The top real estate listings sites in Toronto afford prospective home buyers in a level of knowledge that wasn't easily achievable a few years ago. It used to be that the only way you can learn about properties to buy in the city was through a licensed agent or broker or a really well connected friend. But times have changed. The internet is slowly revolutionizing how we discover and shop for our next home and we, as buyers, are gaining more and more access to information than ever before.

The real estate market in Canada may not be as open as the US, where buyers south of the border benefit from a wide array of real estate sites like Zillow or Trulia, but we are not without options here in Toronto.

Here are five sites (listed in no particular order) you need to visit when thinking about buying your next house or condo.

See also:

How to rent an apartment in Toronto

TheDirt.co
Dirt is a social community where members share information about condos around the city. Users contribute to Dirt by adding buildings, sharing pictures and providing building details. They can also "follow" buildings to keep on top of activity from the community and can even give "props" to a building to indicate its popularity. The site is a great place to get the inside scoop on buildings but currently doesn't match this with listing details which could take it to a whole new level. It could also benefit from a mobile app to let users take photos of buildings and post them while out and about.

TheRedPin.com
The Red Pin boasts the largest selection of active listings of any other site catering to the Greater Toronto area - 60% more listings than on MLS, according to their marketing intro. The database includes both active MLS listings as well as new development projects. On top of a large database, TheRedPin really adds value in the additional information they provide for each listing. Users have quick access to local information such as gas stations and grocery stores as well as the whereabouts and ratings of the nearest schools and daycares. For new developments, the site also gives investment information such as price changes and market activity. Sadly this site isn't optimized for mobile nor do they have a mobile app to help with buyers on the go.

Realtor.ca
Created by The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA), Realtor.ca is the go-to site for buyers to get direct access to the public version of MLS. The site may not be as user-friendly as some of the others but the value of this website is the database which is made up of listings registered with licensed agents and brokers. The site is, at best, functional. It covers the necessities of search and provides the components we have come to expect in a listing. Where Realtor.ca succeeds is as a free mobile app available for all major platforms: iPhone, iPad, Android, Windows and BlackBerry. The app leverages the smartphones GPS to find properties and open houses nearby as well as other helpful features such as driving directions.

Zoocasa.com
Owned by Rogers, Zoocasa aims to be the Canadian version of the popular US real estate site, Zillow. The site's tagline is "home search with smarts" and its in the additional information that Zoocasa provides that really sets it apart from the rest. Zoocasa's local information tab is pretty impressive and is an extremely factual way to get to know whom you are going to be living around if you were to move into the neighborhood. Demographic information about the area such as average household income, most common occupations and educational level are details not commonly found on other real estate sites. The wealth of information is fantastic but the amount of detail on each listing page makes it hard to focus, and even find, the basics like room sizes and property description. Zoocasa does offer a free iPhone and iPad app which ironically only provides the basics for each listing and doesn't feature any of the "smarter" elements which makes the website so unique.

Homebuyers.com
If you are in the market for new homes and condos then Homebuyers.com is a good place to start. Homebuyers.com features over 6,000 listings of Canada's newest residential listings. The site is very straightforward. Unlike others in this list it utilizes only a list view for search results rather than using a map. But, it does its job in getting users the necessary information they need to know about new developments. One handy feature is the ability to sign-up for alerts to get new listings that meet your criteria delivered to your inbox as they become available. Homebuyers.com also offers a free app for the iPhone and iPad which leverages GPS to help show you the nearest new home and condo developments in both map and list view.

Do you have a favourite site to use for real estate listings in Toronto? Add it to the comment thread below.

The best seafood restaurants in Toronto are in a school all their own, celebrated for top quality fresh fish, lobsters, oysters and more. Without an ocean to pull inspiration from, Toronto kitchens do what they do best, drawing on cross-cultural culinary traditions to offer everything from Maritime comforts to Mediterranean cookery and fine French or Japanese flavours.

With few exceptions, it's also nice to see this list reflect changing tides in favour of sustainable fishing practices and ocean friendly eating.

Here is the list of the best seafood restaurants in Toronto.

See also:

The Best Oysters in Toronto
The Best Lobster Roll in Toronto
The Best Fish & Chips in Toronto
The Best Fish Stores in Toronto

This two week old cafe/restaurant just east of Yonge on Queen boasts well executed meal options for a quick breakfast, lunch or dinner. Prepared meals and various grab and go offerings are healthy, relatively cheap and delicious. And while the seating is limited, there are plans to expand enough to accomodate a small lunch crowd.

Read my review of The Pink Grapefruit in the restaurants section.

Metrolinx has cut down more than 160 trees and plants on the Georgetown South rail corridor as part of construction work for the Union-Pearson Express, the latest figures show, and that's not sitting right with one local advocacy group.

The provincial transit agency has promised to replace each tree over 30 centimetres in diameter on a 3-1 basis, but the Junction Triangle Rail Committee doesn't think that plan goes far enough to mitigate the environmental impact of increased diesel train traffic in the area.

