October 4th-5th Toronto Oktoberfest @ St. Lawrence Market North Building, 92-95 Front St. E. Inspired by traditions started in Munich, Germany over 200 years ago, Toronto’s Oktoberfest will capture the essence of Bavarian festivities through authentic food, drink and merriment.

WEDNESDAY

7 pm “Black Math” Opening Reception @ Steam Whistle Brewery, 255 Bremner Blvd. “In the beginning, we believed in fairies, spells, demons, and rituals. Our lives were governed by our own fear of the dark. And so we set out to conquer that fear. Over time, math replaced myth; algorithm replaced ritual; equation replaced enigma. We gained the ability to predict the laws of nature themselves. We left the supernatural behind. But have we grown complacent? What lies there, beyond the forgotten frontier of the mystic, concealed by darkness? What is waiting at the crossroads of science and sorcery? Is it dangerous? Could it change our lives? ‘Black Math’ is a mixed media exhibition wherein the relationship between the natural and supernatural worlds is explored by each artist with equal parts wit, impishness, solemnity and straight up humour.”  Until 10 pm. Exhibition runs until the end of October.

8 pm Liquid Karaoke @ Bambi’s, 1265 Dundas St. W. Colin Bergh, James McDonough, Nadia Belerique, and Jeff Hayward are your hosts.

9 pm Comedy at The Ossington @ The Ossington, 61 Ossington Ave. With comedians Kirk Hicks, Alex Nussbaum, Adam Christie, Jeff Toth, Mikey Kolberg, Nick Flanagan, and special mystery guests. Hosted by Sara Hennessey, Greg Alsop, Jeremy Mersereau, and Steph Kaliner. PWYC.

10 pm I’m With the Band @ The Garrison, 1197 Dundas St. W. Every Wednesday, musicians from Toronto’s Fuzzy Logic Recordings DJ in the front room. This Wednesday, it’s More Or Les.

THURSDAY

7 pm “Shape Jams” Opening Reception @ Hashtag Gallery, 801 Dundas St. W. “Colour and shape provide a universal visual language with infinite meaning. This show is an exploration of the relationship between colour and shape, interpreted by 10 different artists.” Until 11 pm. Exhibition runs until October 20th.

7 pm “Canadian Landscape” Opening Reception @ Gallery 1313 (main gallery), 1313 Queen St. W. Participating artists provide “their own unique interpretation of the Canadian landscape utilizing a variety of different media.” Until 10 pm.

10 pm The Quiet Storm @ The Red Light, 1185 Dundas St. W. DJ Andy Capp plays four hours of melodically soulful music that provides an intimate, laid-back mood tailor-made for late-night listening and a welcome end to the stresses of the workday.

10 pm Don’t Cry Baby @ Holy Oak, 1241 Bloor St. W. With DJs Future Gagne and Suri Cruise. “OLDIES” – Future. “ALL THE HITS” – Cruise.    

10 pm Blahzay Florplay @ The Ossington, 61 Ossington Ave. Thursday will now be known as Blahzay. Why? Because anything goes at Blahzay Florplay! With DJs Pangea Delphi and Nana.

11 pm Evening Standard @ The Drake Underground, 1150 Queen St. W. DJs Members Only and guest Bicep spin everything from disco renaissance to house classics. $10.

FRIDAY

7:30 pm Alexander Keith’s Birthday Celebration @ Evergreen Brickworks, 550 Bayview Ave. A night of food crafted by local chefs and food trucks (Rock Lobster, Neptuno Oysters, Pretty Sweet, Fidel Gastros, Dobro Jesti, Bonfire Catering, Caplansky’s Deli Truck Stuft Gourmet Sausages, Gourmet Gringos, and Babi&Co), live music by Matt Mays and special guest Dwayne Gretzky, and more! Shuttle service departs every 10 minutes from Union Station and Broadview station starting at 7:30 pm. $10 tickets available online (includes complimentary shuttle service and entrance to the festival).

10 pm No Pants No Problem @ The Garrison, 1197 Dundas St. W. Dance in your underwear and have a looksy at the cutest bums that Toronto has to offer! Featuring a safer sex booth, spin the bottle and other makeout games, red light confessional, sweaty dance floor, and more. Pant check for the cheeky and a small but meaningful penalty ($5 before 10 pm, $10 after) for those who just like to watch, with all proceeds going to AIDS Action Now.

10 pm Met You On Twitter.com 2 @ Holy Oak, 1241 Bloor St. W. DJs Max Mertens and Jess Carrow play weird pop music, 90’s and present day R&B, and a little bit of hip-hop. Bring yr friends and lovers!

10 pm Pop Lobster: Pumpkin Spice Edition @ Magpie, 831 Dundas St. W. Lobsterers, it’s almost October. You know what that means: leaves changing, thanksgiving, pies, cornucopias, sweaters, halloween, and yes, pumpkin spice everything. Embrace the spirit of the season and give thanks for pop music and the freedom to dance the shit out of it! Join DJs Little Kicks and Digits for a spicy dance party to kick off the long weekend appropriately.

