Scarborough Mirror, ON, Canada
June 24, 2010 Thursday
Final Edition
Street festival brings Lawrence Avenue East alive
MIKE adler, [email protected]
Like the stretch of Lawrence Avenue East that comes alive for a
Scarborough street festival each July, Shirak Tatosian is an
interesting combination.
Growing up, Tatosian learned piano, accordion and guitar before
joining other musicians to play Armenian music, jazz, flamenco and
blues. Then he joined a heavy metal band - in post-Gulf War Baghdad.
"We were the first heavy metal band in Iraq," said Tatosian, who left
his native land for Canada, specializes in Armenian, English and
Arabic songs and will perform with his Shirak Band at the Taste of
Lawrence Festival, July 2 to 4.
A free street party closing the street from Birchmount and Warden
avenues, Taste of Lawrence is a wild mix of entertainment and food
choices.
Among the stage acts are a Bee Gees tribute band, Night Fever, a
gospel showcase, Bollywood fusion and Chinese lion dancers, as well as
Reggae performers Jay Douglas and the All Star Band.
There are rides, giveaway prizes and a 3:30 p.m. Sunday workshop on
how to dance Michael Jackson's hit Thriller.
Featured festival eats range from Taiwanese "smelly tofu" to samosas
and curries, and from sharwerma and kabobs to Caribbean dumplings.
Scarborough Centre Councillor Michael Thompson, a festival founder,
will cook up ackee and saltfish - traditional Jamaican salted cod and
onions - in front of Diana's Seafood Delight at 2:30 p.m. Saturday and
Sunday, for those who want to watch or sample.
The festival lasts from 6 to 11 p.m. on Friday, July 2, 11 a.m. to 11
p.m. Saturday, July 3 and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, July 4.
Complete schedules at are
From: A. Papazian
June 24, 2010 Thursday
Final Edition
Street festival brings Lawrence Avenue East alive
MIKE adler, [email protected]
Like the stretch of Lawrence Avenue East that comes alive for a
Scarborough street festival each July, Shirak Tatosian is an
interesting combination.
Growing up, Tatosian learned piano, accordion and guitar before
joining other musicians to play Armenian music, jazz, flamenco and
blues. Then he joined a heavy metal band - in post-Gulf War Baghdad.
"We were the first heavy metal band in Iraq," said Tatosian, who left
his native land for Canada, specializes in Armenian, English and
Arabic songs and will perform with his Shirak Band at the Taste of
Lawrence Festival, July 2 to 4.
A free street party closing the street from Birchmount and Warden
avenues, Taste of Lawrence is a wild mix of entertainment and food
choices.
Among the stage acts are a Bee Gees tribute band, Night Fever, a
gospel showcase, Bollywood fusion and Chinese lion dancers, as well as
Reggae performers Jay Douglas and the All Star Band.
There are rides, giveaway prizes and a 3:30 p.m. Sunday workshop on
how to dance Michael Jackson's hit Thriller.
Featured festival eats range from Taiwanese "smelly tofu" to samosas
and curries, and from sharwerma and kabobs to Caribbean dumplings.
Scarborough Centre Councillor Michael Thompson, a festival founder,
will cook up ackee and saltfish - traditional Jamaican salted cod and
onions - in front of Diana's Seafood Delight at 2:30 p.m. Saturday and
Sunday, for those who want to watch or sample.
The festival lasts from 6 to 11 p.m. on Friday, July 2, 11 a.m. to 11
p.m. Saturday, July 3 and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, July 4.
Complete schedules at are
From: A. Papazian