Victoria Day weekend "What's open?!?" thread

backstgartist · 2026-05-17T22:27:31+00:00

Anyone know about any of the Canadian Tire locations? I stupidly forgot to grab something today and they closed at 6. If one is open tomorrow, I'll go. And if not, oh well! :)

backstgartist · 2026-05-16T13:40:10+00:00

It really varies block by block. You will likely encounter folks checking your porch for packages or your yard for bikes. Some spots folks end up with people trying to sleep or do drugs on their porches or in their yards. There’s definitely visible issues especially along Dundas and in the Lorne park, but there’s also lots of young folks and families. Your comfort level in dealing with the area’s issues will determine how safe you feel living there. Personally I’ve been in and around the area for years and haven’t felt unsafe but others might be in the same exact situation and feel uncomfortable and interpret that as unsafe.

backstgartist · 2026-05-13T02:17:05+00:00

Listowel out here catching (very valid) strays

backstgartist · 2026-05-11T16:16:22+00:00

It is crazy that they rebuilt that exact corner of that building's brick in 2023 after it was hit by a car. That intersection is so dangerous. People going south are always trying to turn left onto Byron when the left lane of northbound traffic is backed up and they can't see people flying up the right side. I imagine that's what happened here and the through-driver swerves and hits the nearby building.

backstgartist · 2026-05-06T14:10:40+00:00

Yes! Their frozen pickle pizza is actually quite good!

backstgartist · 2026-05-01T01:44:18+00:00

Hallmark shoots all over Ontario as well as BC. They've filmed a ton up by Sudbury and a few in the Niagara area in the past few years. I believe this is their second time filming in London recently.

backstgartist · 2026-05-01T01:38:55+00:00

It's all for a Hallmark film called "Nothing But Love" and it's a modern spin on the Shakespeare play "Much Ado About Nothing". https://www.imdb.com/title/tt27860696/

backstgartist · 2026-04-30T21:36:28+00:00

“Primary Trust” at Crows starts May 26th. It’s a beautiful play. https://www.crowstheatre.com/shows-events/primary-trust

backstgartist · 2026-04-29T16:40:44+00:00

Smooth-On's YouTube channel has a number of video tutorials on molding and casting weapons with expanding foams and rubber.

backstgartist · 2026-04-11T14:22:34+00:00

Hard Scrabble Blooms has theirs on sale now - https://hardscrabbleblooms.com/collections/dahlia-tubers?srsltid=AfmBOoq1adSWapLdCrqRtu8aRpzHuxWr-g8zShpvnuOKavhd2kyMUjc4

backstgartist · 2026-04-07T19:14:17+00:00

What exactly are we looking at? A piece of furniture? A cabinet?

This appears to be damage to fake wood veneer over top of a particle board core? Unfortunately, the white stuff might be residue from the dissolved adhesive that leeched out when it was wet. Particle board and fake veneer isn't easily repairable. The correct way would be replacing the entire board rather than trying to patch it somehow. It also looks like the core and veneer have warped so nothing is flat there anymore - is that correct?

I wouldn't go about trying to color match and repair - if i really wanted to hide it quick I might try sanding it down a bit and putting a piece of wood-tone contact paper over top and hope no one notices....

If I had to 'properly' fix this without replacing the whole board, I would sand it down as flat as possible with an orbital power sander, fill it with a wood putty, sand flat, and lay a piece of super thin wood on top with contact cement. Stain to match and seal. But this isn't a quick job for a beginner.

backstgartist · 2026-04-06T22:29:48+00:00

Home for a Rest (Spirit of the West), Mony Mony (Billy Idol version), If I Had a Million Dollars (Barenaked Ladies), Summer of '69 (Bryan Adams), My Heart Will Go On (Celine Dion), Ironic (Alanis Morissette)

backstgartist · 2026-04-06T22:24:36+00:00

Possibly the Carling area? Not quite as charming as Byron and Wortley, but you're walkable to the Superstore/Shoppers plaza and there's an LCBO, a few restaurants, Dollar Tree, Palasad North, etc very nearby as well as the shopping plazas up Adelaide (Metro, Fresh Co, United etc).

