June 8th-17th Luminato @ various locations. An annual 10-day festival of creativity where Toronto’s stages, streets, and public spaces are illuminated with arts and creativity! Luminato is a multi-disciplinary festival of theatre, dance, classical and contemporary music, film, literature, visual arts, design and more.

June 8th-9th The Drinks Show @ 99 Sudbury, 99 Sudbury St. Toronto’s trendiest crowd mixed with the city’s most renowned bartenders! The world’s only interactive cocktail event. Runs 6 pm to 1 am. $23 online, $30 at the door.

June 9th-10th Woofstock @ St. Lawrence Market, The Esplanade. North America’s largest outdoor festival for dogs. 300,000 dog lovers and their four-footed friends coming together each year for this wildly popular doggie love-in! 10 am to 6 pm. Free!

WEDNESDAY

8 pm Burnout Basement @ Bambi’s, 1265 Dundas St. W. With super special guest DJs The Scum of the Earth (a.k.a. Kate McEdwards and Jimaymay Weaver).

9 pm Comedy @ The Ossington, 61 Ossington Ave. With comedians Todd Graham, Kirk Hicks, Matt Folliot, Kyle Dooley, Duncan Lincs, Tim Gilbert, Todd Van Allen, Sarah Ford, and Peter Stevens. Hosted by Sara Hennessey, Greg Alsop, Jeremy Mersereau, and Steph Kaliner. PWYC.

10 pm The Grump Invades Camp 4 @ Camp 4, 1173 Dundas St. W. Join The Grump and friends for a special night when they make all your wildest dreams come true, and more.

THURSDAY

7 pm “Holo” Exhibition Opening @ Goodfellas Gallery, 1266 Queen St. W. “Sarah Phelps’ latest series is called ‘Holo’ and represents the evolution of spirit. Much like us, the pieces possess energy, complexity, layers and depth. The colours invigorate and beg for your imaginative interpretation. The message is there for you to explore.” Until 11 pm. Exhibition runs until June 21st.

7 pm Milk Glass Co. Gallery Presents: Milk Show @ Milk Glass Co. Gallery, 1247 Dundas St. W. New art gallery Milk Glass Co. celebrates its grand opening with a group show that honours its namesake. Milk Show features paintings and prints from a variety of artists who have created mil glass-themed pieces. Exhibition runs until June 18th.

7 pm “A Branch Is Too Big To Come Out Of A Twig” Opening Reception @ gallerywest, 1172 Queen St. W. “A new collaborative video installation surrounded around the subconscious. At the core is mechanically-assisted dream simulations and the described scenarios from the subconscious, exchanged between the Saskatchewan-based collective Turner Prize and artist Steve Reinke. These images and scenes have been enacted for video and photography.” Until 11 pm. 

10 pm How To Dress Well After Party @ Bambi’s, 1265 Dundas St. W. Weakend’s Prelude presents an after party with How To Dress Well (DJ Set) + DJs Rory Them Finest and Travis.

10 pm Fondue / Stop Crying @ Crawford, 718 College St. Upstairs, from the dudes that brought you Grilled Cheese comes a new famble jamble for all to enjoy with DJs James Redi, Jon Chetty, and special guests. Downstairs, Hip-hop, reggae, and dance music provided by The Bass6. $5.

10 pm Blahzay Floorplay @ The Ossington, 61 Ossington Ave. Hip-hop and dance hits. Summertime dance fun!

FRIDAY

6 pm “How To Be” Opening Reception @ O’Born Contemporary, 131 Ossington Ave. “A series of exercises that revisit and reimagine early 19th century primers for ‘young ladies.’ These books, serials and pamphlets include subjects ranging from etiquette and fashion to archery and riding, from botany, entomology and mineralogy to painting, dancing and embroidery. Each was meant to help a young woman navigate society and to keep her occupied, to battle the boredom that could lead to rebellion or other transgressions.” Until 9 pm.

9 pm Christie CD Release Show @ The Black Swan Tavern, 154 Danforth Ave. “Christie began her love affair with music very early on, performing in her grade school Ukulele Club (yes!), choirs, and as a backup vocalist in the live children’s show ‘Mary and Magic’. Her songwriting began even earlier when she received her first Casio keyboard(!!!) at the age of 6.” $8 advance (christieulicny@gmail.com), $10 at the door.

10 pm Beach Wave @ Sex Laser, 1369 Dundas St. W. DJs Nick Aoki, Adam Jackson, and Geoff Snack play summer music ALL. NIGHT. LONG.

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

10 pm Fuck It 1 Year Anniversary @ Clinton’s, 693 Bloor St. W. A 1 year celebration of the 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 music you know and secretly love. $5.

10 pm (ALT)Night: Do The D.A.N.C.E. @ Margret, 2952 Dundas St. W. Another shindig of dance! DJ Dislexia plays indie-house-rock-disco-risco-party-jam-booty-punk-funky-weird-whatever and makes you do the D.A.N.C.E. $3.50 tall cans of PBR and whiskey sours between 8 and 10 pm (drunk feet dance better).

10 pm Jackson Family Values @ Revival, 783 College St. Video dance party heavy on Michael and Janet with a sprinkling of the Jackson 5, The Jacksons, La Toya, Jermaine, Rebbie, and 3T. $7.

