February 11th-12th Free Welcome Weekend @ Aga Khan Museum, 77 Wynford Dr. Escape the cold and get in for free during Aga Khan Museum’s Welcome Weekend, presented by RBC. Visitors will have access to “Syria: A Living History,” an exhibition illuminating Syria’s rich and diverse contributions to world heritage over 5,000 years, and a chance to view the newest exhibition, “Rebel, Jester, Mystic, Poet: Contemporary Persians.” Open 10-6 p.m. both days.
WEDNESDAY
6:30 pm Gladstone Love Night Market @ The Gladstone Hotel, 1214 Queen St. W. Tis the season of hearts, pink, chocolate and flowers – you know what that means? Valentine’s (and/or Palentine’s) Day shopping! The Gladstone will have lots of lovely handmade products for lovers, singles, and everyone in between. Vendor list here. Until 10 pm.
7 pm Music Bingo: Date Night Edition @ 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.
THURSDAY
7 pm The Love (Actually) Exhibition Opening Night @ The Gladstone Hotel, 1214 Queen St. W. A group photo show showcasing the power of love and happiness in real moments during weddings. Curated by Toronto photographer Scarlet O’Neill, the diverse images will be accompanied by a description of what made the photo meaningful along with a list of the incredible wedding vendors who contributed to making the day special. Until 10 pm. Exhibition runs until February 26th.
8 pm Slippery Slope Thursdays @ The Drake Sky Yard, 1150 Queen St. W. Let the Drake help keep your dancing feet toasty-warm every Thursday this winter with Reyka Vodka! Crunk, bop, and slide to the sweet grooves of R&B, hip-hop, Top 40, reggae, and dance courtesy of DJ iammiikey.
9 pm Coming of Age: The Drake Turns 13 @ The Drake Hotel, 1150 Queen St. W. Lean, mean, thirteen and living the teen dream. The Drake is turning the big 1-3 and they’re coming into their own with a coming of age partay to celebrate – braces, acne, and all. Magen Boys Entertainment are raising the bar on this building-wide jam with DJs, emcees, hip-hop dancers, a photobooth, party favours, and more. Dress code: Teen Dream. $10.
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 Vanishing Point @ The Ossington, 61 Ossington Ave. A new monthly dance party featuring disco, funk, soul, and rare grooves.
10 pm Rock Sucker @ Swan Dive, 1631 Dundas St. W. DJ Starboy takes you through 70 years of rock ‘n’ roll – glam rock, garage rock, classic rock. Cheap drinks and cheap thrills all night long!
FRIDAY
7 pm Friends TV Trivia @ The Gladstone Hotel, 1214 Queen St. W. Join host Kaleb Robertson and relive the best of Rachel, Chandler, Joey, Phoebe, Monica, and Ross. Come with a group of four or join a table and make friends. Trivia starts at 8 pm. $2 per person to play.
8 pm Galentine’s Day Party @ The Steady, 1051 Bloor St. W. A party celebrating femme friendships, brought to you by TOFemCo – a group of women and non-binary identified people passionate about intersectional feminism. Music, dancing, prizes, local artists, photobooth, desserts, and good times! $5 or PWYC (no one will be turned away for lack of funds), with 10% of the proceeds benefiting the Toronto Rape Crisis Centre and Multicultural Women Against Rape.
8:30 pm Drunk Feminist Films Presents: Set It Off @ The Royal Cinema, 608 College St. Join Drunk Feminist Films in cheering on the four women of Set It Off, who band together to form a besties bank-robbing crew to break out of the corners they’re painted into by racist hetero-patriarchal capitalism. ASL interpretation will be provided for the commentary and the film will be subtitled. Signature cocktails and mocktails + wine and Steam Whistle Pilsner will be available for purchase. $15 general admission, $12 for students/seniors.
9 pm My Bad @ Stone’s Place, 1255 Queen St. W. DJ Blush is bringing the SHAME to Stones Place with this ’80s, ’90s, and ’00s guilty pleasure dance party! Wham, Puff Daddy, Shania Twain, Guns N Roses, Hall and Oates, Mariah Carey, Will Smith, Phil Collins, The Go-Gos, The Spice Girls, and more. $5.
9:30 pm Boys Don’t Cry: Lol Tolhurst DJ Set @ Nocturne, 550 Queen St. W. Don’t miss this once-in-a-lifetime exclusive engagement featuring a DJ set by Lol Tolhurst, co-founder of The Cure. With special tribute performances by Amy’s Arms and Depression Era. $10 in advance, $15 at the door.
10 pm No No Pony @ The Shop under Parts & Labour, 1566 Queen St. W. Old rap and R&B faves + new bangers, with Ginuwine’s “Pony” every hour on the hour. Amy Wood and Orange Pekoe in the saddle. $5.
