Toronto Bloomsday

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BLOOMSDAY 2023 ITINERARY

GETTING TO THE BEACH(ES)

BY CAR

On-Street Parking: Free on Side Streets off Queen St. East.
Metered Parking: on Queen St. East.
Car Park: Green P Parking Lot on Lee Ave, first street South on the East side of the park.

PUBLIC TRANSPORT

• QUEEN STREETCAR #501 Eastbound (Destination: Neville Park)
Due to downtown construction, the streetcar detours North on McCaul & along Dundas St to Broadview, where it turns South to Queen St. E.
It continues along Queen St East to BELLFAIR AVE, our stop at Kew Gardens.

• SUBWAY - Line 2 Eastbound
Take the Eastbound Subway to MAIN ST station.
From MAIN ST Station, take Bus #64 South to Queen St. / Wineva Ave (terminus).
The Beaches Library is just 2 blocks west of Wineva Ave.

To calculate the better TTC option: TTC Trip planner

BLOOM ON THE BEACH

9:30am: Gather at the BEACHES LIBRARY, 2161 Queen St East beside Kew Gardens

9.45am: The KEW GARDENS ODYSSEY begins with a rousing rendition of Dublin's Fair City & Rocky Road to Dublin.

10:00am: READINGS from Ulysses, with musical accompaniment & floating blue & white balloons, at various locations along the beach, the boardwalk, and in the park.

11.00am: BEACH HEBREW INSTITUTE 109 Kenilworth Ave (2 blks. west of Kew Gardens) Songs & Readings including the Pub Scene & Molly's Soliloquy. A musical interlude of Klezmer music & Yiddish songs sung by Theresa Tova.

12noon: BLOOMSDAY WAY MURAL A walk by the 150ft long mural, depicting scenes from Ulysses, created by artist/muralist Oliver Girling.

BLOOMSDAY BRUNCH

12.30pm: BLOOMSDAY BRUNCH at Balmy Beach Club (416.691.9962)
The Boardwalk at the foot of Beech Ave. (Beech Ave TTC stop)
Davy Byrne's-style Readings, Special Menu, Raffle and the popular Bloomsday Singalong, led by the indefatigable Maestro, Kevin Kennedy.
Guest Speaker: We are honoured to welcome Des Gunning (Joyceborough, Dublin), the original Curator of Dublin’s James Joyce Centre (1986-1989) and a Volunteer from 2010 - 2019 at Sweny’s, the famous chemist shop visited by Bloom. Des will entertain us with tales of the long quest to have Joyce's genius recognized in his native city.

PLAN B: In the unlikely possibility of rain...

9:30am: Gather at the BEACHES LIBRARY 2161 Queen St East. TTC stop: Bellfair Ave.

9:45am: We'll seek shelter at BEACH HEBREW INSTITUTE 109 Kenilworth Ave, 2 blocks west of Kew Gardens, just south of Queen St., where we'll celebrate Bloomsday with readings, music and the usual merriment until the rain abates….

If you arrive late, phone 647.309.4262 or 416.271.2148 to locate us, or follow the music.

spidery_joyce

ReJoyce!

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WAYS WE CELEBRATED THE CENTENARY OF THE PUBLICATION OF ULYSSES FEB. 2022

* Here Comes Everybody Players, Cambridge MA with Mary Durkan as Molly Bloom

* Arts & Letters Club Toronto. History of the Toronto Bloomsday Festival. Speaker: Mary Durkan

* Women Behind Ulysses. Mary Durkan in conversation with Ambassador Eamonn McKee

* Encounters with Ulysses. A TransCanada celebration from St. John's; Montreal; Ottawa; Toronto & Vancouver, hosted by Ambassador Eamonn McKee

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Bloomsday 2018 – the cast with Mary Mgt. McMahon
Congratulations Mary Margaret on being elected MPP for the Beaches East York riding!

