Nuit Blanche - The all night art and installation experience

nuit blanche Toronto 2013 is here!!!!!!!! 

Toronto is now eagerly awaiting another wonderful Scotiabank nuit blanche Toronto. This is a wonderful all night event starting at 6:51pm on October 5, 2013 until dawn the following day. Wander the city and discover something new about the city, our world, humanity and civilization from the imagination and perspective of over 110 contemporary artists. Take a peek at the Youtube video highlights from 2012.

 For the full information on the 2013 program and locations please see the official website 2013 nuit blanche Toronto http://www.scotiabanknuitblanche.ca/

See you there.

Youtube video of Highlights from 2012

Bikes and Outdoor Movies  

One of my favourite summer things is to ride my bicycle to a special place like David Pecaut Square and watch outdoor movies. I first experienced outdoor movies in Amsterdam watching a movie projected on the side of a building along the canals. Be sure to bring your own snacks.

blogTO's list of free outdoor movies in Toronto for  

Summer 2013- Check it out!!

"Why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free? The milk in this case is the chance to watch films without paying, and I don't mean by sneaking into a theatre. And the metaphorical milk in this case is almond milk...where my vegans at? Back on topic, if you didn't already know that you have tons of opportunities to watch films for FREE in Toronto this summer, here you go. There are free film events happening all over our great city, so grab a blanket, grab a friend, and I'll see you movie lovers there.

I've highlighted my personal DO NOT MISS films in Bold, to make stalking me easier.

City Cinema: Cult Classics at Yonge & Dundas Square (TUE)Location: South East Corner of Yonge & Dundas

Tue, 25 June @ 9:00pm - Pee Wee's Big Adventure (1985)
Tue, 2 July @ 9:00pm - Army of Darkness (1992)
Tue, 9 July @ 9:00pm - Edward Scissorhands (1990)
Tue, 16 July @ 9:00pm - Anchorman, The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)
Tue, 23 July @ 9:00pm - The Napoleon Dynamite (2004)
Tue, 30 July @ 8:30pm - The Goonies (1985)

It's a little annoying watching films in the square because of light and noise pollution, but since it's free, you've got nothing to lose. Give it a shot!

Free Flicks: Harbourfront (WED)Location: Lower Simcoe St & Queens Quay, Harbourfront Centre

July 03 @ 9:00pm - Little Shop of Horrors: The Director's Cut
July 10 @ 9:00pm - Galaxy Quest
July 17 @ 9:00pm - Wallace & Gromit in The Curse of the Were-Rabbit
July 24 @ 9:00pm - Top Secret!
July 31 @ 9:00pm - Streets of Fire
August 7 @ 9:00pm - The Triplets of Belleville
August 14 @ 9:00pm - That Thing You Do!
August 21 @ 9:00pm - Josie and the Pussycats
August 28 @ 9:00pm - Audience Choice

There's a terrific selection of free flicks at Harbourfront this year, including my top choice Galaxy Quest. If you hear an annoying guy in the audience saying all the best lines as they happen on screen, that's me, don't forget to say "hi" — or "shhhhhh."

TIFF In the Park: A Summer of Romance (WED)Location: King & Simcoe, David Pecaut Square

July 3 @ 9:15 PM - Casablanca
July 10 @ 9:15 PM - Moonstruck
July 17 @ 9:15 PM - City Lights
July 24 @ 9:15 PM - Sleepless in Seattle
July 31 @ 9:00 PM - The Way We Were
August 7 @ 9:00 PM - Clueless
August 14 @ 9:00 PM - Sense and Sensibility
August 21@ 8:30 PM - Roman Holiday
August 28 @ 8:30 PM - The Notebook

This lineup sounds like the perfect cure for insomnia, so if you like falling asleep outside at night, surrounded by strangers, in downtown Toronto, then this is for you! Be sure to tell your grandma though, or that lonely aunt you have with all of the cats.

Junction Movie Nights (FRI)Location: The Junction Train Platform (Dundas St. West / Pacific Ave.)

June 22 @ 9:30PM - "Steamboat Bill" featuring live music accompaniment.
Every Second Friday in July & August - More Movies announced soon!

Seeing a Movie with live musical accompaniment can be an incredible adventure. Step back in time and experience film like it used to be, before "talkies" ruined it for everyone. Plus it's on a train platform, which is super weird. You'll finally have something interesting to instagram besides your lunch.

