This post comes to you live from St. Paul’s Hospital in Saskatoon.  Due to my mom’s declining health, the REAL news clippings will be on hiatus for the next little while. Although I have been missing life in Toronto, I am grateful that my sister and I have been able to spend this time with my mom, and I have a renewed appreciation for Saskatoon and all its charms.  While I may not be able to attend my dear friend Jennifer Still’s reading at McNally Robinson Booksellers (3130 8^thStreet East, Saskatoon) tomorrow evening, I encourage anyone who is able to attend.

This Sunday marks my favourite night of the year: the 83^rd Academy Awards!  Sadly, life has intervened, and I’m still four films shy of seeing all ten films nominated for Best Picture this year, but I’m going to do my best in the next three days to get caught up. For those of you who like to keep track of the proceedings or maybe wager on the nominees, here’s a printable Oscar pool form.  I, for one, am curious to see how hosts James Franco and Anne Hathaway fare this year, but if you’re more interested in the fashion hits and misses on Oscar’s red carpet, check out E! Fashion Police with Joan Rivers and friends—this is a woman who never fails to cross the line in her blunt but generally hilarious appraisal of Hollywood’s best and worst dressed.  And I can’t wait to find out what late night talk show funnyman Jimmy Kimmel has in store following the big event—can he top last year’s Handsome Men’s Club?

A Little Rain Never Hurt No One

The Theatre Centre (1087 Queen Street West) is becoming my go-to place for interesting acts and theatrical diversions.  Next week the space will be home to L’Orchestre d’Hommes-Orchestres for four nights as the Quebec City troupe performs the music of Tom Waits.  The powerful tribute is billed as spellbinding, madcap, and not to be missed!  Running March 2-5, 7:30pm, tickets are $25 and available for purchase online at www.ticketweb.ca or by calling 416.538.0988.

Also playing for a limited run is Ghost Light Projects’ production of The Boys in the Band.  A landmark play in queer theatre, the show runs between March 1 and 6 in Tallulah’s Cabaret at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre (12 Alexander Theatre).

Doc Soup for the Soul

Hot Docs presents its next film in the Doc Soup series, The Arbor, on March 2 (6:30 & 9:15pm) at Bloor Cinema (506 Bloor Street West).  The Arbor tells the story of playwright Andrea Dunbar and her daughter, Lorraine, blending the harsh realities of their lives and the drama of Andrea’s work in a unique mix of fiction and non-fiction.

I was excited to read that one of my friend Lisa’s favourite musicians, Jim Bryson, is currently on tour and heading to Saskatoon for a March 4 concert date at a great venue, Amigos Cantina.  If his recent gig at Lee’s Palace in Toronto is any indication, audiences across Canada can expect an awesome show.  I only hope he does not meet the same fate as The Sadies’ Dallas Good who slipped on the ice and broke his leg just hours before their performance at The Broadway Theatre this week.  The Sadies (and opening band The Sheepdogs) took the stage without Good for a rare performance as a trio, but the remainder of the tour has been postponed until March, with a promise to return to the Paris of the Prairies for another show in June.

Made It Through the Wilderness

Also landing in Saskatoon on March 4 for a series of appearances in support of her latest collection of poems, Girlwood, is Winnipeg author Jennifer Still.  An alumnus of the Sage Hill Writing Experience, Jenn’s whirlwind tour of Saskatchewan includes a reading at McNally Robinson Booksellers (3130 8^th Street East, Saskatoon) with Quiver author and fellow alum, Holly Luhning.  Cross your fingers that this prairie princess makes stops in Toronto, Calgary, Vancouver and other fine Canadian cities this spring!  Also making a return to Saskatoon next week is Alexander MacLeod (another Sage Hill survivor), reading from his Giller-nominated debut collection of short stories, Light Lifting (McNally Robinson Booksellers, Saturday February 26 at 2pm).

Teenage Dream

Between reading The Hunger Games trilogy and re-watching Say Anything (a classic flick from the Golden Age of Teen Movies…oh, if only I could find my back issue of Sassy magazine), I’m getting in touch with my inner adolescent.  Lucky for me, opening at movie theatres this week is the teen fantasy thriller I Am Number Four.  Based on a novel by Pittacus Lore (the pen name of authors Jobie Hughes and the infamous James Frey), the film stars Alex Pettyfer, Deadwood sheriff Timothy Olyphant, and Glee starlet Diana Agron, and tells the story of an extraordinary teenager masking his true identity and passing for a regular kid, all in an effort to hide from the forces that would have him dead.

