Photo by ~EvidencE~ in the blogTO Flickr pool

Toronto events on June 17th, 2013

DANCE | Luminato Presents: Evening Illuminations - A Conversation with Mark Morris
The Luminato Festival continues its Evening Illuminations series tonight with a special live conversation with Mark Morris. Morris is an American choreographer and director who began his career as a dancer, and has received a Leonard Bernstein Lifetime Achievement Award, a New York City Mayor's Award for Arts & Culture, and many other accolades. He has collaborated with Yo-Yo Ma, and created many works for different ballet companies, most notably the San Francisco Ballet. He will discuss the different productions he is bringing to Luminato this year: L'Allegro il Penseroso ed il Moderato, and L'Allegro Movement Project with an old colleague from early in his career, Gerard Mortier.
TIFF Bell Lightbox (350 King Street West) $20

CULTURE | Soirée Québec
The Bureau du Québec à Toronto presents Soirée Québec, tonight at Roy Thomson Hall. This event celebrates Québec's National Day, and will feature a performance of the modern circus troupe Flip FabriQue's show Attrape Moi. Flip FabriQue is a young performance group made up of international calibre talent, with members who have worked previously with Cirque du Soleil and Cirque Éloize. There will also be over twenty exhibitors, providing samples of amazing culinary delights, as well as promoting and educating attendees about Québec's landmarks and tourist attractions.
Roy Thomson Hall (60 Simcoe Street) 7PM $8

FILM | Female Eye Film Festival
The Female Eye Film Festival begins its five day run tonight. This is an Ontario festival showcasing the work of female directors, and celebrating independent cinema created through the "female eye" since 2001. Over the course of five days, the festival will showcase films from a wide spectrum of genres, and include a question and answer segment with the directors at the conclusion of every screening. There will also be artist talks, a photography exhibit, and award ceremony, and both opening and closing night galas. Tonight's opening night and reception takes places at the WARC Gallery. The festival runs until June 23rd.
WARC Gallery (401 Richmond Street West, Suite #122) 7PM

BOOKS & LIT | Book launch for Lisa Moore's novel Caught
Newfoundland author, Lisa Moore, launches her new novel, Caught this evening at Ben McNally Books. Moore's first novel, Alligator, was a finalist for the Scotiabank Giller Prize, as was her earlier short story collection, Open. Moore is known for incorporating Newfoundland in to her work. Caught is an adventure story, and is being compared by critics to the tradition of the earliest narratives, such as The Odyssey, with the hero in this case being a young Newfoundland drug dealer, on the run and traveling to find an ex-partner.
Ben McNally Books (366 Bay Street) 6PM

Also Of Note

Method Man & Redman How High Tour Sound Academy
Ontario Craft Beer Week

Have an event you'd like to plug? Submit your own listing to the blogTO Toronto events calendar or contact us directly.

Lead image from Mighty Fine, screening at the Female Eye Film Festival

Residents of the Dixon Rd. housing complex at the centre of a sweeping series of raids last week are alleging Toronto police engaged in brutality and racial profiling. Operation Traveller, carried out in the early hours of the 13th June, netted 44 arrests, $570,000 in cash, 42 firearms and 175 kilograms of drugs. Mahad Yusuf, the executive director of Midaynta Community Services, claimed the Somali had been targeted because of reports related to mayor Rob Ford.

The lawyer for a woman who allegedly threw a drink at Rob Ford last weekend says it's "most unfortunate" the mayor would discuss the case on his radio show. Ford wondered whether there was alcohol in the drink, reportedly a slushie, it's alleged Shannon Everett threw. Everett hasn't discussed the case publicly since the incident.

Dissident Chinese artist Ai Weiwei's Circle of Animals/Zodiac Heads installation has been officially unveiled by mayor Rob Ford. Ford pulled the white cover from the rooster head and announced it was his sign. Apparently he's been following astrology his whole life. "I'm sure everyone knows their sign and often reads their horoscope," he said.

The Spadina streetcar route will be the first to get the brand new Bombardier vehicles when they officially hit the streets next year. The Bathurst route will also get the new vehicles early. A newly released implementation plan shows the new high-capacity streetcars will be run further apart. In some cases the wait could be up to two minutes longer. The TTC says longer headways will improve reliability. Are they right?

Parkdale is inching closer to a 25% cap on bars and restaurants. The bylaw that would control the number of new businesses on the Queen West strip between Dufferin and Roncesvalles was approved yesterday at community council. Is this a healthy move for the neighbourhood?

Telegraphy is still alive and well in Toronto -STOP- 20,000 messages still sent a year -STOP- 95% of "Telegrams Canada" business from Europe -STOP- remainder of messages sent from Canada to US -STOP- stop now -STOP-.

Dufferin Street is still the most despised road in Ontario according to a poll of drivers conducted by the Canadian Automobile Association. 4 of the top (bottom) 10 are located in Toronto: Finch Avenue West at (3,) Bayview Avenue (5,) and Lawrence Avenue East (6). The results are based on opinion and don't represent any actual problems. Do you think Dufferin is really the worst in Toronto?

