July a r2010 t s . cvolume u l t u r e2.issue l i v i n17 g
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arts . culture . living
Doors Open Couch Surfing Roommates from Hell Distillery Craft Show The art of the vandal Indie Films for home MUTEK
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aar rt ts s. .ccuul lt tuur ree. .l li ivvi inngg
Note From the Editor
FUTURÉALE
VOLUME 2 ISSUE 17
Acting Editor in Chief Russ Martin
Editor in Chief Shawn Shapiro
Associate Editors Russ Martin Karen Lam Melissa Doyle
Dear FutuRéale Readers, For the past few months I have been aided in my role as Editor in Chief by the one and only Russ Martin. Russ has helped the magazine see some of our greatest editions and has been a force to reckoned with. Russ is now going on a journey of his own as I step back into my old role. We wish Russ the best and thank him for all the strides he made as EIC. We know that even though he may be going half way around the world he will still always have a place and role at FutuReale and keep looking out for his great articles and crisp edits!. Thanks Russ, we could not have done the past few months without you. Enjoy July, it is an edition of pure excitement. Thanks to all our writers and contributors and pass FutuReale ion to friends and family. By Shawn Shapiro
Junior Editors Dany Pen
Senior Editorial Designer Ravish Rawat
Junior Editorial Designers Dan Ball Kirsten Parucha Terra Ciolfe Jenn Reid Kevin Hamilton Olga Shugurova Kelly Karges
Contributing Writers Janis Raisen Olena Prostiv Kirsten Parucha Russ Martin Craig Wilkins Melissa Lang Gianluca Inglesi Arta Ghanbari Lindsay Romeo Jade Wallace
Webmaster
ONAMAP Marketing Web Team
Online Content Editor Shawn Shapiro
E xecutive D irector Omar Murji
Russ Martin
Acting Editor in Chief
Contact FutuRéale at: info@futureale.com www.futureale.com ISSN 1916-3215 FUTURÉALE FutuRéale Magazine is published by The Organic Press www.organicpress.ca FutuRéale Magazine is a proud member of the ONAMAP Network www.onamap.ca ©2010 ONAMAP Enterprises
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FUTURÉALE | CULTURE | LIVING FUTURÉALE ARTS ARTS | CULTURE | LIVING
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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04 Doors Open: learning the architecture of the buildings and uncovering their mysteries Janis Raisen
06 Couch Surfing: connecting locals and travelers for cross-cultural encounters Olena Prostiv
08 Stretching a smile: Operation smile hosts a fashion fundraiser Kirsten Parucha
10 Roommates from Hell: horror stories of cohabitation Lindsay Romeo
12 Independent DVDs: Indie Films for home Craig Wilkins
15 Mutek: Montreal invites in the electronic music community Russ Martin
17 Distillery Craft Show: Creativity Sublime at the Distillery Craft Show Melissa Lang
19 The art of the vandal: Graffiti’s insider and outsider artists Gianluca Inglesi
22 Life after Graduation: Tackling the gloomy job market Arta Ghanbari
24 POETRY: Budding Drunk Jade Wallace
25 RECIPE: Savory and simple almond soup
Cover image: Photograph of Chor Boogie by anonymous
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arts.culture.living
DOORS OPEN
THE LAST WEEKEND IN MAY OF WAS HOT AND SUNNY—perfect for
sitting on a patio or walking along the beach— yet thousands of people couldn’t resist exploring the buildings they cannot access or tour for free throughout the year. Toronto hosted its 11th annual Doors Open Toronto (DOT) on May 28 and 29. The event attracted more than 200,000 people this year, according to city officials. Working with 150 venues across the city, DOT allowed the public to learn the stories behind the buildings and uncover their mysteries. Each year, DOT embraces a theme—this year it was architecture, providing onsite builders at some venues to answer questions for the “Ask an Architect”
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BY JANIS RAISEN “I’ve learned a couple of years ago that some of the beautiful front work and the artwork on the wall [in the Winter Garden Theatre] was cleaned by hand, by students using bread dough,“ she says. The two most popular venues this year had “invisible” closed doors. The opening of city hall’s Podium Green Roof was highly anticipated weeks before DOT, so it’s not surprising that more than 22,000 people walked through the grounds of city hall and the Podium during the weekend event. While waiting for the official plaque unveiling by Mayor David Miller, a large crowd explored the 3,250 square-metres of the rooftop garden. The green roof garden contains a “mix of sun and shade tolerant sedums and perennials,” according to the city of Toronto. “This space was concrete,” says Miller. “People weren’t allowed to use it. Occasionally, for very special occasions, like raising flags to celebrate national days or pride, we would bring a few people up and then we’d close it again.” Miller, along with Deputy Mayor Joe Pantalone, expressed how thrilled they were to see this new, green public space amid a concrete jungle. As a part of more than $42 million Nathan Phillips Square revitalization project, scheduled to be completed in 2012, the green roof was conceptualized and designed by
program. Several architectural firms were also open for viewing and questions. Some people wandered aimlessly around the city while most walked with a purpose, clutching their Doors Open guide. Talia Brown had a long list of venues she hoped to visit. “A lot of the places look so interesting. They are all so different; some of them are a little more historical, some of them are a little more modern,” Brown says. Patricia Whaley, a social historian, was anxious to tour the Elgin and “Working with 150 venues across the Winter Garden Theatres. The restoration of the only city, DOT allowed the public to learn functional double-stacked the stories behind the buildings and theatre in the world was her uncover their mysteries.” main interest. FUTURÉALE
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arts.culture.living PLANT Architect Inc. and Shore Tilbe Irwin & Partners and was officially opened as a permanent green space for the city The Toronto Railway Heritage Centre and Roundhouse Park carries a completely different vibe. The transformation of the John Street Roundhouse into the Toronto Railway Heritage Centre (TRHC) attracted over 17,000 visitors during DOT. The miniature railway made its first run in the new centre during the official opening, with Miller as one of its first passengers. “The railways at this Roundhouse and the rail yards that used to be down here, where we now see a tremendous building boom, were the heart and soul of Toronto,” says Miller. This 17-acre site represents a railway that once extended from Bathurst to Cherry Street, and was completed with 20,000 hours of work by the Toronto Railway Historical Association volunteers. The original Don Station was built in 1896 by the Canadian Pacific Railway and was originally located south of Queen Street, west of the Don River. It remained in use until 1967.
