V-Note

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I forgot to post pictures I took on my cell phone from this lovely new spot on the Upper East Side....here's what we had for lunch - I also had the cheesecake and we had veg drinks - myself the Go Green....
 This is a seitan piccata like dish - on top of mashed potatoes and spinach...mmmm...and to the right below is Richard's lunch - a southern fried seitan sandwich with sweet potato fries.....

And Patti's lunch - a Thai tofu dish....

I was chatting with someone at Core studio this morning and they also know of "Rice to Riches" - I'm afraid that by exalting the Guest House Off Park's central location and great rates it will be even harder to get a booking!

We sang "Bye Bye Blackbird" at the vocal workshop last night and I got to try out "Cry Me a River" - a few people sang original tunes - way to go! Next week's homework is "Cry Me a River" and "Someone to Watch Over Me"....

Just finished reading the fabulous "Wolf Hall"....I can't wait for the sequel.....

New York diet

Richard and Patti enjoying the"Man Made Mascarpone" with cherries rice pudding at Rice to Riches in the Lower East Side - 37 Spring Street - delish...yes, I fell off the wagon..thud. A store with only rice pudding - so New York...flavours year round like "Sex, Drugs and Rocky Road", "Fluent in French Toast" and seasonal delicousness like "Kiss my Anisette" , "The Secret Life of Pumpkin" "I'll Take Eggnog for $200 Alex"....sizes from diva to Moby - serves 10 and they deliver in the U.S. They have adorable take out containers - cute ovals of plastic whose seal is airtight and angled spoons.

Also incredibly clean washrooms...I'm just saying if you need to find them and we did - it's good to know....our fallback was Starbucks...

We also went to Shopsin's - which I had been warned about - the legendary crankiness and downright surlyness of the cook and owner Kenny and his fickle nature of who orders something he gets pissed off about - for Patti it was ordering the f*** ing turkey sandwich on a previous visit. It's a booth basically in a farmer's market and lo and behold - no fireworks - perhaps it was my calming Ralph Lauren purple sweater dress - the server even apologized about bringing me a full order instead of the half of the mac and cheese pancakes - when I go off the rails - I go big - it comes with syrup natch and a bottle of hot sauce. Interestingly there are a lot of veg options on the menu so he is less of a curmudgeon than Anthony Bourdain.

How to work off that lunch? Why more shopping - a visit to "Sur La Table" and twee Christmas tree ornaments - broccoli and fig - there were honey jars, ketchup bottles, cupcakes, bananas....the MoMa store and of course Moo Shoes where I got a Matt and Natt royal blue skinny belt, a Vegan guide to NY and petted the resident cat...I was tempted to buy shoes for hubby - but a) didn't know which style and b) afraid of getting the size wrong.

The night before we laid out our shopping haul on our beds - like a mini bazaar - needless to say I did not win that contest....

The walls have numerous sayings "Limit 500 rice puddings per customer" and "After eating do not drive or operate heavy machinery"....

This is mine - I think my plaid shoes are on the floor.....

These are Richard's acquisitions..

And the winner....Patti!! Though half of her display are gifts....:)

Back to a seemingly quiet Toronto, cooler temperatures - which are refreshing and a vocal workshop tonight - not sure how that will be with the cold....

A little plug for Nathan Hiltz at Joe Mama's on Sunday starting at 7 - yes boys and girls - Hallowe'en, going to Andrew Downing's gig for "The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari" at the TIFF Lightbox theatre and more musical happenings as they come across my virtual desk.

Pee Wee, Century 21, the Morgan, the Frick and food.

If you work at Canada Customs read no further - I did some serious shopping at Century 21 both downtown and in Brooklyn - an adventurous subway ride out with Richard and Patti my roomies. The Brooklyn store is quieter, the downtown - near the WTC site - has more selection. 3 pairs of shoes - I'm just saying...

