Amy Lee Lavoie's Stopheart has a distinct Canadianness to it that's not only a product of its setting in a small Northern Ontario town called South Porcupine. An exploratory opening monologue, rural boredom, a troubled Native character and a quirky, twisted sense of humour all contribute to this heartland Canadiana feeling.

The result is a play with something of a fractured identity — a quality often associated with the Canadian profile itself — that's one part dark comedy, another part devastating drama. The muddled tone doesn't help drive home the themes of the play, which are further weighed down by metaphors involving sand, stars, and Shakespearean verse. Yet through the confusion, there is a strong pulse that reveals itself in act two.

Elian (Amitai Marmorstein) is the a product of two wacky parents, Goldie (Elizabeth Saunders) who routinely rehearses the celebration of her death and Cricket (Martin Julien) who dreams of being a cowboy but lacks the confidence. Elian's best friend July (Vivien Endicott-Douglas), a vulgar, tough cookie pal, has warned her friend to avoid her dark and dangerous brother Bear (Garret C. Smith). But having fallen hard, all-consumed Elian cannot turn away from love so easily.

Lavoie's play is a wolf in sheep's clothing. A comic, quirky veneer established in the first half, defined by the overly-embarrassing shenanigans of Elian's parents, gives way to the dark matter beneath. The younger characters, Elian and July, are dimensional enough to make the journey, but the parents never really make it full-circle and are left looking wholly unsympathetic in light of the darker material.

The play is further complicated by universe-related metaphors that seem at odds with the rooted, earthy narrative set in South Porcupine. These factors make it difficult to appreciate Lavoie's captivating climax, an exciting and devastating scene that's buried amidst dense foliage.

It's here where the core of the play, about a young boy confronting his sexuality and choosing to pursue love, reaches an emotional reality that far outstrips the efforts in the first act. Lavoie's dialogue is sharp, director Ron Jenkins finds the correct pace, and Marmorstein changes gears on a performance that had been, up until that point, over-angsty.

Endicott-Douglas is a fine foil and is the only one who can fully respond to events in the final scene. It's unfortunate for Saunders and Julien that their characters appear comical and out of place in these moments, unable to muster a believable response.

Shifting from comedy to tragedy and back again is an ambitious move for a writer so young. There is an intelligent heart that beats strong, but the fringe and frills inevitably clutter the meaningful story arc.

—

Stopheart, written by Amy Lee Lavoie and directed by Ron Jenkins, runs at Factory Theatre until May 26.

This Week in Fashion rounds up the week's style news, store openings and closings, pop-up shops, sales and upcoming fashion and design events in Toronto. Find it here every Wednesday morning.

NEWS

The Toronto Premium Outlets (13850 Steeles Ave W) in Halton Hills is scheduled to open August 1st, with no less than 85 upscale retailers offering their goods at up to 65% off in the 350,000 square-foot space. The first ever Hudson's Bay outlet store is one of them - launching perhaps as a response to the newly opened hr2 and the rumours of a Nordstrom Rack coming to Canada.

EVENTS/PARTIES

Tomorrow night (May 16) from 6 pm until 9 pm, kick off Artfest at the Distillery with Mint Boutique (6 Rack Hour Mews). Enjoy an evening dazzled with art by Lori Harrison, the shop's trendy fashions, and of course - complimentary wine and cheese. The artwork will be on display and for sale at the boutique until May 31st, so if you can't make it out tomorrow, you still have a couple weeks to enjoy their beauty.

Local menswear brand Outclass is launching their spring/summer 2013 collection tomorrow (May 16) at Gerhard Supply (2949 Dundas St W). From 6 pm until 11:30 pm, peruse the latest additions to the shop - drink in hand - with special promotions going on all night.

If you've got shirts with missing buttons or pants ripping at the seams, bring them to Withrow Park Farmers' Market (725 Logan Ave) on Saturday (May 18) for the second edition of the Toronto Clothing Repairathon. Running from 9 am until 1 pm, all your damaged clothing woes can disappear (free of charge!) with the help of the Repairathon's volunteers.

The Evergreen Brick Works is back with another edition of their eco-conscious Community Clothing Swap. Drop a maximum of 12 gently used garments at the Welcome Centre (550 Bayview Avenue) days prior to the event in order to pick out new items on Sunday (May 19) from 11 am until 1 pm. Entrance is $3 - a bargain considering it clears closet space, provides new treasures, and decreases ecological footprints all at the same time!

