blogTO | Posts by Joseph

Pinball Wizards Unite

Joseph — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 11:15:55 PDT

If you've ever fancied yourself a pinball superstar, this weekend marks the first Canadian Pinball Championship. Over 70 players have registered for the three day tournament at the Playdium Store in Etobicoke, but new players are welcome to register today or early tomorrow. Registration for the tournament is $25 and the top 32 players will advance to the finals on Sunday.

On Saturday there will also be a live auction (starts 11:30am, more info) of over 150 pinball machines, air hockey tables, arcade games, pool tables, foosball tables, dome hockey games, jukeboxes and more. Most of these games were purchased from Funland Amusement Arcade on Yonge after it closed, a place I spent many hours of my youth. If I had saved all the quarters I put into Mortal Combat and Street Fighter in high school, I'd probably be able to buy the machines now. These machines will go for bargain prices, if you have ever wanted to start your own basement arcade, don't miss this auction.

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Improv Everywhere MP3 Experiment in Toronto

Joseph — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 15:00:37 PDT

This weekend, Torontonians have a chance to be secret agents, improv actors and participate in yet another massive urban "scene" hosted by Improv Everywhere.

Mp3 Experiment Toronto will take place this Sunday at Riverdale Park at exactly 2:00. Participants are asked to wear a Red, Blue, Yellow, or Green t-shirt and bring an umbrella, an uninflated balloon and an mp3 player. Most importantly though, everyone must download the same mp3 and sync their watches so everyone can start listening at the same time. If you plan to attend, be sure to read the detailed instructions before you do.

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Manifesto: Tag, Turn and Paint the ROM

Joseph — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 17:54:50 PDT

Manifesto 2008 was officially launched last night with a film festival on hip hop, but what really got the festival started was a gathering of artists outside the ROM.

The evening featured live spray paint art (pictured above) by Starship (HVW8), Dstrbo (HVW8) and Elicser of Canadian artists, and music by DJ X, Son Of S.O.U.L., iNSiDEaMiND (pictured below), DJ Mensa and Mister Grumpy.

One of the highlights of the night though was the first public display of SKRTCH (pictured below) by Rob King from the CFC Media Lab. SKRTCH is an "interactive digital graffiti projection that allows users to digitally 'tag' a wall using a laser." Even more exciting, passersby could animate the tag through scratching a turntable, making the graffiti art dance as a 3D image on the wall. What better wall to tag, at least temporarily, than the North East corner of the ROM.

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One Foot, Two Foot, Three Foot, Square Foot

Joseph — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 10:28:52 PDT

If there was ever an exhibit to drag your friends and family too this summer, the sixth annual Square Foot Exhibit, opening this weekend, is definitely the one. Presented by AWOL Gallery on Ossington Street, the exhibit features close to 1400 pieces of work from nearly 600 artists, each measuring a square foot, 12x12 inches.

I stopped by the 2,500 square foot exhibit space early this week to document the frantic work that goes into hanging so many pieces in such a short amount of time. I put together a short audio slide-show of the work with a time-lapse sequence at the end that was shot over 8 hours.

Video interview with AWOL Gallery artist Paul Robert Turner.

But to really understand the size of the exhibit you need to see a big photo like the one below.

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Melt For Vintage at Public Butter

Joseph — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 06:25:00 PDT

Vintage (by it's essence) was gone for a while, but with stores like The Public Butter in Parkdale, it's pretty safe to say it is officially here to stay. The new store, opened in February, is a massive collection of everything retro. On top of a wide-variety of furniture and clothing, you'll also find local artists on the wall and silk screens shirts a mile long. Oh, and I can't forgot to mention the bikes out front and the wide variety of, to name a few, bags, games, lamps, hats, lunch boxes and belts from days gone by.

Read my profile of Public Butter and an interview with co-owner Bernard Chung in the fashion section.

Summerworks: Dance Like Everyone is Watching

Joseph — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 22:43:45 PDT

Starting today you might have notice that Queen Street West sidewalks got a little busier thanks in part to Dance Like No One Is Watching, a special presentation as part of Toronto's Summerworks Festival.

I strolled by today to take a look. The event was described as pockets of dancers performing "amidst street traffic connected by a shared soundtrack heard only through their individual headsets." I was most intrigued by their shirts that read, "F**k off, I'm dancing like no one is watching," and I didn't want them to wear the shirts without the irony that someone is in fact watching.

I'm no dance critic but I found I actually have something to say about the piece.

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Be a Part of Nuit Blanche: NB Post

Joseph — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 13:13:35 PDT

My favorite events at Nuit Blanche each year are the interactive exhibits, and while Nuit Blanche 2008 is still weeks away, it's not too early to be a part of the evening.

NB Post, an exhibit at this years festival, is currently asking for donated 4x6 photographs to make postcards. All photos are welcome; photos of pets, vacations, birthday parties, ex-girlfriends... whatever. Each photo will be glued to a piece of card stock to make 5000 hand-made and unique postcards. Drop off your photos at Tequila Bookworm or mail them to a P.O. Box.

