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Tomorrow night at 7:01 pm is the start of a 12-hour, all-night extravaganza called Nuit Blanche. Everyone we talked to seems to know that it's happening (thanks to cover stories in Now, Eye and the Toronto Star), but when pressed, few of those asked were clear on exactly what Nuit Blanche was, nor exactly what they're supposed to do. We thought Torontoist should step in and clear things up.
In a nutshell: There are art events happening all night around the city and you're expected to stay up all hours to go experience them. Drink lots of coffee. Stay up all night. Cancel all Sunday plans. Wear comfortable shoes. Napping in parks is optional.
Nuit Blanche, the "night without sleep," first took off in Paris about four years ago. Artists and their adoring public partied in the streets. A good time was had by all, and so other cities came on board. Montrealers, Berliners, Brusselites, Romans, Madridnicks and the citizens of Riga, Latvia learned to party all night, too.
Saturday night is a chance for Torontonians to join in the fun. More than 130 official activities and events happen all through the night, between 7:01 pm Saturday through 7:15 am Sunday. Some events (such as large-scale video projections) will be running in a loop through the night, so it really doesn't matter at what point you see them. Other things (such as book readings and walking tours) happen at specific times in specific locations. Lots of events are happening at rather unusual places normally not open at night.
It's probably best to start at one of the three zones and then wander your way out to neighbouring events from there. Zone A is centred around Bloor and Avenue Road (aim for the big rock in Yorkville). Zone B is around at the OCAD building, and Zone C between Trinity Bellwoods Park and the Gladstone. In the middle of each zone there's a useful information hub where you can pick up a map, sign up for a walking tour, have a snack and use the washroom.
Those of you feeling socially conscious should note that the official information hubs are donating proceeds from drink and snack purchases to local homeless charities. Not feeling charitable? Bars and restos in each area will be open extended hours, with some offering food and alcohol 'til 4 am.
The TTC isn't on board with the whole Nuit Blanche thing. Subways are running regular hours and stop at 1:30 am. There are Nuit Blanche busses (with onboard art!) running between the zones, or you can always walk. After all, you've got all night.
The weather network is currently calling for light rain or scattered showers. This has the potential to make your evening suck, but at least Toronto had the common sense to schedule the event in September. The Montreal Nuit Blanche event is scheduled for February, when that city is covered with frigid snow.
Come back to Torontoist later tonight/tomorrow for our "not to be missed" picks.
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Ouch. As much as I love Montreal, I can't imagine ever loving it in the middle of the night in February. Maybe they'll open up the subways and underground system?
can't wait for this
Great primer, Gary. This is great for people who aren't 100% sure as to what the whole thing is. For some reason, I'm really excited to try the fog in Philosopher's Walk.
One of the things that bugs me a bit about this years event is how tied in corporate sponsorship is. I have a professor who was told, when announcing the night, that he was to call it Scotiabank Nuit Blanche, not just Nuit Blanche. All the promotional materials give an almost-equal weighting to Scotiabank as they do the name of the actual festival.
But hey, as long as Scotiabank isn't pushing accounts beside the fog machine, it should be fun either way.
Hmmm. Very intersting that Torotoist is giving such prominent coverage to the same story that Now and Eye and the Toronto Star decided to cover this week. That's the first time Torontoist has posted about something in the weeklies -- oh wait, it happens every single week. That pod is getting crowded. Perhaps Cal MaLean wants to weigh in on the insularity of the whole thing. Kettle sure is black, eh Cal?