L'Oréal Toronto Fashion Week Fall Winter 2008 - Day One

I have two words for fashion fans so far: raglan sleeves. Also jodhpurs; please tell me they're not the new capris! Also, it seems that grey is the new black. And brown. And navy. And red. And... you get the idea.

This newest (15th) edition of L'Oréal Toronto Fashion Week (or FashionWeek, as it seems to be given in some of the press materials), is already off to a bang; fashionistas already have six shows under their stylish belts.

At 2 p.m. Evan Biddell led off the batting order with a pretty impressive collection in shades from white to black, plus dull olive, fuschia and midnight blue. Biddell, winner of Project Runway Canada, ran his own independent design shop in B.C. for several years before appearing on the TV show. This may account for his assured, confident and technically proficient presentation. Many of his skirts, dresses and tops were made in a luxurious shiny silk, but not very heavily ornamented. A recurring garment was an eight-gored skirt with narrow horizontal tucks in the centre four gores. Numerous outfits were finished off with a wide wrapped silk sash with necktie points. He also produced an array of very nice coats, ranging from bolero jackets to floor-length creations in a soft wool.

Max Chernitsov is Moscow Fashion Week's contribution to the festivities. He brought men's and women's day clothes that prove – among other things – that cyberpunk lives. They ranged from fairly classic raglan-sleeve turtlenecks with moderately wide sleeves and very long cuffs to a pair of brief briefs with a shining gold "rocket" (hem-hem) motif that made even Jeanne Beker blush. Also lots of skintight stirrup leggings. (Can anyone tell me whether the unibrow makeup on the models was his idea of a pardoy of North American stereotypes of Russians???)

The work of B.C.'s Mellinda-Mae Harlington was wearable to the max. It featured coats and jackets in the evening's favoured palette, from pale grey to black. Very stylish pieces indeed that could be favourites worn for years, especially a three-button coat with wrap collar, turned-up two-button cuffs and wide button-flap detailing at the shoulders. Also nice: a simple round-neck, long-sleeved dress in finely-striped grey jersey.

Stating that she was inspired by the Arts and Crafts movement, Nadya Toto of Montreal brought a collection with lots of detail and hand embellishment. Many pieces seemed to be knit of a very slubby wool with a loose weave that gave a great drape with an astrakhan texture: mostly black, but one senational, simple long dress in crimson with an interesting triangular point detail at the upper arm made by a fold in the fabric. There was a sensational belted knee-length dress with long sleeves, a modest cowl neck and a bubble-skirt bottom that launched from a series of triangular pieces around the hem. There was one off-the-shoulder full-length gown with a bike-glove ending to the sleeves and a fitted top and a skirt beginning at a dropped waist that was made of tiers of grey lace tied with ribbons into five horizontal puffs, and another that was a romantic cloud of leg-revealing dark emerald.

At 6 p.m., Montrealer Denis Gagnon wowed the crowd with a very William Gibsonesque future-Goth presentation featuring some of the most luxuriantly supple leather you'll ever be privileged to stroke. Standout pieces included a flowing jersey cape-coat with an edging of snap-studded leather; the weight of the edging gave it bounce as well as flow. Hems were insistently diagonal. Both trousers and jacket sleeves were constructed of narrow bands of leather painstakingly joined in pieces of medieval simplicity of line and austerity of decoration but excitingly fresh shapes.

The day was rounded out by the Holt's media cocktail, graced by the presence of such luminaries as Elio Fiorucci and Monika Schnarre. It was followed by the Joe Fresh show: exhuberant as always.

Goodbye Suspect Video!

I find myself actually in mourning today for the cluttered, lively, shabby exuberance that was the south side of Queen Street West east of Bathurst. I am especially sad about Suspect, and can only hope that a huge proportion of their stock was out on loan yesterday, and that the borrowers return them. I have spent scores of happy hours browsing Suspect's delightfully idiosyncratic collection, and they helped me survive an especially rotten few months of my life a decade or so ago.

But I also got my skates fitted at Duke's, and of course as a member of the bike community, I know how active Gary Duke has been among the bike retailers in town.

Nikolau was another favourite of mine; some of our kitchen knives and a few of my favourite baking tools came from there. It was a serendipitous source for cooking tools that were hard to find elsewhere.

And just a few weeks ago I bought a record player at National Sound. I can't believe that messy, fascinating shop is gone. Not to mention Preloved, Ali Baba and the others.

