The Best of Toronto Queer Events for February 2015

Shit We're Diggin'
Hercules & Love Affair - I Try To Talk To You

 

 

List compiled by M. F. Pare

The Old smoke shop at Dufferin & Dundas W., in Brockton neighbourhood of the Queer West Village, is now a new fabulous hair salon.

Lebel & Crowe, 1491 Dundas Street West. Is the latest addition to the burgeoning Dundas West strip, offering a fresh alternative to stuffy & predictable hair salons. Jesse Crowe, Emily Lebel, Melody Bostelaar & Caitlin Gordon are thrilled to be moving into their new digs. L&C: We are really loving being part of our new neighbourhood Brockton Village, on Dundas West. The community is full of these great, local, eclectic shops that all have friendly, welcoming people.....http://www.lebelandcrowe.com/

Every Thursday in February - Dufferin Grove Farmers Market. It's a beautiful sunny day in Toronto! So bundle up, & take a stroll over to the organic farmers market from 3-7pm: our farmers will be there & so should you! For February, Beretta Farms has plenty of $$$ saving specials & today they will also have Sweetpea Baby Food and Organic Snacks on offer. For some added fun, bring your sled or skates down to the park too and... ENJOY the beauty of winter! Read on for this week's market news: http://bit.ly/1BXy5k2
 
The Details: Every Thursday 3:00-7:00 pm all year around. Dufferin Grove Park rink house (875 Dufferin, S of Bloor), across from the Dufferin Mall. The rink house is in the northwest corner of the park, just off Dufferin. The closest subway stop is Dufferin Station (one block north). The Dufferin buses, both northbound and southbound, stop every three minutes right outside the rink house. http://www.dufferinpark.ca/market/wiki/wiki.php
 
Wednesday February 11 to 22, 2015 - Rhubarb Festival @ Buddies The 36th edition of the new works festival features plays, dance, performance art and more. Shows include Sharron Matthews's Full Dark, Morro & Jasp's Anything Goes and Bruce Dow's "Ohio" And Tadeu End Their Lives In Montague Parkette. Opens Feb 11 and runs to Feb 22, see website for schedule. $20 evening passes, Young Creators Unit and offsite events pwyc.Buddies in Bad Times Theatre 12 Alexander, Toronto, Ontario http://rhubarb.buddiesinbadtimes.com/
 
Friday February 13, 2015 - Club Lonely @ gay owned Bambi’s, 1265 Dundas St. W. Evening Standard presents the first (and perhaps last) annual Club Lonely on St. Valentine’s Eve. A night of music made for dancing alone or together for $5 (cheap date?!). With resident Djs Membersonly. 10 pm

Friday February 13, 2015 - Litlle so called queer dance party Friday the 13th Disco Party @ Cardinal Rule, 5 Roncesvalles Ave.Run a comb through your hair, walk under a ladder, and cross the path of a black cat on your way to boogie-oogie-oogie all night long to the tunes of DeeJay XXX, a better evening is with DJ 4est's SURPRISE PARTY! The Last SATURDAY of EVERY month! http://www.cardinalrulerestaurant.com/events

Friday February 13, 2015 - Long Winter Fair @ Various queer west venues. In this world, only winter is certain at least for the next couple years. It's the LONG WINTER FAIR Long Winter Year 3 / Vol. 4 at these VENUES Outdoor Street Fair - Dovercourt Rd., South of Queen, The Great Hall - 1087 Queen St. W. 99 Sudbury - 99 Sudbury St.The Theatre Centre - 1115 Queen St. W. Street fair starts at 6pm Great Hall & 99 Sudbury open at 7pm. and Theatre Centre times tba Early Bird tickets are $20 and that ticket will get you into all the venues. Without a ticket it's Pay What You Can at all the doors. Buy tickets here: https://guestlistapp.com/events/307776Long Winter is always All Ages. https://www.facebook.com/events/723031671150375

Saturday February 14, 2015 - Queer Business Women's Valentine Special @ The Round. Cupid's arrow will be out in full force this month. Bring your Valentine for a special date or find your valentine on our dance floor. Have romantic dinner at the restaurant before hand and stay for the party. Amazing performances by Devine Darlin & Tynomi Banks Djs Diego Armand and Kevin Ritchie will be playing everyone's favourite love song. Arrive early for special Valentine's Day drink specials. ...it's $6 10:00 PM - 2:30 AM 152a Augusta Ave. 2nd flr, not wheelchair accessible. https://www.facebook.com/events/1400630270240182

