The Night List is our new weekly planner of the best parties happening around the city. This week, French Fries, the Toronto Liberty Project, The Lost Babies, Laughable at Unlovable, and more.
Thursday: The City Limits, a photo exhibit by the Toronto Liberty Project
44 Wide Gallery, 171 East Liberty Street, Unit 122. Free. 6-9 p.m. Running to February 10.
It’s been an-edge-of-your-seat kind of week here in the city: budget stuff , and CBC-worthy, political thriller-esque storylines of heroic proportions. On Monday, I wrote about why it’s never felt like a greater time to live in Toronto than right this second—and why we should think about the future/take it seriously sometimes. (This also ignited commenter meltdowns—so go on, have your say, too .) In many ways, what comes next could be our “golden age.” The City Limits , a new exhibit from a new photography collective called the Toronto Liberty Project , will probably open your eyes and prove just that. It’s the group’s debut showing, featuring the works of members/locals Ryan Emond, Javin Lau, Neil Ta, Brandon Tarek, and Ronnie Yip. In short: “See your city like you’ve never seen it before.” Find out more here and take a look at Emond’s most recent Toronto time-lapse video project below.
Friday: NeXT’s Best of 2012 showcase at The Silver Dollar Room
Featuring The Lost Babies, The Sweet Mack, The Dirty Nil, Attagirl. The Silver Dollar Room, 486 Spadina Ave. $6 at the door. 9 p.m.
While it’s often impossible to predict which “next big thing” bands will actually evolve beyond showcases like this, have faith in knowing that these were hand-picked by longtime Silver Dollar promoter (and general indie-rock guru) Dan Burke. In short: expect a good batch of new choice tunes. The Facebook page acclaims headliners The Lost Babies as “one of the best Toronto club acts I’ve seen in years, so new that they don’t even [have] any online recordings yet.” There’s similar praise for everyone else. Naturally, I looked up TLB on YouTube, and, well, frontwoman Valerie Messy is a creepy-cool combination of low-street fashion, Darby Crash/The Germs, and, um, I want to say… Fucked Up’s little sister? And then her bandmates! Here they are performing at The Velvet Underground last October:
VIDEO
Friday: Toastr at Wayla Bar & fit at The Beaver
Toastr: with DJ Sticky Cuts. Wayla Bar, 996 Queen Street East. $5 at the door. 10 p.m.
Is it me or is the lesbian dance party an elusive creature? There just aren’t enough of them—or enough good places willing to host them, at least. Enter Toastr , the monthly dance party that promises to “keep you protected from the elements with its sexy women, drink specials and beats that will keep you on the dance floor.” And, yes, everyone is welcome. Not your thing? Head west to The Beaver for fit , where you’ll get a full serving of jocks and cocks.
Saturday: Happy Endings #011 featuring French Fries
With Bambounou. Forest View Chinese Restaurant, 466 Dundas Street West. $10 at the door. 10 p.m.
Nothing says “werk it” like wontons—or, apparently, French Fries . The Paris DJ will be spinning for all the kids at Forest View Chinese Restaurant, the dim sum joint that turns into a dance club once a month. Want to know more, like if I’m serious, it’s at a dim sum restaurant, and that it won’t be sketch? Read up on November’s installment here , and then click here to find out more about Saturday’s jam. Tell them The Grid sent you, although that won’t do much except get you a high five and a good time. Until then, contemplate this French Fries remix. Just add soy sauce—or mayo.
Greenmoney – Into You (French Fries Remix) by MrFrenchFries
Monday: Laughable at Unlovable
Featuring various performers. Unlovable, 1415-B Dundas Street West. Free. 9 p.m.
I’ve been waiting for stand-up comedy to make a proper comeback. Most of it—i.e. probably anything you’ve seen at Yuk Yuk’s lately—tends to suck. Where are all the up-and-comers, the new kids? I can only tolerate Margaret Cho’s “I’m-rich-and-normal-but-not” jokes for so long. Or, like, who else does decent comedy tours anymore? Well, hopefully Unlovable on Dundas West has the answer. Every Monday, hosts Steph Tolev and Nick Flanagan promise great laughs, with eight comics set to hit the stage (and $4.50 Wellington pints and $5 Jamesons to help ease everyone else in). See the complete line-up here . (And they also have pinball and video games —just sayin’.)
