AUGUST 2016 / st. john’s / issue 31

PAGE FemFest NL: 16 All Things Feminist, August 25-28 2 / August 2016 / the overcast

Sci-Fi/Fantasy/Gaming/Comics/Horror/Pop-culture Philippe Photography Sean Jessome Ashley Harding Photography Philippe Photography

Philippe Photography Krissy Breen

Vendors, Artists, Authors, Small Press, Board Gaming, Guests, Clubs, Groups, Panels, Costume Contest, Workshops, Card Gaming, Dance, Summer, Friends, Prizes, Cosplay, All things Geek

Todd Debreceni Special Makeup Effects Artist Contact, Batman and Robin, Guests of Honour Captain Phillips, JAG, Doctor Who Robert J. Sawyer Award-winning Sci-Fi Author Quantum Night, FlashForward (TV), Calculating God, Charlie Jade (TV), The Quintaglio Ascension trilogy

Northern Belle Rogue Bill Oberst Jr. Cosplayer Daytime Emmy-winning Actor Abraham Lincoln vs Zombies, Wide repertoire with an active fan base Age of the Living Dead, Criminal Minds, Demos sponsored by Take this Lollipop (interactive horror short) Stage & Studio Supply Friday-Sunday, August 26-28, 2016 Centre des Grands-Vents, 65 Ridge Road (French school and community centre) between the Marine Institute/CNA campuses and the Y avalonexpo.com August 2016 / the overcast / 3

ICYMI: Little Bits of Broken News

News & Opinions Page 3-7 Piatto Thinking Outside “Like, never close the app I guess.” As of July auditorium now offers 34 reserved D-BOX Food & Drink seats guests can customize the intensity of. Page 8-11 the Box about Their 25th he was at level 23, team blue, and he’d Takeout Box just taken a gym from team red, solo. And People Piatto Pizzeria recently opened their second you? A Quick Lowdown Page 12-15 location in St. John’s — on Elizabeth Avenue on Kono Pizza Cover Story — and in response to the volume of takeout Hold onto Your Seats: What’s that new-ish food truck all about, the Page 16-18 orders, they decided to innovate their pizza Cineplex Avalon Mall one down across from Mile One? Is it really box. Piatto’s Brian Vallis joined forces with Has Installed New D-BOX pizza in a cone? Yes. It’s an Italian franchise Select Events Dr. Guy Kemper, from Dalhousie University, Motion Seating and this is its first foot in NL. They serve Page 18 and created a pizza box that keeps the pizza St. John’s movie-goers will be more on the a variety of pizzas-in-cones, including “Eh Plucked from the Web warmer for longer, and, as fresh as possible. edge of their seats than ever at the Avalon Canadian” (pepperoni, bacon, and mushroom), Page 19 When placed in a normal pizza box, a pizza Malls’ Scotiabank Cineplex Theatre, thanks the “Tropi-Kono” (smoked ham, bacon and that comes out of the wood fire oven at 900º to the new addition of “D-BOX Motion Seats” pineapple), and a vegetarian option. “We don’t The Arts will drop below 80º in five minutes. Their which move in sync with the action on the big just do pizza! We have an amazing dessert Page 20-24 solution is a revolutionary “box within a box” screen. If the main character falls off a horse, menu including strawberries and Nutella or Retail that captures the heat but allows the steam to gets caught in a tornado, or has their ship our original that’s a’smore cone.” They’re open Page 24 escape, so the slices don’t get soggy. hammered by a wave, you’ll feel it with them; every day “even in bad weather,” across from D Box seating takes movies from a visual Mile One on New Gower, and have already Miscellany been making appearances at events around Page 28-30 Your Driver’s LicenCes Will experience to a more thorough engagement No Longer Be Coming from with the film. The theatre’s largest town. The Pearl. Kinda. In a move dubbed “privatization by stealth” by NAPE President Jerry Earle, the government of NL has quietly decided to, along with the other Atlantic provinces, centralize the August 2016 creation and distribution of driver’s licences Issue 31 from one central facility in either PEI or Nova Publisher & Editor Scotia. By next summer, your driver’s licences Chad Pelley ([email protected]) will be mailed to you from this location

DESIGNER instead of made onsite in NL. Earle’s point Kristine Breen ([email protected]) of contention is that people employed by Service NL, whose jobs this impacts, were not Staff Photographer Joel Upshall ([email protected]) properly notified of the change.

Ad Sales Manager St. John’s Biggest Pokemon Elaine Pond ([email protected]) Go Fan Had to Get a New Most capital cities in Canada have an Data Plan alternative paper that covers the culture of He walks the streets in a giant Pokemon their province, but few provinces have the thriving arts scene, vibrant entrepreneurs, and backpack, as if a Ghostbuster catching ghosts. paper-worthy stories that our province has to His name is Chuck Dong, but who knows what offer. Newfoundland’s culture needs a voice and his peers call him or what he calls himself. The Overcast aims to be this voice. In addition to our monthly paper, TheOvercast.ca posts When he was first encountered by local fresh and exclusive content on weekdays. All media, he was actually on his way to upgrade opinions in this publication reflect the author his data package so he could play more, and of the article, not The Overcast. longer, and harder. When CBC’s Laura Howells Cover credit: Amery Sandford asked him, are you playing Pokemon Go right Aug 12 - 8pm - Winterset in Summer, Eastport Aug 14-16 - 8pm - Rocket Room, St. John’s Uncredited articles: Chad Pelley now, he said, “Yes I am, always,” and when Aug 13 - 8pm - English Harbour Arts Centre Aug 17 - 7pm - Perchance Theatre, Cupids www.thedooryoucamein.ca theovercast.ca she asked what he meant by always, he said, 4 / August 2016 / the overcast News & Opinions The Need for Neighbourhood Businesses: Mallard Cottage is Creating Culture, Not Congestion

By Chad Pelley

Everyone loves Quidi Vidi, so everyone should hate seeing its best We can all agree the Old Flake House is in there for two hours; it’s hardly a McDonald’s piece of land just sitting there, unused, with a carcass of a building good new hands, so what’s left to agree on drive-thru in terms of traffic turnover. is the need for us, as a city, to think more wilting away to nothing, and a barred-off parking lot stealing public openly about neighbourhood businesses, Complete Communities Are access to a nice view of the harbour. At least those condos that stole and how they build a community, not a Good for Tourism As Well everyone’s view of The Gut have people living in them. parking nightmare. As our government sinks more money If a place like Georgestown Bakery does into making us a more popular tourism The space referred to here used to be The of the building’s exterior, but co-owners cause traffic, it’s only a sign that the people destination, many travellers, who’ve been Flake House Restaurant, but union issues Todd Perrin & Stephen Lee spent two years going there are going there because their to communities worldwide, will come here shuttered it up in the ‘90s. The city recently meticulously fashioning the interior of the own neighbourhood doesn’t have a (good) with expectations of our city. Is it enough, approved its acquisition by Mallard Cottage, restaurant, taking out its boards one at a bakery. This logically implies the person for example, for Petty Harbour to be who intend to take over the property with a time, refinishing them, and re-installing who has invaded Georgestown and parked picturesque? Considering the long “responsible development plan.” them. They hired a fourth-generation boat- their car only did so because their own drive in a rental, shouldn’t it also have building family from Trinity to take their time neighbourhood is not self-sufficient. a few spots to eat lunch too, and hell, We can trust them on that. When they and renovate with care. go zip lining? purchased Mallard Cottage, one of the Go to Montreal and find me a neighbourhood oldest residential homes in Canada, they This City Needs Trailblazing that doesn’t have its own delis and cafes and This piece is not advocating that we turn treated it with respect. Heritage regulations Neighbourhood Builders to bookshops and bars. Conversely, explore our Quidi Vidis and Petty Harbours into only required them to maintain the look Retain Folks Under Forty St. John’s and show me a neighbourhood Disneylands, but rather, it’s suggesting that does. Except maybe Georgestown, but we support Mallard Cottage or Petty look at the fights they’ve had to win to help Harbour Cafe when they try and make their the city evolve into the kind of place that can communities better rounded, for the attract or retain young people (ie, the future greater good. of our workforce). It is 100% evident that places like Mallard The vast majority of our city’s culture – Cottage are tourist destinations now. I have our restaurants and pubs, our shopping yet to eat there and not spot tourists, and of and entertainment – exists on 2-3 streets course they’re there: a true traveller wants downtown, out of walking distance for cultural experiences and a restaurant whose most of the city’s residents. For the new menu consists entirely of Newfoundland generation, the lifestyle their city affords foods is a cultural experience. I don’t leave them is as important as anything, their a city I visit without trying something local career path included, and living on a street I’ll never have again. that’s nothing but houses is soul-crushing, Plenty of tourists email The Overcast especially with people settling down later asking for daytrip suggestions, and a than ever. surprising number ask “Is a day trip into In other words: access to locally sourced and Quid-eye vee-dye as good as I’ve heard?” amazing food matters more than a couple of How couldn’t it be with those views extra cars in their neighbourhood. Besides, complimented by neighbourhood businesses you can call the cops if some asshole parks like The Plantation, Quidi Vidi Brewery, and on your lawn, and, really, has that ever Mallard Cottage? And you could fill a camera happened? with the curiosity shop that is The Innof Olde.

In Mallard’s case, the notion they cause A properly zoned and developed congestion is greatly exaggerated. They are a neighbourhood is not a burden on pretty small restaurant, whose patrons stay communities, it’s a boost to them. News & Opinions August 2016 / the overcast / 5 Sporting Lint: The Poor Report with Iain McCurdy Hiking Boots and a Kijiji’d Nikon

Hoo boy we’re finally in the thick of it now, now you notice them every time you walk and if all has gone according to plan then past the bookshelf, and the truck is still Service Canada has finally reassessed your running but it’s been a roll of the dice E.I. claim, and they have admitted that every time, and the effing dentist. And you We Start Wandering yes indeedy you did have enough hours know you should be dealing with those after all, and yes indeedy you will get a kinds of things, but you haven’t really left retroactive payment, and no indeedy there your house in months and it is a scorcher isn’t a mention of what you had to do in the out there and everyone and their cat is out meantime, but long in the tooth as it may and about. I don’t know, but sometimes I by Emily Campbell some time in Victoria Park as a New Media be it’s still a gift horse whose mouth you guess the best thing to do is just go for it. Pavilion. We had an outdoor film screening, a know better than to look in, and though And it lifts some more. puppet show, and we were part of the Family that first payment vanished immediately If you read The Overcast, Day festivities. Right now the pavilion sits paying back what you had to do in the But you can’t be running around all you’ve probably heard of the in Bannerman Park for the Folk Festival, to meantime, you know that there will be summer paying for cover and eight dollar Wandering Pavilion: a mobile serve as a backdrop for an interactive dance show by Neighbourhood Dance Works, more coming, and you feel that feeling that pints and whatnot, so if you can, leverage and temporary structure that you haven’t felt in so long you’ve forgotten, the rare moment of clarity into something and as a soap box put on by Happy City St. the lack of a particular kind of survival sustainable. There’s all kinds of things moves from place to place John’s. instinct anxiety that kicks into high- to do on a limited budget with just a few becoming something different gear-permanent when you’re up-front costs. The hiking in this wherever it is set up. This is From August 8th to 17th we’re still tossing around a few options for use, so if you’ve not confident in your food province is world class, but a project I’ve been working got a good idea, let us know. To end out supply, an anxiety that if you’re like me, couch on for two years now, and I’m descends in your mode is so ingrained the month, we’ll be part of Eastern Edge’s very pleased to say it’s finally head like martial that it’s hard to get out HOLD FAST contemporary arts festival, and law on a city when into it. But if you go get wandering. then we’ll make our way up to Long Pond to the protests gain yourself a very used Take a Rest. We’re letting everyone know our Undulating colourful clouds without a drop momentum, finally DSLR camera, then all day to day events and location on Twitter @ of rain made for the perfect launch. On July that lifts, and here of a sudden you’ve got wanderpavilion. the 19th the pavilion made its debut as a you are with a minute a reason to hit the trails, story collector. The story collector ran from This article is the first of a series of three to spare in the fair city. because every single friggin’ July 10th to 27th, where Christopher Postill articles that will follow the Wandering shot of that blue jay came out of Sounds like an Earful, and students from Pavilion this summer. I’ll tell you where That minute can be a mixed blurry last time and I’ll be dogdamned Memorial University’s Folklore program, we’ve been, what we’ve learned, and where blessing though if you’re not careful, to let him get away again. I’m just saying asked passersby questions to figure out we are going. On the Overcast’s website you as you get bombarded with all of the it’s enough to get me out of the house. So how the built environment has shaped can also find a teaser of the stories we’ve things that you’ve been tuning out while a pair of hiking boots and a kijiji’d Nikon experiences in their lives. Stay tuned for a collected so far about people’s childhood in survival mode. Like, your cell phone’s might seem extravagant, but it’s the kind podcast Christopher is producing that will home. back on, but you’ve got eight unknown of thing that can keep you in the summer share the stories we’ve heard showing that caller calls a day to ignore. Those library spirit without even a hint of a despair- architecture actually plays an important role Emily Campbell is the founder of the DVDs that you were going to bring back laden guilt hangover. And maybe when in all of our lives. Wandering Pavilion, sits on the Public but then didn’t have the gas, and then it you’re on the way, drop off those library Awareness Committee of the Newfoundland got so that you were too embarrassed to DVDs, cause everyone’ll be grateful, and As this newspaper comes to stands, the and Labrador Architects Association, and even show up and you tuned it out, and then it’s one less thing. Y’know? Wandering Pavilion will also have spent works at Fougere Menchenton Architecture. 6 / August 2016 / the overcast News & Opinions

