T.O. Sales Roundup: fabulous pre-fall finds

7:59 am

All good things must come to an end, and summer is no exception. Soon our breezy tanks and bikinis will be replaced with sweaters and socks (are we bumming you out yet?). But with the season winding down, now is the perfect time to start incorporating some of fall’s hottest looks into your end-of-summer wardrobe. No one likes to say goodbye, but we’re making the trend-setting transition easier with this week’s sales roundup.

Flower Child
The Sixties are huge this fall, so get into the swing of it early and grab a pair of bell-bottom jeans for those cool summer nights. They’re on sale at the Gap for $30.
Where to buy: 60 Bloor Street West, 416-921-2225

Disco Queen
All that glitters is definitely gold this fall with embellishments and slinky sequins being all the rage. Spice up your office attire or dial up the decadence at night with this disco skirt, on sale for $195, from J.Crew (set to open this month at Yorkdale).
Where to buy: 1 Yorkdale Road, 416-789-3261

Lady in Red
Red, suede and thick heels are all huge trends for shoes this fall. Take on all three and wow ’em at the office with this cute pair from Aldo, on sale for $40.
Where to buy: 332 Yonge Street, 416-596-1390

Pretty in Python
Snakes are taking a big bite out of fashion this autumn. Help tame the new seething trend with this sleek handbag from Danier. It’s a sssteal at $89.
Where to buy: 1800 Sheppard Avenue East, 416-490-1636

Mad for Plaid
Checks are still cool this fall, and with scarves being one of the easiest ways to make the summer-to-fall transition, this one from Zara couldn’t be more perfect. Grab it for $12.
Where to buy: 341 Queen Street West, 647-288-0545

Q&A: the Meligrove Band performs at the Horseshoe Tavern tonight

1:37 pm

The Meligrove Band goes way back. I mean, when these Mississauga natives first came together in 1997, people still bought albums — in, like, stores made of bricks and mortar and other weird corporeal stuff. Their name and their music are well known and well loved in the Toronto rock scene, yet due to a combination of bad coincidences they’ve never managed to penetrate the mainstream market.

It’s a shame, too, because their glittery pop-rock is a honed and lethal concoction: gut-level hooks balanced carefully with sonic experimentation. As bassist Mike Small observed in our brief e-mail exchange, the "dominant press narrative" paints Meligrove as a casualty of post-Internet major label restructuring, clawing its way back from the brink after V2, the Virgin subsidiary that signed them in 2005, crumbled to dust.

Mike himself spins a different yarn. The Meligrove Band he describes is less dramatic, not as sexy but even more likable: just a bunch of guys with a genuine love of music, doing what they’ve always done. You can mosey down memory lane — or lose your Meligrove virginity — tonight at the Horseshoe Tavern. You can also stream both of their most recent albums in their entirety at meligroveband.com. If you dig them, you might even, um, buy them.

It’s barely an exaggeration to say that every die-hard rock music fan in Toronto knows and loves the Meligrove Band. You guys got a raw deal from V2 in 2005 and just about disintegrated, and now you’re back. How’s the response to your new album Shimmering Lights been?
Really? Thanks! Our V2 deal was pretty sweet in 2005 actually. Around summer 2006 it started turning weird. The U.K. side of it got ridiculous kinda fast. The label went down in early ’07. Anyway, we didn’t really almost disintegrate, I think. We just got busy with other stuff for a while. We always at least figured we’d make another record. Though this seems to have been the dominant press narrative about Shimmering Lights (in Canada anyway): we’ve had near-breakups between all four of our albums. Anyway, music writers, bloggers, etc. seemed pretty into Shimmering Lights. We had some great reviews in the U.S. and U.K. especially. And Germany. Germans seem to like our band a lot.

There’s a documentary? How did that come about, and where can I get it?
It’s true. The director (Brendan McCarney) sent us a pitch in early 2010, and it seemed interesting and fun. Aside from being available for interviews and providing tour footage, we haven’t been involved in it. I think Jay [Nunes, guitarist]’s designing the DVD package though. It’s supposed to come out later this year. The trailer makes it look like some kind of tragedy, but I feel like most of what Brendan shot was gold comedy. You’d have to ask him if you want to know more.

