Condos downtown are so often boring glass boxes in the sky, which means when I see something a little bit unique I get way too excited.

This luxury condo is in a heritage building at Yonge & Wellesley. The arched windows and the peaked ceilings are just some of the things that make this place so unique.

The kitchen and living area are open-concept, but on the small side. I probably wouldn’t be throwing a dinner party here anytime soon: there isn’t even room for a kitchen table.

That being said, the kitchen is sleek and modern, and with the all-white cabinets the space seems larger than it is.

The unit boasts two bedrooms and two bathrooms.

The master bedroom is on the second floor and has a four-piece en suite. There are also some interesting spaces that could definitely be utilized in creative ways.

Unfortunately, there’s no private outdoor space — a common feature with older buildings. But there is a rooftop terrace.

Specs

• Address: #221 - 5 St. Joseph Street
• Price: $1,099,000
• Bedrooms: 2
• Bathrooms: 2
• Parking: 1
• Walk Score: 99
• Transit Score: 97
• Maintenance Fees: $572.35 monthly
• Listing agent: Darinka Kosanovic
• Listing ID: C4158596

Good For

Someone who likes quirky spaces and historic buildings.

Move On If

You have pets. This building doesn’t allow fur-babies inside so if you have or want to have a cat, dog, guinea pig or bunny keep hunting.

Events in Toronto this weekend have something for everyone with dancing, food, music, movies and art. Three street festivals take over different parts of the city, while some summer favourites return for another year.

Toronto restaurant openings highlight the latest food news in Toronto and gives a preview of what's coming soon. Find us here every Thursday morning.

Open now

• Big Trouble (not to be confused with Big Trouble Pizza nearby), a bar with Asian-inspired cocktails, is in its soft-open phase and will have its grand opening tomorrow (Friday, July 6) at 460 Dundas Street West, 2nd floor.
• Mukimuki, a Japanese-style dessert and coffee shop, is now open at 384 College Street (at Borden Street).
• Drom Taberna, an Eastern European spot, has replaced Tortilla Flats at 458 Queen Street West (at Augusta Avenue).
• South Korean soft-serve dessert chain Milkcowhas opened at 2651 Yonge Street (at Blythwood Road, between Eglinton and Lawrence).
• Board game cafe Spielhaus is now open, with a selection of over 2,500 games, at 1187 St. Clair Avenue West (by Dufferin) in Corso Italia.

Recently reviewed

• Madrina
• Petty Cash
• Cabano's Comfort Food
• Sang-Ji Fried Bao
• Burgers Park
• Frilu

Opening soon

• Koishi Ice Cream, a soon-to-open ice cream shop that will take over the original location of Little Pebbles in Kensington Market (it moved a few doors over), will be a collaboration between the Japanese dessert cafe and Arthur Pezzelli, the wizard behind the ice cream at Bang Bang.
• Black Lab Brewing should be opening soon at 818 Eastern Avenue (at Leslie Street) in Leslieville.
• The Mt Pleasant Rose, a music venue and restaurant, is taking shape at 744 Mount Pleasant Road (just south of Eglinton Avenue East) in Davisville.
• North of Brooklyn Pizzeria will be opening a fifth location on July 24 at 511 Rogers Road.

Closed

• Jaipur Grille in midtown is no more.

Other news

• Planta will be launching Planta Sweets tomorrow. This dessert shop pop-up by Chef David Lee opens at noon at 1221 Bay Street in Yorkville and will feature raw, edible plant-based cookie dough, which will also be available at Planta Burger.
• Portuguese butcher shop Nosso Talho on Dundas West has closed and will undergo renovations due to a fire on July 2. Its sibling shop in Bloorcourt is still open.
• Banjara by Christie Pits has recovered quickly from its second fire this year and has already reopened.

Have you seen restaurants opening or closing in your neighbourhood? Email tips to editors@blogto.com.

The top new vegan restaurants in Toronto have more options than ever for those who want to include more veggies for a balanced diet. Not only does this mean better and bolder salads, juices, and bowls but also burgers, pizza, tater tots, cheesecake, quiches and mac n’ cheese.

Here are the top new vegan restaurants in Toronto.

Rosalinda

There’s a new veggie burger in town at this Financial District restaurant with Grant van Gameren behind it. There are also carrot-garnished cocktails and cauliflower tostadas at the totally plant-based Mexican restaurant.

