🦝 Apple Pie, Pub Olympics, and Sadness

Happy Thursday Toronto,

Did you have fun last weekend?

AHHHHHHHH!!!!!!

Let’s get into it.

West End Updates

Vietnamese Café Opens in The Junction

Phin & Go Café opened recently in the Junction by the corner of Dundas and Runnymede. If you’re in the area it’s impossible to miss - the exterior is bright blue with a painting of a coffee eating a sandwich. The sandwich doesn’t seem to mind at all.

Here are the selling points: authentic Vietnamese drip coffee with filters imported from Vietnam, lots of matcha offerings, and bubble tea. You need more? How about desserts like tiramisu cake, fresh spring rolls, and a ribeye beef banh mi? If that’s still not enough for you I don’t know what to say. They also have chairs and tables?

More info on their Instagram.

Patty Shop in Brockton Village

If you leave Phin & Go café and head East down Dundas, then continue South and then to the East again, you’ll 1) enjoy passing though some really confusing intersections and 2) find the recently opened Kingston 12 Patty by Dundas and Brock. This is the second location for Kingston 12, their original spot up on Eglington and Dufferin is a huge local favourite. This new venture will look to continue that success, serving up tons of patty varieties in addition to oxtail, curry goat, and jerk chicken. Here’s their Instagram.

Community Initiatives

If you know of a local cause that could use a shoutout, reply to this email.

Brock Public School Raising Funds For New Schoolyard

Sent in by a reader:

“Brock Public School is giving its schoolyard a much-needed glow-up. Turning a patch of pavement into a lively, welcoming space for play, learning, and connection. It’s called the Brock Yard Revival, and it’s being built by the community, for the community in partnership with the TDSB.

The goal: raise $125,000 to bring the extras that make a schoolyard truly special: shade, greenery, play zones, and gathering spaces. We’re halfway to our goal, but without the remaining funds the project can’t move forward. Every dollar we raise unlocks 4–5 times that amount from the TDSB, turning our community contribution into a much larger transformation. Construction is planned for summer 2026, and your support now ensures this vision becomes a reality.”

More info about the project is here, as is a donation page.

Fancy House of the Week

Sitting on the North-East corner of Trinity Bellwoods, 232 Shaw is an absolute beauty of a house. Built in 1870 in the Victorian style, the building has been meticulously maintained by previous owners and remains in pristine historical condition. While every other new build in the city is a box of white and grey, 232 Shaw is a veritable kaleidoscope with vibrant blues, greens, and even a few reds. $3.2 million, check it out.

Events

If you have an event you’d like included in the West End Raccoon, please submit it here.

Thursday and Friday

School Fundraiser @ Givins Shaw Elementary School - Thursday 4PM
Speaking of school fundraising, Givins Shaw is hosting a fundraising market with over 40 small business vendors. Details

Art Hive @ MOCA - Thursday 5PM
First night of a bi-weekly event series where graduate students will lead creative workshops. The workshops will be completely free and all materials will be provided. Details

Double Book Launch @ Type Books Junction - Thursday 630PM
Launch of two books at once! Author readings! "Human Story will not Consume the Cosmos" by Alexander Hollenberg & "The Fun Times Brigade" by Lindsay Zier-Vogel. Details

Astrology & Tarot Card Social @ Alternity - Thursday 7PM
A social night where you can meet other people interested in stars and predicting stuff. Details

Fall Salon Opening @ Norther Contemporary - Thursday 7PM
Are you living in the West End of Toronto? Are you interested in local art? If only there was some place where you could see a bunch of works from local artists. Too bad nothing like that exists. Other than the West Toronto Artists group's new exhibition. Details

The Sounds of 1986 @ Ground Control - Thursday 9PM
Ah the 80's.... I wasn't alive but from what I've seen in TV shows and movies it seems like it was a wonderful time. Other than the killer clowns and having to go to the Upside Down. If you want to reminisce about the early part of the later half of that decade, check out to this dance party playing the hits of '86. Details

BODYCLOCK @ The Piston - Thursday 9PM
A no cover "queer & bipoc-centric techno party" that takes place the first Thursday of each month. Details

A Walk and a Beer @ Christie Pits Pub - Friday 7PM
This is a meeting of a social group called "Hogtown Hash House Harriers". They have a community that meets bi-weekly to go for a run or walk and then go out for drinks. Details

Pick-up Pickleball @ Miles Nadal JCC - Friday 730PM
CETWEOK! Drop-in sessions of what has apparently become the most popular sport ever. $18

PS: I've received a few messages asking what CETWEOK stands for. I’d hoped it would have caught on with greater society by now but unfortunately I’m not seeing a lot of traction. It stands for "Close Enough To the West End, OK?". I use it for events that are a bit outside of our boundaries that I think readers will be interested in.

