A Noche Underground

A night out exploring the world of Mexican Luchadore fighting in Toronto

By Anna-Giselle Funes-Eng 

The reigning champion of the night, Gringo Loco. (Anna-Giselle Funes-Eng/CanCulture)

This past November, I headed down to Lee’s Palace to check out Demand Lucha’s “Masked by Midnight” event; almost two full hours of Luchadore wrestling matches. 

Demand Lucha says they’re the only place in Toronto where one can get authentic Mexican wrestling. They “fuse Mexico’s action packed, high flying, lucha libre style with a grungy, hardrock, Toronto style,” according to their website. 

As a faction of Toronto’s punk scene I was previously unfamiliar with, I went in open to the idea of seeing something new. I felt people spilt beer on my shoes when they stood to cheer. My life’s dreams were realized when I met that night’s champion, the Gringo Loco. 

Check out more about my head dive into the hardcore world of Toronto Lucha wrestling in the photo essay below

Female Luchas Bambi Hall and Dolce Tormenta (Anna-Giselle Funes-Eng/CanCulture)

Canada’s own Jody Threat, moments before losing to Gringo Loco. (Anna-Giselle Funes-Eng/CanCulture)

The tag team Los Medicos riled up the crowd. (Anna-Giselle Funes-Eng/CanCulture)

A Roomful of Surprises: What Gifts Can You Find in Your Room?

It's giving season. How can you give on a budget?

By Mariana Schuetze

New year, new me, right?

Before the new year comes around, I thought I'd get rid of some clutter in my room. In doing that, and with my Christmas shopping list in mind, I ended up finding some iconic things I might just give some friends in this giving season.

Tote bag

I bet all my left hand you also have at least a handful of tote bags hanging around your room right now. Slightly-loved tote bags, after some well-deserved washing, will make for a great gift to a friend or loved one. They can also be the packaging of another gift but with a little extra touch of you and extra help for the environment.

I bought this tote bag when I first went to New York in 2016. It was very helpful back then, and I've used it a bunch since. Now, it will serve as a great gift bag for my friend. (Mariana Schuetze/CanCulture)

Journal

An empty journal is another classic staple in my room. I counted at least five when doing this year's decluttering. You can even fill them up with some little notes, pictures and lovely memories, making it a great, personal gift.

This one is actually a re-gift (another classic, am I right?). I got this from my mom last year, it was an extra journal she got as a work gift, I believe, and I have never used it. Therefore, it's ready to be handed to someone who will love it better (maybe back to my mom, hoping she won't notice?) (Mariana Schuetze/CanCulture)

Friendship bracelets

Friendship bracelets are all the rage lately, and I believe they’re a really cute gift, especially when they’re made with the person in mind. This wasn't the case for these ones, to be honest; these are testers from my do-it-yourself bracelet kit, but I still love them. In a lovely case, and maybe with a handwritten note and some chocolate, this can be a perfect gift.

Fun fact: these two bracelets are supposed to represent the LGBTQAI+ and bisexual flags. The one on the left has similar colours to the Pride flag, and the right one is the bisexual flag (Mariana Schuetze/CanCulture)

Fun glasses

Help your friend see the beauty of a last-minute gift through sparkly-coloured glasses! These ones are from a 2022 Elton John concert. They are fun-shaped, and they light up with the push of a button. In all, a really fun gift and perfect for a costume party or for when your friend wants to put on a stadium tour performance in their room.

These glasses also present a fun exciting packaging challenge, and the options are endless: do I wrap it up? Put it in a bag and tie it with a bow? Maybe put it in a box? (Mariana Schuetze/CanCulture)

Glee DVD

I have to admit, I had a Glee phase–some might say I'm still in it– and for some reason, I decided to ship a season four Glee DVD all the way from the United States to Brazil to be able to watch and rewatch this season (why season four, though?) anytime I wanted. I don't care about Glee that much now, and it's all available on streaming, so I think I'm ready to part ways with it.

Season four's "Guilty Pleasure" used to be my favourite Glee episode, and after rewatching it recently, I’m starting to reconsider all my opinions — what a random episode (Mariana Schuetze/CanCulture)

Well, I hope after this journey through some hidden treasures in my room, I've given you some ideas on how to turn clutter into love.

