local seeker west end issue 24

TAKE ONE - We’re different!

Local SeekerThe We s t E n d Community paper

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Vo l u m e 2 , I s s u e 2 4 , D e c 9 , 2 0 1 1

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When I was a kid, I had an Italian neighbour, Dominic Chicconi,living across the street. At Christmas time, his parents wouldinvite me over and I remember their decorated, authentic fir tree,which I admired as I ate some Italian holiday cuisine (always

involving chicken hearts and/or livers, for some reason, Ithink) and dreamt of sugar plum faeries. While our

Festival of Lights, Chanukah, often falls around thesame time of year, we Jews don’t really “get

into” the Christmas spirit. That is why we dothings like see The Nutcracker and enviouslyspy on the other kids sitting on Santa’s lap.

But I have still had my own Santaexperiences over the years, including

playing Santa as an extra in the 1989film Mindfield, starring Christopher

Plummer, Michael Ironside andLisa Langlois and being part of

the assembled throngwelcoming Sinterklaas toAmsterdam while there in thelate 1990s on a travel writer’sjunket. I also saw this really well-done foreign-produced Santahorror film at last summer’sFantasia film fest, but that’sanother story.

Last year, we featured an exclusiveinterview with Kris Kringle on thecover of The Local Seeker, so itmade perfect sense to keep thetradition alive for our holiday issuethis year...

Story by Bram D. Eisenthal, cover photo by Father John Walsh

advertiser: Respected local builder Dubelle Developments, whichhas been bestowed the ACQ award for Performance andExcellence in Residential Construction. We are indeed proud thatDubelle will grace our pages and thank them for their patronage.We will be profiling Dubelle in a future issue. To you and your families, a happy and healthy holiday season andNew Year! See you in 2012!

Bram EisenthalPublisher and Editor

THE LOCAL SEEKER, DEC 9 (pg. 2) FREE CLASSIFIED ADS: 514-975-7745 www.westend.thelocalseeker.com

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The Local Seeker, West End Montreal Edition

Volume 2, Number 24, December 9, 2011

Founded by Julia Lucio and Mai-Liis Renaud 2010

Published by Local Seeker Media Group, Cornwall, Ontario

The Local Seeker does not accept responsibility for errors, misprints or inaccuracies

published within. The opinions and statements of our columnists are not to be presumed as

the statements and opinions of The Local Seeker.

What’s in a name? Well, everything, really. Our names areimprinted upon us, which is why I question many of the namespeople give themselves today. It says a lot about you when youare revealed to the world, your name does.

I have always liked the name The Local Seeker. To someone likeme, who loves a good mystery, the word “seeker” meanssearching for something, often something mysterious andpotentially unobtainable… like success, truth, information…

words I would definitely associate with what we are trying to do here.

The problem appears to be that the moniker Local Seeker raises far too many eyebrowshere in Montreal. When I introduced a Montreal edition of the enormously successfulLocal Seeker in Cornwall, I told my partners “Gals (in reality the self-named SeekerChicks), remember one thing, Montreal is NOT Cornwall” and that was not onlygeographically valid, but has proven prescient. The weekly Local Seeker in Cornwallhas a very active free classified section. I have offered that to you here, but almost noone has availed themselves of my generous offer. Big cities, unlike small towns, tend toview everything with suspicion. Readers probably wonder what myangle is. Likewise, the title Local Seeker appears to be met with aperceptible shrugging of shoulders: Seeker? What are they seeking? Ihave been told by many people that they have participated in suchconversations.

So, because it’s hard enough to get people to read your paper as it is,in an era where pioneering publications like The Montreal Gazettehave problems with their dwindling subscription base, I havedecided to change the name to something less perturbing. I like TheLocal Herald because, one, we ARE indeed a very local paper, centredin Montreal’s West End and, two, “herald” also signifies a foretelling, amessaging, the transmission of something, in this case somethingspecial.

I wanted, as well, to pay homage to the defunct Hampstead Herald(later the Weekly Herald), which journalists Warren Perley and WesleyGoldstein proudly brought to West Enders from 1989 to 1991. I reallyenjoyed this paper, mourned its demise, and actually sought outPerley’s blessing before making this decision. I received it from him,along with a pleased chuckle. Thank you for that, Warren (who, by theway, plies his trade today as a founder of Ponctuation Grafix… youcan find him at www.ponctuation.com): I am happy to return aHerald to the West End, due in no small part to the inspiration youignited. Warren is also Editor of beststory.ca, a new model for onlinejournalism without advertising, which is launching now and will postoriginal features stories ranging from 1500 to 6,000+ words.

So this is really out with the old, in with the new in 2012! Starting withour first issue of the year, to be published on January 12, you will findus at various locations near you as The Local Herald, the West EndMontreal community paper. Take one, everybody – as I wish you aHappy and Healthy New Year, I want to remind you one constantremains: We’re STILL different!

