\ TO CENTRAL \

If I sometimes seem overly critical of the service in bars either while in situ or in writing, you can blame little Yorkville Pub Hemingway’s and a server named Donna.

Thirty years ago —eight years after it opened, it turns out —according to the timeline of tonight’s 38^th anniversary party taking place in the cozy, fun room at 142 Cumberland Street a block east of Avenue Road— I was a regular there every Friday night while in town to cash my pay cheque from the national paper I was writing for.  And I got spoiled.

Donna, in addition to being a fetchingly attractive and flirtatious barmaid, was absolutely amazing in her ability to single-handedly look after a couple of dozen patrons in the bar area as well as keeping the trays of floor servers brimming with suds in the room that was always jam-packed.

Donna once explained that the secret to great bartending was “using your eyes.  You’re walking to one end of the bar to deliver a drink and as you go you constantly scan the area for anyone else looking for a refill, or new arrivals, whatever.  It’s just about paying attention,” really, she told me.  Something that sadly many of today’s phone-obsessed millennials —who seem to think they’re the special ones, not the customers— seem to be incapable of doing.

(I once told Donna she’d be well-suited to be an air traffic controller —her ability to keep her head and calm, friendly demeanour under very pressurized situations was simply uncanny.  She wasn’t alone in that adeptness, by the way —up the street a bit. bartender Phil at the then-Bellair Café was also amazingly ambidextrously efficient in handling an even larger bar area with very demanding patrons.  It was a great time and area to be a drinker!)

Hemingway’s (which also has a small but excellent front patio plus, added since I used to habituate the place, a gorgeous rooftop patio that will be open tonight) also always had live music a couple of nights a week —I remember seeing David Hines there on a few occasions and several other solo and duo acts who would fit into a small performance area that is still there and still featuring some excellent talents —to wit tonight’s entertainment for the 5-10 anniversary bash, singer-songwriter Shawn Brady, about whom I’ve written many times previously.

I assume Donna is long gone from the bar (maybe she’s directing flights at Pearson Airport!) so I have no idea if the service is still so great at Hemingway’s but I can certainly attest that the entertainment is still first-rate and tonight’s no-cover anniversary is well worth a looksee.

-Gary17, TorontoMoon.ca
[email protected] * [email protected]

SHOW LISTINGS for Wednesday, May 23, 2022

For KEY to listings codes and schemata see note at end of shows list.

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ON AIR / ONLINE

*6-8pm> The Rock-A-Round with Slim Tim @ www.rockabilly-radio.net ~ Rockabilly tracks (from UK, repeat show from previous Friday)

 

416 – TORONTO CENTRAL

noon-1pm> Jazz.FM Youth Band @ Four Seasons Center, 145 Queen St. W. ~Jazz; $0

1:30> “Motown Musical” @ Princess of Wales Theatre, 300 King St. W. ~musical theatre; $

5-10> Shawn Brady for club’s 38^th anniversary party @ Hemingway’s, 142 Cumberland St. ~acoustic Pop covers & originals; $0

6-8> Fawn Fritzen @ 120 Diner, 120 Church St. ~songwriter; $10-20/pwyc

6> Emmure; Counterparts; Varials; Lungless @ Mod Club, 722 College St. ~indie; $

6> The Parkdale Rebels @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W. ~Roots-Rock

6:30> Michael Herring Quartet @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W. ~Jazz; $

**7 (7 p.m. sign-up open stage at 8) with 9 p.m. feature by Jim Amar @ Fat Albert’s, 25 Cecil St. (Steelworkers Hall) ~songwriters

*7> Country music open mic & karaoke @ Rock ‘n’ Horse Saloon, 250 Adelaide St. W.

*7> Jim Heineman Trio @ Nawlins, 299 King St. W. ~Jazz

7> Comhaltas Irish Slow Session @ Tranzac Club (Tiki Room), 292 Brunswick Ave. ~folk dancing

7> Wet; Inc. No World @ Velvet Underground, 508 Queen St. W. ~indie; $

7> Facilitate spoken word open mic with features by Vannessa Barnier; Jim Francheteau @ May Café, 876 Dundas St. W.

*7-10> Blues jam with Voodoo Walters @ Alleycatz, 2409 Yonge St.

7:30> Special Interest Group @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave. ~groove Jazz; pwyc

7:30> Backtrack (NYC); Mizery; Regulate; Hangman @ Coalition, 282 Augusta Ave. ~Metal/Grunge/Hard-core; $

8> Kronos Quartet with Jherek Bischoff @ Koerner Hall, 273 Bloor St. W. ~original Classical; $

8-10> Jordana Talsky @ Art Square Gallery, 334 Dundas St. W. ~Jazz singer; $0

8> Mobina Galore; Typesetter @ Bovine Sex Club, 542 Queen St. W.

