Meat me at the Barbecue

After reading my colleague's wonderful post about the vegetarian grill, I felt the need to talk about the other side.  Frankly I believe when most people think of the word barbecue, we think of juicy charbroiled meat.  Don't get me wrong, veggies have an important role in a barbecue but for me it's usually relegated to that smaller part of the grill that sits above the main grill or maybe between meat on a kabob skewer.  It's definitely not the main attraction.  Everything tastes better on a barbecue and that's why I can't think of anything better then a nice juicy barbecued streak with a cold beverage on a nice summer day.  Want to refine your BBQ skills or try something new, I've posted some of the newer cookbook titles that were added to the collection.  I haven't read them all but I'm sure there's a page or two about veggies, so everybody wins.

 

Lettuce go to the BBQ: The vegetarian and vegan grill

Have you ever been the only vegetarian at a BBQ? Or are you a vegetarian or vegan planning to host friends over this summer who have all different tastes? It's never easy planning meals that will please our friends and family that are painless (and also good to the environment).  With titles like "Simply satisfying" and "Easy, sexy raw" TPL will help you find recipes that will satisfy the long-time vegan, as well as introduce vegetarian/vegan dishes skeptical friends and family will love (and not just tolerate)!

Check out these titles on great summer vegetarian and vegan (even flexitarian) BBQ dishes everyone will like:

   
 

 

Dad is Fat

I'm a big fan of live stand-up comedy.  I love the entertainment value of going to a local comedy club and getting some laughs for an hour or two.  When one of my favourite comedians comes to town, I try to attend and when they write a book, it usually makes its way on to my reading list.  In the last couple of years I've read such books as Stephen Colbert's I Am America (And So Can You),Lisa Lampanelli's Chocolate, Please: My Adventures in Food, Fat and Freaks and Jeff Ross' I Only Roast the Ones I Love.  I've seen them all live and knew that I would enjoy their books.  Not too long ago I saw Jim Gaffigan perform in Buffalo, NY (He had a show in Toronto's Massey Hall but the date didn't work for me).  So when I heard that he had a book coming out titled Dad is Fat, I knew I would have to give it a read.  Well, I just finished it the other day and I must say it's Librarian approved.  He has a comedic style that will appeal to most.  This book is written from the viewpoint of a father of 5 living in a 2 bedroom apartment in Manhattan.  I've heard him describe having 5 children as, "Imagine you're drowning.  And someone hands you a baby".  I personally don't come from a big family, nor do I have any kids but I now feel like I know what it's like.  So if you're in the mood for some funny observations from a father of 5, it's definitely worth a read.     

What are you doing for NXNE this weekend?

Now in its 19th year, North by Northeast Festivals and Conference (NXNE) has become the Canadian festival destination for emerging artists as well as major-label headliners; music filmmakers; comedians; visual, sound, and other artists; and for digital interactive innovators bridging the gap between technology and the arts.

Beginning June 10 - 16th, NXNE runs seven days and nights, with an eclectic mix of music, film, comedy and art to check out at venues throughout the city. I always view the schedule online and make a bucket list of all the bands I want to see throughout the weekend.  Things can easily get hectic but travelling from venue to venue between sets is all part of the fun!

Other than the NXNE Music takeover, there are a few other series to check out: 

NXNE Film screens 30+ of the year’s best music-themed features, documentaries, shorts, and experimental films from around the world.

NXNE Interactive (NXNEi) is a digital interactive media conference like no other. It brings together content-creating artists, tech entrepreneurs, digital marketing gurus, web business experts, and social media aficionados for four days of workshops, presentations, and panels that explore the newest ideas in bridging the gap between creativity and the interactive world.

NXNE Comedy presents popular and emerging stand-up and sketch acts from around the world.

NXNE Art will connect visual artists with an expanded, engaged audience. It will feature late-night visual art fun as well as a packed slate of daytime activities both on the streets and in galleries. Art will also be presented in non-traditional viewing spaces.

                  

TPL also has a local music collection that includes many of the bands who have previously played NXNE and many that are playing this weekend!  Check out our Make Some Noise blog and our local music collection here.

To find all the detailed schedule and ticket information, check out NXNE online! 

What shows will you be checking out?

Sudoku Puzzles, Anyone?

I take the TTC to work most days and on my daily commute I'm usually curious to see what other people are reading.  I like to think of it as research for work or just to see if it's something that I'm not familar with.  One thing that's fairly obvious is that even though Crosswords are still done by many people, it would seem that Sudoku reigns supreme.  I've seen people filling out the puzzle in books, newspapers, smartphones and tablets.  There are even authors that write sukodu mystery fiction like Parnell Hall, Shelley Freydont and Kaye Morgan, to name a few.  I've tried the puzzles myself from time to time but I'm nowhere near as fast as most of my fellow commuters.

 

 

Here's a couple of sites where you can refine your sudoku skills; 

Globe and Mail - Offers two styles; Classic Sudoku and Mega Sudoku

New York Times - Offers Sudoku puzzles with 3 levels of difficulty

Toronto Star - Offers one style of Sudoku in the Diversions section.

Metro News - Offers six different styles of Sudoku

Did I miss any good ones?