What's on: Queer Toronto November 1 to 19, 2009

Bent event Listings in Queer Toronto
What's on: Queer Toronto November 1 to 19, 2009

Monday November 2 - Gay Author Jeffrey Round. Launch for The Honey Locust. 7-9 pm. Free. Nicholas Hoare Book Store, 45 Front E. 416-777-2665. Queer West Village, Toronto ON

Monday November 2 - Naco Gallery Cafe Altar Celebration, November 2nd from 6pm to 10pm. Live music @ 9.30 by: CAFE CON PAN. Serving Hot Chocolate and "pan de muerto" Traditional sweet Mexican bread. Day of the Dead (EL Dia de los Muertos) on November 2nd is an ancient celebration from Mexico and some South American countries. Here in Canada people have been more and more exposed to this celebration, which focuses on gatherings of family and friends to pray for and remember friends and family members who have died. Traditions include building altars honoring the deceased, using sugar skulls, marigolds, and the favorite foods and beverages of the departed. Naco Gallery Cafe 1665 Dundas W. http://www.nacogallery.com/ ph: 647-374-649 Queer West Village, Toronto ON

Tuesday November 3 - Art with Heart, the signature annual AIDS fundraiser for Casey House, turns sweet 16 with a one-of-a-kind art auction experience. Over 80 works by Douglas Coupland, Diana Thorneycroft, Kent Monkman, Michael Awad, James Lahey and many more go under the hammer. 5:30pm. The Carlu, 444 Yonge St, 7th Floor. $125. artwithheart.ca

Wednesday November 4 - Torah Queeries @ Miles Nadal JCC. Rabbis Joshua Lesser, Camille Angel and Denise Eger launch this new book that queers Biblical interpretation and commentary. $5. 7:30pm. Wed, Nov 4. Miles Nadal Jewish Community Centre. 750 Spadina Rd. 416-638-1881 ext: 4106. Kolel.org Queer West Village, Toronto ON

9th Drop Your Shorts: Short Film Festival Video, 16mm, 35mm shorts, maximum 15 minutes. Submit your shorts in person on October 31, Noon-1:30pm.Thursday, November 5 , 7pm, $2 (adults only, by law)The Revue Cinema, 400 Roncesvalles Ave., Toronto revuecinema.ca/dropyourshorts

Wednesday November 4 - SWAGGER hosts FRESH TO DEF. with Stylus Female DJ of the Year Lissa Monét spinning. SWAGGER is a Toronto based production outfit dedicated to creating innovative events specifically geared towards “urban” queers. Incorporating elements of art, music, and performance, SWAGGER encourages community building, with a focus on queer people of colour, in an exciting, fresh and safe environment. Visit lovinyourswagger.com/. for more details. What is FRESH TO DEF all about? Fresh to def is a weekly party by and for 2-Spirit, Trans//Queer Indigenous, Black and Peeps of Colour. Everyone welcome! Details: Gladstone Hotel, 1214 Queen Str. West. Runs 11 pm to 2 am Spinnin R&B, Hip Hop, House, Ol `skool, Soca, Reggae & Dance. freshtodefwednesday@gmail.com www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=169762914440 and www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=97878904560 Queer West Village, Toronto ON

Tursday November 5 - The Girlie Show @ 1140 Queen St W Kelly Grace, Shannon Gerard, Trang Dang, Fernanda Figueroa and Beverly Owens November 4 - 29, 2009 Reception: November 5, 2009 7-10 pm The Beverly Owens Project is a new contemporary studio/ art gallery in and amongst the well established contemporary art galleries on Queen West in Toronto. The Project will not only concentrate on the studio works of Owens but also on rising stars who specialize in POP Art, POMO Art, Minimalism and its post, Maximalism, Multi-Media, New Media and Anything else. The Beverly Owens Project. 1140 Queen St W. (647) 402 -3570. thebeverlyowensproject.com