8-11:30> Johnny G and The Mojo Men; Basement @ Supermarket, 268 Augusta Ave. ~indie; $12

8-10:30> Joel Sheridan (recording release for Spellbound album) @ Jazz Bistro, 251 Victoria St. ~Jazz; $15

8> Toronto Symphony Orchestra performs Beethoven’s “Emperor” with conductor Osmo Vänskä @ Roy Thomson Hall, 60 Simcoe St. ~Classical; $

8-1> open mic @ The Boat in Kensington, 158 Augusta Ave.

8> Benson Lee & The End of The Worls @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W.

*8> John Bellisario hosts weekly Jazz jam @ The Music Box, 3434 Bathurst St.

8> Supersuckers; The Marwills @ Lee’s Palace, 529 Bloor St. W. ~contemporary original; $

8> City Of The Sun @ Rivoli, 334 Queen St. W. ~contemporary original; $

8:30-12> Girls Night Out Jazz singers’ jam with Lisa Particelli, Peter Hill & Ross McIntyre @ 120 Diner, 120 Church St. ~Jazz; $10-20/pwyc

8:30> Wilson & The Cast Aways; Arlene; Keys To Belfast @ C’est What, 67 Front St. E. ~indie; $pwyc

8:30> King Tuff; Cut Worms; Orville Peck @ Horseshoe Tavern, 370 Queen St. W. ~indie; $

8:30-12> Beggars Waltz @ The Cavern Bar, 76 Church St. ~original Rock/Pop; $

9> The Digs @ Reservoir Lounge, 52 Wellington St. E. ~Funk/Jazz/neo-Soul; $

9> BS Songwriting @ Cameron House (rear), 408 Queen St. W.

9-10:15> Tres Kilos Trio @ Mezzetta, 681 St. Clair Ave. W ~Cuban-inspired Jazz; $12

9> Jordan John Trio @ Poetry Jazz Café, 224 Augusta Ave. ~Blues/R&B; $10

9> open jam with Johnny Bootz @ Lola, 40 Kensington Ave.

*9-2> What’s Poppin’ indie jam @ Sneaky Dee’s, 431 College St.

9:30> Robb Cappalletto @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W. ~Jazz; $

10> Oxford Blue @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W.

10> Lewis, Downing Vrankulj, Miller @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave. ~Jazz

10-2> Phill Hood and The Exclamation @ The Hideout, 423 College St. ~contemporary Rock; $0

10-2> Action Sound Band with Leo Valvassori & Eric Schenkman @ Grossman’s, 379 Spadina Ave. ~Blues-Rock; $0

*10:30> After Funk @ Orbit Room, 580 College St. ~Funk/R&B; $10

 

416 – TORONTO EAST

6:30> Satyricon; Goahwhore; Panzerfaust; Blood of Christ @ Opera House, 735 Queen St. E. ~Metal/Grunge/Hard-core; $32.50

7> Jeremy & Jenn @ Firkin on the Danforth, 2057 Danforth Ave. ~acoustic Pop covers & originals

*7:30-10:30> The BTBs @ Relish, 2152 Danforth Ave. ~Jazz; 0$

7:30> M Factor Indie Music Showcase with Elana Harte & Stiletto Flats + feature act Sandra Bouza + 10pm open stage (sign up at 7:30)  @ Linsmore Tavern, 1298 Danforth Ave. ~songwriters; $0

7:30> teen jam night @ Scarboro Music, 1051 Kingston Rd.

8-10> open mic with host Tony Oldland @ The Beach House, 1953 Queen St. E.

*9:30> open stage with Nicola Vaughan @ Black Swan Tavern (downstairs), 154 Danforth Ave.

 

416 – TORONTO ETOBICOKE

7-11> Chuck Jackson & Tyler Yarema @ Timothy’s Pub, 344 Brown’s Line ~Blues/R&B

*9-1> open mic with Daniel Gagnon @ The Old Sod, 2936 Bloor St. W.

