Scotiabank CONTACT Photography Festival Logo. Image Credit: Scotiabank CONTACT Photography Festival.

The Scotiabank CONTACT Photography Festival is an annual festival of photography, with over a thousand artists exhibiting work at 200 venues across the City of Toronto. The festival celebrates the art of photography with entries from all over the world. In its 16 years of existence, it has grown to attract over 1.8 million visitors and is the largest photography event not only in Canada, but around the world.

The festival promotes photographers of all skill levels and has been successful because of its inclusive process of open calls for exhibitions. This allows newer artists to showcase their work alongside skilled professions and as a result, photographers have gained a wider audience while the festival has flourished as well.

This year’s focus draws from an increasing interest in street photography. The theme of this year focuses on public images, which range for a series of exhibition, street installations and events at various venues around the city. These photographs and works are meant to provoke thinking about the private and public spheres and how the lines that differentiate them are increasingly blurred. CONTACT 2012 is focuses on how “photography shapes collective experience and makes things public.”

Nowadays, cell phone cameras, photographic manipulation software and the ease of posting images online allows for the proliferation of the profession. The exhibition, Public: Collective Identity/Occupied Spaces, show that these trends have also reflected social, political and economic climates.

The range of photographs exhibited at this year’s festival shows just how exciting and meaningful captured images can be. While photographs are captured in a split second, it can create images that represent the world as it is, the world as it should be or in multiple other ways.

The exhibit runs until May 30, 2012 and you can find exhibition and venue information on the official site.

For one thing, the pressure is on!

The owner of the loved Black Hoof (923 Dundas West, Toronto, ON), a restaurant specialising in charcuterie, has opened another restaurant next door called the Hoof Raw Bar (926 Dundas Street West). Continuing on the theme of revitalising the branch of cooking devoted to the preparation of meat products, the new restaurant features old fashioned seafood.

Just like how the Black Hoof has surprising takes on classics such as tartar, the Raw Bar does this with fish and seafood. While some of the items on the menu of the Black Hoof sound questionable such as the raw horse tartare (which comes with raw egg on top) or the sweetbread ravioli, the actual preparation and taste of these items have put them on the map for foodies. The new restaurant features fish and seafood in a variety of ways, such as a cured fish board (much like the charcuterie board at the hoof), kingfish with shrimp cocktails, clams, oysters and of course, cocktails.

While the menus of both restaurants draw upon classic charcuterie and seafood dishes, there are enough twists drawn from different cultures to make the menus rather interesting and exciting. The Black Hoof has put the Dundas West/Ossington Area on the map for foodies and this new restaurant will likely to create the same buzz.

So if you are in Toronto, it is highly recommended that you check out either one of these restaurants. Note that these restaurants do not have their actual names, but have “charcuterie” and “raw bar” written on their respective awnings. Also, they do not take reservations, so just show up and prepare to wait an hour or more for dinner, but you’ll be glad you did!

What: Hopefully, the Free Comic Book Day at the Silver Snail will be everything its title implies. There will be an art demo and poster signing by Phil Noto and giveways.
When: Saturday, May 5, 2012 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Where: Silver Snail (367 Queen Street West, Toronto, ON)
Cost: Free

What: Danforth Blooms Garden Demonstrations to get to ready for the spring and summer season. There will also be giveaways of hyacinth bulbs for your gardens.
When: Saturday, May 5, 2012 from noon until 2 p.m. The gardening demonstrations will be held at 12:30 p.m., 1 p.m. and 1:30 p.m.
Where: The Big Carrot Common Courtyard (348 Danforth Avenue, Toronto, ON)
Cost: Free.

What: The Toronto Comic Arts Festival 2012. The Toronto Public Library and Beguiling present a festival chock full of programming for lovers of comics, graphic novels and the fantasy genre. There will be more than 300 international cartoonists showcasing their work in the event held over five venues. There will be interviews, workshops, presentations and book signings. The full schedule can be found at the official site.
When: Saturday, May 5, 2012 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, May 6, 2012 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Where: Toronto Reference Library (789 Yonge Street, Toronto, ON). See official site for specific event locations.
Cost: Free

What: Victoria Park Avenue: Nature, Rails and Quarries Heritage Toronto walk is a great way to find out more about the heritage of the north-east side of the city.
When: Sunday, May 6, 2012 at 1:30 p.m.
Where: The walk starts at Victoria Park and Denton, at the Victoria Park subway south entrance.
Cost: Free.
For more details: Visit the Heritage Toronto official site.

