April 25, 2012
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The Other Hank

When I was growing up, there were two Hanks that you needed to know about: Williams and Snow. I was kind of confused when I realized all the kids at school didn’t know this. I liked both Hanks, but as compelling as Mr. Williams was, I confess I liked Mr. Snow the best.

Here he is with the Rainbow Ranch Boys performing I’m Movin’ On

Not only were they a great band, they had some fantastic outfits going on, don’t you think? And Hank’s hair was a masterwork.

Here’s a tune I’ve liked since I was a kid, Zeb Turney’s Gal

I’ve Been Everywhere was written by Geoff Mack in 1959 and  popularized by Lucky Starr in ’62. This was not quite the I’ve Been Everywhere we know today – it featured Australian place names. Hank Snow adapted it for American place names. In my opinion Snow did the definitive version of this song until Handsome Ned appeared on the scene in Toronto in the 80’s and breathed new life into this classic country tune.

Finally, let’s close this post with something we can all sing along to: The Wreck of the Old 97.

For those who don’t know, Hank Snow wasn’t just the other Hank, he was also the Canadian Hank, born in Nova Scotia.

April 24, 2012
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Is it Illegal

Some misguided soul entered the following words into a search engine and landed right on 27th Street: Is it illegal to play hockey on the street?

Is it illegal?
No my friends, it is just part of growing up in Canada.
A couple weeks ago, while I was out walking the dogs after dinner, I came across a small group of kids and adults with some old hockey sticks and a tennis ball and a couple makeshift nets. They were making magic on the street. A car slowly approached and I heard that sacred cry, “CARRRRRRRR”.

 

April 23, 2012
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Log Driver

I used to have a recording, on an old cassette tape, of Mac Beattie singing his Log Driver’s Song (not to be confused with the Wade Hemsworth tune Log Driver’s Waltz). While I was busy concentrating on something apparently more important, the melody popped into my head, like Mr. Beattie was right there, singing it to me.

I decided to search for the tune on YouTube. Everything’s on YouTube, right? I came up with Charlie Gardner singing a version of The Log Driver’s Song. It’s the same song, performed a little differently than I remember it, but yes, there’s the melody, and the log driver’s call – yo hip, hip ho through the rapids below, where the Ottawa River flows by.

Here’s Mr. Beattie himself, with his group The Melodiers, performing The Old Tyme Fiddler’s Dream. I’ve posted this one before but I love it so much, I may have to post it six more times before I’m done.

And Mac Beattie one more time, singing about the passing of fiddle great Ward Allen at age 41.

April 22, 2012
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A taste of Little India

Today we went on a walking tour of Little India, hosted by Preena Chauhan and her mom Arvinda Chauhan, who also run popular cooking classes in Toronto and sell their own specialty masalas. Our meeting place was the Udupi Palace on Gerrard St. where we enjoyed a cooking demonstration and a delicious lunch.

Hubert talks about spices

Dosas on the griddle

After the demonstration, we were served a tasty lunch, including delicious dosas served with sambhar and chutney.

After lunch we walked around Little India and visited a number of stores, including a sari shop, a paan shop, a green grocer and a kitchen emporium.

Sweet Paan

We tried some sweet paan – a mixture of ingredients wrapped in betel-vine leaves. Betel is considered to be a mild stimulent, although I didn’t notice any such effects. The mixture does provide a rush of flavour though and a unique blend of textures as well.

Talking veggies

Preena and Arvinda showed us a variety of vegetables that are not so common outside of the South Asian community.

Toronto's Little India began here

This building, now under renovation, was once home to a theatre that was the first South Asian business to open in what later became Little India.

We also enjoyed sampling some South Asian sweets and sat down for chai and more discussion to end the tour.

It was great to meet Preena and Arvinda today, and we had a delightful time spending the afternoon learning a little about South Asian food and culture, and exploring a neighbourhood here in Toronto that I’ve spent little time in.

Anyone interested in learning more about Preena and Arvinda and their classes and products can visit them at their website. At some future date, I’d love to attend one of their cooking classes, which take place both in Toronto and in Oakville.

April 19, 2012
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Casting Call

Amongst our mail today was a flyer from HGTV about a TV show called May the Best House Win. On one side, here is what it says:

Is your house, condo or apartment your pride & joy?

HGTV’s new series MAY THE BEST HOUSE WIN features four house-proud individuals who will open their doors to one another. They’ll critique and mark each other’s homes and the one with the highest score gets $1000!

Any size, any style, rent or own. The only requirement is that you love your space and think other peole will too! If you’ve ever dreamed of being on HGTV and showing off your design skills and unique personal style, now’s your chance.

On the other side of the flyer it reads: We are casting in your area for HGTV’s May the Best House Win…and then there’s a hand-written note:

Love the one-of-a-kind yard! For sure a stand out home. If you want to come on our show please let us know.

Imagine that. For a chance at $1,000 we could turn our little piece of paradise into a reality TV freak show. I think not.