Toronto Uncovered

Archive for the ‘Party Time’ Category

Every now and again all I want to do is dance. I don’t want to talk or socialize, I just want to zone out and dance the night away. I find that as I get a bit older and have less patience to put up with massive parties, lines or outrageous cover, solid dancing nights are harder to come by.

Saturday night was one such night. Luckily, I was with friends who I consider to be fairly ‘in the know’ when it comes to good parties with decent music and dance floors. They took me to The Rivoli‘s backroom for the monthly Foot Prints event: four different DJs throwing down tribal house, infused with jazz, funk, soul, Latin and afrobeats. As we walked in to the crowded venue I could tell it was going to be exactly what I was looking for. The music was loud, the dance floor was packed and there wasn’t a wallflower in sight. Each track progressed seamlessly into the track that followed, building with energy and intensity. It was one of those nights where you turn off your brain and let your body do all the work.

I will admit that if you are at all claustrophobic or unable to get over the odd whiff of B.O., Foot Prints probably isn’t for you. If, however, you can manage to work around those  for a few hours, you wont be disappointed.

I sleep easy knowing this is a monthly event. The next one will be held Saturday August 29th with cover of $5.00 before 10:00pm and $10.00 after.  While I was there I picked up a promo for Brooklyn’s DJ Spinna at Sunnyside Pavilion, August 2nd. The show features many of the same DJ members of Foot Prints and might be worth checking out.

I feel like this post is coming a little bit late for an event that was held on Friday.  To be honest, I needed a few days to fully recover after the madness that was SpinTO.  SpinTO, for those who have been living under a rock (or haven’t checked your Twitter feed in a few weeks), was a kick-off party celebrating the Friends for Life Bike Rally from Toronto to Montreal in support of the Toronto People with AIDS Foundation.

Similar to events like HoHoTo and Twestival Toronto, SpinTO leveraged the strength and goodwill of Toronto’s social media community to market itself, attract sponsors, and increase attendance. In addition to the social media crowd, there was significant representation from Toronto’s gay and cycle communities, making for a very interesting mix.  Organizers, Mark Kuznicki and Adam Schwabe did a great job of making sure there was something for everyone.

Bikes were set up at the outdoor entrance of the Mod Club for friends and foes to spin-off against one another. The races were timed, and the winners  were rewarded with their time stickers and bragging rights.  Having always wondered what it would be like to spin in three inch heals after downing a few drinks, I challenged my best friend to a race.  Once I  finished celebrating my three second victory (which admittedly lasted a little longer than three seconds) I moved back inside to check out the silent auction and mingle with the Midas men sprinkled throughout the crowd.

In my opinion, music and entertainment are always the most important part of any event or soiree. The stage performances, which could easily have been interpreted as strip performances, were hilarious and got the crowd cheering for more.  In between acts, tracks spun by Duarte Da Silva aka @modernmod (fully adorned in cycle gear) kept us moving on our feet. In my books, any night that begins and ends with full fledged dance-offs between my friends and members of the gay community is a total success. Those gay guys really give you a run for your money!

As noted on the SpinTO website, the event was a huge success, raising over 15,000 dollars. Once again, it goes to show that the people of Toronto have big hearts and are willing to step it up for a good cause.  On any given weekend there is a strong likelihood that many of us will be out enjoying the many parties and bars Toronto has to offer. We might as well be doing good at the same time.

For more pictures and videos of Friday night’s craziness click here.

If you know of any great fundraisers coming up let me know, I am usually interested in checking out these types of events!

Elliott BROOD at Dakota Tavern: Picture by Rock Paper Pixels

I received an urgent text from one of my good friends Wednesday night. It read “You have to come to the Dakota Tavern! Awesome!” This was following two missed calls from the same friend, and one barely audible voice mail. Intrigued, I called back and was told by my fairly inebriated, but nonetheless musically reliable, friend that Elliott BROOD was about to take the stage for a Ride to Conquer Cancer charity event at Dakota Tavern, and that, “this would be the last time to see them in such an intimate venue”.

I had seen the post on BlogTO earlier in the week announcing the concert, and had decided that since I already had a networking commitment that night, I would have to miss it. Maybe it was something in my friends voice and all the noise and excitement in the background, or maybe it was just because I was already a few drinks in and my little voice of reason had piped down, but I decided to make an appearance.

