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The Long Weekender: Inside Out Film Festival, Design On Dundas and six other items on our to-do list

Harbourkids: The Toronto International Circus Festival (Image: Harbourfront Centre)

1. INSIDE OUT LGBT FILM AND VIDEO FESTIVAL
The annual Inside Out fest, which focuses on cinematic expressions of queer culture, is obviously all about the movies, but there are also talks and parties on the agenda. This weekend, catch Sagat, a documentary about the enigmatic adult film star François Sagat, and Bullhead, a gritty crime drama centering on the illegal hormone trade in cattle ranching. After digesting a bit of film, there are two after-parties: the special Inside Out edition of Sodom (Saturday) and the trans-focused Transplanetarium (Sunday). To May 27. $6–$13. Various locations, 416-599-8433, insideout.ca.

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May 9, 2012 | 1:45 pm

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The Weekender: West Side Story, Chuck Hughes and six other items on our to-do list

Chuck Hughes, West Side Story and Jane Archibald as Semele

1. WEST SIDE STORY
Sharks versus Jets, “I Feel Pretty” and extended dance breaks are just a few of the elements that add up to West Side Story, the seminal 1957 Leonard Bernstein/Stephen Sondheim musical. A contemporary adaptation of Romeo and Juliet, it’s set in 1950s New York City and stars two gangs—the Puerto Rican Sharks and the white, working-class Jets—fighting for control of the neighborhood. Meanwhile, a forbidden romance springs up between Sharks-affiliated Maria and her Jets beau Tony. To June 3. $51–$180. Toronto Centre for the Arts, 5040 Yonge St., 416-644-3665, dancaptickets.com.

2. LEONARD COHEN STREET TRIBUTES (FREE!)
Part street concert, part performance art, this Leonard Cohen tribute takes place at locations throughout the city, including Nathan Phillips Square, the CBC building on Front and the corner of Bay and Bloor. The daylong salute to Cohen will feature 25 artists from several disciplines who will perform his songs and poetry. May 11 and 12.Various locations, glenngould.ca/street-tribute-leonard-cohen.

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May 2, 2012 | 11:26 am

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The Weekender: Picasso, Bring It On and six other items on our to-do list

The Weekender: Bring It On, Picasso and Star Wars Day

1. PICASSO: MASTERPIECES FROM THE MUSÉE NATIONAL PICASSO, PARIS
Even if you know nothing about art, there’s a good chance you’re familiar with the great Pablo Picasso. The Spanish painter and sculptor was an artistic pioneer—he co-founded the Cubist movement and collage, and revolutionized several other styles. He was hugely prolific, and the creator of some of the most expensive and most oft-stolen pieces of art. This AGO exhibit, comprised of 150 works from the Musée National Picasso in Paris, covers all of the painter’s major periods and includes works like The Death of Casagemas, Les Demoiselles d’Avignon and the famous The Matador, a self-portrait completed three years before Picasso died. This summer-long stop at the AGO is the final stop of its tour, and the only Canadian one. To August 26. $19.50. Art Gallery of Ontario, 317 Dundas St. W., 416-979-6648, ago.net.

2. STARS ON ICE 2012
Spandex and sequins and Salchows, oh my. Four-time world champion Kurt Browning makes the jump from performer to co-director and choreographer with this edition of the annual figure skating extravaganza. He shares the ice with Olympians Tessa Virtue, Scott Moir, Joannie Rochette and Jeffrey Buttle. May 4. $25–$150. Air Canada Centre, 40 Bay St., 1-855-985-5000, ticketmaster.ca.

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April 25, 2012 | 12:40 pm

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The Weekender: Itzhak Perlman, the Indie Wedding Show and six other items on our to-do list

The Weekender: FAT, Prisoner of Tehran and the Red Hot Chili Peppers

1. RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS
L.A. rockers Anthony, Flea, Chad and Josh (who replaced original guitarist John Frusciante in 2009, when he amicably split with the guys in favour of a solo career) are in town supporting their latest album, 2011’s I’m With You. Many songs in their 30-year career have been hits, garnering six Grammy wins and 60 million albums sold—though “Under the Bridge” is probably one of the better ones. April 27 and 28. $55–$75. Air Canada Centre, 40 Bay St., 1-855-985-5000, ticketmaster.ca.

