Lots of great things to see and do in the big city this long weekend if you're not fleeing to cottage country. Tonight I'm going to check out the Hot & Spicy food festival at Harbourfront Centre were I have been promised there will be plenty of food, drink and music, "Island Soul Style". Not sure what that means exactly, but it sounds gooood.
Tonight! Look what you can get for a mere $5!
29.7.04
You. Me. The Oasis. A bunch of my favorite performers...AND...A Night of Passion with Tina Vahn. A bargain, I dare say, at any price.
I have seen the future...
28.7.04
and it is called OBAMA. What else can you say?
On another note, though - "John Kerry speedboats into Boston Harbor" - really? Who does he think he is, Jeff Probst?
On another note, though - "John Kerry speedboats into Boston Harbor" - really? Who does he think he is, Jeff Probst?
Look at me! I'm out of retirement!
27.7.04
I was recently involved with the largest production of my career thus far, as Maid of Honour at the Lyjak/Baldassini Nuptuals. Now that the happy couple is hitched I am taking some time out to get back on some of Toronto's comedy stages. Below you will find information on my next two shows. I'd love if it you and say, I don't know, 10 or 12 of your closest friends could make it out. Nothing makes you feel good about yourself quite like supporting live, local entertainment.
THURSDAY, JULY 29th @ 9pm
A NIGHT OF PASSION WITH TINA VAHN
The Oasis (294 College, just W. of Spadina)
$5 @ the door
This month's passions include:
MARTIN O'BRIEN - stand-up
THE DISTRACTIONS - sketch
REIMER & FROMSTEIN - improv
THE BANDITS - sketch
DENISE MADER w/ MICHAEL BARBER - musical theatre
TRACEY NOLAN - character
* This will be a fun show, with a great line up, hosted and produced by one
of Toronto's most lovely comediennes the talented Tina Vahn. The Oasis is
an intimate, cozy room that boasts a great tapas menu and a large selection
of brew.
MONDAY, AUGUST 2nd @ 11pm
ALTdot COMEDY LOUNGE
"COMING SOON...COMEDY LOUNGE UP & COMERS"
Rivoli
334 Queen Street West (at Spadina)
FREE!
* From their website www.altcomedylounge.com: For seven years, the
ALTdotCOMedy Lounge has been one of Toronto's premiere showcase venues and
favourite spot for performers visiting the city. Encouraging alternative,
untraditional and new material, the ALTdot features a variety of comedians
and continues to discover the best. With our regular drop-in guests from
around the world, sketch artists, character pieces, fantastic stand-up,
the ALTdot aims at providing an alternative to the mainstream, in a
comfortable, cabaret atmosphere.
This would be a hell of a way to wind down your holiday weekend! Hope to see
you there...
THURSDAY, JULY 29th @ 9pm
A NIGHT OF PASSION WITH TINA VAHN
The Oasis (294 College, just W. of Spadina)
$5 @ the door
This month's passions include:
MARTIN O'BRIEN - stand-up
THE DISTRACTIONS - sketch
REIMER & FROMSTEIN - improv
THE BANDITS - sketch
DENISE MADER w/ MICHAEL BARBER - musical theatre
TRACEY NOLAN - character
* This will be a fun show, with a great line up, hosted and produced by one
of Toronto's most lovely comediennes the talented Tina Vahn. The Oasis is
an intimate, cozy room that boasts a great tapas menu and a large selection
of brew.
MONDAY, AUGUST 2nd @ 11pm
ALTdot COMEDY LOUNGE
"COMING SOON...COMEDY LOUNGE UP & COMERS"
Rivoli
334 Queen Street West (at Spadina)
FREE!
* From their website www.altcomedylounge.com: For seven years, the
ALTdotCOMedy Lounge has been one of Toronto's premiere showcase venues and
favourite spot for performers visiting the city. Encouraging alternative,
untraditional and new material, the ALTdot features a variety of comedians
and continues to discover the best. With our regular drop-in guests from
around the world, sketch artists, character pieces, fantastic stand-up,
the ALTdot aims at providing an alternative to the mainstream, in a
comfortable, cabaret atmosphere.
This would be a hell of a way to wind down your holiday weekend! Hope to see
you there...
