3 more reasons to love Toronto

1. Craigleigh Gardens


Plaque at Craigleigh Gardens


2. Chippy's on Queen West!


Humble receipt representing a stellar meal.

Tastes even better when eaten on the grass in Trinity Bellwoods Park (That's the 3rd reason)

Today I took the afternoon off and soaked in three of the best things Toronto has to offer:
Craigleigh Gardens, Chippy's fish + chips, and Trinity Bellwoods Park.

Thinking about Slogans

Great episode on Age of Persuasion today on Slogans.

The always insightful Terry O'Reilly traces slogans back to the battle cries from medieval times. (The word comes from the Gaelic "Slaugh Gairn" which means "cry of the host.")

If you run a business it's a good idea to spend some time thinking "What would my slogan be?" It's an excellent way to help further define + refine your company.

Happy to be Home

Best steak dinner Ehva*.
*that's "Ever" spoken with thick Brooklyn accent.

NYC Day 9: Packing up

Hmm.. Maybe too many books.

NYC Day 8 Eve: Florent

Poster for the movie:
Owner Florent Morellet in fabulous Marie Antoinette garb on Bastille Day

The Marquee sign at Cinema Village


The sign outside florent during the last 5 weeks. Removing the L to make F ORENT = so clever.

Some great Florent graphics


The menu board during the last 5 weeks.
The restaurant celebrated the 5 stages of loss. Too smart/ adorable -no?
In the film David Rakof's "Anger" monologue was priceless. Love him.

On the eve of NYC Day 8 Scott + I went to see the documentary Florent: Queen of the Meat Market by David Sigal.
For 23 years this all night diner in the Meat Packing District was prime stomping ground for an electric mix of A list celebrities, everyday new yorkers, club kids + transvestities and played an important role in LGBT activism. The documentary chronicled the history + final days of this new york institution.

I came away from the film with a huge respect for the owner Florent Morellet who demonstrated an incredible combo of creativity, business saavy, courage, sense o' humour + HUGE joie de vivre. A definite role model!

I had long admired florent's gutsy + hilarious graphics so another highlight of the film was to learn that they were done by design giant Tibor Kalman + his company M + Co. (in exchange for a catered lunch delivered to the designers 4 days a week!) How great!

You can read an article by Jennifer Kabat on the design aspects of florent here.
Her essay + this doc are both are highly recommended.

ps. Right after the film I ran to the Strand to find any books I could on Tibor Kalman. I predict he will become my "new favourite thing" that I can't stop thinking about.