Ginger St. James

Every now and then, you make some random musical discovery that you can then spend the next months and years delighting in introducing that musician to them. For me, Ginger St. James is that artist.

I caught her performance at a burlesque show in boring ol' Ottawa one random winter's night, and spent the rest of the evening in aural bliss. Somehow she manages to fit the singing voice of a thousand old jazz singers into her tiny little frame. Hints of Etta James and Patsy Cline show through in her sound (and maybe a little Lucille Bogan in her subject matter). I have, on a few occasions, watched peoples' jaws drop, quite literally, when she opens her mouth to sing.

She plays the blues oh-so-well, and also dips into jazz and country. Her live sets are generally a mix of her originals, and her take on the classics. Her originals bear the mark of her country/small town upbringing, and range from cheeky, to funergetic, to raunchy, and down to soulfully sad. Though not yet the strongest lyricist, as her songwriting progresses, so to will her upward trajectory. With a voice like hers, so long as she sticks with the game, the descriptor "incomparable" may well become apt.

Don't believe me? Fine. I'll prove it. Check out this live version of "Don't Deceive Me," a standard sung by the likes of Chuck Willis and Little Richard alike. I'd take Ms. St. James' version three times out of four.


Grab her first studio LP with her band, the Grinders - Spank, Sparkle & Growl, off of her site, as well as iTunes and Amazon. A little birdie informs me that she's in the studio working on her first full album, and it should be out early in the new year, so keep checking back.

She's based in Toronto now, and keeps a busy schedule. You can see her live at the always-rowdy Magpie Tavern every Monday, starting Dec 19th, and running until Jah knows when. 831 Dundas St. West.

(Try to) Keep track of her on Facebook, or her website, GingerStJames.com.

Understatement of the week: It's all good. ;)

Sneaky Dee’s Nachos

If you want nachos in the city, this is where you go. Period. Their heart-stopping mountains of tortillas and toppings are the stuff of legend, and if you’ve never had them in you, stop reading and go right now. OK, wait, finish reading, then go. Otherwise, why would I write the rest of this?

Sneaky’s is about as authentic as you can get. Established in 1987, at the none-too-classy corner of College & Bathurst, the place is a dive. It always has been, and hopefully always will be. The bathroom walls bear more permanent marker than the face of the first person to pass out at a frat party. The men’s room floors make it apparent that the patrons have little chance of winning any medals in any sport involving aiming. The concert venue upstairs has hosted some racous jams, that I'm proud to have survived. It’s loud, crowded, and the booths bear the signs of some 25 years of heavy traffic. Sometimes there’s quite a wait for a table, which in this city generally means you’re on to a good thing. Let’s just call it “character” and move on.

Its cheap pitchers of home brew and own brand of hot sauce ($5 a bottle to take home) make it a staple of university life for U of T students. They’ve quite often got bands playing in the back, and one-off events in the upstairs. Now, as a grown-up, I wouldn’t rush to make it my regular joint, nor would it be my ultimate destination for a night on the town. Once you’ve been there, however, it will call to you from time to time. It’s more than just a general desire for nachos. I’ve learned to identify it as a specific craving for Sneaky Dee’s. In the way that vinyl always sounded better when Mr. Brown would play it on the shitty speakers at 2theBeat, or wines always taste better in the cellars at the vineyard, nachos just taste better at Sneaky’s. Scienticians have tried for years to explain it, with little luck. I, for one, would rather chalk it up to a confluence of cosmic forces, and order another pitcher.

Brass tacks – let’s talk nachos.

I have a penchant for the King’s Crown platter. Some places claim their nachos are piled high with toppings. They’ve really just got topping envy. For $15.50, this monster has salsa, frijoles, beef, tomatoes, onions, pappers, jalapenos, cheese, guacamole and sour cream in such volumes that you need a fork to get at ‘em by the end. There’s no shame in eating the guac/bean/meat/salsa/sour cream slurry that will inevitably remain once the last chip has been fished out and consumed. In fact, it’s strongly encouraged. One platter is enough to fuel three normal humans, or two stoned teenagers.

