MUSIC | Pet Sounds @ The Tranzac (4th annual!)
For the fourth year in a row, local guitarist Christine Bougie and pianist/keyboardist Dafydd Hughes gather a few players together to play the entire Beach Boys album, Pet Sounds. It's hard to deny the greatness of this seminal work from the '60s, marrying elaborate arrangements and instrumentation with a subtle psychedelic aesthetic. Additional players who will be sweetening the performance tonight include: Julia Hambleton, clarinet, Andrew Downing on cello, and percussionist Kieran Adams.
The Tranzac Club (292 Brunswick Avenue) 7PM

FUNDRAISER | A Night for The Innocents!
Tonight at The Supermarket, a fundraiser for The Innocents! Daniel Karasik's play returns to TO, beginning a run at The Tarragon Theatre in April. This play was a hit at the Toronto Summerworks Festival two years ago, and has gone on to wow audiences in New York and Germany. So this is a "homecoming" of sorts. Tonight, performers Darren Eedens and Petty Victories will provide the music, and there will be plenty of schmoozing and celebration. Come out and help local theatre to thrive in TO.
Supermarket Restaurant and Bar (268 Augusta Avenue) 9:30PM $10

CLUBS | Manic Mondays 80's ALT with DJ Shannon
If the idea of staying home and listening to your '80s playlist in iTunes isn't doing it for you, head out to the longest-running alt-retro night in TO: Manic Mondays at The Dance Cave! It has been 17 years now that DJ Shannon has been helming this great night of sounds that harken back to the golden age of after-hours clubbing when places like Voodoo, Pariah, and The Silver Crown were part of the TO landscape. If that's not quite enough to get you out, consider how nicely a few $3.50 drinks (before 12AM) will go with those great tunes! Never a cover.
Dance Cave / Upstairs at Lee's Palace (529 Bloor Street West) 10PM

OTHER EVENTS ON OUR RADAR

• Son Roberts Band "Blue Monday " Residency
• Elvis Monday
• Short & Sweet - Valentine's Love-In

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 yedman in the blogTO Flickr pool

ART | Sixth Annual Erotic Arts and Craft Fair
Come As You Are, TO's favourite sex shop, is holding its 6th Annual Erotic Arts and Crafts Fair, today at the Gladstone! Valentine's Day isn't just about the heart, after all. As you will discover at this show, the are a few other organs and body parts of note involved as well! Crafters, zine publishers, artists, card makers and more will be displaying their work for sale. A quick glance at the event's website will reveal that this is one craft show that isn't for the faint of heart or the 'prudish' in nature: these artists are celebrating sexuality in big way! You might just find a special gift for someone that could make your Valentine's Day a very happy one!
The Gladstone Hotel (1214 Queen Street West) 12PM to 8PM

PARTY | cirQlar & Cherry Bomb present "SHAG" featuring The Funk Hunters!
A meeting of different worlds? Possibly. Tonight's "Shag" event at The Great Hall is being put together by a few different camps: a TO funk contingent, Cherry Bomb (known as a "[l]egendary queer-friendly dance party"), and CirQlar - producers of regular Burningman-esque circus oriented "happenings." Tonight, you will enjoy DJ General Eclectic, live music from local eight-piece band The Soul Motivators, Farbsie Funk, The Funk Hunters, and Skank Honto. They will occupy the main space, and a special Cherry Bomb room will feature sets from Denise Benson, Cozmic Cat, and more! This one could be Shagadelic.
The Great Hall (1087 Queen West) 9PM $25

MUSIC | Bob Marley Tribute w/ Kidd Rasta, I-Sax, Chocolate & Roots
The sixth annual Bob Marley Tribute goes down tonight at the Elmo! February 6th was BM's official B-day, but that date always brings about a stretch of celebration, and since this is the first weekend after the fact... We be jammin'! Tonight you can groove with Kidd Rasta & The Peacemakers, I-Sax, High Plains Drifter, and some special guests. DJ Chocolate and Patrick Roots (both of CIUT-FM) will be in the house. In the spirit of the occasion, everyone is encouraged to bring a canned food donation for reduced cover at the door.
El Mocambo (464 Spadina Avenue) 9PM $15 ($10 w/ canned food donation)

FILM | Fright Nights: Karloff vs Lugosi "The Black Cat"
"Fright Nights" is a monthly film series at The Projection Booth East, with a focus on the macabre, screening both vintage and new horror films. Tonight, two short films will begin the festivities: Yaz Rabadi's "Inside" an 'internal' psychodrama that was screened at Cannes, and Syl Disjonk's "Ethereal Chrysalis," a short film featured at last year's Toronto After Dark festival. The main feature is "The Black Cat", a 1934 horror classic starring two masters of the genre: Bela Lugosi and Boris Karloff. Tonight's host will be local film writer, Kelly Stewart.
Projection Booth - East (1035 Gerrard Street East) 8:30PM

OTHER EVENTS ON OUR SATURDAY RADAR

• Valentines Fetish Ball
• City and Colour + The Low Anthem at Massey Hall
• Kathleen Edwards at The Phoenix

