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Urban Planner: November 2, 2008
FESTIVALS: The Gardiner Museum has extended its hours this weekend in honour of the Mexican Day of the Dead festival in conjunction with the current exhibit (on until January 18). Hand-crafted Day of the Dead Altars have been built at the Gardiner to commemorate the festival. View the altars and take part in other activities today including hands-on craft workshops for families (2 p.m.); Mexican dancing (3 p.m.); a conversation between author Chloe Sayer and textile artists Crispina and Margarita Navarro Gomez, the sisters who built the altars (4 p.m.); music with Jorge Lopez; Day of the Dead films; and Day of the Dead bread and chocolate (5–11 p.m.). Gardiner Museum (111 Queen’s Park), 10 a.m.–11 p.m., $12.
ART: David Mirvish Books has published its second book ever, Tim Scott, in conjunction with a double exhibit of work by the British architect and sculptor. The two exhibits, “The 60s, When Colour Was Sculpture” at David Mirvish Warehouse at Pacart and “House of Clay: Recent Sculpture” at the Corkin Gallery, have a coordinated opening reception to encompass both exhibit locations. Buses will run between the two locations every half hour. David Mirvish Warehouse at Pacart (1410 Warden Ave, rear entrance) and Corkin Gallery (55 Mill Street, Bldg 61), 1–5 p.m., FREE.
CRAFTS: As if they had asked themselves what the ideal afternoon would entail, the organizers at Proudly Canadian Crafts have arranged a craft sale and spa day, culinarily accompanied by local food purveyors, Localvore. It would be impossible not to feel great at the end of the day, knowing you had supported local artists, growers, and businesses, had a massage, gotten some holiday shopping out of the way, and perhaps even won the grand prize of a spa party from Ambience Onsite Spa Services. Dufferin Street Rehearsal Hall (651 Dufferin Street), 11 a.m.–5 p.m., FREE.
BOOK FAIR: The 32nd annual Jewish Book Fair opened last night with a sold-out talk and continues today through to November 9. In addition to the large fair, the week-long event offers a full range of literary readings from local and International authors. The vast array of subjects reflects the many experiences and cultural references of the Jewish Diaspora. (Tickets for reading events vary from free to $36.) Leah Posluns Theatre (4588 Bathurst Street), 11 a.m.–4 p.m., FREE.
WRITING: National Novel Writing Month (known more familiarly as “NaNoWriMo”) officially kicked off yesterday, so if you haven’t started, consider this a friendly kick in the pants from Torontoist. There’s plenty of local support for Toronto participants. There are twenty-nine days left to write the requisite 50,000 words and thereby earn the right to declare yourself a winning novelist. Laptops everywhere, 24 hours-a-day, pay-what-you-can.
Photo by Antonio Tan courtesy of The Gardiner Museum.