There are, however, different ways to skin the proverbial cat. I have friends (surprised?) that swear by the compartmentalization of the nachos. The basic nachos, with guac, salsa, and sour cream on the side is a favourite of Doctors and Medical Residents everywhere. They also feature Greek, Veggie, and Hawaiian, or you can craft your own by adding toppings.

What’ll it cost you?

Nachos: &7.95 for simple chips & cheese - $15.50 for the King's Crown. Bring a friend.

Beer: $11 or so for a pitcher. I like their red best.

You can't go wrong at Sneaky's... 'cos it's alllll good. ;)

December Music Picks!!!

What do you want to be humming in the morning? Or, in some cases, what do you want to make your ears ring until the next evening? Here's my picks for what should be some great shows in the month of December!

Bon Iver - Massey Hall - December 6

Touring in support of their self-titled second album, these Yanks are continuing an upwards trajectory. A recent discovery for this cat, it's not hard to fall in love with the very pretty harmonies they put together. From all accounts, lead singer Justin Vernon hardly needs any backing to captivate a crowd, and ol' Massey Hall should be a great showcase for them. Almost makes me wish I wasn't shredding powder in the Rockies when this one goes down. Tickets from TicketMaster are $58.14-63.14 including fees.



The Sheepdogs - Lee's Palace - December 9 & 10

A little bit bluesy, a little bit rocky, a whole lot of good. A little reminiscent of old Guess Who or CCR in the riffs & harmonies, they might be the best thing to come out of Saskatoon since Gordie Howe. They'll certainly entertain more on this night, no offence Gordie. This is part of 102.1 The Edge's holiday concert series, and $1 from every ticket goes to the Food Bank. Great music, great cause. General admission tickets are $20.



DJ Hype - Guvernment - December 16

One of the world's filthiest drum n' bass acts touches down in Tdot for a little dancefloor mayhem. If you've only ever heard one dnb tune, it's probably his - Ready or Not. He's been on the case since 1989, and showing no signs of slowing down. I've seen him a bunch of times already, and he kills it each & every time. Playing on one of the biggest, guts-scrambling systems in the city, with some crazy frickin' lighting will only enhance dem 'tings.

This jam has Commix (UK - Hospital) as second headliner, and the ever-present MC Daddy Earl gracing the mic. Toronto's own legend, Marcus Visionary provides local support with Everfresh, plus MCs JD, Caddy Cad & Trajady on the mic.

Tickets are $25 advance, more on the door. 19+ only, sorry kiddies.

Do. Not. Miss. This.

Canadian Brass & Toronto Symphony Orchestra - Roy Thomson Hall - December 20 & 21

Call me campy if you like, but I fucking love Christmas. Lights, store windows, good wine, turkey, and old familiar Christmas songs. I mean, we all know the only real Christmas album is Bing Crosby's 'White Christmas,' but since he's long since passed (and his daughter just doesn't have the barritone to pull it off), the Canadian Brass Christmas concerts have been a staple of the holidays for a coon's age. Tickets range from $31-109.

Oldschool Boxing Day Blowout - Footwork - December 26

A favourite pasttime of any downtown dweller, what better way to sweat out turkey gravy than by shaking yourself down to some oldschool Tdot residents? Ignore the irony of a footwork event being called a blowout, and concentrate on the lineup.

I'm particularly excited to see Flippy do his thing - though I'm not sure if he's MCing or playing a DJ set. Grimace is sure to bust out the oldschool 94 rave choonage as well, so you've got other reasons to get there early... other than $2 drinks from 9-10.

No guestlist. Check Footwork's site for more details.

Of course, this only scratches the surface of the great shows, so get out there and explore. After all, it's all good. ;)

Sundayfundays at Scotland Yard

Ahhhh the Esplanade... (noun: es-pluh-nahd. An open, level, public space, especially one serving for public walks or drives). Heh, you learn something every day. As the nearest real neighbourhood to the financial district, this place is rife with young professionals, downtown dwellers drawn in by the St. Lawrence market, and a few tourists checking out the Old Spaghetti Factory with their chubby little kids. It's also stocked with bars, restaurants, and little galleries that all seem out of the way. Sure, it's got a Biermarkt (the original, I think), and a Keg, but it's also got some solid pubs.

