Yesterday was glorious Canada Day, and I celebrated in the only way you can with a holiday in the middle of the week… yardwork.
But my patriotism was undampened, bolstered by the fact that we SMOKED South Africa last weekend in a 1-0 MASSACRE. Now we just have the teensy-tiny challenge of beating Morocco on Saturday, July 4th. But what do they know about soccer? I for one will be spending 4th the same way I spent the 1st. Feeling like this:
As for events, we got plenty. Weirdly, a lot of Heavy Metal and Hardcore going on this weekend. Guess the summer heat has people wanting LOUD MUSIC. There’s also some pretty sweet freebies, including Friday night at the MOCA, Eurodance party at The Wych, and for the kiddos, a Despicable Me Screening!
Oh, and Bangladeshi Superman.
Updates!
West End Updates
A new “secret” (how can it be secret if it’s in the Raccoon?!) seafood place opened on Dundas West
Photo Courtesy of Toronto Life
I know, I know, the “secret” restaurant gimmick is a little played out. But The Gemini, the Basque-style seafood joint in question, actually looks pretty dang good. Described as “combining New York cool, old-world tavern warmth and the charm of your kooky friend’s house” it’s helmed by three alumni who have an incredible background at some of Toronto’s best restaurants and wine bars.
Emphasis on wine — that’s the drink of choice at The Gemini which has a wide, well curated selections of wines with a special place for natural expressions. As for the “secret?” Well to find this restaurant, you’ll need to spot an unmarket staircase above a Caldanese Bakery. Good luck!
How hot is too hot? Toronto may require Landlords to keep internal temperatures to no higher than 26c
Ah, sweet AC. How I do love you. Photo courtesy of Blog TO
One of the main drivers leading my wife and I to move out of our beloved 2 bedroom on Campbell Ave was the fact we did not control our thermostat — our downstairs neighbour did. And he was veeeeerrrrry cold averse, which meant the third floor (where our bedroom was) routinely hit 29 degrees in the summer. It was untenable, and gave us the motivation to move.
Ok, so the heat isn’t a West-End exclusive story. But I think we can all agree it’s been a WARM couple days over here. And for folks without AC, quality of life can go way down. Which is why in a recent City Council session a framework was adopted for setting a new max internal temperature in rental units. The proposition? 26 degrees.
Some tenant groups say that’s not enough, especially for seniors and people with health concerns. But in a spot of good news (that I just learned about) this summer the city has already distributed 1,500 free portable AC units to low-income apartment residents. Now that’s our tax dollars at work!
Sponsored by Toques From The Heart
Toques From The Heart is a clothing company with a mission to give back. For every item they sell, they donate another to a support centre, helping West End community members in need. Since launching in 2019, they've donated more than 20,000 clothing items.
Their newest product is a line of comfortable crew socks—one of the most requested items at local shelters. When you buy a pair, another pair is donated to someone who needs it most.
Support a local business, help your community, and keep someone warm—it's a win-win (win?)
Want your business to reach thousands of Toronto locals? Respond to this email with some info about what you do!
With heat on the brain, and a proposal of 26 degrees as the max in the city, I’ve got a question for you West Enders — how hot is too hot in your home?
How hot is too hot in your home?
Relatively Affordable House of the Week
Check out 6 - 243 MacDonnell! Listed for just $575k, this is a hard loft in Roncy with 10.5 ft ceilings and a yard! It’s also got exposed brick and barn doors - how is this so cheap? I thought exposed brick in a loft meant minimum $1.1 million. And a barn door in the city means like $1.4
The building was originally constructed way back in 1903 - they didn’t even know about World War One yet. They must have been talking about like Napoleon all the time. Baseball was the hot new thing.
Events
If you have an event you’d like included in a future West End Raccoon, please submit it here.
Thursday/Friday
R.A.G. NIGHT - Records + Arts + Games @ The Wych - Thurs 8pm. Come craft, spin some wax, and bust out your boardgame skills at the Wych. Details.
MORE NOISE PLEASE! PRESENTS: DOWN AND DIRTY DISRUPTION & DESTRUCTION @ BSMT 254 - Thurs 7pm. Featuring a band called "Knifed out of existence" I think you're gonna wanna leave the banana costume at home for this one. Details.
Creative Circuits @ ZUI Bar - Thurs 7pm. "Toronto's creative community event with industry speakers, networking, and art vibes!" Details.
Y2K Prom! @ Burdock Music Hall - Thurs 6:30pm. For any poor Gen Z that missed their prom due to a Viral Airborne Event, Burdock's throwing a prom night for you to rock out like it's 2000! Bust out those low rise/bootcut jeans. Details.
Free Friday Night at MOCA @ MOCA - Fri 5pm. The only thing better than enjoying contemporary art is enjoying it for free!! Details.
A Very Gru-Some Summer Movie Series - FREE Screenings @ Palmerston Library - Fri 2pm. "Experience the hit movies featuring supervillain turned secret agent, Gru and his group of colourful little minions this summer in Palmerston library's theatre!" Details.
