Boozecan
Since Janette had an early morning audition and Ken had an early client, I took Matt out on the town myself. First, we stopped by the Beaconsfield, at Queen & Beaconsfield to hang out with Ted Dancin' and chill. At around 1 a.m., Keifer Sutherland and his posse walked in and they stuck around until 2. I was totally fascinated that the dj playing alongside Ted Dancin' used his iPod every so often. He would put a record on the turntable to hide the fact, but if this guy (who is a well-established and amazing dj who has been spinning vinyl for 15 years) is doing it, I can imagine pod-jaying is spreading through all of the clubs. I do know of nights that people can bring their iPods in and play 1/2 hour sets. It's totally going to change the music world.
After 3, I asked if Matt wanted to check out a boozecan, Toronto's answer to fighting the 2 a.m. curfew on drinking (I don't know why they just don't allow bars to remain open until 4). Two of the usual Queen Street joints weren't operational (could have been shut down by either the police or the Hell's Angels, who are said to control the owners of many of these illegal operations), so we headed out of the hood to __________ (can't name the area in order to keep the joint a secret).
I find boozecans fascinating. This one has live bands, djs and is housed in a large space underground that smells musty and peaty. I always feel a little afraid to sit on the furniture. Unlike the bars nowadays, people can smoke to their hearts content in these spaces, and since there is little ventilation in a sub-basement space, the place becomes thick with smoke.
Watching the blues band, peering through the smoke, sitting in a musty, dimly lit space with 'last-call' lovers all around us, I felt as if I was in 1920's Berlin or Paris in a seedy after-hours joint, sipping absinthe and smoking weed. Everyone is friendly and looking to meet others in a boozecan. Brilliant conversations erupt (even though the conversers are seriously high or inhebriated), friendships are forged and lovers connect. The artsy, urban crowd (905ers generally don't know about boozecans...it's an 'insider' thing) is fascinating. One guy works on Bay Street. Another guy works at a popular tourist restaurant. The girl is a designer and has a shop on Queen.
Matt sat, fascinated, for most of our stay. He gets a kick out of people-observing as much as I do. I think he's aptly in love with my amazing city. Him and Janette will make excellent additions. We left the boozecan shortly after 4 am.
After 3, I asked if Matt wanted to check out a boozecan, Toronto's answer to fighting the 2 a.m. curfew on drinking (I don't know why they just don't allow bars to remain open until 4). Two of the usual Queen Street joints weren't operational (could have been shut down by either the police or the Hell's Angels, who are said to control the owners of many of these illegal operations), so we headed out of the hood to __________ (can't name the area in order to keep the joint a secret).
I find boozecans fascinating. This one has live bands, djs and is housed in a large space underground that smells musty and peaty. I always feel a little afraid to sit on the furniture. Unlike the bars nowadays, people can smoke to their hearts content in these spaces, and since there is little ventilation in a sub-basement space, the place becomes thick with smoke.
Watching the blues band, peering through the smoke, sitting in a musty, dimly lit space with 'last-call' lovers all around us, I felt as if I was in 1920's Berlin or Paris in a seedy after-hours joint, sipping absinthe and smoking weed. Everyone is friendly and looking to meet others in a boozecan. Brilliant conversations erupt (even though the conversers are seriously high or inhebriated), friendships are forged and lovers connect. The artsy, urban crowd (905ers generally don't know about boozecans...it's an 'insider' thing) is fascinating. One guy works on Bay Street. Another guy works at a popular tourist restaurant. The girl is a designer and has a shop on Queen.
Matt sat, fascinated, for most of our stay. He gets a kick out of people-observing as much as I do. I think he's aptly in love with my amazing city. Him and Janette will make excellent additions. We left the boozecan shortly after 4 am.
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