Sporting events in Montreal

Montrealers really gets invested in their sports teams and/or come out in droves to attend sporting events. I realized that as soon as I moved here. Here's my rundown of the "scene" (at least the bits that are on my radar):

Canadiens (NHL):
Last year, I had the opportunity to attend a Canadiens game. I knew that this was the sports team that Montrealers really get fanatical about (especially when they're doing well - I mean, what city doesn't like to jump on a bandwagon - cough, T.O.). I don't know anything about the rules of hockey except that teams are supposed to get that puck into the opposing team's goal. That's it. So, I was clearly there to enjoy the atmosphere and cheer when other people cheered.
I didn't even really know anything about the players. I'd heard of P.K. Subban (who was injured at the time so wasn't playing), and people told me that some of the other key players were also injured (I think one of them was the goalie?). And, our seats were high enough up that I just had to sit back and take a global view of the game rather than watching facial expressions and feel (and smell?!?) the emotion of the players.
Anyway, it was a fun time. For what was (apparently) not a top game (Montreal vs. Minnesota), the arena was pretty full. People were rowdy, cheering, chanting, yelling, and boisterous. I did what one does at a hockey game and ate arena food. Greasy, junky, and yummy. I was lucky enough to be seated in I guess what would be like a corporate section where you could just walk up to the food vendors and ask for whatever you wanted. Let's just say the lines were looooong. I'm not sure if it's a situation where people were: a) really hungry, b) wanting to get their money's worth, or c) greedy. Maybe a combination of all of the above? For me, I wanted to make the most out of the experience and try things while I had the chance. So I got all of the things that I knew that I would never get on a daily basis. It was fun.

Impact (CSL):
So attending an impact game is on my list of things to do. I never really thought that soccer was something that Canadians were really into, but I know that even the Toronto FC team was getting a decent audience at their games. I'm not entirely sure if it's the game that is drawing these spectators, or the chance to come together and be rowdy. Eitherway, I'm down and I hope to attend a game in the future and see the spectacle for myself.

Coupe Rogers (ATP and WTA):
When I was in Toronto, I had always wanted to go to the Rogers Cup and I never did. It actually usually coincided with another annual commitment that I have and so the stars just never aligned. This past summer, the starts also didn't align and I wasn't able to go to the Coupe Rogers, but I did get to go the summer prior.
So, for those who don't know, there's a Rogers Cup in Toronto and there's a Coupe Rogers in Montreal. One city hosts the women and the other the men, and they rotate every year. So, as you can see by the picture, the 2015 Coupe Rogers hosted the men.

It was a fun experience. Upon entering the premises, I realized that there were actually a TON of courts. The big stadium with the main event for the day (with the bigger names), but then another slightly smaller court and then maybe 6-12 other courts for other games and practices. So, while my ticket gained me entry to a set of matches for a certain time at the main court, I could wander around the premises and wander into other courts some of which didn't require a ticket or other ones where I could stand along the side that there were multiple games being played (sometime at the same time), from singles to doubles. 
And there were different pavilions for food and other merchandise. Fans running around hoping to snag an autograph of a selfie with a player (I caught a glimpse of Novak Djokovic leaving the premises - ooh, famous person!). It was a spectacle. And let me tell you, the people attending tennis matches are a little bit different from those attending hockey matches. I mean, it's a different time of year, but there's also a different mood to it all.
Anyway, my ticket really focused on two matches. The first with Rafael Nadal being the headliners (it's the one in blue in the picture above), and the second, was with Kei Nishikori. Although your ticket was to both games, I was a little surprised at the number of people who only stayed for the first game. You paid for two, so why not stay for both? That was a little confusing to me. But maybe that's just a normal thing in the tennis world? I mean, for me, it was my first time at a game, and it was a lot of fun to watch, so by gosh, I was going to stay for the entire thing!

Alouettes (CFL):
I haven't had the chance to go to an Alouettes game yet, but I am impressed at a couple things that I've noticed on game days:
1. STM buses update their signage in support of their team
2. The STM set up shuttle buses to the stadium (I'm not sure where they're coming from because I tend to only pass by the stadium) and as a result some streets lanes are closed or diverted (which probably annoys the heck out people other than me - I find it impressive). Additionally, the SPVM are out and about directing traffic and pedestrians.
3. Neighbouring parks at the base of Mont Royal get transformed into an area of tailgating and other game-day events (games, entertaining, food and drink).
4. All-season/weather prepareness. On the coldest and snowiest of days, I have seen spectators bring seat cushions and blankets. They are wearing so many layers (and seemingly all Alouettes-branded) with the warmest hats, boats, snowpants, and boots.
I walk by the stadium where they play pretty much every day and have been on the field a couple times myself. It's pretty fun to run around the field and look up to the bleachers imagining what it would be like on game day. Pretty cool.

