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Urban Planner: July 23, 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].
Sundance award–winning documentary Gasland asks the important questions, like “Should my tap water light on fire that easily, and is natural oil drilling the cause?” Photo courtesy of Mongrel Media.
In today’s Urban Planner, the Royal Cinema screens Sundance and Hot Doc sensation Gasland, Wavelength Music Arts Projects and No Shame collaborate on a pre–Pop Montreal showcase, Caribana tries to make up this year’s funding shortfall with a ritzy shindig at the Liberty Grand, and The Polecats break out the gong for a worst act showcase at Comedy Bar.
PARTY: Caribana continues to get no love (well, not enough of it, anyway) from the federal government, so in order to generate some funds for the cash-strapped yet phenomenally popular festival, tonight’s swanky Scotiabank Caribana Gala will feature live R&B and jazz, exotic cocktails, and revelers dressed to the nines. Liberty Grand (Exhibition Place, 25 British Columbia Road), 7 p.m.–1 a.m., $40–$160.
FILM: Winner of the Sundance Festival Special Jury prize and a favourite at the recent Hot Docs festival, Gasland is the work of first-time filmmaker Josh Fox, a Pennsylvania landowner who became suspicious of an oil company that attempted to purchase drilling rights on his family’s land without informing him of the devastating environmental effects. It turns out that the process of mining natural gas with hydraulic fracturing (called “fracking,” a term familiar to Battlestar Galatica fans) can result in consequences like flammable well water and the slow poisoning of people and animals. Royal Cinema (608 College Street), 7 and 9 p.m., $10 general admission, $8 students and seniors.
MUSIC: Wavelength Music Arts Projects and No Shame have teamed up as Shamewave to produce a showcase of bands slated to perform at Pop Montreal at the end of the summer. Their stellar line-up includes Colleen and Paul, Braids, Shapes and Sizes, and Nick Storring; since it’s a Wavelength show, the bands will be accompanied by General Chaos Visuals. The Garrison (1197 Dundas Street West), doors at 9 p.m., $8 advance, $10 at the door.
COMEDY: The first edition of Gong The Show, produced by alumni of sketch troupe The Polecats, brought out a cross-dressing Batman, an “internet cowboy,” some sad sack comedy from Mark Andrada, and winner Jon Blair’s Apple Jerks sketch. Show up tonight to see what repeat offenders Andrada and Blair, plus new contestants Pat Thornton, Sarah Hillier, and more, are willing to do to get gonged faster and more often. Comedy Bar (945 Bloor Street West), 10:30 p.m., $5.