Supernatural Tour Wrap-up

Here's our photo wrap up of The Supernatural Tour where our trio of fantasy authors Lesley Livingston, Kim Harrison and Aprilynne Pike visited three stores to chat about their books, their writing, and meet some of their biggest fans!

Giveaway - Summer Smackdown 2010

Love summer reading? Then click here for your chance to win a fantastic prize pack of some of the season's best books.

The pack includes 12 amazing fiction titles including UNBOUND featured picture book Instructions by Neil Gaiman, illustrated by Charles Vess!

If that wasn't enough, click here to find out how your blogging skills can help you win some of the biggest upcoming fall books!

Coach House Restaurant

Three co-workers embark on a quest to eat lunch at every restaurant in their office's surrounding vicinity, documenting their reactions and reviewing the food. This is OUT TO LUNCH.

"I want to get married here." - Lisa Bettencourt on Coach House Restaurant

Lisa: One of the greatest hidden gems of the city. A classic diner owned by the same couple for over 40 years - with a menu and décor to boot -and refreshingly absent of hipsters in such a downtown location. What I love the most – processed cheese slices on my western omelet sandwich. Home fries that made you happy to be alive - tender, greasy and seasoned just right.  Friendly service. Everything here is just perfect if you like a cheap, authentic diner. Not to be missed!

Melissa: Loved it. We stumbled upon this tiny restaurant by accident... but what a treasure. Walking in to Coach House is like walking into something classic.
The food was quick, delicious, and generously portioned. I had an Omelets and toast, which was excellent, but all the while wishing I had ordered Paul's over-the-top meal of waffles, over easy eggs, bacon, sausage, home fries... (there was probably more that I can't remember now!) This is a "must return" restaurant for me.

Paul: I am in love and her name is Coach House Restaurant.

A rejuvinating oasis quietly tucked away among the onslaught of noise and commotion at the corner of Yonge and Wellesley, the discovery of Coach House itself was a magical event. Entering the cozy restaurant time-travels you back to the 1940's with it's dark wood paneled bar, cozy bench seats and incredibly delicious and amazingly cheap plate specials. The staff is so friendly and the atmosphere is so homey the entire dining experience is like something out of a movie. I almost expected Jimmy Stewart to walk in and order.

If you know me, you know that if a menu features an all-day-breakfast special, it's going to be next to impossible to persuade me to not order it. And let me say that Coach Houses's all-day-breakfast special is without a doubt the best all-day-breakfast special I have ever had. Eggs, sausage, bacon and ham with an enormous freshly baked golden waffle so deliciously crispy and sugary, it shines as the crown jewel of this royal banquet. Needless to say, I've returned to Coach House since and urge everyone to visit this incredible Toronto gem.

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Supernatural Giveaway & Tour Next Week!

The Supernatural Tour kicks off next Tuesday with fan favourite authors Kim Harrison, Aprilynne Pike and Lesley Livingston visiting three bookstores together! Come out and meet these fantastic fantasy writers, get your book signed and grab some free giveaways!

Speaking of which, click here to enter the Supernatural Giveaway and you could win not only 6 books by these authors, but a Cusinart Ice Cream maker as well!

UNBOUND - Art Gallery Books

On this episode of UNBOUND we look at some incredible picture books featuring Neil Gaiman and Charles Vess' Instructions, Carin Berger's Forever Friends and Oliver Jeffers' The Heart and the Bottle.

Once you've watched the video, email unboundpodcast@gmail.com with your name, address and one of the answers of our pictionary game. 10 lucky entrants will win a free copy of one of the books featured in the podcast!
The giveaway has now closed! Thanks to all who entered, the winners will be contacted shortly. Keep checking back here for more giveaways.

Oliver Jeffers' 'The Heart and the Bottle'

Our next podcast is going to feature office favourite Oliver Jeffers' fantastic new book, The Heart and the Bottle. Until then, here's an interesting look into the equally interesting writer/illustrator's studio. Plus, handlebar moustache.

Also, Jeffers' website has a bunch of very cool paintings that reveal his incredible artistic range as well as a much different (but certainly still humourous) sensibility.

