Nuit Blanche!
C'était incroyable! I was ditched so I went off alone, curious to see what the city had in store for me. In comparison to big arthouses like Paris - the city where it was conceived - and Montreal - which has art flowing through its arteries - Toronto is but a fledgling in the art scene. It all started in Yorkville against the stark backdrop of plain concrete skyscrapers mostly built during the 60s and 70s littered with cranes upon cranes that are busy constructing condos and the new Four Seasons.
The walking tour of the city struck my fancy mostly because I could never imagine a walking tour of... well, Toronto. But it was fascinating and yes, I shall show off my newly acquired knowledge of the city. Did all of you know that there used to be a cemetary where the Pottery Barn now stands (note to self: don't buy anything from Pottery Barn) or that the land where Mississauga stands today was bought from the Natives at the beginning of the 19th century for $2000?
It wasn't even midnight yet and the night had totally drawn me in, such was the energy being exuded by the city. As the walking tour drew to an end, I ran into people I knew and we decided to grab a bite to eat. A few drunken hours later, we were all ready to resume our exploration.
The highlights of the night were definitely the fog exhibit and the ballroom which was like a high-school prom with disco balls and lights and prom-like music with thousands of balls thrown in and a ball fight. What fun! You know you're evil when you secretly target those who are standing on the fringes of the action and then hide so they don't know who's throwing the ball at them.
This was just what I'd expected from Toronto! Toronto isn't Paris and it didn't try to be. The tangoing couples, though offering an impeccable performance, were dressed as policemen/policewomen and blasted the music from their cars. It totally had the feel of impromptu performance, spellbinding yet natural.
I didn't make it home till the wee hours of the morning. I stood at the bus stop watching the faint light of dawn starting to creep up at the horizon and chatted with my university friend who is leaving in 10 days to become a priest, and I felt spiritual, artistic, fulfilled.
The walking tour of the city struck my fancy mostly because I could never imagine a walking tour of... well, Toronto. But it was fascinating and yes, I shall show off my newly acquired knowledge of the city. Did all of you know that there used to be a cemetary where the Pottery Barn now stands (note to self: don't buy anything from Pottery Barn) or that the land where Mississauga stands today was bought from the Natives at the beginning of the 19th century for $2000?
It wasn't even midnight yet and the night had totally drawn me in, such was the energy being exuded by the city. As the walking tour drew to an end, I ran into people I knew and we decided to grab a bite to eat. A few drunken hours later, we were all ready to resume our exploration.
The highlights of the night were definitely the fog exhibit and the ballroom which was like a high-school prom with disco balls and lights and prom-like music with thousands of balls thrown in and a ball fight. What fun! You know you're evil when you secretly target those who are standing on the fringes of the action and then hide so they don't know who's throwing the ball at them.
This was just what I'd expected from Toronto! Toronto isn't Paris and it didn't try to be. The tangoing couples, though offering an impeccable performance, were dressed as policemen/policewomen and blasted the music from their cars. It totally had the feel of impromptu performance, spellbinding yet natural.
I didn't make it home till the wee hours of the morning. I stood at the bus stop watching the faint light of dawn starting to creep up at the horizon and chatted with my university friend who is leaving in 10 days to become a priest, and I felt spiritual, artistic, fulfilled.
posted by Moi at 6:32 p.m.
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