Results tagged “urbanplanner”

CRAFT: The Fox Theatre and girlcancreate.com are teaming up to present Movies and Makers: An Art and Craft Show, along with a screening of Faythe Levine’s Handmade Nation, a documentary about North America's DIY craft movement. The craft show will showcase the work of over thirty local artisans and vendors, including east-end craft proprietess Nathalie-Roze, textile printmakers Beside Herself, and Kensington printers Kid Icarus. With tons of clothing, pottery, zines, and jewellery, it’s the perfect place to get some holiday shopping done. Stick around after the show for the documentary screening, which will either leave you satisfied with your handmade purchases or feeling inspired to go home and make something yourself. Fox Theatre (2236 Queen Street East); Saturday 10 a.m.–4 p.m., screening at 4:30 p.m.; FREE (screening is $8 or $6 for members).

ART: Since its conception in 2002, the "Love Show" has strived to raise awareness about the privilege that defines so many of our lives, while reminding us of our responsibility to others. Each year's proceeds go to community-based organizations that stand up against violence and encourage self esteem. This year, the sales from all the miniature (8x8) pieces—donated by local artists for the exhibition—go to the Workman Arts Program (at CAMH), whose mission is to support artists with mental illnesses or addiction and promote a greater understanding of these realities through various art forms. The theme of this year's show is "Dreams," exploring all meanings of the word—from night-time visions and nightmares, to daydreams and aspirations for the future. Each piece will sell for only seventy-five dollars. 918 Bathurst Street, 7–9 p.m., FREE.

FILM: The Eh!U Meet the Europeans European Film Festival, one of our favourite free film festivals of the year, begins today with a screening of award-winning Czech film The Karamazovs. Various local European consulates and cultural centres (representing a total of twenty-three European nations this year) have compiled a collection of current films not yet screened in Canada to introduce them to a Toronto audience. This year’s venues are the Bloor, the Royal, and the Varsity, screening a total of twenty-six different films. The festival continues to December 3. Bloor Cinema (506 Bloor Street West), 6 p.m., FREE.

ART: Art lovers will be wondering "who art thou?" at the annual Whodunit? Mystery Art Sale, featuring artwork donated by OCAD students, faculty, alumni, and established artists. Hundreds of pieces will be available for sale, all the same size (5½" x 7½") and the same price (seventy-five dollars). The catch is that the names of artists are withheld from buyers until after the piece is purchased, adding an element of mystery and surprise. The public preview starts today in person and online and runs through Friday evening, leading up to what promises to be a day of frantic buying at Saturday's sale. (Torontoist will also have more from Whodunit? later this week.) Following today's preview opening, OCAD is hosting the Gala Preview tonight. The gala will feature a silent auction of small-scale mystery art and a live auction of full-scale work from a group of local artists, many of them OCAD alumni and medal winners. While previewing works available in the public sale, guests will also enjoy cocktails and hors d’oeuvres at tonight's event. Get prepared for some holiday shopping this weekend (even if it's for yourself) while knowing that you are supporting OCAD, with proceeds from this year’s sale going towards the purchase of specialized equipment for emerging artists. Ontario College of Art and Design (100 McCaul Street), public preview 12–6 p.m., FREE; preview gala 6:30–10 p.m., $150 (available online).

FILM: Nokia Mobifest is the "world's largest independent short film festival using mobile phone technology." That's right, these movies are made especially for your iPod. Earlier this month the best of the festival contenders were announced, and tonight the finalists will be screened at the Revue Cinema. The entries vary widely in style and production values (last year's Best Canadian Film winner, Egg Love by Zach Math, is a sort of tongue-in-cheek art house film about eggs that's reminiscent of a certain sausage-themed Kids in the Hall sketch). Tonight's screening will include selections from the festival's first twenty-four-hour Toronto Made-For-Mobile Challenge, a sneak peak at a Jason Priestly–directed movie about world champion downhill skier Jan Hudec, and films from Hong Kong, the Netherlands, and Spain. The winners will be announced tonight, with the challenge winner receiving $2,500 in cash (donated by the City of Toronto), and the Best of Festival winner receiving a free trip to Los Angeles, California, as well as $2,000 cash. Revue Cinema (400 Roncesvalles Avenue), 7 p.m., $5.

