North Edge Outdoor Night Market

Things are slowly, but surely, changing in the neighbourhoods of Queen Mary Park and Central McDougall. Probably not fast enough for some, but it’s happening.

The two communities that make up the “North Edge” are one of the four areas the City has targeted for neighbourhood revitalization. The Queen, a community garden next to the Edmonton Chinese Baptist Church, is a great example of collaboration and connection. The enhancement of McDougall Park, with new light fixtures and two beautiful gazebos was finally finished a few weeks ago, and a gorgeous mural, painted on the side of a problematic convenience store on the Avenue of Nations was completed this week.

The Queen (photo taken by Biviana Velez-Perez)

Gazebo!

Mural (it took students over 80 hours to complete)

The City has also been supporting community gathering events, such as the Safe Streets Fair that took place in June. Though it was a good idea, I had hoped for better execution – more prominent advertisements and more displays, among other things. As a result, I was looking forward to Friday’s Outdoor Night Market, hoping organizers would have learned from past mistakes.

107 Avenue

The event was to start at 5pm, in perfect alignment with the end of our work day. Jill and I walked down the street from our office, excited to see that a few artists had set up on the corner of 107 Avenue and 105 Street. It was strange though that these two artists were so isolated from the rest of the activities taking place down the street – as with the Safe Streets Fair, things seemed to be spread too far apart.

Timeless Photos

As we walked towards 101 Street though, we found more of what we were expecting – artists, jewellers, crafters, rummage sale tables and community business displays. We both thought the granite/stone company was a bit out of place, but others might have appreciated the range of offerings. I will say that it was challenging to navigate the narrow space in between the booths and the end of the sidewalk, given the number of people who were milling about – the fair really would have benefited from closing down 107 Avenue to pedestrian-only traffic.

Booths

The Way We Green display (Mack, who joined us later, was excited to see that the surveys were being done on iPads)

There was food on hand as well – samosas and chicken biryani from Central 101, and very tempting spring rolls and pork skewers from Fat Jaaks (when isn’t meat on a stick tempting?).

Pork on a stick from Fat Jaaks

I am not ashamed to admit that my favourite part of the evening ended up being the hayride. I really didn’t think it would work – only one lane of traffic was closed, and really, I wouldn’t consider Central McDougall to be the most scenic neighbourhood. But it was fantastic.

Overhead canopy

Puppy in the driver’s seat

Jill with the horses

I was happy to see the turnout, and it looked like people were having a great time. Bravo to the North Edge Business Association who sponsored the fair, and to everyone else who contributed to the event. I hope for more such gatherings in the future!

The Cooking Chronicles: No-Grill Burgers

We don’t have a barbeque. It’s something I lament on the days I crave something grilled – steak, fish, or burgers especially – but until I get my act together and buy one, our stove and oven will have to do. Two burgers I made recently didn’t require a grill, or (the usual) ground beef, for that matter.

Black Bean Burgers

I remembered Maki’s recipe for black bean burgers because she had modified the recipe to make the black bean crostini that she had brought to our potluck foodie meetup last year.

My first mistake was choosing the evening after the Wild Boar and Beer BBQ to make them for the first time – exhaustion does not mix well with new recipes. The process of flipping the crumbling burgers was more trying than it had to be, and hoping for a more crispy exterior, I probably cooked them on the stove longer than I should have.

Black bean burgers

The final product was creamy and satisfying – though I think the black bean mixture would have made a better dip (or a spread like Maki’s crostini). More than anything, I learned not to cook when utterly beat.

Turkey Oat Burgers

For a weeknight housewarming with my sisters and Jeff, I wanted a casual but tasty recipe I could prepare in advance, and cook in the oven unattended after their arrival. A recipe for turkey oat burgers fit the bill, and was one that allowed us to incorporate many locally-sourced ingredients – lean ground turkey from Greens, Eggs and Ham, onions from Green Valley Farms, yogurt from Bles Wold, rolled oats from Highwood Crossing, side bacon from Irvings – and lettuce from Kimmi’s garden!

