Arts and Culture : In The News

It turns out that a post-apocalyptic Toronto might just be a beautiful thing to behold. At least, it would be through the eyes of sci-fi author Jim Munroe.

The writer has teamed up with artists Matthew Borrett, Terry Lau and Sanford Kong to create images of a gorgeously grim future Toronto, which will be featured in a calendar given out to contributors to Munroe's latest crowdfunded story series. The resulting vignettes are both haunting and surreal: A collapsed CN Tower puffs black smoke over the Gardiner Expressway in one, while vinelike spider legs wind around downtown cityscapes in others.

io9 reports:

"Those of you familiar with Munroe's work may recognize a lot of these scenes from his last film, Ghostswith Shit Jobs,which features a segment about what happens to Toronto after the cityis invaded by giant spiders and its local internet cloud goes into foreclosure."

Giant spiders might be less-than-ideal, but even as an imagined dystopia, Toronto manages to look world-class. 

Read the full story here. 
Source: io9.
 

Little India is changing, and the New York Times has noticed.

"Sari shops and curry emporiums still dot Gerrard Street, the main artery in Toronto’s Little India. But over the last decade, much of the city’s South Asian population has decamped for suburbs like Brampton and Rexdale," the publication writes.

"Now, as artists and young families move into the neighborhood’s neat single-family homes, Gerrard Street’s affordable storefronts are attracting creative entrepreneurs priced out of trendier districts. The fresh crop of businesses is giving this east-end enclave a vibe that’s both edgy and homey. And with a wave of Irish immigrants settling nearby side streets, a distinctive lilt can now be heard on the strip."

Coffee house and gallery Flying Pony gets top nods for its "bold works by emerging Canadian artists like Gilles Arsenault and David Irvine," while The Swag Sisters, a "tiny toy shop where Legos share shelves with duct-tape wallets from MarinaRocksToronto – a.k.a. the 15-year-old Toronto designer Marina Wilson," receives additional praise. 

Eateries Tea n Bannock and Lazy Daisy's Café are applauded for traditional cuisine and local-faire, respectably. 

And lastly, Gerrard Art Space gets a write up for its "multimedia exhibits, Sunday afternoon concerts, ukulele classes and children’s art workshops."

Read the full story here. 
Original Source: The New York Times

The Aga Khan Museum is set to open to the public this Thursday and already international press is taking note. 

"Almost 20 years in the making, the Toronto site is the work of the Aga Khan Trust for Culture which, like a mini Unesco, runs an impressive programme of historic conservation of Islamic architecture around the world and a respected triennial architecture award. The 10,000-square-metre building is the new home for the Aga Khan’s spectacular hoard of Islamic art, more than 1,000 artefacts spanning three continents over 10 centuries, and is the first museum in North America dedicated to the subject," writes the Guardian. 

The Guardian offers a review and history of the Aga Khan Museum and the neighbouring Ismaili Centre. Both were unveiled last week. Prime Minister Stephen Harper and 77-year-old spiritual leader Aga Khan attended.

The account is quite descriptive.

"The museum is a monolithic shed, its canted walls giving it the look of a gigantic packing box that has been flipped open, with sharply chiselled skylights sliced into its crisp limestone skin. Across a vast pond-studded courtyard, the Ismaili Centre is a cluster of low-slung sandstone buildings, from which emerges a translucent pyramidal roof, ramping up at an angle as if pointing towards the stars. Together, they form an enigmatic complex that has the look of a cosmic observatory, or some mysterious lunar fortress." 

Read the full story here.
Original Source: The Guardian

Vogue has named West Queen West the second hippest neighbourhood in the world in part thanks to its street style, arts and culture scene, and prominent indie shops and designers. 

Here's what they said: 

"Toronto is currently enjoying newfound prominence—and desirability—amongst globe-trotting tastemakers. Queen Street West is a verifiable artery of indie patisseries, homegrown labels, and hidden-from-view galleries—hallmarks of hipness, if ever they existed. It’s also the home of the Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art, well-established “art” hotels The Drake and the Gladstone, and the charming Bicyclette, a local clothing boutique and lifestyle brand whose owners love “glitter, DIY projects, treasure hunts and details.” Soho House Toronto is nearby, as is Graffiti Alley, a block where street art is both 100 percent legal and lauded."

Toronto followed only Tokyo's Shimokitazawa. The report was surprisingly refreshing. Here is the full list of the world's hippest neighbourhoods.

