Category: Museums

October 30 . Issue #62

Post author By Paul Yanuziello
Post date October 30, 2020

Bobcat

One night long ago, in Ohio, a bobcat leaped like a quick clawed whirlwind of light from the pines beside the road and our hearts thudded and stopped –
those lightning eyes! that dappled jaw! those plush paws!

Mary Oliver (1935 – 2019)

In this weeks newsletter, a children’s book festival, tree museum’s, bullfighting and more…

My Weekly Journal

A weekly newsletter that gives you 5 personal interests that I share with you.

1. An invisibility cloak, that is what interested me this week. I came across one in the forest of The Tree Museum last year. So cool. Pictured below is an invisible outhouse located in the forest. Can you see it?

2. The inspiration for my interest, the 12th Annual – Telling Tales Festival. A literary festival for children and a great discussion on invisibility cloaks.

3. My viewing pleasure this week, choreography, dance and movement. Netflix original documentary, Move.

4. Karate – one of my passions. I have been training in karate for many years. And since August I have been leading a group in outdoor martial arts training. The cold temperature is coming and soon training will have to be done at home. For my students, I recommend Karate at Home with Shinji Akita. Sensei has compiled 32 video’s to keep you inspired and training with his qualified guidance.

5. My reading this week has taken me back (1949) to a book, a favourite of my mothers, The Brave Bulls, by Tom Lea. This is a first edition copy, not signed. My mother studied Mexican folk dance and culture.

I visited Mexico with my parents when I was a teen. Climbing the pyramids, exploring the jungle ruins and loving the beaches. Great fun, an incredible experience. I attended a concert, the Ray Charles band at an intimate, swanky club in the Zona Rosa, Mexico City. After the show, I hung with the guys in the band at a small cafè.

I went to the bullfights and I spoke to the young rock star bull-fighters.

I drove from Mexico City to Isla Mujeres, Quintana Roo, about 1,600 thrilling kilometres. Have you ever been pursued by the Mexican military? My father didn’t like the idea of trying to outrun them. We pulled over. “Tourista,” they said.

They waved us on our way. Mexico at that time, 1974, took care of their tourist’s. Tourist dollars were number one.

Thanks for reading, if you think someone you know would like my newsletter please share it with them. If you’re looking for a great children’s book, check out my book, Samba on a Snowy Day. Available online at all Chapters-Indigo stores and in selected stores, Markham, Richmond Hill and Newmarket.

Please consider a contribution to our next book project; scheduled for release February of 2021. You can contribute by buying me a coffee, just swing by Ko-fi.com. You know I appreciate my coffee and in these crazy times every coffee really helps out.

Check out my weekly journal, follow the link to subscribe. Get the weekly happenings in your inbox, no spam I promise.

Tags karate, Martial Arts, Mary Oliver, Mexico, Ray Charles, Telling Tales Festival, Tom Lea

Museums Music Nature

Newsletter 44

Newsletter 44

“In all things of nature, there is something of the marvellous.”

(Aristotle 385-323 BC)

Hello all. Wishing you a warm welcome. This week I celebrate my Italian heritage. I contemplate Norse gods and think about giving back to the community. I share with you 5 things that I found of interest and I hope will be of interest to you too.

1. June is Italian Heritage Month and I took in some of the virtual events that celebrate my Italian Heritage. The first event that completely captivated my attention, Wishing You Were Here. Followed by Enchanted Museums and then My Secret Venice. The Istituto Italiano di Cultura hosted a series of virtual concerts entitled, “So Long Toronto,” I really enjoyed the one with Claudio Jr. de Rosa (Sax.) and Vivienne ChuLiao (Piano).

Italy

With all these virtual events celebrating Italian culture it brought back memories of my visits to Italy. A very special Valentine’s celebration was spent in Taormina, Sicily. I wrote about it and share with you that special weekend.

2. I have started studying the Scandinavian gods, The Heroes of Asgard, Tales From Scandinavian Mythology by A.Keary and E. Keary. And in my curiosity as to how you incorporate Norse legends into modern storytelling I delve into Joanne M. Harris’s book, The Gospel of Loki.

3. This week I have been listening to everything Nina Simone, The Diva Series, a CD that I keep coming back to. What a story, what an amazing musician, what a life.

An organization that I support and appreciate JPEC, recently released a quarantine concert featuring some great musicians, Eddie Bullen with Joaquin Hidalgo and Andrew Stewart.

4. Listening to a podcast while working on my writing, Broken Record with Esperanza Spalding, a multi Grammy winning artist, bassist, singer and composer. Inspirational! There is one for every day of the week if you’re so inclined. Some are even hosted by Malcolm Gladwell.

