February 15th-28th Claire, From The Bus @ The Storefront Theatre, 955 Bloor St. W. “Starring Toronto’s darling actor and comedian Ennis Esmer (The Listener, The LA Complex), veteran film, television and stage performer Mayko Nguyen (Rookie Blue, Cracked) alongside David Reale (Suits, SplinterCell: Blacklist) and, fresh from her run of Ross Petty’s Snow White, Bryn McAuley, Claire From The Bus is a hilariously harrowing tale of sex, deceit and ‘Seriously. How old is she?’” 8 pm Monday-Saturday and 2 pm Sunday. $23.54 regular admission, $18.42 for students.

WEDNESDAY

9 pm Fear Street @ Sex Laser, 1369 Dundas St W. Horror/sci-fi movie scores/songs from soundtracks, or spooky/cool stuff every Wednesday. Maybe you’ll talk about movies. Maybe you’ll dance with some zombies. Maybe you’ll fall into the Hell Mouth. $3 PBR before 11 pm.

10 pm Heart & Strokes @ Monarch Tavern (upstairs), 12 Clinton St. Time to get your dance on, every Wednesday until Armageddon! Come for the Heart, stay for the Strokes.

10 pm Not Not Friends @ Savoy, 1166 Queen St. W. DJs (and friends) Justin Tyce and Steph Croteau  
play everything from house to indie to hip-hop to trip-hop to classics and oldies. Whatever fits everyone’s fancy!

10 pm Common People @ The Midpoint, 1180 Queen St. W. DJ Tigermilk plays a mix of post-punk, alternative, Brit-pop, seminal to current indie rock, and whatever else. $4 mixed drinks before 11 pm, $4 tequila, $5 Jameson, $5 pints of PBR, and $7 mug + shot.

THURSDAY

6:30 pm Extension Room’s 1 Year Anniversary @ The Extension Room, 30 Eastern Ave. The Extension Room fitness and dance studio marks its first year anniversary in its new east end location with an artistic inspired celebration. Featuring a dance photography exhibit by TDFoto.ca (Tarzan Dan); an eclectic range of performances by local dance, opera, and circus artists; and cocktails and light appetizers by Amanda Moore, Dessert Artist.

7 pm “Balanced Expressions” Opening Reception @ #Hashtag Gallery, 801 Dundas St. W. “The world is full of opposites, wrong/right, good/evil, up/down, black & white/colour… artist Jimmy Chiale seeks to bring a balance to that last pairing with his hand picked group of Toronto artists working under a common theme: Balanced Expressions.” Until 11:30 pm. Show runs until March 10th.

9 pm The Drake’s “To The Nines” Birthday Party @ The Drake Hotel, 1150 Queen St. W. The Drake celebrates its 9th birthday with a special building-wide bash! A night of dancing, cocktail sampling, live music, and the chance to win a party upgrade complete with Absolute Elyx bottle service + many more birthday treats. Lounge performances by Rich Aucoin, River Tiber, and DJ Fase. Underground performances by Jane’s Party (album release), Sandman Viper Command, and Michael Rault. $9.

9:30 pm Ark Analog Video Release Party @ The Piston, 937 Bloor St. W. Ark Analog launches the first video for their first single “Make Me A Mirror,” directed by SXSW Grand Jury Prize winner Matt Swanson. The night will feature a performance by Ark Analog + DJ sets by Pooyan (our favourite), Gerrence, and friends. $5.

10 pm Sexy Results @ Margret, 2952 Dundas St. W. A new indie rock, garage, Brit-pop, and 90’s dance party! New stuff and classics, mostly with guitars. $3.50 drinks specials until midnight.

10 pm Beat Mania @ Camp 4, 1173 Dundas St. W. The Grump and Camp 4 present DJ Cunt (Sauna Belt) in your wildest dreams.

10 pm Rock Steady @ Happy Child, 1168 Queen St. W. DJ Numeric plays a smooth but heavy dose of quality hip-hop and R&B bombshells!

FRIDAY

8 pm Go Home Magazine Issue #2 Launch Party @ The White House Studios, 277.5 Augusta Ave. Issue #2: We’re All Adults Here is double the size with double the contributors from all over the world! 100 pages of creativity (photos, words, illustrations, and more) – all centered around the theme of adulthood (being a grown up, or not, or somewhere in between). DJs Nick Class and Geoff Snack will be playing records about being young and alive. There will be lots of goodies to buy, and drinks for you to enjoy. Until midnight. After party at the Garrison from 10 pm onwards.

