Friday

Since turning to environmental art, Marc Walter (pictured: Le Village des esprits V) has created indoor and outdoor universes from organic material. As a follow-up to his 2008 installation in Gatineau Park, the artist, who was awarded the Grand prix d’excellence 2007 by the Fondation des arts, des lettres et de la culture en Outaouais, recreates his “spirit village” for Espace Odyssée - a poetic combination of photographic and sculptural impressions for which he is renowned.
VERNISSAGE this Friday June 18 from 6pm to 8pm
Invited performer : a duo by Colores Andinos
Admission is free, come one come all.
Art-image | Maison de la culture de Gatineau
855 boulevard de la Gappe, Gatineau

La Petite Mort Gallery presents . . . One Night Only Exhibit
LEAH HICKS
New Paintings
Friday June 18, 2010 / 7 - 10pm
306 Cumberland

SECRET GARDEN
Artist:  Angelina McCormick
Vernissage:  Friday June 18th, 2010, 17:00 - 20:00
On View:  June 18th – August 28th, 2010
Mon - Fri 10:00 -18:00, Sat 10:00-15:00
The Red Wall Gallery is located in SPAO at 168 Dalhousie, at the corner of Bruyère, in the Byward Market.

Even though Fridays make everyone happy because it's finally the end of the week, they can also be totally depressing because 1) you still have to make 'til the end of the work day and 2) it's the end of the week. That's okay, friends. I have two pieces of news that ought to bring you cheer.

1. Sticky
   There is a Canadian goose evading the capture attempts of park authorities in Prospect Park, NYC. Why are they trying to capture Sticky? Because he's got an arrow through his neck. He has had for three weeks now. Apparently an arrow through the neck is no big deal to Sticky, who keeps on running, flying, and swimming away. That's some serious badassery, Sticky. No wonder we love those geese.
2. Tim Riggins and Eric Northman, Two Great Tastes That Taste Great Together
   Yes, there is going to be a movie based on Battleship, the board game, and that's a real shame. But it stars Taylor Kitsch (a.k.a Tim Riggins) and Alexander Skarsgård (a.k.a. Eric Northman), so how bad could it be, really? Just so you understand, we're talking about these guys:
   

When I watched what I was pretty sure was the The Good Guys première, "Bait & Switch," last Monday (IMDb is kind of confusing me about episodes and air dates), I wasn't too sure about this low key workplace comedy/procedural. Part of the problem is that I have no nostalgia for the 70s cops shows it is lovingly sending up because I wasn't around in the 70s. The other part of the problem is that I wasn't sure about the deployment of Bradley Whitford.

See, I love Bradley Whitford. I would like to see him optimally deployed at all times. Optimal deployment includes, but is not limited to, arrogance, loyalty, and being ensorcelled by Mary Louise Parker. I will, however, accept other Whitfords, largely because Whitford is an immensely talented actor. The Good Guys hits two out of the three (Dan has yet to be ensorcelled by anyone but himself).

To enjoy the show, you have to get down with its low-key vibe and humour. Its procedure goes like this: Jack (Colin Hanks) and Dan are assigned a minor level, possibly victimless crime to investigate, only to stumble onto a much larger crime. They then fumblingly, often amusingly, go about solving this larger crime and trying not to get killed in the process (there's a lot of gun violence in Dallas, it would seem).

Thank goodness for last night's season three True Blood premiere, "Bad Blood." Not too much happened in the "Holy Shit" department, but plenty of wheels were set in motion for a season's worth of conflict. Also, loads of naked people. Ah, show, how we've missed you.

Bill and the Mississippi Werewovles

The show picks up right where we left off. Sookie tears out of that washroom ready to accept Bill's proposal (how long she know him?), but he's gone. She checks with the waitress, who can only lament the trouble vampires bring to her restaurant, before she calls Kenya (this fancy French restaurant is within the Bon Temps Police Department's jurisdiction? Maybe they're a parish police force). Kenya, however, is not so inclined to look into missing persons who've been gone for less than 48 hours and aren't persons anyway.

Hey, have you been decrying the lack of 80s nostalgia at the movie theatre lately? Hollywood is bound and determined to put an end to that by releasing both The Karate Kid and The A-Team this weekend. You may wonder which to choose, so let me break it down.

Choose The Karate Kid if you think 1) all martial arts are the same (as they are surely and explicitly practicing kung fu in this remake, and karate practitioners are likely to be appalled) and 2) it's great when kids beat the snot out of each other. Do yourself a favour and rent the original The Karate Kid where actual karate is practiced, the kid in question is 15, and Pat Morita is rad from start to finish.

