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Weekend Planner: February 13–14, 2010
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].
Candy Apple Girl by Wendy Ding, whose work will be featured at this weekend’s Erotic Arts and Crafts Fair. Image courtesy of Wendy Ding.
CRAFT: Remember when arts and crafts were limited to macaroni necklaces and papier-mâché sculptures at summer camp? Well, the industry has blossomed into adulthood. This weekend, the Erotic Arts and Crafts Fair returns to Toronto, offering a curated selection of the city’s finest handmade sexy goods by talented local knitters, crafters, zinesters, and more. The fair, sponsored by Come as You Are, is saucier than your average craft show—everything from erotic sock monkeys to fetish jewelry to DIY edible underwear will be available for purchase. Gladstone Hotel (1214 Queen Street West), Saturday 12–8 p.m., FREE.
CABARET: Wilkommen! German cabaret (or Kabarett) between the two World Wars epitomized both the smoky glamour and the social unrest of the Weimar Republic. It combines theatre, comedy, and song, but unlike traditional cabarets, its satire was politically bent. In honour of Valentine’s Day, two top-notch local burlesque performance groups—Skin Tight Outta Sight, the city’s longest-running troupe; and BoylesqueTO, Toronto’s only all-male burlesque company—will team up for a Weimar-style burlesque cabaret. Accompanied by the Alistair Christl Band, the show will include performances (and stripteases!) by herrs in lederhosen and flirty frauleins, as well as tantalizing torch songs from Terra Hazelton. Gladstone Hotel (1214 Queen Street West), Saturday and Sunday 9:30 p.m. (doors 9 p.m.), $25/advance; $30/door.
FILM: What is the most momentous film achievement of the past ten years? The Lord of the Rings trilogy? Nah. No Country For Old Men? No way. City of God? Old news. Without a doubt, the title goes to R. Kelly’s epic 2005 hip-hopera Trapped in the Closet, whose intricate plot and nuanced acting have made it an instant classic. Luckily for us, the Royal Cinema will be screening ALL TWENTY-TWO EPISODES of Kelly’s cinematic masterpiece on the big screen this weekend. This rare opportunity will be offered for one night only, and proceeds will go to a local AIDS charity (made possible by the American Federation of Musicians). The Royal Cinema (608 College Street), Saturday 9:30 p.m., $10.
KARAOKE: For every starry-eyed, smitten couple celebrating Valentine’s Day this weekend, there will be a dozen scorned and lonely singles cursing its very existence—and that’s part of the fun. So instead of sitting at home alone, watching the romantic comedy of your choice and weeping over a box of waxy chocolates that you bought for yourself, embrace your Valentine’s destiny and wallow in style. For the third year in a row, Worn Fashion Journal is hosting Heartbreak Karaoke for anyone whose heart has been shattered by a vixen or cad. Luckily, this is a licensed event, so you’ll be able to down some liquid courage before belting out the tunes of your choice. Teranga (159 Augusta Avenue), Sunday 9 p.m. (heartbreak starts at 9:01 p.m.), $7 ($5 if you wear red).
MUSIC: The Yanks have jazz, the Brits have rock ‘n’ roll, and we have folk music. The folk festival is undoubtedly one of our greatest musical legacies, fostering a tight-knit community and a distinctly Canadian sound that incorporates everything from Prairie country music to Maritime sea shanties. The annual Winterfolk Festival, running from today through Monday, features veterans like Sultans of String and Digging Roots, but perhaps more excitingly, it has also scoured the province and, through auditions, recruited new talents like the old-fashioned duo William and Polly, the rollicking Graydon James and Company, and roots-rockers Stringbone. Various venues: Dora Keogh (114 Danforth Avenue), Black Swan Tavern (154 Danforth Avenue), Mambo Lounge (120 Danforth Avenue), and Willow Restaurant (193 Danforth Avenue); tonight 7 p.m.–midnight, Saturday and Sunday 1 p.m.–1 a.m., Monday 1–6 p.m.; FREE.
PETS: This weekend is all about love, and there are no creatures on earth more beloved than pets. The Pet Fun Fest and Adopt a Pet-a-thon is a two-day extravaganza bringing together animal-welfare advocates, pet owners, and their furry companions. The festival offers pet education seminars, vendors, agility demonstrations, speed-dating sessions for animal-loving singles, over 2,400 square feet of off-leash play area for dogs, and an attempt to beat the Canadian record for the largest mass “stay,” with over two hundred dogs participating. In addition, the festival will include an enormous adopt-a-thon with dogs, cats, and more hoping to be adopted into loving homes. Studio 3, Downsview Park (40 Carl Hall Road), Saturday 10 a.m.–6 p.m.; Sunday 10 a.m.–5 p.m., $5/human; $2/dog; $15/family.