NEILIA'S NOTES

Stratford Trip 2011

2011-08-05T00:22:00.000-04:00

We just returned from a whirlwind trip to one of my favourite Ontario towns--Stratford. Home of the swans and ducks along the river, one of a kind shopping and of course, the Stratford Shakespeare Festival.

I saw two plays, Jesus Christ, Superstar and The Little Years. The first with hubby and my ten year old son and the latter on my own.

I knew some of the songs from JC- Superstar but didn't really know how the material would be handled. My decison to see this play was clinched after viewing a preview of one of the songs sung by up and coming star Josh Young as Judas. The end of play where he confronts Jesus is quite powerful.

The play begins with Christ and a bunch of his followers making their way to Jerusalem. Much of the drama focuses on the relationship he has with Mary Magdalene and Judas, both characters are presented as having intense feelings for Jesus, while he is struggling with all that he has taken on and the demands of "role" which he says feel like " 30 years instead of 3." We don't witness miracles but rather a man who has achieved superstar status incurring pressures from his "groupies", concern from the High Priests who worry that his claim of being King of the Jews will lead to anger from the Romans, and a conflicted reaction from his close friend Judas, who appears to love him intensely, while fearing the changes that are occuring with Christ's rise to fame.

We all have a pretty good idea how it ends but it is interesting to watch this version of the events unfold. Much of the time Christ is confused and pre-occupied with a feeling that people around him don't really care about him anymore. He tries to heal the sick and poor and then in despair shrieks at them to " Heal Themselves". This production has stand out performances from Brent Carver and Josh Young as well as an enjoyable comedic scene in the court of Herod.

My only disappointment was in the character of Mary Magadelen--the prostitute who loves Jesus just didn't seem to generate any passion or enthusiam in her performance
The choreography, excellent singing voices and interesting minimalist set make for an enjoyable theatre experience.If you were young when Jesus Christ Superstar. first came out as movie in 1970, you were surely feel waves of nostalgia as you listen to this rock opera.

The Little Years was quite an interesting play that gets the audience thinking about concepts of time, science, and art which are all played against the aging process of a woman who gets stuck when her innovative and intelligent thoughts are not nutured but rather repressed by her mother and the school system. Her sister-in-law tries to encourage her along the way and she lives her life in the shadow of her brother who is lauded throughout the play but never actually seen as a character.

By the end of the play, we realize that time is a very precious commodity and even if we don't quite understand it--we must try to make the most of the time we have.

Stratford is a beautiful town that is easy to navigate and quite walkable. There are a myriad of lovely bed and breakfasts--many within easy walking distance of the theatres and the downtown area. Make sure to reserve well in advance as the accommodations and restaurants book up early during the busy summer season.
For more information check out: http://www.welcometostratford.com/

The Sandy Six

2009-07-01T00:40:00.001-04:00

Published in Today's Parent Toronto

The Sandy Six

By Neilia Sherman

Cobourg Beach

Every day can be a vacation this summer because we have amazing beaches that are only an hour or two away from the GTA.

Cobourg Beach on Lake Ontario is only an hour east of Toronto but it feels like another world. A series of peaked walkways lead onto the beach at various entry points from the surrounding Victoria Park. The serene town of Cobourg is the backdrop to this beautiful strip of smooth white sand. The beach is wide and the clear water deepens so gradually that your kids will be able to walk out quite before the water goes over their knees.

There are change rooms with flush toilets and running water just steps away from the water’s edge. Lifeguards are on duty and floatation devices and small personal watercrafts are allowed near the swimming area. To check on the condition of the water go to: www.hkpr.on.ca

Victoria Park boasts large covered picnic areas, tables, a snack bar and a really nice playground with a splash pad. Other sources of entertainment nearby include a wading pool, an outdoor pool, mini gold and lawn bowling. There is no cost to enter the beach area and parking lots are available or you can park in the town and walk down to the waterfront. www.cobourgtourism.ca or 1-888-262-6874:

Grand Bend Beach
Families love the town of Grand Bend which is right on the shores of beautiful Lake Huron. At the end of the day, people gather to watch the renowned sunsets; the raised platform next to the concession stand offers a perfect view. The beach is right at the end of one of the funkiest beach towns this side of the border, thus it has come to be known as Florida North in these parts.

