Saranac Lake & Lake Placid

Breakfast at the Village Diner - $15 including tip - where all the locals are curious about the smart car.
Drove to Saranac Lake where I bought a fleece hoody as the weather was a chilly 9 C. We checked out the Adirondack Scenic Railroad, which unfortunately only runs on weekends at this time of year. Quick tour of Lake Placid, which seems to have been invaded by aging bikers, and stop for a lunch of homemade soup and sandwiches at Saranac Sourdough.
To Karen & Pete's house, just outside of Lake Placid village and a delicious salmon supper. Slept in a comfy cabin with a wood fire in the stove and an incinerator toilet.
Next morning we take a tour of John Brown's farm and grave in North Elba where our guide was extremely knowledgeable and passionate about her subject. Antislavery activist, and some would say martyr, John Brown was born at Torrington, Conn., on May 4, 1800. " He said later that he had realized the sin of slavery, "the sum of all villainies," at 12, and that seeing an African American boy mistreated had "led him to declare, or swear: eternal war with slavery." He also developed a great interest in military history, especially in the guerrilla warfare of the Napoleonic Wars and in the Haitian slave rebellion. According to family testimony, he finally concluded that slavery could be destroyed only by atonement in blood, deciding in 1839 that the South, "Africa itself," should be invaded and the slaves freed at gunpoint. If he actually made such a plan, he kept it to himself for another decade, meanwhile trying and failing at a number of business ventures, always in debt. He moved his family 10 times until in 1849 he settled on a farm at North Elba, N.Y., that was part of a project financed by philanthropist Gerrit Smith for the training of free African Americans."
In the evening we drive to Bluseed Studios in Saranac Lake for a concert by banjo veteran Danny Barnes and singer/songwriter Kris Delmhorst. The gig is a sell out - they turn about a dozen people away. The packed house is a very appreciative audience.
We stay overnight in a spacious townhouse at Lake Placid Club Lodges.

The FA Cup & Hughs Room

Saturday 19 May, 2007

While here in Toronto, Andy McBean has got hooked on watching the National Hockey League playoffs. Andy & Bernie went to their "local", Mackenzies Bar & Grill 1982 Bloor Street location, to watch the FA Cup (Chelsea beat Manchester United). I think Andy found it dull compared to the hockey he's been watching!

In the evening we go to Hugh's Room , a supper and concert venue, for the Third Annual John Prine Shrine where nine musicians play tribute to the acclaimed singer/songwriter. Highlights included the guitar picking of Wendell Ferguson and fiddle playing of Sahra Featherstone.

From the Disciples to the Christian Choir

This afternoon we drop by Cloverdale Mall's 50th Anniversary celebration where the joint is jumping as radio station 1050 Chum, (which celebrates its 50th later this month), broadcasts live. Robbie Lane and the Disciples get the crowd dancing to covers of classic 50s and 60s songs like Bony Maroney and Shout! Originally an open air mall, Cloverdale was the first shopping centre in Etobicoke. It was enclosed in 1970s in response to the opening of Sherway Gardens, a larger mall to the south in 1971.In the evening, Keele Street Christian Church hosts the Great Lakes Christian College Choir. Made up of high school student, this well disciplined a cappella group sings in a range of styles from the Baroque to spirituals to modern praise music under the direction of Rick McBay. The vocal harmonies are amazing and they do an awesome job of "Days of Elijah" and "Jesus, Keep Me Near the Cross".

Mad Violet

To Hugh's Room for dinner and concert featuring Toronto-based songwriting duo Madviolet , Brenley MacEachern and Lisa MacIsaac, who have just returned from their third tour of Australia where they have been promoting their latest album Caravan.

"The relaxed, organic feel of Caravan points Madviolet in a fresh direction as a recording act, one that taps deeps into their musical roots and channels the energy of their live shows. “I think we’ve got a lot closer to the essence of Madviolet – nobody’s going to mistake us for another acoustic chick duo,” says Lisa with a laugh. Adds Brenley: “We’re developing our sound. We’re building audiences in different countries on different continents. We’re excited to see where things go next.” (view source)

I love their vocal harmonies and am amazed at how they both confidently change instruments (guitars, violin, banjo) for different numbers during the set.

Girls do Boys at Hugh's Room

To Hugh's Room at 2261 Dundas St. West, Toronto (416) 531-6604. This favourite venue offers top notch musical entertainment with excellent food. It's not a restuarant per se, as they are only open when there are live shows. On Friday Jan 5 we take in "Girls do Boys" presented by Michael Wrycraft. There was not a weak performance among the nine female acts who sang the numbers penned by their favourite male songwriters:

Linda McLean - Bruce Cockburn
Madviolet - Simon & Garfunkel
Ivy Mairi - Otis Redding
October Browne - Lindsay Buckingham
Rita Chiarelli- Elvis Presley (pictured here)
Andrea Koziol - Bill Withers
Oufti - Red Evans
Katherine Wheatley - Gordon Lightfoot
Soozi Schlanger - Steppenwolf

City View Alternative School's Winter Feast

Carrying a vegan pasta dish, still warm from the oven, we arrive at City View Alternative School to find a team of parent volunteers busily organizing the annual Winter Feast. Every detail is well thought out and things run very smoothly. Some 280 people were expected to attend and it was "standing room only" near to showtime. A full program of entertainment from choirs singing in French and English to Break Dancing impressed the diners. Music choices ranged from Mary Poppins to Neil Young to Bach.

City View Alternative Senior School is located on the third floor of Shirley Street Public School near Dundas Street and Brock Avenue. The school has been operating for eleven years.
- The school serves over 60 grade 7 and 8 students drawn from across the city. The
majority are of English speaking backgrounds. Outreach is being done to increase the
number of students with different ethnic backgrounds.
- The school has three classrooms (one with computer lab and library), a
lunch/multipurpose room, an office/kitchen and a computer room - all on the third floor.
- The school shares the gymnasium and school yard with Shirley Street Public School
and has access to the pool, gym and ice rinks of the McCormack Centre.
- Open House for prospective Grade 7's for September 2007 is Tuesday, January 23rd,
at 7 p.m.

Sing-Along Messiah

To Massey Hall for Tafelmusik's 20th annual Sing-Along Messiah:
"Tafelmusik is delighted once again to welcome George Frideric Handel[played by Tafelmusik Choir director Ivars Taurins] as guest director of its annual Sing-Along Messiah. Tafelmusik first asked Mr. Handel to take on this role 20 years ago, undaunted by the fact that he'd been dead some 227 years...Unlike the many crates of fine vintage claret that are a significant bargaining point in his contract, Mr. Handel has not mellowed with age, and his legendary rapier wit and fiery Saxon temper are as sharp as they were over 250 years ago. "
"The sheer joy you will feel as your voice joins a mass choir of 2,500 to sing the Hallelujah chorus may be the best Christmas gift you receive. Bring your own score, or purchase one at Massey Hall. Seating is by voice part, and non-singers[That's me!] are always welcome."
Mr. Taurins and the Tafelmusik Orchestra, Choir and soloists did not disappoint. The experience was in a word - heavenly.