Yeah, it's just about done and gone. Summer that is. And now, look at you. Whiling away the hours in front of that computer screen. Waiting for the sweet and all-too short relief of the weekend to swoop into your life and save you from the monotonous drone of "The Workday". Usually it's only two days of blissful respite we have to look forward. But every once in a while, an opportunity presents itself for a genuine break: the coveted long weekend. Weary working stiffs, record-breaking unemployed people and all the bartender/actors living in the space in between, welcome to your "Reasons to Look Forward to Fall Guide".

Toronto International Film Festival, Sep. 10-19
Currently underway, the Toronto International Film Festival he annual Toronto International Film Festival is a glorious celebration of movies. It’s a time when cinephiles around the city can get together to celebrate their collective love of film. At least, that’s true of many of the festival’s attendees. This year sees the likes of George Clooney, Oprah Winfrey, Guy Maddin, Chris Rock, Matt Damon, Drew Barrymore, Ellen Oage, and many more, this year's TIFF is a can't miss. …More info



Vegetarian Food Fair, Sep. 11-13
After all the fancy burger shops that have been opening since the pesky recession began, us vegetarians deserve some culinary attention. Thankfully, the Vegetarian Food Fair, regaled as North America's largest fest for herbivore's, is on. Featuring a variety of international cuisines, cooking demos, and new products from over a hundred veggie-lovers, TVFF is a can’t miss for those who believe vegetarian cuisine is comprised solely of meatless lasagna and starchy legumes. …More info



The Sadies,
September 12
Denim and whiskey are like stylish, tasty Kevlar: nothing can penetrate them. That's why alt-country bands can get away with effeminate names. Friends of the divine Miss Neko Case, the Sadies are Canada's finest tumbleweed, psychedelic rock consortium. If Quentin Tarantino ever caught onto this strange breed of Torontonian countrey-Western, he would commission them for a soundtrack instantly. Warning: if you check out the show, you should definitely eat first. …More info

The Sounds,
September 13
If you tend to shop at American Apparel and wear skinny jeans, this one you won't want to miss. The Sounds have everything you need to be hip: they're Swedish, they have a blonde bisexual lead singer, and their music is covered in synthesizers. Everyone from Dave Grohl to Quentin Tarantino to Britney Spears has declared their Sounds fandom, in addition to thousands of Blondie enthusiasts. The band mostly relies on word of mouth and live performances to promote its music, so you can expect them to go all out for this show. Expect catchy melodies, dance-friendly beats, and Swedish accents. What more could you want? …More info

Alice in Chains,
September 15
Early 90's bandAlice in Chains along with, Nirvana Pearl Jam and the Jesus and Mary Chain were regarded as seminal in the development of the grunge movement. Like the death of Kurt Cobain, Alice in Chains was greatly fettered with grief when the group finally lost its lead singer, Layne Staley to substance addiction in 2002. In 2005 the band replaced Stayley with William DuValland started making the rounds. Grunge dies: no problem. Plaid dies: no problem. Lead singer dies: no problem. Alice, still chained to a power chord, can’t find her way back up the rabbit hole: no problem. These guys aren't chained at all. …More info

Regina Spektor,
September 16
I like Regina Spektor. You probably like Regina Spektor, too. It's hard not to like Regina Spektor. The quirky piano-pop songstress is so cute and sugary that she sometimes makes my teeth hurt. As a result, like Joanna Newsom, she's best listened to in small doses. That doesn't mean you should avoid her live performance. The off-kilter folk ballads are already injected with Regina's personality, but live they take on a life of their own. You won't often see an artist so engaged with her audience. …More info

Manifesto Festival,
September 16th to 20th
Now in its third year, the The Manifesto Festival has already proven itself to be one of the more innovative festivals in the city, and certainly the best hip hop fest. Taking place in seven different venues, the festival brings together more than 120 artists. That's a lot of hip hop. I hope you have a proclivity for beats and rhymes (I'm so very white). As the official start date, there's a lot in store. For starters, there's the Main Event at Yonge and Dundas Square, an all day event featuring Talib KweliThe Golden Harvest theatre for the Manifesto Film Fest. If that's not enough, no worries the festival has a lot more to offer and yes that means after-parties. …More info

U2,
September 16, 17
Self-congratulatory, mega-pop musicians U2 come to Toronto I think by invitation, but I get the feeling that if they weren't invited they would come anyway. The epic Irish band have been around since the 80's and have proceeded to gain popularity while losing musical integrity for the last 30-something years. Good for them. …More info





Douglas Coupland
Opening September 22,
Attention Mr. Douglas Coupland! You're in big trouble mister! Stop coming up with these catchy catchphrases – I don't wanna be duped by anymore outbound call-centres from Malyasia.... Coupland will be gabbing about his newest catchphrase, a gem called Generation A... That's probably referring those of us who have the world at our feet, no jobs, still living at home (with 18 other people) and are lost little souls who are desperately trying to turn "...themselves into art as well as, one hopes, be art". The Bayview Village Chapters presents In Person: Douglas Coupland - K.F. …More info

The Boys in the Photograph, Sep. 22 – Nov. 1
The Boys in the Photograph, the latest from ubiquitous composer Andrew Lloyd Webber is a tale of Belfast Youth trying to carve out for themselves a semblance of normality in the heart of Northern Ireland's civil war. Soccer not carnage is the main focus of this new piece of musical theatre, but I do imagine it is a tad heavier than Cats. …More info





