Nuit Blanche was very successful this year. Everyone had a great time, especially our little group, two of whom came in from Montreal Mensa for this event.

The evening started around 7PM with a dinner of roast duck, beef, blue potatoes and green salad. Afterwards we hung out and talked about photography, languages, culture and etymology. Eventually by 11PM we were ready to go. We did not want to miss the whole night, just the crowds.

The starting point was the Distillery District. There were outdoor displays of metal forging and on the main street, a zombie dance group performing to Michael Jackson’s thriller. Of the indoor exhibits was one gallery featuring Quebecois art and another gallery of Polish artists.

Next we moved on to the ROM area. In between the Distillery and ROM was the spooky Bay subway station soundscape. Moving west a little we amused ourselves with a computer display and keyboard based on a sheet of glass, just like in sci-fi movies. South we started out the cinema part of the evening with the Wolf and Deer (nervous) dear pacing about a room short film.

There were more art film clips in the tent in front of the ROM. One clip was about a group of men slapping each other to music (hilarious), a spooky Circle-like short, and another opera singer based short. Most of the clips were pretty good and it was a nice chance to sit down and relax from all the walking. Next we wandered around the Gardiner ceramics museum. There was a dance performance in the lobby, an artist using tape to create a landscape while we watched and remarkably accurate ceramic replicas of a suitcase and purse.

Around the corner, we went to look at the ROM Crystal and encountered our only lineup. This was for a hot dog stand. At the ROM Crystal we did a lot of photography and just gawking at the projections. After the Crystal, a quick walk to String of Diamonds. This was a wonderful. The field was almost empty. I lay down for a while to watch the balloons and lights play in the wind under the hazy moon. It was so surreal. It was magnificent. The others in the group amused themselves around the balloon filling station in inhaling helium and changing their voices.

We then moved on to Hart House. Room after room of fun there. The best display there was of a plant being taught the alphabet. The instructor would say the letter then repeat it many times. I want the DVD of that! There was a really cool kaleidoscope and Japan language training film with some pretty funny topics for conversation.

After Hart House we went to Queen West. The Gladstone Hotel was good, as were many of the installations on the street. As 7AM came up came to the pink material wrapped building. Unfortunately Simone had just left to go home and was not in our group picture. On the way back we joined the Scotiabank Marathon, but just long enough to cross the road.