Mar
03
We’ve all been the victim of back stabbing at some point in our lives. Some for being successful, some for being popular, and others for just being happy in life. We’re all to familiar with the common number one underlying reason for it all – Jealousy.
Jealousy is the driving force behind back stabbing behaviour. The weirdest occurrence of this behaviour is when someone who has called you a friend and claims that they think the world of you takes advantage of your trust and thrusts that cold sharp dagger in your back themselves.
I recently was the victim of this type of behaviour, and along with me – a few other close friends of whom had also done nothing to deserve it.
Feb
03
A neighbourhood resident is interviewed by the media after a differently-abled resident at 13 Homewood Avenue murders their Salvation Army assisted living worker. Photo Credit: SERIAL SEAN
Just after 11:00 this morning a fatal stabbing occurred at 13 Homewood Avenue in Toronto, just a few blocks east of the Church/Wellesley Neighbourhood.
Homewood Avenue has a history of street crime that includes drugs, prostitution, and physical violence. With this type of street crime occurring on an almost daily basis it comes as no surprise that this particular strip of Homewood is littered with rooming houses and low-income housing projects.
Unbeknownst to me until this violent homicide took place was that 13 Homewood Avenue is actually a Salvation Army assisted living house for the differently-abled – a supervised independent living address for those requiring just minimal assistance in their day to day living.
The victim of the stabbing is alleged to have been a woman in her 50’s and was the attending Salvation Army supervisor/superintendent. The accused is alleged to be one of the home residents, a 47 year old man.
At the time of this report no motive for the attack could be identified and the names of the attacker and victim were not being released by Toronto Police, most likely due to the nature of the attacker being differently-abled – complicating the case.
A number of reporters on the scene raised the question on if these kinds of living homes are such a great idea if the residents can act out at any given time for apparently no reason at all.
As a resident of a neighbouring building, I’ve always had an eye open for potentially dangerous situations when going out and living my day to day life – crimes of this nature can happen at any time and for any (and sometimes no) reason, but with such a violent crime occurring so close to home I wonder if I have to start worrying about random unprovoked attacks like this in my neighbourhood in the future.
No official statement has been given by Toronto Police on what charges will be laid following the murder.
SERIAL SEAN
Jan
19
Originally when GayGuideToronto.Com proprietor Shaun Proulx initially approached me to start my ‘Unhinged & Raw’ column on this site he mentioned 3 things to me that really made me want to be a part of it.
1. ‘…You’re everywhere, I see you at everything!’
2. ‘You’re a straight-shooter, a no BS kinda guy…’
3. ‘I LOVE your photos!’
That Proulx had taken the time to research my work (and was unknowingly stalking me at events) was instantly flattering (and creepy). This type of professional background checking on other business-minded individuals is very common, especially when business is being negotiated between entrepreneurs – both parties involved have their own paths to tread and are usually VERY protective of their projects.
However, when two creative and savvy professionals come together and ideas are shared with both parties goals and interests taken into consideration (and to heart) a lot of greatness can come from it – and I’ve seen a lot of it come out of Proulx.
The comments I just made speak pretty clearly about Proulx’s recognized trait number two – so let’s move on down the list to Proulx’s third comment, ‘I LOVE your photos!’
Remembering that very straight-forward comment is why I have displayed the accompanying images below. Normally, my column focuses on events, performers, and people working within the creative entertainment community. Today, I am showcasing a photo that was taken at Toronto’s Fly Nightclub of performer Gia in two stages. Photo one is the raw photo straight out of the camera, and photo two is what you can do with that kind of image with a little imagination and creativity.
Photo 1 - Original raw image of Gia performing at Fly Nightclub in Toronto, Canada.
Photo 2 - Creatively edited version. Gia performing at Fly Nightclub in Toronto, Canada.
Moving forward with my ‘Unhinged & Raw’ column I will be doing this type of entry once a month – showcasing a candid image taken at an event and then transforming it into something that will hopefully be more creatively interesting.
What are your thoughts on digital photography and being able to creatively manipulate images in this fashion? Leave me a comment below.
SERIAL SEAN
xo
Jan
08
Sofonda Cox rings in 2010 at Fly Nightclub, Toronto, Canada. Photo: SERIAL SEAN
Ok folks, this is it.
2010, the year in the 90’s that was supposed to give birth to hovercrafts, flying skateboards, and intergalactic travel (alongside 2 ties in a suit). None of the aforementioned happened (thankfully, especially the 2 ties) – but, are you really surprised considering the claims of complete technological failure when we went into the year 2000? There’s a reason these ideas are given birth and it’s not to meet a timeline – it’s to make people think, and react. Precisely what I’m doing this year – reacting.
