August 6th-7th Tokyo Smoke x Drake Summer Pop-Up @ Drake General Store, 2 Abell St. Tokyo Smoke is bringing their summer Pop-up Series to the Drake General Store and showcasing the latest in merchandise and paraphernalia. Check out the one-of-a kind pedal-powered espresso Trike, have a world famous Blue Mountain coffee, and shop their carefully curated selection of coffee, clothing, and accessories. Open 10-8 pm Saturday and 11-6 pm Sunday.
WEDNESDAY
7 pm “Draw Me Like One of Your French Girls” Opening Reception @ Steam Whistle Brewing, 255 Bremner Blvd. A collection of illustrations inspired by the work of actor and pop culture icon Leonardo DiCaprio. This project initially began as an inside joke stemming from artists Sabrina Parolin and Jennifer Ilett’s longstanding mutual love for Leo. However, Leo is so much more than a successful actor (now Oscar-winning), but also an image of romance and a key figure in so many of our coming-of-age fantasies. Live entertainment by Drag Queen Atmos Fierce and the Bedroom DJs. Until 11 pm. Exhibition runs until August 31.
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.
7 pm Open Roof Festival @ 99 Sudbury, 99 Sudbury St. This week kicks off with a performance by Grand Analog, described by creator and lead vocalist Odario Williams as “a beautiful mess of rap ‘n’ roll, dub, and soul.” Following their set is an exclusive Toronto screening of The Fits, which paints a psychological portrait of Toni, an 11-year-old tomboy who tries to become a part of a tight-knit dance team. Music starts around 8, with the film commencing at 9. $15 tickets available online.
8 pm Meow Meow: A Queer Social @ Holy Oak, 1241 Bloor St. W. This isn’t a loud dance party. It’s a change of pace, and a chance to converse. Meant for queers to meet, hang, and conspire with other queers (awesome allies are welcome too)! Cam Lee will be showering down the lovely tunes through the night.
THURSDAY
5 pm Perfect Strangers @ Thoroughbred, 304 Richmond St. W. DJ Caff on the 1s and 2s all night long, playing everything from bangers to ballads. Hip-hop, R&B, reggae, new jack swing, and more + $5 food and drink special menu in full effect. Take it all in on the patio or inside, your choice.
8 pm Throwback Thursdays @ The Drake Sky Yard, 1150 Queen St. W. Vinyl vibes on the Sky Yard all summer long with DJs spinning R&B, soul, hip-hop, and funk.
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 Innit @ Bambi’s, 1265 Dundas St. W. Garage. Grime. Bass. Sounds by Freeza Chin and JAYEMKAYEM.Free before midnight, $5 after.
10 pm Electricladyland @ The Beaver, 1192 Queen St. W. A queer, synthy, sexy dance party, playing all and only electronic ladies! Expect lots of Le Tigre, Bjork, Kate Bush, Broadcast, Robyn, Erykah Badu, Elastica, Madonna, The Knife, Kylie Minogue, M.I.A., Lykke Li, FKA Twigs, Santogold, Glasser, and on and on.
FRIDAY
7 pm It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia Trivia @ The Gladstone Hotel, 1214 Queen St. W. Dennis, Dee, Charlie, Mac, and Frank are the Worst People On Earth. Can you remember every time one of them inflicted mental, emotional, and physical pain on each other and well… everyone who crossed their path? Bring your gang (up to four people) to remember the exploits of “The Gang” with hilarious host Kaleb Robertson! $2 suggested donation.
10 pm Do It Fluid @ The Steady, 1051 Bloor St. W. Summer is in full swing and The Steady has just the party to fulfill your sweaty needs. DJs Fritz The Cat, Spanish Resort, Xavier G, and Mark PM will be slip slidin’ to the sounds of disco and deep, funky house, making sure there’s not a dry brow in the room.
10 pm Bare @ The Shop under Parts & Labour, 1566 Queen St. W. Lose your inhibitions and take a walk on the wild side. DJs HRLD, Sada, and Sayyzon play rap, hip-hop, future sounds, RnB, house, and reggae.
10 pm Yacht Rock @ The Boat, 158 Augusta Ave. A night of dancing to the smoothest music you’ve ever heard in your life. $5 to step aboard.
10 pm Girl & Boy 90s Dance Party @ Clinton’s, 693 Bloor St. W. A pulsating dance party rocking the retro sounds of the 1990s! All your favourite dance, pop, hip-hop, R&B, and so on and so on and so on. $5.
10 pm Big Primpin’ @ Miss Thing’s, 1279 Queen St. W. Hip-hop and hot times for homos, their friends, and admirers. With DJs Kevin Ritchie and ReckLezZ + a performance by Miss Moço! For line bypass, email bigprimpin@gmail.com. $5.
10 pm Wedding Night @ The Piston, 937 Bloor St. W. The party that shamelessly plays favourites across the pop music spectrum, including new wave, hip-hop, freak funk, dad rock, and R&B. Strangers in first-rate finery make tequila-fuelled matrimony to a pleasure-packed soundtrack!
