Midnight Roler
Posted on October 7th, 2010 – Comments Off on Midnight RolerHaving…
Archive for the ‘ Patrick Bay ’ Category
Anthem Poutinerie
Posted on October 5th, 2010 – 2 Comments
O Smoke’s Poutine!
Our curds and gravy man!
Honest fries in all thy boxes tan.
With drown’ed spuds we fork thee up,
The True North obviously!
From far and wide,
O Canada, we know you love poutine.
French fried poutine gravy and curdy!
O Canada, we know you love poutine.
O Canada, we know you love poutine.
—
The official cold-weather anthem. Night nips these days – ‘fo ‘sho. Single digits at night. And moist. That rain again. Well, I believe that poutine can assist with this. I don’t believe anyone has ever attempted to prove poutine was in any way good for you so one should never be burdened with any delusions when consuming it. This also pretty much guarantees it’s delicious.
I got mine with sliced beef at a nearby Smoke’s. One day I talked to a friend of Smoke Putinerie’s owner, Smoke Junior. The smiling sticker that continues to make the rounds around town are of Smoke Senior, in memoriam. Or so I’m led to believe.
They’re not glamorous locations, I feel I should mention. Often not staffed by glamorous people. But in the coming seasons, Smoke’s is a warm and tasty hearth on vast cold city nights.
White Night 2010
Posted on October 4th, 2010 – Comments Off on White Night 2010I know I’ve advocated imbibing a trifle before heading out for the the evening, but I’m gonna start prefacing that with, “except not to the point of getting shit-faced”.
Weaving between teenagers hardly capable of holding their drink let alone appreciating art of any kind, and the puddles of vomit they leave about the place, to me, kinda cheapens the experience. Not unlike using the English translation of Nuit Blanche.
So that’s the one thing about Nuit that this year stood out loud and sore for me.
Beyond that, I was sure the crowds would dissipate post midnight. Last year I headed out at around one o’clock, this year I was there sometime after two in the morning, but with considerably more people. I suppose that’s inevitable; the event now draws in excess of a million people and I’m sure there’ll be more next year. Clearly single-digit temperatures and the threat of rain means nothing to the swarthy outdoors art crowd.
Okay, criticisms dispensed with. Let’s get to the meat and potatoes, shall we?
So, once again I found myself unable to make it to the elusive Zone C. Since I live on the eastern edge of Zone A I necessarily have to traverse it to get to the other side. It’s about an hour of distractions, crowds, and everything and anything designed to ensure that you never make it through.
For starters, there’s always something going on at Nathan Phillips Square. This year the area in front of City Hall hosted a sprawling performance by Daniel Lanois entitled “Later That Night At The Drive-In”.
Lookin’ for love
Posted on October 1st, 2010 – 4 CommentsSpotted this fellow along Spadina yesterday:
Ladies, could you see yourself meticulously pinning notes to Marc’s coat, perhaps as an aid for when he gets lost? Do you look at this photo and think romance? And love? Then consider dropping him a line.
Flashing TO
Posted on September 29th, 2010 – Comments Off on Flashing TOI was on in a mission tonight…
…hustling down the naked streets…
…ducking and weaving through the market…
Let’s get Chet
Posted on September 28th, 2010 – 2 Comments*yawn*
It was just sleepy time all over the city today.
There was a brief, bright flash of sun during which I ventured out to eat lunch — I’ve decided Sushi Queen is my sushi joint of choice along the Queen strip, despite incessantly playing Rogers and Hammerstein show tunes over the meal. Fresh sushi / sashimi, good tempura, and a teriyaki that actually tastes and smells good. Surprisingly rare, that last one.
Then it clouded over again in the afternoon, and everything goes kinda hazy again after that.
I believe Sarah Thomson threw in the towel and is now joining forces with George Smitherman in the upcoming election. And maybe it’s a fuzzy recollection but I thought I remembered the Star starting up a new series called “The Smell Test” where they dissect election promises for feasibility. Will the Star-backed champion win, I wonder?
But it may just be fuzzy dream also. Just that kind of a day, you know?
Ladies and gentlemen, Mister Chet Baker on vocals and horn, and Patrick on the shutter:
Go on, press the round play button above.
Smitherman hires “spiritual” drummers to manipulate weather!
Posted on September 27th, 2010 – 2 CommentsNo wait, I’ve got proof.
Yesterday, all was fine in the dandy neighbourhood of Regent Park. The sun was shining. People were trancing out to the drum group perched conspicuously beneath a Smitherman banner.
Connection established. We know who’s funding this thing.
But is it really “a thing“?
Nice people suck
Posted on September 24th, 2010 – Comments Off on Nice people suck
…that’s this guy — thoughtful enough to use thumbtacks. :)
Fish ‘n chips ‘n Detroit
Posted on September 23rd, 2010 – Comments Off on Fish ‘n chips ‘n DetroitAnd if the city continues along its current course, he said it’s not unimaginable that Toronto could end up in serious trouble, like Detroit.
“Toronto in decline: panel”, Toronto Sun, September 22, 2010
Oh God no! Not like Detroit!
The fish ‘n chips I was masticating weren’t satisfying.
I figured, hey, the menu says “our specialty”, so I ordered it. I’ve had good food at pubs before, it’s not unheard of (the Roast Beef Stuffed Yorkshire at your local Elephant & Castle, for example). Yeah, but not here. It’s on Queen Street. I want to spare them the shame so that’s all I’ll say. Maybe also that the pub has a black bull as a mascot.
Anyhow, really poor fish ‘n chips. And that bitter story, delivered to my table via the magic of the mobile age, along with mediocre tartar sauce.
Toronto is bouncing back from the recession.
The Conference Board of Canada is predicting the city will see a 4.7% increase in real GDP this year as housing starts rebound, the manufacturing sector perks up, people start shopping and major construction projects get underway.
“Toronto’s economy on the rebound”, Toronto Sun, September 22, 2010
This story appeared shortly below.
I flipped my plate to try the pedestrian-looking fries. As I did that, I looked at the times on the stories. I’d read them backwards – Toronto’s on the rebound and then Toronto in decline. And the fries sucked too — straight out of a freezer bag.
Oh no! Is this … Detroit?!
Spyeoh
Posted on September 22nd, 2010 – Comments Off on SpyeohDo you ever wonder if you’d make a good spy?
I had that thought today as I stood on a client’s fire escape today, taking recon photos of the street below.
... with pictures
... with sounds
... with videos
... with opinions
... that's shorter
... that's longer