I made the patties and put them in the fridge until I was ready to cook them, which worked well. By the time we had cleared the salad bowls, the main course was ready!

Turkey oat burgers

The burgers came out nice and moist. I have never used rolled oats in burgers before, but it worked well, and punched up the fibre content (in place of breadcrumbs). Amanda commented that bean alfalfa sprouts would have made a good topping addition, and I had to agree.

We will definitely be making these again!

Hot Dogs and Burgers and Fries, Oh My: Delux Burger Bar

Though I’ve been keeping afloat of the series of Celebrity Chef burgers at Delux, none of them have really captured my attention, at least not enough for me to make an effort to trek down to Crestwood to try it. But this month’s poutine burger? Stop the presses.

We took Che Bechard’s creation for the month of August as an excuse to check out Delux’s second location in Edmonton, located on the always-hopping Bourbon Street in West Edmonton Mall (it also worked out that I was also able to satisfy my curiosity at Victoria’s Secret – I wanted to see what the hype was all about).

Though many, if not most, of Bourbon Street eateries offer takeout, Delux is the most aggressive, with an eye-catching D2Go order window.

D2Go

On the other hand, I didn’t find the interior of this Delux appealing at all. Independent of one another, the waiting area with its cocktail tables, a communal seating area, and generous booths are all right, but put together, the entire space lacks a visual flow, apparent especially when compared with the neighbouring Earls. The plaid patterns on the walls and the billboard photos plastered on the ceiling also seem unnecessary, further cluttering the room.

Mack at Delux

We chose to sit at the bar for immediate service, and it turned out to be an excellent choice. Alvin was our waiter that night, and boy, was he on the ball. Between drink orders, he managed to take good care of us – consistently refilling my water glass, letting us know about the progress of our food order, checking in on us periodically – just superb service all around.

The Nathan’s Famous hot dog sliders ($10) we had opted to start with were also a great choice. We both remarked that the dogs were some of the best we’ve ever had – moist and bursting with flavour. I wasn’t a fan of the toasted bun, but the chipotle ketchup and caramelized onions were tasty additions. The sliders are on special for $2 on Wednesdays…a dangerous deal if I lived or worked closer to a Delux.

Hot dog sliders

As for the main event? The first few bites of the poutine burger ($10), ripe with special sauce, fries, and curd cheese, were delicious. But as we made our way through it, we realized we would both be ultimately defeated by its richness, and that sharing one between the two of us would have been the better way to go.

Poutine burger

You still have a few days left to try out the poutine burger – but if you miss it, don’t worry – you can find some solace in the hot dog sliders.

Delux Burger Bar
1755 170 Street, West Edmonton Mall (one other location)
(780) 487-3589

We’ll Show You Ours: That’s a Wrap!

It’s not a secret that the Fringe is my favourite summer festival. The shows, the food, the buskers, the atmosphere – it’s a combination that rightly attracts an incredibly diverse crowd. I really admire what the Fringe is doing to try to build their audience from the ground up, tackling the age-old issue of those who wander the grounds, but never step inside a theatre. From their First Time Fringer discount program, to the variety of Fringe apps that were available this year (built by community members), I would hope that their efforts do translate into more tickets sold, or at the very least, a piqued curiosity that may lead to future ticket sales.

