June 2008

The Weekender

Burlesque shows, dirty bingo and naked cycling. Our roundup of the city’s lesser-known events gets a little hotter this weekend By Stacy Lee Kong

From left: Jace Lasek of the Besnard Lakes, yummystrawberries and a tattooed vixen
From left: Jace Lasek of the Besnard Lakes, yummy
strawberries and a tattooed vixen
Image credit: Jeremy Farmer/Tamara Dunn/Adam Hammer

1. WORLD NAKED BIKE RIDE (FREE!)
There’s no less flattering way to ride a bike, but Toronto’s eco-friendly, body-loving riders take it all off for this worldwide event. Body paint and bike decorating is encouraged; pants, not so much. June 14; meet at noon, ride starts at 1 p.m. Coronation Park, Lake Shore Blvd. W. (at Fort York Blvd.), www.worldnakedbikeride.org.

2. NORTHERN INK XPOSURE
It’s not quite Miami Ink, but this tattoo convention promises plenty of opportunities to ogle, including a live-art installation, fashion show and celebrity tattoo artists. June 13 2 p.m.–midnight, June 14 noon–midnight, June 15 noon–7 p.m. $25, passes $50–$75. Hilton Toronto, 145 Richmond St. W. (at University Ave.), www.tattoos.com/nix.

3. BRAN VAN 3000 (FREE!)
The Montreal collective may be best known for 1998’s summertime classic “Drinking in L.A.” (and for good reason: just try getting that ridiculous chorus out of your head), but their new stuff is almost as addictive. June 14, 9 p.m. Yonge-Dundas Square, www.nxne.com.

4. STRAWBERRIES AND ASPARAGUS (FREE!)
Cedarvale Park hosts a one-day community event that celebrates all things green (and red—June is peak strawberry season). A family-friendly event, there are snacks, “solar ice cream” (it’s made from a solar-powered machine), live music and a marketplace for green businesses and organizations. June 14 (rain day June 15), 11 a.m. Cedarvale Park, 433 Arlington Ave. (at Vaughan Rd.), www.cedarvalepark.com.

5. SHIRLEY’S DIRTY BINGO
This X-rated version of Grandma’s favourite game is all about filthy jokes, sex toys and Shirley, the foul-tempered drag queen host known for heckling the crowd. June 14, 10 p.m. PWYC; suggested donation $2. Queen Star Restaurant, 1116 Queen St. W. (at Lisgar St.), shirleysdirtybingo.com.

6. DAY OF DELIGHT
Clay & Paper Theatre pays tribute to love, courtship and desire with a series of performances perfect for short attention spans: a new act begins every 15 minutes. Look out for satirical theatre pieces featuring stilt walkers, local ensemble Random Acts of Dance and the Community Chorus for Love, sung by festival-goers. June 14, 2 p.m. PWYC; suggested donation $10. Dufferin Grove Park, Dufferin St. (at Bloor St. W.), www.clayandpapertheatre.org.

7. MOSH BEN ARI
Taking global music (and the white-guy-with-dreadlocks look) to new heights, Israeli roots-reggae multi-instrumentalist Mosh Ben Ari makes his North American debut at the Mod Club. June 15, 8 p.m. $25–$65. The Mod Club Theatre, 722 College St. (at Crawford St.), 416-588-4663, www.ticketweb.ca.

8. STRIP SEARCH
Would-be burlesque stars literally show us what they’re made of in between performances by established acts. Don’t miss the performance by two members of Boylesque TO, the city’s first all-male troupe. June 15, 8 p.m. $10. Goodhandy’s, 120 Church St. (at Richmond St. E.).

OTHER EVENTS TO CHECK OUT THIS WEEKEND:
Luminato, which wraps up on June 15
Swervedriver, the Besnard Lakes and Uncut at NXNE on June 13
Scarborough duo The Carps at the Mod Club on June 14
Canada’s premier jazz fusion group of the ’90s, Metalwood, on June 13





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