 

416 – TORONTO SCARBOROUGH

8> Dan Walek & friends @ Working Dog Saloon, 3676 St. Clair Ave. E. ~acoustic Pop covers & originals

*8-1> open mic & karaoke @ Winners, 2181 Lawrence Ave. West

 

416 – TORONTO WEST

6-8> Ace of Wands; Ron Hawkins @ Burdock, 1184 Bloor St. W. ~songwriters; $12

*6:30> Aline Homzy @ Alchemy, 890 College St. ~Jazz; $0

7> Annie Lou (recording release for End Zone album) @ Dakota Tavern, 249 Ossington Ave. ~songwriter; $

8> Side Hustle (recording release for Side Hustle Songbook Vol. 1 ep) @ Drake Hotel, 1150 Queen St. W. ~contemporary original; $15

*8-11> Fraser/Daley @ Inter Steer, 357 Roncesvalles Ave. ~original Rootsy Blues

8:30-10:30> The Hump Night Blues Show with The Hump Night Krewe featuring Dave McManus & George Baumann & special guest Mr. Rick @ La Rev, 2848 Dundas St. W. ~Blues/R&B; $0

8:30> The Old Salts; Luke Michielsen @ Burdock, 1184 Bloor St. W. ~indie; $12

8:30> “Don’t Think Twice” celebration of Bob Dylan’s 77^th birthday with many artists including Paul James; Kyp Harness; Sue & Dwight; Melanie Peterson; Anway Khurshid; Sultans of String; Michelle Rumball; more @ Hugh’s Room, 2261 Dundas St. W. ~tribute to Bob Dylan; $35

8:30> Alex Shaw; Juice Box Brass Band; Eighth Street Orchestra @ The Painted Lady, 218 Ossington Ave.

9> Return For Refund; Subway Elvis @ Cadillac Lounge, 1296 Queen St. W. ~original Rock/Pop; $5

9> Peter Boyd & Noah Zacharin @ The Emmet Ray, 924 College St. ~songwriters; $pwyc

9> The Hulagoons @ The Local, 396 Roncesvalles Ave. ~Hawaiian Swing Surf

*9:30> Spy vs Spy vs Spy @ Reposado, 136 Ossington Ave. ~Jazz; 0$

10> Peter Elkas Band; Trish Robb @ Dakota Tavern, 249 Ossington Ave.

10:30> Lucas Stagg & Tanya Philipovich @ The Hole In The Wall, 2867 Dundas St. W.

*10:30> Luke Vajsar @ Motel Bar, 1235 Queen St. W. ~Jazz

 

519

6-8> Mattie Leon & Algernon Friolet @ Monigram Coffee Roasters, 16 Ainslie *6-8:30> ukulele jam @ Idea Exchange Hespeler, 5 Tannery St. E., Cambridge

*6-9> Dano & Jaye @ Ray’s Bistro, 1475 Queen St. W., Alton ~smooth Pop/Jazz

*7> open mic night @ Red Brick Café, 8 Douglas St., Guelph

7:30> “The Crossings Project” with Tabby Johnson @ Silence, 46 Essex St., Guelph ~vocal workshop; $0

7:30> Celtic Session @ Penny Whistle, 2 Quebec St., Guelph

8-12> Song Circle acoustic jam @ Anaf Club 344, 32 Gordon St., Guelph

8> jam night with Ian Taylor @ Pops & Ruby’s Tap & Grill, 200 Preston Pkwy., Cambridge

8-11> John Lee & The Hookers host Blues jam @ Rhapsody Barrel Bar, 179 King St. W., Kitchener

8> Matt Weidinger Band @ Lancaster Smokehouse, 574 Lancaster St. W., Kitchener

8> The Honest Heart Collective @ Maxwell’s, 220 King St. N., Waterloo

*8-11> A New Ground @ Churchill Arms, 355 Erb St. W., Waterloo ~Celtic

8:30-11:30> Dave Huber @ Royal Electric Bar, 52 Macdonell St., Guelph ~acoustic Pop covers & originals

*10> open stage hosted by Enio and Patrick @ NV Kitchen Bar, 16 Wyndham St. N., Guelph

*10> Mike Todd @ The Duke, 33 Erb St., Waterloo

 

705

*7-11> open jam with The Freacon Band @ The Beacon, 146 45th St., Wasaga Beach ~ Blues, Jazz; $5

7-7:30 open mic with Tyler Koke @ McGillicafey’s Pub & Eatery, 13 Bridge St.. N., Hastings

7-10> jam with host band The Gators & guest @ Harbour Street Fish Bar, 10 Keith Ave., Collingwood

8-12> Nicholas Campbell @ Black Horse Pub, 452 George St. N., Peterborough ~acoustic Pop covers & originals

*8> open stage @ Dobro Restaurant, 287 George St. N., Peterborough

*8> Ken Tizzard @ Church-key Pub, 26 Bridge St. W., Campbellford

*9-12:30> Josh Morgan & Mike Francis @ Donaleigh’s Irish Public House, 28 Dunlop St. E., Barrie ~acoustic Pop covers & originals

9> Kevin Foster @ McThirsty’s Pint, 166 Charlotte St., Peterborough

9> Sam Tudor; Sarah Fazackerley @ The Garnet, 231 Hunter St. W., Peterborough ~songwriters; $10

