blogTO | Posts by Roger

blogTO | Posts by Roger http://www.blogto.com/ Toronto blog Copyright 2012 Sat, 26 May 2012 21:09:05 EDT http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Glenn Gould Prize Gala honours Leonard Cohen at Massey Hall Leonard Cohen was honoured as the Ninth Laureate of the Glenn Gould Prize at a music-filled gala at Massey Hall on Monday night.

The $50,000 prize, awarded every two years, gives recognition to an individual who has made a lifelong contribution to improving the human condition through music and communication.

Cohen chose the Canada Council for the Arts as the recipient of the award. As part of the prize, Cohen, now 77, also selected Parkdale-based Sistema Toronto as the recipient of the $15,000 Glenn Gould Protégé Prize. What a class act.

]]> http://www.blogto.com/music/2012/05/glenn_gould_prize_gala_honours_leonard_cohen_at_massey_hall http://www.blogto.com/music/2012/05/glenn_gould_prize_gala_honours_leonard_cohen_at_massey_hall Music Tue, 15 May 2012 21:55:20 EDT Music Roger Cullman 2012-05-15T21:55:20 Electric Touch wow teen girls at the Opera House After being impressed by Austin, Texas band Electric Touch at the acoustic side stage at VFest a few years ago, I was eager to see them plugged in and on a bigger stage. The Opera House show on Monday night certainly satisfied that desire.

Electric Touch are on tour with Hot Chelle Rae (HCR) and other supporting act Action Item. Both those bands draw a large appeal from teenage girls. There were even a handful of chaperone moms present.

]]> http://www.blogto.com/music/2012/04/electric_touch_wow_teen_girls_at_the_opera_house http://www.blogto.com/music/2012/04/electric_touch_wow_teen_girls_at_the_opera_house Music Wed, 18 Apr 2012 11:03:09 EDT Music Roger Cullman 2012-04-18T11:03:09 Prisoner of Tehran is as powerful as they come Prisoner of Tehran is a powerful production that resonates with today's situation in Syria.

This play is the stage adaptation of Marina Nemat's international bestselling memoir. The story details her arrest in 1980, at the age of 16, for speaking out against Ayatollah Khomeini's regime. She was imprisoned and tortured in the infamous Evin prison. At the moment of her scheduled execution, her interrogator forces her into marriage — and she remains his prisoner outside of Evin.

]]> http://www.blogto.com/theatre/2012/04/prisoner_of_tehran_is_as_powerful_as_they_come http://www.blogto.com/theatre/2012/04/prisoner_of_tehran_is_as_powerful_as_they_come Theatre Thu, 12 Apr 2012 20:25:49 EDT Theatre Roger Cullman 2012-04-12T20:25:49 Thomas Dolby brings his time capsule to The Mod Club It was as if Thomas Dolby had brought a time capsule to The Mod Club on Monday night and transported us back to 1982.

Only his show proved much more modern and relevant than the 30-year-old hits that sounded as fresh as yesteryear. And the time capsule was for real. Dolby -- decked out in steampunk-styled fez and flashy blazer — had parked his chrome- and brass-plated teardrop-shaped trailer out front. Inside, fans got to record 30-second YouTube video clips "to the future."

]]> http://www.blogto.com/music/2012/04/thomas_dolby_brings_his_time_capsule_to_the_mod_club http://www.blogto.com/music/2012/04/thomas_dolby_brings_his_time_capsule_to_the_mod_club Music Wed, 04 Apr 2012 18:20:59 EDT Music Roger Cullman 2012-04-04T18:20:59 Rich Aucoin steals the show at the CMW Indie Awards With seven bands gracing the Canadian Room stage inside The Fairmont Royal York Hotel on Saturday night, there was sure to be a runaway winner at the CMW Indie Awards for 2012.

While Saskatoon rockers The Sheepdogs made off with the most awards, including Favourite Rock Artist or Group of the Year, Favourite Live Artist/Group of the Year and Group of the Year, it was Halifax's Rich Aucoin, SiriusXM ($10,000) Emerging Artist of the Year recipient, who stole the show.

