Eating Breakfast by Steven Beckly. Courtesy of Scotiabank CONTACT Photography Exhibition and Launch Projects.

PHOTOGRAPHY: As you’re eating breakfast this morning, consider Steven Beckly‘s Eating Breakfast. It is one of the pieces being exhibited as part of the “Before and After” group show at Launch Projects, in partnership with the Scotiabank CONTACT Photography Festival. A dozen photographers are participating in the show, which is said to be about “the way in which photography informs and transforms behavior and examines connections between mass media, consumerism, advertising, art, and photography.” The show runs through May 16 with an opening reception on Saturday (2–5 p.m.). Launch Projects (404 Adelaide Street West), 12–5 p.m., FREE.
ART: The Ontario College of Art and Design has a reputation for pumping out innovative and passionate graduates who are critical thinkers. After ninety-five years, the institution still has a lot to celebrate with its annual Graduate Exhibition, “Next Big Thing.” The art sale and exhibition, which is sponsored by Aboveground Art Supplies, showcases the work of art and design students from the class of 2010 in a variety of media. The exhibition opens today and runs through May 22, with a reception tomorrow night (5–7 p.m.). OCAD Student Gallery (285 Dundas Street West), 12–6 p.m., FREE.
WORDS: Vancouver artist and novelist Douglas Coupland will be joined by authors Jane Urquhart, Nino Ricci, and Andrew Cohen for a talk this evening to discuss their respective new biographies of Marshall McLuhan, Lucy Maud Montgomery, Pierre Trudeau, and Lester B. Pearson. The discussion is taking place as part of Penguin Books’ Extraordinary Canadians series, and will be moderated by the series’ General Editor, John Ralston Saul. Be sure to stick around after the talk for a book signing with the authors. Signy and Cléophée Eaton Theatre, Royal Ontario Museum (100 Queens Park), 7–8:30 p.m., $18–20.
MUSIC: Tennessee trio the Royal Bangs are bringing their sci-fi–inspired brand of electronic and indie rock fusion to town tonight. The band has gained a steady following since the release of their sophomore album, Let It Beep, last fall. After a few North American dates, the Bangs will head to Europe to play some springtime shows, and return Stateside just in time for the summer festival season to play Bonnaroo and Lollapalooza. The Garrison (1197 Dundas Street West), 9 p.m., $10.

Daydreamin’ – A Grant Heaps Remix opens today at MADE.

ART: Lupe Fiasco‘s 2006 song “Daydreamin’” provided the inspiration for Grant Heaps‘s new art installation at MADE, which will hold an opening reception tonight. Heaps—who is currently an assistant wardrobe co-ordinator for the National Ballet of Canada—was inspired by the range of feeling in Fiasco’s song to create the installation, which consists of tens of thousands of 1″ squares of scrap textile strung together to cover an 8′ x 8′ x 8′ space. The result is a ragtag cornucopia of texture and colour encapsulating Heaps’s worldview. The exhibition runs until June 12. MADE (867 Dundas Street West), 7 p.m.–9 p.m., FREE.
WORDS: Two of the most respected minds in the world of letters come together tonight, with esteemed German writer Bernhard Schlink being interviewed by esteemed Canadian writer John Ralston Saul. In 1997, Schlink—a former judge and law professor in Germany—rose to literary stardom with his post-Holocaust novel The Reader. In his new essay collection, Guilt About the Past, Schlink returns to this familiar topic, discussing collective national guilt from both personal and legal perspectives, and its impact on various generations. Holy Blossom Temple (1950 Bathurst Street), 7:30 p.m., FREE.
COMICS: From Zanta to “Crazy Hand Lady,” the street-dwellers profiled in Jason Kieffer‘s new graphic novel, The Rabble of Downtown Toronto, are familiar faces to most of us. The book profiles forty of Toronto’s most notorious “street characters,” acting as a kind of primer on their appearances and behaviours, and even assigning them nicknames. Kieffer, whose work has appeared in Taddle Creek and Broken Pencil, has come under fire for his caustic—some might say nasty—treatment of a social problem. Tonight, in what promises to be a lively discussion, he will be interviewed about the book by cartoonist Dave Lapp. The Central (603 Markham Street), 8 p.m., FREE.
EARTH DAY: Today is Earth Day, and there are plenty of fun, free events around the city to celebrate our fair planet. Ransack the Universe is holding a book swap from today until Sunday, where visitors are encouraged to bring books they don’t want and take those they do. In addition, WaterCan will host a Walk for Water to Queen’s Park, with the goal of raising awareness and funds to provide clean drinking water to the one in seven people in the world without it. Book Swap: Ransack the Universe (1207 Bloor Street West), today–April 25 noon–7 p.m., FREE; Walk for Water: start at Aveda Institute (125 King Street East), 8:30 a.m., FREE w/donation.

