Five minutes into D'bi Young's solo performance at Theatre Passe Muraille I'm lost. I can't understand what she's saying. Even still, "From Maxfield to Malvern", her collection of theatrical and poetical works is extremely powerful. At times during the show she seems to look right into the eyes of individual audience members - it's pretty intense if it happens to you. Young's accent ranges from subtle to almost impenetrable patois throughout the night, reflecting different times and places in her life. After her show, during the Q&A, Young talks about the vibe of a performance, saying that vibes are the most important part of the show. Language is just one tool to that end. That said, I started to pick up most of the language after those first five minutes had passed.

Last Sunday at 'Cool Hand Of A Girl', a coffee shop in the junction, I sat around with a bunch of strangers, watching old Super 8 home movies on a white pull down screen. The 'Home Made Movies History Project' holds these casual screenings, encouraging people to bring their own films. The HMHP catalogues people's old home movies because they regard them as important historical records of everyday life, "a fascinating window into the family and the endless style and objects that made up 20th century culture."

I should have brought my mom to the Toronto Art Expo. She's always telling me "Todd, why don't you try making art someone actually wants to buy?". I've thought about exhibiting my art at the Toronto Art Expo in years past. The high entrance fee always stopped me ($1665 at least). Apparently, it stopped just about everyone else, who isn't in the business of making wall art for middle class baby boomers.

Trampoline Hall, the monthly lecture series given by speakers who are not professionally expert on their topics, tried to get idealistic last night. That was the plan anyway. The night's stated theme was "ideals & idealism". The first two speakers however, seemed more concerned with the dangers of idealism.

Well and Good (formerly M-One-11) on Queen West, has brought the work of one of Toronto's premiere graffiti artists indoors. By hanging Elicser's work in their back room gallery, Well and Good is part of an art show that is truly citywide.

Whether they know it or not, everyone in Toronto is probably familiar with Elicser's work - its all over the place. The painted stump tree on Queen St., across from The Silver Snail - thats his. Once you recognize his tag or the art itself, he becomes a ghostly presence in the city; Elicser is a friend you never see but are constantly reminded of.

For those of us with pretty girlfriends, monogamy is like a warm blanket. I pulled the blanky tight around my ears this past Tuesday as The Toronto Debating Society tackled the issue of polygamy. In a mock-governmental proceeding at the Swansea Town Hall Community Center, society members debated whether or not the practice of having multiple spouses should be legalized in Canada.