Vegetables. Image Source: Public Domain.

It is hard to believe it is almost warm enough for local farmers’ markets in Toronto! And although there are markets that operate all year like the St. Lawrence Market (92- 95 Front Street East,  Toronto, ON), it is a treat to see vendors popping up with fresh food all over the city. There are all sorts of markets which are relatively new to the scene, including markets within University campuses, around hospitals and even in mid-town shopping centres.

Here are a few spots you would not normally expect to pick up your groceries:

Toronto Botanical Gardens Organic Farmer’s Market (777 Lawrence Avenue East  Toronto, ON): This market starts operations on May 24 and is located at the front of the gardens, where there are usually folks practicing tai chi or yoga. Perhaps you can even pick up your super healthy organics on your days off from your exercises.

Fairview Mall Farmer’s Market (1800 Sheppard Avenue East,  Toronto, ON): When you are midtown, it is a little bit harder to come across markets like these. Luckily, starting on June 1, there are weekly markets in their square.

Ryerson University Farmer’s Market (Victoria and Gould Street, Toronto, ON)
Opens June 5, closes October 23. Hours of operation 9am-2pm.
Contrary to popular belief, students need more than alcohol to survive. So the Ryerson campus has provided a My Market Series with fresh organic fruits, veggies and honey starting weekly from Tuesday, June 5.

You will also find farmers’ markets at two of the busiest subway stations. The Nathan Philips Square Farmers’ Market (100 Queen Street West, Toronto, ON) can be easily accessed at the Osgoode and Queen Stations, while the Metro Hall Farmer’s Market at David Pecaut Square (55 John Street, Toronto, ON) can be accessed by St. Andrew Station. Both start in June and its a great way to pick up some healthy food before heading out or getting home from work.

But do not fret if you do not want to make a special trip from your lovely accommodations to any of these markets, you are bound to randomly bump into a fresh farmers’ market somewhere in the city as there are tons of markets this year!

Record Store Day Logo. Image Credit: Record Store Day.

Saturday, April 21, 2012 is Record Store Day! The day to celebrate records, CDs, music and the people bring the music to the masses! The event has been an annual tradition since its early beginnings in 2007 and like all the previous years, record stores will be offering exclusive releases, reissues and holding special events. Here are of anticipated highlights for the day:

Sonic Boom is stocking up releases, freebies and live performances from the following at their Annex location (782 Bathurst Street, Toronto, ON):

Army Girls – 1 p.m.
The Darcys – 2 p.m.
Born Ruffians – 3 p.m.
Plants and Animals – 4 p.m.
Bloodshot Bill – 5 p.m.
Fresh Snow – 6 p.m.
Lioness – 7 p.m.
Eight and a Half – 8 p.m.
Diemonds – 9 p.m.

Admission is free and all ages, but a non-perishable item for the Ft. York Food Bank will be much appreciated.

Soundscapes (572 College Street, Toronto, ON) will be stocking up with really special releases such as:

Billy Bragg & Wilco – Mermaid Avenue: The Complete Sessions (3CD+DVD)
Destroyer – Destroyer’s Rubies (2LP remaster)
Grateful Dead – Dark Star (180-gram LP)
Lou Reed – Rock N Roll Animal (LP)
Uncle Tupelo – No Depression (180-gram LP)

The Elwins will also be performing at 7 p.m.

Vortex Records (2309 Yonge Street, Toronto, ON) will also be stocking limited and exclusive releases, including some from Arcade Fire, Tangerine Dream, The Fall and many others! Another update is that when you spend $20 pre-tax on used vinyl on Record Store Day, 40% will be taken off used records.

Kops Records is having  sale with 50% off $1 45’s, 30% of all Value Bin Vinyl, 20% off all Vintage LPs and 45’s in the store and other sales.

But the best part about Record Store Day is to meet other music fans! So go on, get out there, see some music, support the artists and meet some cool musical folk!

