Radiohead took to the stage in Toronto last night for the first time since 2012, when the band's drum tech Scott Johnson was killed in a fatal stage collapse at Downsview Park.

Musically, the set was every bit as great as you would expect from the British rock band, but the the mood was decidedly heavy at Soctiabank Arena on Thursday night as the shadow of 2012's fatal incident — and ensuing court battle— hung over what was an otherwise perfect show.

Radiohead’s Toronto exclusive shirt is... morbid pic.twitter.com/FxhegDQka9

— Jenna Moon (@_jennamoon) July 19, 2018

Frontman Thom Yorke addressed the elephant in the room during Radiohead's second encore at Thursday night's sold out concert, which was the first of two in Toronto this week (the other takes place tonight.)

"We wanted to do a show in Toronto, the stage collapsed, killing one of our colleagues and friends," he said, referring to 33-year-old technician Scott Johnson.

A post shared by Maggie Elizabeth (@maggzelizabeth) on Jul 20, 2018 at 7:34am PDT

"The people who should be held accountable are still not being held accountable in your city," he continued. The silence is fucking deafening."

Thom has something to say. #Radioheadpic.twitter.com/0SZuhtHFtQ

— John Grigg (@John_Grigg) July 20, 2018

Yorke then asked the audience to observe a moment of silence in Johnson's name — though, as video footage shows, a whole bunch of jerks yelled at eachother to shut up the entire time.

"Okay, we're done," said Yorke at the end of the minute, immediately launching into the 1997 hit "Karma Police."

To everyone at the #Radiohead concert who thinks they have something funny or clever to say, or that a moment of silence is the appropriate time to shout how much you love the band, stop it. This isn't about you. This isn't your moment. Show some respect.

— Brandon William Cox (@BrandonWCox) July 20, 2018

Earlier this week, members of the band spoke to reporters about what it would be like to play in Toronto again after six years, especially given that all 13 charges in their multi-trial stage collapse case against Live Nation were stayed.

A post shared by Andrew B (@netherlandy) on Jul 20, 2018 at 6:09am PDT

"It's very frustrating. The court case broke down on a technicality," said drummer Philip Selway on BBC Newsnight Wednesday. "There have been no real answers. Without the answers, we can't ensure that an accident like this can't happen again."

A post shared by mike (@mdub104) on Jul 20, 2018 at 7:21am PDT

For now, despite a year-long investigation by the Ontario Ministry of Labour, the tragedy remains unresolved.

With less than a month to go before the launch of 2018's Canadian National Exhibition, all of the venue's skilled technical workers have been locked out amidst ongoing labour disputes.

What this means is that guests could forced to cross picket lines in order to attend the CNE this year.

IATSE Local 58 is the the union that represents workers with technical and staging expertise for events in venues at Exhibition Place, including the Enercare Centre, BMO Field, the Queen Elizabeth Theatre and the Liberty Grand, among others.

They say that the city-owned Exhibition Place's Board of Governors locked them out of their jobs at 12:01 a.m. this morning after months of negotiations for a new collective agreement.

Really, @cityoftoronto? After almost a century of service, @ExPlaceTO will be locking out @iatse58. Come on, Mayor @JohnTory. Please step in and put an end to this. https://t.co/BzirIPlzSq. #Solidarity#CNE#58lockedoutpic.twitter.com/evQix4svdr

— IATSE Canada 🇨🇦 (@IATSECANADA) July 20, 2018

"The safety of all events at Exhibition Place will be compromised by companies bringing in less skilled workers to set up and supervise events," reads a press release issued by IATSE on Friday.

"The plan is being driven by the Mayor's office, to the benefit of the major corporations, such as Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment,  that mount events at venues on Exhibition Place."

IATSE says that Exhibiton Place has asked union members to stop picketing until after the CNE, which will run this year from August 17 until September 3.

"That's not going to happen," says Local 58 President Justin Antheunis. 

"We are not going to surrender our rights under the law and jeopardize the safety of Torontonians and other visitors to Exhibition Place as a favour to Tory's friends. Nor will we put visitors at risk. We will not be pushed around."

The VERY night that @radiohead asks fans for justice for their tech who died on a #Toronto stage set up by non-union staff, @JohnTory& @ExPlaceTO's Board of Governors have locked out @IATSECANADA members: https://t.co/dDkBVWXI3R#UnsafeCNE#58LockedOut

— Steve Fisher (@GracingTheStage) July 20, 2018

The Canadian National Exhibition Association said in a statement that it is "disappointed by the recent developments in the collective bargaining discussions between Exhibition Place and the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Moving Picture Technicians, Artists and Allied Crafts (IATSE)."

