Pop Up Carols!

We are doing a repeat of last year, and popping up at random places to sing carols for people. On Saturday we stood at the front entrance of St Lawrence Market. A favorite moment was a young man with a brilliant voice joining us for Good King Wenceslas. More carol pop-up appearances coming over the next week, until Christmas Day. http://bit.ly/R19CbB

Gloooooooria...

We are doing Pop-Up Carolling. Alex, Anna and I get dressed in our cutest vintage coats and sing songs of the season for unsuspecting streetcar passengers and strollers-by.

The difference between carolling and our regular Pop-Up Concerts is that we are keeping to the carolling tradition, and asking for donations (in a darling pink velvet chapeau set on a leopard-print stool, of course). All of our proceeds are going to Childhope Canada Foundation - their website is under construction, but you can still check out the info and principles of the foundation by clicking here: http://www.childhope.com/about.htm

Here is the schedule of our dates and times if you live in Toronto and would like to see us Deck The Sidewalks.

Thursday: Yonge/Bloor corner, in front of Hudson Bay Centre 12PM, Indigo Books in the Manulife Centre, 1PM
Friday: in front of Holt Renfrew, 5:30PM. Yorkville and Bellair, 7:30PM.
Saturday: St. Lawrence Market (south side) 10:30AM. Eaton Centre (Dundas/Yonge entrance) 12PM.

On either end of these pop-ups we will be singing on streetcars and subway cars.

Happy Holidays!

Next Pop-Up!

October 16, in a decidedly huffy locale. Don't be surprised if we get booted out!

Pop-Up hint: may be this season's Yves St-Laurent boots that do the booting.

Email me: hello at lenni jabour (one word) dot cawm if you want the details and to attend our Pop-Up Concert.

Pop-Up Concert Number Four

We are so excited about this Pop-Up Concert; we have no idea what will happen at this venue. There is quite a bit of security so it could be tricky!

In any case, we are performing on Sunday Sept 11 at 8PM. This is the first weekend of the Toronto International Film Festival, and we have made sure that our Pop-Up venue is smack dab in the center of all the excitement.

As always, our concert has no admission charge and everyone of all ages is welcome. Even dogs are welcome at this particular venue.

If you want the details and info, send me a message by going to my website and clicking "write".

(hint: it is old-school, was once grand and is now a bit of a dump. Totally my kind of place.)

Jack Layton. July 18, 1950 – August 22, 2011

Statement today from Jack Layton's wife and two children:

"We deeply regret to inform you that The Honourable Jack Layton, leader of the New Democratic Party of Canada, passed away at 4:45 am today, Monday August 22. He passed away peacefully at his home surrounded by family and loved ones. Details of Mr. Layton’s funeral arrangements will be forthcoming."

This is such a sad day for Canadians. Jack Layton accomplished the seemingly impossible and also the historical: he led the NDP to victory as the official Opposition Party in the House of Commons. Entirely likeable (no matter what the politics, most people had to agree that Jack Layton was utterly charming and intelligent), his battle with cancer was handled elegantly with the media, never used in any way to gain support or sympathy - in fact, few people knew the extent of his second battle with cancer, including his adoring colleagues who worked in his office.

My husband was part of the advertising team that created all the television spots for Layton's winning NDP campaign. Working within a budget, it was decided that our humble kitchen would be used as a set for one of the ads for free, to save a few thousand dollars paying for a location. Even this small contribution on our behalf to Layton's legacy makes me proud.

Jack Layton was a true supporter of the arts, a study in tenacity and conviction, and a great Torontonian; I feel blessed and inspired to have witnessed firsthand his success and incredible accomplishments. Rest in peace.

Pop-Up Concert Number Three

This Pop-Up Concert was an entirely different experience altogether! At Hazelton Lanes we got booted out. At Loblaws we could have been dancing around in gorilla suits for all they cared. But we found a delighted and appreciative audience at Indigo (the downtown Toronto location).

As usual, we asked beforehand that our invited supporters use utmost discretion at our Pop-Up location (not asking staff when/where the concert is, not hanging around the piano expectantly before we get there, etc). One of the nicest memories of this particular Pop-Up is seeing people emerge from the various rows of books, escalators and entrances as we started playing. It was so lovely.

We were even on Global News, la di da!

Below, the clip from our performance. It runs just over 5 minutes. Enjoy.

Pop-Up Concert Number Three: August 14

Our next Pop-Up concert will be held downtown Toronto on Sunday August 14 at 2PM.

Hint: everyone in the place may be feeling a bit blue.

If you want to come, please send me a note to: "hello at lenni jabour (one word) dawt cawm." (spambots could well be my number one pet peeve).