Junction "Local News" and Other Events @ Annette PL

Posters: Annette Street Public Library Author Readings in June 2011
Glen Downie "Local News" and Terry Fallis "The Best Laid Plans"
Credit: torontopubliclibrary.ca

Glen Downie reading from his new book "Local News"

Mon Jun 06, 2011
7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

City of Toronto and One Book Award winner, Glen Downie reads from his new book "Local News". Set in the Junction, this prose collection is full of local flavour.

Local author Glen Downie, who is a previous winner of Toronto Public Library's One Book and also the City of Toronto Book Award for his book Loyalty Management, will be here Monday June 6, 7pm to speak and read from his new book Local News. This collection is set in The Junction and you will recognize many of the places he writes about.

Author reading from award-winning novelist Terry Fallis - "The Best Laid Plans"

Mon Jun 13, 2011
7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Novelist Terry Fallis won the Stephen Leacock medal for humour in 2008 for his novel "The Best Laid Plans". In February 2011, this book won the Canada Reads Book Award as an essential Canadian book. Come meet Terry and hear about his path to publication and his humorous books, including his new book "The High Road".

There is also a Medicine Wheel teaching, special programs for Seniors, and a 2-part Personal Finance workshop.

Check out your local library!

Junction Literary Pub Crawl with Glen Downie: Notes & Impressions

Photo: Junction Literary Pub Crawl with Junction poet Glen Downie
Saturday April 18, 2009

Celebrating the History of Literacy in the Junction for the Centennial of the Annette Street Library

Nature provided the perfect spring Saturday afternoon. As I walked down Medland towards the library I saw the first of those to come out onto the front steps, chief among them tour Leader A.B. Rice, resplendent in blue silk brocade vest and frock coat. As I got closer more and more people were spilling out onto the side walk. We had expected about 20 people but found we had 90 all told. Frank Remiz retrieved the JBIA bullhorn stowed in the archives in case our wildest dreams came true and we had over 30 on the tour. Frank served tech duties admirably throughout the afternoon and we were greatly appreciated of his assistance.

Photo: Junction Literary Pub Crawl with Glen Downie

We met the owner of Minerva Reid's house and Gib Goodfellow, our illustrious President of the WTJHS was able to point out the murmur ear on the utility pole so the gentleman could phone and hear the history of his home any time he liked. In the parking lot next to the Police station we heard of the defiance of Junction resident Anna Leung who helped break down racial segregation barriers by screaming in the front row of the Palladium Theatre, Toronto, until she was allowed to retain her seat. The audience supported her and she won her place in the front row of Junction History 100 years later.

Gwendolyn MacEwen the quintessential mystic poet of the early 1960's won world renown and first read at the Bohemian Embassy..... which conjours images of Yorkville scene that was London's Carnaby Street or New York’s Soho. Gwendolyn born, at Keele and Bloor, spent most of her early life in the Junction, in fact she was Gib Goodfellow's dance partner in Grade school. It was he who conjured Gwen's spirit by suggesting Kristen Buckley for the role.

Neil Ross gave a tour de force performance as A.B. Rice... standing on the replica platform reading a poem by Raymond Souster about the details of the removal of the original CPR Station that happened like a slight of hand in the middle of night kind of thing. Poets reporting the news as has been handed down like Norse sagas of the medieval troubadours.

At the Troubadour Glen Downie read a poem about his experience trying to get cast as himself in the Toronto One Book celebrations... it was hilarious and we're so glad sense prevailed and Glen got to be himself..... for it was definitely a wonderful highlight of the tour to be present as presented his work. Local poets read lively poems about nature, the universe, the Junction and the human condition.... and the tour ended with a piano bar rendition (accompanied by Alice Derdon) of the early 20th Classic that many are still aware of, floating on the boundaries of their psyche along with Sam McGee... Dangerous Dan McGrew by Robert Service.

The old and the new co-mingled in the vibrant atmosphere of storied reflections of the landscape appearing eternal ....which is the hope and dream of every poet.... that their voices would echo in the landscape forever. So far, so good. Thanks again to Neil Ross and David Wencer for assembling the history and all those who helped make this event possible. A special mention to Pam Mountain of the Annette Street Library who was beaming like sunshine the whole afternoon at the incredible success of this wonderful venture. It was really fun to see so many happy people.

2009 © Cara Reeves

Photo: Junction Literary Pub Crawl with Glen Downie

links:
junctioneer: West Toronto Junction Literary Walking Tour and Pub Crawl Recap
cbc.ca/ideas: Robert Weaver: Godfather of Canadian Literature
thescream.ca: Book-length Dinner Reading: Gwendolyn MacEwen’s A Breakfast for Barbarians
artjunction: Happy Birthday Toronto from the Junction
artjunction: Annette Street Public Library Upcoming Spring Highlights
keeptorontoreading.ca: Meet One Book author Glen Downie

Annette Street Public Library Upcoming Spring Highlights

Poster: Junction Literary Pub Crawl with Junction poet Glen Downie
Credit: TPL, Annette Street Branch

Toronto Public Library, Annette Street Branch
and The Junction Historical Society
invite you to a:
Junction Literary Pub Crawl
with
2008 Toronto Book Award Author
2009 Toronto One Book Author
Junction poet Glen Downie
April 18, 2009 2pm
Annette Street Library
LEGEND
Red line denotes the route of the tour.
Photos:
Glen Downie
Junction journalist A.B. Rice as portrayed by Neil Ross
Gwendolyn MacEwen will be portrayed by Kristen Buckley

Upcoming Events at Annette Street Public Library

Spring has begun, and what a better time to get out to explore things going on in the neighbourhood? We have so many activities - for all ages - I won't list them all here, but refer you to the Toronto Public Library website where you can get up-to-date information online www.torontopubliclibrary.ca.

