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NEWFOUNDLAND'S ALTERNATIVE NEWSPAPER / DECEMBER 2016 / ST. JOHN’S / ISSUE 35

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2 / DECEMBER 2016 / THE OVERCAST LETTER TO THE EDITOR Social media is a wasteland The news is News & Opinions and it’s making us sick the news, it is not Page 3-7 an invite you to weigh in on as if you’re an expert. Food & Drink You’re likely not. It’s Page 8-11 egomaniacal to do so. People Remember when Facebook she’s being forced by a trimmed-down staff at each other Page 12-15 to favour quantity over quality of articles and instead of “The was just you and your old Cover Story could only spend an hour on the piece. Maybe Man,” and that is just Page 16-17 pals keeping abreast of the piece is exactly what her or her editor filling the world with negativity, instead of each other’s lives? Wedding intended. You don’t know. Often, you don’t fixing the world’s problems. Select Events know as much about the topic as you should Page 18 photos, status updates like, before weighing in. But you weigh in anyway. These angry online mobs are actually verbally Plucked from the Web “Just tried my first oyster, violent and abusive, and flat out slanderous Page 19 The anger does no good for society. Consider and contemptuous towards those they wish to nearly choked, lol,” and the demonization of Ed Martin this year: he incite change in. That doesn’t work. Reasoning The Arts Page 20-24 cute cat videos? was just doing his job the best he could. Yeah, with people does. They should model their he was overpaid and got wild bonuses, but the actions after people like Martin Luther King or Retail Browsing your feed, full of those kinds of blame for that wasn’t on him, it’s on the people Ghandi – they’re in history books because they Page 25-27 statuses, was a waste of time, and that was who hired him at those rates. Hate the system, knew what they were doing (and were decent Miscellany the point: checking into Facebook was a nice, not a man who took a job that sounded sweet. people): If you want to change someone’s Page 28-30 mindless escape from the work day. It was According to those close to him, Ed is a super actions, you enlighten them, privately, you calming and kept us “social” and connected in kind fellow, and a proud Newfoundlander who don’t berate them, publically. You appeal to this busy world. was earnestly trying to improve our financial their conscious, enlighten it. Get them to situation via building energy powerhouses. And care. Education changes people’s behaviour; a December 2016 Now Facebook has turned into a den his replacement is doing nothing differently or tongue lashing doesn’t. Issue 35 of people (good people too!) shouting, any better, so he was clearly scapegoated. Yet PUBLISHER & EDITOR screaming, complaining, ragging on things, we villainized Ed so much he couldn’t even buy The news is just that: the news. Not your Chad Pelley ([email protected]) and raging against things. Including good groceries without being hissed at! What was daily dose of something to angrily counter. community things like The Overcast (why that all about? Why are we so filled with hatred Journalists and politicians are just doing their DESIGNER Mira Howards ([email protected]) so much shouting about who wasn’t on the now? And towards those we don’t even know job. Put we have turned these people into music prize longlist, or how the paper favours on a personal level? Have you met Ed? If not, whipping posts for outrageously opinionated STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER uppity restaurants, because, honestly, what do you really know his character well enough people to attack, in a far too extreme manner. Joel Upshall ([email protected]) have YOU done for community this month? As to defame it? You are a person, not a dictator. Stop trying to AD SALES MANAGER much as this paper?). tell them what they can say and how they can Elaine Pond ([email protected]) Every week, The Facebook social media mob say it. Or, if you’re going to, then at least be CHIEF STAFF WRITER Every time I log into Facebook, it’s all deems someone we don’t personally know a decent human being about it. Be kinder. Be Eva Crocker ([email protected]) accusations and anger. The news is the news, to be an idiot, and we have the audacity and reasonable. Stop with all the negativity. cruelty to call them that publically. In this Most capital cities in Canada have an it is not something meant to anger you, or alternative paper that covers the culture of invite you to weigh in on as if you’re an expert. world of online group-minded bullying, we’re Please: Can we all get back to trying to their province, but few provinces have the You’re likely not. It’s egomaniacal to tell breeding needlessly harsh contempt for each communicate with each other, instead of the thriving arts scene, vibrant entrepreneurs, and other. Our decency is crumbling. The result kneejerk shouting? Can we maintain some paper-worthy stories that our province has to some woman at The Telegram what she did offer. Newfoundland’s culture needs a voice and wrong in her article. You don’t know enough is a failure of the kind of communication that decency in our discourse? All the shouting is The Overcast aims to be this voice. In addition about what her work day looks like; maybe could truly solve conflicts. We’re all yelling exhausting and extreme. — ANONYMOUS to our monthly paper, TheOvercast.ca posts fresh and exclusive content on weekdays. All opinions in this publication reflect the author of the article, not The Overcast. The news is just that: the news. Not your daily dose of something to angrily counter. Journalists and COVER CREDIT: Shutterstock.com politicians are just doing their job. Put we have turned these people into whipping posts for outrageously UNCREDITED ARTICLES: Chad Pelley opinionated people to attack, in a far too extreme manner. theovercast.ca

NEWS & OPINIONS 3 / DECEMBER 2016 / THE OVERCAST 2017

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4 / DECEMBER 2016 / THE OVERCAST NEWS & OPINIONS speed limit is 50km/hr, but the design of the street encourages drivers to go much faster. URBAN FORM For a select group of people who always follow the rules, a posted speed limit is an WELCOME TOP 10 WHY NARROW effective way to limit someone’s speed, but Blow-out Wins for most of us, we drive at a speed based on our mood (how quickly we need to get TO THIS Best Brunch: somewhere) and the implicit speed of the MALLARD COTTAGE STREETS Best Fashion Accessories: street: how fast it feels like we can drive. YEAR’S POSIE ROW Best Album: MAKE BETTER In the City of St. John’s, many new roads are REPARTEE’S ALL LIT UP designed and built with a high implicit speed PEOPLE'S Best Bakery: limit due to wide lanes, few stops, a distinct GEORGESTOWN BAKERY PLACES separation of pedestrians and vehicles and Best Fish’n’Chips: CHOICE THE DUKE OF DUCKWORTH very few visual obstructions. The City has a Best Male Haircut: specification book that makes rules for standard FOGTOWN BARBER BY EMILY CAMPBELL road design. A local street has 11’ wide lanes, AWARDS Best Upbeat Song: where on a commercial street the driving lanes “DUKES” BY REPARTEE can be a whopping 17’ wide. Our City wasn’t ISSUE Best Food Franchise: I didn’t need to look far to unique in believing the myth that wide streets, MARY BROWN’S Best Place to Buy Coffee by the Bag: one way traffic, or a separation of vehicular and find a story where people JUMPING BEAN were affected because of pedestrian traffic all makes a safer city. In November, we Best Media Personality: placed polls on our RYAN SNODDEN those driving too fast or Jeff Speck, an urban designer, advocate for carelessly. walkable cities, and very smart guy, thinks website so the people that one of the biggest problems in cities of the province could While training for an Ironman, Andrew was today is that streets are too wide. “States vote for their favourite TOP 10 hit on his bicycle on a route familiar to him: and counties believe that wider lanes are Closest Battles the Outer Ring Road. Bailey suffered pretty safer. And in this belief, they are dead wrong.” everything, from local Best Politician: severe injuries when crossing on foot by the Jeff argues that roads in fact, are safest food and booze, to the Aquarena. And Sarah’s cat was killed when if they are 10’, far more narrow than our SHEILAGH O’LEARY & GERRY ROGERS WERE WITHIN 2 VOTES! someone tried to get air on the speed bumps specification book suggests. That said, the arts and people. Much Best New Band: on Old Topsail Road. staff at the city are fantastic, many of them of this issue plays off INDIA & HARD TICKET WERE understand the benefits of more narrow ! those poll winners. WITHIN 3 VOTES Recently signs have been popping up around lane and are working hard to change the Best Male Clothes: town that say, “PLEASE SLOW DOWN, This is regulations to help create a vibrant and BALLISTIC & RW CO WERE WITHIN 4 VOTES! our neighbourhood.” These signs are part of inclusive place. Best Craft Beer: a broader movement of citizens demanding PORT REXTON HORSE CHOPS safer streets in what is now a largely car- So we drive slower with narrow lanes, but how IPA & QUIVI VIDI 1892 WERE dominated city. else can we design our streets to make them WITHIN 5 VOTES! Best Book: better? Trees, frequent stops, crosswalks, on- ED RICHE & LISA MOORE Kim Devlin and Sarah Minty designed and street parking, buildings close to the street, WERE WITHIN 8 VOTES! produced signs with the hopes that they would and bike lanes. Basically if we want cars Best International Food: be a friendly reminder to people who are to slow down, we have to make the people MOHAMAD ALI’S & INTERNATIONAL rushing. Kim says she’s been watching and has driving those cars feel like it’s dangerous or FLAVOURS WERE WITHIN 9 VOTES! noticed that the signs, placed very visibly in her inconsiderate to drive quickly. You’ll still get Best Alternative Entertainment: ESCAPE QUEST & JACK AXES WERE front yard, have actually struck a chord with the odd drunk driver or jerk, but most WITHIN 17 VOTES! drivers and slowed them down. people will take cues from the Best Restaurant: design of their environment ADELAIDE & MALLARD COTTAGE In addition to reminders, there and behave accordingly. WERE WITHIN 18 VOTES! are other ways our city can Andrew was hit Best Cafe: on his bicycle on a route; FIXED & ROCKET WERE be designed to slow people Kim and Sarah are still Why were there “suggestions” Bailey suffered pretty WITHIN 24 VOTES! in this year’s poll? Check out down. One of my pet peeves severe injuries when producing signs, if you’d like Best Female Haircut: is the roads in Southlands crossing on foot by to get your hands on one, or theovercast.ca to read all about SOUND SALON & THE HEAD that are four lanes wide with the Aquarena. stay in the loop, you can find about our polling process! ROOM WERE WITHIN 26 VOTES! infrequent stops. The posted them on Facebook.

NEWS & OPINIONS 5 / DECEMBER 2016 / THE OVERCAST BAY OF EXPLOITS WITH ED RICHE FOREVER AT HOME 42% of ED RICHE ON 20-Somethings Are Stuck Living PHOTO: DONALDJTRUMP.COM PHOTO: DONALD TRUMP’S with Their Parents BY ELIZABETH WHITTEN ELECTION TO PRESIDENCY When Kevin (not his some ways better here with the oil and gas, but the problem is, that’s just driven real name) graduated up the cost for everyone who doesn’t work in the oil and gas [industry].” What can a local left-leaning progressive muck. If we allow that an emotional response from university nearly a like myself, like much of this paper’s is equal to one based on empirical evidence decade ago, he thought He’s quick to identify what’s holding him readership I suppose, take from the there will be no settling anything. One person’s back from moving into his own place: “emotional intelligence” is the equal of he knew where he’d be election to the Presidency of the United “Money and job security. I don't really another’s. Klansmen feel a certain way about States of America a trust-funded huckster at 30. He expected to be have job security; my job won’t exist in the things too. An insistence on arguments based by, in some part, racists and misogynists near future because my boss is retiring. on fact will help the rational win them. in a stable job and living and, in the main, those rejecting the And I’m not making enough to really live established order at any cost. on my own because I can't get full-time Media matters. Reality television turns situation by now. hours.” Like a lot of people his age, he’s out not to reflect but to project. Social The election should teach the progressive With a degree in Political Science, he’d underemployed. “There's just not enough media was weaponized by the so-called left and center to get their shit together, to planned on working with the provincial jobs, especially in Newfoundland.” “alt right” yet remained a hypnotizing echo occasionally venture from downtown and or federal government as a clerk or According to Statistics Canada, in chamber for progressives. News media has discover what lies beyond the exurbs and policy analysts. “I assumed I’d have an October 2016 the unemployment rate in fewer resources all the time so Trump got arterial roads. They probably need to table, apartment, or I may have just purchased St. John’s was 8.2%. The unemployment covered by just showing up and providing for a time, issues other than the core cause, a house and be trying to pay off a rate in Newfoundland and Labrador is free television minutes. More and more the fight for economic justice. Identity politics mortgage,” he admits. But like many currently 14.9%. content is going to be “sponsored” and rarely divides people into ever smaller tribes, people in their mid-20s to early 30s, transparently so. If organizations which ultimately supporting the absolute sovereignty it hasn’t worked out that way. Kevin Becoming a home owner by his 30s is imagine they are fighting for progressive of the individual that is the lonely heart of starting to look less likely for Kevin. causes mean to advance them they are going is nowhere near that goal now, living libertarianism, something fundamentally at “Back in the ‘90s, you could buy a fairly to have to spend much more on message. at home with his parents. According odds with the notion of community from which to Statistics Canada, older children nice house for like $80,000. And now it’s progressive politics emerged. going to run you over $300,000,” he says. Trade is about to become a bigger part of living with their parents has become And people aren’t making enough money the political conversation. I doubt Trump will increasingly common in Canada. In 2011, Humans can’t apprehend remote risk so don’t to keep up with that cost. risk the reaction to tearing up NAFTA but the 42% of people between the ages of 20 worry enough about the climate to vote on neoliberal line that all trade is always good and 29 were at home. For a comparison, the issue. Trump didn’t hesitate to make the He isn’t hopeful about the economic is being re-evaluated. (Most trade is probably in 1981 it was 27%. increased exploitation of coal part of his fuzzy climate improving in the near future, mostly good but there are many things wrong platform. Coal! He claims climate change either. “The economy is so boom and bust; with Argentinian blueberries being on the Most of Kevin’s friends are in similar is “a scam” (though how it was hatched by it’s very much in the bust state right now.” shelves at Sobey’s during the peak of our situations. “I know some people who “China” and to what end I’ve never grasped). At $10.50 an hour, this province has the Newfoundland season.) live on their own, but a lot of them do The pitch to respond to the overwhelming it because they're living with four other lowest minimum wage in the country. evidence concerning climate change has to be With wage stagnation, the minimum wage The wide loss of meaningful work is a people. Or because they're living with reimagined to be heard. doesn't get you where it used to. The cost looming crisis. The end of manufacturing jobs four other people and they’re getting money given to them by their parents to to rent has also gone up. The GOP numbers weren’t much different than in the rust belt played a part in the election. pay for rent.” Even if the plants return to the US from China they were in the last contest. The election Luckily enough, Kevin’s parents was lost, not won. Clinton was a dreadful and Mexico the work in them is going to His outlook on the future was more understand the situation his generation candidate with a terrible campaign. History is be done by robots. A lot of people are soon optimistic a decade ago. Unfortunately, is in. But “I hate having to put them a logy continuum. The American Civil War and going to be without purpose and the malaise Kevin was entering the workforce when out like this and I’m hoping to move the Sykes-Picot Agreement had an influence caused by that means Trump won’t be the the province’s economic forecast started out as soon as possible ... They're very on the outcome. last of his kind. Let’s start thinking about how to sour. “The economy is in bad shape understanding.” And signs seem to point to deal with systemic joblessness caused by and it hasn’t been in good shape for that living situations like his will continue Dignity has pretty much left politics and the technological change. almost a decade now … things were in to be on the rise. truth didn’t matter, problems we had better address unless we enjoy wallowing in the Article written November 14th.