10 pm Fuck It: A Very Kanye Valentine’s Party @ Clinton’s, 693 Bloor St. W. Join Bangs & Blush for a very romantic evening celebrating this timeless love story between a man and himself; because nobody loves Kanye the way Kanye loves Kanye. Expect a Kanye Valentine’s station + loads of Kanye all night! $5 with student ID, $10 without.
10 pm Coconut Groove V-Day @ Bambi’s, 1265 Dundas St. W. Coconut Groove Co. is back at Bambi’s for Valentine’s Day, playing tunes sure to make your heart tingle all night long. Featuring label artists Raf Rez, Menthe (NYC), Satorii, Mr. Royce, and dcfdan. $5.
10 pm Body Heat @ Handlebar, 159 Augusta Ave. DJ Jamieson and guests stir up a hot mess on the dance floor! Full of surprises, void of cover.
10 pm Gold Chain @ The Ossington, 61 Ossington Ave. DJs Aoki and Snack will have you dancing all night long to the best hip-hop of today and yesterday. You don’t wanna miss this display of supreme DJing – it’s the gold standard.
10 pm Goddess Party: Après Ski @ The Gladstone Hotel, 1214 Queen St. W. After hitting the slopes all winter, it’s time to relax back at the chalet, grab a glass of champagne, and hop in the hot tub with the gals. Celebrate your goddess with performances, dancing, and a runway competition! With snow bunnies Allysin Chaynes, Scarlett Bobo, Sapphire Titha-Reign, Skipper Meds, Beardra, and DJ John Caffery. $10.
10 pm Fascination: New Wave Video Dance Party @ One Loft, 292 College St. New wave, post-punk, ’80s alternative video dance party with DJs Lazarus and Thomas Hall. See videos from New Order, The Cure, Depeche Mode, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Visage, Alphaville, Dead Or Alive, Tears For Fears, Psychedelic Furs, Duran Duran, Blancmange, Altered Images, Pet Shop Boys, The Smiths, Ultravox, Echo & The Bunnymen, Jesus and Mary Chain, Soft Cell, PIL, Camouflage, Heaven 17, Joy Division, and more and more and more. $10.
10 pm Puppy Love @ The Beaver, 1192 Queen St. W. Queer + sex positive dance party with DJs Nate Nightcall and Dang Kids on the decks, spinning a mix of pop, house, nostalgia, dance floor classics, and R&B. $5.
10 pm Canada Thrust @ The Boat, 158 Augusta Ave. Hip-hop, house, and party music miscellany from Canada Thrust. $5.
10 pm Synthesexer @ The Piston, 937 Bloor St. W. Toronto’s synthesexiest sexy synthy alternative electro dance party returns! Expect to hear stuff like: Tiga, Annie, Chromeo, M.I.A., Holy Ghost!, Robyn, Daft Punk, Little Dragon, Pet Shop Boys, and more. DJs Little Kicks, ARP 2600, and special guest Iced Misto will be present to sex you up (music-wise). $10.
10 pm Paint It Black @ Lucky Shrike, 850 Dundas St. W. Teenage Werewolf plays punk, soul, and rock ‘n’ roll hits and obscurities.
11 pm Lay These Knight @ The Drake Underground, 1150 Queen St. W. Famou$ Players play the sweatiest R&B anthems from the ’90s to the ’00s to the ’10s. All your old favourites, new favourites, and soon-to-be-favourites! $10.
SATURDAY
10 am Valentine’s Day Flower Market @ The Drake Sky Yard, 1150 Queen St. W. Watch the Sky Yard transform into a mini Toronto Flower Market for a special Valentine’s edition with White Oak! Offering locally-grown, seasonal blooms, expert florists will create lush, dramatic bouquets for every Valentine. Early birds can also pre-order arrangements. Until 4 pm.
10 am Erotic Arts & Crafts Fair @ The Gladstone Hotel, 1214 Queen St. W. The Erotic Arts and Crafts Fair is Toronto’s first – and Canada’s only – craft fair dedicated to romantic, sexual, and erotic expression. Until 4 pm.
8 pm DJ Skate Nights @ Harbourfront Centre (Natrel Rink), 235 Queen’s Quay W. Toronto’s number one outdoor winter party returns with a stellar lineup of local and international DJs. This week, Toronto’s premier contemporary African-Caribbean party, GUMBO, returns to Harbourfront Centre with the best Afrobeats party on ice!
9 pm Saturday Night Jukebox Dance Party @ Stone’s Place, 1255 Queen St. W. Meet DJ Blush at Stones Place every Saturday night for the most fun/positive/energetic dance party on the West side of the 6! She plays the best ’50s, ’60s, and ’70s Motown, Stax, classic soul, funk, rock ‘n’ roll, pop, and disco.
