1. Prince Paul is a hip-hop heavyweight possessing insight, creative restlessness and hella talent. He came up as a member of Stetsasonic, went on to produce more than a dozen albums (including De La Soul’s first three) and helmed projects including Gravediggaz and Handsome Boy Modeling School. His DJ sets — like the one he's doing at tonight's edition of Never Forgive Action — are tight, playful and full of surprises. With resident DJs Numeric, Dalia. The Drake Hotel Underground (1150 Queen W.). $5 before 12am; $10 after. 2. We may have had the first snow-free November since 1937, but Jack Frost is already here. Cow Over Moon Children’s Theatre brings the nose-nipping sprite to life in their new comedy, with a blizzard of improv, music and audience participation. With stars like Mike Balazo, Aaron Knight, Jackie Pijper and Kathleen Phillips — who are best known for their gigs on the local alt-comedy circuit — Cow Over Moon have proven masters of the two toughest crowds: children and hipsters. The play runs today, 1pm; Saturday 11am & 2pm; and Sunday 2pm at the Palmerston Library (560 Palmerston). . $15; $10 children, seniors. www.cowovermoon.ca.3. This week's EYE WEEKLY cover subjects, The Hoa Hoa's, launch their ace sophomore CD, Pop/Drone/Pedals, with two performances tonight: a 6pm freebie at Sonic Boom (512 Bloor W.), followed by a full evening of psychedelic-rock goodness at The Silver Dollar (486 Spadina Av). with Your 33 Black Angels, Planet Creature and The Disraelis. 9pm. $10. 4. Lloyd Newson is an Australian-born choreographer and founder of London’s DV8 Physical Theatre Company; his latest project, To Be Straight With You, is based on a “physical theatre” concept that eschews the pirouettes and arabesques of dance for narrative and argument, telling a story about the competing interests of tolerance, culture, religion and homosexuality. It runs for two more days at Harbourfront's Fleck Dance Theatre: Friday, 8pm; and Saturday, 2pm & 8pm; Sat 2pm. $40 from 416-973-4000. For more, read Paul Gallant's interview with Newsom. 5. In cinemas today: Breezy and disarming, although not without the same taint of smugness that marred director Jason Reitman’s first two features (Thank You For Smoking and Juno), Up in the Air — starring George Clooney as a corporate axe-man for hire —is the kind of sophisticated, middlebrow entertainment that Hollywood seems incapable of and/or uninterested in making anymore. As such, it’s catnip to grown-up movie-goers and sure to stay at the front of the Oscar race. For more, read Film columnist Jason Anderson's full review and interview with Reitman.
Toronto news and views, updated every day. torontonotes@eyeweekly.com.