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Weekend Radar: October 10 + 11, 2009

Photo: Silver Monkeys by PJMixer, member of the blogTO Flickr Pool.

Events on Toronto's Radar for SATURDAY OCTOBER 10 and SUNDAY OCTOBER 11, 2009... lovingly handpicked from blogTO's events calendar.

Saturday,October 10:

MUSEUM | Ten Commandments at the ROM
Some of the most important words ever written will be on display for the next week at the ROM. Found in 1952, these Hebrew scrolls containing the earliest known written record of the Ten Commandments are rarely seen outside of the Middle East, and Torontonians will have but 80 hours to view them. We all know them by heart anyway, but it never hurts to brush up right? Part of the Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit that's currently ongoing at the Museum.
Royal Ontario Museum, 100 Queen's Park, $22, 10 am - 8:30 pm

THEATRE | Theatrefront presents The Mill
Theatrefront has chosen a very ambitious project for its latest series of plays: try to make Canadian pioneer history interesting. The Mill consists of four plays written by four different playwrights but starring the same ensemble cast, and tells the story of the town of Brody, a small fledgling settlement with some very dark secrets. The first and second instalments entitled Now We Are Brody and The Huron Bride play to their first weekend audience tonight, and will be followed by parts 3 and 4 in March.

PARTIES | Everyone's a DJ at Disgraceland
Disgraceland is a cleverly-named bar on Bloor Street adjacent to the burgeoning Ossington neighbourhood. Boasting a menu of delicious fried food including over a dozen varieties of french fries and the King's own favourite grilled cheese, it's a great place to spend a low-key Saturday night. Tonight 16 djs will be spinning tunes, taking turns doing 20 minute sets. It should make for an erratic but lively evening.
Disgraceland, 965 Bloor St. W., Free, 10 pm

COMMUNITY | Walk for Somalia
The plight of the East African country of Somalia should be near and dear to Torontonians. After all, there are over 50 000 Somalis in our city, and many of them have maintained ties with their native land, even returning there to serve on the shaky national government. Today Somalia is facing numerous threats to its survival, including homelessness, lack of drinking water, malnutrition, and war. A 5 km march in support of Somalis begins in Yonge-Dundas Square this afternoon, providing a chance for Canadians to donate money and show their support for the country.
Yonge-Dundas Square, Free, 1 pm

COMEDY | Troubadour
Toronto's musical comedic talent will vie for the title of Troubadour tonight in a show that was nominated for a 2008 Canadian Comedy Award for Best Comedic Play/Revue. Blending improv, song, and sketch, tonight's comedians are the cream of the city's crop, hailing from comedy troupes the Sketchersons, Girls Gone Funny, and Second City. It'll make your ear drums bleed, but in a funny way.
Comedy Bar, 945 Bloor St. W., $10, 9:30 pm

FILM | Strategies of the Medium III: In the Dark
Cinecycle screens another interesting film project tonight with In the Dark. Actually it's not so much a film as a "live cinematic performance." Filmmaker Alex Mackenzie will use a homemade hand-cranked projector to display images that explore long forgotten ideas of early cinema. Completely self-made in a home laboratory, the project is a testament to self-reliant film making. Presented by the Liaison of Independent Filmmakers of Toronto and supported by the Canada Council for the Arts.

MUSIC | Danny Michel at the Rivoli
Danny Michel is a boyish storyteller who exudes boundless positive energy whenever he's on stage. His music is an updated version of the intimate folk songs that have deep roots in this country, and his songwriting talents have won him many fans and a couple of Juno nominations. He plays the last of a four-night stand at the Rivoli tonight, performing songs from his latest acclaimed zoologically-titled release Feather, Fur and Fin.
Rivoli, 334 Queen St. W., $17.65, 9 pm

Sunday, October 11:

MUSIC | Wavelength w/ the GCDC Gang and Share
Not often that you see a jug band play Toronto, but that's exactly what the GCDC Gang is. Each member of the Oakville quintet plays guitar, banjo, mandolin, and bass at any given time to create a sound that combines heavy metal, folk, and blues. Joining the Gang at Wavelength's second stint at the newly-opened Garrison are Share, Rosalind McPhail, and Pickups frontwoman Sarah Greene.
The Garrison, 1197 Dundas St. W., PWYC, 9 pm

PARTY | The Guvernment 13th Anniversary Party
Hulking on the downtown waterfront, the huge Guvernment complex has become a Toronto institution, hosting international touring acts and raging dance nights for over a decade now. The venue takes advantage of the long weekend to throw a massive four-room party this Sunday night with prominent Djs including Mark Oliver and former MIA collaborator Major Lazer banging out the tunes.
Guvernment, 132 Queen's Quay East, 10 pm

COMEDY | Thanksgiving Toast
Toronto's only improvised (and non-televised) talk show brings you its Turkey Day edition at the Gladstone this weekend. As usual, comedian David Shore will interview some local celebrities and in between segments the Monkey Toast improv group will perform skits based on the interviewees anecdotes. It's usually quite funny. Sunday's guests include comedian Pat Thornton and A-list deli owner Zane Caplansky.
Gladsone Hotel Ballroom, 1214 Queen St. W., PWYC, 7:30 pm

PARTY | Girl and Boy 90s Party
Clinton's Tavern continues its quest to monopolize the weekend party circuit with its third party in three days. While the first part of the weekend belongs to Fuck the Internet and Shake a Tail's 60s and 70s retro grooves, Sunday is all about the 1990s. Did any good music come out in the 1990s? I can't remember. No work on Monday, what more reason do you need to come dance to Ace of Base?
Clinton's Tavern, 693 Bloor St. W., $5, 10 pm

For full listings, head on over to our events calendar.
Have an event you'd like to plug? Submit your own listing to the blogTO calendar, contact us directly, or use our handy Facebook app.

For Toronto movie showtimes, view our Movie Listings section.


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