FRANKIE’S FAVOURITE EATERIES 

So, do you want the best meal of your life? If someone were to ask me what the best restaurant meal of my life is, I would say JOE BEEF, hands down, not even a question JOE BEEF. 

I have been to JB probably 10 times in my life and sometimes I consider moving to Montreal just for that reason 🤦‍♀️, it's insane. 

The decor is diner style 60s vibes and the waiters and staff become your family for the evening. The truth is the menu is not huge, it's hearty, buttery, and it's so so good. 

I headed there this week with a crew of six and we ordered a lot. Here is a little sample. 

For the appetizers we went with foie gras, the tartare (superb), and delicious little snails (escargots) shucked and in little ceramics with butter garlic and some parmesan on top which saves you from having to pick into the snail shell, nice touch JB 🫵. 

For the mains we went with lobster pasta, a great steak, the creamed spinach (wowow), and a bunch of other mains but it was the sweetbreads that were off the charts and #1 dish of the evening - they didn't have the bone marrow which we ordered 2 of the last time I was there. 

The wine was great and as you know I'm not a dessert guy but my friend ordered all of them and my favourite was the ice cream dish, but they were all great. 

Joe Beef is an institution and there is Louisville house which is next door, and I think it is also owned by them for the overflow and a very similar vibe. I've eaten there having no reso at JB and never been disappointed. If you're not from Canada you would probably not know this, but Montreal is where the food is the best. It's home to Milos, awesome little Italy joints, and more middle eastern foods spots than you can count. 

Back to my diet - hehe 

Check it out!

TECH SPOTLIGHT

Beehiiv just rolled out one of its biggest updates yet, and since it’s the platform we use to put this newsletter together, we figured it was worth a little spotlight moment.

The big theme? Giving creators more control without needing to be tech geniuses. Beehiiv added everything from real-time analytics to AI-assisted website building, plus tools for selling digital products, hosting podcasts, segmenting audiences, and setting up automated workflows. Basically, it feels like they took every “hmm, that would be useful” feature and dropped it all at once.

One of the more interesting additions is the AI website builder, which lets you create full sites by chatting with the AI—no coding, no panic Googling, and no bribing your one tech-savvy friend. They’ve also expanded templates, link-in-bio tools, and advertising dashboards to help creators keep everything in one place instead of juggling ten tabs.

Beehiiv says it wants to become a full operating system for the creator economy. Ambitious? Yes. But with this update, they’re definitely inching in that direction.

Check it out!

REAL ESTATE SPOTLIGHT

I am seeing a ton of listings that should be fetching more attention. My suggestion is to be putting some low ball offers NOW - it's the perfect time of year to get a deal as people will be taking properties off the market AND are hopeful for next year, also, if I was a betting man, you will start to see an uptick in residential real estate in 2027 or 2028. The next year or two will be your buying years. 

Another good deal in downtown. Offer 1.2?  

Check it out!

REAL ESTATE SPOTLIGHT PT 2

This lovely semi in Weston-Pellam Park has that quiet “ahh, we’re home” feeling the moment you step inside. The main floor is bright, open, and easy to live in, with a smooth flow from the living and dining area right into the kitchen. There’s even a handy mudroom and powder room tucked at the back—perfect for dropping bags, boots, and whatever the day throws at you.

Upstairs, you’ll find three comfortable bedrooms that catch plenty of natural light, giving everyone their own cozy corner to unwind. And the finished lower level adds a flexible rec space with its own bathroom—ideal for movie nights, guests, or a hobby or two.

One standout feature is the 1.5-car garage with room to spare. Whether you need extra storage, a spot for tools, or just easier parking than the typical mutual drive, it’s a real bonus.

All of this sits in a family-friendly neighbourhood close to schools and transit—easy mornings, easier commutes. With thoughtful updates throughout, this home feels ready for whatever the next chapter brings.

Check it out!

On The Scene “Party of The Week”

By George Pimentel

Take a sneak peek at this week’s event photos, your 🫵 backstage pass. 

FUN WITH FRANKIE

I tried this golf simulator location the other day with my son. I went to the website when I got there, Checked the times available, Picked my 1 hour slot, paid and opened the door all from my phone. No attendants here. 

