You know what they say: if you can make it through January, you can expect to have some emotional scars to deal with at the beginning of February.
Hmm. Maybe “they” just shouldn’t say anything at all next time.
Unless of course, they’re saying something about the weekend.
And the jam-packed one that just happens to start right now…
THURSDAY
Do you like thinking outside the box? And people that actually make boxes that don’t really look like a box? Then you’ll want to roam around town and check out the Toronto Design Offsite Festival. Exhibitors are being displayed at a number of venues across the city, showcasing unexpected prototypes, immersive installations, and stunning creativity.
Also, at the Daniel Faria Gallery, you can check out Douglas Coupland’s new exhibit: Our Modern World – an exhibit that explores our “societal obsessions”. So yes, there’s stuff in there about Facebook.
Villa Toronto (that we mentioned last week) is still up and running until tomorrow night. So if you haven’t made your way to Union Station for something other than bumping into scaffolding, start making moves.
Who doesn’t love animals? No friend of ours, that’s for sure. Puppy Love 2015 will be hosted at The Everleigh tonight from 6-10pm in support of the Toronto Humane Society. Proceeds will go towards rescue efforts, investigation, and lobbying for stronger laws surrounding the protection of our province’s pooches.
And if you’re looking for an extraordinary experience slapped onto an extraordinary experience, then go to Shen Yun VIP Night at the Sony Centre. It starts at 6pm with a reception, followed by the breathtaking show, and then offers a post-performance reception at which you can meet the artists. Don’t worry – the crouching tigers don’t bite.
Speaking of things that bite, if you like crazy, eye-popping action movies, the exclusive release of the movie, Killers is playing tonight only at The Royal Cinema on College Street.
It’s from the producers of The Raid: Redemption so if it’s insane Indonesian-Japanese action you seek, you have come to the right place.
Shooter Jennings is playing a show at the Phoenix Concert Theatre.
And after 18 long, epic years, this is the last weekend that the Guvernment and Koolhaus as we know will exist. Their final rap show is tonight, and it stars Fabolous performing with DeJ Loaf. *Sigh* So many memories, so many concerts, so many arrests…
FRIDAY
Oh, the visual arts fun isn’t over yet, Toronto.
Do you like design? Of things that only happen INSIDE?? Then you’ll be thrilled to know that the Interior Design Show runs this whole weekend at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.
Listen up, self-proclaimed ‘foodies’ – tonight is the 1st of 4 evenings of the Chefs for Change – Midwinter Feast series. Over the course of the next month, 25+ of Canada’s most creative chefs (e.g., tonight features chefs from The Drake, The Harbord Room, People’s Eatery, The Emerson, and Ruby Watchco) will gather at Propeller Coffee Co’s roastery and cook together in support of Community Food Centres Canada and their mission of providing good, healthy food for everyone. Tonight’s feast is from 6:30pm to midnight and tickets are $75 – though we suspect they won’t be easy to come by.
If you like the kind of beats that don’t go well with goat cheese, STWO is performing at The Hoxton with Memorecks. And as part of the Guvernment’s final weekend, Dutch heavyweight electronic producer Armin van Buuren will also be playing a big set.
For hip-hop beats, Coremega is also performing at The Rockpile. You could probably learn some Valuable Lessons at this concert.
But if you’re into other things that start with the letter ‘B’, the opening gala of the 10th Annual Great Canadian Burlesque Girlesque Expo at Cherry Cola’s. Festivities in celebration of the fine art will continue through the weekend at a number of venues.
It’s also the First Midnight Market of 2015. Shopping, music, food, and drinks all for only $5 at the door.
Now, for the more refined amongst us…
The Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra and Chamber Choir will be performing renditions of Beethoven’s Symphony no. 5 live at Koerner Hall.
From 8-11pm The Power Plant is hosting an open party to celebrate the Jan 23rd launch of a new major exhibition called The Unfinished Conversation: Encoding/Decoding…though we’re not exactly sure what that all means…
And at the Betty Oliphant Theatre Ballet Jörgen is presenting an evening of contemporary ballet from new choreographers like Derek Sangster and Malgorzata Nowacka to leading dance makers like Robert Desrosiers and the company’s own Artistic Director, Bengt Jörgen. Dinner packages are also available with tickets starting at $29.50.
And if you’re willing to take the drive out to the WFC Centre in Windsor, you can check out the one and only Jerry Seinfeld.
SATURDAY
We can tell; you’re getting that itch, aren’t you? Ew, no – not that kind of itch. Gross. We’re talking about the itch to travel. Well, guess what: Toronto’s Ultimate Travel Show is at the Direct Energy Centre in Exhibition Place this weekend, including displays from all kinds of vendors including swimwear, travel companies, and even RVs. If you’re doing any travelling in 2015, you may want to take a trip to the Ex first.
