Showing posts with label Toronto. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Toronto. Show all posts
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Memories of The Beach
Lorraine O'Donnell Williams reads from her best selling book, MEMORIES OF THE BEACH: Reflections on a Toronto Childhood. Recorded at her book launch on April 28, 2010 at the Beaches Library in Toronto.
mycompasstv
video: Stephen Smith
Friday, September 18, 2009
Cuban Invasion at Canada's busiest intersection
It felt like Blade Runner invaded Yonge-Dundas Square Labour Day weekend. Flashing Times Square sized billboards and a squadron of Blue Angels thundered overhead leaving their vapor trails as the jets banked towards the CNE’s International Air Show.
But you didn’t have to look further than the vintage Havana Club Rum car parked on T.O’s new urban plaza to know that Cuba was calling.
There were no Fidel sightings but if you popped by the Cuban Photo Show, part of the Viva Cuba Festival that took place last Friday, you would have seen a photo of a young Generalissimo from his Revolution days.
Photographer Roger Humbert explained how his image depicts a life-size poster of Fidel hanging in a crumbling room in the Museum of the Revolution. “I really liked the wall colour and the way the light was streaming in from the windows,” he said.
The photo show’s producer Stephen Smith invited an ensemble of photographers among them photographer duo Bill and Kris King to showcase the best of Cuba and judging by the crowd’s reaction they didn’t disappoint.
Many stopped by the al fresco photo exhibition tent to catch the images of of dancers, musicians, landscapes and wildlife. “You brought us down memory lane,” smiled one visitor. Another man, an architect from Iraq was intrigued by the island’s beauty. “I would love to go there,” said Basil Orfali and added, “These photos help me see just how beautiful the people are.”
When Mr. Smith was approached by the Cuban Tourist Board to produce this photo event, he was more than delighted. “I really wanted to give back to the people of Cuba. I wanted to highlight the uniqueness of the Cuban culture in all its colour, complexity and diversity. The independence of the Cuban spirit is inspiring and humbling.”
Organized by the Cuban Tourist Board in partnership with the Dundas Square Management, the Viva Cuba Festival also had sponsors from Air Canada Vacations, Barcelo Hotel & Resorts among others.
Over 800,000 Canadians visited last year. The Cuban Tourist Board reports so far this year looks pretty good with 567, 626 arrivals till the end of May showing an increase of 11.8 % compared with the same period last year.
But you didn’t have to look further than the vintage Havana Club Rum car parked on T.O’s new urban plaza to know that Cuba was calling.
There were no Fidel sightings but if you popped by the Cuban Photo Show, part of the Viva Cuba Festival that took place last Friday, you would have seen a photo of a young Generalissimo from his Revolution days.
Photographer Roger Humbert explained how his image depicts a life-size poster of Fidel hanging in a crumbling room in the Museum of the Revolution. “I really liked the wall colour and the way the light was streaming in from the windows,” he said.
The photo show’s producer Stephen Smith invited an ensemble of photographers among them photographer duo Bill and Kris King to showcase the best of Cuba and judging by the crowd’s reaction they didn’t disappoint.
Many stopped by the al fresco photo exhibition tent to catch the images of of dancers, musicians, landscapes and wildlife. “You brought us down memory lane,” smiled one visitor. Another man, an architect from Iraq was intrigued by the island’s beauty. “I would love to go there,” said Basil Orfali and added, “These photos help me see just how beautiful the people are.”
When Mr. Smith was approached by the Cuban Tourist Board to produce this photo event, he was more than delighted. “I really wanted to give back to the people of Cuba. I wanted to highlight the uniqueness of the Cuban culture in all its colour, complexity and diversity. The independence of the Cuban spirit is inspiring and humbling.”
Organized by the Cuban Tourist Board in partnership with the Dundas Square Management, the Viva Cuba Festival also had sponsors from Air Canada Vacations, Barcelo Hotel & Resorts among others.
Over 800,000 Canadians visited last year. The Cuban Tourist Board reports so far this year looks pretty good with 567, 626 arrivals till the end of May showing an increase of 11.8 % compared with the same period last year.
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Bringing Down The House
Outside showed no mercy, as tornadoes raged on the Toronto burbs but legendary jazz artist Bill King knew his show must go on.
“Not again,” he said recalling last month when the artistic director of the popular Beaches International Jazz Festival was forced to shut down the annual summer festival on the last Saturday hours earlier due to flash flooding. That was a first.
Now faced with Mother Nature obstacles once again, the producer of The Real Divas took the stage at Lula Lounge in Toronto with his Real Divas in tow.
The female foursome (Kinga Victoria, Josephine Biundo, Sophie Berkal-Sarbit and Lauren Margison) fearless to the crackling thunder hitting the streets, diva-d it up for their debut CD launch of Café Society.
Showing no mercy, the singers paid tribute to some of their favorite artists and to familiar tunes ranging from the British Invasion sixties group “The Animals” to Broadway medleys that Bill personally re-arranged adapting the pieces to suit each singer’s strength.
With hip hop, reggae and house music dominating the youth music scene, it’s a blissful tonic knowing there’s a young generation ready to celebrate and embrace the classics, fusing the songs with a contemporary edge.
Sure home grown performers Michael Bublé and Diana Krall sing the classics but how many times have you seen The Real Divas in action? Check them out next time they play in your neck of the woods.
For bookings and more info see www.billkingmusic.com/realdivas.cfm
“Not again,” he said recalling last month when the artistic director of the popular Beaches International Jazz Festival was forced to shut down the annual summer festival on the last Saturday hours earlier due to flash flooding. That was a first.
Now faced with Mother Nature obstacles once again, the producer of The Real Divas took the stage at Lula Lounge in Toronto with his Real Divas in tow.
The female foursome (Kinga Victoria, Josephine Biundo, Sophie Berkal-Sarbit and Lauren Margison) fearless to the crackling thunder hitting the streets, diva-d it up for their debut CD launch of Café Society.
Showing no mercy, the singers paid tribute to some of their favorite artists and to familiar tunes ranging from the British Invasion sixties group “The Animals” to Broadway medleys that Bill personally re-arranged adapting the pieces to suit each singer’s strength.
With hip hop, reggae and house music dominating the youth music scene, it’s a blissful tonic knowing there’s a young generation ready to celebrate and embrace the classics, fusing the songs with a contemporary edge.
Sure home grown performers Michael Bublé and Diana Krall sing the classics but how many times have you seen The Real Divas in action? Check them out next time they play in your neck of the woods.
For bookings and more info see www.billkingmusic.com/realdivas.cfm
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