"They wiped out the entire greenbelt that existed in the rail corridor, all of the vegetation - every tree, shrub was whacked all the way up to Weston," says Kevin Putnam, a spokesman for the group.

"167 trees seems kind of a small number. Clearly there are 100s of others smaller than [30 cms], and a tree that's 30 cms is 15 or 20 years old at least. You're replacing these trees with saplings."

In a statement released Friday, Metrolinx promised to plant more than 500 replacement trees on completion of the project in late 2014. "Metrolinx is also exploring partnerships with organizations to identify viable re-planting sites," it said.

The Junction Triangle Rail Committee is concerned that gesture, required by the City of Toronto's tree bylaw, isn't big enough. It would like to see plants returned to the rail corridor, possibly in the form of a "living" noise barriers used in other parts of the world.

The JTRC also believes construction of the concrete sound-deflecting wall, designed for diesel trains, could become an obstacle to electrification in future, something his group passionately campaigns for.

"They'll make 500 trees available but anyone can come and help themselves. They could be planted anywhere in the neighbourhood but they're not being planted along the rail corridor. They're not planting them on their property or close by, they're not hiring a firm to do that. They're just paying lipservice," Putnam believes.

Metrolinx, however, says that's not the case. They maintain they will be the ones doing the planting of the replacement trees away from the rail corridor, though the location couldn't be confirmed at publication time. The trees can't be returned too close to the new tracks because safety rules require train drivers to have a clear view at all times.

Should Metrolinx be planting more trees to adequately offset the carbon emissions from diesel trains on the Union-Pearson Express? Does it matter that the replacements might not be on the rail corridor? Could trees be considered a good noise barrier?

Chris Bateman is a staff writer at blogTO. Follow him on Twitter at @chrisbateman.

Image: MrDanMofo/blogTO Flickr pool.

This premium off-price retailer opened up at Vaughan Mills last week as a spin-off of Canada's leading high-end department store. Catering to the frugal fashionista, it's a lot like Winners and Marshalls...but with a slightly more impressive list of designer brands.

Read my profile of hr2 Toronto in the fashion section.

The latest edition of the Toronto Underground Market went down last weekend and like previous versions of the event it saw enthusiastic crowds turn up at the Brick Works to sample some of Toronto's most unique street food, craft beer and sweet treats. From quail egg and roasted peameal sandwiches to pulled pork pierogies, here's a visual round-up of our favourite finds.

View all the photos in our Streams section.

Photo by Zirocket in the blogTO Flickr pool

Toronto events Tuesday, May 14, 2013

FILM | Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry
Multi-disciplinary artist, activist and filmmaker Ai Weiwei is known for his defiance of the Chinese government. In this award-winning documentary that opened the 2012 Hot Docs Film Festival, director Alison Klayman follows Ai Weiwei as he prepares for art exhibitions while continually clashing with the government of his home country over his public statements and critical pieces. Screening at the Toronto Reference Library this afternoon, Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry is a compelling film that looks at human rights and a government that wants to silence free speech. This screening is free and open to the public.
Toronto Reference Library (789 Yonge Street) 2PM Free

THEATRE | I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change
An off-Broadway hit, I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change is the second longest-running musical in history and it returns to Toronto stages after a decade. Covering every topic about love, sex and marriage, this musical is a series of vignettes about several love lives and how they intersect. Directed by Evan Tsitsias and starring Christopher Alan Gray, Dean Hollin, Leslie Kay and Alison O'Neill, the musical opens at the Toronto Centre for the Arts' Angelwalk Theatre tonight, running until June 2nd.
Angelwalk Theatre (5040 Yonge Street) 8PM $36.25

BOOKS & LIT | "Chris Eaton, A Biography"
Have you ever Googled yourself? Built an online identity? Discovered someone online with the same name as you? Chris Eaton explores the stories we create and how we measure our memories through others in his new book, "Chris Eaton, A Biography". Launching his book tonight, Eaton will read an excerpt at The Piston with the help of some friends, including writer Misha Bower and musicians Eons and Nick Taylor. Gather some friends — and perhaps some online doppelgangers--and head out to this event to grab a copy of what promises to be one of the city's most riveting biographies.
The Piston (937 Bloor Street West) 8PM Free

ART | Making It Real
Visuals gathered digitally across the globe are transformed into objects using 3D printing technology in Making It Real. A juried show about innovation, designed by OCAD students and professionals, this show has been curated by faculty members Jesse Jackson and Greg Sims with technology innovator Gregory Phillips. The exhibit features highlighted artists Arthur Hash, Jessica Rosenkrantz Nervous System and Doug Bucci creating jewelry, fine art and other small pieces. An opening reception takes place this Thursday evening at 6PM at OCAD with all the artists in attendance.
OCAD University (100 McCaul Street) 12PM Free

ALSO OF NOTE:

• Of A Monstrous Child: A Gaga Musical
• Vis-à-Vis

For more Toronto event suggestions, check out these posts:

• This week in music
• This week in fashion
• This week in film
• Toronto food events
• This week in theatre
• This week in comedy
• Toronto Concerts, May 2013

Have an event you'd like to plug? Submit your own listing to the blogTO Toronto events calendar or contact us directly.

