A Change in Perspective

Last fall I became a member of the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto. I knew I was ready to soak up even more culture than usual. What I didn’t know was that I would have the chance to get to know my inner artist.

With my ROM membership information came the calendar of adult art classes. There are a variety of offerings from oil painting to Chinese brush painting and the levels range from beginner to advanced. The class I chose to begin with is called “Drawing for Those who Can’t”.
I think this class is so popular because it speaks to those who believe they cannot draw and/or to those who are apprehensive about trying something new and different. The class title simply takes the pressure off.

I happen to think that everyone is artistic in their own way and that your art does not have to be considered promising in order to enjoy the activity immensely. My talented and hilarious teacher Lucy Dilkus keeps us in a routine of warm ups, and exercises that lead up to the afternoon’s projects. She showed us that drawing can be incredibly meditative. It is yet another way to relax while engaging the mind and body.

In my favorite drawing exercise thus far, we were each given a copy of a black and white likeness of Charles Darwin in his later years. We were asked to focus simply on the light and dark areas of the page. The picture was set in front of us inverted to help us to do this. Darwin’s photo was now just a series of splotches in various shades of grey rather than a portrait.

Once the work was complete we turned our drawings right side up for the first time and admired each other’s work. Once again we were all given the same task and each person’s drawing differed significantly from the next. Most of us expressed surprise at what we had achieved since most of us would not have thought we could draw a likeness with any success. The key was a change in perspective created by turning the picture upside down and refraining from thinking of what we saw as a person.

As a result of my art lessons and what I experienced in that classroom at the museum this past month, I have gained new perspective not only on art but on photography. Last week I visited a special photography exhibit entitled Photographic Figures (on until May 10, 2009) at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston and found that I have a new appreciation for photography and paintings.

Due to my lessons I am beginning to understand more about technique and use of light in black and white photography specifically. That simple exercise of looking for light and dark areas and recognizing depth gave me fresh eyes with which to observe. I better understand the artist’s intended perspective and message when looking at a work. This is a wonderful and completely unexpected side effect of my time in “Drawing for Those Who Can’t”.

I have a new outlet for my artistic side and news skills to develop. I have even started to carry around a small sketchbook. For me as it turns out, the satisfaction is in the process rather than the end result. After reading this, if you are not doing so already, I hope you make time for yourself find an artistic activity to try whether it be drawing or dancing. If you think you won’t be able to do it, it is probably the perfect choice!

For program and exhibit information:

Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) programs & lectures

Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

The problem that is Winterlicious: A bad trip down the Spice Route

I am sitting under a blanket and drinking hot tea trying to warm up after a chilly visit to Toronto’s much hyped Spice Route restaurant. The place has enjoyed great word of mouth publicity so I was looking forward to the evening.

Service

The hosts at the front of the restaurant were lovely but the good service ended there. Approximately 5 servers took turns hovering over my friend and I watching us. They snapped up our plates the second we finished a dish and sometimes before. The wait staff had a friendly demeanor but the hovering made for an unsettling dining experience.

I will say that I think is a management issue as they were clearly instructed to turn the tables over as quickly as possible. This may or may not be due to that Winterlicious is still in effect.

For those who do not have Winterlicious where they live, it is a period of time when restaurants offer prix fixe menus at affordable rates. I assume the point is to promote the venue and entice diners outside of the usual clientele.

The word on the street is that restaurant staffs dislike Winterlicious because it means repetition, extra work and smaller tips? Whether this is accurate or note, the media has made news of the industry’s opinions of the yearly event.
Toronto Star Winterlicious article

Ambiance & Food

The Spice Route is modern with a number Asian zen elements including Tibetan style statues and spicy coloured fabrics and wall treatments. There are some unique elements such as the private restrooms that have large windows replacing one wall, providing the visitor with a view of the outdoor enclosed patio extension.

The temperature in the space was far lower that room temperature. Despite the fact that I managed to fit warm woolen socks into my cute silver riding boots, I could not feel my toes.

The food was certainly tasty and spicy as the restaurant name implies. It seems as though they are overly mindful of portion control though. My citrus mandarin salad contained only one small slice of mandarin and the Mongolian beef with crispy rice I ordered contained no rice! If only I were someone who worried about carbs...

Spice Route: 499 King St. West, Toronto, ON Canada

Execute a Smooth & Impressive Valentine’s Day

Giving & accepting gifts

• Choose a gift that is appropriate for the stage of the relationship you are in e.g. first date/new relationship vs. casual relationship vs. long term relationship. It is best not to give a gift of an intimate nature in the very early stages of a relationship.

• Present your gift with though. Have someone help you to wrap the gift if necessary as the wrapping is a big part of the gift’s first impression (it is the gift’s outfit!).

• Be strategic about choosing a time to present the gift to your date. Near the end of the date is a good time.

• You may decline an inappropriate or unwanted gift. You might do this if the gift is too intimate in nature or too expensive for your comfort level for instance. You can say something like this: “Thank you for this kind gesture but I am not comfortable accepting this gift.” You may follow up with an explanation if you wish.

• When you give a gift always include the gift receipt when possible. If you receive a package that includes a gift receipt you should feel free to use it.

• Match the style of the gift to your date’s personality style, interests/hobbies and aspirations.

Celebrating single

• Do not press your single friends to share their Valentine’s Day plans. It can be a sensitive time for singles.

• Avoid sharing too many details about your intimate VDay plans if you have not been prompted.

Valentine’s day at the office

• Be sure to maintain professional conduct when discussing the topic of Valentine’s day.

• Be festive but not inappropriate. Giving out kids style valentines may be a cute retro idea but it is not professional

• While affection may be the theme of the day, keep office decorum in mind.

• Give gifts to friends or your secret office crush in private

Restaurant savvy

• Select a location that suits your personal style as a couple or prospective couple

• Arrange everything ahead of time: you may be able to drop off special wine, flowers in a vase, the gift in advance of the date

• Discretely provide the server or maitre d’ with your credit card if you want to be the one to pay. The bill never has to come to the table.

• Brush up on your dining etiquette before you go. You may need to guide your date.