Thursday November 5 - Co-launch of Contents of a Mermaid's Purse and Little Venus @ Bread & Circus. Tightrope Books, The Fairies Pyjamas, and The Toronto Women's Bookstore cordially invite you to the official co-launch for two exciting new poetry collections: Phoebe Tsang's Contents of a Mermaid's Purse and Carla Drysdale's Little Venus. The launch will feature readings by the poets, a screening of a short documentary of Phoebe's multidisciplinary violin/poetry/dance/drama performances with Majlis Arts, and a live auction of a mermaid's purse donated by Toronto indie designer and fair-trade vendor, The Fairies Pyjamas, whose items will also be on display and available for purchase. Books will be sold by the Toronto Women's Bookstore. Music by DJ Boogie. Doors at 7 pm, readings, screening & auction at 8 pm. Price: Free admission, cash bar Venue: Bread & Circus Address: 299 Augusta Ave, Kensington Market. Website: tightropebooks.com

Thursday November 5 - Lessons in Love, Toronto-based Steven Cline’s 5th solo exhibition @ Type Books and Gallery,explores the interplay between language and visual imagery in a series of six large-scale staged photographs. Runs ’til November 29. Opening reception 6-9pm. 883 Queen St W. stevencline.ca416.366.8973 Queer West Village, Toronto ON

Thursday November 5 - Art Show Launch Party - Ubiquitous Death A group art show that explores a contemporary perspective of this tradition. Installation, painting, and photography will expose how Toronto artists relates to death. Opening show on Thursday November 5th @ 8pm. With Dj: NoLoves. Artists: Romas Zenon Astrauskas, Kaitlin Till-Landry, Alejandra Diaz, Alec Dempster, Brian Rideout, Jenn Murphy. www.facebook.com/pages/Toronto-ON/NACO-Gallery/49490352469 http://www.nacogallery.com/ ph: 647-374-649 Naco Gallery Cafe 1665 Dundas W., Queer West Village, Toronto ON

Friday November 6 - ArtCore A Fundraiser for the 2010 Feminist Porn Awards. @ Bread & Circus One person’s art is another person’s porn, and one person’s porn is another person’s art. ArtCore will look at art influenced porn and porn influenced art with video screenings and performances that laugh in the face of boundaries between the erotic and the artistic.

Featuring clips from both new directors and new work from Feminist Porn Award winning directors, this evening promises you’ll never look at fruit, hot dogs, Barbie dolls or fully clothed men in quite the same way again.

Art House Sluts - follows the rise and sexual downfall of artsy slut Maddie Superstar, with an impressive performance art scene starring Jiz Lee and Syd Blakovich along the way. Directed by Madison Young, winner of Feminist Porn Awards for Hottest Kink Film 2008 Bondage Boob Tube and 2009 for Perversions of Lesbian Lust, as well as Indie Porn Pioneer 2009.

Fruitcake – How do you spell revolution? We spell it A-N-U-S. From Sweden, directed by Sara Kaaman and Ester Martin Bergsmark.

Glamazons – Zaftig mega-star April Flores shows us what Barbie dolls are really good for. Directed by Carlos Batts, winner of an Honourable Mention Feminist Porn Award Winner for Voluptuous Biker Babes in 2009.

Headshot – A different take on Andy Warhol’s “Blowjob”. How explicit does something have to be to be called porn? What is too explicit to be called art? Directed by Jennifer Lyon Bell, winner of an Honourable Mention Feminist Porn Award for Matinee in 2009.

Performances: Dylan Ryan investigates the interplay of fantasy life and public space that is present in the creation of porn, through dance and more. Frances Mahon's “Donut Spectacular” is an intimate, interactive performance exploring sexiness, awkwardness, greed, and sugar. Help yourself! Tori + Allison explore the intersections between genderqueer, femme and sex worker identities. Ab Horrence treats us to a sexy, interactive bedtime story. Plus raffles galore, art surprises, and more!

