February 11th-12th A Vintage Pop Up: Hearts On Fire @ 666 Queen St. E. (Munro & Queen). Presented by The Cat & Fox Vintage Collective. Women’s and men’s vintage clothing and accessories + art, antiques, and homemade goodies! Sale runs Saturday from 10 am to 7 pm and Sunday from 10 am to 5 pm.

WEDNESDAY 

10 am “Dare to Wear Love” Opening @ Textile Museum of Canada, 55 Centre Ave. The first exhibition “devoted to the celebrated work of top Canadian fashion designers created to raise awareness and funds for the Stephen Lewis Foundation and their work to address the AIDS/HIV pandemic in sub-Saharan Africa. Speaking to the potency and poignancy of artistic expression within a global context, this installation showcases pieces created from African cloth by Canada’s top fashion designers including Brian Bailey, David Dixon, Fashion Crimes and Linda Lundström.” Until May 6. $15 or $6 with student ID. 

6:30 pm Raconteurs Presents: Crush @ No One Writes to the Colonel, 460 College St. Share your stories of crushes – those fulfilled, failed, or unrequited. Share your stories of crushes you’ve had and crushes had on you; your tales of limerence, like, and love from afar. Doors at 6:30, show starts at 7:30 pm. $7 tickets available online, limited number at the door. 

6:30 pm Art Auction @ Double Double Land, 209 Augusta Ave. A silent auction to raise funds for Double Double Land. In late December, they had all of their money stolen by a stranger on a Sunday afternoon and are looking to reinstate some of it, as well as to contribute to long term programming and maintenance. They are currently struggling to keep afloat and are asking for help from the community. 

7 pm “Embrace It” Opening Reception @ The Lakeview, 1132 Dundas St. W. Last year, over 3,500 post-it notes were left on the walls of the Lakeview. Curator Rafi Ghanaghounian has decided to bring it back! Come and write down how you feel towards her/him and post it on the walls of the Lakeview – sticky note and writing tools will be provided. Until 10 pm. Exhibition runs until February 27th.  

8 pm Mustache Rides Presents: First Base + Non-Stop Girls @ Crawford, 718 College St. A night of live music by First Base and Non-Stop Girls + DJ Joel Fresh playing the best of pop/punk/rock/glam from the 1960’s to the 1980’s. $5 until midnight then free. 

10 pm That Lean @ The Red Light, 1185 Dundas St. W. DJs Famou$ Players play laid back rap jams. 

10 pm HumbleMania 36 @ The Ossington, 61 Ossington Ave. Special acoustic performance by Sandman Viper Command. Vinyl dance party afterwards! 

THURSDAY 

6 pm Celebrating the Empowerment of Women @ The Blue Dot Gallery, 55 Mill St., Building 47. A celebration of women’s achievements across the globe. Featuring a photo exhibit showcasing the empowerment of women in the developing world, great food, wine, raffles, and local art and entertainment. $15, with funds going to the CHF’s international development programs. For tickets, email idw@chfpartners.ca

6:30 pm By the Pound: Reweighed @ Goodfellas Gallery, 1266 Queen St. W. An exhibit featuring 200 artists from across the city, all working within the limitations given to them to accommodate a “By the Pound” price point. The exhibit aims to “make a point of the importance of obtaining quality original artworks rather than a mass produced print you would get at a local department store.” Art is compared to meat in the sense of quality and long term happiness. RSVP to info@goodfellasgallery.com to assure admittance. 

7 pm “The Sex Show” Exhibition Opening @ Gallery 1313, 1313 Queen St. W. A group-curated exhibition of photography, painting and mixed media works. “The Sex Show attempts to push the boundaries of the definition of sex. It approaches the topic of sex from all angles, exhibiting works that vary on a broad scale, from art that is more explicit to art that is more elusive in content.” Exhibition runs until February 19th. 

7:30 pm DIY Valentine’s Day Craft Workshop @ Bicyclette Boutique, 880 Queen St. W. Create DIY Valentine’s gifts for that special someone! $30 includes supplies (to make felt fortune cookies, a Valentine, and a leather wrapped bracelet all packaged in a little gift box), tea, and treats. Bicyclette is also offering 15% off the entire store. 

8 pm Love A Heart @ The Hideout, 484 Queen St. W. Need a Valentine’s Day date? Toronto’s hottest single YPs come together to support The Heart and Stroke Foundation and to guarantee this V-Day won’t be a lonely one! Featuring a bachelor and bachelorette auction (first auction at 9:30 pm, second at 11:30 pm) and a performance by indie week champions, Tiny Danza. Each date comes with a date package, so your date is completely paid for! 

9:30 pm A-Trak @ The Hoxton, 69 Bathurst St. Montreal-born and New York-based DJ A-Trak + special guests. For $20 advanced tickets or VIP booth/bottle reservations, email Josh@touchentertainment.com or call 647-982-2700. 

