Saturday night was the 7^{th<\/sup> annual Nuit Blanche festival here in Toronto.\u00a0 Although I\u2019ve been at every event since I moved to the city, I felt no great pull to attend this year. The idea of opening up the city\u2019s spaces to art and performance for 24 hours is a brilliant one, but the ugly truth is that I\u2019ve never had a particularly good time at Nuit Blanche.<\/p>\n}

It always seemed a little bit like New Year\u2019s Eve to me. I\u2019d feel all sorts of pressure to have a great time, make fancy plans, and then at the end of it all, feel as if I\u2019d been at the wrong place all night, and then bitter and depleted, would end up walking home.<\/p>\n

The sheer volume of people who attend Nuit Blanche disassembles whatever plans I had, and inevitably I\u2019d spend most of my time texting lost friends.<\/p>\n

Yr @ Dufferin Grove??<\/p>\n

U said Dundas, did\u2019t u??<\/p>\n

The commissioned works that have the most promise always have endless, Disneyesque lineups that stretch 90 minutes into the future and the ambient art that serves as the connective tissue between the major installations has a souvenir stand feeling to it. In short, it gives me the sense that I just participated in some weird variation of spring break.<\/p>\n

And so this year Rachelle and I felt little remorse about skipping the event. Instead, I participated via social media, opening up my Twitter feed to all the glory that was Nuit Blanche:<\/p>\n

E-gene<\/strong><\/p>\n

Get ready for a stupid flood of poor-lit photos of unknown subject matter tonight on Twitter and Instagram.\u00a0#<\/strong>sbnb<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

MryW<\/strong><\/p>\n

“Let the art speak for itself” — a girl after overhearing my bf’s interpretation of an exhibit. #<\/strong>sbnb<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

ESTRONG<\/strong><\/p>\n

Man beside me carrying bananas. Art or groceries?\u00a0#sbnb<\/a><\/p>\n

KMcKinnon<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

I’m at a high five competition … Haha\u00a0#<\/strong>sbnb<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Ion<\/strong><\/p>\n

I am supposed to be looking with a critical eye at\u00a0#<\/strong>sbnb<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0pieces, but really I am just drink drank drunk.<\/p>\n

Alfagrrl<\/strong><\/p>\n

It’s the little things during\u00a0#sbnb<\/a>\u00a0that make me smile. Nothing new here but makes me love my city!#sbnb<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Petalpusher<\/strong><\/p>\n

Green frogs light up. Sometimes less, sometimes more. In background people scream about vodka. Latter not part of exhibit. #sbnb<\/strong><\/p>\n

Petalpusher<\/strong><\/p>\n

Some ass just fell off friend’s shoulders and whacked me in leg. He then tried to apologize with Italian opera. Yep,\u00a0#<\/strong>sbnb<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0is now messy<\/p>\n

Blackcrown<\/strong><\/p>\n

#<\/strong>sbnb<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0Not going out for Nuit Blanche is the new going out for Nuit Blanche.<\/p>\n

cathy martha <\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

if i ever find the FUCKING asshole who stole my seat & straps i will fucking CUT YOU TILL YOU BLEED & take my fucking bike gear back.\u00a0#<\/strong>sbnb<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

gameoftombs<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Overheard: “Nooo! They are not having sex! They are being hung upside down by fish hooks!!”\u00a0#<\/strong>sbnb<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

ashsper<\/strong><\/p>\n

Saw some interesting\u00a0#sbnb<\/a>\u00a0stuff along bloor. Especially liked the ‘choir’ at the church at Walmer\/Bloor. Soothing<\/p>\n

Friendlyfirefly<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

“Yo, that sh*t is f*cking sick!” Woman (on drugs?) repeatedly yelling at performers in classroom at end of the world exhibit\u00a0#<\/strong>sbnb<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

shannnnon<\/strong><\/p>\n

If you’re on a bike, you better ding that bell. Losers running into streets, taxis are swerving, drunk people barfing on curbs.\u00a0#<\/strong>sbnb<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

sytc<\/strong><\/p>\n

45 minute wait at All Night Convenience at\u00a0#sbnb<\/a> you know where to find me<\/p>\n

shedoesthecity<\/strong><\/p>\n

In Trinity Bellwoods people are playing tennis & renegade dance parties compete with shite\u00a0#<\/strong>sbnb<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0dance party. Skip park, go to castle!<\/p>\n

Overherd<\/strong><\/p>\n

The funny thing is we\u2019re not even looking at art we\u2019re just drunk #sbnb<\/strong><\/p>\n

Anchorman2<\/strong><\/p>\n

Cab Driver: “let’s get the fuck out of here”\u00a0#<\/strong>sbnb<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

HelenofCry<\/strong><\/p>\n

CRAZY lineups!!!#sbnb<\/strong><\/p>\n

AnnaVanna<\/strong><\/p>\n

LOVE Nuit Blanche, beautiful art!!!#sbnb<\/strong><\/p>\n

sighfactory<\/strong><\/p>\n

For those of us who have lived here for every rendition of#sbnb<\/a>, tonight is just a yearly nightmare.<\/p>\n

Makhoul<\/strong><\/p>\n

A field of glowsticks.\u00a0#sbnb<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Nina24<\/strong><\/p>\n

I walk\u00a0#<\/strong>sbnb<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0alone. Much prefer it solo. Ending night on a swing. Sean Paul blaring in background but tranquil here. Love this city.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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