It was the second and final night at THE COLLECTIONS yesterday at the Burroughes Building. A stylish crowd showed up to witness the unveiling of the spring/summer 2013 looks from designers Cara Cheung and Sid Neigum.
Check out the brave souls who posed for the camera in our Style section.
Bless the Brazilians for reminding us that although summer may be over, the bossa nova beat goes on! The 2012 edition of the Brazil Film Fest screens at the Royal from today (Oct 18) to Sunday Oct 21, and with seven feature films and three documentaries, there's plenty of Brazil to satiate your craving this fall, minus the exorbitant travel fees.
With a feel-good road movie (Take It Easy) and lots of Brazilian beach getting screen time (Captains of the Sand), the festival is sure to cause weather envy for everyone who has started eying their woollen mitts with trepidation. But a good chunk of the program is far from summer escapist flicks.
Included among the documentaries is a look at Carmen Miranda, one of Brazil's most famous exports, and the harsh price of international fame in Carmen: Bananas is My Business, as well as a film about the police security crackdown on the favelas in order to remove the drug mafia's hold (Peace in Rio), as told by four young filmmakers from the region.
Here now are my top 5:
Captains of the Sand (2011)
Based on the bestselling novel by Jorge Amado, this is the story of a gang of street kids in 1950s Salvador. Bonding together in a brotherhood of the abandoned, they commit a string of petty thefts and sophisticated mansion robberies. When the boys-only gang is disrupted by the presence of Dora, a young, beautiful orphan girl, they begin to discover love. Captains of the Sand took the Best Film - Audience Award at the 15th Punta del Este International Film Festival, and half a dozen other awards at other festivals since. So, you know. It might be an okay watch. Just a thought. This is also the festival's opening night film, and director Cecilia Amado will be in attendance. Screening: Thursday Oct 18, 7pm, The Royal
Take It Easy (2010)
What's better than a road movie? A Brazilian road movie! Three girls - Tita, Mari and Aninha - decide to escape the stress in their lives with a weekend getaway to the beach in Búzios. Along the way they meet a hippie girl, Estrella, who is also headed to Búzios to find her father. They travel together and through hilarious and absurd situations, and life-changing lessons, end up finding themselves. Warning: beach shots may trigger impulse ticket-purchases. Screening: Saturday Oct 20, 5pm, The Royal
Dirty Hearts (2011)
When World War II ended with Japan's loss, a new war began in Brazil - this one a conflict between the Japanese immigrants who accepted defeat, and those who did not agree that the war was over. Dirty Hearts tells the story of one such fighter. This award-winning film is co-presented with the Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival, the Toronto Korean Film Festival, and the Toronto Japanese Film Festival. Screening: Sunday Oct 21, 3.50pm, The Royal
Peace in Rio (2010)
When Rio de Janeiro created the Unidade de Policia Unificadora (UPP) it was the first step in the consolidation of a new security policy regarding the state's reclamation of the territories in the favelas controlled by the drug mafia, in order to liberate the inhabitants.
The measure's immediate success triggered debate throughout the country, and this film is a documentary tracing these efforts, directed by four young filmmakers who grew up native to the favelas themselves. Released in 2010, it is co-presented here with Hot Docs, and has received awards at film festivals from Rio de Janeiro, to New York, to Stockholm, to Sweden. Definitely worth checking out. Screening: Friday Oct 19, 7pm, The Royal
Rat Fever (2011)
On the Brazil Film Fest website, Rat Fever is described as "the alcohol-drenched story of an unrequited love." There's not much more to be said after that, really. But I will go on anyway. Zizo is a purebred anarchist poet, and his muse is the sober Eneida. Unfortunately, being his muse is as far as she'll go with him, and Zizo can't understand this, given that in his social circle of bohemian friends and proud outsiders, everyone sleeps with everyone else. But he is also busy fighting "the system" through a self-published newsletter, the "Febre de Rato" of the title - but his efforts don't seem to capture anyone's attention beyond his own circle of friends. Shot in black and white, Rat Fever is a "high spirited manifesto of freedom, anarchy and sex" and is definitely a must-see for this festival. Screening: Friday Oct 19, 9.15pm, The Royal
Writing by Gesilayefa Azorbo
Still from Captains of the Sand
On the second day of THE COLLECTIONS, designers Sid Neigum and Cara Cheung took over the runway room to showcase some inspired looks for Spring/Summer 2013. Take a look at them in our Style section.
