You know that guy or girl you meet in the first week of school that you're not sure about but you're totally taken with? They might become your best friend or they might be a temporary trip. That's the way I feel about Johnny Knoxville. For better or for worse, I'm not familiar with the Jackass franchise, but I have been really charmed by his performances in John Waters' Dirty Shame and in the medium-controversial film, The Ringer. It's the time of year where, for many people in the West, school begins. New friends and new beginnings. And yes, I had every intention of drawing something with a San Franciscan theme tonight, but you learn early that the intention is only a small piece of the puzzle. ¶ It's great to be back. The honeymoon was awesome. I've got a Freddie Mercury portrait in the National Post tomorrow. I'm watching Entourage, and I've just enjoyed my second glass of EastDell Black Cab. ¶ I've uploaded some pics from the last little while. More soon. ¶ Sleep well.

Labels: Cinema, Flickr, San Francisco, Wine

¶ 11:43 PM

Some time ago Pauline suggested to me the idea of having a "big batch night". This meant, essentially, that we'd cook a stew or soup, eat, and then freeze or refrigerate the remainder. I somehow heard "chili" in my brain when she said "big batch" and I immediately agreed that it was a good idea. We decided on Monday nights. This quickly evolved into a sort of date night which we took full advantage of. On a good night we'd turn Monday evening into a Friday nite. That was rare, but it did happen. ¶ As people moved apartments and constants turned into legacies, our date night somehow became redundant, unecessary. But this was just an illusion. Tonight it was revived, and it was a treat to be grateful for! ¶ The odds were against us. Herself was still suffering from heat stroke (see yesterday's post), and the restaurant we finally decided on was completely unknown to us. But the gamble seemed to be self-guaranteeing, and I left the house with some optimism. It wasn't a complete leap: Toronto Life gave it a rave review, and the language surrounding the review made the place out to be an institution so I had history by my side. The cab ride itself was uneventful, but our driver turned out to be a philosopher. He didn't say much, but he did wonder about the root of evil in man, and he asked us about it in plain language. Strangely, I ignored him. ¶ Joso's (202 Davenport Rd., 416-925-1903) is in fact a famous Toronto seafood and fish restaurant, but neither Pauline nor I had ever heard of it. It was, naturally, the best fish I've had in the city. But it was much more than that. Our waitress was a complete pro, the restaurant itself was charmingly decorated with erotic art, surrealism, and fish paintings, and the atmosphere was ideal. We ordered the octopus, a mixed green salad, and the Arctic char. The octopus was an order of heavenly grilled protein, the salad was a tasty delight, and the char was a feast. I devoured much of the fish, but it was a big fish. Pauline had her fair share as well, but this char could have easily fed a family of four. The Gavi washed it all down and we were out of there just as the dinner rush was in full swing. We walked all the way to the Cloak for an after-dinner pint. It was a great night, and even though Pauline was not totally herself, I think she felt better than she had all day. ¶ We're moving our big batch night to Sundays in the fall. I had the idea of doing a roast every fourth Sunday (as a monthly alternative to stews or soup). Keen on the roast idea.

Labels: Cooking, Restaurants, Toronto, Wine

¶ 10:59 PM

Phew. Last week was unquestionably my busiest since I moved into the freelance arena. It felt good this weekend to unwind out of town. I let myself think about other things and it was a nice change. I don't think I'm stressed, but I certainly did have to remind myself to relax and slink back in my chair. I did. Ended up at the Runt Club on Friday night where we demolished several pitchers of beer as the conversation flowed and flowed. It was so much fun. I love the Runt Club, that much you can say about me with certainty. I had the pasta architect: penne, alfredo, grilled chicken and shrimp. ¶ More sensual delights awaited us: spicy jambalaya, one of the best table wines I've ever had (EastDell Estates Black Cab VQA), more cold beer, popcorn, iced tea, and on Sunday evening, a home-made bacon cheeseburger. ¶ My thoughts were varied. At one point I traced my excitement for the unfolding world with the day I saw Back to the Future at the Oxford. I'd already seen the greatness of Ghostbusters and realised that the world had the potential to contain so many good things! It was a hyperbolic thought. But those thoughts gave me great comfort. I wonder: how many people my age have a similar mental landscape?

Labels: Cinema, Freelancing, Londontown, Vague, Wine

¶ 11:41 PM