I hope you don't hate it/I don't really care either way:
4.23.2010
2.23.2010
B.S.L. (Barber Shop Life)
While I've been getting great, free haircuts from my friend Steve while he's been training at Vidal Sassoon, there's been this little hole-in-the-wall, largely-signless barbershop two blocks down College that I've been wanting to try out for a while, especially after hearing positive reviews from a couple of friends and realizing I've never been to a proper barbershop.
(What Google Street View Saw)
So last week I finally paid Blood & Bandages (932 College St., Toronto, 416-357- 9178) a visit, walking in at just the right time between other appointments, the shop's two barbers and their apprentice just talking about the possibility of a facebook group despite the owner's reticence/lack of FB familiarity (the group page seems to be MIA at present blogging). The place itself is a really cool, cozy (97 sq. feet) throwback with some vintage signs and Playboys inside, and while I was there, garage rock and Public Enemy playing off someone's iTunes.
John (seemingly the second in command) sat me down and got to work on the fade I'd asked for (I did some cursory barber terminology research before heading there just to make sure I wasn't asking for anything too ridiculous). The cut was quick and efficient, clippers mainly on the side and back and then some decisive cuts on the top, probably 15 minutes in all. Come styling time we decided to flip my part from the right side I've been using for the last year or two back to the left on account of a "solid" hairline on the right. Some pomade (I should have asked which kind, but am making due with a combination of Shoppers' purchased Dax "Wave and Groom" and some internet-sourced Levin's "Super Soft" hair pomade) and a brush of what I think was talcum power, and I was left, very happily, with this:
But now I need a better comb...
(What Google Street View Saw)So last week I finally paid Blood & Bandages (932 College St., Toronto, 416-357- 9178) a visit, walking in at just the right time between other appointments, the shop's two barbers and their apprentice just talking about the possibility of a facebook group despite the owner's reticence/lack of FB familiarity (the group page seems to be MIA at present blogging). The place itself is a really cool, cozy (97 sq. feet) throwback with some vintage signs and Playboys inside, and while I was there, garage rock and Public Enemy playing off someone's iTunes.
John (seemingly the second in command) sat me down and got to work on the fade I'd asked for (I did some cursory barber terminology research before heading there just to make sure I wasn't asking for anything too ridiculous). The cut was quick and efficient, clippers mainly on the side and back and then some decisive cuts on the top, probably 15 minutes in all. Come styling time we decided to flip my part from the right side I've been using for the last year or two back to the left on account of a "solid" hairline on the right. Some pomade (I should have asked which kind, but am making due with a combination of Shoppers' purchased Dax "Wave and Groom" and some internet-sourced Levin's "Super Soft" hair pomade) and a brush of what I think was talcum power, and I was left, very happily, with this:
But now I need a better comb...
2.08.2010
Questionable Taste Throwback Alert!!!
Do you remember that first Transplants album? I have no idea why but I really enjoyed it at the time, even though most of what I was listening to otherwise was the Stooges and Pavement.
Oh "Diamonds & Guns", it's so hard not to think of a shampoo commercial while listening to you now...
Oh "Diamonds & Guns", it's so hard not to think of a shampoo commercial while listening to you now...
1.10.2010
Oh My Bacon
This site, Republic of Bacon, is offering the chance to win Bacon for a Decade! With the amount that me and my "hipster beard" have been eating lately, this could amount to some serious savings...
12.16.2009
Pending Home Coming
Only a couple more days until I head back to Winnipeg for a visit.
Google's Street View shows the family to be doing well:
Google's Street View shows the family to be doing well:
11.21.2009
11.14.2009
Hold Your Breath & Watch These Videos (@ The Same Time)
I Wanna Be Your Dog from LEGS on Vimeo.
(found through Yes Yes Yall...)
&
(found through Street Boners and TV Carnage)
11.03.2009
Post-Macallan wrap-up
So, as noted in that last post, I attended a tasting of The Macallan scotch (site still not working for me unless it's intentionally biased against 27 year-olds) hosted by Matchstick and taking place in the gorgeous ONE Restaurant in Yorkville, part of Toronto's only 5-Star hotel and included some amazing appetizers from the restaurant's kitchen. With two extra passes I brought along Steph and Paul...
The Macallan produces some really nice scotches! We sampled 4 different single malts after a welcoming glass of their 10 Year Old Fine Oak: a 12 Year Old Sherry Oak, a 15 Year Old Fine Oak, an 18 Year Old Sherry Oak, and finally a 21 Year Old Fine Oak.
