ardenstreet

My online portfolio suffered over the summer, thanks to some time-consuming contracts and hefty summer livin’. But now that the weather is turning a bit dire and my contracts have simultaneously come to a close (gasp), I can finally get on top of my website game.

Series page is now updated! Brand new treats, including my personal favourite document of New Orleans.

Now… back to the resumés and cover letters. (Can someone hire me already? Thank you.)

National broadcasters are probably up in arms now that Fucked Up nabbed the Polaris $20K cheque for their album The Chemistry of Modern Life.

The music prize barely gets enough press as it is, so I’m curious if the news outlets are actually going to pick up on the story. What? A hardcore punk band with a name unsuitable for playgrounds? Humph!

Whatever the media opinion on their music, though, Fucked Up’s live show is epic; their show at last night’s gala awards ceremony was a case in point, with guests Final Fantasy and Lullabye Arkestra joining in to take the freaking cake.

My full coverage of the presentation is now up on CBC Radio 3’s flickr page.

My buddy Jennifer and her friends are curating an awesome multi-disciplinary art show in the Junction, on display from October 24th to November 14th.

I’ll be participating in the photography room, showing snaps from my parents’ old restaurant (Goodbye, Sunshine)… IRL.

Details to come later, but for now, mark your calendars for October 24th, 2009, and check out the website for general exhibit information. WAHOO!

I couldn’t think of a better way to spend Canada Day besides hanging out near the water’s edge and snapping shots of some great Canadian indie bands.

Check out the photo series here, including a sneak peek backstage (like, omigod) from the Sirius/CBC Radio 3 gig.

"It might sound boring… but I kinda think it’s the boring stuff I remember the most." - Russell, Up.

I watched Up yesterday and spent the end of the movie blubbering and involuntarily spewing snot out of my nose. So graceful.

Beyond the many superficial elements of the movie that resonated with me (I was a chubby Asian kid whose closest friend was an old man), it’s made my eventless trip back home feel like one of the best ever.

I even had fun watching my parents root through the discount vegetables at Price Chopper.

Simplicity is pretty awesome.

xox,
Connie

Black Hat Brigade

It’s too bad I can’t split myself in three.

Last night I had the tough task of deciding between seeing Videohippos and Ear Pwr at the Steelworkers Hall on Cecil, Slim Twig’s CD release at the Horseshoe, and the Pitter Patter Festival at El Mocambo.

I’ve seen Slim Twig many times already, and the idea of romping around with a bunch of early 20-somethings in neon and oversized glasses at the Videohippos show didn’t jive too well.

The Pitter Patter Festival was a guaranteed “surprise me!” kind of show, with a PWYC cover. I certainly liked that.

Headliners Black Hat Brigade were pretty cool, although I really think their strong point is their instrumental work. I’m not saying their use of vocals was bad; it’s just that it brought the pieces to an entirely different level, and I totally wasn’t feeling it. Having said that, if they completely took away the vocals, their music reminded me of a happier Explosions in the Sky. Which really isn’t a bad thing.

Parlovr says “go!”

Anyway, the show definitely had its high moments, which had everything to do with Montreal’s Parlovr. Awesome, awesome set: proof’s in the number of times I caught myself bouncing up and down during their set. (Many.) I was surprised they actually opened with their single “Pen to the Paper”, but I’m kinda glad they did — pretty much everything else on their list improved tenfold after the opener.

If I wasn’t so busy, I’d be Pitter-Pattering all weekend.

I don’t mean to get all “free love” and “groovy, man” — I have a natural aversion to patchouli — but I do love it when public spaces are used for a good cause.

The succinct message above, along a quiet residential street in Leslieville, looks a bit weathered after a few months, but no one’s bothered to take it down. And why should they?

Same with this long-standing message at the Trinity Bellwoods tennis courts:

Sigh. And I thought my heart would harden with age.

Toronto, thank you for giving me hope.

The south wall of CAMH
The oldest part of the wall, built by psychiatric patients 150 years ago as part of the exploitative "work therapy" program.

—

If you’re reading this in advance of Doors Open 2010 and need advice on the best tours, please, please join the crowds at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. Stat!

Preface: I’d been a little disappointed with the way some venues presented their buildings. Either the speeches were contrived, given by staff members who were paid to be there, or only a printout was left at the door explaining the history.

Lame.

In contrast, the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health’s tour was amazing. It’s given by historian and ex-psychiatric patient Geoffrey Reaume. Passionate, great storytelling, and most importantly, I came out of it appreciating the history of my place.

Thanks.

Dave at Alexandria Falafel

My buddy Dave from Melbourne came up for a visit.

He ate. He bought a lot of vinyl from Criminal Records and Rotate This.

…And he fell in love with Toronto. (But this falafel? Not so much. However, being the cheapskate I am, I had a $1 stuffed eggplant, packed with olives and pine nuts, and it was rather salty and delicious.)

Yay! I love out-of-town visitors. It makes me see the awesomeness of any city all over again.