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Urban Planner: July 29, 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].
Montreal rockers The Stills play the Horseshoe tonight. Photo by Richmond Lam, courtesy of Arts&Crafts.
Tonight, the Craft Beer Festival and Summer BBQ stays cool, photographer Christina Leslie challenges the legacy of blackface, Carl Hiaasen discusses his own private Florida, and The Stills perform and steer clear of pigeon poop at the Horseshoe.
DRINK: What is summer without ice cold beer and smoky barbecue? As the season reaches its midpoint, Hart House holds a bash to celebrate the lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer. The third annual Craft Beer Festival and Summer BBQ will take place tonight in the majestic Hart House quad, featuring some of Ontario’s finest craft beers, ales, lagers, and pilsners from over a dozen participating breweries. Hart House chef Marco Tucci complements the beer with good old-fashioned barbecue cuisine, including pulled-pork sandwiches, ribs, jerk tofu, corn on the cob, and coleslaw. Hart House (7 Hart House Circle); 7 p.m.; $35/regular, $25/students (plus tax—ticket prices include eight beer samples and food).
PHOTOGRAPHY: Originating in the 1830s, blackface minstrel shows became one of the United States’ most popular forms of entertainment in the nineteenth century. The shows, which stayed in vogue as late as the 1920s, created a number of racist stereotypes left over from the days of slavery and Reconstruction. In her new exhibit, (Missed) Perceived, photographer Christina Leslie confronts this tradition that continues to perpetuate bigotry. Leslie has created a satirical, modern-day blackface minstrel show using subjects of various races, cultures, and backgrounds to challenge the stereotypes associated with this particular tradition. The exhibit opens tonight and runs until August 22. The Gladstone Hotel (1214 Queen Street West), 7 p.m., FREE.
WORDS: Novelist and journalist Carl Hiaasen has certainly carved a niche for himself. His writing embodies Florida and its culture; it’s easy to picture aging retirees, complete with visors and fanny packs, lounging on their verandas, reading his novels. Hiaasen writes satirical mysteries that often focus on issues like greedy developers profiteering off Florida’s ecosystem—concerns that are frequently voiced in Hiaasen’s notorious weekly column in The Miami Herald. Tonight, the opinionated writer discusses his newest book, Star Island, with Canadian humourist-turned-mystery-novelist Linwood Barclay. A Q&A, signing, and book sale will follow the discussion. Toronto Reference Library (789 Yonge Street), 7 p.m., FREE.
MUSIC: Last Friday, Kings of Leon aborted their St. Louis show after being showered in pigeon excrement. But you know who endured the shit-storm? Montreal indie rockers The Stills, who opened the show and kept playing, despite also getting splashed. Joined by Molly Rankin, The Stills play the Horseshoe tonight, where we’re sure they’ll show the same resilience and tireless commitment to their craft. It’s been a good year for the Juno-winning quintet—in April, original vocalist and lead guitarist Greg Paquet rejoined the band after a five-year absence. The Horseshoe Tavern (368 Queen Street West), doors 8:30 p.m., $20.