Creating ink.

A beautifully shot short on how ink is made here in the GTA.  Think of it as if TLC’s How It’s Made had an art director (or a good videographer).  Watch the whole thing, they make a Vaughan factory feel beautiful.  Thanks be to BlogTO.

Toronto mayoralty race.

In the words of Toronto psychogeographer (barf title) Shawn Micallef:

The true believers behind candidates, as well as ideologues and utopians, who would not benefit from strategic voting will tell you it’s a bad idea. Sure, it’s depressing and it breeds political cynicism like nothing else. It’s awful, not being true to what both your heart and mind is telling you. But then there’s reality: across the political spectrum, we’re left with candidates who haven’t excited us. The left-of-centre Miller regime put its succession faith in weak candidates who either committed spectacular political suicide or have failed to grab the wider public’s attention, and the right-of-centre haven’t been able to field a candidate who they could fully get behind (this is why John Tory’s name was tossed into the ring over and over).

So, who to endorse in this critical but meh-inspiring election? Vote for number two. That is, whoever is polling behind Ford on election day is who I’ll vote for. Then I’ll go say a little prayer, take a walk, and remind myself why we’re called Toronto the Good. With the anti-Ford vote at risk of being split, this is the only way to coalesce the opposition votes. It’s not pretty. A smart city like Toronto deserves better and it feels hard to do, but anything else leads to a split.

Should have voted in the advance polls last weekend, I hear voting takes awhile with the electronic ballots.  Either way, I couldn’t agree more with Mr. Micallef.  It breaks my valves a little bit, but I’m voting head and not heart for the election.  Polls are showing the majority of Mr. Smitherman’s support comes from the exact same place.  Toronto deserves better, but at least we can coast.

Evergreen Brickworks.

Wow.  Toronto points.  Actually, midtown Toronto points.  Midtown doesn’t get enough love.  C and I were thinking of moving to High Park area, but this place now has some big pull in the moving decision.

Evergreen Brickworks is the newly retrofitted environmental education centre that used to be home to Toronto’s brick quarrying and manufacturing.  A massive geologic deposit of clay soil allowed for major brick production in the quarry stopped producing that now features an environmental education centre, modern art installations, a Saturday farmer’s market, event space, and about 8 other buildings worth of drools.  The best part?  Our walk involves no roads or streets or sidewalks. Through the park, through the Mud Creek ravine trail system, right to the Brickworks.  They knew what to do.

Bustling market – beautiful looking prepared baked goods, hot lunches, etc.  Not much produce when we got there (late), just apples + cider.

Construction is still ongoing, but most is done.

Into the art installation building.  Yes, I loved that they’ve kept as much of the graffiti intact as they could.  Sad to say, I’m not Rob Ford. Was impressed (with myself) that I recognized a name from one of the installations (Werner Herzog).

Forgive me and my blatant perspective photos, I’m no photog.  And we did not leave empty-handed.  Of all things I found some great looking tomatillos at the market.  Never made Mexican salsa verde before so I went for it.  That’s why I love markets – great alternative ingredients to really get something new on your Sunday dinner plate.

This place really stands at the Venn circle intersection of food, environment, and design.  Let’s start our own lecture series and call it FED Talks.

Late July links.

Toronto

• 2010 Nuit Blanche program released – [NuitBlanche]
• Vaughan – gridlocked in suburbia – the worst [worst) - [National Post]
• Best cheap drinks in Toronto – [BlogTO]
• Giambrone vs. Presto cards – TTC and Metrolinx argue over future transit payment systems – [Toronto Life]
• Little Italy gets a hookah bar- [BlogTO]
• Bixi Bash hopes to get itself off the ground in Toronto – [blogTO]
• Toronto: mobile app centre of the universe – [Toronto Life]
• Toronto lands a big NYC chef – and the s-storm begins – [JamesChatto]
• Toronto through the eyes of mayoralty candidate Sarah Thomson – [blogTO]
• How to be cool in Toronto – have a 416 number – [Star]

Food

• Grilling corn on the BBQ – [NYT Mark Bittman]
• How to make perfect ribs – [Toronto Life]
• 13 of Toronto’s best doughnuts - kind of disappointing, almost all super high end spots – [Toronto Life]
• More on the raw milk debate – the adventurous flavour purists vs. the milk lobby

Politics/News

• The Tea Party is Perverted and Irrelevant - [Matt Taibbi - Rolling Stone]

Miscellanium

• Where do currency symbols come from? – [Slate]
• Are we naturally lazy? – Happier when busy but inclined towards laziness – [via NYT]
• Watch Jack White butcher Beatles tune “Mother Nature’s Son” in front of Obama and McCartney - but all the Jack White disciples will love his “unique style”. [Pitchfork]
• One cup of coffee per day ok for pregnant ladies – [CBC]
• E-book sales outpace hardcovers at Amazon – [CBC]
• Bill Murray GQ Interview – [GQ]

Jarvis bike lanes.

