Vol. 1, Issue 4 - Jan. 29, 2014

crissi cochrane drops new album scan with

(see page 8)

jAN. 29, 2014 vol. 01 issuE 04 uRBANitENEWs.coM

Wintertime sadness

Dealing with seasonal Affective Disorder

After hours at Acapulco

Microbrew explosion

‘Brew’ taps into growing mircobrewery market

stage of abandon

the lost jackson Park bandshell

VIEWS

THE URBANITE » URBANITENEWS.COM » JAN. 29 2014 » 2

WINDSOR DESERVES DOWNTOWN LAW BUILDING In one swift motion, what could have been the finishing touches on the transformation and revitalization of the downtown core — the redevelopment and repurposing of the Paul Martin building — was effectively killed without warning and what could be argued in bad faith.

A tripartite deal between the Harper Government, the University of Windsor and the City of Windsor would have seen the roughly 400 federal employees transferred to a new city hall from the Paul Martin Building, and about 700 law school students, staff and faculty move from the west end into the (then) soon-to-be renovated Paul Martin Building.

However, it would seem that small-town politics and big-city egos have gotten in the way of what could have helped push forward downtown revitalization in ways that had only been discussed about with the loftiest of aspirations.

Stephen likes white space, but Jon dosen’t so write your opinion about anything and we’ll put it here next issue. #theurbanite

In numerous cities throughout North America, law schools are viewed as both cornerstones and points of civic pride for communities; New York, Boston, Oklahoma City, Phoenix and St. Louis all have law schools located in their respective downtown cores.

The influx of an additional 700 warm bodied Windsorites into the downtown core would have generated a spin off which could have seen additional business, services and amenities offered to core residents, workers and patrons alike.

CAPTURING THE SPIN-OFF: Higher Education as a Catalyst for Downtown Revitalization, was a panel discussion held by the Urban Land Institute Boston which discussed how downtown campuses create economic opportunities for the host municipality and adjacent businesses and how they can also generate additional demands for transit, safety, security and ancillary services.

Now there’s no doubt, the deal was expensive: the city was to transfer $15 million to the university as part of the deal, and the additional two floors required to house the federal employees at the new city hall was to cost an extra $12 million.

In a very rough total, for the deal to have gone according to the [then] plan, it would have cost city taxpayers $27 million; no doubt, a large chunk of change.

But residents would have walked away with a cornerstone of the downtown core reestablished as a point of pride.

At some point, Windsorites needs to get comfortable boasting about what we have to offer, and until we get to that point, there will undoubtedly be continuous contention about big spending projects and whether our city is even worthy of such ideas.

Is Windsor worthy? You bet your ass we are.

— JON LIEDTKE

Publisher/Editor: Natasha Marar (natasha@urbanitenews.com) Managing Editor: Jon Liedtke (jon@urbanitenews.com) Art Director: Stephen Hargreaves Circulation: Joey Acott Contributors: Adam D’Andrea, Jenn McMullan, Dan Savage, Stephen Hargreaves, Jay Verspeelt, H.G. Watson, Amanda Sinasac, Walter Petrichyn, Sean Previl

Inquiries and sales: 226-674-0140 Information: info@urbanitenews.com News tips: tips@urbanitenews.com Letters: letters@urbanitenews.com

The Urbanite 380 Pelissier St., Unit 204 Windsor, ON N9A 6W8

Copyright 2014. Urbanite Media Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reprinted without the written permission of the publisher. The Urbanite is available free of charge.

Subscriptions are available by mail at $60 per year.

urbanitenews.com @urbanitenews #theurbanite

NEWS

THE URBANITE » URBANITENEWS.COM » JAN. 29 2014 » 3

Plans underway for new Walkerville

Olde Walkerville is set for a face lift this summer including pedestrian and cyclist friendly streetscape » Photos Jay Verspeelt ADAM D’ANDREA Walkerville has seen a large number of independent businesses move into the area over the past year, drawing comparisons to Toronto’s Yorkville neighbourhood because of its abundance of trendy and unique restaurants and shops.

Most people see roadwork as a nuisance that can turn a drive home into a frustrating ordeal and occasionally cost businesses customers, the need for new water mains in the Walkerville business district is being turned into a positive opportunity to further beautify and improve the area.

Aspects of the streetscaping plan may include traffic calming measures to make the area more pedestrian and bicycle friendly, benches, greenery and other decorative elements with a “historic look.” The plan currently isn’t set in stone, including the exact start date, but BIA members have been meeting to discuss what they hope to accomplish.

Water main construction and road repaving is expected to begin soon after the Canada Day parade in July. The project will be used by the Walkerville BIA as a chance to implement a “streetscaping plan” in an attempt to enhance the livability and aesthetics of the neighbourhood.

According to Ward 4 Coun. Alan Halberstadt, the city has put aside $1,050,000 for the streetscaping plan in the 2014 capital budget, as well as $1.4 million to resurface Wyandotte Street between Devonshire Road and Bruce Avenue. Walkerville only represents five blocks of that stretch of Wyandotte, however. Norbert Poggio, water engineering director at the Windsor Utilities Commission, said the water main portion of the project will cost around $1 million.

“Well, nobody likes construction. Nobody says, ‘Yay! Let’s rip out the area,’” said Walkerville BIA co-ordinator Joan Charette. “But it’s just a fact that the water mains have to be done. Let’s take the positive side of it and make it beautiful once the project’s finished.”

“The biggest takeaway is that the water mains have to be done anyway, so we felt if we’re going to do it that it’s an opportunity for the BIA to step forward with a streetscaping plan that’s not just going to put down pavement but also provide a better environment,” said Charette.

Charette said she is optimistic about the impact it will have on the future of Walkerville, even though it may cause some community events to be rescheduled.

“I would think that something like this streetscape is only going to make property values go up, and I think it’s going to make Walkerville more popular than ever once it’s complete,” said Charette.

While the streetscaping plan may be beneficial in the long run, Penny Jane’s Vintage and More owner Jane Renaud said she’s somewhat concerned about the effects the construction could have on her business.

“I absolutely agree that when it’s all said and done it’s going to be beautiful. It’s just the time in between that’s going to be worrisome for business owners such as myself,” said Renaud. “As a business owner it’s already hard and I know it’s not going to be a short thing. I think it’s going to take awhile. But we will promote ourselves the best we can during that time. In the long run I do believe it’s going to look really nice.”

Renaud said the pedestrian-friendly measures of the streetscaping plan will be great, but she believes it could cut down on parking which may potentially decrease the number of customers who aren’t from the Walkerville area.

“There’s not really that much available.

Side streets and a couple of small areas.

At least now you can park on both sides of the streets for blocks, but I know the layout of it cuts down parking,” said Renaud. “I think it’s going to be great when it’s done, but we still worry as shop owners.”

Walkerville residents who are looking to give their input on what they’d like to see as part of the streetscaping plan can do so by contacting the Olde Walkerville Residents Association.