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 12TH

MUSIC | FWB Presents: Will You Be My Valentine?
Friends With Benefits brings you a Valentine's Day show a few days before the fact. This three band lineup promises to be interesting indeed. The Holy Gasp is a percussion driven group featuring beatnik-style poetry, to help you get your Kerouac on! Also on the bill: Rambunctious, a nine-piece horn ensemble that will surprise you! Their dark groove will get people dancing, truly evoking both a New Orleans voodoo and party vibe - things can go from hypnotic to celebratory! Jumple complete the lineup here with their eclectic sound, including Eastern European gypsy sounds and rock energy. Should be fun!
Lula Lounge (1585 Dundas West) 8PM $8

ART | Sunday Scene with David Balzer
If you have never been to a Sunday Scene at The Power Plant, it's a chance to get a different take on the the gallery's current offerings from someone knowledgeable in the art world. Today's speaker is David Balzer, a Toronto writer who specializes in art and film. His writing has appeared on Artforum.com, The Globe and Mail, and other places of note. There is no better way to compliment and enhance your visit to the gallery's current exhibitions than an informative talk like this. Sunday Scene is always free with gallery admission.
The Power Plant Contemporary Art Gallery ((231 Queens Quay West) 1:30PM

MUSIC | Don't Touch That Dial Presents: Crooked Hill, Patti Cake and Mittenz
Don't Touch That Dial has a happening lineup of music for you this evening at The Garrison! It's a triple-bill, with the angsty and edgy, female fronted Crooked Hill headlining. Also on the bill is Patty Cake, a band with a total throwback vibe reminiscent of VU or Shocking Blue. The opening slot tonight goes to Mittenz. As a special bonus, those who RSVP via the Facebook event will have a personalized Valentine waiting for them at the venue containing a download code for a special "loving mixtape". Now that's good 2012 music marketing!
The Garrison (1197 Dundas Street West) 7:30PM $7

MUSIC | Continuum presents ORGANized
Tonight's concert finds Continuum's ensemble working with pieces by Richard Marsella, Petar Klanac, and Michael Oesterle. This concert intends to explore music in a 'mechanized' setting: self-driven devices, and even those with a degree of human interaction, such as the 'crank organ' will be taken into consideration here. Both Ligeti's Continuum and a commissioned by Brian Current will complete the concert's program.
The Music Gallery (197 John Street) 8PM $25 / $15 seniors-students-members

OTHER EVENTS ON OUR SUNDAY RADAR

• Draft 7.4
• Retro Lounge Night
• Dance To Conquer Cancer - Disco Days & Boogie Nights

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 Dimitri Karakostas in the blogTO Flickr pool

LITERATURE | "Maybe" by Jacqueline Valencia Chapbook Launch
Maybe: A simple word that can have so many underlying meanings when spoken. What does it mean when someone responds with a "Maybe"? Local editor Jacqueline Valencia has compiled a collection of short stories, poetry and images that address this presumably effortless word and its many contexts and she invites the public to join in on an evening where artists will gather to read, share and discuss her work. Taking place at College Street's latest coffee shop, Playful Grounds, any writers or poets in attendance are encouraged to share their latest works to add to the discussion of the many facets of one small word. "Maybe" is free to download from the author's website but hard copies will be available at the event.
Playful Grounds (605 College Street) 6:30PM Free

LITERATURE | KNOW LOVE Book Launch
Even street artists need love and with Valentine's Day just a week away, LE Gallery will play host to the book launch of KNOW LOVE in honour of the day o'love. Written and illustrated by acclaimed Toronto street artist Elicser, who goes by the name of Elicser Elliott by day, this children's book contains a collection of the artist's images matched with words about the sweet simplicity of love. Wine will be served to guests who come out for the launch and copies will be available for purchase.
LE Gallery (1183 Dundas West) 7PM Free

MUSIC | TWM: ElektroTank, Wendy Versus, Julian Hacquebard, Jon Epworth
It's Friday at the Rancho and a line-up of local music has been arranged for your listening pleasure. The night will start out with Halifax native Jon Epworth, an indie folksy type who will play an acoustic set of his self-written, produced and engineered music for his first performance at the Rancho. Julian Hacquebard will follow with some psych-folk experimental sounds with the debut show of pop act Wendy Versus immediately after. ElektroTank, the brainchild of musical genius Eytan Tobin, will close out the show with a triple threat act of dubstep, electronica and trip-hop music. As always, the show is $7 at the door with music starting at 10PM.
Rancho Relaxo (300 College Street) 9PM $7

OTHER EVENTS ON OUR RADAR:

• The Stormalongs with Noah Mintz
• FARM Pay Per View
• NARC, Alexander Trust, JEFFTHEWORLD, IceWind

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 greyvdm in the blogTO Flickr pool

MUSIC | A-Trak Live
The man behind the Fool's Gold Records brand, A-Trak has previously worked with the likes of Kanye and Jay-Z but has moved on to help launch the careers of acts like Simian Mobile Disco and Digitalism. Tonight, this Montreal DJ, artist and producer will spin at The Hoxton along with a secret line-up of special guests (fingers crossed for an appearance by his Duck Sauce other half Armand Van Helden). Catch one of the gods of DJing live at this rare Toronto performance. Doors open at 10PM.
The Hoxton (69 Bathurst Street) 10PM $20

