Plants need loving too: NYT takes a jab at vegetarianism

By

-

12:52 pm

Here in Toronto, being a vegetarian is akin to wearing of a badge of honour: it grants the practitioner a distinct upper rung in the echelons of morality. Who would dare question the inherent righteousness of such a choice? Obviously, many, but the latest is the New York Times, which has just pointed out that, hey, plants don’t like being chopped up, cooked and eaten any more than other, cuter animals do.

Consider, the Times suggests, the many signs that plants don’t want to be eaten: thorns, poisons and a myriad of other defense mechanisms are all intent on keeping predators at bay. When a plant is wounded, apparently, it releases volatile chemicals and goes into defense mode. “Just like a chicken running around without its head,” the article continues, “the body of a corn plant torn from the soil or sliced into pieces struggles to save itself.” Suffering, it seems, is just part of the eating process.

This argument, of course, addresses only one so-called benefit of vegetarianism – that it lessens the suffering of the creatures being eaten. We would just like to point out that some have been known to foray into vegetarianism for other reasons, like the environment, maybe, or health.

And while the NYT does have a point, we just hope this mode of thought doesn’t usher in a new era of Nothing-tarianism.

[New York Times]

Five shops for dressing green this spring (not literally)

By

-

10:47 am

0

For this year’s spring fashion, green really is the new black. And no, we don’t mean that old green T-shirt you’ll be sporting on St. Patty’s Day. Designers are working towards greening the fashion industry by using sustainable textiles such as organic cotton and bamboo, by manufacturing their lines locally and by creating timeless, eco-friendly pieces. Not only will you look good, but you’ll feel good. Here are our local picks:

Heart on Your Sleeve: This online store, formerly a Kensington Market staple, is very eco-friendly (it even has a bicycle delivery service). We like this coconut shell ring in blue.
www.heartonyoursleeve.ca, 416-999-2197

Grassroots Environmental Products: When it opened in 1994, there were very few options for green products in Toronto. Two stores (plus an online store) later, Grassroots has been voted best eco-store in Canada. Its Horny Toad Accord Pant (pictured at left) is a comfy choice for spring and it’s on sale for $25.
408 Bloor Street West, 416-944-1993

Preloved: When you buy clothing from this store, you don’t have to worry about anyone wearing the same outfit as you. That’s because Preloved creates one-of-a-kind clothing from reclaimed vintage fabrics. Check out their classic Vi dress (pictured at right).
881 Queen Street West, 416-504-8704

Thieves Boutique: This fashion and eco-conscious boutique mixes edgy aesthetics with eco-sustainability. We love their high waist skirt for $207.
1156 Queen Street West; 647-435-4880

The Big Carrot: Not only is it the largest health food store in the city, but it also carries one of the largest green beauty sections in Canada with over 5,000 products. One of their newest products is Volcanic Ash Wash, an organic-based soap containing sterilized volcanic ash that gently exfoliates and draws toxins out of your skin, leaving it soft and radiant.
348 Danforth Avenue, 416-466-2129

The Drake has one of the best hotel bars in the world, according to CNN

By

-

3:50 pm

0

While Toronto has a strange tendency to fall into conniptions at the prospect of a NYC institution making its way here, we do, in fact, have at least one cool venue of our own. Well, at least according to CNN. In its list of the 15 best hotel bars in the world, The Drake Hotel, of all places, got a mention for its rooftop patio, Sky Yard.

Other mentions went to Connaught Bar at London’s The Connaught Mayfair, Icebar at Copenhagen’s Icehotel (and yes, NYC is included for Bemelmans Bar at The Carlyle Hotel). So, what’s so special about The Drake’s Sky Bar? Apparently, it’s so hip that “just being there cranks up the cool-scale ranking.” We’re not sure exactly what that means, but it sounds neat.

It’s nice that Toronto gets to rub shoulders with some non-second-rate cities, and, at the very least, this should do wonders for our collective sense of inferiority.

[CNN]

The Design Agency to work on T.O. Momofuku

By

-

12:20 pm

0

Well, we know that Momofuku is going to be bringing its signature pork buns to Toronto, and now we know something else: Toronto’s the Design Agency will be involved in designing the upcoming restaurants. Following this tweet from Rock-it Promotions, we got in touch with Matthew Davis, a principal designer at the Design Agency, who confirmed the company will be working on the Toronto design, but didn’t divulge any details beyond that.

