TUES FEB 21 / DON'T GET BORED OF US AND LEAVE / THE OSSINGTON / 61 OSSINGTON AVE / 9PM / FREE

Sara Hennessy (Much Music), Adam Christie (Yuk Yuk's), Mark Little (PicnicFace on Comedy Network)...wowzers. I adore this tight-knit group because they're not your typical premise-punchline-tag comedians. Sara Hennessy's energy is infectious. Adam Christie isn't himself until he turns his back on the crowd mid-performance. Mark Little's digressions will kill you everytime. Look, if you aren't captivated by Kathleen Philip's subtle facial quirks (see above clip), we can't be friends anymore.

WED FEB 14 - SUN FEB 19 / JASON LAURANS feat. MARTHA O'NEILL / ABSOLUTE COMEDY / 2335 YONGE STREET / 8PM / $6-15

Jason Laurans owns the Absolute Comedy bar in Ottawa. The club has gotten so popular that up and coming Toronto comedians have been visiting Ottawa on a regular basis to do open mic spots - that's saying something considering four and a half out of every five comedians in Toronto don't drive. Opening for Jason is Martha O'Neill, who's been everywhere from Q107's, 'Funniest Comedian With A Day Job' to Slice Network, CBC, and even BBC.

WED FEB 15 - SUN FEB 19 / CHRISTOPHER MOLINEUX / YUK YUK'S / 224 RICHMOND W / 8PM / $11.50-20

Let's change gears here a bit. And by change gears, I mean take a look at a show that doesn't involve comedians coughing to start their set, troupes that make viral videos spoofing The Human Centipede, or making fun of a guy as he's about to pursue his dreams. Chris Molineux has seemingly done it all, from sharing the stage with Jerry Seinfeld to appearing on Just for Laughs.

THURS FEB 16 / CBC'S LOL: GILSON LUBIN AND DAVE MERHEJE feat. ALI HASSAN / GLENN GOULD STUDIO / $250 Front W / 8pm / $25

CBC's LOL has a powerhouse line-up for us. Gilson Lubin has opened for Dave freakin' Chappelle. Dave Merheje was 2011's Just For Laugh's Homegrown Winner. Ali Hassan's no slouch either, having graced the stage in Canada, the US, and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. Each comedian on this bill has a style and story of their own. Gilson chauffeurs his dates on the TTC. Dave Merheje's staccato style leaves you breathless. Heck, Ali's a chef with stepkids. What more do you want?

SAT FEB 18 / THE ROAST OF DAN RAMOS / COMEDY BAR / 945 BLOOR W / 10:30PM / $10

I dare you to watch the entire clip. This is a special show for the featured comedy troupe, 'Touch My Stereotype.' Dan Ramos, an original member, is leaving for New York to pursue his dreams of making it big in stand-up comedy. So how do they send him off? A roast, naturally. Believe me when I say this: there's NOTHING more entertaining for an audience than seeing comedians roast their friends. They've seen each other's acts, know each other's tendencies, and that makes the roasting atmosphere electric.

About the Author: This is Michael Jagdeo, and I refuse to write about myself in the third-person. I blog regularly about trials and tribulations of passing the just noticeable difference threshold in Toronto's comedy scene.

Toronto artist Luis Jacob won the city-sponsored public competition to decorate the walls of the underpass in May of 2009, but so far nothing has appeared, leading locals and art scene regulars to wonder what happened to the project. Jacob's name had certainly been in the news in the meantime — the Peruvian-born Parkdale native has opened shows in Montreal, New York and Europe, which have increased his international reputation considerably.

Jacob's artwork — a series of vividly-coloured panels reminiscent of psychedelic tie-dye art — was titled "Community Spirits" when his winning entry was announced nearly three years ago, but seems to have changed to "They Sleep With One Eye Open" when Jacob was profiled in the Toronto Star just over a year later. After calls to his brother's studio went unanswered — Marco Jacob is an architect and designer who helped him fabricate the maquette for his competition entry — I was finally able to talk to Jacob after inquiring at City Hall.

