Fun Foodie Facts

Just got back from a fabulous tasting of some unusual Greek wines from the volcanic island of Santorini – many thanks to importer Steve Kriaris and master sommelier extraordinaire John Szabo – where I gleaned some odd tidbits...

You may know that Ruth's Chris Steakhouse in the Hilton Hotel is part of a franchise founded by Ruth Fertel of New Orleans. The Toronto and Mississauga versions (as well as two in San Antonio) are owned by Lana Duke, a longtime pal of the original Ruth. Now here's the thing: Ruth Fertel died in 2002 and was laid to rest in a mausoleum (which is what they do in New Orleans, which as we now know way too well, has a high water table). She and Lana Duke were so close in life that there's a spot reserved right next door for Lana.

Ralph, owner of my beloved Volo at Yonge and Dundonald, has decided to take another step in the direction he was already going. He already has a pretty good wine list, but he's really expanding his by-the-glass selections and especially his Ontario wines. He's also going into craft beers and (most exciting of all!) local artisanal cheeses in a big way. (Cheese is where to be. Remember it was me who told you that!)

Finally, if you're already tired of hearing about celeb spottings at Sotto Sotto on Avenue Road, stop reading now. If you're not, you may be amused to hear that Michael Keaton was in last night, and that they're expected to see Dustin Hoffman back in as soon as TIFF starts, because it's a favourite of his. And that Mark Wahlberg seriously depleted their stocks of Latour when he was shooting Four Brothers, despite the best efforts of the sommelier to get him interested in some other label. No word yet as to whether their new location on Lonsdale (Sotto in the Village, 425 Spadina at Lonsdale) is drawing the same kind of crowd.

Music Theatre Marathon

A few days ago I posted a calendar of upcoming Toronto theatre premieres by Canadian playwrights. Now here's something for you die-hard music theatre fans: a month-by-month guide to the shows you won't want to miss over the next ten months:

September: You still have until October 29 to catch the apparently terrific production of Oliver! with Colm Feore as Fagin at Stratford. (And, if you count it in the category, the COC's epic undertaking of the Ring Cycle inaugurates the new Four Seasons Centre this month.)

October: From October 6 to November 19, everybody's favourite misunderstood witch returns, with Wicked at the Canon Theatre.

November: This is the big month. The seldom-seem gem Pippin, from the people who brought us Godspell, runs through the month at the Royal Alexandra Theatre. (Pictured above is the finale. Photo by Diane Sobolewski, courtesy of Mirvish Productions.) Meanwhile, you can nip into the Lorraine Kimsa Theatre for Young People to catch Suessical–A Musical from November 12 to December 31, and from November 17 to 25, Opera Atelier brings us their authentically Baroque rendition of Mozart's The Magic Flute.

December: The hilarious British panto-style adaptation of Aladdin, starring retired wrestler Bret "Hitman" Hart as the genie, runs from December 6 to 24 at the Elgin Theatre.

January: On January 4 and 5 only, you can catch up with the still-touring version of Michael Flatley’s Lord of the Dance at the Hummingbird Centre.

February: This is the month when Mirvish productions is bringing Phantom of the Opera back to the Canon Theatre so you can revel once again the the Music of the Night.

March: Here's an interesting choice: Ted Dykstra, whose work I love, is directing The Rocky Horror Show at CanStage. Could be good. (Probably way better than last season's Hair.)

April: Back to the Hummingbird for a short run of the London West End musical adaptation of Edward Scissorhands. (No, it doesn't star Johnny Depp; he's too busy learning the words for the Tim Burton film of Sweeney Todd...)

May: Another Hummingbird import: FloorPlay, a touring ballroom dance spectacle for those who enjoyed Burn the Floor (or Dancing With The Stars, for that matter.)

June: It's the show that opened what was then called the O'Keefe Centre. Now, Michael York plays King Arthur in the classic show Camelot to end out a pretty exciting season for music theatre fans at the Hummingbird.

Star Spotting in T.O.

