Zantabulous!
When I moved to Toronto last summer, one of my first "welcomes" to the city occured on the Queen streetcar one morning, when at the University stop I gazed out the window at a well-muscled shirtless fella in nothing but shorts, a towel sarong, and a Santa hat. He saw me and smiled, and whipped open his towel revealing a sign tacked to his shorts that said "THE PARTY STARTS HERE!". Being from San Francisco, I wasn't phased by this and shot a huge smile back at him. He pumped his fists in the air & went into a serious of flexes & poses.
Zanta, my Toronto welcome wagon.
Zanta can be seen regularly on the subways, especially in the vicinity of Yonge & Bloor, usually flexing, doing push-ups (known as "sweet sets"), and/or chanting YESYESYES!! This week he was apparantly invited onstage at a show at the El Mocambo, and did a full display of his signature moves. If you've lived in a cave the past few years and are not familiar with Zanta, here's a primer:
- Downloadable podcast interview from Molar Radio.
- Sweet Zanta video captures on YouTube.
- Zanta Group on Flickr.
- Even has is own Live Journal community -"Zantabulous"
Zanta is an arguably "valuable" addition to all that Toronto is. Love him or hate him (me, I'm in the former camp) - he's an undeniable unique and quirky character, that adds texture to our landscape.
Sweet sets forever, Zanta. Sweet sets forever.
(awesome photo by spiritedaway).
Comments (68)
Funny thing... A bunch of my friends and I were talking about this guy a few days ago.. He's awesome.. Gotta love his spunk!
I've seen him numerous times at Dundas Square.
Whoo, Zanta! He's thrust his hips at me and called "Yes yes yes!" at me a couple of times now. Living in the area, run-ins with him are semi-frequent. Heh. Interesting man.
The Zanta documentary can be found here:
http://www.robotomedia.com/zanta/
"An independent documentary film by Muckney Tipping & Pietro Gagliano"
Ah yes! Thanks Hamish, I had seen that before, and was looking for the link when I wrote this peice (but couldn't find it). HIGHLY recommended viewing, a great background on Zanta, really "personalizes" him.
Didn't CHUM have to strike a deal with Zanta to get him to stop harassing Breakfast Television? He used to always be at Queen and John. He's everywhere! (I know, I know)
I had no idea who this guy was until reading this post. I saw him last summer the day after the Pride Parade. He was doing his routine in the fountain at College Park, including doing pushups over one of the water jets.
He was brilliant, but it took me a bit to realize it was a show and not just some guy still feeling the effects of his Pride celebrations from the evening before.
Apparently City TV doesn't like Zanta and somehow got a restraining order against him...BAD City TV
http://torontosun.com/News/Columnists/Burnett_Thane/2005/11/07/1296119.html
He's pretty much my favourite Toronto-only celeb. When my friends came to U of T from out of town this year, he was one of those "oh my god, have you seen that guy..." stories. Everyone from Toronto knew exactly who they were talking about.
Funny that.
He wears the same thing at Runnymede subway, in winter. My first experience with him was on the Scarlett Rd. bus around 9 pm New Year's Eve, and I would occasionally run into him at similar instances.
It's nice seeing Zanta get some respect. His story is not a particularly happy one, but the goodwill towards him in the city is pretty cool.
Thanks for the link, Grant!
So, as I understand it, if you get in the way of a TV station shooting a public street, you risk a peace-order being put against you.
I must be missing some information.
Yeah, as much as I ordinarily like CityTV, thats some massive BS. I say we all do our best to get in the way of any CityTV on the street camera's, and yell "Viva Zanta!"
i was (unfortunatley) watching that damn breakfast show on CityTV awhile back (last summer maybe?). jennifer was in the parking lot doing an itnerview with some acrobats or something, and lo and behold, on the sidewalk behide her Zanta showed up and started doign a pose-down for the camera. the camera guy spent the whole interview trying to keep Zanta out of the shot but alas to no avail ... it was sweet and i laughed really hard...
hey everybody i just seen zanta at trudeau park may 24 and hes the fuckin shit lol! i think he is a perfect example of what meth can do to a person! cuz i seen him do a lot of it and a lot of "gimmie 20's" still the guy has balls for doing what he does so all the power to him! go zanta go!
Not everything has a point to be figured out. Just like life. Yeah, I said it. Zanta is like life.
K-Dough:
Having spoken to Zanta a few times, his point is simple: Global media domination through push-ups and yelling.