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Links for further Bloomsday enjoyment:
James Joyce Centre Dublin

Festival Bloomsday Montréal

Bloomsday Film Festival
Starts June 11 and includes Godfrey Jordan's BLOOMSDAY WAY which celebrates the opening of Bloomsday Way in the Beaches.

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Photo: Shelagh Hughes

ReJoyce!

Framed photo top: Lionel Simmons

WHAT IS BLOOMSDAY?

Literary Holyday

Bloomsday is an international Literary Holyday celebrating James Joyce's seminal novel Ulysses in which Leopold Bloom, a Dublin Jew, and a cityful of other colourful characters go about their lives in the city of Dublin on June 16th, 1904

A romantic rendezvous

Joyce chose this particular date for Bloom's perambulations as a tribute to his wife and muse, Nora Barnacle, whom he first encountered outside Trinity College, close to Finn's Hotel where she worked as a chambermaid. Although initially mistaking him for a Norwegian sailor, she agreed to meet him. June 16^th marks their first romantic rendezvous.

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BLOOM BITES

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We proudly celebrated

A SCREENING of the Documentary Film
BLOOMSDAY WAY: THE Unveiling
TIRFF (Toronto Irish Film Festival)

at TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX, 350 King West @ John St
SAT. MARCH 2, 2019

The Short Documentary celebrates the recent Unveiling of the name plaques on four lane ways in the Beach(es):
BLOOMSDAY WAY / SANDYCOVE WAY / LIFFEY WAY / STEPHEN'S GREEN WAY
named by the City of Toronto to commemorate the annual BLOOM ON THE BEACH Odyssey
(1992 - present)

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Claire's Bench

We're very pleased to announce that Claire's Bench has been installed. This memorial bench for our beloved Claire Crawford who was such a crucial part of Bloomsday for so many years is situated right on the Boardwalk along the Beach, just east of Balmy Beach, between Balsam and Beech. Situated under an overhanging tree looking out on a small cove and rocky area, it's the perfect spot to sit and contemplate.

Our installation ceremony in January 2011, which involved, among other rituals, a Blessing of the Bench with Bell's Whiskey (Claire's favourite) was a celebration of her wonderful spirit and indomitable life-force.

The inscription on the bench reads

For actress CLAIRE CRAWFORD GUINN who loved celebrating Bloomsday here on June 16^th. From all of us who loved her. ReJoyce!

Thanks to all her friends and fans whose generosity made the installation of Claire's Bench possible.
Ar dheis lamh Dé go raibh a anam – May she rest in peace

**********************************************

Buck Mulligan says Hello!

We are proud to be twinned with the Glasthule & Sandycove Bloomsday Festival which takes place in Caveston's of Glasthule and Fitzgerald's of Sandycove, in the shadow of the Martello Tower immortalised in the opening chapter of Ulysses.

**********************************************

An Invitation

If you would like to become involved in the BLOOMSDAY FESTIVAL, please get in touch. Volunteers in all departments are most welcome.

**********************************************

Donations

**********************************************

Anna Livia Productions is a registered charity. We will happily issue a Tax Receipt for all donations received, with our gratitude.

**********************************************

ABSENT FRIENDS

**********************************************

They may not be with us in person, but their spirit lives in our hearts. We remember the Bloomsday actors

Joyce Campion
Helena Carroll
Claire Crawford
Ingrid Heming
Sean Hewitt
Fred Kirchner
Sean Mulcahy
Hugh O'Donnell
Philomena Plunkett

We remember our faithful Bloomsday supporters

Peggy Delaney
Diana Dennis
Peter Harris
Jane Kennedy
Joe McGann
Philip Turk
David Wilkinson

May their generous souls rest in peace.

ReJoyce!

