Fun queer social events in Gay Toronto for February 2011

Event list compiled by Michel F. Paré Toronto, for Queer in the City

 

Sunday February 13 - Candy Hearts @ Revival, 783 College St. An evening of cabaret burlesque with Les Coquettes, performing their most beloved numbers and some smoldering new surprises. Advanced tickets ($15-30) available at http://lescoquettescandyhearts.eventbrite.com7 & 9:30 pm Queer West Toronto Ontario

Sunday February 13 - Making Love In The Junction Spoken word with Shannon Bramer, Sharon Harris, Paul Vermersch and others. 4-6 pm. Pwyc. Wise Daughters, 3079B Dundas W, 416-761-1555. Queer West Toronto Ontario

Sunday February 13 - Free Book Readings @ Loop Gallery. Fabian Boutilier And JJ Lee The writer and artist read from their collaborative work The White Tortoise and answer questions. Jan 29 to 30, Feb 6 and Feb 13, 3 pm. Free. Loop Gallery, 1273 Dundas W, 416-516-2581. Queer West Toronto Ontario

Monday February 14 - Bitter Singles Valentines Night @ Hard Luck – Valentines Day can be a great day if you’re in a relationship, but if not, come down to the Hard Luck to drink, laugh, and dance with us. Featuring improv from all-female troupe Bea Arthur, sketch from British Teeth, stand up from Arthur Simeon, and headlining, The Boom and a secret Valentines guest. The comedy starts at 9pm and will be followed by a live DJ. Special bitter single drink specials including $5 Blow Jobs and $4 Mill Street Stock Ale Bottles.

Every Monday, Impulsive Entertainment presents Hard Luck at the Hard Times, a comedy show where everyone can come a try new material, use golden oldies, and socialize in the most supportive room in the city. With weekly drink specials including $4 bottles of Mill Street Stock Ale, great laughs, and of course, free board games, Impulsive will help everyone make it through the Hard Times. Hosted by: Kris Bowman

The Details: Hard Luck Bar (812 Dundas Street W) Doors at 8:00 pm Show 9 pm Admission: Pay What You Can. Web Site: www.impulsiveentertainment.com or info@impulsiveentertainment.com Queer West Toronto Ontario.

Monday February 14 - Vas Vega presents A Vicious Valentine @ The Cameron House. Vas Vega are a 2-piece band in Toronto who play every Monday night at the Cameron House Backroom. On Monday, February 14th Vas Vega presents A Vicious Valentine. If you're partnered and unhappy, single and rotting, or you just hate Valentine's Day, then this is the Anti-Valentine you need. The Cameron, 408 Queen St W Doors 8 pm www.vasvega.com Queer West Toronto Ontario

Monday February 14 & 28 - Post A Letter Social Activity Club Letter-writing gathering Valentine special. 7-11 pm. Pwyc stamps and stationary. Naco Gallery Cafe 1665 Dundas W, 647-347-6499. Queer West Toronto Ontario

Thursday February 17 - Carole Pope LIVE with People You Know Band @ Bovine Sex Club. Carole Pope (born August 6, 1950 in Manchester, England) is a Canadian rock singer-songwriter, whose provocative blend of hard-edged New Wave rock with explicit homoerotic and BDSM-themed lyrics made her one of the first openly lesbian famous entertainers in the world. PYN played Queer West Arts Festival in 2010. A three-piece girl band that is easy to listen to, easy to look at and even easier to love.The Bovine Sex Club. 542 Queen St West www.myspace.com/peopleyouknowmusic | | www.carolepope.com | | www.bovinesexclub.com Queer West Toronto Ontario


Sunday February 20 - Hunt and Gather 3: Hunter or Hunted? On Ward's Island. This year we have organized a truly unique experience. Many of you know the game Capture the Flag. Well we kinda changed a few things. We added a bit of Lord of the Flies seasoning! The Story: Centuries ago, an unprecedented battle between the most cherished Unicorn and the great Pegasus shook the foundation of the Gods that has lead us into an ongoing struggle for supremacy. After this tragic battle, the magical horn of the unicorn was removed by the Pegasus army, and in retaliation, the wings of Pegasus were cut and hung to raise fear of any future attacks.