because you aren’t so good with a pointy “The Drive to Thrive”: employers with the skill sets of immigrants Bay Of Exploits stick. And they had more class at Lascaux while helping to improve the attraction and than to give a bad review of the hunt by Canadian Government retention of newcomers in Atlantic Canada. with Ed Riche sketching a steaming pile of ibex poop. The Government will admit up to 2,000 Assisting NL Via Atlantic immigrants and accompanying families in Chatter- Email has fallen out of favour because 2017. it’s on the record and demands finished Growth Strategy thoughts and complete sentences. When boxing The Government of Canada is 2.) Innovation: The plan is to “scale people try to read an email of any length up” small firms and businesses, to working with all four provincial and substance on their phone they foster greater business innovation and Ourselves In governments in Atlantic Canada to invariably only scan it and get upset about the commercialization of research and build “a vibrant economic future something they misread. Then they’ll text breakthrough ideas in fields like bioscience, If texting predated the for Atlantic Canada by focussing you back. aquaculture, ocean technology, and phone people would their efforts and resources on renewable energy, “while also spurring stimulating the region’s economy, abandon their handheld In a bizarre turn Skype afforded us a live value-added opportunities in established picture of the person with whom we are supporting the middle class, and devices the moment a industries like the fishery, agriculture, and speaking after texting rudeness was addressing both long standing and forestry” – the former foundations of Atlantic chubby Bakelite rotary already widespread in the population. emerging regional challenges.” Canada’s economy. People with ADHD attention spans are dialer was in reach. “Have perfectly willing to stream you their If provinces like NL are full of great minds, 3.) Clean Growth: Our nation is transitioning you tried phoning? It’s like waning interest. They will fiddle with products, innovators, resources, and to a low-carbon economy, one not so drive, then what’s our problem, why are texting only you actually stuff on their desk, look at and react to dependent on oil revenue, etc., and there is other windows open on the screen and, as we struggling financially? That’s what the money to be made in the green economy. speak to the person! It’s though you were not looking straight into Atlantic Growth Strategy hopes to answer. The committee will strive to find ways to amazing, you get all this that room AT THEM, start signalling and And fix. stimulate economic growth (and create clean mouthing messages to people off camera. jobs) during this transition. nuance. Turns out Ed was To achieve this goal, they’ve launched a being sarcastic!” Just because privacy is outmoded doesn’t new pan-Atlantic “whole-of-government 4.) Trade and Investment: This one’s simple: mean you have license to share everything. approach” and dubbed it the Atlantic Growth stimulate more trade between Atlantic Texting is primarily a way of avoiding, not Strategy. It will “harness the region’s Canadian companies and international making, contact. Text recipients glance Business has learned to capitalize on the assets” and consult with everyone from markets, and, “strategically market the at their expensive phones (originally decline in meaningful communication by entrepreneurs to indigenous, community, region as a whole by displaying the best designed to be used as phones) mostly developing algorithms which make buying and industry leaders to identify the shared Atlantic Canada has to offer the world.” This to see to whom it is they are not replying. easier and return nearly impossible. Call economic priorities of Atlantic Canadian includes our draw as a tourism hotspot. The content of the message is secondary volumes are always higher than normal provinces. to knowing that someone you don’t wish so you will always wait long enough that 5.) Infrastructure: “Invest in regionally A leadership committee has been struck to acknowledge acknowledges you. It’s most suckers will simply give up. You can significant infrastructure projects that up, and is comprised of the premieres of Cartesian one-upmanship. buy a plane ticket in an instant but it takes support long-term growth in Atlantic Canada, you an afternoon to change it. the 4 Atlantic provinces, as well as 5 federal and position the region to capitalize on global The same people who ignore messages government ministers. This committee will trade opportunities by attracting investment are outraged when their own go It’s difficult to get much done via a website collaborate and provide public reports along and enhancing productivity.” unanswered. “I’ve been texting and texting if you are required to change passwords the way. him! What can he possibly be doing?” and PINs more frequently than you use Already, the Federal government has it. The system at MUN is comically “Together, the federal and provincial invested 3 million in the Marine Institute of Most texts are so peremptory and garbled, cumbersome and clunky in this respect, governments are playing the long game,” Memorial University as part of the Atlantic the equivalent of grunts and snorts, as to it’s like someone from the Computer says the newly published Atlantic Growth Growth Strategy. It was to help the Marine require clarification in the form of a more Science Department built it. Strategy website – “sustainable prosperity in Institute develop the Holyrood Marine Base carefully thumb-typed follow-up text Atlantic Canada for generations to come.” into a world-class facility to support the Going somewhere to applied research, education, training, and I’ve yet to meet anyone who needs Five Action Areas Identified to meet in person lets testing requirements of our growing ocean “unlimited texting” because they have a lot Stimulate Economic Growth you use and read body technology industry. to say. language, you feel 1.) A Skilled Workforce / Immigration: This humanity. It gets you Ocean technology has been identified as If you have to resort to emojis to make first area of action focuses on building a out of your bubble and blows a little stink a strategic sector in NL, and this project the meaning of your words clear you skilled workforce with the introduction off. Use your smartphone for what it does will help build capacity in this new field, should probably read more and get the of a new three-year immigration pilot best, selfies and Pokémon GO, the most while enhancing Marine Institute’s ability to hang of English. Emojis are cave drawings project aimed at addressing the labour effective way to communicate is face to maintain its position as a first-class provider that someone else had to create for you market challenges in Atlantic Canada. The face. JS. of ocean technology training and research. pilot project will match the needs of local

News & Opinions August 2016 / the overcast / 7 Superior Court Judge Marie Corbett on the Sofyan Boalag Trial & Rape Culture in the Courtroom Interview by Eva Crocker

Retired Superior Court Judge, For example, initially women who were for drinking. It’s as if because you drink or In the case of sex workers the cross- Marie Corbett’s new book, unchaste were not considered worthy of you like to party or you dress in a so-called examination will often try to say “oh you January: A Woman Judge’s belief in a sexual assault trial, their evidence ‘tarty fashion’ that your behaviour is an were really negotiating a price.” That had to be corroborated, that was because of invitation to be assaulted and it simply isn’t. points out the pitfalls of cross examination. Season of Disillusionment is laws created by men. But that mentality seeps into the courtroom. It’s gruelling for the victim, they’re like a a memoir, which chronicles dartboard, lawyers are hurling darts at Corbett’s experiences of caring We have gradually come to a place where I do not think the nature of cross- them to see if anything sticks. for a friend as she died of there are some protections in place examination is going to change, more rights cancer. The book describes for victims in a sexual assault trial. We should be given to victims. They should be What Can Regular Citizens Do how helping her friend through recognize the role of victims through victim given legal advice about what to expect, to Help Improve the Criminal the final two weeks of her life impact statements, we permit victims to about how they will be cross-examined on Justice System for Survivors testify with a shield, there are limits on the previous statements that they’ve given. of Sexual Assault? made Corbett reflect on her cross-examination of the past sexual history Anything they’ve said to anyone will be career and the short comings of victims. ruthlessly cross-examined. The real culprit isn’t the criminal justice of Canada’s justice system. system it’s the lack of respect for women. But it is still a very male culture. A lot of I think that statements that a complainant Violence is perpetrated predominately In this province, there has been outrage lawyers in Toronto are leaving the practice may have given to another person should against women and children and it’s about the cross-examination tactics of criminal law and they refer to the male be admissible in court. They are not inflicted overwhelmingly by men. being employed when interrogating the culture as the reason they are leaving. admissible now under a law that says that Change has to start with a greater complainants in the Sofyan Boalag trial. statements given to others are self-serving respect for women. Sofyan Boalag has been accused of sexually The adversarial system itself is a problem, and they can’t be adduced in evidence. assaulting five women, and one girl under it pits one side against the other. Victims The only portions of those statements the age of sixteen in St. John’s, in 2012. are essentially witnesses and don’t have any that get adduced in court are by in-large Judge Pamela Goulding will make her defined legal rights in the process. inconsistencies, i.e. wherever the witness nd decision on August 2 2016. has somehow changed the statement. In that I believe victims should be given some rights. case it can be the smallest little thing like In January: A Woman Judge’s Season “was it a button or a zipper?” Lawyers pour of Disillusionment, Corbett describes The nature of cross-examination is also over statements complainants have made how the criminal justice system fails problematic. Cross-examination brings out and try to whittle down their creditability. survivors of sexual assault. In this the duty of the cross-examining defence council to undermine the witness, to interview she gives her opinion on the The other issue is delay, in the case of the create a doubt about her reliability and her cross examination of victims in the Boalag trial, it took years according to creditability. Rape culture myths that are Boalag trial and why victims need newspaper reports. He’s going to trial in often used in cross-examination to discredit more rights in sexual assault trials. 2016 and the offences were in 2012. That’s the witness. too long, there has to be some control over Do You Think the Fact That Law is a that. An accused person has a right to a Field Dominated by Men Shapes How And then personal traits are dwelled speedy trial but there’s nothing said about Sexual Assault Trials are Handled upon, “You tend to exaggerate,” “Aren’t the victim’s right to a speedy trial. Perhaps in Canada? you being dramatic?” The behaviour of the victims should be included in the process victim becomes the focus of the cross- when requests for adjournments are made. When I was appointed a judge, women were examination. It’s universally unpleasant, it’s only three percent of the judiciary, now in considered by most victims who testify to be Some of the Victims in the Boalag Canada women make up forty-eight percent demeaning and humiliating. Trial Were Sex Workers. Do You of the judiciary. That’s an enormous step in Think Stigma about Sex Work itself, however the laws we are enforcing, What Was Your Impression of How Presents Itself in the Courtroom whether we are judges or lawyers, are laws the Complainants in the Boalag During Sexual Assault Cases? that have been passed down for centuries Trial Were Cross-examined? and those laws were made by men. Women Of course it shouldn’t, just because you’re a I think it perfectly typifies rape culture that had no input in the development of law over sex worker doesn’t mean that a person has women are attacked for their behaviour and the centuries. the right to assault you. 8 / August 2016 / the overcast Food & Drink ps h a ll U J oel O : P HO T

door windows that open up above the Bolstering this bid to help patrons relax has “the proper type of ice” (crushed for tiki Loose Tie: heavily marketed and occasionally vomit- is a mandate to not overfill the space with drinks, etc) and each glass is chilled before covered cobbles of our very own Disneyfied bodies or noise. Though the “beats will rise serving so that you “don’t have to slam it Toronto-lite in sin-strip. These touches give the space and the lights will fall” a bit as the evening back” to enjoy it at its peak. a hard but appealing diner feel and an deepens, the seats are set up strategically outstanding vantage for people watching. to allow elbow room and the volume levels Even more appealing than the old-school the Heart of are always meant to facilitate interaction, Trader Vic’s style tiki drink in a frosty The metal and bulb light fixtures, large not over power it. hula-dancer mug, is the satisfaction of the George Street photo prints of graffiti, and wood burl employees. Lauren Avery, of Loose Ties’ accent pieces will be familiar to those The menu also follows in the paths of management team, has been working for

who have been enjoying the boom in others, like Chinched and The Reluctant Temple and Hancock since soon after her By Emily Deming downtown restaurants the last 5 years. Co- Chef, with a focus on small plates and arrival in St. John’s over ten years ago. She The owners of a George owners Jody Temple and Stefan Hancock cocktails. The craft beer menu (focused on recently traveled to California for vacation Street classic, Green collaborated with SAM Design’s Susan Canadian breweries), and catch-all wine list with another employee courtesy of their staff Sleeves Pub, have re-vamped the Drover to create this popular look they is hoping to please everyone. The cocktails incentive program. Temple says that quality describe as “urban, cool, loft-style.” are designed by Sommelier Craig Newman food is important but nothing tops treating space above themselves – formerly to “be accessible” for patrons who may not staff well and that “it all starts with team.” The Well – into an “upscale-casual” It feels Toronto-lite and a bit forced, but have tried craft or classic cocktails before, night spot featuring small plates the large leather sofa on the main floor while holding to his standards of using only Trends may take longer to hit us way out and a trend-watching and fabric sectionals in the upstairs high quietly ingredients and being made here than in other lively cities, but treating drinks menu. lounge area are comfortable and make “with love going into each.” people well never goes out of style, and with for microclimates of intimacy. It is not a dynamic menu and good location, let’s Loose Tie Cocktail-Resto-Lounge was inspiring, but it will offend no one and To this end, the bartender faces the patrons down a cold glass of mixed rums and fruit imagined over six months and built in two accommodate anyone from romantic dates, while mixing the drinks and can engage juices with a big old umbrella stuck in it to weeks. A wide, grey, manufactured Corian to bachelorette parties, to after office Happy at each step of the process. Newman has the local entrepreneurs working their tails slab bar runs the length of the main space; Hourers looking to loos(en their) ties and paid attention to not just the flavours but off to stay in the black, and keep us all fed the walls are done in large glossy white just relax. the temperature of the drinks. Each drink and tipsy. “subway” style tiles, with a row of garage Food & Drink August 2016 / the overcast / 9

Irish Loop Local Lunches Coffee House Local Plonks Main Highway, for Less than $10 Witless Bay Affordable Wine Worth or Not By Emily Deming Deluxe Breakfast ($9.95). Served all day and weighing in as the priciest item on By L.P Worth Your Dime at the NLC the menu, this still beats most places for buck-bang: 2 eggs any way, fresh homemade fluffy-crunchy crumbly white bread toast, plenty of bacon strips, soft and greasy griddle If there is one white wine that should be essential on the NLC shelves it is fried bites of potato and coffee or tea … or pop; no judgements, no regrets. Bust the France’s most versatile and fairly priced wine match for seafood, Muscadet. bank and add a side of homemade apricot jam ($1.50) which, like all the sweets made The Corporation hasn’t stocked an example for over two years. The Melon de here, has more flavour and texture than sugar. Bourgogne grapes of Muscadet are grown near the Atlantic Ocean and one can fancifully imagine that they pick up a brininess from that proximity. It’s a fact Carrot Ginger Soup ($5.95) and an Oatcake (3.25). If fog has bested sun that they are kept crisp from acidity in the cooler ripening conditions. The best in the battle for the shoreline, a soup from the specials’ board will warm and nourish. Muscadets are “sur lie,” ie left for a period over the dead yeasts and crud that This one is heavy on ginger and piqued with fresh garlic. The oatcakes are thick, falls to the bottom of the vessels in which they fermented. This gives them a bit balanced, sweet and toothsome, a road-meal unto themselves. of extra interest and chew. Atmosphere: The “Unicorn” of the hunt for meals under $10. The Magic of the menu Chereau Carre Château de at The Irish Loop Coffee House is that EVERYTHING is under $10. They cover local, Chasseloir Muscadet ($20.33) traditional, fresh baked bread, gluten free, vegetarian, meaty, simple, comprehensive, Find it in the France Section ALL UNDER TEN DOLLARS. The only small disappointment is discovering they play a bit fast and loose with the term “english muffin.” They serve strong fresh Santropol A great example of this wine, it’s got the pears and sea salt coffee to keep you up for the drive down to our newest UNESCO heritage site at you expect, but has a touch of extra richness and some Mistaken Point, or to bulwark against your hangover on the way back to town Sunday faint notes of tropical fruits like pineapple and papaya morning from the cabin. Sit outside in the sun looking over the water, or at a sweet and a surprising touch of a sort of nutmeg/white pepper ‘50s vintage formica table inside with the provided decks of cards and play a hand of gin spice. Perfect for lobster, salmon, oysters, clams, pan fried while you wait. Deck, beer, great coffee, lamb sandwiches, lentil burgers, tart lemon cod, a Leo’s, capelin or mackerel, and the meringues, fresh salads, big fry-ups equals UNICORN. best match ever with mussels in almost This is any preparation. Was dreamy with the best asparagus and Newfoundland shrimp value white wine yet risotto. Really doesn’t make sense reviewed anyway but at table, a food wine only. here

At $20.33 this is the best value white n o W here s pecia L wine yet reviewed here.

