The once Naked Chef was in town last night for a speaking engagement at Roy Thomson Hall to promote Jamie Oliver’s Food Escapes, his new show that’s a somewhat less potty-mouthed version of Anthony Bourdain’s No Reservations. Judging by a tweet from this morning, he was more than a little impressed with the food he ate last night at King West rustic Italian restaurant Buca:
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The Pick: Lang Lang’s youthful fireworks with the Toronto Symphony
(Image: Philip Glaser)
The 29-year-old Chinese pianist Lang Lang has an unimpeachable image. He’s got perfectly sculpted spiky hair, lots of carefully draped scarves, a closet full of designer suits and a flair for the dramatic when he’s on the bench. With endorsement campaigns and sold-out arenas, he’s turned a classical performance career into a multi-million-dollar enterprise. Sometimes that works against him, obscuring the gifts that brought him such fame in the first place. But Lang Lang is the real deal, and Toronto audiences are being given the opportunity to hear his prodigious talent in a two-week residency with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra.
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The Weekender: Lang Lang, Mary Poppins and six other things on our to-do list
The Weekender: Black Star, Lang Lang and Grace Kelly=
1. LANG LANG BEETHOVEN SERIES
Lang Lang—a 29-year-old Chinese piano prodigy and one of Time’s most influential people of 2009—is in Toronto for a 10-day engagement. He takes on all five of Beethoven’s piano concertos, plus works by Mendelssohn, Smetana and Martinů, and he will be premiering a piece by Chinese-American composer Bright Sheng. November 9 to 19. $49–$179. Roy Thomson Hall, 60 Simcoe St., 416-872-4255, roythomson.com.
2. MARY POPPINS Read the rest of this entry »
Forgive the bad Farrelly brothers reference, but there’s something about Mary (Poppins). This classic children’s tale has gone from a book series to a popular Disney movie to a Tony-winning musical (for set design), which we’re very excited to see. Don’t judge—as if the opening notes of “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” don’t get you humming, too. From Nov. 10. $38.50–$185. Princess of Wales Theatre, 300 King St. W., 416-872-1212, mirvish.com.
The Weekender: Liza Minnelli, Día de los Muertos and six other events on our to-do list
La Liza, Día de los Muertos candy skulls and Sahr Ngaujah as Fela Kuti
1. LIZA MINNELLI
La Liza, one of the world’s few EGOT winners (that’s Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony), takes the stage this weekend for a one-night-only roundup of the biggest hits from her decades-long career—and, with any luck, a reprise of her cover of Beyonce’s “Single Ladies” from Sex and the City 2. Oct. 28. $59.50–$199.50. Roy Thomson Hall, 60 Simcoe St., 416-872-4255, roythomson.com.
2. DÍA DE LOS MUERTOS AT EVERGREEN BRICK WORKS (FREE!) Read the rest of this entry »
While this is the season for spooky, it’s not all haunted houses and black cats. Take, for example, the Day of the Dead. Closely tied to the Catholic holidays All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day, this Mexican holiday is a time for honouring loved ones who have passed away. The Brick Works incorporates traditional elements of el Día de los Muertos, like decorated altars, candy skull making, Mexican folk music and a craft workshop. Oh, and for $5 you can judge a churro competition featuring Cava’s Chris McDonald, Frida’s José Haddad and five other chefs. Oct. 29. Evergreen Brick Works, 550 Bayview Ave., ebw.evergreen.ca.
The Weekender: International Festival of Authors, Operanation and six more items on our to do list
1. LG FASHION WEEK
Some of the city’s more fashionable citizens have been accumulating this year behind Roy Thomson Hall to check out what’ll be big next spring from the likes of Pink Tartan, Bustle, Cynthia Rowley and the eminently wearable Joe Fresh. The most high-style week of the year (or one of two, at least) wraps up on Friday with shows by David Dixon and Denis Gagnon. To October 21. Various prices. David Pecaut Square (formerly Metro Square), King St. W. between John and Simcoe streets, lgfashionweek.ca.
2. INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF AUTHORS
Once again it’s storytime for grownups (and very precocious children) at Harbourfront. Big-name writers like Michael Ondaatje, Miriam Toews, Johanna Skibsrud and Douglas Coupland will be taking part in panels, book signings and, most importantly, readings at this 12-day literary fest. To October 30. $10-$35. Harbourfront Centre, 235 Queens Quay W., 416-973-4000, readings.org.
The Moment: the astounding emotional outpouring following Jack Layton’s death
(Image: Daniel Neuhaus)
Saturday, August 27, 2 p.m. When Jack Layton announced in July that he intended to return from cancer treatment in time for the next session of Parliament, we believed him—or at least, we willed ourselves to—even though his sunken cheeks and withered frame suggested otherwise. So news of his death, just 28 days later, came as a shock, which partly explains the flood of public mourning that followed. Supporters clutched flowers, waved flags and, in one remarkable case, released 61 doves, one for each year of his life. Nathan Phillips Square was covered in chalk messages of hope and condolence that three rainstorms couldn’t wash away, because the writers kept coming back. Teary-eyed dignitaries and 600 members of the public crammed into the funeral service at Roy Thomson Hall, while thousands more watched the live feed outside and in living rooms across the city. It was an astounding emotional outpouring for a man who had never been mayor, premier or prime minister. But Layton was something much rarer in politics. He was an idealist, an agitator and a straight talker—in other words, the perfect person to lead the Opposition. It was a role he played far too briefly.
TIFF 2011 Roundup: “Glowing” (i.e. pregnant) mothers edition
Jennifer Podemski at the premiere of Take This Waltz (Image: Christopher Dross)
Baby bumps were in fashion this year at TIFF, where several expecting stars strolled red carpets in clothes that skirted the usual maternity clichés. Canadian director Sarah Polley announced she was pregnant before the festival started, joining TIFF’s mommies-to-be club that also included Jennifer Garner, Bryce Dallas Howard and Jennifer Podemski.
Check out our slideshow of all four »
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- Sarah Polley looked the part of dressed-up indie darling at the premiere of her film Take This Waltz for which she wore a long black satin gown. She’s expecting her first child with husband David Sandomierski.
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- Jennifer Garner is expecting her third child with husband Ben Affleck. The two celebs are proud parents to Violet, age 5, and Seraphina, age 2. Garner was pretty in pink at the premiere of Butter, wearing sparkly Valentino. We’d never guess she was pregnant.
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- Jennifer Podemski sashayed across the stage at Roy Thomson Hall in a black cocktail dress prior to the premiere screening of Take This Waltz, proudly displaying her very pregnant belly.
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- Bryce Dallas Howard was glowing on the red carpet for Restless with perhaps the biggest baby bump of them all—and yet she managed to look event-appropriate and stylish at the same time. Maternity dress, this is not. Howard is expecting her second child with husband Seth Gabel.
Wherein we get the story behind the rogue autograph-seeker at the Madonna press conference
Madonna walks the red carpet at TIFF 2011 (Image: Christopher Drost)
The rumour mill has been constantly churning regarding the Material Girl’s behavior at TIFF, ever since a rogue fan somehow broke into her press conference last week and asked for her John Hancock (not to mention that whole mess around Madge telling a group of TIFF volunteers to turn their backs to the wall as she passed by). We have the real story (hint: the autograph seeker wasn’t the orange-clad volunteer she pretended to be) after the jump.
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Today at TIFF: Page Eight gala presentation
Our daily roundup of opening galas, parties and screenings.
• 9:15 a.m. The Story of Film: An Odyssey free screening at TIFF Bell Lightbox
• 6 p.m. Page Eight gala presentation at Roy Thomson Hall
• 11:59 p.m. Kill List midnight madness at Ryerson Theatre
Today at TIFF: The Awakening gala presentation and Midnight Madness
Our daily roundup of opening galas, parties and screenings.
