Gift Ideas

If you’re like me, then you probably started Christmas shopping on Boxing Day last year. I’m a notorious present stockpiler, and I think it has less to do with my shopping obsession than the fact that I don’t want to regret passing on what would have been the perfect gift come holiday time.

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving Day in the U.S., meaning Black Friday, which many consider the official kickoff to the Christmas season, is coming up fast (who knew such a bleak term could be used to describe the start of the most festive time of year?). So in honor of the season, and to help those poor souls destined to procrastinate with their shopping, I have compiled a list of interesting gift possibilities:

If you have any other unique gift ideas, please feel free to share them!

The Nature of Blogging

I must confess that I quite enjoy blogging. More than fun, I believe it’s a healthy exercise to regularly reflect and record observations and events in one’s life. To an extent as well, I think the notion of being judged solely on the markers of thoughts, ideas, and experiences is a romantic one.

I read an interview by Rolf Potts about the art of keeping a travel journal in See Magazine this week. On the subject of blogs vs. paper, Lavinia Spalding had this to say:

“A blog serves a wider purpose. It’s essentially published, which means that (in most cases, anyway) it’s been proofread and censored for public consumption. Thus, in terms of the actual writing, a private diary entry can be authentic and vulnerable on a level that something broadcast on the Internet can almost never be.”

I won’t dispute the fact that blogs can indeed be very public collections of personal information, but I am more interested in the nature of the media actively allowing for the crafting of identities. Although some blog for themselves, most are aware that somewhere in cyberspace lies an audience. Consciousness of “public consumption” intrudes, and what isn’t said then becomes more important than the content itself: the stories excluded are the more telling narrative.

I can hear my post-modernist literature professor echoing in my head. Or perhaps it’s just my inner English teacher roaring to get out. Whatever it is, I fancy the concept that a blog can be deeper than restaurant reviews, theatre critique, and fashion commentary.

Soia & Kyo’s “Chelsea” coat

In the last month or so, I have been on the hunt for a wool coat. In hindsight, I should not have passed on an exquisite grey number sold at Banana Republic last year, as I’ve been looking for a replica ever since.
I’m not sure why I really only have one cold-appropriate coat, as the length of Alberta winters can easily excuse further diversity in this wardrobe area. Edmonton summers are abbreviated at best, and yet, I have at least five warm-weather jackets.
On Saturday, I wandered into Etzio on Whyte Avenue, and was immediately drawn to the black “Chelsea” by Soia & Kyo – a knee-length coat featuring an asymmetrical, full-length, two-way zipper and belted waist. The major selling point for me though was the collar, which can be worn in two ways: with an open neck (scarf optional) for dressier occasions, or completely zipped and buckled for more warmth. On the downside, the material is only 80% wool, so it isn’t as warm as it could be.
Since buying the non-refundable coat, I’ve been looking into the brand, which was unknown to me before yesterday. It turns out Montreal-based Soia & Kyo seem to be a darling of the Canadian fashion community. Only five years young, they have built a reputation for offering stylish, “affordable” outerwear. Their collection is created by the same person who designs for Mackage, a higher-end line sold by the likes of Holt Renfrew.
I’m also not immune to sales pitches, which I am aware are as genuine as the flattery found in fitting rooms. The sales clerk at Etzio said that the coats were flying off the racks, and had been received barely a week prior. Coupled with the fact that I am “supporting a Canadian company,” I can put together quite a strong argument for this purchase.
Or, I can admit that all of this was merely posturing to justify an incredibly pricey buy.

“Chelsea” coat (in espresso/black; the site did not have an image of the black-only coat)

Theatre: “Eros and the Itchy Ant”

This afternoon, a friend and I headed to Varscona Theatre (10329-83 Avenue) to watch Teatro La Quindicina‘s season opener, titled Eros and the Itchy Ant. From the flyer:

“Music and mythology converge to make magic in this unstoppably hilarious romp, set in that most unexpected of Teatro setting – present day Canada. A piano teacher and a baker explore the possibilities of mutual attraction with a little intervention from a tart-tongued mezzo-soprano and an affable contemporary incarnation of the Greek god of Amor.”

First thing – I think Stewart Lemoine productions are meant to be enjoyed in a packed house: it’s an unspoken rule that the communal experience on a grander scale somehow make the laughs funnier. Unfortunately, this matinee performance was only about half full.

It’s hard not to judge Lemoine by comparison, because I know what he is capable of (Shocker’s Delight! has become my standard of which community theatre is measured by), so I found the plot of Eros to be sorely lacking. Unlike most of his other romantic comedies, the only obstacle to the would-be couple was themselves. Nothing is more frustrating than having to watch characters get over their assumptions for the inevitable pairing to occur. Moreover, I have never been a big fan of musicals in any incarnation, and though I enjoyed hearing “The Itchy Ant” piano piece and watching the manic comedy of the Psyche opera scene unfold, I think the musical interjections disrupted the flow of the play as a whole.

