George Zimbel’s photography, this month at the Bulger Gallery
Sail-in Cinema, August 18-20. No, they’re not putting a movie screen on a boat. A double-sided screen will be placed on Sugar Beach, and you can watch water themed films (20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, Jaws, and Finding Nemo) from land or water. It’s all in celebration of the Toronto Port Authority’s 100th anniversary. When we turn 100, we promise not to show Newsies on repeat for a whole weekend.
You Are Here, Opens Friday August 19. Canadian video artist Daniel Cockburn’s first feature is set in Toronto and it’s very good. But You Are Here‘s real claim to fame is that it must be the first movie to base a scene on philosopher John Searle’s “Chinese room” thought experiment. Syntax doesn’t suffice for semantics, people! (Cue the hordes of philosophy graduate students running to TIFF Bell Lightbox. Cue everyone else running away.)
Havana Cultura, August 18-21. The Ossington strip turns Cuban for the weekend with themed photography exhibits, movie screenings, and plenty of music (Gilles Peterson at the Mod Club is a highlight). Meanwhile, several of the bars are featuring Cuban cigar lounges where you can pretend to be Tony Montana. Not Tony Soprano. You can pretend to be him any day just further east along College.
White Biting Dog, Runs until October 1. If seeing a movie set in Toronto isn’t enough for you, Soulpepper helps fill in the rest of that void. Judith Thompson’s seminal play revolves around a man who is stopped from jumping off the Bloor street bridge by a talking white dog. The bridge’s suicide barrier was built in 2003, 19 years after the premiere of Thompson’s play, once it became clear that the white dog approach was not working.
The War on Drugs, Wednesday August 24, 8:30 PM. This Philadelphia based band combines Dylan-inspired folk and Americana with a noisier, shoegaze style. It’s a unique twist on a classic sound that you can catch at the Drake this week. DEA agents will be turned away at the door for lacking a sense of irony.
Blue Rodeo, Saturday August 20, 7:30 PM. The local legends will be playing Five Days in July in its entirety for their annual Toronto show. Steve Earle is the more-than-adequate opener. It’s the kind of easygoing show that’s perfect for the lawn seats at the Molson Amphitheatre. Just lie back, relax, and fall asl… uh, enjoy the show.
And Justice For All: The Film of Norman Jewison, Runs until September 1. The man who brought fame and fortune (i.e. Oscars) to Canadian cinema gets a retrospective treatment at TIFF Bell Lightbox. This week features two of his more serious films: Rollerball and The Hurricane, the latter with Jewison in attendance. You’ll have to wait until next week for the musicals about Jesus’ matchmaker.
Stephen Bulger Gallery, August 27 and September 17. Two exhibits focusing on Ruth Orkin and George S. Zimbel make for a great double feature. Orkin’s famous (or infamous) American Girl in Italy has been grabbing a lot of media attention but Zimbel’s photographs of children are equally compelling. Fact: children are cuter than American girls.
Transit Kitchen, Saturday August 20, 10:30 AM. Half art project, half public consultation, Transit Kitchen takes the concept of a cooking show and applies it to urban transit. Over the past month, the artists have collected “recipes” for how to deal with traffic, public transit, and cycling. This closing event, which takes place at Evergreen Brickworks, features performers presenting the best ones. Just don’t get distracted by the Blueberry festival that is happening at the same time.
Leslieville Farmer’s Market, Sunday August 21, 9 AM. Leslieville’s weekly market is as much a regular neighbourhood party as it is a chance to buy groceries. This week, parents can send their kids off to make ice cream while they listen to cover band Chasing Angus. Sounds to us like a devious plan concocted by overworked parents…
