What's Happening

As a reminder, there's an Environment Day in our area Saturday.

For more fun pursuits, you might want to hoof it up to Casa Loma for this weekend's Renaissance Festival.
"Casa Loma's estate gardens will be transformed into a Renaissance-style village populated by vendors, village characters and the court of King Henry VIII."
Acts include comedians Men In Tights (extra $2); Sir Charles of Linton, with his bird of prey; and Zoltan the Adequate, geek magician.

The Fringe, Toronto's Theatre Festival, is on till the 13th, as I already BLOGgeda about, and one of the sites in the MilesNadalJCC at Bloor and Spadina.
That's also the site for the third Annual IsReal Dance Festival July 3 to 5, which aims to "share the joy and fun of Israeli folk dancing, in celebration this year of Israel @ 60."

And on Sunday, you can mosey over to the MNjcc to hear author Brandon Marlon reading The Bleeding Season, which took top honours at the Canadian Jewish playwrighting competition.
"This play explores the physical and psychological effects of the suicide terrorists on both Israelis and Palestinians."
The suggested donation at the door is $8 and things get underway at 2 pm. For more information contact Esther Arbeid, esthera@mnjcc.org, 416.924-6211, ext. 606.

Remember Lukas Rossi, he of the heavy eyeliner and skunk-stripe hair? Who won Rockstar Supernova, the reality show quest for a singer to front a band made up of former members of various famous bands?
Well, if you do, you might be happy to know that he is in town with his band to play Lee's Palace Wednesday. (Yep, in a real shocker, the Supernova band didn't last....) Tickets are $15.

On Saturday, The Annex Wreck Room at Bathurst and Bloor is the venue for a Beck CD Release Listening Party. Not due to be released until July 8th, Beck's latest is called Modern Guilt.

The Toronto Photography Marathon kicks off in Christie Pits park Saturday at 10:30 am. Participants get a 12-exposure roll of film and 12 themes that must be photographed in sequence during a 24-hour period. It ends at noon on Sunday back at the park and the pics will be exhibited July 19 at the Gladstone, with voting on the best photo in each theme. It costs $45 to participate and you need to bring your own non-digital camera.

There's a new comedy undertaking in the 'hood... Brainstorm Lounge Comedy Show offers live comedians and short films with host "That Canadian Guy" Glen Foster every Monday starting at 8 p.m. on the second floor at 296 Brunswick Ave., which is just south of Bloor.

Whatever you do, enjoy it!
Vanessa

What's Happening (Inc. March Break)

It's Varsity Day at the Bloor Cinema on the 10th. U of T students pay $3 admission, but you must show ID.
Screenings include The much ballyhooed The Diving Bell and The Butterfly, No Country For Old Men and Starting Out In The Evening. Great line up!

Speaking of the Bloor Cinema, this in from area artist Deb Wiles:
"A fine art auction is taking place in the upstairs lobby of the Bloor Cinema at 11:00 am sharp on Sat. March 8th.
The work has been up for viewing since Feb. 18th. Artists' Direct Auctions is the brainchild of John Romano who, after many years in the art business as an artist and a dealer, has decided to start an auction house. This auction will therefore be the first of many. Mr. Romano's intent is to sell work for artists as efficiently as possible, to get money into their pockets so that they may focus on producing more work rather than having to focus on selling their own work." [VR: Noble concept, that!]

On March 9th at the Miles NadalJCC, our neighbour, Jordan Klapman, continues with his Great Jewish Composers Music Lecture series. He tackles the topic of Yiddish American Swing in the Postwar Era from 11 am to 12:30 pm. Admission is $9 and includes bagels and coffee.

On the same day, you can meet at the Fitness Desk at 10 am to head down to Nathan Philips Square to skate en masse.

The performers of The Randolph Academy are mounting One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest the 11th to the 15th at the Bathurst Street Theatre. Tickets are $22 and are available through Ticketmaster.

Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra and Chamber Choir, which makes its home at Trinity-St. Paul's Centre, 427 Bloor St. West, is offering In the Garden of Delights: Music from the Song of Songs this weekend. Call 416.964.6337 for details and tickets.

MARCH BREAK ACTIVITIES
Yes, it's that time again... time for the "mid-winter" break. Those with children, gird your loins. Those without children, gird your loins -- and, for pity's sake, stay away from any large public institutions!

The Toronto Public Library has a slew of March Break events, including Dan the Music Man at the Palmerston Branch and an Origami workshop at the Spadina Road location.

And the theatre in the Palmerston Branch plays host to Little Red Theatre's Goldilocks and the Three Canadian Bears on Monday at 1:30 p.m. Tickets are $11 and $9; 416-533-8848.

The ROM has tons to do, including a Medieval Fair where you can try your hand at calligraphy and watch some medieval-style dancing. The Bata Shoe Museum has an Around the World In Five Days theme. Kids can dress up in kimonos or saris, paint miniature clogs and much more.

