June Events

Saturday, June 28
Ran into the Pride festivities while running errands downtown. Every colour of the rainbow is welcome here. Then went for Mexican lunch at Yonge & Dundas Square.

Friday, June 27
Wanted - is a fantastically stylish film with my flavour of the month, James McAvoy. The concepts and visuals are both cartoonish and semi-plausible at the same time. When our hero admonishes someone as not being a top assassin in the Fraternity but just a "thug who can bend bullets" it actually sounds reasonable. The audience on opening night was howling, squealing and clapping along with the newly-contrived action. It felt like a bunch of friends sitting around in a huge living room. NOW Magazine nailed Jolie's contribution, "..she let's her eyeshadow do the acting." An early highlight (and since the entire first half is a breathtakingly screeching, crashing delight - it was hard to pick) involved a keyboard being smashed against some jerk's head and as the keys fly off they assemble in mid-air in slow motion, Scrabble-like to form a message that the audience loudly agreed with. I could have done without some of the extreme violence, but it wouldn't have been the same comic book movie. With the many references made to other films, none has been made to Tim Burton but with the evocative music of Danny Elfman and the automated machinery of the industrial loom, I was reminded of the scenes describing the origins of Edward Scissorhands. But, it's the leaping and spinning cars, speeding trucks and derailing train chase sequences that will linger with me.

Darwin Symposium - Royal Ontario Museum

Michael Ruse asked himself Has Darwin Expired? and talked to us about his answer. It's hard to imagine that Darwin made mistakes along the way but he did, and he learned from them. Ironically, his legacy has evolved and he never used the word "evolution" in The Origin of Species. The scientific results presented during Plant Sexual Diversity were elegant and straightforward and far more interesting than the research that uncoverd them. The changeable nature of Darwin's Finches was less surprising than the speed with which the changes occurred, usually just one or two generations.

Saturday, June 21
Pow Wow - I made my way to a local park to enjoy a little First Nations' hospitality, culture and cuisine. There were plenty of booths selling hand-made crafts and a dancing circle that never stopped. Children loved the do-it-yourself craft table where their creative talents were encouraged. The sun was baking and the atmosphere was warm and friendly. Love that fancy dancing!

Bluenose II
It was a thrill to step aboard a piece of Canada's nautical history down at Toronto's harbourfront on the weekend. After walking through the Nova Scotia tourism tent to pick up material for my trip "out east" next week, I stepped back into the sunshine and onto the deck. She is bright and able and so famous the original is featured on our ten cent coin. And, any young man would be honoured to be chosen as crew. Below decks were off limits but a peek (photo, right) revealed comfortable quarters. As it should be.

Star Trek, The Music - stardate 06.20.2008
What a terrific evening with conductor Erich Kunzel and guest hosts John de Lancie (Q) and Robert Picardo (holographic Doctor) plus the full TSO. Add some lighting tricks accompanying special sound effects and it was a crowd-pleaser. They ran through a history of the Star Trek franchise and offered up the themes to most of the movies and some of the battle scenes. I saw fewer uniforms in the audience than I expected. And, the orchestra, tuning up in earnest, approached with evening as a challenging one. The music certainly was magnificant!

L u m i n a t o
Black Watch - June 15 - Closing Night

Second time around I wasn’t as overwhelmed by emotion so I had the opportunity to listen to the words and follow the connected story lines more closely. The sound quality had improved and my ear was more attuned to the accents. Ran into Paul Rattray, “Cammy” at the ROM prior to show time and he reported enjoying Toronto’s patio bars as well as a visit to Niagara. It was a pleasure to meet this respectful and unassuming lead of the show. (second from left)

Once again Varsity Arena was hot enough and the bleacher seats uncomfortable enough to put us in an Iraqi state of mind. Once again the lads gave it their all. And once again I loved every, single moment. This time however, I let the tears flow as the lone piper lead the regiment in the final, deadly battle dance. Yes, dance,... and singing, and explosions with special effects. There was also a quiet sequence (Bluies) as one by one each man in the unit opened a letter from home. After dropping it to the floor, they entered into a repetition of haunting gestures reflecting their state of mind. The "cheese on toast" argument that arose in the boredom of the stifling armoured vehicle during the food game was priceless and the (10 seconds) fight that ensued was pure ballet. Incredible, through and through. I'd see it again, if they stayed in town for a longer run. In fact, the show was already sold out in London before opening night. But wait, they're returning to NYC this fall!

