January 22nd-26th DesignTO Festival @ various locations. DesignTO Festival is Canada’s leading (and largest) annual design festival that celebrates design as a multidisciplinary form of creative thinking and making, with over 100 exhibitions and events forming Toronto’s design week.

January 22nd-26th Art, Architecture, Design Film Festival @ Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema

506 Bloor St. W. Celebrate the architects, artists and designers who have shaped our world at Toronto’s newest film festival. Featuring special guests and exciting panel discussions.

WEDNESDAY

6 pm CodeX: Playable & Disruptive Futurist eArt Opening Reception @ Onsite Gallery, 199 Richmond St. W. This exhibition of leading-edge digital art, or eArt, investigates the future of human society through technology, innovation and design. It encourages audiences to reflect on the symbiotic relationship between technology and human society, and the resulting possibilities for our future through algorithms, identity and the nature of reality. Until 9 pm.

7 pm Music Bingo @ The Gladstone Hotel, 1214 Queen St. W. Music Bingo is easy + fun: Host Kaleb plays a song, and if it’s on your bingo card, you get to hit it with the dabber. First one to get a line yells BINGO. It tests your musical knowledge too – you’ve got to know what the song is to be able to cross it off the card!

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 fire off questions ranging from sporting records and celebrity scandals to geographic discoveries and culinary lingo. $2 to participate. Email host@thedrakehotel.ca or show up early to reserve a spot.

THURSDAY

6 pm Night Time Record Show @ The Monarch Tavern, 12 Clinton St. The Monarch Tavern plays host to 10 fully-stocked tables of vinyl goodness for your perusal and consumption. All styles of music will be represented, from vintage treasures to the latest wax. They’ll also be spinning the good stuff all night for you to groove to whilst digging. Until 10 pm. $3.

9 pm Dead Poet: Poet’s Journey @ The Drake Underground, 1150 Queen St. W. A monthly open mic and spoken word event, Dead Poet keeps your energy charged with a vibrant space of artists, poets, musicians, DJs, and performances. This month’s theme is Poet’s Journey and will focus on music, poetry, and dance submissions that share the artistic expression of the good, the bad, and the beauty of being human. $10.

10 pm Psych O Rockeros @ Swan Dive, 1631 Dundas St. W. A night dedicated to Afro-Latin music of the Americas not often heard, including Latin rockadelia, psychedelic cumbia, Latin funk, and more. With DJs Firecracker, Yana Runa, and Ron Jon.

FRIDAY

8 pm Retro Night @ 3030, 3030 Dundas St. W. A night of classics from the ’60s, ’70s, and ’80s with DJ Black Lotus spinning till late.

9 pm Decades Dance Party: The 2010s @ Handlebar, 159 Augusta Ave. The dance party to end all dance parties! Here’s how it works: every half-hour is a new year of music from 2010 until 2019. Every hour is a new DJ. Every half-hour is a confetti-fuelled countdown into the next year.

10 pm Gelato Fun @ Farside, 600 Gerrard St. E. A night of catchy Italo disco, synth, electro, and gems with DJ Vernal Trash.

10 pm MVMNT @ Dundas Video, 831 Dundas St. W. 100% raw house, techno, and electro to get you moving with DJs Maddmon, Frustra, and ODDSOCK.

10 pm Pixie & Milch @ The Little Jerry, 418 College St. Yurina Onishi, a.k.a. Pixie, is a new Toronto transplant from Osaka/Kobe, Japan where she held numerous residencies while working at the world-renowned diggers paradise, Rare Groove Record Shop. She’ll be playing B2B with Milch, a Toronto-based DJ whose musical focus is an eclectic mix of 1980s oddities, wave, industrial, and synth.

10 pm SOAKed with Cali Rose @ 254 Lansdowne, 254 Lansdowne Ave. Based in Brooklyn, Cali Rose is one of the founding members of New World Dysorder and recently Dollhaus, two collectives run and founded by transwomen of color. She creates a sexy, seductive, and dark atmosphere in the club using elements of acid techno, darkwave, industrial, trance, amongst other genres. With local support from DJs Korea Town Acid, Soft Matter, and Venus in Foil. $10 before midnight, more after.

10 pm Jamz @ Clinton’s, 693 Bloor St. W. A house party without the house. DJs Slater and Ty playing ’90s and ’00s bangers all night! $10.

10 pm Soul Makossa @ Luanda House, 1474 St. Clair Ave. W. Join DJs Ron Jon and Gene King for a night of dancing to some of the deepest and soulful grooves. $5 before 11:30 pm, $10 after.

