March 18th-20th Toronto Wine & Cheese Show @ International Centre (Hall 5), 6900 Airport Rd., Missisauga. A tasty selection of wines, beers, spirits and gourmet foods. Presentations at the Bosch Sip & Savour Kitchen all weekend, including live cooking demos from celebrity chef Chuck Hughes (host of Food Network’s Chuck’s Day Off), live music in the 94.7 Wine Garden, the third annual Patrón Spirits Bartender Competition (1:30 pm on Sunday with Food Network star Kevin Brauch of the Thirsty Traveler) and daily seminars with the Dairy Farmers of Canada. $15 in advance athttp://www.towineandcheese.com or $18 at the door.

WEDNESDAY 

1 pm Eco Art 2011 @ Gallery 1313, 1313 Queen St. W. Curated group exhibition of featuring a variety of works addressing environmental issues and concerns, such as urban sprawl, energy conservation, water and air quality, wildlife and global warming. Until March 27th, including a book sale/clothing swap on March 20th from 1-5 pm. Gallery hours are Wednesday to Sunday 1-6 pm. 

THURSDAY 

6 pm St. Patrick’s Day @ 751, 751 Queen St. W. The Crown Princes play music to get drunk, belligerent, lustful, rowdy and all other things Irish to. Terrible movies screened all night by Eyesore Cinema.  

7 pm St. Patty’s Day Groove @ Tiger Bar, 414 College St. Groovy indie party with bands Most People, Natural Static, Lum and a rockin’ DJ for you to get your dance-and-drink goin’ on. Wear green, duh! Nachos at 9 pm. $5. 

7 pm “Stark” Opening Reception @ The Gladstone Hotel Gallery, 1214 Queen St. W. Lana Paiement “strips away the familiar and releases the unpredictability of emotional human conditions, presenting the impossible to avoid portrait series.”  

9 pm ShopLIFT @ The Garrison, 1197 Dundas St. W. Join the Liason of Independent Filmmakers of Toronto in celebrating their 30th anniversary. A silent auction fundraiser including film production services, gallery memberships and one-of-a-kind donations from local musicians and film professionals + movie-oke (movie dialogue with live musical accompaniment)! $8 general, $5 LIFT members and students, with all proceeds going towards LIFT and its commitment to supporting independent filmmaking. 

9 pm Gay & Sexy Merlin Record Release @ Silver Dollar Room, 486 Spadina Ave. Toronto locals Gay & Sexy Merlin are releasing a special limited edition 12 inch record on Pleasence Records, with special guests Vowls and DJ sets by members of the bands. $5.  

9 pm Snakes & Lagers @ Naco Gallery, 1665 Dundas St. W. Cheap Jameson Irish Whiskey ($4 for the straight goods)! Snakebites! Guinness! Brilliant music! Dancing! Smilin’ eyes!  

10 pm Burner Thursdays @ Andy Poolhall, 489 College St. St. Patrick’s Day Edition! The sexiest and most popping dance, rock, electronica and house with DJs Barletta and Doll Parts + release of Paul David’s “Sunset Electric” EP.  

FRIDAY 
7 pm Shangri-Lost Number Six @ Shaw Gallery, 107 Shaw St. Very mysterious – we’re intrigued! Jimmy Limit, Jesse Harris, Shawn Kuruneru. $2.  

9 pm Purple Hill Record Release @ Silver Dollar Room, 486 Spadina Ave. Shoegaze-meets-twang! Release party for the band’s fourth record, “Bring on the Macho” with Tusks, Dora Alexander and DJ Aaron Knight of Shake A Tail. $6 or $10 with a CD.   

10 pm Lucky Bitches @ The Ossington, 61 Ossington Ave. Two ice princesses 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. 90’s hip-hop, contemporary hitz, forgotten gemz.  

10 pm Acid @ 751, 751 Queen St. W. A night of psychedelic and garage sounds from the 60’s, 70’s and beyond courtesy of DJ Dirty Dan. Affordable adult beverages and great food on hand.  

10 pm Horsey Craze @ The Shop under Parts & Labour, 1566 Queen St. W. Neil Young covers, featuring members of Constantines.  $8.  

