This is a brief compilation of some of the ideas from the first day of ideaCity 2010 around the changing place of men and women in our culture, from a number of different viewpoints.
Continue reading The decline of the male and rise of the female
All posts by Gina
Idea City 2010
IdeaCity is an awesome three day event, bringing together an assortment of thinkers and entertainers from the broadest spectrum of backgrounds imaginable.
I’m not sure I’ll every afford to be there as an attendee (door price was $4000 this year), but I grabbed the opportunity to volunteer this year. I was fortunate enough to be put on ‘usher’ duty on the afternoon/evening shift. This meant that I got myself in for the morning sessions each day (8:45) as a member of the audience. Then, from 1:30 until anywhere between 8 and 9pm, I was on duty but able to give at least part of my attention to the stage. Each night, there was then a party, which was open to volunteers as well as to attendees and speakers.
Why Canada? (A quote from ideaCity)
Canadian novelist and cultural commentator Douglas Coupland was at a restaurant on Queen Street East a few weeks ago. He was invited to answer the question “what is the sexiest thing about Canada?”
His response was
That we have a future!
Although Canadians often seem quite critical of themselves and their country, living in Toronto I genuinely do have a very strong sense of a country with a future!
Victoria Day Fireworks
Here is a short video that Paul put together from his footage of the fireworks over Ashridge’s Bay.
Holidaying at home
We are enjoying a glorious, sunny Victoria Day weekend here in Toronto.
Probably the one thing we haven’t done since we arrived is to just ‘chill’ around our home. After too long doing too many wonderful things, we decided we needed a rest cure. What I can’t quite get over is really being able to feel as if we are on holiday whilst staying at home!
Yesterday’s long, lazy brunch at Quigleys on Queen Street gave way to an afternoon on the Balmy Beach, which more than lived up to its name!
A cool breeze comes up off the water as the never-crowded shore plays host to beachcombers, a guitarist on the rocks, canoeists, games of volleyball. . . In the background there is a gentle but ceaseless flow of promenaders along Boardwalk. Further back again, in the shade of trees now summer-green, cyclists and roller-bladers make speedier progress along the Martin Goodman trail.
This morning we breakfasted on our balcony, looking out at the trees and gardens of the street behind our house. Paul is now ensconced in the hammock. Later we will head for the beach again, taking an evening pic-nic with us. Tonight the skies over Ashbridge’s Bay will explode with multi-coloured stars in Celebration of Canada’s historical and current ties with Britain.