Saskatoon’s Got the Blues

Anyone who grew up in Saskatchewan in the ’80s will recall the slogan for Saskatoon’s short-lived but thrilling attempt to land an NHL franchise, but in this particular instance I’m talking about the rhythm and blues.  I would be remiss if I did not mention the Saskatoon Blues Festival, running from February 24-27 at various venues around the city, and featuring a line-up that includes Savoy Brown, Big Dave McLean, Brother Yusef and MonkeyJunk to name just a few.

If you’re looking for some place special to dine this Valentine’s Day, you might want to check out The Most Romantic Dinner Ever at Brockton General (1321 Dundas Street West) in Toronto’s Brockton Village.  For atmosphere and a menu of comfort food that won’t break the bank, you can’t go wrong with Kalendar, my sentimental favourite date spot in Little Italy, or Sidecar (577 College Street).  I’m also bummed to be missing out on Moulin Rouge, the Royal Winnipeg Ballet production landing at Toronto’s Sony Centre for Performing Arts (1 Front Street East) from February 10-12.

Here in Saskatoon, I’m tempted to pay a visit to Weczeria (616 10^th Street East, Saskatoon), which boasts an ever-changing menu of “modern French cuisine brought to life with local ingredients”.  Chef Daniel Walker’s menu also features a selection of beers from Paddock Wood Brewing Company, Saskatchewan’s first and only micro-brewery.

Funny Valentine

One of the things I am missing most, not being in Toronto, is my weekly date with my peeps to watch and mock The Bachelor.  Whether it’s Ladies’ Night, Stitch ‘N’ Bitch or Urban Family Summit, hanging out with my girlfriends is one of the most important dates on my social calendar.  It may be totally cheesy, but if you’re footloose and fancy free this February 14^th, embrace the fromage and head to Milestones (132 John Street and other locations) for Girls’ Night Out.  If you believe laughter is the best aphrodisiac, The Second City (51 Mercer Street) has Valentine’s Dinner & Show Packages for couples or groups between February 11 and 15.  Movie fans can also take heart—there’s all kinds of funny hitting theatres this week, from Adam Sandler’s Just Go With It to Ed Helms (The Office, The Hangover) in the ensemble comedy Cedar Rapids, to Justin Bieber: Never Say Never!

On the Horizon

Regina’s Mysteria Gallery (2706 13^th Avenue, Regina) hosts Moving Land, the first solo exhibit by my long-time friend, Montréal-based photographer Colleen Leonard—join her at the opening reception this Saturday, February 12 from 2-4pm.  If you’re in from out of town, make a day of it and stop for lunch or dinner at The Creek in Cathedral Bistro (3414 13^th Avenue), and then pay a visit to Regina’s Globe Theatre where Having Hope at Home is playing until February 13, featuring one of my favourite acting teachers, Pamela Haig Bartley.

King of the Mountain

My sister went for a run the other day and discovered this awesome snow fort a couple of blocks from our house.  We love the detail of the stained glass window in one corner, and the toboggan run down the side!

Spending time in the house where I grew up, in particular my childhood bedroom, it’s easy to identify some of my influences.  You can draw a dotted line from my weathered copy of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Little House in the Big Woods to my love of Rag & Bone clothing, and my appreciation of Swedish folk art can be traced back to the ceramic clock that used to hang in the kitchen at our cottage.  Looking through the extensive collection of Calvin and Hobbes anthologies on my bookshelf, I can see that Bill Watterson set the high water mark for intelligent, perceptive and nuanced observations of childhood (and adulthood) in his brilliant comic strip.  Like the classic Bill Cosby records I played over and over until they were burned on my brain, Watterson’s incredible watercolours and wicked sense of humour have left their mark—just yesterday I pointed out a herd of snowmen on a neighbouring lawn that brought to mind some of Calvin’s hilarious creations.  Tonight I’m going to read the Griffin & Sabine trilogy—my mom and I were addicted to these gorgeous books back in the early 90’s—but who knows what other treasures lie hidden in theses boxes, closets, shelves and drawers?

