Normally, I would be getting a bit melancholy, but I actually have Monday off. Yea! (It's even better that it is a holiday in the States as well, and no one will be trying to schedule a meeting on Monday.) If I can just quickly fill in my timesheet (the bane of the work week!), I can pretty much coast through the rest of the evening. I am probably going to try to finish watching The Leopard (I'm about 1/3 through) and just possibly Almodovar's High Heels, which I think I did watch already. I don't know if we'll ever get to it, but I'd kind of like to save What Did I Do to Deserve This? for when my son's back in town. (We usually watch a Red Dwarf episode instead...)
I also think I'll spend the time writing out my outline for the planning saga I have been working on for some time now. I think one page may be missing, but I have everything else (and hopefully the lost page will turn up). I actually did quite a bit of writing or at least putting broad concepts down on paper last night at the Jazz Bistro. I'll circle back to the Jazz Bistro in a minute, but I actually reached out to Nina Kaye. We had been talking about putting together Spawn of Sing-for-Your-Supper on the East Side. I reached out one more time to confirm that the Assembly Theatre had given up on hosting SFYS (which certainly seems to be the case). I also asked Red Sandcastle about cutting us a bit of a break, but the rental fees are the same as for every other group. Not completely impossible but certainly higher than I want to cover on my own. Nina has a few other ideas, though probably most of them won't work as well for actors, only for playwrights. Anyway, I'll give it a bit more thought.
I had a good time at the Jazz Bistro, even though I was in a weird seat where the unused piano blocked my view, but I could hear the music very well. I would say there were a few times Mike LeDonne, playing an organ, went on a bit too long (and Eric Alexander actually left the bandstand a few times). I don't think it is as easy to mingle with the musicians as at the Rex because the layout and the second floor are just not conducive. I finally figured out how to get the CDs that Mike LeDonne was flogging, but he himself wasn't selling them. I never did manage to get him to sign a copy, but Eric signed (during the middle of a song!). He also asked me if I was a critic, as I was writing furiously, but I said no. I would have liked to chat briefly with him and tell him I had seen him a couple of times in Chicago (with Harold Mabern), but I just never had a chance at the break or after the show. I suppose there is a moderate chance I will go back to the Jazz Bistro, but I just don't care for it very much there. Incidentally, Mike Murley is playing tonight and tomorrow at The Rex, and I'm leaning towards going tomorrow.
Sat. was a pretty packed day. As is becoming typical I got a late start at the gym, but I made it there and back by about 2. I dropped off a few things for lunch at work, then went to 401 Richmond. Many galleries actually were closed, but I had a good chat with John from Gagne Contemporary. He said to come back on Sept. 27 when there would be the next opening event. I think my calendar is open.
I then went over to Nathan Philips Square to drop in at the Dragon Festival, which was a celebration of Asian culture and cuisine.
It reminded me a lot of the Richmond Night Market, though of course this was all during the day.
I ended up getting mango coconut sticky rice here:
And then frozen yogurt cubes here:
I didn't stay very long, however. I swung by Bau-Xi on Dundas but it was closed. Apparently, they are a bit short-staffed and this location isn't open for a few more weeks. So even if I had run over last Wed., while waiting for my son to turn up at the AGO, I would have been out of luck.
I didn't wait around but hopped back on my bike and zoomed up to Bloor. I managed to sell off 3 books for $15 at BMV. I was glad to have the extra cash (for the Jazz Bistro) and also my backpack was significantly lighter. I then biked along Bloor to Dufferin and then up to Bau-Xi. I think I made it with about 15 minutes to spare, so that was a much better outcome than a few weeks before. I wasn't blown away by the rotating exhibits, and I probably won't go back next month unless I happen to be in the area, for instance seeing something at the Paradise. I then proceeded to retrace my steps back to Bloor and got a mango green tea at this bahn place near the Paradise. Then I grabbed veggie korma at an Indian place on Queen. (I was trying to find a place with a dinner buffet, but they may not exist in that part of town, only at Gerrard and Coxwell... There is a really good lunch buffet at King and John, but it was far too late for that.)
I actually went back to the office, since I had left my phone to charge up! I laid down for about 40 minutes, then biked over to the Jazz Bistro.
Sunday was a little smoother. However, I had wanted to leave around 11:30 and suddenly I couldn't find my keys anywhere. It turns out they were at the bottom of my backpack, but I had dug around there a few times and they just didn't turn up. I dropped off a couple of items at the library and then went swimming in Regent Park. Or rather tried to. I didn't get there until just after noon, and it was extremely crowded and frustrating trying to swim laps. Even the fast lanes were a bit clogged up. In the end, I did get in 19 or 20 laps, so it wasn't a total loss, but it was certainly annoying. I'll definitely think more seriously about the late night swimming at Jimmie Simpson as a better alternative, at least until it gets too cold out.
I then biked over to this Caribbean street festival on Queen St. West. It was interesting though really packed tight with food tents and hardly anywhere to sit. I looked around for a while and finally got a meal of vegan "hoaxtail."
I liked the sides better than the hoaxtail itself, which apparently was mostly mushroom and quinoa. I just don't generally care for food that is masquerading as something else. It kind of icks me out. Nonetheless, I had an idea to add to the ever growing cast a small foodtruck run by a young woman who is always sporting a t-shirt like Vegan Forever or Plant Power. One of the planners starts hanging out there more often, causing others to make fun of him. (There are some parallels to the young tattoo artist, but I think it might work, esp. as she just blows him off.)
Anyway, I ran up to the mall and grabbed a couple of things from Walmart, then made it home in time for an online album listening session. This was Alloy by Dave Douglas, who added a few comments here and there in the chat.
It was still nice out, so I went outside to read for a bit. I am basically 1/4 through The Scarlet Letter (and still cannot remember reading this at all!) and Gabrielle Zevin's Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow, which is the story of two college friends who become hot game developers. It is written very well to the point I am jealous. I don't want to read all her novels, as I just don't have the time, but I might check out Young Jane Young, which is supposedly heavily inspired by the Monica Lewinsky affair.
Tomorrow should be relatively simple. I need to try to get over to the gym by about 10 and put in a decent workout. It closes at 1, but I have to be well on my way to The Fox by 12:15 or so. I'd like to get some rest after that, and I may end up heading over to the Rex in the evening, but I haven't completely settled on that.
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