ART | Queen Street Revisited
Before West Queen West was an art hub and before Queen West was a suburban shopping mall, who knows what Queen Street was all about? MediaTribe has some insight. Queen Street Revisited is an exhibit of footage and photographs of Queen Street in the 1980s before it became the hippest address in the city. Videos from Molly Johnson, Handsome Ned and Lorraine Segato reveal a history of the street where musicians would gather to perform in venues such as Paper Door and the speakeasy still existed. There will be live music and performances at tonight's event and hopefully maybe a legend or two from Queen's former days.
The Rivoli (332 Queen Street West) 8PM $10

FESTIVAL | T&T Waterfront Night Market
The Waterfront Night Market is back with more activities and more vendors, promising to be one of the biggest outdoor food markets Toronto will see this summer. With over 160 vendors cooking up Asian street food and urban crafters selling their goods, the market, which runs until Sunday evening, will be a large-scale event with something for everyone. Opening tonight, each day will feature special events, like basketball tournaments, car shows and this evening's graffiti competition. Two stages will keep musicians playing all weekend long while cooking demos and a kids play zone will keep marketgoers entertained. A shuttle bus will run around the city with three stops (City Hall, Chinatown and Union Station) to pick up patrons. Bring a camera--this festival will have lots of interesting opportunities for photographs.
T&T Supermarket (222 Cherry Street) 6PM Free

THEATRE | A Midsummer Night's Dream
Director Matthew Krist brings the Shakespearean tale A Midsummer Night's Dream to the rooftop of the Big Carrot this evening. An ensemble of folk musicians will perform World Beat pieces as artists, dancers, clowns and even fire spinners breathe new life into this classic piece of theatre. Doors open at 6PM, when patrons will be served locally grown, organic hors d'oeuvres, vegan dishes and chocolate desserts. The play runs until July 31st and tickets can be purchased at The Big Carrot, Evergreen Brickworks, The Fairies Pyjamas and other small businesses across the city with profits going toward Feed Your City.
Carrot Green Roof (348 Danforth Avenue) 6PM $35 adults, $20 students, free for kids

FILM | The Activist Within Toronto Premiere
The Activist Within examines the need for straight allies to help the LGBT community in their battle for equal rights. Filmmaker Rachel Lack, a straight ally herself, uses her research to explore the fight for marriage equality while developing a story about her own interest in activism. This documentary shows the dark and bright sides of this long-standing civil rights issue in the U.S. and will premiere at the Revue tonight. After the hour-long screening, the floor will be open to questions in discussion with the filmmakers.
Revue Cinema (400 Roncesvalles Avenue) 7PM $7 members/seniors/children $10 regular

CULTURE | Carnival Culture
The "carnie" stereotype has given carnival culture a bad rap and Anton Gabriel wants to educate Toronto on the history of the carnival. Gabriel, the brains behind the MAS Camp Centre, a community organization that focuses on the arts and culture of carnivals, will discuss the origins of Caribana this afternoon in a presentation at the Downsview branch of the Toronto Public Library. Learn about the history of carnivals in Trinidad and Tobago as well as traditions in masquerade, carnival culture and food in this one-hour presentation that guarantees a deeper understanding of carnival culture.
Toronto Public Library, Downsview Branch (2793 Keele Street) 1PM Free

OTHER EVENTS ON OUR RADAR

• The 3rd annual Shinsedai Film Festival
• Tirgan Festival 2011
• Open Roof Festival: Kick Ass
• The Space BetweenOpening Reception
• Plato and the Myth of the Cave
• Matt Henderson, Hollis and the Widows and Maintenance Request Form at Cameron House
• Arch Projects Show Opening featuring Romas Astrauskas

Have an event you'd like to plug? Submit your own listing to the blogTO Toronto events calendar or contact us directly.

For Toronto movie showtimes, view our Movie Listings section.

Photo by Roger Cullman in the blogTO Flickr pool