2. ARTS AND FASHION WEEK
Arts and Fashion Week, Toronto Fashion Week’s edgier, alternative cousin, is a four-day extravaganza of photography exhibits, live music, installations and many trips down the 100-foot runway. Now in its seventh year, events are boundary-pushing and plentiful—The Dressing Room Project features installations and video projections from 12 artists, and is always a hit among attendees. To April 28. Day pass $35, weekly pass $75. 213 Sterling Road, fashionarttoronto.ca.

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April 18, 2012 | 12:32 pm

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The Weekender: An Evening With Measha Brueggergosman, Riverdance and six other items on our to-do list

The Weekender: Riverdance, And Yet It Moves and CN Tower Climb

1. AN EVENING WITH MEASHA BRUEGGERGOSMAN
The divine Ms. M—opera singer, reality TV judge and heart disease spokesperson—gets back to her roots with this intimate two-set concert promoting her new album, I’ve Got a Crush on You. April 20. $49.50-$58. Trinity-St. Paul’s United Church, 427 Bloor St. W., 1-855-985-5000, ticketmaster.ca.

2. CN TOWER CLIMB
While most Saturdays find us sleeping in or going to our favourite brunch place for Caesars, this weekend we feel inspired to do something a bit more active: scaling the CN Tower—all 1,776 steps of it—to raise money for the World Wildlife Fund’s conservation efforts. Check-in runs from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. April 21. Minimum donation is $75. CN Tower, 301 Front St. W., wwf.ca/cntower.

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April 11, 2012 | 12:15 pm

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The Weekender: TIFF Kids International Film Festival, The Tales of Hoffmann and six other items on our to-do list

The Weekender: The Tales of Hoffmann, Mad Couture Catwalk and TIFF Kids International Film Festival

1. TIFF KIDS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
This film fest is for the city’s smallest movie lovers. Aimed at kids three and up, TIFF Kids (formerly Sprockets) features tot-appropriate features and shorts from around the world, both live action and animated. This weekend, our picks include Chimpanzee, Disney’s latest nature documentary; Alfie, the Little Werewolf, a Dutch feature about accepting who you really are, featuring a little boy who turns seven and suddenly starts sprouting hair, claws and sharp, sharp teeth; and McB, a doc about a group of elementary school children in New York who stage a production of Macbeth. Post-screening, kids take part in a Shakespeare-themed workshop. To April 22. $8.50–$12. TIFF Bell Lightbox, 350 King St. W., 416-599-8433, tiff.net.

2. THE TALES OF HOFFMANN
The COC kicks off its spring season with this Jacques Offenbach opera. The titular character, played by American tenor Russell Thomas, is a poet and storyteller in love with Stella, an opera singer. At a local tavern with his friend Nicklausse (actually his Muse in disguise) and his rival Lindorf, Hoffmann is convinced to sing a song to the eagerly listening revelers (he’s quite drunk at this point). The ensuing performance relates his pursuit of three prior great loves—and how they were thwarted by a cast of demonic villains, all played by bass-baritone John Relyea. We’re most excited about the famed Barcarolle duet from act two. To May 14. $12–$318. Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, 145 Queen St. W., 416-363-8231, www.coc.ca.

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April 4, 2012 | 2:13 pm

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The Weekender: Kensington Market Sweets Tour, The Ting Tings and six other items on our to-do list

The Weekender: Portable Mosques, The Ting Tings and Kensington Market Sweets Tour

1. ANNUAL EASTER “EGG”STRAVAGANZA
Forget DIY Easter egg hunts, because once the chocolate eggs are gone, it’s all over, which is sad. Instead, head uptown to the zoo, which plays host to a weekend’s worth of fun activities, including visits with the animals and the daily “Beary-Bunny Easter Parade.” Join Explorer Bear, who will be dressed up as a beary-bunny, for a walk through the zoo’s “Spring Trail.” April 6 to 9. $13–$23. Toronto Zoo, 361A Old Finch Ave., 416-392-5929, torontozoo.com.

