Volume 1, Issue 25 - Nov. 19, 2014

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NOV. 19 - DEC. 2 2014 VOL. 01 ISSUE 25 URBANITENEWS.COM

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Trolley à la Carte!

Setting off on a posh nosh tour of Windsor

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The way Mother Russia used to make Digging in at a Russian restaurant

The Birds KordaFor revives a foul play from 401 BC P.07

VIEWS UBER CAB COMPETITION The City of Windsor needs to allow more competition in the cab industry. Following typically horrible wait times on Halloween and equipped with the foreknowledge the same will be experienced on Christmas, New Year’s Eve, fireworks night and virtually every other night massive amounts of people need cabs, it’s time to start a dialogue about cabbing in Windsor.

According to a December 2012 CBC News article, the City of Windsor has 218 licensed cabs, with 198 belonging to Veteran’s Cab. This disproportional number of licenses in the hands of Veteran’s Cab is a disservice to citizens as it allows for the cab company to operate without recourse as they have no fear of losing business to competition.

While there are many cab drivers who are considerate, passionate about what they do, and deserving of commendation, my encounters unfortunately have been mired by poor service as a result of complacency. This leaves customers in the dire need of meaningful competition.

Through holding the vast majority of the licenses, Veteran’s Cab effectively operates without competition whatsoever.

It is for this reason I find it entirely unsurprising to learn from readers, friends and family that their experiences have been equally as troubling as mine have been: an overall lack of customer service demonstrated from the dispatcher and drivers; the dispatcher refusing to take complaints or identify themselves; drivers refusing to provide service to certain customers; cabs not arriving on time, or at all.

The list of problems goes on and it’s hardly isolated to the cab industry. Take any business and allow it to operate as a virtual monopoly or as a quasi-cartel through an arbitrary limit of licenses imposed by the state, and the businesses which ‘luck out’ and receive a license need not improve service as there is no fear of losing customers.

Indeed, business is guaranteed.

THE URBANITE » URBANITENEWS.COM » NOV. 19 - DEC. 2 2014 » 2

Uber maintains they are not a cab company but rather a technology company, and for this reason they believe themselves to be exempt from requiring cab licenses.

But the issue isn’t about Uber or Veteran’s Cab, but rather is a broader problem: interference in the free market, in this case, limiting the number of cabs allowed to operate in the city.

If the City of Windsor were to allow more cab licenses, there would be more options for customers, which would increase competition, and cause the various cab companies — Veteran’s Cab, Uber, Lyft and the like included — to improve their services.

Uber’s model is based on demand, so the same ride from Point A to B could widely vary in price depending on demand. If there is more demand, the price increases, and with less demand, the price decreases. I welcome this.

Until the City of Windsor (and our provincial and federal governments) invest heavily in public transit to enhance access, I implore council to consider either granting far more cab licenses or to allow meaningful competition in the industry.

There is an ongoing argument against these new cab alternatives about safety, insurance, and the protection of high paying union jobs (this is Windsor after all) and I hope to put to rest two points: first, regarding safety and insurance, there is no reason to suggest Uber or other alt-transit methods shouldn’t be held to the same level of scrutiny as cabs currently are; second, the protection of high paying union jobs should never come at the expense of customer service or service generally. Unions provide immense support for their workers and society broadly, however, while unions exist to serve the worker, businesses exist to serve the customer.

Competition is the only meaningful business model in the free market, and what we have isn’t competition. Competition increases service, decreases price, and provides more and better options for customers. Why would we settle for anything less?

What makes it all the more frustrating is knowing there is competition in other jurisdictions.

Currently Uber & Lyft — technology companies which connect passengers with individual drivers who want to offer rideshares — are making waves in many communities because their businesses operate outside of the traditional cab model.

Publisher/Editor: Natasha Marar (natasha@urbanitenews.com) Art Director: Stephen Hargreaves Contributors: Jon Liedtke, Jamie Greer, Dan Savage, Jay Verspeelt, Nicholas V. Nedin, Jenn McMullan, Mark Boscariol, Don Merrifeld Jr.

— JON LIETDKE

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THE URBANITE » URBANITENEWS.COM » NOV. 19 - DEC. 2 2014 » 3

Q

The new councilor for Ward 1, Fred Francis, has proposed converting the Grand Marais Drain to a linear park. Is this a good idea and use of city resources?

Mark Boscariol Grand Marais Drain proposal is the wrong project at the wrong time in the wrong place. As a resident of South Windsor who would see my family benefit from this project I am still staunchly opposed. When it comes to parks and bike paths, I think residents of South Windsor fare nicely with the new Cabana bike path and their parks, boulevards and large residential lots Windsor needs to focus all resources on the core. To be clear I do not mean the downtown, I mean the areas adjacent to the downtown. We see one of the greatest revivals happening right in front of our eyes across the river with Detroit. Their

» photos City of Windsor

Should the Grand Marais Drain » be converted to a linear park?

Rose City Politics:

plan doesn’t focus on downtown, it focuses on downtown, Midtown and Tech Town.

While Detroit repopulates their core every day, Windsor’s core population withers away contrary to the trends happening in virtually every city in North America. According to a Detroit Free Press article, rent for apartments and Detroit’s core have risen between $200-400 per month in the last year or two and new apartment construction is proposed throughout the core. Why would Windsor even fathom taking on a different course of action?

up with a problem our city faces where I can’t relate its proven solution to repopulating the core.

ear park” and to keep this drain functional would mean having to expand its size — translation, add a few more million.

Don Merrifield Jr.

This is not some left wing socialist plan, it’s a fiscally conservative one. Having 10,000 residents in the core versus the suburbs will save us hundreds of millions from having to widen the expressway. New residents of varying incomes in the core will reduce crime rates. Increased attendance at city arts and recreational facilities will reduce taxpayer subsidies. We know that new job growth will come from small local independent businesses and they are vastly more numerous in the core. I have always made the challenge that I defy someone to come

The general idea of turning what is quite a industrial looking drain into an ecologically friendly, user friendly, attractive natural part of the city isn’t actually a bad idea aside from the fact in order to do that would cost millions (around $20 million estimated), and according to people who live by the drain probably defeat the purpose it serves.

