Weekend events in Toronto: January 3-5

Weekend events in Toronto is our guide to events happening this Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Here's what's happening in Toronto this Jan 3-5, 2014.

Canada's Top Ten Film Festival

TIFF has released its annual Top Ten lists of Canadian movies for 2013, highlighting the best this country has to offer in both the feature and short categories. The Top Ten list is also a festival unto itself - starting tonight and running for 10 days until January 12th, Canada's Top Ten will feature screenings of the listed films as well as Q&A sessions with the filmmakers. Jake Gyllenhaal will be on hand to discuss his recent work with Villeneuve, and Jon Greyson will close out the festival in conversation with TIFF Artistic Director Cameron Bailey. Tonight, you can catch The F Word by Michael Dowse at 8pm. January 3 - 12, TIFF Bell Lightbox (350 King Street West).

FOOD

Feast in the East

This month Toronto's Mimico, Bella Akira, and New Fries will play Burn Down the Capital's first party of 2014. The free dinner is a Japanese noodle bowl prepared by Daniel Goodbaum. As always with Feast in the East, it's about the music, but it's more so about the people. Support the east end music scene, recoup from the holidays, and celebrate the first week of a new year in warm surroundings with good food. January 4, Gerrard Art Space (1390 Gerrard Street East), 8pm, $8 advance.

Winter Farmers' Market at Steam Whistle Brewery

In case you missed this during the bustle of the holidays, Steam Whistle Brewery are hosting a winter farmers' market every Sunday for the next couple of months. It's running until February 23rd. Check it out for Ontario farmers selling apples, baked goods, root vegetables, organic meat and cheese, beauty products, maple and honey products. Steam Whistle Brewery (255 Bremner Boulevard), Sunday, December 29, 10am - 2pm. You can also check out our round up of other winter farmers' markets in Toronto.

For more food events, check out our Toronto Food Events post.

MUSIC

Class of 2014 - Indie-Rock Honour Roll

From January 3 - January 25, the Class of 2014 concert series will rock out at the Silver Dollar Room every weekend. Will these bands be Toronto's break out acts of 2014? Did any of these musicians ever make honour roll in school? Decide for yourself. Tonight's lineup includes Alex Calder (Montreal / Edmonton, Captured Tracks), Blonde Elvis, Wish, and Pet Sun (Hamilton). Check out our full preview of the month-spanning fest here. Friday, January 3, Silver Dollar (486 Spadina Ave), 9pm.

Toronto Does Toronto III

On Sunday you can take in the third installment of Toronto Does Toronto which, as you might have guessed, entails Toronto musicians covering songs by the Toronto musicians they love. Thom Gill (OG Melody), Ryan Marshall Driver, Chris Cummings (Marker Starling aka the artist formerly known as Mantler), Lisa Bozikovic, and Alex Lukashevsky will be performing. Want to know what they'll play? You know where to be. Sunday, January 5, Holy Oak Café (1241 Bloor Street West), 9pm, PWYC.

For more music listings, check out our This Week in Music and January Concerts posts.

COMEDY

John Hastings

It makes my heart happy to see that John Hastings is back in town from the UK. The last time I saw him was at his Edinburgh Fringe Fest preview show, where he killed from bell to bell. I'm always impressed by guys that are committed to writing new material on a regular basis. It shows a respect and commitment to the craft that rarely gets acknowledged. Check out the way he handles the heckler at the start of his set; it doesn't get any better than that. Friday January 3 - Sunday, January 5, Yuk Yuk's, 224 Richmond W, 8pm, $11-20

Sketchersons

Sometimes you go to a comedy show and pick up a sense of community from the people in the audience. That's what I felt when I went to The Sketchersons' Sunday Night Live. To commemorate their tenth anniversary, they're putting on a slew of performances where they'll be reviving audience favourites from the past decade. Oh yeah, and your ticket is good for both the 8pm and the 9pm show! Friday, January 3 - Sunday, January 5, Comedy Bar (945 Bloor W), 8pm/9pm, $2/$10.

For more comedy events, check out our The top comedy shows in Toronto January 2013 post.

