"Two Thrilling Summer Screening Nights on June 27 and July 11 at the Bloor Hot Docs Cinema! Screenings at 7pm and 9.45pm..."  I love any festival/cinema devoted to the dark, horrific, and weird in cinema!  Here's some more info - come check out these films!

ON WEDNESDAY, JUNE 27 AND WEDNESDAY, JULY 11, the festival will showcase each night, two exciting new feature films, at 7pm and 9.45pm, and then invite film-goers to the festival’s signature nightly social event, Pub After Dark, at a popular local drinking establishment, Pauper’s Pub. Read on for more info on the four incredible films we’ve chosen to showcase this Summer, and watch their trailers.

WED, JUNE 27, 2012 at the BLOOR HOT DOCS CINEMA

7.00 PM: JUAN OF THE DEAD (Special Presentation, Cuba, Alejandro Brugués, 92 mins)

“Absolutely wonderful, from the dialogue, to the many classic scenes…zombie makeup and kills amongst the best ever seen…a Home Run!” - Ain’t It Cool News

Cuba’s first-ever zombie movie has become a festival circuit hit with its outrageous storyline, fantastic kills, and uniquely stunning island location. With sell-out screenings from TIFF to Fantastic Fest, this crowd-pleasing undead sensation from the Caribbean is not to be missed!!

Trailer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QvD2Ij54SA4

9.45 PM: THE PACT (Canadian Premiere, USA, Nicholas McCarthy, 89 mins)

“Effectively delivers the creepy builds, the jolts in the night, and the “holy crap!” moments” - Film Threat

Get ready to be scared by this creepy supernatural film that was a big hit at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, about a young woman being haunted in her childhood home, following the death of her mother. Co-stars Casper Van Dien (SLEEPY HOLLOW, STARSHIP TROOPERS).

Trailer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1amGFXpgIQ

ADVANCE TICKETS & PASSES are already on sale and selling fast. Tickets are $13 each, with discounts for Bloor Cinema Members ($11), buying Double Feature packs ($22), or 4-Pack Passes ($39) of which only 100 are available, and also come with the added benefit of Priority Seating, similar to our main festival’s popular All Access Pass. To grab your tickets and passes, visit our Box Office Page now:
http://torontoafterdark.com/2012/buy-tickets

Most of you who know me know that right now I am hell-bent on getting some pet toads (a number of varieties:  Oak toads, an Albino Woodhouse toad, garden toads, and so on).  I've been looking around areas like Riverdale Farm, High Park, pet stores (like Menagerie Pet Shop - awesome place!), and even online, like on kijiji.  I've even posted an ad on kijiji looking for toads and have had a number of responses.  What's super frustrating is the number of people I've begun to make arrangements with who have then proceeded to disappear from the face of the earth!  Do ya wanna make a sale or not?  Something happen to the toad?  Why not tell me and cancel the transaction?  I have a feeling I'm dealing with some pretty young "sellers" here, which may say something about the "next generation"...or perhaps it's more about the people who search on kijiji. 
    Anyway, if anyone has a toad to offer me (like one of the ones I've listed - not interested in many other species, i.e. Firebellied toads - just too darned aquatic), please let me know!  I've had a pet toad or pet frog of one sort or another since the age of five, so I have LOTS of experience with them!  They're just the bee's knees as far as I'm concerned - I love having them around and I can't quite explain why, other than I think they're very cute and I feel an odd kinship with them. 

And now, here's some more pictures of toads!  Enjoy...

Woofstock is back in my neighbourhood THIS weekend - Saturday June 9th and Sunday June 10th and I'm excited about going!  So many dogs in silly costumes...so many silly (and useful) things to buy for your doggie(s)...check out Woofstock's website for more info!  Come on down and bring your fur babies!

Unfortunately, June 9th also marks the anniversary of my cat Prea's passing.  I miss her a bunch, as does Kevin, and I know Frodo does, too, in his own way.  Love you, beautiful girl!

I'm just crazy about this wildlife centre in the North Island of New Zealand - can't wait to visit!  They've got a couple rare WHITE kiwis and they're just beautiful!  Check out the site at http://www.pukaha.org.nz/.  Here's a picture of Maoriora, Manuka's new little brother.  You can purchase little stuffed versions of Manuka, their first white kiwi, through the site as well.

Done by Alex Zgud, apprenticing at Black Line Studio, King St. West in Toronto.