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The computer simulated locomotive in a real cabin brings the park to life, along with the steam-powered miniature railway that uses real diesel fuel and circles the park along the exhibits, carrying up to 24 passengers. Le Méridien King Edward or “King Eddy” was also a huge draw for many, anxious to view the once crystal ballroom—the 40-minute wait in line was proof of that. Andrew Patterson, in line with his friends, wasn’t sure he would stand the wait, yet his curiosity won over his impatience. Apparently he wasn’t the only one with such tenacity. Over 5,000 people walked through the hotel doors
Although the hotel opened in 1903, the additional 18-storey section, containing the glamorous Crystal Ballroom where the elite hosted celebrations, was built in 1921. A once elegant ballroom with three crystal chandeliers hanging from the ceiling is now a large empty room with tattered ornate finishing, peeling walls and an unfinished-looking ceiling. The ballroom was shut down in 1979 due to rising costs to maintain the appropriate fire code. Everything in the ballroom was sold. The crystal chandeliers went for $500 each. The hotel, now in transition with its newly acquired owners, will be converted in part to condos, “A once elegant ballroom with three crystal and the old crystal chandeliers hanging from the ceiling, is now a ballroom large empty room with tattered ornate finishing, may be revitalized. peeling walls and an unfinished-looking ceiling.” From during DOT. the same era, the Lombard Street Fire hall George Gooderham built the hotel in was built in 1886 and was designed in the 1903, which attracted the rich and famous. Romanesque Revival style. Still in operation Women had their own designated check-in during the great fire of 1904, the station would counter and separate hotel entrance. have dispatched some of its firefighters to join over 200 others—some as far away as Buffalo—to battle the blaze that started on Wellington Street West. Known as the Old Fire Hall, this building is now a designated heritage property, with beautiful art, cozy lounges, a tearoom, a lush living room and a private bedroom for day rentals. But the visitors need a lush and homey location for this has become the place of refuge since 2001 for cancer patients and family members seeking support. The numbers indicate another successful year for DOT but visitors had one complainttoo little time to uncover all the secrets, history and stories that lie behind so many doors that will now be closed for another year. --rr and jr
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arts.culture.living
THE ITINERARY IS ALL WRITTEN OUT, the documents are packed, and flight
ticket is ready: all that is needed is a place to stay. Going the usual route, one can ask for family members to host them, but not everyone has family all over. Searching for a cheap hotel or hostel is an option, but even the cheapest hotels are sometimes out of your budget and hostels can charge $30 or more per night depending on the location. Scratching hotels and the hostels from your list, it is time to find something that is both cheap and offers something unique. This is where Couch Surfing comes in. Couch Surfing was founded in 2004 and has now more than 1 million members and is
constantly growing. According to its website Couch Surfing’s mission is, “ to create inspiring experiences: cross-cultural encounters that are fun, engaging, and illuminating. Couch Surfing’s initial focus was on hosting and
“A friend told me about it and I kind of searched it,” she says. “If they don’t have a profile picture, they don’t have a complete profile and I don’t message them.” Although it has been in existence since 2004, Couch Surfing is relatively unknown outside of traveler’s circles. Members are more likely to recommend others to the website if they have used the service themselves. The website, Couchsurfing.com, will prompt you to create a profile before you can message anyone. Depending on member’s settings, some can be contacted with half completed profiles while others only want to be contacted if your profile is complete. A completed profile means different things to
“The more references and friends you have on your profile the more chances of getting accepted as a surfer or host will also happen.”
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“surfing” (staying with a local as a guest in their home). Alongside these core experiences, we now also facilitate a growing array of activities and events.” Kitsuné Star-Moon from Toronto did her research before heading out to a strange place where she doesn’t know anyone.
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arts.culture.living different people. It can mean that one’s profile has to have an image of the individual as well as name and address has to be validated to show that you are indeed who you say you are. It can also mean that you have to have a certain amounts of references or have been vouched for by providing a donation. When a member donates $22.68 USD, they get verified and are more likely to get more requests as well as being more trusted than those who have not been vouched for. Payal Lal, who grew up in India but now resides in Toronto, has couch surfed three times and has advice for new travelers. “Search the profile thoroughly and read all references carefully,” she says. “Take a risk, and hope for the best. I have couch surfed with another CS friend so it always feel safer that way.” She found out about CS through her cousin in India when they were discussing traveling. Searching for a place to stay is easy enough, however take caution to who you message. As with regular meet ups and gatherings, take care to not divulge private information before getting to know the person. When going through a person’s profile, one can look at the individual’s thoughts, beliefs, and interests but the Internet being what it is, those details could be misleading. Lal recommends checking the references on the profile and seeing what others have experienced as well as having your own on the profile. “The more references and friends you have on your profile the more chances of getting accepted as a surfer or host will also happen,” she says. By not reading the couch section thoroughly, one can ask to be hosted on a certain week, while it specifically says the host will be out of the country for that duration. In the end, it will not be the host who is stranded, but the traveler.
Ryan Snushall, a Mississauga native, has been a member since 2005 and has been through both good and bad experiences. Traveling around the world, he has been in more than 43 countries, such as Croatia, France, Italy, Hungary and many more and he enjoys it. “I’m not scared or afraid. I’m not the type to look at the world as a bad place. I am pretty level headed,” Snushall says. Although couch surfing is a great option to
warn you in advance. One way of participating in the community online is by letting users know whether you had a bad or good experience so that others are warned. Star-Moon, who is new to CS, has already seen that, as with anything, there are people out there who are not what they seem. “I had a strange experience where I messaged a guy to host me, and he initially said he wanted to have sex with me. I deleted him right away. I thought this [couch surfing website] was a couch swapping site and not a saliva swapping site.” Whether one is traveling to meet new people and make new friends, just needing a place to crash for a few days, or just needing a cheaper option, Couch Surfing is a great way to seeing the world in a different way.
“You’re getting people from all over the place… really busy and people are coming from major cities like Paris.”