The grade 7 and 8 kids at Market Lane School on the Esplanade who were working on a school project to re-brand the Raptors basketball franchise got some surprise input this week from the team's head coach Dwane Casey. The ideas for the "Toronto Towers" (actually a rejected name for the Blue Jays), "Toronto Knights," even "Toronto Ball Busters" would be taken in to consideration, he said.

Finally, Toronto Public Health has released a video to promote labeling of calorie and sodium levels on menu items in the city. The Savvy Diner campaign is asking for provincial legislation that would force companies with a certain number of outlets or that surpass a certain income level to print the information for customers. Check it out.

IN BRIEF:

• Man found dead in Willowdale apartment ruled a homicide [Toronto Star]
• Couple baffled over burger franchise lockout [CBC]
• Montreal Mayor Michael Applebaum resigns [Toronto Star]
• Joni Mitchell plays rare performance at Luminato tribute [CBC]
• Blue Jays drub Rockies for 7th straight win [CBC]

Chris Bateman is a staff writer at blogTO. Follow him on Twitter at @chrisbateman.

Image: Jackman Chiu/blogTO Flickr pool.

This Week in Fashion rounds up the week's style news, store openings and closings, pop-up shops, sales and upcoming fashion and design events in Toronto. Find it here every Wednesday morning.

NEWS

This Friday (June 21), the Design Exchange's long-awaited Christian Louboutin exhibition is opening to the public. Until September 15, the Historic Trading Floor of Canada's Design Museum (234 Bay St) will be filled to the brim with over 250 of the celebrated designer's shoes, sketches, and personal artefacts, presented via visual installation and thematic display. Tickets for the opening party, happening tomorrow (June 20), are available online now.

PARTIES/EVENTS

For those keen on fabulous footwear, this is your chance to meet a legend. Renowned shoe designer Christian Louboutin is in town for the opening of his exhibition at the Design Exchange. On Friday (June 21), he'll be meetin' and greetin' guests at Holt Renfrew on Bloor Street (50 Bloor St), so be sure to pop by some time between 4 pm and 6 pm.

For two days only this weekend (June 22 - 23), 451 Christie Street will be home to yet another edition of the Rigorous Mess Vintage Pop Up Shop. This time around, they'll be featuring summer gear and a $10 rack from seasons past — so spend the day(s) from noon to 5 pm sifting the great finds over beer, snacks, tunes, and good company.

Get Gatsby'd up for Spadina Museum (285 Spadina Rd)'s Garden Party happening this Sunday (June 23) from noon until 4 pm. Ladies, pull out your pearl necklaces and kitten heels; guys, don't forget your boater hats - you'll be dancing the Charleston with The Sugar Shakers and participating in a 1920s costume contest. Plus, with live jazz and lemonade, hot dogs, and ice cream for sale, there's no better way to spend a summer afternoon. Admission is $5 per person.

Swap - Don't Shop is back with the summer edition of their super fun, sustainable, and stylin' clothing swap party. Bring a maximum of 30 clean garments or accessories to IndustREALarts Room (688 Richmond St W) from noon until 4 pm this Sunday (June 23), drop $5 for admission, stay for snacks, pick up a sweet new haul, and even have it altered on-site!

SALES

Jeremy Laing, Calla, and Rita Leifhebber are having a spring sample sale for one day only - this Saturday (June 22). Head down to Jeremy Laing's studio located 207A Cowan Avenue from noon until 6 pm to get your unconventionally-designed clothing and accessory fix.

Photo from the Design Exchange

NXNE is a hard fest to navigate. Imagine being told you could eat 1,000 meals over seven days for a menial ticket price. Several options would arise: 1) get really picky (involves a lot of research); 2) shrug and gorge yourself until you're burnt out on food for weeks by day three; 3) nibble and wander noncommittally; 4) eat what your foodie friends tell you to eat (possible indigestion); 5) get stressed and don't end up eating anything: read reviews and feel bad about what you missed.

Hey, if you're in category five, don't feel too bad. The truth is thousands of bands perform in Toronto every month or so anyway, and they usually have time to soundcheck. If you're really into beating yourself up, though, here are some (mostly visual) highlights of the fest, from the fans to the bands to surprising aesthetics of Toronto's lack of bike parking.

We collected a hell of a lot of photos over the course of the festival, check out the whole lot of them in our #NXNE stream. And read on for more highlights from this year.

BEST SETS

Absolute faves: Montreal's Blue Hawaii (how about that dance set? ps: DO NOT WORRY, guys, I know how these things work and they will be back soon); Air Dubai (did not understand kilometers when crossing border but made it to their show alive anyway); and of course the Induced Labour one-time-only reunion at Double Double Land. If you missed that, sorry but you really did mess up. The smiles were walls to wall, and vocalist Leslie Predy (Doom Tickler) held the best mosh pit seance, well, ever.

