Toronto Uncovered

Archive for the ‘Arts’ Category

Feeling proud? Well, maybe that’s because it’s Pride Week here in Toronto! That’s right folks, from June 25^th to July 4^th Toronto pays homage to the rainbow flag. Lots of fun stuff is lined up for this weekend including a street fair with vendors and artisans along Church Street on Saturday and Sunday and of course, don’t forget the 30^th Annual Pride Parade starting at Bloor and Church on Sunday at 2pm. Check out the Toronto Pride website for more details and a handy map of the stages set up as well as the parade’s route.

These festivities can get a little wild so if that’s not your thing organizers have set up a drug and alcohol Free Zone at Paul Kane Parkette (off of Wellesley Street East between Yonge Street and Church Street) for those of you looking to express your pride inconspicuously. The Free Zone will feature a DJ and a stage with live performances, holistic services, green lawn and confidential recovery meetings. A family zone has also been set up as part of Family Pride on the grounds of the Church Street Junior Public School (southeast corner of Church Street and Alexander Street) offering inclusive, family-friendly activities and events.

Have a fun and safe weekend everybody!

In recent years, the faux-vintage indie scene appears to have taken our city by storm.  I cite the replacement of many funky Queen Street shops, specifically between Spadina and University, with chain stores like H&M and Urban Outfitters as my evidence. Don’t get me wrong, I like both those stores but I miss the authentic vintage ambiance of “Old Queen”. Yard sales and flea markets are rare in urban cities, which is a shame because in a world where we’ve become so tech and trend obsessed sometimes a little nostalgic taste of the past can be good for the soul.

Fortunately, St. Lawrence Market is our metropolis’s retro oasis and its located right downtown at Front and Jarvis. It’s all too easy to get swept up in the hustle and bustle of contemporary city life and take for granted many of life’s simple pleasures. Get back down to earth by visiting St. Lawrence as soon as you can and might I specifically suggest you do so on the weekend. After an eventful Friday and Saturday a friend and I spent our lazy Sunday browsing the St. Lawrence indoor and outdoor flea market (Sunday Antique Market).  We came upon many marvels such as antique furniture, funky glassware, rare vinyl, retro albeit fully functional turntables, vintage clothes, watches and jewelry and so much more.


Personally, I was delighted upon the discovery of a box of plush toys that took me right back to my childhood. Finding Care Bears was amazing but I was blown away to stumble upon a My Pet Monster with the cuffs intact. Another great benefit about the flea market is that the vendors are informative without being pushy. They’re also incredibly friendly and funny people to talk to so it’s a great place to go especially if you’re a social butterfly and/or new to the city.

Keep an eye out for celebrity sightings such as Colonel Sanders and Aunt Jemima. Alright, so actually they were just a couple of quirky figurines that we noticed were for sale and as tacky as they were it was still delightfully amusing to discover them amongst the sea of memorabilia.

The flea market will appeal to those of you looking for a bargain or a treasure hunt and, with some vendors selling old stamps and coins, it’s also a collector’s paradise.

Bonjour, mes ami! In a few hours, I am going to be whisked away on a romantic rendezvous to Montreal for the holidays compliments of my new beau but before I leave you, I thought I’d take the time to give those of you staying in Toronto some suggestions on what to do for your Victoria Day long weekend.

If, unlike me, clowns and stilt walkers don’t strike fear into your little heart why not swing on down to Harbourfront Centre (located at 235 Queens Quay East) from the 22^nd to the 24^th between 11am and 5pm for the Toronto International Circus Festival! Other attractions promised include world-class acrobats, fire-eaters, side-splitting comedy, mind-bending daredevil stunts, balloon animals and much more. It’s all free and there will be workshops for kids so take the whole family!

Southeast, the Distillery District (55 Mill Street, near King Street East and Parliament) is hosting their Artisans Spring Craft Show from the 22^nd to the 24^th between 11am and 6pm, rain or shine. Shows like this have a very outdoor flea market setup but the wares for sale are all Canadian made. The exhibitors display hand crafted jewelry, ceramics, soaps, dolls, hats, leather, clothing, gourmet food, textiles, wood furniture, as well as photography, art and sculpture. If you’re in the market for something unique, this will be just the place to find it!

