🦝 Lava, Romantasy, and the New Raccoon

What's happening in the West End November 20th to 24th.

Author

Xavier W
November 20, 2025

What’s up West End,

Check out the new look! I’ve done a bit of a redesign of the newsletter with help from the great Night Shift Studio. It’s got me feeling extra pretty this fine Thursday.

Whadddya think? Or as the kids would say: Smash or Pass?

Let’s get into it.

Featured Events

(Full list of events at end of newsletter)

Vintage Mrkt

All Weeekend @ 1086 Queen W

If there's one things I know about my readers, it's that you guys love markets. If I know a second thing about my readers, it’s that you guys love vintage clothes.

This is the granddaddy of all vintage markets - they let you in for just 30 minutes like it's Supermarket Sweep to grab everything you can. On the way out you'll be charged by weight, not by item ($4 per pound of clothing). Details

Christmas Book Sale

Thursday to Sunday @ Beeton Hall

A little outside the West End but super cool - the Toronto Public Library are doing a mega sale of items from their collection. They're moving everything: fiction, non-fiction, games, DVDs, the works. The best part: everything costs $1 and the money will go to supporting the library's services. Details

West End Updates

Racy Bookstore Opens on Queen West

Do you like to read about heaving bosoms? What about pulsing members and fertile loins? You may want to checkout Hopeless Romantic, the first Toronto bookstore selling only novels full of “smut”. These steamy novels are everywhere now, with covers that look like fantasy books and insides full of…. well... you know.

All the novels at Hopeless Romantic will be marked with stickers according to their “Spice Level”, with one chilli pepper indicating a more old-fashioned romance, and five chilli peppers indicating that you can’t read the book on the subway.

Sponsored by Night Shift

Ready to launch your hospitality, events, beauty or wellness brand? You've got the business plan—now you need a creative partner to bring your vision to life.

Night Shift specializes in brand strategy and creative execution for ambitious entrepreneurs ready to make their mark.

Let's build something together.

Want your business to reach thousands of Toronto locals? Respond to this e-mail with some info about what you do!

Pop-up Christmas Bar

Like it or not - winter is almost here. This brings many problems, but on the bright side it may stop happening within our lifetimes. Also on the bright side, it means that the holidays are here and with them a bunch of fun pop-ups and events. Miracle on Bloor (at Bloor & Ossington) is one of these, an annual one-month-only cocktail bar on Bloor from the team behind Civil Liberties. Amazing decor, tasty Christmas cocktails, and a portion of all proceeds going to Nellie’s Women’s Shelter.

Community Initiatives

If you know of a local cause that could use a shoutout, reply to this email.

The Shoebox Project

A reader reached out to share the West End based “The Shoebox Project” with me.

They are “a grassroots organization that collects and distributes gift-filled shoeboxes to women impacted by homelessness or poverty in our community. Each shoebox, filled with essential items and thoughtful treats valued at around $50, provides not only practical support but also a reminder that these women are seen, valued, and cared for by their neighbours.”

If you’d like to support the project you can make a donation, volunteer your time, or create a shoebox yourself. More information on their website.

Fancy House of the Week

Wow this one is a beauty. I’d be a completely different person if I lived at 270 Indian Rd. Kind, thoughtful, in touch with nature. Rich. For just $7.6 million you too could develop all of these positive personality traits. You’d also be able to enjoy 6,000 square feet of refined spaces and earth tones, a three car garage with a bar and projector, and a little cabin in the woods for an office. Check out the listing here.

Events

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

Thursday and Friday

Dubai Chocolate Cooking Class @ Le Dolci - Thursday 6PM
You know the old saying: "Give a man a Dubai Chocolate...." $139

Side Project Social @ 1RG - Thursday 6PM
Drop by and chat about whatever side project you're working on. Meet people you have stuff in common with. Details

Artist Meet & Mingle @ Loohoo - Thursday 6PM
Drop by and chat with other artists + swap some stickers. Meet people you have stuff in common with. Details

Unfiltered Conversations @ Creed's Coffee - Thursday 6PM
This is an event run by a group called Growth for Girlies: "It’s for the girlies who crave honest connection, deep conversations, and a little clarity about where they’re headed next." Details

Lucha X-mas @ Parkdale Hall - Thursday 8PM
Just your standard holiday luchador wrestling match. Prices vary

Rather Rude Thursdays @ Boogie - Thursday 9PM
No cover Drum and Bass night playing only vinyl. Details

Shark Night Party @ ROM - Friday 730PM
CETWEOK! A monthly after-hours party at the ROM - this time featuring surf rock and tiki vibes. $40

Breakthroughs Film Festival @ Paradise Theatre - Friday to Sunday
A weekend festival featuring "independent films by emerging artists whose voices, perspectives, and artistic approaches counter dominant mainstream narratives." Details

International Pop Overthrow @ Painted Lady - Friday to Sunday
There's a lot of festivals happening this weekend eh? This one is a pop-rock festival on Ossington with more than 20 local acts going up over the course of the weekend. Prices vary

Support The Raccoon

Hey you!