Running water, flush toilets and outdoor showers are all onsite. There is no entrance fee and free or metered parking is available on nearby side streets. This strip of beach isn’t very shaded -so it is recommended that you bring a large beach umbrella to plant in the sand. Although there is no playground right at the beach- a walk through the town of Grand Bend will show you the myriad of the things to do here-including mini-golf, arcades, playgrounds and tons of shopping and restaurants. In the late afternoon, the waves can get so high that you’ll swear you’re on the ocean of the some Caribbean Island. There are lifeguards but keep an extra eye out for small kids. Your older ones will be busy body surfing.
www.grandbend.com. Phone: 519-786-2335 Beach Water Quality Hotline Info:(519) 482-3416 or

KELSO CONSERVATION AREA

Kelso Conservation Area is the place to take your budding outdoor enthusiasts. The sandy beach is in a 397 hectare park that was established on the Niagara Escarpment in Milton in 1960. The rates for entry are $4.50 for adults and $3.25 for children. Kids 4 and under are no charge. After you park-you must go down some hillside stairs to get the refreshing lake water. Hundreds of picnic tables dot the rolling landscape and since foliage abounds-finding shade is not a problem here. The swimming is supervised by lifeguards and you can rent kayaks, paddle boats and canoes. Even lessons are available. In spite of being in the middle of a huge conservation area-all your needs are met right next to the beach with a beach concession stand, change rooms and lockers being available. In addition to swimming, there is a playground and a volleyball court not to mention 16 km of hiking trails.

To get to Kelso drive west on the 401 to Highway 25 then go north to Campbellville Road. http://www.conservationhalton.on.ca/ or call 905-336-1158.

For information on Water Quality call 905-878-5011.

KEMPENFELT BAY IN BARRIE

Barrie’s waterfront is another fantastic place to hang out with your kids. From the northern part of Toronto-just drive around 45 minutes up the 400 and you’re at beautiful Kempenfelt Bay. A favourite section is Centennial Beach which has an extensive playground with unique adult sized equipment such as flying saucer swings which can fit two or three people and a huge pirate ship. The beautiful waters of Lake Simcoe are a great place to cool off after running around in the sun. There is a concession stand with a variety of food and change rooms and bathrooms are attached. Also, the city of Barrie is just a ten minute walk from the beach. Entry is free and parking is available.

The Beach is supervised from June until mid August and there are plenty of shaded areas as well as a picnic shelter and tables. Biking and walking paths wind around the area and there a pretty flower gardens to gaze at. Barbecues that use charcoal only are permitted in the parks-but not on the beach.

PROFESSOR’S LAKE IN BRAMPTON
You’d never know that Professor’s Lake was originally a gravel pit, because this Brampton man-made waterhole is now the ultimate summer hideaway. In addition to cooling off by sliding down the waterslide and jumping off the swim raft, there is also water sport rentals available including wind surfers, canoes, sailboats and paddleboat available ( small deposit required). The lake is also replete with fish-so bring your fishing gear and try and catch some. On site are a snack bar, change rooms and showers. No barbequing or camping permitted. professorslake.com/rec_centre.htm or 905-791-7751

PORT DOVER-LAKE ERIE
Did you know that an hour and half south of Toronto is Canada’s version of Cape Cod-otherwise known as Port Dover? Famous for its sunshine, boardwalks, fresh perch and hand cut fries, Port Dover is a Lake Erie fishing village turned tourism mecca. Although there are no lifeguards, Millie Coulthart-general manager of for the Port Dover board of trade assures me that this is a family friendly beach with shallow warm waters and no undertow. There are washrooms with showers where you can change the kids and tons of places to snack nearby. The beach is free and so is the parking. Seadoo rentals are extremely popular. Take the Queen E to the 403 and go south to Port Dover. For information on water quality go to www.norfolkcounty.ca and click on the health department link.

www.portdover.ca
519-583-1314

My Mother Lives on Through Grandson Named After Her

2008-09-12T23:49:00.002-04:00

Our Bond Will Never Die

By Neilia Sherman

This will be ninth Mother's Day without a mother. The loss is something that is still sinking in slowly. It is especially painful when I see a mother and daughter together. In Chinatown, I spotted a dutiful daughter helping her mother walk down the street, the two of them graceful as in a well practiced dance.

