Volume 1, Issue 7 - March 12, 2014

d-tours

March 12 2014 vol. 01 issue 7 urBaniteneWs.coM

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Getting intimate with the neighbours p.06 ///// cheap drinks p.12 ///// tours p.05 ///// bicycle week

scan with

setting to clean up in the soap biz

east side soap co. awash with new interest

Battle of the poutines separating the curds from the fries

vIEWS STAY AT HOME I’m getting really tired of hearing people say that Windsor sucks. Our city can only be what we make it and our detractors have had traction for too long.

The standard has been that there’s plenty to drink and do around here that’s affordable, but there’s nothing else and God forbid you be under 19 or you’re going to be stuck at the mall among the throngs of dead-eyed shoppers wandering aimlessly from sale to sale.

THE URBANITE » URBANITENEWS.COM » MARCH 12 2014 » 2

WILLISTEAD PARK OPPOSITION UNWARRENTED Change is scary. I get it.

It’s scarier when you have property value on the line, not to mention a vested interest in seeing things preserved. Willistead Manor and park is gorgeous. It’s easily one of my favourite places in the city.

the fact that interlocking brick is still difficult for those with accessibility issues to travel on, it would be far more expensive to do so.

A vocal opposition has taken to Facebook and has created a group to champion their cause. Save Willistead Park! hopes to to halt all construction until input from the disabled community is sought by the city.

Perhaps they don’t realize that Windsor’s Accessibility Committee is made up of volunteer citizens, disabled citizens and one member of city council, and its main purpose is to seek to eliminate barriers for persons with disabilities.

Yes, there are some serious problems that we have. We were built for the car and yes, transit on the whole is terrible and in need of improvement. We have a mall far removed from the core with stores that don’t retain their profits within the city limits.

On March 17 Windsor City Council will decide whether to install a 10-foot wide accessible pathway throughout Willistead Park at the recommendation of the Windsor Accessibility Committee and city administration.

Downtown has, when I counted in 2012, more than 50 bars and less than 10 general retailers; this continues to be a problem. It seems like people pick up and move as soon as they’re done school. I’ll admit that I did, twice.

Opposition to making Willistead Park more accessible is hands down one of the most unwarranted and mind-bogglingly offensive ‘causes’ that a fair amount of Windsorites have taken up.

And I’m not suggesting their hearts aren’t in the right place. These people love the park and they don’t want it see their gem broken; a commendable cause.

No one wants to take the onus for making their city better. We have this mass inferiority complex where we think we should be more like Toronto, but everyone leaves, never giving us the chance to grow.

I spent much of my youth in Willistead Park, enjoying the vast green space in the midst of one of the nicest neighbourhoods in the city. It occupies a very special place in my heart and I would hate to see anything compromise the integrity of this place I, and so many people, hold so dear.

But for too long the park has been broken. Broken in that sense that is is not accessible. Willistead Park does not belong to the residents of Walkerville, but rather to the city as a whole. For this reason, the park must be made fully accessible.

Having said that, in no way do I oppose accessibility improvements to the park. It pains me to think that there are residents of Windsor who are not able to enjoy the park in the same way that I have.

Embrace the change, take the catharsis that comes with it, and find solace in the fact that if approved, Willistead Park will become accessible for all residents of Windsor, not just residents of the neighbourhood of Walkerville.

If we’re going to blow then lets blow, hard: with phallic bushes, drunk night swims across the Detroit River and George Lopez passing out at Caesars Windsor.

If we can’t have thriving retail and be a “livable city” let’s embrace being degenerates. Once we normalize our behaviour we can commune around our perceived decadence.

Here’s our problem, we’re impatient. If you want to create your own path, you have to hold down the grass. If you want a downtown gym, start one; if you want a downtown bike shop, go yell at our art director.

The point is simple: we need to start embracing the road less traveled and if we don’t, the only result will be that we will continue down the same path we’re on. We were the home of rum running. This is the home of bad choices and risky decisions. We can run over our detractors with tractors.

I’m done moving away. I’m here for the long haul because Windsor needs every person it can get. Forget the WFCU Centre, forget the aquatic centre, forget any legacy project that we have. Ask not what your city can do for you, ask what you can do for your city.

— JAY VERSPEELT

Members of the group claim that the true reason for installing the pathways is much more sinister than accessibility. They point the finger at what they believe to be the true culprit: Art in the Park.

The city’s website claims the accessible pathways would be “looped through the park to enable users to enjoy all Willistead has to offer. The pathways will provide a safe, dry and accessible route for walking, jogging, using a wheelchair or pushing a baby stroller.”

— JON LIEDTKE

In addition to the accessible pathways, storm drainage would be installed to “further enhance the usability and enjoyment of the entire park.”

After heavy rainfall, the park is essentially unusable until the vast amounts of water which collect evaporates. Those who oppose the pathway don’t oppose storm drainage whatsoever (this is made abundantly clear), what they do oppose is the full scope of the accessibility enhancements— the interconnected pathways.

They believe that the city’s recommendation of 10-foot pathways are too wide and that if pathways are essential that they should be half that width and made of interlocking bricks. If the paths were limited in size they wouldn’t be wide enough to be deemed accessible and aside from

Publisher/Editor: Natasha Marar (natasha@urbanitenews.com) Managing Editor: Jon Liedtke (jon@urbanitenews.com) Art Director: Stephen Hargreaves Circulation: Mike Evans Contributors: Jenn McMullan, Dan Savage, Jay Verspeelt, Amanda Sinasac, Loren Mastracci, Leonard Thomas

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NEWS

THE URBANITE » URBANITENEWS.COM » MARCH 12 2014 » 3

To vote, or not to vote?

There is another option

Declining to vote/voting none of the above as a legitimate political choice

jon liedtke From student council to federal politics, electors often face a ballot filled with candidates they don’t resonate with.

Voters are forced to spoil a ballot or cast it for a candidate they don’t support, but there is another option. Voting none of the above is a valid method to voice displeasure with the candidates and actively participate in democracy.

“There’s always times that people feel they want to vote but the choices are so limited,” said University of Windsor political science professor Lydia Miljan, who has studied elections throughout her career. “... to actually have an option to decline your vote is positive because it does send a message to the elected that the public isn’t happy with the choices they were offered.”

On April 30, local political activist Paul Synnott will launch declineyourvote.ca, a provincial campaign to educate voters.

“In my mind, there seems to be a lot of angst out there and dissatisfaction with the current political parties. So even though it sounds kind of counter intuitive, decline your vote is actually about encouraging people to participate in the election,” said Synnott.

Declined votes are recorded separately from spoiled ballots and are “a way to send a message to the government,” said Synnott.

“Hopefully, it will show the parties that there are thousands of votes out there that

they could have if they actually were more broad based,” he said.

Miljan expressed that while some research suggests that people don’t vote due to apathy, she would be interested to see if voter turnout would increase if electors knew they could cast their ballot for none of the above.

Following a controversial undergraduate referendum in which students voted to endorse and participate in a 2005 call to Boycott, Divest and Sanction Israeli companies that profit from “war crimes,” the University of Windsor Students’ Alliance general election is off to a bumpy start with six executive and six board of directors positions running uncontested in this week’s general election.

Adam Bednarick, a concerned fourth year international relations student, launched a campaign advocating students to vote none of the above when he had heard that the UWSA chief returning officer would penalize candidates for informing students they could vote none of the above.

The campaign, which is hosted on Facebook at www.facebook.com/noneoftheabovevote, has seen students and candidates conversing back and forth during the campaign period.

“It raises a red flag and really speaks to the credibility of the UWSA and is an embarrassment on the school,” said Bednarick, referring to the uncontested positions. “It could be [that the candidates are the best

options available] but there should still be others involved and others contributing to the democratic process at the UWSA.” Bednarick believes that voting none of the above allows students “an opportunity to participate in the democratic process … I believe it’s a positive move for the [election] and for the voting process and UWSA.” Similarly, Nick Lovell, a third-year law student, felt he had an obligation to begin a dialogue about the lack of choices for voters in the election.

