Uninhabited Spaces

R.I.P. Whitney Houston

2012-02-11T21:56:00.003-05:00

Whitney Houston
August 9, 1963 – February 11, 2012

In September 2009 I noted on this blog how happy I was to see that Whitney Houston was releasing a new album, and I was hopeful that she would make a heroic comeback and show all of her imitators what the original diva could accomplish.

And this evening the sad, sad news that "The Voice" has been silenced. I had Ms. Houston's 1985 debut record on vinyl and I adored her instantly. My gooodness, could that stunning woman sing.

May she rest in peace. Here is one of my favourite moments of her incredible and inimatable talent, her performance at the 25 anniversary of Arista Records. This is how I will always remember her.

Walker's Paradise

2012-02-06T13:40:00.000-05:00

When we were researching where to live in Toronto, I wanted to know what the "walkability" score of potential addresses would be. Naturally, I looked to WalkScore, which “ranks communities nationwide based on how many businesses, parks, theaters, schools and other common destinations are within walking distance of any given starting point." Turns out our new address has a ranking of 98/100, which makes it a "Walker's Paradise" (for the record, so does our former address in Kingston).

So...I've decided to make myself worthy of our apartment's WalkScore and have begun walking to and from work every day! It's been a week now. The 3.5 km walk takes me 45 minutes door-to-door (including a stop for a morning coffee). I have really enjoyed that time to myself to wake up and get my head ready in the mornings, and to decompress and relax in the evenings.

Just as importantly, I have really enjoyed seeing the city from the ground. I have made some fun discoveries, including: an awesome cafe/lounge called Atelier, a restaurant called Cheesewerks that specializes in grilled cheese sandwiches, and a funky ice cream shop called Cool Hand Luc.

On the social life front, we spent a good portion of Saturday with our friends Dana & Gui exploring a neighbourhood called The Kingsway. I had never been to this part of Toronto before but apparently the average housing price last year was $1,464,263. Yikes! We strolled around the main street, had some brunch and then stopped for a yummy treat. We ended the evening back at their place with a visit with their wonderful daughter Isabel.

Are ya ready, boots...?

Mathew Broderick's Day Off

2012-01-30T12:52:00.001-05:00

What a fun homage to that classic 1986 comedy...(sigh)...

Art + Fish

2012-01-30T10:22:00.000-05:00

We had a relatively quiet weekend but we did venture out on Saturday with our friends Patrick & Raymond to take in a gallery showing of my colleague Megan, who is in a collective called Woman King. They were exhibiting as part of a multi-gallery show called "Capacity", a show built around the premise of raising the profile of female Canadian designers.

After viewing the show we headed to Ossington Street-- "epicentre of Toronto hipsterdom" says The Grid --in search of dinner. We happily stumbled across Fish Bar, after our original choice required a 75-minute wait. What a wonderful find! From the incredibly sweet and attentive server to the simple but well-executed tapas plates, we indulged in various sea fare, from oysters-on-the-shell, to grilled calamari, to octopus ceviche as well as a perfect bouillabaisse. Mark finished with a Lemon curd parfait, creamed cheese, vanilla crumble. He was very happy!

When the dead come back

2012-01-25T10:37:00.001-05:00

We are so excited, as I have scored free tickets to attend a special screening of "The Walking Dead"--the brilliant AMC TV show based on the awesome graphic novel of the same name-- at the TIFF Bell Lightbox!

We were hooked after the first episode, and so it will be so much fun to take part in the screening and after-show Q&A with the executive producer.

I have actually never enjoyed the zombie genre, but The Walking Dead managed to capture my full attention, thanks to the incredible work of its lead, Andrew Lincoln and one of the best of its supporting players, Laurie Holden. The show is really more about the living, rather than the walking dead, so I have been enthralled with their struggles and challenges as they face the terrifying prospect of a world nearly wiped out and mostly populated by zombies.

And miles to go before I sleep

2012-01-17T09:24:00.000-05:00

Last night I checked into to a sleep clinic to get my sleeping tested, just to make sure my snoring is not something more serious.

Of course, it's rather ironic to be tested for sleep with things stuck all over your body (see lovely accompanying photo). I counted at least 17 electrodes stuck to my face and head!

Before the lights went out they had me do a series of body and facial movements to test the sensors and then it was lights-out.

It was hard to fall asleep as there was some noise in the adjacent room (the technician talks to each patient via a speaker in the room), not to mention the lovely apparatus, wires, glowing thingy attached to my left index finger, and rather strange bed. All-in-all I suspect it was a normal sleep night, though, and I am quite curious to have my follow-up appointment to see what they figured out about yours truly.

Oh dear...

5 players, 1 guitar

2012-01-10T08:02:00.001-05:00

Sunday Shorts

2012-01-08T22:59:00.002-05:00

We decided to head north on Sunday morning to stroll around Yorkdale Mall. In a nice surprise, we were treated to a subway ride in one of the new TTC subway trains. We were very impressed with the 6-car open concept, the colours, and the overall design.

We had received a gift card for Harry Rosen for Christmas, so I picked up a smart Harry Rosen white dress shirt, while Mark got himself two bold patterned briefs by Ted Baker.

We then headed back into the downtown to meet our friends Toni + Dave at the TIFF Bell Lightbox to watch selections from the Canada's Top Ten Shorts. As the TIFF site states, this event was "established in 2001...to honor excellence in contemporary Canadian cinema, reinforcing TIFF’s commitment to Canadian filmmakers".

The standout screening of the five films was Ora, the first ever to be filmed using 3-D thermal imaging. The accompanying photo is a screen capture of this astonishing visual experience, which involved an amazing dance piece lit only by the heat of the performers' bodies. It was a jaw-dropping sight to behold.

After the screenings there was a panel of directors and actors from four of the films, with a Q+A session for about 15 minutes.

A beautiful day in this neighbourhood

2012-01-07T22:20:00.002-05:00

We spent the last few days catching up with our Toronto friends, beginning Thursday evening with a tour of the AGO with Patrick & Raymond, who kindly invited us to a members-only viewing of the "Chagall and the Russian Avant-Garde" exhibit.

I know little about Chagall or Russian painters in general so it was an illuminating exhibit. We also took in a good portion of the permanent Canadian Collection as well as an exhibit of Canadian artist Jack Chambers.

I spent Friday night with my former Queen's housemate Dana. We had a long overdue one-on-one catch-up--one of those conversations that last for hours--over dinner at Everest Cafe.

On Saturday morning we met up with our friend Toni for brunch at Cafe Bernate and then hit the galleries on Ossington Avenue, ending up in Little Portugal. None of us had been to this neighborhood before and we found some gems, including meat market Salsicharia Pavao, and rare bookstore and curiousity shop The Monkey's Paw.

We ended our walkabout with hot drinks and a yummy scone sharing plate at so-hip-it-hurts Drake Hotel. This it was off home to relax and make dinner.

Back to Middle Earth!!

2012-01-01T17:16:00.001-05:00

Finally, the first trailer has been released for "The Hobbit".

It's so wonderful to see Galdalf the Grey again, for he is my fabourite Tolkien character. I also adore Ian McKellen's protrayal of the wise and kindly wizard. Nice to see him back in the big blue hat. Can't wait for December 2012.

A Night in Morrocco

2012-01-01T17:10:00.001-05:00

We had our annual New Year's Eve cooking party, and this time around we cooked four Morroccan dishes. Our cooking teams included Mark and I, Toronto friends Patrick & Raymond, and Kingston friends Mara, Hugh, and David. Here are a few pics of our culinary adventures:

What are you doing New Year's Eve?

2011-12-31T00:02:00.000-05:00

A Condo with a View

2011-12-30T16:56:00.001-05:00

The iconic Toronto skyline

Looking southward, to Lake Ontario

The skyline again, with the nothern portion of downtown

Looking south again onto Lamport Stadium

Someone's in the kitchen

2011-12-29T23:18:00.001-05:00

We've returned safely from a week travelling to visit family and friends in three cities. It was wonderful to reunite with so many people we had not seen in a few months. We were blessed with many good laughs and also many thoughful gifts.

Cooking was a major theme this Christmas. I received four cookbooks as gifts--one each by Gordon Ramsay, Jamie Oliver, and David Rocco--as well as the aforementioned Morroccan cookbook.

While in Kingston I purchased a copy of the Curry Original Cookbook, which was just released in October. I have always wanted this great Kingston restaurant to publish a cookbook when I stumbled across it in Novel Idea I just had to have it. In fact, earlier tonight I tried my hand at making a home version of their Chicken Korma, Mark's favourite Indian dish. I was missing some of the ingredients but it turned out very good nonetheless.

My other exciting purchase with some gifted money was an impressive 7-piece Acacia wood cutlery set and matching steak knives by Schmidt Brothers, available at West Elm. These German stainless steel blades are wonderful to handle, thanks to the patented curve for your forefinger. The Acacia wood handles are beautifully constructed and nicely contain the blades.

All of this means that yours truly will be a busy boy in the kitchen over the rest of the holidays, trying out numerous new recipes and, hopefully, crafting some wonderful meals for my beloved.

Marrakech Express

2011-12-19T23:53:00.002-05:00

Mark gifted me with a wonderful starter kit so I can dive right into cooking Moroccan cuisine, including a beautiful tagine he found at Blue Banana Market in Kensington Market, and and awesome cookbook and Moroccan spice box from The Spice Trader on Queen St. West.

I have never been to Morocco but I have been to Turkey and the UAE, so I have enjoyed the wonders of Arabic food and hospitality. I've always been drawn to Moroccan cuisine, and have dabbled in a few dishes (I am most famous for a slow-roasted lamb and dried apricot + fig number served over a bed of couscous. I am excited to broaden my knowledge and to bring the taste of Morocco home.

Lordy, Lordy!

2011-12-19T14:52:00.001-05:00

Today marks my 40th birthday! I thought I would share my favourite picture of myself, taken in a park in Ottawa in the mid 1970s.

I am pleased to have reached this milestone. I am happy with my life and my journey so far.

I am especially thankful for my friends who have sustained me and given me support, love, and so much laughter.

Most of all, I am happy that my beloved husband, Mark, literally walked into my life in 2001. We have had a wonderful journey together, filled with so much love, kindness, and warmth. I am a lucky little turtle indeed.

To many more adventures...

Fa La La T.O.

2011-12-19T14:41:00.004-05:00

We hosted our first holiday party, Fa La La, in our new apartment in Toronto this past weekend.

The Saints went marching

2011-12-15T23:07:00.003-05:00

In celebration of my upcoming 40th birthday my beloved Mark treated me to a surprise evening of fun, beginning with an outstanding dinner at Noce, a superb Italian restaurant on West Queen West.

We started our meals with a glass of Negroni cocktail and breads, then Mark had grilled Morroccan octopus while I had carpaccio as an appetizer.

For our mains, Mark enjoyed a braised veal cheek while I had a massive and succulent veal shank (osso buco) served on a bed of saffron risotto. I was stuffed so I passed on dessert but Mark could not resist a favourite, creme brulee.

Mark then passed me an envelope with the main surprise: two tickets to see the Preservation Hall Jazz Band at Roy Thompson Hall! The band play a distinctively New Orleans brand of Dixieland jazz, befitting their namesake base in the heart of the French Quarter.

It was a rousing 2 hours of spirited jazz, anchored by notable professionals doing what they do best. Each member of the band was on fire but I was particularlyimpressed with clarinetist Charlie Gabriel (b.1932) whereas Mark was blown away by the effortless drumming of Joseph Lastie, Jr. (b. 1958). It's safe to say the spirit of the Mississippi bayou was in downtown Toronto tonight.

2011-12-13T16:34:00.001-05:00

I treated myself to a wonderful experience at Civello Salon & Spa during my lunch hour.

Civello is a leading Aveda lifestyle salon and spa and a beauty & wellness resource centre. They opened their first store in 1989. I went to the Queen St West location, which is literally 2 minutes from my office.

I was fortunate to get a walk-in appointment with an awesome stylist named Devin. My experience began by being walked back to a cafe/lounge area where I enjoyed a coffee and a biscotti. I was then walked to his chair and treated to a very relaxing head, neck & shoulder massage.

Devin was really focused on what I wanted for my cut and provided great advice and attention. I had a dry cut and then was lead back to a very relaxing reclined chair for a head wash followed by a face massage.

This was followed by some careful trimming to get it just perfect and off I was back into the real world. This was a wonderful experience with a fantastic attendant. The best part is when I left they gave me a $25 gift card to use on my next visit. Brilliant!

Oh, Christmas Tree

2011-12-11T22:32:00.001-05:00

We went to the massive Canadian Tire just off Dundas Square yesterday in search of our first ever artificial tree.

We thought it best not to try and drag a real tree up into our 19th floor condo. We figured the clean up come the first week in January would be too much bother.

So, we selected an imitation Canadian Spruce that my beloved not only assembled but also decorated all by himself. It's our tradition to have spiked eggnog and watch some classic Christmas shows while we trim the tree. This time around I just enjoyed the eggnog on the couch and kept Mark company while singing along to "We're a Couple of Misfits"*.

On Sunday night we were treated to a visit from our former Kingston neighbours Tammy & Mike, along with their daughter Bo and her boyfriend Bryan. It was so nice to catch up with them!

*A reference to that beloved 1964 animated show "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" that might actually be a "surreal and disturbing tale of a child with a congenital deformity whose parents cower in shame, a child who can only find solace by running away from it all with a possibly gay, misfit elf that’s struggling with ethnic and class-based employment issues"
(DP).

When he walks down the street...

2011-12-11T11:48:00.001-05:00

I snapped this rather blurry photo of the statue of Al Waxman yesterday afternoon as we strolled around Kensington Market.

Waxman (1935-2001) remains beloved for his iconic role as Larry King on CBC sitcom "King of Kensington" that ran from 1975-1980.

That show was a favourite of mine of that era, rivalled only by "Beachcombers" as must-see TV back in the days before cable, VCR, DVD, and Netflix. To me, growing up in the Outauoais region of Quebec, the Market--its characters and setting-- was Toronto. When I finally was able to travel to Toronto in my 20s, I made sure I went specifically to see where Larry King had lived.

Looking back, I have to praise CBC for having aired a show with such diverse characters, of various religious and ethnic backgrounds. At first heavily popuated by Eastern European Jews, the 1950s brought in waves of Portoguese, East Asian, and Caribbean peoples. Today, Kensington Market has somehow managed to maintain its disctinctive counterculture, anti-corporate vibe, with dozens and dozens of independent vinatge stores, markets, cafes, and food suppliers.