Still from Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry

No denying it, that loss still stings. I doubt this is the first place you'll hear about it, and it pains me to type it, but the Leafs came within a whisker of eliminating the Boston Bruins last night. The Buds lead 4-1 in the third period, building a commanding lead after going a goal down early, but it wasn't to be. A late rally and a heartbreaking overtime goal put Toronto's season to bed with a thump. Ouch.

Back in the world, Toronto's favourite aerial photographer Cmdr. Chris Hadfield landed safely in a grassy field in Kazakhstan late yesterday evening. Hadfield spent five months aboard the International Space Station, singing songs, doing cool science experiments, and probably some actual science stuff too. Welcome home.

TTC CEO Andy Byford is hoping to get more support (and money) for a total overhaul of the way the system is managed. Speaking at the Empire Club yesterday, Byford said the the "TTC needs to work on regaining the trust of our elected officials." An increase in subsidy would help the Commission manage an increase in ridership, he says. Does the TTC get bashed too often?

Toronto police are investigating claims a TTC streetcar drove more than 2 kms after a man fell under its wheels at Queen and Kingston Road Sunday. The man reportedly stumbled upon exiting a different streetcar, suffering "major trauma" when the vehicle hit him. It's possible the driver didn't realize he'd hit anyone.

Also in transit, the TTC is backing a driver who was filmed refusing to let a woman exit through the rear doors of a bus mid-block. The woman shouts that she's feeling ill and wants to leave but the driver felt it wasn't a safe place to exit. "From our perspective he did his job," a spokesman said.

A picture purporting to show the fractured skull of Maple Leafs' D Mark Fraser is causing controversy online. St. Michael's Hospital, which appears to be the name in corner of the image, denies leaking the image and the team is investigating how the scan became public. There's been no confirmation the image is genuine and the Reddit account it was associated with has been deleted. Weird.

The Toronto Zoo elephants moving to a sanctuary in California need to travel before the summer weather gets too hot or risk having the transfer delayed further, according to Councillor Glenn De Baeremaeker. Loading or unloading the pachyderms in extreme hot or cold could put their health at risk.

Finally, Rob Ford's office isn't letting go of a distinctly political paragraph printed at the end of official city press releases. The current boilerplate refers to "delivering customer service excellence" and "building a transportation city" and should be changed to something less ideological, according to the city's communications department. So far Ford's office hasn't come up with a replacement.

IN BRIEF:

• Local Toronto residents oppose Humbertown plans [Globe and Mail]
• Accused in Tim Bosma disappearance staying silent, lawyer says [CBC]
• TTC adds Wheel-Trans buses as elevator strike continues [CBC]
• Inquest into Toronto man's death put on hold in Grenada [CBC]
• A royal reception for photos, just six decades later [Toronto Star]

Chris Bateman is a staff writer at blogTO. Follow him on Twitter at @chrisbateman.

Image: Tony Wei-Han Chen/blogTO Flickr pool.

This Week in Home Video previews all the latest Blu-ray, DVD and on-demand titles hitting the street this week, plus lost gems, crazed Cancon, outrageous cult titles and the best places to rent or buy movies in Toronto.

Cloud Atlas (Warner Bros.)

Based on the best-selling novel by David Mitchell. Crazy long and plain crazy, this sprawling Sci-Fi opus from the same Hollywood brains who birthed big screen yin and yang like Speed Racer and The Matrix is certainly not without its devotees who reckon one day we'll all look back on it with the same kind of affection usually associated with the works of Stanley Kubrick, Alain Resnais or Andrey Tarkovsky. And then there are those who think it's a pile of insipid navel gazing horse poop that cruelly wastes our precious time with sound and fury signifying nothing. Described in its own words as "Six stories spanning centuries. One soul", this is the visual equivalent of a new-age relaxation CD you might put on while in the bath thinking about the meaning of life you had last night and sipping on a glass of red wine.

Extras include self-important titled featurettes such as "A Film Like No Other", "Everything is Connected", "Spaceships, Slaves and Sextets", and "The Bold Science Fiction of Cloud Atlas", and for the super brave: "Eternal Recurrence: Love, Life and Longing in Cloud Atlas" - Romance and fate over the ages, as interpreted by the cast and crew through the various stories.

ALSO OUT THIS WEEK

A Good Day to Die Hard (20th Century Fox)

While it's not hitting Bluray and DVD for another 2 weeks, this 5th installment of the seemingly endless adventures of Bruce Willis' Teflon John McClane character is today hitting the brand spanking new Digital HD delivery system from 20th Century Fox, and will be available through Amazon.com and most other "Instant Video" outlets for those who just can't wait. While containing approximately zero the charm of the original (which is now over a quarter century old!) Die Hard, this routine action set-piece mix-tape is a breezy enough time waster, although that's probably two too many trips to the well for this once rich franchise.

