Photo by AshtonPal in the blogTO Flickr pool.

Do you guys remember Choose Your Own Adventure books? Well, a collection of some of Toronto's best improvisers do, and they're bringing you a new format that's making the nerd in me all hot and bothered. Where? When? Follow me as I walk you through This Week In Comedy...

SAT SEPT 14 / WEST END GIRLS / COMEDY BAR / 945 BLOOR W / $10 ADV $15 DOOR

You've got an awesome line-up of heavy hitters tonight, including Yuk's headliners like Christina Walkinshaw and Martha Chaves. That said, I'd pay special attention to Christi Olson, who won the Tim Sim's Fresh Meat competition last year. What was truly remarkable was that her thoroughly blue jokes killed in front of a crowd dominated by 35-60 year old's, and it's the reason why I believe that she's going to make huge strides in the next 12-18 months.

SAT SEPT 14 / CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE / COMEDY BAR / 945 BLOOR W / $5 W/PASSWORD

Shout out to all my homies who recognize names like Ian Livingston and Steve Jackson! CYOAs became a favourite of mine when I was in the Extended French program in school because I was able to make up my book reports without actually reading the novel. Anyhoo, this concept sounds like a winner to me. First of all, you have players from reknowned troupes like Bad Dog and Mantown. Second, I can imagine what it'll be like when the characters are sent down the wrong path, die, and then are revived when the audience flips them back to the previous page so that they can try portcullis number 2. Man I sound like a huge nerd. Password: I'd like a ticket to see Choose Your Own Adventure Live, I hear it'll be really funny!

MON SEPT 9 / DAWN PATROL / COMEDY BAR / 945 BLOOR W / 830PM / $7

Damn, son. I'm shaking my head with my dunk face on even as I'm writing this. Tim Gilbert, Stephanie Kaliner, Kathleen Phillips, Sara Hennessey, DeAnne Smith, Nile Seguin, Christophe Davidson, Bob Kerr, and Carolyn Taylor??? On any given night, these comedians are hosting, if not headlining, major shows at Absolute, Yuk's, and Comedy Bar. Somehow, Dawn Whitwell, your producer, has wrangled all of these stars on one show. All Hail Dawn! PS - 0:29 is murder!!!

About the Author: This is Michael Jagdeo, and I refuse to write about myself in the third-person. My blog, Diary of a Stand-up Comedian, walks you through the up's and down's (they're mostly down's, really) in my quest to become a killer comic in Toronto.

This lounge on College Street replaces sofas with easels in an attempt to cater to the inner artist in us all. Following in the footsteps of a Markham location, the concept is to foster creative expression in space away from the home, so there's both a social element and, crucially, no clean up.

Read my review of Paintlounge in the design section.

The madness that is the TIFF party season has arrived and while there are plenty of places around town catering to the general public, private member club Soho House has one again partnered with Grey Goose to host invite only affairs.

On Thursday night they kicked things off with cocktails to celebrate the premiere of TIFF opening gala The Fifth Estate. Guests included man of the moment Benedict Cumberbatch, Colin Hanks, and Michael Fassbender (who shared a bizarre boogie to R Kelly's 'Ignition'), whilst ubiquitous Canadian everyman Strombo made the rounds, and British darling Juno Temple helped swill some of the free grog on offer.

Cocktails were typically plentiful, with a small selection of vodka creations bussed around the room to ensure no-one left without a healthy buzz on. Canapes were dished out all night to soak up the booze, with tiny bowls of risotto accompanying skewers of tofu and other treats.

In truth, it was a pretty relaxed affair for a TIFF party, with Soho House's upscale lounge atmosphere protected by plenty of velvet rope and security.

You can score an invite for next year's bashes at SoHo House by starring in a major motion picture.

Thanks to Grolsch for sponsoring our coverage of TIFF13

When Toronto's lights went out earlier this summer following a torrential rainstorm, thousands of people got a short and unwanted sample what life was like in the late 19th century before the Toronto Electric Light Company brought light and electricity to our lives.

The company, all-powerful for most of its brief existence, set up the first crackling interior lights in the buildings around King and Yonge, demonstrated the technology used on today's subway and streetcars before either was commonplace at the Industrial Exhibition, and even introduced Victorian Toronto to the vibrator (well, sort of) in one of its catalogues.

This is how Toronto emerged from the shadows thanks to the pioneering efforts of its first electricity company and its leading light, J. J. Wright.

