OMG

Northern Yonge

check out the new website www.luxuryrap.com

Dance off that turkey

Who doesn't love Dirty Dancing? Don't answer that because it was rhetorical. I can remember as a young lady dancing all around my house, with the volume on the VRC all the way up. I used to always go crazy during the credits when this song came on. I tried finding it once before on YouTube, but I didn't know what it was called, or who sang it. Then today after I watched the last few minutes of DD on TMC I decided that I had to find it, so I looked it up on IMDB. And here it is, "Yes" sung by Merry Clayton.
You're welcome.

Things I am Thankful for Right Now

In honor of American Thanksgiving here is the list, (in no particular order) of the things I am thankful for right now.
1. The I Love Lucy marathon on TV Land
2. Donut Delight drive-thru coffee
3. Extended family
4. Estate sales
5. Bran muffins (minus the raisins)
6. Blogger
7. Skype (so I can talk to my parents whenever the time difference allows)
8. Literacy
9. Google Analytics
10. TKTS

Art Matters

It has been a whirlwind here in New York. Last week I saw three shows and did a tour of the Chelsea galleries. Then over the weekend Paul and I did as much as possible of the big art shows around town. It was tough to coordinate because we only had Sunday and Monday to do everything. I realized that the gallery world is just like the theatre, in that when you have a job you can never actually see any other work, because of the schedule. But we did our best. So Sunday we went to the Whitney to see the Eggleston show.

These are some of the images from the show. I was very surprised that I found so many of them online. Eggleston was a real highlight of the art this weekend. After Eggleston, Paul and I raced through the Calder show. This particular show is from his Paris years, and are not my favorite Calders. From there Paul and I hurried over to MOMA. The Pipilotti Rist installation, was so major. I could not describe it if you payed me but it was riveting. Both Paul and I thought it was very successful, and will probably be a monumental moment in her career. We went through the contemporary show and just as we were leaving realized that we had missed the Joan Miro exhibit, so we went back up stairs and did a quick walk through. I am not the biggest Miro fan, but you can not deny his influence and aesthetic achievements.


We didn't see the Van Gogh exhibit because it was sold out for the day, which both Paul and I thought was a good thing. I had no particular interest in seeing that show anyway. Although if there had been tickets we probably would have gone through. And then we would not have had time to get down to the New Museum. As it was we left MOMA and rushed down to the Lower East Side/East Village. We didn't have a lot of time, so we concentrated our efforts on the Mary Heilmann show. Heilmann is an interesting case, because she has always been called a painter's painter and only recently began to get the credit she deserves. Her show at the New Museum is phenomenal, and was another highlight of my art cram session. After that we needed to take a break for eating, which has been another constant occurrence on this trip. It was still pretty early so we decided to make an event of it, and went for oysters in Tribeca. We were really close to La Pettie Abielle, which was featured in "The City" and happens to be Ben's bar. I gave Ben a call and made him meet us for a drink. We were in a rush so we didn't stay long. Paul and I decided that we wanted to take it easy so we went to see Quantum of Solace. There is not much to say about that, other than the tall boys were key and Paul fell asleep. We got home relatively early, although we were both exhausted.
Monday Paul took me on a tour of Forest Hills Gardens, which is a pretty desirable neighborhood, with lots of nice property. Then we took the train into the city and went straight to the Guggenheim. They have a group show up, which is all about being in the art, in fact one of the pieces is a hotel room in the museum, which people were actually able to rent out for the night. And like all good New York shows is sold out. The Guggs also has a show of Catherine Opie's photography. I loved the Icehouses and the Surfers. Bellow are some of the images from her show, including one of the surfers. They were really striking, particularly when you see the whole series.






Overall though I thought the show at the Guggenheim was ... um, oh. Yea.


Next Paul and I decided that we had to have dim sum in Chinatown. We went to the Ping Seafood Restaurant, which Paul assured me is the best in the City. It was pretty darn good, but I reserve the right to say that it is not the best. From there, Paul and I got on the train to PS1. The PS1 show was another one that was um, ok. Although the Robert Boyd piece, a video instillation with conspiracy theory clips set to the Kylie Minogue song I Believe in You was pretty incredible. The video I linked above is not the actual piece although some of the clips in it are featured in Tomorrow People. Paul later did some research about Boyd and it turns out that he is a bit of a crazy. Apparently he was a one time the spokesperson for the Green Party in Britain, but was asked to resign because he was a loon. Just to give you a taste, Boyd thinks that George Bush is a reptile. Anyhoo, there was also a another Pipilotti piece at PS1, which we almost missed because it was installed in a crack in the floor, pretty cool eh.