The purpose is removing potential flood water during our more frequent torrential rain storms in the summer. Residents have said during these storms the drain is almost a capacity. In order to convert this to a “lin-

I do understand as a new councilor there is a desire to quickly make a name for yourself with some grand idea. It would be a nice change if possibly one the new councillors could come up with saving the taxpayers money as opposed to spending another $20 million dollars before their first day on the job. There are many great things we could spend money on. How about we make sure the whole city doesn’t have any flooding issues before we find new ways to make our flood remedies look pretty. Also, if you want to build a new park I’d go with circular not linear, that way you’ll always get back to the beginning at some point.

The Grand Marais Drain was constructed long ago to remediate the constant flooding that Windsor used to deal with. Unless you have a basement in Riverside that is flooding, Windsor is still working proper infrastructure that way. I’m sure it’ll be any year now.

Catch the Rose City Politics crew in every issue of The Urbanite. Have a question?

Tweet us @urbanitenews or email info@ urbanitenews.com. You can also listen to Rose City Politics Wednesday’s at 8 p.m. on CJAM 99.1 FM.

Mark Boscariol

Don Merrifield Jr.

Husband, father, and entrepreneur, owner and/or creator of Tecumseh Roadhouse; Walkermole; Bedroom Depot; Chanosos; Oishii; Buda; Flying Monkey; Automatic Slims and Windsor International Film Festival, advocate for Windsor and supporter of all things good.

Fourteen years as a Windsor realtor, musician, father of one son Miles, politics-run financially conservative yet socially liberal. Merrifield Jr. was a candidate in the 2010 municipal election in Ward 3 for city councillor, a cigar aficionado, motorcycle enthusiast and lover of travel.

FOOD& FOOD & DRINK

THE URBANITE » URBANITENEWS.COM » NOV. 19 - DEC. 2 2014 » 4

The debut journey of the Tasting Trolley, a new culinary tour, set off on Nov. 14 » Photo Jay Verspeelt

All aboard The Tasting Trolley Culinary showcase jumps the rails to tour the streets

JON LIEDTKE Windsor was the first Canadian city to install electric streetcars and a new culinary experience is reviving the trolley to tantalize local foodies’ taste buds and provide an unique experience.

rants where they sample fares plated for the event. Signature cocktails are also provided at each restaurant, and a local brewery, distillery or winery representative is on hand to provide samples.

Papa D’s Hot Sawce and Teanna Lindsay Events partnered to start The Tasting Trolley to showcase what the region has to offer in terms of food and drink.

“We bring them to three different restaurants that they may or may not have ever been to, to help each restaurant find new clients [and to] get customers to enjoy their city more,” said Denomme.

“... we wanted to get the community to know [the community],” explained Papa D’s Hot Sawce owner Jeff Denomme.

“Certain restaurants might not be known by certain people, this way we have a little surprise for everyone.”

The first trolley event on Nov. 14 was sold out in advance. Tickets cost $65 and participants are taken to three local restau-

Teanna Lindsay, whose company also organized the Walkerville Night Market and September’s Sandwich Towne Festival, explained there is a need locally for these events.

“Following the success of the Walkerville Night Market we noticed that there is a need, people want to know what is going

on in their community, they want to buy local, they want to experience local restaurants and local food,” she said. “This is an opportunity to meet some people you’ve never met, dine at some restaurants you may never have never attended and have a really good night on a trolley.”

“They might learn some things about the restaurant, where they get their products from, their produce, their meat, why they named the restaurant that, how long they’ve been around and really make people feel like they’re a part of the [businesses],” she added.

The allure of the experience is both the trolley itself and the secretive nature of the experience in that diners don’t know the chosen restaurants in advance.

Denomme enjoys organizing events like this because he feels Windsorites deserve these types of experiences.

“We have to stop bunting and start swinging for the fence. There’s this thing in Windsor where we’re almost being happy with being complacent or mediocre ... everybody always puts [Windsor] down ...

You have to experience it, and we’re trying to get people to change their mind and their tune ... compare Windsor to like cities and you’re not going to beat Windsor.”

The Tasting Trolley runs again on Nov. 28, with a special Holiday Trolley on Dec. 12. Tickets are $65 and space is limited to 40 people. For more information, call 519.800.6404.

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HO ME OF TH E

BUCK A SHUCK * TIKI SUSHI CANNOT GUARANTEE THAT EATING HERE WILl GET YOU LaiD

Make something in your kitchen...

Crispy spicy turkey legs

Ask a brewer...

What’s in that can?

with Paul Brady,

head brewer, Walkerville Brewery Are you excited as a brewer to install a canning line at Walkerville Brewery?

It’s always nice to have a new piece of equipment to work with. It’s getting close to the Christmas season, so it kind of feels like that as you open up your new toys if you will, it’s a lot of fun.

Walkerville Brewery has sold beer by the growler, at restaurants and bars and in your taproom. What will the canning line allow for specifically?

We intend to create ... tall boy cans (16 oz/473 ml) of the Honest Lager and we intend to sell them [at the brewery], at licensees and local LCBOs to start.

What do you need to get a canning line started up?

You need the canning line itself and then you have to wire it in, electric, air, CO2, plumbing if need be, and then you have to operate it.

You have to understand how it works, get it operating smoothly and efficiently. I’ve operated this specific canning line before at another facility.

Walk me through the operation of the canning line.

The basis of any canning line essentially … is rinse your cans because the can comes from a factory warehouse. It’s premanufactured and essentially it doesn’t have a lid, it’s just like a glass. … the initial first step is for the can to be purged. We knock out all of the oxygen and other surrounding atmosphere with CO2. There’s a tube that goes into the can, shoots the CO2 into the bottom, and CO2 being heavier than the surrounding atmosphere it expels all the oxygen up out of the can, it creates a blanket ... to prevent oxidation which is terrible for beer. Then

it goes to the filling head which also puts a tube to the bottom of the can which fills the can with beer from the bottom to the top, all the way while pushing the CO2 blanket up, so we’re hopefully capping on foam and CO2. [Then] it’ll be pushed to another step as a lid will slide down and land on top of the can. The lid then sits on the can and it slides over to a pedestal that will raise it up into a set of what looks like, how would Canadians describe it? It looks like hockey pucks, (laughs) ... they spin and they crimp the edge of the seam on the lid of the can all around the side and closes it, at which point the can is complete and it gets pushed down to a rinsing line, it gets dried and then we shoot it with an ink to date it and it gets packed up in a box.