Outdoor mainstage

The Fringe should be commended for their green initiatives this year – we watched as Green Team volunteers sorted through the trash for organic material to compost

Mack and I at the Parlour photo booth

I would be lying if I said this Fringe won’t be memorable for a reason entirely unrelated to the festival. That said, I haven’t overlooked the fabulous productions we were fortunate enough to catch during We’ll Show You Ours:

The Lime Tree Bower still lingers in my memory because it reminded me that the core of theatre is storytelling. Vincent Forcier, Jon Lachlan Stewart and Cody Porter were seamless in their delivery, fully embodying the characters, Irish accents unwavering. I was swept up by the vivid language, rich descriptions that nourished my imagination, transforming the immediate setting of a family-owned pub into a shadowy graveyard, a college auditorium, an inhospitable bar. It was also a great choice to have the characters subtly interact and respond to one another during each of their monologues – it added a laid-back air that made the production such a treat to watch. Moreover, I was happy to be finally be able to see the much-buzzed about Lachlan Stewart in action, who lived up to every expectation.
There is no one like TJ Dawe. If you haven’t yet watched this master at work, weaving personal experiences into relatable, thought-provoking anecdotes all while demonstrating his incredible skill with the rhythms of the English language – remember his name for next year. While I didn’t take to Lucky 9 as much as last year’s Totem Figures, it’s difficult not to enjoy Dawe, whatever the content.
The bar was set pretty darn high for BASH’d, with all of the accolades it has received, on top of the fact that the show had a successful off-Broadway run in New York two years ago. It cleared the bar with room to spare. I am still in awe of Chris Craddock and Nathan Cuckow – not only for their conviction and limitless energy (they barely stopped to breathe over the hour), but also for their ability to compellingly portray the heartbreaking tale of love and tragedy in a single hour.
We picked David Belke’s The Crimson Yak for its plot mention of Coca Cola (and by golly, they even referred to it as Mack has in the past, as “the nectar of the gods”), but it turned out to be a good choice for a host of other reasons. The songs were as hilarious as they were catchy (“Crimson yaa-aa-aa-k”), and Karyn Mott absolutely stole the show as the wide-eyed, fanatical Dhara.

The Fringe turns thirty next year. You can bet it will be a huge party, just as it should be. See you there!

Food Notes for August 23, 2010

The leaves are changing! It’s not even September and the leaves are changing! As much as I love fall, summer always seems to end too soon – I’m going to try to enjoy whatever warm days are left, and I hope you will as well (on a related note – this is a pretty cool way to explore your neighbourhood). On to this week’s food notes:

Central McDougall and Queen Mary Park (aka the “North Edge”) will be hosting an Outdoor Night Market on August 27, 2010. I think it’s great that the BRZ is organizing more events to get the community together! More information here.
Also this weekend is the second annual East Meets West Festival, which has expanded into a full three-day event, celebrating African, Chinese and Italian cultures August 27-29, 2010. Check out the full schedule of events here – I’m so looking forward to the pizza eating contest on Sunday!
The penultimate cultural festival at the City Market is happening this Saturday, August 28, 2010, celebrating Italian culture. There will be chances to win tickets to the Edmonton Opera, a booth offering Pinocchio ice cream, and a roving accordion player. See you there!
I’m really looking forward to the next Slow Food Edmonton event on September 26, 2010, put together by Valerie – an all-inclusive tour of Sylvan Star Cheese, Bles Wold Dairy, and dinner at Eco Cafe. All for $75, including transportation. There are only 50 tickets available – act fast!
Though I haven’t yet purchased any certificates, I have to admit Groupon does have some pretty good deals. One of the best deals last week was a $30 Famoso gift certificate for just $15.
V Sandwiches (10135 – 100 A Street) on Rice Howard Way is now open! It’s only been in business for a few days, and I’ve already had a few people rave about it – I’ll have to check it out soon.
Crepeworks on Whyte (10352 82 Avenue, 780-484-7975) is also now open.
Twyla visited a new restaurant called Dumplings (2431 Ellwood Drive) in southwest southeast Edmonton (they even have a blog and are on Twitter!). I’ve said it before, but the suburbs have a burgeoning food scene indeed.
Will Bistro Praha ever return? It isn’t looking good.
Sorrentino’s is celebrating their 16th annual mushroom harvest September 1-30, 2010.
There’s a new local food blog in town – welcome, Leslie!
Liane’s latest celebrity chef profile subjects were Ryan Jesperson and Kari Skelton – Kari’s brownies sound delicious!
After seeing photos of Callingwood Farmers’ Market in the Journal, I’m even more determined to visit before season’s end.
Valerie toured a chicken farm recently to learn more about the issue of raising backyard chickens. It was a trip initiated by River City Chickens.
Mel Priestly wrote about en Sante’s first annual Saskatoon Stomp – great photos, Mel!
We passed by The Treasury last Thursday, and, surprise, surprise – it’s now open! Has anyone checked it out yet? Does it live up to the swank they promised?

