Out in Toronto holiday special: Dec 10-30, 2015

Choice festive events across the the city


Thursday, Dec 10

Christmas Spice

Paul Petro’s 19th annual Christmas art sale is an opportunity for anyone to own an original piece of art. Runs until Saturday, Dec 19. Paul Petro Contemporary Art, 980 Queen St W. Free. paulpetro.com

Naked Boys Reading: Jingle Balls

Literary buffs get literally buff and read literature in front of a crowd of people-who-really-only-went-because-they-like-books-not-dicks-they-promise. 7:30pm. Glad Day Bookshop, 598 Yonge St. PWYC–$10. gladdaybookshop.com

Nothing to do with the Holidays

Maggie Cassella’s night of comedy and music is in no way related to the holidays (well, in truth, it might come up). 7:30pm. Buddies in Bad Times, 12 Alexander St. $20 advance, $25 door. buddiesinbadtimes.com

Friday, Dec 11

Jinglelicious: QAY Potluck Party

Queer Asian Youth enjoy food, drinks (except alcohol) and board or card games. For more info, contact youth@acas.org. 6pm. Asian Community AIDS Services, 260 Spadina Ave, Suite 410. Free. facebook.com/acas.qay

Holidays at 120 Diner

Eliza Pope and friends perform jazz favourites, originals and holiday tunes for your dining pleasure. To reserve a table, call 416-792-7725. 6pm. 120 Diner, 120 Church St. $10. 120diner.com

Pink Xmas Launch Party

The queer craft, art, fashion (or gay apparel, if you prefer) and literature fair kicks off with a performance by the burlesque troupe Boylesque TO. 7pm. The 519, 519 Church St. $5. pinkmarketto.com

Shut Up, It’s Christmas

 

Santa’s self-professed biggest fan, Thom Allison, answers all your Kris Kringle-related questions at his annual song and story–filled Christmas cabaret. 8pm. Buddies in Bad Times, 12 Alexander St. $17.50 advance, $20 door. buddiesinbadtimes.com

Back to Church

Girls dance to DJs Delicious and KLR’s hip hop, house and trap — and everything in between — tracks. 10pm. Church, 504 Church St. $8. For more info, visit Facebook.

Asian Xpress: Last Blast of the Year

Billed as Toronto’s “gaysian boys night out,” this party has Sofonda performing drag and DJ Alex spinning top 40, k-pop and club anthems. 10pm. Fly 2.0, 6 Gloucester St. $5 before 11pm, $10 after. aznxp.com

Puppy Love

DJ Dang Kids spins for a queer friendly, sex-positive dance party with go-go dancers and live porn screenings. 10pm. The Beaver, 1192 Queen St W. $5. id-tap-that.com

Horse Meat Disco

Toronto’s DJs John Caffery and Phil V spin the opening set for the world-renowned disco collective. 10pm. Coda, 794 Bathurst St. For more info, visit Facebook.

Saturday, Dec 12

Christmas Gladstone Flea

Unique items, fashion finds and vintage scores — get your shopping done early at a flea market with more than 15 vendors, including Bread and Circus, Cadette Jewelry and Shelfies. 10am–4pm. The Gladstone Hotel, 1214 Queen St W. Free. gladstonehotel.com

Queer and Trans Family Event: Light Fantastic Children’s Holiday Party

Families celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanza and the winter solstice with food, crafts and other activities. For more info, contact slittle@the519.org. 11am. The 519, 519 Church St. Free. the519.org

Pink Xmas

Thirty-five local vendors — everyone from Fetish for Fashion to Reindeer Canes — sell jewelry, bowties, greeting cards, jockstraps and more. Runs until Sunday, Dec 13, 11am–5pm. The 519, 519 Church St. Free. pinkmarketto.com

TICOT Meet and Greet Brunch

Emperor Ricky Lake Ontario hosts a brunch that includes a raffle in support of TICOT’s College of Monarchs Emergency Fund. Noon–1:45pm. Bumpkins, 21 Gloucester St. $20. For more info, visit Facebook.

Festivus: A Holiday for the Rest of Us.

Everyone’s welcome at The Toronto Gaymers’ catered dinner and night of board and video games. 7pm. Glad Day Bookshop, 598 Yonge St. $15 advance, $20 door. facebook.com/torontogaymers

A Very Chris-terical Christmas Cabaret

Every year, high-kicking cabaret sensation Chris Tsujiuchi defiles carols, wears ugly sweaters and shows off his friends on stage. Runs until Sunday, Dec 13, 7:30pm. Buddies in Bad Times, 12 Alexander St. $25. buddiesinbadtimes.com

Pitbull: A Kinky Christmas

Leather and fetish gear-clad folks dance to DJ Joshua Reid’s sexy beats and enjoy the gyrations of Santa and his slutty go-go elves. 10pm. The Gates, 66 Gerrard St. $20 advance, $30 door. pitbullevents.com

Pop Machine: Joy

DJs Aural and Kris Steeves make the yuletide gay with a high-energy night of festive pop music. 10pm. WAYLA, 996 Queen St E. $5. For more info, visit Facebook.