]]> http://www.blogto.com/music/2012/03/rich_aucoin_steals_the_show_at_the_cmw_indie_awards http://www.blogto.com/music/2012/03/rich_aucoin_steals_the_show_at_the_cmw_indie_awards Music Sun, 25 Mar 2012 23:42:53 EDT Music Roger Cullman 2012-03-25T23:42:53 Diemonds shine on Day 2 at CMW Local rockers Diemonds brought The Bad Pack sound to Wrongbar on Thursday night, giving a spirited trip down '80s hair metal nostalgia during day two of Canadian Music Fest.

The Truth Explosion and Jagermeister showcase party featured seven bands in all. Starting things off was the soulful Tanika Charles and The Wonderfuls.

]]> http://www.blogto.com/music/2012/03/diemonds_shine_on_day_2_at_cmw http://www.blogto.com/music/2012/03/diemonds_shine_on_day_2_at_cmw Music Fri, 23 Mar 2012 17:08:12 EDT Music Roger Cullman 2012-03-23T17:08:12 Photos of the Toronto Spring Motorcycle Show 2012 The Toronto Spring Motorcycle Show heralded the start to the 2012 riding season and
brought a slew of bikers to The International Centre over the weekend.

Having just got a new motor scooter, I was eager to mix among my other two-wheel brethren, check out the exotic bikes on display and maybe find some deals on new riding gear.

]]> http://www.blogto.com/sports_play/2012/03/photos_of_the_toronto_spring_motorcycle_show_2012 http://www.blogto.com/sports_play/2012/03/photos_of_the_toronto_spring_motorcycle_show_2012 Sports & Play Mon, 19 Mar 2012 14:39:59 EDT Sports & Play Roger Cullman 2012-03-19T14:39:59 Bedlam Pillow Fight Revue in full swing at Lee's Palace Bedlam All Girl Pillow Fight Revue brought some campy fun to Lee's Palace on the weekend. Spawned from the former Pillow Fight League, the new revue is an all-girl run show that aims to dial up the kitch factor when compared to its predecessor.

The evening's entertainment incorporated a stand-up comedy act, a burlesque act or two and a fabulous drag queen in between bouts of girl-on-girl pillow fight action. In other words, it was an eventful night.

Here's how it played out.

]]> http://www.blogto.com/sports_play/2012/01/bedlam_pillow_fight_revue_in_full_swing_at_lees_palace http://www.blogto.com/sports_play/2012/01/bedlam_pillow_fight_revue_in_full_swing_at_lees_palace Sports & Play Mon, 16 Jan 2012 21:46:41 EST Sports & Play Roger Cullman 2012-01-16T21:46:41 Neverending White Lights shine with Bed of Stars Neverending White Lights shone bright last night at The Drake Underground in an intimate show that featured some superbly talented singers, including Evan Konrad of Bed of Stars.

With today's pop hits marred by auto-tune drones, it's refreshing to hear some truly talented singers get some airplay. About three years ago I was wowed by a song, The Grace, that sounded like nothing else I'd heard in a while with its well-orchestrated arrangement and soaring melody.

Neverending White Lights (NWL) shine brightest when they collaborate with others. Their previous album, Act II: The Blood and the Life Eternal, featured Hole's Melissa Auf der Maur and Catherine Wheel's Rob Dickinson.

]]> http://www.blogto.com/music/2011/11/neverending_white_lights_shine_with_bed_of_stars http://www.blogto.com/music/2011/11/neverending_white_lights_shine_with_bed_of_stars Music Wed, 23 Nov 2011 15:32:46 EST Music Roger Cullman 2011-11-23T15:32:46 Sting busts out the bass at Massey Hall Sting's Back-to-Bass tour touched down last night for the first of a two-night stint at Massey Hall.

After his recent reunion tour with The Police, followed by a tour with a full orchestra for his Symphonicity tour, Sting hit the road once again, but with a pared-down ensemble this time. The result is a somewhat self-indulgent set list, leaving out some of the more memorable tunes in favour of Sting's personal favourites, culled from 25 years of solo musical output.

]]> http://www.blogto.com/music/2011/11/sting_busts_out_the_bass_at_massey_hall http://www.blogto.com/music/2011/11/sting_busts_out_the_bass_at_massey_hall Music Wed, 02 Nov 2011 19:26:16 EDT Music Roger Cullman 2011-11-02T19:26:16 Global Cabaret Festival 2011 preview The Global Cabaret Festival this year will feature 150 musicians and 44 performances over one musical weekend in the Distillery District.

