Book ~ "Fearless As Possible: Under the Circumstances" (2016) Denise Donlon

From Goodreads ~ In this memoir, Denise Donlon recounts her journey as a corporate leader at the forefront of the massive changes in the Canadian music and media industries. 

One of Canada’s most celebrated and dynamic corporate leaders and broadcasters, Denise Donlon has long been recognized as a trailblazer in the Canadian cultural industries. "In Fearless as Possible: Under the Circumstances", Donlon chronicles her impressive and storied career at MuchMusic, Sony Music Canada and CBC English Radio, which put her at the forefront of the massive changes in the music industry and media. 

Throughout her incredible journey, she shares colourful and entertaining stories of growing up tall, flat and bullied in east Scarborough; interviewing musical icons such as Keith Richards, Run-DMC, Ice-T, Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, Annie Lennox and Sting; and detailing her life-changing experiences with War Child Canada, Live8 and the Clinton Giustra Enterprise Partnership. 

This memoir is about Donlon's life and career in Canada's music, television and broadcasting industries. She starts by sharing stories from her childhood in Scarborough and explains how those early experiences helped shape her confidence and career path. The book then follows her rise at MuchMusic, where she went from working behind the scenes to becoming General Manager. Along the way, she describes interviewing well-known musicians, helping create popular music programs and witnessing the growth of MuchMusic into a major part of Canadian pop culture. Donlon then tells about her time as President of Sony Music Canada, where she dealt with the music industry's shift to digital technology and changing consumer habits. She also discusses leading CBC English Radio during a period of budget cuts, organizational change and evolving audience expectations. 

Throughout the memoir, Donlon mixes stories from her professional life with personal experiences, including her marriage to Murray McLauchan, raising a family and supporting charitable organizations such as War Child Canada. The book highlights the challenges, opportunities, and major changes she encountered over the course of her career in Canadian media and entertainment.

For the most part I found this book interesting. I like reading bios/autobios and memoirs, especially about Canadians. I watched MuchMusic when it launched in 1984 so learning more about Donlon and her MuchMusic era was interesting. She dropped a lot of familiar names from  MuchMusic's past and I'd often stop and Google to see where they are today. I was less interested when she talked about working at Sony and CBC Radio (which I've never listened to). There was a lot of detail (it's 754 pages!) so I skimmed through those chapters. I liked that there were pictures scattered throughout the book. As a head's up, there is swearing.

Community BBQ + Hangout, Theatre Centre, Toronto, ON

Gord and I spent the evening at The Theatre Centre's Community BBQ + Hangout. 

Community Meals are a long-standing tradition in The Theatre Centre community. Let’s be honest, not much happens at The Theatre Centre without food. Our 2024 Community BBQ was a huge success: we planned for 300 guests and ended up feeding 800 and we’re all set to welcome even more people this summer. 

This outdoor event will feature hot dogs and hamburgers (while supplies last), live music and more!

Made possible through the City of Toronto’s ‘Community Celebration Support Fund’ and in part by the Ontario Trillium Foundation.

A portion of Lisgar Street (south of Queen Street W) was closed off for it.

Hamburgers and hot dogs were complimentary.

“Making fresh pasta: tagliatelle, gnocchi, ravioli” Workshop, Sharpen Workshops, Toronto, ON

I attended a 3.5 hour “Making fresh pasta: tagliatelle, gnocchi, ravioli” workshop this evening with my pal and neighbour, Dawn, at Sharpen Workshops at Queen Street W/Shaw Street. It was fun but enlightening re how time consuming it is to make fresh pasta from scratch! 

Me and Dawn

Oblique Rib Stitch Knitted Scarf

I knitted another scarf to donate. I found the oblique rib stitch pattern on New Stitch a Day's website. 

I used a Caron Anniversary Cake Special Edition (the colour is Holly Jolly) and 6.5mm needles. 

Cast on multiples of 4 stitches (I cast on 20 stitches).

• Row 1 (RS): *K2, p2; rep from * to end. 
• Row 2: K1, *p2, k2; rep from * to last 3 sts, p2, k1. 
• Row 3: *P2, k2; rep from * to end. 
• Row 4: P1, *k2, p2* to the last stitch, p1.
• Repeat rows 1 to 4, knitting to the desired length
• Bind off

Basket Rib Stitch Knitted Scarf

I knitted another scarf to donate. I found the basket rib stitch pattern on New Stitch a Day's website. 

I used a Caron Anniversary Cake Special Edition (the colour is Holly Jolly) and 6.5mm needles. 

Cast on multiples of 2 stitches plus 1 (I cast on 23 stitches). I added an extra 3 stitches at the beginning and end of each row so it wouldn't curl.

• Row 1 (RS): Knit all sts. 
• Row 2: Purl all sts. 
• Row 3: *K1, sl 1; rep from * to last st, k1. 
• Row 4: *K1, wyif, sl 1, wyib; rep from * to last st, k1.
• Repeat rows 1 to 4, knitting to the desired length
• Bind off

Book ~ "The Beatle Bandit" (2021) Nate Hendley

From Goodreads ~ On July 24, 1964, twenty-four-year-old Matthew Kerry Smith disguised himself with a mask and a Beatle wig, hoisted a semi-automatic rifle, then held up a bank in North York, Ontario.

The intelligent but troubled son of a businessman and mentally ill mother, Smith was a navy veteran with a young Indigenous wife and a hazy plan for violent revolution.

Outside the bank, Smith was confronted by Jack Blanc, a former member of the Canadian and Israeli armies, who brandished a revolver. During a wild shootout, Blanc was killed, and Smith escaped - only to become the object of the largest manhunt in the history of the Metropolitan Toronto Police Force.

