| id #CCCCCC; background-color: #ffffff;" /> | | | | melodic sounds of the pan flute were enchanting |
| Festival season is in full swing. Summer is a great | | | | the crowds and hips were started to gently sway. |
| time to be in Toronto since there are multiple | | | | Even a woman in an electric wheelchair started to |
| events going on at the same time. I had just | | | | dance exuberantly to the music. |
| heard about the “Taste of Little | | | | I talked to a gentleman from the Coro |
| Italy” street festival and decided to | | | | Folcloristico Italia di Toronto who informed me |
| partake of a little free-admission Italo-style | | | | that his group has been singing for more than 15 |
| celebration. | | | | years and their repertoire includes the whole |
| When I got there yesterday at about noon the | | | | gamut of Italian folk songs, from the north to the |
| restaurants and bands were still setting up. | | | | south. I also had a brief chat with Pablo Terry, |
| Streets were closed all the way from Euclid to | | | | bandleader and flute player of Sol de Cuba who |
| Shaw and everyone was working feverishly to | | | | has been brightening up the Toronto music scene |
| prepare for the 3rd and final day of this | | | | for the last 11 years. |
| year’s Taste of Little Italy. All the major | | | | Across the street was another band playing Latin |
| bars and restaurants had big screen TVs to beam | | | | Jazz, followed by a group playing contemporary |
| the live Brazil-Australia World Cup match to a | | | | Italian music. A few steps down from Terry was |
| crowd of avid soccer fans. | | | | the Jeanine Mackie Band who got the street |
| At the heart of Little Italy is the CHIN Building, | | | | cooking with their funk, blues and R&B tunes. |
| headquarters of Toronto’s first | | | | Further east another Italian choir, the Coro |
| multicultural / multilingual radio station, founded by | | | | Abruzzo, was setting up for its performance. |
| famous Italian-Canadian entrepreneur and | | | | A street festival always attracts interesting |
| community leader Johnny Lombardi. CHIN | | | | people. An older gentleman on a bike decorated |
| broadcasts in more than 30 languages in Toronto, | | | | with a tiger tail, a green plastic superhero adorning |
| in more than 18 languages in Ottawa/Gatineau | | | | the handlebar and a tyrannosaurus rex made an |
| and is available via satellite all across North | | | | appearance. Of course I had to talk to him. He |
| America. | | | | said his name was Mickey, he’s retired |
| Little Italy is one of Toronto’s most | | | | now and he figured decorating his bike would be |
| popular entertainment areas with a great variety | | | | something to do in his retirement. From |
| of Italian restaurants, trattorias, bars and | | | | dressed-up dogs to dogs in baskets on bikes, |
| cafés. Other cultures have also made | | | | everyone seemed to have a lot of fun. |
| culinary inroads and you’ll find Japanese, | | | | Various entertainment areas were set up for |
| Mexican, Peruvian and Portuguese eateries as well. | | | | children: young ones were running back and forth |
| Since the festival wasn’t quite off the | | | | inside a very large inflatable train, a soccer |
| ground yet I decided to treat myself to a little | | | | challenge was set up and at “Hoop It |
| lunch and chose a nice window seat at “El | | | | Up” people could test their basketball skills. |
| Bodegon”, one of Toronto’s | | | | Various games of chance were enticing the |
| foremost Latin restaurants. Although the menu is | | | | crowd to try their luck. |
| dominated by meat and seafood, I opted for a | | | | Low-cost shiatsu massages were available and |
| light meal, combining a savoury avocado salad | | | | henna tattoos could also be obtained. Many of the |
| with fried plantains, one of my favourite | | | | local stores participated in the festival by providing |
| vegetables. I had a perfect view from my little | | | | special sale-priced items on the street. |
| table by the window and caught a glimpse of two | | | | The Nicorette girls, dressed in devilish red dresses, |
| celebrities making a brief appearance: Jack Layton, | | | | adorned with diabolic tails, were handing out free |
| federal NDP leader, and Olivia Chow, now a | | | | stop-smoking chewing gum, trying to entice the |
| federal Member of Parliament. Toronto’s | | | | smokers to give up their filthy habit. |
| foremost political power couple, made an | | | | More freebies were to be had in the form of |
| appearance on their bikes at the street festival. | | | | “clodhoppers”, a truly delicious |
| At about 1:30 pm the music started to get going | | | | concoction of fudge and graham wafer crackers. I |
| and right across from my lunch spot a two-man | | | | have to admit I walked by the Clodhoppers truck |
| band started to play Latin rhythms and flamenco. | | | | four times just to scrounge up another free |
| After a very satisfying mid-day meal I started | | | | sample of these delicious sweet treats. Another |
| strolling through the area and chatted with a few | | | | bunch of people were handing out free taste bags |
| of the bands. One of the music groups, Los | | | | of Doritos, containing the new Jalapeno flavour. |
| Imbakayunas, is from Peru and tours all | | | | Later on I bought a pop at Kalendar Koffee |
| throughout Eastern Canada during the summer | | | | House and was promptly given a free hot Nutella |
| months and plays at various street festivals and | | | | sandwich. The generosity was appreciated. |
| special events. The hot Peruvian rhythms and | | | | |