1. THE EX
Bill Clinton won’t be making his CNE appearance until next Saturday, but there’s plenty to do this weekend. Check out the working farm and sample treats from over 100 vendors in the Food Building. And, of course, there are the rides. On Friday, the midway offers a recession-friendly general admission fee of $1.75 in celebration of Toronto’s 175th birthday. Aug. 21 to Sept. 7. $15. Exhibition Place, 210 Princes’ Blvd., 416-393-6300, theex.com.

2. DE LA SOUL
In a throwback to the golden age of hip hop, rappers De La Soul hit Toronto as part of their anniversary tour, 20 Years High and Rising. The trio, whose members joined forces at their Long Island, N.Y., high school in the late ’80s, is known for its wordplay, sampling and skits, as well as its huge influence on the genre. Proof? Posdnuos, Trugoy and Maceo can count such current chart-toppers as the Black Eyed Peas and Mos Def among their musical disciples. Aug. 23. $31.50. Phoenix Concert Theatre, 410 Sherbourne St., 416-870-8000, ticketmaster.ca.

3. WEST QUEEN WEST MUSICFEST (FREE!)
Trinity Bellwoods will be rocking this Sunday, thanks to the first ever Queen West MusicFest fundraiser for Toronto East General Hospital. Check the homegrown talent: southern blues rockers Grady (headlined by former Big Sugar front man Gordie Johnson), five-piece alt-rock ensemble Opus Road and Canadian Radio Star Award winner Hill Kourkoutis and her band, the Sky Heroes. Cool down with a pint and burger at the beer tent. Aug. 23. Trinity Bellwoods Park, queenwestmusicfest.com.

4. BILLY BISHOP GOES TO WAR
Eric Peterson, also known as cranky Oscar Leroy on CTV’s Corner Gas, wrote the lyrics to this Canuck musical with composer John MacLachlan Gray back in the mid-’70s. The play, in which Peterson portrays Canadian fighter pilot and WWI hero Billy Bishop, went on to become one of the most widely produced Canadian productions ever, scooping up accolades on Broadway and in London’s West End. Part of Soulpepper’s 2009 season, this run marks Billy Bishop’s 31st anniversary. Until Aug. 29. $28–$68. Young Centre for the Performing Arts, 55 Mill St., Bldg. 49, 416-866-8666, youngcentre.ca.

5. TORONTO SUPER 8 AND 8MM FILM NIGHT
With TIFF just around the corner, film buffs need a little something to take the edge off the anticipation. Cheaper than a night out at the cinema, this event features films by local talent alongside classic movies, 1930s cartoons and even some original home movies. Aug. 22. $5. Above David’s Pizza Eatery, 544 Yonge St., super8porter.ca/#torontoaug22.

6. SHE SAID WHAT, OFFICER?
She Said What, a ladies-only sketch comedy group made up of young Torontonians, is taking over the Comedy Bar for a no-holds-barred evening of laughs. (Don’t worry, guys. The group promises no men-bashing or menstrual cycle jokes.) Even better, the show will be hosted by comic Debra DiGiovanni, who regularly rips into poorly conceived music videos on MuchMusic’s Video on Trial. Aug. 21. $10. Comedy Bar, 945 Bloor St. W., shesaidwhatonline.ca.

7. STOP FOR FOOD
Some of the city’s top restaurants—Amuse-Bouche, C5, Cowbell, Niagara Street Café and Zucca—have signed on to this prix fixe fundraiser. Either $5 or $10 from every meal will be donated to the Stop Community Food Centre, a Davenport food bank that served 16,000 people in 2008. Until Aug. 31. $35–$50. Various locations, crosstownkitchens.com.