365 Things to Do in Toronto, Toronto, Toronto events, Toronto festivals

125. Deep Wireless Festival of Radio Art

May 5, 2011 Heikki Walden

May 5, 2011

Presented by the New Adventures in Sound Art at the Artscape Wychwood Barns, this year the Deep Wireless Festival celebrates its 10th anniversary! A month-long celebration of everything that is radio, the festival features performances, installations, and radio broadcasts from the Radio Without Boundaries Conference and CBC Radio’s Living Out Loud.

The month-long festival continues until May 31st; for more information on all the events included in the Deep Wireless Festival of Radio Art, visit www.naisa.ca/deepwireless/.

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124. Calendar Girls

May 4, 2011 Heikki Walden

May 4, 2011

Based on the British comedy by the same name, Calendar Girls won rave reviews in London, and is now at the Royal Alexandra Theatre in Toronto! The twelve ladies of a chapter of the Women’s Institute take on a charity fundraiser to support Leukemia research, but with a twist. Instead of the typical Women’s Institute calendar, the ladies drop their drawers for the creation of a calendar featuring pictures of the members discreetly posing nude while engaged in activities such as baking and knitting.

Catch Calendar Girls today at 2pm and 8pm. Tickets for matinee performances range from $30 to $76; tickets for evening performances range from $45 to $84. If you can’t make it to the show today, performances continue until May 28th. Purchase tickets at mirvish.com.

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123. Toronto Urban Gardens: Growing Your Own Food

May 3, 2011 Heikki Walden

May 3, 2011

Calling all “urban farmers” – explore the growing urban gardening scene tonight at Evergreen Brick Works! In this installment of the GE Cafe Chefs Series: Food for Thought, Anthony Rose, Executive Chef at The Drake Hotel, along with Rebekka Hutton, Urban Agriculture Manager for Evergreen, will help you learn how you can grow your own food at home.

Food security is an increasingly important issue, and growing your own food is a great way to up your food self-sufficiency. Rose’s emphasis on fresh and local ingredients, coupled with Hutton’s urban agriculture expertise, will make for an informative and fascinating evening which will include an interactive cooking demonstration, time to enjoy a meal, and a fascinating discussion about the merits of harvesting your own food right here in Toronto.

Each of the GE Café Chefs Series workshops cost $60 per person, and take place at the Centre for Green Cities from 6-9pm. Register now at the Evergreen Brickworks’ website.

365 Things to Do in Toronto, Toronto, Toronto events, Toronto music

122. Video Games Live: Bonus Round

May 2, 2011 Heikki Walden

May 2, 2011

Ever wonder what it would be like to live in a video game? Video Games Live: Bonus Round, is probably the closest you can get (at least in your waking hours)! Hosted by Massey Hall, Video Games Live is an “immersive concert event featuring music from the most popular video games of all time.” You’ll witness orchestras and choirs performing music from Warcraft, Halo, Zelda, Final Fantasy, Street Fighter II, Shadow of the Colossus and many more!

In addition to the musical experience, exclusive video footage, synchronized lighting, and interactive segments will help you to experience the intensity and excitement of your favourite video games. It “combines the power and emotion of a symphony orchestra, the excitement and energy of a rock concert, and the technology and interactivity of a video game,” providing an unforgettable multi-sensory experience for gamers and non-gamers alike.

Be sure to show up early to experience the pre-show festival, including prizes for the best costume, and a Guitar Hero: Van Halen competition (the winer will perform live on stage with an orchestra and choir!) Stay late to meet and greet famous game designers and composers – it’s all included in the price of your ticket! Doors open at 6pm (for the pre-show event) and tickets cost $37.50 to $67.50. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit the Massey Hall website.

365 Things to Do in Toronto, Toronto, Toronto events, Toronto festivals

121. CONTACT Photography Festival

May 1, 2011 Heikki Walden

May 1, 2011

Featuring over 1000 local, national and international photographers, CONTACT is Toronto’s not-for-profit annual photography festival, and the largest photography event in the world. CONTACT aims to advance the knowledge, creativity and innovation in photography, and as such, supports emerging artists and professional photographers alike. An open call for exhibitions allows the festival to show work across the city in over 200 venues, featuring public installations, special events, and primary exhibitions.

CONTACT Photography Festival — Photo by Chien-Chi Chang

“Figure & Ground” is this year’s festival theme, addressing the way in which photographic images can alter our perceptions, inspire our knowledge-base, and unveil meaning. This theme encourages CONTACT patrons to ponder their relationship with their environment.

For information on venues, primary exhibitions, public installations, featured exhibitions and open exhibitions, go to http://scotiabankcontactphoto.com/. The CONTACT Photography Festival starts today and continues until May 31st.