The artist, who was also briefly a member of local indie stars the Hidden Cameras, said that issues with constructing the panels had held up installation of the work.

"It's a huge project," Jacob said, "and because it's a permanent piece of public art, there's a lot to consider, because it has to look good, but it also has to withstand the elements and everything else, so there's been a lot of design work and finally the fabrication."

While the artwork will be sheltered from rain and snow, they still had to contend with the salt and water spray from cars potentially attacking the work.

"I knew it had to be a metal structure, durable materials. We're using powder-coated aluminum for some of the material, so that's going to protect it from corrosion. Anything that you build that's a permanent part of the city, even if it's an artwork, it has to be durable, so these kinds of things are a consideration."

Jacob says that the city had been very cooperative with his project, both with relevant by-laws and construction.

"The by-laws are more in terms of safety, and I work with an engineer who has to sign off on all of our design proposals, and the city also has a lot of experience in doing construction and public artworks, so I get a lot of input from them and run everything by them so people with their expertise can approve the project."

The fabrication is essentially finished, Jacob told me, but they've delayed installing the panels for one simple reason: winter.

"For installation we'll have to be outside for two weeks, maybe even three weeks, and working when it's cold — it's brutal. It's just not possible," the artist explained. "It's a huge project, so there's a lot to work on and to consider, so I feel that it's going to be a welcome addition once we install in the spring."

Artscape
Artscape is perhaps the first name that comes to mind when looking for a studio space, simply because it offers a variety of options in several locations throughout Toronto. There are shared spaces, private studios, and work/live options to rent, sublet, or own, each popping up at sporadic intervals of availability at the Distillery, Liberty Village, Wychward Barns, and beyond. Rates vary depending on location, size, and number of artists in the space.

Akin Collective
While it doesn't look much from the outside, artists are constantly toiling away inside this shared space near Queen and Dufferin. Akin offers a total of 2,000-square-feet of studio and shared work space, which renters can access at any time, any day of the week. Rates at $100 for a monthly membership, though shorter term commitments can also be made.

Walnut Studios
Walnut Studios offers four connected-ish studio spaces in one, located in and old industrial building on Walnut Avenue, west of King and Bathurst. As well as offering space for artists to work on projects, Walnut Studios hosts the occasional show, exhibit, or other special event. The artist studios are open and communal (so hermits need not apply) and are available for monthly rental rates around $300 to $350.

Karma Creative
Karma now has a new studio at 3962 Chesswood Drive (yes, that's north of Bloor... north of Sheppard, actually), which offers a rarity in the world of Toronto artist studios: ready vacancies. The new facility (which is shared with North Toronto Art Studio Collective) is geared up to host a variety of programs and workshops, as well as receive new artists in its shared open studio. Studio spaces come with 24-7 access and loading areas for big projects, and rates generally start around $250 per month.

White House Studio Project
The name here has nothing to do with American politics and everything to do with the colour of the original building. (They're artists — what do you expect?) Started as a group initiative in 2008, White House has moved and grown to accommodate artists of all creeds who are keen on working in a collective environment. The 2,600-square foot studio includes a woodworking area and screen printing facilities, with room for about 25 individuals. Contact for studio availability and rates.

The Gladstone
The Gladstone Hotel is not just for Melody Bar elbow-rubbing and the odd erotic fair (though it tends to do both pretty well). It also has rooms dedicated to artists working on short-term projects, available starting at $550 a month. The WiFi-equipped studios come with private or shared bathrooms, and are also available for daily or weekly rentals. At least you won't have to go far for a drink.

Influx CreativeSpace
Right at Richmond and Spadina, the space available at Influx are geared toward hosting your own workshop. Complete with storage areas, heaters and fans, and "inspirational" exposed bricks, Influx offers 400-square-feet of studio to be yours, available for 24-7 access and wireless internet. Rates vary based on rental agreement (month to month, three month, six month terms), but generally hover around $400 per month.

