MR. WILL-W.'S GREATEST MOMENTS OF 2010: A REVIEW OF CELEBRITIES WHO VISITED TORONTO

What can I say? 2010 has been a wonderful year for Mr. Will-W.:Pop Maven, seeing many highs in terms of exciting new content and readership. Although we’re by no means Perez Hilton or Just Jared, I  maintain a humble grassroots philosophy here.  I don't believe in bashing other Bloggers by constantly calculating their shortcomings, nor do I make boastful claims of being "the best", because I'm not.  I have come with no real Media qualifications other than my opinions, but I  want always to be able to improve.

You'll find that a vast majority of the Celebrity Photos seen here are self-taken and not sold for profit.   Unlike many Celebrity Gossip sites where Bloggers sit in front of their Laptops comfortable in their often biting anonymity, I interact first-hand with many of the Celebrities who appear here. What you're reading comes first-hand - not observed from behind a bush with Binoculars nor re-interpreted.

Besides this, where else can you get detailed Reviews of Albums and Films before everybody else?  I review these beforehand so that you can make better informed choices on where you spend your hard-earned money.  And need I mention Mr. Will-W.'s Exciting Giveaways? This past year alone, we've seen Readers win Marc Jacobs Cologne, Scissor Sisters VIP Concert Tickets, CDs by artists like Rihanna and Ke$ha and Signed Photos from the likes of Katy Perry, Mariah Carey, Cory Monteith, James Franco, Sam Worthington and more!  Sponsors stand behind the quality of content featured on Mr. Will-W.:Pop Maven and this speaks for itself.

I thank you all personally for your loyalty to me. Things only will continue to get even more exciting in 2011.  Stick around.  Follow on Twitter or become a Fan on Facebook.  

Looking back on the year, there were many bright moments and narrowing it down to a Best-of has been difficult. I am blessed to live in a City which always has something exciting going on and would not be able to do any of this without Toronto. So indirectly, all of this is a big thank you to the City I love most.  I live, breathe, eat and speak Toronto. 

Without further ado, here are Mr. Will-W.:Pop Maven’s Greatest Moments of 2010:

Taylor Swift

14. Seeing Taylor Swift.  She's by far the hottest thing right now in Pop Music from a numbers standpoint - and she's not even really Pop, she's Country.  I was lucky enough to see Taylor Swift in November at CTV's Canada AM, part of her crazy day of Promotions in Toronto for third album Speak Now.  Whatever she did, it worked because she sold 1,047,000 copies of the CD in its first week.  This came soon after rumours sparked of her dating Jake Gyllenhaal whom I also got to meet in May.  Although her Publicist kept her at a distance from everyone, it was still a privilege to hear the v. grounded young Singer/Songwriter just be herself.  I'll be seeing her for the first time in Concert next July and am kinda stoked about it, really.

Sir Paul McCartney

13. Seeing Sir Paul McCartney. To say I was only a couple feet away from Sir Paul McCartney in itself is enough to brag about for a lifetime. Although he was pretty much all work, no play during his two days in Toronto this past August, his presence was felt definitely. I caught McCartney quickly rolling down the window of his Escalade to throw a quick wave to Fans outside his Hotel, before heading off to his show at Air Canada Centre. With Vinyl Records, Sharpies, CDs and Cameras all aimed his direction, it was Beatlemania allover again. It was incredibly quick and incredibly memorable.

Andrew Garfield and Me

12. Meeting Andrew Garfield. Although many of us are just getting to know him, Garfield by Summer 2012 will be everywhere due to his new high-profile role as Spider-Man. This year alone, he appeared in two widely acclaimed titles, Never Let Me Go (Mark Romanek) and more familiarly The Social Network (David Fincher). I met the talented Brit at the Premiere of Never Let Me Go this past September at TIFF. Although a bit awkward with the fame thing, he still was a Gentleman. Having seen The Social Network just days prior (thanks Nadia), I delivered him great praise to which he replied, "What?  How is it that you've seen it already and I haven't?".  I took two Photos with him and hilariously, he wasn’t quite sure which way to look both times. Just having garnered a Golden Globe nomination for his portrayal as Eduardo Saverin, one of the co-founders of Facebook in The Social Network, he’s definitely a major contender for Best Supporting Actor at next February’s Oscars. Look out.

NOWHERE BOY REVIEW

Still from Nowhere Boy

British Visual Artist-turned-Director Sam Taylor-Wood's Nowhere Boy would have made John Lennon proud. The film explores Lennon's rebellious teen years - sexually curious and obsessed with Elvis - prior to becoming the Icon we know him as today, and many will be surprised to learn what an intriguing life he lived prior to finding fame even.

The film is carried by an impeccable cast and although Taylor-Wood took a chance in casting her now-fiancé Aaron Johnson in the prized leading role of John Lennon, the risk paid off as he delivers a mesmerizing performance in this Heartthrob-making role. Johnson captures perfectly the headstrong and self-assured spirit of a young man who by chance develops a love for Music in reconnecting with his estranged and free-spirited Birthmother, Julia (Anne-Marie Duff).  John we see, is raised by his stern Aunt Mimi (Kristin Scott Thomas) and our understanding is that her younger sister Julia abandoned him as a young child.

With no real aspirations to excel in his studies, John unleashes his frustrations through Music, forming a band with some classmates, creating some structure in his life amidst the pushing and pulling in two directions by Mimi and Julia.   Mimi hopes to keep John far away from a desperate Julia with a warning that she only will hurt him. Also in reconnecting with Julia, John's sudden presence in her home causes a divide between her and her husband Bobby (David Morrissey). 

MICHAEL BUBLÉ ARRIVES IN TORONTO EARLY FOR PAUL MCCARTNEY CONCERT

And that handsome guy to the left would be Canada's Darling Crooner Michael Bublé, returning from a wonderful time at Paul McCartney's Up and Coming Tour show at Air Canada Centre.  The two-time Grammy winner who hails from Burnaby, kept telling a group of us, "Guys, that show was amazing!  You have to go see it!". And it appears he was v. excited about the show, arriving in-town three days prior to his own back-to-back shows at the same venue later this week.

As expected, Bublé is genuine and a man of his word, coming over to greet me with his Security Guard as promised after I flagged him down.  He signed a couple autographs and took time to pose for a handful of photographs, despite having been reported denying some fans Photo Opportunities earlier today, when he was seen in Yorkville grabbing a late lunch at Subway.  

Of course, I am super-stoked about seeing him in-concert later this week, as he puts on a good show consistently.  Review and photos will follow - check back Thursday!  In the meantime, you can fawn over that mesmerizing Brown Eyes below:

SIR PAUL MCCARTNEY IN TORONTO FOR UP AND COMING TOUR

Sir Paul F*cking McCartney, people! Know your place!!! The former Beatle is in Toronto doing two sold-out shows at Air Canada Centre as part of his Up and Coming Tour - a rare visit marking only the tenth time he's toured as a solo act in Canada.

I can say it was a great honour to be only inches away from him as he rolled down the window of his SUV as he left his Hotel, telling fans he wouldn't be able to come out personally and greet a dozen fans, but still wished us all well. Furthermore, these photos I got of him are among the first to surface from his Toronto visit and you Mavenati, are in exclusive company!

McCartney is expected to perform a selection of material off his 2007 album Memory Almost Full, plus many of his earlier hits tonight. The Tour wraps up August 19th in Pittsburgh. 68 years-old and still on fire!  Hot!

Here's another pic below.  Can you handle it?!