Well folks, love it or hate it, it’s finally here — the end of the CNE is always heralded by the cacophonous roars of various jet engines zooming over the West End. The Air Show is upon us (and with it, the Labour Day long weekend!)
I’ll admit some ambivalence. Part of me doesn’t like the danger, expense and noise of it all. Part of me is still a 12 year old boy, watching the sky and feeling like:
Elsewhere this week/end, there is tons to tittilate, including free art galleries, chocolate illusions, and comedy with a complimentary Costco hot dog. Plus a bunch of film screenings, including The Rocky Horror Picture show (RIP to the legend, Tim Curry).
And now — updates!
West End Updates
Let them (us) eat cake! Le Dolci’s third annual cake-only picnic is coming up on September 19th
Photo by Rene Hernandez Diaz via Toronto Life
Confectionary connoseurs, picnic predisposed people, lend me your ear! Because the Junction Triangle’s very own Le Dolci’s is hosting their annual Cake Picnic on September 19th, an event where you bring your own cake to eat and share — no other food allowed!
Currently, the location is undisclosed (they like to keep a secret apparently) so it may not take place on the West End (though really — why would you do something fun anywhere else?)
“It’s a really feel-good kind of event,” Le Dolci owner Lisa Sanguedolce told Toronto Life. “There’s no contest, no pretence. Everyone’s cakes are wild and wonderful—some are wonky, some are perfect, but everyone is so proud.”
$5 food in Toronto is story enough. But $5 gnocchi?!
Photo by Daniel Ramos/TorontoToday
Five. Dollar. Food. In Toronto?! That’s the headline for Via Gnocchi, a takeout counter at Bloor and Bathurst serving 400 customers a day since it opened earlier in August. What you save in money, you lose in choice — you’ve got one option, classic tomato-sauce gnocchi served in an old-school takeout container.
Owner Jacob Saffer-Spiro is keeping prices low as a direct response to how gosh-dang pricey everything feels these days. “I really envision someone being able to hand me a $5 bill and getting a meal. Not $6, not $7,” Saffer-Spiro told Toronto Today. “I don't think I'm affordable. I think everything else is expensive.”
Hell yeah, go get your gnocchi on.
Read more here.
Sponsored by Six Points Studio - Learn Woodworking
Are you like me in that you constantly lament never taking woodshop in high school? Do you wish you could actually do things with your hands? DIY projects? Home renos? I’ve got great news for you.
This is Kate Duncan. After years as a professional furniture maker, she move towards passing on that knowledge to others. Six Points Studio offers classes for absolute beginners, as well as studio memberships for intermediate and advanced woodworkers.
The best part? She actually used to be a high-school woodworking teacher.
Classes at the new studio start next week, so if you’re interested - now is the time to book. This is the perfect chance to get a new hobby and be 35% cooler than your friends who do pottery.
Want your business to reach thousands of Toronto locals? Respond to this email with some info about what you do!
Last week we asked what’s the best H-L brewery on the Best End. Henderson won pretty comfortably, followed by Halo (a personal fave). Now we can round up the rest of ‘em before we put our winners in a head-to-head-to-head. So what’s your take on the below breweries?
What's the best of the rest of the West breweries?
Relatively Affordable House of the Week
Okay we’ve got a basement 1+1 townhouse in Parkdale here, that faces out on a park, listed at just $340k. That’s a pretty good deal no? Prices have definitely come down I think. That used to be the going rate for a parking spot. Maybe even for a street parking spot. I think the listing sells it even better than I ever could: “The Den has door”.
Events
If you have an event you’d like included in a future West End Raccoon, please submit it here.
Thursday/Friday
BOTANICAL (Free street art gallery) @ Worth Gallery - Thurs 6pm. This is hella West End. Free gallery depicting botanicals inspired by the Toronto-based artist's neighbourhood in Corsa Italia. Details.
Tinker @ Bampot House - Thurs 6:30pm. Tinker -- doesn't sound descriptive, but it is! Bring whatever project you're working on and work on it with friends! Or use the materials Bampot provides, just...Tinker. Details.
CHOCOLATE Illusions Workshop: Pizza Edition @ QUEST XO - Thurs 7pm. Learn to make chocolate treats...that look (but don't taste) like pizza. Because why not? Details.
The 15FirstDates Toronto Comedy Showcase - Singles Night @ Comedy Bar - Thurs 7pm. Everyone knows comedy makes for a great date. But what if you meet your date during the singles mixer before the show? Even better. Details.
Let's Go Comedy Show @ Wenona Lodge - Thurs 8pm. Just your average comedy show...plussed up with a complimentary Costco Hotdog with the purchase of your ticket!!! Details.
REWILDING TORONTO: Urban Ink-Making Workshop @ Gallery 1065 - Fri/Sat 12pm. Forage urban plants, use them to make ink, then create a mural...what could be more West End than that? Details.
Taste of Italy - Pasta Party! @ Le Dolci Culinary School - Fri 6pm. "In this 2-Course Italian Class, guests will learn how to craft a traditional pasta dish from scratch, paired with a simple, flavourful sauce, and finish the experience by creating a classic tiramisù for dessert." Details.
