Chez PLJ

Most coffee drinkers I know acquired the caffeine habit during university all-nighters. I never did—only to start succumbing during my umpty-ump-year stint at a boring downtown office job. I followed the usual course: sweet, milkshake-like frappuccinos became the gateway drug to the harder-core stuff.

After getting an espresso maker for Christmas a few years ago I read up all I could about making espresso-based drinks: How old the beans should be; the proper espresso/milk/foam proportions; the best way to foam milk; grinder do’s and don’ts. I can make a passable cappuccino—on a good day I can crank out one better than some I’ve had at Starbucks—but my skill and my machine are simply not good enough to produce a truly celestial espresso. For that I have to go to the professional shops.

Toronto seems to be going through an independent-coffeehouse boom these days. I recently read that there are at least 25 new cafés opening in T.O. this year. (It’s about time—Vancouver’s coffeehouse scene is miles ahead of what Toronto currently offers.) Two of those are very close to our house: Rooster Coffeehouse (479 Broadview, at Withrow) and Si Espresso Bar (748 Broadview, just below the Danforth). This adds to the three relatively near our place (Broadview Espresso, Mercury Espresso Bar and Dark Horse Espresso Bar.) I visited the two new Broadview Ave. shops, and these are my quick impressions (by no means an extensive review, since I only order cappuccinos, and I didn’t have any pastries):

When Rooster Coffeehouse opened about a month ago, it replaced a rather useless corner-grocery-store-cum-sculpture-gallery (yes, it was as stupid as it sounds). It features huge windows with a terrific view of Riverdale Park and downtown Toronto. There’s a big worktable at the back, and smaller tables and comfy chairs throughout, as well as a bar and stools at the front (letting you easily keep an eye on your dog). The whole vibe is easy-going and neighbourly. The cappuccinos are excellent, both to look at (lovely latte art) and to taste, and are the correct size (small) and consistency (creamy microfoam throughout, rather than separate layers of milk and foam). And sooo much more convenient than the Queen Street shops; when the weather gets warmer I can see a lot of dog-walking to Rooster’s patio!

Si Espresso Bar is not built for hanging around all day: It’s tiny and sports only narrow bar tables and stools. It would be tricky to read a broadsheet newspaper while drinking your coffee. The owner is friendly enough, in a hipster-dude kind of way. The day I was there two young guys (evidently friends of the owner) were lounging about, and though they seemed nice it reminded me—unpleasantly—of some of the stores on the Danforth that are always decked out with lounging geezers, making the establishment feel a bit like a men’s club. I could put up with this, though, if the coffee was excellent. Unfortunately the cappuccino I had there was definitely mediocre: Large cups (too much milk), with big bubbles in the cap of dryish foam. How disappointing!

I like this little ad for a sweater—erm, jumper—manufacturer in Scotland. Enjoy.

With all the talk these days about the iPad it seems a bit 2009 to talk about an iPhone app, but this one makes me cackle with malicious glee.

A couple of Western Canada software developers (one with cerebral palsy) created an iPhone app that not only helps people find handicap-accessible municipal parking spots in Vancouver, but also lets them report people who misuse the spots. You take photos of the offending car and licence plate, and the program sends them, along with the GPS location and a timestamp, to Vancouver city officials, who then mail out a parking ticket to the miscreant’s address.

Unfortunately, there are only about 50 accessible spots administered by the City of Vancouver (the rest are in privately-owned lots), but by jiminy it’s a start!

CBC article: Handicap parking cheaters tagged by iPhone app

The weather network is changing the music for the Local Forecast. They’re letting people choose between five different pieces of music. You can vote for your favourite song at www.theweathernetwork.com. until January 24th.
Vote Now!

In our last eye doctor episode, Dr. Wiggins confirmed that Jon’s eyes had stabilized (somehow) back to a focus point where he didn’t need glasses, but that we should be watchful in case he suddenly started squinting or leaning over to try to get closer—especially during the sudden growth segment of puberty. This alert was based on the fact that:

1. Jon has already been nearsighted;
2. Jon has two parents, in case no one noticed, who wear glasses for nearsightedness.

So come November, we started seeing such behaviour occasionally, while Jon was watching TV, etc. We kept watching for it, and although it wasn’t constant, there definitely did seem to be something going on. By mid-December we booked an appointment for last Thursday.