Whoo, even writing all this down is tiring, so I don't think I will add much from my day yesterday except to say that I took the bus up to the Cloisters, which is the Met's medieval extension uptown. I had never been and it was something Blackie and I talked about before she passed, so I really wanted to get up there. After the 2 hour bus ride, which would have been shorter on the train, but less scenic, I arrived. The Cloisters is a really beautiful building, in a even more beautiful park, atop a hill that over looks the Hudson. The stuff inside ain't to shabby either. The Met is one of those museums that is so rich that they just bring entire buildings from the 12th century and put them inside the Cloisters. It is something else. After I got back downtown I met Shawnte, we had planned to go see Richard Prince at Gogosian but we had a long meal instead. I might try to stop by Gogosian on Saturday.

Today I head out to Connecticut for Thanksgiving. I'll update you when I get there.

AGO opening

Paul scoffed at this article about the AGO's re-opening. He laughed because it cost $ 300,000,000 which isn't that much compared with other museum renovations. There is a funny video on the CBC site, and Paul and I have been doing our best Canadian accents all morning. Anyway, I "saw" the AGO opening night, Emily and I stopped by but we didn't go in, because it was such a mad house. I did really enjoy seeing this at ROM.

Milk Premiere

Milk premiered in New York earlier this week. Emile looks so cute. I love him, although I agree with some of my actor friends who didn`t like some of his choices in Into the Wild. I am looking forward to seeing if there has been any growth by him in Milk

Rosie B, looks great too. One of the better dressed ladies at the screening

Helena you are a goddess.

This is the best dressed I think I have ever seen Sean Penn

I have heard that Franco`s performance is the weakest in the film. Ironic because I hear gay rumors about Franco all the time. Maybe that`s why.
Images courtesy of Style.com

Beyond the Canon

Last night Paul invited me to the opening at Robert Miller Gallery. The show was beautiful, and we had an ok time. Grace Hartigan, who sadly passed away over the weekend was in the show, and had planned to attend the opening. It was really too bad, the timing of her death. Although I was speaking with a lot of people at the gallery who didn't seem to know that she had died. That aside, we had a great night. After the opening Paul, Shawnte, Vinny and I went for drinks, and then later Paul and I met up with Sasha and Alina, and some Gents for more drinks on the East Side. At least I think that's where we were, it gets a litter blurry about that time. There is more to tell but Paul always gets squirmy about mentioning the gallery

I saw Gypsy yesterday afternoon, which was amazing. I am planning on writing a revue for the EAP blog. As well as one for South Pacific, which I took Paul to on Tuesday night. I am sure I could say more now, but I wont.

"The City"

Greetings from the Big Apple

I got in yesterday from Toronto - thanks Porter. Centre Island Airport really is the shit. But my travel day was a huge hassle. We were delayed for hours, before they just cancelled the flight and put us on the 4:30. I was originally due in New York at 3:45, but I didn't get in till well after 6. Paul met me at Penn Station, which was really great of him, especially since the Rangers had a game at the Garden. Seeing all those hockey fans made me really happy. I am so glad to be in "the City." Paul and I have fallen right into our usual banter. Anyway, we got back to Forest Hills, Queens, and Tati was making dinner. I felt guilty because I was supposed to have dinner plans in Soho. But then Paul pulled out the Vevue, and I knew we weren't going anywhere. Paul had actually just gotten home himself, from the Paris Photo Fair. We watched the Real Housewives of Atlanta, and The Hills Aftershow, because we missed The Hills. The Aftershow is another Canadian transplant that makes me relieved, because I know home is not far away. I actually get re-entry shock all the time now when I am back in the States, and New York is particularly jarring, since NYC is so quintessentially American.


This morning, I came in on the Long Island Rail with Paul, and dropped him off at the gallery. Then I went to Lincoln Centre, for South Pacific tickets. Next I walked across the Park to the Met, Paul recommended the Phillip de Montebello show. He is the outgoing director of the Museum. Not only is he a New York legend, having served for over thirty years in his post, he has been responsible for a number of big acquisitions in his tenure. Those acquisitions are on display in a well curated exhibition of his legacy. I always love going to the Met. It's pay what you want - 1$ in my case, and you can get lost in there for hours. I saw a few sections in addition to the special exhibits, that I hadn't been through before. Decorative Arts is still my favourite, but the room of Dutch Masters is also astounding. All those Vermeer's, mind blowing. The only eyesore, and I found it ironic that it was not part of the Montebello show, since The Hirst Shark, was procured during his reign. That thing looks so bad, I don't think it will survive the decade. It looked noticeably worse than the last time I saw it, in May. I couldn't find the one from the Met, but bellow is an image of another Hirst Shark, for those who need to ask somebody. Anyway, so glad to be here. Miss y'all up North. It is freezing. New York is supposed to get its first snow of the season tonight. I don't understand why the snow is following me.

protests at the American Embassy today

If you are in Toronto today, and you want to be a part of the voice against Prop 8, come down to the US embassy on University. A protest has been organized out front for the whole day.