February 20th, on the remote island of Ward’s, your determination and courage will help you and your army, capture back your most prized position. The winning army will receive badges of honour from the Island King and in celebration of all those returning from battle the Kingdom has prepared a lavish meal and an abundance of drink for a merry celebrations!

The Details: When: Sunday February 20, 2011 2:15 please meet the group at the Mainland Ferry Terminal 2:30 boat to Wards Island departs 5:45 catching the Ferry back to the mainland. What to wear: Camouflage and lots of warm gear. We will be outside for a good 3 hours.What to bring: Nothing! With your ticket purchase, all meals and drinks are available to you. Mulled wine, tea. On the menu, there will be pigs on an open fire, a winter vegetable ragout prepared by Chef Brook from La Palette and delicious corn bread by our good friends at My Market Bakery in Kensington Market

Ticket info: Children are always free! Tickets can be picked up at La Palette or contact Rafi Adults $30 each or come with a friend for $25 each. Includes all meals and drinks prepared by La Palette Bistro (ferry fee not included) Tickets must be purchased in advanced by no later then Thursday February 17th at La Palette located at 492 Queen St.West (416) 929-4900, Toronto All names will be registered when tickets are purchased this is to insure that that we have enough food for all those attending All the info you need: Rule of the game: www.ehow.com/how_5250717_play-capture-flag-outside-friends.html For Ferry schedule and fee: www.toronto.ca/parks/island/ferry-schedule.htm 

Sunday February 20 - Reading of the new one-act play, "Why I'm Not a Star", written and performed by Philip Cairns @ MAJORspace. The event is sponsored & presented by NATIONAL THEATRE® "Why I'm Not a Star" is a serio-comic performance-piece about one actor's adventures in Toronto showbusiness.Philip iwrites plays, performance-pieces, short stories and poetry. He has performed his own work in festivals, cafes and theatres and acted in scores of small theatre productions and numerous independent films.


The Details: 2:45 pm at MAJORspace. Admission is free. No latecomers will be admitted and no shoes and boots are allowed in the space, as this is taking place at someone's studio. 38 Abell St. Toronto, ON. Suite 207 Just southwest of Queen and Dovercourt, Here is a map for the studio theatre: cheshireunicorn.com/majorspace/description.html Since this is a work in progress, there will be an audience feedback session, afterwards. There is limited seating so please RSVP by Friday, February 18 to fullmoon@auracom.com Queer West Toronto Ontario.

Wednesday February 23 - Sexual Outliers: Censorship, Advocacy Journalism and the Gay Press @ Toronto Public Library, Yorkville Branch. or Freedom to Read Week, Pink Triangle Press (PTP), publishers of Xtra and fab, presents a lively and titillating salon discussion on moral puzzles involving censorship and free expression as covered in the gay press.

How are queer communities struggling to reconcile the fights for freedom of sexual and political expression with their desire to fight homophobic expression? When does dissent become hate speech? How is social medi...a and the internet changing all the rules? Case studies range from Queers Against Israeli Apartheid and the Toronto Pride Parade, to murder music, Canada Border Services Agency and queer-themed film, and the anti-gay activism of the Westboro Baptist Church and the Institute for Canadian Values.

Contributors include PTP Editorial Director Matt Mills, Xtra Managing Editor Marcus McCann, Xtra.ca Producer/Reporter Justin Stayshyn, fab magazine editor Matt Thomas, Artistic Director of Ecce Homo Theatre Alistair Newton, and other queer writers, bloggers and journalists.  

