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Urban Planner: January 19, 2009
COMEDY: Megan Fraser’s alter ego, Dot Winters, has just lost her husband in a church fire and has organized a charity bingo game to raise money for a church rebuild. Megan (sorry—”Dot”) promises “dynamic character comedians, actual bingo, prizes of mystery, free bingo dabbers to borrow, and the possibility of baked goods.” Bingo: The Show! is interactive comedy like you’ve never experienced—and really, what an opportunity to enjoy bingo with the tongue firmly in the cheek. Clinton’s (693 Bloor Street West), 9 p.m., $5.
MUSIC: Fans of power pop—a term coined by Pete Townshend to describe The Who’s early music—already know about this, but if they don’t, well, that’s what we’re here for. Cyril Jordan of the Flamin’ Groovies, guitarist Eddie Munoz of The Plimsouls, drummer Clem Burke of Blondie (yes, that Blondie), and Paul Kopf are in town with their band, Magic Christian, tonight. Toronto bands Crummy Stuff and The Bon open the show. Horseshoe Tavern (368 Queen Street West), 9 p.m., $12.
ART: We seem to love anthropomorphic art, from William Wegman’s brilliant Weimaraners to Dogs Playing Poker. The Power Plant gallery presents a panel forum of four artists and critics who each work in the area of our relationships to animals and our portrayal of them. Emily Vey Duke and Cooper Battersby, who have a new video at the Power Plant gallery entitled Beauty Plus Pity; Bill Burns, who created the Safety Gear for Small Animals Project; and Matthew Brower, an art historian who specializes in animals in visual culture discuss the subject “Why Look at Animals?” Power Plant Gallery (231 Queens Quay West), 7 p.m., $6.
WORDS: Author Lisa Foad presents her debut story collection The Night Is A Mouth at This Is Not A Reading Series tonight. Foad will be discussing the book with fellow writer Mariko Tamaki. Adding multi-media substance to the event are bass and drum duo Lullabye Arkestra. Gladstone Hotel Ballroom (1214 Queen Street West), 7:30 p.m., $5.
IN ADVANCE: We’re mentioning this early because chances are pretty good the event will sell out. Totsapalooza (presented by TINARS for Tots) is an extraordinarily fun kids music day planned for Saturday (January 24)—well-loved Toronto musicians Dave Bidini and Don Kerr are introducing their new kids books—For Those About to Rock: A Road Map to Being in a Band and The Sniffing Princess, respectively. They are joined by Jarret J. Krosoczka, author of Punk Farm. A big kids-jam is on the schedule. Get tickets in advance at Pages Book Store. Gladstone Hotel Ballroom (1214 Queen Street West), 3 p.m. January 24, $15 Family pass (includes two adults and two kids).
