The Weekender: TIFF Culture Days, Word on the Street and six other events on our to-do list
1. TIFF CULTURE DAYS (FREE!)
No more random celebrity encounters? No more five-block lineups in our quest to see Black Swan? No more sniffing out gossip better than Perez Hilton, if we do say so ourselves? Our lives feel oddly empty now that TIFF 2010 is over. Luckily, the new Bell Lightbox is doing its part to make the transition easier with this weekend’s Culture Days programming. Such silent movie classics as Buster Keaton’s Sherlock Jr. and Charlie Chaplin’s City Lights are screening, and kid-friendly, movie-themed crafts are planned. Sept. 24 to 26. TIFF Bell Lightbox, 330 King St. W., tiff.net.
2. WOMEN’S ARM WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIP FOR CHARITY
Anyone who has attended a roller derby match—or has ever interacted with a woman—knows that girls kick ass, but if you need further proof, we give you LumberJackie, Scarlett O’Terror and the rest of the ladies, who go bicep to bicep in this arm-wrestling tourney to raise money for Red Door Family Shelter. Sept. 24. Participants $2, audience members $3. 751 Queen St. W., facebook.com/home.php?#!/event.php?eid=141853102502001&ref=search.
3. CANADIAN ART GALLERY HOP (FREE!)
We may have mentioned this before, but we really like free stuff. When that free stuff is fine art? Even better. Actual paintings and sculptures won’t be up for grabs, but gallery tours, talks and even a magazine launch are scheduled for this Canadian Art–organized day, which is almost as good. Sept. 25. Various locations, canadianart.ca/microsites/galleryhop/schedule.
4. MANIFESTO FESTIVAL
Only in its fourth year, this festival of urban culture has managed to become the go-to event for the city’s hip-hop fans. Film screenings, a speaker series and art exhibitions are all on offer, but the don’t-miss-it-event is Sunday’s free concert at Yonge-Dundas Square. Like Dave Chappelle’s Block Party but with more Canadian flavour, the lineup includes Saukrates, Shaun Boothe, Masia One, Eternia, D’bi Young, Blake Carrington and Rich Kidd, with a few other notable additions, like The Roots’s Black Thought and J. Period. To Sept. 26. Various locations, themanifesto.ca/festival.
5. WORD ON THE STREET (FREE!)
Voracious readers and book nerds that we are, we’ll be at the Toronto version of this year’s Word on the Street literary festival (Halifax, Saskatoon, Kitchener and Vancouver also host versions this weekend). We’ll be the ones getting especially competitive at Diaspora Dialogue’s literary scavenger hunt. Sept. 26. Queen’s Park, 416-556-0812, thewordonthestreet.ca.
6. THE GREAT FARINI PROJECT
The rivalry between high-wire artists the Great Farini and the Great Blondin plays out on plaques in Niagara Falls, where they both crossed the great wonder from great heights. Choreographer Sharon B. Moore’s “duet of one-upmanship” brings their enmity to life in nerve-racking, gravity-defying, technicolour detail when performed by acclaimed dancers Brian Soloman and Brendan Wyatt. Sept. 22 to 25. $24.50–$34. Enwave Theatre, Harbourfront Centre, 231 Queens Quay W., 416-973-4000, harbourfrontcentre.com.
7. THE CLOTHING SHOW
It’s the fall edition of the twice-yearly Clothing Show, and this time around, we’re doing the green thing by checking out the eco-section, where earth-friendly and cruelty-free clothing and accessories will be on offer, and hunting for pretty vintage finds. What? Buying vintage is just like recycling! Sept. 24 to 26. $10. The Better Living Centre, Exhibition Place, 195 Princes Blvd., theclothingshow.com.
8. GALWAY IN TORONTO OYSTER FESTIVAL (FREE!)
Have a pint of Guinness and listen to the live Celtic music at Dora Keogh—it’s just like being in Ireland. The Toronto version of the annual Galway International Oyster Festival (hosted by Galway City every year since 1953) is just more evidence of this Irish pub’s authenticity. Also, oysters. Lots of them, provided by Rodney’s Oyster House. Obviously we’re there. Sept. 25. Dora Keogh, 141 Danforth Ave., 416-778-1804, allens.to/dora.