Or at the mall, I'll catch site of a daughter with baby and mother in tow. Three generations enjoying a day out, grandmother helping daughter, baby being loved and known by grandmother. At times like this I can feel envy rise tangibly in my throat. My youngest will never meet his grandmother. And for my firstborn, she was too sick to keep me company on routine errands or to baby-sit, so my husband and I might have a night out. She was relegated to dispensing advice over the phone, the oxygen tank, always droning audibley in the background. She lived in a little room on the first floor of my parents home, never leaving unless for medical necessity for close to three years. Visits took place in this room filled with medical supplies with barely enough room to move. A sudden movement might send multiple bottles of pills, needles for insulin and her ever present jug of water crashing to the floor. How could she get to know her grandson in this environment? How long could a toddler safely stay in this room?

The loss hung in the air. She tried to interest him in TV or games but soon he tired and ran out. No one could stay in that room without feeling claustrophobic.

One of the main things that I miss is my mother's unconditional love. The way she told every nurse and homemaker who tended to her that her daughter was a writer. She would pull out copies of my published articles and demand that they read them, then and there. At that point, I was having some success getting my essays published in a large daily newspaper. She would wake up my father at 6 am so that he could bring in the paper and she would look hurriedly through it, until she came upon my name in print. Seeing my by-line was her signal to call everyone she knew and read the piece to them over the phone. She would call me at this ungodly hour, so excited, the happiest that she had been in weeks. Often she would read my article to me out loud. How I loved to hear her melodic voice, always phrasing each sentence perfectly, as if she understood my exact meaning.

No one but a mother can express this kind of unabashed pride and love. Others might say you've published before what is the big deal? Or I'll read it later. Or I don't get that paper. But no matter if it was a poem in some unknown ‘zine’ or an article in a major magazine; my mother had the same reaction. If it was mine she loved it.

Of course, there are regrets. I didn't see her as much as she would have liked She had to hire people to give her the kind of care that I, as the only daughter , would have, undoubtedly, provided even a generation ago. But she didn't raise a 'drop everything to take care of your mother' kind of daughter. Career was stressed from a very young age. She wanted me to be a doctor but was satisfied when I became a psychiatric social worker instead. My achievements definitely gave her a vicarious thrill and at times she expressed regret at having been forced to leave school at 15 in order to work and help support her aging mother. She had three kids, one with a physical disability, and a family where illness was common place. When her mother became ill, she visited her at the nursing home every day. No matter what else was going on, her mother was her priority.

So when her time came, at far too young an age, part of her wanted me to do the same for her, as she had done for her mother. The other part was glad for my success, my strivings, even though they took me away from the role of dutiful daughter.

But though neither of us was able to be there for the other in a conventional way, we were extremely close on another level. Advocating for each other, understanding the other's deepest fears, hopes and aspirations. We had an open relationship that was the envy of my girlfriends during high school. We could talk about sex, relationships, and everyday problems. She saw me through high school break-ups, a failed engagement, and my own struggles with depression and anxiety. As a young woman I couldn't conceive of life without her. She always knew exactly what to do. No matter what the problem. She knew how to take care of illness or injury, workplace conflict, household organization, and getting babies to eat. She was a treasure trove of information, taking in knowledge like a sponge and able to spew it exactly when needed.

