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From Toronto.com November 6, 2006
All The Jazz A Weekend Can Handle

I have a confession to make. I went to Dominion on Queen not just once, but twice this weekend. Yep, there it is. It’s off my chest now.

I actually went there for the first time ever on Friday night with my not-so-musical sister (who just nights before had leaned over, pointed to a double bass and gushed about how much she looooves the cello.) In fact, when I suggested Dominion, she asked why we would want to go to a grocery store.

I explained that Dominion on Queen is in fact not a supermarket, but one of the city’s oldest bars (and as the menu reads, a classic Corktown landmark since 1889) Being tired, lazy people on a Friday night, the thought of trekking all the way downtown was unbearable, so we tried it.

When we walked up to the window, we weren’t quite sure what to think. There was a cluster of eccentric people outside smoking, a couple of homeless people strolling by and the place looked like it was filled with singles. When we got inside, we realized why. The Paul DeLong Combo was playing, and they are so absolutely fantastic that you want to sit alone and just listen. When my non-musical sister is entranced by a jazz band, you know they’re good. Sure enough, as soon as the band took a break, the “singles” merged and almost everyone in the place seemed to be friends.

When it comes to live jazz, I’ve always been a big fan of The Rex and it’s definitely a no-fail plan, with 18 shows a week, but to be honest, my heart will now be torn.

The music is amazing, the crowd is super friendly and appreciative and there’s a hefty beer list, with my beloved Guinness, McAusland Apricot Wheat and Mill St. Organic (my other beloved beer.)

Here is the part of the story where I go back for a second round:

Sunday night, we finished dinner at Gio Rana’s Really Really Nice Restaurant on Queen East (which was incredible, by the way) and my friends decided they wanted to go for a drink before heading home. Anyone who lives in Leslieville can tell you that non-questionable bars are few and far between, especially on Sunday and Mondays, so we ended up having to leave our ‘hood.

Again, not wanting to go all the way into the downtown core, I suggested Dominion. Although there was no music that night, everybody loved it.

After two visits in one weekend, I fear that I may never venture back downtown again and will forever be stuck at the Corktown border. Ok, that probably won’t happen, but it is going to be mighty hard to pass by Dominion on the Queen car and not get off.