PHOTO OP

’Tis the season for art sales (for a full list, see page 72), and Photorama 2009 lets you give in two ways – you buy gifts for your fave folks and help raise funds for Gallery TPW (56 Ossington, 416-645-1066) at the same time. On the block are works by everyone from up-and-comers to heavyweights like Ed Burtynsky and Susan Schelle. And why don’t you snap something up for yourself while you’re at it? Good investment, ya know. Reception Friday (November 27), 6 pm, runs to December 5.

YOUTH AND WORLD AIDS 

Youth teaching youth is at the centre of Empower: Youth, Arts and Activism, a World AIDS Day (officially, Tuesday, December 1) launch party for a new youth AIDS manual. Art, drag show, T-shirt-making and more are planned for tonight (Thursday, November 26) at William Doo Auditorium (New College, 5 Willcocks). Free. The event runs from 6 to 9 pm and follows Jessica Fields’s 4 pm Under Lock And Key lecture. youthactionnetwork.org.

TURNING UP THE HEAT

Acclaimed journalist, author and recent Atkinson Fellowship prizewinner Alanna Mitchell gives a free talk at Swansea Town Hall (95 Lavinia) on Tuesday (December 1) at 7:30 pm. Titled The Cost Of Hot Water: Climate Change And The Oceans, it should get your blood boiling over humanity’s costly footprint just as the Copenhagen enviro talks are about to begin. justearth.net.