10 pm Eighties + Nineties @ Stones Place, 1255 Queen St. W. Party tunes from the ’80s and ’90s all night with special guest DJ Junkyard Jesse (The Headstones/No Warning). $5.

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 Dirt Nap @ Swan Dive, 1631 Dundas St. W. Retro, rock ‘n’ roll, weirdness with DJ Davey D.

10 pm Demuir @ Bambi’s, 1265 Dundas St. W. Selections Label and House of Lords presents: Demuir, a producer who has released on the finest labels in house and techno, including Heist Recordings, Pets Recordings, Hot Creations, Desolat Music Group, Classic Music Company, and his own imprint Purveyor Underground. Joining him is longtime DJ, producer, and label owner Toronto Hustle going B2B with Bobby Love. $11.62 in advance, $15 at the door.

10 pm Emo Night @ Sneaky Dee’s, 431 College St. Revisit your teen angst! Spinning your favourite emo anthems all night every Friday at Sneaky Dee’s. $5 early bird tickets available online.

10 pm Wax Candy Disco @ The Piston, 937 Bloor St. W. DJ Efsharp and Cyclist serve up platters of the sweetest soulful, refreshing, and uplifting disco in one of the best sounding rooms in the city. $10.

10:30 pm Beam Me Up Disco @ The Baby G, Dundas St. W. The Patchouli Brothers play a disco mix of gospel, funk, soul, boogie, rare groove, house, and jazz sounds surrounded by smiling faces.

SATURDAY

10:30 am AGO All Hours @ Art Gallery of Ontario, 317 Dundas St. W. AGO All Hours invites visitors to enjoy a day of warmth, storytelling, and comfort. Guest curated by OCAD University’s Criticism & Curatorial Practice (MFA) students, experience a cozy campsite in the heart of the museum, pop-up tours, and performances by emerging Toronto artists. Until 10 pm. FREE for everyone 25 and under, AGO annual pass holders, and AGO members.

8 pm DJ Skate Nights: Yohomo’s IceCapades @ The Natrel Rink (Harbourfront Centre), 235 Queens Quay W. Sharpen your skates and skills as Toronto’s number one outdoor winter party returns with another stellar lineup of DJs that will bring the heat to your Saturday nights. This week, Yohomo – Toronto’s fiercest source for everything LGBTQ+ arts, nightlife, and culture – takes over the Natrel Rink to make all your gay figure skating fantasies come true. Skate and helmet rentals available. Until 11 pm.

10 pm Dirty Talk @ The Embassy, 223 Augusta Ave. DJs Pammm and Automaticamore play Italo, cosmic disco, ’80s Euro synthpop, Montreal sound, and weird dad jams.

10 pm Lava Lamp @ Swan Dive, 1631 Dundas St. W. DJ Fawn Big Canoe plays the best classic disco and soul sounds in town. Turn up to get down!

10 pm New Ho Queen: Rat Rave @ One Loft, 282 College St. It’s Lunar New Year and the New Ho Queen collective is bringing you to the Rat Rave. Get your UV looks together for a dance and party-focused evening of queer Asian love! With DJs Chiclet, Chippy Nonstop, Discoraphy, Jaime Sin, Kai Zhou, Korea Town Acid, Lulu Wei, and Valerie Soo. $20 at the door.

10 pm DesignTO Birthday Bash @ The Garrison, 1197 Dundas St. W. DesignTO is turning 10 and they’re commemorating this momentous occasion with a party! Join them at The Garrison to celebrate this milestone and dance the night away to the beats of DJs Joe Blow and Craig Dominic. $11.30 in advance, $12 at the door (cash only), with all proceeds going to help achieve DesignTO’s mission to advance design culture in Canada.

10 pm Juicebox @ The Piston, 937 Bloor St. W. DJs Babs and Jorge spinning the indie, retro, and Britpop you need! You will hear: The Strokes, David Bowie, Pulp, The Stooges, LCD Soundsystem, Bloc Party, The Human League, Joy Division, Holy Ghost, Glass Candy, and lots more! $10.

10 pm Saturday Night Jukebox Dance Party @ Stones Place, 1255 Queen St. W. Sweat it out to the sweet sounds of the golden age of rock ‘n’ roll and soul music! DJ Blush plays rock, soul, funk, pop, and disco from the ’50s, ’60s, and ’70s. $10.

10 pm DJ Moe Funk @ Farside, 600 Gerrard St. E. Funk, soul, old skool, jazz, and other treats – strictly vinyl.

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 Cure. Prize for best Robert Smith lookalike! $10 before 11 pm, $15 after.

10 pm Wedding Party @ The Boat, 152-A Augusta Ave. Everyone is the bride at Wedding Party! Playing the golden hits for any and all to groove to – soul, funk, new wave, and hip-hop.