Zanta I saw you on Saturday morning. It was raining out and you were standing under an awning on the west side of Spadina Ave. just south of Queen st near the giant thimble.
I was passing by in a cabby and I rolled down the window and gave you the ole "HEY ZANTA YESS YESS YESSSSS"
Your eyes lit up and you ran right out into the rain to flex and give some "yes yessss" right back to me.
That made my day. I used to think you were crazy but now I know what's up.
I just remember the time he ran up in front of me and starting humping motions saying F%@# ME! F%@# ME! It was 7:30am on Queen St... I still don't know if I should feel violated or laugh my ass off.
Hey Zanta! on our class trip..we came to Toronto..it gets kinda boring going to all these pointless musiums..its supposed to be a fun, no skool trip..but we ended up being as bored as if we were sitting in the class room listening to another history lesson that happened oner 100 years ago that nobody cares about!!! you are the one who everybod y couldnt wait to tell all their friends about when we got back! It was the best part of the whole trip!! Thanks...for making the entire 2 buses..including the teachers have a nice laugh..i couldnt stop laughing my ass off when u got cheese thrown at u and u just threw it right back threw the window and kept showing us ur moves!!!
Sad news:
http://torontosun.com/News/Columnists/Burnett_Thane/2005/11/07/1296119.html
Someone should amass an army of topless men in Santa hats and hang outside the Chum City building in protest.
so my buddy daren really wants to see this guy..is there anyway to know where he is gonna be? if anyone knows how to find that out, or hotspots where he mostly goes that would be helpfull..
thanks!
sasha
He hangs around Yorkville A LOT but just so you know he is not crazy. He is actually a really interesting guy.Granted he is definately eccentric but there a lot of people who fall under that description and people don't consider them crazy. You can't get people talking about what you are doing by being normal and low key I just think Zanta is Misunderstood. Way to go Zanta keep up the good work.
I have seen ZANTA everywhere in Toronto and I have watched him closely. While is antics are colourful, he is polite and never bothers anyone. He chalked his name beside the rock at Yorkville and I finally realized that he was trying to get his daughter back. I really hope he does.
I have seen ZANTA everywhere in Toronto and I have watched him closely. While is antics are colourful, he is polite and never bothers anyone. He chalked his name beside the rock at Yorkville and I finally realized that he was trying to get his daughter back. I really hope he does.
YESYESYES , MERRY FUCKIN CHRIST-MESS THANKS ALL ,I LOVE YOU ALL , CHECK THIS OUT , WWW.TORONTOZANTA.CA PEACE
YESYESYES , MERRY CHRIST-MESS , THANKS ALL ,I LOVE YOU ALL , CHECK THIS OUT , WWW.TORONTOZANTA.CA PEACE
I ran into Zanta last night in Yorkville, he was doing pushups on top of a cab right outside of Hemmingway's. It was one of my buddy's birthdays and it deffinatly made our night.
Hey Zanta... I live in Mississauga and I freaken love what you are doing... your awsome.. I wish you did get more fucking exposure for sure. Keep doing what your doing and I am sure christmas will come soon enough.
You are very very scary, I cannot understand that you are doing history and make people run away from you.
One day you were in the subway and starting yelling about zanta and people just moved away from you man, be carefull, you are very scary
Zanta, U are totally what everyone needs, a little bit of excitement to remind them they are alive ! i love what youre doing and after watching the documentary i realized u arent out of it, although when i seen you last at keele station almost a month ago you swore you werent crazy! u purred&grred at me, called me & my sister princess and shook our hands till we got on the bus ! rawk on zanta!!!
Okay I saw this guy like two days a week ago on the sub way and he is something else!!!! A bit much... I went on a date last night and the dude brought this gjuy up and at first I didn't catch on but it clicked and well he seems to be known by a lot of people
ZANTA IS VERY WIERD!!! TODAY HE KEPT ON CHASING ME IN RUNNYMEDE STATION!! AND HE SAID I WAS CRAZY, LOOK WHO'S TALKING!! WARNING, PEOPLE STAY AWAY FROM HIM!! TRUST ME!!
PEACE OUT!! =D
Zanta is a big time loser. I would like to post his picture with the warning "don't do drugs, this could happen to you".
LOL i say ZANTA 2day at my school , funniest shit ever, principles came to ask him to leave, while he was breaking up weed in his hand ROFL
YES YES YES!!!!!
