysanne at the TOHU

[Yum]
The summer round of dinners now includes Lafayette's - a classic on the edge of the Village, "gooey" pizza and possibly the largest plate of poutine I have seen (all at one table ....ooph) was the pitcher of beer really a good idea gang?? Here's a great description from an older CTV piece:
"LAFAYETTE'S RESTAURANT HAS BEEN HERE AT THE CORNER OF STE-CATHERINE EAST & CARTIER FOR 30 YEARS. IT'S A GREASY SPOON IN A GRIMEY AREA OF THE CITY. AND A SURVIVOR."

'nuff said.

One Liners

2008-07-28T04:55:00.000-07:00

[Geek Chic]
So, do you LOVE our iphone to DEATH?

[Creatively speaking]
Who doesn't love balloons? (and the ensuing discussion is funny too)

[Seen]
Borderline - amazing role by Isabelle Blais and with some similar struggles over love and self, a moving film from China/France, Summer Palace - both the director and film were "banned" by the Chinese government.

[Offline]
Putain par Nelly Arcan

[Up Next]
Les Francopholies, with a nice summary of possible shows here

[Yum]
Les Havres au Glace - need I say more? there's even a thread on Chowhound of devotees.

Lundi, latin style

2008-07-21T19:20:00.000-07:00

So, my weekly dance lesson was moved to Mondays for now, and after a somewhat scarring experience at a club this weekend, I didn't do my teacher proud - but he's a patient guy and will eventually get me to slow down :-)

[Geek Chic]
Last time I worked in an ad agency, I kept a jar of Chuppa Chups on my desk to woo and sooth creative teams into agreeing to tight timelines and budgets. Shameful, but we all enjoy candy so let's celebrate turning 50!!

[Creatively speaking]
Discovered Steven Klein and Julian Wolkenstein recently - wow.

[Seen]
Be Kind, Rewind - as much as like Jack Black and love Mos Def, AND, enjoyed 'eternal sunshine of the spotless mind', I didn't get this.

[Offline]
What is the What [struggling] and Putain [possibly a struggle]

[Up Next]
Shakespeare in the park, hopefully no tempest for the The Tempest

[Yum]
Had an amazing experience this past weekend in a few forested enclaves of the eastern townships picking mushrooms - came home with a bag of chanterelles that were pretty and tasty. Accompanied by three french men who know FAR too much about mushrooms, cheese and apple cider - I felt like a foodie princess.

[Heard]
In an effort to learn how to count properly, this week is all courtesy of the
Spanish Harlem Orchestra.

Back in the Saddle

2008-07-13T16:13:00.000-07:00

A month offline!? There is so much going it gets overwhelming, need some time to let it all sink in. The summer's theme is turning out to be 'non-fiction'. I even ran across David Sedaris (who was in town promoting his new book). It was weird and timely and despite all the craziness in my life these days, it all seems to work...

[Geek Chic]
The only thing that will get me out of bed tomorrow is a lovely number by Stacey Zhang, newcomer to the boutiques that surround me. In her words, "fetching!".

[Creatively speaking]
Finished Common Cents, and learned a lot in the process like spray paint gets everywhere, pennies don't stick easily and next time, the canvas will be painted white...

next, (inspired by a spontaneous catchphrase at a dinner this past weekend) a piece called "soul bits".

[Seen]
from the jazz festivals caught Laila Biali Trio, Bran Van 3000
Zaki Ibrahim, Way out West, Nate James.

[Offline]
Magical Thinking - Augusten Burrows...This gets my vote for creative non-fiction. If you even have a slight interest in advertisting, this is guaranteed to make you laugh and if not, enjoy his absurd take on/life.

What it Is - Lynda Barry...hot of the press, a graphic novel exploring the creative process and asking many questions that can fill drunken nights with rants. excellent.

[Up Next]
Just for Laughs - Eat my shorts
Sophie Calle's Prenez soin de vous at DHC/ART

[Yum]
Wonderful food, atmosphere and experience at Banu in Toronto, my only advice is to go easy on the generous vodka based experiments from the bar :-)

One Liners

2008-06-10T19:02:00.000-07:00

[Geek Chic]
A site that asks - how nerdy are you? [Belgium]

[Creatively speaking]
Love tribute to YSL -R.I.P.

[Seen]
Before the Devil knows your dead - good story, even Ethan Hawke was bearable.

Jimmy Carter Man from Plains - revolves around the book tour for 'Palestine: peace not apartheid'. Interesting perspective/insight into Carter's beliefs, but it becomes repetitive and could have been shorter or, dug into the issues more.