And this goes for some material, tooI’m sorry to bid adieu to Sol Boxenbaum for the time being (heexplains why in his final column for now), but wanted to thank himfor his sage and savvy words. He’s sort of our watch dog around hereand I hope he’s back with us soon. But I also welcome a new regular

Managing Editor: Bram Eisenthal Creative Design: Julia Lucio

OUR CONTACT INFORMATIONFree Classifieds and Advertising: 514-975-7745

EMAIL: [email protected]

westend.thelocalseeker.com

Mailing Address: 327 2nd Street E. Cornwall, On. K6H 1Y8

The Property Seeker

A regular feature of The Local Seeker West End Montreal Edition

Professional Consultant - Anita Benabou Rozenblat

Out with the old…

Last

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Francaise uber allesIt is like a bad dream that keeps on getting worse day by day, year

by year. The Quebec French movement held a protestlast week. It denounced Revenue Quebec because itsupports businesses in English. What’s next? Will we,the English speaking people, need to wear a letter “A”on our jackets? When will they start building thecamps? How soon will we be forbidden to speakEnglish in public places? It’s no laughing matter. Dothey not realize that, per capita, the Englishpopulation contributes a larger share of taxes?

Throughout Canada, government offices provideservices in French and English. The problem begins with the factthat they do not realize that we are still a part of Canada. They haveforgotten because Jean Charest doesn’t dare tell them and StephenHarper told them they are a “nation.” Apparently the English mediachoose to remain silent as well. That silence will create theatmosphere that one day will allow these linguistic maniacs toforbid the distribution of English language newspapers andmagazines in their “nation.”

Can you imagine what people in the free world would think of Bill101 and all its spin-offs? What happened to democracy? Is thereanother country in the world that prohibits English from beingspoken? It is time we wrote to our member of parliament and to thepremiere and the Prime Minister and told them we feel enough isenough. Little by little English language schools are closing due tolow attendance. It ought to be our right to educate our children inthe language of our choice. Speak out now while we are stillallowed to. (ED. NOTE – Yes, Sol, and how about this new official pushto force impressionable young children to speak French on their schoolplaygrounds, rather than ANY language of their choice? We reallyHAVE reached the breaking point where enough is truly enough!).

As Gimme Shelter plays in the background…

I would like to point out the fact that the weather is changing andday by day we await the harsh weather that accompanies fall andwinter. There are thousands of homeless people living on thestreets of Montreal and there is a need for warm clothing. Oldsweaters that no longer fit you will make a welcome gift tosomeone who has nothing. You can drop off parcels of clothing tomost of the churches and synagogues around town or toorganizations like Dans La Rue, Old Brewery Mission and Sun Youth,to name a few. Mitts, scarves, tuques, socks, etc., can be purchasedat the various dollar stores and left at these same locations. Intoday’s economy, one never knows who may be in need. If you areable to provide, be thankful.

Fair thee well…

Finally, I wish to take the opportunity of wishing all my readers andformer listeners the best of the festive season, be it Christmas orChanukah, and all the best in the New Year. I will be taking asabbatical from my writing as of now. I have thoroughly enjoyed mybrief career as a columnist but feel the need to move on. I will returnto the media one day, perhaps on the Internet and maybe one dayon satellite radio. But for now…

It’s closing time.

Please visit www.lastcallwithsol.com

Sol Boxenbaum (CEO)VIVA CONSULTING(514) 486-6226

ABRAELECTRONICS INC

514-731-0117www.abra-electronics.com

Store Hours Mon-Fri, 8:30-4:30

For a truly special, interactive holiday gift, Abrahas the kit for the boy or girl close to your heart

5580 Cote de Liesse - Montreal - H4P 1A9

Corner Devonshire

OPEN TO

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Abra Electronics is not only Montreal’s best-stocked, best-priced

distributor of electronic components, but THE place to buy various

kits for hobbyists, enthusiasts and educators. We

supply thousands of schools worldwide, from

our 15,000 square-foot

warehouse and retail store.

Now in stock, the ultimate

gift, our fine line of inexpensive

Radio Controlled (RC)

helicopters, in all sizes to suit the

needs of pilots of all ages.

Drop by Abra’s store,

open Mondays – Fridays

from 8:30 a.m. – 4:45 p.m.

Or shop on-line, at

www.abra-electronics.com. We accept

VISA, MasterCard and PayPal.


Blunt’s Bell Centre comeback a real crowd-pleaser

James Blunt is back – and five years since his last show at the Bell Centre, he’s better

than ever. His latest album has taken a turn from his usual melancholic ballads into a

more upbeat pop-rock sound and he used it to full advantage in this energetic

performance. The level of emotion that he puts into his older ballads, like “Carry You

Home” and “Goodbye My Lover” was evident as he melted the hearts of all the women

in the audience (which made up a hefty majority). Being the third concert of his that I

attended, I’m no stranger to his performance style, but this show was by far the best I

have seen. His band was impeccable, the sound was crystal clear - usually a challenge

in large arenas - and the energetic performance really got the crowd moving. Overall,

Blunt put on an amazing show. The opening act was staged by Bobby Bazini, a local Juno-

nominated French-Canadian singer-songwriter who really prepared the crowd with his

smooth Folk sound. The sold out Bell Centre was just enthralled by the performance

of both Blunt and Bazini and when James comes back, I suggest that anyone interested

in an amazing pop-rock show grab tickets as quickly as possible.

