Tuesday, December 8:
12-5pm. Pictures Talk: A Canadian Red Cross Photo Exhibit @ Red Eye Studio Gallery. A Canadian Red Cross exhibition featuring a collection of photos taken by child survivors of the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami, offers a rare glimpse of post-tsunami recovery through a child’s eyes. Showing December 8th-13th in the Distillery District.

7:30pm. An Evening with Extraordinary Canadians @ Walter Hall. Writers for the new Penguin Extraordinary Canadians series, Adrienne Clarkson, Daniel Poliquin and Mark Kingwell will be discussing their biographies on Norman Bethune, Rene Levesque and Glenn Gould. John Raulston Saul will be moderating. Tickets are $40 at the door. 80 Queens Park, in the Edward Johnson Building.

8pm. Jason Collett @ The Dakota Tavern. Of Broken Social Scene fame, Collett hosts a variety show every Tuesday at the Dakota this month, featuring poets, musicians, storytellers and DJs, and probably some of his famous friends! $20. 249 Ossington Ave.

9:30pm. Genius Within: The Inner Life of Glenn Gould @ The Royal. This is the last chance for Toronto audiences to see this fascinating film, a must-see for any music lover. 608 College St.

Wednesday, December 9:
7pm. The Wooden Sky @ Masonic Temple. Performing on MTV Canada’s flagship show: MTV Live. To book free tickets email: liveaudience@mtv.ca.

7pm. Free Japanese Film Screening @ Bloor Cinema. Sponsored by the Japanese consult, come watch The Stars Converge tonight, and Women in the Mirror tomorrow at the same time! 506 Bloor St. W.

Thursday, December 10:
6pm. Methinks’ 2nd Annual Holiday PopUp Art Shop Launch Party & Live Auction @ Project 165. The invite reads: “An experimental art & craft showroom installation for last-minute holiday shoppers to discover unique hand-made gifts at great prices in an unusual retail setting resembling the inside of a giant Chris’mas stocking. Picture: Alice In Wonderland meets Santa’s Workshop meets Tom Waits as a gingerbread man lost in the Land of Misfit Toys.” 165 Augusta Ave.

Friday, December 11:
Dr. Draw’s Annual Holiday Show @ Hugh’s Room. The 27-year-old Dr. Draw is set to spellbind audiences once again with his eclectic electric violin arrangements. Showing December 11-14, tickets are $35 in advance at hughsroom.com.

Saturday, December 12:
10pm. The Toronto Small Press Book Fair @ The Gladstone Hotel. Books, chapbooks, graphic novels, zines, comics, audio-books, magazines PLUS an amazing full day of readings by authors including Austin Clarke, Al Moritz and Shinan Govani. 1214 Queen St. W.

9pm. Merry Stripmas! A Different Sort of XXXMas Pageant w/ Skin Tight Outta Sight Rebel Burlesque @ The Cadillac Lounge. The girls are going to unwrap some highly explosive packages! Tickets are $15 at Rotate This, Nearly Naked and online at totix.com.

Sunday, December 13:
9:30am. Bare It All For Polar Bears Polar Bear Swim @ Sunnyside Beach. Raise awareness of keeping carbon emissions low and saving the Boreal Forest by doing a polar bear swim! …Or just donating money. wildlandsleague.org. 1755 Lakeshore Blvd.

2pm. LAB Consignment Pop-Up Sale @ The Red Light. Lots of sparkly, silk and sheer items for the holidays! Come shop and have a holiday beverage from 2-5pm. Cash only. 1185 Dundas St. W.

6:30pm. Foodie Meet Bake-Off @ Samovar Room. This isn’t a bake sale, it’s a party! Come enjoy goodies from more than 25 of Toronto’s best bakers to raise money and awareness for The Stop Community Food Center. You can buy tickets online for $20. 51A Winchester St.

7:30pm. Les Coquettes Present: The Naughty List @ Revival. Burlesque, boylesque and aerial silks – magnifique! 783 College St. W. Tickets available