May 6, 2008
Queen and Beerthurst Runs Dry
It was a depressing weekend for hundreds of kids who were eagerly awaiting SMILE, the first of the final three events from the famous all-ages event promotion crew Goodfellaz. The five were forced to cancel an hour before the event because the venue—BLAK (formerly Crosstown)—was not only deemed unsafe for occupancy by the fire marshal, but had its liquor license suspended by the AGCO. Sources within the club tell Torontoist that there is virtually no chance of BLAK re-opening.
Most all-ages promoters' first reaction to the news might be to go back to using the Big Bop, the legendary purple building across the street—but the Big Bop's liquor license was also suspended this weekend. Murmurs in the community have suggested that somebody must have missed a payment. The suspension was apparently caused by serving liquor after hours. Colour us shocked. No word yet on how long the suspension is for, although we assume it will be at least the standard ten days.
All signs point to an orchestrated police operation to intimidate and shut down after-hours establishments. After the Comfort Zone raid, many thought that BLAK was next. Now that the corner of Queen Street West & Bathurst Street has been basically shut down, we wonder what club is next now.
In a just world, the AGCO would be abolished and Toronto would create its own liquor bylaws. One bylaw that can be passed before this lofty dream comes true, though, is extending last call to 4 a.m. The City has this power now, thanks to the City of Toronto Act, but thus far no councillor has made extending last call a pet cause.
Photo by DanielN from the Torontoist Flickr Pool.
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"In a just world, the AGCO would be abolished and Toronto would create its own liquor bylaws. "
I'd prefer the City to deal with real issues.
On an unrelated note, I doubt there is much support in the community for an extension of last call to 4 AM. I think that Kevin has mentioned it on here before, but surely the plurality opinion in the populace is that 2 is late enough. A few discrete booze cans are enough to work around any friction in that law.
Oh common.
I don't for a second believe the "someone missed a payment" excuse.
This place must have done someonething WRONG to have its liqour licence removed and deemed unsafe for the amount of dosed out dancers that would have packed the place.
Wait--we're complaining about Queen West and Bathurst becoming less sketchy?
Really, the last thing that corner needs is a Comfort Zone clone. And especially one that's a known fire hazard...
If you really want to drink after 2, make sure you've got a mickey or some beers at your place or your friend's place or in the alley behind the club or wherever you're headed after last call. It's not that hard. I've done it many times. It's also cheaper.
selective late licensing is done in major cities all over the world and tends to help encourage a more varied nightlife. whether you personally have an interest in staying out 'til 4 or not, late close acts as a signalling device that a city is serious about cultivating a vibrant nightlife.
thanks for the tips on drinking after 2 though, hadn't thought of that!
"Corrupt cops? Impossible!" Yeah, right.
Also Paige, I don't think you realize, or perhaps you don't care, that there are now 0 licensed establishments in Toronto that will admit minors for an all-ages show or party. What kind of city does that make Toronto?
And finley, thank you, I have also called for staggered last call - but I am afraid it will be used to stigmatize establishments that the police simply don't like, such as hip hop clubs, down to the point of flagrant racism. After long and careful thought, it seems like it would be fair to keep it the same for all establishments - 4 AM.
The issue here is that regardless of whether or not you want to drink past 2, what time last call is signifies the end of the evening for most establishments. Further the fact is, regardless of whether you want to drink past 2, there is no reason why there should be legislation to that affect. While I'm hardly surprised that Blak's safety codes were not up to par, this does seem a planned attempt by toronto to shut down alternative night life.
It frankly surprises me that citizens still believe that the system is infallible, though if one is looking to the media for a representation of reality then they are looking in the wrong place.
Suggesting that you hide liquor somewhere and drink it in public after last call is suggesting something that would be illegal...suggestinting that the last call be moved later at a more reasonable time is not.
It saddens me to see the lack concern around this crack down on venues that hosted all ages events...as a good citizen you dont always have to be concerned only with issues that concern you directly.
Things have a domino effect...if we give authority the power to take over the few alternative gathering places youth may have then they will feel that they have the power to do other things that could negatively impact our lives as people who live in Toronto.
Maybe I'm just an old fart, but in my day, all ages events were held much earlier. And usually, the kids did things like rent a legion or something. Got the whole DIY idea into their heads young.
In the words of my mom, when I was 18: "Nothing really good hapens after 1am". The older i get, the more I realize it's validity.
There aren't enough strip clubs for teenagers either... Blak was hardly an appropriate "alternative gathering place" for youth. There's lots of alternative stuff youth can be doing with there time that is fun, positive, rebellious, not everything has to be an After School program but it's possible to be a wild punk and still be changing the world for the better. Blak is more so for people who can't remember to change their hoodies.
After the Comfort Zone, I less so thought that Blak was "next" in this conspiracy sense, and more so thought that it _deserved_ to be. Corrupt cops in Toronto is of course not an outlandish or unprecedented possibility, but how about less-than-ethical trashclub owners and operators? Those are not hard to find.
And what a lack of all ages venues has to do with pushing last call to 4 a.m., I don't really see.
Did the El Mo stop allowing all ages events? That isn't the impression I've got at the moment.
If there is this concerted anti-nightlife operation, it's contradictory for them to target these very sketchy but somewhat under-the-radar places instead of taking on the infamous murderous terror of the EnTeRtAiNmEnT DiStRiCt. Although I'd probably go the easy route too if I was handed that cop-choice.
I have to agree. there's alot more problems than anyone would like to admit to on that corner/
spend 10 min on a saturday, sober, and then tell me your thoughts.
i agree there might be a lack of places to have events, but isn't exploiting an issue worse in the long run?
"Also Paige, I don't think you realize, or perhaps you don't care, that there are now 0 licensed establishments in Toronto that will admit minors for an all-ages show or party. What kind of city does that make Toronto?"
Wait.. wait, so me drinking a beer at the Spice Girls ACC concert while dozens of tweens danced beside me doesn't count?
And Sound Academy also does all ages, licensed shows--there's a few scheduled for this summer. Molson Ampitheratre also serves at concerts for all ages.
So... basically Kevin, your "0 establishments" was a big fat lie?
And aside from that, I had plenty of fun when I was younger at parties that didn't serve liquor to the older peeps. Raves, all-ages nights at the Docks & other seedy clubs I'm now ashamed to admit I went to... I actually don't even understand the argument of why underage kids should be allowed at venues that serve liquor, to tell you the truth.
Sorry both Paige and Chris, I should have been more descriptive.
Add "after midnight" as a qualifier and that is what I meant. Of course you can go to Sneaky Dee's before 9 PM and your folks can get a beer at the same time. That has nothing to do with creating real nightlife options for young people.
And Chris, I am pretty sure promoters are calling in all their favours right now - don't expect the El Mo to take over the Big Bop's business. I would be surprised if they did all ages dance parties more than once a month, if that.
And my curfew was midnight until I was 17... and then I got a fake ID and still had to be home by 2am.
You'll have a tough time convincing me--and most parents--that Toronto's not a real city until there are places underage kids can hangout with of-age drinkers past midnight.