I'm over the moon - one more rehearsal tonight, some packing and then I'm off for the weekend!
It's been years since I was last in the Big Apple, so this is my first trip to the city with some maturity under my belt.
I remember bits and pieces of that trip with my family (like how small The Today Show set was at the NBC studios was) and heading out to New Jersey for our first American Thanksgiving with family.
Back then, I didn't know who Carrie Bradshaw was, or the impact of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre.
My friend who I am visiting and I discussed how this little trip would be. Instead of planning each day to a the max (I already know I won't see every single thing on my list) we're going to experience New York, not do New York.
We'll see how things all play out this weekend. Stay tuned for a New York-themed post next week.
Have a lovely rest of the week, and see you in October!
Something I have really been enjoying over the past few years is this emergence of food videos.
Whether there is audio demonstrating a cooking technique, or a choreographed recipe routine, when these videos are well-done, it's almost as satisfactory as the dishes themselves.
Tonight I discovered food magazine Bon Appetit, has their own television page showcasing interviews, various monthly segments, how to's and more.
Needless to say, I got lost in the video channel and just came up for air.
Below is one of my favourite videos featuring Dan Auerbach (vocalist and guitarist for The Black Keys, one of my favourite bands) and the next city on my travel list.
Welcome autumn 2012 - here's to the start of pumpkin season, crisper days and the start of Saturday Night Live (PS did you see Joseph Gordan-Levitt host last week? Killer performance).
My little home is coming together nicely, and my October schedule is quickly filling up with work, dance classes and dance performances (not to mention my birthday and Halloween).
Stay tuned for the latest listings for shows and more!
Today we wish goodbye to summer and welcome the first day of autumn.
It's one of the most overanalyzed times - the transition period between seasons. However, I want to go about this a little differently this year.
I strongly believe there a many things that you can associate with a time, place or a memory.
For some, it's smell. Whenever I smell the perfume Paris by Yves Saint Laurent, I instantly remember playing dress up in my mother's closet and at her makeup vanity as a child (yes, I was a glitter girl from the start).
For others, it's taste. My friends and I trade recipes and reminisce about that fabulous cafe here, or that homemade apple pie there.
For a large amount, it's music. It's those songs that come on your iPod you have to listen to it all the way through.
Last weekend, I had the opportunity to escape Toronto and head up to a friend's cabin in Muskoka. In my car we were blasting The Darkness and while en route, someone said, "Portia, look out the window into the darkness."
I rolled my eyes, but curiousity got the best of me. I have never seen as many stars there than I did on my way to the cottage in Ontario, and I've lived in both California and British Columbia, where it's wide open space.
The entire weekend consisted to hanging out on the dock, sipping on beers and bonding with new and old friends while the last of our summer-appropriate music played in the background.
It was one of those weekends when you think, "Maybe it just won't snow this year."
Sadly, we did have come home to the city, and our crew jelled back into their daily routines.
Sitting at home wearing a slightly warmer outfit than I was August, one of those songs from my summer playlist came on my shuffle - I instantly smiled, remembering driving somewhere between the Georgian Bay and Toronto, window down and nothing on my mind but that moment.
Hey, maybe we'll get lucky again this year and it won't snow too much.
Here are a few of those songs for me below - what are yours?
"If you are lucky, stop seeing the world as a series of things you do not have — a boyfriend, a baby, an adorable terrier –
and you start noticing the things you do have.
A healthy bank account…No romantic ties.
Loving parents who wanted nothing but happiness for you.
Years to burn.
That kind of freedom is like a command from the universe to get off your ass and do something amazing."
— Sarah Hepola, Every Woman Should Travel Alone
Although not each of these things apply directly to me, I'm using this quote as a mantra for autumn.
There's a great quote from the HBO drama, "The Newsroom" that really hit home with me.
The executive producer Charlie Skinner (played by Sam Waterston) says "But once in a while, take three seconds- you can't spare more than that- take three seconds to notice where you are and what you're doing."
This really made me think. In this life where things move so fast (and I can totally attest/back up the newsroom, because it perfectly captures the speed of how quickly things can change) how can we keep up.
More than ever, when September rolled around this year, I found myself unable to grasp how fast time had moved on me.
This year has been spectacular to say the least. There are few things better than graduating from university, interning at the national news station and working for the Olympics.
But here we are again at the end of another month and on the edge of a new season. Fall is a time of change, reflection and letting go.
We will remember those summer months with fond memories, but it is with a sweet sadness that we have to close the door on the season.
New apartment, new job, new dance gigs and a new outlook for autumn 2012. I'm ready.
With all things changing, so will some things here on the blogette. You may notice a few things moving around in the next few weeks, but never fear, I'll be getting all the kinks out as quickly as possible!
If you're interested in advertising with Sunrise Junction, shoot me an email anytime and we'll chit chat.
There comes a few nights in September when you really feel autumn creeping in.
Running around in shorts can go from comfortable to chilly, the darkness starts to come a bit faster and quicker each night, and you finally surrender to putting another blanket on your bed.
We're in this delightful period of change. It's half summer, half autumn. Some days we're skipping around careless like we did in July, and others we welcome and burrow in with the fresh coolness that beckons the fall.
Our appetites change. My favourite food, pumpkin, is finally in season, yet I still find myself yearning for those fresh summer fruits and veggies that can easily be thrown into a salad for supper.
I stumbled upon this little video with a recipe that sounds like a fantastic "hurrah" to summer, while transitioning to the fall. The peaches will keep this dish fresh and sweet, but the arugula and shrimp add some texture and heaviness to the salad.
Guests, expect this for my next little dinner party.
Little known fact: I'm a huge James Bond fan. Needless to say, I'm very excited to see new film, "Skyfall" and also take in the "Designing 007" exhibit happening at the TIFF Lightbox this fall.
Another fun fact? When I got my Toronto phone number, the the digits include 007.
Meant to be.
Have a lovely rest of the week and divine weekend. I'm escaping to cottage country and am unplugging from the world for 48 hours. After an amazing summer of everything social media (which I love and comes as naturally as swimming in a lake to me) I'm turning off.
Between the tweets and Instagram photos I was sending out for the last few days of the London 2012 Paralympics, I did get a night to be in the real world last week.
Fashion's Night Out started in New York City in 2008 as a way to get people out shopping on a night of exclusive discounts and celebrating fashion.
This is the first year Toronto has taken part, and like any good city girl, where there's a good party, I'm there.
We rounded up the Glitterati, and set out on the town for a night of discounts/gifts with purchase, free cocktails and seeing who was wearing what.
First stop: jewellery shopping at Stella and Dot, and then were off to the eLUXE fashion party to oggle at perfectly-cut Symthe blazers and sip on margaritas. It wasn't just retail stores getting in on the FNO action. We took a moment to get our choiffures spruced up at salon Chivello, which was offering free bang trims into the late eventing.
Following the TTC road, we ended up on Bloor Street to take in H&M's new collection while a DJ spun music (definitely a different taste on the classic shopping experience) and onto the biggie: Holt Renfrew's 175 Birthday block party.
There are few things more glamourous than pink and silver confetti flying everywhere, and clearly there was some fun to be had at the Holt's gathering. I believe we missed a bit of what was happening on the street earlier that evening, but we still got to sip from limited edition pink Diet Coke glass bottles and putz around the blocked off street.
Needless to say, I think Fashion's Night Out in Toronto was nothing short of fabulous. My only critique/complaint is there should have been more events happening about College Street...one could have easily spent the night solely on Bloor or Queen West. But alas, that's what wearing your good walking shoes are for!
