Art & Literature

It Was There

Scenes on 8mm film, clips from YouTube and cell-phone cameras — Benjamin Edelberg (who’s image is captured above) and Sarah Sands Philips’s video work is bits from here and there assembled into something new. This exhibit comprises Edelberg’s Ecstatic Shocks, a “maze with no exit in sight” where each frame has been re-coloured by hand; and Philips’s Endings No 1 (Sail), which is about beauty and decay.

Opening reception Thursday, May 7, 7pm; Exhibit runs until Saturday, May 9. Videofag, 187 Augusta Ave. videofag.com

TCAF Queer Mixer

The gay-nerd-o-meter goes crazy as comic book enthusiasts gather to mix and mingle with like-minded folks and geek out at some queer artists. They enjoy presentations by Cathy G Johnson, Reed Black, Lee Lai, Kate Lavut and Northwest Press.

Saturday, May 9, 7pm. Buddies in Bad Times, 12 Alexander St. buddiesinbadtimes.com

Bright Eyed Launch Party

There’s so much to do and so little time. Sleep is the enemy, to be avoided, beaten back — banished if possible. But what are the consequences? Is chronic lack of sleep dangerous? Should we legislate rest? The launch of RM Vaughan’s latest book, Bright Eyed: Insomnia and Its Cultures, includes a special, event-specific performance by the notorious Keith Cole.

Wednesday, May 13, 7pm. Videofag, 187 Augusta Ave. videofag.com

Clubbin’

Bush Beat

Summer is afoot — isn’t it time to head to the west end and nab yourself a hipster girlfriend? Ladies attend one of the west end’s few parties for women, a laid back shindig featuring music from a variety of genres and eras, but with a focus on dance tunes from the ’80s and ’90s.

Saturday, May 9, 10pm. Henhouse, 1532 Dundas St W.

Trade Second Anniversary

The party for rough, tattooed sluts and their lovers (or prisoners?) celebrates two years of sweaty dancing and hook-ups. The party includes a live performance by Rica Shay, and dancing to music by DJs William Francis and Scooter McCreight. As the night wears on, those fatigued by excessive slutting can slut passively, by sitting back and ogling the go-go boys, Travis and Brian.

Saturday, May 9, 10pm. The Black Eagle, 457 Church St. facebook.com/getsometrade

Stage

Hot Damn It’s a Queer Slam Finals

Slam poets from five cities pit their verbosity against each other to win a paid trip to compete in Capturing Fire, a queer spoken word summit in Washington, DC, this June. The competition includes a special performance by Jamaican-Canadian dub poet d’bi.young anitafrika. She’s also a Dora Award-winning actor and playwright, perhaps best known for her role in an episode of the TV series ’Da Kink in My Hair.

Thursday, May 7, 7:30pm. Buddies in Bad Times, 12 Alexander St. buddiesinbadtimes.com

For more event listings, visit dailyxtra.com/lgbt-events

(Editor’s note: This post has been corrected to clarify that d’bi.young acted in ’Da Kink in My Hair and was not its author.)