MUSIC | Emma-Lee Backseat Heroine CD Release Party
Toronto's own Emma-Lee has grown up indie, making a steady career out of playing local shows and she proudly releases her second album Backseat Heroine tonight at Lee's Palace. It's been a long time coming (her first album Never Just A Dream was released in 2008) so expect her to come back with a graceful, folksy vengeance at this CD release party. Everybody loves Emma-Lee so it's pretty safe to say that you should buy your tickets in advance from Ticketmaster, Rotate This or Soundscapes for this one.
Lee's Palace (529 Bloor Street West) 8PM $12

FILM | I SPYDERS
If you're an indie filmmaker with a solid, little film, you don't wait for the theatres to come to you, you turn your local watering hole into the theatre. That's exactly what filmmakers Kyle Wilson and Billy Allinson are up to tonight. They've set up shop (theatre?) at No One Writes to the Colonel where they'll be screening their movie I SPYDERS, a short about a boy with spiders living inside his head. Join the boys for a quick screening, a drink and music to follow.
No One Writes to the Colonel (460 College Street) 8PM Free

PHOTOGRAPHY | Lunch & Learn with Photographer Allan Lissner
Allan Lissner is an award-winning photojournalist who has graciously agreed to give a multimedia presentation about his ongoing documentary photo project Someone Else's Treasure. Happening at the Spadina Avenue Centre for Social Innovation during the lunch hour today, Lissner will discuss the five-year long project he has undertaken, photographing indigenous communities that are defending themselves against industrial projects that threaten their livelihood and independence. This work has sent Lissner around the world and he will share his most recent updates from the communities he has worked with in the Philippines, Guatemala, Tanzania, and Canada.
CSI Spadina, Alterna Savings Room (215 Spadina Avenue) 12PM Free

OTHER EVENTS ON OUR RADAR:

• Night is a Shadow Cast By the World: The Launch
• Jane Jacobs, Undone
• DRAWING 2012
• MATTYFEST 2012: LADYHAWK, JULIE DOIRON, BURNING LOVE & MORE

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 happy d in the blogTO Flickr pool

VARIETY | Wild Culture New Vaudeville
Wild Culture New Vaudeville is a variety show on overdrive! All acts are between 3 to 7 minutes, and anything "normal" will not be tolerated! This show is all about the "curious." "Mind Mulch for the pre-Valentine's Day flutters" is how this one is being characterized by the organizers. This is a newer monthly event, finding its "legs", and has been getting a good buzz so far. Some of tonight;s offerings include: song therapy, a musical act utilizing pots and pans, drawing lessons, some esoteric films, and much more. Something different is guaranteed.
The Rivoli (334 Queen Street West) 7:30PM PWYC ($10 suggested)

CULTURE | Raconteurs presents: "Crush"
Ranconteurs delivers the event that will inspire you to share your "Crush" stories at No One Writes to the Colonel tonight! Valentine's Day is almost here — and just thinking about it coming up will find you remembering of the many loves in your life... the ones that might have been, and the ones that almost were. Time to spill it — it will make you feel better! You will not be alone tonight, either — many will be sharing tales of unrequited love, "crushes," and that type of thing. Some might find it entertaining, and participants might find it cathartic! Either way, it's a great excuse to get out and have some pre-Valentine's Day fun.
No One Writes to the Colonel (460 College Street West) 7:30PM

BOOKS & LIT | Pivot Reading Series with Meira Cook, Dani Couture and Sarah Pinder
The Pivot Reading Series returns to The Press Club for another evening of literary goodness. This reading series aims to present both the cutting edge and the established in Canada's literary scene, and goes down every other Wednesday, hosted by Angela Hibbs and Sachiko Murakami. Tonight, poet Meira Cook from Manitoba, novelist/poet Dani Couture, and zinester/writer Sarah Pinder will all share some of their work with you. Come out and support Canadian literary talent!
The Press Club (850 Dundas Street West) 8PM PWYC

OTHER EVENTS ON OUR RADAR

• Free Favourites at Four: Black Soul and Speakers for the Dead
• CD launch for Soulful Singer/Composer DK Ibomeka's new album "Ocean"

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 Jared Krause in the blogTO Flickr pool

ART | Blobettes, plus
Blobs from the boob tube are Ron Loranger's specialty. The artist opens his latest exhibit Blobettes, plus, a showcase of televisual images captured through various mediums. Blobs from the Internet, social media sites and even the artist's iPhone will be on display and matched with the narrative and sounds of Marc LeMyre, who will perform for two hours at the opening reception this evening at York University's Glendon campus gallery. Loranger will give a talk at 6PM, all about blob.
Glendon Gallery (2275 Bayview Avenue) 5PM Free

THEATRE | Hughie
In a seedy New York hotel, Charlie Hughes is settling into his role as the hotel's night clerk when he meets hustler Erie Smith, an eccentric who grieves over the death of former clerk Hughie. Eugene O'Neill's 45-minute Dora Award-winning Broadway play Hughie makes its debut at The Theatre Centre tonight with Michael Kash, Dean Iffil and David Collins starring. Directed by David Ferry, this short one-act play runs until March 3rd.
The Theatre Centre (100-1087 Queen Street West) 8PM $25 general, $20 student/senior

