PRIDE WEEK
The parade isn’t till next week, but there are a lot of interesting Pride events to hit this weekend. Our picks:
1. Cabaret performers pay tribute to queer icons in Madonna Saved Me. June 20, 8:30 p.m. $15. Buddies in Bad Times Theatre Mainspace, 12 Alexander St. (at Yonge), 416-975-8555, www.artsexy.ca.

2. On Saturday, stop by the Celebrity Lezbian Fists party, featuring a collection of silicone fist casts by local collective P.G. Thing Co., an homage to Cynthia Plaster Caster’s phallic moulds of the late ’60s. June 21, 1 p.m.–3 p.m. Free. Art Metropole, 788 King St. W. (at Bathurst), 416-703-4400, www.artmetropole.com.

3. Don’t miss kick-ass comedian Sandra Bernhard, the week’s biggest name, in a one-night-only performance at Massey Hall. June 22, 8 p.m. $25–$70. 178 Victoria St. (at Shuter St.), 416-870-8000, www.ticketmaster.com.

4. THE NATIVE EXPERIENCE IN ORAL STORIES AND LITERATURE (FREE!)
CanLit fave Thomas King and poet Lee Maracle explore common themes in native literature for this panel discussion, part of the Reference Library’s inaugural Aboriginal Day celebrations. June 20, 6 p.m. Toronto Reference Library, 789 Yonge St. (at Bloor), 416-395-5577.

5. THE BIG FESTIVAL (FREE!)
Bloor Street West from Christie to Lansdowne goes car-free for this fest, which includes obligatory A&E (live music, spoken word, shows with giant puppets), plus a street fair with demos from the ROM, AGO and National Film Board. June 21, 1 p.m.–9 p.m. 416-536-9888, www.bigonbloor.com/festival.

6. LA FRANCO-FÊTE (FREE!)
This was once a très petit St. Jean Baptiste celebration, but it’s grown—like French women supposedly don’t—into a much larger francophile fest. Look for a cook-off between J.P. Challet of the Fifth; Khadija Mahi, a private chef; and David Chrystian of Chez Victor. June 21, noon–midnight. Harbourfront Centre, 235 Queens Quay W., 416-973-4000, www.harbourfrontcentre.com.

7. ONTARIO WINE WEEK
Wine week wraps up on Saturday, so be sure to indulge in some of the province’s finest wine at top T.O. restaurants, including Jacobs & Co., The Miller Tavern and Reds. Just ask the sommelier. To June 21. Various locations, www.ontariowineawards.ca/glass08.htm.

8. WALKING WITH DINOSAURS: THE LIVE EXPERIENCE
If you weren’t one of the 50,000 people who caught this show last August, here’s your chance to see dinosaurs—a 56-foot-long brachiosaurus or a baby T. Rex, for example—stalking around the ACC. To June 22. $20–$85. Air Canada Centre, 40 Bay St. (at Front St. E.), 416-870-8000, www.dinosaurlive.com.

OTHER EVENTS TO CHECK OUT:
• The weekend-long Dragon Boat Race Festival
• Filmmaker Peter Lynch discusses Toronto, moviegoing and his career on June 20
• The All-Canadian Rose Show in Burlington runs all weekend
• TD Canada Trust Toronto Jazz Festival has great shows on offer