DAILY EVENTS

Thursday, May 8

Benefits

Battle Of The Bands (Ontario March of Dimes) Top business executives perform rock music to benefit kids with disabilities. 6 pm. $25. Jeff Healey's Road House, 56 Blue Jays Way. 416-425-3463 ext 7380.
Help Support The Little Guys (Toronto Humane Soc) Karaoke, a silent auction of pet gear, raffles, food and more. 2:30-9 pm. Free. Tropical Hut, 962 Danforth. 416-691-5114.
Hope Gala (North York Women's Shelter) A dinner and auction to take action against domestic abuse. 6 pm. $150. Vaughn Estate, 2075 Bayview. www.hopegala.ca.
It's About Our Birds (Bruce Trail Conservancy) Bird-themed amusements, music, a silent auction and more help secure a conservation corridor along the Niagara Escarpment. 5:30 pm. $60. Hart House, 7 Hart House Circle. www.torontobrucetrailclub.org.
Lend To End (Poverty) Party (Lend to End initiatives helping female South African entrepreneurs) Music by Low Level Flight, Kirsten Jones and Kush. 5:30-9:30 pm. $30 & $150. Alice Fazooli's, 294 Adelaide W. www.lendtoend.org.
Smitten With Soy (Supporting Our Youth) All-ages event featuring performances by Ryan G Hinds, Evalyn Parry and others. 7 pm. Free, pwyc after 10 pm (sugg $15). CIRCA, 126 John. www.soytoronto.org.
Sounds Like Justice 4 (Assoc in Defence of the Wrongly Convicted) Concert with Fred Eaglesmith, 10,000 Maniacs, Liberty Silver and others plus a silent auction. 6:30 pm. $30. Courthouse, 57 Adelaide E. 416-504-2274.

Events

After Kyoto: What Next For The Movement? International Socialists event with a talk by Carolyn Egan. 7:30 pm. $5. Bahen Centre, 40 St George. 416-924-9042.
Atchoo! - Rebel Clown Army Environmentalists and social activists meet for street theatre rehearsals. Thursdays 6:30 pm. Free. Ralph Thornton Centre, 765 Queen E. paulox20032003@yahoo.ca.
Blue Jays Baseball Toronto Blue Jays play Tampa Bay. 7:07 pm. $9-$63, $2 Tue. Rogers Centre, 1 Blue Jays Way. 416-341-1234, www.bluejays.com.
Israel@60 Family Festival Performances by Israeli hiphop band Hadag Nachash, ballet dancer Nina Gersham, the Renanim Youth Singers and more. 4:30 pm. $10-$75. Ricoh Coliseum, Exhibition Place. 416-870-8000.
Transit Issues In The Lakeshore Discussion with transit advocate Steve Munro. 7:30-9 pm. Free. LAMP Community Health Centre, 185 Fifth. 416-252-9701.

Friday, May 9

Benefits

Bebop A Looza (Riverdale Share) Community concert with the Bebop Cowboys and Russell deCarle plus dance lessons and dinner. 6 pm. $20. Holy Eucharist Church Hall, 515 Broadview. 416-465-1944.
Spring Craft Market (Central Eglinton Community Centre) Crafts and a white elephant sale. 10 am-2 pm. Free. 160 Eglinton E. 416-392-0511.

Events

Coloured Gemstone Grading And Valuation Gemmologist Helmut Koenig speaks at this gem and mineral club meeting. 7:45 pm. Free. Armour Heights Community Centre, 2140 Avenue. 905-851-0640.
Irish Ceili Traditional Irish group dances for all ages with instruction. 7:30 pm. $10, stu $8, child $5. Russian Orthodox Christ Church, 823 Manning. 905-270-1130.
Island Airport Protest Demo with music, drumming, singing and some dancing. Fridays 5:30-7:30 pm. Free. Foot of Bathurst. smiley@erelda.ca, http://communityair.org.
Racism And Education: Religious And Africentric Schools Grace-Edward Galabuzzi and Chantal Sundaram are the speakers at this Marxism 2008-The Fire This Time event. 7:30 pm. $5. Bahen Centre, 40 St George. www.socialist.ca.
Rom Friday Nights Cultural performances and gallery viewing. 4:30-9:30 pm. $10, stu/srs $8.50, child $7. Royal Ontario Museum, 100 Queen's Park. 416-586-8000.
Skeptics Canada Talk on Toxic Reactions, Real and Imaged with prof Jack Uetrecht. 7 pm. $5. OISE, 252 Bloor W. 647-341-7041.