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those that are on a budget, as with anything, it does have its advantages and disadvantages compared to using a hostel. “You’re getting people from all over the place… really busy and people are coming from major cities like Paris,” Snushall says. “It is more of a party scene while couch surfers have more intimate small groups and you’re dealing with locals, which is much more beneficial and you’re living like a local.” It is also not unusual for guests to want to spend time with the traveler and get to know them. They do not want the experience to be just for using the couch and that is the end of the story. Upon reading a profile, some members will express their wanting to interact at least some of the time with the traveler. Once you arrive to your destination, it is not uncommon to have the host prepare you dinner as a welcome, but don’t expect it. Snushall says, “You definitely have to provide your own food. A lot of times they offer it. It’s rude when people raid the cupboards without asking.” He also says that payment is not expected nor should ever be given. This is also mentioned on the website as one of the rules people should be aware of. Bad experiences are not uncommon but the references will tell you all about them and
--rr
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Operation Smile
arts.culture.living
THEY SAY ONE SMILE CAN GO A medic volunteer for Operation Smile. In and hosting a fundraising event seemed like a LONG WAY. But at Operation Smile, they May, he organized a fashion show and silent logical step to help further the charity’s goals.”
are willing to go a long way to get one smile. Since 1982, Operation Smile has travelled across the world to provide reconstructive surgeries for children born with facial deformities such as cleft lips and palates. Because of their abnormalities, these children are often shunned and rejected. But with the help of many selfless medic and non-medic volunteers, every year the non-governmental organization is able to heal thousands of children, providing them with an opportunity for a new, positive outlook on life. Doctor Cory Goldberg, a plastic surgeon centred in Etobicoke, is a newly acquired
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auction called Many Reasons to raise money and create public awareness for the charity. The event was hosted by iconic Canadian television personality and fashion guru, Jeanne Beker. The show took place on May 18 in the Living Arts Centre in Mississauga and raised over $7,000 for the cause. “Operation Smile is an important charity for me,” Goldberg says. “Witnessing the suffering of these desperate parents and their children who would be forced to go through life with easily treatable facial deformities is a life-changing experience. I knew that volunteering my time was the least I could do,
The night of the fundraiser began with Goldberg onstage as the flamboyantly dressed Beker accompanied the 35-year-old plastic surgeon for an intimate interview in front of all his guests. With Beker, he discussed his personal aspirations and inspirations for the night’s fundraiser. He also discussed how all proceeds from the silent auction were being donated to Operation Smile. Following the interview was the presentation of a short documentary highlighting some of Operation Smile’s successful missions. Images of children with facial defects filled the screen and tugged FUTURÉALE
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arts.culture.living on the heartstrings of the crowd. However, spirits were lifted when the screens were replaced with images of the same children post-operation, adorning their brand new million-dollar-smile. Every second of the documentary emitted strong emotions of heartache, appreciation, and happiness from patients and their families. The documentary was followed by the much anticipated fashion show where several of Canada’s top designers showcased their collections. Gracing the runways with their eccentric creations included big names such as NADA, Andy Thê-Anh, and David Dixon. After the runway show, several pieces
together and we are very proud to deliver topnotch surgery to children and young adults suffering facial abnormalities.” Since he started volunteering with the organization, Goldberg has gone on two successful missions. In 2008 he travelled to Cambodia, and last year he succeeded on his
“Children suffer cleft lips, palates and other facial abnormalities that critically compromise basic functions like eating, communicating and smiling,” Goldberg says. “It is particularly dangerous for infants who cannot form a proper suction for eating properly to survive. Knowing that I have the skills to help parents
most recent mission in Egypt. “Each mission is for two weeks,” Goldberg said. “The first week we set up and screen patients to make sure they’re fit for surgery. Once all the assessments are done, we begin the operations. They’re usually the last five to six days of the mission, and we operate from morning to night.” In the future, Goldberg personally hopes to participate in missions to South America and India where these operations are most needed. As for now, he plans to continue doing a two-week mission every year until he retires. Once retired, he plans on volunteering with Operation Smile full-time.
and babies survive and lead normal lives, it gives me no choice but to volunteer. Where I can help, I always will.” When asked if he plans to organize another fundraiser event for Operation Smile, he claims it is very likely, especially since Many Reasons has proven successful. “It’s one thing for me to volunteer my time, as well as the other surgeons and volunteers,” Goldberg says. “But in the end, that isn’t enough because you still need the supplies and a way to get to the location, so Operation Smile really needs funds to carry on in its work. As a volunteer I’d like to continue to help, so I hope an event like this will really help it come along.” --rr
“I knew that volunteering my time was the least I could do, and hosting a fundraising event seemed like a logical step to help further the charity’s goals.” showcased on the runway were auctioned off during the silent alongside jewellery and art. “This is the first event I organized to raise money for Operation Smile,” Goldberg says. “I hope to raise funds to help with the mission work and what they do. There are not many groups that do this kind of work and in my opinion, Operation Smile is the best one and they provide the best quality of care.” For Goldberg, volunteering is an important aspect of his career. He believes passing on goodwill from person to person should be a major purpose in everyone’s life. The notion of helping those less fortunate is a prime reason why he decided to get involved with Operation Smile. “One of my mentors is a surgeon that I trained with at Sick Kids Hospital. I followed in his footsteps and that’s initially how I got involved,” Goldberg says. “It can be emotionally taxing and physically exhausting to make all of this happen in such a short time, but the group of volunteers really pulled FUTURÉALE
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arts.culture.living
Roommates from Hell
HAVING A ROOMMATE FROM HELL is something that everyone fears. Imagine living in mountains of mould. Having your privacy ripped away from you. Having the bully welcome you home every night. Envision babysitting your close friend who suddenly turns on you. This did happen to the few who got the roommate from hell. Living in a garbage dump
By Lindsay Romeo 10
From the moment Mary and her roommates first walked into their new apartment, they knew there was going to be trouble. There were broken beer bottles scattered in heaps on the stained carpet. The stale odour of old trash hung in the air and it looked as if the previous occupants had never used a garbage bag. One roommate moved her bed to find dried vomit caked to the wall. But this was just the beginning of a long journey for Mary, for her two roommates chose to embrace the relaxed lifestyle the apartment presented. As bad as it looked when she first moved in, Mary soon found herself missing her apartment’s original state. Have you ever had to squat over your own toilet because of how dirty the seat was? Mary had to do it every day. Dried vomit on the sides of the toilet got thicker over time. The washroom garbage can went ignored, used tampons littering the floor. At the end of the year, the cleaning staff had to use bleach to clean the bathtub. The kitchen was a thrill – dirty dishes, cutlery, and pots and pans created mountains on top of the counter and in the sink. Mary got a few new roommates in the form of furry mould flourishing on the dishes. It got so bad that the dishes became impossible to pull apart, coagulating into one giant chunk. Every FUTURÉALE