SALES

If you're still looking for an Anime North costume - or if you're just generally into this sort of thing - there'll be a latex clothing sale this Saturday (May 18) at 388 Carlaw Avenue (Suite 202-J). From noon until 6 pm, samples from Adala, FDL Latex Kink Engineering, and Ego Assassin will be available for purchase, no doubt marked down to a steal.

The PYA Importer Ltd. sample sale kicks off next Wednesday (May 22) and stretches until Saturday (May 25), giving shoppers four whole days to snatch up a great deal. Brands like Ted Baker, Line Knitwear, and Corpus will be available at up to 80% off, so be sure to visit 15 Apex Road for a chance to stock up on quality goods.

This penthouse suite is perched atop 2181 Yonge St., in the middle of condo-heavy Yonge and Eglinton. Just shy of $4 million, this place would be a great option for the shopaholic in your life, as it looks exactly like a boutique where they would sell things like diamond-studded shoes. I want to bash this kind of opulent living, but let's face it, I'm just jealous. There, I said it on the interwebs. This glittery condo is stunning, the perfect place to dream — and to store your unicorn collection.

The standout features here would have to be the incredible amounts of natural light and the washroom pictured below. If my lowly blogger self could gain access to this urban palace, I would throw pool parties in that tub with all of my vagabond companions. No question.

SPECS

Address: 2181 Yonge St.
Price: $3,995,000
Square Footage: 3,600
Bedrooms: 3
Bathrooms/half baths: 5
Storeys: 1
Parking Spaces: Parking available, spaces N/A.
Fireplaces: N/A
Monthly Maintenance: N/A
Building Amenities: Concierge, guest suite, gym, sauna, pool, media room, games room.

NOTABLE FEATURES

• Walk-in additional apartments closets
• "Breathtaking galleries of onyx, lacquer and marble"
• Actually beautiful views
• Super-original stainless steel appliances

GOOD FOR

The Real Housewives of TO. People who only drink clear liquids, like vodka. (One and the same? I feel like there's a lot of crossover here). And people who adhere to the rule, "No brown food" (SATC, anyone?)

MOVE ON IF

You like your wine red and your milk chocolate. You like paint. And character.

ADDITIONAL IMAGES

If you had the dough, would you buy this home?

Read more posts in this series via our Toronto condos and lofts Pinterest board.

Situated in the Beaches (or the Beach, if you will), this pub (now under new ownership) has morphed from a garden-variety watering hole to a compelling destination for beer aficionados and vegetarians alike.

Read my review of Castro's Lounge in the restaurants section.

The top summer music festivals in Toronto for 2013 should factor into your cottage plans — as in, be careful not to book away dates during the biggest events. Dock time can wait. With everything from punk to indie to electro and bluegrass, you're bound surely find a show worth going to whatever your taste. In addition to major festivals like NXNE and the much touted Field Trip, smaller gatherings like the Sound in Motion Festival ensure that a level of variety that's crucial.

Here are 12 summer music festivals in Toronto to have on your radar.

CBCMusic.ca Festival | May 25 | Molson Canadian Amphitheatre
If you're a big CBC Radio 3 fan, you might just be into this festival. For its inaugural edition, CBCMusic.ca will bring some big names in rock and indie to Toronto in just a couple weeks. Of Monsters and Men, Sam Roberts Band, Kathleen Edwards, Sloan, Aidan Knight, and more, will be playing Echo Beach at what's left of Ontario Place.

Waterfront Blues | May 31 - June 2 | Woodbine Park
What better time of year to stomp your feet and clap your hands? This summer, the FREE Waterfront Blues Festival is kicking off its ninth year in style at Woodbine Park. Featuring several Juno award winning and nominated artists such as Fathead, Paul Reddick, and Morgan Davis, as well as Multi Blues Music Award winner Deanna Bogart, this festival brings in the top talent from around the globe to satisfy your hunger for keys, horns, Gibsons, and soulful vocals.

Arts & Crafts Field Trip Festival | June 8 | Fort York & Garrison Common
An all-out, one day field trip featuring amazing music, local art, gourmet food (check out our post on the top eats at the fest), and swell people, the Arts & Crafts Field Trip Festival is bound to be one of this summer's hottest tickets. Celebrating Arts & Crafts's 10 year anniversary with a one-night reunion of Broken Social Scene as well as the likes of Feist, Timber Timbre, Bloc Party, and a ton of other fantastic bands, this festival has been hyped to all hell, but it might live up to it.

