Eep. Hope those of you left in the blackout can find refuge and warmth at a friend's house or one of the reception centres.

And if you can actually think of going out, maybe some of these places will make a nice escape tonight, at least for a couple of hours.

Top Toronto event picks for Friday, January 16, 2009:

1. JERRY SPRINGER: THE OPERA
Theatre critic Richard Ouzounian directs this controversial musical about everyone's favourite trash TV icon. (Yo, yo, yo, Jerry, we love you!) Special guests include Jesus and a tap-dancing chorus of Ku Klux Klan members. Recommended for mature audiences only. Duh. Opens tonight and runs to January 31.
Hart House Theatre. 7 Hart House Circle, (416) 978-8849.
STAGE / 8pm / $25, $15 students + seniors / website

2. HUNTER AND COOK GALLERY OPENING
To coincide with Hunter and Cook's 2nd quarterly issue, a new gallery of the same name opens, with artwork by Andre Ethier christening the new space. Twice the reason to party. Opens tonight.
Hunter and Cook Gallery. 15 Ossington Avenue.
ART OPENING / 7pm-12am / free / website

3. SECOND CITY: BYE BYE W
No better way to usher out the George Dubya years than with a crew of politically charged comedians. New York's Jamie Kilstein, infamous for his political and religious commentary, headlines the special goodbye ceremony.
Second City. 51 Mercer Street, (416) 343-0011.
COMEDY / 11pm / $15 / website

4. CINSSU PRESENTS: MASALA
Director (and Innis College Writer-in-Residence) Srinivas Krishna wrote and acted in this relationship-based tale about Indian Canadians in Toronto... all this, when he was only 26. Score another point for the local boy. Q&A follows.
Innis Town Hall. 2 Sussex Avenue, cinssu.fff@utoronto.ca
FILM / 7pm / free / website

5. RONALD DE SOUSA ON EMOTION, EVOLUTION, AND MORALITY
U of T Philosophy Emeritus Professor Ronald de Sousa speaks on the philosophy of emotions, including its encompassing role on morality and politics.
Centre for Inquiry Ontario. 216 Beverley Street, (416) 971-5676.
LECTURE / 7pm / $6, $4 students, free for members / website

6. NXNE presents KEEP SIX TOUR with EL DA SENSEI + GHETTOSOCKS
There's something about ex-Artifacts El Da Sensei, whose "Crowd Pleasa" definitely rattles my groove meter. He appears tonight with Poland's the Returners. The huge roster also includes Halifax MC Ghettosocks, who recently opened for The GZA. Awwww, yeah.
Silver Dollar Room. 486 Spadina Avenue, (416) 763-9139.
MUSIC / 10pm / $8adv / website

7. PROJEK:CiRCA
Drum n' bass acts DJ Friction and Bad Company UK play for the sweaty, jumping masses.
CiRCA Nightclub Ballroom. 126 John Street (entrance between Milestone's and CiRCA), (416) 979-0044.
PARTY / 10pm / $15 adv, $20 door / website

For full listings, head over to our events calendar.

Have an event you'd like to plug? Submit your own listing to the blogTO calendar, contact us directly, or use our handy Facebook app.

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Photo: "Ring Here" by sig11, member of the blogTO Flickr pool.