Sampling Culture http://samplingculture.posterous.com Most recent posts at Sampling Culture posterous.com Sun, 05 Sep 2010 15:06:00 -0700 Sights of Paris http://samplingculture.posterous.com/2010/09/05/sights-of-paris http://samplingculture.posterous.com/2010/09/05/sights-of-paris

In Paris public spaces have Old World charm. While wandering down narrow streets or wide boulevards I constantly stopped to look around me. Perhaps if I was more attentive to what surrounds me in Toronto then I'd take more photos and have fun playing 'photographer.' Here are some shots I got with my handy point & shoot - Just one step up from an old iphone camera.

 

 

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Thu, 05 Aug 2010 06:24:00 -0700 Globetrotting on a budget http://samplingculture.posterous.com/2010/08/05/globetrottingonbudget http://samplingculture.posterous.com/2010/08/05/globetrottingonbudget

Globetrotting on a budget Chances are you might be heading out this summer, or you'd like to be – if only you could afford it. Time and money are always an issue preventing us from travelling, but if money is stopping you, consider saving up and incorporating some money-saving habits into your future travel plans. Sometimes it can be difficult to get everything organized before a trip, or you might want to plan one and not know where to start. Here are some helpful resources to get you started.

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Selecting your destination When considering cities to visit and looking for things to do, check out the local weekly free paper in its online version before you arrive. If it's in another language, you can always use a free (but approximate) website translation service (such as freetranslation.com) to read the articles and listings in English. If you want a guided tour, many cities have websites set up where local volunteers offer to guide specific tours for visitors. It's kind of like Craigslist. Tourists write a description of the kind of tour they'd like before they travel, and the guides pair themselves up with the tourists. For an example of this kind of service check out http://www.parisiendunjour.fr For cultural excursions, The New York Times has a fantastic resources for budget travellers – with everything from restaurant recommendations to museum happenings found at http://frugaltraveler.blogs.nytimes.com. Look into individual gallery websites to find out which days and times museums offer free or reduced entrance fees. There are often also pay-what-you-can events or special first-time trial sessions at yoga or athletics classes. Best of all, there are huge benefits to be gained from walking in a new city. One can explore the city from ground level, mingle with locals and discover unexpected places off the familiar tourist map. It's also healthy and beats taking buses or taxis everywhere. If you're wondering about the safety in a region you want to visit, check out the Canadian government's travel advisory website (http://www.voyage.gc.ca/countries_pays/menu-eng.asp), where they post warnings and notices about the conditions in the country you're intending to visit. Find out which areas are dangerous and should be avoided, learn about the visas and medical vaccinations you might need. Learn about precautions you should take and find out where the Canadian Embassy is, in case you get into trouble. Find out what kinds of identification you are required to carry in the host country.

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Getting there Budget airlines are a good option if you need to fly to your city of choice. Try getting a price on your city from different airlines and ticket sellers online. Don't settle until you find a price you're happy with. One sure way to fly cheap is to select your destination based on the cheapest flight price. Frequent routes from Toronto are often less expensive, but just as far away as national flights – For example, flights to Las Vegas, Los Angeles, or London can be a bargain. The season also matters for flight prices, as does the time of the sale. Try to book early to get a good price, or go for last-minute deals on a site like redflagdeals.com. Within Europe, check out the prices at ryanair.com and easyjet.com. Or if you're planning to get to Montreal or New York for cheap, try megabus.com or neonbus.com. Often new buses have free wifi on board and sometimes power outlets. If you're taking a long trip, you can use your laptop and watch dvds or work the whole way there if you want. Packing is an important part of any travel - but especially for air travel. Ultimately packing light whether by car, train, or plane makes your travel simpler. Comfortable shoes and clothes go a long way for a budget-conscious traveller. You'll want to get around on public transit after-all and you'll want to carry as little as possible up and down stairs. Packing a good book is great for any long waits that you'll have to endure. If you end up hanging out at a public space (that's free too!) you will always be entertained with a paperback. If travelling by air, avoid a checked bag fee, and remember to pack only travel-sized toiletries and essentials in your carry-on bag. Where to stay Consider calling up a friend in the city you intend to visit. See whether you can sleep on a friend's couch or whether you can offer a contribution toward rent or groceries. Let them know you'll return the favour in your own home. Always bring a host gift and be a gracious guest. Be prepared to entertain yourself if your host is busy. If staying with a friend is not an option, then consult a websites like airbnb.com, homeaway.com or craigslist vacation rentals pages which allow you to book a room or an entire apartment that belongs to a local resident. The service is available in cities all over the world. The finds on these vacation rentals are often much cheaper than even the most basic hotels, plus you'll often get more space and a kitchen to use – which really saves you money. You can buy groceries and cook! Pretend you are a local and enjoy exploring the markets in the city. Communication abroad The internet is the cheapest way to communicate when you travel. If you're looking for a way to communicate with family and friends, skip the expensive roaming charges on your cell phone calls and use your own laptop with a free wifi connection at a library or cafe. If you don't have a laptop with you, simply run to the nearest internet cafe. Then download skype and call home from skype. Or, simply send emails and update your blog for friends and family. Next time you travel, consider making a budget, stick to it and have fun.