 

905 EAST

7-11> The Rockin Krolick for COPE mental health program fundraiser @ Royal Oak Whitby, 304 Taunton Rd., Whitby

7> Joanne Shaw @ Simcoe Blues & Jazz, 926 Simcoe St. N., Oshawa

*8> open stage and karaoke with Eddy Culjak @ Boston Pizza, 20 Taunton Rd., Whitby

*8-11> open mic @ Frank’s Pasta, 426 King St. E., Cobourg

*8> open mic @ Arthur’s Pub, 930 Burnham St., Cobourg

*8-10:30> open mic jam with Rob Foreman & Clayton Yates @ Ganaraska Hotel, 30 Ontario St., Port Hope

9> open mic @ The Moustache Club, 15 Simcoe St. N., Oshawa

*10> Two For The Show @ Tartan Tavern, 555 Rossland Rd. E., Oshawa ~Pop Rock

*10> Emerson Ireland hosts open mic jam @ The Gryphon Pub, 114 Dundas St. E., Whitby

 

905 NORTH-EAST

*7> open mic night with Tanya Joy Senior @ Col. McGrady’s Pub, 44 Brock St. W., Uxbridge

8-12> open mic with Kevin Ker (sign up at 7:30) @ Unionville Arms, 189 Main St., Unionville

*8:30-12:30> Jared Christopher Stafford @ Falcon & Firkin, 10300 Yonge St., Richmond Hill ~acoustic Pop covers & originals

8:30-11:30> open mic & acoustic jam with Don Fleming & Laurence Walters @ Father’s Moustache Grill, Aurora, 15570 Yonge St.

 

905 NORTH-WEST

8> acoustic jam with Frank Logue @ Shepherd’s Crook, 86 Main St. S., Georgetown

*8:45> open mic jam @ Magnums, 21 McMurchy Ave. N., Brampton

*10-2> jam night with Switchbeat Trio @ Maguires, 284 Queen St. E., Brampton

 

905 SOUTH

7:30-11> open mic jam with Dave Gould and Alison Novak @ Corktown Pub, 175 Young St., Hamilton

7:30> open mic with Keith Toms @ Staircase Bistro, 27 Dundurn St. N., Hamilton

8> Phew; Ylangylang; Xuan Le @ This Ain’t Hollywood, 345 James St. N., Hamilton ~Japanese Pop; $

8> Matt Zaddy @ Gallagher’s Bar, 29 Augusta St., Hamilton ~acoustic Pop covers & originals

8> Chris Chambers or Adam Ostrosser @ Thirsty Cactus, 2 King St. E., Dundas

*8:30> Something Country @ The Endzone, 1900 King St. E., Hamilton ~Country

9> Singalong with Judy Marsales @ Coach & Lantern, 384 Wilson St E., Hamilton ~Rock/Top 40

8> Patiohawk @ Casbah Lounge, 306 King St. W., Hamilton ~contemporary original; $10

8> The Sanjays @ Lazy Flamingo, 19 Hess. St. S., Hamilton ~Rock/Top 40 covers

*10> Jazz jam @ Cat N Fiddle Hamilton, 174 John St., S., Hamilton

 

905 WEST

*5> Adam Cooke @ SB Prime, 380 Brant St., Burlington

7> Rob Reed @ Max Resto Lounge, 2180 Itabashi Way, Burlington

8-12> talent showcase open mic (8-9) with host Edward Bose @ The Port House, 138 Lakeshore Rd. E, Port Credit-Mississauga

*8:30> The Carson Freeman Diversion @ Shore Grill, 71 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit ~Pop Jazz

9-1> Kevin Reid and the Dedbeats @ Roc’n Doc’s, 105 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit-Mississauga ~Rock/Pop; $

9-1> Ethan Mac Laren; Lobo; Crooks Hollow; Cosmic Circle @ Moonshine Café, 137 Kerr St., Oakville ~indie; $10

*9> open mic with Michael Zane @ Shakers Oakville, 589 Kerr St., Oakville

**10> open mic with host Kirt Godwin or Jonni X @ Spice Lounge, 52 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit-Mississauga

LISTINGS KEY

Listings are organized by area in which the shows occur and within each area field shows are listed chronologically.

Listings preceded by an asterisk (*) are repeating weekly events. (Double asterisk indicates repeating event with different hosts/guest/etc.). Events preceded by question mark (?) usually take place but have not been confirmed. Admission prices followed by a slash and minus (/-) after the amount indicates door charge with availability of cheaper rates for some purchasers (eg., seniors, members, children, etc.).  /+ indicates stated price is minimum.

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