Escape from the on-going organizational purge

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Feast or Famine at Home and on College Street

March 15, 2010

Giancarlo's Wine Bar
593 College Street
Phone: 416-533-9619

Last weekend I enjoyed some sparkling conversation and spot-on tasty plates at Giancarlo's Wine Bar on College Street - the renovated storefront with the new contemporary wooden half arched entry and glass door. Have you seen it? It opened last year as the lounge for it's older sister Trattoria Giancarlo located around the corner on Clinton Street, and it's right next door to grab-a-slice John's Classic Pizza on the south-side of College Street just east of Clinton (which is itself one of a trilogy).

Along with the intriguing exterior, Giancarlo's Wine Bar's interior space is beautifully designed with quality natural finishes presented in a timeless pretense-free execution. The service is impeccable and the food outstanding...my friend James and I had a crisp tangy fennel and blood orange salad, perfect scallops and crab in a blood orange cream sauce nestled in a bed of tagliatelle, and simple grilled red snapper. Oh, and the molten chocolate truffle on a bed of hot caramel with sea salt is heavenly. Yum!

The indulgence was reward for shredding paperwork dating from 1988 to 1999. I filled ten large green bags of paper...an onerous task that took an entire week while I sifted through dozens of dust-encased boxes. This is my second assault on organizing my digs, following on the heels of filling my new bookshelf that I wrote about last week.

In my quest to become brilliantly organized (this is my newest obsession), I am purging myself of all belongings deemed redundant. So far the most ambitious areas of my home, namely two surprisingly accommodating storage bays and the daunting wall-to-wall closet in my study, have been tackled and edited. One third of my stuff is now shredded or tagged as refuse, another third has been allocated to a 'donate/sell grouping' and the final third of 'too sentimental (year books, photos, mementos) or necessary-indulgences' (blowup mattress for guests, duvet, sheets, gift wrapping, holiday novelties) are now properly labeled and organized.

Unfortunately, it's still not over. I have the laundry/household maintenance cupboard to tackle, 16 feet of wardrobe built-ins, two washroom cabinets, and my 24-foot long kitchen plus island to address. Oh, and I mustn't forget all the gardening stuff under my barbecue peninsula. And did I mention the locker in my garage? Argh!

The purging is satisfying yet grim. The closest feeling I can equate it to is the relief that comes with, errr, puking after having consumed too much good food and drink - like I did celebrating at my sister's last Holiday. You feel better but frankly, you're still a mess! Lol.

~Steven

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