🦝 Menopause, Cheap Condos, and Dumplings

Ah, spring in Toronto. The birds are chirping, the flowers are just pushing out of the dirt, the winds are gusting at 90km per hour, the snow is blowing, then accumulating, then melting and turning into a treacherous layer of ice that makes even a short trip to the local grocery store a near-death experience. Delightful.

But weather-wise things are trending up, and nowhere is this more evident than the fact event organizers are actually feeling confident enough to plan things outdoors! Including a lovely sounding “Sow and grow” seedling activity in Christie Pits on Sunday.

Speaking of Sundays, you guys like newsletters right? The Raccoon got a mention in the lovely happiness-focused publication Saving Sundays last week, run by a Junction Triangle resident no less (shoutout Tyler)! Check ‘em out here.

But enough weather whinging and newsletter flogging. On to the updates!

West End Updates

The Brockton Haunt is defining itself as community hub for queer folks

What started as a woman-owned/queer-owned cafe took a big step in its evolution during Covid — it became a Skate Shop. But as owner Julie Kell told Toronto Today it didn’t stop there: now The Brockton Haunt has become an indispensible space for the queer community in and around Brockton Village to gather.

And it’s not just lattes and sick new skate decks. They also have a liquor license! After the coffee serving is wrapped up, The Haunt transitions into an intimate venue, frequently featuring queer artists, musicians and comedians — and beer! If that all sounds appealing to you head on over to The Brockton Haunt and share some love.

Read the full story here.

The West End is about to have a batch of new Bike Share docks and e-bikes

Some subscribers may disagree but it is the official opinion of this newsletter that bikes are cool and good, and more access to them is dope and swag. And for those who agree, good news! Bike Share Toronto is massively expanding both their docking stations and their e-bikes, along with a ton of further improvements. This is driven by the fact that Bike Share’s “revenue is scaling faster than it’s costs.” Wouldn’t you like to have that problem?

While this is technically an “all of Toronto” story, the Best End is getting particularly blessed, with a bunch of the planned docking stations being deployed along Bloor st. W, Trinity Bellwoods and Corsa Italia. If you’re a transit/infrastructure nerd like me you can read the full plan here. Or if not:

Read the full story here.

Relatively Affordable House of the Week

You can buy this studio, just around the corner from Ossington station, for $349,000. I know the condo market has come down but seeing a number like this is crazy to me. You can own property on Line 2 for less than 400k! I thought that for that price you would have to go to like Thorold or Ayr to buy something.

Yeah it’s very small, but the location is great, it has in-unit laundry, a little balcony, and a parking spot. A couple years ago the parking spot alone woulda been like $750k. Listing here, check it out.

Events

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

Thursday/Friday

Book Launch: THE FIRST STEP by Tao Wong @ Bakka-Phoenix Books — Thur 6pm
Book Launch, plus signing, plus conversation with the Author! sounds like a fine Thursday evening to me. Details

Thursday Evening WINTER 2026 AXIS SYLLABUS CLASS SERIES with Kathleen Rea @ Roncesvalles United Church — Thur 6pm
"Together we will study information on flexibility, strength, alignment, anatomical attributes, and ways of moving that aim to be safe and energy-conservative." Details

Roost: Swingin' Bass Cabaret @ 209 Geary Ave. — Fri 9pm
Where burlesque meets rave, apparently! 5 speakeasy-themed burlesque performances for your titilation. Details

HEY YA! All 2000’s Video Dance Party @ Ground Control — Fri 9pm
This week's 00's Dance Party, named for the song you now have stuck in your head! Details

Saturday

Family Seed Planting & Kids’ Crafts @ Sorauren Park — Sat 10am
This sounds like a delightful time with gardening and crafts and kids and no dang iPads!!! Details

Poshmark Canada Pop-Up: Style in Full Bloom @ Olivia's Garden — Sat 11am (runs to Sun 3pm) Details
"Toronto, step into our first-ever curated shopping experience where spring blooms through fashion, florals, and discovery." Details

Ukrainian Dumplings Cooking Class @ Rainhard Brewing Co. — Sat 1pm
Who doesn't love a good dumpling? Let alone a good Ukrainian one? Are these perogies? I haven't a clue! Details

PLAYDATE: March Break Edition @ Homecourt — Sat 1pm
"We would love to have you join us for PLAYDATE, a fresh daytime event series designed for parents who want to get out, socialize, and enjoy great music with their kids." Details