6 / DECEMBER 2016 / THE OVERCAST NEWS & OPINIONS PHOTO: JOEL UPSHALL JOEL PHOTO:

JEREMIAH STAFFORD “Fredericton was okay, New Brunswick is alright. I’m glad I came to St. John’s There he would cook for the weather. He has been over Halifax.” were old enough to be let in and let down. Reluctant Stafford says the rainy, humid climate called here only The Reluctant Chef’s standard of product has for “refreshing and hearty” foods like osso two months been established since it opened but, in a tight Chef on the Up bucco, slow cooked meats with “deep rich, and already has his new systems and market, now comes the tricky part. Because complex flavours.” Stafford had chosen to menus in place. Looking ahead through the being good is not good enough, and great and Up with a specialize in the culinary arts while still in winter, he believes he can source 50% of the food is not a guarantee of success. But the high school. After more years of schooling, restaurant’s produce locally even in our food owner, Tony Butt (the original reluctant chef), New Chef from travel, and apprenticeships between Australia insecure city. He is definitely not one of the sees a way forward. He trusts his staff. and Canada, he began a concentrated and “trolls who turn into stone,” a Lord of the Down Under committed journey through the ranks of an Rings reference he makes to describe “people Now, with Stafford, the last piece of the staff executive kitchen. that delay implementing new ideas” puzzle is in and Butt can focus on the bigger picture of the Cadavre Exquis that is his multi- BY EMILY DEMING While many spend their twenties flitting, If you have eaten at The Reluctant Chef, limbed restaurant. The newest limb of which Stafford stayed with Fairmont Chateau in either in the upper dining room with the more is The Brasserie. Set to open in the next few Jeremiah Stafford, the new Lake Louise for over five years. He accrued intimate atmosphere and 5 course tasting months, it is positioned to be more boisterous Head Chef at The Reluctant steady promotions and an understanding of menu, or had the more casual small plates in than the other side of the restaurant with mix and match appetizers and “relaxed French Chef, grew up on a ranch in how processes can make a systematic and its downstairs bar, The Vinyl Room, then you successful kitchen. know the food is good. Really good. cooking with a twist.” Days may be getting Dorrigo, Australia. shorter and the long winter is just beginning, Deciding it was time to move on, he heard about The tasting menu is underpriced at $60, and but at least there will be one more decent an opening for a head chef in St. John’s. He had the bar is one of my favourite places in town. Happy Hour option to see not initially been considering Newfoundland, You can pick from an eclectic record collection us through it. but after getting the job and driving out with for your soundtrack, and you can wear jeans his brother through Eastern Canada and the or a period costume and never feel out of Maritimes, he confirmed, “Fredericton was okay, place. It is dark and heady and has captured The Reluctant Chef is located at 290 New Brunswick is alright. I’m glad I came to St. that rare atmosphere of potential adventure Duckworth Street John’s over Halifax.” that you hoped for from bars before you

NEWS & OPINIONS 7 / DECEMBER 2016 / THE OVERCAST Best of Local Food & Restaurants

Adelaide Oyster House wins again! Win once and you're good. Win two years in a row and you really are the Best Restaurant in Newfoundland!

RESTAURANT FOOD FRANCHISE RECOMMENDED QUICK & EASY Winner: Adelaide Oyster Winner: Mary Brown’s LUNCH AT ROCKET House Runner-up: Jack Astor’s Runner-up: Mallard Cottage The Fish Cakes INTERNATIONAL (& housemade tartar) NEW RESTAURANT FOOD are legendary. Winner: Seto Kitchen + Bar Winner: Mohamad Ali’s Runner-up: Bernard Runner-up: International Stanley’s Pub Flavours QUICK AND EASY PLACE TO TAKE A DATE PIZZA LUNCH Winner: Rocket Bakery Winner: Piatto’s Pizzeria Winner: Piatto Pizzeria Runner-up: Manna European Runner-up: Merchant Tavern Runner-up: Pi Gourmet Bakery BAKERY PUB GRUB THING AT THE ST. JOHN’S Winner: Georgestown Winner: Yellowbelly FARMER’S MARKET Bakery Runner-up: The Celtic Hearth Winner: The Jewish Deli Runner-up: Rocket Bakery Runner-up: Zainab Jerret’s SALADS Ethnic Food BRUNCH Winner: The Sprout Winner: Mallard Cottage Runner-up: Freshii LOCAL FOOD PRODUCT Runner-up: Bagel Cafe Winner: Purity’s Jam Jams SANDWICHES Runner-up: Georgestown BURGERS Winner: Manna Bakery’s Bagels Winner: Yellowbelly European Bakery Runner-up: Bernard Runner-up: Rocket GROCERY STORE Stanley’s Bakery Winner: Belbin’s Grocery Runner-up: Lester’s Farm CHINESE SUSHI Winner: Magic Wok Winner: Sun Sushi HEALTHY TAKEOUT Runner-up: Formosa Tea Runner-up: Basho Winner: The Sprout House Runner-up: Freshii FOOD SPOT FISH’N’CHIPS NOT DOWNTOWN GREASY TAKEOUT Winner: The Duke of ST. JOHN’S Winner: Ches’s Fish Duckworth Winner: Two Whales Cafe and Chips Runner-up: Chafe’s Landing Runner-up: Soul Azteca Runner-up: Ziggy Peelgoods

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Brunch Spot in NL

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Spot three years in a row; that's every E S C year since they opened. Recently, the TV E N M O show "24 Hours of Food" came to town I B L E to film there and see what all R |

| p m the brunch hype S A 2 T m - was about. U R DAYS 9 a stjohnsfarmersmarket . o r g

8 / DECEMBER 2016 / THE OVERCAST FOOD & DRINK Crackers, Ginger Snaps, and of course, the The Origins of Jam Jam: a moist, jam-filled, molasses- laden, and cake-like cookie made with all- Your Favourite vegetable shortening. Local Lunches Local Food They’ve been a classic dessert or tea-time for Less than $10 Valley Product snack in Newfoundland now for well over 50 years. In the 1950s, the company moved to a Take-Out The Purity Jam Jam new plant on Blackmarsh Road, which they BY EMILY DEMING & FELICITY ROBERTS Linegar & still call home, and where they make over 50 Warford Road SHEA HEIGHTS Purity Factories Limited opened their grocery products found throughout NL, and Perfect replica of hockey stadium doors nearly a century ago, in 1924, when increasingly so: across the country. CHEESEBURGER PLATTER (8.49) fries: crisp, thick, and golden. Pretty standard gravy. Quality convenience food, three St. John’s businessmen bought a the cheeseburger came loaded with condiments and a sweet surprise of fried onions. local confectionery and started making JAM JAM Peppermint Nobs, Candy Kisses, and CAESAR SALAD (3.75) ONION RINGS(3.75) The price is right and it is hard to Purity Flavoured Syrups (the latter are TRUFFLES resist a spot with no name out front. It is basic fast food with old fashioned lard-y deadly with a splash of ginger ale). overtones. The bacon in the salad was real bacon, the lettuce wasn't brown or limp, and • 1 package Purity Jam Jams the onion rings were not more overly battered than others on the island. I don't mean to • 1/2 cup cream cheese damn with faint praise, but it seems the most polite way to damn. It does not pretend to Purity gained traction and respect by using • 2 cups dark chocolate chips be what it is not (healthy or delicious). quality ingredients, and for being the • 1/4 cup white chocolate sole producer of hard bread, a staple of a ATMOSPHERE Last week I was buying a bottle of Bear Flag at the Liquor Express in fisherman’s diet because hard tack bread Crumble cookies with a fork, and put aside 2 Shea Heights and noticed a sign beside it with the letters worn off.”What is this place?,” I wouldn’t go moldy on a long journey at sea, tbsp of the crumble for topping. Mix crumbs and softened cream cheese.Roll mixture into 1 wondered. Glancing in, I discovered it was a take out. Googling a phone number later to the way normal bread did. Soon, Hard Tack inch balls and refrigerate for 30 minutes. Melt find the hours, I realized that without a name to go by, the place was totally untraceable. I bread created the famous local dish Fish & both chocolates, and roll the chilled truffles told Emily I'd found our next lunch spot for this series. The sparse, brightly lit interior does in dark chocolate first, until fully coated, then Brewis. Their success with hard tack bread not exist to impress, but the menu contains all the deep fried take out basics and a little drizzle with white chocolate. Top with more more. The feeling is more grabbing lunch at someone’s house than a restaurant. led to them developing now-classic bakery crumbs, then chill them again. goods, in a British style, like Purity Cream

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FOOD & DRINK 9 / DECEMBER 2016 / THE OVERCAST Local Plonks Affordable Wine Worth or Not Worth Your Dime at the NLC BY L.P

Marketing & Price disinclining folks ordering it in restaurants. in the World of Wine They shortened the name on the label to Pichon Lalande. The price quadrupled.

We wonder if marketing isn’t a fundamental LÓPEZ DE HEREDIA distortion in capitalism, a factor in the Find it in the Spain Section supply and demand equation that dudes like There are a still a few outfits that only do Adam Smith and Karl Marx never figured minimal marketing, really just product on. Marketing means the price of a good of description, because they are happy to be what inferior quality can be much higher than one they are and have no problem selling every of superior quality. Such a condition plagues bottle. López de Heredia has been making the wine business, the tariff is not necessarily wines in Rioja for 140 years and have scarcely any indication of the drink inside the bottle. ever changed their methods. They make great There are very good wines available, wines in a very old style. Like Leonard Cohen, affordably, in ugly packages and grand names López de Heredia was a legend that fell out of in heavy bottles with beautiful labels that are favour as tastes changed then came back in dreadful. Conspicuous consumption is such vogue as they took another turn. The top López a large part of the wine racket that there is de Heredia wines are astonishing a class of product routinely referred to as and very dear. Their Vina Cubillo “trophy.” The market weight of brand and (NLC $36.64) is the most label mean that counterfeiters operate with affordable of their offerings, a rioja the knowledge that the juice within some crianza. It’s lighter in style than crazy expensive bottles will most likely not the other riojas on the NLC be consumed but collected and if consumed shelves, utterly without their rarely by someone with the taste acuity to oak/vanilla character or the detect fraud. The glamour of champagne Bordeaux-like structure and was and is created by advertising, a fact colour of most examples. The reflected in the sticker price. Used to be Cubillo is more Burgundian, that mere mortals could afford to buy the its fruit is bright, with hints of occasional bottle of the truly extraordinary bitter orange, subtle tobacco claret Chateau Pichon Longueville Comtess de and horsey aromas. Seems Lalande. But someone grasped that the name pricy but the ticket price was a mouthful for non-French speakers, includes time travel.

