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Urban Planner: February 28, 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].
Sascha Cole (centre) plays the title character in Shakespeare in Action’s production of The Diary of Anne Frank. Photo by Joel Charlebois.
In today’s Urban Planner, watch chefs compete (using local ingredients) in a charity challenge for Stop For Food; take the morning off to see The Diary of Anne Frank; sketch troupe Panzer performs its last set; and Chicago’s The Smith Westerns ride into town, guns blazing.
THEATRE: Actress Sascha Cole impressed us mightily in multiple roles over the past year, at the Summerworks and Next Stage festivals. Now she’s working with Shakespeare in Action and a sterling cast of professional actors to bring an iconic figure to life in The Diary of Anne Frank. The company, which specializes in producing classical and historically important work for young audiences, is performing the show every morning until March 11, save for Sunday 2 p.m. matinees and a single evening performance on Tuesday, March 1. Central Commerce Theatre (570 Shaw Street), 10 a.m., $12–$15.
FOOD: The Stop community food centre is raising money for locally sourced food initiatives with a month-long campaign and promotion, Stop for Food. Over two dozen local restaurants will donate part of the month’s proceeds to the centre, to encourage local dining and cooking habits. Tonight, to kick off the campaign, There’s a Chef Challenge taking place at one of Parkdale’s hottest restaurants; chefs will be cooking under pressure and using locally sourced ingredients in an Iron Chef–style throwdown. Parts and Labour (1566 Queen Street West), 6:30 p.m., $25.
COMEDY: Panzer started out as a student improv team at Impatient Theatre Company, and eventually transitioned to sketch comedy. Tonight marks the troupe’s last live performance (in their current line-up anyway), with Hard Times at the Hard Luck. Besides the retiring sketch act, there’s also going to be stand-up from the Regulars and Emergency Bingo, Jeff Elliott, Marco Bernardi, and Hannah Hogan. Hard Luck Bar (812 Dundas Street West), 9 p.m., PWYC.
MUSIC: Chicago’s Smith Westerns (it sounds sorta like Smith & Wesson, right?) are touring on the strength of their new album Dye it Blonde and lead single Weekend, which has already earned them opening slots later this year with bands like Yeasayer and Wilco. They play the ‘Shoe tonight with opener Unknown Mortal Orchestra. Horseshoe Tavern (370 Queen Street West), 9:30 p.m., $10.