Top Toronto event picks for Monday, January 19, 2009:

1. CINEMA STUDIES INSTITUTE presents ATOM EGOYAN'S ADORATION
Cut work early to see Adoration, TIFF 08's special citation for Best Canadian Feature Film. Egoyan himself will be in attendance for a Q&A; this is your chance to breathe the same air as an Oscar nominee.
Innis Town Hall. 2 Sussex Avenue.
FILM / 4pm / free / website

2. BATTLEGROUND: WAR RUGS FROM AFGHANISTAN
Decades of warring inevitably permeates a culture; the themes weaved in the Afghan war rugs are striking, to say the least. Runs to January 27.
Textile Museum of Canada, 55 Centre Avenue, (416) 599-5321.
ART / 11-5pm / $12, $8 seniors, $6 students / website

3. BINGO: THE SHOW at CLINTON'S
Improvisers Julie Dumais, Mandy Sellers, and the Sketchersons' Josh Saltzman join birthday host Dot Winters for a night of beer, bingo, and comedy -- a perfectly comforting combination of vice.
Clinton's. 693 Bloor Street W, (416) 535-9541.
COMEDY / 9pm / $5 / website

4. GREEN SCREENS presents FOUR WINGS AND A PRAYER
More free celluloid action: Four Wings and a Prayer follows Monarch butterflies and their epic 3K migration from Canada to Mexico. Makes your 2-week Contiki tour seem a tad less impressive.
NFB Mediatheque. 150 John Street, (416) 973-2187.
FILM / 7pm / free / website

5. WHY LOOK AT ANIMALS?
Artists and scholars discuss the implications of animals in contemporary art. Current exhibiting video Beauty Plus Pity (Emily Vey Duke + Cooper Battersby) will be discussed.
The Power Plant. 231 Queens Quay W, (416) 973-4949.
LECTURE / 7pm / $4 members, $6 non-members / website

6. MAGIC CHRISTIAN at HORSESHOE TAVERN
Go all '60s garage with music legends Cyril Jordan (Flamin' Groovies) and Clem Burke (Blondie) as they come together with Magic Christian. Crummy Stuff and The Bon open.
Horseshoe Tavern. 370 Queen Street W, (416) 598-4753.
MUSIC / 9pm / $12 / website

7. THIS IS NOT A READING SERIES: LISA FOAD + MARIKO TAMAKI
Lisa Foad discusses her debut story collection, The Night is a Mouth. Rock duo Lullabye Arkestra plays the post-discussion soundtrack.
Gladstone Hotel. 1214 Queen Street W, (416) 598-1447.
WORDS / 7pm / $5, free with book purchase / website

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

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Photo: "501" by swilton, member of the blogTO Flickr pool.