Enough Whining People, There Is Enough Pain To Go Around
I know everyone has been just thrilled with all the post Olympic political action lately. It’s nearly as exciting as the record Winter Olympic frenzy. The Federal speech from the throne, a Federal budget and let’s not forget Ontario’s speech from the throne a few days ago. It has many armchair athletes turning to armchair politicians.
The latest heart stopping event. A press conference that Mayor Miller called yesterday. So press and citizens were all in a frenzy when Mayor Miller was about to announce “something”. The “let down”, it seems for most, is that the estimated surplus Toronto expected to post for 2009 was actually $100 million more than forecast. People are mad?! Really? During a recession, difficult (often questionable) service fees and labour unrest the city managed to post a bigger than expected surplus. Oh. Get this, they are willing charge (gouge) less for property taxes based on these surplus funds. How is this a bad thing? Oh, and Miller asked Ontario to keep its promise to fund the TTC. This is hardly something to really complain about.
Hey political cheerleaders out there. Miller’s reign has not been perfect but it is hardly as horrible as people cry about. Sorry to the whiners but you can’t exactly cry about getting this present. We are lucky to get it. Judging from the stink the Parliamentary Budget Officer is making about the Federal Government’s structural deficits and unsustainable budget we will have enough to cry about in a few years (months if another election is called). I hope the hot air spewing about is preparation for voters getting out of their armchairs and out to the ballot boxes. If not you can always sit back down and watch the opening of the Paralympics tomorrow.
This Time Tomorrow / Color 8.1 Party
Do cheap drinks, no cover and 1/2 price wings sound like music to your ears? What about the musical stylings of Dan Arget?
Yes Tuesday night is Drink and Destroy night at 751. On tap will be a premiere of This Time Tomorrow, a sick skate video with Philly flava and footage gathered from the East Coast, London UK, Paris, Athens, Berlin and more. Catch the screening and you’ll also have a chance to pick up the latest issue of COLOR magazine. Spring is nearly hear. Get your stoke on around 9pm.
This Time Tomorrow Premiere / COLOR 8.1 Party
Tuesday March 9, 2010
Drink & Destroy @ 751
751 Queen Street West
No cover. 19+
Quest For Fire… Back and Blazing!
Quest for Fire rocking out in the Hammer. They headlined at the Casbah February 27, 2010.
Made the trip out to Hamilton to see Toronto’s Quest For Fire. The band has been “on pause” with some members working on other projects like Pink Mountaintops. Glad they are “back”. Word is that they will have a new album later this year. Can’t wait. Until then their next show in Toronto is at the Garrison Saturday (March 6th).
The Return of Carlton Cinemas…
Wow! Some great news on a Friday. There is talk of a revival of Carlton Cinemas. Magic Lantern Theatres and Rainbow Cinemas have been committed to keeping the tradition of neighbourhood and community movie theatres alive and will be working to bring back the Carlton. I can’t think of a better entity to do that. They hope to reopen it in June 2010. It will be great to go venture east of College subway again to catch a great indie, first-run, documentary, Foreign or Canadian-made features at the Carlton once more. A small piece of this city’s cinematic history is being revived!
Canaille – LIVE at the Holy Oak on FRIDAY!!!
Canaille, the rich and dynamic Toronto jazz quartet, hit the stage again this Friday. You may have caught their set at Wavelength 500 which was amazing. Check out their new full length on iTunes or Zunior or better yet LIVE THIS FRIDAY…
Friday February 18, 2010
Canaille at the Holy Oak Cafe
1241 Bloor St, just east of Lansdowne
PWYC
Tortoise – Thursday at Lee’s Palace
Tortoise are touring the East coast and land in Toronto Thursday! Glad to have the opportunity to see them again. The latest and 6th full length album, BEACONS OF ANCESTORSHIP, is another solid effort. One of the trailblazers on the epic Thrill Jockey label and definitely worth checking out, especially LIVE!
Thursday February 18, 2010
Tortoise with Dissapears at Lee’s Palace
529 Bloor St. W. Toronto
19+
$20.00 at the door
Wavelength 500!!!
Wavelength 500 kicks off Wednesday night. That’s 10 years of great indie rock goodness culminating in a huge super festival. Come out a catch Bruce Peninsula, Evening Hymns, Pony da Look, Deep Dark United, and Canaille. A full festival pass costs $50 but that will get you all the stacked shows from Wednesday through Sunday.
Check the Wavelength site for more details. Not to be missed!
Wavelength 500 – Show #1 – February 10, 2010
The Music Gallery
197 John Street
Bruce Peninsula, Evening Hymns, Pony da Look, Deep Dark United, and the Canaille
Doors 7pm
$12 adv / $15 door ($10 Music Gallery members)
Beauty and the Beast2 & TENS – Video Showcase @ The Bait Shop
A real double feature for Toronto’s skateboarders (in hibernation or otherwise). Both the Girl/AntiHero tour video “Beauty and the Beast 2” and “TENS” will be screened at The Bait Shop.
Double Feature at The Bait Shop – Beauty and the Beast and TENS
358 Dufferin Street, Suite 117
Toronto, Ontario, M6K 1Z8
Saturday January 30th
Doors at 7pm, vids start at 9pm.