SUN FEB 5 / STRIP COMEDY / COMEDY BAR / 945 BLOOR W / 9PM / $5

That's right, you guessed it: If your joke doesn't get a laugh, take it off baby. Instead of reviewing the show itself, I'm going to give you the preview you really want. Girls on the show: Christina Walkinshaw, Kayla Lorette, Steph Tolev, and Georgea Brooks-Hancocks.

Oh, right...guys on the show: Dave Martin, Evan Desmarais, and Jy Harris.

MON FEB 6 / ILOVE - A ROMANTIC COMEDY / SECOND CITY / 51 MERCER / 8PM / $20

No, it's not a Jamaican love story, nor is it a lover's rock concert. Still reading? It's actually a show about the way that we relate to our special someone in the information age. Will they discuss those texts from the ex you get at 2:37AM on Sunday morning? How about the decision-making tree used to decide whether it's time to change your relationship status on Facebook? There's only one way to find out.

TUES FEB 7 / NEVER TOO YOUNG FOR PROFANITY / THE CENTRAL / 603 MARKHAM ST / 7:30PM / $5

What can I say about a collection of comedians that could each headline their own show? Evan Desmarais, Sandra Battaglini, Alan Park...the list goes on and on. Dom Pare's one of my favourites on this line-up. You really never know what to expect when he walks to the mic, which is one of the things that I look for in a comedian (not that I'm interested, Dom). One occasion, he roasted me because, as he put it, 'I'm your nemesis now'. Another time, he yelled at the crowd to warm them up. Whatever he does, one thing's for sure: you'll remember him afterwards.

WED FEB 8 - SUN FEB 12 / JON FISCH FEAT. DAN SHAKI / ABSOLUTE COMEDY / 2335 YONGE / 8PM / $6-15

New York is in the house! John Fisch is on fire right now. David Letterman? Check. Celebrity Apprentice? Check. Getting selected to open for Jerry Seinfeld? Wowzers. But don't overlook Dan Shaki. Not only has he held his own on the NYC scene, he has a degree in electrical engineering. As a nerd, I feel compelled to support him. As a comedian, I have a lot of respect for anyone that's shared the stage with the incomparable Paul Mooney.

THURS FEB 9 - SUN FEB 12 / DARCY MICHAEL / YUK YUK'S / 224 RICHMOND W / 8PM / $11-20

Appearances can be deceiving, don't judge a book by it's cover, etc. All of the above apply when you first regard Darcy Michael. His credits already include Just For Laughs, Winnipeg Comedy Festival, and CBC Radio's 'The Debaters.' He's a refreshing change from the norm in Toronto. I'm not saying the norm is bad in Toronto. It's just nice to see an act that isn't...angry. I've also never seen a, 'Sneaky gay' (his words, not mine).

FRI FEB 10 - SAT FEB 11 / CHRIS HARDWICK / COMEDY BAR / 945 BLOOR W / 8PM AND 10PM / $20

Nerds...unite! Chris Hardwick is the creator of the immensely popular Nerdist podcast. Time Magazine calls him one of the 140 most influential people on Twitter. Books, television, late night shows (he'll be on Jimmy Fallon soon). As a nerd myself, he's created a safe-haven for keyboard warriors everywhere, and for that, on behalf of the nerderati, we're not worthy.

About the Author: This is Michael Jagdeo, and I refuse to write about myself in the third-person. I blog regularly about trials and tribulations of passing the just noticeable difference threshold in Toronto's comedy scene.

"I want to explore how it feels to be inside the 21st century brain as opposed to the 20th century brain," says Coupland in the exhibition notes. Although there's still bits of Canadiana on display — something for which he's known — the main themes explore how art and technology capture the zeitgeist of our time, something that Coupland has been interested in since the publication of Generation X back in 1991.

The works of the exhibit combine different forms of media, from paint, to sculpture to text. Working QR barcodes reveal text written by Coupland to citizens of the past and future, and classic Group of Seven paintings are rendered in a digitized stye that speaks to stark compositions of the originals but also hints at the manner in which the artistic process has changed. Needless to say, there aren't too many painters putting together quick studies on wood panels anymore.

