Wednesday 30 November 2011

Science Fiction and Fantasy Events in Toronto, December 2011

These events are from the science fiction & fantasy calendar I run.  If you have an event that's not listed, email me (jessica.strider@gmail.com) and I'll put it on the calendar and add it here.  While I try to get the details correct, always check the links to confirm event information. I'll be updating this post as I learn of more events.

Note that there are a TON of non-SF based events on during December, so if you'd like to get out and about it won't be hard to find something going on.

Thursday December 1

Dr Who Information Network (DWIN) Pub Night

There is a regular Doctor Who Tavern/Pub gathering in Toronto on the first Thursday of each month
Where: Paupers Pub, 539 Bloor Street West (near Bathurst). We meet up at the back near the dartboards.
When: People usually start to arrive around 8:00pm.

Saturday December 3

Launch Party for Future Lovecraft
Where: basement programming room of the Lillian H. Smith branch of the Toronto Public Library system, located at 239 College St.
When: 1:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m

The Friends of the Merril Collection will be holding a book launch for the Future Lovecraft anthology at the Friends’ annual Christmas Cream Tea. Several local authors whose stories appear in the anthology (Ada Hoffmann, Helen Marshall and Michael Matheson) will be on hand to read from their work.

Neurodance: Tron Resurrection
Where: Nocturne  (550 Queen St. West)
When: 10 pm
 
Get your costumes ready. It's our Christmas party, and we're giving away a ton of prizes for best Tron-inspired outfits!!

Corruption plagues the system!! Fight for the Users, or give in to your dark side and let the logic errors consume you! It's an all-out battle between chaos and perfection; dance to survive!

Thursday December 8

Japan Foundation Free Film Screening of Shindo (Genius)
Where: Location: The Royal Cinema (608 College St., Toronto)
*Please note that the screenings will NOT be at the Bloor Cinema this year*
When: 7 pm
Admission: Free
Language: All films shown in Japanese with English subtitles

A fierce and conflicted prodigy, 13-year-old Uta plays the piano with effortless talent but has been in a slump since the disappearance of her father, also a classical pianist. She strikes up a friendship with the less-talented but enthusiastic Wao, 19, whose cacophonous piano playing has been driving his neighbours crazy. Wao is faced with two choices- get into music school, or take over his parents' vegetable stand- so Uta helps him prepare for his music school entrance recital by taking him to her abandoned house to use her father's grand piano, which she can no longer afford to keep. Despite Uta's insistence on neglecting her own talents, she is gradually drawn back to the piano as she learns more about the mysterious circumstances of her father's death..

National Post: Signal Books Launch with Margaret Atwood (In Other Worlds) and Janice Gross Stein (Diplomacy in the Digital Age)
Where: The Monk School of Global Affairs (1 Devonshire Place)

When: 12 - 2 pm
Cost: $30
To buy tickets.

Friday December 9

Japan Foundation Free Film Screening of Linda Linda Linda
Where: Location: The Royal Cinema (608 College St., Toronto)
*Please note that the screenings will NOT be at the Bloor Cinema this year*
When: 7 pm
Admission: Free
Language: All films shown in Japanese with English subtitles

In the days just before the school culture festival, a girls’ rock band is facing a dilemma. They planned on playing an original piece of music but…three days before the festival, the guitarist appears to have broken her finger and an argument has broken out between two members.

While the remaining three girls are pondering these problems, they hear “Linda Linda Linda” by the famous Japanese rock band Blue Hearts and decide they want to play it at the festival. Reshuffling their lineup and recruiting a Korean exchange student as their vocalist, they practice day and night to learn the song.. Despite their exhaustion, a deep friendship develops among the four girls.  