NXNE | June 10 - 16 | Various Venues
In its 19th year, NXNE is bringing over 800 artists to over 50 venues in Toronto this summer during its week-long film, music, comedy, art, and interactive festival. While musical headliners include The National, Big Boi, Social Distortion, and Millencolin, this year's local talent spotlights Toronto favourite DIANA, the roughshod stylings of CATL, and the genre-bending tunes of Absolutely Free, among many other both established and new artists.

Luminato | June 14 - 23 | various venues
In its sixth year of production, the Luminato festival focuses on creativity as its founding premise, celebrating film, art, music, dance, and many other artistic pursuits around the city. Some musical highlights include the curation of Joni Mitchell's "A Portrait in Song - A Birthday Happening Live at Massey Hall," k-os, and Sarah Harmer.

Toronto Jazz Festival | June 20-29 | Various Venues
The city's biggest jazz festival might not feature as much pop (read: non-jazz) artists this year, but with well over 1000 acts at approximately 40 locations across the city, the more traditional fan will find lots to like in 2013. Headlining acts include Willie Nelson, Smokey Robinson and Mavis Staples.

Digital Dreams | June 29 - 30 | Molson Canadian Amphitheatre
Get out your neon and join the party. With 25,000 attendees at their inaugural festival last year, Digital Dreams is back again this year to provide fans of Electronic Nation with blow-out performances by Porter Robinson, Richie Hawtin, and Tiesto, amongst others at the Molson Canadian Amphitheatre.

Toronto Urban Roots Festival | July 4 - 7 | Fort York & Garrison Common
While the Arts & Crafts Field Trip is giving it a pretty good run for its money, the Toronto Urban Roots festival is packing in the names in their lineup of artists for this year's festival. Matt Mays, the Cat Empire, Arkells, Camera Obscura, The Hold Steady, Flogging Molly, The Wooden Sky, and Yo La Tengo plus over twenty more bands will be playing the four-night, two full-day festival at Fort York and Garrison Common this July.

Rockstar Mayhem Festival | July 10 | Molson Canadian Amphitheatre
If your taste runs to the heavy and the metal, not to mention the punk, you'll want to grab your Doc Martens and make your way to the Molson Canadian Amphitheatre this July for Rockstar's Mayhem Festival. Featuring the likes of Rob Zombie, Mastodon, Amon Amarth, Children of Bodom, and more, this is a fest not to be missed.

Sound in Motion | July 11-13, 2013 | Various Venues
Sound in Motion is an indie (that's independent) electronic music fest that will focus on art instead of neon. The fest will take place in both indoor and outdoor spaces around the city, and will include film, workshops, dance parties, a listening session and more. Artists scheduled include Audio Werner, Daniel Bell, Kode9, DeepChord, Pinch, Berk Offset, SlowPitch, Stefny Winter, Michel Plamondon, Basic Soul Unit, Jason Hodges, and Spyne.

Edgefest | July 31 | Downsview Park
Whether or not you're a fan of all the music The Edge plays, the Edgefest lineup for this summer is an indie crowdpleaser all-round. Folksy indie rock band The Lumineers are headlining the fest at Downsview Park, while other notable bands include Band of Horses, Mother Mother, and Capital Cities. If you like your guitar acoustic, your tunes fun, and your fans chill, you may have just found the right festival for you.

VELD | August 3 -4 | Downsview Park
With its second year, the VELD Music Festival brings some of the biggest names in electro and house music to Toronto. Held at Downsview Park, this two-day festival features Steve Aoki, deadmau5, Pretty Lights, and Steve Angello, who, you can bet, will be blasting the drums right out of your ears for the better part of two days. Only go if you can handle the beat.

BONUS

Grove Music Fest | August 3 | Fork York Garrison Common
That's right, as if there weren't enough festivals to choose from already, the citizens of Niagara-on-the-Lake were so disdainful of the idea of a pop music festival in their backyard, Grove had to move to TO, and adjust its line up slightly. Some fans will lament the move, but we're always glad to have Girl Talk, Phoenix, Gaslight Anthem, Waaves, Hot Chip, Earl Sweatshirt, Young Empires and more in our hood.

