Week Of September 4, 2006 - Thur / Fri

September 7, 2006

It's always fun to walk around Toronto the night before the Parade comes to town.

Even now, it's hard to walk more than a few blocks before running into someone from some studio or another. But starting tomorrow, it will be well on the way to pretending you don't see the person as they pass so you don't have to say "hello" for the third time that day.

It's nice to be reminded that Toronto knows how to party very heartily without us, thank you. On a Wednesday night, the clubs around Yorkville were busy, overflowing with women dressed to thrill and men waving their platinum cards in the air.

Getting in late and not getting to go on a food hunt until near 11, my annual pre-fest trip to Chinatown was lost to a quick bite at Sassafras, once the official restaurant of the festival, and now just the one with enough short skirts and a premium location. They also serve until 2 am. And sure enough, the place was still rocking as I started chewing at 11:30p Toronto Daylight Time.

The festival itself has a distinctly pre-chewed feeling going in. I love me some early screenings and all, but still, there just isn't enough to get truly excited about that I haven't already seen as we kick off the festival. The flip side of that is that a lack of anticipation will make the surprise quality all the more exciting. Low expectations are a good friend to a good festival experience.

The marathon is about to start.

I am going to try to write some perspective pieces in The Hot Button spot, starting next Mon/Wed/Fri. There will be continual coverage in The Hot Blog and on MCN, where the Toronto page has launched.

Wish me good hunting. I am ready for some magic.

E Me.

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Week Of April 3, 2006 - Life In the Bubble - Mon / Wed / Fri
Week Of April 10, 2006 - List Week - Mon / Wed / Fri
Week Of April 17, 2006 - Review Week - Mon / Wed / Fri
Week Of April 24, 2006 - Overlooked Week - Mon / Wed / Fri
Week Of May 1, 2006 - Mystery Week - Tue / Wed / Fri
Week Of May 8, 2006 - How We Watch Week - Mon / Wed / Fri
Week Of May 15, 2006 - Premature Week - Oscar Mon / Wed / Fri
Week Of May 22, 2006 - B-13 Mon / Inconvenient Wed / Fri
Week Of May 29, 2006 - Wed / Fri
Week Of June 5, 2006 - 666 Tue / Iraq Doc Wed / Seattle Fri
Week Of June 12, 2006 - SIFF Mon / SIFF Wed / Fri
Week Of June 19, 2006 - Cinevegas Mon/Deliver Us Wed/Prada Fri
Week Of June 26, 2006 - Pirates Mon / Super Again Wed / Fri
Week Of July 5, 2006 - Wed
Week Of July 12, 2006 - M. Night Mon | You, Me & Wed | Monster House Fri
Week Of July 17, 2006 - 8 A Year Mon / Water Wed / Revamp Fri
Week Of July 24, 2006 - Comic-Con Mon / Gossip Wed / Fri
Week Of July 31, 2006 - Mel G Mon / Talladega Wed / Fri
Week Of August 7, 2006 - Mon / Wed
Week Of August 14, 2006 - No Column Mon / Wed / Snakes Fri
Week Of August 21, 2006 - Snakey Mon / Anniversary Wed / Scoundrels Fri
Week Of August 28, 2006 - Mon Love / Berloff Wed / Fri