"The CNEA is focused on ensuring that the 2018 CNE is our best fair yet, and we encourage all parties to return to the table and resolve these issues through collective bargaining," the organization wrote. 

"To respect the process, we do not have any further comment on the lockout at this time.  We are concentrating on planning our great end-of-summer celebratory tradition, which opens August 17th."

Mayor John Tory, for his part, told reporters on Thursday that "The Ex is not in any way in jeopardy."

When asked about the potential for a worker strike, Tory said that the Exhibition Place Board has "contingency plans for any eventuality."

The twisted tale of an old supermarket, a global music corporation, a low-budget Canadian horror flick, an experimental art maze and how any of these things are connected continues today as Kensington Market residents get word of Liquor Donuts.

Earlier this month, Toronto learned that a 1950s-era grocery store at 241 Augusta Avenue was being transformed into something called the Fairland Funhouse— an "interactive two-storey adventure world" designed by visual artists and musicians.

Sounds cool, right? I think it will be, but what nobody seemed to know until yesterday is that this artsy funhouse is only temporary.

Some are even calling it a "trojan horse," suggesting that the art maze is being used to sneak a much larger business venture into the adamantly independent (and reluctantlygentrifying) neighbourhood.

This “liquor donuts” is a huge 622 seat universal music nightclub venue
Bringing in a huge corporation with a massive liquor license into Kensington
Further gentrifying the community https://t.co/V7CAXVhGJ6

— Abi Roach (@abiroach) July 20, 2018

A group called Friends of Kensington Market (FOKM) — the same group that fought to keep Walmart out of their community back in 2014 (and won) — surfaced a liquor license application for 241 Augusta on Facebook yesterday.

The application revealed that the space's actual tenant will be a 622-seat licensed bar from a team that we later learned includes Jason Joly, the executive producer of 2014's WolfCop and its sequel, Another WolfCop.

Happy 🇨🇦 day! A day of rest and celebration 🍾 before the work starts on flagship location in the ❤️ of #kensingtonmarket that will kick off with and incredible #art #music #experience over the summer #fairlandfunhouse 🤡🎉🍭🛎 To stay #intheknow follow #instagram #liquordonuts and sign-up with your email www.liquordonuts.com 🥃🍩 . . . . #donuts #liquor #vinyl #food #newrestaurant #record #music #canadaday #canada #donut #toronto #popupshop #vinyl

A post shared by J. Joly (@j_dot_joly) on Jul 1, 2018 at 9:42am PDT

The venue's name and branding stems from a business called Liquor Donuts in the Wolfcop movie series and, according to organizers, will feature "a permanent multi-use gallery space, record pressing and studio/production space in the basement."

Still following? Okay.

This is such a fantastic idea because Kensington Market is & always has been a party district. There are no actual people living here.

— Corey Mintz (@coreymintz) July 20, 2018

Jonah Brotman of the artist collective Monda Forma, which is producing Fairland Funhouse in collaboration with Universal Music Canada, says that Liquor Donuts isn't launching until January of 2019.

"In the meantime, the Liquor Donuts team offered the space indefinitely with the opportunity to soft launch their new concept by opening a pop-up in the funhouse lobby," he says, noting that the permanent Liquor Donuts will feature a 1600-square-foot "Canadiana-themed donut shop/eatery with seats for no more than 75."

"The reason the liquor license request is for 600+ people (standing, not seated) was solely based on AGCO/industry standards based on the square footage of the space (main floor + basement)," explained Brotman by email.

"We definitely do not need that many nor do we think we could fit that many people. It was more about us trying to conform to their standards."

This used to be an affordable grocery store. pic.twitter.com/pERN2Zki3e

— Anna Fitzpatrick (@bananafitz) July 20, 2018

The Friends of Kensington Market aren't convinced.

"The immersive art maze is a trojan horse. The permanent venue is a 622-seat bar called Liquor Donuts. We're being snowed. Object to the liquor license here," wrote FOKM's Dominique Russell on Facebook Thursday. "The file # is 195691."

Residents of the community have been going back and forth with representatives from both Fairland Funhouse and Liquor Donuts ever since.

"This plan is horrendous," wrote one local in the Facebook thread. "I have lived in Kensington for 40+ years. The rowdiness, drunkenness and crime has increased rapidly since many bars, especially on Augusta, have opened in the past few years. We must oppose this."

"This is an inappropriate use of a liquor license, and quite frankly, the city monetizing the area as a club district is killing the very residents and area that hold the oh so sacred 'cool' these people would like some of," wrote another.

"At the end of the day, none of them are around to clean up the puke and blood that their new way to sell Toronto by the pound has generated. The inhabitants of the market DO NOT want this venue."