10 pm Roll + Skank @ The Ossington, 61 Ossington Ave. DJ night with the hottest beats around. All the way from the UK, this is what you’ve been waiting for.

10 pm Worst Behavior @ Clinton’s, 693 Bloor St. W. Saturdays are for getting loose and being on your Worst Behavior! Bangs & Blush roll out rap and hip-hop from now and then. $10.

10 pm Thank U, Next: Ariana Grande Dance Party @ Sneaky Dee’s, 431 College St. Get your hair in a high pony and get ready for more Ariana Grande than you can shake 7 Rings at. Sneaky Dee’s will be playing Ariana’s biggest hits that will be sure to get your hips shaking and your feet moving! $5 early bird tickets available online.

11 pm Itzsoweezee @ The Drake Underground, 1150 Queen St. W. Itzsoweezee is a counterculture brand whose values are built on a way of life and set of attitudes that substantially differ from social norms. They cater to lovers of floor-filling hip-hop, house, and electronic music. $10.

SUNDAY

11 am Trinity Bellwoods Flea @ The Great Hall (lower level), 1087 Queen St. W. The Trinity Bellwoods Flea returns with a fresh lineup of vendors, artisans, and designers for the new year. Swing by, warm-up, and treat yourself to some local goods, delicious local eats and sweet treats. Admission is free and four-legged friends are welcome! Until 6 pm.

12 pm Small Ball Mini Cask Festival @ Left Field Brewery, 36 Wagstaff Dr. Join Left Field Brewery for their third annual Small Ball Mini Cask Festival! 11 unique, limited edition casks will be available (while supplies last). $20 advance tickets available online (includes glass and 4 x 5 oz. tokens).

1 pm Australian Bushfire Relief Fundraiser @ Hemingway’s, 142 Cumberland St. Hemingway’s is partnering with the Red Cross Australian Bushfire Relief Fund and Wildlife Victoria to help the animals affected by the fires in Australia. This family-friendly event will feature a silent auction, raffle, Sausage Sizzle, and live music, with all proceeds donated directly to the above charities. Until 9 pm. RSVP here.

2 pm Australia Day Sunday Session Fundraiser @ Frisaca, 592 Queen St. W. A Sunday Session in celebration of Australia Day and a fundraising event in support of wildlife affected by the bushfires. Featuring music bingo, Aussie-themed trivia, Aussie food snacks, Triple J Hottest 100, and a raffle with heaps of prizes! All proceeds raised will be donated directly to WIRES, Wildlife Rescue NSW. Until 7 pm.

3 pm Australia Day Party + Bushfire Fundraiser @ The Gladstone Hotel, 1214 Queen St. W. Join Detour Toronto for their fourth annual Australia Day Party. Featuring Aussie classic tunes, trivia, beers, Aussie-style bites, and a variety of competitions to raise funds for the Australian bushfire. $11.62 advance tickets available online, with 50% of the funds donated to Red Cross and NSW Rural Fire Service.

7 pm Grammy Viewing Party @ The Gladstone Hotel, 1214 Queen St. W. The Gladstone has you covered on the music industry’s biggest night! Cheer on your favourite nominees and watch on-screen performances by the year’s biggest artists. Hosts Kaleb Robertson and Anasimone George will provide commentary, trivia, and more during the commercial breaks.

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. $80 goes to the best performance of the night. Doors at 7 pm, sign up starts at 7:30. $10.

7 pm Brass Facts Trivia @ The Ossington, 61 Ossington Ave. Test your knowledge and win prizes! Hosted by Famous Kirk Hero. Until 10 pm.

8:30 pm Strange Country @ The Little Jerry, 418 College St. DJ Barry Spritzer has been picking through the oft-ignored, hidden-in-the-corner and yet-to-be-rinsed country/folk sections of Toronto’s many, many record stores for the past decade. He has unearthed some diamonds in the rough and will be spinning a complete range of outsider, cosmic, outlaw, progressive, neotraditional, Americana, alt-country, and western music for your listening pleasure.

10 pm Sunday Night Karaoke @ The Ossington, 61 Ossington Ave. Come sing your heart out in front of the most supportive karaoke crowd going. Rotating hosts, cheap beers, good times!

10 pm Sinful Sundays Burlesque @ Cherry Cola’s, 200 Bathurst St. Come be entertained at this weekly “temple of tease,” where you’ll find a fresh lineup of burlesque entertainers, drag, and variety acts. On stage: Babia Majora, Maron de Sade, Imogen Quest, and host Ivory. Free entry; tipping encouraged.

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