Trade: Jock Swap

Guys are encouraged to dance in only their jockstraps at this party (swapping encouraged). Includes special guest George d’Adhemar, of Pittsburgh’s Honcho party. 10pm. The Black Eagle, 457 Church St. No cover. facebook.com/getsometrade

Sunday, Dec 13

Jade Wallace: A Lesbian Erotica Book Reading

Lesbian erotica author Soma Stanford reads from her controversial, sex-filled new novel, Jade Wallace. 6:30pm. Glad Day Bookshop, 598 Yonge St. Free. gladdaybookshop.com

Queer Songbook Orchestra: Roasted Chestnuts

The 11-piece chamber ensemble, The Queer Songbook Orchestra, presents holiday songs and stories. To share your story, contact info@queersongbook.com. 8pm. Tranzac Club, 292 Brunswick Ave. $10. queersongbook.com

Tuesday, Dec 15

Cocktails and Candy Canes

This cabaret features Ryan Kelly, Gabi Epstein, Sarah Strange, and others, singing holiday tunes by such greats as Harry Connick Jr, Ella Fitzgerald and Whitney Houston. 9pm. The Jazz Bistro, 251 Victoria St. $15. jazzbistro.ca

Wednesday, Dec 16

Elizabeth — Darcy: An Adaptation of Pride and Prejudice

An annual holiday tradition, the all-female version of Jane Austen’s play is full of sexy but subtle lady-on-lady tension. Runs until Sunday, Dec 20, various showtimes. Campbell House, 160 Queen St W. $20. facebook.com/elizabethdarcybw

Friday, Dec 18

Kinkmas Meet and Greet

Food, drink and awful holiday puns — kinksters mingle with friends old and new in a leather and sex shop. 5–9:30pm. Northbound Leather, 7 St Nicholas St. Free. For more info, visit Facebook.

Forte: Xmas Mix Tape

The Toronto Gay Men’s Chorus’s annual Christmas concert includes traditional and contemporary tunes and a salute to Hannukah. 7:30pm. Trinity St-Paul’s United Church, 427 Bloor St W. $25 advance, $30 door. fortechorus.ca

DFMO

Nothing makes the baby Jesus happier than a bunch of queers making out on a dancefloor at Christmas. DJs John Caffery and The Robotic Kid spin. Midnight. The Black Eagle, 457 Church St. No cover. blackeagletoronto.com

Saturday, Dec 19

Sharron and George’s Super-Fun Christmas Sing-Along

Toronto’s queerest straight couple are back again this year to lead you through some holiday songs, and Tony Nappo tells a Christmas yarn. Runs until Sunday, Dec 20, 7pm. Buddies in Bad Times, 12 Alexander St. $25. buddiesinbadtimes.com

Cherry Bomb: Holiday Throwback Jam

DJs Cozmic Cat, Denise Benson and a special guest, spin for a lady-laden, cruise and dance-happy crowd. 10pm. Round, 152 Augusta Ave. $5 before 11pm, $8 after. facebook.com/cherrybombtoronto

Fit: Xmas Edition

DJs Phil V and Kris Steeves put you through your paces on the dancefloor. Sporty local celebrity Kinnon works the door. 10:30pm. Zipperz, 72 Carlton St. $10. For more info, visit Facebook.

Sunday, Dec 20

Drag in a Bag: Holiday Edition

Inexperienced but eager competitors get a random drag outfit in a bag, then spin a wheel to see what holiday tune they’ll be lip-synching. Skipper Meds hosts. 7pm. Buddies in Bad Times, 12 Alexander St. $10. facebook.com/nuitrosetoronto

Friday, Dec 25

If you’ve got nowhere else to be, then there’s no place better than Woody’s on Christmas day. 1pm. 465 Church St. No cover. facebook.com/woodyssailortoronto

Saturday, Dec 26

Toastr: Boxing Day

This edition of the recurring girl party includes not only DJs Cozmic Cat and Sticky Cuts spinning hip hop, funk and dancehall, but guests playing live violin and drums. 9:30pm. The Gladstone Hotel, 1214 Queen St W. $10 before midnight, $15 after. facebook.com/toastrto

Sunday, Dec 27

TICOT Bingo

The Imperial Court of Toronto hosts a relaxing evening of bingo. Let’s hope nobody loses an eye. 2:30pm. Flash, 463 Church St. Free. For more info, visit Facebook.

Holiday Hot Kiss

People of all genders and orientations enjoy cruising, flirting and even fucking, in many play areas or beside the pool. 8pm–3am. Oasis Aqualounge, 231 Mutual St. For cover info, visit oasisaqualounge.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).

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