The Weekender: The ROM Prom, Opera to Go, Fashion Week, Earth Hour
1. OPERA TO GO
This venue in the fermenting cellar of the old Gooderham and Worts Distillery has been beautifully restored, but it’s no Four Seasons Centre—and that’s the point. Showcasing the entire space, this program of short operas includes performances of The Laurels, Rosa and The Colony, as well as a screening of The Perfect Match, an operatic short film starring two sock puppets. March 24 to 26. $20–$40. Fermenting Cellar, 55 Mill St., Bldg. 7, 416-537-6066, ext. 243, tapestrynewopera.com.
2. SCREEN SPACE
Four new video exhibits examine space, both inside the gallery and in the film. The artists explore various styles and themes: newcomer (and YouTube sensation) Ryan Trecartin takes on consumer culture in his seven-part opus Any Ever; and veteran Peter Campus’s exhibition combines his own 1974 work, Anamnesis, with his new multi-channel video, Inflections. March 25 to May 24. $6. The Power Plant, Harbourfront Centre, 231 Queens Quay W., 416-973-4949, thepowerplant.org.
3. PROM V: NOIR
The city’s prettiest young things kick off Toronto’s ball season at the ROM with this annual fundraiser for the museum, this year hosted by MTV’s Dan Levy and Jessi Cruickshank. March 27. $125–$295. Royal Ontario Museum, 100 Queen’s Park, 416-586-5772, rom.on.ca/prom.
4. BOBBY MCFERRIN
The only Bobby McFerrin songs we know are “Don’t Worry Be Happy” and the tunes from his Sesame Street appearances, so imagine our surprise when we found out the jazz singer and 10-time Grammy winner has plenty of can’t-help-but-smile-when-you-hear-them songs, including collaborations with Yo-Yo Ma, Chick Corea and Herbie Hancock. March 26. $49.50–$69.50. Roy Thomson Hall, 60 Simcoe St., 416-872-4255, roythomson.com.
5. BANFF MOUNTAIN FILM FESTIVAL WORLD TOUR
The audience for this outdoorsy film fest goes well beyond Mountain Equipment Co-op cardholders. Gorgeous cinematography in documentaries about 600-foot rock walls in Pakistan, ice climbing in B.C. and off-road unicycling are gratifying for all. March 26 to 28. $20. Bloor Cinema, 506 Bloor St. W., 416-516-2331, torontobanfffilmfest.com.
6. EARTH HOUR (FREE!)
Turn the lights down low, real low, and take the kids to Yonge-Dundas Square. Face-painting, arts and crafts, street performers and a Bullfrog Power–driven concert (Chantal Kreviazuk, Jarvis Church) are worthy TV replacements. March 27. Yonge-Dundas Square, ydsquare.ca.
7. LG FASHION WEEK
Farewell, white tents. Starting Sunday, Toronto’s most fashionable will crowd into the Allstream Centre for a week of shows from the likes of Pink Tartan, Joe Fresh and many a Project Runway Canada grad. March 28 to April 1. $25 per show, weekly pass $475. Allstream Centre, Exhibition Place, 105 Princes Blvd., lgfashionweek.ca.
8. COMICS FOR KIDS
Bust a gut for a good cause at this variety show. Hosts the Rumoli Brothers are joined by an all-star comic lineup, including Lusty Mannequins, The Imponderables, Second City alumni and Pete Zedlacher, to raise money for SickKids Children’s Hospital. March 28. $25. The Second City, 51 Mercer St., 416-343-0011, secondcity.com.
![](http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https://torontolife.com/food/the-weekender-the-rom-prom-opera-to-go-fashion-week-earth-hour/&title=The Weekender: The ROM Prom, Opera to Go, Fashion Week, Earth Hour&picture=https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/rom.jpg&description=[caption id="attachment_21802" align="alignleft" width="330" caption="Dinos and divas: the ROM Prom kicks off Toronto ball season (Image: Greyloch)"][/caption]
1. OPERA TO GO
This venue in the fermenting cellar of the old Gooderham and Worts Distillery has been beautifully restored, but it’s no Four Seasons Centre—and that’s the point. Showcasing the entire space, this program of short operas includes performances of The Laurels, Rosa and The Colony, as well as a screening of The Perfect Match, an operatic short film starring two sock puppets. March 24 to 26. $20–$40. Fermenting Cellar, 55 Mill St., Bldg. 7, 416-537-6066, ext. 243, tapestrynewopera.com.
2. SCREEN SPACE
Four new video exhibits examine space, both inside the gallery and in the film. The artists explore various styles and themes: newcomer (and YouTube sensation) Ryan Trecartin takes on consumer culture in his seven-part opus Any Ever; and veteran Peter Campus’s exhibition combines his own 1974 work, Anamnesis, with his new multi-channel video, Inflections. March 25 to May 24. $6. The Power Plant, Harbourfront Centre, 231 Queens Quay W., 416-973-4949, thepowerplant.org.
3. PROM V: NOIR
The city’s prettiest young things kick off Toronto’s ball season at the ROM with this annual fundraiser for the museum, this year hosted by MTV’s Dan Levy and Jessi Cruickshank. March 27. $125–$295. Royal Ontario Museum, 100 Queen’s Park, 416-586-5772, rom.on.ca/prom.
4. BOBBY MCFERRIN
The only Bobby McFerrin songs we know are “Don’t Worry Be Happy” and the tunes from his Sesame Street appearances, so imagine our surprise when we found out the jazz singer and 10-time Grammy winner has plenty of can’t-help-but-smile-when-you-hear-them songs, including collaborations with Yo-Yo Ma, Chick Corea and Herbie Hancock. March 26. $49.50–$69.50. Roy Thomson Hall, 60 Simcoe St., 416-872-4255, roythomson.com.
5. BANFF MOUNTAIN FILM FESTIVAL WORLD TOUR
The audience for this outdoorsy film fest goes well beyond Mountain Equipment Co-op cardholders. Gorgeous cinematography in documentaries about 600-foot rock walls in Pakistan, ice climbing in B.C. and off-road unicycling are gratifying for all. March 26 to 28. $20. Bloor Cinema, 506 Bloor St. W., 416-516-2331, torontobanfffilmfest.com.
6. EARTH HOUR (FREE!)
Turn the lights down low, real low, and take the kids to Yonge-Dundas Square. Face-painting, arts and crafts, street performers and a Bullfrog Power–driven concert (Chantal Kreviazuk, Jarvis Church) are worthy TV replacements. March 27. Yonge-Dundas Square, ydsquare.ca.
7. LG FASHION WEEK
Farewell, white tents. Starting Sunday, Toronto’s most fashionable will crowd into the Allstream Centre for a week of shows from the likes of Pink Tartan, Joe Fresh and many a Project Runway Canada grad. March 28 to April 1. $25 per show, weekly pass $475. Allstream Centre, Exhibition Place, 105 Princes Blvd., lgfashionweek.ca.
8. COMICS FOR KIDS
Bust a gut for a good cause at this variety show. Hosts the Rumoli Brothers are joined by an all-star comic lineup, including Lusty Mannequins, The Imponderables, Second City alumni and Pete Zedlacher, to raise money for SickKids Children's Hospital. March 28. $25. The Second City, 51 Mercer St., 416-343-0011, secondcity.com.){kind=link}
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