Toronto Weekender: June 26 through 29, 2014

Pride may have been happening all this week, but starting tonight Toronto is officially being taken over.

The next four days likely feature as many high-profile LGBTQ events as there are for the rest of the year. And if you haven’t checked out our Pride Guide yet, you’re already late for the party.

But for those of you looking for everything happening in the city, Pride-affiliated and otherwise, this is where you’ll find it…

Thursday

Shakespeare in High Park starts off its summer run with As You Like It. To which we say, ‘not raining’.  

Over 115 LGBTQ couples from around the world – including countries where same-sex marriage is illegal – will be saying ‘I do’ at Casa Loma. That’s going to be a killer reception.

It’s Aboriginal History Month and the Native Canadian Centre of Toronto is hosting its 5th annual event at Yonge-Dundas Square. Go learn a thing or two.

Naked Boys Reading is pretty simple. How’s it simple? Well, it’s exactly what it sounds like.

From the people who brought you CraveTO comes Get Local, another food festival chock-full of gourmet street food, craft beer, and local DJs. Hang out under the lights at Honest Ed’s and enjoy the likes of Randy’s Roti, The Saucy Pierogi, Oyster Boy, Gushi (Japanese street food), and Poutini’s. 

Get the theme yet? Every second event is Pride-related. So this entry must be referencing the Throwback Thursday Retro 80s Party at Adelaide Hall.

Think you know how to swing? Step into the world of big band music and shake your tail at the Harbourfront Centre.

If you only get flamboyant once a year, this should be that time.

It’s an all-white affair at Gravity Soundbar. Time to break out your favourite tennis outfit and hit the dance floor. 

Friday

Are you the kind of person that needs a good reason to visit Etobicoke? Well now you have one: Ribfest.

Enjoy a good march? Live for a great rally? Love supporting the trans community? This may just be the perfect event for you.

Terry O’Neill is kind of a big deal. And his show at the Izzy Gallery just opened up. If you’ve ever wanted to see the 60s, this is your chance.

Carly Rae Jepsen, Dragonette, and Fefe Dobson… yup, this is Pop Goes Pride.

This loser keeps selling out concert halls around the world.

Welcome to Manada. As in, an all-male burlesque troupe paying homage to our true north strong and free.

The Amnesia Boat Cruise claims it’s legendary, but we’re not really sure how that’s possible if the whole point is to forget. Apparently what happens on Lake Ontario, stays on Lake Ontario. 

The Black & White Party on the Thompson hotel rooftop lets you get creative with its theme in one of the chicest atmospheres in the city alongside 300 members of the LGBTQA community. And that’s a really long way of saying the word ‘party’.

Beer and improv go together like, well, beer and improv. But when actual comedians are doing it we assume it gets better the more you drink, not worse.

Saturday

From noon to 10pm you ‘can float like a butterfly’ in the Paul Brown Boxfit beer garden in support of the HIV & AIDS Legal Clinic of Ontario. Let’s just hope your hangover doesn’t sting like a bee.

The Scotiabank Chin Picnic is the largest free multicultural picnic in the world. Now, we don’t really know what that means, but we do know they have a TON of events happening over the next three days.

The Annual Dyke March can be followed up with The Official Dyke Day After Party at the Mod Club. Makes sense if you march right there, really.

Digital Dreams is the largest electronic music festival in Canada with more than 70 of the industry’s biggest artists descending on Ontario Place for a two-day party that includes everything from bottle service to gourmet food. Yup, sounds perfect to us too.

Want to be at the centre of it all this Saturday night? Here you go.

Real life Tinder. Seriously. And it’s not a part of Pride. Seriously.

Homo Night in Canada hits the stage for its 14th consecutive year. This is probably the best collection of queer comedians you’ll find anywhere in the world. 

Of course, you could always take your mom to see Michael Bublé.

Get loud and get proud. Singing Out is all about having fun. Even if that fun means listening to tone-deaf people all night.

Sunday (aka: Pride Day)

Pride even does hangovers. Get your hair of the dog and eggs over DJ at The Steady.

This is the draw, the spectacle, the reason some people close their eyes while so many others open them for the first time: the World Pride Parade is here. Added bonus? You can drink beer anywhere on Church St. Anywhere.

After all that walking you’re going to be hungry again. Luckily, there’s a rooftop patio for that.

Tegan and Sara are shutting it down. Literally.

Or wait. Are they? The Green Space Treehouse Party says no.

Still not done? Fine, head to queer karaoke night at The Beaver if you insist on making Monday that much harder.

That’s it, that’s all. Four days and more than 30 ways to spend them. This weekend we say give in to Pride – ‘cause it’s taking over whether you like it or not. And the only thing worse than being late for a party is pretending it’s not happening at all. 

Stay Notable, 

The Weekender 

#NOTABLE

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Top photo courtesy Thompson Hotel