An honest-to-God party in Galleria Mall, a winter craft beer fest and eight other things to do this week

An honest-to-God party in Galleria Mall, a winter craft beer fest and eight other things to do this week

. Photograph by Daniel Neuhaus

An art party in Galleria Mall
Before it surrenders to its inevitable fate as a condo tower, Dupont’s Galleria Mall is transforming, at least for one night, into an honest-to-God nightclub. On Saturday, the Long Winter concert series decamps to the brutally beige shopping centre for an indie gig with art installations, live sets by punk bands like Teenanger and Shoppers Dance Mart, a rave in an empty storefront. Saturday, January 30. $20. Galleria Mall, 1245 Dupont St., torontolongwinter.com.

A winter beer fest
The Roundhouse Winter Craft Beer Festival is usually an opportunity for beer snobs to display their unshakeable love for booze, temperatures be damned. Our El Niño winter, however, should make this weekend’s edition of the sub-zero sud fest a less daring event: forecasts predict a sunny, balmy 2°C. Twenty brewers—including Side Launch, Great Lakes and Collingwood—will serve up the brews; a fleet of food trucks, like Smoke’s, Oyster Boy and Sugar Mammas, will handle the chews. Saturday, January 30. Roundhouse Park, 255 Bremner Blvd., craftbeerfest.ca.

The footstomping folk of Vance Joy
James Keogh appeared from the ether in 2013 with the folksy earworm “Riptide.” In Dream Your Life Away, his debut album as Vance Joy, there’s plenty to prove he’s more than a one-hit wonder. The music sticks to the foot­stomping sound that brought Keogh fame, but it shows an impressive range: the mellow “Georgia” is an introspective wonder, while “Fire and the Flood” is a Mumfordian triumph. Tuesday, January 26 and Wednesday, January 27. $38–$42.50. Massey Hall, 178 Victoria St., ticketmaster.com.

A taco pizza party
On Tuesday, La Carnita exec chef Jonathan Hamilton will pop into Italian restaurant Figo to transform his signature tacos—like the barbacoa short rib with habañero hot sauce—into pizzas. We wholeheartedly approve of the fusion, but for those who just want plain old pies, Figo will still be serving up all its regular menu items. Tuesday, January 26. FIGO, 295 Adelaide St. W., 647-748-3446, figotoronto.com.

(Image: Rob Trick)

One Night Only, an improvised musical comedy
The Greatest Musical Never Written is Broadway meets Whose Line. In each performance, the six-person cast—plus special guest Colin Mochrie—creates a new plot, script and characters based on audience suggestions. The music, lyrics and choreography are all improvised, too, and what could easily fail becomes a fresh, frantic marvel. Wednesday, January 27 to Sunday, February 14. $45–$55. Factory Theatre, 125 Bathurst St., factorytheatre.ca.

A gourmand’s favourite season, Winterlicious
During the 14th edition of the annual citywide chow-down, more than 200 of Toronto’s top restaurants will serve up special prix fixe menus, giving chefs a chance to get creative—and aspiring epicures a chance to get out of their comfort zones at reasonable prices. Momofuku, Canoe, Bar Buca, the Drake, and Parts and Labour are all on this year’s list. Friday, January 29 to Thursday, February 11. Prices vary. Various locations, toronto.ca.

(Image courtesy of TIFF)

A Wim Wenders retrospective
Depending on which of his films you’re watching, Wenders’ style can be subtle and slow-moving (as in Sam Shepard’s family drama, Paris, Texas) or abstract and intense (Pina, a 3-D dance documentary about the late choreographer Pina Bausch). TIFF’s On the Road: The Films of Wim Wenders includes award winners—Wings of Desire, Buena Vista Social Club—as well as early-career cuts that established him as the king of 1970s New German Cinema. From Thursday, January 28. $10–$15. TIFF Bell Lightbox, 350 King St. W., tiff.net.

A dinner that’s worth the truffle
On Wednesday, Colette Grand Cafe chef Amira Becarevic will serve up a luxurious five-course dinner. Each of the dishes—including a goat cheese soufflé and halibut farcie—will incorporate Perigord truffles and a Louis Jadot wine pairing. Reservations by phone only. $175. Wednesday, January 27. Colette Grand Café, 550 Wellington St. W., 647-348-7000, colettetoronto.com.

(Image: Bryce Jepson)

A set from Matt Corby, Australia’s next best export
Since competing on Australian Idol as a teenager, the shaggy-haired troubadour has been building his career with tight, polished EPs that have earned him a robust international following (case in point: huge ticket demand for this show quickly bumped him up to a bigger venue). His singer-songwriter oeuvre is modest in size but impressive in substance: the pop ballad “Resolution,” sounds ready for repeated radio play, and his stripped-down single “Monday” is a soulful handclaps-and-­harmonies hit. Friday, January 29. $25. Phoenix Concert Theatre, 410 Sherbourne St., ticketmaster.com.

A theatre-poetry-dance hybrid
Canadian poet Aisha Sasha John turns her readings into theatrical performances, punctuated by spontaneous bursts of improvisational dance. Expect no less from We Are Hanging Out Right Now, in which she delivers selected passages from her 2014 book, Thou—an extended poetic exploration of the word “you”—alongside friend and fellow artist Julia Thomas. Friday, January 29. PWYC. Videofag, 187 Augusta Ave., facebook.com.