Birthday Week Day 5

A break from the rich food and power thrifting. Just two more stops and my task of visiting every thrift store in town is complete.

Kara-lot:

Nothing.

Salvation Army:

Too funny.

Record of the Week

Outrageous!

Soundtrack from the 1977 cult movie hit starring Craig Russel as hairdresser/female impersonator Robin Turner and Hollis McLaren as schizophrenic (is that an occupation?) Liza Connors. The music is by Paul Hoffert who was one of the founders of the great 70s band Lighthouse. Lyrics are by Hoffert’s then wife Brenda. The soundtrack consists of incidental music, original songs with vocals by Brenda Hoffert or Cecile Frenette (including a song that is either a deadpan parody of a Christmas standard or else is genuinely trying to be one), and Craig Russell’s brilliant impressions of the singing of Mae West, Judy Garland, Carol Channing, Marlene Dietrich, Pearl Bailey, Ella Fitzgerald, and other legendary ladies from his stage act.

A couple of instrumental tracks from Paul Hoffert’s score are avialable on the it came from canada website.

Birthday Week Day 4

Homemade sausage from Old Country Meat & Deli.

Homemade bannock (with lots of currants) from my kitchen. Before.

After. Not as good as the bannock at Fort Edmonton Park this summer. Something to do with lard and a campfire no doubt.

Breakfast.

Thrifting:

Sally Ann. Nothin’.

Value Village. Nothin’. The Lebanese bakery/restaurant next door is now called this:

which is a pity, because it used to be called this:

which was the best name ever.

This is where I wanted to go for my birthday.

This can’t be good.

Drinks before dinner. I finally cracked the bottle of Pisco (the one shaped like an Easter Island Moai) that I’ve been saving for a special occasion.

Rob samples a Pisco Sour. I used the recipe provided with the bottle (substituting lime juice for lemon):

3 parts Pisco
1 part lemon juice
Sugar to taste
Add ice and shake in a cocktail mixer

thasss one damn fine cocktail…

I can’t remember where I found this recipe, but I’m going to try it next:

Leche de Monja

One or more whole eggs WITH shells

Lime juice or lemon-lime juice to cover eggs

Sugar (to taste)

Pisco (to taste)

Place whole eggs, in shell, in a jar. Cover with lemon/lime juice. Seal the jar and refrigerate. Leave the eggs to marinate for 2-3 weeks. The shells should become soft. Place the eggs and juice in a blender and blend until smooth. Strain to remove egg membranes. Add sugar and pisco to taste.

So with the apparent demise of Churros King (damn, I was looking forward to sopaipillas, humitas, and torta mil hojas – and churros of course), my second choice was Tropika – delicious Malaysian food and Trader Vic’s style exotic drinks.

Brandon & Natasha share a Scorpion in a Moai bowl.

Cindy & Don suck on a Passion Punch.

Singapore Sling.

Tropika Sour.

Passion Punch.

Bahia.

Rob & Jill.

I forgot to take pictures of the food until it was almost gone.

My favourite cards have money in them (and play disco tunes).

Birthday Week Day 3

Breakfast at Wild Earth Cafe.

Great, I’m probably going to get a ticket.

VV: Nothing.

Cement Moai outside artists’ studio building.

Sally Ann Collectibles: Nothing.

Goodwill: Nothing.

Beacon: Nothing.

Sally Ann: Nothing. I’m starting to get weary and cranky.

Humbug.

Another Goodwill.

Something! At last! I’ve been looking for this soundtrack for awhile. I’ll have more to say about it on Saturday.

VV 2. Back to suckage. And have you noticed how early it gets dark these days?

Birthday Week Day 2

Heuvos rancheros for breakfast

Today’s thrifting was a total bust.

Emergency Relief:

Nothing.

Bissell:

Nothing.

Value Village:

Nothing.

BFM:

Nothing.

MCC:

Nothing.

Goodwill:

Nothing.

Another Value Village:

Nothing.

Crappy thrift store next to Value Village:

Nothing.

Birthday Week Day 1

I was going to start my week of birthday goofing off yesterday but some unexpected work came up so I was forced to delay until today. I don’t work again until Monday, so I can relax and indulge in my favorite pastimes, namely thrifting and eating. I’m celebrating my birthday week by visiting every thrift store in town and having at least one novel eating experience per day.

The only interesting thing at the Goodwill on 51st Avenue today was a purse made from an armadillo -  priced at $59.99 which is far too much for something that’s made from roadkill.

For lunch I headed to the university campus to discover that Roots Organic, a natural food store with a restaurant, has been replaced by a Sobey’s grocery store. An upscale, new generation Sobey’s mind you. This one doesn’t have an oyster bar like their new store downtown, but it has many of the same features including a fantastic deli/bistro. I had a panini with prosciutto and fresh mozzarella and a Dry soda. I’ve never heard of this brand before but I was intrigued by the unique flavors. I tried the lavender and it was perfect – sweet without being cloying, refreshing, subtle, and not at all like drinking handsoap or sachet. I also tried the lemongrass flavor which I though was a little too subtle and I was disappointed it didn’t have any heat. I see on their website they also have juniper flavour which I certainly would have tried if they had it in the store.

For supper, Marlena joined me at Langano Skies, an Ethiopian restaurant that I’ve only been to once, even though it’s only two blocks from my door.

On the last Tuesday of the month they have a vegetarian buffet.

Gomen Wot (spinach), Ater Kik Aletcha Wot (split peas with curry), Atekilt Aletcha Wot (carrots, potatoes and cabbage), Ater Kik Wot (split peas with Berbere), Shiro Wot (ground roasted peas, Yemisir Kik Wot (split red lentils), and an endless supply of Injera, a spongy sourdough crepe to scoop everything up with.

Deeelish! (the plates look they were left by the last tenant – the North China Cafe).

Record Cover of the Week

Biggest week in a long time – nine records. Here are the most visually appealing.

Arthur Lyman: Ilikai

Arthur Lyman: Bwana à

Arthur Lyman: Cotton Fields

Arthur Lyman: The Legend of Pele

John Williams: Earthquake

Soundtrack from the disaster movie that introduced the cinematic marvel Sensurround.

All star cast.

The Sinatra Family Wish You A Merry Christmas

Frank and his brood: Tina, Frank Jr. and Nancy Jr.

The Culling XIII: MM

I’ve listened to 2,000 records now and culled 20% of them (compared to 25% after the first 1,000). If it doesn’t look like I’m much farther along the shelf than the last time I posted a picture, it’s because I “compacted” the rows because I was running out of room to put the “infill” records that were accumulating on the floor.

I’m now well into the male vocals. Right now I’m listening to Donovan after finally getting through the large C-section (ha) which seemed to take forever: Glen Campbell, Keith Carradine, Wilf Carter, Johnny Cash, Tommy Cash (Johnny’s brother), George Chakiris, Richard Chamberlain, Robert Charlebois, Ray Charles, Chubby Checker, Maurice Chevalier, Jimmy Cliff, Bruce Cockburn, Joe Cocker, Leonard Cohen, Michael Cohen (no relation, as far as I know), Nat King Cole, Jerry Colonna, Perry Como, Stompin’ Tom Connors, Sam Cooke, Bill Cosby (singing, not comedy), Johnny Crawford, and Bobby Curtola.

Grokked: 2002
Groovy: 1605
Gone: 397