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the pursuit of happiness T.O. alt-rock poster boy Moe Berg and his Happy pals play Lee’s Palace. $20. 416-532-1598.
warren chiasson Cheticamp-born vibraphone innovator teams up with Hilario Duran for jazz magic. Lula Lounge. $16. 416-588-0307.
PEACE PRAYER VIGIL Daily prayer vigils for the release of the four peacemakers held in Iraq and for an end to the occupation. Toronto United Mennonite Church and Nathan Phillips Square. 416-462-2781.
gallery kids Don’t know what to do with the kids in that limbo tween Xmas and New Year’s? Take ’em to the Power Plant’s free day of art-related activities. Till Dec 30. 416-973-4949, www.thepowerplant.org.
republic of safety Start 2006 off on a socially conscious note with the stylish art-punk crew and pals Kids on TV and Jon-Rae & the River. The Boat. $10. www.republicofsafety.ca.
comedy extravaganza Scott Thompson hosts a great lineup of comics for the annual Massey Hall NYE show. $39.50-$59.50. 416-872-4255.
the sadies Neko Case’s fave backup band play the Horseshoe. $10. 416-598-4753. Leslie street spit Detoxify from festivities with a brisk 10K hike hosted by the Bruce Trail Club. Free. Leslie and Unwin. www.torontobrucetrailclub.org.
cinderella in muddy york Final day for the Puppetmongers’ Canuck retelling of the Cinderella story. Tarragon Extra Space. $10-$12. 416-416-531-1827.
Polar bear dip Raise cash for Habitat for Humanity. Music and cold cheer. To dip you need min $25 pledge. Sunnyside Beach. www.torontopolarbear.com.
homechild Joan MacLeod’s play about kids sent from Canada to Britain between 1860 and 1930 gets its world premiere at the Bluma. In previews, opens Jan 5 and runs till Jan 28. $36-$80. 416-368-3110. yours to break Fides Krucker’s erotic opera/dance show looks at relationships between men and women as a form of boxing. Previews at Theatre Passe Muraille, opens Jan 5 and runs till Jan 29. $10-$30. 416-504-7529.
humble boy Brit Charlotte Jones’s award-winning play – a twist on the Hamlet story – gets a T.O. premiere at the Tarragon. In previews, opens Jan 10. $15-$34. 416-531-1827. hamlet (solo) Raoul Bhaneja stars in a one-person version of Shakespeare’s great tragedy, from today till Jan 15 at Theatre Passe Muraille Backspace. $13-$18. 416-504-7529.
bombay black Anosh Irani’s Bombay-set play about a blind man and a dancer begins previews at the Theatre Centre. $10-$20. 416-538-0988.
ALLAN GARDENS HERITAGE WALK Tour the neighbourhood’s natural features. Carlton and Sherbourne. Free. 416-593-2656.
the attics Winnipeg alt-rock posse hit the Drake for some (relative) T.O. toastiness. $10-$12. 416-531-5042.
radio: 30 Chris Earle’s award-winning play about a radio announcer’s ethical dilemma finally gets broadcast on CBC TV’s Opening Night. www.cbc.ca.
wet spots’ big ass show The sex-positive musical duo mount a multimedia cabaret at the Gladstone. $12. www.wetspotsmusic.com.
hostel Judging from the gross-out trailers, if you were a fan of the Saw films you’ll love Eli Roth’s horror film. Opens today.
danny michel Charming Canrock troubadour and his gentle giant pal Lindy play a tag-team rock show at the Drake. $15-$20. 416-531-5042.
the adam brown Montreal indie rockers on the rise (whose gear was recently stolen) hit Wavelength at Sneaky Dee’s. Pwyc. www.wavelengthtoronto.com. a number Caryl Churchill’s drama about genetic engineering and a family gets its first preview, then opens Jan 12 and runs till Feb 11 at CanStage’s Berkeley Theatre. $36-$51. 416-368-3110.
the constant gardener The intelligent thriller starring Ralph Fiennes and Rachel Weisz comes out on DVD today.
return: the sarajevo project Daryl Cloran directs this play about war, family and reconciliation, a collaboration between Canadian and Bosnian artists. In previews, opens Jan 12 and runs till Jan 29 at the Tarragon. $25-$30. www.theatrefront. com. over the top fest 2006 launch Join an orchestral Final Fantasy, righteous indie-folk terrors Akron/Family and Great Lake Swimmers to warm up for Eric Warner’s rad fest. Great Hall. $12. www.overthetopfest.com.
a state of mind Daniel Gordon’s doc about two young gymnasts in North Korea screens at the Bloor as part of the monthly Doc Soup series. $10. www.hotdocs.ca.
sianspheric Sonic Unyon shoegaze stalwarts A Northern Chorus and Alive and Living get ambient at Lula Lounge. $10. 416-588-0307.
under the mink The Scandelles pay tribute to cinema’s women, till Jan 21 at Buddies. $10-$15. 416-975-8555.
democrats abroad Chris Earle remounts his acclaimed solo comedy set in the near future about U.S. war resisters in Canada. Till Feb 5 at Factory Studio. $12-$25. 416-504-9971.