UWSA executives earn $23,000 each— totaling almost$140,000 for the entire slate— which is one of the reasons Lovell has launched his campaign.

“I have no personal issue with executives being compensated for the work that they do,” said Lovell. “[$23,000] is an extremely large amount of money … it would be the equivalent of somebody handing in their resume and being given that job at this point.”

Lovell expressed that the lack of candidates running presented an atmosphere in which the UWSA “is becoming an insular incumbent-driven process where regular students are prohibited from participating.”

UWSA chief returning officer Shauhrat Gill expressed surprise at the lack of candidates running in the election. “If students decide not to run, that’s not under our control.”

Any candidate who advocates students to

vote none of the above will be penalized for negative campaigning, according to Gill, as he sees it as “telling students not to vote for the candidate.”

“If students, they don’t want to vote, they’ll do that themselves,” said Gill, who has yet to formalize punishment for such actions.

Gill sees such tactics as divisive, which is not how he believes universities should be.

“At university … we should be all together on an issue. We cannot be divided on issues.”

Miljan doesn’t see things as Gill does, however.

“If someone is advocating none of the above in the election, it’s simply means that they’re dissatisfied with the fact that there was no contest,” said Miljan. “I don’t see that as a particularly negative thing, it’s simply a way to express your point of view.”

Editors Note: Current UWSA candidates and slates were not available for comment due to an UWSA election bylaw penalizing candidates’ communication with media.

Q

THE URBANITE » URBANITENEWS.COM » MARCH 12 2014 » 4

Rose City Politics:

»pupatello at hyrdo one

Former Ontario provincial Cabinet Minister and long serving Windsor West MPP Sandra Pupatello was named chair of Hydro One. Pupatello is the CEO of the WindsorEssex Economic Development Corporation, a position she was named to in May 2013. It’s not entirely clear if Pupatello intends to continue to serve in both capacities. The Rose City Politics panel explores a very basic question in the wake of Pupatello’s new appointment to Hydro One: is it too much?

cessful MPP and cabinet minister, primarily because of her fierce tenacity and motivated work ethic. She has always been well respected among her peers and has excelled in all the positions she has filled.

Rino Bortolin

Kieran McKenzie

The question is simple and the answer even more simple. No. While many people will see the appointment of Pupatello to Hydro One as a patronage appointment, we have to ask ourselves what we want/expect from our CEOs and chairpersons. Pupatello has done a great job in her current position as CEO of WEEDC. Board chair Joe Byrne has stated as much recently when asked to comment about her new position. By all accounts, she has met or exceeded expectations put upon her at WEEDC. We should be focused on the results.

Without question. In fact I’d go so far as to say it’s absurd to suggest that Pupatello can simultaneously chair the board of directors of one of the largest and most important public companies in the province AND run our regional development commission.

If someone with Pupatello’s stature and experience can deliver above and beyond other candidates, should that not be enough to determine the merit of her earning the positions she now fills? When looking to fill positions on boards and agencies our political leadership often looks to close allies that they have worked alongside in the past.

Pupatello’s experience as a cabinet minister cannot be understated. She was a very suc-

Rino Bortolin

Hydro One will be a new challenge but not one that Pupatello will or should shy away from. She is not only a good choice for the position but possibly one of the best selections of all the possible choices.

Let me try to put this into perspective: Hydro One is a massive public company responsible for delivering power to virtually the entire province. It holds assets in excess of $20 BILLION and directly employs over 5,000 people across the province … it’s a large complicated organization in the midst of serious crisis.

This is a company that can’t even properly bill its customers— the previous chair was fired in large measure for this very reason.

Is it really time to hire someone who can at best devote one third of her energies (don’t forget Pupatello’s private sector commitment) to fixing this one serious problem at Hydro One? There’s plenty more to fix by

Husband, father (of three), chef/co-owner Rino’s Kitchen & Ale House. Rino Bortolin is a passionate advocate for all things local especially local food. Bortolin’s community activism focuses on local municipal issues, having run for city council in 2010. He’s contributed on many local campaigns at all three levels of government.

Kieran McKenzie

the way, not to mention the broader questions facing the energy sector in Ontario.

A part-time chairperson is not what Hydro One needs, even if it is the Warrior Princess.

The same arguments apply to WEEDC— this is an important organization in our region that when optimally operating can sustain and generate economic growth. The previous CEO Ron Gaudet did a great job working with our local vintners to rebrand our region’s wine making industry, for example. Should we accept less than a fully focused commitment to squeezing out the max value of WEEDC? Lastly, and it has to be said … this reeks of patronage. Premier Kathleen Wynne had options other than her former cabinet colleague ... so does Pupatello. I think she has to either chair Hydro One and fix that disaster OR continue to run the WEEDC and stay focused on growing our regional economy. She can’t do both.

Paul Synnott

sion stands. Is the premier’s appointment of Pupatello just for show; a political move meant to blunt the Ontario ombudsman’s investigation? If not, then how can she realistically continue to deliver leadership and results for our local development commission while reforming Hydro One and fulfilling her obligations to PriceWaterhouseCooper?

What’s needed at our development commission is on the ground leadership as a first priority. We’ve had a revolving door of economic development heads over the last 10 years.

Things got so bad that the mayor took the unusual step of creating his own economic development unit. If Pupatello was delivering for the community, the mayor’s economic unit should have been disbanded by now. It hasn’t.

At this point the only real economic development going on seems to be the hiring of Pupatello’s former political assistant as a business ombudsman, a position no one was asking for.

Enough is enough. Pupatello’s appointment as chair of the board of Hydro One should be cause for either her resignation or removal as head of WEEDC.

Given the extension of the Ontario ombudsman’s powers to the municipal sector last week, at least we can be safe in the knowledge we can save some money there and allow the real ombudsman to do his job.

As chair of the board, with a specific task to clean up a billing and customer service mess, we have to wonder just where on the priority list our development commis-

Catch the Rose City Politics crew in an upcoming issue of The Urbanite. Got a question for them? Tweet us @urbanitenews or e-mail info@urbanitenews.com.

Political activist/organizer with a passion for social justice issues. A lifelong Windsor-Essex resident, Kieran McKenzie holds an honours BA in political science from the University of Windsor and has been campaigning in both elections and on issues since he could walk.

Paul Synnott

Paul Synnott is a committed small ‘c’ conservative with libertarian influences, community activist and co-host of Rose City Politics. He has worked on many federal, provincial and municipal campaign in various aspects including campaign management. No dogs, cats or kids, his passion is politics and the City of Windsor.

Working for You! Brian Masse MP Windsor West 2-1398 Ouellette Ave, Windsor, ON N8X 1J8 (519) 255-1631 www.brianmasse.ca

THE URBANITE » URBANITENEWS.COM » MARCH 12 2014 » 5

detroit bicycle festival crosses the river North American Bicycle Week launches in Windsor and Detroit

leonard thoMas Two years ago, the Motor City pulled the spark plug on the car and a group of Detroit cyclists decided to promote bicycling as a healthy lifestyle initiative with the creation of Detroit Bike City.

Poised upon bike seats, the founders of the movement that saw Detroit experience a 400 per cent increase in bicycle commuting realized that the bicycle is an intimate and effective way to experience the city from a perspective that one just can’t get from a newspaper or television.

Detroit Bike City gained national attention for its weekly Monday evening bike ride, dubbed Slow Roll, that routinely draws crowds of over 1,500 riders; on all types of bikes, from all corners of Michigan and beyond, including Windsor.

That’s when things went international.

“We have planned on building Detroit Bike City into a weeklong, international show since the beginning,” said Mike MacKool, Detroit Bike City co-founder.

