The name “Mesopotamia” derives from a Greek term meaning “land between the rivers.” The Royal Ontario Museum’s latest major exhibit, which opens on June 22, takes this literally, as visitors flow between painted representations of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers on the floor.

Presented by the British Museum and rounded out with pieces from institutions in Chicago, Detroit, and Philadelphia, Mesopotamia: Inventing Our World covers 3,000 years of human development in the cradle of urban civilization. Most of the 170 artifacts on display have never been shown in Canada.

There are a lot of chefs in the kitchen for the Canadian premiere of Sarah Ruhl’s Passion Play, a triptych set in three time periods that tells the stories of amateur actors (played by real actors) involved in staging performances of the story of Christ. Three different Toronto independent theatre companies, all with reputations for innovative staging and creation in their past work, each tackle one of the three acts. Ordinarily, such a complicated arrangement would be to a show’s detriment, but not in this case. While you need to be prepared for a marathon of theatre (the show runs four hours, incluing two intermissions), you’re certainly going to get your money’s worth.

“A cross between Woodstock and the Algonquin Round Table,” is what Michael Redhill called it. Dorothy Parker grinding out an electric cover of “The Star Spangled Banner”? Well, not quite. Rather, Redhill, the literary curator for Luminato 2013, was describing A Literary Picnic, the annual festival’s celebration of storytelling, creativity, and the written word.

The 2013 Toronto Jazz Festival descends on the city this Friday with a huge “free for all” event. That means all of Friday’s programming at every Jazz Festival venue is, yes, completely free of charge. There will be concerts from local favourites Molly Johnson and Mary Margaret O’Hara, plus a show by Smokey Robinson and Martha Reeves, who will be launching the fest from its epicentre, Nathan Phillips Square.

Here’s a rundown of some of the shows worth checking out on Friday—and during the rest of the festival, when you’ll actually have to pay.

Folks who are planning on having a swim in the pool at Scadding Court Community Centre over the next few days may find themselves a little disappointed. Those who want to go fishing, however, will probably be ecstatic.

For the rest of the week, the Community Centre will be holding its annual Gone Fishin’ event, meaning its indoor pool will be an indoor fish pond. The pool has been drained, dechlorinated, and refilled with 2,000 rainbow trout, to be caught by local children and families.

Comics Dave Merheje (Left) and Arthur Simeon co-headline at the St. Lawrence Centre tonight. Photo by Zaiden.

ICE CREAM RIDE: The Toronto Bicycling Network is organizing a leisurely cross-town ride along the Beltline trail this evening, with the end stop being The Taste of Little Italy festival (and more specifically, a treat from gelato hotspot La Paloma). Start from Riverdale Park (North of Bridgepoint Health Centre, Broadview & Langley avenues), 6:30 p.m. departure, FREE.

EXHIBITION: Provocative multidisciplinary artist Jessica Gorlicky, also known as JESSGO, opens a new exhibit tonight, “Human Nature.” It’s decidedly adult-oriented, with themes of “sensuality, sexuality, and overall human nature” depicted on canvas. The opening reception will have “drinks, appetizers, music, and entertainment.” Twist Gallery (1100 Queen Street West), 7 p.m.–11 p.m., FREE.

COMEDY: Funnymen Dave Merheje and Arthur Simeon‘s Legends in the Making tour has its homecoming finale tonight at the St. Lawrence Centre, as two of the most likeable stand-ups in the country return from an eight-city engagement. Merheje’s recently been nominated for a Canadian Comedy Award; Simeon was the first guest on former mayor David Miller’s new Occupy the Mic conversation series. The two together have great chemistry, so don’t be surprised if they deviate a little from standard solo sets. St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts, Jane Mallett Theatre (27 Front Street East), 8 p.m., $30.

NXNE: Forget compasses, GPS, or helpful Sherpas. From June 11 to 17, Torontoist is here to be your guide to everything NXNE. Tonight will be the busiest yet for music events, but it’s also a super busy night for comedy, including a late night set of Strip Comedy at The Monarch Tavern.

LUMINATO: Toronto’s multidisciplinary arts fest is celebrating its sixth installment this summer, and though the calendar feels a bit more sparse than previous years, there’s a lot of good stuff to check out. Here are some events that look especially promising.

Urban Planner is Torontoist‘s guide to what’s on in Toronto, published every weekday morning, and in a weekend edition Friday afternoons. 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.