Today’s the day folks…the inaugural West End Raccoon dinner party! We hope it’s a blast, and that everyone able to sign up gets to meet some fellow West End weirdos. They may even include me!

Also, in the spirit of “West End Raccoon in the real world” we’re hosting a Giveaway, in collaboration with West End author Christine Smonk and Samara Brewing co.

We're giving away a signed Advance Reader Copy of THE MINUTE GIVERS (Penguin Random House, Jan '27), along with a mixed six of Samara beer and a Toronto Library tote!

To enter:

1. Like this post on Instagram
2. Follow @smonkwrites on Instagram
3. Comment "Raccoon" (a raccoon emoji is welcome)
BONUS: Tag a friend and/or repost the giveaway for an extra entry

We’ll select the (Canadian) winner on Monday and DM you. Good luck!

But enough about giveaways. There’s a ton of events, including a couple of off-app singles events, a couple of swap events, and a Milk Drunk rave for millenial mommies.

Let’s get to ‘em!

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What kinda sicko doesn’t get super excited for Tapas?! Salty snack gang rise up. Bodega TinTin is for us with its latin inspired food and signature cocktails (including the aforementioned tomatillo margarita — I’m gonna need to try that one.)

Bodega TinTin came about when St. Clair West native and former Pukka manager Cristina Graham looked around and asked herself: where are all the dang cocktail bars around here? So she decided to make one herself. It’s been open for a few weeks now but they’re really hitting their stride. Check ‘em out!

Read more here.

Tonight is the first ever event hosted by the West End Raccoon! 75 West Enders will converge in the Christie Pits area for a night of drinks, food, and making friends. It’s gonna be a ton of fun, shout out Fiesta Farms for helping make it happen.

We want to run more events! It’s super cool to not just be showcasing things but to actually be bringing the community together.

The question is - what kind of events should we do in the future? I’d love to hear from you what you’d like to see us put on.

If you’re the type of person who likes going out and doing stuff in the West End (and I know you are), please help us decide what to do next here. It’ll only take 45 seconds, I promise :)

The stretch of bike lane that was set to be removed on Tuesday…well, put it this way. It wasn’t removed! And that’s due to hundreds of protesters physically blocking the path of removal trucks, who eventually had to call it a night and drive off to chants of “Get home safe!”

…But then yesterday the lane-removers were back, this time with police in riot gear. And unfortunately it seems that removal has begun in earnest. Bike lane lovers are continuing the battle though, with CycleTO escalating its legal action all the way to the federal Supreme Court. They’re hoping to have a ruling done before any more lane removal can start (slotted for the springtime.)

Read more here.

We’ve got a doozy this week folks. For 12.5 big ones, you can have this massive ranch house dropped on the shores of the Humber. This thing is straight out of a Paramount Plus original with Kevin Costner. 10,000 sq feet, 150 ft of river shoreline, a gym, a hockey rink, a pool. This thing is loaded to the gills. You can buy it, but to really own it you’re going to need a rivalry with the guy across the street and one of those brown leather jackets with fringe.

Check it out.

Dufferin Grove Farmers’ Market - Clothing Swap @ Dufferin Grove Park - Thurs 3pm. More than just premium produce. Swap some clothes too! Details.

ALL AGES: Lucha de los Muertos - Live Pro Wrestling in Toronto! @ Parkdale Hall - Thurs 7pm. If you like your wrestling with fancy masks, this one’s for you! All ages (but with a cheeky 19+ bar for those inclined). Details.

Hitchdeck: Pitch your single friend @ Sneaky Dee’s - Thurs 7:30pm. I friggin’ love this. Skip the apps, let your hype-person get you a date with a well made slideshow! Details.

Whole Hog Butchery by Peter Sanagan @ Sanagan’s Meat Locker - Thurs 7:30pm. No, it’s not a comedic roast of yours truly. It’s literally butchering a whole-ass pig! Details.

Cask Days 2026 (20th Annual) @ Clock Factory Building - Fri - Sun 12pm - 9pm. Like your beer warm and flat? This day’s for you! I unironically do like cask beer (a lot) and will unironically be in attendance for this event. See you there! Details.