Choose The A-Team if you think adding explosions to a mediocre '80s show will make it better. Actually, if you ask me, a bunch of explosions plus Liam Neeson, Bradley Cooper, and Sharlto Copley does make things better. Sorry, Rampage: you're only excluded because I don't follow UFC.

Friday

Galerie McKenzie Marcotte is pleased to present "Figures of Speech," a series of abstract paintings by John F. Marok. Everyone is welcome to the vernissage on Friday June 11 at 7 pm. The exhibition will continue until July 5 2010. 26 Sully Rd. in Wakefield Qc.

Wurm Gallery / Invisible Cinema presents:
Saudade: Tales of Longing - New Paintings by Sherry Garcia
One Month Exhibit
June 11 - July 7, 2010
Opening Night: Friday June 11th, 2010 8pm
Bonus: Drinks, Snacks & Tunes
319 Lisgar St.

Friday and Saturday

On June 11th and 12th at Arts Court Theatre (2 Daly Ave. Ottawa, ON), Propeller Dance presents "Shedding Light", an evening of original performance works by Propeller Dance Company and a showcase of our recreational program, shedding light on the beauty, inspiration and pure artistry of integrated dance. Tickets are $25 for adults and $15
for students/low-income and are on sale now at the Arts Court Box office - 613-564-7240. Doors open at 6:30 for the silent auction (silent auction payment by cash and cheque only). Show starts at 7:30pm.

Whatever nervous feeling you might be having about a) tonight's finale or b) next season of Glee must immediately be thrown out the window. Michael Ausiello reports that John Stamos will be on recurring next season as a dentist and possible love interest for Emma. Hurrah! That is quite the catch for dear Em. Hope this means a sing-off for her love between STAMOS! and Will.

Upon my return from France, I decided to whip up a little something I ate while there in order to ease my best friend's suffering as she sat through vacation photos.

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons butter
• 2 tablespoons all purpose flour
• 1 cup whole milk
• Pinch of ground nutmeg
• 1 bay leaf

• 4 slices firm white sandwich bread
• 4 ounces thinly sliced Black Forest ham
• 4 ounces sliced Gruyère cheese
• 1 tablespoon melted butter
• 1/4 cup grated Gruyère cheese
• 2 teaspoons chopped fresh chives

Preparation

Melt 2 tablespoons butter in small saucepan over medium heat. Add flour and stir 1 minute. Gradually whisk in milk. Add nutmeg and bay leaf. Increase heat to medium-high and boil until sauce thickens, whisking constantly, about 2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.

Preheat broiler. Place 2 bread slices on work surface. Top each with half of ham and sliced Gruyère. Top with remaining bread. Heat heavy large skillet over low heat. Brush sandwiches with 1 tablespoon melted butter. Add to skillet and cook until deep golden brown, about 2 minutes per side. Transfer to small baking sheet. Spoon sauce, then grated cheese over sandwiches. Broil until cheese begins to brown, about 2 minutes.

Not content to let lax Parisian security and poor planning take centre stage, Canadian thieves have decided to show off just how stupid they can be. A number of stolen lithographs by Jean-Paul Riopelle turned up on Kijiji. In case you are one of our international readers, allow me to explain: Kijiji is a free classified website like Craigslist. Only instead of used couches, one night stands, and free useless items no one in his/her right mind would want to take home, one can apparently also pick up pieces of Canadian history.

Were they trying to get caught? It's stolen art, dudes. Someone's going to figure it out.

It's a distinct possibility that I did given that I spent much of Will's seduction of Sue hiding my face at the cringe-wonder of it all, but I completely did not understand the confrontation/problem between Mercedes and Quinn in last night's episode of Glee, "Funk." Mercedes thinks that Quinn cannot bring the funk because she's not black? And then Quinn sings "It's a Man's World," which is offensive to Mercedes because Quinn's not black? And then Quinn apologizes for thinking she might have insight into being marginalized because she's pregnant, which is not the same as being black?

Am I getting that right? I feel like there was some interstitial scene that I missed where Quinn literally compared the two (and did anyone else feel like the characters were being extra-super literal last night?) instead of saying that she, too, has both soul and anger and an interest in expressing those feelings through song. Because otherwise that's every episode, and I'm not seeing the disconnect. Upshot, Quinn is moving in with Mercedes.