What are the benefits to canning?

Cans … are a superior packaging product compared to a bottle for a couple of reasons.

First, the seamer on your canning line, if dialed in properly, is a more viable seal than a bottle cap, it will last longer and hold stronger than most bottle caps. Over the test of time, it’s a better seam. The second reason, is the can is superior in protecting the beer from air and light. Even a brown bottle allows some light to come through and UV rays will damage the product. Light is sealed out completely [with a can], and I think it’s a very accessible package as well because it can go places a bottle cannot.

Why are you starting canning with the Honest Lager?

It’s our flagship. It’s done really well in the Windsor-Essex market that we feel it’s the natural first choice to take forward. We’ll see where it goes from there. I’ve seen the approved artwork and it’s phenomenal, our artist has done a great job.

NICHOLAS V. NEDIN I like making food that can double as a few different things. This recipe is a great way to wow your family at Christmas dinner, to satiate the appetite of football fans at a tailgate party or in your dramatic cosplay recreation of The Red Wedding. I’ve got legs and after this you’ll know how to use them.

Ingredients 4 turkey legs, skin on canola oil 4 litres saltwater solution thyme, to taste black pepper, to taste 2 oranges, juice and zest 1 stick cinnamon 2 tbsp brown sugar 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar 1 chipotle pepper in adobo sauce, mashed Equipment 1 large stock pot or deep fryer Thermometer (oil) Thermometer (meat) Directions The brine: The night before cooking the legs, you’re going to want to brine them.

Add a saltwater solution to a stock pot along with thyme and black pepper and soak your legs overnight in the fridge. Brineing adds seasoning to the meat while changing the molecular makeup of the meat so that it is able to retain more water thus staying juicier.

The legs: Remove the legs from the brine, rinse the legs and pat them dry with paper towels. In a stock pot/fryer add your canola oil, making sure that the legs will fully submerge, and bring the temperature up to 325°F (163°C). I prefer to cook two legs at a time as overcrowding your oil will cause the oil temperature to drop and the legs will not cook through. You want to cook the legs for about 20 minutes or until their internal temperature reaches 160°F. The skin should be golden brown.

The glaze: In a saucepan, on medium heat, add orange juice, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, cinnamon and the crushed chipotle in adobo sauce. Stirring regularly until the mixture reduces by about 25 per cent.

Putting it together: Pour the glaze into a pyrex dish and roll the cooked legs in the glaze and allow the glaze to solidify on the legs. Once the legs have cooled a bit and the glaze has become nice and sticky, you can chow down on them like you’re a rabid cheesehead or renfair queen.

From Russia with borscht

Matryoshka brings traditional Russian cuisine to Windsor

JENN MCMULLEN Downtown Windsor gets a taste of Russia at Matryoshka on Pelissier Street, the only authentic Russian restaurant in the city.

“Matryoshka is a Russian nesting doll and as you can see I love Russian toys,” said owner Natalia Youssef as she points around the restaurant with a laugh.

» Photos Tanya Williams “For me it was very important to follow our restaurant concept, which is only fresh made food, nothing premade. Some recipes require half an hour to 40 minutes, so I have to work really hard to cook it faster. Now, for example, when people order perogies, I’m able to make perogies within 15 minutes from scratch.”

Youssef said the traditional Russian dolls, which surround the restaurant, are similar to the cuisine. She said just like with the dolls, when tasting Russian food you always discover something new beneath.

Youssef was in the restaurant business before immigrating to Canada more than 20 years ago. She and her husband had lived in Toronto up until a year and a half ago before moving to Windsor.

“I owned a restaurant back home and I really enjoyed it, I decided it was time to go back,” said Youssef, who opened Matryoshka in August 2013.

Youssef said for any small business it’s important to have a passion and a clear vision of what you want your place to be.

“Our desserts for example have a good balance,” said Youssef. “They’re not over sweetened and they use a lot of natural ingredients. All products must be natural, I don’t even use any artificial food colouring.”

Maytroshka’s signature dishes include chicken Kiev, perogies, cabbage rolls, beef stroganoff and borscht. Having clean and fresh ingredients is the backbone of all Youssef ’s dishes.

» Photo Jay Verspeelt

Sushi rolls on to Ottawa Street

The Dragonfly Asian resturant lands this week

For Youssef, who was born in Moscow, bringing the tradition and taste to Windsor was the inspiration behind the restaurant.

“I love to cook and I love Russian cuisine, and when I tried dishes in other restaurants, I realized that people were not familiar with our cuisine,” she said. “Russian food is rich in taste and rich in spices. But our spices are soft spices, they’re not burning your mouth, so you can really enjoy. I want people to know how beautiful Russian cuisine is.”

Shane Cushing opens The Dragonfly this weekend

“I’m trying to create a very warm and welcoming feel of visiting a Russian home,” she said. “I love when people are enjoying the food, when I see people happy and really having a good time.”

Youssef said maintaining this kind of mood is not just important for the atmosphere of the restaurant, but for the food as well.

“Always be patient, never rush and always be in a good mood when you are cooking, because your mood really effects the dish,” she said.

JAY VERSPEELT It’s easy to miss from the street, with an exterior still bearing the sign of a barber shop, but the inside of 1565 Ottawa St. has been redesigned for the district’s only Asian restaurant.

Shane Cushing is the owner and chef of The Dragonfly, which is set to open its doors this Friday.

“I think downtown has been done. I like Walkerville, I grew up there. But I needed a small space so I could keep my overhead low and pass the savings on to the customer because that’s important. This was it,” said Cushing about his decision to open The Dragonfly on Ottawa Street.

mountains. In the winters I’d go away to Asia to South Korea or Vietnam and take cooking classes,” said Cushing.