2. WORLD WAR I MINI FILM FESTIVAL
A Carlton Cinema/War Horse co-production, this mini film festival marks the April 1917 Battle of Vimy Ridge. The skirmish, a defining moment in Canadian military history, saw Canadian soldiers capture the ridge from German forces. Each film takes a different perspective about the Great War: the CanCon-heavy Passchendaele (2008) is a tragic war romance; Oh! What a Lovely War (1969), a musical, uses popular songs of the early 1900s to tell the story of WWI; A Very Long Engagement (2004) is a drama about a young woman trying to find her fiancé—who may have been killed in the Battle of the Somme; and Gallipoli (1981), the film that set a young Mel Gibson on his path to superstardom, examines Australia’s role in the Gallipoli campaign. April 7. $5 suggested donation. Carlton Cinema, 20 Carlton St., 416-598-5454, rainbowcinemas.ca/A/Carlton.

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March 28, 2012 | 3:37 pm

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The Weekender: Earth Hour Sing-A-Long, Prom at the ROM and five other items on our to-do list

The Weekender: Prom at the ROM, Earth Hour and One Of A Kind Show

1. EARTH HOUR SING-A-LONG CONCERT (FREE!)
This Earth Hour, instead of staying home, join the crowd at this environmentally friendly sing-a-long concert. Bring your candles, flashlight, lantern or other light-maker of choice and get down to the “official rally cry,” written by local new media composer/YouTube sensation Andrew Huang, and performed with the help of grown-up glee club Choir! Choir! Choir! Also on the lineup is Aussie artist Jerrem Lynch, who will be projecting art onto a wall at a nearby building. Bonus: you won’t be sitting in the dark solo. March 31. Trinity Square, The Distillery Historic District, 55 Mill St., earthhour.wwf.ca.

2. PROM: CIRCUS
Generally speaking, museum benefits tend to be a little stuffy. This one? Not so much. The annual fundraising event of the ROM’s Young Patrons’ Circle, Prom at the ROM is more of a super-fashionable bash that attracts a who’s who of the city’s young and fabulous. This year’s big-top motif means illusionists, a midway and as much cotton candy as any one person could reasonably eat—plus, with any luck, totally over-the-top outfits. Proceeds from the evening fund programming, acquisitions and research at the ROM. March 31. $125–$300. Royal Ontario Museum, 100 Queen’s Park, 416-586-5772, rom.on.ca/prom.

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March 21, 2012 | 2:26 pm

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The Weekender: Canadian Music Week, Jane Goodall and six other items on our to-do list

The Weekender: Shrek the Musical, The Power Plant Spring Programming and Jane’s Journey

1. CANADIAN MUSIC WEEK
Music lovers can thank this huge, new music-focused fest for the influx of current rock stars and up-and-comers into the city this week, like Slash, I Mother Earth, Dragonette, The Sheepdogs, The Trews and so on. But CMW isn’t just about trying to go to as many shows as we have time for/can afford. In addition to the music festival, there’s a comedy festival, film fest and four conferences—a Digital Media Summit (with a keynote address by Arianna Huffington), Radio Interactive, International Music Summit and Songwriters’ Summit. March 21–25. Wristbands $35–$75. Various locations, cmw.net.

2. THE POWER PLANT SPRING PROGRAMMING (FREE!)
The Power Plant, Harbourfront’s contemporary art gallery and one-time actual power plant, is turning 25. Unlike most galleries, The Power Plant doesn’t buy or sell art—instead, it features exhibits curated around a theme and is comprised of borrowed art. The spring program features two exhibitions themed around history and memory: Kerry Tribe features an installation/screening of her newest project, There Will Be ________, accompanied by two of her older works; and German architect and writer Markus Miessen will showcase his installation “Dissenting Histories,” a collection that focuses on The Power Plant’s history (everything from VHS recordings to artist talks to slides to past invitations). The Power Plant, Harbourfront Centre, 231 Queens Quay W., 416-973-4949, thepowerplant.org

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March 14, 2012 | 4:26 pm

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The Weekender: Sleeping Beauty, Canada Blooms and six other items on our to-do list

Emilia Clarke as Daenerys Targaryen in Game of Thrones, Canada Blooms and Heather Ogden and Guillaume Côté in Sleeping Beauty

1. THE SLEEPING BEAUTY
This classic ballet, adapted by legendary dancer and choreographer Rudolf Nureyev, is based on Marius Petipa’s original choreography and hearkens back to a more traditional era. The story is familiar and the costumes and sets are beautiful, but all that takes a back seat to the exquisite technique, stunning athleticism and magical dancing. To March 18. $21.50–$201. Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, 145 Queen St. W., 416-345-9595, national.ballet.ca.

