Frequent Flier

Wow I have been gone for awhile! Traveled to Toronto, LA, and Amelia Island, FL. all in the space of 3 weeks. My back is killing me from the small Continental seats but I'm happy to be racking up the air miles...

So, 3 weeks ago was my 2nd time in Toronto and I just have to say it once again- what a great city. I never had any expectations of Toronto and maybe that's why I am surprised to find that it is such a sophisticated, friendly, cultural place and exactly the kind of city I would like to live in.

I was there on business but coicidentally the Toronto International Film Festival was happening and the city was completely sold out. I scored a ticket for John Turturro's screening of Brooklyn-based semi-musical Romance and Cigarettes. The film is a great tribute to New York and a refreshing departure from the usual. Hard to imagine James Gandolphini in a musical but he's great, as is the entire cast (although I did have a hard time believing Mandy Moore as one of Gandolphini's daughters. Honestly, I just have a hard time with her in general she's really flat as an actress- even on Entourage, where she plays herself... but I digress). While I was thrilled to be attending the film fest if only for a brief evening, the celebrity-quotient wasn't what I'd hoped - I saw the same NY actors I see all the time in New York. A glimpse of Orlando or Keanu, or even Cameron Crowe would have been fun. Thanks to my Toronto-based friend, I was lucky enough to crash a few parties and for those of you considering going next year, film parties are pretty easy to crash in Toronto. Everyone is just so nice, they let you in if you just give them a reason, like... "I was supposed to be on the list..."

(image from http://www.flickr.com/photos/deelerious/32403749/)