Life Is Better On Vacation

Wednesday, 30 March 2016

World’s Largest Paper Clip

Location: Kipling, Saskatchewan, Canada
Address: Bell Park 6th Avenue
Date: Oct 2014
Website: townofkipling.ca

The small town of Kipling, Saskatchewan has the world's largest paper clip on display. The paper clip is over 15 feet tall and and weighs 3043 lbs. The paper clip represents a series of internet trades that also made it into the Guinness Book of World Records. When we drove from Regina, Saskatchewan to Winnipeg, Manitoba we specifically detoured in order to check it out.
It all started in 2005 when Kyle Macdonald traded a red paper clip online for a fish shaped pen. He then traded the pen for a door knob and so on and so on. Eventually, he ended up trading a KISS snow globe with actor Corbin Bernsen. KISS is a band best known for their painted faces, stage pyrotechnics and Gene Simmons' tongue. Corbin Bernsen is best known for appearing in the Major League movies or as Arnie Becker on the television show L.A. Law. As a result of all this trading Corbin now has a star in front of the giant paper clip.

The snow globe was traded for a movie role. This is where the town of Kipling finally became involved. The movie role was offered online and the town of Kipling traded the house at 503 Main Street. One of the residents of Kipling acted in Corbin Bernsen's movie Donna On Demand. The trading was complete and the big red paperclip was erected in Bell Park. It now joins a long line of world's biggest items that draw tourists like ourselves to small towns like Kipling. Not many of them can boast such a story as this one red paper clip.

One question we have is if a paper clip is defined by its shape or its function? While this giant red steel bar has been bent into the traditional paper clip shape one wonders if it would be capable of actually holding paper. Aside from the fact it would need giant sized pieces of paper, we wonder who or what would give it that slight bend needed in order to slide some paper into place?

Map of Our World

World’s Largest Paper Clip

Post # 104

Friday, 25 March 2016

My Big Fat Greek Wedding House

Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Address: 73 Glenwood Crescent
Date: Oct 2014
Website: www.facebook.com/MyBigFatGreekWeddingMovie/

The sequel to My Big Fat Greek Wedding will be released in theatres today. The original movie was filmed mostly in Toronto and went on to become the highest grossing romantic comedy of all time. The movie was written by Nia Vardalos about her own life. She plays Toula who is a Greek woman that falls in love with a non-Greek man (John Corbett). The story follows the two families as they come together for the inevitable big fat wedding.
The home above was used as the exterior of the Portokalos house where Toula lives with her family. You can tell that even in real life this home belongs to a Greek family. The statues in the yard and the decorations on the front make this clear. There were still a few modifications that were made for filming such as adding a false second floor and placing additional statues and lighting in the front yard. A false garage painted like a Greek flag was added on one side while the actual garage pretended to be a big bay window.
The home makes multiple appearances throughout the movie and dressed up in all it's proud Greekness it really is hard to miss. Based on the trailer we watched for My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2, it looks like the entire cast is back for the sequel. That includes the house.

Map of Our World

Portokalos Home

Post # 103

Sunday, 20 March 2016

Royal Alexandra Theatre

Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Address: 260 King St West
Date: Nov 2015
Website: www.mirvishproductions.com/theroyalalexandra

The Royal Alexandra Theatre in Toronto opened in 1907 and holds claim to being the oldest continuously operating legitimate theatre in North America. It sits on King Street West at the eastern edge of what used to be a string of restaurants owned by Honest Ed Mirvish. The theatre received its name and royal title from Queen Alexandra who is the great grandmother of Queen Elizabeth II. It is more commonly just referred to as The Royal Alex.
The theatre has hosted countless productions through the years. One notable performance was a production of Godspell which featured Martin Short, Eugene Levy, Dave Thomas, Andrea Martin, Paul Schaffer, Howard Shore, Gilda Radner and Victor Garber among others. Some of you may recognize most, if not all of the names here. After Godspell, the first four went on to success on the television show SCTV. The next three went on to Saturday Night Live and Victor Garber played Jesus in the film version of the play. They all have had successful careers in television and movies. Some of them have been honoured on Canada's Walk of Fame just across the street on the south side of King Street West.

We ourselves have seen at least two successful productions at the Royal Alex. Many years ago we saw the Abba musical Mamma Mia! which starred Camilla Scott in the main role. We also attended a more recent performance of Kinky Boots which has musical numbers written by Cyndi Lauper. The Royal Alexandra Theatre continues to draw crowds after almost 110 years in operation.