Coupland's large scale works offer a not-so-subtle critique of the manner in which the pervasive use of technology has become commonplace and familiar, perhaps giving patrons something to think about the next time they text at the dinner table or tweet through an entire movie.

PHOTOS

Welcome to the 21st Century runs until April 7, 2012 at the Daniel Faria Gallery, 188 St. Helens Avenue.

Photos by Jesse Milns

That, it is not. Although it's lovely to see these breathtaking images get the attention they so richly deserve, the determination to identify them as part of a trend is actually a bit unfair to the small group of photographers who manage to get themselves in position to take these shots. Not only have they been at this pursuit for a few years, but the ingenuity (and nerve) that it takes to gain access to these rooftops shouldn't be underestimated. And, you know, once they get up there, they tend to make the most of what are often challenging shooting conditions.

In honour of this little media bonanza, here's a gallery of some of Tom's rooftopping shots that haven't been as heavily featured in the press but that are no less stunning. To get a sense of what Toronto's other rooftoppers are up to, check out the blogTO and rooftopping Flickr pools.

PHOTOS

All photos by Tom Ryaboi

Presented as museum of unconventional maps, the exhibit dramatizes the degree to which cities tend to elude the various cartographic efforts made to capture them. "Maps are out of date as soon as they are made," reads an accompanying note to one of the show's "pieces," which asks viewers to gaze out the window at 80 Spadina Avenue and compare the landscape below to the one depicted on an adjacent Google Satellite map (the imagery on which would likely derive from 2009 or earlier).

The exercise, in effect, turns the city into a living diorama — a savvy reference to the show's underlying argument that the act of representation tends to obscure as much as it reveals. As traditionally understood, maps are secondary documents, passive records of landscapes and built environments that experience constant change. Their ability to represent the subject matter at hand is limited in the same manner that words necessarily come up short at the task of representing the diversity and complexity of the things they describe.

This is not an original observation — of course cities are about more than what can be put on a map — but the wonder in Trevisan's work lies in the way that he unveils this putatively simple fact and, in so doing, turns it on its head. Last year's "Studies of a New Past" already played with the notion that maps exceed their referential function, but this latest collection pursues the argument with greater force and sophistication.

Take, for example, the final map in the show, "A City of Dead Ends." A deceptively simple work, by eliminating the city's through streets, it exposes just how inappropriate it is to refer to the streetscape as grid. More than that, it presents Toronto in a thoroughly unfamiliar manner, one which should seduce the viewer into a deeper consideration of our built environment and the way that it's taken shape over time.

In an attentive bit of curation, the obvious companion piece is the show's other bookend, "10 Square Blocks," a diptych that highlights the more rigidly governed beginnings of Toronto's street pattern in the grid that still remains just to the east of the St. Lawrence Market. "Things do not always turn out as planned," Trevisan writes. "The shape of the city as we know it today represents its history unfolding in time and space."

All of the pieces in the show work to establish this observation in some capacity or another, whether it be the knife-like map that tracks the area between King and Queen streets, the tiny snippets of the city that are cut out and made to spell "representation," or the aerial view of the Toronto Islands that draws attention to the dueling processes of erosion and development that have given the former peninsula its current shape.

These maps aren't mere imitations of a Toronto that exists prior to and outside of them, but a set of documents that serve to remind viewers that our conception of the place in which we live is born of our efforts to chart it. Although static in a superficial sense, Trevisan's work is thus better understood as a portal to a different way of understanding the city — as a place that's neither fixed in time nor space, the state of which could be best described as becoming.

Grey Area, 2009

Pink Republic, 2011

Bathurst Circuit, 2011

Representation, 2011

Flavio Trevisan's "Museum of the Represented City runs until April 8, 2012 at Koffler Off-Site. Admission is free.

Photos by Jesse Milns and the author

SUN JAN 29 / ALL BLACK COMEDY SHOW / YUK YUK'S / 224 RICHMOND W / 8:30PM / $20

In the early 90's, BET's Comic View and Def Comedy Jam started featuring all-black comedians. In the same spirit, Kenny Robinson and Mark Breslin created 'Nubian Disciples of Pryor' to feature the best that the great black north had to offer. The show has been immensely popular ever since, with the likes of Dave Chappelle, Will Smith, and DMX dropping by. There are a number of top comedians on Sunday's bill, but Trixx alone is worth the price of admission.

