Best Bets for this week and next...

I’m going to have a go at a few more ideas for this week and next, before heading off to Toronto.

First of all, “an avid reader” had said he wanted to know mainly what’s worth getting a sitter for. Maybe I’ll flag those things. Mind you, those young enough to need sitters might not share my values, but…

This week I’d say the Sitter Challenge brings up two things: A) Forms of Devotion (a very sensual little piece, with good (but not enough) text by Diane Schoemperlen, and it’s less than 90 minutes long. FOD is at the Baby Grand, from Theatre Kingston, so that means viewing the 30 some paintings of the Kingston Portrait Prize is thrown in for free, (If you’re getting a sitter you’ll have time for a nice glass of red wine after the show, too. Drink it in the car after you deliver the sitter, if you’re too tight to go out.) B) Josef Riha’s one hour dance class at Upper Canada Academy yada yada. See way below. Friday from 7-8.

If you just want to stay home and submit art, Kingston Canadian Film Festival is now accepting feature film and short film submissions for inclusion in its 10th annual event. Early bird deadline is October 9, 2009. Info: www.kingcanfilmfest.com

Words: On Thursday, writer Ingrid deKok reads from 1-2:30 at Watson Hall Room 517, (Bader Lane.) I’ve been to a couple of these readings at Carolyn Smart’s class, and she has topnotch taste. Ingrid de Kok has published four volumes of poetry, most recently "Seasonal Fires: new and selected poems" (2006 ) Next week Oct. 15, (same time, same place) Oct. 15, John Barton reads his ninth collection of poetry, Hymn, (published this fall by Brick Books.) His previous books include Great Men, Designs from the Interior, Sweet Ellipsis, and Hypothesis.

After Thursday, I’m going to catch the Kingston Prize – (with a $10,000 first prize!) at least twice. The show is at the Grand noon to 5:30 until Oct. 24. I love reading the bios too, to see all the work these people have put into their careers. Music: I think after seeing the portraits on Friday night we’ll treat ourselves to the start of a holiday weekend with Cam Shaffer’s “Blazz” (blues and jazz) 5-7 at RCHA Club. Makes me thirsty just thinking about it… THEN:

I JUST might be able to talk the hub into going to the really fun (and very simple) ballroom dance classes Friday night (starting this week) from the ever dapper Josef Riha, at the Upper Canada Academy of Performing Arts. We did it last year and there’s a group of pretty funky smart artsy types who make it a real giggle. .7:00 to 8:00 pm Beginners welcome (they’re serious!) For more information please call (613) 5429988 Upper Canada Academy of Performing Arts 260 Brock St

Be Thankful! (Hey, you don’t need a sitter for this, take them along) -Coming this weekend: I won’t be around to visit the Westport region’s Fall Colours Studio Tour scattered around 11 different locations from October 10 to 12 (though I’d LOVE to see Isidora Spielman’s studio.) We’re heading off to Toronto to see something at the Gardiner Ceramic Museum and probably Tom Stoppard’s Rock and Roll at CanStage. More on those later!

Next week: It’s still striking me as extremely bizarre that there are TWO talks about the current relevance of portraiture going on, a day apart. Doesn’t anyone get “a picture is worth a thousand….” Dr. Stephanie Dickey speaks at Memorial Hall at 7:30 on Oct 14, with a reception across the street at Robert Macklin Gallery, who is holding a tongue in cheek Salon des Refusees. If you just want to go to his show and the reception, it’s 6 to “whenever…” The following evening (Oct. 15) at 7 p.m. you can get another opinion at October’s Arts And Letters Club’s Whither Portraiture at the RCHA Club, where Gary Michael Dault entertains the topicality of portraiture in our modern world.

And you’d probably better book ahead for Empty Bowls now, that’s happening Oct. 18 at the University Club on Stewart Street as a fundraiser for Martha’s Table.. I have to… Here you can choose a handcrafted pottery bowl, one of 400 graciously donated by a number of hardworking and selfless potters…and you fill it with soups specially made by Kingston's finest restaurants. Three seatings at 11:30 am, 12:15 pm and 1:00 pm, coffee and deserts afterwards. Tickets $25.00 Tickets and information at Tara Foods, Renaissance Music, Springer Market Square (on appropriate occasions) and Martha’s Table 629 Princess St. or email marthastable@bellnet.ca