| This is a selection of recent popular blog articles from | | | | kudos out to Jill Murray, a Toronto writer who |
| TorontoIAM where you will find the best blogs from | | | | celebrates the release of her first book this week. |
| Toronto, Ontario as well as video uploads, social | | | | Her YA novel Break On Through “is the story |
| networking, rumors, and blog authoring | | | | of Nadine, aka Lady Six Sky, a badass b-girl who |
| Bicyclists Take to the Ice this Weekend | | | | dreams of winning the Hogtown Showdown with her |
| Over at I Bike TO, Vic invites readers to what he | | | | breakdancing crew.” Whaley is a breakdancer |
| calls “Toronto’s best annual winter | | | | herself, but has “never tried to battle.” |
| cycling event” this Saturday (February 16th) at | | | | She says this is the “essential |
| Dufferin Grove Park. He’s talking about Icycle | | | | difference” between herself, a recreational |
| 2008, and “it's all about bike racing on | | | | dancer who does it “for fun, health, |
| ice.” The cyclists use “the most | | | | camaraderie… and b-girls, who are necessarily |
| aggressive studded tires possible,” nothing you | | | | competitive and driven to excel.” Says Murray, |
| can get commercially, “and then race fast while | | | | “You don't see many women battling… |
| looping around the arena.” There are less spills | | | | the ones who do often have to contend with either |
| and wipeouts than you’d expect, since | | | | easy props… being ignored totally no matter |
| “the studded tires generally keep excellent | | | | what they do, or not being respected as a |
| grip,” but he expects “you'll see some | | | | dancer.” |
| good spinouts and crashes into the boards | | | | The post announces that Murrey’s free |
| though.” | | | | all-ages Break On Through release party will take |
| The “most fun” happens after the | | | | place this Saturday (February 16) at Street Dance |
| champion has been crowned, in the form of the | | | | Academy. Whaley invites readers to “catch |
| “Rubber Race.” Vic calls it | | | | MCs Abdominal, Sunny D, and Jill's main man More Or |
| “anarchy on ice” when the mass of | | | | Les perform live while a b-girl team re-enacts a battle |
| cyclists “race around the track with only one | | | | from the book.” Murray is currently talking |
| rule: no studded tires!” He says in his post that | | | | about deals with the CBC and YTV, and will also give |
| “it's absolutely hilarious to see bikes and riders | | | | a reading at the Harbourfront Centre. |
| of all different shapes, sizes, and abilities try to make | | | | Is Toronto Theatre in Deep Trouble? |
| their way around the rink as fast as possible.” | | | | A recent post on Blog T.O. by Graeme laments the |
| You can even join in on the rubber race fun. He | | | | state of theatre in Toronto. One week ago, the |
| encourages readers to contact The Bike Joint for | | | | “axe fell” at the Canadian Stage |
| more information. | | | | Company. Nine employees had to leave “in the |
| Raptors Take Easy Win from Short-Staffed Nets | | | | face of a $694,000 two season loss and a total debt |
| NBA’s Raptors News reviews | | | | load of $1 million.” This is bad news for |
| Toronto’s win against the New Jersey last | | | | CanStage, but is also reflects on the plight of theatre |
| night (109-91), both teams final game before the | | | | in Toronto. Graeme ponders in his post about how |
| All-Star break. The Nets were “reeling from | | | | “a theatre company with a 50 year |
| news that Jason Kidd” is most likely to be | | | | history” could lose so much money in two |
| traded to Dallas soon and “didn't put up much | | | | years. The answer, he says, “has to do with a |
| of a fight” against the Raptors. Chris Bosh | | | | kind of identity crisis.” |
| was a star once again with 27 points. Jose Calderon | | | | There are external factors like “September |
| was also strong with 22 points and 12 assists. After | | | | 11th, SARS and a strong Canadian dollar” |
| building at 13-point lead in the first quarter, “the | | | | which has “wiped out much of the American |
| game was all but won by halftime,” when | | | | audience that used to drive big-budget shows in the |
| Toronto led 61-42. “You would think that we | | | | city.” But Graeme believes CanStage |
| were already on vacation in the first half,” said | | | | doesn’t really know what it is anymore. Of |
| New Jersey's Vince Carter said. | | | | this season's eight offerings, “five are by |
| It was an “emotional day” for the Nets | | | | American authors. One is a 26 year-old musical based |
| as things won’t be so rosy without Kidd, our | | | | on a 48 year-old movie. Another is an adaptation of |
| blogger points out in the post. This is the | | | | a Stephen King novel.” They just don't seem |
| “second time this season the Raptors have | | | | to fit together. The “scattershot slate” |
| won big against the Nets, the team that eliminated | | | | leaves theatregoers confused. Whatever the reason, |
| them in the first round of last season's | | | | though, “as Toronto's biggest non-profit, |
| playoffs.” Last November, Toronto posted our | | | | CanStage is a barometer for Toronto's entire theatre |
| largest victory of the season with a106-69 win at | | | | community. Weakness there points to weakness |
| New Jersey. “With Kidd, Malik Allen and | | | | everywhere.” |
| Antoine Wright all inactive and center Jamaal Magloire | | | | About TorontoIAM |
| at home in New Jersey, the Nets had just nine | | | | TorontoIAM is part of a groundbreaking network of |
| players available.” They were out of the game | | | | city-focused blog aggregation, user generated media |
| quickly, “short-staffed and subdued… | | | | and social networking websites currently rolling out |
| missing five of their first six shots and calling timeout | | | | across North America. Each IAM website filters and |
| after falling behind 9-2 at 8:16 of the first. Behind 10 | | | | organizes blog content as well as offering video |
| points from Bosh, Toronto opened a 30-17 lead after | | | | upload capabilities, social networking, blog authoring, |
| 12 minutes.” | | | | favourites lists and rumours. The IAM Network is a |
| Book Release Party Features B-Girl Battle | | | | division of SoMedia Networks Inc which also operates |
| Karen Whaley, blogging on the Torontoist, sends | | | | Inveslogic.com, Greenedia. |