All Dolled Up

Long periods of time in Saskatoon would be incomplete without delving into the collection of paper dolls my sister and I amassed as kids.  Our favourites were definitely The Ginghams, four sisters with Victorian era pinafores and a certain prairie style.  I still have a set of Chanel dolls in mint condition, and my sister has a book with all of Grace Kelly’s most famous gowns.  When my grandparents were still alive, I remember playing with paper dolls that my grandmother had made for my mom when she was a little girl, but to my knowledge they disappeared long ago.  For 14 years, Legacy Designs created some of the loveliest paper dolls—original prints like these, suitable for framing—and I’m sad to see they’ve gone out of business.  With all the toys and electronics available to kids today, paper dolls probably don’t seem too exciting, but for my sister and I they were just as thrilling as Barbie dolls and LEGO.

One Cool Hand

It’s no secret that my mom loves Paul Newman (there’s even a picture postcard of him on her refrigerator).  To pass the time in hospital, we’ve been reading his biography, Paul Newman: A Life, and begun watching his filmography, beginning with the 1967 classic, Cool Hand Luke.  This is a stellar film that delivers some of the world’s most famous movie quotes, genuine laughs, and a handful of truly memorable characters.  Next up: Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid!

Oscar Countdown

The Oscars will be handed out on February 27, 2011.  Every year I do my best to see all the nominated films, but I’ve still got a few Best Picture nominees to check out, including 127 Hours, The Kids Are All Right, Toy Story 3, and Winter’s Bone.  I managed to see True Grit before I left Toronto, and in addition to the breakout performance of newcomer Hailee Steinfeld and the always awesome Jeff Bridges, I could not get enough of Matt Damon, who was hilarious as the Texas Ranger LaBoeuf.  Until next week, and in the words of LaBoeuf, A-dios!

This week’s clippings are arriving late in your mailbox as I have been travelling across the country.  Quite unexpectedly, I find myself back in Saskatchewan for an indefinite period of time.  Thanks to everyone for your well wishes—your thoughts and prayers are appreciated. While I get my bearings, I’m pleased to highlight the city of Halifax with the help of a couple of guest blogging friends.

New in Town

Adriano Sobretodo Jr. is a Toronto-based actor performing in DMV Theatre’s production of The Ugly One in Halifax.

Fred’s, the unlikely salon/restaurant/cafe/art-gallery, has been a regular haunt for me.  It’s right down the street from the North Street Church, where The Ugly One is up until this Saturday.  With an army of black-clad staff picking up every fallen crumb, the latest glossy magazines, and fresh flowers at every table, Fred’s wins me over with their meticulous attention to detail. And where else can I get a perm and painting with my Americano?

The weather here has turned a nippy -14 C so pack your long johns, mittens, and toque.  And you’re going to need an outer layer that competes with the merciless east coasts winds.  I’ve already caught the flu, so dress wisely if you’re headed this way!

The Canadian Premiere of The Ugly One is going great!  It’s a fun piece that addresses real social issues—individuality, beauty, plastic surgery—in a fun way.  It’s interesting to watch the audience figure out what is going on in this bizarre world over the 60 minute run time.  We opened to near capacity houses this weekend so I’m expecting more of the same for the rest of the week.  If you’re thinking of coming, book soon—the house is a mere 50 seats!

Read a preview of The Ugly One in The Chronicle Herald or check out the review of the show.

Inside Scoop

Liz Hardy is a graphic designer and instructor at the Nova Scotia College of Art & Design (NSCAD), as well as an outdoor enthusiast and athlete.  She calls Halifax home and lives in its up-and-coming North end, about a 20 minute walk from downtown.

Coffee: One of my favorite coffee places is Smith Bakery on Agricola Street—they have an excellent breakfast sandwich and homemade pizza.  I work at NSCAD, so Pete’s to go go is a good and convenient place, and Paperchase Cafe and The Wired Monk are also great.

