Minus a decent opportunity to wear sandals without getting trenchfoot, February in Toronto has everything you could ask for in a month; tons of awesome concerts, several world-class culinary exhibitions and events, new art installations, more sports than you can shake a stick at, and some of the best charity events of the entire year.
Oh, and there’s also a few little celebrations called Family Day and Valentine’s Day to add a little skip in your slushy step.
And it’s no coincidence that all of those things happen during the wonderful time called, “the weekend.”
THURSDAY
Do you like boating, fishing, hunting, off-roading, or anything else that may require you to wear a trucker hat and watch a rerun of Duck Dynasty? Then you’re in luck. The Toronto Sportsmen’s Show kicks off today and runs until Sunday at the Direct Energy Centre.
AGO First Thursdays is back with a bang tonight, as they offer a sneak peak of the new Jean-Michel Basquiat exhibit and a live musical performance from some small-time act you’ve probably never heard of named GRANDMASTER FLASH! Yup, for real. Don’t forget who gave you The Message.
The Book Lover’s Ball is being held at The Toronto Public Library (duh). Experience the library like never before as you sachet through rows of hardcovers in your elegant attire. Both readers and authors will at the black-tie event which is followed by the After Dark after-party. After party tickets go for $150 and Gala tickets start at $750. So, if you’re actually a writer, you probably can’t afford to go.
The Everleigh Club is hosting Puppy Love, a charity event trying to put an end to cruel and inhumane treatment of puppies. Tickets are $40 and include an evening of live performances, food, and listening to a lot of people talk about their pets.
For aficionados and newbies alike, The Forth on the Danforth is hosting the World of Whiskey Lounge tonight. For $25 you’ll get two tickets that can be exchanged for either a whiskey sampling or a pairing dish, with additional samplings running you $5 a piece after that.
Hosted by the Canadian Journalism Foundation in the TMX Broadcast Centre at 130 King Street, three of the city’s best sport journalists – Bruce Arthur, Brenda Irving, and Stephen Brunt – are having a live conversation called More Than Hockey: Canada’s Expanding Sports Media Landscape. The more-than-a-puck drops at 6:30pm followed by a reception at 8pm.
A new musical starts tonight at The Lower Ossington Theatre called, Spring Awakening. It’s an electrifying rock n’ roll show about a group of teenagers navigating the waters of anxiety, morality, sexuality, and rebellion. Here at Notable, we’ve nicknamed the show, “Last Weekend.”
In its first year, put on by SummerWorks, The Progress Festival is an exciting new international festival of performance and ideas being held at various locations across the city. The festival starts today and runs until the 15th, offering world-class performance and global dialogues at accessible prices. Check the schedule on their website for individual performances and ticket availability.
And talk about progress, Science on Tap is being hosted at the Spoke Club with special guest speaker Professor Israel Bar-Joseph. Tickets are $25 and the event starts at 7:30pm. Go getchyo physics on.
They might be old, but a little irony never stopped a rock band before; The New Pornographers are playing at The Danforth Music Hall. And no, they don’t do what you’re thinking they do, so it’s definitely BYOP.
But if you decide to go to the Mod Club instead, you definitely won’t have to Bring Your Own Pirates because Alestorm is performing their popular brand of ‘Pirate Metal’. You might need more than one drink to get through this show but we promise after this, the movie Hook will never be the same.
If you think you can survive a trek to Oshawa you can celebrate life by enjoying Death from Above 1979 at the Oshawa Music Hall.
Or for something highly offensive but outrageously hilarious, you can check out stand-up sensation Jim Jeffries in Kitchener at the Centre in the Square.
And if you like Michael Mann – and you really, really should – you’ll want to get over to the TIFF Bell Lightbox Theatre at some point in the next few weeks to get a piece of Neon Nights: The Films of Michael Mann. From Thief (showing tonight) to Last of the Mohicans and all the way to Public Enemies, the theatre will be screening each of the great director’s films every few days.
