🦝 Barn Dancing, Ghost Stories, and Rats

Happy Thursday West End,

Anyone know anything exciting happening this weekend in the city?

Enjoy the ride folks. We’re gonna be talking about this for a very long time.

Let’s get into it.

West End Updates

Speaking of Cocktails…

Small Talk, the latest venture from the group behind Paris Texas and Pizza Wine Disco, has opened on Ossington in the space that used to house Baby Huey. Baby Huey was a neighbourhood staple dive-y type bar, and it’s replacement is decidedly not that. This new jazz club features martinis, cheese boards, and a vending machine that sells champagne. That’s right, after years of complaints, the neighbourhood finally has a vending machine that sells champagne. Small Talk will be open Thursdays to Mondays, more information on their website.

Wallflower Re-Opens After Five-Year Absence

Wallflower was a super loved spot in Brockton Village that was once described as “The Most Romantic Restaurant in Toronto”. The restobar was known for its comfy and dimly-lit interior and specials like oysters and devilled eggs. It shut its doors a full five years ago during the pandemic, but last week it was gloriously re-born in the same space by its former owner. More info in this Toronto Life article.

Community Initiatives

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

Art Installation Seeking Volunteers

“We’re looking for thoughtful, creative, and community-minded volunteers to help bring Space for Grief to life at Evergreen Brick Works this November. This immersive public art installation invites visitors to reflect on loss, memory, and care in a shared community space.”

Ways to get involved:

• Greet visitors and share information about the installation

• Support with setup and logistics during opening weekend and special events

• Join as a Social Media Ambassador and help spread the word online

• Contribute technical or creative skills (A/V, lighting, projection, design, photography, etc.)

• And many more…

If you’re interested in volunteering, reach out to [email protected]

Fancy House of the Week

57 Baby Point Crescent is this week’s fancy house and it’s a certified humpdinger! This beautiful 1920’s Tudor home is built on a massive lot bordering the Humber. It’s a straight-up mansion with all the fixin’s: a pool, home gym, arcade, sauna, heated driveway, and floor to ceiling windows. All this comes for the low low price of just $12.8 million - but you can try using promo code “RACCOON” to save 10% at checkout. More info on the listing here.

Events

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

Thursday and Friday

F-Up Nights @ Blue Moon - Thursday 630PM
Entrepreneurs giving ten minute lectures, but instead of bragging about how they're using blockchain to disrupt the fried chicken industry, they're sharing their biggest failures. $33 tickets

Colborne After Dark @ Colborne Lodge - Thursday & Friday Night
Spooky late night tours of the 1800's house in High Park, including a visit to the founder’s grave site. Details

Queer Life Drawing @ George Chuvalo NC - Thursday 630PM
"An evening of queer community, connection, and art" where you'll sketch some costumed models. Details

The Kindness of Strangers @ WEP Central - Thursday 7PM
Launch of the book The Kindness of Strangers, "the story of one man's battle with Parkinson's, and the unbelievable journey he took on his bike to fight it." Details

What the Poets are Doin' @ Gigli Caffè - Thursday 730PM
Poetry readings run by a reader in BWV. Details

Boardgame Showcase @ Junction Brewing - Friday 6PM
Eight Canadian board game designers premiering their latest creations, come try them out! $8 tickets

Ecstatic Dance @ Dovercourt House - Friday 730PM
"The Move" is a weekly dance party with: "No experience necessary, only the willingness to dance free-style and listen to the teachings of your own body, heart, and soul through movement." Details

Lesbian Justin Bieber Lookalike Contest @ Three Dollar Bill - Friday 8PM
From a reader: "Come see all your favourite Bieber eras come back to life by Toronto hottest lesbian Bieber impersonators and lookalikes." Details

World Series Watch Party @ Nathan Phillips Square - Friday & Saturday Night
If you're looking to watch the games with a bunch of other fans, the city will continue to host viewing parties at Nathan Phillips Square. Alternatively, just walk into any bar within 100kms of the city. Details

Art Toronto @ MTCC - Friday to Sunday
CETWEOK! A massive exposition of contemporary and modern art. "The most important annual art event in Canada." Details

