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The Sporting Life 10km 2014

This weekend, I did something I never expected to do: run an organized race! As a kid, running was never really my strong suit, nor has it really been since then. However, over the past few years, I've developed a sort of appreciation for getting outside and going for a run. I've gone through waves of interest, from heavy to moderate to none, but earlier this year, a friend mentioned that he was going to do the Sporting Life 10km in May and I figured, "What the hell?! I should give it a shot." And I did. I trained - not excessively, I might add - and went into my first race this past Sunday morning with a combined sense of nervousness, anxiety, excitement and confidence... a strange, and very contradictory combination, I know. I also should mention that my ego may have gotten the best of me when signing up, as I registered for the first corral - the under 45 minutes corral. Very bold, Mr. Fautley, very bold. But, in doing so, I set my goal. I was going to finish under 45 minutes, no excuses. 

So, come race day, I managed to conquer my anxiety and my nervousness, as well as appease my excitement and perhaps rock my confidence all at the same time. I ran the race I wanted to run, finishing with a time of 44:13, with an average pace of around 4:26 per/km. I have to say, I'm very proud of my time, and although I'm feeling the after effects of running 10 kilometres down Yonge street in Toronto, I'm happy to report that my next goal is to run a half marathon, followed closely by a marathon. By next year's Sporting Life 10km, I hope to cut my time down to under 40 minutes, besting my Uncle Barry's PB when he was running circuits years back. Again, very bold of me to set the bar so high, but if have that goal, I'll do whatever it takes to make it happen. Thanks to everyone who made Sunday so special - all the staff, the volunteers, and my family and friends who supported me. Can't wait to do it again!

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A West Elm kind of afternoon! (at West Elm)

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Paul’s Album Review: Week of October 22nd, 2012

Foo Fighters - Wasting Light (April 12th, 2011)

* * * * *  / 5 stars

From the very first guitar riff on "Bridge Burning", I knew I would fall in love with this album. Having the bias of the Foo Fighters being my favourite band ever, I understand that to say this is the best album of 2011 would be a little skewed. That said, this is the BEST album of 2011! Produced by Butch Vig in Dave Grohl's garage, the brothers Foo decided to take the classic approach to Wasting Light, recording everything to tape (as opposed to digitally), which meant there was no room for error, and everything recorded was done analog. With hit songs like "Rope" and "Walk", the Foo's seventh studio album is a masterpiece from start to finish, earning them 5 Grammy Awards, including Best Rock Album. The Foo's also produced a documentary entitled Back and Forth, archiving the production of the album as well as a historical look at the band. Wasting Light is absolutely essential to anyone's Foo Fighters collection, and a great addition to anyone's collection regardless.  

Tracklist:

Bridge Burning

Rope

Dear Rosemary

White Limo

Arlandia

These Days

Back & Forth

A Matter of Time

Miss the Misery

I Should Have Known

Walk

Better Off (Bonus Track)

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Paul’s Album Review: Week of October 15th, 2012

Dave Matthews Band - Away from the World (September 11th, 2012)

* * * *  / 5 stars

Being a recently converted Dave Matthews Band fan, I have to say that Away from the World is a great addition to their catalogue. Following 2009's Big Whiskey & the GrooGrux King, Away from the World kicks off with the track "Broken Things", setting a very vintage DMB-pace right away. The lead single from the album, "Mercy", is delicate and restrained, but builds into an emotionally strong anthem. Although Matthews' vocals and lyrics are powerful, the real hero here - as with many DMB albums - is the instrumental section, who create incredible vast, sonic opuses that never cease to amaze me. Away from the World is definitely an album I'll keep handy for the future!

