The Canadian Coffee Break brings together some of the finest Canadian minds in Southern California every week for a topical, lively round-tablesque discussion over very dark coffee. Won’t you join us.

EPISODE XVIII: OYSTERS AND YOU
Last night I had half-dozen oysters from Prince Edward Island…..PEI Canada! This week I would like your take on oysters.

• Do you eat them? If so, who does them right in LA, and who does ‘em right in Canada?
• If you do not eat them, why not?
• If you do not eat oysters, I still want an oyster-related article. That, or tell me I may well die this week from overoysterage.

Sarah (website)
The first time I ate an oyster was on Canada Day of 2004, at the home of the Los Angeles Canadian Consul. I rubbed elbows with the rich and famous that day-well, at least I had a few words with then-Nova Scotia Premier John Hamm. »continue reading Canadian Coffee Break: Special All-Oyster Edition

The Canadian Coffee Break brings together some of the finest Canadian minds in Southern California every week for a topical, lively round-tablesque discussion over very dark coffee. Won’t you join us.

EPISODE XVII: A VERY SPECIAL ONE OR TWO DAYS AFTER HALLOWEEN COFFEE BREAK

• What was your costume?
• Why did you choose it?
• Was your costume Franken Berry®?
• Why or why not?
• Describe the best costume you ever pulled off in Canada, and what made it the best.

Sean Chrétien
My costume is not Franken Berry, but unlike most people, it is not because of any manifestation of monster-bigotry. I am not Franken Berry, because I am against Proper Nouns. This year, I am throwing an admittedly revolutionary Hallowe’en party – guests are not allowed to come as anything Proper/tangible. I’m going to call it “The First Annual Abstractoween,” though I’m sure someone’s had this idea in ere. The trick (or so I would think) is to not tell anyone what you are, thereby making the best costume the one that is the most difficult to immediately recognize. Here are some examples of possible contenders:

1) redundancy – wear suspenders with a belt.
»continue reading Canadian Coffee Break: Halloween Past and Present

The Canadian Coffee Break brings together some of the finest Canadian minds in Southern California every week for a topical, lively round-tablesque discussion over very dark coffee. Won’t you join us.

EPISODE XVI: BRING THE MASSES TO THE HILLS

The year is 1923. You have been dispatched by William Lyon Mackenzie King to a movie-and-oil mecca in southern California known as Los Angeles. You are to establish and sell out a planned community on a hill, firmly planting a Canadian mecca within the borders of the United States and thusly strengthening the bond between the two countries. A local developer wishes to call the area ‘Hollywoodland.’ You find this preposterous. What will you call the area, and how will you advertise it?

Sarah (website)
First of all, Mackenzie King is my favorite Prime Minister ever. Did he really think his dog was the reincarnation of his dead mother or was I mistaking political humor for truth (a la the Mr. Show episode where Keith Minders, skydiver, wears custard pants).

That said.

The area will be called “Upper Upper Canada” (fun fact for you Americans out there–Upper Canada is actually south of Lower Canada, therefore the title makes perfect sense).

I will advertise it by using pure white passenger pigeons (remember the year is 1923) carrying songbirds, also white but wearing little red coats. They will drop the songbirds into a person’s hand and then the birds will whistle a jaunty tune, the theme of Yet Upper Canada, which plays from loudspeakers gramophones mounted on each street lamp candelabra.

Further details on the Canadian settlement:

• Mailboxes will be red and square
• All women will be forced to dress like Anne of Green Gables
• All men will be forced to dress like Sam Steele
• If you want a pet it has to be a really big dog or a beaver
• No swearing

»continue reading Canadian Coffee Break: Populate The Hills

The Canadian Coffee Break brings together some of the finest Canadian minds in Southern California every week for a topical, lively round-tablesque discussion over very dark coffee. Won’t you join us.

Topic #15: IN WHICH YOU CANUCK UP THE H&H COMPLEX

The Hollywood and Highland complex has asked you to “Canuck up the joint” in honor of Canada Day. Much like the Portrait of Hollywood mural at the Selma High School (see below), you have been tasked to choose between 8 and 15 Canadian ‘heavies’ which will adorn the Hollywood and Highland complex for a period of 38 hours. Which luminaries do you choose, and why? Whom do you choose to paint it?

