It’s Thursday, and the weekend is fast approaching. Need stuff to see or do? We’ve got you covered. In this edition, figure skating at the Air Canada Centre, Toronto’s own Downton Abbey, an Asian-influenced dance festival and more.
Stars on Ice
When: April 26
Where: Air Canada Centre, 40 Bay St.
Details: Watch skating stars like Kurt Browning and Joannie Rochette as they twirl and sashay their way on the ice at the Air Canada Centre. Joining the skating cast this year is three-time world champion Patrick Chan. Touring for three weeks from the east to the west coast, Stars on Ice touches down in Toronto this Friday only.
FAT Arts & Fashion Week
When: April 23-April 27
Where: Fashion Art Toronto, 213 Sterling Rd.
Details: Arts & Fashion Week is a multi-arts event featuring over 50 runway shows, photography from over 50 artists, films on fashion, sculptural and multimedia art installations and live performances in dance, music and art. This year’s theme is fashion therapy, looking at ways in which fashion can offer healing. Applying this theme on the runway is Workman Arts with their Mad Couture Catwalk, featuring 28 pieces of wearable artwork that sheds light on mental illness.
Toronto’s Downton Abbey: Spadina Museum
When: April 28
Where: Spadina Museum, 285 Spadina Rd.
Details: Step into the opulent world of the ’20s in Toronto’s very own version of the British period drama Downton Abbey. Take a tour through Spadina Museum, a historical manor fit for any member of the elite Crawley family. Offering a view of the upstairs/downstairs lives of aristocrats and their servants, the Spadina Museum has on display areas like an extravagant drawing room and a spartan servants quarters.
CanAsian International Dance Festival
When: April 28-May 12
Where: Fleck Dance Theatre, 207 Queens Quay W., and other venues
Details: For two weeks, CanAsian Dance will showcase Canadian and international artists performing Asian-influenced dance. The biennial event will include dance from the haunting Japanese butoh of Taketeru Kudo to the hypnotic Turkish whirling of Ziya Azazi. The festival also includes films, concerts and workshops inspired by Asian culture.
Out of the Box: The Rise of Sneaker Culture
When: April 25-March 30, 2014
Where: The Bata Shoe Museum, 327 Bloor St. W.
Details: The history of the humble sneaker, from the 19th century through to present day, will be exhibited at The Bata Show Museum. The first of its kind in North America, the exhibit will look at the past 150 years of sneaker culture and exhibit over 100 sneakers, quite a sight for the shoe-a-holic. Designs from Christian Louboutin, Prada and other designers will be presented and rare sneakers from brands like Nike, Converse and Reebok will be featured.
