In this edition of The Weekender, a festival of bikes, a chat with a movie star and three other things to do in Toronto this weekend.
MEC Bikefest (FREE!)
You don’t need nice weather for a bike ride, but it helps. Now that spring has finally arrived, Mountain Equipment Co-Op is hosting a day of bike demos, clinics and free tune-ups in Trinity Bellwoods Park. Anyone gearing up for an active summer may want to cycle by. May 31. FREE. Trinity Bellwoods Park,mec.ca
Sheezer, With So Young and Wax Atlantic
For ’90s-music fans of a certain persuasion, a Sheezer concert is like nirvana (the state of consciousness, not the grunge combo). The all-female Weezer cover band plays tracks only from the blue album andPinkerton, so concertgoers never have to suffer through any of Rivers Cuomo’s disappointing late-career output. The crowd energy at shows is incredible. In many ways, a Sheezer set is better than the real deal. May 30. $13.50. Lee’s Palace, 529 Bloor St. W., facebook.com
The Mothership Tour
Skrillex headlines this touring carnival of EDM, making it a must-attend for fans of the genre. For anyone who likes their music a little more low-key, though, remember: the summer festival season is only beginning. May 30-31. $48.50. Molson Ampitheatre, 909 Lake Shore Blvd. W., skrillex.com
Burger Day
The Grid’s annual meat-on-a-bun celebration returns for a third year. Dozens of restaurants from across the city will be offering up creative sliders topped with everything from kimchi to Nutella. Lines can grow punishingly long as the day wears on, but there are always at least a few standout items to make the waits worthwhile. June 1. $20 admission, sliders $3. Fort York National Historic Site, 250 Fort York Blvd.,burgerweek.ca
In Conversation With…Ethan Hawke
As actors go, Ethan Hawke has unusually wide appeal. Mainstream audiences will know him from his appearances in blockbusters like Dead Poets Society and Gattaca, but his work on Richard Linklater’sBefore… trilogy gives him undeniable indie cred. Ahead of the wide release of his newest film, Linklater’sBoyhood, Hawke will appear at the TIFF Bell Lightbox for a wide-ranging discussion about his career. Advance tickets are sold out, but there will be a rush line. June 1. TIFF Bell Lightbox, 350 King St. W.tiff.net