There’s a National Post article that makes it seem like you’ve dramatically overhauled your sound, which doesn’t seem true. Shimmering Lights does seem more rock-oriented than previous Meligrove releases, though. Not more aggressive, but more … help me out here?
More awesome, obviously. Smarter and sexier, too. A surefire hit. The album of the year. It’ll make you throw out all your David Bowie tapes.

I grew up in Mississauga, where everybody my age remembers seeing you guys play at Masonic Lodge, knowing you’d go on to do big things. When I think about that and listen to songs like "Bones Attack!!" I start feeling pretty sappy. Regardless of commercial ups and downs, are you guys aware of the very real impact you’ve had on your fans?
Only when people tell us directly. Otherwise, like most bands, we’re blind to any impact we might have had on anyone. Once at a show in London, an older guy told us he was a philosophy professor and that our lyrics are quoted in a book he’s writing. Though now that I’m typing this out, it sounds like maybe we were being pranked there. Another time, Googling my own band, I found a Planets Conspire review someone wrote as a letter to his deceased wife, about how it was helping him cope. That was pretty heavy. Oh, and a friend in Winnipeg named her cat Meligrove. But she’s our friend. That’s different.

Okay, so, what’s next? You guys are … you guys are staying together, right?
If we want. Probably. It’s fun to rock out. We’re making up new songs right now.

Meligrove Band, Horseshoe Tavern, August 11.

Grab of the Week: tank top makes the grade, available at Chasse Gardée

12:45 pm

In the weeks leading up to September, we always find it hard to resist the urge to go on a back-to-school shopping spree, despite no longer being a student. Perhaps it’s the weather, perhaps it’s nostalgia, or perhaps it’s just an excuse — who knows?

Fall 2011 isn’t making things any easier for us with the varsity jacket being the must-have wardrobe addition of the season. Oh, how we lust for anything that screams “collegiate life!”

I tried this trend early, but sporting a heavily lined bomber in August resulted in heat stroke. Now I recommend saving this jacket for cooler weather and channeling its scholarly style instead through a “graded” tank top.

A+ & D- Tank tops by See No Label, $70 each at Chasse Gardée, 1084 Queen St. W., 416-901-9613

New Cirque show takes acrobatics to another level

11:58 am

If I didn’t know any better, I’d think there were some serious shenanigans going on in the row behind mine during last night’s premiere of Cirque du Soleil‘s new show Totem in Toronto’s Port Lands district. "Oh my god, oh, oh, oh, no," was such a frequent refrain it was almost comical, as was the slightly less provocative "Yes! wow, oh god, yes!" Foreheads were slapped, jaws dropped.

But that actually sums up the experience as ovation after ovation after ovation greeted Cirque performers: Totem proved to be an enormously entertaining show that was a step beyond even their usual brilliance.

The show involves some sort of take on evolution and water being the spark of life and what not. But, really, you don’t go to Cirque for the storyline — vague, and disconnected as it sometimes is. And there was one hiccup involving scantily clad pseudo-Aboriginals canoeing to a roller skating rink perched on top of a drum. Ahem. The hoop dancer was a nice touch, but there were a few drops and miscues and the performer never really drew the crowd into the performance.

Beyond those minor quibbles, the show was one incredible feat piled onto the next reaching awe-inspiring crescendos at the end of both acts. But being Cirque, even the tiny details and moments between the big performances were something to behold. The stage featured a massive mechanical centrepiece that moved and curled up and in many instances acted as a prop-aid. The clowns were wonderful: one, a stereotypical Italian beach-goer complete with Speedo-esque swimwear, gaudy sunglasses and epic pelvic dance moves; the other — the polar opposite — got the most laughs for simple prop devices such as bouncing a ping-pong ball off metal shoulder pads followed by doe-eyed glances at the audience.

Performance highlights included a unicycling troupe on tall bikes tossing plates from their feet to their heads with synchronized grace, a trio of ripped and athletic performers on rings, a pair of women spinning cloth mats on their feet while posing in a number of excruciatingly difficult to watch strength postures including a climax (cue the back row!) that saw one performer lying on her back on a chair feet up in the air balancing the other on her fully stretched legs while both were spinning mats on all available limbs. Ridiculous! Somehow, Cirque takes it to another level. It has to be seen to be believed, but to make a long story short that new level involves one dude balancing and walking along a slim pole elevated in the air. No, wait. On this guy’s head is a pole, maybe 20 feet long and at the other end is another guy, who is doing a headstand into a little cup! It seemed to defy physics and the bottom guy’s neck was flared out to a genuinely scary level.

