Day Drinking & Daubing with The Colonel: Beer Barrel Bingo at the Dakota Tavern

You ever have that moment where you realize playing bingo on a Saturday afternoon in honky tonk basement bar, with old country vinyl playing, drinking caesars and eating chicken & waffles with your friends was a highlight of your week? And you smile, like you're getting away with something? Wouldn’t you want to keep going back as often as you can?

The Dakota Tavern started Beer Barrel Bingo, hosted by Colonel Tom, on Saturday afternoons a few months ago. It’s a weekly event, running from 2pm – 5pm every Saturday, no cover charge. 

On a typical afternoon, we pile in with a gang of friends, claim a large table and kick things off with a round of drinks. Day drinking adds to the feeling your playing hooky from everything else and the drink specials are perfect for the afternoon with $6 caesars, $5 pints of Molson Stock Ale, and $5 Wiarton Weddings (rye & ginger ale, the country champagne).  The menu is a Saturday afternoon mainstay of chicken and waffles with fruit topping.  The chicken is fantastic, and there are options for pulled pork or baked beans (for vegetarians) with your waffles.

Bingo is the reason we show up, and the Dakota gives it a country flavour, in no small part to our charming bingo caller and host, Colonel Tom Parker. With his extensive collection of country vinyl playing, his easy going manner and occasional drop of trivia, many a bingo hall would be the better for such a host. Cards are typically 1 for $1 for 12 cards for $5, and you can play as many or as few as you’d like during each game. It is bizarre how quickly you get invested in trying to complete a line on a Bingo card, mentally trying to influence which number gets called next, keeping an eye on your neighbour's card. The winning is sometimes more important than the prize, but the prizes are sweet for those luck few to shout “BINGO!” – records, t-shirts, all sorts of beer paraphernalia. There is a grand prize game towards the end of every Beer Barrel Bingo session – the grand prize in past weeks have included tickets to see Aerosmith, the Dakota New Year’s Eve, and to Elliott Brood concert at the Dakota on January 30^th.

You occasionally look over at your friends, laughing while we wait for the next number to be called out, and figure “this is a pretty good thing we got going on here”. We go week after week, and we think we'd get tired of it, but it's really the best thing Saturday afternoon ever.

Try to get there between 2pm and 3pm to get a table or you may end up riding the bar rail. If you have a large group, the earlier, the better of course, and the afternoon, like the Dakota’s brilliant Sunday Bluegrass Brunch, is kid friendly. 

Bookmark The Dakota Tavern website 

Follow them on Twitter at @thedakotatavern and on Facebook

The Dakota Tavern

249 Ossington Avenue,
Toronto, ON M6J 3A1

My Favourite Toronto - Riverdale Park

Riverdale Park, at the magic hour during a rare warm winter day.

An ongoing series of my favourite people, places and things about Toronto.

Whenever I can find the time, I love to go to Riverdale Park to sit and take in how beautiful this city is. On Broadview Avenue, the upper part of the park offers some spectacular views of the Don Valley and the city spread behind it. In snowy winter, it's one of the most popular sledding spots in Toronto. In spring, you see people walking their dogs, as they bound and tear along, making you want to have a dog of your own. In summer, you look down at the athletic track and sports fields, watching everyone at play. In autumn, you just watch the trees in the Don Valley burst with colour. The park draws an array of photographers, kite flyers, soccer games, and picnics - even in a flurry of activity, it's a pretty, joyful place, this gateway to the East End.

Riverdale Park, early summer.

There's a perfect little coffeehouse right there, Rooster Coffee House. The espressos and lattes are sublime, the pastries fresh and savoury. You get an Americano crafted perfectly and a chocolate croissant, and sit along the front window or out on the patio facing the park, and do what you need: chat, write, sit and regain your peace.
How do I find it? It's on Broadview Avenue, south of Danforth Avenue, north of Gerard Avenue. The 504 Dundas streetcar passes by on the way to Broadview Station. Take the subway to Broadview Station and it's just a short walk down. There's some street parking along Broadview and there's a Green P lot up by Broadview Station.

