The Scope January Issue

thescope

THE SCOPE | st. john’s arts and entertainment magazine | January 2011 | Volume 6, Number 7 | Issue 114 | www.thescope.ca

best st. john's THE SCOPE’S 2010

OF

GUIDE TO READERS' PICKS

our annual look at THE THINGS that make OUR city great

thescope January 2011

issue 114, volume 6, number 7 Online www.thescope.ca E-mail inbox@thescope.ca Listings listings@thescope.ca Mail The Scope PO Box 1044, St. John’s, NL, A1C 5M3 Phone 709-726-8466

Publisher/Listings/ Distro Manager Bryhanna Greenough publisher@thescope.ca Editor Elling Lien editor@thescope.ca Advertising Sales Elaine Pond (709) 699-7299 elaine@thescope.ca Advertising Sales Lisa Cook (709) 693-5028 lisa@thescope.ca Copy Editor Bryhanna Greenough

Contributors Adam Clarke, Ryan Davis, Andrew Harvey, Nathan Downey, Lisa Cook, Elaine Pond, Natrix Ma, Angus Woodman, Mark Callanan, Taryn Sheppard, Sarah Smellie, Ricky King, Andrew Wickens, and Rob Brezsny.

And more!

The Scope is St. John’s arts and entertainment newspaper, published by Scope Media Inc. 22,000 copies of The Scope are printed monthly and distributed throughout the metro area. The Scope seeks to publish a newspaper that will entertain, inform, and foster cultural development in the St. John’s metropolitan area. The Scope claims absolutely no responsibility for the quality of the year 2011. Contents may have settled during shipping. All rights reserved. © 2011 Proudly independent and locally owned. Founded in 2006.

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COVER ART

Cover photos—from the Best of St. John's party—by Mark Bennett

best st. john's THE SCOPE'S

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GUIDE TO READERS' PICKS

W

elcome, dear readers, to the one and only 2010 Best of St John's issue. It has been a long time coming.

Each year, in the fall sometime, we come up with a ridiculously long survey and invite you to submit your answers. And each year more and more and more and more of you answer our call. Then we sift through, count, and hand out awards. It's all in the name of flipping the mirror back on the people, places, businesses, organizations, and things that make this region what it is.

Who are we? Why does my head hurt? What is the future of the city?

What is six times seven?

Where are my house keys? The answers to these questions may or may not lay in the pages ahead.

Since we have to compile the answers by hand, we have to read every answer.

And we can see how much fun some of you had filling out the survey. We feel your passion. We can feel your love, your hatred, and your pride—or some strange combination of all three—and with many an answer too colourful for print, nevertheless we thank you for making a repetitive job more interesting.

We made some changes this time around.

Most notably we removed all of the food and drink categories in order that we can hold a seperate Best of Food survey in the coming months. But before you jump on us for

temporarily depriving you of eating information, know that the spoons which once lived in the Best Dessert category are now perhaps happily playing in a folk band, since the space saved was used to expand the Music and Nightlife section. Are there more genres than flavours at Moo Moo's? Not quite, but we're getting there.

We also expanded the Shops and Services section. The inaugural Best Window Display was won by Johnny Ruth, who we thank for making your part of the city as purty as the women who live in it. Best Chiropractor and Best Massage squeezed their way into the list, as well as Best Place to get a Bikini Wax. We tried to convince Scoper Angus Woodman to go to Sound Salon + Spa, the winner in that category, to get brazilified and write about it for your enjoyment, but he chickened out. Boo! Maybe it was for the best.

This year six categories were retired to the Hall of Fame, where they will remain for a minimum of three years. Sorry guys, but three wins in a row is the max. You're just too good at what you do.

Finally, we want to thank you for sharing, and excuse us while we collapse in a heap and recover from this amazing last year.

To 2011!

2010

Bryhanna Greenough & Elling Lien

King’s Bridge Service Co. Ltd. Come see Gerry for all your tire needs and services. Wide selection of new and used tires.

69 King’s Bridge Road

Tel: 726-3247 october 2010

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JANUARY 2011

coming soon to thescope.ca

2 oz.

hot tickets

JANUARY 2011

Some of our picks for the month. Written by Nathan Downey.

THEATRE

MUSIC

RISING TIDE REVUE

Lawnya Vawnya Fundraiser

December 3

January 15 PHOTO BY BRIAN RICKS

What didn’t happen in 2010? Locally, there was Danny’s triumph over Quebec followed by his abrupt retirement, the wrath of hurricane Igor, the geopolitical imbroglio of Wikileaks, it was one for the books. On the heels of such a notable year, Rising Tide presents their annual round-up of the best, worst, and most newsworthy events of 2010. The Revue, now in its twenty-fifth year, is a pastiche of comedy sketches poking fun at the province’s political leaders and the triumphs and tragedies of the past year. It plays a swack of nights in St. John’s before hitting the road to play all over the province. Tickets are $25 for general admission and $23 for students and seniors.

MUSIC

HEART, LIVE IN CONCERT January 28

Ann and Nancy Williams’ band Heart takes to the Mile One stage on January 28 to kick off a crosscountry tour in support of their thirteenth studio album Red Velvet Car. But they know you're there to hear them play "Crazy on You," "Magic Man" and (Ooooooohhhh) "Barracuda." You may remember they got in a legal fight with John McCain's election campaign back in 2008 when they played it at the 2008 Republican National Convention as Sarah Palin's entrance music. "Sarah Palin’s views and values in no way represent us as American women," Nancy Wilson said later. The veteran rockers have been in the game for 35 years and have sold over 30 million records worldwide. Tickets are $65 and doors open at 6:30 with the show starting at 7:30.

In The Dictionary of Newfoundland English, “lawnya vawnya” roughly means “to have a good time at a dance party with plenty to eat,” so it makes sense the inaugural Lawnya Vawnya Festival, which kicks off in April, will be a smorgasbord of concerts and art exhibitions, featuring the likes of Rae Spoon, Bruce Peninsula, and The Kindness Killers. To raise funds for this new addition to the St. John’s festival diaspora, The Newish Klezmer Band, Juicer, and DJ Mathias will provide a taste of what Lawnya Vawnya has in store. It’s going down at CBTGs and tickets are just $5 at the door. books/literature

SPARKS Literary Festival January 23

It starts with a spark And some writers and poets.

And you, hopefully.

They wouldn’t count though, Since the poems have to be about sparks or flame.)

SPARKS Lit Festival Is St. John’s only lit fest, And it’s here this month.

At MUN Music School, January twenty-third, It will all happen.

Come hear some readings By some of the brightest stars In local writing.

The fest will be held From 10:30 until 6; Reception after.

From Andy Jones to Samuel Thomas Martin to Bernice Morgan.

Hear Kevin Major Read from New Under The Sun. It's sure to be good.

(A haiku contest is also happening.

We might send these in.

BEST OF ST. JOHn'S HALL OF FAME because they have made top spot three years in a row, The following winners have been inducted into the hall of fame and the categories have been (temporarily?) retired.

NEW THIS YEAR Best Band Hey Rosetta!

Best Convenience Store Halliday's Meat Market

Best Band To Dance To Idlers

Best Clothing Store (Men) Model Citizens

Best DJ DJ Benjy

OTHER HALL OF FAMERS Worst New Trend Skinny Jeans Best Veterinarian Jens Martin (St. John’s Veterinary Hospital) Best Mechanic Gerry Young (Kings Bridge Service Station) Best Place To Make Out Signal Hill

Best Reason To Move To St. John’s The People Best Neighbourhood Georgestown Best Make Out Spot Signal Hill Best Second Hand Store Value Village

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Best Breakfast Bagel Café Best Coffee Hava Java Best Sandwich The Sprout

Best Boat Tour O’Brien’s Whale & Bird Tours

Best Baked Goods Georgestown Bakery Best Fish & Chips Ches’s Fish & Chips

Best Local Actor Andy Jones

Best CD Store Fred’s Records

Best Local Rock Star Jody Richardson

Best Bike Shop Canary Cycles

Best Karaoke Karaoke Kops Party Bar

Best Video Store Capitol Video

Best Place For Cheap Drinks Bar None

Best Local Radio Host Randy Snow

Best St. John’s Citizen (Male) Danny Williams

Best Local Poet/ Writer Joel Thomas Hynes

JANUARY 2011

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store front Sarah Smellie brings you some local biznews.

DEVELOPMENT

27 Mayor Ave, St. John’s 579-3233 judy@judyknee.com judyknee.com NEW CLASSES Starting the week of January 9, 2011

for the fun of it!

BALLROOM for the Absolute Beginner JIVE only classes ARGENTINE TANGO SALSA only classes Ladies Only LATIN classes Country Line Dance Please call or email for Class Schedule & Prices.

Instructor for all classes: Judy Knee, FISTD, FCDTA Private Lessons by appointment

Putting the “anger” in “Stavanger”

While it seems like everyone downtown is closing up shop, the development out by Stavanger Drive rages on. We couldn’t help but notice one bunker-in-progress that looked like it might morph into a movie theatre.

That’d be kinda okay...?

“Originally when that area was being developed, there was talk of a movie theatre going in,” says Ken O’Brien. “But it didn’t proceed any further than talk.”

What we will get out there, according to O’Brien, is a Best Buy and a RONA. O’Brien can’t confirm any other stores at this point.

Best Buy sells approximately the same stuff as Futureshop, and RONA sells approximately the same stuff as Kent. Surely, the madness will stop somewhere. Right?

Heck no, says O’Brien. “There are plans to expand it even further,” he says. “Aberdeen Avenue will be extended north, in through the old Harvey & Co. site, and come out at an intersection on Torbay Road. There will be lights at that intersection, and there will more stores along Aberdeen.”

FOOD & DRINK

Hava Java IS MOVING

It's official. The famous downtown coffee shop is moving to a new location in the new year.

It’s moving to 258 Water Street, next door to Le Boudoir, and the plan is to have the relo-

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JANUARY 2011

cated coffee shop open by January 31st.

We were lucky enough to catch up with Rob Collins, the very busy owner of the very busy Water Street coffee shop, to ask him about his plans. He says we can expect two whole floors of Hava in the building -- which he will own.

“The new shop will have two floors for service and the third will be for storage and prep,” he says. “That gives us much more room on all fronts. The main floor will be more grab-and-go. The second is for staying a while.”

“The new space will give me the opportunity to blend the best of the old Hava Java with some new things we couldn't do in the old space,” he says. “I think people will like the new look. I think some of the other changes we’re planning are cool too, but you’ll still find the Hava Java-ness our regulars enjoy.”

BARS

OUT OF THE ZONE

Of course, just upstairs from Hava Java is another St. John’s cultural institution. For over fifteen years, Zone 216 has been a cornerstone in the St. John’s queer community, most recently immortalized in Sara Tilley’s awardwinning novel Skin Room. Though rumours have circulated in the past about the Zone closing, this time they’re true.

Fret not, says Fabian Fitzpatrick, Zone DJ since 1994. It’s more a moving than a closure, he says, and legendary events like

Drag Idol and Madonna night won’t be homeless for long. “The owner has been running gay-friendly bars since the seventies—he ran Solomon’s, Outer Limits, Private Eyes, all of them—and he has no intention of throwing in the towel now. He’s in the process of securing a new location, but nothing has been finalized.”

SHOPS

AFTERWORDS IS NOT CLOSING

Anyone else hear the rumour that Afterwords was closing? Not to worry. It’s just a rumour.

“It’s not a rumour, it’s fantasy!” says the owner. “It could have arisen because the Cod Jigger, right next to us is closing, and Auntie Crae’s is closing, but some faction of Auntie Crae’s is opening in the Cod Jigger spot. So, you could put all that in a pot, stir it up, and come up with a rumour about us closing.”

Fair enough -- with that mess of information, you could come up with anything, really. Pssst, did you hear? Danny Williams is setting up a lemonade stand on George Street!

Changing? Moving? Send your hot Storefront tips to storefront@thescope.ca

city life

BEST NEIGHBOURHOOD PET

TUFFY THE CAT At the Georgetown Pub

I

nterview with Coreen Price, owner of the Georgestown Pub: “There was a lady living upstairs over the bar, and she used to go away for periods of time and leave the cat, so he’d come down. When she finally did move, she took the cat with her, but the cat came back.

She phoned one day, looking for him, and I said he’s just sitting here on the stool, and she says, well, I guess I better get another cat.”

“So now he’s got his own stool. You pretty much gotta fight with him to get him off it.

And he’s not fussy about dogs, either. He lets them know that this is his place. But he loves people. The more you smack him on the butt, the more he likes you.”

QUESTIONS BY SARAH SMELLIE

Building, your winners for Save This Building and Tear This Building Down, respectively.

Wherever your hearts may fall in the socalled downtown development debate, you united to elect Water Street as Best Street, and you’d love to keep tabs on George Street, the Best Place for a Webcam. And hey, how about a better way to hit George for a glass or two of the Best Cure for the Winter Blues and get yourself home safely? Better bus service, winner of the Change That Would Make The City Better, might help with that.

In general you all seem to live fine lives.

You thoroughly enjoy your jobs at MUN, voted Best Local Employer to Work For, and you had a great time volunteering for the Newfoundland and Labrador Folk Festival, the Best Volunteer Opportunity. You really appreciate the hard work of OXFAM, Best Nonprofit/Activist Group, and your dogs appreciate the Best Place To Walk Your Dog, the Quidi Vidi Lake dog park.

Even the cats are taken care of—Tuffy the Cat, winner of Best Neighbourhood Pet, even has his own stool at the Georgestown Pub. You make time to get naked on Signal Hill, runner up for Best Place to Be Naked and, perhaps not coincidentally, winner of Best Romantic Hideaway, and you manage to get away, hitting Best Winter Destination winner Marble Mountain and Best Summer Destination winner Gros Morne National Park, when you can.