After a busy shopping day and a plum tea latte at Franchia - we later went out for Japanese food in Chelsea - prior to that we laid out our purchases on our beds - like shopping stalls - my stash paled in comparison I must say....

This morning an early trip to the Morgan, up to the V-Note on the Upper East Side for lunch - I will post photos of those - a nice little vegan spot on 1st avenue between 79th and 80th streets - white booths, darkl floors, lots of colourful pillows.  Then walking over to Madison to check out eyeglass frames at Chrome Hearts and ogle the windows of Ralph Lauren, Prada and Dior.

The Frick museum is captivating - the former abode of Henry Frick - steel magnate and former partner of the Carnegies - Gainsboroughs, Holbeins - it was interesting to see the portraits of the Thomas Cromwell and Thomas More since I am currently reading "Wolf Hall" - ornate furnishings...he apparently wanted to surround himself with art that was pleasing to look at every day....

After a walk through Central Park we headed to the Stephen Sondheim Theatre for the colourful extravaganza that was Pee Wee Herman's show (aka Paul Rubens) - great set - all the regulars were there - Chairy, Jambi, Miss Yvonne, Cowboy Carl......delightful. Apparently at new Pee Wee movie is in the works... Equally delightful was the meal at Tony di Napoli's place across the street - great basic Italian food - rigatoni with eggplant and one with vodka and tomatoes, an argula salad and some sangria plus yummy chewy bread.

Tomorrow is my last day so I will make it count......there is talk of the Shopsin's experience which I am to prepare myself for...

"Smoke" and "Blue Note"

The Holy Innocents Street Fair along Broadway south of 59 street towards Times Square - many many bargains - I think I have bought my weight in pashminas and scarves.  The street food of choice seemed to be arepas...

As night is falling - still shopping...well actually in between there was a jazz brunch with Lea DeLaria at "Smoke" she is a powerhouse vocalist and great comedian - with a wonderful young trio...her set included a couple of Bowie tunes - that's her next project, plus she has released a Christmas CD - the first one by a living jazz artist Warner has produced since the 60's. 

Later a cab ride over to Greenwich Village to catch Gary Burton at the Blue Note - awesome opening act with Melissa Aldana's quintet - an up and coming saxophonist - a lovely version of "My Foolish Heart"...my neighbours at the table an Englishman and his French wife, a musician from Brooklyn and his German friend visiting the U.S. for the first time since they met 20 years ago - they had a serious jazz club schedule. I found out about the Bar Next Door another jazz venue and that he knew the fabulous drummer, Edmonton born Owen Howard - it really is a small world in the jazz community.

Gary had an outstanding quartet with Antonio Sanchez on drums, Scott Colley on bass and guitar phenom Julian Loge. Julian had an exquisite intro to "My Funny Valentine" and other standout numbers were the rarely performed Monk tune "Light Blue". Another highlight - the original tune "Last Snow" by a Russian composer friend.

For their pre-emptive encore they did "Bag's Groove" because as Gary explained there was no where for them to go "offstage"....

The marquee  for the show I saw yesterday

Columbus Circle..

The facade of the City theatre? I think - gorgeous tilework - Arabic influenced...so many great buildings in this city.

Today is Century 21 for designer discount shopping in Brooklyn!

Promises, promises....

Your typical New Yawk building..

Saw "Promises, Promises" today - so wonderful- Sean Hayes, the irrepressible Kristen Chenoweth and a exuberant and very funny Molly Shannon - so very 60's and Mad Men donchaknow...

Shopping at Macy's and a quick Vietnamese sandwich - lemongrass tofu on the run....

Times Square - where we got the tickets!

Fuerza Bruta

This gives you a vague idea of what happens in the second half of this multimedia experience I took in last night - people swimming across an incredibly resilient giant sheet of plastic suspended above the audience - who are standing...it's only an hour show. The picture is from the Guardian - UK.