So we’re not sure whether the Design Agency will be designing part of one, one, or both Momofukus, but Davis did admit that “it’s very exciting.” He said he’d relay more information once the company is ready to make a statement.

The Design Agency’s clientele list includes Lobby Restaurant, Embassy nightclub and The Guvernment.

The straight dope

By

-

10:39 am

0

What kinds of illnesses require treatment with medical marijuana?
Well, there are none that absolutely require it. There are other medications that are as good or better [for all illnesses]. But some people respond better to cannabis than they do to other drugs.

So what is it good for?
It is quite good for relieving nausea and vomiting due to cancer chemotherapy, radiation and AIDS medications. Those are recognized legal uses. Another use is that it is quite effective as relief for many kinds of pains.

But isn’t it carcinogenic?
Well, there is an apparent contradiction of findings. Smoking cannabis is irritating to the airways the same way smoke of tobacco is. Chronic cannabis users tend to have chronic bronchitis, coughing, wheezing . . . Some studies have claimed [that] among heavy cannabis users there is an increased incidence of types of airways cancer that you don’t ordinarily find in young people. Other studies have reported that when you put cannabis extract into tissue cultures in which cancer cells are growing, it has an anti-cancer effect….I’d say the jury is still out on that one.

So how does one go about getting permission to use marijuana medicinally?
One has to get a medical certificate stating that he or she does suffer from a certain disease, which the doctor certifies in a letter. The thing is, the doctor doesn’t have to say, “I believe cannabis will be helpful for him.” He or she simply has to say that the patient believes cannabis might be helpful. Then the Ministry of Health issues a certificate that protects against the law for possessing and using. And they are allowed to grow enough cannabis plants to provide for his or her own medication.

They have to grow their own?
No, they can buy it from the government. The federal government had a contract with an agricultural firm in Saskatchewan to grow cannabis of uniform quality in an underground grow- op in an abandoned mine in Manitoba, I believe.

How do they regulate sharing?
That is another problem. There is really no way of regulating. It is against the law, but nobody is actually monitoring. I suppose if it became known someone is really growing 10 times as much as needed and selling to friends, police charges would be laid, but otherwise, there isn’t really any actual control on it other than the honour system.

What about side effects?
Regular marijuana use carries the risk of a number of side effects. One, with heavy use there appears to be an impairment of memory, of learning ability and of drive. Regular users have a much higher school dropout rate, dropping out of a job because of loss of mental abilities and loss of drive. Other problems, for example: with impairment of ability to drive properly. And there has been a growing number of [car] accidents due to cannabis instead of alcohol, particularly among kids.

Why is that?
Kids know that there is a Breathalyser that tests for alcohol, but there is no corresponding test for cannabis. So they think they can drive under cannabis with less risk of being stopped on the street. There is also the myth that cannabis doesn’t impair, but many studies show that it does.

So would you say that this program has been successful?
That depends on what you mean by successful. To me, as an academic, successful ought to mean careful results, controlled comparison groups that establish it does work as expected in the great majority of cases and the production of harmful side effects is negligible. But actually nobody is keeping records of that kind.

Do you think this will lead to legalization of marijuana?
I don’t want to confuse medical use with non-medical use. That cannabis can have medical benefits should have no impact on the question of whether or not to legalize. Heroin is legal in Canada to be prescribed by a physician for patients with severe pain from terminal cancer. But nobody is saying, therefore we should legalize heroin.

T.O. sales roundup: Holt Renfrew, FCUK, Joe Fresh

By

-

3:44 pm

0

Even though it doesn’t feel like it, March Break is upon us, which means spring is (hopefully) around the corner. It’s a good time to stock up on the essentials in anticipation of April showers, as well as prepare for the time change (it’s this Sunday, folks). And, while the kiddies are away at their March Break activities, you can be treating yourself to the overlooked (and sometimes bare) necessities. Here are this week’s sales.