But all in all, your heart belongs to this fair city’s fine people, who are the Best Proof that St. John’s is the Centre of the Universe.

According to you, they are best met with a casual “Whaddayat?”, the Best Use of Local Dialect, at the Best Place to Meet People, the deck at Holdsworth Court. Cheers!

SARAH SMELLIE

PHOTO: KEVIN COFFEE

A

nother year closes on the fine city of St. John’s, and what a year it was. The biggest What-Were-You-Doing-When moment came when Danny Williams, your Best Local Hero and proud comber of the Best Hair On A Local Personality, resigned from the premiership. Also up there was the introduction of city-wide curbside recycling, the success of which won your Best Thing You Hope Will Happen This Year.

Downtown development was a big driver of discussion this year, what with that Fortis proposal and all. And of course, ExxonMobil announced that they’d be moving here despite the city’s allegedly crushing lack of Class A office space—perhaps they’ll set up shop at Hava Java, this year’s Best Office Space for the Officeless? And of course The Scope’s Rant Farm, your pick for Best Place To Speak Your Mind, was abuzz with debate about appropriate futures for the former CBC Building and the crumbling Newfoundland Telephone Co.

THE SCOPE’S 2010

best st. john's OF GUIDE TO READER'S PICKS

Best Proof St. John’s is the CentRE of the Universe

GREAT people runner up: Everyone who lives here believes it.

SOME Other answers: No end of strange happenings and unlikely synchronicities • The black hole of George St. • Fries, dressing, and gravy. From a truck! • I live here, don't I?! • St. John's is not the centre of the universe • Kelsey Drive proves it. • St. John's is the centre of the universe? • RNC overwhelmed by UFO reports when Mile One spotlights are on • you can do six degrees of anyone • Every NTV celebrity interview starts with that premise so it must be true • Hurricane Igor went straight for it • Magnetic field attracting amazing artists from across the universe • I hate St. John's • I saw it on a bumper sticker • The rooms can surely be seen from space! • one is always the centre of one's own universe... cos it's homebase • it's a black hole? • This is a really weird question...pass • The fact that I crossed the country searching for a new home and and came back • Geoff Stirling's argument that it is Atlantis • The number of amazing bands/musicians per capita • Because it's the best place to be!! And the people here rock!

• When I typed in Centre of The Universe on my GPS, St. John's popped up • It is not • It isn't Toronto.

Best Spot for a Web Cam

George Street

Done! NTV has one at www.tinyurl.com/georgestreetcam runner up: Signal Hill SOME Other answers: Drunk tank exit • Hot dog cart cam • USB port • Where the grass grows • Danny Williams' office • My pants.

Best Office Space for the Officeless

Hava Java

216 Water Street, 753-5282 runner up: Atlantic Place SOME Other answers: One's lap while sitting in the park • The Rooms in the archives. What a view! • Fadder's shed • Cardboard box • The movie 'Office Space' • Oh get an office already! People used to talk in coffee shops! • Harbour Side Park. Nothing like a fresh blast of sewer gas from the harbour to get the juices flowing.

BEST Local Employer

Memorial University www.mun.ca/humanres/careers

runner up: Hava Java SOME Other answers: Blackhorse • Working's for suckers • Wish I knew!

Best LOCAL SLANG

"WhadDAyat?" runner up: "Best kind."

SOME Other answers: "Half dece times two, sure dat's full dece!” • “F**k Ye” • Referring to ones vagina as a “Mitt” • Recent increased use of "yis" and "yus" instead of plain ol' "yes" • "Wash yer hat?" • “Deadly” • “Y'on?” • “Missis... I got clean sheets!” • “You're burnt b'y!” • “Lufs it I does” • “Don’t spose ya don’t know no one that don’t want nuttin done?” • “G'won” • “Where ya to?” • “Y'knows how the b'ys gets on” • “Face on her like a boiled boot!”

• “Some arse on dat!” • “Up to, Ladies?” • “Savage for it” • “Yat? Ting!” • Using cheque-day as an adjective • "She's gummed up tight" • “Go wan by'” • "I don't care who ya are, right, ya can't go burying dolphins on public beaches." • Go home, your mother got buns” • Overheard at Tim's: "Of course I want my muffin to 'eat it!

I wouldn't have h'ordered it if I didn't!"

JANUARY 2011

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Save This Building

Oxfam

THE FORMER CBC Building / Pippy Park CAPITOL theatre ­ runner up: Bowring Park

382 Duckworth Street, 753-2202 runner up: Heavenly Creatures SOME Other answers: The puffin savers in Witless Bay • They're all good... anyone making a difference over a dollar is all right by me • The one with the least amount of hipsters

Best Local Hero (Female or Male)

Danny Williams runner up: Allan Hawco SOME Other answers: Jiffy Cab Man • The Moon Man (RIP) • Me • The kid who wouldn't shake Harper's hand • The by’z at Newfoundland Power for getting our power back up after Igor ripped the arse outta the rock • Wayne Skinner. He saves the world one can or bottle at a time! • Captain Newfoundland • My mom! She buys me plane tickets so I can come back from the Mainland.

Best Volunteer Opportunity

THE NL Folk Festival www.nlfolk.com/folkfestival.html

runner up: The 24 Hour Art Marathon SOME Other answers: Shoveling a neighbour's driveway • One of the hundred films getting made on a wing and a prayer • Work...

Get a job!

Best Hair on a Local Personality

Danny Williams runner up: Fred Hutton SOME Other answers: Donnie Dunphy's mullet • That rasta guy who walks around barefoot • Debbie Cooper because it's so consistent! She wore it back in clips one night and I almost passed out.

Best Place To Speak Your Mind

Rant Farm www.thescope.ca/rant

runner up: Open Line with Randy Simms SOME Other answers: My kitchen • The bus. You have a captive audience who are stuck with your opinions until they disembark • Anywhere with a megaphone • In the checkout lane • Not behind an alias on CBC's newspage • Confessional at The Basilica • In the shower • The two blocks between my place and the grocery store • At the top of Cabot Tower with a good wind blowing.

Best Place to Meet People

Best Place for Sliding

Duckworth Street

runner up: Star of the Sea Hall on Henry Street SOME Other answers: The Duck Hut at Long Pond • The Old School House in Quidi Vidi... Oops, it's gone! WTF? • The old Darkroom on Duckworth • The Four Sisters • Fort Amherst

SOME Other answers: Behind The Dance Centre • The road above the Irving tanks on South Side Hills • Every bit of sidewalk after rain turns the snow to slippery, sloppy, slush. PLOW THE SIDEWALKS! • The Boulevard graveyard • This fella don't slide • Down Prescott Street after a blizzard • Holloway street in a car.

Tear This Building Down

Best Place to Walk Dogs

THE FORMER ­NewfoundLAND Quidi Vidi trail ­Telephone buildinG runner up: Bowring Park Duckworth Street

runner up: The old Woolworth building on Harbour Drive SOME Other answers: The Penitentiary • The supposed 'Heritage sites' that are run down • Any boring office towers • Confederation Building • Signal Hill subdivision

Best Romantic Hideaway (Besides Your Home)

Signal Hill

hall of

fame 3x winn

er

runner up: Leaside Manor SOME Other answers: Black sand beach on Bell Island • MakeOut Point in the Quidi Vidi gut • In the trains at the museum downtown. Smoochy choo choo... • In the closet • DFO White Hills • The theatre in the GeoCentre. • Tree circle • A downtown alley during a blizzard • Beaver pond

Best Cure for the Winter Blues

BOOZE (!?) runner up: A plane ticket out of here SOME Other answers: The ukulele • Homebrew • Drinking good wine with good friends, while sitting in front of a burning fireplace • Blackhorse and dancing • breakfast for supper • Go outside when you come inside, life seems eaiser again • Bright flowers, red lipstick, homemade mojitos. • Snowboarding in Victoria Park • RPM Challenge • Hot toddy • A warm body • Turning up the heat and having a bikini party with pina colada's!

runner up: George Street SOME Other answers: I wish I knew • Da mall • Definitely on a long train ride so we're out of luck around here • Elevators • New people? A kitchen party. Old people? A kitchen party • You never know where you're going to meet the best people • Sobeys the day before a storm • During a hurricane — I met three new friends during Igor • At the butcher's • Vagina Monologues • Cucumber/ zucchini section of the grocery store. Makes for interesting conversations • Online. It's the new way to go!... Two clicks and you're married.

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Best Neighbourhood Pet

Tuffy the cat At the Georgetown Pub

runner up: Too close to call.

SOME Other answers: Mr. Stevie Jingles! He used to be an alley cat. • The White Pisser • Winky, the one-eyed Wonderpuss. People come from far away to see him and his magical eye! • Poopy Pants • Whitey-Beige, the friendly cat with the 10-second meow • Chico. I hope someone found him • Houdini the dog. The only way this dog isn't fat is because he walks to get his food • Charlie, the wandering feline who just walks in and occasionally attacks you • That busker's Newfoundland dog • The neigbour's tiny rat dog that never leaves its purse. Yuck. • Tara the Graylag Goose at Quidi Vidi Lake • Runner, the dog who runs after everything.

Sadly, Runner was run over. • Mr Rogers on a leash. Though I do hate when people put sweaters on their pets • Poppit 20 years old • The Hitler cat from Pawlins Cross • Crows in the garbage. Nan always fed the crows, even though they pick apart the garbage. • The fake mangy-looking cat outside the Fish Shop.

Best Summer Destination

What one change would make the St. John’s metro a better place to live?

Gros Morne ­National Park

Better bus service

runner up: Middle Cove Beach SOME Other answers: Eastport • St. Pierre and Miquelon—wine, food, and the French! • Northern Bay Sands • Malady Head • Anywhere past the overpass • Sunshine Camp • Bottom of the ocean • Why don't more places have patios?

runner up: Better sidewalk snow plowing SOME Other answers: Less cocaine • A car sharing program • A waterfront that faces the water • A Taco Bell • A northward shift in the Gulf Stream • Skyrail • Bike/bus/asshole lanes • A cool indie movie theatre to play cult classics • A white wizard who would make the fog go away • Turning Mile One into affordable housing.

The Deck ­ Holdsworth Court

SOME Other answers: Manuels River • Behind my house where they run free • Not in front of my house. I love dogs, not dog shit.

• Downtown. That's how you meet your Newfoundland lover • Behind the church on Aldershot Street where dogs meet other dogs and can be free • I am afraid of dogs • Anywhere, please just pick up your poop, you filthy dog owners • Behind the abandoned nurse's residence off Lemarchant Road. Lots of sticks.

Best Winter Destination

Marble Mountain www.skimarble.com

runner up: Bowring Park SOME Other answers: Any cabin in the middle of the woods • White Hills — wonderfully white and wicked for snowshoes. • Depression • The bottom of your closet.

ILLUSTRATION: ELLING LIEN

Best Nonprofit/Activist Group

BEST THING YOU HOPE WILL HAPPEN THIS YEAR

CURBSIDE RECYCLING WILL SUCCEED Have you seen those searingly green recycling trucks? Curbside recycling finally arrived in the City of Legends, and its success was your Best Thing You Hope Will Happen This Year.

The Curb It program got started in October of this year, after over two years of delays, groans and moans. As might be expected from a huge, city-wide initiative, problems arose.

The program took a lot of flack for not accepting glass and for insisting on the exclusive use of non-biodegradable blue bags to contain your recyclables. In its defense, they city says that the market for glass is too lousy to support the cost of shipping it off the island, and that bio-degradable bags aren’t recyclable.

But the snag that left the city scratching their heads arose from renegade recyclers: people ripping bags open to harvest the stuff that could be traded in for cash.

“We put a process in place so that any time we identified anybody stealing bags from the curbs, which we have on several occasions, we refer that to the legal department, and they issue a stern warning,” says Paul Mackey, Director of Public Works for the City of St. John’s. “We haven’t had any repeats, so it seems to have been successful.”

All in all, he thinks you’ll get your wish— recycling is here to stay. “Overall, we’re very pleased with the way it’s going,” he says.

“We’re at about 50 per cent participation, which is quite good for a new program, and we’re continually working on improving that.”

SARAH SMELLIE

full tilt

Henry Bell Developments Proposal between Henry Street & Duckworth Street. Image courtesy the City of St. John's.

NEVER BE BORING

The former CBC Building won Save This Building. But how should we save it?

T

Benefit Society’, a Irish fraternity promoting he Pet Shop Boys write from the abstinence from drinking. It changed hands perspective of youth in the 1920’s in the 1940s to become the site of the old in one of my favorite songs "Being Capitol Movie Theatre, then in the 1970s it Boring" from 1990: "We were became the headquarters of CBC Radio. never being boring / We had As of 2007, it has been vacant. too much time to find for ourselves /...

The building is now destined to And we were never holding back / Worbecome the latest condominium ried that time would come to an end." st. john'sOF downtown, and renovations are In the post-war times of the 20s and underway. Deputy Mayor Shannie Duff 30s people embraced life and enjoyed has expressed approval with the proposal themselves as much as they possibly put forward by the Hardman Development could. This is the spirit that characterized Group from Halifax, which is expected to the time in which the Art Deco movement in hold about 90 units in total. They propose to architecture emerged. Glamour! Spectacle! renovate the existing building into condominiIndulgence! Not being boring! ums and in the adjacent lot, build five further A very powerful source of inspiration for levels of condominiums on top of five levels many Art Deco designers were the technologiof parking. Plans are supposedly in the works cal advances of the time. The promise of techfor the old Newfoundland Telephone building nology and progress lead to dynamic building across the street too, but those have yet to be forms. Buildings were made to look like futurmade public. istic, high-speed machines with aerodynamic Based on the proposal, it looks like the form. Swooping offset lines were used to suggest movement, facade of the old building will be preserved, which is good. My concern would be the towers soared to new heights, adjacent building. While it is very important sunset pastels contrasted with to have more parking available downtown, it electrifying colours.