Humari Kahani: The Last Show @ The Great Hall - Fri 7pm. "Humari Kahani" by Virasat is an immersive live musical storytelling and theatre show featuring spoken-word narration, original live music, and dance performances exploring themes of heritage, belonging, love, and loss. Details.
Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars - 4K Restoration @ Hot Docs Cinema - Fri 7pm. Gone but not forgotten. Come watch Bowie's alter ego in high-def 4K at Hot Docs. Details.
Killer B Cinema Presents: Lady Battle Cop! @ See-Scape - Fri 7:30pm. Well the title pretty much says it all: Lady. Battle. Cop. And it's from Japan! Details.
Drunken Cinema: MEAN GIRLS (2004) @ Revue Cinema - Fri 9:30pm. What better way to celebrate back to school season than with a (drunken) rewatch of this all time classic? Details.
The Rocky Horror Picture Show @ Paradise Theater - Fri 9:30pm. RIP to the legend Tim Curry. Come honour him at one of the most unique theater experiences possible. Details.
Hey you!
If you enjoy reading The Raccoon every week and you’d like to support what we’re doing here, I’ve opened a donation page where readers can make contributions. Any amount would be be very much appreciated.
Saturday
Family Storytime @ Parkdale Library - Sat 10:30am. "Join us for stories, songs, rhymes and activities in this program for children ages 5 and under and their parents or caregivers." Details.
Dark Yoga @ Sneaky Dee's - Sat 11:30am. You ever been in the middle of a yoga class and thought to yourself, "Damn, this chanting and gong-playing is boring as all get out. I wish we were listening to Sludge Metal!" Well boy-howdy, do I have a yoga class for you! Details.
1-Day Joke Writing 101 Seminar @ Society Clubhouse - Sat 1pm. Cook up some chuckles at this comedy class! Not that any of you need to improve your sense of humour...you subscribe to The Raccoon, after all! Details.
The Art of Sushi Making: Maki, Nigiri & California Rolls @ Sharpen Workshops - Sat 6pm. Fancy yourself some sushi (lessons)? Come learn how to make Maki, nail nigiri, and crush California rolls at Sharpen! Details.
The Batcave North @ The Wych - Sat 8pm. Get your Goth on at the Wych for this batty dance party. Details.
Air Show @ Marilyn Bell Park (and all over the dang West End) - Sat - Mon 12pm. Bust out those ear plugs. Air show time again. Details.
Sunday/Monday
The SpongeBob Musical @ The Randolph Theater - Sun 12pm. Trying to think of a way to distract the kiddo from back to school blues? How 'bout some Spongebob, live! Details.
Labour of Love Labour Day Market @ Parkdale Hall - Sun 11am. Labour Day means a Labour Day Market visit! Or at least a Labour Day market the day before Labour Day. Details.
Free Doggy Swims @ High Park Outdoor Pool (and other venues) - Sun 4:30pm. It's that time of year! Pools are closing down, but before they do, you can take up to two furry friends for a dip in them. Details.
Freedom Cookout Party @ Afrobeat Kitchen - Sun 5pm. "In town for the long weekend? Join us for a kitchen party x family cookout! Palestinian plant-based chef Izzeldin Bukhari is travelling all the way from Al Quds to Toronto, to cook with Chef Victor Ugwueke." Details.
Craft Night @ Danu Social House - Mon 7pm. "Meet other lovely crafters while working on those projects piling up at home (or just doodling, a quick craft night fave!). All crafts and skill levels are welcome." Details.
Super Dumb Bum Fun Time @ Comedy Bar - Mon 8pm. "You love comedy... but you want something MORE!? You're in luck -- Super Dumb Bum Fun Time is an interactive, game-show style comedy show where the comics compete for YOUR laughs, for prizes, and more." Details.
MORE NOISE PLEASE PRESENTS: MANIC MONDAY! @ BSMT 254 - Mon 8pm. Just what you need after a relaxing long weekend. HARSH NOISE. Details.
🎵 Live Music Report 🎵
🎵3QUENCY (Pop) @ The Mod Club - Thurs 7pm
🎵Wé Ani (R&B) @ Drake Underground - Fri 7pm
🎵A Canorous Quintet (Death Metal) @ The Garrison - Fri 7:30pm
🎵Hall Pass (Indie Rock) @ Lee's Palace - Sat 6pm
🎵Andrea Kuzmich (Experimental Jazz) @ Tranzac Club - Sat 7:30pm
🎵Fair Do's (Melodic Hardcore) @ Hard Luck Bar - Sat 8pm
🎵Ben Caplan (Folk) @ Burdock Music Hall - Sat 8pm
🎵After the Horizon (Heavy Metal) @ Bovine Sex Club - Sun 9pm
🎵Sincere Engineer (Punk) @ Sneaky Dee's - Mon 6:30pm
🎵Constrain (Post-Metalcore) @ The Baby G - 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!)
Meet Henry and Lloyd! Residents of Little Italy. Photo submitted by Gregory.
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