Get Outside: With the recent wet weather we’ve been having, and more of it on the way, it’s important to have proper – yet stylish – footwear. Buy these Smoky Mountain Wellingtons (on sale for $30) before the next rainfall.
437 Queen Street West, 416 593-5598

Joe Fresh: This chain has reasonable prices anyway, but why not take advantage of the $10 Spring Coupon and buy an oh-so-stylish trench coat for $39 or Anorak for $59.
Multiple locations; check website for your nearest store

Sears: If you’ve noticed the sun is staying out longer recently, then you know it’s almost time to spring forward. Why not buy this very cool hot pink FCUK watch ($55.25) to usher in the new season.
Multiple locations; check website for your nearest store

Holt Renfrew: The ultimate luxury item for the man in your life, made-to-measure shirts are on sale for only $100.
50 Bloor Street West, 416-922-2333

Beestung Lingerie: While your man is getting fitted for his shirt, you can be fitted properly for your perfect bra size and take advantage of this spring sale: 20-60 per cent off select bras from Tam Tam, Elle, Fayreform and Donna Karan.
2504 Yonge Street, 416-481-2849

If a tree falls in the International Year of Forests . . .

By

-

2:53 pm

0

The UN General Assembly recently met in New York to declare 2011 the International Year of Forests. The idea is to raise awareness of the priceless role that forests play in keeping the planet healthy and of the need for sustainable management and conservation of all types of forests.

The International Year of Forests follows other lofty proclamations by the UN to encourage efforts to advance social justice and environmental sustainability, including the 2010 International Year of Biodiversity, the 1993 International Year for the World’s Indigenous People, and the unusual naming of 2008 as the International Year of the Potato.

It’s easy to be cynical about the annual declarations made by our world leaders, especially as there’s often a lack of corresponding action. Nevertheless, the International Year of Forests marks a critical moment on our planet. Our forest ecosystems have never been at more risk from the consequences of human actions, including climate change and industrial activities. But a few events in Canada give us hope.

The world’s remaining forests, from true wilderness like Canada’s boreal forest to urban green spaces like the forested slopes that frame Vancouver, represent a Fort Knox of natural riches. Forests remain our primary source of paper and building materials and are receiving increasing attention as a source of bioenergy — all of which sustain millions of jobs in communities in Canada and around the world.

Forests provide food, clean drinking water and life-saving medicines like the rainforest- sourced cancer drug vincristine. They are also home to millions of indigenous peoples and are habitat for more than half of all known terrestrial biodiversity on the planet. And because they sequester and store billions of tonnes of carbon in their vegetation, peat, and soils, forests are a critical shield against runaway global warming.

Despite the importance of forests to biodiversity, as well as to our own health and well-being, we continue to destroy them at an alarming rate. Throughout the world and here at home, forests and woodlots are being ripped up and developed. We continue to clear-cut wilderness habitat when alternative logging methods exist. We have no national strategy to ensure our remaining rainforests are protected. At the same time, no nation is better placed to deliver on the ambitious goals of the International Year of Forests than Canada. This past year, 21 forestry companies and nine environmental groups committed to present a joint vision to federal, provincial and territorial governments and First Nations for protection and sustainable management of Canada’s boreal.

More than half of the ancient rainforests of Haida Gwaii have now been protected, thanks to the leadership of the Haida First Nation. In Central Canada, five Anishinaabeg First Nations communities in Eastern Manitoba and Northern Ontario are working to have a vast intact region of boreal forest declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The area is called Pimachiowin Aki in Ojibwa, which means “the land that gives life.”

Forests sustain the very life- support systems of the planet. It’s time we recognized our interdependence with them and treated them as the biological treasures they are.

Post City Magazines’ environmental columnist, David Suzuki, is the host of the CBC’s The Nature of Things. David is also the author of more than 30 books on ecology.

Coming Soon: Simply Mexican, traditional Mexican on Yonge

By

-

2:09 pm

0

For Diana Gomez, setting up a Mexican restaurant in Toronto is a dream come true. “I’ve spent all my life in restaurants,” she says. “Everybody’s been telling me to start my own restaurant here.” Simply Mexican, which is set to open near Yonge and St. Clair in the next few weeks, will serve the same traditional fare that Gomez’s family in Mexico has eaten for generations.

Gomez previously owned a restaurant in Veracruz, and she’s partnered up with sisters Lulu Torres and Maria Elena Torres, owners of Amaranto Food Trading, which imports specialty food items like dried chilies, moles and tortillas from Mexico. Amaranto’s Toronto clients include Perola Supermarket in Kensington, Milagro and other restaurants in the city – this is a team that knows its Mexican food.

