Apple in Your Eye

According to a CBC News item, the U.S. Treasury Department reported that Washington now has a total operating balance of only US$73.768-billion. Compare that to Apple's current cash reserve of US$75.876-billion. What's wrong with this picture? .......... Apple has more cash than Uncle Sam

For the first time, I'm participating in James' "Weekend Reflections". Hope this works!
CLICK HERE TO VIEW OTHER WEEKEND REFLECTIONS.


NOTE
I will be taking a leave of absence for a short while. However, I do intend to drop by and post comments on your blogs from time to time. I've met some really nice folks in the CDP community and have had lots of fun. I know I will miss you all. Good-bye for now, and keep on blogging! :-)

Big Beautiful Cottonwood

 If only this tree could talk, oh what stories it could tell.

Christ Church Cathedral - Montreal

Christ Church Cathedral is an Anglican Gothic Revival cathedral.
Address: 635 Saint Catherine Street West, downtown Montreal.

Originally built in 1859, the Christ Church Cathedral was the first church in Montreal to re-invent itself to fit into its modern day setting. In the 1980s, a huge real estate project was undertaken: an underground parking and a shopping mall that would house two levels of shops underneath the cathedral. In addition to that, a 34 floor skyscraper was to be built just north of the church, as part of the complex. Throughout the duration of the construction, the Cathedral had to be supported on stilts. We, Montrealers used to refer to it as the "Cathedral on stilts". Completed the same year, the Promenade de la Cathedrale was opened to the public... a four-level project that connected the mall under the church to Montreal's "Underground City".

Boutiques: Aldo, Tristan, RW & Co, Urban Planet, Dynamite, FootLocker, Laura, Limite and Linen Chest, Sirens and more...

Atwater Market: Color Therapy

Often referred to as the biggest garden in town, the Atwater Market is a farmer's market located near the Lachine Canal. Come summer, its parking lot is transformed into a gigantic greenhouse. There are over 18 vendors of exotic flowers and plants, and a dozen or so vendors of fresh fruits and vegetables. As you can see, it's a feast for the eyes. With our long and cold winter behind us, Montrealers revel in the much needed splash of glorious colors.

French Fashion: World of Jean Paul Gaultier

To coincide with the much anticipated opening of the "The Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier: From the Sidewalk to the Catwalk" at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, retailers such as The Bay, has joined in the promotion of the event by installing banners all around the store's perimeter to promote one of the fashion designer's fragrances. Holt Renfrew, another department store, sponsored a meet and greet that included an exclusive autograph signing session with Gaulthier! Now, that could have been great fun!

In case you didn't know, Jean Paul Gaulthier is the renown Parisian fashion designer, nicknamed "l'enfant terrible", who designed Madonna's cone shape brassiere top for her "Blond Ambition" tour in 1990. Simply put, Gaulthier is a huge talent and it's an honour to have him here in Montreal.

Btw, the Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier runs from June 17 to Oct. 2, 2011 at the Michal and Renata Hornstein Pavilion of the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, 1379 Sherbrooke St. West, Montreal.

Montreal's Japanese Garden

The serene Japanese Garden in Montreal stretches over 2.5 hectares and incorporates the traditional elements of stone, water and plants.  Designed by Ken Nakajima and opened in 1989, it is a typical stroll garden, inviting visitors to embark on a journey of contemplation, past stones set carefully to suggest mountains and valleys; around ponds and along streams that reflect the sky and clouds overhead; over arched or zigzag bridges; and through simple gardens featuring Japanese tree peonies, maples, irises and other plants. (Source)

McGill University Retirement

It was an evening of fun. I attended a retirement party for a loved one after 39 years of dedicated service at McGill University. The air was electric and spirits were high. All in all, this is one fine group of friends and colleagues saying so long and thank you. Happy trails, my love.

My Fave: The Nagoya Sushi

The Nagoya Sushi is my preferred shop in Westmount for sushi pick up or for a casual supper outdoors in the summer. The staff is courteous and friendly, the food is extremely fresh and everything is made to order. In my humble opinion, there's no other restaurant in town that serves a better Tofu salad than this place ! Hmm, hmm, hmm.

Montreal Moose Sculpture on Sherbrooke Street

Montreal is promoting its museum district with a fun campaign called Project Orign’Art. This is a showcase of colorful two dimensional moose sculptures, placed all along Sherbrooke Street, with quotes from famous artists in French on one side and English on the other. I think this is a great concept: they're eye-catching and cheerful, fun to look at and shows how art can be a part of everyday life.

Les FrancoFolies de Montreal 2011

Les FrancoFolies de Montreal is the biggest music festival in the French speaking world. This mega event is celebrating 23 years and it runs from June 9 to June 18. What's great about this event is that there are many free outdoor concerts and it's a perfect occasion to meet up with friends for a fun time. This past weekend I decided to check out the "Quartier des Spectacles" and snoop around with my camera hoping to get some interesting shots of the preparations involved in setting up an event of this size. As expected, there were workmen busying away and plenty of security personnel everywhere. (Hint: some very expensive sound equipment on site, etc.) I wasn't all that comfortable about hanging around and taking photos but I did manage to snap a few shots.

This is the section that is called: L'Espace Ford: main stage.

Also the L'Espace Ford. Note the stylish overhead spotlights!

This is the section that is called: L'Espace Vert Desjardins.

Also the L'Espace Vert Desjardins: overlooking Complexe Desjardins and the Hyatt Hotel.

I am including a site map of the event, just in case you're coming... Maybe I'll see you there ?

Société de Transport de Montréal (STM)

The Campaign: Every Passenger Counts for the Planet!
The Message: Public transit is good for our planet. Taking the bus and métro makes a real difference for the environment!

"Each individual action, each of your trips, counts. All these actions combined become the drivers of a ‘society in motion’. Did you know that by taking a return trip on public transit rather than by car, you are making a move that has a strong ecological impact? In fact, this simple action has the same benefit as planting a tree. Now imagine thousands of passengers just like you… acting together for an even greener city." ***** text source: STM *****

It's a very ambitious campaign but I think it's achievable.
At least, we have to try.