10 pm Lazy Susans @ The Ossington, 63 Ossington Ave. Spinning hip-hop, RnB, soul, rap, trap, and dirty south.
10 pm SoulSkank @ Handlebar, 159 Augusta Ave. Soul, funk, soul, reggae, ska, dancehall, and Motown in its most raw form! A vinyl-only dance party with DJ Gramera on the wax + Dennis P on sax. $5.
10 pm Bubblegoose @ Studio Bar, 824 Dundas St. W. Studio Bar’s very own classic hip-hop and RnB dance party, with a sprinkle of other goodness! Each month, one of Toronto’s top tier DJs will be holding down this jam from beginning ’til end. This month, DJ Mensa selects the tunes. $10.
11 pm Y2K: A Millennium Dance Party @ The Drake Underground, 1150 Queen St. W. A party devoted to the best jams of the early-to-mid 2000s, brought to you by Good Kids. Guilty pleasures, one hit wonders, chart toppers, and everything in between with DJs Fawn Big Canoe and Abel! $10.
SATURDAY
9 pm After Dark @ The One Eighty, 55 Bloor St. W., 51st floor. DJ Caff offers the soundtrack for the evening, with a mix of house, R&B, hip-hop, pop, and reggae + food and drinks available to compliment. Enjoy the half price bar cart specials from 10 pm onwards.
10 pm With It @ The Piston, 937 Bloor St. W. Floorshakers and heartbreakers with DJs Nico and Magnificent! ’60s mod, reggae, and soul. Presented in collaboration with Fred Perry Toronto and in part by Kops Records and CIUT 89.5 FM. $10.
10 pm Fancy Molasses @ The Embassy, 223 Augusta Ave. Embassy’s slinkiest dance party, dripping in disco, boogie, and house toute la nuit. DJs Shï Shï Lavoie and an array of beautiful guest selectors.
10 pm A Night of Lab.our @ Bambi’s, 1265 Dundas St. W. The Lab.our label heads take you on a journey all night long through a spectrum of music for your body and your mind. With Basic Soul Unit and J-UL. $5.
10 pm Lucky Bitches @ The Ossington, 61 Ossington Ave. West side’s longest running glam-positive dance party! Party jams and freedom.
10 pm PPParty @ The Boat, 158 Augusta Ave. Why all the the P? ‘Cuz this party is golden! 24 Karat hits from all decades. $5.
10 pm Shake, Rattle & Roll @ Clinton’s, 693 Bloor St. W. The Bangs & Blush ladies roll out
all the hip shakers and baby makers from the ’50s and ’60s for you to drink, dance, and get messy to. $5.
11 pm Love Saves The Day @ The Beaver, 1192 Queen St. W. Maximal house, maximal disco with residents Kevin Ritchie and Jamie Sin + guest DJ Colin.
11 pm Never Forgive Action @ The Drake Underground, 1150 Queen St. W. A monthly dance party spinning quality hip-hop and R&B anthems from the ’80s, ’90s, ’00s, and beyond. Music provided by resident DJs Numeric and Dalia! Hosted by More or Les. $10.
SUNDAY
10 am Yoga in High Park @ 1873 Bloor St. W. (just to the right of the front gates on Bloor near the Chess House). Flow-active is running a FREE summer-long yoga series! The styles will vary week-to-week, but will always accommodate beginners and welcomes people of all ages. This week’s session will be led by Retrofit Pilates. BYO: yoga mat, sunscreen, and friends.
11 am Toronto Urban Collective Summer Pop-Up Market @ The Bram & Bluma Appel Salon (Toronto Reference Library), 789 Yonge St. Celebrate summer with Toronto Urban Collective and shop from a collection of the city’s finest independent artists, craft-makers, photographers, designers, and artisan chefs! $5 advance tickets available online.
3 pm Super-Flea Every Sunday Flea Market Party @ Super Wonder Gallery, 876 Bloor St. W. Shop rad stuff and PARTY! Over 35 vintage and one-of-a-kind vendors, yummy foods, live music and entertainment, and drinks in Lucifer’s Lounge. Until 9 pm.
5 pm Sunset Sunday @The One Eighty, 55 Bloor St. W., 51st floor. Champagne popsicles, $5 bar cart, specials, giveaways, and the best view for a Toronto sunset. DJ Caff will be mixing house, R&B, hip-hop, pop and reggae, including a healthy amount of summer anthems.
6 pm Christie Pits Film Festival @ Christie Pits Park, 750 Bloor St. W. The Christie Pits Film Festival celebrates its sixth summer season! This week’s screening is the 1998 cult favourite, The Truman Show. Eats and treats provided by Young Animal, Crown & Anchor, Macchina Mobile Coffee, and The Pop Stand. BYOBlanket. Free / PWYC ($10 suggested).
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