On Friday I was able to go to the opening night of the Shinsedai Cinema Festival held at the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre.  The movie started at 7pm but I arrived at 6:35 because I was told that there would be a small reception starting at 6pm with drinks and appetizers.  The tickets to the show were 12 dollars but I was able to get in for free because a friend of mine got a few of us free tickets to the show.  Upon arrival I received two tickets for 2 alcoholic beverages (CrazyC would probably have thought of what I thought of – going back to get more tickets for alcohol because the ticket was not stapped or ripped to show that you received tickets).   There were some sushi rolls (2 per plate), edamae and seaweed salad.  I got there around 6:30 and the food was gone by 6:35.  If you plan to go to the festival next year go earlier in order to get your free appetizers. 

At 7pm the doors opened to the Kobayashi Hall, the screen and the risers were set up for the movie.  Two Subaru cars were placed in the front as well.  The hall was surprisingly nicely set up.  The movie I saw was titled “Kakera: A Piece of Our Life”.  It is around a university student (girl) who meets a young lady who tells her that she’s not interested in women but is interested in certain people.  The young lady is a lesbian while the university student has lost her way with having a boyfriend who is the stereotypical Japanese man and is curious with her sexuality.  All of my friends did not enjoy the movie.  The lesbian was desperately in love with a straight girl trying to convert her and was acting like a stalker.  The university girl was quite confused like a high school teenager.  The movie was slow paced.  This is a low budget film and the actors were all wearing the same clothes every single day.  Some of my comments from my friends were “I want 2 hours of my life back!” “Is that why they served alcoholic beverages?” “If that is the best movie of the festival I don’t want to see another”.  Although the movie was not the best I would recommend supporting up and coming directors and film makers. 

At the end of the movie the director of the movie Momoko Ando flew in from Japan and she spoke to us about the movie and she also had a question and answer period.  She also talked about James Iha (previously in the band The Smashing Pumpkins) was in charge of the music in the movie. 

For a free night of 2 alcoholic beverages and some appetizers, well worth it if you have nothing to do.

I have been looking for a colour laser printer for the longest time.

A) I refuse to buy a inkjet where I will be wasting all my money on ink

B) I need to make beautiful posters/printouts for my classroom

For Luminato’s closing weekend special event Cirque du Soleil will be performing 30 mintue shows at the Harbourfront Centre.  

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CrazyChiquita has been waiting for Coldstone Creamery to come to Toronto after standing in line for 40 minutes in Japan to create her own flavorful ice cream.

The store

Slab Ice creamery recently opened in Thornhill right across from the Promenade. They use the same concept as Coldstone Creamery without the chanting and singing. You can create your own ice cream by choosing a flavor, and many toppings (CrazyChiquita later learned that you can have more than 1 flavor of ice cream!). The ice cream and toppings are placed on a cold marble stone and mixed infront of your eyes!

CrazyChiquita was venturing into the book fair at her school when she came across some new graphic novels that she had never seen before. Fashion Kitty, by Charise M Harper. Many students have been reading babymouse, Bone, and some Japanese translated mangas. Many graphic novels are violent and are inappropriate for children however, babymouse is actually quite cute. when I came across Fashion Kitty I thought of CrazyDiva at once.

Here is the back end of the book:

What if things had worked out a little differently for Cinderella? What if the evil stepmom wasn”t exactly horrible and the step sisters weren”t entirely evil? If all those things were true, would there still be a prince who falls for the lonely and sad maiden? For Lucy, the answer seems to be a resounding. No. When her father remarries, Lucy’’s old life is turned upside down. She moves from her West Coast home to a suburb on Long Island and feels like a total outcast. With no friends in her future, a blank social calendar, and a huge crush on the prince of the varsity basketball team, Lucy’’s life doesn”t seem to have the makings of ” happily ever after. ” But Lucy soon finds out that happy endings do happen-just not scripted as she had planned.

Here is a story that most teacher’s of heard. It’s like “the story” that is passed down from teacher to teacher. I wonder if it really happened?

Let me know if it sheds a tear or makes you think. Enjoy=)

Crazy Chiquita has gone from free coffee to 31 cent ice cream! On Wednesday, April 29th from 5pm to 10pm Baskin Robbins is selling ice cream for 31 cents. They will be supporting the local firefighters (who wouldn’t want to support the sexy firefighters?).

Coffee seems to be the word of the day this week for CrazyChiquita for some odd reason. Today I received an e-mail from a friend letting me know that there will be free coffee at starbucks tomorrow (April 22nd) if you bring in your own tumbler (coffee container). They will also be deducted 10 cents per purchase if you continue to use your own tumbler each time you order.

CrazyChiquita has found a place where “everybody knows your name” and it’s not a bar but a coffee shop. It’s not as stylish as Starbucks, comfy as Second Cup, or busy and run down like a donut shop like Tim Hortons. It’s neighbours cofee at a Petro Canada gas station. Yes it is at a gas station however, it is chic super large convenience store with a coffee shop/deli attached to it. They have high quality beans for the coffee, tasty lattes as well as fresh sandwiches made when ordered.