THE GREAT OUTDOORS
Sun Valley Tree
and Shrub Planting
The Bring Back the Don crew is teaming up with the folks at Umbra design for a planting event to revitalize the river. Everyone is welcome to lend a green thumb. Shovels, leafy shrubs and trees will be provided. Just bring the elbow grease.
Today, 10 a.m. to noon. Free. Sun Valley Planting Site; see online map for directions. 416-392-0401. http://www.toronto.ca/parks/tat/treeplanting.htm .International Dawn Chorus Day Celebration
A group of early birds will flock to Mississauga at the crack of dawn to walk through a forest, recording chirping birds for an annual ritual called International Dawn Chorus Day, which was founded in Birmingham, England, in 1984 by the Urban Wildlife Trust. Although many experimental musicians working under the moniker New Adventures in Sound Art will be participating, anyone is welcome to join.
Tomorrow, 4:45 a.m. Free.
Gardiner Estate Coach House, 2700 Lakeshore Rd. W.
416-516-7413. http://www.naisa.ca.HOT NOTES
Jeff Healey Tribute
Concerts
The guitarist, who died March 2 of cancer, made his name as a blues rocker, but played classic jazz in recent years. Two concerts fete his achievements in each genre, with tonight's rock evening featuring Randy Bachman and Colin James.
Tonight, 7:30, and tomorrow,
4 p.m. $35 to $50. Sound Academy, 11 Polson St., and Jeff Healey's Roadhouse, 56 Blue Jays Way. 416-593-2626. http://www.jeffhealeysroadhouse.com.
Erykah Badu
The wispy-voiced queen of neo-soul is back (minus the three-foot-tall head wraps) with a new album. New Amerykah is the first of a torrent of releases by her due this year, with a sequel album out in summer, plus a retro-styled record in fall.
Monday, 8:30 p.m. $46 to $61. Massey Hall, 178 Victoria St. 416-872-4255.
OneRepublic
If you haven't already heard enough of their hit Stop and Stare, get your fill of this L.A. band's blend of pop and Coldplay-esque rock, with a little Timbaland thrown in, on a
remix of their latest single Apologize.
Tuesday, 7 p.m. $23.50. Kool Haus, 132 Queens Quay E. 416-870-8000. http://www.ticketmaster.ca.
FILM
Jewish Film Festival
This year's festival features 92 films from 13 countries, with a spotlight on Jewish comedy. Don't miss the world premiere of Comedy on Wry: The Mavericks, a look at comic legends old and new.
Today through May 11.
$7 to $12. Various venues.
416-967-1528. http://www.tjff.com.
SHOPPING
The Clothing Show
Local designers' sewing machines have been furiously whirring in anticipation of one of the biggest retail events in the city, a three-day fair with more than 300 booths.
Today, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., and tomorrow, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. $8 to $10. Better Living Centre,
Exhibition Place, 100 Princes Blvd. 416-516-9859.
http://www.theclothingshow.com.
EAT & DRINK
Raw Fish Primer
Wow your dinner-party guests with delectable recipes for tartare, carpaccio and ceviche - dishes that feature raw tuna, salmon and red snapper. Nyood chef Roger Mooking shows you how to buy the right fish and make the sauces.
Tuesday, 6:30 p.m. $60. LCBO Summerhill, 10 Scrivener Sq. 416-922-0403. http://www.lcbo.ca.
NIGHTLIFE
Double Dose of Samba
Prepare to hip-swivel and shake your bunda all night long to the sounds of two Brazilian bands: the traditional roots-style Sambando Samba and the 20-piece percussion outfit Batucada Carioca, a.k.a. Samba Porrada.
Tonight at 9. $10.
Gladstone Hotel,
1214 Queen St. W. 416-531-4635. http://www.gladstonehotel.com.
MSU Harry Partch Ensemble
Harry Partch was a California-based experimental composer who broke the rules of theory in the 1960s after inventing unusual xylophone- and harp-like instruments crafted from wood, bowls and hubcaps. This group of New Jersey musicians, students and alumni from Montclair State University are devout to his discoveries. They will play nine of his compositions alongside one each of Bach and Thelonious Monk.
Tonight at 8. $10 to $20. Music Gallery, 197 John St. 416-204-1080. http://www.musicgallery.org.
Send listings info to
ART & LIT
Signs of Life; an intimate portrait of someone
I don't know
Local artist Yvonne Singer's latest solo revisits the past one page at a time. Follow a journey from Hungary to Canada through a collection of eight blown-up digital prints of passports, visas and transit tickets from the 1940s that once belonged to her father. Fifty-five handwritten medical records from the 1980s are on exhibit alongside a medical case with a six-inch screw used to mend a broken hip.
Today, 2 p.m. Until May 25. Wednesday to Saurday, 1 to 5 p.m., Sunday, 1 to 4 p.m. Free. Loop Gallery, 1174 Queen St. W. 416-516-2581.
Festival of Architecture and Design
For this fourth annual celebration, roughly 60 films, lectures, parties, concerts, readings, exhibitions and walking tours will honour the work of local designers and architects. (The festival is sponsoring Jane's Walk this year.)
Today, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Until May 31. Free to $60.
Various locations. 416-392-9349.
Beach Studio Tour
The Beaches' lively community of artists opens its doors to the public, giving you a chance to buy their work in various media - oil, watercolour, textiles, ceramics, photography, jewellery, lamp-work glass beads and more.
Today, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and tomorrow, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Free. Various locations. 416-699-4358. http://www.beachstudiotour.ca.
Shanghai Kaleidoscope
The spotlight this year may be on Beijing, but Shanghai is where the action is in the new China. From 19th-century opium-trading post to modern economic powerhouse, the city is documented in an exhibit of historical photographs and contemporary art works.
Tomorrow, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Until Nov. 2. $14 to $20. Royal Ontario Museum, 100 Queen's Park. 416-586-8000.
STAGES
The Benefit of Laughter
Grease up your Ed Grimley-style 'do - alumni of Second City and SCTV's glory days, including Martin Short, Eugene Levy, Andrea Martin, Catherine O'Hara, Joe Flaherty and Colin Mochrie, will reunite for two evenings of hilarious memories.
Monday and Tuesday, 8 p.m. $250 to $500. The Second City, 51 Mercer St. 416-343-0011. http://www.secondcity.com.
FAMILY
Amanda's Lemonade Stand
Since she was a tot, Amanda Belzowski has poured lemonade to raise money for the Heart and Stroke Foundation. Now 10, she's leading a major fundraising event, with an auction of items donated by Donald Trump, David Copperfield, the Leafs and the Raptors.
Tomorrow, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Free. 10 Brian Cliff Dr.
(at Lawrence and Leslie). http://www.lemonade4heart.org.