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10 / DECEMBER 2016 / THE OVERCAST FOOD & DRINK Which is to say, India Beer is NOT an IPA, ON INDIA despite what many people presume. It is a lager. Nor is India “named after the dog on the Your Favourite label,” as is common urban myth about this Best of Local DRINK Commercial Domestic local beer. India Beer existed for a very long time before that Newfoundland dog appeared CAFE CRAFT BEER COCKTAILS Beer Has a Long and on its label, so, if the dog’s name really is Winner: Fixed Coffee Winner: Port Rexton Winner: Adelaide Complicated History India, it’s more likely the dog was named after & Baking Horse Chops IPA Oyster House Runner-up: Rocket Runner-up: Quidi Vidi Runner-up: Merchant the beer, than the opposite. Bakery 1892 Tavern BY CHAD PELLEY Likewise, the expression, “Get dat Indi-ya,” i.e., COFFEE BY THE BAG DOMESTIC BAR get that into you, has nothing to do with the Winner: Jumping Bean COMMERCIAL BEER Winner: The Ship Runner-up: Fixed Coffee Runner-up: Christian’s India Beer was initially origins of its name. It has more to do with locals’ Winner: India Beer & Baking Runner-up: Black Horse created and brewed by a enthusiasm for drinking the stuff. According to DRINK SPECIAL local microbrewery called a Molson Sales manager, India remains a solid BREWERY PINT SELECTION Winner: Yellowbelly Winner: Quidi Vidi Winner: Bier Markt $2.50 Brunch Mimosas Newfoundland Brewery brand still on the rise, with the bulk of all sales happening downtown in St. John’s. Brewery Runner-up: Adelaide Runner-up: The Ship’s Limited (1893-1962), and it Runner-up: Port Rexton Oyster House Jockey Special Brewing remains the sole beer from India Beer has been around for more than that legendary local brewery 125 years, exclusively in NL, and as alluded that is still brewed today. to, it’s a real favourite among blossoming That Time Quidi Vidi’s Founder Was Caught Homebrewing at MUN beer connoisseurs and the local music David Fong’s love of beer dates back to the early days of his engineering degree, when he When Molson bought out Newfoundland scene, as well as students who love beer but was secretly homebrewing beer in a janitor’s closet at his MUN residence. One weekend, Dave went home to Carbonear, and the janitor ended up drinking a bunch of the beer, and Brewery Limited in 1962, Newfoundland can’t justify the double-digit price tags on got so sloppy on campus that campus police picked him up, and he ratted Fong out. Brewery had been making several beers, but all those imported single-bottle craft beers Fong’s resulting boot from residence marked the start of an epic career in beer! their top three were India Beer, India Pale in the back of the NLC. Even a micro-beer Ale, and Irish Cream Porter. Molson kept on snob calls this macro-brew passable if not brewing India Beer because it was so beloved perfectly enjoyable. Plenty of beer lovers call here it would have been silly to discontinue it Molson’s best offering, it. According to one retired Molson employee “it was a 20% brand, and it was a Gold Medal Light, smooth, and thirst-quenching with a BEHIND YOUR FAVOURITE CRAFT BEER Winner at an international beer tasting nice acidic snap at the back-end of your PORT REXTON’S HORSE CHOPS IPA show in the 1970s.” sip, there’s some substance here, but not enough to slow you down too One reason Port Rexton’s Horse Chops IPA was such a And yes, you’re reading this much on a weekend bender. hit this year is because – despite the worldwide trend of right: India Beer and India It’s a balanced beer with beer lovers devouring hoppy, grapefruity, tongue-rasping Pale Ale were two separate nothing wild enough going “West Coast Style” IPAs – no one on the island was brews that once coexisted: on to offend any palette, brewing one. And that was exactly why Port Rexton made India Beer was a lighter, but more sharpness and Horse Chops one of their core beers. “We love citrusy IPAs easier-drinking version of substance than most and the province definitely needs one made here, so it’s going to the fiercer India Pale Ale. macrobrews. be sticking around.” This is a beautiful, expressive, memorable IPA. In addition to it being the favourite beer of Overcast readers, it also happens to be the favourite of both Sonja and Alicia – owners of Port Rexton Brewing – who have noticed that visiting beer enthusiasts from all over the world declare Horse Chops their top pick from Port Rexton’s sampler flights. As for the curious name, it’s drawn from one of Newfoundland’s many curiously named nooks and crannies (we do have, after all, place names like Joe’s Nose, Cow Head, Dildo, and Blow Me Down). This IPA is named after a point of land at the north side of Trinity Bight that extends east of English Harbour. Sonja’s parents owned a sailboat, and she recalls her father talking about sailing around the rough waters just off the cliffs of Horse Chops. “The name captured us, and being an IPA that has that citrusy and bitter bight, it seemed a proper thing to name it from a place in Trinity Bight.”This IPA is medium-bodied and bold, with a dry finish. It has loads of tropical fruit and floral aromas from having been generously dry-hopped with mosaic hops. PHOTO: FACEBOOK.COM/PORTREXTONBREWING PHOTO:

FOOD & DRINK 11 / DECEMBER 2016 / THE OVERCAST because unlike the other food trucks NEWFOUNDLAND’S downtown, that only use propane tanks to deepfry fries, Ali needed refrigeration, BEST INTERNATIONAL and the city objected to the truck simply RESTAURANT FOUGHT metering off a pole on the sidewalk as food trucks do worldwide. (It had to do AN EPIC BATTLE TO with fears his truck would interfer with FEED US snowclearing, though Ali said he’d shovel around his truck himself.) BY CHAD PELLEY He offered to use a generator, but council denied him, worried the noise pollution PEREZ RITCHIE PHOTO: The story of Mohamad wouldn’t be okay. Despite the fact they’d Math Circles of St. John’s will offer sessions Ali’s restaurant starts with be on George Street. It was then that Unpossible NL to for adults - teachers, curious parents, and the owners of The Sprout Restaurant a war in Iraq and ends in anyone with an interest in exploring some neat stepped in to help. At this time, that was Launch Free Math math - every Thursday from January 21st to Newfoundland hospitality. Julia Bloomquist, who offered to run an Circles For Kids February 11th. Sessions for students in grades extension cord out to the truck. There and Adults This five to eight will start later in February and run While quite young, Ali and his brother was a loading zone he could park in through the winter and early Spring. There will started a small food table at an outdoor after hours. But again, the city called it a February be two circles which group students by grade food market in Iraq, selling hummus tripping hazard, even though Ali offered to (5-6, 7-8) and one circle specifically for girls in suspend the cord. and pastries and pizzas. And then the grades 5 and 6. BY EVA CROCKER bombs fell. Their business was quashed At this point, a considerable number of Smellie believes that the underrepresentation as quickly as it began during the invasion late-night drinkers petitioned the city, of women in science, technology, engineering of Iraq by American military forces. Math Circles of St. John’s asking for access to healthier food, but and math (STEM) means that girls need Baghdad, where Ali’s operation was set will create opportunities it was sounding impossible. Ali once more encouragement than boys to envision up, was facing full-on air strikes. Ali spent to learn about complex again found himself slinging reputably themselves in those fields. Smellie explained the next four years of his life in a refugee that multiple studies show girls are quick good foods at a farmer’s market. And mathematical concepts camp, and the sandstorms were worse to give up on math if they struggle to solve a his falafels, in particular, were a hit and through accessible, than our snowstorms. problem. “You need to give girls an avenue to growing in demand. He knew he had collaborative games and explore things and to discover that they can regulars, supporters, and Ali’s spirit – Eventually, Canada took him in, and at activities. identify as students who are good at math,” truly unbreakable – took flight again, with twenty-five years of age, Ali enrolled says Smellie. in English classes in St. John’s, while the help of The Sprout. “In addition to giving more students access to working three part-time jobs to support experience with math we’re also trying to show By creating a space where girls do math himself. He noticed the lack of Middle Julia Bloomquist had been supporting people that math is a super social, creative together with the help of women instructors, Ali since he arrived in St. John’s. “When Eastern food here, and the demand for endeavour,” says Sarah Smellie, a founder Math Circles of St. John’s will be chipping away I came to St. John’s I couldn’t speak healthy alternatives to fast food. But of Math Circles of St. John’s. The new-to-St. at the cyclical problem of underrepresentation any English except, like, How are you? the bank rejected his plan to open a John’s program is inspired by Math Circles of of women in math. Good, thank you,” Ali has said. “I started restaurant, citing the volatile nature of Chicago, an organization that offers sessions working at The Sprout and they taught where students learn about mathematical ideas establishing a new restaurant. It’s refreshing to see an initiative that aims me everything. This is cucumber, this is that don’t typically get addressed in the school to get girls interested in STEM focusing on lettuce, this is olives, this is tomatoes.” curriculum. They aim to create collaborative Instead of giving up, he made plans for collaboration as opposed to competitive environments where students learn by working a food truck downtown, from which he’d success. Making girls believe they need to be The Sprout closed for the day around 8 or 9 together. “Starting with a card game that save up money to launch his restaurant. the best in a given field ultimately cements pm, and Julia decided to let Ali use her everyone can play, you begin exploring ideas In 2010, he bought a food truck; the false idea that only truly exceptional kitchen to sling his “Mohamad about number theory, cryptography and ideas one that even a city inspector women are capable of contributing to STEM. Ali’s” food to the late night about infinity” Smellie says the activities help said was so top-quality he The Math Circles model will show girls in St. people understand these concepts simply by crowd, as a regular pop-up John’s that working with and supporting other wished the other trucks encouraging them to ask questions. in town would come restaurant, and a St. girls is the answer to overcoming the very John’s legend was born. real sexism that keeps women out of STEM. by and see. Yet, after It’s fitting that the St. John’s incarnation He saved up enough acquiring his insurance of Math Circles will be brought to us by Everyone who participates in Math Circles of to start his own spot and certifications, and Unpossible NL, the organization that St. John’s will benefit from practicing learning in May of 2014, beside after investing $25,000, facilitates the RPM Challenge and the Stand through working together. This model for the city repeatedly shot the war memorial on Up Challenge; all three initiatives focus on learning fosters creativity and wonder about down every plan he made, Duckworth Street. the nature of the world, in all it’s infinity. PHOTO: JOEL UPSHALL JOEL PHOTO: inclusivity and creative exploration.

12 / DECEMBER 2016 / THE OVERCAST PEOPLE THE BULL HORN PEDLAR PRESS YOUR RANTS, CONFESSIONS IN THE CITY A three-day literary event & MISSED CONNECTIONS. DECEMBER 8 to 10, 2016

Thursday 8 December The Ship, 8pm Friday 9 December SHARE YOURS AT THEOVERCAST.CA/BULL-HORN 7pm, A house salon Saturday 10 December 2pm, A house salon

with Martha Baillie likeable. Yet because I’m shy/I don’t try to screw BIG PIG GUY Paul Dean “Hey everybody, slowly, over time, i have added you on the first date, I get blown off. I’ve let Stan Dragland more and more butter to less and less popcorn, people down before when something doesn’t Free events. Craig Francis Power and for the first time, i’m simply eating melted feel right, but I give it a try and I don’t act like Anne Golden butter right now. Semi-solid, mostly melted an asshole when I do it. Doesn’t anyone want Open to the public. Maureen Hynes butter. Uh.” – OINK OINK. to get to know someone instead of just getting Soraya Peerbaye off?” – LOOKING FOR SOMETHING MORE All welcome. & Sara Tilley NEVER KNOWING details at pedlarpress.com “As my father lay dying, all I really wanted to SMASH GOES MY HEART know was if he ever really loved his children. “3 days ago, my TV wallmount came loose And I never got to ask.” – ANON from my wall for no clear reason. My very big and expensive 2015 Christmas gift smashed I HATE THIS THING and cracked when it hit the ground. I can’t even soon, very soon, break this spell you cast on veggies cost a fortune here, but come on! You “I’m only like three dates in with this amazing deal with it, literally, the TV is still on the floor, me.” – SOMEONE BLUE can manage a big bag of frozen veggies if you new babe, and have to smile and pet her dog smashed, and I can’t afford a new one, and I have 20 litres of pepsi and 5 boxes of sugar that crawls all over me drooling and getting hair love me a marathon and had just discovered the HIP ONLINE NOT OFF cereal. I pity the children who are depending on me. Smiling while secretly urging makes my show Wentworth, and now what? Watch it on “Confession: I go to places like parks or cafes on you to feed them. No wonder you are whole body and mind feel funny! Who could like my phone? No thanks.” or bars long enough to take an Instagram, and obese and look depressed. If I ate like that, I a thing that’s all claws, drool, bad odours, and – TV-LESS PERSON then I go home, so my Instagram followers think would feel and look like shit too. Buy some dumb as a rock, that licks you on the lips like I lead a more exciting life than one of Netflix in food!” – THE ROBOT MONSTER this!” – NOT A DOG MAN, MAN EEEEK! PJs and Ketchup Chips galore.” – @NOTHIN “One of my roommates eats all of my food all WHAT THE HELL MOM & DAD! BAD PARENT the time, so I put a box of cereal, with only 1 “BAD BEST FRIEND” "If sea monkeys aren't real pets, then why did “Guys. I actually like one of my children more or 2 bowls worth left in it under my bed, for When your boyfriend told me he was going to my parents let me feed mine every day! I get than the other. Is that normal? Is that as wrong safekeeping, so I wouldn’t go to MUN hungry propose, and asked my advice on some things, lying about Santa, it's a bit of fun and joy for a as it feels? Is that unavoidable?” – BAD PARENT this week. This morning I grabbed the box I was too deflated to be of much help. I can’t kid, but why get me to perform a fake chore and the side was chewed out! Little mouse picture a world where you are settled down every day. Kids hate chores. I can't believe i bites! Eeek, ahhh, g’ah! As I slept a mouse was WINWIN with a happy little family and never coming out thought sea monkeys were real and alive, but “I like faking status updates such as putting out roaming my room. Probably crawling around in to see me anymore. I know that makes me just super small, lol. I'm off to confront Mom the trash or house cleaning for example. People my bed with me, cuddling into my hair! I can’t horrible, or, just in love with us? I wanted to and Dad!" - DUPED DUDE stand this, I can’t concentrate, I don’t know what think you’re clean but too busy to hang out. discourage him to be honest, like, tell him it’s #winwin.” – CHARLIE to do!” – MOUSE IN THE HOUSE too soon. I didn’t.” - BADBF SELF HURT GOT MY TONGUE “Apparently as many as 15% of girls in North SICK OF MEN IN THIS CITY SPIN ME ‘ROUND YOUR CYCLE YOU FORGOT THE FOOD America are into cutting. Cutting themselves “Dear “Men” of St. John’s, Telling me we “don’t “Push me away. Send me sweet messages “Sometimes at the grocery store I see people or burning themselves as distraction from have a romantic connection” (after two dates about me. Date someone else the next night. who spend hundreds of dollars, but there mental torment. At least I am smart enough where you haven’t made a move) isn’t really Need me again. Tell me how good I am ‘at that,’ is nothing in their cart that I would classify to hide it. I suck on a thumbtack. I let it pierce cutting it anymore. I’m trying here; I’m being while another woman’s hair elastic is in plain as food. It’s all processed factory stuff that my cheeks and tongue, where no one will funny or I’m laughing at your jokes, I’m not sight on your night stand. I hope whatever is literally full of known poisons. I feel like see the damage done, and tell me I need to putting on a show or playing any games, you’re getting out of this is worth the blow to suggesting they buy some food to go with that get help. I have help, it’s called a thumbtack. generally being someone who is at least partly my heart and confidence. Mostly I hope I can stuff, but I never do. I know fresh fruits and Cheaper than pills.” – TACKSUCKER

