Delights
Long knives and a silent symphony
Editor’s note: All dates and times are tentative, as pandemic public health rules evolve. Please contact galleries before visiting to learn of any changes. Concurrent exhibitions at AXENÉO7 may challenge a viewer’s sense of how Canada looks, and how it is governed. The exhibitions, which run Nov. 3 to Dec. 11 at the artist-run […]
On diplomacy, sovereignty and peacemaking
They Call It Diplomacy: Forty Years of Representing Britain Abroad By Peter Westmacott Head of Zeus, Apollo Books, 2021 368 pages Kindle: $9.99 Soon after Peter Westmacott arrived in Turkey as British ambassador, a bomb razed Pera House, the British consulate general in Istanbul. Twelve consulate employees died in the 2003 attack, and three people […]
Photography: The new art of diplomacy
If a picture is worth a thousand words, what power does that give an ambassador with an entire gallery to draw upon? Add the fact that the cumulative effect of those thousands of inspirational “words” can be understood in every language, and you’ll begin to appreciate the enthusiastic support Take Your Seat’s photography is garnering […]
The flavour-packed skin of grapes and why it matters
Most wine grapes’ characteristics and colour come from the skins. Grape pulp houses sugars, water and acids, but it’s the thin protective layer that gives the grape its true character. Tannins, volatile aromatic compounds and bitterness all come from the skin. And upon it? Blooms of yeast, the inoculant for fermentation, can be found on […]
A trio of summertime eats
Regardless of all that is happening around us, summer is the time to celebrate the outdoors — barbecuing, al fresco dining and savouring the flavours of the season. If you are in search of some easy inspiration, consider my Extraordinary Roast Beef Bites, where mini popover shells prove to be the perfect base upon which […]
Portraits of Canada
Note: Given the continuing uncertainty of public-health lockdowns, be sure to check with museums and galleries before visiting, as dates listed here could change. It’s been a long time coming,” sang the Tragically Hip’s Gord Downie, “it’s well worth the wait.” It seems appropriate to use the Tragically Hip — a band that wrote lyrical […]
China: A hidden workforce and education crisis
One recent, pre-COVID-era Christmas, I searched out the neighbourhood Canadian Tire for an instant-read thermometer, a gift for the cook in the family. There were several types on display, and out of curiosity, I started to scan the “Made in …” labels to see if I could find one not manufactured in China. No luck. […]
Theatre, murals and summer fun: 9 things to do
No question: It’s high time to rediscover the pleasures of local travel. Many public safety restrictions remain in place, but at the time of writing, opportunities for day and overnight trips were opening up in Ontario and Quebec. Our nine suggestions emphasize the outdoors (it is summer, after all) and even include a bit of […]
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