Shortly after I became manager of the Creative Team at KPMG, the group moved into the brand new Scotia Plaza tower, then renowned for being the tallest building tower in Toronto (First Canadian Place had more floors but Scotia Plaza was taller!) You may have heard of Scotia Plaza in Toronto because it was the tower that was used in several scenes in the famous movie Three Men and a Baby, with Tom Selleck, Steve Guttenberg, Ted Danson. They filmed during the construction phase at Scotia Plaza because Peter Mitchell, played by Tom Selleck was an architect on that project.
Tragedy hit both the filming and construction when two of the construction workers were horrifically killed in the elevator shaft; there was talk of the elevator safety system failing and the elevator ‘fell’ upwards, crushing the men to death. I can’t find documentation of this (before the internet) but I seem to recall that filming and construction were suspended for investigations. We moved into the tower well after completion, in fact, it had been up and running for quite some time, and not without incidence.
Working late in the tower meant enjoying the quiet solitude because the HVAC systems were on a timer and unless you called down and requested to have the AC/Heat left on, it went dead silent around 6:30pm; that meant that you could hear a pin drop, it also meant that you were able to hear the creaking, groaning and moaning attributed to the steel supports within the structure. Or was it? I have to admit that I had several occasions to work late, well past the hustle and bustle and the HVAC timer, but other than my imagination, I felt nothing out of sorts — until that strange morning.
Scotia Plaza has several banks of elevators and I believe they were set up piggy back so that you always had two elevators moving, one servicing the even floors and one for the odd floors in of banks of 10. Fortunately for me, I worked on the 53rd floor so my floor was at the beginning of the bank of 10, so I never had to experience the ‘milk run’. That fine morning, I had popped downstairs to pick up some dip for a gathering and was returning to my office around 10am. It was passed the rush hour but people were starting to emerge for their morning coffee. I was waiting for the elevator with one gentleman. The elevator arrived and we both stepped in. I pushed the 53rd floor and he pushed 55. The doors closed and the elevator began to move. Now these elevators are super fast, it’s just seconds to reach the 50th bank, it’s not at all uncommon to have your ears pop as you ascend. The count-down to your floor doesn’t start until you reach your particular bank, and then it beeps every time a floor is passed. Beep 51, Beep 53, Beep 55 and then nothing WITHOUT stopping! As we approached the top level of our bank, the elevator slowed thank goodness. We tried pressing buttons to stop the elevator to get out, but it had a mind of its own and continued. At 61, it slowed down and almost stopped but then decided to return to ground level, fortunately for us, at normal speed. At ground level the doors opened and we emerged pale-faced and totally freaked out. I stepped out determined not to get into that particular elevator again and took the next one up without incident. The remainder of my tenure at Scotia Plaza was uneventful.
I couldn’t help but think if this little prank was the creation of the two men who died in the very elevator banks in that building; I guess we’ll never know. But I do know that if I had made a home-made dip, I wouldn’t have had to go down to the concourse that morning.
This dip comes from my friend Charlie (Hotly Spiced) way down in Australia; she made it as part of three vegan dips for her daughter’s 19th birthday (which is ridiculous, as she barely looks 19 herself!). I was at my brother’s cottage in Muskoka when I read this delicious recipe and knew I had to try it. Of course, all the ingredients were available because of the Hollywood connection, unlike our cottage stores which are run by deer and chipmunks!
I only made a few alterations but I suggest you take a look at Charlie’s lovely blog, she always has a story that will make you laugh! Please excuse the photo, it was a quick decision but such a delicious recipe I had to post. Perhaps in the near future I will update the hideous shot!
Artichoke and Parmesan Dip
Serves: 8-10
Ingredients:
- 500 g jar of marinated artichokes, drained
- 1 generous tbsp salted capers, rinsed
- rind of 1 lemon, plus juice of 1/2 lemon
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus 1 tbsp for garnish
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
Directions:
- Add everything BUT 1 tbsp Parmesan Cheese and a pinch on lemon rind into a small blender and blend until smooth.
- Garnish with 1 tbsp Parmesan and lemon rind.
- Serve with rice crackers (to make it gluten free).
That would have unnerved me to no end. I don’t like riding in elevators as it is (and I do it several days a week) but to go fast without stopping, that would have me shaking for sure. I love this dip. We’ve been eating a lot of vegan recipes and Charlie’s dips have definitely been on our radar.
