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Urban Planner: April 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].
The lovely Tatiana Parra evokes the sounds of Brazil in Braziliant! Photo by Dani Gurgel, courtesy of Fiona McCall Communications.
In today’s Urban Planner: Celebrate the opening day of the largest documentary film festival in North America, learn about the history of Toronto’s railways, befriend some budding artists, live vicariously through an artist’s travels, immerse yourself in the sounds of Brazil, and check out a dynamic dance duo.
FILM: The Hot Docs Film Festival starts today and runs until May 8. It’s the largest documentary film festival in North America, showing 200 films from over 40 countries, with docs ranging from light-hearted fare about Muppets to serious post-revolutionary commentaries. There’s bound to be some gems in this year’s lineup and the opening film will be Morgan Spurlock’s POM Wonderful Presents: The Greatest Movie Ever Sold, about a town that changes its name to draw attention to corporate sponsorship in America. You can read all of Torontoist‘s Hot Docs coverage here. Various locations and times, $5 (late-night ticket)–$190 (premium pass).
LECTURE: In conjunction with Heritage Toronto, Derek Boles of the Toronto Railway Historical Association and author of Toronto’s Railway Heritage, presents an Illustrated Lecture: How the Railways Shaped Toronto. It will feature rare images and brand-new animations detailing how the railways and the commercial trade changed the course of the city’s built form and geography. Third Floor, St. Lawrence Hall (157 King Street East), 7 p.m., FREE.
ART/FILM: Ryerson University’s School of Image Arts is hosting its annual graduate exhibition, called Maximum Exposure. The aptly named exhibit showcases the school’s photography, new media, and film artists in five separate venues beginning today and running until May 1. The Gladstone Hotel (1214 Queen Street West), Meta Gallery (124 Ossington Avenue), and Camera Bar (1026 Queen Street West) will be showcasing graduating and selected first- through third-year student photos, video, and short films, with free opening parties at 7 p.m. tonight at the Gladstone Hotel, Meta Gallery, and Camera Bar. Public installations will be set up in the space between the Gladstone and the Meta Gallery.
ART: Dan Abramovici presents Colours, Lights, Places: A Journey in Photographs, where his images take viewers along on his travels through mountain ranges and cities and transport systems in South America. To capture the spirit of the countries he visited, there will also be South American live music and food at the reception. El Almacen (1078 Queen Street West), opening reception 7 p.m., FREE.
MUSIC: Master guitarist Fabio Zanon, singer Tatiana Parra, and Soundstream’s Choir 21 evoke the sultry, jazzy, experimental sounds of Brazilian culture in Braziliant! It’s a night of choir, guitar, and vocals featuring classic works as well as a world premiere of song by Craig Galbraith. Koerner Hall (273 Bloor Street West), 8 p.m., $20–60.
DANCE: Mixed Repertoire is the third duet program from tiger princess dance projects featuring Robert Glumbek and Yvonne Ng, featuring four stand-alone works, three of which are world premieres. If their past shows are any indication, the audience is in for a treat: the duo has been hailed by critics as the “ying and yang of the dance stage.” The program runs until April 30. Enwave Theatre, Harbourfront Centre (235 Queens Quay West), 8 p.m., $33.50, students/seniors $22.50.