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What it's like to be a street vendor in Toronto

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You can find delicious and diverse street food all over Toronto, from South Korean churros at Yonge and Finch, to poutine on Dundas West, to Latin eats in Kensington Market.

In the lastest episode of the Only in Toronto podcast we take a closer look at street vending in Toronto and how it's evolved over the years.

People and places featured in this episode include:

Articles referenced in this episode include:

Ways to subscribe to the Only in Toronto podcast.

You can also listen to the Only in Toronto podcast on Alexa. Just ask Alexa to play the podcast Only in Toronto.


Raccoons wreak havoc on Toronto in hilarious music video

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As if Toronto couldn't get any more over-the-top when it comes to raccoons behaving badly, we've now got the music video to prove it. 

Record label NewRetroWave released a music video for the song Trash Pandas by dance and electronic artist Judge Bitch a few days ago, showing how much of a menace to society the furry creatures can be.

In the video, three people wearing raccoon heads terrorize citizens of Toronto by beating them up, stealing their bikes, vandalizing, and eating / throwing around garbage. 

The video ends with one of the three getting caught and the other two ditching their pal in favour of freedom. 

Good riddance to the one that's finally off the streets. 

In other Toronto raccoon-related news, a study from Laurentian University found that city-dwelling raccoons' garbage diet (literally) is making them fatter, and giving them high blood sugar problems. 

Apparently junk food makes you more irritable, so maybe this is the raccoons' problem? 

10 things to do in Toronto today

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Events in Toronto today may see some strange things around the city as Fringe kicks off with productions popping up all over. Tory Lanez is in for a show, and over in the Beaches there's a free outdoor movie screening.

Events you might want to check out:

Tory Lanez (July 4 @ Rebel)
As Brampton's own Tory Lanez continues to blow up on the international stage, he makes his way back to where it all started.
Bend It Like Beckham (July 4 @ Kew Gardens)
Movie Nights in the Beach kicks off with an outdoor screening of the classic Bend It Like Beckham, and includes free popcorn.
Intersection (July 4 @ Social Capital Theatre)
Head storyteller Khadijah Roberts-Abdullah leads a diverse cast that uses comedy and improv tales to explore different intersections in society.
Yob and Bell Witch (July 4 @ Mod Club Theatre)
Doom metal band Yob combines their loud and raucous tunes with Bell Witch's climatic soundscapes to create a force to be reckoned with.
David Blaine (July 4 @ Sony Centre for the Performing Arts)
There are no doves here as magician David Blaine uses illusions and slight of hand to astound and stun audiences with modern twists on magic.
La La Land (July 4 @ Union Station)
The movie that nearly won Best Picture gets a free outdoor screening at the newly renovated Union Station with the first 100 guests getting free popcorn.
Boombaphumpday (July 4 @ Dovercourt House)
Toronto hip-hop legend Maestro Fresh-Wes hosts a free, live music cypher that brings together more than 50 artists from Toronto's hip-hop scene.
Toronto Fringe Festival (July 4-15 @ Multiple Venues)
Theatres across the city play host to a variety of productions by upcoming and established playwrites on the fringe of the performing arts scene.
Biophilia (July 4 - October 31 @ 18Karat Studio + Gallery)
Metal and the way we work it can often tell a story, and Biophilia: Expressions in Metal explores how humans seek connections through the medium.
Punch Up Comedy (July 4 - December 19 @ Emmet Ray)
The launch of a new feminist, LGBTQ+ and positive space comedy night launches tonight featuring some of Toronto's best pro comics.

Rental of the week: 560 King Street West

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This loft is all kinds of fabulous. From the massive windows to the concrete ceiling, this place is beautiful and located in the heart of downtown along King West.

560 king street west torontoThe building is also quite unique architecturally. Designed by CORE Architects, the signature “lipstick-red windows” create a beautiful silhouette of the residences at night thanks to some clever outdoor lighting.

560 king street west torontoThe apartment is open-concept with the living room, dining room and kitchen in the same space. The space is also airy and bright thanks to all the windows.

560 king street west toronto The kitchen is rather small and doesn’t have a lot of cupboard space, but open shelving is definitely very en vogue right now.

560 king street west toronto The unit also boasts a large bedroom and a den, the latter is currently being used as an office but could be turned into a second bedroom if you wanted.

