local herald

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Volume 4, Issue 4April 192013

THE

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ESeeking a memorablenight at the movies?The Film Societybeckons

Cover photo and story by Bram D. EisenthalThe Local Herald

W e s t E n d ’ s C o m m u n i t y P a p e rTH

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“I say YES when your bank says no!”

pg. 2 - APRIL 19, 2013 - localheraldmontreal.com

Bra

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The Local Herald, West End Montreal EditionVolume 4, Number 4, APRL 19, 2013The Local Herald does not accept responsibility for errors,misprints or inaccuracies published within. The opinions andstatements of our columnists are not to be presumed as thestatements and opinions of The Local Herald.

When I started this little paper, I decidedI’d give it my best shot, despite theurgings of so many people not to printa paper during times when suchactivity was doomed from the start. Ihave no regrets that I followed through

on my instincts, because printing my own paper wassomething I’ve always wanted to do. And I have beenproud, from the very first issue in September 2010 to theone you hold in your hands, of the product I’ve beenputting out. It’s both good and different, a refreshingcombination.

But now that I have wet my feet somewhat, I can sadlyadmit that the rumours are true: The days of the printedpublication are rapidly dwindling. More and more famousperiodicals – among them the Christian Science Monitorand Newsweek (and, more recently, the popular, glossyand beautiful Italian community periodical, Panorama),have ceased publishing and are now available solely online. The 60-year old The Monitor, the NDG weekly thatcould, ultimately decided that it could not (any longer)and folded some three years ago, which was one of thereasons I decided to expand on my Briefly Bram columnand publish my own small paper.

So, it is with no sense of satisfaction and, truly, a heavyheart that I have decided to stop publishing a printedition. The following issue, in May 2013, will be the finalLocal Herald in print and will give way to what I hope willbe a new-and-improved Local Herald On-Line. It is mycurrent plan to keep the paper layout and contents thesame, but you will no longer be able to find it scatteredon newsprint around the West End.

I apologize to the older demographic, many of whom arenot computer literate enough to search for the on-lineversion. Those of you who are both computer savvy andequipped, I urge and invite you to continue reading. Ipromise that there will be exciting new facets of thepaper on line, such as recorded video interviews,featurettes and up-to-date news. The website is locatedat www.localheraldmontreal.com.

I’d like to hear from you regarding the new plans and would love to get feedback ([email protected]) regarding what you like bestand dislike most. And nothing stops me from bringingback a print edition in the future. As long as I live andbreathe, anything is actually possible.

Thanks for sticking with us, kindly take your copy of theMay issue when it is out and please, please, please stickwith us. I really want to think of The Local Herald On-Lineas an exciting opportunity. May we do well in Cyberspaceand may you all do well along with us.

Managing Editor: Bram Eisenthal Creative Design: Julia Lucio - [email protected]

OUR CONTACT INFORMATIONFree Classifieds and Advertising: 514-975-7745

EMAIL: [email protected] localheraldmontreal.com

Head Office: 327 2nd Street E. Cornwall, On. K6H 1Y8

Agoura not closed after all

Last issue I reported that Agoura, the Greek restaurant onSomerled, corner Cumberland, had closed its doors, basingthis on reports from friends and on its complete emptinesswhenever I drove by weeknights. Imagine my shock andsurprise, therefore, when, upon delivering our last issue inMarch, I caught a young family (parents and a child),departing the restaurant on a Saturday just after 1:00 p.m.“Wasn’t this place closed?” I asked the mom and dad.

“Not that we are aware of,” they replied. “We come here allthe time.”

So, sorry, Agoura, if my reporting your demise waspremature. Live long and prosper!

Fantasia film festival about to celebrate its 17th season

Sweet 16 was its best incarnation ever, but Fantasia keepsgetting better with age, so I’d like to wish this stellar,imaginative, fun and popular event the best of luck and Ican’t wait to celebrate as always. Fantasia showcases about150 feature films and tons of shorts, animation and specialevents during almost three weeks every summer, deviatingfrom its first few years during the weeks leading up toHalloween. Its founder and CEO, Pierre Corbeil, and adevoted-beyond-belief group of programmers, jurymembers, staff and, of course, a huge group of insanely-enthused film buffs, managed to keep it alive untilgovernment realized – just last year – that it had a thrivingsuccess on its hands that was well worth funding a little.Trust me, while many of the films shown are not foreveryone – the festival screens genre gems that span thegamut of horror, sci-fi, fantasy and their ilk – I promise youan experience unlike anything else you have ever attended ifyou have the guts to turn out. You will also have anopportunity to meet many of the producers, directors andactors behind many of these international movies and askquestions at Q&As. This year’s Fantasia festival will be heldfrom July 18 – August 6, 2013, at Concordia’s Hall Buildingand environs. Check out the website atwww.fantasiafestival.com for more information.

EDITORIALSSoon marching to an on-linedrummer

localheraldmontreal.com - APRIL 19, 2013 - pg. 3

When I need to do something that feelsamazing and that I can do over and over again,what do you think it is? WRONG! I watch agood (or bad) film. I always thought that mydecade in film as a unit publicist would detractfrom my enjoyment of the experience, becauseI will always see in my mind’s eye the cables,crew, the director in his low canvas chair, allperched right at the edge of the set.

In a horror film, I just know the head you haveseen viciously ripped off some poor victim isexposing arteries spouting crimson-dyedmaple syrup (which really stinks under the hotlights after a while, by the way) and is nowsitting in the collection of the talented-beyond-belief F/X artist responsible. I have workedwith far more actors who are not nice peoplethan those who are (and the Canadian,Quebecois and British actors have all beendarling and eminently professional, almost to aman and woman, I must tell you) and youshould know that most are nothing like theiron-screen personas, both the nasty and theangelic. Some day, some day… the stories willbe revealed (when everyone involved is eitherdead or too old to sue).

But the allure of film is too strong to avoid forthose of us who adore the medium and I amone of them. That’s something I share withPhilippe Spurrell, a resident of Westmountwho is behind Le Cineclub/The Film Society,which can best be described as a unique clubfor cinephiles… minus the annual fee.The Quebec-born Spurrell is one of themost passionate film buffs I know andC/FS is one of the best-kept secrets toother film buffs, unless you are alreadyhooked into the fabulous almost-weekly screenings Spurrell organizesat various venues around town.

For Spurrell, “like a lot of kids,” hisfirst recollection of watching a filmpertains to a cartoon. “In the 1970s, Isaw a Disney animated film on16mm in Technicolor in a schoolauditorium. I believe it was the TheJungle Book. I just remember lots ofvibrant colour and that there wassomething magic in the air.”