“This past year presented us with so much opportunity and growth that we felt the time was right for us and the City of Detroit to take the event to a higher level.

We want to use this partnership to set the stage for more opportunities of collaboration for us and others who see the value in creating a unified effort for both sides of the river.”

Enter 2014 and the announcement of North American Bicycle Week, a collaborative Windsor-Detroit effort to celebrate cycling.

“Each city shares a unique but connected history and we are thrilled be able to work in partnership with Detroit Bike City to highlight the wonderful and amazing things happening on both sides of the river,” said Adriano Ciotoli of dining blog and cycle touring organization WindsorEats. “When we first heard about the North American Bicycle Week, we knew we had to get in touch with Detroit Bike City co-founders Mike MacKool and Jason Hall and be a part of a really collaborative effort between the two cities.”

Though called a week, the four-day-long event will feature numerous day and night rides for people of all ages, experience levels and riding styles. Top bike manufacturers and their suppliers will host demonstrations of their new bicycles and gear, including Detroit’s Detroit Bikes, Shinola and Detroit Bicycle Company, along with Tecumseh’s Cycle Culture and Windsor’s City Cyclery.

“We’re going to have the Windsor launch of the North American Bicycle Week here in the (Windsor),” said WindsorEats co-founded Pina Ciotoli. “We’re going to have a parade of bicycles at the Walkerville Theatre. Everyone’s invited to come out, bring their bicycles, show their bikelove; we’re even going to have a makeshift runway.”

Participants will walk the catwalk bike in tow and show their “bike love.” Following the the parade of bicycles, cyclists will be blessed in a “non-denominational blessing of the bikes” to wish happy riding on the cyclists of the border cities.

“After that we’re going to have a slow ride over to City Cyclery for the official launch of North American Bicycle Week,” said Ciotoli. “Everyone can come out, enjoy, have a drink and kind of take in the awesome atmosphere that the City Cyclery has.”

The evolution of Detroit Bike City » Photos courtey Detroit Bike City

Following the Windsor kick-off the bike week will be many events in Detroit including the popular Detroit Bike City Bicycle Expo in Cobo Center with over 200 exhibitors. Other events include the inaugural Slow Roll and an evening of city views, vintage bicycles, whimsy and classic style with the Tweed City ride and after party (inspired by Windsor’s Tweed Ride and featuring Windsor DJ Double A).

“It’s all about that cross border connection,” said Ciotoli. “We have such similar histories, we both share that auto history, there’s so many things that are the same between the two cities, yet the river is a dominant divider between the two. And while we know everything that happens in Detroit, it doesn’t really go the other way.

We thought this was an excellent opportunity to showcase the cycle activism that was happening on both sides, because it is happening on the both sides.”

For more information about all events on both side of the border check out detroitbikecity.org and northamericanbicycleweek.com.

www.endless-heights.com 2141 University Ave W. 519.946.0570

FOOD& DRINK

» Photos courtesy 2-Way Inn, The Bronx Bar, Nancy Whiskey and Temple Bar

Discerning dives in Detroit Natasha Marar While the LCBO maintains a firm control on the shelf price of alcohol in this province, just across the river there’s a whole world of opportunities for the conscious drinker on a set budget. Here are a few divey joints to hit up on your next trip to Detroit.

1. The Bronx Bar (4476 Second Ave.) This Cass Corridor favourite is dim and moody but filled with everything from students and hipsters to your folks. Plenty of jukeboxes line the walls of Bronx Bar, offering the likes of Sonic Youth and The Stooges.

2. Chick’s Bar (18550 W Warren Ave.) Since the 1940’s, Chick’s Bar is the go-to neighbourhood friendly fish fry. The casual joint offers good service, food specials, bar games and televisions for sports viewing. The summer patio is a nice addition, but the year-round cheap drinks and jukebox make anytime a good time at Chick’s Bar.

3. Temple Bar (2906 Cass Ave.) You will have to buzz to get into Temple Bar, but there’s nothing weird about this Cass Corridor dive. The atmosphere is relaxed with a mixed audience. The best nights to hit Temple Bar are on Friday’s for karaoke or on the third Saturday of each month for a dance party.

4. Marshall’s Bar (14716 E Jefferson Ave.) This notoriously “fun” Prohibition era bar offers a casual crowd and awesome events such as karaoke, card tournaments and pj parties. The decor features vintage booze signs, a piano and a range of liquors for any wallet.

5. 2-Way Inn (17897 Mt. Elliott St.) Detroit’s oldest bar, opened in 1876, is located in the middle of nowhere, requires patrons to buzz in to enter and is rumoured to be haunted, but it’s well worth a visit. Owned by the same family for 40 years, the place feels like your

dad’s rec room— a little dingy, but always a good time. Be sure to grab $2 bowls of soup or chili on Thursdays. Drink specials include $2 PRB, Stroh’s and Blatz bottles and Carling Black Label. Some whiskeys and brandies are also $2 a shot. Another great deal is their $5 breakfast brunch on the first Sunday of the month, featuring $4 Bloody Mary’s, $3 Mimosas and 50 cent Sidecars.

7. Abrick’s Bar (3500 Gilbert Ave.) Abrick’s Bar looks like an ordinary small apartment building, but inside is over a hundred years of history. Ninety-year-old Manya Abick Soviak has lived upstairs her whole life and still tends the bar. Grab a cheap drink and home cooked meal inside among the family artifacts adorning the walls or cozy up outside on the backyard patio.

6. Nancy Whiskey (2644 Harrison St.) A great Irish pub in Detroit’s Corktown neighbourhood, Nancy Whiskey has been a charming addition to the area since 1902. Only 50 people fit into this cozy bar, so get there early on Friday and Saturday nights for live blues and R&B music. One Saturday a month though, the sound changes to punk. If tight crowds and loud music isn’t your thing, consider heading to the bar for Whiskey Wednesdays to watch a game and have a cheap $1 PBR or $3 Jameson.

8. The Old Miami (3940 Cass Ave.) Since 1975, The Old Miami has been the go-to place for rock and punk music acts. The eclectic, divey venue is filled with cheap, cold Michigan beer, a large grassy patio and plenty of mismatched, yet comfy, couches. The crowd is equally as diverse, but welcoming. Grab a $2 draft Miller Lite, $3 draft Ghettoblaster (from nearby Motor City Brew Works) or $2.50 Miller High Life bottles and take in some Detroit culture.

THE URBANITE » URBANITENEWS.COM » MARCH 12 2014 » 7

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» Photos Jenn McMullan

5 poutines for a never-ending winter Jenn McMullan Some things are just inherently Canadian: wearing toques year round, a dangerous enthusiasm during hockey games, quality beer and of course, our national dish, the poutine. England has bangers and mash, America has apple pie and Canadians have a delicious mess. For over half a century, people have been putting their spin on the classic dish and Windsor has some mouth watering versions to try.

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1. The Custom Made Poutine: Build Your Own Poutine Where: Frenchy’s Poutinery Why you’ll love it: The variety of options allows meat lovers, vegetarians and even IBS sufferers to all chow down under the same roof. The poutine consists of fresh cut fries, cheese curds and vegetarian or beef gravy with additional add-ons.

Options include green pepper, roasted red pepper, mushrooms, black olives, pulled pork, Montreal smoked meat, chipotle or basil mayo and many more.

Price: regular $5, large $7

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2. The Authentic Poutine: Motor Poutine Where: Motor Burger Why you’ll love it: Going back to the basics is the foundation for Motor Burger’s delicious and simplistic poutine. Fresh cut fries, cheese curds and beef based gravy are the three ingredients. If the basics are the foundation, then Motor Burger’s gravy is the glue that holds it all together. I’m not saying the made-in-house gravy, which is marinated for hours, is good, I’m just saying they didn’t need to wash my dish after I was done.

