Nuit Blanche, Mercatto + Musings

We came, we saw, and we definitely did not conquer this year's iteration of Nuit Blanche. My friend and I decided to brave the surprisingly non-frigid Saturday night air to see what this year's festivities had in store.

 

 Most people in (and around) Toronto are of two minds when it comes to the nocturnal art festival. Some hail the Scotiabank-sponsored festival for its ability to bring art to the masses in a transformative way; showcasing why Toronto is on its way to becoming a world-class city.

Others, realize that many of Nuit Blanche's patrons are:
a.) Underage drinkers
b.) People who enjoy spamming Instagram with pseudo-artistic photos
c.) On copious amounts of drugs...or would like you to believe that they are
d.) All of the above 

Some type of light chamber?

My friend and I started are journey in the heart of the Financial District at Bay and Front. We encountered some sporadic installations, including:

• Some kind of echo chamber tower thing?
• A long line for an exhibit entitled 'Howl'
• Some type of projection of people bathing in the Ganges River
• Another projection of what appeared to be the surface of the moon? (don't quote me on that one)
• Random people playing 'Duck, Duck, Goose' in the middle of an intersection, which was not an exhibit at all 

It was exactly as it was described.

Nathan Phillips Square

Like almost all art, Nuit Blanche requires you keep an open mind and a lot of patience. I lost count of the times I was stepped on, brushed and pushed without apology. Which is why, after making our slow pilgrimage to the crux of the downtown action, Nathan Philips Square, we gave up. 
I know, I know, quitters never win and all that, but it must of been a full moon, because this crowd was cray.

Badly shot, far view of Ai Weiwei's Bicycle installation

Mercatto

Luckily my friend and I were able to find solace in the arms of downtown Italian hotspot, Mercatto. Having come straight from work before heading to Nuit Blanche, I was starving. But they were only serving their late-night menu, which consisted of about five pizzas.

We conceded and split the 'Maiale' pizza, which was a thin crust, meat-filled pie of perfection. Also word of advice, their entire wine menu is in Italian, so you better have Google translate on hand. Or be fond of guessing. Or be Italian.

Mercatto Late Night Pizza Menu

Delicious, doughy goodness. Maiale Pizza at Mercatto.

All in all, we bid Mercatto and Nuit Blanche farewell around 2 a.m., vowing to visit the former again soon. The jury is still out on whether or not we'll make a triumphant return to Nuit Blanche next year. 

The train station is kind of artistic, no?