May 1st-31st Scotiabank CONTACT Photography Festival @ various locations. The largest photography event in the world is back! CONTACT is an annual event in May featuring over 1,500 Canadian and international artists and photographers exhibiting at more than 175 venues throughout the GTA. Check out the CONTACT website for a full list of exhibitions and installations.

May 31st-June 1st 360 Screenings @ Historic Toronto Building TBA. Two days and three separate productions of 360 Screenings’ interactive screening series – a fusion of theatre, cinema, and cocktail party. Participants could find themselves leaving letters for friends and families during a zombie apocalypse, having a French lesson for their day in Paris, learning to make soap in an underground fight club or connecting to the other-side with the help of a psychic medium. Each production is held at a historic Toronto building, which is revealed 24 hours prior to the event. The film is kept secret until the conclusion of the evening with the actual screening. Actors, set designs and familiar scenes are re-created while audience members attempt to guess the film. $60 advance tickets available online.

May 31st-June 1st Songbook 7: Madeline Peyroux @ Enwave Theatre (Harbourfront Centre), 231 Queen’s Quay W. “Dubbed ‘the 21st century Billie Holiday’, Peyroux’s newest album ‘The Blue Room’ debuted this March as the #1 selling jazz album on both iTunes and Amazon. In Songbook 7, Peyroux will perform twelve handpicked songs from her favourite artists, including Billy Joel, Elvis Presley and George and Ira Gershwin. Her typical performances feature very sparse musical accompaniment. This concert forces Peyroux to step outside her comfort zone; collaborating with Andrew Burashko (Art of Time’s artistic director) and arrangers, to create one-of-a-kind classical arrangements of pop songs.” $25-59 advance tickets available online.

WEDNESDAY

9 pm Fear Street @ Sex Laser, 1369 Dundas St W. Horror/sci-fi movie scores/songs from soundtracks, or spooky/cool stuff every Wednesday. Maybe you’ll talk about movies. Maybe you’ll dance with some zombies. Maybe you’ll fall into the Hell Mouth. $3 PBR before 11 pm.

10 pm Sha Na Na @ The Red Light, 1185 Dundas St. W. Wednesday night dance party! DJ Brittney (one half of the Bangs & Blush duo) plays jukebox hits and makeout songs all night long.

10 pm Bowie Bar Wednesdays @ Andy Poolhall, 489 College St. DJs Avery, Doc Benway, and guests play music by David Bowie and Bowie-esque tunes. Drink specials until midnight.

10 pm Common People @ The Midpoint, 1180 Queen St. W. DJ Tigermilk plays a mix of post-punk, alternative, Brit-pop, seminal to current indie rock, and whatever else. $4 mixed drinks before 11 pm, $4 tequila, $5 Jameson, $5 pints of PBR, and $7 mug + shot.

10 pm Liquid Karaoke @ Bambi’s, 1265 Dundas St. W. Colin Bergh, James McDonough, Nadia Belerique, and Jeff Hayward are your hosts. $4 Jameson and $5.50 pints before midnight.

THURSDAY

6 pm Creative Type Five Opening Reception @ Cooper Cole Gallery, 1161 Dundas St. W. 5th anniversary show for Creative Type – an annual curated exhibition of typographic artwork from some of Toronto’s most talented illustrators, artists, and graphic designers. Until 10 pm.

7 pm Paint the Walls @ Women’s College Hospital, 76 Grenville Ave. Art meets science at this one-of-a-kind party that features the largest live painting competition in Canada using the walls of the 78-year-old hospital building as a canvas. Attendees will vote to choose a winner from among the 75 artists participating in the art battle. With interactive art installations, music, dancing in operating rooms and signature cocktails, Paint the Halls celebrates over 100 years of innovative heath care and research and offers individuals with special memories of the hospital the chance to say goodbye. $35 advance tickets available online or $40 at the door, with all proceeds supporting Women’s College Hospital Foundation.

7 pm “Fatal Abstractions” Opening Reception @ Project Gallery, 1109 Queen St. W. “An abstract art exhibition that features bold, engaging and evocative work by emerging Toronto-based artists. The show explores the compelling nature of abstraction and the obsessions associated with creating and experiencing art that challenges logic and reason. Through stimulating, engaging and non-representational art we create an opportunity to become more acutely aware of our own subjective faculties that create and associate meaning.” Until 11 pm.