Saturday, May 10

Benefits

Around The World In Twenty Years (Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Toronto) International Women's Assoc gala with the Toronto Big Sounds Band, salsa lessons and more. 6 pm. $175. Granite Club, 2350 Bayview. 416-923-5742.
Eat My Words (Stephen Lewis Found) Cupcakes and cookies for Mother's Day benefit AIDS work in Africa. 9:30 am-6 pm. Donation. Sherway Gardens, QEW and hwy 427. www.eatmywords.org.
Ride For The Rouge (Rouge Valley Conservation Centre) 25K ride over quiet city streets or country roads around the Rouge. 9 am-2 pm. $25. Rouge Valley Conservation Centre, 1749 Meadowale. www.roivernen.ca/ride_mr.htm.

Events

Annex Tree Tour Guided tour by arborist Todd Irvine. 2-4 pm. Pwyc (sugg $5). NW corner of College and Spadina. 416-413-9244.
Astronomy Day/Night Tour of rooftop observatory, telescope viewing (weather permitting), lectures and simulation of day and night skies. 1-11 pm. Free. McLennan Physical Labs, 60 St George. www.astro.utoronto.ca/StGeorge_tours.html.
Buddha's Gastronomic Delight Vegetarian feast, music and poetry. 6 pm. $20. Zen Buddhist Temple, 297 College. Pre-register 416-658-0137.
Café Scientifique Science fact or science fiction: the challenges of conveying science news to the general public. 1 pm. Free. Rivoli, 332 Queen W. www.cafescientifique.ca.
Canadian Pacific Railway At The The Distillery Urban ecology walk. 2 pm. Free. King E and Parliament. 416-593-2656.
Creative Energy Workshop Interactive workshop with Alysa Golden. 10 am-noon. $55. Hangman Gallery, 765 Queen E. Pre-register 416-405-8490.
Dine/Navajo Sandpainting Exhibit And Healing Ceremony Walking Thunder, Dine Medicine Woman, constructs sandpaintings, followed by healing ceremony and blessing for mothers at 7 pm. Noon. Pwyc. Institute Of Traditional Medicine, 553 Queen W, 2nd floor. 416-537-0928.
eco artisan market Outdoor craft show featuring local products made from eco-friendly materials. Noon-6 pm. Free. 61A Bellevue. 416-999-2197.
Fantastic Pulps Show And Sale Sci fi, fantasy, crime, sports, romance cover art and more. 10 am-5 pm. Free. Lillian H Smith Library, 239 College. www.torontopubliclibrary.ca.
Global Development Village Youth event with interactive displays by organizations such as Cdn Red Cross, Scouts Canada, Journalists for Human Rights and others. 10 am-3 pm. Free. Downsview Park, 35 Carl Hall. www.youthoftheworld.ca.
Ritual Celebrations For A Changing World Explore personal and group ritual, plus rituals for birth, death, marriage and other places in time. 10 am-4 pm. $160. Bloor Street United Church, 300 Bloor W. 416-588-4503.
Roncesvalles Village Spring Fever Includes sidewalk sales, musicians, entertainers, kids' events and 4 pm screening of The Wizard Of Oz at the Revue Cinema. 10 am-6 pm. Free. Roncesvalles. www.roncesvallesvillage.ca.
Star Party Celebrate International Astronomy Day with telescope observing, storytelling, astronomy demos and displays. 8:30-11 pm. Free w/ admission. Ontario Science Centre, 770 Don Mills. 416-696-1000.
Swansea And Lm Montgomery Celebrate the Anne Of Green Gables author with a walk and readings from her journals, letters and books. 3-5 pm. $22, stu/srs $16.50, child $13. Runnymede subway. Pre-register 416-923-6813.
Tayor Creek - North Bank Tree Planting Join Friends of the Don East and plant trees and shrubs. 10 am-noon. Free. Halden Ave parking lot below Stan Wadlow Park. www.fode.ca.
Toronto Bicycle Network Kick Off Breakfast Bike ride, inline skating, membership info and free breakfast. Breakfast 9 am, ride and skating 10:30 am. Ashbridges Bay Park, Coxwell and Lakeshore E. www.tbn.ca.
Toronto's Railway Heritage walking tour. 11 am. Free. Meet at the courtyard N side of King, E of Yonge. 416-338-3886.
Westend Stories Evening of storytelling. 8 pm. Free. Poor John's Café, 1610 Queen W. 647-435-2688.
winchester street and the necropolis Heritage walking tour. 1:30 pm. Free. NE corner Parliament/ Winchester. 416-338-3886.