Treasury up and running

We finally got to try out Zaika on Sunday at the Fringe. I had the mango chicken combo ($8) – while I could handle the heat in the subtly spicy, deliciously rich sauce, I was defeated by the samosa. Mack had the beef kabob wrap ($8), and though found it quite messy to eat, thoroughly enjoyed it. We both thought Zaika provided a much better value than Rustixx pizza – I hope they’re back at the grounds next year!

Mango chicken combo from Zaika

The Cooking Chronicles: The Occasional Vegetarian

This year, I made a conscious effort to incorporate more vegetarian meals into our diet – it was a decision partly made so we could be more aware of the meat that we consume (instead of it being a given come every supper, it is a deliberate addition), but also partly for variety’s sake. It’s also been easier to experiment because of our weekly trip to the farmers’ market, and being confronted by what’s in season each Saturday.

Pan-cooked Greens with Tofu and Garlic

Though Mack wasn’t a fan of tofu to start with, I’ve slowly been winning him over (the ground pork and tofu dish we make with Irvings pork and tofu from Ying Fat is actually one of his favourites). For dinner this week when I was feeling under the weather, he took over the kitchen reins, and prepared up Mark Bittman’s pan-cooked greens with tofu and garlic.

We had picked up some lovely kale from Sundog Organics, and some extra firm tofu from Superstore, which I had frozen and thawed, as Bittman had directed. Mack sliced up the tofu, then proceeded to separate the kale stems from the leaves, which he stir-fried separately. Greens cooked, he then pan-fried the tofu, then returned the greens to the pan along with the sauce. We served the dish with rice.

Pan-cooked greens with tofu

The heat of the pan had vaporized most of the sauce, so it was consequently, a very dry dish. Flavourful, as the tofu and kale had soaked up that tasty fish sauce liquid (soy sauce could be substituted for fish sauce for a true vegetarian dish), but we would definitely double the quantity next time, or even add some stock.

Healthy and fast, this is a simple dish that we would make again.

Penne with Zucchini and Ricotta

A Deborah Madison recipe for penne with zucchini and ricotta is another simple dish, calling for less than ten ingredients. She intended for bright quills of yellow and green zucchini to dot the pasta, but as all I had on hand was a green zucchini from Kuhlmann’s. It worked just fine, taste-wise.

Penne with zucchini and ricotta (photo taken after we had decimated half the pan)

The ricotta and parmesan easily integrated into the pasta and vegetables, melting with the residual heat. Still, there’s no question that the zucchini are the star of this dish, lending their essence to every bite.

City Market Report: Week 15

The haze that remained over the city couldn’t cast a shadow over the City Market this week; at least for us. I’m not sure what it was, but we really enjoyed ourselves today – possibly because we could actually do some real shopping today (our fridge is now working again), or because we were able to linger, and catch up with people without needing to be time conscious.

Time for another overhead shot

It was also noon by the time we made it down to the market. And though that meant missing out on some early bird pickings (like eggs from Sunshine Organic), we were still able to strike off most of the things on our shopping list.

Riverbend Gardens had corn!

Romanesco broccoli from Kuhlmann’s (I had to look that name up)

Lobster mushrooms from Mo Na

Some of the vendors have been steadily adding banners to their booths as the weeks pass. One such example is Mighty Trio Organics – I love their colourful banners!