Queen's Park Ghost Tour @ Ontario Legislative Assembly - Friday Night
Visit the ghosts of Queen's Park at this tour of the legislative assembly. There's about 100 jokes that could go here but I'll allow you to use your imagination. Details

Rocky Horror 50th Anniversary @ Ground Control - Friday 9PM
A Rocky Horror Picture Show sing-a-long plus dance party plus costume contest. $17 tickets

Fantasy Wrestling @ Henderson Brewing - Friday 9PM
A Halloween edition of the always crazy Henderson wrestling events. $33 tickets

Saturday

Halloween Farmer's Market @ Baird Park - Saturday 9AM
The Junction Farmer's Market's final market is this Saturday and they're going out with a spooky bang. All the usual trappings of a community market, plus face painting, pumpkin painting, and a kids' costume raffle. Details

Pilates in the Museum @ MOCA - Saturday 9AM
Wanna be built like a Greek statue? I know you've already got the waist down portion but come sculpt the rest of your body at this pilates session. $25 tickets

Bats, Rats, and Moths, Oh My! @ High Park Nature Centre - Saturday 10AM
A nature walk where you'll look for some of High Parks grossest inhabitants. $10

Scavenger Haunt @ Queen West - Saturday 11AM
Clue hunt all over downtown where the final prize is a skull with $1000 cash inside. Details

Cute N Creepy Market @ Loohoo - Saturday & Sunday
"A weekend of spooky-cute magic! Expect handmade art, oddities, witchy treasures, and other delightfully eerie finds." Details

Junction Halloween Howl @ Malta Park - Saturday 1PM
A family friendly Halloween event featuring a costume swap, a children's parade, and a doggy costume contest. Details

Night of Dread @ Dufferin Grove Park - Saturday 6PM
The Night of Dread is an annual community party - dress up in costume and banish your fears with your neighbours. There will also be a parade through the neighbourhood around 6PM. Details

Sunday and Monday

Fall 5K @ 450 Dufferin - Sunday 10AM
A free, friendly, and casual 5K followed by a meet-up at a coffee shop. Details

Indie Market @ Youthful Vengeance - Sunday 10AM
Vendor market in a café; books, art, jewelry, and more. Details

Wildly Canadian Whiskey @ Flora Lounge - Sunday 3PM
Forget that Kentucky swill you used to drink - come taste some Canadian whiskey-based cocktails inspired by our wilderness. $23 tickets

Devilish Drag Bingo @ No Notes - Sunday 7PM
"Messy Margaret is bringing her signature brand of camp, comedy, and chaos to a Halloween edition of Messy’s Drag Bingo." $19

Barn Dancing @ 240 Roncesvalles - Sunday 7PM
Weekly square dancing sessions, all levels welcome. Details

Ghost Stories Told Live @ The Garrison - Monday 730PM
Torontonians sharing true stories about eerie experiences from their life. $10 tickets

🎵 Live Music Report 🎵

🎵 Jennie Thai (Blues) @ Bluebird Bar - Thursday 8PM

🎵 Surf Hat (Surf) @ The Garrison - Friday 8PM
🎵 Activity (Rock) @ The Baby G - Friday 8PM
🎵 Jia (Indie) @ Burdock - Friday 830PM
🎵 Rec League (Covers) @ Junction Underground - Friday 830PM
🎵 EVRENCAN GÜNDÜZ (Turkish) @ NeuLokal - Friday 10PM

🎵 Steve Stacey (Country) @ The Local - Saturday 2PM
🎵 Thirst (Dark) @ Junction Underground - Saturday 6PM
🎵 Abbamania (Abba Covers) @ Old Mill - Saturday 8PM
🎵 Sean Nicholas Savage (Pop) @ The Baby G - Saturday 8PM

🎵 Maywater (Bluegrass) @ The Local - Sunday 2PM
🎵 Ambient Afternoon @ Sounds Good - Sunday 3PM
🎵 Shalom Murray & Julia D'Ascanio @ NeuLokal - Sunday 530PM
🎵 Sewa (Afrobeat) @ Lula Lounge - Sunday 7PM
🎵 CSP Jazz Trio @ The Local - Sunday 9PM

🎵 Sean McCarthy (Jazz) @ Steadfast Brewing - Monday 7PM
🎵 Zarah Calvert @ The Local - Monday 9PM

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