Price: small $6.65, supercharged $9.65

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3. The Spicy Poutine: Hot Lips Where: Phog Lounge Why you’ll love it: If it doesn’t hurt, you’re not doing it right. Luckily for Phog’s

poutine, they got it right. Luckily for your lips, there’s a cold beverage nearby. The tangy pepperoni cooked in hot sauce is mixed with hot peppers, fries, cheese curds and vegan gravy. Co-owner Frank Incitti’s secret vegan gravy recipe mixes perfectly with the tangy impact of the heat.

Price: $8.25

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4. The Gourmet Poutine: Braised Beef Poutine Where: Billy’s Pub & Grill Why you’ll love it: As much as we all love the comfort of a good old sloppy poutine, every once in a while it’s nice to dress things up a bit. This addicting dish is made with fresh cut fries, slow roasted beef brisket, Quebec cheese curds, beef au jus and topped with crispy onions. Throw on your best evening gown and top hat to head down to Billy’s for some Canadian fine dining.

Price: $12

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5. Poutine With a Twist: The Breakfast Poutine Where: Twisted Apron Why you’ll love it: When you see the waitress walk by three times to place your same order at other tables, it’s a good hint you’ve made the right decision. This hearty meal consists of lightly herbed hash brown potatoes, chicken gravy, fluffy scrambled eggs, cheddar cheese, bacon and a side of toast. Supervisor Stephanie Kirk said they’re very flexible with customers modifying the comfort food. Options include white, whole wheat or gluten free bread and egg whites can be substituted.

Price: $11

THE URBANITE » URBANITENEWS.COM » MARCH 12 2014 » 8

A real taste of the Ukraine

Staff don cowboy hats at Windsor’s new Lone Star Texas Grill »Photos Jay Verspeelt

Clone star Texas grill Chain kicks open saloon doors Loren Mastracci The Urbanite’s ravenous staff got invited to a free lunch at Lone Star Texas Grill before it opens its doors to the public on March 10.

The Canadian chain, which has operated since 1986, opened its 19th location, and first in Windsor, at 4140 Walker Rd.

were delicious, although the corn ones tasted like cardboard.

Our overzealous waiter kept serving us platefuls of corn chips and garlicky salsa, an alternative to the Queso salsa, which was a bit too evoking of jarred nacho cheese dip.

The restaurant serves mainly Tex-Mex food for an ample price range. We indulged in un-Tex-Mex calamari freshly shipped from, would you believe it, Indonesia. Had they been Mediterranean, they might have tasted better. The accompanying sauce unfortunately was a bit too sweet and spicy.

We ended our experience with the TexasFried Ice Cream: vanilla ice cream covered in Frosted Flakes cereal and brown sugar, deep fried and served with a mixture of chocolate and pecans. What a ball of crunchy goodness!

Our server, Phoenix (the servers all wear badges with fake names), strongly recommended we have their fajitas. With a more than satisfying amount of sizzling chicken, Albertan steak and shrimp, the Fajita Fiesta is a great dish to share between two or four people. The homemade flour tortillas

The atmosphere is casual and relaxed, with cowboy- and cowgirl-dressed servers striving to make a good first impression.

The décor is Texan –inspired: horseshoeshaped booths, wide tables and wooden wheel chandeliers take the gourmet eater to a warm and southern place.

Anna Momcilovic, 80, owner of Ukrainian Resturant

» Photos Jay Verspeelt

Loren Mastracci Her name is Anna Momcilovic and for over 40 years she’s run Ukrainian Restaurant, a little gem at 1148 Marion Rd. The restaurant dates back to 1931, when Russian couple Nikolai and Havriluk Paraskvija started serving Ukrainian food to Windsorites. Momcilovic and her husband bought the restaurant in 1968, four years after coming to Windsor from the Czech Republic. She was 30 back then, an intrepid woman with a university degree in economics.

Momcilovic, now 80-years-old, is still very independent. She runs the restaurant on her own, hoping that one day her son Pavel will take over.

The décor is still the same and so is the menu. Momcilovic followed the advice of not changing anything; otherwise, her mother told her, she might lose the clientele.

Every day she prepares a variety of Ukrainian culinary staples like perogies, borscht soup, cabbage rolls and sauerkraut.

If Momcilovic runs out of an ingredient, she’ll run to the corner store to buy it, like the time that restaurant critic Molly Abraham was writing a review on the restaurant and she ran out of sour cream. “You wait for me, I’ll go to the corner store,” Momcilovic told her customers, adding, “I will be back, I need sour cream.” And Abraham wrote everything down.

The restaurant was a very popular place, with people in long gowns dining there every night. Nowadays, things are a bit different.

“There are no people, but somehow we make a living,” Momcilovic said jokingly.

She has a clientele of regulars and the restaurant is mainly known by word-ofmouth.

Every item on the menu is delicious and the prices are very affordable. The restaurant is immaculate and Momcilovic is a very attentive server. She’s open seven days a week from noon to 9 p.m., as advertized on a lamppost out front.

ARTS

THE URBANITE » URBANITENEWS.COM » MARCH 12 2014 » 9

Q&A with Emerald Seas

New local alt. rock five-piece debut with EP Obstacles Amanda Sinasac Members of the five-piece alternative rock band Emerald Seas are preparing for a triad of shows this month in promotion of their debut EP Obstacles, set for release March 14. The Urbanite caught up with singer Sam Breault and guitarists Justin Dow and Michael Petrino, to discuss the trials and triumphs of recording.

How would you describe your new EP, Obstacles?

Dow: It’s a good blend between upbeat pop rock songs, and we’ve got some acoustic tracks on there too, so it shows the mellow, dark side. I think it covers the wide spectrum of what we’re all about.

Is there particular significance of the title Obstacles to yourselves as a band, or as individuals?

Breault: It’s dealing with all the songs that are on the EP, because basically it’s just about life in general, and anybody can relate to it. Plus, it’s one of our tracks, which is not one of our strongest songs, but it’s the first song that we ever wrote as a band.

Where did you record it and what influenced that decision?

Breault: We recorded at Beach Road Studios, which is up in Goderich, (Ont.).

We looked at the quality and it sounded great, so we started looking into it and getting (price) quotes. It’s a little bit on the pricey side, but you get what you pay for.

Siegfried Meier is a great guy to work with.

When we work with him, it’s not even like we’re working it’s just having a good time.

Petrino: He really makes us feel welcome.

Fresh Windsor alt. rock band Emerald Seas debut new EP » Photo courtesy Emerald Seas Breault: Very much so. He makes really good waffles and he’s got a really cool cat.

Did you run in to any unforeseen challenges during the writing and recording process?

Breault: I’d have to say it was pretty challenging for me. “Run and Hide” was one of the hardest songs I’ve ever had to sing and I kinda wrote it on my own. It’s quite a challenge, but everyday I’m trying to get better at it.

Petrino: I’d say even for the instruments, that’s the hardest song to play.

Dow: It was a longer writing process for that one. For the whole EP, we wrote about seven or eight songs. Then we had a tough

time picking which songs we wanted to put on the EP, which is a good problem to have. We felt strongly about a lot of the songs and it was hard to make that choice.

favourite place to play.

Petrino: It was between two songs, and we did rock/paper/scissors. It’s hard to please everyone, right?

Dow: Yeah, London was a lot of fun. We tried to get on London for the gigs that we’re doing, but we couldn’t find a venue in time, unfortunately.

You’ve got a few out of town shows coming up this month in Kitchener and Chatham. What are your favourite cities to play?

Breault: I guess our hometown, because you get to watch your friend’s bands play and you get to have your family come and give you support. Sometimes they can’t always make it to Kitchener or wherever.

But so far, I’d say my hometown is my

Petrino: London is pretty cool and the city’s really big, too.

Petrino: Windsor’s really good, too, because people are starting to recognize it as a hidden gem for artists. Someone told me that artists from Windsor used to say they were from Toronto, because that’s what people knew. But now Windsor is starting to be known as a good place to find local music.