At the Tibetan Canadian Culture Centre, if you’re a big fan of The Dalai Lama himself, you can catch two screenings for $25 of the award winning films, Dalai Lama Awakening and Compassion in Action.
And if it’s a meditative kind of weekend you seek, Bikram Yoga Yonge is hosting a 24-hour Yogathon that begins at 8am and runs 1-hour classes every 2 hours. There will be prizes, contests, and giveaways. Realistically, if we did a yoga class at 4am, we’d expect a prize too.
Similarly, but a little more on the energetic side, you can get your exercise on at the Arcadian Court with Lulu Lemon’s Beats & Balance event. It consists of 4 back-to-back varying types of fitness classes, ranging from spin to yoga, musically accompanied by DJs who are mashed up with opera singers and electric violists. The event is then followed by a DJ’d after-party with food and drinks. Tickets are $10 per class and 100% of sales go to The Remix Project.
Despite the progress we’ve made, not all films are treated equal. So that’s why the inaugural Censured in Canadian Film Festival is taking place at Cinecycle, where over the course of today and tomorrow, 25 independent Canadian films marginalized by larger festivals and institutions will be screened for your supportive viewing appreciation. There are 12 films playing today, ranging from a few minutes to about an hour in length. Tickets are about $12 online. Why were these films “marginalized”? We don’t know, but we hope it’s not obvious…
Come Up to My Room is still happening at the Gladstone and as part of the closing leg, they are throwing the Love Design Party from 10pm-2am, which will have everyone dancing and partying while immersed in the psychedelic digital works of artist Alexandra Mackenzie.
Revival is hosting their first Hip Hop Karaoke night of 2015, so if you’ve got your Mob Deep and T-Pain all memorized, pull down your 90s jeans and charge up the auto-tuner; it’s time to gech-yo MC on.
Or to celebrate poetry that’s a little harder to understand you can rejoice in Robbie Burns Day by joining Johnnie Walker at Casa Loma at 6pm for a 4-course scotch-paired dinner for $150 a seat, all-in.
Tonight’s Harbourfront DJ Skate night is The Motown Party hosted by DJ Caff, spinning classics from The Temptations to Stevie Wonder. But if Stevie Wonder is tempted to actually join the skating, we’d recommend taking some safety equipment with you.
If you’re concerned about the ethical state of affairs in the world of banking – and honestly, who isn’t – Comer is holding a seminar at Toronto City Hall entitled Crooks, Cheats and Cons in Private Banking: All You Wanted to Know About Money But Were Afraid to Ask.
And for your melodic cravings…
Those into the really, really alternative stuff can check out Spookey Ruben at The Garrison tonight; if you’re a fan, you’re not going to want to Leave the City.
But if nothing gets you going like that Old Time Rock n’ Roll, then get down to the ACC and catch Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band making their Toronto stop as part of their Ride Out Tour.
At the very same beautiful location where we held our 2014 Notable Awards, 99 Sudbury is hosting Detroit Techno pioneer Jeff Mills and his energy-inducing beats.
And if that’s still not crazy enough for you, Mozart’s famous Don Giovanni begins a run tonight at the Four Seasons Centre that goes until February 21st.
SUNDAY
Get the tissues out, folks…or whatever you use to clean off glitter and dried ice. It’s the last night at The Guvernment. To celebrate its life and its death, Deadmau5 is performing. No doubt you’ll need to hit Stubhub or scalpers to get your hands on these tickets; for any number of reasons, this show will be historic.
The Metro Toronto Convention Centre is hosting a Black History Month kick-off brunch. The event, aside from feeding you of course, will recognize music, culture, and overall achievements of Black Canadians in the arts, community services and more. Spiffy attire is required and tickets are $100 (or $75 for students). Things will get started at noon.
Then if you want to grab a meal and some beer to continue celebrating a fine Scottish man, Mill Street Brewery is hosting their Robbie Burns Day Brewmaster Dinner, featuring a 5-course beer-paired dinner, bagpipes, and even a little poetry and dancing. And it’s Scottish dancing, so no previous experience is required – just drinks
And in the only big-league sporting event of the weekend, the Raptors are hosting the Detroit Pistons in what, only a few weeks ago, looked like it would be an easy win for our boys. Now? Not so much…
Well there you have it.
Four days and more than 35 ways to spend them.
And just remember: you can’t have FOMO if you’re there.
Stay Notable,
The Weekender
#NOTABLE
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Cover photo courtesy The Drake