TARYN is also important to make sure that our streets

The iconic SHEPPARD are desirable to walk through. Walking past a taryn@thescope.ca examples of Art Deco parking garage for half a block is not adding architecture are the anything to anyone's experience of DuckChrysler Building and the Empire State Buildworth Street. In addition, the residential block ing in New York City. Miami Beach, Florida placed on top of the parking garage looks a is also notable for its Art Deco hotels, houses lot like a rural highway motel—clapboarded and businesses which have been restored and white trimmed. It has a sort of ‘budget to their original look. I don’t suppose many vacation’ kind of feeling about it. Overall, people would think of St. John’s as a place the combination of parking-monolith-andwhere one could find Art Deco, but, in fact, suburban-block seems pretty much like the we have a few really nice examples of it here: architectural equivalent of the KFC ‘Double The recently renovated Baird Building—formerly Wordplay—on Duckworth Street (www. Down’ to me.

It makes me wonder what happened to goo.gl/B8Dxd), Smith Stockley Industrial the spirit in which the CBC building was Supplies (www.goo.gl/Zt3TR) and its neighdesigned. That building belongs in a city— bour, the Provincial Government building at a city that has nightlife and culture and is 280 Lemarchant Road (www.goo.gl/PIUkr), vibrant—while this project is fantastic for among others. downtown in many ways, and is exactly the Then there’s the old CBC Radio building kind of infill project that will help revitalize on Duckworth Street (www.goo.gl/zxQVY), the downtown, but we still have to have high which won the “Save this Building” category standards and push developers to build things in The Scope’s Best Of St. John's Readers' that reflect the real life of the city. The city Survey this year. we want to have.

This building is St. John’s’s largest art-deco building and was erected in the 1930s at the height of the movement. It was originally Comment on this article online at thescope.ca built as ‘The Hall of the Total Abstinence and

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PHOTOS: MARK BENNETT

W

The fabulous folks of Sound Salon + Spa—winners of both Best Hair Salon (Female) and Best Place To Get A Bikini Wax for 2010.

SHOPS & SERVICES Best New Shopping Experience

BEST Yoga Studio

BEST Place To Get A Bikini Wax

American Apparel

Nova Yoga

Sound Salon + SPA

runner up: Gingersnap SOME Other answers: Mary Jane’s Smoke Shop • The Boobie Trap • G2 Shoes in Churchill Square • That travelling vintage thrift shop • Sally's Beauty Supply • Ordinary Spokes. • Shopping for divorce lawyers

runner up: Shakti Yoga SOME Other answers: Lotus Centre • Your mom’s bedroom • I’m lazy.

Best Farmers' Market Vendor OR Farm Stand

DR. JEFF MARSHALL

runner up: Spa at the Monastary SOME Other answers: Home with your lover • Mom • My buddy Kent will rip your pubes out for only $5! • Nanner’s House • Nowhere. Keep it hairy! • Ewww... But keep it up ladies! • Brazil • My Polish aunt makes a wax concoction homemade... who says you can't eat perogi and get a trim at the same time? • Anywhere but your bikini area, I am assuming.

THE Waffle Lady

runner up: Dr. Marivi Lacuesta SOME Other answers: Too poor to afford one • Can’t go to one my back hurts too much • My buddy Kent will crack your back for a nickel.

Avalon Mall, 738-7022

runner up: Zainab's Multi-Ethnic Food SOME Other answers: Leisha Sagan’s tarts • The Indian couple with the amazing samosas • That Italian guy with tiramisu • Seed to Spoon • Dip Chick and Souper Girl • Oliver’s Farm—Truck meat is the best meat! • Whatever that place in the Goulds is. They sell a mean loaf of bread.

125 Long’s Hill, 743-8303

BEST Chiropractor Bidgood's Plaza, Goulds, 747-0844

BEST Massage Therapist

Darrell Dye

301 Water Street, 738-6642

Best Free Service

The Scope Hey, thanks!

runner up: Curbside recycling SOME Other answers: Bounce sheets at Mighty Whites • Free public pools • The free samples at Costco • Tea samples at Britannia Teas • Get you bike tires filled at Canary Cycles.

Dynamis Health Center, 95 Torbay Road, 728-7069

Best Sign

Strictly Adult Video 462 Topsail Road, 368-1003

runner up: St. Augustine’s Church SOME Other answers: Scorpio • Torpedos by Capital Video • "Sorry... We are closed. If you require Pickled Wieners they are available at Jackman & Greene across the street" • "Do Not Feed the Seagulls They are Aggressive to Children" • "Raised Manholes" • Hill o Chips • "Slow Children At Play" • "Wharp" (wharf) "Speed 20" • "Park anywhere you want, for as long as you want."

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runner up: Jessica Parsons (Nova Therapy) SOME Other answers: "Candy" • My buddy Kent will rub you down for just a loonie.

Best Convenience Store

Halliday’s Meat Market 103 Gower Street, 753-8332

runner up: Stockwood’s Bakery & Delicatessen SOME Other answers: Flower Hill Grocery - Get ID'd when buying beer and they'll give you your family history! • Leonard's Convenience — Biggest bag of penny candy ever • Marie's for fresh touton dough • The gals there are golden at Hamilton Convenience. And it always smells like bacon • City Superette has good cold plates • Philly's has their candy in a candy house • Halliday's knows just how to slice my frying bologna on hangover mornings

here else but this survey would you find a church and a porn store battling it out for the Best Sign? But with zingers like "Hairy Peter and the Sorceror's Bone", Strictly Adult Video did manage to get a leg up (and over) St. Augustine’s Church, but it was a close call.

For races of another kind, you recommend Ballistic as the Best Place To Buy Sneakers, and Nova Yoga as the Best Yoga Studio for post-run stretches. Got that noted? Good. Because you’ll need a solid combination of both running and yoga to ward off the jiggles that come with feasting at the table of the Waffle Lady, Emily Hunt, your hands-down choice for Best Farmers’ Market Vendor.

Speaking of looking good, Model Citizens is your Best Clothing Store both both women and men, and your Best Place to Buy Jeans is Bluenotes. The Best Place for a Haircut (Female) and a Bikini Wax is the mighty Sound Salon, and the best place for men to get coiffed is The Duckworth Street Barber Shop.

American Apparel, the empire of jersey knit and ads that occasionally make Hairy Peter blush, won the nod for Best New Shopping Experience.

Darrell Dye is the Best Massage Therapist and Jeff Marshall took the Best Chiropractor crown, and once you’re all kneaded and adjusted, you like to go for a stroll downtown and gaze at Johnny Ruth, who won for Best Window Display.

Your hard-earned five- and twenty-dollar bills are best spent at Dollarama and Fred’s Records, who also took the Best Service (non restaurant) category, and when you’ve run out of cash, you pick up this fine paper, winner of Best Free Service. Aw, shucks.

Best Realtor Trevor Sullivan and Best Wedding Photographer Nate Gates worked very hard for you this year, but it seems nobody worked harder than Danny Williams, whose victory for Hardest Working Local was almost as staggering as his polling numbers.

SARAH SMELLIE

Best Clothing Store (Women)

Best Hair Salon (Female)

Best Realtor

Best Window Display

Model Citizens

Sound Salon + SPA

Trevor Sullivan

Johnny Ruth

runner up: Twisted Sisters Boutik SOME Other answers: Tha Maaaaaaall • Friends’ houses • Swaps

runner up: Hair Factory – Churchill Square SOME Other answers: My Bathroom • Betty's Doin' Do's - It's just Betty and it's out of her house in Mt. Pearl and she is wicked.

Her two dogs hang out and are adorable, and sometimes there's wine! • My buddy Kent will cut a lady's hair if he can keep the trimmings.

runner up: Harry Stone (Sutton) SOME Other answers: That sexy young Brad guy who always goes to Starbucks • That guy with his name on all the signs • Ken... someone...

runner up: Gingersnap SOME Other answers: The Doghouse—Puppies playing? Awesome • Keith goes ALL out at the Forest Road Convenience seasonal displays • The apartment window on top of Longs Hill • That sheet metal store with the tin man • The barbers on Duckworth when they go fishing.

Best Place for a Haircut (Male)

Danny Williams

Family Barber Shop

runner up: Sheilagh O’Leary SOME Other answers: Hardest working local what? • The guy who does all the postering • The bus driver who looks like Neil Young • The dancing flagman • Wayne the glass recycling dude— No kidding, this guy is a legend all over Rabbittown and Georgetown, he works 24/7 all year round.

183 Duckworth Street, 722-2777

Best Clothing Store (men)

Model Citizens 183 Duckworth Street, 722-2777

runner up: Ballistic SOME Other answers: Anywhere that doesn't have John Deer, tapout, or lame-assed graphic tees. • It doesn't exist • Walmart?

Best Place to Buy Jeans

Bluenotes

301 Water Street, 738-6642

Hanlon Sullivan Real Estate, 753-1999

204 Duckworth Street, no phone.

runner up: Sound Salon + Spa SOME Other answers: Living room when loaded • I shave my own head. It saves me $40 a year! • Bzzzzzrrrrroowww haircut done! • The Tom Waits place on Casey Street • Never cut your hair.

Hardest Working Local

166 Water Street, 722-7477

Avalon Mall, 753-0551

runner up: American Eagle Outfitters SOME Other answers: At a second hand store so they’re worn in and comfy good • Make your own • Bootlegger—they won't let you leave until your ass is slammin’

Best Place to Buy Sneakers

Ballistic Skate & Snow 181 Water Street, 726-2665

runner up: Sport Chek SOME Other answers: Florida. It's hard to find size 16 and up around here. • Anywheres. Shoes are shoes. • Ronnie always got the newest kicks at the best prices—just don't ask questions • The Babylon Mall

Best Service (Non restaurant)

Fred’s Records 198 Duckworth Street, 753-9191

runner up: Tval Skincare SOME Other answers: I can't remember his name... • Church Hill

Best Place to Spend $20

Fred’s Records 198 Duckworth Street, 753-9191

runner up: Empire Theatres SOME Other answers: Yard sale-in’ • At Previously Loved you can come out with a stole, lace gloves, and a handbag for that!

Best Place to Spend $5

DOLLARAMA

Village Mall and Avalon Mall parking lot runner up: Hava Java SOME Other answers: Driving Range next to Marine Institute • Classic Movie Mondays at Mount Pearl Square.

Best Wedding Photographer

Nate Gates Photography www.nategates.com

PHOTO BY MARK BENNETT

runner up: Sandra-Lee Photography

Model Citizens was winner of both Best Clothing Store (Men) and Best Clothing Store (Women) for 2010.

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PHOTO BY KEVIN COFFEE

LYNN PANTING

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Best stand at the Farmers' Market

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DYNAMIS HEALTH CENTER 95 TORBAY RD, ST. JOHN’S, NL (709) 728–7069 ddyermt@yahoo.ca

THE WAFFLE LADY

Scope readers voted Emily Hunt (often referred to in the polls as “The Waffle Lady”) the winner of “Best Stand at the Farmer's Market.” We caught up with Emily to waffle about waffles.

How did you get into making waffles for the hungry Saturday morning masses?

The thought was that a breakfast table would be nice at the St. John’s Farmer's Market and it just grew from there. I started with one waffle iron and st. john'sOF now I have six. People would come up and say, “Can I have two waffles,” but they take five minutes to cook. So quickly I had to up my irons. The second market, I had two waffle irons. Shortly after that, I went to four, and now I have six. I had no idea it would take off like it has. It's amazing. I thought I'd do this once a month starting out, but now I'm at the market just about every week, for the past three years.

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Where did you get the recipe?

My mom used to make us waffles growing up. I've always grown up eating them for breakfast.

So now I use that same recipe, modified a little bit. My mother said that before the internet, back in B.C., you could phone the newspaper and ask for a recipe. You could call in and say, “Can I have a recipe for this or that,” and they would give you the recipe over the phone. That's where she told me she got it from. It's kind of strange. I guess there was this recipe hotline and she called it.

And I hear you have a little assistant?

Yes, she's the best, most patient baby, I can't believe it. I put her in a baby wrap and she will sleep on me, sometimes for the whole market. It helps that she's an easygoing baby. The other kids are almost four and seven, so they're fine playing on their own. I also got a lot of help this year from my assistant, Katie Jordan. The previous two years I'd do it all myself. I would be taking people's money, making the waffles, mixing the batter. It was crazy at times. I would have nightmares honestly about the waffle stand. But since Katie's been there I don't stress about it.

What is it about your waffles that make them so good?

I mix it all fresh. The way that I do it, there's never any waste because I just mix up what I need. If there's anything left over, it's milk and eggs which I can use during the week. It is a lot more work to mix it as you go but it's worth it. I've got real butter, real maple syrup, real whipped cream. I make the toppings the night before: blueberry, strawberry, applesauce. I think the key to this is fresh, simple, real ingredients.

Is there some kind of trick or special technique to it?

Well, with the machines that I use, there's a light that turns off when they're ready [laughs].

But there are ways you can tell when they're done like when they stop steaming. The trick is pouring the right amount on the iron. Sometimes you think you need more than you do, but then it spills out the side. It always expands. And when I take them out, I always flip them over because they look better on the bottom.

Are you sick of waffles?

Well we don't eat them at home anymore.

When you do, how do you like them?

I like blueberries, whipped cream, and a bit of maple syrup.

INTERVIEW BY RYAN DAVIS

diy

rpm challenge 2011 your chance to recognize some of the

people, places & things that make the St. John’s Metro area great.

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10 songs or 35 minutes.

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thescope JANUARY 2011

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PHOTO BY Darrell Edwards

BEST ALBUM ART

MattHEW Hornell & The Diamond Minds - ST Designed by Mark Bennett

We contacted Mark to ask for the story behind the cover...