FILM | RIGHT: Screening of the Second Commissioned Program of LEFT, RIGHT, CENTRE
Trinity Square Video's Themed Commission Program presents the second installment of the LEFT, RIGHT, CENTRE video project this evening with the premiere of RIGHT. The RIGHT portion of the exhibit encompasses writing as the primary source material, challenging the four participating artists to incorporate the meaning and various contexts of the word "right." New works by Mark Dudiak, Gail Mentlik, Matthew-Robin Nye, and Carolyn Tripp will be displayed with topics like the Holocaust, Republicanism and nature being broached. The reception begins at 7PM.
Art Gallery of Ontario (317 Dundas Street West) 7:30PM $8

OTHER EVENTS ON OUR RADAR:

• Will Currie and the Country French
• Man 2 Man--Damien and Emmanuel's Love Story
• SALON DES ARTISTES Featuring OWEN SOUND
• Upper Toronto Consultation - Parkdale Edition

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 toronto.pictures in the blogTO Flickr pool

BOOKS & LIT | Rower's Pub Reading Series features Carleton Wilson
This regular reading series goes down on the first Monday of every month from October to June, and often showcases established poets and writers with promising talent. The choice of venue is a nice one; Harbord House in the Annex, just a short walk from U of T campus. Tonight, Carleton Wilson will read from his new collection of poetry, entitled "The Material Sublime". Rebecca Rosenblum and Russell Smith will also share some of their work.
Harbord House (150 Harbord Street) 7:30PM

ART | Spiritual Impressions. Work by Michael Stoeber
Artist Michael Stoeber's exhibition "Spiritual Impressions" opens today at Galleria 814. The artist has revealed his working method to be one that begins with an element of randomness and abstraction, that is then meticulously honed and refined as the work develops. Strober's work featured here will revolve around the artist's focus on spirituality, and pieces with titles such as "Yoga and Prayer," and "Sacred Animals" show the artist exploring this theme in society and nature. This exhibition runs until March 3rd.
Galleria 814 (814 St Clair West) 12PM

CULTURE | Trampoline Hall - Erica Kopyto Curates!
Trampoline Hall is back, bent on adding some deeper thoughts to your February fun! This very popular event is an informal lecture series that tackles unconventional subjects, often with a dash of tongue-in-cheek, but always with profound, head-scratching results. This month's guest curator is Erica Kopyto. She has chosen Simone Bern to discuss "not liking music", Samir Khan to lecture on "Tragedy", and Daniel Werb will fill us in on the "multiverse".
The Garrison (1197 Dundas Street West) 7:40PM $5

OTHER EVENTS ON OUR RADAR

• Short & Sweet
• Canada Reads: True Stories - Live Debates!
• Elvis Monday

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 TerribleT in the blogTO Flickr pool

MUSIC | Ravi Coltrane Quartet and the Christine Jensen Quartet
Stellar saxophonist, Ravi Coltrane, hits Koerner Hall tonight for a much anticipated show. There could be no better example of an artist having to overcome another's "shadow" to come into his own, in terms of both finding his voice, and gaining recognition, but somehow this has truly worked out for the 45 year old musician. After years of study, dues have been paid on the bandstand, working as a sideman with Elvin Jones, David Murray, Steve Coleman, and others. Coltrane also runs his own jazz label, RKM music. Also on the bill tonight is Juno Award winner Christine Jensen.
Koerner Hall (273 Bloor Street West) 8PM $39 +

FOOD & DRINK | Only Cafe Beer Fest
The Only Cafe's Beer Fest continues today. This is a great chance to check out some microbrewery goodness at a great value. Five ounce beer samples will only cost you a one dollar beer ticket. Pretty cool, wouldn't you say? After all, you should be rewarded for expanding your horizons, so to speak. Reps from a few different companies will be in the house, manning different booths, ready to chat you up about their unique offerings. There will also be live music, and munchies available, which we could say is an important 'context' for beer sampling. Cheers!
The Only Cafe (972 Danforth Avenue) 5PM

CLUBS | CHRONOLOGIC
Chronologic at The Boat tonight! Dubbed "a dance party through the ages", this special (and somewhat regular) dance event is part excuse to boogie, and part music history lesson! There is a special mission in place when they put on this party: to spin tunes that pack a dancefloor, spanning from 1890 to the present, and the tunes get played in chronological order (how did you guess?). It's hard not to discover something new! Definitely be sure to arrive early, because the place will fill up quickly.
The Boat (158 Augusta Avenue) 10PM

OUTDOOR | Downsview Park WinterFest
It's time for Winterfest at Downsview Park! So, Mother Nature hasn't exactly been forthcoming and consistent with the whole Winter thing this year, but hitting Winterfest with some friends or family might just be the thing to make the season "click" for you. With cool activities like ice sculpting demonstrations, fire busker and hula hoop performances, an ice slide, and other things to choose from, you will definitely feel February!
Downsview Park (Corner of Keele & Sheppard) 11AM

OTHER EVENTS ON OUR SATURDAY RADAR

• Scientists of Sound + Tupperware Remix Party @ Garrison
• Reality Bytes (90s Night) "X-TRA Cheese 2012"
• Bob Marley Tribute hosted by Canadian Reggae World

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 5TH

THE GAME | P&L Superbowl Party - NY Giants vs. NE Patriots
Superbowl 46 is upon us! You could hang in your living room, but a much better option is heading over to Parts & Labour to check out the game. The New York Giants and the New England Patriots are going to duke it out something fierce, and you don't want to be alone during the Madonna/MIA/Minaj half-time spectacle, right? There will be several TVs to help keep tabs on the action, a solid looking menu with everything from vegan chili fries to chicken wings, and lots of TO Superbowl spirit!
Parts & Labour (1566 Queen Street West) 5PM