If you enjoy reading The Raccoon every week and you’d like to support what I’m doing here, I’ve opened a donation page where readers can make contributions. Any amount would be be very much appreciated.

Saturday

Taste of Iceland Festival @ Multiple Venues - All Weekend
Remember like 8 years ago when everyone you knew was travelling to Iceland? It really had a lot of momentum. If you were one of those travellers, or if you're jealous you missed out, recapture that 2018 magic at this weekend's Icelandic Festival.

There'll be all sorts of Iceland inspired activities all over the city: free concerts, interesting meals, and a lava show where they'll spray real volcanic lava at you. Details

WineFest @ Exhibition - All Weekend
Wines from around the world (and all-you-can-taste tickets). I'd recommend pre-ordering the Uber and maybe pre-paying the cleaning fee. Prices vary, around $100

Pilates in the Museum @ MOCA - Saturday 9AM
Look at the event title and try to guess what it is. Yep, you nailed it! $25

Holiday Maker Market @ Maker Bean Cafe - Saturday & Sunday
A holiday market not by local artisans but for local artisans. Cool craft stuff, 3D printing thingys, all that jazz. Details

The Joy of Writing Together @ Coffee & All That Jazz - Saturday 1030AM
Writers meeting in a cafe (as writers are wont to do). Share your work or just work on your work. Details

Christmas with the Queens @ Miracle on Bloor - Saturday 11AM
A cocktail drag lunch at the previously mentioned Miracle on Bloor pop-up. $27

Hutch & Friends @ Burdock - Saturday 630PM
Some good old-fashioned Canadian comedy with a bunch of comedians from JFL and various CBC productions. $30

Afrique Like Me @ Annabel’s - Saturday 9PM
An African electronic dance experience - celebrating its sixth anniversary. Get Afrique-y with it. $40

Turning Point Dancefloor @ The Garrison - Saturday 9PM
Vinyl and dancing. "A special evening dedicated to the many tropical rhythms and sounds from the past for the dancefloor." $20

Sunday and Monday

Junction Triangle Craft Show @ Henderson Brewing - Sunday 10AM
Over 40 local vendors all selling fun stuff they made, plus a food drive supporting The Stop Community Food Centre. $5 donation

Bluegrass Jam @ Whelan's Pub - Sunday 7:30PM
From a reader: "Join us every Sunday @ Toronto's West End Bluegrass jam session. Enjoy the music or bring along your instrument and join the group. All are welcome." Details

Dcide on the Bcide @ Communist's Daughter - Monday 5PM
A fun weekly bar event for music lovers. The bar will play the A-side of a vinyl, then the music will stop and everyone there will engage in rigorous debate as to whether or not the B-side should be played. Details

True Stories Told Live @ The Garrison - Monday 645PM
A free night of live storytelling. Details

Collage Night @ Typist Cafe - Monday 7PM
"Join us for an evening of collaging and yapping." Supplies and vintage magazines included. $30

David Lynch Burlesque @ Burdock - Monday 9PM
An evening that will unfortunately not actually include David Lynch doing burlesque. Details

🎵 Live Music Report đźŽµ

🎵 Rachella Wred @ Burdock - Thursday 630PM
🎵 Dale Ross (Folk) @ The Bell & Beacon - Thursday 7PM
🎵 Venture at Five @ Junction Underground - Thursday 9PM

🎵 John Muirhead (Troubadour) @ The Garrison - Friday 8PM
🎵 Syrian Music Night @ Burdock - Friday 8PM
🎵 Jay Douglas (Reggae) @ Old Mill - Friday 8PM

🎵 Country Josh (Honky-Tonk) @ The Local - Saturday 2PM
🎵 Faith Amour (Jazz) @ NeuLokal - Saturday 530PM
🎵 Mil-Spec @ 1573 Bloor - Saturday 7PM
🎵 Advocats Big Band @ Old Mill - Saturday 8PM
🎵 Poor Man's High (Funk Soul) @ Junction Underground - Saturday 830PM
🎵 David Vertesi and Braden Lam @ Burdock - Saturday 9PM

🎵 Mr Rick & The Biscuits @ The Local - Sunday 2PM
🎵 Sunday Hardcore Matinee @ Burdock - Sunday 2PM
🎵 Earlybird (Indie/Folk) @ Sneaky Dee's - Sunday 630PM
🎵 U.V. and the Rays (Surf-Rock) @ The Local - Sunday 9PM

🎵 Fred Spek (Oddball/Original) @ 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