We've Moved: citygirlscapes.com

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

With a new year, comes new adventures and a new website!

Please join us on our new domain - citygirlscapes.com for more city adventures!

Cheers!
Ashley & Veronica

NEW YEAR. NEW LOOK.
Stay tuned.

Eat to the Beat Recap

Tuesday night we were invited to the 18th Annual Eat to the Beat at Roy Thompson Hall. This fundraising event benefiting the Willow Breast Cancer Support Canada was full of delicious food, tasty beverages, silent auctions, raffles and best of all, corsets designed and worn by breast cancer survivors. Seeing all these brave and strong women defeating a silent killer like breast cancer is simply awe inspiring.

The night quickly flew by as patrons and supporters joined in and enjoyed the live band playing while they lined up at the booths to try one of the many delicacies especially prepared by the 60 female chefs. We would like to doff our caps off to anyone that was able to sample all creations by the chefs, as we were not able to.

We’d like to however, give a shout out to a few of our favorite bites (in no particular order):

· Thai Noodle Salad with Chicken by Chef Nuit Regular of Sabai Sabai
· Pulled Brisket Sandwich by Chef Alida Solomon of Tutti Matti
· Adult Grilled Cheese (with DUCK BACON!) by Chef Lili Sullivan of East & Main Bistro
· Salted Caramel Cake Cup by Dufflet Rosenburg of Dufflet
· Ice Wine Cheesecake Balls by Lynn Jones-Adams of Inn on the Twenty

But to be perfectly honest to those who couldn’t come, there wasn’t one bite that we didn’t enjoy. The talent and creativity of these female chefs was simply astounding.

We’d like to thank the Chefs who donated their time and talent, the sponsors and volunteers of Eat to the Beat for this annual event.

We’re sure next year will be even tastier.

images by citygirlscapes

18th Annual Eat to the Beat

This coming Tuesday October 22 at Roy Thompson Hall is the 18th Annual Eat to the Beat featuring 60 of Canada’s top female chefs. This is a fundraiser benefiting Willow Breast Cancer Support Canada, a not-for-profit organization that offers free peer support to anyone coping with breast cancer. This annual event is women supporting women and we here at CityGirlScapes wouldn’t miss it!

Cancer has touched almost everyone’s lives at some point and we believe everyone should be aware of how unfortunately common breast cancer is and the importance of self awareness.

What really caught our eye is the truly inspiring tradition at Eat to the Beat; breast cancer survivors will be modeling food inspired corsets that they’ve created. Talk about a tasty treat!

Eat to the Beat will also feature live music, a silent auction and raffle draws.

We hope to see you there with us and lend your support to such a great cause.

Tickets are $175 (with a tax receipt) and includes all food and beverages.

images courtesy of Eat to the Beat

Night of the Living Dead LIVE! - Braaaaaaaaaaains

What does it take to survive a night among the living dead? Anyone familiar with George A. Romero’s classic 1968 film Night of the Living Dead knows your chances really aren't that good.

Until October 27, Nictophobia Films is bringing the genre changing horror film to the stage with Night of the Living Dead Live! at the Theatre Passe Muraille to celebrate the iconic film and explore the chances of surviving a night among the undead.

Let us set the scene. Theatre Passe Muraille is situated down a quiet old Toronto back street, away from the noise and crowd of Queen Street, in a big old building that looks like an old firehall (but was originally a bakery built in 1902). The creep factor already sets in before the show even starts.

Night of the Living Dead Live! starts off much the same as the film does, with Barbra (Gwynne Philips) and her brother Johnny (Andrew Fleming) visiting their father’s grave. Barbara is noticeably uncomfortable in the graveyard; something Johnny takes advantage of by teasing that “They’re coming to get you, Barbra”. 

Barbra is attacked by a strange zombie-like man (Trevor Martin), who Johnny tries to fend off but he falls and bashes his head killing himself. Barbra flees to a farmhouse where she discovers a woman’s mangled corpse, screams and that’s when Ben (Darryl Hinds) enters to try and calm her down. Barbra slowly descends into a shock-driven comatose state as Ben begins boarding up the doors and windows.

While taking cover in the farmhouse, Ben and Barbra meet Harry (Mike Nahrgang) and Helen (Dale Boyer) Cooper, who have been hiding out in the cellar with their daughter Karen and teenage couple Tom (Andrew Felming) and Judy (Dale Boyer). This is where it all starts to go downhill.