15 looks from Cara Cheung S/S 2013
18 looks from Sid Neigum S/S 2013
While there might be better prepared dim sum in Toronto, this Chinatown favourite is a go-to spot when you're looking to experience a little bit of Hong Kong without taking a 15 hour plane ride. There's ample bustle, the servers are excellent, and the dim sum just keeps coming.
Read my review of Sky Dragon in the restaurants section.
The latest edition of The shOws wrapped up last night at the Andrew Richard Designs event space. Two hot shot designers - Jeremy Laing and Antonio Azzuolo - previewed their spring/summer collections. There were athletic influences, impeccably tailored blazers, layered pants and, uh, belly buttons galore.
Check out the looks from The shOws in our Style section.
21 looks from Antonio Azzuolo
34 looks from Jeremy Laing
The Greater Toronto Area needs to be taught a lesson when it comes to developing, funding, and building new transit projects in the 416 and beyond, according to a new report.
According to the University of Toronto's Institute on Municipal Finance and Governance, IMFG to its buddies, Toronto and the surrounding region can learn from other North American cities in several key areas when it comes to pushing its transit funding conversation forward.
Most notable, perhaps, is the call for strong leadership on the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area's transportation needs on a provincial level. Right now its hard to point to the public figure at the controls of the region's various transit projects who might be able to champion support for new funding.
"To really advance the discussion you do need political leadership on a regional basis that really engages local leaders," says André Côté from IMFG. "In all sorts of places you'll have situations like here where you have a whole series of local operators run by the different municipalities but you need some type of leadership at a regional level through the transit authority or the higher order of government."
The report itself points to leaders in California and Utah that were able to steer public opinion in favor of funding transit expansion with taxes and fees. In Salt Lake City, the Utah Transportation Authority persuaded drivers to back new projects with the tagline "Even if you don't ride it, you use it."
We might not even be that far off - there are some indications people already support small sales taxes in principle. Increasingly, we're discussing ways of paying for new infrastructure, and that's definitely something positive.
It's easy to believe our needs are different from those elsewhere, especially given Toronto's checkered past when it comes to bringing necessary transit projects to fruition. Côté says it's possible a lack of a clearly-defined master plan even in the wake of recent subway vs light rail debates could be a fundamental part of the problem. In reality, the report says, we're anything but unique.
"I think the take-home lesson is our region is not niche," Côté continues. "The challenges we face with transportation are similar to what's faced in other city regions and they've all found ways to work through these issues and make the much-needed investments to improve their quality of life and economic potential. It's a positive message."
Here are some of the other key lessons from in the report:
Do you agree with these suggestions - do we need a leader to help steer the ship? Could we do more as a region to talk transit funding in a rational, pro-active way? Are we on the right track at the moment?
Photos: "Yonge subway enters Bloor station, 1994" by jer1961, and "The Public Has Spoken" by MrDanMofo in the blogTO Flickr pool.
Little Anthony's was something of an institution at Richmond and York streets, occupying the southeast corner for 17 years. Having seen its better days, an ownership change this spring brought without massive renovations and a rebranding effort. So how's the new spot? If my meal was any indication, a very welcome (re)addition to the neighbourhood.
Read my review of LA's Italian Bar in the restaurants section.
This Week in Food rounds up the week's food news, restaurants openings and closings, chef movements and upcoming food events in Toronto. Find us here every Friday morning.
OPENINGS & CLOSINGS
UPCOMING EVENTS
CHEFS
OTHER NEWS
Photo by Dennis Marciniak
Not all that long ago, late night television viewing was a lonely, desolate experience. After midnight the majority of broadcasters in both Canada and the United States essentially told viewers to go to bed, turned off their transmitters and went off the air, only to resume transmission early the next morning.
This act of signing off was celebrated nightly with much pomp and patriotic fanfare, firstly with a station identification and technical specs often accompanied by serene visuals, followed by a stirring short film featuring the national anthem. For some channels, a religious or positive lifestyle message or PSA proceeded the national anthem, which was then followed by colour bars, and finally, static. 1982's horror classic Poltergeist acts as a sublime Polaroid snap of that era, capturing the popular past time of falling asleep in front of the TV only to be awoken by the final bars of the national anthem, or the eerie droning hum of 400hz.
Seeing, hearing and singing "O Canada" was a daily part of life back then, and perhaps the best known rendition of it was "With Glowing Hearts", a short composed of many clips gleaned from the National Film Board and released nationwide in 1979.
"With Glowing Hearts" was also screened before most Hollywood films in theatres across the country in the early 1980s as audiences stood and removed their hats. Many U.S. TV stations on the border would also show an "O Canada" film after "Star Spangled Banner," and some of them were even nicer than our own home grown variety.
