I might need to visit Ibiza again sometime ✈️ 🎉

I was skeptic as I broke up with CODA long ago over crammed nights but had to try because I had never seen Ricardo before. Ticket was over $90 but that gave me hope it wouldn't be another crowded experience. Doors opened at 10pm but I arrived by midnight, no line, security check had 4 steps which was reassuring (Ticket > ID > Pat-down > Metal Screening) but was quick and friendly.

Got in and I was surprised to see a 2:1 male to female ratio. Around 1 am it started getting a bit crowded with the usual suspects spilling their drinks and rudely taking space in front of you but Ricardo did an excellent job 'cleaning' the dance-floor so by 2 and for the rest of the night I was taken back to Pre-COVID times because there was actually some space to move and dance as you can see in my video. It was curious to see that half the women were gone.

Ricardo did his usual thing: blending melodic vocals with Latin percussion over European beats, then welcoming some good Chicago house and ending the night with some dark techno 'alla Danny Tenaglia'. It was mostly good vibes all night, men and women mindlessly dancing together, a tiny girl dancing alone by my side, nobody molesting her. I was molested but heck, not even the dick and ass grabbers or the random K-holler windmilling his arms through the crowd could ruin my night, lol.

As a footnote: haven't been there in a long time but it seems management finally got some common sense and there was cold water in the washroom sinks. I know this might not be the typical but overall a much better experience than my previous one at this club. I think the ticket price helped A LOT. Much appreciated CODA 🙏

TLDR: What do you do/use that makes you ENJOY AND REMEMBER the night before?

I'm planning to attend, for the first time in my life, a couple of marathons (10-12 hr sets each) with 2 of my favourite DJs on separate dates (2 weeks apart) in the same month, but I've started to notice that after long, intermittent use of MDMA or Ecstasy over 4 years (not weekly but every 3 to 6 months), I can no longer recall most of the "fun" I had on MDMA the night before. I don't know to what degree it worsens the problem but when I do it, it's usually with 2-to-4 shots of whisky and a 2-to-4 microbumps of ❄️ with 1 of those micro-spoons that already come attached to the lid of a container glass vial.

It certainly feels great in the moment, but I can barely remember the feelings I experienced to the music or things that happened throughout the night. In addition to that, I've started to experience memory problems in general, which is affecting other areas of my life. I did my research, and apparently this is a common problem not many discuss, and any damage is "mostly reversible" with abstinence, but there are long-term consequences even after stopping.

The chart in this post was created using AI to process data on self-reported enjoyment vs memory loss for the most popular substances. I was shocked by where the analysis placed ❄️, considering it negatively affects memory and other bodily functions, but apparently it impacts memory less than MDMA. Whenever I've had high doses of each, I end up having the heaviest hangover with lots of headaches the next day. I'm highly sensitive to uppers in general. The chart didn't include other options like Caffeine, mushrooms, LSD, or even microdosing.

People on other forums have suggested Pre-Workout supplements like C4 that contain high doses of Caffeine and Taurine, and I've been thinking that when I've used those for the gym, I stay energized and clear-minded for at least 5 hours if not longer. What do you guys think? In any case, I'd like to reduce the harm during these 2 upcoming marathons to a minimum because those are expensive tickets I invested in, and I want to remember how amazing the music is going to be for me.

For those of you veterans who have experienced almost everything and have done long marathons, what have you done/used to ENJOY AND REMEMBER the night before? Many thanks in advance for all your help and contributions 🙏

Argh! I hate weekend chores, but I find that a good Techno, Trance or House (pun intended) DJ Set always helps me ⚡️

YouTube's algorithm knows me well and recommended this https://youtu.be/gFlJepd2ONk, but that's an old performance, and I'd like to discover/add new artists and playlists.

What do you listen to when you need some extra drive to finish things around the house? Thanks for dropping your links and recommendations in the comments 🙏

TLDR: Tight on time and budget. Please help me decide who to see to plan a trip to Montreal.

Thanks for reading this. I hope you can help me. So 3 of my long-time favourite DJs are visiting Stereo, and I'm trying to plan a trip to Montreal in October. I know I would love to see them all, but I'm not sure my body could handle so much rolling lol or that I could afford a hotel and expenses in Montreal for a month. Below is a summary of my last few experiences with each so you can correct me if things have changed about their set styles and energy the last few times you've seen them at Stereo, and then tell what you'd do if you were in my shoes. 🙏

Victor Calderone: I saw him in 2024 at a mid-size nightclub, and in 2025 at an after, and both times were amazing. Obscure, powerful, decadent atmospheres with deep bass sounds and high energy. The Victor I know and remember. I read in recent posts of this subreddit that he's been leaning more gospel house and high-pitched diva vocals and overall lower energy than his traditional sets, which I wouldn't dig much. Is this still the case? I've never attended a Marathon with Victor. Is it worth it? Is my experience similar or different from yours?

