It's that time of year again, when nearly everyone in downtown Toronto keeps their head on a constant swivel when walking the bustling streets of the city's core, hoping to catch a glimpse of someone famous (Johnny Depp received tons of attention while exploring the hipster-heavy Kensington Market). TIFF is here, and along with the celebrities, the city celebrates in the best possible way - bars stay open till 4am, and anybody who has even the slightest knowledge of trends is out in search of a good time.
Last night, the Drake150 hosted a TIFF "opening party" of sorts, featuring a live band, a DJ and the typical trendy Drake atmosphere. Looking around, I saw an eclectic mix of personality types - from hipsters to trendy-fashion types to post-work business-men still in suits to a few older guys drinking beers in plaid shirts with their buddies. But, the beauty of TIFF was ever-present: everyone was co-mingling, dancing, laughing, and generally having a good time. People who, ordinarily, probably would not converse with one-another seemed deep into conversation, likely spurred by the whispers of celebrity names blowing like wind through the crowd.
The party ended at 4am, and the crowd remained relatively stable until then. The place was packed, and it took quite a while for my party to receive the over-priced drinks we ordered (I paid $14 for an Amaretto sour and I may still be in shock). We sat on the patio, just outside of the action, where the atmosphere and noise level was more conducive to conversation without yelling. The bar had constant waves of people flowing to and from the bar, interacting with each other in huddles like buoys, claiming their territory among the constant motion. This, obviously, made it a bit difficult to order, but the atmosphere allowed for it - no one seemed to notice how long the whole process took.
Needless to say, everyone I spoke to enjoyed themselves last night, and is looking forward to another season (week) of TIFF. The parties run late, the city comes alive, and celebrity-spotting runs more rampant than it does for tourists in Beverly Hills. That is, of course, if you don't let the experience be over-shadowed by the 20 minute wait for a $14 drink.
Last night, the Drake150 hosted a TIFF "opening party" of sorts, featuring a live band, a DJ and the typical trendy Drake atmosphere. Looking around, I saw an eclectic mix of personality types - from hipsters to trendy-fashion types to post-work business-men still in suits to a few older guys drinking beers in plaid shirts with their buddies. But, the beauty of TIFF was ever-present: everyone was co-mingling, dancing, laughing, and generally having a good time. People who, ordinarily, probably would not converse with one-another seemed deep into conversation, likely spurred by the whispers of celebrity names blowing like wind through the crowd.
The party ended at 4am, and the crowd remained relatively stable until then. The place was packed, and it took quite a while for my party to receive the over-priced drinks we ordered (I paid $14 for an Amaretto sour and I may still be in shock). We sat on the patio, just outside of the action, where the atmosphere and noise level was more conducive to conversation without yelling. The bar had constant waves of people flowing to and from the bar, interacting with each other in huddles like buoys, claiming their territory among the constant motion. This, obviously, made it a bit difficult to order, but the atmosphere allowed for it - no one seemed to notice how long the whole process took.
Needless to say, everyone I spoke to enjoyed themselves last night, and is looking forward to another season (week) of TIFF. The parties run late, the city comes alive, and celebrity-spotting runs more rampant than it does for tourists in Beverly Hills. That is, of course, if you don't let the experience be over-shadowed by the 20 minute wait for a $14 drink.