The Weekender: Kensington Market Sweets Tour, The Ting Tings and six other items on our to-do list
1. ANNUAL EASTER “EGG”STRAVAGANZA
Forget DIY Easter egg hunts, because once the chocolate eggs are gone, it’s all over, which is sad. Instead, head uptown to the zoo, which plays host to a weekend’s worth of fun activities, including visits with the animals and the daily “Beary-Bunny Easter Parade.” Join Explorer Bear, who will be dressed up as a beary-bunny, for a walk through the zoo’s “Spring Trail.” April 6 to 9. $13–$23. Toronto Zoo, 361A Old Finch Ave., 416-392-5929, torontozoo.com.
2. WORLD WAR I MINI FILM FESTIVAL
A Carlton Cinema/War Horse co-production, this mini film festival marks the April 1917 Battle of Vimy Ridge. The skirmish, a defining moment in Canadian military history, saw Canadian soldiers capture the ridge from German forces. Each film takes a different perspective about the Great War: the CanCon-heavy Passchendaele (2008) is a tragic war romance; Oh! What a Lovely War (1969), a musical, uses popular songs of the early 1900s to tell the story of WWI; A Very Long Engagement (2004) is a drama about a young woman trying to find her fiancé—who may have been killed in the Battle of the Somme; and Gallipoli (1981), the film that set a young Mel Gibson on his path to superstardom, examines Australia’s role in the Gallipoli campaign. April 7. $5 suggested donation. Carlton Cinema, 20 Carlton St., 416-598-5454, rainbowcinemas.ca/A/Carlton.
3. KENSINGTON MARKET SWEETS TOUR
There’s a time and a place for a history-heavy walks or a ghost-hunting excursions, but since it’s Easter weekend, we recommend this sweet walk. Hosted by Audrey Ooi, a marketing pro by day and dessert aficionado the rest of the time, the two-hour tour makes stops at five different Kensington Market shops. While taste tests—of chocolate, churros and everything in between—abound, it’s also fun to hear Ooi expound on the history behind each treat. Reservations are required. April 8. $30. Meet at Butterfly Bakery, 492 Dundas St. W., tastytourstoronto.com.
4. THE BAZAAR (FREE!)
This four-day shopping event, literally a super-fashionable bazaar consisting entirely of men’s and women’s clothing and accessories, is hosted by indie Yorkville shop RAC Boutique. Designers and stores like Robber, Jacflash, Woodlawn, 69 Vintage and the hosts themselves are all taking part. Expect items from spring/summer 2012 lines, vintage and consignment finds and even a few sale items from fall 2011. To April 8. Loft 580, 580 King St. W., racboutique.com.
5. THE SMALL ROOM AT THE TOP OF THE STAIRS
This 2008 play by Carole Fréchette takes the well-known Bluebeard folk tale and spins it into a modern—but no less dramatic—story. Grace, young and beautiful, meets Henry, a fabulously wealthy investment banker, and they embark upon a whirlwind romance and, naturally, marry. Soon Grace finds herself living in a mansion—28 rooms!—where she has free rein to explore, except for one small room. Once Henry leaves on yet another business trip, she can’t resist stealing up the stairs and peering inside. Naughty, naughty. To April 8. $23–$39. Tarragon Theatre, 30 Bridgman Ave., 416-531-1827, tarragontheatre.com.
6. PILLOW FIGHT (FREE!)
For the Easter weekend edition of this annual event, please bring the following: a pillow (soft and feather-free, please) and…a bunny costume (okay, the costume isn’t necessary, but it is strongly encouraged). Upon arrival, it’s time to let the feather-free pillows fly. April 7. Yonge-Dundas Square, newmindspace.com.
7. THE TING TINGS
You could look at this concert from indie darlings and Yo Gabba Gabba! faves The Ting Tings as a good thing (Yay! New music!) or a bad thing (sigh, we only just got “That’s Not My Name” out of our head). But we expect most people will go with the former, considering that in addition to that infectious song, there’ll be other melodic and bouncy tunes from the Brit twosome’s latest album, Sounds from Nowheresville. April 6. $26. Phoenix Concert Theatre, 410 Sherbourne St., 1-800-222-6608, ticketweb.ca.
8. PORTABLE MOSQUES
At first, the concept of a portable mosque seems strange, but that’s just what the rugs in this six-month-long exhibit are: mobile places of worship. And they’re beautiful ones, at that. Woven in Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan, Azerbaijan and India between the early 19th and early 20th centuries, they’re diverse in aesthetic but united in purpose and design. Many feature niches and arches, which “represent directional points to orient the worshipper towards Mecca,” according to the museum’s curatorial statement. To September 3. $15. Textile Museum of Canada, 55 Centre Ave., 416-599-5321, textilemuseum.ca.
