Hello Fun, Hello Sun.

Once the degrees become two digit numbers, and we all tuck our mittens and coats away, we can rest assured that summer is coming by. Thankfully, the well loved season isn't some door-to-door salesman we quickly ignore. Summer is more like a pizza delivery man we embrace with open arms. Summer, we've been hungry for you.

Now, here we find ourselves at a delicious summer buffet. So many possibilities; can we even fit it all on one plate? For those already lathering on the sunscreen, waiting for the beach to warm up, here are my ideas as to what makes for an amusing, entertaining summer.

1.

The stunning, smart, sophisticated Jennifer Lindsay of Peacock Productions Inc. is making a directorial debut with the play Cowboy Mouth, written by Pulitzer Prize winner Sam Sheppard. It tells the story of the dysfuntional relationship between a deranged woman and an unstable, wannabe rockstar. There's a giant lobster involved in there somehow! So why not check it out and support local theatre. The three-day event at the Poor Alex Theatre generously offers live music too, including acclaimed (by bar goers in Brampton) band Big City Nights.

Tickets are $10 when purchased at La Casa del Habano at 141 Yorkville Ave. Tickets are $15 at the door.

2.

Running from now until August 30th at the recently renovated Art Gallery of Ontario is an exhibit of all things surreal. From fashion, film, photography, furniture there's plenty to explore when diving into the twisted relationship between surrealism and commercialism.

General admission is $18. For full-time students with i.d. it's only $10.

3.

Arguably the best thing out of Sweden since ABBA, Lykke Li will grace us fans with her music Sunday, August 9th at The Sound Academy.

It seems this beautiful nomad barely released her first studio album, Youth Novels, and this will be her second time performing in Toronto since the album dropped. In a recent half hour interview on Carson Daly, Lykke Li says "I just want my fans to have an open mind" in regards to the genre of music she makes. She's collaborated with rapper Kanye West on a N.A.S.A. track, she sang on electropop performer Kleerup's recent album and even got away with covering a grungy Kings of Leon tune and making it her own. Lykke Li proves so consistently that she can make a gem out of any kind of genre, and that is something very rare in music artists these days.

Tickets for the show are $26.50 at Rotate This (801 Queen St. West) or at ticketmaster.ca.

4.

Game. Set. Match. Summer's the best time to unleash your inner Andre Agassi and play some tennis. No, not on the wii, the REAL thing! One thing that makes tennis a fine sport is that it's something anyone can play independently (unless, of course, you're playing Doubles). No team of twelve required. Courts are usually free and available everyone in and around the city.

Granted, there's more than four ways to entertain yourself this summer season. But perhaps this list can be a stepping stone for some people, including hermits. Astronomically speaking, summer doesn't officially begin until June 21st, but go ahead, knock yourself out, have some premature fun.

Mercy Little Rocker

Again, I set my eyes on a certain prize but I fuck up and miss my chance. Ahh, to quote the greatest line of any Constantines song:

"went out chasing landmarks, fell asleep at the bar".

That really sums up my life right now, kudos to Bryan Webb.

I PROMISE A GREAT POST ABOUT THE BEST THINGS TO DO THIS SUMMER REAL SOON!!!!



For now, go listen to some Constantines. Any album. It's all good.

Natalia, You're Gonna Make It After All

Note to readers: I had ten too many Cosmopolitans and I am listening to the Mary Tyler Moore theme song on repeat as I am writing this. This just may be the only time anyone ever sees me this emotional, this vulnerable. Please don't judge!

Ah, it has come. I have [un]gracefully turned into a twenty-one year old. I’ve never been one for lavish celebrations. I don’t party on boats, I don’t trek it to Vegas and waste my money away, and I certainly don’t get spoiled like a sweet sixteen year old.

I’m a living, breathing, party for one. But God knows sometimes solitary celebrations can be lonesome. Due to the fact that my current path in life is a bumpy one, I originally intended to just stay home with a nice bottle of Merlot, stuff my face with macaroons and wait for no one to call and wish me a happy birthday.

Clearly, things aren’t going my way: I don’t have someone in my life to share experiences with, I can’t find a job, I didn’t end up with the highest marks I wanted and I didn’t win any Bruce Springsteen tickets to see him tonight – the one thing I wanted more than anything!!! But I can sit on my fat ass at home, alone, munching away at those macaroons and questioning my self worth or I can go out tonight and prove not only to the world, but to myself, that I am still fabulous even with a few minor flaws. I don’t need a boat or confetti or a hundred friends to buy me shots, I just need myself. So, with that said, I’ll be out tonight buying myself some pretty flowers and delicious drinks because I don’t need someone else to do that for me. I will toast myself and take myself home when the sun goes down.

Birthdays aren’t about how wild the parties are, but how you truly feel about yourself deep inside. I want to turn twenty-one feeling as optimistic as ever, knowing that my silver lining isn’t all that far away. Like Kathleen Edwards sings to me so sweetly through my headphones... “don’t get down, good things come when you stop waiting around”....Happy Birthday to me!