Come Fly With Me

First and foremost, this post is my 50th on this blog. I have been directing this blog for just over 5 months now and it has been one of the most rewarding projects that I have taken on yet. However, The Small Time Visionary wouldn't exist without your support. I know it sounds cliched, but it's the honest truth. You provide the inspiration which drives this blog, so I humbly congratulate you on making this blog what it is today. Thank you.


As most of you should know by now, my ultimate dream is to have the ability to fly. Imagine being able to take off and fly to any location you could think of. The journey in itself is worth the trip. I can only imagine the sensation of swooping through the air, touching the clouds and feeling the wind on my body. It all sounds a little sensual, no? Fetish? Perhaps. But I'll let my psychologist deal with that some other day.

Nevertheless, flying is cool! Here are some gratuitous "Aircraft" shots that I took on the way to NYC and on the way back from Virginia. I thought I'd ease my way into these NYC photos and posts, so enjoy!

stv

The 2010 Manhattan Tour de Awesome

By far the best memory that will stick with me from the trip to NYC will be riding around the city on bicycles. It was such a surreal experience and was something that I have always wanted to do since the days I got re-introduced to cycling about 3 years ago and started following the premier cycling blogger Bike Snob NYC. Cycling in NYC is a completely unique experience. Here's my story:

I woke up extremely excited on Wednesday morning. Not only because it was supposed to be the hottest day of the week, nor because the sun was beaming into our 5th floor hotel room, but because we were going to rent some bicycles and ride around the city. I've been hoping for this opportunity to come during this trip, and it is finally coming true. Win and I were on board 100% but I could sense a little of uneasiness in Trevor when we ran the plan by him. Thank God he was a team player and hardly flinched at the idea of riding a bicycle on the crowded streets of Manhattan.

Conveniently, the bike shop was just across the street from the hotel. I could hardly contain my excitement and went ahead of the guys to check out the shop and the bicycles they had to rent. To my horror (not really) the bikes they had were some cheap, wal-mart-esque Raleigh-Townie 7-speed grip shift-kickstand-heavy as hell 2-wheel monstrosities; far from anything that I ride on the regular but they were certainly better then nothing and I was so excited that I'd even ride a p-far at this point.

So off we go, first stop? Who cares! We're riding bicycles on a gorgeous spring day in New York City! In our opinion, we've already reached our destination. But really, work was to be done, and by work I mean shopping. We made our way through Soho to Noho and the Lower East Side, only to find a number of the stores still closed. Dang it! It's f'n Cinco De Mayo! We then decided to make our way to Midtown only to realize that it was the lunch time rush hour! I'm sure many of you have played the game Frogger before. This moment was the active culmination of all the hours I have logged playing that damn game as a kid. You never stop and ponder your own existence until you find yourself squeezing between buses and delivery trucks in New York City traffic atop a slow and awkward excuse of a bicycle, but then again it is these moments that truly remind you that you are alive.

There is no better way to see New York then by bicycle. It's as if every block there is another famous building or monument. If you could please look straight ahead, there is the Flatiron Building. To your left, the Empire State Building. Next stop, Rockefeller. It couldn't have been more surreal to witness these landmarks in any other way. I just had to make sure that I didn't spend too much time looking up or else I would find myself getting intimate with the rear bumper of a pulled over taxi or the clavicle of a jay-walker.

Once I emerged from a store I came to find that Trevor had taken off. He had to head to Times Square to pick up a package from Fed Ex. We were running out of time, as we had to make it back to the hotel in less then an hour, so Win and I had to book it Uptown about 20 blocks to catch up with Trevor. The moment felt like a blur as we sprinted through traffic to meet up with our friend. Time was our enemy at this point and we spent too much of it enjoying the sights the City had to offer. I never knew such a piece of shit bike could go so fast, but it certainly managed under some intense pressure. We met up with Trevor in less then 5 minutes and he received the package in one piece. We took a minute to ponder the moment and it's significance before we took off like banshees for the hotel in Soho while managing to stop by some of the stores that were closed earlier.

How long do you think it takes to get from Midtown Manhattan to Soho by bicycle in early afternoon rush hour? Not very long apparently, especially when all road rules and common sense goes out the window. We were seriously behind the 8-ball at this point and haste couldn't be more of an understatement. Red lights soon lost all meaning, bike lanes seemed to disappear and dodging became a survival necessity. Imagine riding down a Manhattan mainstreet with a huge plastic bag over one shoulder and one hand on the handle bars, ever so slightly gripping the rear brake lever just in case shit got a little hairy. Angels must have been on our side because the bike store was in sight and we were unscathed minus the inflamed taints we had suffered from the uncomfortable saddles. But I spoke too soon and fate caught up with us as Trevor had himself a close call with a vehicle just across the street from the bike shop. Could you believe it?! After all we went through, just before the finish line we almost lose a teammate?! Go figure! But they don't call it a close call for nothing and Trevor will meet his Final Destination much later in his life then that day. We parked the bikes in the the shop and got charged an hour less then we exhausted to boot! What a fantastic end to a fantastic day!