We were also down with Dan Deacon (dance tunnel!), White Lung (one of our writers just dropped the word gnarly), The Beaches (who got some parents dancing), Diana, Joey Bada$$, Merchandise, and last but not least Ludacris, Big Boi's last minute replacement, especially since whenever Luda asked "are there any REAL Ludacris fans in the house?" there was always the same lukewarm cheer. Hope he didn't take it personally... we were trying not to get trampled.

PICTORIAL HIGHLIGHTS

The Performers

Blowfly by parkthatcar

Sean Nicholas Savage by Denise McMullin

July Talk by artlady1

Paula by Denise McMullin

Ice Age by urbanoutfitters

Tupper Ware Remix Party by vivydish

Ladyface by Denise McMullin

Prince Innocence by Denise McMullin

Joey Bada$$ by stupidhippies

The After Dark Chaos

Photo by indietoronto88

The Comfort Zone by Denise McMullin

The Heartwarming

Photo by farrsqui

Smif-N-Wessun by bobbylittlephoto

Great Hearts Fest by getcandid

The Pomp

The National by Alejandro Santiago

Ditto

The Dogs of NXNE

Photo by dewalkhustle

Photo by xerxescortez

Leave your highlights/lowlights in the comments

Dark Horse Espresso has just rolled out a new rewards program that gives coffee drinkers points for every dollar spent at any of their cafes. The popular coffee shop joined the Vicinity network just over two weeks ago and is already getting some positive feedback on the program.

Vicinity is a turnkey loyalty program for small businesses which was just recently launched by Rogers Communications in May of this year. The program itself is currently in its infancy and is only available in Toronto at this time. Dark Horse joins Mabel's Bakery and Earth Glow Health Bar as some of the very first businesses to try out this new program in the city.

Signing up for the program is quick and easy - something extremely important when you have a line of people waiting behind you to get their morning caffeine. I was able to get a membership at the Dark Horse location on Queen West in just a couple of seconds. All you need to get started is to give your phone number and grab a Vicinity rewards card and you are good to go.

If you are like me and love getting points for free stuff but can't stand to have yet another loyalty card in your wallet, you'll really like the fact that you don't need your card at all to collect points. Once registered, you can just give the person at the cash your phone number and the points you've earned for that purchase will be attached to your account. This is true for any of the participating Vicinity businesses around the city which makes this program entirely convenient. Of course, tapping your rewards card on the Vicinity terminal is always an option.

For Dark Horse co-owners Edward Lynds and Deanna Zunde the ease of use for both their staff and their customers was key to selecting this program. They wanted a way to reward their customers but didn't want a program that was cumbersome to use and so Vicinity fit the bill. Although the program is relatively new for Dark Horse, Zunde told me she has already had some "serious thumbs-up" from customers she's talked to about the program.

Dark Horse is currently offering one point for every dollar spent on purchases at the cafe as part of this program. Reaching thirty points gives users three dollars off their next purchase at any of their four locations around the city. This ends up working out similar to the traditional ten-punch coffee card where you by ten coffees and get one free. To give you a leg up on your first free coffee, new Vicinity members get bonus points when completing their registration either online or via the Vicinity Android or iPhone app.

We've covered similar reward programs in Toronto before and if anything is certain there's no clear winner in this space yet.

Have you tried Vicinity? Do you think it's any better than the alternatives like Point Monkey, Ferret and Club Ovahi? Add your thoughts to the comments below.

New to King West, this kitchen and bar from Top Chef Canada alum Steve Gonzalez fuels a party atmosphere with loud music and menu full of Latin American snacks, blended cocktails and tequila.

Read my profile of Valdez in the restaurant section.

Toronto is a film festival town and this Summer is no exception. The months between now and the start of TIFF aren't just about patios, food trucks and cabanas. Sometimes you just want to kick back and watch a film. Between the Hot Docs hangover and the celeb smackdown in September there are plenty of great film events happening (and I'm not even talking about all the free ones).

Here's a round-up of some notable film festivals happening this summer in Toronto.

Open Roof Festival
Date: June 20 - August 22, 2013
Location: 175 Queens Quay Blvd East
This is one of the few summer film events that sells out. Go online and see what they will be screening and get tickets early. Your ticket lets you see a band play a full set live and then you get to watch a cool new film. Drinks and gourmet local eats are also available, for a price.

ICFF (Italian Contemporary Film Festival)
Date: June 26-July 6
Location: The Royal (608 College)
32 Feature Films, 32 shorts and documentaries from Italy, Canada and all over the world. This incredible fest is not just for Italians. If you missed the genius Berberian Sound Studio, here's another opportunity to see it on the big screen.

TAAFI (Toronto Animation Arts Festival International)
Date: July 26-28
Location: TIFF Bell Lightbox and Corus Quay
3 days of brilliant international family fun, including Saturday Morning Cartoons, live performances and kids' animation workshops. This event is perfect for animation lovers of ANY age group.