After an amazing brunch with lovely friends Toni & Dave at Hotel Ocho on nearby Spadina, we strolled the narrow streets of Kensington, taking in quite a few vintage shops. Of special note was the Blue Banana Market, which features around 80+ vendor stalls nestled together in an indoor space with gift items of all kinds. We were amazed at the variety and impressed that all were independent artisans and/or operators. We also loved Bungalow, purveyor of funky clothing, housewares, and furniture, and we bought some essentials at SasMart, a Portuguese discount department store known for its stacks of houseware items.

After saying goodbye to our friends we headed down Dundas Street West to the massive Canadian Tire just off Dundas Square in search of our first ever artificial tree. We selected a Canadian Spruce that my beloved not only assembled it but decorated it all by himself, as we both enjoyed eggnog and some classic Christmas shows.

The good type of plaque

2011-12-09T14:14:00.001-05:00

On my way to catch the streetcar home last night I happened to spot this plaque just two streets south of my office building.

I was surprised to learn that from 1829 to 1891, Upper Canada College was located downtown in then-called "Russel Square" (bordered by King, Simcoe, Adelaide, and John streets).

The plaque marks 22 Duncan Street, and reads, "This is the last remaining building of Upper Canada College, located here 1831-1891. Built in the Georgian style in 1833, the student residence was altered and enlarged first in 1856 by Cumberland and Storm, architects, and again several times in later years. After the school moved to its present location on Lonsdale Road, most of the buildings on this site were demolished. The residence was then used as a factory until renovated in 1985 for commercial purposes".

A shame that the rest of the original buildings did not survive.

All play and no work

2011-12-09T09:11:00.001-05:00

Earlier this week, we had a staff holiday lunch party with our colleagues in Marketing & Communications. We started our afternoon by enjoying an exquisite three-course lunch at The Chef's House, the restaurant operated by George Brown College's Centre for Hospitality and Culinary Arts.

I felt I was on an episode of Gordon Ramsay's F Word, as the place is ultra contemporary, the kitchen is completely open for viewing, and there are large TV screens showing you what's happening with your food. By the way, both Ramsay and Jaimie Oliver have made appearances at the school!

After lunch a group of us continued into the gay village to a place called George's Play, a fun--albeit dilapidated--watering hole, where we played bingo for three hours. Seriously, I felt I had walked into a retirement home for old queens. Which means, lots of crass repartee and great laughs. Our team did well too, with three of our staff winning cash. Alas, none of us won either of the major jackpots but we all had a blast nonetheless.

Next week the University is throwing a holiday party for staff and faculty at The Rex. What a lovely gesture! It's nice to be able to bond and have some fun with workmates.

Prayers for Virginia Tech

2011-12-08T15:09:00.001-05:00

As of 3:00 pm this afternoon, Virginia Tech reported that an officer had been shot dead on campus during a routine traffic stop, and that the shooter fled on foot and then appeared to have shot and killed a second person.

In my blog posting "More tears at Virginia Tech" written in January of this year, I was aghast to learn that this venerable school and tight-knit campus had suffered through a string of gruesome murders since that infamous and horrific mass slaughter of 32 people in April 2007.

Today's tragic announcement will no doubt once again bring heart-ache to the VT community, and lead many to question how they could possibly endure yet another horrific event.

For Canadians, this sad news from our southern neighbours comes on the heels of Tuesday's 22nd anniversary of the massacre at Montreal's Ecole Polytechnique. We share our grief and prayers with our Virginia Tech colleagues.

Wandering the PATH

2011-12-06T14:22:00.001-05:00

While many know Toronto for its iconic sites such as the CN Tower, Casa Loma, and the CNE, visitors might not realize that below street level downtown is the world's largest underground shopping complex.

With 28 km (17 miles) of shopping arcades PATH has 371,600 sq. metres (4 million sq. ft) of retail space, rivalling the West Edmonton Mall for size. The system connects 50 office buildings/towers and has roughly 1,200 stores. The City estimates that 100,000 commuters use PATH daily.

The first underground tunnels for shoppers and pedestrians were dug in 1900 to connect Eaton with its annex location, but the PATH really took off in the 1970s when two of the major complexes were joined by tunnels.

I have been exploring PATH on my lunch hours to familiarize myself with the labyrinth as much as possible before the sub-zero temperatures arrive. One day last week I hopped on the subway at Queen + University and went down to Union Station. I walked all the way back to Queen Street underground (the equivalent of 5 city blocks), and popped up at City Hall. Totally cool!

A One-of-a-Kind Weekend

2011-12-04T18:39:00.001-05:00

We were treated this weekend to a wonderful visit with our dearest and closest friends Ingrid & Edward. Ingrid was my best girl at my wedding, and Mark and I both stood for Ingrid and Edward at their wedding. It was our first visit with them since moving from Kingston so we were all so pleased to finally reunite.

They arrived Saturday morning and we started our weekend by brunching at Mildred's Temple Kitchen. We then walked around Liberty Village, showing them our favourite shops.

We took a break at our apartment to catch up and then headed back out into the downtown so they could check into the landmark Royal York Hotel. I then took everyone on a quick walk and we headed over for a superlative dinner at Le Select Bistro. Mark and I shared a delicious charchuterie plate and then for a main I had neck of lamb and Mark had beef cheek. I passed on dessert but Mark had a lovely chocolate mousse.

Since we were all pleasantly stuffed we decided to walk up to Queen Street West. We ended up stopping in a great vintage shop, where Ingrid bought a Patagonia fleece for a really great price. We then hopped on a streetcar and got off near our movie rental place (which we sadly learned is closing at the end of the month). We purchased a fun scary movie and went back to our apartment to cosy up on the couch, like old times.

We met up with Ingrid & Edward Sunday morning at Marben where we enjoyed a yummy brunch. I had sneakily arranged for a surprise reunion with an old housemate named Dutt (Ingrid and I had lived with him when we were at Queen's). We had not seen Dutt in nearly 15 years. When he walked in Ingrid literally screamed out "Oh my God!". It was a great reaction. We had a long chat, with some fun stories and catching up.

After we said goodbye to Dutt the four of us headed over to the Direct Energy Centtre to take in the One-of-a-Kind Christmas Show. It was awesome, albeit overwhelming. There were around 800 vendors, so it was a lot to take in. Mark was thrilled to find the Monster Factory booth. After quite some time trying to decide which monster to adopt, Mark finally chose Donnie (pictured at left). Donnie seemed quite happy to be coming to our home. He smiled all the way out of the show.

Ingrid also adopted a monster and she found a beautiful dress too. We then had to let them get on the highway back to Kingston. We were sad to see them go but we were buoyed by the fact that we will see them later in the month.

Seeing, with a Conscience

2011-12-02T20:05:00.001-05:00

I purchased these glasses recently at a great shop called Spec and Specs on Queen Street West. After scouring the store for that just-right fit, I fell in love with these Eco frames instantly.

What I did not know until after ordering them is that they are made with 95% recycled components, the only optical collection to be certified by the Underwriters Laboratory with a Environmental Claims Validation. The company also plants a tree for each frame sold. They are currently up to 625,505 trees! Now that's seeing good and doing good.

Creep Night

2011-11-30T22:42:00.001-05:00

Being the horror genre fan he is, Mark has fallen for FX's chilling new show "American Horror Story". Of course, that means I have been watching it every Wednesday night alongside him.

It's a downright creepy show, with some genuinely scary elements. The series revolves around the Harmons, a family of three who moved from Boston to Los Angeles as a means to reconcile past anguish. Alas, their new home is the source of far deeper and demented problems than they could have ever imagined.

The cast is anchored around Dylan McDermott ("The Practice") as a psychiatrist; Connie Britton ("Friday Night Lights"), who plays his wife, and newcomer Taissa Farmiga as their teenage daughter.

However, it's the supporting cast that is actually worth watching. The legendary Jessica Lange ("The Postman Always Rings Twice") plays the Harmon’s neighbor, chewing every scene like only few can. Evan Peters ("One Tree Hill") is memorable as a psychiatric patient and the remarkable Frances Conroy ("Six Feet Under") is the Harmon’s excessively devoted housekeeper. And then there's that guy in the rubber suit...

He Shops, He Scores!

2011-11-30T08:05:00.001-05:00

This morning marked the opening of the much-hyped new Loblaws at Maple Leaf Gardens.

Located on the ground floor, the store promises their Joe Fresh clothing line and a whole range of “food experiences” including a sushi bar, chocolate-by-the-chunk and “The Amazing Wall of Cheese,” an 18-foot-high wall of world cheeses complete with a 100-pound wheel of Stilton.

The upper two floors of the Gardens is being renovated into a new athletic facility for Ryerson University.

I have not visited the new store yet (it only opened 10 minutes ago!) but I applaud this creative mixed redevelopment of the Gardens, located in a part of the downtown core that is rather dilapidated. Hopefully it will help anchor a revitilization of the neighbourhood.

We Went Walking

2011-11-27T22:04:00.001-05:00

Sunday morning dawned overcast and rainy, but we did not let that stop us from having a grand adventure.

We started our day by meeting Mark's nephew Jordan for brunch in tony Yorkville, at celebrity chef Mark McEwan's One Restaurant. This is the kind of place that takes your coat at the door and has full marble restrooms. The decor and layout were impressive. I was pleasantly surprised that our waiter was not only pleasant but down-to-earth. The service was very good and the food was also quite good. I had eggs Benedict and I appreciated that instead of the typical English muffin that it was served on a homemade brioche.

We then strolled around Yorkville, taking in some of the fabulous shops, including Teotro Verde (the most stunning home decor shop I have ever visited) and Pusateri's Fine Foods (an upscale grocery store and foodie haven).

After saying goodbye to Jordan we checked out the men's department at venerable Holt Renfrew (Holt's, for those in the know) and then strolled westward into the Annex so Mark could go to Greg's Ice Cream for a cup of melted marshmellow ice cream (yummy!). We kept walking westward and entered into Bloor West Village, checking out a couple of bookstores, and just kept going, eventually dfinding ourselves at the famous Honest Ed's (I snapped the accompanying picture of its west facade).

We didn't go into Honest Ed's as our destination was the delightful street adjacent to the store called Mirvish Village. We were amazed by the one-of-a-kind shops, such as Beit Zatoun (a gallery and common space for social justice activism), comic book nirvana The Beguiling, movie poster, books, and collectibles mecca Hollywood Canteen, and our favourite find Vintage Video, home to 3,000 rare movie titles primarily from the 1930s to the 1970s as well as memorabilia and collectibles.

We were completely in awe of Vintage Video. Opened in 1988 by a passionate cineophile named John Barthel. Mark was hoping to find a copy of "Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein" (1948) and lo and behold Mr. Barthel was easily able to find us one and give us a great history lesson on the movie. What a lovely man! We respected his passion and knowledge of classic movies and we look forward to returning to look for some more gems.

Before hopping on the streetcar to take us home we checked out Sonic Boom, which has to be the largest used CD, DVD, records store I have ever seen! Besides being the largest independent music store in Toronto, Sonic Boom is als known for its creative window displays.

In the Neighbourhood

2011-11-26T22:23:00.001-05:00

I took this picture earlier today as we strolled through Roncesvalles Village, Toronto's Polish enclave. Just last month The New York Times described the eponymous main street as being filled with "indie bookstores, quirky coffeehouses and smart boutiques [that] feel more like small-town hangouts...with a blessed absence of the chain stores that have crept across Toronto".

Our day began with brunch at School in Liberty Village, and then we walked westward along Queen Street West into Parkdale Village, which has become a great source for funky vintage clothing stores and antique shops. We discovered a great vintage shop called Philistine, in which I found and purchased a beautiful Brooks Brothers Polo Button-Down shirt. This was a real find as it is was actually made in the USA, a rarity these days in the clothing retail industry.

The other fantastic vintage shop we found is called Studio 1686. The store is run by sisters Marya and Irene, who both worked in wardrobe in the film industry for 20 years. The clothing in the store was worn by stars. They cull all the cast-off clothing from various film productions. I tried on two beautiful shirts but did not take any home.

We kept walking west on Queen Street and were soon in Roncesvalles, and enjoyed the recently revitalized main street (Downtown Kingston BIA please take note), with its delis, cafes, bakeries, used book stores, and unique shops. We decided to have an early dinner, opting for authentic Polish cuisine at Bistro La La. We each had a pint of Tyskie beer, and Mark opted for dumplings with goulash whereas I started with a delicious borscht, followed by a massive schnitzel. Tummies stuffed, we walked home to end our wonderful day of exploring.

Preppy Vitals

2011-11-24T17:49:00.001-05:00

It's beginning to feel a lot like...

2011-11-24T16:56:00.001-05:00

On the way back from a training session I took this picture of one of the wonderful windows of the flagship store of The Bay.

They have created a series of Christmas dioramas that are both heart-tugging in their sentiment and jaw-dropping in their detail.

Reminiscent of the famous Macy's windows in the Big Apple, I was impressed to see the creative investment in the displays alongside the very busy Queen Street West and Yonge Street facades of this very impressive building.

This is not your grandmother's The Bay. The flagship is decidedly upscale (including a gorgeous Burberry boutique), with a snazzy interior design, layout, and focus on customer service. I purchased some new Florsheim shoes there last week and received marvellous personal attention.

Speaking of attention, I patronized Truefitt & Hill Barber this week, since I was off-site all week in the Financial District. Although pricey, the experience was really, ahem, a cut above. When I arrived they took my coat, offered me a shoe shine, and then I was lead to my chair, given a very good cut, a lovely wash and scalp massage, then a neck and shoulder massage, and finally sent off with some proprietary aftershave. I will definitely return once in a while as a special treat.

Up, up, and Beyond

2011-11-23T17:03:00.001-05:00

Here's the view out our living room windows from earlier this evening. Thought you would like the sunset view on the Toronto skyline.

That very iconic skyline is the theme of this posting. New data reveals Toronto is building more high-rises than anywhere else in North America.

There are currently 132 high-rise buildings (meaning 12 to 40 floors) under construction in Toronto. For a sense of context, Mexico City ranks second with 88, New York City is third with 86, Chicago is fifth with 17, while Miami rounds out the top five with 16 high-rises in progress. Overall, Toronto has the second-highest number of completed high-rises and skyscrapers in North America, with 1,875.