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arts.culture.living once in a while her roommates did a quick clean up, and shoved some dirty plates into a box in the closet. Not only did they create horrible living conditions, but constantly stole her food for themselves or as “care packages” for friends. Mary wisely sprung for a personal mini-fridge for her bedroom. Yet they gave back in their own way, and stole a seesaw from a children’s daycare to furnish their living room. One night, Mary’s roommates took in a homeless boy who lived in the apartment from then on, sleeping on the floor in the middle of the tiny living room. He quickly made himself at home and hung up cutout magazine porn all over the apartment. Of course, since the boy didn’t have a key, Mary’s roommates simply never locked the front door. Since the place was a landfill anyways, her roommates never saw the point in taking out the trash. The pile of garbage bags in the living room just grew over time, and gave the apartment its characteristic stench. It truly was a garbage dump, but for her that smells just meant “home sweet home.” Showering with the enemy
This is a story about a seemingly innocent joke that went sour. When Kim took her daily shower, a few of her floor mates thought it would be funny to steal her clothes. No harm done, Kim just walked back to her room with her towel wrapped around her. The next day, the girls took away her clothes and her towel. Again Kim didn’t think it was a big deal, so she took off one of the dry shower curtains, wrapped it around herself and walked back to her room. On the last day of the joke, the girls took down all of the dry shower curtains. When Kim realized what had happened she knew she was in trouble. She decided the only thing to do was wrap the wet shower curtain around herself, even though it was quite transparent. After all, Kim lived on an all-girls floor. But when she came out of the washroom, FUTURÉALE
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the girls had brought some gents from the allboys floor to gawk at her. One of the boys took it to the next level and stepped on the back of the shower curtain dragging behind her. The curtain was swept off her body, and she was suddenly standing completely naked in front of two floors full of people. Sharing a room with the Hulk on a bizarre floor
From the moment Tracey met her roommate Bert, Tracey knew things would be bad. Bert always made a bad first impression: she had worked on a farm her entire life, and looked tough to match. As soon as Tracey met the rest of her floor mates and mentioned the name “Bert,” their mouths dropped. They were petrified, and with good reason. From the start, Bert hated the idea of sharing a room with someone else. They were complete opposites: Tracey was an art student and Bert was a math student. Tracey stayed up late and Bert woke up early. Any time Tracey had to leave the room after 9 p.m., even to just use the washroom, Bert would lock her out. Tracey had to sleep in the common room on more than one occasion. Bert was notorious for going to bars at night and picking fights with men, which she would always win. She would constantly get herself into fistfights. She was a violent, miserable person to be around. Bert was the Hulk. As for Tracey’s floor mates, two of the boys were one-of-a-kind. They snuck into her room so they could drain out the water from her goldfish bowl and fill it up with beer— amazingly enough, the goldfish survived. There was a girl on Tracey’s floor who was obsessed with stuffed animals, so the two boys hung her precious toys by the neck from the ceiling. To make matters worse, for the longest time Tracey could not figure out why she kept getting sick. The plates and cutlery were shared on the floor, but she always washed her dishes
thoroughly before putting them back in the cupboard. When one of Tracey’s floor mates saw her he asked, “Why are you cleaning the plates? Everyone just rinses it, and puts it away. You’re supposed to wash the plate before you use it.”
When a good girl goes wild
Tanika and Abani had gotten along well in high school. They shared many close friends and were going to the same university, so they thought it would be a good idea to share a dorm room. They had both heard terrible roommate stories and thought would be safe to room together. This was not the case. Tanika and Abani both took their schoolwork very seriously in high school, so it seemed like the perfect match. Abani never drank or went to parties, which pleased Tanika. However, university was the first time Abani would not have to listen to her parents. Abani was never the same again. It became a regular routine for Tanika to chase the drunken Abani through the halls. Abani had covered all the drunken classics: running into a closed door, falling off of stairwells, face-planting into the floor. Abani also tended to throw up all over Tanika’s bed sheets and pillows, and then sleep in her own bed. Tanika would have to force her every morning to clean the drenched bed sheets. She had become the “most loud, obnoxious, annoying, slutty drunk,” far from what Tanika had originally expected. The good girl had gone wild. --rr
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arts.culture.living
Indie Films for home FOR THREE OF MY YOUNGER YEARS I worked as a clerk at Jumbo video
up in Timmins, Ontario. Throughout my tenure there I rented the maximum 10 videos I was allowed to rent each and every week. That’s over 1,500 video rentals in three years, but with so many movies out there I knew my film education had only just begun. In all likelihood, I’ll go to my grave fifty years from now with a thousand movies on my must see list. Every good movie you see opens you up to more. What else has the director done, that actor you never thought much of, have they other hidden classics? I’ve gone through horror periods, French and Danish periods, sports movies, black and white, silent, the Oscars, Home grown Canadian, you name it. Lately, thanks to FutuRéale, I’ve been learning a lot about Independent film. I’ve always been interested in it, and have probably seen more independent productions than 99 per cent of the population thanks to my years at Jumbo. But compared to the other 1%, I feel like a newbie babe in the woods. Yes, I have a collection of Soderbergh movies that rivals Bay St. Video, and a collection of Bergman movies better than either the Rogers or Blockbuster Video store I visited for this article. Still, last night I saw only my second Lisa Cholodenko movie (“Cavedweller”,
she’s the director of this summers great looking indie hit, “The Kids are Alright”), and tomorrow night I have a sneak peak of my very first Debra Granik (“Winterbone”) movie. Each week as I work on articles and review of Independent movies for our website I learn a little more. I’ve made a list (still growing) of movies that I feel I need to see if I want to think of myself as an Indie movie guy and not just a movie guy. Telling people how great “The Hurt Locker” was, and then watching the world suddenly discover it half a year later is one thing. Being able to discuss the merits of “Teeth”, “Baghead”, and “Down To the Bone”—movies that didn’t play at the Varsity for months—is another thing altogether. I admit these are all award winning movies that “real” Independent movie fans have ooohed and aaahed about for years. But, like I said, newbie here. The problem, as I quickly found, is that these award-winning movies (call them the blockbusters of the Indie world) can’t be found at your local Blockbuster anymore. I did find “Teeth” at the Rogers on Wellesley, but these large chain stores seem to carry new releases, which they previously view quickly, and a few core titles. Mostly they are filled with games and treats. I can go in and rent “The Hurt Locker”, buy a copy of “Coco Avant Chanel,” a pop and some chips, but smaller movies,
By Craig Wilkins
which may have once been there, have long since been rented as new releases and then sold off. So, how do we find the Independent films we want to watch? I decided to make a list of five a-list Independent titles and one favourite classic of mine. First are “Teeth”, “Down to the Bone”, and “Baghead”, titles I’ve already mentioned. Plus David Gordon Green’s classic “George Washington” and another Lisa Cholodenko film, “High Art”. And for the classic, one of my favourite films of all time, Carl The Dreyer’s “The Passion of Joan of Arc”. My first destination was the internet and Netflix. I typed in Netflix Canada and came up with Zip.ca, the Canadian equivalent. It was simple to set up and only took me two minutes to join. It requires a credit card and offers a free two-week trial. The way it works is simple. You set up a zip list of movies you’d like to watch and choose a level of membership. I decided to go cheap, $6 a month for two DVD’s sent out one at a time. I can hold on to them as long as I want. When I send them back in their prepaid envelope another is shipped out. So for six dollars, I will be getting two movies every month from a list I’ve created. I can change the list any time I want, add movies, delete movies, and move them up or down the list.
