FILM | It's A Wonderful Life Free Screening
A holiday tradition for, well, everyone is a home viewing of Frank Capra's 1946 Christmas film It's A Wonderful Life. But the Toronto Underground Cinema is taking the film's message to heart. Offering a free screening of the classic holiday movie tonight, the movie house is giving back to the loyal audiences that keep the theatre open throughout the year. Show up early for the 8PM screening to secure your seat!
Toronto Underground Cinema (186 Spadina Avenue) 7:30PM Free

FOOD | Cheesewerks Free Lunch Friday
If you managed to get a taste of the artisanal grilled cheese sandwiches at the Cheesewerks booth at the Distillery District Christmas market, you can attest that enduring the long lines at the Cheesewerks restaurant launch today will be worthwhile. To celebrate the opening of this cheese-centric joint, Cheesewerks will be giving away free lunches from noon until 2PM today. Along with grilled cheese sandwiches, the restaurant boasts homemade soups, fine cheeses and finely brewed beers at its new location near the corner of Bathurst and Wellington.
Cheesewerks (56 Bathurst Street) 12PM Free

PARTY | A Toronto Christmas
This swanky semi-formal is called A Toronto Christmas because it encapsulates the Toronto spirit--home-brewed beer and local music. With bands and DJs like buzz band Nights & Weekends, Stereotronique and Bobbleheads and Steam Whistle beer on hand, this fundraiser will live up to its "Work hard, play harder" motto. Proceeds from the event will go to Glass Frog, an organization that provides food, shelter and fuel to disaster-stricken areas of the world, and various other Toronto charities. For the love of Toronto (and local charities), celebrate tonight!
Steam Whistle Brewery (255 Bremner Boulevard) 8:30PM $30 advance, $40 regular

MUSIC | Critics' Choice: What They Really Want To Hear
When the tables are turned on the critics, what is it they want to hear at concerts? Classical music experts were asked and tonight, they shall receive. The Toronto Star's John Terauds, Classical 96.3 FM's John Van Driel and Colin Eatock of The Globe and Mail gave their input for a chamber music program that will be performed by the Amici ensemble with Joaquin Valdepenas, David Hetherington, Serouj Kradjian, Yehonatan Berick, Min-Jeong Koh and Barry Shiffman tonight at the CBC's Glenn Gould Studio. The program will include a composition for clarinet, cello and piano by an award-winning Earl Haig Secondary School student. Tickets can be purchased through the Massey Hall and Roy Thomson website.
Glenn Gould Studio, CBC Building (250 Front Street West) 8PM $45 adult, $40 senior $10 student

MUSIC | NYC Art Rock Legend James Chance: "Xmas with Satan Show!"
Saxophonist and songwriter James Chance makes his return to Toronto this evening with a performance of his famous no-wave, punk jazz stylings at The Silver Dollar. The legend, who became so by combining improvised jazz with punk during the late '70s in New York City, will perform a full show alongside bands Ell V Gore, Slim Twig, Grand Trine and The Soupcans.Tickets are available at Rotate This and Soundscapes.
The Silver Dollar (486 Spadina Avenue) 9PM $9

OTHER EVENTS ON OUR RADAR:

• New World Series presents: Navide単o Reimagined - A Latin Christmas Concert
• Opening Night Theatre Presents: Smashed For The Holidays
• The Restivus
• Suzie McNeil Live at the Distillery District

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 tzchen in the blogTO Flickr pool