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Weekend Planner: November 27–28, 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].
This weekend marks the first ever Winter Woofstock—and we can never resist an opportunity to post photos of dogs dressed in ridiculous outfits. Photo by Miles Storey/Torontoist.
This weekend in Toronto: a festive forum for dog lovers, a temporary walk-in closet, the official lighting of Toronto’s tree, a brainy comedy fundraiser, a hip-hop funeral, and the Paprika Festival turns ten years old.
DOGS: Apparently one day a year celebrating man’s best friend isn’t enough—the annual tribute to all things canine has spawned a seasonal incarnation with Winter Woofstock. Following last week’s prelude parade, the exhibition will feature over one hundred vendors offering up everything on your pet’s Christmas wish list. In addition to a canine consumer carnival, attendees (and their owners) can enjoy costume contests, trick performances, and something called the “Running of the Pugs.” If the onslaught of adorable isn’t enough to draw you out, how about some hilarity? Several local comics will be on hand to host and judge the events, including Canadian Comedy Award-winner Nathan Macintosh, radio announcer Richard Ryder, and members of The Sketchersons and The National Theatre of the World. Direct Energy Centre (100 Princes’ Boulevard), Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m.–7 p.m., $10.
FASHION: Textstyles.ca and Holiday Pop-Up Closet, a temporary shop stocked with hand-selected items and limited-addition accessories for all of your stocking stuffing needs. All proceeds will go towards the Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital. Chasse Gardee (1084 Queen Street West), Saturday 11 a.m.–7 p.m., Sunday 12–6 p.m., FREE.
LIGHTSHOW: December is upon us and it’s time to get the holiday season officially started—even if we’ve been seeing decorations and hearing carols since early fall. Saturday will see the lighting of Toronto’s official Christmas tree at the Cavalcade of Lights, yet another city event brought to you by Scotiabank. The festivities will also include performances by Shawn Desman, Divine Brown, and Sarah Slean, as well as a fireworks display at 8 p.m. and an ice skating party. Nathan Phillips Square (100 Queen Street West), Saturday 7 p.m., FREE.
COMEDY: It doesn’t take a genius to appreciate good comedy, but a brain certainly helps—which is why founder Amanda Terfloth established an annual comedy fundraiser for neurological rehabilitation. Now in its fourth year, Brainsgiving will showcase a cross-section of Toronto’s top talent, including Pardis Parker, Sara Hennessey, Chelsea Manders, and Pat Thornton, fresh off his recent twenty-four hour marathon challenge. All proceeds from the door and raffle will go directly to the Neuro Rehabilitation Program at Toronto Rehab. Eton House (710 Danforth Avenue), Saturday 9 p.m., $20.
MUSIC: Local hip-hop sensation D-Sisive hit a career road bump last year when a cease and desist order curtailed the release of his highly acclaimed Let the Children Die album. Since then he’s released two popular albums—Jonestown, and this year’s Vaudville—and is now ready to put the whole sticky situation behind him with a funeral for the troubled record with one last live, unrecorded performance. D-Sisive will be backed by a ten piece band as he performs the entirety of the album, which he’s offered up as a free download here. Horseshoe Tavern (370 Queen Street West), Saturday 9 p.m., $12.
THEATRE: The Paprika Festival has been a showcase of emerging young artists in Toronto for ten years now, providing a forum for talented artists under twenty-one. The festival is celebrating its tenth anniversary by performing works by festival alumni from the past decade, including Jonathan Blankenstein, Daniel Karasik, and Playwright-in-Residence Rosamund Small. Among the lineup of all-star performers revisiting the festival are local community leaders Susan Coyne and Judith Thompson. Come out and join the Paprika team, as well as the theatre community, in reflecting on how hot a decade can be. Tarragon Theatre (30 Bridgeman Avenue), Sunday 7 p.m., $20.