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arts.culture.living
It’s an easy method of watching hard to find movies. Zip.ca’s library has over 75,000 titles and is growing every day. I never have a return due date. There are no late fees, and holding onto a movie longer means only that it will be that much longer before I get my next film. But since I have the two movies a month plan and movies take only a day or two to turn around, that is not an issue. I can watch the movie I receive when I want to. The downside is that since this is a national video store with thousands of customers you don’t always receive the movie you most want to see. If you’re dying to see a particular title and put it at number one thinking it’ll be in the mail in a couple of days you’ll probably be disappointed. Both movies I received during my two-week trial period were from my #7 position on my zip list, which holds 61 titles. Both films, “Cavedweller”, and “Mildred Pierce,” were amazing movies, but not at the top of my list. And my next title could be my #1 pick, Dreyer’s “Vampyre”, or maybe again my #7 choice, De Sika’s “The Bicycle Thief ”, or even the classic Spencer Hepburn movie in my #61 slot, “Woman of the year”. No matter what movie comes it will be a classic or Independent classic that I’ve always wanted to see. My next step was to join iTunes. Unfortunately I don’t have as much positive to say about it. iTunes was easy to load and if I was after a CD or song, then it’s absolutely the place to be. TV shows seemed to be easy to download and relatively cheap—or even free. And if you’re looking for a blockbuster movie, FUTURÉALE
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“Avatar” for example, then for just $4.99 you can download and watch it immediately on your laptop, or sync it with your portable handheld devices to watch it on the go—no trouble at all. But even “The Hurt Locker” was only available as a downloadable purchase at $19.99, and when I searched for the movies on my Indie list, they either were only available for purchase, came up with nothing found, or, in the case of “George Washington,” came up with the choice of either “Crimson Tide” (starring Denzel Washington”) or “The Happy Hooker Goes to Washington”, which I saw in my youth and, believe me, is not the classic David Gordon Green movie. But, what if you want that Independent film and you don’t want to wait for it? Where can you go tonight to rent “Down to the Bone” or “High Art”? Toronto has many great independent video stores, but there are three we all talk about.
I’m a member of Bay St. Video (at the corner of Bay and Bloor), and love the store. It is set up in an easy to use and get in and get out with the title you’re looking for. Criterion movies have their own section, and there’s a directors wall. But if you want an indie drama like “High Art” then you simply go to the
drama section, flip through the alphabetically sorted discs till you find it, take the rental tag (so the next customer knows the store rents the title but is currently rented out) and you’re off. It took me less than five minutes to find all the titles on my list except “George Washington”. The clerk told me, without having to look it up, that it was in the Criterion section. If there is a drawback, it’s that the store isn’t a fun browsing experience. You can flip through discs, and the new release wall is set up to be casually looked over, but it’s really a go in, get what you want, and get out atmosphere. The polar opposite of Bay St. Video is Queen Video (just west of Spadina on Queen). This is the sort of store I loved in my university days. I’m sure that if I became a regular I would figure out the layout and shop it like a pro, but my first trip there left me amused but confused. I found a few of the titles I was looking for, but every time I went to find, “Teeth” for example, I had to flip through a bunch of laminated case cut-outs only marginally sorted and found
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arts.culture.living about ten other movies I wanted to see before finding the one I wanted. It’s a browsers’ paradise filled with the hippest of the hip and coolest of the cool. If you’re looking for something a little offbeat to rent, have some time to browse and won’t have a significant other sending you back to the store when you get home without that title you were supposed to be picking up, then this is your dream DVD rental store. Just as cool and hip as Queen and almost as organized as Bay was Suspect Video (Markham St. near Bloor and Bathurst). I’ve never rented here, but had been in with several friends. The titles on my list were easy to find (other than “The Passion of Joan of Arc”) and every nook and cranny of the store held something cool, whether that was teen comedies or Italian Sexploitation Flicks. I enjoyed my browsing and found a bunch of stuff I would have rented if returning them wouldn’t have been such a headache. We are lucky living in Toronto. We have great video stores just a short subway ride and walk away where those Independent movie titles we’ve heard so much about can be found. It’s really just a matter of taste. The big chains may be only good for Friday night new release renting, which is a shame, but with every corner of the city having at least one great independent store with many of the other titles, and Zip.ca having nearly everything, even the most obscure title is available somewhere. So tonight, thanks to Bay St. Video, two more movies come off my list, “Teeth”, and “Down to the Bone”. My latest zip.ca rental has been dropped in a mailbox and something cool is no doubt on the way. It’s not the way I learned to rent movies twenty years ago, but it’s fast, easy, and I get something really cool every time, instead of something that’s simply available. And until the cheap and easy online instant movie rental finally makes it’s way to my computer, the way I will be renting movies from now on. --rr
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412 Queen St. W Toronto, ON, M5V2A7 416-504-3030
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THERE IS A BUS PARKED OUTSIDE OF THE MONUMENT NATIONAL on Boulevard Saint Laurent
in Montreal. Mutek has arrived. This is not a tour bus carrying equipment for one of the acts playing the electronic music festival, but a stagnant city bus filled with listening stations where passers by can stop and check out the latest offerings from Mutek’s eclectic mix of performers, including Nathan Fake, Actress, and Mouse On Mars. Later Mutek staffers will hand out wireless headphones so attendees can listen to a live concert in the small parkette across from the festival headquarters, Monument National. This is all a part of an effort by Mutek, now in its eleventh year, to gain exposure for local electronic artists and grow Canada’s electronic music community. Mutek bills itself as a festival of, “digital creativity and electronic music,” which means its stage is a platform for both musicians and visual artists. Many of the performances during the five-day festival feature short films or light shows and some artists have created special performance art pieces especially for the event. Baltimore-based experimental duo Matmos is the main attraction at the first installment of Mutek’s A/Visions on Wednesday June 2. The evening is called Pandora’s Music Box, which is a nod to the Nicolas Bernier and Martin Messier performance piece that kicks off the show. The piece is inspired by the intonarumori, an analogue music box invented back in 1913 FUTURÉALE
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by a futurist named Luigi Russolo who was the world’s first “noise composer.” Bernier and Messier twist and bang and pull the levers on the almost-ancient electronic instruments, set clocks on top and let them tick. On screen behind them footage of the intonarumori’s interior spins into swirls of shadows. The lights go dark and the audience erupts. New tables are rolled on stage and filled with Matmos’ techy gear. The band begins the build up of sound with an endless string of instruments: keyboards, laptops, turntables, triangles, and green dolphin squeeze-toys. The dots floating on-screen above them vibrate with the beat. They tell us album collaborators So Percussion stayed in New York, all fancy and snobby, and launch into more lyric less beats Matmos’ Martin Schmidt swears are about Montana. But after another track Schmidt concedes with a grin, “That one wasn’t about anything, really.” Matmos played Mutek once before, in 2001. For that piece the band set up a fullscale operating room and played samples of liposuctions, hearing tests, and plastic surgeries. Later Matmos’ Drew Daniel recalls his first Mutek experience. “We had a killer time. I loved seeing the sound installation in the old industrial complex, and seeing Herbert live, and hanging out with I8U and Richard Chartier,” he says. “It was a long time ago, and we got really wasted, but I remember it being really fun and relentless.”
