Category Archives: art

luminato celebrates creativity in toronto and the world

16 Saturday Jun 2012

Posted by in art, music

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Lots of good things happen in David Pecaut Square (above is how it looked last night): my International Dance Day dance flashmob was there, and my favourite outdoor cinema, TIFF in the Park, takes place there too. But by far, one of my favourite happenings in this lovely little green space in the heart of downtown Toronto is Luminato, a 10-day festival of arts and creativity meant to reflect the multicultural mosaic of the arts in a city known for its diversity.

The concerts that occur every night in the square, known as the festival hub, feature international and local musicians alike – all for free! Last night, I caught Italian singer-songwriter and rapper Jovanotti at The Hub (pictured below), and couldn’t resist his catchy beats, not to mention his alluring accent! I actually had no clue that he was singing in Italian  –  his cadence just sounded so lyrical and the drumming was so hypnotic, I couldn’t help dancing along with everyone else. Lest I forget the fact that I giggled every time “Toronto” rhythmically rolled out of his mouth! Sigh. I think I’ve a crush.

That’s what’s so great about Luminato. There’s always something new to discover. It sounds clichéd, but it’s true.

And though Luminato isn’t all about music (there also are plays, dance performances, opera, arts exhibits, screenings and readings), the concerts are what I’m inevitably drawn to, as I’m a sucker for an outdoor concert. I swear, I should have pitched my tent in The Hub for all the nights I’ve spent there this past week, from Somali-Toronto rapper K’naan to Stratford, Ont., songstress, harpist and accordionist Loreena McKennitt (shown below), whom I adored back in university.

Considering the competition that music festival NXNE (North by Northeast) and the massive street party that is the MMVAs (MuchMusic Video Awards) give Luminato by running during the latter half of the arts fest (the MMVAs, cohosted by Katy Perry, occurs on the last day), this week Luminato has been my go-to festival for concerts.

Perhaps much of the appeal of Luminato’s concerts is that they’re free, but so too are the MMVAs and many NXNE shows. Perhaps it’s that there’s a world music vibe to Luminato’s international artists – a nice complement to the Canadian musicians.

But I think what really draws me (and others) to the Luminato hub is the green space itself. Being able to listen to a concert while I’m stretched out on the grass, surrounded by trees, with a glowing CN Tower peeking out between illuminated skyscrapers is a relaxing way to take in the musicians, whether they’re well known or a new-found pleasure. That’s what Luminato is to me: an inclusive, welcoming atmosphere in which to enjoy the arts in a way that represents us all.

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What: Luminato, a 10-day festival of arts and culture, which brings together the best artists from Canada and around the globe. 
Where: Throughout downtown Toronto.  The festival hotspot is The Hub, in David Pecaut Square, beside Roy Thomson Hall, near John and King streets.  
When: Mid-June. This year it runs from June 8 to 17.   
Cost: Many events are free, but some are ticketed. Best to buy tickets in advance.
Why: Toronto loves its festivals! This one, now in its 6th year, brings together multiple generations and cultures from across the city.

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geek burlesque: toronto’s underground sexy simpsons burlesque

14 Wednesday Mar 2012

Posted by in art, theatre

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The Toronto Underground Cinema‘s Simpsons-themed geek burlesque (that’s Sky Blew doing a striptease as Duffman, above) brought “before and afters” to a new level Saturday night! Now, I like my share of makeovers, but burlesque is a makeunder – and the Toronto Underground Peepshow is stripped down…with a heaping helping of geek humour! Yes, it’s geek burlesque, or geekesque! First came August’s Marvelesque (revealing Marvel characters), then November’s The Evil League of Sexy (spotlighting smokin’ hot movie or TV villians for kids and adults alike), and this weekend was the soldout We Put the “Spring” in Springfield (featuring your fave Simpsons characters! doh!). After having gone to two geekesques, I must say that I like a man in uniform – and I like him out of uniform, too! Especially Sky Blew.

Back in November at the Toronto Underground Cinema, burlesque virgin Sky Blew indeed blew the crowd away as Jareth in the Labyrinth, with his awesome performance complete with owl costume, and a crystal ball, um, bulking up a certain nether region. (If you’ve seen Labyrinth, you’ll no doubt recall the numerous shots of Bowie’s crotch in tight tights. Watch the video below of Bowie singing “Magic Dance” if you don’t. Watch it even if you do – it’s fun!)