Christmas in July
13.7.04
My boyfriend and I live in a tiny apartment, above a row of low-rent businesses in the West end of downtown Toronto. It’s crowded, between the two of us, the three of our cats and our stuff. We’re people who have a lot of stuff and not a lot of space and yet we continue to live in the hopes that someday, we will get organized. I know, deep down, all the “cubic” thinking in the world isn’t going to do it but pretending is easier than parting with my junk, so that’s what we do, read the Ikea catalogue and pretend.
One of the shops downstairs has just changed hands and is now a Portuguese chicken joint. There’s a rotisserie that spins in the window and it has been getting a lot of attention around the neighborhood. People are lining up for this chicken. I have to say though, it smells better than it tastes. Not to say it tastes bad, it’s quite delicious. It’s just that it smells even better. In fact, I’m reminded of how delicious it smells every morning. It’s quite a way to wake up, to the smell of roasting chicken. I wake up every single morning thinking it’s Christmas. Turns out all slow roasted poultry pretty much smells the same. One turkey in the oven two rooms over is the equivalent to six chickens on a spit downstairs. Who knew? I guess the sense memory skills I picked up in those method acting classes I took in my early twenties have finally paid off.
It’s a real mood elevator. I wake up with a song on my lips, a twinkle in my eye and kindness for all humanity in my heart. It’s all I can do to stop from running to the window, throwing it open and yelling “You boy! Yes You! I want you to head down to the butcher shop and bring me back that turkey in the window! Ye-e-es! The one as big as you!” I manage to refrain most mornings, but it isn’t easy.
So I hop out of bed, and make my coffee. I plug in the twinkle lights and force the foam rubber antlers on the cats’ heads. They hate it, but I think they owe it to me to get into the spirit of things. After all, I’m not just the crazy lady that subjects them to wearing holiday themed headgear, I’m the one that feeds them and cleans up their poop. At least I’m the one that does that when my boyfriend is out of town. Anyway, they can’t stay mad forever. Especially not when they see what I put in their stockings!
It’s usually around now that things take a turn for the worse. I flip on the television to see if The Boys Choir of Harlem is singing carols somewhere or if PBS is showing “Holiday Inn” or “It’s A Wonderful Life” yet. Why is just bad game shows and news? Why is everyone talking about Jihad? Surely we can stop talking about Jihad for one day! And why am I so hot? It’s now that I become depressed that global warming is having such an effect on the planet that I have to turn the air conditioner on Christmas morning.
But I’m plucky. I have indelible spirit. Christmas spirit. So I put on my red sweater, the one with the fuzzy white collar and I check the answering machine, full of anticipation for the wonderful holiday greetings that are sure to be waiting for me from my friends and my family. Hey! It’s the HR guy from my office. Why is raising his voice like that? Of course I didn’t call to say I’m not coming in. Who calls to say they’re not coming in on Christmas Day? And why has nobody called to wish me a happy holiday?
It’s hard to be alone on Christmas. Not to mention being the victim of a turkey burglary. Why, the scent of it is still hanging in the air! Hanging, much like my empty stocking. It appears my boyfriend, who I thought was so loyal, has left the apartment before I awoke and he has taken my Christmas turkey with him. Why would he do this to me? Why is the world conspiring against me? On Christmas?!?!
I retreat back to my bed, alone, without turkey, presents or companionship. All I have is the smell. The smell of Christmas. And the faint knowledge that this will all happen again tomorrow morning.
One of the shops downstairs has just changed hands and is now a Portuguese chicken joint. There’s a rotisserie that spins in the window and it has been getting a lot of attention around the neighborhood. People are lining up for this chicken. I have to say though, it smells better than it tastes. Not to say it tastes bad, it’s quite delicious. It’s just that it smells even better. In fact, I’m reminded of how delicious it smells every morning. It’s quite a way to wake up, to the smell of roasting chicken. I wake up every single morning thinking it’s Christmas. Turns out all slow roasted poultry pretty much smells the same. One turkey in the oven two rooms over is the equivalent to six chickens on a spit downstairs. Who knew? I guess the sense memory skills I picked up in those method acting classes I took in my early twenties have finally paid off.
It’s a real mood elevator. I wake up with a song on my lips, a twinkle in my eye and kindness for all humanity in my heart. It’s all I can do to stop from running to the window, throwing it open and yelling “You boy! Yes You! I want you to head down to the butcher shop and bring me back that turkey in the window! Ye-e-es! The one as big as you!” I manage to refrain most mornings, but it isn’t easy.