"Matthew approached me and was really into the idea of something organic and tones of brown. He had a general idea of the feel of what he wanted his first record to look like but he was so open to letting me do whatever I wanted, which was pretty amazing. That's a lot of trust for someone to put in for their first release and the guys are so talented so I knew it was going to be a really fun project from the start.

"It was in the fall so I was really inspired by darker imagery, which is why it came out like it did. I was st. john'sOF also just getting into stop animation and had seen a few shorts that gave me the mood for the shots. Matthew also sent me a song from the album which helped let me know what I was trying to represent visually.

"The tree itself is made out of masking tape and newspaper which I was experimenting with a few years back when I was living in Toronto. I wanted a mix of photos and something handmade so that technique was in the back of my head. A portion of my original sculpture sample got worked into this tree so you could say this cover was four years in the making. Ha!"

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highway. Keep these in your car. You also never know when you might want to set up a mini obstacle course for your mini dog.

BEST PLACE TO SPEND $5

DOLLARAMA

Banana Box My favorite part of this banana holder is the talking banana on the front of the package saying “keep me safe and fresh!” I get the fresh part—nobody likes a brown banana— Spiderman Pre-Brush Rinse but I’m a little thrown off by the “safe” part.

It has super hero plaque protection that finds Ah, I’m not sure if and destroys plaque! When you rinse with you looked at it, plaque shows up in a different color, yourself in the making it easier mirror lately, to find with Mr. Banana, your toothOF st. john's but you’re brush. But why a banana, would someone and does it really matter if we keep want their plaque you safe. And safe from what? Animals who to turn blue and draw more attention to it? might eat you, like humans? You’re a damn Especially if you’re brushing your teeth with banana! You’re supposed to be eaten! You’re someone you just met, say. Like, just an exbasically never going to be safe! Ever! Banana ample, if you bring your Spiderman Pre-Brush holder or not!

Rinse to the office, and then your co-worker sees your glowing blue plaque and you beAdult Poncho come the laughing stock of the company! Best What makes this item so awesome is the guy used at home, alone. on the package. I’m wondering if he’s an actual model or just some Jesus Candles dude who was just up Light one before you for modeling the adult pray and your prayers poncho. “Hey man, a will definitely be friend of mine does answered. I think a marketing for Adult prayer is worth $1.25 Ponchos and we’re at least. looking for an average joe-type of guy to be the model, do you want to wear a poncho for Mini pylons us?” “Haha, sure, that’ll be a laugh. I’ll be Of course you never Dollarama famous!” know when you might AMY JOY get a flat tire on the You can find anything at Dollarama, and I mean anything. Like these five items...

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JANUARY 2011

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ARTS & MEDIA T

A GOOD YARN St. John’s fun, friendly yarn shop!

EWE will love our beautiful yarns & fibers.

Looking for some new year inspiration? Lots of new patterns in stock!

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4 Bates Hill 738-0556 www.agoodyarn.ca

CL ASSES STARTING SOON

his year, we must praise the Mothercorp, the CBC, which st. john'sOF has received the glut of this year's arts and media awards. Let this year be known as the year of the Ceeb.

Whenever art is being made in St. John's, Angela Antle is there within moments to swoop down like some kind of Art Patron Batman. Since that wasn't a recognized category here, she has instead earned the Best Supporter Of The Arts award. Antle, the host of both Sprocket and the Weekend Arts Magazine and an accomplished visual artist, has made a career of inviting artists of all types, whether famed or undiscovered, to discuss their work.

Over at CBC Radio Two, a rush of votes have once again given the Scopie for Best Local Radio Program to Deep Roots with Tom Power.

Moving into morning radio fare, the CBC wins again. CBC Radio One's St. John's Morning Show is the Best Reason To Turn On Your Radio In The A.M. with likable hosting and pleasant chatter about what's going on in the city.

Over on the internets, www.cbc.ca/nl was the winner for Best Local News Website.

Jointly winning for Best Twitterer and Best Local TV Personality is Ryan Snoddon. As heir to Karl Wells' throne as Newfoundland's most beloved weatherman, “Snod The Bod” may possess the only Twitter feed followed by your Nan. For television, let's take a moment to remember Jake's punches in the face, Des' ugly sweaters, Rose's amazing hairdos, and Malachy's craggy face. Yes, Republic of Doyle is a hit at the Ceeb and has won for Best Local TV Program.

With plenty of television, theatre and film experience, one could argue that Republic Of Doyle's Mark O'Brien is not up-and-coming, but is already up and at it. Nonetheless, he is the people's choice for Best Up-And-Coming Performer. We await the charismatic and charming actor waltzes into our TV sets and our hearts with Doyle's new season.

As one of the founding members of the Dance Party of Newfoundland, Jonny Harris has already earned a lifetime pass to many of us and his need to entertain us has earned him the award for Best Local Comedian.

With a cast featuring aforementioned winners like O'Brien and Harris, as well as Andy Jones and Sundance favourite, Tatiana Maslany, Adriana Maggs' Grown Up Movie Star was sure to catch the viewers' attention and earned the award for Best New Local

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Film.

As part of the 24 Hour Art Marathon last year, Heidi Wagner brought blankets to those that needed them most: trees. Using a variety of fabrics and found material, the trees of Bannerman were given a splash of colour this Summer and nabbing the 2010 prize for Best Outdoor Art in the process.

Winning this year's Best Gallery Show is Edward Burtynsky's Oil, an award-winning collection of photographs detailing the production and use of oil fuel, showcased at The Rooms.

Winning again for Best Visual Artist is Gerald Squires, a tireless artist who has been given the Order of Canada and other accolades for his great body of work.

They say print is dead, but us Luddites disagree, which is why we have the Best New

Book category. This year's winner? Blood Relatives by Craig Francis Power. A visual artist and art critic, Power knows how to tell a story and imbue it with personality.

Finally, since 2008, Signalblog.ca's mix of short pieces about arts, life in St. John's, occasional cartoons and its live-blogging of the 24 HAM, Nickle and Women's Film Festivals have made it a hit and winner of Best Blog two years running.

The script for AfterImage may have recently won a Governor General's Literary Award, but sources say Artistic Fraud Theatre Company is just as happy to win Best Theatre Performance of 2010. That's unconfirmed though.

i could

really go for a sandwich

right now

Adam Clarke

ELLIE'S CHICKEN COOP

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fresh free-range brown eggs!

2pm-4pm every second sunday jan 16 • jan 30 • feb 13 old dominion parking lot at newfoundland dr/torbay rd call 437-2659 or email mad648@hotmail.com for more information

JANUARY 2011

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BEST UP-AND-COMING PERFORMER

Mark O'Brien

P

erhaps best known to audiences for his role as Des in Republic Of Doyle, local actor Mark O'Brien has already had a varied career. With O'Brien earning a Scopie award for Best Up-And-Coming Performer and two of his recent acting gigs earning Scopie nods — Republic Of Doyle for Best Local TV Show and Grown Up Movie Star for Best Local Film — I asked O'Brien about the various roles he's had, his Kids CBC days, his thoughts on acting and whether or not Doyle's Des has an I.Q. greater than that of a wet sock.

You're It! (2006) TV Series Host/Various Let's start with You're It!...

No one has ever asked me a question about You're It! When I was doing Kids CBC, there were five hosts across Canada and I was [the host] for the Atlantic region and we would appear in what they called interstitials, which were little sketches or bits between programs or commercials.

You appeared in the interstitials prepared specifically for Atlantic Canada and the success of these segments across Canada lead to a spin-off show?

You're It! came out of those. It was a halfhour show with the five hosts that came on at seven o'clock in the morning or something.

The show was basically a pre-school version of a sketch comedy show, so I don't know how funny it was.

Brad (2010) SHORT FILM Character: Brad Tell me about this short film...

It was one of my favourite acting experiences.

It was really funny, and it's a role that I'm very proud of. Brad's more of a "grown up" role. There was more maturity in the character than other things I've done. It was very well-written in that everything was just under the surface. It was great playing that and thinking about it.

Grown Up Movie Star (2006) FILM Character: WILL How do you find playing a character who's far younger than you are, like Will?

I was playing a 16 year old and I was 24 at the time. I didn't have to think about how to play it so much because it was written well.

It was written for a 16 year old, but he felt older. Not as an age thing, but as an experience thing. So, when it's written well enough, I think that age translates on the page.

How do you find what you're going to portray when you read a script?

For me, I need to get a script, read it a few times and put it down so I can let it all sink in. I think it's important that you should know your role and what that role is in the production. But a lot of it comes from...well, I read a lot and I go to the movies and I see my friends. I think that the more your life is stimulated, the more you can put into it.

Republic Of Doyle (2010-) TV Character: DES It looked like Rose and Des had become its breakout characters in the show. In Des' case, he near-instantly transformed into the show's comic relief and resident idiot. When did you and the show's creators decide on giving your character less brainpower and cunning than the average mollusc?

I don't think he's stupid, just different... socially. He's too busy thinking about things that no one else would be thinking about and focuses on some very strange things. When we first started filming, we were trying to find out what Des was going to be.

Given the character's popularity, will Des' role in the upcoming season be expanded?

He has much more of a prominent role and he figures into the cases a lot more, becoming closer to the family in the process.

QUESTIONS BY ADAM CLARKE

THE SCOPE’S 2010

best st. john's OF GUIDE TO READER'S PICKS

Lost Sea: an Englishman in Newfoundland • The Sir Robert Bond Papers • Million Dollar Journey • The Scope - You guys are a blog, right?

Best Twitterer Best Gallery Show of 2010

Edward Burtynsky – Oil

The Rooms Provincial Art Gallery, May 7 - August 15, 2010 runner up: 24 Hour Art Marathon (Eastern Edge Gallery) SOME Other answers: A1C Gallery Scott Rogers Wireframe — It was like walking into Tron

Ryan Snoddon twitter.com/ryansnoddon

runner up: The Scope (twitter.com/thescopeNL) SOME Other answers: Hey Rosetta! • Dave Monroe • BigRig709 • What's a Twitterer? • Ha! Someone around here uses Twitter?

Really? Do they have a MySpace account too? Are they still on Friendster? • Rev. Love.

Best Visual Artist

Best Reason to Turn on Your Radio in the A.M.

Gerald Squires

St. John's Morning Show

runner up: Grant Boland SOME Other answers: The blind guy • Whoever made the dog statues.

Best Theatre Performance of 2010

AfterImage

Artistic Fraud of Newfoundland runner up: Hairspray (Peter Macdonald Productions) SOME Other answers: Were you watching me? • Hedwig!! Who knew Brad Hodder could make me feel that way?

Best Up-And-Coming Performer

CBC Radio One—640AM

runner up: Deep Roots with Tom Power SOME Other answers: Snow Closing Report • The ridiculousness of radio banter • To be sure you are ALIVE. • To hear music rather than that stupid alarm noise... • To drown out the noise of the next door neighbour’s dog

Best Local Radio Program

Deep Roots with Tom Power CBC Radio Two—106.9FM

runner up: CBC St. John's Morning Show SOME Other answers: The Japanese Arts and Culture Show on CHMR • The Saturday Evening Pre-Bender Radio Show with Luke Biles.

Mark O’Brien runner up: Meghan Greeley SOME Other answers: Me • Allan Hawco • This question is disturbing

Best Local TV Program

Republic of Doyle CBC-TV

Best New Book

Blood Relatives

runner up: Out of the Fog (Rogers TV) SOME Other answers: The crazy NTV shows when everybody's asleep • Newfoundland Sportsman. It's a hoot.

By Craig Francis Power

runner up: Come Thou, Tortoise by Jessica Grant SOME Other answers: T.V. Guide. • The Book of Awesome

Best Local Comedian

Jonny Harris runner up: Andy Jones SOME Other answers: My friends • Shaun Iforgethislastname • You know, that funny guy.

Best New Local Film

Grown Up Movie Star Written and directed by Adriana Maggs

runner up: Swallowed — Stephen Dunn SOME Other answers: The one with Zombie Aliens in Mount Pearl • My Paris Hilton remake • jhawk23

Best Local News Website

cbc.ca/nl runner up: vocm.com SOME Other answers: theweathernetwork.com

Best Local TV Personality

Ryan Snoddon CBC-TV's Here and Now

runner up: Allan Hawco SOME Other answers: The hot weatherman • Ryan Schnodder • Snodden • Ryan Snoddin • The snods! • Jake Doyle • Still Gordon Pinsent

Best Supporter of the Arts

Angela Antle

CBC Radio One Weekend Arts Magazine runner up: Kevin Kelly SOME Other answers: Newfoundlandland government. • I don't know art

Best Outdoor Art

Tree cozies IN BANNERMAN

By Heidi Wagner

runner up: Shea Heights Mural SOME Other answers: Yarn Bombing • Vomit on George Street • The random owls placed about the city • The xylophone thing on long pond trail • "Agitate. Educate. Organize." • "Make yourself scarce”.

Best Local Blog

Signalblog signalblog.ca

runner up: Ryan Snoddon's weather blog SOME Other answers: Signal Hill Blog • 24 Hours to Midnight • Perfect Sunday • The World According To Kris • Tragic Hero • Old

JANUARY 2011

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THE SCOPE’S 2010

best st. john's OF GUIDE TO READER'S PICKS

Best Alternative Rock Act

Best Traditional Session

Pathological Lovers

Erin’s Pub on Fridays

runner up: Hey Rosetta!

SOME Other answers: Alternative in what sense? If you mean in the weird sense then Mopey Mumble Mouse. • No such thing

runner up: O’Reilly’s on Sundays SOME Other answers: Young Folk at the Hall • What does this question mean?

