🦝 Pub Crawls, Apples, and the Dark Arts

Happy Thursday West End,

I know things look dire for our Blue Jays, but only in the face of adversity can true champions be born. Turn on your TVs confidently tonight, resting secure in the fact that we have one of the most certifiable insane pitchers to ever do it.

Let’s get into it.

West End Updates

New Life in the Old Silver Dollar Room Space

The space that housed legendary Toronto concert venue The Silver Dollar Room has been closed since 2017, when the team was forced to relocate to Parkdale in order to make space for a housing development. While the Silver Dollar Room lives on on Queen W now, a new venture has opened in it’s old location. Dina’s Tavern is that new venture, a low-key iteration of the spot with a smoking rat for a logo. They’ll have karaoke, comedy, and live music going on just about a nightly basis. More info on their website.

Pizza Day!

A new pizza joint called Nice Slice is moving into the old Think It Cafe space on Borden, promising hot slices, whole pies, and wine by the glass (a dangerous combo). They even worked with a craft brewery (Bickford) to create a light beer designed for pizza pairing. The soft opening was last weekend and now they’re open from Wednesday to Sunday 12-9PM. I do feel like I have the ability to tell if a pizza is going to be good just from reviewing photos of it; this one looks incredible. More info on their Instagram.

Community Initiatives

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

Roncesvalles United Community Meals

“Every Sunday, there’s a free community meal (At Roncesvalles United Church) at 1pm. If you’d like to help out, volunteers usually show up around 10am at the side of the building. It’s a lovely way to connect and contribute. If anyone’s interested in volunteering, they can reach out at [email protected]”

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

With its height and small footprint, 566 Delaware looks like it should be saying “Let me just squeeeze right past ya there” to its neighbours. The house itself is beautiful, with a double staircase entrance bringing you to to a majestic foyer. This place has some serious perks as well; 11 foot ceilings, a main suite on a floor of its own, a sauna, a balcony, other stuff. $3.3 million, check it out.

Events

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

Thursday and Friday

Free ROM @ Royal Ontario Museum - All Weekend
The ROM is opening all of their exhibits on the main floor for free this fall, with pop-up exhibits and live performances happening every weekend. This weekend's exhibit features shoes from around the world. Details

SOLAR Light Instillation @ The Bentway - All Weekend 730PM
A free lightshow thing created by an Italian artist. Italians are good artists so this should be good. Details

Laundromat Speakeasy @ 45 Ossington - Thursday to Saturday
Asahi Super Dry are doing a three night laundromat themed pop-up on Ossington. Complimentary beer, Japanese street food, and DJ sets. Details

Savannah Soirée @ High Park Brewery - Thursday 630PM
A swanky soirée raising money for the Nature Connection Fund. $100 tickets

Trivia Thursdays @ Whelan's Gate - Thursday 7PM
Whelan's Gate on Bloor do fun trivia nights upstairs on Thursdays with prizes for winners. Details

Cancer Isn't Funny @ Comedy Bar Bloor - Thursday 7PM
A comedy show by comedians who's lives have been touched by cancer, raising money for the Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation. $35 tickets

Haunted Junction Pub Crawl @ See-Scape - Friday 7PM
A historic pub crawl where you'll see spirits and maybe even see spirits! This specific crawl is sold out but there's a couple more happening next weekend. $25

Saturday

Toronto Waterfront Marathon @ All Over - Saturday 9AM
The Waterfront Marathon is this weekend, keep in mind that there are gonna be road closures all over. More info on their Instagram

Hurricane Hazel Walk @ Old Mill Station - Saturday 10AM
A three hour walk along the humber where you'll review photos and recollections of the 1954 hurricane. Details

Fall Festival @ Queen's Park - Saturday 11AM
A good ol' fashion harvest festival at Queen's Park, complete with a pumpkin patch and an inflatable corn maze. If you see someone walking in circles in the maze, please help them out and give directions back to their seat in parliament. Details