McConkey's Restaurant at 145 Yonge Street holds the distinction for being the first Toronto property to be lit by electrical power. In an 1879 demonstration and promotional stunt, a noisy steam engine chugged to life, turned a basic dynamo, and bathed the fashionable eatery's tables in a warm orange light. To celebrate the feat, McConkey's served free ice cream to the gathered crowd.

Electricity was rare in the late 1870s, but it wasn't a total novelty in Toronto - it had been employed years earlier for sending telegraphs and powering telephone lines. Without a generator or a central supply network, the messaging companies, including the Toronto Telephone Despatch Co., the producers of the city's first phone book, relied on simple batteries.

A few years later, in 1881, John Joseph Wright built the first Canadian-made generator in a spare room at his father-in-law's box factory on King just west of Berkeley. Wright, "a stocky man with a pleasantly square face, flowing moustache, and keen inquisitive eyes," according to historian Robert M. Stamp, had studied in the U.S. the principles of electricity and helped set up America's first arc street lamp at Public Square in Cleveland, Ohio.

Arc lamps, patented in 1846 and first used commercially at the South Foreland Lighthouse near Dover, U.K. in 1858, generate light by jumping a high-voltage spark of electricity between two carbon rods inside a gas-filled glass bulb. Until shortly after 1900, arcing an electrical current was the only way to produce a practical light.

Wright installed his generator near King and Yonge and sold the piercing light of the early bulbs to Eaton's department store and a handful of other local businesses keen to appear technologically advanced. In doing so, Wright became the first person to generate and sell electricity commercially in Toronto.

As Stamp notes in Bright Lights, Big City, his excellent history of electricity in Toronto, early adopters experienced plenty of teething issues with their new hook-ups. A coffee shop that wired its grinder directly to the power supply (no outlets yet) found their machine took on a life of its own, speeding up to an uncontrollable speed and firing coffee across the room. It was eventually stopped when the motor short-circuited.

Moments of confused hilarity aside, Wright did more than anyone else to bring electricity to the people of Toronto. He lit the Industrial Exhibition, a forerunner to the CNE, with a set of arc lights in 1882 and built Canada's first electric railway there the year after.

The train, with flat cars and a basic locomotive, ran on a straight track from Strachan to Dufferin and was powered by an electrified third rail, the same system used on the subway today. The year after, in 1884, Wright enlisted the help of Charles Van Depoele, a pioneer in his own right, and adapted the train to draw power from an overhead wire, like modern streetcars.

Lighting the streets would be Wright's next challenge, though by the middle part of the 1880s the competition was beginning to mount. Arc lights were already casting their weird glow the four corners of King and Yonge streets at night. One R. H. Lunt had been given permission by city council to hang lights from fire alarm poles, though the major street lighting contract was still held by the Consumers' Gas Company.

Before Wright and his rivals, Toronto's streets were lit by gas lamp, if they were illuminated at all. On quiet residential roads and down laneways the city was still an inky blackness after sundown. Most homes were lit by gas lamp or candles, which didn't provide much illumination at all. A decent candle was about 100 times dimmer than a standard 100w bulb today.

J. J. Wright's generating station bounced around between various factories on Sherbourne Street before he founded the Toronto Electric Light Company and found a permanent home for the equipment at the foot of Scott Street, just south of the Esplanade.

By now three companies were vying for the lucrative and soon-to-be-available city lighting contract: naturally, the long-established Consumers' Gas Company lobbied to maintain the status quo, but the Toronto Electric Light Company and its rival the Canadian Electric Light Manufacturing Company were pushing for a system of arc lights.

In the spirit of compromise, or perhaps because they couldn't decide how things would work out, council opted for a mix of gas and electric lights. TELCO, as it often styled itself, installed fifty lights on Queen, King, and Yonge as the Electric Light Manufacturing Company fell by the wayside.

Wright's ability to make good on the street lighting contract was thanks in large part to a major investment by a group of businessmen led by Henry Pellatt, a renowned stockbroker who would later build Casa Loma. The group's cash gave Wright the ability to upgrade the equipment at the Scott St. plant.

The Romanesque Revival brick building nudged out in to the water of the Toronto Bay from its lakefront perch and contained ten 100-horsepower boilers connected to various engines and belt-driven dynamos. The crackling electricity was distributed via a tangled network of overhead wires, along the city's streets.

For the most part, the Toronto Electric Light Company focused on outdoor lighting and powering streetcars. The Toronto Incandescent Electric Light Company (TIELCO,) a later arrival which held the Canadian patents to several Thomas Edison lighting patents, cornered the domestic market for several years before it was eventually bought by TELCO.

