Montreal Fashion Week: Le Showroom and Midi Fashion
Source: network.nationalpost.com --- Saturday, March 13, 2010
With apologies to Magritte, one of the highlights of MONTREAL Fashion Week and a Sensation Mode innovation for several seasons now (so much that it is now being copied by other fashion weeks) is Ceci N’est Pas Un Salon, aka Le Showroom . Just don’t call it a trade show. Over two days during MONTREAL Fashion Week, Canadian designers who have runways shows --(and many who don’t, such as Travis Taddeo, Ophélie Hats and Judy Design) set up a kiosk to show off their fall collections. Domestic and foreign stylists, buyers and press wander through - it’s a casual setting. Some finds include Juma’s new silk twill scarves (they’ll retail for $200 come fall), printed with almost-abstract patterns made from digital photographs of tree silhouettes and landscapes taken outside their Wallace Street studio- some are pixellated and scrambled around the border. I also discover that House of Spy is now called Maison - and that designer Wendy Wong has written several good orders. It’s in Le Showroom that I discover my new favourite accessory designer: Charlotte Hosten. Her necklaces are stocked at boutiques around MONTREAL and are mixed media sculptures that incorporate found materials, vintage findings and fabrics into statement bibs. Like the dramatic Deauville tuxedo collar necklace with a pleated ruff, fabric pom-poms and swags of pearl ($240). Hostein can also incorporate meaningful mementos into custom versions. The CIMM showroom at 555 Chab ...
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St. Patrick's Day Blogathon - Cocktails & Cooking for Two
If you're planning on a more intimate gathering for St. Patrick's Day, be sure to check out these Irish cocktail recipes and recipes for cooking for two from Colleen Graham, About's Cocktails Guide, and Kevin Weeks, About's Cooking for Two Guide:
This Irish Martini recipe transforms your favorite Vodka Martini into a lucky libation.
Everybody's Irish is a cocktail that Colleen said, "will get everyone in the spirit of the Irish." It contains Irish whiskey and it's green.
Kevin said, "There is nothing more Irish than Guinness. Made using water from the Liffey River, it is one of the most famous beers (specifically a "stout") in the world." He suggested using it as ingredient in Steak and Guinness Pie, a staple of English and Irish pub fare, and buying a few extra pints to pair with your meal for two.
Corning your own beef takes some advance planning, but it's easy to make and delicious.
Photo © Kevin D Weeks
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St. Patrick's Day Blogathon - Cocktails & Cooking for Two originally appeared on About.com Coffee / Tea on Tuesday, March 9th, 2010 at 17:04:14.
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Bieksa returns to Canucks lineup after 10-week absence
(Photo: Kevin Bieksa missed 10 weeks with the Vancouver Canucks because of severed tendons in his leg. Andy Clark/Reuters)
Vancouver Canucks defenceman Kevin Bieksa is set to make his return Saturday.
Out 10 weeks because of severed tendons in his leg, Bieksa said doctors have cleared him to play.
“I’m ready to play and I think I’ve been ready to play for a bit,” Bieksa said. “The last little part usually takes the longest. I’ve been patient the last two weeks even though I’ve been feeling pretty good on the ice.”
Bieksa skated Friday at the Canucks practice with Shane O’Brien, leaving Aaron Rome as the odd man out on the blue-line and the likely scratch against the Ottawa Senators.
After surgery in January, Bieksa made his return to the ice in the middle of February. The recovery time was expected to be three months, but Bieksa will be playing again after two and a half.
Meanwhile, head coach Alain Vigneault said defenceman Willie Mitchell looked “pretty good” when the two met Friday even though Mitchell still has concussion symptoms and isn’t yet exercising.
Mitchell was injured Jan. 16 when he was driven awkwardly into the boards by Pittsburgh star Evgeni Malkin. The Canucks are hopeful Mitchell will be healthy come playoff time, but that appears wishful thinking based on the apparent lack of progress the last two months.
Canwest News Service
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'American Idol' week two: Top 10 guys
So the “Idol” guys did a little better this week, but that’s damning with faint praise, like saying Jay Leno isn’t quite as bad on “The Tonight Show” as he was on “The Jay Leno Show.” There were no horror shows like last week, and most of the guys hovered around the average mark.
Maybe having one less day to muck around with arrangements and go scarf-shopping was a good thing (the girls were scheduled to perform tonight, but a medical emergency involving Crystal Bowersox led to a switcheroo).
Here’s the rundown:
Michael Lynche
“This Is a Man’s World”
There are two things you can count on in any “Idol” show (well, three, if you count inane, stupid banter between the judges)
whoever goes first and last will turn in pretty decent performances. We don’t get to see all the rehearsal, but the producers sure do and they want to make sure they don’t put, say, Tim Urban first so that you switch over to CBS. That said, Lynche turned in another strong performance this week with a slower, soulful rendition of this James Brown number.
What the judges said:
“That was the one to beat,” Ellen
“Dawg, I gotta give it to you,” Randy
“I did not get it
until tonight. You owned it tonight,” Kara
“From a pussycat to a lion in one week,” Simon
My grade: B+
John Park
“Gravity”
Here’s my theory: sometime during Hollywood week, Park (the lead singer of a choral group called Purple Haze, we learn) got replaced with a wax dummy that Kara operates from the judge’s table with an intricate series of wires. If he hopped on the huge Michael Lynch’s lap (seriously — the man makes a guitar look like a ukulele), they could probably do a pretty decent ventriloquist act on Simon Cowell’s new “X Factor” show. Decent vocals, no spark. That’s good, ‘cuz it’d probably melt the wax.