Torontoist has a cute piece about Stalking the Stars in Yorkville in preparation for TIFF, and author Patrick Metzger is quite right: the Avenue Bar at the Four Seasons is a great place to spot celebs during the Film Festival. (One of my dear friends, a dyed-in-the-wool Hollywood hound, was shaken to his core a couple of years ago when he spotted all four hobbits and Gollum drinking in the window.) But the fun thing about Toronto is that you can spot stars all over town in any season.

My "A-dar" (that's radar for A-listers) tends to be set to zero unless I'm clued in by cameras, limos or a big crowd – circumstances under which I've actually managed to notice people like Ron Howard and Russell Crowe – or am introduced to them in the line of work (Wesley Snipes, Billy Dee Williams and Barry Williams, the guy who played Greg on The Brady Bunch). However, my brother walked past Ethan Hawke one evening on Queen East near Broadview when he was filming Assault on Precinct 13 not far away. And Judd Hirsch honest-to-God drove up, rolled down his window and asked him for directions once while he was standing on his front lawn near Yonge and Lawrence. (His response was understandable, although he regrets it: he found himself blurting out "What are you doing here?" before pulling it together and answering the question.)

But my sister is the grand champion. She spotted Catherine Zeta-Jones bargain hunting in the east end; got a raffish grin from Willem Dafoe outside a diner at Dupont and Avenue Road; ate a meal across the room from Ben Kingsley; more or less literally bumped into Ralph Fiennes while strolling along Yonge Street, and is constantly running into Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick. Not to mention Catherine O'Hara buying bulk food, Keanu Reeves "looking stunned on Queen West in a nice suit with no tie", and singer Patti Smith "stepping in dog poo on Queen Street". For the record, I think she's trained herself with years of poring over celeb photos in the fashion mags. (Although her husband seems to have the same gift; most recently he's encountered Martin Sheen and Mark Wahlberg.)

So there's no need to demean yourself by parking at an expensive bar over an overpriced seabreeze and a saucer of complimentary but inedible mixed nuts – Metzger's right about this, too – hoping somebody famous will put in an appearance. Just dial up your A-dar, and you never know who'll turn up at your local laundromat or 7-11. Keep me posted!

More Fashion Week Notes

I mentioned the other day that L'Oréal Fashion Week has begun to announce its participating designers. Here are some new additions to the list, along with the exciting news that non-industry fashion followers will be allowed to buy passes to attend this year, for the first time ever. (You'll be able to register online.)

Newly confirmed designers include Toronto's Juma; Zoran Dobric; Dean Horn; Bully; French Connection (Canada); Kavi Kavi and First Nations design project Fashion Nation.

Then there's London Fog, (now under the creative direction of Montreal designer Douglas Mandel); Calgary's KaaDiki; Vancouver's Quiksilver and Jason Matlo, and Christine Phillips from Atlanta. (Thanks again to Arthur Mendonça for the use of the image.)

TIFF Tidbits

Okay, I'll shut up soon about about my obsession with Indian movies, but for now I'll just mention that the Toronto International Film Festival gala screening of Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna/Never Say Goodbye takes place at Roy Thomson Hall on Sunday, September 10 at 1:30 p.m. Director Karan Johar is on the Festival guest list, as are Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan and Rani Mukherjee (John Abraham, too, incidentally. Although he only has a tiny cameo in this movie, he's also appearing in Kabul Express). Johar, Bachchan, SRK and Mukherjee are scheduled to appear on a panel called "The Making of a Bollywood Blockbuster". I'll certainly be watching for stretch limos on Gerrard East, where Abraham came to dine last year when he was here for Festival opener Water.

Other than the above, I'll confess that the Festival stars I think I'd most enjoy sharing an elevator with are Alan Rickman, Gabriel Byrne, Jeff Goldblum and (not to exclude my own gender) Rachel Weisz. Although a friend of mine once claims to have had the embarrassing experience of taking a longish elevator ride with one of the above (also during the Filmfest) while he was clearly in the middle of a falling-out with his then-wife (also a movie star). So maybe that wouldn't be so fun after all. But if you want to pick out your own fave celebs to watch for, Richard at the TIFF Talk blog has posted a convenient selection of the most prominent Fest guests with a link to the complete list.

