Date Night

 It was our first date since the pandemic, if not of the whole of 2020.

Since the lockdown, I've been living my life between stages 1.5 and 2, even though my province is at stage 3—which I maintain is far too early, as I've written before. I tend to stay at home or close to the neighbourhood, and rarely to I do the shopping. DW and I get out in our kayaks, which is a great social-distancing activity, and we have had friends and family in our backyard, where everyone sits at a safe distance from one another.

So it was a big leap for me, this weekend, when I agreed to go out with my wife for dinner and live music.

We went to the Brookstreet Hotel, in Kanata, where they feature a Backyard Dinner and Live Music promotion. On the lawn that is on the opposite side of the underground parking lot from the hotel, a large white tent is erected. Open on three sides, it offers lots of ventilation. Tables are spread well apart and the maximum capacity is 85 people. The servers all wear protective masks and gloves.

Our friend and Blues artist extraordinaire, JW Jones, had just released his latest CD on Friday—it was recorded and produced completely under lockdown, through video conferencing—and was celebrating with a live show. His band members, bassist Jacob Clarke and drummer Will Laurin, were with him and all three were behind plexiglass barriers to protect the people in the front tables.

 

When we arrived, I saw a table at the opposite end of the stage, at the out-most edge of the tent, and requested that DW and I be seated there. As all seats faced toward the stage, we both had a great view of the stage and yet I could feel the light breeze blowing into the tent, and so my anxiety was fairly low—we were upwind of the other diners.

Dinner started with a mixed-greens salad with prosciutto, watermelon, and cantaloupe—I haven't eaten cantaloupe in decades because of an allergic reaction: I gave it a try and was delighted that I didn't react at all (though the sweet, luscious taste brought tears to my eyes). The main course was chicken, scalloped potatoes , and vegetables with a beautiful jus. Dinner was followed with a summer berry Charlotte, with raspberry mousse, fresh raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, and currants, and lady fingers.

To top that off, just before JW's first set ended, everyone was given a glass of sparkling wine. When the set ended, Brookstreet owner and Ottawa high-tech giant, Terry Matthews, had us raise our glasses to JW and his band.

During the break, JW was selling his new CD, Sonic Departures, among other merchandise. I donned my face mask to pick up his latest release and chat with him and the band, with whom we know through the #613FutureBlues event that my drummer daughter has participated in for the past four years. My daughter was even a guest drummer at one of the band's shows, last fall.

It was a great evening.

This was my first time in a restaurant since the beginning of March and our first live show since the lockdown (on March 13, when the lockdown was announced, DW and I had a date night planned to see Sarah Slean and Hawksley Workman, but the show was cancelled at the last minute). And while I've been reluctant to venture out in public because of COVID-19, I have to admit that the folks at Brookstreet Hotel did everything they could to make this event stress-free and enjoyable. DW and I would certainly do this again.

The next Brookstreet Backyard Dinner and Live Music event is August 20. Other nights, so far, run on August 27, 28, and 29. If you have the chance, go.

Oh, and pick up a copy of JW's CD. Make that, all of his CDs. You're welcome.