Marilyn's Toronto Blog

Okay, okay, so there should have been more punctuation in that title, but how often do you get to write a sentence like that?

Come the end of August, both Avenue Q and A Midsummer Night's Dream will be closing, and Evil Dead: The Musical will close soon afterwards on September 6th. So if you've been planning to head to the theatre for one of those shows - or High Park, if you're Shakespeare inclined - time is running out. Check the Performing Arts Calendar for show details and links to where you can get tickets.

And if anyone out there has actually made a puppet of William Shakespeare as possessed by a demon, well, the comments section is yours for all the links to self-promotion you can muster.

In case you missed it this weekend, Maple Leaf Foods has now expanded their Listeria-related recall to include many items which are being pulled as a precautionary measure, even though there's been no signs of contamination in these latest additions to the list.

On the Maple Leaf Foods Canada website there's a note up that includes a request for visitors to "check back often to see what we are doing to win back your confidence". Maybe I'm too trusting, but once the recall is done with I don't think I'll be hesitant to buy Maple Leaf Products. After all this, they'll probably have the cleanest processing plants going.

• Read the Toronto Star Health Zone article Maple Leaf expands recall to 220 products
• Or go straight to MapleLeaf.ca for the full recall list, plus up-to-date news releases and the number for their Consumer Affairs hotline.

Buskers, fanatics, tiny horses and Stéphane Dion are all in town this weekend for your edification and amusement. Here's just a taste of things to do in Toronto on Friday August 22nd, Saturday August 23rd and Sunday August 24th.

• If you're an early riser who loves politics or is interested in environmental policy, you should know that Liberal Party of Canada Leader Stéphane Dion will be speaking about the party's Green Shift plan at an 8:30am Town Hall Meeting on Friday morning. Visit the Green Toronto Calendar for details.


• BUSKERFEST 2008 actually begins today (Thursday) and continues in the afternoons and evenings until 8pm Sunday night. Street performers will fill Front Street between Church and Jarvis in the St. Lawrence Market neighbourhood, with admission by donation to Epilepsy Toronto.


• Love comic books, horror, anime, sci-fi or gaming? Speakers, autograph sessions, sales, displays and more will make up Fan Expo at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre from Friday August 22nd to Sunday August 24th.


• Free movie screenings continue for two more Friday nights at Downsview Park with Surf's Up this Friday and an as-yet unannounced title next week. The show starts around 9pm - visit the Downsview Park website event page for details.


• The Jays are in town this weekend for three games against the Boston Red Sox, the Toronto FC play the New England Revolution, and a Toronto Roller Derby bout on Saturday night will pit the Smoke City Betties and against Chicks Ahoy! Visit the Spectator Sports Calendar for more details.


• Jersey Boys has just opened at the Toronto Centre for the Arts. This Tony-award winning musical tells the story of The Four Seasons. Visit the Performing Arts Calendar for ticket links and to see what else is on stage now.


• Things continue at The Canadian National Exhibition everyday until the end of the Labour Day weekend. Special events for this weekend include the return of ribfest, a classic car cruise and a miniature horse competition.


• It's a big weekend for west-end youth with both the Parkdale Youth Festival and the Queer West Youth Film and Video Fest on Saturday August 23rd.


• And this is the final weekend to catch the Cirque du Soliel show Saltimbanco at the Air Canada Centre.

Got plans of your own? Add a comment to share your ideas of things to do this weekend.

There's a very short article on the Toronto Star website titled 'Toronto will consider bottled water ban: Mayor'. As I write this, the article has over forty comments with people variously praising Miller's boldness and slamming him for taking away their freedom of choice. All of the comments are of a tone which suggests that the sale of bottled water would be entirely banned in the city - which is not the case at all. When you actually read the article, it (albeit vaguely) indicates that the proposed ban is for the sale of bottled water in municipal buildings, following a move London, Ontario has already made.

CBC.ca has a much more comprehensive article on the topic, 'Toronto may copy London, Ont.'s ban on bottled water'. It explains London's decision in some detail and has the responses from bottled water producers. So if you hear the notion that bottled water will be banned in Toronto coming down the grapevine, you can stop the misinformation in its tracks. Apparently we'll see what really comes to pass - if anything - after council hears a report on the matter in November.

Edited Thursday morning to add: Okay, now the Star has a full article which includes some of the other waste-reduction measures council has been considering. Read 'Plastic water bottles on city hit list' for those details.

Toronto Life magazine seems to always have several neat contests on the go at a time. Right now they've got one for movie lovers, or anyone who just loves the film fest atmosphere (anyone 19+, that is). The prize for their Red Carpet Experience Contest is two tickets to a Toronto International Film Festival opening night screening on Thursday September 4th with a hotel stay afterwards and a buffet breakfast in the morning, plus dinner for two at One Restaurant.

You've got until August 28th to submit your name, with the winner being drawn the next day. Visit the Toronto Life Contests page for all the rules, regulations and the entry form, and to check out the other contest they have on the go right now, the Taste of Toronto Spring Edition.

• Ever wonder why you have to do math homework before you can win anything? About Contests guide Sandra Grauschopf explains it in Why Do Canadian Sweepstakes Ask Skill Testing Questions?

As the end of summer looms it may not only be time to get ready for back to school, but also to get back to school-friendly part-time jobs. On the other hand, some people may have just finished up with classes this summer or realized they're not going back to school after all and want to look for full-time work.