Lol we do need better donuts, I just don’t know if we need a 5000sqft donut shop owned by universal records with a forever liquor license in the heart of Kensington ...
Maybe a 1500 sqft location would do

— Abi Roach (@abiroach) July 20, 2018

Brotman and Joly say they consulted the Kensington BIA, Kensington Market Action Committee and Councillor Joe Cressy's office extensively throughout the course of developing the project.

"We are deeply embedded in the community, though we understand its hard to please everyone," says Brotman.

"While we can totally appreciate the concern from Kensington Market residents, we want to reiterate that this space has been derelict for 3+ years, it is being revived as a collaboration between many Toronto artists, and will never become a club or venue that Kensington residents would eventually be opposed to."

Russell countered a similar claim from Joly in response to the Canadian film producer on Facebook.

"While you met with KMAC, you did not at that time mention you would be seeking a 622 person capacity liquor license," she wrote.

"The community has been blind-sided. At the end of the day, you are setting up a 5,000 ft2 licensed establishment with a 622 person capacity in the heart of a mixed residential neighbourhood."

A celestial treat over a decade in the making is in store for Toronto stargazers as Mars will be its brightest over Earth since 2003.

The big red planet typically makes a two-year tour around the solar system. But due to changes in gravitational pull during orbit, Mars is set to be the closest to Earth it's been in 15 years.

Mars is gearing up for summer in the spotlight as it claims the title of third largest celestial body in the night sky (behind the moon and Venus) from July to September.

MARTIAN GLITTER PATH#Mars is brightening as it approaches Earth for a 15-year close encounter on July 27th 2018.
The Red Planet now shines like a beacon in the midnight sky second in luminosity only to giant Jupiter. pic.twitter.com/j0i554PiFu

— Andrew Cox (@andrewwcox) June 29, 2018

Instantly recognizable by its powerful orange glow, Mars will be closest to Earth from July 27 to 31 when it reaches a mere 57.6 million kilometers away.

But if you don't happen to look out during that time, Mars will still be lit throughout August before starting back on its journey into the far reaches of outer space.

The best time to catch Mars burning bright is generally evenings or around drawn before the sun comes out. It's always best to go somewhere outside of the city like Torrance Barrens, but in this case a nearby park will do.

A clear sky chart is always handy. And if you really want to get into it, there's also a star party happening at the Science Centre.

Is there anything more satisfying than watching someone destroy something (that isn't alive) with a big ole' heavy hatchet?

Sticking it to one of the big three telecoms in a country with the most expensive broadband internet services in the developed world might come close.

In the video below, you can watch a man do both at the same time in a Burlington, Ontario parking lot after what he says was an 8-month-long battle to get any form of decent customer service from Bell Canada.

"Bell Canada, for a communications company you fail at communicating. I can't even walk into one of your hundred stores and speak to someone!" wrote local chef and mixologist Jeremy Parsons in the caption of a video he posted to Instagram this week.

"Today, after 4 hours on the phone getting hung up on and transferred over 8 times, we waited for a tech install and the guy just leaves the package at the door. No knock, no call no service!" 

A post shared by Jeremy J Parsons ~ On BOOK 2!! (@culinarydrinks) on Jul 16, 2018 at 1:25pm PDT

Parsons, explained in the video that he hasn't been able to get his high-speed internet to work, like, ever.

"I've got technicians who come over and as soon as they leave, the service is even worse," he says. "I can't get you on the phone, you don't respond on social media... so let me tell ya: This is my version of a sales call for you, and this is what I think about your bloody service."

*MUCH SMASHING*

Parsons might have fixed his tech woes the old fashioned way, with an axe, but this method isn't suitable for all.

What I'm saying is "don't try this at home." Not only is playing with an axe dangerous, you might owe your telecom even more money for the destruction of a likely rented device on your next bill... and you can bet that Bell or Rogers will be quick to call and tell you about it.

In an effort to boost road safety and save pedestrian lives, the City of Toronto is installing what it calls a "Leading Pedestrian Interval Program" at 80 different intersections across the city this year.

The program, which is already in place at 12 intersections (including University and Adelaide, Yonge and Lakeshore, Queen and Dufferin and Bloor and Jane) allows those on foot get a head start, so to speak.

Essentially, it's an advance green for pedestrians: An advance walk signal.

The hope is that people can start moving across the intersection before cars do, becoming more visible to drivers. This is especially important for vulnerable residents such as children and seniors.

In Etobicoke announcing the rollout of leading pedestrian intervals across Toronto. This change gives pedestrians an advanced walk signal at the start of each signal before vehicles start moving. Research has shown these signals reduce pedestrian-vehicle collisions by up to 60%. pic.twitter.com/E82w8Xos1H

— John Tory (@TorontosMayor) July 20, 2018

"I am committed to doing everything possible as quickly as possible to make our streets safer," said Tory in a press release announcing the measure on Friday.