Fueling the frantic building is a record year of Toronto condo sales of $10-billion. Soon to join the list is a just-announced 75-storey condo called 10 York which will, ahem, trump the soon-to-be-completed 60-storey Trump International Hotel & Tower. Trump has been proudly marketing itself as Canada's tallest residential tower, a title it may only enjoy for a couple of years.

The thousands of new residents will eventually get around downtown in a fleet of new TTC streetcars and new "Rocket" subway trains.

Geeks, Wine, and a Reunion

2011-11-20T16:50:00.001-05:00

This past weekend began with a wonderful reunion with two of our dearest friends from Kingston, Karen & Jen.

They arrived just before noon and, after a tour of our apartment, we set out into Liberty Village in search of brunch. My original plan was to take them to School but it was so packed that we decided to move on and we ended up at Liberty Bistro, an utterly charming, relaxed, and peaceful oasis. The food was great and the service even better!

After stuffing our tummies, we toured the girls around Liberty Village, making sure we hit favourite spots such as For the Love of Cake (for some yummy cupcakes), urban furniture store casalife, and the always fun decor store West Elm.

We then strolled over to West Queen West to take in Toronto's hippest hood, checking out places like the Drake General Store (the best little gift shop ever), BYOB (a one-of-a-kind cocktail emporium), and a pop-up shop operated by the Clothing Brand Experiment. We finished the evening off with a fantastic dinner at Terroni before saying our goodbyes.

We began Sunday with brunch at Marben, which has quickly become a favourite of ours. Then we were off to the Metro Toronto Convention Centre to first embrace our inner geek hood at Toronto Comicon. This was a collector's paradise, with about 80 vendors selling their various wares. There were certainly every stereotype present, from the Kevin Smith lookalikes, to the anime costumed girls, to the pierced goth group. Overall, very good fun. I got excited when I stumbled across a Bloom County compendium, and Mark purchased a two-volume collection of an Astonishing X-Men series written by our hero Joss Whedon.

Then we strolled over to the south building at the MTCC to take in the Food and Wine Expo. I was in heaven, strolling around all of the various wine vendors. I took in a few tastings as well, notably a 21 year-old Balvenie Portwood single malt scotch, and a Cab Sauv from the Diamond Collection of Francis Ford Coppola.

Are You Ready to Go Back?

2011-11-17T18:56:00.001-05:00

James Cameron's epic boat movie has been remastered and converted into 3D and will be back in theatres in March 2012. I loved "Titanic" and have never been embarrassed to admit so. I was never too cool for this movie, as so many claimed to be (As I like to joke, "Titanic" was the highest grossing film of all time for nearly 15 years that no one saw and that everyone hated). Looking forward to seeing this improved version of the film. Cameron proved with "Avatar" that 3D executed properly can be a marvel. My heart will go on...

If Only it Could Walk

2011-11-14T22:34:00.001-05:00

I took this picture of the landmark building at OCAD U, the Sharp Centre for Design, last week on my way to a meeting. Known affectionately around the city as "the table top", the Sharp Centre has quickly become a tourist destination in its own right.

I am always seeing folks stopping to take pictures of the Centre, which is nicely complemented by the CN Tower if you are looking southward (my picture was taken looking north). In fact, we can see the distinctive black-dotted, 12-legged monolith from our condo.

Winner of a 2004 RIBA Worldwide Award, the building was described as "courageous, bold and just a little insane." It certainly added a whimsical jolt in 2004 to what had long been an architecturally staid section of the city (Frank Gehry's outstanding transformation of the neighbouring AGO was not completed until 2008).

Weekend Wanderings

2011-11-08T23:39:00.002-05:00

I snapped this picture of the Toronto skyline as seen from our living room on Saturday afternoon. I love how the CN Tower is framed by the lines of our patio door and the balcony railing.

It's already been a month but I still get chills when I look out the window in the morning, and more so at night. It's a solid reminder that we're not in Kansas anymore, if you know what I mean.

This past weekend was more relaxed. Once again, we hit the Wellington Street Art Gallery for an opening of work done by a Kingston artist named Connie Morris. We also met up with a Kingston friend named Hugh at the WSAG, which was a nice treat.

On Sunday we explored the neighourhood immediately to the west of us, Parkdale. Home to one of the largest Tibetan diasporas in the world, Parkdale is very ethnically and socioeconomically diverse. We wandered along the Queen Street portion of the 'hood and I found it to be remarkably genuine, full of all sorts of interesting characters. The yuppy/hipster gentrification of nearby West Queen West has not fully reached into Parkdale, so there was a mix of the rough-and-tumble street folk as well as tons of immigrants, and the odd yuppy here and there. I felt I was walking in a real Toronto neighbourhood.

Our destination was actually to visit Glen, a friend of Mark's from OCAD U that he lived with in Campus Co-op with back in the '90s (in a lovely coincidence I was living in Science'44 Co-op in Kingston around the same time!). It was so nice to see these old friends reunite, and we made plans to see each other on a regular basis.

Closer to my office in the , I was thrilled to stumble across Little Nicky's, a fantastic, locally-owned coffee shop. It's tiny but adorable, with home made baked goodies and a very good coffee indeed. I loved the one-of-a-kind ambiance. I also checked out Canteen, the O&B joint on the ground floor of the Bell Lightbox (home of TIFF). Their grab and go section is very well stocked and I could see this becoming a regular option for my morning coffee and treat.

A Gentleman's Oasis

2011-11-04T23:31:00.003-04:00

I had the distinct pleasure to patronize Terminal Barber Shop 2 this week. Located a block west from the original landmark shop (est. 1925), the second location is exactly what you expect a proper barber shop to look, feel, and even smell like.

Besides the warm and beautiful wood floors, the centrepieces of The Terminal are their vintage barber chairs. Absolutely stunning, they are magnificent works of craftsmanship.

Clients are treated to classical music emanating from hidden speakers as they hang their coats in a handsome wardrobe. With the comforting odour of talcum powder floating about, you slip into one of their leather lounge chairs, enjoy a newspaper or one of the neatly stacked men's magazines from the UK.

There are three barbers, neatly dressed in 3-button white coats, and they are meticulous, courteous, and very professional. I meet one of the owners, Karim Saaden, and he welcomes me and asks my name. My barber is Frank, and he quietly and efficiently works on my hair, with scissors, a very quiet shaver, and a straight razor.

The experience harkens back to a centuries old tradition. I have to say this was one of the most civilized 30 minutes I have ever spent. I'm sure it was not that long ago one could have expected to be offered a scotch or a cigar. This was indeed a proper barber shop, not a "hair salon" or "stylist" or however else folks with scissors like to call themselves. This is the real deal, old school, musk and all. What a wonderful discovery amongst the cacophony of downtown Toronto.

Monday, Scary Monday

2011-10-31T23:48:00.002-04:00

On this All Hallows' Eve we joined our friends Patrick & Raymond for dinner at yummy Just Thai, and then headed onto three city blocks of Church Street closed to traffic for the annual "Halloweek" Block Party.

Billed as the largest outdoor Hallowe'en party in Canada, the block party was filled with thousands of revellers, most of whom outfitted in costumes, from sexy to scary.

I snapped this picture of a giant and fearsome rat, who towered over everybody. We saw many fantastic outfits, featuring some great creativity and imagination. I can't recall the last time I had so much fun!

Art, Music, and Clubs, Oh My!

2011-10-27T23:42:00.000-04:00

Thursday night kicked off our upcoming three days of culture madness, as we headed to the second floor of The Gladstone Hotel to take in the opening night of their annual upArt Contemporary Art Fair.

We went to see some friends of Mark's named Marc Ngui and Magda Wojtyra whose huge textile piece "Polytopia" was hung at the entrance to the exhibit.

Friday night we will be attending an art party at the Wellington Street Art Gallery, owned by our friend Patrick McNeil. He will be featuring the work of artist Imam Azhari, who uses both traditional and modern Trompe L'oeil techniques.

After the party we will be trekking up to The Press Club to watch our friend Dave perform with his band, Ravaged By Wolves, an experimental/punk/rock collective.

Saturday will feature a visit from longtime Kingston friend Rebecca and then we are off to the Toronto International Art Fair. The fair will feature 109 fine art galleries from 13 countries and is the largest and most celebrated indoor visual art event in Canada.

Sunday Morning, You Look Fine

2011-10-24T01:10:00.000-04:00

We started gorgeous Sunday with a very hearty egg, cheese, and veggie scramble, courtesy of my beloved. Then it was a two-streetcar ride up to the corner of Bloor St. West and Bathurst St. to start our tour.

Our first stop was Mark's favourite bookshop, the Annex location of Book City. He was quickly drooling over their art section. We then discovered Theodore 1922, a high-end men's store that had us both drooling. The quality of the fabrics alone was stunning, and we were very impressed with the colours and styling.

We then strolled towards the "Magnificent Mile" section of Bloor Street and visited the lower end of the scale retailers, such as Club Monaco, Banana Republic, Pottery Barn, Williams-Sonoma, before continuing east into the Village.

By this time it was 4 pm so we had a quick bite to eat at the quaint and friendly Church St Diner before heading to a favourite clothing store, Out on the Street. The latter occupies three floors of a townhouse and has amazing deals on stylish men's clothing. We each found and bought handsome zipped cardigan sweater; mine is made by Penguin, while Mark's is made by Alexander Christian.

A streetcar dropped us off near our place and we settled down on the couch to rest our feet and enjoy a viewing of "Monsters vs. Aliens", a very fun animated movie!

Viva West Queen West!

2011-10-23T00:45:00.002-04:00

After countless hours setting up our new apartment, we pledged that we would finally spend this weekend exploring the city, especially our neighbourhood to the north, West Queen West.

We met up with my dear friend Dana after work on Friday and had dinner at the Queen St location of Terroni, the stalwart home of southern Italian cuisine. We finished the evening at so-hip-it-hurts The Gladstone Hotel.

On Saturday morning we met Mark's longtime friend Toni at Cafe Bernate, where we started our afternoon with the most delectable home style brunch. I enjoyed an asparagus and Swiss cheese scramble that was just perfect. We can't wait to go back with our friends from out-of-town.

We then hit the galleries on Ossington Street, with our favourite being AWOL. Returning back to West Queen West, we were accosted by thousands of Zombies, gathering for the 9th annual Zombie Walk. Yes, you read that correctly. Literally thousands of people were fully decked out with some pretty awesome zombie makeup and costumes, both old and young alike.

After the galleries it was time to hit the design stores, including 70s kitsch bar store BYOB, pretentiously named but cool Industrial Storm, organizers' heaven Neat, and our favourite, Style Garage.

We had to then part with Toni and rush back home to prepare dinner for our friends Patrick & Raymond, owners of the Wellington Street Art Gallery--where we shall be this coming week for their next show opening.

More adventures in the city to come!

The Streetcar Shuffle (and other news)

2011-10-14T14:02:00.000-04:00

Day four of commuting by streetcar has allowed me to observe the peculiar ritual that I am naming the "streetcar shuffle". Basically you are supposed to enter the car from the front only, then either (1) stand along the perimeter facing toward the window or (2) if perimeter is full, enter car as quickly as possible and slowly move down the centre of your aisle. This shuffle usually happens over the course of a few stops so you can strategically situate yourself as close to the rear exit doors in anticipation of your intended stop. This may or may not work according to the volume of bodies packed in the car.

For the most part I have found my fellow city residents to be a friendly and civil lot. There have certainly been some interesting characters but overall I am pleasantly surprised. In fact, I have had far more "Hello", "Excuse Me", and general courtesies on a per capita basis than I would encounter in a typical day in Kingston (population 125,000)!!

There is a West Elm in Liberty Village and we took a peruse and found a gorgeous bath mat for our en-suite bathroom. I had not heard of West Elm before. They are part of the Williams-Sonoma/Pottery Barn group of stores. We loved the store and we met the sweetest and most helpful staff member too.

Mark's long-time friends Toni and Dave suggested we meet at Bier Mrkt on Wednesday night to take advantage of Oktoberfest specials. This place has over 100 beers on the menu, and the limited-time-only Bavarian Pretzels were awesome.

As I was getting shaggy, I ventured this week to one of the great barber shops of Toronto, Aristotelis. I managed to get seated within 20 minutes and got an amazing and attentive cut from Tito, a Venezuelan who emigrated to Canada 31 years ago.

Looking forward to having our first moved-in weekend. We are brunching with a friend on Saturday and then planning to head to IKEA on Sunday to get some bookshelves so we can put all our books in place.

Reporting Live from Toronto

2011-10-09T00:02:00.000-04:00

This marks my first posting as a resident of Toronto. I took the attached picture from our balcony. This is our actual view eastward from our condo apartment!

I keep pinching myself, as I can't believe that this is what I now wake up and see each morning as I make my morning coffee (thank the Maker my Bodum made the trip safely!).

We've spent the last couple of days buried in a sea of boxes, trying to make sense of the mess and putting our new apartment together. We finally crossed the magic line when it became home, helped immensely by Mark hanging our art work and photographs.

We did sneek out a couple of times, to get breakfast; first to the homey Liberty Village Market & Cafe on Friday and then to the hip School bakery and cafe on Saturday morning. I also enjoyed a cappuccino at the gorgeous Liberty Village location of Balzac's.

The next couple of days we will take some much-needed rest, get some supplies, and start to explore the nearby fantastic neighbourhoods that make up West Queen West and King West Village.

Farewell to Kingston

2011-10-03T19:49:00.000-04:00

Mark and I enjoyed a farwell dinner at celebrated Kingston restaurant Chez Piggy, thanks to a generous gift certificate from my colleagues at Yonge House. We enjoyed a fantastic three-course table d'hote that featured a superb carved Muscovy Dusk.

Chez Piggy is one of those Kingston landmarks that we shall very much miss as well as its companion bakery, Pan Chancho. We shall also be looking to somehow replace Classic Video, whose back collection of TV shows and movies is nothing short of amazing. Of course, I will also miss my beloved Queen's but I plan on being heavily involved with the Queen's Toronto Alumni Branch.

Other things we will miss about Kingston are the Farmer's Market, the waterfront near the Kingston Yacht Club, and strolling along historic King Street.

I came to age in Kingston and, after 20 years, I am grateful for my time in the city and am looking forward to our new chapter and adventures in Toronto. Still, Kingston will always have a very special place in my heart.

