Robert Wexler

You are rocking my world.

Thanks for that.

Harvey Korman was a funny man.

Best. Spam. Ever.

Last week, I got several spam emails with the subject "we have pictures of you in the shower, tnolan".

Okaaaaay.

Today? "you look really stupid, tnolan".

Awesome.

The Ghost of Offices Past

When we make a pot of coffee in the morning, we turn off the machine so the coffee doesn't burn. If we want a second cup, we reheat it in the microwave. Which I'm sure is a whole 'nother brand of bad for you but whatever. Yesterday, I left the burner on and the smell of the coffee heating in that coffee pot on my counter took me back immediately to my first office job. Ain't sense memory grande? Aren't I glad I took those method acting classes when I was in my 20's? It was then I realized that an office smelling of burned coffee is a thing of the past. Everyone has those thermoses now, or espresso machines. While the coffee is better, I miss that smell. The same way I miss thermal fax paper and standing in front of a photocopier for hours on end and cleaning every phone in the office with a can of Lysol every single night because my boss was a germaphobe freak. Which is to say, not at all. I don't really miss it, but I look back fondly on the burned coffee and my ink stained hands and the fact that I never had to stay one minute past 5:00pm.

Crack.

I feel like I'm on it. This is my brain on PMS, my job and the to do list that still needs to be made. This is my brain on unanswered emails, uncleaned closets and unwritten blog posts. At least it's Friday, right?

Blogging from Buffalo

The Robeau and I are spending Victoria Day, that most colonial of holiday Mondays South of the border in Buffalo, New York. We've already enjoyed seeing some of downtown near our hotel and hope to balance some sight seeing and book reading / relaxation for the rest of the weekend. Even on short trips like this, not far away from home, The Robeau and I travel very differently. As I discovered on our trip to New Orleans a few years back, he is of the "relax and do nothing in the hotel room" variety and I am of the "chart it, graph it, see it all" variety. My theory is that this has to do with him traveling so much for work (it's no big deal) and me not being very well traveled (it's a BIG freaking deal). In life, I am not type A. Not at all. On vacation, I'm crazy type A. So he's doing his best to come along with me and look at STUFF (Stuff in a different city!) and I'm here blogging in our room at the Hyatt Regency because it feels like I'm being more productive than it does when I'm lying in bed reading. I need to get my head checked. But not this weekend. TOO MUCH TO DO!!! TOO MUCH TO SEE!!!

Here's the view from our hotel room. Where I blog.

Time Travel

So last night I watched a great new episode of Law & Order that guest starred both Melissa Leo and Tom Evertt Scott. Hello, 1996! What's next? Am I going to start eating Nutri Grain Cereal Bars for breakfast everyday? Decorate my room with too many clocks and dried flowers? Seriously. What was up with all those dried flowers? What were we all thinking?

Hutch is a Brew-Gooder!

Check it out, Bloggy McBloggerson! My good friend Sarah Hutchison, co-founder of World Playground Project is being recognized for all of her good work by Breakfast Television and Maxwell house. Watch the video here. She's a "brew-gooder"!

I'd also encourage you to take a look at the website for WPP and consider making a donation, or spreading the word about the project in your own way. People like Hutch actually make me believe that together, we can make a difference.

May 15th
Note: The video only seemed to be up for a week. I'll see if I can find an archive somewhere. Meanwhile though, DO check out WPP!

Friday - and the CODA events keep rolling on!

If you are near a radio or your computer today (Friday) at 5pm tune into JAZZ FM 91.1 and listen to Andrew Scott, oft mentioned guitarist and Editor of CODA magazine, on air with my favourite jazz DJ and yours, Mr. Larry Green! You can find them here .

Then, turn off your computer damn it, it's the weekend!

Might I suggest if you are in Toronto and looking for something great to do tonight you come on down to QUOTES for the Canadian Jazz Quartet and special guest Bruce Cassidy? And then, well, then you're just gonna have to come on down to the Stealth Lounge at The Pilot Tavern to catch the Brandi Disterheft Trio fresh off their win at the 2008 Juno's! Not only are we giving away copies of the 50th anniversary issue of CODA at these events, there's no cover! So you have NO EXCUSE for not coming on down!

See you there!