Showstopping: Fashion Art Toronto 2023’s final fall and winter looks #FashionArtToronto

Local designers and TMU students brought fashion week to a dazzling end 

By Kinza Zafar

Fashion at TMU, alongside other exceptional designers, took to the 200-foot long runway for Fashion Art Toronto.

Over the course of four days, the city’s most devoted fashion lovers, designers and wearers flocked to the west-end for a new Fashion Art Toronto (FAT) season. Complete with multi-arts vendors, food and booze stands, live DJ sets and a 200-foot runway, attendees at the Black Creek Assembly were met with various sensory spectacles while uniting to indulge in the best of the city’s fashion. 

From gothic glamour and dystopian drama to cyberpunk couture and streetwear slay, FAT’s last day delivered on all fronts. Sitting atop a black podium, camera in hand, awaiting each model’s turn, strut and pose, prepared to capture every thread and expression encouraged non-stop ooh’s and aah’s behind the lens. Featuring works from talented designers from Fashion at TMU (Toronto Metropolitan University), KDJM Studio, Kolleen Boutique, Refaya Turshin, Purple Hearts Supply, Solouk, Brandon Keir, Kerotix and Kendrick Tran, the following photos showcase some of the final best that this fashion week season had to offer. 

Fashion at TMU partnered with FAT this season to celebrate Queer, Trans, Black Indigenous and People of Colour (QTBIPOC) student work (Kinza/Zafar).

Fashion at TMU partnered with FAT this season to celebrate Queer, Trans, Black Indigenous and People of Colour (QTBIPOC) student work (Kinza/Zafar).

Fashion at TMU partnered with FAT this season to celebrate Queer, Trans, Black Indigenous and People of Colour (QTBIPOC) student work (Kinza/Zafar).

Fashion at TMU partnered with FAT this season to celebrate Queer, Trans, Black Indigenous and People of Colour (QTBIPOC) student work (Kinza/Zafar).

Fashion at TMU partnered with FAT this season to celebrate Queer, Trans, Black Indigenous and People of Colour (QTBIPOC) student work (Kinza/Zafar).

From Toronto-based KDJM’s organic streetwear inspired collection (Kinza/Zafar).

From Toronto-based KDJM’s organic streetwear inspired collection (Kinza/Zafar).

From Toronto-based KDJM’s organic streetwear inspired collection (Kinza/Zafar).

From Canadian luxury leather and coat designer Kolleen Boutique’s new collection (Kinza/Zafar).

From Canadian luxury leather and coat designer Kolleen Boutique’s new collection (Kinza/Zafar).

From Canadian luxury leather and coat designer Kolleen Boutique’s new collection (Kinza/Zafar).

From multi-disciplinary Toronto artist Refaya Turshin’s Bengali textile collection featuring architectural structures and natural dyes (Kinza/Zafar).

From multi-disciplinary Toronto artist Refaya Turshin’s Bengali textile collection featuring architectural structures and natural dyes (Kinza/Zafar).

From multi-disciplinary Toronto artist Refaya Turshin’s Bengali textile collection featuring architectural structures and natural dyes (Kinza/Zafar).

From multi-disciplinary Toronto artist Refaya Turshin’s Bengali textile collection featuring architectural structures and natural dyes (Kinza/Zafar).

From Purple Hearts Supply’s second collection reimagining and merging formal and casual wear (Kinza/Zafar).

From Solouk’s seemingly minimal yet structurally complex achromatic collection (Kinza/Zafar).

From famed Toronto-based designer Brandon Keir’s vampiric genderless collection “Afterlife” (Kinza/Zafar).

From famed Toronto-based designer Brandon Keir’s vampiric genderless collection “Afterlif” (Kinza/Zafar).

From famed Toronto-based designer Brandon Keir’s vampiric genderless collection “Afterlife” (Kinza/Zafar).

From Kerotix’s cyberpunk-meets-y2k collection featuring strong silhouettes and soft styling (Kinza/Zafar).

From Kerotix’s cyberpunk-meets-y2k collection featuring strong silhouettes and soft styling (Kinza/Zafar).

From Kendrick Tran’s debut solo and show-closing collection exploring the Vietnamese-Canadian designer’s coming out journey (Kinza/Zafar).