Tracklist:

Broken Things

Belly Belly Nice

Marcy

Gaucho

Sweet

The Riff

Belly Full

If Only

Rooftop

Snow Outside

Drunken Soldier

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Paul’s Album Review: Week of October 8th, 2012

Wye Oak - Civilian (March 8th, 2011)

* * * * * / 5 stars

To say that Civilian is a masterpiece would be an understatement. My first experience with Wye Oak was at Lollapalooza in 2011, where they were the very first band to play on the very first day. They blew me away. Consisting of only two members, Andy Stack and Jenn Wasner, Wye Oak create a sonically and melodically stunning combination, and 2011's Civilian is a true testament to their talents. With songs such as the title track "Civilian" and "Hot As Day" leading them through a 10-track tour de force, Wye Oak delivers their best album to date. Be sure to also check out their newest released single, entitled "Spiral".  

Tracklist:

Two Small Deaths

The Alter

Holy Holy

Dogs Eyes

Civilian

Fish

Plains

Hot As Day

We Were Wealth

Doubt

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Paul’s Album Review: Week of October 1st, 2012

John Mayer - Born and Raised (May 22nd, 2012)

* * * * * / 5 stars

Taking some influence from the likes of Bob Dylan and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Mayer returns to follow up his 2009 album Battle Studies with Born and Raised. Unfortunately, with Mayer unable to promote the album due to a throat granuloma, Born and Raised still managed to spend weeks atop the Billboard 200, and as of September 12th, was certified gold - having sold over 500,000 copies. As a huge John Mayer fan, I must say, he continues to get better and better. Born and Raised, from start to finish, is a masterpiece. From the first single "Shadow Days", to upbeat tracks like "Something Like Olivia" and "Queen of California", Mayer crafts each song wisely, approaching the album with an Americana-feel - straying slightly from his jazz roots and exploring country and folk techniques. Overall, the album is fantastic. For any John Mayer fan, it is a must, and for anyone on the fence, this album should definitely help you decide. 

Tracklist:

Queen of California

The Age of Worry

Shadow Days

Speak for Me

Something Like Olivia

Born and Raised

If I Ever Get Around to Living

Love Is a Verb

Walt Grace's Submarine Test, January 1967

Whiskey, Whiskey, Whiskey

A Face to Call Home

Born and Raised (reprise)

Fool to Love You (bonus track)

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Paul's Album Review: Week of September 24th, 2012

No Doubt - Push and Shove (September 25th, 2012)

* * * * / 5 stars

After a nearly 10 year hiatus, No Doubt has returned in full force with Push and Shove, a follow up to 2001's Rock Steady. At first listen, I have to say that I'm pleased with the Anaheim, California-based group's latest effort, and it's almost as though 10 years hasn't passed since their last album. They have certainly picked up where they left off with tracks like "Push and Shove", and the soon-to-be-single "Looking Hot". Being a huge fan of 1995's Tragic Kingdom, I still have a soft-spot for the Ska-influenced sound, which they do touch on a bit in Push and Shove. Overall, I'm happy that No Doubt are back. Definitely worth checking out!

Tracklist:

Settle Down

Looking Hot

One More Summer

Push and Shove (feat. Busy Signal & Major Lazer)

Easy

Gravity

Undercover

Undone

Sparkle

Heaven

Dreaming the Same Dream

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Paul’s Album Review: Week of September 17th, 2012

Billy Talent - Dead Silence (September 11th, 2012)

* * * * / 5 stars

Produced by guitarist Ian d'Sa, Billy Talent's 5th album (4th as Billy Talent) comes out swinging. The foursome from Mississauga don't hold anything back in their latest effort, with d'Sa's chopping riffs mixing with Ben Kowalewicz's aggressive vocals to create a very assertive atmosphere. Dead Silence does not disappoint, with the edgy single "Viking Death March" merging post-hardcore riffs with British New Wave elements, and their most recent single "Surprise, Surprise" is a return to classic Billy Talent style. 

Tracklist:

Lonely Road to Absolution

Viking Death March

Surprise, Surprise

Running Across the Tracks

Love Was Still Around

Stand Up and Run

Crooked Minds

Man Alive!