Away Kitchen + Cafe

Vegan cheesecake, quiches, sandwiches and other satisfying comforts are now available in the corner spot in Little Italy where a Starbucks once long stood. You can also get Steambox Dumplings here now.

Good Things

Juices, toasts and salads are on the menu at this East Chinatown place, along with what are touted as “healing elixirs.”

Apiecalypse Now! (Pape)

The popular pizza joint that’s long held a spot across from Christie Pits now has an east end location where you can grab their vegan Big Mac pizza and all kinds of grocery finds for easy animal-free treats at home.

Parka Food Co.

Potato and portobello burgers plus truffle mac n’ cheese are the order of the day at this fast casual Queen West spot.

One of the biggest issues facing public transit agencies today is the gap in service between a rider's home and their nearest bus or subway stop.

How can we encourage motorists to choose public transportation when it's so much less convenient? When they have to walk for 20 minutes to get to a GO station, on streets that were designed for automobiles, when they could simply drive instead?

Urban planners call it the "first mile/last mile" problem and a growing body of research suggests that autonomous vehicles could be part of the solution.

A report set to go before Toronto's Public Works and Infrastructure Committee next Tuesday details a $1.2 million pilot project that would bring driverless transit shuttles to the streets of Toronto.

The pilot project, called "Minding The Gap", would launch in 2020 to "research and test an automated shuttle that can operate without a driver."

"Automated shuttles typically seat 8-12 passengers and are designed to travel in low speed, low-volume environments," reads the report. 

"Most are electric-powered and operate at an automation level of four ("high automation"), as per the scale established by the Society of Automotive Engineers."

No specific part of town has been selected for the shuttle (or shuttles) to operate in, but the report specifies that they won't be tested on an existing transit route.

All that's been revealed in terms of location so far is that service will be located within the City of Toronto and that it will  connect to at least one rapid transit station — either TTC or GO Transit.

The idea is to fill an unmet public transit need within the City of Toronto — basically, to bridge the first mile/last mile gap in underserved areas.

Safety appears to be top of mind for the city staffers who've prepared the report (the General Managers of Transportation Services and Economic Development).

They specify that the type of  vehicle chosen for the pilot will be "an established shuttle model that has been tested in other jurisdictions" such as those in Las Vegas, Calgary, Stockholm and Singapore. 

Furthermore, these self-driving shuttles won't be unmanned.

"While an on-board driver is not required to operate the vehicle, this pilot project will include 'ambassadors' who will staff the vehicle at all times," reads the report.

"These ambassadors will be paid staff by the TTC and Metrolinx, and forms the bulk of their contributions to the project."

The city departments spearheading this project now only need authorization from council to "enter into the necessary agreements with Metrolinx, TTC and the Federal Government to advance this project. "

Many transportation and tech companies that produce these vehicles already exist, though the city hasn't put forth any specific recommendations as to the brand or model they're looking for.

If everything moves forward as planned, work on the project should begin next year.

"The project is intended to provide exposure to and experience with this new type of vehicle for local transit operators the TTC and Metrolinx, and for the City's Transportation Services Division," reads the report.

"The pilot shuttle service will also allow the public to learn about these new vehicles."

Heck yeah, robocars! 

After months upon months of sliding house prices and sales numbers in Toronto, the local real estate market is starting to show some signs of life again.

A total of 8,082 home sales were reported in June across the GTA, according to the Toronto Real Estate Board's Monthly Market Figures report. That's 2.4 per cent higher than what we saw in June of 2017, when sales dropped to just 7,893 homes (and continued to drop for months after that.)

On a monthly basis, the news is even better for home owners and sellers. Sales were up 17.6 per cent in June of 2018 over May of 2018, according to TREB, after preliminary seasonal adjustment.

Meanwhile, flagging area home prices reached their highest average price last month since May of 2017 (though not by much, at $807,871.)

"Home ownership has proven to be a positive long-term investment," said incoming TREB president Garry Bhaura in a release on Thursday.

"After some adjustment to the Fair Housing Plan the new Office of The Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI) stress test requirement and generally higher borrowing costs, home buyers are starting to move back into the market, with sales trending up from last year's lows."

He continued to say that "market conditions appear to be tightening, with sales accounting for a greater share of listings, as new listings have dropped compared to last year."

Police in Toronto say they've recovered more unidentified human remains from the ravine behind a home linked to accused serial killer Bruce McArthur.