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arts.culture.living Daniel says Mutek is one of the top festivals focusing on electronic music. “When you have this kind of longevity and range then it keeps the standards high and exposes people to what is possible, so it’s certainly the gold standard at the moment,” Daniel says. “I can’t think of a comparable one, honestly.” Like many of Mutek’s attendees, Alain Mongeau used to go to raves. The festival founder and director explain he originally created Mutek as the type of event he would like to attend. “My personal drive was that I was for many years part of the audience,” Mongeau says. “I witnessed the development of the culture from the first loft parties in Montreal.”
“It maybe one of the three most prestigious electronic music festivals in the world.” In the eighties Mongeau went to clubs, but says he hated the format. In the early nineties he moved on to the raves held in Montreal warehouses where electronic performers mixed music, video, and lights. “The warehouse scene was liberating,” Mongeau says, adding that everything surrounding electronic culture in that period was open and free. Parties were held in unconventional spaces, the music was fresh, and the crowd was an eclectic mix of people from different scenes. Everything about the music, visuals, and dress, Mongeau says, was creative. But towards the millennium parties migrated back into clubs, a development Mongeau saw as negative. “You saw all that being pulled back into a commercial area,” he says. “It was funneled back into the fixed club formula.” This is part of the reason Mongeau has maintained Mutek as a not-for-profit event. “The public support frees you from the commercial drive of things,” he says, adding
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that each time the festival gets funding it allows for experimentation, which it couldn’t do if it relied on corporate sponsors. “The commercial element perverts things,” he says. Germany’s Mouse On Mars headlines Mutek’s Nocturne on Thursday June 3 at Metropolis. The following afternoon Mouse On Mars’ Jan St. Werner explains Mouse On Mars has had plans to play the festival for many years, but Mutek had never coordinated with the band’s touring schedule. This year it finally came together. “Finally last night we did our duty,” he says with a grin. Between sips of espresso at Jeliette et Chocolat on Rue St. Denis Werner says Mutek is known globally as a leader in the electronic music scene. “Mutek is known, of course,” he says. “It maybe one of the three most prestigious electronic music festivals in the world,” he continues, listing off the Sonar festival in Barcelona and Club Transmediale Berlin as comparable events. “Sonar is a marketplace for electronic music,” he says. “Club Trans is a bit more rough. I think how the festival is situated here has sophistication to it. It’s more about the culture.” Werner is impressed with how the festival organizers have mixed local and aspiring acts with well-known international institutions. “You can’t have a festival with only Daft Punk and the Chemical Brothers,” he says. “You have to mix things. That’s the secret to a good lineup.” That night Werner heads to Club Soda to catch a set by Actress, a Brixton-based dub step act. Down the street from Club Soda at the Society for Arts and Technology Ikonika, one of the only prominent females spins her own brand of dub step. They are just two of the 150 artists that pour into Montreal for Mutek. There are 80 performances over five days, including a Sunday picnic at Jean Drapeau Park. Detroit techno act Theo Parrish closes the festival that night at the Society for Arts
and Technology. As the electronic music fiends who flocked to Montreal pack up and leave the city, the bus parked outside the Monument National is dismantled and driven away. --rr FUTURÉALE
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Distillery Craft Show
THE DISTILLERY SPRING CRAFT SHOW occurred this year from May 22-
24—and it was awe- inspiring. When you first step onto the cobblestone streets of the Distillery Historic District you immediately get the feeling that you are not in Toronto. Located on 37 Mill St., you are immediately transported to a neo-modern, industrial European town that is a mix of historic brick buildings and warehouses originating from over 200 years ago. The authenticity and timeless artistry of the architecture in the Distillery District is one of the main reasons why many artisans come to this place to be inspired and showcase their talents to the public. There are a number of places where you can see avant-garde, industrial creations, such as the looming gigantic “Statue of Creative”—which is made of sheet metal—to an avant-garde railing, comprised of stainless and corten steel. It is hard to miss the countless galleries scattered throughout the district, where you’ll find unique and abstract paintings with an industrial element. The Soma chocolate store, which contains all fair-trade, organic chocolate from South America, is a chocolate lover’s paradise, and their gelato is absolutely refreshing and decadent on a hot summer’s day. “We love coming here because it is just so different from anywhere else that we’ve been to,” says a recurring attendant at the festival. “Everything here is one of a kind, you can’t get anywhere else”. Also, taking into account that no chain stores of mainstream consumerism reside in the Distillery, it is safe to call it truly original. The sights and sounds definitely have no FUTURÉALE
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arts.culture.living parallel to any other urban area, and capture a Her gypsy-fortune telling card coasters on unique sense of exoticism. Across from a café, display were innovative. A dull, simple coaster a man who resembled an Australian outbacker was recreated into an artistic conversationplayed a native Australian horn instrument starter with original fortune-telling cards called the didgeridoo. The variety and scale of printed onto them from as early as the 1920s. one-of-a-kind craft pieces are something that McLeod’s specialty is her works of assemblage: anyone with a passion or interest in art and basically three-dimensional collages of mixed creative expression should definitely see. media. From a vendor called Talis Jewelry that “I use a great variety of media - for example, carries stainless steel, fair-trade jewelry from my bowl series are made of recycled wood Thailand, to a vendor called Off the Cuff that salad bowls, acrylic paint and various kinds sells recycled baubles and belts, there is a visible of metal leaf like gold, copper and silver. My multitude of coasters are mix diverse crafts “Taking into account that no chain stores of of prints and catering to mainstream consumerism reside in the handmade papers everyone real leaves. Distillery, it is safe to call it truly original.” and W hen My artwork uses asking various attendants at the festival whom many techniques (oils, metal work, clay, paper, they thought was the most eye-catching and etc.) to serve the idea or emotion I want to unique vendor they had seen, many praised describe. At the moment, I’m really enjoying Jennifer McLeod’s works of art. Known as working with clay as a component of the the Alchemist of International Repute, her assemblages.” When asked what inspires her pieces have been sold from New York City to create the pieces, she says that the power to Montreal. Her studio is currently based in of poetry and prose -- the written word -- and Newmarket, Ontario. other artists have encouraged her to continue “I have been a professional artist for 20 to challenge herself creatively. years now”, she says. “I have a passion for Viewers definitely see McLeod has a artistic discovery and self-expression”. passion and a faculty for art as she very When you look around McLeod’s booth willingly described her pieces to me. It was you definitely see that her work is distinct and McLeod’s first time at the Distillery art festival, is unlike anything ever seen before. but it surely will not be her last. She thinks “I’d like to describe my art as perhaps the Distillery is a prime location for artists to unusual, thought-provoking, and aesthetically showcase their talents to the public. pleasing.” The Distillery District is an ideal location
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for aspiring artists and families alike to come and explore its unique combination of captivating modern and historic architecture. Some of her pieces: --rr and jr
