🦝 Sunshine, Jazz, and Christmas?!

Featured Events

(Full list of events at end of newsletter)

🎉 Give Me Liberty

Thursday 4PM @ Lamport Stadium

It’s street festival season people. This is now three weeks in a row where I’ve started the newsletter with one of these bad boys. Give Me Liberty is happening tonight in Liberty Village from 4 until 11. It’s a big fun festival with all of the accoutrements you’ve come to expect this month. Live music, a pop-up market, activities for children, and a beer garden with brews from local spots. Details

🎷 Toronto Jazz Festival

June 20-29, multiple venues

If you been noticing a high concentration of tasteful vintage hats in the city it’s no coincidence - the Jazz Festival is in town. There’ll be buckets of shows over the next week from both well-known artists and well-kept secrets. The whole thing is being hosted by Jeff Goldblum (yes that Jeff Goldblum). It’s mostly in Yorkville but shows will take place all over the city. Tssss tss-tss-tssss tss-tss-tsss Details and showtimes

Sponsored by Centauri Arts

Centauri Arts is offering summer programs for ages 9-18 in a range of art forms this year. Join their professional instructors for week-long programs that focus on creativity! Choose from Fine Art, Animation, Digital Art, Filmmaking, Acting, Creative Writing, Screenwriting, Writing for Television, Photography and more.

All programs take place in a multi-purpose studio in Bloor West Village and run for 4.5 hours daily. Summer is the perfect time to grow your creativity, have fun and learn new skills! Visit their website to learn more.

Thursday and Friday

West Queen West Art Crawl @ Queen W - Thursday 5PM
Seven art galleries from Parkdale to Trinity Bellwoods will be bustling tonight due to this self guided art crawl. There'll be performances, new exhibitions, and curator talks, all completely free. Details

Yoga @ High Park - Thursday 630PM
Beginner friendly yoga sessions in High Park every Thursday. PWYC

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

Board Game Night @ Junction Craft - Friday 7PM
Bring friends or come solo and make friends! Details

Gay Grandpa @ Super Wonder Gallery - Friday 8PM
I mean how could I not include an event called Gay Grandpa. This is a one man show by Dennis Duncan, the eponymous "Gay Grandpa". He'll be sharing his memories of a life of love, resistance, and self-acceptance. $15

Astronomy on Tap T.O. @ The Great Hall - Friday 8PM
Drink beers and listen to talks by astronomers at this fun free event. Run by the University of Toronto but open to everyone. Details

Saturday

Mom Market @ Dufferin Mall - Saturday 10AM
Strap in because there are a ton of markets coming up right now. The first is the "Mom Market" which sells, well, stuff for moms. I would recommend this to anyone who is a mom. Details

Hippie Market Pop-Up Sale @ 761 Queen - Saturday 11AM
Hippie Market are taking over the old Anthropologie building for a massive two floor vintage sale. Details

Goth Pride Market @ Ground Control - Saturday 11AM
35 vendors from the goth community selling weird and wonderful stuff. The month's market honours Pride Month. Details

Rosedale Art Fair @ Ramsden Park - Saturday & Sunday
Not West End but close enough. 85 local artists selling their work at an outdoor market. Details

Vintage Market @ Trinity Bellwoods - Saturday 11AM
Our final market of the weekend is this one at Trinity Bellwoods! You know what to expect and you know you'll love it. Details

Na-Me-Res Pow Wow @ Fort York - Saturday 12PM
Celebrate National Indigenous People's Day with dancing, drumming, and food. All are welcome. Details

Junction Summer Fest @ Malta Park - Saturday 12PM
The Junction Resident's Association are throwing a big summer bash with a bunch of cool stuff. Details

Granny Squares 101 @ Bistitchual - Saturday 1PM
Learn to knit your own granny squares, developing a personal technique/style along the way. $80

Meet Your Pollineighbours @ MacGregor Playground - Saturday 1PM
Celebrating the opening of a new pollinator garden in MacGregor Park. Snacks, crafts, and a puppet show. Details

Cyanotype Printmaking @ High Park Nature Centre - Saturday 1PM
A cyanotype is like a camera-less photo that you can make with UV light. They're pretty cool and pretty pretty. $60