From Kendrick Tran’s debut solo and show-closing collection exploring the Vietnamese-Canadian designer’s coming out journey (Kinza/Zafar)

From Kendrick Tran’s debut solo and show-closing collection exploring the Vietnamese-Canadian designer’s coming out journey

Fashion Art Toronto returns for Fall 2023 show #FashionArtToronto

Over 40 Canadian designers displayed their multi-garments through runway shows, art installations and presentations at this year’s fall event

By Teresa Valenton

The multi-fashion festival, Fashion Art Toronto returns for fall programming at Black Creek Assembly. With an introduction to the ‘Fashion Playground,’ the first day of the festival, Thursday, Nov. 16, was kick-started by four in-house designers. First established in 2005, this festival has become Toronto’s longest-running fashion week in the city. Coming together to celebrate Toronto’s fashion scene, this year's cohort continues to push boundaries in the culture scene.

From experimental takes on Indigenous Futurism from Ayimach Horizons to Tristan Réhel’s eccentric border between reality and fantasy, day one of this festival left for extraordinary pieces. Other featured designers include Mayer and Fugnitto, with an opening presentation by Marisa Ricci. Each collection sought to explore and examine the boundaries of garments and their relation to each designer. By combining traditionally conventional designs with statement pieces, attendees were given an unforgettable experience. 

Check out these runway designs in this CanCulture-exclusive photo essay: 

From Tristan Réhel’s curiosity for sexual liberation into ‘fever-dream-core.’ (Teresa Valenton/CanCulture)

From Tristan Réhel’s curiosity for sexual liberation into ‘fever-dream-core.’ (Teresa Valenton/CanCulture)

From Tristan Réhel’s curiosity for sexual liberation into ‘fever-dream-core.’ (Teresa Valenton/CanCulture)

From Tristan Réhel’s curiosity for sexual liberation into ‘fever-dream-core.’ (Teresa Valenton/CanCulture)

From Ayimach Horizon’s remix of cultural references into a space of Indigenous Futurism. (Teresa Valenton/CanCulture)

From Tristan Réhel’s curiosity for sexual liberation into ‘fever-dream-core.’ (Teresa Valenton/CanCulture)

From Tristan Réhel’s curiosity for sexual liberation into ‘fever-dream-core.’ (Teresa Valenton/CanCulture)

From Tristan Réhel’s curiosity for sexual liberation into ‘fever-dream-core.’ (Teresa Valenton/CanCulture)

From Tristan Réhel’s curiosity for sexual liberation into ‘fever-dream-core.’ (Teresa Valenton/CanCulture)

From Ross Mayer’s androgynous collection rid of labels and restrictions. (Teresa Valenton/CanCulture)

From Tristan Réhel’s curiosity for sexual liberation into ‘fever-dream-core.’ (Teresa Valenton/CanCulture)

From Ross Mayer’s androgynous collection rid of labels and restrictions. (Teresa Valenton/CanCulture)

From Ayimach Horizon’s remix of cultural references into a space of Indigenous Futurism. (Teresa Valenton/CanCulture)

From Ayimach Horizon’s remix of cultural references into a space of Indigenous Futurism. (Teresa Valenton/CanCulture)

The journey to find Toronto’s best discount bookstore

We toured four local bookstores with bargain prices to find the very best options for readers on a budget

By: Lama Alshami

The first bookstore CanCulture toured, ABC Books, near Wellesley Station. (Lama Alshami/CanCulture)

It’s no secret that in Toronto and other major cities across Canada, money can be tight for university students. Rent, food and transportation take priority, so spending on our hobbies is relegated to the back burner.

Inflation has even further exacerbated this issue. With many Torontonians barely being able to cover groceries, book prices are just too high to justify. Fortunately, Toronto is filled with discount bookstores that recognize the need for inexpensive and accessible books. 

In hopes of finding a replacement for the retail giants, CanCulture contributor Lama Alshami visited four Toronto bookstores and ranked them based on their prices, selection of books and proximity to the Toronto Metropolitan University's campus. The following bookstores are sure to help you cut costs and enhance your personal library. 

ABC Books

By Yonge and Wellesley Streets, this bookstore can be easily identified by two bright, colourful murals on either side of the doors. A four-minute subway ride from Dundas Station and a quick five-minute walk will take you right to the storefront.

Immediately, you will notice the bright red cart of marked-down books positioned directly outside the entrance, with prices ranging from $2.99 down to as low as 50 cents. Inside the shop, the average price of books is five dollars, with a discount of more than 70 per cent off the original selling price on the majority of books.