Join the conversation #theurbanite

THE URBANITE » URBANITENEWS.COM » JAN. 29 2014 » 4

Bridging Business accelerator the decelerating virtual reality Rift sean previl

jon liedtke A Windsor expat is developing applications and games for the Oculus Rift, which has recently raised $75 million in venture capital to make it the most successful piece of virtual technology equipment to ever exist.

Virtual reality devices are a sought after piece of tech in the computing industry and applications for virtual reality devices are wide ranging. Many believe that they will become commonplace throughout various industries within a few years.

“We believe Oculus will not only alter the gaming landscape but will redefine fundamental human experiences in areas like film, education, architecture and design. Oculus is at the tip of the iceberg of its potential, and we’re incredibly excited to help them change the world,” said Marc Andreessen, co-founder of Andreessen Horowitz a venture capital firm in a press release last month.

Oculus previously have raised an $18.4 million in funding, and have sold more than 40,000 Oculus Rift development kits to developers that are actively supporting the headset.

Mike Fortais is a Toronto-based Oculus developer who got his start locally with a degree in Tradition and Digital Animation from St. Clair College. For the last five years he has been employed in

the video game and simulation industry.

“I’ve [developed for] Android, iOS, PC, Mac, there was some Blackberry … [and] as far as the simulation [contracts], most are under nondisclosure agreements,” he said.

Fortais was a texture artist for the Xbox 360 game Murder Miners and explained that less than five per cent of his skillset was developed through his education, while the remainder was self-taught.

“There’s so many other applications for the rift [besides gaming],” said Fortais.

“Be it engineering visualizations, architectural visualizations, medical, to be able to train surgeons, you could have a first person perspective unlike any other … the applications are very widespread.”

Fortais expects the device will change how people interact with technology on a very fundamental basis.

“This is going to be big. To what scale, I’ll hold my reservations. But as it is now, after [developing with] this thing for one-and-a-half months, I don’t want to play [or develop] regular games anymore. This is so much fun.”

“I firmly believe two-three years after the initial [release], everyone will want one of these,” he said.

For many starting a new business, Windsor isn’t the first place that comes to mind. With decades of a heavy automotive presence in the city, recently there’s been less desire by Windsorites to become business owners.

“As GM and Ford entered, the landscape changed and people were really more apt to get a secure job with a nice pension than running their own business,” said Arthur Barbut, manager of the Downtown Windsor Business Accelerator.

Barbut says a turn in the economic environment plus the 7.8 per cent unemployment rate is why the accelerator exists; to give businesses their chance. An entrepreneur or small business can join the other 26 tenants in the 7,000 square foot building, with cost ranging from $95 to $750.

According to tenants, moving into the building has many benefits.

“I work with a lot of very intelligent, motivated people and that in itself is motivating for me and for the other people as well,” said Christopher Pressey, a graphic

designer who moved into the building three years ago.

But the DWBA is always looking to improve itself and to do so, four members ventured to Detroit on Jan. 24 to find out what works for that city’s accelerators and what they could bring back to Windsor.

“Most people we talked to seemed to be in agreement that a lot of money was flowing in Detroit,” said Barbut. “People were investing because they knew that was the right direction for the city. That’s clearly not the case in Windsor unfortunately, not yet anyways.”

The ability of the DWBA to support other businesses does not come without a price. Although 87 per cent of businesses part of an accelerator program succeed, according to the Canadian Association of Business Incubators, Barbut said getting funding is still a huge difficulty.

While the Accelerator received $50,000 through a Trillium grant and money from both investors and business mentors, three years later there are only

enough funds to keep the lights on and the grant is close to running out.

In December, Windsor city council rejected a request by the accelerator for annual funding support of $88,000 in a 5-4 vote. “It’s certainly scary. But we’ve come too far to give up,” said Barbut.

Across the border, incubators work differently, receiving money for running their operations, growing new businesses and seed funding that can be passed onto the companies the incubators support.

“TechTown has the funding for programmatic support which allows us to train and nurture new companies and launch them into the world,” said TechTown Detroit president Leslie Smith.

With more funding, the DWBA could better support their tenants. But the businesses work to help each other to make up for the lack of funding.

“We can help each other as a team and that’s how we’re picking up that slack,” said Pressey.

THE URBANITE » URBANITENEWS.COM » JAN. 29 2014 » 5

Forgotten Windsor: Jackson Park bandshell

The Jackson Park bandshell has languished in obscurity for over 40 years » Photos Jay Verspeelt walter petrichyn There are hidden architectural gems in cities across the world. Some of them are best kept secrets, and some lived great past lives.

In our border area, Ann Arbor has Heyoon, Detroit has the Belle Isle Aquarium and Windsor has the Jackson Park Bandshell.

Erected shortly after World War II, the bandshell was combined with a Jockey Club grandstand for the purpose of creating an exciting recreational outdoor entertainment area.

The bandshell became the annual venue for the city’s Emancipation Day celebrations. The event which started in the 1930s brought crowds from across Canada and the United States to Jackson Park for music, parades, amusement rides and beauty pageants.

The bandshell was rebuilt in 1959 following a fire, but it eventually fell into disuse.

Currently, the grandstand has been removed, and the bandshell stands empty.

“In the mid-1990s, on a wander through the park, we slid through an opening in the fence and played handball on the stage, bouncing a tennis ball off the back wall and overhang. As fun as that was, there could be so much more here,” said former Windsorite Shawn Micallef, an urbanist author and Toronto Star columnist.

The City of Windsor’s Parks and Recreation Department currently uses the venue for storage, and the bandshell is listed in the Windsor Heritage Municipal Register affording it greater protection from demolition inquiries.

In 1976, the heritage registry was started and to list individually designated properties. The first property designated was Willistead Manor.

“There were probably about a dozen within the next five years,” said John Calhoun, heritage planner for the City of Windsor.

“About 1990, an inventory was created that accumulated a list of properties that were of interest and possibly to be designated. That had no official standing until 2007,” said Calhoun. “In 2005, the Ontario legislature amended the Ontario Heritage Act to permit municipalities to list properties for at least the first level of protection.”

“If it’s listed but not designated … it has to go through city council and the Heritage Committee [in order to be demolished],” explained Calhoun.

During Calhoun’s five years with the department, he’s seen roughly five heritage buildings approved for demolition, with the most recent being the former Danny’s Tavern.

Mike Clement, Manager of Parks Development, explained that at the present time his department had no plans for development or changes to the bandshell structure.

Local author and musician Scott Hughes performed at the bandshell in the past and hopes to see it in use again.

“Performing live at the Jackson Park Bandshell represented the height of our summer,” said Hughes. “I think the city owes this to the people once again; the musical culture it spawned in the post-war city was very important.”

FOOD& DRINK Tapping into the micro-‘Brew’ “If you can’t get drunk off our beer because you can only drink a few of them, then we didn’t do the job properly.”

-Joshua Goure

jon liedtke

Brothers of Brew, Windsor’s latest in a new throng of microbreweries, Joshua and Jordan Goure » Photo Stephen Hargreaves

Spring 2014 is set to be the season of breweries as Brew, Windsor’s latest in a series of soon-to-be-opened breweries, is set to launch within blocks of Caesars Windsor in an old chocolate factory.

