Toronto Public Library  



The Bram and Bluma Appel Salon

Upcoming Programs

We Need to Talk.
Great books. Big ideas. This spring, join the conversation at the Appel Salon.

Purchase tickets to
Keep Toronto Reading
Books, Food and Wine event

Star Talks: Raj Patel with Ellen RosemanRaj Patel

"Nowadays, people know the price of everything and the value of nothing." – Oscar Wilde

Activist, academic and author of The Value of Nothing Raj Patel talks with Toronto Star finance columnist Ellen Roseman about global markets, redefining democracy, and why everything costs more than we think.Star Talks logo

Borrow books by Raj Patel
Visit Raj Patel's website

Monday, February 1, 7 pm


Black History Month: Big Voices - New Voices

Clarke - Clarke - Trancoso - Robinson - Higgins

Big Voices Austin Clarke and George Elliott Clarke introduce New Voices Yvette Trancoso and Stacey Marie Robinson who join author and journalist Dalton Higgins for a discussion about being black and writing in Canada.
Music by The Ron Westray - Adam Solomon Duo.

More Black History Month programs

Thursday Feb. 4, 6 pm


Henning Mankell with Michael EnrightHenning Mankell

"Racism for me is a crime and therefore it seemed natural that I write a crime novel." - Henning Mankell

The immensely popular Swedish-born, Mozambique-based detective novelist Henning Mankell makes a rare Canadian appearance to talk with CBC journalist Michael Enright.

Borrow books by Henning Mankell
Visit Henning Mankell’s website

Sunday, February 21, 2 pm


Star Talks: Edward Burtynsky with Geoff Pevere Edward Burtynsky

"We are drawn by desire - a chance at good living - yet we are consciously or unconsciously aware that the world is suffering for our success." - Edward Burtynsky

The photographer whose images opened our eyes to a globe transformed by industry talks with Toronto Star entertainment columnist Geoff Pevere about oil, mining and Manufactured Landscapes.Star Talks logo

Borrow books and DVDs by and about Edward Burtynsky
Visit Edward Burtynsky's website

Tuesday, February 23, 7 pm


Black History Month: Emerging Voices

Bailey - Anthony - Higgins

A New Black Literature?
Writing How You Speak (Miss Lou 2022, Remixed)
Toronto's black urban culture has a language and a rhythm that taps into contemporary multi-cultural sensibilities, which sets it apart from mainstream culture. Join host Garvia Bailey in discussion with writer and actor Trey Anthony and author and journalist Dalton Higgins for an urban writing experience.

More Black History Month programs

Wednesday, Feb. 24, 7 pm


Toronto Celebrates Canada Reads

Canada Reads 2010 logoFive books, five panellists, one great title fight... which great Canadian novel will reign supreme? Meet the panellists and share your opinions.

More about Canada Reads

Thursday, February 25, 7 pm


Star Talks: Mark McEwan with Jennifer BainMark McEwan

"Everybody thinks alike in this business. It's a herd mentality…and so I've gone against the grain." – Mark McEwan.

Celebrity chef Mark McEwan talks about five-star food, upscale retail and feeling The Heat. With Toronto Star food editor Jennifer Bain.Star Talks logo

More about Mark McEwan's TV show

Monday, March 8, 7 pm


Shakespeare series logoOn Stage Performing Arts Theatre Series Spring 2010: Shakespeare Lectures

1. MAGIC
The Tempest

Presented by Jill Levenson, Professor of English at Trinity College, University of Toronto and Director of the International Shakespeare Association. With host Dr. Jane Freeman, Stratford Shakespeare Festival's Board of Governors.

Presented in partnership with the Stratford Festival

Tuesday, March 9, 7 pm


Shakespeare series logoOn Stage Performing Arts Theatre Series Spring 2010: Shakespeare Lectures

2. LOVE
As You Like It

Presented by Alan Somerset, Professor Emeritus in the English Department of the University of Western Ontario. With host Dr. Jane Freeman, Stratford Shakespeare Festival's Board of Governors.

