November 2, 2012 · 3:50 pm

a death in the family

“This is history,” an elderly woman laments as she takes one last look around while perched in a corner of the Zellers Family Restaurant at Bayshore Shopping Centre. Reluctantly making her way to the cash to pay for her lunch, she bids farewell to Maria Gomez, the server she has come to know well over the past dozen years.

“I think a lot of the seniors are really going to miss it,” fellow customer Rachelle Tesslar observes as she finishes her Pepsi. “They come in and have breakfast, chit-chat. That lady was really, really upset that this is closing.”

But closing it is, on the heels of the loss, earlier this year, of Sears Carlingwood’s long-standing diner. Zellers itself is, of course, closing its many doors soon. The in-house restaurants, it seems, will not be available for a last supper. Bayshore’s diner will call it a day Saturday, Nov. 3, and Gomez estimates the few remaining menu items will not last the day. It’s an unceremonious exit for a fast-fading institution: the department-store restaurant. When Target takes over selected Zellers stores in the new year, store-run restaurants are not expected to be part of the deal. Continue reading →

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October 26, 2012 · 5:36 pm

some of us are looking at the stars

I was reminded today of my longtime resistance to the practice of assigning a star-rating to reviews of CDs, concerts and films. During my time as managing editor at a local weekly called X Press (don’t look for it; it’s not there anymore), I steadfastly refused to resort to summing up an artistic work with a series of symbols. I mean, if a film is given one star out of five, there is little need to read the accompanying review; you can pretty much figure out that the reviewer considers it to be unworthy or his, her or your time. Eschewing the star system in favour of informative and informed critiques, I’ve always figured, forces readers to (gasp!) read. Continue reading →

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October 26, 2012 · 4:46 pm

time on my hands

So I’ve done it again: a second attempt to solicit from CIBC an explanation as to why their ATMs insist my “transaction is complete” before, not after, handing over my money. I mean, we all hate banks, right? Do they really have to rub our noses in their supreme power by informing us that, as far as bankers are concerned, a withdrawal “transaction” consists solely of debiting our accounts an appropriate amount? Whether or not we receive any of our money is, it seems, immaterial.

I wrote to the bank some time ago to complain about this dismissive view of their customers. I received no response. And in such circumstances, the best option is to wait a year or two before acting. It’s something I’ve learned from OC Transpo, which somehow received favourable press this week by responding to customers’ complaints about reduced service… 14 months after effecting said reductions. We’ve listened to concerns, our public-transit service proudly stated, and after waiting just over a year, we’ve acted in the best interests of our riders.

Well done, OC Transpo. And as for the bank, I’m now playing the waiting game. I will, of course, keep you up to date as things develop. Continue reading →

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October 23, 2012 · 8:02 pm

diarrhea of a Killer

Even for New York City, it had the feel of a special night. The Killer, Jerry Lee Lewis, in concert at the legendary country and blues bar Tramps, an intimate venue close to my heart — it’s where I first saw Neil Hamburger and last saw Dave Davies. It’s also where I once joined a full house to catch Buddy Guy play a lacklustre set, secure in the knowledge that most in attendance were present not to see the great bluesman but because Eric Clapton was known to be in town. And, naturally, Slowhand wouldn’t miss a chance to join his buddy Buddy, right?

Wrong. And I can hardly blame Buddy Guy for treating his audience with as little respect as they were treating him. That he at one point broke into a few bars of Sunshine of Your Love, while gazing somewhere stage right at a phantom surprise guest, was an especially nice touch on the master’s part. Continue reading →

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October 22, 2012 · 5:56 pm

funding drive show postscript

Another year, another funding drive show. And, for a gimmicky show on a Monday morning, I have to say it fared not too badly. For that, I give part of the credit to my co-host for the day, Brenda Thorne. Most of the credit, though, belongs to listeners that took the time to pledge support for a nifty little radio station fast approaching its late-30s. The funding drive is on for another dozen days, so if you didn’t get a chance to call 1-877-520-3920 or 613-520-3920, or to donate online, there’s still plenty of time.

Well, there’s time. Funding drive has a tendency to pass by in a flash, so the time to donate is now. And, after talking myself hoarse this morning, I’ll stop now.

For a moment.

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