5. Poetry, prose and lyrics; many years ago I was encouraged to write lyrics; I tried. Names like, The Shining Star, Making Make Believe and Big City. Some of the material written by me or co-written with my friend Ed McDonald.

Thanks for reading, if you think someone you know would like my newsletter please share it with them. If you’re looking for a great children’s book, check out my book, Samba on a Snowy Day.

Please consider a contribution to our next book project by buying me a coffee, swing by Ko-fi.com. Every coffee really helps out during these social distancing times.

Check out my blog, follow the link, sign in. Get the weekly newsletter in your inbox, no spam I promise.

Tags Italian Heritage Month, Lyrics, Prose, Scandinavian Mythology

Museums Reading

Newsletter 33

Newsletter 33

Hello all and welcome to another week. I hope you have been taking advantage of any spare time you might have to take in the beauty that surrounds you — Nature. Things in my part of the world are starting to bloom, the featured photo is a flower in my garden, a Daffodil. This week I explore museums, books, music and some things to keep the kids busy with.

“If you truly love Nature, you will find beauty everywhere.” Vincent van Gogh

Vincent van Gogh (1853 – 1890) was a post-Impressionist painter whose work — notable for its beauty, emotion and colour — highly influenced 20th century art. He struggled with mental illness and remained poor and virtually unknown throughout his life.

The painting featured: Flowering plum orchard: after Hiroshige

Vincent van Gogh (October 1887 – November 1887)

1.Museums of the world are united in allowing the public to virtually come in and browse. I have been loitering at the Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam. The museum with the largest collection of paintings by the master, Vincent van Gogh.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York opened their doors to self isolating folks. One of my favourite museums, they have one of the best Japanese samurai sword exhibits in North America. They are also offering ten free art books, I am an admirer of Japanese Netsuke and Inro.

Something for the kids too Metkids with Easter just around the corner, how about colouring an easter rabbit. Or maybe an easter egg hunt. A great pass-time for the kids if you have any eggs on hand. Easter egg designs, hard boil the eggs, about 10 minutes, let them cool, get a pencil make a design and paint the eggs or use coloured markers. Make sure to use food grade colouring if your going to eat the eggs.

2.Sound adventures I have been listening to include Canadian bassist, band leader, composer and producer, Roberto Occhipinti. A Bend In The River, is his a 2009 release that features the talents of pianist David Virelles, Alto Saxophonist Luis Deniz and drummer/composer Dafnis Prieto.

3.My love of water has taken me to some interesting places and fostered a love of sharks. Ripley’s Aquarium in Toronto is inviting everybody to virtually visit but watch out for the sharks.

4.This week I finished reading The Right Attitude to Rain which is the third of the Sunday Philosophy Club series of novels by Alexander McCall Smith, set in Edinburgh, Scotland. McCall Smith has me interested in Scotland and I am presently reading all about its fascinating history, The Story of Scotland by Nigel Tranter (1909 – 2000).

Another book that I keep coming back to is karate-dô, Perfecting Kumite by Masahiko Tanaka. Tanaka sensei was a champion fighter and he provides the secrets to his success in this fantastic resource. A video, Tanaka, The Champion, went along with the book and has been uploaded to youtube. The quality, while not that good, provides for some different ways to train, there are some great techniques to study here.

5.My book Samba on a Snowy Day is available as part of a promotion Stay At Home Togeather. A group of best selling children’s book authors helping out during this global pandemic by sharing some books. Have a look, most of the books are free and there are some great books on offer.

Samba in Brazil

This week I completed draft three of my manuscript for my next book, Samba in Brazil. My team of trusted advisors have reviewed it and want me to make some changes. Have you heard of Ko-fi? A friend of mine recommended it to me, I check it out and decided I would join up. So I have set up a page and now if you would like to buy me a coffee you can do so at Ko-fi.You can also read the first page of my new book there.

We will get through this together, remember to stay home if you aren’t a front line worker. Stay safe, wash your hands and continue to practice physical distancing.

Love and Light

Thanks for reading, if you think someone you know would like my newsletter please share it with them. If you’re looking for a great children’s book, Samba on a Snowy Day is available at Amazon.ca. Check out my blog, follow the link, sign in. Get the weekly newsletter in your inbox, no spam I promise.

Tags Alexander McCall Smith, Dafnis Prieto., David Virelles, Luis Deniz, Masahiko Tanaka, Nigel Tranter, Roberto Occhipinti, Vincent van Gogh