J.M.W. Turner: Painting Set Free at AGO
Romantic, innovator, traveler, genius. J.M.W. Turner (1775-1851) was Britain’s greatest artist and the pilgrimage to see the collection of his work at Tate Britain is one I’ve made each time I’ve visited London. His luminous, vaporous paintings are mesmerizing, and surprisingly modern. I’m incredibly excited that many of these masterworks have come to Toronto in […]
1920s Atlantic City: the real ‘Boardwalk Empire’
If you’re a fan of the HBO series Boardwalk Empire, you’ll know that the character of Nucky Thompson, played by Steve Buscemi, is loosely based on real-life Atlantic City kingpin Enoch ‘Nucky’ Johnson. Treasurer of Atlantic County during Prohibition era, the real Nucky’s empire flourished in the racy, roaring 1920s. On my last visit to Atlantic […]
Of the Factory Theatre, Off Bathurst Theatre Marathon and Halloween
Did I spend a typical Toronto Halloween? I think so. First brunch at vegetarian Sadie’s Diner (really, really good), then a matinee of Ronnie Burkett Theatre of Marionettes “Billy Twinkle: Requiem for a Golden Boy” at the Factory Theatre before racing home to toss treats at the kiddies. What can I say about Ronnie Burkett […]
Creepshow
Rain, fog and creepy tales. What a night to go see Stephen King in conversation with David Cronenberg at the Canon Theatre! Last night’s packed house quieted down long enough for the King of creepy fiction to read a selection from his new book Under the Dome. He uses something he calls “mutual observables” and […]
Great Escapes
After getting caught in Jonas Brothers fandemonium on Bloor last week when the Toronto International Film Festival opened (no, I didn’t spot Joe himself jogging, just the swarm of fans and paparazzi chasing him), I escaped TIFF madness on Sunday by going down to Toronto’s eastern Beaches. I started at Woodbine where the volleyballers – and […]