This is the point that you notice the character list has started to outnumber the cast list. With a cast of only six, each person is relied upon to play multiple roles, seamlessly pulling off quick costume changes, having to be on one side of the stage one moment and then directly across the stage a half a second later. We’re always so impressed by the talent and organization this kind of acting requires. Props to Dale Boyer particularly, who was called upon as two main characters often having to quickly transform from one to the other in the same scene multiple times.

The classic film is iconic in black and white, something the production team decided to try to incorporate into the play. Each character was wearing a layer of white-ish makeup, turning themselves a black-and-white film colour of grey. The stage set was created with subtle blacks and greys and whites causing a similar black-and-while tv feel and the video screen projection used throughout vital scenes was vintage looking, intertwined with actual clips from the film. This whole feel played out extremely well and was very cool to watch.

Instead of using the entire run of the play to take us through the movie scene for scene, Night of the Living Dead Live! is done through a series of multiple endings, where the characters are all faced with different issues and challenges as they desperately try to survive the night. The play starts at the beginning, with the local Sheriff coming to inspect the farmhouse scene. He and his deputy run through theories of what could have been done differently to help ensure their survival and each theory is played out – to their endless demise – in front of us on stage, each scenario cleverly incorporating elements from the film for the audience's amusement.

The entire production is incredibly well done and the concept is quite cool. We don’t think enough people know that this play exists; we were supremely surprise by how many empty seats there were at last night’s production. 

If you’re at all into zombie culture or classic horror films or are just looking for an interesting, unique night out, Night of the Living Dead Live! is something you need to see before it’s too late.

Tickets are currently on sale.

images from official website

Book Review: The Secret Keeper

Having been a fan of Kate Morton for years now, Veronica was super excited to finally get her hands on Morton's newest novel, The Secret Keeper. And she's so glad she did. And even more glad that it wasn't anything like The Distant Hours. 

In 1961, sixteen year old Laurel Nicolson witnesses an event so shocking she suppresses it. Not understanding what happened and being unable to discuss it with anyone, including her mother who knew the truth of it, she moves on. Becomes an actress. In 2011, Laurel is now in her sixties and her mother is dying, returning to her childhood home opens up those old memories and she embarks on unravelling what happened long ago and her dying mother's involvement. 

Morton scored another with The Secret Keeper and brought back so many of the twisting elements that made me love The Forgotten Garden so much. Her writing style is clear and even when she leads you down the rabbit hole, you go willingly and gladly. 

We love it when an author makes you want to wait to read the story on the pages and slowly reveal the truths rather than being able to guess the ending a hundred pages in. 

The modern day weaving with the past is what makes The Secret Keeper so rich and each character is so well written, you can't help but root for a certain one's demise or success. 

If you're a Kate Morton Fan and missed the awesomeness of The Forgotten Garden, pick up The Secret Keeper, you won't be disappointed.

CityGirl Rating: 5 out of 5 glasses of wine

Airplus Stands for Comfort and They Mean It

After a busy summer of festivals and shows, travel and just enjoying the city, the folks over at Airplus must have heard our dogs barking! 

We were sent their new Geo Gel insole line and we have to say, putting them under foot is almost like walking on a cloud.

The insoles include a patented gel technology with six-sided spring-like gel cells that move with your foot to cushion you as you walk. It's really light weight and helps to wick away moisture so your feet stay cool and dry.

The line features a full length insole ($16.99), an orthotic insole for extra support ($14.99) and a heel cushion for superior heel comfort ($9.99).

But the Airplus line doesn't stop there, there are so many other neat Airplus products that help save your feet when on the go. Have a look in your local Walmart, Shoppers, Loblaws or Target pharmacy and see what they have. 

Trust me, your feet will thank you.

images (c)Airplus

Book Review: The Troop

When Simon and Schuster Canada sent us the anticipated horror book The Troop by Nick Cutter, we knew we were in for a gory treat. The king of horror, Stephen King, even endorsed the book right on the cover! There’s no arguing with that.





VERONICA
The Troop by Nick Cutter has been one of the better thriller novels I've read in years. I expected to be creeped out and I wasn't disappointed!

