COMEDY | The Soaps: The Live Improvised Soap Opera
After a successful run at the Toronto Fringe Festival, The Soaps, a live improv soap opera, returns to the stage at Comedy Bar. An over-the-top soap opera set in the town of Utopia, Ontario, where the country's first radio station is in danger of going under after being a source of sanity and hope in contradicting times, this production by improv company The National Theatre of the World is an ongoing soap that is continued every Thursday. Tonight's performance is the first "episode" in this witty serial.
Comedy Bar (945 Bloor Street West) 8PM PWYC

ART | Laurel MacDonald: Video 2006-2011
Singer and composer Laurel MacDonald has made the foray into video and sound art in the past five years, with works showing at Nuit Blanche, SOUNDplay and MUTEK. Tonight, MacDonald opens her two-night show featuring video work from these past five years for public display at the newly-opened Art and Drinks art bar. Alongside video works and installations by Michael Snow and John Oswald, MacDonald's dance videos, abstract pieces and performance projects will be on display, including her tablet-based collaboration with Shawn Kerwin, Alone Together.
Art and Drinks (800 Dundas Street West) 6PM Free

FILM | Amnesty International Reel Awareness Film Festival 2011
Reel Awareness enters its sixth year of highlighting human rights issues through documentary and feature films. Running from today until Sunday, the festival features 10 films from around the world that touch on women's rights and human rights issues and the oil crisis. The opening night reception kicks off the festival along with a screening of Give Up Tomorrow, which documents the flawed justice system in the Philippines. All screenings will take place at the National Film Board and are pay-what-you-can.
National Film Board (150 John Street) 6PM PWYC (suggested $5)

PARTY | Leslieville Wanderlust
Ain't no party like an east end party. Hosted by the storeowners in the area, the Leslieville Wanderlust is a holiday get together that features live music, lots of food, prizes, and shopping deals. The locals will be out in plentiful supply, but it's also a good reason to go east if you're one of those types who considers the Don Valley some kind central dividing line of the city.
Queen East (Logan to Vancouver), 6-10pm. More info here.

LITERATURE | Food Sovereignty In Canada Book Launch
Editors Hannah Wittman, Annette AurĂŠlie Desmarais and Nettie Wiebe release their book, Food Sovereignty In Canada, at FoodShare tonight. The book details how Canadian agricultural and food policies are contributing to the global food crisis and at the book release, two of the editors along with Debbie Field of FoodShare and Lauren Baker of the Toronto Food Policy Council will hold a discussion panel on issues broached in the book. Books will be available for signing and free snacks will be offered.
FoodShare (90 Croatia Street) 7PM Free

FUNDRAISER | FILM:: FOOD:: FUNDRAISER 2
Returning for its second monthly event, the Film and Food fundraiser brings a screening of Mark Lewis' quirky documentary The Natural History of the Chicken to Charlie's Bike Shop tonight. The hilarious doc tells remarkable and every day stories about chickens while examining the role chicken plays in our diet and lifestyle. In honour of the film, there will be a chicken-inspired meal with vegan and vegetarian options (not to worry--dinner will be served before the movie).
Charlie's Bike Shop (242 1/2 Queen Street East) 7PM PWYC (suggested $15)

OTHER EVENTS ON OUR RADAR:

• Marine Dreams & USA Out of Vietnam with Hut
• Michou and Current Swell
• Annual Gingerbread Competition
• Trilogy Remixed: Part 1 Nina Simone
• The Long March Home Book Launch
• Grand Opening of Goodfellas Gallery

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 joyzling in the blogTO Flickr pool