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FOR NEARLY 50 YEARS the graffiti culture has subsisted in the shadows of society. Daring experimentalists wander through alleys and scale buildings looking for that perfect canvas. Once they find it, they get to work. Spraying paint out of aerosol cans, they give bricks of a building new life. Since its inception governments have labeled graffiti as vandalism, and spread this idea throughout society. Most street artists claim their work is supported by their own ideas, dedication, and talent, and reject the view that they are simply defacing a wall. FUTURÉALE
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Several works discovered in Toronto this May were confirmed to be the doing of the infamous British graffiti artist Banksy and were in support of his new film, Exit Through the Gift Shop. The pieces were found at Union Station, Trinity Bellwoods Park, and the Rogers Centre. Most of the pieces have been removed or painted over already. But their messages are here to stay. Banksy is famous for creating controversial works, some critics even calling him anarchistic. The ones found here in Toronto were mainly comments on the economy,
reading phrases like, “Will work for idiots” and “0% interest in people.” Chor Boogie is an internationally renowned American spray paint artist from San Francisco and describes how the subjectivity of art applies to graffiti as well. “My opinion on Banksy is that some of his work is genius as far as being creative when it comes to poking fun at certain problems. But some of the stuff I do disagree with.” Most people don’t realize there are two different ways of life in the graffiti culture. “You have the graffiti side, trying to be incognito,
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hardcore, and get away with something,” says Boogie, “And you have spray paint art, which is just using the mode to make works of art.” Banksy would be part of the former, after all he has dubbed himself as an “art terrorist,” whereas Boogie says he follows the more artistic side of spray art. It is a choice of whether to practice vandalism, or to use spray art in acceptable forms, explains Boogie, “It’s a reflection of what you believe in. I started by going out and doing vandalism, but it didn’t stick for me. I embraced the artistic side, and met
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people who helped to re-educate me on the on an artist’s journey. philosophy behind graffiti.” “It might be [the artist’s] only way of Rivalry does exist within the two finding themselves, and it might be a lesson to subcultures, and learn from,” he says. Boogie knows first- “You have the graffiti side, trying to No matter which hand the problems be incognito, hardcore, and get away variation of graffiti an this can cause. with something, and you have spray artist may fall under, While painting paint art, which is just using the mode he or she always has a mural in San a clear, individual to make works of art.” Francisco, Boogie style. Banksy is was stabbed after getting in an altercation. He recognized for his risqué messages and explains that it even goes beyond vandalism common characters such as his rats. Boogie and spray art, but artists also differ in the refers to his own style as Colour Therapy and passion they put into their work. his murals are complex in both their vibrant “You have those [artists] who have colours and abstract symbolism. dedication, who love doing letter forms, It’s the artist’s style that is sought after and murals, doing elaborate and beautiful pieces, appreciated by the public. Pop diva Christina and then you have those in the same culture Aguilera purchased one of Banksy’s famous who are uneducated and come in and write all pieces of Queen Victoria portrayed as a over you’re piece. How are you supposed to lesbian for approximately $50,000. Boogie and feel about that?” three other prominent graffiti artists, Elicser, Boogie’s ability with a spray can was what Mediah and Siloette were commissioned to pulled him out of the life of criminal activity paint the first Paint Your Faith mural (put on and though he does not follow this way of life by Wondercafe.ca and The United Church anymore he believes it may be a necessary step of Canada), which can be found at the FUTURÉALE
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arts.culture.living Metropolitan United Church on Queen Street. Commissioned pieces like these help to beautify communities around the world and support spray artists by giving them space to work with. Boogie believes if you put enough effort into your work than you deserve to be compensated, “[Artists] put time, effort, dedication, discipline, honour and patience into it and they’re putting some amazing stuff out there. It’s like a contemporary renaissance.” Even with the growing popularity of graffiti, an ignorant attitude is still held by many. “A lot of people place that negative connotation on the spray can no matter where you go you still have that ideal [of graffiti] attached to you by society in general,” says Boogie. Nevertheless, Boogie says spray paint artists devote themselves to their medium, and since he was a child he knew it was for him. “When seeing the artwork for the first time on aqueducts and in magazines, it was like magic, like voodoo. It was beautiful to me,” he said, “I had a fear of it though, because of the whole vandalism side. There was the fear of getting caught and going to jail. But I continued and once I got to the art side of it, it felt like a whole different world.” Next time you are walking down the street Chor Boogie challenges you to judge the next piece of graffiti you see—whether it be a Banksy, a Boogie, or a nobody—based on it’s artistic quality and the message behind it; discarding the idea that it is just defaced property. “I want it to be called spray paint art. You don’t call oils and acrylics graffiti so why should spray paint art be viewed [in a negative] way. You have to give it some life,” says Boogie --rr
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arts.culture.living YOU’VE JUST GRADUATED FROM UNIVERSITY, but aren’t really
sure what you want to pursue as a career. What now? With unemployment rates rising, this year’s university and college graduates face one of the toughest market in decades. In order to find a favourable job in the future, students may have to open their minds to the possibility of working outside their desired field. “I feel a bit lost because I really want to start working, but it’s hard to find a job that matches all of my experience,” says University of Toronto graduate Nancy Chen. “I don’t want to lower my standards.” Chen, who earned her Bachelor of Science with a major in neuroscience, has decided to move to Shanghai in order to avoid the dismal market in North America. In a different work environment, Shanghai has a lot to offer as senior employees retire and make room for recent graduates. Shanghai isn’t the only location experiencing a growth in the market.. Many Asian markets are experiencing double-digit growth in certain industries. Moving to different cities or different countries altogether has often been one of the only ways of finding employment for an increasing number of graduates in the past few years. However the search for a job is just one part of the trial. Students face the pressure of choosing what they want to do for the rest of their lives, how they plan on achieving their ideals, whether they want to go back to school and where to live. Students turn to traveling or finding temporary jobs to get a taste of different industries, or attend graduate school in order to buy more time to search. Still, some students aren’t having trouble finding work. “I’m not too concerned,” says recent graduate Ian Bichmann, who specialized in business and marketing at the University of
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Toronto. “I’m very hireable, and have faith in my abilities,” Bichmann is one of the few recent graduates who have found a job before leaving school Currently working on a study with one of his former professors, he later plans on moving to Germany to work. Once there, he plans to move back in with his parents. “Living with my parents and having a trust fund really gives me some breathing space,” he says. “It’s good to speak to people from other countries because their economy might be going through a recovery stage and hiring more frequently.”
