The Weekend To-Do: We’re savouring the second last weekend of summer by hitting Vancouver’s farmers markets, Montreal’s film festival and Toronto’s teen-inspired basement party
The weekend before Labour Day is always bittersweet. All the guilty pleasures of summer—ice cream, bike rides, afternoons at the beach—are quickly slipping through our fingers. But let’s stay in denial a little while longer, shall we? This weekend we’re picnicking on the west coast, exploring the Junction after dark and staying out past curfew at a teen-themed party.
Farewell, My Queen
This costume drama tells the tale of the final days of the French Revolution from the perspective of one of the doomed Queen’s ladies-in-waiting, played by Midnight in Paris’s Léa Seydoux. Sit back, soak up the opulence of Versailles and compare Diane Kruger’s Marie Antoinette to Kirsten Dunst’s, all while practicing your français. Now if only they sold cake at the movies.
Junction Design Crawl
Hot on the heels of a wildly successful run of summer flea-market Sundays, the Junction Design Crawl takes place tonight with independent stores like Narwhal, Mjölk and Smash open into the evening. Our top pick is the heart-shaped Phillipa C Photography photobooth at Russet & Empire. Bring your crush’s address, write him/her a love letter and mail it with your photo. Good old-fashioned romance at its best.
7 pm – 11 pm, Aug. 24
Montreal World Film Festival
For the 36th consecutive year, Montreal’s film festival is bringing the world to downtown Montreal, this time with movies from more than 70 countries. Emphasizing cinematic quality over star power, one needn’t worry about fending off rabid Brangelina-crazed superfans in line at the concession stand.
Aug. 23 to Sept. 3
Vancouver Farmers Markets
Picnics are made all the sweeter by local peaches and cherries. Visit one of Vancouver’s Farmers Markets this weekend to fill your basket with in-season B.C. fruits and veggies.
Ruins’ Final Sale
It’s your last chance to shop at Ruins, which is closing Sunday after two years of contemporary style, culture and some of the best back-alley parties. They bid Queen West adieu with a parting gift of 50 to 75 per cent off of all merchandise.
960 Queen St. W., Toronto
Dry Hump
You’re never too old for seven minutes in heaven. Eva Michon of Bad Day Magazine is hosting a basement party experience tonight with killer snacks, teen movies, mixtapes and spin the bottle. It’s just like being 16 again, minus the Clearasil and early curfew.
8 pm, Aug. 24
104 Ossington Ave., Toronto