8:30 pm Dog Bowl Movie Night: Jurassic Park @ Trinity Bellwoods Dog Bowl, 790 Queen St. W. You saw it in 3D, now see it in the Dog Bowl. This season’s opener is the dino classic Jurassic Park! Themed snacks! Music videos! Jeff Goldblum!

9 pm Bad Day Issue 15 Launch @ Arsenal Contemporary Art, 45 Ernest Ave. Celebrate the launch of Bad Day Magazine‘s Issue 15. Sponsored by Absolute Elyx and Pabst Blue Ribbon. With DJs LILINTERNET (Boston/NYC), Cameron Reed, and Kristie Muller

9:30 pm Soul Machine @ Czehoski, 678 Queen St W. DJ Caff (Motown Party) lays down funk and soul while you drink and dance. Drink specials all night long!

10 pm Daft Punk Tribute @ The Drake Underground, 1150 Queen St. W. “The Daft Punk Tribute Band is an eight-piece band who reinterpret some of the world’s most popular electronic dance music with a horn section, rhythm section, vocals and electronics. They emerged from Toronto’s esteemed Humber College Jazz program in 2008 and have been liquifying dancefloors and/or melting faces at the most prestigious clubs and concert halls across Eastern Canada since.” If you haven’t heard the news, Daft Punk just released a new album. Come hear the live treatment and get lucky with them! $15 advance tickets available by texting the band at (416) 707-9323.

10 pm Heart & Strokes @ Souz Dal, 612 College St. Indie rock socializing! Come for the Heart, stay for The Strokes.

10 pm Stop Crying @ Crawford, 718 College St. The Bass6 crew plays all the bangers you want to hear!

10 pm Movement @ Unlovable, 1415-B Dundas St. W. DJs Richie Volume and Scarlett Boom select only the greatest songs of all time!

10 pm Trading Fours @ Cold Tea, 60 Kensington Ave. DJ and production duo since 2001, Trading Fours consists of long time high-school friends DJ Vice/Prim (alter-ego Dwayne) and DJ Versa/Proper (alter-ego Jon).

FRIDAY

6 pm HeART This @ Walnut Contemporary Gallery, 201 Niagara St. A showcase of unique art from inner-city high school students from Central Commerce. Along with local artists and fashion designers, the students will celebrate the “art of acceptance, originality and diversity.” $25, with all proceeds going directly into the school’s arts program.

7 pm CONTACT Photography Festival Exhibition Closing Party @ Lomography Gallery Store, 536 Queen St. W. Celebrate the finished product of the Living LomoWall that was created by the community for the 2013 CONTACT Photography Festival. This site-specific and public installation was a community driven project that accumulated images over the month of May resulting in this very unique Lomo Wall that will grew from the influence and participation of the community!

10 pm The Art of Movement @ Handlebar, 159 Augusta Ave. A music appreciation party involving song selections based on a casual theme, not genre barriers. This edition of The Art Of… will focus on the best and most involuntary action to enjoying good music: dancing. Songs about dancing, yearning to dance, the dance floor, and how to dance, blasted out of a couple of MacBooks. Practice all of the dances!

10 pm Coming Back Ain’t The Same As Staying @ The Red Light, 1185 Dundas St. W. A night of delicious rap, electronic, and dance music by the one and only super producer and legendary tastemaker JJ Ravinsky (a.k.a. Jahmal Tonge), musician and co-founder of Fake Art Records. Coming home from home to play songs for you all night.

10 pm Red Cups @ StudioBar, 824 Dundas St. W. Live art, delicious food, and music in a beautiful setting! DJ Caff plays the best in hip-hop, R&B, trap, moombahton, dancehall, and slow Jamz.

10 pm Keep Coming @ Bambi’s, 1265 Dundas St. W. DJs Prince Ness and Lance Armstrong play dance party music!

10 pm Mighty Real @ Cold Tea, 60 Kensington Ave. The ultimate dance floor work out! DJs John Caffery and The Robotic Kid play acid, disco, and funky house. Midnight performance by voguing sensation Snoopy.

10 pm Party & Bull$hit @ The Shop under Parts & Labour, 1566 Queen St. W. DJs FBomb and Ry-Fi (of Ice Cold Dranks fame) play the bangers you know and love. Only the best in hip-hop, trap, old school, and dancehall. Bring your dancing shoes, you’re going to need ’em! Free before 11 pm, $5 after.

