Old Man Luedecke... if you like banjo, you will like this man.
This past Friday I got to see him play at the Green Room. It was my second time seeing him play. Which is fortunate because we were pretty late getting to the show and only got to see the last half of his set! Nothing could ever compare to the first time I saw him at the Palace Grand though during Dawson City Music Festival. I think that place spoils any bands following performances for me. It is just so magical there!
From what I saw of the show, it was really entertaining. I got to do some good ole foot stomping for a few songs, so I think it is safe to say I was having a fun time!
Here is one of my favourite songs that he plays:
April 11, 2010
I want to ride my bicycle!!!
I want to ride my BIKE!!
Well, I guess first priority would be to purchase said bicycle... which hopefully will be remedied very soon. Thank you tax return! Woot!
Now that it is spring time the city has become more alive and bustling. It seems like everyone has gotten their bike out of storage and are making use of the many bike paths that Montreal has to offer. And... I am jealous. I can not wait to get back pedaling. The spin classes I have been going to at the YMCA are just not the same.
First up when I find a bike I want to take the Lachine Canal bike path. It is a really nice bike path that is close to 30 km round trip and I think there are a bunch of other connecting paths you can connect to as well. On a nice day it is so busy! I've been out jogging on the path a lot lately and some days you have to be aware of all the cyclists and rollerbladers. I thought Kelowna was bad for its roller bladers, but they are by far out numbered here (which for some reason I find surprising).
Right now I live close to the Atwater Market, which is right on the Canal. It is pretty neat how there are bike paths that can take you all around the island!!! Yep, Montreal is an island didn't you know? "The island is approximately 50 km long and 16 km wide at its widest point". The geography of this city always makes me laugh for some reason. A mountain? On an Island?
Once I do get out for a ride, I will be sure to post an update! But until then, watch this:
Well, I guess first priority would be to purchase said bicycle... which hopefully will be remedied very soon. Thank you tax return! Woot!
Now that it is spring time the city has become more alive and bustling. It seems like everyone has gotten their bike out of storage and are making use of the many bike paths that Montreal has to offer. And... I am jealous. I can not wait to get back pedaling. The spin classes I have been going to at the YMCA are just not the same.
First up when I find a bike I want to take the Lachine Canal bike path. It is a really nice bike path that is close to 30 km round trip and I think there are a bunch of other connecting paths you can connect to as well. On a nice day it is so busy! I've been out jogging on the path a lot lately and some days you have to be aware of all the cyclists and rollerbladers. I thought Kelowna was bad for its roller bladers, but they are by far out numbered here (which for some reason I find surprising).
Right now I live close to the Atwater Market, which is right on the Canal. It is pretty neat how there are bike paths that can take you all around the island!!! Yep, Montreal is an island didn't you know? "The island is approximately 50 km long and 16 km wide at its widest point". The geography of this city always makes me laugh for some reason. A mountain? On an Island?
Once I do get out for a ride, I will be sure to post an update! But until then, watch this:
March 24, 2010
Getting My Craft ON!
This past weekend, I got my craft (back) on.
I had signed up for a felting class a while back and I had kinda forgotten about it. Thankfully Allison, my instructor for the afternoon and designer behind FiberAlley, called to let me know it was still on AND that I was the only one who signed up. I almost thought she was going to cancel the class, but she said it would be cool for me to still come by the studio and just go about things as planned!
Her studio was located in really cool space up in the Mile End called Red Bird Studios. It was really interesting to see a shared artist studio set up and to see people have the space to do what they love! It was a pretty laid back vibe with Allison and she was really into just doing whatever. A couple of her friends showed up and they did their own thing too.
I have now decided that felting is pretty rad. I have always had mixed feelings on felted objects. Sometimes I find them kinda tacky or overly "crafty" if that makes any sense. But I think I have changed my mind. It was really neat to get a taste of how it all works annddd I think I like it more now. I got to try out wet felting and needle felting. I have always enjoyed working with those premade felt pieces you can get at craft stores, so I guess it is a logical progression to try out some real felting!
