This little marvel of nature - Glaucus Atlanticus, a particularly small and poisonous sea snail, only 3 cm in length, knows how to dress to impress. Believe it or not, it's real.
I can't get enough of looking at this thing.
Thursday, 28 June 2012
On the Subject of Beauty
This little marvel of nature - Glaucus Atlanticus, a particularly small and poisonous sea snail, only 3 cm in length, knows how to dress to impress. Believe it or not, it's real.
I can't get enough of looking at this thing.
Summer News
My little shop is blessed with new items for the discerning men. Come check out the beautiful dress shirts I took in in the last few days, some lovely, high-end brands with superior workmanship and fabrics, colourful and fun.
Also - the new Style edition of Toronto Life Magazine invited Renaissance Man to be featured in it this year, it will be out on the news-stands in September.
So Far I've been in their special edition magazines 4 times in our 5 years of existence. That's got to be good.
Also - the new Style edition of Toronto Life Magazine invited Renaissance Man to be featured in it this year, it will be out on the news-stands in September.
So Far I've been in their special edition magazines 4 times in our 5 years of existence. That's got to be good.
Sunday, 17 June 2012
Sunday, 10 June 2012
The Best Consignment Store for Men in Toronto
Some ditz made a list of 10 shops, with some true garbage mixed in there, but neglected to put me in it, although there are no consignment shops in this city who do what I do - which is: cater for both ends of the spectrum - the high and the low, of what men like to wear, exclusively for men.
I check the market in other stores, in other cities and other countries as well, and although I usually don't like to toot my own horn - I'm doing it now. My shop is Gooood! It packs a lot of great stuff for the small space I've got, and the selection is varied and the quality higher than many of the women's shops I've seen. Not to mention my more than reasonable prices.
So if you haven't heard it anywhere else - you've heard it here, now.
Those of you who read me and agree, feel free to comment.
I check the market in other stores, in other cities and other countries as well, and although I usually don't like to toot my own horn - I'm doing it now. My shop is Gooood! It packs a lot of great stuff for the small space I've got, and the selection is varied and the quality higher than many of the women's shops I've seen. Not to mention my more than reasonable prices.
So if you haven't heard it anywhere else - you've heard it here, now.
Those of you who read me and agree, feel free to comment.
Thursday Night Rainbow
We had a heavy rain that day, with large sunny parts of the sky opening up, painting the entire city in an eerie yellow light, and this full double rainbow:
Saturday, 9 June 2012
The Intouchables
Great film!
Based on the true story of a miraculous and life transforming friendship between quadriplegic French millionaire Philippe Pozzo di Borgo, from a long line of French nobility and his poor, wild and dispossessed care taker, a Senegalese man with a contagious lust for life.
The cast is fabulous and as usual unknown to the North American audience. We laughed hard as the characters dive into a series of small adventures and take risks in order to live their life as best they can.
A hopeful affirmation about the nature of people: we are who we are. Circumstances can either reinforce or challenge us, or destroy us, and the choice is in our hands.
Based on the true story of a miraculous and life transforming friendship between quadriplegic French millionaire Philippe Pozzo di Borgo, from a long line of French nobility and his poor, wild and dispossessed care taker, a Senegalese man with a contagious lust for life.
The cast is fabulous and as usual unknown to the North American audience. We laughed hard as the characters dive into a series of small adventures and take risks in order to live their life as best they can.
A hopeful affirmation about the nature of people: we are who we are. Circumstances can either reinforce or challenge us, or destroy us, and the choice is in our hands.
Monday, 4 June 2012
Saturday, 2 June 2012
It's June, and what have we got to show for it?
Rain, rain and more rain.
This spring is as strange as our winter was: record high temperature one day, hours of rain the next.
People get confused, caught off guard with the wrong wardrobe: sandals when boots are called for, tank top when sweaters would be better, and all that confusion is not so great for the clothing business.
