CaféRésonance on Parc and Fairmont is an artist-run, live jazz venue serving up good value vegan eats and superlative coffee for Mile End connoisseurs. Owner Peter Steiner explains that the café is designed to support the jazz and not the other way round. “This concept belongs to Martin Heslop and Colin Power, they are my co-owners. The idea was bounced around at a jam session at Grumpy’s bar and originally it was to be an alternative performance space to current locations – where you often have to pay stage rental and audition multiple times and so much is about who you know rather than what you know.” Martin’s original idea was of a performance venue alone, perhaps supplemented by a bar or café, but as Peter points out, the jazz crowd is often older, and coming out for an evening performance they generally also look for something to eat. That fit in very well with Colin’s experience at Picollo Café in New York. “He’d been looking to run his own place for some time,” says Peter, “Where he could have final say in the quality of food and coffee provided.”