Now, as an adult, what keeps thatmagic alive for him? “I like thatfilm transports the viewer toanother dimension that feeds theimagination. Since I amparticularly into older films, I likethat they can take you back intime. An era I have come to adoreis Hollywood's ‘Golden Age’ fromthe 1920s until the advent oftelevision. Actors had realcharacter then and the stories were socompelling without having to descend intodepravity.”

Spurrell used to idolize the people behind thecamera most, filmmakers like Terry Gilliam,

Frank Capra and Orson Welles. “But today myheroes are the people who work in vintage filmrestoration,” he told me. “They literally raceagainst the clock to save very old prints andnegatives from further decomposition, so thatfuture generations might benefit.”

So, how did The Film Society come about?“Le Cinéclub/ The Film Society was started in1992 and has always been about screeningfilms the way they were intended… in a groupsetting.

“Forever going against the grain and wantingto ‘fight the good fight,’ I am big on traditionalrituals and preserving history. As bigcommercial interests swiftly and mercilesslypush aside film in favour of the digitalexperience, it is incredibly important and ofcultural value to still be able to experiencegenuine motion picture film in a darkenedtheatre. When I think of a whole new younggeneration missing out on the ‘reel’ thing, itgives even more purpose to my cause ofkeeping it alive. For me, digital technologylacks the warmth of the more organic celluloid.

“Even most DVD and Blu-ray ‘restorations’ ofolder classics make the films look like theywere shot yesterday on digital cameras. Assomeone told me years ago at one of ourscreenings, film projection has an unspokenmagic about it. Modern technology has madeus more insular but we remain social creaturesat heart and a night out at the movies is a

wonderful

shared experience that fulfills a veryhuman need.”

Spurrell’s ultimate screening experience is a1920s silent, featuring live music in the venue,that draws an audience which includes younger

Seeking a memorable night at the movies? The Film Society beckonsStory and Photos Bram D. Eisenthal

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people, as well as ninetysomethings – “peoplewho might even recall when the film was firstreleased, as well as young children who laughout loud at the antics of a Buster Keaton or aCharlie Chaplin. My biggest surprise is thesmaller audiences we draw for lesser-knowntitles that are equally as brilliant as the big,“overplayed” titles. You would think, after all,that people (film buffs) would want to venture

out tod i s c o v e rthese hiddengems. C/FSh a s ,h o w e v e r ,seen ag r o w i n gnumber ofregulars thepast sixmonths whowill attendnearly everyw e e k l ys c r e e n i n gwe host,

regardless of the title.

“They’ve come to trust our programming andthat’s a good thing!”

Prior programming has included a 50thanniversary screening of Hitchcock’s seminalPsycho, his classic Vertigo, Martin Scorcese’sTaxi Driver, the feel-good classic Singin’ in theRain and others, many seen in their original filmgrain, or genuine photo chemical Technicolor.“That’s the gift we give viewers,” Spurrellpoints out: “The chance to see something inits rare, original form… kinda like seeing ananimal in the wild rather than in the zoo.”

Upcoming programming will feature: 1963’sJason and the Argonauts, most acclaimed forthe brilliant stop-animation work of legend RayHarryhausen; a rare Technicolor print of the1953 British feature film The Magic Box, aboutthe inventor of motion pictures (on display willbe the C/FS collection of vintage movieprojectors, some dating to the 1920s); and,coming soon, C/F\S’s annual fundraiser, thisyear The General, starring Buster Keaton. Onhand to speak will be renowned Montrealdirector Gerald Potterton (The Beatles’ YellowSubmarine, Heavy Metal), who helmed Keatonin the 1966 film The Railrodder. And the filmwill be screened with live musicians performing,on Saturday, May 25, at Westmount UnitedChurch (adjacent to Westmount Park).

Tickets for films are $8 regular admission, $6 forstudents and those 65 years of age and over. Forschedules, venues, or more information on LeCineclub/The Film Society, check them out ontheir website www.cineclubfilmsociety.com. Orvisit them on Facebook, where you can “Like”them as well.


I know that we cover the West End in general, but since CSL is much more proactive in publicizing their events “on time,” I tend to covertheir events more frequently. Nothing personal, NDG, Montreal West, Hampstead and Westmount. Besides, CSL is close enough that

West Enders everywhere can attend and enjoy their events.

To get your West End community news into The Local Herald, please e-mail me at the start of every month to be included in the nextissue: [email protected] (the paper generally comes out mid-month or so). Though we are heading directly on-line beginning

with our June issue, we intend to be very active promoting your events.

West End Happenings

CSL Zumbathon fundraiser assists cats – West End Gym

The Côte Saint-Luc Cats Committee (CSLCC) and Educhat will present a Zumbathon for a Cause on

Sunday, April 21 (11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.) at the West End Gym in the CSL Shopping Centre: 7025 Côte St. Luc

Road.

Anyone who makes a minimum donation of $10 at the door is invited to participate. Tax receipts are

available for donations of $50 or more. “Dance, get in shape, have fun and make a positive contribution

to ours cats programming,” says event chair Fern Robin.

The CSLCC, established less than three years ago, works in partnership with Shelley Schecter of Educhat on a

Trap, Neuter, Release and Adopt Program. A team of volunteers sets out to trap as many as possible, have

them sterilized and then adopted or returned to the spot where they were originally found. The committee

has also rescued a number of baby kittens and found homes for them.

The city’s first ever cat licensing bylaw was adopted recently.

Nine zumba instructors have generously agreed to donate their time. Participants will be able to enjoy a

fun zumba session and help the rescue efforts of homeless “community” cats. The instructors are Elena

Bertoldi, Leticia Nieto, Gilda Genis Triana ,Candida Ventura, Barbara Mora, Alessandra Gaudio, Carole

Albert, Viko Flores and Jorge Martinez.

For more information call 514-485-6806, ext. 2200 or log onto www.cotesaintluc.org/cats,

www.educhat.ca or Facebook (Côte St. Luc Cats Committee TNR Program).

CSL warms up its fiddles for May’s anticipated performance of classic musical Seems that Cote Saint-Lucers and West Enders have been clamouring for a classic theatrical hit. That’s right, the musical Fiddler on the Roof

will mesmerize theatre-goers beginning next month in Cote Saint-Luc. The play is a production of the municipality’s charming and

surprisingly excellent Dramatic Society, with director Anisa Cameron reprising the role that helped make Office Hours and Grease such prior

successes. The classic tale, if you have been living on Mars or in that vicinity, deals with thesmall Russian village of Czarist-era Anatevka and a forbidden love that blossoms between thedaughter of a hard-working dairyman and a young Cossack soldier. This one has it all: pathos,

drama, comedy, action and, of course, heart-stirring tunes you’ll be humming all the wayhome.

