🦝 Garlic, Free Beer, and a Breakfast Battle Champion

What's happening in the West End September 25th to 29th.

Author

Xavier W
September 25, 2025

Happy Thursday Toronto!

Did you know that Bloor Street was named after Joseph Bloor, an innkeeper in Yorkville who looked like this:

Fairly frightening.

Let’s get into it.

Featured Events

(Full list of events at end of newsletter)

🧄 Toronto Garlic Festival

Sunday 10AM @ Dupont & Spadina

Fresh off the back of last weekend’s pickle fest, the Toronto Garlic Festival is another street party dedicated to a single food. Expect free garlic shots, cool vendors, live music, a vampire costume contest, and a garlic breath contest.

🍺 Free Beer & Pizza

Sunday 130PM @ The Bentway

I don't think this newsletter has ever featured an event title as compelling as "Free Beer and Pizza". Usually just offering one of those two things is enough to get people to do whatever you want them to. At this Moretti sponsored event you'll receive both - with one catch. You need to bring your own chair to sit on. Details

West End Updates

Spooooooky Tacos

September is drawing to a close and that means we’re entering into the spookiest season of the year. I don’t mean to frighten you, but the West End is about to become even scarier as the spectral Ghost Tacos prepares to open its doors in Liberty Village.

The proudly “in-authenitc” Mexican eatery has a eclectic menu featuring things like Alabama Chicken and Crispy Korean Tofu. They already have a few locations across Ontario but this will be the first one in Toronto. The grand opening is this Saturday at 11AM and the first 100 visitors will receive a free taco. Details on their Instagram

West End Breakfast Battle

The moment is here….. the CHAMPION…. of the West End Breakfast Battle…… is DIRTY FOOD! The final match-up was incredibly close but in the end the Junction eatery pulled it out to become the OFFICIAL favourite breakfast of the West End. Congratulations to Dirty Food and their family.

The biggest congratulations however needs to go to us, the residents of the West End. Not only do we have easy access to Dirty Food breakfasts but also to all the other amazing spots featured in this competition. The true winner…. is us.

Fancy House of the Week - Presented by CARGO CABBIE

Moving soon? With a 4.9 star rating on Google, CARGO CABBIE is your West End go-to for packing, moving, and storage. Get up to 20% off with code LOCAL20 from your neighbours at CARGO CABBIE. Book your move today: cargocabbie.ca

Is this our first ever Fancy Loft of the Week? Located in the historic Foundry Lofts building, this space at 338 Lansdowne has 2700 square feet of living space over three levels. I’m not sure what they used to manufacture in the Foundry Lofts building but from the looks of it they specialized in tasteful exposed brick. The loft also features 29 foot cathedral ceilings, an elevator, and a floor to ceiling steam fireplace. $3.6 million, listing here.

Events

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

Thursday and Friday

Book Launch @ 784 College - Thursday 630PM
You're a cultured person who talks to authors right? This is the launch of Non-Prophet by Qurat Dar and The Reign by Shane Neilson. Details

Music and Co-ops Social @ It's Ok Studios - Friday 6PM
An event for interesting people and thick-rimmed glasses. "​The futures of artists and culture workers are interwoven. What is the future of both artist and worker ownership in music?" Details

Emo Night Karaoke @ Sneaky Dee's - Friday 630PM
Sneaky Dee's long running emo night, now featuring a good-old fashioned karaoke sing-a-long. $25

Night at the Museum @ ROM - Friday 730PM
Drinks, DJs, dancing, and some crafts at the ROM. $40 tickets

Pyjama Party @ Dance Cave - Friday 8PM
A rave but you're in your pyjamas. Let's see if those damn bananas were on to something... Details

Scott Pilgrim vs. the World @ Revue Cinema - Friday 930PM
A screening of maybe the most famous cultural product ever set in Toronto? Other than Murdoch Mysteries of course. Sold out, but you can line-up for a chance at last minute tickets. Details

Saturday

Ghost Tacos Opening @ Ghost Tacos - Saturday 11AM
As mentioned earlier, free tacos for the first 100 visitors. Line up like a good Torontonian. Details

