Best International Record Store Day ever!!

First of all, thanks to my FB friends who informed me that it was IRSD!  No clue without you:)

Was it kismet then, that Jannet, Marla and I were going to see Sound it Out that very day at Bloor Cinema?  Must be so. There is no down side to this doc, so good.  Maybe one downside.  Two of the boys needed sub-titles, couldn't understand a word they were saying.  Hilarious!!

Check out the link, see if you can download, buy it, rent it at Queen Video, get to Bloor Cinema before Wednesday, April 25.  If you are a music fan and swoon when you see a record shop, this one's for you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u8tNPh405V4


But there is more kismet-ness.  We had time before the film and, with the intent of getting something to eat, we walked down Markham Street, one block east of Bathurst off  Bloor. Our hearts were going pitty-pat at the vintage clothing shops but, then we see a tiny, used record shop.  How could we not go in on IRSD!!

I am always searching bins for flamenco albums mostly for the cover art. Often over-the-top hilarious.  As we didn't have loads of time, I inquired if they had any.  Sadly, nothing turned up in the Latin section.  I wandered and half-heartedly checked out a few other bins.   And then, I saw it.....da da daaaaa.  (FYI-album was in store because it was produced by Tony Visconti, producer extraordinaire of Mr. Bowie.)  I cannot describe the good time that followed with the shop owner, his computer, his turntable and this group!!

Sit back, flashback and enjoy flamenco 1973-style.  Carmen on Midnight Special '74.  Also performing, The Troggs and David Bowie.  You have to last until 2:29 for sure!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxCGT8l0Rao

something non-flamenco this month

Several friends in London send me the best info on what is happening in TO which is how I discovered this exhibit.

First thing you need to know is, I am a HUGE fan of Douglas Coupland.  Stood-in-line-for-hours-at-a-book-signing type of fan!!!  Polaroids from The Dead was the first book I read of his and that was the beginning of my DC book collection.   I'm one of those people who goes to the library for a book, so, to become a buyer was big.   Over his career, he has morphed from author of fiction and non-fiction into a modern day renaissance man putting his spin on art, photography, sculpture, film and television.  I don't love, love, love everything he does, but, I can't stay away!!!

The gallery was also a new discovery for me in the Lansdowne/Bloor area.  Kudos to Douglas for supporting a gallery off the beaten path in TO.

Check out the exhibit:

 http://danielfariagallery.com/artist/douglas-coupland


Check out his website:

http://www.coupland.com/

been so long......

Hola todos!!! No excuse for my lengthy absence....I am a serious procrastinator. April has been a frenzy of flamenco with a Film Festival, workshops and performances plus I am still rehearsing for International Dance Day on April 29 plus I got to London for a few days over Easter and I've had job interviews (still no word yet).

Above link is from one of the films at the Flamenco Film Festival.  Several films were part of a four city festival that took place in Montreal, Toronto, Calgary and Winnipeg, all active flamenco centres in Canada.  Who knew, you say!!!  (A shout out to Halifax, St. John's, NL, Vancouver and Victoria, all cities with mad passion for flamenco, but not part of this film tour.)

The singer is Enrique Morente and the woman you see in pink, is his daughter Estrella Morente.  Both stars in the world of flamenco cante (song).  Loads of videos on You Tube for both of them if you want to hear a sample of their style.  All singers have different flavours and tones and I enjoy both of their voices.

The film is about a project Enrique worked on putting the poetry of Pablo Picasso to flamenco song.  You see Morente in concert, rehearsing and recording as well as him interacting in song with Picasso's artwork at the Museum of Reina Sofia.  He was a pioneer of fusing musical styles, particularly his album "Omega" which features versions of Leonard Cohen songs.

Enrique passed away shortly after the film was completed.  He had gone in to the hospital for routine surgery and died from complications....a great loss of a gentle, compassionate and talented man who saw music as a way to bring people together through the common language and love of music.

hasta luego, ttyl!!

more festival of lights

I know I'm not in Kansas! These were the kind of independent installations that you would find as you wandered the paths.

learning how to do it right from an early age...Miss Tulip knows she's got it goin' on!

look what I found now...