2. CANADA BLOOMS
With this week’s daylight savings time/double-digit temperature double whammy, spending an afternoon wandering through acres of pretty tropical flora at this annual gardening extravaganza sounds just about perfect to us. Bonus: the National Home Show is also on, and admission covers both shows, so if all those outdoor living ideas inspire other decor-related thoughts, you’re covered. March 16 to 25. $20. Direct Energy Centre, Exhibition Place, 100 Princes’ Blvd., 416-263-3222, canadablooms.com.

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March 7, 2012 | 2:00 pm

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The Weekender: Jann Arden, Spirited Away and six other items on our to-do list

The Weekender: Jann Arden, Spirited Away and The Neverending Story

1. JANN ARDEN
Despite all our attempts to be cool, we have to admit the hilarious Jann Arden is one of our favourite Canadian singers. She even gently poked fun at Pam Anderson’s earnest anti-seal tirade at the 2006 Junos, so we’re kind of in love with her. That’s why we’ll be the ones belting out “Insensitive” during her two-night engagement at Massey Hall. March 9 and 10. $59–$99. Massey Hall, 178 Victoria St., 416-870-8000, ticketmaster.ca.

2. SPIRITED AWAY: THE FILMS OF STUDIO GHIBLI
Studio Ghibli, the Japanese animation and film studio that produced beloved—and much-lauded—animated features like Princess Mononoke, Spirited Away and My Neighbor Totoro, gets the Lightbox treatment with this kid-friendly retrospective. Ghibli garners lots of comparisons to Disney—and it’s certainly as influential as the U.S. kid-flick behemoth—but their elegant, fantasy-driven animation is fun for the grown-ups, too. March 10 to April 13. $12. TIFF Bell Lightbox, 350 King St. W., tiff.net.

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February 29, 2012 | 12:41 pm

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The Weekender: Iain Baxter&, the Carnegie Hall Show and six other items on our to-do list

The Weekender: Iain Baxter&, La Fille mal gardée and Obeah Opera

1. SUMO ROBOT CHALLENGE
This long-running robot fight club—it turns 20 this year—is, in part, a fun way for OCAD U students, local high school kids and other members of the robot-happy public to expand their “imaginations [and] electronic, mechanical and fabrication skills.” But mostly, it’s a chance to pit tiny, metallic warriors against one another in combat. Let there be blood (or strewn robot insides). March 3. $5. OCAD U Auditorium, 100 McCaul St., 416-977-6000 ext. 332, ocadu.ca.

2. LA FILLE MAL GARDÉE
This historic ballet—it was first performed in Bordeaux in the late 1700s—is funny and sweetly innocent without veering into the saccharine. Lise, a maiden from a small French village, is in love with Colas, a handsome young farmer. Her meddlesome mother has other plans—she wants to set her up with the dull son of a wealthy landowner. The young lovers get their happy ending, of course, but it’s the pastoral capers that get them there that makes this a ballet a classic. To March 4. $25–$234. Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, 145 Queen St. W., 416-345-9595, www.national.ballet.ca.

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February 22, 2012 | 12:54 pm

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The Weekender: Sing-a-Long-a Grease, Bloor-Yorkville Icefest and five other items on our to-do list

The Weekender: Bloor-Yorkville Icefest, Grease Sing-A-Long-A and A Brimful of Asha

1. SING-A-LONG-A GREASE
You know the story: bad boy meets good girl, summer love ensues and then school starts. It looks like they’re destined for heartbreak until the good girl perms her hair, takes up smoking, dons some really tight pants and—voila—a happy ending. Even better, there are fabulously cheesy songs throughout. Sing along to “Summer Nights,” “Hopelessly Devoted to You,” “You’re the One that I Want” and “We Go Together”—and marvel at John Travolta’s erstwhile good looks—at this nostalgic screening. February 24–26. $18.75. TIFF Bell Lightbox, 350 King St. W., tiff.net.

