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.

More cheese

Ok, so I'm trying more and more cheese, and it's fine, but I'm realizing that a lot of the cheeses that I get...errr...taste the same. Is that because my palate sucks? Or because the folks at the shop keep recommending similar kinds of cheeses? Or that, after they give me a couple to try, I just end up buying similar ones because those are the flavours that I like?

I am only getting cow's milk cheeses if that means anything.

Anyway, so a couple cheeses to report on (no surprise here - I haven't been keeping up with my blogging).

Parmigiano Reggiano AOC - Emilie Romagne, Italy
So this past spring/summer, I had a grand ole time planting herbs and veggies out on two (of my three - ha!) balconies. My front balcony had lovely flowers everywhere. My side balcony turned into a forest with a variety of lettuces, cucumbers, green onions, cilantro, rosemary, a couple kinds of mint, and a BUNCH of basil. So, here we are, getting into the fall and my BUNCH of basil has done very well for itself.
The decision was obvious. Make pesto.
So, I neded to get some parmesan cheese. (Apparently, I had forgotten that I'd bought some before)
The cheese as good. Salty, crumbly but still shavable. I don't know what more to say. It made my pesto tasty, but was also good to eat on its own.

Comte Reservation 18 mois - Franche-Comte, France
Apparently, I've also had this cheese before.
What does it mean that I'm starting to buy the same cheeses? Is my memory fading, or we're starting to hone in on things that I like?

Gruyere Kaltback grotte AOC - Switzerland
20 years ago, I went to Gruyere. I ate their cheese. I wasn't particularly impressed (although I didn't dislike it either).
It tasted pretty great this time around. I'm really starting to think that a lot of hard cheese taste very similar (or at least, the ones that I like/buy taste similar). All sorta salty. All tasting like...errr...cheese. This one wasn't like, orange-cheese cheese taste (yes, I know, descriptive vocabulary is so sophisticated), but the hard white-ish-cheese cheese taste. I need to figure out what those two descriptors actually mean (to someone other than me). I think the former is a little bit more rubbery/plasticy. I think that's a comment on the taste, not the texture. But "rubbery/plasticy" as a flavour doesn't sound appealing, but I don't mean it to sound that way.
More info here.

14 Arpents - Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean, Quebec
A soft cheese from Quebec, this was kind of so so. Not super flavourful in any way, but also not offensive. I think maybe I like hard cheese more than soft cheeses? Or maybe that's because the flvours are typically less intense for hard cheeses so they're more palatable for me? I mean, I started my exploration with soft cheeses specifically because (in my head), I thought they were the types of cheeses that I needed to conquer. The 'real' cheeses that 'real' cheese people like. I don't know how accurate that is, but now that I've tried a couple different types of cheeses, I'm finding that I'm more excited to try different hard cheeses, than to go back to the soft ones.
More info here.

L'Hercule de Charlevoix 24mois - Baie-Saint-Paul, Quebec
A hard cheese from Quebec, I can't really recall if anything stood out about this one.
Here are some tasting notes from the shop:
Fromage a pate ferme. Croute lavee. Pressee et cuite. Lait 100% jersey. Presure animale du veau. Fin 2e. debut 3e service. Vin: Riesling. Sang ovese. (Google translation here)

Piave vieux - Venice, Italy
Another hard cheese, this time from Italy. This one was another one of those "tastes like a good white-cheese" cheeses. Nothing particularly remarkable, but nothing offensive either.
Reflecting on all of this, maybe I haven't progressed in my cheese journey. I'm still reverting back to getting 'boring' cheeses. I mean, one could see that I'm just getting the things that I like (the safe cheeses without a particularly strong flavour and are similar to the limited cheeses that I had growing up), but you could also see that my palate isn't expanding.
I think this was a good cheese, but I guess I wouldn't be clamoring to get it again.
More info here.

Grapes

You know "grape flavour"? I think it's pretty tasty. But I also thought that it was a fake flavour (because red and green grapes don't taste like it). I mean there are also other fake flavours (e.g., watermelon, blueberry). Recently though, I discovered these grapes at the market that reminded me of grapes that I used to snack on (read: steal) from my piano teacher's house a long, long time ago. So I bought them. And they tasted exactly like "grape flavour"...and they were SOOOOO good. Concord grapes (alas, not from Quebec...but from Ontario - woot woot!). Yum.