Killer B Cinema Presents: Banglar Superman! @ Killer B Cinema - Fri 7:30pm. This 1990 B movie answers the question: "What if Superman was Bangladeshi?" Details.
Eurodance DJ Party @ The Wych - Fri 9pm. Take it back in time with some thumpin' Eurobeats at The Wych this Friday. Details.
Speaker Splitter: A Hardcore Rave @ The Baby G - Fri 9pm. No you're not hardcore...unless you live hardcore. And the leeegeeend of the reeennt was WAAY HARD COOOOOORRRRRE! Details.
K-POP RAVE @ Lee's Palace - Fri 10pm. Jeez K-Pop must keep you awake because this sucker STARTS past my bed time. Details.
Support The Raccoon
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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
Pull Up A Chair Harvest Lunch with FulCircle Collective featuring Chef Ben Hayward @ The Junction Farmer's Market - Sat 9am. Farm-to-table dining usually involves a trip from the farm to the restaurant. This meal skips a few steps. Details.
Party on the Promenade Tour @ Mod Club (start of walk) - Sat 11am. It says party but it's really a hip walking tour of the College Promenade neighbourhood! Details.
WRESTLE6iX FEST @ 182A St Helens Ave - Sat 12pm. Come watch some squared circle theatrics in The Triangle! Details.
Mosaic Workshop with Clay With Me @ MOCA - Sat 1pm. Tired of creating art with contiguous colour blocks? Then this mosaic workshop is right for you! Details.
When Aliens Attack: INDEPENDENCE DAY - 30th Anniversary Screening! @ Revue Cinema - Sat 6pm. WELCOME TO EARTH. The perfect film for anyone who wants to watch The White House get vapourized (for any reason...) Details.
Bike Pirates 20th Anniversary @ Bike Pirates - Sat 6:30pm. YAARRRR come on down and party with the scallywags at Bike Pirates! Two decades of one of the coolest community cycling joints. Details.
The X-Men 2026 Hellfire Gala @ Ground Control - Sat 6:30pm. What do you get when you mix Marvel, Drag, Cabaret and a sexy swimsuit Spiderman? Hellfire apparently. Details.
NITE BAZAAR: Alt Sounds from the South Asian Underground @ Lee's Palace - Sat 8pm. "A multidisciplinary event spotlighting South Asian alternative bands, DJs, drag, food, and visual art. Sexy, loud, and underrepresented, NITE BAZAAR returns for the second year with an all-star cast." Details.
Sunday/Monday
Blues Dance and Potluck @ High Park - Sun 11:30am. "For July's blues dance we're going to do something a little special - we're doing it outdoors at High Park! Bring some food to share and we'll play some sweet blues music and dance all afternoon!" Details.
Queen & Shaw - TD Commons @ Queen and Shaw - Sun 12pm. What better way to spend a Sunday than perusing a summer market? Details.
Free Meditation Class @ Toronto Public Library Dufferin/St. Clair Branch - Sun 1:30pm. "Join us to learn 5 sets of Falun Dafa exercises, all ages are welcome." Details.
Fully Automated Smash Community @ Danu Social Club - Sun 4pm. Not to brag, but I once actually won the first round at an Ultimate tourney. Anyways, come on down to smash with some (queer friendly) friends! Details.
Play-Making Theatre Camp @ The Wychwood Theatre - Mon 9am (weeklong). "Students spend the week devising their own twenty-minute performance, incorporating a deeper understanding of acting technique and scriptwriting, culminating in a Friday afternoon performance." Details.
Annex Social Game Night - Play Board Games & Make Friends! @ Snakes and Lattes Annex - Mon 6pm. Get off that screen whipper-snapper! Go make some friends while you DISMANTLE them in Catan. Details.
The Trampoline Hall Lectures @ The Garrison - Mon 7pm. "Trampoline Hall is this: Three people give lectures on topics on which they are not professionally expert. Then we take questions from the audience." Details.
🎵 Live Music Report 🎵
🎵Nemophila (Japanese Heavy Metal) @ Lee's Palace - Thurs 7pm
🎵pest. (Garage Rock) @ Monarch Tavern - Thurs 7:30pm
🎵LeBARONS (Alt Country) @ Penny's - Fri 7pm
🎵Maitreya (Prog Metal) @ Hard Luck Bar - Fri 8pm
🎵SlowNotion (Neo Soul) @ Sneaky Dee's - Fri 6:30pm
🎵Creme Flesh (Death Metal) @ Bovine Sex Club - Fri 9pm
🎵Paul Oakenfold (Electronic) @ The Mod Club - Sat 8pm
🎵Club Django (Gypsy Jazz) @ Drom Taberna - Sun 2pm
🎵Galactic Empire (Metal) @ The Mod Club - Sun 6:30pm
🎵Mighty Machines (Rock) @ Burdock - Mon 8pm
Thank you!
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 Summer! She’s nine years old and all ready to celebrate the World Cup. She lives in the High Park neighbourhod. Photo submitted by Chris K.
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