What summer music festival do you plan to check out in 2013?

Lead photo by Stephanie Luong on Flickr

Find out what's new and hot with our our bi-weekly local music roundup

DECADES / DECADES / MAY 16
When I was a teen my oldest brother bought me The Cure's Staring at the Sea singles collection, I really responded to its upbeat tempo, playful instrumentation and fun lyrics about love cats, caterpillars and Camus, who was the first real manifestation of my adult pretension. I listened to that sucker all the time, happy as a clam bobbing my head on the school bus, grinning and feeling great.

And then a few years later I gave Pornography a go. My world collapsed. Why would anyone listen to something that made you feel SO SAD. What I'm trying to say is that I have no critical capacity to judge Decades beyond the fact they sound like The Cure and I like this tune. I'm weary, however, about listening to their full lenth album for fear of the same crushing blow. And I certainly won't be at the record release at the Garrison this Thursday. As a boy, I don't like to cry in public...

VERONICA DOMINGUES / JUST CHILL / MAY 14TH
Speaking of record releases I won't be attending, Veronica Domingues is having one herself on May 14th for her album Just Chill. Again, it's not personal; it's just that the website encourages that audience members "dress to impress." I only dress to impress myself, and my standards are based on durability and thrift. And if I'm not welcome wearing my perfectly good jeans with the bleach stain that inadvertently looks like a penis, then I ain't coming.

MEREDITH SHAW / TROUBLE / MAY 28TH
This Meredith Shaw single inspired one of those phantom connections in head that I couldn't quite pin down. Finally after 15 minutes of googling, my cousin Joel woke up and he cracked it pretty quick. Obviously, it was the theme song for "Droids."

THANKS, COUSIN JOEL!

THE BREAKS / HONEY BEE / MAY 18TH
I've been waiting my entire life to parody Kurtis Blow lyrics in a public forum. It's especially fufilling to do so when sharing such a lovely band. Everyone ready? Ok. *Ahem*

Brakes on a bus Brakes in a car
Listen to Brakes, listen to Brakes!
Breaks when you're unpacking a rar
Breaks when you clean Brakkes when booze
It's likely Brakes will rock your shoes
And these are the breaks
Break it up break it up break it up!

DIANA / BORN AGAIN / MAY 8TH
Luckily, because my soup's almost ready, my personal friend and mentoree Erin Scholz already did a lovely write up about DIANA. So, I'll let that stand in for an actual write up but note well that they've released a new video and signed with Paper Bag Records.

YO! Toronto Musicans, if you want your fresh new music to get a little attention, why not throw it my way. Simply email ericboshart [at symbol] blog to DOT com with some links, preferably a soundcloud and I'll take it from there.

Lead photo of DIANA by Derek Flack

31 Mercer Street, formerly home to Rockwood Nightclub, has been revamped by club veteran Tommy King, who's turned it into a massive underwater-themed space that leans heavily on his travels to Ibiza for design inspiration. Will the King West crowd be interested in taking the plunge?

Read my review of Cove Thirtyone in the bars section.

Victoria Day fireworks in Toronto might not be as plentiful as what's on offer for Canada Day — especially in the absence of a show at Ontario Place — but there's still a few major displays of pyrotechnics to take in. And by that I mean "official" displays. You can bet that smaller neighbourhood shows will take place across the city, if only because people have read our where to buy fireworks in Toronto roundup post. Or not...but, yeah, there will be fireworks.

As was the case last year, the biggest show in Toronto proper is set to take place at Ashbridge's Bay on Monday, May 20th at 10:00 p.m. This displays goes off rain or shine, but you'll need to arrive early if you hope to secure decent sight lines. Over 2000 fireworks will light up the sky as part of the event, which typically lasts about 15 minutes or so (don't worry, it feels longer).

Just north of the city, the annual display at Canada's Wonderland is even more dramatic, with over 6000 fireworks in their arsenal. Note well, this show takes place on Sunday, May 19th and is included with general admission to the park. The more frugal among us (or those who just have no interest in theme park rides) might consider trolling around the park outskirts for a decent place to watch the show without having to fork out any cash.

If neither or these options appeal to you, there's also the Dundas Driving Park display on May 19th at 9:30 p.m., but who really wants to drive to Steeltown for a 20 minute fireworks display?