By day, the restaurant will serve lunch as well as take-out and delivery, by night, the menu gets more sophisticated; delivery and take-out stops, candles come out and the space becomes a romantic dinner spot. Mexican standards will be on offer, but “this isn’t just burritos and tacos,” Gomez says. A rotating specials menu will highlight dishes that are difficult to find elsewhere in the city. Such items could include the “huachinango empapelado” (wrapped red snapper with vegetables in a guajillo sauce), “costilla de cerdo” (pork ribs marinated in an ancho chili sauce) and a variety of ceviches. Tortillas are to be made “as they were during Aztec times.”

In the kitchen is Erik Juseppe, who has been working on the menu (with help from the Simply Mexican ladies) from his home in Mexico City. He’s worked at a slew of restaurants there (El Tributo, Le Petit Lion) and will be moving here shortly, bringing a taste of Mexico with him. Expect mains to range from $15-$30; and if all goes well, the place should be open before April.

Simply Mexican, 1392 Yonge Street, 647-344-1187

Galliano’s perfume gets snubbed by some T.O. retailers

By

-

12:03 pm

0

It’s not just John Galliano’s attitude that stinks. Apparently, now his perfume does too (figuratively speaking, that is). Since Galliano was recently fired from Christian Dior for his now-infamous hate-filled rant, Canadian retailers are starting to keep their distance from the once-in-high-demand fashion designer, The Globe reports. That includes his perfume, Parlez-moi d’Amour.

Late last week, The Bay decided to remove the fragrance from its shelves. Holt Renfrew still sells the perfume, but has decided that it will no longer market it. That’s quite a shift for the product, which was heavily advertised as the ideal gift for Valentine’s Day.

We can’t see how anyone would want to wear a perfume titled “speak to me of love” when its creator clearly contradicts that statement.

[Globe and Mail]

Loud and proud: Leslie Jordan at Hart House

By

-

10:36 am

0

The name Leslie Jordan might have flown under your radar, but the face of this diminutive 55-year-old comedic actor is well known to fans of Will & Grace (as Beverley Leslie) and Boston Legal. Many years ago, after a warm response to his stand-up performance at a gay and lesbian comedy festival in Toronto, Jordan decided to make a career out of it. This Saturday, he makes his second trip to Toronto for a one-night, one-man show: Laughing Out Loud…and Proud! to raise funds for the Canadian Lesbian and Gay Archives.

What do you think of Toronto?
It’s kinda cool to be coming back to Toronto years later to where it kind of all started. I don’t really know the city. I’m like an aging show pony. They fly me in and trot me out. This weekend is particularly crazy. I get to Toronto at 3:30 in the afternoon, then I jump on a plane really early Sunday morning because I got a small part in Steven Spielberg’s new movie, The Help, about black maids in Mississippi. I’m the comedic relief, and apparently they need more of me.

How do you feel about being asked to perform for the Canadian Lesbian and Gay Archives?
I get asked to do so many charity events. This one really caught my interest. When I was growing up, so isolated in the hills of Tennessee, I thought I was the only queer on this planet. And so, to be able to pass something on to the next generation is very important. The operative word, when they asked me to perform, was “archive.” That’s what drew me to this project.

Do you prefer doing a solo show like this or an ensemble thing like Will & Grace?
Artistically, for me there’s nothing more satisfying than this kind of one-man show. The thing that brings me the greatest pleasure is the immediate reaction of the audience.

Do you stick closely to the script or is it a different show every night?
In New York or London, you will see the exact same show every night because I have people with cues who will freak out when I begin to improvise, because they’re like, “Oh my God, where’s he going?” But, like, in Toronto what I’ll do — which is so much fun — I take the audience and I have all these stories from my repertoire and I just riff. I love standing in front of an audience and tailoring the show to them.

Canadians are annoyingly eager to announce, of someone like Eric McCormack, “He’s Canadian, you know!” Do Americans make a distinction, or are we all considered “Canadian-Americans”?
I love Canadians. I’ve never met a Canadian I didn’t like. Canadians are like old hippies. Gay people able to marry, you guys are like “whatever.” Such a laid back country. And I have a crush on those Mounties.

You’ve worked with William Shatner. Can you name the awards show he’s hosting?
No!

The Genies.
What is it?

Like the Canadian version of the Oscars.
Wow! Is William Shatner Canadian? I enjoyed working with him. I like him. He’s funny.

Would you ever want to host the Oscars, or would it be easier just to win one?
Oh Gosh! I don’t want to host one, I don’t want to win one, I don’t want to be nominated for one. I went to the Emmys once. It was the most nerve wracking thing. It was torture. I mean, you’re not going to get any sympathy: “I had to go to the Emmys and I won. Poor me!” But I’m telling you, at one point I thought I was having a heart attack.