There has been a surge in the media in the last few years of only reporting bad news. Where death and destruction certainly sells movie tickets, it’s not quite so popular when it’s actually real. Taking a step backwards from the trend (as I usually do) I have resolved that 2010 (for me) will be all about the positive.
As this is my first entry for a year of positivity, I do have mention of a few wonderful events that happened over the holidays that brought warm smiles and cheer to everyone involved. Toronto’s Fly Nightclub & Fire on the East Side Restaurant raised $4179 for the CP24/CHUM Christmas Wish drive helping contribute to 70,000 underprivileged children experiencing a Christmas this year. The funds were raised at the two establishment’s staff holiday celebration.
Another event that took place was the Mr. Leatherman Toronto Bottle Drive which saw $600 being raised for the LGBT Youth Line, an organization that delivers support to our community’s youth. I was recently informed that another drive will take place in the summer so start saving those empties! Hats off to both initiatives.
On a personal note, I will be contributing photographic & graphic design services to a few additional charitable/non-profit organizations this year. As a business owner I strongly feel that giving back to the community and city that supports your goals and projects is important. News of these projects will be detailed here in the near future.
With 2009 left in the dust and vanished from view (minus of course the annual filing with Revenue Canada) and 2010 glowing bright and sunny before us i think that in order to have a great year we all need to want to make it happen. Take a more goal oriented mind frame, set some goals, make sure you have a plan to achieve them, and most importantly – make sure you have the best rockin` out great time with a stupid smile on your face all year long.
Together, we can make this year our best one ever!
SERIAL SEAN
xo
Dec
29
MLT Bottle Drive in Support of LGBT Youth Line, January 10.2010, The Beer Store - 572 Church St. location in Toronto, ON. Promotional poster designed by SERIAL SEAN.
Another holiday season has come and gone (minus New Years which is still to come), and I’m sure like many other people reading this, it was a holiday season full of boisterous laughter accompanied by the consumption of copious amounts of alcohol.
Looking around your home, I’m sure there are stacks of beer cases and empty liquor bottles just laying around and screaming to be taken back to The Beer Store to be recycled.
Fortunately, Mr. Leatherman Toronto (MLT) has organized it’s first fundraising event for 2010 to help you resolve this issue – and it happens (conveniently!) just as the holiday season concludes.
On Jan 2, 2010, MLT, in association with Northbound Leather and with the generous support of Spearhead, will be holding a beer and liquor bottle drive at the 572 Church Street Beer Store location on Church Street in Toronto (just barely north of Church & Wellesley) from 10:00AM to 10:00PM. This event will be hosted by Mr. Leather Fellowship 2010, Devin Thompson, and is in benefit of MLT’s 2010 charity – The LGBT Youth Line.
So gather up that collection of empties left over from the holidays (and the ones that will accumulate over New Years) and drop them off to support a great cause. While you’re at it, enjoy a cup of hot chocolate courtesy of Northbound Leather. Cash donations will also be accepted.
Complete event details for the MLT Bottle Drive and a rundown of previous charity events undertaken by MLT can be viewed on MLT’s bottle drive announcement page.
Hope to see many of you there!
SERIAL SEAN
xo
Dec
18
I’ve had such luck recently when trying to time things out. When you’re an entrepreneur in the creative entertainment field with photography and publicity as extra offerings, you sometimes wear yourself a little thin. It took many years for me to be able to regulate myself to the point where everything was balanced.
This can sometimes be the case with the holidays. Invitations to social, work, family, and special events on all days of the week can leave you with precious little time after you’ve already gone to work and taken care of your own personal errands – starting to see where I’m coming from with this?
In today’s society, it’s considered more polite (and classy) to attend a few events a week and not make it a point to make sure you are at everything that is going on. As much as people love seeing your smiling face, it can also turn on you in a heartbeat if you’ve over-extended yourself and appear tired and worn out.
So lucky you, I’ve put together a few helpful hints to get you through your holiday season.
Plan it out.
Get a calendar and mark down all of the events you have been invited to. Decide which ones are most important to you to attend and ensure that you are prepared with holiday cards and appropriate cheer. Make sure that the events you won’t be attending receive cards as well wishing that you could have made it (and make it a point next year that their event is to be attended).
Get Some Rest.
Being a good guest is just as important as being a good host. Make sure that you are properly rested, prepared, and lightly fed, before heading out to a holiday event. This will make sure that you are alert, smiling, and a pleasure to be around (plus having a snack beforehand will prevent you from gorging yourself at the snack table or cheating on that new diet).
Drink Responsibly.
While the holiday season does bring people together, it can also bring a lot of glasses together in celebration of said holidays. As much as the host of an event is responsible for you, it would be so much easier on them if their guests were respectful enough to make sure they were responsible for themselves. Monitor your alcohol intake and keep an eye out for others – not everyone had as great a year as you did.
Enjoy yourself.
