Results tagged “lectures”

Richard Dawkins came to town this week, and boy were his fans excited. Dawkins, if you are unfamiliar with his work, is an evolutionary biologist and science writer by turns renowned and reviled for his sustained arguments against creationism and against the existence of God. His latest book, The Greatest Show on Earth: The Evidence for Evolution, takes on the task of explaining, in terms accessible to the layperson, just what makes evolution such a compelling explanation of biological diversity.

No victors were declared last night in the ongoing struggle between the street and the man, between high and popular culture, between the alleyway and the gallery. In a panel discussion on the evolving nature of street art, the only consensus was that more conversations—open-ended, open-minded, open-hearted—are required.

David Miller is breaking the hearts of Toronto’s progressives. He genuinely appears to care as they do and to want what they do, yet at every turn he seems to let the measures they hope for slip between his fingers. This frustration was evident last night as Miller drew lukewarm reactions from a thousand person–strong crowd at Convocation Hall, there to attend a public lecture on the state of progressive urban politics.

"Socrates was a shit-disturber and Darwin was a super-nerd," says Peter Stevens, working on his "shortlist" of philosophers (and philosophies) to include in his "All the Philosophy" lecture this Thursday. Even if Hegel isn't your homeboy, Stevens claims he can help you find that certain someone—that certain "old, bearded, white dude"—who'll knock your proverbial socks off.

LECTURE: Still have celebratory (or sorrowful) election bubbly coursing through your veins? President of the White House News Photographers Association Dennis Brack will discuss his experiences as a political photographer, having snapped every president since Lyndon B. Johnson to the present day. He's also had a photo in every issue of Time Magazine for the past twenty-two years straight, so go stuff that in your pipe and smoke it, Flickr. Check him out at the thirty-third annual Ryerson Kodak Lecture Series, tonight. Ted Rogers School of Management (575 Bay Street), 7:30 p.m., FREE.

MUSIC: Lambchop frontman Kurt Wagner will make a rare solo appearance tonight: the Nashville alternative-country singer is playing at the Drake Underground. The Drake Hotel (1150 Queen Street West), 8 p.m., $15.

ART: "Off Camera" is an exhibition at the new Filmport Studios, featuring more than 200 works from 50 artists currently working in the Toronto film industry. The reception tonight will include musical performances and a silent auction, and did we mention you get to go inside Filmport Studios? Filmport Studios (Studio 7, 225 Commissioners Street), 6 p.m.–1 a.m., FREE.

MUSIC: Tonight's No Shame music showcase is over at the Silver Dollar Room, and will serve as a Pop Montréal preview for those lucky enough to attend the festival this weekend (and presumably as some sort of compensation for those who are not). Toronto favourite the Rural Alberta Advantage will be playing, along with the similarly indie pop groups Hooded Fang and Mt. Royal. The Silver Dollar Room (486 Spadina Avenue), 9 p.m., $7.

Photo by mama loo from the Torontoist Flickr Pool.

LECTURE: Dr. Marianne Sommer of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology is giving a lecture called "Popular Primates: A Time-Travel Through National Geographic." The talk is a reflection on the history of National Geographic, and how public interest in primates has been shaped since the publication's inception in 1888. Hosted by broadcaster Erika Ritter. OISE (252 Bloor Street West), 6 p.m., $20.

READING: Before his band's show tonight at the Music Gallery, Drew Daniel of electronic duo Matmos will be reading from his tribute to Throbbing Gristle's album 20 Jazz Funk Greats (as part of the 33 1/3 book series). This Ain't the Rosedale Library (86 Nassau Street), 1 p.m., FREE.

Early last Saturday evening, about 60 people were sprawled on leather couches inside Parkdale’s Wrongbar listening to Florida-raised, Philly-based DJ/producer Diplo crack jokes about the cost of living in his home base. Apparently Philly is the place to be, in terms of both economic survival (he only pays $300 per month in rent!) and toughening your musical chops.