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THE URBANITE » URBANITENEWS.COM » MARCH 12 2014 » 10 The craft beer movement is in full swing locally with numerous microbreweries, nanobreweries and brewpubs set to expand or open this year.

no time nor courtesy to shed light on any of the positive character traits of the mayor, however, Doolittle portrays a politician intimately aware of his actions.

The trend is continuing with the announcement that Jack’s Gastropub in Kingsville will be offering their own house brews.

At one point, Ford is described as intimately aware of the public mood regarding political issues. A true populist, Ford recognized that winning city council battles wasn’t necessary, that the real battle would be fought in the court of public opinion.

Trevor Loop, co-owner of Jack’s Gastropub, and Doug Sinclair, a partner in the craft beer expansion, explained that following a decision to sell almost exclusively Essex County wines and Ontario craft beers, the duo decided to venture into brewing their own beer.

“We’ve been really tying into the local craft beer market as well too,” said Loop, referring to the decision to sell local wines. “The beer movement seemed to be something that naturally followed suit ... our whole objective is to stick with craft beers as well.” jon liedtke

1/2 IIII ROByN DOOlITTlE

cRAZy TOWN: ThE ROB FORD STORy pENGUIN “What follows is the story of Rob Ford’s improbable rise to one of the most powerful jobs in Canada. It’s the story of how the mayor of Toronto found himself ensnared in a scandal so surreal, half of the city couldn’t believe it - a scandal with drugs, lies, an attempted cover-up, and extortion, which captivated the globe for weeks.” - Crazy Town, Robyn Doolittle Robyn Doolittle’s Crazy Town is an informative lens into the life and career of Canada’s most well known and infamous politician and celebrity.

Canadians are aware of the crack smoking, homophobic slurs, the endless lies and an inane ability to associate with alleged extortionists, drug dealers and gang members.

Doolittle’s chronicle of Ford’s life— tracking his rise through city council to becoming mayor— allows non-Canucks insight into a political office that has confused countless Canadians.

Many expected Crazy Town would be an evisceration of Ford page-after-page, taking

Ford made continual follies during his term and they were presented in the media, however, he defied standard political conventions. Doolittle notes that the media couldn’t cover Ford in the way that they did other politicians who made a mistake because, “How many times could the press write, ‘Rob Ford said something crazy yesterday,’ before it looked like they were picking on him?”

Doolittle takes effort to portray Ford as a politician like none other: “Regular rules don’t apply to Ford— which is a good thing, because Ford never cared much for following the rules.”

Windsor is mentioned multiple times in the book, once referencing the flow of guns across the border with Michigan. Windsorite Nick Kouvalis, Ford’s shrewd campaign manager who helped him rise to the mayoralty, is also noted.

While not mentioned by name, local political activist Paul Synnott comes up in the book in a chapter devoted to Kouvalis. Kouvalis and Synnott started a business together, and Synnott recommended to Kouvalis that he “start associating with some local politicians to see if they could help speed things along.”

Kouvalis began associating with the federal Conservative party, launched his own campaign consulting company and eventually managed Ford’s rise. While it’s certainly a stretch, it can be argued that if Synott never recommended that Kouvalis get involved in politics that Rob Ford might never have been elected mayor.

Overall, Doolittle’s Crazy Town is an enjoyable read that will undoubtedly remain in reading circles and literary conversations for years to come. The biggest takeaway from Crazy Town is just how intelligent Rob Ford comes across at times— much different from his media portrayal.

Teresa Piruzza, MPP Windsor West

HELPING FAMILIES SUCCEED IS JOB ONE “Our economic plan is strengthening the middle class and helping people in their everyday lives.”

2570 Dougall Avenue, Unit #2 Windsor, ON N8X 1T6 Tel 519.977.7191 | Fax 519.977.7029 E: tpiruzza.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org www.teresapiruzza.ca @teresapiruzza

NEW ECONOMIC PLAN FOR

JOBS & GROWTH People. Infrastructure. Business.

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albums

II1/2

Gramercy Riffs Desire Trails s/r

Artist Margie Kelk’s new exhibition runs through April 19 at Artcite Inc. » Photos Jay Verspeelt

Kelk’s world inside Natasha Marar Toronto-based visual artist Margie Kelk is exhibiting for the first time in Windsor in 24 years.

Kelk’s Nowhereness installation, which opened at Artcite Inc. last Friday, focuses on pain and alienation experienced by elderly adults in relation to social networking sites. She uses miniature ceramic heads with distorted faces to exemplify technology users. The faces show sadness, confusion and surprise, and are often placed inside their homes or electronic devices, looking out at the world.

Kelk said a lack of stimulation for the elderly adults in her life prompted her to create the exhibit. “Even though there’s so much going with virtual connections today … they don’t understand it, and they don’t trust it.”

For Kelk, technology is useful for connecting people, but she finds it also leads to isolation.

Using the example of friends chatting on their mobile devices while riding a bus together, she remarked, “There’s always a 16th person in every conversation, but you’re not talking to each other. The actual verbal communication is actually less.”

Nowhereness, which was first displayed in Toronto in 2012, makes use of ceramic, wood, paint and plexiglass. Kelk has made over 200 ceramic heads, each one taking about 30 minutes each to create.

While the faces appear detached from the larger culture, and each other, Kelk wants to evoke ideas hope and promise of connections through the ceramic sculptures.

Nowhereness is on exhibit at Artcite until April 19.

It’s hard to believe that it’s been four years since Canadian indie pop/rock up-and-comers Gramercy Riffs released their 2010 debut album It’s Heartbreak. The up-tempo beats and lovely trading vocals of singers Lee Hanlon and Mara Pellerin Keys hardly left my car’s glove compartment over the years.

Revisiting the five-piece now is a familiar experience, but with a modified sound the band offers an enjoyable sophomore album. Stand out tracks include intro, “Heartbreak” and “Desire Trails.” Missing, however, is the raw, rock energy of their first album. Desire Trails could serve as a collection of love songs for a 90s teen flick; dreamy, emotional, but hardly risky. It’s melodic indie pop best listened to on a picnic date.

“Promises,” is a quaint, relaxed song about loves lost that sets the tone for the rest of this relaxed album. Hanlon and Keys come together, yearning, singing, “All these tears I’ve cried for you never seems to cause any pain.”

Keys takes to the keyboard on some songs, evoking a noticeably new wave/synth vibe on “Desire Trails” and “Daydreaming.” The chill, urban sound may be influenced by Gramercy Riffs’ move from their native St. John’s to Toronto shortly after the release of It’s Heartbreak. It seems as though they left behind the Maritime spirit.

— natasha marar

III1/2

Tire Swing Co. Inamorata s/r

If you love someone let them go; if you love music, get lost in it.

Inamorata is an Italian word for one’s female lover and it’s the title of Windsor band Tire Swing Co.’s debut album.

Produced by Johnny West and lead by Steven Oltean-Lepp, the 17-track album is haunting. It’s as if Oltean-Lepp’s own inamorata vanished from his life to provide the sorrow put to strings and tracked one by one.

The lyrical content is just as sad and there is a heavy theme of loss. The album can be summed up by one line in the song “Intro/Outro:” “I think I’m tired of letting you down.”

Everything on the album evokes the feeling you get while watching a setting fall sun. It’s picturesque in its hopelessness.

However, with any good narrative, it’s important to cut away the excess. Seventeen songs is unnecessary, but the standout tracks include “You Held Me By the Ocean,” “Dreams of a Broken Man,” “Inamorata,” “Marie, Marie, Quite Contrary,” and “Holding You, Back.”

The typeface in the liner notes and lyrics sheet is also much too small. I had to use a camera lens as a magnifying glass. It’s of little consequence though, as all the words are easily understood in this largely slow-paced piece of folk soulfulness.

