Alright, we’re officially in summer. Queue the music, crank up the speakers, and blast them good vibes, because there’s a host of #AwesomeSauce events on for your #TOWKND…
Thursday
Seafood for Thought
The Toronto Zoo’s hosting Seafood for Thought Thursday night, bringing together some of the city’s top chefs – Trista Sheen, Jason Bangerter, David Friedman, Albert Ponzo and more – for a night of sustainable eats amongst the purring of exotic animals.
A Celebration at Lavish&Squalor
Queen West shopping haven Lavish&Squalor has redefined its shop with gender levels (ladies on the first, gents on the second) and it’s inviting y’all over to celebrate the new shopping vision.
Come OUT and PLAY
A gay ol’ time will be had at this LGBT fundraiser at Artscape Wychwood Barns. In support of the Canadian Lesbian and Gay Archives and OutSport Toronto, this event sees a Gaga style fashion show, passed hors d’oeuvres, cocktails, designer lounge spaces, live entertainment, and much, much more.
The Sinai Soiree
Relive the Gatsby era at The Sinai Soiree, a society event Thursday night that will transform Casa Loma into a relic of the roaring ’20s, in support of a worthy cause.
The Redpath Waterfront Festival
Running Thursday through Sunday, the Redpath Waterfront Festival takes you aboard the spectacular tall ships, brings you from land to water, dazzles your senses with live entertainment, and imbues your weekend with the serenity of the lake.
Christian Louboutin Exhibit Opening Party at DX
Head to the Design Exchange Thursday night for the opening night of the newest exhibit to strut into town. The Christian Louboutin exhibit is a stunning consortium of his career accomplishments, and you can bet the opening night party will be as chic and sophisticated as his trademark red soles.
Friday
Om TO
Find your inner zen at Om TO in the Distillery on Friday, as yogis the city-wide will gather for a day of everything and anything yoga, including classes from some of the city’s top instructors.
54 Wines, 1 Summer Solstice
Toast to the summer at iYellow Wine Club’s ode to Niagara-on-the-Lake at the Liberty Market Building on Friday. Featuring 54 wines, acoustic musicians, buskers and more, there are actually about 60 reasons to head to this event.
Friday Night Live at the ROM
Said it before, I’ll say it again: #FNLROM is a wicked cool event, and this Friday is its final showing for the season. The theme is Mesopotamia, and that should be enough of a draw to get your ass out there.
Yes, Yes, Y’all Pre-Pride Party and Night Market
The Annex Wreckroom is where you’ll find a great gay bash (as in party) on Friday night as Yes, Yes, Y’all hosts its pre-Pride shindig alongside an annual Night Market featuring local dezeeners.
Red Bull Solstice
What better way to celebrate every hour of the summer solstice than with Red Bull? Check out the Red Bull Solstice at Cabana Poolbar at Polson Pier and then at Sound Academy with Thugli, Z-Trip and other guests. RSVP for the event at the link above.
An Evening With Molly Johnson
Award-winning jazz vocalist Molly Johnson is heating up the 2013 TD Toronto Jazz Festival this weekend, starting on Friday, June 21st, at the Jazz Bistro (and again on Saturday, June 22, 2013). Johnson will be performing with special guest Colleen Allen for a free-of-charge show on Friday at both 8 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. She’ll perform at the same time and place the following night, but tickets will be $35.60 per person for the Saturday show.
Saturday
Junction Summer Solstice Festival
Party on the West side all day long as the Junction Summer Solstice Festival celebrates the arts, culture, design and music. With food, a night-time flea market, movie screening, ferris wheel, workshops, and more, this is one surefire bet for a kickass Saturday.
TD Toronto Jazz Festival
The Jazz Fest is back from the 20th through the 29th, and this Saturday has a couple dozen shows going on where you don’t even need to snatch tix or pay cover.
Franco-Fete at Yonge-Dundas Square
I heard the name and suddenly Beauty and the Beast‘s opening number started chiming in my head. There must be more to this provincial life… Alas, Franco-Fete is a celebration of everything French (moreso Quebecois, sorry!), and you can bear witness to three days of amazing performances from renowned talent.
Steam on Queen
Over at Campbell House on Saturday, get ready for the Steampunk Festival 2013. Bedazzling acts of entertainment await at this street fest, including Mental Floss Sideshow, aerial acrobatics by The Flying Arts Collective, old-old-old-skool photos by Tintype Studio, Dragonfly Belly Dancers, and steampunk merchants and artisans aplenty.
POP Machine: June Edition
For all the bouncin’ boys out there, POP Machine is back at WAYLA for a tushy-tuckin’ night of sly beats.
Sunday
Eat Up TO
Over at 99 Sudbury on Sunday, you can eat your way around Toronto while staying put at the venue as NOW Magazine presents Eat Up TO – a collaboration of food and drink and tech and innovation – featuring four awesome food trucks and ten food pop-ups alongside drinks, speakers, services, and products.
TO Food Fest
Over on the North East side of the city, indulge in nosh from some amazing restaurants and local hidden gems at TO Food Fest, which takes over the Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater Toronto.
Gatsby Garden Party
Head over to the Spadina Museum in your ’20s garb for the Gatsby Garden Party, where you’ll be transported to a times-gone-by wonderland amidst the soft summer breeze.