Best Folk Act

Best Drag Performer

MattHEW Hornell & The Diamond Minds

Doris Anita Douché

myspace.com/thepathologicallovers

186 Water Street, 722-1916

Best Party of the Year

MUSIC & NIGHTLIFE

George Street Mardi Gras runner up: George Street Festival SOME Other answers: Salmonier Idol • That time we hung out in our living room and listened to Skip Janes • Every day!

Best Live Show of 2010

Weezer at Mile One July 22

runner up: Hey Rosetta! at NL Folk Festival SOME Other answers: Matt Hornell tour kick off • Rich Aucoin at The Ship • Holy F**k! • Wintersleep at Club One • Metric at the Delta Ballroom • The killer whales hunting the minkes • Land of Talk and The Handsome Furs • The Junofest Arkells show • Chainsaw Chainsaw Chainsaw! • Bruce Springsteen Tribute Show • Owen Pallett at George Street United • Weezer... Everyone was in Grade 9 again!

Over the Top myspace.com/overthetop709

Best Band Name

Monsterbator myspace.com/monsterbatormusic

Best Metal Act

Best Band with the Worst Name

sHeavy

Monsterbator

runner up: Amelia Curran SOME Other answers: Way to many to pick just one. There is talent everywhere in this city!

runner up: Weapon SOME Other answers: Weapon. Nothing needs to be said about Weapon. They define metal. • Aglid. Fast, loud and utterly grim • Nuthouse. Two words: "Marijuana Iguana"

runner up: The Pre-Raphaelites SOME Other answers: Name any band and it likely received a vote or two. No one is safe.

Best Band

Best Hip Hop Act

Hey Rosetta!

Antics

runner up: Matthew Hornell & The Diamond Minds SOME Other answers: Pathological Lovers! Jody Richardson is the only man I'll ever love • Colonel Craze & The Hunch make me wanna drink until the sun comes up • Cafeteria because Craig Francis Power shakes his butt and channels Jagger.

runner up: Shiest SOME Other answers: The drunk dude from Georgestown singing “Sensual Seduction” • No such thing! • You're kidding right?

Newfoundland?

matthewhornell.com

heyrosetta.com

Band Most Likely to Make it Big

Hey Rosetta! heyrosetta.com

runner up: Matthew Hornell & The Diamond Minds SOME Other answers: Haha • Matthew Hornell—All the girls' hearts are a-flutter

Best New Band

Repartee

myspace.com/reparteemusic

sheavy.com

myspace.com/undergroundantics

Best DJ

Benjy

Chris Kirby & The Marquee chriskirbyonline.com

Repartee

Duane Andrews

runner up: Matthew Hornell & The Diamond Minds SOME Other answers: Mine • The New Zazoo is new, right?

runner up: Brad Jefford Trio SOME Other answers: Mary Barry • Pat Boyle • Bill Brennan • Curtis Andrews • By default the one jazz band we have?

runner up: Repartee SOME Other answers: I am like Phil Collins because I Can’t Dance • Still the Idlers! • ABBA

Best Straight Up Rock Act

The Novaks

Designed by Mark Bennett

runner up: Repartee - Lost Like We All Are (Alex Pierson) SOME Other answers: Anything Jud does • The Subtitles has some seriously good looking people on the cover

Best Music Photographer

Sandra Lee Elford sandraleephotography.net

Keith Vokey at Christian’s Pub

Best Jazz Act

idlers.ca

MattHEW Hornell & The Diamond Minds - ST

Best Blues Act

Best New Band

Idlers

Best Album Artwork

runner up: Mark Bennett SOME Other answers: Anyone with a camera • You?

runner up: Dennis Parker SOME Other answers: Peter f**king Narvaez! • I never knew there was Newfie blues

Best Band to Dance To

myspace.com/monsterbatormusic

runner up: NuRock SOME Other answers: Buddy playing Summer of 69 at bay weddings. • Paul Raynes of VOCM • iTunes—it's the main DJ for the clubs downtown

runner up: Matthew Hornell & The Diamond Minds SOME Other answers: Mine • The New Zazoo is new, right?

myspace.com/reparteemusic

JANUARY 2011

Best Punk Act

runner up: Repartee SOME Other answers: Real Funeral Time • An Orphans Inventory • Pucharist • Kick Gut • Box • Space Age Hitler & The Nazi Synthesizers • Angore

MattHEW Hornell

thescope

runner up: The Dardanelles SOME Other answers: One of the groups in the movie "A Mighty Wind"

runner up: Felicia Cox SOME Other answers: Suzie Q - I would... If I didn't know • Gotta be Big Tom when he dressed for that pageant • My Uncle Harold after having a few too many margaritas.

runner up: Class War Kids SOME Other answers: Kick Gut... Hilarious punk rock • There are no punk bands in St. John’s • Ew!

Best Musician

20

matthewhornell.com

duaneandrews.ca

Best Jazz Act

Duane Andrews duaneandrews.ca

runner up: Brad Jefford Trio SOME Other answers: Mary Barry • Pat Boyle • Havana to Canada • Darrell Cooper Acoustic Trio • Dogberries • Bill Brennan • Curtis Andrews • Heather Bambrick • By default the one jazz band we have!

thenovaks.ca

Best Country Act

runner up: Kujo SOME Other answers: What does straight up rock mean? • Bruce Springsteen. Who said it had to be local?

Joe Belly joebelly.ca

runner up: The 8 Track Favourites SOME Other answers: Hates country • Merle Haggard

Best Screech In

23 George Street, 753-9100

runner up: Trapper John’s Museum N’ Pub SOME Other answers: At Holdsworth Court... impromtu screech in with a tuna sub • The Royal Order of Screechers Newfoundland • Definitely when Michael Worthman screeched in Elliott Brood • Honestly, can we give it up? "Long may your big jib draw?" What the hell is that? • This is a ridiculous cultural stereotype.

Best Unusual Nightlife Experience

Bar None

164 Water Street, 579-2110 runner up: George Street SOME Other answers: The Downtown Ultramar. Just wait for a cab for more than five minutes and you'll see some amazing things • Impromptu dancing on George Street stage • The Burning Hell playing a song in the ladies bathroom at The Ship • All night restaurants, any of them • Finding and taking a 10 foot tree with me. Half the people want to fight you the other half want their picture taken with you. I just really wanted the tree, man • Breaking onto boats to do the dirty • Water-skiing by night • Bus crawl around the bay.

Pickup Bar (F Seeking M)

The Sundance George Street, 753-7822

runner up: The Ship SOME Other answers: This question is not inclusive to same sex interests and hence I neglect to answer it • I don't know. Tell me more.

MUSIC

HUMPHRY'S RESTAURANT & BAR WEDNESDAYS Hump Day Sliders THURSDAYS Wing Night FRIDAYS & HAPPY HOUR! SATURDAYS 4 – 7 pm, selected bar brands 2 for 1 SATURDAYS & Brunch starting at 11 SUNDAYS

The 2010 Atlantis Music Prize ends in a tie

GIF T C AVAIL AARDS BLE!

SUNDAYS Traditional Sunday Dinner at 1PM 177 – 179 NEW GOWER ST (RIGHT ACROSS FROM THE DELTA)

709.739.4867

Two bands have taken the big prize in Newfoundland and Labrador’s juried music prize. The Gramercy Riffs’ album It’s Heartbreak and Pathological Lovers’ album Calling All Favours both received the Atlantis Music Prize this year.

The Atlantis Music Prize, patterned on the Canada-wide Polaris Music Prize, is given annually to the best full-length album from Newfoundland and Labrador, judged solely on artistic merit, without regard to genre or record sales. 2010 is the third year the Atlantis Music Prize has been awarded.

An independent panel of more than 30 journalists, musicians, and people recognized for their knowledge and appreciation of local music submitted their top picks for the best album released between November 1, 2009 and October 31, 2010. The winning album was decided by a group of six selected jurors and announced to a packed gala show on Thursday, December 16th at The Rock House on George Street, in St. John’s. The two bands divided the $1000 cash prize.

ELLING LIEN

Gramercy Riffs – It’s Heartbreak www.gramercyriffs.com

Pathological Lovers – Calling All Favours www.myspace.com/thepathologicallovers

Though half of them now in live in Toronto and half of them live in Montreal, they are 100 per cent Newfoundland and Labrador, and they have managed to put together one of the most widely acclaimed local albums of the year. The heartbreak pop of their debut album It’s Heartbreak has been getting all kinds of love from fans and music critics, and they most recently beat Stars (Stars!) to land in eighth spot in Broken Speaker’s annual top ten albums of the year. Photo by Ben Bonnicci.

“The Lovers” are known for their intense, complex, melodically driven songs that make musicians nod and audiences dance. Jody Richardson is a Best of St. John’s hall of famer for Best Local Rock Star. Formed in 2006, they won this year’s MusicNL Alternative Group of The Year. Calling All Favours is their first full-length album. Photo by Jordan Canning.

i saw you Observations and missed connections in the St. John's area

thescope.ca/isawyou

Pickup Bar (M Seeking F)

The Sundance

Best Place to Drink Alone

runner up: Martini Bar SOME Other answers: Sundance or Konfusion—gotta be willing to dance though • The Martini Bar, because there’s a dress code

325 Duckworth Street, 739-6344

George Street, 753-7822

Best Nerd's Night Out

Barcade

Above CBTG's, Holdsworth Court runner up: Trivia at Rose & Thistle on Tuesdays SOME Other answers: Barcade: Awesome, awesome videogames, plus beer. What's not to love? • Futureshop • Panty raid on the girl’s dorm • Supper and a movie. Nerds are just regular people too • Sci-Fi on the Rock • Troll 2 double feature at Empire Theatres • Turtles in Time with your buddies • Rocky Horror Picture Show, hosted by the Geek Society • Very funny guys, nerds don't go out! • Berry picking • Trivia at the Rose = "hot nerd night" • I'm no nerd.

Duke of Duckworth runner up: Rose & Thistle SOME Other answers: Who drinks out alone? Depressing • Bannerman Park? • Your buddy’s house. You may as well rob his beer instead of paying for your own.

Best Bar to Inspire Conversation

Duke of Duckworth 325 Duckworth Street, 739-6344

runner up: The Ship SOME Other answers: One where the music is not loud. • Inn of Olde — Linda will be sure to hold a converstion

Considering ...Selling your home?

...Buying a new home? ...An investment property?

Call me for a free consultation.

Jason Kearsey

690-7673 email: jasonkearsey@goldstonerealestate.com WEB: www.goldstonerealestate.com

JANUARY 2011

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PHOTO BY Darrell Edwards

Best Place to Hear Live Music

The Ship

265 Duckworth Street St. John's, 753-3870 runner up: CBTGs SOME Other answers: CBTG's: The PA sucks, the bathrooms are broke, but it's got that feeling.

Best Neighbourhood Bar

Georgetown Pub 80 Hayward Avenue, 754-6151

runner up: Inn of Olde (Quidi Vidi) SOME Other answers: Station Lounge • Peter Easton Pub • Trip Inn Lounge (Kelligrews) • Captains Quarters • Big Ben’s • Frosty’s.

Best Place to Shoot Pool

Dooly’s ON WATER 354 Water Street, 754-8885

runner up: Bar None SOME Other answers: Aquarena • The Duke, except I keep hitting the cue against the wall all the time.

Best Person to Front a Band But Isn't

Fred Hutton runner up: Simone Savard-Walsh SOME Other answers: That Guy With The Dreads everyone thinks is cool • Joel Thomas Hynes • Marilyn Cooper • Greg Malone • Deb Jackman, you needs to be in a punk band, missus

Best Supporter of the Music Scene

Kevin Kelly

The Duke of Duckworth—winner of two categories that combine, somehow, beautifully: Best Place to Drink Alone and Best Bar to Inspire Conversation.

PHOTO BY Darrell Edwards

runner up: Tony Murray SOME Other answers: Michael Worthman • Joel Upshall • Mightypop • Stacey Tuttle. Anyone dare disagree? • Daveyyyyy • Big Oil • All I know is his name is Aaron • Not me, I'm too old and too cheap for a babysitter • Ian Newton • The guy that invented Spellcheck

on stage

theatre dance & Performance spoken & written comedy

ON STAGE CALENDAR Send press releases to listings@thescope.ca

Theatre Pains of Youth (C2C Theatre) A tangled tale of love and lust between medical students in post-WWI Vienna.

Directed by Charlie Tomlinson, $20/$25, LSPU Hall-3 Victoria St 753-4531 (Thu Jan 27 - Sun Jan 30) Revue 2010 (Rising Tide Theatre) Comedy sketches poking fun at NL's political leaders and the triumphs and tragedies of the past year.

Featuring Donna Butt, Rick Boland, Glenn Downey, Rory Lambert, Amelia Manuel, Jim Payne, Tina Randell, John Sheehan & Berni Stapleton.

Directed by Donna Butt, Arts & Culture Centre 729-3900 (Thu Jan 13 - Sun Jan 16 / Wed Jan 26 - Sat Jan 29)

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JANUARY 2011

(Fri Jan 21 & Sat Jan 22 at 9:30pm)

Spoken & Written

Pro/Am Comedy Slam: Amateurs at 8pm & pros Dana Alexander, Brett Martin & Colin Hollett at 9:30pm, two shows $20, Yuk Yuk's-193 Kenmount Rd 726-9857 (Thu Jan 20)

Family Literacy Day: Family activities all day at the gallery, Eastern Edge Gallery-72 Harbour Dr 739-1882 (Thu Jan 27 at 12pm-5pm)

Comedy John Sheehan, Lisa Baker & Neal Mundle: Stand up comedy, $20+, Yuk Yuk's-193 Kenmount Rd 726-9857 (Fri Jan 7 & Sat Jan 8 at 9:30pm) Pro/Am Comedy Slam: Amateurs at 8pm & pros John Sheehan, Lisa Baker & Neal Mundle at 9:30pm, two shows $20, Yuk Yuk's-193 Kenmount Rd 726-9857 (Thu Jan 6) Mark Walker, Andrew Albert & Francois Weber: Stand up comedy, $20+, Yuk Yuk's-193 Kenmount Rd 7269857 (Fri Jan 14 & Sat Jan 15 at 9:30pm)

Latin Tuesdays: Dance to a mixture of Latin rhythms, 8pm, no cover, Bella Vista

Pro/Am Comedy Slam: Amateurs at 8pm & pros Mark Walker, Andrew Albert & Francois Weber at 9:30pm, two shows $20, Yuk Yuk's-193 Kenmount Rd 726-9857 (Thu Jan 13 )

Tango On The Edge: A social gathering to dance Argentine Tango, $5, RCA Club-10 Bennett Ave 579-5752

Dana Alexander, Brett Martin & Colin Hollett: Stand up comedy, $20+, Yuk Yuk's-193 Kenmount Rd 726-9857

Dance & Performance

Fred Hutton of the NTV News team won Best Person to Front a Band But Isn't. We're pretty confused too, but we like this photo a lot.