The group of leaders from the two major electricity companies and the city's early transit system was informally known as "The Syndicate." Frederic Nicholls, the founder of TIELCO bought technical nous, William Mackenzie owned the precursor to the TTC, the Toronto Street Railway, and Henry Pellatt had the business acumen to tie it all together.

Around this time, with a foothold in the household electrical market, the Toronto Electric Light Company published a glossy brochure advertising the various high-tech products that "small families that keep no servant" could use with their new electricity supply.

Titled "Electricity in the Home," the booklet showed off an electric iron, toaster, waffle iron, coffee urn, cereal cooker, chafing dish, cooking range, vacuum cleaner, and even "vibrator."

"The Electric Vibrator is a very essential article in 'my lady's' boudoir," the caption reads. "By its use, vibratory treatment may be applied at one's own convenience." Perhaps a little disappointingly, the device was shaped like a hairdryer with a small jackhammer attachment at the end and was for facial use.

The Syndicate and TELCO continued to strengthen their position as the turn of the century passed. In 1903, the company built a hydro-electric power station on the Niagara River and the first volts of outside power reached a TELCO distribution centre on Davenport Road three years later.

With other company's nipping at its heels, the Toronto Electric Light Company soon found itself in a power struggle with Ontario's own publicly-owned electricity provider, the Hydro-Electric Power Commission. A 1908 referendum threw support behind the provincial electricity supply, and in 1911 the HEPC's own Niagara hydro supply was ceremonially switched on during a special ceremony at Old City Hall in front of 30-50,000 people.

As historian Stamp recalls, a giant diorama of Niagara Falls was used as a backdrop for the event and at the crucial moment of illumination water was meant to cascade over the top, bringing it to life Unfortunately, the flow was a little stronger than expected and several invited dignitaries were soaked by the spray.

The Toronto Hydro-Electric System would evolve into Toronto Hydro but not before embarking on an aggressive plan to drive the likes of the Toronto Electric Light Company out of business. THES slashed rates and mounted an advertising strategy that was so successful by 1917 two-thirds of the city had defected away from the city's first electricity provider.

The strangulation of TELCO didn't entirely go to plan - several embarrassing equipment failures in the years leading up to the first world war forced THES to buy power from its rival in order to maintain its own supply.

The Toronto Electric Light Company shone its last in the early 1920s when the last of its civic contracts expired. The brick Scott St. plant was eventually torn down and the city moved on with its electrical consumption. Today, Toronto Hydro serves 709,000 customers and supplies around 20% of the province's electrical power.

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

Images: City of Toronto Archives, Toronto Public Library, McCord Museum,

The Grolsch Open House is now open near the corner of John and Adelaide in the middle of what has morphed into the TIFF district this week. In case you missed our post earlier this week, this pop-up lounge branded the Grolsch Open House is open to the public and free to enter. Beer is a reasonable $5 and each day a different set of food trucks are here to provide some needed sustenance. There's also live music, a living mural and plenty of art installations. More details here.

View our slideshow of the Grolsch Open House to get a better feel for the space.

The Grolsch Open House is open this weekend from 4 to 11pm and this Monday from 6 to 11pm.

Photo by syncros in the blogTO Flickr pool.

This new boutique at Queen and Palmerston wants to harken back to nature. Everything it stocks is either natural, local, or "built to last," with many of the items on its shelves — from clothing to design accessories — being made here in Toronto.

Read my full review of Logan & Finley in the fashion stores section.

Location-based services have hugely enhanced our ability to discover our own cities and neighbourhoods. Toronto startup Ulonova caught on to this trend and now wants to help Torontonians discover what their local businesses have in-store.

Ulonova pinpoints your location and gives you a chance to browse a sample of the merchandise available in local shops before you even step out the door. You'll get a sneak peek of their goods, see what's on sale and maybe even discover that a store you always bypass is actually chock-full of goodies you'd like. Currently the focus is fashion retail but the startup is working on adding restaurants and lunch spots, and will also add gyms, yoga studios, spas and beauty salons by the end of this year.

Launched in June as a web app, the mobile app will be available for iOS and Android this month. I spoke to Ulonova co-founder Eugene Levin to understand how Ulonova gives consumers a fresh spin on location-based shopping.

What inspired you to create Ulonova?

