Category: Totally Random

Happy Good Friday

I love Good Friday.  Not because I’m religious, but because every year Ian and I spend Good Friday totally slacking off all day long.  We get takeaway fish and chips, and catch up on TV and movies.

One of the movies I want to watch today is Exit Through the Gift Shop by graffiti artist Banksy.  I don’t know much about it, but I’ve heard from numerous people that I’d like it.  I noticed that it’s available on Netflix, so we’re set.  Speaking of Netflix, check out this list of 20 Great Documentaries to Watch on Netflix, courtesy of Paste.  It’s a list of what’s available on the American Netflix (aka Netflix Instant) so they might not all be available for us Canucks, but I’d think should be on there.

Hope you have a great long weekend, whatever you’re up to.

How Do You Feel About Gwenyth Paltrow?

A burning question in these troubling times, I know.

But seriously, how do you feel about Gwennie?  I’ll tell you how I feel about her. I’ve never been a fan of her acting (and when she won the Oscar for Shakespeare in Love and blubbered away in that pink disaster of a dress, I was not impressed).  But lately, I gotta say, I kind of love her.

This girl has seriously reinvented herself.  No longer the entitled Hollywood gal who seemed to date just about every leading man, she has settled down in England and embraced motherhood.  Now she sings (umm, no comment) and blogs, and makes TV shows of her foodie adventure travels with Mario Batali.  Oh, and her fashion sense is impeccable.

So when I read last week that Gwenyth is rumoured to be launching a food magazine (published by Hearst, no less), I thought it sounded pretty cool.  I may never like her in movies, but foodie/mom/style icon Gwenyth?  Two thumbs up.

Happy April Fool’s!

I love April Fool’s Day.  I’m not much of a prankster myself, but I do enjoy the high jinx of others.  I love how many companies have embraced the April Fool’s spirit, and pulled some fun gags.  Here are a few I’ve noticed today:

Moo (the internet-based printing company) is advertising a special new ink that changes colour, kind of like a mood ring.  Check it out.

Over at Virgin, Sir Richard Branson has announced he has purchased Pluto, and intends to have it reinstated as a planet.

Ikea has rolled out a new product in time for April Fool’s – the dog highchair.

And of course, Google, the king of all April Fool’s pranksters, rolled out Gmail Motion.  Just look at some of the pictures and gestures (above) – hilarious.

What April Fool’s Day stunts have you heard about?

Blogging Change

For all you regular readers, you may have noticed that I post something new on the blog every morning, Monday to Friday. Over the past year (Stuff Avery Likes is turning 1 year old on March 22), that has amounted to almost 300 posts!

I’m sorry to say that the frequency is going to change. I’m now 8 months pregnant, trying to wrap up work, and get the house together in time for baby… so something has to give, and for now it’s gonna be Stuff Avery Likes.

That’s not to say that I won’t be blogging at all – I still love to share neat-o stuff with you.  I just won’t necessarily be posting every day.  If you want, peruse the archives, or check out some of the other blogs I follow (the list is to the right, under “Daily Reading”).

[I took that picture yesterday – check out my mega baby bump!]

Montreal Weekend

Our little weekend trip to Montreal turned out to be just what we needed: a fancy getaway amongst all the stress of pregnancy, the kitchen renovation, and work.  We traveled with our pals Hilary and Tristan, and stayed at the swanky Place D’Armes Hotel.

On Friday night we hit up Au Pied de Cochon, which did not disappoint.  I’ve wanted to eat there ever since seeing the episode of No Reservations where chef Martin Picard tries to kill Anthony Bourdain with dish after dish of rich meat (watch the clip on YouTube here).  That’s a photo of our foie gras poutine above.

On Saturday, we slept in, had breakfast in bed (don’t you just love room service?) and then drove around the city.  I’ve been to Montreal many times, but have never driven downtown.  I found it an easy place to navigate, so we headed uptown to get some fresh Montreal bagels at St. Viateur for my brother-in-law, and then drove around Mont Royal park.  The park was full of families out enjoying the sunny day – cross-country skiing and tobogganing through the fresh snow. Gorgeous.

Then we met up with Hilary and Tristan for some Montreal smoked meat at Schwartz’s Deli.  After a nap back at the hotel (so much food, must sleep), the four of us headed to the Bell Centre for the Montreal Canadiens hockey game.  They won the game, which made super-fans Ian and Tristan very happy.  Hilary and I couldn’t really care less, but we had fun.

I would have loved to have another day in the city, but it was back in the car on Sunday morning for the drive back to Toronto.  That’s what’s so great about Montreal… it’s only 5.5-6 hours by car, so it really is an easy weekend trip.

[pictured above: Place D’Armes Hotel, Tristan and Hilary in line outside Schwartz’s, foie gras poutine at Au Pied de Cochon, St Viateur Bagels, me at the lookout point in Mont Royal Park, Ian in Old Montreal, Schwartz’s Deli]