oronto is a busy place. With restaurants and bars opening and closing everyday, concerts being performed nonstop, and news developing faster than it can be reported, it's hard to stay afloat. You need a guide. Martiniboys.com is here to help. Keeping our ears to the ground and our eyes to the blogs, we've collected all the hot buzz that you need to stay informed about your fair city. Whether it be a new store opening or a shocking political scandal, you'll find it here. There's no need to thank us, we're just doing our jobs. Okay, you can thank us.



The admittedly wonderfully named Labour of Love returns for an end-of-unofficial-summer decks and drips party. Hardcore electronic music fans, occasional club people, and even anyone who's once done E (you can admit it) will be floored by this lineup. If you're a fan of DJs, this is practically Woodstock. Take a look at this sample of the lineup and try not to overdose on excitement: Benni Benassi, MSTRKRFT, Steve Aoki, Nasty Nav, Armin Van Buuren, and many, many others. Grab your best white clothes and head to the Guvernment this Sunday for what is, in many people's minds, the last big Toronto event of the summer. You can't afford to miss it.



This one was too awesome to pass up. This week is the Ashkenaz festival, the last of Harbourfront's stellar World Routes summer lineup. As part of the celebration of Yiddish Culture, the Sirius Stage will feature Abraham Inc. tonight . The ten piece supergroup includes such disparate elements as klezmer clarinet master David Krakauer, funk trombonist Fred Wesley (who's formerly played with James Brown and George Clinton), and Socalled, a Yiddish Hip Hopper. You read that right; this is a fusion of klezmer, funk, and hip hop. Together at last. How could you not go?





We've been pretty excited about this one for a while. Pizzeria Libretto opens tonight at 221 Ossington. This place has some distinguished personnel on board. The owner, Max Rimaldi, has some heavy-duty experience at such renowned restaurants as Ferro, Brassari and Brant House. Meanwhile, the kitchen and menu will be set up by Rocco Agostino, owner and chef of Silver Spoon on Roncesvalles. Considering the level of service and high quality of food that the Silver Spoon has been serving for almost a decade, we're pretty sure that that is going to be some pretty fine pizza. But don't expect the kind of slice you're used to. According to the restaurant, this is the only authentic Neapolitan pizza in Toronto. Everything else is either Chicago or New York style. Toppings are set to include Wild Boar, Duck, Montforte Cheese, and Capicollo. So yeah, this ain't Pizza Pizza.





There's always tons of free stuff to do in Toronto in the summer months. But summer will soon be over and you'll have to dust off the old wallet again. Tonight's a good time to get your last bang for your non-existent buck. Every Tuesday for the last couple of months, Toronto has put on the most romantic films of all time for free in Yonge/Dundas Square. They made the right choice in saving Casablanca for last and not ending it last week with The Notebook. Chances are I can't tell you much about the film because even if you've never seen it you still know every line by heart. It's that good. Just go.





Kid Rock and Lynyrd Skynyrd are playing tonight at the Molson Amphitheatre. This is sure to be dubbed "White Trash Tour 08". I would comment on the injustice of having Skynyrd opening for Kid Rock, but didn't more than half of that band die in a plane crash? Why are they still performing? Does Kid Rock make up for all four dead members? Oh well, any concert where I can yell "Freebird" and mean it is okay in my books. Expect guitar solos, confederate flags, mullets, gap teeth, and beer, lots and lots of beer. Don't expect Pam Anderson. That is, unless she develops an affinity for one of the Skynyrds.





In case you haven't had enough fests in your life, this Sunday provides another one for you. In case TaiwanFest and BuskerFest aren't our cup of tea, grab yourself a big glass of Ward's Island Jamboree. This thing is perfect for the island location. With acts like the Rizdales, Backstabbers Country Stringband, Swamperella, and the Cameron Family Singers, you'll have yourself a twangy jammy good time. Summer's almost over my friends. An island getaway featuring summery music sounds like the perfect way to preserve the fair season before it slips away. You'll thank me in December.





