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.

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.

Tree or Bush?

 Bush.

This week in food: 010

Incase you're wondering why I haven't returned your phone calls, I've been bound to 12 hour work days for the past 2 weeks. Meanwhile, the sun is beaming down 27 degrees celsius with a slight breeze...

It's literally breaking my heart.

Couple some comic books with fresh eats outdoors. This is what my week would have looked if I was a trust-fund kid, a lotto winner, a lucky duck, or a genie...

Two ripe mangos. Home grown basil. Spinach and butternut squash soup with whole grain toast. Fresh sweet apricots.

Hope you're making the most of this fine fine sunshine Toronto.

e-basil

A couple of weeks ago I planted some tiny Sweet Basil seeds into a big white pot. I put the pot outside on my deck during the day, and brought it into the warmth of my apartment at night. The basil has just begun to sprout and the smell has already got me fiending fresh Caprese Salad. 

Stay tuned for herb garden growth updates.

lake ontario at dawn

We all know that corny motivational saying: "Today is the first day of the rest of your life!"

Well, this is the first sunrise of my summer.

Summer Goth

Obviously hit up the Wavves show last night at Sneaky Dee's. I've been really into the only two tracks that Toronto duo The Bitters have on myspace, so it was cool to see what else they've got. They even said this was their first gig. Get The Bitters on your radar- they're a band to watch for. Next up was Vampire Hands. I think they had a pretty good sound but also a forcefield which kept the crowd a good five feet from the stage. There was literally no waiting around for Nathan of Wavves, who was adorable, polite and sounded great live. I scored a T, a poster and some snaps. Here are a couple:

Aerin Fogel and Ben Cook of The Bitters

Nathan Williams of Wavves

It was shaping up to be a good night and by the time Nathan played the track "wavves", everyone was jumping around. And that was it. It was all over at 11pm.

3, 2, 1, comin in with a bang.

Here we are, the last week of March. In like a lion, out like a lamb? Well, I've got my fingers crossed. Although, this spring does seem less exciting than last. Maybe it's because last year around this time I was beginning to plot out The 10 Deep Canadian Skateboard Tour with my friend German Nieves and the good folks at snkrbox. Or maybe I'm just a bit envious of the team, who crashed San Fransisco earlier this month.


German hit me with an email this morning regarding said jaunt to SF. All sour grapes aside, they've put together a tight promo video and some choice flicks. Check out Tony Montgomery, Daniel Kim, Jamal Smith, Tommy Wisdom and The Big Germ skating the Bay Area in style at Steelo Hero.

As a segway, I'll introduce this edition of Album of the Week: A classic by 1990's gangster rappers RBL Posse, hailing from Hunters Point, San Fransisco, titled A Lesson to Be Learned. Their first release, Don't Give Me No Bammer is a Summertime Anthem for us ghosts. Now, listen to it and visualize stooping with a cold Mill St. in July... We're almost there Toronto.

Brendan Smyth photography

Weekends are delicious and we here at Miss Elizabeth's Ghost really know how to savor 'em. But sometimes we run into this: I mean, Friday can be a seasoned slab of fresh Atlantic salmon all it wants. It's still sitting next to Thursday on the dinner plate known as your work week. That pungent term of servitude is sweating and stinking all over a sweet T.G.I.F. Hell, it's enough to kill your appetite. Same goes for Sunday: it's a divine seven course homemade Italian supper with Arsenic ice cream for dessert. I say, forget about the sabbath. The only true holy day, is Saturday, the day that doesn't do work.

With all that said, I'll state that my Saturdays are sacred. So how did I spend this past one? Gabbing my face off about aspirations, old friends, art, metal and striking a pose with our photographer friend, the very talented Brendan Smyth.



Brendan is currently updating his website with new material and we can't wait... Obviously, we'll keep you posted.

Here's one from the set. (as always, click to enlarge)

Death Row pt. 2

Friday night marked our first Miss Elizabeth's Ghost event: a Death Row Tribute at 751. Brews were flowing and bodies got on the dance floor. As this was the first installment of a 3-part series, you gotta come out next time for the Bad Boy Entertainment tribute.
Check out some of the characters who showed up.

Recession Relief - Part One

Lets get serious people, a major economic recession is upon us. Times are cold and unsparing, people are out of work, oil prices are tumbling, export sales are drying up and real estate is sliding into doom!

Wait! Where are you going?! Okay, don't leave. Sorry to dump on you like that, it's not all bad... Spring is nigh, Made Me has a fresh new lookbook and have you tried the new Dempster's Body Wise Bagels? 140 calories. Yep, things are looking up.

Jillian and I are turning our lemons into lemonade and we want to help you too, by stretching that buck!
$$$ saving tips below...

Yard Sales!
Junk hunting is thrifty and fun. Additionally, you'll have to stay in on Saturday night to nab the premium goods in the morning, consequently, you've already saved. You'll find an abundance of bargain books, furniture, knick-knacks, dishes and toys to add kitchy flare to your apartment. You can practice getting up at 9 am on Sunday and hit all your local thrift stores in anticipation for the warm weather to arrive.

Reading.
Cancel your cable already, what a lame, unnecessary expense. Your friends and folks already have a bounty of classic literature kicking around the crib. Used books are cheap or free and they make you beautiful where it counts. We suggest re-visiting Arthur Miller's classic play Death Of A Salesman, flawless and momentarily appropriate.

Radio.
I copped this radio at an antique graveyard out in the sticks for $2 and she still works! Turn on CBC Radio One while you drink chamomile tea and flip through the new issue of Color, you'll feel so smart and adorable it'll make your wallpaper jealous and start belittling you to the coffee table.

CMYK

Last week, I went on a tour of Warren's Waterless Printing in North York. Waterless printing is the greenest way of printing because it releases far fewer chemicals back into the environment and doesn't waste water. Its offset process also actually produces higher quality prints because there is no need for the ink to spread. 

Here are some snaps I got there. Click to enlarge!