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Urban Planner: November 13, 2009
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 [email protected].
Still from Prom Night In Mississippi. Courtesy of V. Kelly & Associates, Inc.FILM: It seems rather shocking that up until 2008, the senior prom at Charleston High School in Mississippi was racially segregated, despite classes and other school activities being integrated. It wasn’t until Morgan Freeman offered to foot the bill for the prom (for the second time, as he was denied the first time in 1997) that anyone in the town considered a racially integrated prom. Prom Night In Mississippi is a documentary by Toronto-based filmmaker Paul Saltzman that follows high school students, parents, and teachers as they navigate their way through senior prom preparations, highlighting the racism that is still evident in the community. All proceeds from tonight’s opening night benefit screening will benefit Moving Beyond Prejudice, an organization that will distribute Prom Night in Mississippi‘s educational DVD package to Canadian schools that cannot afford them. Morgan Freeman will be in attendance for tonight’s event, which will commence with a red carpet entrance, followed by an introduction by the filmmaker. Stick around after the screening for a Q&A session. Varsity Cinemas (55 Bloor Street West), 6:30–9:30 p.m., $100 (available online).
ART: It seems only appropriate to visit Gallery 1313 on Friday the 13th for its gallery fundraiser show entitled, “Is Your Love Supernatural?” The event, co-hosted by In My Bed Magazine, will feature performance readings, film, and a live webcast. Local author Jamie Ross will be in attendance to read his short story “Binaakwe Giizis,” which will be published in the next issue of In My Bed Magazine. He will be joined by other artists including Natasha Von Rosenschilde, Christina Winchur, and Kristel Jax for an exploration of sex, the paranormal, and the supernatural in the magazine’s seventh issue. Gallery 1313 (1313 Queen Street West), 7–11 p.m., $10 in advance ($15 at the door).
MUSIC: Local indie-folk rockers The Wooden Sky will be joined by Hooded Fang and Holy Fucker Brian Borcherdt at Lee’s Palace tonight for an evening of folksy rock mixed with country twang. Previously on tour with Polaris Short List nominee Elliott Brood, this is the Wooden Sky’s first headline show in Toronto since the release of their latest album, If I Don’t Come Home You’ll Know I’m Gone. Lee’s Palace (529 Bloor Street West), 10 p.m., $12 in advance ($15 at the door).
FORUM: A two-day public forum is being held at City Hall to discuss current prospects for nuclear disarmament. Zero Nuclear Weapons begins tonight and continues through tomorrow (10:00 a.m.–5:30 p.m), bringing together analysts from Canada and abroad for a discussion and debate. Tonight’s forum, entitled “We Are at a Turning Point,” will feature a welcome address by Mayor David Miller, followed by presentations and a Q&A session with Anthony Cary, British High Commissioner to Canada; Jonathan Schell, author and analyst of nuclear arms; and Tadatoshi Akiba, mayor of Hiroshima and president of Mayors for Peace. Council Chamber, Toronto City Hall (100 Queen Street West), 7–9:30 p.m., FREE.