(Thursdays at 8:30pm)

Roy Daye, Matt Esteves & Mike Harrison: Stand up comedy, $20+, Yuk Yuk's-193 Kenmount Rd 726-9857 (Fri Jan 28 & Sat Jan 29 at 9:30pm) Pro/Am Comedy Slam: Amateurs at 8pm & pros Roy Daye, Matt Esteves & Mike Harrison at 9:30pm, two shows $20, Yuk Yuk's-193 Kenmount Rd 726-9857 (Thu Jan 27) Send press releases to listings@thescope.ca

KEVIN KELLY

A

n observer, a teacher, and able to teleport through space and time, Kevin Kelly is pretty much the Captain Atlantis of local music. He produces and hosts a weekly radio show dedicated to local music, and he's Senior Editor of the Newfoundland Herald, promoting local music whenever he can. He also supports artists by going to a seriously ridiculous amount of local shows. If you've been out to see a local band at all this year, our research team estimates there is a 98.88 per cent chance Kevin Kelly was right there in the audience with you, nodding his head to the beat.

Care to venture a guess at how many shows you went to see this year?

It would be difficult to venture a true guess because I go out to see shows most weekends.

But I would definitely say over 200 shows.

Andrew LeDrew, a great local songwriter, once had a song called “Early Morning Man” with the lyric, "I'm no stranger to 3 am, I'm your early morning man." That fits me perfectly. Thank goodness I have an understanding girlfriend and I'm not into alcohol.

What are your favourite local musicians or bands of the past year?

It would be a very rare occurrence for me to miss a show by The Novaks. They're the best rock band in the country, in my opinion. Over the past year, on the local front, I've been really enjoying Pathological Lovers shows.

So much energy, such great songs, and Jody Richardson and the band have such fire when they play and sing onstage.

Other bands that range in my favourites over the past year are Kujo, The Subtitles, Mercy The Sexton, Repartee and seeing Ron Hynes play in a band setting is always a real treat for me. Sherman Downey and The Ambiguous Case is another group that ranks among my favourites of the moment. And seeing Amelia Curran take over Canada

makes me smile from ear to ear.

What's your favourite local track at the moment?

My fave local track of the moment is Mercy The Sexton's "Midnight," off their new album, Say It Back. I'm a sucker for keyboards, and this song is just drenched with them. But the song has such a great introspective feel too. It should be a hit, I tell ya!

I also like Gramercy Riffs and their song, "Dreaming." Mara Pellerin's vocals are so ethereal and beautiful.

On the singer/songwriter front, Ron Hynes and his song "Sawchuk" might be one of his best ever. Plus, it's about one of the greatest goalies who ever played hockey.

What changes have you noticed in the music scene over the past year?

The biggest thing I've seen, especially recently, is how radio stations are now embracing local bands—especially the nontraditional—on their playlists. OZ-FM is playing Kujo and the Gramercy Riffs (among other local rock bands) regularly since they changed formats to all-out rock. Coast 101 just introduced a local music show. K-Rock has a couple of local music shows. CBC is there too. When I started my CHMR show, Upon This Rock a few years back, there was hardly any local on the radio except for Radio Newfoundland, CBC and of course, the various traditional shows.

Now it's everywhere, and I'm very happy about that. Remember, if people don't hear the music from here, they won't know how incredible it truly is. And believe me, it is so incredible, with something for every musical taste.

The other thing is the massive local participation in things like the RPM Challenge. It was great to hear 70 new local albums last March! It also shows how much of a burgeoning music scene is happening here in Newfoundland and Labrador.

You can hear Kelly's radio show Upon This Rock, on Saturdays from 10 am to noon on CHMR 93.5FM or online at www.chmr.ca INTERVIEW BY ELLING LIEN

PHOTO: KEVIN COFFEE

BEST SUPPORTER OF THE LOCAL MUSIC SCENE

JANUARY 2011

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community

MOVIE DESCRIPTIONS

community events lectures & forums kids & teens meetings & classes

LECTURES & FORUMS

MEETINGS & CLASSES

offer soup and fresh bread.

Young adults aged 15-35 can come to Gower St United Church basement-99 Queen's Rd (2pm)

Workshops

Green Drinks: An informal get together for those who work, volunteer or have an interest in environment & conservation related issues, 7pm-9pm, no cover, The Ship (Last Wednesday of month)

Clubs, Groups, Free Classes &

Suicide: Lowest Low or Highest High? (Public Lectures in Philosophy) Discussion on conflicting visions and valuations of self-killing, free, The Ship-265 Duckworth St 753 3870 (Tue Jan 26 at 8:30pm) Words In Edgewise: Andy Jones reads the Abbie Table, with host Morgan Murray, Eastern Edge Gallery-72 Harbour Dr 739-1882 (Thu Jan 20 at 8pm)

KIDS & TEENS Family Literacy Day: Family activities all day at the gallery, Eastern Edge Gallery-72 Harbour Dr 739-1882 (Thu Jan 27 at 12pm-5pm) Life Goes On: Help us discover which animals are busy this winter and learn ways to help them through this long cold season, The Fluvarium-5 Nagle’s Pl 754-3474 (Saturdays & Sundays at 1:30pm) Young Musicians, Open mic at Shamrock City Pub (Sundays at 2pm)

Alzheimer Family Support : Group meeting for family members of people with Alzheimer’s disease, 685 Water St (Third Thursday of month at 7pm) Avalon Wesleyan Church: Weekly meet up in a casual atmosphere with coffee & contemporary music, free, Rabbittown Theatre-106 Freshwater Rd 576-6937 (Sundays at 10am) Capital Toastmasters: Improve self-confidence and overall leadership abilities for career and life, free, MUN Inco Centre-2014 687-1031 Caregiver Conversations: Support group for unpaid caregivers 726-2370 (Every third Monday) Channal: A peer support group for people with mental illness. We focus on recovery, 120 LeMarchant Rd 753-7710 (Tuesdays at 7pm & Wednesdays at 2pm) For the Love of Learning: Free workshops in art, writing, film, theatre, journalism & yoga for anyone aged 15-35, Gower St United Church-basement 722-8848 (Weekdays from 12pm-6pm) Free Hot Lunch: Mondays & Fridays feature a vegetarian meal. Tuesdays & Thursdays

Knit Wits: Drop in knitting social with help to get you started, free, Anna Templeton Centre-278 Duckworth St (Last Sunday of month from 7pm-9pm) Nar-Anon Family Group: Weekly meetings for those who know or have known a feeling of desperation due to the addiction problem of someone close to them, 726-6191 Newfoundland Horticultural Society: Monthly meet up, St David's Church Hall-Elizabeth Ave (First Tuesday of month at 8pm) NLAC Community Forum: participate in a discussion about arts in the province (Wed Jan 12 from 7pm-9pm at LSPU Hall- LSPU Hall-3 Victoria St 753-4531; Thu Jan 13 from 7pm-9pm at Admiralty House Museum-365 Old Placentia Rd Mt Pearl 748-1124) Overeaters Anonymous: Help is available and it’s free, no strings attached. Weekly meetings in the metro area, 738-1742

Solid Rock (Avalon Wesleyan Church) Free supper, video by Nicky Gumbel & discussion. Open to everyone, even if you don't believe in God but want to know what Christians believe in, 111 Park Ave-Mt Pearl 240-0333 Shambhala Meditation Group: Free introduction to meditation, Billy Rahl Fieldhouse-rear Elizabeth Towers 576-4727 (Wednesdays 7:30pm & Sundays 10am) Sing Barbershop: The Anchormen Chorus is seeking new members, Arts & Culture Centre-Rm B rick_e_young@ hotmail.com (Mondays at 7pm) Solid Rock (Avalon Wesleyan Church) Free supper, video by Nicky Gumbel & discussion. Open to everyone, even if you don't believe in God but want to know what Christians believe in, 111 Park Ave-Mt Pearl 240-0333 (Wed Jan 19 & 26 at 6:30pm) St John’s City Council Meeting: Refer to Council Agenda at www.stjohns.ca (posted Friday afternoon), Public welcome, City HallCouncil Chambers, 4th fl (Mondays at 4:30pm) Taoist Tai Chi Open House: Hindu Temple-26 Penny Lane, 579-5276 (Sat Jan 15 from 11am-1pm); Church of The Ascension-58 Smallwood Dr (Tue Jan 18 from 7pm-9pm) Tenacious String Orchestra: Amateur community orchestra welcomes

hava HAPPY NEW YEAR

216 Water St reet

24

thescope

JANUARY 2011

new members motivated by the pure enjoyment of playing together alison@ nf.sympatico.ca

The Pottle Centre: A social & recreation centre for consumers of mental health services, 323 Hamilton Ave 753-2143 The Rooms: Free admission, 9 Bonaventure Ave 757-8000 (Wednesdays 6pm-9pm) Trivia Night (Rose & Thistle on Tuesdays); (Bitters on Thursdays at 8pm) Walk on Water: Get fit, meet people & learn the history of downtown, everyone welcome, free, Auntie Crae’s (Saturdays at 10am, rain or shine) Will & Estate Planning: Info session with Marilyn Pendergast, free but must register, Irwin Court-Arts & Culture Centre 737-3950 (Tue Jan 25 at 7pm) Women's Accordion Circle: Women of all ages can perform, experiment & share stories about making music, Arts & Culture Centre2nd Fl, Old Gallery 746-2399 (Mondays at 7:30pm) Send press releases to listings@thescope.ca

DAILY SHOWINGS Call or check online for times and prices.

Avalon mall empire studios 12: 722-5775 Mount pearl empire cinemas: 722-5775 www.empiretheatres.com

Barney's Version: In this adaptation of the Mordecai Richler novel, Paul Giamatti bumbles his way through three unhappy marriages.

Giamatti's life brightens up considerably when he's suspected of murdering his best friend. (Jan 14) Blue Valentine: Meet Dean and Cindy. They fall in love, have a kid and discover that growing old together isn't always pleasant. Who knew?!

(Jan 14) Country Strong: Country Strong? Hulk Smash! Gwyneth Paltrow sad country singer.

She on road to redemption, though. Upstart young country singer angers the Paltrow.

Like Crazy Heart with no Jeff Bridges. (Jan 7) No Strings Attached: Ashton Kutcher and Natalie Portman star in a film that explores the complications of polyamory in a thoughtful way. Just kidding. It's a romcom about their love being true love. (Jan 21)

Rabbit Hole: When the son of Aaron Eckhart and Nicole Kidman is killed, they struggle to cope without him. Yeah, even I wouldn't make a joke about that plot. (Jan 21) Restless: Mia Wasikowska and Henry Hopper are young lovers (awww) whose relationship is threatened by Wasikowska's depression and thoughts of suicide (oh...).

Directed by Gus “Hunting Season” Van Sant. (Jan 28) Season of the Witch: A supernatural threat has arrived, only one man can stop it: Nicholas Cage. How will he accomplish this? Why, by yelling incoherently and punching people's faces like he always does. (Jan 7) Somewhere: Rich white people acting muted and sad?

All set to a trendy synthy-rock soundtrack? That means Sophia Coppola's back and her latest film is about a bad boy actor's relationship with his prepubescent child. (Jan 7)

tham, unafraid to play against type, stars as a gravel-voiced assassin who finds himself on the run from...gasp...fellow assassins! So, it's like every bad work party you've ever attended. (Jan 28)

The Rite: An old exorcist and a reluctant, young priest team up to defeat a demonic essence that has possessed a young girl. Kinda like that other movie...RePossessed with Leslie Nielsen. (Jan 28) The Warrior's Way: Cowboys Vs. Ninjas. That's it. That's what the movie's about. Unless there's an unexpectedly tender love story or some dinosaurs thrown in, that's all you get. (Jan 21) Capsule descriptions by Adam Clarke.

The Dilemma: Vince Vaughn is unsure whether to tell his best pal (Kevin James) that his wife is unfaithful. What will Vaughn do? More importantly, who'd ever sleep with Kevin James? (Jan 14) The Green Hornet: In this adaptation of the cult favourite series, Seth Rogen stars as a dim man-child who uses his inheritance (and a skilled friend) to fight crime.

Directed by Michel Gondry.

(Jan 14) The Mechanic: Jason Sta-

THursday evening

pap clinics Women in Newfoundland and Labrador have one of the highest rates of cervical cancer in the country. A regular pap test can help prevent cervical cancer. Ask your health care provider about getting your pap test or phone Planned Parenthood for more information.

Planned Parenthood offers various medical clinics, including Thursday evening pap clinics.

To book an appointment today, please phone.

Sexual Health Medical Clinics • Birth Control Supplies • Free Condoms • Pregnancy Testing Educational Workshops • Youth Groups • Information

S e x u a l H e a lt h Q u e s t i o n s ? W e H av e A n sw e r s !

