School of Rap

If L.L. Cool J is the “professor, the teacher, the hip hop dean” then he must standing before a classroom of Midwest college students. According to CNN, McNally Smith College of Music in St. Paul, Minnesota is the very first to offer a diploma in Hip Hop. That’s right! The classes combine hands on music and textbook history lessons in a three-semester course. Toki Wright and DJ Freddy Fresh are among two of the instructors teaching this years accredited diploma program.

All I can picture is a classroom full of kids reading Ego Trip’s Book of Rap Lists and cramming for a pop quizzle. All jokes aside though, if KRS-One’s Temple of Hip Hop can be officially accepted by the United Nations as a culture, well there’s no reason why we can’t study it like one.

Instructor Toki Wright (left) and hip hop Columnist Davey D. (right) at the program kick-off ceremony in June.

Diego's Horror Corner: 80's

I'm pleased to present the long-awaited 1980's addition to Diego's Horror Corner by Diego Bergia


There's something special about the 80's, I spent the ages of 3 to to 12 in them. I was in the prime of my youth renting dusty VHS boxes filled with saturated red gore and gratuitous nudity shots. It was such a rush running back to a friends house to watch them cause my parents wouldn't let me get near anything rated R. The horror films early on in this decade were the 1970's continued, and you'll see nothing on my list is past 1984. There were lots of good one past that point, but to be honest near the end they got too campy.

MANIAC (1980)
In this urban slasher, Frank Zito is a serial killer stalks pretty women in grimey New York City. He uses their scalps to dress up female mannequins he keeps in his apartment, something about an abusive mother I think. This movie is pretty much perfect. Frank Zito is so effing amazing.

THE SHINING (1980)
I often wish David Lynch would make a horror movie, or Alejandro Jodorowski, Lars Van Trier just did. These guys have insane visions and I'd consider them artists before filmmakers. Anyway, if Stanley Kubrick never made The Shining, he'd be on that list too. Except he did make it. [note from Jill: agreed 100%]


SLEEPAWAY CAMP (1983)
If somebody hasn't already spoiled the ending for you yet, go out and rent it without telling anyone. It is the best summer camp slasher movie ever made, filled with great kills and amazing non-politically correct humour that disappeared in movies with the end of the 80's.

FRIDAY THE 13TH PART 4 - THE FINAL CHAPTER (1984)
Friday the 13th movies are like comfort food to me, like chicken soup and grilled cheese. I feel so cozy and safe watching them. This is the ultimate Friday movie to me because of a few things: Crispin Glover (The Man), Corey Feldman (right before Goonies) and Tom Savini (make-up and fx master). This is also near the end of the "strings" era, when the musical score was still awesome.

A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET (1984)
In my group of friends, you're either a Freddy man or a Jason man. I'm a Jason man, but there's no right answer. This first Nightmare movie is amazing and scary, nowhere near where the franchise went after a sequel or two. I would even go as far as saying that on it's own, it might be better than any Friday movie. The thing is, Friday movies are solid 1 through 6. Nightmare I'll only give you 1 though 3. That's basically why I'm a Jason man.


HONORABLE MENTIONS:
THE THING, FRIDAY 1, POLTERGEIST, THE BURNING, DAY OF THE DEAD, DEMONS, THE HITCHER.

The Burnout Store

Where else can you pick up an ice-cold case of summer?

Peter Bagge - for the person who has everything

We've been obsessing over Peter Bagge's Hate comics all summer. So when our good friends Robin Nishio and Olivia Go came back from Japan with presents, and they were Peter Bagge toys I pretty much awarded them the friendship championship belt. Are these toys cooler than the time Robin bought like 5 pizza from Gi Gi and had them delivered in time for post party hangouts? Or are they more sweet then when Olivia made Diego delicious granola bars wrapped and tied with a ribbon for his birthday? Maybe not, but the point is: our friends are solid.

Thanks Robin and Olivia!

Captain John's Seafood

You know Captain John's Seafood, that big ship restaurant down by the harbor front? You've probably seen it a million times and wondered what kind of cheesy tourist would dine there. If you google it's name you'll find a bevy of horrible reviews.

For example, "Avoid Captain John's at all costs. This place is awful - literally the worst food I've ever had", and "Captain John's - quite possibly the worst restaurant in Toronto, with staff who appear to be indentured. An aging floating party boat offering ineptly prepared frozen seafood to tourists who don't know any better."

Despite the criticism we decided to skip the food and do Sunday evening cocktails on the decrepit floating Wes Anderson set.

I recommend the gin martini. Although, the waiter handled a wrinkled up $10 bill before fishing out two olives from a fruit fly infested plastic jar and plopping them in my drink, it was really boozy, and a good value. Besides, I had low expectations for the service and high expectations for the weirdness. I was not disappointed.

oh messy life

How disgusting our city has become. Here's to resolving the garbage strike before Toronto's rats give birth. Yuck.

ending soon- 3D film fest

3D films are experiencing a rebirth with the success of Up and a wagonload of animated flicks following suit. Why not see classics the same way? Canada's oldest and greatest theatre, The Fox, began it's 3D Film Fest on the 17th with House of Wax and Friday the 13th. With a choice selection of movies, there's no reason not to check one out after a picnic in the Beaches.

If you haven't caught the first few days, here's the schedule. There's still hope!

I choose you, Micachu!

Brittany and I hit up the Micachu and the Shapes show last week at the El Mocambo. It was exactly what I'm used to hearing from Mica- pinging noises, gravely english-english and cutesy lyrics with a little hard guitar. Afterwards, the band told us they were headed to one of our top spots: Ronnie's patio.

I've been trying to persuade everyone to listen to her since the new year and now is the time. Peep this video of them playing "Lips"

Summer.

I know, I know, it's been a minute. 

My excuse? 

The summer sunk her teeth in.

Drained dry, not a drop of juice to blog with.

However, I did take pictures. 

Let's get caught up old friends.

A fist fight fell on my foot.

Home-wrecking girls at NXNE minimalist art parties. 

 I make the capital liquid.

Ferocious forest dweller.

Rod Barahas is the ghetto bird.

Canadiana.

Sir Greek and Sir Sub is now open.

Shout out to cupcakes and Jeff.

This week in food: 011

What's better than chilling outdoors on a spacious apartment patio in Little Italy, tons of good food, solid crew, and a couple of cold brews?... Maybe like, jumping into a waterfall or holding your newborn child. But that's it.

Our friends Rob and Marie hosted the third official barbeque of the summer, here's a taste.

Jon brought marinated steak despite already having put in a full days work of cooking for patrons and pay. He persisted on to bring us a bounty of succulent steak sandwiches. 

What's a picnic without fried chicken? 

This is the only time of the year you get mangos at 3 for $5. Make of the most of it salsa.

A potato salad styled after the beloved Aunties & Uncles breakfast option.

Shredded daikon sprinkled with sesame seeds, accompanied by miso dressing.

With a generous spread of whole grain mustard. Very masculine.

Marie's trifle was much anticipated.

Wanda's Pie In The Sky, apricot.

Suffice to say were were stuffed.