Markus Schulz: Same, 2024 and 2025. Fantastic high-energy Progressive Trance sets with a few sprinkles of other genres here and there. More pauses than needed, but when he pushed down the gas pedal, the energy literally went through the roof, and I almost couldn't handle it. Both times were only 5-hour sets, but the last time the owner oversold the club and I couldn't move or dance. It ruined my night, and I was so upset I left before he finished his set. I'm pretty sure seeing him at Stereo will be a completely different experience. With all that being said, I've never experienced a Marathon with Markus; it sounds exciting but scary lol.

Danny Tenaglia: It's been so long. I think it was in 2017 and in 2021 maybe? Both times were at Stereo but were NOT SCAREO. On both occasions, I felt like I didn't get to experience the Danny I hear in his most energetic DJ sets, like the Danny of the 90s or early 2000s. Do you feel the same? I know he's aged and might not have the same energy as before, but I have mad respect for seniority, and IMO, if anything, a DJ's musical taste only improves with time, and Danny has always had a very refined musical taste to start. Does the SCAREO Marathon merit a visit to see Danny again but in a different environment? I know it's one of the best nights of the year. Besides Danny, what else makes SCAREO special? Anything new to see and feel? For context, I've never been to Scareo. It would be my first time.

What would you do if you could only see 1 or 2 of them but not all 3? Please comment your Top 1 and Top 2 options, and why. Many thanks in advance 🙏

I thought of giving this event a shoutout. Felix Cartal has been on my favourites playlist ever since his "New Scene" Remix by Deorro; that was enough referral for me to know he's good. Now I realize he's Canadian. Probably haven't heard from him because he's West Coast-based and Canada is such a vast country. Haven't heard much about Vincent Caira either, but I'm a follower of Hatiras and Miz Megs, who, btw, was stunning at EI June this year. I'm not familiar with the Rosé concept, but I would attend just for the music. If you're planning to attend solo, feel free to DM me. I'd be happy to tag along. Tickets HERE

I've been attending open-air festivals for several years, including big ones like VELD, and UMF and EDC in Miami and Las Vegas, respectively, both with hotter temperatures than Toronto- literally scorching hot- so I find it hard to believe the sun and hot weather are major contributing factors. I've been to half a dozen Electric Islands and 3 VELDs (which happens in August with hotter weather) and never seen anything like this. Electric Island on June 27 was the first time in my life I saw 5 people puking near me, in different spots at different times inside the festival, even at night when it was no longer hot. That was too much of a coincidence.

Sorry to trigger the plugs and "fans" who are downvoting every single one of my comments and getting into a ludicrous debate about whether Toronto is as hot as Miami or Las Vegas, to distract attention from real causes. Someone who insulted me in this thread reposted this to the drugscirclejerk subreddit, saying that if you haven't puked at a party you're not a raver, then adding here that "puking at parties is a fact of life," SMH.

MORE FESTIVALS ARE COMING, SO HERE ARE HARM REDUCTION MEASURES TO STAY SAFE:

• ALWAYS TEST. ASSUME EVERYTHING IS CUT WITH SOMETHING ELSE.
• TEST BEFORE THE RAVE. AT LEAST MARQUIS TEST AND FENT STRIPS.
• NEVER TAKE A FULL CAP/TAB. SPLIT, TAKE HALF, AND WAIT 1H TO REDOSE.
• 2 OR MORE CAPS/TABS IN LESS THAN 3H CAN GET YOU IN TROUBLE.
• BE CAREFUL MIXING WITH NAUSEA-INDUCING STUFF LIKE G/LSD/SHROOMS.
• SUPPLEMENT WITH ELECTROLYTES, GINGER, VIT C, AND MAGNESIUM.
• TESTS DETECT MOST BUT NOT ALL FENT ANALOGS. HAVE NARCAN AT HAND.

No phone cameras. No bottles. No booths. Toronto’s getting a nightlife spot that’s trying to bring back real dance-floor culture.

The venue says there’ll be no booths, no bottle service, and no phone cameras allowed, with the focus being entirely on music, dancing, and socializing.

Online, people are already debating whether this could finally bring back the kind of club atmosphere where people actually dance instead of sitting around filming the night on their phones.