Back in town...

... but some family things have just happened, so I don't know exactly when I'm coming out. I'll try to make Karaoke on wednesday (does that still happen?)

Corinne and me with the Decemberists

Meeting half of the Decemberists
Originally uploaded by atomistic.

It's a good thing we all like having Japanese food for dinner, so we can run into them, get them a round of sake, and have a pleasant little meet and greet.

Birthday palns!

so to celebrate my birthday we are having an "Excuse to wear that outfit" karaoke party on saturday at my place. Address should be in the forum. come wearing something that's been sitting in your closet dying to see the light of day again.

also this week i will be at karaoke as per usual and on my actual birthday i will be going to the five alarm funk show at the buffalo club. so if you can't come on saturday maybe i'll see you tonight or tomorow

Party on December 16th AT KAT's! (and Lindsay's et al)

I'll bring the Karaoke setup and some dessert. I'll be updating the song selection this weekend and printing addendums next week.

I'll try to organize a couple of smaller events at my place this month, perhaps a screening of "city of lost children" and a trial run of the first "cooking group" (TBA, think writing group but with utencils instead of pen and paper...err...laptop...equally educational though).

FRIDAY NIGHT @ THE RAILWAY CLUUUUB.

My band (This Week In History) will be playing at the Railway Club for Friday the 13th with Nikki Hurst, The Flairs and The BTU's. We will be on around 9, so come on down for plenty of drinking and hijinx at The Railway (Dunsmuir @ Seymour) $10 at the door.

Singing Turkey Party *CANCELLED*

I haven't heard back from Casey, Mark or Stuart, but I presume that this Saturday (October 7th) is still a-go for Karaoke at their duplex. I'll comment confirmation once I get it and post address/details in the forum. Give me a call, see what's happening.

New stuff:

Legends: Rolling Stones, Aretha Franklin (all hits)
Zoom: Smiths, Elton John (ZMP103-105)
Top Hits: October, November (www.karaokemonthly.com - check these for new top 40)

Back to my grindstone.

Now that's what I call culture: Movie night and so much more

Now before I get into this sunday's goodness I just want to remind people JACKASS NUMBER TWO opens today! I totally forgot about til I opened up the Straight. I'm thinking the 9:50pm show at the Paramount, and hey we'll probably get to watch drunk frat boys try to copy the stunts after the movie. Who's down?

B&B Presents: RollerMADNESS!

Sun. Sep.24/06



7pmRoll Bounce (2005): Well you have a typical coming of age story set against a roller skating competition in the 70s (so great music) and CHARLIE MURPHY! Don't forget Nick Cannon, he's hilarious.



9pm Kansas City Bomber (1972): When the fuck is the Vancouver Roller Derby league gonna start up! Last I heard they were having trouble getting insurance for their players. BOOOO! Anyways roller derby, Raquel Welch wearing tight shirts, that just may show a bit of cleavage, beating the shit out of other girls while wearing rollerskates. My head swoons with delight.

and possibly an AFTERHOURS showing of Miike's episode of Masters of Horror, IMPRINT. For those who haven't downloaded it months. Like myself.

Next week: Blaxploitation classics.

AND NOW UPCOMING SHOWS

Ok I have tickets to LADYTRON on Oct. 14 (where I'll dance like a middle aged gay man at the Pet Shop Boys farewell concert) and DETROIT COBRAS on the following Monday and I want to spend those times with you. Regarding the Cobras, I've just found out how musically ignorant I am, since finding out they're a cover band. Albeit a cover band with their own great rockin' sound. So if anyone is interested in doing the Cha-cha twist with me come along. Also note, the near pleading tone comes from the fact that the only person I know going is someone I have a huge crush on and she has a boyfriend. Help me not flip out. Oh yes SOUTHERN CULTURE ON THE SKIDS is coming to town on Nov.16. One of the funnest live acts still around that I have yet to see (and I've hardly seen any, so that's a whole lot of potential funness).

Ugh sleep sentence construction difficult. Work soon. blahhhh.

Vet's Club Saturday?

Wanna be social this Saturday? I was in the middle of concocting a few ideas when Ron mentioned he'd be at the Vet's club this Saturday...Anybody interested? 7:30-11:30pm like Wednesday.

Maybe a pre/post drink at the B&B? Or my place (19/25 bus to vet's)?

So long, and thanks for all the fish/karaoke...

