Robert K Stephen (CSW)

RKS Wine: Washington Trio

1.Columbia Crest H3 Merlot 2018 ($20.95) 91/100 It is rather odd that in the Liquor Control Board of Ontario’s Vintages Catalogue for the August 13, 2022 release JamesSuckling.com gives the wine a 90 rating in a review dated July 12, 2021 stating it should be consumed now which is one year after the LCBO putContinue reading “RKS Wine: Washington Trio”

RKS Travel: Thessaloniki’s Museum of Photography and Fred Boissonnas

When in Thessaloniki Greece I make it a point to head over to the revitalized Port district to visit the Museum of Photography that never disappoints with its monthly themed expositions. Architecturally a modern gem and always low key in terms of attendance. In September they had an exhibition entitled “Fred Boissonnas and the Mediterranean”.Continue reading “RKS Travel: Thessaloniki’s Museum of Photography and Fred Boissonnas”

RKS Travel: In the Plaka District in Athens: Where Have the Greeks Gone?

So we are staying at Sweet Home Boutique Hotel in the Plaka district in the heart of touristy Athens near the Acropolis and Syntagma Square. I hear American accents and Yanks everywhere. In fact there has been such an influx of American tourists this September leaving me thinking where have all the Greeks gone? JustContinue reading “RKS Travel: In the Plaka District in Athens: Where Have the Greeks Gone?”

RKS Travel: The Greece I Know and Don’t Know

We arrive bedraggled in Athens after an overnight flight from Toronto. Ordinarily if these were pre-COVID times we would risk waiting two hours in Athens for a connecting flight to Samos but instead decided to say overnight 17 kilometres from the Athens Airport at a town called Vravrona at a hotel called Dolce by Wyndham.Continue reading “RKS Travel: The Greece I Know and Don’t Know”

RKS Literature: Passage of the Day: John Stuart Mill: What Should be the Power of Society?

“Apart from the peculiar tenets of individual thinkers, there is also in the world at large an increasing inclination to stretch unduly the powers of society over the individual, both by the force of opinion and even by that of legislation: and as the tendency of all changes taking place in the world is toContinue reading “RKS Literature: Passage of the Day: John Stuart Mill: What Should be the Power of Society?”

RKS Film: “Tales from the Gimli Hospital” (Redux)

Gimli is a small town in Manitoba, Canada. In 1983 an Air Canada flight from Toronto to Edmonton ran out of fuel and miraculously coasted from 41,000 feet to an airfield in Gimli Manitoba. So I was piqued in seeing “Gimli” as part of the title to “Tales from the Gimli Hospital”. Written and directedContinue reading “RKS Film: “Tales from the Gimli Hospital” (Redux)”

RKS Wine: On the Search for a Star Ontario Viognier

Marsanne and Viognier are often companions in a blend creating a very unique stye of wine. Lots of tropical notes like mango and peach with pineapple. Viognier on its own is also or can be quite tasty. Here in Ontario countries of origin for Viognier would primarily be France and Australia. Does Ontario produce Viognier?Continue reading “RKS Wine: On the Search for a Star Ontario Viognier”

RKS Literature: Passage of the Day: “Pretty Mouth and Green My Eyes”; J.D. Salinger: About New York City

“Honest to God, I think it’s this goddam New York. What I think maybe we’ll do, if everything goes along all right, we’ll get ourselves a little place in Connecticut maybe. Not too far out necessarily, but far enough that we can lead a goddam normal life. I mean she’s crazy about plants and allContinue reading “RKS Literature: Passage of the Day: “Pretty Mouth and Green My Eyes”; J.D. Salinger: About New York City”

RKS Wine: Is This Bargain Basement Portuguese Wine Worth $12.95?

Price is not determinative when it comes to quality of a wine. I had a buddy over for dinner last Saturday. He was happily ebullient over a $90 Pinot Noir from Prince Edward County in Ontario. Knowing that I write about wine and have made several recommendations to him for wine purchases he looked atContinue reading “RKS Wine: Is This Bargain Basement Portuguese Wine Worth $12.95?”

RKS Literature: Freedom and Individuality

“The only freedom which deserves the name, is that of pursuing our own good in our own way, so long as we do not attempt to deprive others of theirs or impede their efforts to attain it. Each is the proper guardian of his own health, whether bodily, or mental or spiritual. Mankind are greaterContinue reading “RKS Literature: Freedom and Individuality”