Brothers and Brew spokespeople Jordan and Joshua Goure talked about the upcoming venture and their past experience in the restaurant and bar industry.

The brothers’ first project in Windsor was The Pour House restaurant, which was shut down last year following a trend of business closures on Chatham Street. They had also been a part of the former Symbol Nightclub (now The Bank NightKlub), the Well House (formerly Lefty’s) and Treehouse.

Having noticed a decline in overall business in the downtown core over the past few years, the brothers came to realize that location wasn’t “pinnacle” and that being

in the core wasn’t necessary.

“As a manufacturing facility first … it’s better that we’re in between three busy entertainment districts, being Walkerville, Erie Street and downtown,” said Jordan.

“Rather than just in one … not putting all of our eggs in just one basket.

Jordan and Joshua plan on rolling out a full service venue and are seeking a manufacturing, retail and full liquor licence, which would allow for their product to be sold both on and off premise, and for the sale of other alcoholic beverages besides beer.

“You’ll be able to hold an event here, you’ll be able to drink other liquors that we don’t create in house and you’ll be able to drink our beer,” said Jordan. “We can create products here and we can also sell other companies products.”

Having studied the craft beer market in the United States, Joshua explained that he and his brother see the Windsor craft beer market was virtually “untouched.”

could be a gateway to educate people on microbreweries and craft breweries and really expand their horizons,” said Josh.

“As you’ve seen in the States, there’s been a huge influx [of craft breweries] and they’re being very well received, and people are getting more educated on craft beer as they did in the past with wines and many other spirits,” he said. “This market has been untouched … from 2006 to 2012 Windsor didn’t have any breweries whatsoever, so we feel [that] the market is wide open.”

“If you can’t get drunk off our beer because you can only drink a few of them, then we didn’t do the job properly,” he said.

Brew will initially offer a standard lager at the outset to appeal to a wide clientele.

“That’s where I think we are going to differ from the other breweries, we’re going to do something a little smoother drinking, not quite as hoppy. It’s not that we don’t appreciate that stuff, but we feel that we

After year one the brothers plan to introduce a chocolate stout as a seasonal brew to recognize the history of the building.

Brew is expected to open in spring 2014, but the brothers explained that they will not rush the product to market.

“We don’t want to release an inferior product. We want to make sure everything is absolutely perfect, that’s something we have learned in our experience,” said Joshua.

THE URBANITE » URBANITENEWS.COM » JAN. 29 2014 » 7

New coffee shop drops anchor

Going loco at Acapulco jay verspeelt There’s an old cliché that says don’t knock it until you try it, and if there’s anything to not about Acapulco Delight, it’s that the restaurant doesn’t conform to clichés.

Acapulco Delight Restaurant and Tavern is a gritty late night dive restaurant off the beaten path of Windsor’s downtown. Located six blocks away from the industrious keg stand that is the bar-scape, Mexican food with a cult following is being served to the pre-hungover.

“Sure you’re going to feel awful from all those laxative foods, but are you sure it’s not really from all the alcohol you had?” questioned Windsorite Phil Beaudoin on the institution.

When Acapulco Delight owner Alberto Ham Chi died in September 2013, his sons Kevin and Bryan took the space over.

The latest cafe in Windsor is Huron Church’s Anchor » Photos Jay Verspeelt

“I do nothing,” said Kevin Ham Chi. “I just let it shape itself. I just show up, with no advertising at all, I show up and see what happens. I have no idea why people come, I assume they like the food and prices are cheap.”

jenn mcmullan For Rachel and Kyle Bondy, owning their own business has been a goal on the horizon for many years, but they finally set down their line in the right place.

Father Ham Chi didn’t want to work for anyone but himself and in 1991 he opened the restaurant in its former location behind what is now Phog Lounge. Kevin said that the space was much more wild in that time. In 1999, Acapulco moved to it’s current location at 656 Pitt St.

“It’s been a dream of ours for a long time. I’ve always wanted to open a place since the beginning of high school,” said Rachel. “I started to apply to a bunch of cafés to work at, about four or five shops to get experience, then the right opportunity came up and we jumped on it.”

Kevin recalled that before the 2 a.m. postLoop smorgasbord embraced the late-night cuisine, the building had been home to a casino bar called Blackjacks, a gay bar and a laundromat.

Rachel used the tips and advice she acquired from working with other small business owners to develop Anchor Coffee House, located on Huron Church Road. The café had a soft launch in early 2014, and has a modern contemporary feel of a trendy coffee shop, while still having a warm intimate effect.

The venture is a testament to the melting pot that is the North American experience. The bar is run by a Chinese family, whose parents were born and raised in Honduras before coming to Canada.

“Only my dad spoke Chinese, so both my parents speak Spanish as their first language, they were there for 30 or 40 years before they came here,” said Kevin.

“It’s the best Chinese restaurant in the city,” said patron Justin Humphrey.

Humphrey was there with friend Kyle Auger.

The two, who came from the Loop last Saturday night, had just finished their regular meal of chimichangas. Auger was drinking his last call thirst quencher.

At quarter to three in the in the morning, almost every table was filled.

“I’m the only place open, so they may be

» Photos Jay Verspeelt scared but I’ve cleaned up a little bit, so you know, [I’d] tell them it’s safe again,” said Kevin.

Although the bar is awash with a mismatched visage, including out of place fish tanks, it has a five star health and safety rating.

“It’s like Cheers, but I don’t know their names I just know what they order,” said Kevin.

Amongst the multitude of stepford chain restaurants, this locally owned option is a big draw for nearby workers. Tigo Pereira and Flipe Maurico said having a place around the corner from their building with a more personal atmosphere and staff is what brings them back.

Rachel said this positive response hasn’t just been from customers, but from local businesses as well. Building a local network to create a domino effect of a support system is an important objective for Rachel.

“I’d rather support a small mom and pop shop than a big chain,” she said.

“We get all our produce from Fred’s [Farm Fresh] across the street and in the summer I plan to get most of the produce from the Downtown Windsor Farmers Market.”

Rachel added, “[Our coffee’s] also local, we get all our coffee from Whipsaw Coffee Roasters. They’re always changing up where they get their beans from, but right now we’re serving the Brazilian, and they’re actually making us our own Anchor coffee blend.”

Aside from buying locally, Rachel said she makes everything from scratch and constantly changes the menu on a daily and seasonal basis. To help promote the café menu and connect with customers, social media has been a major focus.

“Right now we have our Facebook and Instagram,” she said. “It’s great because I can post everyday what the specials are and then a lot of people come in and later post on our wall. [We get to see] different things they’ve had and liked, that’s the best part.”

“Our goal is to give our customers an exceptional coffee experience, paired with delicious homemade creations.”