Sufjan Stevens,
October 1
Obviously ambitious orchestral geographic mini-epics aren't too high-minded for the masses. Sufjan Stevens's stock just keeps rising, but as big as he gets he still refuses to play a venue in Toronto sufficiently sized to hold all of his fans. This is great news if you're a fan of intimate concerts, but not so much if you want any certainty of getting a ticket. For those of you who get in, enjoy. …More info



David Cross,
October 2
Most of you will remember David Cross as the self-proclaimed analrapist, Tobias Funke, on the hilariously dark comedy, Arrested Development. But for the past few years Cross has been taking his jocular antics to the stage. Cross will not be forcing himself into anybody's nether-regions, but he will be busting open your gut, with his blend of political satire and self-effacing hilarity. Why are all bald guys funny? – E.H …More info



Nuit Blanche
Opening October 3,
C'est un nuit blanche, mais oui! Boys and girls grab your Vitamin H2O's, your Red Bulls and get ready for a beautiful night! Looking forward to walking through pieces of art that I don't understand (it looks pretty and that's a-ok)! Last year, there was a light exhibit (I'll call it 'Honest' because that's what it said) and it was so cute that wanted to take it home... This year I want D.A. Therrien's light exhibition Beautiful Light: 4 Letter Word Machine, 2009 in my house… Flashing lights, flashing lights – I believe in shoes, cars, motorcycles and shooting stars and the aforementioned flashing lights. Expect yours truly to also be playing Monopoly With Real Money alongside Iain Baxter or swimming in an iridescent Vodka Pool with Dan Mihaltianu. – K.F. …More info

Yo La Tengo,
October 3
Yo La Tengo have been a fixture on the indie rock scene for decades. They’ve released 15 albums since 1984, but never managed to capture mainstream success. They achieved popularity amongst indie music fans in the 90s, but that’s as big as they ever got. That doesn’t mean they are a bad band (far from it), they just aren’t a pop band. But in a way, that’s probably for the best. As a music snob you can enjoy them unapologetically and never have to pretend that you don’t like their major label stuff to maintain your street cred. You can just love the band and feel cool for doing so. How sweet is that? …More info

Kylie Minogue, Oct. 9
October 9
Can't get her outta of your heads can you? Good! Kylie Minogue, brave breast cancer survivor is back to move and groove you as part of her Showgirl Homecoming Tour!! Get ready for her sultry grooves and phantasmagoric costume changes. …More info






Metric, October 20, 21
Not even the Stonecutters can keep this Metric down - wait, sorry, that was the worst joke ever blurbed. I am sincerely sorry. I would erase it, but it's spontaneous bop prose day at the office. Anyway, the Last Gang quartet, though constantly busy with side-project dalliances (Emily Haines and the Soft Skeleton, Bang Lime, Broken Social Scene, Guy Maddin etc.) are back with more Korg rock and glorious Haines kicks. Even if you don’t like the Brooklyn formed but Toronto-based, new wave, alterno-phile’s band, they are worth seeing live based on Haynes’s hotness alone. …More info

LG Fashion Week, Oct. 19-24
Spin doctors are buzzing about the streets waiting for Robin Kaye to self destruct, Aspiring models have busted out their jogging shorts to get their final bit of exercise in before the foodless week of Spring Fashions begins; the feedback from Jeanne Beker’s microphone is echoing through the downtown alleyways; and the birds are chirping in anticipation. Say what you will about fashion and frivolity, but you can’t deny LG Fashion Week always generates a buzz. …More info


Say Anything
Opening October 28,
Just a sec, *reaches for boombox, pauses* No, it isn't the movie, Say Anything is the pop-punk brainchild of singer/songwriter Max Bemis, who founded the band while its initial members were still attending high school in Los Angeles. Say Anything's strength is their talent at spinning tales of insecurity and frustration, Admit It is a fine example… In other news, Old Dirty Bastard is rolling over in his grave right now, laughing!!! My new guilty treasure is their cover of Got Your Money, I howled and giggled when Old Dirty Bemis screamed and wailed just like the Old Dirty himself and the fact that he literally used the N-word!! Like I said, he said the 'N-word', you notice that I even put what he actually SAID in quotation marks… *doing my sexy-sexay dance* - K.F. …More info

Jay-z
Opening October 31,
Hey, remember when Jay-Z said he was going to retire. I had mourned for my loss and I had come to terms. It's taken a minute to get used to seeing Jay-Z here and Jay-Z there… Ever since the Sean Paul incident way back when, I've gotten used to his wife's videos… Why she even bothers making videos is the question as she's never allowed to share any screen time singing BESIDE her male co-stars???!! Anyway, Mr. R-O-C is going to be a busy little boy with a tour promoting the release of Blueprint 3 and juggling his two side pieces Rihanna and wifey Beyonce. Get ready for the auto-tune-slayer to rock the crowd! – K.F. …More info

Monsters of Folk, Nov. 2
Comprised of Conor Oberst, M. Ward, Mike Mogis, and Jim James, Monsters of Folk should make more of a miniature folk festival than they do a band. But somehow this trinity manages, at times, to invoke a sound that is slightly more modern than when the performers are apart. Either way, Monsters of Folk a true beautiful conglomerate, hearken back to the Bob Dylan while still managing to conjure the layered textures of modern day alt-music. …More info