Maxie Kalinowicz

Photo Credit Max Kalinowicz


Special ladytransformspersonalgrief intotrueChristmasspirit(continued fromcover)

I wanted to profile someone whose commitmentinvolved sharing holiday cheer with others and Iasked our Spiritual Seedlings columnist, FatherJohn Walsh, whether he could recommendanyone. And he had a great suggestion.

Gail Howell is not your run-of-the-millChristmas Santa. In fact, she getsinto character as his better half,Mrs. Claus, appearing that way atvarious Montreal institutions forover a decade now. For the nativeof Longueil, now a Greenfield Parkresident, she drew on a lovingchildhood for her inspiration. “I had agreat childhood, filled with the lovegiven me and my brothers by ourparents,” Gail, whose maiden name isHamer, told me as she prepared for oneof her final seasons as Santa’s spouse.Yup, Mrs. Claus will be retiring soon, likelyto tend to the many elves hanging around SantaHQ, apparently.

“I’ve had such a great time and my heart has beenfilled with such gladness… but it’s time,” she toldme. Time: It has passed far too quickly, and onoccasion far too slowly, since the late 1990s… aperiod where Gail felt more grief than anythingelse. A parking attendant at Champlain Collegelate afternoons and early evenings, the infamousIce Storm of January 1998 was hardly a time tohold dear. “My husband, George, died then andboth of my parents followed within three months.It was a terrible time.”

During her most stressful days and seeking some

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respite, Gail found out about a particularChristmas event. “At the church on Ste. Catherineand Bishop, St. Paul’s, I believe, thay were holdinga “Face a Face” holiday buffet and I asked them ifthey wanted a Mrs. Claus in attendance.” Gail wasno stranger to this unique role, having portrayedSanta’s lady love previously. “George and I hadbeen volunteering for Meals on Wheels and theylearned I still had my Mrs. Claus costume frommy days working for CP Rail… so they asked meto do my Christmas deliveries in character, whichI gladly did.

“After the church buffet, I started appearing asMrs. Claus at Ogilvy’s Toy Tea, Father John’ssenior’s luncheon at Bonsecour Market, the Old

Brewery Mission… allvoluntary jobs except theone at the Labelle Provincerestaurant on TaschereauBlvd. in Greenfield Park onDec. 24, which is the onlyone that pays mebecause it is a businessevent.”

Why does she do it?“Well, it has alwayshelped meexperience some joy

since the days when I knewonly sadness,” Gail admitted. “But I also enjoy

the reaction of people who see me, especiallythe children. And they ask me the most preciousthings. I had some kids ask me ‘are you as old asJesus?’ and I replied ‘why, do I look it,’ she relatedwith a laugh. And some Jewish kids asked me if Icould come to their house and I told them ‘only ifI make special arrangements with your parents.’

“My only problem is that my French isn’t verygood, so when I speak it badly, I always cover upby telling the children that it is because I need tospeak elvish as much as possible.”

Then the conversation heads back to her lateGeorge Howell, but a loving reminiscence, not aeulogy. “George and I were married for 21 years,even though he was 16 years older than I, but

were together 31 years. He was so talented anddistinguished looking – extremely handsome infact – that he did a lot of film extra work. You cansee him in movies like Mother Night, oppositeNick Nolte… and they got along just great.George had this very approachable look to himand whenever he worked, the actors wereactually quite drawn to him, so much so thatthey would congregate around him.”Gail tells me there is a picture of her and a very illGeorge in Gazette reporter Mark Abley’s bookStories of the Ice Storm. “Someone in the filmbusiness found out about us and a moviefeaturing Ice Storm-related stories was planned,that was due to include ours, but it was neverfilmed. “

Now that Gail is hanging ‘em up shortly, she maywell move to Cornwall, Ontario, where she hopesto live closer to one brother and convinceanother to join them. But she will always holdthat costume dear. “It’s very glamorous, with lotsof glitter that attracts kids who think I may be thereal deal. Seeing the light in their eyes is all thereward I need.”

You can catch Mrs. Claus, likely for one of her finaltimes in public, at Labelle Province, 3983Taschereau, St Hubert, from 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.on Saturday, December 24, 2011. This customerappreciation day features an open bar, bakedgoods and, of course, this special ladyshowcasing her mesmerizing alter-ego. We wishyou a Merry Christmas, Mrs. Claus!

With Father John Walsh

With late husband George Howell

THE LOCAL SEEKER, DEC9 (pg. 5) FREE CLASSIFIED ADS: 514-975-7745 www.westend.thelocalseeker.com

Due to our holiday issue’s early publication date this year, we think wehave come up with a small-but-unique selection of gift suggestions youcan actually consider, without having to rush around at the last second.Enjoy… and choose one of the following for the lucky guy or gal in yourlife, whether they’ve been naughty OR nice.

1/ Man of Grease DVD

Montreal filmmaker EzraSoiferman is founder ofCinemaspace at The Segal at theSaidye, a lifelong hempaficionado and onetime ownerof an actual Smart car. But theseachievements may well pale incomparison to his winningdocumentary The Man ofGrease, detailing the life andcareer of Tony Koulakis, ownerof legendary West End eateryCosmos. The film is nowavailable in a new, enhancedDVD stuffed with features

that will keep you busy,inciting you to rush off for some artery-clogging eggs,

bacon and home fries at the jammed culinary NDG hotspot stilloperated by the Koulakis family (even though Tony is retired, you maywell still meet him there). Just $20 and well worth every dime, sobeautifully heartwarming and humorous is this intimate portrait of the“broke-the-mold” Koulakis and his relationships with his family andcustomers. Buy three, get one free at www.manofgrease.com.