Dinner: I love sushi and my favorite place to go is Hamachi Kita in the Hydrostone area—there are also great galleries and neat little shops on the same street.  Another place I like to go for dinner is the Wooden Monkey, which serves a lot of local foods.  Depending on your mood these are also good: The Great Wall (Chinese), The Henry House (cozy British-style pub with an open fire), Cha Baa Thai (Thai), Curry Village (Indian—so good!!), Ardmore Tea Room on Quinpool (diner), Randy’s Pizza (pizza by the slice).

Live Music: For new local bands try The Company House or The Paragon Theatre (both on Gottengen Street).  Touring musicians frequent The Carlton (run by former MuchMusic hosts Mike and Mike) or go to Bearly’s for the Blues (and a good time—there are always interesting characters to be found).  For Indie/Alternative music, The Seahorse is usually a good bet, and for Maritime fiddlie-type music: The Split Crow or The Lower Deck (which also turns into a night club as I recall).

Galleries: Depending on your interests, there are loads of galleries to choose from in Halifax and all around the province. Each fall Halifax hosts an event called Nocturne which showcases local artists and galleries for free all over HRM.  Every Monday the Anna Leonowens Gallery on Granville Street has an opening from 5:30 with appetizers to spotlight the new shows for that week. Most artists displaying at this gallery are NSCAD students so there is a great amount of variety and some fascinating artwork from sculpture to graphic design.

Other places to check out:

• Don’t miss the new Halifax Seaport Farmers’ Market at Pier 21, and once you are down there the Garrison Brewing Co., NSCAD Port Campus and Canada’s Immigration Museum are work checking out, too.
• Walk along the Halifax waterfront boardwalk.  It’s a nice walk with lots of interesting things to see.  Especially if any tall ships are docked.
• The Canada Games skating oval is open on the Commons at the moment, which is really fun at public skate time, even if you can’t skate (like me). It’s a good place to run into people and an excuse to be out in the cold.
• In the summer, kayaking in Lower Prospect at East Coast Outfitters is really fun!  Or make a trip to Lawrencetown Beach to surf if there are any waves or just splash around.

A good source for all of this information is The Coast, Halifax’s free weekly paper published each Thursday.

A traffic jam sent me on a little jaunt through Leslieville the other day, and I had an opportunity to meander through some of its great shops on my way to the lovely Te Aro Roasted café.  I hadn’t been to Bergstrom Originals (781 Queen Street East) in quite a while, but Christina Bergstrom’s shop has relocated to a fantastic space on the south side of the street, and there’s no time like the present to take advantage of her winter sale.  If you’re interested in a new suit, it’s definitely worth a look, but my favourite thing about her clothing, besides being totally wearable, is the incredible array of colours she offers.  There are some great scarves and accessories on display, and in addition to the sale on fall and winter suiting, fall and winter footwear is also discounted by 30%.

If you or someone you know is getting hitched this year, Lea-Ann Belter Bridal’s flagship store is located just a few doors down the street (785 Queen Street East).  Besides boasting a gorgeous collection of gowns, her spacious and elegant shop would make Martha Stewart proud—forget clawing through racks exploding with dresses—and her classic yet simple displays are like chamomile tea for an anxious bride.  And it’s sweet to be fitted by the designer herself!  (Also, for my American friends who still love Joey Jeremiah, Lea-Ann’s shop is at the intersection of Queen and DeGrassi Streets.)

I rarely pass up a chance to drool over the vintage pieces and long wooden tables at Hardware Interiors (760 Queen Street East)—I love the way they incorporate salvage wood and industrial elements into their original and modern designs.  And new on the block is Little Peeps (768 Queen Street East), an amazing kids’ store with some of the coolest toys and even cooler clothes I’ve seen in a while.  The dresses by Vancouver-based Redfish were so pretty I wanted one in my size, and the Quemeez moccasins are the perfect gift from a doting aunt or proud godparent.

2011: The Year of the Project

Inspired by my friend Claudia’s Post-It Note system for managing her “To Do” list, I’m making a list of my own projects for the year, including things to accomplish around the house, opportunities to volunteer my time, great books to read, places to visit (near, like the AGO, and far, like Patagonia), etc.  One of my projects involves replacing the rather drab curtains in my apartment, starting with the ones in my bedroom.  On my trek along Queen Street East, I popped into macFab Fabrics at its new location (755 Queen Street East), and admired the finials below, as well as this colourful, though maybe impractical, Hawaiian print.  Heads up Ms. Carter: I may need to book time with your sewing machine.  Until then, anyone have any suggestions on places to visit, near or far?  Amazing books I should add to my list?

