Monday
Could there once have existed a Toronto Labour Day in which the sounds of end-of-summer drunken revelry and/or Jerry Lewis telethons were not obscured by the deafening wail of passing jets? Perhaps, but such a scenario would be too dismaying to linger upon. If you’re looking for a real dyed-in-the-wool Toronto perennial, why not drop by Ontario Place, Toronto Island, or any number of nearby viewing spots for the Canadian National Exhibition’s annual closing show, 100 percent mandated by Canadian air regulation.
Celebrating their 40th anniversary, the Canadian Snowbirds will deliver the usual display of intricately-choreographed airborne acrobatics, while Torontonians everywhere will be happily reminded that yes, we actually do have armed forces in this country, more or less. High above Lake Ontario. Free. September 6, 12:30-4:30 p.m.
Tuesday
So, you want to be a writer. You’ve bought the moleskin, and the scratch of your pen on the page sends shivers down your spine. Or maybe you’ve grown up with dreams of elucidating your views on American transcendentalism in a dark room with a bottle of red wine. The Art Bar poetry series is one of Canada’s longest-running reading series, hosted in the dimly lit back room of Clinton’s Tavern. Each week, three established “invited poets” start off the program, mingling with young up-and-comers brave enough to sign up for the open mic portion of the evening. The event’s inclusive attitude and close-knit community is enough to make any up-and-comer feel like a literary celebrity — at least for their three-minute time allotment at the mic. This week’s reading features Betsy Struthers, who won the Lowther Award in 2004 for her book Still; Andrea Thompson, a slam poet who was nominated for a Canadian Urban Music Award in 2005; and Merle Nudelman. Clinton’s Tavern. 693 Bloor Street West. PWYC. September 7. 8 p.m.
Wednesday
While it may lack TIFF’s glitz and glam, the annual Toronto Independent Film Festival is worthy of the same hype. Housed at the Toronto Underground Cinema — a unique theater that opened in 1977 that used to specialize in Kung Fu film screenings — the festival features dozens of low-budget films from around the world. Admission is free on its September 8th opening night. In addition to three short films, the evening’s lineup includes the feature film Armless, an off-kilter comedy about a man who goes in search of a doctor who will amputate his arm. There will also be a question and answer session following the screening of The Red Machine, a film that centers on the journey of a Depression-era thief who is recruited by a U.S. spy to steal a Japanese coding device. Toronto Underground Cinema, 186 Spadina Avenue, September 8 ongoing until the 18. 6 p.m. Ticket prices vary.
Thursday
Second City is one of the premier comedy troupes in the world and has theatres throughout North America. Toronto’s Second City, located at 51 Mercer Street, stages shows seven nights a week and only charges $15 for student tickets. Something Wicked Awesome This Way Comes, playing Thursday, featuring a series of sketches and songs all based on the premise that everyone — no matter how strange, silly, or stupid — is awesome. 51 Mercer Street. $15. Ongoing.
Friday
This year, the Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art (MOCCA) is offering film enthusiasts the chance to explore another dimension of a classic noir. On September 10, it will present HEAVENHELL, an installation by two Canadian artists that was inspired by Akira Kurosawa’s 1963 classic High & Low. The film’s famed brothel scene could not be shot on location in the slums of Koganecho, Yokohama, where it was too dangerous to bring the cast and crew. Almost 50 years after High & Low was originally released, Chris Chong Chan Fui and Yasuhiro Morinaga have restaged the scene in the location where it was originally meant to be shot. Their re-imagining of the scene is presented as a 6 channel audio-visual installation, which is being featured at MOCCA (952 Queen Street West) in collaboration with TIFF. Admission is free to its September 10th opening night, which runs from 7-10 p.m.
Saturday
If sitting in a theatre on a Saturday night doesn’t sound kick ass enough for you, check out the Toronto Roller Derby game up at Downsview Park. Odds are you’ve never been to an all-women’s roller derby race before and you may not have realized that these full-contact contests survived since 1970s. However, the sport, which actually dates back to the 1930s, is alive and well in the 21st century and is experiencing a tremendous revival. So if you’re looking for a wild way to spend a Saturday evening, head over to The Hangar at Downsview Park to watch Chicks Ahoy! battle the Smoke City Betties for Toronto Roller Derby League supremacy. It’s well worth the twenty-five minute subway trip to Toronto’s north end to watch these talented and energetic contestants clash in the arena. Downsview Park. 35 Carl Hall Road. $12 in advance and $18 at the door. September 10, 6:30 p.m.
Sunday
Kevin Quain and the Mad Bastards’ “garage jazz cabaret noir” ensemble that has staged an unprecedented 14 year residency at Toronto’s original art theatre music bar, the Cameron House. This event feels like traveling to an underground jazz bar in the Roaring Twenties in the wee hours of the night. This supremely laid-back setting, what with its dark mood lighting and richly textured, world-weathered walls, is the perfect home for Quain’s husky velvet voice and variety of instruments (including a saw). Don’t forget to tip generously as they circle the room, serenading each crowd member. Cameron House. 408 Queen Street West. PWYC. September 11, 10 p.m.
