February 20th-February 25th Ice Breakers @ Queens Quay from Habourfront Centre to Toronto Music Garden. Discover, explore, and engage as five interactive public art installations break through Queens Quay West this winter.
February 20th-March 4th Toronto Light Festival @ The Distillery District. Back for a second year, Toronto Light Festival transforms the Distillery District into a large open-air gallery filled with works from local and international light artists.
February 20th-April 1st WinterStations @ The Beaches (south of Queen St. E between Woodbine and Victoria Park Ave.). Now in its fourth year, WinterStations is an exhibition of temporary public art installations that celebrates Toronto’s winter waterfront landscape.
WEDNESDAY
7 pm Music Bingo @ The Gladstone Hotel, 1214 Queen St. W. A FREE weekly event combining the love of music with the traditional bingo format. Each player receives a Music Bingo card which consists of an assortment of songs. Instead of calling out numbers, they play the music! Singing along encouraged.
8 pm Drake Trivia @ The Drake Hotel, 1150 Queen St. W. Teams of four or less put their random knowledge to the test as hosts Megan Griffith-Greene and Jeromy Lloyd fire off questions ranging from sporting records and celebrity scandals to geographic discoveries and culinary lingo. $2 to participate and the winning table gets an $80 Drake gift card (plus bragging rights)! Click here to reserve with OpenTable, or show up early to ensure a spot for your team.
8 pm Trivia Club @ Farside, 600 Gerrard St. E. Come as a group of 2-6 people (sign-up your team now on Facebook, either on the event wall or through PM) for an evening of pop culture and general knowledge trivia in three rounds! Win the prized golden VHS tape, pop culture-flavored swag, and other prizes.
9 pm Deep Freeze Wednesdays @ The Piston, 937 Bloor St. W. Embrace the chill! Join DJs Tweed and Babe Decibel in the front room for chill mid and downtempo indie tunes. $4.75 drinks.
THURSDAY
9 pm Step 2 This @ Dundas Video, 831 Dundas St. W. An all-vinyl DJ night featuring different headliners each month. For the first edition, the party welcomes Ensoul direct from Toronto’s staple record shop Play De Record, throwin’ down house and breaks alongside Step 2 resident Area 85.
10 pm Bingo Bango @ The Beaver, 1192 Queen St. W. Real electro music all night with DJs Butr and Cryogenetic.
10 pm Get Lo @ Clinton’s, 693 Bloor St. W. Bangs & Blush bring you the ULTIMATE ’90s til now dance party, GET LO! They’ll be playing all the shit you wanna hear from the ’90s to today.
10 pm Soul, Funk & What? @ The Ossington, 61 Ossington Ave. Soul and funk that will have you dancing the night away, all spun on 45s. Maximum party time!
10 pm The Throwback @ The Drake Lounge, 1150 Queen St. W. DJ Gramera and Dennis P of SoulSkank take over the Drake Hotel lounge and fill the air with smooth beats and silky saxophone sounds. End the night in a fun groove as they take you through classic music eras in true throwback Thursday fashion.
10 pm Fuck It @ The Shop under Parts & Labour, 1566 Queen St. W. Celebrating The Life Of DJ Smartiez. Music selections by DJs Big Jacks, Smartiez, and Voice Of The Vibe Kid Kut.
10 pm Tutti Frutti Apocalypse @ Swan Dive, 1631 Dundas St. W. Sonic Nightmare on Dundas Street: Garage, glam, punk, rockabilly, surf, and rock ‘n’ roll from the 1950s to the present with DJ Nora Noise.
FRIDAY
8 pm ART the Band @ The Gladstone Hotel, 1214 Queen St. W. Five-piece jazz-funk collective ART the Band is playing a two-set FREE show at The Gladstone’s Melody Bar! The group has a monthly residency at The Gladstone and is set to release their third studio album this summer.
9 pm Beams LP Release Show @ Smiling Buddha, 961 College St. Toronto’s Beams celebrates the release of their latest sophomore effort Teach Me To Love with special guests Catl. and L CON. $10.50 advance tickets available online.
10 pm Blue Moon 50s Dance Party @ Handlebar, 159 Augusta Ave. The kind of night that only happens once in a Blue Moon; a night of 1950s doo-wop, R&B, and rockabilly. DJ Misty will make you dance and special guests the Soda Pop Hop dancers will inspire you (and maybe even show you a move or two).
10 pm Britt Pop @ Stones Place, 1255 Queen St. W. An evening of Britpop, British Invasion, new wave, and rock ‘n’ roll from the ’60, ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s with Britt (a.k.a. DJ Blush)! $5.