According to the IHS Global Insight, a U.S. unemployment data projection, the worst of the recession is over. Most areas will see a large improvement in the economy by the end of 2012, and will return to pre recession levels by 2014. For most graduates, the first step is to realize that big dreams require big steps. Choose a career that interests you, make a plan, take the actions, take risks, and keep swimming.
“I feel a bit lost because I really want to start working, but it’s hard to find a job that matches all of my experience.”
--rr and jr
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“It’s good to speak to people from other countries because their economy might be going through a recovery stage and hiring more frequently.”
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Tipsy footed, the sun lumbered westward, spilling blonde champagne all through the garden. So we wrung out our tangerine trees and drank down the morning like mimosas. A flower opened wide its translucent arms to golden sunlit wine that went sifting through rose-skin fingers. You said: The city is calling, your mother is calling, my papers are calling; and would you like to answer? No, please, let’s stay on the terrace awhile, I’m so entranced by the words blossoming from your lips Go on! Wrap me in your lilied silks. And make my burlesque striptease, my tripped up undoing, my frayed thread unraveling, look like beauty, unfolding © Jade Wallace 2010
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July 2010 | Issue 1: Volume 1
PREMIER ISSUE
freschly pressed
cheer to your health the secrets behind the magic of wine by dan ball
récipe of the month savory and simple almond soup
frésch facts a truly historic snack
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recipe of the month SAVORY AND SIMPLE ALMOND SOUP
ALL YOU NEED: - 10 to 12 cloves of garlic - 2 heaped cups blanched almonds - 5 oz. (4 to 5 slices) sourdough bread, crusts removed - 1 cup low-fat milk - 1 to 2 cups chicken stock or water - A drizzle of sherry vinegar - A drizzle of extra virgin olive oil - Sea salt - Freshly ground black pepper - A small bunch of green grapes, quartered - Fresh marjoram, chopped
frésch facts
A TRULY HISTORIC SNACK • Looking for healthy and fun snack food choices often ends with ‘feel good foods’ that aren’t necessarily the best for you. Contrary to popular belief, snacking can actually keep you healthy, and nuts are often a healthy alternative. • More popular for being covered in chocolate, the almond is one of he oldest and healthiest snack foods.
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• Preheat the oven to 400ºF and bake the garlic cloves for about 20 minutes or until soft. • Break the bread into smaller pieces drizzle and soak with the milk. • Using a food processor blend the almonds until fine, and have almost stuck to the side of the bowl. • Add the soaked bread and the soft inside of the roasted garlic and a little water and blend. • When you have a fine puree, gradually add enough water to make a thick soup consistency. • Finish by seasoning with the sherry vinegar, salt and pepper and a good drizzle of olive oil. • Garnish top with some quartered green grapes mixed with chopped marjoram and enjoy.
• Many believe that almonds are one of the earliest cultivated foods because of their references in the bible. • Today, Californian plants account for approximately 80% of the worlds almonds supply, the biggest of which, produces more than 2 million pounds per day. • A small snack of almonds will give you almost 25% of your daily needs of calcium and magnesium.
• They are also high in antioxidants like Vitamin E and selenium. • Studies show that almonds play an important role in preventing colon cancer due to their high fiber content. • So, whether dipped in chocolate, sprinkled over a salad or eaten as part of a medley, Almonds are a healthy and fun choice for anyone who looking for a guilt free snack.
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cheer to your health •
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•
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BY DAN BALL Is there a finer pleasure than settling in to a glass of your favourite wine after a long day at the office? According to a Nielson phone survey, 58% of North American’s would agree. So what is it that 42% of the population is missing? Commonly used for ceremonial and celebratory purposes, wine, if consumed daily, is also beneficial to keeping your body healthy. According to historians, wine consumption • What does this mean? Wine can raise your dates back 6500 years to Europe, specifically good cholesterol and also help to thin your the Roman Empire, which was the first to blood allowing it to flow through your body perfect the art of wine making, many forms of easier. There are also a lot of non-alcohol which are still use to today. related nutrients in wine that can help combat Apart from its social properties what benefits heart disease. does wine have for us? • So, if you want to enjoy the benefits of wine In an interview with Roger Corder from the it is important to remember that wine is more Royal London school of Medicine, he revealed beneficial when consumed in moderation and that red wine possesses certain attributes that with food and that on those patio days the heat can have positive effects on your body. accelerates the rate of inebriation. His research, focused on the island of Crete, • For females one glass a day is enough, while led to the discovery that the population was for males a possible two to three glasses a day living longer and had lower rates of heart will suffice. disease despite consuming a rather high fat • While red wine is proven to be better for you, diet. This anomaly was attributed to the fact white wine shares similar benefits, but no that an important part of the Cretian diet was matter what your taste, you can look forward to the steady consumption of red wine, which was being a little healthier after that relaxing glass especially rich in Procyanidins. with dinner.
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