So I hop out of bed, and make my coffee. I plug in the twinkle lights and force the foam rubber antlers on the cats’ heads. They hate it, but I think they owe it to me to get into the spirit of things. After all, I’m not just the crazy lady that subjects them to wearing holiday themed headgear, I’m the one that feeds them and cleans up their poop. At least I’m the one that does that when my boyfriend is out of town. Anyway, they can’t stay mad forever. Especially not when they see what I put in their stockings!
It’s usually around now that things take a turn for the worse. I flip on the television to see if The Boys Choir of Harlem is singing carols somewhere or if PBS is showing “Holiday Inn” or “It’s A Wonderful Life” yet. Why is just bad game shows and news? Why is everyone talking about Jihad? Surely we can stop talking about Jihad for one day! And why am I so hot? It’s now that I become depressed that global warming is having such an effect on the planet that I have to turn the air conditioner on Christmas morning.
But I’m plucky. I have indelible spirit. Christmas spirit. So I put on my red sweater, the one with the fuzzy white collar and I check the answering machine, full of anticipation for the wonderful holiday greetings that are sure to be waiting for me from my friends and my family. Hey! It’s the HR guy from my office. Why is raising his voice like that? Of course I didn’t call to say I’m not coming in. Who calls to say they’re not coming in on Christmas Day? And why has nobody called to wish me a happy holiday?
It’s hard to be alone on Christmas. Not to mention being the victim of a turkey burglary. Why, the scent of it is still hanging in the air! Hanging, much like my empty stocking. It appears my boyfriend, who I thought was so loyal, has left the apartment before I awoke and he has taken my Christmas turkey with him. Why would he do this to me? Why is the world conspiring against me? On Christmas?!?!
I retreat back to my bed, alone, without turkey, presents or companionship. All I have is the smell. The smell of Christmas. And the faint knowledge that this will all happen again tomorrow morning.
$5,672
8.7.04
Major Harry Schmidt, an elite American military pilot, "flagrantly disregarded a direct order" to hold fire in Afghanistan. Then he dropped a 220 kg. bomb from his F-16 warplane that killed four Canadian soldiers and wounded eight.
He acted "shamefully," with "arrogance." He chose to wage his own private war in defiance of all orders. He never expressed heartfelt remorse.
And he lied to excuse his fatal actions.
That's how U.S. Air Force Lt.-Gen. Bruce Carlson summed up the case against Schmidt this week, as he officially reprimanded him for the "friendly fire" bombing on April 17, 2002 when the pilot mistook the Canadians for Taliban fighters.
And having rendered this scorching verdict, what penalty did the U.S. military impose?
Schmidt loses $5,672 (U.S.) in pay. The reprimand will go on his military record. And he will not fly warplanes again.
This guy, Schmidt - from what I've seen in the media, the way he presents himself - represents the worst of the military. The "YEAH! I get to fly a plane and shoot shit" guy. The "This is just like being in a video game" guy. The "I've been waiting a long time to see some action so I'm not going to wait when I get my chance" guy. I don't like these guys. They have thick necks and narrow minds.
This verdict is a slap in the face. American military justice has let down comrades-in-arms in the war on terror.
He acted "shamefully," with "arrogance." He chose to wage his own private war in defiance of all orders. He never expressed heartfelt remorse.
And he lied to excuse his fatal actions.
That's how U.S. Air Force Lt.-Gen. Bruce Carlson summed up the case against Schmidt this week, as he officially reprimanded him for the "friendly fire" bombing on April 17, 2002 when the pilot mistook the Canadians for Taliban fighters.
And having rendered this scorching verdict, what penalty did the U.S. military impose?
Schmidt loses $5,672 (U.S.) in pay. The reprimand will go on his military record. And he will not fly warplanes again.
This guy, Schmidt - from what I've seen in the media, the way he presents himself - represents the worst of the military. The "YEAH! I get to fly a plane and shoot shit" guy. The "This is just like being in a video game" guy. The "I've been waiting a long time to see some action so I'm not going to wait when I get my chance" guy. I don't like these guys. They have thick necks and narrow minds.
This verdict is a slap in the face. American military justice has let down comrades-in-arms in the war on terror.
Bull!
7.7.04
It's that time of year again, the running of the bulls in Spain. Traditionally, the running of the bulls is followed by the soiling of the pants and the burrying of the idiots.
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