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Mon, 07 Dec 2009 11:29:32 -0800 Reimagining public space, one plant at a time http://samplingculture.posterous.com/2009/12/07/reimagining-public-space-one-plant-at-a-time http://samplingculture.posterous.com/2009/12/07/reimagining-public-space-one-plant-at-a-time [wpvideo iovtAoAT] As part of our series on unique artists, Amanda Connon-Unda discovers how a pair of artists - Sean Martindale and Eric Cheung - create artistic interventions that compel people to think about their lived environments. Video Notes: Produced by Amanda Connon-Unda Featuring Sean Martindale and Eric Cheung Some photos provided by Sean Martindale (http://picasaweb.google.com/sean.martindale/PosterPocketPlants#) Made in Toronto, Canada, in December 2009.

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Sun, 22 Mar 2009 19:05:29 -0700 Pillow fight sparks curiosity http://samplingculture.posterous.com/2009/03/22/pillow-fight-in-toronto http://samplingculture.posterous.com/2009/03/22/pillow-fight-in-toronto
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On a mild Saturday afternoon in March at Dundas Square, twenty-two year old, Kevin Bracken, the organizer of the large outdoor pillow fight which is to take place, waits calmly. Within a number of minutes, there are a few more people gathering. The pillow fight is set to start at 3pm, and so far only twenty of the more than 2700 facebook event 'Yes' RSVPs are there. Kevin says unapologetically, “I think everyone had a late night last night. We try and make our events late so that people have time to go out to a party the night before and sleep in.” But he adds, “We want to be conscious of our communities. We don't want to scare kids and parents away.” So, he said, they do their events before the sun goes down. [wpvideo jbAa3sQ8] Torontonians proved to be happy clickers for the event, and fewer people turned out than expected. Kevin explained, “They RSVP easily and they aren’t super committed.” But, when all was said and done, it was clear that an eclectic mix and significant number of people came out to enjoy the pillow fight. It's hard to tell how many, but a conservative estimate might be 350 pillow fight participants, another 200 spectators engaged in laughter and curious delight, and many more people passing by. The crowds coming out of the Eaton Centre that day saw the spectacle from the street and many had no idea what was going on. One middle-aged man said, “I am glad they are enjoying themselves. Toronto needs more free events like this.” And, even though a costly permit is now required by the privately owned Dundas Square, the pillow fight event did not have one. But, the organizer, Kevin, who took the risk, had no trouble from the authorities. Kevin, who moved from Toronto back to his home, New York City, several months ago said, “I used to be walking on egg shells because I did not want my visa student to get revoked, but now if I get arrested I just want to be bailed out of jail in time for the after-party.” Since 2004, Newmindspace, the collective Kevin and Lori Kufner co-founded, has been the group behind many public interventions in Toronto and New York City. Kevin says that when he moved to Toronto for the rave scene and to attend University, there was a real need for reclaiming public space in Toronto. According to Kevin, Newmindspace picked up where several other groups left off - people doing train parties, Reclaim the Streets, and the Toronto Public Space Committee. He said, “We were originally inspired by massive public art installation like ‘The Gates’ in Central Park by Christo and Jeanne -Claude….We wanted to transform the landscape with something bright and colorful. We hoped to grow to that grandeur but we took a different direction with people instead of objects.” Kevin said that unlike events by groups like Improv in Toronto, which are geared toward the spectator, his events are geared toward the participants. He said, “Flash mobs have a goal of bewildering passersby. Whereas, I think the laughter we want to get is one created by a genuine feeling of joy and pleasure…Experiencing the peak experience, in the Maslow sense of the word. Being in a pillow fight is euphoric. There is no denying that.” In addition to Newmindspace’s most recent pillow fight here, they’ve gathered nearly 5000 people at a pillow fight in New York City’s Union Square. In Toronto, their largest event was a light saber battle in front of the ROM in November 2007. Coming up next, on April 4th they’re organizing a pillow fight on International Pillow Fight Day. This time they’ll be bringing signs that say, “Pillows Before Profits” and “Bail Out Newmindspace”. They’re piggy-backing their event onto the protest against the bail out, that same day on Wall Street. Kevin says they decided to do so, after getting criticism from an activist who said, “If you really wanted to reclaim the streets for people - not corporations – then you would work with the Wall Street organizers.” They considered and decided it wasn’t a bad idea. However, Kevin remains skeptical about traditional activism. He said, “We get criticism that we don’t ally with traditional causes. But, the reason they have trouble getting people to go to protests is because sometimes they alienate people…” Although the Newmindspace project is about reclaiming public space, inventing new ways of having fun, and creating community, the idea is to include as many people as possible without having an explicit political agenda. He says, “We are deconstructionists. We want people to take their own meaning. I don’t want to set out on a course and persuade people to agree with us…. The entry level is low to include anyone who wants to participate… It's not our job to tell people why they want to come... Some people come for the message, others to loose weight, others to meet girls. As long as some people come for the party and stay for the cause, then it’s ok.” After the two hour long pillow fight at Dundas Sqaure, exhausted pillow fighters lay down in a large huddle, which Kevin referred to as a “cuddle puddle”. The event was over, and the clean up commenced. With garbage bags and brooms, the group cleaned up the pillows that lay scattered all over the square. By Monday morning, when students and people are off to work, the square will be turned once again into the mundane spot it once was. Maybe memories of the euphoric pillow fight, engraved into the minds of Torontonians, will remain.

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