Toronto Event Generator Newsletter Mar 26, 2025
Dance like hardly anyone is watching
Non-Toronto Event: Edge Esmeralda - May/June in Healdsburg, California
I’ll be there, running a bunch of stuff.
Maybe you should be there, too!
UPDATE: I am running the opening ceremony!
Info here
A lot of why I run Toronto Event Generator broadly) is because I want to help make Toronto be more of a place where high-agency people can do smart, ambitious, exploratory stuff, and a place where people feel they set their sights high, whatever that means for them. (I wrote about this a bunch in this essay).
Edge Esmeralda is a month-long “pop-up Village” this May/June just outside of San Francisco, that enacts a lot of the values I want to see more of in Toronto. I’ve described it to friends as “Sort of like Burning Man but without drugs or loud music or costumes or art cars, and you stay at an AirBnB instead of a tent in the desert”. It’s sort of like a month-long unconference for a mix of people interested in technology, community design, and other stuff.
I’ll be going for more or less the whole month, and will be joined for a week or so by my kid, Billy. The plan is for me to work with the Edge Esmeralda organizers to do some of the community-building stuff I do here in Toronto.
Usually when I go to events like this, I meet lots cool interesting people, which I like. But typically few if any of the people I meet are from Toronto, and so I end up feeling in some ways even more disconnected in the city I live in, which makes me sad.
I am starting a campaign to get more people from Toronto to go to Edge Espmeralda. Go check out the web site. See if it looks good. It might!!! I think you should go. Okay see you there. Thanks! EDGE ESMERALDA WEB SITE
UPDATE: Turns out I am running the opening ceremony at Edge Esmeralda, as well as weekly welcome sessions for new arrivals. Very Excited!!
*** TORONTO EVENTS (((
))))))))))))
Mar 26: The Divine Question: What role should religion play today [link]
We answered this. You missed it. I now run a cult, and the only member so far is Ben’s mom.
Mar 27: Values Based Slow Burn: Dating Edition [link]
If you were too slow for the last one, here it is again. Run by Abi.
Mar 27: Connecting Through Music: A Social Sound Experiment [link]
Interactive musical experience.
Mar 28: SUPPER CLUB: Shaqan Il Fatr by Fatima Khlifi & Zeyneb Rejeb [link]
At Depanneur. Informal dinner party featuring amateur or professional guest chef.
Mar 29: Dinner Dialogues - with strangers [link]
There are lot of events where people get to eat dinner with strangers. I assume the reason for this is that we all hate our friends and families.
Mar 30: Learn.Swap.Make [link]
Clothing swap AND panel discussion! This is totally the sort of thing you are into!
Mar 30: A Systematic Approach to Emotions [link]
Raionalists talk about their feelings. Turns out Buddhism is how to do it.
Mar 30: Toronto Comic Jam [link]
Make comics with other people!
Mar 30: Tangled Sing-Along [link]
Watch a movie with other people and sing!
Mar 31: Reading Rhythms - Reading Party [link]
Like the silent book club but less silent because there is music.
Apr 2: Board Games and Beyond [link]
Deeper connections disguised as a board game night.
Apr 1: Being and Becoming Curiosity Cafe [link]
Talk about philosophy at the Madison. Not enough is being made of the fact that on St Partick’s day, some drunk kid fell through the roof of the Madison and everyone just went about their business nbd [story, video] . This instalment is about Laugher.
Apr 2: Art & Connection: AGO Expedition [link]
This is just: You go to to the AGO with Abi. That’s it. But it is SOLD OUT. This tells you a lot about our city, and also about Abi.
Apr 3: Floral Decay [link]
If you like flowers and also you like death, this is for you.
Apr 5: Danu House Party [link]
It’s sort of like being at a house party but you are at a bar.
Apr 5: Tapetronica at Houndstooth [link]
Retro boom boxes and cassette tapes with live effects.
Apr 5: Pleasure Space: Bigger, Better, Wetter [link]
Do you like trivia and podcasts and sex? WHO DOESN’T?
Apr 7: Trampoline Hall Lecture Series [link] xoxox!!!
The super-good show I host. It sells out very very quickly because it is really good.
Apr 12: Pillow Fight Toronto 2025 [link]
Nathan Phillips Square pillow fight! (From the announcement: “Only light featherless pillows are officially allowed, but they're always a couple of rule-breakers, so be careful.” OMG OMG OMG)
Apr 6: WaB: Book Swap [link]
Come trade a book with someone else! (Tickets are $20! Not to tell you how to live your life or anything, but for $20 you could probably buy a book, and also not have to talk to anyone. Your call)
Apr 6: RATIONALIST EVENT-OFF
If you are a Tononto Rationalist, you will have a hard choice to make today:
~~~~~
Apr 6: Square Dance Social #2: A Joyful Challenge Returns [link]
Another square dance-for-rationalists event from Abi (who is now hosting more events in this newletter than anyone in Toronto, including me)
OR
Apr 6: Change My View IRL [link]
Run by friend-of-the-newletter Kale- an in-person version of the subreddit r/changemyview
~~~~~
….
HAVE AN EVENT WE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT?
Submit it here. We like events that are smart, fun, challenging, unusual, and above all participatory. We might include it in our next listing.
WANT TO RUN AN EVENT? WE CAN HELP!
We offer venue matching, promotion support, and micro-grants for selected events. Here’s info.
WANT TO FIND OUT EVEN MORE ABOUT TORONTO EVENTS?
The sidebar on our home page lists a bunch of regular events, and also other good calendar sites. We’ll add more over time.
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About Misha
Hi, I’m Misha! Nice to meet you. I make this newsletter, with help from Bianca Guimarães de Manuel. We started this in September. Around the same time, I also started my own substack. So far the most popular post is one called Stop Pretending Toronto is More Than It Is, which you might like. Or read more about Toronto Event Generator.
I run and host the Trampoline Hall Lecture Series. I co-host All About Intimacy, a conversation event about love, sex, and friendship, and sometimes host a live-band karaoke night at Jean Darlene Piano Room.
In my working life, I help companies foster better human connection - I help teams get better at talking about tough issues, and help organizations run better conferences, workshops, and offsites.
You can find me on twitter, instagram, substack… See you at the next event!