February 24th-26th Outdoor Adventure Show @ The International Centre, 6900 Airport Rd. See It! Do It! Live It! Featuring hundreds of exhibits offering amazing pre-season deals on the best outdoor gear and adventure travel experiences. Discover hiking, running, cycling, camping, kayaking, canoeing and be inspired by seasoned travellers and experts. $12 at the door. More information available online.
WEDNESDAY
10 pm HumbleMania 37 @ The Ossington, 61 Ossington Ave. In honour of Black History Month, HumbleMania will be playing vinyl from the best black musicians – blues to Motown to rock and roll all the way to hip-hop and rap. They will also screen the best of the 1962 blues and folk festival featuring performances by some of the greatest blues legends to ever live: Howlin Wolf, Son House, Big Joe Turner, John Lee Hooker, Muddy Waters, T-Bone Walker, Big Momma Thorton and more.
THURSDAY
10 pm MurderBoner! 13 @ The Red Light, 1185 Dundas St. W. DJ Ghetto Gold Matt plays new progressive rap music all night long. Hard drinks, and harder 808s.
10 pm Switched On @ Camp 4, 1173 Dundas St. W. DJs Jaime Sin and Pam Hong play indie rock, alt pop and campus radio jams.
10 pm Thrust @ College Street Bar, 574 College St. Travel back in time to when big hair, parachute pants, fuzz-boxes, guyliner and gangsters were all the rage as DJ Dislexia brings you forgotten gems and classic jams of yester-year! Synth pop, new wave, grindin’ grooves, euro dance, gangsta love, things-you-forgot-but-want-to-hear-again. Requests welcome. $5.
10 pm My So-Called 90’s @ Margret, 2952 Dundas St. W. Dust off your Doc Martins and pull up your wool socks as DJ Lady Catalano takes you back in time to the decade of grunge, plaid and teenage angst! Your favourite 90’s alt-rock anthems all night long.
10 pm Hand Drawn Dracula @ Unlovable, 1415-B Dundas St. W. Crocodiles after party with DJs Brandon and Charles of the Crocodiles, Brian of Holy Fuck/Dusted, and resident James.
10 pm Rap & Bitches @ Crawford, 718 College St. DJ kungfucandy plays hip-hop and R&B while mixing in some hits from your favourite ladies.
FRIDAY
8 pm Elwins CD Release + Songs A Dance Party @ The Burroughes Building, 639 Queen St. W. The Young Lions Music Club and Toronto Standard combine an intergalactic rock n’ roll show with a sweaty-as-bawls DJ dance party! Featuring The Elwins CD release with friends Meligrove Band and The Bicycles followed by Songs A Dance Party (a.k.a. the DJ party where your favourite rock n’ roll bands show you what they got on the ones-and-twos) featuring DJs Tokyo Police Club. As always, Bobby Kimberley picks the jams before and after. $8 in advance advance from Rotate This and Soundscapes), $12 door or $6 for Songs only (at midnight). Partial proceeds go to support the Toronto Music Industry Association.
8 pm Steam Whistle Unsigned #21 @ Steam Whistle Brewery, 255 Bremner Ave. Performances by Boys Who Say No and The Paint Movement, and a solo set from Luke Lalonde of the Born Ruffians. $5 at the door, with all proceeds from ticket sales going back to the community through the Artists’ Health Center Foundation.
8:30 pm Daps Records Revue Vol. 1 @ The Great Hall, 1087 Queen St. W. The sparkling celestial debut performance and album release party for Phedre + performances by Hooded Fang, Doldrums, Moon King, and L Con. DJs come on later to turn your crying into laughter. $10 in advance from Rotate This, Soundscapes, and Ticketmaster, $12 at the door.
10 pm Shindig! Presents… Girl Groups vs. Guy Groups @ The Piston, 937 Bloor St. W. DJs Nico and Misty Rock & Roll representing the girls, and DJs General Eclectic and Double K representing the guys. DJ Splattermonkey plays host and referee for this epic battle of the sexes. Expect to hear: The Supremes vs. The Temptations, The Vandellas vs. The Four Tops, The Marvelettes Vs. The Miracles, The Shangri-Las Vs. The Beatles, The Charmaines Vs. The Rolling Stones and SO MUCH MORE!
10 pm Space Invaders @ Crawford, 718 College St. DJs Boots Boogie and Shan Dub play nu disco, house, disco, and funk.
10 pm Happy Endings 1 Year Anniversary @ Dim Sum King, 421 Dundas St. W. With DJs Kingdom, Dubbel Dutch, and Yes Yes Y’All. $3 beers before midnight and $5 drinks all night long, $5 dim sum platters and free birthday lobsters. $10 advanced tickets at Rotate This, Soundscapes, Play De Record and online. For $10 reduced guestlist (subject to capacity), e-mail names to guestlist@themansioninc.com.
10 pm Dance Armstrong @ Clinton’s, 693 Bloor St. W. No genre specific theme here, merely songs that make you want to dance like you’ve won. And won big. Anything and everything from Gorillaz to Bowie, Hot Chip to Jay-Z, Paul Simon to The Stone Roses, The Beatles to Postal Service to Digable Planets. And probably Hall & Oates. Only the most victorious of songs! $5.
10 pm Ignition / Grilled Cheese @ Crawford, 718 College St. Bumpin’ n’ grindin’ RnB, hip-hop, reggae and club musics (and more than enough R. Kelly classics) in the basement with DJs Caff and Rei Von. Upstairs, DJs Jon Chetty and James Redi play Motown, disco, hip-hop and reggae while Fundament holds it down front and centre with a mic, a George Foreman grill, a stack of Cheesy slices and a fresh loaf. Yes, FREE GRILLED CHEESE ON THE DANCE FLOOR! Free before 11 pm, $5 after.
