DW and I were able to get out to a matinee on Saturday after spending a quick (and relatively expensive) hour in the morning at the One of a Kind sale. We try to go at least once a year (there is a Spring and Christmas show) to stock up on items not made in a huge factory that tend to be a bit off the beaten path. Names like Tickleberries (chocolate covered fruit treats from B.C.), Mad Hatter's (amazing gingerbread items from Toronto), this beet place from Hamilton I think (makes an amazing beet pepper jelly we buy by the case for pork chops) and this amazing pepper place called the Peppermaster from Quebec of all places (with pepper sauces to rival the ones from the Caribbean). The next time Famine, DoubleD, AL, LB or KJ are down by us, we will try to have something so that they can sample it themselves.
The OOAK show is not just food, though that is a huge reason a lot of people go, but also jewellery, crafts, art, music, metalwork, sculptures, and clothing; almost everything that can be made by hand can be found being sold here. It really is a spectacular show, most of the vendors are quite friendly and willing to chat with you (when it is not incredibly busy and full of the rude folks), and sometimes you can find the unique item for the very hard to shop for. We bought these really neat metal figurines for friends one year from an artisan at the show. Considering the talent show by our friends, PS and MS, we think they should consider getting a table one year to sell their wares.
Now, a final note on the people of the show. I get around Toronto pretty well and never do I see some of the, er, unique examples of the city that I do at this show. We have a large hippie colony somewhere around here as evidenced by the woman wearing the long khaki skirt, oddly hemmed with bright red thread at two spots on the outsides of the bottom of the skirt. Then there are the folks who believe this is an "event" they are attending so they need to dress to the nines to enter what is essentially a large open warehouse (International Centre at the CNE grounds). Finally we have the group that we will lump all the others into that we will simply refer to as the group that should have known better or bought a mirror the day before they dressed themselves.
Can any women out there tell me why a lot of you insist on wearing clothes that no longer or never fit you in the first place, only to awkwardly be constantly readjusting it as it rides up, on or in your various crevacies? We had the youth, mother beside her, wearing a white belly shirt that she constantly pulled down to hide the belly that had no business being shoved into that shirt in the first place. We had the woman with the 50's hair (big), 80's pants (barely below the new type), 70's shoes (black) and socks (grey) and the blank stare of the new millenium. We had the woman that looked like she was about 120lbs wearing what looked like 240lbs worth of clothing (no coat, decent temperature day). Only a few with a clue, like my DW, wore comfy shoes (ones you did not mind getting stepped upon), loose comfy clothing (ones you did not mind getting spilled upon) and nothing that could snag and break (unless they were ones you did not mind getting snagged and broken).
And Toronto, what the hell happened to our manners? We try to be good little ambassadors in the city because you never know who you may be talking to, but damn!! We are just so tired of the lack of manners today and now that DW has been Scarboroughized, she does not take it from the idiots anymore either. Her language is much more colorful, her tongue much quicker to wag at unsuspecting or complacent dimwits. Me, I used to just brush it off but now being the family protector, I am ready to throw down at the first cart to bump my DW's behind or to graze my ankle. Courtesy is a lost art that needs to be taught in schools again.
Anyhow, if you get a chance to go to this one, or one in your neck of the woods, it is worth the time and effort. A lot of these folks only go to the two shows to sell anything and go back to their normal nine to five the rest of the year so we like to support them when we can afford to. We cannot afford to this year but we just said, "What the hell, life is short." Oh, as for the movie, I will post that separately.
Ciao.
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2 comments:
The "manners" thing is definately a plus about Burlington. This is the first time where I pass a person, smile at them and get "How are you today" or a cheerful "Hi!". First time it happened it was rather shocking but now I realize that people here are really nice. Go figure, eh? ;)
Have to say, the city really has changed over the years and very little of it for the good. I poke fun at Famine and his backwoods area all the time but there is a certain charm, comfort and measure of security living out of the way. Unfortunately, I am not rich enough to move far enough from the people I hate to be around and considering my interactions with the companies, there is not a realible connection to be found off the beaten path.
I would go so far as to say I would accept common courtesy in place of manners. Unfortunately, like many things, that is something to be taught and the examples of today are a sad lot indeed.
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