6 posts tagged “montreal”
It's hard to believe and I almost forgot. It was 25 years ago this month that Gilles Villeneuve died during qualifications in Belgium. He was a great, exciting driver, who embodied Ferrari spirit. He was Enzo's special one.
Today we remember him by the track named in his honor in Montreal and his son Jacques. If you have some knowledge of French, Radio Canada has a memorial site featuring bio material, photos, video and tributes from Patrick Tambay, Jackie Stewart and René Arnoux.
Photos: Villeneuve in Montral and Didier Pironi and Gilles Villeneuve pose with Enzo Ferrari
Well, I'm back from Montreal. It was a quick but lovely trip. Money was no object as there really wasn't any money to spend but that's OK.
First stop was the Biodome - not to be confused, although it always is, with the Biosphere. The Biodome is located in the old Olympic Velodrome beside the Olympic stadium. It is, of course, right on the Metro.
There are several ecosystems to enjoy. We started with the Tropical Forest. After the incredibly cold weather outside this was a welcome shock to the system. The birds and plants are easy to see and as one allows the eyes to scan about for creatures you soon begin to feel you are really in their environment.
This was followed by the Laurentian Forest which is actually the local wild habitat. This is more interesting than I thought it would be and I can't believe a saw a Lynx even if it was behind a screen. It was so close and it's fur is incredible.
We then moved into the St. Lawrence Marine Ecosystem. Wow. One can begin to appreciate rains and little streams flowing into rivers that, in turn, flow into the mighty St. Lawrence which itself meets the Atlantic Ocean. The interrelationship between the different animals seems so obvious when they are observed up close and thousands of square kilometers of nature are compressed into just a few square meters.
The last section puts the Arctic and Antarctic environments beside each other. Here the many varities of Penguins 'steal the show'.
The Biodome is fun for families and just fine for the lone visitor. It's a jewel. If you're thinking of going, there is a shuttle bus between the Biodome, the Insectarium and the Botanical Gardens.
After this it was time for something completely different. Located by the Place des Arts Metro is the Musee d'art contemporain de Montréal. Here we saw kinetic works by Jean-Pierre Gauthier, amazing paper 'assemblies' by Jérôme Fortin and an installation work called Tree House Kit by Guy Ben-Ner. Also on general view were recent additions to the museum's collection.
After this a break was taken followed by an early supper, certainly by Montreal standards, of Japanese food on de la Montagne - no poutine or smoked meat - and an early return to the hotel.
The next morning was window shopping on Ste Catherine although I did allow myself a small purchase. I went into HMV and picked up Beethoven, The Piano Sonatas, by Vladimir Ashkenazy. That's 32 sonatas for thirty dollars which is quite the deal, I hope. I'm not really familiar with Ashkenazy with the exception of his recording of Musorgski's Pictures at an Exhibition.
After lunch it was time to return home which was done by train. I believe a good time was had by all. It's still sad, however, to be at the Olympic Stadium and know the Expos will never play again - you see I can sneak baseball into anything.
Man, I miss Montreal.
In 1963, at the age of 19, Ryan Larkin joined the Nation Film Board of Canada. Six years later received an Academy Award nomination for his animated short Walking. He also created the animation classic Street Musique and received literally dozens of international awards.
Then, the story goes, creative block set in. Soon Larkin was deeply into booze, cocaine, and he became a street person in Montreal. On the streets he was well known for his sidewalk illustrations just outside Schwartz's.
Larkin reappeared to the general world and the animation community specifically as the subject of Ryan, a digital animated tribute by Canadian Chris Landreth. This short won an Academy Award in 2005.
Recently Ryan Larkin had done some promo spots for MTV Canada and was working on a film about his life on the streets of Montreal to be called Spare Change.
Ryan Larkin died last Wednesday at the age of 63.
I remember the man and his illustrations on the St-Laurent sidewalks. I did not know who he was and can't remember if I ever gave him any change.
What is your favorite kind of bagel and what do you put on it?
Submitted by Nacwolin.
Thanks to one of my favorite neighbors, Chris ... It's poppy seed from either the Fairmont or St-Viateur bagel shops in Montreal. It is said that Isadore Shlafman brought the first bagel recipe to Montreal in 1919 from his native Russia. It's the same recipe used today at the Fairmont. Which is better St-V or Fairmont? Well it's six of one, half a dozen of the other (ha ha never thought I'd get to use that)! Either way, fresh out of the oven, it has to be poppy seed.
Chris, I have such a craving now!
I have just heard reported that Bens Delicatessen has closed. Located in downtown Montreal, Bens is acknowledged by many to be the originator of the smoked meat sandwich. According to Elloit Kravitz, grandson of the founder "smoked-meat sandwiches" were first available for sale at the original tobacco-confectionery shop in May 1908. "For several years before that, Ben Kravitz had been serving his unique smoked-meat sandwiches free of charge to customers, friends and family who would join him at lunch." Montreal smoked meat should not be confused with what is often passed off as genuine but is, in fact, pastrami or a variation thereof. Indeed, Bens probably was the first smoked meat but many would argue that over the years the "Montreal process" was perfected by others (see my Schwartz's post). As a deli, you see, the meat was just part of it. Bens had the greatest location. Downtown, surrounded by office towers and shopping, it was also close to McGill University and practicaly next door to Condordia U. It stayed open late and you could get pretty good latkes when the rest of the city just wanted to sleep. Then there was the atmosphere. Somehow the customer was just an ephemeral speck on the ageless green linoleum floors and linoleum topped tables. Your waiter wore a white shirt, narrow black tie, pocket protector and always seemed to have to walk a mile to the table. You felt like you were sitting in a bit of history. You were. The report I heard said walls displying the celebrity/sports figure photos and hand painted menu highlights were to be preserved by a museum. It's hard to believe. I had known that the deli had been dealing with labor problems for months. Obviously the location would be coveted by any serious developer. It's just a sign of the times but not, I suspect a good one. Anyway, time will always march on. Thank you so very much Ben Kravitz!
I have used this spot to put forward recipes that appeal to my currently unattainable cravings. I'll post some others soon.
Right now my preoccupation is with the taste and smell memory of Schwartz's Hebrew Delicatessen in Montreal. What a place. You usually have to line up outside to get in. Once inside you share a table with whoever and that's that. The waiters are surly or, at least, abrupt. Do I want my smoked meat meat lean? No but I will settle for medium. My heart doesn't deserve fat even though it is its' own special joy. What will I drink? That will be a black cherry cola, of course.
When my taste buds return I will not be lazy. I will make the trip to Montreal. I will not go the The Main deli across the street simply to avoid the crowd. I will join with that special person who lives 'round the corner and down a block. We will feast.