Full disclosure: my 13-year-old self lusted after Bowie as Jareth. Yes, that fact amuses me. It also makes me inclined to favour any guy who can do a bang-on comical impersonation of Bowie/Jareth while undressing in front of hundreds of laughing strangers. I admit, I fancy the fella. Sky Blew, I mean.

duffman burlesque: sky blew knows how to make an entrance


Who is Sky Blew? Who cares! The guy knows how to make an entrance (pun intended)! Dude was inside the construction paper beer can for 2 hours before the big reveal! The Duff can was draped in a black cloth that he teasingly pulled into the top, slowly revealing the Duff can like a gal hiking up her skirt to hitch a ride. Sky Blew seriously turns on the charm, whether in full-on costume (above) or nothing but a G-string (below).

And my gosh, does the dude know how to work the crowd. For his stint as The Simpsons’ Duffman, Sky Blew strategically intercut songs that embodied the character and the idea of burlesque (Yello’s “Oh Yeah,” Right Said Fred’s “I’m Too Sexy” and the Village People’s “Macho Man,” among others) with hilarious voiceovers of Duffman (“Duffman has a bad feeling about this!”). I was in stitches the entire time! He needs his own solo show!!! Note to the Peepshow organizers: Puhleeease talk him into doing a one-man show!

it’s true: i like my geek burlesque

Geekesque. I didn’t coin the term “geekesque,” but I love the play on “geek burlesque.” And there’s nothing I can say to convey how good Sky Blew is at making geek burlesque sooo funny. You just have to watch him. We’re supposed to be laughing at him doing a strip tease, after all, and much of that humour is achieved by the combo of audio and visual. I mean, he kinda looks – dare I say – sexy in this shot, don’t you think? (Maybe you have to like lanky geek boys, which I do.) But what he’s doing above isn’t really sexy or sensual – it’s brawny in a frat boy way: he’s chugging beer to the tune of “Oh Yeah,” after having doused himself à la Jennifer Beals in Flashdance. The pseudo-masculine music makes the scene funny because Sky Blew’s definitely not brawny.

sky blew’s burlesque: you know you wanna watch him

If you weren’t at the Toronto Underground Cinema’s Simpsons burlesque but wish you were, watch this video of Sky Blew’s Duffman striptease! It’s sooo NSFW, but I promise, your sides will hurt from laughing so hard.
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What: Toronto Underground Cinema‘s geek burlesque
Where: Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Underground Cinema is in the basement of a condo at 186 Spadina Ave. (just north of Queen Street).
When: The geekesque Toronto Underground Peepshow is held every few months. Each show’s theme is revealed during the previous show, so you have plenty of time to pitch your idea, if you’re so inclined to perform.
Cost: This last burlesque was $12 in advance and $15 at the door.
Why: While it’s not to everyone’s taste, it’s too, too funny to dismiss. And the state of undress depends on the performer – it’s not all G-strings and tassels!

why i adore… le carnaval de québec night parades

24 Friday Feb 2012

Posted by in art, outdoors, photography, travel

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Brrr. This Canuck hates to admit it, but she never knew cold till she spent a full day gallivanting outside in Quebec City, culminating in the Carnaval de Québec‘s spectacular night parade. Not that I’m a stranger to outdoor winter activities – I’m a nordic skier, after all. But when I attended Quebec’s Carnaval de Québec (Quebec Winter Carnival) a couple of years ago, I majorly underestimated just how “cold” the cold in Quebec City is!

I’d checked the weather for Quebec the day before, and it was comparable to Toronto – but I swear, it felt a good -20°C colder in Quebec! With all my layers of wool and thermals and fleece and Sorel boots, I still lost feeling in my toes and fingers after mere minutes outside exploring the action on the Plains of Abraham near Vieux-Quebec (the Old Town). Weirdly enough, I was relatively toasty packed tight with onlookers watching the night parade a short bus ride away. Maybe I was warmed by the excitement generated by the spectators, from families with wee ones to groups of adults. Or maybe I was so dazzled by the marching bands, clowns and the fun, illuminated floats to notice my extremities going numb. And who could blame me? Take a peek below of my favourite floats!

