Sperls' Scene

Featured in Product Magazine

Sat, 30 Mar 2013 09:41:31 -0400

I’m featured in issue #5 of Toronto’s, Product magazine.

Click through to page 19 to read the article:

Remember the time I was on that TV show Cash Cab? Apparently I...

Wed, 02 Jan 2013 22:58:08 -0500

Remember the time I was on that TV show Cash Cab? Apparently I forgot until today. This photo basically says it all, but please read my friend Chris’ blog which has some great pics from our Cash Cab adventures.

Made my coworkers record bowls for the holidays! Don’t...

Thu, 20 Dec 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Made my coworkers record bowls for the holidays! Don’t worry, no playable vinyl was hurt in production :)

Someone was asking me how I do this, so here are the basic steps:

1. Get records from the scratch bin at your local record store. If I can’t find albums that fit the taste of the person I’m making it for, I look for vinyl with bright colours or fun art.

2. Boil water in the largest pot you own. I use a large wok pot.

3. Dip the edges of the vinyl in the water, then using some heavy duty gloves (industrial) bend the edges into a funky bowl shape using your hands. You also have the option of trying to bend it into a bowl with a spatula, tongs, etc but I find bending with hands is easier. Warning: be sure to get some serious gloves or you’ll burn yourself!

4. Don’t inhale too much, and open a window. I have a feeling the fumes from melting vinyl are not good for your health.

5. Adorn with a card or bow, and you have an easy, crafty and personalized gift!

The Man Who Made Justin Bieber via The New Yorker

Fri, 14 Dec 2012 22:01:00 -0500

The Man Who Made Justin Bieber via The New Yorker:

Interesting read on Scooter Braun, manager of The Biebs.

Rihanna 777 World Tour - Toronto

Sun, 18 Nov 2012 18:46:14 -0500

Thanks to some lovely pals, I got a chance to see Rihanna’s 777 World Tour at The Danforth Music Hall in Toronto. She’s hitting 7 countries in 7 days and playing in small venues to promote her new album, Unapologetic.

The Danforth probably holds about 1,000 people. It was crazy to see one of the biggest pop stars in the wold in such an intimate setting. So intense and fun. To put it in perspective, my photos were taken from the back of the room, mostly with my phone.

I (Ashley Sperling) took all these photos. Please credit me and/or my Tumblr if you’re going to share these. Thanks!

Fall in Toronto. Parkdale.

Thu, 18 Oct 2012 18:22:00 -0400

Fall in Toronto. Parkdale.

Fave Free Things to Do in Boston

Fri, 14 Sep 2012 11:17:00 -0400

I went to Boston for the first time in April and it was great! There is basically one free thing you need to do while in Boston, and by doing it, you will experience many things for free, I’m talking about The Freedom Trail.

Every city in the world should have something like The Freedom Trail, it’s so genius, but simple. It’s literally a red line painted on the sidewalks and roads throughout the city, and if you follow the red line it will take you on a walk past many of key attractions.

The Freedom Trail is awesome because you can go at your own pace, and stop and spend time where ever you’d like. We started at Boston Common and made our way through various historical sites and cool Boston neighbourhoods including Quincy Market, the site of the Boston Massacre, the State House, Paul Revere’s House, and the really neat North End/ Little Italy area. Eventually we ended around the USS Constitution where we also had some great views of Bunker Hill.

There are information signs at the key sites, but there are also audio guides you can download if you’re so inclined. The walk is about 2.5 miles long so wear comfy shoes and bring some water.

Seriously every city could learn from Boston - maps and tour guides not necessary just follow the red line!

State House:

There are lots of incredibly old graveyards in Boston, some with important people buried:

Paul Revere:

Snack, Snack crunch. These kids are like 9, and their flow is...

Thu, 16 Aug 2012 10:20:57 -0400

Snack, Snack crunch. These kids are like 9, and their flow is crazy! Craving some cheetos now…

United Airlines loses a 10-year-old

Wed, 15 Aug 2012 16:01:00 -0400

So normally I try not to post negative things, but this is just too ridiculous! My own personal travel experience with United has been horrible on a consistent basis. But at least they didn’t lose me when I was 10!

‘Airline Loses Couple’s 10-year-old Daughter’ via CBC

I’m glad to say since all my free United money (from all their royal screw ups) ran out, I have avoided them like the plague, even if it costs me more money. I’m betting these parents will never ever fly United again either. Seriously, how do you lose a 10-year-old child who is travelling on her own, and then basically refuse to help the parents?

The only good thing United every taught me is if you are having problems locating something (or in this case someone) at an airport, call the administration office of the airport. They’re usually helpful and not total idiots like United.

hahaha this Tumblr is great! Gotta love McKayla Maroney’s...

Fri, 10 Aug 2012 16:54:04 -0400

hahaha this Tumblr is great! Gotta love McKayla Maroney’s face when she wins silver instead of gold

Fave Free Things To Do In Calgary Area

Fri, 10 Aug 2012 16:25:00 -0400

I’m originally from Calgary, though I’ve also lived in Chicago, Houston, Ottawa and Toronto. I recently went to Calgary to visit the fam, and it made me think about some of the great free things to around that area…

The Mountains!!