Frescobaldi Nipozzano Riserva ($25 but Usually on Sale) Find it in the Italy Section ar TW or K: Vese L ina Tomo V a,

Another wine which doesn’t show without food is the old Contests standard bearer for Chianti Rúfina, Frescobaldi Nipozzano The Leaside FicTion conTesT The compTon poeTry conTesT Riserva. It’s around $25 these days, but often seems to be on The spa VisuaL arT conTesT sale for a couple of dollars less. Wines made from Sangiovese The arnoLd’s coVe peopLe’s choice are notoriously difficult to describe. The Nipozzano has a $3000 in prizes and pubLicaTion in rF #25 forward choke cherry note, rhubarb, and some mix of dried deadLine: ocTober 1sT, 2016 herbs. This has always been a reliable drink, there’s nothing enTry Fee: canada $25, us $30 & profound or too exotic, it’s not the most interesting expression international $45. This includes one year subscription to rF. make cheques or of Chianti Rúfina but does a meaty meal good. This used to be money orders payable to Riddle Fence. maiL submissions: riddle Fence better, unsure whether they are making too much or whether p.o. box 7092 sTn c st. John’s nL a1e 3y3

the best grapes are going to the wineries premium offerings. For FuLL GuideLines emaiL [email protected] or visit riddlefence.com 10 / August 2016 / the overcast Food & Drink

profitable. We wanted to go absolutely in the Last year, the provincial government New Sushi Spot, opposite direction by ensuring the highest Terroir-Nova: completed a cereal grain study with very standard of quality and care in everything we positive results. Currently, importing serve.” The Search animal feeds represents the biggest cost ASA, Serves to livestock production in the province. The ASA brand has been in Canada for nearly for a Legit Higher costs, less domestic consumption, Locally 30 years. “Our executive chef trained in Japan we all lose. These crops, while less fun for ten years before opening the first ASA Newfoundland than others, are potentially the most Sourced Fish Sushi just outside of Vancouver in Kerrisdale, important. BC,” says Wood. Wine Berry Breeds – Ever wonder why you don’t By Badge have a blueberry farm in your front yard? By Lauren Power “We discussed at length several places to So did these researchers. The explanation expand the ASA brand,” says Wood. “In the I was given was these test bushes are a Just recently open in the former Hava end, it came down to Montreal, Ottawa, and As an assignment for CBC Java at 258 Water Street, ASA Sushi cross between the native NL Lowbush St. John’s. I think we made the right choice. Radio in Corner Brook – I has hung out its shingle. With the rising varieties and other Canadian Highbush The second we got off the plane, St. John’s was sent to the experimental tide of sushi restaurants downtown varieties. The result is a bush that can immediately felt like home. “ and around the city, ASA (which means Canola Field growing in my survive the acidic, rocky soils of our “morning” or “sunrise” in Japanese) home town. shining land but won’t require the mass This will be the seventh ASA Sushi in Canada. is primed to set itself apart in a city of field torching and clearing required to “We’ve only been open a [a few weeks] and spicy tuna rolls. This field (which is now a really trippy neon currently farm native blueberries. we’ve had several packed lunch and dinner yellow) is part of a provincial government services,” says Wood. “This is Vancouver-style sushi from a research program, carried out by the Wine Grapes – Imagine a NL wine with NL properly trained Japanese chef,” says owner/ department of forestry and agrifoods. grapes. If it was HALF as good as Iceberg “Hands down the best thing on the menu operator Spencer Wood. “ It’s modern in its The crop is unique – it is the first canola Beer it would be in every tourist trap from right now is the fish-and-chips roll. “The roll flavours and presentation. We also decided planting in province history. Canola is St John’s to Griquet. is served with tempura cod inside and with a to stay away from the all-you-can-eat route. grown in every other province in the number of extra pieces on the side. Perfect Often there are quality control issues or cut country. It’s pretty damn lucrative. One vineyard operator in Nova Scotia for sharing or as a great meal on your own. corners to ensure that all-you-can-eat is believes that parts of Newfoundland may This has been a popular roll for years, but (It’s also pretty cool because it’s organic be even more favourable for vineyards having access to a fresh local ingredient and pollenated by its own bee colony.) than our Southern-Atlantic counterpart! TURDAY like this has really made it something

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there appears to be cultivars that can live E says Wood. “Cooking locally with ingredients S C of common, high-profit crops that have E N that are sometimes caught or foraged by in these extreme cross sections. M O I potential to be profitably grown by farmers B L the team working the restaurant is definitely E R | in the province. The agricultural regions on the Avalon,

| p m something to get excited about. “ S A 2 T m - Central, and West coasts all have potential U R D S 9 a AY This is big news as currently, we’re micro-climates suitable to cultivation stjohnsfarmersmarket . o r g Coming out of a relegated by the good lord to growing very (demonstrated by the success of the pilot successful soft launch, hearty but very cheap crops competitively program) but what we need is the next- ASA Sushi St. John’s (carrots, turnip, potatoes – the jigs dinner step: a winery. marks its grand fam). opening August It seems inevitable; there are reports of 4 1st, when their So what’s good in the research field? wine makers interested in the endeavour. latest menu A surge in interest around microbrewery will become A whole bunch: the grain crops are going start-ups in the province is combining available in the restaurant and online. “While to be huge, the berries are cute, and the cheap digital marketing with a cultural we don’t have a standalone website, we’ve wine grapes blew my mind. love for the sauce to great fanfare. been using our Facebook page as a launch Canola/soy – it’s simple really: feeding platform to spread word about ASA Sushi.” I personally, cannot wait to talk about the livestock. Right now, there are no major stellar new Pinot Grigio vintage coming sources of animal feed being grown on Find ASA Sushi at 258 Water Street and out of The Goulds. the island. online @ASAsushiNL Food & Drink August 2016 / the overcast / 11

Before too long, Alicia was apprenticing Dashall Delivers Late-night Good Brews! and brewing. Port Rexton Brewing They’ll be operating out of a converted Dining to Your Door th is Officially NL’s 4 property in their namesake town, and Commercial Craft the space will be open concept with a tap room where you can sit and order So far, business has been mainly university Brewery By Amy Stoodley samples, taster flights, and full pints of students but they’ve had some orders from beer every afternoon and evening. A hankering for a feed nurses on the overnight shift at the hospital By Chad Pelley can be a real buzzkill. and other late night workers. As for the big question of what they’ll be Especially when you’re having a great No one’s complaining about brewing? Stellar stouts? Awesome ales? time with friends, you get to the bottom Mertlík says the customer can pick any food culture in Newfoundland Lovely lagers? Last we spoke to them of the chip bowl and there’s no party restaurant in the city...as long as the kitchen anymore, but the craft beer they said “We’re hoping to open our grub left. You’d like to enjoy some of St. is still open for business. We are structured scene here is a different story. season with three beers, a Porter, an John’s finest eats but, you’ve had a few more as a courier service, rather than a food It’s lagging, and the success IPA, and a Blonde Ale.” drinks and can’t drive. DashAll to the delivery service, we don’t have to partner of the craft beer section in the rescue. It’s a new late-night delivery up with restaurants before we can start NLC these last 2 years is proof They will also be offering an ever-changing service that will bring you a meal from delivering from them. there’s demand for it. “#smallbatchseries, which is one or two any St.John’s restaurant. additional styles [but] only one or two DashAll even does java drop-offs so, if you’re Luckily, the difference between kegs of these each time. These styles Memorial University Computer Science meeting is running late and you really need 3 local craft breweries and 4 is will always be changing and providing students Jan Mertlík and Jessie Sandford to caffeinate, you can get a fresh cup of notable, and as of this summer, Port more variety at our location.” The near say they started the venture because they specialty coffee without leaving the office. Rexton Brewery is Newfoundland’s future holds beers like an American felt like food delivery options were limited in th 4 , joining the ranks of Storm, Quidi Wheat, a Moroccan-Spiced Brown Ale, St. John’s. Mertlík says its all about convenience. Vidi, and Yellowbelly. A fifth, based a Witbier, and possibly a Bock. DashAll is an online webpage with which out of Pasadena, is hot on its heels. They were overpriced and they were not you can get any food from any restaurant delivering at the times we wanted them Horse Chops IPA delivered straight to you! You just go on Port Rexton Brewing is co- the most. We also had an itch to make www.dashall.ca, fill out what you want owned by a married couple, Alicia A medium-bodied American-style IPA, something cool, so that’s how DashAll and where you want to get it from, and MacDonald and Sonja Mills, who that packs a strong floral and citrusy started, Mertlík says. There are so many one of our delivery drivers who is currently met “hesitantly, over a casual finish. Straight form the horse’s mouth, restaurants in St. John’s that I can’t eat from available will pick it up for you. Payments beer through a mutual friend’s “The Horse Chops IPA is best enjoyed because I don’t have a car, or my friend with are done online, so you don’t have to insistence.” Were it not for their after a strenuous hike or a great day a car has had a drink. So we decided, why worry about cash or waste time with debit insistent friend, we wouldn’t mountain biking, rock climbing or not deliver from all of them?” machines at the door.” officially have our first new kayaking. Also enjoyed with Parcheesi microbrewery in years. or crokinole.” Mertlík came here from the Czech Republic The average delivery time is 35 minutes three years ago and is happy to call St. and the cost is $7 per drop-off. A delivery Island Blonde Ale One thing they found they had in John’s home. The 21-year-old is finishing with two stops will run you $12 ... in case common was a passion for craft up a Computer Science degree at MUN you really need that Dairy Queen Sundae to “Our Blonde Ale is a refreshing ale beer; a passion they fueled in but plans to make DashAll a long-term help soak up the Celtic Hearth’s fish-n-chips balanced with toasted malt character and each other. And we’re talking true venture. “We are launching our 24/7 service with dressing and gravy. The driver pays for hints of aromatic hop spice that provide passion here: the couple has been in St. John’s within the next month, further the order and charges you the restaurant a crisp, clean pleasant finish. This Blonde known to ski to pubs on storm expansion in Newfoundland, and we are bill plus your delivery fee. The company’s Ale is best enjoyed after trail running, days. Any hiking or rock climbing planning on expanding to Nova Scotia in webpage says it doesn’t deliver ultimate frisbee, and beach volleyball. Also adventures are followed with a pint September, Mertlík says. alcohol ... yet. pairs well with a solid game of bocce ball of good beer, and their road trips or washer toss.” “include at least one microbrewery stop. We even built a craft beer bar Night 'Bous Porter for our craft-beer themed wedding. No joke.” “This Robust Porter is full of bright chocolatey flavours within a medium The two gathered a lot of experience in sweet body that finishes rich in malt Nova Scotia’s craft brewery movement, dryness. Big, bold, and balanced. This beer and were members of the Ladies Beer is best enjoyed after cold water surfing, League. “As the craft beer scene evolved camping, and after a tournament of Kan in Nova Scotia, we attended many unique Jam. Also enjoyed with a game of Tetris and educational events and festivals.” on a rainy day.” 12 / August 2016 / the overcast People

3 Inventions That Would Totally Fly on a Local Version of Dragon’s Den

By Chad Pelley who at least keeps his shirt on in his profile pictures, and is more interested in who you are than showing you he has a truck. The Invention: Skirt Weights Likelihood of unsolicited D Pics = <3%.

This is a wickedly windy city, and those who The Invention: Vitamin D in love skirts deserve the right to wear them; Our Water Supply they deserve to have their legs be chilled by wind, and be comfortably pantless, and to The amazing human body is capable of express themselves through fashion, and to making vitamin D from the sun rays hitting support the stores bringing in cool skirts. our skin. And not just a little: we get 90% Every city should be skirt friendly. Ours isn’t. of our vitamin D from sunlight exposure. But here in Newfoundland, we get sun for Wear a skirt in this town and you’re maybe 4 months of the year, and rarely for a unwillingly flashing passersby with every full week straight. We’re tragically deprived gust of wind, and the wind is gusting of a sun that likes to play peak-a-boo from more than it’s not. Luckily public nudity is behind fog banks and rain clouds, or just technically not illegal in town, so no one’s plain go missing on a bender in Nova Scotia going to jail for unintentionally showing off or Boston somewhere just shy of here. their underwear or birthday suit, but it can be embarrassing, it can welcome unwelcome Vitamin D deficiency is serious business: gawks, and more importantly, it’s plain it’s linked with significantly higher rates annoying to keep pushing down your skirt of many forms of cancer‚ as well as heart every 3 seconds. disease‚ multiple sclerosis, and many other conditions. Most notably, it ends in bone The Skirt WeightTM is simply a magnetic, issues, and who wants soft bones – who weighted clip you adhere to either side of wants to be known as a literally spineless your skirt so the wind can no longer blow it population? Hell, maybe the lack of vitamin D like a scandalous tornado around your knees. in our bodies explains why we have so many These aren’t black magnets – they come in a spineless politicians? variety of fetching colours and designs. Some people might even stop you and say “Oh my, Vitamin D comes so minimally from our what a nice Skirt Weight, where’d you buy diet – and the NL diet is hardly nutritious to it?,” that’s how nicely designed they’ll be. start with – that it’s time we start attaching a Brita-filter-like apparatus to our faucets The Invention: Tinder App – and have this apparatus inject synthetic Plug-in to Give Straight vitamin D into our water. Government Women More Hope rebates or subsidies should be offered on this product, as reducing vitamin D For just $1.99 a month, this Tinder deficiencies in our ENTIRE POPULATION enhancer will randomly inject a few fictional would lessen the burden of Vitamin D dreamboats in among the dud dudes in town, deficiencies on our healthcare system so the ladies have at least a glimmer of hope (which, by the way, is one of the province’s left about finding a standup guy in St. John’s, biggest expenses every year). People August 2016 / the overcast / 13

The Bull Horn: Your Rants, Share Yours at Confessions, and Missed Connections. TheOvercast.ca/Bull-Horn

Live from the Bearded Boys’ Bathrooms No Trespassing

“Guys, like, we love your beards, but keep your bathrooms cleaner for God’s sakes, if you’re “I came from BC a few years ago and was fortunate enough to find a few acres here around St. going to be drawing women back there with your wonderful manes. I sleep around a fair bit, I John’s. All I got for my troubles was a crew of ATVs and skidoos ripping through my property have a thing for bearded boys, so I have seen my share of your bathrooms, or should I say your at all hours of the day all year long. I put up signs, they ignore them or break them off. I put up ‘groomed facial hair wastelands.’ Your bathrooms always look like barber shops: hair in the a fence, the buggers tear it down … more than once. I put up a trail cam on advice from RNC sink, hair all over the toilet, the floor, Jesus, if I looked up, probably all over the ceiling! I get it, because apparently I am the one responsible for providing proof, and they stole the cam. Wtf is beard maintenance means morning trims, but clean up, if you’re gonna be taking ladies back to with people here?!? Does no one have ANY respect for someone else’s private property? I pay the pad!” – Beard-loving Babe outrageous property taxes on this land. I pay my &*%$ing mortgage for buying this land, I didn’t realise that was so I could provide a public park and trail system. So now with signs, fencing, Emergency Pee and the lost cam I’m out about a grand … and they still come and go as they please. Nice. Real nice. My next purchase is going to be a shotgun.” – Boomshanker “Last night, I went to hospital, VERY freaked out because I peed red. It was after I had a beet salad at some hipster restaurant downtown. Turns out beets turn your pee red and the medical All My Friends Are Dumb? staff had a good laugh at me.”– Beet Pee “Confession: I spend 60% of my time with my supposedly well-informed ultra-progressive Last in Line hipster friends kinda hating every word that comes out of their mouth. They have such strong opinions about things they actually know nothing about and it’s 80% speculation. I often wonder “I always let people go ahead of me in the lineup so I can be last in line. That way, she’s not if others feel the same way about their friends or if I need new ones. Maybe the guy at the rushed in serving me, and we can talk a little, because I have such a huge crush on her. I can’t record store wasn’t mansplaining the new Band of Horses to you, maybe his boss forces him tell if that’s creepy of me or not. She doesn’t even know my name. It’s Adam, and I love all of to be friendly (customer service! Tell the customers fun facts!), maybe Trudeau went to Pride your freckles so much.” – Adam because he is a good man, not because he’s abusing LGBTQ allyship etiquette to advance his I Know a Guy Who Smells the Worst and Have to Smell Him All PR image.” – Lady in Red (Face) the Time Pop Tarting Around “You often smell displeasing at work, like a rag a kid used to wipe up his dog’s urine so his “I dunno why, but I subverted to the breakfasts of my youth: S’moores Pop Tarts, Strawberry dad wouldn’t see a piss puddle on the new hardwood and smack the dog for it. And then that Toaster Strudels, Chocolate Chip Eggos. I’ve gained 10 pounds. I’m the big whale in the pond rag was thrown in the back of a cupboard where time forgot about it, so it’s all astringent this summer :(.” – Whaley Whale Face and sharp. That smell seems to happen on your hangover days, when you don’t bother with a shower, of which there are many” – Just Sayin’ Would Love to “Run into You” Again!