PEOPLE 13 / DECEMBER 2016 / THE OVERCAST of the Federal Women’s Film Program, a film THINGS YOU MAYBE production, distribution and training program could help set the scene for Santa, I went DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT for women filmmakers. It was during this Operation to my crawl space to get some Christmas time she released the popular film, After the sparkle to share. I scrolled through the BEST POLITICIAN AND Montreal Massacre. In 1992, she returned to Decoration community facebook page, looking for Newfoundland to form her own production Wickham’s contact and I realized, there MOST VITAL ACTIVIST company, Augusta Productions. Her best- Helping were more like her. I did a quick inventory GERRY ROGERS known film, My Left Breast, documented of the crawl space and realized I had her battle with breast cancer and won Families in plenty of Christmas cheer to spare and not one, but two Gemini awards. A true I thought others must too. I contacted You know Gerry – the cheery politician Need Roll out trailblazer for feminist issues and social a few friends and we started Operation who can magically balance being both activism, Gerry worked with the St. John’s Decoration – a campaign that collects friendly and a force to be reckoned with the Red and Status of Women Council where she helped artificial trees and Christmas decorations for the causes she believes in. found the first Transition House for women Green Carpet and donates them to families in need. and children victims of domestic violence. And those are many. As the first openly Natasha Wickham was excited to hear Gerry has travelled extensively to speak on for Santa gay politician ever elected to the provincial that her children would be able to documentary filmmaking, status of women, legislature, she’s been a gamechanger for decorate for Christmas. “It’s important and human rights issues. Those travels have LGBT rights, and an equally prominent voice BY AMY STOODLEY to give, to show others you care, even included appearances on The Rosie O’Donnell for causes like child, youth & family services, if you don’t know them. A donation of Show and The Vicki Gabereau Show! justice & public safety, mental health, and Sparkling snowmen, decorations would mean a lot to my well, anything from senior’s and housing family, my four children,” Wickham said. causes to women’s rights. She’s also been a twinkling lights, and Wickham said in addition to losing staunch defender of the arts, championing shiny bulbs on a tree her mother, her family is facing other challenges. Her children have medical their economic and cultural significance to – for some people, our province, but did you know she herself issues and she struggles to afford the is a very well-decorated artist? Gerry is an the decorations that things they need. “It’s been so hard so, internationally renowned filmmaker with help make the season having some decorations may make over 20 documentaries and 40 awards to her Christmas a bit bright for them.” credit. Gerry’s film career began in 1982 in merry and bright are an The need is great and many families Montreal, where she was Program Producer FACEBOOK.COM/GERRYROGERSMHA PHOTO: unaffordable luxury. have been in touch looking for items to help set the scene for Santa. We have It’s hard for a parent to have to explain to collected some festive favours but, we their children that money is tight and could use more. Those boxes there won’t be much under a in storage are filled Catch a Funny Christmas Show tree, but some families in with much more than St. John’s can’t afford tinsel and twinkling from NL’s “Best Standup Comic” lights or decorations, lights – they’re or they don’t have a th future Christmas on December 17 tree at all. memories, childhood wonder For Natasha Wickham, and the right, for Every year is a busy year for 3-time “Best Local Comic” winner Matt Wright, but this Christmas is a tough time just one night, to year’s been the busiest. “I’ve been in Halifax for a big portion of the year, writing for of year. Her mom died three believe in magic. 22 Minutes,” he says, “so that takes up 50-60 hours of my weeks. And I’m doing stand years ago on Christmas Eve and up at night. I live here while 22 is shooting, but I’ve been back and forth a few times. Halifax is life has been difficult ever since. The St. Operation Decoration will run until nice. It’s like St. John’s if it was organized by sober people.” Wright was also part of an Atlantic- John’s woman has four children and tries wide standup tour featuring writers from This Hour Has 22 Minutes, and he recently did his first hard to embrace the magic of the season December 10. Donations can be headlining tour out west, hitting up Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, and Fort Mac. “I felt like a but, money is tight and after losing her dropped off at the Autism Society real Newfoundlander working in Alberta,” he jokes. “I also did a variety show called Matturday Christmas decorations in a flood earlier this at 70 Clinch Crescent from Monday- Wright Live in the summer, where me and my friends wrote/performed the most self indulgent year, she can’t afford to buy new ones. Wednesday between 1-3:30. Or, people of sketches. And we had musical guests. It was so fun. I miss it.”2016’s whirlwind will end for can schedule a drop off at our workshop Matt on December 17th, for his annual Christmas Comedy Show at the LSPU Hall. The show After seeing her post on social media, at the Mundy Pond Visitor’s Service will be headlined by Wright, hosted by Mike Fardy, and will feature some of Wright’s personal looking for decorations so her children Centre on Blackler Avenue. favourite local laugh-makers: Mike Lynch, Amanda Bulman, Veronica Dymond, Ross Moore. “We might also do some sketch. Maybe some improv. I don’t know what I’m doing yet. I never really know what I’m doing ... I think having my head in the news for 22 has pushed me to a Visit facebook.com/operationdecoration to get in touch. sillier place. The world has just been so exhausting this year.”

14 / DECEMBER 2016 / THE OVERCAST PEOPLE Best of BEST RADIO SHOW/ Local PEOPLE HOST PADDY DALY on 2016’s Memorable Gift Certificates Did you know the weatherman Moment who won "Best Media Personality" BY LAUREN POWER Rooms & Suites CHOSE to live here in this crappy g climate of ours? Ryan Snodden is 2016, man. It's been a Dining originally from Pefferlaw, Ontario. g Among his favourite places in year. And the man who his adopted home: Gros Morne has been the watcher Weekend Packages National Park & matt on the wall through Yellowbelly wr ig Please call or email to enquire h Brewery. t the whole thing is 877.464.3240 www.fishersloft.com Paddy Daly.

POLITICIAN Every Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 11:30am, Daly is stationed at the Winner: Gerry Rogers province's soapbox. So, in a year with Runner-up: kriss so much going on, what will Daly Sheilagh O’Leary y h ol m remember about 2016? "Everything e s surrounding the Ed Martin story... MOST VITAL ACTIVIST the politics, the severance, the whole Winner: Gerry Rogers fiasco..." says Daly. "Not only was Runner-up: it a unique opportunity for me to Billy Gauthier editorialize, but we've got people TWISTED SISTERS who are frank and blunt on both RADIO SHOW / HOST boutik ryan sides ... in between is the truth." Open sn Winner: Paddy Daly’s od d Line is a long-standing provincial e Open Line n institution. Where else in the world Runner-up: Ted Blades’ do the people get to challenge elected On the Go officials to a game of Chicken, on air, with the whole province listening? MEDIA PERSONALITY However, Daly makes sure that the Winner: Ryan Snodden human element isn't lost amidst the Runner-up: Justin Brake verbal fireworks."There's calls of heartbreak and frustration," STAND-UP COMIC says Daly. "The ones that are Winner: Matt Wright hardest are the ones of Runner-up: Nicole acute political anguish ... Downton people with nowhere to turn ... they might be calling BEST DRESSED to vent, or they might NEWFOUNDLANDER legitimately need help. It's Winner: Krissy Holmes something I didn't expect Our passion is felt Runner-up: Jason when I came on to host, but Sellars Ross it's something I take quite seriously. There's a pure wool BIGGEST DREAMBOAT commitment to help, eco-friendly Winner: Allan Hawco on air. I'm very grateful twistedsistersboutik.blogspot.ca natural leather sole Runner-up: Jeremy to be in the seat." available for both men and women 179 Water Street 722-6004

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PEOPLE 15 / DECEMBER 2016 / THE OVERCAST own blue raincoat (which was stolen from Marianne’s apartment). Though this album marked the man as a downer for some simpler critics, Rolling Stone included it on their Top 500 Albums of All Time. “Avalanche” is a perfect example of Cohen’s unique classical A Crash guitar pattern, and the song was covered by Nick Cave on From Her to Eternity.

New Skin for the Old Ceremony (1974) Course Cohen’s 4th album saw him welcome the idea of more going on in his songs. Most notably, there’s percussion here, a lot of backup singing, and string accompaniment. His in Cohen producer helped: Cohen tracked down John Lissauer, who surrounded Cohen with some new musicians to add a more European tinge to his tunes — fitting given that Cohen had Fun facts caught on more in Europe than North America. An album classic, “Chelsea Hotel #2,” is about on all fourteen a memorable sexual encounter he had in the of his studio namesake hotel with Janis Joplin. The album, and change of sound, almost never happened. albums “For a while, I didn’t think there was going to be another album,” he has confessed. “I pretty well felt that I was washed up as a songwriter because it wasn’t coming anymore.” But he’d gone to Ethiopia “looking for a suntan” and had a guitar with him, and the songs came.

Death of a Ladies’ Man (1977) For his 5th album, Cohen really kept the whole BY CHAD PELLEY Judy Collins recorded it on her 1966 album, and “When the wires first went up,” Cohen has said, “growing as an artist” thing going by working producer John Hammond saw to it Cohen got “I’d stare out the window at these telephone with Phil Spector, a producer legendary a record deal on account of the song’s stunning wires and think how civilization had caught up for creating a famous “wall of sound” that 1934-2016 is a long life, originality. But the calibre of musicians Cohen’s with me and I wasn’t going to be able to escape really thickened up an artist’s songs. But at and one Cohen filled with producer brought into the studio for this album after all. I wasn’t going to be able to live this this point, Spector was developing a bit of a reputation as a gun-obsessed wildcard. So grace, poetry, and one of terrified Cohen, and in the end, he had to fight 11th-century life that I thought I had found for with his producer, John Simon, because Simon myself.” He opened most of his concerts with much so, Joni Mitchell tried to warn Cohen the most distinct sounds had built the songs up too much with drums this song, and Kris Kristofferson claims he’ll be about working with him. But the two saw in recorded music. And like and strings for Cohen’s liking. Though Cohen quoting the song on his gravestone. something in each other, and wound up co- mostly won those fights, some of Simon’s writing the album in a very productive, booze- wine, the man’s music got heavy-handedness couldn’t be removed from Songs of Love and Hate (1971) fueled month. On account of Spector’s love of more full and complex with the four-track master tape. Also, still young The album title reflects what a dark time air conditioning, Cohen wore an overcoat the and caught up in a greedy industry, Cohen was this was for Cohen. “Absolutely everything whole time, and by the end of the process, age. Below are fun-fact schemed out of the rights to both “Suzanne” was beginning to fall apart around me: my Cohen was seeing the side of Spector he’d summaries of the 14 studio and “Stranger Song” by a new friend. spirit, my intentions, my will.” Its dark lyrics been warned about. “I wasn’t in the right include those of “Joan of Arc,” the song is kind of condition to resist Phil’s very albums from which his Songs from a Room (1969) a conversation between Joan of Arc strong influence on and eventual legendary career was built. Cohen’s second album is best known for and the fire that burned her alive. takeover of the record,” he Young and caught “Bird on a Wire,” a song he began writing in It’s a song about meeting and has said. Death of a Ladies’ up in a greedy industry, Man was born to very mixed Songs of Leonard Cohen (1967) Greece, while living on the island of Hydra with marrying your destiny. “Famous Cohen was schemed Songs of Leonard Cohen is best known for Marianne. Marianne handed him a guitar one Blue Raincoat” is another classic out of the rights to review, and Allen Ginsberg producing Cohen’s longest-standing classic, day, encouraging him to play his way out of a off the album, and addresses a both “Suzanne” and & Bob Dylan can be heard “Stranger Song. “Suzanne,” which happens to be the song that funk, and out came a song inspired by a bird love triangle and affair, though singing backups on “Don’t Go got him his record deal with Columbia Records. sitting on a newly installed telephone wire. it’s also a reference to his Home with Your Hard-on.”

16 / DECEMBER 2016 / THE OVERCAST COVER STORY important to Cohen, who felt his voice had

been inappropriate for many of his albums I’d stare out the window at these telephone wires and think how civilization had caught in the 1970s. On that note, of gravelly voices, up with me and I wasn’t going to be able to escape after all. I wasn’t going to be able to it is unsurprising that Tom Waits loves this live this 11th-century life that I thought I had found for myself. - COHEN ON BIRD ON A WIRE album. On the deepening of his voice, Cohen has said, “I thought it was because of 50,000 cigarettes and several swimming pools of Lyrics from “To a Teacher” were taken from Popular Problems (2014) whiskey that my voice has gotten low. But I his 1961 book of poetry, The Spice Box of Popular Problems featured all new recordings gave up smoking a couple of years ago and Earth; Some of the tracks from “The Faith” of all new songs … except “Born in Chains.” it’s still getting deeper.” “Tower of Song,” date back 1979’s Recent Songs sessions. For Its origins date way back to a recorded a Cohen classic, almost never made the this reason, he almost called the album Old soundcheck in 1985. Also, words from album. He cut it from the record because he Ideas, but worried the name would come off Cohen’s 2006 book, Book of Longing, became couldn’t get the words right. But he finished as compilation album. lyrics from “A Street” on this album, and the lyrics in Montreal right before the album “Nevermind” was picked up by HBO’s True was released, called his producer, and it was Old Ideas (2012) Recent Songs (1979) Detective as the theme music for season 2. Recent Songs sounds like a purposeful step recorded in one take; most of what you hear is Old Ideas marked Cohen’s first studio album backwards in time to a sound well before his casiotone, “drums” included. in 8 years, and there was a reason for it: after You Want it Darker (2016) whatever parts of himself he was letting out a 15-year break from touring, Cohen had to This album will always be remembered for on his previous two records. After his wild The Future (1992) spend much of the 2000s touring like mad for being released just weeks before Cohen experience with Phil Spector, Joni Mitchell There was a lot going on around the time Cohen financial reasons, because his manager stole died, and fittingly focussing on death and recommended Henry Levy to Cohen. Working recorded The Future, and he took a break his life savings (and retirement plan). He was “the maker” in its lyrics. To quote the with Levy allowed Cohen to do something from touring to care for his son Adam, after a broke. But the ensuing tours were 3-hour powerhouse performances that many critics title track, he sounds quite accepting and he’d always wanted to try: combining Middle car accident left Adam in a coma. As a result, say re-energized his creative spirit, in addition aware of his coming end, “You want it Eastern sounds with jazz and rock. Reflecting the album was chaotically recorded across to his bank account. When Cohen found time darker, we kill the flame.” 82 years into on his career in 2000, Cohen called this 10+ studios, as far flung from each other as Montreal & L.A., and the credit list on the album to record again, the world took note: Old his life, he was still writing and recording album a personal favourite. “Ballad of the is vast. He really struggled with finalizing Ideas topped the charts in 11 countries, music, and it’s safe to say Cohen is the only Absent Mare” was inspired by his Zen Master all these songs — he wrote 60 verses for including Finland, where Cohen became, at 77, 80-something musician charting right now Roshi, and covered on Emmylou Harris’s “Democracy,” and “Anthem” took him a decade the country’s oldest chart-topping musician. in Canada, the US, and the UK. album Cowgirl’s Prayer. to “get right,” but that was worth it, clearly, as it yielded his most famous lines, “There is a crack Various Positions (1984) in everything, that’s how the light gets in.” Various Positions is best known for giving the world one of its most covered songs, Ten New Songs (2001) “Hallelujah” — a song even Cohen has joked, in Ten New Songs was his first studio album since Rolling Stone, that the world needs to halt any 1992, because at the height of a busy, bustling more covers of. He agonized over the lyrics, career, Cohen, unhappy, and “drinking 3 bottles wrote 80 verses, and at one point, found himself of wine a night,” ran off to the Mt. Baldy Zen in his underwear on a hotel floor, banging his Center to spend time with his Zen Master head off the ground willing the right words. The Joshu Sasaki, and the sabbatical lasted 5 drums on “Dance Me to the End of the Earth” are years. Upon his return, he was still reportedly actually not drums, but a casiotone. It is a little in a reclusive state of mind, and hadn’t recorded known fact that the song is about death camps in a long time. He shared some lyrics with during the holocaust. A string quartet was his long-time backup singer and collaborator forced to perform while their fellow prisoners Sharon Robinson, and he was blown away were being marched into crematoriums. with what she did with them, musically. The Unbelievably, Cohen’s record label was worried album was a true collaboration between them, they couldn’t sell his sound anymore, and in recorded at his and her home studios. The fact, refused to release the record in The States. grainy photo of them on the cover was taken Some of the world’s most popular songs were by Cohen on a crappy webcam during the poorly underestimated upon their creation. recording of the album.

