Happy Thursday Toronto!

Today is a big big day. After years of showcasing local events, we’re finally hosting an event of our own. Introducing:

The idea behind this was to create something that would bring West Enders together and foster a real sense of neighbourhood community.

I ran the idea by you guys and the support was overwhelming - I can’t wait for the event to happen, it’s gonna be so so fun.

Here’s how it works:

🍽️ Take a quick quiz about your personality, interests, and food preferences.

✨ Get matched with five other Torontonians who fit your style (think food preferences, budget, life stage).

📍Your table of six meets for dinner on Thursday, October 15th at 6:30PM - the exact restaurant is revealed that morning.

🥂 After dinner, all groups are invited to a casual after-party to keep the vibes going.

Sounds pretty blessed am I right?

👉 Click here to take the quiz and book your seat.

If you’ve been looking to meet new people in the city this is going to be the perfect (and most fun) way to do it.

If you have questions about the event, that link above also has an FAQ when you scroll down that should answer most of them. You can also just respond to this email and I’ll get back to ya.

Also: as this is our first event we’re just offering a limited number of seats. (So act fast :))

Can’t wait!

And speaking of get togethers, do you folks remember that Junction Triangle Library chess club from a few months back? Well it’s gotten popular enough that starting October it’s happening weekly on Tuesdays from 6-8pm. All skill levels welcome, drop on in!

Anyway, enough event plugging, let’s get into this week’s edition.

Sure it’s got no electricity, running water, or gas — but it’s got personality. It’s got good bones! And it (in this case, a four car garage in Little Portugal) got 16 fricken’ offers, leading to an eventual winning bid of $257,000 smackeroons. That’ll buy you a lotta gnocchi!

Ah, but of course — you, wise West Ender, must have realized there’s a twist: It’s not the garage people are so hot to trot for. No, it’s the land it sits on. See, this graffitied assortment of aluminim siding sits on land zoned for an ever-so-hip laneway home. And for Toronto real estate-enjoyers, that promises a hell of a lot more gnocchi than a mere quarter million bucks.

Read more.

Michelin starred food…in this economy?! Hard to conceive of, but yes, a new edition of the tire company’s famous food reccos just dropped, featuring brand new stars and recognitions for restaurants in Toronto and the surrounding area. And the takeaway one might glean from perusing the new guide? The West End is chock full of fancy restaurants — they’re just a bit more affordable than elsewhere in the city.

Of the 89 restaurants recognized by Michelin in the city, almost 40% were on the West End (which is a lot, given Downtown/Yorkville dominate the stars). But the real kicker is the Bib Gourmond designation, given to restaurants that serve Michelin-quality food at “accessible” prices. Of the 24 given throughout Toronto, 12 were squarely in the West End. I love being reminded we’re surrounded by fantastic eats (that we can actually afford).

Read the full guide here.

Action Volunteers for Animals are a group who help rescue cats in Toronto and throughout the GTA. They’re looking for volunteers to foster cats and kittens, meaning you adopt them temporarily until their forever homes are found. Most specifically, they’re looking for someone to take in:

If you feel like that hero, click here to learn more.

Want your brand to reach 10,000+ locals?

We’ve got a doozy this week folks. Look at how nice this place is and then take in that it’s just steps away from the Ossington strip. 22 Foxley has all the Fancy House staples; a pool, a sauna, a gym, rooftop patio, and a home cinema. Something about the home cinema seems to hold so much appeal for these rich people. Any house over $4 million just has one of them in it.

My theory is when you’re building these massive beautiful places you just need to fill all the rooms with - something. You’re definitely still watching movies on the couch.

Anyway - amazing spot. $5,9 million, check it out.

Living Beauty x 444 Walk Club @ Living Beauty - Thurs 6pm. A neighbourhood stroll, a little pampering, a little socializing...sounds like a delightful Thursday night to me! Details.

Mari Törőcsik Hungarian Film Festival Toronto @ Paradise Theatre - Thurs 7pm - Sun 4pm. Are you mad for Magyar cinema? Come on down to Paradise and make a weekend out of celebrating Hungarian films. Details.

Critical Mass (Biking for Safe Infrastructure) @ High Park - Fri 6:45pm. Join literally hundreds of cyclists and show the drivers in this city what happens when bikers own the lanes. Details.

Smileys: A New Play Reading @ Wychwood Theatre - Fri 7pm. A one night only, absurdist play featuring a therapist...and his old drama teacher? Why not. Details.

LaViNia Full Moon Witch Ball @ See-Scape - Fri 8pm. You know we're not gonna have a full moon on the West End without a witch ball, right? Details.

Madonna Fest 2026 - All Madonna All Night - Celebrate the Queen of Pop @ Ground Control - Fri 9pm. If you've been touched (for the very first time, or otherwise) by Madonna's music, you may enjoy this dance party! Details.