Among the solid pubs stands Scotland Yard, a pub that's graced the Esplanade for 25 years. Outside (like that's a concern at this type of year) they've got a great patio, with leafy trees providing good shade. Sitting on a quieter street, you'll feel a little removed from the hustle and or bustle of town. It's an odd vibe inside, with all sorts of antique-store clutter hanging from the ceiling - old fans & light fixtures, paintings, mirrors - the works. It's broken down into two wings, with a big C-shaped bar in the middle, as you come in. There are a few TV & projection screens scattered about. A bit more of a clean, modern feel than the worn-in pub feel that us white boys prefer, but an easy place to be in, nonetheless.

What gets this place into the list of good things? I'm glad you asked. Really. Its combination of awesomeness on Sundays is something I haven't found anywhere else in the city yet.

$6 double caesars. Yes, that delicious mashup of clam, tomato and vodka is a frickin' bargain on the day when 83% of the normal human beings in this city are nursing a hangover. They're served with an extreme bean instead of celery, for major league bonus points.

$5 pints. This included Mill Street's delicious Tankhouse lager. Solid price for the 'hood.

$6 wings. They came out hot & fresh, though the hottest they could do is Frank's Extra Hot, which is a good indicator that a place isn't serious about dem chickens. The fact that they were on sale on a Sunday afternoon (2-6 pm) is what makes it awesome. Standard size, and not particularly special, they did hit the spot. Y'know... the spot right between the double caesar and the pint of dark beer. Yeahhhhh....

Service. I can't remember her name for the life of me, but the server was not only fun, quick-witted, and a giver of solid high-fives, but she was killing a hangover at the same time. I can only imagine her operating at full capacity. Attentive, and part of the experience without hovering or harassing. Well done, blonde girl. Well done.

Long story short, roll out of bed on a Sunday afternoon, and limp down to the Yard for a SundayFunday startup before hitting the north market for some groceries. It's all good.

Unmugged at the Guvernment

On a big night, there are few experiences like the Guv. It draws the world's top club spinners, massive crowds, great lighting, sound, it's got creative spaces that make it feel more like a circus than a nightclub at times. It's one of Toronto's only superclubs, following in the great British tradition. OK, sure, on a regular night it's just somewhere to go when you've got nowhere else to go, and that's where this story comes from.

There were originally five of us headed out - and the names have been changed to protect the innocent. ST, the touring jazz musician, Karstar, the talented photographer, and me, the suit. It was a foggy Friday night in the city, and a couple of chicks from back home made the last minute trip down to the city to experience the nightlife. Karstar had spots on the list, so Guv it was. Once the broads eventually got themselves primped and preened, we headed off to the club.

We immediately lost track of the chicks, who bailed to head out to the Brant House... which, if you're not familiar is a place where bankers, lawyers and 'roid monkeys go to use their money to impress trashy orange girls from the suburbs. I'm sure they fit right in.

The night was a pretty standard night out. A few drinks, the DJ was playing a solid set in the main room, and Asian people were piling up in drifts on the floor. It didn't stay standard for long though. The inevitable result of a few beers is that they'll need to be let out at some later point, and I took my leave to do just that. Popped into the first stall that became available, and I was, for lack of a better term, taking one of the leaks of my life, when what I can best describe as a gigantic, black-clad gorilla burst into the stall.

"Alright" quoth the gorilla, "you've got two options. Either I drag you outside and tell the cops I caught you doing drugs in here, or we can come to some sort of arrangement."

Keep in mind, I'm still peeing as this is happening.

"You can't be serious."

"Alright, you want to do this the hard way?" the gorilla stepped closer. Am I about to be beaten, mugged or raped here? Jesus. "How much is it worth to you."

I'd heard about shit like this before at clubs and raves, but never had I experienced it in 14 odd years of late night adventuring. Bouncers supplementing their incomes. The cops outside don't care - they'll just sit there, watch the bouncer eject some dude on the pavement, then book him for the drugs the bouncer claims to have flushed. No investigation, just taking the word of the employee over the patron.

"Dude, I've got like $20 left." Done peeing by this point, so at least I don't have my dick in my hand while I'm being mugged anymore.

"Give me your watch."