It's a great blessing that everybody (and apparently all their pets) got out safe. My hope is that the city will rally around all the business owners and residents and help them rebuild their homes and work and lives.

I haven't got anything more inspired or wise to say about this; except maybe this is what a city is really about: the intersection of public and private lives and the human-made geography that they shape and that is shaped by them. It's a tragedy to lose such an old, dense and intricate piece of our urban fabric.

An update: A trust fund has been established for residents who have been affected by the Queen Street fire. Donations can be made to the Queen Street Fire Fund at all Scotiabank locations across the city, beginning tomorrow. To find out more, contact City Councillor Adam Vaughan's Office at 416-392-4044. Rumour also has it that the monthy Critical Mass bike ride will pass by Duke's and also collect donations for the fund. The ride meets as usual tomorrow (Friday the 29th) at the corner of Bloor and Spadina, at 6 p.m., departing at 6:30.

Photo from Virtual City. If you look closely, you can see the spirit of Suspect. Oh no, sorry, that's just Jack Skellington.

Vote Kickstand! (Ooops! I Mean: Two Bike-Related News Flashes)

The new Toronto Cyclists Union bike magazine needs a name, and you're being asked to vote for the best of the possibilities, whittled down from over 150 submissions. Click here to choose your fave. Mine is Kickstand. There. I said it.

Also, I've heard on good authority that Mountain Equipment Co-op (MEC) is creating its first-ever position for a "Product Manager - Bicycles". After first looking for a candidate through staff and word of mouth, they'll start to advertise the position widely on February 14 (Valentine's Day). I believe the candidate should understand bike repair and have a good knowledge of bike parts, products and suppliers. A great job for anybody who's ever run their own bike shop, I'd guess. Interested? Message me here or on Facebook in case I hear more in the meantime.

PS: Since this was posted, Kickstand has taken the lead!

The Great Toronto Chocolate Truffle Hunt

My article about my efforts to locate the best cupcakes in Toronto is consistently one of the most-read on this site, so – at great risk to my already substantial waistline – I’ve plunged into another research project: the search for this city’s best chocolate truffles. Actually, I did a lot of the research when I wrote the food sections of Toronto, The Unknown City, but this list includes a few new “candy-dates”.

My very favourite at that time is still my very favourite, even though they have moved to a less chichi location. It’s Stubbe Chocolate (now at 653 Dupont Street, 416-923-0956). I love them because they’re run by a very sweet fellow (appropriately, I suppose): Daniel Stubbe, who’s a sixth-generation chocolatier. That’s about 200 years of truffles, folks. And I prefer my chocolates to have a matte, velvety, irregular exterior finish, which the Stubbe truffles do (see the picture, above). And I love their classic flavours, like Gewurtztraminer, champagne and Poire William. Second place in my opinion for soft-shell truffles would be The Chocolate Addict (185 Baldwin Street, 416-979-5809), which continues to lure me with their lavender and hot chili centres, and a very close third place would go to Simone Marie Belgian Chocolate (126A Cumberland Street, 416-968-7777).

For truffles with a hard, shiny finish, the leader has to be the extremely elegant Soma (The Distillery District, Building 47, 416-815-7662). They treat chocolate like wine, and can tell you a lot about each type and where it comes from. Flavours include such foodie magnets as balsamic vinegar, bergamot, olive oil and the Gooderham Worts whisky truffle. Second in this category would be Simryn (147A Danforth Avenue near Broadview, 416-778-7978), which even makes sugar-free truffles. Honourable mention goes to the Belgian Chocolate Shop (2455 Queen Street East in the Beaches, 416-691-1424).

If you want politically conscious chocolate, head to Kakayo (1584 Queen Street East near Coxwell, 416-828-0402). There, Colleen Wong-Sala fashions exquisite organic and fair-trade treats like chai and chili chockies (and she also sells T-shirts that say “Stop staring at my truffles”.) Or you could go all the way, with Chocosol Horizontal Traders, Chocolatiers and Bicycle Based Business (Cacao Loft, 6 St. Joseph Street, 4th floor, 416-923-6675). Michael Sacco and Graham Corbett, the charming young fellows of Chocosol sell raw and roasted cacao and nibs, as well as fair trade coffee, organic cinnamon, vanilla pods and popped amaranth. Their “chocolate foods” are grainy, intense bars with ingredients like chilies, agave, vanilla and hempseed. Find them at farmers’ markets and special events.

