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So, summer is fast approaching and you’re probably thinking, “Hey, I should really do something active.” Good thinking! But what sort of sport should you participate in? Well, BikeChain would like to invite you to consider bike polo! Yes, it’s exactly what it sounds like. Imagine polo, minus the horses, and insert the bikes where the horses used to be, and voila: bike polo.

Below are the listed requirements for participation:
- Access to a road or track bike
- Excellent riding and balancing skills
- An interest in organized bike polo competition

So, if you satisfy those requirements, then head over to the first BikeChain bike polo team practice this Saturday.

When: Saturday, May 10th, 2008. 2pm - 5pm
Where: Meet outside BikeChain - 33 St. George St
Details: Bring a bike. They’ve got the mallets. Don’t bring a horse. I repeat, don’t bring a horse.

Video of Trampoline Hall, by 52 Mondays

Well, it’s not quite what you’d imagine when you hear “Trampoline Hall”. You’re probably thinking of a long, gilded hallway, with vaulted ceilings, where slender, acrobatic youths in tights are somersaulting between a row of trampolines stretching into the vanishing point (… at least that’s what I imagined). What Trampoline Hall actually is, is a lecture series that’s entertaining, whimsical, and quite an active local tradition.

Happening at Sneeky Dee’s on the second Monday of every month, Trampoline Hall is a lecture series that has only one stipulation: The lecture may not give a talk on a subject in which they are a professional expert. The result is… well, you can watch the video above and tell me whether or not you think it’s awesome. Hosted by a frenetic dude who speaks with nervous excitement and attended by a sold-out crowd of curious, well-humoured guests every month, Trampoline Hall is a really quaint and charming local tradition that you should probably check out, at least once. I know I’ve been coming back for more ever since I attended my first one.

When: Second Monday of every month. May 12th this month. 8PM Sharp. Get tickets beforehand!
Where: Sneaky Dee’s (431 College Street)
Details: Get your tickets ($6) starting Thursday the week before (May 8th in this case) at Soundscapes (572 College Street)! Tickets sell out quickly. You can find out about the topics of this month’s lectures on the Trampoline Hall website.

The 2008 Contact Photography Festival kick off today, May 1st. This festival, which happens to be the largest photography event in the world, will be here all month long (May 1st to May 31st) and all over the city. BlogTO wrote a great preview to what’s happening at the festival, so take a look if you haven’t already.

Of course, one of the best parts of festivals is the parties that come along with them, and this Friday is the launch party for Contact 2008. What can you expect at the launch party, aside from photo enthusiasts?

The photographic duo Alex vs. Alex will have you posing all night long at their “portrait party”! Sponsored by HP, their images will be printed on-site for display and pick up.

Hear that guys and gals? Portrait party! Dress up and see ya down there! (Seriously, I’m going. Anyone else? If you see me, say hi!)

When: Friday, May 2, 2008 at 7:00pm - 12 midnight
Where: Brassaii Bistro Lounge, 461 King St W
Details: Suggested donation $10. Check out the Facebook event page to see the pretty people who’ll be in attendance.

So, I know you’re all probably studying hard for exams right now. But what I also know is, exam studying calls for all sorts of distractions, and I’ve just found another one worth sharing. Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you: TypeRacer! *cue engine noises*

The idea is simple and self explanatory. What’s confounding is how such a simple game can be so amusing. Give it a try yourself. I think I maxed out somewhere around 90 wpm. (I haven’t had this much fun typing since that time I tried cyber-sex… Nah, I’m just kidding… … cyber-sex was more fun.)

Via Metafilter

This is some pretty cool stuff! Hear this: I believe I have found the perfect exam time distraction online! Recently, I discovered that the Comedy Network is streaming a ton of their content from their website. That’s right! Full episodes, uncensored, entire seasons of content! Check it out here!

Of course, there are a few setbacks. You have to install Microsoft silverlight player, and you have to put up with two or three unskippable, 30 second commercials within one episode, but let’s be honest, the good definitely outweigh the bad. With full seasons of South Park, the Daily Show, Corner Gas, and my newly discovered favourite, Keys to the VIP, that’s hours upon hours of entertainment.

