my favourite meal of the year @chefbuca this Canadian is a humble genius such integrit @ Buca Restaurant Toronto http://instagr.am/p/Ug-v5/

The humble genius in question is, of course, Buca chef Rob Gentile, who took to Twitter himself last night to declare he’d “had a great time doin it up!” cooking for Oliver and Derek Dammann, the chef of Montreal’s DNA. We can’t help but imagine it’ll be even harder than usual to find a table at Buca tonight.

(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. Lauded for his command of the Romantic repertoire, the young pianist is playing to his strengths during his time in Toronto, with performances of all five Beethoven piano concertos. Tomorrow he takes on the restrained, elegant no. 2, and on Saturday he wraps up the series with no. 5, the majestic Emperor concerto.

Lang Lang’s playing is sometimes characterized as undisciplined or poorly thought out, but maybe that’s not such a bad thing. For one thing, the agility he demonstrates on rapid passages is mind-boggling, an athletic balance between power and control. When we saw him perform the fourth concerto, the raw impetuousness of his reading brought some fun into the centuries-old music. His exuberant, playful phrasing and probing intensity always pulses with the spirit, if not the precision, of the complex piece—he lets the works breathe. Lang Lang is a young guy; refinement will come in time. For now, savour the youthful fireworks.

The Details: November 17 and 19, 8 p.m. $49–$179. Roy Thomson Hall, 60 Simcoe St., 416-872-4255, tso.ca.

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
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.

3. LOVE LIES BLEEDING
Choreographed by the Alberta Ballet’s artistic director Jean Grand-Maître and featuring 14 of Elton John’s biggest hits, this boundary-pushing ballet features jazz, aerialists, a roller skating routine, and is anchored by thoroughly modern subject matter (“the cult of celebrity and the triumphs and challenges of superstardom”). To Nov. 12. $48.10–$186.60. Sony Centre for the Performing Arts, 1 Front St. E., 416-870-8000, ticketmaster.ca.

4. BLACK STAR
This conscious hip-hop outfit, a collaboration between a couple of guys named Mos Def and Talib Kweli (maybe you’ve heard of them?), formed shortly after the deaths of Tupac Shakur and the Notorious B.I.G. The rap world was trying to come to terms with the consequences of the East Coast/West Coast rivalry, and the time was right for the emergence of another kind of rap. Black Star only released one self-titled album, but now, to the delight of hip-hop heads everywhere, Mos and Talib are back together. An album is in the works for next year, but until then this reunion show will more than do. Nov. 12. $40. Kool Haus, 132 Queen’s Quay E., 416-870-8000, ticketmaster.ca.

5. CAPTURE THE FLAG (FREE!)
What better way to spend a Saturday night than teaming up with like-minded Torontonians and bolting through the Financial District and PATH network using whatever means necessary to capture the enemy team’s flag? Brought to you by the same people who staged such spectacles as the mass pillow fights and bubble battles. Nov. 12. Toronto City Hall, 100 Queen St. W., newmindspace.com.

6. REEL ASIAN FILM FESTIVAL
This 15-year-old celebration of Asian cinema features picks from across Asia and the world, including everything from timely dramas (check out this weekend’s The Journals of Musan, about North Korean refugees struggling to adapt to life in Seoul) to anime (Fullmetal Alchemist: The Sacred Star of Milos, the second film based on Hiromu Arakawa’s popular manga series) to sweeping epics (Pearls of the Far East, about the forbidden loves of seven Vietnamese women, spanning several generations). Industry workshops, artist talks and special events (like this weekend’s live music showcase, featuring San Fran musician Goh Nakamura) are also on offer. November 8 to 19. Festival passes $80, regular ticket $5–$20. Various locations, reelasian.com.

7. GRACE KELLY: FROM MOVIE STAR TO PRINCESS
For the princess in us, this rare glimpse into the life of a style icon is just too good to pass up. Featuring snippets of Grace Kelly’s wardrobe, including frocks (an entire section is devoted to her wedding gown, with a replica on display), her tiara, excerpts from childhood scrapbooks and high school yearbooks, personal letters and telegrams from Prince Rainier, this exhibit is both a tribute to a woman who got to live two common girlish dreams (she became a movie star and a princess), and a veritable treasure trove of style tips. To Jan. 22, 2012. $15. TIFF Bell Lightbox, 350 King St. W., tiff.net.