Before my mother died, I used to ask her if she would ever communicate with me once she passed on." If it is possible in any way I will, "she would say. So I was disappointed not to hear her voice or see a shadowy presence at night when I lay sleepless in bed night after night. But six months after she was gone, I became pregnant with my son Brandon, who is named after his grandmother Brenda according to Jewish tradition. His beautiful smile and sweet disposition have helped me through these trying times. Through my sweet boy, my mother lives on and we are in contact every single day.

REVIEW OF HOUSE AND WAITING FOR GODOT-REMAIN IN LIGHT THEATRE COMPANY ( Originally appeared in the Jewish Tribune)

2008-09-12T23:41:00.002-04:00

NEW THEATRE COMPANY, REMAIN IN LIGHT, REINVENTS CLASSIC PLAYS WITH CONTEMPORARY AND RELEVANT TWISTS

By Neilia Sherman

Creative duo Jonathan Hirsh and Ryan Seeley have teamed up to found a new theatre company called Remain in Light. This season they have mounted two plays which offer new interpretations of classic favorites House and Waiting for Godot.

Hirsh , a 21 year old Toronto native who is studying Lighting Design at the University of California is in charge of creative production and design for the company while Seeley, who has served as Head of the Drama Department at the Metropolitan Preparatory Academy, directs both plays and stars in the one man show, House.

I had the opportunity to see House which alternates with Waiting for Godot at the Paper Mill Theatre in Todmorden Mills from August.11th until September 6th.

The play, which was written by Canadian playwright and Chalmers award winner, Daniel MacIvor in 1991, was considered an innovative piece of theatre at the time has not lost its relevance 17 years later. I was mesmerized by the material as well as Seeley’s performance, which was both humorous and touching— often at the same time. The use of light and sound added to wonderful characterizations during this intense one man show that elaborates on the life of Victor, a frustrated “every man” who is trying to make sense of his life and relationships though group therapy. Seeley manages to bring all of the people in Victor’s world to life through his intense descriptions and hilarious imitations; even though he is the only actor in the play I felt as if I had seen a whole company of actors put on a complex tragic-comedy by the end.

Further interest is added by the fact that the character, Victor, acknowledges the presence of the audience and even steps right into the seating area at one point—
trying to get a reaction out those who are watching him. Indeed, House is a metaphor for life, relationships, the theatre and coexistence of art with “the real world”. Seeley’s performance was seemingly effortless as he stepped into Victor’s various relationships and problems without ever missing a beat.

According to Hirsh, they choose Waiting for Godot because the see Beckett’s work as significant and thought provoking and are concerned that it isn’t being given enough attention. Their controversial take on play sets this comic tragedy in WWII and has the lead characters in the roles of Nazi Soldier and his Jewish slave. Hirsh had a strong personal connection to this rendition of the play, as his grandfather is an Auschwitz survivor. The Jewish slave, Lucky, is played by Marc Richler who “uses sense memory to attach emotions to key phrases. The emotions are derived from personal family history with the holocaust.”

Seeley hopes that audiences will understand the symbolism of the Nazi theme as it applies today’s moral dilemmas. The world said that after the Holocaust, this situation would never happen again but now we have Darfur, Georgia and the Iraq quagmire and the rest of the world does often look away from genocide, he explains.

Hirsh and Seeley originally met when Hirsh was a student at Metropolitan Prep and they have worked together on numerous high school productions before making the leap to start their own theatrical production company. They hope to expand their slate of plays next season and to continue to bring relevant theatre to Toronto audiences.

For more information and tickets go to: www.remaininlight.ca.

FILM REVIEW-THEN SHE FOUND ME ( Originally appeared in Vaughan Perspectives Newspaper)

2008-06-10T20:36:00.003-04:00

Review of Then She Found Me

By Neilia Sherman

Helen Hunt’s directorial debut Then She Found Me is a moving and humourous film about a New York school teacher named April whose life is hitting a couple of crossroads at once. The saying “you close one door and another opens” comes to mind as within the first hour of the film she has lost the mother who adopted her and been found by her birth mother and been dumped by her new husband, yet immediately becomes involved with the father of one of her pupils.