The second act sexed things up a bit with a trapeze duo performing a mating ritual. It was a bit cheeky and flirty for a standard Cirque show, but the incredible athleticism and choreography on display when coupled with a bit of cute acting and sex appeal proved a welcome and very enjoyable change of pace. Then came the roller skates, and there is no denying the athleticism on display. ‘Nuff said. And this was followed by some new, fun takes on traditional Cirque standards: juggling and devil sticks. The highlight of the second act — the Russian bars — was another thriller to cap off the evening as performers executed complex acrobatic manoeuvres after being propelled 20 feet into the air by long slim boards held on the shoulders of hefty strongmen. Another standing ovation to end the night.

After witnessing every show Cirque has brought to town over the last seven or eight years, it is safe to say Totem is pushing the boundaries in a number of areas, including technical difficulty and sex appeal, without sacrificing the creative brilliance that makes Cirque the greatest show on earth. There may still be tickets available for purchase as a new block of tickets was recently added. If not, troll Craigslist, follow Kijiji, enter contests… do what you can to see this show.

Totem runs until Oct. 9 under the Grand Chapiteau in Toronto’s Port Lands district

Alessandro Settimi sells Mad Italian Gelato Bar, sets his sights on the good ol' pizzeria

9:07 am

As Rome’s answer to ice cream continues to delight Toronto taste buds, some may be surprised to learn that Alessandro Settimi has sold the Mad Italian Gelato Bar.

"We received an offer from a company that was going to franchise Mad Italian, so we decided to take it, but we’re still involved with the business," he says.

Eli Turkienicz, president of PineMount Food Service Corp., has a background in real estate, but was interested in breaking into the food service business. He saw the opportunity to do so with the increasingly popular (but not entirely mainstream) gelato.

As the brand is expanded, Settimi will be consulted to ensure that the authentic Italian flavour the shop has come to be known for is preserved, Turkienicz says. The gelato will continue to be made by the same person, using the same recipe, at the same location.

They’re looking at broadening the menu to include treats that will complement the gelato. One recent addition is the Piccolini, a two-bite cake that comes in different flavours ($1.50).

Beyond expanding the offerings at the Leaside and Little Italy locations, Turkienicz is actively looking for a new location, with the goal of adding a third shop next spring.

Meanwhile, Settimi is cooking up a new Italian concept for the Toronto food scene. He reveals that it will be a chain of small pizzerias that sell by the slice.

"They’re going to be exactly how it’s done in Italy," he says.

Settimi is aiming to open three or four locations to start, sometime after October.

(The Mad Italian Gelato Bar, 1581 Bayview Ave., 416-901-4556)

Coming Soon: The Grove, a food emporium, on Queen Street West. Picture the green movement on steroids

2:57 pm

Boasting certified organic, sustainable and eco-friendly food is all the rage, but have we wrung those buzz words dry? The Grove, a soon-to-be “food emporium and smart market,” will take on many of those same values, but with a fresher approach.

“The Grove will be an inspiration for slow fast food,” says Lisa Borden, one of three Grove collaborators.

This new food emporium will focus on take out food and make like a permanent farmers market. Ranging from baked goods, burgers and fries to raw and vegan options, vendors will cover all different types, forms and styles of food. “It won’t be your average grocery like milk and sugar,” says Borden.

The main Grove focus is on take-away prepared foods, but with a more green emphasis. To help limit the waste, the market will use Borden’s ‘takeout without ’ approach that promotes people bringing their own reusable bags.

In the midst of creating its own ethos, The Grove will outline guidelines that all suppliers must meet. “There is a strong commitment that vendors know where their food comes from” says Borden.

Nothing sold at The Grove will be genetically modified or contain sweeteners, artificial flavors, hormones or colouring. But, although ingredient regulations are strict, there will be no organic certification requirement: “Not all people can pay to be certified … lots of things that aren’t certified are good and some things that are, aren’t good.”