Also on the plus side, I actually enjoyed seeing Terri last night. She's had little screen time since the spring return, but the writers seem to have a clearer idea of how to use her in a way that isn't shallow and offensive. But the maddest props naturally go to any use of Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch, which Finn apparently found by "typing funk into the iTunes."

I get that it's the last season and all, but moving Supernatural to Fridays at 9 p.m.? After the apparently immortal Smallville? When a show's so bad that even I stop watching it, how bad do you think it must be? The Vampire Diaries followed by Supernatural was one of the most perfect fits ever seen on that network. The WB once paired Buffy the Vampire Slayer with 7th Heaven, for pity's sake.

Also, there is no point in yet another Nikita since this one is unlikely to star Roy Dupuis, famous Canadian hottie actor.

Gossip Girl remains as it was, so at least we can comfort ourselves with that.

While most stolen art news touches on Nazi purloined oeuvres, the news broke that a thief or thieves stole five paintings early this morning from the Paris Museum of Modern Art. The security system was disabled, and only one masked figure was caught on camera, which suggests a certain level of professionalism. The best part of the story, however, is the reaction of Pierre Cornette de Saint-Cyr, director of a neighbouring modern art museum, Palais de Tokyo:

“You cannot do anything with these paintings. All countries in the world are aware, and no collector is stupid enough to buy a painting that, one, he can't show to other collectors, and two, risks sending him to prison. In general, you find these paintings. These five paintings are un-sellable, so thieves, sirs, you are imbeciles, now return them.”

Ha! Love his attitude. And not five minutes after I learned that most museums acquire 90% of their art from donors. Hope this makes M de Saint-Cyr some friends! Also, I hope the thief just keeps the works for himself like that guy who stole the Mona Lisa.

In yet more not-coming-t0-Ottawa news, add TwiCon to the list. In fact, TwiCon has ceased operations and did so in March (where was I? Oh, how your ace vampire reporter has let you down). Quelle disappointment, you guys. I was really planning to rock that thing, press-style. In the meantime, read Bite Me: A Love Story, celebrate the fact that Kellan Lutz and Ashley Greene have finally signed for Breaking Dawn, and check out this vamp army shot from Eclipse:

Just showing the vamp army puts the movie head and shoulders above the book, right?

Georgina spends a lot of time lurking around the action in Gossip Girl's season three finale, "Last Tango, Then Paris," but that's only because she's bidding her time. Girl likes to make an impact. Why else would she wear such a massive fur coat and a blonde wig? Anyway, Gossip Girl starts the hour blah blah blahing about how everyone gets what's coming to them eventually, so everyone makes up and breaks up approximately one hundred times, and Dorota has her baby.

Last (Relationship) Tango

Men of the UES and Brooklyn fall asleep fully clothed while nattering with blondes. Nate wakes up with Jenny sitting on his bed, once again trying and failing to work the men's dress shirt and knee socks look. Nate fell asleep while they were talking, for which he is sorry, but he makes it clear to Jenny that nothing is going to happen between them. He loves Serena. Jenny says she gets it, so you know she so does not. Chuck comes in with a tray of either espresso or hair of the dog, and I love Chuck that much more because I can't tell which. He ribs them for not having sex and encourages them to go have that sex (right in front of him? Probably), but it's all for naught. Jenny's going back to Brooklyn, where we all hope she stays for eternity.

Just like you always knew it would. Yes, one of the most important props in the history of television, Supernatural's third main character, saved the world in "Swan Song." It's about time that car got its props instead of a girly dreamcatcher in the trunk and Sam sticking a knife in her upholstery two weeks ago. 'Bout time she got some respect.

And that's about all that happened last Thursday. I know 'cause I watched the episode twice. Now, I feel kind of bad for beating up on the show, especially since a) I heard this was how the show's finale was supposed to go down, sixth season renewal be damned, b) endings are indeed difficult, and c) they have a lot of live up to, finale-wise. I mean, CRASH!, Sam dies/Dean sells his soul, Dean goes to Hell, Sam unleashes Lucifer? This show never pulls its punches in a finale. The latter no doubt plays a role in why this finale was such a let down. That, and it was boring as fuck.

I love the Ackles, I love Padalecki, I love the Ackles and Padalecki together (dirty!). But let me tell you something: I would not have built a finale around 18 million conversations between the two of them, punctuated by Padalecki making faces at himself in the mirror. That's just not the way I would have gone. 