SUNDAY JAN 29 / LIVE AT THE DRAKE: STAND UP SERIES / DRAKE HOTEL / 1150 QUEEN W / 4:30PM & 7:30PM / $10

Word on the street is that Comedy Now! Specials are dead, but don't look so surprised — they've been inserting canned laughter (gasp!) for awhile now. Christophe Davidson is producing this show to fill the void that was left by the early Comedy Now! Specials. The 4:30pm event will feature Arthur Simeon, Hunter Collins, and Bryan O'Gorman. The 7:30pm show features Christophe Davidson, K. Trevor Wilson, and DeAnne Smith. My personal favourite from that list is Bryan O'Gorman. I saw him host an amateur night at Yuk Yuk's a few month's back, and he was able to craft killer material relating to every single comedian's set. Talent like that must not go unnoticed.

TUES JAN 31 / CANADA'S TOP YOUTUBE COMEDIANS / RIVOLI / 332 QUEEN W / 8:30PM / PWYC

Sketch Comedy Lounge is heading in a different direction this week, featuring the funniest (as in most popular) videos that Canadians have created in front of a Logitech HD Webcam. Many of the show's talent have upwards of 500k views per video. Now I have to be honest here, I'm not the biggest fan of online Youtube personalities. If a seven-minute video has more than 30 edits and retakes, it starts to seem forced to me...perhaps that makes me a hater. After all, can 500k views be wrong? Check out FlLuffeeTalks, andypandy311, furiouspete123, jusreign, andywarski and IISuperwomanII and decide for yourself.

THURS FEB 2 - SAT FEB 4 / GLOBEHEAD 2012 IMPROV TOURNAMENT / LOWER OSSINGTON THEATRE (LOT LOUNGE) / 100 OSSINGTON AVE / 8PM / $12 ($10 FOR STUDENTS)

The annual improv tournament comes to a head this week. The semi-finals will occur on Thursday and Friday, with the bulbous statuette being awarded Saturday night. The battles will be appropriately hosted by Jan Caruana and Kerry Griffin, both improv masters in their own right. Regardless of which night you attend, you'll bask in the glory of Canadian Comedy Award winners and faces you'll recognize from TV. Personally, I always look forward to seeing Jan Caruana (featured in the clip above).

SAT FEB 4 / CANADA VS USA COMEDY CLASH / HARBOURFRONT CENTRE (BRIGANTINE ROOM) / 235 QUEENS QUAY W / 7PM / FREE

If you're like me, the word, "clash" conjures up images of David Rodigan, Stone Love, and Kilamanjaro (best name ever, by the way) going chune for chune. Comedians have transposed this idea, pitting set against set. In the red, white, and blue corner we have Sheldon Johnson and Zack Johnson. In the leafy corner you'll see Jay Martin and Trixx. In my opinion, I think the Canadians will take this one. This could be called the value pick of the week, considering that previous Comedy Clashes have cost upwards of $25/head.

About the Author: This is Michael Jagdeo, and I refuse to write about myself in the third-person. I blog regularly about the bumps and bruises of being a stand-up comedian.

Photo by {RuthMaria} in the blogTO Flickr pool

PHOTOS

Photo by Room929

Photo by MSVG

Photo by monkeyseemonkeypoo

Photo by Ian Muttoo

Photo by Half my Dad's age

Photo by Grant MacDonald

Photo by Dan Cronin

Photo by St-Even

room929

Photo by Tanja-Tiziana

Photo by SqualorLee

Photo by Gavatron

Photo by Cameron MacMaster

Photo by greyvdm

Photo by PDPhotography

Photo by Book'em

Photo by DdotG

Photo by kate sim

Photo by Scott Snider

Photo by perspecticus

Photos compiled by Roxanne Hathway-Baxter

SUN JAN 22 / THE REALIST SHIT I EVER WROTE / ZION LOUNGE / 191 PARLIAMENT / 8PM / $10 ($5 FOR STUDENTS)

This show is stacked with talent, many of whom could easily headline their own show. Jean Paul, the Toronto comedy legend featured in the above clip, will be in attendance. The poster claims that the comedians will perform material that they typically censor out of their acts, which is a scary thought considering Kathleen McGee is on the bill. She's on fire right now, and if you don't know, now you know.