Det. Sgt. Hank Idsinga told reporters on Thursday that, after searching roughly 100 properties where McArthur had worked as a landscaper, police returned to the Mallory Crescent home where they found the dismembered bodies of seven men in garden planters earlier this year.

Cadaver dogs had indicated human body parts might be buried in the ravine area near 53 Mallory Crescent in May, according to police, leading excavators to focus their search there on July 4.

Investigators have confirmed that human remains have been found during the excavation of the Mallory Crescent property ^mg pic.twitter.com/5bYsAUcHt7

— Toronto Police (@TorontoPolice) July 5, 2018

"We are prioritizing areas that give us the strongest indications with canine units," said Idsinga to reporters on Thursday morning. "The excavation continues, and we anticipate being here for, at least until next week."

The Toronto Police Service will now work with the Centre of Forensic Sciences to excavate other areas of interest near the property.

"We haven't identified what the remains are or who they belonged to," said Idsinga, noting that they could be additional parts from sets of remains already found in the planters.

WATCH: Toronto Police Det.-Sgt. Hank Idsinga confirms more human remains have been found near the Leaside property where accused serial killer Bruce McArthur kept his landscaping tools... pic.twitter.com/DBDuBteVrc

— NEWSTALK1010 (@NEWSTALK1010) July 5, 2018

Since January, police have located the remains of seven men believed to have been killed by McArthur: Selim Esen, Skandaraj Navaratnam, Andrew Kinsman, Dean Lisowick, Soroush Mahmudi, Abdulbasir Faizi and Kirushna Kanagaratnam.

The remains of Majeed Kayhan have yet to be found and police believe that there could be more bodies still.

McArthur, 66, was arrested in January and has since been charged with eight counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of eight men linked to Toronto's Gay Village.

Idsinga said that yesterday was the first time remains had been discovered around the property that were not in garden planters.

The rivalry between New York and Toronto sports fans hit a soft spot yesterday as Mets fans marched through the streets to show their love for former Blue Jays star Jose Bautista.

A sea of orange overtook Toronto yesterday as New York Mets fans came out to demonstrate their love for the Jay's former outfielder while makin' their way downtown for the second of a two-game series.

Hundreds of New York Mets fans have invaded Toronto, marching down King street while chanting “JOSE JOSE JOSE JOSE” pic.twitter.com/6JxQ0bcrdk

— Yahoo Canada Sports (@YahooCASports) July 4, 2018

The longtime right-fielder returned to Toronto to play against the Jays on Tuesday and received a heartfelt welcome that included a standing ovation, tributes and gushing words from coaches, players and fans alike.

I love that around these parts, they're "The New York Mets with Jose Bautista" like they're some kind of band and he's their frontman

— Emilir Marrero Jr. (@JaysGirlEmily) July 2, 2018

Mets fans responded to the outpouring of love by coming out in droves to show their support for Bautista by blocking downtown traffic and chanting all the way to the Dome.

There’s a Mets Fan march currently blocking traffic in downtown Toronto.

Frankly, based on the size of some of these people, I worry they won’t make it the last half kilometer.

Be safe! pic.twitter.com/rdkxDA9prz

— Patrick Mayo (@ThePME) July 4, 2018

Many fans were also there to celebrate U.S. Independence Day, dawning shirts that read "We the North on the 4th" and spending the day watching America's favourite pastime.

Unil next time, Mets fans.

Sick of the stifling heat yet, Toronto? At least 99 per cent of people with long hair are, I can tell you that much. 

Fortunately, relief is on the way after nearly a week straight of 30 C + temperatures— but first, thunderstorms. 

The hot and sticky air mass we're cursing now came into Southern Ontario with a storm and, according to Environment Canada, it'll go out with a storm as well.

Severe Thunderstorm Watch for parts of Southern Ontario includes Toronto, London and Windsor #onstormpic.twitter.com/AJJrKVD0LU

— Brandon Houck (@HouckisPokise) July 5, 2018

The federal weather agency just issued a severe thunderstorm watch for Thursday afternoon and evening (on top of the still-active heat advisory).

"Conditions are favourable for the development of dangerous thunderstorms that may be capable of producing torrential rain," reads the alert.

"Given the high heat and humidity a few of these thunderstorms could be intense resulting in localized torrential downpours," it continues.

"Some locations could receive on the order of 25 to 50 mm of rain over a short period of time. Localized wind gusts up to 90 km/h will also be a concern."

