I was surprised and saddened to hear of the death of Winnipeg writer Michael Van Rooy yesterday. The CBC reported that he died of an apparent heart attack in Montreal while promoting his latest novel, A Criminal to Remember. It was his third novel in the crime series about ex-con Monty Haaviko.
When I heard the story on the radio they lead with the fact that a well known Winnipeg crime fiction author had passed away. I assumed to hear the name of some writer from seventies or eighties I had never heard of that had not published anything recently and had been battling an illness for years. When they named Van Rooy, 42, in the next sentence I was shocked. Not only did I know of his award winning work, I actually spoke with him at a book signing in November and blogged about it. He seemed at ease and humble behind the small desk in McNally Robinson. He was soft spoken, helpful and very encouraging. I left with a signed copy of his book and a sense of inspiration to pursue my interests in writing. I read the signed copy of his book, An Ordinary Decent Criminal over Christmas break. When I spoke to him in November the film adaptation of the book was in preproduction.
On mbwriter.mb.ca Michael wrote this about writing:
Writing has become simply what I do. The never-to-be-perfected art of putting pen to paper and creating plots and characters is the most challenging and satisfying endeavor I have ever found. In my writing I am motivated by many things, the desire to give a voice to people who are unheard, the desire to write the truth and the desire to simply explore. These are all equally important and they all lead me to the belief that there is no end to the craft of writing, there will always be something for me to explore.
Michael Van Rooy was a man who had a troubled past and even did time in Stony Mountain Penitentiary. But in recent years he was doing what he loved: writing. And he was very successful and influential in the short career that he had. He will be greatly missed by his loved ones, friends, readers and all others he inspired.
Soupy out.
Friday, January 28, 2011
Friday, January 21, 2011
The Line Up Saves My Night From Nicolas Cage
The Line Up is that tiny restaurant on the peninsula of property where Albert Street and Arthur Street meet at Bannatyne. Right beside Cinematheque. Anyways I went there after a late Friday evening at school. I had just finished my Blog about how I was going to break free from the shackles of CreComm and start to enjoy the culture offered by the historical Exchange District. OK so maybe The Line Up doesn't quite justify 'National Historic Site' status (yet) but what can I say, I was motivated and hungry after my ranting.
I met a friend who works in the area and we decided to partake in The Line Up's great offer of Dinner and a Movie. The deal is you pay $11 for an entree, a regular drink and admission to movie at Cinematheque, Towne 8, The Globe, or even IMAX. YOU CAN NOT BEAT THAT!
But I am getting a little carried away. Why am I singing the praises of this Exchange District mainstay? This is not purely a plug for the 'little diner that could.' There is a point but you need some more back story. You see after enjoying a delicious dinner my friend and I walked over to Towne 8 where we had our pick of only a couple of BAD movies: Little Fockers and The Season of the Witch. (Next time I get the Dinner & a Movie deal I will check what's playing first.) We checked the online reviews to which were not very flattering. Daily Nexus compared Nicolas Cage's Season of the Witch to Monty Python and the Holy Grail... "but without any jokes and worse special effects." But as true Winnipeggers we did not want to waste our free movie ticket. So we chose bad action (Witch) over bad comedy (Fockers). In hindsight we regretted our decision. Season of the Witch was complete crap. We should have gone to the King's Head for some live music instead.
Now back to The Line Up. After the credits rolled we were walking out, trying to forgive ourselves for sitting through such crap, when I suddenly realized that I had left my school bag at The Line Up. My bag contained my lap top and memory stick with all of the year's assignments. So needless to say I was a little worried.
We rushed back to the restaurant but it was closed. So I called and left a message and even emailed their website. The following morning, after a sleepless night of imagining the worst, I got on the bus and headed back to the Exchange (a very depressing bus ride on a Saturday morning: "This is supposed to be my day off!"). When I got there I spoke with a cashier. My bag was safely stored behind the counter. When I got it back I thanked her profusely and quickly checked it. Everything was there. Phew!
So thank you to the Line Up's trustworthy staff and clientele. You have restored my faith in mankind, which was very shaky indeed after realizing that many millions of people can suffer at the hands of just one man. See: Nicolas Cage's film career.
By the way here is a little excerpt from Monty Python's Holy Grail. Funny, and amazing special effects! Cage could learn a thing or two from these guys.
