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🦝 Free Art Shows, Pastrami, and Prom

🦝 Free Art Shows, Pastrami, and Prom

What's happening in the West End May 29th to June 1st.

Xavier W
May 29, 2025

Happy Thursday Toronto!

It’s summer now, I’m calling it. That was an ugly and rainy May, but June starts this weekend and I’m speaking clear skies and sun into existence.

I’m saying this in every issue nowadays, but there’s really so much going on in town this weekend. I guess now that we’re into the warmer months (theoretically) it’s going to be like this all the time. Let’s get into it!

Featured Events

(Full list of events at end of newsletter)

🖼️ West Toronto Art Tour

Happening Friday and Saturday across the West End.

This weekend is the West Toronto Artist Tour. 17 of the best galleries in the West End will have completely free admission, allowing you to appreciate all our great local artists. Some of the artists will also be present throughout the day so you can meet them and ask questions about their work. It’s like Doors Open Toronto Pt. 2: Art Edition. Details.

🌲 Family Nature Games

Saturday 10AM @ High Park

II've been intrigued by "Nature Games" ever since I heard about those Reindeer Games that Rudolph was excluded from. What were those reindeer getting up to? This event doesn't include any Reindeer Games but it's gonna be perfect for the little ones.

You'll start by walking through the park and collecting things like pinecones and pebbles, then you'll turn these items into board games and play them. After that you can walk over and look at the reindeer in the zoo (optional). PWYC Registration

West End Updates

Ossington Hit Opens Sister Restaurant Next Door

If you spend as much time as I do scrolling Instagram Reels you’ve probably already heard about this, but for those of you with a healthy relationship to social media; Linny’s Luncheonette opened recently on Ossington. It’s an offshoot of its next-door neighbour Linny’s, a steakhouse that launched last fall to much acclaim.

This new spot isn’t an upscale offering like its sister, but rather a classic deli with a keen focus on pastrami sandwiches. The interior is a total throwback, full of wood paneling and orange vinyl. Of course, as with every place that opens on Ossington, people are already going crazy over it. Read more here.

New Tattoo and Piercings Shop in Bloordale

Colibri Tattoo & Piercing recently moved from High Park to Bloordale across from Duffy’s Tavern. The store offers, you guessed it, tattoos and piercings. They also run ton of Subway-style daily specials like 25% off tattoos on Wednesdays. More info

Look, I don’t ask for a lot from my readers. But I think it’s high time for ten to twenty of you to get a West End Raccoon tattoo. Just as a little gesture, I’d really appreciate it. Doesn’t need to be a huge one, I’m thinking a tasteful logo on the lower back. Thanks in advance.

Goodbye to Tokens and Tickets

As of June 1st (this Sunday) you’ll no longer be able to pay for TTC fare using tokens, tickets, or day passes. They stopped selling these back in 2019 so the phase-out has been a long time coming. If you still have some tokens rattling around in your junk drawer, you have 2 days to use it. More information

Fancy House of the Week

We got a doozy this week folks: 218 Glendonwynne Road. Even the address sounds classy. Nestled in High Park North, this house has 5 beds, 4 baths, and a private saltwater pool. If the pool alone doesn’t sell you, it also has an insulated cabana with a bar and a shower. Apparently overlooking all this is a “charming treehouse”, but it’s not pictured in the listing for us to make our own judgement on its charm. $4 million, check it out.

Fancy House of the Week is brought to you by your West End neighbour of over 20 years: Chris Alward, BMO Mortgage Specialist. Is your mortgage coming up for renewal or are you planning to buy? Don’t just take the first mortgage offer you receive. Contact Chris for expert advice and solutions to make your mortgage work for you, no matter where you bank.

Events

I created a new form to help me manage event submissions! If you have an event you’d like included in the West End Raccoon, please submit it here.

Thursday and Friday

Bloordale Beach Booklaunch @ Urbanspace Gallery - Thursday 5PM
Try saying that title five times fast! A celebration for the launch of a book about everyone's favourite summer destination. Details

Junction Triangle Parade @ West Toronto Railpath - Thursday 6PM
This parade has been organized by locals to celebrate the Railpath but also to advocate for construction of the Davenport Greenway. If you don't know the story around the Greenway it's worth checking out. The event will feature fun paper-maché creations and is all ages/pet friendly. Details

Cocktail Tasting Experience @ Old Mill - Thursday 6PM
“Pop Culture: Through the Lens of a Cocktail Glass” will take you through modern culture cocktail by cocktail. It features 5 movie inspired drinks, each paired with a perfectly matched food item. $144

Disney Princess Trivia @ Junction Craft Brewing - Thursday 7PM
Calling all Disney adults! Details

Local Limelight @ Henderson Brewing - Friday and Saturday
A two night mini music festival featuring an all local line-up, conveniently located at a brewery with local beers. $23 per night

Samsara Pop-Up @ 677 Dupont - Friday 10AM
An exclusive two-day only pop-up for a brand of women's cycling gear. Details

Sculpture Show @ Campagna Bronze - Friday 4PM and Saturday 1PM
Sculpture gallery show ran by a reader, go check it out!

Board Game Night @ Parkdale Library - Friday 6PM
Meet some new people and play board games with them! Perfect for anyone who's had a game they've wanted to play but not enough players to play it. Details

Smash Night @ Steadfast Brewing - Friday 8PM
The "Smash" in the title refers to Super Smash Bros for Nintendo Switch, which will be played at this brewery on Friday night. Apologies to any Smashmouth fans who may have gotten their hopes up. Details

Junction Comedy @ The Alpine - Friday 8PM
"The funniest show in the West End" featuring comedians from Just For Laughs and Comedy Central. $22

Prom Night @ The Garrison - Friday 9PM
Want another shot at prom? The Garrison is pulling out all the stops to help you relive the experience (maybe less awkwardly than last time). There’ll be with a big dance floor and a live band playing all the hits. Prom attire encouraged. Details

Saturday

Humber Trail Street Sale @ Humber Trail - Saturday 8AM to 1PM
A reader wrote in to tell me that some neighbours are running a street sale on Humber Trail (Just West of Jane, near Bloor). Go check it out!

