Category Archives: Food, Health and Nutrition

Ardra Shephard’s surprising Fallosophy

Posted on March 31, 2025 by barczablog

I have just roared through Ardra Shephard’s memoir, a book that I loved from start to finish, wishing it wouldn’t end. I did not expect such a fun book. If I call Ardra a multiple sclerosis activist it could make … Continue reading →

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Thorold and Vineland: cats, plants and Figaro

Posted on September 20, 2024 by barczablog

No opera today, although the headline may seem to promise as much. Before we got to Eryna’s house in Thorold we stopped in Vineland. This was our third or fourth visit to The Watering Can Flower Market, a place to … Continue reading →

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Seraphia closing April 27th

Posted on April 19, 2024 by barczablog

I got some bad news today, when Peter at Seraphia informed me that he will have his last day Saturday April 27th. I can’t properly capture what his Scarborough gourmet shop has meant to me and my family. I’ve been … Continue reading →

Posted in Food, Health and Nutrition, Personal ruminations & essays | 1 Comment

Sarah Polley – Run Towards the Danger

Posted on October 4, 2022 by barczablog

I have just finished reading Sarah Polley’s Run Towards the Danger, a book like none I’ve ever read before. It might be the most authentic autobiography I’ve ever encountered. Except that it’s not an autobiography. I notice too that while … Continue reading →

Posted in Books & Literature, Cinema, video & DVDs, Dance, theatre & musicals, Food, Health and Nutrition, Popular music & culture, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Philip Glass: The Complete Piano Etudes

Posted on September 9, 2022 by barczablog

Do you compartmentalize? I ask because it’s common, a given in a modern life. Whether we’re speaking of the things we do for work-life balance, as part of an artistic discipline or simply to get through a busy day, it’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, domestic & wild, Books & Literature, Food, Health and Nutrition, Music and musicology, Opera, Personal ruminations & essays, Popular music & culture, Psychology and perception, Spirituality & Religion | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Rebuilding Janise: Andrew Smith’s labour of love

Posted on July 24, 2022 by barczablog

The cover picture is a disturbing metaphor for its subject. In 1992 Andrew and Janise were married. This poem “What Once Was”, is by Andrew Smith, posted in July 2022 on Facebook. what once was; is so long ago.two fools, … Continue reading →

Posted in Books & Literature, Food, Health and Nutrition, My mother, Personal ruminations & essays, Psychology and perception, Reviews | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Lindsay Anne Black: canary in the mine

Posted on June 2, 2022 by barczablog

Whether your Kafkaesque fate is to wake up to the discovery you’ve turned into an insect, or merely that you have to hide inside your house because of coronaviruses and lockdowns, I think we’re ready for Eldritch Theatre’s current theatrical … Continue reading →

Posted in Dance, theatre & musicals, Food, Health and Nutrition, Interviews, University life | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Toronto Choral Society – Mozart Requiem

Posted on May 26, 2022 by barczablog

I had my first experience with Toronto Choral Society last night at Eastminster United Church on Danforth. Holly Chaplin’s page on Facebook (where my review of the weekend opera was shared) told me that she and Joshua Clemenger (also in … Continue reading →

Posted in Food, Health and Nutrition, Music and musicology, My mother, Press Releases and Announcements | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

News, positive and negative

Posted on April 28, 2022 by barczablog

It’s been a hard week so far. I’m heart-broken with the news in my inbox, that Elisa Citterio is leaving Tafelmusik. I can’t help but wonder about the subtexts for this change. Perhaps it’s just the pandemic and its deadly … Continue reading →

Posted in Dance, theatre & musicals, Food, Health and Nutrition, Music and musicology, Opera, Press Releases and Announcements | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Lessons of the Paralympics

Posted on March 9, 2022 by barczablog

As usual I’ve been watching tv with my mom when I visit her to bring her lunch and dinner. During the Winter Olympics she would sometimes get up in the night to watch opening or closing ceremonies, given the time … Continue reading →

Posted in Food, Health and Nutrition, My mother, Personal ruminations & essays, Sports | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment