Québec

Visiting Quebec City is always a chance to go to another country without the currency exchange. La Vieille Capitale is charming in spite of the not always friendly francophones.

Unfortunately, the city doesn't live up to its gastronomical reputation. Within the stone walls of Vieux Québec, overpriced tourist traps abound. Outside, the options are not very inspired, unless you are into elk. If all else fails, there’s always the Chocolate Museum.

The view of the St. Lawrence River from the Château Frontenac is one of my favorites in the city. I just found out that the St. Lawrence used to be a hot spot for beluga whales, a community that somehow got isolated from the Arctic habitat where the other populations of beluga are found. More than 5,000 whales used live there. Today, only about 600 remain. I didn’t see any.

But I did have a sight (and taste) from the past: maple syrup popsicles made the old fashion way. For a tooney.

Rio underwater

Meanwhile, this is what is happening in Rio right now. Torrential rains cause chaos and destruction for 40 years, and the annual monsoons are getting worse. Way to drown the Olympic spirit.

One Bloor

This pretty cool building is going up at Bloor and Yonge, arguably the center and busiest intersection of Toronto. The 65-storey building of condominiums is supposed to be a "civic icon" -- a statement, but "not too loud a statement," in typical Canadian fashion. Thanks to the wavy exterior (a design I last saw in Chicago) no two balconies will be alike. And it will have access to the subway line.

Recently heard

Groove Armada - Black Light Groove Armada's latest is a bit of a betrayal to their fans. It's not that I expect the disco/funk brilliance of Goodbye Country (Hello Nightclub) in every album, but the boys seem to have disappeared into a different band. What's with all the generic rock songs with a screaming lead singer? Yeah, "Paper Romance" gets a pass, but the rest is mediocre and grating. Even the tunes that aren't too bad ("Time and Space," "History") lack the luster of their previous work. I'm all for a band's evolution, but Groove Armada has been devolving lately. Boring, disappointing and un-dance-worthy.

Goldfrapp - Head First
Speaking of the evolution of a band, check out Goldfrapp. Their latest is different from all their other albms, yet it feels like a completely logical and natural part of their work. It sounds like a long-lost Goldfrapp early album from the 80s. They embrace their pop (and synthpop) tendencies, which suits Alison Goldfrapp's breathy, delicate vocals perfectly. Here's the video for first single "Rocket":


Erykah Badu - New Amerykah Part Two
Yes, everybody paid attention when she took off her clothes in Dallas, but Erykah's latest is anything but political. This is a collection of slow-burning jams, with thick beats and a funky, old-school vibe. Feel-good music for the most part. Despite the fact that her voice is getting progressively cartoony, this is no run of the mill R&B -- just listen to "Gone Baby, Don't Be Long" or "Turn Me Away." But using politcs to buffer up a light album about love and hooking up seems like a cheap shot.

Black Eyed Peas (almost) live

The Black Eyed Peas took it to the next level on Tuesday, March 30th with their exclusive "The E.N.D. World Tour 2010," being broadcast live from the STAPLES Center in Los Angeles into hundreds of theaters across North America. This one-night-only concert was the first to be broadcast live and shot in 3D at the same time (not sure what the 3D is for, but it seems obligatory these days).

The show is tight. This is a two-hour music video choreographed to perfection and making use of state of the art lasers, lights, HD visuals, flying stunts, dancers and dozens of (very cool) costumes to assault all your senses at once.

The Peas spared no expenses for this tour -- the stage alone cost 8 million dollars.

Here’s Taboo on a TRON-like flying bike.

will.i.am transformed the arena into massive club party as a cyborg DJ on an elevated platform.

Fergie did it all among her numerous costume changes:

She flexed her lady lumps...

...sang Sweet Child O' Mine with Slash...

...became an awesome robot-dominatrix....

... all while looking glamorous.

And who knew apl.de.ap had such crazy moves?

What I like about the Black Eyed Peas is how epicurean they are, how admittedly escapist but with an ultimate message of positivity. Their imagery is bigger than life -- they look more like a group of superheroes than a band.

Why then, in a concert that is all about fun and peace, was will.i.am wearing a belt of bullets as an accessory?

Despite the occasional mixed message, the concert was groundbreaking. This is New School and the Peas have proven they have enduring power. They may as well be the future of music.

From the mayor

David Miller is crazy about Toronto. And he's crazy about Brazil too! Here's a message the mayor sent Brazilian blog OiToronto! on the occasion of the site's 1-year anniversary. He manages to make Toronto sound so exciting, but I guess that's his job.

Japanimation

The 7th Toronto Japanese Short Film Festival brought in a diverse animation program showcasing contemporary Japanese animation that strays from anime and explores different techniques and story structures. The main treat was to watch "La Maison en Petits Cubes" on the big screen. It won the Oscar for best animated short film last year, is beautifully illustrated by Kunio Kato and is totally heart-breaking.

The stop motion work done by Tsuneo Goda (the creator of Domo) is super slick and as detailed as "Wallace and Gromit"'s. The films featuring his fashion-designer cat Komaneko are some of the cutest things I have ever seen. Here's an episode.

And one of the coolest videos in the program was Koichiro Tsujikawa' "Fit Song," a music video dripping with commercial advertising ticks, lyricism and kipple. The rest of the program was equally rich and creative. Can't wait for next year.