More on Portrait of Hollywood: One, Two

Jamie (website)
I think the most important part of creating art is to adequately and properly plan it out. For example, Picasso employed poor planning when he let Steve Wynn buy one of his paintings and instantly removed $139 million from the American economy (and people wonder why the US Dollar is struggling). That having been said, I have (obviously) put a lot of planning into the Canada-celebrating mural that will adorn Hollywood and Highland.

As you might be aware, most of us Canadians care about hockey, and consequently we all wish our lifestyles would accommodate marrying Wayne Gretzky. Because people should already know who Wayner is, and also because I’m selfish and want to put who I want to put on my mural (frig), I would put Grant Fuhr!! Fuhr backstopped those fancy-dancy Oilers to their Stanley Cups and he’s my favorite hockey player!!

Beside Grant Fuhr I would put Celine Dion. First and foremost, I like some of Celine’s songs. Secondly, my mural would be accompanied by a multi-media booth that would include some of her songs and the video for “It’s All Coming Back To Me Now.” Thirdly, it’s important that people learn to respect her instead of complain about her – and a bigger-than-life-sized mural will only help that become a reality.
»continue reading Canadian Coffee Break: Portrait of Canada

The Canadian Coffee Break brings together some of the finest Canadian minds in Southern California every week for a topical, lively round-tablesque discussion over very dark coffee. Won’t you join us.

Topic #14: THE FOURTEENTH

The fourteenth week is upon us.

You have been given a budget of $250,000.00 to open a Canadian-themed business in Los Angeles.

It will be called The Fourteenth ___________________.

What is the business?
Why?
Where is it located?
Why?

Sarah (website)

My first lineup:
The Montreal Experience:
Tricot Machine
Les Amis Au Pakistan
Les Breastfeeders

»continue reading Canadian Coffee Break: The Fourteenth

The Canadian Coffee Break brings together some of the finest Canadian minds in Southern California every week for a topical, lively round-tablesque discussion over very dark coffee. Won’t you join us.

Topic #13: DICK CHENEY AND YOU

You have been tasked with hosting Dick Cheney in Los Angeles for 48 hours. You will have the exclusive rights to Dick Cheney’s time and may bend his ear on any topic during that time, but you must keep in mind: Dick Cheney likes (a) food, (b) his booze, (c) flea markets. Where do you take Dick Cheney for 48 hours? What do you talk about, and why?

Seth (website)
48 Hours of Dick:
I’d like Dick to experience my L.A., for what it’s worth. I suppose that would begin with a round of head-to-head competiton on my recently purchased Nintendo Wii. I think to be heart-safe, we’ll stick to golf. Then we’ll drop by bike-and-coffee shop Choke on Normal Ave. for a couple lattes and to scope out the wicked motorbikes and scooters and say hi to its dreamy-eyed proprietor Jeff Johnsen. I’d quietly ask Dick if he thought Jeff was dreamy and he’d undoubtedly say he doesn’t know but his smirk and flush complexion would end up giving him away. Then we’d hightail it to Gold’s Gym Hollywood for a morning workout. I’d ask Dick for a spot on the bench, and he’d shout, “Dammit, one more, Seth!” out of that trademark sidways-snarl, and I’d squeeze one more rep out! A quick shower and a protein shake would follow (the Velvet Elvis, peanut butter and banana…mmmmm…) and we’d to hit the town for a little shopping at the Adidas Heritage store on Melrose and Laurel, where I’d help him pick out a track suit jacket and pair of killer kicks. At this point we’re getting hungry for some substantial food, so I’d insist he crack out the White House Black Card at Pizzeria Mozza for some thin crust and a nice rosé. We’d probably catch a movie after that at the Vista–but not Across the Universe. Let’s pretend Eastern Promises is playing there, and I’d lean over to Dick during the naked bathhouse fight scene and I’d ask him if he found Aragorn hotter with or without tattoos and/or clothes and he’d say, “Shh! I’m watching the movie.” Dinner would be somewhere equally extravagant since he’s paying…but since he keeps referring to L.A. as a “sausage factory” I’ll take him somewhere where he can meet some hot Hollywood-type chicks and maybe some celebrities. KOI! We’d get his driver to take us there, and we’d sort of hold court doing sake shots at the sushi bar as Dick’s various admirers like Christopher Titus and Pat O’Brien walk up to him to shake his hand. Then I’d start getting itchy to get out of this scene, so I’d tell him I’m taking us to Jumbos Clown Room to get a lapdance from a really hot, really bipolar stripper, but I’d do the old bait and switch and take him to Hot Dog at the Firefly–a literal sausage fest, knowing deep-down that what Dick really wants is more Dick. I’d order up a round of Jack n’ Coke Doubles, then put a fistful of dollar bills into his hand and push him towards the gogo boys dressed like sci fi heroes. After a little encouragement and a few sips of cocktail, Dick will really get into the spirit, shoving the majority of his allotment into the gold lamé thong of one particularly nubile blonde, best described as Flash Gordon: The Teen Years. At closing time, we’d hit the 101 to drunkenly scarf their macaroni and cheese (awesome) and stumble home. Then there’s Sunday, but I gotta keep something for just me and Dick.
»continue reading Canadian Coffee Break: Dick Cheney And You

