Weekend events in Toronto: May 2-4, 2014
Weekend events in Toronto is our guide to events happening this Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Here's what's happening in Toronto this May 2-4, 2014.
The Toronto Marathon
One way to the avoid the nuisance of road closures caused by the Toronto Marathon is to run in it, and over 2,500 runners are expected to do just that this Sunday. The race to temporarily forget Rob Ford will begin in Mel Lastman Square in North York and finish at Ontario Place. There's also a half-marathon, 5K run, 5K walk and a relay - learn more here. No dogs allowed - I guess tripping over giant Bernese Mountain Dogs would lead to less personal bests being accomplished. You'd best leave your skates, boards, bikes, and babies (or at least strollers - maybe your baby runs like the wind) at home too. Sunday, May 4, 7:30am, Mel Lastman Square (some events at Ontario Place).
FOOD
Toronto Wing Festival
The third annual Toronto Wing Festival takes place this Sunday at Daniels Spectrum. Among this year's 18 competitors vying to be crowned lord of the wings are Lou Dawgs, The Pilot and Aft. Sunday, May 4, 1:30 to 5:30pm Daniels Spectrum (585 Dundas St. East).
Gluten Free Expo
Canada's largest gluten free event will be spanning the Metro Toronto Convention Center this Sunday. Go with questions, and get ready to spend on goodies galore - gluten free dietary restrictions no longer mean you can't have a good time. Learn more about the expo here. Sunday, May 4, 10am-4pm, Metro Toronto Convention Centre - South Building (222 Bremner Blvd.).
See also
For more food events, check out our Toronto Food Events, Spring Food Events, and Spring Beer Events post.
ART
Contact Photography Festival Festival launch at MOCCA
MOCCA's putting on some great work for Contact, but this ain't your average art opening. Art-speak and hobnobbing will be in full effect, but fine art photographers would do themselves a service by mingling in this crowd. Not an artist? No matter: just play dress up, drink horrible white wine, and remark that since William Eggleston, contemporary fine art photographers seem infatuated with the idea of the democratic forest and no longer know how to tell stories. Well, except Alec Soth. The after-party at the Gladstone will be decidedly more laid back. Check out our full Contact preview here. Friday, May 2, 7pm, Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art (952 Queen St. West).
Spring Beach Studio Tour
Twenty-four artists at 14 sites will participate in this open studio event. Wander the Beaches and find a new favourite artist, or just get a peek into what it would be like to get paint all over all your stuff, all the time (#artlife). This is the 20th anniversary of the tour. Friday, May 2 (6-9pm); Saturday, May 3 (10am-6pm) and Sunday, May 4 (11am-6pm). Find the tour map here.
Art of the Danforth
More art in the east end - this time, to the north. Art of the Danforth is a free family-friendly east-end festival now entering its third year. Learn more about the 20+ large-scale public art projects here. Friday, May 2-Sunday, May 11, East Danforth.
Rockem Sockem the Great Canadian Hockey Art Show
Finally, if you're looking for something more playful, AWOL has the show for you. The Ossington hold-out is showing hockey themed artwork in May (why not?) and, in line with art shows where all the artists contribute works on vinyl records, AWOL has gone full patriot: as part of the show twenty artists have created surreal, cheeky, and oddball artworks on hockey pucks. The reception is Saturday, May 3 at 7pm, and the exhibit runs until May 11. AWOL Gallery (76 Ossington Avenue).
See also
For more art listings, check out our Top 10 Must-See Art Shows This Spring post.
MUSIC
Feast In The East Anniversary
Feast in the East is like one of those horrible couples - it seems like they're ringing in an anniversary all the damn time. Or did a year really pass by that fast? Jam Factory is T.O.'s newest east end music venue, and Petra Glynt, Mmm Mmm (Sexy Merlin & Man Made Hill), Wolfcow, and New Fries are on the bill, and Healing Power Records / HVY WTR's Victoria Cheong is serving up rice bowls. Friday, May 2, Jam Factory (2 Matilda St).
M.I.A.
Contrary to her name, M.I.A. has been quite visible lately. She released her new album Matangi not too long ago, and now she's jet-setting around, playing tour dates like it's going out of style. This free performance falls a little before Canadian Music Week officially kicks off. Initially scheduled as a huge, mind blowing free show at Yonge & Dundas Square, the move to the (admittedly revamped, but insanely smaller) Tattoo on Queen has dampened enthusiasm for this year's fest. Still, it's M.I.A. Saturday, May 3, Tattoo (567 Queen St. West).
See also
For more music listings, check out our This Week in Music, May Concerts, Spring Concerts, and Spring Music Festivals posts.
FILM
Hot Docs
The 2014 Hot Docs Festival runs until May 4. Hundreds of hypey and underground documentaries will screen at Toronto's second-largest film event (behind TIFF), and the printed schedule is always a huge exercise in frustration no matter how much time and money you have - there are just too many intriguing titles. Check out our picks for the festival here. Until May 4, various venues.
Toronto Jewish Film Festival 2014
The largest Jewish film festival in the world is on in Toronto until May 11. Over 90 films from over 15 countries will be screened across Toronto - check out their website to learn more. Until May 11, various venues.
For more film events, check out our Top film events this spring post.
COMEDY
SheDot Festival
More than 60 female comedians and comedy troupes will be splitting your sides with frying pans of laughter at (mostly) Comedy Bar for the first ever SheDot Festival, which will end with a big closing event May 4 at The Opera House. Until May 4, various venues.
FASHION
WORN Journal's Book Launch
WORN is releasing The WORN Archive this Saturday, and there's no better way to celebrate the launch of a 400-page book rounding up the publication's very best articles and editorials than with a Secondhand Prom. So pull out your floor-length ball gowns and powder-blue tuxedos from the back of your closet and get jiggy with DJ Teddy the K (read: semi-shimmy by the Bunner's Bake Shop snack table). Saturday, May 3, 9pm-2am, Adelaide Hall (250 Adelaide St. West), $15 at the door/free with the purchase of WORN Archive at Type Books.
See also
For more fashion listings, check out our This Week in Fashion post.
PARTY
Young Adults
Benjamin Boles has been writing some venue histories and plugging Toronto's best dance parties for us, but that doesn't mean we can't plug his dance party - CHOBO is playing a free basement hop with Gaunt and Ira Oskman. The show has been moved from Smiling Buddha's basement to Tattoo's basement. Friday, May 2, 10pm, Tattoo (567 Queen St. West).
See also
For more dance listings, check out our Top Dance Parties in Toronto in May post.
CITY
Jane's Walk
Jane's Walk hosts a huge number of free, locally led walking tours inspired by, of course, Jane Jacobs. To find the right walk for you, visit their website here. Friday, May 2-Sunday, May 4.
COMICS
Free Comic Book Day
It's like Record Store Day, but for comic shops, and the swag is free. Visit events at Dr.Comics,
The Beguiling Books & Art, Collective, Little Island, Comic Book Lounge / Temple of Toys, Paradise Comics and more. Get pepped up for TCAF (next weekend) while wandering the city's fine comic book depositories. Saturday, May 3.
Have an event you'd like to plug? Submit your own listing to the blogTO Toronto events calendar or contact us directly.
Contributions by Liora Ipsum, Bianca Venerayan, Derek Flack, Julia Stead.
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