Out in Toronto: July 28–Aug 3, 2016

Choice events in the city this week


Friday, July 29

Thank You for Being a Friend

Dorothy, Sophia, Rose and Blanche reunite — in puppet form, anyway. Billed as “the ultimate [The] Golden Girls experience,” this play/puppet show tribute is an evening of classic dialogue, razor sharp gags and taboo-breaking stories. Hardcore fans of the hit TV series arrange to sit at one of the VIP kitchen tables up front and eat cheesecake (max 4 people per table).

Runs until Friday, Aug 12, various showtimes. Al Green Theatre, 750 Spadina Ave. facebook.com/goldengirlsto

(Courtesy Joseph Patrick Productions)

Gyallis

Caribana, the festival of Caribbean culture, has everything — even queer dance parties. Even parties for women who love women. Climaxxx Entertainment presents a bash that’s all about women. It’s organized by women, hosted by women (Solo, Isis, Rogue Monroe and others) and the music is provided by women (DJs Prestige, Freshkidd included). The multi-level club offers bottle service and VIP areas with sexy hostesses.

10pm. Club 120, 120 Church St. For more info, visit Facebook.

Sunday, July 31

Blockobana 6

Blackness Yes once again takes over the park beside The 519 with a party for the whole community. It includes not only music and dancing — DJs Blackcat, Nik Red, Craig Dominic, Pleasure and others, spin dancehall, afrobeat, R&B and more — but also programming for the kids. Blackness Yes is the organization responsible for the annual (and similarly-named) Blockorama parties at Toronto Pride. This is an alcohol-free event.

5pm. Barbara Hall Park, 519 Church St. For more info, visit Facebook.

(Courtesy Craig Dominic)

Miss F’s Flirty and Forty Birthday Bash

Everyone is invited to the birthday party of Miss F, Oasis’ marketing director and event producer. Once again, it’s an eclectic night at the sex club, with a heated pool outside, DJ Recklezz spinning inside, Miss Butter performing, and representatives from Polyamory Toronto talking about relationship styles and expanding boundaries. There’s dancing, cake and cuddling, and as always its clothing optional.

 

8pm. Oasis Aqualounge, 231 Mutual St. oasisaqualounge.com

The Urban Jungle

What is almost definitely the biggest, wildest, craziest queer dance party at Caribana, DJ Blackcat’s bash is an essential part of the weekend. Presented by Big Primpin and Go Hard, it features Blackcat and DJs Pleasure and Prestige spinning soca, R&B, reggae, hip hop and trap. This is also the release of Blackcat’s mixtape, In We blood. According to billing, the dresscode is “army wear, camouflage, blacks, kakis [sic] and white.”

10:30pm. Club 120, 120 Church St. For more info, visit Facebook.

Tuesday, Aug 2

Three Men in a Boat

Three young British fops and a dog go on a ridiculous and jolly boating adventure up the River Thames. No anglophile or lover of wordplay should miss this play’s final performance (for the foreseeable future) in Toronto before it heads out on the road. Presented by Pea Green Theatre Group, the 75-minute version of the Dora Award–nominated play promises to delight both those who have seen the show already and those coming to it for the first time.

7:30pm. The Storefront Theatre, 955 Bloor St W. peagreentheatre.com

(Courtesy Mark Brownell)

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

Jeremy Willard is a Toronto-based freelance writer and editor. He's written for Fab Magazine, Daily Xtra and the Torontoist. He generally writes about the arts, local news and queer history (in History Boys, the Daily Xtra column that he shares with Michael Lyons).

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