One small spoke for Toronto. One small leap for simple ideas?  muh.  Jarvis got a bike lane today, going from 5 lanes to 4.   We’ll see how it goes, but I think it will be nice for those cyclists.

ergo de facto, I’m your boss.   Capacity 2,100.  Busiest traffic much less.  Even with margins of error, still looking good.  Numbers don’t politicize, you disappointingly poor mayoralty candidates you.

via Twitter @larrylarry.

Guu Izakaya.

Everything they say is true.  This place is a blast, and the food is absolutely brilliant.  One of Toronto’s bests.

Guu Izakaya, the Vancouver Japanese pub institution, exports the greatness to Toronto.  Toronto tries to kidnap the best of all Canadian cities – the rise of gourmet poutine and Japanese food is no coincidence.  Our own insecurity feeds this buzz, so we can stay south of Steeles and quell any cockiness from the justifiably proud Montrealers and/or Vancouverites.

You may know how it goes – the hostess stays outside and minds the 20 or so in line (always a line).  Once she pries open the weighty front door, it’s instant surprise party.  Loud, smiling, chanting.  Almost exclusively communal tables (we sat on the end so impact was minimized).  Small $5 plates, $15 Sapporo pitchers.  Love it.

• Takoyaki – deep fried octopus balls w mustard mayo and an Asian style BBQ sauce
• Okonomyaki – deep fried pancake w mustard mayo and BBQ
• Kakuni – sweet miso braised pork belly with boiled egg
• Grilled saba – simply the best whitefish I’ve ever had the pleasure of ingesting
• Homemade udon noodle w kimchi
• Salmon natto yukke – salmon sashimi, garlic chips, diced veg, raw egg yolk all mixed together and put in nori.
• Tontoro
• Karagge

Just get those, I promise you will flip. Go. And go early, and be patient, and be tolerant of the 2hr time limit.

Go to foodpr0n.com’s post on Guu, they have some great photos.  Go.

mid-July links.

Environment

• Learn more about the eco-fee – It’s not a tax, it’s run by an arms length organization, no money to government – [Globe]
• New rules threaten future of US wood waste biomass power industry – [NYTimes]
• Arid Australia turns to desalination plants for water supply, despite costs - environmentalists often seem to omit desalination from their brains when it comes to the “water crisis”- [NYTimes]
• NYC launches a large tap water promotion campaign – [NYTimes]

Food

• How to make béarnaise sauce – Everyone has their own tricks w french sauces – [Globe]
• Take a (food) day trip to Beamsville – [TasteTO]
• Servers can now type in orders to the kitchen on their iPhones – [TorontoLife]
• David Lee from Nota Bené discusses ‘terroir’ for vegetables – [Globe]
• Linking the farmers to the foodies – [Globe]

News/Politics

• Learn more about your new DJ Governor General – I bet lots of Waterlooians have stories, I’ve had many solid interactions with him as a semi-official UW apologist (aka student ambassador) – [Globe]
• Learn more about why Harper deserves credit for making his Governor General search non-partisan – Canada 1 – [Globe]
• Don’t mess with the census, statisticians tell Tories – [Globe]
• The federal government is senseless on the census - [Globe ed.]
• Huffington Post’s advice to American jobless – move to Canada – [Globe]
• Tim Hudak cops out – [Globe]
• Kabul rocked by guitars – [Globe]

Life

• The true cost of living in the city vs. the suburbs – [NYTimes]
• Wedding expenses that aren’t worth it – [NYTimes]
• The paradox of parenting – parents are less happy than non-married peers – [NYT Freakonomics Blog]
• Gen-Y’s tough choice between entrepreneurship and corporate world - [Globe]
• You can be too rich – [Globe]

Toronto

• TTC Stations could get cell service – [CBC]
• City of Toronto makes an excellent road construction (interruption) map
• Bellevue Cafe – 3 guys who make crazy, disparate, but tasty sandwiches - [NOW]
• Susur Lee’s new Toronto restaurant - [Toronto Life]
• Toronto road tolls go from abhorrent to approved: how’d that happen? - [Toronto Life]
• Ideas for Toronto: Personal Rapid Transit – [Spacing]

Science

• Laws of hurricane power discovered – [New Scientist]
• Mass transit encourages exercise and weight loss – [New Scientist aka Duh! Aficionado magazine]
• Prozac prawns, cocaine crabs, trace elements of drugs in our waste water - [New Scientist]
• Learn more about what’s

Globe Earth.

photo c/o foodpr0n.com

I’m starting a new job at the Ministry of Environment soon.  I get to look at water quality science on a provincial scale.  HI. Excited is a large understatement.   To celebrate, Cara and I went to Globe Earth in Rosedale.

