A gentleman’s best – May
May 15, 2013 § Leave a Comment
Welcome to the second season of A gentleman’s best, where A man must have a code tackles long-form journalism.
The Great Leo is the Great Actor.
In A gentleman’s best, I will present my favourite feature of each issue of GQ and Esquire. I don’t work for, or on behalf of, either magazine (though I would love to)—I simply enjoy reading features and explaining what works, or doesn’t, for each of them. The hope is that my readers will share this fascination of mine, or might be compelled to read each magazine. « Read the rest of this entry »
No mocking matter
April 23, 2013 § Leave a Comment
Because no one does it quite like the NFL, all eyes will be on Roger Goodell’s baby this week despite the beginning of the NBA playoffs and the conclusion of the NHL regular season.
Marshall Faulk, Steve Mariucchi and Michael Irvin on the NFL Network set for the 2010 NFL Draft. (Photo courtesy of Marianne O’Leary)
To celebrate, I propose a Mock Draft, my fourth annual attempt at this great guessing game. I don’t pretend to be one of the finest connoisseurs of the NFL, but truly that is the catch with writing a Mock Draft–you need more luck than smarts to be right. Included is only the first round, as I wish to preserve some kind of dignity. Please note that no trades are factored in despite the fact that they are sure to happen and to complicate things further.
I swear that there is a method to my madness even if I’m not explaining every one of my 32 picks in detail in this post. « Read the rest of this entry »
A gentleman’s best – April
April 13, 2013 § Leave a Comment
Welcome to the second season of A gentleman’s best, where A man must have a code tackles long-form journalism.
Arrested Development on the cover for GQ. The icon is no match.
In A gentleman’s best, I will present my favourite feature of each issue of GQ and Esquire. I don’t work for, or on behalf of, either magazine (though I would love to)—I simply enjoy reading features and explaining what works, or doesn’t, for each of them. The hope is that my readers will share this fascination of mine, or might be compelled to read each magazine. « Read the rest of this entry »
This is powerful music that they brought to the table.
April 6, 2013 § Leave a Comment
“Two more, for Cam, for taking over the Roc!”
I’m old–or rather, I feel old.
Diplomatic Immunity–A true classic of American rap music.
Diplomatic Immunity turned 10 years old on March 25. Wait, what? There aren’t many things that can age a 27-year-old, but the fact that this album was released 10 years ago is one of these things.
Diplomatic Immunity, the creation of Cam’Ron, Juelz Santana, and the entire DipSet crew, is a classic. It’s a classic and, while it ages me, it really hasn’t aged one bit. But I’ll get to whatever it is that makes this album a classic in a bit. For now, I’ll mention that the album, and its lead single DipSet Anthem, was the perfect follow-up to Cam’Ron’s Oh Boy. That single came on Come Home With Me, a solo Cam’Ron album that was also the group’s first foray into the mainstream consciousness.
The recipe wasn’t quite perfect for that solo album, but it all came together perfectly on Diplomatic Immunity. That’s why Juelz raps, “Two more, for Cam, for taking over the Roc,” on DipSet Anthem. In March 2003, The Diplomats ruled the world—and it all started with the video for DipSet Anthem. « Read the rest of this entry »
A gentleman’s best – March
April 2, 2013 § Leave a Comment
Welcome to the second season of A gentleman’s best, where A man must have a code tackles long-form journalism.
Look at these two middling actors.
In A gentleman’s best, I will present my favourite feature of each issue of GQ and Esquire. I don’t work for, or on behalf of, either magazine (though I would love to)–I simply enjoy reading features and explaining what works, or doesn’t, for each of them. The hope is that my readers will share this fascination of mine, or might be compelled to read each magazine. « Read the rest of this entry »
‘The Putin of Poutines’: Caplansky’s
March 12, 2013 § Leave a Comment
Superstar reporter Charles Blouin-Gascon has created ‘The Putin of Poutines,’ which allows him to eat poutine and capture all the greatness on camera. In the fifth episode, he brings things full circle as he heads to Caplansky’s Delicatessen to taste the smoked meat poutine. Wait, a staple of La belle province inside the French Canadian classic? Yes. Hell yes. How great is the Caplansky’s smoked meat poutine? Well, I’m glad you asked..
Ryerson Jschool aficionados will recognize none other than Andrew Evans at some point in the video. He and Anastasia Moskvitina helped with the camera work while Jannen Belbeck worked her magic in the editing.
The only bad poutine is a bad one.
‘The Putin of Poutines’: Banh Mi Boys
March 2, 2013 § Leave a Comment
Superstar reporter Charles Blouin-Gascon has created ‘The Putin of Poutines,’ which allows him to eat poutine and capture all the greatness on camera. In the fourth episode, he heads to Banh Mi Boys to try the famous kimchi fries and this allows him to revisit his artistic side. How great are the Banh Mi Boys kimchi fries? Well, I’m glad you asked..
Anastasia Moskvitina worked the camera while Jannen Belbeck did the bulk of the editing. Meanwhile, some of the soldiers of The Ryersonian made an appearance in this little bundle of joy–Theresa Do, Jeyan Jeganathan, Alfonso Espina, Tasha Zanin, Liz Foster, Natasha Singh, Mahjabeen Somji and Gavin Adamson. Meanwhile, the Banh Mi Boys suggestion was from Andrew Evans.
The only bad poutine is a bad one.