10 pm DJ Teenage Werewolf @ Swan Dive, 1631 Dundas St. W. Post-punk, psych, rock ‘n’ roll, soul – DJ Teenage Werewolf plays the perfect soundtrack for a Friday night freak out.
10 pm Saddle Up! @ Owl’s Club, 847 Dovercourt Rd. Stomp your boots to Dolly, Waylon, Shania, and and the rest of your twangin’ favourites! You’ll hear all the good tunes and the best of the bad ones (no bro country). Set by The Barrel Boys at 10:30 pm. $5 before 11 pm, $10 after (bar is cash only).
10 pm Efemmera & Milch @ Bambi’s, 1265 Dundas St. W. Efemmera (On Earth) and Milch (Invisible City Record Shop) b2b all night. $5 before midnight, more after.
10 pm Hung Up: Disco, Not Disco @ The Boat, 158 Augusta Ave. A night of disco, house music, and more with DJ LK and Streets. Old School, new school, and a dance floor for you to rule (complete with mood lighting). Bold looks encouraged! Free before 10:30 pm, $5 after.
10 pm Get Buck @ The Ossington, 61 Ossington Ave. DJ Nino Brown spins hip-hop, soca, RnB, and dancehall. Deep grooves that transcend.
10 pm Jamz @ Clinton’s, 693 Bloor St. W. Mostly ’90s dance party with pals Slater and Ty! $5 with student ID, $10 without.
10 pm Beam Me Up Disco @ The Piston, 937 Bloor St. W. A disco jam that celebrates the underrated and the obscure of funk, jazz, soul, boogie, rare groove, reggae, gospel, proto-house! It’s an evening of tuneful transcendence, supplied by residents Patchouli Brothers and Cyclist. $10.
10 pm Ting @ The Shop under Parts & Labour, 1566 Queen St. W. Sounds by Shaine CRSB, Gonnie, Ganbei. Hosted by Donté Colley and Forki. $5.
10 pm Scream. @ The Beaver, 1192 Queen St. W. A night DEADicated to all things horror and things the go bump in the night! Host Jacklynne Hyde brings the eerie beauty of Aura Nova and the wicked beats of Patrick Von Ghostwolf. $5.
10:30 pm Night of 1,000 Madonnas @ Glad Day Bookshop, 499 Church St. Bring on the cone bras and ’80s fashion: Glad Day is celebrating Madonna with a night dedicated to the original Material Girl and her legendary music. All her biggest hits being played by DJ Craig Dominic and DJ Maggy + performances by Priyanka and Juice Boxx who are ready to express themselves. $7 online and at the door before 11:30 pm ($10 after).
SATURDAY
6 pm Brown Girl Begins: Screening & Reception @ Art Gallery of Ontario, 317 Dundas St. W. Celebrate Black Future Month with director Sharon Lewis, author Nalo Hopkinson, and stars of the film Brown Girl Begins. Featuring a gala reception with performances by musicians featured in the film – including legendary calypsonian David Rudder, blues dynamo Shakura S’Aida, and opera sensation Measha Brueggergosman – and Q&A following the 6 pm screening. $35 advance tickets available online.
8 pm Pepperland @ Sony Centre for Performing Arts, 1 Front St. E. The Canadian premiere of Mark Morris Dance Group’s Pepperland, a critically acclaimed tribute to the 50th anniversary of The Beatles’ groundbreaking album Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. $55-145 tickets available by phone (1-855-872-7669), in person at the Sony Centre Box Office, or online.
10 pm Electric Circus @ The Garrison, 1197 Dundas St. W. Your favourite ’90s house and dance music all night long with DJs Pammm and Vanessa. Free before midnight, $5 after. 4 AM LAST CALL.
10 pm Panic @ Remix, 1305 Dundas St. W. The ultimate retro party with DJ Lazarus spinning the kind of retro that changed your life. ’80s, ’90s, new wave, post-punk, classic alternatives, synth pioneers, Britpop, shoegaze, madchester, new romantic, classic industrial, ska, and more. This month’s spotlight is The Smiths. $5 before 11 pm, $10 after.
10 pm Box of Kittens Presents: The Long, Dark Night @ West end warehouse. A late night techno thrashing in a west end warehouse to beat away those mid-winter blues. Featuring the return of an iconic DJ and producer, Cari Lekebusch, in Toronto for the first time in nine years + support from Jamie Kidd and Mike Gibbs, Jesney, and Shea Marie. $25 in advance, more at the door.
10 pm Dudebox Presents: Insufficient Funz @ Secret abandoned bank. Dudebox is going straight to the bank, and they’re bringing some big ass speakers with them. Hip-hop, dancehall, afrobeats, global house, and more with DJs Dre Ngozi, JAYEMKAYEM, and Macala. $10 in advance, $15 at the door before midnight (more after), with 100% of profit donated to Downie Wenjack Fund and We Matter.