ARTS Amanda Sinasac

THE URBANITE » URBANITENEWS.COM » JAN. 29 2014 » 9

Fade in again; the return of Days Fade

During the glory days of hometown hardcore, Days Fade once dominated the Windsor music scene. While that era has long since passed, the band has embarked on a comeback. After a three-year hiatus, newcomer Dylan Betschel has taken over vocal duties, joining long-standing members bassist Ryan Barron, guitarist Mike Budinski and drummer Ian Dümmer. The Urbanite sat down with Betschel and Barron to get the scoop on lineup changes, the Windsor music scene, and what’s next for Days Fade.

Can you tell us a bit about the early stages of the band?

Barron: Well, we started in 2004. I met Garry Fontaine, who was the original guitar player, in high school at Assumption. He was forming a band and asked if I wanted to do vocals. I’d never done it before, but I said I’d give it a shot. It turned out good, they liked it, and so we played a couple shows. Our first show was at my house on my 19th birthday. From there, we played a few more shows, and then went through a couple member changes in the lineup.

Windsor hardcore band Days Fade emerges from a three-year hiatus. » Photo courtesy Days Fade

What were the reasons behind your decision to take a three-year hiatus?

Barron: Our singer, Shawn Slade, moved to London, so we didn’t really practice much. We weren’t playing many shows, so I decided to leave the band and I moved out west to Calgary. They didn’t really do anything after that, so we folded from there.

wracking, but once I first got on stage it was like I belonged.

Dylan, what are some of the challenges you face as the new front man of an already well-established band?

Betschel: I’ve never been in a band before, so it was a bit nerve wracking at first, and Days Fade was pretty big back in the day.

I went to one of their shows and everyone was going crazy and seemed to be really into it. I watched their YouTube videos, and people were up there dancing and singing the lyrics. So I had to put myself in the old vocalist’s shoes, and I had to bring the energy like it used to be. It was nerve

What has the response to your comeback been like?

Barron: It’s been good. We’ve had a lot of people that have seen us before that are still fans, so it’s been really good.

Since you started playing shows again, are you mainly performing older songs, new material or a combination of both?

Betschel: It’s all new stuff. We’ve been talking about playing an old song or two, but so far it’s just been new songs.

Would you say it’s mostly been older fans or new?

Barron: It’s been a little bit of both.

Betschel: Yeah, I’d say about half and half.

We’ve got the newer crowd, but also a lot of the older crowd.

How do you feel the Windsor music scene has changed since Days Fade formed?

Barron: There weren’t too many shows going on back then. We were just starting, so we weren’t really familiar with the scene. But once we started playing shows, I started booking shows. Mainly for us to play at first, but from there I’ve been booking more and more bands, and it’s just been progressing.

What are your primary goals for Days Fade in 2014?

Barron: We’re filming a music video in March with Urban Grind Media and the University of Windsor. We want to put out an EP, and then maybe a full length toward the end of the year. We want to try and tour out toward Nova Scotia this summer, out east and back, and maybe a bit in the States, too.

Betschel: It’s definitely picking back up.

Betschel: We definitely want to play a lot of shows on the road, and hopefully get signed by a label. We’d like to play with cool bands, get some cool merch out there, and just get our name out a little bit more.

Aside from lineup changes, in what ways has the band evolved since you started?

Barron: Musically, we take more time to write songs. It’s not just one of us writing, it’s all of us putting thoughts in. We keep trying to get more gear, better gear, and a van and trailer so we can go back on tour.

Days Fade is performing Saturday, Feb. 15 at The Dominion House Tavern for $5 with Grave New World (GTA), Storyteller (Kitchener), Heart & Harm (Windsor) and I am Sleepwalker (Windsor).

make The Urbanite come to life INTERACTIVE PRINT

Download Download thethe free Layar App app Layar

Scanthis anypage pages Scan marked ‘layer’

Discover interactive Discover content interactive content

THE URBANITE » URBANITENEWS.COM » JAN. 29 2014 » 9

Going against the grain jon Liedtke A local woodworker who specializes in custom dining room tables is being scouted by a production company that creates television shows for HGTV. Todd Lindsay, a 41-year-old local woodworker who is employed at Chrysler and produces custom works during his spare time, said that he’s been in talks to be featured on a television program.

“A production company in Ottawa, they do a few TV shows for HGTV, they got a hold of me a couple weeks ago,” said Lindsay. “They have a few up and coming TV shows they’re looking for people to fill some spots … that’s always fun to do.”

“It’s a challenge, there’s a lot of techniques in woodworking.” -TODD LINDSAY » Photos courtesy Todd Lindsay

Lindsay is self-taught and explained that it was a challenge to learn the tricks of his trade without formal education or training.

“It is a challenge, there’s a lot of techniques in woodworking,” said Lindsay. “It’s challenging figuring out everything to do [on your own]. I’ve been doing it for over 20 years, so I’ve kind of got a lot of practice.”

Lindsay primarily uses reclaimed wood from century-old barns scoured throughout the region.

“There’s a lot of work involved in taking down a barn,” said Lindsay. “You pull out the beams, then you have to de-nail them, then you have to get them cut into boards and make sure they’re dry, then you start to work on a table.”

Lindsay’s custom pieces can take anywhere from 20 to 40 hours to complete and a piece that he designed for The Manchester Pub was “labour intensive.”

“I usually take a couple days off a week just to concentrate on this, and pretty much I’m a few months backed up,” he said, while adding that he turns away 30 to 40 requests per month. “My tables have been in Switzerland, Ireland, [the] USA, Canada … it’s not worldwide, but it is international.”

Lindsay said that requests primarily come to him through word-of-mouth but that he maintains a website to get the word out.

“I’m a little secret in Windsor,” he said.

“Sometimes I really don’t know how they find me.”

THE URBANITE » URBANITENEWS.COM »JAN. 29 2014 » 10

Cochrane’s life is a highway h.g. watson Crissi Cochrane didn’t have to look far to find the talent that would help produce her new album.

“For the most part all the musicians on the record are Windsorites,” she said.

Even Windsor’s proximity to Detroit affected her sound. While the Nova Scotian born and bred singer’s first full-length album, Darling, Darling, was inspired by years of listening to east coast folk music, the just released Little Sway is clearly inspired by Motown harmonies and the soulful vocals of singers like Jill Barber and Amy Winehouse.

“Coming to this region it’s much more about soul and R&B and Motown,” she said. “I’m sponging it all in and making a different kind of record.”

It’s all part of how Cochrane has fully embraced life as a Windsorite since moving here four years ago.

“I can’t imagine going back to the east coast and living there,” she said. “I love this region now.”

She’s become a big part of the tight knit Windsor music scene, playing frequent shows throughout the city and supporting other acts and touring guests, including CBC Radio 3 host (and Crissi Cochrane fan) Grant Lawrence.

Cochrane even used to bake for her fans, a treat that you’d be unlikely to get at most other shows. But sadly — for us — it’s a habit she’s had to give up to focus on the music. “Some days I would think, I really ought be playing guitar today instead of spending all my time in the kitchen icing cupcakes,” she laughed.

But it’s not just the community that keeps her around. The people that contributed to her new album — Walkervilles’ musicians Mike Hargreaves, Stefan Cvetkovic, Pat Robataille as well as Katie Moor, a tenorsax player — were exactly the people she needed to get the soulful sound she was looking for.