Also, any Toronto chocoholic will want to keep an eye on the Chocolate Fest, which is still a young event, but with its popular chocolate fashion shows (yes!) and events featuring chocolate fountains and other delights, I suspect it’ll be growing over the next few years.

By the way, I’ve heard so much about J.S. Bonbons (163 Dupont Street at Davenport, 163 Dupont, 416-920-0274; and 811 Queen West, 416-703-7731) that I’m sure they’re great, but I have made many tries to visit them and never yet found them open. The hunt continues...

Sarah’s Top Ten Picks for Live Holiday Theatre, Music and Dance 2007

Okay, I’m a Christmas hound, so I’m all over these traditional once-a-year holiday performances. You can’t go wrong with any of these. And, although they're numbered, they’re not presented in any specific order.

1. If you read any mean reviews of Ross Petty’s Peter Pan, I’m here to tell you not to believe them. Kurt Browning is immensely charming and his roller-skating turn is heart-stopping; Eddie Glen is lovable as Smee and Nana the Dog; the "Hip Hop Crock" is a scream; the schtick is hilariously corny, and the gratuitous Bollywood number totally rocks. Finally, I don’t care what Richard Ouzounian says; some of us did want to hear the theme from The Greatest American Hero one more time. It runs at the Elgin Theatre until January 6. 416-872-5555

2. The Kensington Festival of Lights, presented by Red Pepper Spectacle Arts, is Toronto's most exciting community pageant, with its lanterns, stiltwalkers, masks, puppets and fire effects. Participants include a who’s-who of the local grassroots arts scene: Shadowland, Clay and Paper, Darbazi, Samba Squad, Richard Underhill, EagleHeart Drummers and more. Go and get renewed; gather at Augusta and Oxford (just south of College) at 6 p.m. on December 21. 416-598-3729

3. This is the 20th year for Wintersong – Dances for a Sacred Season, the seasonal dance celebration by Canadian Children's Dance Theatre that explores Celtic, Native, Jewish and medieval midwinter traditions. It runs December 14 and 15 only at Ryerson Theatre; me, I’m going on Friday. 416-924-5657

4. Ballet Creole artistic director Patrick Parson has been working for six years on Glorious Soulful Messiah, a dance performance set to jazzy, soul-infused renditions of the parts of Handel’s Messiah. It runs December 14 and 15 only at Premiere Dance Theatre. I’m going Saturday; which day will you be there? 416-973-4000

5. The Christmas Story is the annual Nativity pageant performed by the community around the Church of the Holy Trinity (the one near the Eaton Centre). It’s now in its 70th season, which tells you something about its enduring power. And the baby is real. December 14-16 and 21-23. 416-598-8979

6. I have CD based on one of John McDermott’s annual Christmas concerts, and it’s a regret of mine that I’ve never been to one. Maybe somehow this year I’ll make it to John McDermott’s Bringing Home Christmas at the Princess of Wales on December 16. 416-872-1212

7. Lorraine Kimsa Theatre for Young People presents The Wizard of Oz to December 30. I’m going on the very last day! 416-862-2222

8. On December 22, Tafelmusik presents their annual authentic Baroque performance of Handel’s Messiah at Trinity-St. Paul’s Centre, with Handel himself in attendance (really!) Bring the music; they will probably let you sing the chorus bits. 416-964-6337

9. Okay, I was tearing up all the way through White Christmas. Besides fab tap numbers, it has a feast of immortal songs by the great Irving Berlin. It runs at the Sony Centre until January 5. 416-872-2262

10. Puppetmongers (brother and sister David and Ann Powell) present their funny, gentle and lovely Russian folk tale Tea at the Palace (pictured), about the clever peasant girl and the Tzar, with the aid of lovingly crafted puppets of all sizes inspired by Russian children’s toys. December 26 to January 1 at Tarragon Theatre's Extra Space, with a special New Year’s Day Tea Party. 416-531-1827

It's really hard to narrow down to just ten, because I also want to plug the Nathanial Dett Chorale's Indigo Christmas, the version of Sleeping Beauty that's turning the St. Lawrence Centre into an ice rink, The Snow Queen at the Distillery and – oh yeah – there are also four versions of The Nutcracker in town! Whichever you choose, go with someone you love and have a hot chocolate with them after.

