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

What's Happening?

Looking for something to do tomorrow night? Here's a different kind of party from the folks at NewMindSpace:
NEWMINDSPACE'S ARCTICA STREETCAR PARTY
Friday December 14th, 8pm - 11pm
$20 - all ages
Tickets (fast disappearing) available at Lavish & Squalor, 253 Queen St. W.

For the niblets, the Palmerston Library is hosting Family Holiday Stories with storyteller Adele Koehnke on Sat. Dec. 15th from 2 to 3 pm.

A previous favourite of our family's is the Kensington Market Festival of Lights, pictured here,
although it IS a wee bit south of us! It takes place every year on the evening of the Winter Solstice, December 21.

I'm telling you about it early because of this:
LANTERN MAKING WORKSHOPS: CREATE your own lantern to carry in the parade and to decorate your home.
Saturday Dec. 15, 12- 5 pm at St. Stephen's Community House - 260 Augusta just south of College and Sunday Dec. 16, 12 - 5 pm at the Kapisanan Filipino Centre for Arts and Culture - 167 Augusta - just north of Dundas.
As for the Festival of Lights itself on the 21st, it gets underway at 6 p.m. Here's the full scoop:
"JOIN us on what some predict may be the shortest day yet this year! To beckon the return of the sun with a fire-fuelled, samba soaked march through the narrow streets of Toronto's beloved Kensington Market.
Gather at Augusta and Oxford - just south of College for 6:00pm - and go with the flow.
FESTIVAL PARADE
DISCOVER celebratory scenarios at storefronts and rooftops presented by inspired Toronto artists.
DANCE to the soul stirring rhythms of the Samba Squad, Maracatu Nunca Antes, Rich Underhill and the Kensington Community Orchestra, the Island ARhythmics, EagleHeart Drummers and Singers, Spirit Wind, Isaiah Cada, and the perennial SolSticks.
HANDMADE and COMMERCIAL-FREE for 19 years, The Festival of Lights is participatory. Wear a costume, bang a drum, carry a lantern.
NEW this year, join artists Melisa and Melecio Clemente for a special workshop in traditional Filipino Parol lantern making on Tuesday Dec. 18 at 6pm at Kapisanan.
For More Information call 416-598-3729, email redpepper.spectacle@sympatico.ca or visit our developing website at http://www.redpepperspectaclearts.org/

For those of you in less of festive mood and more of a planning mood, the Annex Residents' Association is hosting a public forum about the BLOOR CORRIDOR VISION STUDY on December 17th, in the chapel at Royal St. George's College from 6 to 9 pm.
If you would like further information about this study, please contact: Barry Brooks, City of Toronto, 416-392-1316, bbrooks@toronto.ca Jennifer Keesmaat, Office for Urbanism, 416-971-7521, jk@officeforurbanism.com

As usual, things are hopping at the Miles Nadal JCC. On Sunday the 16th at 7 pm, there's Musica Cuba featuring the Hilario Durán Trio and David Buchbinder & Odessa/Havana.
There's also an exhibition: Let There Be Light: Jewish Life in Cuba Photographic works by Tatiana Santos Mendez, of Havana.
Proceeds from the concert and the exhibition will support the Jewish Communities of Cuba.
$30 General Admission, at 416-924-6211x0, $50 Patron tickets.

The TRANZAC’s occasional Wombat Wednesday series returns December 19, featuring The Christine Bougie Band, The Silt and N (Lina Allemano, Ryan Driver, Rob Clutton, Justin Haynes). Doors open at 8:30 and cover is $6

And a reminder that SEATON VILLAGE CAROLING happens this Sunday, December 16 2007 – 6:45pm –till whenever.
"Once again we are calling on all Seaton Villagers and beyond to join us for an evening of old-fashioned door to door caroling. Everyone, any age, any singing ability is welcome to carol with us. The more the merrier for it is a fun community experience.
Caroling Itinery:- We meet at 6:45pm in front of 74 Vermont Ave. to receive carol books and any instructions. There may be a quick practice.
We carol at prearranged homes in Seaton Village and the Annex from approximately 7:00 – 8:00ish pm.
We end the outdoor door to door caroling and commence the indoor caroling around the piano at 428 Brunswick Ave. from 8ish until it’s over and we have attempted to sing the Hallelujah chorus at least 3 times. Once again we are pleased to feature Grandma Shirley on the piano. Come one come all Yea Faithful – join us and get into the holiday spirit. For more information please contact Barb Carson at bmcarson@rogers.com.