We’re mid-Movember.
But there’s no way we’re letting you only go halfway with the next four days. We want you more committed to a good time than Burt Reynolds’ perfect ‘stache.
So even though snow has already graced our fair streets (if only for a second), we see that as a reason to heat things up inside. Lucky for you, we’re here to make sure you’ve got an iron in every one of the most notable fires in town.
The weekend starts now, Toronto.
THURSDAY
On your marks…get set…MO; check out the lobby of First Canadian Place from 6-9 for Man Up!, an evening of all things manly in support of Movember.
A Taste of Iceland kicks off with great foodie events at Luma (in TIFF) with an acclaimed Icelandic chef and the O&B team and in Liberty Village with Adrian Forte and the FitSquad team. Go for the food, stay for the Vodka.
The Inspire! Toronto International Book Fair gets started at the Metro Toronto Convention center. Worms welcome.
If you’re looking for furniture, Modani is having a grand opening and VIP party for their new Toronto showroom. Ooooooo, moooderrrnnnnn.
Cut loose while you support Childhood Cancer Canada Foundation by attending the Purple Party @ The Drake. Just try not to look that colour when you leave the bar.
If you like the trancy stuff, Trentemoller is playing at the Mod Club. Or if you like the fancy stuff, a performance of the award-winning Evita opens at the Lower Ossington Theater for two weekends. The lady asked nicely, so no crying in this one.
The hit one-man comedy, Buyer and Cellar opens up at the Panasonic Theater and it’s about a guy who works in Barbara Streisand’s basement. Hey, it had to be someone.
Funny enough, there’s another great comedy option starting tonight at Massey Hall; care to check out the Capital One Just for Laughs Canadian Comedy Tour?
Or, if you like Toronto sports teams that actually win, snag tix to the Raptors vs. Bulls at the Air Canada Center.
FRIDAY
Are you a gentleman who likes his spirits? Then maybe you’ll want to check out one of the 11 venues participating in Toronto Bourbon Week.
Or maybe you’re just, you know, a “gentleman”. In which case, you’ll probably want to spend some time at The Gentleman’s Expo at the Metro Toronto Convention Center.
Serious fans might give a puck that the Hockey Hall of Fame Inductee Weekend is getting started, a weekend of celebration and sport that includes the Leafs playing the Penguins.
The reels keep spinning as the Toronto International Short Film Festival starts its appropriately short weekend festivities.
For some creative theater, you can watch gymnasts and classical musicians pull their violin and ham strings in Opus at the Bluma Appel Theater.
The boys of summer are embracing the fall as the The Ataris take the stage at Lee’s Palace.
While you may not be able to have whatever you like, you can probably have a spot at the Guvernment for the T.I. concert.
Or you can opt for the less thug-life-more-hug-life with the entertaining beat perfection of RJD2 at the Hoxton.
Friday Night at the R.O.M. is of course back, this time with a celebratory theme of real and mythical heroes. No, nobody wants you to wear your Spiderman pajamas. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t.
X-Rated Hypnotist, Dave Curran is performing at The Revival Theater. Mind your subconscious.
SATURDAY
Sweat out your Friday while you support the under-resourced youth of Toronto and try to beat Hall-of-Famer #31 to the end-zone in this year’s The Playoff Run for The Michael “Pinball” Clemons Foundation.
Canadian music continues to hit the right chords as Toronto’s own PUP plays at Lee’s Palace and Quadra Island’s Mother Mother rock out at the Danforth Music Hall.
The European Union Film Festival kicks off today. Hopefully it makes some money…
If you feel like getting cultured and warmed up, check out a Sake Brewery Tour in The Distillery.
If you have the kids around, The Sony Center is presenting Sesame Street Live: Let’s Dance.
On the other hand, if you can ditch the kids, maybe you’ll fancy a trip to Hall 6 of the International Center for the La Senza Warehouse Sale. Can you think of a better reason to go to Mississauga? The answer is no you can’t.
Sit down for some of the city’s best stand-up at Comedy Bar as they host Superstars of Comedy.
For something on the fancy-shmancy side, New Beginnings is hosting their 7th Annual Prosperity Ball: A Vintage Hollywood Affair, at none other than the prestigious Fairmont Royal York. Hopefully no one invited Nick Nolte.
If you’re getting holiday fever, head over to Yonge-Dundas Square for a big fat tree-lighting and some audio-visual entertainment at Illuminite, the first installment of the Winter Magic Series. If you don’t believe in Magic now…you probably still won’t after this event. But that doesn’t mean you won’t get to suspend your disbelief for a few minutes at least.
And our 8-1 (please note this was written Thursday morning, before the Bulls game – but hey, a fan’s gotta hope) Rappies have another home game, this time against the Utah Jazz.
SUNDAY
Do YOU know what’s coming to town??? THE SANTA CLAUS PARADE!!! Pouting is strongly frowned upon.
Speaking of Christmas, if you’re looking to nab some quick, creative gifts, you might want to check out The Parkdale Flea (indoor) on Queen W.
If you’re a visual person, there’s another installment of National Geographic Live at Roy Thompson Hall with underwater photographer David Doubilet and aquatic biologist and photojournalist Jennifer Hayes.
And true to their redundancy, Mother Mother is playing a second show show at Danforth Music Hall.
Well, that’s it, that’s all.
Four days and more than 30 ways to spend them.
Just remember: FOMO isn’t real if you’re there… but it is real if you’re afraid of moustaches in November.
Stay Notable,
The Weekender
#NOTABLE
Want more updates on the most Notable things happening so you know before your colleagues do? Get our exclusive newsletter here and follow us on Twitter for all the latest.