This, obviously, isn't part of the parade! It's a pic of me in front of the World's Largest Snowbank – on someone's lawn, no less. Can you spot the top of the chimney hidden behind the snowbank? It's no joke that Quebec City gets loads of snow and is frickin' freezing. As I said, I was actually pretty warm during the parade because we were packed tight trying to get a clear view of the floats, but, dang, look at that ginormous snowbank. That's normal in Quebec! I so wanted to slide down it, as the kids were doing.

To me, the night parades – yes, there are two! – are always the highlight of Quebec City’s winter carnival (or carnaval, en français), which dates to 1894. Carnaval takes place annually from the end of January to mid-February as a celebration leading into Lent. It occurs over three weekends, with some activities – like snow and ice slides, dogsled rides, snow rafting and giant table soccer games – also happening during the weekdays in between, for a total of 17 days of festivities ending on the Sunday before Mardi Gras. (Here’s a little tidbit for you: Until 1972, the dates were set according to the Gregorian calendar, and the carnival ended on Mardi Gras). The world-famous night parades take over the second and third Saturday of Carnaval, and they’re totally worth checking out. But remember, dress warm! And you can never have enough hand and toe warmers. Never. Enough. Trust me.

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What: Night parades at Quebec City’s Carnaval de Québec (Quebec Winter Carnival), a Mardi Gras-style 17-day winter carnival
Where: Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. The first night parade occurs in the Lower Town (Charlesbourg), on the second Saturday; the second parade takes place in the Upper Town on the third Saturday. Parade routes will be available online starting January 2013.
When: The 59th edition of Carnaval runs February 1-17, 2013. Yes, I know that’s a year away, but it pays to be aware and prepared! The night parades will take place on February 9 and 16 at 7 p.m.
Cost: The parades are FREE! However, if you want to participate in other Carnaval festivities, you’ll have to purchase a Bonhomme Effigy (a figurine of Bonhomme, the carnival’s snowman mascot). In 2012, the Effigy cost $12.
Why: The night parades are colourful and energetic – for both kids and adults!

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For more on Le Carnaval de Québec
and winter fun in Quebec, check out…
Chilling in the Cool Hôtel de Glace
Say “Bonjour” to the Cool Carnival
Knuk & Bonhomme: My Favourite
Unexpected Site at Carnaval



ps your mystery sender (love!)

09 Thursday Feb 2012

Posted by in art, fashion, film, inspiration

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Last night, I saw the doc Calvet as part of Doc Soup, Hot Docs‘ monthly documentary screening series here in Toronto. Intense film, but, gosh, what’s stuck in my head is the short before Calvet: Benjamin Wigley‘s PS Your Mystery Sender. The quirkiest snippet of a film. I wish…I wish it were longer than its wee 9 minutes. It’s about Paul Smith. The Paul Smith! U.K. fashion designer Paul Smith. And how someone has been sending him random objects in the post for 20 years. No boxes. Just unwrapped seemingly random items creatively plastered with relevant postage stamps (a surfboard mailed with stamps of the ocean) and marked with his address, but no return addy. And he has no clue who’s been sending them. Items like an E.T. doll, a football, an orange safety pylon with “happy birthday” written inside the cone (LOVE!!!), a dressmaker’s judy, a watering can, a diorama of his studio…the list goes on. I sooo want to mail him something myself, but I don’t know how it could clear customs unwrapped. You could try it yourself, though. His addy is: 40-44 Floral St., Covent Garden, London, England WC2E 9DG. Tempting, very tempting, no? You can watch the whimsical trailers above and below – I dare you not to smile!

 

 

the joy of books

09 Monday Jan 2012

Posted by in art, film, inspiration, words

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This video makes me want to live at Type Books, or at least have a sleepover there! The owners of the independent Toronto bookstore are clearly celebrating the joy of books. Not e-books, not e-readers: books. Physical. Tactile. Pages you can curl up with, dog-ear, write on, smell. A bold, solid-colour hardcover or pretty paperback. I could never give up reading or buying paper books. I like having my own to read again and again – sometimes just a phrase or a scene (Michael Ondaatje‘s novel The English Patient), other times cover to cover (humourist A.J. Jacobs’ memoir The Know-It-All). Books elicit happiness, sadness, anger, dread, frustration, understanding. And in this whimsical stop-motion video, made by the lovely owners of Type, books truly bring us joy.