"I am confident these upgraded signals will make a difference for pedestrians – that's why we have accelerated the Vision Zero Road Safety Plan so we can install more signals this year across the city."

The press release notes that this type of technology can reduce pedestrian-vehicle collisions by as much as 60 per cent, which should come as welcome news to the people of Toronto amidst a particularly deadly year for road users (who aren't in motor vehicles.)

Al Carbone – the owner of the longtime King Street restaurant Kit Kat who made headlines this winter as being one of the most outspoken people behind the anti-King Street Pilot movement – is officially running for office. 

My papers have been filed with city hall. I’m now running to be your next council representative for #Ward20#TOPolipic.twitter.com/4C8H1yZDBT

— Al Carbone Ward 20 (@AlCarboneWard20) July 20, 2018

The restaurateur who erected a giant middle finger ice sculpture in front Kit Kat this winter, then removed it, then replaced it with two icey thumbs-up, just tweeted today that he's filed the papers to run as council rep for Ward 20 once municipal elections begin on October 22. 

#kitkat #fuddleduddle #kingstreetwest #toronto #to

A post shared by Kate Shields (@duckbutton13) on Feb 1, 2018 at 8:04pm PST

Using the Twitter handle @AlCarboneWard20, which he started just yesterday, Carbone tweeted out photos of himself presumably submitting his application forms at City Hall. 

Stay tuned to this twitter account for news about #Ward20 Toronto #TOpoli

— Al Carbone Ward 20 (@AlCarboneWard20) July 19, 2018

The area he's running for, Ward 20, is Toronto's newest ward. A result of the splitting of the old Trinity-Spadina ward after last month's provincial election, the ward has no incumbent and seven candidates registered to run for the position so far.

According to The Star, Carbone said in a statement Friday: 

"I’m running for city council because I’m fed up with pet projects being approved and rammed down this neighbourhoods’ collective throats with no regard to how residents, business owners and the little guys and gals trying to get around this great city … will be affected.”

Looks like it'll be an interesting race. 

Vegans, mark your calendars. Toronto is just one month away from the much-anticipated arrival of the American chain Cinnaholic. 

Essentially the healthy person's answer to Cinnabon, the Shark Tank-approved vegan bakery is unveiling not one but three Toronto locations.

A post shared by Cinnaholic (@cinnaholic) on Jun 24, 2018 at 8:24am PDT

Its store just steps away from Chester Station is set to open in late August, while its plaza location at Steeles and Markham Road is slated to open at the beginning of September. 

Its location in Promenade will actually be the first to open on August 10. To mark the occasion they'll be selling cinnamon rolls for the low price of only $1 between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Still can’t get over this grand opening line yesterday in Edmonton! Thanks so much to everybody who stood and waited patiently! 🎉

A post shared by Cinnaholic (@cinnaholic) on May 12, 2018 at 5:49pm PDT

The customizable gourmet cinnamon roll brand has already opened in Alberta, Manitoba, and Edmonton – whose first store opening two months ago drew lines that went around the block. 

When it arrives in Toronto, you can expect a menu that's vegan and totally lactose- and egg-free, with what looks like craveable frosting flavours and 20 topping options to deck out your Cinnacake. 

A post shared by Cinnaholic (@cinnaholic) on Jun 6, 2018 at 9:45am PDT

On top of that, they'll also be serving vegan cookie dough by the scoop or pound so you can pig out hardcore while feeling relatively guilt-free. 

Saturdays in Toronto are for events and there's lots going on today. Bloor Street West is turning into a massive street festival while Kevin Hart brings the laughs. An art market, anime film night and dance party are also on to keep you busy. 

A massive high-end Chinese restaurant chain known for Lanzhou beef noodles is bringing its famous hand-pulled creations to Toronto at the end of this month. 

Omni Palace – which has over 400 locations in China already – will be launching its first Toronto location ever at 235 Consumers Rd., by Sheppard and Vic Park, where it'll serve up bowls of its traditional Lanzhou stretched noodles starting July 28.

Diners will get to chose from nine different noodles, from thick to Angel Hair noodles, which according to Omni Palace are thin enough to thread through a needle. 

Made using recipes that have been around for centuries, you'll be able to watch your noodles being hand-pulled right in front of you by expert chefs at the stretching table.

Our city might have had a reputation as "Toronto the Good," but our history's littered with weird, wonderful and sometimes, downright strange phenomena, from baby making contests to mysterious tunnels.

Here are some of the strangest things to have ever happened in Toronto.