Cushing also taught carpentry when he was on the west coast, and he put those skills to use building all the interior of The Dragonfly. The interior features tulip poplar and black walnut wood. The varathane still fresh on the wood is set against sage green walls.

“I’m not going to do just sushi. I’m going to do some Thai dishes, some Vietnamese, south Korean,” said Cushing. “I love Asian street food. When you travel over there it’s all you ever eat.”

Cushing moved back to Windsor from British Columbia three months ago. He signed the lease to the space before he came home and he’s no stranger to the restaurant business. He previously owned Iguana Sushi, but Cushing left it all behind for the Virgin Islands when someone offered to buy the restaurant.

Cushing emphasized that street food is going to be a big part of The Dragonfly, with items such as bánh mì — a traditional Vietnamese meat sandwich on a baguette with cilantro — and bánh bao — a cake with pork eggs and vegetables baked into the centre. There will also be dumplings and a “traditional” sushi menu.

“[I] did a lot of spear fishing and diving, then I moved out to B.C. and got in a back to nature kind of lifestyle ... living on the land up in the

The Dragonfly is located at 1565 Ottawa St., and is open daily from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5-9 p.m.

ARTS

THE URBANITE » URBANITENEWS.COM » NOV. 19 - DEC. 2 2014 » 7 same problems that any other place has. But there’s a happy ending,” said Dave Duchene, who plays the lead character Pisthetairos, an old philosopher.

Duchene was unfamiliar with the play before being cast and says most people he’s talked to haven’t heard of it either.

“The first thing out of peoples mouths when I talk to them about it is ‘Alfred Hitchcock?’ but it’s like, ‘no, no, no, no, no. Aristophanes,’” said Duchene.

The play has been in production for some time. The play was supposed to be put on nine years ago but it kept being put off for one reason or another. Challenges to the production are further extended by a cast of 14 playing 26 characters with at least 23 costume changes throughout the play.

Dave Duchene stars as Pisthetairos in Korda’s latest stage play, The Birds, opening Nov. 21 » Photo Jay Verspeelt

Theatre for The Birds

Kordazone is infiltrated by feathery thespians from 2,400 years ago JAY VERSPEELT Some stories are strictly for the birds.

Director Jeff Marontate will be putting on his 34th play Nov. 21 at Kordazone Theatre.

It’s his adaptation of Aristophanes’ Greek classic The Birds, which dates back to 401 BC. The Birds is the story of two old men who are tired of paying taxes. They find the king of the birds, asking him if there’s a better place to live. Of course all lands are much

Buy local at Walkerville Holiday Walk Artisans and pop-upshops join in seasonal shopping weekend JAY VERSPEELT Wyandotte Street East is reopen after a season of construction, and just in time for the 12th annual Walkerville Holiday walk.

The Christmas celebration, taking place Nov. 21-22, is organized by the Olde Walkerville Business Improvement Association. This year they’re turning the

the same and they decide to build a kingdom in the sky. It’s to be their new utopia, and looks like a scene out of a Looney Tunes short. Then hilarity ensues.

“Just because it’s old doesn’t mean it’s boring. Kids get this idea in their heads that anything older than 50 years is boring and pointless. I’m always trying to show them that it’s not and this play does that, it shows how fun something old can be,” said Marontate, who is also a drama teacher at clocks back nearly 95 years for a Roaring 20s celebration.

“You know we’re very trend forward but we’re also respectful of where we came from,” said Joan Charette, chair of the Walkerville and Ottawa BIAs. “The street scaping was designed to to look a little bit more like it used to be.”

There will be events happening throughout the area such as a Christmas tree lighting at Jubilee Parkette, the actual Santa Claus at Ten Thousand Villages from 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

Saturday, historic trolley rides throughout the area starting at Solace Laser Studio, and carriage rides. There are also locally made goods for sale at Walkerville Brewery, put on by Made in Windsor, The Olde Walkerville Theatre and a licensed alt-craft show at City Cyclery.

Vincent Massey Secondary School.

Marontate read through over nine translations of the script and updated jokes to fit the modern era and occasionally reference locales. For instance, there is a particular joke about a corrupt politician regarding company credit cards, à la Al Maghnieh.

“The moral of the story is you go looking for a better place or go to setup a utopia and it ends up getting plagued with the mingling with the crowds up and down the street,” said Mark Baker, owner of the Rum Runners. “Every so often we’re going to have a gun fight or something. We haven’t quite decided yet. We’re not sure if that will disturb people too much.”

“

“The actors have to be on their toes and are always changing personalities,” said Marontate, adding the play references its own costume changes in an endeavour at meta-theatre.

For Duchene, it’s been gratifying working with Kordazone over many years. Acting on and off for 45 years he attests that when one tries to pursue acting as a career many concessions are made so the bill collectors can be kept at bay.

“Most of my life I’ve done it professionally or semi-professionally and when you’re working with companies there’s money involved and bigger budgets, but what I love about Korda is it just really feels like a family,” said Duchene.

Tickets for The Birds are $15 for adults or $10 for students and can be purchased at Nancy Johns Gallery, Juniper Books or Motions 1. Performances run from Nov. 21-29 at Kordazone Theatre. have replicas of old Canadian Club whisky bottles inside the pockets ... one of the ways they used to smuggle the liquor,” said Baker.

The event is not licensed and the street will not be closed, avoiding irony, but there

We’re very trend forward but we’re also respectful of where we came from

-Joan Charette, chair Walkerville BIA

Keeping with the theme there will be bootlegging scenes being put on by the Rum Runners, a local liquor history group.

The group won’t have much of a Christmas tie in on their end other than saying that their flapper girl will be wearing a red dress to look festive. In addition to acting, they will be giving on the spot history lessons to passersby.

“We’re going to have four actors there in Roaring 20s costume and we’re going to be

“One of our characters will be wearing an overcoat that has pockets sewn inside. It’ll

will be patios despite the cold weather and Christmas carols performed by Walkerville Collegiate Institute choir.