Whatever the reasons for the job hunt, the Service Canada Centre for Youth has an event planned to help job seekers between the ages of 15 and 30 find both volunteer opportunities that can improve employability, and employment itself.

Head to Metro Hall on Tuesday between 11am and 3pm to meet representatives from organizations that are interested in recruiting younger workers. And even if you aren't on the job hunt, don't overlook the Youth Career Fair as an opportunity to research future options.

Metro Hall is on the south-east corner of King and John. For more details, visit the event page on youth.gc.ca

I just clued into the fact that we're halfway through August. Almost all of the way through the summer. How and when did this happen? In the name of making the most of what's left of August, here's just some of what's happening in Toronto this weekend; Friday August 15, Saturday August 16 and Sunday August 17.

• This Friday the Canadian National Exhibition begins its 18 day run. On until September 1st, the Ex's shows, midway, casino and of course exhibits are an end of summer tradition.


• Dusk Dances are on now and continue until Sunday. These pay-what-you-can outdoor dance performances begin at 7pm in Withrow Park.


• There's been a lot of football buzz about the Buffalo Bills playing in Toronto tonight (Thursday August 14th), but if you like your football the CFL way (and a heck of a lot cheaper), the Toronto Argonauts are taking on the Montreal Alouettes Friday night at the Rogers Centre.


• New this year, City Mix 2008 is a free Friday evening event hosted by the Mix Community Club. Taking place in Nathan Phillips Square from 5pm to 10pm, this evening of entertainment and displays is a celebration of social integration among people of all different ages and abilities.


• One of the About Toronto forum users let us know about a free Street Festival being hosted on Saturday by the Yonge-Eglinton BIA. From her post:

  The York-Eglinton International Street Festival offers everyone a day of hot music and fun activities. Featuring live musical performances by R&B and Reggae artists Ray Robinson, Comfort and S. Davis. Local groups will also perform including the talented multicultural youth choir the Self-Esteem Academy Singers. There’ll be exciting giveaways, kids’ activities, a sidewalk sale and more. Free. Saturday, August 16th from noon to 6:30 pm. Presented by the York-Eglinton BIA. At 1607 Eglinton Ave. W., Green P Parking Lot, and along Eglinton Ave. W. from Marlee Ave. to Dufferin St. For information: www.yorkbia.com.

  .
• Also on Saturday and also free is the EcoSavvy Festival at Mel Lastman Square. Speakers, workshops and live music will fill the stage while "eco merchants" will be in the square with information on their environmentally-conscious products and services.


• Regularly scheduled Saturday Shenanigans are on at the Bata Shoe Museum. Families visiting the museum between 11am and 4pm can enjoy crafts and face painting with a jungle theme.


• On Sunday, volunteers from the High Park Community Advisory Council will be in the park at 10:30am for Himalayan Balsam Removal. Visit the "Programs" section of the website to learn more about Volunteer Stewardship in High Park.


• Want something silly to do with your Sunday? The First Annual Duck Regatta in support of the Toronto East General Hospital Foundation will see thousands of rubber duckies race for prizes at Ontario Place. Buy a duck in advance for $5 to enter the race, or just head out and watch the ridiculous show.

Got plans of your own? Add a comment to share your ideas of things to do this weekend.

The Toronto Star has a report online this morning about just how many propane filling sites there are in the GTA. while the Globe and Mail has a story about zoning by-laws and the efforts to change them. A lot of news coverage of this week's explosion and subsequent evacuation is now focusing on why that facility existed where it did - which is absolutely a question worth asking.

But I was watching as CP24 visited the edge of the evacuated area in North York, talking with people who were still waiting to get back into their homes. While several people told stories of running immediately into the street, many others did have time to grab a few things. But one woman in particular spoke about how she and her family weren't prepared for an emergency, and how in the few moments they did have they forgot everything that was important. She was adamant that people needed to use this event as a serious reminder about the need to prepare yourself and your family for an emergency, and I think her lesson is the most important one we as individuals should be focusing on. Because while the government is investigating the circumstances that led to this particular tragedy, there's no way to know what and when the next one will be.

For planning tips, emergency kit checklists and more, visit:

• The City of Toronto Office of Emergency Management website
• Toronto Fire Services Emergency Preparedness webpage

Don't forget to consider how prepared your workplace is for an emergency and to work with your co-workers to come up with a plan. If you'd like to purchase a 72 Hour Emergency Kit, I know that Canadian Tire has them, along with other safety and emergency equipment.

Hey, it may not be the most fun way to spend a weekend, but then neither is sitting in an emergency shelter with no I.D., no necessary personal items, and no idea what to do next.

The Toronto Public Library is in the middle of their Summer Reading Contest on the Book Buzz virtual book club. Users are invited to post a message about books you read to pass the time, feel inspired, or remind yourself that money doesn't buy happiness, and a winner will be drawn to receive a book package. One draw already took place at the end of July, and the next, final deadline is August 31st.

Visit the Book Buzz website to enter the contest, to join the discussions on this month's book, or to find out what books will be discussed in the coming months.

Photo © Marilyn Campbell

When putting together the "Things to Do This Weekend" post on Thursday, I somehow totally forgot to mention that Juno award winning band Glass Tiger is playing a free outdoor show in Etobicoke on Saturday night as part of Lakeshore Mardi Gras in Colonel Samuel Smith Park. They're scheduled to hit the stage at 7:30pm, but the entertainment kicks off at noon.

• Wanna get warmed up? Visit the Indigo/Chapters channel on YouTube to see Glass Tiger's Alan Frew speak about his book and perform "My Town"