Men, Ugh! “Hey cute guy I ran into, quite literally, while changing the song on my phone! Remember me, the awkward gurl in the green shorts and the red hair and the awkward-shy laugh, who put her “I found you on Tinder, Asshole! My friend saw you there and showed me. Happy 6 months to hand on your shoulder and gasped because I was scared when we bumped into each other? I you, too. Men are such pricks. By the way: you kiss like a hummingbird lapping nectar and it’s promise I am not as awkward as I came across, and you were stupid cute and funny, and like gross! I’m not even going to break up with you. Figure it out yourself, or, RIGHT HERE, why I’ve me, dumb enough to be in shorts in this weather. Would love to have a chat next time! Please deleted you from my phone and Facebook.” – Your Ex-Girlfriend keep an eye out for me around the same pond. I run it lunch time (12:30 range) most weekdays! Anonymous Advice for a Former Co-worker Cheers, and I didn’t know what you were saying as I ran off, but I think it was ‘what are you listening to?’ Answer: Animal Collective!” – Blushing Runner “It’s not that your employers are uptight, it’s that you miss too many shifts, which — think about it! — is a pain for them. Someone also needs to tell you that you have the social skills of Stop Hogging My Feed with Your Face a lobotomized hounddog — oops, I just did! — and require an astonishing degree of basic tips “Your constant flow of selfies on Instagram make you seem either self-absorbed or desperate in customer service, like put your phone away when a customer is asking a question, and cover for reassurance you’re pretty, and it’s worse you try and pass them off as not selfies with stupid your mouth when you burp. Especially if it’s going to smell that foul. It’s like you eat shit-filled taglines like ‘waiting for mom at the airport!’, we didn’t need a selfie of that. Makes you seem baby diapers for breakfast. EVERY DAY.” – Your Former Co-worker Who No Longer Has to Fake so shallow.” – Selfie Slayer a Friendship 14 / August 2016 / the overcast People

There’s lots of variety when choosing a Hike Hike It, Baby!: it Baby outing. Some hikes are toddler-led, and adopt an obviously slower pace. Other Drug-related Break-ins Local Parent- outings are stroller-friendly, and better described as pond walks or park strolls. Happening Daily in St. John’s kid Hiking Then there are the carrier-only, faster- paced, and certainly more physically Group Nearing challenging hikes. (YOU try wearing a 20-pound weight vest that squirms and 1,000 Members spits up). Many of these more traditional hikes are along stretches of the ever- By Felicity Roberts Cocaine and opiates are the main drugs By Karen Moxley amazing East Coast Trail. in question, both illegal and in some Anita Carroll had a rude areas difficult to access treatment for, if I love to hit the trail Each hike is described on awakening one morning last addicted. with my baby snugly the group’s Facebook page month. Just before 8 am, Underlying any conversation about strapped to my and website, complete a call came from the RNC addiction is also a conversation about back—hikers laced with a difficulty rating, double—water bottle length description, and alerting her to a break in mental health, as people with mental at the ready. The details of where to meet which had happened around health challenges are disproportionately earthy smell of a forest and park. 3am at her Duckworth street represented in the population suffering from addictions. trail transports me back store Posie Row. to my outdoorsy life before “Everybody is welcome,” says Canadian physician and author Gabor motherhood. But now, I’ve Fisher. And she’s right. This is not a A man was later arrested attempting to Mate has said of this, “there is no war swapped the daypack and climbing cliquey tribe of crunchy granola mommies. sell the 6 trays of silver jewelry he had drugs, there is only a war on people, and gear for my 20-pound baby boy. And grabbed after 45 minutes of rummaging “We welcome moms and dads, babies and the most vulnerable segments of our it’s the best adventure yet. had failed to find any cash on site. He kids, older kids, nannies and poppies… It’s population are the ones we seem to be at smashed in the glass door, and came in Since moving to St. John’s from Calgary all about getting families out there, and war with” and out of the storefront 3 times before this spring, I’ve taken full advantage of the getting out on the trail,” says Fisher. world-class hiking available on the Avalon. finally leaving with his haul. Mate’s book, In The Realm Of Hungry The philosophy of this group is simple: let’s Ghosts, recalls his time working in When she spoke with police, she was told So imagine my delight when I discovered a raise a generation that loves the outdoors. east Vancouver’s addict community , that home break-ins were being reported baby-friendly (indeed, baby-inspired) hiking and he calls for a total reform on at the rate of 5 or 6 a day currently in St. club right here in St. John’s. It’s called Hike This is a mindset I can really get behind. And how we deal with addicts and addiction, John’s, and business break-ins are at an it Baby. so, I frequently take my place in this baby- asking first not “why the addiction,” all time high. totting pack, happily exploring the pathways but “why the pain,” and states that This group of like-minded parents originated and trails around St. John’s. stigma and shame cannot co-exist in America’s hub of hip—Portland, Oregon. With very few exceptions, they added, with compassion. And compassion From its modest roots of one mom looking For me, Hike it Baby has been a way to the burglars were addicts looking for is the attitude we actually need for for hiking buddies, this not-for-profit now connect with other mamas, and explore drug money. While the knee jerk “friggin’ any real change. boasts 277 branches around the world. my new province. I am extra lucky that my skeets” reaction is understandable when a community member is robbed, it neither 1-year-old takes his best naps in the carrier. As for Anita, she’s shaken but not The St. John’s Hike it Baby contingent has undoes the damage of the violation, Footsteps along a path seem to be his stirred, saying she still feels safe in the more than 700 members on its Facebook or helps rehabilitate the perpetrator. preferred lullaby. neighbourhood and feels that with the page, and hosts many different hikes each Most likely it puts them, instead, in an current situation in the city, sadly, things week. No hiker left behind is the motto here. Diaper overcrowded prison system where the like this are just par for the course. Lock changes, nursing breaks and off-trail toddler damage to their psyche only deepens. up your valuables, call the police if you Wendy Fisher heads up the St. John’s Hike it trips are all embraced. Baby chapter. If health statistics of blood borne illness see a crime, and don’t leave cash in your No one’s looking to beat a track record or are any indicator, needle drugs gained store is her advice to people. “I wanted something I could pass on,” says impress with high tech hiking gear. The only traction in St. John’s sometime in the late Fisher, currently on maternity leave with her It’s great she’s so stoic about the whole hope is to get outside and safely enjoy the 90s, with 17 new reported cases of Hep second daughter. event, but I can’t help but feel our city is natural wonders of our province—baby in C in the province in 1996, ballooning to passing on its inability to deal with mental tow. 84 by 2005. There are many theories on “This club is something that’s shared. health and addictions issues in a modern, how and why addiction rates in NL have Anyone can lead a hike, or become a branch For more information check out Hike it caring, and effective way, and it’s great soared, and no matter which one you ambassador. So, hopefully this group will Baby St. John’s on Facebook. Or head neighbours like Anita who are the ones subscribe to, the damage is increasingly continue long after I go back to work.” to hikeitbaby.com. paying the price. evident. People August 2016 / the overcast / 15 Fairy Door Tours Offers Something New for You and the Kids to Do Thanks to Tina White & Samantha Gaulton, the folks behind Fairy Door Tours, both Pippy and Bowring Park are packing new awe for kids, and this is a wonderful way to get them outdoors, walking around a park.

On Fairy Door Tours, you and the wee ones will visit a series of whimsical fairy, elf, and gnome doors scattered along a picturesque nature trail. Using a map with some clues, children are encouraged to help locate the Fairy Doors. Once they do, there are activities like: wishmaking at the Wishing Well, leaving a note for the Fairies at the Fairy Mailbox, and bundling some firewood for a grumpy gnome. Weather permitting, a fairy storytime will conclude this enchanted adventure. If your child would like to leave a note or letter for the Fairy, simply have them prepare one in advance if possible.

There are two Fairy Door Tours: Pippy Park (Saturdays 1-2:15pm) and Bowring Park (Sundays 2:30-3:45), both until mid-October. Meet your guides at the North Bank Lodge parking lot (for Pippy Park) or at the Bowring park amphitheatre for the Bowring Park tour. Tours cost $7 for children/seniors; $10 for adults. For either tour, treasure bags will be provided. They contain “wishing dust and/ or wishing bubbles, shells, marbles, stones, wool bits… things that may come in handy on the tour – or as a small gift for a Fairy.” The bags must be returned at the end of the tour. All in all the tours are about a 1km walk, and the tours are recommended for ages 4 and up, though all are welcome. Note: you cannot open the fairy doors. 16 / August 2016 / the overcast Cover Story

All Things Feminist, August 25-28

Femfest NL: The Ribs of a Conference and the Flesh of an Arts Festival

By Emily Deming cis) and those who experience gendered started following a Femfest in Ireland. sexual assault cases, to a town igniting as oppression (including non-binary and gender She watched the excitement and support workplace sexual harassment came to light. It is peak festival season here non-conforming people) and all those who the National Women’s Council of Ireland identify as women for the purpose of political generated over social media. Though that Femfest is a response to the great, the good, in St. John’s, and the new organizing.” event was for young women, Wright felt and the bad. It is a celebration and a making convention centre has been the pull to look more broadly at what is of space in which to “talk about feminism, And “for everyone” is accurate but, as I uncensored, and without backlash.” But humming along for months. happening with feminism in NL today, and to learned recently from Taylor Stocks’ piece address, foster or celebrate that. Wright adds, it is also a community effort, a But, between the outdoor in The Independent (July 13th), there are taking stock. In that respect this nascent year two sides to inclusivity. Both of which are The focus on celebrating together is a “form is not “over-defined.” stages, food trucks, beer addressed by Femfest NL, as one of the of self-care for the feminist community” tents, and the posters along many events will be reserved for women says Bridget Clarke (Events Coordinator, The four day festival is built around community submissions solicited by the the nouveau halls of New (-identifying) only. To understand how this SJSOWC). “Everyone is silo-ed doing is an act of inclusion please read the article different work” Wright says, “It’s tangly, organizing committee with an open “call- Gower Street, a hybrid beast cited above… [pause for reading] … You hard, and exhausting.” But Wright has seen out.” The majority of submissions were is rising. have now officially engaged in FemfestNL the advent of new groups and a wave of accepted “as is” keeping the authors’ by celebrating (through listening to) a energy from young feminists around her with autonomy paramount, and with the schedule Femfest NL is a four-day celebration of Newfoundland feminist. the formation of active groups like Smash determined by the volume of submissions. feminism by women for everyone, with Patriarchy: an Action Team (SPAAT), and Holy This is in spirit with the idea of listening to the ribs of a conference and the flesh of The inspiration for this “Celebration of Heart student Olivia Parsons’ Generating the community, but also makes for what an arts festival. Though “by women” is Feminism” came when Jenny Wright, Leadership Opportunities for Women looks like odd editorial decisions within the already inaccurate. Femfest NL breaks Executive Director of The St. John’s Status of (GLOW). At the same time, the past year has two day conference portion of the festival, it down as “women (trans, intersex, and Women Council/Women’s Centre (SJSOWC) been a rough one: from national and local like a panel on Feminist Science and Cover Story August 2016 / the overcast / 17

Technology without any women from the Laura Winters, Coordinator of the Safe STEM fields actually on the panel. Harbour Outreach Program (SHOP), will give her keynote address, “Resistance on The A Full Immersion FemFest Primer: Some talks at the conference are Rock,” about how Newfoundland women The organizing committee’s suggested reading, movies, and music. “ripped from the headlines” with fight back and what resistance looks like in Brenda Seymour from the Spaniards’ Bay marginalized populations. Laura Winters, SHOP Heather Jarvis, SHOP Volunteer Fire Department slated to Scarlet Road (a documentary) Pay It No Mind: The Life and Times of discuss “micro-aggressions in the SHOP was started by Winters in 2013, under Reading, Writing, and Re-writing Marsha P. Johnson (movie) workplace.” Overall, the conference the umbrella of SJSOWC, as a direct frontline the Prostitute Body (book) Pariah (movie) includes a wide range of topics from service whose mission is to advocate for Sex workers in the Maritimes Cunt (book) Midwifery to Social Media in Activism, the human rights of women who do sex Talk Back (book) The Revolution Starts at Home, an and should have something of interest work. Winters and SHOP outreach worker Sex At the Margins: Migration, anthology (book) for any generation, any “wave,” any Heather Jarvis (bolstered by a crew of Labour Markets and the Rescue feminist, or feminist-curious individual. highly selected volunteers) act as “system Industry (book) Christine Van Kooten, navigators” for program participants as a Marguerites Place Of course it isn’t a celebration without Sexual Strangers: Gays, Lesbians sort of “bridge over stigma” to healthcare The Sexual Politics of Meat: A Feminist and Dilemmas of Citizenship (book) The Arts. There are simultaneous and other services. Winters has trained over Vegetarian Critical Theory (book) In the Flesh: The Cultural Politics concerts and kick-off parties Thursday 1000 people in the province including RNC Inspiring Women: A Celebration of of Body Modification (book) night, like the opening reception of frontline officers, Legal Aid lawyers, Crown Herstory (book) The Psychic Life of Power (book) Feminisms {Re}Framed art show at Attorneys, nurses, and future doctors and Eastern Edge, or “Women’s Writes,” at social workers through MUN. Kerri Neil, SPAAT Jenny Wright, SJSOWC/WC The Space, which is hosted by Elisabeth de She’s Beautiful When She’s Angry We Should All be Feminists, Mariaffi and will feature a juggernaut of local SHOP, together with the NL Sexual Assault (movie)Feminist playlist: Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (book) women writers. Crisis and Prevention Centre, run the WOW http://bit.ly/29MyBPX Thelma and Louise (movie line (“Warn Other Workers”), a tip line for The cohesive element is Newfoundland and sex workers to share information about Bridget Clarke Dr. Catherine de Boer Labrador. This is by and for those living in “bad dates.” They also work with the women from SJSOWC The Sisterhood (book) the province. And though it is taking place inside of the Correctional Centre for Women Bad Feminist (book) In a Different Voice (book) in St john’s, FemfestNL is cognizant of the in Clarenville, running programming every Obvious Child (movie) full province. There is a Labrador contingent three weeks. Some of the art work created putting on the panel “Celebrating Inuit by the incarcerated women will be featured Women’s Leadership in Nunatsiavut” and the at FemFestNL including group and individual eight Status of Women’s Council offices from collages, body maps, time capsules (what do around the province are holding their AGM you want people in the future to know about “I found you on Tinder, jerk! My friend the Monday after the conference to allow you?) and other projects that Winters is saw you there and showed me. Happy 6 their staff to attend the festival as a part of keeping under wraps for now. their work travel. months to you, too. By the way: you kiss Through her PhD research (UNB) and her like a hummingbird lapping nectar and The entire Festival is Pay What You Can work, Winters confirms that the number it’s gross! I’m not even going to break (PWYC). Making Femfest NL accessible to one issue sex workers face is stigma, more up with you. Figure it out yourself, all was a primary concern, though this has so than violence. She emphasizes that sex or, RIGHT HERE, why I’ve deleted you left it with little funding. Negligible funding workers are not only sex workers. They are from my phone.” – Your Ex and a short timeline from conception to “full and complex people.” actualization has also shaped the conference. It has brought together those who are willing For Winters, this festival is “about to volunteer their energies and expertise celebrating all things feminist. We are always for a cause they care deeply about, but it fighting: for funding, against shitty responses also means that that expertise and energy to sexual assault, the patriarchy. [Let’s] take will not be strictly remunerated (though a week to celebrate and showcase [the] rich the door money collected will partly go and diverse and amazing work women do.” towards the musicians, entertainers, etc. at Share Your Rants, Confessions, and Missed Connections. each individual event). We are celebrating For those looking to help support that work, feminists. But we still aren’t paying them. So you can donate to SHOP through the St Let it all out, for the city’s amusement and your sanity: John’s Women’s Centre. Though SHOP has much to celebrate and so much to discuss. Theovercast.ca/bull-horn space donated by the Angelican Church, it is Laura Winters’ Keynote always looking for sustainable funding. Its Address: “Resistance on the current grant from the provincial government Rock” (Aug. 28, 7pm) is up in March. 18 / August 2016 / the overcast Select Events Worth Your Dime Select August Events