Before the bean counting led egg headed broadcast monopolies sucked much of the creative lifeblood out of the industry, most TV stations had their own unique look and style of signing off: CFTO Channel 9 in Toronto used stylish music like a groovy "Killing Me Softly" cover, and later Electric Light Orchestra's dreamlike ambient sound scape "The Whale," seemingly at odds with their upfront and rather square religious messaging. They also ran "God Save the Queen" before "O Canada," tying the whole package together with a classy bow of Commonwealth class.
Public broadcaster TVOntario originally featured a sign off showing boffins at work in their master control room (including the late great voice of TVOntario, John DeLazzer who famously intoned "good night, et bonne soirée" every sign off), before switching to a rather boring and uninspiring list of their transponders (although viewers might get a chuckle out of some of the towns mentioned - see Emo, Ontario).
Jingle master Tommy Ambrose is the undisputed king of Toronto sign off lullaby culture: as mentioned here, Ambrose was hired by Moses Znaimer to compose the CityTV sign off theme. He managed to follow up the amazing "People City" with an equally beautiful and melancholic "A Point of View" for Global TV, who even released a 45rpm single with many cover versions of the track (Tommy's was undisputedly the best).
By the 1990s, the idea of being off the air for any period of time at all became alien, and sign offs mostly disappeared. YTV occasionally ran their lovely PJ Aashna "O Canada" film for old time sake even though programming continued unabated before and after it. Late night schedules filled up with cheapo infomercials and sleazy 1-800 numbers on an endless loop which no doubt created helpful new revenue streams for struggling broadcasters in tricky times. Lost to time but never forgotten, the sign off is yet another Martian relic from a more innocent and unhurried age, when the idea of a thousand screaming feeds blaring away 24/7 was more of a nightmare than a dream.
Retrontario plumbs the seedy depths of Toronto flea markets, flooded basements, thrift shops and garage sales, mining old VHS and Betamax tapes that less than often contain incredible moments of history that were accidentally recorded but somehow survived the ravages of time. You can find more amazing discoveries at www.retrontario.com.
A dishevelled man in bloodied hospital scrubs stumbles into Yonge and Dundas Square. He grunts at the gathering weary crowd and suddenly collapses. A nearby police officer runs to help. Without warning, the man grabs the officer's arms and bites into her flesh.
Within an hour, Union Station is a feeding frenzy. Subway trains screech to a stop and passengers jump off and scramble down dark tunnels. Within an evening, grocery and drug stores are looted dry. The DVP and 401 are littered with cars and carcasses. Within a week, electricity is out, Twitter is silent, and the skyline recalls the dead darkness of the 2003 blackout.
A zombie outbreak in Toronto could happen! To commemorate Saturday's Toronto Zombie Walk, I ask one of its organizers as well an author, bookworm, gamer, film buff and professional runner for tips on how to prepare for and to survive a dawn of the dead.
Seek Shelter
Zombie infection spreads at lightning speed and the undead will quickly outnumber the living. Find shelter first, says Adrienne Everitt, Head of the Security Team for Toronto Zombie Walk. "Hopefully you're at home. If not, evaluate the amount of time it will take you to get home, if you can get home, do so. Then turn out the lights and barricade windows and doors. Don't broadcast that you're alive." Translation: Stop tweeting and start surviving!
If you can't get to home, find a place that you can easily fortify, advises Luis Ceriz, owner of Suspect Video, who interacts with rabid zombie fans. "Like the top of the CN Tower. Zombies would take weeks to climb that single stairway!"
Build A Survival Team
There's safety in numbers. Chris Szego, Manager at Bakka Phoenix Books, Canada's oldest sci-fi and fantasy bookstore, lists her dream team. "Someone who knows about weapons; how to engineer jury-rigged machinery; with a Jeep; who works at a grocery store and has keys." Verify that you're not the weakest link. "Make sure your group has at least a few people slower than you. If you're the slowest and least fit, find another group!"
Recruit a gamer. "Gamers have thought about zombie outbreaks over and over again," says Jaime Woo, festival director for Gamercamp, which takes place November 3 and 4. "They'll be the first ones to suggest turning that house door into a raft. They're also used to thinking tasks like unlocking something are fun. The only setback is that they're used to killing pixilated opponents and will be shocked by how tired they get after, like, the second zombie."
Study And Know Thy Enemy
Here's a crash course on zombies from Corey Redekop, author of Husk, a recently-published and acclaimed zombie novel set in Toronto. "Zombies are attracted by smell, noise, and shiny things. They cannot be reasoned with. There is nothing left inside personality-wise, so don't think that just because she was your mom, she'll remember you. Try this, and you'll be eviscerated in no time." And yes, shoot them in the dead!