We played a fun 9 hole course. We forgot our drinks and food which you can bring. No food or drinks there. For $29 for the hour this place was a big hit. I really enjoyed it. 

WORD OF THE WEEK

Radial

What It Means

Radial describes things that are arranged or have parts arranged in straight lines coming out from the center of a circle.

UNTAMED PODCAST

WATCH BELOW

FRANKIE’S SONG OF THE WEEK

If you are planning a dance party this weekend, here is a nice old school fun one...

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.

“Easy to give it but it can be hard to take, right?

I’ve been there for sure.

I have been trying to explain to people why I got up that day and decided to start feeling better.

I remember saying to myself “Don’t let this beat you” and writing “do you like to party?” on my Instagram.

But what pushed me that particular day is still unclear…

You can walk, you can sleep, you can think positive, you can do all the things that the lists and people tell you to do. Everyone seems to be a self help expert, guru, therapist, and advice giver these days.

But, I have though a lot about that moment that defines why you decide to feel better and improve. What makes you do those little things with consistency?

I still can’t pinpoint it or figure out why that moment came about for me.

I think there is something about hitting rock bottom that teaches you some things.

The one thing it has taught me is that some things simply take time.

It can be frustrating but being patient and calm is a skill that is underrated.

By forcing things to happen you end up creating more problems.

The story of my life has been trying to make something nice happen for a person and pissing off 5 people along the way.

When it comes to taking advice, you should lean on as many people as you can when solving challenging issues.

You should ask questions, speak to people from all walks of life, young and old, boy or girl, rich and poor, and make your decisions based on your gut feel.

My advice to you is always look under rocks and make little things happen each day, this way you won’t have time to worry about your problems.

Keep busy in other words.

But don’t take MY advice on it ;)”

🧠A Weekly Dose of Psychology You Didn’t Know You Needed 🧠

Hi everyone! I’m Maya, I hold an Honours Bachelor of Science in Forensic Science and Psychology (basically, I can analyze both a crime scene and your overly complicated coffee order). I’m also an incoming Master of Arts candidate in Counselling Psychology, which means I spend a lot of time thinking about how the human brain works, and why it sometimes does the exact opposite of what we want it to do.

This week, I’m building off an idea that came from the boss man (AKA SFD) once again - advice. How easy it is to give, how hard it is to absorb, and how sometimes even the “right” advice doesn’t click until the timing is strangely perfect.

Psych Fact #20: Advice only sticks when your brain enters a state called “receptive readiness.”

It sounds fancy, but it basically means this: your brain has specific moments where it’s more open to changing habits or perspectives. And annoyingly, those moments don’t always line up with when people are offering help.

Receptive readiness happens when your brain hits a mix of three things at once:
• emotional overload (you’re tired of your own patterns),
• mental space (your mind isn’t crowded), and
• a tiny spark of motivation (the “okay… fine” moment).

When those three line up, even simple advice feels profound. But when they don’t? You can hear the same words a hundred times and nothing happens. That’s why someone can tell you “go for a walk” or “just do one small task” for months — and then one random Tuesday, it finally lands.

So if you’re trying to make a change or take someone’s advice, don’t beat yourself up for not getting it “right away.” Your brain isn’t being stubborn — it’s waiting for the moment where change actually has a chance to stick.

And when that moment comes, even tiny steps count.

Until next time,
Maya 🧠✨

OTHER POSH THINGS

À la Mère de Famille, Paris's sweetest legacy

There are few places in Paris where time feels so deliciously preserved as À la Mère de Famille. Founded in 1761, it’s the city’s oldest chocolate shop — a true confectionary time capsule, a living monument to craft, care, and quiet indulgence. Its original boutique on Rue du Faubourg-Montmartre, with its emerald-green façade and golden lettering, feels like stepping into a storybook.

My “local” boutique is on Rue Cler, in the 7th arrondissement — and it never fails to enchant me. Step inside, and you’re instantly surrounded by rows of pralines, candied fruits, orangettes, nougats, and jewel-like sweets — each one perfectly wrapped, gleaming under soft light. The air is thick with the scent of cocoa and caramel. Behind the counter sit over two centuries of recipes, each crafted with the same patience and precision that built the brand’s legacy.