10 pm Pop Kult! @ The Gladstone Hotel, 1214 Queen St. W. With leftfield disco DJ duo In Flagranti of NYC + locals Mikey Apples and Brandon Sek. Visuals by Alex Ordanis, photos by Conrad McGee-Stocks and Catherine Chung, and photobooth by Luis Mora. $10 advance tickets available at Rotate This, Soundscapes, Play De Record, and online (guaranteed entry). For $10 reduced guestlist (subject to capacity), email names to guestlist@wearemansion.ca.

10 pm 90s Party @ The Annex WreckRoom, 794 Bloor St. W. Giveaways, 90’s prizes, 90’s movies courtesy of DJs Fawn BC and Caff, 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 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 Get By Fridays @ The Ossington, 61 Ossington Ave. DJ Mantis and Hajah Bug spin hip-hop, funk, soul, and reggae vibes on two turntables with very special guests.

10 pm Womb Children @ Holy Oak, 1241 Bloor St. W. Soul, disco, and funk like the warmth of the womb. With DJs Turfmayne and Mama Knows.

10 pm SoulSkank @ The Shop under Parts & Labour, 1566 Queen St. W. Funk, soul, reggae, ska, and dancehall in its most raw form! A vinyl-only dance party featuring live saxophone all night with DJs Double K, Gramera, and Dennis P. Free before 11 pm, $5 after.

10 pm DJ Fathom @ The Piston, 937 Bloor St. W. A vinyl spinnin’ dance party with DJ Fathom at the decks.

10 pm Phazed @ Crawford, 718 College St. Old school meets new school hip-hop and R&B with DJ Amplified. $5 before 11:30 pm, more after.

10 pm Her @ La Perla, 783 Queen St. W. Tan-HER-exic Edition! DJs Kris Steeves, Lucie Tic, and OMGBLOG.COM spin solar beats to get HER fully toasted! Special drink special before 11:30 pm. For line bypass, email set.her.free@gmail.com. $5.

SATURDAY

10 pm Something Gets Fingered @ The Annex Live, 296 Brunswick Ave. Cheap drinks, comedy, and a 60’s Motown dance party! Sketch by Lady Business (Alexandra Hurley, Deborah Ring, and Laura Bonang), stand-up by Tim Gilbert, improv by The Fingers (Nicole Elsasser, Devon Hyland, Alan Kliffer, Josh Murray, and Carolyn Williamson), and more. Afterwards, get down to the sounds of Motown. $10.

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 hip-hop, contemporary hitz, 80’s velvet jamz, forgotten gemz.

10 pm Twin Peaks @ The Beaver, 1192 Queen St. W. A night of Twin Peaks! The series will be projected from 10 pm onwards (post your favourite episodes on the Facebook wall as only the most requested episodes will be shown). David Lynch soundtracks and his own musical stylings will be played all night long. PLUS free organic David Lynch coffee and cherry pie while it lasts! Costumes encouraged – prizes from Eyesore Cinema to be won. $5.

10 pm Bitch Craft @ The Shop under Parts & Labour, 1566 Queen St. W. DJs Blonde & Redhead play LOUD RAP MUSIC. Free before 11 pm, $5 after.

10 pm Shake, Rattle & Roll @ Clinton’s, 693 Bloor St. W. Spend the night together with the Bangs & Blush ladies! 60’s pop, soul and rock n’ roll to drink, dance and get messy to. $5.

10 pm Shoplifters Will Be Prostituted @ The Piston, 937 Bloor St. W. A funk, soul, bastard pop, hip-hop, etc. dance party brought to you by A Digital Needle DJs.

10 pm Cocked & Loaded @ 751, 751 Queen St. W. DJ Deafmute plays rock, post-punk, new wave, and UK punk/pop.

10 pm Business Woman’s Special @ Augusta House, 152-A Augusta Ave. Summer is here and it’s time to sweat it out on the dance floor of BWS! With DJs Sammy and Nino Brown spinning and Kimon fulfilling all your photographic desires in the photo booth. $5.

10 pm I Know You Care @ Crawford, 718 College St. Hip-hop, R&B, old school, new school, funkÉ, everything dance party with DJs Shan Dub and Boots Boogie! $5 before 11:30 pm, more after.

11 pm Bang The Party @ The Drake Underground, 1150 Queen St. W. Resident DJ Andycapp and Todd West + special guest DJ Jerome Deradji from Chicago. Dance support from Emily Law and Neo Boog. Boogie, disco, house. $10.

SUNDAY

12 pm Toronto Island House & History Tour @ Wards Island Community Association, 2 Withrow Ave. Toronto Island Grannies in Spirit host their second tour of distinctive homes and community buildings on Toronto Island, each with its own story to tell. Featuring a selection of historic, renovated, original and new homes. Ticket holders will meet Island storytellers, view “random acts of history”, have the opportunity to talk to the homeowners, and view photographs and memorabilia from the Island’s history. Houses are open from 1 to 4 pm. $45 tickets available online, with all proceeds going to the Stephen Lewis Foundation.

9:30 pm Crosswires #10 @ The Garrison, 1197 Dundas St. W. A Sunday night series brought to you by Doc Pickles, co-founder and emcee of of Wavelength. Performances by Folly and the Hunter, River Whyless, and Erika Werry + General Chaos Visuals and DJ selector Acacia Christensen. Sponsored by Steam Whistle. PWYC.

~ Caitlyn Holroyd

For event submissions, email caitlyn_holroyd@hotmail.com