Booth at the 2011 Green Living Show. Photo credit: Rafal Andronowski Photography

The Green Living Show is the biggest green consumer show in North America, focusing on sustainable lifestyles and takes place this Friday, April 13 – Saturday, April 15, 2012 at the Direct Energy Centre (100 Princes’ Boulevard, Toronto, ON). It features all the latest and greatest green products and services available to the Canadian marketplace and this year there will be more than 424 showcasing their wares.

There will be opportunities to purchase new green products, eat the latest local and organic foods, wines and presentations on sustainable lifestyles. You would be surprised at how easy it is to live a sustainable lifestyle. Companies are finally realizing that being good to the environment can actually reap financial benefits as more and more consumers are asking for greener products. And now that there is more competition for green solutions, products are getting less expensive and more innovative. Being green is cheaper than you think!

A new feature of the show is year is Eco-Youth Day on the Friday, where elementary and secondary students can try new activities designed to engage young people in tackling environmental issues.

Another feature is the Three-Day Swap Marathon, where everyone can bring their old DVDs, CDs and vinyl and swap these for other ones. You can find more swap details here.

There will be a pavilion feature the latest eco-fashions and beauty products, as well as an area dedicated to testing the newest electric and hybrid vehicles. There will also be showcases of new solutions for saving our native flora and fauna.

Ticket prices are as follows:

Adults $15

Seniors $65

Students (with valid ID) $11

Children 12 and under Free if accompanied by an adult

Group Rate (15+ persons) $10/person

School Group Rate (10+ students/teachers) $6/person

Note that if you bring your e-waste, for example, your old laptops, monitors or electronic equipment, for recycling, you can attend for free!

So what are you what are you waiting for? Get on the TTC, walk or ride to the show. You’ll find that you can incorporate a more sustainable lifestyle into your daily life without much work!

TorontoBabel Logo. Image Credit: TorontoBabel.

TorontoBabel is a night of international language exchange that brings together native and non-native speakers of different languages from various countries from around the world.

This is a relaxed atmosphere where you can practice speaking a new language or teach others how to speak in your native language. It is free to attend and the group meets every Tuesday on the second floor of the Rivoli (334 Queen Street West, Toronto, ON). The event starts at 7:30pm and runs until around midnight.

The most popular language spoken at the meet-up is English, but participants tend to be diverse with speakers fluent in Spanish, French, English, Portugese, Korean, German, Japanese, Mandarin, Russia, Italian, Armenian, Arabic, Hebrew, Dutch, Cantonese, Hindi and Turkish.

Started by Beth MacLeod, a University of Toronto PhD candidate in linguistics, the meet-up typically attracts over 100 people each week. Introduce yourself to her, as she will be wearing a nametag, and she will introduce you to others who speak the language you are seeking.

The event is rather informal because as everyone can tell you, learning a language in a classroom is nothing like trying to converse with someone in real life. This provides people a chance to socialize, whether they are visitors, newcomers or locals. While there are a core group of “regulars,” there are many who have just moved here to live, travel or just pass the time with like-minded people.

Many newcomers to the city had noted that this group has allowed them to meet a new group of friends, learn about new cultures and meet people from all around the world. There may even be people from places you never heard of, but that is the beauty of living in a place like Toronto.

It never hurts to learn a new language, brush up on your skills or to meet new friends. Why not bring a few of your buddies at Backpackers on Dundas along and meet some other cool folks along the way?

After all, at TorontoBabel, everyone is welcome!

A Little Bit Zombie. Image Credit: Cave Painting Pictures.

The Canadian Film Fest 2012 has already started on March 28, 2012, but there is still plenty of time to see great new Canadian products The Royal Theatre (608 College Street, Toronto, ON) in Little Italy. The festival of screenings, parties and panels takes place until March 31, 2012.

The programming ranges from documentaries, shorts and features to discussions about independent Canadian cinema. The goal of the festival is to provide filmmakers with showcasing and networking opportunities as well as a distribution of “homegrown productions” for locals to enjoy.

Featuring only Canadian films, there is no surprise that there are many comedic films in rotation. Yet it is somewhat of a surprise that there are so many zombie related movies. The closing night film, A Little Bit Zombie, is a combination of the two genres, telling the tale of a bridegroom who turns into one of those pesky brain sucking zombies after a mosquito bite during a weekend at the cottage, all the while avoiding his Bridezilla fiancé.