Harbourfront Centre continues its stellar summer program this weekend with TaiwanFest, a celebration of Taiwanese dance, music, food and art. Hanging out at the Harbourfront Centre this summer has practically been like seeing the world, except without all the travel. Places and cultures that you knew nothing about are suddenly your areas of expertise. Bubble Tea, Ang Lee, Karaoke. These are just three things that grew in Taiwan and incorporated themselves into our culture. What's next? There's only one way to find out - by going to TaiwanFest. Or I suppose you could go to Taiwan. Y'know, either way.





You'd better savour these "Fests" while you can. After BuskerFest, and of course the ubiquitous Toronto International Film Festival, that's basically it. The word "Fest" tends to disappear with the sun. Largely considered the last big Toronto event of summer, BuskerFest brings buskers together from all over the world, eschewing territorial disputes in favour of the common good (i.e. entertaining the wandering masses). Look for musicians, magicians, dancers, clairvoyants, and a plethora of other performers from around the world. Audience participation isn't only encouraged; it's expected. You'd best not miss it, believe me. The festival runs from tomorrow until Sunday.





Technically, Maroon 5 is the headliner here, but how they survived one hit wonder status is a mystery to both me and everyone who isn't a fifteen year old girl. The real reason to keep your eyes on this concert at the Molson Amphitheatre tonight is for the opening act. Counting Crows were many people's guilty pleasure band back in the nineties, but ever since "Mr. Jones" it seems as though their entire career has been a downward slope. That's the shame of peaking too early. Even a cover of Joni Mitchell's "Big Yellow Taxi" with Vanessa Carlton didn't seem to put them squarely back into the spotlight. Tonight they hope that an opening spot for the popular Maroon 5 can bring them back. Here's hoping.





This weekend marked the opening of Woody Allen's brand-new film Vicky Christina Barcelona, a film that has already garnered a number of glowing reviews. I would definitely suggest you check it out since any Woody Allen release is worth a view, but if you haven't seen it yet (or even if you have), you should check out Manhattan at the Bloor Cinema tonight. This 1979 black and white masterpiece about a 42 year old man's relationship with a 17 year old (disturbingly prescient) has often been considered Allen's best of all time, a high distinction if there ever was one. See it for the naturalistic action, the beautiful cinematography, and the well-written script. Then compare it against Vicky Christina Barcelona and impress all your friends (if your friends are all film geeks).





The Canadian National Exhibition is always a bittersweet celebration. It's an unavoidable Toronto tradition, but at the same time it signals the end of the summer, the last hurrah on which to tightly cling. This year's two week event features a rodeo, ventriloquist, and an air show, but if you've ever been before, you generally know what to expect: the most giant and varied food building you've ever seen, gambling, games, carnies, tribute bands, and a midway for the kiddies. Plus, the rides at The Ex are generally more effective than the rides at Canada's Wonderland. Hear me out. People go on rollercoasters for the simulated thrill of danger. At The Ex, the danger isn't simulated; you actually fear for your life. Maybe that's not better, but it's more effective. The whole shebang spans from today until September 1.





Radiohead are quite possibly the biggest musical act in the world right now; bigger than Coldplay, bigger than U2, even bigger than Neil Diamond. Every time this band puts out a record it's an event. Take their latest album, In Rainbows as an example. When Radiohead decided to allow fans to pick their own price it sparked a media shitstorm. It even created a new term for our modern vernacular: the "Radiohead Model". That just wouldn't happen if it were, say, The Pussycat Dolls. But there's good reason for all of the attention; I would argue (with the exception of Amnesiac) that every successive Radiohead album has been better than the last. Not only that, but their live show is supposedly legendary. Personally, I wouldn't know since I was unable to score tickets. If you have tickets to their concert tomorrow night at Molson Amphitheater, colour yourself lucky. This'll be one you can impress your future children with.