Books and movies are handy for learning about zombies. Szego suggests The Zombie Survival Guide by Max Brooks as an essential read. Ceriz suggests a few options for movies: "First, you've got to determine what kind of outbreak you're dealing with. Watch 'Shaun of the Dead' (slow, shambling) or 'Return of the Living Dead' (biological, unstoppable) and 'Serpent and the Rainbow' (good old fashioned voodoo zombies). Then for preparedness, watch both versions of Dawn of the Dead and learn from their mistakes!"
Gather Your Survival Tools
Stock up on essentials, says Everitt. "Electricity will fail, which means no water. So fill your tub and sinks with water and any containers you have in your house." Gather up canned foods and medicine. If you can make it to a hardware store, like Canadian Tire, scavenge for things you can use for offence and defence. Dress appropriately. "Having clothing for all weather conditions is important... this will keep your morale high."
Chances that you will wield a rifle during an outbreak are not realistic. Woo suggests finding or fashioning a weapon that is reusable and not ammo reliant. "Someday, I'll get lessons on wielding a bo staff. It worked for Donatello," he says. Use what you have at home, too. "How do you think zombies feel about sriracha?"
Learn To Run
Zombies - old school ones, anyway - are slow as hell. Couch potatoes, don't fret. The Running Room offers a ten-week beginner Learn To Run program at its 10 Toronto locations. "Learn the basics of proper gear for all weather conditions, nutrition, goal setting, injury prevention and more - everything you'll need to outrun the zombie horde," says Running Room Marketing Co-ordinator Owen Bowles. "Every year, we help prepare over 50,000 people for the zombie apocalypse, from beginner level up to those who want to hedge against marathoner zombies."
GTFO Of The City
Wait a few days till the initial chaos subsides and then get out of the city if you can. Pack essentials, like water and food, with you. "There are too many ways to get trapped in the city, particularly if the zombies have gathered into a swarm," says Redekop. "Get out in the open where you can see the zombies coming. Hopefully, by the time they're done feeding in the city, they'll have rotted to a point where you can sever their heads with a butter knife."
Photos by eudæmon, x2, and Duke 360 in the blogTO Flickr pool.
In case you missed it yesterday, a report published by the Toronto Transit Commission says Toronto needs make construction of a new east-west subway a priority over all other transit projects. Without a Downtown Relief Line, the Yonge subway will be completely unable to manage the projected ridership increases in the coming years, it says.
As city hall watchers will know, the DRL has been long been a dream of writers, transit planners and straphangers caught in the rush-hour crush. The line's history is almost as old as underground transportation in Toronto itself, with origins in the nixed Queen subway line and the 1985 "Network 2011" plan that also called for Sheppard and Eglinton West lines to support the existing subways.
The big question, as it was then, is whether the TTC can actually get the thing built. The report offers several different versions of the DRL, the cheapest coming in at around $3.2 billion to connect King and Pape stations. The most desirable, and most expensive, option - a line from Dundas West to Flemingdon Park via St. Andrew and King - could set the TTC back a gigantic $8.3 billion.
Now that new ways of funding new transit projects are starting to make it onto the table, a renewed push for the line could gain some traction if it's supported by taxpayers. The fact the proposed subway doesn't serve Scarborough and Etobicoke directly could be a sticking point for some, however.
Yesterday, the University of Toronto's Institute on Municipal Finance and Governance (IMFG) published a report outlining some of the lessons Toronto and the wider area could learn from other American cities as it tries to push forward with new transit.
The salient point appears to be that someone at the provincial level needs to take the wheel and steer support, funding, and construction of any new work. Without strong leadership and grassroots public consultation, new projects are unlikely to gain traction, it says.
As always, the core issue is money. City manager Joe Pennachetti outlined 10 ways of securing new transit funds earlier this month with estimates on how much each tool could conceivably raise. Here's a list of the big-ticket items:
If this latest version of the Downtown Relief Line - a connection from Dundas West to St. Andrew, King and Pape at least - is to become a reality one or more of these charges will have to become a reality. The TTC's report says Metrolinx should make the DRL the top priority in its Big Move strategy, a project that's still $2 billion a year short.
The provincial agency currently estimates relief for the Yonge line to be 16 to 25 years off. By then, the TTC says, the Yonge line will have reached critical mass and started hindering access to the city. If something's going to happen, it needs to happen now.