The Holistic Market @ Christie Pits - Saturday 12PM
Shop local, natural, and artisanal wellness vendors. Details

The Good Swap @ 720 Bathurst - Saturday 12PM
From a reader: "The Good Swap is Toronto's monthly clothing exchange for all genders, all bodies, and all ages. September's edition includes a book swap! " Details

Lindy Hop Workshop @ Swing Toronto - Saturday 1PM
Learn the new trendy dance that's sweeping the nation! The lesson ends early enough that you'll have time after to run down the road hitting a hoop with a stick. Details

APIs & IPAs @ Trinity Bellwoods - Saturday 2PM
Techy get together in the park. Details

Still. Social. @ They Wych - Saturday 3PM
An event for both introverts and extroverts. The first half of the event will be peaceful activities like journalling and sketching for the introverts, and then the second half will be DJs and dancing for the extroverts. Details

Queer Gayme Dive @ Penny's - Saturday 4PM
"LGBTQ2IA-flavoured gaming and socializing—allies also welcome." Details

Language Exchange Party @ Madison Ave Pub - Saturday 730PM
A big pub party where everyone is encouraged to practice another language. Upon arrival guests will be split into groups based on the languages they want to speak. Details

Bowie Fest @ Ground Control - Saturday 8PM
Cover bands, prizes, and a market at this night celebrating the legendary David Bowie. $39 tickets

Gatsby Redux @ Harbourfront Centre - Saturday & Sunday Night
A performance of 1920's dance inspired by the Great Gatsby. The performers encourage visitors to dress in their best 1920's regalia, and I personally encourage them to incorporate a monocle into that look. $65 tickets

Sunday

College Vendor Market @ Society Clubhouse - Sunday 10AM
A weekly market that will be running all fall on College. Fashion, baked goods, beauty, and more. Details

Baseball + Nature @ High Park Nature Centre - Sunday 10AM
A baseball history-meets-nature walk in honour of the end of the regular season. $10

Drag Lunch @ Bellwoods Brewery - Sunday 11AM+2PM
Featuring stars from Canada's Drag Race. $20

Cafe Hopping @ College St - Sunday 12PM
It's like a bar crawl but it doesn't come with a massive Uber cleaning fee at the end. Details

Fall Festival @ Spadina Museum - Sunday 12PM
CETWEOK! Live performances, dance lessons, and apples fresh from the orchard at this seasonal shindig. Details

Poetry Workshop @ High Park - Sunday 130PM
A nature walk where you'll stop to work on poems. I'll get you started: "There once was a man from Old Cummer" PWYC

Free Bike Fixes @ Emerson & Bloor - Sunday 2PM
Free bike fix-ups courtesy of Bloorcourt BIA! Details

Patio Comedy @ Teddy Beer - Sunday 730PM
A cool comedy show on a back patio. Sometimes the title of the event explains everything but I still put a little description here :) $12

🎵 Live Music Report đźŽµ

🎵 LAEL NEALE (Pop) @ 651 Dufferin - Thursday 8PM
🎵 The Jack Moves w/ Huge (Funk) @ Burdock - Thursday 8PM
🎵 Shawn Clarke (Indie Folk) @ Blue Bird Bar - Thursday 8PM

🎵 The Hogtown Allstars (Blues) @ Old Mill - Friday 8PM
🎵 Weepin' Dave and the Diamond Boys (Country) @ The Bell and Beacon - Friday 9PM
🎵 Aleka's House (House) @ Junction Underground - Friday 10PM

🎵 North Atlantic Drift (Irish) @ The Local - Saturday 2PM
🎵 Tukan (Electronic) @ The Garrison - Saturday 8PM
🎵 Motown Mania @ Old Mill - Saturday 8PM

🎵 Sax, Babes, and Vice (Jazz) @ The Local - Sunday 2PM
🎵 Graham Wright, Michael Antelope and Nick McKinlay (Acoustic) @ Burdock - Sunday 730PM
🎵 Natalie Muzos (Indie) @ The Local - Sunday 9PM

🎵 Russell Wellner (Acoustic) @ Burdock - Monday 730PM
🎵 Fat Dog (Punk) @ The Garrison - Monday 8PM
🎵 Vandalia (String Band) @ 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