Christmas Lights Displays Around Toronto - 2007 Edition

Last year I posted quite a few items about great Christmas lights displays at homes and neighbourhoods around Toronto. These included a preliminary general one, mainly about downtown locations, a second one about a great east-end home, and one about the great Nativity scene at St. Francis of Assisi Church. I also posted about the Weiss home formerly at 123 Rutledge Avenue in Newmarket, but this year the family has moved. They plan to do displays in future, but in the meantime they've loaned their lights to Fairy Lake in Newmarket.

However, I've found out about a couple of new locations. The first is the DeSario home at 165 Benjamin Boake Trail at Keele and Sheppard. It raises money for Sick Kids (over $25,000 so far!) with an enormous display that includes a huge Nativity scene and a giant dancing snowman.

Then there's the Borges home on Caledonia north of St. Clair (pictured above, thanks to Tanja of BlogTo). Their home and yard are simply engulfed in lights, many of which are arranged to spell messages like Feliz Natal. (Thanks to Tanja's BlogTO's "GlowTO" series for these last two and the links. I hope she keeps going with that this year!)

Also recommended by me, though less over-the-top, are some of the official displays made of of silver and blue LEDs around town, like the tiger across from the Christie subway entrance, the snowflake tree in Berczy Park outside the St. Lawrence Centre and the polar bears in the traffic island on Yonge just south of College/Carleton.

I'm still trying to find out more about a reported home off Brimley Road just south of Eglinton that apparently always has toy reindeer all across the lawn, a giant lit-up wreath and a crazy display of lights. I'd also welcome any further details of one near Willowbank and Underwood in Mississauga and another near Centennial Boulevard in the Bluffs neighbourhood.

If you know about these or other great sites, please add a comment to this post, or call in when I make my now-annual Christmas visit to CFRB's Christina Cherneskey Show on Sunday, December 23 from 1 to 2 p.m. She always has prizes for people who all in.

Music and Theatre for Christmas... And A Little Kensington Jazz

Tonight (Tuesday, December 4) at 9:15 p.m., Richard Underhill Quartet is playing from their new CD "Kensington Suite" at Supermarket (268 Augusta Avenue in Kensington). The cover is $6 and CDs will of course be available. The band includes Eric St-Laurent (guitar) and Brandi Disterheft (bass). On Thursday, December 13, the Quartet will be at Dominion on Queen (500 Queen Street East), beginning at 9 p.m. Those who can’t make either gig can acquire the CD online.

The final event of the year-long Caribou Art Project is a free, one-time-only presentation of Clay & Paper Theatre’s Song of the Innocents on Sunday, December 9 at 10 a.m. at St. Philip the Apostle Anglican Church (201 Caribou Road, south of Lawrence and east of Bathurst). It’s a retelling of the Biblical story of the Slaughter of the Innocents by King Herod; only in this version, the people fight back to save the children from death. It’s told using puppets and other street theatre techniques, as well as medieval song reworked by music director Laurel MacDonald and Clay and Paper artistic director David Anderson. These include "Personent Hodie", "King Herod" (based on the ancient Christmas carol "The Carnal and the Crane", and the beautiful "Coventry Carol". The Caribou Project is an innovative interfaith arts series commissioned by the tiny congregation of St. Philip the Apostle Anglican Church.

On Wednesday, December 12 at 7:30 p.m., The Toronto Choral Society presents a Christmas concert of works by French composers at Eastminster United Church (310 Danforth Avenue, one block west of Chester subway). The program includes François Poulenc’s Gloria and Marc-Antoine Charpentier’s Messe de Minuit pour Noël. Tickets ($20) are available at the door. 416-410-3509

Christmas Gifts, ROM Dinos, Hip Hop Hanukah and Other Seasonal Delights

Here’s a handful of great seasonal happenings for those in the Christmas and Hanukah (I refuse to write Christmakwanzukah) spirit. A good and dutiful blogger would have turned this into a whole series of posts, but hey... I’ve been busy.

