Paradise Theatre

Came here with a few friends earlier this week and the vintage neon marquee out front already had us excited before we even stepped inside. The balcony seats have incredible sightlines and the whole room has this warm, old-school cinema energy that the big chain multiplexes just can't replicate. As a group of people who take their snacks seriously, we were genuinely impressed by the concession stand, especially the butter chicken popcorn which we finished long before the opening credits. We are absolutely coming back for whatever they screen next.

So today we saw the Antidiva documentary about Carole Pope, Rough Trade and Kevin Staples. The "Diva in ptotest" was there herself on an after the show panel with the director, producer, and interviewed on stage by film expert Richard Crouse. The film showed the Toronto scence back in the 80s, (easy breezy times), and the rise of Rough Trade, and its influence on the many artists who found watching Carole, liberty to be themselves ...openly. She stepped out, on stage and dared to relate to all our sexual urges, through music and words, with no apologies or compromises, and continues to this day to want to create ...and be herself...whatever that means...is what id imagine she'd say. The director said something I really relate to when talking about music....today there is such a smorgasbord...of people to listen to, back then u stuck with an artist and saw them develop grow and you kind of focused your love and attention on their development. That doesn't really happen anymore. Her doc is recreating fans old and new for the music of Rough Trade and for Carole Pope diva extradinaire.

What a nice refurbished movie theater. Fresh buttery Popcorn and FREE glasses of water.