Soupy out.
x
I met a friend who works in the area and we decided to partake in The Line Up's great offer of Dinner and a Movie. The deal is you pay $11 for an entree, a regular drink and admission to movie at Cinematheque, Towne 8, The Globe, or even IMAX. YOU CAN NOT BEAT THAT!
But I am getting a little carried away. Why am I singing the praises of this Exchange District mainstay? This is not purely a plug for the 'little diner that could.' There is a point but you need some more back story. You see after enjoying a delicious dinner my friend and I walked over to Towne 8 where we had our pick of only a couple of BAD movies: Little Fockers and The Season of the Witch. (Next time I get the Dinner & a Movie deal I will check what's playing first.) We checked the online reviews to which were not very flattering. Daily Nexus compared Nicolas Cage's Season of the Witch to Monty Python and the Holy Grail... "but without any jokes and worse special effects." But as true Winnipeggers we did not want to waste our free movie ticket. So we chose bad action (Witch) over bad comedy (Fockers). In hindsight we regretted our decision. Season of the Witch was complete crap. We should have gone to the King's Head for some live music instead.
Now back to The Line Up. After the credits rolled we were walking out, trying to forgive ourselves for sitting through such crap, when I suddenly realized that I had left my school bag at The Line Up. My bag contained my lap top and memory stick with all of the year's assignments. So needless to say I was a little worried.
We rushed back to the restaurant but it was closed. So I called and left a message and even emailed their website. The following morning, after a sleepless night of imagining the worst, I got on the bus and headed back to the Exchange (a very depressing bus ride on a Saturday morning: "This is supposed to be my day off!"). When I got there I spoke with a cashier. My bag was safely stored behind the counter. When I got it back I thanked her profusely and quickly checked it. Everything was there. Phew!
So thank you to the Line Up's trustworthy staff and clientele. You have restored my faith in mankind, which was very shaky indeed after realizing that many millions of people can suffer at the hands of just one man. See: Nicolas Cage's film career.
By the way here is a little excerpt from Monty Python's Holy Grail. Funny, and amazing special effects! Cage could learn a thing or two from these guys.
Soupy out.
x
Friday, January 14, 2011
Culture Right Under My Nose
Cre8ery Gallery is right across the William Avenue from the Red River College's Princess Street Campus. In fact I can see it right now as I sit in the computer lab writing this blog. The brown brick building typical of Exchange district architecture used to be a factory and was converted into a gallery by the Cre8ery co-owners Jordan Miller and Shawn Berard in 2006/2007. The art supplies store on the main floor faces the William street exit of the our lovely building. Maybe you have noticed it. Owner Shawn Berard says that a lot of the Graphic Design students take advantage of their 40% off nights on the first Friday of every month. The gallery entrance is just around the corner on Adelaide.
I visited the gallery as part of a Projector story I was doing on First Fridays in Winnipeg's Exchange. (In case you did not know First Fridays are A free year-round once-a-month event in the Exchange District & its' borders when Artists & Galleries -along with cafés and small businesses- open their doors to the public every first friday of each month from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m ...and later.) And the thing that stuck me about Cre8ery was how close it is to our campus and the fact that I had no idea it was there. There are a lot of great little restaurants and shops and galleries in the Exchange, or so I hear, but they can be very hard to find if you don't know where to look. That is part of the charm of this little part of Winnipeg... I guess.
I remember during my first week of CreComm walking around the Exchange telling myself that this is where I will be spending the next two years of my life. And I was glad. It is a great part of town. The old buildings inspire creativity and romantic notions. I imagined myself finding all the little 'hole in the wall' shops and restaurants. Saw myself checking out underground bands and alternative art shows. I would be immersed in the culture of the Exchange.
Five months later and I am no more immersed in the culture of the Exchange than I was in September. Sadly when I do venture from the sanctity of this womb of recycled brick and steel that we call the Exchange District Campus I am either running to get to class, running to catch a bus or running to get a drink at the King's Head. (And I went to the King's Head plenty before I went to school here so I can't even include that under the "broadening my horizons" category.)
Don't let yourself get blinded to the beauty that surrounds us here in the Exchange. Venture out of the building on lunch hour some times. Find a new coffee shop or cafe that you have not tried yet. And hey if you need some artistic inspiration I encourage you to check out Art-i-peg at Cre8ery. It is literally less than a one minute walk from the William St. RRC doors. There is some great Winnipeg inspired art being displayed there. The last day is Wednesday the 18th. Catch it before it is too late.
