If you find yourself looking for a bit of fun this Saturday evening after stuffing your face at the Taste of the Danforth, might I suggest an evening of head-nodding hip-shaking fun at the Silver Dollar Room, with the incredibly talented and – most of all – fun Mr. Something Something.

Mr. Something Something is a Toronto band, currently in the midst of a cross-Canada tour (I stumbled upon them in St. John’s NFL a week ago – the lead singer sporting a “Free Newfoundland” shirt no less). They’re an afrobeat band, whatever that means: groovy, jazzy, throbbing beats, and so fun they’ll have you on your feet dancing to the music in no time.

WHAT: Mr. Something Something
(Careful: the preceding link will play a song when you open it so mute your speakers if you’re at work!)
WHEN: 10pm, Saturday August 11, 2007
WHERE: Silver Dollar Room, Spadina and College
$$$: $10

Shakespeare In the Park is all well and good, but now, Shakespeare is right on our doorstep.

From July 18 to August 4, the Canopy Theatre Company is mounting its production of Much Ado About Nothing on the Philosopher’s Stage at Philosopher’s Walk. Shows run from Wednesdays to Saturdays, and Wednesdays are pay-what-you-can.

What: Much Ado About Nothing (aka Shakespeare on YOUR front step)
Where: Philosopher’s Stage, Philosopher’s Walk (80 Queen’s Park, next to Museum subway station)
Dates: July 18 to August 4, Wednesdays to Saturdays
Time: 8pm start, doors open at 7.30pm
$$$: Adults $10; Students/Seniors $8; Wednesdays pay-what-you-can. Buy tickets online here

See? Now you CAN’T not go.

Musical production The Overcoat made its triumphant homecoming to Toronto this week, after three years of sold-out performances across Canada, England, Australia, NZ, Norway and the US.

“An ordinary man acquires a beautiful coat. His identity is transformed and he has a fleeting glimpse of hope, but his life is eventually shattered by this simple acquisition. Based on a short story by Nikolai Gogol and set to music by Dmitri Shostakovich, The Overcoat is a fascinating weave of movement, dance and storytelling. This CanStage production of The Overcoat is its first Toronto homecoming in three years after sold-out runs across Canada, England, Australia, New Zealand, Norway and the United States.”

Created by Morris Panych and Wendy Gorling. Read more here and here.

Regular tickets range from $20 to $65. However, if you’re under 30, all tickets are $20 – you just have to go buy them in person at the box office (27 Front Street East, right next to Union Station). In addition, Monday nights are pay-what-you-can, so just show up on the day of and ask if they have any tickets left. Finally, you can buy tickets and/or view the seating charts online.

If you’ve been at U of T for at least a year, you may remember Radical Roots, the vegan organic cafe that served healthy lunches at the International Student Centre (ISC), across from the Koffler Centre. Well, Radical Roots is no more – due, I’m guessing, to the fact that their food was a little overpriced, servings were tiny, and worst of all, it sometimes took close to an hour to get your food.

You gotta hand it to those veggies though, because Hot Yam! (U of T’s new vegan food collective) has sprung up to fill the vacancy. It’s in the same spot – 33 St. George Street, in the ISC building (the big yellow house in its own pretty garden). And this Wednesday Hot Yam! is creating and serving a Valentine’s themed lunch. “It will be a celebration of vegan, local, organic, accessible, healthy and heart-y food”. Lunch will be an affordable $4 (for 3 courses), and if you want to eat and run, bring your own tupperware.

Also featured at the lunch will be some home-made crafts and baked goods for sale by U of T’s very own eco-magazine, Green Perspective, so bring a few extra toonies and pick up some chili truffles and pornigami.

Did you know, Chinese New Year is actually also Korean, Japanese, Vietnamese, Thai, Burmese and Lao? So to be politically correct, we’ll refer to it as Lunar New Year.

Lunar New Year falls on Saturday February 17th this year, right at the start of reading week (so you don’t have to worry about those midterms just yet). And to celebrate, from February 16 to February 18, “Toronto Celebrates Lunar New Year 2007” is taking place in the Automotive Building at the Exhibition Place. It bills itself as “The Largest Lunar New Year Festival in Canada”. Tickets are $8 in advance (purchase online here), or $10 at the door. (more…)

Well, I saw Kyle Koehler’s Hammond B3 trio at Hart House on Friday night, and the man definitely didn’t disappoint. My kudos go to CIUT and Hart House for continuing to bring top talent like this right to our doorstep – for free! The music was funky and toe-tappingly good, the venue was relaxed and cozy, and the musicians were top notch.

So to continue in the vein of great music, here’s the list of free shows Hart House is putting on over the next month. The list will probably continue to expand, so you can keep up to date here. Directions to Hart House are here.

Wednesday February 14, 2007 - 12:00 PM – Music Room – “Languages of love”

Friday February 16, 2007 - 9:00 PM – Arbor Room – Scott Kemp Collective (“groove based, moody, melodic, and harmonically engaging”)

Sunday February 25, 2007 - 3:00 PM – Great Hall – Soul Influence (part of African History Month)

Friday March 2, 2007 - 9:00 PM – Arbor Room – Terra Grimard Group (“an enchanting mix of jazz and groove”)

Continuing in the vein of great restaurant offers this winter, there’s a 2-for-1 deal going on from January 3rd to March 14th, excluding Valentine’s day, at a number of downtown restaurants. Now’s your chance to put that gym membership to good use.