2/ Something African at Royal Fashion

Buying a gift originating in the cradle of civilization would be a greatway to usher in a new year, don’t you think? Royal Fashion AfricanDesign has two West End locations that feature themed gifts andservices, such as hair extensions, tailoring and Black-focused DVDrentals. The location near the corner of Decarie, is much larger, however,and really impresses visitors with its wide selection of sculptures andnational fashion… quite popular today. 5900 Sherbrooke W. (514-223-

4312) and 5335 Sherbrooke W.(further east, 514-394-2016).

3/ Something “smart” but fun, atAbra Electronics

This retail store and distributor,which is sort of hidden away, is

really one-of-a-kind in its selection of scientific-themed hobby kits, aswell as electronic components used by manufacturers and repairpersonnel. Abra carries the Velemann and Ramsey lines of kits, as well aschemistry and electronics sets, including the popular Evil Genius kit. Butthey also have three varieties of RC (radio controlled) helicopters at thelowest prices in town… the least expensive of which can be safely flowninside during the cold winter months. Store at 5580 Cote de Liesse(closed weekends), 514-731-0117, www.abra-electronics.com.

4/ Classy and classic dress apparel at Boutique Jacques

Winter jackets and coats by Lutha and Rainforest, featuring removabledown liners, are just the beginning at Boutique Jacques. The staff here,which lives and dies by their service etiquette, are specialists in dressingthe business executive and professional for all occasions, from casual toformal events. They have a large selection of suits in all price ranges,along with formalwear and accessories, and boast the finest tailors - onthe premises. Their prices are also excellent. Boutique Jacques is locatedat 5970 Cote-des-Neiges, Tel: 514-737-1402. Website athttp://www.boutiquejacques.com. OPEN SUNDAYS, FREE PARKING!

5/ Party World’s “Bye Bye Forever” sale

Well, we wrote them up on our cover just before Halloween, but Party World ismaking you an offer you will never forget: up to SEVENTY-FIVE percent off tillthe end of January when they are <gasp> closing their doors. That’s right…this is the ultimate out-of-business sale, unlike cheapskates like Blockbusterthat gave you about 20 percent off just before they went bust. Buy Halloweencostumes good for years to come at amazing prices, party favours andsupplies, wrapping paper, cards… everything but the kitchen sink, though ifyou ask nicely enough…. 188 St. Jacques W, Ville St. Pierre, 514-363-9111.

6/ Treat your feet with Luca Vero Shoes

If you’re a man on the go, on your feet for longhours, why treat them with derision by sportinguncomfortable, inferior, rubber-soled shoes?Designed by a career retail entrepreneur who hasspent thousands of kilometres on his feet, LucaVero has a wide selection of sleek, sexy, funky andfunctional leather-soled beauties that will look asgood as you feel. Mention The Local Seeker whenyou order and receive 40 percent off the regularprice! www.lucavero.com, or at Gaudi in CentreFairview, off St. Jean Blvd., Pte. Claire.

7/ Anything Oppens, for the plus-sized woman

Even scrawny men will appreciate this serene oasis of fashion for women sized14-24. It’s calm, beautifully-appointed and the staff really “gets” what largerwomen want when they shop for beautiful clothes. And, boy, the fashions hereare really stunning. In business over 25 years, Oppens carries Kokomarina,Lauren Vidal, Eilleen Fisher Woman, FA Concept, Spanx and other popular lines,as well as jewellery, scarves, purses, all perfect for holiday gifting. Giftcertificates are always available. 4828 St. Laurent Blvd.(corner Villeneuve), 514-844-9159, www.oppens.ca or e-mail [email protected].

8/ You don’t have to be Hebrew to kindle the pretty lights…

But it helps if you have a nice Menorah, or Chanukah candelabra, in which toplace the colourful candles. The Jewish Store may be small, but it’s got a terrificselection of giftware for the gamut of Jewish holidays and festivals… or simplynice gifts for your favourite “mensch” or “maidele.” Would it hurt to go in andcheck them out? Cavendish Mall (now called Quartier Cavendish), 5800Cavendish, Cote Saint-Luc, 514-482-3735, http://www.thejewishstore.ca.Closed on the Jewish Sabbath.

The Local Seeker’s Holiday Gift Guide 2011

ABRAELECTRONICS INC

“Someday” is now… andthe ultimate comic geek’sholiday giftLong ago, when I was a student a DawsonCollege, a classmate of mine told me ofher mother’s boyfriend. She said he was asinger and songwriter who had some of

his compositions recorded by RobertCharlebois, who was a comedian who had appeared

on The Tonight Show, a writer for National Lampoon, a filmdirector at the NFB and a teacher at Concordia University. Isarcastically asked her if it was all the same guy. She said “yes,(rather dryly, I might add).” I had difficulty believing her. Itwasn’t until I met him a short time later that I discovered all ofthe aforementioned were just the tip of the iceberg.

