Music
Feelin' the Vibe: deejay scootz
It's not often I break out the robot when I'm at a bar. Okay, I'm lying. I break it out all the time but that being said, it's only when I'm listening to some kickin' beats that the automaton action is put forth.
Last Saturday I discovered that deejay scootz (a.k.a. Neil Livingston) has become the new resident DJ at the Rivoli pool hall. Not only has the environment changed since I've been there but so has the music. deejay scootz is selecting and spinning 12" LP's and rare 45's every Saturday until at least the fall.
City
Turkish Delight
After a long stint of wasted space, I can usually find something going on at Yonge and Dundas Square. Saturday was no exception. I happened upon the first-ever Toronto Turkish Festival despite the fact that we're in the middle of Carnival. Of course there were the standard vendors set up selling jewelry and the like, but I was kind of impressed by some of the not-so-humdrum vendors.
Various Turkish cuisine and house wares were keeping the crowds occupied, but they were also selling Turkish coffee. Normally I wouldn't take a second look after seeing the sign, but it fascinated me when I saw that they let their customers sip on their coffee in tiny porcelain teacups--including a saucer! It's nice to think that Toronto still has that trusting way about them that they need not worry about teacup thieving.
I also smiled when I passed the vendor with all of the beautiful Turkish rugs for sale. It was almost like a cozy outdoor living room, complete with Shisha centerpiece. I was tempted to sit down in the pseudo-living room with my coffee for a little break but instead turned my focus to the main stage where a little girl was dancing her heart out in a traditional Turkish dress. Her mom should have been proud. I imagine she was the one with the camera at stage left.
Turkish newspapers, Turkish fabric, Turkish delight, it was all there. The one thing that confused me though, Mr. Peru. That's right. He's Raul. The Commander/Genius/Actor/Super Dancer/Master Chess Guy. I'm not sure what he was doing at The Turkish Festival, but that suits me just fine. Welldone Mr. Peru, I hope you tried the coffee.
Arts
A Little Cuckoo at Second City
Never have I laughed so hard at a theatre performance, especially when the show begins with a toe tapping song that contains probably one of the best 4 lettered curse words you can think of.
Second City's Bird Flu Over the Cuckoo's Nest is now playing at the new theatre on Mercer Street right beside Wayne Gretzky's Restaurant, which by the way, made it very easy to stop in for a drink on the Oasis rooftop patio just before the show started.
City
Sammies by Day...Crooners by Night.
Just like I did, everyone goes for the easy joke. The impersonation. We all do it. The first time I walked by the place, I said it too. In my best Schwarzenegger voice, I said it, "It's Not A...Deli". I giggled, and then I walked past. But the other night I realized that every last Friday of the month, people are SUPPOSED to come in and do their own impersonation for it is KARAOKE NIGHT at Queen Street West's "It's Not A Deli."
It's not quite as much of a coup as, say, The Gladstone Hotel's Karaoke Nights, however, it has its own je ne sais quoi - a certain something. Their song list may not be as large as some, but what it lacks in size is made up by the enthusiasm of the crowd.