Saturday February 14, 2015 - Toronto's QUEER SLOWDANCE! - Valentine's Day EDITION! With a lending library of designated dancers for all you wallflowers, and a dancecard-booklet to set up dances in advance (should you choose to), Toronto Queer Slowdance has all slow songs, all night long! (Except for the occasional intermission when we play the fastest songs we can find!)
It's high school with a happy ending. Come and experience why slow is beautiful, and why love is not ironic. you do not have to be queer to attend this party, but you must have an open mind, an open heart, and have open arms. Do keep in mind that the majority of folks attending are lesbian & gay, so if you are stridently straight, this may not be the most receptive community for you.
The Details: Dovercourt House, 805 Dovercourt Rd. (1 block North of Bloor, 3 blks. West of Ossington) Saturday, ((Street Map http://g.co/maps/u2kc3) Doors at 9:30, Dance from 10 PM – 2:30 AM. $10 admission includes your Dancecard-booklet! http://www.dovercourthouse.comRegretfully, the Dovercourt House is not wheelchair-accessible. 19+ Queer West Village, Toronto On.

Saturday February 14, 2015 - Valentine's Dinner @ the Gay Owned The Hogtown Cure Get There early, seating for about 15/18 couples. Missout then expect a lineup. Book your reservations now for our Valentine's Dinner Saturday February 14th. It's 3 courses including Cheddar & Ale Fondue and comes with a bottle of Hinterland Ancestral Rose sparking wine. Only $50pp. To reserve your table send us a message here on FB, email social@TheHogtownCure.com or call the restaurant at 647-725-5550 The Hogtown Cure 1484 Dundas Street West at Dufferin St. https://www.facebook.com/events/1619698858253296

Sunday February 15, 20`5 - Seinfeld Trivia Night @ KITCH, 229 Geary Ave. Think you know Seinfeld? Well it’s not a lie if you believe it, and if you can prove you’re the master of your domain, then it’s next stop Pottersville. This is the Famous original Ray’s of monthly Seinfeld trivia, not some knock-off with their own case at the end of the aisle. Come for the trivia, stay for the episode and the JuJy Fruits! Maybe you’ll win a contest. Triva at 8 pm. http://www.kitchbar.com/

Tuesday February 17, 2015 - Free Burgers for Lovers @ Big Smoke Burger 573 King Street West To celebrate the grand re-opening of its King Street West flagship store (573 King St. W.), Big Smoke Burger invites you to enjoy a free lunch. On Tuesday, Feb. 17, the gourmet burger shop will offer free hand-crafted burgers, fresh cut fries and fountain drinks from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Big Smoke Burger is asking customers to make a donation to the Toronto Kiwanis Boys & Girls Clubs and will match every dollar donated. Come check out the new design, support a good cause and feed your hunger cravings! http://bigsmokeburger.com/

Wednesday February 18, 2015 - Opening night fo The Sound of Cracking Bones / Le bruit des os qui craquent @ Theatre Passe Muraille By Suzanne Lebeau and produced by Pleiades Theatre, with the support of Theatre Passe Muraille and the participation of Roméo Dallaire Child Soldiers Initiative. This Governor General award-winning play is the gripping and inspiring story of a child soldier who rediscovers her humanity through a small boy brought to the rebel camp. Reminding her of her stolen childhood, lost family and lost village, he gives her the courage to break the chain of violence. Unsettling yet powerfully life-affirming, their story is an intimate portrayal of a global issue.

The Details: Opens Feb 18 and runs to Mar 7, Wed-Sat 7:30 pm. Feb 18-27 shows in English, Mar 3-7 shows in French. $17-$38. TPM Mainspace. Theatre Passe Muraille 16 Ryerson Avenue, Toronto ON http://www.pleiadestheatre.org/

Wednesday February 18 to 22nd, 2015 - Vector Game Art & New Media Festival @ Videofag International experimental media and digital gaming festival including a panel discussion, exhibits, workshops, performances and more. Various venues. $5-$15, some free events. 7 pm Videofag 187 Augusta, Toronto, Ontario http://www.vectorfestival.org/

