Olympic Island & Pride

Last Saturday included Olympic Island concert with personal highlights of Feist, Bloc Party, and Brocken Social Scene. Feist had some kind of virus but put on a good show regardless. Would much rather see her and her band play at a small venue in the evening next time (or in a cafe during some swoony afternoon), though. Bloc Party had the best stage presence, by far. The band seems to be remarkably friendly and concerned with whether or not its audience is feeling involved. BBS's sounds proved to be even better/refreshing live than recorded; I'll be looking for bootlegs.

After the show on the island, Conk and I headed over to Church St to check out Toronto Pride. We should have remembered from last year that the lines would be unending and the entrance procedures chaotic. So no bars for us. Instead we stopped by the Church St Diner where Ariel and Madison eventually joined us. I'm not in the village often, but this Diner might draw me back with its really friendly staff and owner, and its breakfast menu. Hallelujah challah French toast, indeed!

Sunday, after that good breakfast, we met up with April and Dora. With the great luck that social networks spread, our meeting with the two ladies ended up on a rooftop overlooking Yonge St and the parade. It was amazing seeing firsthand the thousands of people crowding the sidewalks as far I could see looking both south and north. Paraders of special note: Fuck Corporate Pride; U of T's percussionists marhing for change. Paraders I wish hadn't been there: Motorola lackeys; branded-vodka pole dancers.

The parade was great. Lots of water fights and comraderie. (Re: water fights and comraderie, The rooftop we were standing on was over an apartment. The renter of that apartment had a long hose hooked up to his kitchen faucet and pointed at the crowd outside his living room window. The crowd below was good natured for the most part and the mischief was fun to watch. The best part was watching the crowd retaliate through one guy who managed to aquire water balloons and went ahead lobbing them at the hosers above. At least one got right into the second floor window. The local crowd was very pleased and there was much cheering. Also a lot of fun was the sing-off our rooftop had going with a small group of young women accross the street.)

Issue: According to the Toronto Star's coverage of Pride 2006, the affair was dominated by corporations and only gay men participated. Out of all the fantastic imagery the parade, and the entire weekend, manifested last weekend, the Star chose to make its front page photo one of a group of rainbow coloured, full-body Motorola promotions. The stories neglected to address many of the issues presented in the parade and throughout the week; I need to recheck it, but I don't think they interviewed more than one woman; the Dyke March was not mentioned. So, is Pride just becoming the next meaningless, commodified spectacle in Toronto? I hope the Star assigns someone who has some insight and interest in the event next year.