Cowanation Street Sale @ Cowan Ave - Saturday 9AM
Another street sale! This one runs annually in Parkdale "There will be baked goods, barbecue, coffee, lemonade, candy floss and other consumables on offer. Kids will run amok in the street. Neighbours will stumble into each other." Details.

Camp GLB @ Great Lakes Brewery - Saturday 12PM
This is a liiiiitle bit out of our area but I'm including it anyways because it’s cool. It's a summer camp inspired darty at Great Lakes Brewery, complete with live music, tug-of war, and friendship bracelet making. Details

Carleton Village Fun Fair @ 315 Osler St - Saturday 12PM
A fundraising fair for Carleton Village School - "Inflatable rides, games, 360 photo booth, raffles, silent auction, snow cones and cotton candy, food, Gezel’s Jerk Chicken, live music." Details

Sugar Shack Burlesque Show @ Junction Underground - Saturday 6PM
This once a month burlesque show is run by a reader and is a big hit in The Junction, grab tickets before they run out! $20

Indie Sleaze Night @ Tilt - Saturday 9PM
Arcade bar playing mid-oughts indie all night. Nintendo Wii and The Strokes?! This is too good to be true. It may be a fake event to designed lure millennials and get them to stop wearing skinny jeans. Don't say I didn't warn you. Details

Sunday

Vintage Market @ Raid Gallery & Cafe - Sunday 10AM
A vintage market featuring curated pieces from a bunch of re-sellers. Tarot readings will also being going down. Details

Moms In Bloom @ Bloom Health Clinic - Sunday 11AM
"An inspiring and informative morning focused on pre and postnatal wellness" Details

Fundamentals of Leatherworking @ Site3 CoLabratory - Sunday 11AM
When the apocalypse comes we're all gonna need some tangible, real-world skills. Could leatherworking be yours? $116

Used N Abused Yard Sale @ Low Bar - Sunday 1PM
Old vintage clothing + knicknacks being sold while a DJ spins some vinyl. Details

Christie Pits Baseball @ Christie Pits - Sunday 2PM
Toronto Maple Leafs vs Brantford Red Sox, no tickets required. Featuring the world’s best female baseball player, Ayami Sato. Details

Champions League Final @ Dock Ellis - Sunday 3PM
The Dock Ellis will have the CL final on for all you footy fans this weekend. Not sure why you’d be interested though, as we all know Spurs won the more meaningful trophy last week. Details

Empire Strikes Back Screening @ Revue Cinema - Sunday 4PM
4K screening of the second Star Wars movie (or the fifth one?) for its 45 year anniversary. Tickets are sold out but there's usually some availability at the door if you show up really early. Details

Improv Comedy @ Assembly Theatre - Sunday 930PM
A one act play, completely made up as the performers go along. $17

Oops no Monday stuff sorry!

🎵 Live Music Report 🎵

🎵 Eric St Laurent & Adis Rodriguez (Jazz) @ NeuLokal - Thursday 7PM
🎵 Rosewood Revival w/ Belinda Corpuz (Folk) @ Burdock Music Hall - Thursday 8PM
🎵 Emily Steinwall (Jazz) @ Bluebird Bar - Thursday 8PM
🎵 Anton Yeretsky (Classical) @ Old Mill - Thursday 830PM
🎵 Nightmares in the Afternoon (Psychedelia) @ The Bell and the Beacon - Thursday 9PM
🎵 ASSASSIN BUG (UK Dance) @ Junction Underground - Thursday 9PM

🎵 Fernando Jara (Latin Jazz) @ La Rev - Friday 530PM
🎵 Live Piano @ Gigli Cafe - Friday 630PM
🎵 Live Zonidero Band @ Rosario's - Friday 8PM
🎵 Marcus Celia Band @ The Bell and the Beacon - Friday 8PM
🎵 Alex Pangman & Her Alleycats (Swing) @ Old Mill - Friday 8PM
🎵 Red Karavan & Friends (Rock) @ Junction Underground - Friday 9PM
🎵 Jambucá (Samba) @ BSMT 254 - Friday 930PM
🎵 The Shitty Beatles (Cover) @ The Bell and the Beacon - Friday 10PM

🎵 Trevor Cape w/ Adam Hall (Acoustic) @ The Local - Saturday 2PM
🎵 Carrie Matisse and Garrett Neiles (Indie/Alt-Rock) @ Burdock Music Hall - Saturday 8PM
🎵 Tom Jones & Neil Diamond (Cover) @ Old Mill - Saturday 8PM
🎵 Nipple’s Delight (Romanian Underground) @ Sounds Good Listening Bar - Saturday Night
🎵 Julian Fuego (Rock) @ The Bell and the Beacon - Saturday 930PM
🎵 RUUTED!!! (House) @ Junction Underground - Saturday 10PM

🎵 Victor Monsivais (Boss Nova) @ The Local - Sunday 2PM
🎵 Rory Taillon (Folk) @ Burdock Music Hall - Sunday 7PM
🎵 Lucas Stagg ("Junction Troubadour") @ The Local - Sunday 9PM

🎵 Agave: Little Window & Blue Monday (Indie) @ Burdock Music Hall - Monday 730PM

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