“We’re encouraging store owners and visitors to dress up and. There’s going to be a photo booth for party shots with clothes that can be put on to have your picture taken in that 1920s theme,” said Charette.

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VOGUE DOTS MAUKA INDICA RECORDS

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COWBOYS IN CARDIGANS PLATYPUS EP S/R

Maybe it’s my own snobbish pretension but anytime dream pop comes on it’s hard to imagine it came out of anywhere other than Toronto.

It’s particularly hard to envision it coming from a place as coastal as Halifax, but then there’s Vogue Dots.

Although only a few months removed from their debut full length, Cockatoo, alt. rockers Cowboys in Cardigans are already prepped to release another chunk of music in December. The 7-track EP, Platypus is set to drop at a show Dec. 19 charity show.

The second EP this year by the new Halifax duo is Mauka. It’s not easy to picture the music set against some stereotype of lobster fishing and crashing waves. It’s far more picturesque of bourgeois cocktail lounges and yuppies doing lines of coke in plain view. That is to say, it would make a good soundtrack for a Steven Soderbergh movie.

Much like Cockatoo, Platypus showcases the Cowboys affinity for 90s style alternative, albeit with a sheen that can only be acquired by living through the past two decades as well. The opening track, an aggressive jam called “She Should Be The Queen” and the deliciously sly “Swim With Sharks” have a Stone Temple Pilots feel, while “Spinning” drops into a lusher mode altogether, with a vibe that recollects Jamie Reaume’s prior project, Foreign Film Star, in its almost psychedelic tenderness. “I Think I Do” is another classic anthem that begs to be sung along in an arena. The playful instrumental “Ampersand” slides into the fun ukulele jam “Kiss Me” to round out the album.

Actually it’s quite good. I don’t want to downplay the idea that this sounds like the kind of thing you should be listening to when you’re incredibly strung out, or while having hot sex.

“Way With Silence” starts a percussive clapping that builds into desolate vocals, a desperation, a sadness. The music becomes repetitive and monotonous while the vocals keep you captivated with a rolling melody. By the end it becomes pseudo-industrial in its synthetic drumming ending not with a bang, but a whimper.

Much of the short four tracks follow this sort of pattern. It’s more about emotion peddled out through textures than it is about actual music.

That’s not a bad thing, certainly it’s different. By the end it reaches its apex picking up the pace, sounding more aggressive while maintaining niceties, it almost seems proper in its climax.

— JAY VERSPEELT

Once again, Cowboys in Cardigans prove you don’t have to be looking to reinvent the wheel when it comes to rock and roll. Sometimes it works to rock it out and have fun doing it. And these guys are clearly having a ball.

— JAMIE GREER

SARAH SMITH

HILOTRONS

the Windsor Scene

1951

w/Jamie Greer

Sarah Smith drops new LP

Spaced out Torontonians 1951 fade into town as Ottawa electro-popers Hilotrons hit Phog Local festivals have finally recognized the value of showcasing local acts the past few years and now it appears the WFCU Centre is jumping in on the action. Last night, local duo Rustbelt Revelators (featuring long time scene veteran Dusty D’Annunzio and MicLordz & Sauce Funky guitarist Matt Lalonde) opened the stage at the WFCU for classic rock legends The Steve Miller Band. Hopefully this will not only open more local music fans to the talent this region possesses musically, but encourages promoters for more events to choose local.

Speaking of D’Annunzio, last year he and filmmaker Jon Gillies made a philosophical film entitled Border City Music Project that looked at the social decline of the Detroit/Windsor area as a warning for the rest of the continent — the canary in the coal mine, so to speak. The film was not only full of international stars such as Noam Chomsky, Phil Anselmo (Pantera, Down), Mark Farner (Grand Funk Railroad) and Dick Wagner (Alice Cooper, Lou Reed), but chock full of local Windsor musicians such as Kelly “Mr. Chill” Hoppe (Big Sugar), Jeff Burrows (Tea Party), Al “Yeti” Bones (Gypsy Chief Goliath), Richie Hawtin (Plastikman) and Nancy Drew (Luxury Christ). After a few select screenings, the film is now available on Vimeo On Demand online, available to rent for

$1.99 or purchase for $6.99. Guaranteed to start a conversation, it’s an interesting social commentary as seen through the eyes of the creative class.

Although she may call London, Ont. home, former Joys frontwoman Sarah Smith has garnered quite the following in Windsor with her string of shows here over the years. A consummate professional, her gritty singer/songwriter rock and roll has propelled her across North America and back again. She returns to Windsor on Friday, Nov. 21 with a full rock spectacle in support of her new album, The Journey, at Venue Music Hall (255 Ouellette Ave.) with local support from Fresh Breath.

Saturday, Nov. 22 marks the one-year anniversary of The Windsor Beer Exchange (493 University Ave. W.). This place has not only carved out a niche as housing one of the most diverse line-ups of craft beers in the city, but as an emerging live music venue showcasing not only local talent but national as well (such as a recent tour kickoff from Canadian punk rock icons DOA).

For their one-year birthday bash they’re offering a free buffet (while food lasts) plus they’re opening their stage for an open jam session from some of the city’s finest musicians.

Atmospheric space rockers 1951 from

Toronto hit Phog Lounge (157 University Ave. W.) in support of their new EP, New Doors, on Saturday, Nov. 22. A magical pairing matches them with two great local acts of similar brilliance — the expansive In(Our)Infinite Space and the airy dream pop of A Welcome Breeze, the solo project of Mark Parent (formerly of Bloemfontein).

Folk rock troubadour Ron Leary teams up with the celtic ferocity of Kenneth MacLeod for a fun night of mirth and musical mayhem at Phog Lounge on Thursday, Nov. 27. Between the two of them, they have a songbook as big as the Library of Congress, so you know it’s going to be one helluva musical party.