Wellness Community Day @ 61 Heintzman St - Saturday 11AM
Free session in The Junction: "Bring your mat, and enjoy a lineup of wellness workshops designed to help you reconnect, body, mind, and breath." Details

Vintage Tailgate @ Typist Studios - Saturday 11AM
A pop-up vintage clothing market at a very nice coffee shop. I mean how pleasant can you get. Details

Apple Fest @ Bayview Ave - Saturday 11AM
Outside of the West End a bit, but a nice fall street festival with all the fixin's. Details

Toronto Dark Arts Market @ Ground Control - Saturday 11AM
Saturday at 11AM is popping this weekend! "40+ vendors of the coolest, spookiest, weirdest stuff will be with us, selling their amazing creations, just in time for the best day of the year!" Details

Sip & Sew @ Working Women Community Centre - Saturday 11AM
From a reader: "Enjoy a 4hr intro to sewing workshop, learn to make a tote bag! Mocktails and tacos included." $65-$70

Sick Stories @ Loohoo - Saturday 11AM
Saturday 11AM closes with pop-up book market featuring stories from neuro-divergent writers. Details

Curious K Explores the Paleozoic @ Wychwood Theatre - Saturday & Sunday 2PM
A family-friendly musical performance about dinos! $23 tickets

Dark Dance Party @ Ground Control - Saturday 8PM
Goth, darkwave, post-punk party playing lots of Rammstien. Should I wear my blue Oxford shirt or one of my cardigans? $12 tickets

CLOWNPOCALYPSE @ Lithuanian House - Saturday 830PM
"This annual clown packed costume rave is featuring 13 high energy DJs, 20 circus performances, a 20’ bouncy castle, large ball pit, and much more." Should I wear my Patagonia quarter-zip or one of my cardigans? $35 tickets

Sunday

ZooBoo @ High Park Zoo - Sunday 12PM
Family friendly afternoon with bouncy castles, mask making, and more. $5 donation

Ossington Market @ 19 Ossington - Sunday 12PM
A special line-up of curated vendors + tacos! Details

The Extraordinary Jodi Mitchell @ Revue Cinema - Sunday 1230PM
Screening of a doc about the legendary Joni Mitchell followed by a Q&A with some experts. PWYC

Record Fair @ Boogie - Sunday 1PM
Come buy the records you got rid of 30 years ago. Details

🎵 Live Music Report 🎵

🎵 Gabe Kong Trio (Jazz) @ Bluebird Bar - Thursday 8PM
🎵 Run Coyote (Western) @ Burdock Music Hall - Thursday 830PM

🎵 Pocketboy Solid @ Junction Underground - Friday 8PM
🎵 Pokey LaFarge (Country) @ Lee's Palace - Friday 8PM

🎵 Michael Darcy (Irish) @ The Local - Saturday 2PM
🎵 Maureen Kennedy (Jazz) @ NeuLokal - Saturday 530PM
🎵 After (Pop) @ The Baby G - Saturday 7PM
🎵 Weakened Friends (Indie) @ 165 Geary - Saturday 7PM
🎵 The Frights (Surf Punk) @ Mod Club - Saturday 7PM
🎵 NeuTurkish Night @ NeuLokal - Saturday 930PM

🎵 A Jazz Celebration of The Beatles @ Burdock Music Hall - Sunday 1PM
🎵 Michelle Rumball (Folk) @ The Local - Sunday 2PM
🎵 Lynda Kraar (Rock) @ Cat Pub & Eatery - Sunday 4PM
🎵 Arsoniste (Indie) @ Burdock Music Hall - Sunday 730PM
🎵 Samantha Rays (Folk) @ The Local - Sunday 9PM

🎵 Baby Fischgrund, Carmen Elle, and CJ Wiley @ Burdock Music Hall - Monday 830PM
🎵 Kyp Harness @ 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