The 238 Queen St. space, owned by George Friedman, will have a long middle aisle that leads from the front doors on Queen Street to the back which opens onto St. Patrick. Vendors will be situated on either side of the centre aisle. No indoor seating will be provided, but an outdoor patio is on the itinerary.

Still in its early stages, vendors have not yet been disclosed. “Anyone can contribute what they want, we are very open to suggestions,” says Borden.

The Grove’s on-site general manager will be Toronto food blogger Joel Solish. He, along with Borden and Friedman are all partners in The Grove project, which they hope to open before the new year.

Q&A: Serena Williams serves up a mean return at Rogers Cup, winning match against Ukraine's Bondarenko

12:11 pm

While sister Venus may be out with an injury, Serena Williams is quickly rising back to the top. Forced to take an 11-month leave after hurting her foot, the 13-time Grand Slam winner played a strong match against Alona Bondarenko Tuesday in Toronto. We caught up with the legendary tennis star to get an insider’s look into her recovery, her match against Martina Hingis, and her journey back to number one.

You’ve had an unlucky run of injuries recently, how is the body feeling now?
Everything feels a lot better. I got a good report from the doctor who says I can play with confidence. That’s a great feeling and hopefully I’ll be able to feel better now. I plan on being there (the Rogers Cup) and just want to be there and do well.

Are you confident about being fit for the US Open?
With me playing Toronto and Cincinatti, that’s more than I usually play. That’ll definitely propel me to be fit going into the Open, and that’s going to help me.

Do you think much about retaining the world number one ranking?
My goals are to do well right now at the Rogers Cup and other Grand Slams. If that means I get back to number one, that’d be great, a bonus.

Will we be surprised by what you wear in Toronto?
I don’t even know what I’ll be wearing yet. I’m keeping even me on my toes.

What was it like playing with Martina Hingis?
She’s a great player and volleyer. It was fun playing her and playing well. She’s just a cool person.

How do you like competing in Canada and how does it compare to some other large competitions you’ve played in?
I like competing in Canada and especially Toronto. I’ve done well there. It feels like a lifetime ago since I’ve competed there.

Rogers Cup continues on at the Rexall Centre at York University until Aug. 14.

Band of the Week: Samantha Martin and The Haggard

9:19 am

Samantha Martin has soul. It’s obvious from the moment the rural Ontario hometown girl opens her mouth. Whether she’s belting out country-tinged blues numbers with her band The Haggard, or trading stories from behind the bar, it’s apparent Martin has the music of years-gone-by coursing through her veins. Listening to her music, you can hear the dust and gravel of long, late-night road trips through nondescript towns and feel the dirt of a hard-days work under your nails.  

One of the rising stars in Toronto’s roots-rock scene, Martin and her band can be seen frequently on stage at The Dakota Tavern and are now revving up for a weekly residence in the lounge of the Drake Hotel, playing every Tuesday night in August. On top of all that there’s a new album on the way — with one album already under her belt (her solo debut Back Home), this marks the first recording with The Haggard as her backing band. We bellied up to the bar with Martin to talk about her roots and where she’s planning on branching out to next.

Can you talk about how you got started?
I was a kid. My dad played guitar, so I’d sit on his lap and sing the songs as he played them. Then, when I was seven, he bought me a guitar. It was a really fancy three-quarter size electric guitar; it was white and had a sh**y amp. It was an electric because I told my dad I was sick and tired of playing country music and wanted to learn some rock and roll, therefore needed to have an electric guitar. So he bought me one. I remember the first lessons I ever took: I ended up teaching my teacher all these blues riffs and stuff that my dad had taught me. So that was the end of the lessons — I was on my own from there on out, when dad found out I was teaching my teacher. The first time I ever played live was probably when I was about 21 and I was living in Owen Sound. After a karaoke contest that I lost, I was invited to check out an open jam at The Harb. I got up and I sang “Piece of My Heart” by Janis Joplin and the band totally butchered it. They totally butchered it. I knew all the words and I was determined that would not be my last time with a live band. It was super fun, but they totally wrecked it. So I went back week after week and slowly we started writing more and doing my duo shows and stuff like that.