The Canadian Coffee Break brings together some of the finest Canadian minds in Southern California every week for a topical, lively round-tablesque discussion over very dark coffee. Won’t you join us.

TOPIC #12: POUTINE

Week Twelve has arrived. To celebrate, I finally shagged over to Dusty’s in Silverlake and tried the poutine which, from what I understand, roughly translates to “Fuck Me, I’m experiencing coronary thrombosis albeit deliciously so” from Québécois.

Your topic, naturally, is poutine. I would like to know a few things:

1. What, where and when was the best poutine you’ve ever had in your life? What made it so?
2. Wikipedia suggests that poutine [pronunciation] is very popular at ski resorts, not unlike “steak chili in a breadbowl.” Makes sense; it’s a heavy comfort food. Have you ever had poutine at a ski resort in Canada? Elaborate.
3. Have you ever made your own poutine? How was it?
4. As cultural ambassador from your province, you have been tasked with introducing poutine into the menu of five (5) Los Angeles restaurants. Which restaurants do you choose and why?

Sean Chrétien
Though you asked for joyous stories of poutine past, I’m going to have to relay an anecdote of the worst poutine I’ve ever had. You see, I’ve been itching to lambaste a certain breed of poutine since late July – the pseudo-poutine of fine dining eateries in Washington state. Though I was uber-close to the Canadian border two months ago, I decided to order some pou at the Steelhead Diner in Seattle, hoping for a truly visceral/flashbacky experience. Steelhead is situated adjacent to Pike Place, perhaps the most heavily frequented tourist attraction in the Pacific Northwest; however, exhaustive approbation for the joint led me to believe that the poutine would surpass expectations. Not so. Though it veritably was poutine – cheese curds and gravy intact – something was horribly amiss. Was it the presentation? I must admit when my poutine was most formally tabled at my table (Figure 1?), I felt slightly estranged; I was used to eating my pou on dirty city streets out of Styrofoam cups (AKA properly – though I’ve never pou’d at a ski resort).
»continue reading Canadian Coffee Break: Regarding Poutine

The Canadian Coffee Break brings together some of the finest Canadian minds in Southern California every week for a topical, lively round-tablesque discussion over very dark coffee. Won’t you join us.

TOPIC #11: THE KARATE KID

Your topic this week is THE KARATE KID. Halloween draws nearer and with it every year come fond thoughts of Ralph Macchio in a shower curtain, mere days before he begins preparing for the All-Valley Tournament. Compare if you will your own Canadian high school experience to that of our protagonist Daniel LaRusso, avid bicyclist and recent Jersey transplant to the San Fernando Valley. I would like to know then:

• Who’s Mr. Miyagi
• Who’s Ali
• Who’s Johnny
• Who’s Bobby
• Who’s The Dude Who Looks Like Billy Idol (”Dead Meat.”) (in actuality Steve McQueen’s son)
• Who’s Coach
• What’s your halloween costume
• Where’s Encino Hills
• Where’s Reseda
• What and Where is Golf ‘N’ Stuff
• What’s your Crane Kick
• What’s the soundtrack (Cruel Summer / You’re The Best / etc)

If your high school experiences do not resemble those of The Karate Kid’s in any way shape or form, (1) I do not believe you; (2) I would like to know why not.

Sarah (website)
I haven’t seen the Karate Kid since I was maybe six years old or so? However, I did see The Next Karate Kid in theaters for my birthday when it came out–which is a funny coincidence because my birthday was two days ago. OR IS IT? What I mean is, is it really a coincidence, or something more sinister, not is it really my birthday, because it was.

However.

I did attend film school, which is a great place to see shittily directed versions of scenes from famous movies. »continue reading Canadian Coffee Break: Your Karate Kid Past

The Canadian Coffee Break brings together some of the finest Canadian minds in Southern California every week for a topical, lively round-tablesque discussion over very dark coffee. Won’t you join us.