Cafe Milk O'Clock @ Queen and Shaw - Fri 9am - Sun 9pm. This one might require a click through to understand the context. Here's what they say in their opening description: "For two back-to-back weekends this September, Café Milk O'Clock is taking over the corner of Queen and Shaw. Milk Anytime. IRL by day. DM by night. No menus. No decisions. Whatever time it is, it's always milk o'clock." Details.

Etobicoke Ribfest X @ Colonel Samuel Smith Park - Fri 4pm - Sun 10pm. Perhaps we don't give Etobicoke enough love. But when it has a gosh dang RIB FEST!!! Well you know I gotta shout it out. Details.

Kidical Mass TO @ Lithuania Park - Sat 8:45am. Safe cycling infrastructure affects everyone. Even (and especially) our kids. Kidical Mass raises awareness for this. Details.

Community Planting Event in Toronto's High Park @ High Park Nature Centre - Sat 10am. "Join us in High Park for a community planting event! Whether you're an experienced gardener or just eager to get your hands dirty, come out to help our green spaces thrive with native plants!" Details.

The Pup'Kin Patch @ High Park Gardens - Sat 1pm. "The Pumpkin Patch VIP Experience is a thoughtfully designed luxury autumn experience where dogs can slow down, explore, learn and simply enjoy the season alongside the people who love them most." Includes hands-on Dog CPR & First Aid Fundamentals certification! Details.

Samba Reggae Percussion Workshop - September Pop-Up @ Studio 330 Geary Ave - Sat 2pm. "Feel what 20 drums sound like in one room. Samba reggae drumming for beginners - Brazilian music, hands-on, in Toronto." Details.

Full Moon Sketching: Harvest Moon @ High Park - Sat 6pm. Casual free monthly community art social taking place each full moon — participants can draw with others in nature, and pull oracle cards and moon-themed poems for inspiration. Details.

Karaoke Night @ Cassette @ Cassette - Sat 7pm. It's like regular karaoke but...sexier and sassier. Details.

A West End Drag Bingo with Messy Margaret @ No Notes Cocktail Bar - Sat 7pm. We love a little West End drag! I find it pairs very well with a dirty martini, stirred, and the glass was only allowed to look briefly at a vermouth bottle. Details.

Block Printing @ Hot Pizza - Sat 7pm. When I moved to this hood, I really thought Hot Pizza was a slice joint. Nope. Art studio. And you can come play with blocks the adult way, by learning to make beautiful art! Details.

Harvest Moon Nature Walk in Toronto's High Park @ High Park Nature Centre - Sat 6:30pm. Hard to beat a stroll in a big ole park underneath a big ole Harvest Moon. Details.

Back 2 School Week: Harvest Moon Fall Formal @ Danu Social House - Sat 9pm. Remember that hilarious baby blue tux you picked up at Value Village on a lark? Now's your chance to let it shine with some friends at Danu. Details.

Dumpster Raccoon: GREASE SINGALONG AND SHADOWCAST! @ Revue Cinema - Sat 9:30pm. You know I can't resist a "Dumpster Raccoon" event, especially when it's a Grease sing along — just in time for back to school! Details.

Toronto Café Walk x Conscious Cass [Annex Edition] @ The Annex (meetup spot revealed after registration) - Sun 11:30am. Take a stroll through the Annex, enjoy some hidden gem cafes, and hear about sustainable living best practices. Oh — and a green goodie lootbag?! Details.

General Admission 001 @ The Unity Studio - Sun 11am. A low-stakes third space for people to socialize, listen to R&B music, and play games, without demanding all your energy. Like a bigger living room. Details.

BIRDS OF A FEATHER FLOCK TOGETHER, an exhibition of art by Ukrainian artist Andrii Palval @ Shevchenko Museum - Sun 2:30pm. Come check out some beautiful large scale murals by a Ukrainian/Canadian painter! Details.

Junction City Wrestling - September 27th, 2026 - Brewtality! @ Rainhard Brewing - Sun 3pm. I mean...how are you going to deny yourself some family-friendly pro wrestling at a brewery when it's got a name like "BREWTALITY"?! Details.

Fat Fables: Resisting Fatphobia and Finding Fat Joy @ Parkdale Library - Mon 6pm. "Fat Fables is a performance and creation program for Fat Two-Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer, Intersex, Asexual (2SLGBTQIA+) folks. The facilitators will share its positive impact in celebrating and uplifting different bodies, discuss the origins of fatphobia and how it shapes the current state of affairs on all bodies today." Details.

Be Ready, Toronto! Emergency Preparedness Workshop for Individuals and Households @ Palmerston Library - Mon 6:30pm. You know...with the recent mega storm, the looming Super El Nino, and every other dang thing going on in the world right now...this seems like an opportune time to bone up on your preparedness. Details.

This weekend is a special musical weekend in Toronto….it’s the first annual Second Summer Festival, a West-End-Exclusive music festival showcasing artists at venues across the Best End! The smattering you see below can hardly encompass just how much is gong on this weekend. Check out the full details here.

Thanks for reading the West End Raccoon, please enjoy our West End Pet 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