From Canada With Love
It’s my last night in Toronto and I’m shattered after another day of adventuring. Today I finally braved the streets on a borrowed bicycle, mirroring my usual instincts as best I could to avoid accident. A hearty brunch at Mitzi’s started the day followed by a trip out to Toronto Island Park where we found a secluded inlet to make our camp. I swam in the lake in a floaty white dress while Melissa played with my Canon 7D. Exciting edits to follow.
The train journey from New York to Toronto was good, though there was a hairy moment at Albany station when I almost got on the wrong train after a snack stop – my laptop, cameras and clothes would have gone off on their own adventures but at least I’d have had cheese bagels and a banana. Unfortunately the promised onboard wifi was a myth so I spent my 12 hours alternately napping, editing video and watching 30 Rock episodes.
The rest of the trip is dissolving in to a pleasantly hazy blur; streetcar (tram) journeys up and down Queen Street West, cute little cafes, vanilla soy lattes, happy hangouts with friends old and new, hunting for unusual photo opportunities in vibrant neighbourhoods, lazy lie-ins, vintage shopping, ukulele strumming, loop building, hoop socialising and sunshine.
The quality of music here is really excellent, just check out HotKid for proof (and a free download), and last week I saw Cameraon de Laat, Andrew DeVillers and Solomon Matthews all sing up a storm at an art bar called NACO. The audiences are great too – I played a show at Rancho Relaxo on Tuesday night to a baffled but very receptive crowd on the same bill as an excellent electro pop outfit called Secrets.
This week I shot more interviews for my film on hooping at Sadie Spins’ weekly hoopjam at Christie Pits Park on the same day my latest article for the Hospital Club was published – read “Hoop and Glory” here – and joyfully hooped in a rainy downpour, much needed after a humid day.
It’s been a marvellous trip and I head back to New York tomorrow night with lots of images and audio to play with when I get home next week.
Here are some of my favourite pictures from my time here, see the rest here:
[Melissa, my lovely hostess.]
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