For comprehensive event listings or to add your own events: theovercast.ca/events

St. John’s VegFest Presented of contemporary art practice held in St. John’s” and is in fact the only NL festival by the X Store dedicated exclusively to contemporary August 20th @ The Remax Centre art. It “delivers accessible, meaningful, Throughout North America, municipalities from and critically-relevant contemporary art Nashville to Ottawa host an annual VegFest to programming across an array of media celebrate all things vegan & vegetarian. For the including: installation, performance, first time ever, St. John’s will have a VegFest of its screenings, artist talks, music, dance, own, on Saturday, August 20th. community events, and artist-led workshops “The St. John’s VegFest planning committee came for people of all ages.” This year, that means together in the fall of 2015 after we noticed that everything from an art crawl of galleries many Canadian cities have been hosting VegFests downtown, to a Family Signal Flag Workshop over the last couple of years,” the committee said. with Parks Canada. “Our mission is to celebrate delicious food and to Aug 12 - 8pm - Winterset in Summer, Eastport Aug 14-16 - 8pm - Rocket Room, St. John’s inspire others to experience a wholesome plant- The festival will see works and workshops Aug 13 - 8pm - English Harbour Arts Centre Aug 17 - 7pm - Perchance Theatre, Cupids based lifestyle in our community.” from a variety of local and visiting artists, www.thedooryoucamein.ca The event will see local guest speakers, including three by way of Toronto, such as community organizations, educational activities, Life of a Craphead. As an example of the and of course, delicious food all under the one roof, and for FREE! The educational activities will diversity of artistic expression on display at include an interactive panel discussion on the the festival, Life of a Craphead will present struggles and benefits of being vegan in NL. “Bugs Store,” based on their feature-length Among the guest speakers will be Sue Ann film Bugs – it’ll be a store, staffed by bugs, Gardiner, who, “after suffering numerous illnesses with branded merchandise and one-of-a-kind and running into a dead end with help from her items. doctors, reached out to a vegan diet on her own. Her ailments soon diminished, and she now Toronto’s Versa are a collective led by Monika dedicates herself to teaching others about her Hauck and musician Alex Ricci. Versa will journey to a happy and healthy life.” present a set of psychedelic bass guitar Dr. Arjun Rayapudi will also be a guest speaker. compositions performed by a full band, paired Rayapudi, a physician, will be speaking about with cymatic video projections created live by “how your chef’s knife in the kitchen can be more animating low frequency sound using liquid. useful than his surgical knife in the operating room for treating many chronic diseases.” Also via Toronto, Walter Scott will be here. Food vendors will include companies like Nourish He’s an interdisciplinary artist working across Bakery, Pixel Pop T-Shirts, Panago Pizza, writing, video, performance, and sculpture. Peaceful Loft. “Vegans, vegetarians, foodies, He is the creator of the comic series Wendy, environmentalists and veg-curious attendees and will present his new performance piece will have the opportunity to celebrate delicious The Sun Sets Sideways. In it, “Spike is food and to discover the countless benefits of a a television writer living in the town of

wholesome plant-based lifestyle.” Sideways, who is visited by two songwriters who represent the psychological implications 17th Annual Hold Fast of the land and the sea.” Contemporary Arts Festival August 18-21 @ Visit http://easternedge.ca/hold-fast for Eastern Edge Gallery more information on events, workshops, Hold Fast is a “four-day celebration performances, and more. Plucked from the Web August 2016 / the overcast / 19

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Good Economic News for a Change: Local Export Revenue to Bounce Back in 2017 New Injunction Prevents Pro-life Protests from Being

According to Export Development Canada’s Steel’s investments in metal ore prospects within 40 Metres of St. John’s Abortion Clinic Global Export Forecast, 2017 will be a are forecast to offset some of the recent better year for Newfoundland & Labrador, volume declines and to boost production As of this week, a person in St. John’s making Centre, and her lawyer Lynn Moore made as our exports are expected to rebound with this year and beyond.” This will result in the big personal decision to have an abortion this happen, and both consider it an overdue 18% growth in 2017. 16% growth in 2017. at the Athena Clinic on Lemarchant Road will victory for women’s rights in NL. They were no longer have to face pro-life protesters shooting for a 100-meter band on pro-life It’s been the loss of energy sector revenue “Newfoundland and Labrador’s agri-food directly outside the clinic. Thanks to a new protests, but defence lawyer Bob Simmons (via oil) that’s dragging down our export sector, dominated by seafood, will benefit injunction, protestors are no longer allowed negotiated the radius down to 40 metres. revenue, and it’ll continue to do so in 2016, from the persistently strong price of shrimp within a 40-meter radius of the building. but, the report indicates a strong recovery Essentially, Moore was willing to compromise in 2017, as oil prices rebound and new and somewhat higher prices for crab, as Very few people take abortion lightly, and the because everyone has their right to capacity comes online after prolonged well as the weak Canadian dollar. Together, emotional weight of the decision can last long freedom of expression, but it needn’t be so delays. Hebron oil field, for example, is on these factors will offset falling volumes in after the procedure, yet, for the last 26 years, invasive of personal space upon entry to track to pump its first oil by the end of 2017. shrimp and crab.” they’ve had to face heckling from protesters a healthcare clinic. Striking the deal also as they entered the clinic — they had to walk prevented a drawn out court trial that would The outlook for metals, ores, and other Manufacturing will continue to see right past the pro-lifers, who often shamed, require people taking the stand to talk about industrial goods exports “will remain strong activity. “We expect exports in this judged, intimidated, or even photographed personal and sensitive issues. Protesters have depressed as receipts are expected to grow diversified category to benefit significantly them. also been known to protest outside the homes by a meager 2% in 2016,” but “while export from the drop in the Canadian dollar in 2016 of clinic staff — they may no longer do so prices for iron ore continue to fall, Tata before moderating in 2017.” Rolanda Ryan, owner of the Athena Health within 40 meters.

Kirby Suddenly Calling for Suspension of Library Closures Pokemon Go Has One Local Retailer Literally Setting Lures for Clients As you’ve heard, 54 libraries in NL — 20 of have been done before the decision to gut which in schools — were on the chopping their funding?” To quote NDP Leader Earle block as of budget 2016-17. That’s more McCurdy “By stopping the closures, the Pokemon Go is a new augmented reality downtown throwing virtual balls at virtual than half of our libraries, all to save a mere Education Minister is admitting he made a game for your phone, and one that’s been monsters this weekend that local businesses million. bad decision.” credited with undoing the stigma that games had to have benefitted from the hungry and technology have made millennials But NL’s Minister of Education Dale Kirby bellies and thirsty pallets of Pokemon A steering committee will be formed “less social and active.” The game not only has requested those overseeing the players ... Gaze Seed Company saw and are including members from the Provincial encourages, but requires gamers to get off “restructuring” of the province’s library seizing the opportunity. They’re offering Government and Provincial Information their couch and out into the real world among system hold off for now, until “a complete a free begonia or lily flower bulb with any like-minded people. organizational and service review of and Library Resources Board. Calvin Taylor, purchase if you show them your Pokemon libraries is conducted.” In a press release, Chair of the Provincial Information and Go app. “We’ve also put in an application Essentially, Pokemon Go uses your phone’s he said, “We have heard from very strong Library Resources Board says he is pleased maps and camera function to let you “see” with Niantic to become a PokeStop, so voices about the future of our libraries and to work with the Provincial Government virtual monsters and animals in the real expect plenty of Lures once that’s set up.” we feel that before moving forward with to help conduct a review of the provincial world, if you’re near them and pointing your In a nutshell, gamers can drop a lure at an any closures we should have an external library system. McCurdy added that the phone at them. Once you have one in your official “Pokestop” to attract Pokémon for a assessment that contemplates the full steering committee should include people sights, you throw a ball at it, dodgeball style, while, which attracts a swath of gamers to impact a library has on its community.” who weren’t involved in the earlier decision to capture them. the area. For Gaze Seed Company, Pokemon to close the libraries, and validly asked, Go is every retailer’s dream: you can literally Naturally, among the sighs of relief was “Where are the writers, the users, the There were enough people crawling around the question of “Shouldn’t those reviews lure potential customers to your doorstep. librarians?” 20 / August 2016 / the overcast The Arts

their life” says Cahill. After completing her “I’ve Never Been to undergrad in at Memorial, Cahill moved Clattice Harbour”: away. Since then, she has taken a position THE ENTHUSIAST! as a professor of Art History at University New Doc of Calgary. Getting Involved in Theatre “I always assumed I’d move back, but Will Capture my professional trajectory never lead back this way,” says Cahill. “So, it’s my Parents’ Return opportunity to pursue a personal interest Night, directed by while fulfilling a creative and professional By Lauren Power artistic director to Resettled impulse.” While Cahill’s parents shared Danielle Irvine, stories and photographs with her, Cahill St. John’s is filthy with as well as Romeo has never been to Clattice Harbour. Community theatre, with performance & Juliet, directed Cahill will be interviewing relatives, troupes of every style and by guest director By Lauren Power members of the community, and experience level. If you’re Michael Waller. Shows run at 2pm and government officials. Contemporary 7pm, Thursdays through Sundays. looking to get into local In 1966, the residents of footage of Clattice Harbour and of her Check perchancetheatre.com for details. parents is interwoven with archival theatre, the first step here Shakespeare by the Sea usually has open Clattice Harbour packed up photographs and film. (which is the first step in and left their home on the auditions in April or May. MUN’s Diploma in “In 2012, my father wrote a little book for breaking into any new scene) Performance and Communications Media Burin Peninsula to stake a my mother,” says Cahill. “It traced their classes (acting, directing) also hold open is showing up. claim elsewhere. time together in Clattice Harbour, starting auditions for their one-scene and one-act shows, and you don’t need to be a student to with their first visit there in 1978.” Every actor needs an audience, and even if The census info available from the first snag a role. dramatic acting’s not your thing, then maybe half of the 20th century includes just a Cahill is aware of the dangers of musical. comedy or dinner theatre. Make a handful of family names. Then, for many experiencing life through the lens of a If live theatre’s not your thing, there’s vacation out of it, and hit up Rising Tide in years, Clattice Harbour was a ghost camera. “I don’t want this project to be a always Newfoundland’s film and TV Trinity and the Gros Morne Theatre Festival town, with only ruined wharves and a distanced analysis about the broad history scene. Keiley posts many opportunities on the west coast. few marked gravesites at the edge of the of resettlement. I want it to tell a personal on castingbymaggie.com and the Casting by Maggie Facebook page. Your cousin/ woods setting it apart from the rest of the narrative about what resettlement means Most local thespians say to audition for roommate/coworker who was in the uninhabited shoreline. for one family right now. So, this project everything that’s open and build contacts background of that episode of Republic of isn’t about my analysis. It’s me going out through that, while gaining experience. You Now, more and more people are travelling Doyle probably got the gig through Casting and seeing who [my parents] are in this don’t necessarily need Grenfell BFA cred to to and building structures on their family’s By Maggie. moment, and trying to tell that story.” audition, and there are other ways to polish former land, including Susan Cahill’s your acting chops. parents, Yvonne Hepditch and Jim Cahill. The first-time director will be working The site features auditions and casting calls for speaking parts and background with New Brunswick filmmaker Matthew “Get involved in as much as you can -- This summer, the fiftieth anniversary of acting in productions happening locally, Rogers of Frictive Pictures. “Matt has the choirs, dance, public speaking,” says Maggie Cahill’s mother and her family relocating including photo shoots and voice-over gigs. experience in making documentaries, and Keiley, casting director and owner of Casting as part of the government-directed Keiley also keeps a database of individuals I’m learning a lot from him. He was really by Maggie, a local casting firm. “Anything resettlement program, Cahill will be (registration is free) who want to be notified taken with the personal story here [and] like that will give you confidence and skills travelling to Clattice Habour with her when there’s a casting call for something we’re co-directing and collaborating to and facilitate connections with other people parents for the first time, and filming the specific (kids or pets, for example). shape this.” in the arts community.” experience. Beyond those first steps, if you’ve seriously Filming will continue to the end of the “It is a lot of work to prep for an audition but The project, which she has titled A been bitten by the acting bug, there are summer, followed by editing, with hopes even if you do not get the roles you audition Sentimental Journey: Travels Home in various schools to study theatre, including of release next summer on the film for, it is valuable experience.” a Resettled Newfoundland Community, festival circuit. “Like every project ever, courses at MUN (mentioned above) and the will trace the story of her parents as they the path you plan isn’t ever the path you We’re in the midst of the summer theatre Bachelor of Fine Arts at Grenfell. travel to the home they have built together end up traversing,” she says. Cahill is season, but there are productions being over the last decade on the former site of looking forward to the journey. staged year-round, so it’s a great time “If you want to base yourself in NL and be Yvonne’s family land. to scout the production company that’s a full time actor, learn to write and produce “Clattice Harbour is only accessible by right for you. Throughout the month of your own material, as well... creating roles “I’m close with my parents, but this boat,” she says. “Fingers crossed for August, Perchance Theatre at Cupids will that suit you rather than trying to fit into the project has given me new access into lovely weather.” feature mainstage productions of Twelfth roles that are offered,” says Keiley. The Arts August 2016 / the overcast / 21