Cover was a little steep for Ossington – 20 bucks – but easily justifiable (especially for a good cause). There were  a number of raffles going on inside as well to support the ride. Inside: the bar was packed, dance floor was moving, and the three piece band was really givin’ ‘er. The music was a mix of rock, folk, and alternative. It had a steady beat that made even the most reluctant dancer give in to the head-bob-two-step. I have since downloaded all of their albums, and would recommend them to anyone looking for some good, easy flowing, summeresque tunes. And, the icing on the cake, they got their start right here in Toronto.

If youre still looking for a reason to support them – give them a listen. According to their MySpace page they won’t be back in Toronto for a while, but are defnitely worth the download, and keeping your eyes out for any upcoming dates they might squeeze in!

Aaahh Spring! A season that promises chirping birds, blooming flowers, and infusions of warmth and sun. It is also a season full of events, functions, and parties. A time when Torontonians can start to shed their Winter doldrums, heavy jackets, and hibernation modes.

I kicked off my Spring season Friday night at the 6th Annual Journalists for Human Rights Fundraiser, hosted at the Berkeley Church. I’m not sure what it is that makes me love this venue so much. There’s just something exciting about partying in a place of worship, even if it is for a good cause.

I arrived around 10:30 just as the upper and lower levels were starting to fill up. By 11:30 the party was in full swing, both main levels were packed and the entertainment was taking to the stage.  Between trips to the open bar, I watched performances by African drummers and an interpretive dance group called Crazyfish Collective,  and bid on any silent auction items that caught my eye.

Eventually I  made my way down to the lower (basement) level of the church, where I happily stumbled upon a hidden room of food – fried plantains and other delicious finger foods if my memory serves me correctly. One suggestion to the organizers: make the food more accessible and visible, especially with an open bar.

Overall, the event was very successful, raising a total of $30,000 for the  human rights movement.  At $60.00 per ticket, you definitely got your money’s worth and left feeling warm and fuzzy for contributing to a good cause (and not just the bottom line of some downtown bar/club).

The Ossington strip has undoubtedly come a long way in the last ten years. It has successfully shed its reputation as a sketchy neighbourhood, and is now lined with tons of great bars, shops, and restaurants. Its one of the few areas  that still maintains a truly Toronto vibe, and has yet to become overly popularized and mainstream (although its probably only a matter of time). For these reasons, I find myself there at least once a week.

I could barely contain my excitement when  a couple of friends unveiled  plans to open a bar on Ossington.  After months of work and renovation, The Painted Lady opened its doors in January and has been bustling ever since. There are a million reasons why I absolutely love The Painted Lady, but in the effort to keep my posts a reasonable length, Ill try and sum them up as best I can:

1. Location, location, location. Located at 218 Ossington, The Painted Lady is far enough  from the downtown club scene to keep the number of out-of-towners (i.e. 905-ers) low. No one is rolling up in stretch limos or lowered Honda civics. No offense to those of you who enjoy this, its just not my cup of tea. Although it’s not right downtown, it’s close enough to be reached by the subway, streetcar, cab, or your ever reliable chevro-legs.

2. Super (fantastic happy hour) Staff. The owners, Sam and Nicky, can usually be found partying and chatting with their patrons; and the bartenders are   friendly, attentive, and FUN. Its not unusual to see them singing and dancing on the bar, or rocking out with their regulars.

3. You are drinking for the greater good. Nicky heads up the Canadian chapter of NOAH charity. NOAH  raises funds to build sustainable communities for South African children who have lost their parents to HIV and AIDS. The Painted Lady will host events throughout the year to raise money for NOAH.  Further details to come.

4. All the important no’s are looked after – NO LINE, NO COVER, NO DRESS CODE, and most importantly: NO PRETENTIOUSNESS

5. Food and drinks are cheap! Twenty or thirty bucks is enough get you through the night, leaving you well-sauced, and with enough change in your pocket for post bar, late night munchies.

6. The Baby Dolls poster hangs discretely on the back wall. If you weren’t sold on reasons 1 through 5, this fact should seal the deal. The rest of the bar is  adorned with  decorations that further highlight its playful character, such as an illuminated, flashing poster of Jesus, and over 80 portraits of painted ladies.  Even the trip  to the bathroom is unique, featuring leopard print wallpaper and multi-coloured Christmas lights.

Even though I am an East-ender, The Painted Lady really feels like my neighbourhood bar. It can always be counted on for a good time, no matter what night of the week. I have a feeling my liver is thankful  that I don’t live closer than I do.

Have you been there yet?

Other Posts/Reviews of The Painted Lady: Cameron’s Brewing Co.
and Martini Boys