Still, hopeful shoppers show interest in the selection of summer clothes now on my racks, and this week made a nice dent in the growing collection - spring cleaning happens rain or shine, it seems.
I'm ok with that.
This spring is as strange as our winter was: record high temperature one day, hours of rain the next.
People get confused, caught off guard with the wrong wardrobe: sandals when boots are called for, tank top when sweaters would be better, and all that confusion is not so great for the clothing business.
Still, hopeful shoppers show interest in the selection of summer clothes now on my racks, and this week made a nice dent in the growing collection - spring cleaning happens rain or shine, it seems.
I'm ok with that.
Thursday, 17 May 2012
Five Years and Counting
This blessed month of spring (in our city it is spring) is my fifth at Renaissance Man.
How can that be? It feels still new after all the days, months, years. What sustains me are these things:
- The good people who walk in and bring their sunny disposition, their lively engaging discussions, and of course their wallets. (Lets not bring into this the other ones, those who are the complete opposite and are on this earth to test my endurance).
- The wonderful men who love their clothes enough, even after they can no longer enjoy them, to bring them for consignment, with good natured hopefulness and understanding the limitations of this business.
- The time I get to read in between bouts of business.
- The fact that this little shop is MY domain. That is a true privilege (and I do pay for it, dearly).
So - here's a toast to this little shop of mine:
May you prosper and sustain your owner in good health and fortune. Amen.
How can that be? It feels still new after all the days, months, years. What sustains me are these things:
- The good people who walk in and bring their sunny disposition, their lively engaging discussions, and of course their wallets. (Lets not bring into this the other ones, those who are the complete opposite and are on this earth to test my endurance).
- The wonderful men who love their clothes enough, even after they can no longer enjoy them, to bring them for consignment, with good natured hopefulness and understanding the limitations of this business.
- The time I get to read in between bouts of business.
- The fact that this little shop is MY domain. That is a true privilege (and I do pay for it, dearly).
So - here's a toast to this little shop of mine:
May you prosper and sustain your owner in good health and fortune. Amen.
Wednesday, 16 May 2012
A Night at the Opera
A kind friend gave me a ticket to COC (Canadian Opera Company) last night. I dressed up nicely to play along, and sat down for an evening of Florentine silliness, all by my lonesome self. I've not been to the opera in many years, I'd rather go to a dance performance when funds allow, but I do enjoy being there when it happens. It's a curious thing, opera. Basically a theatrical play, with difficult singing and fantastic orchestra at the bottom of the stage.
This one was a double bill, 2 short ones. A Florentine Tragedy by Zemlinsky, and Gianni Schicchi by Puccini. Both sets are done beautifully, a minimal set to transport the audience to the opulence of Florence, where passion and materialistic impulses run high. Gianni Schicchi is funny, I was surprised. There's a solo for one young lady, this famous piece where everyone bursts into applause at the end, it's probably the most recognizable areas of all time. Here it is by the immortal Maria Callas. The words, compared with the supreme singing, are so mundane, the joke is on us.
This one was a double bill, 2 short ones. A Florentine Tragedy by Zemlinsky, and Gianni Schicchi by Puccini. Both sets are done beautifully, a minimal set to transport the audience to the opulence of Florence, where passion and materialistic impulses run high. Gianni Schicchi is funny, I was surprised. There's a solo for one young lady, this famous piece where everyone bursts into applause at the end, it's probably the most recognizable areas of all time. Here it is by the immortal Maria Callas. The words, compared with the supreme singing, are so mundane, the joke is on us.
Monday, 14 May 2012
Mothers Day Flowers
Saturday, 12 May 2012
New Arrivals
This is a gorgeous linen Armani jacket, the picture doesn't do it justice - brown and light blue line, but the feel of it is like butter. The blue shirt peeking through is a fine Ralph Lauren thing. Goes together like nothing else.
