Summer Reading List

Tonight at bedtime I got a little too excited telling Lenny about the reading incentive programs they used to have at the Toronto Public Library when I was growing up. You'd get a piece of paper stamped every time you read a book. That was the big incentive. What? I remember it being so exciting. Reading was the reward, I guess. It got me to thinking about what I want to put on my reading list this Summer. Here's where I'm at so far...

1. Leave Your Mark by Aliza Licht - Before we knew who Aliza Licht was, we were all following @DKNYPRGirl on Twitter. I'm looking forward to Licht's insights into Social Media.

2. Yes Please by Amy Poehler - What's weird is that I haven't read this yet.

3. #GirlBoss by Sophia Amoruso - I'm not sure about this one, to be honest. I can't decide if I'm going to find her annoying or inspiring. I guess the only way to find out is to read the book. And I'm curious enough to do that, so bonus points for that, Amoruso.

4. Believer by David Axelrod - I think I might be in love with David Axelrod, so it would be kind of rude if I didn't read his book this Summer, right?

5. Picnic in Provence by Elizabeth Bard - It's a memoir with recipes. I think that qualifies as delightful Summer reading, don't you? It sounds vaguely escapist, which is just what the doctor ordered sometimes, especially if you find yourself on the beach or poolside.

6. Serve It Forth by MFK Fisher - Last year one of my Summer reads was Provence 1970, written by Fisher's nephew Luke Barr. I loved every page of that book. Barr really brought the people it was about alive. Julia Child, James Beard and most especially, Fisher. I've been excited to dive into her work ever since.

7. The Gastronomical Me by MFK Fisher - Because I have a feeling one isn't going to be enough. And I want to be MFK Fisher when I grow up.

8. A Cook's Tour by Anthony Bourdain - Because I've read all the other books he's written. Damn it, Tony! Write a new book!

9. Saint Louis Armstrong Beach by Brenda Woods - This is Young Adult Fiction, but after reading my friend Tanya Gough's wonderful YA novel Root Bound, I'm more open to that than I used to be. I imagine it will be a quick, compelling read, with a New Orleans backdrop. Who knows? Maybe in a couple of years it will be something that Lenny and I can read together (I know we'll be reading Root Bound)!

10. Norman Granz: The Man Who Used Jazz For Justice by Tad Hershorn - I love Hershorn's writing and Granz is a personal hero. I can't wait to dig into this!

11. Can You Hear Me Now? by Michael Eric Dyson - It's been a good 5 years since I've read any Dyson and this seems like the right place to get my fill this Summer. He's got a way with words, this man.

12. Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk by David Sedaris - Because this is the only Sedaris I haven't read yet and I need to rectify that as soon as possible. I saw him speak recently with my friend Sarah and it was such a delight. He's so special. And weird. I just love him. Sedaris is the only author other than Wodehouse who's ever made me fall into hysterical fits of giggles on public transit. That's some sort of a litmus test, as far as I'm concerned.

Lenny is doing remarkably well learning how to read in JK and she wants to do more of it. So, we'll be keeping up our routine of board books that she can read by herself and Curious George and Pete the Cat books that we can read together. I think she's ready to put some big kid chapter books into rotation too.  It's so hard to know where to start!

1. The Hotel Cat by Esther Averill - while it's true we've already read this to her at least twice, it's still my all time favourite and the fact that she loves it too means we're going to read it over and over again. That's just how it's going to be.

2. Charlotte's Web by E.B. White - because I think maybe it's OK if she breaks her heart a little bit? Maybe? I'm still on the fence about this one. Not sure I can handle having my heart broken like this again. But it's so good! Decisions, decisions.

3. The BFG - by Roald Dahl - I think this is a good place to start with Dahl? I think? And Sophie is such a fun character and the BFG is so muddled up and loveable. It's definitely gateway Dahl, and that's what I'm looking for.

4. The Mouse and the Motorcycle by Beverly Cleary - Speaking of gateway...she's already seen the movie and loves little Ralph. I, of course, was obsessed with all things Beverly Clearly as a girl, so I'm super excited to get Len started this Summer first Ralph...then...

5. Ramona Quimby, Age 8 by Beverly Cleary - RAMONA! I don't need to say anything more than that, do I? (Well, that's not true. I will say that if I can't find the cover art seen above I'll be pissed. That's the only Ramona I care to know, visually anyway).

6. Ribsy by Beverly Cleary - My kid loves dogs. This will be an easy sell. And it's a great book. Henry Huggins is such fun. Ahhhh! I can't wait!

Any tips? What do you think is missing from my list? What are you planning on reading this Summer?

In Pictures: Summer 2014

I mean...wasn't it just May?  We've been keeping super busy this Summer with all sorts of good times, especially birthdays.  Lenny is four.  It's hard to believe how quickly time has flown.  That whole thing about the years being short and the days being long?  So on the money.

Lenny wasn't the only one with a birthday.  Our friend Matthew is ONE!  Isn't he handsome?  

Beautiful Girls

Great brunch spot with great people in the Junction Triangle.  

A trip to the ROM always means a trip to Starbucks too.

