Urban Planner: April 25, 2009

Urban Planner is Torontoist's daily guide to what's on in Toronto, published every morning. If you have an event you'd like considered, email all of its details—as well as images, if you've got any—to events@torontoist.com.

Photo from "Housepaint" by Chimpr.

KIDS: In celebration of their current exhibit, "Housepaint: Phase 2: Shelter," the ROM will host a family-friendly weekend full of activities inspired by the vibrant contemporary styles in the exhibit. Kids will be able to build miniature houses, to express what a home means to them, and they'll also have a chance to contribute to a larger collaborative project with all the other kids. The Housepaint Family Weekend is co-facilitated by Sketch. Royal Ontario Museum (100 Queen's Park), 11 a.m.–4 p.m., included with ROM admission ($15–$22).

FILM: The Feminist Porn Awards, which you may recall from Urban Planner yesterday, will extend their awards ceremony in a sure-to-be-either-totally-awkward-or-awesome presentation at the Royal Cinema tonight. "Feisty Feminist Porn on the Big Screen" will show clips from this year's FPA-nominated films, followed by a panel discussion featuring feminist porn industry luminaries. Royal Cinema (608 College Street), 9:30 p.m., $12.

FESTIVAL: The Mayworks Festival of Working People and the Arts is back for its twenty-fourth year, running until May 3. Canada's largest and oldest labour arts festival, there are two events happening today. The Toronto Free Gallery will co-host a launch and reception for renowned American visual artist Favianna Rodriguez's new exhibit. "Transformation/Agitation" explores contemporary social culture through bold, colourful prints and vivid subjects. Rodriguez will appear before the reception for a short talk (1277 Bloor Street West, 3:30–6 p.m., FREE). Later, head down to the Blue Moon Pub for Mayworks' opening night festivities, featuring performances from more than ten spoken word performers, musicians, and artists (725 Queen Street East, 8 p.m., $10 regular/$5 students and seniors).

HERITAGE: Heritage Toronto will celebrate the first of their free historic walking tours with a (what else?) Toronto's 175th anniversary-themed event. Today's special self-guided tour is called "1834 Toronto: Beating the Bounds" and aims to take its participants on a modern pilgrimage of sorts around the boundaries of our city, 1834-style. Co-presented by Spacing. For inquiring minds, the walk is a bit less than ten kilometres and is estimated to take at least four hours. North end of Market Lane Park (157 King Street East), pick up a map anytime between 1 and 2:30 p.m., FREE.

TRANSIT: A reminder that High Speed Rail Canada will be hosting a public symposium this afternoon. Speakers include Joe Volpe, Greg Gormick from Railway Age, and Dean Del Mastro. Bahen Centre for Information Technology at the University of Toronto (Room 1130), 1 p.m., $10 (register in advance online).