Indie rockers Menos Mal have been maturing nicely the past year, emerging as one of the local scene’s top players. On Friday, Nov. 28 they team up with veterans Years of Ernest at The Windsor Beer Exchange for a showcase that also features up-andcomers Queens Rug. Venue Music Hall is throwing a local country music showcase on Friday, Nov. 28, featuring Windsor-Essex country musicians Ryan Bradley, Stacey Zegers and Mike Ure. While roots music has always had a loyal local following, via roots rockers like Locusts Have No King, the unquiet

dead, Tara Watts, Crissi Cochrane and James OL & The Villains (to name a few).

Pure country is a rarity in this area.

Ottawa’s indie electronic popsters Hilotrons swing through Windsor, still on tour in support of last year’s At Least There’s Commotion. Their 2008 release, Happymatic, was longlisted for the 2008 Polaris Music Prize and they remain one of Canadian indie music’s fan favourites on the road across the country. They hit up Phog Lounge on Friday, Nov. 28 to find out why.

Philadelphia’s experimental pop band Son Step headline a full night of experimental and fun sounds at Phog Lounge on Wednesday, Dec. 3 that also features Hush (Lansing, Michigan), The Kid From Why (Toronto), Detroit’s Justin Krolczyk, Toronto’s Junior Bob and Windsor’s own THE(WEMAKE).

Toronto’s Say Yes return for their third show in Windsor in a year, playing at the Dominion House (3140 Sandwich St.) on Thursday, Dec. 4. Featuring former members of Alexisonfire, Say Yes tore the house down at this year’s Fork & Cork Festival.

They’re being joined by local support from RYE and Falling With Glory.

Thinking about starting your own business?

We can help you do it.

Interested in finding out more?

Give us a call at 519-997-2888 or email info@downtownaccelerator.com

downtownaccelerator.com 720 Ouellette Avenue, Windsor

FOR ENTREPRENEURS. BY ENTREPRENEURS.

SAVAGE LOVE

THE URBANITE » URBANITENEWS.COM » NOV. 19 - DEC. 2 2014 » 10

Friendship ...

Q:

I’m a pretty quiet Midwestern woman currently wracked by a guilty Catholic conscience. My last boyfriend and I were in an open, long-distance relationship.

We were together for a year and a half, and things were great fun. We considered each other our primary partners, but I met his other partners and felt fine about most of them, and I got to have some fun playtime back in my own city.

Then I finished grad school and wanted to talk about moving to his city. He simply refused to have that conversation, and we broke up. It hurt—a lot—but we resolved to stay friends, and we are still close.

A year later, he was diagnosed with cancer. I went to visit him at his request and cuddled him at night as he was wracked by chemo nausea and fatigue. There was some touching (boobs and butts help with nausea, apparently), but mostly I just spooned him and fetched him tea. That same weekend, I met his new, much younger girlfriend (19 to his 28). She is sweet and caring, but she was clearly uncomfortable with my visit, and I belatedly realized that either they aren’t doing the open thing or they haven’t talked much about it. I suddenly felt a little jealous and a lot like an emotional intruder. Not everyone understands the sort of relationship he and I had, but I’m lost on how to be a good friend/former girlfriend to him now. Am I jeopardizing his romantic life by staying his friend? Is it possible for us to stay close without making his current girlfriend jealous? Did I just help him cheat?

Accidental Home Wrecker

A:

because you have a hunch his new a position to be out, NUNYA, you girlfriend might be jealous, AHW. should come out.

Talk to him, let him make his own choices, and be there for him.

And while your poly relationship isn’t anyone’s business, it’s not I consider myself one of something you should have to the lucky ones: happily hide, either. married for decades, with a long-term girlfriend. GF I am a straight female is at this point part of the family, who has been in a and while it hasn’t always been relationship for the an easy arrangement to sort out, last decade. We are high-school it has worked for over a decade. sweethearts who lost our virginity Recently, I’ve been talking with to each other. We are now engaged, other nonmonogamous folk and but for the last few years, we have find myself wondering whether I been having a recurring issue. He have any responsibility to publicly wants a three-way desperately. He If you and your ex are close admit details about my multi-part- thinks about it all the time, and it enough to spoon during a health ner lifestyle. Though it’s probably seems to come up in almost every crisis, AHW, you’re close enough obvious to those we interact with conversation we have. I feel that to ask him a direct question or regularly (GF is routinely part of this goes beyond just a fantasy. two about his current relationholiday family functions and picks We used to have a great sex life, ship. Is it open or closed? If it’s up kids after school, etc.), we have but now I feel as if I have to beg open, are we talking open in never been directly ASKED, nor for it. He wants this to happen practice or open in theory? If it’s have we told. On the one hand, I NOW. I think it should just happen the latter, you may be the first want others to know that workable naturally if it is going to happen. “non-primary” partner—or the long-term nonmonogamy isn’t just I don’t think there should be any first ex-primary partner—with a pipe dream, but on the other, pressure on it. We tried going to whom this girl has ever had to the details of my personal life are a swingers club, met a couple, interact. Meaning: She may have nobody’s business. I’m certainly no and fooled around. He started to been more comfortable with You, role model, but am I crazy to feel have sex with the wife, and it was the Idea, than she was with You, guilt for not being openly poly? okay. The wife was not interested the Person.

Nonmonogamous, Utterly Norin me at all, though. I agreed to mal, Yet Apprehensive all of this because I have always Another question to ask your ex: been bi-curious, but I never had Will your being around screw up the opportunity, so needless to say Not everyone who’s his current relationship? Your ex I did not enjoy myself very much poly can be out, NUmay still want you around even NYA, just as not every- during this encounter. My fiancé if the answer is yes. His current was not satisfied, though. He still one who’s gay, bi, trans, kinky, or girlfriend is very young, and (pro- poz can be out. But the only way keeps bringing it up. I think it is a vided I’m reading the timeline to dispel myths about poly people deeper feeling that he missed out correctly) he’s been with her for because we got together so young. and poly relationships—poly less than a year. Right now the I have repeatedly told him I am people are all burners, poly relasupport of his old friends may be tionships don’t work out for the fine with taking a break so he can more valuable to him than this go get some other ass before we long term, all nonmonogamous new girlfriend. get married, but he will not listen. relationships ultimately fail—is for poly people to come out when I am completely satisfied. We are So don’t disappear on your ex and where they can. So if you’re in both happy and love each other.