Michel Choquette first hired me as an assistant over 20 yearsago. One day I helped the diminutive professor of Englishmove a large, heavy steamer trunk and asked him jokinglyhow many bodies were inside. He quickly opened the chest,revealing a comic book geek’s treasure trove. Enclosedtherein were artist’s portfolios containing original,unpublished comic strips from legendary cartoonists like WillEisner, Jack Kirby, and Sergio Aragones, as well as people notassociated with comics like Frank Zappa, Pierre Berton andFredrico Fellini. I asked him how this all came about and herelated to me the saga of The Someday Funnies.

The Someday Funnies began as a special insert to Rolling Stonemagazine in the early 1970’s (the idea was to have a series ofcomic strips that pay tribute to the 1960s). But as Choquettebegan to accumulate more and more strips, it was eventuallyexpanded to a book-length project. After travelling aroundthe world and collecting over 125 strips from more than 150artists and writers from 15 countries, in several differentlanguages, various publishing deals fell through and TheSomeday Funnies was exiled to a storage locker in ParkExtension for decades (the entire incredible story is chronicledinside the book itself!).

It wasn’t until 2009, when attorney and part-time writer BobLevin wrote a 50-page piece on The Someday Funnies for TheComics Journal that publishers again became interested inChoquette’s magnum opus. Now, in 2011, previously unseenworks from the likes of Art Spiegelman, Tom Wolfe, ReneGoscinny & Albert Uderzo, Don Martin and William S.Burroughs are finally in print!

The tabloid-sized tome also includes artist bios, a sectionexplaining the cultural context of the strips, an introductionby renowned music journalist Robert Greenfield and aforward by comic book authority Jeet Heer.

I recommend The Someday Funnies not only for any aficionadoof the comic book genre, but as a nostalgic flashback foranyone who was around in the ‘60s…and they just mightneed assistance recalling that era, because as the saying goes,if you can remember the ‘60s, then you weren’t really there!

Read on! www.essaysbyandreas.com

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Seeing the LightLike it or not, we are immersed in the darkest time of theyear. But the darkness has its place, too. And out ofdarkness arises the enduring, cross-cultural symbol ofthe candle flame. This small flame has the ability toconnect us to the element of fire, to bring forth warmth,to bring comfort, to unite us both with others and witha shared history. With candle lighting comes ritual, inwhatever way is meaningful to you. It could mean

entering into a state of peace, calm, and tranquility, detachingfrom the everyday world.

When the opportunity presents itself this season, try taking a few minutes togaze upon a candle flame in a meditative way. Here is a guide for restingyour awareness on the flame, and for letting that engagement be the portalthrough which you enter into a state of wider consciousness, spaciousbeauty and union with an outer light that reflects an innermost one.

Candlelight Meditation:

Sit comfortably and at a safe distance from the lit candle.

Focus your gaze on the candle and then allow your gaze to soften. Take inthe background and your peripheral vision, but continue resting yourawareness on the single flame.

Rest your thinking mind by focusing only on that which is before your eyesright now.

When you notice that your mind is wandering and you are thinking, comeback to focusing your attention on the flame with a soft gaze.

Watch, witness, and breathe naturally and continuously through the nostrils.Want nothing and wait for nothing. The more you grasp, the more elusivewill be the meditative experience.A

s you let go of grasping and focus on the application of technique, the mindcan merge with Universal mind and you will forget yourself.

When you are ready to finish, take a deeper, more intentional inhalation andexhalation. Blink and come out of the meditation.

Chantalle Kudsi is a yoga and meditation teacher in the West-End. She can bereached at [email protected].

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THE LOCAL SEEKER, DEC 9 (pg. 7) FREE CLASSIFIED

winter entertaining…which mustinclude one cup of walnuts.Creating an original recipe withwalnuts is not exactly a small feat!We are talking about a verypopular nut here, one that gracesmost holiday recipes. This was aperplexing challenge, until Iopened my kitchen cupboard andmy bag of matcha powder fellout, bringing on inspiration.

Visions of sugar plums andfairies…oh wait… that is theNutcracker. Visions of a slicedfruitcake with gorgeous chunks ofred cherries and chocolate coatedwalnuts dances in my head…allof it wrapped up in a melt-in-your-mouth matcha fudge. Iwanted to reinvent the fruit cake.This makes a big log of fudge soyou can slice it up, take what youneed to a few parties and thenjust freeze the rest.

ED. NOTE – Someone please get mea napkin to stem the flow of saliva!

Sugar plumsnot the onlyholidaysweet onthemenu…

Lately, reading my favorite food blogshas been a guaranteed catalyst to getinto the holiday mood. Blogs ofThanksgiving feasts are the kick in therump I need right now since Montrealis not showing any signs yet of awhite Christmas – or whicheverholiday you celebrate. But I know onemorning soon I will open the curtainsof my bedroom window and feel thesudden urge to hang my mistletoe.