The Details: Licenced Venue, 19+ only. Price: Admission is $10 at the door. Venue: Bread and Circus Address: 299 Augusta Avenue Website: www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=162061061547

Friday November 6 - The "Joy of Gender" @ The Centre for Women and Trans People U of T The Trans Inclusion Group hosts... "The Joy of Gender": Presentation by Hershel T. Russell, a provocative and gorgeous slide show, identifies trans experience as an ordinary, if unusual, aspect of human diversity. Chapters include: "Disrupting gender: the Opposite Sex is Neither." "Policing Gender: who does it?" "Trans communities here and now: we're fabulous, get used to us!" Thought-provoking experiential exercises, film clips and plenty of time for Q and A make for a lively and interactive workshop readily adaptable for a broad range of audiences from trans activists and academics to cisgendered people seeking answers to the most basic questions. Open community discussion will follow. Light dinner and tea provided. Friday November 6th 2009 6-8pm The Centre for Women and Trans People U of T 563 Spadina Ave., rm.100 (North Borden Building) Wheelchair Accessible food provided FREE! Phone: 416.978.8201 Fax: 416.978.1078 Email: womens.centre@utoronto.ca Website: http://womenscentre.sa.utoronto.ca/

Saturday November 7 - PhotoLab2 @ galleryDK (Parkdale) For the past month and a half, galleryDK has been accepting submissions from any and all photographers and lens-based artists. Landscapes, portraits, urban scenes, colour and black & white - all styles were accepted. galleryDK wants to show that exhibitions and art can be open to everyone. With amateurs hung next to established artists - and no identifying labels on the pieces - the art will be hung to appeal to buyer's sense of style, rather than the name affixed to it. As with the first PhotoLab show, there will be a single price for every piece in the gallery. Recognizing the current economic state, galleryDK has lowered the price from last year to only $125. Submissions will be accepted until October 25th. There will be an opening reception on Saturday, November 7th from 7pm to 10pm. 1332 Queen Street West, near the Wrongbar. 416-913-7116 info@gallerydk.com web site: http://www.gallerydk.com/ Queer West Village, Toronto ON

Sunday November 8 - Our Favourite Queer West Band Random Order @ Slacks. Canadian reggae-ska performers, Random Order at Slack’s Sundays. Leave the magic wand at home and enjoy the good (musical) vibrations. 6pm. 562 Church St. $5. slacks.ca 416.928.2151

Sunday November 8 - Boys Under The Big Top @ Revival Nightclub. Boylesque T.O., a male burlesque and circus show extravaganza! Expect to see: tassels, magicians,some frisky lions and much much more. Sunday November 8, 2009 and Sunday November 15, 2009 Doors open at 7p.m., show starts at 8p.m. at Revival Nightclub – 783 College Street West $20 advance tickets at bigtopboys.eventbrite.comor $25 at the door. With special guest stars: Tanya Cheex (Skin Tight Outta Sight), Keith Cole, Mysterion the Mind Reader, PyRomeo, Charlotte Weber (Les Coquettes), The Mohyl (Les Coquettes) and many others...Revival Nightclub, 783 College St. W.http://www.boylesqueto.com/ Queer West Village, Toronto ON

Wednesday November 11th, 18th, and 19th - Focus group seeking Newcomers to Canada that are South Asian, Asian, Caribbean, African, Portuguese and Spanish men, that have sex with other men.

The Black Coalition for AIDS Prevention (Black-CAP) is leading a provincial project to develop resources for newcomer MSM from all ethnoracial communities. Our project team is looking for focus group participants from the target demographic to ensure the development of these resources adequately meet the needs of newcomer men.

.This is a collaborative project among Asian Community AIDS Services (ACAS), Alliance for South Asian AIDS Prevention (ASAAP), Black Coalition for AIDS Prevention (Black CAP), Africans in Partnership Against AIDS (APAA), AIDS Committee of Toronto (ACT), and the Centre for Spanish Speaking Peoples (CSSP). Funded by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care - AIDS Bureau.

The Details: Sessions will be held on November 11th, 18th, and 19th between 6 and 8:30pm at 110 Spadina Ave., # 207 TTC tokens, meals, and a $30 honorarium will be provided to participants. Registration by email or phone. Please call Rene Lopez, Project Assistant at (416) 506-1400 ext. 108 or email nmsmassist@black-cap.com. Translation available upon request http://www.black-cap.com/

