Torontonians are hunting for free stuff to do as the end of the month - and the coldest day of the year, so they say - approaches. While sitting at home bundled under twenty-three blankets has been looking pretty good, us broke over-spenders are going a little stir crazy.

Here's what you can do in Toronto this week without having to make excuses to your landlord like "I accidentally ran over the Official Squirrel of Toronto with my fixie and legally had to pay a grand to get its tail reattached." Because that only works once.

True Stories Told Live January
Tuesday at The Garrison True Stories Told Live will combine comedy, drama, and #deepconfessions. Read all about it our visit to one of their events here, then start combing your memories for something juicy. Tuesday, Jan 28, The Garrison (1197 Dundas St West), 7:15pm.

Beer and Butter Tarts Issue #1 - book launch
We've set our comfort food levels on high - and you'd be a fool not to do the same in this weather. Beer and Butter Tarts, featuring essays, short fiction, poetry, photography and art from across Canada, will launch at the Rhino on Tuesday. They plan to release the book biannually. The book is available for purchase if you like what you see. Tues Jan 28, The Rhino (1249 Queen Street West) 7pm.

Black & White IV
Get swanky at Propeller Gallery on Thursday for one of the coolest sounding art openings of the season: "the exhibit is inspired by Truman Capote's 1966, Black and White Ball, held at the Grand Ballroom of New York City's Plaza Hotel. It was considered to be "the most posh event, not just of the year, but also of the decade, and maybe even the century." Wear whatever. (Kidding! Dress up, cheapskates.) Thursday Jan 30, Propeller Gallery (984 Queen Street West).

Fat In Public
Of course art openings are good go-to free events, but this one is pretty special. The bloggers behind Toronto food blog Fat Girl Food Squad aren't afraid to take up space online and offline, and over the past year they've made a name for themselves posting restaurant reviews, fashion tutorials, personal stories, and discussions on body politics. Now they'll step firmly into the IRL art world with Fat in Public, the blog's first art show. Read all about it here. Thursday Jan 30, 2186 Dundas, 7pm.

Weird Silence: Presented by Weird Canada and Silent Shout
Two of Canada's most loved music blogs, Silent Shout and Weird Canada, go head to head on Thursday at Sex Laser playing only Canadian tracks they've posted on their blogs. It's free to enter and drinks are $3 before 11pm. Get schooled on up and coming Canadian sounds. Thursday Jan 30, Sex Laser (1369 Dundas St. W), 10pm.

2014 Chinatown Chinese New Year Celebration
Pretty straight forward - bundle up, head to Chinatown, and celebrate the year of the horse! See some of the programming listed here. Chinatown (Spadina Avenue), Saturday Feb 1, 12pm - 5pm.

Zev Farber - Closing Reception and Sound Performance
On now at Red Head Gallery is Zev Farber's Errata, a combination of Farber's work with sound, video, and visual art. One compelling piece from the show is assemblage of 16 years worth of concert tickets and movie tickets layered with related personal narratives. This sound performance will close the exhibit. Saturday Feb 1, 2pm, Red Head Gallery, 401 Richmond Street West (Ground Floor, Suite 115).

Maker's Market
The first of the year for these monthly markets at Crawford bar in Little Italy promises "food, booze, and lots of art." Watch their Facebook event for vendor lists.

Coldest Day of the Year Ride
Will this actually be the coldest day of the year? Who cares! Get on your bike - or a FREE BIXI (I know you love free - but you have to reserve it) and ride from from Queen's Park to Dufferin Grove Park. There will be a campfire and hot chocolate. The ride starts at Queen's Park & Hoskin Ave, Saturday Feb 1, 12:15pm.

Polar Bear Dip
Please don't get hypothermia, crazy swimmer people. Sunday Feb 2, Colonel Sam Smith Park (3145 Lake Shore Blvd W), 10:30am.

Do you want everyone to know about your kinda random free or pay-what-you-can event? Submit it to our event section! (You can also submit your for-money events here, greedy-pants.)

Photo by Scott Snider