FRIDAY
Well, we know you’ve all been waiting for it, and now it’s here…
It’s motionball, baby. Toronto’s largest young professional charity gala is back at the Liberty Grand and it’s looking bigger and better than ever. In support of Special Olympics, your $200 ticket (regular price tix are sold out, obviously) gets you complimentary drinks all night, tons of amazing live entertainment, access to a silent auction, a late-night snack bar, and more importantly, the chance to meet some of the incredible Special Olympics athletes the charity proudly supports. Get glitzed up – the ball gets rolling at 9pm.
And not to be outdone by the AGO, Friday Night Live at the ROM is back for one epic bash this winter season with a theme of Carnival! You’ll find over 10 pop-up food vendors, areas for arcade playing and innovation exploration, and of course DJs, live performances, and a Carnival procession.
As part of the TD Then & Now Series, Black History Month is being celebrated with a number of cultural events and celebrations around the city ranging from exhibitions of dance, innovative African and Caribbean artists, and galas to honor ground-breaking musicians.
And if you’re into Caribbean Cuisine, you’ve been known to enjoy a party, or two or you grew up By Dee Beach, tonight is the Spirits & Spice fundraising soirée at Marché in Brookfield Place. Tickets are $35 and the party goes from 5:30-9:30pm. But even if you can’t make the party, you’ll want to swing by Marché some point before the 8th to take advantage of Chef La-Toya’s (Twist Catering) Caribbean dishes alongside the beer and rum selection.
Rufus Wainwright is hosting and performing at a benefit concert at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre. The event is in support of Patients Canada, an organization that fosters collaboration between patients, family caregivers, and the healthcare community. So maybe in the spirit of the charity, don’t sneak in any cigarettes and chocolate milk when you go.
The Second City Touring Company is in Toronto for several performances of The Best of Second City; a collection of the funniest material from the last 50 years as well as the usual side-splitting improv.
Korean-American rapper & lyricist, freestyler, battler, and world-class entertainer Dumbfounded is performing tonight at The Rockpile. So grab an old friend or a New Chick, stash some Green, and head west.
And speaking of Rappies, ours are taking on the fast-paced Los Angeles Clippers at the ACC.
SATURDAY
Are you just itching to give that big pitch? Think you’ve got a billion-dollar business on your hands? Do you love the mystical creatures in Game of Thrones? Ok, that last question is a bit misleading, but if you answered, “yes” to the first two, then make your way to the CBC offices on Front Street and audition for Dragon’s Den. That’s right: they’re holding open auditions between 10am and 5pm. So if you want to get on the show, just head over there and make sure your presentation is really, really good or really, really bad.
Today, the AGO opens its new Jean-Michel Basquiat exhibit to the public: Now’s The Time. Well, you heard them. Get going.
If you love great blues and rock music and you’re proud of your country, head to The Danforth Music Hall and check out The Acoustical Sounds of Big Sugar. It’s gonna be sweet.
And what’s the only thing better than a dance competition? You guessed it: a BOLLYWOOD dance competition. There just happens to be one at the Rose Theatre in Brampton tonight from 4-8:30pm.
It’s also Soca on Ice tonight at this week’s DJ SkateNight at the Harbourfront Centre, hosted by Dr. Jay de Soca Prince. So don’t forget: your Thermos holds rum too.
Canadian stand-up Darrin Rose is performing for one night at the Elgin & Winter Garden Theatre.
Starting today, available one Saturday a month, you can go to the Ontario Science Centre and closely, but safely, observe the sun through specially filtered telescopes. Which is awesome because the sun has always been our favourite planet…
And the struggling Leafs are taking on the struggling Oilers at the Air Canada Centre. Good news: we might actually win this one.
SUNDAY
The Annex Flea is today from 11am-6pm at 720 Bathurst Street. There you’ll find over 20 local vendors selling everything from jewelry and gems to candles and caramel. Oh, and lingerie…we musn’t forget the lingerie.
And for a rare Sunday evening game, the always-entertaining, permanently competitive San Antonio Spurs are taking on the Raptors on our home court. Little known fact: Tim Duncan is 68 years old.
Well there you have it, folks.
Four days and more than 30 ways to spend them.
So just remember: Valentine’s Day or not, nobody loves FOMO.
Stay Notable,
The Weekender
#NOTABLE
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