The great Toronto mirage of 1894

On August 16, 1894, Toronto appeared on Buffalo's shoreline. The phenomenon known as Fata Morgana was documented a number of times in the region during the 19th century and it happens when specific atmospheric conditions made far away places seem super close together.

The Great Stork Derby

After notorious prankster and businessman Charles Vance Millar died in 1926 , one of the requests in his will stated that part of his estate go to the woman (or women) who bore the most children within the next decade. By 1936, four women split $125,000 - each one gave birth to nine babies in 10 years.

The Cabbagetown Monster

While searching for his cat in a tunnel off of Parliament Street, as the Torontoist writes, a man reportedly saw a furry creature that told him to "Get out, get out," before running away. The Toronto Sun reported this monster story in March 1979.

The underground room at King and Simcoe

While building the new Massey Hall (today's Roy Thomson Hall), workers hit something solid right under Simcoe Street. It turned out to be a small room with a table, a chair, two mugs and a locked safe. The safe disappeared before anyone got a chance to peek inside, so the mystery remains unsolved.

The York University Tunnel

Remember when someone discovered a seven metre-long tunnel near York University? Even though it turned out to be pretty benign, the mysterious tunnel captivated Toronto and also made it on to an episode of NPR's This American Life.

If this summer heat is getting to be too much for you, how does escaping for the day into a cool cave sound? Luckily the Tyendinaga Caves and Caverns are only two hours from Toronto, and this hidden gem is seriously worth a visit.

A post shared by Steph Cilia VanderMeulen (@stephvandermeulen1) on Jul 9, 2016 at 2:33pm PDT

Hailed as Canada’s largest natural cave system, the oldest cavern on the property is the only one open to the public. This cavern is 150 ft long, 30 ft at its widest and 22 ft at its highest peak. So, even if you’re claustrophobic, this space likely won’t scare you away.

A post shared by Lily Lindquist (@lilylindquist) on Jul 7, 2016 at 2:16pm PDT

Guided tours of the caves take around 45 minutes with the first 15 minutes above ground. As you stand on the grassy surface, you’ll quickly descend down a staircase that leads you to the entrance, where you feel like you’re opening up a door to the underworld.

A post shared by Maxyme Lambert (@max_lambert50) on Aug 19, 2017 at 4:51pm PDT

Once inside the caves, you’ll instantly experience of brief moment of total darkness before lights are turned on progressively, revealing more and more of the cavern.

The temperature down below stays at a comfortable 10 C year-round, which offers a pretty nice escape from the heat – even if it’s just for 30 minutes.

A post shared by Steph Cilia VanderMeulen (@stephvandermeulen1) on Jul 9, 2016 at 2:43pm PDT

On the tour, you’ll learn about the site’s geology, 300-million-year-old fossils, the history (the earliest date carved into the cavern wall is 1817!) and the crystal clear wishing well that looks like it’s straight out of Disney movie.

A post shared by Danielle Freeman (@danniifree) on Jul 1, 2018 at 12:22pm PDT

You’ll also get a chance to explore the side passages if you wish – just be sure to bring your own flashlight!

Today's adventure: The Tyendinaga Cave. Ontario's Oldest Natural Cavern! #TyendinagaCavern

A post shared by michelle ~ (@webbed_hockey) on Aug 25, 2016 at 1:23pm PDT

The caves are open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. seven days a week through the summer until Labour Day.

Cheap sangria in Toronto is as easy to love as it to drink. This budget-friendly beverage is an ideal summer refreshment best enjoyed on patios and shared amongst friends.

Here are my picks for where to drink cheap sangria in Toronto.

Bistro 422

Pretty much the cheapest pitcher you’ll find in the city, this Little Italy dive bar has Sangria Wednesdays with big ol’ 60 oz pitchers for just $10.62

A post shared by Bistro 422: Patio, Bar & Grill (@bistro422) on Jun 6, 2018 at 11:00am PDT

Red Room

This Chinatown classic has a dependable sangria recipe that you can get in a pint for just 5.75, or a pitcher for $15.50.

Sangria Lounge

Specializing in all things sangria, this Roncy spot has $5.50 pints and $15.75 pitchers which you can boost up with liquor like Grand Marnier or Peach Schnapps for an extra $2.95.

A post shared by 𝓐𝓷𝓪𝓜𝓪𝓻𝓲𝓪 (@3amg3) on Sep 27, 2017 at 10:09am PDT

Madison Avenue Pub

The Madi will always be the place to party hard at cheap prices. For $9.73 you’ll get an 18 oz of sangria while $16.37 will get you a litre.

Pour Boy

Both the Koreatown location and the Little Italy version of this casual bar offer cheap sangria to go with their casual pub food; it’s $6.75 for a pint or $18.75 for a pitcher.

