Community
Farewell to Jack Layton The downtown will flood with mourners today, as the city -and the country- says goodbye to the NDP hero. The laying in state at City Hall continues from 9 am until 11 am. Somewhere between 11 am and noon the cortege will leave from City Hall to Roy Thomson Hall. A Peoples’ Procession will follow behind – folks walking bikes or just walking. The actual funeral service starts at 2 pm, with limited seating. Be aware that some have been in line since Friday for the 600 spots, but don’t worry – there will be video screens outside the Hall broadcasting the service. See ndp.ca, or the Facebook event here.
Climate Change: The Scientific View With global warming issues getting short shrift from the political masters these days, it’s time for a refresher course in countering climate denying narratives. The Council of Canadians’ Michael Brothers presents the hard-core science, and all the reasons why it’s time for governments to act. 2 pm. Free. OISE. See listing.
Pedestrian Sundays in Kensington Imagine downtown streets without cars – join the merry revelers strolling and making music on avenues freed from vehicles with exhaust pipes. This month’s pedestrian-lovin’ fest honors the element of air. Noon-7 pm. Free. Kensington Market. See listing.
Movies
Our Idiot Brother Paul Rudd channels his inner Zach Galifianakis as a 30-something hippie who visits his three sisters after doing time in prison for selling pot to a uniformed police officer. See review.
Don’t Be Afraid Of The Dark The update of the 1970s TV horror flick isn’t a great pic, but it’s written by Guillermo de Toro, the man who directed Pan’s Labyrinth and the Hellboy movies. See interview with him here.
Stage
Dreams Really Do Come True! (And Other Lies) The Second City gets a massive jolt with two new cast members and a brand new revue, which is in previews this weekend and opens next Tuesday. Seeinterview with newbies Ashley Comeau and Jason DeRosse.
BuskerFest Mimes, clowns, jugglers and other street performers take over the St. Lawrence Market neighbourhood all weekend. See feature here.
Art
Leah Decter Decter’s (official denial) trade value in progress is an ongoing project addressing settler colonialism and aboriginal displacement in Canada. She has sewn the words of Stephen Harper’s 2008 apology to survivors of Indian residential schools onto Hudson’s Bay blankets. The show closes today at Side Space, usually a window gallery viewed from the outside only but opening today for an interactive sewing action from 1 to 5 pm. See listing.
Subtext Multi-Arts Festival The Scarborough Arts Council’s summer Bridging Project seeks to reclaim the space beneath the Lawrence East bridge near Kingston-Galloway/Orton Park with a weekend of music and dance performances, workshops on mural painting, graffiti, beading and more. See listing.
Music
Azari & III You’ll have to wait a while before Toronto house music group Azari & III play a proper live show and release their internationally acclaimed debut album in their hometown, but in the meantime you can catch a DJ set by them Saturday night at Wrongbar (and maybe a couple surprises). See listing.
Onyx The vintage NYC hip-hop act plays the Annex Wreckroom Sunday night. See listing.
