Good bye to Jack Layton · Monday August 22, 2011 by colin newell
All our prayers and thoughts go out to Jack Layton’s wife, family and extended family.
Summer about Victoria 2011 On the water around Vancouver Island · Saturday August 13, 2011 by colin newell
Heading out on the water tomorrow – not walking on it mind you…
But going out for a ride on a 43’ Hanse
I spent four years in the 80’s (as a civilian) trundling around on everything from destroyer escorts (battleships) to mine-sweepers, gate vessels, tugs and the occasional submarine… learning how to be an marine electronics expert.
This will be fun. Sailing the old way… the better way… with the wind.
Click on the pic at left for the big view…
And relaxing while someone who really knows what they are doing takes the wheel. My brother-in-law is a ships pilot, instructor and all around great mariner – and his wife (my sister) knows her stuff too.
A bit more on the Hanse 43 over here
Summer about Victoria 2011 At the digital cinema · Friday August 12, 2011 by colin newell
We visited Cineplex Odeon Westshore cinemas 900 2945 Jacklin Rd in Langford for “Cowboys and Aliens” featuring Daniel Craig and Harrison Ford.
It’s a Western. And it’s a Science fiction story – two of my favorite genres.
But this is not a movie review.
It is a technology review.
I have not spent a lot of time rambling on the subject of the transition from film projection to digital – there are a lot of people in the industry and in consumer World that bark like otters about this evolution.
My opinion differs slightly.
Starters, modern theaters are too freaking loud. I am clearly middle aged and I pack ear plugs with me to Silver City (and to a lesser extent the other theaters) – because the sound is too loud and it gives me a sonic headache in short order.
It astounds me the number of people that bring children to these noisy shows who have ears that are significantly more sensitive than mine.
Bottom line: Go to any of these shows and you are permanently degrading your hearing and the future of your ability to hear quiet sounds in the future.
But don’t take me word for it.
Digital projection. Cineplex Odeon raves about their ability to download and project digital movies – the savings over film are staggering – and guess what? The savings are passed directly on to the stakeholders at Cineplex Odeon – not the consumers.
There was a time, when film was king, that the only way a theater could make any money was with the concession goods; the absurd lake-sized drinks and waste barrel capacity popcorn selections could set you back a mortgage payment if you were treating the entire family.
The food prices are still stupid but now there is money to be made with the technology. Because it is simpler. And being a person who designs and builds labs and classrooms at a University and actually helps maintain a movie theater (UVic’s venerable Cinecenta [I have worked on the digital and film cinema side of the house]), I know how much stuff costs. And Cineplex Odeon is making a killing on the savings as it were.
And as much as “industry” would like us to believe that digital cinema is “awesome” and sparkles like a jewel – it doesn’t. It is not capable of it. My home Sony blu-ray and LED back-lit Bravia flat screen TV is as capable of showing spectacular video, with breathtaking surround audio. Digital projection onto giant screens has some fundamental flaws – lack of contrast and muted, often dreary color – and jittery scene transitions.
I know this sounds like a bit of a whine. I do come from an old-school movie viewing population where 35MM and 70MM film (and IMAX) was king. My feeling is, the technology is moving forward at a good clip – but it is simply not there yet.
But don’t take me word for it.
Today we drove from Victoria East (Rockland area) to the West Shore cinemas for a Friday matinee – taking surface roads would have made much more sense – The Island highway was inching forward from Tillicum to the Millstream exit – pretty sad. But it was Friday at 3:30 in the afternoon. We made it to the theater with 9 minutes to spare. Would we go again? I would still like to have the “AVX” experience… whatever that is – if the right movie comes along.
Today’s movie was in Cinema 4 – 200 seats maybe… there were, perhaps, 12 people in attendance. Matinee after all.
Final thought. I love the movie going experience. I think it is important for people to get out to movies – to support the economy, develop some social skills as well, eat out and such – especially important for young people and children.
Anyway – enough from me… and enjoy the show!
Summer food 2011 revisited La Belle Patate Esquimalt · Friday August 5, 2011 by colin newell
As fond as I am for the great cafe culture, of which Victoria, B.C. is truly blessed,
there are some real restaurant gems in Victoria and it is not so much the food (because the food is important unto itself) but it is the heart and soul of the people that create and work these restaurants that bring magic to the table.
Mathieu (Matty) Lott, owner and creator of La Belle Patate is at 1215 Esquimalt Road in Esquimalt. He knows his potatoes, his cheese curds, his customers and he loves all of them in equal measure.
Andrea, Matty and I sit in the pleasant August sun on the sidewalk patio, full of happy folks tucking into their poutine, burgers and smoked meat sandwiches.
What strikes me is the warmth and ease that Matty exhibits among his staff and appreciative clientele. At a youthful 36, Matty is coming up on 4 years in the business – 4 wonderful years – success measured in bags of potatoes, bushels of cheese curds and smiles… and an endless procession of smiles of customers. He knows them all.
The poutine formula has been good for Matty and La Belle Patate. Poutine is a dish of French fries, topped with a thick vegetable gravy and a covering of Island made cheese curds. We always order a “small” between the two of us – and two all-dressed “Steamie” hot dogs – crazy comfort food – steamed hot dogs (and buns) loaded down with pickled cabbage (saurkraut) and mustard. Brilliant. Pure love.
Matty was recently contacted by the good folks at Guy Fieri’s “Diners, Drive-ins and Dives…” – and Matty has conflicted feelings about the extra exposure. “It is a mixed blessing… in 3 years, we are going full out… 1200 pounds of potatoes a week! That kind of exposure could double our traffic… and right now we are in a perfect place!”
Having Matty join Andrea and me on the sidewalk patio for what seemed like 15 minutes was brilliant. Next time I am doing an audio recording. I could listen to Matty talk potatoes and his loyal customers for an hour.
Back to the reality of his poutine: It’s the real thing. I noted to Matty that I have a fairly good following on Facebook and Twitter (as well as all the devoted readers on the blog and coffeecrew website). There is lots of chatter about poutine, almost daily in fact. And here is the thing – La Belle Patate is the only city poutine that I can take seriously. Sure you can get some freaky gourmet treatment of poutine in a fancy restaurant in the Victoria area – and among some other joints that mean well – but La Belle Patate is the only game in town.
We sip on our iced tea, polish off our last gravy dressed fries and exchange warm handshakes with Matty – he is in a happy place doing what he loves best – making happy people happier and creating poutine converts on an almost daily basis.
Food is love. No kidding.
La Belle Patate is located at 1215 Esquimalt Road a half-block past the Civic Center and Esquimalt’s original strip mall. Bon apetit!
Comment [1]
