Toronto Weekender: June 5 through 8, 2014

Summer in the city. Festivals. Concerts. Food. Drink. Tank. Tops.  

This is why we work.

Thursday

 Camp Oochigeas, a camp for kids with and affected by childhood cancer, is hosting its 23rd Annual Charity BBQ at the Queen’s Quay LCBO. No joke here – this is a great cause. 

MartyEyebrows’ Scorsese has handpicked more than 20 Polish films for you to watch at TIFF over the next month. 

AGO First Thursdays is going fully Canadian on you. So clearly Sloan will be there reminding you of everything you’ve done wrong.

Power Ball is the art party of the year. Do you really need more than that? Fine, how about 2,500 guests from Toronto’s art, fashion, and entertainment communities indulging in an evening of fine art, cuisine, and cocktails.

If you watch SportsCentre or, you know, care about children, you’re going to want to be at Toronto Plays

Friday

So National Donut Day is a thing. And it’s today. So here’s where you’re going to want to be if you want a freebie.

A Q&A with the director and cast of a new Canadian film, The Animal Project, will be taking place at TIFF. This be the trailer.

Turning museums into full-scale parties is fun. We expect the Summer Works launch party to be no different.

For the next 10 days Luminato Festival will be taking over the city. Want to catch The Roots, TV On The Radio, or Ziggy Marley while you chill on the largest outdoor patio in Toronto? 

For more of a family event, head out to Mississauga for the 42nd annual Bread & Honey Festival. No dogs allowed, though… probably ‘cause of all the bees.

Come schmooze with us in the perfect after-work setting – a stunning rooftop patio filled with hundreds of YPs. Not to mention pitchers of mojitos and sangria.  

Friday Night Live is simply calling itself Beats tonight. Expect drums. Lots and lots of drums.

The Hoxton. A-Trak. Yes. 

The Swedish sister duo first made famous by the power of the internet will be in town to bring their soulful sound to the Danforth Music Hall. If you like harmonies, First Aid Kit offers some of the best.  

 

Saturday

Just a couple thousand people taking over a closed-off street to celebrate food, drink, music, art, and summer. Dundas West Fest is where you go to get your stroll on.

Of course, if you’re more of an east end kind of stroller, then RiversideTO Eats & Beats is where you want to be.

Taste of the Beach says, “10 local chefs will be paired with 10 festival artists to create a unique and delectable summertime dish that explores the flavours of eating at the beach.” Sorry, we just couldn’t make it sound anymore perfect. 

The Enbridge Ride to Conquer Cancer isn’t about competing with others – it’s about challenging yourself. If you own a bike, have access to a helmet, and believe in curing cancer in our lifetime, this is the event for you.

We’ve been telling you about Field Trip for a while now, and we hope you were listening. This is one of the most exciting festivals Toronto will see all summer.

We’d list the amazing line-up here but by the time you’d finished reading it your weekend would be over.

The Toronto Raw/Vegan Festival will be taking place on Bathurst. Some festivals are pretty self-explanatory.

Tiger of Sweden is hosting their Summer Launch Party on Ossington. #TigerLovesOssington is all about celebrating summer on one of the best strips in the city. Sounds good to us.

After The Roots throw down at Luminato Festival, Questlove will be taking his talents to Tattoo

Want to stay up all night long? Both Rainbow Cinemas and The Carlton Cinemas are hosting movie marathons to raise money for the Toronto Star Fresh Air Fund. Shows start at midnight so we suggest you bring either a coffee or a pillow – your call.

Sunday 

The 2nd Annual Beach Volleyball Rescue Tourney puts firefighters, police, and paramedics all in the same place. Let’s just hope the only emergency in the city is how bad your spike is.

Toronto Taste brings together more than 50 of Toronto’s best chefs in a culinary celebration in support of Second Harvest, a local charitable foundation that rescues fresh, healthy, surplus food and delivers it to hungry people in need across Toronto. 

The 18th annual Annex Festival on Bloor will shut down the street between Spadina and Bathurst. Expect a great street festival and a lot of angry drivers trying to figure out a new route across the city. 

The Parkdale Flea is back, offering antiques, vintage, collectables, and hipsters.

The Hidden Cameras will be playing as part of Luminato Festival. End your weekend at a (fake) beach surrounded by thousands of happy people. 

Just don’t make us play this song. Or do. Either way, get out and take advantage of the few months it’s actually nice to be outside. Trust us, “despite the heat it’ll be all right…” 

Stay Notable,

The Weekender 

#LYNL | (Live Your Notable Life)

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Top photo courtesy Luminato Festival Facebook Page