"Seriously dude? Seriously? You're rolling me for my watch?"

"Give me your fucking watch, or you might just slip on some water and hurt yourself."

Watch and last $20 surrendered. I go free.

But wait, isn't this "It's all good?" Shouldn't there be a happy ending, like the massages on Soi 7 in Bangkok? Read on, reader.

So I link back up with the boys, and tell them the story. They've both heard of it happening before, but never known who it happens to. We curse bouncers, Karstar buys a round of sympathy drinks, and we retire to the patio to see what we can salvage of the night. Out on the patio, we tell a few other people the story. Shock on everyone's part. Feeling a little better about it, and determined not to let it ruin my Friday, we head back inside to make some new friends.

About 10 minutes later, Karstar finds me.

"Dude, remember that guy I got the smoke from on the patio? He found your watch."

No fucking way.

Way.

We fight our way through the crowd, link up with the random dude from the patio, who takes us to the front door to the head bouncer. The bouncer asks me to describe my watch, and the guy that rolled me for it, then goes outside.

Random patio dude explains that right after I'd told the story on the patio, he'd gone in to the washroom, and the guy did the same thing to him. Unfortunately for the gorilla, random patio dude went to school with the head bouncer. The head bouncer returns with my watch, and a genuine apology.

"You should've told someone right away man. We don't tolerate that kind of shit here."

The only downside is that I missed the part where the two head bouncers took this guy off-shift, fired him, and reported him to the cops for theft. That, Ms. Morissette, is ironic.

There was much rejoicing. Cool people met. Night saved. It's all good.

Mo'vember in To'ronto...

The campaign originated in 2004, and has picked up steam throughout. The first Canadian iteration was in 2007. Now, when a guy sprouts a mo', the reaction is only 50% horror, and 50% curiousity as to whether or not it's for a charitable purpose. In this case, the charity is mens' health in general, and prostate cancer in specific. There are some spectacular mo's... in some spectacular designs...

I dare say that my mo shall be far less spectacular, and more on the "dirty pedo" side of the scale... but it's all for a good cause.

So here's to all the T.O. Mo Bros, sacrificing their dignity, and any chance at an intimate encounter with a woman who hasn't seen the following video:

Remember, you're not a whore if you're doing it for charity. It's all good.

The Wheat Sheaf - hot but not hot.

So, YDC and I took a little Tuesday night jaunt down to check out the Wheat Sheaf, as promised. Yes, it took me a week to write about it. Yes, this is the first time I've been a little bored since last week. Sue me. No, wait, don't.

Anyway, Tuesday night means wing deals at many places across town, and it also means that our beloved Leafs are on. The Wheat Sheaf seemed as good of a place as any to combine those two of my favourite past times, with the third one - delicious Creemore Pilsner.

Despite what a somewhat confused employee may tell you on the phone, you can reserve a table, and if you're going on a Tuesday, I'd suggest it. The place had a mixed crowd - about what you'd expect of a place plopped down at Bathurst & King. Very light on the douches, with a smattering of students, some young professionals decompressing after work, a few foreign expats that make a beeline for the exit when the game starts, and, from the looks of it, mostly just nice normal folks out to catch the game. +1.

The Place... is pretty standard pub, a little on the divey side (+1), belying the fact it's been there slinging pints & chaw since 1849, long before King West was a place where Maserattis would parade around on a Thursday. Lots of flat screen TVs, and a somewhat faded projection screen at the one end.

The Service... not the most attentive in the world, by any stretch. Several times the pitchers ran dry, were scooped up, and not replaced. Our guy seemed a little impatient (and I don't even think we were being dicks...), like he wasn't the biggest fan of his job. -1.

The Wings... as far as quality of cooking, they were badass. They came out piping hot & fresh... crispy on the outside, steamy on the inside - perfectly cooked. Nice size to 'em. The sauce was another story, unfortunately. Being manly men, we got suicide... The sauce was tightly rationed, with some dry patches on the ol' girls, so we ordered another little vessel of suicide. It didn't make them any hotter, but it was at least tasty. My guess would be a cayenne pepper based sauce, with that nice peppery flavour... but I would barely even describe them as medium.