SUN JAN 22 / SKETCHERSONS' SNL / COMEDY BAR / 945 BLOOR W / 9PM / $12

Since winning the Canadian Comedy Award for Best Sketch Troupe, the Sketchersons have been on a roll. Their weekly show, S[unday]NL, is the flagship production for the Comedy Bar. Recently, the female contingent of the group were added to the, 'Women in Comedy' festival in Boston. Andy Kindler will be your host with Will Whitwam as your musical guest.

MON JAN 23 / ANDREW JOHNSTON feat. PETE ZEDLACHER / RIVOLI / 332 QUEEN W / 9PM / PWYC

Andrew Johnston (Muchmusic's Love Court, Video on Trial) headlines this week. Pay close attention to Pete Zedlacher (Just For Laughs, Off The Record), who recently came back from a tour entertaining our troops in Afghanistan. My Twitter feed has been burning up in the past week with professional comedians reporting that his new material is KILLING. Find out for yourself!

MON JAN 23 / LAUGHABLE / UNLOVABLE / 1415-B DUNDAS W / 9PM / PWYC

I try to keep TWIC to 5 shows, but Nick Flanagan's Laughable is bringing too much heat to be denied. Jason Rouse is, um, wow (watch the clip). T.O. faves like DJ Demers, Amanda Brooke Perrin, and Adrian Sawyers will grace the stage as well. My personal favourite on this ticket is James Hartnett. His performances are closer to a one-man sketch monologue as opposed to your standard stand-up, and that's a good thing. If he starts his set with an English accent, put down your drinks.

WED JAN 25 - SAT JAN 28 / JIM McNALLY feat. JEFF LEESON / ABSOLUTE COMEDY / 2335 YONGE / 8PM / $6-15

Jim McNally (CBC, Comedy Network, CTV) leads the charge at Absolute Comedy, but it would be a crime not to mention your host, the casually brilliant Jeff Leeson. The first time I saw him on stage, I was amazed. He began his set by joking with the bartender, then with another comedian, and then weaved both parties into his prepared material as easily as he might order a drink. To top it all off, he ended the set like he was concluding an essay, recapping the main jokes gleaned from said barkeep/audience member...all with a beer in his hand. They should charge double when Jeff is in town.

SAT JAN 28 / SUPERSTARS OF COMEDY / COMEDY BAR / 945 BLOOR W / 930PM / $10 ADV $12 DOOR

This is the show that led to, 'Stars of Comedy' becoming insolvent. But can it really live up to its lofty moniker? Dave Merheje, the 2011 JFL Homegrown winner, headlines (let me know if he stops to take a breath). Alex Pavone and Steph Tolev will also shine brightly this evening. A special warning to all hecklers: keep schtum during Pat MacDonald's set. His icy stare and quick wit will leave you dumbfounded and embarrassed. I don't think you're ready for his jelly (Beyonce reference courtesy of Myles Morrison).

Led by Alicia Merchant and Peter Merriman, each installment of What We Talk About has a theme and features experts from a variety of disciplines. The inaugural event's (very appropriate) theme was "Firsts" — the first carbon neutral neighbourhood, the first novel by Judy Blume, and the first slasher movie. There was a little something for everyone.

Both Merriman and Merchant have experience running intimate and intelligent cultural events. Merchant ran the storytelling series MothUp that has recently been revamped as The Raconteurs, and Merriman has started a couple bookclubs and is the host of Citation Needed trivia. Though both organizers have their hands full with these other popular and challenging projects, they launched What We Talk About because they knew there was an audience for it.

