escape route
Let me state at the outset: I support the idea of a gay pride weekend. I used to participate. But I think it has become way too large.
Nearly 10 years ago, I moved to Church/Wellesley, thinking it would be great to be in the middle of it all &mdash including pride weekend.
The novelty wore off. I live at Pride Ground Zero; I'll own that. I have choices: I can participate, I can leave the city for the weekend, or I can move.
However, the letter sent to me by Pride Toronto made me chuckle. It's well-intentioned, and it's great to provide street closure information to the community. But there is some language that, to me, conjures up images of stress, combat, and violence.
It talks about traveling "the gauntlet of Church Street". Like running the gauntlet. Funny... that's exactly what a crushing crowd seems like to me if I'm not under the influence of intoxicants!
And there's a reference to passing "through the crosshairs of Church & Wellesley". Crosshairs! As in the telescopic sights of a gun!
Finally, it outlines plans for an "escape route" in case local residents need to arrive or depart by car.
This does not sound enjoyable. Not in the least.
Nearly 10 years ago, I moved to Church/Wellesley, thinking it would be great to be in the middle of it all &mdash including pride weekend.
The novelty wore off. I live at Pride Ground Zero; I'll own that. I have choices: I can participate, I can leave the city for the weekend, or I can move.
However, the letter sent to me by Pride Toronto made me chuckle. It's well-intentioned, and it's great to provide street closure information to the community. But there is some language that, to me, conjures up images of stress, combat, and violence.
It talks about traveling "the gauntlet of Church Street". Like running the gauntlet. Funny... that's exactly what a crushing crowd seems like to me if I'm not under the influence of intoxicants!
And there's a reference to passing "through the crosshairs of Church & Wellesley". Crosshairs! As in the telescopic sights of a gun!
Finally, it outlines plans for an "escape route" in case local residents need to arrive or depart by car.
This does not sound enjoyable. Not in the least.
Comments
I hope you have a great weekend away. We're going to try to tough it out.
Here's you (and me for that matter).
Last year it took me 90 minutes to get from Woody's to the subway (not long after the parade). It's normally a 4-5 minute walk.
Not this year!
Drinking in parking lots, pride parties, fat guys in chaps, sporty spice, last call at 4am, me being a nightmare drunk monster cutting in lines everywhere...
Soon I will too old to get plastered Friday, Saturday and Sunday and you will wish you were a part of that.