Bloomsday Director: Richard Harte
Bloomsday Information: 416.365.7877
Bloomsday Email: harte.richard@gmail.com
durkanmary1@gmail.com

Bloomsday Festival Founders: Mary Durkan & Judith McGilligan (1986)

ANNA LIVIA PRODUCTIONS
Artistic Director: Mary Durkan
Information: 416.365.7877
Email: livia@pathcom.com

Website: Einar Haeh



HOME \| PHOTO GALLERY \| BLOOMSDAYS PAST \| ACCESSIBILITY \| YOUTUBE \| CONTACT
************************** BLOOMSDAY 2023 ITINERARY GETTING TO THE BEACH(ES) BY CAR On-Street Parking: Free on Side Streets off Queen St. East. Metered Parking: on Queen St. East. Car Park: Green P Parking Lot on Lee Ave, first street South on the East side of the park. PUBLIC TRANSPORT • QUEEN STREETCAR #501 Eastbound (Destination: Neville Park) Due to downtown construction, the streetcar detours North on McCaul & along Dundas St to Broadview, where it turns South to Queen St. E. It continues along Queen St East to BELLFAIR AVE, our stop at Kew Gardens. • SUBWAY - Line 2 Eastbound Take the Eastbound Subway to MAIN ST station. From MAIN ST Station, take Bus #64 South to Queen St. / Wineva Ave (terminus). The Beaches Library is just 2 blocks west of Wineva Ave. To calculate the better TTC option: TTC Trip planner BLOOM ON THE BEACH 9:30am: Gather at the BEACHES LIBRARY, 2161 Queen St East beside Kew Gardens 9.45am: The KEW GARDENS ODYSSEY begins with a rousing rendition of Dublin's Fair City & Rocky Road to Dublin. 10:00am: READINGS from Ulysses, with musical accompaniment & floating blue & white balloons, at various locations along the beach, the boardwalk, and in the park. 11.00am: BEACH HEBREW INSTITUTE 109 Kenilworth Ave (2 blks. west of Kew Gardens) Songs & Readings including the Pub Scene & Molly's Soliloquy. A musical interlude of Klezmer music & Yiddish songs sung by Theresa Tova. 12noon: BLOOMSDAY WAY MURAL A walk by the 150ft long mural, depicting scenes from Ulysses, created by artist/muralist Oliver Girling. BLOOMSDAY BRUNCH 12.30pm: BLOOMSDAY BRUNCH at Balmy Beach Club (416.691.9962) The Boardwalk at the foot of Beech Ave. (Beech Ave TTC stop) Davy Byrne's-style Readings, Special Menu, Raffle and the popular Bloomsday Singalong, led by the indefatigable Maestro, Kevin Kennedy. Guest Speaker: We are honoured to welcome Des Gunning (Joyceborough, Dublin), the original Curator of Dublin’s James Joyce Centre (1986-1989) and a Volunteer from 2010 - 2019 at Sweny’s, the famous chemist shop visited by Bloom. Des will entertain us with tales of the long quest to have Joyce's genius recognized in his native city. PLAN B: In the unlikely possibility of rain... 9:30am: Gather at the BEACHES LIBRARY 2161 Queen St East. TTC stop: Bellfair Ave. 9:45am: We'll seek shelter at BEACH HEBREW INSTITUTE 109 Kenilworth Ave, 2 blocks west of Kew Gardens, just south of Queen St., where we'll celebrate Bloomsday with readings, music and the usual merriment until the rain abates…. If you arrive late, phone 647.309.4262 or 416.271.2148 to locate us, or follow the music. ReJoyce! ************************** WAYS WE CELEBRATED THE CENTENARY OF THE PUBLICATION OF ULYSSES FEB. 2022 * Here Comes Everybody Players, Cambridge MA with Mary Durkan as Molly Bloom * Arts & Letters Club Toronto. History of the Toronto Bloomsday Festival. Speaker: Mary Durkan * Women Behind Ulysses. Mary Durkan in conversation with Ambassador Eamonn McKee * Encounters with Ulysses. A TransCanada celebration from St. John's; Montreal; Ottawa; Toronto & Vancouver, hosted by Ambassador Eamonn McKee ************************** Bloomsday 2018 – the cast with Mary Mgt. McMahon Congratulations Mary Margaret on being elected MPP for the Beaches East York riding! ************************ Links for further Bloomsday enjoyment: James Joyce Centre Dublin Festival Bloomsday Montréal Bloomsday Film Festival Starts June 11 and includes Godfrey Jordan's BLOOMSDAY WAY which celebrates the opening of Bloomsday Way in the Beaches. ************************ Photo: Shelagh Hughes ReJoyce!