My fellow West Enders, it is with deep sorrow that I must now remind you this weekend, is in fact, the last of August (and thus summer proper). But there’s still time to enjoy what’s left of it! For instance the CNE is on. Maybe you can pop on down to crush a funnel cake with the zeal of this gentleman:

Speaking of fair grub, CNE vendors are causing a bit of controversy with their liberal use of AI art to depict their food, which people find gross. No, not just gross as in “displacing real artists for environment-destroying evil machines” also just gross. Look at the these images…I mean yuck. It’s almost like the robots who made them have never tasted food before.

If the CNE isn’t your thing I have excellent news — there’s a ton to do on the Best End over the next few days, including some magic for the kiddos, a concert in a ruined church, and Bat Night!!!

Oh, and it’s a not this week, but a subscriber reached out to share an upcoming play called “The Lion in Winter” put on in support of The Bloor West Food Bank. Secure your tickets now! I can’t imagine a better cause.

Updates, anyone?

Matt Johnson is having a hell of a year. From his wildly-successful love letter to Toronto Nirvanna The Band The Show The Movie to his A24 biopic of Anthony Bourdain Tony, he’s a Toronto director on the comeup. And his next project, currently filming in Liberty Village is once again set in the city…although it’s a liiiiitle less playful (though no less weird) than NtBtStM.

This time Johnson is tackling the real life tale of sordid drug smuggling conducted by a Vice journalist, when Vice had an office in Liberty Village. Called Journalism 101 it stars fellow Canadian and Stranger Things alumn Finn Wolfhard. So while I normally suggest staying as far away from Liberty Village as possible (no offense residents of LV) it might be worth it to drop by for a celebrity sighting or two this weekend.

Read more.

Under normal circumstances I highly oppose swinging any weapon at LGBTQ+ folks…but this is an exception. Because this is a safe, instructional sword-play class led by LGBTQ+ fencing instructor Joelle Clover.

Clover’s first sword fighting session last month was capped at 60 attendees… despite a whopping 220 registrations. With that success, Clover is planning on hosting several more sessions, running through September.

As to why “sword play” and not “fencing”? Clover told Toronto Today: “I just wanted it to feel like we're literally playing with swords.” Hard to beat that logic.

Read more here.

Want your business to reach thousands of Toronto locals? Respond to this email with some info about what you do!

In an absolute squeaker, Blood Brothers juuuuust edged out Bandit for the best “B” Brewery on the West. Which gave me an idea — I’ll break down breweries into poll-sized segments, you’ll vote a winner, and then the winners will go head to head to find out who truly is THE BEST BREWERY IN THE WEST.

Anyways, today we’re gonna do “H-L”.

Okay this week’s Fancy House of the Week is 44 Foxley Street! I’d recommend this property for any big fans of circles and cylinders. It’s actually cool how much circular stuff they have going on. Makes me ashamed to live in a house that’s all squares. They’re kinda pushing the limits on house shapes though. Square you can do… circle… probably triangle if you had to. But star? Octagon? Rhombus? Not so common.

Anyway this place is great (and walking distance to Dundas W and Ossington). It even has a cute alley house that’s also circle themed. $3.2 million, check it out.

FREE ALL AGES - Karaoke and Board Game Night @ Palmerston Library - Thurs 5:30pm. Looking for some free, screenless (well ok, I guess the lyrics technically appear on a screen) family-friendly fun? Look no further! Details.

Bat Night in High Park @ High Park Nature Centre - Thurs 7:30pm. Not to be confused with "Bat Man" or "The Dark Knight" — Bat Night is, well, a night to see some frickin bats! Details.

A Concert in the Ruins of St. Anne's Church: Wavelength @ St. Anne's Church - Thurs 8pm. Hey, remember the art exhibition in the ruined church? This is the musical accompaniment! Details.

Lunar Sway: Advanced Screening! @ Paradise - Thurs 8:30pm. Come watch a movie before it's out! Plus Q&A with cast and crew after the show. Details.

Pokemon Learn to Play @ Anime Otaku Hobby - Fri 6pm. Wait people actually play with pokemon cards? I thought they were just investments! Details.

Celebrate Her Story @ Society Clubhouse - Fri 6:45pm. "Every woman has a story worth celebrating. Join us for an inspiring evening where storytelling, live music, spoken word poetry, and meaningful conversation come together to celebrate the strength, resilience, and beauty of women's stories." Details.

Coyote vs. Acme @ Revue Cinema - Fri 6:45pm. This film was fraught with development hell and was even "permanently" shelved at one point, before community outrage saved it. Now you can see it at the Revue! Details.

Toronto's Pro Wrestling Rock Show - SUPERKICK'D @ The Great Hall - Fri 8:15pm. Pro wrestling and rock and roll go together like biceps and tank tops. Details.

