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Weekend Planner: February 26–27, 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].
Whirling Dervish Ziya Azazi is one of the performers in the CanAsian Dance Festival lineup. Photo by Max Moser.
On the docket this weekend: some amazing dance from pan-Asian performers and choreographers, a festival for tots, a double-header roller derby, a dim sum dance party, an Oscar party at the Bloor, and a chance to have your say in building a new Toronto—on top of the current one.
DANCE: The CanAsian Dance Festival continues into this weekend, bringing together top Asian performers from across Canada and abroad for an intense evening of multicultural dance. Saturday’s performance features a collaboration between Toronto’s Tribal Crackling Wind and five young Khmer dancers from Cambodia, plus a new solo work by the company’s artistic director, Peter Chin. The evening also features North Indian kathak dance and music by Bageshree Vaze, and the premiere of Jeremy Mimnagh‘s new documentary on Phnom Penh, From Gentle Ashes. Fleck Dance Theatre (207 Queens Quay West), 8 p.m., $30.
FAMILY FRIENDLY: If you thought that all possible family-themed events in February were exhausted last weekend, you were incorrect! Make your way to Revival this weekend to witness the magic of TOTSAPALOOZA: Franklin’s Backyard Birthday Blitz Edition. Take in readings from Kevin Sylvester‘s new book, Splinters, music from Hooded Fang, The Monkey Bunch, Don Kerr Band, Bellwoods Trinity, Jazz for Juniors, books and fun from Ninja Cowboy Bear and Mabel’s Fables, arts, games, and crafts; proceeds will go to Right To Play Canada. Revival (783 College Street), Saturday 2–4 p.m., $8 kids, $12 adults.
DERBY: In a double-header-plus-afterparty day, the Deadly Viper Assassination Squad (the Toronto Derby League‘s farm team) faces Sudbury’s Nickel City Roller Derby, followed by all-star team CN Power versus Killamazoo Derby Darlins from Michigan. The official afterparty—a fundraiser to send Toronto Derby team Chicks Ahoy to Montreal for the Beast of the East tournament—is hosted at Hard Luck Bar, and will feature music by DJ Peter Project, along with wrestling, a raffle with sweet prizes, a bake sale, a punching booth, a kissing booth, a motorboat booth, and personalized haikus. Downsview Hangar, Unit 2 (75 Carl Hall Road), Saturday 5 p.m., $12.
MUSIC: DJs Pho (Bonjay), Lucy ‘Lo, and Mr. Mandelephant and Billionaire (both of Plugged Not Thugged) will play sets at a launch party for Ian Blurton‘s new album, Happy Endings, at Forestview Chinese Restaurant. Dim sum, cheap beer, house and bass, and sweaty, sweaty dancing: What more could one want? Forestview Restaurant (468 Dundas Street West), Saturday 10 p.m., $10.
AWARDS: Jonesing for some red carpet ogling, but lacking the cable needed to watch James Franco be ineffably charming as he hosts the 83rd Academy Awards? Then join the crowd at the Bloor Cinema to cheer and jeer your favourite picks of the year in cinema. Costumes aren’t mandatory, but everyone would surely love to see your Black Swan interpretation. Oh, and rumour has it the Lightbox will be doing their own screening as well. Bloor Cinema (506 Bloor Street West), Sunday 7 p.m., FREE with membership ($5).
FORUM: There’s plenty of good stuff going on this weekend at the Rhubarb Festival, including a bit of innovative science fiction from Small Wooden Shoe. The company have proposed that an entirely new Toronto be built above the current one, an Upper Toronto crafted to suit the needs of today’s population. As their first step towards this ambitious bit of urban planning (you know, the real kind), they will be holding a community consultation wherein Torontonians are invited to describe what they want in their new city. If we started with a blank slate, how would our ideal Toronto look? Buddies in Bad Times Theatre (12 Alexander Street), Sunday 7 p.m., PWYC.