560 king street west toronto The bathroom is pretty bare bones. It has the essentials, but no bathtub — which if you’re a fan of soaking in suds after a long day could be a dealbreaker.

560 king street west torontoThere is no private outdoor space, which for a place listed at $3,300 a month is kind of a letdown. However, there is a rooftop infinity pool with a sweeping view of the skyline, which almost makes up for the lack of a balcony.

560 king street west toronto Specs
  • Address: #418 - 560 King Street West
  • Type: Apartment
  • Rent: $3,300 / month
  • Listing agent: Stephanie Arseneault
  • Furnished? No
  • Utilities: Water and heat included, hydro extra.
  • Air conditioning? Yes
  • Bedrooms: 1+1
  • Bathrooms: 2
  • Parking: 1
  • Laundry? In suite
  • Outdoor space? No
  • Pet friendly? No560 king street west toronto
Good For

A fashion-forward couple. Eleven Canadian fashion designers collaborated to create modern installations throughout the building and it’s in the middle of the Fashion District, so if you’re going to live here you better know your Gucci from your Pucci.

560 king street west toronto Move On If

You don’t feel like being on display for the world to see, even if it is just your silhouette.

560 king street west toronto

Win tickets to Toronto's Festival of Beer

The Best Bakery Cafes in Toronto

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The best bakery cafes in Toronto bring together exquisite baked goods, comforting savoury dishes and energizing beverages. They not only serve these items but often make them from scratch in house, many baking their own cookies, pies, cakes and even bread for sandwiches.

Here are the best bakery cafes in Toronto.

4 - Wanda's Pie in the Sky

Cakes, pies, vegan food, this artsy Kensington cafe does it all. A breezy patio on the bustling corner is the perfect setting for enjoying it all.
9 - The Tempered Room

This Parkdale place bakes up an ever-changing array of beautiful items both sweet and savoury in house every day, from fruit tarts to fried chicken croissants, and even burgers.
5 - Le Gourmand

The warm, melty chocolate chip cookies star at this cafe in the Queen West area, but they do filling and wholesome soups, sandwiches and breakfasts too.
6 - Bobbette & Belle (Yonge St.)

The most adorable pastel-decorated cakes, cupcakes and cookies (some in the shapes of unicorns, chihuahuas and bunnies) make up whimsical menageries at two locations of this bakery that are just as pretty. They also stock a veritable rainbow of macarons.
7 - Sorelle and Co. (Yorkville)

Vegans and the allergen-averse have a reliable spot to head to in Yorkville for everything from darling cupcakes and cakes to salads and smoothie bowls. The decor might be the only thing prettier than the food.
8 - Tori's Bakeshop (Canary District)

There are lots of options for treats free of gluten, eggs and dairy at several locations of this bakery. That doesn’t mean a compromise on creativity, with cupcakes in flavours like lime, pineapple cherry and strawberry shortcake. Also some of the most legendary, sticky, heavily-iced vegan organic cinnamon buns in the city.
10 - Maman

This cute New York export in First Canadian Place helmed by a Michelin Star Chef does lunches like avocado toast along with the most delicious cookies, croissants and coffee (and in the prettiest cups to boot).
11 - Fantail

The foamiest iced lattes, the crumbliest scones laden with sugar, along with galettes, frittatas and salads made with organic produce can be found at this beloved Roncesvalles spot.
3 - Sud Forno (Yonge)

Now with two locations, one on Queen West and one in the Financial District, fresh baked bread may reign at this Italian bakery from the people behind Terroni but there’s lots more, including coffee and some of the city’s best cannoli.

The top 10 beer festivals in Toronto this summer

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The top beer festivals in Toronto this summer are all about crackin' open a cold one and kickin' back. Nowhere else is Toronto's diverse and thriving beer scene on display like this than at any one of these festivals happening all over the city. Cheers!