10 pm Thrust: Decades of Dance @ College Street Bar, 574 College St. Come along on a journey of time and space through music. DJ Dislexia plays Motown, funk, soul, disco, house, dance, hip-hop, rock and pop from past-present-future. Requests all night! 

FRIDAY 

4:30 pm “The Love Sauna” Exhibition Opening @ The Gladstone Hotel (2nd Floor Studio), 1214 Queen St. W. A public installation that transforms a room at the Gladstone into a community-accessible sauna for the 2012 Valentines Day weekend. Open to all as a winter escape that is fun and friendly and PG-13! Participants are encouraged to bring shorts, a t-shirt, and towel. Until 7:30 pm.  

10 pm Da Da Da: Real Love Edition @ 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 That Time Of The Month @ The Henhouse, 1532 Dundas St. W. DJs Alex Molotkow and Chandler Levack bring you the most righteous soul, disco and R&B by the women that understand. 

10 pm (ALT)Night: For the Love of Wax @ Margret, 2952 Dundas St. W. A one night only ALL VINYL party! New wave, rock, disco, house, party jams, reggae, hip-hop, and weird shit all played lovingly at 33/45 RPM. $12 40’s all night and $3.50 tall cans of PBR and whiskey sours between 8 and 10 pm (drunk feet dance better).  

10 pm Fuck Dance, Let’s Drink @ The Red Light, 1185 Dundas St. W. DJs Grahmzilla and Ghetto Gold Matt kindly share their favorite music they don’t often get to play out. 

10 pm 90s Party @ The Annex WreckRoom, 794 Bloor St. W. Giveaways, 90’s prizes, 90’s movies, Much Music Oh Henry Video Dance, spotlight slow dances, 90’s dance-off trophy, 1 am costume contest and more! Free before 11 pm, $5 after. 

10 pm SoulSkank 1 Year Anniversary @ The Piston, 937 Bloor St. W. One night. Five DJs. All Wax. 1 Sax. DJs General Eclectic, Top Shotta, Eon Sinclair, The Captain Boogaloo, Double K and Montreal’s Kobal play ska, soul, funk, stax, Motown and dancehall while Gramera and Dennis P bring you live horns. Free before 11 pm, $5 after. 

10 pm Fuck It @ Clinton’s, 693 Bloor St. W. A sweaty, dirty, guilty-pleasure-filled evening where the Bangs & Blush ladies play whatever the fuck they want! 80’s, 90’s and 2000’s… all the favourites of yours and theirs. 

10 pm Dirty Talk @ Unlovable, 1415-B Dundas St. W. The Adult Fantasy Adventure™ with DJs Diana, Pammm and Jaime Sin. Italo, disco house, indie dance and space shit. 

10 pm Funkin’ It Up @ No One Writes to the Colonel, 460 College St. All funk, all the time with DJs Skank Honto and Splattermonkey. Classic funk, nu-funk, ghetto funk, afro funk, funky hip-hop, funky breaks, etc. 

10 pm Jailbreak! @ Magpie, 831 Dundas St. W. DJs Cracker Barrel and Sweet Tooth help you get over solitary confinement with some songs to fight in the yard to. Expect to hear music from the likes of AC/DC, Rolling Stones, ZZ Top, Led Zeppelin, Bruce Springsteen, Pink Floyd, Bowie, CCR, etc. 

10 pm Her @ La Perla, 783 Queen St. W. Seasonal Affective Disord-HER Edition! DJs Produzentin, Cozmic Cat, and Formbybrassband play sunny beats to keep HER awake all night. Special drink special before 11:30 pm. For line bypass, email set.her.free@gmail.com. $5. 

10 pm Phazed / Red Out @ Crawford, 718 College St. Phazed upstairs with DJ Amplified mashing hip-hop and RnB. Downstairs, DJs Daddy Maysr and G-spot play quality reggae, dancehall, and a touch of hip-hop at Red Out. Drink specials and beef patties available. 

10:30 pm Occasional Disco @ Double Double Land, 209 Augusta Ave. A dance party for the body with DJs Craig Dunsmuir, Unique Snowflake, Stronglike, and Pussypowah. 

10:30 pm Evidence of Soul @ Salvador Darling, 1237 Queen St. W. A gathering for people to understand and experience the importance of music for the mind, body, and soul. DJs Mischief & Frankie, and Dru & Azzy reconnect you with what deep and soulful means to house music. 

11 pm Tiger Bar Bounce @ Tiger Bar, 414 College St. Brit-pop, indie and electronica bangers all night by the Pie & Mash DJs. $4 beers, $13.50 for four shots of Jager or tequila, $11 pitchers upstairs.  

