at Bar Gagarin

Originally uploaded by dreamtiger

This is one of my most favorite photos of me. This one is like a secret that I’m not telling, just look at those cheeky eyes. There’s something special about being in Berlin, sitting on a bright red chair that matches my hair, under a large pretty umbrella with a bright orange neon backpack, purple watch, teal shirt that says “It’s not over, not over, yeah” (which is, in my opinion, influenced by the Klaxons’ “It’s not over, not over, not over yet”), and teaching my friend about the proper ways of drinking vodka, according to the Russians. Our plate is called Intelligenz, and it includes chopped herring with apple, pickles, rye bread, onions and some other goodies.
I’m actually glad there is quite a number of us Russian folks in Berlin. It’s always nice to encounter fellow men so far away from the Motherland.
By the way, few days later, when I was in Barcelona, someone (an Eastern European fellow from Talinn, Estonia) who used to follow my Livejournal a while back messaged me and asked me if I was at Bar Gagarin in Prenzlauer Berg on such and such date. I said, yes, why. He said he was there at exactly the same time, and recognized my red hair. Wow, talk about coincidence!? Small world, folks, small world. I can only imagine what my life is going to be like in 5-7 years.

This is Dave drinking his portion of the Intelligentz

Filed under: the world eh , Berlin, Europe, food, friends, fun, memories, photos

Art, You Say?

We all crave art, especially in this technologically advanced day and age, we all need something beautiful, original, never seen before, never put together before, to pop into our lives and say “Here I am!” I want to see things that I – maybe – just imagined or wondered about, but never seen in flesh. Seeing beautiful things also makes me calmer and happier. That is why I am a member of the AGO: I want to be able to go in, hide on floor 3 in some well-lit corner, sit on a bench and write in my Helvetica Moleskine (ok, this makes me sound like a snob :-p).

My friends, this Friday, March 20, I cordially invite you to Kensington Market’s Hotshot Gallery. There will be a private reception of the 1000 for $10 show. It is a group show, involving many up and coming artists including Yvon Julie, Anam Ahmed, Ryan Solski, Lisa Ng, Dan Rocca (etc) and my favorite girl Rajni Perera (see more of her art on the blog, it rocks).

Rajni, a Sri Lanka-born ball of energy, never ceases to amaze me with her style – I see ink-intensive sketches in her notepads, large canvasses with traces of colorful life in her studio, I hear of her ideas to paint beautiful images on little wooden boxes. I see the paintings of pretty little birds or women with serious weapons on found surfaces (wooden ones, too!). Besides being an ecclectic artist who’s almost graduated from OCAD, she is a gourmand. She loves pungent cheese, making perfect raspberry chocolate souffles, and quiches. She’s also an apt dancer and my favorite lady to paint the town red with. Rajni wants to run away to Paris one day and just live (of course I’m hoping she’ll change the course for Berlin, in which case I’ll happily tag along). Seriously, you gotta meet her and see the world with her eyes. Your chance is this Friday, March 20 at 181 Augusta Ave. I’ll be there with my colors on! Keep in mind, art is affordable – starting at $10! Considering the economy, everyone can afford a piece of unique art at this show.

Filed under: moving up , art, artist, friends, joy, show, toronto

Some Mad Skills

Oh, Mad Men is getting some rep again, thanks to its creator’s, Matt Weiner’s, kid. Arlo Weiner is 8, but his fashion style is way beyond his years. Forget the bloody jeans and sneakers – how lame can you be? This boy loves tweed, bow ties, tophats, velvet jackets, madras pants. He wants to start making his own clothes as soon as his mom gets him a sewing machine. His photos totally made my morning, and I’m already looking forward to his creations. You’ll be hearing a lot about Arlo, guys. More on him in the GQ.

On another note, I am considering going to this fancy dinner with Vaneska at the end of March. Still uncertain, but I definitely know it’ll be all made to order, and Jamie Drummond will the guest Sommelier for the night; the fabulous dinner conductor personally met all the producers.