St. John’s Newest Gallery, The Dayroom, Has Had Its Winterset Winner Paul for the full interview, visit First Exhibit Bowdring on Latest TheOvercast.ca By Emily Pittman

On Wednesday, July 13th, an exhibition Novel, Mr. Nightingale titled Couple on the Beach marked the opening of downtown St. John’s newest gallery. The Dayroom, directed by Penelope Smart, is nestled on the third floor of 177 Water Street, above the Newfoundland Weavery, and boasts a window overlooking Signal Hill. By Shannon Webb-Campbell What Do Awards Like the course is that the author knows the details Winterset Mean to You as a of the writing life from the inside out. The Its opening party/exhibition received a great Bell Island’s Paul Bowdring Writer? challenge is to make it convincing and turnout; the small room was packed with revels in language. His engaging for the general reader, the non- viewers gathered intimately to view and Well, I have very mixed feelings about discuss the art on display. Couple on the previous books The writer. Humour helps, and I think there is a competitions and prizes for literature. lot of it in Mister Nightingale … Beach features artists Alyssa Matthews, from Roncesvalles Pass, The Night They are essentially lotteries, and a few Brooklyn, Sarah Sands Phillips, from Toronto, Season, and The Strangers’ deserving writers get singled out, but the Your writing is rich with and local artists Hazel Eckert and Walter Gallery have all received large majority get ignored. I would trade Elegance, Style, and George. accolades, including the any award for a half dozen thoughtful Newfoundland Flair. reviews in some large circulation How Does the Rhetoric of The title of the show references an Alex 2013 BMO Winterset Award, magazines or newspapers. This sort of this Place Inform Your Colville painting of the same name, and the 2014 Writers’ Alliance of attention has dried up almost completely Storytelling? works on display effectively captured its Newfoundland and Labrador for most published writers. And publishers essence. Colville’s “Couple on the Beach” Heritage and History Fiction seem to depend almost entirely on prize­ Nowadays, it seems that TV and radio features a man and a woman on the beach, news reporters have adopted storytelling. and while it is seemingly peaceful and Award, and nomination for winning for publicity now - the Giller, the “Here are the stories we are following this characteristically idealized, as Penelope the 2014 ReLit Award and GG, the Winterset – and do very little in the way of promoting the books they’ve evening...” You hear that all the time. And Smart states in the exhibition’s description, International IMPAC Dublin published. Having said that, I do greatly just the other day I heard a reporter say, in it portrays “a private scene simmering in Literary Award. appreciate the fact that a jury of my peers, connection with a “story” about a missing danger and violence.” if only three readers, has read one of my child: “The family were hoping for a happy Bowdring’s latest novel, Mister Nightingale, Matthews’ colourful abstractions and her books attentively and thought highly of it. ending, but the alleged author of that explores author James Nightingale’s return princess Diana prints offer an idealized Sustained, undistracted, close reading is ending was arrested today.” How’s that for to Newfoundland after 30 years in Toronto, summer to the viewer, while Eckert’s found becoming a lost art these days. appropriation. post-failed marriage, and still trying to bridal images suggest a complex and grasp his dreams. Nightingale’s homing is a What Were Some of the “Yes –oh dear yes –the novel tells a story,” mysterious romantic relationship. Sands story of returning to familiar unknowns. Challenges Writing Mister as E. M. Forster said famously, and sadly, Phillips starts to suggest a looming threat Nightingale? almost 100 years ago. I’m not seriously with her unclear images of crashing waves, What Inspired the Story of interested in storytelling per se. Reviewers and George’s set of two daggers underline Mister Nightingale? Perhaps the most difficult was seeing St. have often remarked that my novels are not the danger conveyed in Colville’s narrative. John’s as a stranger might see it. It was heavy on plot –an understatement –that I am When viewed together, the impressive I think I tried to imagine an unlived life. I also the setting for my previous two novels, first and foremost a “stylist.” That is probably artwork in this exhibition effectively give spent a couple of years in Toronto as a very and some reviewers said that the city itself true. I am interested in story mainly as what viewers a new perspective on a classic young man, have been back many times was almost a character in those books! I’ve Forster called “a repository of voice.” If you painting. since, and I could easily have stayed there, lived here most of my life, and the place is can find the right voice for your narrator, spent my entire adult life there, as many in my head and heart, a psychological and your storyteller – always a very difficult thing The Dayroom is a wonderful addition to of my friends have done, part of a diaspora spiritual landscape as much as a physical – the story will take care of itself. You don’t downtown St. John’s, and if Couple on the that has colonized southern Ontario. So this one, so separating myself from that sort of have to worry about it anymore. You can Beach is any indication, it will increase the novel, Mister Nightingale, is written from intimacy was no easy task. focus on other things: style, for instance, by amount of incredible art on view in this the point of view of a character, a writer, which I don’t mean mere embellishment, but city. The Dayroom is open on Saturdays who did stay away, and then comes back Also, writing a novel whose main all the other formal elements besides voice and Sundays from 1-5 pm, as well as by home after more than 30 years, to “familiar character, the narrator, is also a writer has (imagery, structure, etc.) that make up an appointment. Couple on the Beach will run unknowns,” as you put it. th advantages and pitfalls … the advantage of integrated and convincing work of fiction. until September 11 . 22 / August 2016 / the overcast The Arts Tales From the Cutting Room: An Interview with Filmmaker and Editor Christopher Darlington unresolved tension are themes that run Surreal Meets throughout the play. By Mark Hoffe What are Some of the Back in 2008, Brown was struck by a SUV Sci-fi: Lois Personally Memorable Projects while crossing the street, and it’s only How Did Your Career Begin? You Edited? Brown’s New now that she’s finally been able to put pen to paper and stage her latest play. But In 1991, I started volunteering at Red Ochre I’ve been lucky to work here in film my it wasn’t easy, “I found it really hard to Play Set to Productions. At the time, Ken Pittman was whole working life, except for a few years write,” recalls Brown. developing a couple of projects and I knew I spent in England, so there are so many

Take the Stage “I took some more passes at it but I was I wanted to be part of the industry. So Ken wonderful projects I’ve gotten to work finishing it up this past year, and it just offered me a place in the office to learn what on. My first major edit was Anne Troake’s took me forever,” she laughs. She would I could. I also got to work on my My Ancestors Were Rogues and By Elizabeth Whitten sit down for hours and would be stumped, first couple of films during Murderers. It was my first time There is a recurring theme running writing and rewriting. that time as a PA. The Hall editing such a large project. through medical dramas: the main Trilogy, Anchor Zone and We had one hundred hours characters are invariably the doctors, “It was because the act of writing threw a PA on The Boys of St. of interviews, stock footage, set up as the heroes of the story, me right back into the unresolved aspects Vincent. home movies, poems, whereas the patient is reduced to a of the accident … because it was so hand written recollections, collection of problems that need to be unexpected that the person hit me. Often What Drew You to radio interviews. It was an solved. “The patients are sort of like when I try to cross the street or something Picture Editing? ambitious idea to pull this an object inside the story,” playwright I go into this frozen mode where I’ll stop in together into a cohesive whole, Lois Brown observes. the middle of the street.” In 1991, a film called JFK by but I was lucky to be working with Oliver Stone came out and it was someone who had such a firm grasp Brown’s newest play “When the Angel of While Brown originally described her play really a jolt. To this day, the editing stands on what she wanted to do. Her vision Death Says? How Are You…” is set in a as surrealist, she says it has a touch of as one of the best. Just incredible. When carried us along. Similarly, Safe Home hospital, with the main focus on Patience, science fiction to it as well. “So one of I saw that film in theatres, I knew I found with Rosemary House, Crackie with Sherry a woman who was recently in a car the things that happens to Patience is something I wanted to do. The following White and Relative Happiness with Deanne accident. The audience is treated to her that this seems to her to be some kind of year, I was offered a training position on Foley were cases where the director gave personal medicated haze while confined time warp that’s happened. Because she The Gullage’s TV Series working under me the leeway to bring my own skills and to a hospital room. Through her journey, was trying to cross the street and it was Kimberlee McTaggart. It really opened my experience to the project. I think the best Patience is accompanied by the Angel of interrupted and that seems like this huge eyes to what the editor brings to a project. projects are where the collaborators are Death and two little girls who had been psychological interruption. And it starts Very exciting. trusted to play their roll. present at the site of the accident (or her remembering another accident that happened to her daughter. And then she’s maybe they only exist inside Patience’s What Technological Advances What’s Your Take on the Local scared that anything she might do could mind. The answer is up in the air). Most Fascinated You? Film Scene? disrupt this tenuous fabric of time,” Brown “I’m trying to explore what happens from explains. In a sense, it’s been the analog to When I started out in 1991, it was a small, that perspective. And so she has these digital revolution. When I started, close knit community. The community was imaginary little girls from the scene of her Patience’s daughter was fine at the 16mm was still the primary capture born in the era of the artistic collectives of accident who are kind of inside her head, moment in this timeline, “but maybe this medium, but within the decade digital the 70s and 80s and NIFCO played a central or are they real?” Brown says. time something would happen. And then started creeping in. I don’t really have role. The collective focus has receded and one of her visitors is telling her, ‘Well, a preference. Whatever works for the the community has gotten much larger. “And then that leads her through this that’s in the past.’ And she’s like ‘Well, how project and aesthetic is what’s most Thanks to technology, the access to a journey that I’m exploring, where do we know that’s in the past?’” sometimes in the case of a traumatic important. The digital revolution opened multitude of films from around the world is accident … it triggers other traumatic When the Angel of Death says ?How Are up filmmaking to everybody, which is inspiring more people to get involved and events as well. So she has that to deal You … will be playing at the LSPU Hall from wonderful, but it’s still a craft that requires we are seeing such a wide display of ideas. I with as well.” Brown says trauma and August 4-7. practice and experience. think it’s great. The Arts August 2016 / the overcast / 23

“We bring people here and we give them the Neon Lights, Alligators, Year 3: Shed best possible experience we can, so when they go home, they feel like they made a and “Making It”: Island 2016 is great connection to this place, that they have this [connection] with Newfoundland A Once Through with The Once Before the that maybe other people don’t have,” May Shaping up to said, “and they want to share that with other Newfoundland & Labrador Folk Festival be Everything people.” Providing that experience has paid off – this Your Ears Have year’s line up was selected through an online application process that was filled out by Dreamed Of nearly 100 interested performers – as well proceeded to tell us how these reptiles in By Lukas Wall as texts, emails, and Facebook messages particular would be sold to Louis Vuitton By Wendy Rose from local bands and friends wanting to get With nearly constant touring in North for bags. That was weird – farmed for on the bill. America, Europe, and Australia, and baggage.” Putting together a music festival work in the studio on a new album, is no easy feat for organizers Glen Shed Island 2016 is stacked with big names St. John’s trio The Once might just be Despite the group’s success abroad and May and Derek Ashley,the end from the Canadian indie music world, such the province’s hardest working group. the experiences of travelling the globe, product – a four-day multi-venue as La Luna (angular punk), Esther Grey the singer said there’s something special festival featuring both come-from- But vocalist Geraldine Hollett has no as Imposter Grey (groovy garage rock), about being back in Newfoundland and away and local bands – is well complaints about the workload, and says Protruders (garage punk) and Blunt Chunks getting to close out the Folk Festival at worth the effort. she and her bandmates Phil Churchill and (dark, dreamy folk), all from Ontario, as home. “Isn’t that cool? You work up to Andrew Dale are blessed to get to see the well as Towanda (fuzz punk) and Weird these moments,” she said. “When we The city of St. John’s is already home to world while playing music. “[We] got to Star (party punk), both from Montreal, plus realized we were closing the thing, we a number of festivals – Lawyna Vawyna, play the Hammersmith Apollo in London, Halifax’s Future Girls (pop punk). realized we must have ‘made it.’” George Street Festival, the NL Folk Festival, got to see our name in neon lights in Paris The Gathering, Writers at Woody Point, The numerous shows – at bars, houses and at the Olympia. We got mobbed in Milan. The band are now back at home for TriXXXie Fest, and more – but as May says, other surprise places – are rounded out Foolish. Surreal b’y. Makes no sense.” a while, with upcoming dates at The there is definitely a place in the music scene with local bands like Hard Ticket and XBF, a Gathering, New Branch Music and Arts for a festival like Shed Island. Many of those opportunities first came for Maans reunion show, and more TBA. Shed Festival, and Roots, Rants, Roars and the band while supporting English singer- Island also supports local by teaming up have no plans to slow their busy touring “It’s a music focused festival,” May says. “It’s songwriter Passenger through Europe, with local sponsors, such as Fixed Coffee schedule. The Once have also been all music – generally music with a harder but Hollett said The Once have now carved and Baking, Fogtown Barber and Shop, Pink recording new music over the past few edge, but not always. I think we were kind out their own following around the world. Eye Print Company, and more. months for a new record. “We got an of pegged as a punk or alternative festival, “Touring with Passenger really gave us an album coming out soon so we will tour but I don’t think that really describes a lot “It’s not about opportunity to play in front of thousands the hell out of it wherever fans want us,” of the bands we’ve brought in the past, or making and thousands of people and we made Hollett said. the bands we’re bringing this year,” he said money – it’s the most of every moment in case it never with a laugh. In short, the festival is open- about making happens again,” she said. The Once will be on tour throughout invite to anyone with ears who wants to hear friends,” May Newfoundland and Labrador and the something new in an old favourite location. “[The] coolest thing was when we went said of Shed Maritimes this fall and close this year’s back on our own tour of Europe and we Island as a Newfoundland & Labrador Folk Festival May has been on board with Shed Island had picked up thousands of our own fans. whole – exactly on Sunday, August 7th in Bannerman Park. since year one in 2014, with Ashley joining So fantastic. Amazing when folks want you what you For more info on upcoming tour dates, in on the organizational efforts this year. to continue making the music that you do.” would expect visit theonce.ca. With help from now-relocated organizer pals as an outcome Chris Scott and Micah Brown, Shed Island Being on tour with Passenger had other in any kind of has enticed acts like The Mouthbreathers benefits as well, though. Hollett said the shed, anywhere (New Brunswick indie rock), Crosss (Toronto band got some extra special treatment at on this island. psychedelic grunge), and Country (Montreal a zoo in Australia by association. “We were thrash pop) to make the trip to St. John’s. A with Mike [Rosenberg, of Passenger], so From August 4-7 this year, take a page plethora of Halifax based bands like Old and we got the full backstage tour,” she said. from May and Ashley and support local by Weird (post punk), Surveillance (pop-punk), “Totally tickled about how the staff treated heading out to the many Shed Island events. Kestrels (fuzz pop), Best Fiends (rock), all the animals. They were so proud of how For upcoming fundraising events, the Crossed Wires (power punk pop) and more, they treated crocodiles and alligators, they upcoming event schedule, and the lowdown have all hopped across the water to rock out even brought some out for us to pet and on the local and touring acts, visit to Newfoundland audiences. www.facebook.com/ shedislandfest 24 / August 2016 / the overcast The Arts How Regional Development is Giving New Life to the Bonavista Peninsula

