Image: Nuit Blanche 2010 at the New City Gas Co complex by Tristan Brand.
Forget backroom deals with developers and dull city council meetings — the future of Griffintown just might be defined with an all-night party.
Tired of battling projects that were overwhelmingly wrong for their neighbourhood, Griffintown residents Judith Bauer and Harvey Lev took matters into their own hands and decided to showcase all that is right for Griffintown. They launched the Griffintown Cultural Corridor during Nuit Blanche 2010 with a big, public celebration that highlighted the neighbourhood’s rich historical setting along with artistic performances and presentations of alternative development visions.
The South-West borough has been very supportive and this year’s edition of Nuit Blanche will be even more ambitious: the festivities will overflow onto Ottawa street, and many local organizations have been invited to participate. From the event’s press release:
Sample an array of art, dance, live music, poetry, film, video, weaving, live painting, workshops, lectures, theatre, exhibitions, walking tours, installations, local cuisine, a scavenger hunt & more. Visit the awe-inspiring setting New City Gas, a hidden treasure of early industrial architecture, as well as a number of other outdoor and indoor venues in the surrounding neighbourhood, including Galerie Hovig, Interstice, the Benedict Labre House, the Darling Foundry, the Griffintown Horse Palace, the Jardin de consultation et de concertation and Le Dalhousie.
Refreshments will be available inside at the Bombay One Day Café and the Benedict Labre House & outside at Boulangerie Rustique Sweet Lee’s kiosk.
WHEN: Saturday February 26 at 3 pm – Sunday, February 27, 4am.
WHERE: 956 Ottawa Street, 141 Ann Street, 308 Young Street, 242 Young Street, etc (Square Victoria & Bonaventure metros, Bus 107 & 61).
I plan to be there all night – come and say hi!