By the way, did you know that this year's "creative" for the Festival (above) "captures the ecstasy of losing yourself in great cinema"? Designed by Endeavour Marketing under Creative Director Jeffrey Halcro, the news release about the poster image informs us that its "evocative and surprising visual language ... playfully asks the question: how do films transform us?" And here I just thought it was a picture of a man with bushy eyebrows. (Oops.)

If you want more relevant details about TIFF than I can give you, click here for the most recent info on films and schedules.

Canadian Cool at L'Oréal Fashion Week

With events like the Toronto International Film Festival and Word on the Street just around the corner, it's easy to forget that L'Oréal Fashion Week is barely eight weeks away. The Spring 2007 edition runs from October 16 to 21 at Muzik (15 Saskatchewan Road at Exhibition Place). The theme is "Canadian Cool", and the list of designers already slated to show their collections includes:

Pink Tartan (founded by George Brown Fashion graduate Kimberley Newport with her husband Joseph Mimran)

Toronto's Joeffer Caoc – who'll be trying to top his "Beauty in Calamity" collection of Autumn 2006

Izzy Camilleri, whose custom designs are worn by the likes of Angelia Jolie, Nicole Kidman, J-Lo, Reese Witherspoon and Catherine Zeta-Jones

Montrealer Andy Thê-Anh

Ryerson-trained Arthur Mendonça (the images above show his Autumn 2006 runway collection, with his kind permission)

Bustle, founded by Toronto lawyers Shawn Hewson and Ruth Promislow

Montreal's Marie Sainte Pierre

Debbie Shuchat, who designed Air Canada's flight attendant uniforms

Hot Tickets

This coming theatre season is pretty rich in premieres of work by Canadian playwrights. Here's a by-no-means comprehensive list of ten shows to watch for:

1. Generous by Michael Healey (September 26 to October 29 at Tarragon Theatre): Healey is the author of The Drawer Boy, which a few seasons ago became the most-performed play in the U.S. His newest work is a comedy about the repercussions of a political sea-change, and "what happens when members of society not known for their generosity become overwhelmed with the desire to help".

2. Bonbons assortis by Michel Tremblay (October 18 to November 4 at Théâtre français de Toronto): The Toronto premiere of a new work that lets us spend a little more time with some of Tremblay's "family" of immortal characters like Albertine, Victoire, Gabriel and Josaphat-le-violon. I just love his writing! In French, but presented with English surtitles on many dates.

3. Apple by Vern Thiessen (October 19 to November 12 at Factory Theatre): Thiessen won a 2003 Governor General's Award for his play Einstein's Gift. This Toronto premiere, about a jobless man torn between his ill wife and another woman, won Vancouver's Sterling Award for best new play.

4. The Oxford Roof Climber's Rebellion by Stephen Massicotte (November 14 to December 17 at Tarragon Theatre): Massicotte hit the jackpot a few years ago with his runaway hit Mary’s Wedding, a WWII romance. Now he steps a little further back in history to tell a story about the lives of T.E. Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia) and poet/mythographer Robert Graves, who both served in WWI. It's directed by Richard Rose.

5. Chimera by Wendy Lill (January 9 to February 11 at Tarragon Theatre): Lill is the only Canadian playwright who's also served as a federal Member of Parliament (for Dartmouth, Nova Scotia). With her new play, she uses some of that experience to delve into the ethical debate around the issue of stem cell research, from the point of view of a jaded journalist and a recently-appointed Canadian Minister of Justice

6. Singkil by Catherine Hernandez (January 11 to 28 at Factory Theatre): The company that brought us the funny, popular Banana Boys, fu-GEN Asian Canadian Theatre Company, brings us the premiere of this play that links a narrative about a legendary Filipina Muslim princess who distinguished herself through her courage during a calamitous earthquake with the story of Mimi, a woman in contemporary Toronto.

7. Scorched by Wajdi Mouawad (February 27 to March 31 at Tarragon Theatre): Francophone Montrealer Mouawad is one of the hot names these days, both for adult and youth theatre. This English-language premiere follows twins Simon and Janine on a journey to understand their mother's past history in a war-torn country.