Sure, The Troop was distinctly lacking any female characters and was essentially a novel of the degeneration of a group of boys without adult supervision. But it was superbly written, especially with the inclusion of articles and background on the cause of the outbreak. 

Cutter was able to expertly write believable characters, envision a lovely and secluded island for the boys and never once did I want to stop reading. While the story is simple, a troop of boys on an island get stranded when an infected stranger arrives. Part Lord of the Flies and part The Ruins, The Troop turns into a psychological thriller interspersed with horrific and graphic deaths. 

The gore was never too much or over the top, it fit in perfectly with each death and character. Even though the boys try to avoid death by worm, the real threat was one of their own. 

All this simply works in The Troop. Cutter blends seamlessly the sometimes intense horror with the psychological drama that makes monsters seem tame when compared to humanity.

ASHLEY
What starts off as a seemingly innocent Boy Scout trip on a lonely island turns into a living nightmare as a stranger with unnatural symptoms crawls ashore with a vicious hunger that leaves Scoutmaster Tim and his five scouts fighting for survival. 

A little bit Lord of the Flies, a little bit Steven King and all kinds of creepy, the Troop forces you out of your comfort zone and leaves you with an icky, anxious feeling that you can’t quite shake.

It’s been some time since I have read anything so graphically detailed that I physically squirmed just reading certain passages. The words paint such a vivid picture that anyone with a slight imagination will be exposed to all the gory visuals as they tip toe through the mess that unravels from chapter to chapter.

Each character is rich with his own issues, all of which, when grouped together, create a smorgasbord of ego, knowledge and fear. There’s an alpha male who is determined to control the group no matter the cost, the over-weight nerd who is possibly the only one with any sense of survival skills, the two childhood friends who play the ying to the other’s angered yang, and of course the odd guy out, the guy with sociopathic tendencies and an apathetic joy of ripping apart animals and playing with his friends’ psyches. 

Surprisingly, a story which could have quickly turned into every boy for himself shows a rare camaraderie as the boys cling to each other for survival, tending to their troubled friends instead of leaving them behind. It offers almost an inspiring, hopeful tone to the story. Too bad they’re all doomed no matter what they do.

I really enjoyed the format as well; news articles and interview transcripts are interlaced between chapters, giving the reader an idea of the unholy demise that lies ahead and adding some background information to the situation. This format works extremely well and adds another level to the narrative. And Cutter is humble enough to admit that this technique was lovingly lifted from King’s Carrie.

The Troop is the kind of book that plants itself deep within you, forcing you to carry it with you wherever you go long after you try to put it down. My skin is still crawling.

City Girls Rating: Four out of Five glasses of wine.

Image from google images

Unsigned #26 & Steam Whistle Contest!

Steam Whistle is back with another Unsigned Series, featuring a lineup of great bands. Which means we're back too with another great Steam Whistle contest!

On September 27th, Steam Whistle will host Unsigned #26, celebrating Canadian indie music. The show will be hosted in the Brewery’s Beer Hall and will feature Maylee Todd (an Unsigned alumni, playing with Woodhands in March 2007 as the very first band to to grace their stage!), AKUA (recently picked up as a back-up singer for Solange), and Paradise Animals (The new project from Mark Andrade, another alumni who has previously played Unsigned with Green Go). 

Doors open at 8pm and admission is only $5 at the door with all proceeds from ticket sales going back to the community through the Artists Health Alliance. 

CONTEST

CityGirlScapes is giving away a Steam Whistle Unsigned #26 Prize Pack that includes two (2) tickets to the Unsigned 26 show on September 27, refreshment tickets, brewery tour passes and Steam Whistle merch.

To Enter

1. Follow @CityGirlScapes on Twitter

2. RT our #CityGirlsContest tweet to enter.

Contest closes on Sept 23. Must be 19 years of age or older and a legal resident of Ontario to enter. 

Winner selection is based upon a random draw held following the contest closing date from all eligible entries received. Odds of winning depend on the number of eligible entries received.

Prize pack must be picked up at the door of the event on the day of the event. Identification will be checked at the door, so if you are under age you will not get in or receive the prize pack offered in the contest. 

Click to read full contest rules and regulations.

Don't forget to check back here after the show for our full review and pictures from the event. GOOD LUCK!

