events
Weekend Planner: February 2–3, 2013
This weekend: grab your best mug for the Toronto Tea Festival, Toronto Roller Derby returns, find out where to spend your Superbowl Sunday, and more.
This weekend, Toronto Roller Derby returns. Photo by {a href=”http://www.flickr.com/photos/georgie_grrl/4657569605/in/pool-torontoist”}Georgie_grrl{/a} from the {a href=”http://www.flickr.com/groups/torontoist/”}Torontoist Flickr Pool{/a}.
TEA FESTIVAL: The Toronto Tea Festival features hundreds of tea samples, related products, exhibitors, and speakers. Also, look out for workshops like “The Myths of Chinese Tea Culture” and “Tea Mixology 101: Preparing Tea Cocktails.” Time to start brewing! Toronto Reference Library (789 Yonge Street), Saturday, 10 a.m.–5 p.m., FREE.
FILM: In case you’ve forgotten, Saturday is Groundhog Day. There’s no better way to celebrate than with a screening of the classic film of the same name. But wait, there’s more: following the film, there will also be a discussion on Buddhist themes of fate, karma, and reincarnation. Bloor Hot Docs Cinema (506 Bloor Street West), Saturday, 3:45 p.m., $11.
ROLLER DERBY: Fans of women on wheels will rejoice at the return of Toronto Roller Derby, which has announced its 2013 Home Season. The first game features the Bay Street Bruisers and CN Power against Killamazoo. Why spend hundreds on Leafs tickets when you’re definitely getting more bang for your buck here? The Bunker, Downsview Park (40 Carl Hall Road, Studio 3), Saturday, 5 p.m., $12 advance, $18 door.
COMEDY: Monkey Toast returns with another edition of its improvised talk show. This week’s guests: documentary filmmaker and Eyeborg (he lost an eye and put a video camera in it) Rob Spence, as well as Juno-nominated singer/songwriter Wendy Lands. Comedy Bar (945 Bloor Street West), Saturday, 8 p.m., $10.
MUSIC: If you’re in need of some serious ’90s girl group nostalgia, then look no further than Wannabe: The Spice Girls Tribute Band. This group of friends, who have been upping the ante with each of their performances (higher platforms, stronger accents), are celebrating one year as a cover band. They’re inviting “Kevin G.” (from Mean Girls) to host their birthday party. The Great Hall (1087 Queen Street West), Saturday, 10 p.m., $15 advance, $20 door.
SUPER BOWL: There are certainly no shortages of places showing the Super Bowl this Sunday (every bar in the city will likely be playing the big game), but you really can’t go wrong with Sound Academy’s event, which features the game on multiple big-screen TVs, as well as the chance to meet NFL players and cheerleaders. Sound Academy (11 Polson Street), Sunday, 4:30 p.m., $20.
SUPER BOWL: And if Sound Academy sounds too wild, there’s a more laid-back option: the Bloor Hot Docs Cinema (there will be beer, snacks, and prizes). Bloor Hot Docs Cinema (506 Bloor Street West), Sunday, 5:30 p.m., FREE.
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].