Movies in the Park - Riverdale Park East (SUN)Location: 550 Broadview Ave

July 7 @ "when it's dark" - Top Gun
July 21 @ "when it's dark" - Goonies
Aug 4 @ "when it's dark" - ET the Extra Terrestrial
Aug 18 @ "when it's dark" - Ferris Beuller's Day Off

If you can resist watching Ferris Beuller's Day Off on any screen in any locale, then you're a much stronger person than me. This will be my first time at the Riverdale event, so I'll be sure to report back on the viewing conditions.

Christie Pits Film Festival: Hits in the Pits (SUN)
Location: Christie Pits Park

July 7 @ 9PM - That Thing You Do!
July 14 @ 9PM - Gimme Shelter
July 21 @ 9PM - Buena Vista Social Club
July 28 @ 9PM - The Last Waltz

If you didn't get enough films about bands at NXNE, here's you chance to see some cool flicks including some classic Rolling Stones. Expect people to be dancing on their blankets at this one.

Dog Bowl Movie Night / Movies and dates TBD
Location: Trinity Bellwoods Park

Join the Dog Bowl Movie Night Facebook group for updates.

Probably my favourite free film event in Toronto. Last year's screening of the greatest comedy of all time Wet Hot American Summer was the most fun I've had at the bottom of a hill sober with all of my clothes on. Full disclosure: I was neither sober nor fully clothed.

Sail-In Cinema / Movies and dates TBD
Location: Sugar Beach (25 Dockside Drive)

Sail-In Cinema claims to be the "world's first two-sided floating movie experience" and "Toronto's largest outdoor theatre event". For three summer nights, Canada's Sugar Beach is transformed into an outdoor theatre. Movies are shown under the open skies on a two-sided screen set atop a barge in Toronto Harbour. Watch movies for free from the water, or pull up a sandcastle and watch from the beach. Warning: sitting on a sandcastle will likely make a child cry, so wait until after the movie." Thanks to blogTO for the research.

 June 2013  For more information on living life to the fullest in the city check out the link below to blogTO

http://www.blogto.com/film/2013/06/free_outdoor_movies_in_toronto_summer_2013/

Toronto Real Estate Board Market Watch June 2013

"Price Growth Across All Major Home Types in May

June 5, 2013 -- Greater Toronto Area (GTA) REALTORS® reported 10,182 sales through the TorontoMLS system in May 2013, representing a dip of 3.4 per cent compared to May 2012. Sales of single-detached homes in the GTA were up by almost one per cent compared to the same period last year, including a three per cent year-over-year increase in the City of Toronto.

“The sales picture in the GTA has improved markedly over the past two months. While the number of transactions in April and May remained below last year’s levels, the rate of decline has been much smaller. A growing number of households who put their decision to purchase on hold as a result of stricter lending guidelines are starting to become active again in the ownership market,” said Toronto Real Estate Board President Ann Hannah.

The average selling price for May 2013 sales was $542,174 – up by 5.4 per cent in comparison to $514,567 in May 2012. The annual rate of price growth was driven by the tight low-rise segment of the market and particularly by single-detached and semi-detached home transactions in the City of Toronto. Average condominium apartment prices were also up slightly in comparison to last year.

The MLS® Home Price Index (HPI) Composite Benchmark was up by 2.8 per cent year-over-year.

“The annual rate of price growth in May was not surprising given the competition that still exists between buyers, particularly for low-rise home types such as single-detached and semi-detached houses. We remain on track for a three-and-a-half per cent increase in the average selling price for 2013 as a whole,” said Jason Mercer, TREB’s Senior Manager of Market Analysis. "  Market Watch- Toronto Real Estate Board

Toronto Real Estate Board Market Watch on Youtube November 2012

HAPPY HOLIDAYS ! Each Month I post to my Blog the Toronto Real Estate Board monthly report on what is happening in the real estate market in Toronto. It covers prices, trends and analysis for the condo and home markets. It is useful for both buyers and sellers.

In the midst of all the year end celebrations some of you will already be thinking about moving to a new place next year. Life changes happen - a need for a bigger property for a growing family, marriage, separation, death in the family, a desire to live closer to work or family, retirement and a desire to find a country property. The fall and early winter are great times to  get your home ready for sale in 2013. In 2012 the highest prices for sellers occurred in the earlier months when there were fewer properties on the market a bidding amongst buyers impacted the market prices. There were many factors at play including interest rates and the unseasonable warm weather in March 2012.

Check out my website for more Toronto real estate information.  www.neilmens.com

BEST WISHES FOR A SAFE, PROSPEROUS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR IN 2013!