When I was in Chicago last November, I decided to go out and do some holiday shopping in The Loop. I was surrounded by millions of amazing stores. Realizing I didn't have the time to hit them all, I wondered if there was a convenient way to figure out which stores I should go to. I checked a few different apps to see if any of them could give me a better idea of which stores would appeal to me. While FourSquare, Yelp, Facebook and Google Places were handy for identifying nearby stores, none of them gave me an idea of what I could find in those stores.

When I came back to Toronto and did some research on the subject, I was shocked that I couldn't find an app or service that could have helped me or the millions of other people who find themselves in similar situations. I met co-founder, Dave Ellery, sometime later and we decided to start Ulonova.

What makes Ulonova stand out from the crowd?

Our indirect competitors are FourSquare and Yelp, those services can be pretty useful but don't provide enough incentive to walk into a business. We built Ulonova because we believe that the best reason to walk into a business is knowing that it has something you want or need. Why do you think so many people hate shopping (especially men)? Because most of us hate walking into a store only to realize it resulted in a complete waste of time.

What kind of Torontonian would really love using Ulonova?

Today, we can connect our users to 370 locations in Toronto. For the time being individuals that live or work in downtown or midtown Toronto will benefit the most, but we're currently making a big effort to scale our coverage and connect users to even more businesses across the city.

What has been your biggest challenge in getting Ulonova ready for users?

The biggest challenge was and still remains understanding how people shop both online and offline. What makes this even more complicated is the difference in approaches to shopping between genders. For instance, we were concerned about attracting and retaining male users, but as it turned out, men are very receptive to Ulonova. Surprisingly, many men have told us that they love it because by telling them exactly where to buy what they want, it saves them the pain and hassle of shopping.

Check out Ulonova's Facebook page for updates and more info.

The fall theatre season is upon us in a few short weeks. As always, Toronto stages swell with measured classics and contemporary departures that showcase the talented artists of our city. Here are some of the more notable shows being presented this fall:

PIG / Buddies in Bad Times / September 14 - October 4
Buddies launches their 2013-2014 season with a bold and provocative exploration of the boundlessness of sexuality from UK playwright Tim Luscombe. In PIG, three gay couples explore the lengths to which their intimacy can be expanded through various sexual acts which encompass domination, compulsion, and violence. Brendan Healy directs this discussion-inspiring drama that considers taboo, sex and relationships, and pig culture.

Les Misérables / Mirvish - Princess of Wales Theatre / September 27 - October 20
The big musical this fall is Cameron Mackintosh's re-envisioning of the smash-hit musical Les Misérables, which served as the inspiration for Tom Hooper's 2012 film adaptation. The production was reworked in 2010 on the occasion of its 25th anniversary to include scenery influenced by Hugo's paintings. A predominantly Canadian cast portrays the peasants of France who rise up during the revolution.

Crash / Theatre Passe Muraille / September 26 - October 19
Pamela Sinha's Crash was a major winner at last year's Dora Awards taking home four accolades, including Outstanding New Play and Performance by a Female in a Principal Role. Theatre Passe Muraille offers audiences a second chance to experience this gripping production. At a funeral for her father, a woman negotiates the violent and overwhelming flashbacks of an event she cannot forget but does not want to remember.

The Norman Conquests / Soulpepper / September 27 - November 16
Alan Ayckbourn's trilogy, The Normal Conquests, is a veritable doll's house view of a household drama as the action travels from the dining room, to the living room, and finally settles in the garden. The triptych features six characters and unfolds over the course of one weekend, with each play set in a separate space in the house. The performances can be enjoyed separately but if you'd like to feel like an invited house guest, best to go for all three.

The Double / Tarragon Theatre / October 15 - November 24
Chances are you missed this stellar production from Adam Paolozza and TheatreRUN the first time around. Tarragon Theatre has wisely brought The Double to their stages for a longer run this Fall. Paolozza is joined by Arif Mirabdolbaghi and Viktor Lukawski in this stage adaptation of the Fyodor Dostoyevsky novella, which features a memorable double bass that narrates the highly entertaining physical comedy.

Peter Grimes / Canadian Opera Company - Four Seasons / October 5 - 26
While a new production of La Bohème may be the better known of the two operas at the COC this fall, Benjamin Britten's Peter Grimes is a contemporary masterpiece that should resonate with audiences. It's a fitting opera for a Canadian company, with its psychologically-driven portrait of an alienated fisherman living in a village by the sea. The production is helmed by Director Denni Sayers and features Ben Heppner in the title role.