About the Bands:

Maylee Todd is a dynamic and multi-faceted artist, based in Toronto. Her creativity derives its inspiration from a wide range of artistic disciplines: songwriting, production, film, performance art, and design. Maylee’s music combines organic and electronic forms, including elements of boogie, bossa, space funk, psychedelia and soul. She is truly a free spirit who brings all of these seemingly disparate influences into honest, soulful, harmonious yet uncompromising vibrations. Maylee Todd is one of the two performers of Ark Analog who will be playing Unsigned London on September 13th and is also an Unsigned alumni who played the first ever Unsigned show at the brewery with Woodhands. http://mayleetodd.com

With emotion and texture at the center of her songwriting there’s reason A K U A’s music has been so warmly received by the few that have happened upon it: it’s real and it’s raw. Having already opened for a wide variety of performers, including Solange, Cody ChesnuTT, Little Scream and Katy B, it’s safe to say that A K U A’s first year as a solo artist is off to a promising start. Akua is currently on tour with Solange (Beyonce’s sister) as a backup singer. https://www.facebook.com/followakua

"A lot of bands are forged through friendships, but Paradise Animals take it a step further. Mark Andrade and Gary Pereira used to live beside each other in Guelph, and Pereira now shares a bedroom wall in Toronto with Kerri Silva, to the point where they will knock messages through it and wake up to the sound of the other sneezing. To say that they are close seems to be an understatement, and the band’s comfort with each other comes across in both their music and their conversation.” – Gray Owl Point http://www.paradiseanimals.com

images from official websites

CityGirls 13-14 Fall TV Guide

Every year us CityGirls are giddy with excitement when September rolls around. The new Fall TV season is almost upon us and we’re busy figuring out how to PVR all of our returning favorites and new must see shows! This year instead of giving you a synopsis of each show and the reasons why we watch it, we’re going to break it down by genre and give you a glimpse into the inner us.

We are not ashamed to say we are nerdy girls and will always be attracted to shows that play to that. We’re predicting that this year’s break out hit will be ABC’s Marvels Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. We’re just not saying this because we loved The Avengers, but it’s by Joss Whedon and that man can do no wrong. 

Must watch Nerdy shows:

· Almost Human (Mondays @ 8pm on FOX, Global)
· Marvels Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (Tuesdays @ 8pm on ABC, CTV)
· Supernatural (Tuesdays @ 9pm on CW) * ^
· Revolution (Wednesdays @ 8pm on NBC, CityTV)
· Arrow (Wednesdays @ 8pm on CW, CTV) *
· The Tomorrow People (Wednesdays @ 9pm on CW, CTV)*
· The Big Bang Theory (Thursdays @ 8pm on CBS, CTV)

Must watch Dramas:

· Castle (Mondays @ 10pm on ABC, CTV)
· The Blacklist (Mondays @ 10pm on NBC, Global)
· Sons of Anarchy (Tuesdays @ 10pm on FXX) *
· Nashville (Wednesdays @ 10pm on ABC, CityTV)
· Homeland (Sundays @ 9pm on Showtime)
· Masters of Sex (Sundays @ 10pm on Showtime)

Must watch Horror ^:

· Supernatural (Tuesdays @ 9pm on CW)
· American Horror Story (Wednesdays @ 10pm on FXX)
· Grimm (Fridays @ 9pm on NBC, CTV)
· The Walking Dead (Sundays @ 9pm on AMC)

Must watch Comedy:

· New Girl (Tuesdays @ 9pm on FOX, CityTV)
· Community (Midseason, TBS on NBC)
· It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia (Wednesdays @ 10pm on FXX)
· The Big Bang Theory (Thursdays @ 8pm on CBS, CTV)
· Parks and Rec (Thursdays @ 8pm on NBC)



Must watch show due to high numbers of Hot Guys * :

· Supernatural (Tuesdays @ 9pm on CW)
· Arrow (Wednesdays @ 8pm on CW, CTV)
· The Tomorrow People (Wednesdays @ 9pm on CW, CTV)
· Sons of Anarchy (Tuesdays @ 10pm on FXX)

You’ve probably noticed that a few shows overlapped into a several CityGirls genres. This simply couldn’t be helped. Many of the returning shows we’ve watched from since Season 1, episode 1 and whether for nostalgic or love for certain actors, we keep watching. Sometimes, a show just gets it right each and every episode.

