The white night is upon us

Okay, I'll admit it - I've never actually been to Nuit Blanche before. I think this is sort of akin to movie buffs admitting they've never made it through Citizen Kane. But, really, it wasn't my fault: the first year, I was working until late into the night and had to be up at 6 the following morning to greet the movers and get all my stuff into our new place; and last year I was in Ottawa, visiting family and having a grand old time at SAW Gallery's Video Arcade fundraiser.

But this year, I am going and am going to try and make up for lost time. I tried to sift through all the preview materials to pick out some highlights on the Canadian Art website and Leah Sandals has also provided some alternate picks on her blog. I hear that bikes, rain jackets and snacks are in order.

Hooliganship [still] by Peter Burr and Christopher Doulgeris

There are also some great off-site/unofficial Nuit Blanche events happening around town. If you are animation and 3D glasses inclined, Pleasure Dome is presenting a screening of Peter Burr and Christopher Doulgeris' Cartune Xprez: a roadshow of animated videos and multimedia performances tonight at CineCycle (in the old coach house down the lane behind 129 Spadina Ave., on the east side between Richmond St. W. and Adelaide St. W., Toronto) at 9 pm and 11 pm.

Evan Tapper, High Holiday Office Hours with the Almighty Creator of the Universe, 2008.

And Evan Tapper's Yom Kippur-related performance at InterAccess, High Holiday Office Hours with the Almighty Creator of the Universe from 7 am to 7 pm also looks promising, offering the public a chance to converse with the man upstairs:

For one night only, the Almighty Creator of the Universe will set up a heavenly office to receive visitors. Supplicants will sign in with Sheila, God's secretary. (Sheila hates her job and can not wait to retire.) Also meet Brad, God's summer intern. He is a third year Corporate Communications student. (He is thrilled to be here because it is going to look great on his resume.) Sheila and Brad will assist the public to meet with God, make their case, and atone for their sins.