Meteorologists say that temperatures should drop down from today's high of 34 C to around 25 C by Friday. The weekend will still be hot, with a high of 26 C on Saturday and 29 C on Sunday.

Then, on Monday, rain is expected, followed by a brief cool down, followed by a heat up, and so on and so forth forever and ever in a vicious cycle until the end of time summer 2018.

Can't say I didn't warn you.

Toronto-born rapper Tory Lanez pulled a total Justin Timberlake last night by reaching out to touch a fan while performing at REBEL nightclub. Sort of.

When Timberlake does it, it's more of a friendly, sweeping hand touch spread across fans who are crying in the front row.

Lanez is seen in a video jumping into the crowd and punching someone — but hey, at least the fan can say they got up close and personal with a famous musician?

#ToryLanez Wants All The Smoke, As He Knocks Out Overly Excited Fan! 😨🍿

A post shared by SFTY News (@sftynews) on Jul 4, 2018 at 8:30pm PDT

Footage shot by fans during Wednesday night's concert — one of two Toronto stops on the rapper's "Memories Don't Die Tour" — appears to show Lanez punching someone in the crowd.

"Hands the f**k up!" he yells into the microphone before stepping offstage and into the audience.

Hot New Hip Hop explains that it's common, if not expected, for Lanez to crowd surf between songs at his shows. 

"Tory likes to take time out his show and literally walk across the hands of the crowd, as if he were 'crowd walking.'," writes Kevin Goddard "It's usually a big hit at his shows, and one where fans can get up close... However, it looks like someone might’ve taking things a bit too far recently in his hometown."

#PressPlay: Looks like things got real at #ToryLanez show in #Toronto 👀

A post shared by The Shade Room (@theshaderoom) on Jul 4, 2018 at 10:04pm PDT

For whatever reason, when Lanez walked off the stage last night, he didn't crowd surf — he stepped into the audience started wailing on someone right away.

The person being punched cannot be seen in any of the clips that have surfaced so far and Lanez himself has yet to address the incident publicly, so it's hard to know what happened here.

The show went on from there, and will go on tonight again when Lanez plays his second hometown show at REBEL.

One of Toronto's chillest spots to eat wings, drink beer and people watch along the always fascinating West Queen West is closing next week, just shy of its 10th birthday.

The Dog's Bollocks, like somanyother institutions before it, is being forced to leave its stellar location amidst skyrocketing rent prices along Queen Street.

"As many of you have already heard, Dog's Bollocks will unfortunately be closing after next week (Friday the 13th)," reads a notice posted to the bar and restaurant's Facebook page on Thursday.

"Since receiving news of the changes to our lease, our ownership has fought the good fight in an effort to continue serving you in our current location, but to no avail."

Friends old and new are welcome to come by between now and July 13 for "for drinks, memories, 10 a.m. World Cup coverage, and some of Bollocks' famous wings."

Fans of those chicken wings, by the way, will still be able to get them at The Dogs Bollocks' sister bar, Toby's Pub and Eatery on College Street.

As for what will go into the space at 817 Queen Street West once that big cute English Bulldog face is gone, who knows?

My guess is another optical boutique. Heaven knows West Queen West doesn't have enough of those these days.

This city sure loves its design competitions. From opening up roads on King Street for temporary art installations as part of the King Street Pilot Project to placing hulking structures on beaches, there's no question that competitions are a City of Toronto favourite. Even for parks. 

A rendering of what the York Street Park could look like. Courtesy: PLANT Architects (Toronto) + Mandaworks (Stolkholm).

Today in design competition news, shortlisted proposals for the York Street and Rees Street Park Design Competition have been selected and are on display on the project website and in the Rotunda at City Hall to allow for public feedback. 

A rendering of what the Rees Street park could look like. Courtesy: SCAPE Landscape Architecture (New York) + BSN Architects (Toronto).

The competition was announced earlier this year and welcomed international submissions. The two new parks will be put in place along Queens Quay: construction of the York Street Park is expected to begin in 2019, Rees Street Park in 2020.

A rendering of what the Rees Street park could look like. Courtesy: wHY Architecture (New York) + Brook Mcllroy (Toronto). 

The aim of the competition, according to Waterfront Toronto, is to "set new standards for inclusive design, sustainability, and climate resilience." 

A rendering of what the York Street Park could look like. Courtesy: Hapa Collaborative (Vancouver).