Mighty Trio Organics

Sugar Sugar Bakery, the newest cupcake business to join the vendors at City Market, was back this week. If you haven’t yet, check out her cupcake menu – many of the flavours are cleverly named after Archie comic characters! We bought two “Honey Honey” cupcakes to try – the cake, sweetened with honey, was quite distinct, and one I would buy again.

Chandra, of Sugar Sugar

Lastly, a special shout out to Patty Milligan for making my day – she gave us the sunflowers that were gracing her table – they have been brightening up our space all day!

Next week – the penultimate cultural festival at the City Market takes place, celebrating all things Italian.

artsScene Edmonton Summer Patio Party and Behind-the-Scenes at Fairmont Hotel Macdonald

Though I’ve attended a few artsScene Edmonton events before (notably their patio party at Latitude 53 last summer), this was my first of their behind-the-scenes series, which provides attendees with the opportunity to “go backstage” at cultural institutions such as the Alberta Ballet, Edmonton Opera, and most recently, at the Freewill Shakespeare Festival. This time, Hotel Macdonald was to be centre stage.

Hotel Macdonald

The haze outside meant most people opted to stay inside, which meant the room was all the more lively. With music from the Jerrold Dubyk Trio and beats from Mindy Cooper (DJ Sweetz) thrown in, it was a great atmosphere to mingle the night away.

Inside the Wedgewood Room

Jerrold Dubyk Trio

Sarah Jackson was also on hand as one of the featured artists, showcasing her new project Angles of Love. I love that she is able to incorporate fun, interactive elements into her exhibits (at the last Refinery party at the Art Gallery of Alberta, Sarah created condiment portraits of guests).

Sarah busy with card readings

Some hors d’oeuvres were included in the price of our $29 ticket, and I made sure to sample away. The kitchen had prepared all sorts of skewers, and, more up my alley, several crispy deep-fried treats, including spring rolls and spanakopita. A selection of cold appetizers were also available, including salsa and chips, cucumber cups, and very tasty squares of toast topped with brie and strawberry.

Food, glorious food!

I had been most looking forward to the tour portion of the evening, which was supposed to provide insight on the building’s history and architecture. It did somewhat, though not to the extent I was hoping for. Also, with such a large group, it was difficult to hear the guides at times.

Inside the Drawing Room (formerly known as the Ladies’ Drawing Room, where women would wait for their escorts)

I have dined in the Empire Ballroom before, but I had no idea the room had been used to house jean makers during World War II. Or, that the ceiling (called “The Chase”), featured anatomically correct hounds.

Empire Ballroom

The decidedly masculine Jasper Room was built to overlook the Fathers of Confederation painting on the wall next door. The room also includes windows set near the floor – done so they are level with diners seated at the table.

Jasper Room

Our last stop was up to the eighth floor rooms, where many high profile visitors have stayed – recent guests have included Van Morrison and Bon Jovi. Though someone was occupying their most lavish suite that night ($3000/night, where Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie stayed), we were able to see the Churchill Suite, a cozy two-story room with generously-sized bathrooms, priced at $999/night.

Imagine waking up to Churchill in the morning

After the tour, we wandered outside to take in the patio, smoke be dammed.

The haze

Lots of green!

Thanks to artsScene for a great night – check their website to find out about their future events!

You can read Mack’s post about the evening here, and see his photoset here.

Food at the Fringe!

We spent most of the weekend at the Fringe, which not only meant watching quite a number of shows, but also having the opportunity to sample food from several vendors, both on and off the Fringe site.

Green onion cakes are a perennial Fringe favourite

A vendor dedicated entirely to chocolate covered bananas!

Deli Manjoo, small, custard-filled cakes were only found at Capital Ex…until now

We encountered Big City Cupcakes on Saturday just before entering the grounds. It turns out the Kelowna-based franchise is set to take Edmonton by storm, with a location in Kingsway Mall opening this week, another coming soon in City Centre downtown, and more in the works.