SATURDAY 

12 pm Erotic Arts & Crafts Fair @ The Gladstone Hotel, 1214 Queen St. W. A one-of-a-kind sexy fair bringing together artists and crafters just in time for Valentine’s Day. Knitters, crafters, zinesters, card makers, and artists of all types will be creating erotic objects for this celebration of DIY sex and romantic culture. Until 8 pm. 

2 pm Valentine’s Day Sweets & Chocolate Tour @ Butterfly Bakery, 492 Dundas St. W. Butterfly Bakery takes you on a leisurely stroll through Kensington Market and a smorgasbord of sweets, from Valentine’s Day favourites to everyday goodies. At the same time, learn more about the fascinating history of sweets and the sweetest day of the year. Make a reservation online

8 pm “Intimate Gestures” Opening Reception @ Studio 407, 263 Adelaide St. W., Unit 407. “A group art exhibition made up of a collection of photographs, films, illustrations, poems and installations that address a plethora of issues faced by the lover or the loved. The turbulence of desire, of distress and of excess.” Enjoy classy music, Steam Whistle, novelty beverages, February mistletoe, dancing and Valentine’s Day cards! This is a black tie affair, so please dress to the nines.  

8 pm DJ Skate Night @ Harbourfront Centre, 235 Queen’s Quay W. DJ Patrick Roots and his crew, including Junior Selector and DJ Chocolate, host a special reggae celebration. Fusing the familiar sounds of reggae with cool city nights, the team will provide some hot culture in the dead of winter. Lace up and stay warm! 

10 pm Rap Jams @ Margret, 2952 Dundas St. W. The Good Kids play old and new rap jams all night long + some RnB. (Psst – they serve 40’s of Old English and Colt 45.) 

10 pm Shake, Rattle & Roll: Baby & Johnny Edition @ Clinton’s, 693 Bloor St. W. A very special Valentines day edition wherein the Bangs & Blush ladies roll out the entire Dirty Dancing soundtrack all night long peppered with all your favourite 60’s pop, soul and rock n’ roll favourites! Valentine’s station, party favours, and our resident photographer babe Becca Lemire snapping your photos. $5.  

10 pm Laytheseknight @ The Red Light, 1185 Dundas St. W. DJs Famous Players and Patrick McGuire play 90’s R&B that eventually devolves into The-Dream and Waka Flocka. 

10 pm Lucky Bitches @ The Ossington, 61 Ossington Ave. 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 hiphop, contemporary hitz, 80’s velvet jamz, forgotten gemz. 

10 pm HiPNOSiS Loft Party @ TBA. Love is the message! With DJs Ali Black, Riviera, Le Freak C’est Keek, and Paul Revered + sound and lights provided by AlienInflux. Email larryfrankieandron@gmail.com for more info. Until 6 am.  

10 pm Babe Night Presents: Love Letters @ Milk Glass Co., 1247 Dundas St. W. An ode to Valentine’s Day. Each attendee is given a numbered tag with a corresponding mailbox and are invited to send love notes to their favourite friends, lovers or wannabe lovers! Pens and Valentine’s cards will be provided or bring our own for that extra personal touch. Drink specials come in pairs. DJs Odie Ouderkirk and Tom Avis make sure you get close to someone. 

10 pm I Know You Care @ Crawford, 718 College St. Hip-hop, reggae, funk and R&B video party upstairs with DJs Law and Forte. Ol’hip-hop, disco, funk and 80’s downstairs with DJs Shan Dub and Boots Boogie. $5 before 11:30 pm, $10 after. 

10 pm Slowed @ Wrongbar, 1279 Queen St. W. NYC tastemaker and part owner of T&A Records, DJ Ayres + Torro Torro, Kill Them With Colour, and more TBA.  

10 pm Business Woman’s Special @ Augusta House, 152-A Augusta Ave. Cupid’s arrow will be out in force! DJs Alessandro, Sammy, and Nino Brown spin while Kimon captures you and your valentine in the photo booth. $5.  

10 pm Turning Point @ The Garrison, 1197 Dundas St. W. Special guest DJ Quantic joins DJ Warwick to share tropical rhythms and sounds from another time (1950-1980). Music from far off places and cultures, all from old vinyl.  

10 pm Off White @ The Beaver, 1192 Queen St. W. Post-punk, new wave, minimal synth, cold wave and industrial circa 2006-2010 with DJs Schramm, Adrienne K, and special guest Mausoleum. $5.  

10 pm Hole @ Bar Neon, 1226 Bloor St. W. DJs Bear Unit and Mac&Teeves play everything you want to hear! Electro, mash-ups, and guilty pleasures. Free before 11 pm, $5 after. 

SUNDAY 

10 pm Video Game Music Night @ Crawford, 718 College St. All your favourite and classic video game tunes sound new again! DJ Beardo Belligerent plays remixes from around the world by DJs, bands and video games composers. PBR + shot for $7, mixed drinks for $5. 

~ Caitlyn Holroyd

(For event submissions, email caitlyn_holroyd@hotmail.com)