Needles and Opium / Bluma Appel Theatre / November 22 - December 21
A Robert Lepage production is once again on offer this fall and that's reason enough to celebrate. What's more is that the Canadian Stage production is a contemporary retake on Needles and Opium, which originally premiered in 1991. Lepage revisits the journey of Parisian filmmaker Jean Cocteau en route to visit jazzman Miles Davis. In true visual brilliance, no doubt, Lepage traces the creative genius' struggle with displacement and drug addiction.

The Gravitational Pull of Bernice Trimble / Factory Theatre / November 2 - December 1
In a co-production with Obsidian Theatre, Factory Theatre presents Beth Graham's The Gravitational Pull of Bernice Trimble. While executing her mother's infamous casserole dish, a woman is confronted with the overwhelming demands of family life set amidst the unchanging laws of the universe. Graham is an Edmonton-based playwright who wrote The Drowning Girls, about three wives of George Joseph Smith, which toured the country in 2010.

Swan Lake / National Ballet / November 9 - 17
The beauty and grace of the most classic of ballets, Swan Lake, arrives on Toronto stages courtesy of the National Ballet. Tchaikovsky's timeless score, a fairy-tale essence, and the talented ensemble of our national dance company make this an enduring performance. It's choreographed by James Kudelka and features set and costume designs from Santo Loquasto.

Once / Mirvish - Royal Alexandra Theatre / November 26 - January 5
Its remarkable success in 2007, taking home the Academy-Award for Best Original Song, ensured the stage adaptation of Once wasn't too far behind. After winning eight Tony Awards in 2012, including Best Musical, the stage version has proven to be just as popular with audiences and critics as was the film. An ensemble of performers, who simultaneously act and play their own instruments, chronicle the romance between a Dublin street musician and the woman who takes an interest in his songs.

Honourable Mentions: God of Carnage, The Gay Heritage Project, Venus in Fur, The Best Brothers, Moss Park, Tainted.

Lead photo from Mirvish's Once

Photo by Hands Eye Photography in the blogTO Flickr pool

Toronto events on September 9th, 2013

ART | Wael Shawky artist talk
The Art Gallery of York University presents a special artist's talk with Wael Shawky, tonight at The Drake Hotel. The artist will discuss his upcoming exhibition, The Cabaret Crusades, which opens this week at the AGYU. Shawky is a multi-disciplinary Egyptian artist who uses various media, including film and marionettes to explore different historical, political, and cultural issues in the Arab world. The Cabaret Crusades is an intricately constructed video work, inspired by Amin Maalouf's 1983 book, The Crusades through Arab Eyes. AGYU Director Philip Monk will interview and chat with the artist.
The Drake Hotel (1150 Queen Street West) 6:30PM

CULTURE | Trampoline Hall
That popular "lecture" series known as Trampoline Hall returns to The Garrison this evening. In case you aren't familiar, this event combines both the intellectual with the comic, as a handful of individuals are carefully chosen to speak before a captive audience on a subject completely outside of their area of expertise. The results can be surprising. Tonight, Bridget Moser will talk about DaVinci's Inquest, Mark Connery will discuss "state legibility," and Chris Berube's topic has not yet been determined by the organizers. Lauren Bride has put together the lineup, and Misha Glouberman will host this evening. This event is well attended, and limited tickets will be available at the door at 6:30PM
The Garrison (1197 Dundas Street West) 8PM $6

MUSIC | Empire of the Sun at the Danforth Music Hall
Australian synthpop duo, Empire Of The Sun plays TO tonight at the Danforth Music Hall. This successful collaboration between Luke Steele, of rock outfit The Sleepy Jackson, and Nick Littlemore of Pnau began when the two were introduced by an A&R man on Steele's label. The result has been several platinum and gold singles and two studio albums. Their latest release, Ice on the Dune came out in June. The opener tonight is another Australian act - Alpine, an "indie pop" band featuring a vocal frontline of Phoebe Baker and Lou James that delivers tightly constructed tunes. A solid "down under" double bill.
The Danforth Music Hall (147 Danforth Avenue) 7PM $30 - 35

MUSIC | Elvis Monday
Tonight, Elvis Monday returns to start the week on the right note. If you're a avid Toronto-based fan of cutting-edge underground Rock, then you certainly already know that this is the city's longest-running showcase of that type of musical fare, boasting an amazing history of hosting early performances by the likes of Peaches, By Divine Right, Beck, and many others. This evening's musical offerings include The Nursery, Broken Bricks, Moves, Rotary Dial, and Coronado. As always, there is no cover, and Elvis never leaves this particular building.
The Drake Hotel (1150 Queen Street West) 9PM

Also Of Note

The Reel Palestine: Conversation with Palestinian Filmmakers at TIFF

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

Photo of Wael Shawky's The qawwals Fareed Ayaz and Abu Muhammad

The rooftop of the Chase Restaurant was the scene of the Hugo Boss and GQ sponsored party celebrating The Enemy by local Canadian Director on the rise Denis VIlleneuve.