CLUBS | INDUSTRY at Insomnia
The hard-working DJ Shannon occupies Insomnia tonight! There's a reason this gal won Now Magazine's Best DJ of 2011 - she knows how to read a crowd, and deliver the right track at the right time. Her years in residence at the Dance Cave has earned her a rep as someone who knows her history, and is able to marry it with what's happening now, too. Tonight it will be Funk/Soul/R'nB going down, and you would be hard pressed for a better way to close out your weekend. It doesn't hurt that there is no cover, and ridiculously low priced drinks, either!
Insomnia (563 Bloor Street West) 10PM

MUSIC | CASEY YUGO LIVE! AT THE TRANE STUDIO
Casey Yugo hits The Trane Studio tonight! With a nine-piece band, The Vibrasonic Sessions, things are going to get funky. This one is for a good cause, too: funds are being raised here to support Peace Quest, and help their basketball team in the Philippines, which is an outlet for ex-gang members to bond together, let off some steam, and stay out of trouble. Dinner is always a treat at the Trane, so do consider making that part of your evening, as well. Joshua Lopez will open, and DJ Mogpaws is in the house, filling the gaps, and keeping the vibes going.
The Trane Studio (964 Bathurst Street) 7PM

CULTURE | Mosaic Storytelling Festival
The Mosaic Storytelling Festival has been ongoing, every two weeks from January 22nd until March 18th. This a great place to soak in some culture and experience the diversity that a city like TO has to offer. Today Rubena Sinha and Bob Barton will be doing the storytelling. Sinha is a dancer and choreographer from India who studied in Bangladesh, and worked as Artistic Director of Winnipeg's Fusion Dance Theatre. Bob Barton is a storyteller with a previous career in teaching, and has published over twenty books, and told stories onstage at festivals internationally.
St. David's (49 Donlands Avenue) 3PM PWYC

OTHER EVENTS ON OUR SUNDAY RADAR

• TorQ Percussion Quartet performs NEW MUSIC
• HMAb: The Fundraiser

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 IMPHOTOBLOG PhotoFit in the blogTO Flickr pool

MUSIC | Young Empires ∆ CD Release Party
Young Empires have been getting significant airplay in the GTA with their recent single "White Doves" appealing to both mainstream and indie audiences. These Toronto boys are rising and to celebrate the release of their full-length album Wake All My Youth, they are performing tonight at the Horseshoe. Joining the four-piece onstage tonight will be Bravestation, Honheehonhee and Paradise Animals. Doors open at 9PM and, sorry kids, but this is a 19+ affair.
Horseshoe Tavern (370 Queen Street West) 9PM $10

FILM | Screening The Ponzi Scheme
A victim of a Ponzi scheme, Billie Mintz decides that with his life savings lost, he has nothing to lose by taking matters into his own hands. Hiring a private investigator, Mintz documents his road trip to New York to uncover the scheme that has defrauded innocent people of millions. With stories of victims intertwined, the Toronto filmmaker (and interestingly enough, former Degrassi Junior High star) investigates how this scam works in his 2010 documentary The Ponzi Scheme. Opening at the Projection Booth tonight, the screening will be followed by a Q&A with the Toronto director.
The Projection Booth (1035 Gerrard Street East) 9PM $8 regular, $6 student/senior

ART | Anders Oinonen/ People People
Toronto painter Anders Oinonen debuts People People--an exhibit of faces within landscapes--with an opening reception party at Cooper Cole tonight. Working in the form of abstract expressionism and obscured representation, Oinonen uses colour and gradation to reveal the facial features of ambiguous subjects. The local artist's work has previously appeared in collections at the Musée d'art contemporain de Montréal and the Canada Council Art Bank but this is his first solo exhibit. The exhibit closes February 26th.
Cooper Cole (1161 Dundas Street West) 6PM Free

FILM | Cinenova: Opening Screening
Non-profit feminist film and video distributor Cinenova presents a double bill screening this evening that features two Toronto films curated by New York-based artist Emma Hedditch. Hedditch will discuss the two films as part of an initiative of the Feminist Art Gallery, The Power Plant and the Art Gallery of York University. The film selections include Ronna Bloom's I Feel Hopeful About the Future, a short about memory, and Midi Onodera's The Displaced View, a 52-minute doc about finding identity as a Japanese-Canadian. This event is free but seating is limited so make sure to arrive early.
The Department (1389 Dundas Street West) 6:30PM Free

OTHER EVENTS ON OUR RADAR:

• Freaks and Geeks--A Drag Musical
• Moon Point at AMC
• Pink Ribbons, Inc.
• Ryan Wallace & Chris Duncan / Transmission Lines
• Vernissage: Ebb and Flow Exhibition at Muse 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 yedman in the blogTO Flickr pool