Distillery District / Harbourfront - Sat, June 14
We started out at the Mill Street Brewery for a taste of some organic beer. How about a picture? Don't touch that tap handle! (above left) Smile for the camera (below left) Stopped for lunch at the One Table display (right) and filled up on oysters and a mini-bison burger. Met with friends, had a caricature made and cruised through the fabulous Sandra Ainsley Gallery full of glorious glass work. Caught the Luminato Link boat to Harbourfront for a cup of fresh brewed. Swam through a terrific exhibit of Great Lake fish, hung from the ceiling (below)
A Midsummer Night's Dream - June 13
Canon Theatre-I just needed to give over to the theatricality of this show. Con-
sidering that half of Shakespeare's dialogue was spoken in various Indian dialects, and the other half~English~was almost impossible to hear, what else could I do? It was colourful and bawdy and the story was easy to follow after reading it in the program. The three musicians on stage throughout also added character.

Scottish Music Day at Dundas Square - June 7
Cruised up to Dundas Square on Saturday afternoon and stumbled on the Barra MacNeils in concert. Fantastic luck! Six siblings from Cape Breton Island delivering lively Celtic jigs with enthusiasm. I tapped my toes for an hour before heading off to another commitment. Wandered through the Square again later in the evening and enjoyed the spontaneous Scottish square dancing in the crowd. It was a perfect hot summer night with the red canopy overhead. Black Watch - June 6, Varsity Arena, Opening Night
It's always such a pleasure when the performance surpasses the hype, as is the case with the boys of the famous Scottish regiment, Black Watch. Not surprisingly, the theatrical dreamland originated in Scotland's off-beat Edinburgh Fringe Festival. This experiential theatre isn't mainstream material -- the "f" and "c" words are tossed out with unconscious abandon, and help the audience enter the psyche of these troubled characters. Their shattered hopes unfold in a series of true stories culled from workshops and research sessions held with soldiers returning from Iraq. A most powerful, visceral cultural commentary for our time. And, I could still weep thinking about all the "shite" I saw, heard and felt. - L- U - M- I -N - A-T -O -

Twelve Angry Men - June 15
Princess of Wales Theatre
Give these men 90 minutes and you, too, may change your mind...about one act theatre. The scene: 1954, late summer, a jury room of a New York City court of law. What unfolds behind the locked door is nothing short of a miracle, especially for the young man who's being tried for murder. Thoroughly engaging. The rain storm was refreshingly realistic. It's understandable why this compelling story has returned to Toronto for the third time.

Craig Ferguson - Massey Hall, June 14
If you like him on Late, Late Night you'd love him live on stage.



His rants included: Did we lose the rainbow symbol to the gay movement while we were all watching the Super Bowl? In LA, as your star power grows, so does your quirky entourage - then gave us some recent examples. Rehab was a lot of fun, especially because his issue, alcoholism, was actually high on the pecking order. The entire section devoted to his enormous body part was hysterical. I knooow!
What have we learned tonight? (far left) A final goodbye (near left) Walked out of Massey Hall and north to the warmth of Dundas Square to hear Bran Van 3000 just starting a set with Drinkin in LA. What great timing!

Toronto Symphony Orchestra- June 7, Roy Thomson Hall - Final performance of the Casual Concert Series It was all "dueling strings" with Bach's Concerto in D Minor for Two Violins. Jacques Israelievitch and March Skazinestsky were terrific. This was followed by the world premier of Dallaire, commissioned by the TSO and containing two parts: I) Sorrow, and II) Redemption. Kelly-Marie Murphy composed a moving piece of music about Romeo D. and designed for Israelievitch and his percussionist son, Michael. Fabulous! The final section belonged to Tchaikovsky: Violin Concerto in D Major. Jaw-dropping talent by Israelievitch again. I've never heard such high notes on violin. The audience leapt to their feet in appreciation, understandably.

WoofStock
- June 7, Front & Church Streets
There was a lot of this,
and a bunch of that,
and plenty of...

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The Hour, June 5
with George Strombolopolous
Joined the live-to-tape session again. The guest interview was with Lewis Lapham, "journalist, author and one of America's important thinkers." George was personable, as always and the pre-taped segment with Bob Newhart was terrrific. New this time were the prize give-aways. Nothing for me but my memories. Thanks George!

6th Annual Global Health Research Conference - June 2 & 3
Hart House Theatre, University of Toronto
Inspired by a quote from Albert Einstein, this conference was thought-provoking indeed. "Where the world ceases to be the scene of our personal hopes and wishes, where we face it as free beings admiring, asking, and observing, there we enter the realm of Art and Science."

Main topics included: --Vision & Leadership --Technology, Place & Art --Imagination and Research --Music Without Borders --Vulnerability & Community

Keynote conference opener, "Why Art Matters To Health" was delivered by humanitarian/doctor, James Orbinski. He suggested that our existance is defined by the stories we create. And, added that art can help us ask the right questions. Speaking of questions, I was able to ask if he wrote his incredible Noble Peace Prize acceptance lecture himself. Yes, he did and seemed pleased with the compliment. We closed the first day with a screening of his film Triage, pared down to 47 minutes for Newsworld TV. Still powerful but some of my favourite stories are missing - I recommend the full-length 88 minute version.

