The case for showing up

Issue #8 • Thursday, July 16

What a week. Between the shooting at a joyous community event last week and the second-hand effects of the nearly 200 (!) wildfires in our province right now (anyone heard from our Premier btw?), finding something to do this weekend likely isn’t top of mind. But perhaps that’s exactly what’s needed. To do something new, to find something to take our mind off what we’re seeing outside our windows. (And bearing that in mind, this week is a mix of indoor and outdoor activities.)

In the meantime, here’s a comprehensive and locally informed list of businesses on St Clair West that would appreciate support after last weekend. And if you’d like support Northern Ontario communities affected by the wildfires, here are a couple spots in the city that are acting as drop-off centres for donations:
Moon Time Connections via Scout’s Roncy & Leslieville locations
Toronto Humane Society

And monetary donations can be made through True North Aid.

Love Park. Photo by Arjun Yadav.

The Weekend

Theatre Centre Community BBQ Block Party

Fri, July 17 • The Theatre Centre, 1115 Queen St W • West Queen West • 5–8pm • Free

The Theatre Centre, one of the city’s most important independent arts spaces, housed in a converted heritage building just off Queen West, opens its doors and its BBQ for a free neighbourhood block party. Last year they planned for 300 guests and fed 800; they’re expecting more this time. Three-time Juno nominee Jay Douglas and DJ Me Time will be setting the mood, hot dogs and hamburgers will be hot off the grill while supplies last, and there’s a rumour Ruru Baked is providing sweet treats. A nice li’l end to the week.
RSVP »

Bike Party Toronto

Sat, July 18 • Meetup 7:30pm • Location revealed by email • Ticketed (donation-based)

The June edition of Bike Party broke attendance records, so naturally they scheduled another one. The format is simple: Sign up, get the meetup location by email, show up with a decorated bike (lights, streamers, a speaker if you’ve got one, a costume if you’re so inclined), and spend four hours riding a mystery route through the city with hundreds of strangers in a very good mood. Volunteer-run since 2017. Beginner-friendly. All wheels welcome – mountain bike, road bike, BMX, even a Bike Share will do. The route doesn’t get revealed until the night of, so be prepared to roll with it (see what I did there). Here’s a blissful little scene from an earlier ride.
Register here »

Mahjong at Montgomery’s Inn

Sun, July 19 • Montgomery’s Inn, 4709 Dundas St W • Etobicoke • 1–4pm • Free, drop-in

I’m not gonna lie, I almost gate-kept this one. Montgomery’s Inn is one of Toronto’s oldest surviving buildings – an 1832 tavern in Etobicoke that operated as an inn along Dundas Street when this stretch was still the main road west out of the city. It’s a beautiful place to soak in a little Toronto history on a Sunday afternoon, and this drop-in mahjong event by the good people at All Flowers Mahjong makes an excellent reason to finally get out there. Five tables, including dedicated teaching tables for anyone learning for the first time. Whether you know the game already or have been curious about learning, you won’t regret attending. This game was made for community building.
Details here »

Best of Fringe: You Choose — An Improvised Murder Mystery

Fri, July 17 + Sat, July 18 • Jane Mallett Theatre, 27 Front St E • St. Lawrence • Fri 7pm, Sat 2:30pm • $25

One of the standout productions of this year’s Toronto Fringe Festival gets two more shows this weekend at St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts as part of Best of Fringe. You Choose is a Traitors-style improvised murder mystery with a fun twist: The audience decides who the killer is, while the cast of improvisers has to figure it out in real time. From Ruth Goodwin and Liz Johnston, creators of the previous Best of Fringe hit Entrances and Exits, with a cast that includes some of Toronto’s best improvisers and sketch performers. No two performances are the same. Reviewers have called it one of the best shows of the festival.
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Hot Tip for the Week Ahead

Playlist Storytellers

Wed, July 22 • Second City, 1 York St • Waterfront • 7pm • From $34

The premise is simple and the execution is lovely. Four people – a curated mix of musicians, writers, comedians, filmmakers, whoever has the right story – each take the stage to share a 10-minute personal story about a song that found them at exactly the right moment in their life. After each story, the lights go down and the song plays for the room. Seventy minutes, no intermission. Past storytellers have included rappers Haviah Mighty and Cadence Weapon, musician and Nirvanna the Band star Jay McCarrol, and Matthew Jordan, who also runs the Hidden Rivers tours, if you’ve been following along. This is the show’s first run at Second City’s Theatre ‘73. One of those nights that’s hard to explain but easy to love.
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