Take to the Hills

Growing up in Saskatoon, we had a lot of snow and a very long winter, but lucky for me, there was a wicked fast hill just three doors down the street.  With all the snowfall of late, I’ve seen a lot of sleds being towed through the neighbourhood, and this week my soccer teammate Sarah is even celebrating her birthday with a tobogganing party.  It got me thinking that I don’t really know of many places in Toronto where you can throw down your Krazy Karpet and let her rip, besides my local hill in Trinity Bellwoods Park.  I did witness one of the longest toboggan rides ever at Withrow Park last winter—I was ready to give that kid a high five—and Christie Pits looks like it could be fun, but I’m on the hunt now for more of the best tobogganing hills in the city.

Further East Bound and Not At All Down

Opening at the North Street Church in Halifax this week is DMV Theatre’s presentation (and the Canadian premiere) of The Ugly One by Marius von Mayenburg.  Directed by Pamela Halstead and featuring a couple of Toronto-based actors along with the East Coast cast and crew, the play deals with an ugly man who is catapulted to fame and fortune after succumbing to plastic surgery.  Tickets are $15-20.  Stay tuned for more Halifax hot spots and secret haunts in next week’s clippings!

If the winter winds and snowfall are giving you cabin fever, here are some indoor activity suggestions to make the most of your next snow day:

• Make comfort food: There’s nothing like a grilled cheese sandwich on a cold and blustery day.  My favourite version of the sandwich is a recipe I found in Mary Engelbreit’s Home Companion magazine several years ago.  While the magazine is sadly no longer in print, and my copy of the recipe went up in smoke (literally), I do know the three main ingredients were pesto, cherry tomatoes and sharp cheddar cheese—grilled between slices of your favourite bread, of course.
• Curl up with a good book: Whether it’s a literary classic (I’m reading this pretty copy of Jane Eyre right now), an old favourite (I read Susan Minot’s Evening, John Irving’s The World According to Garp, and Pat Conroy’s The Prince of Tides at least once a year), or the latest bestseller (Patti Smith’s Just Kids or Jonathan Franzen’s Freedom), some days you just want to find a comfy chair and let yourself be transported to another world.  For thrills and chills, I’m looking at Quiver by fellow Sage Hill alum and prairie gal Holly Luhning.
• Play board games: Not everyone grew up with a games closet like this one in The Royal Tenenbaums, but thanks to my dad, I did. Ask any one of my cousins for their favourite memory of my pops, and it will no doubt involve a rousing game of Scattergories or Trivial Pursuit.  For Christmas this year we gave my brother-in-law The Settlers of Catan, an addictively fun game built around settling an island and trading resources that’s like a combination of Risk and Monopoly.  The game, designed for three to four players (with extension kits available to expand the board for up to six players), is easy to get started and impossible to quit.  If you’d prefer to kick it old school, however, there are some games that never go out of style, including Pay Day, Clue, The Game of Life, and not to be forgotten, Scrabble.

Musical Feast

Cake is definitely on the menu this week, releasing Showroom of Compassion, their first new album since 2004.  The band, known for their funky beats, dry wit and energetic stage shows, is back in good form.  Read a review of the new album on Popwreckoning or check it out online while it’s still in rotation in Spinner Canada’s great Listening Party section.  Also available later this month is the latest offering from Iron & Wine, Kiss Each Other Clean.  Available January 25, the new release takes inspiration from Sam Beam’s parents’ record collection, mining the sounds of the 60s and 70s to create another must-hear musical collage.  There are no Canadian tour dates yet, but you can watch Iron & Wine’s live performance of “Teeth in the Grass” on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.

Treading the Boards

Take a break from all those TV marathons and get your live theatre fix this week, starting with a new production of Sam Shepard’s Fool for Love from Ezra’s Atlantic Co-op, which runs at the Meta Gallery (124 Ossington Avenue) January 13-21.  And don’t miss the opportunity to catch the darkly funny and controversial musical, Assassins (The Theatre Centre, 1087 Queen Street West), a delicious co-pro from Birdland Theatre and Talk Is Free Theatre running until January 23.

