Leaving On A Jet Plane

A photograph of the Tate Modern taken a few weeks ago. I will most likely be back there, as it serves as my kind of church, in the next couple of days. Posts here will be sporadic over the next little while as I'm travelling. But updates about Russia, the summer art shows in London, and other various adventures and photographs will be forthcoming eventually. До скорого!

Prepping For St. Petersburg

Tonight on Jeopardy: Here in St. Petersburg in June, the extended daylight is called this. What is....White Nights?

Two weeks tomorrow I will be arriving in St. Petersburg and now that my visa ordeal is over, I am prepping for my trip in fun ways. I have purchased tickets for a night of ballet at the Mariinsky Theatre. (I still can't believe that I get to do this...it's one of those pinch myself, dreaming about for a long time, oh my god experiences for me.) I have my VIP pass to the Hermitage, courtesy of a lovely gesture by a family friend with great connections. And I am re-reading Crime and Punishment which has sat untouched on my bookshelf for the past decade. Then I'll be all ready for the Dostoyevsky Walk. As for the vodka, I'm already prepped for that.

Things I Currently Love

1. The Oilers in the Stanley Cup Finals.
2. How last week a drunken evening with friends turned into a contest of "Best Sarah Impression".
3. The new bookstore Type on Queen Street West. I was so impressed with the selection, aesthetic layout, and the stack of New York Times at the door.
4. The quiet library at U of T now that it's summer term.
5. The new tv channel TVtropolis which is playing the first season of Beverly Hills 90210. Back when Luke Perry still had a full head of hair. My thirteen year old self is still swooning.

Rainy Art Walk

You'd think that on a day it is pouring with rain, it would be a bad day to go on an art walk. But a rainy day for the Riverdale Art Walk was actually wonderful - less crowded, and just felt more artsy, for lack of a better word.

Granted, the exhibit in the park was muddy, but after a grabbing a quick coffee at Mercury Organic Espresso Bar, refuge was found in Gallery 888. Here I found a gorgeous little sketch of the Tate Modern by Marina Hanacek. I used to live around the corner from the Tate and after I have the sketch framed, will have to find some wall space in my loft.