I posted a picture of what I have made thus far. The circles with the yellow I made in the class and the other ones I made last night at home. Those circles are all slices from little balls of wet, rolled wool. The final results are so exciting because you keep adding more wool and rolling the ball in the palm of your hands and don't really know what it will look like when you cut it open!!! When my first one was revealed I was sooo excited. I think I was on a crafting high afterwards (just ask my friends who I met up with for dinner after... I was all full of pep!).
I have a few ideas what I will want to do with these little bits of felt. My first thought was to make a necklace with the first ones I made. I may attach them to leather and make some leather strands to combine with the chain... but I may make a little art piece in a frame because I don't know if I will actually wear the felted jewelery, so I maybe the art would get seen more?!
*****
*****
March 15, 2010
Things I like about Concordia University:
Cinema Politica:
Tonight I saw two really interesting films about transgendered people. I will post the links to the descriptions and trailers below:
These films told some really thought provoking stories. I didn't realize how political sex change from female-to-males is! And also, just the whole concept of gender is a total mind fuck! The more these people are getting into it the more it becomes less clear. People are just seeking their happiness and self love in the end but it gets pretty complicated, especially when gender is involved.
People's Potatoe:
Free lunch? Yes, please!! Here is what they are all about:
Just looked at their website and they are having some cool workshops this week! Indoor gardening is tomorrow and fermentation the next day. I may just have to go pretend to be a student some more...
Tonight I saw two really interesting films about transgendered people. I will post the links to the descriptions and trailers below:
These films told some really thought provoking stories. I didn't realize how political sex change from female-to-males is! And also, just the whole concept of gender is a total mind fuck! The more these people are getting into it the more it becomes less clear. People are just seeking their happiness and self love in the end but it gets pretty complicated, especially when gender is involved.
People's Potatoe:
Free lunch? Yes, please!! Here is what they are all about:
"The People’s Potato is a vegan soup kitchen run out of Concordia University. The project was initiated in 1999 in order to address student poverty. The student population at Concordia is typically in debt, and has little access to quality nourishing foods. Our soup kitchen emphasizes serving well cooked, wholesome foods.I have gone for lunch a few times since I have been here. It is a really good idea! I guess students pay into this service as part of their student fees. The food can be kinda hit or miss, but you can't really complain because it is free AND vegan. I have heard it is pretty cliquish with the people who are involved, but that is pretty much with everything right... so i guess you just have to get into it. Hopefully once I become a student at Concordia (fingers crossed) I will become active with this some how.
At the onset, a group of dedicated students started cooking in a church basement and carried the food to the university. Since then, the project has expanded, and we now serve over five hundred students and community members daily from our kitchen at Concordia.
We are committed not only to serving food to hungry students, but to broader goals of social justice and environmental sustainability"
Just looked at their website and they are having some cool workshops this week! Indoor gardening is tomorrow and fermentation the next day. I may just have to go pretend to be a student some more...
March 11, 2010
March 9, 2010
Bruce Penisula-Steamroller
(ha hahahaa hahahha..... just noticed the spelling error in the title. I think it is hilarious, so I am just going to leave it... lol)
Get Lost!
Yesterday was such a beautiful day outside!!! The sun was shining and there was energy in the air, so I decided to go exploring in an area I had never been to before.
I started my trek walking up Saint-Denis a little bit. Normally when I go up to the Plateau area I would for some reason always just bypass this street and head straight to St. Laurent which runs parallel to Saint-Denis but a few blocks over. St. Laurent is more geared towards anglophones/people from out-of-town apparently.
I came across a really interesting bookstore that carried French and English books on many interesting alternative health type topics. They had lots on sale, but my budget for the day was the $5 change I had in my pocket so I didn't buy anything...
After that, I went up to Saint Hubert which I had heard had a bunch of fabric stores. Since I am in the market for a sewing machine I thought it would be good to go check out the scene and WOW! I was impressed... well, I wasn't impressed with the prices. The fabrics were pretty pricey in most places, but there were atleast 10 different stores within 3-4 blocks of another (just look at the map!!). My favorite store just had the most random notions, and cheesy old jewelry and BUTTONS! I should have taken a picture, but I was worried the old french store owner would be mad at me and I wouldn't be able to defend myself with the language barrier.