Thankfully the holiday cheer is quitepresent in the kitchen. I was recentlyinvited to participate in a fun contest.The theme: Coming up with acompletely original recipe thatscreams holiday gatherings and

Matcha Fudge Fruit Cake Ingredients:

250 gr dark chocolate1 cup California Walnuts3/4 cupmaraschino cherries500g white chocolate, chopped1-300ml

can of condensed milk30gr of butter2 teaspoons matchapowder

Directions:1. Melt dark chocolate in a bowl. Dip the walnuts in the meltedchocolate one by one plan place on a wrack to let excesschocolate drip off. Place the chocolate-covered walnuts in thefridge to harden.2. Drain and dry cherries on a couple of layers of paper towels.3. Line with cheesecloth a 25cm x 10cm (10” x 4”) loaf pan.Make sure the cheesecloth hangs over the edged of the pan.4. Place all the white chocolate, condensed milk and butter in amicrowave safe bowl. Microwave on high for 30 seconds.Remove and stir well. Microwave for another 30 seconds.5. Remove, add the matcha powder and stir well. Microwave for30 seconds. Remove and stir completely.6. Add cherries, chocolate covered walnuts and stir once veryfast (stir too much and the dark chocolate will melt).7. Quickly poor mixture into the loaf pan, fold the cheeseclothover the top and press down to level the top.8. Set fudge in the fridge for eight hours. Remove from panand slice.

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For lots of recipes, ethnic food discoveries and Montreal restaurant reviews please visit Evelyne’s blog at http://www.cheapethniceatz.com

The adult story ofChristmas

Christmas is importantfor Christians, but notTHAT important.Everything hangs onEaster: Christmas hastrue meaning in thelight of theResurrection ofJesus. Saint Paulsays: “Without theResurrection, our

faith is in vain.” Matthew and Lukerecount the birth of Jesus, while Markand John do not. The birth narrativeswere written in retrospect after theResurrection.

The scene of Jesus’s birth is set: The childJesus is born in a small room adjacent toan inn and the animals offer warmth.Jesus is wrapped in swaddling clothes andlaid in a manger. Mary and Joseph remainat his side. The shepherds come tohonour him and led there by a star, threeMagi from the east come to do himhomage and the Angels sing: Glory toGod in the highest, peace on earth andgoodwill to all people.

The Crèche cannot be taken literally, orread as history, in its present form: It isthe fabrication of Saint Francis of Assisi,

although we can still proceed. The location of thestory is Bethlehem (beit lechem in Hebrew,meaning House of Bread), he is laid in a manger (inFrench, mangoir), his presence as food for othersin the Gospels. He will feed the multitudes with acouple of loaves and a few fish. He is wrapped inswaddling clothes, burial cloths pointing the readeror hearer to Jesus’s death and victory in theResurrection. The presence of the shepherds, thepetty thieves, is a call to justice. Jesus is fatherless- Joseph is his adopted “father,” the “just”one. Mary being a widow and Jesus being anorphan prompts us to read the Old Testament,where the widow and the orphan are symbols ofthe poor.

In Isaiah, we learn of the gifts of gold and frankincense, but the Magi arrive with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh, whichis burial ointment. The hope of Christmas is Jesus’s victory over death. Christmas is a challenge to bring justice wherethere are injustices, to uphold human rights and to become accountable for the care of the poor. To re-read the story ofChristmas as an adult will make adifference for all people ofgoodwill… and together peopleof all faiths are given theopportunity to work togetherto bring about peace onEarth.

(NOTE: My column onR e m e m b r a n c e mentioned my nephew RayRobitaille, an inspector in theCalgary Police Force, who wasserving in Kabul training the Afghanpolice. Here is his response to thecolumn.)

Hi Uncle John, Your vision of aworld at peace is beautiful andone we should all aspire toachieve. In war, our ideals,ambitions and ultimately ourachievements are less than wewould hope them tobe. The desperate effort ofmen, who are trying to restoreorder and power over adetermined insurgency, holdshostage our collective humanity,yet it is still possible to stepoutside of the norm and dare todream that caring is morepowerful than force. Maybe oneday we will be there, I sincerelyhope so. For now I am happy tobe able to touch the life of oneperson and help make itbetter, regardless of whether itis only in a small way. Once againyour words are far too kind forthe little I have done. The bearsare out of my hands now;however, the seed is planted andonly time will tell whether itgrows. Love, Ray

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Plus we sell watches, bands and

leather straps (from France)

AND

Jewellery, including the wildly

For five decades, familybusiness OTA has beenhere, serving Montrealersfrom the West End andbeyond.

We’ve been on watch for 50 great years! We provide expert

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At OTA, our honesty and integrity aresurpassed only by our commitment. We save

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THE LOCAL SEEKER, DEC 9 (pg. 8) PROPERTY SEEKER SECTION www.westend.thelocalseeker.com

I s s u e 1

BUY or SELL your HOME in the

Property Seeker

Holiday time

is a time for

good food, a

lot of cheer

a n d

e n j o y i n g

time with loved ones. It's also a

time when everyone tries to buy

the most extravagant gifts for

their friends and family to show

how much they love

them.Unfortunately, when

people get their credit card bills

from all their Christmas

spending, they are often

overwhelmed. The excitement

of buying gifts can soon

become a downer when you

have to pay hundreds of extra

dollars in addition to your

regular expenditures.There are ways to

spend responsibly this holiday season

while keeping everyone feeling special.

