Happy Christmas

The Okanogan is soo beautiful, and we got the chance to have a little look around on Saturday. We visited Mission Hill winery; it's like stepping into Italy... So incredible! Okanogan's also full of the nicest people. When we went there, we billeted with a family called the Kalesnikoffs. They were so incredibly gracious to have us. Their daughter Brittany Kalesnikoff played the Rockanogan too! We got to go see her, and she was great!

It was a really fun weekend on the whole... Couldn't have asked for anything more

Well, just got back from Ontario where I attended the Toronto International Film Festival! TIFF, if you will. Had so much fun let me tell ya. I first got to attend Norman Jewison's Annual Barbecue, held at the Canadian Film Center. What an incredible property, holy shiz! Unfortunately, it was pooourring rain during the barbecue... that didn't stop anybody though. Place was packed and there were just loads of umbrellas bobbing around. My sweet new moccasin boots got real muddy, but I suppose that's the price you pay!! I did an interview for the Canadian Film Center, wishing them a happy 20th birthday! Word on the street is that the interviews they took that day will be made into a video and shown in movie theaters... something like 7 millions people will see it! Pretty sweet, huh?

I next got to play at the Drake Hotel on Queen Street West. Closed reception for the Whistler Film Festival and The First Weekend Club... really fun party! The lounge was so packed it seemed folks had trouble moving around! I was behind my piano, luckily. Playing some tunes, as always!

The big thing of my Toronto trip though, was the fact that I was a part of the Canadian Music Cafe. What an opportunity! The Canadian Music Cafe showcases Canada's vibrant music scene to film and television industry leaders from around the world. The room was packed, and luckily I got to go first. Everyone was listening, one woman afterwards even said to me that "you could have heard a church mouse!". That made me smile I got a fistful of business cards from some great people. Who knows? Maybe something amazing will come of this trip!

On the Labour Day long weekend, me and my new friend Kaitie Sly travelled out to Powell River. Kaitie was playing bass for me on this gig and we had so much fun! It was a really magical festival... as if fairies and gnomes put it together! Really it was just hippies though...  and they were great. Gosh, even the food at the catering tent was incredible! As if someone had lovingly put together a meal for us So nice!
The crowd really seemed to enjoy what we were doing and listened to our entire 50 minute set. Seriously, that can be tough to ask for at an outdoor festival. Well it was an amazing location with the ocean at our backs and the forest all around. And the tunes coming from the other artists we got to hear were great too! Everyone was obviously having a lot of fun

Next day we moved to stay the weekend with Joanie and Pete, my aunt and uncle who live in Carefree. Great house in the desert. The sunset outlines the saguaro cactus sentry on the horizon. Stuff of postcards. I'll go back in a flash.

...Ali

there was a great looking couple at the Bistro who listened. They really listened... to all three sets... even when I sang a couple of my favorites twice. So I introduced myself at the end of the gig. It turns out that John and Janet had caught me on the Global morning show last week. thank you guys for driving all the way to Whistler to hear me. I'm sorry I didn't introduce myself to you earlier in the evening.

A big thanks from Ali to John and Janet...

I can't embed this into the post because of wordpress security issues so here you go.