Popcorn Plus

Need a few laughs?  Two funny guys are back on the big screen this weekend.  New dad Vince Vaughn returns with The Dilemma, directed by Ron Howard and co-starring Kevin James, Jennifer Connelly and Winona Ryder, while recently engaged super slacker Seth Rogen puts his spin on the comic book classic, The Green Hornet.  And while it is more likely to break your heart than crack you up, I can’t say enough good things about the lovely Blue Valentine, starring Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams—you’ll be singing this song from The Mills Brothers all week!

The first week of the New Year is prime time for making resolutions, so whether you’re ready for a fresh start or you’re still mulling things over, consider these possibilities….

• Get organized: If you want to clean house but you’re feeling overwhelmed or aren’t sure where to start, maybe it’s time to enlist an expert.  The Professional Organizers in Canada site lists the best of the best when it comes to neat freaks across the country.
• Get fit: Kick-start the New Year by ramping up your workouts—Core Studio offers Pilates Boot Camps, but maybe you’d rather mix things up with a Salsa dance class, challenge yourself with Capoeira, or join a run club (Energia Athletics on the Danforth has a bunch of clinics scheduled for 2011).
• Get smart: Learn a new language (French? Mandarin? Hansa Language Centre offers a variety of courses), learn how to knit (The Knit Café on Queen Street West and Kensington Market’s Lettuce Knit offer classes), start or join a book club (I’m excited to read Johanna Skibsrud’s The Sentimentalists, winner of the 2010 Giller Prize), or draw on the right side of your brain and take an art class.

You’re the Top

A year-end ritual for many people—myself included—is to compile “best of” lists on all manner of topics.  Here are just a couple that come to mind….

Top 5 Movies of 2010 That I Didn’t Get to See Over the Holidays Due to the Deadly Flu

1. True Grit: Another hit from the Coen brothers—Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon and newcomer Hailee Steinfeld offer a fresh take on a familiar story.
2. The King’s Speech: An Oscar-worthy turn from Mr. Darcy himself, Colin Firth, as King George VI.
3. 127 Hours: James Franco is everywhere…but this graphic film is not for the faint of heart (or weak of stomach).
4. Rabbit Hole: The brilliant stage play brought to the big screen by director John Cameron Mitchell, with Nicole Kidman and Aaron Eckhart as a grieving couple.
5. Tangled: Inventive animation gives new life to the story of Rapunzel.

Top 5 Go To Blogs for Inspiration

1. English Muse: I enjoy the reading lists and home décor talk, but I really love Ms. Muse’s tumblr page…it’s full of photos and images that make me smile.
2. Alanna Cavanagh: One of my fave Toronto illustrators.
3. Pinterest: More cool stuff to spark the imagination.
4. Upstyler: Awesome fashion blog, U.K. style.
5. I Listen to Everything: A true music lover with eclectic taste and great playlists for all occasions.

Out of This World

Explore the space-time continuum at the Steam Whistle Gallery (Steam Whistle Brewing, The Roundhouse, 255 Bremner Boulevard) January 5 through 30 at the Space & Time exhibition.  The show features the work of 11 emerging visual artists as they delve into the mysteries of the universe, from the scientific to the fantastic.  Admission is free to the public, and the gallery is open Monday to Thursday from noon-6pm, Friday and Saturday from 11am-6pm, and Sunday from 11am-5pm.

A Little Birdhouse in My Soul

Two weeks ago I devoted some space to one of my favourite—and relatively new—haunts in Saskatoon, Souleio.  After a lengthy stay at the Ferguson Infirmary, I was finally discharged and able to join my family for lunch at this 3^rd Avenue hotspot.  Check out the gallery of snapshots taken during our visit.

The sandwiches were the perfect comfort food on a cold wintery day, and the Mexican Hot Chocolate was rich and spicy.  I bought a bag of “Souleio Bistro Beans” (a mixture of every bean and lentil imaginable) before I left and made a delicious pot of beans and wild rice on my first day back in Toronto.  Talk about a Happy New Year!  Cheers for 2011!

Happy New Year!  See you in 2011!