10 pm Hip-Hop Karaoke: Round 50 @ Revival, 783 College St. A celebration for the big 5-0! Hosted by Abdominal and More Or Les, with DJs Numeric and Ted Dancin’. $5 before 11 pm.  

10 pm Fondle ‘Em Fridays: Japan Fundraising Edition @ Midpoint, 1180 Queen St. W. DJs Avant Chord and resident NV spinning for a great cause! Hip-hop, soul, funk, boogie, R&B, reggae, 90’s classics, old school jams, new-ish, and whatever else keeps you moving. $3 mixed drinks before midnight, $3 mugs of beer all night, $4 shots of Jameson. PWYC donations suggested at the door for the Red Cross. 

10 pm Beatdown @ Tota Lounge, 592 Queen St. W. Music inspired by the city of Detroit – from Motown to techno. DJs Royale, Pablo and Haf S.  

10 pm Girl & Boy 90’s Dance Party @ Clinton’s, 693 Bloor St. W. DJs Blossom and Uncle Phil spinning your favourite 90’s pop, hip-hop, dance, rock and indie hits all night long. Free before 11 pm with student ID, $5.

11 pm Dudebox Presents: Sick Kids @ The Drake Hotel Underground, 1150 Queen St. W. Featuring DJs Nights and André of More Proof spinning everything from classic party jams to artistic house. All proceeds go to Sick Kids Hospital, so dance yourself silly and support a good cause at the same time! $10. 

SATURDAY

8:30 pm Nice Friends #2 @ Placebo Art Gallery, 1409 Bloor St. W., Apt. A. Performances by local musicians The Box Tiger, Inlet Sound and The Morals with Portland’s In The Audience + local artists and designers displaying and selling some of their things. $5 or $2 each if you bring a friend. 

10 pm Savoy One Year Anniversary @ Savoy, 1166 Queen St. W. A celebration with discounted drinks, food and a whole lot of dancing. DJ Fancy Feast plays hits and rarities from the 60’s to the present.  

10 pm The Groove Stew @ The Drake Underground, 1150 Queen St. W. Brought to you by the Hit Parade (Yacht Rock, Dance Armstrong), The Groove Stew makes its debut! Featuring different music genres presenting their grooviest, soul-filled best – from Stevie Wonder to Cee-Lo Green, The Jackson 5 to Gorillaz, David Bowie to Kanye.  

10 pm Bitch Craft @ The Shop under Parts & Labour, 1566 Queen St. W. Hip-hop with lady DJs Blonde & Redhead. Old school, new school, whatever-they-want school. Drink specials until 11:30 pm. Free before 11:30 pm, $5 after.  

10 pm Bang The Party @ Crawford, 718 College St. Andycapp and Rod Skimmins downstairs spinning future boogie, left field house and deconstructed soul with special guests Jeremy Glenn and Pammm upstairs. $4 shots of Jameson, Jag, Jim Beam and $4 bottles/$13 pitchers of beer. $5.  

10 pm Shake, Rattle & Roll @ Clinton’s, 693 Bloor St. W. 60’s pop and rock n’ roll + Motown + soul with lady DJ duo Bangs & Blush. $5. 

10 pm Vive Me Harder @ Augusta House, 152 Augusta Ave. Dirty disco mayhem, magical drink specials, and DJs Rich Banker and Marko Orlic brought to you by U of T’s VIVE Magazine. BYO badass outfit: the I-do-shots-of-Jager-with-2-fingered-rings-and-Black-Onyx-OPI-in-platform-Rick-Owens badass, okay? $5 tickets, $10 at the door. 

10 pm Strictly Business @ The Red Light, 1185 Dundas St. W. Rap attack all up in your face! Another heavy dose of classic hip-hop with DJs Serious and Numeric. 

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

SUNDAY 

6:30 pm Sex+ Film Festival @ The Royal Cinema, 608 College St. Movies to match certain sexual themes using the ‘Sex plus’ idea. This week’s screening: Diary of a Nymphomaniac, the story of a woman who believes that love is not the romantic end that society has proclaimed, taking pure joy in sex without love (and she has a LOT of it). French with subtitles. Doors at 6:30, movie starts at 7 pm. $12.