This week’s best parties include the Drake’s monthly electro jam Itzsoweezee, bike-centric gallery crawl Art Spin, and Buddies’ celebration of all things phallic.
Thursday: Art Spin, the final tour and exhibition
Meet at the east end of Dufferin Grove Park, north of the basketball courts, starting at 6:30 p.m. Tour leaves at 7 p.m. After-party at 50 Edwin Avenue., doors at 9 p.m. Free.
One of the saddest things about summer being (almost!) over is that it means you’ll have fewer opportunities/circumstances to ride your bike. (And I don’t winter ride.) So saddle up for one final adventure. If you happened to pick up a copy of this week’s issue of The Grid (in boxes errwhere)—or, fine, if you read it online last week—you’d come across a little story on something called Art Spin. It’s just like it sounds: you ride around, en masse, to several different (top secret) spots of visual stimulation that paint you a succinct picture of Toronto’s arts scene. Your final destination: Art Spin’s after-party/annual exhibition to close out the summer season at Metropolis Factory, a new “recently reclaimed and raw industrial space.” Find out more about the’s agenda here.
Friday: The Penis Project #2
With various performers. Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, 12 Alexander Street. $7. Doors at 9 p.m., show at 10 p.m.
I recently watched the British documentary My Penis and Everyone Else’s, which explores why men-via-society find it so difficult to discuss their appendages, etc. with each other. (It’s also a follow-up to director/star Lawrence Barraclough’s first film, My Penis and I, about coming to terms with the fact that he has a three-inch dick and the decision process regarding penile implants. Seriously.) I’ll have to agree: we’re a penis-starved culture. Maybe I’m biased. But remember the incessant chatter surrounding Fass-boner in Shame? It was like people found a new species. It’s imperative, then, that you head immediately to the second Penis Project, “a celebration of all things phallic.” There will be visual and performative arts based on/inspired by this mystical anatomical element curated by Michael Mackid and Amy Lou Taylor. And the colour of the night is pink—how gender bending. This status update from the Buddies Facebook page should do the trick: “The office is starting to fill up with penis-inspired paraphernalia, including what looks like a box of knitted wool cocks.” Find out more here. And watch the video below!
Friday: Itzsoweezee 2nd Anniversary
With various DJs. The Drake Hotel, 1150 Queen Street West. $10. Doors at 10 p.m.
It’s a weekend of birthdays at The Drake. On Friday, DJs Grandtheft, Thugli, and Demiggs will celebrate the second year of Itzsoweezee. If you’re not familiar, here’s the deal: they cater to the lovers of floor-filling electronic dance, hip-hop and disco music. Simple. The crew has developed a sizeable following with their eclectic blend of musical masterminds, but also thanks to stellar auxiliary support. For example, this edition features a special video DJ set by Grandtheft. Oh, and vintage rap videos. Find out more here.
PRO TIP: On Saturday night, The Drake will host the 8th anniversary of Never Forgive Action, a monthly that has become a dyntasy and, I believe, one of the longest running jams around that was once banned from the Supermarket.
Friday: Skratch Bastid Presents De La Soul’s Plug 3, a.k.a. Maseo
Revival, 783 College Street. $15. Doors at 10 p.m.
Look who’s here again. And he’s staying in one place. In the fourth instalment of his new jam on the last Friday of every month at Revival, DJ hero (and lover of BBQ) Skratch Bastid imports the best of his favourites from years of traveling and mounts an ever-evolving DJ/performance show. After delivering strong results with past acts (Detroit soul singer Mayer Hawthorne and Cosmo Baker from Brooklyn’s The Rub, among others), Bastid is bringing no other than De La Soul’s Plug 3—also known as Maseo—to headline. This, as they say, will be one for the books. Good times, good vibes, no jerks. Find out more here.
Lecture: Maseo of De La Soul (Los Angeles 2012) from Red Bull Music Academy on Vimeo.
Saturday: Secret Models: The Restoration Edition
With various DJs. The Ossington, 61 Ossington Avenue. Free. Doors at 10 p.m.
Saturday is the official start of the last worthwhile long weekend of the year. And if, like me, you’re not hauling ass somewhere else, there’s really nothing left to do but dance. The Secret Models, who have made several appearances here and there, always know how to have a good time. This time, they’re jamming not only in the name of summer, but in the name of Jesus, or whoever that botched restoration job looks like now. Still, you can’t beat grimy beats, songs-on-request, and a midnight reggae set.