TOPIC #10: THE MARINA

This week’s topic is MARINA DEL REY. The marina and its inhabitants have collectively fascinated me for years: white mustaches, admiral caps, divorcees, old money, cocaine, goofy 80s highrises, collagen injections, breast implants, wrinkles galore, overtanned skin, snarled LAX traffic and boats as far as the eye can see. Is it a hard-and-fast rule that you must slightly resemble kenny rogers to live in marina? Don’t answer that, but be assured I have friends that live in marina and they are completely surrounded by cougars and kenny rogers-alikes, whether or not they choose to admit it. Holy good goodness, what’s not to love about the marina!?!?

I would like to know two things this week:
1) What part of your hometown most closely approximates the marina “vibe” … if any? and
2) Describe the best, worst or most boring time you have ever had in Marina del Rey.

Need inspiration? Channel michael mcdonald and kenny loggins. Go watch yacht rock in order, beginning with episode 1…

Seth (website)
Greetings from Montreal!

First, an update to my last post: Sadly, it seems Pizza des Pins and its “patates godlike” have gone to that godlike potato in the sky: The joint is closed. Montrealers in search of heavenly homefries will just have to settle for mortal spuds from now on.

Montreal is great. It’s sunny and cool, though there was one night of rain. I spent Sunday at the Osheaga Festival at Parc Jean Drapeau, aka Ile Ste. Helene. Osheaga is basically a mini-Coachella that’s accessible by Metro and far less stifling. I caught acts like Arctic Monkeys (fun), Interpol (snore), and M.I.A. (also really fun), plus some lesser known Canadian acts on smaller stages–You Say Party! We Say Die! and The Most Serene Republic were highlights.

Okay, now on to the matter at hand: Marina del Rey.
»continue reading Canadian Coffee Break: Regarding Marina del Rey

The Canadian Coffee Break brings together some of the finest Canadian minds in Southern California every week for a topical, lively round-tablesque discussion over very dark coffee. Won’t you join us.

TOPIC #9: Diners, Cafes, Coffee Shops…

Please compare and contrast the oldschool cafes, diners and coffee shops of your respective hometowns to those available to gurgitators in los angeles. Where would Gottfried Helnwein (by way of Ed Hopper) stage the Boulevard of Broken Dreams, Canadian edition? If it’s old, sort of crusty, visually interesting, still standing and the coffee is reliable, consider it fair game.

Marc
In the fatalistic social climate of the Referendum-era in the Plateau region of Montreal, it often seemed like there was nothing to do but eat breakfast. In our Halcion® daze we would all hang out all day at Gabby’s punk rock breakfast eatery, eating tofu huevos rancheros, and listening to Slayer (these were before the days of Flick). Gabby’s eventually got turned into a pretty rocking vegan coop called Aux Vivres although you didn’t find much of the original clientele there. Folks would also go to Pines for their super greasy “god like potatoes” (the secret of which was chicken fat), and next door to a place that I think was called Millies just like the famous LA eatery (although I may be mistaken). The whole scene was kinda tragic in a romantic way. Later on though as the scene started to move north along “the Main” (as we called St Laurent Boulevard), up towards Mile End, places like Senzala opened up and the scene started to change somehow. A fresh new batch of Anglos came streaming in to replace my generation, and the Anglo-Bohemia I had come to love and hate was being born again, with all-day breakfasts becoming a thing of the past, replaced.
»continue reading Canadian Coffee Break: My Favorite Diner

The Canadian Coffee Break brings together some of the finest Canadian minds in Southern California every week for a topical, lively round-tablesque discussion over very dark coffee. Won’t you join us.

This week’s topic: Labour Day! What are you best/worst memories of Labour day in Canada? What are your thoughts, if any, regarding the by-and-large Grover Cleveland Communist-Fear-Instigated Federal Holiday in the United States of America? Weekend getaways…Hot weather…Knights of Labour racist origins…Jerry Lewis telethons…Sales at Bed, Bath, Beyond, Guitar Center & Leeds Mattress…Drink specials @ the Red Lobster, Hawthorne Blvd, Torrance…

Sarah (website)
Did you know that Labour Day started in Canada because workers were protesting for a 54 hour work week (in 1872)–can you believe that? You should, it’s on Wikipedia. Back then, the world was a different place… or to quote a line every Canadian is familiar with, “This is going to make your world a lot different than the one I grew up in.” Thanks to these feisty unionists, Canadian society changed immensely… let’s take a look at what it was like less than 20 years later…
»continue reading Canadian Coffee Break: Let Us Now Break For Labour

The Canadian Coffee Break brings together some of the finest Canadian minds in Southern California every week for a topical, lively round-tablesque discussion over very dark coffee. Won’t you join us.