The salient themes cut across all demographics, making this a crowd-pleaser for everyone,regardless of age or cultural affiliation. Headlining are professional actors Sam Stein as Tevye and Kalie Rae as Golde. Stein, whoplayed Tevye in the Dora Wasserman Yiddish Theatre production of Fiddler on the Roof, is aprofessional equity actor most recently seen in the Segal Centre production of Guys and Dolls.

Rae has performed professionally in the United States. Also starring is Aidan Catriel, a Grade 4student at JPPS who actually plays the violin, as the iconic Fiddler.

Fiddler on the Roof runs from May 23 – June 9, 2013. Tickets are available at reduced prices until April 30. The Not-a-Rich-Man early bird

prices in March are $27 for adults and $22 for seniors and students. Tickets are available online at CSLDramaticSociety.com. Those without a

computer can purchase tickets in person at the Côte Saint-Luc Aquatic and Community Centre (5794 Parkhaven Ave.), Parks and Recreation

office (7500 Mackle Rd.), or the Eleanor London Côte Saint-Luc Public Library (5851 Cavendish Blvd.).Other information: www.csldramaticsociety.com or [email protected]. Don’t let the sun set on an opportunity to experience

this unique production!


some local filmtalent to hold our

rapt attentionby Bram D. EisenthalThe Local Herald

adrian morot Special Makeup Effects (F/X)

It’s a lucky thing Quebec’s Adrian Morot (and his team at Maestro F/X) did not win an Oscarfor Best Makeup Effects last year, for his stellar work on the film adaptation of the MordecaiRichler classic Barney’s Version, losing to his idol Rick Baker (who won for The Wolfman).Lucky for us, that is. Had Morot won, as he sat near Baker (the former quite unphased, fromthe look of things) at the televised Academy Awards show, or had he gone on to completehis work on the Tim Burton version of Superman (with Nick Cage as the Man of Steel),which was terminated in pre-production, who knows where he’d be today. Hollywood,most likely. Yes, Morot is that good, arguably the best in Canada. The prosthetic F/X wizardon such gems as the Emmy-winning miniseries Hiroshima, The Factory, Night at theMuseum, The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor, The Spiderwick Chronicles, 300, TheDay After Tomorrow, The Art of War and many, many more, Morot’s back-story is also rathercool. Young and unable to read English, he taught himself to do F/X makeup by leafingthrough New York-based horror fanzine Fangoria. What’s also cool is that Morot was once aresident of Cote Saint-Luc, so we can proclaim that he is a partial West Ender. His English isnow also 1,000 percent better, enabling him to work all over the world.

ellen david Thespian

David, a West Ender born and bred and graduate of Wagar High School, really is gettingbetter with age, reaching ever higher at a time in her life when many actresses find it difficultto get work. Funny and ironic to mention age and David in the same sentence, mind you: Shehas often played characters so not in her demographic and won much acclaim for same.

David’s passion for film started as a child when she watched movies with her dad. “He was afilm buff and I can recall many joyous moments sharing popcorn and acting out scenes withhim. I would pretend to be all these incredible characters played by the likes of Bette Davisand Mae West in those movies and we would entertain family and friends with our "famousscenes" when we went visiting on Sundays!”

Her desire to act coincided with her realization that “there was something special about being in front of other people and getting a ‘reaction,’ when I was akid and did those routines with my dad. The reaction I was after most in those days was probably laughter… there was something special about being in frontof other people and getting that reaction. I loved laughter and I was in awe of the Marx Brothers and Jerry Lewis, as well as the timing I would witness in thecartoons and TV shows of the day. And the ‘ba-dum-bump’ drum beat tied to the punch line of a joke was a rhythm I craved!”

David turned “professional” when she joined Equity in New York, while still at York University doing her graduate degree in theatrical performance. Trainedtheatrically at first, David got into acting in front of the camera when she became a stand in for Sonia Smits and Cynthia Dale on TV’s Street Legal and withina few months she had been given two small roles on the show. One of them was as a secretary for Gordon Pinsent in one episode. “Years later when I wasdoing the series 18 to Life, he and I met up at the CBC launch, had lunch together, and I reminded him that he was my ‘first’... in terms of on-screen roles, ofcourse. What a charming and gracious man he was and is!”

Regarding the actual process of filming, David said that she “loved the ‘detective work’ involved in finding the clues and the way into a character or role. Therehearsal period is like a forensics lab where you get inside the anatomy of a play and see what makes it run. I love the collaboration with the other actors andthe sense that we can throw ourselves into something with abandon, exploring and challenging ourselves.

She also revealed that she has always harboured a desire to direct some day and then smiled broadly as she proclaimed it was now her time. “I will be directinga beautiful play called The Book of Bob written by Arthur Holden and starring Ron Lea and Lucinda Davis at the Centaur (Theatre) during the 2013/2014 season.I have also been asked to direct a music video (also a dream of mine!), and have some other projects in different stages of development.”

Ellen’s many film and television credits can be seen on IMDB.com.

Photo credit Bram D. Eisenthal


Chef Cayennewith Chef Michael Minorgan

I first visited Viet Nam five years ago andimmediately fell in love with its people and itswonderful food - so fresh, light and packed full ofintoxicating flavours. Vietnamese cuisine isconsidered one the healthiest in the world due itsheavy reliance and liberal use of fresh vegetablesand herbs. Most of its dishes employ very little oilin their preparation and many rely on wonderfullyflavoured broths as their base ingredient.

One of the outstanding and most prominentaspects of the Vietnamese food culture is itsmultitude of fresh food markets, found in every cityand small village in the country. The variety of fruits,vegetables, herbs, meats and seafood is astounding.Due to the lack of refrigeration - especially in therural areas - visits to these markets are mademultiple times a day to gather foods for the familymeals. Cooking and eating play an integral andextremely important role in Vietnamese cultureand all the dishes are prepared with greatreverence to this culture. Great attention is paid tothe colours and textures of the food and itsapplication to the senses… many foods offer animportant spiritual connotation (i.e. salt iscommonly used as a connection between theworld of the living and the world of the dead andfood is quite often placed at ancestral altars, foundin most Vietnamese houses, as offerings to thedead).

There are, however, distinct differences in thecuisines of the country as you travel from oneregion to another, but all are built around, and areinfluenced by, the Asian principle of the fiveelements (wood, fire, earth, water and metal) andyin and yang (the principle of balance) is alwaysapparent when meals are prepared. Spice isbalanced with sour, cold with warmth, etc.

In spite of this, the regional variations all threeareas (north, central and south) share somefundamental features:

•Freshness of the food – vegetables and herbs are eaten raw and meats and seafood, when used, are cooked only briefly or very quickly stir fried to

preserve their original textures and colours;•Herbs and vegetables are used extensively in all

dishes; •Broths and soups are common in all regions; •Colourful and eye-pleasing food presentations

are paramount when food is served.

