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.

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!