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.

 

 

 

Where's your food from?

It was a cloudy summer sunday in August at the first annual Conscious Food Festival. The festival was nestled in between the low buildings at Fort York and there was a picturesque backdrop of the city's downtown in the distance. With an advisory committee of over 10 names, the festival's manifesto urged people to take the dialogue about food sustainability to the next level, and it stated that the small actions people take add up.

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Kensington Market comes alive

Citizens filled the streets to the sounds of electronic belly-dancing music. A crowd huddled in a circle around a group of performers who wore belly-dancing costumes and jingled their bells in time to the music. People took photos and clapped after each dancer went into the middle of the circle. Walking down Augusta Avenue, the smell of hot corn tomales and empanadas, samosas and thai spring rolls emanated from each food stand and wafted into the nostrils of passers by. Local artists and vendors sold their jewelry and paintings to visitors and residents who make their homes in Kensington Market.

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Tips from eco-entrepreneurs

Several sustainable business owners in Toronto shared their thoughts about being resilient and ecologically responsible during the recession.

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Eco-frugal in Toronto

TORONTO - April 2009 Networked Streets
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Reusing, refashioning and building community As both social entrepreneurs and activists try to save their money, conserve natural resources and build community, eco-frugality appears to be thriving.

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Wine appreciation 101

Wine appreciation is as popular as ever. Wine marketing creates a culture of its own. Wine blogger, Monika Janek uncorks her perspective on the world of wine. Video produced originally by Amanda Connon-Unda for the Ryersonian.ca [wpvideo E66PiTff]
 

Video profile: Homegrown Skateboards in Nova Scotia

On Jesse Watson's trip to Toronto in November, the skateboard company owner spoke about how he has been creating skateboard culture for years in LaHave, Nova Scotia. Homegrown Skateboards makes small runs of skateboards - sometimes only 20 editions of a board. For Watson, his work is craft production in the age of mass production: It's local, craft-based and borne out of a need to skate. His skateboards link culture, art, and collaborative design. Watson's Skateboard designs and his guest-artist series boards were on display at Harbourfront Centre until January 3, 2010.
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My VIDEO profile can be viewed on the Ryersonian's website .
 

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.
 

Chef Andrew George

He dreams of Aboriginal fusion cuisine across Canada
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Canadian readers of the Globe and Mail may have learned in May 2009 that Aboriginal foods are going to be highlighted at the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver. In her article, “Aboriginal cuisine preps for the world stage", Alexandra Gill wrote about what will take place. All eyes and taste-buds are likely to be rapt by the new Aboriginal fusion cuisine showcased in the Aboriginal Pavilion at the games.

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Little Boots vid exploits LA's poverty

Little Boots pop music video for 'New in town' deals horribly with the serious issue of poverty
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