Grimes’ album release show, a free Drake kitchen party and seven other things to do this week
Grimes’ anticipated album release show
Three years ago, the artist also known as Claire Boucher graduated from underground gigs to world tours with her breakthrough album, Visions. After scrapping a scheduled follow-up late last year—“It sucked,” she said—Grimes is back with Art Angels, a diverse collection of punky synthpop tunes, and her danceable, dubstep-tinged single, “Go” (a song she originally wrote for Rihanna). Sunday, November 22. $32.75–$40.50. Danforth Music Hall, 147 Danforth Ave., ticketmaster.com.
A free East Coast kitchen party
The Drake Hotel teams up with cookbook author Ivy Knight for a good old-fashioned kitchen party to kick off the restaurant’s Taste of Newfoundland and Labrador series. Guest chef Jeremy Charles—of the acclaimed St. John’s restaurant Raymonds—will be on hand cooking up complimentary East Cost snacks, while CBC Radio 2 host (and fellow Newfoundlander) Tom Power will perform live with his band, The Dardenalles. Tip: if you happen to see a frozen cod making the rounds, the proper Newfoundland response is to pucker up for a kiss. Monday, November 16. FREE. 1150 Queen St. W., thedrakehotel.ca.
Late Company, a young writer’s heavy new play
The prolific playwright Jordan Tannahill continues his takeover of the Toronto theatre scene with a production of Late Company, which he started writing when he was 21. It takes place months after a young boy’s suicide, when his parents invite their son’s bully and his family over for dinner. Tannahill volleys our sympathy back and forth, upending easy narratives about bullying and queer youth. By denying his audience any closure, he makes sure the play sticks with them long after they leave the theatre. Wednesday, November 18 to Sunday, November 29. $30. The Theatre Centre, 1115 Queen St. W., theatrecentre.org.
A show by Vegas pop virtuoso Shamir
The lanky and lovable Las Vegas whiz kid stops in Toronto for this, the penultimate date of his debut tour, equipped with an arresting countertenor voice, a sample pad of too-cool beats and brass hits, and a wacky, pastel-pixeled wardrobe. Expect cheeky raps, body-shaking Moog bass and the incessant cowbell charm of his strangely irresistible track “On the Regular.” Friday, November 20. $21. Mod Club, 722 College St., ticketweb.com.
The Gourmet Food and Wine Expo, an epicure’s Eden
On the menu at the 21st edition of this epicurean extravaganza: 140,000 square feet of artisanal cheeses, craft beers and luxury spirits, complimentary cooking demonstrations by celebrity chefs like Mark McEwan, pavilions staffed by Toronto’s best bartenders, and live entertainment all weekend long. Stock up on sample tickets, the expo’s official currency. Thursday, November 19 to Sunday, November 22. $25–$85. Metro Toronto Convention Centre, 222 Bremner Blvd., foodandwineexpo.ca.
Domesticated, a turbulent marital play
In their first stage collaboration in 30 years, star spouses Paul Gross and Martha Burns turn their offstage chemistry into onstage scandal. When police discover popular politician Bill Pulver (Gross) at the bedside of an ailing sex worker, his credibility—not to mention his relationship with his wife and daughters—suddenly requires mending. Tuesday, November 17 to December 13. $24–$53. Berkeley Street Theatre, 26 Berkeley St., canadianstage.com.
Hey Rosetta! and Yukon Blonde’s Can-Rock double bill
The best of Canada’s coasts convene at Massey Hall. The St. John’s outfit Hey Rosetta! headlines with their complex yet cathartic singalongs while Kelowna hippie-rockers Yukon Blonde blaze through their album On Blonde, a redefining repertoire of ’80s-influenced, synth-shaped rock ’n’ roll. Friday, November 20. $39.50–$49.50. Massey Hall, 178 Victoria St., roythomson.com.
Sandy Plotnikoff’s holographic foil art
In 2001, the Toronto-based artist acquired an antique foil-stamping press from Craigslist. He experimented on CD jackets, postcards and furniture before graduating to mixed-media collage and free-form painting. Here, he debuts new work from his Foil Problem series, a collection of abstract holographic paintings that shimmer with the seductive colours of an oil spill. Artwork $650–$10,000. Friday, November 20 to December 19. Paul Petro Contemporary Art, 980 Queen St. W., paulpetro.com.
Raffi’s Beluga Grad gathering
Many of the children who listened to Raffi back in the 1970s now have youngsters of their own. The tykes’ troubadour is calling on these Beluga Grads—so named for his greatest hit, “Baby Beluga”—to pass down his messages of environmental stewardship and human rights. One place to start: this concert, which is sure to string together the best of his 20-plus albums. Sunday, November 22. $27.50–$65. Roy Thomson Hall, 60 Simcoe St., roythomson.com.