"A lot of our friends are out of school now, and so there's a lot of people who miss that exercise of the brain," says Merriman. "It's a casual, fun way to learn stuff." Nostalgia for the classroom — I bet few people would've predicted such a development when they were skipping class with a hangover.

Merriman and Merchant are careful to keep the lectures from getting too academic, though. "We don't want grad school words being used in the lecture, but we want it to be educational," says Merriman. "It's easily digestible," adds Merchant. "You're learning without committing yourself to a whole class." And don't forget, there's beer. How many grad seminars can say the same?

Each speaker brought something different to the table. The most researched and informative lecture on the panel came from film critic Adam Nayman who spoke about Bob Clark's Black Christmas, the first incantation of the modern slasher movie. Nayman has a rare ability to distill many, many ideas into very few words in a way that is clear and entertaining. Even during the round table Q&A when he didn't have notes to prompt him, his sentences sounded as though they'd already been written down and edited.

Jenn Cowan discussed Judy Blume's first novel Are you there, God? It's Me Margaret, a young adult novel from the 1970's that broke barriers by dealing with taboo topics like masturbation, menstruation and interfaith marriage. Cowan's lecture was funny, honest, and just to underscore how qualified she was to lead the discussion, it's worth noting that she used to write for Ready or Not (gasp!).

The more eco-conscious speaker was Julie Dzerowicz, co-founder of Project Neutral, an organization that's working to develop the first carbon neutral neighbourhood in Toronto. Though in the early stages, they've secured funding and have decided to focus first on the Junction and Riverdale neighbourhoods.

The goal for both Merriman and Merchant is to build a really well-curated lecture series with speakers who compliment each other and fit comfortably under the umbrella theme. Alas, there is some work to do. By the time the round table Q&A rolled around, it became more obvious that the speakers had some trouble finding common ground under the theme of "Firsts." So there are some kinks to work out, sure — but Merchant and Merriman are both excited about the February lectures that will focus on the theme of "Love Triangles." With a topic like that, it's bound to be a crowd pleaser.

The Liberty Project's goal is to expose some of the unsung photographic talent in Toronto with a roster of featured artists that shifts every two months. "The objective of the project is to showcase the exceptional work of both established and aspiring photographers through a series of gallery exhibitions," says curator Neil Ta of the new project.

In addition to the exposure fostered by these shows, the aim is also to build a community for photographers to share their knowledge, experience, and expertise with one another though a series of development sessions.

Ta was inspired to create the group after recent trips to Detroit, where he found a similar community callled Exposure Detroit. The group in the Motor City is composed of seasoned photogs and rookies alike, who partake in "an amazingly close-knit photography community," according to Ta. Every few weeks, a new show is curated, and all group members are encouraged to come out on the opening night to support one another. There are often affordable workshops arranged through the group, which range in topic from studio lighting to the art of framing prints.

As luck would have it, Ta was approached by Thomas Moran of 44 Wide Gallery upon his return to Toronto. Moran offered to sponsor the initiative and donate his gallery space. Liberty Project members plan to organize five exhibitions this year, and continue to grow the community through workshops and photowalks. Those seeking consideration for future exhibitions can join the Flickr group and submit their best images.

The project launches its opening exhibition, "City Limits," tonight at 6 p.m. On display will be a series of bird's eye photos of Toronto by Ta and four others who have never had their work displayed in public: photographers Ryan Emond (who made waves with his Toronto Tempo timelapse sequence last year), Javin Lau, Brandon Tarek, and Ronnie Yip. "I thought this would be fitting since it takes into consideration the spirit of what the TLP is all about," said Ta says of his curatorial choices. "We're giving aspiring photographers a medium for them to showcase their work."

MON JAN 16 / LOL HUMANS! / SMILING BUDDHA BAR / 961 COLLEGE / 9:30PM / FREE

I understand that buddha makes you laugh, so a comedy show held at the Smiling Buddha Bar must be good, right? DJ Demers is your headliner tonight, and he's always a riot. That said, I want you to play close attention to Ernie Vicente. The first time I saw him perform at an open mic, I knew that he was different from the rest of the up-and-coming comedians in the room. Jerry Seinfeld said he'd perfect a joke by reading it a thousand times, removing one word during each iteration. I get the sense that Ernie's done just that. He employs an economy of motion that even Bruce Lee would appreciate.