Events you might want to check out:

Liberty Village Libation (July 14 @ Liberty Village Park)
The streets of Liberty Village are set to flow with fresh suds as this new festival offers up brews in the park alongside bites and live music.
Toronto's Festival of Beer (July 26-29 @ Bandshell Park)
Back again is this huge beer festival by the waterfront with hundreds of brews and eats — plus performances by Broken Social Scene, Ludacris and Finger Eleven.
Hop Chow Fest (July 28 @ Propeller Coffee)
The best of Toronto's craft beer scene comes out for this huge block party in Bloordale, with chef-created food pairings and hot tunes.
Roundhouse Craft Beer Festival (August 11-12 @ Roundhouse Park)
Steam Whistle's Roundhouse Park gets the beer-lovers treatment with a two-day extravaganza of samples and food trucks. Picnic blankets are encouraged!
Beer, Bourbon and BBQ Fest (August 24-26 @ Ontario Place)
Better break out your best leather for this good ol' fashioned cookout, including live country music, axe throwing and bull riding.
CNE Craft Beer Fest (August 24-26 @ Princes' Boulevard)
Back again is this festival within a carnival as the CNE hosts 11 big-name craft brewers from Toronto and beyond, all surrounded by food trucks.
Leslieville Beer Festival (August 25 @ Dundas Street East)
Dundas East shuts down for this all-day neighbourhood street party with regional brewers, community food vendors and local artisans on site.
Brewer’s Backyard (September 3 @ Evergreen Brick Works)
The Labour Day edition of Brewer's Backyard looks to celebrate the fruits of your labour with a ton of brewers and some of Toronto's best food trucks.
Toronto Beer Week (September 14-22 @ Multiple Venues)
Toronto becomes craft beer central during this week-long celebration of the best suds in the city, happening at spots all over.
The Famous Canadian Beer Run (September 15 @ Ontario Place)
Take a 5k run through Ontario Place and celebrate with a cold one, food and some tunes. If running is not your thing, there's also beer yoga.

The top 5 new sandwiches in Toronto

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The top new sandwiches in Toronto are the greatest thing since sliced bread. Reinventions of breakfast sandwiches, grilled cheese, banh mi, and meatball subs are ready to be discovered by hungry Torontonians who believe all anyone really wants in this life is to sit in peace and eat a sandwich.

Here are my picks for the top new sandwiches in Toronto.

Egg Bae

Eggs may have been elevated to song form by Linda Belcher, but this new Kensington spot showcases eggs via the sandwich. That’s pretty much all they do, but they make the brioche buns in house and there are lots of variations, including ones topped with house cured bacon and salmon.

Stuff’d Grilled Cheese

All grilled cheese sandwiches are served with fried pickles at this newly-opened sandwich stand in Market 707 on Dundas West specializing in the ooey-gooey comfort food.

Woodfire Sandwich

This Etobicoke shop near Lakeshore Boulevard and Brown's Line attached to Woody's Burgers is from the same folks, sharing the smoker to prepare meats for hearty roast beef, meatball, and brisket sandwiches.

Rustle & Still

This elevated banh mi shop in Koreatown does deluxe and five spice baby bella mushroom tofu versions of the classic Vietnamese sandwich.

Gold Standard

Order crushable Telway burgers and breakfast sandwiches from the people behind The Federal from this window on the side of Reunion Island in Roncesvalles Village.


The outdoor summer market at Union Station is now open

Most of Toronto's new streetcars are going back to Bombardier for repairs

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The comedy of errors that is Bombardier's commitment to the TTC continues this week with news that, after months upon months of setbacks and delays, 67 of Toronto's 89 new low-floor streetcars must now be sent back to Quebec for repairs

Yeah.

Toronto Transit Commission spokesperson Brad Ross confirmed on Wednesday that the majority of Flexity streetcars we've received from Bombardier to date came with "inferior frame welds."

The problem poses no risk to public safety, he says, but must be corrected to ensure these vehicles don't fail before their 30-year life expectancy is up.

It will take Bombardier approximately 19 weeks, each, to repair all 67 streetcars at its plant in La Pocatière, Quebec.

The mass maintenance job won't be finished until 2022, but TTC officials hope to minimize the impact by sending defective vehicles back to Bombardier in groups of just three or four at a time. 

Ross says that, as long as the rest of the 204-total streetcar order is delivered on time, transit service shouldn't be much affected. That said, the issue is "incredibly disappointing."

"We need these cars in service," said Ross to the Star, which broke the story on Tuesday.

Mayor John Tory said similarly that he is extremely frustrated by the disastrous $1-billion streetcar deal, which should have put 150 new, longer TTC streetcars on the road by the end of 2017 (we had 59 at the time.)

Tory also said that he wants Bombardier to compensate the TTC if repairs inconvenience transit riders.

The Montreal-based aerospace and transportation firm had already confirmed that it will be covering the cost of the actual maintenance work, and remains optimistic about reaching its latest deadline.

