From the Drake, to the Broadview, to Filmores

Eventually, I want to write more about this but this short post will have to suffice for now. Toronto's next gentrification culprit: Filmores. This year, the Broadview Hotel (formerly Jilly's) opened. The Broadview Hotel attempts to recreate the change the Drake Hotel created in the west end, by literally copy pasting the model. Mark my words, this gem (Filmores), located at Dundas and George (oh so close to the memorable corner of Dundas and Sherbourne), is not far behind. 

Here's how it appears gentrification works in Toronto: neighbourhoods go through gentrification, but Coffee Time (which I am convinced is a front for money laundering), stays in place. Super-gentrification begins when Coffee Time gets replaced by a medium range restaurant, and hyper-gentrification happens when the medium range restaurant becomes a boutique/concept store, coffee shop or restaurant. For evidence of my theory, look no further to King St. West and Bathurst, where Coffee Time was replaced by Wild Wing, which will soon be replaced by something with 'raw' walls and a chalkboard. Also, the corner of Queen West and Niagara, Coffee Time has been replaced by 'Loaded Pierogi'. So it begins...again.

Sad to see these guys go, but looking forward to their new projects. Also upset at missing their show at Dalston Superstore :( Listen to the recording of their last live show in Manchester up top.

Coffee Shop Jams

I was digging through my Evernote notes and found this gem from May 2010 that I never published on my previous blog, so I’m doing it now!

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Thanks to Starbucks, the company that is in the business of selling milk drinks not coffee, everyone now has that third place: the coffee shop. Here you can sit down, relax, study, read, etc, etc. Most of the time, there’s music playing in the background. This music can be a) really low b) just at the right volume or c) louder than the heavy metal they play at Chippy’s (Trinity Bellwoods location). 

After sitting in a variety of coffee shops, I assembled a list of jams you’re most likely to hear at those places.

Independent cafés

Usually, the staff is allowed to plug in their own iPod and play their tunes. This can be really bad or really good. And depending on when you go, it can be very repetitive (some employees put the same music week after week - Jimmy’s I’m looking in your direction!)

Jams you might spill your coffee too:

• "Age of Consent" - New Order (it’s the Tupac for hipsters, aiight?)
• The Smiths
• Cut Copy
• Junior Boys
• Toro Y Moi
• 700 other indie bands

Second Cup

This one alternates. Second Cup employees are required to play the music from the satellite radio, but they have a variety of channels to choose from. However, I’m sure anything with swear words or deemed inappropriate is deemed…inappropriate. 

Top 40

• This can range from Beyoncé to Nickelback to Lil’ Wayne (radio edit)
• Jazz
• Either Michael Bublé, Norah Jones or Christmas music

Coffee Culture

This place has terrible lattes and coffee (lunch isn’t bad), but I like the actual space itself because it’s good for working (outlets, tables, space!). They also play kicking jams…

Sippin’ on nostalgia

90s - alternative, grunge, classics

• The Cranberries
• Blind Melon
• Everything but the Girl
• Sade

Starbucks

You should already know by now I don’t go to Starbucks, I don’t think I’ve actually sat there since I was 13 except once for a meeting. So how would I know their music? I’ll leave you with this: don’t they have their own label?

Honest Ed's 1985

Honest Ed’s TV spot circa 1985

Pink Cobra, Summer 2011

Pink Cobra - Fashion film, Summer 2011

Lullabies for the TTC employees

Via: Torontoist

You know what a shawarma is?

Shawarma is of Turkish origin, also, it’s not really authentic Middle-Eastern food! Toronto has to have the worst shawarma. They attempt to hide the dry chicken taste by putting garlic sauce, tahini sauce (which only belongs in beef shawarma and falafel) and hot sauce. Hot sauce? What???

clingtomymouth:

tiratiramisuuu:

dramaprincess:

ichopstix:

pandamoonium:

theposterawakens:

The shawarma is the best thing known to people living in the Middle East.

Any other arguments are rendered invalid. Your attempt to retaliate is considered futile.

Authentic shawarma from the middle east, that is.

Not the impostor wraps sold around here.

I’m sorry but it’s true.

Real shawarma is NOT DICED INTO TINY PIECES USING SCISSORS! IT IS FINELY SLICED USING SPECIAL CARVING KNIVES!

IT IS NOT WRAPPED IN PITA BREAD! KOBUS BREAD!!!

UNLESS IT IS MALGHOUM, YOU DO NOT PUT CHEESE ON IT!

AND IF YOU DO PUT CHEESE, YOU DON’T PUT THAT FAKE YELLOW, TASTELESS LIQUID LABELED ‘CHEESE’

YOU DO NOT PUT JUST ANY WHITE SAUCE ON TOP. TAHINI SAUCE, DAMMNIT!

NO ONIONS EITHER! THE ONLY SHARP TASTE MUST COME FROM THE MARINATED MEAT ITSELF!

LAST, BUT NOT THE LEAST, YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE CHOICE BETWEEN CHICKEN OR BEEF SHAWARMA!

CAPS LOCK USED TO EXPRESS MY RAGE AT THE WRAPS THEY SELL HERE THAT GIVE REAL SHAWARMA A BAD NAME!

I’M LOOKING AT YOU, CERVINI CAFETERIA!

Middle Easterns unite :))

Authentic shawarmas you get on the streets of Bahrain FTW!

dunno why you’d put tahini on it when you could put toum.