May was fine. June will be great. Here are the first couple of reasons why, including beer gardens, art walks and free concerts at sugar beach:
Friday, May 31:
Outdoor Beer Garden / Corona Paint Party
Oktoberfest came early: Corona is sponsoring a beer garden in Yonge-Dundas square (which celebrates its tenth anniversary this year). The garden will not charge cover and will offer free food, and serve cash-only brews. Prost!
For the more artistic and whitely-dressed among you, there’s a free “Paint Party” where you can turn your, and other people’s bodies into some PoMo works of art. There Will Be Paint.
When: Friday, May 31
4 p.m. Registration starts
5 p.m. Paint Party begins
6 p.m. Beer Garden opens with free food & cash bar.
Where: Yonge-Dundas Square
How Much: Free food, cover, and paint party, cash-only brewskies
More details here.
Critical Mass Ride
Not so much a protest as a parade on wheels, Critical Mass hits the street to raise awareness of the large number of cyclists in the city who yearns for a more cycle-friendly Toronto. The ride takes place on the last Friday of every month, which means tonight’s the night for you all you cyclists out there. The ride doesn’t have a set route, and goes wherever the crowd takes it.
When: Friday, May 31 at 6:30 p.m.
Where: The ride departs tonight from Matt Cohen Park, corner of Spadina Avenue and Bloor Street
How Much: Nada
More details here.
Saturday, June 1:
RAW: Riverdale Art Walk, outdoor arts festival
The 15th Riverdale Art Walk (RAW) is an annual outdoor art fair, celebration and sale featuring over 125 artists exhibiting painting, photography, mixed media, printmaking, drawing and sculpture. Experience the work of a wide variety of established and emerging artists — all in one area, all exhibiting over two great days. It is a dynamic and fun event that gives thousands of visitors the opportunity to discover the “next great Canadian artist” or simply that one artist that connects with you.
When:
Saturday, June 1, 11 a.m. — 6 p.m.
Sunday, June 2, 11 a.m. — 6 p.m.
Where: Jimmie Simpson Park, Queen St. E. at Booth Avenue
How Much: Zilch
More info here.
Sunday, June 2nd:
Figaro’s Wedding
Against the Grain Theatre presents a brand new adaptation of Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro. The show stages a contemporary re-imagining of the play with what looks like a great sense of humour, and an even better cast. The plot revolves around a chic, modern Toronto wedding that involves plenty of “love, betrayal, bills and flowers.” Marking an AtG first, the production will be accompanied by a chamber orchestra provided by the Music in the Barns Chamber Ensemble.
When: Both tonight, and Sunday June 2 from 7:30 p.m. – 10 p.m.
Where: The Burroughes, 639 Queen St. W.
How Much: $35 online or at the door
More info here.
Tokyo Police Club plays the Red Bull Tour Bus
Red Bull Tour Bus stops in Toronto for a free concert featuring Toronto’s very own Tokyo Police Club.
When: Sunday, June 2, 3 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Where: Sugar Beach Queens Quay East
How Much: Squat – RSVP for tickets at RedBullTourBus.ca
More info here.
Anything else we should do this weekend? Let us know. We’ll hang out.
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Jeremy Schipper is an intern at Toronto Standard. You can follow him on Twitter at @jeromeoschipps.
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