DANCE: Kicking off the Christmas season with some stylish stockings, the three-day run of the Radio City Christmas Spectacular starring The Rockettes starts today. This seasonal family favourite promises all of the high-kicking can-can spectacle of the original Christmas Spectacular at the Radio City Music Hall in New York City, complete with a dancing Santa and his reindeer, a scene from the Nutcracker, and a "living nativity" scene. Air Canada Centre (40 Bay Street), 7:30 p.m., $35–$84.

WORDS: Coach House Books and This Is Not A Reading Series present the launch of tantalizing Toronto treats-and-eats book The Edible City. The book (which Books@Torontoist has been featuring excerpts from) contains essays and tidbits on everything food related, so long as it relates to the food of Toronto—and we love food. The book’s launch includes a panel discussion with The Edible City contributors who chew the fat about the food we eat. Further food-themed fodder will be served up in the guise of food-related music and cookie-decorating from Wanda’s Pie-in-the-Sky. Gladstone Hotel, Ballroom (1214 Queen Street West), Sunday 2 p.m., $5 (FREE with book purchase).

FILM: It seems rather shocking that up until 2008, the senior prom at Charleston High School in Mississippi was racially segregated, despite classes and other school activities being integrated. It wasn't until Morgan Freeman offered to foot the bill for the prom (for the second time, as he was denied the first time in 1997) that anyone in the town considered a racially integrated prom. Prom Night In Mississippi is a documentary by Toronto-based filmmaker Paul Saltzman that follows high school students, parents, and teachers as they navigate their way through senior prom preparations, highlighting the racism that is still evident in the community. All proceeds from tonight's opening night benefit screening will benefit Moving Beyond Prejudice, an organization that will distribute Prom Night in Mississippi's educational DVD package to Canadian schools that cannot afford them. Morgan Freeman will be in attendance for tonight's event, which will commence with a red carpet entrance, followed by an introduction by the filmmaker. Stick around after the screening for a Q&A session. Varsity Cinemas (55 Bloor Street West), 6:30–9:30 p.m., $100 (available online).

MUSIC: Awesome music promoter NuFunk holds its second annual NuJazz Music Festival this weekend, launching tonight with New York City headliner Nickodemus. The promoter's love of all things urban jazz, electronica, and big funky brass outfits rings true with the weekend line-up. Joining Nickodemus on stage for the opening party are CIUT DJs Medicineman and Goldfinger, (celebrating their radio shows' tenth anniversary), and Escalate! Revival Bar (783 College Street), 9 p.m., $15 ($25 festival pass available online).

MUSIC: If not for the stillbirth of his brother, Jesse, Elvis Presley would have been an identical twin, which may or may not have had a significant impact on his success, superstardom, and final demise. Curated by music critic and Globe and Mail editor Carl Wilson and co-presented with The Power Plant (in conjunction with the "Candice Breitz: Same Same" exhibition, which explores twins, fans, and identity), "Songs for Jesse Presley" pays musical tribute to The King's twin. Tonight, a few of Toronto's most inspired musicians reveal their artistic zygotes by playing covers of the artists who influenced them, as well as the clonings, mutations, and deviations that are their own songs. Featured on the bill are novelist and musician Joe Pernice, The Reveries (returning to the stage after an eighteen-month hiatus), and Toronto rapper (and winner of the 2009 Echo Songwriting Prize) D-Sisive (Derek Christoff). The Music Gallery (197 John Street), doors at 8 p.m., show at 9 p.m., regular $10, students and members $9.

PHOTOGRAPHY: Vincenzo Pietropaolo is a Canadian photographer who works primarily in black-and-white prints. He's well-known for creating social documentary photo essays that are steeped in the greatest empathy. Since 1984, Pietropaolo has been documenting the lives of migrant farm workers in Ontario, and tonight, the culmination of that work will come out with the launch of his new book, Harvest Pilgrims: Mexican and Caribbean Migrant Farm Workers in Canada. Pietropaolo will participate in a talk about his work at the launch. Stephen Bulger Gallery (1026 Queen Street West), 7–9 p.m., FREE.

CELEBRATION: St. Lawrence Market has been a culinary hub of our city since even before we were a city (talk about putting the cart before the horse). This year, while the City of Toronto is celebrating its 175th anniversary, St. Lawrence Market is celebrating 205 years of food and freshness. It won’t be your usual Saturday at the market with live music, buskers, cooking demonstrations, children’s activities, and guided tours of the building. In honour of the city’s birthday, many farmers, merchants, and artisans will be featuring products for the special prices of $1.75 and $11.75. St. Lawrence Market (93 Front Street East), Saturday 9 a.m.–4 p.m., FREE.