Don’t forget about Ontario Place (955 Lake Shore Boulevard West) which opens for the season with rides, children’s entertainment and fireworks. The park opens on the 22^nd and Victoria Day celebrations will run until the 24th. Weather permitting; fireworks will light up the sky only on Sunday the 23rd at 9:30pm. Admission to and hours for the park are as follows:

Admission:

Adult/Youth – $16.90 + tax

Child/Senior – $11.19 + tax

Prices listed are for Ground Admission which provides access to park wide events and entertainment. Upgrade to a Toronto Star Play All Day Pass to access Ontario Place rides and attractions.

Hours:

Saturday, May 22nd     10am to 6pm

Sunday, May 23rd        10am to 10pm (Remember, fireworks begin at 9:30pm!)

Monday, May 24th       10am to 6pm

You don’t have to pay to see fireworks though if you head down to the Beaches! Fireworks at Ashbridge’s Bay (Lakeshore Boulevard East, just east of Coxwell Avenue) start after 9:30pm on Monday the 24^th but it’s advised on their site to head down much earlier and I can attest to that. I went with friends one year only to be disappointed in learning that they set the skies ablaze a half hour ahead of schedule due to the weather. There’s other benefits to going earlier too. Take a stroll along the sandy beach, do a little shopping or pop in to the restaurants on Queen’s eastern strip. The Beaches are full of hidden gems! A couple of tips: Take the TTC and avoid the traffic or the long search for a parking spot and bring a blanket or sweater because despite the warm weather it can get a bit chilly at night still, especially down by the water!

Well, that’s it for me folks! Have yourselves a lovely Victoria Day long weekend. I’m off to La Métropole! Salut!

Haven’t taken a trip to the windy city yet? Get a move on! Last weekend I toured Chicago for my first time with a couple of good girl friends. It was a girls trip through and through, filled with shopping, eating, dancing and laughing. It was truly a whirlwind of activity, without a minute of downtime to spare.

For anyone thinking about taking a trip to Chicago below is my itinerary, hopefully it inspires you:

Friday:

Friday night we went to a Mexican resto-bar called Mercadito to start our trip with some seriously potent margaritas. This is the only bar I have ever been to where there were full bottles of tequila on the tables and shots as big as my head. Ummm, Awesome! Needless to say, a great way to start off any night!

Post margaritas, mojitos and tequila shots, we made our way to a club called Crescendo. Crescendo reminded me of Embassy (the old System Soundbar). Had we been in Toronto, I would probably have scoffed at the half naked girls dancing on platforms, the mirrors that lined every wall and the wanna-be, wished-it-was “house music”. I find I am far less picky as an out-of-towner and danced to the poorly mixed beats nonetheless. We had fun, but unless you really like the cheesy club scene, it wouldn’t be top on my list.

Saturday:

On Saturday afternoon we went to the Park Hyatt’s NOmI Restaurant in search of some over priced, high-end burgers (aka The Twenty Dolla’ Burger). Unfortunately, this particularly delectable item was no longer on the menu, forcing us to select other over-the-top munchies instead. We ‘settled’ for ‘The Park’ (which is basically a chicken avocado club), an order of Kobi Beef sliders and mini pulled pork sandwiches, served with salads and fried plantain chips. Nothing warms up your stomachs or your wallets quite like a swanky hotel lunch.

Chicago has no shortage of shopping. Whether you’re in search of a Macy’s, Bloomingdale’s or a smaller boutique, you’ll find something to suit your tastes and budget. I picked up some awesome boots from Bloomy’s and a great pair of pants from a boutique called Intermix (highly recommend checking this one out!).

