Busy Weekend

Toronto will be very busy this weekend with the culmination of two events in the city -- Culture Days and Nuit Blanche. The latter event is a celebration of art with instillations set up all over the city. It has been a few years since I last attended. In fact I haven't visited since the inaugural event back in 2006. It brings back a lot of memories of how new and fresh the event was back then. Event organizers were new at it and still working out the kinks.
http://www.scotiabanknuitblanche.ca/


I'm not sure what Culture Days is exactly but it appears to be a free for all event that attempts to bring the city together through 'culture'.  Think I'll check 'em both out this weekend. Why not?

EdgeWalk

Call me boring but the idea of dangling outside the observation deck of the CN Tower is not my idea of fun. But at $170 a pop you can have the chance to do just that. The EdgeWalk will make its debut on August 1st and already thousands have signed up to lean over the edge secured by what looks like a flimsy bungee cord. I have heard that to conquer your fears you have to face them head on. No way Jose!!! It is the thrill of a lifetime and of course every news reporter from CTV News to Global News have done this daring and foolish feat. I don't know why. Maybe it was written somewhere in their contract ... Must dangle from the side of the CN Tower or be fired.  Anyway kudos to the brave souls who tried it. I will forever look up to them.

In the Kitchen

With festivals taking over the streets of Toronto, the opportunity to sample international cuisine is a step away. Taste of the Danforth and the Brazilfest are just some of the samplings that are available this year as well as a great new cooking show that is scheduled to take over the CBC tomorrow--"In The Kitchen". I simply cannot wait until Montreal cooking sensation Stefano Faita starts making culinary magic. Faita is a chef who will find his way to many hearts with simple recipes.

To attend a free taping of the show, go to   http://www.cbc.ca/inthekitchen .


Bon Appetit.

Dean Bradley's Book Launch

Last week I attended a book launch by Canadian photographer Dean Bradley. His book is a collection of photographs that he took of various market places around the world. Beautiful snaps include the Middle East. Gorgeous stuff. The venue, 2nd floor of the St. Lawrence Market in Toronto, was gorgeous as well.

Here's Dean Bradley!

 His book is self-published and he hopes to have copies in Chapter's bookstores soon.

TD Toronto Jazz Festival

I just attended the fantastic 25th TD Toronto Jazz Festival last week and saw some great performances by Molly Johnson, the Count Basie Orchestra, Randy Weston, David Holland Quintet and Mark McLean. I also had the chance to review Lester McLean's latest CD: Lester McLean 4,3,2,1 which you can read over at Sway Magazine .

A wonderful event this year with such diverse artists including The Roots, which you wouldn't necessarily associate with jazz music. But that is the beauty of the festival ... they are bringing in artists with such a wide range of sounds. It is helping to change the way we look at the festival.

Festivals

Here is a summary of exhibits, talks and performances that went on during the Luminato Festival in Toronto last week. Sad to see it all come to an end so quickly. But as they say, all good things must come to an end ...

Celebrate Bloor

Keshia Chante at Celebrate Bloor Street Red Carpet event.

Bloor Street was swathed in red - a la red carpet style. The Celebrate Bloor festival stretched for 3 blocks and the highlight included performances by Kesha Chante and Sean Desmond. Not to mention some beautiful luxury cars were on display for people to ogle at. A few of the Bloor/Yorkville restaurants participated offering some fine cuisine for $5 a plate. There were a few give-aways at participating stores and wonderful sidewalk singers. A nice time to spend in the city . The day before, I attended the 1000 Tastes of Toronto which was part of the Luminato festival, where there was oodles to eat all for $5 a plate. Line ups were long and the sun was hot but the food was delish! Can't wait 'til next year. Hope it is just as good!!!

A Ferrari  takes centre stage at the Celebrate Bloor festival

Luminato

Last night was beautiful. The weather was gorgeous. The sky was clear and a concert was about to begin. As part of the Luminato festival, news of a free performance by kd lang was buzzing. The turnout was magnificent (thousands I would imagine). I thought I would have to wait until the end of her hour-long performance to hear my favorite, Hallelujah, but I was pleasantly surprised when she sang it about the fourth song in. Lang also changed things up considerably with a rocakabilly version of her classic hit "Constant Craving".The acoustics on one speaker was a little out of sync with her performance but I am not going to complain -- it was free after all. A real crowd-pleaser to the end, the performance was fantastic.

Keshia Chante and Sean Desmond will be performing tomorrow at the Celebrate Bloor Street festival tomorrow. Can't wait. Oh yeah, there is the Much Music Video Music Awards in the heart of downtown too.

Doors Open In Toronto

Last weekend was Doors Open in Toronto and what a day it was. Over 100 architectural marvels were open in the city for people to roam and explore. There was so little time to see it all though and I got a late start to the day but managed to visit 6 key places.


This was my first stop, Old City Hall. There were no pictures allowed once I got inside but a 10 minute presentation of the court chambers was provided which made up for that. I asked about going up into the tower but alas, that was not allowed.

... I had to settle for a shot outside instead ...

Then I wandered over to City Hall which was right next door ...

 There wasn't much to see here except this ...

                               ... which is kind of funky.


While waiting for a workshop to begin, I went up to the 25th floor. There is an observation deck where I snapped this faint image of the CN tower. I imagine that if there were gargoyles on the tower, it would look really eerie.

                                                    Then I snapped the skyline ...

I rushed back for the 1pm workshop and waited about 20 minutes for the lomography (avant-garde form of photography) workshop to begin. They had gift bags and manual cameras and a roll of film to take some practice shots but time was ticking so aborted this plan and visited Osgoode Hall next door where I took more pics.

                                                           And more pics ...

                                                         And more pics ...

Not far from Osgoode Hall, I went over to the Campbell House where I saw a gorgeous antique writing desk, feather pen, inkwell and beautiful caligraphy.

On my way to the Canada Life Building I knew I would have to move quickly.

 The line was too long and I just remembered that I had gone to the observation deck 3 years ago which has a breathtaking view of the city so all was not lost. I hopped on the train and ended up at the lakefront where the Redpath Sugar Mill is located. And on the way I couldn't resist this boat ...

There was a long line for the Redpath Sugar Mill where there was a video, small museum, tour of the sugar shack and a few free sugar cookies.

This a mountain of sugar not dirt in the distance.

This is the sugar refinery.

I wound up on Front Street where I couldn't resist another photo of the CN Tower in all its glory. The clouds had lifted by the end of the day and my feet were aching but seeing at least three key landmarks during Doors Open was well worth it. The water filtration plant was on my list of things to see but I never made the trek. There is always next year though ...

Long Time No See

It has been an extraordinarily long time since I blogged on the T-dot but that is not to say there hasn't been a lot going on in town and in my life. I finally graduated with a certificate in Magazine Publishing and I am eating a lot healthier. Another thing that I have done is that I have finished a second draft of a manuscript that was collecting some serious dust in the closet. Things have changed a lot in the city ... we got a new mayor finally ... Rob Ford and TIFF went on  without a hitch. Oh and there was terrible riot which everyone globally was pretty shocked by -- G20. So all in all, life has been good and I am looking forward to reporting on what is going on in the city in regular posts.