Posted on
May 18th, 2011
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Comments Off on Chris Hume’s Bestest Buildings #2: Square, Daddy-o
I’m pretty surprised at how much I agree with The Star’s Chris Hume in his evaluation of Toronto architecture. With yesterday’s exception, of course. Perhaps it’s because we both see modernity as forward-looking rather than the total destruction of all we hold near and dear. Maybe we’re both able to see change as a progression rather than a personal attack.
I still reserve the right to be a crotchety old fart when I arrive at the appropriately ripe age, but for now I gotta give Chris his props for his number two “Best Buildings of Toronto” pick, Maple Leaf Square. I love the giant screen looming over the Air Canada Centre’s western entrances, and I like it even more when the square is filled with gawking event attendees — the thought of all those suburbanites surrounded by mighty, erect Toronto towers and majestic, sexy architecture gives me a special feeling.
Chris took it upon himself to preempt our collective vitriol and disgust for this building by reassuring us that he’s well aware of just how much we hate it. He picked it nonetheless, pointing to its 21-century styling as the determining factor for his choice. Far be it for me to question his assertions about how all Canadians feel, but personally, I kinda dig this building. It’s an incredibly stark yet beautiful (especially in the right light), extension of the stalwartly historic ROM building, and I’ve yet to read about anyone taking an eye out on the thing, so I guess I’m the one lone Canadian that disagrees.
A.K.A. The George Brown College Chef School, this is Hume’s second pick for his best buildings of Toronto list. I would’ve thought that, maybe, it had something to do with its association with Susur Lee, or maybe some kinda proud culinary tradition or some such junk, but instead Hume likes the building mostly because aspiring chefs can have their kitchen failures ogled by random pedestrians passing by outside — the front is all glass.
Personally, I think Chris is out to lunch with this pick. Maybe he’s simply bit off more than he can chew. Or, if you want, chalk it up to a difference in tastes.
Enough awful food-oriented punnery? Let’s watch the video:
Posted on
May 11th, 2011
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Comments Off on Chris Hume’s Bestest Buildings #5: Pointy Love
According to the Toronto Star’s Christopher Hume, everybody’s always asking him what the best and worst buildings in the city are. Plus, everybody loves a list. Who am I to argue with such hyperbole-free reasoning? Besides, I have my own faves, and although Chris’ picks would probably make my own Top-20 list, I’m not convinced everybody, everywhere, throughout all known time and dimensions, would agree with either of us. Still, Chris’ picks are a good place to start.
Here’s his #5 pick, the Pure Spirit building that marks the north-west corner of the Distillery District and which, as Mr. Hume so aptly points out, brought order and reason to an area of town that barely obeyed the laws of physics.
Gazing out the window while chatting on the phone this afternoon (i.e. trying to look busy), I spotted this guy smoothing out the concrete of the new George Brown College building next door.
I dunno what this contraption is called but the sharp, spinning, metal blades just scream fun and hijinx, don’t you think?
Throw a little sunshine in and it’s not a bad way to get to work. Here’s my morning car dodge in near real-time: Allan Gardens -> Pembroke Street -> Moss Park -> George Street -> Richmond Street -> Jarvis Street -> Queen’s Quay -> anon and yonder
Posted on
February 11th, 2011
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Comments Off on Dangly bits
Whenever I tell people I “do Flash” for a living, I get the inevitable blank stare, sometimes accompanied by a nod that suggests they might be imagining me walking down the street with nothing but a long overcoat and an evil grin.
While this may be true in my off hours, what I get paid for is considerably different:
You might recognize this as Mahjongg, or rather, a bastardized version of something closer to a memory/matching game rather than poker, which is what traditional Mahjongg is like. It’s what I’ve been slapping together over the past couple of weeks for Corus’ W Network to replace their existing game.
There’s more work to be done; this would be considered a pre-alpha version … playable but with some big pieces missing. After that it goes into alpha in which everything’s done and I test for hours and hours under the pretense of “work”. Then it’s in beta where the in-house testers and I exchange heated words and potentially fists over what constitutes “features”. After that it’s released to the public, exposed to the big wide world, just like my dangly trench coat buddy.
Posted on
November 1st, 2010
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Comments Off on Where the sushi comes to you
Right around this time of year my nose turns into a permanently open tap and shall remain that way until late May or so. The only thing that helps is warm Miso soup and ample Wasabi-based abuse.
Simple sushi joints tend to be cheaper but … c’mon … sushi on frickin’ conveyor belts?! That’s worth an extra few bob. I’ve seen a fancier place where the sushi floats around on a man-made stream on top of little boats but I bet you’d pay plenty for that little bit of theater.
Toko on Yonge Street (near Isabella), has a dual conveyor belt winding all the way through the restaurant past booths and counter seats. I’ve never seen sushi running the whole length but I swore that one day I would. Bet it’s a sight to see.
Here’s a section of the conveyor as it re-directs plates onto the return belt. Crappy cell phone video but, alas, I was too busy stuffing Salmon into my face to operate anything fancier.
Posted on
September 21st, 2010
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Comments Off on Sometimes the city says, “here buddy, take five…”
There I was outside the Second Cup today, praying for the city to show me the light. Something so I wouldn’t have to work hard. Right at that moment, I swear the city fucking winked right at me.
... with pictures
... with sounds
... with videos
... with opinions
... that's shorter
... that's longer