Gouda Old Amsterdam 18M

So, I've started to move down the fridge. I have almost tried all of the soft cheeses from France and Quebec, and am now moving across the fridges towards the harder and other European cheeses.
I'm not sure if I've had Gouda before. It tastes, like cheese. Seriously, it tastes like basic orange cheese. Kinda salty. Kinda like those Kraft singles slices that I would fold up into a cube and eat as a kid.
So, the Old Amsterdam 18 months is from North Holland, Huizen to be exact. As the label from the shop says, "Fromage a pate ferme pressee et cuite vieilli 18 mois." (Google translation here)
Meh, nothing too special for this cheese. I'd eat it again, but I'd try other cheeses first.

Coming home

I'm in Neuch right now. I feel like I'm home.
While I only spent three years of my life here, they were formative ones. I moved here to start my (first) career. It was my first job and I had just graduated from university (the first, wait no, actually the second, time). I was young, effervescent (I've recently worried a lot about whether or not I've lost this characteristic), and eager to take on the world.
Everything was wonderful and an adventure.
And here I am again, all these years later. The same person, but so very different.
Even taking my first steps in the Zurich airport felt so good. Getting on the train and hearing the familiar announcement over the intercom made me feel more relaxed (which I needed). Disembarking the train in Neuchatel and been surrounded by such familiar sights, sounds, and smells was so lovely.
I've spent the past two days trying to slow down. And just be. Here.
I'm searching for that inner glow that I haven't felt for awhile. It's gotta be somewhere in there. Being here is helping, I think. I feel like I've got this thick layer of something that's taking away the shine to everything. I'm hoping it's just been a build up of some things over time, and these next couple days in Neuch will help to peel off some of the layers. I feel small glimmers every so often, but I'm not quite where I want to be.

Yesterday and today were pretty great though. Actually, things have been just dandy since I arrive Sunday night. In addition to just feeling like I'm home, I made myself comfortable in the place where I will call home for the rest of this week. It's a beautiful space with a beautiful view. I shall have to take a picture of the view that I wake up to. And then I had fondue for dinner.
Yesterday was a quiet day culminating with a walk to my old neighbourhood, walking by my old apartment, walking to the bus stop as I always did and then to a dear family's house for a raclette dinner. And then back downtown for the fireworks (c'etait la fete nationale). They put on a great show. I've seen quite a lot of fireworks recently (Montreal has them regularly in the summer), and this was so much better. There were some really interesting ones, including one shaped like a teddy bear's head!
Today, I went to the market. I walked around downtown. I walked near the lake. I ate a crepe. I also ate yogurt.†I went to Migros. And Coop. And Denner.

I don't want to live here (forever), but I would like to spend more time here. It's a place that rejuvenates me and feels good. I guess that's because it's home.

Paris, France (July 18-23, 2016)

Paris is (one of) my happy place(s).
It's been five years since I've been here, and it feel like too long. I know that's such a privileged thing to say, but it's the my truth. My first and last day in the city were pretty much for recuperating or traveling, so I really only had 4 days in the city. Four days is not nearly enough.
I did lots of amazing things (might update this post in the future with pictures and more details), but here is a little recap of the highlights:

Colette - This was literally, my first stop (after checking in to my hotel). I love this shop so much. It's a lifestyle store, but for me, what I appreciate is the "curated" clothes/fashion and their presentation. Each time I go upstairs in the shop, I feel like I'm entering a gallery space. The mannequins artfully dressed, it's great. I don't really consider myself a fashion nut, but I guess I'm slightly interested in it.
I really appreciate the thoughtfulness of everything that's in the store. Whomever the buyer is does a great job. I really enjoy the fashion in the store. Touching and taking a close look at the fabric. It's art.

L'As du Fallafel - I don't tend to each much while I'm in the city. I'm too busy walking about and doing different things, that I forget to eat, or just couldn't be bothered. Or, in the summertime, when it's so hot, I usually don't feel like eating. AND, a baguette can take you a long way. I usually just pick up a couple things from a grocery store and snack on the road or back in my hotel with my feet up (my feet REALLY hurt from walking so much). But, I did go (back) to L'As du Fallafel in the Marais for some yummy falafel (hmmm, I guess there are different ways to spell it?). Their falafels (the whole she-bang, but just the falafel pieces) are massive and in my shrunken stomach state, I couldn't finish the whole thing. I ended up eating everything in the pita and then saving the pita itself for a snack a little bit later on in the day. The best part of the falafel is the roasted eggplant. So tasty.

Macarons - As I said, I don't eat a lot while in Paris, but I do always prioritize the eating of macarons. There are two companies that I get my macarons from: Laduree and Pierre Herme. They are both awesome, but different. Laduree has very classic flavours. Par example: vanille, chocolate, pistache, cafe, rose. Pierre Herme has just one or two of the classics, but really experiment with different flavour combinations. Their classic is Mogador, which is chocolate and passion fruit. They have seasonal flavours too. Their theme for the summer is Jardin Enchante, and they've got a lot of citruses and yogurts. My favourite seasonal flavour was citron vert, framboise & piment d'Espelette. It was SO good. I usually try different things each time I return to a restaurant/shop, but I actually went back to get the same flavour. I'm telling you, SO good.