Presented in partnership with the Stratford Festival

Tuesday, March 16, 7 pm


Shakespeare series logoOn Stage Performing Arts Theatre Series Spring 2010: Shakespeare Lectures

3. ROMANCE
The Winter's Tale

Presented by Philippa Sheppard, who teaches Shakespeare at St. Michael's College, University of Toronto. With host Dr. Jane Freeman, Stratford Shakespeare Festival’s Board of Governors.

Presented in partnership with the Stratford Festival

Tuesday, March 23, 7 pm


The Writer's Room: Margaret Atwood

Margaret Atwood

"There is a reason that we took to narrative, and it's because it gave us a survival edge..."Margaret Atwood

The Writer's Room logo

The high priestess of Canadian literature discusses writing in a time of calamity with author and journalist Ian Brown.

Read books by Margaret Atwood
Visit Margaret Atwood's website
Follow Margaret Atwood on Twitter

Thursday, March 25, 7 pm


Star Talks: Paul Beeston with Damien CoxPaul Beeston

"We want to make this a fun place to work again."Paul Beeston

The president and CEO of the Toronto Blue Jays talks about his return home with Toronto Star sports writer Damien Cox.Star Talks logo

Read about Paul Beeston in Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame

Monday, March 29, 7 pm


Shakespeare series logoOn Stage Performing Arts Theatre Series Spring 2010: Shakespeare Lectures

4. COMEDY
Two Gentlemen of Verona

Presented by Alexander Leggatt, Professor Emeritus at University College, University of Toronto, author of 12 books on the works of Shakespeare and his contemporaries. With host Dr. Jane Freeman, Stratford Shakespeare Festival's Board of Governors.

Presented in partnership with the Stratford Festival

Tuesday, March 30, 7 pm


Keep Toronto Reading / One Book: Kickoff event

Austin Clarke

Keep Toronto Reading is a month-long festival celebrating the joy of reading.

Keep Toronto Reading logo

A big part of Keep Toronto Reading is our One Book program. We’re encouraging everybody to read one book, and it's More, by Austin Clarke.

Join Austin Clarke and host Tina Srebotnjak for an evening of live music, dramatic readings and More.

Read More, by Austin Clarke

Tuesday, April 6, 7 pm


Book Exchange

Pasha Malla and Misha Glouberman

Bring a book you love, and prepare to swap with fellow booklovers including local celebs Damian Abraham (of the band F*cked Up) and authors Pasha Malla (The Withdrawal Method) and Zoe Whittall (Holding Still for as Long as Possible). Moderated by Misha Glouberman (Trampoline Hall).

Thursday, April 8, 7 pm


Books, Food and Wine

Lucy Waverman and Edward Finstein

Chef Lucy Waverman and Wine Doctor Edward Finstein guide you through three delicious food and wine tastings. Limited tickets are $35, and on sale starting March 8.

Keep Toronto Reading logo

Order tickets

Presented with The Cookbook Store and Authentic Wine and Spirits Merchants.

Wednesday, April 14, 6 pm


The Globe and Mail Open House Festival 2010

An extraordinary series of words and ideas in support of PEN Canada, Frontier College and the Toronto Public Library Foundation, The Globe and Mail Open House Festival will bring together the very best writers and thinkers from Canada and around the world for readings and discussions that will provoke, entertain and enlighten.

Tickets to each event cost $15, or $10 for students. Ask about the $65.00 Salon Pass which is good for all events at the Appel Salon (including Ian McEwan).

Tickets for Salon events are available beginning Jan. 23, 2010 via UofTtix (416) 978-8849.

Ticket information for other venues.

