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

In ‘Ten Bridges I’ve Burnt,’ Brontez Purnell balances on a knife edge between hilarity and despair

Purnell's new memoir turns heaviness into humour, and exposes the bleakness under what seems silly and light

‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ Season 16, Episode 12 power ranking: Designing women

Who among our top five will fall short of the finale?

‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ Season 16, Episode 12 recap: Bathroom babes

The infamous room design challenge returns, this time with … restrooms?

Bollywood flair quickens the tender heart of ‘The Queen of My Dreams’

Filmmaker Fawzia Mirza discusses her feature debut and how the intergenerational drama echoes much of her own life