Check out all the looks in our newly designed Style section.

This Kensington grocery store might not look like much from the outside. But inside, beyond the imported Latin American groceries that line the shelves, is an older lady who makes wonders out of cornmeal, cheese and refried beans.

Read my review of Emporium Latino in the grocery section.

Saturday night at The Great Hall, Toronto indie mainstays Ohbijou played their last show before going on indefinite hiatus.

Ohbijou have been marked throughout their career not just for their endlessly inventive output, but also for the dedication of their fans and of their friends; to wit, this was no ordinary goodbye. Instead, Ohbijou led a marathon, three-set farewell, featuring guest performances by some of Toronto's best musicians, a tribute to mark their nine-year career.

Led by Casey Mecija, the six members of Ohbijou came out at 9:30 to a stage littered with instruments--a mandolin, cello, violin, keyboards and I don't know how many guitars (including an amazing vintage Fender Bronco)--and played the first set. They opened with the devastating "Niagara" and then cutting a wide swath of tunes through their back catalog. The band was polished and professional and wholly fantastic, and after they finished, they took a break and opened up the stage to some friends of theirs.

Members of Evening Hymns, The Wooden Sky, the Rural Alberta Advantage, The Acorn, Diamond Rings, as well as Forest City Lovers' Kat Burns, Gentleman Reg and more--I'm sure I missed a few--all came up, shared memories of the band and played songs.

Maybe that goes to show why there was so much joy on the stage; because Ohbijou are a community as much as a group. As each of the other performers--some tourmates, or former members of the band, or just close friends--told their anecdotes, bantered with the group or explained why they chose the songs they were covering, you could see the audience hanging on every note or word, every person drawn right into their own private conversation with the performers.

At the end of "Niagara", someone from the crowd yelled out, "I love you, Ohbijou; you're in my heart!" At any other show, that would be a little much, but that was just the sort of night it was; it wasn't just a last show for Ohbijou. It was an opportunity for the audience and for the other performers to tell the band what they've meant to them. And that's a rare thing, for a group to be able to give that to their fans.

Ohbijou closed out the night themselves with another full set, finally finishing with all the performers from throughout the night crowding onto the stage for the encore.

I think Casey herself summed it up perfectly when she said, "Performing feels like being lost in the best dream, and for the last eight years I've been lost with these people. "It's... bittersweet."

I'm sure we haven't heard the last of Casey Mecija and the talented group of performers that gathered to form Ohbijou, but on hiatus could really mean anything for the band.

Regardless, Ohbijou, you will be missed.

Share your favorite Ohbijou memories in the comments below.

Photos by Matt Kozovski

Filipino food has long been under the radar in this city so it's probably not a stretch to say that many life long Torontonians are unfamiliar with the cuisine. And for that, thank goodness there's this one year old spot on Queen Street which provides an accessible (and tasty) introduction to what the Philippines has to offer.

Read my profile of Lamesa Filipino Cuisine in the restaurants section.

The Club District transformed into the TIFF District during the opening weekend of the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival. Nowhere were the throngs of celeb-seekers greater than the crowds that lined King Street outside the Princess of Wales Theatre. From Roy Thompson Hall to the Lightbox, King West was a constant buzz of activity all weekend long.

Check out photos from the weekend via this slideshow

New York's swanky Hotel Gansevoort hosted a TIFF after-party for Hateship/Loveship on Friday night at C Lounge on Wellington. Film stars, Kristen Wiig and Sami Gayle were both in attendance taking full advantage of private poolside cabanas while sparkling showgirls dazzled guests and cocktails flowed freely. The Vegas-themed bash had guests feeling flush from the moment they walked the carpet. Inside, table games emboldened crowds with play money, whilst outside on the terrace, mingling under palm trees was entertainment enough.

See what you missed at the Goodnight Gansevoort party via this slideshow.

Toronto Beer Week is here. As you've probably guessed, this is an event largely focused on the consumption of everyone's favourite adult beverage. As with last year and each consecutive year, the event has grown considerably in scope and now features a slew of events at over 55 venues across the entire city pouring beer from over 30 brewers.