Good on you for going to see your ex-boyfriend, AHW. It was absolutely the right thing to do.

As for his current girlfriend: It’s possible that your presence made her uncomfortable, AHW. It’s also possible that she’s socially awkward and you misread her signals. Or perhaps she’s never had to interact with a partner’s ex before. She’s still a teenager—the whole concept of exes remaining on good terms and being there for each other during a crisis may be new to her.

Q:

A:

Q:

I just constantly have guilt about being the reason he can’t have what he wants. Is there anything I can do? Please, help.

Not Enough For Him

A:

When a person says she wants something sexual to happen “naturally,” NEFH, what she means is “spontaneously.” Three-ways don’t happen that way. An opposite-sex couple that wants to have a threeway is gonna have to make an effort, NEFH. You’ll have to take out personal ads, go to swingers clubs, and approach trusted friends or exes and carefully broach the subject. (A gay couple that wants to have a three-way?

They just have to leave the house.

Pretty much.)

So your fiancé is right: This won’t happen if you don’t make it happen. But your fiancé is also being a douche. If three-ways are all he can talk about, and if he’s so obsessed with three-ways that he’s not interested in two-ways (with you) anymore, then he’s consciously or subconsciously sabotaging your relationship. Offer him a deal: So long as he makes the two-ways happen, you’ll help make the three-ways happen.

On the Lovecast, Dan and Janet Yassen from RAINN talk about recovering from rape: savagelovecast.com

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

EVENTS

THE URBANITE » URBANITENEWS.COM » NOV. 19 - DEC. 2 2014 » 11

FIND AND SUBMIT EVENTS AT The Birds URBANITENEWS.COM/EVENTS Kordazone Theatre | 8-10 p.m. | $10

St. Andrew’s Hall (Detroit) | 7 p.m. | $22.50

COMING UP

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 22

G-Eazy w/ E-40 & Jay Ant Majestic Theatre (Detroit) } 8 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 19

Open House St. Clair College | 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

Tony Lucca w/ Honor By August Magic Stick Lounge | 8 p.m. | $12 ADV/$15 ATG

& $15

Windsor Express vs London Lightning The WFCU Centre | 7 p.m. | $12-$75 WATER± The Fillmore | 7 p.m. | $25 Mix @ The Max feat. Brooklyn Rider Detroit Symphony Orchestra | $15$45 Audition Call: Rumors Windsor Light Music Theatre | 7-10 p.m.

Free Brewing Class Jake’s Hop Shoppe | 12-3 p.m.

Tea & Beauty Event with Amal and Steeped & Infused ShopEco | 10 a.m.-7 p.m.

Thanksgiving Tuesday Market Detroit Eastern Market | 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

Holiday Walk Art’s & Craft Show The Olde Walkerville Theatre | 10 a.m.–6 p.m.

Red Carpet Holiday Party & Expo St. Angela Hall and Centre | 5:30 p.m. | $29 & $37

UP56: The Crucible Essex Hall Theatre | 2-5 p.m. | $5-$21

Run The Jewels w/ Ratking, Despot & David Ruffin Theory St. Andrew’s Hall | 7 p.m.

Julian Casablancas+The Voidz w/ Shabazz Palaces The Shelter (Detroit) | 7 p.m. | $20

Mary Poppins The Chrysler Theatre | 2 p.m. | $16$36

BOOK DISCUSSION: Renée Hoogland “A Violent Embrace” MOCAD (Detroit) | 7 p.m.

Local Wine & Food Holiday Fest Fogolar Furlan Club | 4-10 p.m.

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 20 Craft Beer Club Rino’s Kitchen & Ale House | 4-11 p.m.

YKNOT 3rd 3rsdays Monthy Mixer Rino’s Kitchen & Ale House | 5:307:30 p.m.

3RD THURSDAY: Psychological Services MOCAD (Detroit) | 6-9 p.m.

Windsor Spitfires vs Sarnia Sting The WFCU Centre | 7:05 p.m. | $15$30 Audition Call: Rumors Windsor Light Music Theatre | 7-10 p.m.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 21 Holiday Walk Art’s & Craft Show The Olde Walkerville Theatre | 4-10 p.m.

The Fame MOCAD (Detroit) | 6:30-9:30 p.m.

6th Annual Pizza Palooza Life After Fifty | 6:30-10 p.m. | $20

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25

Riot Grrrl Tuesday Clothes Swap Phog Lounge | 8 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26

In This Moment w/ Twelve Foot 6th Annual Canadian Labour Int. Film Ninja, Starset & 3 Pill Morning Festival The Fillmore (Detroit) | 6 p.m. | $25Windsor Workers Action Centre | 5 $35 p.m.

Windsor Express vs Moncton Windsor Spitfires vs London Knights Miracles The WFCU Centre | 7:05 p.m. | $15The WFCU Centre | 7 p.m. | $12-$75 $30 Shigeto w/ Chrome Sparks Lennie Gallant Magic Stick Lounge (Detroit) | 8 p.m.

Mackenzie Hall | 7:30-11 p.m. | $23 & $25 Danny Brown w/ Bruiser Brigade Majestic Theatre | 8 p.m.

Mary Poppins The Chrysler Theatre | 7:30 p.m. | UP56: The Crucible $16-$36 Essex Hall Theatre | 8-11 p.m. | $5$21 One Year Anniversary Party The Windsor Beer Exchange THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 27 Trivia w/ The Sideshow Dominion House Tavern UP56: The Crucible Essex Hall Theatre | 8-11 p.m. | $5$21 Stars with Hey Rosetta!

Majestic Theatre | 8 p.m. | $20 Chelsey Danfield Taloola Cafe | 8-9 p.m.

The Birds Kordazone Theatre | 8-10 p.m. | $10 & $15

Blue October The Fillmore (Detroit) | 7 p.m. | $8.90$25 1951 w/ In(Our)Finite Space & A Welcome Breeze Arch Enemy w/ Kreator & Phog Lounge | 10:30 p.m.