Free Tacos! This is the kind of thing that Radar was invented for. Straight out of Denver, American casual fast-food chain Chipotle Mexican Grill has expanded to the Canadian market with a new location in Toronto Life Square (right across from Yonge and Dundas Square). With more than 500 restaurants on the continent, it's a bit surprising that this is the first location North of the border, but the established success of the chain suggests that these guys know what they are doing. To tell you the truth, though, whether or not they know what they're doing is irrelevant to us today. The only thing we hear is "free tacos". The restaurant has its official opening tomorrow, but anyone who shows up today will eat for free: tacos, burritos, fajitas, whatever. I'm not making this up. Are you going to pass up free Mexican food?





Ah, what says summer more than heavy power chords, long greasy hair, and lyrics about Satan? For metalheads, Masters of Metal might as well be Woodstock. Four of the most legendary metal bands have been assembled on the same stage today with a 4:30 pm start time, presumably not to upset residents. Headlining the tour is Judas Priest, a band who has just released its most ambitious album after almost 40 years together. But challenging Priest for top band honour has got to be Motörhead, whose combination of heavy metal with punk rock speed defined an entire genre (for those keeping track, that genre is thrash metal). Then you've got Testament, yet another legend. And finally Heaven and Hell, a band whose moniker may not be initially familiar. The band is essentially the Dio-fronted Black Sabbath, but with a new title. This tour should just be called Masters of Metal 1983.





When Cirque du Soleil started to get popular in the mid-nineties, some people may have been mystified. After all, the circus is designed for children, but this version of the circus contains much more spectacle and grandeur than the usual children's entertainment (and it doesn't patronize the hell out of them). Now that it's nearly 25 years old, circus will never be looked at in the same way again. As the oldest Cirque du Soleil touring show, Saltimbanco contains all of the classic acts associated with the Quebec entertainment review: juggling, trapeze, tightrope walking, etc. The creators say that the life-affirming urban world-view contained within the show is designed as an antidote to the violence and despair of 20th century life. In short, Nietzsche would fucking hate this show. Saltimbanco runs from Aug. 13 - Aug. 24.





Summer is quickly winding down. If you're like me, you want to salvage as much out of the next month as humanly possible. Nothing says summer more than a cold beer on a hot day. Now's your chance to indulge (and possibly overindulge) in the summer institution. Toronto's Festival of Beer features over 200 brands of beer just waiting to be tasted. With that many brands, they aren't all winners, but there are some needles in the haystack waiting to be discovered. How will you find them? Just sample them all! But be sure to bring some extra money; the rather hefty ticket price only includes five (not too large) sample cups. Admission, though, also includes entertainment and a full lineup of beer-friendly musical acts. The headliner, The English Beat, unfortunately already played, but you've still got some solid acts like The Mahones, The Eradicators, and the Practically hip (great name). Cheers!





Major Toronto streets typically taste like asphalt and broken dreams. However, come summertime, select thoroughfares soak up the surrounding epicurean ambiance, drag it out of doors, and press it to the tongues of lucky urbanites. The city's most famous roadway extravaganza: Taste of the Danforth. Now in its 15th year, the three-day festival takes over the titular street in a huge celebration of Greek culture. Cars are barred from Broadview eastward as area restaurants --largely but not exclusively Greek -- set up stalls and ad hoc kitchens to satiate gluttonous revelers. Large beer tents lubricate the proceedings, while traditional and contemporary bands take over the mid-street stage and a series of other attractions distract over a million fest-goers from increasingly stressed belts. Taste of the Danforth runs from Friday, August 8th until Sunday, August 10th.





It's been over forty years since Iggy and the Stooges first took the stage, but their music still has that feeling of danger and excitement missing from so much of today's music scene (I'm looking at you, Coldplay). From smothering himself in peanut butter to playing with open cuts all over his chest (gross, but very punk) to playing a vacuum cleaner like a guitar, Iggy Pop has earned his status as one of the most animated and exhilarating frontmen of all time. Forty years down the line, he may have chilled out a bit on the crazy front (the lack of drugs probably helps), but he still brings the excitement (and the shirtlessness). And, as if a Stooges concert needed a bit more intrigue, this will be the first concert that they have played since having all of their equipment stolen in Montreal a couple of days ago. Can the Asheton brothers still shred with borrowed instruments? Come to Massey Hall tonight to find out.





