Results tagged “diy”

If you're into DIY culture, hate prickly thieves, and can appreciate a well-intentioned fundraiser, then this is the post for you. The Toronto Zine Library—known best for providing you with good times and thousands of genre- and decade-spanning zines for your perusal out of the Tranzac—were recently broken into and burgled clean of all the money they'd raised (primarily used to maintain the space and acquire new materials).

Two months from today will mark the calendar end of this cold, scientifically sad season. Two more months of the cold, the wet, the layers upon layers, and too-closely sharing snow-filled sidewalks with your fellow pedestrians. Chances are the very thought of this may already have you waiting it out, brooding, and creating some winter-inspired pieces of art inside your cozy abode, but the Whippersnapper Gallery would like to "jolt you out of your houses" to see—and maybe even display your work in—"Winter Showcase," opening February 12 at their College Street gallery as part of their thrice-yearly group show exhibitions. The group shows, according to Whippersnapper, "are excellent opportunities for artists who do not have a large body of work to gain exhibition experience." So if an entire room (besides your own) filled only with examples of your deepests and darkests is a little intimidating, this might be a less terrifying starting point.

Photo by ariehsinger from the Torontoist Flickr Pool.

With temperatures finally floating above zero, tonight's the tonight to dance and drink away the dregs of winter. And tomorrow morning? Head to the Gladstone Hotel for hangover brunch at noon... then start the party all over again with Shameless Magazine. The glossy for "girls who get it" is fêting the launch of the latest issue at the Gladstone Ballroom from 1—4 p.m. Saturday, March 15, with a something-for-everyone celebration.

Torontoist is ending the year by naming our Heroes and Villains of 2007––the people, places, and things that we've either fallen head over heels in love with or developed uncontrollable rage towards over the past twelve months. Get your dose, starting Boxing Day and running into the new year, three times a day––sunrise, noon, and sunset.

When thrashy experimental punks Quebexico called it a day earlier this year, angry, drunken, often-bearded fans across the country had a good reason to get more angry, more drunk, and grow larger beards. Thankfully, the band's offspring is hitting the same musical highs in the same aggressively DIY manner. TEENANGER, comprised of the 3/4ths of Quebexico that lived in Toronto (Ottawa-based guitarist Davey now plays in the also-awesome Million Dollar Marxists), is a little more garage rock 'n' roll than its members more experimentally thrash past. The same spirit is there, though, and it was the insane, sometimes unreasonable energy of Quebexico that made them such a fine sight to behold. TEENANGER has been forging its own name and identity through some fairly intense shows around the city (a few weeks back, the band tore up Ossington hot spot Baby Doll's strip club), and this weekend finds them kicking ass and taking names at the Tiger Bar (414 College Street) alongside the insanely good Marvelous Darlings and Montreal rockers Demon's Claws. The former kind of sound like an uber-power-pop incarnation of Buzzcocks, while the later are kind of like a Can-Can Dead Milkmen. So, awesome.

When New York punks Leftover Crack were denied entry into the country last week (something to do with criminal records), East Vancouver's The Rebel Spell opted not to give up and salvaged the tour, making their way across this fine land in true DIY punk fashion. This weekend finds the band in Toronto, trading a show at all ages mega-complex The Reverb for the way punker Siesta Neveaux. Located at 15 Lower Sherbourne, there isn't a better place in this city to watch some proper, gritty punk rock.

If you've ever fantasized about designing your own skateboard deck—and really, who hasn't—the best day of your life may rapidly be approaching.

Toronto’s DIY fashionistas, independent designers, eclectic personalities and thrift store scavengers get a chance to flaunt the city’s indie fashion credentials this Wednesday at the Cadillac Lounge.

They say that the media is for the people, so who ya gonna call when in crisis? Certainly suspender-wearing hero Kevin Frankish, host of CityTV's Breakfast Television!

“What’s going on this week in cinema, Torontoist?” you might be asking, as you normally would when faced with another Film Friday column. “Well,” we'll respond, “If you want to know what is hot, you only have to look at a couple of earlier posts this week.”

Among book collectors, zines are what's known as ephemera -- written matter meant to circulate and serve a purpose, but not to last. They tend to wind up in recycling bins instead of libraries, and so there's a danger that the entire history of zine-making over the last two or three decades could simply vanish. A few avid collectors have formed the Toronto Zine Library -- collected hundreds of zines, and organized them by subject and title -- you can browse the catalogue online. Or you can drop by the Tranzac, get a pint at the bar, sit down with a box of the Library's stash, and start reading.

Carnival enthusiasts unite this evening at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre for The High Fashion Show, touted as a "runway cabaret" with the spirit of an antiquated midway. Part fashion show, part indie rock concert and part charity gala, all proceeds go to Camp Ten Oaks, a one-week summer camp for children with LGBTQ parents.

Okay Adbusters, we get that it's Buy Nothing Day, but what's the harm in supporting some local designers and craftistas who make their own merchandise from the comfort of their hip Cabbagetown apartments?

DIY novelist, Hamish MacDonald is launching his third novel, Idea in Stone - a magical realist tale that stretches from Canada to Scotland, at It's Not a Deli (986 Queen Street West) tonight (7:30pm).

Does coke have hate-on for the GTA? First there was their secretive attempt to foist Blak on Yorkville and us. Now, is the soft drink giant also ripping off suburban DIY collective the Winking Circle? The Uxbridge collective celebrates eccentricity and creativity by building custom bikes, riding in critical masses, building skateboard parks in their sleepy town and more. They've also made a little video manifesto/documentary which may or may not have been ripped off by a local ad company under contract to Coca Cola.

As of late, Torontoist has become slightly obsessed with the talents of others. I think it may have to do with the fact that we're not crafty-at all. And finding ways in which to showcase and sell your crafty ways may prove a bit difficult, unless laying out your wares on the sidewalks of Queen Street is more up your alley. Saying that, we must get the word out to fellow Torontonians about this site we've stumbled upon and have spent much too much time browsing, Etsy. This site, which is incredibly designed and will most definitely inspire an intense desire to make something (or buy just about anything you could ever want). You can browse a huge catalogue of all things handmade, by a large collection of crafty people from just about anywhere in the world. DIY Torontonians are out in full force; check out shops like Fox Shop, Elm Designs and Kitsch Klothing. Go on open up a shop, you know you want to!

before even taking the stage - a bit of a rarity at Wavelength. Through a Dan Burke-organized fundraiser (so that The Adam Brown could financially recover after stolen equipment) and a popular MySpace page, there's already quite an Adam Brown awareness in the city amongst scene-people and to local record labels. For those unaware of The Adam Brown, the tag of 'power-pop-punk-DIY' should cover all bases.

You gonna feel like a damn fool laying at the hospital dying of nothing.

Fresh Collective is a hive of intrepid DIY and independent fashion from over 15 designing women. Tonight, the Queen West boutique celebrates its second anniversary with a free party, designers in attendance, 20% off everything in the store, and sweet deal racks, from childrens clothing and bunting bags to kicky skirts and accessories like charm bracelets festooned with vintage Canadian provincial charms. From 7pm to 10pm.

Happy New Year!