.
.
The Contact Photography Festival is on now, and continues to mid summer. Various locations throughout the city bring you both free, and events where you need to pay. It’s a great opportunity to expose yourself to photography that you wouldn’t normally see. Listed for your convenience are a few films, workshops and installations that I thought were worth a mention. The words in this blog mostly belong to the Scotiabank Contact Photography Festival Website. I chose to do so, as clarity comes best directly from the source. Here is a complete map of everything that there is to experience this year. Here is their Twitter @ContactPhoto and Facebook

You may have missed out on April 20, 2013 at exactly 4:20pm. Yonge Dundas Square was a virtual smoke out. Weed was everywhere, and being smoked from everything: bongs, pipes and blunts. Here is a brief look back at what transpired that afternoon. The politics, the entertainment the grass roots feel. I have included various Youtube clips and live streams. Social media sites used the hashtag #420toronto. I found links for your enjoyment from Twitter and Instagram.

The weather was variable on this day. In Yonge Dundas Square a gathering of over 8,000 people assembled. Vapor Central brought it’s best comics, political activists, poets and bands to play to the thousands on the stage. The smell of weed flowed to Queen Street. It was definitively a day to keep those in : who can only breathe air not soaked with Kush, BC, Homegrown, and JDW. That’s just to name a few.

The Dream Bridge Exchange is an “urban youth networking agency.” They have been attracting sponsors to support events that support LGBTI youth. The mission statement is very clear : “We empower our LGBTI youth through collaborative community events which will provide socializing opportunities in order to better improve corporate world employment possibilities or entrepreneurial innovation.”

I know what you are thinking. Why is this Queerio writing about sex as much as I do? Well, when there is a lot to report on, I feel it’s my sworn duty. I mean, if I don’t then who else will give you a complete list of all that’s kinky and queer and sexy this week? This next week is KILLER! Two parties at the Oasis, the Feminist Porn Awards are in town and the latest installment of the SWITCH Queer Porn Party is ready for your pleasures. I have quoted directly from the various Facebook pages and websites, as I don’t want to miss a thing. I have also included the TTC INFO so you can get to where you are going.

Tues April 2nd

The Official release of UP&COMING Issue 3

I attended the Launch Party for this amazing magazine. It’s a collection of images, prose and poetry that inspires erotic imagery in your mind, and in your pants. The first issue’s images were not your average smut. It was very tasteful nudity, done in an explicit manner. Here is my voyeuristic view of the Launch Party last year.

You have a rare opportunity to be part of all of this energy. Here are the details straight from their Facebook.

I am always looking for unique events. I found this gem amongst the various Facebook invites I get on a daily basis. Monte Requesto presents “Toronto’s finest one-man acoustic all-request show featuring Gord Light.” For those of you who are not familiar with Gord, he is “a burly bearded bloke with an acoustic guitar.” I love this guy. He is a great performer and really knows how to connect with his audience.

Here is an excerpt from the Facebook page Sometimes it’s best just to let the words speak for themselves.

WHO? Gord Light, solo-acoustic-styles!
WHAT? All-request rigamarole! Three sets!
WHERE? The Cloak & Dagger Pub (394 College St, north side between Bathurst and Spadina)
WHEN? Wednesday, March 27th, 9pm sharp-ish!
WHY? If we don’t, no one will.
HOW? Simply post your request right here on the event wall, e-mail it to gordlightmusic@gmail.com or tweet it to @GordLight! So easy it’s amazing you haven’t requested something by accident already!
WHAT? Pay-what-you-can!

There is a certain okay-ness that is happening with sex in this city. There are more people honest and open that any time I have seen in my life. I lived through the 90′s so I know what I am talking about. It has been a natural, organic rise of knowledge and culture that exists today. Some people are right out of the closet, while others have a quiet acknowledgement to themselves about who they are and how they connect personally to kink. This blog is a revisit to Oasis Aqualounge. I also have a social media site for kinksters and a Toronto Munch.