Will there come a time when being gay is as widely accepted as being left-handed, and what would it take to get there?
I can’t believe you just said that! I’ve always said that I would love for a parent to say, “I think my child is going to turn out gay” the way you say, “I think my child is going to be left-handed.” Not so much with pride or shame, just that it is. And yes, I think that’s coming. Absolutely. I think even in my lifetime. Wonderful question! Thank you for asking me.

Laughing Out Loud… And Proud!, Hart House, March 12

Sammy Hagar hits T.O. to take care of business

By

-

9:21 am

0

Legendary rocker Sammy Hagar is in town for Canadian Music Week and to promote his new autobiography, Red: My Uncensored Life in Rock. Of course, he wouldn’t make the trek without a little bit of rocking out, too. Keep an eye out for him at The Mod Club tonight – word has it that he’ll be taking care of some business. We chatted with Hagar about Van Halen, his book and tequila. What could be better?

What’s your involvement with Canadian Music Week?
Oh boy! Maybe I should have someone else call you, because I don’t know what the hell I’m going to be doing. I just know I’m going to be there, and I’m going to be going to a cocktail party, maybe giving away an award, I’m going to be jamming with BTO [Bachman-Turner Overdrive] at The Mod Club; I’m doing a whole bunch of stuff.

Can you give us a hint of what we can look forward to reading in your book?
Well, some of the Van Halen dirt, of course, and prior to and during that time in my life – the sex, drugs, and rock and roll, of being a young, rich, rock star [laughter]. You know, there’s not a lot of discipline. I have kids now. My 14-year old daughter is probably dying to take a drink or go out and get stoned or have sex at this stage, and I’m sitting here saying, “Man! Look what I did.” I’m uncomfortable about it, but like I said, you make the decision between writing the book or not.

How long did the whole process take you?
It’s hard to say. I’ve been writing the book for my whole life, to be honest with you, but I just didn’t write anything down. Every time something really unique happened, something special, I would say, “That’s going in the book.” I was saying that in the 70s. It all made it. For the actual writing, I just blocked out about 4 months in the last year. I did interviews with Joel Selvin, a music writer for the San Francisco Chronicle; he is a musicologist. This guy knows everything, so he really helped me immensely in organizing it. When he thought I was being too shallow on a subject, he would pry. It’s in my own voice, which is the most important thing about this book; no one put words in my mouth. If I said a bad word, which I do constantly, it’s in there.

What’s the performance at The Mod Club going to be like?
I think I’m going to do their encore, “Taking Care of Business” with them. They are going to do “I Can Drive 55,” or something like that; one of my songs I think. We just talked about it briefly. I’ve been a musician my whole life, so it’s easy for me to just say, “What key is it in? A? Ok, I can jam with you guys.”

What has been your experience performing in Canada? Do you find the audience here any different?
I’m starting to find them better. In the old days, in the 70s and 80s, I felt like I just didn’t go over that well in Canada. The people just watched, and gave you too much respect [laughs]. Over the years, I’m seeing that change more. Now, the last time I played with Chickenfoot up there, oh man, the people were just going crazy! They are really into it; they’re really into the music, almost more than in America. I get along with the Canadians. Having a liquor company, a tequila company, I show up with a bottle of tequila, and we’re ready to go.

Is there anything you want to tell your fans in Toronto?
I dig that city, especially in the summer. I’m really looking forward to coming and spending a week there, it’s gonna be great! I’m starting my whole book tour there. It really is a great city.

Had enough of Charlie Sheen yet? Watch him "cook"

By

-

4:02 pm

0

Here at Post City, we don’t comment on just any random pop culture phenomenon, but when Charlie Sheen gets a cooking show, we can’t resist. Ok, so it’s not really a new cooking show. It’s a parody on Funnyordie.com, where an egotistical, chain-smoking, knife-wielding Sheen in a tiger-print chef’s hat shows us his chops around the kitchen.

It’s worth a few chuckles, especially with lines like, "This is not a bowl. It is a cauldron … of awesomeness," and "My fingertips radiate sunshine and I water them with tears of a jaguar." It’s hard to tell if he’s in character, or if that IS his character, and while we certainly learned nothing about cooking, he does appear to be less agitated than in previous interviews.

What do you think? If he really had a cooking show, would you watch?

Check out the video here.