Dub, Black Dub

2011-09-26T14:21:00.000-04:00

Legendary Canadian record producer Daniel Lanois (U2, Peter Gabriel, Bob Dylan, Neil Young) has formed a band called Black Dub.

Featuring a wicked lead vocalist named Trixie Whitley and the most brilliant drummer named Brian Blade, Black Dub is a great musical foursome.

One of my favourite songs is called "Ring the Alarm" as it showcases each person's great talents so well. Fans of Lanois will quickly recognize his signature guitar sound and production, recently so well crafted on Neil Young's album Le Noise (check out stand out song "Walk With Me".)

Part soul, part rock, part reggae, part magic, Black Dub create a wonderful noise together.

Maple Cheese

2011-09-24T12:54:00.004-04:00

By complete accident, I caught a great documentary on CBC called "Rise Up: Canadian Pop Music in the 1980s". What a wonderful trip down nostalgia lane!

The early 80s saw the origin of music video television, first in the US with MTV and then here in Canada with MuchMusic. But since there were so few music videos, Canadian acts who managed to produce videos ended up getting copious amounts of playtime on both sides of the border. I am sure many folks assumed many of the pop hits of the decade were American or European bands as a result.

The documentary shows how MuchMusic really broke new music outside of album-oriented classic rock that had dominated the radio stations. The Vee-Jay was born (I had a massive crush on Erica Ehm) and the MuchMusic open studio, wobbly camera style became a signature style. The other thing the doc effectively illustrates is how incredibly influential Toronto's Queen St West was on the Canadian pop music scene.

Although not quite chronologically ordered, the documentary plays like a checklist of essential Canadian 1980's pop hits. And it's an impressive list indeed. Bands such as Chilliwack, Glass Tiger, Red Rider, The Pursuit of Happiness, Slow, 54-40, Blue Rodeo, Parachute Club, Triumph, Cowboy Junkies, Men Without Hats, The Box, and The Grapes of Wrath.

The decade also gave us some huge solo acts, such as Maestro Fresh-Wes, Daniel Lavoie, Gowan, Bruce Cockburn, Corey Hart, Jane Siberry, Robbie Robertson, Daniel Lanois, Tom Cochrane, k.d. lang, Kim Mitchell, Sarah McLachlan and, the biggest of them all, Bryan Adams.

Ah, what terrible fun.

REM Goes to Sleep

2011-09-22T11:32:00.000-04:00

REM announced yesterday on their web site that they are disbanding.

For those of us in high school in the '80s and university in the '90s REM was the quintessential alternative rock band. They pretty much owned the college radio crown during that period.

In 1990 there was a guy named Vasilio who lived on the same floor as me in Leonard Hall residence at Queen's. He would blast REM's "Superman" over and over and over. I think there were threats of bodily harm shouted around the hall quite a few times.
Ah, what good memories.

I have always loved and respected REM. Their catalogue is incredible and they have given us a collection of lasting and influential songs. Thank you, REM, for your passion and for your heart breaking and beautiful music.

As a tribute, here is one ardent's fan guide to the 20 best REM songs. Enjoy!!

OCAD University celebrates 135 years

2011-09-12T19:29:00.000-04:00

This year marks the 135th anniversary of my new workplace, Ontario College of Art & Design University.

To mark this significant milestone, OCAD U has launched a 135 Website, to provide a one-stop resource for the series of events and campus initiatives.

As part of my duties I will be attending an alumni social next week at Toronto's famed art hotel, Gladstone Hotel.

What an exciting new adventure!

From the Sky Down

2011-09-08T23:48:00.000-04:00

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the release of U2's groundbreaking album Achtung Baby. I'll give you a moment to let that one sink in...

I vividly remember going to the now-closed brilliant Kingston music store called House of Sounds to purchase the album in cassette form on release day in November of 1991. I was in third year at Queen's and living in Victoria Hall residence. I recall sitting in my rez room with my best buddy Pravin, unwrapping the cassette and popping it in. The look on our faces when the opening distortion of "Zoo Station" was classic WTF?!

This was U2? We were hardcore second-generation U2 fans, raised on The Unforgettable Fire (1984), The Joshua Tree (1987), and especially Rattle and Hum (1988). We did not recognize our beloved band. Where were the open landscapes, the poetry, the sound of rockabilly and desert hymns?

It is forever to U2's credit that they released Achtung Baby. Considering the trio of albums that preceded it, it is almost hard to believe the same band created the sound that Bono famously referred to as "four men chopping down the Joshua tree".

And yet Bono's quip is so very insightful. Achtung Baby was the album that U2 had to make in order to survive as a band and, ultimately, as friends. There was a great possibility of U2 imploding, and the crisis bore what many consider to be one of the finest and most influential rock albums of the past 25 years.

To mark the occasion, U2 allowed esteemed Academy Award winning documentarian David Guggenheim (An Inconvenient Truth) to film the story of the making of Achtung Baby. The documentary, From the Sky Down, just opened the 2011 TIFF. You can catch a cool preview of the film here.

Our New 'Hood

2011-09-04T09:03:00.003-04:00

We drove up to Toronto for the day on Friday to officially sign off on our new condo apartment. We arrived early enough so we could explore our new neighbouhood, Liberty Village.

According to Toronto Life, "with sexy new storefronts, high-gloss condos and plans to build a canopied walkway modelled after a Milanese arcade, the former factory blocks are poised to become the next Chelsea Market". Interestingly, this is exactly what Mark said as we were walking around the narrow streets between the repurposed 19th-century red brick buildings.

The area began as an industrial area, and was home to a prison and then a reformatory. The CNE began in the neighbourhood too. Today, Liberty Village is home to film companies, arts and design companies and dozens of cafes, restaurants, and quirky stores, such as For the Love of Cake, the Village Cheesemonger, and Beer Boutique, the newsest retail experience from the stodgy The Beer Store. The neighbourhood pub is called Brazen Head and there is a wicked lounge bar called Locus 144.

We also took a tour of King West Fitness, an awesome 18,000 sq ft gym club inside a warehouse. Mark is likely going to join for a few months, until our condo's gym and indoor pool are completed.

Suffice it to say, we are getting pretty darn excited! More to come...

New Job, New City

2011-08-22T19:17:00.000-04:00

I am thrilled to announce that I have accepted a position at OCAD University! Mark and I will be moving to Toronto on October 1 so I can be ready to begin my role as the Manager, Alumni Relations.

OCAD is "Canada's university of the imagination", offering degree programs in visual arts and design. Established in 1876, OCAD lies in the heart of downtown Toronto and offers a blend of studio-based and critical inquiry learning. Many people have seen or heard of OCAD because of the distinctive Sharp Centre for Design, which perches over the neighbourhood. The "tabletop" has quickly become one of Toronto's iconic buildings.

I will be responsible for providing leadership and strategic direction to the alumni relations portfolio and the University’s alumni organizations in order to strengthen the engagement of alumni in the life of the University and its students, and in support of its objectives for fundraising growth.

I will also be leading the development of programs and services that deliver value to alumni throughout their lives, deepening their engagement with the University and with each other, maximizing the power and pride of a fully engaged global alumni base of more than 10,000 individuals.

So, we are excited and thrilled to be heading to Toronto and are now apartment-hunting and just starting to realize that we have to leave our beloved Kingston circle of friends/family. The former will certainly be easier than the latter.

RIP

2011-08-22T10:42:00.001-04:00

Canada lost a great citizen earlier today, the leader of the NDP and the Leader of the Opposition.

A true gentleman, and passionate advocate of the disadvantaged, friend to the working class, and caring leader for his party.

He was a politician of a different ilk, a positive force and more of a man on the street than a man in a suit. May he rest in peace.

Jack Layton
1950 - 2011

Power to the Preppy

2011-08-19T19:48:00.000-04:00

As I blogged previously, I was heavily influenced by The Official Preppy Handbook (1980) when I first went off to university way back in 1989. The recent follow-up book True Prep (2010) was pretty good, although for many reasons it just does not truly live up to the original.

Perhaps it's just pure nostalgia on my part (kind of like how the Star Wars prequels were never going to be any match for the original trilogy) but I tend to refer to the 1980 book time after time rather than the updated version.

In any event, both are cheeky guides to the preppy lifestyle. It's fun to see the similarities and differences between the books, separated as they are by 30 years. Although, in proper preppy tradition, the more things change the more they stay the same. Here's my take on Birnbach's sage advice on the three most important aspects of the preppy life:

PREPPY SCHOOL
Nothing is preppier than attending a prep (i.e. private) school. A single-sex, boarding school is the highest rank on the preppy scale, much preppier than either a co-ed or a day school. That said, all private school options are acceptable. Birnbach is American so her recommendations are all in the US. For a directory of Canadian boarding schools please check out CAIS.

Again, the guides' recommendations on the preppy universities of choice are all American colleges. Great schools indeed but those looking to spend four uber preppy years in the Great White North should definitely check out Mount Allison, Acadia, Bishop's, Western, or Queen's.

PREPPY OUTFIT
With the exception of Patagonia (and other polyester brands) the proper preppy clothing tends to be all-natural fibres that are conservative, neat, high-quality, colourful with a lean to a sporting motif. The classic brands of choice tend to be Lacoste, Brooks Brothers, Fred Perry, Vineyard Vines, Lilly Pullitzer, L.L. Bean and J. Press.

There are other preppy brands, of course, but some once solid names have fallen victim to a corrupting mass appeal (see Ralph Lauren, J. Crew, Lands End) or become abominations from their once preppy roots (see Abercrombie & Fitch). Every good preppy has a few loafers in their wardrobe, from Sperry Top-siders for the weekend to the requisite leather tassel loafer for the office. A blazer (always blue, of course) is also a must.

PREPPY CAREERS
Anything to do with your private school or university (especially a role in admissions, alumni relations, or fundraising) is about as preppy as it gets. Similarly, work at a non-profit organization in the arts, cultural, or social services or being an art dealer or editor are all very preppy careers.

Making a Difference

2011-08-04T15:33:00.001-04:00

There's a quaint brown brick house on the lower campus of Queen's University that has been quietly and modestly making a difference in the lives of students for almost 40 years.

It's most likely that thousands of Queen's students have walked by the house without knowing the great influence the staff and volunteers have had over the past four decades.

The house is home to the Ban Righ Centre--operated by the Ban Righ Foundation for Continuing University Education--which supports the personal development and academic achievements of women entering Queen's as mature students, or re-entering after a time away, and facilitates their involvement in university life.

The Ban Righ Foundation grew out of the intrepid group of female Queen's alumnae who tirelessly campaigned to establish and build the first residence for women at Queen's in the early 1920s. These enterprising women raised $80,000 over 15 years to cover half of the project cost and the building, named Ban Righ Hall (Scottish Gaelic for "the sovereign woman"), opened in 1925.

Today a welcoming environment supports mature female students within the cozy confines of the Ban Righ Centre. Guest speakers, mentors, student advisors, daily lunches, lounge, kitchen, and study space await. The Centre also disburses quite a few wonderful bursaries and awards to help students offset the costs of attending university.

I am proud to say that I have recently finalized the process to become a benefactor to the Ban Righ Centre by creating an endowed bursary in my mother's name. The bursary will be awarded on the basis of financial need to mature female students who are either beginning or returning to their university studies. Preference will be given to students combining family, employment, and other responsibilities with their academic studies. The bursary will be awarded for the first time in 2012. I can't wait to meet our first recipient!!

The Centre has a wonderful fundraising initiative called Who Is She? that allows you to honour a woman who has made a difference in your life. You can make a gift to the Ban Righ Centre and then write a tribute to your special woman. For inspiration check out the tributes here.

Tasting the County

2011-07-17T15:13:00.000-04:00

Yesterday we joined our dear friends Ingrid & Edward for our regular tour through nearby Prince Edward County, Canada's newest wine region.

Designated as an official wine appelation in 2007, the County is now home to 37 wineries. It remains a rustic and peaceful region. The County is to Sonoma Valley as the Niagara is to Napa Valley. Of course, weekends in the summer are a little more crowded in the County but nothing like the hordes that hit the Niagara wine region.

The County has become a foodie destination as well, thanks to a locovore and slow food movements in its restaurants and eateries, not to mention the relocation of some celebrated Toronto chefs.

We feel so blessed to have such a vibrant and growing wine region within an hour's drive of Kingston. The County is primarily planted with vinifera varietals such as Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc, Gamay and Riesling, with smaller amounts of Zweigelt, Gewürztraminer, Chenin Blanc, Muscat, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc, and Merlot. You will also find hybrids like baco noir, and vidal.

Yesterday we took in some of the best of the County, including wine tastings at By Chadsey's Cairns, Sandbanks, and, our favourite, Closson Chase. We also enjoyed tastings and then an incredible gourmet pizza at Norman Hardie Winery. We purchased a 2010 Dunes Vidal Reisling from Sandbanks for everyday sipping and a coveted 2008 K.J. Watson Chardonnay from Closson Chase for a special occasion.

We then headed to the eastern section of the peninsula to enjoy a pint of cider at the County Cider Company, which surely has the best views in the entire county! They have a lovely outdoor seating area with views of a vineyard that slopes downward to reveal a stunning vista of Lake Ontario. We then make the quick trip over to the Fifth Town Artisan Cheese Company, which makes cheese from locally sourced goat and sheep milk. They are a truly environmentally-conscious business, with a Platinum LEED certified facility and a commitment to using only fresh local milk and ingredients. We purchased a soft-ripened goat cheese called Operetta, made in the style of France's Crottin de Chavignol.

Magnificent Montreal

2011-07-13T15:15:00.001-04:00

We have just returned from a great getaway to La Belle Province, starting with a weekend in Montreal.

We stayed in a 2-bedroom suite at Candlewood Suites, where we met our dear friends Toni and Dave. It was a clean and huge suite, with a great corner living room. We had nice views across the city.

Friday night we took in U2 at the old Hippodrome site in the northwest of the city. I have to say singing and screaming along with 80,000 fans to my favourite band was a wonderful experience. The band were in awesome form and the concert was one of the best I have seen. The highlight was Bono's voice, which was amazingly strong and moving. After all these years the pied piper of rock can still wrap a stadium in his hand and send shivers up your spine.

