The Big World art exhibit (Chicago)

The recent art from China on exhibit in The Big World at the Chicago Cultural Center is, generally speaking, big. Most of the canvasses and sculptural pieces are larger than human scale and predominated by jarring colours and aggressive brush strokes.

All looked very modern which is to clumsily say, none looked oriental. No vertical storylines or mountain cliffs and water symbolism, or overly ubiquitous Chinese characters.

Wang Qinsong's jab at the Olympic Games (The Glory of Hope), shown above, is cool and provocative whereas Zhou Tao's three and-a-half minute video (1,2,3,4) of various legions of natives counting up to four in unison is downright annoying---and loud. I kept thinking---hoping---they might break in to song or converge to form an image but, no, just the continuous, eerily monotonous counting.

Showing through August 30th. Free admission

Chicago Cultural Center

78 East Washington, Chicago

312.744.6630

www.chicagoculturalcenter.org

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Canada flys the homosexual flag

...why am I really not all that much surprised?
(click title to read my other post)

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Quebecois keep a short leash (Montreal)

For all the cultural passivity and "humaneness" of Canadians, dog owners in Montreal appear to do a helluva lot more yanking and pulling of the leash than actual "walking" the poor dogs.

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Telephone booths in Canada

Canada still has telephone booths, which I have to regard as one of society's diminishing creature comforts. Making a call from a telephone booth makes a helluva difference from using a pay phone on the street which always seem to be inconveniently planted on busy street corners or dicey back roads.

Stepping inside a phone booth, provided no bum has mistaken it for an outhouse, is so much more private and calming than the yammering one can't help but hear from morons and their cell phones/all-in-one gadgets. Here are photos of phone booths in Montreal.

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Auberge L'Apero (Montreal)

Auberge L'Apero is wonderfully close to metro station Guy-Concordia---like, right around the building. Heavy back-packers will appreciate this in lieu of the small flight of stair that await them. L'Apero appears to be a one-man operation and is run extremely well. The place is kept immaculate and bright thanks in large part to the celing lighting (which are sufficiently covered so as not to disturb late sleepers).

Spanking new bunk-beds---with fantastically thick mattresses and the coziest covers I've ever slept under in a hostel---are in every dorm room. The rooms house about six to eight beds. There are no single rooms. Rate includes simple breakfast (cereal, toast, coffee and tea, milk), locker and free Internet and local calls. There is only one shower but that did not seem to present much of a problem. Laundry can be done at the nominal cost of $2.50; why I expected to have my clothes returned folded beats me...although they were plenty wrinkled at least they were finally clean!

The owner/manager---I don't know if he was one or the other or both---is a tall, tall bearded Canadian with dry, dry wit. You may need to imbibe a couple of martinis to catch up to his humor. Still, he was quite helpful and also rents day bikes, which, in addition to being popular are a great way to tour Montreal.

1425 Rue Mackay, Suite 2

metro Guy-Concordia (green line)

514.316.1052

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Music recital at St Clement's (Montreal)

On my way home from using the Internet I chanced upon a free piano recital in progress at the St. Clement's Anglican Church in Verdun. Actually, I misread my watch, thinking I had a half-hour to kill when, in truth, the performance was thirty minutes in. I quickly doubled back!

Playing the piano was Roland Graham. He played pieces by J.S. Bach (15 symphonies), Chopin (Ballad in F minor) and Skryabin (Sonata-Fantasy No 2 in G minor). It was all very nice and a nice surprise for my otherwise boring Saturday. A tea and cake reception was held afterwards; what self-respecting group wouldn't hold a reception! The church hosts a regular recital series of which Mr Graham is the Artistic Drector.

4322 Wellington St (metro De L'Eglise)

514.769.6427

parish.verdun.villeemard@gmail.com

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Racism in the elevator

Check out this funny ass clip then read about the reality of racism from Project Implicit.

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Bitchy Quebecois waitresses (Montreal)

The waitresses in Montreal are bitches

who expect obligatory tips to bring them riches

their attitudes are curt, their tits are big

with matching egos that practically burst out of their heads.

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Backpackers on Dundas (Toronto)

This is an extremely laid-back traveller's hostel. Conveniently located on the corner of Dundas and Chestnut streets right across the street from the Greyhound bus station (and situated between two subway stops within easy walking distance) the hostel is slightly tucked away on the second floor of a business.

I was very surprised and pleased by how comfortable the place was because I had previously spent nights in HI Toronto and wasn't expecting equally nice facilities. While Backpackers on Dundas is much smaller (it has four dorm rooms, including one all-female) it offers more bang for the buck. For one thing, there are two computers with FREE access (free Wi-Fi of course), a courteous and sociable staff, laundry for $4, and FREE use of the telephone for local calls.
With so many guests planning a longer stay in Toronto the ability to scour online classifieds and ring up housing ads without shilling fifty cents for each call was much appreciated!

I slept in the "Distillary District" room. The bed and cover were comfortable. The other sleepers were respectful and clean and, thankfully, no one snored. The only big drawback I have with the building is that the windows are inoperable which means the rooms act as perfect conductors of the outside weather. Why anyone would construct windows that don't open and shut beats me. Might as well build a bridge that leads to nowhere. I think the use of swiveling ventilator towers would help circulate fresh air in the rooms.

This is an extremely laid-back hostel. Backpackers on Dundas offers more bang for the buck

The nightly rates are cheap (about $24). The weekly rate is a sweet deal ($150). And with an open kitchen one can manage to save even more money by cooking instead of eating out every day. I would definitely stay here again when in town.

126 Chestnut Street/171 Dundas Street (second floor)
Toronto, Ontario M5G1R3
416.599.7225 or 1.888.799.7225
website
info@backpackersondundas.com

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Where is my Fat Cat Cabernet Sauvignon?

Two weeks ago whilst in Chicago I had a delicious California claret called Black Mountain: Fat Cat. I dislike cats, especially alley cats and fat cats, but I like this Cabernet Sauvignon very much. Before leaving the Windy City I stopped into Trader Joe's near Ontario and Michigan Ave and, lawdy be!, there but for the grace of Pan were stocked bottles of Black Mountain.


I packed a bottle for the trip and now that bottle is empty. I hope the estate exports here to Toronto.

Man, do I wish I'd bought two bottles for the road....

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