Weekend events in Toronto will close one chapter in Toronto's dance and live music history (but it's not all bad news). Art and design events dot the city, from a new exhibit opening at Power Plant to a bouncy castle (really) at MOCCA to Wavelength's music-themed photo show.

Here are my picks for the top events happening in Toronto January 16-18, 2015.

Guvernment Closing Weekend (Guvernment, January 23-25)
The Guvernment's closing party is going to be big, and it makes sense that Canadian EDM superstar Deadmau5 is headlining, seeing as he played many pre-stardom gigs at the sprawling mega-club. Still, we hope the DJ keeps his promise to let longtime mainroom resident Mark Oliver play the final hour. The weekend also includes Armin van Buuren and Knife Party. Celebrate (or lament?) the news that it looks like Sound Academy will take the club's place. BB

FOOD

Eat and Greet with the Band (Starts January 24)
Dinner and a show? Collective Concerts and Rose & Son's is kicking off a series of pre-show dinners where fans will have the chance to mingle and munch with their favourite musical acts. The first event happening Saturday January 24 at the Phoenix will feature a menu from Big Crow tailored to the tastes of Canadian alt-country trio, Elliott Brood. LI

Robbie Burns Day (January 25)
Robbie Burns day in Toronto is as fine an occasion to have a few drinks as one could imagine. Among Burns' achievements are the fact that he penned some of Scotland's most famous and memorable poems, became a cultural icon and a beacon to liberalism, and was even recently chosen by his people as The Greatest Scot of all time. Check out our guide to events around Toronto here. BJ

SHOPPING & LIFESTYLE

Interior Design Show (Jan 22-25, Metro Toronto Convention Centre)
The 17th annual Interior Design Show is a massive affair, and a little bit of drool is easily disguised by anyone with a little design flair of their own. Canadian and international firms will be set up all weekend, plus you can catch talks, pop up shops, and more.

Toronto Design Offsite Festival (January 19-25)
Each winter, design installations and unusual prototypes get rolled into public spaces for Design Offsite. This year's fest features screenings, panels, window installations, and more, and a highlight each year is the Gladstone's Come Up to My Room exhibit, which gives designers free rein on the hotel's rooms. Don't miss their Love Design Party on Saturday. DF

First Midnight MRKT of 2015 (January 23, 2nd Floor)
The market/party is back. Shop local goods and munch on street food (indoors) as DJs spin. See the vendor line up for the first edition of 2015 here.

MUSIC

Wavelength Pop-Up Gallery (Jan 22-Feb 15, Huntclub)
Wavelength Fest isn't until February, but their pop up gallery show at Huntclub opens up this weekend. Art, talks, dance parties, and live concerts will continue under February 15. the free Toronto Music Moment panel will be hosted on Sunday (full disclosure, I'll be on that causing trouble).

Class of 2015 (Silver Dollar)
No need to mope around after the NYE fuss is over - live music fans will have more fun launching 2015 with the New Year's Indie Music Honour Roll series at Silver Dollar. On weekends from January 1 - 30 catch seven different line ups including New Fries, Nancy Pants, BB Guns and Bile Sister, and more. Check out our preview here.

Lido Pimienta (January 23, Smiling Buddha)
I'm guessing that soon, catching Tanya Tagaq collaborator Lido Pimienta's explosion of energy, positivity, and capital-L Love at a venue this intimate is going to get harder. If you haven't seen her, do not miss this Buddha show. Ken Park and Carl Didur are also on the bill.

ART

The Unfinished Conversation: Encoding/Decoding (January 24 - May 17, Power Plant)
Power Plant at the Harbourfront comes through with the winter's highbrow exhibition. Best to book solid time with this ultra contemporary show featuring Terry Adkins, John Akomfrah, Sven Augustijnen, Steve McQueen, Shelagh Keeley, and Zineb Sedira, as you likely won't get much out of a pit stop.

Villa Toronto (January 16-23, Union Station)
19 contemporary art galleries have set up ay Union Station for Villa Toronto, a contemporary art festival that's previously been held in Tokyo and Reykjavik. Concerts and other events will run in conjunction with the fest, including "Bouncy Highrise: A performance by Jon Sasaki" at MOCCA. This is your last weekend to check it out. Read more about on and offsite events here, and find our review here.

FILM

Censured in Canada Film Festival (January 24-25, Cinecycle)
Cinecycle is hosting a two-day film festival for works that you likely can't catch any place else: "Canadian-based artists and work marginalized by Canadian festivals and institutions - whether it was due to a lack of "right" credentials / connections; or the work challenges aesthetic / cultural / social norms." See the program for Saturday here and Sunday here.

Video Vengeance (January 25, KITCH Bar)
This free VHS cult screening series is back with Slumber Party Massacre, Rita Mae Brown's feminist spoof on slasher flix. Wear your coat over your PJs ps you'll regret it.

PARTY & DANCE

Art Department (January 23, Coda)
It's not surprising that Art Department are headlining Coda's first anniversary party, especially considering that the duo's Jonny White is also a partner in the club. The last year has seen some of the best DJs in the world rock the venue's powerful sound system, making it a second home for many Toronto dance music fanatics. 10 pm, $30. BB

Off Foundry (Jan 24, 99 Sudbury)
DJ, musician, and film maker Jeff Mills descends from the cosmos to grace us with a three hour set at the inaugral edition of Mansion's Off Foundry series this Saturday. Read our interview with Jeff Mills here. BA

Motown Party on Ice (January 24, Harbourfront Centre)
Toronto's soul party has traveled around the world, and it's back home at the Harbourfront. Sean Caff Steve Rock and DJ Misty will play your favourite motown tracks at the dancefloor / rink.

For more events this weekend click on over to our Events section. Have an event you'd like to plug? Submit it for free using this form.

Contributions by Liora Ipsum, Ben Boles, Derek Flack, Ben Johnson, Brendan Arnott

Photo by Connie Chan in the blogto flickr pool