As previously reported, the company is in the process of setting up a second production line at its plant in Kingston, Ont. to ensure it delivers an entire fleet of 204 streetcars to Toronto by the end of 2019.

Fingers crossed. As Ross himself said, we really do need those cars in service.

Jose Bautista returns to an outpouring of love in Toronto

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Joey Bats came back to the Rogers Centre on Tuesday night for the first time since leaving Toronto to join the New York Mets and, despite the fact that he's no longer a Blue Jay, local sports fans were straight up elated.

Jose Bautista, who hit 288 homers over his 10 years playing for the Blue Jays, is now and will always be a Toronto legend, judging by the events surrounding last night's game.

His team may have lost last night's game, but nobody in the stadium received more love from the crowd.

Even the Jays paid tribute to their former star by blasting Usher's "O.M.G." when Bautista went up to bat in the first inning.

This is the song he walked out to during his 54-home run season in 2010, according to The Canadian Press, and the same song he used for his final home game last year.

Ahead of the game, MLSE showed a touching video tribute of the 37-year-old Dominican slugger's most memorable moments in Toronto.

A crowd of just over 24,000 people gave Bautista a rollicking standing ovation as he clapped and waved to fans.

"It was great to be recognized, great to acknowledge the fans and great to know that they feel good that I'm back and they wanted to recognize me," said Bautista to reporters after the game.

"It was a great moment. I had to hold back a little bit but I managed to get through it without shedding any tears, so that was fun."

Premier Doug Ford halts the rollout of a price cap on ticket resales

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Almost exactly a year ago, the Ontario government announced proposed legislation to crack down on ticket bots and scalpers.

The proposed changes included the banning of ticket bots, banning the sale of tickets purchased using bots, capping resale prices, requiring business that sell tickets to give more information to customers, and establishing "new enforcement measures" to make sure the rules are followed.

Now, with Premier Doug Ford in office, a part of this plan has been suspended until further notice.  

While the wider anti-scalping law, the Ticket Sales Act, came into effect in Ontario on July 1, a note was added around the part of the law to do with capping ticket prices.

It reads that capping will come "into force on a day to be named by proclamation of the Lieutenant Governor."

ontario scalper bots

A screenshot from the Ontario laws website. Courtesy ontario.ca.

When the premier's office was asked about this addition it said that a further review of the resale cap and its enforcement was needed, according to the Toronto Star.

Opposition leader Andrea Horwath was quick to call Ford out for "taking the side of scalper-bots." 

And the people in Ontario are definitely not pleased about this finding.

It's going to be a wait-and-see game to see when the cap gets introduced. 

10 fun things to do with kids outdoors in Toronto

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Fun things to do with kids outdoors in Toronto are aplenty in the summer. Whether your young tyke is into sports, exploring, or animals, the city is teeming with fun outdoorsy things to do.

Here are my picks for fun things to do with kids in Toronto.

Go ice skating

Yes, this is outdoors, and yes, you can do it in the summer. Ontario Place has recently unveiled its polymer rink, which allows visitors to get on the ice even when it’s hot out. Skate rentals are $5 for kids 12 and under, and $10 for anyone 13+.

Bond with some animals

Your ward can form some everlasting animal friendships at multiple zoos around the city, from the new baby gorilla at the Toronto Zoo to the llamas at High Park Zoo or the oinkers at Riverdale Farm.

Frolic in the water

Cool off this summer at one of the many splash pads across the city, where kids can run around in spray jets and make new friends. You can also head to Scarborough to visit Kidstown, the only water park operated by the city, for the tipping bucket, spray rings and slide.

Go hiking

Get the kids in tune with Mother Nature with an adventurous walk through Toronto’s many trails, from the beautiful picture book-esque ravine of Glen Stewart to the lush trails of Crothers Woods.

Practice patience while bird watching

Keeping still is a feat for many of us, even adults. Practice the art of stillness with your kid by heading over to Tommy Thompson Park and trying to check off all 316 species of birds on their Bird Checklist.

Explore Toronto from the water

You and the little ones can explore Toronto’s waterfront by kayak, canoe, or even paddleboard with Toronto Adventures and the Harbourfront Canoe and Kayak Centre, who offer rentals and guided tours. You can also do a tandem kayak tour with your kid around Toronto’s archipelago, as long as they’re 12 and up.

