This Wednesday, you’ll have the chance to celebrate Nowruz, the ancient Persian tradition of celebrating the arrival of spring dating back to at least 3000 years ago, at Hart House. The event will feature classical Persian music, dance, puppet show, storytelling, Persian marquetry, calligraphy and various displays.

The attendees can purchase Persian dishes as part of Hart House 5-Buck Lunch program. The menu includes: Khoreshte Fesenjan (pomegranate – walnut stew), Zereshk Polo (chicken and barberry – rice), Koko Sibzamini (potato omelette), Shevid Baghali Polo (dill-Lima bean rice), Shirazi Salad and Shole Zard dessert.

This event is organized by UofT’s Hart House, Iranian Association at the UofT (IAUT) and Iranian Student Union at UofT (ISU).

When: Wednesday, 19 March 2008, 11:45 am to 2:00 pm
Where: Great Hall at Hart House
Details: Nowruz Celebration and 5-Buck Lunch. For more information, including Nowruz history and the performers on Wednesday, see the IAUT webpage.

As part of the University of Toronto Arts Festival, the Hart House Chamber Strings will be having its annual pop concert with guest singer/songwriters Jadea Kelly, Robyn Dell’Unto, Blaise Alleyne and Rahel-Leigh Peckett.

The ensemble will also be performing music from popular films and some other popular songs.

When: Monday March 17, 2008. 7pm
Where: Hart House Theatre
Details: Admission is FREE. There are no tickets being sold, but it is a seated concert. Seating is first come first serve. There will be refreshments available after the show. Also, see facebook event.

This is a short one, but it involves free food, so read on! We just got this message about a FREE St. Paddy’s Day Breakfast at Innis:

Innis College is hosting a free St.Patty’s Day commuter breakfast – custom pancake bar, fresh-baked pastries, fruit, coffee, tea and so on. We want to fortify the student body and spread some Irish cheer before the festivities ahead!

That sounds like the fanciest breakfast I’ll have all year… Don’t miss it!

When: Monday March 17th from 10 am – 12 noon
Where: Innis College, 2 Sussex Ave

See full poster here

We all know dancing is fun. But what’s better than dancing? Dancing for a good cause, of course. Well, this Friday, you’ve got a chance to get your dance on and to support a good cause. “Dancing to make a Difference” will channel proceeds to support Youth Challenge International, a charity and NGO involved overseas international development projects.

Here’s the deal:
$15 ADVANCE tickets includes cover AND line bypass.
* Advance tickets will only be honoured until 11:00 PM
* This event is ages 21+
* Strict Upscale Dress Code (No jeans, athletic wear, hats; collared shirts and dress shoes for men preferred)
Contact adrienne [at] volantium.com or lk.lorenzo [at] gmail.com for purchase advanced tickets.

When: Friday March 14, 2008
Where: Lot332 (332 Richmond Street West)
Details: For more info, see the facebook event.

“Enjoy a day of making maple syrup and feasting on all the pancakes you can eat! Activities include a tour of the Farm, wood-fired sauna by the pond, and music. Syrup will be available for purchase.”

Now, doesn’t that sound like fun? In case you’re not convinced, we can tell you that blogUT has been to Hart House Farm, and it is indeed a good time. And if that still doesn’t convince you, you can take a look at this photo gallery of the 2006 Hart House Sugaring-Off by Björn Schümann (found via google search).

Now, go forth and enjoy the sweet taste of spring!

When: Saturday, March 15, 2008. * Rescheduled: Saturday, Apr. 5th. Buses leave Hart house at 10:30am and depart from the Farm at 7pm.
Details: Advance tickets until Wed. Mar. 12 $25/person with bus/$20 without. After Wed. $32 with bus/$27 without, available at the Hall Porters’ Desk

image credit: Björn Schümann (via google search)

What’s this? Have the stars magically aligned this week for maximum sexiness and tastiness? Or perhaps it’s because the U of T Sexual Education and Peer Counselling Centre (SEC) is holding their Sexual Awareness Week.

The above two events are drop-in open house events held by SEC for you to stop by, ask questions on anything relating to sexual health and relationships, and mingle. Meanwhile there’s freshly baked cookies and pie and free sushi to be had.

Here are some other events happening as parts of Sexual Awareness Week (links go to facebook event page): Faith, Food & Fornication? and FLRT100H1: Introduction to Flirting Workshop.

When: Porn & Cookies: Monday March 3, 5:30 to 9 pm. Hentai & Sushi: Wednesday March 5, 7 to 9 pm
Where: 91 St. George Street (SEC Office)
Details: Pretty much what the title suggests. **This event may content material not suitable for all audiences, +18.

In case you didn’t know (and frankly, I don’t blame you… between tests, quizzes, assignments, problem sets, essays, and projects, it’s hard to keep track of which way the CN tower is, much less what’s going on. But hey, that’s why blogUT’s here.), the University of Toronto Festival of the Arts is going on this month. You can visit U of T’s Arts & Culture website to keep track of what’s going on. Or, even better, here’s a direct link to the event calendar.

Anyhow, renowned Canadian film maker (and a current U of T faculty member) Atom Egoyan is giving a talk titled “Monitors, Minotaurs, & the Close-Up” as a kick-off event. What’s the talk about? I have no idea… but with a title like that, it’s gotta be good.

When: Tuesday March 4, 2008. 7pm
Where: Isabel Bader Theatre (93 Charles St. West)
Details: The event is free, but tickets are required. Get them online at UofTtix. A reception follows the talk.