ART | Drawing Lines: Figure Studies of Toronto City Council
It may not be a coincidence that Drawing Lines opens on Election Day because this exhibit has a point--and it's political. Described as an exercise in civic engagement, Toronto artists have drawn recreations of scenes from the marathon City Hall meeting on July 28th, when hundreds gathered to speak out against proposed budget cuts to city services. The results of these depictions will be displayed through Saturday at Toronto Free Gallery.
Toronto Free Gallery (1277 Bloor Street West) 12PM Free

ART | Plein-Air In My Pocket Opening Reception
Whoever said video games were bad for you never met Ed Chee. The Toronto game developing and comic book artist comes armed with his Nintendo DS, a painting app and a stylus to the Gladstone Art Bar tonight, where he will host the opening reception of his latest exhibition Plein-Air In My Pocket. Designed entirely on his digital sketchbook using the "Colors!" painting app, Chee's compilation of portraits and cityscapes has a watercolour appearance. A remarkable exhibit and a feat of technology, the opening reception begins at 7PM with the exhibit running until the 10th.
Gladstone Hotel Art Bar (1214 Queen Street West) 7PM Free

ART | 16th Annual SpeakEasy Illustration Show
Illustrators of Toronto join together today at the 16th annual SpeakEasy event, a monthly gathering where artists of one concentration share ideas, exhibit and inspire. This month's show will feature the works of artists such as Deena Pagliarello, Graeme Maitland, Wilfred Wong and Lida Lajevardi for this one-night only. With 18 other illustrators participating this month, SpeakEasy attendees will be given the opportunity to connect with other artists in the community who share a similar field of interest as a means of broadening their networks and socializing.
The Gladstone Hotel (1214 Queen Street West) 7PM PWYC

MUSIC | Morning Thieves EP Release Party
Mississauga bred indie pop rock band Morning Thieves release their first EP Wrongside and are throwing a musical bash at The Piston to celebrate. Openers Kai and Danger Bees will perform before the main event, when the Thieves hit the stage at 11PM to sample their latest singles off the album, which they describe as Jeff Buckley meets Thom Yorke with a range from Queens of the Stone Age to Kings of Leon. The venue is small so get there early and be sure to pick up a copy of the EP at the show for $5.
The Piston (937 Bloor Street West) 8:30PM $10

LITERATURE | Ferno House Fall Launch Party and Night of Readings
Local micropress publishing house Ferno House is celebrating the fall launch of three new titles with readings at Kensington bar The Supermarket. The fall release party will feature readings from Ferno's three new poetry chapbooks, including "Feel Good! Look Great! Have a Blast!" by Spencer Gordon, "Black Metal Melody" by David Brock and "Skullambient" by Liz Howard. Each of the featured books will be on sale, along with other Ferno House titles, for $12.
The Supermarket (268 Augusta Avenue) 8PM Free

THEATRE | Those Who Can't Do...
When high school history teacher Lilian Campbell finds herself caught up in the middle of a sex scandal involving 9th grade female students and the senior male hockey team, she is forced to restore her sullied reputation in front of the judgmental eyes of students and colleagues. Written by Erin Fleck and directed by Shari Hollett, the controversial Those Who Can't Do... opens at Theatre Passe Muraille this evening for a three-week run. Fleck, a rising Toronto playwright who is becoming known for her dark and often comedic style, collaborates with Second City writer and performer Hollett to bring this tale of troubled high schoolers and those who teach them to a local stage.
Theatre Passe Muraille (16 Ryerson Avenue) 7:30PM $25-$30

OTHER EVENTS ON OUR RADAR:

• 2011 De Colores Festival of New Works
• FOOL Festival of Oral Languages
• Cuff the Duke Soundscapes In-Store Performance
• Oscar Tango EP Release
• Salt Shakers Sculpture Exhibition by Mostafa Hamidi
• The Pining at Ted's Collision
• Brette Gabel BAD DREAMS

Have an event you'd like to plug? Submit your own listing to the blogTO Toronto events calendar or contact us directly.

For Toronto movie showtimes, view our Movie Listings section.

Photo by williamohare in the blogTO Flickr pool