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| Jurassic Park IV: The Search for Cupcakes |
The third season of the FNLROM museum parties are in full swing, so I dropped by one of my favourite Toronto cultural events for some food and fossils. I'm happy to say the events are lively and thriving, and still continuing to evolve with each season.
I wrote about FNLROM in the past season and talked about how much I love exploring the museum after hours. Right from the start, I was happy to see changes made to make the experience better. For one thing, the currency system has been streamlined. You used to buy individual ROM Bucks to pay for food and drinks. Now, you buy a ROM Buck for $6 and that ROM Buck buys you what you want - basically you buy 1 ROM Buck and that's what each dish costs. Some dishes, like tacos, are 2 for $6, while drinks and other dishes $6 each, but it's far simpler than past seasons.
And don't worry about what you'll spend your bucks on, as the variety of food vendors on site has grown, with expansion beyond the main lobby. Bronfman Hall on the 2nd level has been transformed into sort of a pop-up food court and bar, making excellent use of the space. There's every imaginable variation on street food available, from tacos and cupcakes to Filipino sisig fries and samosas - there should be a few things to appeal to those with vegan and gluten dietary needs.
Follow some of the #FNLROM food vendors on Twitter:
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| Marlin tacos from Gourmet Gringos, giant buns from Hot Bunzz, and incredible duck egg and peameal sandwiches from Little Tomato |
Food is only part of the indulgence of FNLROM, so after a quick bite, it was off to explore. Keep in mind, while FNLROM runs until 11pm, the galleries are only open until 9:30pm (Dinosaur and Gem galleries are open later), so make the most of your time.
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| Only slightly dramatic looking prairie dog. |
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| Doctor What? |
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| Tryptich |
I have to take a moment to praise the staff and volunteers who keep FNLROM running. We had some wonderful interactions with ROM Volunteers among the galleries. There's a sarcophagus in the Egyptian gallery that I've passed a dozen times, but until a ROM Volunteer chatted with us, I'd never realized it wasn't wood but an ancient form of papier-mâché that was used to seal the body. Who expected to go to the museum and learn something?
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| This is the coffin of Djed-maat-es-ankh, an Egyptian woman who died of a massive dental cyst that burst. |
One of the things you really need to make an effort to see is a stunning photo exhibition "Sebastião Salgado GENESIS". It's an amazing array with 275 of Sebastião Salgado's photographs from all points of the earth, capturing how utterly jaw-dropping the majesty of the world can be, and why we need to preserve it. The exhibit runs until September 2nd, 2013.
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| The Brooks Range, Alaska. Sebastião Salgado |
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| Iceberg between Paulet Island and the South Shetland Islands on the Weddell Sea. Antarctic Peninsula. Sebastião Salgado. |
Once the galleries close, there are still some spaces to explore. The Dinosaur gallery plays hosts to a bar, cupcakes from
Curbside Bliss, and the charming and talented folks at
Manual Labour Coffee, who introduced me to "Coffee Pop" - fresh brewed ice coffee mixed with soda water. It was remarkable the way my brain kept expecting "sweet" but I tasted "bitter' and shut up brain and enjoy the deliciousness (
tip: don't add milk, it doesn't mix well)
A wander through the Teck Gallery of gems, minerals, and rocks was accompanied by the live music form students of the U of T jazz program, while you marvel at what the shiny wonders time and geology create.
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| A rare Cerussite gem, 896 carats, shining with fiery intensity. Shiny. |
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| Acicular mineral, bristles with crystal. |
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| Rock stars |
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| This goethite mineral, like stretched taffy. |
Museum adventures are always best enjoyed with friends, and my companion was sure to contribute her thoughts on FNLROM as a first-timer
We're sitting in the ROM, munching food and drinking out beer, while the sounds of the band
Wildlife echo throughout and it all feels rather epic, and good. I'd like to see more things epic and good in this city.
FNLROM runs until June 21st. Make plans, buy your tickets online, and enjoy your night at the museum.
Tickets for all remaining FNLROM events are
available for online purchase now.
Friday May 24: ROMic-con
Dust off your cape, channel your inner super hero and come dressed in your crime fighting best! Check out a retrospective of super heroes, take a lesson in designing your own comic, and laugh away your end of week stress with improv from The Second City, the world’s premiere improv and sketch comedy theatre.
Friday May 31: Indo Pop
Experience the best of Bollywood style and colour. Presented by international hip/hop dancer/choreographer Chase Constantino, performance by Bollywood dance troupe Broken Dance Company and YouTube superstar Superwoman. Digital art by London-based Inkquisitive, South Asian fashion, and mehndi (henna) demonstrations.
Friday June 7: Indigenous Arts
Celebrate Aboriginal History Month with DJ Bear Witness from A Tribe Called Red, Craig James Laur and Duke Redbird. See fashion by designers Charm Logan and Sage Paul, experience visual/installation art by Amanda Strong and learn how to make a canoe (by hand). In partnership with the Association for Native Development in the Performing and Visual Arts (ANDPVA).
Friday June 14: Fashion
Be prepared to strut your style - we’re bringing big fashion direct from the runway win the ROM’s BIG exhibition. Canadian fashion on display, as well as music by Joseph and the Mercurials.
Friday June 21: Mesopotamia
Be the first to see the ROM’s blockbuster exhibition, Mesopotamia presented by RSA Insurance before it opens to the public. This night celebrates Middle Eastern culture with a yoga rave with Linda Malone from Iam Yoga, live performance by west coast composer/DJ Adham Shaikh and JUNO-nominee Jaffa Road.
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