My first attempt at growing food is actually yielding results.  So shocked.

 It wouldn't be Summer without a few trips to the C.N.E.  

With my Mama

Farmer Len is already a better driver than me.

A visit with Cousin / Auntie Laura

Getting ready to march in the Caribbean Festival Parade where I was the official photographer for the PanAm Games.

I took a conference call at the beach last week.  Moments like these remind me of why Freelance Life is THE BEST.

Derek Jeter's last game in Toronto with my girls...

Perhaps the most exciting development in our household this Summer was the addition of J.J.  Lenny named him after the Robeau (J.J. is short for Jim Junior) and I'm happy to report that this handsome Russian Blue youngster is fitting in quite nicely.  I've missed having a cat in the house.

Fall, here we come!  It's going to be a big one...

Pics are from my Instagram feed or courtesy Aunt Mo.

2014 Toronto Jazz Festival

It's been a whirlwind couple of weeks with some great music in Toronto.  I was thrilled to once again be able to cover the festival for Torontoist and work as an official staff photographer.  Here are my some of my favourite moments from this year's festival.

Gregory Porter.  Sublime!  He was mesmerizing, especially with the great tune, On my Way to Harlem.  It's gratifying to see a singer who is both an incredible musician and someone who has an understanding of "showmanship".  His command of the audience was singular.

The Dirty Dozen Brass Band.  Any time there's a Sousaphone, I'm happy.

The inimitable Dave Holland with his band PRISM featuring Kevin Eubanks on Guitar and my favourite drummer, Eric Harland.  Would love to seem him play in a more traditional trio setting again some day, or backing a horn player again (like he did with Terence Blanchard).  That said, these guys killed it.

Toronto's own Pat Labarbera at the Rex Hotel.  A reminder that there is world class music here all year round.  Standing room only, duh.

On the final night of the fest I was treated to an amazing performance by the Oliver Jones Trio.  Jim Doxas is a fantastic young drummer and Oliver?  Well, he's Oliver.  Perfection.  His rendition of Oscar Peterson's When Summer Comes and his Gershwin medley may or may not have driven me (and a certain sister) to tears.  The evening was only more magical because we were celebrating the birthday of my wonderful friend Céline.  It was great way to wind down the festival.

Last, but not least, the Robeau and his trio gave a wonderful performance at Snell Hall.  They sounded so great.  I couldn't be more proud.  It was so fun to watch Lenny dancing to her favourite songs.

Till next year Jazz Fest!

City in a Park: St. James Park

Summer is really, officially, finally here.  For real, you guys.  I can hardly believe it.  One thing I want to do this Summer is explore some of the great parks in Toronto.  Our city is sometimes referred to as "a city within a park" because, well, we have so many of them.  This is the Summer I want to take advantage of that in a more deliberate way.  Lenny has agreed to join me on these excursions and we're both pretty excited.

We've been cooped up the last couple of days, me with work, her with a fever (yes, the Robeau did teach her to say she "needs more cowbell").  Today she started to feel better so she joined me to see her dad play at St. James Cathedral's Snell Hall as part of the Toronto Jazz Festival.  As luck would have it, we had an hour to kill before the show and the grounds of the cathedral is one of Old Toronto's loveliest spots, St. James Park!

Things we loved:  A gazebo (Len loves gazebos), beautiful gardens, room to run downtown, public art (from the Contact Festival), a little water fountain that looks like the one in Jackson Square (you know it had to come back to New Orleans, damn).

Things we didn't love:  No water in the fountain, lots of litter and cigarette butts on the grounds.  This is a downtown park so there are a number of homeless people that basically live there.  That's not an issue for us as far as enjoying the park goes (we met some awesome people and were more than happy to share their space with them), but since the city knows that people are spending so much time there, and they have been for decades, it would be nice if they could clean up the butts, you know?

It's a beautiful spot, in a beautiful part of the city that has so much to offer.  We'll certainly be back.

Fashion Week

How fabulous is she?!

It's Fashion Week in Toronto and the big tent where all the shows happen is located right across the street from my office.  I've seen my share of fashion victims heading to the shows (hint: if you can't walk the heels are too high) and also my fare share of fabulousness.  Fashion Week really brings the people watching in this town to another level.  I love this time of year, when Spring is almost here because I know it means dresses and sandals and giant straw bags are just around the corner.  For me, nothing beats that easy kind of dressing.  I've been collecting some of my favourite looks on Pinterest over the last couple of weeks just for inspiration.  I am so ready to shed the winter coat and boots!  What are you looking forward to the most, wardrobe-wise, as the weather warms up?

Oakville Jazz Fest, 2007.

Just got back in from a great weekend at the Oakville Jazz Fest. The Robeau and I had a relaxing time staying at the Holiday Inn Select (there was a BUNNY in the parking lot!) and I had a great time tooling around town in my new jeans (I hate that shopping makes me happy. It's awful being a cliche, isn't it?).

The Robeau played with his trio at beautiful art gallery, Andy Scott headlined at an amazing tribute to Ed Bickert and there was all kinds of other good music and food on the streets. It was a perfect way to spend the weekend. Hope you all had a good one too.