Photo: "Queen At Night" by tapesonthefloor, member of the blogTO Flickr pool.

Events on Toronto's Radar for SATURDAY DECEMBER 12 and SUNDAY DECEMBER 13, 2009... lovingly handpicked from blogTO's events calendar.

Saturday, December 12

BOOK FAIR | Toronto Small Press Book Fair
The winter edition of the Small Press Book Fair has been relocated to the Gladstone from its usual digs at the Toronto Reference Library. It's as if there's a bylaw stating that there has to be at least seven events going on at the Gladstone every single day or else the place gets turned into a Pottery Barn. No one's complaining though, because the fair will be stacked to the ceiling with books, zines, graphic novels, comic books, audio books, and magazines from the publishers such as Broken Pencil, The New Quarterly and Believe Your Own Press. Take a break from browsing to listen to readings from Austin Clarke, Shinan Govani, Timothy Quinn and more
The Gladstone Hotel, 1214 Queen St. W., 10 am - 5 pm

MUSIC | Jingle Bell Rock with Oh No Forest Fires
Time to break out the guitars and Santa hats for this holiday show featuring some of Toronto's most entertaining bands. Oh No Forest Fires are fresh from touring the country's festival circuit on the strength of their debut EP, and Clothes Make the Man are always good for a honest to goodness rock show. With brother/sister band Balconies and Make Your Exit rounding out the bill, the show is a fine representation of the young talent in this city.
Horseshoe Tavern, 368 Queen St. W., $7, 9 pm

BENEFIT CONCERT | The 18th Annual Riverdale Share Concert
It's an unfortunate fact that Toronto's hotbeds of artistic creativity like Parkdale and Kensington Market are also areas that suffer from poverty and inequality. Luckily, many Torontonians have an overdeveloped sense of community, and that spirit has been on display for 18 years at the Riverdale Share Concert has been staged. Each holiday season local artists from the neighbourhood's vibrant community come together to raise money for Riverdale families in crisis with help from local musicians. This year several locals including Steven Page, Mary Margaret O'Hara and comedienne Luba Goy will perform.
St. Barnabus Church, 361 Danforth Ave., $15, Two shows at 2 pm and 4:30 pm

BURLESQUE | Merry Stripmas
Christmas stockings aren't usually sexy. Unless they're being peeled from the legs of one of Toronto's hottest burlesque dancers, that is. The gals from Skin Tight Outta Sight and special guests Miss Cherry Temple and Lil Reilly will treat you to performances heavy on the naughty and light on the nice Saturday night, followed by a dance party and a live set from the Alistair Christl Band. Once you've seen these ladies decked out in red satin and white fur trim you'll never look at Mrs. Claus the same way again.
The Great Hall, 1087 Queen St. W., $15 advance, $20 door, 9 pm

PARTY | Goin' Steady
Toronto's favourite retro party heats up the Gladstone Ballroom tonight. It's as if there's a bylaw that says there has to be at least thirteen events going on at the Gladstone every single day or else the place gets turned into a Pottery Barn with a Wal-Mart in it and a McDonald's on the roof. If you've never experience Goin' Steady, you can expect tunes representing the best in 50s and 60s girl groups, Italo rock, Bollywood and soul to get the place shaking and as always the vintage photo booth in the corner will be in operation so you and your friends can capture the good times.
Gladstone Hotel, 1214 Queen St. W., $10, 10 pm

Sunday, December 13:

ENVIRONMENT | Bare it All for Polar Bears
A caveat: blogTO does not necessarily think this is a good idea. I mean, a week ago the sky was clear, the leaves were just off the trees, and the city was basking in beautiful autumn weather. One week later, and wham! it's fucking Hoth out there. That said, if you think raising money to help stop deforestation and global warming is a good idea and if you want to wade into the frigid water of Lake Ontario in order to do it, then by all means. All it takes is $20 in registration fees or pledges to the Wildlands League.
Sunnyside Beach, 1755 Lakeshore Blvd. W., 10 am

FOOD | FoodieMeet: Bake Off
This bake off at one of the East End's coolest vodka bars combines the love of food, drinking and dancing with the charitable spirit. Twenty-five professional and amateur bakers are creating some delicious home made goods to raise money for the Stop, one of the city's most forward-thinking food banks. With treats like pina colada cupcakes, white velvet cake, and butter caramel tarts on the menu the season of holiday gorging has officially begun.
The Samovar Room, 51A Winchester St., $25, 6:30 pm

MUSIC | Wavelength with The Strumbellas and My People Sleeping
The ever-popular Wavelength concert series continues Sunday night with a bill heavy on Montreal bands. The intriguingly named The Slowest Runner in All the World is a Brooklyn/Montreal hybrid in the clouded vein of Godspeed You Black Emperor and the intense quartet My People Sleeping have just released their debut LP Feye. Representing the T-Dot is bluegrass outfit the Strumbrellas.
The Garrison, 1197 Dundas St. W., PWYC, 10 pm

Ongoing events:

FESTIVAL | Cavalcade of Lights
Throughout the month of December the Cavalcade of Lights festival is throwing weekly Saturday parties in the heart of the city. The festival's family-friendly entertainment including skating parties, fireworks and concerts have become an annual tradition for many Torontonians, and the festival continues Saturday night with a performance by State of Shock and a skating party with the Promise DJs.
Nathan Phillips Square, 100 Queen St. W., Free, Saturday 7 pm

MUSIC | Constantines 10th Anniversary
It's been ten years since the Constantines first began reshaping the country's musical landscape with their ferocious shit-kicking rock and roll, and from their early days on influential label Three Gut Records to their residency at a rehearsal space in the middle of Kensington Market, the band has always been close to the epicenter of Canada's indie explosion, easily earning them a place among the likes of Arcade Fire, Broken Social Scene and Wolf Parade. The Cons celebrate their tin anniversary with the second of three historic shows at Lee's Palace on Saturday night.
Lee's Palace, 529 Bloor St. W., $20 advance, $25 door, Saturday 9: 30 pm

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