All photos by Mini’s Memories. You can contact her through Instagram or Twitter
Photo Gallery: Louis Tomlinson with The Academic and Snarls at Toronto’s Budweiser Stage
The Office Experience Is Astonishingly Real And Awesome
As the sun rose above the enchanting kingdom, our eyes widened with anticipation. It was Hannah Alper and my first visit to the magical realm of Dunder Mifflin by the way of The Office Experience at Yorkdale in Toronto, our version of Disneyland, a place we had watched countless hours about and dreamt of experiencing firsthand (the set, not an actual office, we’ve both done that before. It’s not so fun at times.) Clutching our tickets tightly, we could hardly contain our excitement as they approached the grand entrance.
We weren’t the only ones, and although there weren’t any lines, others who explored the various themed rooms were dressed up as their favourite character, which was awesome to see, and made us feel at times we were standing beside the ‘real’ Dwight Schrute.
The Office Experience is a fully immersive and interactive celebration of the beloved television show, The Office. We stepped inside our favorite mid-level regional paper company, explored set recreations, got a closer look at original show props, and shopped at The Office Experience Store. It’s a win-win-win. The Office Experience at Yorkdale were filled with set recreations, original show costumes and props, and opportunities for us to celebrate our favorite moments and characters from The Office to astonishing glee (that’s what she said!)
Starting off literally in the Scranton Business Parking Lot and into the Dunder Mifflin Scranton office. You can also dance down the aisle at Jim and Pam’s wedding, spill Kevin’s famous chili, visit Michael Scott Paper Company, check out every character’s desk re-made to the exact specifications and items left in their working area, and more.
The Office Experience exceeded all our expectations, and you have to go if you’re a fan. As the great Michael Scott once said, “‘You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take. – Wayne Gretzky.'”
- Dates: March 3rd – June 4th 2023
- Location: Yorkdale Shopping Centre (across from the Lego Store); 3401 Dufferin St Toronto, ON M6A 2T9 Canada
- Age requirement: All ages are welcome. Guests 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult who is at least 18 years old. Children 3 and younger don’t need a ticket when accompanied by a parent or guardian.
- Operating hours (time slots available every 30 minutes):
- Thursdays & Fridays: 12 p.m. – 7 p.m. (last entry)
- Saturdays: 10:00 a.m. – 8 p.m. (last entry)
- Sundays: 11:00 a.m. – 6 p.m. (last entry)
- Schedule subject to change during specific periods. See calendar in ticketing page for details.
Toronto Grade 5 Student Sisi Kleiner-Fisman Writes Book On Cancer Experience To Help Others In “SHE WARRIOR”
11-year-old Toronto-based author Siena (Sisi) Kleiner-Fisman details her harrowing but inspirational experience as a long-term cancer survivor with her impactful new book for adults and children alike, “She-Warrior” — available here.
When Sisi was three years-old, she was diagnosed with a rare cancer. Initially, the weight of it all made her sad and angry at being sick and missing out on all the fun of summer. However, when Sisi and her parents traveled to Philadelphia, PA, to receive life-saving radiation, Sisi made new friends and had all sorts of adventures exploring a new city.
Facing her demons head-on with optimism and a relentless spirit, Sisi chronicles her life-changing journey with “She-Warrior”. As Sisi puts it, “Being diagnosed with cancer as a small child, getting through treatment, and now being a long-term survivor is a unique experience.”
What follows is an excerpt from “She-Warrior” detailing one of Sisi’s first doctor’s visits:
“The doctors needed a sample of the cancer (“earth-monster” to Sisi). They wanted to look at it under the microscope to make sure it really was Rhabdomyosarcoma and not some other monster and to help decide which medicine Sisi would need. Sisi actually called the “earth-monster” “Toots” after watching a cartoon episode about a funny little germ named “Toots.”
Years after her cancer ordeal, she woke up one morning with an epiphany. Sisi realized she had an extraordinary story that had to be told. She decided to write this book to help other kids cope with childhood cancer and inspire them to remain hopeful in their journeys and to know that they are not alone.
“Even though my days were filled with uncertainty and fear, with the help of my doctors, nurses, and my mom, I never lost hope, and eventually, I recovered,” says Sisi.
“I decided that telling my story could have such a huge impact on kids who are going through tough times with cancer as I did and telling them my story might help them have hope that they too will get better.”
This story, written by Sisi when she was 11-years-old, will delight children, teens, and adults alike. Featuring original art by Sisi, “She-Warrior” is the true story of an inspiring little girl with a big personality who navigates adversity with humour and resilience. Sis’s debut book is written with a youthful spirit capturing the optimism and resilience of childhood.
Sisi Kleiner-Fisman lives in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, where she is a grade 5 student. She loves singing, dancing, performing in musical theatre, drawing and painting, and spending time with her friends and family.
While Sisi still has some hurdles to conquer due to the effects of radiation, she plans to be a child psychologist. Sisi says “I want to help kids cope with their feelings and anxieties because I know what it’s like”. She will impact others, knowing what it is like to be vulnerable and in need of support and encouragement.