More on Prop 8

check out this post I did for the Emerging Art Productions' blog.

that Candy Cain's a ho

It is very bad quality, but could that be our favorite piece of sugary sweet lingering on the lips of one not-John McCain?

Toronto Property

The Kent House

The Hotel Cawartha - not actually in Toronto

This one should look familliar to the U of T kids.

Contemporary Art at Sotheby's

Tuesady night Sotheby's held its contemporary art auction, and given that the economy is in the shitter it should be no surprise that overall the night was less successful than expected. Sotheby's failed to sell at least twenty lots and came in well below their low estimate, which was 202.4 million. They only made 125.1million. It isn't as bad as all that though because Tuesday night's estimates were done during the summer, before the September meltdown of the financial markets. Also there was one bright spot according to the Times, and that was for one of my favorite artists John Currin. Above is Currin's "Stamford After Brunch," one of my favorite paintings of all times.

Here is the quote from the Times article.

There was no bargain to be had when it came to a painting by John Currin. Dean Valentine, a Los Angeles collector, was selling “Nice ’n’ Easy,” a 1999 painting of two Renaissance-inspired nude women that Sotheby’s had priced at $3.5 million to $4.5 million. Three people bid, and it sold for a record price of $5.4 million. "Nice 'n' Easy," pictured above is from the Sotheby's website.

Remembrance Day

November the Eleventh, Remembrance Day in the Commonwealth and Veteran's Day in the United States, is an important day for patriotic reflection. Sadly, this past weekend was one of the most violent in recent months in Iraq and Afghanistan. Not to mention the recent revelation that the US Executive has authorized attacks anywhere in the world if there is a believed link with Al Qaeda. This administration has also revealed that under this new order they have carried out attacks in Syria and Pakistan. The killing of civilians in such attacks amounts to US led terrorism around the globe.
In Canada, Remembrance Day was honored all over the country, and is particularly poignant since Canadians continue to be deployed to Afghanistan. I thought the article in the Globe and Mail today, about Canada's move toward a dramatically more militaristic culture, by Michael Valpy, was very compelling. The Globe also put up the archival footage bellow.

Lest we Forget.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20081107.wvdieppe_reels1107/VideoStory/National/home?pid=RTGAM.20081110.wmilitary1111

Mmm, Sade

Prop H8te has passed unoffically - but California counties have until Dec 2 to count absentee ballots

This is the voter break down for Prop 8. Being from SF I am not surprised by the overwhelming opposition from that region of the State. All I can wonder is where the social progressives are down south. I mean there must be tons of fags and hags in LA, why so apathetic So-Cal?

An Open Letter from Cindy Sheehan

Cindy Sheehan, the independant congressional challenger to Nancy Pelosi sent out an open letter to her supporters yesterday, which I thought was so powerful I wanted to reprint it here. Thanks Cindy for all the hard work.