Saturday night we decided to treat ourselves to a steak dinner at Epic, a trendy new restaurant spanning three floors. The top two were lined with booths and large round tables full of diners and daters, while the first floor, reserved for dancers, pumped out classic dance hits from the ’90s. The food was great, but definitely very rich. We ordered a spread of appetizers, most notably the sausage gnocchi and brazed scallops. We were also treated to light appetizers and deserts, compliments of the chef – I love when restaurants shower me with love in the form of free snacks!

After dinner we hit the clubs, and hit them hard. Since bars and clubs in Chicago are either open until 2 or 3 on Fridays and 4 or 5 on Saturdays (depending on their license), we had enough time to hit 3 post dinner spots. The first two, Lumen and Y Bar, were pretty loungy and reminded me of King Street West. The third club, Spy Bar, had much more of an after hours vibe, with DJs JJ Flores and Alex Peace cranking out well mixed house music. I wish I could remember more of the finer details, but all I can tell you is that I danced until I could literally not feel or move my feet any longer. And then it was time to tap out!

Sunday:

Sunday morning we dusted off our 48 hour hangovers, threw on our leggings (have i mentioned lately how much i love leggings?) and sat our danced-out asses down at Kitsch’n, a typical mid-western greasy spoon, comparable to Mel’s or Boom. Our meals were pretty basic but nonetheless delicious. Id suggest hitting this place up if you’re looking for a cheap and cheerful brunch spot.

Before catching our 6:30pm flight, we toured Millenium Park and ogled the beauty that is the Nugget. We even made it to the famous Art Institute of Chicago for a little culture. No matter how hungover and tired you are, this is a MUST! Plus, they have the coolest museum shop Ive ever been in – so many neat and interesting gadgets and doohickeys.

It has taken me 8+ days to get over the partying and sight seeing that was Chicago – truly a great city to visit!

On September 21^st , 2009, the global premier of The Age of Stupid starring Pete Postlethwaite was presented in 32 countries around the world. Tickets for this sold out event at Toronto’s Royal Theatre, were by invite only.  I was fortunate enough to be among the lucky people in the audience.

For those that don’t know, The Age of Stupid is a documentary about climate change. It takes place in 2055 as a survivor (Postlethwaite) describes how changes global temperatures (and the events which caused them) resulted in  resource scarcity, war, and ultimately the end of civilization. Postlethwaite depicts a world where New York and London are underwater; most of the land that remains is torched desert; the polar ice caps are nothing more than a sea of blue; billions are dead due to war and famine; and those that do remain seem to be located in enclosed futuristic modules.

Viewers are taken through snippets of interviews and stories outlining the events leading up to this reality. A hungry aviation entrepreneur in India, a student in West Africa, and an oil and gas researcher in the USA are among those describing their vantage points.

One phrase comes to mind after seeing this film: “Shock and Awe”. The movie does a great job in depicting the message: ‘Do something now or face peril’. The image and message are so shocking that it really leaves one wondering how stupid our collective humanity can be  (hence the title). The movie had such a profound influence on my guest that after the show she came out and said, in a teary voice, “I think it’s selfish for me now to have children now.”

What makes the movie scary is that even though it portrays the worst case scenario, it may not be that far off. It is in the realm of possibility. For decades, scientists have been pushing worst case scenarios of climate change. The Age of Stupid does a great job of capturing the intensity and reality of these scenarios on the big screen.  I’m not sure how probable it is that 2055 will look  the way Pete Postlethwaite describes it, but I can tell you that just by scanning news headlines from the past 5 years,  scarcity of resources (oil & water), and increases in the number of environmental refugees and disasters is an absolute reality. In many ways the movie does give the message to viewers that you are stupid if you don’t realize we are living this reality today !

One big criticism I have about the movie is that it is too much of a “doom and gloom” scenario. There is absolutely no portrayal of hope. We are simply, as a species, going consciously make ourselves extinct. ‘Greed and selfishness will eventually conquer generosity and benevolence’ is an underlying message. Prior to the commencement of the film, a man stood up and gave a small speech (not sure who he was or the title). He said, “if there is one thing to take away from this movie, it is hope”. Well, I missed the boat on that one buddy. I have to say that this movie is the furthest thing from hope. This is, from all the ‘end of the world’ type films out the, the ultimate dooms day movie!

