Am I the only one that finds it strange that it’s the Victoria Day long weekend when May 24th is actually next Saturday? Yeah, I know it’s based on the whole “Monday before the 24th” thing, but it just seems too early for some reason. Not that I’m complaining, mind you - a day off is always appreciated no matter where it falls.

The question, then, is how to celebrate the birthday of a long-dead monarch from a country that no longer rules us, and who never actually set foot in Canada herself. How about getting drunk? (Like most of us need an excuse to do that…) Helpfully, you can find two of the three alcoholic food groups at the Beer & Cocktail Show, taking place all weekend up at Downsview Park.

Traditionalists, meanwhile, will probably want to take a more civilized approach and mark the occasion with a Victorian afternoon tea. There are a number of special teas happening at places like Montgomery’s Inn, Toronto’s First Post Office and the Scarborough Historical Museum, and many hotels will offer their usual weekend tea service.

The full list of happenings for the next week follows below, and as always, our Events page has more information on these and many other upcoming events in Toronto and area.

Friday, May 16th

• The Beer & Cocktail Show 2008 [runs until May 18] - Downsview Park, 35 Carl Hall Road
• Italian Seasons Festival [runs until May 31] - various restaurants

Saturday, May 17th

• Farmer Meet & Greet - Fiesta Farms, 200 Christie Street
• May Festival of Chefs [also on May 18 and other weekends in May] - Cheese Boutique, 45 Ripley Avenue
• Meet the Maker: The Great Canadian Salsa Company - Culinarium, 705 Mount Pleasant Road
• Terroir: Prince Edward County’s Wine Celebration - Crystal Palace, Picton Fairgrounds, Picton
• The Soil Food Web - High Park Children’s Garden

Sunday, May 18th

• Tibetan Freedom Torch Relay & Festival - Nathan Philips Square, City Hall, 100 Queen Street West
• Victorian Cream Tea - Scarborough Historical Museum, 1007 Brimley Road

Monday, May 19th

• Victoria Day Afternoon Tea - Toronto’s First Post Office, 260 Adelaide Street East
• Victoria Day Tea - Montgomery’s Inn, 4709 Dundas Street West

Tuesday, May 20th

• Barrel Select Wine Tasting - Rosewater Supper Club, 19 Toronto Street
• Food in the City: Farming for Profit and Urban Agriculture - Ralph Thornton Centre, 765 Queen Street East
• Raw Milk Rally - Jamie Kennedy Wine Bar, 9 Church Street

Wednesday, May 21st

• One Spectacular Tasting - One Restaurant, Hazelton Hotel, 118 Yorkville Avenue
• James Beard Foundation Fundraising Dinner - Drake Hotel, 1150 Queen Street West

Thursday, May 22nd

• 2008 d’Arenberg Tasting - Toronto Lawn Tennis Club, 44 Price Street
• Martin Picard: “Au Pied De Cochon - The Album” - The Cookbook Store, 850 Yonge Street