I'm on my way out in an hour or two, flying through Hong Kong and then on to Bangkok. This summer was too damn short... ate some fine food, sang some fine songs (usually pretty badly) and maybe even did a little drinking. I'll miss you all, and I'll be back in a year, maybe a bit less. If homesickness strikes hard, I might take a short vacation home at some point, but only if finance allows.

A new blog will appear very soon either here or here, but I haven't decided which yet, and I've been too consumed with pre-trip prep that I haven't started posting. This will be a more permanent blog, since folks are apparently getting sick of me changing them every six months. Should I have two blogs? (i.e. one my grandma can read, and another where Christian can comment all he wants about prepubescent prostitutes?) Probably a good idea...

OK, I'm off to bond with my parents for my remaining hour. Y'all have a good time, and don't let the karaoke trend die - I'll be practicing in Thailand if the opportunity arises. Toodles!

P.S. I'll make sure to get high-speed internet in Chiang Mai, so I'll be a bit more of a web presence than I was the last couple of trips.

KARAOKE PARTY THIS FRIDAY!

I've been asked to KJ a birthday party at a shared house on the corner of 12th and Ontario. Some of you may have met the hosts at the Vet's club recently, Casey and Stuart are two of the roommates. Anyhow, they've been gracious enough to open the venue to friends through the ANAF #298 or the Clubhouse blog. Karaoke should be starting around 8:30-9:00pm and will go into the wee hours of the morning. Feel free to bring alcohol and come meet some new people. I encourage you to drop by and if timing is critical, I'll let you call in requests. I should have an assistant to help with rotation scheduling (I'm looking at you, Brendan).

Now the best part, I've recently moved to an external HD system with a song selection that might actually impress even Ron. Unfortunately, the list is too big to post to the web. So go to www.kjpro.com or www.dbkaraoke.com and "browse" or search by artist/song title and give me the code (I should be able to search by artist or song, but just in case). There will be 6 books also. Expect complete song selections from all major artists and ALL the recent top 40.

I'll post the address and my cell no in the forum tomorrow.

The Coolest Hipster Ever

EVER.

Events to note

1. AbsoluteSpa day on August 20th. I'm going to book some stuff there that day, for me, but if anyone wants to join they also have a men's menu. This'll be pricey, so keep that in mind. Depending on who's in, there may be other things to follow.

2. Sports Day. Of note: that link takes you to last year and a spectacular photograph of Duke. This year it takes place Saturday September 16 from 11am to 4pm in Coquitlam somewhere (I can look it up; it's a different location than last year I think). It's $15/person and a team of 4 is $60 (what a bargain!). You get a swank (not really) t-shirt and a chance to win some dapper prizes. The year I participated, I won a Roots watch. Not only can you win by participating, but you can put more money in to win raffle prizes (I hate the word "raffle"). I can list you all the prizes, but there is a ton of neat stuff and some crap (like TV Week subscriptions). Anyway, it'd be cool if we had a showing of Clubhousers. My work may have a team or two and I'm already signed up with my family, but this event is way less torturous with cool people around. If you think your workplace or social collective would like to start a team I can send out a registration form.

3. Other activities that I'd like to happen in the next month: I'd like to make it out to the Night Market, go out dancing, plan/attend a party where karaoke is not the central focus, summer picnic at a park (potluck style), possible PNE/Playland day if there is any interest.

I know this is a lot to digest, but I'm going to start planning a lot of these on the Google Calendar and I might try to add the Calendar to the blog to make it more accessible. I'd appreciate some input from any of you as to what you'd like to attend, what you would not attend if your life depended on it, and other events you would like to see happen in the Clubhouse.

Also, I am looking for contest ideas because we're coming up on having enough credits to get a t-shirt from Threadless. If there are no contest ideas,I'm just going to get the shirt for myself! ;)

decemberists 11.18

anyone up for a decemberists show in november? it's saturday, 11.18 at the commodore, and tix go on sale august 1. I'm looking at you, bean.

if people are wanting to go and will be picking up tickets, I would gladly you pay you tuesday for two tickets today...

For Grae...

Only Arsenio Hall can save hip hop...



'Dope, The Big Lie' from Large and In Charge.

Upcoming concerts

These days I've been trying to save money more, but here are two shows I'll regret passing up, especially if someone here wants to join in. I'll be picking up tix at one of those record stores real soon, probably Friday or Saturday.