Huntress Majestic Theatre | 7 p.m. | $25 SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 23 ADV/$28 ATG Holiday Walk Art’s & Craft Show Chase Rice w/ Michael Ray The Olde Walkerville Theatre | 11 St. Andrew’s Hall (Detroit) | 7 p.m. | a.m.–4 p.m. $22 Om @ The Max Mary Poppins Detroit Symphony Orchestra | 10 The Chrysler Theatre | 7:30 p.m. | a.m. $16-$36 UP56: The Crucible UP56: The Crucible Essex Hall Theatre | 2-5 p.m. | $5-$21 Essex Hall Theatre | 8-11 p.m. | $5$21 The Birds Kordazone Theatre | 2 p.m. | $10 & Sarah Smith w/ Fresh Breath & The $15 Wilkinsons Venue Music Hall | 8 p.m. | $10 Mary Poppins The Chrysler Theatre | 2 p.m. | $16WCCA guitarists $36 Taloola Cafe | 8-9 p.m.

Johnny Marr w/ Meredith Sheldon

Bud Light Tailgating Party Rochester Place Golf Club & Resort | 7 p.m.

WEEKLY

A Bicycle Built for Two The Bank Theatre (Leamington) | 7:30 MONDAYS p.m.

Open Mic Surgery w/ James O-L The Singles w/ Amy Gore, Nigel and Phog Lounge | doors 9 p.m.

The Drop Out & Deadly Viper Assassination Squad The Absinthe Musical Experiment Magic Stick Lounge | 8 p.m. | $8 Milk Coffee Bar | 10 p.m.

ADV/$10 ATG TUESDAYS UP56: The Crucible Essex Hall Theatre | 8-11 p.m. | $5Open Stage Night w/ Andrew $21 Macleod and Leigh Wallace Dominion House | 5 p.m.

The Birds Kordazone Theatre | 8 p.m. | PWYC V.O.M.I.T. (Vocal Open Mic Instrumental Talent) Menos Mal w/ Years of Ernest & Villains Beastro Queen’s Rug The Windsor Beer Exchange | 9 p.m. Free One-on-One Entrepreneurial Coaching | $5 WEtech Alliance | 12-1 p.m.

Jeremy Ellis w/ John Arnold Open Mic w/ Jamie Reaume Majestic Theatre | 10 p.m. | $5-$10 The Manchester Pub SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 29 Open Mic w/ Pat Robitaille The Willistead | 8:30 p.m.

Former NHL All Stars vs WMHA All Stars 1-on-1 Entrepreneurial Coaching The WFCU Centre | 7 p.m. | $21.75 WEtech Alliance | 12 p.m.-1 p.m.

C.C.’s Events 3rd Annual Handmade WEDNESDAYS Christmas Extravaganza The WFCU Centre | 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

P.U.K.E. (People Using Karaoke Equipment) Trivia w/ P. Hucker Villains Beastro Dominion House Tavern Taste The Season Holiday Open House EPIC Wineries | 12-5 p.m.

Vice Aerial Phog Lounge | 10 p.m.

Possible Futures: Culture and the City Art Gallery of Windsor | 2-4 p.m.

FRIDAYS

Trivia Night w/ Francois Jacques 6th Annual Canadian Labour Int. Film The Manchester Pub | 7 p.m.

Festival Dave Russell Windsor Workers Action Centre | 1 Dominion House Tavern p.m.

UP56: The Crucible Essex Hall Theatre | 2-5 p.m. | $5-$21

The Launch for From The Vault: A Photo History of Windsor The Windsor Star News Café | 7 p.m.

A Bicycle Built for Two The Bank Theatre (Leamington) | 2 p.m.

Kenneth and Ron’s Rent Party Phog Lounge

Blood On the Dance Floor w/ Whitney Peyton & Maybe Whitney The Shelter (Detroit) | 5:30 p.m.

The Birds Kordazone Theatre | 8 p.m. | PWYC Mythbusters: Behind The Myths Tour The WFCU Centre | 8 p.m. | $41.75$126.75 FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 28 Windsor Spitfires vs Plymouth Whalers The WFCU Centre | 7:35 p.m. | $15$30 Ryan Bradley w/ Stacey Zegers & Mike Ure Venue Music Hall | $10 Kip Moore w/ Charlie Worsham & Clare Dunn The Fillmore (Detroit) | 7 p.m. | $20$45 Devin Townsend Project w/ Animals as Leaders & Monuments St. Andrew’s Hall (Detroit) | 7 p.m. | $19 Celebrating Diversity Through Quilting Walkerville Artists’ Co-op | 7:30-9 p.m.

NHL Alumni VS WMHA All Stars The WFCU Centre | 6 p.m. | $21.75 Mary Poppins Banquet The Scottish Club | 6:30 p.m. | $15 kids/$25 adults UP56: The Crucible Essex Hall Theatre | 8-11 p.m. | $5$21 The Birds Kordazone Theatre | 8 p.m. | $10-$15 The Ultimate Black Party The Fillmore (Detroit) | 9:30 p.m.

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 30 C.C.’s Events 3rd Annual Handmade Christmas Extravaganza The WFCU Centre | 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 2 Afternoon with Timeless Classics Life After Fifty | 1-5 p.m. | $1 Royal Blood St. Andrew’s Hall (Detroit) | 7 p.m. | $15

Sky High 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.

SUNDAYS Dusty Dominion House Tavern

ONGOING Possible Futures: What is to be done? Art Gallery of Windsor, The Leamington Arts Centre, Leamington; The Vollmer Culture and Recreation Complex, Lasalle; Drouillard Road, Ford City; The Capitol Theatre | until Jan. 11 Art for the Holidays Detroit Artists Market | Nov. 7-Dec. 30 Provincial Junior Gold Tournament Windsor Squash & Fitness Club | Nov. 14-30 | 4 p.m.

Exhibition: Rashmi Dadwal ArtSpeak Gallery | daily 10 a.m.-6 p.m. | until Nov. 22 CALL TO ARTISTS: ACWR Holiday Member’s Show Artspeak Gallery | 1-5 p.m. | Nov. 23-27