The exterior of ABC Books, with its red carts, at the storefront on 662 Yonge St, Toronto. (Lama Alshami/CanCulture)

The store houses many young adult novels and new releases, as well as a large number of textbooks, dictionaries, classics and even TV shows on DVD like a full set of Gilmore Girls.

The philosophy section inside ABC Books. (Lama Alshami/CanCulture)

One thing to note about this shop is that the books are not organized by the author’s last name, so you may need help from staff to navigate the store and find what you’re looking for.

We found that ABC Books had the cheapest prices out of all the bookstores toured, as well as the most comprehensive availability. Although not the closest option, it is only 10 minutes from Dundas Station, making its location accessible tofor TMU students.

BMV

A massive sign with the letters ‘BMV’ in bright red and a row of glowing neon signs dominating the vast storefront will let you know that you are in the right place.

The bright red BMV sign displayed outside the store at one of its three locations on 10 Edward St, Toronto. (Lama Alshami/CanCulture)

“Read more. Spend less,” is BMV’s slogan, which they definitely hold true to. While they started by selling secondhand books, they now also sell new books at a discounted cost, though their secondhand books are significantly cheaper.

From political science to young adult fiction, BMV has an expansive selection of different genres, including many nonfiction titles. Magazines, textbooks, vinyl records and CDs are just another example of what this large store offers shoppers. For those interested in graphic novels and comic books, BMV’s Bloor Street location is the place to go.

The entrance to BMV on Edward Street with newly released books on display on the front tables. (Lama Alshami/CanCulture)

BMV has three locations scattered across Toronto, with the Edward Street location just a two-minute walk from the Sheldon and Tracy Levy Student Learning Centre. While the BMV has a wide range of books and well-organized shelves, its prices are slightly more expensive than ABC Books, situating it in second place.

She Said Boom

Outside of She Said Boom at its second location on 378 College St, Toronto. (Lama Alshami/CanCulture)

Named after the song “She Said Boom” by Toronto band Fifth Column, this bookstore specializes in both music and literature. The store is on the smaller side, with a quaint vibe that instantly welcomes you in. Although the store has a small selection of new releases, it focuses on buying and selling used books, ranging from crime to classics. While the store is not the most affordable, most books are at least half their original sale price.

Given that the store was named after a song, they also offer a large array of both new and used vinyl in many different genres, most by Canadian artists.

A collection of various genres of vinyl records in front of the literature section at She Said Boom. (Lama Alshami/CanCulture)

A 10-minute ride from the TMU campus on the College Street streetcar will drop you off directly in front of this charming bookstore on Borden and College. Since this shop is significantly smaller and not quite as affordable as BMV or ABC Books, it comes in third place.

Causa Culture

The stairs up to Causa Culture’s front door at 13 Kensington Ave, Toronto. (Lama Alshami/CanCulture)

Concealed behind tables of handmade jewellery, it can be easy to miss this hidden gem located in Kensington Market. You will be taking many twists and turns through the market to get here, and once you enter, you will be greeted not by books but by crystals, jewels and fossils.

The entrance to Causa Culture, filled with crystals, stones and jewellery. (Lama Alshami/CanCulture)

Further in, you will be met with seemingly endless stacks of books squeezed into the small rooms of the house-turned-bookstore. There are virtually no labels or organizational systems within the shop, and shoppers can almost end up lost in the unconventional layout. Though, what it lacks in organization, it makes up for in pricing, with most books having a 20-60 per cent discount off their original selling price.

Unorganized piles of books adorn the halls of Causa Culture. (Lama Alshami/CanCulture)

We do not suggest coming here with a specific book in mind, since it may be quite a struggle to pick a specific title out of the piles of books. Rather, just let yourself go with the flow and have a good time browsing.

Reading doesn’t have to be an expensive hobby. With these four bookstores, you can satisfy your desire to read without hurting your wallet. Each of these stores offer a wide selection of books at discounted prices, all in unique cultural hubs across Toronto.

Photo Essay: The meanings behind Canadian street art

What stories lie just behind the spray-painted brick or airbrushed stucco?

By: Olivia Wiens

Photos by: Haley Sengsavanh, Kinza Zafar, Olivia Wiens

While many people turn to galleries and museums to enjoy stunning art pieces, fantastic artwork can be found on many streets in Canada.