A meal at La Carnita, also known as "I will require all the avocado and chips."

Margarita and a tostada with swordfish ceviche. Bliss.

It’s hard to think of a better follow-up to a day exploring the art of Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera at the Art Gallery of Ontario than a meal at La Carnita. What started as an intention to have some chips and guacamole quickly escalated into full-fledged food bliss.

I’ve followed the story of La Carnita since they started as a pop-up restaurant, serving their tacos at events like Toronto Underground Market. As buzz and business grew, it was a welcome sight when they opened up a permanent restaurant on College St. last summer. It had been a few months since my last visit to – a sampling of every taco on the menu was time well spent – and the occasion of foodie friend @laurendorphin’s birthday guaranteed the choice of an excellent restaurant with great dining companions. Our group of 8 managed to grab a large table at 6:30pm on a Saturday, and the large and lively space filled up quickly by 7:30pm. With long tables and many booths, the place seems meant to invite groups of diners to share a meal.

The menu gets refreshed regularly, but offers a reliable array of appetizers sharing plates and tacos, reasonably priced, which gives you the perfect excuse to try a little bit of everything.  A tempting array of cocktails, beers, and wine are available, but I went with the classic margarita. Or two.

Corn and rice frituras, perfect for sharing.

We ordered housemade tortilla chips & guacamole – dusted with ancho chili powder, making an excellent complement to the sweetness of my cocktail. The corn & rice frituras, 4 to an order and each about the size of a pool ball, and an avocado mango salad were perfect for sharing, ranging from $6.50-$8. Every taco on the menu made an appearance at our table ($5 each). Saturday’s menu offered up their iconic cod fish taco, braised beef cheek, fried chicken, fried avocado, and chorizo, all with fresh flavour and pleasant but not overwhelming taste of heat. The tostada was a swordfish ceviche ($7) which perfectly, indulgently good. Sheer bliss.

Key-lime paletas - pie on stick? What is this sorcery?

The capper was dessert. The churros are popular, but I went with the “paletas” ($4 each). Different flavours every day, but I didn’t quite know what a paleta was. I assumed it was a tart of some sort when I heard that chocolate-peanut butter and key lime were being offered. I was delighted and surprised to be presented with a paleta – basically an ice pop. The key lime was like a tart creamsicle, rolled in graham crackers. Outstanding.

I’d recommend going with a group of 6-8 friends to get a nice cross-section of the menu. While they don’t take reservations, you may need to just get the timing right to get a table, with 7p – 9p being prime time. I’ve had two successful visits and intend to make more. Make sure to browse some of their fantastic Mexican street art for sale as well.

Check their website for their current menu, and follow them on Twitter at @la_carnita for updates on daily specials.

La Carnita

501 College St., west of Bathurst St. on the south side

Sun - Mon 5 - 10pm

Tues - Sat 5 - 11pm

Reservations: None, first come, first serve.

The “Don’t Be That Guy” Campaign

Edmonton Police launched the “Don’t Be That Guy” campaign in 2010,targeting potential offenders rather than victims of sexual assault - letting perpetrators know it’s not “okay” to take advantage of someone who had too much to drink. It’s not “taking advantage” - it’s sexual assault. If you don’t have ongoing consent, it’s sexual assault. These posters communicate and educate this point clearly. It’s “a rape prevention campaign targeted at potential rapists rather than potential victims”. 

The campaign was relaunched at the end of 2012 in Edmonton, and has proven so effective that other Canadian cities have adopted it, including Vancouver (which saw a 10% drop in assaults), Ottawa, and Regina. Nothing in Toronto yet, but maybe that can change. These should be on every campus and in every bar.