— jay verspeelt

THE URBANITE » URBANITENEWS.COM » MARCH 12 2014 » 12

» Photos Jay Verspeelt

Magical history tours Taking in Detroit with guided tours jay verspeelt The rich and fantastic lay at our feet hidden in years long past visible to only the most discerning of eyes.

Detroit has a rich history and what a better way to understand it than catching a bus or walking together to traverse it all? Here are a few Detroit tours to educate and entertain.

Pure Detroit:

Many may know Pure Detroit as a clothing brand, if you know them at all. But these days they’re diversifying from t-shirts to tours of the city’s architectural highlights.

“We continuously do them [tours], we do our best to do them almost every Saturday, depending on weather conditions. But we do it non-stop,” said Timothy Schumack, a Pure Detroit employee.

Pure Detroit will be hosting five tours of the art deco Fisher Building in March, as well as four of the Guardian Building, a National Historic Landmark. Ryan Hooper, Pure Detroit’s creative director, will lead tours through the Fisher Building.

“It’s mostly historic [elements discussed], so as in the artists, preservation, the Fisher brothers. You go through the lobby to the third floor and then to the 26th floor to see the neighborhoods and the city,” said Schumack. “[The Guardian tour] is mostly outside, so they talk about the architectural structures surrounding the Guardian.”

Both tours are free and don’t require pre-registration; just show up to sign in and enjoy.

Learn more at puredetroit.com

Detroit Experience Factory:

“We don’t say we’re selling Detroit because we don’t mince words or sugar coat anything. We show people the vibrant areas and we show people the not so vibrant areas. The whole thing is just to make sure that the entire story gets told to the people,” said Jon Cheznick, DXF’s director of experiences.

Don’t have a car? Take part in a pre-St. Patrick’s Day pub crawl that sees three bars in three hours with history lectures, trivia and tips on Detroit city life in the Corktown neighbourhood.

“We’re doing it Friday to get people who might not be as familiar with Corktown as they could or should be and show them cool places they might want to go on St. Patrick’s Day,” said Cheznick.

Learn more at weknowdetroit.com

The Speakeasy tour: What’s the password? You’re not a screw are you? It’s been said in the days of prohibition that it was easy to get a drink, even with all the secrecy and false walls.

Detroit Bus Company’s speakeasy tour explores those old secret bathtub gin joints in Detroit.

Last December, to mark the 80-year anniversary of the repeal of prohibition, Detroit Bus Company began offering the Scofflaws and Speakeasies tour, which visits different bars and locations around downtown Detroit. “[We] almost always go to a bar downtown called Tommy’s,” said tour guide Mickey Lyons. “It’s not very well known, but Preservation Detroit and [the] Wayne State archaeological department did a dig last summer for 12 weeks where they found a tunnel that went out onto Fort Street as well as a former speakeasy and gambling hall in the basement.”

The Detroit Experience Factory has helped over 10,000 people experience Detroit and they want to reach out even more.

Other stops include the dimly lit art deco bar Cliff Bell’s and the Two Way Inn, Detroit’s oldest bar (opened since 1876). The tour concludes at the river to discuss rum running and smuggling.

It’s easy to join in on the fun with a free walking tour planned on Saturdays from 2-4 p.m. The tour stops at places such as the Guardian Building, the RiverWalk, the Detroit Institute of Arts and the Heidelberg Project.

You won’t have to wait to get to the bar to have sweet lady liquor, drinking is allowed on the bus. But do note the twice monthly tour generally sells out.

If walking isn’t your thing in the Motor City, take part in the DXF driving tour that sees a true representation of the whole city of Detroit.

Learn more at detroittours.com

» Photo courtesy Michael Pavlov

lathering up local

Soap entrepreneur awash with demand natasha Marar A Windsor entrepreneur hopes to clean up by turning his passion for soap making into a full scale business.

Michael Pavlov is a controls programmer for an engineering firm by day, but at night and on weekends he works full-time making organic, custom soaps for his startup, Eastside Soap Co. “I like things that have a lot of process to them, so I started teaching myself to make soap,” said Pavlov, who’s been making soap on-and-off for about a decade for friends and family. “It’s not an easy task to make it. Anyone can make the soap; can you make good soap? That’s a different story.”

Pavlov usually makes 200-400 bars a year, but this year alone has made around 400 soaps. He’s spent the last six months doing product testing, recipe development and marketing.

He has teamed up with partners Kristen Bradshaw, who will assist with soap making, and Jhoan Baluyot, who is responsible for marketing and packaging.

“It just spiraled out of control,” said Pavlov. “As soon as we put it on Facebook and Instagram, now I can’t keep up with how many people want soap. And everyone wants something different.”

Eastside Soap Co. products are created with organic beeswax from Pavlov’s parent’s hobby farm in Tilbury, local herbs, essential oils from Toronto and lavender from Sparta, Ont. Soap is coloured with spices and clay.

“It’s all hands-on, a natural process,” said Pavlov,

who caters to people with specific skin conditions by offering custom-made soaps. “I will custom tailor soaps to different people’s needs, and likes and wants … The biggest draw is people can get what they want.”

Lavender, lemongrass, honey and coffee are key ingredients in Eastside soaps. There are over 40 different scents, with the most popular being Orange Blossom, Lemon Zinger and Jasmine Infusion.

Pavlov said he’s also “thinking of making a (liquid) soap for small pocket dogs” because their owners have requested a specific, higher-end product for their pups.

Eastside Soap Co. is also working with local retailers to create custom products— though Pavlov wouldn’t specify whom just yet. One soap is specifically crafted for bicycle mechanics with activated charcoal to act as a pumice. He’s also created a scentless chef ’s soap that will remove the smell of fish and onion.

“I’m going to brand the soap to those specific stores.

They are going to have their own colour combinations and labelling on it with their store logo.”

homemade soup decadent desserts citywide catering ...

25 Amy Croft Dr.

Soap orders are processed the same week received, but take three weeks to cure. Soaps are $3.50 a bar for orders of 10 or $5 for single 5 oz soaps. A 3 oz bar runs for $3.75, the most popular size. Lip balms of different scents will go for $3.50.

St. Clair Shores Shopping Centre Lakeshore, Ontario

Pavlov expects to launch Eastside Soap Co. with all three products through an online Etsy store and website for the May long weekend.

519.735.6900

SAVAGE LOVE

THE URBANITE » URBANITENEWS.COM » MARCH 12 2014 » 14

»Faithful Q:

I have a slowly terminal disease and don’t have more than five or six years left. I haven’t told my wife, which brings me to my problem. We had lived together for seven years when she cheated on me the first time. We worked things out, we got back together, but we continued to live separately. Then I cheated on her. We got back together again but continued living apart. After a year of therapy, we got married, but again we kept our households separate.

Fast-forward one eviction and three years of living in a studio driving each other crazy, and she cheated on me again—this time in our house. I moved out instantly.

A few months and a terminal diagnosis later, I don’t have the will to file the divorce paperwork.

We’ve talked a few times about trying to figure out how to fix us, but I don’t know if I can ride this messed-up roller coaster anymore.

On the other hand, I don’t want to waste the rest of my life being a divorced fortysomething, but I still feel idiotic trying to fix our fucked-up relationship. She reads your column every week, so if you publish this, I’ll have to talk to her about my illness, so at least that won’t be an issue. What should I do about us?

Doubting The Marital Future Again

A:

You and the wife have a resilient connection, DTMFA. Some intangible something or other has pulled you toward each other despite infidelities on both sides.

And reading between the lines—

and ignoring the acronym your sign-off creates—it doesn’t sound like being alone or your terminal illness are the only reasons you’re hesitating to file those divorce papers. It sounds to me like you love your wife, DTMFA, and it sounds like she loves you.

Imperfectly. And maybe your semi-imminent death is putting those infidelities in their semiproper perspective. I’m thinking the real reason you haven’t filed those divorce papers yet is this: On some level, you now recognize that your actual, existing, loving-but-flawed marital relationship should be given more weight than the marital ideal that you’ve both fallen short of, i.e., a flawlessly executed monogamous commitment.

