Amanda Davids & The Quantum Loop

  Thanks to the good folks at Stonehammer Breweries, 3030 is proud to present the #StoneHammerSessions each month.

  How often do you get to hear a gal with a three and a half octave voice who also plays the hammond, and an eight string guitarist on the same stage?  Probably not that often, unless you're hip to Amanda Davids & The Quantum Loop.  So come down to 3030, and get hip.

DJ Justin Rutledge

  Longtime Junctionite, and brilliant songwriter Justin Rutledge will be bringing in a grate or two of awesome vinyl from his record collection.  Also, you should go out to your favourite local music store and buy his album.  It's quite good.

OH16 Soul Presents...

   On the first friday of every month, DJ OH16 hits the decks, spinning an all vinyl set of some of the best soul (both new and old) that is sure to get the dance floor up and bumpin.  Thanks to the good folks at Amsterdam Brewery, we're able to keep the cover low, and pints of Amsterdam very reasonably priced.  It's party music, but it's also smart music, where you can expect to hear some vintage Sam & Dave, Temptations, Al Green, Marvin Gaye and James Brown, along with slightly more rare tracks from cats like King Floyd and Kool & Together.  You can also expect to hear some newer wax getting spun by folks like Sharon Jones, Menahan St. Band and Black Joe Lewis.  Bring your dancing shoes, and expect a killer night of some of the best soul music you'll ever hear.  But wait...

The Hornettes

"The Hornettes are Ottawa's hottest soul, funk and R&B act, lauded as a favourite new band of 2012 at the venerable Blacksheep Inn in Wakefield, QC. Gaining a dedicated following with their high-energy tribute to classic Motown, deep soul and funk and up-beat original material, every show is an event not to be missed!" - CouchAssassin.com

Sir. John A.  Badass PM who liked to drink, and so should you! (no bar fights @3030Trivia please!)

SOME QUESTIONS FROM LAST WEEK:

Question #1: What actress was nominated for a record 10 Golden Globes and 12 Emmys for her work on a TV show that aired from 1984 to 1996?  The TV show saw the (fictional) deaths of around 300 people.

Question #2: What book, conceptualized during an argument, claims to hold the record for the most-stolen US Public Library book?

Question #3: Between 1867 and 1894, all the Prime Ministers of Canada -- except for one -- had the first name John. What was the first name of that other Prime Minister who served from 1873 to 1878?

*******************

Here's a fun factoid for you: 

The word trivia comes from the Latin for 'three roads', originally referring to grammar, logic and rhetoric - the building blocks of a basic Liberal Arts education.  

If delicious tidbits of knowledge like this spark a nerdy fuse in that powerful mind of yours (and if you've been meaning finally put that Liberal Arts education to good use), you'll want to come down on Wednesdays to be a part of 3030trivia: The Smartest Night in the Junction, hosted by our crafty quizmasters Anthony and Leila and sponsored by the brew mavens over at Junction Craft Brewing. 

Each week, our back room is packed with teams vying for intellectual supremacy on topics ranging from Aardvarks to Zoolander and anything in between.  It's fun, it's friendly, it's a trivia free-for-all.  Best of all?  It's free for all!  And there are PRIZES!  All you have to do is bring a team of four, a hunger for knowledge and a thirst for fine craft beer.  A pen is pretty handy too.

Starts at 8, but come early for a table.

Last week saw great performances by Joey Triviani, James Van Der Beek, and The Ian Flemmings but the prizes and glory went to Trivial Pantsuit who managed an incredible 58/60.  With only four weeks to go in this short springtime season, can anyone wrinkle the Pantsuit's winning streak?

Here's where the teams stand, and here are the answers to the questions above: ANGELA LANSBURY, THE GUINNESS BOOK OF WORLD RECORDS, and ALEXANDER (MACKENZIE):

SEASON THREE STANDINGS, WEEK TWO (top 13):

1 Trivial Pantsuit 112

2 James Van Der Beek 102

3 Joey Triviani 100

4 Keep Calm and Trivi-On 95

4 The Ian Flemings 95

6 Something Clever 94

7 Toronto Maple Qs 91

8 Come Back to Bed, Honeys 84

9 We're More 'Street Smart' 83

10 I've Got Mayan You 77

11 Canning Linguini 73

12 40 oz. to Freedom 72

13 Who is...Alex Trebek? 71

We Made It!

  I remember the first time I walked into 3030, back in November of 2011.  It didn't really look like much of anything, and when I look back at the pictures that I took during those first few days, it's hard to believe sometimes that I'm looking at the same place.