(Images: TIFF Bell Lightbox cinema provided by TIFF, books by boboD90, oysters by Kenny Louie.)
No more random celebrity encounters? No more five-block lineups in our quest to see Black Swan? No more sniffing out gossip better than Perez Hilton, if we do say so ourselves? Our lives feel oddly empty now that TIFF 2010 is over. Luckily, the new Bell Lightbox is doing its part to make the transition easier with this weekend’s Culture Days programming. Such silent movie classics as Buster Keaton’s Sherlock Jr. and Charlie Chaplin’s City Lights are screening, and kid-friendly, movie-themed crafts are planned. Sept. 24 to 26. TIFF Bell Lightbox, 330 King St. W., tiff.net.
2. WOMEN’S ARM WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIP FOR CHARITY
Anyone who has attended a roller derby match—or has ever interacted with a woman—knows that girls kick ass, but if you need further proof, we give you LumberJackie, Scarlett O’Terror and the rest of the ladies, who go bicep to bicep in this arm-wrestling tourney to raise money for Red Door Family Shelter. Sept. 24. Participants $2, audience members $3. 751 Queen St. W., facebook.com/home.php?#!/event.php?eid=141853102502001&ref=search.
3. CANADIAN ART GALLERY HOP (FREE!)
We may have mentioned this before, but we really like free stuff. When that free stuff is fine art? Even better. Actual paintings and sculptures won’t be up for grabs, but gallery tours, talks and even a magazine launch are scheduled for this Canadian Art–organized day, which is almost as good. Sept. 25. Various locations, canadianart.ca/microsites/galleryhop/schedule.
4. MANIFESTO FESTIVAL
Only in its fourth year, this festival of urban culture has managed to become the go-to event for the city’s hip-hop fans. Film screenings, a speaker series and art exhibitions are all on offer, but the don’t-miss-it-event is Sunday’s free concert at Yonge-Dundas Square. Like Dave Chappelle’s Block Party but with more Canadian flavour, the lineup includes Saukrates, Shaun Boothe, Masia One, Eternia, D’bi Young, Blake Carrington and Rich Kidd, with a few other notable additions, like The Roots’s Black Thought and J. Period. To Sept. 26. Various locations, themanifesto.ca/festival.
5. WORD ON THE STREET (FREE!)
Voracious readers and book nerds that we are, we’ll be at the Toronto version of this year’s Word on the Street literary festival (Halifax, Saskatoon, Kitchener and Vancouver also host versions this weekend). We’ll be the ones getting especially competitive at Diaspora Dialogue’s literary scavenger hunt. Sept. 26. Queen’s Park, 416-556-0812, thewordonthestreet.ca.
6. THE GREAT FARINI PROJECT
The rivalry between high-wire artists the Great Farini and the Great Blondin plays out on plaques in Niagara Falls, where they both crossed the great wonder from great heights. Choreographer Sharon B. Moore’s “duet of one-upmanship” brings their enmity to life in nerve-racking, gravity-defying, technicolour detail when performed by acclaimed dancers Brian Soloman and Brendan Wyatt. Sept. 22 to 25. $24.50–$34. Enwave Theatre, Harbourfront Centre, 231 Queens Quay W., 416-973-4000, harbourfrontcentre.com.
7. THE CLOTHING SHOW
It’s the fall edition of the twice-yearly Clothing Show, and this time around, we’re doing the green thing by checking out the eco-section, where earth-friendly and cruelty-free clothing and accessories will be on offer, and hunting for pretty vintage finds. What? Buying vintage is just like recycling! Sept. 24 to 26. $10. The Better Living Centre, Exhibition Place, 195 Princes Blvd., theclothingshow.com.
8. GALWAY IN TORONTO OYSTER FESTIVAL (FREE!)
Have a pint of Guinness and listen to the live Celtic music at Dora Keogh—it’s just like being in Ireland. The Toronto version of the annual Galway International Oyster Festival (hosted by Galway City every year since 1953) is just more evidence of this Irish pub's authenticity. Also, oysters. Lots of them, provided by Rodney’s Oyster House. Obviously we’re there. Sept. 25. Dora Keogh, 141 Danforth Ave., 416-778-1804, allens.to/dora.
(Images: TIFF Bell Lightbox cinema provided by TIFF, books by boboD90, oysters by Kenny Louie.)){kind=link}