Wednesday November 11 - The Launch of The Best Canadian Poetry in English 2009 @ The Revival. You are cordially invited to the launch of The Best Canadian Poetry in English, 2009, edited by Griffin Poetry Prize Winner A.F. Moritz and Series Editor Molly Peacock. With readings from Jan Conn, Barry Dempster, John Terpstra, John Reibetanz, Karen Solie, Robyn Sarah, Shane Nielson, Ricardo Sternberg, and Matthew Tierney. Doors open: 7:00 pm. Readings begin at: 8:00 pm. Hosted by Myna Wallin. Special Musical Guests: The Pining.e: Revival 783 College Street. Website: www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=186119910085

Friday November 13 - Clave - LGBT U of T Queer Dance Party @ Dovercourt House. Clave is back! After a great turn-out with our first event at the Tranzac Club in June, they decided that having another Clave party. So here we are once again inviting everyone to come and join us for another You don’t need a partner! Everyone is welcome! You don’t need to be a UofT student! Clave party at the Dovercourt House (805 Dovercourt St, Toronto) on November 13th, Friday from 9:00 pm - 2:00 am. Cover is $5 at the door. There will be a FREE Salsa class at 8:00 pm so come and learn some moves and styling before you hit the dancefloor! Please invite all your friends to come and join us as we dance the night away with Salsa, R&B, Latin and Hiphop tunes played by DJ Viviana. Dancing starts at 9:00 pm. So get your game face on, dancing shoes on and your party hat on because it will be an entertaining, fun and sexy night for everybody! Looking forward to seeing you there! U of T LGBT dance club is a community partner of Queer West, show your support. Dovercourt House, 805 Dovercourt Rd. just above College St. lgbtdance.sa.utoronto.ca Queer West Village, Toronto ON

Saturday November 14 - Third Annual Fowl Supper for Canadian Lesbian Gay Archives The evening will feature a traditional fowl supper with all the trimmings (vegetarians, don't despair, we have something for everyone!), great entertainment, "best dressed of the West" contest, surprise guests, a cash bar, a silent auction, dancing and, most important, an opportunity to interact and socialize. Host Deb Pearce of Proud FM.

Now that the Canadian Lesbian Gay Archives has completed the renovation of its permanent home at 34 Isabella Street, the Archives is planning future public programming. Meanwhile, our operating costs have more than doubled and the collection continues to expand at an even greater rate. We need your help to keep our stories alive. It's so easy to forget a quiet archive, but we are all vital to the community, and the CLGA needs your support as much as ever.

Saturday November 14, 2009 Doors Open at 5:30 pm St. Lawrence Hall 157 King St. E. Toronto DINNER · ENTERTAINMENT SILENT AUCTION · DOOR PRIZES Hosted by Deb Pearce from 103.9 Proud-FM Tickets $50. To order call 416-777-2755 RSVP

For more information about the CLGA, please visit our website at http://www.clga.ca/ to learn more about the event, or to find out how to get tickets, contact Jennifer Coffey, event co-chair, directly at jacoffey@rogers.com Tickets are $50. Advance tickets only

Saturday November 14 - International Gay Rodeo Association Convention @ Bloor Yorkville Marriott Hotel. IGRA celebrates its 25th anniversary with cowpokes from across North America in town from Thu, Nov 12 to 15. CCGRA was founded in 2006. We are a non-profit organization whose purpose is to educate and promote the GBLTQ country western lifestyle through a combination of events including the sport of rodeo, organized trail rides and other social opportunities. The Thursday and Friday Royalty competitions at 7pm are free and open to the public. The Brokeback Saloon/Casino and Wild West Hoe-Dow features the Triangle Squares, Detroit’s DJ Eric, Miss Kimberley Kay and the DC Cowboys of America’s Got Talent. $20. 9 pm. Sat, Nov 14. Bloor Yorkville Marriott. Forest Hill Ballroom. 90 Bloor St E. 416-961-8000. http://www.ccgra.ca/

Saturday November 14 - Portrait of a Mannequin as a Young Artist. @ Gallery 253469 a 30 minute live performance that will open the ten day installation on exhibit in the 253469 gallery windows November 14 to 24, 2009. Toronto artist Kathleen Reichelt revives and continues the feminist dialogue of body as object through her performance, video and installation, drawing attention to frivolity and technology, what we create and plug into.

