Old Town School – On The Road

Dispatches from the road from our wayfaring travelers.

Théâtre Petit Champlain

After walking down about 200 stairs from Vieux-Québec (Old Quebec) to the Quartier Petit Champlain, Jimmy and I had our first meeting of the day with the folks from the Théâtre Petit Champlain. The hall is the oldest concert hall in Canada where they present music in the fall and winter and plays in the summer (no one wants to present music in the summer here because the city has so much free music in the summer, no one can compete). The new mayor of Québec wants Québec to be a center for emerging artists and, as a result, the Petit Champlain has an artist in residence program that takes on 3 emerging artist per year. Their regular concert series consists mostly of canadian popular musicians and world music (Beausoleil played there earlier this year).

« Read more »

Filed under: Canada,Notes from Cat,Quebec by Cat | July 18, 2009 | Comments (0)

Airplanes and congestion don’t mix, but good crêpes fix anything

Armed with nasal spray, sudafed, ear plugs and some curious instant Chinese tea Jimmy gave me, I got on board the airplane to Quebec City this morning. Upon our arrival (and after ditching the trail mix we weren’t allowed to bring into the country), we were met by Catherine Lebonté who is the International Relations Consultant for the Mayor’s Office of Quebec City. She got us settled into our rooms at the Hotel Clarendon and then left us to fend for ourselves until we meet with her again tomorrow morning.

My ears still throbbing from the descent, Jimmy and I set out in search of food. We found a crêperie in old town that served the most delicious crêpes – so good that it popped the pain right out of my ears (or maybe it was all the contented chewing…hmm).

So, I’m turning in for the night. Tomorrow, Jimmy and I meet with the Program Director for the Théâtre le Petit Champlain, the Director of the Quebec International Folk Music Festival, the Executive Director of the Société du Palais Montcalm as well as a bunch of folks from the Department of Cultural Affairs. Ce n’est pal mal pour une journée du travail.

A la prochaine.

Filed under: Canada,Notes from Cat,Quebec by Cat | July 16, 2009 | Comments (0)