10 pm Jamz! @ Clinton’s, 693 Bloor St. W. An anything goes, no bullshit, non-genre, dance ’til you drop, all your friends in one room, party hard, make the floor wet with sweat, shit show! With DJs Slater and Ty. $5.

10 pm 1994 @ Mr. Pong’s Bar, 1576 Dundas St. W. DJ Scott Wade plays everything and anything circa-1994.

10 pm Shindig! @ The Piston, 937 Bloor St. W. Resident DJs Parkdale Funk, General Eclectic, and Splattermonkey Y’all play the very best 50’s and 60’s R&B, rockabilly, rock ‘n’ roll, northern soul, mod, and garage on 45s all night! Free before 11 pm, $5 after.

10 pm Pardon Le Dopeness Party @ F-Stop, 420-A Wellington St. Pardon Le Dopeness is a lifestyle/fashion brand based out of Toronto that encourages lifestyles that focus on self-expression, individuality, and recklessly/deliriously enjoying life. Music by DJs Crunch and Techtwelve. Guest list mandatory (emailsheilakhui@gmail.com). Strict dress code in effect. Arrive early to ensure attendance.

10 pm All That @ The Boat, 158 Augusta Ave. A 90’s night like no other! DJs Streets and LK play mostly hip-hop, dirty R&B, and club kid jams. $5.

10 pm Mighty Real @ Cold Tea, 60 Kensington Ave. The ultimate dance floor work out! DJs John Caffery and The Robotic Kid play acid, disco, and funky house. Midnight performance by Jenna Syde.

10 pm Massive Gritty @ Margret, 2952 Dundas St. W. DJ Jahtari plays all styles of reggae: new and old dub, roots, ska, dancehall, and more.

10 pm M7 iParty @ Crawford, 718 College St. M7 takes over two floors with explosive hip-hop, RnB, and reggae + a free iPhone giveaway! $5 before 11 pm, $10 after.

10:30 pm Fuck U Fridays @ Buddies In Bad Times Theatre, 12 Alexander St. This month, FUF collaborates with the Rhubarb Festival, bringing you intimate performances from artists involved with this year’s production. Performances by Red Mango, Mikiki, Coral Maloney, Ian Mozdzen, and a special unplugged set by Crackpuppy. Pepper Highway hosts and guest DJs alongside resident Triple-X. $5.

11 pm Itzsoweezee @ The Drake Underground, 1150 Queen St. W. A feel-good house party atmosphere! DJ DeMiggs and special guest Illo play music to make you dance, smile, and holler. For guest list, email guestlist@itzsoweezee.com (closes at midnight). $10.

SATURDAY

12 pm Swap Don’t Shop Clothing Swap Party @ Beaver Hall Gallery, 29 McCaul St. We may be in the thick of mid-winter blues, but it’s never too early to start getting ready for warmer days with a new Spring wardrobe! All clothing, shoes, and other accessories (with the exception of socks and undies) that are clean and in good condition are welcome. (You’ll get a ticket for each good quality item you bring, with a maximum of 30 tickets, and each ticket can then be redeemed for a new swap find.) There will also be snacks, DIY tips, and on-site alterations. All leftover clothing will be donated to local charities. $8 admission. Until 4 pm.

7 pm Poetry Slam @ The Drake Underground, 1150 Queen St. W. Local wordsmiths and performers provide an evening of spoken word, lyrical mastery and friendly competition before an always packed house. $75 goes to the best performance of the night – sign-up starts at 7:30 pm. $5.

10 pm Soulvation @ The Garrison, 1197 Dundas St. W. DJs Laura and Cindy, a.k.a. the Northern Belles play the rarest and danciest northern soul floor-fillers and ecstatic funk shakers. Free before 11 pm, $5 after.

10 pm Ice Cold Dranks / DJ Kobe J @ Crawford Bar, 718 College St. Upstairs, the Family Business crew presents a good ol’ fashioned dance party! DJs FBomb and Ry-Fi play the best in hip-hop, pop, and party anthems. Downstairs, DJ Kobe J makes his Crawford debut. Hip-hop, RnB, ol skool house/dance, olskool 80’s hits, reggae, and soca. $5 before 11 pm, $10 after.