[Offline]
Left to Tell - Immaculée Ilibagiza

[Up Next]
L'off festival de jazz

CV - Reviews / June 2-6

2008-06-09T15:02:00.000-07:00

[Music: Alicia Keyes]
Getting floor seats at a stadium show was a first - and they were 20 rows back, dead center. So great for seeing miss Keyes tap the keys, but overall the sound was a mess, hard to distinguish instruments and voices. Best parts were her piano driven songs. A very talented woman, but as many have said, poorly produced.
6/10 [AK gets a 10 because she's simple and fabulous]

[Theatre: Import/Export]
Saw this play as part of TransAmerique and have to say that I liked the production of it (staging/props/concept) but the narrative was loose and the 'politic' didn't bring anything new to the subject. The multi-language approach was cool and the acting believable so not a total loss.
5/10

[Food: Cash & Curry]
Intimate space in that fun hub between St Laurent and St Denis on Duluth. As part of a larger group we were treated to apps and mains of Malaysian cooking. Large groups are often a challenge for a kitchen - so I'll be back to try more à la carte.
7/10

One Liners: June Bug

2008-06-02T15:59:00.000-07:00

On the weather front, summer is off to a slow start, but festival frenzy has begun and year after year, the signs of Grand Prix signal the start of summer for me....

[Geek Chic]
This made a recent afternoon...so many words, so little time....

[Creatively speaking]
As I live and breath re-org, enjoyed 'Marketing is dead....' via Leigh's Blitherings

[Read/ing]
Je voudrais que quelqu'un m'attende quelque part (*sigh*, me too)

[Travels]
email invites from Rome. Friends in Greece. déjeuner à l'herbe with the ladies. road trip, Boston.

[Up Next]
Fringe!

[Yum]
Ate at Lémeac last Sunday - wasn't a top choice but all the smaller bistros are closed on Sundays. It was fine - steady, but lacks ambience. Hadn't been in a couple of years, I think the decor may have changed, couldn't quite put my finger on it. En tout cas, the company was much better the second time around and nice to walk off the mean down st. laurent...

A Muse, toi...

2008-06-01T12:52:00.000-07:00

Looking for the point of you
I found a Muse.

A mental frenzy
a pleasant journey
are you?

Getting some Art action

2008-05-28T17:40:00.000-07:00

Point Rouge is one of a few recent Galleries in St. Henri, today they had a 'working exhibit'; around 8 artist working on pieces, all different styles, textures etc. One the better contemporary galleries I've been too, they've always got a great point of vue...(there pun, not mine) Point Rouge, 2471 Notre Dame (east of Atwater)

One Liners

2008-05-25T16:50:00.000-07:00

[Geek Chic]
A fantastic lecture/reading by Barbara Kingsolver and her husband&daugher at McGill about their experience and new book Animal,Vegetable,Miracle. Nothing earth-shattering but they are very creative, humourous people who now live sustainably off their farm.

[Creatively Speaking]
Montreal Photo Coop

12th annual Webby Awards are online

[Heard]
Headlights -marvin gaye, mercury rev, the band, bjork, 60's french girl pop, chopin, my bloody valentine ... what more could you ask for?

[Seen]
Not sure what all the whining was about, Darjeeling Limited is what it is...I like this review, particularly "an odd, flawed, but nonetheless beautifully handmade object as apt to win affection as to provoke annoyance. You might say that it has sentimental value." yep.

Also La Vie en Rose was fantastic (but tragic), you'll never heard Edith Piaf the same way again.

[Up Next]
Import/Export as part of the Festival TransAmeriques

The Point of You

2008-05-19T11:20:00.002-07:00

Every encounter begs for
the point of you

The catalyst who moves to
reflect, revel, recant, react(?)

Waking up unsure of
the point of you,
I continue to shift my perspective.

One Liners

2008-05-19T11:20:00.001-07:00

[Geek Chic]
Working on a new series of 'displaced' in the city...latest, here.

[Creatively Speaking]
Good post/discussion on tag lines

[Read/ing]
My name is Red, Orhan Pamuk

[Up Next]
39 Cannes Palm D'or

For all the font freaks

One Liners

2008-05-11T18:07:00.000-07:00

[Geek Chic]
Pangea Day a resounding success!

[Creatively Speaking]
Like how the porfolio is built and some lovely illustration by Arwen Giel

[Read/ing]
The Lizard Cage

[Seen]
Osmosaic at the St.Ambroise Cultural Center..fantastic folk(s)...They'll be playing as part of the Fringe, watch for them.