Photo by Richard Gottardo in the blogTO Flickr pool

The best vegetarian restaurants in Toronto offer up meatless meals that are satisfying, comforting and familiar. While clean eating and spa-like offerings have typically been the norm, Toronto has recently seen a recent influx of eateries that give herbivores the option to indulge in greasy fare, cocktails and even charcuterie boards.

Honourable mentions go out to Sadie's Diner, The Feel Good Guru, E.L. Ruddy, and every raw food, Ethiopian and Lebanese restaurant out there.

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

See also:

The Best Veggie Burger in Toronto
The Best Salad in Toronto

Photo by AndreaBriceno in the blogTO Flickr pool

Photo by Jack Landau in the blogTO Flickr pool

Toronto events on Thursday, May 16, 2013

MUSIC | Boy
The Swiss-German pop duo Boy embarked on their first North American tour this past March and are wrapping up this week. The second last stop on the tour is The Great Hall, where Valeska Steiner and Sonja Glass will perform music from their 2011 debut album Mutual Friends. Performing their song "Little Numbers" and the new single "This is the Beginning", the German indie folk artists will be a popular destination for the Queen West crowd tonight. Tickets are still available through Collective Concerts' Facebook page.
The Great Hall (1087 Queen Street West) 9PM $17.50

ART | #JunkFood and #SilverLinings
The minds behind #Hashtag Gallery combine their powers of artistic thinking for a joint show opening in the space tonight. Johnny Hollick's #JunkFood examines disposable art that is meant to be consumed and shared, often making use of pop culture references. Graeme Luey's #SilverLinings, on the other hand, uses print-screened abstract pieces to examine the meaning of art and how interpretations come to be. The opening reception takes place at the gallery tonight with the show running until May 29th.
#Hashtag Gallery (801 Dundas Street West) 7PM Free

GAMES | Pinballpalooza
Want to set a Guinness World Record? 100 pinball machines are being shipped in to First Canadian Place this morning to attempt to set a record for "Most people playing pinball." Play pinball for free—whether you're a champ or a beginner—and be a part of (slightly insignificant but nevertheless fun) history. The event promotes the opening of Tommy at the Stratford Festival, so it will include performances by the cast of the musical throughout the day. Pinballs will be free game until 6PM.
First Canadian Place (100 King Street West) 9AM Free

CULTURE | CBC Toronto Open House featuring "The Canada Lives Here Experience"
An open house event where Torontonians will have a chance to see Canadian culture through the CBC lens opens at the CBC Broadcasting offices on Front Street this morning. "The Canada Lives Here Experience" will feature free public tours of the broadcasting centre, with activities and events that include panel discussions with CBC personalities and a screening of Canada Lives Here, a film that documents how the CBC connects with Canadians. Five halls of fame will also be available for touring, providing the history behind CBC music, sports, entertainment, news and conversation. An incredible museum that pays tribute to local and national history, CBC Toronto's Open House closes its doors on May 19th.
CBC Broadcasting Centre (250 Front Street West) 11:30AM Free

FILM | Killer Portraits: Iconography of the Horror Film Poster
Film posters: marketing for the sake of selling a film or marketing for the sake of art? The Black Museum's incredible horror film lecture series continues tonight at Big Picture Cinema with an examination of the role of horror film posters. Lecturer Andrea Butler will examine the iconography of horror film posters in Killer Portraits, citing films like Frankenstein, Psycho and Carrie and poster artists like Ken Taylor, Jason Edmiston and Olly Moss while discussing how the independent film movement has changed the poster from marketing tool to art piece just as classic film artworks are now collectibles. Tickets for the event are available in advance through The Black Museum's website and will also be available at the door.
Big Picture Cinema (1035 Gerrard Street East) 8PM $12 advance $15 door

ALSO OF NOTE:

• Toronto Botanical Garden Organic Farmers' Market
• Big Art Book 2013 Launch Party
• The Modern Metropolis
• Lawrence Hill and Carol Duncan on Race, Censorship, and Free Speech

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

Photo courtesy of #Hashtag Gallery.

Rob Ford is under investigation by the city over an alleged bylaw infraction usually associated with overly keen cleaners and takeout joints. During an important community council meeting in Etobicoke yesterday, the mayor took time to stick magnets containing his home phone number to cars in the lot. City staff say they're acting on a complaint. Licensing bylaw 545-313 prohibits leaving handbills on vehicles.