Centre Pompidou - I went to the Paul Klee exhibition at the fun looking building. It really is unique. I only visited the one exhibition. I'd been to the museum before and I'm sure that I'll go again, so I didn't feel the need to visit the regular collection this time around. My brain could only handle this one exhibition.

Foundation Louis Vuitton - Opening in 2014, this was my first chance to visit this museum. It seems to show only one exhibit at a time, and I happened to be in town for "un choix d’oeuvres chinoises de la Collection". Actually, there were two exhibitions happening I suppose, as there was also the L'Observatoire de la lumiere. Both were quite fantastic. I will have to upload some pictures soon (and update this post accordingly). It is a beautiful building and says Frank Gehry all over it. If you know the new AGO building, you know what I'm talking about. Even if you're not keen on the art that's being exhibited when you're in town, I would highly recommend going to visit the building because it's pretty incredible. It really is like a sailboat plopped into a park. There is a lovely water feature beside the building which is so calming too. And with your ticket to the museum, you get admission to the Jardin d'Acclimatation.

Shopping - Of course this would be an important component of my time in Paris. Window shopping is key. When wandering Rue St. Honore and Av. Montaigne (for example), for me, it's akin to Colette. I just go into the boutiques and appreciate what's there. Paris is special for many reasons, and going to the homes of many of these designers is a treat. I was hoping to splurge on something while I was there, but while I did see many things that I liked, there wasn't one item that leap out at me or that I felt comfortable with the price. It may sounds completely ridiculous, but I wasn't in the best emotional state while I was there (due to my fatigue and such), and that negatively affected my purchasing power.

Anyway, it was pretty great to be back to Paris. And I didn't spend nearly enough time this time. I've actually been thinking a lot about vacations (I'm finishing up this post, now, two countries later - although, not completely feeling like I've had any vacation) and how I should try to make them a priority (or, at the very least, some sort of break from work/life). While in Paris, I was actually chatting with someone in a boutique, and she was telling me about all of the vacation time that the French get. That it's part of the culture. Vacations, that is. It really made me reflect on their lifestyle as compared to mine and how each culture/person values different things.

As I've said a couple times in the past little while, I'm a work in progress.

Parmigiano Reggiano, A.O.P.

Wait, so parmesan isn't that powdered stuff that you shake out of a can? Or that stuff that looks like little stringy things that comes of out some weird grinding device?
This hard cheese is crumbly and salty (this had little salt crystals in it too). Maybe a little bit too salty? I guess I would just have to eat small pieces of it. In terms of taste, I don't know...salty and cheesy?
I'm no help, but this might be.

Comte Reservation 18 mois

The market in the summertime is so lovely. I was happily filling up my panier and thought to get some more cheese, because, why not? I tried a different cheese shop this time, La fromagerie Hamel. It's got more than just cheese, in fact, I'd say it's got everything that you could want to go along with your cheese. From breads, to jams, charcuterie, nuts...you know, all the accoutrements. I enjoyed the store. We'll see if I become loyal to one over the other.
Anyway, as per usual, I picked up two cheeses. Usually, I go for a hard cheese and a soft cheese, but this time I went with two hard cheeses. 
The Comte Reservation is a cow-milk's cheese from France. It's a little bit like a cheddar, quite creamy. There seemed to be little salt crystals or something in it, which was a nice little surprise. Very smooth. 
One thing that I prefer about the other cheese shop is that the label that they give you has some tasting notes. I like having immediate access to the info. Today's cheese shop doesn't have that info on their labels but you can find all of the info on their website. So, if you want to read up about the Comte Reservation, click here.

Fete nationale

...is not actually a fete nationale. Sigh. QC, you're special.
Happy St. Jean!

