April Events

The Green Living Show - April 26, National Trade Centre
Speakers Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., Ed Begley, Jr., Jean-Michele Cousteau were thought-provoking, amusing and inspiring, in that order. They all "walk the talk" with Kennedy offering anti-Bush facts to back up his many legal cases and Begley setting an example of "how to" live with a minimal footprint. It's ironic that, as a result of the TTC walk-out, many of us needed to car pool to reach the show at the CNE grounds. It was worth the effort for a full day of lectures, learning and loads of food samples. Mmm, chocolate with chili - don't snigger until you've tried it!

HotDocs 2008
It was another great year for documentary films at this specialized film festival, with the real magic lying in the insightful Q&A sessions.
Song Sung Blue, about the ups and down of a life-long Neil Diamond impersonator was a strong opening note. Filmed over an eight year period, with a back story that stretched out 20 years, it was a very personal tale indeed.
Couldn’t miss All Together Now, the “making of” story about the Las Vegas show LOVE featuring remixed Beatles tunes and staring Cirque du Soleil. I’ve seen LOVE twice and was pleased to say hi to Giles Martin.
And, how about At the Death House Door? The story of a minister who agreed to comfort the first prison inmate to receive a lethal injection in Texas. He eventually stayed on for the next 95 deaths, secretly tape recording his private thoughts and impressions each time.
Flow: for the Love of Water was a preachy and formulaic call to action. But the after party was terrific with the director and several talking-head stars from the film, including my personal hero, Maude Barlow. Meeting and chatting with her was the true highlight of HotDocs 2008. That didn’t diminish the power of two additional stories about big, Nobel Peace Prize-style heroism. First, Taking Root: The Vision of Wangari Maathai followed Wangari’s initial mission to organize women to plant trees in Kenya as it grew to a plan to reforest the country and inevitably to the development of her political power. Second was Triage: Dr. James Orbinski’s Humanitarian Dilemma. More than Romeo Dallaire’s account of the Rwandan genocide, Orbinski witnessed and served in many other horrific and war-torn locales. He embodies dignity as he negotiates the payment of $500 for armed rebels not to kill his colleague, who sits strapped to a chair in a communal courtyard. Heroism is often simple and straightforward - “I can’t hide behind a door,” he said plainly.
Regretted missing? Flicker, Monterey Pop, Standard Operating Procedure, Virtual JFK.

LifeFest - April 4 A fun few hours, compliments of Shoppers Optimum points. With plenty of free food samples no one goes away hungry: pro-biotic bread, drinkable yogurt, organic apple sauce, turkey and a multitude of fruity drinks to wash it all down. The number of free samples has gone down, but the fire fighters were still handing out razers. The key note speakers Margaret Trudeau and daughter-in-law Sophie Gregoire-Trudeau delivered powerful messages about overcoming physical challenges: seek the professional help that is available, accept support from family and friends, give back more than you get and spend time with nature.

St. Lawrence Market Customer Appreciation Night, Apr 3
With tasty and plentiful food samples (don't forget about the sprouts in the basement!) and continuous entertainment I say Thank You to our historic Market and the generous vendors. Performers included traditional Greek music, Saxophone Quartet, Irish jigs and reels, and eye-popping samba dancers. Missed piper Ian MacIntosh. Darn.
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March Events

Earth Hour - March 29 @8pm
What a buzz! Up the CN Tower, wedged between a couple of professional photographers - one with the Ontario government and the other putting together a newsletter for a private company residing in one of the towers. It was a shared experience as everyone who gathered at the windows called out the buildings as their logos were shut down. Biggest surprise: the Royal York was an early participant. Last holdout: Sherton Centre. Thumbs Down: to the Royal Alex Theatre whose constant blinking marquee on King Street was a call to boycott the the theatre by a group standing behind me.