The Details: The live performance will take place November 14th at 2pm. The installation is on display until November 24th. 253469 is located at 1267 Bloor Street West, east of Lansdowne. (formerly Fountain 253 Art Gallery) For more information contact 253469 at 416-653-9919 or 253469@gmail.com

Sunday November 15 - Santa Claus Parade The annual parade of nursery rhyme floats, live bands, and Santa and his reindeer gets rolling at 12:30 pm at Bloor and Christie, heads E on Bloor to University, S on University to Dundas, E on Dundas to Yonge, S on Yonge to Front and E on Front to Church. Free. thesantaclausparade.com

Sunday Nover 15 - SWAGGER SUNDAY @ Samovar. A hot party on a cool evening featuring live entertainment, fancy cocktails, hors d'oeuvres, gift bags & an amazing raffle package with proceeds going to the Black Coalition for AIDS Prevention (Black CAP). An amazing way to spend a Sunday Evening for a great cause

SWAGGER, Toronto’s Premiere Production Company specifically for urban queers is all about having a good time... especially when we can do so while giving back to the community!

SWAGGER has partnered with the Black Coalition for AIDS Prevention (Black CAP) to put together an amazing event featuring live performances by The House of Monroe, rapper extraordinaire Wolf J with special guest Ayo Leilani, plus DJ Kalmplex & Stylus Female DJ of the Year Lissa Monét.

The Black Coalition for AIDS Prevention (Black CAP) works to reduce HIV/AIDS in Toronto’s Black, African and Caribbean communities and enhance the quality of life of Black people living with or affected by HIV/AIDS. At this time, Black, African and Caribbean people account for more than one-fifth of all new HIV infections in Toronto. Find out more about Black CAP at http://www.black-cap.com/.

Guests will also receive 2 complimentary drinks, hors d'oeuvres and an amazing gift bag stuffed with swag from our sponsors; plus the chance to win an exclusive SWAGGER LUXURY raffle prizepack from Toronto Women’s Bookstore, Good for Her, Luxirie by LRG, MyTego, Emmy’s featured custom jewellery Feedie Beanies, Artist Ashley Mckenzie-Barnes and more! For more information visit lovinyourswagger.com/.

The Details: Samovar. 51A Winchester Street @ Parliament Sunday 15 November 2009 Time: 6pm- Price: $15 advance, $25 at the door TICKETS: Available at Samovar (51A Winchester Street @ Parliament 416 925 4555), Good For Her (175 Harbord Street 416 588-0900) Toronto Women’s Bookstore (73 Harbord Street 416-922-8744) or call 647 367 7791

Thursday November 19 - Gourmet Food & Wine Expo @ Metro Toronto Convention Centre. The Gourmet Food & Wine Expo offers 36,000 guests an unparalleled opportunity to sample over 1,500 fine wines, beers and spirits and savour the culinary stylings of Toronto’s best restaurants. The Expo embraces the style and sophistication of a cocktail party paired with unprecedented educational opportunities and compelling feature areas. Esplêndido Portugal! Discover the vibrant culture and sample spectacular wines in this year’s Theme Country Pavilion. A wine lover’s dream! The Fine Wine Tasting Lounge offers a rare opportunity to stock your cellar and sample premium private order and Vintages selections.

Buy ticket now at foodandwineexpo.ca Bring your appetite! Many of Toronto’s top restaurants will be sampling their stunning creations. Take a break at the Food Network Stage as celebrity chefs and the Nine of Dine – Chefs of Distinction Award winners demystify, prepare and sample their top recipes. Beyond the wine glass! The Spiritology Pavilion will educate aspiring mixologists on the hottest trends and serve up some serious libations. Don’t miss Mott's Clamato Caesar School for a hands-on class in creating four versions of Canada's National Cocktail.

The Details: Thursday, November 19 6 pm – 10 pm (VIP Preview Evening) Friday, November 20 2 pm - 10 pm Saturday, November 21 12 pm – 10 pm Sunday, November 22 12 pm – 6 pm Metro Toronto Convention Centre, South Building, Toronto VIP Evening: $35; General Admission: $15 Must be 19+ years of age to attend; no infants or children are permitted.http://www.foodandwineexpo.ca/