Wonderland vs. China

As much I wanted to love it, Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland leaves much to be desired. Despite Burton's unmistakable style, the special effects are underwhelming, the pacing sluggish (even though it picks up a bit on the second half) and Johnny Depps’ histrionic performance is one of his least entertaining in years. And I couldn't get over the fact that he looks just like Madonna as the Mad Hatter. There's nothing "amazing" about the 3D -- it was actually unremarkable and unnecessary (Avatar and Coraline notwithstanding, 3D has become a money-grabbing gimmick not in the service of the storytelling). This Alice could have some more wonder in it, but she did look good in shinning armour at the end.



On the other hand, Last Train Home takes you on a journey you’re not bound to forget anytime soon. Director Lixin Fan follows a couple of migrant workers in China who moved from their rural village to work in sweatshops in the big city, and their attempt to return to their village for the Chinese new year. This chaotic train ride is the largest human migration on Earth and the images that Fan captured over the course of two years are incredibly moving, shocking and beautiful. The movie puts a human price on that pair of Made-in-China jeans. Heartbreaking, thought-provoking and expertly shot.

From Paris with love

Dimitri from Paris was back in to Toronto for the Canadian Music fest this weekend and he rocked the disco at the Roosevelt Room. Decked in a tuxedo and oozing frenchness, Dimitri rolled out the good times with a Studio 54 vibe, extended versions of classics (from Ain't No Mountain to I Can't Go For That) and samples from his previous compilations.

And the man is charming in a goofy way and interacted with the crowd all night long. His set was accompanied by a live bongo player and French cabaret girls posing by the DJ booth. Were they part of the performance? Not sure, but it all worked. The crowd started out a little too “beautiful people”, but as the night went on only the ones who came to get down remained. Parfait!

Killer whales and surfing dolphins

This story about the killer whale in the Star irritated me. SeaWorld came forth to say that the whale who killed his trainer last week thought the trainer's ponytail was a "new toy" and dragged the woman to the bottom of the pool in an attempt to "play" with her. This whale has seen this woman everyday in and out of the water. He knew her, her hair and probably her scent too. I'm not saying that Tilikum committed premeditated murder, but I think he surely snapped under the stress of being a 6-ton horny bull used to having the oceans as his playground being kept in a little pool and forced to perform tricks on schedule for sardines.

Representing the whale as a child-like creature no more intelligent than a domestic dog, SeaWorld gives themselves license to say, "if it wasn't for that pesky ponytail..." sidestepping the big white whale in the room: the fact that sea mammals are highly intelligent creatures, with unique personalities, deep family ties, used to roam the oceans as they wish and should not be kept in captivity. Did we learn nothing from Free Willy The Cove? Keeping whales in captivity is cruel and wrong. If we want to learn more about them, we don't need to go to SeaWorld -- look no further than in nature.

Photographer Greg Huglin caught these guys riding waves off the coast of South Africa. The fact that dolphins and whales have the mental capacity to "have fun" should make their imprisonment akin to that of a man.

Rio or Havana?

This one is in Rio -- drug dealers ride bikes carrying machine guns in the night.

Meanwhile, Lula yuks it up with Fidel after the hunger-strike death of a political prisoner in Havana. And they both blame the United States for the problems in their countries. What is wrong with these pictures?

Eva Wonder

All right, it's on! After months of script-tweaking and much drag-show-watching, Eva Wonder is ready to step into the limelight. Are you ready for it?

Recently viewed

I killed my mother

Xavier Dolan, Montreal's belle dujour, deserves all his accolades for this impressive feature debut. Maybe I'm partial (as a gay only child with maternal conflicts) but the movie is brilliant in capturing how impossible it is to love her and not to love her.

Frankie Knuckles

The "Godfather of House" rocked Toronto last weekend, playing a dubby, disco-y set at the Cobra Lounge. More vocals nex time, please, Mr. Knuckles.

Queen signs

In a fit fo creative advertising, Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland makes good use of Toronto's Queen subway station.

PSB in your living room

The Boys just did a pocket show in this woman's living room as part of this year's BRIT Awards. She won a contest and enjoyed "Suburbia", "All over the world", "It's a sin" and "West End girls" live from her couch with her friends. Lucky Twickenham woman!

There is love in you

Four Tet just released the best dance album of the year so far. It's trippy, trance-y, inventive and rocks very solidly.
The man shows off his expert use of the hit-hat, kick drums, full bass and killer hooks acquired during his years as a remixers and in his own experimental jazz projects. Then he wraps it all in a hypnotic, nuanced package, at times reminiscent of Orb, sometimes Lemon Jelly, but all original. The vocals are sparse and the first track "Angel Echoes" sounds like Annie Lennox. And check out the samba in "Plastic People."
It gets better with every listening.

Chicago

If you’re gonna be in Chicago this winter, here are a couple things I’ve done with friends recently and are totally worth checking out:

Gospel Brunch at the House of Blues
329 N. Dearborn Street
If you've never sung a Negro Spiritual, this is the place to go! The energy is great and you'll eat the best waffles you've ever had.

Noel Coward’s Private Lives at Navy Pier
Chicago Shakespeare's Courtyard Theater
This 1930 play is Coward at his witty best. This Chicago Shakespeare Company production is high quality and the actors do the play great justice.

Teavana
835 North Michigan Avenue
The Apple Store of teas! Stop by and get free samples of a bunch of teas or just smell the store for some free aroma-therapy.