2. FINDING FREEDOM: THE JOSHUA GLOVER STORY
In 1852, Joshua Glover escaped from his owner, Bennami Garland, and made the dangerous journey from St. Louis, Missouri to Racine, Wisconsin. Two years later, his worst fears came true: Garland joined forces with two deputy U.S. marshals, tracked Glover down and beat him mercilessly before depositing him in a Milwaukee jail. His story could easily end there—except it doesn’t, because a mob of townspeople made good use of a battering ram and liberated him from prison. After he made his way to Toronto via the Underground Railroad, he ended up working at Montgomery’s Inn. This powerful and dramatic play is a first-person account of Glover’s story, and a good reminder of Toronto’s black history. February 24. $20. Montgomery’s Inn, 4709 Dundas St. W., 416-394-8113, heritagetoronto.org.

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February 15, 2012 | 1:57 pm

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The Weekender: War Horse, Harbourkids SK8 and six other items on our to-do list

The Weeknder: Les Coquettes Speakeasy, I Robot... and War Horse

1. I, ROBOT… YOU, ROBOT… WE, ROBOT
This kid-friendly Science Centre exhibit is more prosaic than its literary—or Hollywood—namesake, but it’s still seriously cool. It explores how we use robots today (building things, cleaning other things, exploring places we can’t go), how we might use them in the future (medical and military applications are pretty much guaranteed) and whether they could ever replace people. To February 26. $20. Ontario Science Centre, 770 Don Mills Rd., 416-696-1000, ontariosciencecentre.ca.

2. WAR HORSE
Kleenex alert: this much-lauded play, based on Michael Morpurgo’s 1982 children’s novel, is more than just a glimpse of history from an unusual perspective or a credit to the artists at South Africa’s Handspring Puppet Company. Some light weeping is almost guaranteed. Consider the storyline: It’s World War I and when the British cavalry comes calling, Albert, a young boy living in Devon, has to give his horse, Joey, up for the cause. After Joey’s rider is killed in action, he ends up serving on both sides of the war and bearing witness to some serious suffering. Oh, and meanwhile, Albert—who’s too young to enlist—sets off on a dangerous adventure to find his horse and bring him home (aw, bless). To June 30. $35–$175. Princess of Wales Theatre, 300 King St. W., 416-872-1212, mirvish.com.

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February 8, 2012 | 1:30 pm

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The Weekender: Potted Potter, Rhubarb Festival and six other items on our to-do list

The Weekender: Potted Potter, Children’s Story Jam and Hamlet Live

1. HAMLET LIVE
Part post-apocalyptic dystopia (it’s set in 2080, and the set-up name-checks everything from violent solar flares to displaced populations to wartime atrocities), and part Shakespearean classic, this Hamlet adaptation keeps Will’s wording but places the young prince, Claudius, Gertrude and the rest of the gang in a futuristic Denmark. King Hamlet oversees a bloody battle to maintain the country’s borders, only to die at his brother’s hand “at the very height of his glory.” Now his son, the young Hamlet, is out for vengeance. In the interest of accessibility—and achieving as large an audience as possible—the play will be live-streamed online ($5), complete with multiple camera angles and on-air editing. To Feb. 11. $20–$40. The Annex Theatre, 730 Bathurst St., hamletlive.com.

2. EROTIC ARTS AND CRAFTS FAIR (FREE!)
Sweetly handmade crafts meet X-rated content at this fair, and it’s the only event of its kind in the country. Think saucy prints, bondage-inspired jewellery and maybe even a choose your own adventure–style zine. Be sure to stick around for the after-show: a cabaret (PWYC or $7) and a sure-to-be raucous after-party. Feb. 11. Gladstone Hotel, 1214 Queen St. W., eroticartsandcrafts.com.

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