Thursday February 19, 2015 - Reception for The Sex Art Exhibition @ Gallery 1313. Main & Process Gallery : The Sex Show has become an annual event at Gallery 1313. This group curated exhibition includes a variety of different approaches to sexuality . The artists all have a different outlook and use different materials in creating their work. It was curated online by Phil Anderson .The Sex Show attempts to push the boundaries of the definition of sex. It approaches the topic of sex from all angles, exhibiting works that vary on a broad scale, from art that is explicit to art that is more elusive in content. Not only does The Sex Show contain a wide variety of sex-related themes and content, it also exhibits the use of abundantly different mediums such as film, sculpture, collage and paint.. 8pm 1313 Queen St. West Extended Show Runs Wednesday February 18 to March 1, 2015 -http://www.g1313.org T: 416.536.6778 - E: director@g1313.org 

Thursday February 19, 2015 - Opening Night Photographers Without Borders @ The Black Cat, 2186 Dundas Street West Join us as we launch our 2nd issue of our Photographers Without Borders Magazine. We will have a showcase of work from the magazine on display along with our magazine on sale. 7 pm to midnight https://www.facebook.com/events/1520516008207352
 
Thursday February 19 (5 pm), 2015 - Chinese New Year Feast @ Drake One Fifty Chef Jon Pong's twist on classic Chinese dishes are presented in this special event. 5 pm. Reserve. Drake One Fifty 150 York, Toronto, Ontario http://www.drakeonefifty.ca/whatson/2015/2/19/chinese-new-year-feast/

Friday February 20, 2015 - Girls Cult Film Night "Girls with Guns" @ Innis Town Hall. Lineup: Hosted by U of T CinemaStudies StudentUnion. https://www.facebook.com/cinemastudies.studentunion TANK GIRL 1995: loosely based on the comic series of the same name, TANK GIRL begins after a comet disrupts the rain cycle of Earth and the planet has become a desolate, barren desert by the year 2033...FOXY BROWN 1974: Unable to pay back the $20,000 he owes the mob, small-time hustler Link Antonio Fargas instead gives up the identity of an undercover cop and BAISE-MOI 2000: Manu Raffaela Anderson has lived a difficult life. Abused and violently raped, she sets off to find herself only to meet Nadine Karen Bach, a prostitute who has encountered one too many injustices in the world. Innis Town Hall FREE 2 Sussex Avenue. 7 PM https://www.facebook.com/events/708460682604675

Friday February 20, 2015 - Yes Yes Y’all presents Bambii longside YYY Djs @ RYZE . RYZE NIGHTCLUB (GROUND FLOOR), not top floor, unless you want to go to a jungle/drum n bass party, which is totally rad too. Toronto's biggest, baddest, queerest, hip hop/dancehall/rnb jam took over new space at Ryze on College. NewgGuest DJs every month. This location is now wheelchair accessible. 10 PM 19+ COVER $6 bucks before 11pm. extremely difficult to get tickets at the door! Ryze More after , 423 College St. Queer West Toronto Ontario. https://twitter.com/YesYesYall416 or https://www.facebook.com/events/436649906485253


Friday February 20, 2015. . Last Scissors Ladies Night Event @ The Steady. This is IT! Come and get snipped one last time! Thanks to all who showed tremendous support this past year, you have helped shape what our great vibe has become. The ladies from Scissors will be taking a break until further notice. We have had a wonderful time playing, dancing, cheer-sing and most of all laughing every Jam. Until then..AS always.. come listen to the lush and lovely house music hand picked by your djs Whitewolf, SHAMANTA and Fawn Big Canoe FREE JAM BefORE 12!! A kind request of $5 after Show us one last time what your mama gave ya. 10 PM The Steady Cafe & Bar 1051 Bloor St W, Toronto, Ontario https://www.facebook.com/TheSteadyCafeBar


Friday February 20, 2015 - Womyn: A Feminist Film Series @ Likely General 389 Roncesvalles Ave. Doors open at 7pm for snacks and drinks available by donation. We encourage you to bring a mug if you like as we will have unlimited tea for free though limited mugs available. Though the store will be open for viewers wishing to browse, the first film will begin at 8pm and we will be locking the doors during each screening so as to not disrupt the viewing. This space is accessible by ramp, but we regret to inform you that the washrooms are located down a large flight of stairs. The space is also not scent-free. Capacity is limited to 47 people, our first edition was filled to capacity, so if you are interested we suggest to arrive at 7pm. This event is PWYC. 3 Nobody turned away for lack of funds 3 Doors at 7 pm https://www.facebook.com/events/341653206036090