Sunday-Tuesday are wing nights. 1/2 price - we got 30 for around 13 bucks, and stuffed our fat faces thoroughly.

The Verdict... I'll give them another shot to see if they were just having a bad sauce night... but only because they were so perfectly cooked. If they cranked up the Scovilles by a factor of 5, they'd be a regular part of my repetoire.

Wing Night finder? You don't say!

Probably about the best idea I've heard since I spent the weekend back home with Uncle Jordy and Uncle Jon (note: not related, nor uncles. Except Jordy, but he's not my uncle, so it doesn't count).

Hotwings.ca has a user-generated list of wing joints, wing nights, reviews, and a Google map that lets you see who has deals on, and where the award-winners can be found. It even tracks the top-10 per city.

Bookmarks, add bookmark. Use often. Tonight we're checking out our beloved Maple Leafs at the Wheat Sheaf, and seeing if their 55 cent wings measure up to the delicious expectations I have of them...

Indie Week Wrapup

What a great week of music... well, a great 5 days of music. From all accounts, there were some incredibly energetic shows. I managed to catch only two shows, as so-called "real life" tends to get in the way of fun from time to time.

Thursday night at the Bovine was a good time. We arrived mid-set for Die by Remote, who were putting on a solid, if somewhat uninspired show. It felt like they were paying more attention to the music than they were to entertaining the crowd. Nothing wrong with their sound, they just need to up their energy level & crowd interaction.

Then, there was a round of shots, and a few Molson Stock Ales to wash them down.

The second set was The Waxmen out of Scarborough. They play a 90's rock style, and showed a lot of versaitility. The first song was Tea Party-esque, the second Foo-Fighters-ish, and so forth. A lot of versatility, but not a lot of flow in the set. Great energy on the stage, and each song was well played.

Another round of shots, and a few more beers with pictures of an anchor on them. Sensing a theme?

Then came My Son the Hurricane, the ol' rock band with a 7 piece horn section, that crammed themselves in to the tiny Bovine stage. They played an energetic set, capped off with their brassy cover of Metallica's For Whom the Bell Tolls... The sound mixing was a little off, so Jacob Bergsma, the vocalist, was a little washed out by the horns. For these guys to take it to the next level, I think they've got to start bringing the singer from the videos out for more live shows, and spread the solos around a little more. The guitar & trombone solos were great, but I'd like to see what the rest of the band's got...

More shots. Chicks putting the moves on other chicks. More beer. Nice.

Discovery of the night? The Treble Warriors, a self-described rock-reggae band with great energy, and good arrangements. It was either them, or the copious amounts of alcohol that had me swaying (likely both), so in order to get a better idea of what they're about, I'm going to do what you should do - download their free album, and give it a listen on a SundayFunday.

Totally worth the Hangover from Hell on the Friday. No loud noises, please.

The Indie Week Finale on Sunday was a great showcase. From what I understand, the top bands from each night played on the Saturday at different bars, and the top band from each of those shows got a spot in the finals.

The winner played in the third timeslot, so I completely missed them... but Tiny Danza out of Toronto apparently rocked it pretty hard. Again, I'll have to listen to a few tunes online and see what they're made of. Congrats, boys!

We arrived to the sounds of Sherman Downey and the Ambiguous Case, a folk-rock-bluegrassy band out of Newfoundland. An unusual combination of acordian, guitar, mandolin, bass, banjo, brass & drums, they played harmonies like Great Big Sea sings 'em. All very talented musicians, and they played quite well together. At times it felt like the interludes dragged on a little, which I think kept the crowd from getting overly involved in it, but definitely no shortage of talent.

Calgary's Zoo Lion were next, with straight up four piece alt-rock, and they were rocking hard. Their set was fun and danceable, and overall high quality. They played well to the crowd, and entertained well. None of their songs stood out as particularly remarkable, but it was all good. ;-)

Surprise of the night? Courage My Love... I heard a rumour that the two girls and the guy in this rock trio were high school age... can anyone confirm that? If that's the case, their talent definitely outstrips their years. If that's not the case, then I'll bet they get ID'ed at every LCBO. Regardless, they put on a solid show, even if the lead guitarist/vocalist seemed surprised when the crowd got into it. Ha! A lot of fun, and definitely one to watch.