The selected submissions, five for each park, are from:

York Street Park

• Agency Landscape + Planning (Massachusetts) + DAVID RUBIN Land Collective (Philadelphia)
• Claude Cormier et Associés (Montréal)
• Hapa Collaborative (Vancouver)
• PLANT Architects (Toronto) + Mandaworks (Stolkholm)
• Stephen Stimson Associates Landscape Architects (Massachusetts) + MJMA (Toronto)

Rees Street Park

• PUBLIC CITY Architecture (Toronto)
• SCAPE Landscape Architecture (New York) + BSN Architects (Toronto)
• Snøhetta (New York) + PMA Landscape Architects (Toronto)
• Stoss Landscape Urbanism (Boston) + DTAH (Toronto)
• wHY Architecture (New York) + Brook Mcllroy (Toronto)

The shortlisted proposals will be on display at City Hall until 5:00 p.m. on July 17.

The co-founder of Toronto's Wavelength music festival and not-for-profit arts organization has left his directorial post amidst a former employee's allegation of abuse.

Jonathan Bunce, who goes by Jonny Dovercourt, co-founded Wavelength in 2000. It has evolved since then from a series of indie music showcases to a large outdoor music festival, Camp Wavelength, in downtown Toronto.

A former volunteer and employee of the organization, Dorice Tepley, called out Bunce publicly on Facebook over the weekend for creating, what she says, was a hostile work environment

"If you believe me, don't go. If you believe victims, don't play, don't go," wrote Tepley in a now-deleted Facebook post aimed at performers and sponsors for Camp Wavelength 2018. "Protect yourselves. Don't let this abuser use your talent for his own ego and gain!"

Tepley, who was dismissed from Wavelength in 2015, wrote that Bunce made her feel "dumb" and "like shit about myself because I was me."

2/2

We will update you when we have confirmed all details.

We are committed to working with you to create change within our community; please join us as we continue to have these difficult conversations among ourselves, and with you.

-The Wavelength Music Board of Directors

— Wavelength Music (@wavelengthmusic) July 4, 2018

"He turned what friends I thought I had against me," said Tepley of her time working with Bunce. "That's all I can share because the rest is too traumatic."

Wavelength Music's board of directors announced on Wednesday that they would be investigating the allegations further by way of an independent third party inquiry.

"While still in the process of engaging this counsel, the Board is committed to conducting a prompt, impartial and thorough review of any and all allegations of workplace misconduct, and has asked that Mr. Bunce stand down as Artistic Director of the Festival pending the outcome of this inquiry," reads a letter posted to the non-profit's website.

Wavelength Music, which describes itself a community hub for independent music, will not modify its current schedule as a result of the scandal.

This means that the Camp Wavelength festival is still a go for August 18 and 19 as planned.

Events in Toronto today are for all the foodies out there as Summerlicious kicks off at places all over the city, plus Taste of Lawrence and the first BurgerMania. There's also lots of music and a big art fair in City Hall.

This renovated coach house near Bayview and Bloor East is just darling! The home underwent a spectacular renovation by Joe Brennan and was featured in 'Coach Houses of Toronto'.

The soaring cathedral ceiling in the living room with the grand fireplace and skylights make it feel like a cottage oasis in the city.The dining room and eat-in kitchen are huge, so it’s perfect for throwing lavish dinner parties.

The kitchen walks-out into the gorgeous garden, which was landscaped by Neil Turnbull. The backyard seems so serene and quiet despite being only a few blocks away from the DVP.

Upstairs are two bedrooms, although the current owners have turned the second bedroom into a sitting room.

The master suite is spacious and bright. It also has a lovely Juliette balcony that looks out over the garden.

There isn’t an en suite bathroom with this house and the bathroom upstairs is only a three-piece, but it’s a beautifully modern three-piece.

This house only has a half basement but it does have an office space, which theoretically could be turned into another bedroom if needed.

The Essentials

• Address: 41 Castle Frank Road
• Type: House
• Bedrooms: 2
• Bathrooms: 2
• Size: 20.5 x 130 feet
• Realtor: Royal LePage
• Hit the market at: $1,998,000
• Sold for: $2,060,000

Why it sold for what it did?

It’s a unique and beautifully-renovated coach house in South Rosedale. Based on curb appeal it makes sense why this house went for over $2 million.  

Was it worth it?

While I get why someone might spend $2.06 million on this house, I think they overpaid. It’s only a two bedroom home with half a basement. Bigger houses in the area went for about the same amount of money.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, ever the fitness buff, was seen going for a run near Cherry Beach on Thursday after a long day of meetings at Queen's Park.