View from the car on the way to Canmore August 2012

This majestic rocky mountains are the best part about Calgary and the surrounding areas, and they’re free to enjoy. My fave mountain recommends:

1. Banff & Bow Falls Trail

You can basically walk from the centre of Banff along the river to Bow Falls behind the castle-like Banff Springs Hotel. It’s a really cool walk, and the base of Bow Falls makes a great picnic spot. The trail you follow is a path, not a super intense trail, so it’s good for anyone. Plus, it’s pretty populated, so your chances of running into bears and such is pretty low. Note: it’s not usually open in the middle of winter due to iciness.

If you’re there in winter or fall you can head inside the Banff Spring Hotel and wander through all it’s various nooks and crannies. If you’re an Alberta resident you can usually get a really great deal to stay at the hotel.

Note: to drive into Banff you pay a park fee - I think it’s around $25-30 per car, or $120 a year.

2. Canmore, AB

Canmore is a smaller, less popular version of Banff, but I like it even better. It’s nestled right in the mountains, with tons of hiking trails and amazing scenery. While Main St offers lots of shops, patios and people watching, it’s not as touristy as Banff, so it’s a bit easier to relax and enjoy the scenery. Canmore is also home to the Nordic Centre where world-class cross-country skiers train in winter, and it becomes a mountain biker’s haven in sumer.

Extra bonuses: You don’t have to pay the park fee to get into Canmore, and it’s also about 20 minutes closer to Calgary than Banff.

View from a patio on Main Street in Canmore, August 2012.

Rafting Down The Bow River

A favourite summer pastime of Calgarians is rafting down the Bow River right through the centre of the city. Make sure your ‘raft’ is water-worthy and have a car parked where you intend to get out of the water (or a plan to get back to home base). Some areas of the Bow can be a bit rough, so do some research before you go.

Millenium Park

If you happen to bring your skateboard to Calgary check out Millenium Park right downtown. It is the largest free 24-hour outdoor skate park in North America. It has over 75,000 square feet of skateable surfaces. And, if you prefer to just watch like me, there’s lots of grassy areas to watch everyone from kids to pros hit the rails, bowl and full pipe.

Outdoor Skating

I most often visit Calgary in the winter months for the Holidays and one of my personal favourite things to do is to go skating outdoors at Bowness Park! If you bring your own skates and hot chocolate thermos it’s completely free. It’s a great big outdoor rink on a pond and also has some smaller ‘trails’ along the stream that runs through the park. The mountains serve as the perfect winter backdrop.

Neighbourhoods

In the last few years, Calgary’s central neighbourhoods have definitely become more interesting and fun. There are some unique shops, restaurants and bars popping up in areas like 17th ave (aka The Red Mile), Kensington, Mission and Inglewood. During the summer months there are lots of street festivals like Lilac Fest (Misson) and Inglewood Sunfest to check out.

Fave Free Things To Do in Los Angeles Area

Fri, 20 Jul 2012 14:27:00 -0400

Ok, so I really could go on with this list for awhile since there is so much happening in LA and the surrounding area, but I’ve tried to narrow it down to a few of my fave freebies.

Griffith Park and Griffith Park Observatory

Griffith Park has some great trails, and amazing views of Los Angeles and the iconic Hollywood sign. The Griffith Park Observatory has some of the best views and you may recognize it because it was a feature location in the James Dean flick, Rebel Without A Cause.

View of the Hollywood sign from Griffith Park - June 2011

Griffith Park Observatory - June 2011

View of LA from the observatory

Santa Monica Pier and Beaches

The pier has some awesome views, plus the ferris wheel synonymous with Santa Monica. In person the pier/ ferris wheel does seem smaller than on the big screen, but it’s still a great place to stroll, people watch and stop for some photo ops. The beaches around the pier are surprisingly wide with lots of space to stretch out in the sand and people watch.

My view of the ferris wheel, June 2011

Boardwalk From Santa Monica to Venice Beach

It’s more fun to rent a bike to travel down the boardwalk between the Santa Monica pier and Venice Beach, but if you want to do free it’s definitely walkable. In Venice Beach you’re right next to the ocean, plus have tons of entertaining people watching and artisan stalls to peruse. It’s a little more bohemian than some of the more chic areas in LA and there are some characters strutting the boardwalk. Plus there really is a muscle beach with ridiculously buff, tanned people working out oceanside.

Pacific Coast Highway

The drive from Santa Monica to Malibu along the Pacific Coast Highway is pretty awesome, with some spectacular views of cliffs overlooking the water. Not to mention, some fancy real estate. It’s definitely fun to roll down the windows, take in the California sun and some views. There are a few places you can stop along the drive for photo ops.

Hollywood Walk of Fame

You can definitely kill an afternoon celebrity spotting on the sidewalk. Plus check out the handprints at Graumann’s Chinese Theatre along the walk. My personal fave was John Wayne.