8. TORONTO SKETCH COMEDY FESTIVAL
The laughs will be coming fast and furious at this annual comedy event. The lineup of sketch troupes heavily favours Toronto: the hilarious all-female troupe She Said What; the very established The Second City; and Two Kids One Hall (with Scott Thompson and Kevin McDonald from Kids in the Hall). But the rest of Canada and our neighbors to the south are fairly represented, too. Expect plenty of new material, plus remounts of full-length gags like The Second City’s Dreams Really Do Come True (and Other Lies). To Nov. 13. $15­­–$29. Various locations, torontosketchfest.com.

(Images: Mos Def, Stephanie Bouzard; Lang Lang,World Economic Forum; Grace Kelly, Supplied)

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!)
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.

3. A NIGHTMARE ON LIBERTY STREET
Call it trick-or-treating for grown-ups—this pub crawl raises money for Project Connect, a joint initiative of Habitat for Humanity and Softchoice that provides computers to needy families. But do-gooding aside, it’s also a chance to dress up, have a snack and libation, and dance and win prizes for your awesome Kim Kardashian costume at the official after-party. Oct. 28. $20. Liberty Village, https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=272023272817926.

4. ART TORONTO 2011
At this year’s Art Toronto, Kent Monkman has an interactive maze of an exhibit called the Art Game, full of double-sided mirrors and fake doors. There’s also a series of exclusive Edward Burtynsky prints for sale and a solo show of Chuck Close works. Upwards of 100 galleries from here and abroad have contributed exhibits, not to mention the tours, installations, film screenings and solo showings. Oct. 28 to 31. $18. Metro Toronto Convention Centre, North Building, 255 Front St. W., artoronto.ca.

5. THRILLER HALLOWEEN WORKSHOP
It’s not Halloween unless you’re dressed up as a ghoulie or ghostie and doing some only-slightly-flailing choreography to Michael Jackson’s “Thriller.” Dancers at all levels are invited to learn the moves from the iconic video. And while it might not be everyone’s definition of a perfect All Hallow’s Eve, we don’t judge how you celebrate holidays, and we’d appreciate a similar courtesy. Oct. 30. $10. Dovercourt House, 2nd Floor, 805 Dovercourt Rd., pushpulldance.com.

6. FRIGHT NIGHTS: GUILLERMO DEL TORO DOES HALLOWEEN
Filmmaker Guillermo del Toro knows scary—in addition to directing his fair share of unnerving flicks (like the beautifully creepy Pan’s Labyrinth), he’s also the author of two vampire novels, The Strain and The Fall. The horror connoisseur has chosen some of his favourite scary movie picks for this screening series: The Innocents, Black Sabbath, L’arcano incantatore and two of his own films, Cronos and The Devil’s Backbone. Oct. 27 to 30. $12. TIFF Bell Lightbox, 350 King St. W., tiff.net.

7. FELA!
This high-energy show is the musical equivalent of a biopic about Nigerian musician Fela Kuti, who introduced Afrobeat music to the world at large and was a lifelong activist. Produced by Jay-Z, Will Smith and Jada Pinkett-Smith and directed and choreographed by Bill T. Jones, it was a hit with the celeb contingent in New York (The Roots’ Questlove is a fan, Spike Lee reportedly saw it eight times and everyone from Oprah to Sting has been spotted at performances). In addition to racking up hit albums, Kuti racked up hundreds of beatings and arrests for his continued defiance of the corrupt military regimes of his homeland. To Nov. 6. $35–$130. Canon Theatre, 244 Victoria St., 416-872-1212, mirvish.com.

8. ABSOLUTELY VINTAGE CLOTHING SALE (FREE!)
Vintage mavens Victoria Dinnick (Leslieville’s Gadabout), Leslie Zysman (Cabbagetown’s Eclectisaurus), dealer Angela McCool and June Troy of the Toronto Vintage Clothing and Textile Show are joining forces—and inventories—for this huge sale. Men’s and women’s clothing, jewellery, accessories, textiles and other bits and bobs from the 1890s to the 1970s are on offer. Oct. 29. Maple Cottage, 62 Laing St., 416-463-1254, gadabout.ca.

(Image: Minnelli, Joella Marano; skulls, Glen Van Etten; Ngaujah, Tristram Kenton)

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.