I’m sorry about your diagnosis, DTMFA, I hope your remaining years are rich and rewarding, and it would be a shame if you had to face them alone. Maybe if you two changed your expectations of each other—if perfect sexual exclusivity wasn’t one of them—you two would be less disappointed in each other. Good luck.

Q:

Are there kinky people interested in BDSM without sex? I’m an early-40s gal living in the Midwest. I’m in a decent-to-great marriage, have two kids, a good life. But my husband is not kinky, not at all. I feel like I’ve done all I can to get him comfortable with rough sex, power play, etc., but aside from some very reluctant spanking, hair pulling, and a few humiliating (not in a good way)

attempts at bondage, our sex life is almost totally vanilla. I enjoy the sex we have, but not being all of who I am sexually is making me resentful, miserable, and desperate. At this point, I’m not even interested in trying to get my husband on board—it obviously makes him uncomfortable, and I think he’s just been hoping my desires would go away. They have not, of course, and will not. But I can’t see breaking up my marriage over this! My desires for intense physical play, D/s, role-play, etc. are only getting stronger. Is it even worth trying to find people to play with who would be okay with no sex? I think I could be happy staying monogamous if I could just get some of my needs met elsewhere.

I’m going insane, but I don’t know if this is a thing, and research online has not been helpful. Is there any hope?

Sincerely Longing In Midwest

A:

There are lots of people involved in the organized kink scene who do BDSM without the sex, SLIM. For some, the BDSM is the sex.

Bondage, D/s, spanking, etc. is all they require to get off. But you’ll also find plenty of folks like you in the organized kink scene—that is, men and women who wanna do BDSM while remaining vanilla/technically faithful to their non-kinky partners at home.

Here’s the hard part, SLIM: Doing this on the down low—getting involved in the organized kink scene without your husband’s knowledge—is going to be impossible. You don’t mention having your husband’s okay to out-

source your kinks, and I can only assume that you haven’t talked about it with him. You need to.

Because the more involved you get in the organized kink scene, the more potential play partners you’ll have to choose from. The more play partners you have to choose from, the safer you’re going to be—and the less likely you are to be manipulated into going further than you want to. A guy who knows that (1) he’s your only outlet for BDSM play, (2) you had a hard enough time finding him, and (3) you’re hiding him from your husband is a guy with too much power over you—that’s a guy who could, after one or two sessions, make upgrading to full sex a condition of your continuing to see him.

Q:

I have a fantastic relationship with my girlfriend. The entire time we’ve been together—nearly two years—has been marked by physical and emotional honesty and openness. While we’ve been sharing our fantasies pretty much since we first started dating, we’ve recently been talking about which fantasies we’d like to try in real life. One in particular is posing a bit of difficulty. She really enjoys receiving facials, which I’ve known since pretty much the second time we had sex. She’s even more turned on by the idea of multiple men coming on her face, a revelation that came much later since she didn’t want me to think she was a freak or a bad feminist. (She isn’t!) The thing is, the idea also turns me on, which I was reluctant to tell her since I didn’t want

her to think I was a creep or a misogynist. (I’m not!) But figuring out how to find a man (or men) to aid in this kink is a little tricky.

Assuming there was no intercourse or oral sex—the only contact with other men would be their come on her face—what are the risks of contracting something? No matter how good the aim, there’s the possibility of her eyes and mouth inadvertently becoming a part of the show.

Imperfect Come Is No Good

A:

Gonorrhea, syphilis, and chlamydia—you can get all three in your eyes. A person can contract all three orally as well, ICING, but the mucous membranes in the eyes are more delicate, and the risk is both greater and grosser. As your girlfriend probably doesn’t want to wear swimming goggles and keep her mouth tightly closed during her big fantasy facial scene—it’s hard to get swept up in the moment wearing goggles—you’re gonna want to do this with strangers who are willing to test or with guys you already know and trust. Neither option is 100 percent risk-free, ICING, but nothing worth doing is 100 percent risk-free.

On the Lovecast, Dan speaks with Irish drag queen Panti Bliss. Don’t miss this one: savagelovecast.com.

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

EVENTS

FIND AND SUBMIT EVENTS AT Lajeunesse | 8 p.m. | $22 URBANITENEWS.COM/EVENTS

COMING UP WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12 Toastmasters International Speech and Evaluation Contest University of Windsor | 6 p.m.-9:30 p.m.

Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, Disciple, Confirmed, Crackjaw & The Most Powerful Weapon The Shelter (Detroit) | 6 p.m. | $15

Travis Tritt & The Charlie Daniels Band The Colosseum at Caesars Windsor | 9 p.m.

Perry Perlmutar Comedy Quarry | 9 p.m. | $12 Barzin w/ Diane Motel & Black Barn Phog Lounge | 9 p.m. | $10 Daniyal Malik w/ Chelsey Danfield Milk Coffee Bar | 11 p.m.

SATURDAY, MARCH 15

Zine Night with Rosina Riccardo Civic Space | 7 p.m.-10 p.m.

Saint Practice Day Bull n’ Barrel | 10:30 a.m.-2 a.m.

Red Wings Ticket Giveaway Bull n’ Barrel | 9 p.m.-2 a.m.

St. Patrick’s Day party The Whisky River Speakeasy | 11 a.m-2 a.m.

THURSDAY, MARCH 13 Border City Music Project film premiere The Capitol Theatre | 6 p.m.-10 p.m. | $15 ADV/$20 ATG Le Voyage w/ Nigel and The Drop Out, Moon Walks & Ready, Set, Rendezvouz!

Magic Stick Lounge (Detroit) | 7 p.m. | $5 Windsor Spitfires VS Erie Otters WFCU Centre | 7:05 p.m. | $14-$21 NRG Thursdays w/ DJ Shaun Frank The Boom Boom Room | 8 p.m.-2 a.m. | $5 UP55: Three Sisters Essex Hall Theatre | 8 p.m. | $12-$20 The 2nd Annual Detroit Day w/ Sino & Hydro The Shelter (Detroit) | 9 p.m. | $5 Motown Throwdown w/ Dan Griffin Phog Lounge | 10 p.m.

FRIDAY, MARCH 14 St. Patrick’s Day party The Whisky River Speakeasy | 11 a.m-2 a.m.

March Break Kid’s Cooking Camp Rino’s Kitchen & Ale House | 10 a.m.2:30 p.m. | $220/week Sausage n’ Beer Walkerville Brewery | 4 p.m.-7 p.m. | $5 PERFORMANCE: True East w/ Sameer Reddy Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit | 5 p.m.

Bill Gaither & The Gaither Vocal Band w/ The Nelons, Charlotte Ritchie, Allison Durham Speer & Kevin Williams WFCU Centre | 6 p.m.

Trevor Malcolm Taloola Cafe | 7 p.m.-8 p.m.

Friday Evenings After Work Party w/ K+S Rino’s Kitchen & Ale House | 7p.m.

Royal Hoax w/ Christy & The Professors & Jacob Sigman Magic Stick Lounge (Detroit) | 8 p.m. | $12 Driving Miss Daisy Ecole Secondaire Catholique E.J.

THE URBANITE » URBANITENEWS.COM » MARCH 12 2014 » 15 Teutonia Club | 11 a.m.

of Arts) | 2 p.m. | $10

St. Patrick’s Day The Whisky River Speakeasy | 11 a.m-2 a.m.

What We Talk About When We Talk About Poetry Biblioasis | 3:30 p.m.

Freep Film Festival: Project: Ice The Irish Quarter Pub Crawl Olde Sandwich Towne | 11 a.m. to 11 Detroit Film Theatre (Detroit Institute of Arts) | 5:30 p.m. | $10 p.m. | $1 UWSA St. Patty’s Day “Get Lucky” All Childish Gambino The Fillmore Detroit | 7 p.m.

