NOW critics pick the best things to do in Toronto for the weekend of November 12, including a Burning Man-esque holiday drive-tru, Sloan at the Phoenix, Reel Asian film fest and an immersive MRI installation.
Snow Magic
Burning Man artists get into the holiday spirit with a fantasia-style drive-thru show at Ontario Place inspired by fire, ice and light.
November 12-January 16. 5:30-11 pm. Ontario Place (955 Lake Shore West). $45-$65 per vehicle. DriveThruFunCo.com
All Together Now!: A Global Event Celebrating Local Theatre
The Metropolitan United Church presents a livestream and in-person benefit concert, featuring a 13-piece band and a dozen Toronto singers delivering songs from musicals like Guys And Dolls, Into The Woods, Rent, Mamma Mia! and others.
November 12 at 8 pm. Metropolitan United Church (56 Queen East). By donation (live-streamed or in-person). metunited.org
MixTape
Zorana Sadiq, one of NOW’s Top 10 theatre artists of 2019, presents a solo show/memoir featuring songs that have influenced her life and art.
To November 28. Various times. Streetcar Crowsnest (345 Carlaw). $50.85-$73.45. crowstheatre.com
Odonis Odonis come ALIVE
Industrial post-punk band Odonis Odonis have been shapeshifting within the Toronto scene over the last decade now. They’ll join up with fellow locals Dead Dog and Edmund Stay this weekend as part of the Garrison’s $5 reopening series ALIVE with all ticket proceeds going to Unison Fund and The Amy Project.
November 13 at 8 pm. The Garrison (1197 Dundas West). $5. showclix.com
Skratch Bastid and friends at Koerner Hall
Local turntablist wizard Skratch Bastid has an enviable rolodex, and he teams up yet again with a good group of special guests at Koerner Hall. His DJing gets a pristine classical venue, as do R&B/hip-hop singer pHoenix Pagliacci, violinist Andrew Forde and re.verse.
November 13 at 8 pm. Koerner Hall (273 Bloor West). $40. rcmusic.com
MRI: From Behind The Plexi
Artist Naomi Jaye and choreographer Molly Johnson’s immersive installation takes viewers inside an MRI machine. Read more here.
To November 14. Noon-5 pm. Merdian Arts Centre (5040 Yonge). insidemri.com
A Welcome Return: Gimeno & Your TSO
The Toronto Symphony Orchestra’s brand new music director, Gustavo Gimeno, makes his first appearance, leading the orchestra (who haven’t played in Roy Thomson Hall since March 2020) in an hour-long program consisting of works by Anthony Barfield, Haydn, Hindemith and Schubert.
November 13 at 8 pm. Roy Thomson Hall (60 Simcoe). $35-$163. tso.ca
The White Rhino
Ken Hall, Kris Siddiqi, Matt Folliott and Wayne Jones perform improv comedy, with musical guest Phoenix Laurén and other surprises.
November 13 at 9 pm. Comedy Bar (945 Bloor West). $23. comedybar.ca
Sloan at the Phoenix Concert Theatre
Sloan never quite became the next Nirvana as they were briefly hyped to be in the 90s, but the now-Toronto-based Haligonians have had an enviable career as long-running power-pop heroes. They’ll celebrate their 30th anniversary with three intimate shows over two nights at the Phoenix.
November 13 at 6:30 & 9:30 pm and November 14 at 7 pm. Phoenix Concert Theatre (410 Sherbourne). $38.50-$48.50. ticketweb.ca
Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival
Marking its 25th anniversary with a hybrid edition, the city’s showcase of “contemporary Asian cinema and work from the Asian diaspora” offers a wealth of features, shorts and documentaries, all of which are available to stream for the next week.
Through November 19 at reelasian.com.
