- SFD SATURDAY MORNING WEEKLY
- Posts
- SFD SATURDAY MORNING WEEKLY 64
SFD SATURDAY MORNING WEEKLY 64
La Parenthese. So when you arrive in Giverny, this is your first little spot to your left before the parking lots. It's super cute and we ate underneath the covered area.
Frank Waszkun
April 12, 2025
FRANKIE’S FAVOURITE EATERIES
La Parenthese.
So when you arrive in Giverny, this is your first little spot to your left before the parking lots. It's super cute and we ate underneath the covered area.
The soup and burger were good and the setting was absolutely perfect. Giverny is where Monet lived for most of his life. There is a great little house that displays his work and his gardens where he painted the famous water Lilies. It's an hour drive from Paris, but it's an easy one and a fun way to do something outside of the city.
After lunch we had a great little coffee in a shop past the home and gardens. This is an easy little day trip from Paris.
The boys said they needed a glass of wine on the way home, so we stopped at le Coq. let's just say that more than just one vino was had, your typical tartare was ordered and my friend Prakash even brought out some cigars. The next day nobody was feeling perfect but we went on with our day ;).
Le Coq is one of my faves, it's near Trocadero and is always a good scene.
TECH SPOTLIGHT
YouTube Shorts Steps Up with New Creation Tools
YouTube Shorts is stepping up its short-form game with a fresh batch of creative tools aimed at making content creation easier (and more engaging) than ever. Just ahead of the potential TikTok ban deadline, YouTube is rolling out features that seem perfectly timed to attract creators looking for a new platform to call home.
Among the biggest updates is an improved video editor, giving users more control over clip timing, music, text, and overall storytelling. The editor, long requested by creators, makes it easier to fine-tune videos without relying on third-party apps.
YouTube is also introducing AI Stickers, which allow users to generate custom visuals using simple text prompts (think: “a strong plant with muscles”). Creators will also be able to turn their own photos into image stickers, perfect for things like outfit inspiration or showcasing different styles.
Another highlight is the new beat-matching feature, which automatically syncs video clips to music, no more manual edits to get your footage on rhythm. Plus, YouTube is enhancing its templates, letting users pull in photos from their gallery and add effects that help bring videos to life.
With Meta rumored to be launching its own editing app soon, and TikTok known for its strong editing tools, YouTube's latest updates show it's serious about competing in the short-form space. These new features will begin rolling out in the coming months, so if you’re a creator, now’s a great time to get familiar with what Shorts has to offer.
REAL ESTATE SPOTLIGHT
I have been told that the Paris market is noticing a significant uptick in real estate prices, it's hard to know and I've always found this super strange. They don't have an MLS system like we do. I guess it benefits the deal makers but definitely not people who want to see what's available.
Here is a cute one near the area I like which is the 7th near the Eiffel Tower.
WORD OF THE WEEK
Malleable
What It Means
Something described as malleable is capable of being stretched or bent into different shapes, or capable of being easily changed or influenced.
OTHER POSH THINGS
Buenos Aires Mi Amor!
This February, Buenos Aires was calling. This was more than just a visit; it was a homecoming. My family hails from Argentina, having settled here over a hundred years ago. I speak fluent Castellano, and as a child, I spent my summers in Argentina, soaking in the culture, rhythm and slang and making it my own. This was my first visit in 28 years, and I fell in love with the city all over again.
I was instantly greeted with its Latin energy, the tantalizing aroma of freshly baked empanadas floating out of bakeries, and the seductive feel of tango etched on walls and on the streets. Our home base was the elegant CasaSur Palermo, a chic boutique hotel in one of the city's trendiest neighborhoods, Palermo (although it was bittersweet to know it was the same hotel where singer Liam Payne parted).
