T.O.F.U. Magazine » halifax

The T.O.F.U. Tour Starts Tomorrow!

Ryan — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 21:41:04 +0000

Tues, Aug. 9th
Halifax, Nova Scotia
GPI Office (3008 Oxford St.)
9pm | Pay What You Can
Facebook Event

Fri, Aug. 12th
Toronto, Ontario
The Tranzac (292 Brunswick Avenue)
10pm | Pay What You Can
Facebook Event

Tues, Aug. 16th
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Mondragon Cafe (91 Albert St.)
7:30pm | Pay What You Can
Facebook Event

Wed, Aug. 24th
New Westminster, British Columbia
Karmavore (610 Columbia St.)
7:00pm | Pay What You Can
Facebook Event

I wish it could be longer, but things didn’t quite work out as planned. Sorry to those who are unable to attend, and I hope those of you who can will come and introduce yourselves.

On a related note, the new issue should be out really soon. Due to being sick, moving and a few other things we were delayed, but hopefully we can get back on track this week. I just need to get rid of this nasty cough!

T.O.F.U. to hit the road in August (with your help?)

Ryan — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 14:05:43 +0000

Although it will not be as large-scale as the first T.O.F.U. tour, we are currently working on a cross-Canada tour to coincide with the release of issue 6 in August. If we’re going to travel across the continent to Portland for Vida Vegan Con, we might as well have some fun on the way, right?

With that in mind, here’s the catch: we’re poor.

I know, you’re shocked. How could a magazine that depends on vegan-friendly companies and folks like yourself to support it be poor, right? Well, apparently life can be expensive, especially when you throw in student loans, rent, and a few other things (like food).

Of course, this means we’re trying to get across the country as cheaply as possible, while still maintaining a schedule so that we can book venues in cities along the way. Thus, biking and hitchhiking are out.

Luckily, this is where you come in! Here’s a PROPOSED list of the tour, followed by a list of what we’re in need of at each stop. If you think you can help in any way wherever you live, drop us a line.

Possible T.O.F.U. tour stops

Halifax
Moncton
Saint John
Fredericton
Quebec City
Montreal
Ottawa
Toronto
Winnipeg
Brandon
Regina or Saskatoon
Calgary or Edmonton
Vancouver

Things we need help with

Venues to hold the event (preferably with a speaker system to allow live music)
Musicians (preferably at least one veg*n member in each act)
Local organizations to table and promote awareness of the work they do (should be appropriate for a vegan event)
Couch/floor/reclining chair to sleep in

If you think you have an answer to any of these, feel we should host an event in your area, or just want to be involved but don’t quite know what to do, email us (ryan at ilovetofu.ca) and we’ll start working on this together.

Behind the Lines: Teresa Fisher

Ryan — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 12:43:18 +0000

Somehow, after my years of being in Halifax, it seems I missed meeting at least a few of the Haligonian vegans. Sadly, Teresa Fisher is on that list. So, I figured the next best thing to meeting in person is to collaborate on something together. Something like… a magazine? Readers of issue four might recognize Teresa’s name from the article “The Magical Magic Oven”, but they can also find her blogging and tweeting up a storm online. Luckily, we caught-up with her for a few quick questions.

Blog | Twitter | Yelp

In one word, why are you vegan?
Decency

How long have you been vegan?
4 years!

Who would win in a fight: Quinoa or Couscous?
Quinoa! Couscous is a fakeout!

Would you prefer to lead a revolution or to live quietly in the woods?
Quietly live in the woods while creatively assisting with the revolution!

If there is a revolution, will it be televised or a Facebook event?
Both, duh! It’ll be everywhere! Don’t forget about news apps and twitter.

Favourite vegan thing in your town:
Hot and spicy noodle soup with tofu from Gingergrass on the corner of Barrington and Morris.

Vegan food delivery: Tiffinday in Toronto

Ryan — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 20:57:07 +0000

During my time living in Halifax one of the most interesting things to happen was the development of small vegan food delivery services. Sure, larger cities west of here had restaurants and grocery stores filled with vegan options, but for a couple years Halifax had a few neat ways to be a lazy vegan who still ate something good.

Currently, the only option I am aware of is The Wandering Deli, but at one point there were a few vegan delivery options (Burrito Bike, now Toronto-based, and Vegan to Go being two of them.) Visiting the city now I wish I had taken advantage of these options while I called it home, and I’m not quite sure why I did not. So, when I came across this article recently on a great new vegan delivery service in Toronto called Tiffinday (Website | Twitter), I thought I should bring it to everyone’s attention.