[Heard]
Loving the sounds of West-London's Estelle and the retro soul of Eli "Paperboy" Reed

One Liners

2008-05-03T07:23:00.000-07:00

[Geek Chic]
Design Spotter - blog on 'where design happens'..includes a curious piece for a Canada Lifestyle Tour (that excludes Mtl oddly given the context) exploring concept of "lifestyle".

[Déja Vu]
Ghosts of Cité Soleil - powerful film about Haitian gangs
Scenes of a Sexual Nature - title sums it up, light and charming...

[Up Next]
E-pop courtesy of Robyn at La Tulipe

Lobster Tales

2008-04-26T11:45:00.001-07:00

Friday
Landed in Halifax, drove south/west through Yarmouth to Pinkney's Point. Finally saw M's house by the ocean and understand why she bought it. We drank two bottles of wine, talk incessantly (amazing after a 3.5 hour car ride). Fall to sleep with ocean smell and air through the windows.

Saturday
Decide that chairs outside are just not going to cut what looks like a full-on sunny day. Put air mattress outside, lay down pillows, blankets, books, beer and settle in.
Neighbours come a-visiting, apparently M's (girl)friends are popular out here. Make some comment about "scratching" that will now have rumours flying about M's sexual preferences (sorry).

Buy lobster from handsome fisherman/cousin-although-not-by-blood of M's - we bring them home and realize we are too scared to touch them. Oops, M runs off to get the neighbour who, like a true hero, rescues the damsels and stuffs the lobsters in the pot after killing them under a hot tap. who knew?! Shuck, eat and drink more. Hard days work!

Sunday
Meet some more family, eat some more lobster, finish it off by eating more lobster (pasta, hmmm) drinking...ooph.

here are some country pics...

mon/tues/wed
Halifax - reminds me a lot of Ottawa, could have been all the Uni-students who insist on wearing flip-flops and shorts in less than warm weather... I toured the sites on tues and met an old friend for the afternooon. Next two days ate our way through a few restaurants; Chives, Jane's on the Common, Fid...I am now officially full. We also went to an event I thought was cool called "Battlesnap" you can find out more here...neat idea.

One Liners

2008-04-26T11:19:00.000-07:00

[Geek Chic]
intro for a new book on the power of collaboration, web, innovation - watch the video

[Travels]
East coast down, now time to head West..and for touring got a new ride, made (for the most part) locally...

[Seen]
Two fairly recent films, both well worth a couple of hours; The Savages and Dialogue avec mon jardinier

[Heard]
Saturday past, the sounds of Souljazz Orchestra at Sala Rossa...

[Yum]
Back in beer mode, have been enjoying the selections at Dieu du Ciel again...

[Up Next]
Friday night at MACM

Overheard [paraphrase]

2008-04-14T16:16:00.000-07:00

On the montreal metro, a couple in their mid-20's:

woman: Have you ever given blood?

man: yes

woman: I gave blood once, but now they just keep bugging me to give more

man: really?

woman: yah! but like, I need my blood! I can't like, give it all away!

CV: *sigh*

======================
In a sushi restaurant, three Uni-girls, early 20's?

girl one: but I can't come to your grandma's for dinner, I'll be high!
girl two: don't worry, she won't notice
girl three: well, we have to have dinner with grandma, it's passover
girl one: well, I'm going to get high
girl two: so, that means, passover is a tradition for us, just as smoking up is a tradition for you...

[minute of awkward silence as girl one wonders if 2 is being sarcastic]

all three nod and carry on...

One Liners

2008-04-06T13:36:00.001-07:00

[Geek Chic]
Judging from the volumes of people starting to reappear after a long hibernation this article might come in a handy before that spring fling..:-) It’s Not You, It’s Your Books

[Creatively Speaking]
The current show on at the musée contemporain is well worth a visit, focus is on 'conceptual art', the process and production as well as social commentary. Geoffrey Farmer's work was interesting especially his victorian 'box' at the entry.

[Travels]
Halifax on the radar as well as 3 days on the water prior in Nova Scotia. Not the warmest time of year but looking forward to eating my way through it...

[Heard]
Adele - absolutely brilliant show at Cabaret, in a small crowd of 200 two weeks ago, we were treated to this 19 yr old, south london wit and beautiful voice...CD is '19'.

[Seen]
There will be Blood - now I get the Oscar win - gripping story, visual and soundtrack, the acting wasn't half-bad either :-)

[Yum]
Had a wonderful meal at Au Cinquième Péché this weekend, the reviews since the chef change last year are true, interesting combinations and warm service.

[Up Next]
Caramel - the first feature film by Lebanese director/actress Nadine Labaki (2007/Cannes) is now showing in Montreal...