I’m Your Man (1988) Dear Heather (2004) I’m Your Man marked another measurable Three of its songs were leftovers from his change in Cohen’s sound, towards something and Sharon’s previous album, and the rest of more busy and orchestral, and the start of him the songs were Cohen experimenting with really playing up his gravelly voice. This was various styles, and dipping into his past work.

COVER STORY 17 / DECEMBER 2016 / THE OVERCAST GIVE THE Gift OF YOGA THIS HOLIDAY SEASON % ONE DAY ONLY GIFT CARD SALE OFF SELECTED MYSJ GIFT CARDS SATURDAY DECEMBER 17th 20 IN STUDIO: 8AM-6PM | ONLINE: ALL DAY VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR INFO: MOKSHAYOGASTJOHNS.COM

18 / DECEMBER 2016 / THE OVERCAST SELECT EVENTS Anna Templeton Centre Fortunate Ones for Craft, Art & Design Ring In December Craft and art classes for all ages! with Christmas Album & Christmas Shows

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new Christmas EP ahead UPSHALL JOEL PHOTO: 709-739-7623 of their Christmas tour. All 278 Duckworth Street Mark (producer). He helped us figure out what songs. We weren’t concerned with measuring www.annatempletoncentre.com Will Be Well is a holiday songs and sounds might work best for us. He up to the classics so much as trying to live really has a great ear for that kind of thing. up to the standard of writing that we hold all feast with 6 tunes of of our original songs to. We tried to capture varying styles. Something How Has The Reaction of Family & Friends some of the nostalgia that we feel about the Been Since They Heard the Album? holiday season without being too saccharine. for everyone. Andrew James O’Brien: Our families are so The messages and themes of Christmas are supportive of everything that we do that I feel universal and that universality is something They take a few classics out for a spin, such like they were excited that we were working that we try to incorporate in all of our music. as a faithful rendition of Kenny and Dolly’s on any kind of new material. My brother had “Christmas Without You,” a heaping helping of a copy of The Bliss on his car’s dash for so What Do You Think of When pop in Wham’s “Last Christmas,” an uptempo long that the colour bleached out of the album You Think of Christmas? nod to Sufjan Stevens’ “Come On! Let’s cover. We figured it was time to give him Andrew: For me, I see my family in younger Christmas Tea & Sale Boogey to the Elf Dance!” and a way-stripped- something new. years, stocking up on food, snacks, stuffing down version of Elvis’ “Blue Christmas.” And SAVE THE DATE! a tree into the back of my parent’s car, they shine out two brand new original gems When Did You Record the Album? decorating the house. The music elicits smells with “What We Got” and “Empty Street.” Andrew: We recorded the album in June – Friday, 12 noon – 7:00 pm and sense memories of a simpler time that right before hitting the road to play a bunch I’ll always cherish. Saturday, 9:30 – 4:30 pm What Made You Want to do of summer festivals. I’d love to be able to say a Christmas Album? that we had to dig deep to get into the spirit Sunday, 12 noon – 4:30 pm What Traditions Do You Have Catherine Allan: We are both huge fans of the of the holidays but, to be honest, it took all That MightNot Be So Traditional? holidays. Last year we did our first Christmas our might not to set up a Christmas tree in Andrew: In recent years, because of work shows in St. John's and we had so much fun the vocal booth. We love Christmas music so and touring schedules, my family has taken December we decided to record some tunes and do it all much. We were also happy to be back in the to celebrating Christmas Eve a few days 9, 10, 11 again this year! Music is such a huge part of studio making new music. The expression of 2016 what makes the holidays so special. It was fun creativity that the recording process brings earlier than the actual day. We keep it to my to try our hand at a few original holiday songs. out is the best feeling. immediate family and this shift in celebration has alleviated some stress associated with How Hard Was it to Decide on How Was Recording a Yuletide hosting and cooking for a big crowd. We the Songs You Wanted to Record? Themed Album Different from Recording watch some Christmas movies, have a couple Catherine: I’ll admit, there was some back Any Other Album For You? nogs and a cooked dinner then, when proper and forth between the two of us. There were Catherine: Sleigh Bells. Christmas comes a couple of obvious choices but the one that around, I head was controversial was the Kenny & Dolly How Was the Experience of Writing Christmas to Corner Brook cover. Luckily Mark Neary had my back on Songs? Did You Feel Pressure to Measure up for West Coast that one, so Andrew agreed to it! to the Greats or Did You Just Think of it as celebrations with Tackling Any New Song? Catherine’s family. Did You Get Input From Family and Friends? Andrew: We were looking to put our own Two Christmases Catherine: The greatest input we had was from stamp on the tradition of writing holiday in one!

PLUCKED FROM THE WEB 19 / DECEMBER 2016 / THE OVERCAST Best of MUSIC CLUB ONE AND MIGHTYPOP PRESENT a m e l i a

c WINTERSLEEP u You likely know Amelia Curran's music, but did you r WITH GUESTS, HALIFAX’S

r THE EVERYWHERES a

know about her organization, It's Mental, that she n established to confront stigma around mental illness, and address the disastrously long wait times and lack of FRIDAY JAN 27 • CLUB ONE resources in our province to deal with mental illness? ON SALE NOW AT CLUBONE.ETIXNOW.COM AND AT THE ETIXNOW.COM SELF-SERVE KIOSKS AT PARTICIPATING NORTH ATLANTIC ORANGE STORES LOCATIONS 8 PM DOORS / 9 PM SHOW / 19+ ALBUM OF THE YEAR TRAD RPM ALBUM Winner: Repartee’s Winner: Shanneyganock Winner: Shop Class’s "All Lit Up" Runner-up: Rum Ragged Industrial Arts Runner-up: Green & Gold’s Runner-up: Family Video’s "And Then the New Crow URBAN/ELECTRONIC Places to Sleep Came" Winner: It Could Be Franky Runner-up: Dope Piece MOST TALENTED BAND MUSICIAN Winner: Hey Rosetta! POP BAND Winner: Darren “Boobie” Runner-up: The Once Winner: Repartee Browne Runner-up: Dame Nature Runner-up: Andrew NEW BAND McCarthy Winner: India INSTRUMENTAL BAND Runner-up: Hard Ticket Winner: Ouroboros MUSIC SCENE MVP Runner-up: Fretboard Winner: Girls Rock NL WINTERSLEEP.COM ROCK BAND Journey Runner-up: MusicNL PHOTO: AMELIACURRAN.COM PHOTO: Winner: The Novaks Runner-up: Long Distance QUIET SONG OF THE LIVE BAND Runners YEAR Winner: Repartee Winner: Jake Nicoll’s Runner-up: Derm Kean Behind Jake Nicoll’s “Quiet Song FOLK/COUNTRY “Half of Nothing” & an Incredible Woman Winner: The Once Runner-up: The Once’s of the Year,” Half of Nothing Runner-up: Fortunate Ones “Gonna Get Good” MUSIC FESTIVAL Winner: NL Folk Fest BY CHAD PELLEY BLUES/JAZZ UPBEAT SONG Runner-up: Lawnya Vawnya Winner: Ouroboros OF THE YEAR You know, definitively, who you’re listening to when you hear a song by Jeff Runner-up: Duane Andrews Winner: Repartee’s “Dukes” Buckley, Leonard Cohen, Bill Callahan ... some songwriters sound like no one Runner-up: Pilot to but themselves, and in an age where everything’s been done, what more can SINGER-SONGWRITER Bombardier’s “Summer Repartee's we strive for? Jake Nicoll is one of those songwriters. In addition to being one Winner: Amelia Curran Nights” MEG WARREN of the city’s more interesting songwriters, he’s also one of its most prolific: he proved Runner-up: Steve Maloney says her current that this year with the release of a double album in an era of EPs. Where most bands RECORDING ARTIST WHO favourite track off are recording the last 4 songs they wrote, Nicoll is consistently releasing ample work LOUD BAND SELDOM PLAYS LIVE their new album is under two monikers (his name, or, Run to the Rocks), and across all genres. All while Winner: Mopey Winner: Fog Lake "All Lit Up." playing with or recording for other bands. Until recently, he toured the world as The Runner-up: Winterhearth Runner-up: Jerry Stamp Burning Hell’s drummer. It was during a European tour with The Burning Hell that he wrote “Half of Nothing.” “We were on our way out of Munich when our van broke down, leaving us with a lot of time to kill on the side of the highway. Luckily I had my guitar handy. Why not write a song about disappointment, rather than just sitting around feeling disappointed?,” he jokes. “Actually, I know it comes off as a sad or negative sentiment, but I still feel like there is a positive feeling underneath it all. In the end we can’t take for granted that anything works. I think it’s easy to assume that the natural state of things is to work, to function, and that when things are broken that’s abnormal. But maybe it’s the other way around? The status quo is actually dysfunction and the fact that anything works at all is a tasty surprise.” REPARTEE PHOTO: LINDSAY DUNCAN LINDSAY PHOTO:

20 / DECEMBER 2016 / THE OVERCAST THE ARTS range of sounds Mclaughlin uses. Almost Been Looking paradoxically, it’s both understated and opulent. He’s still that introspective and for the Bright reserved artist, but he’s rightfully gained some confidence. A year of well deserved Side of Bleu: recognition will do that.

Brad Pretty on There’s a good chance the nuance of the album will be lost on some. Marcus’ PHOTO: FACEBOOK.COM/DOUG.DORWARD1 PHOTO: Bleu’s “It Comes forte definitely lies within the realm in Waves” of composition. The vocals, almost styles as often as he does musicians, blending exclusively multitracked and harmonized, Doug Dorward Scottish and Newfoundland music seamlessly. are at times tepid and monotone. There’s “The fiddle styles of Newfoundland and For an album recorded intended restraint that lends to the Makes Waves in Scotland complement each other nicely and in a windowless room, overall vibe, but that lack of dynamism I'm extremely proud of this album,” he said, might be offputting to some. Newfoundland and Dorward plays tunes by Rufus Guinchard it’s got an awfully sunny and Emile Benoit just as passionately and proficiently as those that were sung to him by sound. It’s shiny, soaked There’s also a lot that will win people Trad with Debut over. The wistful poppiness is a deceiving his grandmother as a child. in a pool of analog cover for calculated soundscapes that Record Waves kicks off with “Morag and Binker’s,” synths and bright brace the mood into place. They’re all a concerted effort, precise yet grand. BY LUKAS WALL a pair of the fiddler’s own tunes. Aaron guitars. There’s a ton of work put into things Collis’ accordion doubles Dorward through every turn and flourish of the melody, as the you’re not supposed to notice, things From a very early age, arrangement grows and builds with every With sandy, warm grit, it’s balanced by that subversively colour the sonic space. Doug Dorward grew up in phrase. The rhythm section is also tight an ethos almost aqueous in essence. Magnetic, they blanket the songs with and drives the set forward. “Good Morning It sits on the edge of the beach and added emotional dimensions. a musical family, playing You Would Like Some Tea” slows things welcomes the rising tide. It’s not the fiddle and learning down, starting with a march from Cape put off by the chill in the water, nor The album itself has been conceived the traditional music of Breton before lifting off into a pair of Rufus does it long for the sunbaked shores. with care, and is not merely a collection his homeland – not in Guinchard doubles. The next track, “Crossing Contentment comes from never being of discordant tracks. It’s an ethic the Bridge,” is a set of Scottish tunes, fully submerged nor seared. that’s often eschewed nowadays, and Newfoundland, but in including one by John McCusker, producer something that should be, in my mind, Scotland. and collaborator with English folk singer Patterns of Behaviour is a worthy sequel justly recognized. But beyond praising Kate Rusby. These tunes have more modern to It Comes in Waves, one of last year’s one man’s drive to reflect and create and When he moved to St. John’s two years ago, melodies, yet Dorward’s deft touch shows in breakouts. Captained and once again design and express and improve, there Dorward quickly assimilated into the local the arrangements, his fiddle gliding above the fully manned by Marcus McLaughlin, lies a truth: this album is great. It’s an traditional music scene, and began pairing his rest of the players. there’s a delicate attention to detail that effortless listen, engaging yet sublime. musical roots with the traditions of his new can only originate with focused, singular home. "I fell in love with the traditional music Waves closes with a bang with “Naxos direction. Toiling over something like this While definitely awash in the paradigm of of Newfoundland and Labrador when I first Dance Party Breakdown,” a set of four reels takes dedication that is simultaneously modern Canadian indie rock, it innovates moved to St. John's," he says. "I was inspired – two Scottish, one Newfoundland, and one of Dorward’s own. It features the largest torturous and cathartic. and shines bright as a feat for independent to record Waves by the musicians I met here arrangement on the record with a full rhythm Newfoundland artists. One that both and was honoured to work with many of them section and a trumpet. The fiddle playing That being said, there’s a arises out of and works to on the album.” shines with the full band, even taking a rocking tangible comfort seeping subdue those deprecating That album, Waves, is his debut. It’s made up of turn at the end with crunchy electric guitar through the record Beyond praising creative urges. It sits music from both Scotland and Newfoundland and a full drum kit. Throughout the record, compared to the last. one man’s drive to exactly where it needs and features an all-star roster of local players. Dorward’s own original material stands out The songs are bolder, reflect and create and to, uses its limits to All of the The Dardanelles, Andrew Dale of among the best, with sets like “Alfie’s New the compositions more design and express its advantage. It’s a The Once, Duane Andrews, Josh Ward and Home” and “Morag and Binker’s” showing adventurous. The and improve, there lies moonlit meditation more all underscore Dorward’s virtuosic his vast knowledge of the tradition. Both his production, while still a truth: this album for the overworked fiddling. The Dards button accordion master playing and compositions add a different colour raw, has opened up to is great. creative mind. Aaron Collis features most heavily, however, to the new wave of traditional Newfoundland take advantage of the also taking on production duties. Through musicians, and Dorward proudly represents the album’s ten tracks, Dorward alternates Scotland as well as his adopted home.