Discover the Toronto Islands

Traversing the lake on a ferry is one of the best summer memories you can bestow a kid. Hop on a boat from the Jack Layton Ferry Terminal and then spend the rest of your day exploring the Islands, from the maze and rides at Centre Island to the beach at Ward’s.

Ride the mini train at Toronto Railway Museum

All aboard the fun train! Head over to Roundhouse Park — conveniently located near the CN Tower and Ripley’s — where you and the young’uns can hop on the Mini-Rail that takes you around the Roundhouse Park for a small fee on top of museum admission.

Go on a scavenger hunt

Pick up a pamphlet at Evergreen Brick Works and take your little ones on a scavenger hunt around the site any time during business hours. There’s hunts appropriate for kids as old as 10, with a recommended donation of $2 to $5.

Take them to a festival

What’s better than exploring vast grounds while getting to nom on tasty food from different cultures? From Taste of the Danforth to Jerk Fest and Night Market, there are countless kid-friendly festivals taking place in the city this summer.

There's a subway closure on Line 1 this weekend

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It looks like Toronto is back on track for scheduled weekend subway closures after weeks of cancellations. This weekend will see service disruptions on both Line 1 and Line 2.

There will be no subway service on Line 1 between Lawrence and St Clair stations on July 7 and 8 due to Metrolinx's Eglinton Crosstown LRT work at Yonge Street and Eglinton Avenue.

During this closure the TTC will take advantage of this Metrolinx closure to conduct track work in the area as well.

In addition to this Line 1 closure, subway service on Line 2 from St George to Broadview stations will start at 10 a.m. on July 8 due to beam replacement work on the Prince Edward Viaduct.

Shuttle buses will be operating between these stations during the closure.

Regular scheduled service will resume on Monday morning. The next scheduled closure will halt weekend service on Line 1 between Lawrence and St Clair stations on July 14 and 15 due to Metrolinx's Eglinton Crosstown LRT work at Yonge Street and Eglinton Avenue.

You can now finally navigate the PATH on your phone

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You know what's cooler than living on top of the largest underground shopping complex in the world? Being able to walk through said complex for three freaking minutes without getting lost.

The Toronto Underground PATH network is amazing, but what it's best known for is how difficult it is to navigate.

Did you know that you can walk from the MTCC to Yonge-Dundas Square without ever stepping foot outdoors? I did, but somehow always end up walking in circles under the TD Centre every time I try.

Measures have been taken in recent years to help people better figure out where they are, and where they're going within the 30-kilometre underground maze.

The Toronto Financial District BIA rolled out an easier-to-read map in 2016, for instance, and more recently installed enhanced wayfinding signs.

It appears as though Toronto PATH did have an iPhone app of its own at one point but, as of 2018, that app has been removed from the app store.

"It's an amazing piece of infrastructure, but current maps don't do it justice," says Toronto-based inventor and entrepreneur Eric Rotberg of the underground network.

"I've noticed that a lot of people, myself included, kind of dread this place," he continued, pointing to how notoriously difficult the PATH is to navigate. "So I decided to do something about it."

pathmap toronto

Pathmap can give you custom directions for Toronto's underground maze of stores and restaurants wherever you happen to be. Screenshot of pathmap.ca.

Working with a team of developers, Rotberg has created a mobile website called pathmap that uses "a unique navigation algorithm to help users orient and navigate in the PATH."

Robterg says that iOS and Android versions of pathmap are in beta now, but will soon be released with additional features, such as a step-by-step directions ("Go right at the Tim Hortons. Continue past the Swarovski store.")

In the meantime, anyone can pull up the web-based version of pathmap on a smartphone and figure out how to get from point A to point B inside the PATH almost immediately.

If you're at City Hall, for example, and want to get to Burger King, you can select those two places from a drop down menu of roughly 11,000 businesses and voila: a map you can actually follow.

"Users can find their current location and plot a walking path to their desired destination," says Rotberg, by "simply selecting a location on the map."

Still, as so many people wonder all the time, why can't we just use Google Maps or some sort of app to find our way using GPS? Like we do above ground?

Because, as Rotberg explains, GPS doesn't work in the PATH.

This is why we can only see where specific stores are located in relation to the streets above them on Google Maps — which doesn't help much since the PATH has a completely different and unique layout.

Rotberg says that with pathmap, you can find your location easily by typing in the name of any business you are near in the search bar.