First of all, set a limit as to how much

everyone can spend on each other. This

is great for the budget and avoids

anyone's feelings getting hurt because

too little was spent on them. Secondly,

pay your holiday gifts in cash. Studies

show that we are less likely to

overspend when we actually have to

hand cash over for our expenditures.

This may not feel as good, but it will

ultimately lead to less stress a month or

two down the line. The holidays are a

The West End real estate section

Mo

rtg

ag

e M

att

ers

Tips on spending during the holidays

time for giving, more than receiving.

Keep my tips in mind and give you

and your wallet a break. Happy

Chanukah and Merry Christmas to all!!

(ED. NOTE: This way, you also have the

money you need for your mortgage

payment, right, Jason? It would be even

more of a downer if you made your

loved ones happy, but ended up losing

your house in the process…)

Jason Zuckerman

www.mortgageratesmontreal.com

Hypotheca Mortgage Brokers

(514) 771-1352 /1-800- 206-1350

[email protected]

Solution

Late with your tax returns?

Behind by a few years?

We can help!

Call Today!

En retard à produire vos déclarations derevenus? Vous avez quelques années àrattraper? Nous pouvons vous aider!

Appelez-nous aujourd’hui!

514.461.3006

ASSISTANCE

T XAH E L P


The holidayseason fromN o v e m b e rthrough Januaryis oftenconsidered theworst time to

put a home on the market.While the thought of selling yourhome during the winter months maydampen your holiday spirit, theseason does have its advantages:Holiday buyers tend to be moreserious and competition is less fierce,with fewer homes being activelymarketed.

Homes often look their best duringthe holidays, but sellers should becareful not to overdo it on the decor.Adornments that are too large or tooplentiful can crowd your home anddistract buyers. Also, avoid offendingbuyers by opting for general fall andwinter decorations rather than itemswith religious themes.

Make curb appeal a top priority

When autumn rolls around and thetrees start to lose their leaves,maintaining the exterior of yourhome becomes even more important.Bare trees equal a more exposedhome, so touch up the paint, cleanthe gutters and spruce up the yard.Keep buyers' safety in mind as well bymaking sure stairs and walkways arefree of snow, ice and leaves.

Create an audio video tour for theWeb

You'll get less foot traffic during theholidays, thanks to inclement weatherand vacation plans. But shooting avideo tour and posting it on the Web

Ho

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may attract house hunters whodon't have time to physically seeyour home or would rather notdrive in a snowstorm. Give househunters a place to escape fromthe cold.Make your home feel cozy andinviting…

… by cranking up the heat,playing soft classical music andoffering homemade holidaytreats. When you encouragebuyers to spend more time in yourhome, you also give them moretime to admire its best features.

Enhance your outdoor lighting

As the days get shorter, havingproper outdoor lighting will makeyour home safer and moreattractive for buyers who come tovisit at night. Use a series of pathlights to illuminate the way toyour front door, or flank the doorwith decorative sconces orlanterns.

Relax -- the New Year is justaround the corner

The holidays are stressful enough,with gifts to buy, dinners toprepare and relatives to entertain.Take a moment to remind yourselfthat if you don't sell now, there'salways next year, which, luckily isjust a few days away.

Happy Chanukah and MerryChristmas to everyone!

Anita Benabou Rozenblatwww.anitabenabou.com

Signature Models | Custom Built Homes | Single Family LotsAdjacent to the Cavendish Mall, just minutes from downtown.

Single Family Homes Townhouses Semi-Detached Homes Condos

s | Custom BBuiiilllt HHHomes | Sin

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The Dubelle Developments Ltée.

Selling your home duringthe holidays


Jerk chicken/ Poulet Jerk . . . . . . . . .9.95$Jerk chicken/ Poulet Jerk . . . . . . .11.95$boneless/sans os

Fried chicken . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9.95$Poulet frit

Curry goat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12.95$Cari de chèvre

Jerk Pork . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10.95$Porc Jerk

1

3

5

7

Curried chicken . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10.95$Cari de poulet

Stewed chicken . . . . . . . . . . . .9.95$Ragout de Poulet

Oxtail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12.95$Queue de boeuf

Rum BBQ pork ribs . . . . . . . . 9.95$Côtes levées de porc BBQ au Rhum

2

4

6

8

CUISINE JAMAICAINE AUTHENTIQUECUISINE JAMAICAINE AUTHENTIQUE

www.anancyrestaurant.com

Bring

home

a tas

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the c

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chez

vous

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LIVRAISON GRATUITE FREE DELIVERY

Red Snapper . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16.95$Vivaneau rouge

Ackee & Salt�sh . . . . . . . . . . . 12.95$Ackee et morue

Jerk chicken wrap . . . . . . . . . . 8.95$Jerk wrap poulet

King �sh . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15.95$Thazard

Creole or curry shrimp . . . 11.95$Crevettes créoles ou au cari

Roties : Vegetarian / Végétarien 6.50$

Chicken / Poulet 7.50$ Goat / Chèvre 8.50$

9

11

13

10

12

14

MEALS ARE SERVED WITH RICE & PEAS OR WHITE RICE, SOUP AND SALAD EXCEPT #13+14LES REPAS SONT SERVIS AVEC RIZ AUX POIS OU RIZ BLANC, SOUPE ET SALADE SAUF #13+14