Did you know that the St. Lawrence Neighbourhood BIA sells a series of pewter ornaments shaped like old Toronto landmarks? It includes St. Lawrence Hall, St. Lawrence Market, St. James Cathedral, the Flatiron Building and the (Royal Meridien) King Edward Hotel, and you can buy them in some of the City’s historical homes/museums, as well as in places like Christmas On The Beach (1889 Queen Street East), the Flatiron Christmas Market (51 Front Street East) and the Visitor’s Centre in the Distillery District. And this year, the Parkdale Liberty Economic Development Corporation has issued “Yuletide in Muddy York” (pictured) by Amita Sen Gupta, the first in a new series to be designed by Toronto artists annually. You can pick one up for $9.99 online or at the Parkdale Liberty office (1313 Queen Street West), Good Catch (1556 Queen Street West), Made You Look (1338 Queen Street West), The Polar Bear – Sheraton Centre (123 Queen Street West), Flatirons Christmas Market (51 Front Street East), Arcane Metal and Stone (87 Roncesvalles) and Woolfitts (1153 Queen Street West). They come in a nice box; proceeds after production costs go to community job fairs ($2), neighbourhood beautification ($1), local festivals ($1), community information forums ($1) and St. Philip’s Pantry food bank ($1).

On Saturday, December 8, Ashkenaz Foundation presents Hip Hop Hanukah at the Mod Club Theatre (722 College Street at Crawford). It features Socalled (named "one of the most deliciously demented minds in beat science" by Village Voice) on vocals, sampler, accordion and piano. He’s joined by NY emcee and freak-rapper C Rayz Waltz, vocalist Katie Moore, NYC funk guitarist Allen Watsky, drummer Daniel Barnes, violinist Aleksandar Gajic, and bassist Eric Stein of klezmer/folk fusion group Beyond the Pale. Call 888-222-6608 (toll-free) or 416-979-9901, or buy tix here.

At 7:30 p. m. on Sunday, December 9, Echo Women’s Choir sings its winter concert, dedicated to the winter moon, at the Church of the Holy Trinity (10 Trinity Square, behind the Eaton Centre). Conductors are Alan Gasser and Becca Whitla, with Becca Whitla on piano plus guest performers Moon Joyce, Artie Roth (bass) and Tim Posgate (guitar). Greg Furlong has arranged a suite called Moon Tunes for Women’s Voices featuring standards like “Blue Moon”, “Moon River” and “Fly Me to the Moon”. Moon Joyce has written “Winter Moon” especially for the choir, and the repertoire also includes American country music and songs from Georgia, Bulgaria and Ukraine. For more information, call 416-588-9050, extension 3.

Starting on December 15 and 16, the dinosaurs are back at the ROM, with the unveiling of the James and Louise Temerty Galleries of the Age of Dinosaurs. Nine of the big boys have been repositioned, since scientists have changed their opinions as to what they would have looked like when they were walking around. The most different is the duckbilled hadrosaur, a.k.a. Corythosaurus. It's been set up on its hind legs since 1932, but apparently that’s wrong, wrong, wrong. Also, I don’t know whether it will be ready for the opening, but a centerpiece of the new exhibit will be an 80-foot Jurassic-period Barosaurus, the only near-complete example of its kind. ROM staffers recently dug it up when they were excavating… their basement. The museum has owned it for 45 years, and somehow managed to forget it was down there. Now you can stop feeling so guilty about those badminton rackets you got at that garage sale that you never use.

And finally, a couple of neat tips. Every Friday and Saturday, the très luxe Pantages Martini Bar (200 Victoria Street, 416-262-1777) has free live piano performances. Fridays, Robert Scott plays from 8 to midnight, with Great Bob Scott on percussion from 10 p.m. on. Upcoming Saturdays feature John Sherwood (December 8), Waylen Miki (December 15), Norman Amadio (December 22) and Steve Koven (December 29).

And if you want a great Sunday brunch, don’t ask questions, just head to Greg Couillard, Lee Sannella and David Nganga’s Manyata Courtyard Café in Hazelton Lanes (55 Avenue Road, lower level, 416-935-0000) for the lovely, fresh and tasty $26 buffet from 11 to 3:30. (Go before they start raising the prices!!!) They’ve also started laying on an afternoon tea on Tuesday to Saturday from 2:30 to 5 p.m., and I bet that’s great too.

More Creative Christmas Shopping Tips

Early last week I wrote about some holiday shopping opportunities that support local artists and good causes in the community. Here’s a list of others; if you want more, more, more, download the fabulous 15-page Toronto Arts Council Foundation 2007 Arts Holiday Shopping Guide for a wealth of other suggestions for using your holiday shopping dollars to support the arts in Toronto. It includes great performance and book tips.

