Find some vintage toys at the Canadian 80s Toy Expo
1. Canadian Film Festival, Friday, March 30 (runs from March 28-31).
This four-day event will exclusively showcase some of Canada’s most promising filmmaking talents, held annually across downtown Toronto theatres. On this day, a panel on ‘The State of the Canadian Film Industry’ will be held at The Royal Cinema (608 College Street) at 6 p.m., featuring moderator Toronto Star film critic Peter Howell. Two Canadian films will be screened later on in the night, including ‘Waiting for Summer’ and ‘The Unleashed.’
2. BULLY, Friday, March 30.
The Weinstein Co’s widely anticipated documentary will be relased unrated in the U.S. on Friday after dropping its R rating it received from the Motion Picture Association of America — meaning some theaters may not choose to show it. This means some theatres may also treat the film as an NC-17 film, meaning no one under 17 and under can be admitted (which is a smart move, since that’s who the film is targeted towards!) Teen activist Katy Butler started an online petition to seek a lower rating for the film, and has collected more than 475,000 signatures so far.
3. Toronto Silent Film Festival, Saturday, March 31 (runs until April 3). ……
Hot off the trails of The Artist comes Toronto’s third annual silent film festival. The festival will run for a week and will feature classics such as ‘Our Dancing Daughters,’ ‘1000 Laffs: Playmates,’ and ‘Varieté.’ Tickets run from $10-20 dollars for a single show, or $75 for a week pass.
4. Earth Hour 2012, Saturday, March 31.
Earth’s greenest (and boringest) hour returns this Sunday at 8:30 p.m. More than 5,200 cities switched off their lights in 2011, and that number will likely climb this year due to an increasingly skeptical/green/environmentalist population. So get ready to unplug for an hour this weekend, all in hopes of drawing attention to global warming (because sitting alone in the dark will totally help the situation!)
……5. Keep Toronto Reading Festival, Sunday, April 1.
This event was supposed to be a fun month of book discussions, exhibits, author talks, performances, and all things literary lead by the Toronto Public Library — until the workers decided to go on strike. Although on strike for an undetermined amount of time, the event runs all month, which means you may just be able to catch the tale end of this true book lovers’ gathering.
6. Canadian 80s Toy Expo, Sunday, April 1.
Do you find yourself longing for better days? A time of innocent, clean fun; G.I Joes and non-slutty Barbie’s alike? Well look no further than the Canadian 80s Toy Expo held at the Sheraton Parkway Toronto North Hotel in Richmond Hill. The day event will feature a huge selection of 1980s toys, from mint to vintage condition. Regular admission is $10, $5 for children 5-12 – but really, you can’t put a price on finding vintage Marvel Legend figurines. I mean.
7. April Fools, Sunday, April 1.
Everyone’s favourite holiday is back, which means it’s time to make some people cry/laugh/puke/whatever it is you do to people by pranking them. Also noteworthy on this fantasric day: Avril Lavigne releases a relevant new single (April fools!), Rob Ford delivers an intelligent speech (April fools!) and X-Factor’s Susan Boyle celebrates her birthday (true!).
8. Suck It Up: a Rae Maxwell Photo Exhibit, Tuesday, April 3 (runs until April 4).
New York fine-art photographer Rae Maxwell will debut a new photo exhibit, featuring unreleased work, at Sadie’s Diner at 504 Adelaide Street West. The reception will run from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. This is the perfect time to release your inner art snob (“Yes, this photo speaks to me quite so.”)
9. Young Jeezy at The Sound Academy, Wednesday, April 4.
Young Jeezy continues his ‘Hustlerz Ambition Tour’ into Toronto with opening act Harvey Stripes. Tickets are available at Ticketmaster and the concert is at the Sound Academy (11 Polson Street.) My favourite Young Jeezy track? ‘Hard’ with Rihanna. Go hard or go home.
10. The National Job Fair & Training Expo, Wednesday, April 4 (runs until April 5).
Although not as exciting as a Young Jeezy concert or film festival (but way more exciting than that Earth Hour thing), The National Job Fair & Training Expo is here to suit all your unemployable needs. Occuring twice a year at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, the recruitment event is a trade show aimed at stimulating employment – which means put on your Wednesday’s best and go get a job!