So, about this Keys to the VIP show. In case you’re not familiar with it, it’s basically a show that pits two “players” against each other in a battle to pick up girls. (It may sound silly, but I assure you, the entertainment value is high) All the while, there’s a panel of four pick-up masters commenting on the play-by-play action, often to hilarious results. The best part of it? It’s all filmed in Toronto! And guess what! They’re looking for “players” to be on the show in Season 3. Hey there smooth operator, here’s the chance for you to show everyone that you’ve got game, on TV! I kid you not. Check out the Comedy Network page for details.

I’ve gotta hand it to them, the ESU (English Student Union) is a pretty hip crowd. A while back, they held the Poetry Massacre, and now they’re throwing another event of literally awesome proportions!

Get ready for the Great Gatsby Affair: The Grit and Glam of the Roaring 20’s. Dress sharply (1920’s costume/semi-formal dress code in effect) and come for the fun: hors d’oeuvres, deserts, alcohol (by cash bar), live jazz music, swing dancing lessons, and costume prizes awarded to best male and female ensemble. The event also marks the launch of the 2008 edition of IDIOM, the academic journal published annually by the ESU.

When: Friday, April 18, 2008. Doors open at 8:30pm
Where: The Debates Room, Hart House,
Details: Tickets are $10. Please bring valid ID to purchase alcohol. You can find out more details on the facebook event page.

It’s the end of the year, and of course you know what that means. End of the year parties! Grand Finale @ CiRCA on Thursday April 10th promises to be “a Party of EPIC proportions”. It’s organized by a slew of student organizations at U of T and Ryerson and tickets are only $5 (or $10 at the door).

Having just been to CiRCA for the first time a few weeks ago, I am very impressed with the club. With lots of different rooms with different music, plus enough lounging areas to just hang out and chat (yes, you can actually talk to people), CiRCA does the mega-club thing very well.

Anyway, so I’ll just link you to the Facebook event so you can get the details and check all the pretty people who plan on attending. If you’re too cool for facebook, you can get the details on this page.

Paramnesia |pär’äm-në’zhé| the distortion of memory in which fact is confused with fantasy… this is the title of Ryerson School of Fashion’s 2008 student fashion show.

For the past twenty years, the Ryerson third-year Fashion Communications students have been organzing this show - known as Mass Exodus - to present the fourth-year Fashion Design students’ work…

Each year, the students create a unique theme for the show. This year, paramnesia is the theme. I am completely uncertain as to what to expect, but the thought of witnessing the creative achievements of other students, in a completely different field of study from mine, fills me with a sense of curiosity and excitement.

Tickets: Tickets are just $10. Find out how to get them on the Mass Exodus website.
Times: Wednesday April 9, 2008. 6:00pm Industry Show. 8:30 pm Alumni Show.

Image from Flickr by SMN

So, it’s that time of the year again, and if you’re like me, you’re likely putting off your tax return… (unless you’re one of the lucky ones and someone else has already done it for you). But you know what, it isn’t actually that painful. This year, I actually managed to do my tax return within about an hour, and get $500 back. (Best hour ever!)

How’d I do that? Well, you can file your taxes online for FREE (if you’re a student) using UFILE.CA. Be sure to do it before April 30th to get the free service. Also, a tax tip: if you pay rent, be sure to claim that in your tax return. Made a big difference for me!

This Wednesday, you’ll have the chance to celebrate Nowruz, the ancient Persian tradition of celebrating the arrival of spring dating back to at least 3000 years ago, at Hart House. The event will feature classical Persian music, dance, puppet show, storytelling, Persian marquetry, calligraphy and various displays.

The attendees can purchase Persian dishes as part of Hart House 5-Buck Lunch program. The menu includes: Khoreshte Fesenjan (pomegranate - walnut stew), Zereshk Polo (chicken and barberry - rice), Koko Sibzamini (potato omelette), Shevid Baghali Polo (dill-Lima bean rice), Shirazi Salad and Shole Zard dessert.

This event is organized by UofT’s Hart House, Iranian Association at the UofT (IAUT) and Iranian Student Union at UofT (ISU).

When: Wednesday, 19 March 2008, 11:45 am to 2:00 pm
Where: Great Hall at Hart House
Details: Nowruz Celebration and 5-Buck Lunch. For more information, including Nowruz history and the performers on Wednesday, see the IAUT webpage.