** Framed photo top: Lionel Simmons	*WHAT IS BLOOMSDAY?* Literary Holyday Bloomsday is an international Literary Holyday celebrating James Joyce's seminal novel *Ulysses* in which Leopold Bloom, a Dublin Jew, and a cityful of other colourful characters go about their lives in the city of Dublin on June 16th, 1904 A romantic rendezvous Joyce chose this particular date for Bloom's perambulations as a tribute to his wife and muse, Nora Barnacle, whom he first encountered outside Trinity College, close to Finn's Hotel where she worked as a chambermaid. Although initially mistaking him for a Norwegian sailor, she agreed to meet him. June 16^th marks their first romantic rendezvous. ******************************************** BLOOM BITES ****************************************** We proudly celebrated A SCREENING of the Documentary Film BLOOMSDAY WAY: THE Unveiling TIRFF (Toronto Irish Film Festival) at TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX, 350 King West @ John St SAT. MARCH 2, 2019 The Short Documentary celebrates the recent Unveiling of the name plaques on four lane ways in the Beach(es): BLOOMSDAY WAY / SANDYCOVE WAY / LIFFEY WAY / STEPHEN'S GREEN WAY named by the City of Toronto to commemorate the annual BLOOM ON THE BEACH Odyssey (1992 - present) ****************************************** Claire's Bench We're very pleased to announce that Claire's Bench has been installed. This memorial bench for our beloved Claire Crawford who was such a crucial part of Bloomsday for so many years is situated right on the Boardwalk along the Beach, just east of Balmy Beach, between Balsam and Beech. Situated under an overhanging tree looking out on a small cove and rocky area, it's the perfect spot to sit and contemplate. Our installation ceremony in January 2011, which involved, among other rituals, a Blessing of the Bench with Bell's Whiskey (Claire's favourite) was a celebration of her wonderful spirit and indomitable life-force. The inscription on the bench reads For actress CLAIRE CRAWFORD GUINN who loved celebrating Bloomsday here on June 16^th. From all of us who loved her. ReJoyce! Thanks to all her friends and fans whose generosity made the installation of Claire's Bench possible. Ar dheis lamh Dé go raibh a anam – May she rest in peace ****************************************** Buck Mulligan says Hello! We are proud to be twinned with the Glasthule & Sandycove Bloomsday Festival which takes place in Caveston's of Glasthule and Fitzgerald's of Sandycove, in the shadow of the Martello Tower immortalised in the opening chapter of Ulysses. ****************************************** An Invitation If you would like to become involved in the BLOOMSDAY FESTIVAL, please get in touch. Volunteers in all departments are most welcome. ****************************************** Donations ****************************************** Anna Livia Productions is a registered charity. We will happily issue a Tax Receipt for all donations received, with our gratitude. ****************************************** ABSENT FRIENDS ****************************************** They may not be with us in person, but their spirit lives in our hearts. We remember the Bloomsday actors Joyce Campion Helena Carroll Claire Crawford Ingrid Heming Sean Hewitt Fred Kirchner Sean Mulcahy Hugh O'Donnell Philomena Plunkett We remember our faithful Bloomsday supporters Peggy Delaney Diana Dennis Peter Harris Jane Kennedy Joe McGann Philip Turk David Wilkinson May their generous souls rest in peace. ReJoyce! Bloomsday Director: Richard Harte Bloomsday Information: 416.365.7877** Bloomsday Email: harte.richard@gmail.com durkanmary1@gmail.com Bloomsday Festival Founders: Mary Durkan & Judith McGilligan (1986) ANNA LIVIA PRODUCTIONS Artistic Director: Mary Durkan Information: 416.365.7877 Email: livia@pathcom.com Website: Einar Haeh