WED JAN 18 - SUN JAN 22 / ADAM CHRISTIE / YUK YUK'S / 224 RICHMOND W / 8PM / $11-20

Adam Christie was one of the first comedians I saw when I decided to embark on a career as a comedian. To this date, I've never seen anyone slowly turn their back on the audience and receive laughter in return. If you're lucky, you'll see him weave in and out of reality in his, 'Xbox for President' bit, which is a personal favourite of mine.

WED JAN 18 - SUN JAN 22 / BRENDAN MCKEIGAN feat. DEANNE SMITH / ABSOLUTE COMEDY / 2335 YONGE / 8PM / $6-15

In keeping with my support for the female talent we have in town, I'm going to highlight Deanne Smith. I like her, 'Tina Fey on the weekend' kind of look. More importantly, she's been on NBC's Last Comic Standing, Comedy Network, CBC, and other impressive places where jokes are told.

FRI JAN 20 / LET'S MAKE 190 DOLLARS / COMEDY BAR / 945 BLOOR W / 10PM / $5

One of the things that separates a professional from an amateur on the comedy scene is one's ability to elicit laughter even when a joke doesn't hit. John Hastings was the first person I saw do this, by comparing a bit that didn't go over well to a premature baby that hadn't fully matured yet (I've cleaned this up considerably). Another mark of a professional comedian is improvisation, which he does at the beginning of a set to engage the audience. He credits Don Rickles as one of his inspirations, who, '...became famous by making fun of the first row.' Get a seat up front, if you dare.

FRI JAN 20 - SAT JAN 21 / ANDY KINDLER / COMEDY BAR / 945 BLOOR W / 8PM & 10:30PM / $20

HBO, Just for Laughs, Daily Show, David Letterman...you get the picture. But what sets Andy apart? Other than the fact that he looks like he could still be living in his parent's basement, it's his experience. Your typical funny comedian will stick to a pattern of crowd greeting, improvisation, then joke 1...joke 2. That's not saying they won't be funny, but just like a pop song has a pattern, so does their routine. Andy breaks convention. He knows his material so well that he can swerve all over the lane with the crowd in tow while he gets a few things off his chest. Watch the above video and you'll see what I mean.

SAT JAN 21 / THINGS GIRLS REALLY SAY / COMEDY BAR / 945 BLOOR W / 8PM / $10

I'm going to keep saying it until these shows are packed to the brims: Toronto's female comedians spit hot fire! Daniella Saioni, your headliner, teaches comedy classes for heaven's sake. Recently, I've seen Camille Cote, Jennifer McAuliffe, Aastha Lal, and Amber Harper-Young, and they all pack serious heat in addition to knowing how to have fun with the crowd. Proceeds from this event go to the Native Women's Resource Center.

Written by Michael Jagdeo, a Toronto Comedian who regularly blogs about the trials and tribulations of being a new stand-up comic over here.

So about that criteria. Not only is this intervention ultimately removable (and thus not pure vandalism per se), but it's also a subtle political critique and interactive in nature. Given how much activity had been recorded when Scott stopped by this afternoon, I'd tentatively say it's a hit with the public as well.

What do you think?

Photos by Scott Snider

It's an interesting juxtaposition to be sure, gesturing to the many faces of New York and degree to which it's constructed by its depiction in photographs. It seems as though the series asks the question, what can we really know about this place, given its varied nature and the degree to which it has been fashioned out of image-heavy myths?

Beyond the more challenging questions, the photographs — particularly the ones above Manhattan — are just a delight to look at, as you can slowly creep closer to the image to pull out more and more details in the streetscape below. This is urban eye-candy at its finest.

"Model Citizen" runs until February 5th, 2012

PHOTOS

Photos by Jesse Milns