Images: TTC
Today we're initiating a call for nominations for a number of Best of Toronto categories. From bubble tea to pizza slices to tuxedos there are plenty of different categories in which to nominate a favourite or two. The nomination period starts now and runs until 11:59pm this coming Tuesday October 23rd. Then, we'll open each category for voting.
Here are the categories:
To nominate your favourite(s) in one or more of the above categories, simply place a comment below or email us your nominations to bestof [at] blogto [dotcom]. Note: once you see some thing/place nominated below, there's no need to nominate it again. All we need is one nomination per nominee in order for us to consider it for the voting round.
The nomination period ends this Tuesday October 23rd, 2012.
Ranked number one on our list of the best Korean restaurants in Toronto, this slightly hidden restaurant at the back of a strip mall off Steeles Avenue is about as authentically Korean as you're gonna get. And better yet? It's cheap and tasty too.
Read my review of Song Cook's in the restaurants section.
"Table for two near solitary confinement, please."
One of the only remaining pieces of Toronto's notoriously brutal Central Prison is a step closer to becoming an upscale restaurant now that a restoration proposal is before the city's preservation board. If the city gives the project a green light, the long-abandoned Roman Catholic place of worship in Liberty Village could become home to one of several local resto-pub brands.
Miller Tavern, brand of Pegasus Hospitality that includes The Fox on Bay Street and two eponymous eateries on Yonge, is considering opening a fourth location in the building in the next year or so. According to Terry Tsianos, the group's president, another "high end" brand from the company's roster, which includes Fox & Fiddle, The Wheat Sheaf, O'Grady's, and Philthy McNasty's, could also take over the space. Tsianos says he's also considering creating an entirely new brand for location.
The plans for the redevelopment have been public since The Grid covered the story last summer. What wasn't available then were renderings and rough floor plans for the proposed structural changes. Though they're a little plain and uninspiring, the color drawings reimagine the former chapel as a focal point for the surrounding Liberty Village community. Branding and signage will come at a later date.
The planned restoration and repurposing of the building would see a wooden patio built around the perimeter and a simple glass enclosure added at the northern wall, its former connection to Central Prison. Inside, the dilapidated interior will be spruced up to receive hungry locals instead of inmates desperately seeking redemption.
According to paperwork released in advance of next Tuesday's preservation board meeting, the ground floor could house a lounge and bar while the two upper levels get devoted solely to food. Large openings in each dining room, pending final confirmation, will provide drinkers downstairs with a view to the pitched roof.
Mary MacDonald, the Acting Manager of Heritage Preservation Services, says the designs are not specific to Miller Tavern. In theory, any company could operate in the space with this look. Once approved, the modifications, not the brand, are locked in.
"This is a property that's been needing help for decades and we're thrilled it's finally going to be transformed," she says. "I think it's going to be a great addition. It's a very, very important heritage resource and it is protected by heritage easement agreement and designation under the act and the city is certainly pleased to see someone take on the job of restoring it and keeping that part of the site's history alive."
The plan below shows the proposed layout for the ground floor and surrounding area.
Once attached to the southern portion of the Central Prison complex, a savage Victorian penitentiary known for its brutal treatment of inmates and secret nighttime burials, the chapel was left marooned when the bulk of the structure was demolished in 1920. The only other remaining part of the prison is a former paint shop now home to a condo presentation centre on Lynn Williams Street.
The building was added to the list of Toronto's heritage properties in 1985 and designated under the Ontario Heritage Act in 1996 but there has been an easement agreement (rules that protect elements of a structure and permit certain alterations) on the property since 2000. Prior to its abandonment the building saw use as an Inglis refrigeration and manufacturing plant.
What are your thoughts on the plans - is this a good way to repurpose a long-neglected heritage building? Do you think the building's history will prove a draw for locals? How about that glass extension?
MORE RENDERS:
Another view of the patio
West facade of the chapel building
ARCHIVAL PHOTOS:
Toronto Central Prison - the chapel is somewhere the left
The chapel as an Inglis plant
An Inglis baseball game outside the chapel
The chapel in disuse
Images: City of Toronto and City of Toronto Archives.
The best late night Chinese food in Toronto has never been, and will probably never be, about the frills. At 3 am on a Saturday morning, it's not exquisite ambience or knowledgeable servers that matter, but rather how quickly you can stuff steaming hot piles of Chinese food into your collective gullets. True to form, most of the restaurants on this list have little, if not zero, ambience, but what they do offer in abundance are heaps of crispy chicken, spring rolls, ginger beef and even the odd dim sum. Delicious, delicious late night dim sum. Put simply, these popular places ensure that you'll never be found wanting when it comes to late night gluttony in this humble city of ours.