Out of the cold July morning and into the warmth of a roaring The Bonavista Biennale is a project that will take place in August through September woodstove I met with Ruth, Creative Director of Bonavista Creative 2017, and will be an exhibition presented and Director of the not for profit Art Bonavista. When I had though outdoor and indoor locations requested an interview, she instead arranged a tour of the people throughout the entire peninsula to celebrate Canada’s 150th anniversary. With the aid and places I needed to see. of a festival map, audience members will move throughout the region to engage with the different media and site specific artist retreat that would have taken place in By Heather Nolan installations. the summer of 1990 in one of the old houses Duntara – Catherine Beaudette behind us on the cliff. Catalina – Mike Flaherty

For all the development in the area, Duntara “There just wasn’t enough interest,” said As evening drew in, we made a last on the Bonavista Bay side of the peninsula John. “People didn’t think of this place like stop to visit Mike Flaherty at his home is still a quiet cove. Catherine Beaudette that back then.” The retreat, with crafts studio Wild Cove Ceramics. is an Associate Professor at OCAD, and workshops, artist talks and local cultural the curator and founder of 2 Rooms and ecotourism activities, reads much like “It’s a bit of a frontier,” said Mike. “People Contemporary Arts Projects, which includes a pamphlet you would find in a current can participate here in a way that they can’t the gallery and museum space in an old tourism brochure. in a more established community.” saltbox built in 1881, and artist residencies that involve the artists directly into the John and Karen’s exhibition Back to Back Social media has made the move to rural community. Again opens at Two Whales in Port Rexton NL easier for him. He sells pieces online, in August. wholesale to businesses in the province, “A place like this doesn’t leave a big and can direct tourists to his studio footprint,” said Catherine. “It’s all about the Bonavista – Boreal Diner from online. indigenous culture. It celebrates. It doesn’t & Broken Books II detract or negate. And people want to see “You can be a part of the art world We wove around the coast, with the wild that.” outside of a major centre now,” he said. waves turning violent shades of brown and “That has a huge impact.” Keels – John Hofstetter decided to warm up at The Boreal Diner and Karen Fletcher in Bonavista, a newly opened boutique His business also benefits from the restaurant, café, and bookstore on Church sense of community that encases the We parked at the end of the road in Keels, Street. The contemporary urban décor peninsula. Other artists and cultural and battled through the wind and rain as we contrasting the heritage restoration of the workers support and promote each climbed down over a cliff, crossed a rocky building, the George Templeman House built other by spreading the word to tourists. spit of land, and out onto a point where an in 1872, is a comparison that can be cast As the Bonavista Creative slogan states, unassuming structure perched. Karen flung upon the development of the peninsula as a “A rising tide lifts all boats,” so the open the door and swept us in out of the whole. Rising Tide of the region’s development storm and hung our coats to dry. John put results in the prosperity of the hot coffee on. Over our noodle bowls, Ruth outlined some entire region. of the work she and other not for profit John and Karen are sculpture artists from workers are doing to make the Bonavista While we ran out of daylight hours to Ontario who established their studio and Art walk and the Bonavista Biennale continue with more of the tour, there is so summer residence in Keels in 1977, after happen. This is the second year of the much more happening on the Bonavista visiting a workmate of John’s and falling in Art Walk, a series of exhibitions and pop Peninsula. The English Harbour Arts Centre, love with the place. up shops that will line Church Street, the Rising Tide Theatre and Two Whales Coffee historic center of the town, from August 4 to Shop and their gallery space are all major John pulled out an old binder, and showed September 4. contributors as well. me a flier for Northern Lights Studios, an Retail August 2016 / the overcast / 25

It’ll Move Me Or It’ll Move Right Through Me, Fully and Completely: St. John’s on Gord Downie

By Brad Pretty

Sometimes I feel like poetry is a lost art, usurped in the hive-mind of a generation by pop hooks and empty prose.

Then I hear the Tragically Hip, and realize Gord Downie’s got it all figured out. Gord’s Catch the last writing is a confederation of contrasting Tragically Hip qualities, as if the one man was a cast show ever, live on of characters. You have the manic poet; CBC-TV or Radio, you have the sly showman; you have the August 20th earnest songsmith. Through these roles, and alongside an equally expressive crew Andrea Vincent, “Gift Shop” off Trouble Tony Ploughman, of bandmates in The Hip, Gord’s enigmatic Lawnya Vawnya/Girls Rock NL at the Henhouse Fred’s Records persona has become a hallmark of modern “Dire Wolf” off In Violet Light “Gift Shop” off Trouble Canadiana for over 30 years. It's probably cliché to say it at this point, but at the Henhouse It was a song I hadn’t really taken notice of there are so many songs by The Tragically This past May 24th, the Tragically Hip until quite a while after its release. I was Hip that I could call my favorite,depending The opening track to Trouble at The shared some heartbreaking news with living in Halifax at the time. One particular on the day. However, in saying that, the one Henhouse has always been a favorite Hip everyone; Gord has brain cancer. Having evening there was a massive rain and wind that always stands out to me is the song Gift tune of mine. “Gift Shop” is slow moving, lost both family members and close friends storm and I was so homesick I wasn’t fit to Shop,which was the first tune that I heard dark, brooding, muscular. It instantly to the same Glioblastoma form now afflicting look at. I curled up on the couch with Nan’s by The Tragically Hip which compelled me to captured me with its intoxicating lyrics; him, my mind immediately began to quilt when the lightning started, and started want to listen to more of their music. It was abstract, sublime and poetic ... open for retread those memories and empathize playing music on my laptop. The wind was the first song by the band that I ever learned interpretation. The band had released with him for the arduous path he must be songs previously that I found shared these shaking my apartment so bad I felt like I how to play on the guitar. It was the opening staring down. Further, more hopeful news qualities, but it was the intenseness in the was on a ship. “Dire Wolf” came on just as song when I saw them perform live for the came in the following days; while the production of this entire album that I found the power went out. Everything went black, first time back in 99, and to cap it off, its cancer is indeed terminal, Gord has been all-consuming. Powerful opening track, and and for the first time I heard every word of the first track on my favorite Tragically Hip responding well to treatment. Well enough, I always considered opening tracks to be of that song. It still punches me in the stomach album. I still remember sneaking into my in fact, to tour their new album, Man major significance like a invitation to go on every time. sister's room and stealing the cassette tape. Machine Poem. the ride. Evan Mercer, Branch Ricky It’s the perfect album opener. It sounds like In that spirit of resilience, it is only right Jenina MacGillvray “Flamenco” Off Trouble at the seventeen guitars are playing, when it’s just to celebrate the eclectic body of words “Wheat Kings” off Fully Henhouse two, but every little nuance works so well and work that Gord has given us. His s Completely with the rest of the instrumentation, and the ongs were themselves Gord’s reflections. A sultry poetic jam about trying to make a jam out at the end is just the quintessential It’s my soundtrack to rolling fields: I always Never shallow, always mysterious, and person see the beauty and confidence in the Hip jam. The song captivates everything that’s put on “Wheat Kings” when I get off the ferry, grounded in Canadian soil and soul. I asked things you do. a cadre of local musicians, artists, and great about the band, without mentioning the driving onto PEI. And I love that Gord took an industry personnel to tell us a little Dicky Strickland, Long Distance undeniable brilliance of Gord Downie as a poet interest in the falsely accused, one man, and about their favourite Gord song. Runners/Sonny Tripp and lyricist. he made all of us care. 26 / August 2016 / the overcast Retail

Would Darren ‘Boobie’ Brown Wear That?

By Felicity Roberts

Darren is a local musician you know...even if you don’t know you do. I asked him to sum up his musical involvements as we sat down at the Ship Pub for an afternoon caesar. “I play guitar, mandolin, bass, and Summer Loungewear Baseball Caps Greek bouzouki. My main bands are The (From Charlotte Street) (From Fogtown) Kubasonics, The Burning Hell, Flower Hill, Stylish loungewear and nice undies have A star of the #dadcore movement, this long been the realm of women’s fashion, relaxed headwear choice is the freshest one Duane Andrews, Amelia Curran, Forgotten but that is totally changing. We visited with your polo, cords, or anorak. Be it mesh- Bouzouki, Newish Klezmer Ensemble ... Charlotte Reid at her Duckworth St. studio back trucker, floral print, or your favourite to see what her Charlotte Street line of hockey team/beverage supplier, this is one of I dunno, so many!” upcycled fashion had to offer, and found the easiest trends of all time to wear. Darren these colourful Folk Festival undies from agrees. “Have a bunch, wear ‘em all the time. What’s lesser known is that he spends time learning new languages, volunteering at RIAC a line she’s currently working on for sale The best for bad hair days. Would definitely teaching English to new Canadians, and agonizing over what shirt best matches his daily at the Festival itself. “I love them because wear this one,” he says of the Fogtown hat choice from his astounding sneaker selection. I love the Folk Festival,” says Darren, “but that is available at Fogtown’s summer pop I don’t wear shorts, ever, because I have up skate shop and boutique, ‘round-the- pasty white legs.” corner-and-upstairs’ from their barbershop. A! O HAVAN APE T ESC Luxe Casual Footwear Scoop Neck Tank (From Soul Studio) (From Moksha Yoga)

Old school, low riding skate shoes were the V neck t shirts are dead, boat and scoop first to be re-envisioned in fine suedes and necks have taken their place. Tanks are leathers this season, with amazing attention great for both sexes in August, and this to detail. These Fluevog shoes from Soul scoop neck tank from Moksha Yoga’s YOGA + Studio are the second wave, taking this luxe retail line has a fun yoga inspired saying, casual approach to footwear to a whole new a soft, comfortable feel and a mid-level level .The sturdy yet flexible soles move scoop neckline. Darren appreciates the CULTURE March 26-April 2, 2017 like a sneaker, the leather body is equally idea of the athlesuire philosophy, but lightweight, but this baby looks like a million tanks are another thing he doesn’t wear, IN CUBA *SPACE IS LIMITED* dollars in any situation. The colours pop, the ever, claiming he is too skinny, and is craftsmanship is elegant, the shoes stun. fonder of button up styles and tees. “Also, Darren LOVES them. “The colours, the lines, I don’t do yoga, so I don’t know what this these shoes are beautiful. I would love to means. I would like to do yoga, but I am www.novayogaonline.com wear them.” afraid I would fart in class.” Retail August 2016 / the overcast / 27

She’s since handed over the printing of Ragmaw: the durable canvas she uses to construct Iceberg Water and Wildflowers: the body of the bags to Pink Eye, but still designs the prints used, which reflect her New Shop in Bonavista Keeps Elegant, Durable love of nature. The birch trees you often see on her bags are inspired by having grown Skincare Organic and Local and Unique up in Robert’s Arm, central NL, by a lake Local Handbags surrounded in birch. Bohemian prints and folk art florals are other in most soaps. They even have a soap made Gaining Ground favourites, and she loves this aesthetic. By Kayla Noseworthy with Unsea, or as most of us call it, “old The name Ragmaw comes from an old man’s beard,” which is that fuzzy green stuff with St. Johns Newfoundland word rag-moll, for a woman When you think “organic and you put over your face and Instagram while in tattered clothing, and while she certainly vegan,” it’s usually a farmers you’re gone for a trot in the woods. Shoppers doesn’t want people to think of rags when they think of her bags, many do start out market that first comes to Dewling’s husband, Roger, is a professional By Felicity Roberts from upcycled cloth and the name is a nod to mind, but right in the heart chef who has helped organize some major Newfoundland resourcefulness. of rugged Bonavista, a little culinary events in the province and is an Megan Natasha, the instructor at the CNA Bonavista campus. It is also a word she learned from her apothecary shop is creating His connections in the culinary community one-woman design and Grandmother Harris, whom she spent much all natural soaps and skincare have been a huge help in sourcing local, construction team behind of her childhood with. It was her grandma fresh ingredients. Next to be released for the who taught her leather working and sewing products with ingredients Ragmaw handbags, is hiring. team, is the “Port Rexton Beer Soap,” which when she was a child. right from The Rock’s own contains locally made brew from the soon- After realizing several years ago that her to-be-opened (and highly anticipated) Port The beauty of the bags belies their natural bounty. career as a pharmacist paid the bills, but left Rexton Brewing company. sturdiness. They’re wax canvas framed with a large part of her soul unfulfilled, she began high quality leather, ready for years of use. From the moment you walk through the her journey as an independent craftswoman, The shop is one of six new businesses The process is fairly involved for a sewing door at East Coast Glow, the scents of and things are finally coming together. recently opened in downtown Bonavista, task, but Megan loves building something peppermint, citrus, and wildflowers makes on historic Church Street. Bonavista Living from the inside out. She sewed her first bag you feel immediately tranquil and relaxed. Now she is so busy making bags she can’t and Bonavista Creative is a company that from a photograph of a purse she admired Owner Karen Dewling, along with her even hold onto enough stock to wholesale, preserves and restores heritage buildings while on vacation in The States, and found husband, Roger, handcraft all skincare except for a small selection of bags available to rejuvenate and promote the traditional a surprising satisfaction from the ensuing products on-site in small batches, using at Whink! on Water St. So an assistant to cut culture of the area. project that ultimately changed her life. handmade tools and molds provided by fabric and help with the sewing is needed. Karen’s father. It’s had its challenges, from working 9 to 5 “We’re all like one big family,” says Dewling As she finds more success and begins at a pharmacy job, and then coming home to of their fellow new shop owners. “We her journey not just as an artist but as Karen began her art of soap crafting to help sew till midnight, to learning to screen print feel like we’re all in this together. It’s a an employer as well, her love of handbag with her daughter’s skin condition, using fabrics from Pascale Horan of Pink Eye Print great support network and we are always construction might change someone else’s organic and all natural ingredients. She is Company, but the pay off is a successful checking in on each other to see how life too, by providing meaningful employment now producing quality skin care essentials business and creative satisfaction. everyone is doing.” in textile arts in St. John’s. for locals and tourists alike, while sticking to natural Newfoundland elements. Wild local plants, sea salt, and iceberg water The beautiful and rustic look of the building are used in most of the formulas; they also adds the perfect touch to the shop, which produce unique iceberg water hydrosols highlights a fresh, minimalistic style in its from plants native to the province. store front.