8. John and Beatrice by Carole Fréchette (March 20 to April 22 at Tarragon Theatre): Another Francophone Montrealer, Fréchette has won acclaim for her complex, poetic narratives. This English-language premiere is about a woman who seeks connection and love through a personals ad.

9. Tempting Providence by Robert Chafe (April 4 to 22 at Factory Theatre): Here's the unmissable show of the year. Playwright Chafe and director Jillian Keiley have been making such big waves with their Theatre Newfoundland Labrador that it's amazing their work hasn't yet been seen in Toronto. (Shame on us!) This one is about Newfoundland nurse Myra Bennett. And you really should go. Pictured above: Darryl Hopkins and Deidre Gillard-Rowlings, courtesy of the National Arts Centre. Photo by Derek Butt.

10. The Pessimist by Morwyn Brebner (April 24 to May 27 at Tarragon Theatre): Brebner is witty and original, with a bit of a black sense of humour. She had a popular hit with her most recent show (called The Optimists, as it happens). Now she's back with a story about "sex, death, theatre, zombies, pies". It's directed by woman-to-watch Eda Holmes.

Bollywood (Part Two)

Back in February, I reported on a trip to see Rang De Basanti at Woodside Cinemas, and at the time I promised I'd check out the Albion Cinemas when Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna came to town. So yesterday, I set out with my intrepid mom from the east end. We found that it takes about 75 to 90 minutes from Yonge and Bloor if you go via Kipling station and take the #45 bus north to Finch. (Well worth the trip, as the movie in question runs just under four hours.)

For those who want a sneak peek at Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna, which is on the gala program at the Toronto International Film Festival, I can report unreservedly that it's a great choice. Shah Rukh Khan, playing an embittered man in constant physical pain, takes the edge off his sometimes selfconsciously charming portrayals. Rani Mukherjee proves once again that she can burst into tears while looking beautiful better than anyone else onscreen today. Abhishek Bachchan gives a sympathetic portrayal of a husband who's willing to keep working at a failing marriage beyond all reasonable grounds for hope. Kirron Kher gives her usual charismatic turn as Shah Rukh's mom (you might know her for her brief appearance as Dr. Neela's mother on ER if you don't know her movie career.) And of course, Amitabh Bachchan nimbly steals the show with his sonorous voice and cavernous eyes. Only Preity Zinta is left a little behind the others in a part that demands nothing beyond her stock pouts and sparkles. Early slapstick fantasy gives way to real emotion, and I dare you not to dab at your eyes when Bachchan Sr. explains why he throws a dance party stocked with beautiful girls every year. Watch for cameos by several big stars, and expect to leave humming the main theme... especially as it's eerily similar to a song that SRK 'sings' in another movie (maybe Dil To Pagal Hai? Maybe Chalte Chalte? I'll let you know when it comes to me.)

Unless I overlooked something, the Albion Mall doesn't present such interesting food offerings as Woodside; it just has a standard food court. There's a spot called Tandoori Bites on the outside of the mall that looked promising, but we didn't have a chance to try it. (It was advertising street food like pani poori, gol gappa and chat papri.) I hear the surrounding neighbourhood has lots to offer. Must go back.

By the way, we saw a trailer for a new movie that looks wild: Kabul Express, in which two Indian guys, an American woman, a Pakistani and an Afghan make their way across the war-torn Afghani desert in a tank ("Don't they have taxis in the country?" queries one of the Indians.) It stars John Abraham (Water, Dhoom) and Arshad Warsi (Salaam Namaste, Chocolate). Might be the right excuse for a return trip.

Finally, you can already get pirate copies of KANK downtown, but it's really worth seeing on the big screen. If you've never seen an Indian movie, this would be a great introduction.

Island Heroes

Where's Louis Cyr when you need him? The legendary Montreal strong man would have fit right in at the Island Heroes Strong Man Competition. Founded in 2001, the event is the brainchild of 24-year-old Islander Rob Dales (pictured, with boulder).

"I didn't really see anything that was like it in Toronto," he says. "There was one event, but it was for national-level competitors; it's not a good entry-level competition. I wanted to build something that would let people challenge themselves. I wanted to test myself as well, so I thought I would design this competition to invite other people down to display their strength."

