WEEKEND IDEAS: I Wanna Get High...

…so high.

It's funny how without any premeditated organization, a day can become stunningly themed.

Yesterday was all about getting high – whether eating cornish hen whilst hung from a crane in the middle of  the sky in Dundas Square or watching Ben Kingsley taking hits from the bong and tagging 1994 NYC; you know, the self help, Giuliani crack down, hip hop, page a dealer on the pay phone era.

All I know is at the end of the night, I wanted to stick something in my mouth – and I'm not referring to a cold popsicle or a swollen member. To each their own.

First things first, what in the devil was I doing eating cornish hen and pesto mash suspended in the air by a crane? It's called Dinner in The Sky and it's the latest worldwide craze that was developed in Belgium. Get with the program!

Essentially, it's what I would deem the sophisticated ride for adults with discerning taste. (figuratively and literally) No more Canada's Wonderland Mindbuster for me! I can do without the bone rattling, scraped knee upchuck feeling and swap for five star mid air feast.

The contraption can hold up to 22 guests, one chef, two waiters and two technical coordinators. We went up 35 metres, but this thing can actually soar to 50 meters. Thanks to American Express, the hosts of this sky high culinary treat, I was able to get a closer view of all the billboards. I left wanting to chew Dentyne Ice and make out with hot frat boys, drink refreshing 7up, get up extra early to watch Breakfast Television, buy tix to Dark Knight, snatch up the latest Hello Magazine to get the dirt on Prince William (like he has any), and rack my credit card up at Forever 21.

Cha-ching – charge it please! Whoever is running the marketing department at American Express, has their thinking cap on. That Capital One 'hand in my pocket' song only makes me want to get foolish in the living room, doing a parade style dance whilst jamming my greedy hands down my man's pants.

Although I'm sure the view would have been a tad more romantic from perhaps Toronto Island, Queens Park or the top of Avenue Road, even The Junction? That said, I will not be one of those wankers who complains about sipping bubbly in the middle of the sky.

Nevertheless, a well oiled operation; thank god.

BRIDES TO BE TAKE NOTE:  Upon descent, I heard women gossiping that the next big thing is weddings in the air.

A couple hours later I attended a preview screening of The Wackness. Getting high part two was all about m-a-r-i-j-u-a-n-a…scales, blunts, baggies, bongs and B.I.G &ndash, Notorious that is.

The Wackness managed to whack me sideways with laughter, empathy and pure cinema delight. It's like mixing the quirky one-liners of Juno with the street cred of KIDS, and a little Squid and the Whale for just the right amount of dysfunctional family special sauce to make us all half relate, and half smirk.

Beyond being an amazing film, it was fun to play – "SPOT THE NINETIES REFERENCE POINTS":

Tetris, pagers, whatup?, Kurt Cobain, Forrest Gump, Mixtapes, OJ plastered to the front of newspapers and Nike Air pump sneakers. You get it? Word.

The nostalgia was extraordinarily vivid. I remember distinctly being in my house with two guy friends BLARING Beastie Boys, we may have been lighting up…when the next-door neighbour ding-a-ling'ed: "JENNIFER McNEELY, I'M GOING TO CALL THE COPS!"

"GO AHEAD MR. WILSON, THERE'S ONLY THREE OF US HERE!! OOOH – SCARE ME MORE!!"

Back inside we flipped Beastie Boys to Cypress Hill and CRANKED IT! What a brat.

(P.S His name was Mr. Wilson, that's not just some estranged Dennis the Menace reference.)

I also recall cruising around the neighbourhood, staid Lawrence Park I might add, thinking I was some kind of gangster pumping out Tribe Called Quest, waiting for a booty call page. Or sitting and watching KIDS with a dozen or so girlfriends AND MY MOTHER, while she lectured us on sex. Nothing is more uncomfortable than watching and hearing Chloe Sevigny get penetrated on a leather couch while sitting silently in the daylight amongst a room full of sexually frustrated virgins. Fun times.

The teenage angst, confusion, horniness and awkwardness in this film was picture perfect.

Oh the nineties…and to think we thought there was no distinction of this decade. So close yet so far away.

