I remember talking to DearToronto but forgot he was recording video (testament to how often I visit – but I have him on RSS now!). The video starts with our mini-innyview, but you need to start the video from the beginning to see some pretty awesome costumes (James Fowler! Fembot!).
Category Archives: Toronto
Papa Smurf
What’s in the box, Jokey? What’s in the booooox?
You Want a Peace Of Me?
At the Y, there’s a curious little community building exercise going on: the Peace Tree! Guests (but mostly children) are encourage to write what you think “peace” is on a leaf and add it to the tree!
Apart from the veiled religious diatribes (which I find quite ironic) it has all the comments you’d expect from a regular web forum: some smart utterances to head scratching, WTF? ones. Like so:
There’s the political:
There’s the gaysex (I’m assuming it’s gay because they’re dressed the same, kings or princesses, who can say)
There’s the “That’s Not How It Works” speculator:
And finally my favorite, the Non Sequitir:
Weekend Update
Friday: Bond movie. I was worried that all the gadget porn on the screen (The British have full scale Microsoft Surface computers in MI6!) that people would be flipping open their own inadequate cell phones during the movie. Not one person did, and the movie theatre was packed. As well, no yappy people around us, which was good because this movie moves unapologetically fast so pay attention. I would have to say it’s better than Casino Royale, which makes it my favorite Bond film to date.
Saturday: We both got called into work. SharkBoy was pulling overtime while I had to shoot off an emergency press release for cheap 2 for 1 airline tickets to Australia. I got a day off in lieu so I was happy. I got back home to a big bag of laundry that bitched at me from the hallway the entire time I was on the Xbox.
“Clean me!”
“Fuck you! I’m nearly done this level!”
At 4pm, I walked past the bag of laundry, out the door, to meet SharkBoy and we went off to Imperial tattoo where the finishing touches are all but done on my Sci Fi back piece. Now that the robot is dark again after 10 years of fade, I want the astronaut a tad darker. But I’m going to take a break. The reworking we did was just 12 days after having stuff done so it was super painful. My back still feels like I was dragged behind an Arkansas General Lee truck for a mile or two.
Sunday: We did some selfish Xmas shopping for ourselves. SharkBoy got a belt, a hat and new gloves that popped a button 20 minutes away from the store. I got new gloves from Marks Work Warehouse. It’s obvious our styles are utterly different from each other when it comes to accessories. SharkBoy’s gloves are smooth black leather while mine are flashy white/gray/black skin tight workman’s gloves designed to grip tools. Neither of our gloves operate an iPhone, however. Sharkboy had to make concessions because it was those flashy gloves or the Baseball hat with the LED embedded in the brim.
We were going to head over to the Photogs for a housewarming party but their dog, Mickey, was ill and they cancelled last minute. I’m hoping he’s doing ok today.
Instead we sat at home with a good DVD: The History Channel’s Modern Marvels show about Disney World.
{aside}
Did I mention we’re going back in June 2009 for Gay Days? No? Don’t you read Sharkboy.ca? We’ve rebooked the same hotel (Pop Century), same flights (WestJet) but with an extra day where we might spend at the Kennedy Space Center to look at rockets. But the meat of the week will be oggling bears at Tidal Wave and showing Prop 8 Supporters that Canada’s society hasn’t unraveled due to gay marriages as we wander the parks in our red shirts (I think we’ll be doing different red shirts per park this year). You going? Let us know!
{/aside}
Anyway, one thing I want to mention on the video was one park developer actually choked up when discussing Walt’s death nearly 40 years after his passing. That’s a hell of a boss to make that strong of an impression on a staff. Sort of like Jesusevlis!
That evening, we totally vegged further on the couch and watched bits of Bond films, Amazing Race and a touch of Clone Wars.
Things that made us laugh this weekend:
Impersonating Faye Dunaway. If you get the chance, watch Gia, one of Angelina Jolie’s first movies. Ms Dunaway plays a mumbling, scene chewing Wilhelmina Cooper. Possibly drunk the entire movie shoot. You too can play: mumble for about 20 seconds and then throw in a coherent clear laugh.
Bond Movie Effects Dummies: I’m pretty sure the effects department used the same cloth dummy for View to a Kill and Licence to Kill. Both dummies got thrown from a great height, both had their elbows and knees bend in impossible directions as they floated earthward.
Discerning Tastes
I’ve noticed that lately the hawks that keep the pigeons at bay in Allan Gardens park have been scarce in the last couple months.
I’m about to speculate here. Stay with me.
Hawks go where the food is. After clearing out Allan Gardens, the hawks probably moved on to another pigeon populated area. Where would that be?
Pigeons love puke. They peck at the flecks of food that are found in the splatter of human spew. I know you know this to be true. Pigeons eating puke is one of those urban things that makes me laugh and gag at the same time.
Where is the puke? Why the Entertainment District, of course! Brightly coloured puddles containing $7 drinks mixed with $20 entrees, blossom nightly on the street corners and gutters of this wildly popular area of nightclubs, bars and restaurants. It’s not that much of a stretch to think the birds would be moving on down there, they’d be stupid not to! Most of the restaurants are high end so pigeons get a nice lobster dinner, in manageable peck-sized servings! And imagine the liquor they’d get too! Of course a hawk will prefer their squab marinaded with a little red wine reduction or a vermouth sauce.
So hawks, so much more beautiful than their pigeon cousins, are actually dining trendy, dining smart. Another reason I like them so much!
A Night of Art-ness
Last night was a busy one for me. Da and I decided to do some Father/Son bonding while hobnobbing (what the hell does that word mean, anyway?) with Toronto’s art elite at Art With Heart.