The PM, who had his first official sit down with new Ontario Premier Doug Ford yesterday, hit the pavement in Toronto's east end shortly after a severe thunderstorm watch had been issued for the city.

A heat advisory was also still in effect as of Thursday evening.

The one day I don't go for a run in that area and Trudeau is there shirtless. :( ---- Prime Minister Trudeau spotted jogging in Toronto https://t.co/FBuvsV0M2B

— Ben Cousins (@cousins_ben) July 6, 2018

Given the terribly muggy environment, Trudeau decided not to wear a shirt for his outdoor run — an occurrence that, at one point, would (and did) spark mass online hysteria. 

As footage of the PM's most recent shirtless jog circulates on Twitter, however, some are wondering if it isn't quite as organic as that time he accidentally photobombed a beach wedding with his surfboard.

First off, there's the fact that he was being followed by a huge security detail consisting of at least 10 black vehicles the entire time.

"Spotted???"

It was hardly a candid moment. He was followed by police and an multi-car motorcade with flashing lights...

... and filmed by TV cameras that had set up AHEAD of him.

Another staged Trudeau "selfie."#FakeNewshttps://t.co/Uf6osE7fPZ

— Mark Towhey (@towhey) July 6, 2018

Secondly, the PM is still dealing the fallout of allegations that he "acted inappropriately" toward a female reporter at music festival in 2000. 

There's a scandal, so of course Trudeau is jogging shirtless.

— Chad Wassing (@chadvector) July 6, 2018

Trudeau's team might have thought that shirtless photos could provide a welcome media distraction.

Or maybe the Prime Minister was just hot? With a daytime high of 34 C on Thursday — and a humidex making things feel even hotter — it's hard to blame anyone for wearing as little as possible to exercise.

Everyone needs to relax. He's a man that is jogging. Sure snap a photo, great. Slow news morning. But why some people instantly go nuclear is beyond me. You wouldn't care about another person jogging, so stop getting angry that this guy is.

— Michael Strathmore (@The_Strath) July 6, 2018

Whatever the case, Trudeau is still in Toronto as of Friday, where he is set to meet with Mayor John Tory at City Hall to discuss gun violence and the city's need for additional help in supporting Canada's federal refugee program.

Food events in Toronto this week are across the spectrum in terms of tastes. Vegan cookie dough, burgers, beers and coffee are all on the menu, while Summerlicious, the Junction Night Market and Taste of Lawrence offer even more variety.

If you're wondering where to start with Summerlicious, here's a handy guide.

The top 5 new burgers in Toronto add even more selection to the vast variety of beef between buns this city has to offer. It’d be a lie to say burgers aren’t something of a pop culture fascination right now, but the food here isn’t just Instagram fodder: blood, sweat and tears go into the art of perfecting this simple comfort food.

Here are the top new burgers in Toronto.

Gold Standard

The Telway burger at this window sticking out of the side of a Roncesvalles Village coffee shop is an ode to old school Detroit sliders. Small, smashed flat, and topped with melty cheese and grilled onion, all on a squishy Martin’s potato roll, it’s a fitting tribute.

Ozzy’s Burgers

The towering halal burgers at this Kensington joint with a patio are the definition of outrageous. Topped with everything from pineapple and guacamole to bacon and jalapeno, beef for juicy patties is ground fresh in house.

Extra Burger

Late night burgers have a new home at Dundas West’s latest secretive little spot with the most basic of menus but also hours that extend until 3 a.m.

Resto Boemo

Though the top chef behind this stall in the newly opened Assembly Chef's Hall is renowned for her gnocchi, the burger here is also elevated to competitive status.

Escape Goat

A surprisingly good burger can now be found at this new pub with a back patio that recently took over a Cuban restaurant. Toppings of tomato jam, garlic aioli and crispy potato make this more than just another bar burger.

Summerlicious 2018 has officially begun! Running now until July 22, the annual prix fixe dining event provides one of the best ways to sample dishes at some of Toronto's top restaurants. There's lunch and dinner menus offered at 200 different spots.

Do you plan on doing Summerlicious this year? If so, we want to see your photos and might even reward you for your efforts, too.

To participate, just tag your Instagram photos with #blogTOLicious18.

The deadline for entry is end of day July 22, after which we'll select our ten favourite snaps and then let you vote for the top three.

