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

December Events

White Christmas - Sony Centre ****
The Rockettes tapped their way into our hearts last year and White Christmas continued the tradition this year. Broadway-class musical with costume changes, set changes and a happy ending. The barn door opened, the snow fell and I had a tear in my eye. In the end, I skipped out of the theatre with a smile on my face. I'm happy this seasonal musical breezed into town and happier that I squeezed it in.

Andre Rieu - Hit All the Right Notes
December 14, Rogers Centre
It was a night to remember for the 20,000 or so mostly golden age fans who cheered and sang while witnessing what may become a statistic in the Guiness World Records. Add to the 122 metre-wide recreation of Vienna's Schonbrunn Palace: 96 chandliers, 2 ice rinks, 2 working fountains, 14 carriages pulled by 36 horses, 450 performers ending with 20,000 balloons. Oh, and the music was great!

Human Rights Watch Hosted a photo exhibit in BCE Place in December. Images that are meant to galvanize your feelings and move you into action.

BCE Place

November Events

Atonement ****
Film adaptation of Ian McEwan's tragic novel. For an adult male to painstakingly recreate the inner world of a 13 year old girl is admirable. To deftly drawn us into the horrors of war and wrap it in a love story is worthly of applause. Such is the breadth of Atonement. It's faithful to the book but like all screenplays some details are missing - and none of the essence has been lost. Much of the dialogue is drawn directly from the pages and the period as well as the costumes ring true - all the way down to Marshall's loafers. Strongly recommended, especially for the breath-taking 6 minute tracking sequence along the beach at Dunkirk.

Dmitri Hvorostovsky - Who could have imagined that a 45-year-old Russian baritone would be my next flavour-of-the-month? Well, not me! Move over Steven Pinker. It’s impossible not to fall under his velvety spell. And why resist? Just ask the 2500-or-so roaring fans during November’s triumphant muli-faceted concert at Roy Thomson Hall. And it wasn’t just his singing – it was that charming, boyish "geee, you liked it" grin that followed each number. In the end, the crowd applauded in unison while at least four floral bouquets were presented. How does a Canadian girl react when this superstar returns for his 3rd encore wearing a personalized Leaf’s jersey (#77) and sings O Sole Mio? Pass the smelling salts.

Whole Life Expo 2007
Crystals galore! Also, mini-massages, blood testing, aura photos, water filters, ethical funds, sprouts, hemp, and organic olives on a toothpick. Plus lectures on the dangers of microwave pollution, if you're worried about that sort of thing.
Photo Sensitive - exhibition celebrated Trillium Foundation's 25th anniversary. Images from 25 photographers were displayed at BCE Place from Nov 19-30.

On Set With The Hour

On Wed, Nov 14 a bunch of us left work early and headed down to the CBC building on Front St East to join the enthusiastic audience for The Hour with George Strombolopoulos. He worked the crowd in line while we waited to take our seats -

grabbing Suly's camera and snapping the top photo on the fly. George was as friendly and upbeat in person as he appears on camera. He let us know what to expect between taped segments and then hung out for a chatty Q&A after the stage

hands wrapped up. When asked about the #1 Cdn Competition a few years ago, he said Tommy Douglas was his first and only choice - well, maybe Neil Young - and, although he doesn't feel "proud" of helping Tommy reach the top spot, he would have felt responsible if he didn't win. The up close and personal pose was his idea, honest! (photo courtesy of Tura Adam)

World AIDS Day - Dec 1st

Dr. Jane Philpott kicked off a successful rally in First Cdn Place on Nov 14th. She is also responsible for starting the Day in 2004 by challenging 50 fellow doctors at Markham Stouffville Hospital to donate one day's pay to this worthy cause. That first year they raised $33,000.

By 2006, $500,000 was raised to benefit the Stephen Lewis Foundation. He gave us his unique perspective and encouragement about the situation in Afria. Funds also benefit Dignitas International. James Orbinski (left) let us know more about this medical humanitarian organization.

We got pumped up with Soul Influence and finished with Steven Page singing a few Barenaked Ladies songs. We also heard from a brother and sister who donated the money they earn from their paper route, finishing with a challenge to other paper carriers to donate a day's pay.

November Weekend

The National Women's Show was a huge success again this year. Held in the south building of the Convention Centre, the show offered cooking demos, fashion shows and healthy tips and tricks, but I enjoyed the give-aways the best!
Smiling? Sure - after my successful flexibility and hydration testing. I also learned about hair weaves, the benefits of glass nail files and options for teeth whitening, if you're interested.

On Saturday, Nov 3rd I attended Hope in the Balance, an all-day event at U of T's Convocation Hall. Six speakers were each given one hour (a 20-minute lecture followed by an interview then Q&A) to explore the "possibilities for humanitarianism in the 21st century." On the bill were Romeo Dallaire (right), Stephen Lewis, and James Orbinski.