1001 Pots

Prior to moving here, a friend told me that I should add 1001 Pots to my list. Two summers ago (between my first and second year here), when I had a friend come visit, I took advantage of the fact that she had a vehicle (and was interested in ceramics) and we drove out to the village of Val-David.
The drive was lovely. It was a bright sunny day, and driving through the Laurentians was a first for me. Being without a vehicle, I spent all of my first year here on the island. And discovering the city by foot, bus, and metro. Any time that I ventured to other cities nearby, they were direct trips with no wandering and relaxation...and we never seemed to take scenic routes to get to wherever we were going. But going to Val-David took us through lovely landscape and I had my first moment of marveling in the landscape of this province.
Once we arrived to Val-David,we wondered it the exhibition would be difficult to find, but ummm, well there was basically one (small) street to Val-David, and that was it. So, we made out way to the exhibition unsure of what to expect, and basically, in what seemed like a large backyard (attached to a little forested area) were ceramics upon ceramics. It was neat to see the variety of pieces, the different colours, designs, aesthetics. I didn't leave with anything, but getting a better sense of what I like (I still working my way towards getting a piece of original artwork for my place). I did make some mental notes of ceramicists that I liked and noticed that a lot of them show at other markets/shops in Montreal so I didn't feel a need to rush into purchasing anything.
Anyway, I would recommend going up to Val-David and 1001 Pots if you have a chance. It might not completely blow you away, but it's still a nice little day trip.

Theatre of Life

It's been awhile since I've seen a film. Too bad. I need to build these outings back into my life.
I went to see the documentary, Theater of Life. It chronicles the Refettorio Ambrosiano, an initiative spearheaded by chef Massimo Bottura (Osteria Francescana) taking place during Milan's Expo 2015. The initiative brought top chefs from around the world to Milan and challenged them to turn excess food from the Expo into delicious meals. The meals were communally enjoyed by local residents typically residing in shelters, train stations, and the streets.
In the film, we learn about the initiative and marvel the dishes created by top chefs including: Ferran Adria (el Bulli foundation), Mario Batali, Alain Ducasse, Daniel Humm (Noma), and Rene Redzepi (Eleven Madison Park). We learn about some of the diners and their lives. We consider issues of food waste, social justice, and the human spirit.
I found the ending a little abrupt but perhaps it was meant to finish on a contemplative stance. As with many initiatives (including ones in my own life - personal and profession), I wonder how far reaching and continued its impact.

Picture courtesy of www.theateroflifemovie.com

Feeling festive

It's sort of evergreen tree-ish, right? It smells just as lovely and its "needles" hold decorations just as well. Even the little mouse from Norway looks right as home beside it! All that my "tree" is missing is some lights! Ha ha.

Wishing everyone a happy holiday season!

New York (Dec 11-15, 2016)

Leave it to a trip back to one of the cities that gives me life to bring this blog back to life. After a moment this summer where I was feeling particularly burnt out and feeling the benefits of "getting away", I vowed that I would take breaks more often for my mental and physical health. So, in typical form, went through the semester not really taking many breaks (although maintaining a lower level of engagement throughout) and slowly coming to a point when I realized that all signs were pointing to "you need a get-away"!

So, I booked a trip to NYC and now that I've pulled off the get-away band-aid, I hope that it will be easier for me to plan get-aways in the future!
Just walking amongst the crowds was rejuvenating. Window shopping. Visiting landmarks. Snacking. It was all pretty great.
I like to snack my way through the city. With so much awesomeness in one place (including lots of things to do in the evening), I'm often reluctant to take a couple hours out of my evening to have a full sit-down meal. And, why not have multiple smaller meals/snacks throughout the day rather than limiting yourself to just three? So mini-meals consisting of macarons (Laduree), cupcakes (Baked by Melissa), smoothies and falafels (Taim), pizza and pasta (Eataly), burgers and frozen custards (Shake Shack), and add a random sprinkling of other snacks from food trucks and such.