The Details: * 7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. * 90 mins: 22 Yorkville Avenue Toronto, (416) 393-7660 Subway: Bloor-Yonge subway station or Bay subway station walk north to Yorkville Ave Street Map


Wedneday February 23 - The Pinko Commie Dance Party @ Naco Gallery with DJs Ricky Bionix aka Riccardo Bionico $4 russian vodka, $4 fancy pinko vodka/guava mixed drinks and $4 red cap ale. Now the last Wednesday night of the cooooold month of February marks the return of the pinko to naco gallery. Come warm up with $4 mixed drinks or shots of stoli vodka, or a bottle of red cap ale if that's more your style. A great selection of music chosen by you and me for our revolutionary dancing and socialist socializing. For the greater good! The evening is free comrades. NACO Gallery 1665 Dundas st. W www.facebook.com/DJRICKYBIONIX | www.nacogallery.com


Thursday February 24 - Steers & Queers @ The Dakota Tavern. "The Best in the Queer West (End)!" Here's the lowdown on the hoedown....Hosted by lady bear extraordinaire Fay Slift! This event only happens, every four months, do miss this one.

WITH Gentleman Regina puts a tear in your beer AND Cristal Waters shows her Cadillac Raunch and Slap Leather AND Mahogany Storm (Boylesque T.O) brings the perfect storm WITH DJ's Joe Blow and Sigourney Beaver bringing it home, homo on the range Dress code: Hats, fringe, bolos, assless chaps etc... $6 Gay Olde Opry at 11:00, honky-tonkin' all night.

The Details: The Dakota Tavern, (647) 344-6814 at 249 Ossington Ave, Queer West Toronto Ontario www.thedakotatavern.com
 
Friday February 25 - All Nighter Charity Ultimate Frisbee Tournament @ Lamport Stadium (Unknown to many, the founder of Queer West (Michel) and his straight friend John Griffths (Griff) help set up the Disk Golf (Frisbee) Course in Centennial Park in the mid 80's) An All-Nighter tourney is exactly what it implies – you play Ultimate ALL.NIGHT.LONG.BABY! It is a hat tournament that will be hosted at LAMPORT STADIUM on the evening of Friday, February 18, beginning at midnight and going through to 8am on Saturday morning, February 19. You will be guaranteed LOTS of Ultimate (co-ed, 6-on-6, speedpoint), LOTS of prizing and a great social atmosphere. A great way to meet new people, support a charity, and play in your pajamas! www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBLePR7QZG8 Great way to make new friends, 3, 000 members world wide.


Did you say charity? That’s right, all proceeds from the event will go to Ultimate Peace. Ultimate Peace is a young organization that uses Ultimate Frisbee as a tool to forge friendships and peace between youth of different cultural and social backgrounds. For more information visit www.ultimatepeace.org.

The Details: Registration for the TUC All-Nighter is now open! Cost is $40 per TUC member and $50 per non-TUC member. All prices include HST. Toronto Ultimate Club http://www.tuc.org/ evening of Friday, February 18, beginning at midnight and going through to 8am on Saturday morning, February 19 Transit: King Street West at Joe Shuster Way TTC 504, 508 1151 King Street West. Just east Of Dufferin St. Queer West Toronto Ontario.


Monday February 28 - Foundry Theatre Company proudly presents the reading of: Unstuck @ The Detour Bar (Kensignton Market) Tim and Jared are celebrating their 10 year anniversary when the proverbial knock at the door changes everything. A simple night of celebration turns into an exploration of monogamy, love and sex, queer sex leading to a re-examining of their relationship. Can you separate love and sex, and if you can, what does that mean inside monogamy? Three characters blur these lines while a revolution marches outside their door.