The colder climate in northern Viet Nam limits theproduction of spices so the cuisine here tends tobe less spicy. There is a wide use of meats andseafood in the north and fish sauce, soy sauce andlimes are among the main flavouring ingredients.Northern Viet Nam is the birthplace of many of thecountry’s signature dishes, such as pho and banh

cuon which have since found their way souththrough migration over the years.

Central Viet Nam offers probably the most enticingand diverse cuisine, due mainly to the abundance ofspices found in this part of the country. It is also thecenter of the Imperial or Royal Cuisine preparedmainly in the city of Hue, the home of the lastdynasty of Viet Nam, the Nguyen dynasty. RoyalCuisine always features highly colourful andelaborately-decorated dishes. All meals on a RoyalCuisine menu are sophisticated and constitutemany complex dishes, all served in small portions. There are still to this day several chefs in Huewho offer courses in this elaborate cuisine. I canattest to these and found them extremelyinteresting and tasty.

The warm weather and the fertile soil found insouthern Viet Nam - around the Mekong Delta -create the ideal conditions for growing rice,fruits and vegetables and for the raisingof livestock and seafood. Food in thesouth is vibrant, colourful and heavilyflavoured with garlic and fresh herbs. Thedishes here are also much sweeter than inthe other regions, as palm sugar andcoconut milk is used quite extensively.

At all Vietnamese restaurants and in allfamily homes, meals are served communalstyle and are shared by all with greatrespect for the elders present, alwaysinvited to eat first.

Viet Nam, its food, its people and itsverdant countryside in many cases reflectthe calm air of a more sedate and ancienttime, a place where water buffalo stillplough the rice paddies and where noattempt has been made to enter the world ofmechanized farming. I find it intoxicating andwonderful.

As (celebrity chef) Anthony Bourdain, a mutual loverof this amazing country, says to my full agreement: “Iwould love to live here, rent a house in a small fishingvillage in the coastal area near Hoi an and have noidea of what I am going to do. I would move in withfew, if any, expectations and let the experience washover me. Whatever happens, happens.”

Viet Nam is a beautiful country, albeit unfortunatelyscarred by wars, with a resilient and hard workingpeople wonderfully full of warmth, humour andhospitality and a cuisine to match any I have tastedon our planet. I can’t wait to return, so cảm ơn bạnViet Nam!

www.globalgourmets.ca Email: [email protected]

The intoxicating flavours of Viet Nam


metamorphosisJewelry Design StudioJohn Biagiotti Designer/GoldsmithPO Box 201Ben Lomond, CA 95005831 336-1020

Artist Bio:

I have been designing and making jewelry since 1977. I am a self-taughtjeweler and lapidary, with a background in sculpture, painting and other 2dimensional arts. In 1984 I started doing business as Metamorphosis, firstselling my work through artist co-op galleries, and then, in 1985 doing avariety of art shows throughout the year. I specialize in innovative,contemporary jewelry designs utilizing unusual combinations of gemstonesand stone shapes producing bold rings and modern jewelry designs. Icurrently have a line of work featuring meteorite and an astronomicaltheme, including a ring that has gone into space.

Craft Description:

I feature 14K, 18K gold and platinum jewelry using precious and semi-precious stones in rings, earrings, pendants, pins, and bolos. I design andmake all of my pieces using the lost wax method of casting, though somepieces are partially fabricated. The original design is first carved out of wax,the wax model is then placed in a special, high temperature plaster andburned out in a kiln. Next, the mold is placed in a centrifugal castingmachine and the molten gold is forced into the mold using centrifugal force.After the piece is cast, it is then finished by grinding, filing, sanding, buffing,and polishing. At this point any stones are set or inlay work done,fabrication elements are added, and the piece receives it's final polish.

I specialize in innovative, contemporary designs utilizing unusualcombinations of stones and stone shapes. I do all of my own lapidary work(excluding faceted stones) which allows me greater design flexibility. I havedeveloped two processes that are unique to my work. One I call underlay,in which I use an opaque stone to back a faceted stone. This way I not onlyget a combination of colors, but also textures, as I often use druse material(stones that are covered in small colored or clear crystals) as the underlay.The other process involves carving an opaque stone such as Black Jade toreceive a faceted stone, which is set not with metal, but by wedging itbetween 2 or more pieces of stone.

Some of the faceted stones I feature are Tourmaline, Rhodolite Garnet,Tsavorite Garnet, Tanzanite, Amethyst, Sapphire, and Diamond. The non-faceted material includes Lapis, Black Jade, Druze Chrysocolla, Gem Silica,Chrysoprase, and Dinosaur Bone, which is featured in my popular line ofmen's rings. My prices range from $240.00 to $6000.00.

My awards include the following:La Quinta Festival of the Arts – Best of Show Jewelry 2003Sausalito Art Festival – 1st Place Jewelry 2002; 2nd Place Jewelry 2000Tapestry in Talent – Hall of FameArt Festival in the Village of La Jolla – Best of Show Jewelry 1998

Please feel free to contact me with any questions regarding my work.


Story and photos by Bram D. EisenthalThe Local Herald

When you have been to Maine as often as I have, there aren’t manysurprises left. Vacationing there for one month every summer with myparents, till age 14, I thrilled at the sun, the surf, the carny atmospheresurrounding the historic Pier and amusement park at Old Orchard Beach.As I got older, Ogunquit, The Yorks and President George Bush Sr.’sperennial vacation retreat, Kennebunkport, beckoned. I even drove threehours to visit the hometown of horror writerStephen King, hidden away inBangor: Quaint atmosphere andterrific bagels discovered at itskosher bakery…. and arespectable little league ball parkthat King, a huge Boston RedSox fan, built for his co-Mainers.

I simply fell in love, again, withnew surroundings. Back in thearea of Maine I was most familiarwith, one is always drawn toPortland, a modern city with greatrestaurants, stores and manyhistoric spots to visit. Plus aharbour where you can grab one ofseveral revealing ocean tours toview picturesque things like itsmany lighthouses,capped off byPortland Headlight,unveiled in the1700s by noneother than GeorgeWashington.

So, you see, I thoughtI knew all there wasto experience inMaine – until now. Avisit to CapeElizabeth changed myconceptions forever,because a stay at Innby the Sea, one of thetop luxury hotels in the U.S.,provides you with everythingyou need, including a freshnew perspective on “green”accommodations. IBTS isgreen, all right, with the usualattention to eco-savings thisterm entails. But its locationa two minute walk fromCrescent Beach (and let metell you, you haven’t seennatural beauty until you’veseen a wintry stretch ofbeach, with patches ofsnow on it), but a locationalso bordering many acres

of protected natural wildlife habitat.

