NOW critics pick the best things to do in Toronto for the weekend of November 5, including the Bovine Sex Club’s 30th anniversary, Comedy Bar’s 13th anniversary and the launch of Drake’s History venue.
Indigenous Legacy Gathering
The two-day gathering takes over Nathan Phillips Square to honour residential school survivors and their families. Expect Indigenous songs, stories, language, food, performance, installations and demonstrations.
Runs to November 5 at 11 pm. 100 Queen West. Free, all ages. eventbrite.ca
Eddie Izzard: Wunderbar
Legendary comic and actor Izzard’s first Canadian tour since her 2013 show Force Majeure touches down at the Princess of Wales this weekend.
To November 6. Princess of Wales Theatre (300 King West). 8 pm. $59-$70. mirvish.com
TRUE
Maev Beaty, Layne Coleman, Beau Dixon, Ingrid Doucet and Shannon Taylor star in a Rendezvous With Madness Festival remount of Rosa Laborde’s powerful play about a family dealing with dementia.
To November 5. CAMH Auditorium (1025 Queen West). 8 pm. Pay-what-you-wish. workmanarts.com
The Cinesphere Reopens
The lakefront IMAX landmark hasn’t exactly been sitting dormant over the past months, having hosted two dozen TIFF screenings, including the red-carpet premiere of Denis Villeneuve’s Dune. But now it’s back in regular operation for the first time in almost a year, kicking off with the large-format version of Chloé Zhao’s massive Marvel endeavour Eternals.
From November 5 at Ontario Place (955 Lake Shore West). ontarioplace.com/en/cinesphere
Gianni Schicchi
The Canadian Opera Company’s new production of Puccini’s comic opera continues to stream for free over the next several months.
Toronto Silent Film Festival
The pandemic having derailed plans for a more elaborate edition, the TSFF returns with the first of three mini-festivals; the second will be held over the weekend of December 4-5, and the third in early January. For now, catch a two-hour selection of Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton shorts (Saturday, 4 pm), with musical accompaniment by Jordan Klapman, and a screening of E.A. Dupont’s 1928 backstage drama Moulin Rouge (Sunday, 4 pm), accompanied by William O’Meara.
November 6-7. Revue Cinema (400 Roncesvalles). torontosilentfilmfestival.com
The Toronto Art Crawl Christmas Market
Crank that Mariah Carey record – the holiday shopping season is officially here. If you’re a unique gift giver, the Toronto Art Crawl is getting festive under the Gardiner Expressway with a one-day Christmas market.
November 6. The Bentway (250 Fort York). 11 am-5 pm. Free. eventbrite.ca
The Bovine Sex Club celebrates 30 years
Against all odds, legendary rock bar/music venue Bovine Sex Club has lasted 30 years on Queen West. They’ll celebrate this weekend with three shows from a Canadian pop-punk band that are also celebrating their 30th birthday: Calgary’s Chixdiggit!
To November 6. Bovine Sex Club (542 Queen West). 9 pm. $20. showclix.com
Poutine Festival
The high-concept comfort food du jour at Scarborought’s street food market is poutine.
November 6-7. Street Eats Market (520 Progress). 12 pm-8 pm streeteatsmarket.com
Saturday at Comedy Bar: 13th Anniversary
Jean Paul, Juliana Rodrigues, Keith Pedro, Keesha Brownie and host Daniel Woodrow help celebrate the show’s 13th anniversary with a killer night of comedy.
November 6. Comedy Bar (945 Bloor West). 11 pm. $25. comedybar.ca
Bleachers make History
After multiple delays while waiting for full general admission capacity to kick in, Live Nation’s new Drake-affiliated east end music venue, History, is finally opening. The first official show scheduled is Bleachers, the project of ubiquitous left-field pop producer Jack Antonoff.
November 7. History (1663 Queen East). 7 pm. $54-$183. ticketmaster.ca
The Spectators’ Odyssey – o dell’Inferno
DopoLavoro Teatrale’s Daniele Bartolini has created an immersive multimedia experience inspired by Dante’s Inferno and Homer’s The Odyssey, all performed behind the scenes at two of Toronto’s most famous buildings.
Through November 14. Various times. $50 or $75 (for both). St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts. tolive.com
A Tonic For Desperate Times
Theatre Gargantua’s Jacquie P.A. Thomas directs a new work exploring humankind’s instinct for optimism using stories, live music, movement and design.
Through November 14. 8 pm and some 2 pm. $24. St. Anne’s Parish Hall. theatregargantua.ca
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. For more information see our disclosures here.