If you're still undecided about how to schedule your TV watching this fall, we recommend that you visit The Futon Critic for indepth synopses and premiere dates. We hope you’ll be as hooked on TV as we are.

Steam Whistle Poster Party Art Show

Who knew that Steam Whistle Brewery hosted monthly art exhibitions? Located in the Gallery of their Brewery (255 Bremner Blvd), September's art show entitled Poster Party is an exhibition of a group of work by poster artists and printmakers who became friends while studying Printmaking at OCAD University. 


Featured poster artists and printmakers include:

Kyle Michael Murray 
Jordan Warmington
Jay Beckett
Reid Jenkins
Matt Moreland
Iris Karuna
Miles Ingrassia
Reid Millard
Nick Shick
Rebecca Ladds
Nathan Enkel
Lee Wiesblatt
Jackie Lee
Eunice Luk
Ella Selbie

This group of printmakers and friends work in a medium that is produced in great quantities to be distributed to a greater audience. The exhibition will be a celebration of the poster as a work of art and the distribution of affordable art to the general public.

The show opens on Wednesday, September 4th with an opening party from 7pm-11pm and remains on display throughout September.

All exhibitions are open free to the public Monday to Thursday from 12 noon to 6 pm, Friday and Saturday from 11 am to 6pm, and Sunday from 11am to 5 pm. 

images courtesy of Steam Whistle

Blogiversary Giveaway Day One – Step in the Right Direction this Fall with Secret Hosiery!

Embrace timeless style and encourage bold fashion statements with a Secret hosiery gift pack that is right on trend highlighting gorgeous, sumptuous colours and classic patterns! Secret’s reliable, trendy brand adds punch to every outfit.

The Secret Gift Pack is approximately $100 in value and features a variety of coloured and patterned tights and hosiery, socks and shapewear.

To Enter:

1. Follow @CityGirlScapes on Twitter

2. Answer the following question in the comment section below, include your Twitter handle: 

How do you use hosiery to accent your outfit?
(ie: do you buy different hosiery to fit your mood or the season? etc.)

3. For a Twitter bonus entry, Tweet: “I want to win a Secret Gift Pack from @CityGirlScapes (citygirlscapes.blogspot.ca)!”

Contest Rules:
Contest closes on August 20th. Must be a legal resident of Ontario to enter.

Winner selection is based upon a random draw held following the contest closing date from all eligible entries received. Odds of winning depend on the number of eligible entries received. 

Winner will be announced via Twitter and will be asked to DM their mailing address.

Click to read full contest rules and regulations. 

City Girl Scapes Three Years Blogiversary!

We know we've been MIA lately, but we're back and hoping to make it up to you.

This week, Tuesday, August 13 to be exact, marks our three year blogiversary! In celebration, we're feasting tomorrow night on a glorious dinner and taking in a pre-screen of Kick Ass 2 on Wednesday. But we also wanted to extend our celebration to our loyal readers with a series of giveaways!

So over the next few days, check back and see what kind of goodies we'll be giving away in celebration of three wonderful years here at CityGirlScapes.

Book Review: With All My Love

When Veronica recieved this from S&S, she was quite excited to read a novel that promised an endearing story about how a seemingly necessary decision could affect the lives of three generations of women. Patricia Scanlan wrote a tale full of drama, hardships and life in a small town. Her ability to seamless weave between the generations kept us turning the pages even if we couldn't necessarily relate to any of the topics.


VERONICA
I have a particular soft spot for chick lit and stories that bounce from the past to the present. 

Patricia Scanlan touched on a topic that many women today don't need to fear anymore - the stigma of being an unwed mother. But for a young woman in the 70s, this can be a harrowing and scary time, especially if you live in a small town. 

Relationships are inherently complicated and ones that involve women are more so. We're just so prone to stubbornness and using that to fuel our misunderstandings. 

Everything that we did in the past will reverberate to what happens in our future. Valerie and Tessa's dislike for each other was instant and lasting. And it wasn't until age and wisdom settled in that they finally met on common ground and resolved something that shouldn't have even mattered in the first place. 

This is my first Patricia Scanlan novel (how have I not heard of her before?) and I'm sure won't be my last. 


ASHLEY
I have to be honest; I didn’t like this book. I have nothing against chick lit and often find comfort in it when I’m in the right mood, and while this had all the makings for such an experience, it just didn't do it for me.