Day Party w/ Manzone & Strong The Boom Boom Room | 11 a.m.-1 Olivia Conlon a.m.

Taloola Cafe | 7 p.m.-8 p.m.

St. Patty’s Day Traditional Dinner This Prison or: He Came Through Ten Friends Dinner | 1 p.m. | $10.95 the Floor ATG The Bank Theatre (Leamington) | 7:30 p.m. | $10 & $15 TOAST Open Mic Poetry Phog Lounge | 10 p.m.

Mark Debonis Comedy Quarry | 8 p.m. & WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19 10:30p.m. | $12 DeStress for Success Emerald Seas Obstacles EP Release Pelee Motor Inn | 4:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. Villains Beastro | 9 p.m. | $5

PERFORMANCE: The Sound of My Voice w/ Sameer Reddy Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit THURSDAY, MARCH 20 | 4 p.m.

MUSIC + FILM: Phill Niblock PERFORMANCE: True East w/ Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit Sameer Reddy | 6 p.m. | $7/$5 members Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit | 5 p.m.

Freep Film Festival (premiere): Packard: The Last Shift Pure Detroit Guardian Building Tour The Fillmore Detroit | doors/VIP Guardian Building (Detroit) | 11 a.m. reception 6:30 p.m., film 8 p.m. | $10 & $25 Pure Detroit Fisher Building Tour Fisher Building (Detroit) | 11 a.m.

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee Lookin’ Back & In The Flesh (Bob Kordazone Theatre | 8 p.m. | $20 Seger and Pink Floyd Tributes) Saint Andrew’s Hall (Detroit) | 7 p.m.

FRIDAY, MARCH 21 | $12 Freep Film Festival: Detroit Art City: St. Practice Day Concert: Fresh The Detroit Institute of Arts Story Breath w/ Chelsey Danfield & Charles Detroit Film Theatre (Detroit Institute and the Righteous of Arts) | 4 p.m. | $10 Dominion House Tavern | 7 p.m.

Sausage n’ Beer Perry Perlmutar Walkerville Brewery | 4 p.m.-7 p.m.

Comedy Quarry | 8 p.m. & 10:30 | $5 p.m. | $12 I am the Avalanche, The Swellers, SUNDAY, MARCH 16 Turnover & Frank White The Shelter (Detroit) | 6 p.m. | $13 St. Patrick’s Parade Corktown (Detroit) | 9:30 a.m.

NHL Alumni Game WFCU Centre | 6 p.m. | $22 St. Patrick’s Day party The Whisky River Speakeasy | 11 Friday Evenings After Work Party w/ a.m-2 a.m.

Charles Benn Rino’s Kitchen & Ale House | 7 p.m.

FAMILY DAY: Sandpainting and Mandala Making Keats Conlon Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit Taloola Cafe | 7 p.m.-8 p.m. | 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

Mark Debonis St. Patrick’s Day Celebration Comedy Quarry | 9 p.m. | $12 Walkerville Brewery | 3 p.m. | by donation DJ DOUBLE A (Halifax) Phog Lounge | 10 p.m.

The Irish Quarter Pub Crawl Olde Sandwich Towne | 11 a.m. to 11 SATURDAY, MARCH 22 p.m. | $1 Empty Bowls Lorde w/ Lo Fang Walkerville Artists’ Co-op | 11 a.m.-2 The Fillmore Detroit | 6 p.m. p.m. | $25

MONDAY, MARCH 17

Annual Scholarship Awards and Exhibition St. Patrick’s Day w/ Tartan Army, Clus- Detroit Artists Market | 12 p.m.-1:30 terfolk & Chris Bollister p.m.

The Manchester Pub | 11 a.m.

Pure Detroit Fisher Building Tour Downtown’s Biggest St. Patrick’s Day Fisher Building (Detroit) | 1 p.m.

Party Kilt and Fiddle | 10 a.m.

Freep Film Festival: American Revolutionary: The Evolution of Grace Lee St. Patrick’s Day Boggs Bull n’ Barrel | 10:30 a.m.-2 a.m.

Detroit Film Theatre (Detroit Institute St. Patrick’s Celebrations

Danny Bhoy The Colosseum at Caesars Windsor | 9 p.m.

Freep Film Festival: Yesterday and Tomorrow in Detroit Detroit Film Theatre (Detroit Institute of Arts) | 9:30 p.m. | $10

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 Open Mic w/ Jamie Reaume The Manchester Pub 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.

Dead City Soul Revue w/ TUG Phog Lounge | 10 p.m.

THURSDAYS

SUNDAY, MARCH 23

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

Freep Film Festival: Stealing Home Detroit Film Theatre (Detroit Institute of Arts) | 12 p.m. | $10

Funk Junkies The Manchester Pub | 10 p.m.

Freep Film Festival: Lean, Mean & Green Detroit Film Theatre (Detroit Institute of Arts) | 3 p.m. | $10 This Prison or: He Came Through the Floor The Bank Theatre (Leamington) | 3 p.m. | $10 & $15 The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee Kordazone Theatre | 4 p.m. | $20 The Ataris w/ Authority Zero, Drag The River & Gasoline Heart The Shelter (Detroit) | 6 p.m. | $18 Freep Film Festival: Plimpton! Starring George Plimpton as Himself Detroit Film Theatre (Detroit Institute of Arts) | 6 p.m. | $10

MONDAY, MARCH 24 Son Lux w/ Leverage Models Magic Stick Lounge (Detroit) | 7 p.m. | $12 ADV/$14 ATG Children of Bodom w/ Death Angel & Tyr Saint Andrew’s Hall (Detroit) | 7 p.m. | $20

TUESDAY, MARCH 25 Cher Lloyd w/ Jackson Harris Saint Andrew’s Hall (Detroit) | 6 p.m. | $25 Riot Grrrl Tuesdays – Free Clothing Swap Phog Lounge | 8 p.m.

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

FRIDAYS Crystal Head Fridays Level 3 Vodka Emporium | 10 p.m.

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

After Work Party

Rino’s Kitchen & Ale House | 7 p.m.

ONGOING Conversation: Works by Vaughn Beneteau Pop Hair Gallery | 7 p.m.-10 p.m. until March 29 Nowhereness by Margie Kelk Artcite Inc., until April 19 Border Cultures: Part Two (work, Labour) Art Gallery of Windsor until April 13 Ford City/Working the Line Art Gallery of Windsor until April 6 Yousuf Karsh: The Ford Motor Company of Canada Art Gallery of Windsor until April 6 Works by Lauren Laplante Carrots N’ Dates, until March 31

scan with

THE MANCHESTER

BPL

Breakfast Menu with eight delicious iteMs, availaBle froM 7aM to 2pM saturday & sunday SATURDAY MARCH 15

8:45AM MANCHESTER CITY VS. HULL 10:30AM FULHAM VS. NEWCASTLE ASTON VILLA VS. CHELSEA 1PM

SUNDAY MARCH 16

9:30AM MANCHESTER UNITED VS. LIVERPOOL 12PM TOTTENHAM VS. ARSENAL

SATURDAY MARCH 22

8:45AM CHELSEA VS. ARSENAL 11:00AM CARDIFF VS. LIVERPOOL 11:00AM MANCHESTER CITY VS. FULHAM 1:30PM MANCHESTER UNITED VS.WEST HAM

SUNDAY MARCH 23

9:30AM TOTTENHAM VS. SOUTHAMPTON 12PM ASTON VILLA VS. STOKE CITY

ST. PATRICK’S DAY

CELEBRATE THE IRISH! LIVE MUSIC FROM

TARTAN ARMY (11AM), CLUSTERFOLK (4PM) & CHRIS BOLLISTER (9PM) LIVE MUSIC ON FRIDAYS & SATURDAY NIGHTS

CHECK THEMANCHESTER.CA FOR LISTINGS

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