Mumbai office lunches come to Canada

I will fight the urge to ramble on about supporting small, vegan-friendly businesses, as I’m sure I would mainly be preaching to the choir. Instead, I’ll just suggest that you fine folks in Toronto check it out.

Behind the lines: Breighan Hunsley

Ryan — Thu, 30 Dec 2010 20:44:34 +0000

Breighan is the author of “Crowbars: My Activism Tool,” found in the latest issue of T.O.F.U. For years she worked at Planet Organic, a health food chain in Canada, as one of the nutritional consultants. Recently, she made the decision to start the business she’d been dreaming of for years. With inspiration from Andrew W.K. reminding them to party hard, Crowbar Real Foods can be found in Halifax, and online:

Website | Facebook | Twitter

Below you will find Breighan’s answers to the wee survey I sent out recently.

In one word, why are you vegan?
BOWELS

How long have you been vegan?
10.5 years

Who would win in a fight: Quinoa or Cous Cous?
Quinoa, obv. It’s got more calcium and iron and was held sacred by the Incans. Couscous is arguably not even a whole grain. Quinoa would kick the tar out of that poser.

Would you prefer to lead a revolution or to live quietly in the woods?
I’m getting old now. I know there are people way more passionate than me. When I was 21, I would’ve been out there right in front – in fact, I was. Someone else would do a better job. I’ll do what I can from the woods to help. I promise.

If there is a revolution, will it be televised or a Facebook event?
Oh gawd, a facebook event. Nobody ever gets off their ass anymore. I think the revolution was the invention of Daiya cheese – or it seemed like that from the vegan Google alerts that I was getting.

Favourite vegan thing in your town (Halifax, Nova Scotia):
Hmm… Heartwood Bakery and Cafe, probably. That restaurant just keeps getting better. The specials are always fantastic and everchanging. It’s nice to know that it’s there.

Coming soon: Behind the lines

Ryan — Wed, 29 Dec 2010 22:58:56 +0000

With the number of new contributors involved in the new issue, and the number of folks coming from all over the world to gobble up their words, I thought it would be interesting to give everyone a little more background on who all these lovely people are. So, over the next week or so expect to see a feature called Behind the lines, which will include at least one contributor and one advertiser’s answers to a few simple questions that I sent them. Given the variety of folks involved, I suspect a few laughs will be had. Plus, we will further the debate of whether or not quinoa could beat cous cous in a fight.

[Editor's note: this may also be a way for me to avoid spending lots of time blogging while I'm visiting Halifax next week. Expect food pictures though, and perhaps an account of the "staff" party if we have one.]

T.O.F.U. Holiday Sale Begins!

Ryan — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 04:23:17 +0000

Hello all,
I just wanted to send out a little notice that I’ve added a few things to the store, and changed a few item’s prices to something no one can argue with, free.

So, if you were sad you didn’t pick up a T.O.F.U. shirt during the tour or perhaps you have been thinking about downloading one of the old cookbooks or the vegan dining guide to Halifax, might I suggest now is a good time to do so?

T.O.F.U. Store

Remember, nothing says “Happy Holidays!” like a few jolly peppers, right?

hope all is well,
Ryan

PS. Expect another note on a tour I’m about to go on with a friend of mine. If you’re west of Halifax and east of Thunder Bay I just might be in your neighbourhood soon!

Paul McCartney in Halifax

Ryan — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 20:04:04 +0000

I have to say I’m slightly disappointed to see fish and chips trucks on the concert grounds of such a well-known vegetarian. I was hoping part of his contract would involve the lack of death to animals to feed his fans, and dreaming of going to an event where I could just eat something without it being french fries. I wonder if he even knows what is being sold?

It’s all happening!

Ryan — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 11:10:45 +0000

The tour starts tomorrow at the Wooden Monkey here in Halifax.

Hope to see some familar faces out and about, and perhaps a bunch of new ones?

Be sure to say hi either way, I’ll be the guy eating chocolate tofu pie at the door or the merch table.

Thurs, Apr.30th

The Wooden Monkey

9pm / $5

On One Hand Now…

Ryan — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 12:16:17 +0000

I can count the days until the tour starts on one hand now, and that has me anxious, excited, and many other things. There are, of course, a pile of things left to do in the next 4-5 days, but there has also been a lot done in the past few months. I can’t even remember when I started working on this, but I know there was snow on the ground for sure.

Well, either way, the whole thing drops on Thursday at the Wooden Monkey here in Halifax. Good times should be guaranteed.