I don’t see much point in spending $60 for breakfast for the three of us so Andrew and I had a short drive into Point au Pic and found a bakery and purchased some Brioche so breakfast back at the Manoir Richelieu of just baked Brioche and some pear juice along with in room coffee. After breakfast into the Passat and a drive along Shore Drive. Fantastic driving on narrow up and down roads. There were many beautiful scenic sights of rolling hills with farmhouses all with a view of the St. Lawrence River. The biggest town was Baie St. Paul with a population of 7,387. We stopped here for a late lunch or early supper whatever you want to call it i.e. pizza and moules. There was an interesting art exhibit at a church of local artists. On our trip back to Manoir Richelieu we stopped at several roadside “artists’ studios”. Much of the art is touristic depictions of the local sights. Most rather amateurish and overpriced. The scenery here is much like that of Cape Breton in Nova Scotia except there are numerous villages to pass through. Back at 20:00 to watch “The Passion of Christ” as an in-room movie.
RKS Literature: Passage of the Day: The High-Class Nature of Art Theft!
“That was the real problem with art crime. It was considered high class. At the top level of the caste system, art crime was socially acceptable, even thought of as prestigious and intriguing. It was the only serious crime for which the public tended to root for the criminals. But then, the public was not aware of how art crime funded more sinister crimes, such as the drug and arms trade, and even terrorism. The average citizen felt somewhat detached, and sometimes threatened, by fine art. It was considered elite and elusive, beyond their mental capacities and therefore frightening to many. It was with some satisfaction that the public read about gracefully orchestrated art thefts. It was a combination of voyeurism into a glamorous world apart, and a satisfying jab at an institution that felt exclusive. “
Noah Charney “The Art Thief” Washington Square Press 2007
RKS Literature: Passage of the Day: The Selling Price of Art
“The selling price has nothing whatsoever to do with the work of art being good or not. It has to do with what people are willing to pay for it at any given time. The auction house sets much of the value when they put an estimate on the price. They set the estimates based on research of past selling price for similar objects. If they give a high estimate, then buyers will think the piece more important, perhaps than it is. But if they aim too high, the market won’t bid. If they undervalue, the piece loses its cachet, but chances are more people will bid, get the momentum going, and they’ll end up with a higher hammer price.”
Noah Carney “The Art Thief” Washington Square Press 2007
RKS Film: “Calendar Girls”: Cheerleaders That Never Gave Up? Wisdom Amongst the Cheese?
“Calendar Girls” is a documentary about the Calendar Girls of Southwest Florida a group of 30 or so senior ladies that perform cheesy dance numbers in bingo halls, seniors’ residences and local parades raising money for charities. They give between 100-130 performances each year. What they lack in professionalism they compensate for in spirit. Old birds bogeying to Backstreet Boys music is either very sad and disturbing or inspiring. There is a bit of both in this documentary. It might seem embarrassing and sad to many viewers but at the end of the day the Calendar Girls are enjoying themselves and are appreciated by their audiences and that is what counts.
Research has indicated those retiring without any structure in their lives live less longer than busy retirees with a sense of purpose and structure. However gaudy and amateur these ladies are they power on giving them a sense of community.
One feels like a judgemental jerk feeling a bit of sadness and disgust watching the flame of youth long extinguished and embarrassing itself in silliness but put the judgement aside and admire those ladies finding a structure and purpose to their lives and if it looks so foolish so be it. What matters is the sense of purpose it gives them.
While their dancing may border on the absurd perhaps more germane is the documentary’s exploration of ageing, sexism, mortality, sense of community and failing health.
The viewer’s judgment here is irrelevant as the Calendar Girls are the Calendar Girls and they are hurting no one except for violating a sense of good taste. Leave them alone and grimace as they dance to Backstreet Boys!
You can see the trailer here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWzJb9aBLZg&t=1s
The doc has made its rounds on the documentary festival circuit hitting over 40 of them including Sundance. It no doubt will be available on VOD soon. Directed and produced by Maria Loohufvud and Love Martinsen.
A great deal of tension in the film between absurdity and American excess with a search for the meaning of life and purpose.
RKS Film Rating 74/100.
RKS Wine: Stratus Wildass 2019 Merlot: Giving Ontario Merlot Another Chance
In the past few years I have given up on Ontario Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon as a single varietal wine. Could it be that Ontario doesn’t have the terroir and climate for these two grapes? However earlier this year I spent a few days at Niagara-on-the-Lake and discovered a Two Sisters Merlot that impressed at a neurologist/cardiologist/corporate senior executive price, close to $60 for a bottle. So a great Ontario Merlot is indeed possible! Yes travel educates the wine palate and you don’t have to be in Calabria sipping wine at the foot of Vesuvius to make such a conclusion. Niagara-on-the-Lake doesn’t have a volcano but that doesn’t mean it can’t supply wine drinkers with valuable insight and experiences!