579-1009 or 1-877 NO MYTHS (666-9847) | 203 Merrymeeting Road, St. John's info@nlsexualhealthcentre.org

on display visual art museums

GALLERIES Openings Andy Jones Artist Residency: Jones continues the collaborative “Abbie Table Project”, a table inscribed with a personal story narrating the life of a Newfoundland family, Eastern Edge Gallery-72 Harbour Dr 739-1882 (Opening reception Sun Jan 16 from 12pm-5pm; opens Mon Jan 10) SHHH!: An exhibition of textiles and titillation by Stephanie Barry, Eastern Edge Gallery-72 Harbour Dr 7391882 (Opening reception Sat Jan 29 from 2pm-4pm) Witness: An exhibition of figurative sculpture in bronze, burlap and wax by Heather Reeves and Po Chun Lau, Eastern Edge Gallery-72 Harbour Dr 739-1882 (Opening reception Sat Jan 29 from 2pm-4pm)

Continuing Exhibitions Annual Christmas Show: A rotating exhibit of works by most of our artists, Leyton Gallery-Clift’s-Baird’s Cove 722-7177 (Ends Jan 31) Art Exhibit: Art by the 4th year SWGC grads of 2010, First Space Gallery-QEII Library Barb Hunt: Beyond depict-

ing the absurdity of war, Hunt’s nuanced installations of camouflage fabric contemplate the fragility and beauty of the human body, The Rooms-9 Bonaventure Ave 757-8000 (Ends Feb 20)

Coastal Women in Pre-Confederation Newfoundland & Labrador: Documents women’s experiences in outport communities prior to 1949 by interweaving archival photographs & documents, The Rooms-9 Bonaventure Ave 757-8000 Inner Works: Selections from the People’s Collection: Featuring artists such as Anne Meredith Barry, Peter Bell, David Blackwood, Christopher Pratt, Mary Pratt, Helen Parsons Shepherd, Reginald Shepherd, Gerald Squires & Don Wright, The Rooms-9 Bonaventure Ave 757-8000 Metis Carver: Ancient Stories in Stone and Bone – ongoing exhibit by Albert Biles, Wild Things-124 Water St New Releases: Four new pieces by Richard Steele, Richard Steele Gallery-63 Harvey Rd 754 6741 New Works: By Gerald Squires, Esther Squires, George Horan, Julia Pickard, Sharon Puddester, Gerald Squires Gallery-52 Prescott St 722-2207 Recent Releases: Evening's Magic, Wild Roses Over Quidi Vidi Village, Summer Afternoon At Old Bowring Park

Pool, Peace Above All Else, Limbo, Richard Steele Gallery-63 Harvey Rd 754-6741

Last Chance Dance of Light and Colour: Christmas exhibition featuring all new work by gallery artists, Red Ochre Gallery-96 Duckworth St 7266422 (Ends Jan 15) Elena Popova: Still Vortices: Considering the nature of life as an ever-changing process, Popova’s art marks temporary registrations of the physical and spiritual world in a state of flux, The Rooms-9 Bonaventure Ave 757-8000 (Ends Jan 16) Going (to a new) home: A collection of artwork by Jen Vivian (including paintings, prints, photography & drawings) about our transitory nature, endings, the new beginnings and the waiting in between, The Sprout Restaurant (Ends Jan 18) Here to Stay: Cupids 1610…: Explore the early decades of English colonization in the region using rare original documents and archaeological artifacts that tell the story of Cupids and its settlers, The Rooms-9 Bonaventure Ave 757-8000 (Ends Jan) I Saw Three Ships: Artwork

by Cara Kansala and Pam Dorey, Heritage Art Gallery, 2nd Floor-309 Water St (Ends Jan 8)

MUSEUMS A Tour de Fort: Interpretive panels tell the story of Fort Townsend, the 18th century symbol of England’s domination over the fishery, The Rooms-9 Bonaventure Ave 757-8000 Admiralty House Museum: 1915 navy wireless station now communications museum, 23 Old Placentia Rd-Mt Pearl 748-1124 Connections: This Place and Its Early Peoples: Polar bears on tundra, carnivorous plants in a bog, seabirds, sea mammals, sea life plus the people who made their lives here, The Rooms-9 Bonaventure Ave 757-8000

306 Mt Scio Rd 737-8590

Railway Coastal Museum: St. John’s Dockyard exhibit of model ship hulls, shipbuilding, dockyard history plus the story of Newfoundland's railway boat service & 1940's train diorama, 495 Water St W 724-5929

of Nagle's Hill Brook. Spot fish, insects & plants in natural habitat plus interactive exhibits, 5 Nagle's Place 754-3474

Send press releases to listings@thescope.ca

Signal Hill National Historic Site: Military & communications history, meet Signalman, watch film, interactive exhibits, Visitor Centre 772-5367 The Fluvarium: A panoramic water view under the surface

East Rider Motorcycle Museum: Two floors of bikes, memorabilia and biker culture, 205 New Gower St 738-3278 [here]say: A story map of Water Street: Stories and memories shared by people who live here. At each location there is a sign with a telephone number and a 3-digit code.

Johnson Geo Centre & Park: See Signal Hill’s 550 million year old geology & specimens of NF rocks, minerals & botanical park, 175 Signal Hill Rd 737-7880 MUN Botanical Garden: Trails, gift shop & tearoom,

JANUARY 2011

thescope

25

weekend music listings

music venue

directory ARTS & CULTURE CENTRE, Prince Philip Dr, 729-3900 THE ATTIC, 2 George St, 579-9632 BAR NONE, 164 Water St, 579-2110 BELLA VISTA, 26

Music events on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. For more, go to thescope.ca/events

Thursday JAN 6

Saturday JAN 8

Craig Young (solo acoustic) no cover, Fat Cat Blues Bar

All-request: DJ RocketBoy, Lottie’s Place

Dave Panting, Erin’s Pub

Be Alright (math rock), Distortion

Surgeon (instrumental rock), The Crooks (rock), Bonavista Chain Locker (pirate rock), $6, Headquarters Unlisted, Green Sleeves Pub

Greg Bolger & Chris Marshall, Green Sleeves Pub Sexual Saturdays – DJ JayCee, Turkey Joe’s Stixx and Stones, 9:30pm, Dusk Ultra Lounge Tax Free: Jimi Hendrix tribute with DC-3, Fat Cat Blues Bar

Friday JAN 7 All-request: DJ RocketBoy, Lottie’s Place Baytown Connection (beach rock), Bonavista Chain Locker (greasy klezmer rock), Pre-Raphaelites (indie pop), Rock House DJ Green Arrow, Fat Cat Blues Bar Greg Bolger & Chris Marshall, Green Sleeves Pub J. Frost and Friends, Distortion Stixx and Stones, 9:30pm, Dusk Ultra Lounge Traditional Music Session, 8:30pm, Erin’s Pub

Thursday JAN 13

sHeavy (metal), South Symposium, The Potholez, Distortion

Craig Young (solo acoustic), no cover, Fat Cat Blues Bar

Rd, 753-2337 HEADQUARTERS, 208 Water St, 579-2557 HOLY HEART THEATRE, 55 Bonaventure Ave, 579-4424 KARAOKE KOPS PARTY BAR,

Dave Panting, Erin’s Pub

Holdsworth Court LIQUID NIGHT CLUB, 186B Water St, 754-5455 LOFT 709, George St 351-2183 LOTTIE'S PLACE, 3 George St, 754-3020 LOWER

The Dana Parsons Project, Dusk Ultra Lounge

Night Music #93: featuring The Brad Jefford Trio, 9:30pm, $4, Ship Pub

PATH BAR, 312 Water St 579-1717 LSPU HALL, 3 Victoria St, 753-4531 MAJESTIC THEATRE, 390 Duckworth St MARG'S PLACE, Kelligrews MARTINI

Traditional Music Session, 8:30pm, Erin’s Pub

Unlisted, Green Sleeves Pub

4700 DISTORTION, Holdsworth Court, 738-8833/685-1503 DUSK ULTRA LOUNGE, George St ERIN'S PUB, 186 Water St, 722-1916 FAT CAT BLUES BAR, George St 739-5554 FERRY LAST STOP CAFE, 2 Loop Dr-Portugal CV 895-3082 GEORGE STREET BEER MARKET, George St, 753-7822 GEORGETOWN PUB, 754-6151 GREEN SLEEVES PUB, 14 George St, 579-1070 THE GRAPEVINE, Water St, 754-8463 GRUMPY STUMP, Torbay 10 George St, 726-8202 KELLY'S PUB, 25 George St, 753-5300 KRUGER'S BAR, Kelligrews THE LAST DROP, 193 Water St, 726-3767 THE LEVEE,

BAR, George St 739-9180 MASONIC TEMPLE, 6 Cathedral St, 579-3023 MICKEY QUINN'S, 120 New Gower St, 739-6404 MILE ONE CENTRE, 50 New Gower St, 576-7657 MUN MUSIC, 737-4455 MRS LIDDY'S, Torbay 437-6005 THE OLD MILL, 271 Brookfield Rd, 368-1334 O’REILLY'S IRISH PUB, 15 George St, 722-3735 PEDDLER'S PUB, George St, 739-9180 ON THE ROCKS, 371 Duckworth 351-2183 PETER EASTON PUB, Cookstown Road PETRO-CANADA HALL, Memorial University PLAYERS CUE, 50 Commonwealth Ave-Mt Pearl 368-2500 THE PUMPHOUSE, 371 Duckworth St 351-2183 REPUBLIC, Duckworth St, 753-1012 ROCK HOUSE, George St, 579-6832 ROSE & THISTLE, 208 Water St, 579-6662 SCANLAN'S, 164

Saturday JAN 15 All-request: DJ RocketBoy, Lottie’s Place Blue Eyed Blonde, Club One

Lawnya Vawnya Festival Fundraiser: The Newish Klezmer Band, Juicer, DJ Mathias, $5, CBTGs

Alumni Recital (MUN Music) Heather Tuach joins Duo Concertante for masterworks by Dvor?k & Shostakovich, 8pm, $10/$15, DF Cook Recital Hall

STONE SPORTS BAR, 16 Queen St, 754-4263 DARNELL'S PUB, 1570 Topsail Rd 782-2440 DF COOK RECITAL HALL, Memorial University 737-

Thursday JAN 20

Dave Panting, Erin’s Pub

All-request: DJ RocketBoy, Lottie’s Place

82 Harvey Rd, 722-1737 CLUB ONE, George St, 753-7822 CLUB V, George St CROW'S NEST, 88 Water St (by War Memorial), 753-6927 CORNER

Nothing Fancy, Green Sleeves Pub Ron Hynes Band, Fat Cat Blues Bar

Jamie Dart Band, Fat Cat Blues Bar

Friday JAN 14

BULL & FINCH, Torbay Rd, 738-7007 CBTG'S, Holdsworth Court, 722-2284 CHRISTINE'S PLACE, 210 Lemarchant Rd, 722-6400 CLB ARMOURY,

Blue Eyed Blonde (cover rock), Club One

Craig Young (solo acoustic), no cover, Fat Cat Blues Bar Unlisted, Green Sleeves Pub

Torbay Rd, 753-2352 BIANCA'S LOUNGE, 171 Water St 726-9016 BIG BEN'S, 55 Rowan St, 753-8212 THE BREEZEWAY, MUN Campus, 737-4743 BRIDIE MOLLOY'S, 5 George St, 576-5990 BRIMSTONE PUBLIC HOUSE, 17 George, 726-0353 St BULL & BARREL, Holdsworth Court, 579-7077

Nothing Fancy, Green Sleeves Pub Poems & Promises (MUN Music) Chamber music of European & Canadian composers, 8pm, $10/$15, DF Cook Recital Hall Sexual Saturdays: DJ JayCee, Turkey Joe’s The Dana Parsons Project, Dusk Ultra Lounge

Friday JAN 21

Water st 738-0677 SHAMROCK CITY PUB, 340 Water St, 758-5483 SHIP PUB, 265 Duckworth St, 753-3870 SPIN, 2 George St SHARKEY'S PUB, Manuels 834-5636 THE SPROUT, 364 Duckworth St, 579-5485 SS MEIGLE LOUNGE, Seal Cove 744-1212 ST JOHN'S CONVENTION CENTRE, New Gower St 576-7657 STANLEY'S PUB, 26 Torbay Rd, 754-0930 STATION LOUNGE, 7 Hutchings St 722-8576 STAR OF THE SEA, Henry St, 753-8222 STETSON LOUNGE, 260 Water St, 753-8138 SUNDANCE, George St, 753-7822 TOL'S TIME-OUT LOUNGE, 74 Old Placentia Rd 745-8657 TOPSAIL

All-request: DJ RocketBoy, Lottie’s Place

BREEZE TAVERN, Topsail 781-0010 TRAPPER JOHN'S PUB, 2 George St, 579-9630 TRINITY PUB, George St, 579-5558 TRIP IN LOUNGE, Kelligrews

Bic & The Ballpoints, Club One

BREWERY, 288 Water St 757-3784 ZONE 216, 216 Water St, 754-2492 Do you host live music or DJs? Joining our directory is free.

Denielle Hann & Fred Hiscock, Green Sleeves Pub

834-4002 THE WELL, 14 George St WHALEN'S PUB, 32 George St 722-4900 WHISKY ON GEORGE, 15 George St, 579-9475 YELLOWBELLY E-mail listings@thescope.ca

The Long Distance Runners (rock), 11pm, The Levee

Saturday JAN 22

Thursday JAN 27

Friday JAN 28

Saturday DEC 25

Traditional music session, 8:30pm, Erin’s Pub

All-request: DJ RocketBoy, Lottie’s Place

Craig Young (solo acoustic), no cover, Fat Cat Blues Bar

Heart, $65+, Mile One Centre

Sexual Saturdays: DJ JayCee, Turkey Joe’s

Whose Song Is It Anyway?