Harold Marathon @ Teddy Beer - Saturday 2PM
If you were expecting a marathon run only by people named Harold, I'm sorry to let you down. This is actually an improv comedy marathon where several "Harold" teams will perform comedy until they physically can't any more. $12

Open Mic @ Steadfast Brewing - Saturday 7PM
Come out and perform or just enjoy some local talent. Guitar, mic, and keyboard all provided. Details

Outdoor Movie Night @ Sorauren Park - Saturday 845PM
Street festival season also means outdoor movie season! This is a screening of the Canadian coming of age film "New Waterford Girl". Details

Karaoke @ Not Today Santa - Saturday Night
Remember that Christmas bar I talked about earlier? They're having a Karaoke night on Saturday. Details

Sunday and Monday

Community Yard Sale @ Davenport Village Park - Sunday 11AM to 4PM
This was sent to me by a reader - several neighbours are having a yard sale in Davenport Village. This was supposed to happen earlier this summer but had to be postponed due to rain. Anyone local is welcome to bring a blanket or table to display goods of their own.

Puzzle Competition @ Snakes & Lattes - Sunday 11AM
This ain't ya grandma's puzzle time. Work in teams of two to solve a 500-piece puzzle as fast as possible for a prize. $33, ticket includes board game time after competition.

Visualizing the Junction Triangle @ MOCA - Sunday 11AM
A walking tour taking you through the history of the neighbourhood, ending at an art gallery inspired by the titular Triangle. $18

Bellwoods Drag Lunch @ Bellwoods Brewery - Sunday 12PM
From a reader: "Bellwoods Brewery's first ever Drag Lunch featuring performances by Minhi Wang and Perla of Canada’s Drag Race! Join us for a two hour performance by the queens - Proceeds from ticket sales will benefit Rainbow Health Ontario." $20

Block Party @ 178 Ossington - Sunday 3PM
A big party in an outdoor space on Ossington. DJ sets, wellness stations, and snacks all day. $36

Reading Rhythms @ Society Clubhouse - Monday 7PM
From a reader: It's not a book club, it's a reading party. "Bring whatever book you want and read while listening to lo-fi background music. There will be a facilitated connection time in the evening to get to know fellow readers." Details

🎵 Live Music Report 🎵

🎵 Stu Harrison (Jazz) @ Old Mill - Thursday 630PM
🎵 Laura Hubert & Peter Hil (Jazz) @ NeuLokal - Thursday 7PM
🎵 Jerry Leger (Acoustic) @ Bluebird Bar - Thursday 8PM
🎵 Portraitures (Guitar) @ Burdock Music Hall - Thursday 8PM
🎵 Antarctic Monkeys and Imperial (Cover) @ Juntion Underground - Thursday 8PM

🎵 Ryan Kinney (Classical Guitar) @ Old Mill - Friday 630PM
🎵 Joni NehRita (Caribbean Soul) @ Parkdale Library - Friday 7PM
🎵 Reuben Kincaid & Guilty Five (Rock) @ Rosario's - Friday 7PM
🎵 Tak Arukushi Trio (Jazz) @ La Rev - Friday 8PM
🎵 Mister Rabbit (Punk/Emo) @ Burdock Music Hall - Friday 8PM
🎵 Greek Night @ NeuLokal - Friday 9PM
🎵 Marcelo Cruz & Leo Love (Deep House) @ Juntion Underground - Friday 10PM

🎵 Michael O'Grady (Guitar) @ The Local - Saturday 2PM
🎵 Dakota Dogood & Adam Dilouya (Jazz) @ NeuLokal - Saturday 530PM
🎵 Peter Mathers Spanish Guitarist) @ Old Mill - Saturday 630PM
🎵 Peter Smith Trio (Jazz) @ La Rev - Saturday 830PM
🎵 Turkish Night @ NeuLokal - Saturday 9PM
🎵 Ruuted (House) @ Juntion Underground - Saturday 10PM

🎵 Sax, Babes, and Vice (Jazz/Funk Fusion) @ The Local - Sunday 2PM
🎵 Bryce Clifford & Brother Briscoe (Rock) @ The Local - Sunday 9PM

🎵 Quinton Barnes (Indie) @ Burdock Music Hall - Monday 8PM
🎵 Maywater @ The Local - Monday 9PM