The Annex Guardian

On Friday, students from around Toronto will be able to enjoy live performances by local entertainer Chris McKhool; interactive green exhibits for kids, parents and teachers; buskers; face painting and more.

Saturday will feature hundreds of eco-friendly green products and services, all showcased by local agencies and vendors. Over 70 green companies and organizations will showcase items such as green fashions, environmentally friendly gardening products, organic foods and electric bikes, as well as ideas for green activities, energy conservation and carbon reduction.

The event will kick off at noon, and guests will be invited to join in an effort to break the Guinness world record for the largest bicycle bell ensemble. Children's entertainer Jen Gould will then take the stage at 1:15, followed by live performances by top Canadian musicians such as David Usher, Kardinal Offishall and the Spoons throughout the afternoon and into the evening.

Chantal Kreviazuk will headline the day-long celebration with a live performance at 8:30 p.m.

The event is car-free, with Yonge Street closed down between Dundas and Queen streets from 11 a.m. until 8 p.m.

The Green Toronto Festival will take place at Yonge-Dundas Square from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday, May 23 and from 11 a.m. until 9 p.m. Saturday, May 24. For more information, visit www.toronto.ca/greentorontofestival.

The Toronto Indy is coming back to the city but not until next summer.

Racing legend Michael Andretti and his partner Kim Green, who run Andretti Green Promotions, have purchased the assets of the Grand Prix Association of Toronto, the organization that operated the Toronto event.

The Toronto Indy was cancelled this year when Champ Car was folded into the Indy Racing League and could not accommodate the event in its schedule.

Seven-time Toronto Indy winner Andretti and Green have created a wholly owned Canadian company called Andretti Green Toronto to operate the event. An IndyCar Toronto series is already in the works for summer 2009.

The official announcement was made Thursday in Indianapolis.

Bloor-Yorkville is open for business on Victoria Day. People celebrating the holiday Monday on May 19 do not have to look any further than their own neighbourhood.

The following locations are open for people’s dinning and shopping pleasure:

• Crepes a GoGo, noon to 5 p.m.
• Hugo Boss Store, Hugo Boss Women’s Store and Hugo Boss Accessory Store, noon to 5 p.m.
• Lovecraft, noon to 5 p.m.
• Over The Rainbow, noon to 6 p.m.
• Pusateri’s Fine Foods, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Tiffany’s, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Williams-Sonoma, noon to 5 p.m.
• Whole Foods Market, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• The Royal Ontario Museum, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Since entrepreneur Joseph Bloor founded the Village of Yorkville in 1830, the heart and soul of Toronto has distinguished itself as the premiere shopping, dining and cultural destination.

Visit www.bloor-yorkville.com for details.

Practising, professional visual artists are invited to submit their credentials for a two-stage competition that will see artwork on the rooftops of 24 transit shelters on the newly constructed dedicated light transit right-of-way along St. Clair Avenue West.

After artist credentials are reviewed by an independent jury who will determine the finalists, each finalist will be required, for a fee, to produce a detailed proposal to be adjudicated by the same jury.

Deadline for credentials is June 6.

Visit www.toronto.ca/ttc for details.

The Bank of Canada is hosting a hands-on bank note authentication workshop on May 21 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the Bay Room of the Courtyard by Marriott Downtown Toronto at 475 Yonge Street.

People wishing to participate in the free workshop are asked to register by calling 1-888-513-8212 no later than May 16.