The first day back after a long weekend is always a bit tough. Either you've just had an insane weekend full of adventure and debauchery, or you've used the extra day off to catch up on some well-needed rest and relaxation. But now, for better or for worse, you've got to get back into your daily routine. What better way to unwind after a looooong day's work then to grab some popcorn and to settle in with a good movie? Lucky for you, you live in Toronto, the country's premiere cinephilic destination. Today alone, you've got at least four top-notch films to choose from. Bloor Cinema is showing Terry Zwigoff's quirky (yet depressing) masterpiece, Ghost World, the film that lent Scarlett Johansson all of her indie street cred before she became the generation's "it" girl (and a terrible Tom Waits cover artist). If you're more of an art-cinema type, then head over to Cinematheque Ontario, where they're screening Luchino Visconti's neo-realist classic, Death in Venice. Maybe you spent all of your money this weekend and can't afford to pay for a movie. No problem! Just head over to Yonge and Dundas Square where you can see the fairy tale-aping, Andre the Giant-starring 1985 classic, The Princess Bride. Or, alternatively, head to the Harbourfront Centre and catch the 1998 German film Run Lola Run. Four fantastic films to choose from. I'd suggest you pick one.





Technically speaking, the Caribana Festival has already been going on for two weeks now, but if you're a true Torontonian you know that it's the parade that's the real draw. Taking place this Saturday, the Caribana parade is a real sight to behold; that is, if you can maneuver your way through the crowd to actually see any of it. It's nothing but glitz and glam, colour and pageantry, steel drums and costumes. It overwhelms all five senses and some other senses you didn't even know you had. If you can handle it, it's one of the many bits of Torontiana that everyone has to experience. But really, that's all irrelevant. Whether or not you want to go, you probably won't be able to avoid it.





This is a begrudging FYI. While I'll conceal my own personal feelings towards the band (I think you can guess), I have to grit my teeth and admit that Coldplay are still one of the biggest bands in the world right now. Enough so, that when they come to town, it's always newsworthy. So I couldn't in good conscience ignore it. For those who don't know, Coldplay play a non-offensive brand of arena-ready (good for the Air Canada Centre crowd) bombastic rock anthems that have been compared to Jeff Buckley and Echo and the Bunnymen, but in reality are more comparable to Rod Stewart and Peter Gabriel. Oh, and U2. It's impossible to forget U2, what with Chris Martin's Bono Complex. Yes, that's a thing. So get out your lighters (or these days cell phones) and get ready to soft rock!





You may have already seen the posters around town featuring shameless puppet cleavage. But what can you do? Sex sells. Even if it's puppet sex. And Avenue Q is full of it. For those of you who don't already know (likely because you're living under a rock on Mars with your fingers in your ears), Avenue Q is a parody of Sesame Street for adults. It's a lot like Sesame Street except instead of singing about numbers and colours, these puppets sing about AIDS and fetishes. Just what Sesame Street has been missing for the last 50 years. The musical opens in T.O. for the first time tonight and runs until the end of August. This is worth seeing if only to hear such hilarious musical numbers as "The Internet is for Porn", "Everyone's a Little Bit Racist", and the one that best applies to me, "What Do You Do With a B.A. in English?". The answer: write about the opening of Avenue Q.





For some of us, the last thing we want to think about on a Monday morning is drinking. For others, the thought of future partying is the only thing that will get us through thelongest of all work days. Hopefully you're the latter. This Thursday, July 31, Hart House presents a Craft Beer Festival and Summer BBQ (spelling out whole words is for suckers). The ultimate summer event, the beer festival offers samples of various local breweries. Why drink Molson when you can try out Great Lakes Brewery, Cameron's, or Big Rock? The BBQ portion of the event is covered by free snacks to munch on while sipping a microbrew. Then, of course, there's live music outdoors and in the sun (or, more likely, rain). Are you over your Monday yet?





