JB's Warehouse & Curio Emporium

For the second year in a row, I tested my endurance during Nuit Blanche . Unlike last year, the other events over the weekend came before, not after, the all-night event. The morning was spent putting the finishing touches on an article , followed by a fantastic round of dim sum out by the airport with the monthly dining group. I tried to nap in the afternoon but only managed to spent 90 minutes in Dreamland. The challenge was to see how deep into the night I would last. Judging from the reactions I've seen so far around the web, it looks like my big mistake was not drifting far into Zone C. I almost made it at the end of the night, but fatigue derailed those plans. I also remembered my trek through that zone last year , a miserable experience I didn't feel like repeating. C'est la vie. Despite a few duds along the way and less energy, I enjoyed this year's edition more than last year's, helped by elements not directly related to the works on display. *** ...

Nine-and-a-half hours on my feet - my key statistic for this year's Nuit Blanche. I missed last year's inagural edition, so I don't have the same sense of letdown that marks many accounts of the evening. My overall impression was that even if the art was a mixed bag, it was still a good opportunity to wander around the city in a nighttime party atmosphere and observe the reactions of others, at least until a combination of sore legs and non-existent streetcar service kicked in. One thing's for sure: crowds were definitely interested in checking out what was on view. Survival kit : * Notepad, to mark down where I was, in case I didn't get around to writing this post unitl Christmas * Official Program, to provide rough ideas of where to go * Multi-pocketed corduroy jacket, to hold the first two items * TTC day pass * Camera 9:15 PM: Hopped off the subway at Bloor and began my evening in Yorkville. My jaw dropped at the sea of humanity covering Cumberland...

Need to an an evil touch to statues of beloved local entertainers? Just make a trip to the nearest convenience store! While out on a Psychogeography walk a couple of weeks ago, we noticed that as we snapped pictures of group members posing with the statue of Al Waxman in Kensington Market, a weird red glow glared back at us from Al's eyes. It turned out that red gummy bears had been strategically placed on the statue. All that was needed was minilights to add a glowing, statue-come-to-life effect. Squiddity has a full write-up on this particular walk , which introduced many of us to parts of Kensington we didn't know (the rooftop CN Tower model? Ornate back alley gardens?) along with pictures . I've posted a set on ye olde Flickr site . Photo taken at Bellevue Square Park, August 2, 2007 - JB

Day 6: Pittsburgh, PA (Part 1) The day began with grocery shopping around the Shadyside and East Liberty neighbourhoods at Trader Joe's and one of Giant Eagle's Market District stores. The weather proved a hindrance during the day, as intermittent showers cut down on the amount of walking I planned to do. Early on, I discovered I didn't need to look at my city map to find my way around. The city's main neighbourhoods are well marked, thanks to the signage shown here. Many point to multiple neighbourhoods - imagine if you were at Queen and Spadina and a similar sign pointed you to Yorkville, The Annex, Cabbagetown, The Danforth and The Beach. I tossed the map in the back seat and let the signs guide me...and they didn't let me down. Heading west towards the core of the city, Penn Ave is lined with murals and artwork on buildings, such as Loud Silence , found at the corner of Fairmount. More about the artist , Tarish Pipkins . Two more Penn Ave mural...

Is the monkey deciding whether it's worth the risk to test out this couch? More wildlife, along Rue Roy. A slight plumbing problem. Just off of St. Laurent, near Schwartz's, a cameo appearance by Alfred Hitchcock.