Author: Bill

The Burger’s Priest, “redeeming the burger one at a time”, or a good old Licks HomeBurger, charbroiled by singing cooks? Danica noted that, remarkably, there was no lineup on the sidewalk in front of The Burger’s Priest… a perfect chance to find out why such lineups usually form.

Paul Royko poses with OhDee, back in the last century.
OhDee the Dog is down from my studio wall during a Spring repainting project. His 27-inch-wide presence was crafted in multiple kinds of wood by my friend and business partner Paul Royko, when we set up a two-man advertising service. Paul died at the tender age of 52 in April of 1998, so almost exactly 14 years ago. His rendering of our OhDee mascot/logo says quite a bit about the guy.

The Adobe software I own will serve for many years to come so I don’t need to plunk down nearly a thousand bucks to buy the latest “CS6 Suite”. Adobe plans to offer $80/month subscriptions as an alternative to the one big cash hit. Ooooooh, my! No thanks.
Should I ever need to update my graphics software, there are useable open source applications now, available for free. There’s plenty of good “donationware”, too.

 Whether or not you are a fan of Jane Jacobs ideas about urban space, the Jane’s Walks she has inspired are eye-opening, educational, enjoyable and free. They are also coming up on the May 5 – 6 weekend, so jump over to the site and pick one or two.
Not in Toronto? Key in your city and see if there’s one in your neighbourhood.

Hawaii, 1988. My vacationing parents took turns taping each other sightseeing at volcanoes, dining and golfing. Nothing special… except for this little clip. Helen puts forth a fact, Raabye adds his two cents and Helen asks her little question.

Having banished the sidebars for this blog layout, I still need a place to share links I like. There they are, all on a page of their own. It’s a work in progress.

Anne at our place last May. Middle: Anne and Ben.
She was living alone in her splendid Annex penthouse for nearly two years after the death of her much-loved husband Ben Viccari. “When Ben died, I died,” she was fond of saying. Anne always gowned up and pitched in at the many galas, fundraisers and public events that Ben was so much part of, but he was the instigator and she a supporter. Without Ben’s lead, Anne’s life narrowed and her sense of purpose ebbed. She had done so much to keep Ben going into his nineties, but her work was done.

Let it be known that Kathleen Tatham is a very good cook. Luckily for me, she is working her way through her grocery stash prior to an upcoming trip.
Today she reached the pot roast and sent home a huge dinner for me. Turnips, potatoes, mushrooms… all the trimmings. I added my own horseradish and everything was perfect. (Danica had hers at Kathleen’s during a sewing afternoon.)
Thanks Kathleen! There’s still enough left for another good meal.

Max MacDonald was a good choice for first artist to show at the brand new Gerrard Art Space. He filled the walls… and I mean filled… with at least a hundred colourful, textured, imaginative abstracts with a variety of themes and palettes.
Often (but not always) painted on pieces of weathered board and bits of what looks like driftwood, MacDonald’s paintings are objects that don’t require frames. Most are about shapes and colour combinations, composition, pattern and texture. They are all lively and engaging.
I liked the work and just wish that the artist would sign them on the front. They are so handmade and personally expressive, I think the maker’s mark would add something.
GAS is a welcome addition to the Gerrard strip, known best as Little India. I hope that the artists’ cooperative exhibit space will inspire imaginative uses for some of the down-at-the-heels storefronts… and I believe it will.
BTW, GAS will run on memberships and they are accepting artist/members at present. Costs are a realistic $80 – $100/month… what an opportunity for artists to gather together, show their work and sell to the public without paying commissions. Brilliant idea! Good for art prices, too, if Mr MacDonald’s show is any indication. I lost my price list on the way home but I do remember that most of the works were available for anything from a few hundred dollars to under $200.

The turnout for Opening Day was gratifyingly good. I notice that our tireless city councillor Mary Margaret McMahon was in the crowd. The exhibition space is inviting and the opening offered tables of tasties and glasses of wine. Welcome to the neighbourhood, GAS.

Kash Kashmeri’s documentary tribute to the life of his Bollywood scriptwriter father premiered tonight at the Famous Players Canada Square Cinema. The audience loved the story and gave the filmmakers many rounds of applause during the Q&A afterwards. This news clip explains more about the film.