10 pm Beatlemania! @ The Piston, 937 Bloor St. W. Join Bangs & Blush for a HARD DAY’S NIGHT where you TWIST AND SHOUT to 60’s soul, rock n’ roll, and all your favourite Beatles tunes! $5.

10 pm Trip the Light Fantastic@ Margret, 2952 Dundas St. W. DJ Boots Boogie and guests spin all your favourite disco, funk, guilty pleasures, and old school hip-hop tunes. Dirty movies on the projector!

10 pm Soul Block Party / She’s So Thirsty @ Crawford, 718 College St. Upstairs, DJs Fase and Splattermonkey rock that sweet soul, funk, hip-hop, R&B, and reggae that you know and love! Downstairs, DJ Grouch plays 90’s reggae, hip-hop, and more. $5 before midnight, more after.

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 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 Sweat Pants @ The Ossington, 61 Ossington Ave. DJ Coolin Cregg plays his/your favourite songs all night. ’95(ish) to ’05(ish) rap/RnB/reggae/dancehall, sexy tunes, new joints, old jams, sweat pants.

10 pm Pop Kult! 1 Year Anniversary @ The Gladstone Hotel, 1214 Queen St. W. Celebrate a year of Pop Kult! to the retro-flavored disco and stripped down house vibes of punk-turned-dance musician Mike Simonetti. With supporting sets by Brandon Sek and Famous Players DJs. $10 advance tickets (guaranteed entry) available at Rotate This, Soundscapes, Play De Record, and online. For $10 reduced guestlist (subject to capacity), email names to guestlist@wearemansion.ca.

10 pm Tits & Toques @ The Henhouse, 1532 Dundas St. W. A night of dancing that will see you jumping and destroying your vocal chords to your favourite indie jams!

10 pm Girl & Boy 90s Dance Party @ Clinton’s, 693 Bloor St. W. A pulsating dance party rocking the retro sounds of the 1990s! All your favourite dance, pop, hip-hop, R&B, and so on and so on and so on. $5.

10 pm Big Primpin’ @ Wrongbar, 1279 Queen St. W. Hip-hop and hot times for homos, their friends, and admirers. With DJs Stunts, Kevin Ritchie, and Phil. For guestlist, email bigprimpin@gmail.com. $5.

11 pm Your Boy Brian + Simon’s B-Day Party @ The Drake Underground, 1150 Queen St. W. The Drake’s resident DJ Your Boy Brian and bartender extraordinaire Simon Ho celebrate their birthday together with friends, cake, and music. $10.

SATURDAY

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 dancing to their favourite music of all eras (surely, some of your favs too). $5.

10 pm Super Funk Soul Party @ 3030, 3030 Dundas St. W. DJs Cozmic Cat and Splattermonkey serve it up fresh and funky playing kick ass soul, funk jams, and sweet party grooves + live performance from special guests The Hornettes. $5.

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. $5 before midnight, $10 after otherwise.

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 Secret Models @ The Ossington, 61 Ossington Ave. One big room, full of bad bitches! DJs Secret Models play hits straight from your high school semi-formal.

10 pm Reality Bytes 2 Year Anniversary @ Augusta House, 152-A Augusta Ave. Celebrate 2 years of travelling back in time to the 90’s! DJs 4est, Lindzrox, Jrox, and special guests Taiza spin all your favourite dance, hip-hop, electronica and alternative 90’s tunes. Free before 11 pm, $5 after.

10 pm Tapette: Èdition Long-Weekend @ The Henhouse, 1532 Dundas St. W. It’s time to party double-time! DJ Phil V spins all the French goodies yer butt craves.

10 pm Pay Day @ The Shop under Parts & Labour, 1566 Queen St. W. DJs Isosceles and Stew Innes play open format from 10 to midnight followed by old school hip-hop from midnight to close. Free before 11:30 pm, $5 after.

10 pm Aeroplane @ Wrongbar, 1279 Queen St. W. With Aeroplane + supporting sets by Wheel Wells and Arrogahnz. $12.50 advance tickets available at Rotate This, Soundscapes, andonline. For guestlist requests, email guestlist@wrongbar.com.

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 Fresh Saturdays @ Crawford, 718 College St. DJs Millzy and MC PTP jammin’ hip hop, R&B, and reggae! $5 before 11:30 pm, more after.

11 pm Never Forgive Action @ The Drake Underground, 1150 Queen St. W. Classic hip-hop and R&B super jams all night long from DJ Numeric, Ted Dancin’, and Dalia + special guests Mantis and Hajabug. Vintage rap videos on the screens! $10.

11 pm Love Saves the Day @ The Beaver, 1192 Queen St. W. Maximal disco and maximal house with DJs Luis Jacob, Produzentin, and Jaime Sin.

SUNDAY

10 pm DJ Dougie Boom’s Long Weekend Jam @ The Drake Lounge, 1150 Queen St. W. DJ Dougie Boom jumps seamlessly from one genre to the next and keeps the dance floor moving. If you need any other excuse, here’s two more words for you: long weekend! $10.

~ Caitlyn Holroyd

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