My favourite area in Montreal is Le Plateau, strolling along St-Laurent, where we enjoyed fantastic food, vintage stores, and snazzy design shops. We had perfect brunch food at Laika on Saturday and and Bagel Etc., a favourite of Leonard Cohen and the late Irving Layton. I just about passed out at foodie heaven La Vielle Europe, which stocks meats, gourmet condiments, coffee, and over 300 cheeses.

On Sunday we bid goodbye to our friends and continued onto the Eastern Townships to stay at a cottage that my sister Angela and her partner Marie had rented for a week. We had a wonderful time, playing lots of badmington and lawn darts and I went canoeing with my nephew each morning.

Make the Whig great again

2011-07-07T18:44:00.000-04:00

A group of concerned Kingstonians have a great campaign to try and get the Whig Standard, Canada's oldest daily, to reclaim its once proud status as one of the very best city papers in the country.

When I first moved to Kingston in 1989 the Whig was a truly local paper, with a dedicated staff of writers and a focus on the local perspective on national and international events. Reflecting its heritage, the Whig spouted a conservative voice and it was very well written and I think also very well read.

After decades of ownership by local Davies family, the Whig was sadly purchased by Sun Media/Quebecor and the dreaded changes came immediately. Local writers disappeared and most of the paper was filled with wire stories and syndicated columnists. Today, you are hard pressed to find articles written by local journalists, and there is no real sense of a voice or editorial vision. And we won't even get started on their appalling website.

Kingston wants and deserves a better daily newspaper. Learn more at greatwhig.ca.

Gandalf the Grey Returns

2011-06-23T15:33:00.000-04:00

[Geek Alert]

A few pics of production shots from "The Hobbit" have been released to Entertainment Weekly magazine.

I unashamedly confess my heart was so moved to see Ian McKellen back in the distinctive robes of Gandalf the Grey. I have always thought that his performance in the movie adaptation of "The Fellowhip of the Ring", for which he justly received Academy Award and BAFTA nominations, was the heart of the movie.

Indeed, there were few dry eyes when Galdalf fell in Moria at each of the three showings I attended back in 2001 (has it already been 10 years?!). This is because we cared deeply for Gandalf, thanks to a phenomenal performance from McKellen. Perhaps it is his British heritage and training, but one of the things that makes the role stand out is McKellen's incredible vocal subtlety and nuance.

While all were happy to see Gandalf resurrected in "The Two Towers" Gandalf the White is a very different being altogether. Although greater in power and stature, he is also less grounded and accessible. There is a more endearing humility to Gandalf the Grey. He is far more fearful about his quest, and his obvious affection for the Hobbits and in Men is both a weakness and strength of his character.

Ironically, while McKellen returns to the role 10 years older, he is playing Gandalf the Grey some 60 years before his adventures in "The Fellowship of the Ring". Still, being a Maia--an immortal being--Gandalf would appear to age very slowly in Middle Earth so we should not expect too much of a physical change.

Alas, we must wait until 2013 to enjoy the tale of the dwarves and hobbits who went looking for retribution in the depths of the Lonely Mountain...

Kingston's National Historic Sites

2011-06-12T17:09:00.004-04:00

Chances are if you've taken a road trip anywhere across Canada you've seen the iconic brown beaver signs on your travels. The symbol represents a place that is designated as being historically important. In order for places to be designated a National Historic Site they must must have "profound importance to Canada. They bear witness to this nation's defining moments and illustrate its human creativity and cultural traditions. Each national historic site tells its own unique story, part of the greater story of Canada, contributing a sense of time, identity, and place to our understanding of Canada as a whole".

Parks Canada is celebrating 100 years of identifying and preserving Canada's cultural and physical heritage. For many of us, these places and sites are links to our national patrimony and sense of identity.

Given its age--settled by Europeans in 1673--it's not surprising that Kingston has dozens of historic sites with civic, provincial, and federal designations. But it also has a fair number of rare places designated as National Historic Sites. As Canada Day approaches in the first capital city, I thought I would highlight Kingston's National Historic Sites:

1. Fort Frontenac (1673)
Built in 1673 by the Comte de Frontenac and rebuilt in 1675 and 1695, it was, for many years, the key to the West, the base of LaSalle’s explorations and a French outpost against the Iroquois and English. Fort Frontenac, located at the confluence of the Cataraqui River and Lake Ontario, was established in 1673 by the Governor of New France, the Comte de Frontenac, in order to control access to the fur laden lands of the Great Lakes Basin and the Canadian Shield. As the fur trade expanded west along the Great Lakes and into the Mississippi and Ohio River valleys, the explorer René-Robert Cavelier de La Salle rebuilt the wooden fort into a stronger masonry building by reinforcing it with limestone walls and square bastions. The fort became a strong French outpost against the British and the Iroquois, as several smaller buildings were built around it and a community of settlers established themselves in the region. During one of La Salle’s extended explorations of the interior in 1682, the fort fell into the hands of creditors who neglected its defences and, after an attack by the Iroquois, the French ordered the fort’s destruction in 1689. However, in 1695, the Comte de Frontenac ordered the fort rebuilt, and it was occupied by a small garrison until 1745. In 1758, the British under Colonel John Bradstreet captured the fort and it remained in British possession until the end of the War of 1812, when it was deemed obsolete and was gradually demolished. Archaeological research in 1982 uncovered several sections of antiquated limestone walls constructed by La Salle, including those sections of the north and west curtain walls that remain visible today.

2. Point Frederick Buildings (built 1790-1846)
Located on a peninsula at the mouth of the Cataraqui River in Kingston, Ontario, Point Frederick Buildings National Historic Site of Canada consists of a group of five masonry structures, Fort Frederick and the remnants of the navy yard’s stone wall. Four of the buildings and the fort were erected to support the activities of the Provincial Marine and the Royal Navy. One of the buildings, the Mackenzie Building, was purposely built for the Royal Military College. All of these structures are still in use by the College. Although altered somewhat over the years, these buildings are representative of the handsome but plain design, sturdy construction and fine craftsmanship that characterised the best of British military architecture. The official recognition refers to the five buildings, Fort Frederick, landscape features, and structures, in their existing spatial relationships.

3. Kingston Fortifications & Murney Tower & Shoal Tower (built 1832-1840)
In 1832, the Rideau Canal linking Kingston to Montreal was completed, thereby increasing the town’s role as a transportation hub. In order to protect the southern terminus of the canal, the British began to fortify the harbour with the construction of Fort Henry, situated atop Point Henry. Designed by the British Royal Engineers, the new fort called for a series of inter-connected supporting batteries and redoubts to augment Fort Henry’s defenses. The rehabilitation of Fort Frederick, and the construction of the Shoal, Murney, and Cathcart Martello Towers was conducted in the mid-1840s. These fortifications, along with the former Market Battery, were designed to provide the town, the canal, and the dockyards with a more comprehensive defensive system. Representing the apogee of smooth bore technology, tactics and fortification design, the Kingston fortifications are integrated through common limestone materials, skillful construction, and orientation and placement as a defensible platform.

4. Fort Henry (built 1832-1840)
Construction of Fort Henry by the British military began in 1832, with the addition of ditch towers and commissariat casemates in 1840 to create its present configuration. The fort was garrisoned by units of the British Army until 1870, and then by Canadian forces. Although Fort Henry has never seen military action, it was used as a prison for combatants captured during the 1837-38 Rebellions and again during the first and Second World Wars. During the 20th century it was restored and interpreted for public visitation. Originally designated a national historic site of Canada in 1923, the fort also was designated part of the broader Kingston Fortifications National Historic Site of Canada in 1989. The heritage value of this site is most critically represented by the surviving massing, form and fabric of the fort including the advanced battery, the redoubt and the glacis, as well as by its sense of scale and purpose.

5. Kingston General Hospital (built 1833-1924)
The seven buildings comprising the Kingston General Hospital National Historic Site illustrate the evolution of hospitals in Canada from 19th-century charitable institutions, to 20th-century centres for scientific medicine. The Main Building of Kingston General Hospital was the third, purpose-built, public general hospital in Canada and is the oldest one still operating as part of a modern hospital. KGH is the oldest public hospital in Canada still in operation with most of its buildings intact and thus effectively illustrates the evolution of health care in Canada in the 19th and 20th centuries. The Main Building and the Watkins Wing are noteworthy for their lengthy association with the origins of hospitals as institutions of poor relief in the pre-Confederation era; The Nickle Wing, Doran Building, Fenwick Opening Theatre, Ann Baillie Building, and the Empire Wing chronicle the transformation of charitable hospitals into centres of scientific medicine during the 1880-1920 period.

6. Kingston Penitentiary (built 1834-1869)
Opened in 1835, the Kingston Penitentiary is Canada’s oldest reformatory prison. Its layout, with an imposing front gate leading to a cross-shaped cellblock and three rear workshops, became the model for other federal prisons for more than a century. William Powers, the Deputy warden of Auburn Penitentiary in Pennsylvania, furnished designs for the facilities inside the walls, an impressive architectural grouping of 19th-century classically styled structures. These were built in local stone, largely by the inmates, to working plans of local architects and builders John Mills, William Coverdale, and Edward Horsey. Original components of the prison include the south wing (1834-35), the north wing (1836-40), the east wing (1836-57), the west wing (1838-57), the kitchen and dining hall (1839-41), the hospital (1847-49), and the rotunda (1859-61).

7. Bellevue House (1841)
An outstanding Canadian example of Italianate architecture in the Picturesque manner,it is associated with Sir John A. Macdonald, a Father of Confederation and Canada’s first Prime Minister. The heritage value of Bellevue House is reflected in the Picturesque qualities of its design and siting, and the Italianate expression of this aesthetic, particularly during the 1848-1849 period in which it was the residence of Sir John A. Macdonald.

8. Roselawn (1841)
Built by architect William Coverdale for David John Smith in 1841, Roselawn stands as a reminder of the days when affluent Kingstonians erected magnificent country homes just beyond the city. Its proportions, roof pediments and arched openings reflect the then popular Classic Revival style. Between 1851-1868 it was the home of Sir Henry Smith Jr., who served as Solicitor General for Upper Canada, then Speaker of the House of the United Canadas. Later, from 1948 to1969, it became the official residence of the Commandant of the National Defence College. In 1970 it was purchased by Queen’s University, then substantially renovated and expanded to open in 1974 as the University’s Centre for Continuing Education. In 1997 it was again renovated to serve as the University's Donald Gordon Conference Centre.

9. Elizabeth Cottage (1843)
Originally designed and built by Kingston architect Edward Horsey in 1841-1843 to serve as his family residence, Elizabeth Cottage was enlarged in the 1880s with a one-and-a-half-storey addition designed by another Kingston architect, William Newlands. The house with its addition is a charming example of a Gothic Revival villa constructed in keeping with the picturesque aesthetic. Its lively silhouette, irregular plan, Gothic decorative details, and the pleasing interrelationship between the house and grounds, create a picturesque composition that defines the mid-19th-century villa. The differences in detail between the original section and the later addition show the evolution of the style during the 19th century.

10. Kingston City Hall (1844)

Designed by architect George Browne as his first major commission, Kingston City Hall follows the precedent for public buildings of its time in its composition and the emphasis on portico and dome. The Tuscan portico, removed in 1958, was rebuilt in 1966 to replicate the original. The design follows Neoclassical taste in its massive scale, the bold projection of the end pavilions and portico, and the strong emphasis on individual design elements.
Like many mid-19th-century town halls, Kingston City Hall was designed to combine the functions of town hall and market place in one building. Its impressive scale and design were in keeping with the anticipated prosperity and stature of the city as the provincial capital. The city hall provided two large meeting halls, offices and meeting space for city officials, and quarters for the custom house, post office, police station and jail. A rear section contained market space. This rear wing that was rebuilt in 1865 and again in 1973 and the dome was rebuilt in 1910. The Tuscan portico that was reconstructed in 1966.

11. Frontenac County Court House (1858)
Frontenac County Court House is representative of the large-scale, court houses erected in Ontario after 1850. The passage of the Municipal Act gave increased power to county government, justifying the construction of court houses on a monumental scale to accommodate multiple county functions. The Frontenac County Court House is one of several surviving court houses built during the boom in court house construction from 1852 to 1856. Designed by architect Edward Horsey, the building’s elaborate façade, comprised of a central portico, flanking wings and domed cupola, and the elaborate mix of Italianate and classical detailing, are typical of mid-19th century Ontario judicial buildings. The court house was rebuilt by architect John Power and contractor George Newlands in 1874 following a fire. The only significant exterior change was the central dome, which was given added height and emphasis.

12. Old Kingston Post Office (1859)
The Old Kingston Post Office illustrates the eclecticism of early Victorian architecture in Canada, as architects gradually turned away from the rigid and formal aspects of Neoclassicism towards the richness and variety found in other architectural vocabularies. The Old Kingston Post Office is typical of the continued popularity of the Neoclassical style, and the increasing use of Renaissance elements in commercial and public buildings. Its basic proportions and composition, as well as some ornamental features, reflect the Neoclassical style. The influence of the Italian Renaissance is evident in the richness of its masonry and in the use of round-arched openings.

13. Kingston Customs House (1859)
The Kingston Customs House was designed in 1856 in a British neoclassical style for the Province of Canada by the Montréal architectural firm of Hopkins, Lawford and Nelson to complement the adjacent post office constructed at the same time. The Customs House harmoniously blends neoclassical and Renaissance elements in local Kingston limestone to convey the importance of its function and to reflect Kingston’s vital place in pre-Confederation Canada. In its competent and striking use of neoclassical elements and its careful placement in a government precinct, the Kingston Customs House is also illustrative of major administrative buildings of the period that were designed to instil pride in and respect for government in the rapidly growing Province of Canada.

14. Sir John A Macdonald Gravesite (1891)
The Sir John A. Macdonald Gravesite is associated with the man who dominated the political life of Canada during its first quarter of a century. Macdonald was a visionary statesman, a determined Conservative partisan, and a well-respected leader. His policies of westward expansion and of railways to the Atlantic and Pacific laid the basis of a successful transcontinental nation. Macdonald died while still prime minister in Ottawa on June 6th, 1891. Having spent most of his life in Kingston, his body was transported back there to be buried in his family plot in the Cataraqui cemetery. A simple stone cross marks his grave, as he wished.

