Back in the fall of 2003, German Professor Jorg Karger gathered together 503 people on bikes to set the Guinness World Record for number of bike bells simultaneously ringing. Saturday at noon in Yonge-Dundas Square, environmentalist/children's entertainer Chris McKhool will mute the professor's bell forever. Hopefully.

McKhool's record-breaking attempt will aim to raise awareness for environmental issues (aren't we all aware by now?) It will also be a hell of a sight, to be sure. Plus, McKhool will be able to fulfill his life-long dream of cracking a record.

The Toronto Cyclists Union has been around for a few months now, quietly gaining momentum, volunteers, clout and starting in July, they'll offer a tri-annual magazine for Toronto cyclists named Dandyhorse.

Last September, urban visionary Dave Meslin put out a call for volunteers, and over 70 bicycle advocates gathered to participate in the conception of Dandyhorse. Nine months of gestation have now passed, and Meslin and his crew are ready to release their first edition.

Literary events in Toronto happen on weekdays only this time around, but check the end of this post for a special request I'm sending out to all of the Bookmark This readers!

Tuesday, May 13th:

House of Anansi Press invites you to celebrate the launch of My Life As a Dame: The Personal and the Political in the Writings of Christina McCall (edited by Stephen Clarkson). McCall was part of an illustrious group of writers including Pierre Berton, Robert Fulford, June Callwood, Peter Gzowski, and Peter C. Newman, that graced the pages of Maclean's Magazine in the mid-50s. She is considered not only one of the best political writers of her generation, but a pioneer for women in journalism and one of Canada's most brilliant minds. The evening is hosted by Michael Enright. Light refreshments will be served. Please RSVP to Katie Densmore at intern@anansi.ca.
Alumni Hall, Victoria College. 5:30pm. Free.

What if there were movies made the same way as suits, custom fitted, each one tailored for one person? Some of the brightest stars from Toronto's fringe film and video scene -- including Midi Onodera, Jubal Brown, Su Rynard and Richard Fung -- will show dazzling and mysterious short films, and then discuss the genesis of their projects with Mike Hoolboom, editor of the collection Practical Dreamers: Conversations with Movie Artists. A This Is Not A Reading Series event.
Gladstone Hotel Ballroom. 7:30pm (doors 7pm). Free.

Ger ready for the Artbardy Har Har: an evening of comedic poetry hosted by Valentino Assenza and featuring Jeff Cottrill, Arianna Pozuoli, Mike Bryant, Myna Wallin, David Clink, and Luciano Iacobelli. Open mic readers are encouraged to bust out their most hilarious material!
Clinton's. 8pm. Free (donations accepted).

This week's literary events in Toronto feature a birthday celebration (the IV Lounge Reading Series marks it's tenth year) and the beginning of Asian Heritage Month.

Tuesday, May 6th:

Acclaimed Sci-Fi writer and editor Nalo Hopkinson will read from her latest book, The New Moon's Arms. Set on a fictional Caribbean island, this magical-realist novel combines politics, family, humour and the supernatural in the story of a woman named Calamity whose hot flashes give her the power to recover lost objects. Q&A to follow. Part of this year's Canada Council Heritage Series, presented by the Toronto Public Library.
Eatonville Branch. 7pm. Free.

Join author Jan Wong as she reads from her latest book Beijing Confidential: A Tale of Comrades Lost and Found. The work is an intriguing emotional journey into the past and a penetrating analysis of the "new" Beijing. Question and answer to follow. Call 416-395-5639 to register. Part of the TPL's Asian Heritage Month celebration.
North York Central Library Auditorium. 7pm. Free.

Come out and join the Warriors Clan! Meet "Erin Hunter", the authors of the popular "Warriors" series, as they reads from the latest book The Power of Three: Outcast. Enthusiasts should check out www.warriorcats.com to watch the amazing Warriors video, find out your Warriors name and clan, and download Warriors iron-ons to create your own t-shirts!
Indigo Yonge & Eglinton. 7pm. Free.

Despite the cool temps and the threat of rain this weekend, the planned Jane's Walk will proceed as planned! Jane Jacobs will be duly celebrated with free walking tours through various neighbourhoods in the city. Jane's Walk was started up last year by a group of her peers and friends, as a way to honour her legacy and ensure our memory of this ground-breaking activist remains fresh. Jacobs died from a stroke on April 25th, 2006, at the age of 89, in Toronto Western Hospital.

For those of you who don't know (shame on you!), Jane Jacobs was a vocal urbanist, whose ideas centred on promoting community-based progress in our cities. She penned a now-infamous book in the early 60s entitled The Death and Life of Great American Cities, where she emphasized the importance of localized, mixed-use buildings that promote sustainable, community living. Her efforts were most visible here in Toronto when she played a large part in the cessation of the proposed Spadina Expressway in 1971, which would've carved an ass-fault through the centre of our city along Cedarvale Ravine.

Welcome to this week's summary of literary events happening in Toronto.

Tuesday, April 29th:

FREE SPEECH returns with another fabulous line-up of Parkdale/High Park-based wordsmiths. Novelist Michael Winter, playwright Claudia Dey and comedian Katie Crown will be featured this month, along with country crooner Justin Rutledge. Hosted and curated by Johan Hultqvist.
Tinto. 7pm (arrive early, as seats are limited!) Free.

Author Jim Munroe (author of An Opening Act of Unspeakable Evil) moderates a panel of three up-and-coming local writers - Emily Pohl-Weary (Strange Times at Western High), Paul Hong (Your Love is Murder, or the Case of the Mangled Pie) and Kristyn Dunnion (Big Big Sky) on how and why to get started writing Science Fiction, mysteries and other genre fiction. Q&A to follow. Part of the TPL's Canada Council Heritage Series.
Eatonville Branch. 7pm. Free.

Experienced independent investor, Gail Bebee, discusses her new book, No Hype - The Straight Goods on Investing Your Money, the book she couldn't find when she decided to take control of her investments. Ms. Bebee completed the Canadian Securities Course with honours and is a member of the Tycoon's Investment Club. Question and answer to follow. Call 416-395-5639 to register.
North York Central Library Auditorium. 7pm. Free.