CULTURE | "Making the Scene: Yorkville and Hip Toronto In The 1960s" Book Launch
If you've ever been curious why your grandparents used to warn your parents to avoid Yorkville, Stuart Henderson's new book, "Making the Scene: Yorkville and Hip Toronto in the 1960's" just may have the answers. Henderson is celebrating the launch of his book tonight by engaging in a dialogue with music journalist Carl Wilson. Topics will include the local history of Yorkville and the growth of the dissenting counterculture of the '60s as the PopMatters Features Editor explains how Yorkville developed into Toronto's hip, alternative space. A part of TINARS, the evening will also feature a performance by The Pinecones.
The Gladstone Hotel Ball Room (1214 Queen Street West) 7PM $5 (or Free with book purchase)

ART | West by East
Photographer Shadi Ghadirian explores the struggles of Iranian women in her solo exhibit West by East at Queen Gallery tonight. As part of the Contact Photography Festival, and in following with the festival's theme of Figure and Ground, Ghadirian's artwork depicts regular women posed against plain backdrops with censorship iconography scribbled in black marker. The very poignant exhibit will continue on until the end of May. See gallery website for hours.
Queen Gallery (382 Queen Street East) Free

MUSIC | Of Montreal
Fresh off the stage in their namesake city, this Athens, GA band returns to Toronto to promote their 10th album, False Priest. The indie pop ensemble promises a return to the use of traditional instruments when they play their new album for the crowd at the Phoenix tonight. But fear not--of Montreal's signature eclectic sound is ever-present (though no promises about recent collaborators Solange Knowles or Janelle Monae making appearances).
The Phoenix Concert Theatre (410 Sherbourne Street) 8PM $28

ART | "The Next Day" Book Launch and Exhibition Opening
"The Next Day," a graphic novella providing insight from survivors of suicide attempts, is a collaborative effort between former social worker Paul Peterson, filmmaker Jason Gilmore and illustrator John Porcellino. A fusion of documentary film and comic book, "The Next Day" examines the events, thoughts and feelings of survivors the day after their near-fatal attempts. The launch party will feature discussions with the authors and artists of the novella as well as features such as animations and projections from the upcoming Mediatheque exhibit.
The National Film Board of Canada Mediatheque (150 John Street) 7PM Free

FILM | Doc Talks: Docs Making a Difference
With Hot Docs in full swing, Doc Talks gives a platform for open discussion with filmmakers about the impact of documentary films. Among this evening's speakers are the 2011 Hot Docs Outstanding Achievement Honouree Terence Macartney-Filgate (Timothy Findley: Anatomy of a Writer), Lee Hirsch (The Bully Project) and Shannon Walsh (H2Oil). This free event is an excellent opportunity to pick the brains of transformative directors and experience Toronto's second largest film festival first-hand.
TIFF Bell Lightbox (350 King Street West) 5:30PM Free

MORE EVENTS ON OUR RADAR:

• Hope Rising! Benefit Concert
• Brown Balls from fu-GEN Asian Canadian Theatre Company

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 malstad in the blogTO Flickr pool.