It’s Thursday, and the weekend is fast approaching. Need stuff to see or do? We’ve got you covered. In this edition, tokers light up Yonge-Dundas Square, a stamp collector's heaven, outdoor activities for Earth Day and more.
4/20 Rally at Yonge-Dundas Square
When: April 20
Where: Yonge-Dundas Square, southeast corner of Yonge and Dundas Streets
Details: Yonge-Dundas Square becomes one big hot-box on Saturday when marijuana-lovers gather to celebrate 4/20 and to protest against cannabis laws. Marijuana activist group Toronto Hash Mob, led by Matt Mernagh (a.k.a. Mernahuana), will swarm the square in their seventh year of demonstration against marijuana prohibition. A 4/20 comedy festival will also take place at Yonge-Dundas Square. Activities for the “high holiday” begin at noon with a cannabis cannon going off at the 4:20 mark.
Stomp
When: April 16 – April 21
Where: Royal Alexandra Theatre, 260 King St. West
Details: International stage sensation Stomp is back in Toronto for just under a week of performances. Playing at the the Royal Alexandra Theatre, North America’s oldest continuously running theatre, Stomp is a combination of percussion and dynamic physical theatre with performers using everyday objects like brooms, bins and matchboxes as percussion instruments.
National Postage Stamp Show
When: April 19-21
Where: Direct Energy Centre, 100 Princes’ Blvd.
Details: If excitement is what you’re after this weekend then head over to the Direct Energy Centre for the National Postage Stamp Show presented by the Canadian Stamp Dealers’ Association. Here you’ll find an assortment of stamps and adorable old people in sweater vests and bifocals. Stamp dealers from across North America and the UK will be present.
Chocolate Making Workshop
When: April 20
Where: Swansea Town Hall, 95 Lavinia Ave.
Details: Chocolate Tales — which offers chocolate-making lessons for home, corporate events, bridal parties and kids’ parties — will be hosting a hands-on, 90-minute long chocolate-making workshop at Swansea Town Hall. Activities include a brief history of chocolate and four tasters before the chocolate-making process begins using fine Belgian chocolate.
Earth Day Celebrations
When: April 20-21
Where: Various locations
Details: Earth Day 2013 officially takes place on Monday, April 22, but various locations in Toronto will be celebrating this weekend. Here are just a few of the events:
- The Toronto Zoo (361A Old Finch Ave.), partnering with Earth Day Canada, is hosting a “party for the planet” that includes zookeeper talks, resources on environmental and conservation education, and programs like EcoKids and Backyard Naturalists.
- Evergreen Brick Works (550 Bayview Ave.) is hosting an Earth Mudder Weekend complete with a public tree-planting event, a crafts activity using mud and clay, a guided nature tour, strawberry planting and even a bike tune-up session.
- After several years of additions, the Toronto Botanical Garden (777 Lawrence Ave. East) is having its final public planting in its Woodland Walk and Bird Habitat garden. Visitors can participate in a guided nature hike and purchase native plants.