International Astrology Day @ Trazac Club — Sat 1pm
No, no -- last week was an ASTRONOMY event. Anyways, come out to this one for a 10 minute reading for 10 bucks. Details

LOTR: The Fellowship of the Ring (Extended Edition!) @ Revue Cinema — Sat 1:30pm
It's your annual test of bladder fortitude! LOTR on the big screen. The best walking documentary ever made. Details

Menopause & perimenopause workshop with Amanda Thebe @ Type Books Queen — Sat 3pm
This is a great opportunity to learn the ins and outs of menopause. Details

Girlhood Collage Night @ 2237 Dundas St. W — Sat 3:30pm
A cozy, offline art event where you can mess around with lots of art and zero judgment. Sounds like a hell of an afternoon to me. Details

Alternative Karaoke - March Madness! @ The Alpine — Sat 7pm
Regular Karaoke too dang boring for you? Try this one featuring a bunch of unsusual artists and genres! Details

Waffles and A Movie Presents: Across 110th Street @ 1176 Bloor St. W — Sat 8pm
"Join Waffles and A Movie as we screen the 70s infused Neo-Noir and Gangster fever sound dream that is 'Across 110th Street' “ Details 

Green Out @ The Wych — Sat 8pm
Drag performers! DJs! Face paint! And someone named Dylan's 20th birthday! Details

SPELLBOUND: Goth/Darkwave/Post-Punk/Industrial @ Ground Control — Sat 9pm
This one's for the Goths! All Dark Music, all night. Details

The Dark Eighties Party @ Dance Cave — Sat 10pm
Where the hell are the Dark 70's dance parties? I wanna dress like a goth and rave to Joni Mitchell! Details

I love EURO night @ The Cat's Cradle — Sat 10pm
"Transport Back to a Simpler Time! Low Lights and Deep bass! Relive all your favourite beats when Dj NyCLee plays your Top 40 Anthems" Details

Sunday

Nerikomi (Pottery workshop) @ Sass Art Studios — Sun 12:30pm
Come on down Shaw St. to learn how to make some Japanese pottery (or hone your already superb throwing skills!) Details

Sunday sites in the gallery @ 32 Cawthra Ave — Sun 1pm
If you plan on spending your Sunday vibe coding, you may as well do it with a bunch of West Enders! Details

World Water Day Water Walk @ High Park Nature Centre — Sun 1pm
"Celebrate World Water Day by joining us and Turtle Protectors on a heartfelt Water Walk led by Grandmother Vivian Recollet, Bigasohn Kwe, Turtle Clan from Wikwemikong Unceded First Nation, Ojibway Nation." Details

MtG Regional Championship Qualifier @ Sword & Board — Sun 1:30pm
Time to prove YOU are the best Planeswalker on the West End. And that your jank deck DOES work if you don’t get mana screwed. Details

FOLKTALES AND FAIRY TALES @ The Shevchenko Museum — Sun 2pm
"The Shevchenko Museum cordially invites you to the opening of FOLKTALES AND FAIRY TALES, an exhibition of textile art by Sonia Jacyk Bukata" Details

The Christie Pits Sacred Fire Garden Project @ Christie Pits Park — Sun 3pm
"We are planning gardens for the Sacred Fire space in the south west corner of Christie Pits park to feature native medicinal and pollinator plants. First step: sow and grow some seeds!” Details

Unwell But Funny @ Tallboys — Sun 8pm
The comedians are unwell but their comedy is swell! Come for some melancholic chuckling. Details

🎵 Live Music Report 🎵

🎵 EIDOLA (Rock) @ The Mod Club — Thur 6:30pm
🎵Gurriers (Alt/Indie) @ The Garrison — Thur 7pm
🎵 Ky Anto (Acoustic) @ Rod, Gun & Barbers — Fri 7pm
🎵DJ Von Darque ft. DJ Bitterness Barbie (Goth Industrial Metal) @ See-Scape — Fri 10pm
🎵 Casper TNG (Hip Hop) @ Lee's Palace — Sat 8pm
🎵Phear (Metal) @ Bovine Sex Club — Sat 8pm
🎵Lil Texs (Techno) @ The Mod Club — Sat 10pm
🎵 The Pink Skies (Psych Pop) @ The Baby G — Sun 7pm
🎵 Anna von Hausswolff (Gothic Singer/Songwriter) @ Drake Underground — Sun 7pm
🎵 Eliza McLamb – Good Story Tour (Indie Rock) @ The Mod Club — Mon 7pm

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.

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