Hunt also stars as the title character and her world weary demeanor and gaunt appearance are in perfect contrast to the hilarious and often over the top Bette Midler, who plays her biological mother. The new man in her life is Frank as played by Colin Firth and never have I seen “Mr. Serious and Romantic” play such as neurotic character. He is intense, quirky and has lots of mood swings all done with great doses of witty repartee. When he says his wife left him because he was too much for her you can see why but on the other hand his devotion and love of children are exactly what April needs

The film begins with a Jewish wedding between April and husband Ben played by Mathew Broderick. She utters a Jewish blessing and a klezmer band plays in celebration. Throughout the film the character’s Jewishness gives the movie a subtle yet important context. In real life Hunt has a Jewish father who is also a director so it isn’t surprising that she imbues the characters with a real connectedness to Jewish tradition.

The weakest part of the story is the relationship between April and her Peter Pan Syndrome plagued husband. There doesn’t seem to be any believable chemistry between the two of them whereas the sparks fly with Colin Firth’s character, Frank. Broderick didn’t seem to be giving the role his all; though to be fair the character was not well developed.

Then She Found Me Is all about relationships and how they bring great joy and intense hurt often at the same time. Frank and April learn that they have to accept the possibility of pain in order to find happiness; this is something that all parents know. Also in order to forge a relationship with her mother she must forgive past betrayals. This becomes easier as April learns from her own mistakes.

It took Helen Hunt ten years to get this film made. Her passion and drive are obvious in every frame. Then She Found Me is a wonderful directorial debut. Hunt’s determination and dedication to this project have certainly paid off.

Highly recommended: 4 out of 5 stars

Then She Found Me is scheduled to open the week of April 25th.

2008-06-03T17:39:00.001-04:00

GARAGE SALES ANONYMOUS -( Originally appeared in the Toronto Star)

I have a garage sale at least once a year and I have two clearcut goals. To make a bit of money ( usually enough to buy a cheap dinner because I’ll be too tired to cook by the end) and to get rid of enough stuff so that a pathway through the basement to the laundry room is once again visible. However, once I drag the stuff out, price it and and spend all night putting up signs that fall down by morning, the desire to make profit sets in. My sales skills are honed by intense observation at other people’s garage sales.

Most sellers adhere to the notion that their loss should become mine. One woman explained that a dress cost her $200 dollars, but lucky me, she’d make me a deal and charge $50. “I’ve got 6 bucks in my pocket. I’m looking for a BARGAIN. I can pay $50 at a store.”
“But you save the tax here.”
“ So?” I shout back. “This stuff is in your garage. It smells like your house. You don’t get to ask $50 for a dress that has sweat stains on it.”

Unfortunately, even though this lady will never be able to fit into that dress again, she is waiting to get her asking price. So far the highest offer is a twoonie from someone who wants to use it as a Halloween costume.
I get paid back for my intolerance at my own garage sales. Then the really cheap people show up. They haggle no matter how good my prices are. Once, three elderly women with buggies arrived at my house after walking for miles. They were determined to find a bargain. We were offering glasses for fifty cents apiece. They wanted them for ten. If I said something was ten cents they wanted it for five. If I offered to give it away, they said, “ throw in the dishes and you’ve got a deal.” It’s as if the law of Canadian politeness is temporarily suspended. Turn down an offer, that is a tenth of the asking price and you’re risking physical violence. “You’ll never get that, you’re crazy,” a man screams as he shakes his fist at me, makes a getaway in his minivan filled with bargains like 8 track tapes and manual typewriters.

Some people just make up their own price. “I’ll take this for a dollar,” says a man from behind dark sunglasses, as he scoops up my popcorn maker clearly marked ten. “It’s old, it probably doesn’t work, I’m doing you a favour.”