Sunday, May 11

Benefits

Moms Rock (Chi-Ki Children's Charity) Celebration of mothers and children with music, poetry, book readings, face painting and more. Noon-6 pm. Free. Nathan Phillips Square, Queen And Bay. www.momsrock.info.
Walk For Dog Guides (Lions Found of Canada Dog Guides) Walk for all ages and fitness levels with or without a dog. 11 am. Pledges. High Park Bloor entrance. www.purinawalkfordogguides.com.

Events

Bus Hike To The Bruce Trail Celebrate Mother's Day with a hike through the forests and fields of the Escarpment. 9:30 am. $16. York Mills subway. 416-763-9061.
Chinatown Foodies Walk Tour of Chinatown and dim sum lunch. 10 am-1:30 pm. $43, stu/srs $38.50, child $27.50. Chinatown Moose Statue, 393 Dundas W. 416-923-6813.
Image Wars And The Ethics Of Looking Ulyssean Soc talk by author and art historian Carol Zemel. 2 pm. Free. Hart House, 7 Hart House Circle. 416-239-3410.
Live/Will Kwan The artist presents a performance based on how natural identity is delineated through a population's claims to land and landscape. 3 pm. Free w/ admission. Power Plant, 231 Queens Quay W. 416-973-4949.
Mother's Day At The Zoo Zoo keeper talks, animal moms and more. 9 am-6 pm. Free w/ admission. Toronto Zoo, Meadowvale N of 401. 416-392-5929.
Mother's Day Afternoon Tea Afternoon tea and history talk. 3:45 pm. $35. Toronto's First Post Office, 260 Adelaide E. Pre-register 416-487-9017.
Mother's Day Brunch Cruise Cruise the harbour aboard the Captain Matthew Flinders. 11:30 am. $50, child $25. Mariposa Cruises, Toronto Harbour. 416-203-0178.
Sunday Scene Tour of the current exhibition led by art professor Elizabeth Legge. 2 pm. Free w/ admission. Power Plant, 231 Queens Quay W. 416-973-4949.

Monday, May 12

Events

Step Dancing Cape Breton step dancing lessons for all ages. Mondays 6-9:30 pm. $10. Farmer Memorial Baptist Church, 293 South Kingsway. 416-231-8717.
Town Of York Historical Society Annual general meeting and tour of the restored complex. 7 pm. $10, members free. Elgin and Winter Garden Theatre Centre, 158 Victoria. Pre-register 416-865-1833.

Tuesday, May 13

Benefits

Spa Night (Applewood Community Complex) Fundraiser for young children and families with treatments and a silent auction. 5:30-9:30 pm. $50-$80. 42 Edgewood. 416-461-8143.
Well, Well (Massey College/Canadian Journalism Found) Evening of dialogue on social change with Malcolm Gladwell and Mark Kingwell. 7:30 pm. $25, VIP $200, stu $10. Convocation Hall, 31 King's College Circle. www.wellwell.ca.

Events

Focus On Canoeing Evening with author Kevin Callan. 7-9 pm. Free. Leaside Library, 165 McRae. www.outingclubofeastyork.com.
Hatha Yoga Weekly yoga and meditation classes for students of all levels. Tuesdays 1 pm. Pwyc. Pure Intent Yoga, 64 Oxford. 416-539-0234.
Marriages Should Last Only Seven Years Toronto Debating Soc meets. 7:30 pm. Free. Swansea Town Hall, 95 Lavinia. www.debating.ca.
Practical Dreamers Mike Hoolboom discusses his new film about the Toronto fringe film and video scene. 7 pm. Gladstone, 1214 Queen W. 416-531-4635.

Wednesday, May 14

Benefits

Fundraising Gala (Ken Page Memorial Trust) Entertainment by Peter Appleyard, Guido Basso, Warren Vaché and others. 6 pm. $150. Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre, 6 Garamond. 416-515-0200.

