PARTY: Toronto celebrates the banner year of one hundred and seventy-five with a plethora of fun both inside and outside City Hall. Highlights include the Lit City activities (see below); "360-extended," a huge interactive project of personal Toronto stories; and Toronto's emergency personnel performing virile demonstrations such as rappelling and "auto extrication" (and if that isn't a euphemism, we don't know what is). Our favourite event by far is the pair of improvisations curated by R.H. Thomson: Eric Peterson (of Billy Bishop Goes to War fame) plays William Lyon McKenzie, first facing off with Toronto's first council as played by students (12:30–2:30 p.m.), then later debating politics with current mayor David Miller (6:30 p.m. and 7:15 p.m.). The day's festivities open and close with traditional First Nation ceremonies. Toronto City Hall and Nathan Phillips Square (100 Queen Street West), 12–9 p.m., FREE.

Newsstand: November 27, 2009