Giving that memory fresh meat I try a Stratus Vineyards 2019 Merlot a Niagara-on-the-Lake VQA wine. On the nose some smoky black cherry, blackberry and raspberry all a bit weak and strained. On the plate some tannins linger with some sour cherry influences with a minute smidge of milk chocolate. A lean Merlot far from a Californian or Washington Merlot and of course trailing far behind a Two Sisters Merlot!
Can I interpret this as a refection of Niagara terroir therefore giving an excuse for a flinty lacklustre Merlot? Given that superb Two Sisters Merlot from Niagara-on-the-Lake I can’t hide behind terroir.
(Wildass Merlot 2019, VQA Niagara-on-the-Lake, Stratus Vineyards Niagara-on-the-Lake, $19.95, Liquor Control Board of Ontario # 376822, 750 mL, 12%, RKS Wine Rating 86/100).
RKS Wine: The Return of the Penniless Pensioner and the Tirana Tigress in Albania
After months of radio silence, I received a Facetime call from the Penniless Pensioner from the capital of Albania, the glistening Tirana. We chatted like it was yesterday!
His last love affair with the Russian Svetlana crumbled rather quickly after her yacht was confiscated in Montenegro. Apparently her yacht was stolen from Crimea when the Russians annexed it from Ukraine. The Montenegrin’s were tipped off by one of her many enemies.
PP decided to fall in love with Lola Freiberg known in Albania as the Tirana Tigress a woman of incredible beauty and business acumen P noted. PP proudly recounted she was hugely successful in “immigration consulting” offering “placements” in Germany to migrants fleeing violence, war and famine. What a gal PP waxed effusively. A heart of gold. Helping to place these migrants predominately in Germany, the land of milk and honey.
Well not to squash P’s lust and pride after our call I researched “Freiberg Consulting” and contacted my close relative at CSIS in Ottawa Canada’s intelligence agency. Lola is under investigation by the authorities in Germany for human trafficking, bribery, intimidation and a few of her “troublesome” clients allegedly have taken a swim with cement shoes. A truckload of her “clients” were found frozen to death in the back of a trailer tractor on its way to Dresden. What all her clients were doing in the back of this truck was a mystery to her but not her Swiss bank account. PP looks like he is headed to the rocks of a romantic crash. Should I head to Tirana and rescue the blind lovesick puppy? But I am retired and do I need more adventures at my age?
In a German state of mind I decide to head to a German wine a Spaetburgunder otherwise known in many countries as a Pinot Noir from Königschaffhauser Steingrüble.
As for aromatics there is no mistaking this for a Pinot Noir with notes of raspberries, strawberries, beets and a thin line of milk chocolate. On the palate smooth with notes of French raspberry jam, small Bing cherries and slate all capable of being appropriately characterized as being just a bit beefy. Lola Freiberg is an oversized woman and she just might like a less than overly genteel Spaetburgunder.
The wine can smooth out a bit more in the bottle over the next two years. Grown in volcanic soils. As for food lamb, mushrooms and a simple pasta sauce made with field tomatoes onions, garlic, fresh rosemary, oregano and basil as the fresh herbs give the sauce a lighter flavour more attractive to Pinot Noir.
So what am I do to with the Penniless Pensioner. Hop aboard Air Albania and hope for the best? Or should Lola escape the noose and “Run Lola Run” ?
(Königschaffhauser Steingrüble, 2019 Pinot Noir, Baden, Qualitätswein, Germany, $18.95, Liquor Control Board of Ontario # 460410, 750 mL, 13%, RKS Wine Rating 89/100).
“Travels to a Different Time” : 9August2004: Montreal and Malbaie Quebec: Trip from Montreal to Malbaie
Stayed with in laws in Montreal. Had a great barbequed Porgy with Swiss Chard for lunch before heading out on a 5 hour drive to the Charlevoix region of the Province of Quebec. We slipped out of Montreal heading east with little traffic. Out of Quebec City on the 138 the scenery was glum with gas stations, cheap hotels and malls but the closer we were to Malbaie the scenery became more interesting with the St. Lawrence River in sight. We arrived at our hotel the majestic Manoir Richelieu. Even in Canada the hotel rule would be give the crappiest room you can quite frankly not expected from a Fairmont Hotel! Our initial room had an obstructed view of the St. Lawrence River and a full view of the casino. Being sick and tried of this silly hotel practice I complained and voila a beautiful deluxe room with an unobstructed view of the St. Lawrence River. After settling in Andrew and I went for a marvelous steam bath. We noted the two pools were saltwater. We trundled up to our room invigorated but pruny. For dinner at the hotel restaurant Fotini and I had a bottle of decent Quebecois white wine with blue cheese seafood tortellini. Andrew had the seafood crepe and we all had Crème Brulé for dessert. We had planned to watch an in-room movie but were just too tired.
March 2004: Trip into Costa Rican Rainforest
My son Andrew and I headed into the Costa Rican Forest leaving the girls behind for spa day. We left at 08:15 in a minibus with 12 other people. Our guide seemed knowledgeable and some of the facts he related to us that I remembered were.