Parkdale Film and Video Showcase
Date: July 19-21
Location: Various venues across Parkdale and the surrounding environs
The Parkdale Film and Video Showcase is an wide-ranging presentation of video by artists who live or work in Toronto's Parkdale community. All screenings are PWYC (pay-what-you-can).

MIFF (Mississauga Independent Film Festival)
Date: July (Schedule TBD)
Location: Various locations across Mississauga (TBD)
Just west of Toronto in the City of Mississauga, MIFF is an all-Canadian festival which showcases features, short films, documentaries, animated films and web series. This up and coming festival is worth a look if you fall asleep on the TTC and have the misfortune of waking up in Mississauga. Just kidding, TTC drivers are "nice" enough to wake you up before you get to Mississauga to ask you for more money.

Need more film festivals? Additional ones worth a mention include The Toronto Beaches Film Festival (June 28-29), ReelHeART International Film Fest (June 24-29) and the Female Eye Film Festival (June 19-23).

Did we miss any other summer film events you'd recommend? Please let us know in the comment section below.

This condo at Avenue and Davenport (don't call it Ave & Dav), is quite possibly the prettiest on the market right now. I mean we make that the goal every week (or most weeks..ha), but suite 302 is a true standout, with its almost startlingly clean design and insanely luxe washroom and closet. Those rooms alone are enough to compel a person to live here, even without mentioning the tranquil yet slightly glitzy living space.

While this unit is garnering its fair share of attention, it's well deserved. I mean these guys even have Shepard Fairey art on the walls. Compare it with this other unit in the same building, and you'll see what I mean.

Still undeniably pleasing to the eye, and could, of course, be remodeled to emulate our pick. But, let's face it: suite 302 kicks its ass all over the place.

SPECS

Address: 238 Davenport Road
Price: $2,475,000
Square Footage: 2,338 sq. ft.
Bedrooms: 1
Bathrooms/half baths: 1/1
Storeys: 2
Parking Spaces: 2
Fireplaces: One
Monthly Maintenance: N/A

NOTABLE FEATURES

• 18-foot ceilings on the main level
• Stunning spa washroom
• Stainless steel appliances
• Wine fridge
• Insane closet that could house the inhabitants of a small country

GOOD FOR

Good for stylish, sexy people who are committed to never having children. Gallerists.

MOVE ON IF

Conversely, move on if you would like to have children. There's really nowhere to keep them. Guests could probably stay in the washroom. Or closet.

More seriously, move on if warmer, cozier spaces are your style. This ain't it.

ADDITIONAL IMAGES

Read other posts in this series via our Toronto Condos and Lofts Pinterest board.

This new boutique near Queen and Ossington is tucked away behind a namesake cafe. Despite its old European vibe and ultra-progressive clothing, it's easy to accidentally overlook. But that would be a travesty.

Read my profile of Citizenry in the Fashion Stores section.

401 Richmond is basically heaven for any artist looking for workspace, inspiration, a new instrument or a gallery to show their work. The building at the corner of Spadina and Richmond in the heart of the Fashion District is a sprawling network of galleries, publishing companies, studio space, offices, and other creativity-inspiring nooks, like a music shop and a book store.

It was purchased in the '90s during the real estate recession, and since then, it's been a dedicated affordable work space for artists and other creatives working in Toronto. The initial stretch of 401 Richmond was completed in 1899 for Macdonald Manufacturing, a factory producing industrial tin lithography. As the need for more space grew, additions were implemented until 1923.

There are currently 150 tenants, with 12 galleries, two independent shops, a daycare, and 30 artists' studios. There are also graphic design offices, clothing designers, non-profits, filmmakers, arts organizations, and communications and publishing firms operating out of 401 Richmond. A few fashion designers, such as Pam Chorley and Susan Dicks, have their studios here, and Cinecycle is attached to the building as well.

Tenants are chosen very carefully, with preference given to those who could use the below market rate rent prices, and who might not have an opportunity to open up shop otherwise. Because of that, the wait for space in this building could be pretty extended. They used to keep a waitlist, but now they just ask that those interested in space make a point of keeping in touch to see if any coveted space has opened up.

Here's a round-up of some of the key spots inside 401 Richmond.

The Roastery
The Roastery (with a sister location in Liberty Village) is a homey cafe on the first floor, with seating for about 35. The exposed brick and beams that adorn the rest of 401 Richmond are present here, too, and there's plenty of sunshiney light coming in. Aside from coffee, they sell classic sandwiches, like ham and cheese and tuna, for a mere $5.98, as well as a variety of fresh-squeezed juices and other treats. The Roastery is an ideal spot to either meet up with friends for a coffee or camp out for the afternoon and work.

Musideum
Musideum is possibly the friendliest little music shop ever. The walls are crowded with drums and various wind instruments, and its staff invite customers to come in and test out the instruments for themselves. Musideum also operates as an intimate performance space, with world, jazz, and Indian classical music shows, among others, happening each day of the week (except Sundays).

