If you are saddened by your procrastination that cost you Richard Hawley and Jose Gonzalez tickets this week, you can direct your attention to the eclectic choice of shows as a mild substitute. It does, however, appear as if local label Arts and Crafts have successfully cornered the market on this week's moderately sized shows (read: tickets that cost no more than $35). Tuesday you can catch Jason Collett with a surprise guest at the......

"Do you trust your friends? Would you let them redecorate your apartment, or do your homework for you? Would you let them buy your groceries? Would you leave them in charge of your kids? And if you did, what would they change?" So reads the beginning of the liner notes from Do You Trust Your Friends?, the album of remixes and reimaginings of songs from Stars' Set Yourself On Fire, now out on Arts &......

Bunch Family is at it again. The family oriented group, who also run the Family Dance Party and Bunch Rocks events, bring the Bunch Family Salon to The Arts and Letters Club (14 Elm St.) this Saturday, February 24th, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. The event "is a symposium of art, music and ideas for kids and parents," keeping the Bunch tradition that family events should be designed with both the children and parents......

Two of our contributors, Shari Kasman and Jenelle Rupchand, are all about arts & crafts this weekend. In this roundup, Shari brings you some of the many weekend fairs going on, while Jenelle's stocking up on some fair trade goods. Baby Liam wants something soft and turquoise, Aunt Priscilla needs a lavender shawl, and Herman the co-worker would love a fashionable paperweight. With crowds galore and awful renditions of the top Xmas hits, the......

It's that time of the year--benefit concert season. There are a number of them coming up in the next few weeks, including The Holiday Jam (Sick Kids), Jason Collett & The Constantines (CARE Canada), and Bedouin Soundclash (Doctors Without Borders/War Child), so if you're in a giving mood, this may be a good way to do it while also catching some great music. Best bets for this week include Tenacious D tonight (love/hate...always entertaining),......

Contests! Glorious contests! Yet another one for all of you - this one's for two pairs of tickets to see The Constantines with Lullabye Arkestra and Shotgun & Jaybird at Lee's Palace on Friday December 1, 2006. The show's 19+, and tickets would normally put you out $17.50. To win, send an e-mail to contests@torontoist.com before midnight next Wednesday, November 29, and tell us three "The" bands that you think should exist (like, say,......

Everyone must be getting ready to hibernate for the winter...not as many shows this week and nothing of great interest announced recently. However, the live acts that are playing this week are pretty damn good, if we may say so. Royal Wood is at the Cameron House every Monday evening, and is the perfect choice if you're looking to chill out with a good friend and a glass of wine. Tuesday night, head to......

We're a little late with this week's music listing--blame the election! Er, okay, maybe someone just got immersed in learning a bit of Flash and let it slip. It won't happen again. If you're looking for some local flavour, you've got a few really good choices this week, including Melissa McClelland, Ohbijou, Elliott Brood, and the Great Lake Swimmers. All highly recommended, particularly Melissa--her voice is like honey. On the not-so-local side, Axl Rose......

Hoooo boy! Looks like somebody fed us way too much turkey this weekend. We've just come out of our tryptophan-induced comas and realized we lost an entire day. Not only do we have to deal with our tardiness, but also figure out what to do with that permanent dent in the couch. If you can manage to roll out of the house after stuffing your face all weekend, you can burn off some of......

For those of you who can't escape the city this Canada Day weekend, you could always head down to the lake where the Harbourfront is holding its Power of Place festival. It's a bit of a hodgepodge weekend with everything from Jason Collett, the Dears (pictured) and fireworks on Saturday night to the Refugee All Stars and blind musicians and Eye cover subjects Amadou and Mariam Sunday. The weekend's musical offerings wrap up with local......

The white blur playing drums in the middle goes by the name of Leslie Feist. The bright red smudge is New Buffalo (alias: Sally). On the other side is minor character Jason Collett, on guitar. Together they are the first of the two Danforth Music Hall Feist gigs. Sound totally unstoppable? Not quite: Too many sing-a-longs, an oppressive venue (no food or coffee sales, way expensive drinks and no ins-and-outs), and a tired Torontoist......

-Another day, another Governor General. But this one has great hair. And 'interior fire.' -Another day, another extreme heat alert. Which brings our total to seventeen. -Another day, another collective band of creative Montrealers. -Another day, another diary entry from collective bandmember Jason Collett. -Another day, another random Canadian statistic. Did you, dear Torontoist reader, know that 8% of Canadians drink rum? -Another day, another new online design mag. -Another day, another amusing photo, via......

This weekend, TOist headed eastbound for brunch at Bonjour Brioche, a French-style eatery that’s a favourite with the Queen East crowd.  With its lovely French-inspired décor, great atmosphere and delicious food, it’s well worth the wait to get in – there’s usually a lineup on weekends, but  spring is (hopefully) just around the corner, which means Bonjour’s roomy side patio will open soon.   There are too many items on the menu worth raving about......