Urban Planner: August 2, 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 by Mike Baird, suggested by the Toronto Public Space Committee.

ART: The Toronto Public Space Committee’s brilliant Art Attack! spends the day at the beach. The organization hosts a sandcastle-building day, open to anyone who shows up with a shovel and some imagination. Actually, the shovel is optional. They did send a long list of other suggested items, but it included “cute dogs,” “palm trees,” and “your engineering friend with extensive structural knowledge,” so we'll leave it to you to use your best judgement. Ashbridges Bay Beach, south of Greenwood bathing station, 4 p.m., FREE. (rain day scheduled for August 9).

WORDS: Caribana venues continue to be all mixed up this weekend, with the museum hosting an art exhibit, the Toronto Island’s De Caribana Lime happening at Ontario Place and the AGO hosting a dub poetry performance. Poet, actor, and playwright d’bi young anitafrika performs her celebrated way with words in Walker Court this afternoon. Art Gallery of Ontario (317 Dundas Street West), 2 p.m., FREE with admission ($18 adults, $10 students).

MUSIC: The fabulous Footprints DJs mix it up with Brooklyn’s DJ Spinna at Sunnyside Pavillion. Watch the holiday weekend sunset at the beach while dancing to the solid grooves of classic funk, soul, and hip hop. Stay until the wee hours because this one’s going late. Sunnyside Pavillion (1755 Lake Shore Boulevard West), 7 p.m.–3 a.m., $20.

FESTIVAL: We bet you thought everyting was about de islands, mon, but it’s time to talk Turkey. Tucked into Yonge-Dundas Square all weekend is the fourth annual Toronto Turkish Festival, including the first ever performance in Toronto by Mehter (also known as the Ottoman Military Band). Crafts and food have their place, too—imagine how well a wonderful cup of Turkish coffee will go with a piece of real baklava. Yonge-Dundas Square (1 Dundas Street East), 10 a.m.–10 p.m., FREE.