WEDNESDAY

7 pm This Workshop is Broken @ Toronto Public Library (Danforth/Coxwell Branch), 1675 Danforth Avenue. Author, musician, and journalist Stuart Berman talks about his experiences chronicling the Toronto independent music scene, and his recent project, “This Book is Broken,” a biography of the band Broken Social Scene. 

9 pm Rad Habits @ Camp 4, 1173 Dundas St. W. Old records, old-fashioned hospitality. 

10 pm Legoblocks @ Unlovable, 1415-B Dundas St. W. Neighbourhood pals Linus Booth, Dinamo Azari and Brandon Sek play fashion model-sized future music of yesteryear with American muscle inspired va voooom. 

THURSDAY

6 pm The Big Kiss @ Yonge Dundas Square. Grab a lover, friend, or an inanimate object to smooch beneath the largest mistletoe ever created! For every kiss, Virgin Mobile will donate $5 to WWF Canada.  

6 pm We, Ourselves, and Us @ Gallery 44, 401 Richmond St. W., Suite 120. Opening reception. Steven Beckly’s images “playfully explore whether pervasive cloning will allow individual identities to be retained or if these distinctions will begin to disintegrate, and whether this process will occur harmoniously or chaotically.” 

7 pm SpeakEasy’s Annual Holiday Sale @ Gladstone Hotel (second floor lobby and studio rooms), 1214 Queen St. W. An evening of arts, crafts, and seasonal fun! Shop for hand-crafted holiday gifts by 47 local artists, from jewellery to cards. PWYC ($4 donation suggested).  

10 pm YYZ Living Magazine Launch @ Nyood, 1096 Queen St. W. Official launch of Canada’s swanky new fashion and lifestyle publication. A night to see and be seen with mingling, cocktails, hors d’ouvres, and dancing. For guest list inquiries, contact kaitlyn@yyzgroup.com.  

10 pm Hip Hop Hanukah @ Mod Club, 722 College St. Montreal-based SOCALLED combines hip-hop, rap and funk with Yiddish theatre tunes and old-school Klezmer samples gleaned from 78 rpm records rescued out of derelict basements and garbage piles. Bring a new, unwrapped toy to be donated to Chai Life Line for a chance to win prizes. $20 in advance or $25 at the door. 

10 pm No Name @ The Ossington, 61 Ossington Ave. DJ NaNa spins nothing but good music – soul, hip-hop, rare groove; all that stuff that make you move!  

10 pm Soft Focus @ La Perla, 783 Queen St. W. Lo-fi, post-punk, psych-funk, and more with DJ Lauren Wilkins.  

FRIDAY

6 pm Toronto Night Market @ Distillery District. Official opening night for Toronto’s first-ever Christmas market, capturing the tradition, heritage and charm of a European Christmas Market, while showcasing hundreds of unique and local handcrafted products. Special guests and appearances by Santa Claus, the Christmas Angel and a special musical performance by The Canadian Tenors. Runs until December 12th.  

8 pm The Wa Issue 5.1 Launch @ The Bait Shop, 358 Dufferin St. Suite 117. Launch party for the new issue, featuring essays, short fiction, reviews, poetry, and more! Free copy of the magazine, an installation by Butcher Gallery, a new projection by M I D D L E S C H O O L, a very special Devil Sticks performance, DJs Josh Mcintyre and Scott Pilgrim, and drinks.  

10 pm Scissors @ Blondie’s, 1378 Queen St. W. Get toasty with Red Stag Bourbon from 10-12, house music, groping, and goodness. Contribute to the food drive by bringing in a canned or non-perishable food item.  

10 pm Deep-Fried @ Drake Hotel Lounge, 1150 Queen St. W. Hip-hop, soul, funk, and R&B served hot n’ crispy with plenty of flavour. $5.  

10 pm Whatevs @ 751, 751 Queen St. W. 90’s hip-hop and gangsta rap + $10 pitchers all night long. Loose morals in effect.  

10 pm Aughtie By Nature @ Teranga, 159 Augusta Ave. Put on your best pair of crocs, grow out the ironic mustache, and dust off your skinny jeans and anti-George Bush tees for a night of music from the 2000’s. Free before 11 pm, $5 after.  

10 pm Transmission @ The Shop under Parts & Labour, 1566 Queen St. W. DJs Scott Wade and Scott Waring play stuff like The Smiths, New Order, Pixies, Talking Heads, etc. $5.  

10 pm Yacht Rock @ The Boat, 158 Augusta Ave. Dance to the smoothest music you’ve ever heard in your life. $5.  

SATURDAY

11 am Kid Icarus Presents: A Handmade Holiday @ St. Stephen-in-the-Fields, 103 Bellevue Ave. A one day gift show and sale featuring high-quality handcrafted goods from local creators – paper products, poster art, knitwear, jewellery and more! Raffles throughout the day and mystery loot bags and the door. $2 or $5 with a mystery bag (limited quantity). Until 6 pm.  

10 pm Motown Party @ 751, 751 Queen St. W. Motown, northern soul, and remixes with DJs Fawn BC, Brett Millius, and Reverand Throwdown. Old favourites and rare grooves + $11 pitchers and cheap bar rails all night long. $5 before midnight, $10 after.  

10 pm Reality Bytes v.1.3 @ Augusta House, 152 Augusta Ave. A celebration of music and culture from the not-so-distant past – the 90’s, duh. DJs 4est, Lindzrox and Jrox with special guests A Couple Of Gay DJs.  

10 pm Chronologic @ The Boat, 158 Augusta Ave. A dance party through the ages with the Goin’ Steady DJs! Pop and antipop from since the end of history, i.e. music from 1890 to 2010, played in chronological order.  

10 pm Religious Material @ The Shop under Parts & Labour, 1566 Queen St. W. Scott Cudmore plays soul, funk, R&B, and rock n’ roll. Spiritual drink specials until 11:30 pm. $5.  

10 pm Over & Over @ The Red Light, 1185 Dundas St. W. Disco and house records with DJs Ali Black and one of our personal favs, Pooyan! Expect nothing but the smoothest tunes.  

10 pm Friendship @ The Ossington, 61 Ossington Ave. School’s Out Edition! A friendly mix of girl groups, garage, rap, post punk, and whatever else is appropriate for cutting loose and dancing.  

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

10 pm Ladynite @ Wrongbar, Queen St. W. A celebration of the start of the holiday season with an all star lineup of some of Toronto’s finest lady DJs. A portion of proceeds will be donated in support of the YWCA December 6th Fund to Stop Violence Against Women. $10 early with RSVP (guestlist@wrongbar.com).  

SUNDAY

11 am Free Skating! @ Harbourfront Centre’s Natrel Rink, 235 Queen’s Quay W. Skate on the waterfront for free! Skate and locker rentals available, plus several outdoor fireplaces to cozy up to when you need a break. Until 5 pm.   

1 pm Sunday Football & Meat Raffle @ The Red Light, 1185 Dundas St. W. Football and meat raffle join forces! Bar snacks and delivery hosted by Lady Di Tim Whitford.  

1:30 pm Jean-Michel Basquiat: The Radiant Child @ Bloor Cinema, 506 Bloor St. W. Director Tamra Davis’s documentary contains archival footage and photographs along with interviews with the artist’s contemporaries and an interview she once shot with Basquiat, who died from a heroin overdose at 27. $9.