The legendary comic performed three shows at the Sony Centre this past weekend. Why his reputation for hackneyed “What’s the deal with…” jokes is undeserved.

Jerry Seinfeld Comedy Tour Sony Centre for the Performing Arts (1 Front Street East)May 4, 7 p.m., May 5, 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. In the half hour before Jerry Seinfeld took to the stage at the Sony Centre for the Performing Arts, where he performed three shows this past weekend, Sinatra hits flowed from [...]

This year’s edition of the Global Marijuana March saw dedicated activists and regular old stoners get together to fight marijuana prohibition.

Roughly 20,000 people, ranging from cheerful stoners to concerned activists, took to the streets Saturday to protest the continued prohibition of marijuana at the Toronto Global Marijuana March. The Marijuana March happens just two weeks after another major marijuana protest, the annual April 20 4:20 smoke-in at Yonge-Dundas Square. The 4:20 protest may have a [...]

From a media release:

Second Annual Harlem Jazz Shrines Festival – May 7 – 13 2012
The Apollo Theater, Harlem Stage and Jazzmobile renew partnership to present second annual Harlem Jazz Shrines Festival. 

• Harlem Jazz Shrines Festival Calenda…

What to see today at Hot Docs.

For today’s final instalment of Hot Docs daily, we’ve decided to defer in part to the festival’s official juries, who announced their 2012 award winners at a ceremony held on Friday night. The Best Canadian Feature and Best International Feature winners will have encore screenings this evening, and we’re happy to get behind both selections. [...]

From a media release:INGENIUS 2012: SECRETS CONCEALED/SECRETS REVEALEDThe Fourth Annual Festival of One-Act Plays by C.J. Ehrlich, Alaina Hammond, Ed Malin, John McKinney and DeLisa White
May 7 – 22, 2012NEW YORK CITY – Manhattan Theatre Source is pr…

Peter J. Thompson/National Post In his new book, Michael Coren calls Christianity the most abused faith on Earth. “I believe the evidence is overwhelming,” he writes. Michael Coren is growing increasingly impatient. He sees the world around him becoming dangerously intolerant of Christianity. In the just-released Heresy: The Lies They Spread About Christianity, his 14th [...]

That time Jimi Hendrix mistook heroin for Bromo Seltzer and got arrested in Toronto.

“We want you to forget about today, about yesterday, and about tomorrow,” the singer proclaimed to the crowd of 10,000 at Maple Leaf Gardens. “Tonight we’re gonna create a whole new world,” he added as the band roared in “Fire,” their traditional opening number. By the time he played Toronto on May 3, 1969, Jimi [...]

What to see today at Hot Docs.

With Detropia (), from Rachel Grady and Heidi Ewing, Hot Docs schedulers have saved one of the fest’s best for last. Fresh from an award-winning world premiere at Sundance, the Jesus Camp co-directors’ latest makes its international debut this evening (5:45 p.m. at the Bloor Hot Docs Cinema) in its one and only Hot Docs [...]

From a media release:

Downtown Art Presents:The Bowery Wars, Part 2 – continues to May 20, 2012The Writers Project – Series 1 – May 11 & 12, 2012NEW YORK CITY – Downtown Art works with teen artists to create original theater, music, and performanc…

From a media release:200 PLAYERS.  TANK HELMETS.  A HEADLESS GOAT.KINOSMITH presentsBuzkashi!a film by Najeeb MirzaWorld Premiere at HOT DOCS• Last screening at the Cumberland 2 – May 6, 2012 – 9:00pm(Toronto)  Make way for one of th…

From a media release:

GEORGE CLINTON & THE P-FUNK ALL-STARSB.B.King Blues Club & Grill, New York CityMay 6, 2012Showtime @ 8:00PMDoors Open @ 6:00PMTickets $37.50 in advance, $42.00 day of show  Standing Room OnlyLimited table seating ava…

From a release:

Japan Nightat Joe’s Pub, New York CityPrice: $207:30 PM – May 6, 2012NEW YORK CITY – Live from Tokyo, it’s “Japan Night @ Joe’s Pub,” a unique and very special trans-cultural evening of readings, music and live performances in the hear…

From a media release:

LULA CELEBRATES 10TH ANNIVERSARY!– YEAR-LONG PARTY INCLUDES LULAWORLD FEST, COMPILATION CD, MUSIC & ARTS CENTRETORONTO – In May of 2012, Toronto music venue Lula Lounge turns 10 years old. Defying all odds, Lula is still …

From a media release:

BARBES TURNS TEN THIS MAYThe Brooklyn club will celebrate with the help of its many friendsStill time to catch the celebrations May 5 & 6, 2012BROOKLYN, NEW YORK CITY – The Brooklyn bar and performance space, which opened in …

I’m happy the Globe and Mail is not responsible for defining words for us all. In the poll below, on its website tonight, we see them create a false choice about students wearing shirts at school that declare religious beliefs: freedom of religion versus secular public schools. Secular public schools have to teach without a [...]

BlogTO is reporting that the Cumberland Four Cinemas, in Yorkville, will be shutting down this coming Sunday. A spokesperson for Cineplex, which owns the theatre, told BlogTO that the company had been leasing the Cumberland’s location on a month-to-month basis, and is leaving at the insistence of the landlord. The art-house multiplex has long been [...]

A great many things have and will continue to be written in the wake of a confrontation between the mayor and Toronto Star reporter Daniel Dale—about the mayor and his temper, the Star and its coverage of him, and the perpetually tense relationship between the two. But armchair psychologizing and media theory aside, there is [...]

Some up-and-coming cartoonists you should know about.

While the Toronto Comic Arts Festival will feature some comics rockstars like Kate Beaton, Bryan Lee O’Malley, Jeff Smith, and Alison Bechdel, there are plenty of less famous artists worth checking out. Here are a few we’ve got our eye on. Emily Carroll Carroll made a name for herself with the 2010 Halloween folktale comic [...]

If you’ve always wondered but never been, here’s your introduction to the annual indie comics fest.

Toronto Comic Arts Festival Toronto Reference Library (789 Yonge Street) Saturday, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m.–5 p.m. FREE This weekend, happy nerds will descend on the Toronto Reference Library for the fourth annual Toronto Comic Arts Festival. The free convention takes up residence at the Toronto Reference Library and hopes to give the public [...]

Full Frontal T.O., a new collection of the photography of Patrick Cummins, reveals hidden tales of the naked city.

The CONTACT Photography Festival runs from May 1 to May 31. We’ll be profiling selected artists and shows throughout the month. Full Frontal T.O. Urban Space Gallery (401 Richmond St. W., Suite 117) Book launch: May 9, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Photo exhibition: May 1–May 31; Monday to Saturday, 9 a.m.–7 p.m. Free Over [...]