Hanging By a Thread

Cure for the Enemy

Don't Count On the Wicked

Show Me the Way

Swallowed Up By the Ocean

Dead Silence

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So, last night, 21 Jump Street was the film of choice. Going simply on a recommendation from my brother, and not knowing much about it, I had my hesitations. But my brother's description of "too funny" and "had me laughing the whole time" enticed me into checking it out. 

Before hand, a few of my buddies and I stopped for some wings and beer at the Wild Wing across the square at the AMC. Now, my friend Dave and I used to frequent this particular Wild Wing often when I was still a local resident, but have since avoided it. Luckily, the restaurant hadn't changed all that much. Just a few cosmetic changes to the layout, and new flooring. We each enjoyed a few pounds of wings, with mine being "Some Beach" and then "Smokin' Ranch" - both delicious, and both terrible for you. But hell, if I'm gonna go, I'm gonna go big, or go home, right? 

After the snack and the catch-up, we headed over to the theatre, and let me say honestly, I hadn't laughed so hard at a movie in a long time. Some parts had me - in the literal sense - gasping for air! Now it's not going to be Oscar-worthy by any means, but it is still totally worth seeing, in my opinion. Both Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill do their parts justice, and are both charming in their own ways. It is almost worth seeing the movie just for the effects of the drug that they are seeking. That's all I'll say about that...

Anyways, overall, had a fantastic night. 21 Jump Street is a movie I'm definitely going to see again, and I would recommend it to anyone who is looking for a good laugh!

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This past weekend, Carly and I took a road trip to a place that most locals take for granted - Niagara Falls. Now, I know that most people in the GTA have found their way to one of the seven wonders of the natural world at one point in their lives, but the novelty of having the falls so close may rub off on some. Unfortunately, I am one of those people. I had been a few times in my life, for camp and family trips or whatnot, but I hadn't truly experienced the falls the way they should be. 

Now, I had been to the falls recently in February of this past year, but I got there at night, and it was snowing - I simply don't count that. This time, Carly and I were heading up for the day, staying the night, and then coming back home the following day - leaving us plenty of time to check out the falls themselves, and the surrounding areas. We headed up quite early on the Friday, as Carly had a surprise planned for the day that we had to be at our hotel by 11am. Luckily, there was no traffic, and when we arrived, our room was ready. So we were able to check in, drop off our luggage and then make our way back down to the lobby to wait for transportation to this "surprise"!

My surprise turned out to be a tour of the Niagara-region local vineyards, which was an incredible gift! I was thrilled to do this, as I really had only done some wine tasting in the past, and this was a good way to expose myself to a few of our local wines as opposed to imports. We met our guide Andrea in the lobby where she informed us that we were two of six people on our tour, which was excellent as it wouldn't be too crowded for us. As we drove in the Suburban toward Niagara-On-the-Lake, Andrea gave us a ton of information about the surrounding areas, and more importantly, about the wine industry of Ontario. Before long, we had picked up our last 2 tourees, and were on our way to the first vineyard of the day - the PondView Estates Winery. 

Like many winery's before, the PondView Estate Winery's story began in Sicily, Italy, where the family's ancestors grew vines and produced their own wines, and when family patriarch Giuseppe Puglisi made the jump to Canada back in 1965, he continued his tradition of wine-making here with Canadian soils. His son, Luciano, is now the man in charge - carrying with his generations of wine-making traditions and cultivating wines that are now enjoyed by many. His dedication and commitment to excellence garnered him the prestigious "Grape King" award back in 2008, with his vineyard being regarded as the Best in Ontario. 

We tried several wines at PondView, pairing each wine with a specific food accompaniment, whether it was cheese, orange slices, or even a slice of prosciutto with bread. The addition of food, for those not familiar with wine-tasting, brings out entirely different flavours when tasting the wine, and truly enhances the natural tang of the wine. 

