Places to Entertain One's self(Reviews)

Within this post
Reviews of "THE FALL"
Sala Rossa (for Eats)
Distillerie
Juicy Lotus
Hooka Lounge

Waking up at 6am to only be met with a a rather sharp and embarrassing fall during the slippery madness that was this city was the perfect way to sum up my time since i have not been contributing to this blog.



The word embarrassing is mildly misleading. As if anyone is walking on Oxford besides me. This city might as well be abandoned whenever i head to work. The only other employees are at other cafes and making bagels at St Viateur nearby. The sound of vacuums and loud music sometimes echoes down the street, like bungee chords tethering me to an awakened state. those of us who work early shifts live a very different life than the typical worker of my age. Our partying has to come at a well calculated and manipulated expenditure of energy as opposed to the power of impulse. It's fairly alien, the responsibility i've assumed on myself. my absolute fixation on control, the way my body no longer writhes at all times to move, to touch, to meet, to harpoon and sink ships. my body has become a port, leaning itself out as the definition on all parts of my body is starting to show through sweaters and high collared peacoats. my skin has taken on an almost luminescent quality and my lips no longer dry out with the wind but are growing to darker and darker shades of crimson red as my teeth are getting pearly white once again.

So much has happened, yet so little in the past while. my nights have consisted of randomness beyond random. the coincidences are once again ravaging my calculated brain as the only bar i found on christmas eve happened to have two hasidic jews on television as my jewish friend and i drove up realizing that this is the bar we walked home from 3 years ago and became close because. The night of christmas i found myself in a crowded Korova's sitting quietly on a couch professing my love to a blonde women at one point and at other's chatting up old friends only to leave me sick to my stomach and the quick need to dissappear like i often do.

Comparitively to this time last year i am a shining example of young responsibility and adulthood as opposed to a compulsive need to be out and about every night. The only nights that remind me of last year, as vague as the memories have become, are the sudden bouts of over indulgence on alcohol. the memories sometimes seep into view like a dirty mist, just beyond the sight line are the words and the feelings of vacancy but they evaporate instead of blind, they dissipate instead of coagulate. As itzel and i drank at distillerie i did not watch my intake properly and found myself rather impaired and still drunk upon arriving at work at 7:30am. We also saw "The Day The Earth Stood Still" before smoking 7ieme Ciel at Hooka Lounge on Saint denis bobbing our heads to "TV on the Radio," "Ratatat," and the "Stills" while discussing a variety of topics. i'm suprisingly candid with her, no bullshit, just straight up talk from serious to childish. If anyone hasn't been to Hooka Lounge they should make a point of going. in fact it's wonderfully homey with a fireplace and a variety of different seating arrangments from cute crevices on wooden benches, to side by side couches and day beds next to the fireplace with a place for your tea, your booze, and of course your shisha. the crowd is fairly hip but you won't find obnoxious in your face jocks or rambling giants with their arms in your way. it's darkly lit and well decorated to take you away from the city and into a dark corner of a jungle, or to whimsical realm that is very much needed in this weather.

My love affair with distillerie is still as strong as it's ever been. i've yet to have a bad night there and often go with only a single other friend and manage to spend just the right amount of time before feeling antsy whilst laughing at the sometimes gross you out crowd, or the over the top loudness of some large group that really has no place to be there. the music is always fun to reminice over while ordering a large drink, or even a half size. if you're feeling especially extravagant they even offer beverages in large flute glasses, adorable and classy.

Last night i ventured to au vivre for dinner only to find it closed but managed ot think on my feet while in a large windstorm. the windstorm even managed to rip the door of java u off of it's hinges the other day at the very end of my shift as i laughed at my exhaustion and the ridiculousness of spring temperatures, tornadoe like winds, and a mini cyclone to an already hectically hungover day. But i digress, running across the street i mounted the stairs to the extravagantly theatrical "Sala Rossa" for dinner. AS i have only ever spent the evening engaged to music in their grand concert hall i was in for a pleasant surprise with my fried tofu sandwich as my family ordered traditional spanish dishes. I've fallen in love with the "Godfather." No, not the film but the simply made sipping drink on the rocks. It's half jameson, half amaretto as to knock the sweetness of the amaretto to a tolerable level. My dinner was superb, the music was off kilter and engaging, and the place filled up quickly with others. People sat around playing cards and the high ceilings lead to a large echoe of conversations across the great room. The waiters are extremely engaging and polite with the surface being somewhat slow, but simply because of the length it takes to make some dishes. the company was enjoyable, the vibe was lowkey, and my mind was able to find a little bit of peace.

I also suggest everyone watch "The Fall," because you'll be in for an extremely rich visual treat that only that movie can contain. It is a bewitching fairy tell for adults, full of humour, period pieces, and more importantly strong imagination and great themes . The acting is superb but takes a backseat to the swampingly enticing visuals and inventive techniques used to show off the 4 year filming process across 16 countries.

As for new years, feel free to call me. as of now i have a gazillion plans but plan on ending up at the neon after party by the end of it all. i will also be at a studio party and who knows where else. the good times are killing me.

Finally,
For the last time, if you are into organic, vegetarian, or vegan food please make the effort to stop by Juicy Lotus located on Monkland. It's run by Jesse, the sweetest women in the world and all of the employees are beyond personable. The food is all made ready to go with a great selection of 50% off goodies made the day before and juices, waters, and beverages found rarely anywhere else. She makes ridiculously amazing peanut sauce, putting the famous 2 dollar noodle to shame, as well as an amazing vegan meat loaf. actually everything is amazing. she brings a smile to my face and upon mentioning her to my owner and the offer of employmet at one point he said, "ill kill her, no one takes you."

bahaha

Music
SEcret Rooms by Grand Ronde. It's a full album. Feel free to hypem them. They have a great style similar to the stills or the strokes but great for winter.