- Huge amount of Nicaraguan migrants are causing a strain on Costa Rican social system
- The cashew nut comes from a fruit. The nut is in the stem and you have to roast the stem to extract the nut
- There is income tax in Costa Rica
- Forest fires are a big problem in Guanacaste province
- There are over 150 species of tree frogs in Costa Rica
- At one time cattle in Guanacaste province supplied McDonalds with 70% of its beef
- The cattle industry is now in decline
Upon arrival we climbed up towards the mountain and the higher you climbed the greener the vegetation and by the time we arrived at the lodge we were in a sea of green. Brief bathroom break at a urinal tiled and sloped so it drained. Periodic streams of water swept away the pee. We had a three hour walk in the rain forest. Thousands of “leaf cutter ants” marching about carrying leaves. Howler monkeys followed us screaming saying this is our territory and what are you doing here. The three suspension bridges afforded a spectacular view but they were swaying. Mosquitos were well behaved until the end of the walk where they drilled right through your shirt. Bug spray was effective. After our walk we had a mundane late lunch and headed home.
RKS Wine: Château de la Chapelle Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux 2018
The wine is a blend of Merlot (85%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (15%).
As for aromatics blackberry rules supreme. To a lesser extent blueberries, black cherry, root beer and a bit of lavender. I am noticing an increasing streak of root beer in some high alcohol wines. This wine is 14%.
On the palate the tannins are of a moderate nature. The palate is chunky and dense and a bit hot due to its alcohol content. Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon might have liked “Some Like it Hot” but not all wine drinkers do. Black currants, cactus pear and loganberry. A lack of complexity. If I want some warmth on a cold fall day I’d prefer a bourbon over this heat box. But you may like a red wine with some “punch” so you’ll be content with this.
You may wish to decant two hours prior to serving which in this case muffled its burn. Alternatively use Pinot Noir stemware and swirl generously. I sense a beauty in this wine but the question is how to bring that beauty to the forefront.
(Château de la Chapelle 2018, Blaye, AC Côtes de Bordeaux, Vignoble Luc Schweitzer, Berson, France, $20.95, Liquor Control Board of Ontario # 25385, 750 mL, 14%, RKS Wine Rating 87/100).
RKS Film: “Dead Bride”: Spaghetti Horror Film?
Do you remember those delightfully different Westerns in the 1970’s shot in Spain and Italy. Not only were they enjoyable but they played a role in reviving a languishing genre of film so popular in the 1950’s and 1960’s.
The horror genre of film has never really languished but the Italian “Dead Bride” is a horror film very much directed toward the English-speaking audience. Most of the actors and technical crew are Italians but nowhere is there an explicit reference to the locale of the film other than a quick reference and possible hint by one of the characters that some Americans will be coming to visit the demon possessed family. The actors speak English and there are no subtitles and thank goodness no dubbing.
The plot is not overly complicated. Alyson (Jennifer Mischiati) and Richard (Cristoph Hülsen) decide to move into the country house of her deceased father who had committed suicide. They have a newly born boy Seth. Alyson’s mother, Susan, had certain demonic difficulties and died when Alyson was 9. Alyson herself has suffered some trauma through a series of nightmares as a child when living in the house. She is on psychiatric meds.
To make a long story short Alyson’s grandfather killed his pregnant first wife and married Susan who gave birth to Alyson. Why is Alyson suffering from these horrible nightmares? Why is all this rather tiresome spooky streak now plaguing the house?
A priest by the name of Father Elbert (Sean James Sutton) spills the beans. Alyson’s father had contacted Father Elbert some 25 years ago for his help with his wife Susan who appeared to be slipping into violent madness. But no she is possessed by Madeus the Lord of Wrath and Vengeance in the underworld. He possesses Susan in a terrifying scene. The Bride through Madeus wants her revenge for her murder and particularly for the murder of her en ventre de sa mere child. Father Elbert says the Bride’s raging spirit can be placated by finding her remains, blessing them and burying them in holy ground.
Seth is kidnapped by the Bride and paranormalist Dave (Douglas Dean) is brought in and sends Alyson on a nail biting and spooky different dimension adventure that raises the film a few notches over the “usual horror film”. Does she find Seth? Just when you might be celebrating a predictable and happy ending, you’ll be blown off your seat and you might be left with your mouth open. Everyone must have forgotten Father Elbert’s edict about what must be done to placate the Bride. Father Elbert was also very clear in saying the curse of the Bride is on the family and not the house.
While this is no “The Exorcist”, “Carrie” or “Strawberry Flavoured Plastic” it is several notches above the plethora of spooky films swirling around the upcoming Halloween season. The cinematography makes it classier than most horror films.
The acting is good throughout with Douglas Dean as the paranormalist being an essential power to push the film to a satisfying conclusion. Be very careful to pay close attention to his final conversation with Alyson particularly his comment about age!
It is written and directed by Francesco Picone.
It is available on VOD.
You can watch the trailer here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KyUNGko4nFQ
RKS Film Rating 78/100.
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