This week’s topic: From Tofu to Sunset Junction, The Street Fair Season is officially upon us. How do Canadian festivals compare to those in Los Angeles? Topics to ponder…

• Live bands
• Sausages-on-sticks; grilled corn
• Greasy, rachety, dangerous-looking carnival rides
• Booze
• Entry fees
• Festival goers
• Parking situations

Marc
Montreal, where I lived for a decade, is known as the land of festivals. During the summer, a mix of inebriated tourists and locals turn the island’s streets into a city-wide Lionel Richie fantasy. It’s not unusual to find the streets packed to capacity at 3 in the morning, with clubs going in some cases until noon the next day. People seem to have nothing but good things to say about Montreal. This civic culture of celebration, no doubt contributes to the city’s reputation. Los Angeles, by comparison is infamous for terrible reputation (not that anyone here really gives a crap). This I think, is due in no small part to L.A.’s perceived lack of a public life. Having lived here several years now, I can see how one might see this city as being somehow insular, but I’d counter that there’s no shortage of public events. For every Sunset Junction, for example, there’s a year’s worth of monthly Midnight Ridazz, (which I’d argue qualifies as a kind of moving street fair). The trick in L.A. is managing to keep abreast of all the public revelry the city has to offer, which is one good reason for Losanjealous to bring back the monthly Benevolent Society event listings.
»continue reading Canadian Coffee Break: The Street Fair Season

The Canadian Coffee Break brings together some of the finest Canadian minds in Southern California every week for a topical, lively round-tablesque discussion over very dark coffee. Won’t you join us.

This week’s topic: Where can the “most Canadian” city block in Southern California be found, and what makes it such? How do you qualify it?

Sean Chrétien
After several minutes of deep rumination, I came to the conclusion that it is difficult to define an urban or rural block of the Southland as quintessentially Canadian because Tim Hortons hasn’t broken into the California market yet.
»continue reading Canadian Coffee Break: Where Is Canada, California?

The Canadian Coffee Break brings together some of the finest Canadian minds in Southern California every week for a topical, lively round-tablesque discussion over very dark coffee. Won’t you join us.

Your topic this week is The Eagles. They’re coming to the Nokia Theatre downtown, dogs and ponies intact, and they’re slated to release a new album which will be sold exclusively through WAL-MART the first year. More info, should you need it, can be found here (LA Times).

Tickets to the big show go on sale next monday via Ticketmaster. Eagles, Walmart, Ticketmaster…getting all this?

• What are your personal thoughts/memories/loves/hates about the Eagles?
• Are they the definitive “Southern California” band?
• Why or why not?
• Will you be going to the show?

No wrong answers here. Ask me at different times of different days and I may give you a hundred different responses. I’m funny that way. However don’t ask Victor. Very opinionated on the Eagles, that one.

Jamie (website)
I happen to be a fan of music by The Eagles. I am not, however, a fan of the people who are in The Eagles.

Back in the 90’s you might recall that they froze hell over. After considerable use of my thinker, I realized the only reason they must have done that was because they knew they were going there. That having been said, I’m sure The Eagles have murdered, commited adultry, and used the Lord’s name in vain (and probably broke a few other Commandments as well). How can you respect someone like that??
»continue reading Canadian Coffee Break: Here Come The Eagles!

The Canadian Coffee Break brings together some of the finest Canadian minds in Southern California every week for a topical, lively round-tablesque discussion over very dark coffee. Won’t you join us.

The subject on the whiteboard today is the taco. Widely available in 50% of the city’s streets east of La Brea (broad generalization), tacos exemplify the on-the-go southern California meal like nothing else. At $1 a throw on average, can you find a better deal…anywhere?

Sarah (website)
Taco Talk-0

The wonderful thing about the taco is that as a feminist, I can thoroughly get into eating a food that’s the opposite of a phallic symbol (what would you call that? Vaginal symbol? Is that too crass?). Sometimes I feel vaguely uncomfortable slobbering all over a fat, long, wet, juicy popsicle (or corn on a stick), and what’s the perfect empower-ternative? A food shaped like the vulva*.