Another neat trick is to show up without money. “All I have is a dollar fifty” mutters a woman sadly as she tries to make off with a twenty dollar item. This in front of about 10 of her relatives who are in town for the weekend. “No, you can’t come inside to see what else I have to sell.” I yell, while trying to shake of the youngest daughter who is on the ground prying my shoe off. Seems she needs shoes in that colour. Meanwhile, mama is slowly counting pennies out of her change purse, even though the twenties stuffed in the side pocket are a dead give away.

My theory is that everyone who frequents garage sales is looking for that unknown treasure, the kind you see on the Antique Road Show, that looks awful but is worth thousands. Meanwhile everyone who has a sale is fantasizing that their castoffs will bring in enough dough to buy that new couch. Both improbable situations but tempting enough to brave the elements for a day and mingle with neigbours and other strangers. What’s peace of mind compared to tax free money?

Urban Cafe-Profile Piece-Originally published in North of the City Magazine

2007-08-25T22:30:00.002-04:00

Urban Café: A Place Where Everybody Knows Your Name

By Neilia Sherman

Making your way in the world today takes everything you've got. Taking a break from all your worries, sure would help a lot. Wouldn't you like to get away? Sometimes you want to go Where everybody knows your name
And they’re always glad you came

Cheers ("Where Everybody Knows Your Name" by Gary Portnoy and Judy Hart Angelo)
Remember these words from the theme song to the popular Sitcom Cheers? Part of the reason for the popularity of the show and this song is that we all want to have somewhere to go, where we can have a drink or bite and feel welcome and among friends.

There is such a place in York Region; you may have passed it as you drive by its Bayview and Highway 7 location and not even realized that it is there.
It is called the Urban Café and although it has been around for less than a year-it already came in at Number 4 of the top 10 coffee shops in the GTA, voted on through a survey by Toronto.com. It was the only York Region coffee shop to make the list, a remarkable achievement for such a new place.

The Urban Café is really much more than a coffee shop. It is a lunch hangout,
a bistro, and a night club that features live music and performers. It is an oasis for those who know about it. Because let’s face it, in a time when so many
many people have embraced the drive-through because of its quickness and
anonymity, we need places where we can connect with others in a relaxed atmosphere.

And that is exactly what you’ll experience at the Urban Café.

At the heart of this café’s success is Diana Harrop, the owner, who has inspired a fiercely loyal group of regular patrons.

Ms. Harrop spends a good portion of her days and nights serving customers at the counter, so she has her laptop and her phone nearby. She is everything to this place. Baker, chef, manager, public relations director, and talent scout. She has managed to locate talented York region performers and to put them on stage every Saturday night and sometimes more often. She is definitely a bundle of energy-and she leaps into an explanation of her upcoming charity fundraiser, Urban Music Fest, a day long event that will provide entertainment, a BBQ and a silent auction, with all of the proceeds going to Yellow Brick House.

While talking, she offers up amazingly delicious treats, such as her famous sugarless apple pie, her soya iced cappuccino, and her main dish of the day, pasta el forno, while also managing to personally greet and chat with at least 5 customers. The surprising thing is that she knows their names, how long it’s been since they were last in the place and their preferences. A woman who works next door comes in and mentions that her son is hungry and she asks for a coffee. Ms. Harrop
is worried and runs and gets him some plums from the back. She also gives the lady a coffee on the house. “ After all she’s my neighbour,” she says.

Her interest in providing healthy foods was sparked by the fact that her father is diabetic and she has learned how to make sugarless pie for him. Then she realized that people are concerned about sugar intake and health so she started to make it for the café. At less than 200 calories a piece, it is no wonder that the pie is a draw for customers. Harrop is dedicated to catering to her client’s special needs.
“ Low fat, low carb, sugar free…free range chickens, organic coffee”, she lists all of her specialties that you usually don’t find in a suburban coffee shop.

“ We also vary the food by changing the menu daily and everything is made on the premises " she adds.

The food may be healthy but it is also really tasty, according to all accounts. Regular customer, Lisa Bynoe, was drawn in by the sign advertising the sugarless apple pie,
which she tried and found to be great. Now she comes for lunch at least three times a month. “The food is eclectic and good,” she says. It is also a great retreat for lunch. As for her hostess, she says, ‘’ She is the real meaning of the word—Hospitable.”