15. Kingston Dry Dock (completed 1892)
Mississauga Point was for over 150 years the site of major shipyards when Kingston was one of the important ports and ship building centres on the Great Lakes. The significance of the shipping industry led the federal government to construct this dry dock in 1890. Initially operated by the Department of Public Works as a repair facility for lake vessels, it was enlarged and leased in 1910 to the Kingston Shipbuilding Company; the first of a series of private companies, which operated the shipyards until 1968. During the Second World War naval vessels, notably corvettes, were built in this shipyard.

16. Ann Baillie Building (completed 1904)

The heritage value of this site lies in its associations with the professionalization of nursing as pursued by women in the early 20th-century and in the physical qualities of the building that illustrate its use by student nurses. Built in 1903 as the nurses’ residence for the Kingston General Hospital School of Nursing, the Ann Baillie Building was one of the first purpose-built nurses’ residences in Canada. Its classically-inspired architecture is typical of early nurses’ residences, whose impressive architecture and secure living arrangements were intended to attract respectable, middle-class girls to the profession. Although it no longer serves as a residence, many vestiges of its use as a nurses’ residence remain. It now houses the Museum of Health Care. It is also designated as part of the Kingston General Hospital National Historic Site.

Finding its Way

2011-06-10T01:31:00.000-04:00

If I look out our back windows I can see the curved roofline of the K-ROCK Centre, Kingston's largest sports and entertainment complex.

Opened in 2008, the 5,700 seat K-ROCK Centre (KRC) was likely the most controversial civic project in the city in at least 50 years. There was very vocal support and equally vocal derision of the compromise location, design, size, cost, etc. of the complex.

The KRC was built so that the main tenant, the Ontario Hockey League franchise Kingston Frontenacs, could finally move out of the embarassing and decrepit Kingston Memorial Centre, which had been built in 1950. The Memorial Centre certainly had its own charm and ambience but its best years had long passed.

So when the much-maligned KRC opened in February 2008--with a nice inaugural concert by local heroes The Tragically Hip--the city held its breath to see what kind of venue this $46.5M project would become.

To the KRC's great credit it was named "Major Facility of the Year" (under 8,000 seats) in the Canadian Music Industry and Broadcast Awards in 2009 and then again in 2010. I took a look at the history of acts to come to the KRC and it is an impressive list over the past 3+ years. Here are some highlights of the variety and depths of entertainment we've been able to enjoy:

2008
Tragically Hip
Tracey Lawrence
Avril Lavigne
Anne Murray
Engelbert Humperdinck
George Thorogood & the Destroy
Charley Pride
Sheryl Crow
Blue Man Group
Blue Rodeo
Bob Dylan
Hedley
Great Big Sea
Kenny Rogers

2009
Trailer Park Boys
So You Think You Can Dance Canada
The Rankin Family
Brooks & Dunn
Bryan Adams
Willie Nelson
Neil Young
k.d. lang
Celtic Thunder
Il Divo
Diana Krall
Leonard Cohen
The Tragically Hip/The Trews
John Fogerty
Tool
Bachman/ Cummings
Robert Cray
Our Lady Peace
Russell Peters
George Jones
Bill Cosby - 2 shows
Matthew Good
Stone Temple Pilots
So You Think You Can Dance Canada

2010

Cirque du Soleil
Great Big Sea
Johnny Reid
Dane Cook
Skate Canada International
Elton John
Jerry Seinfeld
George Thorogood and the Destroyers

2011
Burton Cummings
Jackson Browne
Heart
Alan Jackson
Sarah McLachlan
Deepak Chopra (coming in June)
Stompin' Tom Connors (coming in July)

I think the booking agents have done a solid job of bringing a wide variety of musical/theatre/dance acts to Kingston. I have not even touched on the athletic and other types of events that have come to town. In particular, Tool and Elton John were major bona fide coups for KRC.

I also know that the KRC is not out of the red just yet, and that the significant bane for the facility is the underperforming Frontenacs. Alas, sports teams are cyclical beasts. Just look at my beloved Queen's Gaels: it was a long 17 years between the 2009 national football championship (Vanier Cup) and their previous win in 1992. Prior to that it took them 14 years to follow up their 1978 championship; that being a quicker 10 years from the 1968 victory.

Now, I am not so well-versed in OHL statistics, but I do know that the province is beset with tough hockey competition and that it takes sustained and consistent coaching and sharp recruiting to make a championship level team. I hope the Frontenacs organization will be able to execute a strategy that gets results on the ice and in the seats.

In the meantime, despite an absolutely terrible website, the KRC is doing an admirable job bringing in talent to entertain, amaze, and inspire.

Mystical Circus

2011-06-07T19:02:00.000-04:00

Beguiling. Compelling. Mysterious. These are the words that come to mind as I think about HBO's "Carnivale", a most intriguing show about the endless fight of good versus evil writ in the form of a travelling carnival show.

Set during the Dust Bowl of the 1930s, the show is a mix of mysticism, magic, and allegory as we learn about the forces of light and the forces of dark that arise in the most unexpected of places.

"Carnivale" reminds me of Stephen King's "The Stand" for its epic themes and strong fantastic elements. It is certainly bizarre at times and down right weird. But it is compelling viewing at every turn, and one of the most visually original works to ever come across our TV screens.

Come Sail Away

2011-06-03T16:11:00.000-04:00

I had the pleasure to get out on the water today with a friend named John P., who kindly offered to take me sailing off Kingston's wonderful harbour. Here are a few pics from our day out on the water...

On View

2011-05-19T16:02:00.001-04:00

Our dear friends Patrick and Raymond relocated to Toronto at the end of 2010 and they have now relaunched their wonderful art gallery.

Located in the heart of the entertainment district, the Wellington Street Art Gallery focuses on Canadian contemporary painting and sculpture. Patrick has been an art collector for many years and he has amassed a worthy collection of established and emerging artists.

Perhaps Patrick's greatest discovery is painter/sculptor Nicholas Crombach, whose distinctive marine-influenced works are both engaging and beguiling.

You can browse the current collection here.

Canada dominates bank ranking

2011-05-10T19:26:00.000-04:00

Canadian banks dominated the recent bank ranking released by Bloomberg.

National Bank of Canada led the Canadian pack at #3, followed by Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (#4), Toronto-Dominion Bank (#12), Royal Bank of Canada (#17) and Bank of Montreal (#19).

The Bloomberg ranking includes banks with at least $100 billion in assets, taking into account factors such as Tier 1 capital, non-performing assets compared with total assets, efficiency and a comparison of costs against revenues.

Only three U.S. banks — Fifth Third Bancorp (#7), JPMorgan Chase & Co. (#14) and Citigroup (#16) — made the top 20.

Read the full results at Bloomberg.

Coming Soon: PaperPhone

2011-05-04T17:20:00.000-04:00

The brains at Queen's Human Media Lab will be presenting the PaperPhone at the upcoming ACM CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems in Vancouver.

The head of the project, Dr. Vertegaal believes this technology will result in paperless offices as well as being a truly portable device. “This is the future. Everything is going to look and feel like this within five years. This computer looks, feels and operates like a small sheet of interactive paper. You interact with it by bending it into a cell phone, flipping the corner to turn pages, or writing on it with a pen.”

Check out the PaperPhone preview here.

Shock and Awe, Canadian style

2011-05-03T00:29:00.002-04:00

On the heels of the stunning news that the U.S. had captured its infamous public enemy, Canadian voters have delivered a startling and history-making federal election.

Conservative leader Stephen Harper will once again be eligible to form the federal government, this time with a comfortable majority of 165 seats (won or leading at time of writing). After two back-to-back minority governments, Harper is no doubt pleased with what appears to be a decisive mandate from the Canadian electorate.

A closer look at the percentage of vote reveals that just shy of 40% of voters chose a Conservative candidate for Parliament. Or, put another way, 60% of electors did not vote for the Conservatives. The lion's share of the progressive/centrist vote was split between the NDP (31%) and the Liberal (19%) candidates.

The Conservatives gained an additional 22 seats within the 40% of votes. The majority win for Harper was partly a result of the design of the federal electoral process and partly a result in the massive shift in seats from the Liberals, which lost 42 seats, and the NDP, which gained 66 seats.

Perhaps the most shocking result was the near extinction of the Bloc Quebecois, including its leader losing his seat. The Bloc is decimated to just 3 seats, losing official party status. Most of their seats went to the NDP. Gilles Duceppe conceded defeat and announced that he would be stepping down.

Next in line for mass casualties was the Liberal Party, whose leader clearly was unable to connect with Canadians. For the first time since Confederation (1867) the Liberal Party will neither be the Government or Her Majesty's Oppposition. It is a resounding and shocking defeat. To add further indignity, Ignatieff also lost his seat but surprisingly did not announce his resignation. His critics will no doubt see this as evidence of hubris.

Two well-known Liberals kept their seats: Bob Rae and Justin Trudeau. Both men carry the double-edge weight of history. Rae is the former much-aligned NDP premier of Ontario and Trudeau is the son of the late Pierre Trudeau, former Prime Minister.

The runaway train that is the NDP will form Her Majesty's Oppposition, the first time in the party's history. The NDP gained massive support in Quebec and was able to pull enough seats from the Bloc and the Liberals to win 103 seats and thus enable Jack Layton, long the progressive voice, to finally serve as the leader of the Opposition. This is a stellar accomplishment for Mr Layton.

Last but not least, Elizabeth May won a seat in the House of Commons, the first for the Green Party. The leader of the Green Party will finally will be heading to Ottawa and may well be included in the TV debate the next time around.

UPDATE: Ignatieff announced his intention to resign as leader of the Liberal Party at 10:00 ET on May 3/

Endorsement: Kingston Centre for Arts & Design

2011-05-02T15:42:00.000-04:00

A dear friend of ours Karen Peperkorn, founder of the Creative Arts focus program in the Limestone District School Board, has hatched a wonderful plan to create the Kingston Centre for Arts & Design (KCAD).

The goals of KCAD are:

provide support and promotion of cultural activities
Provide a community based centre of excellence for the Arts and Design.
Unify dance, drama, visual art, craft, design, literary art
Feature Arts resource space providing books, materials, Arts listings

Karen has applied to be featured as part of PepsiCo's "Refresh Project" and is in competition to receive $100,000 to launch KCAD.

Learn more about KCAD and vote for this arts-based community education project at KCAD.

Dirty Games

2011-04-30T14:24:00.001-04:00

I received an upsetting email from Ron Hartling, the president of the Kingston and the Islands Federal Liberal Association. Apparently, dirty, U.S.-style tactics are being used to turn Kingston electors away from the Liberal candidate, Ted Hsu.

"I am writing to warn you about a new and especially dirty political tactic that has already been used to target other Liberal candidates in various parts of Canada and is now being used against the Ted Hsu campaign here in Kingston. Residents are receiving rude phone calls, often in the middle of the night, by people fraudulently claiming to be working for our campaign. This is a classic Republican-style dirty trick that is obviously intended to anger those who would otherwise vote for Ted in the hope of turning them against him and/or discouraging them from voting. People who have been woken up by these calls report that they apparently originate from a call centre in the 701 area code in North Dakota, effectively putting them out of reach of Canadian law.

Kingston police have been notified, Elections Canada is already investigating previous incidents and our campaign co-manager, John Clements, has issued a media release. Since Monday is election day, however, it is likely that too few people will hear the truth about this outrage in time to offset the damage that has already been inflicted, and will likely continue over the weekend.

This is where you can make the difference. By forwarding this message to as many people as possible in your circle, you can enable them to direct their outrage against the perpetrators rather than Ted should they be or have been woken up in the middle of the night by such a call. It is clear that someone is paying this American call centre good money to disrupt Liberal campaigns here in Canada, money that Canadian law would require be declared as an election expense (but I would wager never will). In the absence of hard evidence, I won’t make unfounded accusations but also can’t ignore the obvious fact that it is the Liberal candidates in close Liberal-Conservative races who are being targeted in this way. You can draw your own conclusions.

As Liberals, we believe in democracy and respecting voters. We attack what we see as bad and unfounded policies, not people Sadly, our Conservative opponents have emulated their Republican mentors by importing nasty, divisive and very personal attack policies into Canada, which hurts our country, divides us and distracts from the very real challenges that we should be facing together. The Alicia Gordon campaign’s large attack ad in last Saturday’s Whig is a classic case in point in that it grossly distorts Ted’s positions by compiling out-of-context snippets from serious articles he wrote many years ago in an obvious attempt to mislead enough voters to serve their ends. Such cynical and manipulative tactics have thoroughly poisoned US politics, but are still being used because they fool enough of the people enough of the time. The only way to stop them becoming the norm here in Canada is for enough of us to reject those who employ them in the one way that really counts ... at the ballot box."

If a North Dakota call centre has indeed been contracted to execute such a disgusting strategy it is a new low point for Canadian politics. The ongoing attack ads on TV and radio are bad enough. None of the federal party leaders are villains, although they certainly have their individual strengths and weaknesses. The problem for Canadians is that none of them stick out as being particularly heroic, either. Mr Layton's recent surge in appeal is merely a default position: the result of mounting cynicism towards federal politics and a specific distrust of Messrs. Harper and Ignatieff. If you participate in dirty politics--even if from a distance-- you can't help but have a bad smell about you. It's all such a mighty shame.

Now that's school spirit!

2011-04-08T17:25:00.003-04:00

Queen's University students put together an incredible lib dub video, showcasing the legendary school spirit and community that defines Queen's. Chagheill!!

Introducing Social Payout

2011-04-05T01:47:00.001-04:00

A fomer colleague of mine, Hetal Shah, has founded and launched Social Payout. As it states on the company's website, "SocialPayout buttons are sophisticated viral marketing tools that gently persuade your customers and visitors to give you referrals". Neat!

Viva Vanilla!

2011-04-03T18:54:00.001-04:00

We were recently gifted a bottle of Navan, a new vanilla cognac from the folks at Grand Marnier.

The name comes from Navana, a small village on the north-eastern coast of Madagascar, one of the island's most renowned vanilla-producing regions. It is a 40% alc/vol liqueur, an ideal balance between the complexity of cognac and the smoothness of natural vanilla.

As Darcy O'Neil writes on his blog Art of Drink, "Navan is a deep amber/golden colour with a strong, sweet, vanilla scent which is almost candy like. The liqueur is viscous and is almost syrupy and clings to the walls of the glass. The impression when taking the first sip sweetness followed by pure vanilla. This is quickly followed with a pleasant touch of alcohol, which balances the sweetness, to round it out. There is a warm, spicy finish from the cognac. The vanilla sweetness is still present, but extremely well balanced with the cognac. The best part is the gentle warming sensation the cognac provides in the back of your throat and stomach".