*My mother, who worked at Planned Parenthood for 10 years, gets angry if I call it a vagina, since if you’re looking at the thing from the outside, you’re really talking about a vulva (the vagina is the cavity just behind it).

But enough about hoohahs and weewees. I’m stalling by using my advanced knowledge of human sexuality, displayed above, to disguise an Escalade-sized hole in my taco knowledge. Growing up in Nova Scotia (my kids are gonna hate these stories someday, as I’m guessing you do by now) my single dad made them on weekend visits, using an Old El Paso taco kit. That was my only taco exposure before moving to California at the tender age of 17. Sidenote: I also had never met anyone Latino; I spent the first six months of my time in LA thinking my friend Paul Rodriguez was from the Phillipines or some other exotic Asian Pacific island country. So basically I’m a hick. Laugh if you must.

Since I’ve moved to LA, really the only taco place I frequent is Machos Tacos (three visits in 2007!). I had the vegetarian tacos there for the first time on Monday night. I was surprised at the use of pepper in the beans. I can’t stop thinking about it. Really. I’ve never had black pepper flavor in a taco before–it was a shock.

I guess I’m not in Old El Paso anymore. But I suppose that’s what growing up is about. That and using the word vagina correctly.
»continue reading Canadian Coffee Break: F#ck The Coffee It’s Taco Time

The Canadian Coffee Break brings together some of the finest Canadian minds in Southern California every week for a topical, lively round-tablesque discussion over very dark coffee. Won’t you join us.

Last week the DEA sent nasty notes to the landlords of local medical marijuana dispensary tenants, informing them they are breaking federal law (LA Times):

(The) U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration has warned more than 150 Los Angeles landlords that they risk arrest and the loss of their properties if they continue renting to cannabis dispensaries.

The story was discussed with a new twist last Friday on KCRW’s Which Way LA by host Warren Olney:

Yesterday Orange County’s all-Republican board of supervisors became California’s 33rd county to begin licensing the use of medical marijuana. On that same day, the federal Drug Enforcement Administration arrested dispensary operators elsewhere in Southern California. Tonight, we’ll hear from the feds, from an Orange County supervisor, and from a former operator of a marijuana clinic.

Finally, Entourage fans were treated to an extended medical marijuana dispensary spoof on HBO the verysame week in what was apparently a timely coincidence.

How do the California Canadians feel about this turn of events? Keep reading…
»continue reading Canadian Coffee Break: The Medical Marijuana States’ Rights Plight

The Canadian Coffee Break brings together some of the finest Canadian minds in Southern California every week for a topical, lively round-tablesque discussion over very dark coffee. Won’t you join us.

In this week’s installment Pinkberry invades La Cañada Flintridge, as reported by the La Cañada Valley Sun. From the paper:

The latest frozen yogurt craze has arrived in La Cañada. The hip and trendy Pinkberry, the franchise that brought back the dessert that has exploded into a cultural phenomenon, will be opening a branch in La Cañada by the end of the year. The hard- to-miss bright pink building began interior construction earlier this week at the site next to Chocolate Box Cafe© previously occupied by Cute-Clothes.com.

The Korean owned and operated Pinkberry sought out the city for architectural and business approvals two months ago in hopes of launching a store in LCF. The city played no role in bringing in Pinkberry.

How do the California Canadians feel about this turn of events? Keep reading…
»continue reading Canadian Coffee Break: Pinkberry Crosses Cañadian Border

The Canadian Coffee Break brings together some of the finest Canadian minds in Southern California every week for a topical, lively round-tablesque discussion over very dark coffee. Won’t you join us.

In this week’s installment, Santa Monica’s “Historic Shotgun Shack” finally wins approval to be preserved – and moved – adjacent to the Ocean Park branch of the Santa Monica Library, as reported by the Argonaut. From the paper:

Santa Monica’s last remaining intact shotgun house has been through a lot since it was built in the late 1890s at 2712 Second St. < snip >

At the council meeting, all but one of the several who spoke supported the relocation of the house to Norman Place and Second Street, a parking lot across from the Ocean Park Branch Library, which some call an “eyesore.” < snip >

“The parking lot is really trashy. It’s not well kept; it’s not well lit. It’s got trash bins on it. For years, the library and retail stores have been complaining about this lot. And here’s an opportunity to clean it up.”

How do the California Canadians feel about this turn of events? Keep reading…
»continue reading Canadian Coffee Break: Santa Monica’s Shotgun Shack