10 pm Beam Me Up: Love Disco Style @ The Piston, 937 Bloor St. W. An annual celebration of the one thing which is ubiquitous in disco: love! Residents A Digital Needle and Cyclist promise love-themed twinklings of funk, jazz, soul, boogie, rare groove, reggae, gospel, and proto-house. $10.
10 pm Chronologic @ The Garrison, 1197 Dundas St. W. A dance party through the ages! Pop and antipop from since the end of history (i.e. music from 1890 to 2017, played in chronological order). $5 before 11:30 pm, $10 after.
10 pm Reggae In Your Jeggae @ Lucky Shrike, 850 Dundas St. W. A musical expedition and kinetic expression session! Reggae, ska, bluebeat, and rocksteady for movers and groovers, dancers and freakers, and lordly leapers and ladies alike. DJs Gav and James playing their favourite ’60s and early ’70s selections on vinyl.
10 pm Business Woman’s Special: Three Hearts Edition @ ROUND Venue, 152-A Augusta Ave. Leave your troubles at the door, your cares on the dance floor, and celebrate the Beymaculate Conception. DJs Nino Brown, Sammy Royale, and Diego Armand will help you grow by two. Special performance by Jezebel Bardot. $7.
10 pm I’d Tap That Onesie Dance Party @ The Gladstone Hotel, 1214 Queen St. W. Turns out, onesie is not the loneliest number. The Gladstone Hotel has teamed up with sex-positive party group I’d Tap That to celebrate infatuation, flirtation, and forays into friendship. There will be tons of ways for you to meet, mingle and mess around including: slow dance sessions, spin the bottle, match-maker games, dancing, and more! $10 in advance and at the door.
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 One Leg Up @ Swan Dive, 1631 Dundas St. W. DJ Precious Brett plays mega hits from any decade and any genre, all on vinyl.
10 pm Whatever You Like Feat. Sgt Garbage @ The Ossington, 61 Ossington Ave. All hits, all night with spicy DJs that’ll really get you moving and shaking. It’s the good stuff – the prom that never was!
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 Over & Over @ location TBA. You are cordially invited to get lost in the music and go out and find yourself a friend. Featuring DJs Myth Paradise, Raf Reza, Ali Black, and Pooyan. BYOB, with a variety of adult beverages and refreshments to quench your thirst also available for purchase. (To gain entry into this discotheque, click “going” on the Facebook invite and your name will be added to the entry list.)
10 pm FriendZone @ Bambi’s, 1265 Dundas St. W. A series focusing on what really matters. With DJs CL, Jesse Futerman, and Thought Project.
10 pm Funk Off @ The Boat, 158 Augusta Ave. Get down to music of the funk variety! TNT on the tunes. $5.
10 pm THE BRTHDY PRTY @ The Shop under Parts & Labour, 1566 Queen St. W. Who doesn’t love a birthday party?! Free Polaroids ALL NIGHT! Cupcake hour provided by Baken Toronto. $5.
10 pm Wayne’s World 25th Anniversary ’90s Dance Party @ Sneaky Dee’s, 431 College St. Bust out that old air guitar because it’s the 25th anniversary of Wayne’s World! Join Sneaky Dee’s for a dance party featuring hits of the ’90s and music from the movie soundtrack. Excellent! Costumes are basically mandatory. $5 early bird tickets available online.
11 pm Racks & Bands @ The Drake Underground, 1150 Queen St. W. Let Jay Jolliffe and the Bevstmode DJs take you on a rollercoaster ride through the biggest songs in hip-hop and RnB. $10.
SUNDAY
12 pm Philistine Pop-Up Market @ Philistine, 928 Queen St. W. Philistine’s hosting their first Pop-Up Market, just in time for Valentine’s Day. Come celebrate all that is love (or your crippling loneliness) with sweet gear from local brands Rosehound Apparel, Sad Truth Supply, Inner Decay, and Just Visiting. Bring cash. Until 6 pm.
3:30 pm Sunday Afternoon Social @ Loft404, 263 Adelaide St. W. Join Box of Kittens and Justin (of alienInFlux Sound System, Boreal Canoe Trip, and the founder of Harvest Festival) as they dance away the mid-winter blahs. Gene Farris (Chicago), Jamie Kidd, Fabio Palermo, and Mike Gibbs in the north wing; Greg Gow, Medicineman, Kristian Sunflower, and a surprise special guest in the south. $25 tickets available online.
7 pm Brass Facts Trivia @ The Ossington, 61 Ossington Ave. Test your knowledge and win prizes! Hosted by Famous Kirk Hero. Until 10 pm.
10 pm Easy Item Sunday @ Handlebar, 159 Augusta Ave. Post-punk, new wave, dance punk, and art punk tunes with DJ Chris MaGee. Not your average retro music/dance night!
~ For event submissions, email Caitlyn Holroyd at caitlyn_holroyd@hotmail.com