Weekend events in Toronto: May 9-11, 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 9-11, 2014.
TCAF
No Toronto Comic Arts Festival is complete without some of the biggest names and rising stars of the comic world showing up, and what's better is you get to bump those elbows (not too hard, that's connected to their livelihood!) or shake those hands (ditto) at the Toronto Reference Library free of charge. Kate Beaton will be there -- please don't crush her hands. Learn more and check out the schedule here, or just go and have your mind blown by the indie artists at the tables. Friday May 9 - Sunday, May 11, Toronto Reference Library (789 Yonge Street).
ART
Love Art Fair
The first ever Love Art Fair in Canada is now open to the public at Exhibition. Over 40 galleries are showing their affordable wares at the London-based international fair, from Satanic sweaters to illustration and photography to every kind of painting imaginable. It's a must hit for emerging collectors. Check out our review of Love Art here. Heritage Court, Direct Energy Centre (100 Princes' Blvd, Exhibition Place) until May 11, various times, $12.
Hamilton (Contact Festival)
Joseph Hartman moved to The Hammer from small town Ontario in 2007, and became as fascinated by the city as a whole as I am by the sight of the fires roaring up from the factories (cliched, I know). Hartman's 4x5 view camera gets personal with the people and working-class neighbourhoods of Steeltown. His show opens up tonight, so if you missed the big opening at MOCCA there's still time to clink glasses. Read our full preview of Contact 2014 here. May 10 - June 7, Stephen Bulger Gallery (1026 Queen St West). Reception Friday, May 9, 5-9pm.
Mitsuo Kimura
Mitsuo Kimura was one of the artists who participated in the Sanko mural at Queen and Claremont. If you're a fan of psychedelic Toronto illustrator Alex Mackenzie, prepare to feast your eyes. Kimura's ultra detailed psychedelic paintings might just start the first rumblings of a seizure - and then you'll want more, naturally. Read an interview with Kimura in Juxtapoz here. May 9-31, Le Gallery (1183 Dundas St West). Reception Friday May 9, 6-9pm.
See also
For more art listings, check out our Top 10 Must-See Art Shows This Spring post.
MUSIC
Canadian Music Week
It's do or die May 6-10. CMW, Canada's largest music festival, brings established and hopeful musicians from around Canada and the world to Toronto. If you see someone dragging gear and looking lost this weekend, help them out. Read our full preview of what to see at CMW here, including Owen Pallett, Neko Case, Comeback Kid, ODESZA, Tegan & Sara, Television, and more, and check out our guide to where to hang out during the fest if you're lazy here.
Jerusalem In My Heart
Few artists are tapping into the kind of sound Montreal's Jerusalem In My Heart (Constellation) have captured, At The Music Gallery 16mm film projections and "light-based (de)constructions" (again, Constellation Records) will be presented along with JIMH's compelling contemporary take on traditional music from the Middle East. Steve Kado is also on tonight's bill. Friday, May 9, The Music Gallery (197 John St.), $15.
National Drone Day
Born of a Twitter joke, Drone Day is this Saturday. Is there anything Weird Canada can't (won't) do? Toronto's premiere event features Black Walls, Colin Fisher, Man Made Hill, Hoover Party, Moonwood and more (Rob Ford's post-rehab ambient proj?) at the Tranzac. Plus Egyptrixx is part of a huge Toronto Drone Day event and Array Space is putting on an afternoon event. Get prepped with our very controversial list of Toronto's best drone artists and then check out our full #DroneDay preview here.
Our Time: A Pride Concert
Get ready for World Pride at this LGBTQ choir: 110-member SATB choir and 24-member SATB ensemble will perform songs by The Beatles, Simon & Garfunkel, Vivaldi, Stephen Sondheim, the pop band FUN., and Canadian composer Jane Siberry. Saturday, May 10, 3pm & 7:30pm, Glenn Gould Studio (250 Front Street West), $25.
Wye Oak w/ Braids
If you don't know who Wye Oak is yet but you love indie folk rock, you need to get on board. For many, this band came to light when their track "Civilian" closed out an emotional episode of The Walking Dead. Go have an ale or two at the old Horseshoe Tavern on May 11 and nod your head along to some jaunty tunes. Sunday, May 11, Horseshoe Tavern (370 Queen St West), $16.50.
For more music listings, check out our This Week in Music, May Concerts, Spring Concerts, and Spring Music Festivals posts.
FILM
Orson Welles: Lost & Found
OK, so Citizen Kane is no longer the Greatest Movie Ever Made. And maybe you've seen it 10,000 times already anyway. Chances are, you'll be less familiar with some of his other gems. I'm talking The Magnificent Ambersons and the best adaptation of Othello the cinema has yet seen. And then there's the movie I know you haven't seen, Too Much Johnson, since it was only just recently discovered and restored, and this is its Canadian premiere. May 9-13, TIFF Bell Lightbox (350 King St West).