Casa Loma features pirate-themed activities for the gaffers, including a treasure hunt and a pirate show.

For events out of our area, Toronto.com has great listings and suggestions, as well as Toronto4Kids.com.

Whatever you do, enjoy it!
Cheers,
Vanessa

Things To Do

The Wanted play at The Tranzac Saturday at 6 pm, just one act in a very full roster.

On Wednesday the 5th at 6:30 and 9:15 pm The Bloor Cinema screens Autism: The Musical, which follows five autistic children as they work together to create and perform a live musical. Director Tricia Regan will be on hand for a Q & A session.

Fans of Molly Johnson can catch her one-hour set tomorrow night at the ROM for free. It starts at 7 pm and is in honour of Black History Month.

Toronto Consort, which is housed in Trinity St. Paul's on Bloor, west of Spadina, features Toward the Centre: Music for a Medieval Labyrinth Feb 29 & March 1. And I quote:
"The medieval labyrinth, found in many of the great Gothic cathedrals of Europe, is a compelling symbol of the journey to the centre (and back again), of the perils and the path of life, and of beauty.
In the Middle Ages pilgrims visiting the labyrinth danced in this sacred space and the Toronto Consort has researched this ancient custom to present a stunning program of music for the labyrinth: lively medieval dance-songs, sophisticated renaissance polyphony by Josquin Desprez, with a special new creation featuring members of Sampradaya Dance Creations.
This concert is part of the Sacred Spaces, Sacred Circles Arts Festival, a celebration of music and architecture in the Spring of 2008."

Bluegrass Goes Pink is a Foggy Hogtown Boys Fundraiser for the Weekend to End Breast Cancer. The boys perform at The Brunswick House on Saturday from 3:30 to 7:30 pm. The $5 suggested cover will go to WEBC team Putting our Breast Foot Forward. It's listed as suitable for all ages.

Tuesday at Clinton's you can catch Robert Boates, John Allemang and Bill Howell reading their works as part of the Art Bar Poetry series. Things get underway at 8 pm and it's free, but donations are appreciated.

On Tuesday, as part of Crime Writers of Canada Readings at Casa Loma, Lyn Hamilton and Rick Blechta will read, starting at 7:30 p.m.
Admission $12 and pre-registration is required: contact operations@casaloma.org for more information.

Cheers,
Vanessa

What's Happening

Happy Valentine's Day to everyone!

Neighbourhood resident Audry Kalman's art show opens at Lennox Contemporary gallery on Feb. 21 and runs until March 2nd. There's a reception from 7 to 10 pm on the opening Thursday.

There's a few celebrations in the offing for our first Family Day, Monday the 18th. MP Olivia Chow is inviting everyone to strap on their skates and join her at Christie Pits rink from 2 to 4 pm for a "fun afternoon of free skating and hot chocolate." (NB: there's no skate rental at Christie Pits, so bring your own blades).

The ROM opens two new galleries in the Crystal this weekend, the Wirth Gallery of the Middle East and the Sir Christopher Ondaatje South Asian Gallery. Also, to mark Family Day weekend, the museum is offering special programming "centered around dazzling dinosaurs and wicked weather" to its members.

Just down the street, at the Bata Shoe Museum, you can enjoy Family Day shenanigans, which include making an animal paper lantern or a slithery hanging snake, all based on a Chinese lunar calendar/Zodiac theme.
If you're a rat -- based on the Chinese calendar, that is -- just bring proof of birthdate and you can get in free.
(The Raymond-Moriyama designed building is worth a visit in and of itself, BTW.)

Casa Loma offers children, accompanied by a paying adult, free admission on Family Day.

Other events just happen to coincide with the Family Day weekend, such as the new ceramics exhibit opening tomorrow at the Gardiner Museum, called Man Eating Tiger.
It features Staffordshire figurines made between about 1790 and 1840, including "conniving cut throats, bare-knuckle brawlers, run-away brides, hen-pecked husbands, dancing bears and other colourful characters from 19th-century Britain."
Sounds very action-packed for a ceramics exhibit!

We're privileged to have a stellar baroque music orchestra in our midst... Tafelmusik, which makes its home in the Trinity-St. Paul's Centre at 427 Bloor St. W, just west of Spadina. This weekend Tafelmusik presents Mozart, Haydn & Bach with a Twist with guest director and soloist Sigiswald Kuijken. 8 pm performances, except for Sunday at 3:30 pm.

Tickets are $29 to $68. Call 416-964-6337 for more details.

At the same location on Monday at 7:30 pm, members of the TSO present one in the Five Small Concerts series called From the Hacienda to the Salon. Tickets range from $10 to $17. Call 416.221.8342 for more info.

On Sunday, as part of its Books and Bagels series, MilesNadalJCC at Spadina and Bloor features a reading by author Nick Maes of his "elegant fiction," Dead Man's Float. It starts at 11 am, tickets are $6 and the book will be available to purchase.