THE ARTS 21 / DECEMBER 2016 / THE OVERCAST shaw n do y l Best of THE ARTS e Best Local Actor Shawn Doyle is Killing it in Hollywood Ed Riche's "Book of the year," features a man transitioning into a deer in Bowring park, and Some of modern television's favourite shows – House of Cards, Fargo, 24, a cast of clowns on city council. This Life, Frontier, Big Love, Vegas, Covert Affairs, Lost Girl, Rookie Blue, and The Expanse – all have something in common: local actor Shawn Doyle has or had a recurring role on them. He’s also starred in Desperate Housewives, Lie to Me, BOOK PLAY ARTS FESTIVAL Hannibal, and he played a lawyer in Lost. All in all he has appeared in over 50 movies Winner: Ed Riche’s Today Winner: When the Winner: Writers or TV shows, and has shared scenes with the likes of Robin Wright, Kevin Spacey, Billy I Learned it Was You Angel of Death Says at Woody Point Bob Thorton, Molly Parker, Lawrence Fishbourne, Michael Chiklis, Dennis Quiad, Jason Runner-up: Lisa Moore’s How Are You Runner-up: iNuit Blanche Mamoa, and Kiefer Sutherland. Recently, Doyle came back to Newfoundland to star Flannery Runner-up: Between Breaths ART GALLERY in Mark Hoffe’s adaption of the local novel, Away from Everywhere, alongside Jason MOVIE Winner: The Rooms Priestley & Joanne Kelly. That film is currently doing the festival circuit. He currently has Winner: Closet Monster DANCE INDUSTRY MVP Runner-up: Eastern Edge recurring roles in three shows: The Expanse (think Game of Thrones in Outer Space), Runner-up: The River of My Winner: Festival of Frontier (the show that brought Game of Thrones’ Jason Mamoa to Town), and 2017’s Dreams New Dance VISUAL ARTIST forthcoming show, Bellevue, alongside Anna Paquin (of True Blood fame). Bellevue is Runner-up: DanceNL Winner: Mike Gough FILM INDUSTRY MVP Runner-up: Ned Pratt an eerie mystery set in a small town, where a transgender teen goes missing. Paquin’s Winner: St. John’s character is forced to cast suspicion on people she has known all her life. Originally from International Women’s GRAPHIC DESIGNER Wabush, he moved to Los Angeles in 2005, after winning a pair of Gemini awards, and Film Festival Winner: Jud Haynes swiftly won a third Gemini in 2007 for his role in The Robber Pride. Doyle began his acting Runner-up: Mary Sexton Runner-up: Mike Feehan career more than two decades ago in Toronto, after graduating from York’s Theatre ACTOR/ACTRESS PHOTOGRAPHER program. He is currently represented by The Characters Talent Agency, Winner: Shawn Doyle Winner: Sandra Lee Magnolia Entertainment, and Kohner Agency. Runner-up: Joel Thomas Photography

Hynes Runner-up: Ritchie Perez IMDB.COM PHOTO:

4 LOCALS IN THE RUNNING to be the First Canadian Female to Win Prestigious International Award

The IMPAC Dublin Literary Award comes with a whopping cash prize of €100,000. International in scope, it is a unique award, in that public libraries worldwide nominate titles of “high literary merit,” to create the longlist. From there, a jury creates a shortlist. This year’s shortlist will be revealed in April 2017. 14 of the 147 titles in the running are Canadian, and a whopping 4 in 14 of them, or 29%, were penned by Newfoundlanders. The locals in the running — all women writers — are in some very fine company, alongside household Canadian names like Margaret Atwood, Lawrence Hill, and Helen Humphries, Giller Winner Andre Alexis, and fresh new innovators like Michael Christie & Patrick de Witt. Those locals are: Elisabeth de MariaffiThe ( Devil You Know), Joan Clark (The Birthday Lunch), Sarah Tilley (Duke), and Leslie Vryenhoek (Ledger of the Open Hand). One of them might become the 3rd Canadian to ever win the Dublin Impac, and join the ranks of Alistair MacLeod (2001, for No Great Mischief) and Rawi Hage (2008, for De Niro’s Game). All 4 of these novels were glowingly reviewed in The Overcast. de Mariaffi’s novel was praised as a book to “restore your faith in the existence of books that make you go, ‘just one more chapter before bed,’” and Clark’s book was dubbed “quintessentially Canadian and up there with the likes of Margaret Laurence, Margaret Atwood, and Timothy Findley.” Chad Pelley said Tilley’s book “reads like nothing you’ve read before ... and it’s exciting to hold a book in your hands that is visibly busting out a brand new narrative form,” and Kerri Cull wrote that Vryenhoek’s novel, “has shown that she accepts and excels at a multitude of literary challenges.”

22 / DECEMBER 2016 / THE OVERCAST THE ARTS shaw n do y l e Some Films to Face The Trump-as-President World

We’re Living In BY MARK HOFFE

So this is (almost) THELMA AND LOUISE (1991) D E T O U R C O F F E E Two women face the ramifications of rape Christmas, and what have B A K E D G O O D S culture. You won’t find that logline on IMDb, you done? In a Trump-as- but that’s what it should be. This film hooked S A N D W I C H E S president-elect reality, that Callie Khouri the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay her first time out and raised question might be more S A L A D S firestorms of controversy. Like The Great relevant to your life – both Dictator, we could use another one like it. P I C N I C S online and offline – than ROSETTA (1999) ever before. This film won my internal tug-of-war with Two Days, One Night (2014) to represent What have we done? How did this happen? the Dardenne brothers in this list. Both 1 D U C K W O R T H S T R E E T Was it always this way? Were we too films relentlessly explore urban poverty and distracted and self-obsessed to notice? 7 2 2 - 9 1 6 7 feature mesmerizing performances from c o f f e e @ b a t t e r y c a f e . c a Those questions are too convoluted to female leads. If you want to see and feel address in these 500 words, but what how financial and emotional desperation @thebatterycafe we can do is choose not to re-watch all translates to the screen, these two films The Battery Cafe those classic feel-good Christmas films are just the ticket. this year. We can choose to put away the toys and take a hard look at the world we BOYS DON’T CRY (1999) participated in creating. We can watch a few If you haven’t already, cringe your way films that might help us understand it. through this no-holds-barred film. Based on the real-life story of Brandon Teena THE GREAT DICTATOR (1940) with Hilary Swank in the lead role, Released the year before the United States writer-director Kimberly Pierce takes of America entered WWII, this film was us on a blistering battle cry for the LGBT writer, director, producer, composer, community with a female-born human and star Charlie Chaplin’s first talkie. A being who feels and dresses like a man and seminal piece of Hollywood Nazi satire, its suffers the horrors of bigotry and hate. power is not diminished. If you want your comedy deeper than Alec Baldwin’s SNL MONSTER’S BALL (2001) impersonations of Donald Trump, dive into One word: racism. Name me a film that this Library of Congress preserved piece peers deeper into its complexities. of film and human history. We could use another one like it. CHILDREN OF MEN (2006) Like many films that deal with the imminent NIGHT ON EARTH (1991) extinction of us homo sapiens, this sci-fi The title is self-explanatory. This classic thriller adaptation of P. D. James’ book is from Jim Jarmusch’s and indie film’s golden about hope. Unlike many of those films, decade celebrates the endangered this one doesn’t offer easy expository art of conversing face-to-face road signs and definitive narrative (or via rear-view mirrors) to destinations. Mexican-born break down social, political, What have we director and co-writer Alfonso and cultural barriers. Hop done? How did Cuarón – perhaps better in the five different cabs this happen? Was known for Gravity (2013) – is with the mesmerizing it always this too honest to make those trite international cast and enjoy way? Hollywood offers. the engaging ride.

THE ARTS 23 / DECEMBER 2016 / THE OVERCAST The 2016 Borealis Music Prize

Shortlist BY CHAD PELLEY

The Overcast’s Borealis of its musicians, but how talented they are careers ashore. In addition to being one of the at crafting songs, how big and modern and province’s more interesting songwriters, he’s Music Prize is the province’s diverse the sound is, how well-built the song also one its most prolific. He proved that this richest music award. It structures are, and how tight the band is. year with the release of a double album in an They’re Newfoundland’s answer to a band era where most bands are recording the last aims to find the best local like The New Pornographers: great individual 4 songs they wrote as an EP. His boundless musicians, made even greater by their mad variety of sounds is another standout about the album of the year, across all chemistry. album; musically, all moods and tempos are genres, with the intention covered here, and that means there’s a song for everyone on here. The lyrics opt for being raw of bringing local music out Duane Andrews and to the point: this is two albums worth of a CONCEPTION BAY principled musician and contemplative human, of late night bars, and onto If the longlist jury results are any indication, growing as both a person and a songwriter. His the radars of The Overcast’s Guitar god Duane is a serious contender – he prolific output of solo material, while writing scored the highest collective voting point tally and recording with a significant fraction of the readership. from the longlist jury. If you’ve seen him play, city’s bands, is proof he is an effortlessly born you know Duane Andrews can’t get any better, songwriter. Yet too much of a craftsman to the lyrics are sincere and sung clearly enough The winner receives $1,000 from The Overcast but this album certainly saw him grow and rush his work to tape. to do what music does best: resonate with the + a trophy for their mantlepiece + January’s experiment. Duane says the album has 3 pillars listener. cover story; the winner will be revealed on that reflect and blend three diverse inspirations the cover of January’s issue. The Borealis and influences: Django Reinhart-inspired jazz Pilot to Bombardier Music Prize is a triple-juried award, meaning from the 30s and 40s, traditional NL music, WILD BELLS Repartee Bryan Power’s all-star band is a nice touch on three separate juries create the longlist, and some of his latest interest: classical. So, ALL LIT UP his sophisticated sophomore effort. Among the shortlist, and pick a winner. So it’s not easy how does one fuse those three diverse sounds, All Lit Up truly lit up this year’s Canadian music album’s credits are Hey Rosetta’s Adam Hogan, to win: the winner must impress 3 separate or pair a set of reels to a string quartet? Great charts, and, the 2016 MusicNL gala, where they whom Power has called the album’s “ace” as juries of local media, musicians, and industry question, but Conception Bay answers it well. took home 4 trophies, including Album AND co-producer/arranger, and innovative lead professionals. For juror names along the way, The album is likely Andrews’ best record to Group of the Year. And what a year it's been. guitarist. Every song on the new album is the visit theovercast.ca. date, and there’s also more access points to his Since leaving Newfoundland, they’ve signed product of a careful and calculated songwriter, music than ever: like jazz? Classical? Trad? It’s to Sleepless Records (so they’re label mates and every song is recorded by the book in the all here. Any music fan, no matter what genre with July Talk), and became national media way they build and fill every bit of space with Dame Nature you gravitate towards, will respect the idea of darlings with their fabulously polished sound; a innovative sound textures that perfectly imbibe SELF-TITLED “taking familiar things and doing unfamiliar sound they knew not to rush. “We kept delaying the sentiments and ambiance of each song. Dame Nature (re)emerged onto the scene this things with them.” the release date for the album because our The album is a bit of a lesson in how songs spring with a big, thick sound, bolstered by its team felt like we were growing,” Meg Warren 5 singers and proper horn section. ought to be crafted: write one, circle says, “and that our best material hadn't been it for a while, pick it apart, and written yet.” Their megahit single, “Dukes,” Previously known as City on the Coast, the Jake Nicoll was actually the last thing they recorded for band wanted to shed their past with a new HALF OF NOTHING / TWO put back together with a the album, and, blazing new versions of their name and new sound. As Peter Lanon has THINGS The winner little help from some told The Overcast, “We were constantly being Some songwriters sound like musical friends. As for townie favourite older tunes “Nice Girls” and viewed as ‘City on the Coast, that new young no one but themselves. Think of receives the songs themselves, “Die B4U” act as two points of reference on band in town,’ etc., and we decided it was Joni Mitchell or Leonard Cohen. $1,000, a trophy they’re solid, heartfelt, the album that show just how far their sound time we broke free of that and, the new name Jake Nicoll is one of them, and & January’s and varied. What more has come. The songs on All Lit Up have more ... represents the strong female presence like them, he escapes the sea cover story. do you want? The mood hooks than the Canadian Tire Fishing Aisle, and in the band as well.” Fair enough. What’s of sameness and ordinariness evoked on the album is Repartee legitimately stack up to any Canadian impressive about this album is not the age that anchors most musical affecting and genuine,in how contemporaries making Indie Pop right now.