They body surf across and slowly the "pool" is lowered to just above the audience so they can "touch" hands with the performers....

We are herded into a room and move around the space as directed by staff - initially a raised treadmill contraption is in the middle, a gentleman in a white suit walking, faster and faster, buffeted by wind and paper debris...people join him passing him, circling him, rolling off the end of the treadmill - there are chairs, tables....later dancing, breaking slabs of styrofoam which disperse numerous bits of shredded paper. Aerialists "running" and tumbling across a shiny mylar curtain circling the room. All accompanied by a steady drumming Argentinian/South American beat regulated by a DJ. A true New York experience - performance art.

Thank you Porter Airlines for a civilized flight experience and Super Shuttle for getting me safely and quickly into New York. Darlene the lady I spoke to at the Port Authority Info Desk was funny, warm and delightful.  You also know you're in "Joisey" by the Customs agent's accent! Yesterday a lovely lunch at Franchia - which is just around the corner from our 35th Street place - Guest House Off Park - huge room and cheap. Wandered over to Union Square and took in the Farmer's Market then shopped at ABC - a dizzying bazaar of a store - love the Terence Conran shop in the basement - bought a mushroom and a hedgehog Christmas tree ornament, Fish's Eddy and after the show a Cucumber Gimlet, nibbles and a glass of wine over on 3rd Avenue - Bar 29 - a great little cozy spot.

Today perhaps a matinee and some jazz...soon there will be shopping - Century 21!

Lush and Lavish 2nd anniversary

Another fun party at Lush and Lavish on Ossington with complimentary hand massages, consultations for Eminence products (wonderful organic skin care - which also smells phenomenal), nibbles and goodie bags.....plus a draw - so far I have been lucky and won prizes twice!

I think this is the 2nd or possibly 3rd anniversary of this cozy salon - Trudy and Lyn the owners are always welcoming - Trudy even spied a previous post on my blog about their salon....

2 more sleeps to New York...very exciting.

By the way I don't recommend watching "The Tudors" before bed - at least with the latest episode - beheadings, torture and drawing and quartering....yikes....I thought the lighter "Being Erica" was on last night and also no "Glee"... oh well....

A vow today to step up exercise and try a more raw diet - not be a junk food vegan/vegetarian....

Bob Mintzer at Humber

It's always a treat as Denny Christianson said during his intro to have these arrangers/composers in residence visit every Fall at Humber...last night it was Bob Mintzer - 13 time Grammy nominee and once recipient who is also part a little group you may have heard of called "The Yellow Jackets"....

Bob provided a workout for the Faculty band as my brother Colin confided at intermission - including a little solo at the end of the  old chestnut "Christopher Columbus". Pat Labarbera shone on every solo occasion and it seems he has a major fan club in the students....who loudly cheered and whooped when he did...John McLeod provided a stellar trumpet reverie on the same tune.

The evening featured many Mintzer originals including the gospel inspired "Each Day" and lots of Afro Cuban inspired works like "In the 80's" and "Aha". Amazing band - Kirk MacDonald, William Karn, Brian O'Kane, Neil Swainson, Brian Dickinson and Mark Kelso to name a few...

A longtime New York Mintzer moved out to the coast a couple of years ago to occupy the chair in Jazz Studies at USC. It was indeed an honour for him to travel to Toronto as his travel schedule would make your head spin - he was most recently in Luxembourg, then back to the U.S., then here on a red eye, today to Salt Lake and then back to Europe...he must be racking up the frequent flyer miles!

Bob has written over 200 big band arrangements over his 34 year career and numerous other compositions - earning him 4 Grammy noms for his own big band projects...his touring schedule includes 20 workshops at year at post secondary schools of which of course Humber was one. He has worked with a number of musicians including Thad Jones, Buddy Rich, Tito Puente and Eddie Palmieri.

I advise getting on Humber's mailing list to find out great upcoming concerts - which of course include student recitals - a great bargain...it was nice to see Marsha Duggan my liaision for "Jazzology" last night too.

Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee - Key to the Highway

We got to sing this last night at my first vocal workshop - "The Singer and the Song" with Bill King - there are about eight of us with varying levels of experience but now the fear has dissipated and I had an amazing time - lots of fun - everyone has a unique voice and take - for me this means everyone is special and Bill is a wonderful teacher and musician making everyone feel at ease...I am hoping to do either "Blame It on My Youth" or "Cry Me a River"....our group assignment for next week is "At Last" - I can assure Etta James she has nothing to worry about from me.  Darlene Stimson and Julie McGregor are the experienced ones and a lovely woman named Corena...I'm not sure I got that right - puts me in mind of Astrid Gilberto...

The great thing is that we are there to support each other and cheer each other on - emphasizing our particular gifts - I have already gotten praise - I blush....thank you Nancy, fellow neophyte - I apologize if I wasn't grateful - I assumed you were talking to Darlene...:)I have yet to introduce my song - Julie and Darlene did last night along with Corena - who chose the lovely "You Must Believe in Spring" - she appears to have a background in music...whereas I haven't read music since Festival Choir a few years back...

Bill has also related some of his experiences - assuring us that remembering lyrics is NOT easy - the big names even need help! I'm looking forward to next week's class.

In the meantime I leave you with the incredible Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee...

Bob Mintzer is at Humber College this evening with the faculty band - tickets are $20 at the door - reduced for students I believe. Also this weekend Cory Weeds is at the Rex for the late show both Saturday and Sunday.

Giving Thanks

I have many reasons to be grateful not just at the traditional Thanksgiving but all year round. Yesterday I had a lovely walk down by the lake - seeing flocks of geese, ducks and a beautiful pair of swans plus enjoying the fall colours...the photo down below is the ever growing vine across the community garden gate and the others taken on the Exhibition grounds.

Planning what I'm going to do in New York is also very exciting and will of course involve jazz - I'm looking at Gary Burton at the Blue Note and possibly Bill Charlap at the Village Vanguard....

Plus I haven't been to the revamped MoMa so that I will check out and of course...shopping!! Right now I am also a little excited and also panicky about my upcoming vocal workshop series - I need to download charts - I haven't sort of read music since my days in choir in Mississauga which was a few years ago so....well, I know Bill King is a lovely person and I count on his patience as well as those in the class - I still may need to engage the services of a voice teacher privately.

If anyone has any further suggestions for amusements in New York feel free to add a comment or drop me a line as they say...

I will take a photo of the delish Pumpkin Pie with Pecan crust I made yesterday - thanks to Colleen Patrick Goudreau's  "Joy of Vegan Baking"....

Speaking of delectable - in this case aural treats - check out Ailsa McCreary and Mark Kieswetter next Monday, October 18th from 5 - 8  at Gate 403 - Ailsa is a gifted chanteuse and an award winning jam and jelly maker - so sweet all around. Bring lots of money for the tip jar! Trust me it will be worth the construction hassle on Roncesvalles...sigh, when is that ever going to be fixed?

Bakeoff and Blanche

As in Vegan and Blanche - sadly no major awards this year but congratulations to all the successful entrants - they were some delicious contenders as always...

 My presentation of Scottish oatcakes above

Some of the other entrants - I quite like the monkeys below...


Dashing Dan's fun was truly fab!







Sampling plate....yummm....

My favourite entry in Nuit Blanche called "Auto Lamp" - it projected onto the surrounding buildings - low tech but beautiful!

As in Vegan and Nuit - sadly, no major awards this year - but still fun to be part of the event - congratulations to all the winners - after the fun and games - some great creations and presentations...

I am contemplating a trip to NYC - tagging along with my friend Richard and his friend Patti - it could mean going to see Pee Wee's production and also catching Gary Burton at the Blue Note...not to mention shopping....hmmm....