(Images: Prayer rug, Textile Museum; Ting Tings, Dale Harvey; Cupcakes, Frédéric Bisson )
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1. ANNUAL EASTER “EGG”STRAVAGANZA
Forget DIY Easter egg hunts, because once the chocolate eggs are gone, it’s all over, which is sad. Instead, head uptown to the zoo, which plays host to a weekend’s worth of fun activities, including visits with the animals and the daily “Beary-Bunny Easter Parade.” Join Explorer Bear, who will be dressed up as a beary-bunny, for a walk through the zoo’s “Spring Trail.” April 6 to 9. $13–$23. Toronto Zoo, 361A Old Finch Ave., 416-392-5929, torontozoo.com.
2. WORLD WAR I MINI FILM FESTIVAL
A Carlton Cinema/War Horse co-production, this mini film festival marks the April 1917 Battle of Vimy Ridge. The skirmish, a defining moment in Canadian military history, saw Canadian soldiers capture the ridge from German forces. Each film takes a different perspective about the Great War: the CanCon-heavy Passchendaele (2008) is a tragic war romance; Oh! What a Lovely War (1969), a musical, uses popular songs of the early 1900s to tell the story of WWI; A Very Long Engagement (2004) is a drama about a young woman trying to find her fiancé—who may have been killed in the Battle of the Somme; and Gallipoli (1981), the film that set a young Mel Gibson on his path to superstardom, examines Australia’s role in the Gallipoli campaign. April 7. $5 suggested donation. Carlton Cinema, 20 Carlton St., 416-598-5454, rainbowcinemas.ca/A/Carlton.
3. KENSINGTON MARKET SWEETS TOUR
There’s a time and a place for a history-heavy walks or a ghost-hunting excursions, but since it’s Easter weekend, we recommend this sweet walk. Hosted by Audrey Ooi, a marketing pro by day and dessert aficionado the rest of the time, the two-hour tour makes stops at five different Kensington Market shops. While taste tests—of chocolate, churros and everything in between—abound, it’s also fun to hear Ooi expound on the history behind each treat. Reservations are required. April 8. $30. Meet at Butterfly Bakery, 492 Dundas St. W., tastytourstoronto.com.
4. THE BAZAAR (FREE!)
This four-day shopping event, literally a super-fashionable bazaar consisting entirely of men’s and women’s clothing and accessories, is hosted by indie Yorkville shop RAC Boutique. Designers and stores like Robber, Jacflash, Woodlawn, 69 Vintage and the hosts themselves are all taking part. Expect items from spring/summer 2012 lines, vintage and consignment finds and even a few sale items from fall 2011. To April 8. Loft 580, 580 King St. W., racboutique.com.
5. THE SMALL ROOM AT THE TOP OF THE STAIRS
This 2008 play by Carole Fréchette takes the well-known Bluebeard folk tale and spins it into a modern—but no less dramatic—story. Grace, young and beautiful, meets Henry, a fabulously wealthy investment banker, and they embark upon a whirlwind romance and, naturally, marry. Soon Grace finds herself living in a mansion—28 rooms!—where she has free rein to explore, except for one small room. Once Henry leaves on yet another business trip, she can’t resist stealing up the stairs and peering inside. Naughty, naughty. To April 8. $23–$39. Tarragon Theatre, 30 Bridgman Ave., 416-531-1827, tarragontheatre.com.
6. PILLOW FIGHT (FREE!)
For the Easter weekend edition of this annual event, please bring the following: a pillow (soft and feather-free, please) and…a bunny costume (okay, the costume isn’t necessary, but it is strongly encouraged). Upon arrival, it’s time to let the feather-free pillows fly. April 7. Yonge-Dundas Square, newmindspace.com.
7. THE TING TINGS
You could look at this concert from indie darlings and Yo Gabba Gabba! faves The Ting Tings as a good thing (Yay! New music!) or a bad thing (sigh, we only just got “That’s Not My Name” out of our head). But we expect most people will go with the former, considering that in addition to that infectious song, there’ll be other melodic and bouncy tunes from the Brit twosome’s latest album, Sounds from Nowheresville. April 6. $26. Phoenix Concert Theatre, 410 Sherbourne St., 1-800-222-6608, ticketweb.ca.
8. PORTABLE MOSQUES
At first, the concept of a portable mosque seems strange, but that’s just what the rugs in this six-month-long exhibit are: mobile places of worship. And they’re beautiful ones, at that. Woven in Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan, Azerbaijan and India between the early 19th and early 20th centuries, they’re diverse in aesthetic but united in purpose and design. Many feature niches and arches, which “represent directional points to orient the worshipper towards Mecca,” according to the museum’s curatorial statement. To September 3. $15. Textile Museum of Canada, 55 Centre Ave., 416-599-5321, textilemuseum.ca.
(Images: Prayer rug, Textile Museum; Ting Tings, Dale Harvey; Cupcakes, Frédéric Bisson )){kind=link}