Stuck in the city this long weekend? Fear not: whether you like dancing to Motown or daggering to dancehall, there’s a party here for you.
Tonight: An evening of art at The Gladstone Hotel
The Gladstone Hotel, 1214 Queen St. W., #WQW . Doors at 5 p.m. Free.
It’s going to be a full house at The Gladstone with two back-to-back opening art receptions. At 5 p.m., ascend to the upper floors for Being Scene , the 12th- annual juried art exhibition brought to you by Workman Arts for the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. (Workman was founded in 1987 on “the principle that the creative process is integral to the quest for personal and spiritual development.”) Browse 56 works by 37 artists—selected from 300-plus submissions—that will be evaluated by Jamie Angell, owner of Angell Gallery, and Christina Zeidler, artist, filmmaker, and president of the Gladstone Hotel. Then, head downstairs for the debut group show of iseamonster , an all-female collective “in its first year of bringing creative chicks together through a traveling project.” They’re also launching a limited-edition book with works from 16 local and international artists, including Kayla Rocca, The Grid’s plucky former photo intern. Find out more here .
Friday: Pop Kult #10
Various DJs. The Gladstone Hotel, 1214 Queen St. W., #WQW Doors at 10 p.m. $10 from Ticketweb , more at the door.
Oh, the Mansion kids . If I were ever stranded on an island, forget the rescue plane—I’d want them flown in to throw the beach party. By the same logic, for those of you who find yourselves stranded here this weekend while your friends run off to Osheaga, you’re in luck. I will also declare this upcoming weekend the one to try new things, so try your luck at a Pop Kult party cuz it looks gooood . Parisian boy Joakim —who got life-lucky when he found his first synthesizer in a dorm room—will bring his “melancholic, yet infectious, blend of indie rock, disco, and pop.” Joining him will be supporting locals Scott Seewhale and Colin Bergh (who—props!—just celebrated the fifth anniversary of his mag Bad Day ). You know the drill: click here .
Saturday: MOTOWN Party: The Fourth Anniversary
Various DJs. 751 Lounge, 751 Queen St. W., #QNW . Doors at 9:30 p.m. $5 before midnight, $10 after.
The Good Kids are at it again. Steve Rock and co.—the people who helped import the panic-stricken fun time that is Underground Rebel Bingo Club —are preparing for quite the jam to toast another year of what they dub Toronto’s “first and best Motown party.” And you know I love me these big anniversary parties , especially one that’s part of the Motown renaissance that was the first nu-craze to sweep through the nightlife circuit. And, clearly, the genre’s rhythms—and its allusions—have staying power. Here’s the gist: Motown + remixes upstairs; Stevie Wonder, all-vinyl set downstairs; $11 pitchers, The Supremes, video, and prizes from Eyesore Cinema , and The Four Tops. Oh, and $5 advance tickets are available here . The Good Kids’ selling point: “Where else in the city can you get drunk and dance to amazing music for less than $15?” Find out more here .
Saturday: BOOYAKASHA, a Caribana party DJs Stunts, Dear Aunt Agnes + Max Mohenu. Bambi’s, 1265 Dundas St. W., #DNW . Doors at 10 p.m., $2.
Heyyyy, did you also forget it’s Caribana weekend? Let’s fix that. Head to Bambi’s on Saturday for Booyakasha, a newly minted night that isn’t sponsored by Scotiabank, but endorses fuckery-free fun all the same. (And Urban Dictionary thata whining contest at the stroke of midnight, and a daggering contest the hour after that. It’ll make you sweat like you were stuck in a traffic jam on Lake Shore. I randomly met DJ Max Mohenu in the deep night at Trinity Bellwoods and, one FB stalk later, determined his taste in music is exquisite—so you’re in good hands. Click here for details. And here’s the new Nicki vid, which I heard someone call “tropical chic.” That made me laugh, but the timing is perfect.
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Tuesday: Three Years of Style
Thompson Hotel Rooftop Lounge, 550 Wellington St. W., #KGW . Doors at 6 p.m. Free with RSVP .
It’s a blogette birthday! Actually, it’s three of them. For all those with fashionable temperaments, go sky-high to celebrate three years in the style blogging business for Nelia Belkova (of Style Blog ), sister-duo Sharon Ng Hayes and Tara Ng (a.k.a. The Backseat Stylers ), and Kimberly Lyn (of The Souls of My Shoes ). In a growing trend to connect with readers, blogs-cum-style portals have gone 3-D, and the ladies are taking over the Thompson roof with party favours. There will be cash prizes (including a Yorkdale shopping spree), Danier Leather goods, surprises from everybody’s new favourite e-retailer eLuxe and way more. If you’ve also got an eye on entering the industry, this may be a good place to meet your future collaborators—just be cool. Also—and it’s a small catch—you’ve got to RSVP here to get on the list. (A girl’s gotta be prepared.) Find out more here .