Future Bistro

This popular bakery, cafe and bar in the Annex gives new reason to come out on Tuesdays instead of Sundays with sangria specials on pitchers for $16.95. 

A post shared by Future Bistro (@futurebistro) on May 1, 2018 at 1:08pm PDT

Green Room

It may have a new location in Little Italy but its prices are still as cheap as its old Annex spot, where you can get a whole pitcher of sangria for $15.

Nirvana

Celebrate Sundays at this carefree bar on College St. where the day of rest is best for drinking $5.95 pints and $16.75 pitcher of your fave red or white mix.

A post shared by Justin (@chapmanjustin) on May 3, 2017 at 12:40pm PDT

Last Temptation

Sipping on sangria on this Kensington patio is a classic summertime move. It’s $17 for pitcher, or $6.75 per pint of this addictively good beverage.

Sneaky Dee’s

This iconic Toronto dive bar may not always be the cheapest on the list (it’s still always affordable) but it always makes up for the difference in quantity. It’s $7.95 for a pint or $23.90 for a whole 60 oz pitcher.

Ontario is home to plenty of weird and quirky attractions if you're looking to see something unique on your next Toronto getaway or road trip. Alone, most of these spots aren't worth venturing out to, but of you're in the area, you might as well check them out.

Take a look at this kitschy photo gallery of 21 bizarre attractions in Ontario.

If you're strapped for cash but looking for a tropical getaway this summer, this beach two hours southwest of Toronto is a must-visit destination.

From the warm waters of Lake Erie to the real palm trees that sway on the shoreline, Port Dover's beach is a bit of paradise in Southern Ontario.

A post shared by Emily Overton (@emily.overton) on Jul 7, 2017 at 11:47am PDT

Plenty of people do a double-take when they see the row of palm trees along this stretch of waterfront, but they are very real. This unique feature of the beach comes courtesy of Peter Knechtel, owner of the Beach House restaurant.

For the last decade or so Knechtel has planted palm trees here starting in late May. They tend to stay up until early October before they're taken back to the greenhouse for the coldest portion of the year. For five months of the year, Southern Ontario has a pseudo tropical destination.

A post shared by Ontario's Southwest (@ontsouthwest) on Apr 6, 2017 at 5:51pm PDT

Believe it or not, the trees tend to do really well planted on Lake Erie's shores. There's only a handful of them at the beach, but they manage to completely transform the vibe such that you'll be humming Jimmy Buffet after laying out your towel.

A post shared by Jaclyn Sikala (@jaclynsikala) on Jul 20, 2018 at 7:00pm PDT

Fortunately, the beach at Port Dover is pretty great beyond the addition of Florida palm trees, so it's definitely a spot to have on your getaway radar. The fine-grained sand is easy on the feet, and come August, water temperatures are luxuriously warm.

Take Highway 6 south from Hamilton to get to Southern Ontario's little tropical escape. Weekends get busy, so make sure to arrive early.

Instagrammable restaurants in Toronto are the types of establishments where the phone camera eats first. With backdrops and dishes more photogenic than we’ll ever be, a meal at any of these spots are pretty much guaranteed to have your phones blowin' up with likes.

Here are my picks for the most Instagrammable restaurants in Toronto.

A post shared by Justin Yang (@justinjwy) on Jul 12, 2018 at 7:06pm PDT

SoSo Food Club

Not only do the Chinese dishes at this Dundas West spot come presented flawlessly, the interior alone is worth a picture. Moody neon lighting, soft plush seats and a palette of pinks will be sure to give your feed a fun pop of colour.

A post shared by Alexa Fernando 🇵🇭🇨🇦 (@ajfernando) on May 17, 2018 at 6:47am PDT

Rosalinda

The opening of a vegan Mexican restaurant is already worth the buzz, but the hanging plants of this airy space in the Financial District make it all the more enjoyable to dine on banana chocolate churros.

A post shared by noix de coco (@bestfriendswiththeocean) on Jun 24, 2018 at 2:22pm PDT

Convenience

The pink-washed downstairs area of this bar on West Queen West is a photoshoot waiting to happen. Whether it’s the the lo-fi security footage TVs or the faux-phones by the party line, it won’t be hard to strike a good pose here.

A post shared by Nili (@nili_6ix) on Jun 24, 2018 at 8:00pm PDT

Hanabusa Cafe

When it comes to this Kensington brunch spot, we all know what the main attraction is: those jiggly, fluffy Japanese souffle pancakes. Doused in custard, sprinkled with fruits and topped with whipped cream, these things are nothing short of picture perfect.

