This week’s best parties include Dudebox’s Dirt Mcgirt charity jam, famed dance night Promise’s 12th anniversary, the Bitch Salad comedy show at Buddies, and more.
Thursday: #Hashtag Gallery debuts on Dundas West
801 Dundas Street West. RSVP here . Free. Doors at 8 p.m.
Working the Night Shift last weekend, I stumbled across a young (and shy) doe known as Bambi’s . It’s the latest bar to hit Dundas West, a strip entering a new phase that includes line-ups, bar-hops and all good extra-curriculars we’re used to signing up for on West Queen West. And, like clockwork, here comes another addition to the area: #Hashtag Gallery. As if it couldn’t be fit to print, this “upstart art gallery” wants you to talk about them, hopefully in more than 140 characters. It’s all been very hush-hush, like most things in DuWest, but you can only sit on a secret for so long. (On that note, keep picking up your Grid papers for more on that soon, kids). Go check out work by up-and-comer Tony Taylor and photographer Sara Collaton . Oh, and music by Haus of Whaps . Not so fast, though, you’ve got to RSVP . I’m giving you until 5 p.m. Otherwise, still go and welcome #Hashtag to the ‘hood, okay?
Friday: La Carnita presents UNO: The Art Show
With DJ Mastermind & DJX. Evergreen Brick Works, 550 Bayview Avenue. Free. Doors at 7 p.m.
La Carnita , a pop-up that pairs street art with delicious Mexican food and does regular Friday lunches at Beast restaurant, is bursting at the seams with good taste—literally. Friday night, they’re hosting a one-night-only free shindig at Evergreen Brick Works, the crazy-gorgeous, most out of the way venue worth going to. The fact that they’re going to serve up La Carnita’s illustrious, elusive tacos, tostadas and churros is a major reason for going. Oh, and the art. Definitely the art. Look for work by Matt Barnes (what up Azealia Banks shoot ), Disney destroyer Bryan Espiritu , and texture genius Jacqui Oakley , among others, most of whom will be in attendance. Did I mention it’s free? Pro tip: there’s a free shuttle just outside Broadview subway station for the duration. Find out more here .
Saturday: Dudebox Presents Dirt Mcgirt
With DJ Soundbwoy. Loft404 ~ The Ambrosia Hub, 263 Adelaide St. West, 4th floor. $10. Doors at 10 p.m.
The Dudebox bros are baaaaack. When I first told you about Toronto’s “socially conscious” party-hards in March, they were throwing a modest jam in a quiet art gallery on Queen West. This time around, the fun seems to be on steroids. Known for making people dance, taking their money, and then donating it to charity, the Dudebox cause du hangover from Saturday’s installment will go to The Everything Roof, an initiative from Aboutface Collective that will fund an urban rooftop garden and learning centre in The Annex. They want to upgrade your experience, too. That means—drum roll, please—free TAG Vodka. I know, I know, that’s middle class goodness. (Seems someone’s got themselves a sponsor.) The party’s also moved on up…to the fourth floor at Loft404, which, I admit, looks pretty damn good . You know the drill: read the article and find out more details about Dirt Mcgirt here .
Saturday: Promise: The 12th Anniversary Party With DJ Frankie Bones. Centre of Gravity Circus Training Studio, 213 Sterling Road. $20. Tickets at www.ilovepromise.com or Shanti Baba (546 Queen Street West). Doors at 10 p.m.
This, Toronto, is a milestone. The original. The unstoppable. The pioneering electronic dance party that spawned standing community meetings at Cherry Beach on Sunday summer nights. Obviously I’m talking about the dynasty that is Promise . With rave legend Frankie Bones from Brooklyn as inspiration (and also as the night’s headliner), the duo behind Promise have, well, promised me they’re pulling out all the stops. Hello: do the words “circus studio” stir your imagination? Expect nothing but grimy, “built-from-scratch” music and partytimes, with that straight-up industrial elegance we’ve lost to all the young and pretty places. In the meantime, find out more here and listen to a mix from Frankie below. Pro tip: take a nap, the party goes until 5 a.m. Otherwise, read all about it here on Monday.
Tuesday: Bitch Salad presents Les Jeunes de Toronto! Buddies and Bad Times Theatre, 12 Alexander Street. $10. Doors at 8 p.m.
It would be easy—and a little fun—to say that Andrew Johnston , comedian and host of Bitch Salad, hates my fucking guts, but I like to stay above all that stuff. I mean, I’ve never met the man, nor seen as much as a blog post from him until five seconds ago. But, according to Xtra! , he drew “huge applause” for skewering me in his show last summer. So, hey, the kid must be funny, and I gots to give credit where credit is due. On Tuesday, Johnston is back for the first Bitch Salad , of 2012 with a new cast of characters and a new shtick in tow, “promising an evening of Parisian-level whimsy.” Look for seven different performers, a bunch of gay ol’ comedy, and hopefully some more riffing off Facebook coke jokes . Who knows, this time I might actually end up in the audience. Jokes aside (if that’s possible), all my friends adore funnyman Johnston’s realness. And, really, who doesn’t love their salad tossed? (Is my humility showing yet?) This one’s for you, AJ.
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