So, with an eye to making the most of your Toronto Beer Week, I've selected one event for every night of the week, opting for those with the best beer selection on hand, as well as a backup event in a different neighbourhood just in case.

Thursday September 12th

The Premium Beer Experience at The Berkeley Church
Even though it doesn't actually take place during TBW, this event might be my pick for one of the more interesting beer events of the summer. This one promises a renaissance of the modern day beer festival and boasts that all the brewers involved will be brewing something unique specifically for the event. Plus, it's happening at Berkeley Church, which is a fantastic and underused venue when it comes to events like this. And when's the last time you went to church?
Where: Berkeley Church, 315 Queen St East
How much: Tickets are $17 and sample tickets will be $1 each.
Back up plan: None. There are no other Thursday events.

Friday September 13th

C'est What's 25th Annual Festival Of Craft Breweries
In case the 25 years nod wasn't an indicator, you should know C'est What does beer right. For this two-day event they'll tap some Belgian-style quads in honour of the fourth edition of Toronto Beer Week (get it? Quad? Four? Wordplay!) and will feature four dozen (four dozen!) other beer choices each night, including fourteen cask selections.
Where: C'est What 67 Front St East
How much: No admission charge and most samples are $1 each.
Back up plan: There's a Pajama Party at Sauce on the Danforth from 3:00pm-1:15am. Scary movies, beer from Wellington Brewery, Cameron's Brewing Co. &Great Lakes Brewery, and beer people in their night time apparel. Fun!

Saturday September 14th

Zwanze Day/Funk Night at barVolo
Chances are you didn't get tickets to the once-a-year, only-happening-in-three-Canadian-bars, global beer event that is "Zwanze Day" given that all of the event's 120 tickets sold out in less than two minutes this year, but that doesn't mean you can't head to Volo later (after 7:00pm) to enjoy Funk Night (and maybe suck spilled Zwanze out of someone's flannel?). It's a selection of over 30 Ontario and Quebec sour and funky beers paired with loud funk music.
Where: barVolo 587 Yonge Street
How Much: $5 admission
Back up plan: If sour beer isn't your thing, hit up the Hoppin' The Danforth PUB CRAWL!! from 3:00pm - 8:30pm where Troy Burtch of Great Lakes Brewery, Mark Murphy of Left Field Brewery, and Jerry Coburn of Beau's All Natural Brewing Co. will cruise The Wren (1382 Danforth) @ 3pm, Sauce on the Danforth (1376 Danforth) @ 3:45pm, Morgans on the Danforth (1282 Danforth) @ 4:30pm, The Only Cafe (972 Danforth) @ 5:30pm, The Court Jester Pub (609 Danforth) @ 6:30, Brass Taps Pizza Pub (493 Danforth) @ 7:30pm. Expect beer from all three brewers, good-natured camaraderie from Troy, baseball talk from Mark, and I don't know Jerry at all so I guess just stay away from him.

Sunday September 15th

Brewer's Backyard "Septembière" at Evergreen Brick Works
Toronto's own answer to a beer garden will welcome Quebec brewers for the first time at the Brick Works from 12:00pm-4:00 pm. Check out a fantastic lineup of beers that will include selections from Le Trou Du Diable, Dieu Du Ciel!, Les Trois Mousquetaires, Les Trois Mousquetaires, Dunham, Hopfenstark, and Charlevoix. Not to mention food from Jamie Kennedy Kitchen and Organic Crepes. Zut alors! Incroyable!
Where: Evergreen Brick Works 550 Bayview Avenue
How Much: Free admission, pay per beer
Back up plan: If you hate the French, first of all, you're a racist, second of all, you can hide from them in the Junction. Indie Alehouse is hosting a Cask Beer Feature from 12:00pm-9:00 pm where they'll offer sample flights and half pints of 8-10 Cask Ales and will serve a full English roast dinner after 3:00pm.