10 pm Wrongbar 5 Year Anniversary @ Wrongbar, 1279 Queen St. W. Wrongbar celebrates 5 years with DJ sets by Vito & Druzzi (The Rapture), Natural Animal, and Kings of the North. $10 advance tickets available online. For guestlist, email guestlist@wrongbar.com.

10 pm Get Yer Ya-Ya’s Out! @ The Artful Dodger (upstairs), 12 Isabella St. The best indie, mod, and alternative tunes from the UK all night long. 60’s through to current selections.

10 pm Fast Times @ The Piston, 937 Bloor St. W. 80’s night with DJs Brendan Canning and Tweed!

10 pm Pressure Drop @ The Embassy, 223 Augusta Ave. DJs Chuck Boom, Morningside 116, and Guv’nor General play only the very ruffest, tuffest selections from across the different eras and styles of Jamaican music: ska, rocksteady, roots reggae, dubwize, rub-a-dub, dancehall, mento, capypso, soul, funk, and more. This month’s special guest is K-Zar of Dub Connection, who’s always on point with the roots, rub-a-dub, and dancehall selections.

10 pm Go Bang! @ Unit, 1198 Queen St. W. DJ Andy Capp plays respectable dance music; some rare, some not.

10 pm Gay Nite @ Margret, 2952 Dundas St. W. Dancing and drinking in a non-breeding friendly environment! With DJs Boots Boogie, Betti Forde, The Husbears, Cozmic Cat, Dislexia, Fawn BC, and Shanelle Williams

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. 80’s, 90’s, new wave, classic alternatives, ska, Brit-pop, dance, shoegaze, post-punk and more. This month’s spotlight is The Smiths. $5 before 11 pm, $10 after.

10 pm Brass Tacks @ The Shop under Parts & Labour, 1566 Queen St. W. A night of hip-hop with Diggy The DJ of Down With Webster. Free before 11 pm, $5 after.

10 pm Shake, Rattle & Roll @ Clinton’s, 693 Bloor St. W. A sexy, sweaty dance party! 60’s pop, soul, and rock ‘n’ roll played for you by the Bangs & Blush ladies. $5.

10 pm Trash @ The Henhouse, 1532 Dundas St. W. A queer dance party with DJs Sigourney Beaver 
and Joe Blow. Electro, old school hip-hop, alternative, whatever.

10 pm Love Handle @ The Ossington, 61 Ossington Ave. DJs Catalist, Famous Lee, and special guest Uncle Funke throw an all-vinyl boogie funk dance party.

10 pm An Evening of Not Jazz @ The Fountain, 1261 Dundas St. W. An evening of drinking tallboys and sipping cocktails while listening to not jazz music.

10 pm F’unreal @ The Boat, 158 Augusta Ave. Music for your dancing pleasure – anything goes! $5.

10:30 pm Betula @ Bambi’s, 1265 Dundas St. W. DJs David Patterson and Michael Krochak play house and techno all night.

10:30 pm Trash 1.01 Video Dance Party @ The May, 876 Dundas St. W. DJs ϟ†Nϟ, Sarin, Tarantula X, and 6a6y 6oy play acid trash, new beat trash, electro trash, techno trash, okkult trash, synth trash, rave trash, and EBM trash. $5.

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

11 pm Evening Standard @ The Drake Underground, 1150 Queen St. W. DJs Members Only and guest J-Kriv a.k.a. Deep & Dicso spin everything from disco renaissance to house classics. $10.

SUNDAY

6 pm Oscar Party @ The Drake Lounge, 1150 Queen St. W. Celebrate everyone’s favourite award show in true Drake style. Put on your best threads and play the Oscar pool while snacking on free popcorn. Hosted by cinema king Richard Crouse.

6:30 pm Bloor Broadcast: 85th Academy Awards @ Bloor Hot Docs Cinema, 506 Bloor St. W. The Bloor Hot Docs Cinema will be rolling out the red carpet as they present a live-feed of The 85th Academy Awards on the big screen! Thom Ernst from TVO’s Saturday Night at the Movies will host the evening’s activities, which includes trivia, contests, prizes, themed drinks and snacks, and a few special surprises along the way. Come casual or get glammed up and toast the winners from your seat. Free tickets are available at the cinema during regular box office hours (limit of two per person). A limited number of tickets will be available at the cinema on February 24th, beginning at noon.

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