It's an old joke in my family to make fun of the fact that I am wasted at places like Baskin Robbins because I always order vanilla, my favourite flavour of ice cream. So, not surprisingly, I have really enjoyed this liqueur.

I recommend Navan as an alternative to sherry, port, ice wines, or other digestives that can sometimes be too sweet or heavy. Navan is very smooth and the vanilla is a lovely complement to cognac.

Playing those mind games

2011-04-01T18:09:00.001-04:00

2010 was a banner year for Leonardo DiCaprio as his two movies, "Shutter Island" and "Inception" grossed over $1-billion. The latter, buoyed by the built-in audience of auteur-de-jour Christopher Nolan, was celebrated as the next "Matrix" and pulled in the lion's share of revenues.

For all of the impressive editing, special effects, and solid direction of each film, both have a remarkably similar and poignant tension at their hearts: the failure of the protagonist to deal with the death of his wife.

DiCaprio's Teddy ("Shutter Island") and Dom ("Inception") are each shackled by their subconcious, unable to work through conflicting feelings about the nature and cause of the death of their wife. In each film the protagonist goes on a constructed journey through layers of memory and imagined pasts to get to the truth.

Both films also end with striking similarities: Teddy appears to understand his reality but chooses to stay in the fantasy and Dom appears to choose to stay in limbo. Guilt, grief, pain, and denial are key motivators for Teddy and Dom. Both men yearn to return to their lost children but, in the end, are unable to face the truth about their roles in the destruction of their real lives.

Election Dysfunction

2011-03-31T18:59:00.000-04:00

Elizabeth May must feel even worse than the proverbial spindly geek always chosen last for sports teams. Poor Ms. May is not even allowed to play with all of the big kids as they ready themselves to shout...er...talk over each other...er...debate in mid April. The Green Party leader is now complaining to all who will listen, a move that, unfortunately, makes her look whiny.

I miss the real federal election television debates of the 1980s. Who will ever forget the Turner/Mulroney debate of 1984, during which Mulroney eviscerated Turner with a devastating retort on patronage: "You had an option sir to say 'no' and you chose to say 'yes' to the old attitudes and the old stories of the Liberal party," Mulroney argues. "That sir, if I may say respectfully, that is not good enough for Canadians." It was Mulroney's election after that moment. I am no Tory but at least it was an intelligent and well-structured debate.

The tv debates of the past number of years have been embarassing and frequently ridiculous. Poor moderation has enabled the party leaders to shout talking points at one another. In the "debate" pictured above the leaders sat around a table; a format that worked for none of them to the distress of participants and viewers alike. If we continue to lower the standards of public debate how can we expect our party leaders to perform admirably? Indeed, Ms. May might want to consider herself lucky she has not been invited.

Meanwhile, the Harper campaign has upped its dreadful attack ads. The most recent one hammers the viewer with the premise that the Liberal party leader is merely an opportunistic glory whore and ends with the ominous warning "A vote for the Liberals is a vote for Ignatieff". Frankly, I have never met a politician who wasn't part glory whore, so I am not sure why this is supposed to frighten the electorate.

The c-word has also been dropped, considering Harper himself once conceded in the past that it might be necessary. Besides, he may even need it in the future.

We learn that some notable folks are leaving the NDP to endorse the Liberals; a sensible strategy if one is hoping to help form a new governing party. No one but the wilfully ignorant doesn't understand that this election boils down to Mr. Harper vs. Mr. Ignatieff. Layton and Day, both lovely people and good citizens, are merely bystanders yelling into the wind.

If I worked at Sterling Cooper

2011-03-20T23:10:00.000-04:00

The Mad Men website has a cute app called "Mad Men Yourself" where you can build yourself as a character. So here is the TV version of Stacy, arriving for work at Sterling Cooper...

The wind will blow

2011-03-19T13:54:00.001-04:00

Who's to say where the wind will take you
Who's to say what it is will break you
I don't know which way the wind will blow
Who's to know when the time has come around
Don't wanna see you cry
I know that this is not goodbye.
U2, "Kite"

Bono wrote "Kite" as his father, Bob Hewson, was dying of cancer. The song laments having to say goodbye to someone you are not ready to lose. I have always been touched by this song but in light of the recent death of my father the song has taken on a much greater poignancy and meaning. Of "Kite" Bono said, "I wrote this for my kids, but now I think my old man wrote it for me."

I've been thinking of my dad quite a lot in these last few days, now that the tornado of being back in Aylmer has ebbed. These little memories come at me, pushing out of me like a bird hatching. And there is nothing to do to stop them. I am blessed to have a copy of the last picture taken of me and dad. I have it in my dining room. The picture was taken on the front porch of the family house in Aylmer, in August 2010. It hurts too much to look at it, though.

I was not prepared for how much I am going to miss him. We were not especially close as I was growing up, he being on the road all the time. Then I moved away, in 1989, to attend Queen's and was back at home infrequently myself. But in these past few years, dad opened up to me and we started really communicating. He was also always welcoming of Mark and he seemed to enjoy our company when we visited.

Dad's great fear was to die alone and I am so honoured that we were both there holding dad as he passed, as was my sister Angela, and my mom. In the hospital room was also my dad's brother Glenn, his son Cullen, and my dad's cousin Micheal (who had lost his dad just a few days earlier). Dad was surrounded by love and I shall always be so grateful for the opportunity to be with him and to let him know that he was dearly loved. It was my sister Angela who gave dad permission to go, to stop fighting, and to rest. In an instant he was gone. It was so peaceful and it is Grace that spared dad.

We found a U2: The Best of 1980-1990" CD in my dad's car. It was his quiet way of staying close to me. That was dad.

I miss him. I am glad I got to spend so much time with him and to tell him what I needed to tell him.

Remembering Dad

2011-03-13T13:58:00.006-04:00

Richard James Kelly

September 1, 1944 - February 26, 2011

[transcript of my eulogy for my father]

I remember clearly the first time I called my father “Dad”. I don’t remember what day it was, our how old I was, but I do remember the where and how. My mom and I had been living in that lovely cedar-siding home in Breckenridge for some time and one day mom asked me to go get dad, who was in the basement. So I ran over to the top of the stairs and I paused. Until that moment I had always called him “Richard”. I thought about it, and with heart beating, I called out “dad’? I don’t know if it surprised dad or what he thought but he came when he heard me. It was a watershed moment for me. A few years later dad would formally adopt me. I was in Grade 7 and my parents took me out of class so we could go to a lawyer’s office to make it official. When I returned to class my teacher announced that instead of “Stacy Hodgins” I was now “Stacy Kelly”. One of my classmates immediately yelled out, “Did you get married?”

Dad was a man of few words. He was more a man of action and deeds. One of the blessings of these past few days has been the opportunity to hear so many wonderful stories about dad. We have come to appreciate through many of your stories how dad’s actions and deeds affected you and made a difference in your lives. Dad was someone who you could depend on in your time of need; someone who was there for you and would selfishly help out family and friends.

The words dad did use were often in the service of a good yarn. For dad, a tease or a prank was a sure sign of his affection. I remember being in the car with dad and most likely either reading or daydreaming and looking down to find dad’s false teeth sitting on my left leg. That was dad. He loved to tell a joke or a story about his past pranks. We heard many great stories from dad, usually involving some poor unsuspecting friend or coworker. Perhaps we should not be all that surprised that he was such a great storyteller: stories are central to the Ojibway and Irish cultures that form dad’s heritage. Whatever the reason we always knew a good story was coming when we saw what mom calls “the gleam” in his eyes. Dad’s chrystalline blue eyes shone as bright as the morning sky.

For us children memories of dad typically revolve around two key places: cars and Lake Kipawa. Each of us (and sometimes all of us) spent hours with dad on the road headed somewhere north. When we were younger trips began in the Ottawa Valley, to places like Maniwaki, Renfrew, and then further afield to Val D’Or and Rouyn-Noranda. We were schooled in traditional Country music. The soundtrack of our childhood featured George Jones, Conway Twitty, Willie Nelson, Hank Williams, Kenny Rogers, and Johny Cash. To this day it’s impossible to hear one of their songs and not think of dad; of hours in the back seat, reading, playing games, singing, fighting, and waiting for the next rest stop. All the while dad would somehow navigate for hundreds of miles with just his left thumb on the steering wheel.

For most people cars are a way to get around. For our family cars were a way of life. I distinctly recall hanging out with dad when he worked at Eliott’s in the early 1980s. At the end of the day the fraternity of car salesmen from the lots along Richmond Road would hang out at Napoli's near the corner of Island Park Drive. Dad would give me a pocketful of quarters so I could play PacMan and the guys would all trade stories. The guys were colourful characters and they all seemed to be larger than life. Dad’s car lot was truly a family business. All three of us kids ended up working for dad. I cleaned cars at dad’s lot in Ottawa, and Marsha and Angela eventually started selling cars at his lot in Aylmer. Dad’s brother Glenn sold cars, and our mom worked there as well, as the bookkeeper, keeping everything in order. Both my sisters also ended up driving cars back and forth from up north for dad; and I have learned that quite a few people here today were recruited by dad to be drivers.

More than anything dad was happiest in a boat on the waters of Lake Kipawa. Our family began its annual trips to Kipawa in August 1980, the summer Angela was born. So, naturally, when Angela’s son Kaelan arrived in August 2001 he was bundled up and was motoring on the boat with his granddad a mere two weeks later. Like his mother, Kaelan has inherited dad’s love of fishing and camping in the great outdoors, and Kipawa has a very special place in Kaelan’s heart. It was dad’s joy to have as many people as possible join him in Kipawa, and we know that our dear cousins Chad, Liam, Jonathan, Megan, Cullen, and Neil have many fond memories of summers on that beautiful lake. Of course, agreeing to go to Kipawa meant seeing dad early in the morning fishing in his underwear, a practice Kaelan also picked up. I think we all agree that being on the water was dad at his happiest and most at ease. We were so touched that dad was able to make a special trip to Kipawa with his brothers Bobby and Glenn, his cousin Donny, and his uncle Grant where they journeyed up to Hunter’s Point, an ancestral landmark.

As we mourn our dad we know that you are also equally mourning…a brother, a cousin, a nephew, a colleague, a friend. Please accept our sincere condolences on your loss. We share your grief and are grateful for your kind words and especially your stories of dad.

God bless you Dad. We love you and we miss you. We promise to honour your memory in our actions and deeds.

The day the movies died

2011-02-21T12:03:00.001-05:00

In GQ, writer Mark Harris dissects the movie industry's decline; from the erosion of actors (and even movie stars) to the elevation of marketers; from the decline of auteurs to the rise of the MBA decision-makers. For all of the talk about glamour and glitz of Hollywood Harris reminds us that showbiz is business first and foremost, far and above artistic concerns. Brands, he argues, have replaced ideas.

Read this fascinating article and weep for the future as you look "what's on the menu for this year: four adaptations of comic books. One prequel to an adaptation of a comic book. One sequel to a sequel to a movie based on a toy. One sequel to a sequel to a sequel to a movie based on an amusement-park ride. One prequel to a remake. Two sequels to cartoons. One sequel to a comedy. An adaptation of a children's book. An adaptation of a Saturday-morning cartoon. One sequel with a 4 in the title. Two sequels with a 5 in the title. One sequel that, if it were inclined to use numbers, would have to have a 7 1/2 in the title". Oh, and for the record, Harris blames everything on "Top Gun".

Now Playing: Threat Level Midnight

2011-02-17T21:36:00.000-05:00

The passion and power of Jan Swaren

2011-01-19T16:16:00.000-05:00

Our dear friend Jan Swaren will be showing at the Mill Street Gallery in Sydenham, just north of Kingston.

The show is called "PASSION/POWER: Stations of Metaphor" and will run from February 12 to March 26. The opening party scheduled for Sunday, February 13 1 to 6pm. Musician, Jon McLurg will be performing.

Jan is an incredible painter. She most recently was represented at our friend Patrick's gallery, the Wellington Street Art Gallery--which he just relocated to Toronto. We look forward to his official opening in his new downtown Toronto space.

Our best wishes to Jan for a successful show!

Geez, all this time I thought it was about good vs. evil

2011-01-14T17:04:00.000-05:00

According to Lex Rex, writing on the film site Metaphilm, Star Wars: Episode IV is really about our deep-rooted fear of impotence and premature ejaculation. Huh?

In this quasi-feminist, Freudian analysis, Rex explains the hidden message of the original poster, the truth about Luke, the symbolism of the lightsaber, and the crude reality about the Death Star trench. Rex concludes, "Star Wars is both a macroscopic psychological retelling of the ancient tale with a microscopic biological precis as to its physical achievement".

Not sure if Rex means to be so funny but the paragraph in which is revealed "Star Wars dirtiest little secret" had me laughing and shaking my head in disbelief.

If you hold Star Wars dear you might want to skip this penetrating analysis.

Cracking the Mona Lisa code

2011-01-09T13:15:00.000-05:00

Queen’s University Classics professor emeritus Ross Kilpatrick believes the Leonardo da Vinci masterpiece, the Mona Lisa, incorporates images inspired by the Roman poet Horace and Florentine poet Petrarch.

The technique of taking a passage from literature and incorporating it into a work of art is known as ‘invention’ and was used by many Renaissance artists.

“The composition of the Mona Lisa is striking. Why does Leonardo have an attractive woman sitting on a balcony, while in the background there is an entirely different world that is vast and barren?” says Dr. Kilpatrick. “What is the artist trying to say?”

Dr. Kilpatrick believes Leonardo is alluding to Horace’s Ode 1. 22 (Integer vitae) and two sonnets by Petrarch (Canzoniere CXLV, CLIX). Like the Mona Lisa, those three poems celebrate a devotion to a smiling young woman, with vows to love and follow the woman anywhere in the world, from damp mountains to arid deserts. The regions mentioned by Horace and Petrarch are similar to the background of the Mona Lisa.

Both poets were read when Leonardo painted the picture in the early 1500s. Leonardo was familiar with the works of Petrarch and Horace, and the bridge seen in the background of the Mona Lisa has been identified as the same one from Petrarch's hometown of Arezzo.

“The Mona Lisa was made at a time when great literature was well known. It was quoted, referenced and celebrated,” says Dr. Kilpatrick.