OF MONTREAL
(been on sale for weeks but I've been slacky-pantsed getting around to it...hope they're still available)
Friday Sept 1, Plaza Club
$20.75 + s/c

SUFJAN STEVENS
(should sound great with strings and horns...plus he's the handsomest man on the Christian indie rock scene)
Saturday Oct 14, St. Andrew's Wesley Church
$27.00 + s/c

Toronto blues

Hello all

I just got home from the pub with Jeff (my pal via Rachael) and I got sloshed. He is in transit from Edmonton to Newfoundland and decided to come visit me and another friend of his. I had tons of fun! And Ontario doesnt have liquor tax so its cheaper. An upside to Toronto I guess ...

I'm tired after having done fieldwork in Parkdale all day, an area that shares a lot of characteristics with our Downtown Eastside. It is a fast gentrifying area with an incoming yuppie population that works in the cultural/creative industry (design, music, film, art), creating conflict with current residents as yuppies tend to drive up housing prices. Parkdale, not unlike DTES, is also known for the drug and prostitution scenes, which create NIMBYist conflicts. What I love about this research is that I get paid to do it -- and it is absolutely interesting! I am off to do some more fieldwork sometime in the next few days, but if it gets thunderstormy like it did yesterday, then I'll just work from home. The weather here is so flipping unpredictable: it could be nice and sunny one moment and then windy and thundery the next. It sucks.

I miss Vancouver, especially the various assortments of Granville Island beers and better selection of sushi. I kind of like the gay scene here though. People are generally less snobby. Just last night I met two people (both named Steve; they're friends) while studying in a cafe in what is the equivalent of our West End. Nice people, generally. But I do miss you guys, and Karaoke. Oh, Jeff's friend Rebekka wants to find us a karaoke bar. Yay.

The Red Elvises

I completly forgot to post here earlier, sorry guys!

If any of you are free tonight, come by the Railway Club @ 8pm for The Red Elvises!

Tickets are $10 at the door.

Friday July the 14th and what you're doing!

Hello Everyone!

In a mass celebration of many birthdays in the first two weeks of July (including my own) join me and my new band This Week In History at The Pic (W. Pender @ Granville) on Friday July the 14th for the party to end all multi birthday parties.





If you'd like tickets comment here or contact me via other means if you have them. I'm mobile and am available to drop tickets off, they are $7 each in advance. Hope to see you all there!

Greetings from Smog-land

The city of Toronto welcomed me with a mighty thick layer of smog and humidity so fierce and painful. Oh how I miss the mountains, the breeze and of course you crazy people!

I am starting to get settled in my place. I will post photos soon, but to give you an idea, it is a Victorian-style home which I share with three others (two girls and a guy). My room is right up front, with a view of the tree-lined street (Markham St). I just spent (well my Mom spent ...) about $150 buying the basic stuff, which to me includes various paper lanterns for decorating and some thumbtacks for me to hang my Canucks jersey and some Vancouver photos. About the latter: I've been warned not to place my shrine to Vancouver in public view because it might cause disgruntled Torontonians to hurl rocks at my window. Bah! Incivility.

About unpacking: I just figured that the boxes are not going to unpack themselves. They might as well as they have their own little minds though - just today, one of my heavy luggages decided to fall on my left foot, possibly causing a huge bruise if not broken bones. It hurts like Kevin Federline's sense of style.

Anyway, you'll see a lot more of me ranting about the ups and downs of this city. I'll give it a chance to warm up to me; if not, then Vancouver here I come back.

PS: Three things I'll miss the most: (1) Karaoke - duh, (2) the skytrain (I detest the subway system here) and (3) relatively inexpensive yet still hefty servings of Asian cuisine (Chinese and Japanese to be more precise).

Cards for old people

Hey kids,

For those who know Bill & Marie, you'll know Bill & Marie haven't been around on Wednesdays. Last night, a few of us found out. Bill's at Lion's Gate with lots of health issues (and has been for the past three weeks); Marie will be moving into a home in the coming weeks. Bill & Marie were part of the draw of attending the 298, and they probably won't be able to make it out any more.

This Wednesday I want to make cards at the 298 or collect "Thinking of you" cards to be given to Bill at Lion's Gate. This will be achieved either by KJ Ron, Martina, or having one or two of the karaokers running over the bridge with a bundle of well wishes.

If you have scissors, scrap paper, white glue, felt pens, or any other artistic tool you don't mind sharing, and likely losing, for this giant project to be spread out over three tables, please bring them to karaoke Wednesday.