The app will know where you are based on the location of that business and guide you to where you'd like to be.

It's no GPS, but this system is the farthest we've gotten in terms of digital navigation tools for the PATH, so far, and it's still incredibly helpful for figuring out how to find your way to a specific location within the most confusing underground mall of all time.

"The application is fast, stable and user feedback has been overwhelmingly positive," says Rotberg of the app.

"Our vision is to collaborate with the City of Toronto to reach a larger user base, incorporate many of the desired features, and keep the app ad free."


An old Toronto grocery store is being transformed into a literal funhouse

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Step right up, ladies and gentlemen, to a self-described "magical world of art, music and discovery" in what used to be a 1950s-era grocery store.

Fairland Funhouse, a new music venue and experiential art maze in Kensington Market, is set to open this August — and let me tell you, it sounds wild.

"Visitors check-in through the unsuspecting lobby and descend down a wormhole of an alternate universe," reads a description for the experience, which is still under construction.

"Six suites in the underground art maze are designed in collaboration by a team of well-known artists — musicians partnered with visual creators, many from Toronto."

The entire project is being produced by the creative collective Mondo Forma in partnership with Universal Music Canada.

"Fairland Funhouse embodies everything that makes Kensington great: diversity, creativity and a melting pot of old with new," said Mondo Forma co-counder Jonah Brotman in a release announcing the space on Wednesday.

"The art maze is a choose-your-own-adventure playground, each room an entirely new and magical world dreamed up by a different team of collaborating local artists. It's art you can be in!"

fairland fun house

A rendering for the exterior of Fairland Funhouse, which is taking over a 1950's-era grocery store in Kensington Market. Photo via Megan Leahy.

And it's not just another trendy concept gallery pandering to a generation of Instagram addicts. The managers of Fairland Funhouse will be following in the footsteps of several other collectives who've used the old Fairland Supermarket for next-level parties.

The main space of the venue will be "disguised as an underwater ballroom" with room for over 200 guests, according to organizers.

And as if the visual stimulation isn't enough, they'll also be serving liquor donuts.

Tickets go on sale next Tuesday, July 20, and start at $20. Once the venue launches officially, it will be open to the public seven days a week.

Jollibee is about to open a new location in Mississauga

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The wait is over, friends — though it's probably also just beginning.

Popular Filipino fast food chain Jollibee is opening up its second GTA location, as promised, in a matter of weeks now, according to the people who built it.

The Mississauga-based general contracting firm BUILD IT By Design announced on Twitter Wednesday that it had officially finished construction on the Jollibee restaurant set to open inside Seafood City Supermarket.

The company says that Jollibee Mississauga will opening in "mid July," though a specific date has yet to be announced.

If what happened in April, when Jollibee launched its Scarborough restaurant, is any indication, you should probably start lining up now.

Someone hung their own artwork inside the Banksy exhibit

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Once upon a time, back in 2003, a mysterious street artist known as Banksy snuck into the prestigious Tate Britain in London to hang one of his paintings on a gallery wall.

This week, Toronto artist Tharanga Ra paid tribute to the now very-famous Brit by doing the same thing at unauthorized exhibit of his work.

"Theft is bringing street art inside and then charging an admission fee," reads a placard on the wall beside Ra's 5x7 print.

banksy pranksy toronto

A Banksy-like piece was snuck into an exhibition of the artist's work in Toronto this week. Image via Tharanga Ra.

The work, titled "FREE-FOR-ALL," shows six copies of Banksy's 2007 print 'Trolly Hunters' — a copy of which was famously stolen ahead of the show's opening at 213 Sterling Road last month

At the forefront of Ra's print is a paper that reads "admission $35," posted over a "street closed" sign.

For but a few brief, fleeting minutes, you could find it hanging beside a print of 'Rage, the Flower Thrower' — arguably one of Bansky's most recognizable works.

banksy pranksy toronto

Small as it may be, the 'pranksy' piece didn't go for very long before security guards noticed and took it down. Image via Tharanga Ra.

Banksy, known for his scathing critiques of capitalism and consumer culture, would likely approve — as would those in the city who've said they find the entire Art of Banksy shebang ridiculous or "vulgar".

Building security, not so much.