Me With John Wayne

How is Gwen Stefani 42?! She looks...

Tue, 17 Jul 2012 10:34:00 -0400

How is Gwen Stefani 42?! She looks amazing!

universalmusiccanada:

No Doubt is BACK with Settle Down!

When I see the mockup for a long awaited album cover of an artist...

Fri, 13 Jul 2012 09:17:00 -0400

and it’s just a generic photo of them

whathappensinthemusicbiz:

I’m like

Fave Free Things To Do In Algarve Portugal!

Fri, 06 Jul 2012 13:23:00 -0400

The Algarve region of Portugal is one of the most beautiful coastal areas I’ve had the pleasure of travelling. Basically it covers from Lagos to Tavira with lots of amazingness in between. Check out a map of the area. I was lucky enough to stay in Albufeira in early 2012 and check out many of the surrounding areas.

Beaches!

Literally one of the most beautiful beaches I have ever seen has got to be Praia de Marinha beach near Carvoeiro. It is a majestic cove beach and the views from above are just as spectacular as down on the beach. I’ve personally never seen a cove beach quite like it, so it’s a pretty unique experience. My photos don’t even do it justice.

After you park your car and take in the views from up top, there’s a staircase that makes it easy to get down to the beach. There’s a little canteen with snacks and drinks that’s open seasonally, but otherwise it’s like your own private beach paradise.

It is a bit of a maze to get to this beach, just follow the signs that say Marinha with pictures of water or umbrellas. You probably shouldn’t rely entirely on your GPS, we found ours had a lot of trouble in these more remote area of Portugal.

Shopping and Markets

There’s a great town square and shopping area in Albufeira overlooking the beach and the water. Tons of shops with local goods, as well as touristy knick-knacks. The streets are all cobblestone and the buildings have been around for centuries, so you really do feel transported back in time. There’s also a great beach to walk, and restaurants overlooking the beach and the water. Though I suppose it’s not free, take a break on a patio overlooking the beach and sample some local fare like Piri Piri chicken, but be careful it’s spicy!

When an artist says they want it to happen organically

Mon, 02 Jul 2012 23:59:31 -0400

hahahaha so true!

whathappensinthemusicbiz:

I’m like (good luck with that)

Thanks for the idea submission AA! (I love finding sweet Dwight gifs)

When someone wants to brand an artist as "edgy"

Fri, 29 Jun 2012 00:33:11 -0400

I love this entire tumblr, but have definitely personally experienced this one before!

Music industry pals if you haven’t checked out this tumblr blog yet, do yourself a favour and do, so accurate. haha

The music industry has made me hate the word edgy.

whathappensinthemusicbiz:

I’m like

Fave Free Things To Do In Sydney, Aus

Thu, 28 Jun 2012 10:42:00 -0400

It’s been a few years since I had a chance to visit Sydney, Australia, but it was one of my fave stop offs on my 2007 Australian tour.

What are your fave free things to do in Sydney?

Manly Walks

Probably one of my personal all time fave free things was a walk around the coastline of Sydney suburb, Manly - so breathtaking! You can easily get to Manly on one of the commuter ferries leaving Sydney, and there are a variety of different walks you can take once you get there.

We did the 10km Manly to Spirit Bridge scenic walk and it had so many amazing views. They did warn us it would take 2-3 hours, but it took us more like 4 because we stopped to take so many pictures. There aren’t really any places to stop for water or snacks along the way, so be smarter than us and bring your own, and don’t forget to wear comfy shoes.

Below are some photos from our walk:

Royal Botanic Gardens, Opera House & Sydney Harbour Bridge

Sydney has some of the largest and most lush public gardens I’ve seen. You can walk around the beautiful botanic gardens all along the waterfront and check out the view of the bridge and the famous Opera House. On a nice afternoon bring a picnic lunch and hang out near the main pond with views of the city and the water. Depending on the time of year you may even see some bats hanging from the trees :)

Map of the gardens

Kind love this. Kittehs as Run...

Tue, 26 Jun 2012 21:41:12 -0400

Kind love this. Kittehs as Run D.M.C.

thekittencovers:

Run-C.A.T.

Fave Free Things To Do in Vancouver

Fri, 22 Jun 2012 12:22:00 -0400

Travelling does not always have to cost a ridiculous amount. I’m going to be posting some of my fave free things to do in cities around the world.

This week is Vancouver - one of my favourite places to visit, such a beautiful city!

Freebies in Van City:

Stanley Park

A walk around the sea wall in Stanley Park - some of the most beautiful scenery in Canada and a great way to spend an afternoon. Wear comfy shoes and bring some snacks if you want to stop and relax along the walk.

Picture from my walk along the sea wall…

Granville Island

Lots of shops with unique and handmade goods, flowers and food in the market. Great waterside tables and seating where you can chill with a book or people watch.

Granville Island (June 2011)

Beaches

Any of the great city beaches - have a picnic at sunset! Some of my personal faves are Kitsilano and Sunset, or anywhere along the sea wall.

My friend Darran and I had a picnic at this beach that last time I was in Vancouver (June 2011)