Taxi Driver: 4k Edition(Sony)

A 4k scan of a film negative produces an image so crisp and clear that it is the closest you will ever come to seeing a brand new 35mm film print. While every turn of the digital revolution has promised "definitive" versions, this is about as close as a true cineaste would dance near the fire. And while it seems gimmicky on some other titles (does the world really need The Karate Kid in 4k?). Martin Scorcese's undisputed masterpiece deserves nothing less than the royal treatment, and while the grime evident in earlier releases added to the sleazy 1970s New York vibe, the clarity in picture and sound (especially Bernard Herrmann's haunting jazzcore score) is nothing short of revelatory. If you are fan of this title, or better yet, have never seen it, do you yourself a favour and check out this stunning restoration.

3:10 to Yuma (Criterion Collection)

The original 1957 3:10 to Yuma is a brooding Western noir, with ample ambiguity and the threat of violence at every turn. Featuring a gorgeous 4K restoration and a brilliant and detailed interview with writer Elmore Leonard.

Battlestar Galactica (Universal)

Blu ray re-release of the pilot episode of the original Battlestar Galactica, glossy Space opera shot through with camp and 70s glam, and looking utterly remarkably bonkers in HD. Forget the gritty pretentious 2000s era reboot (if you can) and kick back with this, some popcorn and a cold drink.

STILL FRESH

• Mama
• Jack Reacher
• The Great Escape
• Rookie Blue: Season 3
• The Captains
• Fringe: Season 5
• Not Fade Away

THE FILM BUFF ON TRUE CRIME DOCUMENTARIES
The Film Buff are purveyors of fine film, and ice cream. Amanda Worsley of @filmbufftoronto also knows what makes a good documentary, and here are her suggestions on some gripping true crime docs:

Whether its tales of injustice or portraits of boogeymen, true crime docs seem to fascinate everyone. When done well, this genre can incite more visceral reactions than any fiction. They are heart-wrenching, frustrating and scary. These are a few of our favourites. Honourable mentions include; Murder on a Sunday, Brother`s Keeper, At the Death House Door and Taxi to the Dark Side.

The Staircase (2004)

A French television miniseries from Academy Award-winning documentarian, Jean-Xavier de Lestrade. The series documents the riveting investigation and trial of Michael Peterson, accused of brutally murdering his wife in their home. Most remarkable for the access the filmmakers had to the Petersen family and his defense team. For those who like twists and turns, this is the cream of the crop.

Paradise Lost: The Child Murders at Robin Hills (1996, 2000, 2011)

Another classic of the genre. The Paradise Lost series includes 3 films (Paradise Lost, Paradise Lost 2: Revelations and Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory) chronicling the harrowing experiences of the now famous 'West Memphis Three'. The Arkansas teenagers were accused of the murder and sexual mutilation of three young boys - a crime whose brutality left the community blood thirsty for vengeance. A distressing series and not for the feint of heart.

Thin Blue Line (1988)

Famed documentarian Errol Morris presents the story of Randall Dale Adams sentenced to life in prison for the 1976 murder of a Dallas police officer. Arguably the Citizen Kane of the true crime doc genre. Morris challenges the case against Adams through a series of re-enactments and penetrating interviews. A doc that literally changed lives and shows the power and potential of the genre.

Capturing the Friedmans (2003)

A haunting look at a family and community torn apart by allegations of mass molestation. Like The Staircase we are provided with a remarkable level of access to the accused's family, this time through their own home movies. We bear witness to not only the happy-go-lucky days of the past, but the meltdown that takes place in the Friedman home as they face these atrocious allegations. The chronicle of a family but also an unflinching look at mass hysteria, and the nature of pedophila. Not to be missed.

Dear Zachary (2008)

A true labour of love and heartbreak. In 2001 Andrew Bagby was killed and soon after his ex-girlfriend (and accused killer) Shirley Turner fled to Newfoundland and announced she was pregnant. In Dear Zachary Andrew's best friend, filmmaker Kurt Kuenne, seeks to paint a picture of him for his new son, Zachary, while chronicling the ongoing case. A damning indictment of the Canadian justice system and a remarkable portrait of the unflinching strength of Andrew's parents.

Central Park Five (2012)

Another devastating doc about a travesty of justice and the inability to make amends to those affected. The film, a critical investigation of the famed 1989 Central Park Jogger case, is a change of pace from the usual Ken Burns fare with a decidedly bleak view of the American justice system and media. No silver lining here. See our blog post for a recent full review (http://thefilmbuff.com/the-central-park-five-2012).

The Interrupters (2011)

One of the rare examples of the genre that offers hope and inspiration. The Interrupters are a Chicago based community group (many of whom are ex-convicts) using a new model to address the epidemic violence in their city. Seeking to stop violence at the point of transmission they put their safety on the line to change the pattern of brutality on their streets. A remarkable group of people (Ameena alone deserves her own doc) doing remarkable work.

Crazy Love (2007)

An astonishing chronicle of obsessive love. They`re certainly no Romeo and Juliette but a remarkable 50+ year romance nonetheless. When Burt can`t have Linda he has her blinded by lye. But even that won`t permanently sideline their attachment. One of those truly stranger-than-fiction tales.

