FILM | Conan O'Brien Can't Stop at Open Roof Film Festival
The popular Open Roof Festival continues this evening with Rodman Flender's 2011 documentary Conan O'Brien Can't Stop as the featured presentation. Watch as the filmmaker follows O'Brien after he was forced from his spot on NBC's The Tonight Show. Banned from television, Internet and radio for 6 months, Flender delves deep into the comedian's troubles, worries and fears as he hits the road on his Legally Prohibited from Being Funny on Television Tour. Apart from the film and, of course, the beer, tonight's event boasts a performance by Toronto band Locomotive 8 and food truck treats from Caplansky's Deli. The PUMA SPiN TO Open, the official ping-pong tournament, will be free with admission and open to anyone who wants to participate to win a PUMA bike.
Amsterdam Brewery (21 Bathurst Street) 7:30PM $15

POLITICS | Art Saves Toronto: A Creative Response Party
Turning a political movement into a party, the Art Saves Toronto soiree will open the floor to city folk who want to send a message about the importance of the arts. A call for proposals is being made to build a creative response to prevent budget cuts that target Toronto's art community. Attendees will be invited to speak to the crowd about possible solutions and are asked to bring desserts to make this social a real party. Giveaways and musical performances by Sweaty Betty's DJs Dylan Barlow and Shit La Merde will follow the readings as part of the Summerworks Art Bar.
MOCCA Courtyard (952 Queen Street West) 5PM Free

ART | Food Opening Reception
Examining the effects of packaged and processed foods through art, Laura Heaney and Katrina Atkinson collaborate on this new, simply titled exhibit, Food. Atkinson's work takes on a blueprint aesthetic to comment on the manufacturing of processed foods and how this affects the common farmer. Heaney, on the other hand, observes the disconnect between the origins of food and the pre-packaged prototypes we actually consume in coloured pencil drawings. This evening's opening reception will allow eventgoers to meet the artists and view the exhibit, which runs until the 31st.
Broadview Espresso (817 Broadview Avenue) 8PM Free

FUNDRAISER | Art Cycle 2011
Cyclists and biking enthusiasts will come out this evening for Art Cycle 2011, a fundraiser to support Bikes Without Borders. A public art auction, featuring pieces from artists inspired by bicycles, the event will have free appetizers and performances by Nate Gerber, Tonella and Tony Desmarteau. All proceeds from the art auction will go toward Bikes Without Border's second phase of the Pedal-Powered Hope Project in Malawi, Africa, which seeks to use bicycles as a tool of economic development and prosperity. Cycle, dance and enjoy for Malawi!
The London Tap House (250 Adelaide Street West) 8PM $10 in advance, $12 at the door

LITERATURE | Book Burning Questions
As cultural mediums shift, what is the future of books and book publishing? Tonight's panel at the Design Exchange with RGD Ontario will examine this by allowing experts in design, culture and publishing to take the stage. Topics will cover the digitization of books and shifts in storytelling with the advent of new medias. This panel event comes in part with the Out of Sorts: Print Culture and Book Design exhibit, which runs until August 21st.
Design Exchange (234 Bay Street) 6:30PM $10

OTHER EVENTS ON OUR RADAR

• made in canada/fait au canada
• SummerWorks: Bruce Peninsula and Jennifer Castle
• everyone agrees that there are some deep mysteries Opening Reception
• Bikes Rock with The Meligrove Band, Octoberman, SPIN and Christien Summers

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Photo by Hammerin Man in the blogTO Flickr pool