Local Expert
Vanessa Grant
Vanessa has been to New York, London and Paris – and still considers Toronto her world-class city of choice (at least until French Vogue comes calling, of course). A trained journalist, currently…
Vanessa has been to New York, London and Paris – and still considers Toronto her world-class city of choice (at least until French Vogue comes calling, of course). A trained journalist, currently working at HGTV.ca as a web editor and producer, she's also been a researcher, beauty editor and fashion industry insider.
Although she's now covering home decor and lifestyle, the range of topics she write about is quite varied. Want to know how to get a man to buy you a drink at a bar, how beer is brewed or how Omega fatty acids can improve your health? Vanessa has written about it. And now with, Planet Eye, she’ll keep you up-to-date on the best events, restaurants and cultural activities the Toronto has to offer.
Instead of just hitting the gym, Vanessa takes classes at the National Ballet School and is proud of her impeccable posture. She loves Queen Street West and Kensington market for unique fashion finds. And sushi cravings keep her on the lookout for the freshest fish in the city. She’s dabbled in hand modeling and her delicate digits have graced billboards and magazine pages alike.
But Vanessa is most comfortable behind the camera – and can often be found in front of a computer reading about style and art or out on the street, discovering new restaurants, stores and hidden gems in her own city.
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Nuit Blanche: Highlights
While you'll probably discover all kinds of art and off-the-wall experiences that are off the map, I thought I'd share some of the more mainstream exhibits to plan your travels around (the other stuff you'll just tumble over).
Zombies in Condoland promises to be both extremely amusing and an opportunity to take part in some art. This performance art piece takes place in Zone A at 444 College Street at College Park. It'll be a series of "night actions that mimic a film screening set for a low-budget horror film." The artist, Jillian McDonald, from New York, invites anyone and everyone to participate and encourages participants to arrive in costume and character.
Zone B offers 15 Minutes of Fame at 333 Bay Street an installation/sculpture/performance art. This piece features a prison bed, prison blanket, sheet and pillow along with a suitcase full of personal effects. Viewers are invited to collaborate by going through artist, Amanta Scott's suitcase and arranging the items around her and write an artistic statement about incarceration. Each installation will be up for up to 15 minutes and will be photographed and posted online.
Finally, check out Smash! Droppin' Stuff at 60 Atlantic Avenue. This is exactly what it sounds like. Stuff will be dropped and destroyed 12 times throughout the night with video replaying the previous drop in between installments. Each drop will be accompanied by music and introduced by an emcee.
For more ideas of which installations to check out, visit the Chart Your Path section of the Nuit Blanche site.