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- 🦝 Puppies, Scary Movies, and More Pizza
🦝 Puppies, Scary Movies, and More Pizza
What's happening in the West End April 3rd to 7th.
Xavier Post
April 03, 2025
Goooooood morning West End! Welcome to the second issue of The West End Raccoon.
To start, I just want to say a big THANK YOU for all the support so far. The amount of positive feedback I’ve received after just one week is truly incredible.
Special shout-out to everyone who shared us with a friend or family member, it’s made a significant difference. Our subscriber list is already up over a thousand people!
As you’ll see, the structure of the newsletter is evolving as we go. This issue features some new sections as well as a handsome new font (if I do say so myself).
I want The Raccoon to be by the community, for the community. Please share any ideas you have by responding to this e-mail! Lots of our events and stories this week came from reader recos.
That’s enough intro, let’s get into it!
Featured Events
(Full list of events at end of newsletter)
🧟 Toronto International Spring Horror Film Festival
Friday to Sunday @ Revue Cinema
Halloween is months away but Revue Cinema is bringing the spooky vibes early! The Spring of Horror Film Festival is back for its eighth year, screening scary movies from all over the world. Details and tickets (Prices Vary)
🐶 Puppy Yoga
Thursday 730PM @ Yoga Kawa
If you’re like me and you have to sleep with the lights on after a horror movie, here’s an event that (probably) won’t freak you out. PUPPY YOGA is taking place tonight, where you get to do YOGA with a bunch of PUPPIES. Sorry for the capitalization but how amazing is that? The event is family friendly, with kids as young as 5 welcome to participate. Details and tickets ($60)
West End Updates
A Ten Story Monastery is Coming to Parkdale
Artist’s Rendering
Plans have been submitted for the construction of a monastery near the No Frills on King West. Designed by High Park Architects, the building is proposed on the location of the existing Karma Sonam Buddhist Temple.
The project calls for one floor of retail space, followed by six stories of apartments then three floors dedicated to the Buddhist temple. (Talk about quiet upstairs neighbours)
The design is beautiful and it’s sure to become an iconic landmark in Little Tibet. Although once this massive monastery is built, I’m not sure if we can keep calling it “Little” Tibet. Maybe Medium Tibet?
Lane Reductions on the Gardiner
Starting April 7th the Westbound Gardiner is being reduced from 4 lanes to 3 just after it passes High Park. The reduction starts at Park Lawn and continues until Grand Avenue, and will enable the city to repair several bridges along the expressway. While only a couple of kilometres are impacted, you may want to budget a bit more time for any trips heading West.
Bloor West Pizza Ranked Best in the World
Gatto’s Wood Oven Pizza in Bloor West Village won some serious acclaim this week. The pizzeria at Bloor and Windermere participated in the International Pizza Challenge in Las Vegas, going up against 600 pizzas from all around the world. They were awarded ninth place in the Traditional Pizzas category. Well done Gatto’s!
Weekend Weather 🌡️☀️
Friday - Mostly sunny, cold in the morning but going up to 9°.
Saturday - Really rainy in the morning but less and less so throughout the day.
Sunday - Cloudy all day with a chance of some rain or maybe even snow.
Seriously - what is going on with our weather right now. Yesterday was insane and now 16° today?!?! I need summer to start soon.
Sponsored by Growing Tkaronto
Spring is coming and that means so are flowers! Growing Tkaronto are a Queer BIPOC owned urban flower farm based in The Junction. They've just started preparing their Spring (100% Ontario) flowers for monthly subscriptions or weddings.
The subscriptions are perfect for the hard-to-shop-for people in your life. You get a bouquet every month, either delivered or available to pick up. I always gift flower subscriptions for my Grandma’s birthday - she loves them because in her words she “has no storage space for more junk”.
Mother’s Day is coming up, make sure to book your subscription before they run out of space! To reserve, click here.
If you’re interested in having your business featured in The Raccoon, reach out to [email protected].
Community Shout-Outs
This is a new section I’m adding where readers can give some love to local businesses or community members. If you have something you’d like to shout out, just reply to this e-mail!
Bello Pizza is now “Enoteca 89” with a new menu that looks bomb, and the owner was so kind. Lots of customers came in asking if they still did pizza - think it would be a cool thing to share that they do. :)
Hale Coffee at Dupont and Campbell! Kinda hidden on a side street but their muffins and coffee are delish.
Fancy House of the Week
This is 11 Humbercrest Boulevard, North of BWV and just steps from the Humber River. The house has 5 beds, 5 baths and boasts amazing natural light throughout. Features include a gas fireplace, a detached garage, and a master bedroom with a 6 piece ensuite and walk-in closet. Listed for $3.5 million. Details
Events
You can find links with more information for these events on our website - click here.