I guess I just had a hard time relating to the characters. Not that I have to have personal experience with something to relate to a situation that they’re going through in order to have any kind of empathy, but I just didn’t agree with the character’s actions and reactions and couldn’t find any kind of compassion for them. Which doesn’t speak to the book or the writing, it was just my own personal reaction to the story.

We received this as an Advanced Readers Copy, so I’m not sure what the final product ended up like, but I also found it very repetitive and in need of some tightening up. Perhaps that did happen, but it was the first time I have read an ARC where the unedited version made an impact on my enjoyment of it.

There were definitely interesting parts, but overall this just wasn’t my thing.

CityGirls Rating: 3 Glasses of Wine out of 5

images courtesy of google

R.I.P.D. Serves the Living with Lighthearted Humour not to be taken too Seriously

Who would have thought that a movie about policing the dead would end up making for a clever and entertaining Thursday night? We apathetically attended the screening for R.I.P.D. last night and wound up leaving pleasantly surprised, dare I say impressed by what could have been a terrible, horrible movie.

Brief synopsis: A recently slain cop named Nick (Ryan Reynolds) joins a team of undead police officers working for the Rest in Peace Department, whose job is primarily to wrangle the escaped dead who roam our mortal streets and putting them back where they belong. 

Nick is partnered with Roy (Jeff Bridges), a loose cannon cowboy with his own way of handling things. They’re both under the supervision of Proctor (Mary-Louise Parker), who has her own complicated relationship with Roy and the precinct. When Nick and Roy stumble on a case linked to Nick’s own murder, the two find themselves in the middle of the apocalypse, the end of the world resting on their shoulders.

The first twenty minutes sets the pace for the rest of the movie. There are some interesting camera shots; shots that make the first action sequence look much like a video game with quick zoom in shots on targets, rapid movement around corners, close-ups on people in action. Based on the comic book, they really took advantage of that comic world and brought that to the screen for a very cool and distinctive feel. However, with the 3D component, the quick jetting around was sometimes a little too much to handle, but it was brief and unique enough to make it worth it. 

From there, things shift from video game format to a reminiscence of Ghost or What Dreams Will Come, where your hero crosses over to the other side for the first time and has to deal with the change in life status. The transition holds a refreshing tone, despite it being done in many movies before, which helps give the movie a bit more of a credible feel instead of seeming cheesy.

This is where we first meet Proctor, a recruit so to speak, who presents Nick with his choice between a 100 year tour with the R.I.P.D or facing judgement and trying his odds against the big guy. While the character’s mannerisms and overall feel doesn’t stray too far from her iconic Nancy Botwin in Weeds, Parker is still delightful in the role and her banter with Bridges adds a lighthearted comedic component that again, doesn’t seem cheesy and makes for some of the better moments in the film.

Reynolds is trying his hand again at the leading man role, which we feel he often seems to struggle with. We have nothing against him, he’s a fine enough actor, but often he doesn’t seem to really rise to his full potential, or the potential needed to carry a movie. He’s great with the side kick one liners, he creates a strong dynamic between characters and certainly isn’t to be forgotten about, but the reason Reynolds works so well in this movie is because of Bridges. Hands down.

Bridges brings the Wild, Wild West to gunslinger Roy. He’s always running his mouth, spouting ridiculous anecdotes and wearing a cloak of cocky arrogance, but the kind of arrogance that is almost charming from a veteran officer who’s been on the job forever. His emotional attachment to his hat, the way he breaks in the Rookie, it’s all entertaining and laughable. Apparently Zach Galifianakis was suppose to play this role, but we really can’t think of anyone who would have done a better job than Bridges.

Overall, R.I.P.D. has a real Men in Black feel to it, right down to the CGI “Deados” that seem to be very similar to the aliens hunted in MIB. There’s been a lot of talk that it’s a blatant rip-off, even. And sure, it's not the most original or well made movie, but keeping that in mind, it’s still a fun enough movie that adds a bit of comedy to the afterlife in a somewhat reviving way.

Images from Google images

Savages @ the Mod Club

Every since seeing Savages at the Horseshoe during CMW, we've been keeping an eye out for a triumphant return to Toronto behind their anticipated new album Silence Yourself.

There was a lot of buzz about the sold out Savages show last night at the Mod Club. And rightly so. The Mod Club was more crowded than I have seen it in ages, the venue filling up even before the first act came on stage.