For more information about these events please contact the Globe and Mail Open House organizers at: canadaweb@randomhouse.com

More about the Globe and Mail Open House Festival

Ian McEwan

An Afternoon with Ian McEwan
Sunday, April 18, 2 pm

Alexander McCall Smith

An Evening with Alexander McCall Smith
Friday, April 30, 7 pm

Globe and Mail Open House: May 1

Compassion and Citizenship:
Barbara Coloroso, Pico Iyer, Mark Kingwell and Gabor Maté in conversation.
Saturday, May 1, 2 pm

Camille Paglia

The Future of Education
Camille Paglia in Conversation
Saturday, May 1, 4 pm

Linden MacIntyre

Readings:
Linden MacIntyre, Colm Toibin, Joanna Trollope, Colson Whitehead.
Saturday, May 1, 7 pm

Globe and Mail Open House: May 2

The Challenge of Citizenship:
Ishmael Beah, Adrienne Clarkson, and Roméo Dallaire in conversation
Sunday, May 2, 1:30 pm

Irshad Manji

The World@Large
Joe Clark, Chris Hedges, Irshad Manji and Ronald Wright in conversation.
Sunday, May 2, 4 pm

Readings:
Peter Carey, Michael Crummey, Mary Gaitskill, Jane Smiley.
Sunday, May 2, 7 pm


Asian Heritage Month 2010

Judy Fong Bates
Rabindranath Maharaj

Toronto Public Library joins in a national celebration of Asian heritage with free events at library branches throughout the city.

Join us for an evening of words, music and dance, featuring host Steve D'Souza of CBC television, authors Judy Fong Bates and Rabindranath Maharaj, poet and musician Phoebe Tsang, musician and broadcaster Sook-Yin Lee, and the Manaka Thakar dancers.

Tuesday, May 4, 6 pm


June Callwood Lecture

Ratna Omidvar"A Canadian in the Making": Ratna Omidvar

The June Callwood Lecture is an annual event focused on issues of social justice. It is presented by Canadian grassroots activists who are instrumental in challenging society to do more.

Guest speaker Ratna Omidvar is the president of Maytree, a private foundation that promotes equity and prosperity.

Thursday, May 13, 7:30 pm


Star Talks: Chris Spence with Royson JamesChris Spence

"I don't see this is an issue of segregation, I see this as an issue of choice."Dr. Chris Spence

The new director of education at Canada's most complex school board talks about the new TDSB, from Africentric schools to green roofs to radical new strategies to help boys succeed. With Toronto Star urban affairs columnist Royson James.Star Talks logo

Visit Chris Spence's website
Follow Chris Spence on Twitter
Read about Chris Spence in the Toronto Star

Wednesday, May 19, 7 pm


Luminato at the Library

A Luminato and Toronto Public Library Co-Production

East/West in Canadian Fiction
Four powerhouse Canadian authors gather to discuss the influence of East and West in Canadian fiction. How does living in Vancouver or St. John's affect what you write? What does a prairie writer have in common with a Cape Bretoner? And in a country of immigrants, what does "East/West" really mean? With Lynn Coady, Lorna Crozier, Anosh Irani and Michael Winter.

Wednesday, June 16th, 7 pm


The Border as Fiction: 11th International Festival of the Short Story in English

Margaret Atwood, Alistair MacLeod, Robert Olen Butler and Li Ang

The International Conference on the Short Story in English is a forum for writers and readers from all over the world to explore the short story through its links to history, geography and art. Join us for readings by Margaret Atwood, Alistair MacLeod, Robert Olen Butler and Li Ang.

Friday, June 18, 7pm


All events are free unless otherwise noted. Seating is limited, and takes place on a first-come, first-served basis. Doors open one hour before the event. Evening events are preceded by a cash-bar reception. For information about library programs at the Appel Salon, email salonprograms@torontopubliclibrary.ca.

When not in use for library events, the Appel Salon is available to rent for private corporate and social functions. For more information, visit our rental site, contact (416) 393-7148 or email salonrentals@torontopubliclibrary.ca for details.

The Bram & Bluma Appel Salon
at the Toronto Reference Library
2nd floor, 789 Yonge Street
(one block north of Bloor Street)