This Week in the City
Issue #1 • Thursday, May 28
I was recently part of an urban affairs salon discussing all things Toronto and one thing that came up – and that I see coming up again and again online in places like Reddit – is that there is a feeling of a lack of urban culture. The fact is, there is so much going on here, but there is the gaping information hole left by the disappearance of alt weeklies and the fragmentation of information dispersion by algorithms.
When, on a Thursday, you could pick up Eye/Now/The Grid and get a pulse on what was happening in the week ahead and pick and choose between the many, many things going on, those papers were a physical manifestation of the city's vibrancy.
There continues to be innovation and energy in Toronto, but you've got to search out the info or hope the algorithm delivers. So I’ve decided to launch a weekly newsletter in hopes of filling that gap. This is a curated collection of things to do, not a directory.
The weather has turned, and Toronto is ready to turn out. So here we go. Issue #1. I hope this helps you get a pulse on what’s going on in the city and that you find something(s) cool to do because of it. Let me know what you think.
The Weekend
Hogtown: The Politics of Policing
Sun, May 31 • Hot Docs Cinema • Annex • 6:30pm start time • Ticketed
If you haven’t been paying attention to the news (and I don’t blame you if you haven’t), the Toronto Police Services is staring down a number of scandals. This isn’t the first time that’s happened. This documentary, from 2005, looks at the state of policing 20 years ago, and what happens when you try to police the police. This screening will have a discussion after the film with Min Sook Lee, the director, and Alok Mukherjee, who was chair of the Toronto Police Services Board at the time.
Get Tickets »
Groovin in the Park launch party
Sat, May 30 • 178 Bathurst St. • Queen West • 10pm doors open • Ticketed
A night of dancing? To house? With Derrick Carter on the decks, one of Chicago’s house music legends? Duh. Opening for him: DJ Yogi, Mark Farina, Mr. Haze. Groovin in the Park hosts one of the best free parties in the summer in Woodbine Park. This night kicks off the season.
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CONTACT Photography Festival
Ends May 31 • Various locations • Free
It’s your last chance to see this year’s CONTACT photography festival, which wraps on Sunday. Shows are all over the city, from the entrance to the Bay subway station, where Headquarters, which imagines the daily life of the transit systems chairman, to An Abundance of Plenty at 460 King St. W., a captivating, larger-than-life portrait by artist by Thandiwe Muriu.
Learn more »
Giant Junction Jumble Sale
Sat, May 30 • Various locations • Junctioni • 8:30am-2:30pm • Free
Last I checked, there were 182 sellers signed up for this epic neighbourhood-wide yard(s) sale. Clothing, furniture, books, plants, homemade baked goods, vintage record collections – glorious chaos. Inspired by Ottawa's legendary Great Glebe Garage Sale, this one's free to attend. Grab a coffee, grab the map, and walk the neighbourhood. Closest subway is High Park or Runnymede.
View the sale map »
Hot Tip for the Week Ahead
Lassonde Art Trail
Daily • Ookwemin Minising • Free
The Lassonde Art Trail is the latest reason to visit Ookwemin Minising, the new waterfront neighbourhood where the Don River meets the lake, and Biidaasige Park. The east part of the 4.2-kilometre path opens first featuring sculptures from nine leading contemporary artists. The western portion opens later this summer with more art appearing into the fall.
Learn more »
I love this idea! Thank you so much, Maryam. Hitting subscribe right now!
Dear Maryam: THIS IS AWESOME. Toronto (and its lazy, non-attention-paying citizens — looking at myself here) need this kind of content. I have way too many conversations about how boring this city is, followed by "but I bet there's actually a lot of cool stuff going on that I don't know about." And you are trying to be the change. I appreciate it. I hope you get a million followers. Thank you.