Victoria Day Weekend Toronto

Victoria Day Weekend in Toronto 2011

Events in Toronto on Victoria Day Weekend.

SATURDAY, MAY 21ST

CULTURE | Torture Garden Toronto
TO welcomes to town Europe's most notorious fetish club, Torture Garden, who are bringing a festival of 'kink' billed as "Toronto's Fetish Weekend". The club has 'toured' these happenings to various locations such as Tokyo and Moscow, and we are on the map! The exotic extravaganza runs four nights, celebrating "BDSM/Fetish, Body Art / Modification/and Ritual, Performance Art, Fashion, Industrial / Techno / Atmospheric Music, and Multimedia". There will be workshops and performances of all sorts. Tonight the main 'party' event takes place at The Opera House with DJs, a fashion show, live acts, a "Dungeon Play Area" and more.
The Opera House (735 Queen St East) 10PM $55

MUSIC | Get Thoughtless
An interesting musical lineup tonight at The Drake, brought to you by Thoughtless Music, celebrating the CD release of techno producer Arthur Oskan's "A Little More Than Everything". Kate Simko, a Chicago-based DJ and producer known for her minimal style and for having visuals accompanying her mixes, will deliver a much anticipated set, as well. Also on the bill: Noah Pred, and Zaid Edghaim.
The Drake Hotel (1150 Queen Street West) 10PM $10

ART | Artisans at the Distillery
Fingers are crossed for great weather this weekend! An awesome way to spend some outdoor time over the weekend is checking out the cool and unique offerings at the Artisans at the Distillery craft show and sale. The show (which also takes place once in the Summer and also over Labour Day weekend), runs until Monday.
Distillery District 11am to 6pm daily. FREE

MUSIC | CAKE @ SOUND ACADEMY
Everyone's fave esoteric California-based rockers, Cake, play the Sound Academy tonight. They are currently touring their sixth full-length album, "Showroom Of Compassion", and must have a smile on their faces, as this platter began its life on the Billboard 200 in the #1 slot... Not bad! Apparently this record was recorded with 100% solar energy at the band's "off grid" studio in California. Tonight's show will likely be brought to you with many watts of traditional, dirty AC.
Sound Academy (11 Polson Pier) 8PM $39.50

OTHER EVENTS ON OUR SATURDAY RADAR

SUNDAY, MAY 22ND

MUSIC | Lykke Li @ The Phoenix
Swedish alt-pop songstress, Lykke Li, has lived in many parts of the world, having been raised in Stockholm, and on a mountain in Portugal, plus childhood visits to India, Morocco, and other exotic locales. These travels have certainly given her music an exotic and worldly quality, often employing 'expanded' instrumentation that goes beyond typical pop/rock sonics. Her sound has been described as containing elements of soul, and electronics, but with a strong pop aesthetic and structure. She hits the Phoenix tonight, promoting her new album "Wounded Rhymes", and will be joined by opening act Grimes.
The Phoenix Concert Theatre (410 Sherbourne Street) 8PM $27.50

CLUBS | Elite Boatcruise - Sailing For Sick Kids
Whatever floats your boat, as the saying goes, and if that's lots of fresh air, a spectacular view of the city, and kickin' sounds from DJs like 4Corners, Kid C, Mr Phantastik, and many more, then this is your destination this afternoon! With three levels of simultaneous DJ action, and a serious party atmosphere on the water, it's sure to be a good time. As an added feel-good bonus, this event intends to raise funds for Sick Children's Hospital with proceeds from ticket sales, and raffles during the cruise. Anchors aweigh!
Empress Of Canada Cruise Ship (261 Queens Quay, Terminal 29) 1PM $40

CLUBS | May Day: Long Weekend House Party w/ Skratch Bastid + DJ Vajra
A DJ double-bill at The Drake tonight! Headlining is local turntable hero Skratch Bastid, who broke some Juno ground when he was nominated for Best Producer a few years back for his work with Buck 65. Also spinning tonight is DJ Vajra from Colorado, a region of the US known for exporting much amazing musical talent. This party will go nice and late!
The Drake Hotel (1150 Queen Street West) 11PM $10PM

CLUBS | Do You Love House? @ Revival
Do you love House? If you do, head to Revival tonight! There's a sweet spread of talent planned to make this a real party: Groove Institute, Junior Palmer, Phil Marwood, Curtis Smith, and more! Special guest, Roland Clark, will be performing a live set.
Revival (783 College Street) 10PM $10

OTHER EVENTS ON OUR SUNDAY RADAR

Have an event you'd like to plug? Submit your own listing to the blogTO Toronto events calendar or contact us directly.

For Toronto movie showtimes, view our Movie Listings section.

Photo by [dscphoto] in the blogTO Flickr pool.


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