Episode 15: Underground Cool
After posting weekly on Youtube for about six months, I felt like the channel needed some inspiration. Something new, something different.
In order to tap into my inner artist, I picked up the popular book The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron. In it, the author recommends taking time out of your day to tap into your own creativity, be it through journalling or through taking yourself on an “Artist Date”.
An Artist Date is basically a solo date (you’re not allowed to take anyone with you) where the only goal is to inspire yourself through spending some time alone doing an activity you enjoy. It can be as simple as a walk in the park, it can be something cliché and artsy like a visit to the museum, or it can be something more thought-out like a short trip or starting some kind of weekly class. Either way, it should be inspiring and mean something to you.
Once I read all of the requirements, I knew right away where my artist’s date would be:
The Poetry Jazz Café in Toronto!
Poetry, as it’s affectionately known, is a hangout where creative types of all kinds, and of all walks of life, go to create freely every week. There are jazz musicians most nights, but depending on when you are there, you might find play readings with actors, stand-up comedy, spoken word poets, or electronic DJs. I’ve been many times and especially on Fridays and Saturdays, it’s a magic place because music and art are being created on the spot. It’s the kind of place where art feels tangible and special, like it’s in the air.
The owner Sean has become a friend of mine over time, and the story behind the bar is inspiring in itself. A former investment banker, Sean started Poetry as it had always been his dream to have a place like this where artists could come together over some real jazz.
The walls of the Poetry Jazz Café are lined with inspiring artist posters, there are bookshelves stocked with classic novels inside, and there’s always a movie or interviews playing on the screens. Actually, it’s always the same movie, an animated movie called Chico and Rita. I’ve asked Sean why that movie is always on repeat but he won’t tell me.
I guess it adds to the mystery.
The Poetry Jazz Café has opened its new location around Ossington and Queen not long ago. The Ossington strip is a popular area to go out in when the weather warms up, and I highly recommend stopping by Poetry for a drink if you’re in the area or looking for inspiration!
Did you know about the Poetry Jazz Café? Have you been?
I’d love to know! Let me know in the video comments and be sure to subscribe to the channel and my newsletter below so you never miss a video!
