Golden Tap Awards

Get Out And Vote

Now in its eighth year, the Golden Tap Awards is a democratic awards event, with voting to take place online at goldentap.com from now until August 16th. Visitors to the web site can vote for any or all of the categories they wish including:

Best craft brewery in Ontario
Best brewery for cask-conditioned ales in Ontario
Best bar in Ontario for draught beer selection
Best bar in Ontario for bottled beer selection
Best bar in Ontario for cask-conditioned ale
Best brewpub or tied house in Ontario
Best regularly-produced craft beer in Ontario
Best seasonal or specialty craft beer in Ontario
Best cask-conditioned ale in Ontario

We encourage you to support your favourites and help celebrate the people that bring a little joy to our lives.

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Toronto Beer Week

Toronto is going to get it's very own week-long celebration of beer. From September 20 to 26, 2010 there will be dozens of craft beer themed events at all of your favourite establishments including C'est What.

He Walks, She Rocks

Jason Myers and Bri-anne Swan kicked off a month-long fundraiser for the Multiple Sclerosis Society at C'est What on Saturday April 17 at C'est What. Jason files this report:

"I remember when I first brought up the idea of a long walk to raise money for the MS Society of Canada to my girlfriend Bri-anne. There wasn't even a hint of 'this guy is crazy' in her eyes. She also had people close to her that were affected by the disease and all I saw was an immediate and unequivocal 'Yes, and I want to help.' That was the first of countless acts of kindness and generosity that I experienced on my over 800km journey from Niagara to Tobermory.

The concept for the fundraiser was simple. I would solo walk the Bruce Trail end to end from April 18 to May 20 and Bri-anne, a singer/songwriter, would meet me in a number of the communities along the way and play folk concerts. We came up with a catchy name (He Walks, She Rocks), set up a website and started our preparations.

One of our assumptions going into the journey was that we would not be able to do everything by ourselves. I would need places to sleep and Bri-anne would need help within the communities organizing and promoting the shows. The success of the project would be heavily dependant on the good will of friends, family and even strangers (or, as I prefer to say, 'friends not yet met'). We needed to ask for help. What happened was one of the most heartwarming and affirming experiences of my life.

A month before I was to set out we received the following message on our website: 'You are more than welcome to stay at our home with meals while you are in the area.'

It was from Donna and Jack in Owen Sound. They had heard about what we were doing and wanted to help. We had never met before, and yet were willing to welcome me into their home. This was just the start.

Over the course of 33 days on the trail, new friends gave me places to sleep, helped promote concerts, made very generous donations to the MS Society, drove me to and from the trail, fed me, washed my stinky clothes and, on one occasion, even massaged my aching feet. After walking in solitude for 7 to 9 hours a day on challenging terrain it was rejuvenating to come down into communities at night, share a meal with a family and have a brief glimpse of their lives.

My days on the Niagara Escarpment were full of beauty: From being surprised by a waterfall in urban Hamilton, to walking through an explosion of Trilliums in the Beaver Valley, to hearing Bri-anne's voice dancing off the walls of Trinity United Church in Collingwood to seeing the white cliffs that plunge into the breathtaking, turquoise waters of Georgian Bay. But what I will take away most from this trip was the indefatigable goodness of the people I met along the way. When you experience kindness and generosity like this there is simply no room left in your heart for cynicism, fear and other unproductive things we are told we should feel.

On May 20, Bri-anne and I walked into Tobermory together and were met by Don McIlraith, the President of the Bruce Trail Peninsula Club with a bottle of champagne. He toasted to our success of completing the walk and concert series that raised almost $11,000 for the MS Society. As I raised my glass, my thoughts turned to the heroes of the He Walks, She Rocks journey that made it all possible."

Picture-Of-The-Month

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Get Real, Get It Live

Pilgrims Of Brock

If you're craving a sojourn from the daily grind, look no further than Toronto-based Pilgrims of Brock (POB). With a rock n' roll heart and a country soul, POB has created their own brand of musical escapism, complete with bitingly honest storytelling, captivating rhythms, and melodic hooks that will surely satisfy the every man - and woman.

Formed in late 2007 on Brock Ave. (hence, the name) in Toronto's trendy Parkdale neighbourhood, POB is made up of singer/songwriter Andrew Masse (vocals, guitar), Chris Rellinger (bass), Will Greco (drums, percussion) and multi- instrumentalist Gavin Kistner. Together, they combine over 50 years of musicianship to create a sound that, while completely original, is reminiscent of the artists who inspire them, such as Wilco, Joel Plaskett, The Rheostatics, Bob Dylan, The Beatles and many East-Coast indie groups of the 90's. Their debut 12 song self titled album (distributed independently) was released on Saturday, January 30th 2010 to a sold out audience at Toronto's Cameron House. To date, POB have earned themselves a considerable following by playing high-traffic venues such as C'est What?, The Cadillac Lounge and The Horseshoe.

Appearing Wednesday July 14 with Rutherford Williams. Doors 9:00 p.m., Show time 10:00 p.m. Advance tickets are available for $5.00.

Blair Packham's Song Studio

The soaring harmonies and chunking rhythms that adorn Blair Packham's solo album Everything That's Good are self-described as "pure pop for now-and-then people."

The former lead singer for The Jitters, draws on influences such as Elvis Costello with a firm grasp on strong song structure and a keen ear for catchy pop composition. Packham's songs have a quality that insinuate themselves into the subconscious area of the mind that controls toe tapping and humming.

Appearing Sunday July 18. Doors 7:00 p.m., Show time 8:00 p.m. Admission is free.

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