After that I proceeded to get a little bit lost. I thought Saint Hubert would cross over on to Saint Denis... but I forgot that they both run North-South. It was a easy fix (back track!) to get to where I wanted to go and I got to check out some really nice residential streets along the way.
Finally, I stumbled onto the Jean Talon Market which was my ultimate goal! It is amazing in there. Definitely cheaper then the Atwater Market near my house. They had lots of local produce, honey and eggs/meat etc. Anything you could want pretty much. I almost bought this big 5 pound bag of multi-coloured carrots for $4 but I didn't really feel like carrying it home.
I was going to just take the Metro home, but it was muuuch to nice out to descend down into the depths of the metro system. So I decided to walk back along St. Laurent. I was happily surprised to come by "Petite Italie". I love Italian food, so I will be back in that neighhbourhood one day to get a taste.
All this food talk, I must have been hungry hey? I decided to get the good ole standbys of bagels! I went to a different bakery then before. I went to Fairmount as they have lots of variety and I got some cinnamon raison bagels to take home and a cumin bagel to give me some energy to make it home (all within my pocket change budget too mind you)!
The combination of exploring a new area of the city and the spring like weather made me super excited to be living here. A friend of mine told me that if I want a real Montreal experience, I shouldn't be living where I am right now and that I should be up in the Mile End/Plateau. More and more I am realizing that. There is so much more up there. More hustle and bustle (more cute boys on bikes) and much more culture! I am really looking forward to the summer when I am potentially going to be living up there!!!!
On a side note, I am definitely feeling a bit nervous about the prospect of biking in this city. It is intense on some streets!!! So many people are out on their bikes now. Don't worry mom, I will totally be getting a helmet. I think if you just stick to more calm routes, it will be okay. Also, the benefits of cycling in the city (and the pure joy of it) much out ways the potential downsides... one just must be defensive!!! Oh, I heard they have this really cool thing here called BIXI which is a public bike system where you just take a bike from one station and deposit it at your final destination. It seems pretty reasonable and a neat way to encourage alternative transportation in the city.
I started my trek walking up Saint-Denis a little bit. Normally when I go up to the Plateau area I would for some reason always just bypass this street and head straight to St. Laurent which runs parallel to Saint-Denis but a few blocks over. St. Laurent is more geared towards anglophones/people from out-of-town apparently.
I came across a really interesting bookstore that carried French and English books on many interesting alternative health type topics. They had lots on sale, but my budget for the day was the $5 change I had in my pocket so I didn't buy anything...
After that I proceeded to get a little bit lost. I thought Saint Hubert would cross over on to Saint Denis... but I forgot that they both run North-South. It was a easy fix (back track!) to get to where I wanted to go and I got to check out some really nice residential streets along the way.
Finally, I stumbled onto the Jean Talon Market which was my ultimate goal! It is amazing in there. Definitely cheaper then the Atwater Market near my house. They had lots of local produce, honey and eggs/meat etc. Anything you could want pretty much. I almost bought this big 5 pound bag of multi-coloured carrots for $4 but I didn't really feel like carrying it home.
I was going to just take the Metro home, but it was muuuch to nice out to descend down into the depths of the metro system. So I decided to walk back along St. Laurent. I was happily surprised to come by "Petite Italie". I love Italian food, so I will be back in that neighhbourhood one day to get a taste.
All this food talk, I must have been hungry hey? I decided to get the good ole standbys of bagels! I went to a different bakery then before. I went to Fairmount as they have lots of variety and I got some cinnamon raison bagels to take home and a cumin bagel to give me some energy to make it home (all within my pocket change budget too mind you)!
The combination of exploring a new area of the city and the spring like weather made me super excited to be living here. A friend of mine told me that if I want a real Montreal experience, I shouldn't be living where I am right now and that I should be up in the Mile End/Plateau. More and more I am realizing that. There is so much more up there. More hustle and bustle (more cute boys on bikes) and much more culture! I am really looking forward to the summer when I am potentially going to be living up there!!!!
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