🎵 = Live Music/Dancing
🤝 = Community Events
🎨 = Arts & Crafts
🎭 = Comedy/Theatre
All Weekend
🎭 Toronto International Spring of Horror & Fantasy Film Festival @ Revue Cinema - Details
🎵 Toronto Spring Tango Marathon @ Palais Royal - Details
Thursday April 3
🎵 Don River & Arden Van Fleet (Queer Rock/Pop) @ Burdock Music Hall 7PM - Details
🎵 Battle Of The Bands (Supporting St Joe's) @ Rosario's 7PM - Details
🎵 Laura Hobert & Peter Hill (Jazz) @ NeuLokal 7PM - Details
🎵 The Sounds of 1979 w/ DJ Greg Clow @ Ground Control 9PM - Details
🤝 Princess Tea Party (with Cinderella, Belle, Aurora, and Tinkerbell) @ Old Mill 6PM - Details
🤝 Meditation Classes @ High Park Library 630PM - Details
🤝 Question Everything Trivia @ Junction Underground 7PM - Details
🤝 History Talk - Exploring Young Street's Legendary Music History @ Annette St Library 7PM - Details
🤝 Almost Jeopardy Trivia @ Steadfast Brewing @ Steadfast Brewing 7PM - Details
🤝 Puppy Yoga (Family Friendly) @ Yoga Kawa 730PM - Details
🎨 Sushi Making Workshop for Teens @ Parkdale Library 330PM - Details
🎨 Ukrainian Easter Egg Painting (Petrykivka) @ Shevchenko Museum 6PM - Details
🎨 Sewing Workshops for Adults @ Parkdale Library 630PM - Details
🎨 “Floral Decay” Exhibition Opening Night @ Hideaway Studios 7 PM - Details
🎨 Crochet Granny Squares @ 967 College Street 7PM - Details
🎨 Singing Lesson Drop-Ins (Kids Between 3 and 6) @ 154 Roncesvalles 8PM - Details🎭 Let's Go Comedy Show @ Wenona 8PM - Details
Friday April 4
🎵 Eric St. Laurent, Matias Recharte, Irene Torres (Latin Jazz.Neo-Peruvian) @ NeuLokal 7PM - Details
🎵 Friday Latin Fusion - Lessons and Dancing (Bachata & Salsa) @ Dovercourt House 730PM - Details
🎵 Nocturne Rave w/ DJ Dynamic and Rave Alarm @ Junction Underground 8PM - Details
🎵 The Young Novelists (Folk) @ Burdock Music Hall 8PM - Details
🎵 Swing Dancing Lesson & Dancing Social @ St Olave's Church 8PM - Details
🎵 Shannon Butcher Jazz Quartet @ Old Mill 8PM - Details
🎵 F for Feria Gala (Flamenco) @ Parkdale Hall 8PM - Details
🎵 Garlic Jr, Body Butter, Tommy Tone, Battle Milk (Alternative) @ Low Bar 830PM - Details
🎵 80's Dancing Night @ Dovercourt House (Basement) 930 PM - Details
🎵 Under The Covers w/ DJ Blush & Spax @ Swan Dive 10PM - Details
🎵 Higher Heights / E Roy / Oldman Jelly (Reggae/Club) @ BSMT254 10PM - Details
🤝 Board Game Night @ Junction Craft Brewing 7PM - Details
🤝 Parish Pilgrimage @ St Joan of Arc 745PM - Details
🎨 Esaca Grad Show Art Exhibition Opening Reception @ Northern Contemporary 6PM - Details
🎨 Make Your Own Bath Bomb Workshop @ Big Beer Soap Company 7PM - Details
🎭 Happy Hour Comedy Show @ The Comedy Lab 7PM - Details
Saturday April 5
🎵 Michelle Rumball (Blues/Folk) @ The Local 2PM - Details
🎵 Blue Standard (Jazz) @ La Rev 530PM - Details
🎵 FIINN w/ Carolina Lopez (Indie Pop) @ Burdock Music Hall 8PM - Details
🎵 Prince Tribute - Dining and Dancing Series @ Old Mill 8PM - Details
🎵 YACHT ROCK Video Dance Party @ Ground Control 9PM - Details
🎵 Live Music Saturdays - Jojo @ Shakeys 930PM - Details
🎵 Drumcraft (Drum & Bass) @ BSMT254 10PM - Details
🎵 60's Soul Party @ The Piston 10PM - Details
🎵 Eclectic Avenue w/ DJ Ol' Nerdy Bastard @ Swan Dive 10PM - Details
🤝 Beneva Spring Run-Off (8K, 5K, & Kid's Run) @ High Park 830AM - Details
🤝 Nature Walk - Journey of a Rain Drop @ High Park Nature Centre 10AM - Details
🤝 Dufferin Grove Historical Tour @ Bloor/Gladstone Library 11AM - Details
🤝 Repair Cafe - Fixing Small Appliances & Home Electronics @ Parkdale Library 1PM - Details
🤝 Chess Club Drop-in @ Runnymede Library 230PM - Details
🤝 "The Glow Up" Queer Social @ Three Dollar Bill 730 PM - Details
🎨 Spring Frame Decor @ 69 Pelham 10AM - Details
🎨 Helmets of Heart (Easter Egg Hunt + Easter Painting + Ukraine Celebration @ Old Mill 1130AM - Details
🎨 Vinyl Painting & Plants @ Promise Supply 6PM - Details
🎭 Sammy Farid Comedy Album Recording @ Assembly Theatre 9PM - Details
Sunday April 6
🎵 Jesse Whiteley (Piano/Jazz) @ The Local 2PM - Details
🎵 Julie Micheals & Kevin Barrett @ The Mezz 3PM - Details
🎵 Sunday Social - Lessons and Dancing @ Dovercourt House 6PM - Details
🎵 Himalayan Pink w/ Samuel Laramee (Folk/Rock) @ Burdock Music Hall 7PM - Details
🎵 Lucas Stagg (Acoustic Blues/Folk) @ The Local 9PM - Details
🎵 The Ole Fashion (Classic Rock) @ The Alpine 9PM - Details
🤝 Music Trivia @ Sounds Good Listening Bar 6PM - Details
Monday April 7
Thank you!
Thanks for reading the West End Raccoon! 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