Jock: Chris B

Chris Barnatt

A bio? Well, as I was born on a late December morning, I became immediately adapted to the cold winter. By adapted I mean, I learned that clothing is essential for survival. I've lived in the Niagara Region for my entire life, with the bulk of that spent in the Garden City of Saint Catharines, where I currently reside. Growing up as a child I could be found riding my Big Wheel up and down the street for hours, or digging for dinosaur bones in the driveway, and then later at the rockpile downtown. I was introduced to music at a young age, and despite my parents best efforts, I grew up with what I consider a good taste in music. There's only so much Anne Murray a man can take before he needs to be excused...

Chris' Raves and Favs...

1) A Trip for Ice Cream:? On a sunny summer day, tell me a better place to go for ice cream than the Avondale Dairy Bar in Niagara On The Lake.? You can see the silo from a mile away, and nothing beat the sun back like a scoop of Tiger ice cream.? Licorice and Orange.? Who knew?

2) A Trip for French Fries:? I've gotta agree with Mike; Jake's Chips right off the corner of Queen and St. Clair in downtown Niagara Falls is waaaaaaaay too close to the station for my own good.? You get a toothpick to grab them, but fingers mean I get fries faster.

3) Instant Info:? Is there anything the internet CAN'T do?? If there's something you need to find out, look up, talk about, watch, listen to, and waste time with, the internet has it all covered.? If you're stuck starin' at a screen all day, at least you can find something to enjoy.? When the boss isn't looking, of course.

4) Free Fireworks:? Whether it's down in Port Dalhousie on Canada Day, or just about every night over Niagara Falls, anything that loud and bright usually costs you something.? Like when my engine caught fire.? Well, maybe not fire, but smoke.

5) The Niagara Gorge:? More than one person has looked down the steel steps and had to hold the hand rail, but once you get on the path beneath the trees and close to the water, it's hard to imagine that the buzz of Clifton Hill is a 5 minute drive away.

6) Workin' the Grill:? Something about food made over a bar-b-q (or an open fire) makes it taste 10 times better than fryin' it up inside on the range. Why are most of my raves about food?

7) Open Windows:? Hear me out.? If you're having a bad day, open a window. Fresh air (whether it's raining or not) just seems to wake you up.? But you don't have to lean out and scream how mad as hell you are.? Unless that'll make you feel better too.

8) Drive In and Watch:? Something about watching a movie outside is so much cooler, and the Can-View at the corner of the 406 and Highway 20 is no exception.? Any movie theatre that has a small tornado hit around the time it's showing Twister has GOT to be good.

9) Sports:? It doesn't matter when, it doesn't matter where, and it doesn't matter for how long.? If there's a chance to talk, play, or watch them, I'm in.? And that means anything.? Yes, I'll talk about figure skating.? Just don't ask me to try anything other than the classic "Chair-Skate" or the "Grab-The-Boards-To-Slow-Down" moves.? I keep my helmet close.

10) The Beach:? Whether it's Sherkston, Crystal or Port, sand + water + sun = as close to the Dominican as most of us can get.? Just think, if I could open my window at a drive in at the beach while I cooked some meat on the grill with a recipe I found on the net, it'd be a pretty good day.? Until I burnt myself and got the car stuck in the sand.? Maybe I'll just stick to the beach.