On Friday the 13th Hamilton’s Loose Canon Gallery will host The Skateboard Art Show. A group show exhibiting the talents of over 20 artists using a skateboard deck as a canvas. A few notable Toronto artists will be featured including Tjie Tsang, Mark Byk and Contra photographer Luis Mora.

The Skateboard Art Show
at Loose Canon Gallery (as part of the Hamilton Art Crawl)
Opening Friday August 13th (Running until September 4th)
150 James St North, Hamilton ON
Featuring Tjie Tsang, Mark Byk, Luis Mora and many more…

Country music, funny people and prizes?! Tonight, Monday June 28th, you can shake off the G20 blues at the Dakota Tavern. The Dakota Tavern is hosting a fundraiser for the production of “Haunted Hillbilly”. Haunted Hillbilly is a show that will be staged as part of the Summerworks Theatre Festival.

Haunted Hillbilly Hootenany
Dakota Tavern
249 Ossington Ave.
Monday June 28th, 2010
$15
Music and more…
Featuring: Justin Rutledge, Afie Jurvanen, Doug Paisley, Derek McCormack, Chelsea P. Manders, Matt Barber and others.

Salad King is not gone forever. For that I’m thankful. The sight of debris and large construction fences around Yonge and Gould were ominous enough. Salad King’s website still shows their April 22nd update regarding their closure due to their building falling on the street. I wondered months ago whether the “reno” by the new street level corner tenant resulted in one less support. The reno seemed to create a longer 3 pane window. I could be mistaken but it’s obvious something was not right after the work was done and the new business moved in.

Flash forward to whatever transpired with the building post-reno and dangerous debris is falling on the street. Saddest, for me, is that one of my fave restaurants that has been forced to close until who knows when???!!!

Not about to go to Don Mills to check out Salad King’s upscale Linda location but mmm it’s tempting. Thankful that no one was injured but my fave Thai restaurant in Toronto is still a victim!

I’ve heard first hand about some wheelers and dealers in Toronto and their love of rock star nights on the town. Not to say that all patrons of Toronto’s fine venues are thieves and crooks, but not everyone can wine and dine themselves with $10,000+ diners and afford that lifestyle through legal means.

The Toronto Star has an interesting article regarding some drama after a night at Harbour 60. This article may shed some light on the lenient sentence Rahim Jaffer after facing charges of drunk driving and cocaine possession. Although Jaffer may have boasted insider influence in the past but the Conservatives are denying any ties to him at present.

As a whole it is disturbing how tough on crime we appear to be but how soft things are for white collar criminals. Time will tell whether any justice will be served. Unfortunately crime knows not of a recession.

Do cheap drinks, no cover and 1/2 price wings sound like music to your ears? What about the musical stylings of Dan Arget?

Yes Tuesday night is Drink and Destroy night at 751. On tap will be a premiere of This Time Tomorrow, a sick skate video with Philly flava and footage gathered from the East Coast, London UK, Paris, Athens, Berlin and more. Catch the screening and you’ll also have a chance to pick up the latest issue of COLOR magazine. Spring is nearly hear. Get your stoke on around 9pm.

This Time Tomorrow Premiere / COLOR 8.1 Party
Tuesday March 9, 2010
Drink & Destroy @ 751
751 Queen Street West
No cover. 19+

Quest for Fire rocking out in the Hammer. They headlined at the Casbah February 27, 2010.

Made the trip out to Hamilton to see Toronto’s Quest For Fire. The band has been “on pause” with some members working on other projects like Pink Mountaintops. Glad they are “back”. Word is that they will have a new album later this year. Can’t wait. Until then their next show in Toronto is at the Garrison Saturday (March 6th).

Wavelength 500 kicks off Wednesday night. That’s 10 years of great indie rock goodness culminating in a huge super festival. Come out a catch Bruce Peninsula, Evening Hymns, Pony da Look, Deep Dark United, and Canaille. A full festival pass costs $50 but that will get you all the stacked shows from Wednesday through Sunday.

Check the Wavelength site for more details. Not to be missed!

Wavelength 500 – Show #1 – February 10, 2010
The Music Gallery
197 John Street
Bruce Peninsula, Evening Hymns, Pony da Look, Deep Dark United, and the Canaille
Doors 7pm
$12 adv / $15 door ($10 Music Gallery members)

A real double feature for Toronto’s skateboarders (in hibernation or otherwise). Both the Girl/AntiHero tour video “Beauty and the Beast 2” and “TENS” will be screened at The Bait Shop.

Double Feature at The Bait Shop – Beauty and the Beast and TENS
358 Dufferin Street, Suite 117
Toronto, Ontario, M6K 1Z8

Saturday January 30th
Doors at 7pm, vids start at 9pm.
Cash Bar
Open session on the mini ramp
(note 751 afterparty for those inclined…)

Toronto's PFL stopped in at the Casbah in Hamilton Thursday. Oh, the carnage!

The Pillow Fight League only gets better. I missed #36 at the Mod Club and decided to make the trek to Hamilton to catch Fight #37.

This was the first match ever to be hosted in Hamilton and the PFL didn’t dissapoint. The Casbah turned out to be a perfect venue. Judging by screams and enthusiasm from the crowd some new fans were converted.

Don’t worry Hamilton has hijacked the PFL. The next Toronto match promises to be an exciting new chapter. (One that involves SATURDAY NIGHTS instead of weeknights!).

PFL 39 – NEW DAY RISING!

Saturday Feb. 27, 2010
$12 in advance, $15 at door
Doors 9 pm, fights 10 pm

One of my favourite venues in the city celebrates a special anniversary this week. The St. Lawrence Market turns 205 this week. Stop by this piece of the city’s history on Friday and Saturday to catch up on the festivities. On Friday Bruce Bell will be leading a tour through Old Town Toronto bringing familiar Toronto landmarks to life. The fun continues Saturday with music, buskers and more. Rediscover the core.

Of course one can’t forget the the food! There will be specials and anniversary features to sample so don’t miss it. All the more reason to check out the St Lawrence Market.

St. Lawrence Market 205th Anniversary
Friday, November 6, 6 p.m., and Saturday November 7, 2009, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.