The Just For Laughs Festival, only in its second year in Toronto, has already blown up to nearly twice its size. Not only does it have a much bigger scope than last year, but the comedians that they have enlisted are much higher-profile. The 'headliner' of sorts is Jimmy Fallon. Fallon is a polarizing figure. His charisma and boyish good looks appeal to a certain demographic (teenage girls), while his inability to maintain characters and impressions without laughing and mugging for the camera repels others (mostly Saturday Night Live fans). Whether you like him or hate him, though, the future host of Late Night is likely the biggest name talent so far in both years of the festival and will likely do a lot to attract other such celebrities. Plus, his show at Montreal Just For Laughs last week impressed critics, so that's a good sign.





Looking for something to do this weekend? Tonight marks the beginning of Wakestock, the event of the year for surfer douches and bikini ditzes from the GTA and beyond - a veritable bevy of tanned and toned guys and girls downing Bud Light, watching some extreme watersports and saying the word "dude" far more than God ever intended. Don't let me talk it down though. The lineup actually looks pretty decent. Standing at the top of the list are 2 integral parts of Wu Tang Clan, RZA & GZA. Then you've got Metric, We Are Scientists, Classified, Dillinger Escape Plan, Dragonette, and many many more. It's a good mix of rap, rock and indie. To borrow a phrase, it looks real gnarly. Do people still say that, "gnarly"?





Why, you ask, am I buzzing you about a band you've probably never heard of? That's simple: if you haven't heard of them, you should. King Khan, a former resident of Montreal and current resident of Berlin, puts on one hell of a live show. And he's playing both tonight and tomorrow, so I guess you could say he'll put on two hells of a live show (can hell be pluralized?). Think the Rolling Stones in their prime, but fronted by a man of Iggy Pop's maniacal potential. Now add about a bucket of sweat and you've got King Khan. For some, this might sound disgusting, but I, for one, prefer some excitement in live music. From jumping into the audience and singing in the face of confused patrons, to taking off his shirt and exposing his pregnant man-belly, King Khan brings the excitement. Just ask anyone who attended last year's North by Northeast performance. For those who enjoy 60s style garage rock, this is a can't miss. King Khan plays both tonight and tomorrow night at the Legendary Horseshoe Tavern.





The newest venture for Splendido owners David Lee and Yannick Bigourdan, in partnership with restaurateur Franco Prevedello, is Noto Bene. Opening today, this is sure to be a snazzy endeavor. Considering those involved, the design by KPMB, and the Canada Life building location, (in close proximity to the Four Season's Centre), the new place will no doubt attract Toronto's elite with its multi-ethnic cuisine, and offer the esteemed crowd prime views of the tattoo parlor and condom shop across the road. Expect an uncomplicated menu- no tapas, no shared plates, just simple, wholesome food like spare ribs and suckling pigs. Lee assures us that this restaurant will make you feel good from the moment you walk in.





Torontonians are all aflutter over a heroic Swede appearing in our fair city, and for once it's name is not Mats Sundin. Some real buzz has been growing over the last few weeks for a soon-to-be-opened IKEA-branded building at 143 King Street. Just one problem: it's not a store. Sure, it'll be filled with all of IKEA's trademark furniture, but you won't be able to buy any of it. It may sound somewhat bass-ackwards, but IKEA wants this address to be somewhat of a showcase environment where people feel comfortable walking throughout a virtual catalogue. And, yes, indeed, the IKEA annual catalogue – blissfully free of horny dog images - is released the same day that the location is projected to launch – July 31st. Think of it as a pop-up store, IKEA style, as the Swedish furniture company location on King St. E., between Church and Jarvis is merely a temporary situation. Or perhaps you might think of it as a viral marketing campaign for the 6.5 million new IKEA catalogues that will be distributed that day. Whatever the case, don't call it a store. The Swedes don't take kindly to mislabeling.



These daily occurrences come to you via The Radar, our daily heads up of noteworthy stuff happening in the city. Did we miss something? The tip line is open. or 647-477-6011.