Featuring just 61 accommodations, ranging fromsimply gorgeous rooms to absolutely divine split-levelluxury suites, this veritable boutique hotel bestowsupon you an authentic-yet-modern coastalexperience unlike any other in Maine. Its culinaryofferings are equally divine, served in the wood-appointed, sea-view elegance of the Sea Glass

restaurant, with delectable fare created by California-raisedexecutive chef Mitchell Kaldrovitch, who blends fresh, local farm-bought produce with seafood caught virtually outside the backdoor.

Rauni Kew, a Quebecer (and Ms. Edgar and Ms. Cramps alumnus)who left for Maine in the late 1970s, handles communications forthe hotel. I asked herwhat their guests likebest about theproperty. “Guests lovethe spaciousaccommodations, thecoastally inspired spatreatments and theocean view restaurantwith captivating,regionally sourcedcuisine. But of coursethe beautiful sandbeach brings peopleto the Inn in allseasons.”

As we are on cusp ofsummer, now wouldbe an excellent timeto book some resttime at this most unique spot. Kew elaborated. “The summer iswonderful at the Inn - the heated pool and beach are busy withfamilies, the lawn has croquet and volley ball set up and we havegarden tours and yoga on the lawn for adults, bug’s life classes, storytelling and art classes for kids. We host ‘Jazz on the Lawn’ evenings

Inn by the Sea Maine’s newest luxury eco-spot,for canines, too

TRAVEL

View from the back veranda. Really, God’scountry revealed

The property’s façade, wintertime 2013

Nothing like a walk along the beachfront when snow white makes

an appearance. It’s brisk out, but still features oceanfront beauty.

When has a winter pathway everbeen so inviting?

Inn by the Sea gives “dog days” a wholenew meaning.


three times during the season and have AlFresco farmer’s dinners. The Inn gardensare especially beautiful at that time of year.”

Oh yes – and there is also no need to allow guilt to ruinyour stay because you left Rover with your great aunt… because Inn by the Sea isnot only pet friendly, it’s pet perfect! Doggie cocktails are held and, yes, your eyesaren’t deceiving you. And, if you can accept taking it to the next level, here’s asampling of meals available on their Doggie Menu: Meat Roaff (comprised of naturalground beef, with steamed rice, raw vegetables and a dog biscuit to cap it all offnicely; The Bird Dog (featuring grilled chicken, steamed rice, as well as thevegetables and dog biscuit and K-9 Ice Cream for dessert (made with soy milkgelato and topped with dig biscuit crumbs). Seriously, has your pooch ever had itthis good?

As a segue from bird-dogs to brides, IBTS is also a special, romantic and easilyreachable (remember, less than a six hour drive from Montreal) venue at which tocelebrate the Big Day, a wedding. “Brides enjoy the ocean views, with ceremonieson the lawn overlooking the Atlantic,” Kew said. “Tented weddings on the side lawnare very popular in the warm months. We can accommodate smaller weddings

inside, in our function space, duringthe cooler months.

“It is also possible for brides to takeover the entire Inn (all 61 rooms)booked far enough ahead, with anestate buy out, which reserves theInn for their wedding and theirguests only.”

Activities in the area are soplentiful that there is no lack ofthings to do, from a grand water-park, to movie theatres, the hugeMaine Mall, outlet shopping dealsat both Freeport nearby and theoutlet haven as you head out ofMaine, Kittery. Of course, thecity of Portland is just sevenmiles away. Then again, IBTS isso perfect all by itself, withactivities, a beachfront, gourmetcuisine and a room you’llregret leaving that there really

is no need to go anyplace else. They even have somegreat little gifts to bring back for friends and relatives back home, includingirresistible, locally-crafted lobster pillows that are not available anywhere else.These are so kitschy that I dare anyone not to consider bringing one home.

By all means, book early. July and August have been sold out long ago.

Innby the Sea has been recognized as a Top 10 American GreenHotel by MSNBC and Forbes Traveller.

Inn by the Sea: 40 Bowery Beach Rd., Cape Elizabeth, Maine,04107. Tel: 207-799-3134, Reservations at 866-619-2128.

Problems with big feet, anyone?

When visiting Portland, Maine, make sure to drop by theInternational Cryptozoology Museum. Cryptozoology

(pronounced CRIPTO ZOO-OLOGY) is the study of hiddenanimals, so such “fabled” creatures like Bigfoot and Nessie

(the Loch Ness Monster) are what we are talking about. Twoyears ago, the museum was founded by renowned author,lecturer and adventurer Loren Coleman, who has becomesomewhat of a “name” in the Bigfoot research field. And

whether you believe in such esoteric subject matter or not,there is enough in these two modest-sized rooms to keepyou here for an hour or two, time guaranteed to inform,

educate and even open your mind a notch or two. Admissionis just $7 per person and feel free to bring the kids… they

are guaranteed to love it, even if you are leering at thefascinating displays with tremendous scepticism.

11 Avon St.Portland, ME, 04101

http://www.cryptozoologymuseum.com

Nothing can screen out this beautiful back view.

Lobster Tails on a bed of risotto, anyone? Sea Glass

serves a delicious entrée portion.

The lobby of Inn by the Sea whisperssimple elegance.

Nothing reminds you of delectable, freshMaine seafood like a lobster pillow.

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Contrary to the accepted law of magneticforces that likes repel and opposites attract,human beings operate differently, likesattract and opposites repel. People are mostlikely to surround themselves with businessassociates and friends who think and act inquite similar ways. Liberals know moreliberals than conservatives, university

professors knowmore university professors than peoplewithout a college degree, farmers knowmore farmers than city-slickers… adinfinitum. The only difficulty is thatadults learn best when they live with ahealthy amount of disagreement, andeven, confrontation. Adults who fearopposition usually withdraw more andmore into a more and more limited circleof agreeable and non-provocativecolleagues and friends. And even whenwe are told we are in a culture where it isdog-eat-dog and the survival of thefittest; sides are formed and one gatherstogether the more aggressive playersand high-achievers associate with otherhigh-achievers. The end result is thatthere are winners and losers, and they donot attract each other, they repel each other.

Likes surround themselves with imaginative ways to wall outthose who think or act differently, reinforcing the immense gapbetween them and those who are different. What is lost in suchscenarios? The ability to grow and appreciate difference! It isdifference that is essential to achieve a fuller understanding ofthis world. The acceptance of difference is also the foundation ofour mental and spiritual development.

Nazareth House, located in the heart of the City of Montreal, is aresidence for 24 men with mental illnesses, whom otherwisewould be homeless. On the street most of these men would bejudged as different. People distance themselves from them,physically by avoiding contact with them and mentally, too,

judging them to be unwell. How unfortunate! The overwhelmingmajority of people who are on the street are not aggressive, while theurban myth is that many are aggressive. Mental illness is precisely whatit is, an illness.

