Things to do in Toronto this week: September 13–19

Sunday is your golden window this week—clear skies, warm enough to be outside, and three major reasons to pick a lane. The Toronto International Film Festival kicks off at the Princess of Wales Theatre with four performances across Sunday and Monday before the forecast turns wet. If you're festival-bound, that's the week's centerpiece; if not, Sunday still offers a rare combination of live music, sports, and outdoor light that vanishes by Tuesday.

Shreya Ghoshal, one of India's most prolific and influential singers, performs at Scotiabank Arena on Sunday evening at 7 p.m.—a draw for anyone who knows classical Indian vocal work or simply wants to hear a genuinely world-class voice. The Wizard of Oz in Concert, a 1995 television performance of the beloved film's score, runs at Meridian Hall the same afternoon at 2 p.m., a gentler, family-friendly option if you want to stay indoors and nostalgic. Over at the Horseshoe Tavern, Rum Jungle, an Australian indie rock group that released their debut album Recency Bias earlier this year, play at 7 p.m.—a tighter room, lower stakes, same Sunday energy.

The Blue Jays take on Baltimore at Rogers Centre on Sunday at 1:37 p.m., which means you can actually enjoy the walk along the Lakeshore or grab a patio lunch before the game in that rare warm stretch. It's the kind of Sunday afternoon Toronto does best.

From Monday onward, the weather hardens into drizzle and overcast days through the weekend. Plan around it. Tuesday through Thursday sit in that damp, cool zone where indoor dining and tight venues feel right. That's when you land at Canis in Little Italy, the celebrated fine-dining restaurant that shuttered during the pandemic and is now reopening with a 28-seat room and tasting menus from chefs Jeff Kang and Tosh Agassiz—this is a real event for the 6ix's food scene, and a perfect excuse to dress up and stay warm inside. If you want something looser but equally intentional, Anthony Rose's Schmaltz at Night on Dupont Street runs dinner service with what he calls "extreme high-low food"—cold lobster on warm potato rolls, all-beef wieners buried in cheddar queso—a good bet for Wednesday or Thursday when you want flavour and comfort but not formality.

Estiatorio Milos Toronto, if you're after something more established and still wet-weather proof, sits at the fine-dining end and works any night this week.

Beyond the restaurants and the stage, watch the city itself. North York's Growing Tkaroto at Downsview Urban Farm took serious losses in last week's storm—three tunnels and 200 feet of flowers gone—but owner Sylvia Cheng is rebuilding with hardier varieties. It's the kind of local grit that defines the week's smaller character.

If you've got one night to spend, make it Sunday at TIFF or Shreya Ghoshal, because the week ahead belongs to the indoors.