Zanta, you are truly a joke. Take that hat off and show the world that under that hat there lies no brains or hair. You are a joke and I know for a fact you have spent time in jail and you will end up there soon enough. Seriously, if you have a daughter, do her proud and get a job and stop the stupidity. Medication you are in dire need of.
Have some fun. Call him "a nobody". He is a nobody and the goof knows it. Run away before he gets violent.
omg zantaaa
II SEENN UU TUDAII
nov 24 06
aha ii wont forgett
iit was amzing talin tuu uu
ur thee best zanta ever
gotta lovee uu
uur pretty crazzyy
butt ur fckin jkzz
YES YES YESSSS!!!
ii have ur email now ahah
u gave me iit at eglition buss stop
zantayesyesyes@hotmail.com
haha see uu arounndd budddy
muchh loveeee meelaiiiieee x0x
SCREW YOU TAZZZ!! zanta you fucking rock my socks! everytime i see you scare the japanese tourists i just crack up no matter how bad my day is! ROCK ON!
xo
ok..so i jsut love the fact that he decided one day that he was gonna be famous and he went out and did that..that's guts man, that's true heart. I have so much respect for him. Plus he's a pretty funny dude
YES YES yessssss..... ggGGGRRRAW! yes yes yes ZANTA is the man. he inspires and entertains, with no more than a hat and knuckles with calices on them. he does like 1000 push-ups a day.
Zanta is awesome. I don't think he's hurting anyone, and while he maybe bug some people some times, I think his antics are amusing. I don't see why people have to go and spoil his (and our) fun, it's totally harmless. And actually, Zanta just MC'd a charity concert at the Kathedral. I'm the drummer in one of the bands that played the show, and the hundreds of dollars raised for covenant house are a great example of how Zanta is actually contributing positivally to Toronto. Zanta forever!
dude zanta is amazing!!! havent seen him in person yet but dude he is so kool i love what zantas doing and he makes me laugh lmao YES YES YES YES!!!! HEHE
ZANTA U ROCK!!!!
I give this guy so much credit.. sometimes its so cold.. i love his efforts... awesome job... i really think that people shouldn't look at him funny but actually enjoy what hes doin.. hes stayin healthy and fit in a more different way than most people would.. the rest of us who stare are probably not as in shape as he is. lol.. but ya i like him personally and i dont think he should stop wat hes doin.. i always say.. sing like nobodies listenin..
Zanta's the only guy I've let try to pick my girlfriend without making a fuss about it, and why would I? What's not to love about him?
yo zanata the first time i saw you i thought you were nuts !!!! but know i can see why you do pushup and stuff keep it upp yes yes yes yes!!
DID ANYONE EVER STOP TO THINK HOW EMBARASSING HE IS TO HIS CHILDREN??? YOU'VE HEARD "HIS" SIDE OF THE STORY ABOUT HIS DAUGHTER... HMMM... WHAT ABOUT HIS OTHER 3 CHILDREN??? HMMM... WHAT ABOUT HIS FAMILY??? LOVE HIM OR HATE HIM... UNTIL HE MAKES A FORTUNE OFF HIS "CHARACTER", HE IS JUST AN EMBARASSMENT TO HIS ENTIRE FAMILY!!! Personally I wish him success with these antics for his familys sake. At least if he gets anywhere with it, they will no longer have to be embarassed to say they know him, let alone are related to the insanity.
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL!!! MINUS the "yesyesyes"
We saw ur video and we loved it!!!!!!!! It was soo funny,and because u lost ur kids and i feel bad. We would feel the same if your kids ur gone.
sincerly.... yr new friends
Pleae stop encouraging this moron. Look at him; he walks around with his shirt off year-round and yells at people but he isn't crazy. He just wants attention. At least he isn't killing people to get it, but this is what creates the Paris Hiltons of the world: worthless idiots who crave attention and get it, just because they want it, even though they don't deserve it. Please let this idiot fade into the obscurity he deserves.
i seriously think that this guy needs a mental evaluation i dont think he could actualy sit down and have a serious conversation with anyone if he tryed and in my world this tells me when he fell he bumped his head a bit hard and this is what messed him up so bad all he can do is pushups lol im glad i dont have to walk down the streets of toronto with this idiot screeming in my ear
his mom takes care of his money and feeds him so go figure
Famous? Nothing like going down in history as being a total retard!
NOT the way to get your child back. Give your head a shake dude.
gill
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