Weekend events in Toronto is our guide to events happening every Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Watch for it here on Fridays around midday. Here's what's happening in Toronto this weekend, April 27-29, 2012.

ART

Public: Collective Identity / Occupied Spaces
The primary exhibit at the 2012 CONTACT Photography Festival, this exhibition launches tonight at MOCCA. Philippe Chancel, Cheryl Dunn, and Bill Sullivan are just a few of the talents featured in what is one of the stronger lead shows for the festival in years. These artists explore the ways we identify with public space through street photography and conflict photojournalism. Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art, 952 Queen St. W., April 27, 7 p.m. - 10 p.m.

Ryerson School of Image Arts Presents: Maximum Exposure Festival 2012
The year end exhibition festival for Ryerson's School of Image Arts happens tonight with the opening reception at the Gladstone Hotel. This festival showcases the work of student artists. The Gladstone Hotel (second floor), 1214 Queen St. W., April 27, opening reception at 6 p.m. After party at 99 Sudbury at 10 p.m. featuring Planete Break from Montreal.

MUSIC

Chiara Young w/ Guests at Sneaky Dee's
Chiara Young is playing with the Wet Bandits, RPTZR, Lambs Become Lions, and Harbour on Saturday night. They are playing at Sneaky Dee's so check out some new bands and rest assured that you can at least grab some cheap beer and even better nachos. Sneaky Dee's, 431 College St., April 28, Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Buy advance tickets here.

Little Creatures live at the NOW Lounge
Little Creatures are playing a live set at the NOW Lounge with Charge of Light Brigade tonight. Spend your Friday night enjoying a live set of promising pop/rock music. NOW Lounge, 189 Church St. April 27, 9 p.m.

For more shows, check out our weekly Hot Ticket post.

PARTIES

Underground Rebel Bingo
Something kind of (but not really) secretive is going on tonight in Toronto and it sounds promising. This might be one of the bigger parties happening in the city with over 300 people attending according to the Facebook page. Buy your advance ticket here. Wrong Bar, 1279 Queen St. W., April 27, 9:30 p.m. Tickets range from $5 - $15.

Friday Night Live @ ROM
Parties at the ROM continue this week. Enjoy a special sneak peek of this year's festival films curated by Hot Docs. And don't forget to buy a drink! Buy your tickets here. Royal Ontario Museum, 100 Queen's Park, April 27, 6 p.m. - 11 p.m.

Shag Retro Dance Party
What we can only imagine will lead to trips down memory lane and feeling rather nostalgic about the 70's/80's/90's - Wayla bar is hosting a Shag Retro Dance Party on Friday night. DJ Cory Activate will be there spinning beats. Wayla Bar, 996 Queen St. E, April 27, party starts at 10 p.m., $5 cover all night.

SPORT & PLAY

LGBT Ultimate Frisbee and Brewery Tour
Can't have sports without beer, right? There will be a co-ed ultimate frisbee game followed by a tour of the Amsterdam brewery. A very wise person decided that it's better if hurling discs around comes before alcohol. Register online here. Fort York, 250 Fort York Road, April 28, 11 a.m., $20.

King Kong of Ping Pong
Don't let the name fool you, because ape costumes are not mandatory at this event. Battle it out with ping pong aficionados and novices alike, all while socially lubricated with $3 beer. Adrift Skateshope, G2 - 116 Spadina Avenue, April 27, 7 p.m. - 11 p.m.

FASHION

FAT Drake Lab Exhibition
FAT wraps up this weekend, and the Drake lab has been hosting a offsite exhibition of photography, installations and film screenings. Saturday night is your last chance to see this exhibition. Drake Lab, 1142 Queen St. W., free.

Nyood Bar Pop-Up
Nyood Bar is launching their new monthly pop-up series that features the best in local fashion and design. The free events will happen the last Sunday of every month, with April's boasting the talent of Aeroplane Vintage Eyewear, Rebus Life, Outclass and Dutch Blonde. Nyood Bar, 1096A Queen Street West, April 29, 1 p.m., Free.

For more, check out our This Week In Fashion post.

LIT

Tightrope Books and Friends All Day Reading To Save The High Park Zoo
Save Ferris! I mean, the High Park Zoo. Tightrope Books is hosting a full day literary event to raise funds for the latest classic Toronto spot on the cutting block. There will be readings by Nathaniel G. Moore, Liz Worth, and many more. Cafe Novo, 1986 Bloor Street West, April 29, 11:30 a.m. - 4 p.m., Free.

WORKSHOPS

Manufacturing: Make in Canada
It can be hard to maintain a business sourcing only local goods and manufacturing, but there are success stories. This workshop features speakers who made a widespread brand while utilizing the local and will help attendees through a project that aims to make a viable business using it. Design Exchange, 234 Bay Street, April 27, 9:30 a.m. - 1p.m.

FILM

Hot Docs
The annual Hot Docs festival opened with Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry last night. The screenings continue until May 6, check out our preview post and what else is worth seeing at the festival. Here is a full schedule. Screenings happening around the city at the Bloor Hot Docs Cinema, Fox Theatre, Innis Town Hall, Cumberland Four - Alliance Cinemas, Innis Town Hall, Isabel Bader Theatre, The Regent, The Revue, The Royal, ROM Theatre or TIFF Bell Lightbox.

Jamel Shabazz: Street Photographer (Film Screening)
Jamel Shabazz and his street photography was an incredibly important part of the hip-hop world. He aimed to encapsulate the generation through his photos and did so in his book, Back in the Days. This film is a look at the man behind the lens. Toronto Underground Cinema, 186 Spadina Avenue, April 27, 8 p.m., $10.

Free Feature Film Festival
With all the film festivals happening in Toronto right now, being a movie junkie is getting expensive. Luckily, WILDsound's is giving away free tickets to its Short Toronto Film Festival, which features the best in short films from all over the world. Tickets must be booked in advance here. National Film Board, 150 John Street, April 28, 7 p.m., Free.

For more film events check out This Week in Film and This Week in Rep Cinema.

FOOD

Canadian Beer News Dinner Series #3: Roland + Russell at Splendido
Usually the go-to pairing with a fancy dinner is wine, but that doesn't always have to be the case. This dinner series works to combine great local cuisine with great local beers. This week's event features beer, Roland + Russell with chef Victor Barry at Splendido. Space is limited so tickets should be booked as soon as possible by calling 416.929.7788. Splendido, 88 Harbord Street, April 27, 6:30 p.m., $150.

For more food related events, check out our This Week in Food post.

Photo credits: High Park Zoo photo by Nick Leies, Frisbee photo by Jennifer Tse and CONTACT preview photo by Mariam Matti.

Writing by Roxanne Hathway-Baxter and Mariam Matti