1. Shimokitazawa, Tokyo, Japan
2. West Queen West, Toronto, Canada
3. Sodermalm, Stockholm, Sweden
4. Tiong Bahru, Singapore
5. Centro, Sao Paulo, Brazil
6. Canal Saint-Martin, Paris, France
7. Bushwick, New York City, U.S.
8. Brera, Milan, Italy
9. Wynwood, Miami, U.S.
10. Zona Rosa & La Condesa, Mexico City, Mexico
11. Fitzroy, Melbourne, Australia
12. Silver Lake, Los Angeles, U.S.
13. Hackney, London, U.K.
14. Kreuzberg, Berlin, Germany
15. Dashanzi Art District, Beijing, China

Read the full story here. 
Original Source: Vogue 

In one year, Toronto and the surrounding region will become home to the 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am Games and to celebrate the Canadian Paralympic Committee has released a moving video showing three Canadian medal hopefuls practicing for the games.

Featuring 17-year-old swimmer Danielle Kisser, bronze medal winner of the 100 metres breaststoke at the 2011 Games; cyclist Jaye Milley; and wheelchair basketball player David Eng, who was part of the gold medal team at the 2012 London Paralympics; the video harnesses the power of training, hope and passion and turns it into fuel for the forthcoming games. 

Entitled, “Are You Ready?”, the slickly edited video focuses on Parapan athletes as the Toronto Games will feature qualification positions for the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio. 

"I am hugely confident that Toronto will deliver the best ever Parapan American Games in one year's time," Americas Paralympic Committee (APC) President Jose Luis Campo is quoted as saying. 

"Two years ago, I witnessed how successful the London 2012 Paralympic Games were in Great Britain,” he continues. “I really believe that the Parapan American Games can have a similar impact in Canada in terms of raising the profile of Para-sport and changing perceptions of people with an impairment."

The Pan Am and Parapan Am Games will kick off on August 7, 2015 and will feature 1,600 atheletes from 28 countries and territories. 

Watch the video below.



Read the full story here. 
Original Source: Inside the Games

"We need Entrepreneur Barbie so little girls can have a role model and can see someone who looks like them in the future and to know that when they grow up, they can become an entrepreneur," said Erica Diamond, Barbie Canada’s chief inspiration officer, in an article that appeared on Yahoo.ca. 

Entrepreneur Barbie is cloaked in a pink sleeveless dress with black accents and comes complete with a briefcase (which resembles a designer purse, the article notes), and a tiny tablet and smartphone accessories. 

Mattel Canada argues Entrepreneur Barbie was created to inspire young girls to "dream big and perhaps one day be their own boss," the article reports.

In addition to the Barbie, Mattel also announced a new Barbie Business Bursary Program which will award three Canadian entrepreneurs under the age of 18 with $2,500 each to help fund their winning business idea. 

Of course, Entrepreneur Barbie and Barbies in general are not complete without controversy. 

"I think both Entrepreneur Barbie and their $7,500 bursary fund trivializes the issues women in business generally face, and female entrepreneurs in particular," says business professor Wendy Cukier, who teaches at Ryerson University’s management school, in the article. 

She is doubtful that Entrepreneur Barbie will make much of a difference, referring to a recent Oregon State University study that found girls who played with Barbies were less confident and believed in fewer career options than girls who played with other toys.  

"…the research really suggests that if you want to build confident, enterprising and risk-taking girls, they’re better off playing with Lego or [Mrs.] Potato Head."

Mattel was quick to note that lots of successful women played with Barbies as children, and many children view them as friends and sources of great imagination. 

Read the full story here. 
Original Source: Yahoo

Toronto, with its diverse neighbourhoods and large population of immigrants (we've got roughly 2.6 million foreign-born inhabitants), makes it an ideal place to watch the World Cup, says an article that appeared on cbc.ca. 

“In Toronto you can see an articulation of world events at street level,” says Shawn Micallef, former Yonge Street managing editor and author of the book Stroll: Psychogeographic Walking Tours of Toronto, in the article. 

"Toronto allows residents to understand and participate in events that transcend their own neighbourhoods— whether it's one of the many city-hosted cultural festivals, or more politically motivated events such as protests at area consulates," the article continues. 

With our Little Italy, Little Portugal, and various other neighbourhoods, Toronto truly is a hub of diverse culture that comes alive during the World Cup. 