A post shared by ❞ 𝑴𝒂𝒅𝒆𝒎𝒐𝒊𝒔𝒆𝒍𝒍𝒆𝑴❝ (@mademoiselle_margaux) on Jul 15, 2018 at 10:19pm PDT

Oretta

There are few places more photogenic to spend happy hour than this Italian restaurant on King West, with a palatial interior, pops of pastel tones and a modern-meets-seventies vibe that will make the perfect backdrop to your #humpday pic. 

A post shared by Julie Wong 🇲🇺🇨🇦 (@julwmw) on Jul 10, 2018 at 9:42pm PDT

Mira

Far from the nightclub it once housed, this elegant Peruvian establishment on Wellington has transformed into a sophisticated place to feast on fancy tostadas, cocktails, and – oh, yes, crack open a beautiful sphere of chocolate filled with honeycomb and edible flowers.

A post shared by nguyentofood (@nguyentofood) on Jul 18, 2018 at 1:34pm PDT

Early Bird

With a second spot in Brookfield Place, there's now two locations to photograph this cafe's incredible breakfast dishes. Just looking at their eggs bennies covered in pink beet hollaindaise sauce will perk your morning right up; be sure to grab a flick for old memories' sake.

A post shared by C A R O L I N E (@carolinecheam) on Jun 23, 2018 at 6:58am PDT

Planta

One of the most popular vegetarian restaurants in the city, this restaurant is all class – no surprise, seeing as it's Yorkville. Aside from all the attractive and healthy dishes here, the checkered floors, jungle plant wallpaper and giant leaf mural by Tisha Miles are all winners too.

A post shared by @jamkg on Jul 8, 2018 at 9:18am PDT

La Palma

It may be hard to catch a dinner reservation here but the wait is definitely worth it. Not only is the Italian food phenomenal, this Dundas West spot’s California-esque vibe and signature mural by local artist Madison Van Rijn add to its summery ambiance. 

A post shared by kayla (@kckc_) on May 7, 2018 at 11:17am PDT

Doomie’s

If this Parkdale spot’s selfie room hasn’t popped up on your feed yet (or at least on your explore page) you clearly haven’t been on IG in a while. This healthy-meets-junky spot literally has a dedicated area designed with comics by U.K. artist Vegan Sidekick just for the ‘gram.

Tucked away in Yorkville is the ultimate urban solution to those summer days that are just too hot to handle: a mist garden, complete with leafy shade, seating, and spritzes of water to cool you down.

Belonging to the ultra-bougie Four Seasons, this mist garden sits on Yorkville Ave. and, surprisingly, is completely open to the public, meaning you can get a bit of that $700-per-night hotel room experience minus the exclusive price tag. 

The Mist Garden is located next to Yorkville's Four Seasons Hotel. 

The small urban garden was designed by Nak Design and prolific public space designer Claude Cormier + Associés (the same firm behind the cat- and dog-themed parks).

The rose garden has red seats where people can enjoy the shade. 

Designed in a rose shape (which is best appreciated from an aerial view via a room at the Four Seasons), the area is a swirling green oasis of yew trees, boxwood shrubs, and barberi bushes, replete with scattered red chairs for the ultimate summertime escape. 

The design is an extension of the hotel's forecourt, where red and grey granite form rose patterns around a towering four-storey cast-iron red birdbath. 

The Mist Garden is an extension of the hotel's forecourt, which has a four-storey bird bath. 

Despite its grandeur, the birdbath actually plays second fiddle to the garden's more interactive main feature: a rose-inscribed wall designed by a the Montreal-based sculptor Linda Covit.

This cool-looking barrier becomes the backdrop for the thick clouds of mist which spill out of grates from the ground in a refreshing show that lasts for about two and a half minutes. 

The mist comes out every ten minutes and lasts for around two to three minutes. 

Making an appearance every ten minutes, the fog definitely never gets intense enough to reach all the little garden loungers, but if there's an easterly wind you might get lucky and catch some revitalizing droplets on yourself. 

The spritzes start at noon every day and last until 11 p.m. at night, when the mist get some added dreaminess with the help of some soft glowing lights. 

The mist is activated during the summer only. It usually starts around the May long weekend and continues through Labour. The mist is controlled by someone inside the Four Seasons Hotel.

It seems like Little Ethiopia will never get the designation it wanted. 

It’s been nearly a decade since a handful of Ethiopian businesses first petitioned the City to formally designate a tiny stretch of Danforth East as Little Ethiopia, but the BIA has been firm in its decision to classify itself as “The Danny” instead. 

Little Ethiopia is full of businesses catering to East African communities. 

According to the city, the 5-minute stretch between Greenwood and Monarch Park Avenues is too diverse to classify as solely Ethiopian. Step out of Greenwood Station, however, and it’s hard to deny that it's the Habesha community with the strongest presence here. 