• 10 a.m. The Story of Film: An Odyssey at the AGO
• 6:30 p.m. The Awakening gala presentation at Roy Thomson Hall
• 9:30 p.m. Winnie gala presentation at Roy Thomson Hall
• 11:59 p.m. Smuggle midnight madness screening at Ryerson Theatre
TIFF PHOTO GALLERY: Nicolas Cage walks the red carpet for Joel Schumacher’s Trespass
After charming the assembled press corps with tales of a naked man eating a Fudgsicle in his bed at the press conference for Trespass, Nicolas Cage charmed his screaming fans at the red carpet at Roy Thomson Hall for the new Joel Schumacher flick, signing autographs the entire length of the carpet from underneath an umbrella. Seriously, Cage is a charmer (and, frankly, we’re kind of surprised). Unfortunately, his co-star in the film, Nicole Kidman, wasn’t in attendance (she’s currently shooting another picture in the U.S.). But no matter, Cage and Schumacher managed to delight fans without her. See our photo gallery, after the jump.
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Today at TIFF: Hysteria gala presentation, The Day midnight madness screening and more
Our daily roundup of opening galas, parties and screenings.
• 10 a.m. The Story of Film: An Odyssey free screening at the AGO
• 6:30 p.m. A Happy Event gala presentation at Roy Thomson Hall
• 8 p.m. Hysteria official cast dinner with Maggie Gyllenhaal at the Roosevelt Room
• 9 p.m. The Day official cast party with Dominic Monaghan at FStop
• 9:30 p.m. Hysteria gala presentation at Roy Thomson Hall
• 11:59 p.m. The Day midnight madness presentation at Ryerson Theatre
TIFF PHOTO GALLERY: Jennifer Garner and Olivia Wilde walk the red carpet for Butter
The gala presentation of Butter at Roy Thomson Hall last night was all about the ladies. Little Yara Shahidi kicked off the proceeds at the most packed and frenetic red carpet since Madge walked here on Monday, and she was downright adorable, giggling at the barrage of flashes and the demands of fans who claimed to have been lining the barricades since 5 a.m. Ashley Greene came next in a swish knee-length silver number, but was—dare we say it—outshone by Olivia Wilde, who was stunning in a floor-length white and gold gown (we’re not sure if it was intentional, but she did appear to be channelling Diane Kruger’s character in Troy). The only fellas worth mentioning at this affair were director Jim Field Smith and writer Jason Micallef. Sadly, Hugh Jackman couldn’t make it to the Big Smoke for this year’s festival, but Alicia Silverstone helped make up for it, although we figure it must be annoying to still be signing eight-by-10s of herself as Cher Horowitz from Clueless. Of course, Jennifer Garner also graced the red carpet, sporting two of this year’s most popular accessories: epically high heels and a baby bump. See our photo gallery, after the jump.
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Today at TIFF: Starbuck gala presentation and Trespass after party with Nicolas Cage
Our daily roundup of opening galas, parties and screenings.
• 6:30 p.m. Starbuck gala presentation at Roy Thomson Hall
• 7 p.m. Festival Music House with the Arkells and Hey Rosetta at The Mod Club
• 9 p.m. Jeff Who Lives at Home special presentation at the Elgin Theatre
• 9:30 p.m. Trespass gala presentation at Roy Thomson Hall
• 11:00 p.m. Trespass after-party at the Soho Metropolitan Hotel
Today at TIFF: Butter gala presentation and Festival Music House
Our daily roundup of opening galas, parties and screenings.
• 6 p.m. Like Crazy special presentation at Ryerson Theatre
• 6:30 p.m. Peace, Love and Misunderstanding gala presentation at Roy Thomson Hall
• 7 p.m. Festival Music House with Sam Roberts Band, The Sheepdogs at the Mod Club
• 7 p.m. Butter official cast party with Jennifer Garner and Olivia Wilde at Burroughes Building
• 8 p.m. Interview magazine and Joe Fresh party at the Spoke Club
• 9 p.m. ET Canada’s 6th birthday party at Spice Route
• 9:30 p.m. Butter gala presentation at Roy Thomson Hall
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