THEATRE | The Tale of the Allergist's Wife
The award-winning Broadway play The Tale of the Allergist's Wife, debuting tonight at Fairview Library Theatre, is the curious account of Marjorie Taub, the better half of a philanthropic allergist. Marjorie, fed up with her life as an empty nester, begins to experience a midlife crisis when a worldly childhood friend suddenly appears on her doorstep. Bringing Marjorie back from her apathetic, mundane life, it appears as if the allergist's wife has a new lease on life just as her old friend slips into the role of unwelcome guest. This contemporary Charles Busch piece, directed by Victoria Shepherd, stars Maureen Lukie and Carol McLennan as the allergist's wife and her childhood friend. The show closes February 11th.
Fairview Library Theatre (35 Fairview Mall Drive) 7:30PM $20 regular, $18 student/senior

ART | ARTAK5 Opening Reception
Canadian artist Takashi Hara brings on the art attack tonight with the opening of ARTAK5, his latest exhibit exploring urban iconography. In this 5th installment of the ARTAK series, Hara zeroes in on basketball street culture, specifically shoes as the epitome of the urban sports culture, drawing from them inspiration for sculpture and digital prints. The opening reception of ARTAK5 happens tonight at gallerywest, where Hara's work will be shown until February 28th alongside Taimaz Moslemian's Circum.
gallerywest (1172 Queen Street West) 6:30PM Free

MUSIC | Dinosaur Bones with Young Rival + Prussia
Fresh off a tour of summer festivals, Toronto locals Dinosaur Bones are playing a string of shows across Ontario and Quebec to celebrate their 4-year anniversary as one of the country's emerging indie rock bands. Playing the Horseshoe tonight, the band will perform new covers and test out some new tracks before they hit the recording studio to work on the follow-up album to their debut My Divider. Joining them will be special guests Young Rival, a Hamilton, ON indie rock band, and Detroit bop band Prussia.
Horseshoe Tavern (370 Queen Street West) 8PM $10.50

OTHER EVENTS ON OUR RADAR:

• Voices of Urban Workers
• Ciné-Jeudi:Unikkausivut
• Intros Muros I by Martine Viale

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 notpeppermint. PhotoFit in the blogTO Flickr pool

ART | Behind the Scenes: The Art of Jack Chambers
Canadian artist and filmmaker Jack Chambers died far too young, at the age of 47. He worked in a variety of styles throughout his career, ranging from surrealism to "photo-realism", after an extended period of study and travel in Europe. This evening at the AGO, an exhibition of Chambers' work opens, and you can get a little extra insight by taking a special tour with art historian an curator Dennis Reid.
Art Gallery of Ontario (317 Dundas Street West) 6:30PM

THEATRE |Closer By Patrick Marber
A curious web of relationships makes up the crux of Patrick Marber's "Closer," opening this evening at the The Winchester Street Theatre. It would be easy to describe the characters in this play as being involved in a love triangle, but there a four of them! Kind of reminiscent of the '70s classic "Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice," but with less tacky clothing. Directed by Caleb McMullen, "Closer" boasts a stellar cast of Kathleen Black, Gaby Grice, Dylan George and John Fray. Tonight is the opening night, and this show runs until Saturday.
The Winchester Street Theatre (80 Winchester Street) 7:30PM $25

MUSIC | The Darkness @ The Phoenix
The UK's heavy glam rockers The Darkness hit The Phoenix tonight! Let's face it, no one does 'glam' like the Brits. Sure you could bring up the New York Dolls, but that's just the origins - you know it was refined in the UK, for sure! At any rate, this a modern version of the genre, that fuses metal and heavier approaches with the classic 'glam' attitude and aesthetic. Foxy Shazam opens.
Phoenix Concert Theatre (410 Sherbourne Street) 7PM $29

OTHER EVENTS ON OUR RADAR

• Daniel Jamieson Quintet @ The Rex
• Exclaim.ca presents... Ben Caplan'sTotally Awesome Toronto Residency
• The Shivers // InSeverance // Small Victories @ Bovine Sex Club

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 jonathancastellino in the blogTO Flickr pool

IDEAS | #hatch
Idea circles seem to be in the frosty Toronto air these days so why are you keeping yours inside? #hatch returns tonight for its second edition where the public is invited to join together and pitch their ideas about everything and anything to the people in exchange for feedback. Once all the ideas have been pitched, the gathering will be divided into groups where attendees can choose which ideas they'd like to contribute to and subgroup discussions will be held. It's simple and it's amusing with an opportunity to contribute to an idea that just might hatch into a bigger plan.
Supermarket Restaurant and Bar (268 Augusta Avenue) 6PM Free

MEDIA | Paul Hoffert Lecture: McLuhan, Media & Music
York University Digital Media Professor as well as accomplished composer and performer Paul Hoffert offers a public lecture tonight about the ties between Marshall McLuhan's media theories and the modern day performance venues of current performers. Arguing that the concert halls, recording studios, mobile phones, video games and recording software of today are mediums that do impact the message, this Canadian Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee and Chair of the Screen Composers Guild of Canada will entertain the audience with his presentation while building a convincing thesis about the nature of contemporary composition.
Walter Hall, Faculty of Music (80 Queen's Park) 8PM Free

VISUAL ARTS | Hennessy Youngman's Art Thoughtz
New York-based artist Jayson Musson enters the doors of the Drake tonight for a screening and artist talk that is presented by C Magazine and Mercer Union as part of initiatives to educate in the visual arts. Musson, also known as Hennessy Youngman, is the brains behind Art Thoughtz, a video series that aims to interview and educate fringe artists for their own advancement in creative fields from an opinionated, youthful tone that often borders on satire. Musson's resume includes lectures at MoMA and solo exhibits across Europe and North America but tonight's Toronto presentation will stick to a simple Q&A session following the premiere of his latest Art Thoughtz video.
The Drake Hotel (1150 Queen Street West) 7PM $8 general, $5 student