Jesse Gervais, who played the hapless male lead Franklin, was the only cast member not in the 2002 premiere. Although John Kirkpatrick was the original Franklin, I still couldn’t help but think what Ron Pederson would have done with the role. Nothing against Gervais’ performance, but Pederson’s brand of awkward grace would have better suited the rhythm and chemistry of the group.

As typical in Lemoine productions, the supporting characters stole the show. Wanda, friend and coworker to the female lead, was the perfect blend of supportive associate and blunt observer, played to a T by the stately Sheri Somerville. And Jeff Haslam, always a welcome presence, brought his boisterous energy to the title role of Eros, immediately putting the audience at ease. I don’t think I can wait eight months to see him again on the Varscona stage, so I am planning to catch a performance of the Euro-style variety show, Oh Susannah! sometime soon.

Despite the overall disappointment of Eros, I will be back in February for the next Teatro play. Lemoine has done much to earn my respect for his work, and I believe it’s a compliment, ultimately, for the expectations to be so high. He’ll have two more opportunities to clear the bar this year.

Games Day

A scene in The Break-Up sees a group of thirty-somethings gather to play board games. This seemed to me like a rather dry idea, but maybe there’s more to it than that, as I participated in my own “games day” of sorts today.

Piling over to a coworker’s house, we played Cranium Pop 5 and Scene It, both of which are new to me. I have played the original Cranium before, and didn’t enjoy it as much as I should have, likely because my desire to win was challenged by my inability to rock the “humdinger” and “sculpturades” categories. Because of this, the Pop 5 version is more up my alley; instead of being assigned a manner of dissipating the clues, you and your team are given a choice of methods (which yes, can be influenced by the answer category and points strategy, but still).

Scene It, a game that combines trivia with visuals, audio, and video, was great fun as well. Although movie knowledge is not my forte, the multimedia-inclusive design was novel, stimulating, and appealed to the pop-culture-infested side of my brain. I’d definitely give Scene It: TV Edition a try!

I wonder if a game rental service exists, as the price is an obvious deterrent to collecting too many games. Like Bag, Borrow or Steal, the company where purse-aholics can pay a monthly charge to “rent” designer bags, someone should start a business where a monthly membership fee grants customers the right to borrow from a catalogue of games.

Regardless, games night anyone?

Real men make quiche, too

It seems that I am on a baked egg kick. On the heels of my frittata experiment last month, I enlisted the help of a friend and his spacious kitchen (in that order, of course) to test out a Better Homes and Gardens quiche recipe.

We opted to use frozen pie shells (why make from scratch what can be purchased “off the shelf?”) and chose smoked turkey breast as our filling ingredient. Like frittatas, “mix then bake” was the order of the day. Everything on the recipe was straightforward, even though we did prematurely combine the cheese and the flour with the wet mixture. Honestly, the most difficult part was waiting for the quiche to cook; nearly fifty minutes passed until we decided the egg had set enough to eat.

A photo of the finished product is below; it’s safe to say I’m pretty proud of our creation! We paired the quiche with a simple romaine salad (it seems that grape tomatoes taste infinitely better when you know the pint cost $4), but I think a vegetable or tomato soup would have worked just as well as a side. Next time, I would also consider adding a layer of cheese on top of the quiche before baking for extra flavor and texture.

Needless to say, I can now add quiche to my growing repertoire of cookery.

Quiche x 2

Plated and ready to eat! (Disclaimer for foodies: we knew white would have been the more appropriate wine pairing, but we only had red on hand…)

These boots are made for walking…

I am not sure how often I will post about “fashion,” but the early days of my blog are a good time as any to forgivably experiment with topics.

The city has been hit with what seems like continuous snowfalls since mid-October, so since I do quite a bit of walking outside, I thought a pair of winter boots would be a good investment for me. Now that I’ve had a pair for the better part of three weeks, I can’t imagine how I got along in Edmonton winters without them.

These Kenneth Cole Reaction “Jonely Lonely” boots are actually my first pair of adult winter boots, a far cry from those pink and purple, velcro-fastened monstrosities I was forced to wear in childhood. This pair is not only functional – essentially flat and only calf-high – but they have also quickly become my workday and weekend staple, with the ability to complement both dress pants and jeans with ease. Although the grip could use some improvement, I have been able to walk to and sit at work in comfort. All hail practical purchases!

Kenneth Cole Reaction “Jonely Lonely” boots (image from macys.com)

Urban Diner

Just returned from brunch with a few of my girlfriends in celebration of a birthday. We went to Urban Diner (12427 102 Avenue), located in the upscale High Street district. I have been there for dinner on several occasions, but this was my first taste of their breakfast menu.

We went in without reservations, so we had to wait about twenty minutes for a table. Although the time went by fairly quickly, I would advise calling ahead to book a table, as there isn’t really a proper waiting area set up in the restaurant.

