Toronto events on February 23, 2013

FILM | Coen Brothers in Nayman's Terms
Film critic Adam Nayman returns to the Miles Nadal JCC with a brand new series of film lectures, and the Coen Brothers' oeuvre is his focus this time. Nayman will deliver eight lectures complete with supporting clips. Working chronologically, these talks will discuss the continuity and evolution of the Coens' filmmaking approach, as well as providing analysis of their signature nods to the history of American cinema. Tonight's installment, dubbed Rednecks, will narrow in on their earliest films: Blood Simple and Raising Arizona.
Miles Nadal JCC (750 Spadina Avenue) $90 series / $12 drop in ($6 students + members)

MUSIC | The Eels + Nicole Atkins @ The Phoenix
The Eels hit town tonight for a show at The Phoenix. This band began as Mark Oliver Everett's own pet project, even yielding one release, but once drummer Jonathan "Butch" Norton and Tommy Walter entered the picture, things got interesting, and the single Novocaine for the Soul put them firmly on the post-alternative map. Tight, clever songwriting with unique and varied production sets this group apart, and their latest disc, Wonderful Glorious takes a bit of a turn sonically to a harder, edgier place, but with the same quirky sensibilities that will keep listeners on their toes. Nicole Atkins is the opener tonight - should be good!
The Phoenix Concert Theatre (410 Sherbourne Street) 8PM $29.50

COMMUNITY | Six billion reasons to act now on transit
Join Trinity-Spadina MPP and Urban Transportation Critic Rosario Marchese this evening for a look into TO's future from an urban planning perspective. Traffic and congestion are known issues for an urban centre of Toronto's size, and there's every indication this will worsen with continued population growth. A panel made up of Marchese, Richard Joy from the Toronto Region Board of Trade, and former Chief City Planner for the City of Toronto Paul Bedford will conduct this "Transit Town Hall" and discuss possible solutions that are currently being looked at.
Palmerston Library (560 Palmerston Avenue) 7PM

FUNDRAISER | National Cupcake Day for SPCAs & Humane Societies
At some point, you've been asked to walk for a good cause, or perhaps run for a good cause, but the time has come for the ultimate pleasure in doing a good deed: Canada's SPCAs and Humane Societies want you to eat a cupcake for a good cause! Yes, it's National Cupcake Day! We know you will do your part to help animal welfare, and make this inaugural Cupcake Day a true success. For a donation of $3 or more you will enjoy a "pet inspired" cupcake at the Curbside Bliss Cupcake Truck, and feel good on every level.
Curbside Bliss Cupcake Truck (Toronto Fire Station #332, 260 Adelaide Street West) $3

ALSO OF NOTE

Elvis Monday
Veda Hille
Trans Film Screening Series: HOUSING EDITION
Fortuna Mezcal Saloon at Weslodge

MORE EVENTS THIS WEEK

For more Toronto event suggestions, check out these posts:

• This week in food
• This week in fashion
• This week in film
• This week in theatre
• This week in comedy
• This week in music
• Toronto concerts, February 2013

Have an event you'd like to plug? Submit your own listing to the blogTO Toronto events calendar or contact us directly.

Lead photo by markosaar in the blogTO Flickr pool