Welcome to my not-for-profit website highlighting some local (and not-so-local) upcoming events - from
theatre & arts to wine & food. It's a compilation of things that are worth doing.
As a long-time weekly columnist at the National Post (8 years of weekly columns), Globe & Mail, etc.
I am pleased to share with you my views on some of my meanderings.
I appreciate your feedback - you can email me at mbv@uniserve.com

Friday July 6 after tasting 120+ releases in the LCBO lab ...

See the program schedule here
The Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition is open to the public and free of charge.
This is Canada’s largest, longest running juried contemporary outdoor art fair. Founded in 1961, it was established to put contemporary visual artists and makers at the front and centre of their works, in direct contact with the public, to nurture artistic excellence and artists’ entrepreneurial spirit. This free public event showcases works by over 340 contemporary visual artists and makers, ranging in medium from painting, photography, and mixed media to jewellery and ceramics and attracts 115,000 visitors each year to Nathan Phillips Square.
I have been a long tiime FAN & did a brief Friday July 6 visit. It seems to be getting lighter every year but is still worth a detour. Parked at the P lot under City Hall ($3 per half hour).
Here is one of my favouriteToronto-based artists - Peter Barelkowski

I love his eclectic paintings

* * * *
Saturday Night 10:15 pm at the Toronto Fringe
continuing for five more performances

Billed as a musical, this is a gripping real life account by Kieth Alessi who was born in 1954 and despite all odds became a very successful biz exec. He recently overcame a serious life-threatening form of cancer (only a 15% survival rate) thanks to a combination of his natural perserverance, great medical attention and his lifetime passion for banjos. While Kieth is not an actor, nor an award-winning singer, his story and the music from his three banjos (part of his massive collection of more than 70) is definitely worth experiencing. It's a touching 60-minute show and I am very happy that he made the amazing effort to share it with us just a short three years after his diagnosis.
I sincerely hope that his love of banjo music has vanquished the killer tomatoes!
Bravo for his opening night performance - try and catch one of the upcoming 5 shows this week

* * * *
The Chardonnays are coming July 20th
I will be attending the Friday School of Cool sessions and will provide you with an update.
Also planning to review some new productions at the SHAW Festival.

check it out here
see our reviews of i4C Chardonnay Spotlight in the July 7 Vintages Release