The events are varied. "Everybody is strong in different areas. That's really what makes our species great," says Dales. "We have strength dispersed in different ways." This year's events include the Farmer’s Walk, in which competitors see how far they can walk carrying a 150-pound length of railway track in each hand. Then there's the 130-pound Log Lift, the 600-pound Tire Flip and the 120-pound Rock Press. The finale features the four finalists battling Sumo-style "That is exciting, because it can last for quite a bit or it can be over in a second," says Dales.

Dales expects to have between five and ten competitors this year, but anyone can walk off the street and enter for a fee of $20 if they're willing to sign a waiver (and submit to the referee's judgement to desist if it looks like they're about to hurt themselves). If you think you'd like to test yourself aganst the tractor tire, the log or the rock, "Anyone, year round, can practice with the stuff; I just ask that they contact me first," says Dales, who can be reached via e-mail at pipesmacgee@hotmail.com.

This year's Island Heroes Strong Man Competition takes place on Olympic Island (near the Centre Island ferry docks) from 1 to 5 p.m. next Saturday, August 19. Admission is free for spectators (take the 12:30 ferry to Centre Island).

This Taste of the Danforth is All Year Long

At Taste of the Danforth this year, CFRB host Christina Cherneskey introduced me to a great store that I hadn't noticed before. Taste the 4th Sense (375 Danforth Avenue at Chester, 416-649-0024) is a foodie's specialty shop where they blend their own modestly-priced flavoured oils and vinegars, and also import the broadest range of hot sauces I've ever seen in one place.

It's a collaboration among former music manager Gerry Mischuk, Juno-winning vocalist Lydia (Taylor) Mischuk and world travelers Alida and Alec Thomas. (They also have an outlet at the Riverworks Emporium in St. Jacobs.)

Taste the 4th Sense bottles its own flavoured grapeseed oil, a healthy oil that heats well. Their Zest line of preseasoned vinegars (like purple basil, raspberry and blueberry balsamic) are popular – they only need some oil to become instant salad dessing. With prior notice and an extra dollar a bottle, the labels can be personalized (as wedding gifts, for example).

The (mostly preservative-free) hot sauces are sourced from producers all over North and Central America (including Mexico, Belize and Costa Rica), and the product labels are almost as enjoyable as the sizzling sauces inside. Some of the names are unforgettable: "Scorned Woman" (from West Virginia), "Scorched Earth" (Niagara), "Acid Rain" (Vancouver), "Backdraft" (Florida), "Krakatoa" (Ohio), the straightforward "Bone Suckin' Sauce" (North Carolina), and the one that makes me laugh the most: "Fear Itself" (also Vancouver). Word is, "Ring of Fire" from California is the most popular.

Visitors to the shop can request a taste of any item in stock. The shop makes a nice complement to The Olive Pit on Queen West, which offers olive oil and balsamic vinegar tastings.

KANK at TIFF

Oh, how did I miss this? When I mentioned that the new Shah Rukh Khan movie, Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna (directed by Karan Johar), is opening on Friday at Albion and Woodside Cinemas, I had not yet noticed that it's also been scheduled for the Gala program at the Toronto International Film Festival (which runs this year from September 7 to 16). Under the English title Never Say Goodbye, the festival press release describes it as "a passionate, sweeping love story that captures India's biggest stars and foremost talent with charm and sophistication. With New York as its backdrop, the film tackles the bonds of marriage with delightful touches of humor and grand leaps into romance."

Usually the Gala series consists of world premieres. Past premieres have included A History of Violence, Walk the Line and the immortal Wallace and Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit. Call 416-968-FILM if you want Gala tix to see KANK. Otherwise, pay $7 and see it a month earlier.

Proceeds of Crime?

At one time, Toronto's Police Service auctions were a well known source of bargain bikes for the initiated cycling shopper. Then, just about the time TUC was published, the force decided to try the experiment of moving them to eBay – apparently with great success. So these days, items turned in to the Police by helpful citizens or seized from criminals are sold online. More recently, the TTC has got into the act, so at the same site you can buy things that have been left on TTC property and not claimed after 90 days.

