Tokyo Tower in Tokyo, Japan

Completed in 1958, Tokyo Tower is a communications and observation tower located in the heart of Tokyo, Japan. At 332.9 meters, Tokyo Tower is the second tallest structure in Japan, with the newer communications and observation tower, Tokyo Skytree taking the record in 2012. 

Tokyo Tower's lattice framework was inspired by the Eiffel Tower, often drawing direct comparisons between them. However, Tokyo Tower has become iconic in its own right for its unmistakable white and international orange paint scheme and its prominent position in the Tokyo skyline - particularly when viewed from Tokyo Bay.

Whether you're climbing the open-air staircase or admiring its orange glow each night, there's no denying that Tokyo Tower is one of Japan's most recognizable, and most featured landmarks. In fact, you've probably seen it more than you even realize as Tokyo Tower is one of the few landmarks in the world that actually has its own emoji on virtually every phone.

Monarch Theatre New Stage Construction

I'm well into extra innings as far as filming at this cinema is concerned, but this week, I've been back in the Monarch Theatre to document the progress as their new stage takes shape. 

It's been spectacular to see this come together. This upgrade represents another milestone in the redevelopment of this movie theatre. It's sure to open a wealth of new opportunities for stage shows and live acts to utilize this space - in addition to giving the Monarch more flexibility to continue their legacy as Canada's oldest, surviving, purpose-built cinema. 

It's been a rush to see how much has happened in just a few short years since the premiere screenings of our documentary first brought thousands of moviegoers back into this theatre in late 2023 and early 2024. You can follow up on the back story of this amazing movie house in the feature-length documentary "Your Cinema Needs You" exclusively on Telus Originals.

Levitated Mass at LACMA in Los Angeles, California

Standing on LACMA’s campus in Los Angeles, Levitated Mass is one of those artworks that stops you in your tracks, not because it’s flashy, but because it’s overwhelming in the most elemental way. Created by renowned American artist Michael Heizer, this monumental installation is a defining example of land art and minimalism, where scale, gravity, and space do most of the talking.

At the heart of the piece is a 340-ton granite boulder, suspended above a long, narrow concrete trench. Visitors are invited to walk down into the trench, gradually descending below ground level and passing directly beneath the massive stone. As you move through the space, the weight of the boulder above you becomes impossible to ignore. The experience is quiet, contemplative, and strangely humbling, encouraging awareness of your own body in relation to the immense natural mass overhead.

The story behind Levitated Mass is just as compelling as the artwork itself. The boulder’s slow, multi-night journey from a quarry in Riverside County to Los Angeles became a public spectacle, with crowds lining streets to witness its passage. That journey helped turn the sculpture into a shared civic event long before it was installed. Free to visit and open to all, Levitated Mass remains one of LACMA’s most powerful and memorable outdoor works.