So how did you hook up with The Haggard?
It’s kind of a funny story. I was originally playing in a band that I dubbed Samantha Martin and the Mother Truckers. Some members of the Mother Truckers ditched me on a gig and so I was recording at the time with Derek Downham of The Beauties. The engineer took off, so I was freaking out because there were already people that ditched me for the gig and Derek was like “well, I know a guy who can do it!” And I’d never met Mikey before but he walked in the door and with never having a rehearsal I just gave him a list of the songs that we were going to do and he showed up and killed it. He was really, really good. I instantly not only fell in love with his guitar playing but started dating him shortly after (laughs). I went to see him play in his other band The Kensington Hillbillys and met Pete and Greg, asked them if they would be interested in playing a few shows with me, and they accepted, and the rest is history.

Is the album you were talking about the one you’re about to release?
That was my release in April of 2008. The one that we’re working on right now is with The Haggard. That was sort of the solo record; there were a lot of session-style musicians. Derek played a lot of the instruments on the first record. This one we had very few session musicians come in because we wanted this new record to sound more like the band live. One song on the album has a horn section. Yeah, it totally sounds great, but we’ve never had a horn section since. So with all the fun things you do when you’re recording, it’s really expensive to reproduce live. So until we start playing Massey Hall, I won’t be able to afford a horn section (laughs).

Is it coming out soon? 
Well we’re going to release four or five songs that are going on the album—just different mixes—in October. So we’re going to release an EP of the songs and then the second mix will end up in February and that’s a 12-song disc.

Are you going to tour on it?
Oh, you better believe we are. I’ve been meaning to go on tour for years now, but it just wasn’t practical considering we, as a band, didn’t have a record out yet. We’ve been together almost four years as this band — I met them after I released Back Home, which was great because all of a sudden I could play shows and I have a band. So the first two years were spent promoting the first record. I learned a lot promoting the first record, about all my weaknesses as far as my marketing skills go. I’ll be the first to promote myself, but knowing how to promote yourself effectively is something you learn through trial and error — unless you hire somebody.

So you’re doing it all yourself now?
No, no… we’re hiring somebody.

Can we talk about your sound? What sort of songs do you get your inspiration from vocally?
I love bluegrass. I love blues and soul music… and country music as well, but less so vocally. The soul and blues is where I draw a lot of my influences. But rock and roll is fun and it’s a blend of everything. So that’s kind of what this band has become. It started out as a country band, playing honky tonk kind of country and they helped me hone in vocally what works best for me and it was rock and roll. (laughs)

Recommended track: “Truckers Daughter”

Samantha Martin & The Haggard are:
Samantha Martin: Vocals and guitar
Mikey McCallum: Lead guitar
“Lucky” Pete Lambert: Drums and harmonies
Greg “Craw-daddy” Sweetland: Bass

Q&A: Singapore brings its strange, sweet sounds to the Horseshoe Tavern tonight

1:21 pm

The band members of Singapore are laughing at you, right now, behind your back. They’re watching what you do, and as soon as you leave the room they’re going to write a song making fun of you. Oh hey, just kidding, they’re not like that. But they do like to have a good time, and you don’t want to bring them home to Mom.

Josh (vocals), Jay (guitar) and Jack (bass and drums) make catchy throwback pop, plush with the softer side of classic rock. Beach Boys meets "Sympathy for the Devil" attached to a stick and dipped in a crispy batter of certifiable insanity. If that sounds delicious, you can catch them at the Horseshoe Tavern tonight. They’ll also be releasing a new song to their Tumblr today.

I spoke briefly over the phone with Josh, whose crooning, leering, sneering and rapping steer the band’s sound squarely into a strange nation of which he is president.

Singapore is a band without extremely obvious influences (to me). Where are you guys coming from?
Our songwriting process is collaborative, so we come from a lot of different places. Jack (drums, bass), Jay (guitar) and I will just stand in a room and work off of one another. Personally speaking, I grew up listening to grunge, Nirvana and the like, then explored classic rock as deeply as I could. The Rolling Stones are probably my favourite band, and I like the Strokes. The other guys like The Band, Beatles, Brian Wilson.

I was going to say Brian Wilson, but I wasn’t sure.
Mostly these days I listen to hip-hop. I write the lyrics and everything, so it makes sense.

What rappers do you like?
Biggie. And Lil Wayne. Lil Wayne is like the Dylan of our generation.

In terms of not making sense.
It does make sense though, if you really listen to it.