Written and directed by cutie Jonathan Levine, starring newcomer Josh Peck, who plays depressed drug dealer Luke Shapiro (who hopefully won't fade away like that dear Telly from KIDS), Olivia Thirbly – the hot one in JUNO who coincidentally plays the babe here, and Sir Ben Kingsley – who does a REMARKABLE job as the mid life crisis, pot smoking shrink. Oh yeah, and Mary-Kate Olsen…who has not so surprisingly is credited for most of the buzz in this film, but only plays a bit part as slutty hippie chick who tongues papa Kingsley in a sleazy phone booth.

Could Jonathan Levine be the new Wes Anderson? He will surely be going head to head with homegrown Jason Reitman.

 Oh we adore you quirky, brilliant filmmakers! Now all we need is a woman to step up and play ball with your team.

 If you aren't dining mid-air or running to theatre to check out THE WACKNESS, here are some other prized and wacky things you should get up to this weekend:

FRIDAY

ART PARTY
Be Mine: Valentines Day circa 1957 @ Whippersnapper
Given the current summer season and the precicesness dating of this event, it almost seems like art of the absurd. Fun.
587A College St. $10

QUEER REVELRY
LISP @ THE BEAVER

For those who aren't completely shot from Pride, head on over to the Beaver for some cockamamie and snatch attack.

ROOM PARTY @ THE BOAT
$5 gets you in the door, great music and possibly a kiss. Can you ask for anything more?
158 Augusta, Kensington Market
Late start – 11ish

5th Anniversary Beats, Break  and Culture festival at Harbourfront – FREE FOR ALL

First wave electro Liverpool love trap Ladytron plays at Harbourfront

http://www.myspace.com/ladytron

8PM
All Ages

SATURDAY

LANGUAGE ARTS AT RANCHO RELAXO

Really sweet band from Vancouver, read our review:

www.shedoesthecity.com/arts

300 College St. 
9PM

Beats, Breaks and Culture at Harbourfront featuring:

Crystal Castles & Thunderheist, must have plugged both at least a dozen times this year…and there's a reason for hitting you over the head continuously, it's not some sick and twisted S&M game.
FREE MEGA DANCE PARTY
Starts @ 8 pm

http://www.myspace.com/thunderheist
http://www.myspace.com/crystalcastles

Summer at Harbourfront is completely rad.

Perhaps something a little more jazzy and hokey

Saturday Night Swing at Dovercourt House
805 Dovercourt Rd. 

GOIN' Steady at the Gladstone
It's the 3rd year anniversary, almost time to go all the way!

1214 Queen St. W. 
10 pm-3 am, $5 before 11, $10 after

Soda pop style costumes encouraged!

SUNDAY

Gladstone Cowboy Tour by Hank

Hank Young; he sings Karaoke, operates the elevator, was in charge of the parking lot across the street for a while, and is a completely charismatic character who always has a cowboy hat on.
2 – 3 PM

Meet in the lobby you fake tourist.

Does the sound of drums light you on fire?

Go to Afrofest at Queens Park and dance around the provincial buildings like you have never done before.
noon-10:30 pm

SDTC City Bike Tours
Shedoesthecity is excited to offer our first installment of three extremely cool bike tours this summer - thanks to SDTC writer Lizzie and Sights on Bikes.

WEST END MEETS EAST END BIKE TOUR

Breach the DVP mental barrier and cruise the mythical land known as the East End. Discover the bars and restaurants that have kidnapped your Leslieville friends. Pretend you're Stephanie Kaye rolling down Degrassi Street. Get over your misguided fears of swimming in Lake Ontario. Think the unthinkable: maybe you could live West of Spadina?

Next Wednesday, JULY 9
BIKES PROVIDED!
6PM – 8:30PM
Cost $15, pay in cash upon arrival

We only have fifteen spots available, so if you are interested in joining us on this adventure, RSVP ASAP to lizzie@shedoesthecity.com to reserve a spot.

As always, tonight SDTC will be heading to The Drake Hotel after work for Temptation Thursdays. If you are in the hood, stop on by, we will be in the lounge after 7PM.

Summertime…and the living is easy.

Xo
Jen

Join Our Email List

Email: