The life and times of Broken Social Scene
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I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change gets a 2013 revamp
For every studio head that’s screamed, “give the people what they want” there’s a director or producer who’s fought tooth and nail against the old adage. And it’s a creative push-pull that continues with this week’s premiere of I Love … Continue Reading
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Youth as fetish: Art exhibit showcases musicians who died at 27
Its name suggests sunny optimism, but Forever 27, the latest show at Queen West rock photography hub the Analogue Gallery, is anything but. “It’s almost a youth-as-fetish show,” says owner Lucia Graca. The exhibit, part of this month’s Scotiabank Contact … Continue Reading
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Hot Docs festival: From barely meeting payroll to international acclaim
The first time Chris McDonald walked into the Hot Docs offices, there were no phones, furniture or even people. “I literally walked into an empty office,” he recalls. “We definitely had trouble meeting payroll the first couple months.” McDonald was … Continue Reading
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Metro Youth Opera celebrates third season of helping music grads connect the dots
Like most grads, Kate Applin was at a crossroads when school finished. Five years at Wilfrid Laurier yielded a music degree and an opera diploma yet, “I didn’t know what happened between training and becoming a professional,” she says. “How … Continue Reading
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TIFF showcase focuses on Japanese cinema’s era of ‘otaku’
It was “the last great era” of Japanese filmmaking, enthuses James Quandt. As senior programmer for the TIFF Cinematheque, and someone with “a passionate interest in Japanese cinema,” he would know. The 1950s were Japan’s golden age for filmmaking and … Continue Reading
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Make it so: Star Trek TNG cast beaming down for Toronto ComiCon
Actors know what they’re in for when they sign up for a sci-fi series. Even a moderately successful show can spawn a lifetime of cult of fandom. And if a show is very successful, cast members can find themselves making … Continue Reading
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Podcamp: Web 2.0 ‘unconference’ is free for tech experts and newbies alike
Technology activists will tell you that information wants to be free. But more often than not, access remains wrapped up with financial realities, which is what makes this weekend’s Podcamp such a boon for tech experts and newbies. Billed as … Continue Reading
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Toronto
Sample a taste of China, with a culinary historian-hosted walking tour
Sit down to eat with Shirley Lum and you’re likely to get more than a decent meal. “Expect equal portions food for thought and food for the palate,” says the Toronto-based culinary historian. “You can learn a lot about any … Continue Reading
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The Great Canadian Girlesque Expo: It’s about telling a story, not just taking it off
They’re performers, not strippers. It might be a thin line to some, but for members of Toronto’s burlesque scene it’s an important distinction. “Burlesque is the art of the wanting more,” says Mysterion, a local mind reader and organizer of … Continue Reading
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Toronto DJ has been spinning since 16, but he’s not too proud to DJ an ice rink
Spinning top 40 tunes to a family crowd isn’t what most aspiring DJs consider a choice gig. But the realities of making a living playing and mixing other people’s music in the GTA necessitates a paradigm shift in perceptions. DJ … Continue Reading
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Trey Parker and Matt Stone’s Mormon musical crude with a purpose
When Trey Parker and Matt Stone announced that they were creating an original musical for Broadway built around a pair of Mormon missionaries, the theatre world held its collective breath. After all, the duo had already raised the ire of … Continue Reading
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Shoe Museum looks at men’s fashion ‘sneakerfication’
It only took the Bata Shoe Museum 18 years, but its latest exhibition, Out of the Box, finally takes a long hard look at the type of footwear people are most familiar with: sneakers. So what took so long? “Well, … Continue Reading
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Tina Fey vs. Sarah Palin: Spur Festival panel asks, does political satire matter?
When you think of Sarah Palin or George W. Bush, do you picture the politicians, or Tina Fey and Will Ferrell? That the question even needs to be asked speaks to the power of political satire. That cultural influence has … Continue Reading
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From Atari to Xbox: A history of video games at the Ontario Science Centre
An educational exhibit about video games? You’re kidding right? “I didn’t know what to expect,” admits Mathieu Ranger, one of the Ontario Science Centre’s resident educators and a self-described “hard-core gamer.” But Game On 2.0, the Science Centre’s new interactive … Continue Reading
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Kids in the Hall alum Bruce McCulloch on wanting to move back to Toronto, and being a nerd
Never let it be said that comedians soften with age. “Ian’s my father’s name,” quips Bruce McCulloch as soon as I get the former Kids in the Hall member on the phone. “Don’t mistreat you like he did. Don’t be … Continue Reading
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The challenge: Build your own board game in 48 hours. Are you game?
The demotion of Monopoly’s famed iron drew major headlines, but there’s a lot more going on in the world of board games than swapping game pieces. This weekend’s Board Game Jam challenges competitors to conceive and construct their own game … Continue Reading
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Nollywood gets its due at the Toronto Black Film Festival
We all know Hollywood, and most people have a passing knowledge of Bollywood. But what about Nollywood? The nickname for Nigeria’s burgeoning film industry — it’s the third largest in the world — Nollywood gets an overdue showcase at the … Continue Reading
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Drink up: It’s tea time in Toronto
Coffee’s out, tea is in. At least that’s the hope of organizers for this weekend’s Tea Festival at the Reference Library. While coffee shops have ruled the real estate roost since the mid-90s, the last five years have seen a … Continue Reading
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How about some culture with that commercialism? Art comes to GTA malls
Art’s public coming out party just got a new venue: the local mall. Few would consider that cathedral to commercialism, the local shopping centre, a place to seek out new creative works. But that notion is being challenged by Pattison … Continue Reading
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Happy New Year Toronto! ’Tis the season for bridal shows
Chances are, you or someone you know got engaged in the last week. The holidays are one of the busiest times of years for wedding proposals, making January one the busiest months for wedding shows. “A lot of people get … Continue Reading