"I have fought the good fight, I have run the good race, I have kept the faith."St. Paul in 2TimothyI kept on saying to my supporters, staff, interns, volunteers and myself, that no matter what happened on November 4th that we could hold our heads up high and be very proud of our campaign. Until yesterday, I wasn't sure that what I said would be true, but I feel an incredibly sense of peace and pride in our accomplishments. There were so many victories over the last year that the American paradigm of "winner-take all" just doesn't fit.
We moved into San Francisco a little over a year ago with less than nothing. We used savings and credit cards to open our office and sometimes to keep it open. We transformed a former "sex shop" to a fully functioning and vibrant campaign office. Our "natural base" never materialized, so we had to build a foundation in less than a few months.In August, we historically gained ballot access as only the 6th independent campaign in California history to do so. Our platform based on humane economics was in place long before the recent collapses and resultant bailouts. Our labor platform was hailed all over the world, while unions here in SF supported the corporate "rescuer" Nancy Pelosi.
Cindy for Congress never once sold out our solid principles and issues based campaign and would never sell out the voters of San Francisco like Nancy Pelosi has. Nancy Pelosi never ran a campaign here, but she did run from my campaign and our demands to debate. Yet we persevered and did so amazingly well after a near total media black out and several attempts at political intimidation.
We got to the end of this stage with a barrel full of integrity and a boatload of dedication and love. Dozens of activists came from all over the country to be here to help us spread our progressive, peace based message and thousands donated to help keep our campaign afloat.
We have moved right through November 4th because this is a movement for peace and against corporate control of our political system. Movements can't stop: we must keep moving.
The way we do elections in this country must be reformed because clearly the campaigns with the most money won all over the country. If we never level the playing field to allow the people's voice and message to be heard, the tyranny of incumbency and the obscene amount of money spent on these circuses will continue and true progressive change will never happen. Long voting lines and the fact that election day is not a holiday or on Sunday give a clear disadvantage to the working class that need campaigns like mine and elected officials like me to improve their lives.
We will still have to fight the establishment with everything we have and this campaign has proven that we do have a lot of clout if we are persistent and devoted. Yesterday, at about 10, we were traveling around the district and receiving huge amounts of support and were dismayed to see an article from the AP saying that Nancy Pelosi had already defeated me. Our exit polling (from every area in the district) showed me receiving between 35-60% of the vote. We were very optimistic that we would do much better than we ultimately ended up doing.
However, Cindy for Congress got almost twice as many votes as anyone who has ever run against Pelosi since she eked out a primary victory in 1987 over Harry Britt, who was also the most progressive candidate. We raised a decent amount of money and are honored by the support we have gotten from all over this nation.
This is not the time to give up and give in to the politics of blinding amounts of money shrouded in "hope."
On November 5th, we still have millions of people sleeping on our streets and without jobs and health care. We still have our troops mired in two unconscionable wars that Obama has not promised to end. Our economy is still on a very precarious footing and oil, the lifeblood of the elite, is running out. There are many people in this world, and yes, even this nation that are food insecure and the next resource wars may be over water.
Despite all this, I slept like a baby last night for the first time in months. I feel like a new person today and am holding my head up high. I dedicated my campaign to my son, Casey, and his comrades who have tragically fallen and the people of Iraq and Afghanistan that our government have devastated. We need to continue to make their deaths count for something noble. I dedicate the next steps to them, also.
There are still many "fights" and "races" ahead. Take a few days to celebrate or mourn and reflect and then jump back in with both feet into the struggle for peace and justice.

I think this is great

Ok this is hilarious. But why is this guy such a NARC. When you smell weed in public, it is not polite to draw attention to it kids, unless you are hoping they might share.

I think it's apt

I can feel the sense of relief too. And while I have serious reservations, it has been a long time commin'. This change

Today is election day USA

As Americans go to the polls today to vote for the next American President I am reminded of the Michael Connell deposition in the Ohio-Racet case. Conneell is an IT guy, often called the Republican's high IQ Forest Gump, because he has been on the scene of every dubious election, going back to Florida 2000. Yesterday he underwent two hours of questioning at the order of an Ohio Federal Court Judge. Connell's lawyers had tried desperately to put of the deposition until after the election. Although the transcript of the deposition has not been released, it was a major coup to get Connell in before the election. The links below are a few articles I have found about this case, and the video from Brad's Blog will give you a sense of what is going on. Democracy Now also covered the story yesterday and had NYU professor Mark Crispin Miller, author of Loser Take All: Election Fraud and the Subversion of Democracy, on to discuss this important case. American Federal elections in my opinion should have Federal regulations, not State regulations and all elections should be cast via paper ballots. But I bet you Barrrrrakk wont do anything about election reform if he is able to get elected tonight. And if for some reason the GOP pulls off a win tonight I guarantee there will have been some vote stealing, foul -play afoot. I also bet is will cause rioting in major US cities.

Kansas City Star
here's the Brad Blog link

new jam

Thanks Paul

Palin got punk'd

Probably everyone has heard it by now but the Montreal-based radio duo, the masked avengers schooled Palin in a prank call. They pretend to be Nicolas Sarkozy and hilarity ensues. I tried posting the video clip last night, and again this morning and it is not working so instead here is the link to d-listed, the audio can be found there.

Despite all the hints given that something about this call was not right Palin plowed right on. Just like I am sure she does in her new movie "Nalin' Palin." My personal favorite line though is right at the beginning when she says something to the effect of, "Nicolas, John McCain and I... we love you."

I think these two have got it right

I'm betting it was pre-scripted, but I like that they can laugh at themselves. It seems to indicate that they have worked out a relationship that works for them, which is always nice to see. And Sarah Silverman is a genius.

"Words in Air"

Robert Lowell and Elizabeth Bishop 1962
courtesy of Vasser College Library and the NYT.

I just bought this book on a whim yesterday, and today it pops up in the Times. I can't start it until I finish Oryx and Crake for the book club, but it is gonna be so great. "Words in Air" is a collection of letters that span over 30 years, between two of the 20th century's greatest poets. Critical, honest, and surprisingly supportive and sharing their friendship and love, lives in their letters as it never did in life.

courtesy of Houghton Library and the NYT

Too hot to handle

Happy Birthday Penn. Love the dirty mattress, so sexy.