Well it’s that time again: time to eat pierogies and dance the polka down Roncevalles Ave. Osh and I will be at the Polish Festival again, and this time not solely to see the sights and wolf down delicious food. We’ll have a booth of our own where we’ll be introducing and promoting 5 Blocks Out, our neighbourhood website that we are finally ready to share with a few friendly people. 

5 Blocks Out is invite-only since it is still in the early stages. We have a limited number of invitations to give out to some local people who are willing to give it a test drive, suggest how we can improve, and share thoughts on how it should evolve.

People that enjoy this blog will surely enjoy 5 Blocks Out as it allows you to tap into many people’s local knowledge and musings, instead of just… well… my musings.  If you are one of those friendly people that is interested in a neighbourhood-focused website then send me a line or, even better, come out and say hello to us on Saturday or Sunday at the festival.

Technorati Tags: beer on tap, food, Roncesvalles, Toronto

The Ontario College of Art’s annual fundraiser art sale is happening next week. It’s always fun to see what great art has been created on such small canvasses, not to mention guessing who has created the mystery pieces.

Each piece is 5½ x 7½ inches in size, costs $75 and is donated by a famous or not-yet famous artist. Can you guess which is which? Or does it even matter? A beautiful piece of original work to look at on your wall for years to come is certainly worth more than $75.
Public Art Preview:

Wednesday November 19 @ noon – 8
Thursday November 20 @ noon – 6
Friday November 21 @ noon – 8

Public Art Sale:

Saturday November 22, 2008 @ 10am – 4pm

This event is first come first served, so I guess you should get there early if you think many people want the same piece that you do.
All events take place at 100 McCaul Street, Toronto.

There’s nothing better than a high participation grassroots event. Last night, the eve after Hallowe’en, I went to Sorauren Park in Roncesvalles to see the annual pumpkin display. Hundreds of people from the area bring their pumpkin jack-o’-lanterns to line the sides of the park and light up one last time. It was mind-blowing how many pumpkins people brought – I’d estimate 500 or more.

There were lots of cool designs, and funny arrangements too: jack-o’-lanterns on the playing fields, jack-o’-lanterns nestled into rock gardens, and even jack-o’-lanterns hanging out on park benches. The humans were definitely outnumbered.

Some of the carvings had a truly amazing level of detail. A few were carved with likenesses of famous and infamous people; see if you can spot Harry Potter and Sarah Palin below.


I highly recommend checking it out next year. Boo!

Technorati Tags: park, neighbourhood, Roncesvalles, Toronto

Nuit Blanche is finally here! (on Saturday night) The leaves are starting to turn and fall has rolled in ( or ‘reared it’s head’ – as sarah palin would say), signaling it is time again for an all night art crawl. I love this event. My optimistic side imagines me staying out ’till dawn on Sunday… but by early morning I’m sure my eyes will begin to shut, and unless there’s someone to carry me around in a bed, I will likely just dream my way around from my bed at home.

I was hoping to just wander, but with 155 destinations this may take a little planning.

Luckily the subway is running all night and the blue night bus/streetcar routes will be running at 30 min intervals or better. The easiest approach would be to buy a day pass for $9 for two adults, since it will last all night for nuit blanche. For more info check out http://www.scotiabanknuitblanche.ca/gettingAround.shtml ..

Technorati Tags: Artists, Toronto

The Queen West Art Crawl is this weekend. Saturday and Sunday between 11am – 6pm, numerous artists will be displaying and selling their works in Trinity Bellwoods Park. Galleries between Spadina and Roncesvalles will be exhibiting for the crawl. Buskers and musicians will be playing in the streets.
Let’s hope the weather is nice for the event!

Skating season is here again. Nathan Phillips Square and City Hall are all gussied up with lights to get you in the holiday spirit, and the City has a rink hotline for updates on all of its rinks. What a lovely way to spend an evening: get some fresh air, exercise, and finish off with a hot chocolate. I love the way your cheeks get rosy and people weave in and out of each other’s movement patterns. Time to dig up those rusted skates and get them sharpened!

Technorati Tags: Toronto, skating, exercise, holidays, winter, activities

Soft Latin rhythms waft from the window as you near the door of Olivia’s at 53.  This cozy little house of delicious food now offers 3 nights a week of live Latin jazz to get your blood flowing on crisp winter evenings.  Match the music with a great glass of wine and a bite to eat and you may well feel like you are on a delectable vacation.  Olivia’s is located just off of the College Street stretch of Little Italy. Oh, and did I mention that they have great brunch on Sundays?  Otherwise they are dinner-focused from Tuesday to Sunday.  

In case you haven’t stumbled across this movie website - I find it rather helpful. It has all of the movie theatres in the city and is well organized to help you find what you are looking for. 

This weather tells me it’s… movie time!

A new crafty community space, the workroom, is opening this week at 1340 Queen Street West. This great concept is responding to the need for a space for crafty artists to get out of their studios/homes and come together.

The visionary, Karyn, welcomes you to the opening of the workroom.

Tuesday October 16, 2007
7 pm
Enjoy wine, cheese, Japanese imported fabrics and friends.
rsvp – makesomething@theworkroom.ca

the workroom:
wants to inspire you with new ideas.
wants to teach you something you didn’t know.
wants you to teach us something we didn’t know.
wants to provide you with equipment and space you don’t have.
wants to introduce you to other people who are making things.
wants to supply you with unique fabrics, notions and supplies.

more information on  http://torontocraftalert.blogspot.com/

I discovered this cute little multi-purpose place on College some time ago and have been meaning to mention it. They sell some fun clothes, make a nice latté, have a music listening station and publish their own hip magazine. They also have comfy leather couches at the back where you can sit down and enjoy that latté, flip through a few magazines, find some new music and spruce up your wardrobe on your way out the door. Ukula is also rentable for private events. All they need now is a nail bar that makes cocktails for you and you won’t need to go anywhere else.

Technorati Tags: clothes, coffee, event space, College Street