What makes À la Mère de Famille so enchanting is its devotion to detail: the way each chocolate shines, how the wrapping folds perfectly, how tradition is honoured without feeling old-fashioned. As for their packaging, it's art in itself!

You taste their sweets and immediately sense the lineage — generations of hands perfecting flavour, texture, and form. It’s Parisian heritage distilled into something beautifully edible.I absolutely adore their attention to detail — from the glint of a single chocolate to the soft weight of the box in your hands — everything whispers quality (and quite frankly, “eat me!”). Eating their sweets, I don’t just sense flavour; I sense lineage, story, memory. Each piece feels like edible art.I am utterly passionate about "maisons" that convey a story with something delectable and turn it into art - such as Ooh La La Confectionery  - another similar maison, utterly inspired by the best of French traditions yet it's tucked all the way in Johannesburg. Founded by Karen Schneid, the brand grew from her passion for calissons, traditional Montélimar-style nougat, and anything Marie Antoinette might have adored.

Where À la Mère de Famille preserves the poetry of the past, Ooh La La reimagines it — with reinterpretation, craft, and modern luxury. Both share a devotion to ingredients, to presentation, and to that unmistakable attention to detail that makes you stop, smile, and savour. That’s what I love most about such brands — the deep story behind each bite.

If these 2 brands would ever bump into each other while walking down a rue, a firework of chocolates would certainly happen!

By Nirit Sumeruk Abbou

TRIVIA

Category: Science Edition!

CHRIS’ CORNER

Raps Getting it Done - So Far

It’s been a long time since I’ve been this interested in watching the Toronto Raptors play basketball.

Last season, there were moments that were fun for sure, but often I was like, I’ll check the highlights and the score later rather than watch a full game.

This season, as I predicted in an earlier Chris’ Corner piece, the Raptors have been pretty darn good. Sitting at 10-5, as well as 2-0 in the NBA Cup, the team has given fans a lot of good performances so far this season.

They’re mostly young, they play hard and fast, they defend, and they get quality scoring from multiple players.

Led by their own Big 3 – Scottie Barnes, Brendan Ingram, and RJ Barrett – the Toronto Raptors were the only team in the league with three players averaging over 20 points per game at one point in November.

It’s been fantastic, even if two of the three are now in the 19 points per game range. It’s very likely that statistic will ebb and flow all season long.

On nights when the supporting cast like Jakob Poeltl, Immanuel Quickley, Grady Dick, Sandro Mamukelashvili, and the rest play to their abilities (or above them), the Raptors can compete with the best and dominate the weaker teams.

Barring any long-term injuries to key pieces, the Raptors are well on their way to a top 6 finish in the Eastern Conference and could find themselves in the knockout stages of the NBA Cup in-season tournament.

Though it hasn’t really been that long since Toronto won the NBA Title in 2019, it’s felt like an eternity since they were this competitive.

For someone who remembers watching games at the SkyDome with Damon Stoudamire, Doug Chrisite, and the rest of the purple wearing crew, every year the Raptors are competitive is a good one in my books.

It’s been so far, so good in 2025-26 for the Raptors. Let’s hope the good play continues into the spring.e.

By Chris Occhiuzzi

UPCOMING SPORTS EVENTS

ARTICLE OF THE WEEK

Hope everyone is well. For soccer fans, the countdown has begun for World Cup 2026. With 64 teams competing for this coveted trophy, England with legendary players has been picked as the favourite to win coming in at #1. For Canada, we are ranked as # 29. Regardless of who you are supporting and where countries rank, this is a very exciting event and one that units everyone to cheer for their favourite country.

Here is a great article, a great read – hope you enjoy it…

-Tito Ghandi

WEATHER THIS WEEK

TORONTO

MIAMI

PARIS

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

"If you can find excitement at work and excitement at home, you are a very lucky person.”

-SFD

CONTRIBUTIONS

If you would like to contribute to the newsletter, please contact us. Our NL goes out to over 10k business owners, friends, and other professionals in my network. We would love to have people from different walks of life, and we won't judge your writing. If you would like us to keep your articles anonymous, we can do so as well. Also, if you enjoy the newsletter and want to contribute $, please donate to www.camh.ca anytime on our behalf AND please have your friends subscribe, it will mean the world to us. 

Thank you

- Frankie

AUTHOR’S NOTE

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.