The interaction doesn't stop there.

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First Look: Yummy Stuff in Parkdale

Joseph — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 15:05:11 PDT

For the past five years Yummy Stuff, specializing in custom cakes and decorated cookies, has been a popular online store and commercial bakery. Through word of mouth, business built well and the bakery supplied a wide-variety of companies and weddings tasty baked-goods.

As of last month, the tasty treats are now a short walk away for the residents of Parkdale as Yummy Stuff opened their first store on Queen St. West.

Get introduced to Yummy Stuff in our Baked Goods section.

Class 8 Probe Lauched For TrekZac Festicon

Joseph — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 23:57:09 PDT

I used to be embarrassed about loving Star Trek, but I'm over that now and proudly state my admiration for the show whenever it comes up. While I still get a fair share of looks and a decent amount of abuse for loving all things federation, it's all becomes worth it when you meet that other Star Trek fan who really gets it.

Later this year, on Sept 27, when the Tranzac Club will be holding their annual TrekZac Festicon, I know I will be gloriously free from abuse. And while it's important to mark the date as a night to dust off your Starfleet uniform, the festival is still looking for people who are interested in "being on discussion panels, having their Star Trek-related art displayed, or any members of the independent arts community who are interested in contributing in absolutely any way." The all day convention is 100% Star Trek focused with music (performing this year will be musicians like the Woodhands and Mackenzie King (the-band-formerly-known-as-"Ontario Power Generation"), theatre and comedy, games and speakers.

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One Stop Shopping in Parkdale

Joseph — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 10:29:39 PDT

Opened in June of 2006, Good Catch General Store in Parkdale is a smorgasbord of a shop mixing everyday staples such as bread and milk with vintage clothing, work by local artists and baby toys. They even sell guitars and old vinyl records. I think the store has it all covered, you can even get your keys cut while you shop.

Although one stop shopping is not a new concept these days what with massive box stores, it's refreshing to see it done in such a tight space, not having to walk all the way down to the end of isle 14 to get the peanut butter. Instead, it's conveniently next to the stuffed toys you were looking at for your nephew.

Read a full review of Good Catch in the Grocery section.

Audio Slideshow: What A Song Writer Can Do With A Free Afternoon

Joseph — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 17:55:14 PDT

Between playing regular gigs at a North York bar and the writing and re-writing of an epic project, Toronto musician Darryl Costello always finds time to use his skill as a songwriter to brighten the lives of children.

Darryl is one of 120 songwriters around the world who write personalized songs for chronically and terminally ill children and young adults as part of a charity called Songs of Love. Over 15,500 children have received songs as part of the charity since its inception in 1996, and over the past couple years, about 30 of them have come from Darryl.

I spent an afternoon with him to watch and record how he writes a song. Continue reading to see and hear an audio slideshow of the process.

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Drunk Jays Fans

Joseph — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 12:29:57 PDT

Until recently, I thought all drunk jays fans were the same. It wasn't until I read the funniest sports blog in the city that I could tell the difference.

For over a season and a half of ups and downs but generally mediocre baseball, Drunk Jays Fans writers, Andrew Stoeten, Dustin Parkes and Justin Bergkamp, have maintained a steady flow of posts each week after heart-breaking week following the Toronto Blue Jays. Irreverent and intelligent, Drunk Jays Fans doesn't shy away from comment or criticism on everything from baseball broadcasters and writers to players and fans. The site's combination of laugh out loud crudeness and impassioned observations make it both entertaining and insightful.

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Falafel Breaks and Brake Lights

Joseph — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 08:18:37 PDT

Do TTC drivers often leave their vehicles and passengers to go and get something to eat? For about four minutes my 505 streetcar sat on Dundas West, blocking all westbound traffic, as the driver got out to get take-away food from Ali Baba's. I've seen a TTC bus driver park at a stop for an extra few seconds to run in and grab a cup of coffee on a cold day and I'm okay with that, but what I saw last night was ridiculous.

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Turkish Delight

Joseph — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 02:38:56 PDT

If you are not a big fan of soccer, I would agree with you, the Euro and World Cup are nothing but an annoying ~~nuance~~ nuisance to the city. It all seems a little over the top when you don't care that much and to be honest, taking street cars, taxis or driving is a hassle, even when you think you're taking a short cut, you inevitably run into a pack of fans in one niched corner of the city blocking traffic and waving flags.

Fortunately I've experienced the other side of soccer in this city. Although I am not much a fan of the sport in and of itself, I am a fan of the fans of the sport. Sitting in a bar with even just a dozen of any exuberant fans is contagious, and I suddenly feel compelled to care. It really is one sign of the greatness of our city.

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Is this 1993? Jays Fire Gibbons, Bring Back Gaston

Joseph — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 14:29:12 PDT

It's the 1990s all over again as the Jays have fired John Gibbons and his coaching staff and replaced them with Cito Gaston (as manager), and former coaches Nick Leyva and Gene Tenace.

This is no joke folks, although I have to say I doubled checked whether it was April 1st when I saw this news cross the wire.

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