One Liners

2008-03-23T13:20:00.000-07:00

[Geek Chic]
Photo-savvy friends showed us these cameras recently - using stop-motion feature you can then load to QT for some fun video in progress - et voila

[Creatively Speaking]
Montreal Start Up List

[Read/ing]
échecs amoureux et autre niaiseries and about 8 back issues of Walrus

[Travels]
Skied at Mont Sutton for the past couple of days, beautiful glades and old-school charm. Spring brings a first trip to Halifax and a return to NYC...

[Up Next]
South London comes to Montreal... Adele

But, what's with the Ladybirds?!...

2008-03-23T12:35:00.000-07:00

With Winter officially over, we are now "spring" skiing - and had a wonderful start at Sutton, 1.5 hrs east of montreal with a weekend of beautiful glades and deep powder thanks to a snowfall the night before. The chalet was close by, making it easy to run home to friends, tiaras, disco ball, bubbles and the unforgettable meals and baked goods :-)
Thanks for another great rendez-vous...

Déja Vu...

2008-03-17T17:58:00.000-07:00

Le Ring - excellent film from Québec by director Anaïs Barbeau-Lavalette, also won a Jutra for best music. The young actor who plays Jessy, the main character is brilliant.

The Gates - saw this as part of this year's FIFA...interesting history, production and development of Christo's The Gates project in NY's Central park.

My Kid Could Paint That - a discussion of modern art, perception, ignorance and pride. and the kid has nothing to do with any of it, just paints.

One Liners

2008-03-09T07:48:00.000-07:00

[Geek Chic]
I saw a presentation of this Adobe campaign recently, love the rich yet minimalist approach.

[Creatively Speaking]
The Sound of Color is a collaborative project launched by Gap. 5 colors, 5 musicians, 5 directors.

[Read/ing]
The Poisonwood Bible, Siddhartha

[Travels]
Skied at Lake Placid last week - stunning landscape, high vertical, but tougher runs and yes, it lived up to it's nickname, 'iceface' from time to time.

[Up Next]
Fifa and Jully Black

Stop and listen...

2008-03-09T07:43:00.000-07:00

This is so powerful, it get's it's own post - take a hearing test

Hot milk indeed.....and MOBY!

2008-03-05T18:43:00.000-08:00

It's my fault, I know, for frequenting Starbucks. Got a gift card and have been having a latte daily until the $$ runs out. Which will be soon because as we know SB is WAY overpriced. Today's coffee delivered something rather disturbing along with the price:

1. "The Way I see It" 294

2. On the battlefield of ideas, winning requires moving toward the sound of the guns.
– Newt Gingrich (Former Speaker of the House of Representatives)

3. Relating to point 1 - Starbuck's puts a big fat disclaimer that the opinions expressed are those of the author and not SB.

WHAT? First I laughed at the "ideas" and "guns" and "battlefield"..it was all a bit surreal. Then, I read the disclaimer and thought if SB is so innovative, what are they afraid of? And finally, just got tired of everything trying to be edgy AND safe.

*sigh*

On the flip side, fun event at the SAT this week

One Liners

2008-03-01T12:12:00.000-08:00

[Geek Chic]
Smile Test

[Creatively Speaking]
Breakin' Bread A Last Supper mockumentary...]

[Read/ing]
The Poisonwood Bible , embroideries

[Travels]
Miami was interesting, hot and humid and a good mix of work and play. Play was a weekend of beach, drinks, art opening, contemporary dance (Your Blood, My Blood), more drinks and a long walk on the beach to end the weekend. After that, headed to downtown Miami to speak at Marketing Sherpa's email summit and listen to case studies for two days. Very good topics, interesting and engaged people from NA and Europe.

[Up Next]
Cuba Art et Histoire, Geoffrey Farmer

[Yum]
Haven't been home for awhile so I can only mention Robin des Bois has moved into a new location, much bigger, longer hours and looks great. Well worth a visit.

In South beach ate at Tantra - that manages to party hard on Monday nights, self-described as "sensual, exotic, opulent, sexy, primal" - saddly the food wasn't :-)

My fiscus and I...