Micallef recounts his many experiences during the World Cup finals over the years, and as a neighbourhood enthusiast has amassed one very strong piece of advice, especially if you don't tie yourself down too tight to one country:

“Walk around, find a random bar in the neighbourhood. You can always sit with the home team and, if they win, you get to share in the celebrations,” he says in the article. 

Read the full story here. 
Original source: CBC

Toronto has long been transformed into other cities in the name of Hollywood, but for once the city is starting to star in its own films. 

"But recently," says an article that appeared on Yahoo, "the Ontario capital has been able to actually be itself in big Hollywood productions, instead of pretending to be something it's not."

A slew of films over the past couple years were not only filmed in Toronto, but openly depict the city and embrace its cultures—exploring its neighbourhoods and highlighting the city's diverse regions.

The latest movie to cast Toronto as a character itself is What If (formerly called The F Word), which is set for an August release date. Directed by Michael Dowse and starring Daniel Radcliffe, Zoe Kazan and Adam Driver, the film predominately shows the east end, highlighting the Scarborough Bluffs and the Docklands. 

"A strong economy and thriving culture have helped establish TO as one of the world’s “it” cities over the past half decade," the article says.

Highlighting a number of films that feature Toronto, including an upcoming thrilled called Enemy starring Jake Gyllenhaal, the article makes a case for the city's blooming roles on the big screen.

Watch the trailers below:





Read the full story here. 
Original Source: Yahoo

Aside from London and Paris, U.S. tourists visited Toronto more than any other city in the world, according to the 2013 Hotel Price Index, released by Hotels.com. 

"Toronto surpassed Rome as the third most popular international destination for the first time since 2010," says the report. “With the Canadian exchange at a three-year low, now is an opportune time for U.S. travelers to cross the border and explore the country’s cultural and entertainment capital."

When it comes to prices, Toronto hotels luxury hotels ranked the sixth most expensive behind San Francisco, New York City, Paris, Rio de Janeiro, and Tokyo. 

As for wanderlust, Toronto's music scene has become a state of attraction. The report highlights North by Northeast, taking place from June 13-22 this year. 

"What started as a three-day music festival has expanded into a 10-day event that spans music, film, interactive comedy and art. NXNE features more than 800 bands from all over the world that will converge upon Toronto’s 50+ music venues. The city’s largest music festival features a mix of both up-and-coming bands and headline acts," the report says. 

Toronto was also a hot spot for travellers from China, the report notes. 

Read the full report here. 
Original Source:  Hotels.com

In an article entitled When Did Toronto Get So Cool?, the BBC comes to a realization: Toronto is cool. 

"After all, the definitive, if circular logic of coolness is that cool things don’t need to convince anyone. They don’t even care. Because they’re cool.

"That’s why Toronto is cool: it has been for a long time, and since it doesn’t feel the need to advertise the fact, most of the world doesn’t even know. Canada in general is understated in this way; it’s not very Canadian to point out one’s own awesomeness. Toronto is so cool, it might not even know it is," the article says. 

Our coolness is realized by many factors. Reporter David G. Allan first started to notice it when he visited Monkey's Paw, one of Toronto's most unique bookstores, specializing in rare books. Then it was in the "Wes Anderson aesthetic" of the Drake. Furthermore in the "exceptional local [coffee] franchises."

"At the bright and airy Dark Horse Espresso Bars you’re as likely to find small groups playing cards as typing on laptops. Then there is Balzac’s, a small chain located in unique, at times historic, locations around town. The one I visited was housed inside a 1800s pump house in the Distillery District, where I sipped a bowl-sized café au lait from a balcony overlooking an enormous chandelier…My favourite coffeehouse was Kensington Market’s Café Panemar, with its retro-meets-industrial steampunk style, including track lighting of copper plumbing tubes."

The tubes fascinated the writer so much he makes a nod to Metropolis Living, the Junction-based furniture collective. 

The author's desire to visit Toronto was in part sparked by viewing Take This Waltz, the film by local native Sarah Polley. "…we kept asking ourselves, 'What city is that? It looks so cool. I want to go there!'" He romanticized the movie, and while staying at the Gladstone in West Queen West he "used the iPad supplied in [his] motorcycle-themed room" to look up the exact address. In true Toronto fashion, he walked there and could only think of one word to describe the experience: cool. 

Read the full story here. 
Original Source: BBC