It is truly scary how school work can envelope your existence. I for one have had the CreComm blinders on for too long! No more! I will tear them off and see again for the first time. I will soak in the uniqueness of these historical surroundings. I will wrap myself in the banners of art and entertainment that decorate this district. I will live, damn it! I will live!
Soupy out
I visited the gallery as part of a Projector story I was doing on First Fridays in Winnipeg's Exchange. (In case you did not know First Fridays are A free year-round once-a-month event in the Exchange District & its' borders when Artists & Galleries -along with cafés and small businesses- open their doors to the public every first friday of each month from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m ...and later.) And the thing that stuck me about Cre8ery was how close it is to our campus and the fact that I had no idea it was there. There are a lot of great little restaurants and shops and galleries in the Exchange, or so I hear, but they can be very hard to find if you don't know where to look. That is part of the charm of this little part of Winnipeg... I guess.
I remember during my first week of CreComm walking around the Exchange telling myself that this is where I will be spending the next two years of my life. And I was glad. It is a great part of town. The old buildings inspire creativity and romantic notions. I imagined myself finding all the little 'hole in the wall' shops and restaurants. Saw myself checking out underground bands and alternative art shows. I would be immersed in the culture of the Exchange.
Five months later and I am no more immersed in the culture of the Exchange than I was in September. Sadly when I do venture from the sanctity of this womb of recycled brick and steel that we call the Exchange District Campus I am either running to get to class, running to catch a bus or running to get a drink at the King's Head. (And I went to the King's Head plenty before I went to school here so I can't even include that under the "broadening my horizons" category.)
Don't let yourself get blinded to the beauty that surrounds us here in the Exchange. Venture out of the building on lunch hour some times. Find a new coffee shop or cafe that you have not tried yet. And hey if you need some artistic inspiration I encourage you to check out Art-i-peg at Cre8ery. It is literally less than a one minute walk from the William St. RRC doors. There is some great Winnipeg inspired art being displayed there. The last day is Wednesday the 18th. Catch it before it is too late.
It is truly scary how school work can envelope your existence. I for one have had the CreComm blinders on for too long! No more! I will tear them off and see again for the first time. I will soak in the uniqueness of these historical surroundings. I will wrap myself in the banners of art and entertainment that decorate this district. I will live, damn it! I will live!
Soupy out
Friday, January 7, 2011
Blogging After the Holiday Hangover
If you are like me you probably spent too much time partying with your friends and eating with your family this holiday season (and of course spending quality time with all of them). After three and a half months of overworking my brain in my first term of Creative Communications, I effectively turned my grey-matter-muscle off for the three week break. However, my guzzling, gulping and gorging muscles were in marathon mode. It was a great holiday. That was well deserved. Or so I keep telling myself, but failing to convince my guilty conscience. I had so much down-time. Surely I could have got a head start on my IPP proposal. Or prepped my communications portfolio for the summer job hunt. Or researched the local magazine market in order to find a niche for my term 2 project. I didn't even blog (I was going to blog about the Weakerthans show I went to but somehow it never got done...amazing show by the way).
Even now as I type this, the Blogger website feels unfamiliar. And I feel guilty. It looks up at me like a sad puppy after I have left it alone in the house for too long. I try to convince it that I am not a horrible master: "Souppppyy. Come here. Come here. Well I know I was gone for a while, little buddy. But I'm back. Did you think that I was gone for good? No I would never leave you."
So in order to get back in good favour with this little guy I decided to take him for a little walk around the blog. And just a hundred words in he is looking up at me lovingly again, having forgotten about being abandoned for three weeks. "Good boy."
Soupy out.
Even now as I type this, the Blogger website feels unfamiliar. And I feel guilty. It looks up at me like a sad puppy after I have left it alone in the house for too long. I try to convince it that I am not a horrible master: "Souppppyy. Come here. Come here. Well I know I was gone for a while, little buddy. But I'm back. Did you think that I was gone for good? No I would never leave you."
So in order to get back in good favour with this little guy I decided to take him for a little walk around the blog. And just a hundred words in he is looking up at me lovingly again, having forgotten about being abandoned for three weeks. "Good boy."
Soupy out.
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