OTHER EVENTS ON OUR RADAR:

• Joe Levano
• Soundstreams Encore January Event

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 ardenstreet in the blogTO Flickr pool

FOOD | Lynn Crawford Book Signing
If you weren't lucky enough to get an invite to Chef Lynn Crawford's book launch at Ruby Watchco a couple weeks back, then here's your chance. Hosted at George Brown College where Crawford received training many moons ago, this a a chance to exchange words with the celebrity chef and to congregate with other food lovers. Regular admission is $35 and student admission is $30.
George Brown Chef School (300 Adelaide Street East) 6PM

MUSIC | Elvis Monday
It's Monday - that means music! Elvis Monday goes down at the Drake tonight, and this is a long standing Toronto showcase that has been serving up cutting edge alternative and independent rock with no cover for decades! Tonight there will be a variety of local bands you should know about, including the hard-rockin' Delusion Manifesto. Elvis never leaves this building!
The Drake Hotel (1150 Queen Street West) 9PM

PHOTOGRAPHY | Seeing Sound
This is could be the tastiest photography exhibit you ever attend! This will be Katie Genaro's first photography show, and will feature footage of Toronto various concerts from 2007 to 2011. The bonus for this one is the venue. Vesuvio's is an Italian joint that has been in the pizza biz since the '50s. They have a unique selection, too, and a must try is their Pizza Bella - could go very nicely with some photos of live music. Bada bing!
Vesuvio Pizzeria and Spaghetti House (3010 Dundas Street West) 11AM

BOOKS & LIT | Professor David Klausner discusses the Canterbury Tales
"The Canterbury Tales" is Geoffrey Chaucer's famous collection of stories, written in Middle English in the late 14th Century. This work is considered one of the most important in the history of English literature, and sheds much light on English society at the time. This is precisely the angle that Professor David Klausner will take with his lecture on this great work: exploring how "The Canterbury Tales" reveals much about the society, politics and culture of its time.
Toronto Public Library @ Deer Park (40 St. Clair Avenue East) 2PM

OTHER EVENTS ON OUR RADAR

• Authors Fight Alzheimer's Fundraiser/Book Signing Event
• 2nd Annual David Soulfingaz Williams Tribute/ Scholarship Fundraiser

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 _Rashomon_ in the blogTO Flickr pool

FUNDRAISER | Jake's Collection: A Tribute to the Grateful Dead
Rock and roll saves lives! Jake's Collection is a fund established to raise money for research into Ewing's sarcoma. It is named after Jake Wagman, a 10-year old kid from right here in TO who was diagnosed with this illness less than a year ago. Tonight at Lee's Palace, a benefit show for Jake's Collection will go down, featuring Mars Hotel - a Grateful Dead cover band (named after the band's 1974 studio album), and The Gratefully Deadicated Sound System, a DJ act fueled by a massive collection of 'live Dead,' yielding masterfully curated sets, blended together to create a non-stop trip of sounds spanning the band's 30 year career.
Lee's Palace (529 Bloor Street West) 9PM $12

BOOKS & LIT | Girl Fight book launch
The TO launch of Faye Harnest's "Girl Fight" happens this afternoon at Type Books. Harnest's latest is a story of teen conflict, revenge, competition and struggle.... everything that adolescence is about! The "teen drama" in this story, however, takes on a very physical shape, with (as the title implies) fighting in full focus. Harnest will be reading from "Girl Fight" this afternoon, and there will be refreshments to be enjoyed.
Type Books (883 Queen Street West) 3PM

MUSIC | Castor Deadstock Launch with Teenanger & Cut Flowers
It's a 'double layer' event tonight at Parts & Labour on Queen West. While Castor Designs shows off its product line on the main floor, with DJs spinning some tracks, a release party for the Deadstock Compliation LP will go down in the "Shop" below. There will be sets from Metz, Teenanger, Cut Flowers, and some special guests. The Deadstock compliation looks cool, and also includes tracks by Quest For Fire, Young Mother, and Anagram. The connection between the two events? Castor Designs did the compilation cover art. I'm sure there's more to the story, too, but you can only figure that mystery out if you go!
Parts & Labour (1566 Queen Street West) 9PM FREE

FILM | The Street Fighter Trilogy
A Sonny Chiba triple-feature tonight! Chiba is known widely as one of the first martial artists to achieve celeb status for his fighting skills! This Japanese trilogy came out originally in 1974, and Chiba plays the rogue character Takuma Tsurugiin in all three films. There is a sweet deal in place tonight: catch a single film for eight dollars, two for fourteen dollars, or all three for eighteen dollars plus a beverage!
Projection Booth (1035 Gerrard Street East) 7PM $8 / $14 / $18

OTHER EVENTS ON OUR SATURDAY RADAR

• Yoga Without Borders
• Sacred Balance Debut EP Release and John Kameel Farah Concert
• ComTruise