10 pm The Big Sound @ The Great Hall, 1087 Queen St. W. It’s that time again, to celebrate the glory days of classic soul, Motown, and the Motown sound with The Big Sound. Featuring BIG renditions of the BIG classics guaranteed to make you shout and shake + bangers and huge hits throughout the night courtesy of DJ Wes Allen. $15 online and at the door.
10 pm Voodoo @ Bambi’s, 1265 Dundas St. W. Caribbean, new wave, Atlantis disco, boogie 3000, and cyberfunk with Alister Johnson and Andycapp.
10 pm Juicebox @ The Piston, 937 Bloor St. W. DJs Tweed and Babe Decibel throw down awesome tunes for your partying pleasure on one of the best dance floors Toronto has to offer. The Strokes, Bowie, Arcade Fire, New Order, LCD Soundsystem, and more! Giveaways from Kops Records and Steamwhistle Brewery.
10 pm Footprints @ Rivoli, 332 Queen St. W. Toronto’s premiere open-format dance party featuring DJs General Eclectic and Jason Palma playing everything across the funky, groovy, beat-heavy, and polyrhythmic spectrum! Disco, soul, funk, afrobeat, reggae, hip-hop, house R&B, samba, salsa, and more. $10.
10 pm Take A Chance @ Farside, 600 Gerrard St. E. Sexy Italo, futurist disco, cosmic dance, mutant wave, and synthpop with your host, Julia Dickens (DJ JD).
10 pm Worst Behavior @ Clinton’s, 693 Bloor St. W. This Saturday, be on your worst behavior. Bangs & Blush play past and present bangers all night long from Drake, The Weeknd, Beyonce, Jay-Z, Notorious B.I.G., Nelly, TLC, Missy Elliott, and more! $5 with student ID, $10 without.
10 pm F’unreal @ The Boat, 158 Augusta Ave. Six great DJs with different styles collide in a sweaty mash-up of fun. $5.
10 pm Tiki Disco Saturdays @ Miss Thing’s, 1279 Queen St. W. Post-dinner Saturday night party in the Coconut Room, with special guest DJs to make you MOVE! No cover before midnight.
10 pm Brass Tacks @ The Shop under Parts & Labour, 1566 Queen St. W. Diggy The DJ and special guest DJ Dopey throw down hip-hop bangers all night! $5.
10 pm Roll + Skank @ The Ossington, 61 Ossington Ave. A DJ night with the hottest beats around. All the way from the U.K, this is what you’ve been waiting for.
10 pm Good Times @ Swan Dive, 1631 Dundas St. W. Motown, soul, rock ‘n’ roll, and guilty pleasures with DJ Misty. Good times for one and all!
10 pm Filthy: Justin Timberlake Dance Party @ Sneaky Dee’s, 431 College St. Sneaky Dee’s will be spinning Justin Timberlake tracks from *NSYNC to his latest album Man of the Woods plus some of your favourite Top 40 hits! $5 advance tickets available online.
10:30 pm Hey Girl Hey @ The Baby G, 1608 Bloor St. W. Queer dance party featuring the ladies of hip-hop and R&B! DJ Orange Pekoe playing your favourite ’90s-now tunes + Beardoncé unbreaking your heart at the awe-inspiring 12:30 floorshow. $10.
11 pm Get Good @ The Drake Underground, 1150 Queen St. W. Diggy The DJ plays all your favourite bangers. $10.
11 pm Itzsoweezee @ The Drake Underground, 1150 Queen St. W. A feel-good house party atmosphere! DJs Tom Wrecks, DeMiggs, and ΛV play music to make you dance, smile, and holler. For line bypass before midnight, submit names here (right side of the page). $10.
SUNDAY
11 am Introduction to Macrame Workshop @ Henderson Brewing Co., 128-A Sterling Rd. Made West Workshops teaches you how to create your very own wall hanging macrame piece! This three-hour workshop includes all the materials needed to create your own macrame wall hanging, which you’ll get to take home with you. $65 advance tickets available online.
5 pm Black Coffee + Pie @ The Drake Lounge, 1150 Queen St. W. Join host Ivy Knight in discussion with sexual violence lawyer Gillian Hnatiw on how best to deal with sexual harassment in the workplace. There will also be a Q&A portion where you can get those tough questions answered by someone with an inside, working-knowledge of the law. The Drake will be serving up a damn fine cup of coffee and homemade pie on the house. No cover!
7 pm Brass Facts Trivia @ The Ossington, 61 Ossington Ave. Test your knowledge and win prizes! Hosted by Famous Kirk Hero. Until 10 pm.
~ For event submissions, email Caitlyn Holroyd at caitlyn_holroyd@hotmail.com