  Knowing full well, that Restaurants have exceptionally high failure rates, it's no small accomplishment that we've made it through a year, but the truth is that none of us at 3030 can take the credit, as without the incredible support that we've gotten from the neighbourhood, and our community, this would have never happened.

  On behalf of all of us at 3030, thank you very much for giving us an incredible first year.  It's been a blast.

What's Happening This Week?

  We should be back to a more normal 'On Tap' feature next week, as things have been a bit rushed with a full slate of programming this week.  Here's what we've got for you!

Thursday - Celebrate our One Year Anniversary With Us

Thanks to the awesome folks at Junction Craft Brewing, who have been with us since the start, we'll be bringing back the first guy to ever play 3030, along with local favourites Young Running.  Check out all the awesome details here!

Friday - It's a Rockabilly Shake-Up!

Rockhouse T.O. and Mill St. Brewing team up to bring you an awesome evening of rockabilly music.  Find out why this is the hottest rockabilly night in the city.  Details are here.

Saturday - Samantha Martin & The Haggard

Finally, we've got another great free show on Saturday night with Junction gal Samantha Martin coming back to the 'hood with her band The Haggard, all thanks to Double Trouble Brewing Company.

Jessica Blake

Advance Tickets Click Here.

"In a time when most vocalists hide behind catchy lyrics and sounds, Jessica Blake is a breath of fresh air - an exceptional singer-songwriter who willingly opens her heart and bares her soul. Jessica’s captivating lyrics tell tales of truth and beauty, travel and discovery, and her spiritual journey to find love and God. Her songwriting style proves to evoke thought and discussion while providing edifying content in an innocent yet forthright way. 

Jessica Blake has honed her songwriting and performing over many years in a variety of settings; in bars, pubs, restaurants, music festivals, fundraisers, and corporate events. Travelling and experiencing the world has given her much inspiration. Born in London, Ontario but now residing in Toronto she has graced the stages at many Toronto establishments; the Horseshoe, the El Mocambo, Gladstone and Drake hotels, Free Times Café, The Central, Supermarket, and the Lula Lounge. She was recently a featured artist at the Roy Thomson Hall’s Brewer’s Plate Festival, the Roncy Rocks outdoor music festival, C’est What, and at Toronto’s prestigious TIFF Lightbox venue. 

While Jessica may draw inspiration from female Canadian icons such as Sarah McLachlan and Jann Arden, her own sound casts a wide net to encompass acoustic pop, folk, gospel, rock n’ roll, and even a touch of jazz. She features many talented and well known Canadian artists on her EP and full length album including the well known Maury LaFoy (Sarah Harmer, Jann Arden, k-os, Kathleen Edwards), Lyle Molzan (Jann Arden, Sarah Slean, Kathleen Edwards, Emm Gryner) , Joan Besen (Prairie Oyster), David Celia, and vocalists such as Michelle Willis (Three Metre Day), and Julian Taylor. 

It would appear that Jessica has just begun to see the fruits of her labour by winning both the 2006 and 2012 Professional Demo Factor Grant Awards and having “Something to Live For” (a song she co-wrote with Julian Taylor) appear on the popular TV show Degrassi: The Next Generation. Jessica has similar plans for many of the songs on her forthcoming EP and full length album which are beautifully produced nuggets of radio-friendly song craft."

Via JessicaBlakeMusic.com

101 Markets

  "101 Markets is bringing their unique blend vintage and artisanal goods to the Junction! With the aim of providing an experience beyond the typical pop-up shop, these markets bring together vendors of varied backgrounds and products.

  This includes an impressive array of vintage finds from independent and popular dealers, contemporary Canadian designers and a selection of artisanal jewelry and goods. If you are looking for items that are unique, locally sourced and locally produced, than look no further! Brought to you by 101 Markets in conjunction with 3030 Dundas West, the great new Junction bar and cultural space.

  3030 Dundas offers a fantastic weekend brunch and several Ontario beers on tap and will be serving for the duration of the event. This new monthly market will provide the chance to have drinks while you shop or brunch while you browse. So, come join us for a gnosh, a drink and some of the best vintage and artisanal goods in town."

- thegridto.com

Some questions from last week:

Question #1 - According to Gallup, which woman has been the most admired woman in the United States for each year since 1993, with the exception of 1995, 1996, and 2001? The most admired woman in 1995 and 1996 was Mother Teresa. In 2001 it was Laura Bush.