Dr. Kilpatrick has been looking at literary references in art for the past 20 years. He has recently found references to the mythical wedding of Greek gods Ariadne and Dionysus in Gustav Klimt’s famous painting The Kiss.

Dr. Kilpatrick’s Mona Lisa findings have now been published in the Italian journal MEDICEA.

Ask not for whom the siren calls

2011-01-06T14:25:00.000-05:00

In celebration of its 40th anniversary Starbucks has revealed an updated version of its iconic green logo. Some devoted customers are not amused, likening the change to the logo blunder at Gap last year.

On its website the senior creative manager states, "After hundreds of explorations, we found the answer in simplicity. Removing the words from the mark, bringing in the green, and taking the Siren out of her ring. For forty years she’s represented coffee, and now she is the star".

Time will tell, of course, whether or not it's actually the siren or the green circle that is the true brand association for Starbucks customers.

New Year's Musings

2011-01-04T19:57:00.000-05:00

The first posting of 2011 is frought with so much pressure. The sharp folks at Queen's School of Business predicted in their recent 29th annual business forecast "a modest recovery, with strengthening job markets and moderate increases in interest rates and the inflation rate. The Canadian dollar exchange rate should remain near current levels. The exchange rate along with commodity and energy prices will be key drivers for economic growth".

Suffice it to say that you have my sincere blessings for a prosperous and rewarding new year. Let me leave you with futurist Richard Worzel's 10 Things You Need to Know About the Next Ten Years.

Once more in the name of love

2010-12-14T18:01:00.000-05:00

U2's 1984 clarion call "Pride (In the Name of Love)" has been recorded by Dierks Bentley, Del McCoury & The Punch Brothers for Bentley’s album Up on The Ridge. Their gorgeous bluegrass cover was recently nominated for the Best Country Collaboration with Vocals Grammy.

A Little Respect (Redux)

2010-12-11T01:07:00.001-05:00

Erasure have announced the release of a brand new version of their top 5 single, "A Little Respect" – HMI Redux. A colourful new video for the track, shot in New York City and featuring Erasure lead singer Andy Bell, HMI youth and many other passers-by, will be released as well.

Proceeds from the track will be donated to The Hetrick-Martin Institute, the home of the Harvey Milk High School, in New York, and the True Colors Fund. The Hetrick-Martin Institute, the nation’s oldest and largest LGBTQ youth service organization, provides a safe and supportive environment to all young people – regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity so that they can achieve their full potential.

In the wake of all the gay bullying and related suicides that have been reported in the US over the past several months, Erasure wanted to do something special to spread a message of tolerance and to raise money for an organisation that engages in the fight on a daily basis and, because it has become something of a gay rights anthem over the years, it seemed only fitting to release a brand new version of "A Little Respect".

The HMI Redux features a youth chorus from the Hetrick-Martin Institute who also appear in the music video, directed by filmmaker Jason Stein.

The original version of "A Little Respect" was released in 1988 on the album The Innocents.

R.I.P.

2010-11-29T01:16:00.000-05:00

Canada has exported an incredible roster of comedic actors to Hollywood. One of the earliest was Leslie Nielson (Feb 11, 1926-Nov 28, 2010), who began his film career in 1956. Leslie actually began his career as a dramatic actor on television. In 1950 alone he appeared in over 50 live dramatic shows. Viewers of his generation will remember Nielson for his roles in Forbidden Planet (1956) --a forerunner to Star Trek-- and The Swamp Fox (1959-1961).

Nielson's career renaissance came after he was cast in Airplane! (1980), in a supporting role as Dr. Rumack. Flawlessly delivering his comedic lines, Nielson emerged as the go-to guy for deadpan one-liners. He was central to the success of The Naked Gun franchise as the hapless Detective Frank Drebin. He also appeared in the third and fourth instalments of the spoof franchise Scary Movie.

Airplane! is my all-time favourite comedy and it never fails to make me giggle like a little kid. Some of Nielson's best moments are captured in this online tribute. RIP Mr. Nielson.

Behind every pop star...

2010-11-27T01:41:00.002-05:00

Recently, I was at a cocktail party hosted by some friends and I was introduced to a lovely man named Ian "Koko" Kojima. An unassuming fellow, he was quiet-spoken, warm, and very friendly. He spoke little of himself, except to say that he had retired to Kingston. It was his wife who proudly dropped the bombshell: Kojima had played in Chris de Burgh's band. As in "Lady in Red". Cool!

Modest as ever we had to pretty much had to drag stuff out of Kojima. Turns out he was Chris de Burgh's bandleader from 1979 - 1994, and he played the saxophone and keyboards. He is what is known in the music business as a session player, and he has an impressive track record.

In the early 1970s he was in the band Great White Cane, which featured singer Rick James (who went on to stardom with 1981's "Super Freak").

In the 1990s Kojima went on tour with none other than David Hasselhoff. You can catch him in The Hoff's 1990 live DVD "Live and Forever".

These days Kojima tours around the province playing music. He put together a blues band of great local talent called KokoVann. He seems to be enjoying his "retirement" and I have to say I can't recall meeting a nicer person in years.

Weeping for the future

2010-11-18T15:09:00.000-05:00

I came across a blog written by a middle school (ages 11 - 14) English teacher, who shares things he is asked and overhears at his school.

It's hilarious and saddening at the same time. Kids sure do say the darndest things...

R.I.P. Walkman (1979 - 2010)

2010-10-25T01:41:00.002-04:00

Sony announced recently that the last batch of its iconic Walkman was produced in April of this year, and that no more new cassette Walkman products will be made.

The Sony Walkman debuted in 1979, and reached its peak as the must-have accessory for pop music fans for those of us who were in high school from, ahem, 1984 to 1988.

While younger folks may scoff as such antique, even quaint, technology it's worth pausing to reflect on how much the Walkman changed the relationship of music to the listener. As the first truly portable music device, the Walkman blazed the trail for personal listening and created a market for a more individualistic music experience.

There is no doubt that the Walkman was a revolutionary consumer product, paving the way for the portable CD and DAT devices and, eventually, the digital evolution to MP3 and the now ubiquitous iPod and its various spawn.

The Walkman was every much the status symbol that the iPod is today. There were clones on the market then --as there remains today--and you could walk proud only if you had a genuine Sony Walkman. In fact, I recall that the de riguer outfit was either a Lacoste polo shirt, Ralph Lauren Oxford button down, tan or brown cords, and your Sony Walkman. Some of you may recall the Lacoste knock-offs, those scratchy polo shirts with the fox sewn on their fronts, that you could buy at Sears? But I digress...

So a little tear for getting a Walkman model with auto-playback; for running out to Sam the Record Man to get the latest INXS, U2, or The Cure cassette; for having a little place to carve out in your head while you rode the bus to and from school; to the first time you could really make a statement with your music; to forging your first scaffolding of what would become your sense of self and identity.

Defending the U.S. Constitution

2010-10-20T16:30:00.000-04:00

Isn't she pretty in pink?

2010-10-15T16:00:00.000-04:00

Canada's diplomatic woes

2010-10-14T19:08:00.000-04:00

Canada's international reputation took a beating this week, with the loss of a seat on the U.N. Security Council (the first such loss for Canada since 1945), and being asked to leave its base in the U.A.E.

Influential magazine The Economist weighed in on the Security Council snub, summarizing Canada's current foreign policy as "better at doughnuts than diplomacy". Ouch. Canada hasn't received such a harsh barb from the venerable U.K. magazine since it labelled then-PM Paul Martin as a "ditherer".

Harper's team immediately blamed the loss of the Security Council seat on opposition leader Michael Ignatieff, saying that his criticism of Harper's foreign policy did not present a united front to the world. After pundits and editorialists rightfully called the blame game both specious and idiotic, Harper stated that Canada lost the vote because "of his government’s refusal to trade policy positions to be popular among UN voters".

Others pointed to the Harper government's decision to effectively neutralize Foreign Affairs, consolidate all decisions and power at the PMO, and its staunch alignment with Israel that played the real parts in Canada's loss of support for the Security Council seat.

The embarassment of not earning a seat on the Security Council means that Canada will not have a voice on the most powerful arm of the U.N. for the first decade since the U.N. was founded. It's a blow to Canada's diplomatic corps, long viewed as one of the world's pre-eminent foreign services. Canada was a founding member of the U.N. and had long distinguished itself as a quiet but stable influence in global diplomacy, exercising its self-appointed role as a "middle power", a status that reached its apex during the Suez Canal crisis, for which Lester B. Pearson won the Nobel Peace Prize. Canada had long pursued a foreign policy position based on quiet but influential diplomacy and a commitment to peacekeeping.

Canada's diplomatic influence is directly related to the global perceptions of its credibility. Clearly the decisions made by the Harper government have negatively impacted our reputation and lessened our ability to influence other countries. Put another way, our country's actions and policies have consequences and for the first time in a lifetime Canada's diplomatic position in the world is in deep trouble.

For your consideration

2010-10-13T22:33:00.000-04:00

Civic elections are looming across the province and in the effort to promote democracy and informed decision-making, herewith I present the lowdown on Kingston's mayoral candidates.

The Front Runners

Mark Gerretsen
Son of former Kingston mayor and current MPP for Kingston and the Islands and Minister of the Environment, John Gerretsen, Mark has most recently served as the councillor for the Portsmouth District. His last name provides him with strong brand recognition by association, but this is both a positive and negative attribute, depending on one's view of the McGuinty government. Gerretsen will likely enjoy the support of the local establishment and prominent members of the city's business class.

Rob Matheson
The vocal councillor for the Loyalist-Cataraqui District, Matheson was born in Africa and lived around the world before his family settled in my former home town of Aylmer, Quebec. Matheson moved to Kingston in 1997, and he has taken a keen interest in public service and has been involved in many service organizations. Matheson will attract voters keen on his mantra of sustainability and those who are wary of political dynasties.

The Outsider

Barrie Chalmers
A longtime local business owner, Chalmers has not held public office before and is thus unknown to most Kingstonians. He brings a business orientation to how he views the issues and fixes for Kingston, and he prides himself on not being a politician. Chalmers' straight-talk apprach will appeal to those who think governments tend to get in the way, and those who distrust most politicians. Ironically, Chalmers' relative lack of name recognition could help him pick up the undecided who are wary of the career politicians.

The Social Network

John Last/Kevin Lavelly/Nathaniel Wilson
With their snazzy web site "Run this Town", Last, Lavelly, and Wilson are three 20 year-olds running a mayoral campaign to eat away at voter apathy. Their approach is to tackle the cynicism of elections and to try and influence folks to get to the polls; that our civic duty is to be involved citizens in our electoral process. Their main audience is the younger demographic, who tend to shy away from municipal politics and elections. They don't expect votes but surely they will stoke the passions of a few citizens in the 18-25 age range.

You can now own a Stacy Kelly collectable

2010-10-12T18:51:00.000-04:00

You can now own an essential and rare Stacy Kelly collectable, available to order from Chessler Books in Colorado.

Get your own signed copy of Everest: Epic Trivia co-authored by Don Travers and Stacy Kelly. Published in 1999 this 76-page book features photos and hundreds of trivia questions and answers about the legendary mountain.

Order your copy now at Chessler Books. Makes a great gift!

On the restaurant trail

2010-10-10T16:38:00.000-04:00

As the dust finally settles on downtown Kingston's "Big Dig", the rather clever marketing campaign created around the revitalization of the main corner of historic downtown, some interesting developments are about to occur in our restaurant scene

First off, we may have a burger war on our hands. Last week Harper's Burger Bar opened just near the busy corner of Wellington and Princess streets. We tried to go in on Thursday night but the place was absolutely packed. They are getting the jump on Five Guys Burgers and Fries, opening up a block north. Whereas Harper's is the brainchild of the folks behind local favs Chien Noir and Atomica, Five Guys is the famous burger joint that started in the D.C. area. To add some more competition, a local joint opened up not too long ago called "Vinny's Italian Sandwiches". After a very brief run it closed (confusing all concerned) and then reopened as "Vinny's Burgers and Fries". It will be a hoot to see which will thrive in Kingston's competitive restaurant market.

Secondly, there may be a tea war brewing as well considering a David's Tea location is opening up on one of the downtown's best blocks, just a few storefronts down from the current Tea Store. Don't know who this David person is but he's got the best location, right next to our Empire Theatre (movies) and across the street from the Grand Theatre (music & plays).

Clogging up the streets will be a poutine war, with a few new upstarts trying to unseat Bubba's as Kingston's fav poutine destination. A local operation called "Poutine Place" is opening up soon, along with a branch of the Smoke's Poutinerie empire.

Smell like a monster

2010-10-09T02:01:00.002-04:00

It Gets Better!

2010-10-06T19:46:00.000-04:00

As our own little contribution to the spirit and emotion behind the wonderful It Gets Better Project, I thought I would repost the interview Mark and I did about our life and love together. We celebrated 9 years together in August and our interview was a humourous and touching portrait of how two gay boys can overcome the great challenges out there and fall in love.

I can't believe the news today

2010-10-05T02:36:00.001-04:00

RIP Asher Brown, a 13 year-old boy from Texas who killed himself after excessive bullying about his size, his beliefs, and about being gay.

RIP Seth Walsh, a 13 year-old boy from California who died in hospital due to injuries sustained after attempting to hang himself. Seth had reported being bullied for years for being gay.

RIP Billy Lucas, a 15 year-old boy from Indiana, who hung himself in his parents' barn after enduring bullying because he was gay.

RIP Justin Aaberg, a gay 15 year-old boy from Minnesota, who hung himself after suffering the torment of bullying at his high school.

RIP Tyler Clementi, a 18 year-old freshman at Rutgers University, who lept to his death after his roommate posted video online of Clementi having a sexual encounter with another man.

These tragic and heartbreaking deaths all took place within the last month. Despite some important gains in legal protection and rights, and an increased profile of LGBT people on TV, bullying within middle school and high school remains very dangerous and pernicious for LGBT youth as well as those perceived to be LGBT.

In reponse to this crisis, well-known columnist Dan Savage has launched the It Gets Better Campaign, asking folks, both celebrity and non-celebrity, to share messages of hope and reassurance to LGBT teens who may be struggling with their own bullying, feelings of self-loathing, and may be feeling all alone. There are hundreds of videos of people sharing very touching personal stories and messages. Please have a look and please share with your social networks.

With my love and gratitude to my friends and family, who have always loved me for who I am. I would not be here without you. Love, Stacy