Results tagged “michaeljackson”

       

The devoted and the merely curious gathered outside MuchMusic on Queen Street West yesterday—as so many gathered around the world in similar spots—to watch the memorial for Michael Jackson in Los Angeles. One of the biggest television events of the decade, some news organizations compared it to the funeral of Princess Diana in 1997. Many people watched the ceremony online, as well, driving internet traffic up by as much as 33%. But as big a web event as the memorial was—with news organizations coordinating with social media to integrate, for example, streaming video with Facebook updates on CNN—the Barack Obama's inauguration in January posted bigger numbers.

              

For the second time in a few days, Dundas Square was again home for fans and mourners of Michael Jackson. Unlike the impromptu dance party that landed at the intersection of Dundas and Yonge on Friday, last night's event—a tribute to Jackson and his music that was also billed as a Canada Day celebration, hastily organized by The Manifesto Festival—was prepared a bit more in advance and lasted three hours, concluding just before 11 p.m. with a moment of silence for Jackson.

THEATRE: To celebrate Multiculturalism Day (which just passed on June 27) and the launch of a new theatre project, High Rise: 19 stories in 19 storeys (set in Jamestown/Rexdale), the good people at Expect Theatre are throwing a launch party for this ambitious three-year project. Nineteen youth who live in the area were given video cameras with which to record the community they live in, capturing the hardships and the triumphs that people in this diverse community experience. This raw material will provide the base for the project. At the launch there will be performance by award-winning artist d'bi young, a chance to share your story with film director Joel Gordon, and community members can have their picture taken by photographer Steve Carty. The Jamestown and Rexdale areas of Toronto are among the most ethnically diverse areas in the city, many of the residents being immigrants living in public housing. This theatre piece will combine several different media to produce a show in 2011, with a workshop starting next year. Albion Library (1515 Albion Road), 5–7 p.m., FREE.

The passing of the King of Pop last Thursday inspired different reactions. Tweeting about it and frantically downloading his discography were two popular ones. In Toronto, rather than mourn, people celebrated his legacy by moonwalking all over Yonge-Dundas Square. And we suspect a slew of tribute shows are already in the works. Torontoist got in touch with some well-known local fans who were eager to share their tales of MJ worship with us.

             

Last night Yonge-Dundas Square filled up with hundreds of people celebrating the moves of the late King of Pop in the Moonwalk for Michael Jackson flashmob organized by the Urban Recreation Association Facebook group.

An ornately set table. A fine bottle of pink sparkling wine. A bouquet of flowers purchased in a hurry on the way home from the office. A filter on the window to simulate a blue moon. Andy Williams crooning "Moon River" or the 101 Strings playing "Light My Fire" in the background. All of the necessary mood-enhancing ingredients for a cozy tête-à-tête on Valentine's Day.

It’s a strange, perhaps undesirable, thing to admit to, but Torontoist spends a lot of time thinking about R. Kelly. Generally it comes down to one core question that we just can’t answer (nor do we think we ever will): Is R. Kelly a genius or a lunatic? Here is a man who has produced some of the most pitch-perfect songs in the sickeningly syrupy ballad category (including possibly the pinnacle, Michael Jackson’s "You are Not Alone") but recently released Double Up, an album that is either the most astonishingly insightful work of parody, damning the entire current culture of hip-hop and R&B, or the drivelings of a man with the attention span of a dog in an exploding fireworks factory.

Photo by nevbrown.

The Toronto International Film Festival have announced 73 films today, which is, er, a lot. Too many for us to even pretend to give them even coverage, so as usual we’re just going to pick and choose from today’s announcements, which are made of films from international filmmakers, and tell you about the ones that interest us personally.

For some of us, every day is dance day, but UNESCO has decided that this Sunday, April 29th, is International Dance Day 2007 for everyone.

Justin Timberlake.

Now the ghoul kids from Thrill Toronto are back with plans to Thrill the World. The plan is to stage a simultaneous dance of Michael Jackson's "Thriller" with thousands of dancers in over 100 cities on October 27, 2007. "Everyone asks why 'Thriller,' " says choreographer Ines Markeljevic, the driving force behind Thrill The World. “But everybody knows it and it’s very easy to learn." And the main purpose for the event is, simply, to get more people dancing.

Jagshemash!

It looks like this Halloween is going to be very zombie-filled in Toronto. On Sunday, we had Toronto's Annual Zombie Walk. And this Sunday, October 29th, at the Harbourfront Community Centre, a group of some 200 Torontonians will be setting the Guiness World Record for the Largest Performance of "Thriller" - in full zombie ensemble. And they want you to participate.

'Ladies and Gentlemen, live at the Apollo, all the way from Torontoooo, Canada, it's....Torontoist!' Wouldn't we love to hear that. But wouldn't anyone? Here's your chance: On Saturday, December 3, the Drake Hotel Underground offers the chance at a much-coveted Apollo Theatre spot. Apollo judges will host auditions starting at 11 am till 2 pm.

The Toronto Beaches International Jazz Festival once again closed down Queen St. East for three days over the weekend. Live bands were playing at every street corner. Thousands of people were dancing in the streets. And roasted corn on the cob - the new street meat at Toronto events - was being sold by the truckload. Restaurants were busy, but never overly crowded. For the few places without street-side patios, windows were opened to allow for the sweet sweet music to filter. A few local business also cashed in the throngs of people jamming the street, staying open well past normal Saturday business hours and offering specials not usually offered. Although we're not quite sure what exactly makes a discount on hair products "jazzy."

Some links. Some news. Some not. Here are a few things to think about till you're done work today.

Rumour has it the Barenaked Ladies, Jann Arden, Our Lady Peace, and Billy Talent are on board, but what about these potential additions:

Describing yourself as the "king" of anything usually warrants a little skepticism. Michael Jackson, for instance, will never live down calling himself the "King of Pop." The same can be said for LeBron James' "King James" moniker in the NBA. Salad King, however, represents a horse of a different colour. The popular Thai restaurant on Yonge and Gould St., one block north of Dundas Square, is neither "salad" nor "king." Against the literal meaning of the name, the attraction to Salad King is not because of the salads; it's the chilies.