Your songs exist in that weird place where I can’t tell if you’re joking or serious. Do you know what I mean?
I don’t know, to me there’s truth in every joke. And sometimes the truth is a joke. I definitely like music like that, like the Rolling Stones—it’s got a very warm feeling, very fun, but also dark. Our song “Brian Elder” (warning: contains NSFW lyrics) basically came from a joke between Jay and I. Jack and I played in a band before called The Boo, which Jay joined as a keyboardist shortly before it died. We started off on our own and that was the first song we recorded.

Your voice is very distinct. How did you find that? Did you sing higher before and then discovered you had this great instrument below that?
I’ve always had this voice. When I was a kid, people made fun of me for it. I’ve tried to sing as high as I can, but, you know, I can only get so high.

You’re going to be dropping a new song sometime today. What’s it about?
“Vampire Teeth” came from two or three lines that I had floating around. Everyone always has parts floating around; that’s part of how we work. I sang these lines for them a few months ago, and they immediately said no. Then I sang it again a month later, when I knew they’d forgotten about it, and they liked it. I do sort of a crooning, forsaken lover thing.

Do you play guitar, or do you write songs a capella?
I play guitar a bit. For “Vampire Teeth” I just sort of had a cadence, a rhythm to the words — but sort of not even that. I try to keep it loose while we’re writing, let it grow on its own.

What’s in the future for Singapore? A full-length? I’ve heard that Jack has a music school where you record.
We’ve been recording there a lot lately, and Jay is setting up a studio in his place, as well. We’ve been doing EPs thus far, and maybe at some point we’ll package the best songs from them in a full length. I don’t know, the “album” as a thing sort of came about because of the running time of an LP. Before that it was just singles.

I try to avoid this question, but I have to ask: the name, Singapore, why?
We went through a bunch of different names for about a year. Finally I just saw the word somewhere and liked it. It sort of grew on us and stuck.

Singapore, Horseshoe Tavern, August 9

This Week in Sound: Bon Iver, Bruce Peninsula and more

2:22 pm

Tickets are already sold out, but that doesn’t mean you should give up on seeing Bon Iver tonight (August 8 @ Sound Academy). Prices on Craigslist are, as usual, double to triple market value ($80 to $150), but even if scalpers were demanding your firstborn child, the offer would deserve serious consideration.

Justin Vernon, maestro and lungs behind the band’s trademark falsetto, has graced the covers of virtually every music publication in Toronto over the past few months for a very good reason: because he’s, like, the real deal, a bona fide genius.

The cabin-in-the-woods mythology cloaking his first record has been discussed to death, so let’s just not go there. What’s important is that his second, self-titled album bucks the sophomore slump, pumping his sound with enough electricity and liquid nitrogen to transform gentle folk into a huge, coldly glowing juggernaut of beauty. Guitars — electric and acoustic — choral voices, slide guitar, French horn, sax, banjo (the list of instruments not in Vernon’s arsenal is actually shorter) orbit his scarred-angel falsetto, whorling into a staggeringly coherent, well-orchestrated and unique product. Check out another live performance here and then do what you have to do to be there.

Speaking of indie folk musicians steeped in mythology: anyone who was an alienated, angsty or artsy teenager around the early 2000s has fond memories of waxing poetic about Neutral Milk Hotel in the shamelessly geeky fashion I just gushed about Bon Iver, and less-fond memories of that band’s sudden drop into oblivion. Diehards can catch legendarily eccentric lead singer Jeff Mangum (August 12 & 13 @ Trinity St. Paul’s) for two consecutive days this week — and you can bet a lot of folks will be going to both. If you care about this sort of thing, you should probably go see him. There’s no telling when he’ll phase into another fifteen-year wormhole.

Another entry into the week of earthy folk and choral singing: Canadian country-folk-pop-rock-polka (kidding) choir, Bruce Peninsula (August 11 @ Lower Ossington Theatre). Lead singer Matt Cully‘s gravelly smoker’s rasp conjures a more-rugged, less-battered Mark Lanegan vibe, blending weirdly but seamlessly with an eerie female choir and propulsive, shuffling beats to evoke both the expanse of Ontario’s wilderness and the strangeness of solitude.