From there, we moved on to the Pillitteri Estates Winery, famous for many wines, including the 2008 Sparkling Cabernet Icewine, which garnered them a Gold in the Effervescents du Monde Championships in 2009. Like many other Niagara-region wine-makers, Gary Pillitteri originated from Sicily, Italy. In 1948, he emigrated to Canada, and since then, has been working towards a lifelong dream of wine-making. In 1993, his efforts came to a head, as the Pillitteri Estates Winery was opened. Five years earlier, Gary had won a Gold Medal for his Icewine in an amateur Niagara wine competition, and from there, he realized his dream could become a reality. 

Like at the previous vineyard, we were able to try several wines here at the Pillitteri Estates Winery, including a rare Shiraz Icewine, which hosts an intriguing set of flavours including candied cherry, black forest cake and even an underlying hint of spice. All in all, we enjoyed Pillitteri immensely, as well as learning about the Pillitteri's near obsession with the number "23", which has been coming up in Gary's life constantly. 

The next stop on our wine tour was the Konzelmann Estate Winery, where Herbert Konzelmann continues his family's tradition of wine-making, dating back to 1893 in Wuerttemberg, Germany. Like the previous two, Konzelmann's winery was very well received by many in the Niagara region, and his wines continue to impress to this day. With a special Peach Wine as a feature, Konzelmann Estates provided several new wines to taste as well, most notably a Vidal Icewine, which the presenter paired with a drop of hot sauce right into the glass. This combination of sweet and spice gave the Icewine an extra little bite, which I wasn't expecting but truly enjoyed!

On our way back, Andrea asked the group if we'd like to stop in at a new winery on the way back, to which we all replied in the positive. Hinterbrook Estates was our last stop. Philip Nickel opened up Hinterbrook early this year in 2011, and his staff pride themselves on being very environmentally friendly, and eco-conscious. Using renewable energy resources, as well as "green" wine-making processes, Hinterbrook is a true advocate of the ever-growing "Green Movement" that the globe is experiencing.

After our tour had ended, both Carly and I were pretty bagged - not to mention a bit buzzed from lots of wine, and little to no food. We made our way back to the hotel and grabbed a quick snack and a nap before our dinner later that evening. Located on the 9th floor of the Embassy Suites hotel, the Fallsview Keg Steakhouse & Bar is something I'd heard about for years as an employee of the Oakville Keg. With the reputation of being the largest Keg in the chain, as well as having a phenomenal view of the falls, the Keg was a great choice for dinner, as you can always count on the Keg for quality. The bonus was that at 9pm on the 11th, there was a fireworks spectacle right over top of the falls. Luckily, yours truly knew all about it, and planned dinner accordingly. ;)

The following day, we got up with the intention of walking around the falls and seeing the sights, but unfortunately, weather was not necessarily permitting. To quote the great Winnie the Pooh, it was a "rather blustery day" at Niagara Falls on the 12th of November - not necessary the most pleasant falls viewing setting. So after checking out the Falls themselves, and walking around the surrounding area, we decided to call it a day, and make our way back home. 

All in all, however, it was an excellent way to spend a Friday and Saturday! Even with poor weather conditions, Niagara Falls is a fascinating and amazing natural wonder - one to which I will certainly return one day. Although the city reminds me of a miniature and lower budget Las Vegas, it still has many endearing qualities. I look forward to my next visit!

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[paulfautley]

Went and saw the new prequel to the 1982 Horror Classic - The Thing. Named identically, the new film is exactly what I wanted it to be. If you, as a viewer, go in to see a great film, you will most likely be disappointed, as John Carpenter's original is far from it, and the new prequel directed by Matthijs van Heijningen Jr. is no different. 

That said, it is certainly an enjoyable cinematic experience - that is, if you enjoy the brutality and disgusting gore that comes with the territory. Like is predecessor, the 2011 film has all of the elements that made the original great: uncertainty, suspense, gruesome innovation with regards to special effects, and plain old excitement. 

