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What’s Up This Week

This certainly isn’t all that’s going on this week, but this is all the after-work stuff that I’ll be up to…

Monday, July 26th: Tweetgasm 1.0 at the Gladstone Hotel

Poster for "Tweetgasm v1.0" at the Gladstone Hotel: "The Gladstone Hotel presents its first Tweetup - Monday July 26, 2010 - 7 p.m. till 12 a.m. (4 the early birds) - Gladstone Hotel, 1214 Queen Street W. - Melody Bar - No Cover - DJs Joe Blow and Sigourney Beaver"

The folks at the Gladstone Hotel are launching Tweetgasm, a monthly series of Tweetups at the Melody Bar where everyone’s invited to “dance, drink, eat and meet”. The event will be hosted by the following local Twitter personalities:

It’s at the Melody Bar in the Gladstone Hotel, 1214 Queen Street West (just east of Dufferin/Gladstone) on Monday, July 26th and runs from 7:00 p.m. to midnight.

Tuesday, July 27th: Developer Lunch at Sky Dragon Restaurant

"Developer Lunch": Photo of bamboo steamer containing 4 siu mai

Every now and again, local software development guy with a videocamera Kristan “Krispy” Uccello calls a gathering of Toronto’s programmers for a nice dim sum lunch. That’s the Developer Lunch, and there’s one happening on Tuesday!

It’s at Sky Dragon Restaurant, top floor of the Dragon City Mall, SW corner of Dundas and Spadina, on Tuesday, July 27th and runs from 12:00 noon to about 1:30 p.m..

Wednesday, July 28th: BIXI Bash Launch Party at the Gladstone Hotel

Row of Montreal Bixi bikes in their docking station

When I was in Montreal earlier this summer, I took Montreal’s BIXI bike system for a spin and loved it. I also noted that BIXI was coming to Toronto, and it’s happening at last. What better way to mark the event with a party: the BIXI bash? There’ll be free food and entertainment, as well as a chance to take a BIXI bike for a spin (having ridden one myself, I can report that they’re great city bikes).

It’s at the Gladstone Hotel, 1214 Queen Street West (just east of Dufferin/Gladstone) on Wednesday, July 28th and runs from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m..

Thursday, July 29th: Loser Karaoke at Tequila Sunrise

loser karaoke

After a little dinner engagement, the Ginger Ninja and I will probably make our way down to Tequila Sunrise to catch the weekly Loser Karaoke event. Loser Karaoke isn’t about being the best singer, it’s about wanting to sing in front of a friendly and appreciative crowd. Loser Karaoke is also a regular gathering of Toronto’s social media and web development crowd, so if you’re looking for work or networking opportunities, you might want to drop by.

It’s at Tequila Sunrise, 212 Adelaide Street West, just west of University), on Thursday, July 29th and runs from about 10:00 p.m. until they close the joint.

Friday, July 30th: “Stumbling Distance with Joey and Wendy”, Grendel’s Den, Harvard Square (Cambridge, Mass.)

grendels den

The Ginger Ninja and I are spending the long weekend in Boston and parts surrounding, and we want to catch up with our friends in the area! So we’re declaring a gathering at our favourite Harvard Square hangout and inviting whoever wants to catch up with us for a drink, dinner, conversation or impromptu accordion performance.

It’s at Grendel’s Den, 89 Winthrop Street, Cambridge, MA, on Friday, July 30th and running from 5:30 p.m. to about 1:00 a.m. Join us!

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Back from New York, Still on Vacation

Joey deVilla with his accordion and the Naked Cowboy at New York's Times Square, July 2010

…and I can scratch one item off the “Bucket List”: do a musical number with the Naked Cowboy of Times Square.

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Toronto Live Interviews: Karl Schroeder

karl schroeder

If you’re looking for some good science fiction writing, I recommend the works of Karl Schroeder, my friend and former co-worker (we worked together at OpenCola during “The Bubble”). Karl’s a technologist and a deep thinker, and it shows in his novels, which have that philosophical, “big ideas” bent that is the hallmark of the best sci-fi.

You can catch him tonight in a conversation with local “Science 2.0” figure Jen Dodd at the Centre for Social Innovation (215 Spadina Avenue, at the corner of Spadina and Sullivan – that’s between Dundas and Queen). The event is free, but tickets are limited, so sign up!

Here’s a description of tonight’s event:

TORONTO LIVE INTERVIEWS

Tuesday July 20, 6:30pm – 8:00pm
Centre for Social Innovation, Room 120 (215 Spadina Ave)
Tickets are free, but please register as space is limited
Information and registration: http://guestlistapp.com/events/25203

Karl Schroeder is an award-winning science fiction author. He’s a world-builder able to convincingly juxtapose high and low tech. He goes beyond Arthur C Clarke’s idea that "any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic" to understand the worldview, philosophy and economy of people living in these magical possible futures. In his work as a foresight consultant and environmental blogger, he flips these perspectives around to understand how we can make a future we want to live in.

Karl will be interviewed by Jen Dodd. Jen is a physicist, designer of public science events including SciBarCamp and Perimeter Institute’s Quantum to Cosmos Festival, and is now managing director of Subtle Technologies, Toronto’s annual festival of art and science.

Location instructions: on arriving at 215 Spadina, go through the Dark Horse cafe to the lobby, go up the stairs to the left of the elevator, and room 120 is through the glass doors straight ahead.

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We All Need a Button Like This

stop time

Found via TopCultured.com.

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The Album of the Summer

2-disc album of "Vuvuzela Hits" fetauring "Toot", "Peep", "Bzzzz" and more

Found via The Whoa.

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Why Cruise Around Chicago Like a Chump?

…when you can cruise in style with this guy?

ferrari for hire

When this computer fad blows over, I’ll probably take a page from his book and drive people around Toronto in my Honda with the accordion.

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Do You Know the Way?

Chart of songs with destinations and how to get there

Found via Certified Bullshit Technician.