Oasis Aqualounge

231 Mutual Street, between Carlton and Gerrard

Yes, I have mentioned this amazing place a few times. There has been a re-vamp of some of their events. The single men’s night and the women/trans night are beginning to see bigger crowds. The Oasis is a four story building. It has the following: heated pool year round, dry sauna,showers, hot tub and steam room. On the second floor you have the dungeon and the free lockers and towel service is included on most nights. The top two levels of the venue are geared toward sex. There is a Shaggin Waggin Room with a cut out van and lava lamps. The private room is on the top level. Click HERE for info about their events

This is one of the outrageous stripper poles. Just about everyone likes to either take a swing at it or flirt with people as they go around it.

Despite the weather, sometimes it’s nice to break out of routine and go somewhere else. Big screen tv’s to watch the game, happy people and a good vibe are three key ingredients to a good time. Here’s a little gem I wanted to share with all of you.

The Black Cat Pub and Grill, while yes, it is in the west end, truly is not that hard to get to, even on the stormiest of nights. Two major bus routes pass through the intersection of Jane and Dundas PLUS two Blue Night routes. Located at 3513 Dundas Street West the venue is going through a renovation in the back room. The place can get jam packed. Saturday nights they have booked some kick ass live music and Friday is Karaoke with Jeff Smith. They have a killer sound system that gets the crowd dancing and moving. Here is their Facebook for more information.

I spoke to Joe Carlos, the owner of the pub. He said “We are expanding our seating capacity with some booths and a few more tv s to better serve our customers.” I asked Joe about the beer and the food. “For a pint of premium it’s $7.50 and a pitcher is $18. Domestic is $6.50 a pint and $17.50 pitcher. Wings are our specialty. $9.90 for a l lbs and $17.99 for 2 lbs.” The menu also features an extensive all day breakfast to very generous mains and apps. My favourite is the the Steak and Eggs. The steak is always perfectly cooked and the meal is served hot and fresh.

Live Music

Mental Health issues affects 1 in 5 people in Canada. It can be infrequent days off work, to long term disability pensions where the person can never return to their career. Mental Illness can bring a person to their knees and let them feel isolated, afraid and totally in the dark about what to do and how to get help. Today, I am bringing all of you up to speed on the initiates that Bell is bringing to the table for their “Lets Talk” campaign on Feb 12 2013. I also have some personal experiences and a confession.

I had the opportunity to have a chat with Karen Ward about her new store Your Big Sister’s Closet She believes that “fashion is fun no matter what size.” She and her husband Peter Chiem have created a very bright, open concept retail experience. Its no wonder that women who are not sizes 12 – 24 want in on her collections. She is a selective buyer who has a good sense of what a woman wants to wear as an entire outfit. Everything from jewelry, head bands, bags and boots.

Well, it’s almost here, Dec 25 2012. For some, it’s a day with families, and other’s it’s an Orphan’s dinner with close friends. If you have not yet got around to making plans, or buying presents not to worry Pink Mafia’s got ya covered. I uncovered a close by travel spot, Niagara Falls, that is still accepting reservations.

New Years Eve 2012 is closer than you think. This is the party that starts the new year right and planning ahead is key. I have found 2 events for your consideration. A tradition NYE celebration on a not so traditional date of Sat Dec 29th and a destination event at a grand convention centre with a luxurious hotel right beside it.

There are times, as a blog writer, I am compelled to write about sadness, as much as I can write about celebration. The Trans Day of Remembrance commemorates those Trans people who have been victimized just because of their gender identity. I have found some events, both online and community partnerships. It is my hope that you read through these words, and find hope and reason to ally yourself with the Trans community. This history of this day, and it’s importance can be found here, on transgenderor.org

Being 150% queer, I tend to get very happy around two times of the year. Pride, obviously, and Halloween. As Pride is often thought of as Gay Xmas, then it’s time we Queerio’s had a New Year’s Eve. For Oct 31st 2012, I believe we can rename and re think how we celebrate this wonderful date. I have two Twitter hashtags for you to follow: #GAYNYE and #GAYNYEToronto.