ART & LIT Michael Ondaatje
& Jhumpa Lahiri
Expect a packed house as two literary heavyweights read from their latest works - Ondaatje's novel Divisadero, published last year, and Lahiri's new collection of short stories, Unaccustomed Earth. A Blade of Grass author Lewis De Soto hosts. Tuesday, 7:30 p.m. $8. Brigantine Room, York Quay Centre, 235 Queens Quay W. 416-973-4000.
Foresight: Speculative
Fiction in Canada
On Monday, the Toronto Public Library kicks off a six-week fest celebrating the best of the science fiction, fantasy and horror genres in Canada. A discussion with authors Karl Schroeder, James Alan Gardner and Peter Watts looks at Canadian science fiction and how it is influenced by our unique position in the world.
Monday, 7 p.m. Free. Lillian H. Smith Library, 239 College St. 416-393-7746.
From Hanga to Manga:
The Graphic Art of
Japanese Storytelling
A popular art in 18th-century Japan was "hanga" (woodblock prints), while today, the wide-eyed world of manga rules. To celebrate Asian Heritage Month (which is May), this art exhibition featuring 37 prints and 46 illustrated books attempts to make a link from the former to latter. The pink bird in an 1860 woodblock by Utagawa Kunisada calls to mind a Pokémon character.
Today, until June 28. Monday to Thursday, 9:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday (only from October to June) 1:30 to 5 p.m.
Free. TD Gallery, Toronto
Reference Library,
789 Yonge St. 416-393-7131.
http://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca.
HOT NOTES Kathleen Edwards
She may not have had a song in an iPod commercial, but this Ottawa alt-country singer-songwriter has been garnering major buzz since her debut, 2003's Failer. Her new album, Asking for Flowers, earned comparisons to Lucinda Williams, Tom Petty and Neil Young.
Wednesday, 7 p.m. $22.50 to $25. The Phoenix Concert Theatre, 410 Sherbourne St. 416-870-8000. http://www.ticketmaster.ca.
Atmosphere
The biggest thing to come out of Minneapolis since Prince, the prolific indie hip-hop duo churn out introspective rhymes over pared-down beats on their sixth and latest album, When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Shit Gold.
Thursday, 8 p.m. $25. Opera House, 735 Queen St. E. 416-870-8000. http://www.ticketmaster.ca.
Diplo
The energy drink Red Bull has a 10-chapter side project called the Red Bull Music Academy. Founded in 1997, young musicians and DJs are featured in a series of concerts and festivals. For their next show, Diplo (Wesley Pentz, a DJ from Philadelphia) will take the stage with hip hop that fuses a 1920s style of jazz with lofty beats found in tracks by the Fugees.
Tonight, 9 p.m. $15. Wrongbar,
1279 Queen St. W. 416-516-8677. http://www.redbullmusicacademy.com .
BRAIN FOOD Second Annual June
Callwood Lecture
This local, legendary journalist, activist and author, who founded more than 50 social-action organizations, may have passed away last year, but she is far from forgotten. This memorial gathering, hosted by the award-winning CBC broadcaster Linden MacIntyre, features talk about the wrongfully convicted in Canada by lawyer James Lockyer before a musical set by local peace-touting folkster Jon Brooks.
Friday, 7 p.m. Free. Toronto
Reference Library,
789 Yonge St. 416-393-7131.
http://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca .
EAT & DRINK Good Food Festival
Foodies can enlist their discriminating palates to judge winners in 14 food categories, from condiments to desserts, and watch more than 150 cooking demos. Or if beefcake is more your thing, see the studs of the Toronto Firefighter Calendar onstage. Friday, noon to 8 p.m., Saturday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. $12. International Centre, 6900 Airport Rd.,
Mississauga. 905-815-0017. http://www.goodfoodfestival.net .
FILM Evan Roth
The Graffiti Research Lab is a New York-based organization that encourages street artists to put down the aerosol cans and point projectors at buildings instead. As part of the Toronto Design and Technology Festival, co-founder Evan Roth will explain their techniques before screening their latest film, Graffiti Research Lab: the Complete First Season, which screened at Sundance and will next go to the Museum of Modern Art in New York.
Today, 6 p.m. Free. Pixel Gallery, 156 Augusta Ave. 416-840-1010. http://www.pixelgallery.org .
SHOPPING Green Living Show
He's no Al Gore, but former U.S. president Bill Clinton is
also fighting climate change with his foundation's energy-saving initiatives. He talks about his latest efforts Friday, and more than 400 exhibitors will show off the newest eco-friendly products and "greenovations."
Friday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., through April 27. $8 to $135.
Direct Energy Centre, Exhibition Place, 100 Princes Blvd.
416-360-0044.
http://www.greenlivingshow.ca .
Creativ Festival
Whether you're a knitter, a sewer, a felter, a beader, a rug-hooker, scrapbooker or just curious, crafting is more popular than ever. You'll find seminars and workshops for DIYers of every kind, plus fabric, supplies, and door prizes.
Friday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., through April 27. $4 to $15. International Centre, 6900 Airport Rd., Mississauga. 905-773-2092. http://www.csnf.com.
NERDY FUN Toronto Design and
Technology Festival
They used to be the Flash in the Can Festival, but changed their name three years ago to include other multimedia software programs. Light-years ahead of any Idiot's Guide, this three-day fest is for the techno geeks, as roughly 90 speakers, designers and web developers will show off new code and graphics in a series of presentations and panel discussions. Today, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., tomorrow, 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., Tuesday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. $125 to $975. Hilton Toronto, 145 Richmond St. W., and five other locations. 416-840-1010. http://www.fitc.ca .
EARTH DAY Wham-Packed Earth Day WAM (We Are Many), the national arts and environmental collective, unveils its WAM Pact, a list of 40 actions communities can take to be more sustainable. Musical guests The Strip, Troy Jackson and Sarah Burton help get the planet-saving party started. Tuesday, 8 p.m. Free. Gladstone Hotel, 1214 Queen St. W.
416-531-4635.
http://www.wearemanyfestival.com .
Earth Day at
Downsview Park
Donate some elbow grease to help plant 2,000 trees in Downsview's Canada Forest, or bring your used books and clothes to the Recycle Yard for charity. The day includes a food and craft fair, plus origami and face painting for kids. Tomorrow, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Free. Downsview Park, 60 John Drury Dr. 416-952-2222. http://www.downsviewpark.ca .
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