I have always believed that one man’s trash is another man’s treasure. Since the time I was young, I would join my mom in garage sale hunting and spend hours pouring over other peoples unwanted goods. From these trips, I learned to negotiate, haggle with vendors, sniff out deals, and find diamonds in any ruff. Garage sales, yard sales and flea markets still excite me to this day, which is why on many Sundays I can be found wandering around the Sunday Antique Market at the St. Lawrence Market.

The SAM, open from 5am to 5pm,  is housed in the North building at Front St. and Jarvis St. During the warmer months there are  vendors along the sidewalks and also in the smaller fountain area just West of Jarvis.  I usually spend most of my time visiting with the outdoor vendors. They sell beautiful silks, jewellery, vintage designer items, and even some new designer items (like the Dior shades I got this weekend for half the” in-store” price).  The vendors are very friendly and love to chat with their customers, but don’t let that fool you, they are also fantastic sales people.

Aside from clothing and jewellery, you will also find an endless supply of household items: shelving units, antique glassware, fondue sets, pottery, and  collectibles like comic books, stamps and coins. There is no shortage of selection or diversity. Whatever you might be looking for, you will find some variation of it here – guaranteed!

All of the vendors are local to Toronto and the surrounding area, and many own shops around town as well. Most have a story to tell and will engage you as long as you are willing to listen. This is definitely one of my favourite Sunday morning or afternoon pastimes and I rarely leave empty handed.

With TIFF in full swing this weekend, Torontonians had tons of activities to choose from.  Those of us (myself included) looking to escape the TIFF madness were lucky to have some viable options. My escape’s name was the Junction, the stretch of Dundas Street West from Keele to Quebec, and the host of this weekend’s 17^th Annual Junction Arts Festival.

I have been to many street festivals in and around Toronto: Taste of Little Italy, Taste of the Danforth, Cabbagetown Festival and Buskerfest to name a few, however, the Junction Arts Fest was notably different from any of these.  It truly exhibited the artistic nature of the neighbourhood and its inhabitants.  Local artists, like Lavarius and The Fuzionists, displayed their work in booths and on the sidewalks, some creating their pieces of work as we watched. Professional and amateur street performers entertained by-passers with modern and expressive dance moves, using street benches, parking meters and window ledges to gain height and draw attention. Some bands set up on street corners to share their latest tunes with the crowds, while other musical acts like The Beauties and performers like Hip Kik were featured on the main stages. There seemed to be no restrictions on what counted as art or who was labeled as an artist. People were encouraged to express themselves and their art in any way they could.

Smash, a store filled top to bottom with salvage materials, vintage fixtures and other architectural pieces, featured work by Toronto artist Bruno Billio, who takes everyday objects and creates pieces of art by stacking them in intricate or different ways.

The Junction also has a strong eco-friendly “green” culture which is embodied in market shops like The Sweet Potato. The Toronto Hydro exhibit did a great job of marrying the artistic nature of the festival with the passion the community feels towards green initiatives and sustainability.  Their showcase, Straight From the Fridge, was an art exhibit of vintage fridge doors which were transformed by Canadian artists into pieces of modern art. The exhibit went to promote Toronto Hydro’s fridge pick up and recycling program which ensures these old and unwanted appliances are disposed of in an environmentally responsible manner.

Street festivals allow the real character of the community shine through.  As I wandered through the vendors, exhibits and food stands on the blocked off streets I could feel there was a strong sense of support and togetherness. Many of the people there live and/or work in the Junction and have watched the area transform since prohibition was banished in 2000.  The Junction Arts Fest gave store owners an opportunity to connect with their community and introduce themselves to visitors like myself.  It was a great introduction into this up-and-coming area of Toronto, highlighting the talent and inspiration the Junction embodies.