June 15-19: 5 Hot Design Events on our Social Calendar

Art Spin Tour
Meet in the dog bowl at Trinity Bellwoods Park, June 18, 6:30-9pm
This volunteer-run, not-for-profit organization kicks off its summer season of bicycle art tours this Thursday night. Founded in 2009, the tours are known for eclectic programming set in unexpected urban spaces. Case in point: organizers say this month’s tour will end in a warehouse filled with oversized puppets. On the way there, cyclists are sure to encounter experimental films, musical performances and plenty of other surprises. For a better idea of what to expect, check out this list of the organizers’ favourite moments from last year’s tours. Tickets start at $5.

AZ Awards Gala
550 Bayview Avenue, June 19, 6-10pm
Now in its fifth year, Azure‘s annual gala recognizes the very best in international architecture, interiors and product design. Mix and mingle with this year’s finalists, plus trophy designer Karim Rashid and the team from local architecture firm DTAH, who designed the evening’s feature installation. An $80 ticket includes food, drink, a swag bag and a one-year subscription to the magazine.

 

Queens Quay Ribbon-Cutting
Simcoe Wavedeck (west of Simcoe Street on the south side of Queens Quay), June 19, 6-7pm
Celebrate the official opening of the new Queens Quay with a ribbon-cutting ceremony like no other. A 650-metre-long ribbon will run from York Street to HTO Park, waved by hundreds of volunteers to mimic the lake’s hypnotic ripples.

Power Plant Summer Opening Party
231 Queens Quay W, June 19, 8pm
Check out the Power Plant’s latest shows at the contemporary art gallery’s free summer kickoff party. This season’s exhibitions, including works by collectives Bik Van der Pol and YES! Association/Föreningen JA!, respond to such hot-button topics as globalization’s impact on the environment to Canada’s new sex trade law, Bill C-36.

Luminato Launch
55 John St, June 19, 7-10pm
The opening night of this 10-day-long all-things-art fest is packed with unconventional programming. Head to David Pecaut Square for a garden party held in the lush festival headquarters pop-up, designed by landscape architect Janet Rosenberg and featuring a spectacular light installation by Brazilian artist Regina Silveira. For the full Luminato experience, grab tickets to one of the festival’s headlining productions, Contemporary Color (shown above), which pairs musicians like David Byrne and Nelly Furtado with acrobatic performers.