Saturday

Kain Tayo sa Paskuhan Village @ Parkdale Hall - Saturday 9AM
A market in celebration of Fillipino culture, people, and food. Details

Long Branch Hike @ Union - Saturday 1015AM
A group meeting at Union to take a GO Train for a bit of autumn hiking. Details

Movember Pub Olympics @ The Dock Ellis - Saturday 12PM
A pub olympics raising money for men's mental health. Join in a team of 4 to 6 to compete in events like shuffleboard, darts, and ping pong. $45

Canadian Science Fiction & Fantasy @ Bakka Pheonix - Saturday 3PM
Reading by authors of works selected as "The Best Canadian Science Fiction & Fantasy of the Year". This will be followed by a pub night for fans of the genre. Details

Still Single @ Hot Docs Cinema - Saturday 730PM
A screening of a documentary about Canada's first chef with 2 Michelin stars, who, when asked how he felt after receiving the recognition, replied: "I'm still single, I don't know why." Details

SINNERS @ Revue Cinema - Saturday 930PM
Screening of this summer's hit movie in glorious 70mm. Details

Sunday and Monday

Remembrance Race @ Humber Bay Park East - Sunday 9AM
A 5k raising funds for the Royal Canadian Legion, there will be a 400m kids fun race as well. Details

Singles Wine Tasting @ Loopline - Sunday 3PM
A dating mixer where you'll sip on wine. I'm not gonna lie it kind of sucks to see this event getting so much traction after my Singles Rootbeer Tasting was a massive flop. Details

Romantasy Club @ Hunter's Landing - Sunday 6PM
A book club for those who love stories where someone catches the eye of the young prince. This event is full but now you know it's A Thing for next time. Details

Can We Craft @ Loohoo - Sunday 630PM
Art workshop where you'll make cute paper-mâche frames. $74

Farmer's Market @ Henderson Brewing - Monday 3PM
The Sorauren Farmer's Market has moved into Henderson Brewing where it will camp out every Monday until the sun returns to us. Details

Tech Pizza Mondays @ Victory Cafe - Monday 6PM
Meet-up with other tech people and eat pizza. Maybe you'll come up with a new project. Uber....for cars? Details

Trivia Mondays @ Loons - Monday 7PM
Weekly trivia night/Roncy institution. Show up early to get a seat. Details

Gingerbread Cookie Class @ Le Dolci - Monday 7PM
You embarrassed yourself last Christmas. Those gingerbread men you made were shapeless, uninspired, and quite frankly disgusting. Don't make the same mistake this year. Learn how to make delicious gingerbread at this workshop. $139

🎵 Live Music Report 🎵

🎵 POONSTAR (Alt-Rock) @ Burdock - Thursday 630PM
🎵 Yuff (Psychedelia) @ Baby G - Thursday 7PM
🎵 Kennyhoopla (Indie Rock) @ The Garrison - Thursday 7PM
🎵 Garçons (Pop) @ Burdock - Thursday 9PM

🎵 More Noise Please (Noise) @ BSMT 254 - Friday 8PM

🎵 Harry Lee Follon @ The Local - Saturday 2PM
🎵 Space of Sound (RHCP Tribute) @ Sneaky Dee's - Saturday 630PM
🎵 Didirri (Indie Folk) @ Baby G - Saturday 7PM
🎵 Beatlemania Revisited @ Old Mill - Saturday 8PM
🎵 Ian Sherwood (Folk) @ Burdock - Saturday 8PM
🎵 Tim Vesely w/ Jane Gowan (Art Rock) @ The Brockton - Saturday 8PM

🎵 Chris Coole (Banjo) @ The Local - Sunday 2PM
🎵 David Celia (Alt-Folk) @ The Local - Sunday 9PM

🎵 Sarah Vanderzon (Country) @ Burdock - Monday 630PM
🎵 Sean McCarthy (Jazz) @ Steadfast Brewing - Monday 7PM
🎵 Penny Lane (Alt-Rock) @ Junction Underground - Monday 8PM

Thank you!

Thanks for reading the West End Raccoon!

As always, if you know a friend or family member who might be interested, please share the newsletter with them: www.westendraccoon.ca

Have a great weekend, and talk to you next Thursday!
Xavier