I love the feel of the place – the staff are friendly, the dining room is clean and bright, and the food is comfort-oriented. Above the cash counter hangs a chalkboard advertising their daily specials, ‘shakes, and wine; I think it’s a nice touch.

Besides coffee (a must!), I ordered the frittata (with sausage, bacon, spinach, portabella, peppers, tomatoes, leeks, swiss & mozza, served with Diner potatoes and toast). My friends chose the smoked salmon bennie (with basil pesto, roasted bell pepper, spinach, cheddar & cream, served with grilled French bread and Diner potatoes).

Given that the restaurant seemed especially busy, the food was quite prompt. I’m a sucker for novelties: the frittata arrived in its own mini cast iron pan! I’m not sure how many eggs they used, but I can say I was rather stuffed at the end of it. Still, I wouldn’t really call the dish a ‘frittata’ per se; it is more aptly termed ‘scrambled eggs and then some.’ I am also happy to report that thankfully, I did not taste the leek!

Urban Diner never disappoints; I highly recommend it for brunch or dinner!

The quaint view from the window

Smoked salmon bennie

Frittata

Doan’s Restaurant

Vietnamese pho has long been a favorite of mine, with southside’s Pagolac (9642 54 Avenue) claiming my vote for pho supremacy in Edmonton. However, I decided to put that title to the test when I visited Doan’s Restaurant (10130 107 Street) with a friend on Friday night.
Doan’s has consistently won See Magazine‘s annual readers poll for “Best Vietnamese.” And though I once sampled their pho in a take-out order, this was my first dine-in experience to date.

The decor is a classic case of Asian misinterpretation of Western flair. Although the pink walls, solid wooden tables and seat covers are nice enough, the palm trees (yes, I said palm trees) and Oriental art accents create an apperance of trying too hard. To underscore this point, the water was served in wine glasses.

To eat at an Asian restaurant without tea is a foreign idea to me, so we ordered a pot of green tea ($2). We were surprised to find they used a tea bag instead of loose leaves or steeped tea. Pagolac, on the other hand, offers a brewed variety, and doesn’t charge for their tea.

We decided to start with a half plate of cha gio (spring rolls) while for the main course, my friend settled on Pho Dac Biet (special beef noodle soup with brisket, medium rare beef, well done beef, and beef balls) and I ordered my usual Pho Tai (medium rare beef noodle soup).

The food arrived promptly. The sping rolls were crispy and not greasy, but my friend noted that they were smaller than their Pagolac counterparts. As for the pho – it was simply delicious. The broth was rich and flavorful, with enough cilantro garnish to keep me happy. They were also extremely generous with the portions – the bowl contained noticeably more noodles and beef than Pagolac’s version. So for approximately $1 more, Doan’s offers the better value.

Though I enjoy Pagolac’s laid back atmosphere and free tea refills, the quality of the food at Doan’s gives Pagolac a run for their money. I’ll definitely be back for another round.

Palm trees!

Pho Dac Biet

Pho Tai

“Studio 60” Reprieve

I was getting ready to write a post titled “In Memoriam: Studio 60” when NBC officially granted the flailing drama a full season on Thursday.

I loved Aaron Sorkin’s previous effort, The West Wing. I quote the show incessantly, compare moments in real life to scenes in an episode, and talk about the characters as if they were actual people. But that’s it – the world Sorkin created was so rich, so palpable, and so true that it’d be a wonder if the audience wasn’t affected in such a way. The characters were three-dimensional, not stock in any sense, and developed gradually over time. Moreover, the political forum was a medium that allowed issues to be brought up and debated, so education ended up an appropriate and inadvertent byproduct of the show.

By contrast, Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip seems to be on a mission to force the viewers to not only like the characters, but also to bow down to high-brow television too. The show’s “Big Three” are part-stereotype, part-political touchstone: Harriet is the liberal Christian entertainer, with values that continuously conflict with Hollywood expectations; Simon is the black comic who grew up in the ‘hood, with interest for equal representation behind the scenes; and Tom is the young actor from the Midwest with a brother in Afghanistan and parents who don’t understand his career decision. Critics and the general public alike have chastised the show for being too pushy and pedantic, overindulgent in its adoration for itself. Who really cares about the ratings of a sketch-comedy show, or whether or not a politically incorrect piece makes it on air? Whereas West Wing‘s POTUS dealt with an assassination attempt, impeachment, genocide and terrorism, NBS network chief Jordan McDeere frets over censors, negative publicity, and signing the next bit hit.

Despite my criticism, it hasn’t been all bad. My favorite scene so far is a tender moment between Matt and Harriet, the show’s will-they-or-won’t-they couple, underscored by a lute version of Sting’s “Fields of Gold.” Lovely.

I will continue to watch simply because it’s Sorkin. However, I do hope that the talk about the show coming down from its pedestal is true – Studio 60‘s longevity depends on it.