Community Opportunity ~ Festival Of House Culture

Here's the complete festival schedule, with full descriptions of each event. All gatherings are open to the public and will have ample time for relaxing, hanging out, and making new friends!

FRIDAY JULY 4

POTLUCK DINNER 6 PM at The Romero House Centre (1558 Bloor West) – In the spirit of community, we kick off our festival with a big meet-and-greet, and what better way to do it then breaking bread? Bring your own plate, fork, cup, and serving utensil – and food to share!

OPENING NIGHT 730 PM at Romero House Centre – (1558 Bloor West). After dinner, we'll have blues/soul diva Cheryl White doing a wide variety of music, accompanied by Michael Holt on piano. Anthony Moscar, who is planning on a "tiny home" project, will speak to us on micro–housing in Toronto. Then the lights will go down, and we'll watch a selection of silent films with live improvised music by Marcel Aucoin.

SATURDAY JULY 5

SONGS AND PRELUDES 1230 PM at Raphael's House (The Wiggle Room, 2237A Dundas West). Creative and melodic singer-songwriterKaryn Ellis will start this gathering, and indie-folk songstress Erika Werry
will finish it with her acoustic duo. Between them, Michael Holt will do a selection of his recently completed 24 classical preludes for piano.

MADRIGAL SINGALONG WORKSHOP 3 PM at Jane's House (16 Jerome St). Are you a choir enthusiast? A medieval or Renaissance enthusiast? A fun musician who loves to sing with others? This event is open to all participants! Come drop by, grab a drink, and SarahJane Pelzer will lead us through some awesome music you probably haven't ever had the pleasure of singing before – pieces by Machaut, DeLassus, and Hildegaard Von Bingen. After learning the material, we'll give a friendly, no-pressure performance of it for the participants of the Philosophy Salon (see next event). Sight-reading proficiency is required. (Not sure whether you have the skills? Who cares, come find out! Supportive environment.)

PHILOSOPHY SALON 4 PM at Jane's House (16 Jerome St). First, Sarah Jane Pelzer will break the ice with a lively set of Piaf, Weill, Poulenc, Sondheim and more, accompanied by Marcel Au Coin on piano. Then the Madrigal Singalong participants will treat us to what they've worked up. Finally, after a break and drinks, Johanna Polley will lead us through a fun philosophy conversation.

HEADLINE NIGHT 730 PM at Maison Au–Kyte (32 Dorval Rd). How often do you get to enjoy live theatre in your friend's living room? Samantha Wan, Alex De Jordy, Jackie Rowland, and Mark Correia are going to treat us to a procession of dramatic monologues, comedy, cabaret, and magic. In the middle of all that, pop band Words Around The Waist will give a full performance of their super-creative, quirky, and sophisticated music.

MIDNIGHT MOVIES 1145 PM at Michael's Loft (2466 Dundas West, suite 501). Ready for more? Then meet us at the top of The Dundas West Arts Building for a silent film and live video mixing by Renee Lear, with live, improvised piano by Justin Haynes.

SUNDAY JULY 6

RETURN OF THE TROUBADOURS 1230 PM at Masion Au–Kyte (32 Dorval Rd). There was a time when song and poetry were one, and their wandering minstrels provided much of our news, entertainment, and culture. Come experience a bit of this with songs by Katherine Katey Morley and Kyp Harness, plus poems by Marc di Saverio and Daniel Renton.

ACCORDION SALON 4 PM at Sara's House (33 Macaulay Ave). Gathering in Sara's lovely back yard (or living room if rain), we'll first experience the multi-genre, creative, and experimental accordion playing of Branko Džinović. Then naturopath Nora Pope will lead us in an informative and provocative conversation on birth control, and finally the pop band Buckminster Fuller will charm us with their harmony-rich and crafty song stylings.

CLOSING NIGHT 730 PM at Jeff's House (6 Abbott Ave). Weather permitting, this gathering will also be outdoors, in Jeff's spacious back yard. The Lina Allemano Four will kick things off with their adventurous, wild, and playful Trumpet-based Jazz. Catherine Crowe will speak with us about the techniques and meanings behind her lovely and delicate Champleve enamel works, which will be on display. Then Jeff will light the fire-pit and our festival will end with a high-energy set of flamenco dancing and world dance music by the six-piece band Ventanas.