In one of my 5-boxes-of-life, I found some disposable cameras that I finally got developed. Both cameras were from my trip out to BC several summers ago. These shots are from a fabulous festival of lights, as I have no memory, that might actually be the name??? The park is old and well treed with ponds and playgrounds and foot bridges and paths to wander and then, for the festival, Led installations are everywhere....think Christmas but way cooler. You expect Santa and his reindeer.

In one pond, the installation had koi leaping out of the water and splashing back down. It was mesmerizing. Individuals and groups of friends put things together too. There was an awesome spaceship and spaceman. Think the Halloween costumes you used to make. The spaceship was a tent in a former life and the spaceman had that "Danger Will Robinson" look to him. Sadly, the pic I took is way too dark.

The best fun for me though, were the costumes....serious time and thought put in to them!! Out of this world. Click on the photos for a bit closer look.

Hmmm, this post was supposed to have the writing beside the pics but I am done with my computer for the night.....you should have seen how much time I wasted trying to get the pics sent through in this really cool format on Iphoto which for some reason, wouldn't work. Will post more pics from that trip later. Nighty night!!

my 1968 self....

I have been going through the 5-boxes-of-my-life again. These 5 boxes, in storage for 4 years, travelled to TO with me. I made a point to bring them with a plan to sort and organize at my leisure. Strong start, yes. Big finish, likely never!

Revisited one of them again the other day and found a piece of paper with a quote I had copied down. It was posted on my bulletin board when I was 15 years old. Right above my record player. Right beside my copy of Desiderata.



"To be nobody but yourself in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make you everybody else--means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight, and never stop fighting."
e.e. cummings


I have now started a collage of sorts on my closet door. This yellowed piece of paper has pride of place. A tribute to my 1968 self! And still not far off the mark for 2012!

worm hole....just emerging on the other side

Can't squeal with delight that I have a job yet, just finished four on-line applications (within the same company, different store locations) and have been checking sites for latest info....on top of that, performed in a show on Feb. 18 (I sang). It was very last minute with the info, sorry I didn't get it out to you. But, it came with all the last minute drama and this-show-will-never-be-ready-mania right up to the tech run. And yet, a miracle occurred and the audience loved it and we were are pretty chuffed that it pulled together after 5 1/2 months of working on it!!!

As many of you know, after a show, the feeling of having your life back is lovely! Today, my friend Jannet and I, went to The Rex on Queen Street near University to listen to Django Club, first Sunday of every month at 3:30. It really is a delight....Django at its finest and the food is pretty darn good too. The platter of french fries I finished in 5 minutes is top-notch!!!

On Friday night I got a last minute ticket to the Fleck Theatre at Harbourfront for a performance of Entity, choreographed by Wayne McGregor. Wayne is a British choreographer, renowned for his physically testing choreography and use of visual art, film, technology and science. I was so exhausted watching the 60 minute performance, my legs wouldn't stand me up!!! He works with Sadler Wells and Royal Ballet in London, La Scala, Paris Opera Ballet, San Fran ballet, NYC Ballet, well, everywhere!! Plus he is a movement director in film i.e Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire and the new music video Lotus Flower, which he choreographed for Radiohead, has been nominated for a Grammy.

Last fall, he choreographed a piece for the National Ballet with music of the White Stripes which I sadly missed so I was happy to see this presentation. The music for this one was techno/lounge/industrial and really worked with the movement. His movement is just on the edge of being off and the technique and strength the dancers need to not lose their centre is incredible. You are contorting and holding on with them and feeling what they are doing in your body....hopefully the people on either side of me didn't notice!!

As I was leaving, the funniest comment overheard ever was, "well, that's early onset arthritis waiting to happen"!!!

Sorry for the big gap between posts...hoping to get on top of it...have many posts that involve me getting the issues with my Mac and camera sorted out....as I have no attention span for techie stuff, I last about 10 minutes before I put it away again. Type to you later!!