Crissi Cochrane » Photo Steve Hargreaves

“The best players that I know are here in Windsor,” she said. “It’s not an accident or coincidence or love of Windsor, it’s actu-

ally that these are the best players I can think of.”

There’s also the personal relationships that keep her around and inspire her. Cochrane’s boyfriend is Hargreaves, and she finds hearing him work on Walkervilles songs as excellent motivation to improve her own material.

“We’re bouncing ideas off one each other,” she said, noting that the Walkervilles Motown revival style compliments her new record. “It makes sense that we would both be hopping on to the same boat of music.”

The economics of living in Windsor — where apartments and studio space come cheap — have also allowed her to keep pursuing her musical career. Cochrane is completely independent, having learned to manage her own career after taking a one-year music business course while she was still living in Nova Scotia.

“Really it was such a huge asset to get that experience of learning from people in the industry in Halifax,” she explained. “It gave so many tools to survive on your own in the music business because there are so many hats to wear.”

Though Windsor is now home, Cochrane is hoping to hit the road this spring. She has a homecoming show planned in Halifax, and she’d love to add some more dates in there.

And even though she’s only just put out a new record, she’s still working on new material. “I’m looking to put out some singles sometime in the late spring or early summer.”

In the meantime, you’ll find her in her favourite place in Windsor — her apartment, working on songs and watching the world go by.

“My chair by the window on my third floor flat is my favourite place in the world to observe, relax and write,” she said. “It’s one of the main reasons I can’t get out of Windsor. I love where I live so much.”

Crissi Cochrane plays a release party for Little Sway at Phog Lounge on Feb. 15. The show starts at 9:30 p.m. and tickets are available for $10.

Artists without borders

»

albums

Over 100 local art enthusiasts turned out for the opening of three new winter exhibits at the Art Gallery of Windsor Friday.

The exhibits are part of a three-year commitment by the AGW to develop a dialogue about the differences and similarities that exist along border regions and the way they shape everyday life and play into the collective cultures of Windsor and Detroit.

Last year’s Border Cultures: Part One (homes, land) exhibit is revisited in a second installment called Part Two (work, labour). Participating artists include those from Canada, United States, India, UK and of Métis origin.

Historical struggles in the region are documented in the exhibit, including the Underground Railroad, the anti-segregation protests in the auto factories and migrant workers. “[Border Cultures: Part One] brought together 10 artists from different parts of Canada and across the world to explore questions of belonging, nationhood and displacement,” said curator Srimoyee Mitra. The goal with the next exhibit is “to continue the research and the dialogue on the border that we embarked upon last year.”

Yousuf Karsh: The Ford Motor Company of Canada also opened to patrons Friday. The photo exhibit documents Karsh’s 1951 Ford commission examining the daily lives of auto workers.

A related film installation, Ford City: Working the Line, is also on display. The film looks at the assembly line process at Ford’s Windsor plant in 1938. The film is researched and produced by independent curator Rosemary Donegan. Both Ford exhibits run until April 6. Works from Border Cultures: Part Two (work, labour) are on display until April 13.

✩✩✩✩

LITTLE SWAY CRISSI COCHRANE SELF-RELEASED

✩✩✩✩

FAST MOTIONS THE BALCONIES COALITION RECORDS

It’s not quite ringing in the new year, but the sounds of this Windsor made album are starting 2014 in the record grooves of sometime around 1964.

Ottawa expat trio The Balconies displace their indie rock/pop vibe of 2011’s Kill Count EP for a brash of raw energy on their first fulllength album.

Crissi Cochrane is the Halifax born Windsor singer songwriter with apt east coast sensibilities. Her new record, Little Sway, is a remarkable and ineffable production of lounge jazz and sentimental imagery.

Released Tuesday, Fast Motions, maintains radio-friendly qualities that are sure to guarantee group airplay.

The tracks have an elaborate kinship with the likes of Feist, Coeur De Pirate, Nora Jones, scenes from Breakfast at Tiffany’s (and by extension Mancini) and friends The Walkervilles. Each bits of those acts can be effortlessly plucked from the sound as it fills the room.

The entire record features Walkervilles bassist and drummer Michael Hargreaves and Stefan Cvetkovic, as well as other performers such as Walkervilles singer and guitarist Pat Robitaille and former Yellow Wood singer Adam Rideout-Arkell.

It’s the kind of record you want to listen to while taking Via Rail, hiking up Mount Royal or just sitting in a café like Taloola, with people watching and quietly grinning at clientele in some pseudo-anthropological study.

Canada has a strange way of producing the best independent music while exporting the worst in parallel, because only in Canada can we have Dan Mangan but be known for Nickelback. Crissi Cochrane, particularly on this album, gives that idea a hope of change.

The album was put in the hands of Canadian producer Arnold Lanni, the notable frontman for 1980s power pop groups Frozen Ghost and Sheriff and producer for Our Lady Peace, Finger Eleven and Thousand Foot Krutch.

While melodic sounds permeate this album, the harder lyrics and deeper undertone suggest a shift from The Balconies’ earlier work; seemingly coinciding with the group’s move from their hometown of Ottawa to Toronto.

The first track, “Boys and Girls,” evokes raw power and a desire to put on some daisy dukes, leather boots and do a shot of Jack Daniels; almost.

Included in the 10-song album is a brasher re-recording of their 2011 single “Kill Count.” “The Slo” employs a softer, seductive harmony akin to Lana Del Rey. Lead singer Jacquie Neville, a pleasant and moderately quiet person off stage, comes into her own with an electrifying dose of energy in this record. Fast Motions is the best thing to come off The Balconies since Michael Jackson dangled a baby off one.

— NATASHA MARAR

In the meantime, be it hipster nostalgia or or adult contemporary, Cochrane’s music has something for everyone.

— JAY VERSPEELT scan with

» Photos Jay Verspeelt

LIFE stephen hargreaves

The bipolar vortex

Dealing with Seasonal Affective Disorder

Winter is tough. Many experts are calling this year’s winter “total balls.” Well, at least that’s what I heard someone in a suit in line at a coffee shop say. Aside from the annoyances of shovelling show, traversing unshovelled sidewalks and bundling up like Edmund Hillary every time you need to leave home, many of us who suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) take the cold, grey months of winter a bit harder than many others.

VACATION (OR DESTROY OTHER’S DREAMS)

The Mayo Clinic makes the following suggestion: “If possible, move to a sunnier climate ... SAD rarely affects people living within about 30 degrees of the equator.”

Thanks Mayo Clinic, why didn’t I think of that? Excuse me while I pack my things for the The Maldives. For those who cannot just pick up and move to the equator, Mayo suggest vacationing somewhere warm and sunny. For most people with SAD, it takes two or three days of bright sunshine to elicit a reversal of symptoms. For those of us who live in the real world (i.e. perpetually impoverished and unable to take lunch, let alone a week off of work) here are a few hints: 1.

Delete everyone who posts photos of their “winter getaway” on Facebook; you deserve a vacation more than they do and you’d look better in the bikini too. 2. Stop checking the weather, stop comparing our temperature to Dawson City and to Madrid, it’s unhealthy.

