Photo: "toxic resin" by Tomitheos, member of the blogTO Flickr Pool.

Events on Toronto's Radar for TUESDAY MARCH 2, 2010... lovingly handpicked from blogTO's events calendar.

BOOKS AND LIT | Rogue Stimulus
As the old saying goes, when life serves you prorogues, make poetry. Stephen Harper's decision to suspend parliament this winter may have put the kibosh on all pending legislation, but it also inspired poets across the country to voice their outrage in a anthology called Rogue Stimulus. Contributing poets run the gauntlet from Governor General Award winners to unpublished writers and the poems are by turns humourous and vitriolic. The book's been on tour across the country and hits Toronto tonight, one day before our well-rested politicians return to parliament for what will likely be the bitchiest session in recent memory. The book's editors Stephen Brockwell and Stuart Ross will be in attendance along with George Elliot Clarke, Andrew Faulkner, Daniel Scott Tysdale, and several other contributors to read from the anthology.
Monarch Tavern, 12 Clinton Street, 7:30 pm

COMMUNITY | Yes in My Backyard
With some very un-wintry weather descending on us this week, green thumbs all over town are starting to itch in anticipation of spring. Unfortunately, many Torontonians don't exactly have acres of space on which to build a garden but the Stop Community Food Centre is here to help. Their "Yes in My Backyard" initiative pairs West End homeowners who have room to spare with gardeners who don't have enough space to make a garden of their own. The initiative is designed to increase local food production in the city, and will give participants access to a tool library, seedlings, and helpful workshops. The program gears up tonight with an informational meeting.
Green Barn, 601 Christie St., Please RSVP, 6:30 pm

COMEDY | Attack of the One Man Shows: Nile Seguin and Gavin Stephens
Every comic dreams of taping their own HBO special, the hallmark of comedic success in North America. But before you get there, you have to things like tape your one-man show at the Supermarket. Nile "the Chocolate Prophet" Seguin and Gavin Stephens seem on the cusp of bigger success, with Seguin having won the Best Solo Show award at the San Francisco Fringe Festival, and Stephens being one of only a handful of comics to have taped multiple specials for the Comedy Network's Comedy Now show. For the next two Tuesdays the pair will be performing and taping their shows with the aim of selling themselves to American bookers, and presumably promptly forgetting their Canadian roots. Keep reaching for the stars, gentlemen!
The Supermarket, 268 Augusta Ave., $10, 7 pm doors, 8 pm show

MUSIC | The Sure Things
A glimpse at alt-country journeymen The Sure Things' myspace page shows them playing about 40 dates this spring, with about half of those in Toronto over the next couple of weeks. That's pretty impressive considering these guys spend their off-days playing some this city's best roots-inspired bands including $100, Rock Plaza Central, and the Burnitdowns. With so many chances to see them in the coming weeks, what's so special about their show tonight? Nothing, except it's a Tuesday night, it's the Dakota, and everyone will be drunk on whiskey.
The Dakota Tavern, 249 Ossington Ave., 10 pm

BOOKS AND LIT | Brockton Writers Series
Anthony De Sa is not exactly a slow starter. His first novel Barnacle Love was nominated for the 2008 Giller Prize and the 2009 Toronto Book Award. Currently at work on a new book set on the mean streets of 1977 Toronto, De Sa headlines a evening of readings as part of the Parkdale neighbourhood's Brockton Writer's Series tonight. De Sa will be joined by the New School of Writing's Jenny Samprisi and journalist and author Lesley McAllister. If you're interested in bouncing some of your own ideas off these talented writers, there is an open mic portion of the evening allowing aspiring scribes 5 minutes of time to show their stuff.
Zoots CafĂŠ, 1438 Dundas St. W., Free, 7 pm - 9 pm

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