Nothing says ‘happy holidays’ more than a genuine warm smile and a hug when you see someone you know. The holidays are supposed to be a time of people coming together and celebrating their year. I’ve noticed recently that people have become more hands off in their greetings. While certain flu strains are keeping people from being friendly, there is no harm or foul in a good old fashioned holiday hug. Just make sure it’s someone you know, or if truly in the spirit of the holidays – hug someone new.
Take Some Time.
Nothing is more important during the holidays then remembering that you do need time for yourself with all the saintly goodness you’ve done to everyone else. To avoid burnout and irritability, make sure that you do have time set aside to do some things that you want to do this holiday season – you’ll be jollier all through winter if you do.
In closing, everyone is in a rush during the holiday season, be kind to each other and forgive the little mishaps that might happen along the way – nothing destroys the holidays like a grouchy Grinch.
SERIAL SEAN
xo
PS: Recovering from surgery is coming along faster then expected. I’m up and around the city again so keep an eye out for a maniacal holiday smile and a slight limp. Special thanks to those readers who took the time to send me ‘get well soon’ emails : )
Dec
11
This entry is being written from my bed.
I was in for surgery Thursday morning and am quietly recovering at home receiving the occasional visitor with care package in hand – aren’t friends lovely?
Since I have yet to add to this column anything really personal about myself, I decided that this entry would centre around my surgery and how wonderful our Canadian Health Care System is.
But before we dive into what happened yesterday, let’s go back to about April or March when this all first started. (more…)
Dec
04
MLT Victory Ball, Primrose Hotel, Toronto Canada
True, each pageant’s winner must selflessly give of themselves for a year after being awarded the title, MLT differs in the respect that personal core values must be aligned with that of the Leather Community – a community that does astounding charity work and raises funds for many non-profit and charity organizations. Being a charity fundraiser himself, SERIAL SEAN definitely gives two very big thumbs up!!
This year’s winner was David Ivey, Mister Leatherman Woody’s/Priape, and will continue to represent Toronto in the Mister Leatherman International Competition.
A new restaurant is opening!
Pizziolo, a North American known pizza establishment, will be opening it’s doors very soon on Church Street – just a few doors south of Woody’s. The gourmet pizza restaurant will be licensed (that’s right, pizza AND beer) and I’ve confirmed that they will be doing community and charity work as well! What a great way to start the new year!
In Other news, Dance Camp also occurred over the MLT weekend which included a performance by local performer Gia. ‘Camp’ was definitely a word to be used as the young performer did a saucy rendition of ‘Candyman,’ from the Scandinavian band Aqua – most noted for their single ‘Barbie Girl’ in the late 90’s.
With many other events occurring around the city in a less than lip-synced fashion, I think that Toronto is headed straight into a renaissance period of artistic re-creation.
What are your thoughts?
SERIAL SEAN
xo
This past weekend had a few memorable events occur. First, on Saturday night, Tel Aviv DJ/Producer, Tommer, landed at Toronto’s Fly Nightclub. Once local DJ Jamal warmed up the crowd, the alcohol started flowing, the water bottles were held high, and the evening was full of shiny sweat-streaked faces all through the night. What will probably be a blur to many people present that evening will undoubtedly be a returning event in the future.
Second, Sunday night featured the finale showcase (and added date because of the show’s demand) of local darling Nina Arsenault’s ‘The Silicone Diaries,’ which was a sold out show all week – leaving many people without even standing space at Toronto’s Buddies In Bad Times Theatre.
‘The Silicone Diaries’ has been in the media all week, with rave reviews from all of the local theatre critics and papers – 4 out of 4 stars, spectacular indeed. If you missed Nina Arsenault in action this time around, you’d better make sure you buy your tickets in advance for her next awe-inspiring performance.
Last, our very own GayGuideToronto.Com founder, and Toronto’s 103.9 Proud FM media star, Shaun Proulx, returned from Los Angeles after interviewing Buck Angel and gets ready to host the upcoming Mister Leatherman Toronto Competition. The competition weekend kicks off tomorrow with a tribute dinner for the 2009 titleholders and runs through until Sunday with the 2010 competition & Victory Ball.
Make sure that you check out the complete run of events and after parties on the MLT website – I’ll be attending most of these events as a media correspondent and photographer so make sure to say hi and enjoy yourselves responsibly!
SERIAL SEAN
xo
Nov
20
Attending the ‘15th Gourmet Food & Wine Expo’ at The Metro Toronto Convention Centre in downtown Toronto was a great idea.
I mean really, who turns down an invitation to attend an expo where you’re actually encouraged to walk around with a glass to sample as many wines from around the world as you can, AND, to top it off – they have some of the best prepared delicacies the city has to offer prepared by some of our finest chefs. What’s not to absolutely love about this event? (more…)