10 pm Shindig! Presents: The Best of the Girl Groups @ The Piston, 937 Bloor St. W. A special edition of Shindig! dedicated to the women of R&B – particularly the girl group movement of the early 60’s. That means girl groups (and the odd female solo artist) all night long! With resident 7” 45 RPM vinyl selectors Parkdale Funk, Splattermonkey, and General Eclectic for your dancing delight. Free before 10:30 pm, $5 after.

10 pm Foxtrot @ The Garrison, 1197 Dundas St. W. Your favourite psych, mod, glam, and rock ‘n’ roll tunes from the 60’s, 70’s, and present day.

10 pm Moonwalk @ Sneaky Dee’s, 431 College St. Join DJs Cyclist and Mirabel for an 80’s dance party! $3 drinks until midnight. Free before 11:30, $5 after.

10 pm Jamz! @ Clinton’s, 693 Bloor St. W. An anything goes, no bullshit, non-genre, dance ’til you drop, all your friends in one room, party hard, make the floor wet with sweat, shit show! With DJs Slater and Ty. $5.

10 pm Surprise Party @ Cardinal Rule, 5 RoncesvallesAve. Cardinal Rule and Amsterdam Brewery team up for the ultimate surprise party and DJ 4est keeps the dance floor heated with 90’s rock and pop music! Special draw at midnight for awesome prizes and a stack of wrapped gifts to open from Caridnal Rule and Amsterdam Brewery + a cake filled with candles and love from Seventh Sister Bakery. Kitchen open until midnight.

10 pm Da Da Da: A Psychedelic Dance Party @ The Boat, 158 Augusta Ave. An all-night free love psychedelic midnight ball! DJs Brad Casey and Wilderness Creature play psychedelic music from The Beach Boys to Beach House, The Kinks to Caribou, The Byrds to Black Moth Super Rainbow, etc. $5.

10 pm Kobe’s Birthday / Phazed @ Crawford, 718 College St. Upstairs, DJ Kobe’J celebrates his special day with hip-hop, RnB, reggae, ol’skool, and soca tunes! Downstairs, it’s old school meets new school hip-hop and R&B with DJ Amplified. $5 before 11:30 pm, more after.

11 pm Itzsoweezee @ The Drake Underground, 1150 Queen St. W. A feel-good house party atmosphere! DJ Tom Wrecks and special guest TechTwelve play music to make you dance, smile, and holler. For guest list and line bypass, email guestlist@itzsoweezee.com (closes at midnight). $10.

SATURDAY

3 pm Jeremy Jansen @ Cooper Cole, 777 Richmond St. W. (2nd Floor). “Jeremy Jansen (b. 1979, Calgary, AB) is an artist whose practice is primarily based in sculpture and photography. His body of work considers the deconstruction of the built urban environment. Jansen has been included in recent group exhibitions include The Kitchen (Soi Fischer, Toronto), History (Tomorrow, Toronto) and Like-Minded, (Plug In ICA, Winnipeg). His debut European solo show Dirty Negative (La Miroiterie, Paris, FR) featured an accompanying monograph by the same name published by Editions FP & CF. Jansen currently lives and works in Toronto, Canada.” Until 6 pm. Exhibition runs until June 24th.

8 pm Commonwealth: For the Good of the People @ 163 Sterling Rd. A new Toronto-based collective founded by Go Home Print, Marishka Anne, and Kelsey Stasiak. The Commonwealth’s aim is to bring together Toronto’s independent creative communities with a focus on DIY, small press, and independent print and publishing. Through curated events, The Commonwealth will help local creatives join forces to promote the DIY and small press scene as a whole. Its first event will coincide with the launch of Go Home Magazine’s third issue and include 25+ local independent vendors – from small press publishers to DIY individuals – abling their work. You’ll find small run books, zines, t-shirts, prints, photographs. Cheap beer and tunes all night and a bonfire in the pit to the left of the building. Until midnight.

10 pm With It @ The Piston, 937 Bloor St. W. A new monthly dance party that pays tribute to mod culture of the 1960s with a night of soul, rhythm and blues, rock ‘n’ roll, garage, ska, and pop tunes! With DJs Nico and Dave Barnes + special guest Splattermonkey. Get with the WITH IT crowd. $5.

10 pm Beam Me Up Keeps Diggin’ With: Kon @ BLK BOX, 1087 Queen St. W. Another disco jam not to be missed! “Prolific remixer and crate digger Kon (BBE Records / Soul Clap / Basic Fingers) takes a modest approach to dee-jaying (his name, after all, is an acronym for King Of Nothing), and he is the sort who places a love for music above any personal notoriety, though many do tend to disagree with this modesty; Gilles Peterson (BBC Radio 1) dubbed him the Edit and Rework King, while the likes of Kanye West and Dr. Dre have been known to turn to the beat junkie for help getting a sample sorted.” $10 advance tickets available online. $15 at the door. 

