Photo: "Sweet smelling paints" by defkreationz, member of the blogTO Flickr Pool.

Events on Toronto's Radar for SATURDAY OCTOBER 17, 2009 and SUNDAY OCTOBER 18, 2009... lovingly handpicked from blogTO's events calendar.

Saturday, October 17:

MUSIC | Daniel Johnston at the Mod Club
Daniel Johnston is hard to describe. His music seems uninfluenced by any previous genre and comes directly from his slightly addled brain. He doesn't seem to care about aesthetics or fame, but despite his slightly reclusive career (he's mostly recorded on home made lo-fi cassette tapes) he's garnered praise from the likes of Spiritualized's Jason Pierce and Nirvana's Kurt Cobain. His renown has only increased since the documentary The Devil and Daniel Johnston premiered at Sundance and chronicled the link between Johnston's bipolar disorder and his unstoppable creativity.
The Mod Club, 722 College St., $25, 10 pm

FILM FESTIVAL | Darryl's Hard Liquor and Porn Film Festival
This one-night film festival features about 30 short films about sex and absolutely zero pornography. Instead, they're mostly funny and creative shorts from local comedians, animators, and actors that address naughty subjects. Viewers are encouraged to come dressed up as porn stars (there are prizes for best costume), and the ticket price gets you into the afterparty at the Annex Wreck Room. Not exactly a red carpet gala, but there's a free jello shot involved.
Bloor Cinema, 506 Bloor St. W., $20, 9 pm

VINTAGE GAME SHOW | The Gong Show
Umm, is this actually happening? Someone's recreating the Gong Show in a performance studio in the west end? Awesome. You know how it works: performers get up before an audience and a panel of judges and put on a unique act. If it sucks, they get the gong! If it's good, well, they still get the gong but not so quickly. Guaranteed unpredictable, horrible, hilariousness. I hope some one recreates Kidstreet one day.
Dovercourt House, 805 Dovercourt Rd., $20, 7:30 pm

DANCE | Thrill the World: Final Practice
This is it. One week to go before Torontonians attempt to break the world record for the largest performance of Michael Jackson's Thriller. This is chance to be part of dance history, but you've got to learn the moves first. This is the last practice before the crew hits the Harbourfront Centre on October 24 to show the folks at Guinness what they're made of, and the practice tonight is open to dancers and non-dancers alike.
Toronto School of Dance Theatre, 80 Winchester St., Free, 3 pm

MUSIC | The ALL CAPS! Island Show
Artscape Gibraltar Point is one of those things you've probably never heard of but once you have, you're glad it's existed all this time. A converted school on Ward's Island, the AGP is a living and art space that provides artists of all mediums a chance to sequester themselves from the big city and focus on their craft. As you can imagine, this isn't exactly a cash cow, and some local talent is putting on an all-day show to raise some much needed funds. Performers include Great Bloomers, Sun Ra Ra Ra, and Brian Borcherdt. Great excuse for a scenic Fall ride on the ferry.
Artscape Gibraltar Point, 443 Lakeshore Ave. on Ward's Island, $10/PWYC, 3 pm - 10 pm

LECTURE | Phil Collins at the Harbourfront Centre
Photo and video artist Phil Collins has pulled off some neat stunts in his day. In 2006 at an art fair in London, he created a fully functioning office and publically did paperwork from 9 to 5. He's also made a 7-hour long movie of a Palestinian disco marathon, and one about Turkish kids singing karaoke Smiths songs. The latest project by the Turner Prize-nominated artist is zasto ne govorim srpski (na srpskom) or Why I Don't Speak Serbian (In Serbian), and centres around Kosovo's struggle for independence. Collins discusses and screens the work tonight.
Studio Theatre, Harbourfront Centre, 286 Queens Quay West, $12, 6 pm

MUSIC | The Dodos at Lee's Palace w/ the Ruby Suns
West Coast indie rockers the Dodos had their breakthrough when a song from their first record was used in a commercial to sell some crappy American beer called Miller Chill. Since then they've released a solid sophomore album in Time to Die and have made a name for themselves independent of any 4.2% lime-flavoured suds. The band deftly straddles the line between being reliably poppy and skillfully ambitious, and comes to Lee's tonight with support from kiwi band the Ruby Suns.
Lee's Palace, 529 Bloor St. W., $15.50, 10 pm

Sunday, October 18:

FILM FESTIVAL | imagineNATIVE Film Festival Closing Gala
The imagineNATIVE Film Festival closes tonight with one of its best films in Barking Water. Directed by American Sterlin Harjo, the movie tells the story of two aged ex-lovers attempting to make sense of their shared experience as they near the end of their lives. Fresh off a screening at the Venice Film Festival, it's a perfect way to end the 10th and strongest edition of imagineNATIVE. Harjo will be on hand for a Q&A after the movie.
Royal Cinema, 608 College St. W., $12, 7 pm

BOOKS AND LIT | Winnie-the-Pooh's Homecoming Party
At this point, probably very few of us remember Winnie-the-Pooh stories in their original form. Before the Disney Corp got its greedy little cartoon white mitts on them, the "Silly Old Bear" and his friend Christopher Robin were the stars of beloved children's books by AA Milne. It's been 80 years since the last one was published, but Milne's estate finally gave permission to British author David Benidictus to produce a sequel called Return to the Hundred Acre Wood. The book gets launched in Canada on Sunday with a party that features readings of the work, and tons of games like Pin the Tail on Eyore and the Piglet Toss. Come celebrate all things Pooh.
Gladstone Hotel, 1214 Queen St. W., $10 Adults, $8 Kids, 11:30 am and 3 pm (2 shows)

MUSIC | Pure Rummage Trunk Show
This is the busy season for all you arts and craft types out there, what with Halloween and Christmas coming up. This event is definitely a crafters dream, as local artists will be opening up their hoardes to give you a chance to find that unique item to create your perfect piece. Expect piles of old books, buttons, fabrics, suitcases, housewares, vintage dresses, shoes, sewing patterns and much much more. You could get lost under all that.
The Workroom, 1340 Queen St. W, 12 pm - 5 pm

BAD MOVIE | Lady Terminator
The only thing better than a really good movie is a really bad movie, and this Indonesian sci-fi flick is just about as bad as it gets. Made in the 1980s by an Indonesian film industry trying to capture a western audience, the incomprehensible action flick features an indestructible dominatrix, an actor named Adam Stardust, and unrivaled scenery-chewing by some deservedly obscure thespians. Some sample dialogue: "We've seen more dead bodies than you've eaten hot dogs. So shut up and eat!". Yikes.
Bloor Cinema, 506 Bloor St. W.., 9:30 pm

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