Oh, Montreal! My city, my muse, Where art and sin both run amuse, And on Saint-Laurent, there stands tall, A mural that portrays them all. The Seven Deadly Sins, oh what a sight, Captured in colors, so bright, Each vice, a face, a body whole, Lust, greed, wrath, envy, gluttony, sloth, and pride, all in … Continue reading The Seven Deadly Sins of Plateau Mont-Royal – Memories Through the Eyes of my City
The Den of Debauchery, or is it? – Memories Through the Eyes of my City
At one end of St-Catherine’s, where the streets are alive, There's a place where the music and madness collide. Les Foufounes Electriques, they call it by name, A den of debauchery, a temple of shame? The walls are adorned with graffiti and art, And the air is thick with the beat of the heart. The … Continue reading The Den of Debauchery, or is it? – Memories Through the Eyes of my City
St-Laurent Street, Then & Now – Memories Through the Eyes of my City
St-Laurent in Montreal, oh how you've changed Your history, your story, now rearranged Once the heart of the one immigrant community Now a hipster hub of trendy opportunity Your streets were lined with shops and markets galore The scent of smoked meat wafting from Schwartz's door But now the vegan cafes and craft breweries reign … Continue reading St-Laurent Street, Then & Now – Memories Through the Eyes of my City
Le Cheval Blanc & Le Refus Global – Memories Through the Eyes of my City
In Montreal's east stands proud Le Cheval Blanc, A bastion of artists who dared be méchant To the rules of society and all its norms, To create a world that art truly transforms. Le Refus Global was their manifesto, Their rebellion against all that was retro, To break from tradition and embrace the new, To … Continue reading Le Cheval Blanc & Le Refus Global – Memories Through the Eyes of my City
Exploring the Turmoil Within: Navigating Conflicting Emotions in the Face of Loss
Rest in Peace, Dad. My father died on Saturday, August 5th, 2023 (Born Dec 20th, 1930). We continue to be blessed to have had you in our lives. In the final weeks he was surrounded by his devoted and loving wife of 68 years, and members of our family. The loss is hitting each of … Continue reading Exploring the Turmoil Within: Navigating Conflicting Emotions in the Face of Loss
Ziggy’s Pub & The Storyteller’s Club of Montreal – Memories Through the Eyes of my City
At Ziggy's Pub in Montreal, where the beer flows free The writers gathered, a rowdy literary company With their smokes and their scotches, they'd spin their tales Of love and life and loss, and of the city's many travails There was Leonard Cohen, with his deep, gravelly voice And Irving Layton, with his wit and … Continue reading Ziggy’s Pub & The Storyteller’s Club of Montreal – Memories Through the Eyes of my City
The Elegy of Life: Finding Beauty in Death and the Will to Live Beyond Loss
I allowed myself to image auditing a class given by Frederic Nietzsche and the subsequent discussion of the topic with three students. The process of allowing these Nietzchean voices has proved very stimulating and soothing. hey, we all deal with grief in our own way! Nietzsche: Welcome, fellow thinkers, to this discussion on the profound … Continue reading The Elegy of Life: Finding Beauty in Death and the Will to Live Beyond Loss
Rethinking The Big O – Memories Through the Eyes of my City
Oh Montreal, my Montreal, What shall we do with this great big bowl? Our Olympic Stadium, so vast and wide, Has sat empty for far too long a time. Some say it's cursed, a white elephant, A monument to our extravagance and neglect. But I say nay, we can make it shine, With imagination and … Continue reading Rethinking The Big O – Memories Through the Eyes of my City
Seeing Through Grateful Eyes
As a counterbalance to negative thoughts, I've decided to continue the practice of looking for what brings me joy in the world around me. This joy feels like gratitude to me and helps me get back on track as I navigate my father's final journeys with us. With every hard thought, I have a clear … Continue reading Seeing Through Grateful Eyes
The Wonderful Redpath – Memories Through the Eyes of my City
Near McGill’s ghetto, a wonder awaits, The wonderful Redpath, a place that sedates, The curious mind, the soul that thirsts, For knowledge, history, and discovery firsts. Here, fossils of creatures long extinct, Preserved in stone, their bones interlinked, Dinosaurs that roamed the earth, Millions of years before our birth. Amidst the museum’s halls, one can … Continue reading The Wonderful Redpath – Memories Through the Eyes of my City
The New Renaissance Mindset 