Booyah!

Awesome day today. Received word that I won a University and College Designers Association (UCDA) Award of Excellence for work I did on this piece - the 2011-2012 SIAST Annual Report. The wire-o bound document with multiple covers embellished with silver foil will also be displayed in the permanant archive at UCDA headquarters. It's especially significant as my employer was recognized amongst nearly 1000 entries including submissions from institutes such as Harvard and Yale. #goSIAST #Booyah!

More to follow in October when awards are officially handed out at the UCDA Design Conference in Kentucky:   

In an Octopus's Garden in Tokyo

My first night in Shinjuku, jetlagged and lost in translation, I went to the 7-11 at the corner of the block to get something to eat. 7-11s in Japan are slightly different from the model in North America. As few homes in metro Tokyo have space for a traditional kitchen, they act as neighborhood grocers with plenty of take-out food options ranging from traditional Japanese to Italian dishes, not just stacks of Doritos and vats of flavoured slush (although you could get those too if homesick). Combing the aisles and endless options, I found something that resembled the stir-fry consisting of chicken, noodles, vegetables and teriyaki sauce that I love to order at Palatal Mongolian Grill in Winnipeg. Of course, this is what I thought it was as everything was written in traditional Japanese characters and I couldn't read a darn thing. I was tired. It was food. I heated it up in the microwave and was on my merry way. Many of my nights end this way. Sadly and regrettably. 

Shinjuku is my favorite part of the megalopolis known as Tokyo. Known as the "red light" district of the city, it is located next to the downtown core where many, many suits and their briefcases spend long hours strengthening the country's GDP only to spend their evenings playing pachinko! and openly purchasing anime porn. Besides this, Shinjuku is also known for having every square inch of building space lit up in the glow of neon lights. When advertising agencies or music video directors need a futuristic, hip vision that could be earth or could be a newly found planet in an alternate universe, this is where they go.  

Anyway, back at the hotel I turned on the wonderfully weird world of Japanese TV and dug into my meal with a set of plastic utensils that I brought from home. I cannot, no matter how hard I try, ever get the hang of chopsticks. The first few bites of my entrée went down well. They were tasty and flavorful...and mostly noodles. Then I started to encounter a few crunchy bits. "Odd", I thought to myself. "Perhaps they didn't get all the bones out of the chicken?"

I continued eating and watching TV, not paying attention to my plate. The crunchy bits remained (I just spit them out) but then I bit into something that actually adhered itself to one of my teeth. Not between my teeth, mind you...on my tooth. Making my way to the bathroom mirror to investigate, I was grossed out by what I saw: a grayish thing suctioned to one of my incisors. I got it off and immediately went back to see what my dinner actually consisted of.  

It was the first and last time I ate octopus. 

Shinjuku by day: 

Shinjuku by night: 

To view more images of Japan, click here.  

Bathroom Reno

My bathroom renovation is finally done!!! Or at least 97% done*. As this is my first home and the first time I've gotten to use my living space as a true blank canvas, I'm quite proud of my work (and my dad's hard labour). Who knew that in my 30s I'd get excited about a faucet? Here is a before-and-after: 

The picture on the left was taken when I viewed the property. The picture on the right is how it looks today. The only thing that remained is the vanity itself, modernized with contemporary handles. Everything else was trashed...especially the toilet seat made out of Pinocchio. Flooring transitioned from low-end gray laminate to vinyl plank in African Darkwood, countertop is "Tatami Wasabi" by Arborite, the new mirror was a lucky find in the clearance aisle of HomeSense (perfect size and matches floor), towel rack and "Trones" storage unit from IKEA. The waterfall faucet, my favorite upgrade, is a work of art; I've wasted a lot of water as it's so soothing just to watch it trickle down from the spout. *The only things remaining are upgrading my lighting to something more modern and a new door, just because. 

I even bought all new towels as I noticed Pantone is whoring themselves out to the homewares market now. Not sure how many people outside of the design community know what Pantone is, but whatever - they are soft and fluffy. 

There's still, regrettably, a lot of late 80s "dusty rose" colouring in the rest of my unit but it will soon be gone too. I've dropped a lot of other things and am focusing on making my condo the ultimate art/design project. 

My Hometown

L'Esplanade Riel: 
Leo Mol Sculpture Garden, Assiniboine Park: 
Entrance to the English Gardens at Assiniboine Park: 
Live jazz at The Lyric at Assiniboine Park: 
Duck pond at Assiniboine Park: 
Winnipeg's skyline from the top of The Forks Market: 
The Human Rights Museum with Winnipeg's largest skatepark in the foreground: 
To view more images of Winnipeg, please click here.  

