Corin Raymond and the Sundowners

I have a friend who makes regular trips to Nepal. The problem is, because she looks local, as she wends her way past various customs desks in various airports she’s accosted with something more obviously western travellers are not: demands for bribes. Her solution? She stuffs her pockets with Canadian Tire money. By the time the agent is wrinkling his brows at the eccentric political figure on the bills and realizing that all he can purchase with them is a bike pump some 11,000 kilometers distant, her flight is long gone.

Canadian Tire money is possibly a more potent national symbol than our newly plasticized currency, as much as it still tickles me to peer through the transparent film of a new $20 bill. But you may not know that you can purchase art, and specifically great music, with it. No, don’t go to your local store looking for CDs beside the air guns. Whereas classical musicians like Bach or Mozart relied on the gold coins of noble patrons, popular country/folk/roots musician Corin Raymond (who will be at the eBar this Thursday) turned to crowdfunding and financed his latest album, Paper Nickels, entirely with Canadian Tire money donated by fans—over 60 pounds of Sandy McTire’s printed face, worth just over $6000. Corin's innovative approach to music production has earned him wide coverage, including articles in the Globe, Star, and the Wall Street Journal.

But while Corin's methods may be getting the press, it's his product that should get the praise. The result of Corin's efforts is “the world’s first coffee table CD,” which includes not only a generous heaping of fine, warm music, but a 144-age booklet that outlines the stories behind both the songs and the “caper” that allowed him to pull them off.

Corin's CD is coming to our music section soon, and you can come to hear this wonderful musician/storyteller this Thursday at the eBar at 10:00 p.m. (Doors open at 9:30. $18 advance tickets available at Magnolia Café or $20 at the door; $12 students). It should be a evening to remember.

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Bookshelf Baby #1: Welcome Ruby!

Congratulations to eBar/Greenroom manager Edwin Hammond and partner Tarah on the arrival of their daughter Ruby Nash Walsh-Hammond last Thursday at 6:25 p.m! Ruby obviously marches to the beat of her own drummer, as her arrival breaks a decade-long Bookshelf streak of boy-babies. Mom and baby are doing well, and we look forward in the future to having Ruby DJ at Flashback Fridays, featuring the amusing fashions of 2010-2020.

One baby here, two more to come!

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US Election Night at the Greenroom

I really enjoy following international and Canadian politics. Last night was the show--the big game--and we had an election party in The Greenroom at The Bookshelf. People young and old decided to brave the cold night in early November to watch the US election results come in and to share some food, drink, and good times.

Earlier in the day I had been reading Slate, the New York Times, and the Globe and Mail on everything US-political. My foresight award goes to Nate Silver of the New York Times. Nice job! 

We even created some special cocktails for the evening, including the "Obama Momma" (Rum, Coconut Rum, Orange Juice, Pineapple juice, and Grenadine) and the "Mitt Julep" (Bourbon, Mint, Sugar, Crushed Ice).

Between rounds of cocktails we followed the minute-by-minute TV results as they were being projected onto the Greenroom's screen, and tried to avoid the commercials by playing some funny YouTube videos. Unfortunately, there were commercials on the YouTube videos as well. Nonetheless, if you have not seen Chris Rock on Obama, and Joss Whedon on Romney, you must, because they are quite funny!

Thanks to everyone that came. It was great spending the evening in the presence of such politically-engaged, intelligent, fun people!

- Ben

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Halloween at the eBar

It was a wild Halloween at the eBar this Wednesday, with Fortnight and Kazoo combining forces with DJ Spenny Ruckspin to give everyone a howling good time. And some barely recognizable eBar staff were in the crowd, including:

Our Kitchen Manager David...

And our ordinarily dynamic but here petrified cook, Eihab.

Along with a host of other ghastly partiers, all having a great time. (OK, Amy is playing Rosemary of Rosemary's Baby, and so is pretty well forbidden to express anything other than distressed confusion, but everyone else was having a blast, trust us.)

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Our New Wine Program

The eBar and Greenroom resto-bar are pleased to announce the launch of our new wine program, featuring an exciting and dynamic new wine list created by General Manager and wine sommelier, Edwin Hammond. Over the past few months the staff and management here have dedicated themselves to renovating and revamping this intimate space, creating a warm and comfortable ambience to relax in with friends and family or to spend an evening in with a loved one. Come check out some of our featured wines from around the world while relaxing in this inviting space.

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