FILM: Filmmaker and scholar Jean-Pierre Gorin, companion of Nouvelle–Vague visionary Jean-Luc Godard throughout his Dziga Vertov period, is in Toronto for his self-curated series "The Way of the Termite: The Essay Film." Gorin will introduce Chris Marker's Sans Soleil tonight to launch the series, which runs until December 3 and will also feature a couple of Gorin's collaborations with Godard (Ici et ailleurs and Letter to Jane), as well as the Canadian premiere of La Rabbia di Pasolini. The films screened over the next month explore the balance between history and anecdote, fact and fiction. Each work speaks as clearly about the filmmaker as their world views, resulting in the perfect meeting of art and politics. The series invites audiences to reflect on how we think about history and how we process current events through images, which is particularly poignant in an age of media saturation. TIFF Cinematheque (2 Carlton Street), 7 p.m., check online for ticket prices.

MUSIC: Who said libraries and noise don’t mix? The Toronto Public Library thinks a bit of volume is a great way to support their extensive Canadian independent music collection (which includes CDs and music-related books). The Make Some Noise series brings well-known local bands to various branches for live shows or to lead music-making workshops, with all supporting bands' material available at the library. This season kickstarts with a concert by Grand Analog who’ll play music from their new CD Metropolis is Burning. Look to Torontoist for a review following the show. Toronto Public Library, College/Shaw Branch (766 College Street), 8 p.m., FREE.

ART: In a candid talk about the oldest profession around, the Textile Museum of Canada curators Natalia Nekrassova and Roxane Shaughnessy will discuss the art of hooking. Originating as domestic products of thrifty pioneer families, hooked rugs have come to be recognized as a fine art form and admired for their colour, texture, and design. During tonight's seminar, participants will have the opportunity to look at artifacts from the museum's collection, which reflects diverse communities and geographic regions, including many pieces of Canadian origin. Textile Museum of Canada (55 Centre Avenue), 6:30 p.m., $15 ($12 for museum members and PWYC for full-time students).

MUSIC: Basement Jaxx, the over-the-top house music imports from the UK, are in Toronto tonight for a DJ set at the Century Room. The duo, consisting of Felix Buxton and Simon Ratcliffe, first gained notoriety in Canada in 2001 with the single "Where's Your Head At?" (complete with a crazy video featuring monkey-human brain transplants) from their second album, Rooty. They're out promoting their latest album, Scars, which is characteristic of most of their work, using plenty of vocals and live instruments to complement the sample and synth. Century Room (580 King Street West), doors open at 10 p.m., $20 at the door.

DEATH: Today is the Mexican Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos), which, to those who observe, means creating altars to their lost loved ones that are covered with painted skulls and marigolds, and bread of the dead (Pan de muerto) and other favourite foods of the deceased are eaten. The NACO Gallery Café on Dundas Street has gotten into the spirit of things this year, with a window display, an altar, day of the dead–inspired art, and live music. They've also gotten many businesses and homes in the Dundas West community to celebrate with them, with places such as Zoots Café, Hen House, and Beadle each contributing something to the festivities. NACO Gallery Café (1665 Dundas Street West), 6 p.m., FREE.

THEATRE: What would a Halloween weekend be without the Canadian premiere of The Toxic Avenger Musical? New Jersey vat-of-radioactive-waste survivor the Toxic Avenger battles for both the heart of his blind librarian love-interest and the environment while expressing himself through the magic of live rock ballads. The only thing missing might be a GTA context—the debate's open as to Toronto's New Jersey equivalent. The Music Hall (147 Danforth Avenue), Saturday 9 p.m., Sunday 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., $15–$69.

MUSIC: Acquired in 1929 by then Governor General Vincent Massey, the magnificent Hart House viols make up a collection of six late sixteenth-, seventeenth-, and eighteenth-century instruments widely considered not only to be valuable cultural and historic relics, but objects of great beauty. Tonight and tomorrow, you can experience these instruments as they were meant to be—played by extraordinary musicians. The incomparable Montreal-based viola da gamba ensemble, Les Voix humaines, returns to the Toronto Consort series to perform on these rare instruments. Together, the musicians and viols will bring to life Henry Purcell's genius and inspirational Fantasias, written as a young man of twenty in 1680. This concert marks the first time all six viols have been played together in public in more than thirty years and promises to be a magical experience. Trinity St. Paul’s Centre (427 Bloor Street West), 8 p.m., $19–$46 (tickets available online or by calling 416-964-6337).