Dubbed “The Beatle Bandit,” Smith was eventually captured, tried and sentenced to hang. His murderous rampage had tragic consequences for multiple families and fuelled a national debate about the death penalty, gun control, and the insanity defense.

I like reading true stories, especially Canadian, and this one is about the life and crimes of Matthew Kerry Smith, a Canadian bank robber whose actions became the focus of national attention in the 1960s. 

The book centres on Smith's July 24, 1964, robbery of a bank in North York, Ontario, where he disguised himself with a mask and a Beatle-style wig. The robbery ended in a street gunfight with Jack Blanc, a military veteran who confronted Smith after obtaining a firearm from the bank. Blanc was killed and Smith escaped, prompting what became one of the largest manhunts in the history of the Metropolitan Toronto Police Force. 

Hendley traces Smith's background, including his family life, military service, personal relationships and earlier criminal activity, drawing on court transcripts, police records, newspaper accounts, interviews and other historical documents. It follows Smith's capture, trial and conviction, with attention to the arguments surrounding his mental health and criminal responsibility. The book also explores the broader impact of the case, describing how it contributed to public and political discussions in Canada about gun control, the insanity defence, capital punishment and the use of firearms in banks. At the end of the book, the author tells what happened to everyone, including Smith's family. 

I thought this was an interesting story, especially since it happened here in Toronto.  It was obvious the author did a lot of research.  I liked the writing style ... there was just enough information provided without being too detailed. 

"110% Wizard”, Fringe Festival, Native Earth's Aki Studio, Toronto, ON

Gord and I saw 110% Wizard with Keith Brown, part of The Toronto Fringe Festival, this afternoon. We discovered Keith at Fringe in 2022 and have been going to see him every year since. His show is a combo of magic and storytelling.

Book ~ "Diddly Squat: A Year on the Farm" (2021) Jeremy Clarkson

From Goodreads ~ Welcome to Jeremy's farm. It's an idyllic spot, offering picturesque views across the Cotswolds, bustling hedgerows, woodlands and natural springs. Jeremy always liked the idea being a farmer. But, while he was barrelling around the world having more fun with cars than was entirely reasonable, it seemed obvious that the actual, you know, farming was much better left to someone else.

Then one day he decided he would do the farming himself.

After all, how hard could it be?

Well ...

Faced with suffocating red tape, biblical weather, local objections, a global pandemic and his own frankly staggering ignorance of how to 'do farming', Jeremy soon realises that turning the farm around is going to take more than splashing out on a massive tractor.

Fortunately, there's help at hand from a large and (mostly) willing team, including girlfriend Lisa, Kaleb the Tractor Driver, Cheerful Charlie, Ellen the Shepherd and Gerald, his Head of Security and Dry Stone Waller. Between them they enthusiastically cultivate crops, rear livestock and hens, keep bees, bottle spring water and open a farm shop. But profits remain elusive.

And yet while the farm may be called Diddly Squat for good reason, Jeremy soon begins to understand that it's worth a whole lot more to him than pounds, shillings and pence.

Jeremy Clarkson is an English television presenter, journalist, columnist and author, best known for his work on motoring and, more recently, farming. 

This book follows Clarkson as he takes over the day-to-day management of his 1,000-acre farm in the Cotswolds during COVID after the previous farm manager retires. With little agricultural experience, Clarkson documents his first full year of farming, describing the challenges of learning an unfamiliar profession while dealing with changing weather, crop management, livestock, machinery, regulations and fluctuating market conditions. The book follows the seasonal cycle of the farm, from preparing fields and planting crops to harvesting and caring for sheep. He describes the financial realities of running a farm, including equipment costs, government policies and the impact of unpredictable events such as heavy rain, drought and market changes. 

I hadn't heard of Clarkson. This book caught my eye because of the content and I thought it would be fun and interesting ... and it was. This book apparently draws from his weekly newspaper columns written at that time. Though there were many English references I wasn't familiar with (people, places and events), I liked it and the writing style. It is the first in a series (there are currently 5) and I'll continue to read the others.

Waterworks Food Hall, Toronto, ON

Gord and I had supper in the courtyard at Waterworks Food Hall, opened in 2024 in a historic building at Brant Street/Richmond Street W.

I got a large jerk chicken and rice dinner from Rasta Pasta (so I’d have enough leftovers for a couple meals).

"Celine and Cher: Divine Divas”, Fringe Festival, Factory Theatre, Toronto, ON

I saw Celine and Cher: Divine Divas, part of The Toronto Fringe Festival, this afternoon. It was free to see for volunteers. 

Marysia told stories about Celine and Cher and encouraged us to sing some of their songs with her.

"Romeo and Juliet, Part 1 - Shakespeare: Say It!”, Fringe Festival, Young Centre for the Performing Arts, Toronto, ON

I saw Romeo and Juliet, Part 1 - Shakespeare: Say It!, part of The Toronto Fringe Festival, this afternoon. It was free to see for volunteers.

It was a fun way to experience Shakespeare. There was lots of audience participation since we read aloud as a group the conversations and did what was in the screen. Plus we were given individual parts if we wanted (I was the nurse and Lord Capulet) and read aloud when they “spoke”. Dana was amazing acting out the bits in between.

Fringe Festival, Young Centre for the Performing Arts, Toronto, ON

I spent the afternoon volunteering at The Toronto Fringe Festival (my last of four shifts) at the Young Centre for the Performing Arts in the Distillery District.

I ushered and got to see Sincerely, E and Cult Following.