SNOW: Comics to Film at TCAF
Remember Snow, that comic book turned film set on Queen West? Snow author Benjamin Rivers will read from the graphic novel as part of TCAF, and special guests from the forthcoming film including director Ryan Couldrey and lead actors Nina Iordanova and Kira Hall will discuss making of the film, and preview a special clip. Saturday, May 10, 4pm, Toronto Reference Library, Novella Room (Canadian Reading Series).
See also
For more film events, check out our Top film events this spring post.
THEATRE
Bingo!
Daniel MacIvor is one of our most cherished theatrical scribes. He set out to write Bingo! for his brother, who he endearingly describes at home in Sydney, Cape Breton. It's a nostalgic play about five friends who reunite on the occasion of their 30th high school reunion. A portrait of midlife reconciliation and regrets of the past, Bingo! examines bonds of deep friendship and past conflicts that creep to the surface. Factory Theatre, May 8-June 1, $30-$45.
For more events on stage, check out our The top theatre productions in Toronto May 2014 post.
BOOKS
Rudy & Detrimental Information Launch Party
Away from the noise of TCAF, Weird Things on Bathurst is launching two books: Rudy and Detrimental Information. There will be readings, spoken word, live music, and drinks. Plus, drawings of cute cats and people talking about finding bottles on the beach (always that). Saturday, May 10, 7:30pm, Weird Things (998 Bathurst St.).
FASHION
Vitaly Friends Pop-Up
Vitaly Design is once again hosting their Friends Pop-Up - a five-day extravaganza featuring a whole slew of local and international brands, artists, and musicians in one place (1101 Queen St. West). Stretching until Monday (May 12), the event gives guests a chance to jam out in the lounge, peruse the collections of over a dozen vendors, and - oddly enough - get tattooed on-site. May 7-12, 1101 Queen St West (1101 Queen St West).
For more fashion listings, check out our This Week in Fashion post.
PARTY
Uma Nota
Uma Nota is a dependably great dance party for lovers of Afro-Brazilian rhythms and global bass music. For this edition, they're bringing back NYC DJ Uproot Andy, as well as a return performance by forward-thinking Toronto percussion ensemble Maracatu Mar Aberto. As always, resident DJ General Eclectic will also be rocking the decks. Saturday, May 10, Mojo Lounge (1305 Dundas St West), 10pm, $10.
BAD TUCK: Maleficunt
This wild Maleficent theme party at the Beaver is only free under one condition: you try your hand at Maleficunt themed drag. (Princess Whore-ora, Pink/Green/Blue Hairy Fairies, etc - be creative!). Otherwise it's $5 and you're normcore. Saturday, May 10, 10:30pm, The Beaver (1192 Queen St W).
See also
For more dance listings, check out our Top Dance Parties in Toronto in May post.
TECH
Digifest 2014
You still have time to check out Digifest digital culture festival. Attend panels, check out the art installations, and learn about robotics (scary), 3d printing (kinda scary), and DIY wearable tech (scary to your parents).Until May 10, Corus Quay (25 Dockside Dr).
TO WebFest - The Toronto Web Series Festival
The first ever Toronto WebFest will celebrate Canada's best web shows. From May 9 to 11, the Harbourfront Centre will host free screenings - from comedy and drama to sci-fi and LGBT themed-series. The more hardcore can check out the festival's talks and panels (which you'll need a festival pass to attend). This being the Internet, expect liberal doses of geek culture (say, Versus Valerie and LARPs: The Series) and extreme silliness (the Rubber Chicken Players). Friday May 9-11, Harbourfront Centre (235 Queens Quay West).
LIFESTYLE
Toronto Flower Market
The Toronto Flower Market has moved this year to 1056 Queen St. West. The outdoor flower market, aka the best smelling place in Toronto, will take place the second Saturday of each month from May until October 2014. Saturday, May 10, 10am-3pm, 1056 Queen St. W.
CRAFTS
Bit Bazaar Spring Fair 2014
If you love gaming, shopping, or food, Bit Bazaar's got something for you. (If you love all three, as I do, then you may want to leave your bank card at home.) This edition of the combination arcade and zine fair is part of TCAF-sponsored event Comics Vs. Games 3; there'll be over 30 exhibitors, from indie game developers to fine artists to Haitian street food vendors. Saturday, May 10, 11am-8pm, Bento Miso (862 Richmond St. West)
COLLECTORS
Scope Records Show
The Scope is hosting a record show on Sunday from 10am to 3pm in the Ryerson Student Campus Centre. Grip vinyl and share the love of warm sound with some of the city's most enthusiastic pickers and collectors. Sunday, May 11, 10-3pm, Ryerson Student Campus Centre (55 Gould Street).
Have an event you'd like to plug? Submit your own listing to the blogTO Toronto events calendar or contact us directly.
Contributions by Adam Golfetto, Keith Bennie, Blake Williams, Ben Boles, Bianca Venerayan, and Natalia Manzocco.
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