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Weekend Planner: December 12–13, 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].
Do Make Say Think from their 2007 Canada Day Harbourfront show with Final Fantasy. Photo by KATE YANG NIKODYM.
MUSIC: Toronto’s Do Make Say Think celebrate the release of their sixth album Other Truths with a three-night stint at Harbourfront’s Enwave Theatre. The new album consists of only four songs, but all of them (with one exception) are over ten minutes long—probably thanks to the jazz and dub influences. Charles Spearin’s The Happiness Project (featured in Torontoist earlier this year) joins the band Saturday and Monday, while Years (Ohad Benchetrit) opens Sunday and Monday’s shows (And yes, that means all three bands play Monday). Enwave Theatre (231 Queens Quay West); Saturday 9 p.m., Sunday 8:30 p.m.; $18.
CRAFTS: The City of Craft 2009 giant craft explosion happens this weekend in and around the Theatre Centre. City of Craft regulars stake out a spot in the main venue for selling the cutest Christmas presents ever, but the really fun part of City of Craft is the installations. Crafty and sometimes interactive (“Crafteractive,” perhaps?) moments are tucked all around the Theatre Centre and in a number of venues along Queen Street including the Ontario Craft Council, the Knit Café, Royal Car Wash, and more. The fair also includes unspecified but undoubtedly plentiful workshops, and holds a delightful afternoon tea on Sunday. The Theatre Centre (1087 Queen Street West); Saturday 12–7 p.m., Sunday 12–5 p.m.; $2.
MUSIC: Another favourite Toronto band, The Constantines, is celebrating their tenth anniversary with a cross-Canada tour that wraps up this month in southern Ontario. The band plays a two-night stand at Lee’s Palace this weekend, beginning Friday (as mentioned in Torontoist this week). New Yorkers Oneida join The Constantines for Saturday’s show, with Toronto’s Metz opening. Lee’s Palace (529 Bloor Street West), Saturday 9:30 p.m., $25 ($20 in advance).
ART: Art Metropole presents Gifts By Artists 2009, a unique sale of artist-made artefacts, artist books, and more (on until December 24). The sale is highlighted by two Saturday parties (this week and next) during which the regular sale will be augmented by an artist gift-wrapping station—care of Cecilia Berkovic—and the presence of the CN Tower Liquidation Project (who take “cherished” objects from customers and repurpose them as, um, cubes). Art Metropole (788 King Street West, second floor), Saturday 11 a.m.–6 p.m., FREE.
WORDS: This weekend marks the holiday edition of the Small Press of Toronto Book Fair. Everything from books and ‘zines to chapbooks and comics are available for sale, brought to you by many of Toronto’s small press outfits. Readings will be held from start to finish, featuring novelists, poets, bloggers, and journalists. Want to take part next year? Look for workshops on how to become a self-published magnate, and talk to those selling their works at the show. Gladstone Hotel (1214 Queen Street West), Saturday 10 a.m.–5 p.m., FREE.
HISTORY: Ballet instructor Boris Volkoff had a huge impact on Canadian ballet in the first half of the twentieth century. He escaped from Russia in the twenties, eventually landing in Toronto to teach and choreograph the dancers at Loew’s Uptown Theatre. His own dance company represented Canada at the 1936 Berlin Olympics, and over the course of his professional life he was responsible for creating forty-five major ballets. Heritage Toronto presents a plaque in honour of the ballet master to be unveiled at the Toronto Library by Barbara McPhail, Margaret Henry, Lillian Mitchell, and Joyce Hisey. Toronto Reference Library, Elizabeth Beeton Auditorium (789 Yonge Street), Saturday 2 p.m., FREE.
FILM: Film Fort hosts an ambitious December screening of new animations and music videos from across Canada and the United States. Organizers are thrilled to be spotlighting California animator Vince Collins (you can make a drinking game out of his MySpace bio by chugging back every time he uses the word “goddam”). The screening also features a retrospective of Sally Cruikshank. House of Everlasting Super Joy (225 Sterling Avenue), Saturday 9:30 p.m., $5.
LECTURE: Danielle de Picciotto and Alexander Hacke present a series of their past works, including excerpts from On Tour with Neubauten.org and Mountains of Madness. The two artists were elemental in the revolutionary Berlin industrial music era of the ’80s and ’90s, and during their artists talk hope to create a dialogue with Toronto artists about what goes on here. Reservations are highly recommended. Goethe Institut (100 University Avenue, second floor), Saturday 4–6 p.m., FREE.
SWIMMING: If it’s not cold enough for you yet, how about a dip in the lake? The Wildlands League presents the Second Annual Polar Bear Swim in Lake Ontario, led by George Smitherman. Swimming is free, but sponsorship donations are encouraged. Proceeds go towards the Wildlands League. Sunnyside Pavilion (1755 Lakeshore Boulevard West), Sunday 10 a.m. (9:30 a.m. swimmer registration), FREE.