"Holy Shit!" was pretty much the theme of last night The Vampire Diaries episode "Founder's Day" (also, thank goodness that stupid Founder's gimmick is over. At least I hope it is). Notably, Katherine has finally returned, as we've been waiting for her since we found out she was never in the tomb. Also, I heard that two characters were going to die, but it's worse: three characters die plus a boatload of extras, two lives hang in the balance, and Katherine's back. Oh, did I mention that? Just wanted to make sure you knew.

Death, Death, Death

The tomb refugees that weren't already staked have chosen the Founder's Day festivities for their little founding families massacre. They're even smart enough to know not to try to feed (in case of vervain), just kill. John gets wind of this plan, so he decides to follow through with Original Recipe Jonathan's plan: use the device to expose the vampires, round them up, and burn the lot. In fact, John decides that his brother's empty medical practice is the perfect location for the bonfire. Exactly when the tomb refugees plan to attack, John sets off the device: essentially, it's like the headache inducer we've seen Grams and Bonnie use against Damon and Stefan, respectively, only much more powerful and with a far wider reach. Anna tries to warn Damon, who tries to warn Stefan, but they all go down anyway. The way Damon grabbed Elena's hand, who never let go of Stefan's hand, so they were all walking along hand-in-hand, was really sweet, though (pictured). Anna falls in the Grill's Ladies' Room while trying to warn Jeremy about the impending death to founders and gets carted off by some deputies, despite Jeremy's screaming and fighting. Stefan falls while he and Elena are trying to get away, but Alaric convinces the deputy that he's got this one before the deputy can pump Stefan with vervain. Poor Damon falls with no one to protect him, so off he goes.

Michael Ausiello's reporting that Lara Pulver has been cast as Sookie's fairy godmother Claudine. For those who've watched the pilot and wondered what happened to Sookie's telekinesis since then, it was Claudine who tightened the chain around Matt Rattray's neck when Sookie rescued Bill. Claudine was later cut from the pilot/show. I'm not sure what the story is supposed to be, but there were clues last season that there's something more to Sookie than just telepathy. Maybe Claudine is that something more. Eric will be so confused!

Every time I think we're getting back to the good stuff with this show (like last week), we get an episode like "Ex-Husbands and Wives." On the plus side: mass scheming. On the down side: soap opera level exposition. What the hell, Gossip Girl? Just because you are a soap doesn't mean you have to absorb the worst possible aspects of a soap opera. Thank goodness you are going to Paris next year.

Jenny is the Fucking Worst

This is, of course, not a knock against Taylor Momsen. She shows up to work week in and week out. But Jenny Humphrey is the schemingest schemer on this show if you can imagine. Blair and Chuck prostitute each other, but Jenny will let people believe that Lily might really have cancer if it suits her.

Last night's episode, "Isobel," pretty much confirmed every plot/character guess you've ever had. It was kind of eerie. Let's go in chronological order.

There is No Such Thing as a Vampire Compass

Bonnie's been reading Emily's grimoire, and it turns out Jonathan "My Science Is Better Than Your Science" Gilbert didn't have the mad inventing skills previously believed. Everything Johnathan invented was actually spelled by Emily to work, including the invention currently in play. It is harmful to vampires in some non-specific way.

Last night's episode of Supernatural, "Two Minutes to Midnight" featured Sam, Dean, Bobby, Crowley, and Castiel together in one room, so I may have missed something while begging the director for a wide shot to show them all in the same place at the same time. I'm sure you want to hear about the Winchesters got the remaining two rings, though, so let's focus on those for right now. 

Pestilence

Our buddy is hanging out at an old folks home a retirement community, cooking up various disease combinations for his amusement. The boys get the tip that that's where they can find him, so they're off to slice off his finger. When Pestilence's aide de camp notices the Winchesters, she suggests they book it before Pestilence loses his ring, but, oh no. Pestilence (Matt Frewer) is ticked that they've offed his brothers, so he wants to take it out of their asses. Nice work, Sera Gamble, on continuing the verbal symmetry two weeks in a row! Anyway, they're rolling around on the ground dying of syphilis and whatnot (at least in Dean's case, I doubt Pestilence put it there, and also, that's the second time this season a beastie gave one of them an STI) when Castiel busts in. Castiel's kind of human at the moment (more in this in a minute), so he's initially floored by the disease wave as well. He pulls it together enough to cut off Pestilence's finger in a nice through the glass table shot. Pestilence cryptically tells them "it's too late" before evaporating into the ether.