With loads of carbs, starch, sodium, and sometimes spice, it's easy to understand why the average midnight zombie-lookalike would be drawn to these premises despite the obvious lack of anything resembling nutrition. Just enjoy and remember to keep your grease intake at a reasonable level. Or was that supposed to be your drink intake? It's all gone a bit hazy, to be honest.
So with a hearty war cry of "Forget the smile, just give me my fried noodles!" I present to you the best late night Chinese food in Toronto.
See also:
The best chinese restaurants in Toronto
The best dumplings in Toronto
The best dim sum in Toronto
Photo by Connie Tsang in the blogTO Flickr pool
Weekend events in Toronto is our guide to events happening this Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Here's what's happening in Toronto this October 19-21, 2012.
PARADE
10th Annual Toronto Zombie Walk
The dead walk again this Saturday when hundreds gather at Nathan Phillips Square to participate in Toronto's 10th annual Zombie Walk. Circling City Hall and heading down Queen West, the festivities begin in Nathan Phillips with vendors and bands as well as appearances by Night of the Living Dead's John Russo and Russ Streiner. The first 100 registered zombies to visit the official booth at Nathan Phillips will receive a copy of Alice in Zombieland. Check out our full guide to the Zombie Walk with ideas on where to purchase costumes for the event.
Nathan Phillips Square (100 Queen Street West), October 20, 2012, 12PM Free
FESTIVAL
Diasporic Genius' Harvest Festival
Urban development initiative Diasporic Genius celebrates the harvest and Toronto's cultural community with a festival in R.V. Burgess Park this weekend, featuring good music and food as well as visual arts and storytelling elements. Local bands will perform while traditional foods by multiethnic vendors are served. Diasporic Genius' story circle will take place live alongside pop-up architecture workshops. If rain falls on Saturday, the Harvest Festival will be moved to Sunday. In case of rain, check the Diasporic Genius website for confirmation.
R.V. Burgess Park (46 Thorncliffe Park Drive), October 20, 2012, 1PM Free
COMEDY
Brian Posehn: Dark Comedy Fest Preview
Brian Posehn may be better known as that guy from "Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!" and "The Sarah Silverman Program" but this awkward, self-professed nerd's film and stand-up comedy career has taken off in recent years. Posehn has appeared in the Just For Laughs 2011 Festival and more recently in Judd Apatow's Five-Year Engagement but this Friday, he'll be doing stand-up at the Annex Wreck Room in his return to Toronto to perform during The Dark Comedy Festival. Mike Rita hosts the event with an appearance by Rob Mailloux. Tickets are available on TicketWeb.
Annex Wreck Room (794 Bathurst Street), October 19, 2012, 8PM $20
For more comedy listings, check out our This Week In Comedy post.
MUSIC
July Talk Record Release Show
Local pop rock five-piece July Talk celebrate the release of their self-titled debut album this Friday evening at the Horseshoe by performing with friends. Joined by surf garage pop band Stella Ella Ola and their swift, catchy tunes as well as Edmonton blues singer Michael Rault and country soul band Meanwood, July Talk will hit the stage at 11:30PM. July Talk's album, now out on White Girl Records, will be for sale at the Horseshoe. Tickets are available at the door.
Horseshoe Tavern (370 Queen Street West), October 19, 2012, 9PM $10
SBTRKT
Musician and producer SBTRKT prefers to let his music speak for him but he can't hide behind anonymity this Saturday night. Playing a DJ set at Wrongbar, SBTRKT will play his usual blend of electronic, house and post-dubstep music for a 19+ crowd along with some special, yet-to-be-revealed guests. Tickets can be purchased through the usual places--TicketWeb, Rotate This and Soundscapes--but will likely sell out fast.
Wrongbar (1279 Queen Street West), October 20, 2012, 10PM $20
For more music listings, check out our Hot Ticket and October concerts posts.
THEATRE
The Rocky Horror Show
The cult horror classic The Rocky Horror Show returns to Lower Ossington for its 5th year, once again in time for Halloween. Playing only 16 shows from this weekend until November 3rd, with a special sing-a-long night on October 25th, the performance sells out each year due to the overwhelming popularity of Janet, Brad and the bizarre people they encounter when their car breaks down in an isolated part of town. We know you have your Dr. Frank-N-Furter costume handy from last year's performance so dress up and head down to Ossington Avenue this Friday to catch the opening show.
Lower Ossington Theatre (100A Ossington Avenue), October 19-November 3, 2012, 8PM $35-$45
For more theatre listings, check out our This Week In Theatre post.