Also on the 17th at the MilesNadalJCC there are two screenings of The Ritchie Boys at 4 and 7:30 pm. It's a documentary about a group of young men who fled Nazi Germany and returned to Europe as soldiers in U.S. uniforms. (As the tagline says: Their courage and heroism were matched only by their chutzpah.)
The documentary is presented by the Jewish Film Society and "Ritchie Boy," professor Guy Stern, is the guest speaker.
Rush seats will go on sale 15 minutes before screenings for $15 and $10 for those ages 18 – 29 (7:30 pm screening only). For more info contact Esther Arbeid, 416.924.6211, ext 606, esthera@mnjcc.org.

Now, it may not be entertaining, but it could be quite informative: Confused about the new blue bin program? There will be an Open House at Scadding Court Community Centre February 19 from 6:30 to 8:30 pm and another one in the theatre of the Palmerston Library on the 20th during the same hours.
During the open houses, Toronto waste management staff will be on hand to answer questions, including "what size of new box do I order?" and "what do I do with my old boxes?"

Whatever you do, enjoy it! And enjoy it with your family!
Cheers,
Vanessa

What's Happening?

Well, of course, the big "what's happening" news around town is the WinterCity Festival from the 25th to Feb. 7th.

Winterlicious is part of it and is a great opportunity to sample some of the pricier restaurants in the city without breaking the bank. In our area, there's four participating restaurants and also places easy to hoof to, such as the Boulevard Cafe on Harbord. Prix fixe lunches for $15 and $20 and dinners for $25 and $35? In some of the city's best restaurants? Better get dialing and reserving... some places are already sold out.

As part of WinterCity Festival, Casa Loma is hosting 30-minute Winter Cookie Workshops on January 26 and 27 from 10 am to 4 pm Children ages two to eight decorate a sugar cookie snowflake.
One cookie per child and a cup of hot cocoa for children and adults is included with general admission. Call 416-923-1171 Ext. 205 or 215 to register or email operations@casaloma.org.

And now for something completely different... if you are planning to throw a Bat or Bar Mitzvah this year, you might want to attend a free workshop at the Miles Nadal JCC Sunday morning. Professor Stuart Schoenfeld promises to answer all of your questions about the big event.

Also at The JCC, the Toronto Jewish Film Society screens the Toronto premiere of Nina's Home at 4 and 7:30 pm.

This rolled into our inbox and I thought it was worth mentioning if you'd like to see some theatre, but you don't want to have to mortgage your house to buy the tickets: the University College Drama Program at U of T presents "an innovative adaptation of the classic tragedy The Robbers, by Fredrich Schiller."
Performances run from January 29 to February 9, Tuesdays to Saturdays. The curtain rises at 8 pm at the Helen Gardiner Phelan Playhouse, 79A St. George Street. Tickets are $12 for adults and $8 for students/seniors.
Contact 416-978-1505, or go to http://www.ucdp.utoronto.ca/, or email vpjames@gmail.com.

Whatever you do, I hope you enjoy it!
Vanessa

Things To Do

Kensington Market Festival of Lights
We blogged about this earlier so that people could go to lantern-making workshops if they wished, so, as a reminder, on December 21 you can "join the sensational Samba Squad and a cavalcade of costumed characters, giant puppets, stilt-walkers and fire-breathers in a luminescent lantern-lit carnival parade in Toronto's legendary Kensington Market."

The Bloor Cinema thanks its members by screening White Christmas for free tomorrow night at 7 pm. There's also complimentary refreshments (!) and if you bring a donation for the food drive you can enter to win free movies for a year. As well, you can buy a $3 membership at the door.

Today is the last day to book tickets for Chinese and a Movie Christmas Eve at the Miles Nadal JCC at Bloor and Spadina. Across the Universe screens at 8:30 preceded by dinner at 7:30 pm. Tickets are $36 or $20 for students. You can buy them at the front desk and a limited number will be available at the door for $40.

A tiny bit out of the area, but still within (brisk) walking distance, Spadina Museum sits in the shadow of Casa Loma but has a lovely grandeur all its own. Tomorrow night, the Winter Solstice, it plays host to an evening of traditional Japanese music and storytelling. And we quote: "The Katari Storytellers will entertain guests with stories and songs, while James Thompson provides musical accompaniment on the flute. Seating is limited. Pre-registration is required." Tickets are $15 and $20. For more information, or to register, call: 416.392.6910.

While we're in that neck of the woods, so to speak, Casa Loma has a host of activities going on this weekend and throughout the Holidays. "Zany" theatre troupe Men In Tights performs A Christmas Carol: It's Dickens With A Difference, the swimming pool area's been turned into a Ghostly Grotto and there's something called a Scrooginator in action on the second floor, just to name a few attractions. Of course, the biggest draw is always making your way through the "secret tunnel" to the stables. Admission is $15 for adults, $8 for children and the play costs extra.

Me? Well besides the usual family stuff, I'll be going to see A Twisted Christmas Carol, which I blogged about before and which ends its run this weekend.
Cheers, Vanessa