Ice Man Interviews (2003)

A collection of three HBO interviews with prolific mafia hit-man, Richard Kuklinski. An imposing figure in stature and manner, Kuklinski is not your ordinary serial killer. He is not motivated by sexual depravity, hate or any external circumstances. He is simply a self described `killing machine`. Most chilling is his icy demeanor and absolute lack of emotion as he recounts his violent childhood, life with his unsuspecting family and the grisly details of his 100+ murders.

The Imposter (2012)

A fantastic new addition to the true crime doc canon. The Imposter recounts the tale of 10 year old Texas boy Nicholas Barclay who disappears in 1994 before turning up again in Spain in 1997. But he`s... different. This is one of those films that absolutely benefits from knowing as little as possible. Avoid all articles, reviews etc. and just go straight to the film.

Still from Cloud Atlas

Investing in the neighbourhood surrounding Gerrard and Jones, this team of restaurateurs has laid down roots with a trio of eateries. The intersection now boasts an informal spot for Italian, a fast casual burger outpost, and, this year old Scottish pub.

Read my profile of McGugan's in the restaurant section.

It's been a super snoozeworthy week on the DineSafe database, which sucks for me because I don't get to write about scandalous infractions, but it's good for you because it means you're probably not ingesting too much rat-feces-laden fast food. Looks like restaurant people are (mostly) doing their jobs — way to go, guys. There were no closures this week, but here are the relatively few forays into disgustitude that went down.

Subway (3453 Victoria Park Ave.)
Inspected on: May 9
Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional Pass)
Number of infractions: 1 (Crucial: 1)
Crucial infractions include: Failure to ensure food is not contaminated/adulterated.

California Thai (10 Dundas St. E.)
Inspected on: May 7
Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional Pass)
Number of infractions: 5 (Minor: 2, Significant: 1, Crucial: 2)
Crucial infractions include: Failure to maintain hazardous foods at 60 C (140 F) or hotter, failure to ensure food is not contaminated/adulterated.

Sun on Food Co. (328 Passmore Ave.)
Inspected on: May 8
Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional Pass)
Number of infractions: 4 (Minor: 2, Significant: 2)
Crucial infractions include: N/A

Gourmet Malaysia (4466 Sheppard Ave. E.)
Inspected on: May 9
Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional Pass)
Number of infractions: 7 (Minor:3, Significant: 3, Crucial: 1)
Crucial infractions include: Failure to ensure food is not contaminated/adulterated.

Kohinoor Foods (1438 Gerrard St. E.)
Inspected on: May 9
Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional Pass)
Number of infractions: 6 (Minor: 2, Significant: 4)
Crucial infractions include: N/A

Lime Leaf Restaurant (1468 Victoria Park Ave.)
Inspected on: May 9
Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional Pass)
Number of infractions: 1 (Crucial: 1)
Crucial infractions include: Failure to maintain hazardous foods at 4 C (40 F) or colder.

Super Kabul (1255 Markham Rd.)
Inspected on: May 8
Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional Pass)
Number of infractions: 7 (Minor: 1, Significant: 6)
Crucial infractions include: N/A

This Rosedale house is one of those delectable mixtures, like peanut butter and chocolatecoffee and cigarettes. Its bones are old, but it has countless shiny modern touches, like stainless steel, a fancy glass-railed staircase, and a really pretty wine wall. Yes, a wine wall. This place is a winner.

SPECS

Address: 116 Glen Rd.
Price: $2,780,000
Size (square feet): 3,555
Storeys: 3
Bedrooms: 4
Bathrooms: 4
Parking Spaces: 2
Property Taxes: $11,823.00

NOTABLE FEATURES

• 100-bottle wine wall
• Five-piece spa
• Skylights
• His/her walk-in closets

GOOD FOR

Those families who have children to pass along their above-average genes, only to keep said children under lock and key with a nanny and/or at piano lessons, and then shout at them when they mess up the pristine white walls. In a word: ferocious yuppies.

MOVE ON IF

You're not down with filthy fake money and the evil it does. Or, you know. Just want a cheaper place that's not in Rosedale.

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

What do you think -- would you buy this home if you could?

Read other posts in this series via our House of the Week Pinterest board.

One celebrity host, four media-industry judges, 10 restaurants, 600 tickets, three winners and 20,000 wings served. Such was the outcome of the Toronto Wing Festival held at 99 Sudbury.

Our host for the evening, celebrity TV chef, Bob Blumer of the Surreal Gourmet, Glutton For Punishment and World's Weirdest Restaurants, may not have cooked wings on his show before but he admits, he is "a closet wing fanatic," at least when it comes to a wing fest. Wasting no time, I dove straight in.

Real Sports Bar had real sports wings. I understand why they won last year's people's choice award, and why they won it again this time around. Imagine a coconut-breaded shrimp, but with the batter coating a chicken drumstick instead, and then doused in flavours like Thai Sweet Chili, or Go For Gold (golden barbecue sauce and jalapeno). If you buy them at the bar ($14.99) they are a bit pricier than what you would usually pay, but they are a fairly unique experience nonetheless.