BOOKS & LIT
Canzine 2012 Symposium
Broken Pencil's one-day conference on zine design, creation and output is a chance for content producers in the indie arts community to share their knowledge and skills with one another and learn about enhancing their publications. Workshops, presentations, a zine swap and a vegan lunch are all included in the full day pass price ($38) but individual sessions are also available, like the Primp Your Zine workshop, lead by Lisa MacDonald, Ian Sullivan and Elija Montgomery ($12). Break pencils and learn how to turn your zine hobby from backbreaking work into a business at Canzine.
918 Bathurst Centre for Culture, Arts, Media & Education (918 Bathurst Street), October 20, 2012, 7AM $12-$38
FOOD
Soupstock
A little bit of protest mixed with a lot of soup is the idea behind Soupstock, a culinary event that will see over 200 chefs slaving over stoves to raise awareness and stop the controversial Highlands Mega-Quarry. A celebration of clean water and good food put on by the David Suzuki Foundation and Canadian Chefs' Congress, Soupstock will have hundreds of flavours of soups to try. Join the protestors in Woodbine Park on a cold day with a warm bowl of soup to learn more about their cause and get involved in the community.
Woodbine Park (Queen Street East and Coxwell Avenue), October 21, 2012, 11AM Free
For more food events this week, check out our This Week in Food post.
FASHION
Community Clothing and Costume Swap
Selling second-hand goods in a clothing swap-style event, the Evergreen Brick Works hosts an afternoon of socially-conscious shopping with the Community Clothing and Costume Swap. At $3 per person, each item donated to the swap will earn the seller a token to represent one free "purchase," with a maximum of 12 items. After 12 items, each purchase is $1. Only clothing in good, clean condition will be accepted (don't be gross, keep the underwear at home). Be aware that all swaps are final. Proceeds of the Community Clothing and Costume Swap will go toward the Brick Works programs.
Evergreen Brick Works (550 Bayview Avenue), October 21, 2012, 1PM $3
For more fashion listings, check out our This Week In Fashion post.
NEIGHBOURHOOD
Riverside WALKfest
Explore the Riverside neighbourhood by joining in on theme walks at the 4th annual WALKfest. Six different types of walks with expert leaders will take you through the Queen East neighbourhood, exploring places like chocolate shops and bakeries (The Culinary Walk), galleries (The Art Walk) and even pet-friendly businesses and parks (The Dog Walk). All walks are free and a new theme starts each hour, on the hour, at 756 Queen Street East. Pre-register at riversidewalks.eventbright.com for free.
Riverside Toronto (756 Queen Street East), October 20, 2012, 10AM Free
FILM
Movies Made By Other People
Toronto film collective Made By Other People gathers at Cinecycle for a free and friendly screening of local short films, documentaries and music videos made through the group's network. Movies Made By Other People is an evening for indie filmmakers to gather, chat, and enjoy the products of their labour while having some cheap booze. Filmmakers such as Mitch Arend, Nathanael Chadwick and Yaz Rabadi will screen a variety of works in the second instalment of the series. All are welcome, just look for the old coach house down the lane of 129 Spadina.
Cinecycle (129 Spadina Avenue), October 19, 2012, 8PM Free
For more film listings, check out our This Week in Rep Cinema and This Week in Film posts.
ART
A L O N E together
Outside the Lines art collective throws a group show, opening at Triangle Lofts Gallery this Friday. Featuring 8 artists working in differing forms of media under the same ideals, artists like painters Mark Kellett and Laura Culic, and mixed media painter Jennifer Lawton present their works alone as independent artists yet together as critics and supporters of one another's work within the group. Sharing interests and philosophies that direct a unifying vision in the show, A L O N E together opens tonight with an artist-attended ceremony at 5PM. The show runs until October 25th.
Triangle Lofts Gallery (38 Abell Street), October 19, 2012, 11AM Free
CONFERENCE
The National Women's Show
Mitt Romney may have binders but the Metro Toronto Convention Centre will be filled with real, live women this weekend as vendors step out to directly tackle a broad market (pun seriously not intended). 450 exhibitors will offer food, wellness, beauty, travel, and entertainment services and goods targeting women while workshops and shows take place throughout the venue. Tickets are available through the official National Women's Show website. The show runs until Sunday.
Metro Toronto Convention Centre, South Building (222 Bremner Boulevard), October 19-21, 2012, 12PM $15
Have an event you'd like to plug? Submit your own listing to the blogTO Toronto events calendar or contact us directly.
For Toronto movie showtimes, view our Movie Listings section.
Photos by Roger Cullman and Emily Burke
One comic climbed scaffolding during his set in Texas. Another pretended to be a dad who slept with the babysitter on Jerry Springer. I'll tell you which one did which on This Week In Comedy.