My personal favourite set of the night was the Ascot Royals (yes, I will eventually turn that link into the actual video. They can do such fancy things on computers now). A classic 5-piece rock band (guitar, vocals, bass, keyboard, drums) with incredibly slick sets. Each song was good individually, but they also know how to build a set. Even with the quick 20 minutes that they had, they built the energy level, and each song flowed nicely into the next. Their personalities and energy shone through in their playing, and their interaction with the crowd. Keep an eye on these fellas, they may go somewhere.

Definitely worth the monday morning hangover (NB: no capital letters = relatively minor hangover). Are you sensing a theme?

Great upcoming shows.

Indie Music Week - Oct 12-17th

Alright, this is setting up to be a great week of music. That is, as long as you like up & coming bands playing their asses off for a shot at some big exposure. I'm super pumped to see My Son the Hurricane again (October 13th at the Bovine Sex Club)... maybe I'll throw my man-panties on the stage...

The Indie Week website links to all of the band pages, so you can check them out, as I'll be doing. Some standouts in my mind so far include the clean, soulful rock of The Murder Plans (Oct 14th @ the Underground Garage, cover $??), the sultry voice of Tara Priya (four shows during the week - check her site), and The Suburbians, the winners of the Indie Week honours from Ireland (five shows - check their site).

One can't miss show is the "Best of the Fest" finale at Tattoo Rock Parlour. The top 10 bands will be playing in a showdown. $10 cover, doors open at 7. You can score tickets in advance, which I've got. We'll be rolling 7 deep on this night. Probably rocking 7 deep too.

Or, if you can't decide, and you're bored on a Wednesday, just check the Launch Party at the Hideout... $10, and a 4 am last call. What more do you need to help your hump day keep humping?

The links to tickets on the website doesn't work, so you've got to go directly to TicketScene.ca to pick 'em up.

Adaline - November 12 - El Mocambo

Thanks to my sister for the hookup on this one. A Vancouver songstress with a velvet voice. I haven't quite figured out how to categorize her style yet, and I may never. Either way - smooth lyrics, cheeky instrumentals, and a bit of a slinky edge to her voice. This is the Toronto release party for her new album "Modern Romantics," produced and played on by Hawksley Workman. Not sure if he'll be out in support on this night, but there are two electrochickpop acts opening for her. Check the Facebook page for the full details. $10. Doors at 8:30.

Trombone Shorty - November 17 - Opera House

I'm really looking forward to this one. Trombone Shorty is one super talented trombone & trumpet player from Nawlins. He mashes up jazz, funk, r&b, hip hop, blues and straight-ahead rock and or roll. He's got a new album out, and is touring really friggin' hard to push it. Toronto is the only Canadian stop on the tour, and it's one night only at the Opera House. Tickets are $34 from Ticketmaster. Doors at 9.

Support local music, or else suffer its absence in silence. ;-)

The Grid T.O.

Just a quick heads-up as to a great website I stumbled across...

(yes, I'm painfully aware that this is hardly a groundbreaking discovery, but just bear with me. I'm from a small town. Things move slower there.)

The Grid T.O. is a community-based web magazine that gives neighbourhood by neighbourhood breakdowns of what's going on in the city. Blogs (please don't leave me), music, festivals, fashion, art - all the same 'tings I'm out to discover. Yes, I'll be picking up some tips from there. No, I won't be jealous if you go there. There's a lot of love for this city. Spread it.

Nuit Blanche - October 1 - 7 pm 'til Sunrise

This will be another first for me. Nuit Blanche is the French term for an all-nighter. With my raising, usually an all-nighter involves copious amounts of alcohol, and/or a very vigorous... err... friend... so meandering about and checking out art installations all over the downtown will be a change of pace. Then again, there are enough bars in the downtown core to make the combination bar-hop-art-crawl into one multi-headed hydra of awesomeness.

The idea started in Nantes, France in 1984, and quickly became an international sensation. Nowadays, over 120 cities worldwide have a night, or several nights that they shut down city streets, and have all manner of art - sculpture, light, performance, painting - you name it, it's probably there.