Events

Basic Bike Clinic Flat-fix, bike fit, safety issues, lubrication, gears and drive train. 7-10 pm. $30. Community Bicycle Network, 761 Queen W. 416-504-2918.
Introspective Insight Artists Julieta Maria, Taira Liceaga and Rafael Goldchain discuss their work as it relates to their cultural identities. 7-9 pm. Free. A Space, 401 Richmond W. 416-979-9633.
Men Flirting With Women Workshop with Dana Shaw for men and trans men only. 7:30-10 pm. $30 sliding scale. Come as You Are, 701 Queen W. 416-504-7934, www.comeasyouare.com.
Six Hours To End Solitary Confinement Day-long vigil to end this common Canadian form of torture. 11 am-5 pm. Free. Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Svs, 25 Grosvenor. 416-651-5800, tasc@web.ca.
Toronto's Sculptural Heritage, 1857-2007 Lecture by author Helen Nolan (Sculpture In The City: Twelve Walks In Downtown Toronto). 10:30 am. Free. Innis Town Hall, 2 Sussex. www.allto.ca.

upcoming

Thursday, May 15

Benefits

Eyes Wide Open (Mount Sinai Hospital) Masquerade party with mystery, magic and intrigue. 7 pm. $180. This is London, 364 Richmond W. 416-586-8203.

How to find a listing

Daily events appear by date, then alphabetically by the name of the event.
indicates kid-friendly events
indicates black history month events

How to place a listing

All listings are free. Send to listings@nowtoronto.com, fax to 416-364-1166 or mail to Daily Events, NOW Magazine, 189 Church St, Toronto M5B 1Y7. Include a brief description of the event, including participants, time price, venue, address and contact phone number (or email or web address if no phone available). Listings may be edited for length. Deadline is the Thursday before publication at 5pm.
WEDNESDAY | MAY | 14 | 2008
Today's Hot Ticket

NEWSTake a walk through Parkdale with the ROM. 6 pm. Free. Parkdale Library, 1303 Queen W. 416-586-5799.

MUSICPanic at the Disco, Motion City Soundtrack, the Hush Sound and Phantom Planet at the Sound Academy, 11 Polson. 416-461-3625.

MOVIESUP THE YANGTZE Yung Chang's record-smashing doc about the new China screens at the Bloor, 506 Bloor West. 416-516-2330.

ARTMonte Clark Evan Lee, to Jun 8. 55 Mill, bldg 2. 416-703-1700.

BOOKSJeffrey Alford And Naomi Duguid Evening of conversation and slides with the authors of Beyond The Great Wall: Recipes And Travels In The Other China. 7:30 pm. Free. Hart House Library, 7 Hart House Circle. 416-640-5836.

STAGEPELLEAS ET MELISANDE Debussy's lush opera continues its run at the Four Seasons Centre (145 Queen West). 416-363-8231, www.coc.ca.

Festivals This Week

Aleila Festival Writing workshops, dance, drumming, film, art and more. Various locations/ times. Free and ticketed events, $50 pass. www.AleilaFestival.com. May 10 to 18

continuing

Contact Toronto's month-long photography festival features exhibitions, lectures, films, portfolio reviews and more. Various prices, lots of free events. Various venues. 416-539-9595, www.contactphoto.com. To May 31
crosscurrents Festival dedicated to playwrights of colour featuring new works by Phil Aiken, Marjorie Chan, Guillermo Verdecchia and others. Pwyc. Factory Theatre Studio Space, 125 Bathurst.416-504-9971,www.factorytheatre.ca. To May 11
Inspirato Festival Festival of 10-minute plays by Joe Musso, Catherine Frid and others. $12-$25. Alchemy Theatre, 133 Tecumseth. www.inspiratofestival.ca. To May 10
rock.paper.sistahz 7 Festival of spoken word, theatre, visual arts, dancehall and more. $7. Various venues. 416-504-7529, www.bcurrent.ca. To May 31
Santé toronto international Wine Festival Celebration of food and wine. $20-$150. Various downtown venues. 416-928-3553 ext 27, www.santewinefestival.com. To May 10

upcoming

cycle messenger world championship Festival celebrating the bicycle messenger industry with closed-course racing, pedal boat races, parade, art exhibits and more. Toronto Island, Hanlan's Point and other venues. 416-538-3419, www.cmwc2008.com. Jun 13 to 16
inside out festival Films, exhibitions and videos by and about LGBT people of all ages, races and abilities. $12-$84. Several downtown venues . www.insideout.on.ca. May 15 to 25
toronto hispano-american film festival Films from Spain, Latin Americanand Canada. $10, srs $8. Bloor Cinema (506 Bloor W), National Film Board (150 John). 416-769-8048, www.thaff.com. May 15 to 25
toronto international circus festival Acrobatics, daredevil stunts, stilt-walkers, live musicians and more. Free. Harbourfront Centre, 235 Queens Quay W. www.tocircusfestival.com. May 17 to 19