Da’s never been in the Carlu and was curious as to it’s grandeur. It didn’t disappoint. It’s a beautiful deco setting and the art that was placed throughout was amazing (the website doesn’t convey the demanding presence some pieces command). I have to comment here that the volunteer staff were clockwork perfect. Pleasant, informed docets docents (Andrew helps me spelling!) cheerfully provided information on the art and never patronized. In all, a very organized successful event… I hope. I haven’t heard any numbers back yet, but the joint was packed, and considering Fashion sCares is this Saturday, I hope they made their target numbers!
Then we shuffled down to Canadian Stage to see my brother in Frost/Nixon. I have to admit that due to some of the reviews coming out of Vancouver, I wasn’t hopeful for this production. But when the curtain fell, I can tell you I was very entertained and greatly surprised. They have worked out all the problems mentioned in previous reviews, except the worrisome opinion that Len Cariou’s Nixon was not satisfactorily mimicking enough, which I tend to agree. I yearned to see the Nixon I remembered as a kid but got a sketch of that ideal. Not saying he did a bad job, he was captivating, but there was no jowly “Rich Little” kind of character play (which my brother does rather spookily at one point).
Oddly enough most of the cast and crew had been in science fiction TV shows (Battlestar, Stargate, RoboCop), including my brother, at one point in their career. Does this say something about Canadian culture?
Tonight, Sharkboy and I are off to see A Chorus Line with Mumsey! I’m being exposed to more culture than an open chest wound in an emergency ward!
Weekend Roundup
On Saturday, SharkBoy and I had a dinner for my brother, The Professor, who was returning to England on Sunday. We made veggie chili with chocolate, in consideration of Emma, who I just learned last week has become meatless. Dumping a fist full of semi-sweet chips into chili may sound odd, but it brought out a “depth” to the taste as well as a dirty, naughty feeling. SharkBoy made a blazingly tasty salad and a somewhat mushy cheesecake pie, which we all decided was delish, but needed a few more hours in the fridge.
After dinner, we all retired to the media room for a rousing game of Guitar Hero, which the Professor sucked at (love him dearly, but you’d think of all those years at discos would give him more rhythm), and then on to Mario Cart, which he did exceedingly better at. See you again soon, Professor!
Sunday was the Zombie Walk 2008. After some scouring of dollar stores for props and cheap makeup, we came up with (cue theremin) Zombie Mechanics!! oooo! We didn’t want to rip up our original Halloween costumes so we chose this last minute switch. I think we did quite well, considering it was 90% improv on the day of makeup application. The Mailman joined us and found the day …interesting. When we got there there was the added surprise of a Cardboard Battle – two teams made of elaborate costumes made of only cardboard and duct tape battled each other for …supremacy? Bragging rights? Either way, some of them were pretty cool. One of the best costumes was a Tonka truck yellow, digger handed teddy bear, who fought like a trooper. With that going on, it was easy to see that the event had grown exponentially since last year. I think the Toronto Zombie Walk people need to consider they have a monster on their hands. A cheap $5 megaphone doesn’t convey much information to 1500 people. I bet there will be more organization next year because the cops were getting a pit pissed at the size of the crowd spilling out onto Queen Street.
Gallery of some zombies here… my camera’s batteries died half way through the day.
In The Name of Braaaaains
The dead leaves swirl around our feet as we shuffle towards Trinity Bellwood Park. The icy fall wind tries to penetrate our cold dead skin but to no avail. You can’t cool dead flesh!
This Sunday is the 6th Annual Zombie Walk! Sharkboy and I are 90% ready with our costumes. Come join us!
Honesty Makes You A Jerk
I’m about to enter the automated subway entrance near my work – tokens and magnetic passes only, please. I’m fishing around my pocket for a token while juggling my iPhone in the other hand when a guy who has just exited the cage doors of the station sees me and taps me on the shoulder. He takes out his pass and grunts a “Wanna go in free?” kind of grunt and makes a motion of swiping his own pass to let me in.
I mumble “no” and continue looking for my token.
He makes a bigger swiping motion with his pass and adds a “viola! You’re in!” flourish.
“No, I’m good,” I say finally finding my token.
I put in the box and push past him before he can count me as his accomplice in his gate scam. His hand shoots put to intercept my token with his pass.
I’m reminded of my refusal to enter Wellesley subay station a couple years back. The situation then was different, I was willing to pay then. This was just a blatant gate hop (like street gangs do in NYC movies).
I’m faster than him and my token falls before his card swipes. I push the gate and enter.
The TTC felon mutters “Asshole.”
Art With Heart
Once a year Casey House asks artists to donate work to their annual Art With Heart auction to raise funds for their AIDS/HIV hospice here in town. Every year there’s been one piece that collectors will go ga ga over (last year it was a Ken Danby, donated shortly after his death) and this year is no exception: Who wouldn’t want a Attila Richard Lukacs hanging in their bathroom? And a steal at $750!
Two pieces in particular made my culture vulture turn a lumpy beak: Gum Blonde – a portrait of Madonna made entirely of chewed bubble gum and an abstract of lines and circles named Damn it Jim I’m a Doctor not a Magician. There are tons more at amazing prices all listed at artwithheart.ca
Auction:
The Carlu, 444 Yonge Street, 7th Floor
Tuesday, October 28th, 2008
7:00 p.m. (sharp)
Valet parking will be provided
Free Public Previews
Ritchies Auctioneers, 380 King Street East
Tuesday, October 21st to
Friday, October 24th, 2008 (11:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.)
Reception and Final Viewing:
5:30 – 7:00 p.m.
Tickets $125 per person
To order tickets, please contact the Casey House Foundation
T: 416.962.4040 ext 236
F: 416.962.5595
E: heart@caseyhouse.on.ca
Disclaimer: I volunteered my skills to concept, create and build the AwH website.