With its burgeoning independent music scene, it made sense that Toronto took part in the annual Record Store Day which was celebrated across North America last Saturday. The eight-hour long event showcased a diverse array of local artists ranging from blues rock to straight-up country.

Held at Sunrise Records' 336 Yonge St. branch, Toronto's Record Store Day consisted of unplugged performances from Illscarlett, Neverending White Lights, The Sunparlour Players, Machete Avenue, Laura Barrett, The Joys, The Rizdales, Derek Miller and The Creepshow. There were a number of kids who camped out in the store from lunch just so that they could get a good glimpse of Illscarlett come dinnertime. Talk about dedication.

If you find yourself stuck at home in front of the boob tube on a Monday night, there's a more engaging alternative than watching has-beens battle it out on the dancefloor.

4Real, a television series conceptualized by Canadians and lifelong friends Sol Guy and Josh Thome premiered on MTV last Monday at 8pm, simultaneously throwing a party at the Supermarket in Kensington. The Supermarket was packed with a virtual who's who of Toronto's media and hip-hop scene.

No, this isn't another mindless MTV reality show but rather eight independently-produced documentaries featuring the plight of young leaders from around the world. And yes, there are celebrities too (Cameron Diaz, Joaquin Phoenix, M.I.A., K'Naan), but the publicity they've been generating for the project is more for social awareness than, say, when their next movie or album is dropping.

Good news for fellow animal lovers living north of downtown: we don't need to trek all the way down to Queen and River to adopt a feline or canine companion. The Toronto Humane Society officially opened a new satellite location at the Van Horne Plaza on Victoria Park and Van Horne (a few blocks north of Sheppard Ave.) last Tuesday. The Victoria Park branch houses mostly cats but there are dogs, rabbits, rats, birds and guinea pigs as well.

The branch has been operational for a couple of weeks now. As of press time, the THS has had 39 adoptions and counting, including 30 cats, six dogs, two rats and one rabbit. While I was there, a few people were filling out forms to adopt "forever friends" like Weasley, a 10-year old orange tabby.