So what’s the upshot of yet another trip to Waterloo, to visit the good doctor and his pair of students? Nada. Nuffink. Jon’s eyes focus at exactly the same prescription as previously (for the record, ever-so-slightly farsighted—but nothing that requires glasses). We were slightly perturbed. I began to apologize for taking up their time and Dr. Wiggins stopped me. “I asked you to watch out for a particular behaviour and you saw it. You didn’t call the first time you saw it, you kept on the lookout and saw it repeated a number of times. I told you to call me if it kept up. It turns out that it’s not Jon’s ability to focus. But it could have been an entirely different outcome.”

The doctor speculated that given that the eyes are okay, it’s likely CNS (central nervous system)-based, a pretty solid call given Jon’s cerebral history. This suggests that the wash of hormonal activity happening around Jon’s body is affecting the development of his visual cortex. Not a huge leap of logic, that one. But yet another fascinating chapter (to us, anyway) in Jon’s growth.

Just back from a lightning-fast visit to Vancouver, courtesy of Dad, to see his Legacy Lecture at UBC—one of those “If I had one last lecture to give, what would I say?” events. It was a Big Thing: The lecture tickets were pricey and it was being filmed for theatre release next year by Sturla Gunnarsson. Afterwards, we (me and the sibs) were also invited to the very pricey after-party (thanks Dad!!) to hobnob with the swells (large-scale donors to the David Suzuki Foundation, or anyone who could pony up $1,500 for the party.)

Native dancers (Dad second from left)

The after-party was held at the Museum of Anthropology and featured native dancers, DJ-ing by K-OS (I’m not sure he really knew what to do with the mouldy oldies), and the highlights: performances by Randy Bachman and his wife Denise McCann, and Sarah McLachlan, under the towering totem poles in the main hall.

Randy Bachman, mid-story

Bachman charmed everyone with his entertaining story introductions to his songs (particularly the one of how “Takin’ Care of Business” was created), and McLachlan sang and played gorgeously, including a lovely version of Joni Mitchell’s “River”.

L to R: Sarika, Laura, Tamiko, Sarah McLachlan, Midori

I managed to talk with McLachlan afterwards, and told her I saw her very first Toronto show at the Bathurst Street Theatre many years ago. (”Oooh, that’s ancient history!” she replied.) She told us that she didn’t manage to get to Dad’s lecture because her kid had “melted down” that evening. Since she hasn’t toured in ages, she admitted that she hasn’t practised in a while, so she opened up the piano to rehearse. Apparently her younger daughter starts crying the minute she plays a song in a minor key (minor key = sad song = Mommy’s songs = Mommy’s not paying attention to me!!)

Vancouver is definitely a foodie paradise—bakeries, coffee shops (not just Starbucks) on every block. I dropped a load of money in two (expensive) chocolate shops. And, of course, there was amazing sushi for incredibly cheap (the equivalent quality of sushi in Toronto is way more expensive.) In fact, food in general seemed slightly cheaper than in Toronto (admittedly I only saw restaurant and snackie-type stuff; I didn’t check out grocery store prices). Troy thought everything was dead cheap in Vancouver (other than the real estate), but he’s from the Yukon where a head of lettuce is 5 bucks.

The trip was somewhat too short, but it was great to see everyone at the old homestead. Thanks to Mom for letting me crash for 3 days, and maybe more of us Toronto folk will make it out there again some time!

(Videos should work now.—L) Peter sent me a link to a video by British comedian Peter Kay done for the annual Children in Need charity special. It features a medley of songs with over 100 animated TV characters new and old, mainly from the UK, but a few recognizable by us on the other side of the pond:

(It took two years to get all the rights clearances for the video!)

This is not the first music video Kay’s done for UK charities. Previously he did a version of the Proclaimer’s “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)” done as characters from Little Britain, with a lot of UK celebrities dancing in the audience. I think it’s better if you know who they are; other than Doctor Who’s David Tennant I pretty much draw a blank.

And before that he did one to Tony Christie’s old “(Is This the Way To) Amarillo”—again featuring a lot of British show-biz people I’ve never seen before (save maybe for Ronnie Corbett). But it’s a lot of goofy fun, and I’ll bet that you have a tough time disloging this song from your head—it’s definitely an earworm!

Finally, an absolutely priceless charity video from the great Ricky Gervais and friends.