Expanding on the rocking CMW showcase, these girls have found their groove on stage. Their sound was tight and their stage dynamic, while minimal, was still dramatic enough to revive a dead crowd who seemed to barely make it through the humdrum drone of an opener.

Displaying more aggression than probably every other new band you see these days, Savages sound and overall presence combines the dark, haunting Euro-feel with a fresh presence that the music scene is in dire need of these days.

 

 

Images ©CityGirlScapes

The Ocean at the End of the Lane Review

I'm a huge fan of Neil Gaiman. I've been anticipating the release of his newest book The Ocean at the End of the Lane for ages, couldn't wait to get my hands on it, especially since it's the first book in a while that's been marketed as an adult novel.

That said, The Ocean at the End of the Lane doesn't really read like an adult novel. At least not in the sense I was expecting. It's definitely dark and in no ways childish, but it is much more along the eerie lines of Coraline than, say, American Gods. Unfortunately, I think my predetermined expectations have sort of lead to some disappointment in the book. I wish I had of known this going into it.

In The Ocean at the End of the Lane, a middle-aged man returns to his childhood home to attend a funeral. Although the house he lived in is long gone, he is drawn to the farm at the end of the road, where, when he was seven, he encountered a most remarkable girl, Lettie Hempstock, and her mother and grandmother. He hasn't thought of Lettie in decades, and yet as he sits by the pond (a pond that she'd claimed was an ocean) behind the ramshackle old farmhouse, the unremembered past comes flooding back. And it is a past too strange, too frightening, too dangerous to have happened to anyone, let alone a small boy.

Of course, the brilliance that is Gaiman is still here (I'll put the blame for my misunderstanding on the marketing, not the book itself). It's written beautifully, a very haunting and dark story about sacrifice and boundaries. He masterfully blends the lines of universes in a way only he can do, creating a world filled with his personal touch.

The characters are greatly handcrafted, the Hempstocks especially. You almost wish the book was longer and more background was given on these mysteriously magical women. And the darkness Gaiman describes, the creatures he's created, the fears that lurk in the shadows, some of those passages reach right up off the page and drag their finger nails down your back, giving you shivers. 

In pieces, The Ocean at the End of the Lane is a fantastic book. But as a whole, it wasn't quite enough for me, it didn't quite live up to my expectations. But that's kind of my own fault.

City Girl Rating: Three out of Five Glasses of Wine

Neil Gaiman Canadian Tour Dates

Another favourite author of ours is coming to Toronto and we are beyond excited! Supporting the release of his latest book, The Ocean at the End of the Lane, Neil Gaiman will be at the Danforth Music Hall on July 6 for a reading, Q&A and book signing. This tour is Gaiman's last signing tour ever, so catch him while you can.
 

The Ocean at the End of the Lane is now available everywhere. We already have a copy, check back soon for our review of what we expect to be a magical book. Also stay tuned for a review of Gaiman's Toronto appearance.

The Toronto stop isn't his only Canadian date, below are the details for his Canadian tour:

August 6, 2013
Location: Toronto, ON
Tuesday, August 6, 6:30 PM
Presented by Indigo Books & Music

WHERE:
Danforth Music Hall
147 Danforth Avenue
Toronto, ON M4K 1N2

TICKETS: $20 plus tax and service fees
Twitter | Facebook| Website

August 7, 2013
An Evening with Neil Gaiman
Location: Montreal, QC
Wednesday, August 7, 7 PM
Presented by Librairie Drawn & Quarterly Bookstore

WHERE:
Ukrainian Federation Hall
5213 Hutchison Street
Montreal, QC H2X 2H3

TICKETS: Available in store – Librairie Drawn & Quarterly Bookstore, 211 Bernard Ouest - $10 with $5 off  The Ocean at the End of the Lane with ticket purchase.
Twitter | Facebook | Website

August 8, 2013
An Evening with Neil Gaiman
Location: Vancouver, BC
Thursday, August 8, 6:30 PM
Presented by Vancouver Writers Fest
Book sales by Kidsbooks

WHERE:
The Vogue Theatre
918 Granville Street
Vancouver, BC V6Z 1L2

TICKETS: $21 adults $19 students (with ID) and seniors plus service charges. General admission
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