Learning to read in Toronto

This past week, I met daily with a group  to discuss two books. We were one of 11 different groups, all meeting up daily on the U of T campus to discuss different books, and in some instances art and music. About 100 people -- mostly from the US and Canada -- attend this program every year.

Welcome to Classical Pursuits -- a learning vacation that I have now added to my list of annual must-dos.

I was not a total stranger to the group. They have a travel component -- Travel Pursuits -- and I've taken 3 of their trips and plan to take more. (I'm thinking of Savannah next spring....)

So what's this about learning to read?

The discussions at Classical Pursuits are based on the Shared Inquiry method of the Great Books Foundation in Chicago, which attempts to get to the truth of a book through leader-led questions that invite debate. (A gross oversimplification, but I don't want to take up too much of your time. Check out their website and read what participants have to say.)

You don't necessarily walk away from these discussions feeling you now understand the book. Most of the time, I walk away feeling I know less than when I walked in. But it's exhilarating to have these discussions, to hear different interpretations and, in some instances, to given the opportunity to complete change your point of view!

If you love books and are looking for a vacation with a difference, this could be what you're looking for.

(And did I mention the afternoon opera discussions? The plays? The cocktails? The art walks? The time off if you want it?)

Toronto Fringe Festival, 2011 edition

What's a Fringe Festival, you ask?

Wikipedia's definition is "Fringe theatre is a term used to describe theatre not of the mainstream. The term comes from [...] Robert Kemp, who described the unofficial companies performing at the same time as the second Edinburgh International Festival (1948) as a ‘fringe’ [...] The term has since been adopted by the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and thence by alternative theatres and alternative theatre festivals."

There are more than 20 Fringe festivals in North America alone. Fringe shows are mostly 60 minutes long, about $10 a ticket. Most are held in regular theatres, but some are site-specific (like a great walking tour a few years ago based on Canterbury's Tales). Performances are chosen by lottery (no risk of favouritism), and performers, while mostly North American, come from around the world.

I saw about 8 shows this year, a record for me, and I'm happy to say that, after years of "'fringing," I'm finally getting the hang of it.

First: don't buy tickets in advance. Half the fun is making decisions based on conversations you strike up while waiting in line.

Second: venues are spread out. You may want to focus on one area a day rather than waste time commuting. Unless you have a bike, in which case, you're golden.

Third: bring change. Lots of it. Fringe is fully funded by grants and donations. 100% of the ticket sales go to the performers. So they collect loose change before every event, and you don't want to feel cheap, do you? After all, you're getting such great entertainment for so little.

Last: bring your own food and refreshments. I went 8 hours yesterday with no food except junk from the one vending machine I saw all day. At least I had my water bottle -- but I was starving by the end. Bad planning on my part, but it's all because I heard of a great show at the last minute and the time I'd set aside for lunch was sacrificed. Yes, it was worth it, but I won't let that happen again.

My favourites this year are When Harry met Harry, Pitch Blonde, the Giant's Garden -- bring the kids to this one -- and Mickey and Judy. Check them out if they show up somewhere near you.

At home, cursing

Every year, my neighbours throw a summer party.

By neighbours, I don't mean the condo next door. I mean the building 2 buildings over.

The party is always on the Tuesday following Canada Day.

How do I know this about something that happens only once a year 2 buildings away? Simple, its an outdoor party with the most annoying DJ ever!!!!!!

So, if I know all this, why is it I always forget to stay way that night?

2 hours later: that DJ must die!

Pride Toronto - or my bah-humbug weekend

The Church and Wellesley intersection -- Toronto Pride Central -- lies one short northwest block from my home of the past 16 years.  Here, Pride is a week-long affair.

In the early days, I went to everything: the bars, the street events, the concerts. OK, maybe not everything: I skipped the hairy butt contests.

This weekend, I stopped for a nano-second to listen to a outdoor concert but got turned off by the rowdy drunks poring out of the subway just behind us and decided to go home.

I'm sad to say I no longer go to Pride, and now you now why.

There is still a lot of good to be said about Pride, and I'm happy that I live in the heart of the LGBT community the rest of the year, but Pride weekend has been taken over by people who just want to ogle bare tits (or asses) and get drunk. Not my thing anymore, if it ever was.

I did go for brunch in the hood while most people were watching the parade -- figured it would be safe from the a-holes, and it was -- and my server forgave me for skipping Pride because I was reading a book on Breakfast at Tiffany's (little did he know I'd just found out the narrator is gay. I'm slow that way.).

I am glad to report, however, that not everyone is an ole curmudgeon like me. Read this lovely account from a first-timer (and forgive him or her the tacky virgin reference.)

Happy Pride, everyone!

Corporate cooking classes at Great Cooks on Eight

Great Cooks on Eight used to be in the Bay's basement cookware department. They sold great tea, gave cooking classes with top chefs (I'm pretty sure I  took one), and sold great meals to go. Then they moved to some obscure  adjacent building, and I promptly forgot about them.

I heard about them now and then, of course, their classes are well known, but I was still surprised when someone at work decided to organize a cooking class for our team. I don't know why, I just figured that was something other companies did, not mine. Frankly, I always thought team building outings were kind of weird, and team cooking was one of the weirder ones. (Dropping from on high into the arms of your colleagues would be one of the scarier ones!)

Let me tell you that this was one seriously well-organized class. We worked in teams, and I'm pretty sure each team learned a new skill. We had 5 staff keeping us busy so there was never a dull moment. No one had only one task nor were there really boring tasks.


I can't stress that last part enough: I once took a class at Dish and my role was to stir milk for 20 minutes to make Dulce de Leche. I was not pleased and have not gone back since.

The food was delicious, the company was great, we all had lots of fun, and the fun continued the next day at work.

I get it now.