2008-02-19T16:13:00.000-08:00

Realized the other day how much my fiscus and my relationships have in common:

- When I bought it I thought it was lush, beautiful and full of potential for growth
- After a month it lost a few leaves, this seemed natural given the transition indoors
- more lost leaves; take a look to see if there was a problem, hoped for the best, carry on, plants are fussy.
- More leaves drop - now I analyze; too much light? not enough? water? food? arg.
- Still hope it will revive on it's own time, but don't work too hard to figure it out
- As leaves continue to fall, I start to feel worse each time I look at it.
- I know something is wrong, but have no idea how to fix it. Friends/family offer much general advice, mostly, don't "overwater".
- But I think there's not enough water because I've been too afraid all along of overwatering it! arg,arg.
- hit a wall, depressed it's possibly dying, get mad and shake the rest of the leaves off. fuck off then!
- move the plant out of sight, thoughts of throwing in out cross my mind
- one day, someones asks if it at least has new leaves growing? WHAT???? It never even occured to me look.
- New leaves are sprouting for a few months now
- incredible feeling of relief, hope and confidence
- looking forward to seeing the 'new' fiscus

is it possible I'm actually a getting a green thumb? :-)

One Liners

2008-02-18T19:35:00.000-08:00

[Creatively speaking]

HEMA online

And The Breakup is still so good...]

[Read/ing]
The Poisonwood Bible

[Travels]
Miami ! Photos to follow...

[Up Next]
Cuba Art et Histoire

[Yum]
Had another fun Friday at Holder with good service and wine to boot. Nice reasonable bill at the end of the night too, it's a keeper!

For your viewing pleasure

2008-02-02T09:58:00.000-08:00

I have a great local video store; their 'indie'/quebec/foreign section is impressive, and, they have a section devoted to requested of top, often hard to find films that both customers and staff have asked for.

Here's a few of late that are great for that Saturday morning on the couch:
Bluff, Durs à Cuire, Reprise

On War...
Went to see Persepolis last week - storytelling at it's best, simple graphics, insightful, touching and funny.

At this year's Wildside festival, saw an incredible one-man performance revolving around the end of WWII, "and stockings for the ladies". Acting by Brendan Howlett was incredibly fluid and complex at the same time - immediately drawn in to the 10 characters (at least) he 'plays', supported by great writing...look forward to what's next.

One Liners

2008-01-27T09:49:00.000-08:00

[Geek Chic]
please don't let me see this in action

[Read/ing]
Maynard and Jennica, The Poisonwood Bible

[Travels]
Feb: Miami

[Up Next]
Persepolis

[Yum]
Ate at Le Pois Penché and M:Burger in the last couple of weeks, because they are in my work neighbourhood, nothing to scream about but each had interesting points. Visit the Chowhound board for comments.

On the Road...

2008-01-26T07:30:00.000-08:00

A recap of some recent travels and a question to guide upcoming ones:

New York
This trip was a mix of Ab Fab, What not to wear, and Seinfeld. Theatre and Bob Dillon aside, it was far less cultural than we usually allow, but a hell of a lot of fun, decandence and debauchery. Next time I promise to be more 'arty'.

One and Only Palmilla, Cabo st. lucas
Work trip and despite long delays, it was nice to end up in balmy Mexico early Dec. Driving up through the "one and only" resort was a shock since the exact same layout and plan is in southern Thailand under a similar name. I had been there a few years ago and asked the driver if it was the same company, he said no...apparently there's an underground market for this kind of thing :-)

Whistler
After three years I finally make it and couldn't have asked for a better day. Big fat snowflakes, friends and a personal tour made my first time out this season pure bliss. oh, and know I now know what it is to ski in snow - hard work...

Toronto
Funny to think that "Toronto", a former home for me, is now a place I just travel to and actually feel like a tourist. Despite many attempts to Facebook me, my brokers kept the visit small and intimate. Laughed big fat clown tears for most of the trip -exhausting in the best way.

Seattle
Work trip - always a pleasure to be in moderate climate in January, it's like the spring we never get in Montreal. Stayed on the waterfront - not sunny, but i love the dramatic grey against the water. Had surprise gifts waiting at Pike Market thanks to some friends who live nearby. Will have to re-visit and spend more time exploring, nice vibe.

question of the day(s) ahead:
"My purest enthusiasm" is...

One Liners

2008-01-12T09:13:00.000-08:00

[Geek Chic]
3D animation for the masses

[Read/ing]
Maynard and Jennica, A Spot of Bother

[Travels]
Dec: New York, Mexico ~ Jan: Vancouver, Seattle ~ Feb: Miami

[Up Next]
Centaur's Wildside Festival

[Yum]
Top 10 des meilleurs restos "apportez votre vin"

Two Thousand and Eight

2008-01-05T08:01:00.000-08:00

times I change my mind about blogging. I deleted all 2007 posts through no fault of their own, they were part of a forgettable year. But then all the things that get stuffed into my head start to get unmanageable and I need a place for storage. So here we are again. No set agenda, just the things that catch my senses, stay tuned.