“Arresting Images” is an award-winning Ontario Provincial Police exhibition of early mugshots. They were shown at York University in December/2011, and are permanently housed in the OPP Museum Archive, ORILLIA, Ontario. A surprising number were taken in the Niagara area, along the American border. http://www.opp.ca/museum/en/index.php
It began in TORONTO 16 years ago. SALUTE TO VIENNA, a recreation of Vienna’s world famous annual ‘Neujahrskonzert’, has spread continent-wide to cities in both Canada and the United States.
Marion and Attila Glatz had a dream that a version of Vienna’s New Year’s Day Concert could be a solid hit, and they were right. With hard work and dedication, this couple produced their first SALUTE in 1995 before a sell-out crowd of 1,000 at the Toronto Centre for the Arts in NORTH YORK. There was such a demand for tickets, that the following year they moved into a much bigger venue – Roy Thomson Hall. Almost immediately, every ticket was sold.
In the third year there were five concerts in five cities, including VANCOUVER and Lincoln Center in NEW YORK. Fourth year – 15 cities.
The 2011/2012 SALUTE TO VIENNA will play in Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, Washington DC, Philadelphia, Florida, San Diego, Montreal, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Quebec City – and of course, TORONTO. 17 concerts in 16 cities, all happening within a span of four days around New Year’s. Attila Glatz Concert Productions hopes to expand soon to Australia, South America and possibly, Asia.
The original concert, from Vienna’s Opera House, is broadcast live to 1.3 billion worldwide on New Year’s Day. It’s must-viewing in Europe, and has become extremely popular in Asia and North America as well. Guest conductors from around the world, a star-studded audience, the magnificent theatre itself, and a generous helping of soloists, ballet, novelty tunes, and the waltzes of Johann Strauss lead to the climactic moment – a thrilling performance of the Blue Danube.
TORONTO’s concert at Roy Thomson Hall will be on January 1, 2012 at 2:30pm. It’s wise to book well in advance. http://www.salutetovienna.com
In the above 2010 election returns map, BLUE represents city wards voting for Mayor Rob Ford. RED – the wards voting against him. http://www.cbc.ca
This week, in a memo leaked by the Toronto Environmental Alliance, and reluctantly confirmed by City Hall, it seems there’ll be ‘major service cuts’ to 62 bus and streetcar routes. Below are some of the service cuts hitting the BLUE district – epicentre of the Ford Nation – the folks who put him in office. Downtown leftie, bike-riding, pinkos are perplexed.
10 – Van Horne
16 – McCowan
17 – Birchmount
21a – Brimley/Kennedy
24 – Victoria Park
25 – Don Mills
30 – Lambton
32 – Eglinton West
34 – Eglinton East
35 – Jane
36 – Finch West
37 – Islington 39 – Finch East 41 – Keele 42 – Cummer 44 – Kipling South 45 – Kipling 46 – Martingrove 52 – Lawrence West 54 – Lawrence East 57 – Midland 58 – Malton 60 – Steeles West 66 – Prince Edward 67 – Pharmacy 68 – Warden 69 – Warden South 81 – Thorncliffe Park 84 – Sheppard West 85 – Sheppard East 89 – Weston 96 – Wilson 102 – Markham Road 110 – Islington South 112 – West Mall 116 – Morningside 117 – Alness 123 – Shorncliffe 129 – McCowan North 131 – Nugget 133 – Neilson 134 – Progress 139 – Finch Don Mills 190 – Scarborough Centre Rocket 192 – Airport Express 199 – Finch Rocket
Columnist ROYSON JAMES, Saturday Star: “How do you feel today, you wretches along Finch Avenue West? You cram the buses. You wait and wait and wait.
“Then you wait some more when a bus comes and is too full to take a single passenger. And now transit officials say you must wait longer. And endure more crowded buses once on board. Do you not count in this city?”
This is an exciting time to live in TORONTO, as it transforms from low rise to high rise. Our city is rebuilding itself, and even Architectural Record has taken note. Love it or hate it, this city is Canada’s growth capital.
From November’s Architectural Record: “In most North American cities, active construction cranes are a rare sight these days. But in downtown Toronto, they’re ubiquitous, lifting up steel beams and glass panels for new towers in Canada’s largest metropolis . . . Today, the research service Emporis is tracking 147 high-rise buildings, among other projects, under construction in Toronto.
“Good public schools, ample social services, recreational facilities, and a diverse population—over 50 percent of Torontonians are now foreign-born—make the city attractive to young people. Indeed, many of the new towers are catering to single professionals and young families who want urban lifestyles and are willing to live in small spaces. A 500-square-foot condo in the downtown area costs at least $300,000.”
Formerly a scraggly triangular patch where Davenport Road meets Yonge Street, FRANK STOLLERY PARKETTE has become a tiny urban beauty spot. The park is built on an old Aboriginal trail, which wound along the Escarpment, one of TORONTO’s most distinctive geographical features. 13,500 years ago, this was the shoreline of Lake Iroquois, forerunner of today’s much smaller Lake Ontario. Photos and maps are posted; you can read a short history lesson, and have lunch in a parkette-side restaurant.
JED LIND’s stack of modified car bodies in painted steel – ‘Gold, Silver and Lead’ – celebrates the 30th year of the Toronto Sculpture Garden. King Street East at Church, opposite St. James Cathedral.
Amongst the dreck, there’s beauty in our subway. Just look. Smiling Streetcar, Eglinton West Station, http://shesaysraur.tumblr.com
TORONTO’s Mendelssohn Choir is portrayed in ‘Handel’s Messiah at Massey Hall’ by Canadian painter William Kurelek. It was part of Joyner/Waddington’s Fall Auction of Important Canadian Art (November 25/2011). Hammer price $93,600.
Kurelek had this to say about the painting: “The performance of the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir at Massey Hall does grip me. Apart from the Hallelujah Chorus, there are several other high points in the Messiah which particularly elevate man’s spirit. One of these, the bass aria ‘the trumpet shall sound’, makes me feel good all over. I guess this is not only because it speaks of the Resurrection, which I personally look forward to, but also the cultural richness of the past.”
The 55th floor penthouse atop TORONTO’s Four Seasons Hotel/Condo complex on Bay Street has been sold to a foreign buyer. This sets a new record for luxurious condominium sales in Canada. Floor area – 9,028 square feet.
But don’t panic! Coming on line – TO’s highest penthouse, the Aura, 75 storeys above Yonge and Gerrard Streets, 11,270 square feet, $17.5 million. And there’s a 6,000 square foot suite at the Ritz-Carlton available for $9 million.
Other luxury downtown addresses: 277 Davenport, 36 Hazelton, Museum House, the Shangri-La, 77 Charles, Yorkville Plaza, Avondale, Trump Tower, the Florian, the Avenue, Pears on the Avenue, 500 Wellington West, One Bloor and Exhibit.
In an interview with the TORONTO Star, Barbara Lawler of Baker Real Estate had this to say: “We are seeing huge interest in luxury product not only from China, but from Americans who are disgruntled with the tax rate and economic woes in the US.
“TORONTO is starting to get lumped into some of those conversations about the cities you need to have a place in.”
TORONTO royalty, MICHELLE DuBARRY, ‘diamond-wearing female impersonator extraordinaire’, is now officially a senior-senior. “Since the 1950′s he has performed in countless bars and fundraisers, toured with the Great Imposters, and ruled the roost at the Imperial Court of TORONTO.” (IN Magazine) Long may she reign! <PHOTO – David Hawe>
