Book ~ "So Fetch: The Making of Mean Girls" (2024) Jennifer Keishin Armstrong

From Goodreads ~ From the author of "Seinfeldia" comes the totally fetch story of one of the most iconic teen comedies of all time, "Mean Girls", revealing how it happened, how it defined a generation, “like, invented” meme culture, and why it just won’t go away, filled with exclusive interviews from the director, cast and crew. 

Get in, loser. We’re going back to 2004. It’s been 20 years since "Mean Girls"  hit theaters, winning over critics and audiences alike with its razor-sharp wit, star-making turns for its then unknown cast, and obsessively quotable screenplay by Tina Fey. Fast forward two decades and "Mean Girls"  remains as relevant as ever. 

Arguably, no other movie from the 2000s has had as big of an impact on pop culture. In "So Fetch", Armstrong offers the first ever authoritative book about this beloved classic that shaped an entire generation. Based off revealing interviews with the director, cast, and crew, "So Fetch"  tells the full story of the making of "Mean Girls", from Tina Fey’s brilliant adaptation of a self-help guide for parents of teen girls, to the challenges of casting Lindsay Lohan, Rachel McAdams and the iconic supporting players. "So Fetch"  also explores the film’s lasting cultural influence, from its role in the rise of Y2K tabloid culture, impact on girls of all ages and lgbtq+ culture, to how we use it to define female relationships to this day.

So Fetch: The Making of Mean Girls explores the creation and lasting cultural impact of the 2004 film Mean Girls. Drawing on interviews with cast members, filmmakers, writers, producers and others involved in the production, the book traces the movie's journey from conception to release.

The book examines how screenwriter Tina Fey adapted Rosalind Wiseman's nonfiction book Queen Bees and Wannabes into a screenplay, the casting process, filming, behind-the-scenes stories and the challenges faced during production. It also discusses the contributions of the cast and crew, the film's marketing, its box office performance and its influence on popular culture.

In addition to covering the original film, the book follows the evolution of the Mean Girls franchise, including the Broadway musical adaptation and the 2024 musical film. Throughout, Armstrong documents how the movie became a cultural phenomenon and maintained its relevance with new generations of audiences more than two decades after its release.

I've seen Mean Girls many times and like it so I thought a book giving the background about it would be interesting ... and it was. I found there was just enough detail for me. I didn't realize there was such a strong Toronto connection. Many of the minor roles were cast in Toronto and some of the filming took place here, including the school that used to be just north of the Dufferin Mall (now gone and being replaced by condos) and the Dufferin Mall itself.

toronto filmed connection

Sneaky Dee's, Toronto, ON

With all its recent press, it reminded me it’s been ages since I’ve been to Sneaky Dee's. I spent a lot of time there in the late 80s/early 90s. 

Fringe Festival, Theatre Passe Muraille, Toronto, ON

I spent the afternoon volunteering at The Toronto Fringe Festival at Theatre Passe Muraille (Ryerson Avenue, north of Queen Street W).

I ushered so got to see The Wounds of Love and Other Gifts and A Non-Canonical Musical Adventure With Pookamhura: Mistress Of B-Roll.

Fringe Festival, Sweet Action Theatre, Toronto, ON

I spent the afternoon volunteering at The Toronto Fringe Festival at Sweet Action Theatre at Youngspace (Shaw Street, north of Queen Street W).

I ushered so got to see Tortoise, the Hare and the Truth and El Jefe.

Old Flame Brewing Company, Toronto, ON

After Gord and I saw Dead Lucky, we crossed the lane to Old Flame Brewing Company in the Distillery District.

I was hungry so ordered a hot dog and pretzel. You can't beat the price ... $5 each! And they were good.

Roberto took good care of us.

"Dead Lucky", Fringe Festival, Soulpepper Theatre, Toronto, ON

Gord and I saw Dead Lucky, part of The Toronto Fringe Festival. It was good.

I used a voucher I'd gotten for volunteering today for my ticket.

Fringe Festival, RBC Studio, Soulpepper Theatre, Toronto, ON

I spent the afternoon volunteering at The Toronto Fringe Festival ... it's my fourth year volunteering.

It got there a bit early and walked around the Distillery District.