MDMP’s New Single ‘Fire’ Blazes With Collaboration Featuring Mike Evans Of UK’s Profiler
Founded, formed and fronted by the enigmatic Jeremey Meyer, the heavy, hard-hitting Hawaiian alt-rock outfit MDMP has collaborated with Mike Evans from the UK metal band Profiler for the electrifying single “Fire.”
According MDMP’s Jeremy Meyer, when he has an idea for a song, he searches music platforms for other musicians or songs with similar motives and sounds. During an intensive search for the perfect sound to interpolate into “Fire,” Spotify stepped up and recommended Profiler to him. So, Meyer reached out to Evans, and just asked him.
“The concept for this song was to reach back to the glory days of nu-metal and be influenced by the likes of bands such as the Deftones,” Meyer said. “The lyrics reach to a place of challenging relationships to whom or what is subject to the listener’s relatable experience.”
With lyrics like “The temptation gets clearer,” the listener relays their own experience to the song. This allows for a universal listening experience. “Will you fight this fire with fire,” Meyer implores through a refrain backed by lingering guitar chords.
This musical collaboration reaches the beaches of Hawaii, the hot mid-summer air of the Midwest of the USA and crossing the Clifton Suspension Bridge of Bristol in the UK. This song is sure to be enjoyable with a low-lit room and a beverage of choice.
JACKIE K Releases 3rd Single “We Can’t Quit” From She’s A Story Album
There are times in all relationships when you drive each other crazy. Maybe someone drinks or smokes a little too much or complains about their weight but bulldozes junk food every night. But despite their annoying and frustrating habits, we don’t leave. This is the theme of North Battleford, SK’s alt-folk artist Jackie K’s “We Can’t Quit,” the third track off of first full-length album, She’s A Story.
In a first for them in their relationship, Jackie K and her husband, Tom Kroczynski, wrote “We Can’t Quit” last summer. A difficult couple of years inspired the couple to put together a country duet track that symbolized their enduring commitment to one another.
“We had been smoking cigarettes on and off during the pandemic, and it was time to stop,” Jackie K said. “The last few years have been hard, so much additional pressure. The song is about making the decision to keep trying to be better but also to know when it’s time to cut each other some slack. Life can be hard enough.”
Jackie K and Tom take turns serenading listeners with examples of their bothersome behaviors, then outlining why everything stays the same, even when they try to change for their spouse. But what might separate others hasn’t divided these two – their true vices are each other.
“It’s just a fun country song with more than a little bit of truth telling!” Jackie K explained. “Oh, and we did quit smoking, but I still eat too many chips and he’s got a mouth on him!”
This honest tune is one of several storytelling songs within She’s A Story. Recorded in Saskatoon by producer Randy Woods and mastered at Mojito Mastering in Toronto, Jackie K is responsible for the album’s vocals, keys, and trumpet, with Tom providing bass. Kyle Krysa plays the project’s drums, Connor Newton is on sax, and Woods sprinkles in some magic on guitar.
Released on March 8th to coincide with International Women’s Day, She’s A Story tells the tales of women, some personal to Jackie K and others abstractly relevant to the world’s women and the lives they lead.
“The stories belong to women,” she said. “Women’s roles have changed. Things are different now than they have been. It’s harder, it’s more work. If somebody can relate to an aging parent, or being queen of their castle, that will make me happy.”
“We Can’t Quit” is sandwiched in the center of the album, introducing the complexities many women live with in their relationships.
“She’s eating, he’s swearing, she’s drinking too much beer, he’s smoking – there is frustration amidst the underlying love and support that is there in any relationship,” Jackie K said. “We love John Prine’s ‘In Spite of Ourselves’ and used to sing that a lot. We certainly took some cues from his expert songwriting.”
Based in North Battleford, Saskatchewan, Jackie K has represented the big skies of Treaty Six territory for a long time. She often incorporates her love of the prairies and its people into her music, and her creativity has taken her around the world, most recently to Ireland in January 2023 to showcase at Your Roots Are Showing with Tom.
When she isn’t writing or performing, Jackie K is teaching. Jackie teaches band and guitar to high school students at North Battleford Comprehensive High School, paying it forward to help the next generation express themselves through sound.
Her passion for music is evident in every anecdote on the album, and the culmination of her cooperation with her husband aligns perfectly with Jackie K’s plan for the project. Check out “We Can’t Quit” and She’s A Story – both available now.
Dean Brody Announces Right Round Here Acoustic Tour
Celebrated multi-PLATINUM Canadian entertainer Dean Brody is taking it back to his roots with today’s announcement of a headlining National tour coming this fall. Fans will join Brody in an intimate evening of acoustic performances for the Right Round Here Tour kicking off in October, with more Canadian dates to be announced later this summer. To celebrate the tour, Brody will also release a full-length album by the same name — Right Round Here — this fall. Tickets go on sale for the first leg of the tour this Friday (June 2).
Brody dropped “Paint the Town Redneck,” a new track for fans that encapsulates his downhome country upbringing and the excitement he feels every time he gets to bring that lifestyle and fun-loving energy to a new group of friends.