This year's will be the 6th event in Toronto, and feature 130 installations all over the downtown core. They've got a handy map and night planner app for smartphones to help you plan your trapsing. I'm going with the age-old travel method of tagging along with people who've been paying more attention than I. That'll free me up to pay more attention to my rigorous training regimen for the Road Hockey to Conquer Cancer tournament that I'll be spending dawn-til-dusk playing in. Burning the day at both ends FTW.

So, enough fluff. What's on my hit list for the night?

Sans Façon - "Limelight" - Glasgow, UK

The concept is simple - they replace ordinary streetlights with spotlights, making the street into an impromptu stage, where we're the performers. The artists say that their "work aims to question places and invites a renewed outlook at everyday situations." Maybe a little overstating, but it'll be fun to see how people ham it up in the glow...

Grosvenor Street, just west of Yonge.

Kurt Firla, Elliott Mealia and Po-Mo Inc. - "Ride the Rocket" - Toronto, ON

Kind of like a simulation ride at an amusement park, this bad boy is going everywhere and nowhere at once. Dreamed up by animators and comedians, it's a stationary street car that will "visit" all kinds of far flung locales, with a trained "TTC driver" (who we all hope will stay awake for the duration...) to guide the tour. Probably a big line for this one.

600 Bay Street.

Christine Irving & Interactive Art - "The Heart Machine, 2010" - Toronto, ON

Flames shooting 25 feet in the air from a 16 foot high symbolic representation of the human heart? The only thing that could make that cooler (and cause a corresponding jump in the demand for natural gas in the Province) is if it shot flames in the air on command from passers-by. Oh, wait, they thought of that. Touch the sensors that represent the arteries, and try not to toast any pidgeons in the process. People got to play with this at Burning Man this year. Now it's our turn. To be fair, it's supposed to be 9 degrees on Saturday, so we need it a little more than those dirty hippies in the desert, right?

640 Bay St.

Artist Bloc - "The Happiness Project" - Toronto, ON

Each room in the studio building is designed as the artist's take on happiness... then people will be in there musing about happy thoughts, while orchestral music plays in the background. I may just curl up here for a nap... 134 Ossington Ave.

Of course, these are just four that caught my eye out of what I've seen so far. There are tons of things to see on this night... and you should never refuse the opportunity to have your city become your playground.

I'm bringing my camera.... this may be that catalyst for that T.O. Slideshow I've been pondering for this thing.

My Son The Hurricane

So, my very first night of bandventuring in the Tdot turned up a wicked find. I'm not quite sure how to categorize these guys - maybe a live band mashup? I've been describing them to friends as "ska/funk/rockers with some white boy nerd rap mixed in," though I'm not sure if that even covers the spread. They're a standard rock band, plus a vocalist (sometimes two), but what really makes them amazing is the 7-piece horn section. Three saxamaphones, two trombones, plus three trumpets and/or a flugelhorn and/or a sousaphone. They call themselves a brass funk band, but I'm not sure if that tells the story.

Annnyhoooo... I caught them at the Horseshoe, which is one of the big stops along the way for any band of significance, or should-be significance. For some reason they were on at 10 - a little early for how good they are. I'm hope that the next time they're back, they'll be one of the main acts. They absolutely killed it. Big big sound, great energy, and a well-put together set made them stand out in what was a solid lineup for the night.

These kids have been together for two years, and they're already tight. Actually, I'd say they were better live than they are on the video. I'm looking forward to seeing where they go from here. Check their Facebook page for show dates, or follow them on Twitter.

Road Hockey to Conquer Cancer - October 1, 2011

Hockey and charitable efforts - two great Canadian pastimes. On October 1, 2011, hundreds of teams from all walks of life will be spending from dawn until dusk playing good, hard road hockey on the asphalt of Ontario Place. All of the proceeds raised go to Princess Margaret Hospital's cancer research programs. Check the link for the tournament info here.

Though the deadline for registration is just about upon us - September 23rd - donations can still be made to players and teams in support of this worthy cause. Make a donation, then come on down and catch a little stick action at Ontario Place.

Who says Torontonians don't care?

Chess - The Musical - 24 Sept - 30 Oct

Chess - one of my all-time favourite musicals is returning to the Princess of Wales Theatre for a fairly short run.