Big City Cupcakes

They pride themselves on using all natural ingredients, and never sell day-old cupcakes. They also offer gluten-free cupcakes on select days. At $4 a pop, they’re definitely charging more than their competitors, but then again, their cupcakes are about twice the size of those found at Whimsical or Flirt.

Chocolate Mounds and New York Chocolate Cheesecake flavours

The Chocolate Mounds (chocolate cupcake with a ganache centre topped with coconut butter cream, rolled in coconut and drizzled with ganache) was intensely sweet, but chocoholics would love it. Mack liked his Chocolate Cheesecake (chocolate cupcake baked in homemade cheesecake filling and topped with cream cheese icing), as it really did manage to capture cheesecake flavours in a mini-cake form. We were also lucky enough to be given the After Dinner Mint cupcake to try for free, and it ended up being my favourite of the three – the refreshing mint icing lightened the dense chocolate cake. As much as I love the occasional cupcake, I wonder if Edmonton can support several more cupcakeries – I guess time will tell.

Zaika is new to the Fringe this year, and though we didn’t try it yet, their sleek, monochromatic booth caught my eye. I also am intrigued by their menu, which deviates from the usual tandoori/butter chicken offerings of other Indian food booths (Jean Poutine blogged about it here).

Zaika

Set up next to Zaika is Rustixx Wood Fired Pizza, which we first saw in Calgary a few weeks back at Fiestaval. Rustixx is a mobile food cart that offers wood-fired thin-crust pizza, not a small feat given they have to tow the oven around.

Rustixx’s wood-fired oven (it gets up to 900F!)

They make nine different pizzas, ranging in price from $10-15. We opted for the meat lovers ($13), featuring pepperoni, bacon and sausage.

Meat lovers pizza

Our experience with Vince and Colleen’s wood-fired oven this summer led us to believe that the Rustixx pizza would have a similarly crispy crust (our preference), but it didn’t. It was chewy; the kind of crust that invites eaters to fold it over like a sandwich (something Famoso advised in its early days). Not unpleasant, but not what I was expecting either. The toppings were great though – subtly tangy sauce, fair amount of cheese, and particularly delectable sausage.

On Sunday, we had some time to kill between shows, so wandered away for the day’s eats.

Fat Franks is never a bad choice

I’d been meaning to check out Cha Island Tea Co. (10332 81 Avenue) for a while, and finally had the time and proximity to do so.

Cha Island Tea Co.

Facing south on 81 Avenue, Cha was a quiet (air-conditioned) refuge from the Fringe bustle, making it a great stop in between shows. With the bright walls, natural light, and reggae music, I felt like I had stepped off the street and into a soothing retreat.

In addition to drinks and light fare, they also sell loose leaf teas

Given the name of the place, I knew I should have ordered tea, but for whatever reason, felt more like an iced coffee ($3.75) that day. It was all right, but a bit watered down. Mack’s green apple iced tea ($3.75), on the other hand, was something that will have me coming back. The sweet and tangy flavours were balanced perfectly, and really, both drinks were very generously sized (in plastic-sealed cups often associated with bubble tea).

Green apple iced tea and iced coffee

I’m hoping to sample more Fringe food this weekend before the festival wraps up! Do you have any favourites so far?

Cutting Ties with Teatro la Quindicina

I saw my first Teatro la Quindicina play in 2001 – the summer after I graduated high school. Cocktails at Pam’s had received a 4 1/2 star review in the Journal, and it seemed to be on everyone’s must-see list. At the time, I was a volunteer, and redeeming volunteer appreciation Fringe bucks at the time meant waiting in line twice – once to get tickets at the door, and again to get seats. My friend and I waited over three hours total to see the production, which probably didn’t help our expectation level. Both of us came out of the show not having understood the humour – when the audience laughed, we didn’t even know a joke had been made. It happened to me then, and it has happened since then – sometimes a show just doesn’t jive with an individual because theatre, like other forms of art, is subjective.

