Photo: "Untitled" by Carl W. Heindl, member of the blogTO Flickr Pool.

Events on Toronto's Radar for THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 10, 2009... lovingly handpicked from blogTO's events calendar.

FILM FESTIVAL | Toronto International Film Festival
It's finally here. Ten days of movies, parties and schmoozing and stars walking the streets. There's plenty to do in the next week and a half, with several bars including the Drake and the Social open til 4 am, local concert venues and galleries throwing unofficial TIFF shows of their own to cash in on the fact that the city's nightlife will be kicked into overdrive. Oh and there are movies too. Most of the hot tickets are already bought up, but you can try your luck by checking the TIFF website. Be sure to check out the Canada First! program of domestic films, and the free screening of the People's Choice winning film at the Elgin Theatre on closing night.
Various locations, times and prices

FILM FESTIVAL | Free TIFF Events at Yonge and Dundas Square
Yeah, that's right. TIFF's an event so big it needs two entries in the blogTO Radar. For the next ten days the Toronto International Film Festival is throwing free events in Yonge-Dundas Square, including movie screenings and concerts. Today kicks off with a showing of the superb Leonard Cohen concert film I'm Your Man, and later in the evening there will be a live satellite feed from the opening gala at Roy Thompson Hall. Other highlights include performances by soprano Measha Brueggergosman, DJ Chuck D, DJ Champion, and the National Ballet of Canada.
Yonge and Dundas Square, Free, 12 pm - 9 pm

INTERACTIVE ART | BeingToronto
Photographers John Beebe and Michelle Gibson have hit on a pretty neat idea. They set up a portable studio on one of Toronto's busy streets, and then ask passersby to step out of the crowd for an intimate portrait, which is developed that same day and displayed on the outside of the studio. The result is a photographic reflection of the faces that make up our city. Today they're setting up on the East Side at Gerrard and Broadview, so if you'll be in the area get ready for your close up.
Gerrard and Broadview, Free, 1 pm - 7 pm

GALLERY | ARENA: Road Game
This exhibition examines the seemingly intractable conflict that Canadians have found themselves mired in year after year. Hero-worship, desire, self-sacrifice, and violence are necessarily its subject. Yes, hockey is war in this country, and MOCCA asks why we choose sides with this display of works depicting the Original Six, zambonis, and the Stanley Cup. Contributing artists include Sobey Award-winners Jean-Pierre Gauthier and Tim Lee, and Darryl Sittler, captain of your 1975-1979 Maple Leafs, will be present tonight at the opening.
Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art (MOCCA), 952 Queen St. W., 7 pm - 11 pm

MUSIC| Punk Rock Karaoke
This is your chance to sing along with your punk rock heroes. Members of NOFX, Bad Religion, Agent Orange and Social Distortion form an all-star backing band for your karaoke-ing pleasure. Show up at Lee's Palace early and sign up to sing, live, on stage, for real, with some of the pillars of punk. There's no chance you'll embarrass yourself either, cause it's punk rock and the notes don't really matter.
Lee's Palace, 529 Bloor St. W., $15.50, 8:30 pm

BOOKS AND LIT | Meet A.J. Jacobs
A.J. Jacobs is the Sacha Baron Cohen of literature. Jacobs has made a career out of fearlessly putting himself in absurd situations and pretending to be people he's not, and then writing about it. In The Year of Living Biblically he attempted to abide by the laws of the bible as literally as possible. Now he's back with The Guinea Pig Diaries, in which, among other things, he outsources every aspect of his life to a team of Indians in Bangalore and tries to live exactly as George Washington did. Today you have a chance to meet him and ask him why he's so nutty.
Indigo Books, 55 Bloor St. W., Free, 7 pm - 8 pm

MUSIC| Hunter and Cook Issue 04 Launch w/Horsey Craze, Josh Reichmann Oracle and Wet Dirt
Hunter and Cook is a texturally pleasing art mag launched by local artists Jay Isaac and Tony Romano. Tonight is the launch of its fourth issue, and Isaac and Romano have pulled in some great music talent to make sure the night's a success. Horsey Craze is a Neil Young cover band made up of members of the Constantines and $100, and Josh Reichmann Oracle probably had the hottest show at NXNE this year. Cover charge includes the snazzy new issue of Hunter and Cook.
Wrong Bar, 1279 Queen St. W., $10

Continuing events:

FESTIVAL | Junction Arts Festival
A separate city until 1909, the Junction is the only neighbourhood of Toronto that continued to enforce prohibition throughout the 20th Century, and the sale of alcohol was banned there as late as 2000. That doesn't mean the people who live there are no fun though, and from now until Sunday the neighbourhood will be celebrating its distinct community with music, art, and plenty of food. Highlights include a concert by Jason Collette, 30 street performance groups, a juried art exhibition, and the opening party tonight in Junction Square.
Junction District, Free, 7 pm tonight

For full listings, head on over to our events calendar.
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