Southern Ontario?

[Amerasu]

I'm in Kitchener Waterloo area.

I'm wondering if we have enough people to make a live trading group around here.

Or even in Hamilton. Toronto is only an hour. That works too.

[altermyworld]

I am def in, i so want to do a live trade its not funny.
Ang

[Pippin]

I'm in Hamilton too!

[howiewonderstud]

I am relocating to Kingston in the spring-
in November we will be moving to Toronto and Hamilton...
so I would be willing to join in... in the near future.

[rkolig]

I'm taking a bunch of fliers (yours Sal) and some of my collection to my art club class next week. I'm hoping to get a group started in Kingston.

[rkolig]

Sal, doesn't Toronto have a group that meets already? They used to.

[Pippin]

I am relocating to Kingston in the spring-
in November we will be moving to Toronto and Hamilton...
so I would be willing to join in... in the near future.

Slowly working your way here!! Now you say you are moving to Toronto AND Hamilton!!!! Working in To and living in Hamilton? Dont beleive all the bad stuff about Hamilton, Torontonians are just jealous!!

[Zhenechka]

Sal, doesn't Toronto have a group that meets already? They used to.

Not Sal, but Toronto had a group that met at the Gladstone but I never went when I lived there so I don't know if it's still going. I also don't remember many of the details except that it was on a weeknight.

[altermyworld]

ok all of Southern Ontario ladies and gents, i want to do a live trade, an art day.
On maybe a Saturday. Here in Hamilton, who would come?
I want to meet some of you fine art people and trade and make art.
Ang

[MissKoolAid]

darn... if you weren't 6 hours away...

[AnitaM]

Ooooh if only I lived nearby I would come. I loved it in Canada when I came over a few years ago (before ATCs). Wouldn't mind coming over again. When are you thinking of meeting? Who knows if its later on in the year then I might be able to meet you all,

[Amerasu]

Hamilton suits me fine as long as I'm not on holiday :)

I think Jean is also close as well as Canuckesz (iATCs) and gggrdrules. They haven't checked in here but we could PM them.

[shoreart]

I am so glad we are starting regional groups. They are so fun!! If we get enough people over the next two years to try these get togethers ... I might be talked into organizing a convention with guest famous artist to do workshops, with plenty of time spent in trading. I have been to one twice in Ohio...and they are the best weekends, with people coming from all over!! Great workshops, lots of new friends!!It's doable.

[MissKoolAid]

Ok, I've thought about it and I think I could make it. I just have to check where is the closest I could get by train (there was no stop in Hamilton on ViaRail's site.) Anytime in July works for me as well as the first 2 weeks of August.

[Pippin]

Via rail would be to Toronto and then the GO train runs to both Burlington and Hamilton Miss KA! There are also GO buses from Hamilton to TO that run more often than the trains! I am sure one of us could pick you up from the GO station!

[rkolig]

I could maybe do something. I have enough Via points to get a free train ticket. It would depend on which weekend tho. Would we include art play time too? I'd love to meet you guys.

[altermyworld]

OOOOOOOOO Loads of Interest.
Will be in touch.
ANg

[altermyworld]

Pippin
ANg
rkolig
Amerasu
Ms Kool-aid
Green Glam

Yes we were planning on an entire day or something like that which would include art and trading and meet and greet. :)
Whose going on holidays and when?

Mine is the last week in July 28- Aug 5. I am available every other week-end as i do work week-ends.


ANg

[inhabitingtrees]

I would love to join in a get together! I am moving from Thunder Bay to Toronto sometime during July but my parents live in Hamilton so it would be easy for me to get out there!

[inhabitingtrees]

P.S. if you are trying to get to Hamilton by VIA - both Oakville and Aldershot (Burlington) have VIA stops, Oakville is a large hub. From there you can take GO Transit into Hamilton. Either Oakville or Aldershot are much easier to navigate than Toronto and are usually less busy. Just my two cents :)

[inhabitingtrees]

P.P.S. I found this somewhere online:

The Gladstone Hotel will now be hosting trading sessions the 3rd Wednesday of every month starting at 6:30 pm in the Melody Bar.

Artist Trading Cards are miniature works of art created on 6.4 x 8.9 cm cards (hockey card size). Bring your self-produced cards then trade them. No money is involved, and there is no cost to participate.

Hundreds of people from all over the world are trading ATCs. Don't miss out on this fun way to meet other artists and start your own unique art collection! For more information on ATC concept and to see some sample ATCs see the international trading card official website.

Does anyone know if these swaps still happen at the Gladstone in Toronto?

[rkolig]

I went right to the Gladstone website and they still host them. OMG, I'm going to be in Toronto this Wed. I might be able to pull this off.

http://www.gladstonehotel.com/events/show.cfm?id=625

[Amerasu]

I'm on holiday Aug 14-21. Any other time is likely ok, just need to check the calendar before fully confirming a yes.