Not being a super-fan of the horror genre, I can't honestly say with expertise that it follows true to the horror canon. However, having seen the original several times, I can say that it stayed true to the Thing canon. All questions from the original are answered in this prequel, and the vague origins from the original are explained. No stone was left unturned, and if you watch the original directly after the new version, you will realize that the events are directly sequential. The 1982 film is a direct sequel to the new 2011 film. Quite an impressive feat. 

So, that all said, if you enjoyed the Kurt Russell original, do yourself a favour and check out the new film. It's certainly not Oscar-worthy, but if you go in with no expectations and are in the mood for a good horror movie, you won't be disappointed. 

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Leeloo Dallas... Multi-pass.

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Goodbye to a great man. 

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The Oakville Town Centre Cinemas were operated by Famous Players and opened on Friday June 23rd, 1989. The cinema had six screens, and instead of numbering them, they went by names: Alto, Bijou, Majestic, Olympia, Palace and Rio. On opening day, there were three features playing: Batman, Dead Poet's Society and Honey, I Shrunk the Kids. The cinema was located at the west end of the Oakville Town Centre shopping centre, which has now been renamed Dorval Crossing. 

As a youngster, this was our "go-to" theatre for any cinema adventure we were about to partake in. I have fond memories of sneaking in to see Jurassic Park in the summer of 1993, and seeing the now-huge Austin Powers on opening night back in 1997. Overall, a fantastic theatre that has long since been replaced with a Staples Business Depot. But, the memories will always live on. 

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It was a very sad day back in 2005 when the Ontario Renaissance Festival closed is proverbial "gates", with no intentions to re-open in the near future. The Milton-based medieval faire took place annually between the end of July until the Labour Day weekend each year, and was an attraction that we as a family rarely missed. I remember as a kid getting so excited any time we would plan to go, as the combination of shows, themed events, and atmosphere truly brought the visitor back to a time of fights, frivolity and feudal joy.

Most honoured guests…

 Welcome to the village of Trillingham, in the county of Kent. Mayor Randolph Randall has decreed that on this day in this year of 1562 shall a festival to celebrate the harvest be held.

In the court…

Queen Elizabeth I and her entourage have joined the villagers this day to help rejoice in the festivities of the day. Joining the Queen as her Special Guest is Captain Horatio Cornwallis, one of the Queen’s Privateers, recently returned from a sea expedition funded by the Village of Trillingham. The Queen and her Court are anxious to see what riches he has returned with. If this treasure meets with the Queen’s liking, then surely Capt. Cornwallis and the Village will be rewarded handsomely.

In the Village…

The Mayor has planned a marvelous festival for this day. He has high hopes that his efforts will impress the Queen with his leadership. But those hopes are starting to fail. The Notorious Captain Hawkins and his band of cutthroat pirates, the Black Hawks, have appeared looking for Capt. Cornwallis. So now, it’s up to Mayor Randall and the Villagers of Trillingham to keep the Black Hawks from finding their prey. If they don’t they’ll be in a flock of trouble.

You are invited…

To join the festivities and enjoy all the fabulous crafts, delectable foods, and wondrous entertainments that await you just inside the gates of Trillingham. Let merriment abound! Huzzah! 

With vendors, and stage performers, and street acts all creating a realistic medieval town, the village of Trillingham was truly brought to life every time we went. And I miss it. I attended the Royal Medieval Faire in Waterloo this year, and although similar, the feeling just wasn’t the same. The Ontario Festival truly was all-inclusive, as they had built stages and actual stores, whereas the Royal Faire was simply tents in the middle of a field. A decent shot but, in my opinion, a miss nonetheless. 

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Saw Shark Night 3D. Going with the flow of the movie, I'm going to keep this brief. Less than 90 minutes. 9 people killed. Several different sharks. Blood bath. Hilarious. If you go into it with absolutely no expectations, and you're in the mood for a silly summer gore-fest, then by all means, Shark Night 3D is one to see! Totally and completely entertaining from start to finish!