What’s with the festival circuit the past few years? Roxodus died a quick and very public, painful death….especially painful to all those who bought tickets and the dream. The demise…..headlines for about 30 seconds and then gone. However, that one will be a sea of lawsuits for years to come, but hey, the bands got their deposits. Go figure.
I love gin. That’s no secret. Years and years ago my dad introduced me to his special recipe for the old fashioned G&T and it has been my favourite tipple ever since. Ice, tonic water, slice of lemon (the yellow one, not the green one) and a sprig of fresh mint. Absolutely delightful and oh so refreshing. Now my dad’s secret ingredient was small amount of Canada Dry’s Bitter Lemon. It still has a few niche markets in the U.S. but hasn’t been for sale in Canada for many years and there are now rumours Canada Dry is discontinuing production of this pop. However, I don’t miss it. It’s the “Bombay flavour” and fresh mint that really pull the drink together. Perfect!
The weather has been nothing but spectacular with balmy, breezy days and comfortably cool evenings. So far so good. Although spring was a relative flash-in-the-pan, with the bitter cold of this past winter still fresh in our memories, everyone has been thrilled to see summer arrive early. Tourist season is now in “full on” mode (please share the sidewalks everyone….standing smack in the middle is not the spot to have a conversation), patios are just buzzing, my backyard looks the best it’s ever been and the sunny days are predicted to continue right through the fall months. I’ll take it while I can but I still want snow for Christmas and New Year. Then we can go back to summer. The city is humming (literally) so, on your mark, get set…..GO!
I’ve started a “reminder” page and called it “column ideas”. Not sure what the point was since I never follow it. There’s always something else that catches my eye….or ear. Lately I’ve had the attention span of a gnat. In fact…..no, never mind. It’s been a busy seven days, just not sure what the hell I’ve accomplished short of pissing off CRA and a couple of telemarketers, oh, and changing passwords on damn near everything….one of my lesser brilliant moves. Now I can’t remember how to log into anything. So, jotting down reminders (and new passwords) on scraps of paper. High security, that’s me!
I’m going to start calling this column Pat’s Diary (nope, too blah), or maybe Zippy’s Musical Journey, or maybe….My Life As A Crazy Lady….. Welcome to my world of music, pictures, and general mayhem. So we begin another 10 days of zipping (get it haha) around this wonderful city of ours enjoying the nightlife. I’m starting backwards…..
Well….unfortunately I wasn’t able to file last Wednesday. Assisting some friends through a personal crisis filled my time and my focus was elsewhere all week. I did, however, manage to get out for a couple of shows during the latter part of each week so today’s column will be playing catch-up. I was on the receiving end of some much-needed tutoring with the new photo editing program (I have a hell of learning curve ahead of me) and a few of the results part of this column. Some experimentation going on as I suss out what I can and cannot do. Having some fun and messing about with a bit of colour but B&W is where my heart is.
Where to begin. It’s 10:40pm on a Tuesday night. I’ve just lit 10 candles, some sage incense and the music is drifting throughout the house. Sounds like 1960 something…. all I need is the Mateus bottle and a spliff…. The days are running into each other, colliding like the two drunken racoons cavorting in my backyard. (they eat the fermented grapes that have fallen off the vine) and I start to lose all track of time just trying to keep track.
Sunday, October 4 there was a gathering of 27 people in my backyard, on my back deck and in my kitchen (much to Peter Kashur’s chagrin). A belated birthday BBQ for Bob Segarini with some of his DBAWIS writers, and a sort of “welcome home/back” to friend, Greg Simpson, who really doesn’t get “back east” too often after returning to B.C. almost five years ago to live near his family. This gave him the opportunity to get together with people he doesn’t often get to spend time with.
Well…. This was supposed to be Part Five of The Women of Rock. However, I’m going to take a break and fill you in on some of the sights and sounds of this dynamic city I call home….Toronto…. Hogtown… Muddy York…. The Big Smoke…. Tdot…. where I’ve been going, who I’ve been seeing, what I’ve been drinking (G&T w/lemon if you must know. Bombay Sapphire is the chosen one.) AND update you about an exciting event that’s coming to Toronto. Yep….it’s another Toronto Scrapbook!
Bullseye Records of Canada
Segarini: Don't Believe a Word I Say 