Most amusing and stimulating speaker was Alex Jadad, Director, Centre for eHealth Innovation at UHN. He shocked us with statistics on technical penetration in the developing world. He claimed you are an "old fart" if you have a land line and mere email accounts. Mobile phones and Facebook allow interconnectedness that transcends space and distance. Introduce yourself to Freakonomics, or Freeconomics, as he called it.

May Events

Doors Open 2008 - May 24 & 25
2008's theme: Sacred Spaces and Sacred Circles. Opening ceremonies on May 23 at the ROM wasn't as "tasty" as last year's evening at the Design Exchange but music by Tafelmusik and the lively Pecha Kucha (8 architects, 20 slides each, 20 seconds for each slide) more than made up for JK's sandwiches. On the weekend, I took part in the First Nations' Sweet Grass ceremony at the Don Valley Brick Works (below). Relaxed to Mozart Quartets at Church of the Redeemer (above right) and chamber music at Toronto's public labyrinth. I also stepped into Toronto's rail history at the Roundhouse, home of Steamwhistle Brewing and a future rail museum.
Alvin Ailey Dance Theatre - May 17, Sony Centre
Simply splendid. The opening number Love Stories set to the dreamy music of Stevie Wonder's You and I established just the right tone. The ubber-modern Groove to Nobody's Business, set in and around public transit was inspired and amusing. Anyone who's ever been on a metro will understand the "joys" of rush hour.

My Fair Lady - May 11
This production brings to Toronto all that is good about London theatre: sets, costumes, voices and staging. All are in fine form at the Toronto Centre for the Arts. While it’s hard to go wrong with Lerner and Loewe’s magical score, the addition of a dance number straight from the stage of STOMP! brought the house down.
“Why can’t a woman be more like a man?”

Iron Man – May 4 & 10, Fantastic! I contributed to the opening weekend statistics plus the ongoing second weekend stats. This much-ballyhooed flick deserves every complementary phrase uttered about it, including the fact that much of the credit lands squarely on the capable talents of Robert Downey, Jr. Iron Man is wholly satisfying on so many levels, including the pleasure of watching him return to the starring spotlight where he belongs. Welcome back, Robert!

Wonderful Town - May 3, Shaw Festival
Fun musical about sisters and their career aspirations, mistaken identities, kind hearted blokes and happy endings. Music by Leonard Bernstein and movie version titled My Sister Eileen, with Bob Fosse kicking up his heels.

An Imperfect Offering book launch with Dr. James Orbinski
May 1, Church of the Holy Trinity
Dr. Orbinski offered many stories from his book (and film, Triage) including chosing the lesser of two evils and trying to explain why medication wasn't flowing to the area of greatest need. Remarks were followed by on-stage conversation with Gillian Findlay from CBC's Fifth Estate. Just enough time for a few questions, including "What can I do?" from an eager young lady.

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)

February Events

Blue Rodeo still rides high in the saddle. Feb 28, Massey Hall
...and, after all these years, there's a good reason. They know their way around a love ballad and home town dance tune better than most. Starting the show at the front of the stage with a single snare drum and acoustic guitars drew focus on the musicianship of the team. Solos and harmonies alike were cheered by the welcoming crowd with Try appearing early in the program. Once the central black curtain was torn down, the light show kicked in and they rocked. And you just know the evening ended with a sing-along. Thanks to NOW Magazine for the front row, balcony seats!

Full Moon Eclipse - Feb 20








Also on Feb 20 - Disaster downtown:
6-alarm fire at Queen and Bathurst at dawn. 50 fire vehicles, 150 Firefighters, 14 buildings were affected including Duke's Cycle. Smoke was visible over downtown and the smoky smell reached 25 blocks away and into nearby subway stations.

In Bruges - aka The Thousand Faces of Colin Farrell - will lay to rest any question of this young man's acting abilities. The movie is more than the promised dark comedy/travelogue. Fasten your seatbelt and prepare for a wild ride. Actually, it's a tragedy by definition, but provides many absurdly comedic moments along the way. Only in the twisted world of writer Martin McDonagh can a would-be killer stop his victim from committing suicide. On the surface this is a story about paid killers on the lamb, but when all is said and done it is a warm-hearted buddy film with a conscience. Even Ralph Fiennes' mob boss character adheres to his own standard of honour. And, we were amused that he did. Please let me know what you think.

