If you are a budding poet or an admirer of storytelling, our Best Bets for this week have a few recommendations that’ll cater to your interests. From spoken word events like Black History in Verse to award-winning poetry showcases like UPU, you’ll have opportunities to listen to storytellers as they share their latest prose while also picking up the pen and writing your own poem. As for those interested in art in its various forms, you’ll be pleased to know that the guide below also features an exciting ballet double bill and an immersive Claude Monet experience.
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Pretty Girls Siiing: featuring pHoenix Pagliacci
Join Pretty Girls Siiing and pHoenix Pagliacci for a night of R&B music, connection, and self-love. This event is catered to those wanting to make self-care a more intentional practice, with attendees encouraged to wear whatever makes them feel beautiful and confident. Through meaningful conversations, vocal arrangements, and a special live performance, you are bound to leave this gathering with a renewed sense of confidence. More info.
When: February 25
Where: Fluff Me Up Cafe
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Curatorial Tours: In Her Own Words with Zanana Akande
Sit in on an insightful conversation between Zanana Akande and Dr. Jill Andrew as they reflect on Black leadership and legacy at the Museum of Toronto. Akande was Ontario’s first Black woman cabinet minister and Andrew was Canada’s first Black queer MPP, so they have plenty to discuss about their lived experiences, advocacy, and public service. Their candid conversation will explore how leadership is built, sustained, and shared. More info.
When: February 25
Where: Museum of Toronto
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Black History in Verse
Celebrate Black History with a FREE night of poetry led by Toronto Poet Laureate Lillian Allen and Toronto Youth Poet Laureate Shahaddah Jack. In this intergenerational gathering, a dozen poets from the Black diaspora will read, recite, and rejoice in stories that discuss Black history and the legacy of Canadian poetry. Before Us, Beside Us, Beyond Us is the evening’s theme, allowing for each storyteller on stage to honour those that came before them and those who are shaping what’s to come. This is also an opportunity to build community over patties and light refreshments. More info.
When: February 27
Where: City of Toronto Archives
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Bridgerton-Themed Paint Night
Bridgerton Season 4 Part 2 comes out this Thursday, and what better way to celebrate than paint and discuss Sophie and Benedict’s love story with other fans. This unofficial Bridgerton outing hosted by Plot Twist Events TO brings book lovers and regency era adepts together for a fun evening of mixing and mingling. With raffle prizes and snacks available for purchase, this is the perfect opportunity to make your next work of art while gossiping about the ton just like Lady Whistledown would. More info.
When: February 27
Where: Pinot’s Palette
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UPU by UPU Collective
Transport to the heart of the Pacific Ocean with UPU, an award-winning theatre production that features 23 poets, ranging from emerging voices to acclaimed literary figures. The stories you’ll hear dive into the perspectives from First Nations peoples of the islands, reflecting on cultural identity, history, and challenges faced by Pacific communities. The show comes alive with a talented ensemble of Pacific performers and multi-layered soundspace that make everything feel a little more immersive. More info.
When: February 27-March 1
Where: Native Earth Performing Arts
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Flight Pattern/Suite en Blanc
Brace yourselves for the premiere of Flight Pattern and Suite en Blanc, an impressive double bill put on by The National Ballet of Canada. Flight Pattern is Crystal Pite’s Olivier Award-winning piece, created by The Royal Ballet in 2017 to explore the suffering and emotional toll of the refugee crisis. It is just as captivating as its follow-up performance, Suite en Blanc, which is an ensemble piece that uses classical technique with non-narrative vignettes. Although both offer very different experiences, they are equally captivating. More info.
When: February 27-March 6
Where: Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts
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Edna Taçon: Verve and Decorum
Edna Taçon was a prominent art figure in both Toronto and New York City during the ‘40s, having a crucial role in the development of abstract painting in Canada. With more than 25 oil paintings, watercolours, and paper collages from the artist during a formative period of her career, the Edna Taçon: Verve and Decorum exhibition highlights the artist’s intuitive approach and invention. Her rarely seen works and archival materials come to the AGO courtesy of Taçon’s family, allowing for people to admire her work and influence up close. More info.
When: Starting February 28
Where: Art Gallery of Ontario
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Stitching Hour: Little Women
Stay warm and craft along at the Fox Theatre’s Stitching Hour. Come knit, crochet, and embroider while catching a screening of the 1994 adaptation of Little Women, starring Winona Ryder and Christian Bale. Get cozy with the Marsh sisters and fall for Jo, Laurie, and Amy’s love triangle all over again. Lights will be on while the film is playing, so you can focus on your creation from start to finish. More info.
When: March 1
Where: Fox Theatre
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Poetry Workshop With Laboni Islam in High Park
Read and discuss poetry about nature at this workshop hosted by Laboni Islam. Spend a winter afternoon strolling through High Park and respond to poetry prompts along the way. Make sure to dress for the weather, because you’ll write outdoors and inside the Forest School. Share your writing and get constructive feedback from other poets in a friendly environment, experiencing how poetry can foster connections in the natural world we live in. More info.
When: March 1
Where: High Park Forest School
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Claude Monet: The Immersive Experience
Experience Monet’s works like never before in this 360° digital art exhibit. With two-story projections and immersive sound design, this exhibition will make you feel like you are inside the frame all the while uncovering the hidden stories behind Monet’s works. This family-friendly artistic venture will lead you to explore the artist’s most compelling paintings and interact with them in a whole new way. More info.
When: On until April 30
Where: 30 Hanover Rd
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