Manic

Manic Coffee – 426 College St. Toronto

I’m not the best person to judge a cup of coffee, and several good friends helped get this place up and running, so take my endorsement with a grain of salt. Though I will say that it’s the only coffee in the city that I can drink black without running to the bathroom with emergency room urgency. They serve coffee that pays the little guys way better than fair trade, they are passionate and seem to make great coffee without forcing you through the otiose formality of ordering your coffee in a different language.

I Highly suggest anything from the Clover machine or, if you’re into milk the Quartado (pictured above) is definitely a must try. They are open really early to really late, so (to appropriate someone elses writing):  No More Bad Coffee

oh, and while on the topic, read this: <clicker>

From Bushman to Businessman.

Yesterday I got my haircut for the first time in what must feel like forever for Brandy. It’s been about 3 months I think… possibly longer. It’s definitely a bad habit of mine to let my hair get to the point where strangers actually say stuff behind my back while they think I’m listening to my ipod. Haircuts are old news, nothing special about that, BUT, if you are a guy and live anywhere near Roncesvalles and Queen and are in need of coup-ing your cheveaux I suggest you go talk to Luigi DiMarco over at Luigi Barber Shop.

For $22 dollars you get to feel like you just crossed the ocean on a steamship to the old world where Luigi compliments your hair, gives you a little neck and scalp massage, and tells you how “asharpa y’look when Ima done wit chou” while smoking a hand rolled cigrot. An hour later you’ve been shaped up, shaved down (straightrazor’s are scary), and massaged to a sleepy mess. He’ll also regale you with 55 years of hairdressing history, 20 in Italy and 35 right in that shop in Parkdale, that’s right… he’s over 70 and still has the steadiest hand I’ve ever seen.

He loves Sri Lankan’s too, so he can’t be all bad. Viva Luigi!

Extra Baggage.

Normally anything we write on this blog is basically useless, and while this might not prove to be a departure, the least I can do if I buy something new is to let you know if it’s worth it. This weekend while building up Nick’s new ride, I decided to buy a messenger bag. I’m not a messenger, and so I don’t really need a messenger bag but I do need something to put a few things in. Enter the Timbuk2 Toeclip Bag which is a part of their new singlespeed line and admittedly (click the link) a foray into the fashion market.

I said it earlier – I’m no courier, so here’s my take on the bag I bought from the first couple days.

The toeclip is one of the smaller bags in the line with 2 larger sizes that come after it. I don’t need a huge bag, just something that comfortably fits a few things that can be accessed easily. I’m not all that interested in carrying home a 12 of pbr on my back, and if I wanted to with this bag I would be fucked (it will fit 2 40’s however). It fits a 15 inch powerbook perfectly, though you’d be hard pressed to get much else inside, keys maybe your ipod and if you have anything heftier than a medium sized p&s camera = no dice. Leave the computer at home and you have room for a pair of shoes, maybe some lunch and a camera. It’s a smallish bag, what more can I say?

I guess I should mention that it does have 2 external pockets that are expandable to a certain extent, perfect size for a pocket lock or a notebook (there’s a moleskine in one of the pics for reference) and the inside of one has a nice little pen holder. Other nice touches include a key strap with a decent metal clasp on it. There are “graphic elements” on the inside of the bag which are completely useless, tacky and no doubt there as part of the fashion marketing, oh well.

The ipod holder is decent and lined with a fleecy soft liner (as is another pocket which holds my cell phone) and the cable route is made of innertube rubber, if it’s not I’d like to think that they were smart enough to come up with it (free ideas!).

My one gripe about the toeclip bag is the straps, they’re leather and really built well, but they are about as frustrating as actual toeclip straps, great once you have them where you want them but don’t bother trying to use them frequently. Luckily Timbuk2 included some really responsive snaps, they pull off super easy at a certain angle but are completely secure otherwise.

The construction throughout seems pretty solid, the shoulder strap adjuster is easy to use and stays locked up quite nicely. I found this one at Cycletherapy for $99, They have a larger one there for $150 which is probably more suited towards the serious courier-poser who actually does need the option of carrying around a 12 of pbr. All in all I’m pretty stoked on my new man purse.

Elly’s claimed it, so it can’t be all that bad. I’ll update this down the road to let you know how it holds up.

- b

Edits – August  16th -

After having the bag for over a month and using it daily, I would almost definitely recommend the larger size bag for anyone who’s going to be using it regularly while riding. I do find the bag hard to fit all of the essentials into (extra tire and tubes, basic tools, water, lock, phone, notebook… you get the idea) I’m going to be upgrading size-wise to something else, and I may just try another brand.

The bag has held up terrifically though, stitches are all in tact, no weird stretching or discolouring, and it is waterproofed very well. One gripe I have about design is that I wish the ipod holder/cable port was on the other side of the bag, or better yet have one on both sides. If you ride with the strap over your left shoulder it’s a bit awkward to use headphones.

I’ll do another update in 6 months if I’m still using it.

- b