CITIES: Artscape, MaRS, the Martin Prosperity Institute, and the City of Toronto have collaborated to create the Creative Places + Spaces conference (on today and tomorrow)—apropos, since this year’s theme is all about the power of creative collaboration. The conference begins this morning with two very exciting keynote speeches: Richard Florida discussing the collaborative city and the global shifts that are shaping future economies, and Sir Ken Robinson presenting ways of making collaboration a habit to ensure successful innovation. The two will then sit down together for a panel discussion. The day closes with an hour-long schmooze session reception. The Carlu (444 Yonge Street, 7th floor); 9 a.m.–6:30 p.m.; $350 (full day package), $150 (student full package), $95 ("Brown Bag" pass—balcony only).

PERFORMANCE: The Repo! Shadow Cats are back for their tenth shadow cast performance of Repo! The Genetic Opera, a Rocky Horror Picture Show meets Blade Runner rock opera. If you're unfamiliar with the Shadow Cats and their shadow cast performances, the show will feature a live recreation and unique interpretation of the film, while it is being projected on a screen behind the Cats. In addition to blood, boobs, and off-beat humour, tonight's Halloween-themed performance will feature the Repo characters in costume. Audience members are also encouraged to attend in costume for a chance to win prizes. Bloor Cinema (506 Bloor Street West), 9:30–11:30 p.m., $10.

DANCE: In keeping with the gory theme of the week leading up to Halloween, The Chimera Project presents the return of Blood as part of the Harbourfront Centre's Next Steps Series. Choreographed by Malgorzata Nowacka (who is also the founder of The Chimera Project), Blood explores urban mythology using some of the company's typical style, fusing ballet with urban dance influences and improvisation. Enwave Theatre, Harbourfront Centre (231 Queen's Quay West), 8 p.m., $20–30.

ART: Andrea Stajan-Ferkul creates beautiful mixed-media paintings that are sleek and sexy on the surface and refined and evocative once you get to know them better. Many of the gowns she features on the canvas are also fit for the runway, which is appropriate given that one of her illustrations was used in the promotional material for Toronto Fashion Week shows at Nathan Phillips Square last week. Today, Stajan-Ferkul will open her solo show at the Art Square Gallery called "A Room With A View." The opening reception will be this Thursday at 6 p.m. Art Square Gallery (334 Dundas Street West), 5 p.m., FREE.

UNDEAD: Just when we thought it was safe to walk the streets again, hordes of zombies rise from the dead for the 2009 Toronto Zombie Walk. Would-be corpses do the zombie shuffle from the pit of Trinity-Bellwoods park, east along Dundas, through Kensington Market, and up through the bowels of the Annex to Bloor and Bathurst streets. The Bloor Cinema hosts an accompanying "Cinema of the Dead" double bill (Zombie and Night of the Comet) following the brains-seeking mob's arrival, while Sneaky Dee’s hosts the Official Toronto Zombie Walk After Party, starring The Rock Ons. Trinity-Bellwoods Park, Saturday 3 p.m., FREE; Bloor Cinema (506 Bloor Street West), Saturday 7 p.m., $16 (zombies) or $20 (living).

ANIMATION: To mark World Animation Day on October 28, the NFB kicks off a week of free activities that celebrate the ever-changing, ever-intriguing world of animation. Get Animated! will offer screenings and workshops, like the Animation Lounge, where you can mingle with animators, browse through displays, and discover more about the industry and local studios. The first screening at tonight's opening highlights the 2008 grads from Sheridan College—whose animation program has produced some seriously talented and successful artists in the field for more than thirty years. Later on, catch some brand new NFB animation releases, including Cordell Barker's Runaway and The Spine by Chris Landreth (who won Best Short Animation at the 2005 Oscars for his amazing film about a well-loved Montrealer, Ryan). Both pieces were official selections at this year's Toronto International Film Festival. NFB Mediatheque (150 John Street), 5–10 p.m. (go online for various show times, etc.), FREE.