November 24:
OCAD Mystery Art Sale at the Ontario College of Art & Design (100 McCaul Street). Hundreds of original works donated by Canadian artists, celebs and OCAD faculty, alumni and students; each measures 5½" x 7½", and each is priced at $75. Sales are first-come, first served, and you don’t know whose work you’ve bought until the end. It could be Will Alsop, Barbara Astman, Margaret Atwood, Andy Fabo, Barbara Klunder, Charles Pachter or...? Remaining preview times: TODAY! Fri, November 23, noon to 8 pm; Public Sale: Sat, November 24, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. 416-977-6000

November 29 to December 2:
Point Zero, BIG IT UP, and RAISINS Sample Sale at 99 Atlantic Avenue, suite 100. A chance to buy Canadian fashion at low prices. Wed & Thu, November 29 & 30, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Fri, December 1, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sat, December 2, 9 a.m. 4 p.m. 416-597-1007. Cash only.

COC Arts & Crafts Fair and Sale at the Toby and Joey Tanenbaum Opera Centre (227 Front Street East). The Canadian Opera Company presents a weekend extravaganza of art created by COC staff, including visual artists, sculptors, cartoonists, multimedia artists, jewellers, knitters and crafters. Opening Reception: Thu, November 29, 5 to 7 p.m. Continues Fri, November 30, 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sat & Sun, December 1 & 2, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

December 1:
Toronto Business Development Centre Holiday Sale and Showcase at TBDC (1071 King Street West). A showcase and sale of work by Toronto entrepreneurs in areas like jewellery, fashion accessories, crafts, food, home decor, health and beauty. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. 416-345-9437

December 6 to 15:
Wall to Wall - Holiday Art Sale & Party at Gallery 44 Centre for Contemporary Photography (401 Richmond Street West, suite 120). Over 100 photographic artworks and objects created by Toronto artists, priced from $5 to $500. Proceeds benefit Gallery 44's education and exhibition programs, and are matched by the Ontario Arts Council Foundation. Opening Reception: Thu, December 6, 6 to 10 p.m. Continues: Fri, December 7, 11-8 p.m., Sat & Sun, December 8 & 9, 11-5 p.m. and Tues-Sat, December 11-15, 11-5 p.m. 416-979-3941

December 8:
Who’s Your Santa: A Seasonal Auction at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre (12 Alexander Street). Maggie Cassella hosts a fundraising auction with Charlene Nero as auctioneer, alongside celeb Santas Dennis O'Connor, Miss Conception, John Simpson, Chris Carter, Deb Pearce and Anna Giaouris. On the block are sexy seasonal goodies ranging from travel packages to art. Big ticket items include a gay erotic tapestry by Carl Stewart, a Banff getaway from Vision2000 Travel Group, a BATAVUS Metro Bike from Curbside Cycle and $1,000 worth of Northbound Leather products. Preview from 6 p.m., Auction at 7. 416-975-8555. Admission: $20

December 8 to January 5:
Gifts by Artists at Art Metropole (788 King Street West). A sale of new artists' books, multiples and other art presents by Andrew J. Patterson, Maura Doyle, Julie Voyce, Ann Dean, Tonik Wojtyra, Terence Koh, Audrea Di Julio, Liz Knox and a host of others. Opening festivus: Sat & Sun, December 8 & 9, 2 to 5 p.m. Continues Tue-Fri, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sat, noon to 5 p.m. 416-703-4400

Goodby, Angie!

This morning Angie Baldassarre died. This is my favorite picture of this passionate and vivacious woman, taken by Arne Nordtop. She had a full life as a devoted film journalist, wife, friend and above all mother. She got to jet to L.A. to interview Brad Pitt, serve on the jury of the Venice Film Festival, publish two books about Italian and Canadian filmmakers, host innumerable gracious hospitable gatherings for her delightful circle of friends, and acquire unavailable preview copies of all the best kids' films for her lovely daughter. She made a great marriage with a terrific guy via the internet, watched every episode of Northern Exposure, recommended that her friends should get tattood (for the rush), and claimed to have participated in some pretty radical actions in her impetuous Italian youth. She also stayed close to her cultural heritage and her faith, and even managed to have Sunday dinner with her parents most weeks. For all of these things I admired her and will miss her. I can't believe how long she managed to hold death away and keep writing and cherishing life with her family through an illness that would have licked most people. She deserved another 50 years of health and life. However, I remember how sad she was when her friend Gene Siskel died. I hope they're sitting in armchairs side by side, giving the double thumbs-up. And I hope all the films in heaven are good ones.