Don Maitland and his wife, Marion, were two of the Urban Café’s first customers and have also become regular performers. He sees the place as different from your typical coffee shop experience. “It is a different place because of Diana. When you go for coffee and snacks you visit with Diana so there is a very personal, ‘dropping by to see a friend’ atmosphere.” Mr. Maitland also likes the fact that the venue is smoke free which means that young people can enjoy the food and the atmosphere and be exposed to live music. Young people are welcome to perform there as well.

There aren’t many places that offer venues for York Region artists to perform so many make the trek downtown, where they end up in smoke filled bars. As a place that primarily serves food and coffee, Harrop is able to serve liquor without being classified as a bar, therefore she offers a uniquely smoke-free place for both patrons and performers. She is glad that she has been able to create a place like this in York Region. “Why not have a little downtown uptown?” she says.

“ Diana is a little stick of dynamite. She is quick to smile which grows rapidly into a big grin when she sees you arrive,” says Mr. Maitland.

“She has worked very hard to get the café up and running and has had the support of her entire family…” he adds.

Ms. Harrop acknowledges that her mother helps out with a lot of the cooking, yet she still spends almost all of her waking moments at the Café. “My husband misses me,” she says.

It is important to her to make a success of this place as she believes that a
community needs gathering places. In her previous life, she was the director of a private vocational college. Through her travels, she realized that in every small town there always a place where locals went to socialize and listen to music. She set out to create such a place in her own community. “I want my customers to feel comfortable and forget for a little while their daily life challenges “, she says.
Even the needs of business people have been considered. The Urban Café is one of the few coffee shops to offer wireless Internet access-very appealing to computer users who like a change from home or the office.

The move into showcasing local talent happened naturally. Kevin Zarnett, a Richmond Hill singer/songwriter, walked into the Urban Café in August of 2002, soon after its opening and asked Ms.Harrop if she had considered having live music in her café. Her response was, ‘We were just talking about that.”

He came back to audition and ended up giving the first live Urban Café performance. Although he had extensive experience as a musician, Mr. Zarnett says “it is only in the last couple of years that I’ve been performing as a solo artist…gaining local exposure and a local audience was my main focus.” He found the experience to be rewarding. “In contrast to many music venues, the Urban Café is tasteful, elegant, and bright in its décor, and I have yet to talk with someone who hasn’t responded positively,” he says.

Soon, the Urban Café began to have Open Mike Nights. Tammi Geraci, a solo musical artist and composer, took on the role of host. “The Urban Café is unique in York Region because it is a home for the artists who reside here,” says Ms.Geraci.

Ms. Harrop would invite back the best of the lot to perform regularly. She has also made contacts through word of mouth and a newspaper article that discussed her interest in promoting local talent.

That is how Terri Elise and Stephane of the organization, Ritmik, came to perform at the Urban Café. They do interactive drum and percussion shows which have been very successful in this small venue. “We are …entertainers that use …hand drums and percussion instruments. The unique part of our concept is the interactive part of our shows where we involve the audience in the performance so that people become part of the band…it is an uplifting and healing experience but is also great fun.”

The café seems well suited to their unique type of performance. “The Urban Café is nice because it is casual and relaxed and we can meet good friends that come back regularly. It is the type of environment where you feel at home and welcomed.” they say. “The fact that offers a showcase for local talents … is the good thing about it. There is a great need for places like that; many people want to express their music but have no place to do it.”

Self expression, not necessarily fame and fortune but you never know. Several of the performers have made valuable contacts through this exposure. But the main thing is it brings together performer and audience. “No matter how diverse an artist you are there will always be a place for you on the stage at the Urban Café and a receptive and enthusiastic audience to share your art,”
Says Ms. Geraci.

And by the end of the evening, everybody will know your name.

Urban Café
8763 Bayview Ave,
Richmond Hill, ON
L4B 3V1
(905) 707-1311
urbancafe@bellnet.ca