My two new friends

This w-end I welcomed 2 new friends: the Stanton T.60 twins!

After a year of not being able to play my extensive vinyl collection. After a year of just standing around and taking up precious space, it was time to dust'em off and start spinning!

Boy, I love my 2 new friends!

Habs + M pour/for Montréal

Getting tickets to our hometown hockey team The Montréal Canadiens aka The Habs (from les habitants) is not an easy thing especially because this City is hockey (in Montreal this is not a hollow marketing slogan). Luckily our friend Eric was up for the ask and after spending a day on the phone and the Internet, he managed to get his hands on a couple of season tickets. Divided among some friends, we get to see 5 home games.

And the first one was last weekend against the Buffalo Sabres. The tricolore beat the shit out of the Sabres, with a smashing 4-2 victory. It's quite the adventure, a roaring 20,000 heads strong crowd, lots of hotdogs and crappy Molson Ex for 10 bucks a pop. Still it didn't spoil the fun we had.

Last year we went to M for Montreal. And they introduced us to bands such as The Besnard Lakes and Patrick Watson (Oct 29 in Depot Leuven, check it out). Eager to find out what was on our musical plate this time, we first gobbled down our dinner in Pho Bang New York (best noodlesoup place in town, and fast and cheap). But we're drifting away (from Mr. Watson as well). Let's not waste precious html codes on 'back-to-rehearsal'-bands.

Krief
Solo thing of singer and guitarist of The Dears. Reminescent of John Lennon, Led Zep, some Hendrix. Maybe not heartbreaking original, but getting better each time I see them (first time was on Osheaga).

Karkwa
I guess French post-rock would be the right label. Very tight, very impressive. Too bad they sing in French, because the Shakespearian language would open a lot more doors for them in Europe. But then again, it's what differentiates them as well.

The Stills
Another "The" band. This one is on the Torontonian Arts & Crafts label (Broken Social Scene, Feist). Live very rock 'n roll, more indie of some sort on record. Listen for yourselves.

Vermont

Last year we went to Mont-Orford, QC to enjoy the foliage, but since we've never been in the YOU-ESS of AA, we went to Vermont, only 1.5h drive from Montreal. We stayed in an early 19th century farmhouse in Fairfax in the middle of pastures and woods. We visited a brewery, a cider mill, skipped the Ben & Jerry's factory (too busy), did scenic tours, hiked in the woods and made new Bostonian friends. And New England is definitely a culinary paradise. We had outstanding meals at the Main St. Bar & Grill in Montpelier (pronounce mount-peel-yer) and the re-opened Smokejacks in Burlington.

Apple picking in OKA

Last month was really warm and beautiful ... and what better way to spend those indian summerdays with apple picking in Oka, 45-minute drive from MTL. It's actually very smart ... people pay to pick apples but of course they get to keep them. We picked Judoka, Jonamac (crossover between Jonagold & Mc Intosh), Liberté and Lobo for juice, compote and apple crumble.

Update

Having a full time job in marketing again means almost no time to blog ... But that doesn't mean less stuff is happening to us:

• Our good friends P & M left MTL. Official farewell party is in a couple of weeks after they come back from their trip out West, after that they will cross the Atlantic for good. Sniff sniff ... we're gonna miss'em!
• Wilco seems to be the official music provider for all the VW commercials on TV ... when o when are they comin' to the city of cities??
• I am addicted to Seinfeld
• I am addicted to Rome
  
• My hair is back to crew cut. I lost the battle against baldness, I surrender!
• Had an official work 5 à 7. Gave me some idea what I can expect @ the X-mas party ... not for publication I fear ... but fun nevertheless ... I had a blast!
• Hockey season started and we have a couple of much desired tickets to go see our home team Les Canadiens de Montréal!