TOM RYABOI'S VIDEO "CITY RISING: A BIRD'S EYE VIEW OF TORONTO"

Take a pause in your day and enjoy this beautiful and calming view of our fair city by 27 year old Toronto Photographer Tom Ryaboi using time lapse photography. (Note this is a big file so be patient while it loads before viewing.) Like a soaring eagle on an updraft Tom looks down from roof top perches to the city laid out below. We can see human and kinetic energy flowing through the structures and places we have created. Got to love the human ingenuity and raw energy which has transformed the raw materials of the land into bricks, concrete, steel , glass into roads, buildings, plazas, pedestrian walkways. Our senses are set alight observing the roof top view of the sensual patterns of clouds in the sky above. The video's dramatic sound track deepens our emotional journey and reflection. Visual patterns like these are used by geographers like myself to help us better observe, understand, question, appreciate and celebrate the relationships we humans have to the places we inhabitant, and to help us find our way forward. To see more of the world through Tom Ryaboi's mind, eye, and lense visit BlogTo where he is a photo editor or simply google his name to contact him directly and purchase a picture. Thanks Tom

Toronto Real Estate Board Sept 2012 Housing Update

GTA REALTORS® Release Monthly Resale Housing Figures TORONTO, October 3, 2012 -- Greater Toronto Area (GTA) REALTORS® reported 5,879 transactions through the TorontoMLS system in September 2012. The average selling price for these transactions was $503,662, representing an increase of more than 8.5 per cent compared to last year. The number of transactions was down by 21 per cent in comparison to September 2011. However, it is important to note that there were two fewer working days in September 2012 compared to September 2011. The majority of transactions are entered on working days. On a per working day basis, sales were down by 12.5 per cent year-over-year. “While sales have been lower due to stricter mortgage lending guidelines, we continue to see substantial competition between buyers. The months of inventory trend remains low from a historic perspective, which explains the strong price increases we are experiencing,” said Toronto Real Estate Board President Ann Hannah. September average selling prices were up compared to last year for all major home types. Price growth was strongest in the City of Toronto, including condominium apartments with eight per cent year-over-year growth. All benchmark home types included in the MLS® Home Price Index (MLS® HPI) experienced year-over-year price increases, with substantially stronger increases for low-rise home types. “Barring a major change to the consensus economic outlook, home price growth is expected to continue through 2013. Based on inventory levels, price growth will be strongest for low-rise home types, including single-detached and semi-detached houses and town homes,” said TREB’s Senior Manager of Market Analysis, Jason Mercer.

Neil's fave architecture and design links

Azure Magazine is a Canadian treasure. "Design, Architecture, Interiors, Curiosity" "AZURE is a magazine. AZURE is also the colour of the sky, an afternoon sky of limitless possibilities. AZURE covers design; AZURE defines design. Design determines the forms we live and work in. It changes how we sit, write, read, learn, navigate and negotiate. It informs how we relate to the broader society and how we define beautiful and useful ways of living. Above all, it helps us envision a better, more sustainable and expressive future. In its pages, AZURE profiles international designers and architects, reports on major trade fairs in North America and Europe and investigates design issues related to our changing society. Presenting and exploring innovative projects, materials, products and ideas, AZURE is an indispensable resource for architects, designers and the design-savvy public."

"DESIGN FOR THE CITY YOU LIVE IN" This is Toronto's amazing print magazine resource published 4 times a year by AZURE. It is the ultimate guide to learn about and purchase Contemporary Furniture, Closets, Design Accessories, Home Entertainment Systems, Flooring and Tiles, Kid's Furniture, Kitchen and Bath, Lighting,Outdoor Furniture, Rugs and Carpeting, Vintage and Reclaimed Furniture, Wallcoverings and Paint, Windows and Doors, Boutique Hotels, Galleries and Museums, and Food and Drink. This magazine groups all the resources into 8 mapped destinations. You can plan out the route for your exploration of city design shops before heading out. Get a coffee, get DESIGNLINES and plan a fun day! You will also find 8 walking maps of the hottest design districts. Check out their website where you’ll find more than 200 listings sorted by location and store category. Each is written by an independent author in order to provide you with an unbiased and discerning description.

THE DESIGN EXCHANGE (DX) is located in the historic old Toronto Stock Exchange building in downtown Toronto. This is a very alive space which nurtures and celebrates creativity in architecture and design. Exhibit spaces showcase the permanent collection and international shows from around the world. I have attended many interesting panel discussions, special events and exhibitions over the years. A stimulating and diverse membership makes lively discussion, learning and fabulous fun. For more information on current shows and programs check their website.