If zombies are not your cup of tea, there are still plenty of films to see.

Here are a rundown of the stats from the official site:

• 10 shorts
• 24 beers in case (a very Canadian practice)
• 9 features
• 6 world premieres
• 104 shorts
• 51 features screened
• 6^th year of the Canadian Film Festival
• 19 Selected Films
• 12 Toronto premieres

You can see a full list of films on the official site. General admission tickets are $12.50, can be purchased in advance at Ticketweb and The Royal Theatre is just a short walk from Backpackers on Dundas.

And in the event you might be in Sydney, Australia from August 13 – 19, 2012, they are having their own version of a Canadian film festival, the Possible Worlds Canadian Film Festivals, which will count down their list of the Top 100 Canadian Films of the past 30 years.

Wednesday, March 21, 2012 marks the first day of Canadian Music Week! Sponsored by Slacker Radio, the festival turns 30 this year and runs until Sunday, March 25, 2012.

Kicking off the festival at the Official Opening Gala will be the east coast wonders Joel Plaskett Emergency, with opener Ben Caplan. Doors are at 4 pm, but you will need to win tickets to get into the invite only show that takes place 550 metres up in the air in the CN Tower.

Otherwise, you can purchase a 1-Day Festival Wristband for $35 allowing access to over 60 clubs all over the city (and walking distance to Backpackers on Dundas) during the day or the 5-Day Wristband for $75. While these will give you access to showcases, comedy shows, and film screenings for the day, they do not guarantee entry into all shows as many locations will have a first come, first served policy.  The wristbands may also give you access to exclusive gigs, afternoon shows, clubs and after parties.

Like any festival, there are big names like Train, I Mother Earth and Jeff Beck but it is also a chance for you to seek out some new artists as well.

Some of the most talked about newbies include Carleton Stone, a charismatic performer hailing from the East Coast who’s 2009 album has won him many music award nominations in Atlantic Canada; Hands & Teeth, the experimental pop group whose dinner parties with quirky music has bloomed into a full time musical project worthy of the blogosphere and Oberhofer, a young psychedelic pop musician who has influences ranging from sunny Brian Wilson tunes to Descartes.

There are more than 800 bands participating this year and even a film and comedy festival (which includes Tracy Morgan, who plays Tracy Jordan on 30 Rock) on Friday, March 23, 2012 at the Sony Centre. There’s no doubt that you will discover something new to rave about!

Black Creek Pioneer Village. Image Credit: Gary J. Wood via Wikipedia.

It is March Break this week (March 12-17, 2012) and even if you are not a kid anymore, there is no reason why you cannot act like one! Here are a few fun things happening in the Toronto this week (but just keep in mind that these locales will be extra crowded):

1. Hockey Hall of Fame (30 Yonge Street, Toronto, ON)

The nation’s beloved sport takes front stage at this 18 000 square foot resource centre housing massive artifact and archival collections for the game of hockey. In addition to the regular display and exhibits, March Break at the Hockey Hall of Fame will feature autograph signings from Marlie players, behind the scenes stories about the Stanley Cup, a mascot photo booth and much more.  Hours are 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. during the March Break and tickets are $17.50 general admission, youth (4-13 years) are $11.00, seniors are $13.00 and children under 3 and under are free.

2. Black Creek Pioneer Village (1000 Murray Ross Parkway, Toronto, ON)

This is the place to learn all about the traditions, lifestyles, customs and buildings of the early settlers to Toronto and Ontario during the 1800’s. You can relive the olden days by visiting the old mill, post office, school and shops, and during the March Break, there will be even more activities! You can witness spinning and shawl making, browse through old medical remedies, sample fresh maple syrup and more. Hours during the March Break are 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and tickets are $15 general admission, children (5-15 years) are $11, seniors (65+) are $14, students (16+) are $14 and children 4 and under are free.

3. Toronto Sportman’s Show (Metro Convention Centre, 255 Bremner, Toronto, ON)

While not exactly a kids event, outdoorsy kids and kids at heart will enjoy the fishing seminars, outdoor adventure zones, dog shows at Canada’s largest fishing and outdoors show. The show takes place from March 14 to March 18, 2012 and open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., except on Sundays when it is open until 6 p.m. Tickets are $19 general admission, $13 for students and seniors and free for kids under 6 years.