Abbozzo Gallery
Abbozzo is the only commercial gallery at 401 Richmond. It's a perfect, breezy gallery space featuring all Canadian artists, most of whom hail from Ontario. The space they occupy used to be home to Wynick/Tuck gallery, but Abbozzo, a transplant from Oakville took over in May. Though new to Toronto, the gallery has been in operation since 1993. Talents such as David Blackwood, Olexander Wlsenko and Arnold Zageris can be found within the narrow confines of this gallery's walls.

Swipe
Swipe is a charming independent bookstore on the ground floor of 401 Richmond, outfitted in the building's characteristic brick and beam, with bright kelly green accents. Here, you will find books on architecture, urbanism, and design. Sweet items on offer include pocket copies of 1984 (in case of emergencies), Moleskine notebooks, pottery, and a variety of other gifts and stationary.

Open Studio
Open Studio is one of those galleries in which one if forced to wander around, silently staring with one's mouth dropped open in wonder. During a recent visit, I was privileged enough to see some of the most whimsical prints imaginable by Rebecca Cowan, Catherine Farish and Jerry Silverberg. The visit lifted the energy of my whole day, and the works are not something I will soon forget.

Gallery 44
Gallery 44 is, perhaps, the most alluring gallery I have ever visited. During a recent visit, an exhibit of huge photographs featuring hot naked men graced the walls. Lots of them had awesome gay subject matter, too, such as two beautiful men canoodling. Is there a prettier sight imaginable? No? That's what I thought. After Open Studio, this place is 100 per cent in need of a visit, provided their exhibits are always this great.

Urbanspace Gallery
Urbanspace gallery utilizes a part of the building's massive system of hallways that may otherwise have gone to waste. The space focuses on urban issues that somehow relate to Toronto, like specific greening initiatives, or diversity as a key part of our city's identity.

Studio 123 Early Leaning Centre
A select 25 children are lucky enough to get to attend this in-house daycare. Artists who work in the building come and teach them how to make awesome art, and on rainy days, they get to tour around the building and visit its tenants and learn what's up in the building. While the learning centre is open to the public, tenants get first priority for spots. Makes me want to travel back in time...

Prefix Magazine
Prefix is a photography magazine based out of 401 Richmond, and their office also acts as a small gallery upon entrance. There are photos displayed, as well as sound/video installations, and it's open to the public (but don't try to take photos).

Do you have a favourite spot at 401 Richmond? Give it a shout-out in the comments below.

Photos by Jesse Milns

The best used bike shops in Toronto offer a useful alternative to fending for yourself on Craigslist. While there's certainly some premium involved in buying from a store rather than some dude in sweatpants, you tend to get what you pay for. If you know a whole lot about bike maintenance, it probably makes sense to skip the middle man. For those of us, however, who prefer to ride rather than tinker, it's nice to know that your potential bike has been tuned and inspected by someone who knows what they're doing. As an added bonus, many of these shops will stand behind the bikes they sell in the event that you encounter problems post-purchase.

Toronto's used bike shops are typically geared to the commuter cyclist, though there are some exceptions where you'll find higher end single speed/fixie conversions of vintage steel framed rides. Because stock turns over quickly during the summer months, you'll want to check in at your shop(s) of choice on a regular basis if you have something specific in mind.

Here are the best used bike shops in Toronto.

See also:

The best bike stores in Toronto
The best bike repair shops in Toronto

Photo by John Tavares in the blogTO Flickr pool

Toronto events on Thursday, June 20, 2013

FILM | Open Roof Festival
Open Roof Festival kicks off a summer of outdoor movie screenings (in addition to a few of these freebies) with their opening gala screening of the 2012 documentary The Sheepdogs Have At It. What makes this film festival more than just movies is that each screening is accompanied by a musical performance, along with activities and food trucks making themselves open for business. Tonight's performers are, of course, The Sheepdogs and food will be provided by Fidel Gastro and Crepe It Up (for a price). While advanced tickets may be sold out, there will be a rush line. Get there long before doors open at 7:30PM to guarantee yourself a seat.
The Moonview Lot (175 Queens Quay East) 7:30PM $25

MUSIC | Here Comes The Sun: A Celebration of George Harrison
The Beatles most underappreciated member is honoured at The Great Hall tonight in Here Comes The Sun, an evening of performances by local musicians. Acts like Noel Di Tosto, Chris Eakins, Graydon James, Shawn Jurek, Jami Lefebvre, Jason Lapidus, Myke Mazzei, and Dave Murray will perform the music of George Harrison's solo career as well as his works with The Beatles and The Traveling Wilburys. Special guests Carleigh Aikins, Megan Bonnell, Joel Battle, Shawn William Clarke, and Taylor Knox will join in on the performances along with an eight-piece house band backing the acts all night. The event will raise money for the Ontario Lung Association, in honour of George's losing battle with lung cancer.
The Great Hall (1087 Queen Street West) 8PM $20

