JB's Warehouse & Curio Emporium

Toronto’s Fringe Festival is currently marking its 25 th year, which provides me with a good excuse to look at the first edition I attended, way back in 1999. At the time I was winding down my days in Guelph. Still recovering from the black comedy of working at the Ontarion , I was searching for work, hoping to avoid returning to Windsor. I had just moved into the cheapest place I ever lived in, the entire top floor of a house near Edinburgh and Paisley, a summer sublet which set me back $140/month. Looking for something to lift the gloom of job hunting, I decided a trip to Toronto was in order. I’d read about the Fringe for a few years, and its ticket prices fit my budget. I’d pick a show at random and hope for the best. Flipping through the program doesn’t reveal what I saw that year. No tickets slipped inside, no performances circled, no clippings. So I checked a journal from that time. Nada. Then I remembered I had an IKEA box full of clippings from my first few years ...

Two more reviews from me as part of Torontoist's Fringe coverage : Tim Buck 2 and A Singularity of Being . The latter review also appears to be the first post I've written that I've noticed a link for on the Globe and Mail's Toronto page (pictured left). The review link shares space with three CUPE strike related pieces: a Marcus Gee column arguing city councillors deserve more pay , a list of reasons why most Torontonians haven't blown a gasket yet over the strike , and random strike survival tips . *** Spending several days in a row attending Fringe shows has provided an opportunity to slip in chances to try out dining spots within walking distance of the venues that I've been meaning to get around to. Case in point: while walking from the Tarragon to Factory on Saturday, I detoured through Little Italy to grab a bite at Caplansky's Delicatessen . I ordered the special ($12), consisting of slaw, fries, pickle and a small smoked meat sandwich. I love...

7:45 p.m. last night: the lineup at the Glen Morris Studio was about to be let into the theatre to check out Totem Figures , Fringe veteran T.J. Dawe's latest monologue. I stood there lost in my thoughts, processing the $500 I had just poured into my car and the thali I had quickly downed in Little India. A cool breeze made it a comfortable wait, combined with the knowledge that an air conditioner would operate during the performance in a venue infamous for its kiln-like qualities. Suddenly I felt something cool fall on my left hand. The mound resembled a dab of a melted soft-serve twist cone, only the chocolate was thicker and sludgier. The middle-aged women around me noticed and quickly offered to clean up my hand and back. Everyone insisted that a streak of good luck lay ahead. *** If this is true, then the bird officially blessed what has been a good Fringe experience this year. I'm working my way through a five-performance pass and pouring over the online reviews to...

brought to you by Prudential - Get a Piece of the Rock and EF Hutton - When EF Hutton Talks, People Listen Three down, three to go in this year's sampling of the Fringe theatre fest. Let's cut to the chase, sports fans - here's the roundup so far, in alphabetical order: ( Eye ratings based on a scale of five stars, Now on five Ns) Confessions of a Class Clown (**** eye, NNNN Now) The Glen Morris has a reputation for being the kiln of Fringe venues. When I volunteered a few years ago, others shuddered whenever it was mentioned, thanking their lucky stars they didn't wind up there. Given how steamy it was last night, and hearing how others had their enjoyment of shows there this year damped by the heat, would it be worth it to check anything out? This show was worth the sauna effect. A one-man recounting of his experiences as a school cut-up, then his experiences seeing such behaviour crop up on provincial English exams he marked, it managed to be funny and ...