10 pm Hello Berlin @ Wrongbar, 1279 Queen St. W. Berlin-based artist and tech house producer Santé in his first Canadian appearance alongside Julien Loreto and Mayor. $20 at the door.
10 pm Way Out @ Salvador Darling, 1237 Queen St. W. Resident DJs Kaewonder and Dougie Boom + special guests Ron High Tower and Booth play psychedelic new and ancient.
10:30 pm Itzsoweezee @ The Drake Underground, 1150 Queen St. W. A feel-good house party atmosphere! DJs Tom Wrecks and DeMiggs play music to make you dance, smile and holler. Free cocktail hour from 11 pm to midnight courtesy of Hennessy Black. For guest list line bypass emailguestlist@itzsoweezee.com (closes at 11:30 pm). $10.
11 pm Rocky Horror Oscar Spectacular @ Toronto Underground Cinema, 186 Spadina Ave. Celebrate some of the best movies of the year Rocky Horror-style! From silent filmmakers to iconic blondes to British prime ministers to 9/11 – there’s nothing they won’t do during this mash-up of the best films of the last year. (Actual start time will be closer to midnight but come early to reserve a seat.) $8 at the door.
SATURDAY
7 pm A Hoi Polloi @ Creatures Creating, 627 Queen St. W. An art show exhibiting work from some of Toronto’s best up-and-coming artists + live music from Ctrl+Alt+Dance, Tuxedo Junction, and Water Margin starting at 8 pm. Beer, wine, and food will be available.
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.
8 pm Women’s Arm Wrestling Championship @ 751 (upstairs), 751 Queen St. W. Put your elbows down and your hands together! Each wrestler dukes it out to the tune of her own theme song and brings her posse as back up. Event is open to everyone and fake names and costumes are highly encouraged! To pre-register, email classyladiesarmwrestling@gmail.com (same-day registration starts at 8 pm, fights start at 10 pm). $5 to watch, with all proceeds going to Because I Am A Girl, whose social movement is designed to unleash the power of girls and women to claim a brighter future for girls in the developing world.
10 pm Bad Taste @ 751 (basement), 751 Queen St. W. Gully rap music all night brought to you by The Good Kids, Walmer Convenience DJs, The Dirty Frenchman, and DJ Plan B. Duck your head, protect ya neck. $5, with proceeds going to Because I Am A Girl.
10 pm Born To Run DMC @ The Shop under Parts & Labour, 1566 Queen St. W. DJs Mizz Brown and Paul G spin rock and hip-hop classics, from The Boss to Run DMC! Drink specials until 11:30 pm. Free before 11:30 pm, $5 after.
10 pm Room Temperature Vol. 7 @ Smiling Buddha Bar, 961 College St. A pop-up monthly party with a focus on the best in disco, house, and boogie. With resident DJ Parasol and special guest Colin Bergh. No cover – free music frees your body!
10 pm Brendan Canning DJ Set @ The Piston, 937 Bloor St. W. Brendan Canning of Broken Social Scene spins an all-vinyl set of eclectic music to keep you movin’!
10 pm Shake, Rattle & Roll @ Clinton’s, 693 Bloor St. W. A sexy, sweaty dance party thrown by Bangs & Blush! 60’s pop, soul and rock n’ roll. $5.
10 pm Panic @ Velvet Underground, 510 Queen St. W. The ultimate retro party with DJ Lazarus spinning the kind of retro that changed your life. 70’s, 80s and 90’s, new wave, classic alternatives, ska, Brit-pop, dance, shoegaze, post-punk and more. This month’s spotlight is Simple Minds.
10 pm Legends of Funk @ The Garrison, 1197 Dundas St. W. DJs Czech, Biodiesel, Dave Saddler, and Farbsie Funk make it funky. $15 advance tickets available online.
10 pm NCKBRK @ JangBang, 430 College St. DJs Sylvermayne, Taktiks and Kaewonder play new and progressive music that has helped expand the art, with a special emphasis on Dilla in honour of Dilla Month.
10 pm Return of the Double Dragon @ Crawford, 718 College St. DJs Freeza Chin and Shai (a.k.a. the Double Dragons) play the best in reggae, dancehall, and soca + a touch of hip-hop and old school. Free before 11:30, $5 after.
10 pm F*ckin’ Eh! @ The Drake Lounge + Underground, 1150 Queen St. W. Experience some of the finest turntablism this side of the parallel as DJ collective The Eh! Team takes over The Drake! $10.
SUNDAY
12 pm Mix, Mingle, Marry! @ Gladstone Hotel Galleries & Ballroom, 1214 Queen St. W. Part showcase, part party celebration, all fun! A wedding showcase featuring the most innovative visionaries in the GTA wedding biz exhibiting their wares for brides, grooms, and friends seeking the freshest ideas for their big day. Until 5 pm. Tickets available online.
3:30 pm Silent Sundays: Wings (1927) @ Revue Cinema, 400 Roncesvalles Ave. A special Oscar-day screening of William A. Wellman’s thrilling aviation epic, Wings: the first Best Picture winner starring 1920s “It” girl Clara Bow. Featuring live piano accompaniment by William O’Meara. $12 for non-members, $10 for members, $7 seniors/children.
8:30 pm Bartenders We Steal From Other Bars @ Unlovable, 1415-B Dundas St. W. Every Sunday, Unlovable will host a different special guest bartender from some of their favourite spots around town. This week, Micheal J Boyd from Communist Daughter works the bar.
10 pm Free Carnival @ Crawford, 718 College St. Free slushies and popcorn, balloon animals, card tricks, machete juggling, magic, nails through the nose, Rola Bola, contortion, stunts, Twister tournament, and more!
~ Caitlyn Holroyd