BOOKS & LIT | Shake, Rattle & Roll: The Book Industry in Motion
Publishing professionals gather at Harbourfront Centre today for a summit on the book industry. With workshops and speeches running all day long, this conference will feature everything anyone ever needed to know about the future of books, e-books, magazine, online and print publishing. Still not convinced? New York Times ethicist and author of "Sex, Drugs and Cocoa Puffs" Chuck Klosterman is the keynote speaker. Worth it!
Harbourfront Centre (207 Queens Quay West) 8:15AM $166.25 regular, $92.75 student/senior

FASHION | Christian Louboutin
The man with a red soul, Christian Louboutin, arrives in Toronto today for the opening of an exhibit of his life's work at the Design Exchange. Christian Louboutin: An Exhibition Celebrating 20 Years of Design, Artistry and Magic will showcase the French shoe designer's best stiletto, boot, sneaker and pump creations over the last two decades while celebrating his inspirations, designs and theatrical style. Want to meet Louboutin tonight? There's a very high price to pay to get in but, fear not, the exhibit will remain at the DX until September 15th for just $22.
Design Exchange (234 Bay Street) 7PM $175

PHOTOGRAPHY | Duane Linklater, Learning
Two iconic photographs--one of an Oka warrior during the crisis in Quebec in 1990 and one of Kurt Cobain during his Unplugged session on MTV in 1993--are the anchor for Duane Linklater's latest exhibit. In Learning, Linklater repurposes the photographs, deriving from their initial meaning something entirely new: an examination of ownership, over land, over popular figures and over cultural signifiers. The exhibit opens tonight with a reception at Susan Hobbs Gallery and will run until August 10th. Duane Linklater will be present at opening night.
Susan Hobbs Gallery (137 Tecumseth Street) 7PM Free

ALSO OF NOTE:

• Redpath Waterfront Festival Toronto
• Negative Space
• Full Clip - A Decade Later: Illustrated Talk by Jason Burke
• Dog Bowl Movie Nights: Total Recall
• Daguerreotype Group Show

Have an event you'd like to plug? Submit your own listing to the blogTO Toronto events calendar or contact us directly.

Rob Ford will find out today whether or not his conflict of interest case is going to the Supreme Court. Resident Paul Magder, who brought the original case against the mayor, has asked Canada's highest court to hear his appeal of a judge's decision to keep Ford in office. An announcement is due before 10 AM. Watch this space.

Toronto-Centre MP Bob Rae is stepping down after more than 35 years in politics. The former Ontario Premier and leader of the Liberal party said his work as a lawyer and mediator is consuming more of his time and his work with First Nations groups would take priority. It's not clear when Rae will officially step aside. Chances of a mayoral run?

TTC CEO Andy Byford says banning cars from King and Queen streets during the morning and evening rush hour is the best way of improving surface transit through the core. Right now, the King and Queen cars are plagued by bunching and delays caused by turning cars and other obstructions. Karen Stintz will ask the TTC board to investigate the feasibility of the move next meeting. Could it ever happen?

Toronto's bag ban is dead and buried. Rob Ford hammered home the "final nail in the coffin" of the hastily-arranged embargo, using his ex-officio vote at yesterday's public works and infrastructure committee meeting to shelve the discussion indefinitely. The mayor is technically a member of all city committees but the city's elected leader rarely uses his or her voting rights in this way.

Also in vaguely waste related news items, Rob Ford says he'll campaign on contracting out garbage collection in the east end of the city, following his successful outsourcing of home waste pick-up west of Yonge. Is this a Ford idea that works?

The lost Centre Island maze could be about to make a comeback if William Meany has his way. The former Repo Man and Repo Depo man is hoping to restore the cedar labyrinth, and money's no object. The original trees were clear cut by the city in 2011 after losing a battle for sunlight to neighbouring plants. Meany has put up $200,000.

Finally, Library and Archives Canada has scratched around behind the sofa cushions and pulled out enough cash to purchase a unique set of 200-year-old maps, letters, and artifacts from the early days of Canadian history. The Sir John Coape Sherbrooke collection cost $70,000 and contains a rare early coloured map of the York.

IN BRIEF:

• Rob Ford intervened in North York fence dispute, neighbours say [Toronto Star]
• Toronto Community Housing vows big changes on evictions [Toronto Star]
• TDSB avoids scrapping music programs to balance budget [CBC]
• Jays sweep Rockies, extend winning streak to 8 games [CBC]

Chris Bateman is a staff writer at blogTO. Follow him on Twitter at @chrisbateman.

Image: Ian Muttoo/blogTO Flickr pool.

This Week in Film rounds up noteworthy new releases in theatres, rep cinema and avant-garde screenings, festivals, and other special cinema-related events happening in Toronto.

