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

Events on Toronto's Radar for TUESDAY NOVEMBER 17, 2009... lovingly handpicked from blogTO's events calendar.

MUSIC | Nu Music Night's 16th Anniversary at the Horseshoe
The 'Shoe celebrates 16 years of Dave Bookman's Nu Music Night with some bands that are not really so "nu." No one's complaining though, because Most Serene Republic, Zeus, and Still Life Still are some of the hottest acts going just now. Bookman's turned the free weekly Tuesday night concert series into a reliable place to go see band's just before they hit the big time and a big bash in its honour is certainly well-deserved.
The Horseshoe Tavern, 370 Queen St. W., Free, 10 pm

BOOKS AND LIT | Adria Vasil in Conversation with Rick Smith
Ecoholic author and NOW columnist Adria Vasil has followed up her widely popular first book with Ecoholic Home, a green guide to making your living space environmentally-friendly. Vasil gives tips on everything from green cleaning products to eco-friendly cooking methods, clean heating, and even moving. Her advice isn't just for homeowners either; its helpful for us renters too. She'll be in conversation with noted environmentalist Rick Smith tonight at the Gladstone as part of This Is Not a Reading Series.
Gladstone Hotel, 1214 Queen St. W., $5 (free with book purchase), 7 pm

COMEDY | The Boom Just For Laughs Showcase
The Boom is a Toronto-based sketch comedy troupe featuring a who's who of young up and coming talent including Nikki Payne, Dan Galea and Tim Dorsch. The troupe has been endorsed by all kinds of famous funnymen, including SNL's Seth Meyers, Lewis Black and Kevin Smith. The Boom is auditioning for Just For Laughs tonight along with a dozen or so of the city's comedy teams including the Lusty Mannequins and She Said What. This really is the cream of the crop so catch them tonight and then look forward to watching reruns of their JFL set on the Comedy Network for the next 10 years.
Rivoli, PWYC, 334 Queen St. W., 9 pm

MUSIC | Billy Bragg at the Phoenix
British legend Billy Bragg lights up the Phoenix tonight with his timeless brand of passionate folk/punk songs. Bragg has been at it for over thirty years but still seems to deliver performances with an urgency that many young artists can't match. If you've never heard a Bragg tune, just listen to his ode to fickle adolescent love A New England and you'll see what all the fuss is about.
The Phoenix Concert Theatre, 410 Sherbourne St., $30 advance, $35 at the door, 8 pm

JOURNALISM | Robert Fowler - News Blackouts Save Lives
Robert Fowler comes to U of T tonight to discuss a topic he is all too familiar with. The ex-Canadian diplomat spent four grueling months as a prisoner of militants in Niger in 2008. While other instances of kidnapping, including the cases of CBC reporter Melissa Fung and the New York Times' David Rohde, have been met by a media blackout to protect the victims' safety, reporters widely covered Fowler's ordeal while he was still in captivity. Apparently he's a bit miffed about it. He' ll be joined by Toronto Star Publisher John Cruikshank and Globe and Mail Foreign Editor Stephen Northfield to discuss how media influences the outcomes of such cases.
Innis Town Hall, 2 Sussex Ave., $15, $10 for students, 6:30 pm

MUSIC | The Rural Alberta Advantage live at Soundscapes
The RAA won a solid following here in Toronto with their engaging interactive live shows before releasing a disc that snagged them a deal with heavyweight indie label Saddle Creek. The world is now officially the trio's oyster and the bands album, an ode to (what else) rural Alberta, seems to have resonated with hipsters across the border. Who would have thought songs about Lethbridge would hit a chord with the Williamsburg crowd? The band plays a short free set at Soundscapes today as a prelude to their show at Lee's Palace this Friday.
Soundscapes, 572 College St., Free, 7 pm

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