2009 Polaris prize winners F***ed Up will be waiting for you in the parking lot outside of the Air Canada Centre (August 9) with brass knuckles and chains. Not really, though. Damian and the boys are the nice, literate sort of punks, and they’ll be bringing their shoegaze-y, big-sound pseudo-hardcore (stadium punk, maybe?) to town this week to open for the Foo Fighters. Their latest record, David Comes to Life, is a smart and sprawling punk opera — no, no, no, like a real punk opera.

Tony Aspler's wine pick of the week: Chateau des Charmes Equuleus 2007

10:16 am

Paul Bosc has been making this red blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc since 1998 but only in fine vintages. It sounds pricey at $40 a bottle, but it has the quality and flavour of a French wine at twice the price. If you like red Bordeaux, this is the wine for you. Floral and spicy on the nose, it’s rich on the palate with cassis and dark chocolate flavours that finish dry and savoury. Food match: rack of lamb, filet mignon. Available at winery or winerytohome.com.

Post City Magazines’ wine columnist, Tony Aspler, has written 14 books on wine and food. Tony also created the Ontario Wine Awards. He can be heard on 680News.

Here are the 10 TIFF flicks we’re most excited about so far

11:38 am

Last month, the Toronto International Film Festival proved it could still shock and awe its faithful festival-goers when it announced that a documentary — on rock gods U2, no less — would open its 36th edition for the first time. With the festival filling out the rest of its slate this week and the opening night only a month away, the intense process of picking your 2011 TIFF flicks has officially begun. Here’s what has us buzzing so far.

Friends With Kids
Starring Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph and Jon Hamm, and directed by Jennifer Westfeldt (Hamm’s real-life girlfriend), think of this movie as a more domestic version of this year’s hugely successful and hugely funny Bridesmaids, where everyone gets married and has babies.

Moneyball
Baseball and Brad Pitt: a winning combination for both dudes and chicks. Based on a true story, it’s the classic underdog sports flick. Add in Jonah Hill for comic relief and Philip Seymour Hoffman for overall awesomeness and this is sure to be a fan favourite.

W.E.
This directorial effort by the one and only Madonna is said to be a compelling romantic drama revolving around the affair between King Edward VIII and American divorcee Wallis Simpson (trivia note: these characters appeared in last year’s big fest hit, The King’s Speech). The film’s costumes are also rumoured to be out of this world, but who are we kidding? We just want to see Madge (too bad she’s not actually in the movie).

The Ides of March
A TIFF favourite, George Clooney returns to the festival with his newest film — a political drama — in which he pulls triple duty as writer-director-star. A celebrity who’s also known for his passion for politics, we’re interested to see Clooney’s take on the hit play by Beau Willimon. Oh yeah, and some hot guy named Ryan Gosling is in it, too.

Elles
Proving that ELLE Magazine isn’t just about fashion, this French film stars Oscar-winner Juliette Binoche as an investigative journalist for the women’s mag. She follows two young female students who turn to prostitution to fund their university studies.

Machine Gun Preacher
The newest film from director Marc Forster is gaining attention as a true story of a former drug dealer who undergoes an astonishing transformation and finds an unexpected calling as a crusader for hundreds of Sudanese orphans. What’s probably most astonishing, though, is the transformation of star Gerard Butler from muscle-head to method actor.

Comic-Con: Episode IV – A Fan’s Hope
Trekkies, Wookies, and other nerds-we-love surely won’t feel alone as Morgan Spurlock (the brave soul of Supersize Me) explores the comic book convention, which was once a fringe-like event and is now a massive pop culture touchstone attended by over 140,000 each year.

Sarah Palin – You Betcha!
Would the real Sarah Palin please stand up? Nick Broomfield makes it his duty to find out everything he can about the hockey mom for this film, which, unfortunately, does not include any cameos by Tina Fey.

God Bless America
Remember Bobcat Goldthwait? He was usually the go-to actor for wacky characters in the ‘80s and is best known for his screechy is-he-drunk-or-is-that-his-real-voice voice. Anyway, now he’s a director, apparently, and his take on the disenfranchisement of all that’s sacred in the USA is sure to be just as wacky and funny as he is.

Lovely Molly
From the director of the huge indie hit The Blair Witch Project comes this chilling story of a newlywed who begins a descent into evil upon returning to her family home, obviously taking the adage “you can’t go home again” to a whole other scary level.

1...854855856...1,014 Page 855 of 1,014