There are still bikes for sale; lots of Supercycles and CCMs, but a few more prestigious lines. Then there are things you'd expect, like cameras, clothes, tools, jewellery, electronics and so on. But you have to wonder what's the story behind the six Roaring T-Rex Dinosaur Toys, the 24-can case of Friskies Turkey & Cheese cat food, or the 23 separately boxed, four-inch high frog figurines (as pictured above). There's also the odd wedding ring; if you're missing one, you could probably do worse than check every once in a while.

Shah Rukh Khan Fan Alert

Attention, SRK fans! Apart from the fact that ICICI Bank is featuring dishy posters of the Mumbai heartthrob and Pepsi spokesperson, his latest flick (first since Paheli) is in local theatres as of this Friday, August 11. As I mentioned in a previous Bollywood posting, Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna (known to fans as KANK) features a raft of bigtime talent, including (left to right) Shah Rukh, Rani Mukherjee, Amitabh Bachchan, his son Abhishek Bachchan and the delightful Preity Zinta. Buy some Kleenex and check Albion and Woodside Cinemas schedules for times. By the way, both theatres are now offering no more assigned seating, an added inducement to affordable $6 and $7 admission prices.

An aside: the Aishwarya Rai/Dylan McDermott flick Mistress of Spices (brought to you by the folks who made Bend It Like Beckham and Bride and Prejudice) is in mainstream release right now, but pirate copies – packaged with a second title for only $5 – have been available on Gerrard East for weeks. (I'm still encouraging you to be lawful and see it someplace like the Cumberland, though!) Local critics haven't been very impressed, but I expect Bollywood fans (self included) will overlook the melodrama and enjoy simply watching Miss Rai's lovely face onscreen for several hours. Oh, and McDermott too.

Festival of South Asia

Remember when the Beaches Jazz Festival was just a little walk around the neighbourhood? And when Taste of the Danforth didn't even close the street? Well, if you love to sample Toronto's outdoor summer festivals, but prefer to stay away from mammoth crowd scenes, then you should get yourself down to Gerrard India Bazaar (better known outside the 'hood as Little India) for the weekend of August 19 and 20, the fourth annual Festival of South Asia.

For those of you who remain a little foggy about where to go, it's Gerrard between Coxwell and Danforth, so you can either hop on the College streetcar or take a quick bus ride south from Greenwood (31) or Coxwell (22) subway stations. Gerrard Street will be closed for several blocks east of Coxwell beginning at noon on Saturday, and there'll be even more possibilities for street food tastings than usual. For example, you could try chicken biriyani, chana or chicken tandoori outside Haandi (1401 Gerrard East); chat papri or sev puri at Skylark (1433); the usual paan, sugarcane juice, pani puri and whatnot at Lahore Paan Centre (1435); samosas, alu tikki or pakoras at Bar-Be-Que Hut (1455), or dosai, pav bhaji or jalebi at the wonderful Udupi Palace (1460). Try some masala chai or Kashmiri tea, lassi or falooda while you're at it, or barfi, gulab jamun and other sweets like the ones pictured above. It'll also be a good opportunity to pick up some Bollywood DVDs (two films for $5) or get some Hindu devotional music to play while practicing your yoga moves.

From 3 to 11 p.m. there'll also be entertainment on a street stage: various dance forms like kathak, bharatanatyam and dandia (the one with the decorated sticks), plus a fashion show at 8:15 on Saturday night. There's music too: bhangra, the band AGNI, which plays Tamil and folk styles (9:30 on Saturday), and qawwali, the style made famous by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan (9:30 on Sunday).

Curtis Eustace and Carnival Nationz Win Caribana 2006

This year's Band of the Year at Caribana is (no surprise): "V – La Copa Mundial" by Curtis Eustace and Carnival Nationz, depicting Trinidad and Tobago's World Cup fever and the nations of the soccer world.

Carnival Nationz is a relative newcomer to Caribana, but not to Carnival. Curtis Eustace has won the King of Trinidad Carnival title seven times. Along with his brother Marcus (also a Carnival Nationz founder), he used to work with Caribana's most winning bandleader Louis Saldenah (in fact, they seem to have walked away with Saldenah's multiple monarch Rudy Rampersad, who took the king title this year for the umpteenth time). The other two faces behind the band are promoters Dwayne "D'Bandit" Pitt and Bruce Aguiton of event organizers Island Boyz.