To read my whole itinerary, visit my site www.parispopcorn.com - but below are my highlights highlighted ;)
Starting off at the Casa Rosada, the iconic pink presidential palace, and I couldn't help myself from singing out: "Don't Cry for Me, Argentina!" (Remember the movie "Evita" where Madonna sang this song from the balcony of the Casa Rosada?) - This is where I have no doubt that SFD would sing out loud with me!
Sweet indulgence at La Vaca Lechera, a boutique dedicated to Argentina’s legendary dulce de leche and alfajores. Each bite is a symphony of rich, creamy caramel balanced by delicate pastry—pure heaven for any sweet tooth - and my absolute weakness...(Havana and Cachafaz!)
La Boca is an an explosion of color and passion. The vibrant El Caminito felt like a walk through a painter’s dream, with its brightly painted houses and street performers showcasing Argentina’s most famous dance, the Tango.
One can climb to the top floor balcony of the Cachafaz Caminito store and stand next to "Lionel Messi" waving a victorious World Cup 2022 win! Great photo op!
We saw the most spectacular tango show at La Faena Hotel that evening. The intimate red-velved 1920's setting in the El Caberet room started with an Argentine dinner and then followed by El Rojo, Argentina's most celebrated Tango show Rojo Tango - the dramatic Tango performances and sultry melodies left us spellbound. I can't recommend this enough!
No trip to Buenos Aires is complete without a visit to La Recoleta Cemetery, a hauntingly beautiful labyrinth of ornate mausoleums, including the final resting place of Eva Perón.
Just nearby is El Ateneo Grand Splendid, a former theater turned bookshop that is a literary paradise. Its gilded balconies and crimson stage now frame endless shelves of books.
Palermo Soho wall art district painted a different story of modern creativity and political expression, each mural a voice in the city’s ongoing dialogue between past and present.
We wrapped up our adventure with a tour of River Plate Stadium, a must-visit for any football fan eager to feel the pulse of Argentina’s passion for the sport.
Buenos Aires is more than a city; it’s a rhythm, a heartbeat, a love affair between history and the present. And like any great tango, it left us utterly enchanted, already dreaming of our next dance with this captivating metropolis.
FRANKIE’S SONG OF THE WEEK
Chris B joined me in Paris this week and I heard a song I loved on the radio. I guess it never became popular in Canada but it's 20 years old and has some hip hop and French with guru in the mix. Chris recognized it immediately - Check it out.
100 WEEKS OF POSITIVE MESSAGES
Frankie did 100 days of positive messages 3 years ago. He wanted to center them around mental health and positivity. We will post them each week for 100 weeks.
#15
“There is no shame in trying something over and over.
If you want something badly enough it could take you years to get it and don’t be afraid to have huge goals.
If you look at most successful people, they come up with goals or things they want to achieve and they work at them. I would say that 90% of the time their first attempt doesn’t go the way they planned so, they “try again”.
Most people are so afraid to try something for fear that they may not achieve it or the embarrassment of looking a certain way.
If this sounds like you, I hope you know that nobody is watching you as hard as you think and nobody knows what is actually in your head.
The act of trying over and over even without reaching that ultimate goal will likely get you to much better place than where you stand now.
So, set goals, write them down and try try try again to achieve them.
Have a wonderful Sunday Funday and find pleasure in your failed attempts.
We are all rooting for you 😍
15/100 - 1% better each day.”
TRIVIA
Category: Psychology Edition
Which part of your brain is basically the drama queen—freaking out over fear, threats, and strong emotions? |
Who's the OG couch guy—you know, the one who asked people to talk about their childhood while blaming everything on their unconscious? |
You’re at a party, everyone starts doing a weird dance, and suddenly… you’re doing it too, even though it feels ridiculous. What just happened? |
Your brain sees a flash of light and forgets it almost instantly. Which memory system just ghosted you? |
CHRIS’ CORNER
The Great(est) 8
It was only a few weeks ago that I sent a text in one of my sports group chats that read: “Ovie’s chase of Gretzky’s record is the only thing interesting about the NHL this season. Let’s face it, the Leafs are going to make the playoffs again, so nothing other than the goal-scoring record matters until then.”