24 / DECEMBER 2016 / THE OVERCAST THE ARTS Home for the Holidays PHOTO:FELICITY ROBERTS PHOTO:FELICITY Every year Choices for Youth supports over 1000 at-risk and homeless youth.

Clare Dawn Couture This holiday season, #GIVEHOME to change the life of a young person in need.

Couture Meets Culture Donate today at HomeForTheHolidaysNL.ca or call Angela at 709-754-0446.

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH BY FELICITY ROBERTS skills learned there to use seal in a way that is fresh and cosmopolitan, totally different than anything else happening locally. Clare Dawn Couture is producing the most exciting Inspired by Northern fashion and the young designers who are reimagining traditional work with sealskin that I've clothing, “doing what they want and totally ESCAPE TO HAVANA! seen in some time. rocking it,” she embraces free movement between custom and innovation. This constant YOGA + CULTURE IN CUBA RETREAT “I wanted to challenge sealskin fashion” adaptation to current needs breathes life into Clare says. The small body of commercially a culture. She lights up again showing me the March 26 - April 2, 2017 available work here is beautiful, but there rich purple wool of a poncho and explaining are so many ways to work with seal. Her how well she feels seal works with colour. A eyes light up as she talks about working with gifted knitter, her custom cloaks and sweaters local, sustainable fabrics, of which seal is the are stunners. Woven baby buntings showcase easiest for her to source, I learn. yet more skills.

Clare took 3 years to complete her education An orthopedic background led her to think at Anna Templeton, instead of the usual 2 about making shoes, and she has since found for her program, and was grateful for the someone on the Northern Penninsula of flexibility as it allowed her to spend more the island who will be teaching her to make time with her young son and still produce traditional footwear. She will also be learning work she was proud of. She's taking the about a method called bark tanning with seal hides, a process for leather with fur removed. NEW TO NOVA?

Poised to continue breaking ground, Clare Try 30 Days Dawn Designs can be found at Quidi Vidi Village Plantation, online through Facebook for $30! or at claredawncouture.com. Keep an eye out for her collaborations with Kumi Stoddart and Erin Callahan St. John as well. 125 Long's Hill / novayogaonline.com / 743.8303

THE ARTS 25 / DECEMBER 2016 / THE OVERCAST Best of Retail FEMALE-IDENTIFYING CLOTHES Winner: Twisted Sister Runner-up: Opal & Onyx

MALE-IDENTIFYING CLOTHES Winner: Ballistic Runner-up: RW CO

FEMALE-IDENTIFYING SHOES Winner: Twisted Sister Runner-up: Aldo

MALE-IDENTIFYING SHOES Winner: Aldo The Hu That Ha it Runner-up: Ballistic FASHION ACCESSORIES Winner: Posie Row All Thi Christmas Runner-up: Twisted Sister JEWELLERY One-stop Shopping For Everyone On Your List Winner: Whink Runner-up: Posie Row Cool fashion, unique gits, TATTOO PARLOUR and the things you’d never think of Winner: Troublebound Studio Runner-up: Lady Lo

APPAREL • HOME • WHIMSY HOTEL Winner: JAG Runner-up: Fogo Island Inn

ALTERNATIVE ENTERTAINMENT Winner: Escape Quest Runner-up: Jack Axes

MALE-IDENTIFYING HARICUT Winner: Fogtown Runner-up: The Hair Factory

FEMALE-IDENTIFYING HAIRCUT Winner: Sound Salon Runner-up: The Head Room

HOME DECOR Winner: Home on Water Runner-up: Sam Design

FURNITURE Winner: Sam Design Runner-up: Osmonds Furniture

SPA Winner: Monastery Spa Runner-up: Soothe Spa

GYM Winner: Goodlife Fitness Runner-up: JK Conditioning CHRISTMAS HOURS MONDAYFRIDAY 109PM • SATURDAY 106 • SUNDAY 125 YOGA 181 Water Street, Downtown St. John’s • 709-722-7477 Winner: Moksha Yoga Runner-up: Nova Yoga

JOHNNYRUTHLIVINGPLANET JR_LP_NL J R_LP

26 / DECEMBER 2016 / THE OVERCAST RETAIL work they do and are proud to share it with Civic Duty like minded individuals.” Loder explains. “Buying better things, less often means A Great First Year for Best Alternative A Socially having more time to do the things you love.” On top of taking a quality over quantity approach Entertainment Escape Quest to retail, Loder also takes pride in collaborating Conscious, and being part of the community of downtown BY LAUREN POWER St. John's business owners. This goes as Locally far as Civic Duty supplying staff uniforms for restaurants like The Merchant Tavern. “This year has exceeded expectations,” says Mark Denine of Inspired Escape Quest. “We see lots of recurring faces, and there’s always Civic Duty as a name for the store seems to lots of new faces. The word is just constantly getting out.” Boutique coincide with helping in the sustainability of an industry, and supporting people who take Escape Quest is an escape room entertainment centre, where groups are sent into one Shop pride and care in the products they make. of several locked theme rooms, filled with obstacles, locks, and clues. Working together, In a time where people are more conscious BY ADAM HARDING they must solve each problem to find a way out before the clock runs out. Designed by a of where their tangible goods come from, local group of artists and gamers, each room tells a story. At $22 a person, it beats IMAX knowing the history and reputation of a brand for a rich, immersive experience. The centrepiece of Escape Quest’s big year was a limited Jon Loder has a history is definitely a plus. run at LSPU Hall, in partnership with the Resource Centre for the Arts, where they staged of in-fashion retail in the a special escape room titled “Ghosts of the LSPU Hall.” “The LSPU was fantastic… my As someone who tends to wear-out an article favourite thing we’ve done,” says Denine. The LSPU Escape Quest included giant puzzles of clothing until it doesn't feel acceptable city of St. John's, and he involving abandoned dressing rooms, spooky theatre lights, an oversized tabletop Ouija anymore, I appreciate the timeless aesthetic board, and a final puzzle/ritual that took multiple bodies to solve. “The theatre atmosphere launched Civic Duty as a that a lot of these alternative history brands lent itself to what we do. It also raised money for the LSPU Hall. It was valuable to present. While some of the clothing isn't too pop-up in December of 2015, us, because we could see that we’ve built a loyal fanbase, and they showed up. chromatic or “loud,” outdoor brands like Filson We ended up doing an extended run. “We have a lot on the docket [for next before permanently setting and Patagonia offer a fashionably rustic look year]… some exciting announcements,” says Denine. up shop at 4 Clift's Baird's that will hold up through a Newfoundland winter, but don't look out of place during the Check Facebook or Twitter (@escapequestnl) for updates. Cove in April. fall or spring. Red Wing Heritage is a brand that Escape Quest is located at 156 Duckworth Street. has been around since 1905, and offer a sturdy I realized after a few minutes of browsing build of boot made with premium leather. that it’s more than just your typical boutique clothing outlet. They offer a wide variety of You'll also find Canadian brands like such as hoodies, t-shirts and winter hats, by local artist Graham Blair. As a self- heritage brands, fair-trade goods, and the Hudson's Bay and Naked & Famous all marked with their signature sparrow proclaimed hot sauce aficionado, I was also vibe of the shop feels like a home for hanging on the racks, offering logo. What makes Civic Duty stand out for happy to discover “Bastid's Hot Sauce,” a carefully curated collection of a casual to classy contrast me personally is the non-clothing items created by Paul Murphy from Halifax, also high quality products, clothing suitable for all seasons, they offer on top of the lifestyle wares. known as world class hip-hop DJ Skratch or otherwise. “We focus on whether it's a button up Besides accessories like a pre-confederation Bastid. If you're looking for a quality article procuring a collection of items shirt or a jumper for your pendant chain, you can find locally made of clothing, or a locally crafted accessory that are made by craftspeople baby. Civic Duty also offer mugs by Erin Callahan scribed with hilarious as a gift to someone this holiday season, I who are passionate about the their own in-house clothing Newfoundland lingo, and woodcut prints recommend stopping in.

RETAIL 27 / DECEMBER 2016 / THE OVERCAST behaviour. This is the primary reason for the Trucked Up: cage setups one sees in large-scale chicken A Case for farms. Coops also need to take into account the reality of predators on the island – A Political Allegory coyotes, fox, hawks, mink, martin, owls, and Chickens rats will be lined up at the gates to eat your BY IAIN MCCURDY birds before you do. BY BADGE No one quite remembered who actually had been STEP 2 there first, but both of the food trucks claimed it. Indeed, before Darwin and KEEP CHICKENS ALIVE

And it seemed that everyone had a different version of the HMS Beagle set out Each breed of fowl has a laying cycle. Every 26 hours, a properly fed and unstressed chicken why cooking at home had been outlawed by the town. to piss-off the Christian will lay an egg. Unless a rooster fertilizes the One said it was a rash of chip-fryer fires that did it, sent the insurance rates off the charts. Orthodoxy, chicken breeds hen before laying, and the egg is carefully incubated, it will not begin to mature into a Another said it had been a conspiracy all along, the fires were set intentionally. Another were being con-cockled said it had all been rumour. Whichever way you believed it though, the long and the short of chick. This laying period will also it was that unless you were rich enough to eat at the one fancy restaurant in town, whether en-masse in eastern drop off after the chicken reaches 3 years of age. You need to you liked it or not, you were lining up at one of those food trucks at dinner time. Asian and being collect these eggs as they are On one side of the street was the hot dog cart. HARRY’S HOT DOGS: THE ONE AND ONLY passed around laid or they may be trampled, ORIGINAL WORLDS GREATEST HOT DOG JUST A NICKEL proclaimed the sign, in bright eaten by other hens, or like currency, flashing neon lights, with a steady stream of regulars. freeze. Chickens will eat which, they basically everything you throw On the other side of the street was the taco stand. TANYA’S TACOS: HEALTHY VEGETARIAN at them, however, several plant effectively were. TACOS WITH ALL THE FIXENS FOR JUST A DIME is what this sign said. It wasn’t quite as species are toxic to them - read up loud and flashy as the other one, but it had been made with care. first. Their poop is activated nitrogen rich, One could not design a more perfect animal to making excellent compost. To ensure your As five o’clock rolled around the floor, Duane left work and headed toward the taco stand, relegate to eternal consumption. They require chickens don’t become deficient in calcium as he had the day before and the day before that. But as he stood in line, Duane just couldn’t 1/10th of the input for the same amount of (required to make the eggshells) you will need handle the thought of yet another vegetarian taco. They were too expensive, his hours were beef, and they lay a perfectly sized, complete to supplement their diet, but you can grind up getting cut at work, and every day he’d always had a vegetarian taco, rain or shine. He’d even protein source once per day. Here’s a chickens old eggshells and feed them right back to the heard some rumours that Tanya didn’t actually cook them herself. And it looked like they 101 to set yourself up: chickens. In fact, you can feed the chickens were having a grand time on the other side of the street, with the hooting and the hollering. old dead chickens, feathers, and cooked eggs. STEP 1 The birds require little more than 5 minutes of He took one cautious step out of Tanya’s lineup, and then another. People around him THE COOP work a day. started to mutter, louder again as he started to walk across the street. “Duane, what are you doing?” “Duane, they’re as cheap as they seem.” “They’re bad for you.” Duane ignored Chickens require approximately 3 square STEP 3 this. “Duane, they don’t let everyone eat their hot dogs.” That’s just a rumour, he thought. feet of space per bird, to be able to get DON’T GET THEM TAKEN AWAY The Taco stand lineup was now screaming at Duane. “They’re racist, they’re sexist, the themselves off the ground to “roost” sleep( food’s unhealthy. It’s bad, it’s bad!” as he crossed the street. for the night). The coup needs to have a In order to legally own said chickens, you must woodchip, straw, or sand floor to absorb adhere to your town’s bylaws. Many larger Duane got to the front. “Hot dog?” “Yes please.” “Bun?” “Also yes.” “Fixens?” “The works.” droppings. Despite being jungle birds, “Perfect, here you go, pay at the next window.” Duane got to the next window. “That’ll be twenty- towns do not allow chicken ownership. Most chickens’ feathers come in thick enough to five cents.” “But the sign says a nickel.” “Yes but that’s for the hot dog. You also got a bun and all common chicken prejudice is bullshit – they let them survive the winter. However their the fixens.” Duane passed the last quarter he had over to the man. “Now get out of the way.” don’t really smell, they won’t wander without coop must be well ventilated to allow for a rooster around, are they’re very timid and the release the moisture from the chickens’ Duane stepped away from the cart. They were still screaming at him across the road. He quite quiet. However, if your neighbours aren’t breath and droppings, or else the dew looked at the hot dog he had just bought. He looked back for the man in the lineup but he on board with your sustainability fantasy, your collects on their combs and causes frostbite. seemed to have disappeared. Duane didn’t even want it anymore, but he had to eat. He birds may be taken. A CBS woman recently The term “pecking order” is no euphemism. took a little bite at first, then a bigger one, until lost her fight with the town to keep a chicken Each flock has a head bird which will peck he was stuffing it into his face, hot sauce and in her backyard. Failure to comply can result on its sub-dominant bird. This pecking sauerkraut flying every which way, to cheers in a $1,000 fine or three months in prison. So will happen without significant stress from the hot dog stand lineup. He knew it was read up – owning the wrong bird could wind and can be increased when the birds are bad for him, but he wanted more. you up in a cage. agitated. Pecking is considered cannibalistic