Their ethos is local food (with a bit hypocrisy with many international wines, but I digress).  They source all ingredients from local suppliers, very responsible, bourgeois, Rosedalian but reasonable prices.  No complaints.

Here’s our rundown:

• Norman Hardie Prince Edward County white
• some of Rodney’s famous oysters
• Crispy ewenity curds (photo above) – deep fried cheese curds with house made ketchup.  Think of the best possible mozza stick fritter with some nice curd mouthfeel.  It’s all about the squeaky bouncy.
• Sunday roast special – lamb w chorizo, fingerling potato salad, tomato relish.
• Beef tenderloin with charred asparagus salad – whenever asparagus hits a grill, there is magic.
• Had some fruit ginger crumble with some amazing Niagara late harvest to finish it off.  The server made a mistake so it was on the house!  If you dislike ice wine or port, try late harvest. It’s the perfect happy medium.  Not too sweet, super delicious.

Bill wasn’t too damaging, especially for a nice place in Rosedale.  Great service, vibe a bit too modern but very comfortable.  Definitely will return.

Newsfeed.

Science

• Instant expert: general relativity – learrrrn Einstein. [New Scientist]
• Robb Fraley: Monsanto is a champion of healthy eating – [New Scientist]
• Check out the discovery wishlists of top scientists – [New Scientist]

Environment

• Why climate stumps even the brightest scientists – [New York Times]
• New desalination technique in Vancouver – a possibly massive step in solving global water issues – [Globe]
• There is no peak oil, but there is supply and demand – [Globe]
• The pros and cons of woody biomass – [NYT]
• The money gusher – The oil industry’s decommissioning costs will dwarf those of nuclear power. The money being made now should be put aside to meet them [George Monbiot]
• Intensive farming ‘massively slowed’ global warming – [New Scientist]

News

• Inside the temporary G20 detention centre – [blogTO]
• UW President David Johnston – Governor General rumours abound – [Globe]
• The pros and cons of a Liberal-NDP merger – [Globe]

Toronto

• The ultimate southern Ontario cottage guide – [Toronto Life]
• The man behind MaRS – [Globe]
• City plans for two new soil recycling plants – [blogTO]
• 2010 Polaris Prize long list proves that Toronto is the best – [Torontoist]
• Car sharing in Toronto – a sluggish start – [Spacing]

Music/Arts

• Has technology changed the experience of music? – [Atlantic]
• Music and speech share a code for communicating sadness in the minor third – [Scientific American]
• Interview with Sook-Yin Lee – [Torontoist]

Food

• From foodie to foodiot – [Toronto Star]
• Joanne Kates’ top 100 Toronto restaurants
• Amazing looking bites from Toronto’s best chefs at Second Harvest – [TasteTO]

Northern Dumpling Kitchen.

Sometimes it pays to work in Richmond Hill.  The reverse commute, and amazing value Chinese food.

Enter Northern Dumpling Kitchen, in “Times Square” at Leslie and Highway 7.  Good try Richmond Hill, a clock at the top of your GTA mini-mall does not quite equal 42nd and Broadway.  Northern Dumpling Kitchen mainly serves dim sum and some northern Chinese dishes.

One of the coolest things on the menu is tea smoked pork belly, served with scallions, hoisin, and the tastiest pita like bread product you’ve ever had.  Hybrid of naan, croissant, and the deep fried Kelsey’s pita chip (that partners the ubiquitous spinach dip).  Unreal.  Here she is.

Big thanks be to Paigu for the photos.

This weekend.

Toronto – “a changed city”.  One side completely fueling the other.  The postitive feedback loops of completely excessive and addictive media coverage, massive government spending and isolation, and public anger.  More obvious – everyone is to blame.  A few hundred angry idiots smashing and burning.  A few hundred cops way too eager to assault and arrest.  All the while the press coverage is literally fuelling the fire with 95% chaos, 5% ACTUAL G20 policy.  And we’re all not that surprised.  Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrghhh sigh.

Follow Steve Paikin on Twitter, you know who he is.  The host of Ontario’s best television program, The Agenda.  One of our best interviewers/journalists.  He witnessed very undemocratic protests last night downtown.  I’m sure he’ll be throwing down on The Agenda on TVO tomorrow night.

The weeklyish links.

Few but mighty this week.

Toronto

• St. Lawrence Market North Building getting an amazing-looking re-design – [Spacing]
• Toronto’s transformation to Silicon Valley North – [Globe] – ummm…. Waterloo?

