Number One Fan

..of my dear friend Basia, who just keeps getting more and more and more loved by people all over the world.  And why wouldn’t she be? Her modesty and charm and giggles are there during every show, but each new one brings a new depth to her voice, her lyrics, and the composition of her with the members of her band.

PLUS, she experiences double rainbows on a BICYCLE:

The video that’s embedded into this NPR article is shot so well, so artistically, and so vividly that I felt like I was right there. I swear that every time I go see her perform live it makes me cry, because I’m so proud of her and her talented band mates. I even got all teary-eyed sitting here at my laptop. It reminds me of when I used to go see Basia play at the Second Cup in Etobicoke once a week… (I believe it might have been her first real gig?!)

I don’t know about you, but after seeing this I can’t wait to watch more Tiny Desk Concerts! Go NPR!

Cavernous

Lee Bontecou’s Untitled 1961 is six square feet of “welded steel, canvas, black fabric, rawhide, copper wire, and soot.” It looks like a painting of an angular, soil-tinted sunburst or an aerial photograph of a modular ant-hill.  An in-person visit or natural-light photo reveals the literal and figurative depth of the piece. There is a cavernous protrusion in the upper centre.  The darker-than-black hole is  ominous, like an entry point for some alternate world which is both welcoming and exclusive.

Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) visitors notice and approach the piece. They scrutinize the metallic seams that bind the multi-textured and multi-coloured canvas pieces that make up this puzzle of a sculpture.  Most people only hesitantly put their heads anywhere near the centre.   Some look in, almost afraid of what they might see. One man uses his cell-phone to try to illuminate and capture the inside of the bulging hollow. He looks at the image on his screen. He’s obviously unimpressed and quickly moves on to attempt to pilfer some other photos.

Bontecou has created this installation in such a way that even in the bright white-lit gallery there is absolutely nothing that can be seen within.  The brilliant effect is that it invites close, almost scientific examination of its vacuous cavern.  With no evidence to be reported, temporary analysts are gently forced back into the role of admirers. The vast nothingness of the hole encourages appreciation of  the intricate details of its exterior.

huevos ranchnonos

Hey there Toronto breakfast joints, I have some news for you:

When someone orders Huevos Rancheros for breakfast they want to be filled to the brim with starchey, protein-filled deliciousness. 

There should be no white showing on the plate.  There should be guacamole [not avocado chunks], and there should be plenty o’ full-fat sour cream. There should be no capability to eat another meal, post-huevos.  In fact, there should be a bit of a  strain to stand, post-huevos.

 

Universal Grill:  understands the  huevos concept and has pretty much mastered it, AND has the loveliest servers ever.

Sunrise Grill & Crepe: not so much with the huevo-understanding-thing, nor the decent-service-thing.

 

Both restaurants have delicious homefries, though… just so you know.

Down to the Dirt

from Down to the Dirt’s Website

As many such journeys begin, Down to the Dirt started with a decision at the dining room table. In 2004 Writer/Director Justin Simms, Producer Anna Petras, Novelist/Lead Actor Joel Hynes and Co-Screenwriter Sherry White sat over tea and agreed to make the feature film adaptation of Joel’s first novel, Down to the Dirt, in which his ne’r-do-well alter ego, Keith Kavanagh, finds a most improbable redemption. Four years and thousands of cups of tea later, the film exists. (And all four key players are still alive.)

By far the best movie I’ve seen in a long time.

From the opening line to the end, it engaged me.  The characters were very realistic, and I felt that the movie truly captured what the writer (and lead actor) was trying to convey about life in ‘The Cove’. The writing was unique, witty, and raw.  From what I understand about directing, I think it was really well done.

There are some very graphically violent scenes, but I highly reccomend this movie.

 

 

A still from one of my favourite scenes:

Protected: the musical fruit

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Protected: Sempre used to be simple

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