(a pre-show lobby concert set the mood)

African Footprint Sony Centre, Feb 7-9
Exuberant, energetic, enchanting. My only quibble is: with such a short run (three days) I was hard pressed to get my recommendation out to friends. It was a feel-good show from the start (with drums representing the heartbeat of Africa) to finish (in a hip hop flourish). In between, there was enough world-class tap dancing to keep me going for a couple of months. To call these performers dancers would be an understatement, as each of them is an athlete in top form, some proving they could step into Cirque du Soleil. The first major tap number got most of the men on stage tapping solo and eventually in concert while working with a small barrel as a prop – kicking it, drumming it, sitting on it, jumping on it. The second big tap number began as a friendly competition between the red-hued gum-boot and the yellow-clad tapper. It was an even match as a small army of back-ups joined each side. What unfolded made my jaw drop. And, I couldn’t forget a major component of the show – with minimal sets, the lighting provided the atmosphere in a simple yet effective way. Glad I didn’t miss it.

Robert Lantos: In Conversation Tues, Feb 5th Cinematique
Thanks to the fact that he’s not afraid of talking about himself, “warts and all” it was a very pleasant evening indeed. A jet-lagged Lantos capped TIFF’s Canadian Top Ten mini-festival recently, with the promise of returning admission prices if he or the audience fell asleep. Not a chance, while his professional career as film producer-plus was revealed casually over the course of the evening. Lantos put together six separate presentations, each representing a “chapter” in his evolution. From the heady days of In Praise of Older Women up to the current, award-winning Eastern Promises, he offered amusing insights into the Canadian film-making industry as well as his contributions to it. Admitting that he has learned more from his (very public) mistakes than his successes he managaed to add an extra soupçon of charm. And this 58-year-old national treasure has no plans to slow down, anxious to fulfill his vision on a number of projects he still has in mind. To use his own words: “projects he has to do” - it’s all about the passion.

Art at the Castle - Casa Loma hosted the Canadian Art Show with more than 85 artists, live music and reception. It was a much-needed breath of fresh air and splash of colour in the grey days of February. There was something for everyone: from glass work and acrylics to photographs and sculpture. The venue was a perfect showcase for the artists to discuss their work and perhaps make a sale.

January Events

Rain: The Beatles Experience
Now playing at the Sony Centre
With a heavy emphasis on the experience this is a show that will get even the most reserved Torontians on their feet and singing along. It was a love-in from start to finish with archival film footage and contemporary commercials to re-create the summer of love. The musicians are all top-notch and I gained a new appreciation for the important role drums played in the Beatles music. Give Peace a Chance!

U2 3D - IMAX ****!
Welcome to a new paradigm in entertainment. Remember how cool it was to lie back in the old McLaughlin Planeterium and rock to Laser U2 in the 80s? Or the excitement of the Rolling Stones on IMAX in the 90s? Well, add the depth of 3D and you are one with the cheering crowd as Vertigo kicks off the concert. The impulse to clap at the end of each song was unnerving and I'm sure I was singing aloud throughout, "I can't live...with or without you...oo, oo, oo,ooooooo" This is not The Last Waltz with behind the scenes interviews to get to know the musicians. This is a straight-up concert flick - it's all about the music.
Immerse yourself in the rhythm. Be thrilled.
Round 2 - OK, I saw this movie again in Feb. I rocked to the beat as Where the Streets Have No Name wound up the undulating crowd while flags of all nations dripped down on the giant screens behind the band. The tear in my eye lasted only second before I was laughing and singing along to the encouraging gestures of Bono. Man, it doesn't get any better than this for an old rocker!

January Retreat (or, how I spent my winter vacation) - Can you image a place where you don't have to lock your door or hear phones ringing for more than a week? Ah, the tranquility of it all. But this is also a place of serious work, where you'll need to practice sitting quietly and still for at least six hours each day. Welcome to Vipassana Meditation a technique handed down from the Buddha and taught in taped lectures that are viewed each evening. A peaceful, woodsy location, delicious vegetarian meals, Noble Silence (no chatter for 10 days!) and respect between participants all aid in the achievement of an environment that supports the work. Being there with a fresh blanket of snow and twinkling stars made it particularly magical. Discover who you really are and liberate your mind.

The Golden Compass - is one of those movies that deserves to be seen on the big screen. The first of three books about Lyra and her adventures, it's got magic, myth and mahem. Lyra overhears something she doesn't understand (where have we heard that before?) and is flung into a struggle between gobblers, gyptians and of course armored bears. Lyra is a brave girl - a wonderful role model for impressionable minds. She's also defiant, clever and successful - thanks to her mastery of the titular Golden Compass. I can't wait for next cinematic installment so will need to read the books to know what happens next.

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New Years day storm