National Circus School

Last week, I attended the two annual shows of the National Circus School, Colibri and Demain. I'm so glad that I went.
The show features performances by the graduating class. The ensemble is made up of the second year students (it's a three-year program). The first years put on a pre-spectacle performance in the foyer.
While both of the shows were incredible, I preferred Colibri. The show was simple, not quite having a storyline, but a clear mood was established. It was etherial, lyrical, and romantic. The mise en scene was simple and the featured acts were so well woven into the show as a whole. Even nicer, I thought was the way that each member of the ensemble had little moments to show their own skills as well as collectively continue to perform without being a distraction from the featured performer.
Demain had more of a folk, fun, and upbeat feel. There was an attempt to have a story keeping the show together, but some parts seemed confusing and superficial. I later learned that each show was put together in three weeks and featured performers came to the shows with the acts that they created for their final assessments for the school. Thus, the "characters" that they embodies for their assessments may not have matched the vision of the show and so the Creative Directors of the show would deal with this in their own ways. The acts from Demain did seem a little bit more eclectic, show perhaps it made it harder for the Creative Director to make things flow authentically. Anyway, I guess it depends what you like in a show. Demain also features more acrobatics (which I love), so it was fun to see performers jumping, tumbling, twisting and turning.
There was one consistent theme across both shows: talent and art. I was impressed at the passion and dedication that these artists/athletes put towards their craft. These young adults focus on developing and honing their skills...for them, it is a full-time position.
I hope that everyone in the world is able to find their passion and puts their entire being into it. As exhausting and discouraging that it sometimes may be, the moments of pure bliss make it sooooo worth it.
Montreal is pretty fantastic for (youth and) the arts. Both the National Circus School and National Theatre School are here. And I can take advantage of both by supporting the students and being inspired by attending their performance.

Pomp and circumstance

It's graduation season.

Graduation ceremonies are a funny ritual. Each institution has its own traditions and it's interesting learning about them. The spectacle of it all is really...errr...well, something. It's fun and amusing. It's also full of pomp and elitism. (Wow, some of my colleagues are really getting to me! Ha!) I try not to think about the latter, and think of it as a celebration and a special occasion that happens rarely in one's life. In my profession, I'm fortunate to be part of many.
At my current institution, the spring convocations are held in a (HUGE) tent on main campus. From the outside (I'm quite bad at scale) it seemed like your average tent used for events. But, as the procession (yes, procession...it's so ridiculous) entered, I was shocked at the crowd that awaited me. It seemed to go on forever. The tent was so large that there was a big screen TV mounted so that those who were seated towards the back could watch the events through the screen.
Speeches are a source of interest. How the speakers interpret their role and what they choose to speak about. I am always interested in finding out if repeat speakers reuse (parts) of speeches.
The moment of "hooding" is one that can vary at institutions. From literally hooding the graduands, to tapping on the shoulder with caps or scrolls. There are options for kneeling or  crouching.
And of course, I must comment on the attire. The procession is probably the most diverse: the different gowns, hoods, and caps that appear are a source of amusement. I choose not to sport a cap and my gown is red and black and my hood is red and white. Quite simple, but elegant. I feel fortunate. I enjoy those who wear the poofy caps, and gowns with awkward colour combinations. A colleague has a lovely bright pink gown and she looks so splendid. As the majority of the ceremony is spent watching graduands cross the stage, as it should be, they are on full display. As their attire is covered with the big gowns, footwear is easiest to consider. From flats to stilettos, I watched their strides with intrigue.  The audience is a little bit too far away to see what they're wearing, but after the ceremony is over, it's nice to see how family and friends have chosen to dress for the occasion.

Anyway, as I said at the beginning. Convocations are a funny ritual. I do feel a little ridiculous being part of the spectacle, yet proud at the same time. I am humbled by my privilege and to be part of a special day. I'm already looking forward to the next ceremony.

Congratulations to all graduands and graduates!