There wasn't anything at Lincoln Center that caught my interest for this trip, but that didn't prevent me from going for a visit. It's neat that there's a hub for the arts. Makes a lot of sense. Place des Arts in Montreal is a similar idea and the city really put a lot of resources into developing the area. Well done, Montreal!
Back to Lincoln Center. One of the reasons I enjoy visiting the building is to marvel at the massive Chagall paintings that they have hanging in the foyer of the opera house. But on this day, they were covered up. I guess you've got to take care of a protect those works of art from their natural predators.

Recently opened in March 2016, the Oculus is a new building in the World Trade Center area attached to the PATH train station to New Jersey. It's is an incredible piece of architecture. Part of the building has lots of shops and connects to office towers, the train and subway system and such. One end where the main entrance to the PATH station looks like something out of a sci-fi movie with the light concrete and the white backbone structure looming above. Robotic masses of people beeping their way through the automated gates and descending to the underground train level. It was cool to watch the "spectacle".

Only steps away is the 9/11 Memorial and Museum. It is a moving and informative space. The memorial is particularly moving. Seeing the two spaces previously occupied by the Twin Towers has a large impact.
There are moments in history that people tend to distinctly remember where they were and what they were doing at the time. I "think" the first of such events in my lifetime was the OJ Simpson verdict. I remember being in the cafeteria of my high school seated at that circular table in the corner that was typically occupied by cohort.

For September 11th, 2001, I remember being in my bed at my hole in the wall, rented apartment in Kingston while an undergraduate student at Queen's. I was waking up to my alarm clock (the radio) and hearing reports of the events. Still groggy from sleep, I remember hearing the news but not really processing it (although, how does one process such news?). I got up and started my day and received a phone call saying that my education class was cancelled that evening. I was confused why a class would be canceled for an event in the US and especially disappointed because this was to be my first education class of my degree. I had been waiting a long time for this class. I got ready for school and walked into a deserted campus. I remember walking through the student building and seeing news being shown on the TV screens. I was pretty confused about what was going on, but, like many people ended up spending a better part of the day in front of the TV watching updates on the event.

Being so close to the holiday season, the city was well decorated and festive. The big tree in Rockerfeller Center was much more impressive than the one in Place des Arts (sigh), and just facing, Saks had a nice music and light show. Fun times.
Holiday window displays are always incredible as well. Saks had a Nutcracker theme. Bergdorf Goodman always had something decadent. Barney's was humourous this year. And Bloomingdale's and Macy's displayed typical holiday scenes.

I was interested to walk by Trump Tower. Apparently, there are news outlets on site at all times as are the NYPD and the Secret Service. I walked by twice during my visit. Once, I think he was "home", and the other, he was not. This was evidenced by the number of black cars and ambulances parked outside the side door. Both times there were people standing on the sidewalk who wanted to make their presence known. Some were selling buttons. Some wanted to chat with passerbyers to discuss various issues. Others were speaking to whomever would listen about their perspectives.
It will be interesting to see how things continue to unfold. This is another case of an event that I'm not quite sure how to process and what its impact will be on the world.

One thing that has resulted is that citizens have posted messages on the walls of the Union Square subway station.
Some speak to the election specifically. Others to the state of the world. Still others, general messages or ones of a more personal nature/agenda.
I wonder how long the initiative will last.

I always try to see a show while I am in town. I try to see shows that I haven't seen before, and the two that were on my list for this time around were Hamilton and The Color Purple. I really wanted to see Hamilton and made it my priority. But, when tickets are sold out until August 2017 and wanting to pay face value for tickets, I resorted to waiting hours in the cancellations line. While I'm not always willing to give up hours of precious NYC time in a restaurant, I am willing to do so for the prospect of show tickets. Yet, I was unsuccessful, and instead of loosing more time in the city, for my last opportunity to catch a show, I decided to watch The Color Purple and call it a day. The show was fantastic. I'll have to go back and watch the movie again at some point. Or maybe I should read the book. Cynthia Erivo was awesome, but I think the whole cast was fantastic. There were very powerful moments in the show as there were moments for whooping and hollering and smiling and laughing. I'm glad that I was able to catch it before it closes in the New Year.

So, there you have it. A great trip, as usual. I made it to a couple sample sales (including an opportunity to wear a $7000 Marchesa gown - if only I had a place to wear the beautiful frock, I may have actually bought it!) and did a lot of window shopping. There were some beautiful bags and coats, but I returned back home empty handed. Oh, well.