3. When someone starts to tell you about their recent vacation/cruise/colonialism immediately begin to cover them in snow, fill their car with snow, throw snow at their family, just not at the dog, the dog was likely left with a creepy neighbour while they were in Bora Bora.

According to the Canadian Mental Health Association, SAD is a type of depression that follows a seasonal pattern. For sufferers, the shortening days of late autumn are the beginning of a type of clinical depression that can last until spring.

A mild form of SAD, often referred to as the “winter blues,” causes discomfort but isn’t incapacitating. SAD can be a debilitating condition, preventing sufferers from functioning normally. It may affect their personal and professional lives, and seriously limit their potential.

How do we prevent falling into the bipolar vortex of winter SAD? Here are a few tips to help us through to spring.

GO OUTSIDE

It’s seems counterproductive, even crazy, to go outside while old man winter is blowing around white garbage in sub-zero temperatures, freezing your breath in mid-air and your boogers mid-nose, but it’s actually beneficial. I’m not saying that everyone should cycle, walk or snowshoe to and from work, rather just going outside for 10-15 minutes during the day and taking in natural sunlight, the benefits are both psychological and physiological. Sometimes it can even be fun, skating at Campus Martius Park in downtown Detroit on a sunny day is great, same goes for skating at Charles Clarke Square if the city opens the rink before June ... sigh.

Pop your headphones on too, it’s proven that the distraction of music helps us to deal with being surrounded by inclement weather (for best results see the playlist on the next page)

get moving

Many so called SAD experts recommend exercise, ideally outdoors and in the early morning hours. Cute, tell people who cannot deal with the weather or get out of bed in the morning to “get up early, go outside and run around.” A lot less sadistic method is to take time to exercise indoors ideally in the day, near a sunny window (God permitting) or get down to a gym or pool. I’ve always found that no matter the season if I’m in a pool a part of my mind is convinced it’s summer and I’m all the better for it.

KEEP TABS ON BOOZE AND CAFFEINE

Self-medication with alcohol and/or caffeine makes perfect sense. Coffee — a warm form of liquid energy — wakes you up and keeps you slightly less cold, while alcohol helps you forget just how horrible winter is.

Apparently this is not the way to do things.

Caffeine may give you a brief lift, but it can also cause anxiety, muscle tension and gastrointestinal problems. Herbal tea are a better choice than teas with caffeine. Alcohol, as tempting as it may be, is a depressant, which can further exacerbate your low mood, so pay mind to your boozy intake.

EAT WELL

“There’s a tendency to want to graze on carbohydrate-rich foods in the winter,” wrote Dr. Norman Rosenthal, a leading expert in SAD research in his 2012 book Winter Blues. People with SAD crave carbohydrates due to decreased serotonin, the chemical that makes a happy brain, because carbs promote the production of serotonin. Though avoid sugar, simple carbs from sweets cause a spike and crash in blood sugar. Rosenthal suggests complex carbohydrates, such as slow-cooked Irish oatmeal, especially as SAD sufferers likely have a hard time crawling out of bed, pressing ‘snooze’ and skipping breakfast. Don’t forget fruits either, apricots gradually raises serotonin levels and helps keep them there, as do apples, pears, grapes, plums, grapefruits and oranges, plus the latter are high in vitamin C.

have sex, lots of sex

So, we have to cut down on booze and coffee, while exercising and going outside into the tundra, all while eating well and trying not to murder people who can afford to vacation. Don’t worry there is good news, sexy news. Having regular sex is great for dealing with SAD. Sex is exercise, sex before sleep will set you up for a better night’s sleep.

Having sex once or twice a week shows 30 per cent higher levels of the antibody immunoglobulin A, which is known to boost the immune system. Psychologically, sex improves mental health by building intimacy and reducing stress. Even mediocre sex is the quickest way to boost your mood, fight depression and beat anxiety. And just to top that off, during sex your body produces a hormone called DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone) which boosts the immune system, decreases depression and gives you healthier skin that is less susceptible to dryness. So find someone you love, heck find someone who doesn’t repulse you and bone the SAD out of each other.

info sources

what makes us SAD

SUmmER SOnGS FOR SAD SUFFERERS It may sound silly but an unseasonable soundtrack can help with the winter blues. Here are a few tracks to distract the winter woes. Here are a few tracks to get your iTunes.

“The Only Place,” Best Coast “A Summer Song,” Chad & Jeremy “Island in the Sun,” Weezer “Sunny Afternoon,” The Kinks “Let’s Go Surfing” The Drums “(Love Is Like A) Heat Wave,” Martha & The Vandellas “Dancing In The Street,” Martha & The Vandellas “California Girls,” The Beach Boys “Rockaway Beach,” The Ramones “Hot Fun In the Summertime,” Sly & the Family Stone “Summer In the City,” Lovin’ Spoonful “Summertime,” DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince “Miserlou,” Dick Dale “In The Summertime,” Mungo Jerry “Summer Babe (Winter Version),” Pavement

homemade soup decadent desserts citywide catering ...

25 Amy Croft Dr. St. Clair Shores Shopping Centre Lakeshore, Ontario

519.735.6900

SAVAGE LOVE

THE URBANITE » URBANITENEWS.COM » JAN. 29 2014 » 14

»Working the kinks out Q:

I’m what was once quaintly called a “woman of a certain age” who started reading your column to broaden my horizons. As a result, some curiosities peeped their heads over the boundaries of my once happily repressed existence. I summoned the courage to join an online BDSM dating site. I got a response almost immediately from a man who decided to fill me in on how things worked. He proceeded to tell me my name would henceforth be Sub, advised me that he was to be addressed as His Majesty King Something, and ordered me to phone him. This was too much, too fast, and too weird.

I gave him what I thought was a plausible excuse for my decision not to proceed to avoid hurting his feelings. He wouldn’t take no for an answer. I tried blocking him, but he seemed to have several identities on the same site. I deactivated my account. So now I’m in a bit of a quandary as to where to seek out other options—preferably options that are safer and not so ritualistically restrictive.

Fear Of Flying

A:

“When folks first decide to explore a curiosity in kink or BDSM, one of the things I let them know is that this loose band of variegated kinky types—the kink community—is NOT a utopia of ultimate sexual enlightenment,” said Mollena Williams, a kinky author, activist, and blogger. “The kink community is a microcosm of the broader society, from the lowest common denominator to the crème de la crème.”

Sadly, FOF, it sounds like one of

your first interactions was with a LowCom, not a CrèmeDe. “I wish I could say her experience is unique,” said Williams. “But it is not. The same creeps, jerks, and assholes on standard dating sites are on BDSM-centric sites. And some will utilize the trappings of consensual kink to nonconsensually slime people.”

What Williams means by “slime,” FOF, is “manipulate, intimidate, and potentially abuse.” Creepy assholes like His Majesty King Something will seek out younger and/or less experienced subs like you, because older and/or more experienced subs are more likely to recognize his behavior for the red-flag sliminess it is—and older and/or more experienced subs would tell him to fuck off without feeling obligated to spare his feelings.