Movember Challenge Karaoke Toronto

Some of our MoChaKaTO friends

For the 3rd year running, the Loser Karaoke family got together to raise funds for Movember Canada with an event we've dubbed MoChaKaTO - Movember Challenge Karaoke Toronto. Spearheaded by our team, The Mustache Farmers of Canada, we made every effort to make this event a success. Movember is a cause that means a great deal to us - we were determined to raise as much as we could to fund men's health initiatives not only for prostate cancer, but men's mental health programs. We spread the word via social media, generated prize donations, and built the excitement up all throughout November until our main event, Thursday, November 29th.

Loser Karaoke is a weekly Toronto karaoke night (currently at Lou Dawg's Southern BBQ on King St.), that originated from a hashtag on Twitter #LoserKaraoke - it's proven to be a great place to sing and mingle in real life (IRL) with friends I interact with on Twitter. At our best, we can come together on something like #MoChaKaTO and make something special happen.

Money was raised one of two ways:

1) Challenge Karaoke - singers and patrons donations drive the entertainment.

• For $5, you get your name in the rotation to be able to sing
• For $20, you can challenge someone else when they get up to sing, and make them sing whatever you want
• For $30, you can buy yourself out if you get challenged (just in case the challenge is too horrific for you, or you're a big chicken!)
• For $50, you can sing a song off the host's list of banned songs
• For $100, you can sing a song by Celine Dion, the most banned of our artists

2) Prize Raffle - we had an outstanding collection of prizes, from gift certificates to restaurants like Lou Dawg's, to box seats to a  Toronto Marlies hockey game, and a number of certificates for services at Mazz Salon.

If you checked in on the #MoChaKaTO hashtag that night, you'd see pictures of us all singing, dancing, and having an outstanding night. I'm happy to report everyone was game for the challenges and we had a laugh with some of them - that was the only way I would've sang "Gangnam Style", and my apology again to the people of South Korea - and some we just wanted to hear songs we love performed by our friends. 


By the end of the night, we raised $1680 for Movember Canada in one night - a new record, surpassing our goal of $1500. At $564 more than was raised in 2011, we're geared up to make it bigger and better next year.

Facebook Page for MoChaKaTO

More photos from the night: MoChaKaTO photos on Instagram (via statigram)

Thanks again to our Loser Karaoke host, Jason Rolland, and our Movember team:

The Mustache Farmers of Canada

Andrew Boyle, Jay Chan, Joshua Murray, Sean Bolton, Jessica Law

Our team: (L to R) Sean, Me, Jay, Jessica, Joshua (not pictured: Andrew) with our Loser Karaoke host, Jason Rolland

November 11th, Lest We Forget

This is something I originally wrote in 2006, but I like to repost it on Remembrance Day

On the 11th day of the 11th month, at the 11th hour, take a moment, just one moment out of your day, and remember the thousands of men and women who sacrificed their lives fighting for freedom and democracy during the First World War, the Second World War, the Korean War, the Afghanistan conflict and during peacekeeping missions. Think of those who have come before us and those right this minute, who are sacrificing more than anyone should ever ask. Think of their family, think of the lives that were lost, the time that was lost. Think of the lives that were saved, and of the people that are here because of those men and women.

I choose to remember all this, and I choose to remember my Uncle Lou. He's my dad's uncle, and he was a member of the Canadian Artillery in World War 2. He was from Canada, and he met my dad's Aunt Liz while he was stationed overseas. I think he was on leave in Scotland. Liz and Lou married and Liz came to Canada as a war bride. One summer my grandmother (Liz's sister), and my father came to visit from Scotland. And my dad came to like Canada, and thought this would be a good place for a young man looking for a future. And that's how my dad, and my family, came to Canada, and it's why I was born a Canadian.

Uncle Lou passed away in 2005, and I always remember that, because of him, I was given the honour and privilege of being Canadian, and in the grand scheme of things just being here.

It's not a war story, but a life story. A young man joins the army to fight in the Second World War; a young man visits Canada and thinks it would be a good place make a life; and a young man looks at the poppy on his lapel and thinks how lucky he is to be here.