Cash Bar
Open session on the mini ramp
(note 751 afterparty for those inclined…)
The Only Thing That’s Soft Is The Pillow
Toronto's PFL stopped in at the Casbah in Hamilton Thursday. Oh, the carnage!
The Pillow Fight League only gets better. I missed #36 at the Mod Club and decided to make the trek to Hamilton to catch Fight #37.
This was the first match ever to be hosted in Hamilton and the PFL didn’t dissapoint. The Casbah turned out to be a perfect venue. Judging by screams and enthusiasm from the crowd some new fans were converted.
Don’t worry Hamilton has hijacked the PFL. The next Toronto match promises to be an exciting new chapter. (One that involves SATURDAY NIGHTS instead of weeknights!).
PFL 39 – NEW DAY RISING!
The Garrison
1197 Dundas St. West (at Ossington)
TORONTO
Saturday Feb. 27, 2010
$12 in advance, $15 at door
Doors 9 pm, fights 10 pm
GZA!!! – Amazing Show at Sound Academy
GZA rocked the house with Pro Tools and Liquid Swords at the Sound Academy on January 25th, 2010.
Despite a deep set of opening acts and the usual mild mannered Toronto crowd GZA, rocked the Sound Academy. Opening for GZA (and what a difficult task that must have been!!!) were The WILDcore, Skratch Bastid, and Shing Shing Regime.
The WILDcore started the evening and were an interesting mix of live instruments, some DJing and MC’s. Glad that they were not the horrible rap metal of the 90’s. They seemed to blend break beats and mixed them with interesting pop/rock/even pop punk edginess.
Skratch Bastid’s set was an impressive showcase of turntablism. Like a good DJ he stirred the ground and built up the momentum.
Shing Shing Regime held their own. I’m sure these guys will continue to make Ontario proud with solid Hip Hop.
Of course the headliner came correct. MC Gary Grice aka The Genius aka The GZA… Delivered, period…
Gearing Up for GZA!!!
One of the legends of the Wu-Tang Clan stops by the Sound Academy tonight. GZA the Genius is in town and a great way to see one of the best Wu members live. Long live Liquid Swords…
GZA @ Sound Academy
Doors Open at 8pm
19+
11 Polson Street
$20 – Ticketmaster
And The Axe Falls At CityTV…
CityTV once a jewel on Queen Street West has been hit with yet another blow. Now a plaything for larger media corporations CityTV is now owned by Rogers Media.
“Today’s changes, although difficult, are necessary to align our operations with the economic and regulatory realities of our industry,” says Leslie Sole, CEO, Rogers Media Television. Today’s press release adds fuel to the fire that the consolidation of media outlets has not only reduced real “choice” but has resulted in fewer jobs. (Some would argue consolidation has meant less quality too!) It seems the bulk of job losses are related to markets outside of Toronto. It is likely that some CityTV Toronto on-air personalities, writers, producers, editors and camera people are affected by this announcement.
Love it or hate it CityTV’s new home is Yonge and Dundas Square. Hoping that this “rationalization” doesn’t further erode what was once one of Toronto’s best stations. My condolences to those that have lost their jobs in these uncertain times.
CN Tower To Be Lit With National Colours Of Haiti
The Red Cross has estimated that the death toll due to the magnitude-7.0 earthquake in Haiti as high as 50,000. As a small gesture of solidarity, remembrance and aid The CN Tower will be lit with the national colours of Haiti.
Canada has said that it will match charitable donations for the relief effort up to C$50 million. The department of Foreign Affairs and International trade has listed ways citizens can help contribute to the relief effort.
6 Milliards d’Autres
Just barely survived the worst of the holiday rush. As if traffic, malls and parking lots are not treacherous enough the other 364 days of the year!!! Perhaps more people should contemplate the 6 billion others on the planet we share.
Yann Arthus-Bertrand is an awesome photographer. Both “The Earth From Above” and his latest “6 Billion Others” project are amazing.
The Right To Accommodate Is Well Established But…
It’s maddening to think that people continue to be oblivious to mobility issues. I’m sure that the latest fight won by a man in the GTA may be a good reminder that the fight is far from over.
With an aging demographic and well established rights for elderly persons and those with mobility problems it’s hard to believe such a fight was so difficult. Paul DiSalvo had to wait a year and a half to have his condo to equipped with an accessibility ramp.
Why the condo was built without some form of accessibility in the first place? An entirely valid question. Too often simple design features like a wheelchair ramp are omitted or simply excluded from the plans. This often means expensive retrofitting for relatively inexpensive enhancements that add value. Unfortunately the dwellers of the condo will get tapped for the Halton Condominium Corporation’s damages/fees. Sad since the condo corporation’s board were not doing them any favours by fighting such an easy accommodation and for so long. Wouldn’t take a genius to come up with the cost benefit of accommodation (of a legal requirement) versus a year and a half of legal fees, damages and a ramp! Whoa!!!
At the end of the day whether or not one or many residents need a wheelchair ramp everyone benefits. Who knows whether a resident will eventually need one due to health or have a relative or visitor that would require it? Such a feature only enhances the value of the property and improves the quality of life of the people who use it. The more that employers, businesses, transit authorities and the general public are mindful of these issues the more we stand to gain.
