Toronto International Art Fair (TIAR)

Bigger and better are just two words that apply to this year's TIAR. You could also say breathtaking, a breath of fresh air and in some cases, lighter than air. The Breathing of Plants, (right) an installation by Klaus Illi & Bettina Burkle, offered billowing green stems that inhaled and exhaled making air a primary sculptural element.

The Sandra Ainsley Gallery brought us fragile glass helmets. (right)

Magic Pony Gallery at 694 Queen St. West is one of those destination shops you wish you'd discovered sooner. At least I did. Billed as "Designer Toys Apparel Lifestyle Books Art & More" it represents truth in advertising. The postcard flyer let me know that I'd missed four other exhibits from May through Sept this year. October's installation - Mega Mega Wibbied Mindthicket by Derrick Hodgson (above) was a visual delight in pastels.

North of Toronto

On the weekend after Thanksgiving, we went in search of some fall colors.














All the way to Gravenhurst harbour (above) and eventually to Bracebridge (below).

The Quilt Project

The Quilt: Breast Cancer Support Project at Casa Loma from Sept 28 to Oct 21 was a stitchers delight again this year. Quilters from across Canada donated their personal treasures for this unique fundraising project.

133 mostly hand stitched quilts were on display throughout the castle. Room after room was filled with original designs, many with touching and amusing stories attached.


It was one way to keep memories of friends and family members alive.

World Press Photos 2007

This year's exhibit at BCE Place is more engaging and thought-provoking than ever. On Sat, Oct 20 Fuyuki Kurasawa from York University lead a lively and insightful discussion about structure and composition. Highlighted was the photojournalist's challenging role in creating ever more sensational imagery - including many photos that can be considered art. World Press Photos

The Drowsy Chaperone

Have you ever longed for fresh musical theatre that would lift you up and transport you to a whole new world? The Drowsy Chaperone, staring Bob Martin, fulfilled my hopes and offered even more. With a paper thin story, Georgia Engel's puffy dressess, the titular chaperone's seduction of Aldooolpho and all the tap dancing in between, it was non-stop fun. Oh, don't forget the roller skates!

When the Man in the Chair gets "blue" he plays LPs of his favourite old musicals - scratches, duster 'n all. The year is 1928 and when a whole stage of singers and dancers has to skip-skip-skip along with the broken record it's hysterical! And, want to know a secret? I went a second time - it's that good. Got a rush seat for $25 and laughed myself silly all over again.

Nuit Blanche 2007

I attended a few events at Nuit Blanche on Saturday night, Sept 29. A highlight was the text message ideas for Going Green (above). The dangling display (right) was a musical exhibit with recording devices attached to the removable cork stoppers. (watch your head on those beams)

A surprise visit from the zombies at the stroke of midnight in the Distillery District was a crowd pleaser. They danced the entire Thriller song step-for-step, costumes and all! I grabbed one of the zombies before he got away!

Chinese Lantern Festival 2007

The lanterns on display this year were generally larger and had a lot more robotic features. More than 80 artists, designers, electricians, welders, costume makers and others from Zigong brought the exhibit to life. The Festival focused on three important dynasties in China's history: Qin, Tang and Song.

Chinese Lantern Festival 2006

In 2006 Ontario Place hosted the first Chinese Lantern Festival, with more than 40 breath-taking exhibits. Artisans and matierals were brought together at Ontario Place to create one of the most visually rewarding highlights of the year.

Toronto International Film Festival - TIFF

On Sunday, Sept 9th Bill Maher spent a couple of hours at the Ryerson Theatre with director Larry Charles to discuss their work-in-progress: Religulous. (religion is ridiculous) Hysterical. The duo shared several clips of mostly interviews with representatives from three large religious groups: Islam, Judaism and Christianity - hinting at a sequel to review others. Due to be released spring 2008.

The next day, Monday, Sept 10th I headed to the box office before 7:00am to secure a ticket to the sold out screening of Atonement, an adaptation from the book by Ian McEwen. I lined up at the Elgin earlier than usual to make sure I got a good seat to catch the great, young actor James McAvoy (Last King of Scotland). This is me in a promo shot taken in line, still smiling.

I wasn’t very happy when I scrambled to get a seat and was blocked by the photographers crowding the stage. It was the first time I witnessed this phenomenon - with photogs allowed into the theatre.

Here’s the best shot I got of James while knocking elbows with the paparazzi. Grrr!

TIFF - Trust the Man

David Duchovny leaned in for a close up with a happy fan,...

while Ellen Barkin signed autographs,...

and, Jane Seymour gave an interview.

TIFF - Fastest Kiwi

Sir Anthony Hopkins said a few words to introduce the World's Fastest Indian at the Ryerson Theatre. Writer/director Roger Donaldson looks on then added a note about their renewed friendship and working collaboration after 25 years. The story is heart warming and worth renting.

The cast members took turns speaking and everyone shared a positive story about "Tony." He was humble and charming, telling us how much he enjoyed making this film about such an admirable Kiwi. He finished with a short message to "Clarisse" in character as Hannibal Lecter. It was a crowd-pleaser.

TIFF - Kiss Kiss

Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang was a blast with Val Kilmer, Michelle Monaghan and Robert Downey Jr. who wouldn't stand still long enough for me to catch a good shot. That's the back of his head on the far right.

TIFF - Opa!

Matthew Modine stuck around the Elgin Theatre following the screening of Opa! a romance filmed on the Greek island of Patmos. I just had to see this movie, as I happened to be on Patmos during filming and our tour bus was held up on the steep, winding roads of the island by the film crew.

TIFF - Surprise visit

Bono also showed up as a last minute surprise to support fellow Irishman, Cillian Murphy, star of Neil Jordan's quirky film, Breakfast on Pluto. Autograph hounds appeared from nowhere and I nearly got crushed in the madness. But, later discovered I'd made a brief TV appearance on the show One Shot that followed a professional photographer around the Festival for the week. He said he felt "like the cat that ate the canary" because of this unexpected happening and I had to agree. (P.S. Non-telephoto, unenhance photo - he was signing autographs within arm's reach at the railing. )