No woman or man willingly chooses to suffer from a mental illness - theyinherited it for a variety of reasons. They may appear to be different, butthey are filled with the same hopes and aspirations all of us have. They

have families but they don’thave the contact they would liketo have with family members.They often speak of theirfamilies. They also appreciatewhat all of us appreciate: alistening ear; a word ofencouragement; a word ofpraise; and knowing someonecares. They may be different,but they should never be lessappreciated than other humanbeings who do not have amental illness. They have agreat deal to teach us aboutsimplicity, humility, poverty,transparency, and perhaps mostof all, being fully human.

The search of many people for spirituality is all too often a sugar- coatedspirituality, a spirituality that conforms to the values of our culture:Comfort; ease; sensations that are instantaneous, pleasant, non-disruptive, and in the end, achieved without recognition of one’semptiness. The homeless live a spirituality that is nameless, endless,disruptive, confusing, painful and, more than anything else, feels like it isendless. The choice is stark and, if opposites were to attract rather thanrepel, everybody would be in a win-win situation, learning from oneanother, enjoying non-judgmental lives centered on the discovery ofthe other, and building a world in which each person can revel in therespect of her or his dignity as a human being.

Vive la difference!

Many people todaywatch a lot of HGTV(Home and GardenTelevision) andhaveseen show after show,about hundreds ofpeople who boughta

home and then look to flip itfor a quick profit. They see regularpeopleoff the street buying "fixer uppers,"renovating them and thenflipping them.The process is glamourized and made tolook simple, but becareful: Just becausea home was renovated doesn'tguarantee a solidfinancial gain. I will talkabout what work you can do which ismorelikely going to increase the value ofyour home and little thingswhich helpwhen presenting your home to newbuyers.

One of the first things that will be seenby a potential buyer is thefull bathrooms,as well as the powder rooms. If you

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FINANCE & REAL ESTATErenovate these rooms, it isalmost certain topay dividends. Modernized bathrooms withstand-aloneshowers, fancy tiles, new sinksand low toilets add so much value.What isamazing is that you can get a lot of thesematerials atreasonable prices. I advise hiringan interior designer to help you,as they canget discounts you wouldn't be able to get.

Another way to blow away a potential buyerwith your new home is toredo the kitchen.This is going to be more expensive thanthebathroom, but again is the second aspectof a home which blows newbuyers away.Whether you get a new kitchen from a majorretailer oryou get it designed, make sure youwork with a professional.

At the end of the day, women are generallythe more creative andimaginative whenlooking at a home. They picture themselvesspending alot of time in these rooms andwant to be in pleasant surroundingsthatmake them feel positive. It is also important,when showing a home,that there is verylittle clutter. When people walk into a home,theywant to feel that there is a lot of space.It is important to cleanaway the clutter asmuch as possible, as this makes the homelookbigger.

Most successful real estate agents hirestagers or interior designersto aid in the saleof their homes. If you need a referral, pleasedon't hesitate to ask me!

Jason Zuckermanwww.mortgageratesmontreal.comHypotheca Mortgage Brokers(514) 771-1352 /1-800- [email protected]

Flipping? Make sure you don't end up flipping out!


ENTERTAINMENTWhere would movies bewithout those greatsoundtracks?Movies and music have long had a hand-in-handrelationship. The great swirl of a string section,while Julie Andrews, Christopher Plummer and aflock of children reach an Austrian mountain top,takes that moment to a level of hope and triumph.Sure, The Sound of Music is a musical, thus

requiring a whole bunch of music, but you get the point. Theemotional connection that can be created when you pair a visual withthe right piece of music or collection of notes can complete the filmexperience.

Sometimes that pairing is so powerful that the music goes fromcomplimenting the scene to becoming a character in it. Think JohnTravolta commanding the dance floor in Saturday Night Fever. Who elsebut The Bee Gees to fuel the confidence of that stylin' paint store clerkto the point of parting the crowd?

Sometimes the music is so right that it overtakes the movie. Think TheBeatles in A Hard Day's Night. Or Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.Beatles music saved this one too. The Bee Gees, Peter Frampton andAerosmith sound like more than enough on paper, and yet it is still tobe determined whether it was not enough or way too much. At leastwe can be thankful for the soundtrack.

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Sometimes that one moviemoment just stays with you andyou can't hear the song withoutthinking about "that scene." Howabout "Stuck In The Middle WithYou" by Stealer's Wheel? That earscene in Reservoir Dogs. I won't goon with that one. The deep soundof the strings building up withJohn Williams' orchestra in Jaws.I've heard that 'da-da, da-da' inevery body of water I've steppedin since "that scene." Even theliberating vibe of the open roadand Steppenwolf's "Born to BeWild" in Easy Rider gives us all alittle freedom while we're in thecar heading home from work.

It's easy to recall all these movie moments, because they've burroweda place into our own personal soundtrack - those movie momentsthat have etched themselves onto our hearts, where we then becomea part of the cast. That's the complete movie experience. So, if TheTemptations' “Ain't Too Proud To Beg” comes on, find me in thekitchen dancing around and doing the dishes, thanks to The Big Chill.

Sharon Hyland is a DJ with classic rock station CHOM-FM in Montreal.

My father is now long retired from thetransportation business and gladly so. Thewisdom and experience he acquired over theyears spent on the job could fill volumes.Although the city Fly drives through is nevermentioned, Carnival expertly portrays thedarker side of the big city… and the lives ofthe unnoticed and forgotten people within.

Read on!

would have been a Spider, having spentmuch of his time at Station Five, on thecorner of Wiseman and Jarry, rightacross from a pizzeria (now an IndianRestaurant, a sign of the times in ParkEx), where he and his driver friendswould congregate, much like thedrivers do in Carnival. The authordefinitely knew what he was talkingabout, even though Hage, whileworking as a cabbie, patrolled mostlythe streets of Cote-des-Neiges.

Make no mistake, Carnival is not asimple tale of taxi anecdotes, butrather deals with the alienation anddisconnection we feel living in a bigcity, featuring those we encounter dailyand never really get to know, (muchlike Scorsese did with his chilling 1976tale Taxi Driver, which starred the actorwho inspired the title to Hage’s firstbook). The cab driver is employed as ametaphor; like a spectator whowatches a parade, or carnival, but doesnot participate because he doesn’tknow how to connect with others.Taxi drivers are the great intermediaries ofthis world, perpetually in a state oftransition: They shuttle people from wherethey were to where they are going. Theaction takes place before or after the ride- They are part of the plot, but never thecentral characters of the story, and Hagecaptures that feeling perfectly with Fly, asort of fly-on-the-wall observer of thehuman condition.

For Rawi Hage,life is acarnival

My father spent almost40 years as a city ofMontreal taxi driver.