BOISSONS / DRINKSMango-carrot / Mangue-carotte 2.25 $Strawberry-banana / Fraise-banane 2.25 $Ting / Malta 2.25 $Pineapple-coconut / Ananas-noix de coco 2.25 $Kola champagne, Ginger Beer 1.75 $Pineapple / Ananas 1.75 $Pepsi, coke , 7 up 1.50 $

EXTRASFried dumplings (3) 2.00 $Dumplings frit (3)Festivals (3) 2.00 $Beef patty / Pâté au boeuf 2.00 $Fried plantains / Plantain frit 2.00 $Sweet potato fries 2.95 $Frites de patate douce

Tous le

s prix

sont su

jets à

change

ment

sans p

réavis

. / All p

rices a

re sub

ject to

chang

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ut not

ice.

450

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CUISINE JAMAICAINE AUTHENTIQUECUISINE JAMAICAINE AUTHENTIQUE

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Peu importe vos origines, vos croyances ou votre religion, soyez les bienvenus!Friends from all backgrounds, faiths and religions are welcome!

Venez participer à des activités musicales et de loisirset déguster un goûter traditionnel de la Hannoukah.

mardi, le 20 décembre 201117h00

Illumination des chandelles et fête communautaireHôtel de ville de Westmount

4333, rue Sherbrooke O., Westmount

Bievenue à tous!

Please join us for music, games and traditional Chanukah snacks.

Tuesday, December 20, 20115:00 PM

Candle Lighting and Community partyWestmount City Hall

4333 Sherbrooke St.reet W., Westmount

Everyone is welcome!

Fête de la HannoukahChanukah Party

Présenté par | Presented by:Info: 514. 989.5226

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nnoukaha

nnoukahnukahHanukah

a yartP

nnoukah

Info: 514. 989.5226

Info: 514. 989.5226

ted by:nseer | Praté pnseéPr

ted by:

SHAAR CHANUKAH CELEBRATION

TCT

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GPM


We hope you have enjoyedthis year’s final issue of

The Local Seeker

We wish each andevery one of you

a Happy

Holiday season

and a Healthy and

prosperous new year

See you again On January13th, 2012

under our new name

THE LOCAL HERALD

West End Montreal’s most uniquecommunity paper.

"The best

Portuguese

chicken around."

Sol Boxenbaum

Last Call with Sol

Here are somesuggestions for thingsto read, listen to andwatch during theholiday season,designed to allowyou a respite fromthe stress ofshopping, partyingand trying to

juggle your manycommitments. Enjoy… and Happy

Holidays!

Magazines: The year-end is a perfecttime to catch up on magazines thathighlight the best music of 2011. Andnone do it more comprehensively thanMojo and Uncut, two fine British mags,complete with cover-mounted CDsand which normally offer up ahistorical overview of popular music’spast highlights. Expect lots of articleson the Beatles, The Who and TheRolling Stones, but also, at this time ofthe season, provide Top 10 lists of newalbums, reissues and music DVDs aswell. While Mojo’s currentaccompanying CD is a cover tribute tothe Stones’ “Sticky Fingers” album, 40-years old this year, Uncut provides a 15-track Best of 2011 disc.

The Oxford American is a terrificmagazine that embraces all thingsSouthern-American. And Decembermarks the annual release of theirSouthern Music issue, this timefeaturing a 27-track CD of Mississippi'sbest music, as well as great essays onthe artists chosen for the disc. At$11.95, it’s also the best deal in town.

Music: I don’t automaticallyrecommend recommend re-masters of

CDs -it sometimes seems that everyartist extant regularly goes that routein order to keep re-selling thesame albums– but the re-do of PinkFloyd’s entire 14 album catalogue isextraordinary. No matter how manytimes I’ve bought their classic1973 Dark Side of the Moon – threeversions previously – this new editionof the CD is remarkably clear andstartlingly immediate when you giveit a listen. Bonus on the Dark Sidetwo-disc re-issue (there's also a six-disc extensive 'Immersion’ edition), alive 1974 concert with theband recreating the album in itsentirely.

DVDs: The excellent Criterion labelperiodically puts out significantmovies in spiffy new editions thatcontain myriad extras, from criticalessays, to commentary tracks anddocumentaries about the filmmakerand/or the movie. Among recentreleases you might want to get: MikeLeigh’s Topsy-Turvy, his exuberant1999 biopic on Victorian composing/playwriting duo Gilbert and Sullivanand Charlie Chaplin’s courageous1940 classic anti-Hitler satire TheGreat Dictator.

A graduate of Ryerson University’sSchool of Journalism, former WestEnd Montrealer ShlomoSchwartzberg is a veteran filmcritic, has regularly reviewed filmsfor various publications andlectures on film and TV studies. Hewas the director of programmingfor the Toronto Jewish Film Festivalfor seven years.

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Music in magazines, on CD and DVD, forholiday appreciation

Best,

Bram

local seeker west end issue 24

Documents

ontariothe local seeker

editorthe local seeker

moniker local seeker

local seekerthe

local seeker media group

successfullocal seeker

word seeker meanssearching

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