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Thanks Kristy, fortunately it was an isolated incident. The tangy artichokes really make a wonderful dip.
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Such a great story!! Nerve wracking indeed. I love that dip too.
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Thanks Minnie.
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Oh how nerve wracking!! I haven’t had any lift incidents (touch wood) yet but I can imagine how unnerving they would be!
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Hi Lorraine, yes a whacky elevator is unnerving for sure.
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Lovely combo, i guess the dip is just perfect for my roasted cauliflower too….
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Hi Dedy, that dip would be PERFECT with your roasted cauliflower for sure!
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I’ve never really felt 100% comfortable in elevators, Eva, and, after reading this, it looks like I’ll be skipping the Scotia Plaza part of the Toronto Tour. Death by elevator is not nearly as poetic as death by pasta and I’ll opt for the latter, thank you very much. Charlie’s dip caught my eye, too, Eva. I love a good artichoke dip and this would definitely be one. 🙂
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Hi John, I haven’t had to use an elevator regularly for almost 10 years so it would be rather nerve racking for me too!
The dip is lovely because all of the ingredients are in my pantry anyway so it’s very easy and quick to put together.
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Thanks so much for your kind words, Eva and it’s so nice of you to make my dip! Trust me now, I woke up this morning feeling older than God and oh how I wish I did look like I was 19. How shocking to be crushed to death by an elevator! What a terrible way to go. And I have been locked in an elevator with a mind of its own and I think we were locked in it for about an hour. I was 12 years old and with my little sister who started crying saying we were going to run out of air! (Dramatics run right through the family) The lift kept going up down up down, speeding and slowing and finally it let us out. Not good! xx
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Hi Charlie, wow your story certainly trumps mine, to be locked in for over an hour would be horrific. I’m glad my experience was short.
It was my pleasure to make your dip, and my family loved it, thank you for posting it.
I can’t imagine you feeling older than God, but it made me laugh!
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That is a very scary experience! I cannot imagine if it was supernatural or not, though it does sound completely out of the normal elevator experiences I’ve heard of…
On a nicer note, this dip sounds fantastic 😀
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
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Thank you so much CCU, it was rather frightening. Yes indeed the dip is quite lovely, and rather easy to make.
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Yikes, I hate the thought of being stuck in an elevator, even if only momentarily. Great recipe from Charlie! Thanks for sharing.
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Hi Lizzy, it was a scary moment or two while the elevator did its own thing and fortunately it didn’t happen again.
I love that all the ingredients are in my home pantry anyway.
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Eva, I love this dip! It sounds excellent, original and can be made with canned food! The story sounds really scary… You know I never enter a lift without being slightly scared of ending up closed… but I have never thought it might go up to the roof!
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Hi Sissi, that’s the lovely thing about the dip is that you can easily have the ingredients on hand and look like a gourmet when you serve it.
That accident was the only one of its kind that I know, I suspect that the city made the elevator companies put in more safety features after that.
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Now I dare not to use elevator any more…at least, not alone..
The dip looks so inviting!
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Thank you kindly Angie, fortunately there were always a lot of people waiting for the elevators.
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I love Charlie’s blog and she’s as much fun in person. You must come down! 🙂
That’s a creepy elevator story and not one I’d like to experience. This dip? I’m ready to try that soon!
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Thanks so much Maureen, indeed Charlie’s blog is quite a good read.
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Agree Charlie’s blog is fun and very entertaining. Love artichoke and this dip is so easy. After that experience, I don’t think I would enter one of those elevators alone.
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Hi Norma, yes that experience spooked me but fortunately the elevators were usually quite crowded. The dip is so simple and can be put together in a pinch if you have drop ins!
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I love artichoke dip. The scary elevator trip … not so much.
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Hi Maria, artichoke is one of my favourites too.
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I never had a creepy elevator experience at SP but I guess I didn’t work in that space for very long. I did love the view from up there though. Love the look of this dip. Will tuck the recipe away for the holidays.
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Hi Barb, it was an isolated incident thank goodness but I remember it as if it happened yesterday! The dip was very tasty and quite easy to put together; I will stock the ingredients in my pantry for the holidays too.
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