10 pm moondance @ The Boat, 158 Augusta Ave. DJs Annie Webber and Keith Hamilton bring you the best dance jams under the moon! Sweat your way to last call by dancing to their favourite music of all eras (surely, some of your favs too). $5.

10 pm H8 Her @ Sex Laser, 1369 Dundas St. W. Two evil felines play the music of the night and howl at the moon.

10 pm Grill$ @ Crawford, 718 College St. (The party formerly known as Grilled Cheese.) DJs James Redi, EOIN, and Grill Girls play Motown, funk, disco, hip-hop, and reggae. FREE GRILLED CHEESE ON THE DANCE FLOOR! Free before 11 pm, $5 after.

10 pm Motown Party @ 751, 751 Queen St. W. Motown, northern soul, and remixes with DJs Fawn BC and Caff upstairs + an all-vinyl set with DJs Brett Millius and Reverend Throwdown downstairs. Video and prizes from Eyesore Cinema! $5 before 11 pm, $10 after.

10 pm Shake, Rattle & Roll @ Clinton’s, 693 Bloor St. W. A sexy, sweaty dance party thrown by the Bangs & Blush ladies! 60’s pop, soul and rock ‘n’ roll. $5.

10 pm Lucky Bitches 5 Year Anniversary @ The Ossington, 61 Ossington Ave. Sheeeee-it, has it really been five years? Two ice stallions serve it up hot with a glamour-positive party for anyone who knows what it’s like to be a lucky bitch. The guiltiest of pleasures all night: hitz that span the ages, 90’s hip-hop, contemporary hitz, 80’s velvet jamz, forgotten gemz.

10 pm Go Bang! @ Unit, 1198 Queen St. W. DJ Andy Capp plays Atlantis disco, Carribean new wave, boogie 3000, cyberfunk, and neo R&B.

10 pm Chris Malinchak @ Wrongbar, 1279 Queen St. W. NYC DJ/producer Chris Malinchak with support from locals Natural Animal. $15 advance tickets available online.

10 pm Pay Day @ The Shop under Parts & Labour, 1566 Queen St. W. DJs Isosceles and Stew Innes play hip-hop and beyond. Free before 11:30 pm, $5 after.

11 pm Shake A Tail @ Sneaky Dee’s, 431 College St. 60’s pop, rock, soul, funk, garage, ska, ANYTHING! Always humid. $5.

11 pm Never Forgive Action @ The Drake Underground, 1150 Queen St. W. DJs Numeric, Ted Dancin’, and Dalia + host More or Les pay tribute to the golden age of hip-hop, spinning classic jams from the sweet spot of 1986 to 1994. $10.

SUNDAY

1 pm Sky Yard Sundays @ The Drake Sky Yard, 1150 Queen St. W. Brunch, booze, buckets of Corona + a ton of fun in the Sun(day)! Fuel up with a late brunch or tacos then dance to the sounds of weekly live DJs from 2-6 pm.

7 pm Puppy Love @ Tranzac, 292 Brunswick Ave. I’d Tap That presents a brand new concept: a laid back, sugar-sweet Sunday evening to woo loves (new and old) by sunset! More of a peck-on-the-cheek than a full on makeout, Puppy Love is a tall glass of cherry lemonade in the sex-positive summertime. Dance floor featuring sun-soaked summer evening and retro tunes, courtesy of cute couple Bobby and Anna (Summer Fling DJs). Twister and other classics + onstage dating games (BYOGames). Sex-Positive Speed Dating (all genders, orientations, even groups and couples welcome). Pillowfight Sleepover Zone featuring all-night Truth or Dare and Spin the Bottle! Until 11 pm. $10.

8 pm Arrested Development Trivia Night @ GO Lounge, 1718 Queen St. W. Test your knowledge of all things Bluth. Win prizes!

10 pm Mad Men Screening @ Clinton’s, 693 Bloor St. W. Watch Mad Men’s 6th season on the big screen every Sunday while sipping on $10 2oz throwback cocktails like the Old Fashioned, Gin Fizz, and Bloody Mary.

~ For event submissions, email Caitlyn Holroyd at caitlyn_holroyd@hotmail.com