Correction
An earlier version of this post included an event with Carrie Brownstein at the Toronto Reference Library on Tuesday, November 17. The event has since been cancelled.
. Sunday, November 22. $32.75–$40.50. Danforth Music Hall, 147 Danforth Ave., ticketmaster.com.
A free East Coast kitchen party
The Drake Hotel teams up with cookbook author Ivy Knight for a good old-fashioned kitchen party to kick off the restaurant’s Taste of Newfoundland and Labrador series. Guest chef Jeremy Charles—of the acclaimed St. John's restaurant Raymonds—will be on hand cooking up complimentary East Cost snacks, while CBC Radio 2 host (and fellow Newfoundlander) Tom Power will perform live with his band, The Dardenalles. Tip: if you happen to see a frozen cod making the rounds, the proper Newfoundland response is to pucker up for a kiss. Monday, November 16. FREE. 1150 Queen St. W., thedrakehotel.ca.
[caption id="attachment_356354" align="alignnone" width="2000"] (Image: Dahlia Katz)[/caption]
Late Company, a young writer's heavy new play
The prolific playwright Jordan Tannahill continues his takeover of the Toronto theatre scene with a production of Late Company, which he started writing when he was 21. It takes place months after a young boy’s suicide, when his parents invite their son’s bully and his family over for dinner. Tannahill volleys our sympathy back and forth, upending easy narratives about bullying and queer youth. By denying his audience any closure, he makes sure the play sticks with them long after they leave the theatre. Wednesday, November 18 to Sunday, November 29. $30. The Theatre Centre, 1115 Queen St. W., theatrecentre.org.
A show by Vegas pop virtuoso Shamir
The lanky and lovable Las Vegas whiz kid stops in Toronto for this, the penultimate date of his debut tour, equipped with an arresting countertenor voice, a sample pad of too-cool beats and brass hits, and a wacky, pastel-pixeled wardrobe. Expect cheeky raps, body-shaking Moog bass and the incessant cowbell charm of his strangely irresistible track “On the Regular.” Friday, November 20. $21. Mod Club, 722 College St., ticketweb.com.
[caption id="attachment_356356" align="alignnone" width="2000"] (Image: Courtesy of the Gourmet Food and Wine Expo)[/caption]
The Gourmet Food and Wine Expo, an epicure’s Eden
On the menu at the 21st edition of this epicurean extravaganza: 140,000 square feet of artisanal cheeses, craft beers and luxury spirits, complimentary cooking demonstrations by celebrity chefs like Mark McEwan, pavilions staffed by Toronto’s best bartenders, and live entertainment all weekend long. Stock up on sample tickets, the expo’s official currency. Thursday, November 19 to Sunday, November 22. $25–$85. Metro Toronto Convention Centre, 222 Bremner Blvd., foodandwineexpo.ca.
Domesticated, a turbulent marital play
In their first stage collaboration in 30 years, star spouses Paul Gross and Martha Burns turn their offstage chemistry into onstage scandal. When police discover popular politician Bill Pulver (Gross) at the bedside of an ailing sex worker, his credibility—not to mention his relationship with his wife and daughters—suddenly requires mending. Tuesday, November 17 to December 13. $24–$53. Berkeley Street Theatre, 26 Berkeley St., canadianstage.com.
[caption id="attachment_356357" align="alignnone" width="2000"] (Image: Scott Blackburn)[/caption]
Hey Rosetta! and Yukon Blonde’s Can-Rock double bill
The best of Canada’s coasts convene at Massey Hall. The St. John’s outfit Hey Rosetta! headlines with their complex yet cathartic singalongs while Kelowna hippie-rockers Yukon Blonde blaze through their album On Blonde, a redefining repertoire of ’80s-influenced, synth-shaped rock ’n’ roll. Friday, November 20. $39.50–$49.50. Massey Hall, 178 Victoria St., roythomson.com.
Sandy Plotnikoff’s holographic foil art
In 2001, the Toronto-based artist acquired an antique foil-stamping press from Craigslist. He experimented on CD jackets, postcards and furniture before graduating to mixed-media collage and free-form painting. Here, he debuts new work from his Foil Problem series, a collection of abstract holographic paintings that shimmer with the seductive colours of an oil spill. Artwork $650–$10,000. Friday, November 20 to December 19. Paul Petro Contemporary Art, 980 Queen St. W., paulpetro.com.
Raffi’s Beluga Grad gathering
Many of the children who listened to Raffi back in the 1970s now have youngsters of their own. The tykes’ troubadour is calling on these Beluga Grads—so named for his greatest hit, “Baby Beluga”—to pass down his messages of environmental stewardship and human rights. One place to start: this concert, which is sure to string together the best of his 20-plus albums. Sunday, November 22. $27.50–$65. Roy Thomson Hall, 60 Simcoe St., roythomson.com.){kind=link}