Winners will receive gift certificates to some of the participating Summerlicious restaurants.

• 1st place - $200 gift certificate to Quinn's Steakhouse
• 2nd place - $100 gift certificate to East Thirty Six
• 3rd place - $50 gift certificate to Pizzeria Via Mercanti 

The latest wild storm to hit Toronto has passed and, with it, so has an excruciating heat wave that's been plaguing the city for more than a week.

Toronto's Medical Officer of Health has finally been able to terminate an Extended Heat Warning as of Friday morning for what could be this year's hottest consistent stretch of weather —and we have last night's thunderstorm(s) to thank for that.

While less severe in terms of wind damage than what we've seen from big storms this year so far, Thursday night's weather event was intense nonetheless.

I didn't want anyone unnecessarily worrying about my absence since I haven't posted in awhile. I need a break. . . . #hiatus #break #clouds #cloudporn #sky #skyporn #cntower #storm #onstorm #thunderstorm #rain #rainy #moody #cityscape #citylife #urbanphotography #toronto #ontario #buildings #igerstoronto

A post shared by Aubrey (@mgbmdri) on Jul 5, 2018 at 3:17pm PDT

Hundreds of Torontonians took to the streets with cameras late Thursday afternoon as the sky began to grow dark.

Always good for a storm. #onstorm #blogto #storm #toronto #thunderstorm #skyporn #cloudporn

A post shared by Elizabeth Hawksworth (@liz_hawksworth) on Jul 5, 2018 at 2:40pm PDT

The sight of clouds rolling in, ominous as thought it may be, always makes for spectacular pictures.

That doesn’t look very promising. #onstorm

A post shared by Lauren O'Neil (@laurenonizzle) on Jul 5, 2018 at 3:03pm PDT

And video footage.

Distant overture. #ONstorm

A post shared by Brian Decker (@briandecker1) on Jul 5, 2018 at 6:01pm PDT

The rain didn't last too long — the first time around. 

🌩⚡️Tonight, I am grateful for dramatic thunderstorms that will hopefully cool things down around here a little bit! #ONStorm #thunderstorm #lightning #stormclouds #northyork #toronto #views

A post shared by Alex Lawless (@tornado_ali) on Jul 5, 2018 at 4:50pm PDT

But there was plenty of thunder and lightning.

⛈😱🔈 #onstorm #torontoweather #thunder #thunderstorm #lightning #holyshit

A post shared by Gillian & Jazzy🐾 (@doxiegill) on Jul 5, 2018 at 5:12pm PDT

Then, after a short break, a second storm started moving in.

#onstorm .#Toronto - 2nd storm coming in.

A post shared by Cynthia Rostie (@cynthiarostie) on Jul 5, 2018 at 4:58pm PDT

This one was a bit more vicious.

Wait for it... #onstorm #HamOnt

A post shared by Kristian David (woodBeard) (@kristiandavid) on Jul 5, 2018 at 6:11pm PDT

And wet, too.

#OnStorm the lightning the rain the thunder this is the most intense storm I’ve seen in a while

A post shared by Robert F. (@torontovice) on Jul 5, 2018 at 5:43pm PDT

Flooding wet.

Flooding on Lake Shore near Kipling in Etobicoke #OnStorm

A post shared by Robert F. (@torontovice) on Jul 5, 2018 at 7:13pm PDT

Still, nobody could look away.

Last one, because the sky is on fire. Less than 20 minutes between videos! #onstorm #nofilter

A post shared by Lacey Day (@andromeda_rising) on Jul 5, 2018 at 5:47pm PDT

After both storms had passed, the sky got even creepier by turning an unnatural shade of red.

The sky over Bloordale moments ago... #nofilter #onstorm #thunderstorm #bloordale

A post shared by Adrienne Weiss (@luludelage) on Jul 5, 2018 at 6:05pm PDT

A brilliant rainbow could be seen in some parts of the GTA.

Post-storm #rainbow over #brampton — first #storm was a bust, second-wave was candy #yyz #onstorm #weatherpics #ontario #canada #cloud #cumulonimbus

A post shared by Bryan Passifiume (@bryanpassifiume) on Jul 5, 2018 at 6:41pm PDT

The rest of us were treated to a weird but pretty thunderstorm-influenced sunset.

#onstorm

A post shared by Davor M (@dman81films) on Jul 5, 2018 at 6:17pm PDT