CODA Magazine 50th Anniversary Party

Just wanted to share a few snaps from last night at the Rex, where the jazz community came together to celebrate the 50th anniversary of CODA Magazine. Don't forget, there are events going on all weekend!

Open Letter to Lake County Indiana

Dear Lake County,

That was FUN last night. Even though you didn't come through with the 2% I was hoping for I'd still like to kiss you. Right on the mouth.

Love,
MTN

The Quintessential Canadian Jazz Photograph

I'm working on a great event taking place at The Distillery District celebrating the 50th Anniversary of CODA Magazine. Read all about it here in the Toronto Star .

CODA Magazine - 50 Jazzy Years!

Hello Friends,

Well, May is upon us and with it the long awaited 50th anniversary of CODA Magazine!

You will notice that this month your calendar (featuring a photo of Eric Harland and Reuben Rogers from their performance with the Aaron Goldberg Trio at IAJE) is exclusively focussed on this monster event. Remember, Festival season is just around the corner and you don't want to go into it unprepared. You might...pull something. So warm up right, friends with the CODA 50th Birthday Bash and Jazz Club Crawl.

CHECK IT OUT:

Wednesday, May 7, 2008 – 8 – 9pm
The Rex Hotel and Jazz Bar

CODA Editor and renowned guitarist Andrew Scott joins The CODA Allstars
- Joel Haynes on drums, Frank Wright on vibes, Neil Swainson on bass, Jake Wilkinson on trumpet and Toronto Jazz Festival Artistic Director Jim Galloway on sax, for a swinging tribute to jazz in Toronto at our most venerable jazz club!


Wednesday, May 7, 2008 – 9:30pm
The Rex Hotel and Jazz Bar

FROM MONTREAL – CD Release Party! The Cameron Wallis Quartet (who
works regularly as the back up band for 2008 Juno winning vocalist Sophie Milman) perform tunes off their new CD.

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Thursday, May 8, 2008 – 8:30pm
Dominion on Queen

Enjoy a great night of big band jazz with The Brian Rose Little Big Band at
Dominion on Queen – a cozy joint that boasts a great selection of brew!

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Friday, May 9th, 2008 – 5 – 8pm
Quotes

Fast becoming a Toronto institution, Quotes showcases the legendary Canadian Jazz Quartet every Friday at “Happy Hour”. Joining the CJQ this week is special guest Bruce Cassidy on trumpet and EVI.

Friday, May 9th – 9:30pm
Pilot Tavern – Stealth Lounge

PRESENTED BY JUSTIN TIME – The 2008 Juno Award Winning The Brandi Disterheft Trio does a special show at The Pilot Tavern’s sleek and sexy Stealth Lounge. NO COVER!

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Saturday, May 10th – 3:30pm
Pilot Tavern – Downstairs

The joint is always jumpin’ for the Saturday Matinee at The Pilot. Join the crowd and enjoy the sounds of one of Toronto’s finest trumpeters (and CODA Allstar) Jake Wilkinson.

Saturday, May 10th – 9pm
Trane Studio

Trane Studio has been a hot spot for the last several years in Toronto. Join CODA as Trane presents the Fusion sounds on Neil Braithwaite.

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Sunday, May 11th – 2:30pm – 5pm
Art of Jazz Studio at The Distillery

CODA winds things down with this special Mother’s Day event (bring Mom after brunch or before dinner!) at Art of Jazz. Performing at the studio for this special double bill are the David Virelles Bebop Trio and The Harley Card Group. Not to be missed.

For more details check out:

50 Jazzy Years
CODA Magazine

See you in the clubs!

Cheers,
Tracey
--
Tracey Nolan
MTN Media Relations
www.misstraceynolan.com

Like I need more than ONE reason!

Yeah, I do realize that I'm obsessed with Midol. But it makes everything in my life so much better. So I'm paying homage, right now in my moment of anxiety. I've been living on a diet of soda crackers and Gatorade for the past several days since I came down with the mutant stomach flu on Sunday night. Also, work related stress is a mofo and I'm so PISSED about this whole Jeremiah Wright thing, I can't even begin to craft a response. Maybe now isn't the best time for me to be rereading Malcolm X, huh? So, yeah, sexist vintage Midol ads are my refuge. Sue me.