So what can you do? “Block the trolls,” said Williams, “and seek out the awesome folks who are also hanging out at sites like FetLife.com, ALT.com, iTaboo. com, and BDSMfriendbook.com.

A kink-friendly profile on a nonkink site is another option. I met my current dominant partner on OkCupid because my profile reveals that I happen to be a big old pervert. That caught his eye.

Kinky folks are everywhere!”

You also have offline options, FOF. “She can find local events by checking out Caryl’s BDSM Page (drkdesyre.com) or by joining FetLife and searching events in her area,” said Williams. “She can attend munches, which are nonsexual social meet and greets, and classes are good places to meet people who are

experienced.” Getting to know kinksters face-to-face doesn’t offer 100 percent protection from creeps, “but it’s a great way to get feedback, recommendations, and ever-important warnings. Essentially, dating in the kink world is no different than dating in the default world. You don’t have to drop your drawers because you’re told to. You don’t have to spank someone because they’re insisting they NEED it. Always meet on an equal footing first. Get to know potential partners and THEN decide if you’ve got enough in common to proceed.”

Two suggestions from me: Get a copy of Playing Well with Others: Your Field Guide to Discovering, Exploring and Navigating the Kink, Leather and BDSM Communities by Mollena Williams and Lee Harrington, and follow Mollena Williams on Twitter @ Mollena.

Q:

I’m a 30-year-old bi girl and have been with my girlfriend for nearly 10 years. We discovered a love of BDSM together and we’ve had lots of fun exploring. Until now. I am a natural sub, but my girlfriend asked to switch and for me to dominate her. I have tried to do this half a dozen times, but afterward—or sometimes during a scene—she tells me it isn’t working. She says that it’s not about my actions but about my “tone.”

Hearing this kills my ladyboner, and the scene fizzles and dies. It’s gotten to the point where I’m wondering if I should bother anymore if I can never get my “tone” right.

I want to please her, and that usually keeps me trying over and over,

but… I don’t know. I feel guilty and depressed because I can’t seem to return the pleasure she gave me when our roles were reversed.

Giving Up On BDSM

A:

Either your technique and style are both lousy—maybe every fiber of your being is (subconsciously) screaming “I hate this role” during a scene—or your girlfriend is one of those BDSM switches who has a difficult time submitting to someone she knows, loves, wakes up next to every morning, gets into arguments with about bills, etc. It might be better if she subbed for someone else, GUOB, while continuing to dominate you.

Q:

I am married to a man who is into BDSM. I am happy to do lighter stuff, but I am not interested in squeezing into an uncomfortable corset and using a flogger on him. It doesn’t turn me on. So I gave him permission to visit a pro. It seemed like a good idea at the time. The pressure was off me, he was getting what he needed, our relationship and sex life improved. But I had no idea how much pros cost! He has been spending hundreds of dollars each month on his kinks! He has been going to see a pro twice a month and spends $200+ on each visit!

I was shocked! I expected that he would go a few times a year and that these “sessions” would cost $100 a pop. We are supposed to be saving to buy a home! He spent more going to his pro in December than he did on Christmas! I asked him to cut back and go see someone cheaper, and he became angry

and defensive. He accused me of going back on our agreement.

I know he reads your column.

Please help! What is a reasonable number of times to see a pro?

What is a reasonable rate? What about a couple’s budget and plans for the future?

He Spent More Than I Thought

A:

Two hundred dollars a session—$200 an hour—isn’t an unreasonable rate when you consider a professional dom’s overheard and fixed costs. Corsets, floggers, bondage gear, and dungeon spaces do not come cheap. But unless money is no object and/ or you’re single, blowing $400+ a month on visits to a pro dom is unreasonable and unfair. That’s $4,800+ a year, which could go a long way toward a down payment on a house. Since there aren’t many pro doms out there who work for $100 an hour—or many partners as understanding as you—your husband should think about cutting way the fuck back, getting a second job, or winning the lottery. But here’s something for you to think about, HSMTIT: You say all those sessions with a professional dominant have improved your relationship and your sex life. If your husband were spending $100 a week to see a shrink—$5,200 a year—and you were seeing those kinds of results, would you object?

Sports talk with Dan’s brother Billy at savagelovecast.com.

» BY DAN SAVAGE » MAIL@SAVAGELOVE.NET » @FAKEDANSAVAGE

EVENTS

FIND AND SUBMIT EVENTS AT The Zilis w/ The Fisher Kings & JonaURBANITENEWS.COM/EVENTS than Duguay Phog Lounge | 10 p.m.

COMING UP WEDNEDSAY, JANUARY 29 Zine Night with Rosina Riccardo Civic Space | 7 p.m.

ART.WORK Professional Development Workshop Arts Council Windsor & Region | Civic Space | 6 - 8 p.m. | $10 ACWR members/$15 public Candyrat Guitar Night w/ Antoine Dufour and Tommy Gauthier Phog Lounge | 10 p.m.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 30 Silverstein w/ Dangerfield, Falling with Glory & TimeGiant Dominion House | 6 p.m. | $15 ADV/$20 ATG ART.WORK Professional Development Workshop Arts Council Windsor & Region | Civic Space | 6 - 8 p.m. | $10 ACWR members/$15 public A Fierce Green Fire screening City Cyclery | 7 p.m.

Driving Miss Daisy Windsor Light Music Theatre | 7:30 p.m. | $20 Guilty Simpson w/ Aztek The Barfly, Illingsworth, Nolan The Ninja & DJ Dante Lasalle Magic Stick (Detroit) | 8 p.m. | $8 ADV/$10 ATG Comedian CP The Shelter (Detroit) | 8 p.m.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 31 Windsor Essex & Region - Youth Job Strategy Forum Ciocario Club of Windsor | 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Driving Miss Daisy Windsor Light Music Theatre | 7:30 p.m. | $20 Ian Sirota Comedy Quarry | 8p.m.

Avenue Q The Chrysler Theatre | 8 p.m. | $25 & $30 Chelsey Danfield Taloola Cafe | 8 - 9 p.m.

The Native Howl w/ Ross Herner & The Deals Magic Stick (Detroit) | 8 p.m. | $10 Lord Huron w/ Night Beds Majestic Theatre (Detroit) | 8 p.m. | $16 ADV/$18 ATG The Contest w/ Sho Beaz, Tre Mob Records, Playground Myu-zik, Mak Loo & Earl Stacks The Shelter (Detroit) | 9 p.m. | $10

Lord Huron DJ set Majestic Cafe (Detroit) | 11:30 p.m.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 1 Next Stilt Girl Talent Search Auditions Absolute Fitness | 2 p.m.

Drinks of Walkerville Walking Tour Canadian Club Brand Heritage Center | 2 p.m. | $45 Avenue Q The Chrysler Theatre | $25 & $30 Umphrey’s McGee & The Werks The Fillmore (Detroit) | 7 p.m.