Some of the spring highlights:
For Youth
Anime and Cartooning with Dirk. Learn from experienced illustrator Dirk Michiels how to draw Anime and cartoon characters in this fun, hands-on workshop. Ages 8 and up. Free but you need to register in advance. Saturday April 25, 2-4pm

St John Ambulance Babysitting Course for ages 11 and up. $35 fee. Register by calling St John's Ambulance at 416-967-4244 Saturday May 2, 9:30 - 4:30
Free Filmmaking Workshop with Filmberries Kids Club. Filmmaking for ages 6-12. Pre-registration required. Saturday May 9, 2-4pm

For Preschoolers
Babies (0 -18 months) Tuesdays, 2:30 pm April 7 - May 12

Toddlers (19 months - 3 years) Wednesdays, 10:30 am April 8 - May 13

For Adults
Tea and Books Wednesday April 1, May 6, 2-3pm
Join us Wed April 1 to hear John Rutherford discussing The Wizard of Oz. This is not "just" a children's story - Baum used it as a platform for his ideas on religion, Freud, the Women's Suffragette Movement, and most important of all, as a criticism of the lack of information for adolescents on sexual maturation, in this case, for Dorothy. John deals with the original story written by Baum in 1900 and the more explicit Judy Garland movie of 1939, this year celebrating its 70th anniversary. He looks at the recent flurry of books and plays relating to The Wizard of Oz - Maguire's A Lion Among Men and Wicked, Salmon Rushdie's The Wizard of Oz, William Leach's Land of Desire: Merchants, Power and the Rise of a New American Culture and a recent adaptation of Wedekind's play Spring Awakening. This promises to be a fascinating talk!

Junction Literary Tour with Glen Downie Saturday April 18, 2-4pm
This unique event begins with poetry readings by Junction resident Glen's Loyalty Management. Also in attendance will be historical characters from The Junction, who will lead us on a literary tour of the neighbourhood. We will end up at The Troubadour, where Glen will read more poetry. And then it is your turn, if you want a few minutes to share a poem of yours. Glen's book won The City of Toronto Book Award, and is the One Book chosen to "Keep Toronto Reading" (You can pick up a One Book Reader's Guide at any branch of the Toronto Public Library).

Let's hope for a beautiful spring day for this jaunt through words and time and The Junction!

Pam Mountain
Branch Head
Annette Street Public Library
145 Annette Street
Toronto, ON, M6P 1P3
Phone: 416-393-7521
Fax: 416-393-7412
pmountain@torontopubliclibrary.ca

Junction Literary Pub Crawl with Glen Downie

The Junction Literary Pub Crawl
Credit: Microsoft Office Online Clip Art: books, buildings, libraries (bl00684_.wmf)
2009 @ artjunction.blogspot.com

The Junction Literary Pub Crawl, April 18

We’ll be making literary history in the Junction on April 18. The Toronto Public Library/Annette Street Branch and the Junction Historical Society present the Junction Literary Pub Crawl with Glen Downie. Glen’s Loyalty Management won the 2008 City of Toronto Book Award and was just announced as TPL’s selection for Toronto's second annual Keep Toronto Reading One Book program. From now through April, the library is encouraging everyone to read Loyalty Management and join discussions and events throughout the city exploring the books themes, issues and ideas.
We begin at 2pm at the Annette Street Library -- celebrating its Centennial this year! – where Glenn will read. Mayor David Miller has said that Glen’s poetry "beautifully evokes Toronto and its neighbourhoods – from the Victorian houses of the Junction to the sculptures outside our skyscrapers, but also looks beyond our city."
Then, through the miracle of Quantum Metaphysics, one of the flowers of the Junction returns to read some of her spellbinding verse. Born at 38 Keele Street, the short lived and brilliant Gwendolyn MacEwen (played by Kristen Buckley) grew up here.
Junction journalist A.B. Rice (Neil Ross) will lead a historical literary tour through the streets of the Junction -- accompanied by Glen and Gwendolyn -- as we meet the mystery writers, novelists, comic book writers and swashbuckling poets who make up a unique literary heritage.
Our destination, appropriately, is the Troubadour (3071 Dundas Street West) where Glen will read some of his favourite poems. Then the day will be thrown open to Junction poets. Poets who would like to participate are urged to sign up at the Annette Street Library (145 Annette St. 416-393-7692). You can sample Glen Downie’s poetry and see a video of Glen in the Junction at: www.toronto.ca/book_awards/2008/loyalty-management.

2009 © Neil Ross

links:

Author Glen Downie discusses his book of poetry entitled "Loyalty Management"
Credit: torontopubliclibrary
November 20, 2008

Toronto Public Library Announces City's Second Annual Community Read
Related Events: The Junction Literary Pub Crawl
An entertaining historical/literary walking tour of the Junction. Wind up at a local pub for a reading of some of Downie's favorite poems.
Saturday, April 18, 2 p.m.
Meet at Annette Street Branch, 145 Annette Street, 416-393-7692