In case you were wondering, the package that Trevor picked up was the engagement ring he used to propose to Lorena that same evening atop the Empire State Building. She said yes, of course, and now he's got a pretty dope story to tell his kids about how he and their Tito's raced across Manhattan on bike-back and risked life and limb to pick up their mothers engagement ring. It was definitely a great experience not soon to be forgotten.

Loves,

stv

A Heart In New York

If you follow me on Facebook or Twitter, you should have found out by now that I am no longer in Manhattan and am now in Gainesville, Virginia. The time spent in New York City was like a blur, but also felt like a lifetime. After spending a week in NYC, the 3 hour train ride South to Virginia has landed me in what feels like another planet, let alone another country, state or city.

It comes as no surprise that the spirit of the City is to be constantly on the move, don't get left behind and eat or be eaten. Virginia couldn't be more on the contrary. Being just short of the "dirty South", Virginia expresses the slow and laid back lifestyle we often associate with the region while mixing the preppy elegance of the North East. It's easy to feel like you're at home in VA, but I also felt at home in NYC. Like a fly drawn to a zapper, I'm naturally attracted to big cities and it doesn't get much bigger then NYC.

I loved being on the go, speeding from point a to b came natural. While it was overwhelming at first, I found that I quickly adjusted to the system. The subway system in the city was so efficient, it's almost hard to believe that it was created over 100 years ago. As a pedestrian, you have to be aware and on point because it is easy to be trampled or hit by a car. Don't even get me started on what it was like on a bicycle; all I have to say is you need to be aggressive but it is absolutely the fastest way to get around the city. The constant chaos was inspiring in comparison to the mundane and "everyday" of Calgary, Alberta. Don't get me wrong, I love my home. It's just that I needed to gain some perspective and be inspired.

The people of NYC get a bad rep sometimes as being rude, but I found this to be a false accusation. Sure, they have a bit of an attitude, but you can hardly blame them considering their environment. Majority of the New Yorkers that I came across were extremely helpful and actually pleasant. Sure, they don't appreciate being made to wait, but who doesn't these days? The New Yorker has a mistaken identity and the famous rude attitude is just a misunderstanding of their often dry and sarcastic sense of humor. So a word of advice, don't be intimidated of New Yorkers, they too might be the most pleasant surprise of the trip.

There is way too much to see or do in NYC, but we managed alright considering we only had a week in the big city. We hardly slept for the week and punished our feet but it was well worth it. Here's an idea of what I did for a week:

Yankees vs. Orioles at the Yankee Stadium
Brooklyn Bridge
DUMBO
Brooklyn Banks
NEW YORK STYLE PIZZA
Times Square
David Letterman
West Side Story
Break dancers and freestyling @ Union Square
The Met
Performance art @ The MoMA
Central Park/Strawberry Fields/Fountain Performers
Green, Red, Orange, Blue
Hail a Cab
High Line
Bryant Park
Missing out on Fallon/The Roots @ 30 Rock
Dinner atop the MAD
Cycling the Bowery
YES atop the Empire State Building
Pig ears and sweetbreads
Lady Liberty
Flatiron
Meatpacking District
Breakfast in Chelsea
Chelsea Market
Soho to Noho to Lower East to Madison Square
Nuts 4 Nuts
Common Sense was "Just Wright"
Secretly taken on a "Sex in the City" tour
1 L of Goose killed/Hello porcelain Gods
Train from Penn

I probably missed a lot but that should give you a good idea. We probably saw more in one week then most locals see in 5 years, so we did New York right. Stay tuned, plenty more New York and Virginia to come.

Loves,

stv

Pardon The Interruption

Ladies and Gents, I'm taking this blog on the road. I'm headed to the Big Apple. The Empire City. The City that Never Sleeps. The Big 'Ol Melting Pot. Gotham. Father Knickerbocker. Yankee Doodle Dandy. For those without a single clue, who lived their entire life in a box and who probably spend too much time playing World of Warcraft, I'm going to NEW YORK CITY!! I think I got an Empire State Building in my pants just thinking about how exciting it's going to be! I plan on keeping ya'll updated while I'm away with a few teasers, stories and the such. Expect some great things from this blog when I get back and I'll catch you on the flip flop!

Loves,

stv

Movie Review: Kick Ass

I know what you're thinking. "Stevie, what the hell is wrong with you? You're done school and yet you're still writing?!" To you I say, good sir or miss, writing is a life skill and it's more of a hobby then a chore. So suck on that!

This Tuesday, Chloe, Frank, Al and I decided to catch a movie. Nothing else was playing past 10 except for the new comic inspired action/comedy, Kick Ass. I've seen the trailers and the movie looked pretty awesome. I've heard pretty decent things so I figured "What the hey? What kind of asshole says 'what the hey' ?"

