The Bedroom Secrets of the Master Chefs

I finished reading Irvine Welsh’s sixth novel today. The more books I read of his, the more he is becoming my favorite author. I relish his descriptions like the first sip of a bevvy on an excruciatingly hot day. The Bedroom Secrets of the Master Chefs was such a gripping read and chock-a-block full of said descriptions.

I picked it up having read nothing about the plot, so I will abstain from disclosing any information on the subject because I think it’s the best way to fully enjoy this novel.

I will however leave you with a passage I liked that shouldn't give too much away.

“After a while the pisshead was just one big giant whisky glass talking, telling the same, sad stories, over and over again. Alcohol had just one voice. No matter who it possessed, all it let them do was add their own distinctive tone, before even that was subsumed into a general jakey growl. And that glass didn’t need to take responsibility, it only had to sit there and be refilled.”

Well Hello Little Guys

Sometimes I wish I was put in formaldehyde and jarred as a fetus too.

They Weren’t Kidding…

I’ve always picked coffee over tea. If I could have the stuff injected into my veins sometimes for quicker relief of morning trauma, I would. All of that changed on Saturday when I noticed the new David’s Tea next to my workplace (in Westmount) was finally open for business. The nice David girls were handing out free samples of luscious watermelon iced tea, one sip and I was begging to be converted into a tea drinker – ciao Starbucks! Once inside the snazzy tea joint, it didn’t take me long before I was completely smitten, discussing the health benefits of different varieties of tea with the David girls (they are incredibly nice – day and night compared to the Starbucks crew… *cough*). I left the place with a tin of coco chai rooibos, which isn’t an actual tea, but it’s antioxidant-filled and fights insomnia! I was so excited I spent the rest of the day telling people to smell it. The whole experience got me so hyped I went grocery shopping for the first time in three months and decided to start cooking again. Today a sweet David girl came by our store and dropped off some free tea coupons – and they read “it will change your life”… they weren’t kidding!

NB: No matter what anyone says, image is important, especially when you are trying to sell a product. Your staff is a big part of your image. David, congratulations, the ladies you hired on Sherbrooke are lovely.

New Blog: Seams Essential

For the past month, I have been relentlessly working on a new blog called Seams Essential. It’s very different then I Just Needed to Vent: the main focus being the fashion industry. Of course, there are so many fashion blogs out there, why make another? The point of Seams Essential is to divulge information concerning specific niches in the fashion world, mainly European based, with certain exceptions (such as Los Angeles). Weekly store features will be posted as well as special event coverage. Fashion is changing; it’s becoming more and more a question of lifestyle and personal distinction. Seams essential caters to this.

Feedback more than welcome!

Things to Improve the way you Live #5

Lately I’ve been spending a decent amount of time reading the London-based magazine Monocle. It’s smart, very informative and quite the eye candy at times.

Last week I picked up their first newspaper edition called Monocle Mediterraneo, needless to say the focus of this special publication is the Mediterranean and its surroundings. I love print, I am a proud advocate of the press and I absolutely adore the feel and smell of this paper – the quality is top-of-the-line.

On a side note, it has been a few months now that I have began drinking again, only due to the fact that I have rediscovered Campari. Therefore when I came across the following in Monocle Mediterraneo, it humored me.

One of the Hardest Things

Perhaps it stems from the fear of seeming weak or simply being so, the fear of hurting others, putting them first, neglecting what is best for ourselves, the "I'll deal with the consequences when they manifest themselves", force of habit and the likes… Whatever the cause, it’s not an easy thing to change. There are so many things I say yes to, and as the word leaves the vicinity of my mouth, my innards are bellowing no NO NO, yet I swallow hard and hope the inner screaming dies quickly. It never does, it alters its form, becoming knots in the pit of my stomach. Saying no leads to confrontation, even if it’s just in the form of a glare and I’m tired, I want peace. It’s just so much easier to comply, to agree, yes, but no, no, I must learn to say no.

I was Profoundly Moved

I know the movie has been out for some time now and everyone who’s anyone has had their say on the matter, however sometimes it takes me a while to get around to seeing a film – for no reason other than c’est la vie. Today I finally tore the cellophane wrapper off my copy of A Single Man, slid the DVD into the disk drive of my MacBook before leaning back in my chair and surrendering my emotions to Tom Ford’s first motion picture. I didn’t bother renting it, my instincts (and my boss) told me I’d be in love with this film and they were right. It is such a sensitive piece, I found myself tight-chested throughout its entirety, not only due to the subject matter, but also because of the way it is depicted. The young cinematographer Eduard Grau paints intense emotional portraits of love, loss, desire, happiness, regret and pain in such a way I felt as though my emotions were no longer mine to master. Never in my life have I seen a film where each character tugged so violently at a thread in my heart. Naturally, this is a very personal perspective, but I was completely aghast, when the movie came to an end, at just how much it affected me. I felt so many aspects of my own life mirrored by the agony and loneliness portrayed in A Single Man and I smile when I consider the raw beauty of it all.

Interesting

First off, I am very keen on the work of Adrien Brody and I may or may not have a crush on him. Now, while I was working for Sixty it was during the time Asia Argento had a two year partnership with Miss Sixty and was featured as the protagonist for their add campaigns, therefore I heard many –er stories about the Italian actress which caused me to have mixed emotions in regards to her. That being said I have to admit I am terribly fond of this spread by photographer Peter Lindberch featured in Vogue Italia.

Look Mum No Hands!

"We like riding our bikes and drinking coffee. We had an idea about combining stuff we like to make something special. We found a great space in a great location, cleaned it up and called it 'look mum no hands!'

We show films and cycle sport on our big projector screen. We have a workshop and two great mechanics who fix bikes. We have people who are really into making good food and coffee. We sell BEER!”

Yes and you also so happen to be on 49 Old Street, London, England – sigh.

Someone ought to start up something of the sort in Montreal or I will.

Images taken from their website.

Fields of Coal

If before you lay fields of burning hot coals and you were asked to drag yourself across them on your bare stomach, but at every kilometer you could smother yourself with the most soothing unguent imaginable, so soothing that the sensation it generated on your throbbing boils neared orgasmic amplitudes, for how long would you endure the suffering simply to experience brief moments of bliss?

Forever, and a day.

Chocolate

When all else fails...

A True Pearl

Set in the heart of Kensington Market, tattoo icon Bill Baker’s Pearl Harbor Gift Shop really stands out. Hard work, craftsmanship and attention to detail, amongst other things, are what contribute to the quality of a tattooer’s craft and Bill made his shop embody these important attributes. This doesn’t come as a surprise when you consider that he has been tattooing for several decades – the man definitely knows what he’s doing.

Congratulations Bill, I’ve never seen a tattoo shop look so good. You deserve it!

Matthew Pillsbury

Ever since I was shown the work of this American photographer, I have been even more eager to explore long exposure photography. The possibilities are endless!

Blackberry Photography: Osheaga Edition