Saturday December 10 

Bakka Phoenix is throwing a Not-Exactly-Annual Christmas Party!
Where: 84 Harbord St.
When: 1 pm - 6 pm
From 1pm onwards, we'll share snacks, and stories, and a sweet sale (15% off everything).  It's a chance for you to just hang out, meet some fellow SFF readers, and even get a jump on your seasonal shopping.  But mostly it's a chance for us to say thanks for all of your support. 
Small Press of Toronto Winter Book Fair
Where: Hart House (7 Hart House Circle)
When: 10:30 am - 4: 30 pm

Indie zines, chapbooks, comics, graphic novels, poetry, fiction, Children's books, magazines - Come and see what's new and exciting in the small press scene! Meet the authors/illustrators/creators of the most intriguing and engaging work from around the GTA and beyond!

Japan Foundation Free Film Screening of The Summit: A Chronicle of Stones
Where: Location: The Royal Cinema (608 College St., Toronto)
*Please note that the screenings will NOT be at the Bloor Cinema this year*
When: 2:45 pm
Admission: Free
Language: All films shown in Japanese with English subtitles

The year is 1907. Shibasaki, renowned for his skills as a surveyor, is suddenly called to General Staff Headquarters, where he receives orders to conquer Mt. Tsurugidake, the last uncharted region of Japan. At the time, the survey unit attached to General Staff Headquarters was in the process of charting Japan and had already created maps after triangulation of numerous mountain peaks. Aside from mountains climbing of which was prohibited for religious reasons, the survey group has climbed almost all the mountains in the country with the exception of Tsurugidake. Moreover, shortly after its inauguration, the Japan Alpine Club was already planning the tackle Tsurugidake and the army survey unit could not be seen to lose out to a civilian organization.
After receiving his orders, Shibasaki tackled the challenge of reaching the peak of Tsurugidake together with Chojiro, a local guide of good character familiar with the Tsurugidake area. Can they achieve the daunting task of crossing the precipitous mountain range and planting the survey records?

Japan Foundation Free Film Screening of Always Sunset on Third St. 2
Where: Location: The Royal Cinema (608 College St., Toronto)
*Please note that the screenings will NOT be at the Bloor Cinema this year*
When: 6 pm
Admission: Free
Language: All films shown in Japanese with English subtitles

Following last year’s successful screening of Always: Sunset on Third St.(2005)in Hamilton, the 2007 sequel, Always: Sunset on Third St. 2, returns to the same Tokyo neighbourhood and its memorable characters. This heart-warming, award-winning drama features stellar performances from some of Japan’s top actors and actresses, and the digitally enhanced set design, says Variety, “creat[es] a feeling of living in a bygone Tokyo rather than just watching a movie set there.”  

Sunday December 11

Michael Rowe signs copes of his vampire novel, ENTER, NIGHT.
Where: World's Biggest Bookstore (20 Edward St)
When: 1 - 4 pm
Free
call 416-977-7009 for more information
Toronto Anime Con
Where: Metro Toronto Convention Centre (255 Front St. W)
When: 11 am - 5 pm
Admission: $10
Special Guest: Sean Schemmel (Dragon Ball)

Wednesday December 14


Very ChiZine Holiday Special Special
hosted by Special Guest Liana K!
Prepare yourself for a night of books, booze and holiday entertainment fit to wake the dead with guests

Where: Augusta House (152 Augusta Ave)
When: 8 pm
Don Bassingthwaite & a new Darby Cavendish story!
Samantha Beiko, the belle chanteuse!
Sandra Kasturi channeling Damon Runyon!
Kari Maaren & her amazing ukelele!
Jason Taniguchi in another holiday performance!
The song stylings of Halli Villegas!
AND
The sketch comedy of Obvious Rabid Machine (featuring Adrienne Weiss!)

Prizes! Raffles! Chocolates! And, of course, special holiday cocktails! Come one, come all!


Friday December 30 - Sunday January 1

Futurecon 2
Where: Holiday Inn Markham 7095 Woodbine Avenue
Cost: $48 per person for the night (group discounts available), $65 for New Year's Eve dinner buffet, $50 for meal plan (not including buffet) See this page for more details.
Pre-registration ends Dec. 5th
Programming

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