Music
Omar Souleyman/the Magician Absurdly-prolific Arab techno pop performer Omar Souleyman (he’s recorded approximately 500 albums) plays Wrongbar early Saturday night. At a separate event later at the same venue Belgian future-disco producer the Magician plays a DJ set. See listing.
Ernest Ranglin The Jamaican guitar legend plays a free Saturday afternoon show at David Pecaut Square as part of Luminato. See listing.
Rufus Wainwright The flamboyant Canadian singer plays a free Luminato show at David Pecaut Square Sunday. See listing.
Movies
High School Matt Bush, Adrien Brody and Colin Hanks star in this high school stoner comedy that’s silly, broad yet still endearing. See review and interview with Hanks.
T.O. Japanese Film Festival Don’t miss the festival of recent Japanese films, on til June 21 at the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre. See listing and related feature.
The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms To mark the death this week of sci-fi great Ray Bradbury, The Projection Booth presents a free Saturday screening of the 1953 monster movie loosely based on Bradbury’s story The Fog Horn. See related story.
Stage
The Return Of Monkey Toast Ron Tite hosts the monthly talk show with great guests and improv based on the guests’ stories. At the Comedy Bar on Saturday. See listing.
Dom Pare The sardonic stand-up presents two headlining shows on Saturday at Yuk Yuk’s Downtown. See interview with Pare.
Laura’s Cow The charming children’s opera based on the life of Laura Secord – whose actions helped turn the tide of the War of 1812 – continues on Saturday and Sunday at the Enwave. See review.
Art
The Encampment Thomas + Guinevere’s (Thom Sokoloski and Jenny-Ann McGowan) tent installation/community art project at For York, part of Luminato and open only in the evening, references an archaeological dig and a military bivouac for the War of 1812. Family activities, including lantern-making, storytelling and campfire songs, happen today from 5:30 pm before the installation opens at 7:30 pm. See listing.
Wallpeople An international project happening simultaneously worldwide, Wallpeople invites participants to bring their creations or make something on the spot to post on a wall. After the work is documented, people can take home their own and/or someone else’s contribution. In Kensington Market’s Bellevue Square Park from 5 to 7 pm. See listing.
Toronto Carretilla Initiative As part of visual arts programming at Luminato, Austrian artist Ranier Prohaska brings his mobile shopping-cart kitchen/art installation to the Distillery District today for three sessions of potato prep. Participants, who get to cook and eat, can register at carretillainitiative.net. See listing.
Community
Coltan mining in the Congo Did you know your cell phone and laptop could be linked to military repression and the eco degradation of Africa? Turns out, the mineral coltan is a key component of the devices that connect us, and likely a conflict mineral. This afternoon-long event aims to raise awareness about the circumstance of the mineral’s c extraction in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and features music by Freedub Star, Johnny Ak, Kamplex and many others plus shirt-printing by Bad Apple (bring a t) and food by Food Not Bombs. Saturday, June 9. Noon. Free. S end of Queen’s Park. See listing.
Toronto Island House and History Tour Here’s your chance to tour charming homes, hear tales, check out memorabilia and learn about the locals, all hosted by Grannies in Spirit, one of over 220 groups across the country supporting the Stephen Lewis Foundation’s Grandmothers to Grandmothers Campaign. Sunday, June 10. Meet at the Ward’s Island Clubhouse at noon. $45, under 13 $15. See listing.
Justice in the Food System The ever-welcoming Noor Cultural Centre, an Islamic learning and spiritual centre dedicated to bridging gaps between people, hosts a panel examining the theory and practice of winning food security for all. It features Reginald Noble, who has a background in Africa and Asia and heads Ryerson’s food security program, Kirstan Cole of the Community Supported Agriculture Program, and Fahim Alwan of BlossomPure Organic. Sunday, June 10. 1 pm. Free. Noor Cultural Centre. See listing.