Saturday February 21, 2015 - The Bellwoods Flea Market - Drinks, music, classic films and local vendors offering vintage and handmade goods, plus pets are welcome. 11 am-6 pm. Free. Magpie Taproom 831 Dundas W, Toronto, Ontario https://www.facebook.com/BellwoodsFlea

Sunday February 22 to March 29, 2015 - LGBT Dance Classes Queer and trans salsa classes. To Mar 29, Sundays from 3 to 5 pm (Advanced 3 pm; Intermediate 4 pm; Beginner 5 pm). No class on Feb 15. $15 drop-in, course $45-$90 (pre-register lgbtdance.club@utoronto.ca).http://www.lgbtdance.com/

Sunday February 22, 2015 - The Leslieville Flea is back at The Distillery!. Step out of the cold and into The Leslieville Flea! We are a curated market selling vintage, salvaged, up-cycled goods, furniture, antiques, collectibles and work from select artisans. Starting January thru to April we will be at The Distillery District in the Fermenting Cellar 55 Mill Street, Toronto, ON M5A 3C4 Sunday, February 22, 2015 from 10am-4pm http://leslievilleflea.com/

Sunday February 22, 2015 - Tea Dance & PWA Fund Raiser @ The Cellblock/Zippers. Hard to believe but it's been one year since we started our monthly Fundraiser Tea Dance for the Toronto People With AIDS Foundation! And to celebrate joining DJ Relentless will be DJ Chris Squares aka Chris Larade from 7 PM to 10 PM. NO COVER all we ask is that you donate $2 per request to help PWA.Day prices on drinks until 8 PM. Zipperz/Cellblock 72 Carlton Street at Church St. https://www.facebook.com/events/1564222460530745

Sunday February 22, 2015 - Hunt and Gather 2015: We Belong Together @ Ward's Island. Hunt and Gather is a one-day outdoor event that focuses on site-specific performances by participants. Hunt and Gather produce a scenario based on timeless themes and guide participants to create a new perspective through interpretation. Provided with the natural and challenging outdoor beauty of Ward’s Island, participants use the elements as a backdrop for performances. About 2015 theme: The Anthropologists: We Belong Together 5th Anniversary Party https://www.facebook.com/events/794492960606389

Thursday February 26, 2015 - Toronto Book Launch for Another Politics by Chris Dixon @ Another Story Book Store. Join author and activist Chris Dixon for a presentation based on his new book Another Politics. This event will also include a talk by Sharmeen Khan. 7pm Another Story Bookshop 315 Roncesvalles Avenue (at Grenadier) Free - all welcome Our entrance is wheelchair accessible but not our bathroom. https://www.facebook.com/events/333308656877212

Friday February 27, 2015 - Rupaul's Drag Race: Battle Of The Seasons @ Dnforth Music Hall. 2015 Congratulations Tour with Michelle Visage hosting this reality TV show with BenDeLaCreme, Darienne Lake, Jiggly Caliente, Pandora Boxx, Cary NoKey, Jinkx Monsoon, Alaska 5000 and others. VIP doors 7 pm, regular doors 8 pm. $31.50-$100. ticketmaster.ca.The Danforth Music Hall 147 Danforth, Toronto, Ontario 8 pm http://thedanforth.com/

Saturday February 28 to April 6, 2015 - Sugarbush Maple Syrup Festival Tap into nature with demonstrations, wagon rides, entertainment, pancakes with maple syrup and more. $6.50-$10. Kortright Centre for Conservation 9550 Pine Valley, Vaughan, Ontario http://maplesyrupfest.com/

Saturday February 28, 2015 -Toronto's Singing OUT Gay Chorus @ Church of the Holy Trinity. Once again, Singing Out Toronto’s LGBTQ+ Chorus, presents its annual Cabaret, on Saturday, February 28, 7:30 pm, at the Church of the Holy Trinity (10 Trinity Square, behind the Eaton Centre). Chorus members will be riffing on this year’s theme, “It’s All About Me,” showing off their individual talents in solos, duets, and small groups. “It’s All About Me.” Because there actually is an “i” in “choir.” 7:30 PM Tickets $20:00 https://www.facebook.com/events/414111098764909 or http://www.singingout.com/