I partly wrote that to drive the hockey-mad friends in the group nuts, and I partly wrote it because that’s how I’ve really felt about Canada’s favourite sport this year.
Sidenote: I haven’t watched a full NHL game – or any hockey game – since I sat rink side at the ACC in Auston Matthew’s rookie season (it was a great game even if the New York Rangers won 2-1 in a shootout).
Back the matter at hand. That record chase actually had me caring about hockey for the first time in years.
When I was much younger – and Washington Capitals superstar Alexander Ovechkin was also much younger – it was a breath of fresh air to see the Russian sensation flying all over the ice, laying hits, taking hits, and scoring incredible goals.
Over the years my focus on my own and my kids top sports took my attention away from many others, including hockey.
But, at the end of the 2023-2024 season, with Ovechkin, aka Ovie or The Great 8 (for his jersey number) within striking distance of Wayne Gretzky’s career goal scoring record, my interest perked up again.
There were times this year it looked like we may just have to wait until the start of the next season. Including just a few weeks ago.
Then, The Great 8 went on a tear, scoring six goals in five games to break the record. At 39-years-old, Ovechkin is now the career goal scoring leader for the NHL (895 career goals), with 42 goals this season (at the time of this writing).
The record-tying goal came at home against Chicago, it was also Ovie’s second of the night. Though surely, he wanted to do it in Washington, it wasn’t to be. Instead, it was two nights later on Long Island and the crowd was packed with Capitals jerseys.
When that goal was scored, the cheers were deafening and likely the cheers were from all fans of all teams all around the globe. After all, it’s not often these historic records are broken, and the feats deserve to be celebrated.
So, cheers to The Great(est) 8 on a wonderful accomplishment! I hope to see you extend that record the rest of this year and maybe next.
Written by Christopher Occhiuzzi
UPCOMING SPORTS EVENTS
WEATHER THIS WEEK
TORONTO
MIAMI
PARIS
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“Never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake.”
-Napoleon
ANDRE IS BACK!
RESTAURANT/BAR REVIEW BY ANDRE BHARTI, APRIL 9, 2025
After being at a rock climbing place, and after realizing I’m scared of heights, I decided to take a stroll to a place call the Zui Beer Bar.
This was at 4:30 pm Eastern time.
I thought a beer bar would more like a pub. Not at all!! This place was lit up like a Christmas tree in a good way. I felt like I was in a great John Wick movie. The staff were super friendly, and the music was blasting my kind of heavy metal.
I was so pleasantly surprised at this place. Manager was amazing.
I went to the back and there was a crew of the nicest people sitting in a booth that anybody could imagine.
Think of a club when you’re expecting a pub. Too amazing!
Asian meets amazing!! I’ve never seen this cool art work that lights up the place. I won’t even tell you about the menu, because that’s yours to discover.
Check it out if you’re in Toronto.
693 Bloor St W, Toronto, ON M6G 1L5
Phone: (416) 588-8588
Menu: zuibeerbar.com
THE FIRST INAGURAL “UNTUCKED” CELEBRITY GOLF TOURNAMENT
It is SFD's pleasure to open the invite to the First Inaugural Golf Tourney for CamH.
Please let [email protected] know if you would like to attend.
The sponsorship levels are below.
Super Frankie is lazy. He loves technology because it makes life more simple. Technology is spawned from ideas that make life easier. He is the founder of Busys.ca which is a company that sells/leases and services printers, laptops, document management software, copiers, IT services, and phone systems throughout North America and Europe.
LET’S CONNECT
*These articles, jokes, and stories are written by individuals handpicked by SFD for their unique way of thinking and writing. While SFD appreciates their styles, he does not necessarily endorse their opinions. This newsletter is designed to bring a smile to your face. If you prefer not to receive this weekly newsletter, please feel free to unsubscribe. You will be missed