ART: The country’s largest art exposition Art Toronto fills the Metro Convention Centre this weekend, celebrating its tenth anniversary with a focus on the contemporary Canadian art scene, a flagship project called "Heartland." The massive international art fair opens tonight with a big fundraising preview to benefit the Art Gallery of Ontario. The rest of the riffraff get to experience the more than five thousand works of art beginning tomorrow (through October 26). Don’t miss the Gladstone’s off-site upArt contemporary Art Fair, reached from the Convention Centre via York University’s unconventional Performance Bus. Metro Toronto Convention Centre, North Building Exhibit Halls A and B (255 Front Street West), 6:30 p.m., $190 (AGO Benefit); Public Opening: Friday 12 p.m., $18.

TALK: Urban cyclists will rejoice in what Roger Geller, the bicycle coordinator with the City of Portland, Oregon, has to say about bikeway design, bicycle parking, cyclist mentality, and shifting gears to make cities more cycling-friendly. A bunch of local organizations—the Toronto Cyclists Union, the Toronto Coalition for Active Transportation, the Clean Air Partnership, and the U.S. Consulate General in Toronto—are teaming up to present “Livable Streets: Rethinking Urban Transportation.” Having learned what has been successful in Portland over the past two decades, earning a bike-friendly reputation, and boasting the highest rate of bicycle commuting to work of any major American city, Geller will talk about the roles that political leadership and citizen advocacy play in influencing change with the goal of getting people out of their motor vehicles and using alternative means of transportation such as public transit, biking, and walking. Centre for Social Innovation (215 Spadina Avenue, Suite 120), 6–7:30 p.m., FREE (pre-register online).

FILM: The 2009 Air Canada enRoute Student Film Festival is a festival run by Air Canada's enRoute magazine that sees selected short films screened on all Air Canada flights from July to December. Tonight, they are holding a free screening of the best of the fest (four of which are by Toronto filmmakers) at the Scotiabank Theatre. See tales of procrastinating film students (The Creative Process by Jeffrey Royiwski), misunderstood flies (A Freshwater Plague by Jake Chirico), a fateful storm in the countryside (A Season to Whither by LeighAnn Maynard), being depressed in Montreal (Synthétiseur by Sarah Fortin), a lovesick computer animation (Intermedium by Alain Huynh), and one woman's struggle with Alzheimer's (Princess Margaret Blvd. by Kazik Radwanski and Daniel Montgomery) without ever having to step on a plane. The films are nominated for Best Short Film, Achievement in Animation, Achievement in Direction, and Achievement in Cinematography. The judges, including director Deepa Mehta, actor Remy Girard, actress Lisa Ray, director Michael McGowan, and BravoFACT's Judy Gladstone will be at the screening, and an awards ceremony at the Drake Hotel will follow (for invited guests only). Scotiabank Theatre, Cinema 13 (259 Richmond Street West), 7 p.m., FREE.

ENVIRONMENT: The CitiesAlive! 2009 International Green Roof Infrastructure Congress starts today, shining a big, green spotlight on sustainable and eco-friendly city development. Over the next three days, expert talks and workshops will cover various techniques for converting city areas to green areas (such as green walls and rain gardens), as well as policies developed in other cities that can help create green infrastructure around the world. The big draw for today is the opening reception at City Hall, which will include a preview tour of their new green roof (above), and a "hello" from Mayor Miller. Sheraton Centre Toronto Downtown (123 Queen Street West), 8:30 a.m.–8 p.m., $5–269.

KIDS: British author David Benedictus and illustrator Mark Burgess have imagined the continued tales of Winnie-the-Pooh and Christopher Robin in a brand new Pooh estate–sanctioned book Return to the Hundred Acre Wood. To celebrate, a number of Toronto book publishers and book lovers—including Small Print, Penguin Books, Type Books, and Torontoist—are having a Winnie-The-Pooh Homecoming Party. A. A. Milne–channelling author David Benedictus will read an excerpt of his new book via satellite from the UK, while local kiddie-entertainment celebrities read additional stories at the party. Don Kerr & The Heffalumps perform their Hundred Acre Wood inspirations. And what would a Winnie-the-Pooh party be without a little pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey? Kids can take part in making a giant "Welcome Home" card, too. Gladstone Hotel Ballroom (1214 Queen Street West); Sunday 11:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. (two shows); $10 adults, $8 kids.