NEW RELEASES

Frances Ha (Varsity, Cineplex Yonge & Dundas)

The "Ha" doesn't actually mean what you'd immediately think it means, but then it also kinda does, by which I mean this is one funny movie. Like a grown up, movie version of Lena Dunham's hit HBO series Girls, Noah Baumbach and Greta Gerwig's refreshing and sprightly film is both a compelling character study and a spot-on portrait of the essential spontaneity of life for urban twenty-somethings circa 2K12. Jobs are hunted for, attained, and lost; pay checks induce giddy prances in the street; and the concept of the "future" is entirely surrendered for the sake of getting situated in the present. More than anything, though, Frances Ha is a star-maker for Gerwig, whose Frances is one of the most alive characters the movies have seen in a very long time.

The Bling Ring (Cineplex Yonge & Dundas)

It hasn't been long enough since Spring Breakers hit Toronto screens for another rumination on pop culture miasma to again attempt to summarize our zeitgeist, though The Bling Ring's contemporary release does offer a case study in Korine's film's positives. Sofia Coppola fails largely because she set out to make a "good" movie, where Korine not only avoided that trap (perhaps without choice), but understands that the essence of Gen X culture is grounded in pure, visceral pleasures. The Bling Ring is without a single seductive image or montage in its entire 90-minute running time, and regards youth as idiots. Funny that such a self-consciously autobiographical filmmaker as Coppola can make something that feels so disingenuous.

Also opening in theatres this week:

• B.B. King: The Life of Riley (Bloor Hot Docs Cinema)
• Fill the Void (Varsity)
• Hannah Arendt (TIFF Bell Lightbox)
• Ill Manors (Cineplex Yonge & Dundas)
• Margarita (Carlton)
• Me, the Bees and Cancer (The Royal)
• Monsters University (Varsity, Scotiabank)
• No One Lives [opens Wednesday, June 19] (Cineplex Yonge & Dundas)
• Raanjhnaa (Cineplex Yonge & Dundas)
• The Sheepdogs Have At It (Cineplex Yonge & Dundas)
• Which Way Is the Front Line from Here? The Life and Time of Tim Hetherington (Bloor Hot Docs Cinema)
• World War Z (Varsity, Rainbow Market Sq., Scotiabank)

REP CINEMA

Outrageous! (Sunday, June 23 at 8PM; CineCycle)

To celebrate Pride Weekend, CineCycle's seventh "From the Vault" screening with present a 35mm print of Richard Benner's queer cult classic Outrageous!, a film shot in Toronto in 1977. The film tell the story of Robin, a "female impersonator" who rooms with a Liza, pregnant schizophrenic; drag shows and hysterics ensue. The film will be preceded by a few 16mm shorts (as is customary at CineCycle); entry is $5.

Monsters Attack (June 21-27; Revue Cinema)

The Revue Cinema offers a monster movie retrospective this month with a full week of big names from the past century. Many of these titles will be screening later this summer in the TIFF's Blockbusters spotlight, but who wants to wait until late August? (or, rather, why only watch them once?) Featuring some popular new 3D post-conversions and director's cuts, this is great opportunity to let loose with some bona-fide popcorn classics, some of which perhaps screening in versions you may have never seen before.

Screening as part of Monsters Attack:

• Alien: The Director's Cut (Friday, June 21 at 7PM)
• Aliens (Friday, June 21 at 9:15PM)
• Dracula (Saturday, June 22 at 2PM)
• Frankenstein (Saturday, June 22 at 4PM)
• Jurassic Park 3-D (Saturday, June 22 at 7PM)
• Jaws 3-D (Saturday, June 22 at 9:30PM)
• King Kong (Sunday, June 23 at 2PM)
• The Fly (Sunday, June 23 at 4:15PM)
• Fright Night (Sunday, June 23 at 9PM)
• Jason and the Argonauts (Monday, June 24 at 7PM)
• Army of Darkness (Monday, June 24 at 9:15PM)
• Ghostbusters (Tuesday, June 25 at 6:45PM)
• The Thing (Wednesday, June 26 at 7PM)

More rep cinema this week:

• The Black Cannon Incident (Friday, June 21 at 6:30PM; TIFF Bell Lightbox)
• Long Arm of the Law (Friday, June 21 at 9PM; TIFF Bell Lightbox)
• The Goddess (Saturday, June 22 at 1PM; TIFF Bell Lightbox)
• Center Stage (Saturday, June 22 at 3:15PM; TIFF Bell Lightbox)
• The Blue Kite (Saturday, June 22 at 7PM; TIFF Bell Lightbox)
• The 36th Chamber of Shaolin (Saturday, June 22 at 10PM; TIFF Bell Lightbox)
• New Women (Sunday, June 23 at 1PM; TIFF Bell Lightbox)
• Unfinished Comedy (Sunday, June 23 at 3:30PM; TIFF Bell Lightbox)
• Silent Sundays: Three Ages (Sunday, June 23 at 4:15PM; Revue Cinema)
• This Life of Mine (Sunday, June 23 at 6PM; TIFF Bell Lightbox)
• Noah Cowan on Spring in a Small Town (Tuesday, June 25 at 6:30; TIFF Bell LIghtbox)
• Book Revue: The Last Picture Show (Tuesday, June 25 at 6:45PM; Revue Cinema)
• The East is Red (Tuesday, June 25 at 9:15PM; TIFF Bell Lightbox)
• Cat People (Wednesday, June 26 at 7PM; TIFF Bell Lightbox)
• Creature from the Black Lagoon 3-D (Thursday, June 27 at 7PM; Revue Cinema)
• Vagrancy Film Presents: Angels and the Beast (Thursday, June 27 at 9PM; Revue Cinema)
• Red Crag: Life in Eternal Flame (Thursday, June 27 at 9:15PM; TIFF Bell Lightbox)