Fire! - March 29 (thru April 19)
Ted Dykstra (2 Pianos, 4 Hands) and Rick Roberts (Traders) deliver the passion and damnation promised in the title. Loosely based on the lives of second-cousins Jerry Lee Lewis and Jimmy Swaggart, the story unfolds through the singing (17 songs) and preaching of these lead characters, written as brothers here. This is a fabulous production with a dramatic, human script and clever sets. Deserving of the four Dora Mavor Moore Awards that were won when the play was first staged. I won't soon forget the hysterical site of Roberts leaping around the stage wearing his white patent loafers, righteous in his proclamations.

Real Estate & Wealth Expo - March 29th, Metro Convention Centre
Last year's "happening" in the "big" room with 50,000 note-taking fans was impossible to duplicate, but cashing in on the enormous success was good business and inevitable. But hey, don't be disappointed when Donald Trump shows up by via satellite (shades of Richard Branson in '07!!) and the program is adjusted by the minute, based on flight schedules. "Announcements will be made in the presentation room, if you stick around." No thanks. I dropped by for a little Donald on the way to the CN Tower to listen to the same speech he presented last year. Tony Robbins was the highlight in 2007

David Copperfield - March 28, Sony Centre
Yes, he's still around, touring through Toronto in a show he could pull off with his eyes closed. Don't get me wrong...I found him goofy and charming and I laughed for 90-minutes straight. But, that's an expensive chuckle at $80+ for a seat down front. After screening a promo video of celebrity references, featuring introductions by news and interviewing stars plus a nod from the Simpsons and the Family Guy, Copperfield arrived on his trademark motorcycle. He appeared casual and youthful in his sneakers, white t-shirt and baggy light demin shirt. With his career arc on the downturn it was refreshing to see the master making light of his now-famous dramatic flair. With every over-the-shoulder glance into the camera, it was obvious he was smirking at his own over-the-top style. Lots of audience participation including the card trick that culminated in a live scorpion (really!) pulling out the chosen card from the shuffled deck. Even the wooden re-telling of his grandfather's story, supplemented by vintage photos retained a kernel of sincere sentimentality. David Copperfield's got more talent in his top pocket than most of his contemporaries and his star shot so high and burned so brightly, that it will take many, many bored performances before crowds tire of the mystery and magic. He's the real deal, with or without the baggage.

Yundi Li - March 18, Roy Thomson Hall
This charming, young pianist was presented in recital as part of the Virtuoso Performance Series - right where he belongs. Crisp, clean and with a touch of flair Li danced through a program heavy with Chopin, some Schumann and Mussorgsky's "Pictures at an Exhibition" - all of them. While Lang Lang was on fire at his recital last year, igniting the crowd to a unified standing ovation, Yundi Li was white hot. His clean delivery was flawless and his delicate personal introductions to the movements were charming. It'll be interesting to watch his style mature.

Holistic Health Expo - March 14
Opening night celebrations included a lot of hype about Earth Hour, but the happening place was the Juice PLUS+ booth. Peter and John were very convincing about my need for more fruits and vegetables. Oh, and I won't have to buy (and clean) a juicing machine any time soon.

Toronto Art Expo - March 9, Convention Centre
I arrived early to view the show with no crowds. The artists were friendly and pleased to talk about their work. A few years ago, it was photographs on steel, this year my Wow-factor was turned on by a couple of artists working in wax. David Brown created traditional encaustic collages (below left) while Nina Sampaleanu developed 3-dimensional sculptures that resembled natural shapes such as ferns. Beautiful. I was captivated by the booth representing Australian Aboriginal fine art: Traveling Women by Nellie Nakamarra (below right). Opening night celebrations were also a treat with Jane Bunnett and the Havana Social Club heating up the stage while three scantily-clad dancers shook their way into the audience. Remember snowball dancing?

Jason Fowler - March 2
My favourite local singer/ songwriter was in concert for one night with Anne Lindsay at the Tranzac club in the Annex. It was a multi-faceted event with each of them taking turns at centre stage. The evening included a shout-out to their mothers, who were in the audience, and a set that featured an almost-forgotten Finnish instrument. CDs available at the door.

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(Whirly Ball team building - March 14)