From small graffiti scratches in the back alleys of prairie towns to the towering murals overlooking the Toronto skyline, street art is a valuable part of Canadian culture. It reminds us that beauty and art can be created out of anything. And while the free viewing is a perk to public street art, it also showcases pieces of our history that might otherwise be forgotten. 

Let’s travel across Canada and see the street art each place has to offer.

“The Matriarch”, created by Skwxwú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) artist Siobhan Joseph and her team, is located in Vancouver on the side of Slim’s BBQ. (Haley Sengsavanh/CanCulture)

“The Matriarch” was created for the Vancouver Mural Festival in 2019 and was inspired by artist Siobhan Joseph’s late mother, who was the matriarch of the family. Her mother is dressed in red to honour Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls and is standing amid a lush natural landscape with the sea and mountains.

Displaying such a prominent issue on the side of a building creates an active reminder of the social injustice that Indigenous women face every day. It helps to form a deeper impact in the daily lives of those simply driving by the colourful mural.

Painted on the side of The Slice, a bar in Lethbridge, Alta., in 2007, this mural was created to help attract customers to the restaurant’s growing business. (Olivia Wiens/CanCulture)

Artists Ryan Smitham and Daniel Audet tag-teamed this mural to help broaden the live music scene in their small city. The woman depicted is Shaela Miller, a local singer who has played at The Slice many times since the painting was created. Street art like this mural helps depict pride and appreciation for locals who shape the city they are from.

Located on the side of the Ukrainian Co-op in Regina, Jez Brenwold’s aerosol piece is meant to symbolize Ukrainian culture within Saskatchewan. (Olivia Wiens/CanCulture)

Jez Brenwold’s floral work wraps around the entire building, but the bordered wheat field is the focal point of the piece and highlights the beauty of the Saskatchewan prairies. 

Street art like this allows the artist to share their pride and passion for their culture with an entire city. As this mural lines a main road in Regina, countless people driving by get to appreciate Ukrainian culture in their own province.

This airbrush mural, created by Troy Brooks and Christiano De Araujo in 2014, is a tribute to the queer bathhouse raids that occurred in Toronto in 1981. (Kinza Zafar/CanCulture)

“The Bathhouse Raids” was the largest of 11 murals created for the Church Street Mural Project, a project coordinated with WorldPride, which Toronto hosted in 2014.

The piece acts as a reminder of the struggles that queer people faced in the 1980s, as well as the struggles that they still face today. However, “The Bathhouse Raids” also symbolizes a significant turning point for Toronto’s 2SLGBTQIA+ community, as the raids that occurred in 1981 sparked many human rights and police brutality protests.

Elicser Elliott has been spreading his art in Toronto’s Queen West neighbourhood since the 1990s. This recent piece of soft figures and organic shapes is for those who construct warmth and connection within their communities. (Kinza Zafar/CanCulture)

Elicser Elliott is one of Toronto’s most notable graffiti artists. Some of his most recent works have showcased his appreciation for COVID-19 frontline workers and his passion for the Black Lives Matter movement. 

Oliver Cuoto, owner of The Bee Shop on Bloor St. West in Toronto, provided this conceptual design to artist Slavka Kolesar, who spent the month of July 2020 making their collective dream come to life on the side of Cuoto’s store. (Kinza Zafar/CanCulture)

This original mural depicting the world of honeybees is a collaboration between a shopkeeper, Oliver Cuoto, and an artist, Slavka Kolesar. While illustrating motifs of Mother Earth and the life cycles of honeybees, Kolesar also reflects the ever-existing human-nature relationship. The large-scale street art acts as a constant reminder to passersby that the nature around them desires respect from humankind.

When people are exposed to significant, and often large, pieces of art in their daily lives, the meaning behind those pieces becomes more and more evident. Street art sparks conversations about the issues surrounding each work, whether that be current social justice issues or moments in history that have shaped the country. Ultimately, visible, accessible and meaningful art forms like these not only allow bystanders to appreciate them, but also reminds them that art is a means of fighting for what you believe in. 

Street art can be found in every corner of Toronto, and ArtWorxTO has collected over 1,500 pieces of street art as part of “Toronto’s Year of Public Art 2021-22”. To start exploring the beautiful creations made by Canadian artists, check out their Artworks Map, which lays out murals, architecture, sculptures and so much more for the public to enjoy.