Grammar Nazis

Now all I can think about when writing this post is that someone will find something grammatically incorrect about it. Wait, can you end a sentence with "it?"

Anyway, this video's attention to detail in recreating the opening scene of Tarantino's Inglorious Basterds is incredible, from the acting to the set design.

Sarah Silverman's Shelf Indulgence

Sarah Silverman comedian, actress and author of the new memoir The Bedwetter: Stories of Courage, Redemption, and Pee talks about a few of her favorite movies and CD's. I love this series of videos Borders puts together, so simple and interesting. Be sure to check out Wes Anderson and Jason Shwartzman.

Upcoming Events

If you're in the area, be sure to check out these amazing author events in the next few weeks.

Sweeter Than Fiction

Ice cream and classic literature, two venerable pillars of western civilization blended together courtesy of designer Megan Reddish:

"Sweeter Than Fiction, Premium Ice Cream: Curling up with a good book will only get better when you’re spooning with a fantastic fusion of premium ice cream flavors. Indulge in the classics like you never have before. Literary aficionados will fall heads over heels for these witty packages."

I actually feel like having a scoop of 'The Crunchback of Notre Dame' right now... (via The Dieline)

BRONTËSAURUS

Voltron meets Gothic Fiction, FINALLY.

This video was put together by the incredible Phil Lord and Chris Miller, the filmmaking/animation duo who created the amazingly clever Clone High series and Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs.

Mandatory Star Wars Day Post

May the Fourth be with you. Yep, it's Star Wars Day. Enjoy the original trilogy narrated by a kid and told entirely in LEGO in just over 2 minutes.

Bill Murray Reads Poetry to NYC Construction Workers

I don't think I need to explain that this is awesome.

UNBOUND - How to be an Expert at Anything

Have you ever wanted to be an expert at something? How are artists, musicians or athletes so good at what they do? In the second episode of UNBOUND we look at books that take scientific questions like these and explain them in an entertaining readable way.

Once you've watched the episode, email us at unboundpodcast@gmail.com with your name, address and the answer to this question discussed in the video:


How many hours does Syed say it takes to become an expert?


5 lucky entrants will be contacted to receive a copy of Matthew Syed's Bounce!
Update: The contest is now closed! Thanks to all who entered, the winners will be contacted shortly.

Remember to keep watching this site for more podcasts (and more chances to win fantastic free books.) To get the latest updates, you can subscribe to us through our twitter account @unboundpodcast, through our RSS feed or our Youtube channel .

Ethiopian House

Three co-workers embark on a quest to eat lunch at every restaurant in their office's surrounding vicinity, documenting their reactions and reviewing the food. This is OUT TO LUNCH.

Melissa: Delish. Again, this is another hidden gem in Toronto that was brought to my attention by Lisa. We were starving the day we went so the food felt like it was taking forever but I think it was worth the wait. I ordered a vegetarian plate that was delicious and plentiful. Some of the flavours were new but definitely welcomed! I will return when I have more than an hour break.

Lisa: I have heard this is the best Ethiopian food in the city, but I think we just came on an off day. The food took almost an hour and the portion sizes were small and the injera lacked the texture and flavor that it usually has at other Ethiopian restaurants. The vegetarian meal lack variety. I would give it a second chance but not recommend it based on this one time. Try Nazareth, Lailebela or Addis Abada for better food and service.

Paul: Unlike Melissa and Lisa, I've never had Ethiopian food before, so I can honestly say this is the best Ethiopian food I've ever had. Kidding aside, this was a pretty great lunch. I ordered the lunch special that came with pan fried beef and collared greens (a phrase I enjoy both typing and saying aloud) and different vegetables that were all delicious and flavourful. The one downside for me was cottage cheese, which I didn't know anyone actually liked until my two lunch-mates happily ate my portion.

The experience of eating with your hands using the Injera bread made the meal oddly more satisfying (probably because after the wait it took for our order to come I no longer had time for utensils.) The decor is appropriately funky, with brightly coloured throw pillows meeting your gaze in all directions and the walls filled with interesting pictures and designs in a style reminiscent of a Wes Anderson film set in Ethiopia. Suffice it to say, I would definitely go back for another meal.

Ethiopian House Website


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