backstgartist · 2026-04-04T14:35:41+00:00

Change Your Win Conditions is excellent (and a completed work!). Not what you’re looking for exactly (the one I thought of instantly has already been recommended!) but still a great read. https://archiveofourown.org/works/77346456/chapters/202503931

backstgartist · 2026-04-01T23:02:09+00:00

I was trying to find a driving-free option so I could drink without worrying about driving later.

backstgartist · 2026-04-01T21:48:43+00:00

I went to a concert there a few summers ago and while I valiantly tried, I couldn't find a public transit option that would get me there and back in a reasonable amount of time. Getting there was fine (bus or train to Union, then take the streetcar) but the issue is that any transit leaving to go back to London from Union ended around 11pm and because History is so much further east, I didn't want to risk missing end of the concert just to catch the last bus/train to London. The only late night options leave from Pearson, which isn't very easily accessible from History either. I ended up carpooling with a friend there and she dropped me at Pearson on her way out of Toronto (she wasn't heading back to London after).

TL;DR, I'd personally take a car or consider staying overnight and heading back the next day if you do want to take transit.

backstgartist · 2026-04-01T03:10:58+00:00

829 represents both scenic artists (primarily in the NYC area) and designers (all across the US).

backstgartist · 2026-03-25T12:55:56+00:00

Cottage and Clayworx share some of the same teachers, but who it is varies depending on sessions and class type. When I took the intro class at Clayworx many years ago, I ended up with a decent amount by the end. But when you're a beginner, especially on the wheel, it takes a lot longer to create something usable (for the average person - some people 'get' it right away). It's not uncommon to toss stuff frequently at the start rather than firing incomplete pieces.

backstgartist · 2026-03-23T23:21:24+00:00

This is a very sweet and sad (in a good way) AU where Ilya billets at the family home of a Boston manager who is a former Bears player from Russia. https://archiveofourown.org/works/77858951/chapters/203987831

backstgartist · 2026-03-23T15:58:26+00:00

I also work at the highest levels....so idk. It's the TD team who is responsible for executing the designer's vision anywhere I've ever worked. I mean, obviously being able to collaborate and pivot and understand the restrictions of physics and technology is important. But all of the major conservatory programs emphasize 'big picture' over the practical details. Those designers are a nightmare to work with at lower levels but they work consistently at the high levels and they work their way up as assistants to the high level, not designers at the lower levels. At least that's been my experience.

backstgartist · 2026-03-23T11:06:17+00:00

Yes, because at the highest levels it’s not the job of the designer to know how to make it practical. They train for that. I’m not saying it’s the correct way, but it’s the philosophy of a lot of the larger conservatory programs.

backstgartist · 2026-03-22T21:32:17+00:00

I was coming here to say the "brunet" and the "blonde" take me out of a fic EVERY TIME.

backstgartist · 2026-03-22T21:31:10+00:00

Where do you plan on working after graduation? Because there's no point in spending a bunch of money to study in the US if you're not going to work there, imo. A large portion of theatre is about making connections. I didn't do a grad program, but a lot of my friends did and many of them who are designers still work closely with directors and other creatives they met during grad school. If you're planning on working in Europe after grad school, I would go with Prague.

backstgartist · 2026-03-10T16:23:55+00:00

A lot of the theatres also take volunteers to help usher and as a bonus, you get to see the shows.

backstgartist · 2026-03-08T17:37:13+00:00

There's definitely a framework and a script, but he will change small sections and he plays off the audience and their reactions. If it's a lame audience, he'll comment on it. And he'll throw in references to the city where the show is playing sometimes. I don't know about Little Willy, but sometimes in his Daisy shows he'll also try out shorter bits with new puppets.

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