[rkolig]

The ATC live trade in Toronto was a bust. I arranged to take the 10 pm train home and walked down to the Gladstone Hotel. Its about 6 km (4 miles) each way. This hotel was obviously a really lovely hotel in its day. Lots of stone arched balconies, heavy wood interior, high ceilings. Its in fairly good shape, but isn't up the old grandeur. Alot of the rooms have been redone by artists. The whole building sort of caters to the artist community. Rooms start at $200 a nite.

Anyway, had a nice dinner in the lounge where the group was to meet. It was Queer night too in the lounge too, so that was interesting. ;) Anyway, I sat there for over 2 hours and not one ATCer showed up. I couldn't even see ANYONE with a portfolio of cards or anything, not even the contact person. And I checked with the waitress and the manager too, so they both knew I was waiting for that. Anyway, they did provide me with the contact info of the person who runs the trades. I'll contact her and see what is up.

However, on the bright side. Apparently every Wednesday nite they have a Life Drawing class (with models) that you can join for $7 a night. If I'm in Toronto on Wednesday evenings (which sometimes I am), it would be worth the trip just for that. Just gotta drag my supplies along.

Anyway, like I said, I did get the contact info, so will email her and see what's up. It did strike me that it would be easy to arrange a meet for this group there. They have painting classes some nights and that life drawing class. I'll bet we could arrange all sorts of things. Maybe an option for another time anyway.

[Amerasu]

That's too bad Mary! I've often thought of just driving out on a Wed night to see what's up. Maybe the next time you're in TO and plan to attend the life drawing class, I'll join you. $7 is a lot better than the $25 I pay for a 3 hour session at my local gallery!

[rkolig]

I'll do that Sal.

Yeah, I thought it might be fun if we could get a couple of close by people over there. I know there are at least 2 members from Toronto, probably a lot more.

[rkolig]

I've emailed a bit with the person that hosts these "do's" in Toronto. Apparently the group has floundered a bit and she's trying to get it active again. Interest from others (me) seems to be motivating her more. If we can get enough interest and it gets going again, we could add it to the calendar here, but I wouldn't do so until I know that there will be interest.

Is anyone here interested in attending this event next time I'm in Toronto on the night of a scheduled meet?

[jean]

I'm crossing fingers that I'll be able to travel by the time this gets rolling. I'm still housebound for the time being...but oh, boy, I want to go!

[Amerasu]

Mary, I would go as long as I have nothing scheduled. Weekdays are pretty busy for me with kids and I normally work evenings too but if I know in advance, I could probably make it.

[MissKoolAid]

How would the weekend of 9-10th of August be for a meetup in or around Hamilton?

[inhabitingtrees]

I would love to join in an event in either Hamilton or Toronto (or both). I'm moving down midJuly so 9-10th of August might work for me :)

[rkolig]

Wouldn't work for me (company coming), but my schedule's goofy August, Sept, Oct. so my going anywhere is gonna be difficult.

[altermyworld]

i will have to check my work schedule i can't remember if i asked for the week-end off.
Its really difficult to get time off in the summer months.

Maybe a fall meet up would be better, just putting that out there.

ANg

[rkolig]

Does it work for anyone other than Sal and I to hit the Toronto meet occasionally? Heck we could just take over and go the the Life Drawing Class afterwards. I have the contact person's email, so could let her know if some of us would be there and maybe she could rouse up some other Torontonians.

It wouldn't replace a big event, but could hold a few of us over. LOL

[altermyworld]

I work wednesdays and am working that particular Wednesday in July and AUgust and it is really hard to get time off this time of the year, i might be able to in September.
ANg

[MissKoolAid]

Alrighty, lets hold our meet til fall. Maybe one of the long weekends (Labour Day or Thanksgiving.)

[inhabitingtrees]

I just arrived in Toronto and live remarkably close to the Gladstone, if that swap meet is still happening occasionally? If not - we should get something of our own going!

[rkolig]

I'll let you know next time I'm in Toronto on a Wed nite. Perhaps a few of us can arrange to go together.

You should check it out Kate. PM me if you're interested in the hosts email addy.

The meetup is still listed on the Gladstone's website as an activity. That place is sorta cool. Lots of artsy stuff happening there. I had dinner there too. The food is quite good.

[howiewonderstud]

I used to live about a half block from the Gladdie- waaaay back before they started renovating that neighborhood.. They've hosted Karaoki/Life Drawing and Darts Tournies all on the same day... ATC trades are new, though...

Now it's alot of yuppie kids go there at nights-
it went from being a seedy-but cool unknown place to being this uber-cool place to be seen in a matter of months-
in fact, the Drake Hotel, a block 1/2 east of the gladstone- less than 10 years ago were well known to be flop-houses that alternated between being.... errrr- brothel-esque establishments- those places at any given time- and the cops were always raiding, at least at the drake!

in fact alot of drug-dealers and pimps used to live and work in both places...

which is why they both underwent renovation-
to clean up a badly scarred neighborhood!

and if you ever get a hankering for an excellent Souvlaki or a burger-
head to Nick's- aka Friendly's bar and grill-
if Nick's is still there????
a block east of the Drake- almost to Dovercourt on the noth side of Queen St.- the best souvlaki or burgrsyou could ever want and good beer on tap, too!