Question #2 - Fight Club is ranked as the 10th best movie of all time on IMDB. It is also the fourth best movie of the 1990s in that same list. Name any one of the three movies from the 1990s that are ranked higher than Fight Club on IMDB’s Top 250 movies list.

Question #3 - What perennial plant - technically a vegetable but commonly considered a fruit - has edible, extremely tart leaf stalks, but its large leaves contain toxic levels of oxalic acid?

*********

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but if your idea of beauty includes 60 brain-challenging questions, a fun crowd, refreshing prizes from Junction Craft Brewing and $5 plates of deliciousness, then yeah - we've got a pretty beautiful thing going on every Wednesday with 3030trivia.  It's free.  It's fun.  It's teams of four.  It's starting at 8.  It's a good idea to come early.

Last Wednesday was our Season Three Premiere, and it pretty much picked up where Season Two left off - in a tense battle for supremacy.  There was an unprecedented 5-way tie for first place at half time, but in the end Curry Herring & Latkes won the night.  It'll be an interesting season - right behind them are James Van Der Beek (formerly John Stamos), Trivial Pantsuit (formerly Smother Teresa), Keep Calm and Trivi-On (formerly Cleofactra A) and Joey Triviani (formerly Jollillity, Season Two Champs).

Good luck to all in the new season!

Here are the answers to last week's questions: HILLARY CLINTON, PULP FICTION or SCHINDLER'S LIST or SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION, RHUBARB.

1    Curry Herring & Latkes    55

2    James Van Der Beek    54

2    Trivial Pantsuit    54

4    Keep Calm and Trivi-On    51

4    Joey Triviani    51

6    Something Someone Else Said    49

7    My Brother's Best Friend    47

8    Go Leafs Go!    45

9    Toronto Maple Queefs    43

10    We're More 'Street Smart'    39

11    I've Got Mayan You    38

11    Hot Pink Banana Hammocks    38

13    Cunning Linguists    37

14    The Facts Machine    36

14    40 oz. to Freedom    36

16    Come Back to Bed, Honeys    36

17    Dirty Minds    34

18    Bettys and Veronicas    32

19    Who is...Alex Trebek?    27

Really?  It's been one year already?

  I've been avoiding writing this post for the past week.  It's not for a lack of things to say, memories to share or stories to tell, but because I'm worried that if I start, I'm not sure where or when it will end.

  As the guy who books the bands, takes care of the tech and sound, updates the website and even puts up the posters for most of the shows, this place, and this project has been a huge and integral part of my life for the past year and a half.

  But this isn't my story, this is Jeff's story, and Adisa's story, Josh and Stel's as well as James and Tina's.  It's not just our story though, it's our neighbourhoods story.  I really believe that this place is special, and I'm so damn proud to have been a part of it.

  Maybe that's the problem, and why I'm not sure what to write, it just isn't my story or narrative, it's yours.  So let's get together on May 9th, and have a pint or two while looking back on our first year, and looking forward to a great second year.  It will be the last night I wear the Orange Hat, before it becomes officially retired, so feel free to come up and tell me a story or two about this place.

Bradley Boy MacArthur

  Bradley Boy MacArthur was the first person to ever play 3030.  I remember being so nervous before the show, hiding in the soundbooth and praying that folks were going to come out, and also praying that the audio system, which I'd hooked up only a few days before, and not fully tested would be up the challenge.  By the third song of his set, I had his kick drum sounding like the fist of god, a pretty full house and a kick-ass show going down.  It just feels right having him back, and if you haven't seen him live, well you're in for quite the treat.  For those who like their blues extra greasy, he's your man.

Young Running

  If I was going to pick one band, that represents us, our neighbourhood and frankly one of the bands that I'm the most proud to tell people about, it's Young Running.  We're lucky to see these guys pretty much every day, and I can't personally say enough great things about their music.  Give them a listen, and see them at 3030 before they outgrow us and move to Rosedale.

Jim Guthrie

I've been wracking my brain trying to figure out what to say about Jim Guthrie, so I'll keep it short and sweet.  Jim's one of the most brilliantly creative folks you'll ever come across.  Don't believe me?  Come out on Tuesday and be proven wrong.

He's also probably most famous for writing a super catchy ditty that was featured in an advertising campaign six years ago and got stuck in everyone's head.  The whole song is also very much worth listening, and I feel guilty even including this in the post.

On top of some very cool solo work, he's also been a member of Royal City, Islands and Human Highway.

This will be his first solo album in ten years, so come on down, give it a listen with him and raise a glass.

Oh, and you can even stream the whole album right now over at Exclaim!  Pretty cool eh?