What: Type Books
Where: 883 Queen St. W., Toronto, Ont., 416-366-8973;
427 Spadina Rd., Toronto, Ont., 416-487-8973
Why: Did you watch the video???

winter solstice parade explodes with excitement

27 Tuesday Dec 2011

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Last week, I mentioned Red Pepper Spectacle Arts’ annual Kensington Winter Solstice parade, formerly called the Festival of Lights, in Kensington Market. Here’s a selection of pics I took in Alexandra Park, where parade participants – toting handmade paper lanterns – congregated around a gigantic papier-mâché hand and a colourful collection of talented musicians and dancers.

The celebration was filled with dancing, music and loads of fabulous handmade lanterns, including this cute coon.

One of the cutest lanterns of the evening! Now, this is a raccoon I wouldn't mind meeting in the middle of the night. I couldn't take my eyes off him, all glowing blue (my fave hue – it's true!) and mischievous looking.

About half an hour into the festivities at Alexandra Park, along came the dancers carrying lit torches. They formed a ring around the giant papier-mâché hand. I should have known what they were gonna do next!

As the dancers were readying the torches, the crowd went wild, waving and dancing and hollering. Even more lanterns seemed to pop up!


Then the smoke started...

And suddenly the papier-mâché hand, which was holding a heart shape, was ablaze, and cheers spread across the crowd like wildfire. (Pfft. I had to!!)

Sparks were flying, the crowd got even more excited, and the celebration culminated in an awesome light show and drumming circle.

winter solstice (or let’s skate, toronto)

20 Tuesday Dec 2011

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My first skate of the season! OK, so I'm not actually in this pic, as I was behind the cam, but I was having just as much fun as those people gliding across the ice, trying not to fall.

Sadly, I’m spending the holidays here in Toronto. No, no, it’s not so bad. Spending the holidays last year in Costa Rica was divine, but as I’ve said before, I missed all the fun and family time in the Great White North while I was hiking great wild jungles in the south. But this year, we’re sorely lacking in snow here in T.O. Though it has been unseasonably warm (Toronto’s warmer than Texas and L.A.!), that hasn’t stopped peeps from having winter fun. Witness the families speeding around the rink at Nathan Phillips Square this past weekend. Somewhere in that crowd is the lovely lady who nearly gave me a black eye and bloody nose when she suddenly threw her arms out, whacking me in the face as she tried to catch her balance. And, yes, I was laughing along with her, cracking a joke that I don’t really need these glasses to see….

My goal for the holidays, aside from spending as much time with my family as possible, is to hit the rink every day. By no means am I a good skater, mind you. On Saturday, I had to ask a kind gentleman to hold my hand so I could step down onto the ice! And I had a few near collisions too – as the collidee, not the collider. But it’s always a hoot to try not to fall while feigning graceful glides (in my mind, I resemble a speed skater), and watching others fall funny or make every attempt not to fall is def good for a giggle.

So a-skating I will go before I head over to Kensington Market on Wednesday, Dec. 21, with my lantern in hand, ready to join the annual winter solstice parade. Winter solstice, symbolic of rebirth, marks the shortest day and longest night of the year, when the sun’s maximum elevation is at its lowest. Organized by Red Pepper Spectacle Arts, the parade in Kensington is a tradition, and many participants come prepared with a lantern made at Red Pepper’s PWYC lantern-making workshop the weekend before winter solstice. Be warned, this isn’t a parade that you watch from the sidelines – the route is usually so packed and the parade moves so slow, there’s really no room for folks to merely watch. And unless you’ve snagged yourself a prime rooftop perch, it’s ever more fun to join in the parade and light up the night!

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What: Kensington Market Winter Solstice parade
Where: Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The parade starts at the corner of Oxford Street and Augusta Avenue, proceeding through the market and ending in Alexandra Park at 8 p.m.
When: Wednesday, December 21, 2012, 6:30 p.m.
Bonus: Bring your lanterns and noisemakers.
Dress in colourful costume. Go with the flow!

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Ohh! Fire! Take a look at
how vibrant the parade
was in person…
Winter Solstice Parade
Explodes with Excitement

Check out Nathan Phillips Square
at night…
Skating in the Rain