1. Selection of Hors D’oeuvres
2006 Domaine Ostertag Pinot Gris “Barriques” Alsace France
2. Assiette de Charcuterie : Pingue Prosciutto, Goose Rillettes, Tartare de Cheval, Pickled Root Vegetables, Citrus Marinated Olives
2006 Jean Luc Colombo Côtes du Rhône “Les Abeilles” Rhône Valley France
3. “Canard en Conserve” from Au Pied De Cochon : Duck Magret, Foie Gras, Roasted Savoy Cabbage, Cauliflower puree, Balsamic reduction
2005 Domaine du Meix Foulot Mercurey Rouge Burgundy France
4. Assiette de Fromages Francais Artisanaux : Camembert Normand AOC, Langres AOC, Pont L’Eveque AOC, Livarot AOC, Crottin de Chavignol AOC, St. Nectaire AOC, Roblochon AOC, Bleu D’Auvergne AOC
2007 Domaine Coulet “No Wines Land” Cornas Rhône Valley France
5. Malbec Poached Bosc Pear : Almond, Walnut ice cream
2006 Domaine des Gardies “Flor” Muscat de Rivesaltes Roussillon France

Filed under: simple life , fashion, food, icon, mad men, surprise, toronto

Spring Words and Prime Numbers

I’ve never looked forward to spring as much as I have this year. Using the left side of my brain, I can deduce that it has something to do with my age. Most of my older friends always rejoiced about spring when I couldn’t care less what season it was; now I feel their joy. It’s sort of like the feeling you get when you’re about to write all your exams and burst into summer vacation.

The book I read last week reminded me of the more subdued version of that feeling – the quiet joy, the fleeting happiness you feel when noticing the most beautiful details of our lives. The Housekeeper and the Professor by Yoko Ogawa is about memory and math. It’s about kindness and perseverance, family and understanding. What got my attention, of course, was the role mathematics played in telling this poignant story. Set in 1992, it is about a new housekeeper assigned to the brilliant professor whose short-term memory lasts only 80 minutes as a result of a serious car crash that happened in1975. His memory stops at that time, and he resorts to writing notes and attaching them to his suit. The housekeeper is a patient and kind woman who finds professor’s math trivia interesting. So does her son. I won’t jump into details of the novel, but I highly recommend this book for your spring reading list. It is the kind of story that makes one’s heart clench at the sight of tiny, unnoticable things of our daily lives; it makes you appreciate the present moment (try imagining only having 80 minutes of memory!); and it may even cause you to entertain the thought of eternal love.

Filed under: imaginings , books, changes, japanese, literature, love, math

Symphony is the new… err, what do kids listen to?

Perhaps the years of Russian schooling taught me to love classical music. I’d like to think it’s the fact that in grade 6 we listened to, discussed and thoroughly studied Grieg’s Peer Gynt, the fate-knocking-on-your-door Beethoven’s Symphony No 5 and the like. I can appreciate any instrumental music (unless it’s downright whack, nonsensical and devoid of all talent), and am particularly fond of the violin.

Couple of weeks ago it struck me as odd that I haven’t been to the Toronto Symphony Orchestra since I moved to Toronto. Two weeks ago I had a wonderful opportunity to see Midori in action, thanks to TSO’s affiliation with our League of Kickass Under 30. Her performance was mesmerizing, a performance that reminded me of a swan in agony or a very skillful 80’s dancer. Her body was part of the violin, the notes sending shocks all over her, making her move to the sound of music. Powerful. We then had an opportunity to talk to the conductor Jun Maerkl at the Lexus Lounge.

Immediately after the performance, I signed up for TSO’s Soundcheck program, which offers discounted (and I mean, discounted – $12) tickets for any seat in the house, provided you are under 29! The guy next to you paid $100+ for his ticket, while you’re enjoying a $12 deal. Jeremy and I went to see The Damnation of Faust by Berlioz, conducted be Dutoit, last Thursday. A showstopper it was – skillful orchestra, and divine choir, as well as the doubly divine children’s choir, not to mention the powerful voices of Faust and Mephistopheles got me hooked. I am already planning my purchases of Mahler’s Symphony No 6, Prokofiev and Ravel, Beethoven, Tchaikovsky, Brahms, Bartok and Strauss. now the ears of my ears awake and now the eyes of my eyes are opened (ee cummings)

Filed under: simple life , culture, interests, music, poem, toronto, tso