Chess is set in the height of U.S./Soviet tensions during the Cold War. A hotshot American chess master, plays the Soviet world-champion in two tournaments. I suspect the inspiration comes from the 1972 "Match of the Century" between grandmasters Bobby Fischer and Boris Spassky. There's political intrigue that plays out like a chess match, and the champions vie for the attention of The American's Hungarian assistant - though for very different reasons.

It's a British cast, all of whom are quite accomplished, and none of whom I think I've seen before. The show ran to rave reviews in the U.K., and Toronto is one of the first stops on the tour. From what I've heard, the director has done an amazing job of staging what can be a very difficult show to direct, and the effects are supposed to be swell as well. Good thing the cast is strong, because the score in this one is nothing short of spectacular. It demands at least three powerful voices to play The American, The Russian, and Florence. Tim Rice had a big hand in the writing, and it even resulted in a pop hit - One Night in Bangkok. Rest assured that's as cheesy as it gets. Songs like Anthem, Pity the Child, and I Know Him So Well are downright moving. If you don't like this one, you should probably just give up on musical theatre in general... and maybe seek counseling for being dead inside. Just sayin'...

Tickets run from $35-130 depending on the day, time, and where you park your butt.

Soul in Motion - 9 Year Special Event - Drum n' Bass

So you like drum n' bass, do ya? The lads at Soul in Motion have been throwing down fantastic jams for 9 years now, and they're showing no signs of stopping. Their anniversary event is sure to be a smasher, with two top headliners from the UK. Now why do I love SIM? Because they back quality headliners with only top-shelf local talent. No chumps on a I-book-you-you-book-me basis approach the decks at their jams. Quality, cover to cover.

$20 in advance, $100 bottles. Can I get a hellllls yes?!?!

Full details at DJ Spinz's website, or check the Facebook page. B'oh!

What's good in Toronto?

Here we are, in one of the world's great cosmopolitan cities. We're mixing and mingling with the well over 5 million people in the GTA in a glass and stone playground stocked with all sorts of incredible sights and sounds. The only trouble can be finding what's good on any particular night. I've been there. Hell, I am there rather frequently. Luckily enough, I've been blessed to make some great friends here with a huge variety of interests and their fingers on the pulse of this town. It's an exciting time to be here. Toronto is booming. There's great density building in the core, we're becoming a global financial force, and every day people from all over the world are coming to rest here, and bringing their experiences and cultures with them. We're one of the world's most livable cities, and one of the most diverse. Sure, our mayor is a douche, but with a little elbow grease, we can make the most of his reign, and do a little living while we still can.

I'm on a mission to explore as much of this city as I can, and share the best of it with you. Food, drink, music, art, theatre, film, festivals, people, events, sights, sports and even some escapes from the city - I'll dabble in it all, and distill it down to the good stuff.

Eventually there will be a slide show, and maybe an events calendar.

Some essential urban survival knowledge I'll be chasing:

Mission: Wings

The debate rages. Who makes the best wings in Toronto? Well, that's a matter of personal taste, so to speak. My criteria? Above average size, heat & flavour in the sauce, good service, and cheap, frosty pints. A good wing joint is an art, not a science, and trust me, I'll be going with my gut.

Caesars

For the uninitiated (read: foreigners), the Caesar is one of those things that sounds terrible on paper, but is a big glass of awesome in real life. It's the ultimate hangover cure, and if my first months in Toronto are any indication, that's something I'll be needing. Om nom nom!!!

Bands

Toronto is jam packed with great music of all sorts, and is a big stop on any band's tour calendar. I'm spending time and effort to check out up & coming local bands and shows that'll be a blast to see and hear. I also keep an eye on the concert calendar for the big venues, and I'll post up shows that excite me. No, there will be no mention of Ke$ha in this blog. Ever. Besides that one. Srsly.

Brunch

Whether it's a big ol' $5 platter of heart attack from a greasy spoon, or a pricey platter of smoked salmon eggs benny, weekend mornings/afternoons aren't complete without it.

I'm always on the lookout for tips... so let me know about your favourite places. We may not like the same things, but odds are, if you're awesome, we probably do.