The Weekender: Beach blues festival, bike-in movie night and six other things to do this weekend

The Weekender: Beach blues festival, bike-in movie night and six other things to do this weekend

Bike to the Beach blues fest or to movie night at Metro Square (Image: Duchamp)

1. RACE FOR DIGNITY CHALLENGE
This event is basically a spin class with a purpose—a purpose other than killer quads, that is. Teams work together to keep their stationary bike going for eight hours straight, all in an attempt to raise money to fight HIV/AIDS in Malawi. June 5. Noon–8. Yonge-Dundas Square, racefordignity.com.

2. THE UNITED SOUNDS PROJECT
This five-musician collective combines flamenco guitar, jazz, classical piano, hip hop, poetry and soul flute—yes, soul flute—in a surprising but delightful mix. June 5. 6 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. $20. Glenn Gould Studio, CBC Building, 250 Front St. W., 416-872-4255, roythomson.com.

3. BIKE-IN MOVIE NIGHT: E.T. (FREE!)
In the time before soaring gas prices and global warming, drive-in movies and summertime went hand in hand. This park screening of the Spielberg classic E.T. is decidedly post-Gore—the audience is invited to bike (or walk) instead. June 5. 7 p.m. Metro Square, 55 John St., wwf.ca/movie.

4. WEST SIDE STORY SUITE MIXED PROGRAM
Original West Side Story choreographer Jerome Robbins pared down the musical to focus on the dancing and love story. In doing so, he created one of the few ballets that require performers to deliver lines and sing. The mixed program also includes Jorma Elo’s National Ballet premiere, Pur ti Miro, and another of Robbins’s works: Opus 19/The Dreamer. June 4 to 13. $20–$200. Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, 145 Queen St. W., 416-345-9595, national.ballet.ca.

5. THE CORPSE BRIDE
Like the Tim Burton animated flick of the same name, this Theatre Panik–produced stage show is based on a Jewish folk tale about a young groom who accidentally marries the wrong woman. And we’re talking really wrong: she’s dead. Actors share the stage with video projections of text and scenery. June 4 and 5. $20–$25. Young Centre for the Performing Arts, 55 Mill St., Bldg. 49, 416-866-8666, youngcentre.ca.

6. PORTUGAL DAY 2010 (FREE!)
The season of multicultural festivals is here again, and we’re stoked. Food? Yes, please. Folk music? Check. A parade (Saturday, 11 a.m.)? We’ll see you there. June 5 and 6. Trinity Bellwoods Park (at Dundas St. W. and Crawford St.), portuguesealliance.com.

7. TALIB KWELI AND HI-TEK
First, a bit of hip-hop history: in 1997 (which was long enough ago that we can comfortably call it “back in the day,” right?), rapper Talib Kweli and producer Hi-Tek joined forces to become a duo named Reflection Eternal. They put out one CD and one mix tape and were lauded in indie hip-hop circles. Now, after a years-long hiatus, they’ve released a second studio album and are in town to remind us that hip hop is more than Soulja Boy and Auto-Tune. June 5. 8 p.m. $36.75. Sound Academy, 11 Polson St., 416-870-8000, ticketmaster.ca.

8. WATERFRONT BLUES FESTIVAL (FREE!)
Car radio presets more Jazz.FM than Flow 93.5? That’s OK; this weekend has music for every taste. Enjoy laid-back blues by local musicians all weekend in the Beach. We’re especially looking forward to shows by Blackburn and Juno winners Fathead. June 4 to 6. Woodbine Park (at Lake Shore Blvd. E. and Coxwell), waterfrontblues.ca.