By Request: Bob Gabriele and Friends Knox Presbyterian Church (Leamington) | 7 - 9:30 p.m. | $12 Dom Kennedy w/ Skeme, Ro Spit & Midwest Rico St. Andrew’s Hall (Detroit) | 7 p.m.

Banjos, Bikes & Brews w/ The Gaiety Three City Cyclery | 7 - 10 p.m. | $10 Driving Miss Daisy Windsor Light Music Theatre | 7:30 p.m. | $20 Chelsey Danfield w/ Malik and Natalie Steiner Milk Coffee Bar Ian Sirota Comedy Quarry | 8p.m. & 10:30 p.m.

Kids at the Bar w/ Digiraatii, Omair Mirza, Electronic Eurphoria & Jedeye Majestic Theatre (Detroit) | 9 p.m. | $15 ADV/$20 ATG Emilie Mover w/ Megan Bonnell Phog Lounge | 10 p.m.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 2 Table Tennis Tournament University of Windsor (St. Denis Centre) | 3-6 p.m. | $10 Superbowl Sunday Bull n’ Barrel | 4 p.m.

The Big sLow Down - Superbowl Sunday Edition dinner Phog Lounge | 6 p.m. | $15 Avenue Q The Chrysler Theatre | $25 & $30 Driving Miss Daisy Windsor Light Music Theatre | 2 p.m. | $20 MONDAY, FEBRUARY 3 Dark Star Orchestra Majestic Theatre | 8 p.m. | $22 ADV/$25 ATG TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 4

THE URBANITE » URBANITENEWS.COM » JAN. 29 2014 » 15 The Shelter (Detroit) | 7 p.m.

Ron Leary’s Lunar Cycle w/ Mr. Chill, Scotty Hughes & Kenneth MacLeod Phog Lounge | 10 p.m.

The Pixies w/ Cults The Fillmore (Detroit) | 7 p.m. | $39.50-$59.50

Transit w/ Hit the Lights, Brian Marquis and Front Porch Step WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 5 Magic Stick (Detroit) | 7 p.m. | $10 Canadian Youth Business Foundation ADV/$12 ATG - The Big Idea Lab Workshop (Part 1) University of Windsor (Vanier Hall) | 9 Karmin w/ Bryce Vine a.m. - 2 p.m. | $110 (both workshops) St. Andrew’s Hall (Detroit) | 7 p.m.

Mix @ The Max feat. Morgan James Detroit Symphony Orchestra | 6 p.m.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6

Intimate Classics: Modern Romantics Windsor Symphony Orchestra | Leamington United Mennonite Church | 7:30 p.m.

A Woman of No Importance A Woman of No Importance University Players | Essex Hall Theatre University Players | Essex Hall Theatre | 8 p.m. | $20-$21 | 8 p.m. | $19-$20 Next Stilt Girl Talent Search Auditions Avenue Q The Chrysler Theatre | 8 p.m. | $25 Carparelli’s Sound Lounge | 8 p.m. & $30 Brian Burke Quartet Chelsey Danfield Phog Lounge | 8 p.m. | PWYC Twiggs (Emeryville) | 8 p.m.

G. Love & Special Sauce w/ Kristy Lee St. Andrew’s Hall (Detroit) | 8:30 p.m. Michael Harrison Comedy Quarry | 8 & 10:30 p.m. | $12 Chelsey Danfield w/ Walter Senko, Daniyal Malik & Bobby Sprout Cellos w/ Hawkeyes, Wtchs & J-Zed Dominion House | 9 p.m.

Phog Lounge | 10 p.m.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 7 SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 9 Warm Your Heart barista and chocoExhibition Talk: State of Expectation latier demonstration MOCAD (Detroit) | 1 p.m.

Ten Thousand Villages Intimate Classics: Modern Romantics Windsor Symphony Orchestra | 11 a.m. & 7:30 p.m.

A Woman of No Importance University Players | Essex Hall Theatre | 2 p.m. | $19-$20

Winter 2014 Art Exhibitions Opening Avenue Q The Chrysler Theatre | 2 p.m. | $25 MOCAD (Detroit) | 6 p.m. | $5/$0 & $30 MOCAD members Zoso - A Tribute to Led Zeppelin St. Andrew’s Hall (Detroit) | 7 p.m.

Windsor Express vs. London Lightning WFCU Centre | 7 p.m.

Sunday Meat Draws Dominion House | 3:30 p.m. | Tickets $2 each The Black Angels w/ Rocky Erickson Magic Stick (Detroit) | 7:30 p.m. | $20 ADV/$23 ATG

A Woman of No Importance University Players | Essex Hall Theatre MONDAY, FEBRUARY 10 | 8 p.m. | $20-$21 Blog Party Civic Space | 7 - 10 p.m.

Avenue Q The Chrysler Theatre | 8 p.m. | $25 Genealogical Research of Essex & $30 County Black Settlements Windsor Public Library (Central) | Dilla Day Detroit 7 - 9 p.m.

The Fillmore (Detroit) | 8 p.m.

I Love Burlesque show Venue Music Hall | 8 p.m. | $12 ADV/$15 ATG Michael Harrison Comedy Quarry | 9 p.m. | $12 Tire Swing Co. & Middle Sister album release Phog Lounge | 10 p.m.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 8 EPIC Wineries Festival of Ice Participating wineries | 12 - 5 p.m.

New Politics w/ Magic Man & Sleeper Exhibition Talk: I Cancel All My Works Agent MOCAD (Detroit) | 1 p.m.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 11 Wild Cub w/ Hands Magic Stick (Detroit) | 8 p.m. | $12 ADV/$12 ATG

WEEKLY MONDAYS Open Mic Surgery w/ James O-L Phog Lounge | doors 9 p.m.

TUESDAYS Open Stage Night w/ Year’s of Ernest Dominion House | 5 p.m.

V.O.M.I.T. (Vocal Original Music Instrumental Talent) Villains Beastro WEDNESDAYS Wacky Wexican Wednesdays w/ Dee Russ Dominion House | 5 p.m.

P.U.K.E. (People Using Karaoke Equipment) Villains Beastro The Groove Trio FM Lounge | 8 p.m.

Vice Aerial Phog Lounge | 10 p.m.

THURSDAYS Celtic Night w/ Mark Crampsie Dominion House | 5 p.m.

Open Mic w/ Anderson FM Lounge | 10 p.m.

FRIDAYS Loveless Fridays w/ Daniel Victor The Loop | 10 p.m.

After Work Party Rino’s Kitchen | 7 p.m.

ONGOING “3” Art Exhibition Detroit Artists Market, until Feb. 15 Border Cultures: Part Two (work, labour) Art Gallery of Windsor, until April 13

Oscar-nominated ďŹ lmmaker Mark Kitchell spans the broad scope of environmental history ... connecting its origins with the variety of issues still challenging society today.

-Justin Lowe, The Hollywood Reporter

thuRsDAy jANuARy 30 @ city cyclERy

DooRs oPEN At 7:00 P.M. DocuMENtARy stARts At 7:30 P.M. 553 liNcolN RD. At WyANDottE AvE. | No covER