What the judges said:
“I think Purple Haze may get their lead singer back,” Simon
“Way better than last week,” Kara
“It wasn’t as good as the original,” Randy
“There could have been a little more soul in it,” Ellen
My grade: C+
Casey James
“I Don’t Wanna Be”
Hey, Casey’s got another guitar in his collection, a nice electric axe that he’s wringing some good licks out of. Speaking of licks, I wonder if Kara’s licking her lips this week, watching Casey in full-on rock star mode. We’re almost spared all of the awful, useless banter about how sexy Casey is and how much Kara lusts after him. Almost. But then Kara refers to herself as a cougar. Sigh. Let it go, Kara, you’re embarrassing yourself and embarrassing ones’ self is Seacrest’s job.
What the judges said:
“Tonight, I gotta say, you took two steps backward,” Kara
“I want you to just play on stage and move more,” Ellen
“I didn’t know you played the guitar like that. Dude, that was hot,” Randy
“You turned into
somebody trying to be a rock star,” Simon
My grade: B+
Alex Lambert
“Everybody Knows”
Did you notice how nice the “Idol” set looked this week? They touched up the paint a little. That machine that shakes up the paint was broken, though, so they just handed the cans to Alex after he walked offstage last week. The shakiest (shot)gun (microphone) in the west was a little more relaxed this week, but that’s like saying that Jay Leno is
oh, never mind. Started confident, really started to lose it halfway through. All in all, a marked improvement.
What the judges said:
“That was a million times better than last week,” Simon
“What you have is an incredible, recordable voice,” Kara
“I really enjoyed that, actually, man,” Randy
“It’s like somebody took the unripe banana and put it in a paper bag,” Ellen
My grade: C+
Todrick Hall
“What’s Love Got to Do With It?”
Okay, Todrick went from Weirdsville to Dullsville, with a loungey rendition of this Tina Turner tune. Vocally better than last week, but it lacked the train wreck factor we look to Todrick for.
What the judges said:
“I don’t think it was the right song at all,” Ellen
“A great song doesn’t need a different, wild arrangement,” Randy
“When you started moving, it actually got better,” Kara
“This is not working out at all for you,” Simon
My grade: D+
Jermaine Sellers
“What’s Goin’ On”
Oh, Jermaine. Not even your buddy Jesus is going to be able to help you when you force a comparison between your over-the-top yet perplexingly weak voice against that of the great Marvin Gaye. We hear what’s goin’ on, and it’s just kind of okay.
What the judges said:
“It just didn’t work for me,” Ellen
“It was just so close, but so far at the same time,” Randy
“The problem is, you’re always doing too much,” Kara
“We’re frustrated and disappointed. You water down the songs,” Simon
My grade: C
Andrew Garcia
“You Give Me Something”
Hey Andrew
did you hear that your doppelganger, Danny Gokey, is going to be performing on Thursday’s results show? Maybe y’all can do that acting class thing where you face each other and mimic one another’s movements, pretending that you are mirror images of each other. On the other hand, some cataclysmic alternate-universe event might take place if the two of you occupy the same stage at the same time. Better play it safe, like you did with this bland and surprisingly off-key performance. I think you just knocked yourself out of the frontrunner slot.
What the judges said:
“It’s just okay, and you’re better than okay,” Simon
“Today, you played it too safe,” Kara
“Dawg, honestly, that wasn’t a vibe for you tonight,” Randy
“I like that you take chances,” Ellen
My grade: C+
Aaron Kelly
“My Girl”
Wow, this performance could not have been cheesier. It was like a grilled cheese sandwich without the bread, with extra cheese sprinkled on top in a Wisconsin cheese shop with a side of Cheez-Its. Did I mention it was cheesy? I may start calling Aaron Chester Cheetah. The vocal was average, but I kept scanning the audience, looking for that pig-tailed, little blond girl with the pink shirt who wept uncontrollably whenever David Archuleta opened his mouth. I wonder whatever happened to that girl? These are the things that drift into my mind when Aaron sings, which can’t be a good sign.
What the judges said:
“It was all over the place. I think you actually went kind of backwards,” Simon
“I liked it. I mean I really liked it,” Kara
“Dude, you can really sing,” Randy
“I think the song was a little forgettable,” Ellen
My grade: C
Tim Urban
“Come On Get Higher”
Sure, Tim did better than he did last week, blah blah blah. As the weeks go by, Tim reminds me more and more of that “Brady Bunch” episode where Greg was going to become a rock star and that jive producer took him into the studio and pulled all kinds of weird, electronic shenanigans on his voice. At the end, you couldn’t even recognize it. Turns out the producer wanted Greg because he was good-looking and “fit the suit.” That’s Tim in a nutshell. He fits the suit. Now, if only we could apply some electronic shenanigans on his below-average voice.
What the judges said:
“Congratulations, I thought you did great,” Simon
“You didn’t make it your own,” Kara
“It was kind of very karaoke for me,” Randy
“There’s no charisma; there’s no stage presence,” Ellen
My grade: C-
Lee Dewyze
“Lips of an Angel”
Lee did pretty good, even though he really missed his guitar (he should borrow one of Casey James’
that guys got a whole collection!). I like Lee, but I wish his voice was as good as it gives the illusion of being — he misses a lot of notes but he’s got a really appealing vocal quality. I didn’t think he looked as nervous as the judges did, but the way he was clutching that microphone stand he reminded me of that janitor from “Scrubs.” You know, the guy who plays the dad on “The Middle” now. I think this performance lifted Lee right out of the middle. Dewyze song choice, too.
What the judges said:
“There was so much passion and intensity,” Ellen
“I liked it,” Randy
“I can hear you on the radio right now. Good job,” Kara
“Vocally, you are head and shoulders above everybody else in your side of the competition right now,” Simon
My grade: B-
Should go: Todrick Hall, John Park
Will go: John Park, Jermaine Sellers
Agree? Disagree? Sound off!
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