When you do that for a living,especially in Park Extension, you see it all.He had everyone from movie stars andathletes to politicians and power-brokers,from con artists and drunks, to drug-dealers and prostitutes, in his cab. Andalmost every night he had at least oneinteresting story from his over 12-hourworkday. That is why when I heard RawiHage’s latest effort, Carnival, was based onhis experiences as a cab driver, I knew I hadto read it.

Rawi Hage is the Lebanese-born, Montreal-based writer who won the IMPAC DublinLiterary Award in 2008 for his bookDeNiro’s Game, and twice I had the honourof presenting him The Paragraphe/HughMacLennan Prize for fiction at the QuebecWriters’ Federation Awards (for his novelsCockroach and the subject of today’scolumn, Carnival, respectively).

The protagonist of Carnival is Fly, areference to the two kinds of taxi drivershe identifies early in the text: Spiders, whopark at a taxi stand and wait for their fares,and Flies, who drive around looking forcustomers. By that definition, my father

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ENTERTAINMENTToday’s filmmakers have lots tolearn from older counterparts

What’s happened to excitement in themovies? By that I don’t just mean the obvious,where you’re on the edge of your seatwondering what’s going to happen next. Iam talking about that undercurrent in amovie when a director is trying somethingnew or making something old seem newand you don’t know where the film isgoing or where it will end up. That’s

pretty rare these days at the cinema. Infact only three movies, out of the 30 plus I saw last

year, actually evoked that feeling in me and two of themwere almost 40 and 65 years old respectively.

The only recent exciting movie from 2012 was Leos Carax’sHoly Motors, a French movie that I called deliriouslyinventive in my review for my web site Critics at Large(www.criticsatlarge.ca). The film, in a nutshell, concerns anindividual named Monsieur Oscar (Denis Lavant) whobegins his working day by entering a white stretch limo andthen assumes various disguises as he carries outassignments across Paris. Those range from dressing up abeast and spiriting away an American model (Eva Mendes)to facing off against his doppelganger in a fight to thedeath. What does it all mean? Well, that’s for you to decidebut Holy Motors’ modus operandi is clever, highly originaland unforgettable.

Last year’s stunning digital re-release of Steven Spielberg’sJaws (1975), only the wunderkind’s second feature, is areminder that it’s still one of the best horror movies ever tocome out of Hollywood. More than just a shark movie, itblends scares, humour, social commentary and very strongcharacterization to create an indelible film that shouldappeal to anyone who likes movies that actually move,excite (there’s that word again) and compel in equalmeasure.

But last year’s real discovery for me was the 1948 Britishmovie Sleeping Car to Trieste, which plays out as a grittier,faster version of Casablanca, also with exotic internationalcharacters, the template of a thriller and a cynical-though-less-romantic story. Set in post-war Europe and brilliantlydirected by journeyman director John Paddy Carstairs,Sleeping Car to Trieste, itself a remake of a 1932 movie calledRome Express, was a surprise, when I introduced it sightunseen for a local film society and then sat down to watcha tattered 16mm print that kept breaking down towardsthe end, before giving up the ghost 30 seconds before itsgripping conclusion. It was adult, fast moving, witty andsuperbly acted by all concerned. In short, it offered thrillslargely absent in today’s Hollywood action / super herofilms. It showed filmmakers how movies should be done.Too bad it’s a lesson most of them are not heeding.

This column is dedicated to the memory of David Churchill, aco-founder of Critics at Large and a good friend who tragicallypassed away on April 5. He was a film lover until the end. Restin Peace David.

A graduate of Ryerson University’s School of Journalism,former West End Montrealer Shlomo Schwartzberg is aveteran film critic, has regularly reviewed films for variouspublications and lectures on film and TV studies. He was thedirector of programming for the Toronto Jewish Film Festivalfor eight years. He is also co-founder and contributor to thecultural web site Critics at Large (www.criticatlarge.com)

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Lost & Found: A musical theatrepiece

by David Sherman

** Infinitheatre April 15 – 8:00 p.m. andApril 26, 8:30 p.m.**

Nancy Lee was not only one of the mostbeautiful women I had seen, but had oneof the most remarkable singing voices Ihad heard. I was the main attraction ofthe evening in a café on a brittle winternight in the centre of the town of SaintIsadore, in the Chateauguay Valley. But itwas clear she was the star.

Being a singer/songwriter is a toughenough gig without having to follow avoice like Nancy’s but I did. I sang mysongs but I kept my eye on her, sitting inthe back of the room with a friend.

When the figurative curtain fell, I went totalk to her. Would she consider maybesinging a song or two with mesometime?

The invitation has become part ofNancy’s popular song, Red HairedWoman, a tale of how we met, exchangede-mail, grew to appreciate each othermore than musically.

Luckily our voices seem to work togetherand somehow, music and song rescued us.Nancy Lee and I fell in love.

We’re playing together all around townand we’re in a recording studio making aCD with some great players.

Nancy was a widow, starting to singprofessionally again so the terrain was

familiar. She started singing at 17 with arock ‘n’ roll band and she knew the biz,had the chops and was remaking herself.

I had extricated myself from a toxicrelationship. And the first time Nancycame to dinner we played songs for eachother.

We’re telling our story in the songs we’vewritten in Lost & Found, a musical taleabout love, loss, life and lunacy, in concertat Infinitheatre April 25 and 26.

As writer-in-residence, I’ve written a fewplays for Infinitheatre, The Daily Miracleand Joe Louis: An American Romance,where I’ve had the luxury of watchingother people tell my stories. Now, I willbe on stage at the theatre with no placeto hide.

Nancy and I will stepping away from ourcomfort zone a bit – the bars and cafeswe usually play – to be singing our songsin the theatre. And it will be with the helpof the theatre’s artistic director, GuySprung, and his production staff.

Joining us are Stephen Barry on bass,Andrew Cowan on guitar, John McColganon drums and Tony Costantini on piano aswe sing about finding romance again,despite the tread on the tires being a littleworn.

The band is hot and the songs arecompelling, our audiences have said.Nancy’s voice will captivate and the storywill raise the curtain a bit on the lunacy oflife.

Lost & Found at Infinitheatre April 25 and26.

For details: www.infinitheatre.com www.davidandnancy.org

MUSICAL MUSINGS


SPORTS AND FITNESSHabs on verge of meltdown due to unfocused goaltendingUh oh - everyone knows you can't win the Stanley Cup with a goalie who lets in the softies all the time. Time to panic as a fanof the Montreal Canadiens, becauseCarey Price just isn't getting the job done. He isn't standing on his head every night. He isn'tJacques Plante, Ken Dryden, Patrick Roy or even Steve Penny, for that matter.

Price has yet to prove much of anything in the post-season. In his only time as a starter in the playoffs he had mixed results.But that was when he was young and immature. Price has grown up since then. He has proven himself to be one of the bestgoalies in the NHL. I said "one of the best."