Carnival Nationz also scored last year's Band of the Year title in what was I believe their inaugural year under the Carnival Nationz banner. This year's win makes them look like the band to beat for next year, because when it comes to making mas, nothing suceeds like back-to-back titles.

Caribana 2006 Event Information

Gosh, I can see that so many people are coming to this site looking for Caribana Parade details that I'd better post 'em:

The CARIBANA PARADE begins at 10 a.m. (if we're lucky) on Saturday, August 5 at Exhibition Place and proceeds 3.6 kilometres west along Lakeshore Boulevard to Parkside Drive. (My best advice is to plan to arrive at about 11:30 if you want to see most of the costumes before things get too crowded.) The parade is scheduled to finish by 6 p.m. Lots of food is available along the route at modest prices, but the lineups are often long. There are ticketed viewing areas at Exhibition Place and the grassy area along Lakeshore Boulevard.

Admission: $21 (adult) $11 (senior/child). Free along Lakeshore Boulevard.

Transit Access: Exhibition Place is located just north of Ontario Place, between Dufferin Street and Strachan Avenue.
-From within the city, the site is easily accessible by TTC, including the 511 BATHURST Streetcar from Bathurst Station and the 509 HARBOURFRONT Streetcar from Union Station. Call TTC for more info at 416-393-INFO or visit www.ttc.ca
-From the suburbs, GO Transit runs trains into Exhibition Place and nearby Union Station. Visit Go Transit for more information.

The ARTS AND CULTURAL FESTIVAL takes place on Sunday & Monday, August 6 & 7, from noon to 8 p.m. on Olympic Island. There's lots of food on the island, but it's a little pricier than at the parade. Take Toronto Island Ferry to Centre Island Docks from the Ferry Terminal on Queens Quay at the foot of Bay Street. The entrance is just west of the Westin Harbour Castle hotel (accessible via LRT from Union Station).

Admission: $19 (adult) $11 (senior/child).

Island Ferry Service: Tickets cost $6 (adult) $3.50 (seniors/students) $2.50 (children). Free for children under 2. Ferry schedule: 416-392-8193. (Be prepared for lineups of 45 minutes or longer.)

Caribana 2006 King and Queen Winners

I see that people are visting this site in hopes of finding out what the mainstream media aren't telling you: who won Caribana's King and Queen of the Bands at Lamport Stadium last night?

Well, the band "V – La Copa Mundial" by Curtis Eustace and Carnival Nationz scored a hat trick, with three crowns:

King of the Bands – Veteran champion Rudy Rampersad in a gigantic red construction festooned with soccer balls as "Soca Warrior" (a reference to the Trinidad and Tobago national football club, with the intended pun on soccer/soca music)

Queen of the Bands – Tamara Alleyne Gittens as "Keep Yuh Head Up T'n'T, We Goin' to Wuk Up 2010", a reference of course to Trinidad and Tobago's chances for the next FIFA World Cup

Male Individual of the Year – Andy Charles as "Keeper of the Cup", which needs no explanation

Eustace is himself a veteran champion of Trinidad Carnival, and his band won Caribana Band of the Year 2005.

Louis Saldenah and Mas-K Club won Female Individual of the Year (Pat Horsham as "Explosion of Colours" from the band "Mas Jamboree")

While I'm at it, Junior Carnival winners included:

Marlon Singh and Callaloo, who took Junior Band of the Year with their presentation "Exotic Species"

Alvin Adore's "Feather of the Sea" from the presentation "Sea Fantasy", which won Junior Queen

"D'Spirit of Carnival" by Arnold Hughes & Associates, which took both Junior King ("Carnival Warriors") and Junior Female Individual ("The Spirit of Youth")

Frank Ramsaroop and Borokeete Canada, who won Junior Male Individual for the band "Future and Back")

(Mad props to the folks at Toronto Lime who keep the most complete and up-to-date online records of past Caribana winners!)