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Weekend Planner: January 8–9, 2011
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].
Kaitlyn Riordan, David Beazely, Sasha Cole, and Brendan McMurtry-Howlett play four hormonal Romantic Era literary icons in The Apology at Next Stage. Scandalous! Photo by Eduardo Trejos.
This weekend enjoy the best of the Fringe, the newest shows in comedy, some “experimental” music, a funeral for Stillepost (R.I.P.), a rally for Transit City, and a whole lot of pantless people on the TTC.
THEATRE: The Next Stage Festival is the winter branch of the Fringe, presenting eight of the most promising works from the country’s summer festivals with a bit of workshop love. The weekend lineup offers no shortage of options, ranging from four of the Romantic Era’s literary geniuses as runaway teen revolutionaries in The Apology to two doomed men in a lifeboat in Tom’s A-cold. Don’t forget to warm up with a hot toddy from the heated beer tent between shows! Factory Theatre (125 Bathurst Street), Saturday and Sunday at various times, $15 for evening shows, $12 for afternoon shows.
COMEDY: Saturday is your last chance to take advantage of Comedy Bar’s Festival of New Formats, featuring experimental new content from the city’s greatest comic minds—and all for free! See comics compete for the most brutal criticism in The Best Burn, or the self-professed “creepy” game show from sketch troupe Frenzy. Comedy Bar (945 Bloor Street West), Saturday every hour from 8 p.m., FREE.
MUSIC: Innovative Montreal pop-rock group The Jon Cohen Experimental are marking the first steps of a tour that will take them across Canada and the United States, and Toronto is one of the first stops. The genre-defying quartet—whose recent record release featured visual artists “live painting” the music as it was performed—will be joined by JF Robitaille and Empire Lights for their Toronto show, before continuing on their trek westward. Hard Luck Bar (812 Dundas Street West), Saturday 9 p.m., $8.
WORDS: Much to the chagrin of Toronto’s indie music scene, Stillepost is dead. The underground music community message board, which provided a forum for five years, decided to shut down in the face of waning membership and stacking bills. To show their respects mourners are invited to celebrate the life of Stillepost with a funeral—particularly an open casket, into which attendees are invited to contribute artifacts, print-outs, or other memorable items from the site’s history. Guest performances will include DJ Cyber-Rap, The 159 Manning Sacred Harp Choir, and Famou$ Players. The Garrison (1197 Dundas Street West), Saturday 9 p.m., FREE.
RALLY: Were you bowled over by the informative map released earlier this week by the Toronto Environment Alliance? Then you may want to check out the peaceful rally being organized to save Transit City on Sunday afternoon. Alternately, go here to sign the petition for the cause, or get an e-mail to city council here. Toronto City Hall (100 Queen Street West), Sunday 2 p.m., FREE.
FLASHMOB: Improv in Toronto is up to its usual mischief again with the No Pants! Subway Ride, based on an initiative originally coined by New York’s Improv Everywhere. The event will see leagues of flashmobbers doff their breeches mid-transit, no doubt to the surprise of their unsuspecting co-commuters. Straight face (and sense of exhibitionism) required. Meet at the horseman statue in Queen’s Park, Sunday 3 p.m., FREE.