SPECIAL SCREENINGS

Early Monthly Segments: Material Action! W + B Hein + Brakhage + Solomon (Monday, June 24 at 8PM; Gladstone Art Bar)

As new films - both avant-garde and conventionally narrative - become increasingly hands-off and digital, Early Monthly Segments use this month's screening to celebrate two boldly physical films from some of the medium's masters. Rohfilm (literally, "Raw Film"), made by Köln based filmmakers Wilhelm and Birgit Hein, is collaged from fragments of autoportraiture and foraged footage and propelled by Christian Michelis' aggressive proto-noise soundtrack, which makes for a visceral and relentless manifesto on film's pure physicality.

Elementary Phrases, on the other hand, is the first of three collaborations between Stan Brakhage and Phil Solomon, and "celebrates the physical in a strikingly different way. Composed of Brakhage's unique hand-painted film frames step-printed on Solomon's optical printer, [the film] expands on Brakhage's cascading handmade imagery by building extended patterns and rhythms out of loops of frames."

FILM FESTIVALS

The Female Eye Film Festival (June 19-23; The Carlton)

"Always Honest, Not Always Pretty," reads the slogan of the now eleven year-old festival, whose goal has always been to provide an exclusive showcase for women directors of independent cinema. Even when it feels like the world is slowly progressing in the fight to adequately represent women in cinema, we still have far too many present-day injustices that show how far things are from where they ought to be (e.g. the virtual absence of women in Cannes, the reality of which becoming more and more controversial lately), which just proves how necessary The Female Eye really is. For a full list of films and event, check out the festival website linked above.

Lead still from Frances Ha

The Toronto Women's bookstore on Harbord is no more but in its place a sprawling new cafe opened last week. With plenty of games and craft supplies on hand, and a full-on yoga studio upstairs, the cafe is shaping up to be an ideal spot for playdates of all sorts.

Read my review of Red Fish Blue Fish Creative Cafe in the Cafes section.

C Daily, the web site that seems to cover every new product launch and PR non event, celebrated something of a milestone on Tuesday night as it launched a newly designed version of its web site. C Daily fans were out in full force at Marben to mark the occasion with bottles of Peroni and vodka cocktails.

Check out all the looks in our Style section.

Be Good Gelato is the latest addition to Toronto's competitive market for frozen summer treats. Unlike other gelaterias, however, Be Good is entirely mobile, selling its gelato sandwiches and scoops around town from a hybrid freezer/bicycle contraption. Customers can place orders for delivery anywhere in the area bounded by Bloor, Front, Pape and Bathurst. You can also follow Be Good on Twitter to learn where to find the nifty gelato bike next.

After a quick check on Twitter one afternoon, I easily located Be Good at Yonge-Dundas Square, and enjoyed a delicious (and hefty) sandwich made with smooth vanilla gelato and chewy Sweet Flour chocolate chip cookies ($5). The artisanal gelato is handmade from scratch, and comes in flavours like vanilla, chocolate, cherry, mocha, and seasonal fruits. You can also buy a cup of gelato from the bike for $4. For deliveries, the minimum order is $30. The owners say they are open to making custom flavours (like beer gelato, perhaps?) and catering events.

Toronto has plenty of fine gelato shops, but I'd recommend checking out Be Good Gelato if you're in the mood for embarking on a little gelato treasure hunt around the city. Or, if you're feeling a little lazy and want your dessert to come to you.

Photos from Be Good Gelato on Facebook

This little orange box of a variety store is perched on the edge of a parking lot on Adelaide St. W., right between John and Peter. It looks like a bit of a temporary dwelling, a pop-up perhaps. I ask its super friendly proprietor, who tells me he isn't sure yet what the fate of the store will be. He opened up shop about five months ago, seemingly to serve the many construction workers in the area, though he doesn't confirm that.

The store looks like the kind of business that would normally live on a campground, so I sort of expect it to sell...I don't know, buckets or little headbands with lights on them. Fireworks, perhaps. But they just sell the usual stuff, like chips, pop, milk, orange juice, and an assortment of cavity-causers like candy and chocolate. They also have the more fun convenience store fare, like condoms and ciggies, in case you're in the market for that stuff, as well as an ATM. It doubles as a spot to pay for parking, too.

So..yeah. Pop on in if you're in the area and need a convenience fix. The man who runs it has the kind of smile that actually glitters and magically lifts moods...and I was in one shitty mood the day I visited. Hooray for unexpectedly cute human interaction!