In Flanders Fields 
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders Fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

- John McCrae, 1915

YOU GUYS! I KNOW WHERE IN THE WORLD IS CARMEN SANDIEGO!

YOU GUYS! I KNOW WHERE IN THE WORLD IS CARMEN SANDIEGO!, a photo by the2scoops on Flickr.

Matt Fraction on writing female characters in comics

From Comic Book Resources: FRACTION BIDS FAREWELL TO THE "INVINCIBLE IRON MAN"

I started to realize that if I had a daughter, there would come a day when I would have to apologize to her for my profession. I would have to apologize for the way it treats and speaks to women readers, and the way it treats its female characters.

“I knew that if we had a daughter, because I know my wife and I know the kind of girl she wants to raise and I know the kind of girl I want to raise, she was going to look at what I did for a living and want to know how the fuck I could stomach it. How could I sell her out like that?” Fraction continued. “That conversation is still coming, and I’m bracing for it in the way that some dads brace for their daughter’s first date or boyfriend. I became acutely aware that I had sort of done that thing that lots of privileged hetero cisgendered white dudes do. ‘I’m cool with women, and that’s enough.’ It’s not enough. It’s embarrassing to say, because we somehow have attached shame to learning and evolving our opinions, culturally, but I became aware that there was a deficiency of and to women in my work, and all I could do at that moment was take care of my side of the street.

I've always been a fan of Matt Fraction’s writing before, but now, I’m especially a fan of Matt Fraction as a human being. More of people like him please. 

Do yourself a favour and pick up some of the comics written by Matt, like "The Immortal Iron Fist", "The Invincible Iron Man", and his current series, "Hawkeye".

Friday Night Live at ROM returns. Also, dinosaurs love gin.

I love museums. I love exploring the exhibits, the fascinating stuff and artifacts of history and civilization. It’s like living out some hoarder fantasy. So what’s not to love about a late night museum party, with some great food, drink, and music? How could I resist the return of Friday Night Live at the Royal Ontario Museum (#FNLROM)?

FNLROM made a welcome return last Friday after a successful run in the early summer. For 8 weeks from October 12, 2012 until November 30, 2012, the ROM opens its doors Friday nights (7pm – midnight) to adults only (19+), letting you roam the galleries and sample some food and drink from some of Toronto’s favourite pop-up vendors. The museum is alive and teeming with a little something for everyone: curator talks, music and dance performances, DJ sets and, oh yeah, food and drink.

Last Friday kicked off with the theme Harvest, and offered up more treats than I can count. Food vendors Fidel Gastro, JK Fries, Waffle Bar and c5 have returned, offering up some fantastic food starting in the $5/$6 range.

Some of the offerings from the crew at Fidel Gastro.

I had a chance to slurp a few oysters from Neptuno Oysters while browsing the Dinosaur Gallery. A number of local craft beers were available to sample at $2 each, including autumnal offerings from Mill Street, Great Lakes Brewery, and Black Oak breweries. Little cheese plates were also available and provided a nice accompaniment to the beers. Additional bars are spread out through the museum, serving up beer, wine, and cocktails, while additional food vendors will be appearing each week.

Little known fact: T-Rex was a sloppy drunk. What do you expect with such tiny arms?

There’s a lot in favour of checking out FNLROM: admission is only $10, letting you browse the galleries (open from 7pm until 9:30pm) without tripping over field trips and families. Even when the galleries close, the party still continues in the various lounges, and in the main hall with DJs playing courtesy of ElectriCITY Events. A welcome addition this season is the use of even more galleries as event spaces, including bars in the ever popular Dinosaur Gallery and Glass Room, and coffee and cupcakes in the Teck Gallery Jazz Lounge. These spaces stay open until 11:30pm.

Pre-historic duckface.

