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Still from the film When Ali Came to Ireland.

New Creations Festival

The TSO's annual new-music fandango kicks off Saturday (7:30 p.m.) with a program that includes John Adams's Doctor Atomic Symphony and the premiere of Magnus Lindberg's finger-flustering Piano Concerto No. 2 (by the capable Yefim Bronfman). The celebration of Mr. Adams continues on March 5, when the American composer's Slonimsky's Earbox receives its Canadian premiere. On the same night, the talented violinist Leila Josefowicz unveils a concerto written for her by Esa-Pekka Salonen. March 1 to 7. $14. Roy Thomson Hall, 60 Simcoe St., 416-598-3375 or tso.ca.

Toronto Irish Film Festival

For his glibness alone, the Irish would have to love the lyrical boxing great Muhammad Ali. He's the titular attraction of When Ali Came to Ireland, a charismatic documentary on an unlikely 1972 prize fight in Dublin, where the former (and future) champ is just one of the intriguing characters involved. The film screens Saturday (7 p.m.) as part of a three-day focus on Emerald Isle cinema that has Irish eyes not only smiling but glued to the big screen all weekend long. Feb. 28 to March 2. $12. TIFF Bell Lightbox, 350 King St. W., 416-599-8433 or torontoirishfilmfest.com.

Paul Simon and Sting

Still singing pop songs after all these years, Paul Simon and Sting share an affection for catchy melodies and exotic rhythms. They also share the stage on this feel-good tour, with the pair sometimes doubling up and sometimes splitting up. Early reviews report that the occasionally prickly Sting is gracefully deferential, even covering Mr. Simon's America as a show of respect. In return, the senior songster almost certainly would allow himself to be addressed informally, as in, "You can call me Paul." March 1, 8 p.m. $63 to $268. Air Canada Centre, 50 Bay St., 1-855-985-5000 or ticketmaster.ca.

Bloor Broadcast: 86th Academy Awards

Every year on Oscar night we like to get all gussied up and show up at the Bloor Cinema and pose for non-existent photographers and answer pretend questions from bewildered bystanders. It's quite a hoot, but only the beginning to a night of trivia-contesting, popcorn-eating, red carpet-wishing, Oscar-watching fun. As for predictions, our money's on Bruce Dern's nose hair (best special effects, Nebraska). March 2, 7 p.m. Free (advance tickets no longer available; limited same-day tickets available at noon). Bloor Hot Docs Cinema, 506 Bloor St. W., 416-637-3123 or bloorcinema.com.

Momofuku Milk Bar Cake Walk

Celebrating its newest invention, the dulce de leche cake, the people who run the buzzy bakery on University Avenue are holding an afternoon of cake walks. The fun involves a sort of musical-chairs doing, ending in the winning of, you guessed it, a free cake. They'll be holding one cake walk per hour from noon to 3 p.m. on Sunday. Sounds pretty simple – easy as pie, you might say. March 2, noon to 3 p.m. 190 University Ave., 855-333-6455 or milkbarstore.com.

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