365 Things to Do in Toronto, Toronto, Toronto events, Toronto music, Toronto theatre

120. Ariadne auf Naxos

April 30, 2011 Heikki Walden

April 30, 2011

Enjoy Richard Strauss’ 1912 “opera-within-an-opera,” performed at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts by the Canadian Opera Company. Ariadne auf Naxos features Adrianne Pieczonka as princess Ariadne and Richard Margison as the god Bacchus.

A fascinating opera, the story is split between the Greek island of Naxos, and the story of the staging of the opera in Vienna. As two groups of very different musicians arrive at the home of “the richest man in Vienna,” ready to perform two very different musical productions, preparations are complicated when the Major-domo decides that both performances must take place simultaneously. The resulting opera is a combination of the original performances (a burlesque show and a serious opera).

Today’s performance starts at 4:30pm. Tickets range from $62.00 + tax to $281.00 + tax. To purchase tickets, visit the Canadian Opera Company’s website.

365 Things to Do in Toronto, Toronto, Toronto events, West Queen West

119. Rock’n Roll Dance

April 29, 2011 Heikki Walden

April 29, 2011

Ready to Rock’n Roll?! West Queen West’s Dovercourt House hosts Friday night Rock’n Roll dance parties, complete with a Beginner Rock’n Roll dance class from 8pm to 9pm.

Once you’ve learned the moves, you’ll have the opportunity to dance the night away as you twist and shout to the beat of your favourite tunes. You don’t need to bring a partner – just show up solo, or with a group of friends for a fun night of dancing and get to know your fellow dancers! For more information, go to www.odd-socks.org!

365 Things to Do in Toronto, Toronto, Toronto events, Toronto festivals, Toronto film

118. Hot Docs Festival

April 28, 2011 Heikki Walden

April 28, 2011

Toronto’s premiere documentary film festival, Hot Docs, starts today!

Tonight’s screenings include POM Wonderful Presents: The Greatest Movie Ever Sold, and Fightville. Whether you’re looking for a film to inspire, make you cry, lift your spirits, or simply entertain, Hot Docs has something for everyone!

Venues include the TIFF Bell Lightbox, Winter Garden Theatre, Isabel Bader Theatre, Innis Town Hall, the ROM Theatre, Cumberland, and of course, the Bloor Cinema; Hot Docs is truly a city-wide event! A Hot Docs Pass is your best bet for truly enjoying the breadth of this film festival; there are a variety available which cost from $98 (for a Festival Pass which gives you ten Regular Screening Tickets and nine Late Night Screening Tickets that you can share) to $300 (for a Premium for Two Pass which gives you two tickets per screening, resulting in 200+ tickets for documentary fanatics)! Single tickets are also available for $14.

For a schedule of screenings and for information on how to buy your passes or tickets, go to www.hotdocs.ca!

365 Things to Do in Toronto, Toronto, Toronto events, West Queen West

117. Toronto Alternative Arts & Fashion Week

April 27, 2011 Heikki Walden

April 27, 2011

Toronto Alternative Arts & Fashion Week is “a platform for inventive, pioneering and contemporary expression.” While there is a heavy focus on fashion, the event features visual artists, bands and performers in addition to experimental, contemporary, and avant-garde fashion collections. The week includes more than 50 runway shows, a sound stage showcasing unique bands, DJs and solo artists, a photography and video exhibit, installation art and performances of all kinds.

This alternative take on the fashion world began yesterday and continues until April 29th. Today’s theme is “natural currencies,” highlighting the use of natural elements in the creative process. The night gets started with DJ Daniel Wilson at 6pm, includes performances by the Catalyst Dance Company, The Schematics of Evolution by Sai Sivanesan, several runway shows highlighting ICA Watermelon by Julia Knüpper and work by the Ryerson School of Fashion, along with ongoing photography and video screenings.

All events take place at 99 Sudbury Street in the West Queen West neighbourhood. Buy tickets in advance at Slinky/MOOG Audio, Nathalie-Roze & Co, Method Lab, or Shop Girls for $25/day, or get your day pass at the door for $30. For more information on Toronto Alternative Arts & Fashion Week, go to http://www.alternativefashionweek.com/main.

365 Things to Do in Toronto, Toronto, Toronto events, Toronto music, Toronto theatre

116. La Clemenza di Tito

April 26, 2011 Heikki Walden

April 26, 2011

One of Mozart’s lesser known operas, La Clemenza di Tito is based on a leftover libretto by Pietro Metastasio.

The opera is set in the year 79 and depicts Vitellia, an ancient Roman aristocrat, as she plots to assassinate Tito, the Emperor of Rome. Directed by Marshall Pynkoski, featuring the Artists of Atelier Ballet and Tafelmusik Orchestra conducted by David Fallis, this production promises to be a crowning event in Opera Atelier’s 25th-anniversary season.

Tonight’s performance of La Clemenza di Tito is at 7:30pm at the Elgin & Winter Garden Theatre Centre. Tickets range from $38 to $166. For more information, go to the Opera Atelier website.