Rendez-Vous was the first Ethiopian restaurant to arrive on Danforth East in 2001. 

The aging area certainly has its fair share of diverse businesses, but few are more frequented than the collection of Ethiopian restaurants serving up kitfo and lounges full of couches – all which act as hubs for the the community where Amharic is the only language you’ll hear. 

Ethiopian cuisine consists of stewed veggies, meats, and injera, a flat bread made out of buckwheat. 

The first Ethiopian restaurant to arrive in the area was Rendez-Vous in 2001, back when Danforth East was still barren and Ossington was where the largest collection of Ethiopian businesses were, including neighbouring Lalibela, which still has its original location near there.

As per most Ethiopian establishments, Rendez-Vous came equipped with a TV playing the latest sports game and fully-stocked bar, and from its red-walled interior a community was born. 

According to its owners, Wazema was the third Ethiopian restaurant to arrive in the area. 

Since then other restaurants like Blue Nile – the second oldest restaurant here – Sora, and Wazema, a decade-old OG, have joined the area, turning this tiny walkable pocket into the home of some of Toronto’s best Ethiopian restaurants. 

A pan of roasting coffee beans is brought out for drinkers to smell during an Ethiopian coffee ceremony. Photo by Jesse Milns. 

Vegetarians will know that Ethiopian cuisine is one of the best for all those living the meat-free life. Vegandale might be all the rage right now, but people should really be flocking to Little Ethiopia for its healthy veggie stews and gluten-free injera made from buckwheat. 

Pots of coffee often come with myrrh, a burning resin that's popular in Ethiopia. Photo by Jesse Milns. 

There are a number of non-Ethiopian cafes like Red Rocket where you can get your caffeine fix, but if you’re a true coffee lover and have time to spare, the real move is ordering an Ethiopian brew from any restaurant in this area. 

The server of Blue Nile will pour your Ethiopian coffee into small cups. Photo by Hector Vasquez. 

Ethiopian coffee comes with a full ceremony, complete with roasting beans presented to you in the pan, burning myrrh, freshly popped popcorn and a full pot of dangerously strong brew for an experience that's really one-of-a-kind. 

Al Mandi is a Yemeni restaurant with private room upstairs for more traditional dining. 

There's also a broader East African and Arab community residing in Little Ethiopia as a whole. Here you'll also find one of Toronto's few Yemeni restaurants Al Mandi on this stretch, specializing in Yemeni meat dishes called Mendi. 

If you're looking for something fun to do, Al Mandi has private rooms upstairs designed in the plush decor and colourful tones of traditional Yemeni dining areas decked out in cosy cushions for on-the-floor dining. 

East African-run businesses like the Billiards Club and Al-Maidah have closed down. 

Within the last five years or so, the neighbourhood has lost several East African-run businesses, accompanied by the appearance of businesses which are neither African, Asian, or even Greek, as the area historically warrants. 

City Betty is a new North American-style venture in Little Ethiopia. Photo by Hector Vasquez.

The brand new City Betty has just opened up with a produce-heavy menu full of locally-sourced-ingredient recipes like poached asparagus, citing California and American cities like New York as its inspirations. 

City Betty's menu consists of locally-sourced ingredients like rhubarb and asparagus. Photo by Hector Vasquez.

The snack bar Borrel is bringing a taste of the Netherlands with menu options like the frikandel, a Dutch-style hot dog, and right next door to it Sweet Serendipity bakes up very Canadian treats like maple butter tarts. 

Borrel is a Dutch snack bar serving food from the Netherlands. Photo by Hector Vasquez. 

And there's no shortage of newer watering holes here, from the old-timey saloon The Wren to the slightly older Sauce on the Danforth, which was the first bar to make an appearance in Little Ethiopia.  

But despite what seems like multiple closures of African-run businesses in the area, there's still signs of new entrepreneurship like the newly opened Merhaba Bar & Cafe, where both Ethiopian and Eritrean flags hang proudly outside.

This has been in the works for a while but today we're thrilled to officially announce the launch of our WeChat Official Account (微信公众号) and Sina Weibo account (新浪微博).

Make sure to follow us on these social channels for daily featured articles in Chinese.

From our popular Best of Toronto lists, to the latest news headlines we're curating a selection of our most popular content for these new channels. 

You'll find the details you need on the latest restaurants to grace our city's food scene, info on upcoming events, videos, photos and a lot more.

On WeChat we're blogtoronto - official account ID 微信公众号

Our Sina Weibo account is weibo.com/blogto - 新浪微博

See you there.

The weekend is almost over but events in Toronto today are here to take edge off. Arcade Fire arrives to perform and there's a big festival of all things Brazilian. A big block party shuts down King Street and there's a beer garden under the Gardiner.