Photo: "The Gate" by carri ampris, member of the blogTO Flickr pool.

Events on Toronto's Radar for SATURDAY AUGUST 22 and SUNDAY AUGUST 23, 2009... lovingly handpicked from blogTO's events calendar.

Saturday, August 22

FUNDRAISER | Athletes for Africa
There are a couple of great concerts happening this weekend but if you want to see some of the most influential musicians of the past decade or so you're going to have to grab your sunscreen and head down to Cherry Beach. Some famous people including Rivers Cuomo of Weezer and Brendan Canning of Broken Social Scene are strapping on their shinguards to play a charity 5 on 5 soccer game to benefit a youth and cultural centre in Uganda. Also playing are the guys from Great Big Sea, Bedouin Soundclash, and Rick "the Temp" Campanelli.
Cherry Beach, 275 Unwin Ave., Free, 8 pm

FESTIVAL | Toronto Chinatown Festival 2009
Toronto's Chinatown has been around since the late 19th Century so you have to wonder why they've only been having their own festival for the past nine years. Maybe because it'd be hard to pack anymore people into the Spadina and Dundas intersection than are normally there on any given day. This weekend the streets are shut down for a celebration of all things Chinese including a kung fu show, dance performances, food samples and interactive games.
Chinatown, Spadina and Dundas, Free, 12 pm-8pm

PARTIES | Razor's White Party
Razor Suleman is fearlessly defying one of fashion's cardinal rules by throwing an all-white party before Labour Day. The $40 ticket (which you can purchase from a link on their Facebook page) gets you all the white beverages you can drink, including something called a Vodka Ice Slide. All white dress code will be enforced.
Nyood, 1096 Queen St. W, $40, 10 pm

FESTIVAL | Festival of South Asia
All this weekend the tastes and sounds of South Asia are lighting up the eastern part of the city. Dance and music showcasing Indian, Bangladeshi, Pakistani, and Sri Lankan cultures will provide the onstage entertainment, but offstage visitors can sample delicious foods from local restaurants, or try a new beer from one of Asia's finest breweries in the beer garden. The Gerrard Indian Bazaar is the largest of its kind in North America, and will feature the latest in Asian fashions.
Saturday and Sunday 2pm-11pm, Gerrard St. East between Greenwood and Coxwell, Free

FILM | Super 8 and 8 MM Film Night
Vintage film lovers should enjoy this celebration of small gauge cinema magic. A modest $5 cover will get you 3 hours of movies including retro comedies, classic cinema, original home movies and golden age cartoons. Also on the bill are new works on old film by some local film makers. Grab some popcorn, pizza and pop and enjoy the random and classic scenes that only 8mm can bring you.
David's Eatery, 544 Yonge St., $5, 6 pm

MUSIC | Punk Aid 5 for Sick Kids Hospital
Toronto's premiere punk talent hits the stage tonight in a seven-band blitz to raise money for the Hospital for Sick Children. The fifth edition of Punk Aid features the Groopies, BS101, Metal Eddies, Caution Inc. and the Skullians, and should make for a sweaty fun time in the shoebox that is upstairs at Sneaky Dee's.
Sneaky Dee's, 431 College St., $10, 8 pm

Sunday August 23, 2009

COMMUNITY | PS Baldwin Village
The Pedestrian Sundays concept that has worked so well for Kensington Market moves East for PS Baldwin this weekend. Baldwin Street is well-known for its restaurants, with Thai, French, Japanese, Indian, and Mexican joints packed side by side on one little street, but despite being in the heart of downtown it's often overlooked in favour of Toronto's trendier neighbourhoods. This Sunday the street will be blocked off for celebrations of dance, food, art, music, and the street's diverse history.
Baldwin St. between McCaul and Beverley, Free, 12 pm

MUSIC | West Queen West Musicfest
You'd expect a music festival in Trinity Bellwoods to be sponsored by some super-hipster outfit like Pabst Blue Ribbon Beer or Ronnie's House of Stupid Plastic Sunglasses. But no, Queen West's biggest music festival of the summer is being hosted by Sportsnet, which might explain why the bands are a little on the jock rock end of the music spectrum. There will be burgers, beer, and hopefully sunshine, and all proceeds go to the Toronto East General Hospital Foundation.
Trinity Bellwoods Park, Free, 1pm

FUNDRAISER | Meet & Greet with Right to Play Ambassador Adam van Koeverden
Fresh after winning a bronze medal at the world canoe and kayak championships in Nova Scotia last weekend, Canadian olympian Adam van Koeverden comes to Toronto to spread the word about Right to Play. Van Koeverden is an ambassador for the organization, which uses sport to develop the physical and mental wellbeing of children in some of the world's most disadvantaged areas. He'll be signing Right to Play merchandise and they'll be a demonstration of soccer trickery by Madskillz group.
Lileo, 55 Mill St., Free, 3:30

COMEDY | Laugh Sabbath 3 Year Anniversary Show
The Rivoli's Sunday night laugh-in celebrates its third year with a comic extravaganza featuring Levi MacDougall, Katie Crown, Brian Barlow, Chris Lock, Nick Flanaggan and more. Hosted by the Flirts, the show will also feature special musical guests Greg Alsop and David Monks from smash hit indie band Tokyo Police Club, for some reason. Round out your weekend with a good dose of hilarity.
The Rivoli, 332 Queen St. W., $5, 8:30 pm

FILM | The Matter of Everything
Science and philosophy collide in this feature documentary that takes the interconnectedness of all matter as its subject. Filmed in part at the Fermilab particle accelerator in Wisconsin, Canadian film makers Enrico Lappano and Olga Antzoulatos explore the origins of the universe to show how humans are made out of the same material as shooting stars, Saturn's rings and everything else out there, and what this should mean to you. Following the screening will be a chat with the film makers and particle physicist Scott Menary live via Skype from the European Organization for Nuclear Research in Geneva.
The Revue Cinema, 400 Roncesvalles Ave., $10, 4 pm

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