The main products are cold process So if you plan on taking a day trip around soaps (which take up to 4 weeks to cure!) the bay, head to Bonavista, check out along with lotions, sea salt bombs, and some amazing scenery, and stop into clay masks. Dewling also has a charcoal East Coast Glow on 43 Church Street. Or, if selection in her line, which clarifies and heading west of the overpass isn’t on the detoxifies the skin without over-drying; agenda, check them out online at www. and as an added bonus, it doesn’t contain all eastcoastglownl.com, and Instagram: @ those nasty parabens and fragrances found eastcoastglow. 28 / August 2016 / the overcast Miscellany

cryptic writing on the hundreds of ingredients and chemicals in glass bottles aligned neatly Feral Culture with Felicity Roberts: What is The on the oak shelves, or doctors' prescription recipes from the early 20th century glued Summer Self-care J. O’Mara into a book a foot thick, Rowe explained with enthusiasm, anecdotes, and ease, as though W/ Plantain and Burdock he had been there for the entire century the Pharmacy building stood there. It’s on. Summer and all its little mundane level, plantain is amazing first Rowe pointed out the ceiling, which is aid for bug bites, bee or wasp stings, Museum embossed tin squares, theatrical makeup cuts, scratches, and bug bites, and general cuts and scratches. It slows that O’Mara assumedly used to provide for not to mention the lingering bleeding and can be applied to the skin local thespians, and patented products that Anyway? effects of the double bacon as a poultice by simply tearing up a leaf, ranged from dangerous (products containing mixing it with your spit and affixing it with 25% DDT, etc.), familiar (Vick’s, Altoids) and cheeseburger and several a bandage. By Ema Noëlla Kibirkstis odd (cigarettes that relieve asthma). beers too many you had on the In the highlands of Scotland the plant is Anyone who has wandered Another stunning feature is the “show globes” patio yesterday evening. in the windows. There was a time when they referred to as Slan-lus, meaning “plant around the mysterious west- indicated a pharmacy was licensed. “There Self care is in order. Too bad you’ve spent of healing.” Beware of allergic reaction if end of Water Street has was a man visiting from Washington State all your money on flip flops and wine. you have general pollen allergies. Chest wondered what the seemingly- and said that in Washington State there is Luckily help is waiting right outside, free. congestion and sneezing could be an issue in this case. never-open James J. O’Mara still a law that only a licensed pharmacy can Plantain and burdock to the rescue. have these globes in their windows,” Rowe Pharmacy Museum is all about said. These are beautifully ornate egg-shaped Wild Plaintain Burdock – that gray Art Deco building globes hanging from the beak of a golden with periwinkle blue accents eagle, both located in opposite ends of the Plantain (Plantago major), is one of the top While plantain helps your flesh wounds, burdock (Arctium lappa) helps your poor and large dark APOTHECARY front of the store. 3 lawn colonizers, along with dandelion and grass. Wind pollinated, it can thrive beleaguered liver. Not that burdock is HALL scripture really stands Rowe also demonstrated how they would even in the absence of bees. Wherever you without its topical uses (it’s useful in out. So, what’s the deal? have prepared various pills for their clients, are, chances are you are within metres of treating eczema, psoriasis, acne, boils, which were all mixed and prepared in store a plantain. Edible and widely used in the and bruises), but where it really shines is This building now serves two purposes: at the customer’s request. past, its leaf is high in vitamins A, C, and K as an alterative or “blood purifier.” It’s one the museum – located in the front room plus magnesium. of the best plants for this use. (where the drug store would have greeted The museum is named after James J. customers) and a basement reserved to O’Mara, the NLPB Registrar in the 70s, I enjoy it Southern USA style, boiled Removing toxins from the blood, it store many artifacts which they do not who had a passion for collecting old with mustard greens and a ham hock, supports the health of all organs, but have the room to display – and the NL pharmaceutical memorabilia and convinced or seasoned with bacon fat. Other urban is specially valued for treatment of Pharmaceutical Board (NLPB), occupies the the board to build this museum. rewilders swear by plantain pesto. Its liver disease. The root is the main part upper floors. employed, but leaves and seeds are The museum is great, free, interesting, and seeds can be ground and used as a flour rich in vitamin B1, making it valuable for equally valuable. August is the best month Peter O’Mara constructed the building on provides a nostalgic look back at when Water food security in NL. to gather the root in NL. 488 Water Street in 1922, after outgrowing Street West was at its peak and booming the rented pharmacy right next door. When with businesses (until the Avalon Mall was Plantain is also medicine, and you have The Japanese call burdock root gobo when walking through the front room, between built in 1967). Yet, in the hour and a half that I probably already heard of it under another eaten as a vegetable, often stir-fired in two large shop windows displaying some was there, there was no other tourist but me. name when used as a bulk laxative: this small strips with tamari, sesame oil, sake, of the many odd and old pharmaceutical herb’s seeds are the ‘psyllium seeds’ that and chili. The Iroquois dehydrated it over products, it is like entering a time-capsule. The James J. O’Mara Museum doesn’t have Metamucil praises so highly. a fire and stored the high fiber food for First to catch the eye is the oak shelving and the striking standoutishness of The Rooms, winter. While mostly used as a savoury counter, constructed in England in 1879, that nor does it have the passing traffic that the Laboratory trials with mice given food it can also be candied. It shows belonged to M. Connors Limited Wholesale Johnson GEO CENTRE has, but hopefully the injections of plantain extract showed their considerably stronger antioxidant activity and Retail Druggists, where The Adelaide new developments on the west end of Water mammary tumor formation dropped 65 than common fruits and vegetables and Oyster House now resides. Street, such as Biped Sports, Rock Paper Flowers, and various antique shops, will percent, suggesting it somehow helps studies confirm it has prebiotic properties Difficult to know where to look next, I was attract more walk-ins and win over block the formation of these tumors. Other that may improve gut health, a total bonus thankfully given a tour by retired pharmacist some curious hearts. Visit the James J. trials support these anti-cancer findings, during the indulgences of the season. and ex-Registrar of the NLPB, Donald Rowe. O’Mara Pharmacy Museum Monday-Friday more research is being done. On a more Like booze, avoid this herb if pregnant or No matter if I asked him to decipher the from 10-4. nursing, it could hurt your baby. Miscellany August 2016 / the overcast / 29 What’s Going on in the World?

Most Baffling Recent Case of an Others took to the streets to protest the coup, and fight is safe in this country, until we start making examples Unprovoked White Cop Shooting a Black it down. Over 250 citizens were killed, and nearly 1,5000 of people, until we start sending men who kill women to American? wounded. Thousands of soldiers thousands of judges and jail.” The fact her videos went viral only means there’s prosecutors and police officers were detained. No one in a fascination and admiration of her confident sexuality Charles Kinsey is a caregiver. When a 24 year old autistic Turkey has been executed since 1984, but, a rattled Erdogan among fellow Pakistanis. That she was murdered for it man ran away from the group home where Kinsey works as floated the idea. A suggestion that was met with strong says much about men’s fear of powerful women asserting a caregiver, he ran to find and help him. He was sitting on a opposition from EU leaders, and, from US Secretary of State their independence. She dubbed herself as a fighter for girl city street with the boy, trying to calm him with a toy truck, Kerry. “No country can be an EU member if it introduces power, and she was murdered for it. Hundreds of women when officers arrived on the scene, weapons drawn. Kinsey the death penalty,” said the EU’s foreign affairs are murdered in Pakistan every year in told them there was no need for firearms, and explained the chief, Federica Mogherini. The Turkish “honour killings.” situation. To be extra cautious, Kinsey lay on his back with government accuses cleric Fethullah his arms way up in the air to prove he wasn’t a threat. But Gulen of being behind the plot. Gulen Florida Openly the autistic man was a little agitated by the tense air the lives in the USA and strongly denies Demonstrates Its Inherent police had created. Kinsey tried to calm him, and then the the accusation. The States will Racism by Refusing To police by saying “All he has is a toy truck — a toy truck. I am require proof before they agree to Vote in a Mosque a behavior therapist at a group home.” And that’s when the extraditing Gulen. police fired three shots, at Kinsey, not the aggravated boy. A mosque in Florida was poised to be When Kinsey asked the officer why he shot him, the officer Ozone RE-pletion: Good a polling station in the 2016 election, simply said, “I don’t know.” Environmental News but, so many Islamophobic Floridians for a Change refuse to set foot in a Muslim space that the Scientists Growing Human Organs Inside mosque has been removed as a polling station. Live Pigs Science has confirmed the hole in It had been a polling station since 2010. Among the Ozone layer over Antarctica is shrinking the complaints were threats of violence. And given the By injecting human stem cells into pig embryos, we – it is in fact 4 million suare KMs smaller country’s gun violence issues, the threats were enough can produce a human-pig embryo known as a chimera. than it was in 2000. The ozone layer blocks to accommodate the demands. The polling station will Chimeras could be the key in addressing the world’s out harmful, cancer-causing radiation, so, be moved to a library in a nearby neighbourhood: one demand for more transplant organs, and reducing wait this is good news for humanity and everyone you’ve ever with less parking and less space inside. times for patients who need a new heart, liver, etc. Oddly loved. It’s also proof environmental action can reverse the enough, these human-organ-growing pigs will look and harm we do to the earth. When British scientists noticed Tony Blair Accused of Misleading act like a normal pig, except, well, one of their organs is the thining of the ozone layer in the 1980s, US researcher Parliament When UK Invaded Iraq in 2003 composed of human cells, and is ready for transplant when Susan Solomon proved the cause was chlorofluorocarbons John Prescott, who was deputy prime minister at the time needed. It is hypothetically possible, but, to date, no country (CFCs) in products like hairsprays, refrigerators, and air of the UK/US invasion of Iraq in 2003, has said he feels the is allowing these pig foetuses to be born: the pregnancies conditioners. A ban on CFCs in 1987 (via the “Montreal invasion was “illegal,” as did former UN secretary general are terminated, and the aborted foetuses examined. Protocol”) has been thanked for the shrinking of the hole in Kofi Annan at the time. “A day doesn’t go by,” said Prescott the ozone layer. The Failed Turkey Coup Explained in 250 “ when I don’t think of the decision we made to go to war. Words Web Celeb Qandeel Baloch Victim of Of the British troops who gave their lives or suffered “Honour Killing” By Her Own Brother injuries for their country. Of the 175,000 civilians who died A failed military-led coup against government in Turkey has from the Pandora’s Box we opened by removing Saddam locals worried they’re becoming the next Syria. Millions of Dubbed “Pakistan’s Kim Kardashian” for being the country’s Hussein.” In early July, a group of senior MPs called for a Turks were glued to their TVs and social media feeds trying first social media celebrity, she was slain in July by her own vote to decide whether Tony Blair was guilty of contempt to figured out what was happening as rumours of a coup brother who thought her empowered, provocative antics of Parliament over his decision to invade Iraq in 2003. were spreading. Questions like “What was that noise?” filled online were shaming his family. (Apparently strangling your Blair has apologized for “the mistakes” he made, but he’s their social media feeds and their minds. One of the news sister isn’t shameful?) Known for her provocative selfies standing firm that he feels no lies were told to lead UK into channels keeping people updated was raided while still live and commentary, Baloch became a household name in war. “Parliament and Cabinet were not misled, there was no on the air, and went black to the sound of gunfire. There Pakistan for her open contempt of the country’s patriarchal secret commitment to war, intelligence was not falsified.” was a live newsfeed of a helicopter assaulting parliament society and its expectations of “modesty” among women. Yet a report long in the making – the Chilcot Report – building. When the prime minister confirmed that is was a Oscar-winning filmmaker Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy has declared the legal basis for the war was reached in a way coup, people immediately took to ATMs, grocery stores, and been bellowing for justice. “I really feel that no woman that was “far from satisfactory.” gas stations to load up, not knowing how this would end.

30 / August 2016 / the overcast Miscellany 1

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Hard townie And Now You Know pssst! ANSWERS Cross 3 BELOW A 63-year-old South Korean woman, to word 4 after eating a partially cooked squid at a local restaurant, felt something 5 6 Believe weird in her mouth. It was weird enough that she went to her doctor. Our Monthly She had a mouth full of squid 7 Trivia Challenge spermatophores. Even weirder: When Ronan Svedan A wise man probably once from Massachusetts went to a 8 said that trivia is the best way hospital to have his cough checked, to learn a thing or two about the x-ray revealed he had a pea plant growing in his lung. the place you call home. Only four of these five statements The expression “Cat Got Your are true. Lay off Google, and Tongue?” means “Why are you be- guess the false statement. Across Down ing so quiet?” It has two supposed 2. The newest World Unesco Heritage Site is 1. Matador Network’s “14 White-hot Chefs to origins. The first relates to a whip here in Newfoundland, on the Southern Check Out in Canada” recently featured Todd 1.) On July 4th, five separate vehicles hit Shore. Hint: 2 words. Perrin, chef at this local restaurtant the English Navy used to use, called the same moose on the highway near 5. Last name of this Sherman fellah who will 3. This local Fishery – in the news a lot lately – a “Cat-o’-nine-tails.” The thing really Paradise. One car was badly damaged, close night 1 of the 2016 NL Folk Festival brings in about $70 million a year! hurt when you were flogged with 4 were minorly dented, and the young 7. This landmark downtown was a very popular 4. Great new Syrian restaurant for food on the it, so much so, it’d leave people moose did not survive. Pokemon Go hotspot in July. run located on Torbay Road in the Fall speechless for a while. The other 8. Last name of the Hollywood actress who River Plazza. origin is Egyptian: the tongues of spent some time at the Fogo Island Inn 6. Deputy Mayor Ron who? 2.) India beer is so named because of the both liars and blasphemers would be this summer famous Newfoundland dog on the bottle’s cut out and fed to cats. label, whose name was India, hence the slogan “Man’s Best Friend.” Doritos have made and sold over 100 flavours of chips. 3.) Evan Bursey, former founding chef at The Social House, before it was renamed In 2012, A twenty-year-old Brazil- to The Fifth Ticket, was days away from ian woman named Catarina Miglio- launching his new restaurant, Fort rini auctioned off her virginity for a Amherst Pub, when a very damaging leak whopping £485,000. A life-changing from an old bar upstairs devastated those wad of cash is more than most of us plans, and left the fate of this new food get on that first awkward encounter. spot up in the air. The ordeal was part of a documen- tary by Australian filmmaker Justin 4.) Fossil theft is the new art theft – Sisely. It resulted in sex trafficking people have used diamond-bladed saws charges from the Brazilian govern- to remove famous fossils from local, ment. internationally renowned fossil hotspots in NL. ZZ Top are known for their fierce beards. Funnily enough, the guy in 5.) It’s a mystery but a fact: the number the band who doesn’t have a beard is of vehicle accidents in Newfoundland and named Frank Beard Labrador is almost twice that of the Mari- times. As a result, our insurance is about The first CD ever pressed in the to go up. The VP of the Insurance Bureau USA was Born in the USA by Bruce of Atlantic Canada, Amanda Dean, says Springsteen. insurance companies in NL are paying out 94 cents to earn a dollar. The six cents There is a species of jellyfish that profits ain’t enough to stay in the black, can, near the end of its life, revert so, up they must go with our insurance to an earlier stage of its life cycle, rates because some of us are such effectively cheating death.

sloppy drivers.

2 : : EVE I BEL O T RD A H own: D Across: : ORD SSW CRO E I N W O T Answer #2 is false. is #2 Answer Ellsworth - 6 Sumac - 4 Shrimp – 3 Cottage Mallard – 1 Paltrow - 8 Memorial War – 7 Downey - 5 Point Mistaken – August 2016 / the overcast / 31

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