"Banksy once went to a museum and posted his art on the wall. So I went to Banksy's exhibit and posted my art on the wall," wrote Ra on Facebook Wednesday of his "#banksypranksy."

banksy pranksy toronto

The artist hung an anonymous sign next to his work explaining what it meant. Image via Tharanga Ra.

"After putting it up I waited and watched as people enjoyed it, they laughed and took pictures," he continued. "But it didn't stay up for long. Someone told security and they took it down quick."

A PR representative for The Art of Bansky confirmed that the stunt took place this week.

Ra, for his part, tracked down the Instagram account of a woman who posted online about telling the gallery staff.

"Crazy story," says the woman in a multi-part Instagram Stories video. "My friend Chris saw this guy pull out a picture from his bag and then stick it on the wall and then put a tag beside it, to make it look like a Banksy original."

She goes on to describe how she flagged down security guards and how Ra bolted when people began gathering around.

"Everyone who worked there thought it was so funny," she said. "He didn't get in trouble at all."

Street festivals bring road closures to Toronto this weekend

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It's going to be a weekend of road closures in Toronto as annual street festivals will be shutting down routes all over the city. Taste of Lawrence and Salsa on St. Clair are on, so ditch the car and prepare to stuff your face and dance the weekend away.

If you do plan on driving, here's what you need to know to navigate around Toronto.

Taste of Lawrence

The street festival will close Lawrence Avenue between Warden and Birchmount avenues from July 6 at 10 a.m. to July 9 at 2 a.m. 

Salsa on St. Clair

Here's just another street festival closing down city streets. The event will cause St. Clair Avenue between Winona Drive and Christie Street to close from July 7 at 8 a.m. to  July 8 at 11 p.m. 

Danceforth

The event will close Danforth between Woodbine and West Lynn avenues from 8 a.m. to midnight on July 7.

Maker Extravaganza

Asquith Avenue between Yonge Street and Sherlock Holmes Walk will be closed from July 7 at 7 a.m. to July 8 at 9 p.m. to accommodate the event.

TTC Subway Closure

Beyond road closures, there will be no subway service on Line 1 between Lawrence and St Clair stations on July 7 and 8 due to Metrolinx's Eglinton Crosstown LRT work at Yonge Street and Eglinton Avenue.

In addition to this Line 1 closure, subway service on Line 2 from St George to Broadview stations will start at 10 a.m. on July 8 due to beam replacement work on the Prince Edward Viaduct.

10 things to do in Toronto today

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Events in Toronto today give you the chance to discover new inspo material as the Art Book Fair kicks off for its third year. There's also a free outdoor screening in Corktown and an Italian food experience.

Events you might want to check out:

Roman Holiday (July 5 @ Corktown Common Park)
The Cinematic Cities series takes over Corktown Common Park for a free, outdoor screening of the 1953 Audrey Hepburn classic Roman Holiday.
Logic (July 5 @ Budweiser Stage)
Rapper and singer Logic arrives for a one night stint in Toronto alongside NF and Kyle for the Bobby Tarantino vs. Everybody Tour.
Best of Female Director's Film Festival (July 5 @ Carlton Cinemas)
The work of women directors takes the spotlight during this free showcase of films from Canada and beyond.
Wanderer (July 5 @ Project Gallery)
Artist Sara Pearson debuts new work that uses abstracted imagery to create landscapes that speak to themes of transformation and healing.
AGO First Thursday (July 5 @ Art Gallery of Ontario)
Grab a drink and wander through the gallery, including the new Tunirrusiangit exhibit and the J.S. McLean Centre for Indigenous and Canadian Art.
High Home (July 5 @ Handlebar)
Mississauga's own heartland punk heroes High Home have teamed up with Found Objects and Father Bodies for a night of head banging jams.
Bad As I Wanna Be (July 5 @ The Pilot)
Breakin' rules and collectin' hearts, this burlesque show is for all the badass femmes out there who do what they want and do not apologize.
Toronto Art Book Fair (July 5-8 @ Chinatown Centre)
Canadian and international artists come together for this huge art book fair with performances, talks, workshops, screenings and more.
Giro d'Italia (July 5-15 @ Multiple Venues)
Fifteen Italian resultants come together for a culinary experience with specials on menus meant to show off yummy regional Italian fare.
Tinder on the Toilet (July 5-14 @ 620 Spadina Avenue)
Part of the Fringe Festival, this hip-hop comedy act uses live concert, sketch and improv to tackle our everyday fixations and ungodly habits.
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