Urban Planner: July 18, 2009

Urban Planner is Torontoist's daily guide to what's on in Toronto, published every morning. If you have an event you'd like considered, email all of its details—as well as images, if you've got any—to events@torontoist.com.

Photo from last year's festival courtesy of Beaches International Jazz Festival.

MUSIC: The twenty-first annual Beaches International Jazz Festival kicked off last night at Woodbine Park. Today you can soak up music by main-stage performers Teeny Tucker—who will be making her Canadian performance debut—and Monkey Junk, with their unique blend of R&B, soul, and funk. The New Generation stage also boasts a solid line-up, with flamenco fusion guitarist Johannes Linstead and local jazz-rock coterie Ninja Funk Orchestra. Other events during the ten-day festival include a Workshop and Lecture Series, Streetfest with entertainment along two kilometres of Queen Street East, and performances at Kew Gardens next weekend. Woodbine Park (Lake Shore Boulevard East and Coxwell Avenue), 12 p.m., FREE.

PARTY: The second annual Toronto Zombie Walk Fiendraiser is happening tonight, with performances by The Screamagers, The Raclones, and The Skullians that will wake the dead. Tonight's event of blood and gore will also feature giveaways and a zombie costume contest. Money raised from the party will go towards the operating costs of this year's Toronto Zombie Walk, which is happening on October 24 with an anticipated crowd of a couple thousand mindless monsters. The Smiling Buddha (961 College Street West); 9 p.m.; $10 for humans, $7 for zombies.

WORDS: Local artist, photographer, and writer—not to mention target of the "Dinner with a Stranger" project—Franke James is back with an illustrated book about going green in the city, Bothered By My Green Conscience. During today's book talk and signing, James will discuss and read a visual essay from her autobiographical book, which addresses feelings of inner conflict and powerlessness about going green, with the hopes of inspiring change and motivating readers to do something that will have a real impact in their life. James takes aim at "SUV-driving, imported-strawberry-eating urban dwellers" (including herself) and challenges individuals to "do the hardest thing first." Roots (100 Bloor Street West), 3–4 p.m., FREE.

BENEFIT: Benefit Without Borders, a fundraiser variety show and the first annual global benefit for Burners Without Borders, is happening tonight in the heart of Kensington Market. Proceeds from tonight's event will go towards supporting Burners Without Borders, an organization dedicated to building community through art and action, born out of a "spontaneous, collective instinct to meet gaping needs where existing societal systems were clearly failing." The show will feature burlesque performances by Starlight Burlesque, the antics of One-Arm Bob, belly dancers, comedy acts, circus performances, and other mixed-bag weirdness. Bread & Circus (299 Augusta Avenue), 9 p.m., $10.

CULTURE: The thirty-seventh annual Festival of India (or Ratha-Yatra) begins today with a colourful parade of forty-foot-tall floats, chanting, drumming, and dancing down Yonge Street (beginning at Bloor Street and continuing south to Queens Quay). With the theme of "Journey Through India," the weekend-long festival—expected to draw nearly forty thousand people—will showcase the heritage of many different regions throughout the country. The Yoga Meltdown is also happening tomorrow as part of the festival, where the city's yoga community will come together to present outdoor classes and demonstrations, vegan and vegetarian cooking demonstrations, mantra meditation circles, and a free all-you-can-eat vegetarian feast. Yonge Street and Queens Quay East (25 Queens Quay East); parade 11 a.m.–2 p.m., festival 12–9 p.m.; FREE.