Reasons to Visit Winnipeg #2: The Parks

My favorite thing to do when visiting Winnipeg is take a walk through LaBarriere Park, a pristine greenspace on the outer limits of #YWG that few people seem to know about as its forest trails are often devoid of anything other than squirrels, rabbits and the occassional teenager using the cloak of privacy the park offers to practice the correct method of marijauna inhalation outside of the prying eyes of their parents.

The parks 84 hectares are split between well-manicured lawns hosting empty baseball diamonds and picnic tables, to a lush forest that alternately resembles something out of a medieval fairytale to the haunted woods of the Blair Witch Project (depending on the season). When I lived in Winnipeg, I would walk my ol' dog Reggie here on a daily basis and use the relative solitude and anonymity at LaBarriere to sing. Yes, sing. Outloud, terribly, to an audience of elm and oak. It was my 70s rock phase too. Despite sounding worse than nails on a chalkboard, there is something so liberating about doing things in public that you normally wouldn't have the confidence to do otherwise. This statement can also cover my most memorable moment at the park when I hiked in on two people doing the, uh, "horizontal polka". The couple, in their 50s based on the dendrochronology I observed on their bodies, was moritifed. I got out of dodge and couldn't stop chuckling to myself wondering if poison oak on the nether regions would be something they suffer in addition to extreme embarrassment.  

If legal, socially acceptable pursuits are more one's fancy, Winnipeg parks still have a lot to offer. Assiniboine Park, the biggest at 1100 acres, has a zoo, several restaurants (fine dining and casual), skating rinks/ponds, a conservatory housing exotic plants, an English garden, a cricket field and outdoor stages that showcase local music and performances by the famous Royal Winnipeg Ballet during the summer. One could spend hours there in serenity away from the city's traffic woes, noise and other annoyances. It's an oasis. 

Outside of the -40 degree celcius winters, most Winnipeg parks are a slice of zen which is why I name them the #2 thing to see and do there. 

Reasons to Visit Winnipeg #1: The Food

Back in my hometown for a bit. I spent the first 29 years of my life here complaining about how it never changed. How it seemed to be stuck in a rut of mediocrity and crime and white leather tassled purses masquerading as local haute couture, the days blurring into each other with an endless soundtrack loop of Loverboy and Kim Mitchell until one wasn't sure if it was 2007 or 1983. A series of fortunate events led me to leave after years of threatening to do so...not that the city (or anyone else) cared. When you're from Winnipeg, it stays in your bones forever; it's an accepted fact that you will have a cross to bear. But the geographical change was good for both of us. When I return now I'm not entirely sure if the past were a mirage constructed by my own imagination or if I'm only recently seeing through rose-tinted glasses.

Winnipeg, modern Winnipeg at least, is great in moderate doses. In the years since I've left in 2010, the city has seen the return of its beloved Jets, built a beautiful new stadium for the undeserving Bombers, finally completed the first leg of a rapid transit system, is demonstrating that they understand the meaning of the word "world-class" when building musems and making upgrades to urban green space, and got an IKEA (people may think this is not worthy of mention, but it - along with other international brands setting up shop here - demonstrates a healthy economy which is something to praise in addition to having easily attainable Kolsyrad Pärondryck). The next few posts will serve to remind me of Winnipeg's greatness and hopefully get you thinking about visiting and discovering it for yourself. Can't promise you that "Patio Lanterns" won't play on the radio during your stay though. 

Without a doubt, the greatest reason to visit Winnipeg is the food. No matter what you are craving, #YWG has it. Pizza isn't just pizza...it's a religious experience at places like Santa Lucia and Mister B's. The Asian cuisine at restaurants like Four Seasons and Palatal will elevate your taste buds to shangri-la. The decor (and refined menu) in a classic joint like Rae and Jerry's will have you questioning if the man in the booth opposite is Don Draper. And dessert is never spared; the Queen of England herself is treated to cakes from Jeannie's Bakery and imperial cookies from High Tea Bakery when she visits. I've noticed so many new restaurants (and now food trucks) I want to try during this stay that I may not get to my favorites. Or I may return to Saskatoon 20lbs heavier. Not sure if I packed my stretchy pants. 

There is a unique cultural fusion in all aspects of River City dining. Fast food or a slow, sit down meal, from a truck or at a diner, I'm launching the debate and stating that Winnipeg has the best food in all of Canada. Bon appetite!