Wax Candy Disco Dance Party! @ The Piston - Fri 10pm. Anyone who was alive for the disco era is likely NOT coming to a disco event that starts at 10pm, but I digress. Details.

CLOSER: Goth x Industrial x Dark EDM Night @ Hard Luck Bar - Fri 10:30pm. You knew I couldn't have an issue without at least one Goth event. Wait, does "Bat Night" already count?! Details.

Support The Raccoon

FREE - Meditation in High Park with Buddhist Monk Tenzin @ High Park Labyrinth - Sat 10:30am. "You are all welcome to join us for a meditation with Buddhist Monk Tenzin Gawa (Jason Simard), student of Tibetan Monk Lama Samten. There will also be a short introduction to meditation to find inner peace and a stable well-being according to Tibetan Buddhist wisdom." Details.

WonderPhil the Magician @ Wychwood Theatre - Sat 10:30am. For the kiddos! Laugh, gasp, and clap as WonderPhil dazzles with his illusions. Details.

Telling Spree @ Danu Social House - Sat 11am. This one's for the talkers (and listeners). Come hear and share tales, stories, myths and folklore. Details.

West Toronto Back to School Market @ Stock Yards Village - Sat 11am. If you missed the one in Parkdale last week, why not check out this one in the Stock Yards? Apologies in advance for the slopped-up AI banner on the event page. Details.

Board Game Lunch at Junction Craft Brewery @ Junction Craft Brewing - Sat 12pm. Isn't stealing someone's Longest Road even better with a sandwich and a beer? Details.

Glad Day Art Market @ Glad Day - Sat 12pm. "A Saturday and Sunday full of incredible artists! Support queer & trans art! FREE entry - get something special for yourself or someone you love." Details.

Lula Community Salsa Class @ Lula Lounge - Sat 1pm. All ages, all abilities, come shake your thang with your neighbours. Oh -- and it's free!! Details.

A Presentation Punch-Up Workshop @ Society Clubhouse - Sat 2pm. "Turn your next presentation into one people actually remember. Whether you're pitching an idea, leading a meeting, speaking at a conference, teaching a class, or introducing yourself in an interview..." Details.

Sacred Goddess Soirée Toronto @ Free Times Cafe - Sat 8pm. "Sacred Goddess Soirée Toronto is an event showcasing burlesque performances, an Art installation 'the Death room', a workshop on how to use oracle cards, Tarot readings and people speaking about their experiences working on the project Sacred Goddess oracle deck." Details.

CALVACADE OF IMPROV @ Comedy Bar - Sat 11pm. Apparently improv gets funnier the closer it's done to midnight. Details.

Daven-party @ Pelham Park Gardens - Sun 12pm. My neck of the woods! And also one of my fave event names. Come party with fellow Daven-porters in a delightful afternoon of community connection. Details.

Woven Memories: International Overdose Awareness Day @ Trinity Bellwoods Park - Sun 2pm. "Join the Harm Reduction Advocacy Collective in love and rage as we gather with community at Trinity Bellwoods Park near the 'We Miss You, Still' Installation (by the tennis courts at the southeast area of the park)." Details.

Vegana Italiana Pop-up at the Wych @ The Wych - Sun 2pm. Who ever said Italian food needs Parmesan cheese? Come nosh on some Vegan cuisine at the Wych. Details.

Concerts on Connolly @ Wadsworth Park - Sun 4pm. R&B, Funk, Soul, live in a park! Plus food and art vendors! Details.

Mifune Moods Presents Akira @ Bampot Tea House - Sun 7:30pm. Arguably the most influential anime film of all time, now presented with a live, improvised soundtrack. Details.

🎵Faetooth (Doom Metal) @ The Garrison - Thurs 7pm
🎵Noah Kosta and The Experience (Jazz Pop) @ The Monarch Tavern - Thurs 7pm
🎵Satin Jackets (Electronic) @ Lee's Palace - Fri 8pm
🎵Rat Grenade (Ska Punk) @ The Junction Underground - Fri 8pm
🎵Stephen Ingram (Folk Rock) @ Burdock Music Hall - Fri 8pm
🎵EBIRAH (Prog Metal) @ Sneaky Dee's - Sat 6:30pm
🎵Otsyuda (Shoegaze) @ The Baby G - Sat 7pm
🎵Tanya Wills QUARTET (Jazz) @ Drom Taberna - Sat 5:30pm
🎵The Well (Stoner Doom) @ Bovine Sex Club - Sun 9pm
🎵Chxrry (R&B) @ Drake Underground - Mon 7pm

Thanks for reading the West End Raccoon, please enjoy our West End Pet(s) of the Week! Submit yours by responding to this email, with your preferred name/nickname/initials and neighbourhood for a chance to be featured. (Calling all bird, lizard and fish people — I like ‘em weird!)

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

Hope you folks have a fantastic weekend.

Cam Smonk & Xavier