Checkerboard Stitch Knitted Scarf

I knitted another scarf to donate. I found the checkerboard stitch pattern on New Stitch a Day's website. 

I used a Caron Anniversary Cake Special Edition (the colour is Holly Jolly) and 6.5mm needles. 

Cast on multiples of 8 stitches plus 4 (I cast on 20 stitches). 

• Row 1: K4, *p4, k4; rep from * to end
• Row 2: P4, *k4, p4; rep from * to end
• Row 3: K4, *p4, k4; rep from * to end
• Row 4: P4, *k4, p4; rep from * to end
• Row 5: P4, *k4, p4; rep from * to end
• Row 6: K4, *p4, k4; rep from * to end
• Row 7: P4, *k4, p4; rep from * to end
• Row 8: K4, *p4, k4; rep from * to end
• Repeat rows 1 to 4, knitting to the desired length
• Bind off

Book ~ "The Night We Met" (2026) Abby Jimenez

From Goodreads ~ In everyone’s life, there’s a split-second decision that can change everything.

For Larissa, it came when choosing which guy to ride home with after a concert. That night, she had no idea she’d met the perfect man. She and Chris are great together, co-parenting a slightly unhinged rescue Yorkie, sharing their favorite books and judging bread (pumpernickel for the win!). For the first time amid all her side hustles to scrape by, things finally feel easy.

But Chris isn't the one who drove Larissa home all those months ago - Chris is her boyfriend's best friend. All Chris wants is for Larissa to be happy. Standing by on the sidelines is slowly killing him but making a move would destroy someone else. And he’s just not that guy.

Larissa's life changes because of a single decision. After attending a concert with a friend, she's offered a ride home by two different men ... best friends Mike and Chris. She chooses Mike and they begin a serious relationship. As time goes on, she gets to know Chris better. Although they'd only briefly met before, Larissa and Chris discover they have a strong connection and many shared interests. Their friendship continues to grow and they find themselves co-parenting a rescue dog.

As Larissa and Mike's relationship becomes more serious, Chris finds himself caring for Larissa more than he should. But Mike is his best friend so he keeps his feelings to himself. Meanwhile, Mike is struggling with demons and Chris is constantly covering for him and trying to fix the problems he leaves behind.

I liked this story and found it to be an easy read. It's written in alternating first-person perspectives from Larissa and Chris, with each chapter labeled. I did find Larissa and Mike to be an unusual couple, as they didn't seem to have much in common. I was also surprised that Mike never seemed bothered by how much time Larissa and Chris spent together. Another thing I found a bit unrealistic was that Larissa never seemed to notice everything Chris did to protect and support her. As a head's up, there is lots of swearing.

Happy Canada Day!

Roxton Public House, Toronto, ON

Gord and I had supper at the Roxton Public House on Dundas Street W, just east of Ossington Avenue.

Gord had fish and chips.

I had Piri Piri chicken.

Both were good. 

“Mysteries & Lies”, The Toronto Fringe Festival, Tarragon Theatre, Toronto, ON

Gord and I saw Mysteries & Lies with James Alan, part of the Toronto Fringe Festival, this evening at the Sweet Action Theatre at Youngspace (Shaw Street, north of Queen Street W). 

Some people lie to themselves and say magic isn't real. Some people lie to themselves and say that it is. James Alan—an actual magician—creates an unrepeatable, interactive hour; built live, in the room, with you. Your choices will leave you lying awake in bed at three o’clock in the morning wondering if the people in charge of the universe are personally messing with you.

Magicians always amaze me and I’m still trying to figure out how James Alan did what he did. Fun show with lots of audience participation and worth seeing!

Dora Awards, Meridian Hall, Toronto, ON

This evening I volunteered as a pre-show greeter at the Dora Awards, which recognize excellence in theatre, dance and opera productions presented in Toronto. The volunteer orientation was this afternoon.

Volunteers got 2 tickets for the show and I gave one to Gord.

The Great Beaver Quest, Toronto, ON

I was in Old Town Toronto and had some time to kill this afternoon so I went searching for beavers in The Great Beaver Quest.  

There are 51 beavers, each representing the nations competing on the global soccer stage and one special beaver representing all of the nations. Each has been uniquely hand-painted by a local artist.

I found 10 of the 51 beavers. Apparently the American beaver has been permanently removed due to vandalism.