Few things are better suited to the sleepy, sun-soaked air of summer than acoustic folk-pop songs about girls and nature. Toronto singer-songwriter Nick Rose sure knows how to nurture the big ol' sentimental sap that lurks inside all (okay, most) of us, and Oxbow Lake—released independently and available for purchase through Indiepool—is a sweetly sung and gently played testament to simplicity and wistful reflection. How seasonally appropriate.

While we think it's really sleazy to force customers to pay extra for a connection they're already paying for, we have to admit that Rogers surprised us when they enabled the tethering option of the iPhone at no extra charge this month (tethering allows you to basically use your mobile device as a modem when not connected to your usual service). Could this be a sign of a kinder, gentler Rogers-slash-Fido?

Three weeks, more than forty productions, four venues. Those were the stats for the first Fringe of Toronto Theatre Festival, which marks its twentieth anniversary this year. Among the titles first-year audiences sampled: Blood Everywhere (You Should've Seen It), God is Dead as a Doorknob, Hurtin' and Hootin', and Siamese Twins Joined at the Smile.

WHERE: Dundas Street at Ossington.

Phil Pick does not enjoy being called a villain. Wait, which Toronto publication was it that described him that way, again? Oh, right. It was us.

If you’re looking for Canadian content in non-permanent gallery collections this summer, you’re going to have to think outside the AGO—and the ROM, and just about everywhere else in Toronto for that matter. In fact, you’re probably going to have to visit Kleinburg, Ontario (yeah, we know: that's way north of Bloor) to witness Ian M. Thom’s latest guest-curatorial effort for the McMichael Canadian Art Collection. And trust us—it’s worth it.

High Park, Trinity Bellwoods on city list of possible trash sites (National Post): "High Park, Cummer Park, Trinity Bellwoods and virtually every other Toronto park could turn into garbage drop-offs if a week-old strike by civic workers drags on indefinitely, according to a list of possible temporary trash collection points obtained today by Global News." [Previous coverage on Torontoist: A City Within a Garbage Dump.]

THEATRE: To celebrate Multiculturalism Day (which just passed on June 27) and the launch of a new theatre project, High Rise: 19 stories in 19 storeys (set in Jamestown/Rexdale), the good people at Expect Theatre are throwing a launch party for this ambitious three-year project. Nineteen youth who live in the area were given video cameras with which to record the community they live in, capturing the hardships and the triumphs that people in this diverse community experience. This raw material will provide the base for the project. At the launch there will be performance by award-winning artist d'bi young, a chance to share your story with film director Joel Gordon, and community members can have their picture taken by photographer Steve Carty. The Jamestown and Rexdale areas of Toronto are among the most ethnically diverse areas in the city, many of the residents being immigrants living in public housing. This theatre piece will combine several different media to produce a show in 2011, with a workshop starting next year. Albion Library (1515 Albion Road), 5–7 p.m., FREE.

The passing of the King of Pop last Thursday inspired different reactions. Tweeting about it and frantically downloading his discography were two popular ones. In Toronto, rather than mourn, people celebrated his legacy by moonwalking all over Yonge-Dundas Square. And we suspect a slew of tribute shows are already in the works. Torontoist got in touch with some well-known local fans who were eager to share their tales of MJ worship with us.

WHERE: Queen Street West and Bathurst Street.

Overheard by reader Allison Prole at the bus stop at Rockcliffe Boulevard and Alliance Avenue last Friday at 2:45 p.m.

                     

In addition to being in the Pride Parade on Sunday (it's okay to be jealous), Torontoist also lingered in the crowds. Our Nick Kozak arrived towards the end of the parade and wandered the closed-off streets, snapping photos as he went of Pride partiers—some more extravagantly dressed, and some just more dressed, than others—and a dissenter or two, too.

Each week, Torontoist examines the upcoming TV listings and makes note of programs that are entertaining, informative, and of quality. Or, alternately, none of those. The result: Televisualist.