MON OCT 22 / RORY SCOVEL feat. CASEY CORBIN / COMEDY BAR / 945 BLOOR W / 9PM & 11PM / $15
I first heard about Rory Scovel from a fellow comedian who fell in love with his video about the Batman reboot. Since then, I've been rifling through his clips on YouTube like an addict. After watching one of his sets entitled, 'The Climb' you'll see why he's been featured on Ferguson, Fallon, and Conan. Opening for Rory is Casey Corbin, who is a favourite of many Toronto comics.
WED OCT 24 - SUN OCT 28 / BRIAN SCOLARO feat. DAVE MERHEJE / ABSOLUTE COMEDY / 2335 YONGE / 8PM / $6-11
Brian's an out of towner that's definitely worth seeing. His TV credits are extensive to say the least, including Dexter, Mad Men, and Grey's Anatomy (don't hold the last one against him). On stage, I love his the way he weaves voice work into well-written material. I've seen some comedians stumble haphazardly into voice work with contrived premises that simply serve as an excuse to get into character. Brian, on the other hand, has spent the time it takes to create good material that becomes great when he adds a soundtrack. Oh yeah, and some guy named Dave Merheje is opening for him, but he headlines next week, so I'll sacrifice a goat in honour of his greatness in the following edition.
WED OCT 24 - SUN OCT 28 / JOHNNY GARDHOUSE / YUK YUK'S / 224 RICHMOND W / 8PM / $11-20
Johnny's facial expression makes it seem like he's always holding in a joke. That funny visage has landed him numerous TV appearances, including a special for Comedy Now. He made it big when his sketch troupe, 'The Blockheads' pretended to be a troubled family on Jerry Springer. To this day, I have no idea how he kept a straight face through it all.
THURS OCT 25 / GHOULS GONE WILD / COMEDY BAR / 945 BLOOR W / 730PM / $20 $15 WITH COSTUME
GGW is an all-girl stand up comedy fundraiser for the Native Women's Resource Centre of Toronto. Your headliner is Martha Chaves and the event will be hosted by Allison Dore (featured). I'd pay special attention to Christi Olson, who brought the house down at the Tim Sims Fresh Meat Competition with her dirty material last month. Her blue jokes killed in front of a crowd dominated by 35 to 60-year old's, which is why I believe that she's going to make huge strides in the next few months.
FRI OCT 26 - SAT OCT 27 / NO KIDDING / THE LOT / 100 OSSINGTON / 730PM AND 930PM / FREE
ichannel (television by Rastafarians, for Rastafarians) is having a group of Toronto's favourite comics display their best social and political material for their show, No Kidding.
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, teaches you how to be - and how not to be - a comedian in Toronto.
It was a bit of a mob scene at the Fairmont Royal York last weekend and most of those streaming into the hotel weren't coming for a dry martini or afternoon tea. No, the occasion was the Big Brother Canada casting call where plenty of aspiring candidates did their best to claim a spot on the first season of the show.
Check out the photo roundup in our Style section.
Ryerson University's new student residence will be 27 storeys if approved — five storeys taller than suggested back in February. That is to say, if some first-year manages to sneak onto the roof and operate a sort of epic beer funnel, the rewards will be that much sweeter. Or horribly dangerous. Whatever.
The university formally submitted its rezoning and site plan applications to the City of Toronto last month. The updated plans reflect a new 27-storey tower to be situated at 186 and 188 Jarvis Street, with room for 197 student units (with varying numbers of beds). The plan also includes space for two at-grade parking spots, 16 parking spaces underground, and 165 bicycle parking spots.
Ryerson previously announced that it would be partnering with private developer MPI Group, as well as IBI Group Architects, to realize the project. If all goes to plan, the new residence will open by September 2016, giving nearby Grand Hotel and Suites just under four years to prepare for the onslaught of ambulances appearing outside the building every Friday evening.
In all seriousness, this new project does seem a great one for Ryerson, especially since it has been inundated with more and more applications over the past couple of years. The plan also fits nicely with Ryerson's steady engulfment of central downtown Toronto, which has grown to include the relatively new Ted Rogers School of Management building on Dundas, Maple Leaf Gardens, the corner of Yonge and Gould, and now here at Jarvis and Dundas.
While not right on campus, the new residence will be less than a five-minute walk away, which is pretty good considering the distances some students have to go to get from class to class. Am I right, U of T? The structure, too, comes of as sophisticated and modern; but balconies for students?! Might want to go back to the drawing board on that one, Ryerson.