While Real Sports had surprisingly no line, their neighbors Right Wing had a steady flow of traffic, which wasn't the end of the world. There's something about waiting in line that is probably good for digestion. Available were a standard Medium BBQ and an anything but standard Exorcist wing flavour. I don't know how many millions of Scoville units were in the sauce, but I was warned, and given a swag bag just for trying them. Luckily I have had my oral cavities scorched by insanely spicey wings before, so my caution paid off. I took a bite, and waited for the rollercoaster ride to begin. A slow peak lead to a 10-minute ordeal of mouth burning, sweats, while I literally hotfooted on the spot to keep myself sane.

Which is close to the position that I found judge and Canadian media personality, Nobu Adilman of the Food Network's hit show Food Jammers. "This is actually my first time judging wings, but I have judged chowder before," he tells me in all seriousness, eyes slightly tearing up from the insanely hot chili of the Exorcist. "I'm an avid eater of wings, but I found it very challenging to keep my hands clean and judge them properly on the score card." I empathized deeply, as I was having similar issues with my own note taking.

Without crackers to cleanse his palate with, Adilman was forced to resort to...gasp.... beer! "It felt like I was traveling around the world. Some times I thought I was in Asia, other times I was in the Southern US, or eastern Canada. I felt like some chefs were inspired by architecture or design. Like one of the wings actually looked like a 1970s chesterfield, it had that weird plaid texture on it. The one with plantain chips (from the Tilted Kilt) was quite wild, and one even looked like vomit, but I got excited because I wanted to vomit with it, it was like good vomit. It was super hot and super tasty."

Perhaps they came from Hey, Meatball's Rod Bowers, who's wings took home the best 'exotic' category for their take on a Korean sauce smothered in scallions, sweet red pepper paste, and Korean hot peppers. The other offerings were their unique Honey Garlic wings marinated in pickled Ontario garlic, wild ramps (a breed of leek), scallions, bacon, and maple syrup instead of honey, for a real Canadian flavour.

They definitely didn't come from Hooters, who although took home the best in the classic wings category for their Daytona flavour, were skimpy in size (ironic considering it's Hooters, right?) had a rubbery consistency (well that rings true at least) and were over all mild in flavour with a low sauce saturation in the meat.

The Pour House servers, Av & Dav's longstanding Irish institution, were dunking their heavy battered Kinsale County wings in either a tangy Raspberry Chipotle sauce bucket that tasted a bit like a raspberry salad dressing, as well as Chili Lime option. Special mentions also must be given to Whistler's Grille, who boldly went with the underdog dry spice rub, a preparation that tends to give way to a homier flavour, but healthier too, as they were baked in the oven and delicately flavoured.

The event is only in it's toddler years but some of the big chains were stepping up their games with swag bags from Hard Rock Café, who's wings were actually exceptionally tangy, and were a winner in the classic section in the year before.

The Toronto Wing Festival will be returning next year, in steroidal proportions, upgrading from a few hundred-person event, to one of a few thousand.

Photos by Morris Lum

This recent addition to the western edge of Koreatown might not be much to look at it, but that hardly matters when you consider the quality of the food, the portion sizes, and the wallet-friendly prices. Yup, there's another contender in the best cheap Mexican eats category.

Read my review of La Burrita in the restaurants section.

The former Toronto Film Studios land on Eastern Avenue is ready for its next scene. A major new plan to redevelop the partially disused lands north of Lake Shore, unveiled today, envisions a sweeping new mixed-use development and a revitalized "hub of digital enterprise" on the existing 19.5-acre Revival 629 lot.

The renderings, which developers stress are preliminary, call for a total of 10 new low-rise buildings that will house new retail outlets, offices, a public plaza, and a hotel. There won't be any residential units, though. The Ontario Ministry of the Environment has deemed the brownfields site unsuitable for homes and condos.

This is the second attempt to build something on the land in the last decade. When the Toronto Film Studios moved to a new location, now known as Pinewood Studios, in 2008 it left its old home vacant. The first proposal called for a major entertainment and retail centre, possibly including a WalMart, but it was rejected by the city and turned back again at the Ontario Municipal Board.

The disused property was briefly used as a makeshift detention centre during the 2010 G20 summit.

"There were a lot of comments that we've taken away, and we've learned," says Ornella Richichi, the developer in charge of the project.

The renderings show a relatively low-key development with plenty of sweeteners for local residents. A new separated bike path is drawn connecting Eastern Ave. to the Martin Goodman Trail, a "respite area" off the south side of the property will include water for dogs and seating, and a public plaza at the centre of the site is imagined hosting outdoor movie screenings in the summer.

The existing studio buildings, now known as Revival 629, will be stay and be extensively retrofitted during the construction process. "We want to incorporate the studio into the rest of development, there's huge history here. It's that sexy movie thing ... we want to bring as much of that out to the community," continues Richichi.

