The City and Its Many Spices

There are two distinct meanings of the word 'spice'. The first, more traditional, but banal, definition refers to the noun form of 'spice', which is used to flavor food. But 'spice' as a verb takes on a completely different meaning, especially when used outside of the kitchen. To 'spice' something is to add an interesting or piquant quality to make it more exciting. It follows that the adjective 'spicy' can refer to something flavored with spice, or, more provocatively, to something that is lively, spirited, salacious and colorful - i.e. all that a city should esteem and strive to become.

Urban spice is to the city's personality what curry powder is to Indian cuisine. It is as integral to a city's character as mustard seeds are to any mustard condiment, or as coriander (which I DESPISE) is to any traditional pad thai. The point is that nobody wants to eat curry-less curry, or mustard-less mustard (but devout coriander haters like myself would probably argue that pad thai is better off without the coriander). Put even more simply, nobody wants to live in an un-spicy city. Because spice is the urban quirk that defines what otherwise would be a vapid city. And because spice is, for all intensive purposes, that special touch that gives any city its individual charm and personality.

An example would best demonstrate exactly what I mean by 'spice' in the urban context. The city of Montreal, par example, has a dynamic medley of eccentric spices. The Mile End area alone represents a balanced combination of Greek oregano, Jewish 'kosher' (I know that's not a spice, but it's more defining of Jewish cuisine than dill or za'atar), Spanish paprika and parsley, and Portuguese cinnamon and saffron. Less figuratively, however, Montreal is home to other idiosyncrasies that make it an especially spicy city - Bixi Bikes, abnormally long traffic light cycles, undeveloped downtown parking lots (how atypical for a North American city!), Underground City network (it gets REALLY cold during the winters), and bilingual/Euro flair, which is often mistaken for a Parisian-like Francais, aura of superiority. Without these peculiarities that make Montreal truly (Mount-)REAL, the city would regress to its earlier state as a mini mountain with a great university at its foot, surrounded by traffic and people speaking a nuanced, and slightly more cacophonous, version of French.

Spices, in both the literal and allegorical sense, define a city's personality. For this reason, I have chosen to title my blog "The Spicy City" - that is, a city full of life, color and charisma. As a blog about anything urban, The Spicy City will identify and discuss all the spices that personify our cities, ranging from cumin, coriander and convenience stores (or depanneurs as they prefer to call it in Montreal), to highways, hotels and Herbes de Provence. But since all cities have their shortcomings, The Spicy City will also look to find innovative ways to spice things up a little.