Politics/News

• More than half of Canadians support NDP-Liberal coalition, in some form – [Globe]
• Check out this year’s Top 40 under 40 – [Globe]
• How the private sector outsmarts regulators – [Newsweek]

Food

• Margaret Atwood calls plan to close prison farms “dumb as a stump” – [Toronto Life]
• Toronto gets the swankiest 24hr diner ever in the new boutique NY-backed Thompson Hotel -

Science/Environment

• We need to fix peer review now – [New Scientist]
• Wyoming coal plant illustrates potential and challenges of carbon capture and storage – [Scientific American]
• How livestock might revitalize degraded agricultural lands – [Scientific American]
• Night sight – our eyes scan the action in our dreams – [Scientific American]
• Gut bacteria may contribute to autism – [New Scientist]
• Walkerton led to Ontario water system cleanup – [CBC]

Probably my favourite Kensington resto.

Cheap, reliable, east meets west, small plates, entertainment in the back, good beer selection, no split cheques.  Cause you know, you’re sharing.  Favourites at The Supermarket in Kensington are:

• Shrimp & crab wonton tacos with avocado and salsa verde
• Grilled Argentinian styled steak with chimichurri dressing and matchstick potatoes on roasted mushroom salad with a balsamic vinaigrette
• Dumplings: Crispy shrimp, pork and garlic chive dumplings served with a ginger-soy dip
• And of course their famous whiteperson accessibility Thai dish, Pad Thai.  They make a mean one.

We were just there last weekend.  On Sundays they are making Kensington streets pedestrian-only, and we had a fun funk band playing right outside the Supermarket with compulsory Kensington crazies dancing to their own drums.  It was fantastic.

I find I always go back to this part of Toronto to eat.  The Augusta/College vibes.  Torito, Grace, Sidecar, Caplansky’s, Burger Bar, Negroni, .  Now L.A.B. has just opened up to major buzz, as has Cinq 01 for the yuppie dates.  College is back.

I saw LCD Soundsystem last week.

Read a great review of this very show c/o Toronto music blogger Frank Yang @ Chromewaves. In Toronto @ The Kool Haus.

Going to a show like this is undeniably fun.  As Chromewaves said, it was great to see so many different groups of people sweat exactly the same amount.  Other than Daft Punk a few years back, this was the only show where so much evaporated sweat was gathering above our heads that the ceiling and ductwork had pure sweat condensation saturated all over the venue.  Near the end of the show, it was literally raining sweat.  Well more like spitting sweat.  From the ceiling.  LCD Soundsytem: the shows where 5% of the sweat is yours.

They played some classiques and some solid new offerings from their new record, This is Happening. This is fun, repetitive, backbeat-based music with a scholarly knowledge of rock’s broad history.  Simultaneously immature and mature, smart but primal.

This week’s links.

Food

• Home cooking for sale – young unemployed foodies vie for precious booths at local markets to make a buck – [NYT]
• Produce in the fridge – at long last, learn what should go in your fridge, and what should stay in the dirty fruit bowl – [CHOW]
• The dangers in deli meat – let them eat steak – [Healthzone]
• Bottled water has high level of bacteria, researchers find – [Globe]
• Barbecued meat causes cancer, so learn to bbq healthy -  it’s easy, just pair with some veg – [Toronto Life]

Toronto

• John Tory heading back into the mayor race? – the Toronto media has been going nuts hoping John Tory enters the race.  I would undoubtedly vote for this man.  That may surprise the politically minded of you bunch, but he’s a pro-transit centrist conservative.  He’s smart and he’s sensible and I really think he’d cut some of the city hall crazy – [Toronto Life]
• Torontoist’s guide to the G20 summit – [Torontoist]

Environment

• The Gulf oil spill superimposed on Southern Ontario – [blogTO]
• A carbon price as a nuclear incentive – [NYT]
• How many cancers are caused by the environment? – [Scientific American]
• Commuting statistics across Canada’s major cities – [Spacing]
• McMaster eyes world water problems – [Globe]

News

• World power = the English language – [Globe]
• We can’t afford to live in health care denial – [Globe Editorial]
• Plan B – skip college – [NYT]
• Buzz Hargrove: ‘Globalization is largely a fraud’ – [Globe]

Science

• Wind turbine link to ill health lacks proof: report – [CBC]
• Synthetic bacteria genome takes over cell – Craig Venter goes nutbars – [NYT]
• Music listeners like harmony’s math – [Scientific American]
• Mining garbage  for tomorrow’s metals – [New Scientist]

• The taste of tiny: putting nanofoods on the menu – [New Scientist]
• Eat bacteria to boost brain power – [New Scientist]

• Tacit knowledge – you don’t know how much you know – [New Scientist]
• ‘Light from sound’ could spot cancers and terrorists – [New Scientist]
• Magnetic Hill mystery solved? – [Globe]