NOW critics pick the city's best music, stage, art, film and community events
Alexandre Isard
These are our top event picks for the week of January 20-25. For more events listings, visit nowtoronto.com/events.
Jane Philpott, Lisa Raitt and Megan Leslie discuss modern leadership.
January 20. Isabel Bader Theatre. 6 pm. Free. RSVP at petersonjan20.eventbrite.ca.
Privacy expert Andrew Clement and York U social sciences professor Natasha Tusikov discuss privacy issues raised by Sidewalk Labs’ “Smart City” proposal for the Port Lands.
January 22. Rogers Communications Centre (Room 103). 7-9 pm. Free. cfe.ryerson.ca/events.
Authors Gwen Benaway and Kai Cheng Thom and activists Monica Forrester and Chanelle Gallant educate the general public about issues affecting the trans community.
January 23. The 519 Community Centre. 7-9 pm. Free. Facebook.com.
The piano impresario returns home to perform his celebrated Solo Piano series.
January 20. Roy Thomson Hall. 8 pm. $39.50-$79.50. roythomsonhall.com.
The acclaimed Montreal pianist recently released his soundtrack to Xavier Dolan’s Matthias & Maxime, which he’ll perform from at this Roy Thomson Hall show.
January 21. Roy Thomson Hall. 8 pm. $34.50. roythomsonhall.com
The Cuban-Canadian artist plays a release show for his new album, Sublime, which features collaborations with some Cuban legends.
January 21. Mod Club. roythomsonhall.com
The museum’s rebooted Friday night party kicks off with a Lunar New Year’s Eve celebration.
January 25. Royal Ontario Museum. 7-11:30 pm. $24-$30. rom.on.ca/rad.
Black Gold screens Roberto Minervini’s documentary What You Gonna Do When The World’s On Fire? on January 25.
Design docs screen during the tail-end of Design Week. Check out more DesignTO picks here.
January 22-26. Hot Docs Cinema. $17, pass $99. hotdocscinema.ca/aadff.
Roberto Minervini’s striking and intimate documentary about working-class African-Americans in New Orleans screens as part of the Royal’s Black Gold series. Judy Hill, who is featured in the film, will participate in a Skype Q&A following the screening.
January 26. Royal Cinema. 4 pm. $12. eventbrite.ca.
Ahmad Meree’s double bill about the lives of refugees in Canada.
Opens January 21 at Theatre Passe Muraille. See listing.
The esteemed actor Martha Henry stars in this play about an octogenarian and a robot.
In previews from January 26 at the Coal Mine Theatre. See listing.
Courtesy the artist/photo by Byron Mármol
Naufus Ramírez-Figueroa’s video Incremental Architecture (2015) goes on display at the Power Plant on January 25.
Photo exhibition looks back at the influential Toronto gallery’s role in advocating for the cultural recognition of photography in Canada.
January 22-April 5. Ryerson Image Centre. Reception 6-8 pm on January 22. ryersonimagecentre.ca.
Major solo exhibitions by rising international artists Naufus Ramírez-Figueroa and Dawit L. Petros open at the Power Plant.
January 25-May 10. Opening party 8-11 pm on January 24. thepowerplant.org.
Annual global art event features a keynote by curator/trans activist Paul B. Preciado, opening of the Lorenza Böttner exhibition and more.
January 25. Art Museum at U of T. 5 pm-2 am. Free. artmuseum.utoronto.ca.
Local R&B talent a l l i e, experimental electronic act SlowPitchSound and poet Lillian Allen perform at the Art Gallery of Ontario’s seasonal block party.
January 25. Art Gallery of Ontario. 10:30 am-10 pm, all ages. Free with admission. ago.ca.