3. OPERANATION 8: A MUSE BALL
This year’s fundraising gala for the Canadian Opera Company’s COC Ensemble Studio, a training program for aspiring opera singers, is all about artistic inspiration. The tortured singer-songwriter–cum–opera composer Rufus Wainwright is the extra-special musical guest; expect his signature baroque pop sound, lots of dancing and copious references to great muses, past and present. October 21. $150. Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, 145 Queen St. W., 416-363-8231, coc.ca.

4. TORONTO ZOMBIE WALK (FREE!)
This five-kilometre stroll is not like other walks that take place in the city from time to time. Lycra rarely makes an appearance, for one thing, and there’s more shambling, ragged clothing and faux decomposition. Registration required. October 22. Trinity Bellwoods Park, torontozombiewalk.ca.

5. TORONTO AFTER DARK FILM FESTIVAL
For those seeking to get in the Halloween spirit in a less participatory fashion (i.e. costumes not required), this annual shiver-inducing fest is key. Zombies appear on the lineup, naturally, with the world premiere of Marko Makilaakso’s War of the Dead. Also on offer this weekend, Father’s Day, a very, very violent tale of a vigilante on the hunt for a serial killer, and Redline, a seven-years-in-the-making anime featuring a psychotic cross-planetary death race. To October 27. Screenings $13, gala screenings $15. Toronto Underground Cinema, 186 Spadina Ave., 647-992-4335, torontoafterdark.com.

6. HOW TO SUCCEED: A MUSICAL TRIBUTE TO DES MCANUFF
Stratford Shakespeare Festival artistic director Des McAnuff gets the tribute show treatment with this fundraising concert for, naturally, the Des McAnuff Scholarship Awards at Ryerson’s theatre school. The show features performances of songs from McAnuff-directed hits Jesus Christ Superstar, Jersey Boys and How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. October 23. $50, gala tickets $150. Koerner Hall, The Royal Conservatory, 273 Bloor St. W., 416-408-0208, rcmusic.ca.

7. LES COQUETTES PRESENT CABARET ENCHANTÉ
Most people know that the original versions of fairy tales collected by the Grimm brothers et al. aren’t quite as warm and fuzzy as the more popular retellings—blood and gore and horrible endings for innocent children were pretty common. Just keep that in mind when taking in this cabaret burlesque show from Les Coquettes. “Beloved fairy tale characters” make up the cast, but expect the darker sides of their stories to emerge. October 23 to 30. $15–$30. Revival, 783 College St., 1-877-821-7803, lescoquettes.com.

8. MICHAEL JACKSON: THE IMMORTAL WORLD TOUR
Highly anticipated and only in town for a very short run, this Michael Jackson tribute incorporates some of the King of Pop’s most well-known and loved songs and Cirque du Soleil’s terrifying acrobatics. It’s also set in the “fantastical realm” of Jackson’s “inner world” which, frankly, sounds just as scary. We can’t wait. October 21 to 23. $50–$175. Air Canada Centre, 50 Bay St., 416-870-8000, ticketmaster.ca.

(Images: Jeremy Laing model, Jenna Marie Wakani; zombie nurse, Christopher Brian from the Torontolife.com Flickr pool; Ondaatje, Tulane Public Relations)

(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.

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 »

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.

Here’s the prevailing (albeit disputed) narrative: a young woman in an orange volunteer T-shirt approached Madonna at the end of her Q&A at the press conference for W.E. and asked for an autograph, claiming it was “for a volunteer.” For her part, Madge reluctantly complied. Now, we received an inside scoop that the rogue autograph-seeker wasn’t a volunteer or even a fawning Madonna fan—she hunts star signatures in hopes of turning them into a tidy little profit. Apparently, she got her hands on a volunteer T-shirt and then brazenly strolled into the press conference (which had heavy security). She waited for Madonna to wrap up, made her move and then made a break for it. As she exited, security grabbed her, demanding to see her volunteer pass and identification. She had neither and said so. But when security let her out of its grip for a moment, she made a dash for it, running six flights down a concrete stairwell and out of the TIFF Bell Lightbox.

Items signed by Madonna regularly fetch hundreds, even thousands, of dollars, and the value increases if there is a photograph of the autograph being signed. Considering this incident was all over the news—and in so ways contributed to Madonna’s TIFF PR nightmare—we’re betting it will fetch a pretty penny.

•  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

• 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

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.

• 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

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.

• 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

• 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