Alone in the Dark: Exhibition Place @ Stanley Barracks (The Ex) - Fri 7pm - Sat 7pm. “Join The Haunted Walk for a spine-chilling paranormal adventure, presented by Exhibition Place and Hotel X Toronto. In intimate groups, you’ll gain exclusive after-hours access to investigate Stanley Barracks, a historic and reportedly haunted building in the darkness.” Details.

Witch Please - A Spooky Rave @ Lee’s Palace - Fri 9pm. It’s a rave...with a costume contest! Details.

Toronto Wrestling Club: All Hell Breaks Loose @ Henderson Brewery - Fri 9pm. Couldn’t get enough wrestling at the Luchador-themed one last night? Try the Halloween-themed one at Henderson! Details.

Blazed & Confused @ Sweet Action Theatre - Fri 9:30pm. “Toronto stand-up, improv, and cannabis collide in one hilarious, unscripted comedy show.” Details.

2026 Toronto Sh!t Show with Effin Birds @ Parkdale Hall - Sat 10am. “Local artists with sassy, rude, and offensive merch.” Details.

Parkdale Art Market @ Flick the Switch Artist’s Collective - Sat 10am. Buy art...outdoors! Details.

The Alley Bazaar: Artisan & Vintage Pop-Up Market at Mirvish Village @ Honest Ed’s Alley - Sat 12pm. You live on the West End. I know you can’t resist the sick urge to shop for vintage items and cute artisanal goo-gahs. Details.

Toronto Café Walk [Wellness Edition] @ Christie Pits Park - Sat 1pm. “Toronto Café Walk [Wellness Edition] is a slower, more intentional take on the usual format. Small group vibes, hand-picked café spots, and genuine human connection. But we start in the park first, so by the time we reach the café, you’ll be fully present and relaxed for conversations.” Details.

Autumn MEGA Book Swap @ Glad Day Lit - Sat 1pm. Gotta book? Need a book? Swap a book! This year featuring vinyl swaps too! Details.

Junction Arts Crawl @ The Junction - Sat 2pm. “Visit Local Junction Businesses Hosting Local Artists.” Details.

Hot Fix Sideshow @ Catacombs Cabaret - Sat 8pm. The circus is in town! Or, well, a spicy, fiery kind of circus.... Details.

Milk Drunk @ Three Dollar Bill - Sat 8pm. Oh yeah — it’s a party for Millennial Moms set at a reasonable hour. Time to relive the glory days! Details.

Throat Coat Karaoke @ Danu Social House - Sat 9pm. Coat your throat with some GOAT(ed) karaoke at Danu. Details.

MUSIC & PUPPET SHOW: DR. BONKERS @ TYPE Junction - Sun 1pm. For the kiddos! Enjoy a puppet show put on by a man who evidently got a PhD in puppetry! Details.

The Art of Snail Mail - Martina Calvi x HobbyHub @ Society Club House - Sun 11:30am. Had enough screen time for a while? Come rediscover the lost art of good old fashioned letter writing. Details.

Creature Feature @ The Wych - Sun 7pm. A campy night watching campy horror! Dress up, dress down, but come and get cozy for this movie marathon. Details.

Revue Cinema: ROPE (1948) @ Revue Cinema - Sun pm. My absolute favourite Hitchcock film. With some of the least subtle gay undertones you’ll ever see put to screen. Details.

Desserts from Paris! 5 Day Masterclass @ Le Dolci Culinary School - Mon 10am. The French really nailed desserts, eh? Come kick off a 5 day masterclass on how to make ’em on Monday. Details.

Mahjong - Learn & Play at Board Games Arboretum @ The Board Games Arboretum - Mon 1pm. I terminally suck at Mahjong...but you don’t have to! Details.

Book Bar Toronto x BODA bookshop meet-cute @ Book Bar - Mon 7pm. Here’s a ‘novel’ idea...meet like-minded folks in real life at a bookshop/bar! Maybe there’ll even be a little real-life romance... Details.

Thanks for reading the West End Raccoon, please enjoy our West End Pet of the Week! Submit yours by responding to this email, with your preferred name/nickname/initials and neighbourhood for a chance to be featured. (Calling all bird, lizard and fish people — I like ‘em weird!)

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