FILM

Classroom Films

Trash Palace invites you to "thrill to the stupid ideas people had about education" this evening - too good to pass up, right? The night promises "cockamamie and super-rare artifacts of sponsored cinema's various eras, from the 30s to the 80s" including "an animation about how great money is," "a stoner film about trains," and "an extended traffic-judge tirade." The movies roll at 9:30pm and there will be door prizes. Friday, January 3, Trash Palace (89-B Niagara Street), 8:30pm.

ART

Sunday Scene with Allison Rowe

Micah Lexier's show is winding down at The Power Plant Contemporary Art Gallery, and if you haven't seen it yet this Sunday will be a good chance - and also your last chance (the exhibit ends this weekend). Toronto artist Allison Rowe participated in Lexier's huge group effort More Than Two (Let It Make Itself) and on Sunday she'll lead a tour of the exhibit for the Power Plant's Sunday Scene. Sunday, January 5, The Power Plant Contemporary Art Gallery (231 Queens Quay West), 2pm.

Everything & Nothing

This group exhibition will bring together 6 graduating classes from York University's Visual Arts Department. 21 artists will be in the show in total (check them out here). While each other the artists is cheekily valued at $30,000 each (per diploma - whew) the curators promise all the art on the walls will be affordable. Catch the opening tonight, or stop by Creatures Creating to see it this week. Friday, January 3, Creatures Creating Gallery (822 Dundas Street West), 7pm.

BOOKS

TRAMP featuring Zoe Whittall

Books and parties need to hook up more often, right? Restaurant (try the sliders ser.ious.ly.) meets queer bar The Steady hosts TRAMP tomorrow night - "a dance party for female identified folks but all respectful people are welcome." The night starts out on a literary bent with dinner-time readings by Zoe Whittall, Stacey May Fowles, Anna Cammilleri, Alison Taylor, Mariko Tamaki, and VIVEK SHRAYA. There will be numerous drunk specials, and music provided by DJ Jacqie Jaguar. Saturday, January 4, The Steady Cafe & Bar (1051 Bloor St W), 8:30pm, free.

FASHION

Canada's Bridal Show

If you're planning a wedding this year, Canada's Bridal Show can help you get prepared. 350 exhibitors will be at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre this weekend to help you coordinate your special day. From flowers to cake to DJs to The Dress, bring a list and see how many tasks you can check off. Brides of Beverly Hills star Kevin Lee will be there, plus you can winner thousands of dollars in prizes - including diamond rings (which I think are kind of tacky, but what do I know?). January 3 - 5, Metro Toronto Convention Centre (255 Front Street West), Friday 5-10pm, Saturday 10am-9pm, Sunday 10am-6pm, $20-$45.

Really Really Free Market

You might be burnt out on stuff post holidays, but maybe you got some well meaning gifts that just don't fit into your colour scheme or onto your body. Don't throw those away - bring 'em down to West End Campbell Park on Saturday to find them a new and better home, plus maybe grab some cool freebies for yourself. Bring your items before 3pm. Saturday, January 4, Campbell Park (Lansdowne Station / 195 Campbell Avenue), 10am - 4pm.

SPORTS

Motorcycle Supershow

While it isn't ideal motorcycle weather outside, you can cozy up indoors with some heavy metal machines this weekend Toronto International Centre. There will be hundreds of exhibits, custom bike displays, 3 stages for entertainment, special guests, bands, fashion shows. Holiday overspending be damned - 50,000 attendees are expected to make it out this weekend to shop for new and used bikes, helmets, leather, and other accessories (or maybe just pick up some free swag). January 3 - 5, Toronto International Centre (6900 Airport Road), Friday and Saturday 10am-10pm, Sunday 10am-6pm, $20.

Run4Kids

Not so keen on winter running events in the sleet and snow? This marathon (or 30K, 10K or 5K) is hosted by York University at their indoor track guaranteeing you protection from the elements. Run4Kids raises funds for school aged kids in Toronto, so while you're running around in circles remember you're doing it for a great cause. Saturday, January 4th, Toronto Track & Field Centre, York University, Keele Campus (4700 Keele St), 9am.

Have an event you'd like to plug? Submit your own listing to the blogTO Toronto events calendar or contact us directly.

Lead still from The F Word at TIFF Top Ten, Motorcycle Supershow photo by Roger Cullman,

by Aubrey Jax via blogTO