Featuring Jerry Stamp, Mary Barry, Sean Panting, Kalem Mahoney, Chris Kirby, 9pm, $20, Bianca’s Lounge

Bic & The Ballpoints, Club One

Dave Panting, Erin’s Pub

Denielle Hann & Fred Hiscock, Green Sleeves Pub

DT & The Dinosaurs: Live video taping, Distortion

The Insiders (rock), Club One The Living Daylights (acoustic rock), Fat Cat Blues Bar

Endometrium (metal) CD fundraiser, Distortion

Todd Scott & Jeremy Dicks, Green Sleeves Pub

Sexual Saturdays: DJ JayCee, Turkey Joe’s

Traditional Music Session, 8:30pm, Erin’s Pub

FIND MANY more listings online at thescope.CA

Shawn Beresford Trio, Fat Cat Blues Bar

HOLDSWORTH COURT, GEORGE STREET ABOVE SHAMROCK CITY 709.685.1503

Every Wednesday Is Mr. And Mrs. Wednesday Regular Hi-balls + Molson Products $2 until 12/$2.50 until 1

fri jan 7th J. Frost and friends sat jan 8th Be Alright and friends fri jan 21st Kristina's birthday show with sHeavy, South Symposium, and The Potholez sat jan 22nd Endometrium CD Fundraiser sat jan 28th DT and the Dinosaurs: Live Video taping

feel_the_distortion@yahoo.ca or call 738.8833/685.1503

26

thescope

JANUARY 2011

books

T

coming soon Local previews by Mark Callanan

here are two varieties of lists you’ll come across in print media, in the lead-up to the new year: the best-of lists of the fast-dying year, and the predictive lists of the year about to be born. Despite this issue’s focus on the former, I’ve decided to compile a list of the latter: specifically, a selection of books due to be published in 2011 that promise great things. Bear them in mind while sweating over bank balances and credit card statements; beyond the bills and mid-winter doldrums, they’ll be something to look forward to.

Fiction Double Talk Patrick Warner Breakwater Books I’m of the opinion that Patrick Warner’s three published poetry collections have been among the most overlooked in the country. It’s true that his first was shortlisted for both an Atlantic Poetry Prize and a Newfoundland and Labrador Book Award, and that his second won a Newfoundland and Labrador Book Award, but where are the national nominations?

Part of what makes Warner’s poems so affecting is their playful irreverence, which inevitably reveals a darker layer of meaning. An abattoir described in his second collection is a sickening circus of fun, in which a “conveyor belt’s dangling clefs” are “a score / into which [pig’s] hoofs are hooked.” The carcasses then “perform one leg / inverted ballet.” It’s the kind of imagery that’s funny at first gloss, but which has discomforting implications.

Warner’s poems often make dreamlike associative leaps. A poem that begins as casual observation quickly steps up its voltage to arrive at crackling revelation, revealing the essential nature of the thing being described.

In his third book, Mole, a flock of pigeons taking off makes a “snap / like a hundred fans,” transforming a downtown city street into a ballroom.

Whether Warner can convert the jubilant energy and black comedy of his poetry into his forthcoming novel, Double Talk, remains to be seen, but the possibilities are exciting.

Poetry Methodist Hatchet Ken Babstock House of Anansi Press You won’t find this book mentioned yet on the website of its publisher, House of Anansi Press, but Amazon and Chapters, playing angel Gabriel, have heralded its arrival by accepting online pre-orders.

Like Patrick Warner, Ken Babstock has three poetry collections under his belt. His third, Airstream Land Yacht, was shortlisted for the Griffin Poetry Prize, the Governor

General’s Award for Poetry, and the Winterset Award. While it didn’t win any of the aforementioned, it did snag the Trillium Book Award for Poetry.

Babstock is often labelled one of the best Canadian poets of his generation. To quote poet and critic Michael Lista, “he has absorbed both the ‘lyric’ and ‘experimental’ traditions that have for so long eyed each other, cold war style, with mutual distrust.” Which is to say that his muscular poetry (and sonically, it has the rippling physique and preternatural power of a steroid laden athlete) defies easy categorization, resists any claim by opposing aesthetic camps.

Babstock will as likely knock off a damn fine sonnet as he will “translate the Canadian artist Germain Koh’s approach or methodology for the making of her art [...] into a generative strategy for poetry” (to quote from his endnotes in Airstream Land Yacht). In a poetry world increasingly polarized by notions of tradition vs. avant-garde, this is a welcome thing.

Non-fiction/Audio The Danger Tree David Macfarlane Rattling Books I’ve spent the last several weeks editing sound for an audio book version of David Macfarlane’s 1991 novel The Danger Tree. Anyone who spends that much time with a single book (be they academic, critic, or lowly copy editor) risks making themselves good and sick of it by the time it’s done. That is, unless it is as absorbing and stylistically dextrous a book as this, Macfarlane’s first.

The Danger Tree is a stunning mixture of history and anecdote, of memoir and obsessive love letter. While ostensibly about Macfarlane’s Newfoundland relatives, the Goodyears—their connection to the Great War and to the fledgling pulp and paper industry in central Newfoundland—The Danger Tree is as much a book about Newfoundland itself.

The doomed entrepreneurial striving of Macfarlane’s great uncle Roland, the horrible waste that was the First World War deaths of three of Roland’s brothers, and the aura of legend that surrounds all Macfarlane’s family stories—these things make the Goodyear family history a microcosm of Newfoundland’s own dismal pre-oil history of bad deals, relentless tragedies, and heartbreak.

A book so reliant on the oral tradition, on the family stories Macfarlane absorbed during childhood, is naturally suited to being heard.

The audio book version promises to be a fitting adaptation of Macfarlane’s loving (though not always flattering) portrait of family and place.

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Comment online at thescope.ca

JANUARY 2011

thescope

27

100% local

COMICS

Free Fall Fight by Ricky King

Bleak by Alexander Evan Bridger

Rhymes With Understand by Emily Deming

Mr. Pickles by Quinn Whalen

meantoons by John Meaney

28

thescope

JANUARY 2011

Perfect Sunday by Michael Butler

Nothing Special About Words by Michael Young

free will astrology by rob brezsny

for january 2010

‹

CAPRICORN (Dec 22 – Jan 19) "We Americans are the best in-

formed people on earth as to the events of the last 24 hours," wrote historian Will Durant some decades ago. "We are the not the best informed as to the events of the last sixty centuries," he concluded. Today this describes many Westerners, not just Americans. We are adrift in the Age of the Short Attention Span -- a time when the lessons of the past are becoming lost or irrelevant. But in 2011, I'll be rooting for you to elude this curse, Capricorn. It's crucial for you to be in close touch with both the lessons provided by the grand sweep of human civiliza-

π

tion and by your own personal history.

AQUARIUS (Jan 20 – Feb 18) "The third-rate mind is only happy

when it is thinking with the majority," said author A.A. Milne. "The second-rate mind is only happy when it is thinking with the minority. The first-rate mind is only happy when it is thinking." You will have an excellent chance to cultivate that definition of a first-rate mind in 2011, Aquarius. According to my reading of the astrological omens, life will be conspiring to strengthen your brain. You will have everything going for you if you make it your intention to sharpen your wits, use language more precisely, and see the world with greater clarity and objectivity. To get the fun started, make a list of what you could do to push your

∫

intelligence beyond its current limits.

PISCES (Feb 19 – Mar 20) "Anything you're good at contrib-

utes to happiness," said philosopher Bertrand Russell. If I had my way, Pisces, you'd write that on a note and tape it to your bathroom mirror for the duration of 2011.

I think it would raise your appreciation for the power your personal gifts have to bestow blessings on both yourself and others.

And I hope it would inspire you to spend a lot of quality time finding out all you can about what you're good at and deepening

†

your capacity to do what you're good at.

thescope

JANUARY 2011

Fixing people's teeth is one of

Dr. Peter Kertesz's specialties. The British dentist has a thriving business in London.

Now and then he's also called on to practice an exotic variation: animal dentistry.

Is it a realistic possibility that you could

of two tigers in a zoo. Other species he

triumph over the conditioning you absorbed

has helped include elephants, whales, and

before you knew how to talk? Do you have

ent doesn't mean anything has changed,"

pandas. In 2011, Leo, I suggest you consider

the power to do what few of us have done,

said writer Irene Peter. That should be cau-

branching out like Dr. Kertesz. What would

which is to get out from under the weight of

tionary advice for you in 2011, Aries. From

be the equivalent, in your domain, of

the past, shed the inertia of your memories,

what I can tell, it will be relatively easy for

expanding the ways you use your primary

and live brave and free in the raw truth of

you to rearrange the way things look, but

skills?

NOW? If there will ever in your life be a time

trickier to transform them from the inside

when you can accomplish at least some of

out. You will have to be vigilant to keep

this noble quest, Gemini, it will be in 2011.

ARIES (Mar 21 – Apr 19) "Just because everything is differ-

from getting swept up in the giddiness of big talk at the expense of practical action.

You'll have to push hard to make sure that seductive ideas are translated into concrete

‡

details. Can you do it? I think you can.

TAURUS (Apr 20 – May 20)

In 1967, John McCain was a U.S. Navy pilot fighting in Vietnam. Shot down during a bombing mission, he was captured and jailed in the notorious Hanoi Hilton prison camp, where he was tortured. After being freed in 1973, he returned to the U.S. and eventually launched a political career.

When he ran for president in 2008, his candidacy got an endorsement from an unlikely source: Tran Trong Duyet, the Vietnamese prison commander who had supervised his torture. In the coming months, Taurus, I expect you to experience a turnaround that will have comparable poetic justice. I'm not sure how it will unfold. Maybe an adversary will praise you, a person who wounded you will make amends, or a force of

Directed by Donna Butt

30

Can you finally escape the pain

LEO (Jul 23 – Aug 22)

Recently, he corrected the tooth problems

REVUE '10

St. John’s: Sponsored by Jan 13-16, 26-29 Carbonear: Jan 18-23

Ω

GEMINI (May 21 – Jun 20)

™

you got imprinted with during adolescence?

Rising Tide Theatre's

Featuring RICK BOLAND GLENN DOWNEY RORY LAMBERT AMELIA MANUEL JIM PAYNE TINA RANDELL BERNI STAPLETON

nature that once opposed you will come over to your side. Twenty-eleven will be a Year of Vindicating Reversals.

≤

CANCER (Jun 21 – Jul 22) Decades ago, the U.S. built a

‘

"What can I do with this eternal

longing?" That's the first line of "Assouf," a song by the African band Tinariwen. During the rest of the tune, the singer never offers a definitive answer to that plea, but as he

fast and easy for cars to travel between

tumbles and rumbles over the possibilities,

cities. But like many of America's impressive

the band plays a lot of righteous music. I

engineering feats, this one took little

suggest that you make Tinariwen's cry your

account of what the human soul might

question of the year in 2011. It will be an

enjoy. Ugly buildings or empty spaces

excellent use of your time to meditate on

surround many of those roads. Visually, the

how to call forth, nurture, and direct your

difference between I-95 in Georgia and

ineffable, insatiable yearning. (Hear the

I-74 in Illinois is negligible. "The Interstate

song: http://tinyurl.com/Assouf.)

said Charles Kuralt, "to go from sea to shining sea without seeing anything." You

µ

much of you. Please don't take the easy way

≠

out, Libra. Rise to the occasion!

SCORPIO (Oct 23 - Nov 21) Michelangelo didn't think of

himself as primarily a painter. Sculpture was his first love. Yet in 1508 he was coaxed into painting prodigious frescoes on the ceiling

Birthdays this month Happy birthday to Danny Keating, Barnard Hughes, Katie Hyslop, Karmella Perez, Matthew Finateri, Kira Sheppard, Andy Jones, and Amy House.

of the Sistine Chapel. As he worked for four years, covering 12,000 square feet with sublime images, he sometimes complained

Send birthday info to birthday@thescope.ca

and felt resentful. The project took him away from two large sculptures he would have preferred to be working on. He feared

VIRGO (Aug 23 – Sep 22)

network of sleek expressways to make it

highway system has made it possible,"

more prosaic relationships that don't ask so

LIBRA (Sep 23 – Oct 22) In 2011, I believe you will have

cannot afford to let this be your operative

the chance to weave your fortunes together

metaphor in 2011, Cancerian. Your potential

with an abundance of allies who are good

for rapid, extensive progress is sizable, but

for you. They will be your equals, they will

it would be a mistake to barrel along with

share at least some of your most important

your eyes fixed on the prize in the distance

values, and they will respect you for who

as you neglect what's happening along the

you are. That's excellent news, right? My

way. Be both global and local; romance the

only worry is that you might shy away from

details as you revel in the big picture.

the demands that such invigorating collaborations will make on you. It would be less work, after all, to fall back into reliance on

his enemies had convinced the Pope to give him this task in order to demonstrate how mediocre his painting was. But today his work at the Sistine Chapel is regarded as a masterpiece. I suspect that in 2011 you may face a version of Michelangelo's dilemma, Scorpio: being offered a job you don't consider your forte. It's quite possible, however, that accepting this "diversion" will

∑

yield interesting results.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov 22 – Dec 21)

"When I became a man I put away childish things," said Sagittarian author C.S. Lewis, "including the fear of childishness and the desire to be very grown up." I suggest you take up that attitude yourself in 2011, Sagittarius. One of your top assignments in the coming months will be to play with greater intensity and more frequency and a heightened imagination. If you want to achieve your adult goals, you'll be wise to recreate your childhood wisdom on a higher octave.

Homework To check out my expanded ­audio forecast of your destiny in 2011, go to RealAstrology.com.

www.twfitness.ca P: (709)

765-9793 EMAIL: tonya@twfitness.ca