A unique feature of Studio Centre is the above grade location of the majority of its 891 proposed parking spots. The soil below the site is considered so poor that underground excavation is almost entirely ruled out. Its location on the floodplain of the Don River also means most of the buildings must be built on land that's been raised by at least four feet.

No companies have officially expressed an interest in renting the hotel or retail outlets but developers expect the entire site to create around 1,200 jobs for "enterprising start-ups." They're keeping mum on the budget too, but Ornella Richichi says it will be "very large, it's going to be a huge investment."

If all goes according to plan, the Studio Centre final site plan will be filed with the city and scrutinized by planning staff. Nothing will be built before the designs have cleared the necessary approvals, a process that will likely take several years.

What do you think of these new plans for Toronto's former film studio lands? Are you pleased the Revival 629 studios will be sticking around? What would you like to see changed?

VITAL STATS (PRELIMINARY):

New buildings: 10
Tallest building: 9-storey office tower
Retail space: 15,235 square metres
Office and studio space: 44,795 sq. m.
Hotel space: 10,165 sq. m.
Parking: 891 spaces (all above grade.)

MORE IMAGES:Map of the Studio Centre development.The proposed bike path off Larchmount Ave. connecting Eastern with Lake Shore, looking northwest.The public square developers hope will feature outdoor movie screenings.A disused building currently on the site facing Eastern.The front of the Revival Studios building as it appears today.Developer's renderings at today's Open House.

Chris Bateman is a staff writer at blogTO. Follow him on Twitter at @chrisbateman.

Images: Diamond and Schmitt Architects, Chris Bateman/blogTO

With an LCBO strike looming before the Victoria Day long weekend, there's never been a better time to offer a reminder that there are plenty of other places to acquire booze in Toronto. Most obviously there's the Beer Store (which would remain open in the event of an LCBO strike), but if you're not a fan of that organization (and why would you be?) or you have your heart set on wine or craft beer, you have options — and more than you might think.

Toronto Breweries
While we might not be blessed with a huge number of local craft breweries, the number of Toronto brewing operations is on the rise in a major way. In addition to longstanding options like Amsterdam and Great Lakes Brewery, recent outfits like Bellwoods Brewery, Junction Craft Brewing, and the Indie Ale House ensure that we need not depend on the LCBO or the Beer Store for our lager, etc. Check out the link above for a longer list of local options.

Ontario Wine Shops
Between the Wine Rack, The Wine Shop (formerly Vineyard Estates) and Magnotta stores, there's plenty of places to get your wine fix without hitting up the LCBO. Sure, the variety tends to leave something to be desired, but it's not all plonk (I popped a Wine-rack purchased bottle of Le Clos Jordanne the other day), so they'll certainly work in a pinch. As a bonus, many of the downtown locations of these shops keep longer hours than the LCBO anyway.

Still Waters Distillery
OK, so you're more of the whisky type. In the past you would have been SOL in the event of an LCBO work stoppage, but now we have an excellent distillery located immediately north of the city in Concord. No, it's not technically Toronto, but the product is worth the short trek anyway. Also worthy of note, if not for right now, the recently opened Toronto Distillery Company will be selling its "new make" as of June. The whisky won't come for another few years as per Ontario laws, but there's something novel about indulging in what is ostensibly expertly crafted moonshine.

The Ontario Spring Water Sake Company
The LCBO hasn't exactly shown a whole lot of love for sake (and in particular unpasteurized sake), so whether there's a strike or not, it's worth a trip down to the Distillery District to learn a little about the brewing process and to pick up some of the good stuff (hint: it's better than what you've had at an AYCE sushi joint).

Online Wine Retailers
Given the shipping times involved and on account of the fact that these retailers still have to deal with the LCBO warehouses, online retailers won't offer much salvation for those who've left it to the last minute or in the event of a long strike. But if you're interested in by-passing the LCBO and trying out interesting wines not found elsewhere in the province, have a look at Wine Online. If Ontario offerings are more your thing but you don't get out to wine country a whole lot, both WineryToHome and Wine Splash are worth checking out.

Got a source for booze to add to the list? Let us know in the comments.

Photo by Ben Roffelsen in the blogTO Flickr pool

Toronto events on May 15th, 2013

MUSIC | Flying Lotus with Thundercat at the Sound Academy
Flying Lotus is considered by many to be one of the great musical minds of recent times. Boasting Alice Coltrane as his aunt, FlyLo certainly lives up to this distinguished musical lineage in creating a new voice and direction for electronic music, evolving in an almost 'psychedelic' direction for instrumental hip hop, or "beat" music, as he calls it. Be warned, though: Flying Lotus live is a very different, much more upbeat and party-style experience than the deep cerebral tracks that are found on his albums. Tonight at what should be a rager at the Sound Academy, frequent collaborator and bass wizard, Thundercat, whose new single, Oh Sheit's It's X is making waves, will be in the house as well. This one will be heavy!
Sound Academy (11 Polson Street) 8PM $24