With lots to compete with over the pre-Halloween weekend, the festival offers a great alternative to your typical Halloween parties. Now in its fourth year, it continues to feature some awesome artistic collaborations.

]]> http://www.blogto.com/arts/2011/10/global_cabaret_festival_2011_preview http://www.blogto.com/arts/2011/10/global_cabaret_festival_2011_preview Arts Fri, 28 Oct 2011 17:28:10 EDT Arts Roger Cullman 2011-10-28T17:28:10 EV Fest brings electric vehicles to The Brick Works Bringing EV Fest -- Toronto's fall festival of electric cars -- to The Brick Works from last year's event held in a Toyota-Lexus dealership made sense on many levels.

EV Fest 2011 showcased electric car and bike offerings in a space where nature, culture and community intersect. Held in The Kilns and Holcim Gallery on Sunday, it was neat to see such modern-day transportation options inside such the heritage property.

]]> http://www.blogto.com/environment/2011/10/ev_fest_brings_electric_vehicles_to_the_brick_works http://www.blogto.com/environment/2011/10/ev_fest_brings_electric_vehicles_to_the_brick_works Environment Tue, 25 Oct 2011 19:30:25 EDT Environment Roger Cullman 2011-10-25T19:30:25 Toronto Zombie Walk 2011 The Toronto Zombie Walk occupied Trinity-Bellwoods Park on Saturday afternoon.

Thousands of zombies eventually left the park in a hauntingly slow crawl east along Queen St. to Spadina, up through Chinatown and then west along Dundas back to the park.

2011 marks the ninth year of the Toronto Zombie Walk. While last year's zombie walk went up through Kensington Market towards the Bloor Cinema, this year's marched past The Toronto Underground Cinema, where a double-bill of zombie flicks screened, as part of the Toronto After Dark Film Festival.

Here's some photos of zombies from this year's Toronto Zombie Walk:

]]> http://www.blogto.com/city/2011/10/toronto_zombie_walk_2011 http://www.blogto.com/city/2011/10/toronto_zombie_walk_2011 City Sat, 22 Oct 2011 23:38:11 EDT City Roger Cullman 2011-10-22T23:38:11 Michael Jackson goes to the circus Michael Jackson The Immortal World Tour kicked off its Toronto shows Friday night at the Air Canada Centre. Being a old fan of Michael Jackson and Cirque du Soleil, I was anticipating some magical synergy.

The show's premise had promise, but in execution it lacked the soul that I've come to expect from Cirque productions, such as OVO or Allegria.

The production suffers by trying too hard to capture too much of Jackson's musical output instead of focusing on achieving a wow-factor in bringing the most important elements of his music and life to the big stage.

]]> http://www.blogto.com/music/2011/10/michael_jackson_goes_to_the_circus http://www.blogto.com/music/2011/10/michael_jackson_goes_to_the_circus Music Sat, 22 Oct 2011 15:05:18 EDT Music Roger Cullman 2011-10-22T15:05:18 Want botox? The Ugly One is the cautionary tale for you The Ugly One left me squirming in my seat. It's not so much the subject matter -- the importance we give to vanity -- but how quickly things can turn when taken to the extreme.

In our society, plastic surgery has become so commonplace that, for some, it's no longer sufficient to get a facelift or a boob job. We're enticed with ads for botox, liposuction, even penis enlargements and designer vaginas. Where will it end?

The Ugly One is an uncomfortably absurdist, biting comedy by German playwright Marius von Mayenburg, in the Theatre Smash production that just opened at the Tarragon Theatre. It revolves around Lette, a happily-married man (adeptly played by David Jansen) whose wife (Naomi Wright) has never told him how unspeakably ugly his face is. Nobody has.

]]> http://www.blogto.com/theatre/2011/10/want_botox_the_ugly_one_is_the_cautionary_tale_for_you http://www.blogto.com/theatre/2011/10/want_botox_the_ugly_one_is_the_cautionary_tale_for_you Theatre Fri, 07 Oct 2011 22:15:48 EDT Theatre Roger Cullman 2011-10-07T22:15:48