I wish I could remember our host's name - he was a charming 50-something French Canadian man (there was some speculation as to where he was from amongst us and our friend Brigitte but I deduced he must be Quebecois as his nostalgic slideshows, showing [mainly] memorable political and cultural events in increments based on our scotches' ages, kept showing racecar drivers and no one really cares about them other than residents of the American South and Midwest as well as the Quebecois...) who walked us through single-malt production practice (a very small "cut" of the drinkable scotch produced in a batch compared to industry standard, isolating the best-tasting liquid) and the specificities of The Macallan's distillery (smaller stills are a central aspect, allowing for the production of a stronger-tasting product), as well as the proper way to taste scotch (don't swirl it, don't shove your nose right in the glass, a drop or two of water breaks the surface tension and allows the aromas to rise to your nose, letting a scotch sit for ten or so minutes may allow different aromas to develop or strengthen as we noticed with the caramel nose of the 10 Y.O.).
In terms of the tasting, all four were very nice and we were able to notice distinct trends based on the aging process and which types of wood were used in the casks - sherry wood seemed to lend the scotch a stronger nose of vanilla and a taste recalling sharper, dried fruit while the fine oak casks gave a lighter fruit taste along with the lighter colour. As to the colours themselves, The Macallan does not follow the practice that apparently many other distilleries do of adding chemical caramel to their scotches in order to make them darker, perpetuating the belief that darker scotches are more flavourful, better scotches - this omission, while emphasized by our tasting guide, honestly does make me feel even better about this company and the "transparency" and honesty they seem to value. The custom of using sherry casks is another interesting aspect of scotch production of which I only knew part of, sherry having been the preferred drink of the monarchy in Britain historically, leading to a great number of available casks which now have to be specially requisitioned in Spain (other producers primarily use American bourbon casks - as Macallan does sometimes - which can legally only be used one time for bourbon production). I generally prefer very peat-y scotches and none of the Macallan scotches have any peat notes as they do not use peat in the drying of their barley. Nevertheless each one of their scotches had a very nice and distinct taste. Our general consensus was that the 18 Year Old Sherry Oak performed the best and I think I might have to find a bottle for my brother for Christmas, or at least convince someone else back in Winnipeg to buy a bottle so I can enjoy it at Christmas.
I'd really like to thank both Matchstick and The Macallan for this opportunity - who knew that as a graduate student I'd really enjoy drinking while learning about one of the chief pleasures in life at the same time?
The Macallan produces some really nice scotches! We sampled 4 different single malts after a welcoming glass of their 10 Year Old Fine Oak: a 12 Year Old Sherry Oak, a 15 Year Old Fine Oak, an 18 Year Old Sherry Oak, and finally a 21 Year Old Fine Oak.
I wish I could remember our host's name - he was a charming 50-something French Canadian man (there was some speculation as to where he was from amongst us and our friend Brigitte but I deduced he must be Quebecois as his nostalgic slideshows, showing [mainly] memorable political and cultural events in increments based on our scotches' ages, kept showing racecar drivers and no one really cares about them other than residents of the American South and Midwest as well as the Quebecois...) who walked us through single-malt production practice (a very small "cut" of the drinkable scotch produced in a batch compared to industry standard, isolating the best-tasting liquid) and the specificities of The Macallan's distillery (smaller stills are a central aspect, allowing for the production of a stronger-tasting product), as well as the proper way to taste scotch (don't swirl it, don't shove your nose right in the glass, a drop or two of water breaks the surface tension and allows the aromas to rise to your nose, letting a scotch sit for ten or so minutes may allow different aromas to develop or strengthen as we noticed with the caramel nose of the 10 Y.O.).
In terms of the tasting, all four were very nice and we were able to notice distinct trends based on the aging process and which types of wood were used in the casks - sherry wood seemed to lend the scotch a stronger nose of vanilla and a taste recalling sharper, dried fruit while the fine oak casks gave a lighter fruit taste along with the lighter colour. As to the colours themselves, The Macallan does not follow the practice that apparently many other distilleries do of adding chemical caramel to their scotches in order to make them darker, perpetuating the belief that darker scotches are more flavourful, better scotches - this omission, while emphasized by our tasting guide, honestly does make me feel even better about this company and the "transparency" and honesty they seem to value. The custom of using sherry casks is another interesting aspect of scotch production of which I only knew part of, sherry having been the preferred drink of the monarchy in Britain historically, leading to a great number of available casks which now have to be specially requisitioned in Spain (other producers primarily use American bourbon casks - as Macallan does sometimes - which can legally only be used one time for bourbon production). I generally prefer very peat-y scotches and none of the Macallan scotches have any peat notes as they do not use peat in the drying of their barley. Nevertheless each one of their scotches had a very nice and distinct taste. Our general consensus was that the 18 Year Old Sherry Oak performed the best and I think I might have to find a bottle for my brother for Christmas, or at least convince someone else back in Winnipeg to buy a bottle so I can enjoy it at Christmas.
I'd really like to thank both Matchstick and The Macallan for this opportunity - who knew that as a graduate student I'd really enjoy drinking while learning about one of the chief pleasures in life at the same time?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