The film is based on a comic book of the same name that is distributed through Marvel Comics. It follows the life of Dave Lizewski, a sort of 'everyman' character for the geeky comic crowd. Dave is an ordinary American teenager who spends most of his time floating though the shadows of high school while dealing with the existential issues of identity and angst. Dave spends most of his waking days hanging out at the comic book store with his equally geeky friends or in his bed room 'freeing the soldiers of love', so to speak. But after a few run ins with numerous street thugs, Dave decides that the people need a hero. Taking inspiration from the comic books which he admires so, Dave puts together a costume composed of a scuba suit. Armed with billy clubs and a taser, Dave sets off to save the world but he may have stumbled into something that is way bigger then he was ever prepared for.

The film stars Aaron Johnson, whose curly hair and self-effacing demeanour made me reflect on one of my childhood favorites; the Wonder Years and their lovable protagonist, Fred Savage. Who didn't think that the experiences of Kevin Arnold weren't based on their own experiences?! Seriously, everyone was able to relate with the kid. His narration was always on point; at times hilarious and at others extremely profound. And if it weren't for the Wonder Years, I wouldn't have known the 60's. If it weren't for Kevin Arnold, I wouldn't have known how to love. And if it weren't for Joe Cocker, I wouldn't have known the majesty of a stoned buffoon playing the air guitar on acid (no disrespect to Mr. Cocker, his Woodstock performance was epic). But what my digression proves is that Kick Ass understood this formula for success and employed it effectively through their character Dave Lizewski.

The Film also stars Nicolas Cage and Chloe Moretz. This was by far the best role Cage has played since Matchstick Men. Cage had to almost play two roles, one as the sharp and dark avenger, and the other as the nurturing and dainty father. Moretz shines hardest though, in what is sure to be her break-through role. Some may recognize Moretz from her role in (500) Days of Summer which was very minor at best. However, in Kick Ass, Moretz shows some extreme depth and displays some excellent acting skills. Her character was extremely tenacious and presumptuous while also displaying a light of innocence and vulnerability. What all these contradictions reveal is a film that has more depth then one would associate with comic book fan fare that will appeal to film goers at large.

The film was also technically brilliant. Comic books have a certain knack for capturing blood, violence, and gore; things we should all employ in our every day lives. It created the comic book feel very well and utilized zooms, slow motion and special effects to put the audience into the front seat of all the action. One scene that stands out in my mind is a slow motion of Moretz character set back to a strobe light. Absolutely brilliant!

Kick Ass is a great movie. It had some hardcore action, some great laughs, excellent talent and also looks at a the issue of social apathy that plagues our cities. It certainly is not okay to allow someone to be beaten or mugged, but how far are you willing to go to help your fellow man? Kick Ass is a highly irresponsible answer to that question, but is also a cool f'n movie!

7.5/10

stv

Diners, No-Looks and Crack Dens

Sorry for the lack of updates, I've been so busy with exams. It's not easy to cram an entire semesters worth of information into one week.

One lazy Sunday, Chloe and I decided that we wanted to go out and try eating somewhere new. As devout fans of the Food Network monstrosity, Diners, Drive-ins and Dives we thought it would be fun to check out the Galaxie Diner on 11th st. S.W. to fill our gluttonous appetites with artery clogging, ass fattening goodness.

Upon arrival to the small commercial block in Connaught Calgary, I became intrigued by what is in my opinion the ugliest building in Calgary. It was so awful that even crack heads would find it unsuitable to smoke crack in. What was this building prior to becoming such a public eyesore? The door looked so beaten, it seems like it had some sort of professional and romantic relationship with Ike Turner. Oddly enough, there was a door mat on the sidewalk. It may be hard to believe but squatters are incredibly polite individuals and they never enter a shit-hole without clearing their shoes of dirt, gravel and human feces. But the entire ugliness of this building truly makes it beautiful to look at.

After waiting outside the diner for what seemed like an hour, we finally got a table; a massive booth at the very back. I was seriously surprised when I got inside. Lets just say that it didn't have vaulted ceilings, a ballroom floor and Rembrandt paintings on the wall. Nope, this place was definitely a diner through and through. It had the required cheesey 50's interior, but it still managed to feel comfortable inside. The building has some serious character and I managed to pull myself away from my corn beef hash and vanilla shake to snap a no-look photo from the hip. I think the guy with the beard is either (a) recieving some bad news or (b) concentrating on not breaking wind in front of his alternative girlfriend.

So check out the Galaxie Diner. It's got good food. It's funky inside. And when you're done you don't need to use the restroom because that dumpy building is just a few meters away! And they say Calgary doesn't have culture!

stv

There's Something About the Look in Your Eyes

Something I noticed when the light was just right
It reminded me twice that I was alive
And it reminded me that you’re so worth the fight

My biggest fear will be the rescue of me
Strange how it turns out that way, yeah
Could you show me dear?
Something I've not seen.
Something infinitely interesting
Incubus - Echo

stv