Bixi

A couple years ago, BIXI arrived to Toronto. I think the idea is great. A hop on, hop off bike rental operation. Yet, I never took advantage of it. I loved my Metropass and really, who needs more than the 510? Also, I'm terrified of the idea of biking among the cars in downtown Toronto. I really don't trust the cars/drivers to not hit me, and I think many of them wouldn't trust me. I think BIXI Toronto wasn't doing super well. I see people using them, but I guess not quite enough to make it financially awesome. They're still around though, so I guess it's good enough for now.
Here in Montreal, BIXI stands are all over the place and there are tons of people tiding them. While Montreal seems to have a better infrastructure for bikers (ie. more bike lanes), for me to get to the bike lanes, I'd need to bike among cars for a bit before having a lane all to myself. Also, the 80 is pretty great and I'd have to walk up the big hill if I biked, which in itself is enough of a deterrent. But, when I heard that Bixi Montreal was having Free BIXI Sundays, I wondered if maybe I could take advantage of it and maybe go for a ride along the Lachine Canal (ie. a car free zone). A couple days ago, I did a little research to understand just exactly how the service works (ie. pricing). My idea of going for a leisurely bike along the canal, went out the door, because really, how much can you do when you're on a 30 minute time clock? Ok, so that's kind of annoying. And really, if you want to borrow the bike for a longer period of time, it kind of adds up. I suppose that then clarifies the intention of BIXIs in that they are meant for short trips, commuting, errands, etc. It's not for touring around the city, sightseeing, or getting some exercise. So, by this morning, I had forgotten about my dream to BIXI, until a little brain wave hit just a few minutes before the end of my spin class. Why not take a BIXI home from the gym? I mean, I usually like walking home as a way to cool down and keep my legs and muscles moving, but I could probably have similar benefits by biking home, right? Ok, so here's a funny reality. I've been riding a stationary bike regularly for the past year, but getting on a non-stationary bike is a little bit awkward. I haven't ridden a non-stationary bike since, errr...maybe 7 years ago? While I still know how to ride a bike, I forgot how to (dis)mount one. After getting my BIXI out from the docking station (as simple as sticking in your credit card, entering your phone number, and punching in an access code), I actually walked the bike for a couple blocks to an alleyway so that I would be able to get comfortable on the bike away from cars and people (I mean, who needs witnesses seeing you fall off a bike?!?). I rode in the alley for a bit, figuring out the gears and brakes and then ventured onto the road. I mean, I was a little nervous about riding on the open road, but there was nothing I could do about it. I popped on and off of sidewalks for a bit, but by law, I knew I was supposed to be on the road. I took a couple detours just to see a little bit more of the neighbourhood, but was kind of nervous about: 1) cars/major roads, and 2) my 30 minute timer. So, after what felt like just a a short ride, I docked nearby my house and realized that I was very close to my 30 minute mark. So hopefully, I won't get a fun little surprise on my credit card bill! Also, it showed me that BIXI isn't what I'm looking for/need. I'll need to borrow a bike from a friend for a day or something, not be on the clock.
Still, I'm glad to have taken advantage of the free ride. The bikes are easy to ride and the service is convenient. What I don't like, the the time restriction, but if your plan is to use BIXIs for their purpose, the time wouldn't be an issue.

Notkins

Notkins is a seafood restaurant. While we went for dinner, I would probably return for the Oyster Bar. My main dish wasn't too memorable, but the oysters were good. The decor is chic, although it does seem to give off a Bay Street (ie. financial district) vibe. It seems like an after work drinks kind of place.

Price point: mid

Food (presentation/plating): 3/5
Food (taste/flavour): 3.5/5
Service: 4/5
Ambiance/decor: 4/5

Would I return again: yes (but I might try other places first)

Mandy's

I really like salads. Call me silly, but I'm happy to spend money on a good salad. I know it's just a bunch of veggies thrown together, but there are so many possible combinations of ingredients and some salads are ok, whereas others can be awesome. There's nothing better than an awesome salad.
Mandy's is a cute restaurant that does gourmet (they said it, not me) salads. It's catering to the yuppy girl. Everything from its decor (cottage-y, cute, California) to some of the products that can be bought (boxed water - barf). Also, they have a location that's at the back of a women's apparel/lifestyle shop on Laurier. It's probably best as a take-out place because it's super busy around lunch. In fact it's only open during the daytime and closes before dinner. The portions are quite large...and in pretty bowls! (They know their demographic!)

Price point: low-mid (I mean, it's on the upper end of price-points for salad)

Food (presentation/plating): 3.5/5
Food (taste/flavour): 4/5
Service: 3/5
Ambiance/decor: 3.5/5

Would I return again: yes

Mikado

Mikado is a Japanese restaurant on the (fancy) Laurier Ave. strip known for its sushi. It's quite large and the ambiance is leaning towards a traditional (at least, my interpretation of it) Japanese venue. Simple, with clean lines. The food was a little bit inconsistent. The fish was good, but the rice was cold. I was surprised that they had disposable chopsticks.

Price point: mid

Food (presentation/plating): 4/5
Food (taste/flavour): 3.5/5
Service: 3/5
Ambiance/decor: 3/5

Would I return again: maybe  

Les Enfants Terrible

Les Enfants Terrible is a restaurant that I flagged when I first decided on the area in which I currently live, that I wanted to check out. In nice weather, there is a large terrace (FYI, that's QC-speak for patio) that is ALWAYS busy. There's frequently people just hanging out nearby waiting for a table. Bernard is a bougey street where people like to mill about and be seen, and since I love people watching, it seems like a perfect restaurant to watch the world go by.
The food is decent, as is the service. So the big appeal of the place is still the location and vibe (of the surrounding area). It's a predictable and reliable place to dine. It's good for dining on a sunday when many other restaurants are closed.

Price point: mid

Food (presentation/plating): 3/5
Food (taste/flavour): 3.5/5
Service: 3.5/5
Ambiance/decor: 4/5

Would I return again: yes