Monday September 16th

The 1st Annual Beer Cocktail Showdown at Beer Academy
From 6:30pm-8:30 pm The Beer Academy will host their first annual Beer Cocktail Showdown where "some of Toronto's hottest Bartenders will go head to head trying to create the greatest beer cocktail." You help pick the winner and the champion beverage will be served Wednesday at the Beer Bistro during the Golden Tap Awards (see below).
Where: The Beer Academy 75 Victoria Street
How much: Tickets are $10.00 in advance and $12.00 at the door and they get you seven drink tokens.
Backup Plan / INSIDER PICK: While it's not being advertised a lot (yet), rumour has it that the good folks at Great Lakes Brewery will be taking over part of The Loose Moose on Monday for a huge party to celebrate being named Canadian Brewing Awards' 2013 Brewery of the Year. If you know the folks (and beers) from GLB at all, you know this is destined to be a good time. Details are scant, but if you head to the Loose Moose and look for Mike Lackey's beard you'll find the party.

Tuesday September 17th

The Homebrew Tap Takeover at Indie Alehouse
A rarity when it comes to beer events, the folks at Indie will be handing over their tap lines to homebrewers. There will be twelve different homemade beers available in sample sizes and flights and featuring beer makers who've won recent homebrewing awards. Get there early before the beer runs dry and/or the homebrewers scamper back to their damp basements and garages.
Where: Indie Alehouse 2876 Dundas Street West
How much : Pay per beer.
Back up plan: From 5pm-11:45pm, Great Lakes Brewery and Sawdust City Brewery takeover The Wren, the Danforth's coziest little cafe-cum-craft beer bar.
Both brewers make great beer, but the real reason to go is that they collaborated on a beer and settled on the enticing-but-vaguely-threatening name "Smash Ass." Mmm.

Wednesday September 18th

The 11th Annual Golden Tap Awards at beerbistro
Billing itself as the "first democratically-voted beer awards in Ontario," the gala event for the 11th Golden Tap Awards will feature accolades awarded to breweries, bars and beers as selected by the public. There will also be an all-Ontario craft beer lineup and, one can assume, a shit ton of beards.
Where: beer bistro 18 King St East
How much: Free admission, but there is a $25 VIP tasting experience and beer-pairing available.
Back up plan: If awards ceremonies aren't your thing, head to the ultimate $25 sausage fest that is the 2nd Annual WVRST Craft Invitational. 12 breweries are creating a special brew to pair with a WVRST sausage and attendees will vote to pick a winner (I wanted to write wiener so bad...)

Thursday September 19th

Book release and movie screening at The Rhino
Toronto's own Stephen Beaumont, a leading authority on all things beer, has co-written The Pocket Beer Guide with UK-based beer expert Tim Webb. On Thursday he'll be signing copies of the book following a screening of Beer Hunter, a documentary on Michael Jackson. It's the excuse you've been looking for to read a book and you can find out just what the guy who wrote Thriller has to do with beer (It's a different Michael Jackson, you idiot).
Where: The Rhino 1249 Queen Street West
How much: $20.00, which includes two beers brewed just for the occasion and some food, and proceeds from the event will be donated to Parkinson's research.
Back up plan: Class up your drinking at Habits Gastropub by pairing pints with arias, duos and trios at HOPERA: an evening of local craft beer and song, where you'll hear opera specially chosen to accompany certain beers and the reasons they were chosen.

Friday September 20th

Brewmaster's Dinner at Mill Street Brew Pub
If you've never attended a Mill Street Brewmaster's dinner, you're missing out. In addition to a four-course dinner well paired with a series of great Mill Street beers, there's usually a beer surprise or two and the always-informative Joel Manning will be there to teach you a thing or two about the beverages you're enjoying.
Where: Mill Street Brew Pub 21 Tank House Lane
How much: $59.99
Back up plan: Because I like the idea of pairing beer with sharp carving utensils, why not check out Great Lakes Brewery's Pumpkin Carving Contest at Against the Grain? There will be cask-conditioned Pumpkin Ale and probably a flesh wound or two.

Saturday September 21st.

The 3rd Annual Official Toronto Beer Week Pub Crawl
Hit the town Saturday night as Toronto Beer Week comes to a close. Things kick off at Clinton's at 5:30, then head to Victory Cafe (7pm), Cloak and Dagger (8:30pm), and shut 'er down at Stout Irish Pub at 10pm. And, because they're sponsoring this years Pub Crawl, you'll enjoy 20% of Spearhead beverages along the way (given that they'll be launching their new Big Kahuna Imperial IPA this week, you can probably assume you'll find a pint or two of that new brew along the way, too).
Where: Things start at Clinton's 693 Bloor Street West
How much: Free

Toronto Beer Week runs from September 13-21st.

Ben Johnson also writes about beer over on Ben's Beer Blog. Follow him on twitter @Ben_T_Johnson.

Photo by Black_Tux in the blogTO Flickr pool.