SUNDAY, JANUARY 29TH

MUSIC | Mavis Staples
Mavis Staples is a soul and gospel legend. Her family's group, The Staples Singers, was one of the most important American musical groups of the latter half of the 20th century. Active since the late forties, their renditions of classics like "Will The Circle Be Unbroken" influenced every folk singer of the '60s. They appeared at many Fillmore West shows in San Francisco alongside rock icons from the era, and appeared in several important music films, most notably "The Last Waltz." The Staples Singers is where it all began for Mavis, and she has been going strong on her own for a while, even collaborating with Bob Dylan (for which she was nominated for a Grammy), and also with John Scofield on his tribute album to Ray Charles, "That's What I Say."
Koerner Hall (273 Bloor Street West) 8PM $33.50 +

COMEDY | Live At The Drake: Stand Up Series
Tonight is the first "Live At The Drake"! This is a new series of stand up comedy events that will be filmed at TO's own Drake Hotel. There are two shows going down tonight, with two separate lineups: the afternoon show will feature Arthur Simeon, Hunter Collins, and Bryan O'Gorman, while the evening show will boast the lineup of Christophe Davidson, K. Trevor Wilson, DeAnne Smith. Do arrive early as this is expected to be a well-attended event!
The Drake Hotel (1150 Queen Street West) 4:30PM and 7:30PM $10

POETRY | Word Up: Spoken Hurricanes & Music
An interesting and eclectic evening of spoken word and music tonight at the Holy Oak. Four performers with something to say, and a bit of edge to capture your attention! Lishai, Alessandra Storm and Jamilah Malika are spoken word artists, Lishai is a notorious slam poet, Storm hails from Montreal, and Malika is from here in TO, where she is known as part of the outspoken and politically charged duo, Abstract Random. Songwriter Amai Kuda is a local musician who is also on the bill. Should be good!
Holy Oak Café (1241 Bloor Street West) 7:30PM PWYC

MUSIC | KINOBE & The African Sensation
Ugandan multi-instrumentalist and singer, Kinobe is making international waves, and opening some ears to African music and rhythms! Along with his backing band, The African Sensation, Kinobe will be sharing a wide array of Ugandan and African musical vibes, and showcasing a number of different acoustic instruments from the region throughout this performance. This is one to catch for all fans of world music and global fusion.
Lula Lounge (1585 Dundas Street West) 7PM $20

OTHER EVENTS ON OUR SUNDAY RADAR

• gramercy riffs / the bb guns / cobra / food fight: girls rock camp toronto
• Sunday Scene with Sarah Parsons
• Jill Peacock @ Musideum

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 simon.carr in the blogTO Flickr pool

FOOD | Winterlicious
The holidays have come and gone but the annual hibernation has been put on hold--yes, even for the penny pinchers — because today marks the beginning of Winterlicious! With 175 of the city's top restaurants participating this year, Toronto foodies of all palettes and tastes can sample the cuisines of the best local spots from Benihana to Boiler House to Edward Levesque's Kitchen for reasonably low prices. Reservations are always recommended for the prix fixe menus up for offer so be sure to book ahead and visit www.toronto.ca/winterlicious for full details on participating restaurants. Winterlicious ends February 9th. Happy eating!
Various locations across Toronto 11AM

DESIGN | Come Up To My Room 2012
Alternative design will take over the Gladstone Hotel over the next four days in the form of room installations and public space projects. The 9th annual design event Come Up To My Room opens to the public this afternoon with works by artists like DarkLab, Wendy W. Fok, Fugitive Glue and merk on the exhibition floor. Public space projects by archiTEXT and Void Engineering will also be prominently featured amongst the many parties and discussions on topics like disposability that will happen throughout the weekend. In conjunction with Toronto design week, this event closes January 29th.
Gladstone Hotel (1214 Queen Street West) 12PM $10

ART | Opening Reception: Constructed View
Constructed View observes the disconnect between memory and truth, perception and conception. In this exhibit curated by Patrick Macaulay, 8 artists confront the dilemma they face each time they create: How to represent an event or an object in a way that is truthful to its reality. Some will push the boundaries into another truth while others attempt to reconstruct through photographs, paintings and print-based works. The exhibit opens tonight with a reception at Harbourfront Centre where it will be on display until mid-April.
Harbourfront Centre (235 Queens Quay West) 5:30PM Free

MUSIC | A$AP Rocky
Making his Canadian debut tonight at The Opera House, emerging Harlem rapper A$AP Rocky is surrounded by buzz following the successful release of his 2011 mixtape Live Love A$AP. Recently signed to Polo Grounds Music and RCA Records, A$AP Rocky has already toured with Drake and has appeared in Vice Magazine as his singles "Purple Swag" and "Peso" were named some of the year's best by The New York Times. The show will be an intimate performance but tickets purchased for The Mod Club show will still be honoured at the new venue. A new block of tickets has been released to see the next big thing in rap but get them A$AP before the show sells out.
The Opera House (735 Queen Street East) 8PM $25

OTHER EVENTS ON OUR RADAR:

• GTWA Coffeehouse: Occupy Debrief
• Vive's DOUBLE VISION Issue Release Party
• Daft Punk Tribute at Wrongbar
• Domestic Vista
• Rocky Horror January- A Night of A Thousand Franks
• The Holiday Crowd Over The Bluffs Debut Record Release Party

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 Lindsey McKague in the blogTO Flickr pool