28 / DECEMBER 2016 / THE OVERCAST MISCELLANY effort to flesh out this hypothesis, I asked Come Oh a few musician friends to elaborate on The Enthusiast! Ye Faithful their own favourite Christmas classics. How to Get Into It seems there are two distinct categories What Makes of classic Christmas jams: “Hanging the Holiday Spirit out by the fire drinking”, and “Get thee a Christmas to church, it’s the one time of year you go (and you’re going to earn it!)”. Kelly BY LAUREN POWER Song Shine? McMichael (Renders) shies away from the latter. “I'm not big on a lot of Christmas On the darkest nights of the year, it’s a good time to remind yourself that we’re all still BY SANDY MAY music...old fashioned music tends to creep capable of acts of great kindness, creativity, and warmth. Approach the season with gusto, me out...the Christianity and racism and and you’ll enter the new year refreshed and smelling like cloves! sexism seems to seep out of the choirs or Ours is a house divided. something...” SHOPPING To be clear, no one under There’s plenty of ways to keep your shopping local. Some Good Market will be at St. Thomas's I sympathize with McMichael; we’re living Church (8 Military Road) on December 3rd from 10am-4pm. On the same weekend, the North this roof disagrees over in crazy times. Instead, McMichael opts for Pole Christmas Fair will be at Jack Byrne Arena in Torbay, with over 100 vendors under one U.S. President-Elect, who the 1965 mega classic “A Charlie Brown roof. Meanwhile, the St. John’s Farmer’s Market is doing an online fundraiser (12 Days of Local, Christmas,” giving a special shout-out December 5 to the 16th). “Our vendors donate products and we auction them off on our Facebook shall remain unnamed. to “Christmas time is here.” “The Vince page,” says Emily Hunt of SJFM. No, I’m talking about Guaraldi trio does such a nice, warm, soothing job... that music just makes THEATRE & PERFORMANCE Christmas songs. me feel good. It's the cool, calming kind Resource Centre for the Arts is doing a production of Penning the Carol! performed and written of jazz. Pretty, twinkly piano and warm by Aiden Flynn (December 21 and 22) , with all proceeds going to RCA and CAPE (Cultural Specifically, I’m talking David Bowie and standup bass and soft symbol splashes... Artists Plan for Emergencies, a special fund for artists in Newfoundland experiencing exceptional Bing Crosby’s 1977 chestnut, “Peace dreamy.” Translation: drinking by the fire. emergencies or crisis). For a touch of Tchaikovsky, there’s Kittiwake’s Nutcracker 2015 on Earth/Little Drummer Boy.” The (December 16, 17, 18), which will have guest soloists from the Atlantic Ballet Theatre of Canada collaboration defies logic, yet, for reasons Danielle Hamel (It Could Be Franky, Land with Kittiwake Dance Theatre Company members and dancers from the community. The annual unclear to me, continues to endure. In of the Lakes) singled out “Christmas (Baby Mummers Parade is Saturday, December 10, from 2-3, starting at Bishop Feild Elementary an effort to better understand the other Please Come Home).” “I've always liked (46 Bond Street). There are tons of associated events (mummersfestival.ca). Make your own ugly side (tolerance if you will?) I asked my Death Cab for Cutie's version.” Her partner stick! Jam on some pots and pans! other-half to help walk me through the Matthew Thomson (Land of the Lakes) mindset of a typical “Peace on Earth/ likes The Raveonette's version. (Wait, did CHRISTMAS CHEER Little Drummer Boy” fan. He spoke to Bono not write this?) Hamel adds, “I think “The NLC has a stock of the Gold Medal Winners from the Canada Beer Awards,” says Tom me of a kinder, gentler time: of cardigan it lends itself well to being a melancholic Beckett of the Newfoundland Labrador Artisanal and Craft Beer Club, including the super-rich sweaters and sheet music, of introducing holiday song.” Translation: definitely and chocolatey Flying Monkeys Chocolate Manifesto. “There is still a good selection of both the yourself to your new neighbours. David drinking by the fire. smoked German beers and the Delirium beers.” The Craft Beer Advent Calendars have also made visiting the old guy down the road strikes their return to the NLC, with new reinforced cardboard cases. chord in his heart, he says. I mention that For his part Thomson tipped his hat to David’s quite possibly completely out of “O Come, O Come Emmanuel.” “It’s a MUSIC his tree. He responds, “but nobody is alone haunting, solemn song.” Translation: Get If you're looking for something to exorcise "Simply Having a Wonderful Christmas Time" from your at Christmas.” I concede – nostalgia for thee to church then reward yourself by brain, try a big symphonic “Hallelujah!”, with the Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra’s annual a simpler time is clearly a strong, if not, drinking, preferably by a fire. production of Handel's Messiah (Friday, December 16 & 17 at The Basilica at 8:00 PM ). Bring a butt irrational force to be reckoned with. pillow (seriously). Pews weren’t made of comfort. Hey Rosetta will be doing three shows (December As I continue to contemplate 2016’s 16 & 17 at the St. John’s Convention Centre), Fortunate Ones will be, too (December 9, 10, 11 at George One of my personal favourites has to big, brash finale, I’m left longing for that Street United), and The Once will be doing four (December 16, 17 & 18 at Gower Street United Church). be Mariah Carey’s 1994 “All I want for kinder, gentler time, alcohol, and possibly Kenny & Dolly (Don Brenton and Sheila Williams, with house band The Generations) are enjoying a sold Christmas is You.” Mariah under the tree, prayer. I return to “Peace on Earth/ out run at George Street United Church (December 4th, 5th, and 8th), but you can still watch the complete Mariah riding a Ski-Doo, Mariah dancing Little Drummer Boy” with fresh ears to original 1984 Kenny & Dolly Christmas special, “A Christmas to Remember” on YouTube. and singing with Santa in a bangin’ red find David and Bing joined together for snowsuit. An absolute classic with which I a bridge that seems wholly tailored for VOLUNTEER can find no fault. The 1990s are my kinder, these times: “Every child must be made Speaking of holiday television traditions, remember when the Golden Girls helped out at a soup gentler time. Nostalgia. Is there anything aware, every child must be made to care kitchen, and Murphy Brown cooked turkey dinners for the less fortunate? Our city’s soup kitchens more to a classic Christmas song than Care enough for his fellow man, to give all and food banks need you, too. Volunteer at the Jimmy Pratt Memorial Soup Kitchen at George this? Could it really be so simple? In an the love that he can.” Street United Church, the Gathering Place, or your local food bank. Head’s up: Don’t be like Carlton and Hilary at the homeless shelter: Call ahead. New volunteers need to be screened, trained, and supervised, so you can’t just roll up on Christmas morning and expect to be handed an apron.

MISCELLANY 29 / DECEMBER 2016 / THE OVERCAST ACROSS Star Gazing 3. This bar downtown has a namesake cousin in Untitled townie The Goulds. (?) City. A Few Things December 5. 4-letter radio station name of this Cross Yule Never Believe A.M outfit on Patrick Street downtown. 1 Horoscopes 6. Name of the street in St. John's on which the word about Christmas... annual Santa Claus Parade occurs.

ARIES: Your game is strong, but don't Though depicted as a jolly, rotund DOWN push it. Process emotional issues now, or 2 1. Last name of the Hollywood actor, Jason, who man today, early depictions of pursue productive adventures. Leave logic came to NL to film the TV series, Frontier. Santa, or St. Nicholas, projected tasks for later. a stern symbol of discipline, who 2. The type of bread fishermen used to take out to sea with them. 2 words. commanded good behaviour. 3 4 TAURUS: Communication on point, 3. St. Phillips's Jenn Martin was judgment questionable. Enjoy time with your recently a contestant on the CBC It’s been written that Paul McCartney dearest, hugs are good. Live and let live. Gameshow Canada's (?) Person. earns close to half-a-million dollars 4. According to the name of every year from his Christmas song, GEMINI: Dissipated energy revived this local cafe chain, “Wonderful Christmas Time.” through quirky affections. Go to art (?) Matters. 5 parties, connect with creative people. Get 6. A man in central Denny’s restaurants are open 24-7, out of your head. presumably caught one of so they were built without locks. This these in his CANCER: Potential for breakthroughs, was not an issue until they started fox trap last 6 but don't get maudlin. Deeper passions giving their employees the day off in month. pull you inward as the month moves on. 1988, and couldn’t lock up on account of having no locks. Stay light. LEO: Help yourself by helping others. You According to some environmentalists, shine in this role now. How can you best PSSST! an artificial Christmas tree would spread your awesomeness around? ANSWERS have to be reused for more than 20 BELOW years to be “greener” than buying a VIRGO: Speak your truth early this month, fresh-cut tree annually look forward to a burst of energy on the Across Down 19th when Mars enters Pisces. Much is 3. 1. Christmas is supposed to be Jesus’s possible. This bar downtown has a namesake cousin in The Last name of the Hollywood actor, Jason, who came to Goulds. (?) City. NL to film the TV series, Fronbirthday,tier. but the Bible makes no mention of this, or of December 25th LIBRA: Love big, talk small. Be a buffer 5. 4-letter radio station name of this A.M outfit on Patrick 2. The type of bread fishermen used to take out to sea at all. Scholars say he was born if family tensions arise. Help with the Street downtown. with them. 2 words. in the spring. decorating, you're just good at these things. The real 6. Name of the street in St. John's on which the annual 3. St. Phillips's Jenn Martin was recently a contestant on Santa Claus Parade occurs. the CBC Gameshow Canada's (?) Person. SCORPIO: Take things at face value early People used to spend Christmas Eve 4. According to the name of this local cafe chain, (?) month, turn your spidey senses back on by telling really scary ghost stories to Matters. the 19th. Remember time at month’s end to each other. Also, in Sweden, watching 6. ground and center. dea A maln in c.entral presumabDonaldly caug Duckht on cartoonse of the sise a i nhuge his We’ve seen cheap knock-os. e W’ve seen expensivefox trap las t month. tradition. SAGITTARIUS: You are on fire with the sun in your sign. Its transition to Capricorn knock-os. But for quality and The image of Santa Claus flying on the 21st is pause for reflection and naps. ear, w nothing steps up like around in a sleigh came from the therigina o l, time-tested 1820s, and is attributed to author CAPRICORN: Hold tight and stoke your Blundstoneboot. Washington Irving; the same man inner flame through December. As the sun u ll on P comfort who created the Headless Horseman. transitions into your sign, unleash and since 1870. amaze. Irving Berlin’s "White Christmas" is ha t ’ s T the bestselling single in history. AQUARIUS: Just be yourself and do your h e d e a tl. thing. Months like this are made for you. Every year since 1918, Nova Scotia #587 sends Boston a huge Christmas tree PISCES: Driven but possibly emotionally The Leather Lined in Rustic Black. as a thank you for their help after scattered, lay the hammer down on $209.95 1917’s Halifax Explosion. whatever is in your way. Be the answer to blundstone.ca

your own prayers.

Down: Across: 1 – Mamoa 2 – Hard Tack 3 – Smartest 4 – Coffee 6 – Wolf – 6 Coffee – 4 Smartest – 3 Tack Hard – 2 Mamoa – 1 Water - 6 VOWR – 5 Shamrock – 3

30 / DECEMBER 2016 / THE OVERCAST MISCELLANY SHAKE THE TREE VINYL MUSIC FROM HOME TO SEND AWAY

METALLICA BEATLES Hardwired... Live at the To Self Destruct Hollywood Bowl

THE ONCE FORTUNATE ONES ENNIS SISTERS HEATHER BAMBRICK RUM RAGGED CORY TETFORD We Win Some We Lose All Will Be Well Upon a Winter’s Day You’ll Never Know Fred’s trad pick In the Morning

SEA DOGS DERM KEAN & AN Dory of Souls INCREDIBLE WOMAN

HEARTBROKEN FRETBOARD REPARTEE DOUG DORWARD NOVAKS FROM STAGE feat. DAMHNAIT DOYLE JOURNEY All Lit Up Waves Eager Power TO STAGE Storm Clouds Duane Andrews, Multiple MusicNL Scottish Fiddler & Gentle Fury A Very Blasty Craig Young, Sandy Award Winners NFLD All Stars Christmas Morris, Gordon Quinton

TRAGICALLY HIP BON IVER Man Machine Poem 22, A Million

DUO CONCERTANTE VARIOUS JANET CULL WINTERHEARTH RON HYNES RON HYNES J.S.Bach-Six Sonatas ARTISTS Real Tough Love Resettlement Later That Same Life Standing in Line Homebrew 16 Ron’s final recording in the Rain Back in print! LUMINEERS SLOAN Cleopatra Twice Removed NEWFOUNDLAND BOOKS

WEREWOMAN RADIOHEAD Youth Slipt A Moon Shaped Pool SHE & HIM BING CROSBY VINCE GUARALDI MICHAEL BUBLÉ JACK & THE Christmas Party Merry Christmas A Charlie Brown Christmas MAGNIFICENT Christmas Coloured vinyl DOYLE’S UGLY STICK ALMANAC Kid’s Book Newfoundland Art based on The Once, HOT NEW RELEASES 2017 Matt Hornell, Fortunate Ones

KENDRICK LAMAR RED HOT CHILI Untitled_Unmastered PEPPERS The Getaway

GIFT CERTIFICATES VINYL LOADS LEONARD COHEN GORD DOWNIE ROLLING STONES STING MARTHA SHAWN COLVIN & RE-ISSUES OF You Want It Darker Secret Path Blue & Lonesome 57th & 9th WAINWRIGHT STEVE EARLE Pink Floyd Goodnight City Colvin & Earle CDS All titles in stock The Hip UNDER BOX SETS & many more $10 S VINYL ACCESSORIES Sleeves, mats, brushes

VAN MORRISON GILLIAN WELCH KINGS OF LEON NATHANIEL RATELIFF BLUE RODEO BRUCE Keep Me Singing Boots No. 1 Walls A Little Something More 1000 Arms SPRINGSTEEN Chapter & Verse NEWFOUNDLAND MUSIC ONLINE fredsrecords.com Weekdays til 9, Saturday til 6, Sunday 12–5 (709) 753-9191 fredsrecords.com 198 Duckworth Street

31 / DECEMBER 2016 / THE OVERCAST OLIDAY H SPIRIT AT THE ROOMS

with Colleen Power

Sunday, December 18 1 – 4 pm

Take part in our Christmas sing-a-long with musician Colleen Power, make a tree decoration and join us for our favorite story time, T’was the Night before Christmas. Wear your pretty or ugly Christmas sweater for a chance to win a prize!

Included with the price of admission.

www.therooms.ca | 9 Bonaventure Avenue, St. John’s, NL | 709.757.8000