Out in Toronto: Nov 12–18, 2015

Choice events in the city this week


Leisure

While I’m Around: a Jazz Tribute to Angela Lansbury

Dame Angela Lansbury has sung many great songs in her long film and stage career. Bobby Hsu and Alex Samara perform legendary Lansbury tunes from Till the Clouds Roll By, Anyone Can Whistle, Mame, Dear World, Bedknobs and Broomsticks, Prettybelle, Gypsy, The King and I and Sweeney Todd.

Friday, Nov 13, 6pm. 120 Diner, 120 Church St. 120diner.com

Board Games Night: Heroes

With Heroes Unite, you squeeze into the tights of Batman, Superman, or some other hero from the DC universe, and fight a variety of super-villains. This deck-building game is the highlight attraction at this edition of the recurring board games night. Those without the fortitude to don a hero’s cape and mask can play one of the other available games.

Saturday, Nov 14, 7pm. Glad Day Bookshop, 598 Yonge St. facebook.com/torontogaymers

Parties

Fruitcup

There’s drinking, nibbling and mingling galore at this fundraiser gala for the Community One Foundation, which supports the queer community through its Rainbow Grants program. Hosted by the glittery Ryan G Hinds, the evening includes a silent auction and performances by Thad, Ill Nana/DiverseCity Dance Company and Donnarama.

Thursday, Nov 12, 7pm. Buddies in Bad Times, 12 Alexander St. buddiesinbadtimes.com

Take Me to Leather Leather Land

Something strange has happened to Never Never Land — everyone’s transformed into sexy, leather-wearing exhibitionists. To raise funds for his tour of the US next year, drag king Maximum Capacity hosts a burlesque and drag-filled cabaret that is BDSM and Peter Pan–themed. Prizes are awarded to attendees for the two best leather costumes.

Friday, Nov 13, 9:30pm. Buddies in Bad Times, 12 Alexander St. buddiesinbadtimes.com

CLGA Flashback Gala: 1980s Mixtape

Carole Pope and Lorraine Segato co-chair the Canadian Lesbian and Gay Archives’ annual fundraiser gala — a gala whose theme is so 1980s it puts David Bowie to shame. The bash includes an archival exhibition and sale curated by John Rubino, an installation by filmmaker and artist Oliver Husain and music by DJ Das Hussy.

 

Saturday, Nov 14, 6pm. The Bram and Bluma Appel Salon, 789 Yonge St. clga.ca

Sex

Playground

With a strict policy of inclusiveness, the annual sex and relationship conference is full of queer content. Over the course of three days, folks enjoy panels, workshops and presentations on such topics as polyamory, BDSM, sex work, gender politics and sex and disability. Includes a vendor fair full of dirty postcards, crops, chastity devices, tassels — just about anything.

Friday, Nov 13–Sunday, Nov 15. Holiday Inn Downtown Centre, 30 Carlton St. playgroundconf.com

(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).

Keep Reading

Portland Fire guard Bridget Carleton (6) drives against Toronto Tempo forward Nyara Sabally (8).

The Toronto Tempo are a much-needed source of hope and connection for Canada’s queer community

Women’s sports are booming in North America. Canada’s first WNBA team is meeting the moment

Should AI use stop you from seeing ‘Stop! That! Train!’?

Director Adam Shankman told Xtra that the film actually did use some AI in its visual effects
Marcia Marcia Marcia, Brooke Lynn Hytes, and Symone in STOP! THAT! TRAIN!

‘Stop! That! Train!’ director Adam Shankman says the movie used AI

Shankman sat down with Xtra to talk RuPaul, modern gay cinema—and exactly how much AI was used in his film
A saw

‘Saw’ was my sexual awakening

The series was the centrepiece of a homoerotic middle-school friendship. As I got older, I turned to it for much-needed release
Advertisement