In 2004, I attended my second Teatro show, a remount of Shocker’s Delight during the regular theatre season. The show, about growing up, friendship and love, featured Ron Pederson, Jocelyn Ahlf and Josh Dean, and to this day, remains one of my all-time favourite productions. Every theatre patron has those handful of plays that they go back to, year after year, to be referenced as what cemented their love of theatre. Shocker’s Delight was one of those shows for me, so much so that I purchased a copy of A Teatro Trilogy: Selected Plays by Stewart Lemoine soon after.

Since then, I’ve been attending Teatro la Quindicina productions regularly – Pith!, The Oculist’s Holiday and last season’s Everybody Goes to Mitzi’s!, have been highlights over the past six years. Two years ago, because Mack and I were finding that we were attending most, if not all, of Teatro’s plays, we decided to purchase season subscriptions, figuring that was one way we could support the company.

For that reason, I was shocked to read Teatro Artistic Director Jeff Haslam’s comment, written on Saturday:

You come across as snotty and arrogant. I absolutely despise your pretension that you are “a reviewer” in any professional way. In fact every time I read one of your posts I think “I am not smitten with this weird women like her icky friends seem to be. I wish she’d stop subscribing to my theatre company, because she seems like such a pretentious doof. I wonder if she knows that her endlessly stuck-up self-important little reviews are deeply offensive to those of us who bust our buts for next to nothing to bring a little entertainment to this distant northern city? I wonder if she knows that her crappy 19 bucks goes to less than 40% of what it costs to pay all the artists she isn’t always smitten by? Do us all a favour lady. Write about food and take your entertainment dollar elsewhere.
Sincerely
Jeff Haslam

When I started this blog back in 2006, I wrote about many things, including theatre. One reason for this was so I could maintain a log of memorable shows, actors and playwrights as a personal reference guide. Another – which has become the driving force of my blog – was so I could showcase all that I love about Edmonton – local restaurants, area producers, festivals, and yes, theatre.

I have never claimed to be a professional reviewer. But like anyone who watches any production, I will have an opinion. Sure, most theatregoers may not take the time to express their opinion as I do, but they likely do so in other ways – telling friends, commenting on a review, updating a Facebook status. Though I doubt they would believe me anyway, I never meant to hurt or offend any of the Teatro actors; my intent wasn’t malicious, or personal, even though he has interpreted it as such. I was, in my mind, recording my experience of the shows (my posts about Teatro can be found here).

Mack wrote more about the process of confirming that comment was indeed submitted by Jeff Haslam, and I thank him for willing to be the go-between. I will admit to some cowardice on my part – as personal as their reaction seemed to be, mine was equally so. Six years of history with anything can do that to you.

Perhaps what’s most upsetting to me is when and how Jeff Haslam chose to disclose his feelings about my blog. There are numerous other routes he could have taken – an e-mail, for instance, or, in person, at one of Teatro’s shows (as a subscriber, I would have to call in to reserve my seats, so he would have known when I would be attending the plays). Also, last November, when I contacted him by e-mail for a post I wrote about shopping locally, he responded, but did not mention his opinion in his reply. The most opportune time in my mind, however, was in April of this year, when I renewed our subscription to Teatro. Could he not have communicated to me then of his preference that we stop attending his shows earlier, and save us from all of this? I think about all of the productions I have attended in the past few years, sitting in the audience unaware that the theatre company putting on the show really didn’t want me there.

He will ultimately get his wish – I can say with confidence that any production Jeff Haslam is involved in will never earn another dollar from me. And though I am saddened by how this happened, I look forward to supporting other theatre companies with my patronage in the future.

August 26, 2010 update: Mack and I received a handwritten apology from Jeff Haslam in the mail today. It was accompanied by a signed copy of Stewart Lemoine’s At the Zenith of the Empire, and a refund for the unused portion of our season subscriptions.

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