SATURDAY, DECEMBER 10TH

FOOD | Slow Food Toronto: Terra Madre Day 2011
Slow Food Toronto is a decade-old Canadian organization that follows the principles laid out by founder Carlo Petrini back in Italy in the mid '80s. It is a 'revolt' of sorts against 'fast food', and holds living and eating 'locally' as a main objective. This afternoon's Terra Madre Day event at Harbourfront will celebrate everyone's right to "good, clean and fair food", and many activities and workshops are planned to share knowledge regarding good food choices, and give people a chance to meet some local food producers, sample some great tastes, and do some shopping! There will also be some fun stuff for the kids, including storytelling, music and more.
Harbourfront Centre (235 Queens Quay West) 2PM

FILM | Free Japanese Film Screening: The Summit
Director Daisaku Kimura's 2009's film, "The Summit: A Chronicle of Stones" will be presented at a special free screening this afternoon at the Royal Theatre. The film is a journey-style adventure story that takes place in 1907, and the film's protagonist, Shibasaki, is called upon by the Japanese government to climb and explore Mt. Tsurugidake, in order to complete the surveying and charting of all Japanese territory. This film contains amazing, breathtaking cinematography, and is a gripping drama, where man and Nature go head-to-head, and a mission must be accomplished. This is a great example of a film that must be seen on the big screen!
Royal Theatre (608 College Street) 2:30PM

ART | When I Was the Future Gallery Opening
An interesting group exhibition in the Annex tonight, entitled "When I Was The Future : A Contemporary Exhibit for Contemporary Minds". This show promises to cater to a wide variety of tastes, and will display a wide variety of media and styles: everything from portraits and Pop Art to the 'abstract', with video and sculpture as well. Local artists Tenika Brumley, Cassandra Cronenberg, Jessica Del Sole, Jenifer Gamba, Mike Howkins, Jiana, Rusiko, Raw'n Wild, and Nadim Zaidi will be taking part. There will be drinks, snacks and music to enjoy, as well.
Studio 561 Gallery (561 Bloor Street West) 8PM

MUSIC | Edge Jingle Bell Rock with The Sheepdogs
Concerts during the Holiday season are often about rocking out for a good cause - no exception here! Tonight at Lee's, The Sheepdogs take the stage. What a run these guys are having - most bands appear on the cover of Rolling Stone after they've made it, and these guys did the cover thing first, but hey, whatever works! Their old school sensibilities, and vintage-style rock chops are a treat for the ears. They are joined tonight by Monster Truck and Young Rival. One dollar from every admission will go to the Daily Bread Food Bank. Non-perishable food donations will also be accepted.
LEE'S PALACE (529 Bloor Street West) 8PM $15

OTHER SATURDAY EVENTS ON OUR RADAR

• Small Press of Toronto Winter Book Fair
• TURNING POINT (Dancefloor session) w/ Se単or Vishal
• catl's Juke Joint Christmas w/Bradleyboy MacArthur & The Speaking Tongues
• The Hoxton Saturdays

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 11TH

ART | Sunday Scene with Aleesa Cohene & Jean-Paul Kelly
Sunday Scene is an event at The Power Plant where local or visiting members of the visual art community, as well as scholars, are invited to give their insight into the gallery's current offerings and also touch on issues pertaining to the world of art in general. This afternoon, video artist Aleesa Cohene, and multi-disciplinary artist Jean-Paul Kelly will both be leading the discussion. Both artists are participating in the gallery's current exhibition "Coming After," that carries on until March, 2012. "Coming After" features artists of all types from TO, New York, LA, Berlin, and other locales, and carries the cultural climate in the late '80s/early '90s that helped "Queer" to emerge as a viable "identity and theory". The participating artists grew up with this cultural and political change as a backdrop, and this energy is present in their work. This should be an interesting talk to take in prior to checking out the exhibit.
The Power Plant (231 Queens Quay West) 1:30PM Free w/ gallery admission

MUSIC | The Radiohead Jazz Project
It's great to see jazz returning to its roots! No, of course Radiohead isn't the root of jazz, but the jazz world interpreting popular music is how it all began way back when. Tonight at The Rex, a unique show will take place: the Toronto Jazz Orchestra will deliver two sets of Radiohead tunes arranged for big-band, and they will then be followed by Idiotheque. These guys are a relatively new Radiohead tribute band, and they are made up of younger TO jazz musicians who are accustomed to operating more on the 'perimeters' of the jazz scene, after having done their time honing their chops on more traditional fare in more academic situations. Idiotheque is striving to genuinely recreate the tunes as they appear on Radiohead's albums, so this will certainly be an interesting double-bill.
The Rex Hotel (194 Queen Street West) 7:30PM

MARKETPLACE | Holiday Art Market at Artscape Wychwood Barns
This afternoon at the very lovely Artscape Wychwood Barns on Christie, there will be the second of two consecutive Holiday Art Market events. This is your last chance for this season, so don't miss it! There will be a unique lineup of artist and vendors this week, and you will find great ceramics, jewelry, fine art, a vendor specializing in bowls, clothing, and much more. This is a family event, and there will be cookies, refreshments, and great holiday decorations to bring out your festive side.
Artscape Wychwood Barns (601 Christie Street) 12PM FREE

MUSIC | Dynamic Duos
There is a certain, undeniable energy to a duo performance. It's not quite as musically 'naked' as solo playing, although very close, no doubt. It's that symbiotic energy of mutual support, coupled (pun intended) with the inner musical workings being fully exposed, that has the potential to deliver some amazing moments on stage! Tonight at Hugh's Room "Dynamic Duo" goes down - an evening of duo performances by some of TO's finest. The lineup includes Sophia Perlman & Adrean Farrugia, Julie Michels & Kevin Barrett, Shannon Butcher & Ross MacIntyre, Big Rude Jake & Alison Young, and others.
Hugh's Room (2261 Dundas Street West) 8:30PM $22.50

OTHER EVENTS ON OUR SUNDAY RADAR

• Highlife Help Concert featuring Afrafranto Canada's Kings of Highlife
• Laugh Sabbath presents... PURE GOLD!
• A Very Throbbin Hood Benefit for Mark Richards

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 andyscamera in the blogTO Flickr pool