Photo of the Genterns. Courtesy of The Repo! Shadow Cats.

PERFORMANCE: The Repo! Shadow Cats are back for their tenth shadow cast performance of Repo! The Genetic Opera, a Rocky Horror Picture Show meets Blade Runner rock opera. If you’re unfamiliar with the Shadow Cats and their shadow cast performances, the show will feature a live recreation and unique interpretation of the film, while it is being projected on a screen behind the Cats. In addition to blood, boobs, and off-beat humour, tonight’s Halloween-themed performance will feature the Repo characters in costume. Audience members are also encouraged to attend in costume for a chance to win prizes. Bloor Cinema (506 Bloor Street West), 9:30–11:30 p.m., $10.
FUNDRAISER: Also in the theme of Halloween, a cocktail and masquerade fundraiser is being held to raise funds for the Toronto Cyclists Union, a group that advocates for a more cycle-friendly city, promoting cycling as a legitimate, accessible, and safe means of transportation. The first part of tonight’s event is a reception with political and musical guests including Molly Johnson and Coco Love Alcorn, a bike expo, and silent auction. Following the reception will be the “Bike Love Party” where guests will do just that: profess their love (and perhaps simultaneous hate, but we’re trying to keep it positive here) for cycling in the city while enjoying live entertainment, dancing, and Steam Whistle brews. Steam Whistle’s Roundhouse (255 Bremner Boulevard), 6 p.m., $25–100.
THEATRE: Continuing to count down the days until Halloween, the Bathurst Street Theatre is hosting a staged reading of the official sequel to Bram Stoker’s classic novel, Dracula. Backed by a score of original music, Dracula The Un-Dead employs Stoker’s notes for characters and plot threads taken from the original edition, picking up twenty-five years after Dracula crumbled into dust. Stick around after the reading to meet the author and great-grandnephew of Bram Stoker, Dacre Stoker, who will be signing copies of the novel. Bathurst Street Theatre (736 Bathurst Street), 8 p.m., $10.
WORDS: Celebrated Canadian essayist and novelist—not to mention political and economic thinker and advocate for freedom of expression—John Ralston Saul is in town to discuss his latest book against the backdrop of the AGO’s reinstalled collection of Canadian art. In his book, A Fair country: Telling Truths about Canada, Saul argues that Canada is a Métis nation, heavily influenced and shaped by the aboriginal values of social equality, balance between individuals and groups, and amicable negotiation. He hopes that embracing this viewpoint will inspire change and prompt Canadians to rethink our political culture and the future of our country. Art Gallery of Ontario (317 Dundas Street West), 7–8:30 p.m., FREE.

Photo of the Sony Center in Berlin by Solar ikon.

PANEL: “Cities of Tomorrow: Is Progressive Politics Alive?” is a fascinating panel discussion taking place between the current mayors of Toronto (David Miller) and Cambridge, Massachusetts (Denise Simmons), and former mayor of London, England (Ken Livingstone). The conversation will be moderated by former—and probably our cutest ever—mayor of Toronto, David Crombie. Convocation Hall, University of Toronto (31 King’s College Circle), 7:30 p.m., FREE.
WORDS: Graham Roumieu‘s now semi-famous treatise 101 Ways to Kill Your Boss is the subject of tonight’s This Is Not A Reading Series un-reading. Special celebrity guests—including our own Stacey May Fowles—have been invited to demonstrate their particular favourite methods of boss-killing. The author will be advising on bosses to eradicate, and copies of the book will be available for purchase. Gladstone Hotel (1214 Queen Street West), 7:30 p.m., $5.
LECTURE: Who knew Toronto had its own currency? A growing number of small business are using the “Toronto Dollar” as a way of giving back to the community through Toronto Dollar Community Projects, Inc. The organization has a regular fundraising supper club, and tonight’s featured speaker is John Ralston Saul. Admission is payable in Toronto dollars only, but monetary conversion is available at the door. Hot House Café (35 Church Street), 6:30 p.m., $25.
MUSIC: The final Unheard of Monday, curated by Thomas, happens at the Tranzac Tiki Room tonight. Guests are Mike Smith, Felicity Williams, and Colin Fisher with Jean Martin. The lattermost duo have been requested to do a turntable and loops set. Tranzac (292 Brunswick Avenue), 9 p.m.