In this town of 3 million general managers, it's easy to rip Price for every bad game, to the point that he will start to resembleIlya Bryzgalov in Philadelphia, a shell-shocked shadow of his former

self. It's true that Price has given up some bad goals, evidence beingtwo of the shots he allowed in against Toronto on April 13 (you can add the goals he gaveup in two horrific starts this past week): Just awful.

But show me a goalie who is always perfect, and please don't say Peter Budaj. Budaj hasbeen terrific in his role this season, as a quiet back-up, ready to go at a moments notice andfor spot starting duty. He's definitely not the goalie to lead a team to the Cup. Carey Priceis. Watch Price closely: He is playing with confidence. There is an economy of movement andno panic in his game. And don't think that doesn't influence his team-mates. If you have everplayed competitive hockey, you know that your team unconsciously plays differently, basedon the confidence you have on the guy wearing the pads in your net. And that is evidentwhen the Habs play with Price. They allow him to stop more shots while they become amore offensive team. With Budaj in goal, the Habs close ranks and limit the number of shotson their goal… which also limits Montreal's ability to score at the other end.

Am I 100 percent confident that Price will win the Cup with Montreal? No, but I can't saythat with certainty regarding any team in the NHL. I can say, however, that Price is “the man”in goal for the Habs and that he has the best chance to lead them to a Stanley Cup.

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15 ways to have more fun this cycling seasonWith the cycling season now upon us, I thought itwould be fitting to jot down a list of things we cando on our bikes that make a difference in the waywe ride and the enjoyment we derive from it.

Don’t listen to all those type-A “it’s all about poweroutput versus energy divided by the amount ofespresso multiplied by the weight of my titaniumlightweight racing beast with ultra-light deep dishcarbon rims, ” kind of guys. It’s all about FUN…

not like using every profanity known to man as youcling for life trying to keep up with your type-A friend as you rideup the mountain faster than a civil servant leaves his office at 4:30p.m. I’m talking about real FUN.

My FUN list 2013:

- Ride the Tour de l’Ile in June with someone you love. Even yourmother-in-law. If it is your mother-in-law, ride VERY fast.

- Spend a Sunday riding around town seeking the best cup ofespresso. You’ll look cool and you’ll be super wired when you gethome in the evening to watch The Amazing Race.

- Ride your first Metric Century (100 km). Then again, ride your first10 k. Just ride.

- If you ride to work, plan a route 5 km longer than it is now. If youdon’t ride to work… ride to work.

- Give a kid in need your old bike, or your kid’s bike if he is beingbad.

- Sign up for a charity ride and make a difference. It’s a great wayto combine the pain and agony of long distance riding and thekarma of giving back to the community. Your chiropractor willthank you as well.

- Go out on a limb and just stop at that red light. Do it. Be different.It will say a lot about you as a cyclist. Just watch out for the carsrunning that light to make it through to the next one 700 metresaway.

- Plan a weekend ride somewhere you’ve never been. Vermont.The Adirondacks. The Alps. The East End…

- Teach your kid how to do a wheelie. But not in front of his friends.

- Take a midnight ride in the city. Experience the serenity and thelights…and that pothole you didn’t see because you didn’t have a lightto guide you.

- Get a bike light

- Climb Camilien-Houde in a really neat yellow jersey and imagine, atthe summit, you have just won the Tour de France. Lift your arms invictory. See the crowds cheer for you. Ride home alone.

- Buck the trends and put a nice fancy wicker basket on the front of yourracing bike. If nothing else, you WILL get attention.

- Sing “Bicycle Race” by Queen while riding down Ste. Catherine Street -preferably with clothes on.

- Learn how to change a flat. My wife is sick of having to do it for me.

Happy riding all. Have a great season and have FUN!

(ED. Note: Cyclists love the Tour de L’Isle, which I refer to as the Tour deHell. The event literally traps pedestrians in a large geographic areaevery year and, worst of all, does not donate one penny to charity. It’sabout time organizers changed that.

Rob Callard is a restaurateur in Westmount who cycles to work fromBeaconsfield eight months of the year. He is married with three young boys.They all support his cyclopathic passion.


Reality and illusionWhen I was a film student many years ago, we would often discuss ways that movies "construct reality" -- technically,through the application of certain cinematic conventions or "ways of seeing," but also more philosophically, in terms ofpresenting a narrative, plot, characters, world-view and theme.

So if we have the construction of reality to be on the one hand, it presupposes that we have something called "reality," onthe other. We can of course argue that reality is always being constructed, the same way that scientists who measure

certain phenomena construct that same phenomena, as well.

Through meditation and yoga, which provide insight into, among other things, "the nature of reality," we come to see that reality or the waythings are, is very different from our appraisal of that reality -- our attachment to reality through either like or dislike.

An orange just is. We may like oranges, or we my dislike them. We may have, in fact, a whole list of associations -- positive or negative --with oranges, based on past experiences (memory), or projections into the future. All of these workings of the mind are not the simple "reality" of the orange itself. The orange just "is."

As people, we have become so accustomed to attaching ourselves to reality one way or another. Out of most things, we make a storyline,construct a drama and form judgments and opinions. In this way, we "construct reality," but are not always aware that we are doing theconstructing.

What happens when we come into a place of inner stillness to witness the workings of the mind? To see how the mind is always trying tomeasure and define? Always trying to construct the ever elusive "self" - the Me, the I - as separate from everything else? We come to see allof this and observe that beneath the static lies a reality that simply is. One that doesn't take sides. And we recognize the ever-constant I Amor Sat Nam, which is the reality of who I AM beyond the ego-self that lives and dies.

The next time you catch yourself getting caught up in the narrative of life, try taking a moment to utter simply, "SAT NAM"-- and see whathappens. It is like the cycle is broken, even if for one brief instant. And in that instant you are no longer a player on the screen, but the onewatching.

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Well, it’s almost that time…time tobid our print edition goodbye. Or

farewell, because nothing stops us from coming backagain someday. For now, however, after 2 years and 7

months of publishing a print edition, as well as offering iton-line (at www.localheraldmontreal.com) we will be

heading strictly on-line only, after our May issue. If youdon’t yet know what “on-line” means or, if you do, can’t

navigate the Internet, I guess this IS in fact goodbye afterMay. I certainly hope not, because on-line will be better

than ever once we start the new, improved The LocalHerald On-Line in June 2013.

Pick up a copy of The Wrap Issue, out Friday, May 24,2013, because it will be a collector’s edition of sorts. Every final print paper is:Don’t you wish you’d kept your final Montreal Star in 1979? Deadline will beFriday, May 17, 2013, so if you wish to contribute something, please get it in

on time.

Thanks, everyone, for reading thisissue and, as always, to the kind

vendors who have welcomed us intotheir businesses and premises since

September 2010.

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