Other fine additions to my collection:Grey and lavender pinstripe suit, Black Zegna suit, Aquascutum jacket in a fabulous light grey, a Versace black mid size duffle bag, Shoes by David - black with side buckle. And many many more.
The Deep Blue Sea
This is a film about obsession. An observation of the beauty and sadness of a love obsession. This is such a compelling subject of literary and film exploration, I can quickly come up with other works that deal with it, with beauty and depth.
But - I don't know why so many of the figures I came up with deal with the obsession and the surrender of the woman:
Madame Bovari, Anna Karenina, Adele H., Ophelia in Hamlet, Cathy in Wuthering Heights, The French Lieutenant's woman and countless more. On the men's side there is of course HH from Lolita, but this is more of a fetish then love, I suspect.
Do men not obsess about women? I'm sure they do. Do people want to witness this on screen or read it on the page? probably. But it seems in either cases they would rather see the woman destroyed or punished in some way, the crime of passion - like in Othello, or the man gone mad, like Hythcliff, or a mutual destruction like in Romeo and Juliet. Why is the woman described in so many works as the fallen angel? Does it make the work more attractive?
I don't know. The simple fact is that we keep watching.
But - I don't know why so many of the figures I came up with deal with the obsession and the surrender of the woman:
Madame Bovari, Anna Karenina, Adele H., Ophelia in Hamlet, Cathy in Wuthering Heights, The French Lieutenant's woman and countless more. On the men's side there is of course HH from Lolita, but this is more of a fetish then love, I suspect.
Do men not obsess about women? I'm sure they do. Do people want to witness this on screen or read it on the page? probably. But it seems in either cases they would rather see the woman destroyed or punished in some way, the crime of passion - like in Othello, or the man gone mad, like Hythcliff, or a mutual destruction like in Romeo and Juliet. Why is the woman described in so many works as the fallen angel? Does it make the work more attractive?
I don't know. The simple fact is that we keep watching.
Thursday, 3 May 2012
Elegant Grandmothers
I look at this picture of my grandmother in my sister's wedding from long ago, and I am shocked to see her beauty as I have not seen when I was a girl. I considered her then an old lady, hard working and worrisome.
I guess the stretch and distance of time make it possible now to see her as a remarkable woman and appreciate her in a way that was not available to me all the years she lived with us.
I was one of those lucky people who have access to their grandparents all their childhood. My children don't have that luxury, living as we are in a country far away from the rich extended family we have. I know now how much richer my life has been as a result.
I owe her a lot - she was one of those rare women who face life's lessons and live on, not giving up for one minute. She deserves a story written about her.
A poor widow for the last 30 years of her life, she maintained a sense of dignity and elegance, finding beauty in everyday details.
That fur coat was borrowed from a neighbour, she could have never afforded nor justified such a frivolous purchase.
I guess the stretch and distance of time make it possible now to see her as a remarkable woman and appreciate her in a way that was not available to me all the years she lived with us.
I was one of those lucky people who have access to their grandparents all their childhood. My children don't have that luxury, living as we are in a country far away from the rich extended family we have. I know now how much richer my life has been as a result.
I owe her a lot - she was one of those rare women who face life's lessons and live on, not giving up for one minute. She deserves a story written about her.
A poor widow for the last 30 years of her life, she maintained a sense of dignity and elegance, finding beauty in everyday details.
That fur coat was borrowed from a neighbour, she could have never afforded nor justified such a frivolous purchase.
Tuesday, 1 May 2012
May Day
Why does the old distress code insist on May Day? I should check this out and get back on that.
The following s the ideal model for a balanced life. My blessing on this May Day, since I do belong to the working class after all, despite what some people may think - is that every one of us will achieve this kind of fine balance in our lives.
The following s the ideal model for a balanced life. My blessing on this May Day, since I do belong to the working class after all, despite what some people may think - is that every one of us will achieve this kind of fine balance in our lives.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
Posts
