Daniel Lanois at last year’s Greenbelt.Glenn Lowson/The Globe and Mail
ART & MUSEUMS
Grange Prize Exhibition
The annual exhibition of world-class photography is launched with a free party (Sept. 5, 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.) and a night of discussion with the short-listed artists contending for the $50,000 prize. (Sept. 7, 3 to 6 p.m.; $8 to $12). Sept. 5 to Jan. 6. $11 to $19.50. Art Gallery of Ontario, 317 Dundas St. W., 416-979-6648 or thegrangeprize.com.
CONCERTS
Lisa Bozikovic
CBC trumpeted this soft-voiced siren as one of 10 artists to watch in 2010. Two years later she's released her second album, This is How We Swim, an elegant, dreamily delivered meditation on life's ebbs and flows. Keep watching this one. Sept. 7, 8 p.m. $12. Music Gallery, 197 John St., 1-888-222-6608 or ticketweb.ca.
Intersection 2012
From Contact Contemporary Music comes a festival that includes a free all-day marathon of music and interactive displays (Sept. 1, 2 to 10 p.m., Yonge-Dundas Square) and an indoor concert with less traffic but no less ambitious. Ambient 2 – The Music of Brian Eno couples New York's electric chamber band Bang on a Can All-Stars with Toronto's electric chamber ensemble Contact for a double bill of Mr. Eno's sonic adventures of the 1970s, Music for Airports and Discreet Music (Sept. 2, 8 p.m. $25. Music Gallery, 197 John St.). 416-204-1080 or contactcontemporarymusic.ca/intersection.
John K. Samson
An all-ages show at an acoustically favourable venue suits the gentle presence of the Winnipeg singer, songwriter and Weakerthans frontman John K. Samson, whose thoughtful solo album Provincial collects songs of place, concerning central Manitoba. Sept. 6, 8 p.m. $25. 918 Bathurst Centre for Culture, Arts, Media & Education. 918 Bathurst St., 1-855-985-5000.
THEATRE
Death of a Salesman
Arthur Miller's iconic tragedy is not only liked, it is well liked. A Soulpepper remount stars Joseph Ziegler in his Dora-winning portrayal of a descending mediocre man. Sept. 8 to Oct. 6 (In repertory; previews Sept. 5 and 7). $51 to $68. Young Centre, 55 Mill St., 416-866-8666.
EVENTS
One Night in Cabbagetown
There's nothing stopping you from having liver at one pub and onions at another. Or black poured from one tap, and tan out of another. As part of the annual Cabbagetown Festival of arts, culture and fall-harvest activities (Sept.6 to 9), a one-night crawl encourages a sprawling sampling of dishes and brews. Sept. 6, 7 p.m. to closing. $10. Cabbagetown neighbourhood, cabbagetownfestival.org.
LITERATURE & LECTURE
Found Magazine's 10th Anniversary Tour
Though busy with the sourcing and collecting of obscure letters, doodles, birthday cards and all others sorts of unearthed missives, Found magazine co-founder Davy Rothbart found time to pen a book of personal essays, My Heart Is An Idiot. With a night of music and readings and the sharing of whimsical messages, the Michigan-based author (with his brother Peter) celebrates his book and the magazine's one-decade history. Sept. 7, 7:30 p.m. $7 to $10. The Garrison, 1197 Dundas St. W., ticketweb.ca.
COMEDY
Steve Patterson
Be it resolved that the moderator Steve Patterson is just as funny (or funnier) than the arguing panelists and refuters on the hilarious CBC Radio One show The Debaters. The whip-smart Canadian comic makes a case for himself with four nights of stand-up at Yuk Yuk's. Sept. 6 to 9. $11.50 to $19.47. 224 Richmond St. W., 416- 967- 6425.
Lewis Black
He'll point his finger. The vein on his forehead will throb with contempt. He will sputter. And you will laugh at his sardonic outrage, because he's a topical humorist as brilliant as he is excitable and frustrated. Sept. 7, 8 p.m. $35.50 to $55.50. Massey Hall, 178 Victoria St., 416-872-4255.
FILM
Toronto International Film Festival
Here comes Penelope Cruz, Robert Redford, Johnny Depp, Bill Murray, Billy Bob Thornton, Snoop Lion and Kristen Stewart. Think anyone will notice? The 37th edition of TIFF monopolizes the city's attention and cameramen for 11 days of red carpets and cinematic orgy. Sept. 6 to 16. $12.83 to $38.27. TIFF Bell Lightbox (350 King St. W.) and other venues, tiff.net/TheFestival.
FAMILY
Canadian National Exhibition
If the "better way" isn't to his liking, perhaps the butter way is. Mayor Rob Ford is fit to be fried with a 500-pound dairy-based likeness of the city leader that alludes to his distracted driving and disregard for libraries. The sculpted creamy bust, part of the CNE's eclectic range of time-honoured attractions and entertainment, is on display at the Better Living Building. To Sept. 3. $12 to $16. theex.com.
Jr. Jays Saturday
Watch little Billy and Suzy run the bases at Rogers Centre. Watch little Billy and Suzy pull a hamstring rounding second base. Watch little Billy and Suzy go on the disabled list, just like most of their hometown heroes this season. With the injury-wracked Jays taking on the Tampa Bay Rays, an afternoon at the ballpark offers kids a seat, some sunshine and a post-game romp on the diamond. Sept. 1, 1:07 p.m. $8.75 to $35.50. 1 Blue Jays Way, 416-341-1234 or bluejays.com.
FREE
Sherlock Jr.
Known for his slapstick antics, the silent-film star Buster Keaton directs himself here in a movie-within-a-movie that employs cutting-edge special effects. For the annual Ashkenaz Festival, the day-dreaming detective story is accompanied by a live klezmer-music score by the Fern Lindzon . Sept. 3, 2:30. Studio Theatre, 235 Queens Quay W., 416-973-4000.
Brad Wheeler