This isn't just any ol' weekend, as you well know—it's the long weekend! These events will get you ready for what is forecasted to be a splendid Victoria Day here in Toronto. Down by the Harbourfront, there's acrobatic marvels to enthrall the kids and the trees are blossoming in High Park. Meanwhile, the Distillery District will be lined with artisanal goodies to peruse. If you're not in the mood to stay planet-side this weekend, the silent movie and live music show Universe at Revue Cinema will send you into the stratosphere.
The Toronto International Circus Festival
When: May 17 to 19
Where: Harbourfront Centre (235 Queens Quay W.)
Details: I feared clowns and objected to the smell of canopy as a lad but this event will impress your little ones whether they find Ronald McDonald fright-inducing or not. Best of all, it's free. The fest is part of the HarbourKids series and will feature the usual acrobats and jugglers, as well as Zero Gravity Circus Bollywood and Kinder Cirque lessons for the keen tykes in the crowd. Although, you probably don't want your child running off to join the circus…
High Park Cherry Blossoms 2014
When: ASAP
Where: High Park
Details: Maybe you go every year or maybe this is the first—either way, the Sakura cherry blossom trees in the city's largest park are always worth the trip. Word is that the long winter may have diminished the glow compared to years past, but the Park website claims that some trees are already blossoming. This weekend seems like the peak opportunity for a park stroll, but don't linger too long on deciding to go because rainy weather may wash away the best of the crop. So, basically, it's a sooner-the-better situation.
Artfest Spring Art and Crafts Show
When: May 17 to 19
Where: Distillery District (55 Mill St.)
Details: There have been some great art shows lately for those looking for something lovely to hang on their walls. Now's your chance to jazz up that barren end table or dust-collecting corner that's putting a dent in your otherwise perfect home decorating efforts. This juried art show will feature work from over 75 artists and artisans, including pottery, wood-turning, paintings, and even gourmet food. Admission is free.
Universe: A Live Soundtrack Experiment
When: May 15, doors at 8:30 pm
Where: Revue Cinema (400 Roncesvalles Ave.)
Details: Sometimes it's fun to revel in a bygone way of doing things. Vinyl's revival continues to grow, and considering the enthusiasm with which The Artist was received a few years ago, silent film is cresting again in some circles. Stop by the Revue tonight for an evening presented by Chart Attack, where film shorts get a local live musical accompaniment. The theme of the showcase is "the universe," and each of the shorts reflects some spacey subject set to an appropriately psychedelic live scoring. It's also a completely free event.
Toronto Underground Market
When: May 17, doors at 5 pm
Where: 99 Sudbury St.
Details: The season's first TUM is on this Saturday, and this year, it's being held at 99 Sudbury. The market is modelled after similar launches in places like San Francisco, but essentially it's a 'social' market where new food purveyors can test the waters with their inventions and gauge the feedback direct from the taste buds of discerning ticket holders. General admission is $14.99 if purchased online, and $22 at the door. Well, they can't all be free…