The Writer: Evan Tsitsias works as a director, producer, writer and performer. He recently wrote and co-produced AFTERSHOCK (Summerworks Festival, Magnetic North/ “piece/meal”) and his short film BAGGED, aired on the CBC (screened at WIFT and DC Shorts Film Fest). He has co-created two new musicals, Fear Knot and A Voice in the Dark as part of a research project with Ryerson University. His play, Unstuck was a finalist in the QPlays International Playwriting Competition at Compass Theatre in San Diego and his play BACK placed 2nd in the Pat the Dog's 24 hour Competition. Evan has trained at York University, Sheridan College and has his Professional Training Certificate in Theatre of the Oppressed from Cardboard Citizens in London, England. He is a member of the Lincoln Center Theater Directors Lab 2009 and 2010 and the Tarragon Playwright’s Unit in 2011. He is Artistic Director of the Directors Lab North.

The Director: John Jack Paterson’s Central Canada credits include directing Lorca’s The Love of Don Perlimplin (Shaw Festival Director’s Project), a site specific The Women of Troy (Canadian Stage, BASH), The Centre of Everything Civilised, Wet (Toronto Fringe) and Artist in Residence at Montreal’s Centaur Theatre. Vancouver directing credits includes Coriolanus, Julius Caesar, The Tempest and the Vancouver premieres of Shakespeare's R&J and Titus Andronicus (MD Theatre Collective), The Hobbit, The Odyssey (Carousel Theatre) & Moon for the Misbegotten (United Players). He has performed at The Arts Club, Chemainus, Firehall and Savage God's The Shakespeare Project. Jack has been nominated for four Outstanding Direction Jessie Richardson Awards and he received The Ray Michaels Award for Emerging Director. Most recently he assisted Roy Surette on Don Quixote (Arts Club/ Centaur Theatre), Micheline Chevrier on Champs de Mars (Imago Theatre) and was the production dramaturge for Muller’s Macbeth: After Shakespeare (Theatre Conspiracy).

Watch the Foundry Theatre video see for yourself. Evan and Jack in our inaugural video series, Forging Ahead. www.youtube.com/watch?v=LsapZRPz0RQ
 
The Details: 7pm (Doors open at 6:30) ● Detour Bar ● 193 ½ Baldwin Street PWYC Lots of alcohol served, so belly up to the bar and get sloshed. Queer West Toronto Ontario.


Monday February 28 - Queering Black History Month @ Ryerson University. Please join the Ryerson Community as we celebrate Queer and Trans African, Black, and Caribbean People in Canada. On Monday February 28th, 2011 we will re-insert the lives, experiences and amazing achievements of Queer and Trans people into the discussions of black history month. Get ready for an incredibly engaging panel discussion, a beautiful Art reception by talented community artists and enjoy delicious hors d’oeuvres

What: Panel Discussion and Celebratory Art Reception. Why: Queer and Trans bodies have always been involved in creating history. Let’s Celebrate it and Queer up Black History Month Who: Syrus Ware, Courtnay McFarlane, Kim Crosby and Rinaldo Walcott. Moderated by: Angela Robertson.

The Details: Free. The Atrium- 3rd Floor Engineering Building, 245 Church Street. The space is definitely wheel chair accessible. If you require ASL interpretation, please contact Rodney Diverlus, the RSU's Vice-President Equity at vp.equity@rsuonline.ca

Thursday March 3 - No Hot Cargo for Argentina @ Clinton's Tavern On July 3, 1979, when Argentina was engaged in its dirty war, the ship Entre Rios sailed from South America to Saint John, to pick up heavy water to be used in a CANDU nuclear reactor sold to Argentina by Canada. One of the things the Argentine junta had done, besides the torture and murder of thousands of people, was to crush the unions. The (Toronto) Committee for the Defense of Civil Rights in Argentina wanted to draw attention to this by stopping the loading of the heavy water and they hoped for co-operation for the union workers on the Saint John docks. WHO’S PLAYING: 9 p.m. NANCY WHITE with SUZY WILDE (keyboard), CLAUDIO SALDIVIA (guitar and charrango), and JUAN OPITZ (bombo and small percussion) Clinton's Tavern 8 p.m. Cover $5 693 Bloor Street West (just around the corner and east of Christie subway station) Queer West Toronto Ontario

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