By Vicky Peters

FUNDRAISER: Ron White, a major Canadian shoe retailer, has donated over sixteen thousand pairs of shoes to needy Torontonians since starting his annual Shoe Drive thirteen years ago. This year’s charity drive launches at White’s flagship store this afternoon with support from Jeremy Irons, among others, and photo opportunities for the public. All six Ron White stores in Toronto will be accepting shoe donations—gently-worn as opposed to well-used—to be cleaned up and passed on to those who need them. Ron White, Manulife Centre (55 Bloor Street West), 1–2:30 p.m., FREE.
LECTURE: Peter Stevens, lecturer, aims to give you a summation of the entire history of the Roman Empire—all eight hundred years—in the span of about an hour. The aim of his KnowMore Lectures series (previously written about by Torontoist) is to teach entertainingly and unpretentiously. As with any self-respecting lecture, even an unpretentious one, there are hand-outs. Unit 102 Theatre, (46 Noble Street), 8 p.m., $5.
COMEDY: Every Thursday between now and February 26, a group of well-known comic actors will be performing “Impromptu Splendor,” a newly improvised play each week. Regular performers include Matt Baram, Naomi Sniekus, Kayla Lorette, and Ron Pederson. There is the anticipation of special guest appearances, too. Comedy Bar (945 Bloor Street West), 8 p.m.
ART: Last year, gallery owner Katharine Mulherin handed out blank postcards to various artists she came in contact with. “Wish You Were Here: Postcards From Toronto” is the culminating exhibition of the fifty postcards that made it back to the gallery. The show opens tonight, and continues to March 29. We think these will be much more interesting than the City of Toronto’s on-line postcards. Gladstone Hotel, third and fourth floor (1214 Queen Street West), 6–9 p.m., FREE.
Photo by Metrix X from the Torontoist Flickr Pool.