FILM | Amnesty International "Films for Change" Series: screening of WE WOMEN WARRIORS
Amnesty International Toronto's "Films for Change" series begins tonight at the Carlton Cinema. We Women Warriors is a doc by filmmaker Nicole Karsin, who has spent time in Colombia as a journalist. The film revolves around three Colombian women who use non-violent means to defend their communities and show resistance to attacks in their war-torn homeland. Amnesty International's Week of Action is focused on Colombia, and the deadly conflicts that threaten its people, and this week-long campaign intends to raise awareness of the situation there. Amnesty International Canada's campaign representative for Latin America, Kathy Price, will lead a discussion following tonight's film.
Carlton Cinema (20 Carlton Street) 7PM PWYC ($7 suggested)

BOOKS & LIT | The eh List Author Series - Elizabeth Ruth
Canadian author, Elizabeth Ruth, will read from her novel, Matadora this evening, as part of The eh List Author Series at the Toronto Reference Library. Ruth hails from Windsor originally, but has resided in both the United States and Colombia. Nominated for the Rogers Writers' Trust Fiction Prize (and other awards), for her first novel, Ten Good Seconds of Silence, Ruth has acted locally as an important figure in the TO literary scene. She also founded "Clit Lit", a monthly reading series for TO lesbian writers. Tonight's reading will be followed by an interview with journalist Susan G. Cole.
Toronto Reference Library (789 Yonge Street) 7PM

MUSIC | COLISEUM, CALIFORNIA X w/ Greys, TV Freaks, Cellos
Coliseum descends upon The Horseshoe tonight. This punk rock trio from Louisville has just released its fourth album, Sister Faith, which includes guest appearances from members of Sebadoh and Boris, and is making its way around the continent, spreading the good word. This is going to be a "full on" night of hard hitting sounds, with three other bands also on the bill: California X, from Amherst, Massachusetts; TO's own Greys; TV Freaks from Hamilton; and Cellos from Windsor.
Horseshoe Tavern (370 Queen Street West) 8:30 $8

Also Of Note

• Poetry In Voice National Finals, hosted by Johanne Blais
• CRAZY STRINGS: High Lonesome Wednesdays (Traditional Bluegrass)
• KING CREEP (debut) w/MEXICAN SLANG, SERENGHETTO and DUMB MOMS

For more Toronto event suggestions, check out these posts:

• This week in music
• This week in fashion
• This week in film
• Toronto food events
• This week in theatre
• This week in comedy
• Toronto Concerts, May 2013

Have an event you'd like to plug? Submit your own listing to the blogTO Toronto events calendar or contact us directly.

Photo courtesy of boolker's Flickr.

Etobicoke York Community Council has recommended the refusal of the controversial Humbertown development. After hours of deputations in a rented church, local councillors decided the latest plan to turn the 1950s shopping centre into a mid-rise, mixed use cluster wasn't to the resident's liking. The proposal will now go to city council for a final decision.

Bizarrely, mayor Rob Ford, an Etobicoke councillor, spent part of the meeting attaching magnets containing his phone number to cars in the lot.

Sounds like there's some support for a city takeover of Toronto's struggling BIXI program. A new poll conducted by Forum Research found more than half Torontonians support the idea of the city taking on the struggling enterprise and possibly integrating it with the TTC. Only a third liked the idea of a subsidy, however. Can BIXI survive under Ford?

A plan by the Exhibition Place board to sole-source a lease extension for Muzik nightclub is on ice, for now. The idea has the support of Ford ally and board chair Coun. Mark Grimes but it's not clear what the mayor, who has historically opposed similar contracts, will react. If it were to go ahead, Muzik would build three outdoor swimming pools in exchange for a 10-year lease extension to 2034. Currently, the project is on hold while repairs are made to the Horticulture Building.

Police are seeking three men filned throwing a bike under the wheels of a westbound subway train at Bathurst station earlier this month. The TTC says the incident risked derailing the train and causing serious injuries. The line was shut down as a result and passengers had to disembark the train.

The Toronto Sun is drawing praise for running its first ever transsexual Sunshine Girl, even though it didn't realize what it at was doing. Amelia Maltepe made the pages of the paper reserved for pinup girls on May 10. "They didn't ask me, I didn't tell," she told Xtra.

An "illegal" pop-up food cart will appear at city hall tomorrow in protest at a perceived lack of action on bylaws allowing mobile eats in a wider variety of locations in Toronto. Currently the city has strict rules about what type of food can be sold in mobile kitchens on its streets. A report is due back on changes to the rules in spring 2014.

IN BRIEF:

• Kathleen Wynne apologizes for Ontario gas plant cancellations [CBC]
• Tim Bosma: Dellen Millard will be charged with murder [Toronto Star]
• Toronto police settle human rights complaint with man who was pulled over [Toronto Star]
• Pedestrian struck near Yonge-Glengrove [CBC]
• Man faces charges after shooting himself, claiming he was victim of drive-by [National Post]
• Ontario bowling league celebrates 100 years [Toronto Star]

Chris Bateman is a staff writer at blogTO. Follow him on Twitter at @chrisbateman.

Image: Neil Ta/blogTO Flickr pool.