The next 7 weeks of FNLROM look to continue the party in fresh new ways. The theme for tomorrow night is War and Peace, which will include performances form the Orpheus Choir, the U of T Jazz program, DJ sets from DJ KTWC and DJ Jay Sea, and curator talks on war and peace in the natural and human world.

If you’re looking for a unique night out, either solo, with friends, or a date night, FNLROM is the place for you. Get there before season 2 ends, and here’s hoping for a season 3.

Other upcoming themes include:

• A Festival of Spirits (Oct 26)
• Africa (Nov 2)
• BIG Fashion (Nov 9)
• Canadian Classics (Nov 16)
• God Save the Queen, a celebration of all things British (Nov 23)
• Light (Nov 30)

Tickets are available at the door, but buy online to avoid disappointment.

For additional details and tickets, visit www.rom.on.ca/fridays

Follow and share the event on Twitter and Instagram with the hashtag #FNLROM

WHAT THE HELL? ANCIENT WHALES COULD FLY?!

A night at the museum.

What I’ve Learned While Mourning David Rakoff

I am, frankly, surprised how hard David Rakoff’s death is affecting me today. I’ve been a fan of his work on This American Life, and love his charming, witty stories, as much for the content as his delivery. I’ve fallen off listening to This American Life as a regular practice lately. Just simple, embarrassing neglect really.

I hadn’t really realized how ill David was. Last week, I listened to the audio of the live This American Life episode that he participated in. The story he told, “Light as a Feather, Stiff as a Board”, was about his illness and what changes in life it brings, the things he misses doing. And then, suddenly, he dances, one last time, on stage. It was sweet and moving all at once and I found myself tearing up.

A week later, he’s gone. 47 years old. Cancer. And even the thought of watching the video version of David Rakoff dancing brings me to tears.

I think I figured out a big part of why I’m hit so hard by his passing. It occurred to me when I was reading this beautiful post “On Already Missing The Angry Passionate Writing of David Rakoff” by Linda Holmes. As Linda wrote:

 ”…like David Rakoff, you can also be genuine and enraged and passionate about the whole of humanity, even when (especially when) it disappoints and maddens and angers you.”

In mourning, I acknowledge I have a deep, abiding love of people like that, who are funny and passionate and all those things. I find myself drawn to people like that in my life, and admire those who are capable of being all those things. I aspire to be all those things. And David managed to do all that and for that. I thank him for making me pay closer attention to that part of myself. I will miss him terribly. 

A collection of David Rakoff’s contributions to This American Life can be found here. Spend some time listening to them. .

Spell “Beautiful”

It was my first time attending an amateur strip spelling bee. I was among friends in the audience and we laughed and drank with ease in support of our friend who was participating. The event was queer and trans-friendly, and in keeping with the spirit of the evening, the participants were an array of body types, genders, and orientations. There were 3 rounds and if the participants failed to spell their word, they were to take off a third of their clothing. A no booing and no photos policy strictly in effect. These were the rules to ensure everyone was comfortable, that everyone up there felt safe and not exploited.

Once we reached the third round, each participant who got their word wrong disrobed as much as they comfortably felt. It was, all of it, so very beautiful. Some disrobed to their underwear. Many exposed everything.

The audience cheered, and I mean true cheers of celebration and support.

And the cheers roared loud and I applauded until my hands hurt. There was one participant who exposed so very much, stood there in front of all of us, and the room exploded in the loudest cheers of the night and, in that moment, I just felt overwhelmed with how full my heart was to be in the presence of that much support and unrestrained love. It makes me well up every time I think about it because sometimes we forget how much love we are capable of as people, as human beings. And I wish so very much that more people in the world could recognize how much beauty is in the world, and to celebrate it. Confidence is sexy. Owning the way you look is sexy. Owning who you are is sexy. Never let anyone tell you otherwise.

It’s a beautiful world of beautiful people. We should do our best to keep it that way. We should do our best to let everyone be beautiful.