Earthy, unpretentious, hometown charm for the discombobulated masses
It's the dawn of a new dining generation. The days of the "Mom 'n' Pop" establishments are a distant memory; quickly approaching is the culinary industry reign of trendy bistro-bars, complete with worldbeat music, designer uniforms and supermodel waitresses.
Whether they like to admit it or not, there is a special place in everyone's heart for the proverbial "one hit wonders." Even though groups like Steppenwolf, Fastball and The New Radicals truly were atrocious, all of them exhibited a brief moment of musical genius and were awarded their timely 15 minutes of fame.
Love and the Machine: the weird kid in black's wet dream
Technology has become almost indispensable in our lives. Our dependence on machines grows deeper with every new invention. This can be isolating, but the urban androids at Arscenique Productions don't see it that way. Love and the Machine is a large-scale investigation of the politics of love in an industrial age, and it's both bizarre and oddly beautiful.
Despite a few glitches, OAP still managed to rock
Ah, the Open Air Pub. There are few better places to get drunk between (or during) classes than this haven; you can chat up old friends and people you've just met while getting both smashed and sunburned. It's a shame that now we have to wait for OAP Lite in the spring, unless we brave the snow for SnoAP.
Theatre. The New Classical Theatre Fest-various venues-through Sept. 10 Although this theatre fest has been a yearly fixture for quite a while, this year's incarnation is the first that truly deserves to be called a festival. Originally conceived as a forum for minimalist productions focusing on ideas rather than strict scripting, a grant has allowed the festival to grow from a small, two-show event to an eight-show, three-venue extravaganza.
The Trews. The Den of Thieves. Despite a tour schedule which required Canada's busiest band to play over 200 dates in the past two years, The Trews were able to write, record, and release their follow-up studio album on Aug. 16. Though more technically developed than their 2003 debut, The House of Ill Fame, in terms of production and instrumental performance, Den ultimately falls short of its predecessor.