Saturday, August 7:

GALLERY | Love Me Tender: 52 McCaul Gallery Closing Party
Originally launched as a two month experiment in brightening the community, 52 McCaul exceeded all expectations and for the past seven months has hosted an eclectic mix of local art, ranging from an 80s movie night to a custom bicycle show to an exhibition of modern Native representations. After more than half a year of battling stress and leaky roofs Well and Good, the grassroots arts organization behind the space, if shutting 'er down to refocus their efforts in other parts of the community, but they're not going out without a bang. They've recruited some great local musical talent to celebrate the end of their successful run, including heartbreaking songbird Kate Rogers and local multi-instrumentalist Henri Fabrege. They're also auctioning off some art, with proceeds going to support the artists and Well and Good's ongoing projects.
52 McCaul, Free, 12 pm - 1 am

FOOD AND DRINK | Toronto's Festival of Beer
Torontonians don't drink enough beer. Thankfully the Festival of Beer, which began on Thursday, is here to promote the little-understood beverage. Over 120 brewers from around the world are on site to thoroughly whet your whistle and all weekend the Grill Tent will be fired up to satisfy your hunger and give some helpful bbq'ing tips. Each afternoon bands including Skydiggers, Rebel Emergency and Little Feat will be providing the soundtrack to your consumption and Caskapalooza gives you the chance to sample unique one-off beers brewed specially for the event.
Exhibition Place, 200 Princes Boulevard, $38.50 plus beer tokens, Saturday and Sunday 1 pm - 7 pm

STREET FESTIVAL | Roncylicious
The Taste of the Danforth Festival takes over the East End this weekend, but not to be out done, Roncesvalles Village is throwing it's own street party on the other side of the city. Roncylicious runs all month but launches officially today with an outdoor picnic, cooking demonstrations, and sidewalk sale. Local eateries including The Blue Plate, The Abstract Tree, and The Dizzy Gastro are offering special deals for the occasion and all month area retailers are giving discounts in exchange for donations of non-perishable food items to benefit the High Park Baptist Church food bank. Runs til August 31.
Roncesvalles Avenue between Queen Street and Dundas Street West, Launch party today 220 Roncesvalles Avenue, Free, 12 pm - 6 pm

GALLERY | Will Munro: Total Eclipse
We all know that Will Munro's legacy is indelibly marked on the Queen West community, but it's testimony to how important he was to this city that even the rarified culture of the AGO has been touched by his passing. Last week the gallery opened a posthumous retrospective of his art that includes multidisciplinary work like quilts, silk screens, and hand made copies of posters he made to promote the many events he threw over the years. The show will be on display until September 26 in the Young Gallery, the AGO's free exhibit space, and opens tonight with (what else) a party.
AGO, 317 Dundas Street West, Free, 8 pm - 11 pm

URBAN ART | Toronto Photo Walks: Graffiti Alley
The little laneway south of Queen West between Spadina and Portland is a favourite destination for the city's spray paint artists. Dubbed "Graffiti Alley", it's such a hotspot that every year artists whitewash it so they can update it with new designs. The large-scale, colourful murals make for great photographs, and today Toronto Photo Walks is taking a group of shutterbugs on a guided tour of the area. Sure, you could just go on your own, but this way you get to compare notes with fellow photogs and vie for who gets the best shot.
Meet at Spadina Avenue and Richmond Street Starbuck's, Free, 10 am

FILM | Movies Made by Other People
Being an independent filmmaker is tough work. Following the old adage that there's safety in numbers, the Other People have banded together and tonight are finally screening the fruits of their labour. There's not much to define this group except that they are a bunch of like-minded local artists, actors, filmmakers, and musicians and they are, I suppose, not you. They're other people. So if you'd like to take a chance on some Toronto-born short films, check out these trailers and come out to the launch party tonight where seven new movies will be shown.
Cinecycle, 129 Spadina Avenue, Free, 9 pm

Sunday, August 8:

BOOKS AND LIT | Sexy Words
They say that the brain is the largest erogenous zone, which means this evening of sexy readings as part of the Queer West Arts Fest should be nothing short of a literary orgy. Eight local writers will present spoken word and poetry performances based on the theme of sex (is great art ever about anything else?), and performers include The Storm, Duncan Armstrong, Yehuda Fisher, Parul Pandya, Cathy Petch, Jay Stewart, and Nichola Ward. Hosted by veteran performer Philip Cairns.
Lula Lounge, 1585 Dundas Street West, PWYC, 7 pm

Continuing:

FESTIVAL | SummerWorks Theatre and Art Festival
The SummerWorks festival began on Thursday, bringing Torontonians the best in new Canadian theatre. Aside from the dozens of plays being staged, there's also a kick-ass lineup of concerts from the likes of the Hidden Cameras, Diamond Rings, Maylee Todd, and Snowblink, as well as a series of guided walks through the Bathurst theatre district and a multi-media art installation designed to transport you back to childhood. You can check out our recommendations for the festival here. Runs til August 15. Happy festing!
Various venues, $10 per play, 3-play pass $25, 7-play pass $55, 10-day pass $75, Summerwalks pass $12

FESTIVAL | Taste of the Danforth
Unquestionably Toronto's favourite street festival, the Taste of the Danforth began on Friday and showcases all that the city's Greek community has to offer. Over a million people flood the East End neighbourhood each year to sample the Danforth's famous food and take in three days of music and entertainment. This year three stages will host a continuous line up of performers including the Toronto Symphony's brass quintet, Jesse Labelle, Alyssa Reid, and Frank D'Angelo and his 15 piece band. Second City comedians will be doing improv all weekend and some of the stars from So You Think You Can Dance Canada will make an appearance. If you're thinking that none of that sounds particularly Greek, one stage will be completely devoted to Hellenic culture, with performances of traditional music and belly dancing.
Danforth Avenue, Free, Saturday 12 pm - 12 am, Sunday 12 pm - 8 pm

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Photo: "I Can't Find Your Room" by batara, member of the blogTO Flickr Pool.