The Economist has a great article on one of my favourite “third places”: the coffee house. From places where people exchange information to the plotting of revolutions to the start of some hilarious stories, the cafe is a much-ignored part of culture here in North America.
Remember, you can still submit suggestions for inclusion in this Tuesday’s Carnival of the Canucks. The details are here, and you can submit suggestions in either the comments or by emailing me.
By the way, David Janes is looking for a blog to host the Carnival after I do — any volunteers?
This lovely annual event, which always takes place on the Winter Solstice, takes place this Sunday at sundown. No matter what you celebrate: Chanukah, Christmas, the Solstice, “Festivus, the festival for the rest of us”, there’ll be something for you there. The highlight is a beautiful walking parade where people walk through the streets of Kensington Market with their homemade lanterns.
Although my personal schedule appears to have a gazillion clashing parties, one that I will be attending is Gideon Strauss’ Blogger Convivium. I’ve never met Gideon in real life before, but his blog always makes for interesting reading, and we’ve had such nice email and blog comments exchanges.
And yes, I will be bringing the accordion.
Tomorrow — Saturday December 20th — my friend Charlene “Char” Baldacchino will be reading from her new collection of erotic short stories, The Basic Kink. I’ve read one of hers, which was well-written and incredibly funny.
The reading will take place at 9:30 p.m. at the sex store Party for Two, located at 439 Danforth Ave.. There will be a $5 cover, and Char’s new erotic adventure VICTORIA will also be on sale.
(I have no idea what Char means by “erotic adventure”. I’m sure it’s not a text-based adventure game like Zork. “It’s very dark. You are likely to be eaten by a grue” takes on a whole new meaning.)
Char writes:
An evening of sexy straight, gay and lesbian tales should put us all in the holiday spirit, don’t you think? Bring a pillow to sit on, bring someone to snuggle with, and be prepared to share some of your romantic stories too!
Happy Festival of Lights to all my Jewish friends, especially my good friends Cory and Deenster, Syd, the greatest accountant in the fuckin’ world, boss’ boss Elliot and especially The Redhead.
If anyone’s doing some dreidel-betting, could they put twenty bucks on gimel for me?
Meryle informs me that she will be making her professional burlesque debut tonight at the Silver Dollar Room (prominently featured as the blues bar in Adventures in Babysitting):
Meryle will be making her Toronto professional burlesque debut this friday at the Silver Dollar Room (486 spadina ave, just north of college) in Skin Tight Outta Sight’s Merry Stripmas. Doors open at 9pm show starts at 10:30pm but come out early or you may not get in. (us naked ladies are quite popular!) Door is $10 (sorry I’m only allowed one guestlist spot and that goes to either the boyfriend, or megan). Meryle will be performing in a number called You’re Never Fully Dressed Without A Smile, as well as the naughty I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus.
If you’re in Accordion City tonight and want to ogle the “Hot Tub Girl” from my birthday party in the flesh (arf arf!), you know where to go.