The Weekender: International Festival of Authors, Toronto Zombie Walk and six other events on our to-do list
1. POMEGRANATE FILM FESTIVAL This celebration of Armenian cinema is now in its fifth year, featuring an array of genres, from documentaries to experimental shorts. The buzziest event is Friday’s screening of Atom Egoyan’s racy Chloe, after which the director will participate in a Q&A session. Oct. 22 to 24. $10. Regent Theatre, 551 Mount Pleasant Rd., 416-500-1694, pomegranatefilmfestival.com.
2. DARE TO WEAR LOVE GALA The closing-night show at LG fashion week, Dare to Wear is both on-trend and cause-conscious. On the style front, such celeb models as Tara Spencer Nairn and Keshia Chanté will rock Canadian designs by the likes of Brian Bailey, Evan Biddell, Lucian Matis, David Dixon and Comrags. As if that’s not enough reason to drop $300 (the cost of a VIP package that includes A-list seating and a swag bag), proceeds from ticket sales benefit the Stephen Lewis Foundation.
Oct. 22. $60–$300. Heritage Court, Exhibition Place, 100 Princes’ Blvd., lgfashionweek.ca.
3. TORONTO ZOMBIE WALK (FREE!) Last month, GQ proclaimed zombies the monster du jour, beating out vampires, werewolves and hobbits for the top spot. But Torontonians have never swayed from their love of the shambling ones, as evidenced by our yearly commitment to donning our shabbiest clothes, forgoing sleep for a day or three (it makes for a much more believable pallor) and snacking on the neighbours. Oct. 23. Trinity Bellwoods Park, 1053 Dundas St. W., torontozombiewalk.ca.
4. LES COQUETTES PRESENT FIRST BITE It’s really not Halloween without sexy, scary burlesque, so we’re checking out the part gory, part glamorous and, judging by the photos on the ladies’ Web site, very, very bloody show. Our only quibble? The promo poster is a clear homage to that True Blood Rolling Stone cover, but it sadly lacks even a little Alexander Skarsgård. Oct. 24 and 31. $15–$30. Revival, 783 College St. W., lescoquettes.com.
5. PHANTOMS OF THE ORCHESTRA A spooky, kid-friendly take on classical, this Magic Circle Mime Co. production features an undead orchestra, and the audience is encouraged to attend in costume. Sounds like our kind of party. Oct. 23. $20–$31.25. Roy Thomson Hall, 60 Simcoe St., 416-872-4255, tso.ca,
6. INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF AUTHORS This 11-day literary extravaganza features 64 events attended by 168 authors and experts who hail from 16 countries. Frankly, it’s a little overwhelming. The round table discussions (with such themes as graphic novels, fictional fugitives and the charmingly ambitious Publishing All Over the World) are interesting, but we’re going to hear our favourite authors (especially John Waters and Jonathan Franzen) read to us. Oct. 20 to 30. Various prices. Brigantine Room, York Quay Centre, 235 Queens Quay W., 416-973-4000, readings.org.
7. HIS HOLINESS THE 14TH DALAI LAMA Usually when we call someone “His Holiness,” it’s because they just shoved us getting off the subway and we’re being snarky. When we refer to the Dalai Lama that way, we actually mean it. The Tibetan Buddhist leader is in Toronto speaking about ways we can advocate for peace on a personal, community and global level. Oct. 22. $29.95–$59.25. Rogers Centre, 1 Blue Jays Way, 416-870-8000, ticketmaster.ca.
8. MARGARET CHO Brash and bitchy, Margaret Cho is our favourite comedian-author-actor-musician. She’ll be blurring the lines between her many sides with this show, a musical stand-up set that features ruminations on sex, drugs, rock and roll, and lice, apparently. Oct. 22. $29.50–$49.40. Massey Hall, 178 Victoria St., 416-872-4255, masseyhall.com.
(Images: Dare to Wear Love by Brian Summers, Toronto Zombie Walk by Bahman, John Waters by Musicisentropy.)
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