WEDNESDAY 
10 pm Legoblocks @ Unlovable, 1415-B Dundas St. W. DJ Linus Booth and special guest Bryce Kushnier play robo jamz for you. 

THURSDAY 
7 pm “3” Opening Reception @ Gallery 129 Ossington, 129 Ossington Ave. “A group show featuring the works of three artists exploring themes of light and texture; Meredith Bingham,

Emily Schaefer and Rachel Vanderzwet. Individually each painter presents us with a distinct style and application, while together, the group creates an intimate and diverse poetry in the language of abstraction.” Until 10 pm. Show runs until February 25. 

10 pm Ain’t That A Groove @ Sneaky Dee’s, 431 College St. DJs Splattermonkey and Knowthings bring you a night of hard-hitting, splendiferous, all-vinyl, funk, soul and everything-in-between! Free before 11:30 pm, $5 after. 

FRIDAY 
5 pm “Final Frontiers” Opening Reception @ Communication Art Gallery, 209 Harbord St. The fantastical illustrative reflections of Jeff Dwelska on our obsession with excess. “In this show, Dywelska uses a combination of ideas taken from both the realities of his suburban environment and his own free association to create illustrative paintings which, though often humorous, make strong comments on the lifestyle of the modern suburbanite.” Until 8 pm. Show runs until  

10 pm The Cold Sweat @ The Red Light, 1185 Dundas St. W. A big blast of vintage soul and deep funk with DJs Double K and Dennis P. 

10 pm Versus @ The Piston, 937 Bloor St. W. DJs Dylan Childs and John McLeod of Hot Blooded play music similar in style to these two mega stars and around midnight, they battle them head to head to find out which artist reigns supreme. This month it’s James Brown versus Parliament!  $5. 

10 pm Soul Block Party @ Crawford, 718 College St. Two floors of sweet soul music and three DJs to take you higher! DJs Fase, Splattermonkey and Cozmic Cat play Motown, stax 60’s and 70’s soul music. $5 before midnight, more after. 

10 pm Pop Lobster: Dance Dance Resolution Edition @ Magpie, 831 Dundas St. W. Dance away your cloudy New Years memories and stick to your resolution of getting more exercise with cardio jams to make you dance all night long! This lobster knows no pop boundaries and may or may not play some of this: Destiny’s Child, Blondie, Of Montreal, Aretha Franklin, Le Tigre, Madonna, Salt N Pepper, Abba, Britney Spears, etc. 

10 pm Yacht Rock @ The Boat, 158 Augusta Ave. A night of dancing to the smoothest music you’ve ever heard in your life. $5 to step aboard. 

10 pm Jukebox Generation @ Sneaky Dee’s, 431 College St. The Balconies present Jukebox Generation, a 60’s/70’s covers night! With your host DJ Jer Tompkins + a celebration for Audio Blood’s 3rd birthday. $6.  

10 pm Girl & Boy 90s Dance Party @ Clinton’s, 693 Bloor St. W. RnB, hip-hop, pop and 90’s dance music from North America and Europe. Only one rule: no Pearl Jam. Free before 11 pm with student ID, $5 otherwise. 

10 pm Big Primpin’ @ Wrongbar, 1279 Queen St. W. Hip-hop and hot times for homos and their friends! With DJs Betti Forde, Kevin Ritchie and Blackcat + a special performance by Roney and Nanii. Half-priced drinks until 11 pm.  

10 pm Back-A-Yard @ The Emmet Ray, 924 College St. A night of sunshine vibes with Pie & Mash DJs. The best reggae, ska, dub, and dancehall tunes! 

10 pm Scissors @ Bar Neon, 1226 Bloor St. W. House music for ladies and their friends! 

10:30 pm Strip Spelling Bee @ Buddies In Bad Times Theatre, 12 Alexander St. The game is played a lot like strip poker, but it’s a spelling bee, and it’s played in front of a live audience of hooters, hollerers and hecklers who want to see some smart and sexy skin! Sign-up at 10:30 pm sharp, bee starts at 11 pm. $10 at the door. 

11 pm Never Forgive Action @ The Drake Underground, 1150 Queen St. W. Classic hip-hop and R&B super jams all night long from DJs Grouch, Numeric and Ted Dancin’ + host More Or Les. Vintage rap videos on the screens! $10. 

SATURDAY 
7:30 pm Sass: A Spontaneous Art Show Surprise @ The Rustic Owl, 993 Bloor St. W. It’s like an art blog, but IRL! A smorgasbord of unique artists, illustrators, designers and craftsmen getting together to show the goods at a brand new café and art space. After the shmoozing and drinks, there will be a DJ and dancing. 

8 pm DJ Skate Night @ The Harbourfront Centre, 235 Queen’s Quay W. DJ medicineman dazzles the rink with his latest passion, electro swing (the eclectic lovechild of early 1900’s jazz and modern electronic beats). Until 11 pm.  

10 pm Soul Clap Benefit for DJ Jonathan Toubin @ The Shop under Parts & Labour, 1566 Queen St. W. Soul, funk and R&B vinyl with guest DJs Scott Cudmore and Camembert Electrique. Soul Clap founder/NYC DJ Jonathan Toubin is in critical condition after a runaway taxi crashed into his hotel room in Portland, Oregon and ran over him while he slept. PWYC ($5-10 suggested donation), with 100% of proceeds going to cover Jonathan’s medical expenses. 

10 pm Motown Party @ 751, 751 Queen St. W. Motown, northern soul and remixes with DJs Fawn BC and Caff upstairs and an all-vinyl set with DJs Brett Millius and Reverend Throwdown downstairs. $11 pitchers and cheap bar rails all night. $5 before midnight, $10 after. 

10 pm Reality Bytes @ Augusta House, 152-A Augusta Ave. Start 2012 off on the right foot by traveling back in time to the 90’s! DJs 4est, Lindzrox, Jrox and special guests spin all your favourite dance, hip-hop, electronica and alternative 90’s tunes. Free before 11 pm, $5 after. 

10 pm Rip It Up @ The Piston, 937 Bloor St. W. DJ Davy Love and friends play R&B, garage, soul, doo-wop and down and dirty rock n’ roll records for your listening, dancing and drinking-along-with pleasure. 

10 pm Evveryday Wavvy @ The Red Light, 1185 Dundas St. W. DJs Smells Gvcci and Coolin Cregg select splashy drug rap all night long.  

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 Slowed @ Wrongbar, 1279 Queen St. W. Slo-mo tunes with DJs Torro Torro, Lucie Tic, Paul David, Dos Mundos and Doko. 

10 pm Funk You Very Much @ Crawford, 718 College St. DJs Expo and Mark Orlic make you get up, get down and get F-U-N-K-Y. Free before 11 pm, $5 after.

10:30 pm Tapette: Édition Poulette @ The Henhouse, 1532 Dundas St. W. Onne et heureuse année les homos! Tapette makes its triumphant return the first Saturday of every month inside its new home.

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

SUNDAY 
11 am Free Public Skating @ Evergreen Brickworks, 550 Bayview Ave. The Brickworks Skating Trail is the perfect place to enjoy fresh air, exercise and winter fun! Limited skate rentals available for $5. Until 4 pm.

~ Caitlyn Holroyd

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