On three visits to former New York club mogul Peter Gatien’s new Toronto club Circa, its circus qualities shine through brightly and joyously. Circa’s spacious, artist decorated fun-house is a pleasure dome full of potential eye-popping candy; potential dance innovation and under-cover, dying to pop out hedonism.
Given Gatien’s difficulties in getting the club up and operating I am pretty sure that the hedonism is going to be keep pretty much under-wraps and when it pops out it will not at all be tolerated. The numerous security guards that patrol the place send the message that certain kinds of behavior will not be allowed. Nonetheless Circa still pleases.
Our first visit was for a fun night out on the town with friends. It also happened to coincide with the gay night at the club. Circa’s dancers performed both in the Mirror Ballroom and in the internal windows of the club. While the dancing does not always live up to the artistic desires of the club, it does add an extra bit of spice to what could be a run-of-the-mill night in club-land. People watching at Circa is more fun, especially watching the 905ers get carried away in their youthful exuberance about being in a potential history making space. You can almost sense the desire to be able to tell friends they partied THERE when and if Circa becomes a member of the list of legendary North American nightclubs.
The two other occasions at Circa were more interesting. The first was for a community thank you from EGALE that hosted an after-party for Cyndi Lauper’s True Colors Tour, it was a blast. Some of Circa’s dancers, alongside guests, danced up a storm and added lively color to what could have other wised been a boring night of gazing at celebrities like Lauper, one of the dudes from Queer Eye; the B-52s and The Cliks and their various entourages. What was even more special about that night was the attendance of a number of US military defectors at the party. There presence added something special to the night.
The second visit was for the launch of Stella Artois’s new beer; but more importantly the Wycleft Jean concert. Wycleft performed for a mostly white, suburban looking crowd who seemed down with his vibes. Nonetheless it was an eerie scene. With few black folks at this concert and even fewer Haitians Wycleft seemed to be working extra time to get the carnival going. And by the way when did Wycleft become such a cover artist? Anyway, the concert proved to be fun despite its strange audience of the burbs mixed with corporate big wigs who were not at all interested in the music, but instead checking the younger women out. Fun-strange-fun.
Circa as circus promises to emerge as a significant cultural contributor to nightlife in Toronto. Its massive space and well-designed rooms has much to offer scenesters, 905ers and others (old and young) looking for nightly pleasures for various kinds of release. Let’s hope that Gatien has the cash to keep it going until it can keep itself going. On the downside, it is too bad that Circa arrives in town at a time when Gatien’s activities are so closely watched. Circa could be a hedonist dream come true and really spark pop culture creativity in a way that this city badly needs. Additionally, Circa should curb it no baggy pants rules. Baggies don’t just suggest thug life. I hope they realize this soon since if they don’t a significant and sexy element of the queer community will not be able to enter their doors. I am looking forward to dancing again at Circa for Toronto Pride’s closing party. Let’s think of that party as the beginning of Circa’s second year of its circus!
All images and text is copyrighted by Abdi Osman and Rinaldo Walcott unless otherwise specified.