“I am really looking forward to getting out on the road to play some of my favourites from my catalogue and also music off the new album,” said Brody. “I’ve wanted to get out to do an acoustic theatre tour for years, celebrating the small towns that make Canada the great country we get to live in, and am so grateful we finally get to do it this fall”
For the first time in his celebrated over 15 year career, Brody will bring his vast musical catalogue to small-town theatres in Canada. Kicking off on the West Coast in October, each night Brody will take fans on a chronological journey through his music with an intimate acoustic performance and the storytelling his songwriting has been acclaimed for. Additional dates across the country will be announced later this summer.
Right Round Here Tour Dates
10/11 McPherson Playhouse Victoria, BC
10/12 Cowichan Performing Arts Centre Duncan, BC
10/13 Port Theatre Nanaimo, BC
10/15 Vanier Hall Prince George, BC
10/17 Vernon Performing Arts Centre Vernon BC
10/18 Charles Bailey Theatre Trail, BC
10/19 Key City Theatre Cranbrook, BC
10/20 Red Deer Memorial Centre Red Deer, AB
10/21 Vic Juba Community Theatre Lloydminster, AB
10/22 TCU Place Saskatoon, SK
10/24 Conexus Arts Centre Regina, SK
10/25 Western Manitoba Centennial Auditorium Brandon, MB
10/26 Anne Portnuff Theatre Yorkton, SK
10/27 + 10/28 Club Regent Event Centre Winnipeg, MB
11/3 Kingston Grand Theatre Kingston, ON
11/4 Centre In The Square Kitchener, ON
11/8 Sanderson Centre for the Performing Arts Brantford, ON
11/11 Legacy Hall, Deerhurst Resort Huntsville, ON
11/13 Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts Oakvile, ON
11/14 Brockville Arts Centre Brockville, ON
11/15 The Empire Theatre Belleville, ON
11/17/23 Chatham Capitol Theatre Chatham, ON
11/18 Centennial Hall London, ON
One Hour Of Frank Zappa Co-Hosting MTV’s Basement Tapes
I’m Martha Quinn and you’re watching the “MTV Basement Tapes”, the show that makes you the talent scout. Now….we show you six unsigned bands from around the country you watch the videos and then you vote for your favorite by calling a special 900 number that we’ll show you later. Tonight tonight’s winner gets a complete line of Casio instruments to outfit the whole band including the Casio CZ101 synthesizer and the CK200 keyboard and of course they come back …to compete against our other five finalists for the grand prize.
Oh, and Frank Zappa co-hosts!
Nathan Fielder Torments An Electronics Salesman About An MP3 Player In 2008
This Hour Has 22 Minutes Consumer Reporter Nathan Fielder does his duty on MP3 players.
Photo Gallery: Crowded House with Spirit Of The Bear at Toronto’s Budweiser Stage
All photos by Mini’s Memories. You can contact her through Instagram or Twitter
Ottawa-Based Pianist Huguette Lavigne Releases Shimmering, Atmospheric “Pixie Dust”
Much like its name, “Pixie Dust,” the new song from Ottawa-based pianist and composer Huguette Lavigne, is shimmering and transfixing, putting the listener under a hypnotic spell.
A wholly instrumental piano piece from her new album Jazzed Up Dreams, “Pixie Dust” manages to be both bright and haunting at the same time, evoking both optimism and an ache for bygone days.
When she wrote it, Lavigne imagined an enchanted forest, a mental or spiritual place to retreat from the many difficult demands on our time, resources, and attention in today’s increasingly difficult epoch.
“First, you find yourself on a mysterious path as you enter a strange, lush, and hypnotic green forest,” Lavigne invites us to imagine. “Then, you let yourself slip into enchantment, illusion, and the supernatural. With a sprinkling of golden, glitter-like fairy dust, you are mesmerized. Keep your eyes open for the green-goddess fairy at the end, you may even think that anything is possible.”
The corresponding video guides us on this journey, using beautiful animation to take us on a tour of a mossy forest alive with glittering fireflies, electric trees, shimmering milkweed, glowing mushrooms, moths, and butterflies, and, yes, plenty of fairies.
Lavigne came to the song via improvisation, sitting at her piano and just playfully experimenting until the entire work unfolded rather quickly. As part of her process, Lavigne does not fully write down her music, rather, she relies on her shorthand to summon her memory recall for future performances. The final piece is then impressively stored entirely in her head and fingers. Once her composition is recorded, she then moves onto the next score.
“Given the world’s seemingly precarious future, the social challenges, and other dire predictions, I’m happy to have created a theme that digs in to find the child in us, and the video delivers this to us splendidly,” she says. “Beautiful ethereal scenes unfold. The child escapes to a world of fairies and golden-sprinkled pixie dust.”
Huguette Lavigne was brought up in a milieu of three Canadian cultures – Franco Ontarian, Quebecois, and English Canadian. She has recorded three albums prior to her current one: Five O’clock Somewhere, Yin and Yang, and Free and Easy. Lavigne studied composition at McGill University and piano at l’universite de Montreal. Her music is influenced by elements of Neo-Classicism, Neo-Romanticism, Minimalism, Jazz, Folk, and Classical music from India. In effect, she creates a modern fusion of styles.