Badly-timed Toronto intersections that leave road users waiting on red for traffic that never comes are going to get a tweak. The changes will hopefully improve the flow of roads with a high number of intersections. City staff say Adelaide and Richmond streets have already benefited from fewer interruptions and lower emissions. More than 1,000 lights will get tweaked over the next three years.

We'll likely know later today whether or not to panic buy liquor and wine from the LCBO. The stores could be closed as early as 12:01 am Friday if union staff and management fail to reach a deal over part-time and temporary workers. If they don't reach a deal and you're left without anything to drink, here's a list of places that sell beer and wine.

Police are cracking down on scooter riders who park their vehicles on public sidewalks. The traffic infraction attracts a $60 ticket. One understandably disgruntled rider interviewed by the Star was told the the fines were being issues under a new bylaw. In reality, it has always been against the rules to park motorized vehicles on the sidewalk.

What would you do for a $14,000 worth of carpet? Two well-dressed thieves appear to have planned and executed an elaborate ruse that involved arranging rental of two expensive rugs for a photo shoot then taking off with the loot. Cops are surprised no-one's recognized the two people from the CCTV.

Toronto Zoo's new pandas Er Shun and Da Mao will be officially unveiled later today. The pair arrived from China a month ago aboard a Fed Ex jet and were officially signed for by PM Stephen Harper. The public will get their first chance to see the animals on Saturday.

Did you see the strange object over Etobicoke last year? Someone did, and they called it in to Manitoba research group UFOlogy, which just released its annual report. People in Ontario saw the most strange aerial phenomena - 40% of Canada's total. For the record, the object seen over the city's west end had lights underneath and was moving erratically. Cue X-Files theme...

IN BRIEF:

• House fire leads to dramatic rescue [CBC]
• To stop bullying, student's mom escorts her in school [Toronto Star]
• Yonge St. reopens after pedestrian hit by car [Toronto Star]
• Deer struck by car near Yonge and St. Clair [Toronto Star]
• J.P. Arencibia, Adam Lind power Jays past Giants [CBC]

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

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

Of a Monstrous Child: A Gaga Musical began its run this week at Buddies in Bad Times theatre. It was inspired by an essay Lady Gaga - or shall I say, Stefani Germanotta - wrote while she was studying at NYU. The show incorporates an excerpt from the paper, which proved to me that she can not only write lyrics, but a solid essay too.

Although when I hear "Lady Gaga" I think of bright and bold, the set was the exact opposite. With just a black backdrop, the cast uses simple props to transform the stage and explore all aspects of the star.

This is the first musical commissioned and developed by Buddies in Bad Times. So what can you expect? Here are the five reasons you should see Of a Monstrous Child: A Gaga Musical.

5. This isn't your typical musical with the cast bursting into song and dance every other line. It's more of a docudrama that forces you to think about Gaga as an icon and what her image means in the world of pop culture.

4. Most of the music is mashups featuring Gaga music alongside classics from Queen, Radiohead and more.

3. Lady Gaga isn't the main character. Leigh Bowery - a performance artist and fashion designer - is the most prominent character. Bowery (played by Bruce Dow) acts as the narrator and isn't afraid to bare it all. Yes, that means nudity.

2. Kimberly Persona plays Lady Gaga and shows off her musical talent through performances using the piano, cello and of course her own pipes.

1. There is a scene that is completely dependent on audience interaction. In involves scissors, Lady Gaga and Yoko Ono. Curious yet?

Show runs until May 26 at Buddies in Bad Times theatre

Photo by Alejandro Santiago.

This two-year old training studio on Dupont near Spadina is known for the severity of its workouts. With a TRX Suspension system and Kettleballs, the gym is similar in appearance to a CrossFit facility, but the the philosophy here favours exercise regimens that are more tailored to an individuals needs and fitness goals. I dropped by recently to test my mettle.

Find out how I did in my review of Blast Athletic in the fitness section.

Toronto Restaurant Openings highlights the latest restaurant openings and closings in Toronto and also gives a preview at some of the places coming soon. Find us here every Thursday morning.

OPEN NOW

• THR & Co. opens to the public tonight, Thursday, May 16th at 97 Harbord Street with a menu highlighting Spanish, Italian and a North African influenced fare. Expect raw plates like
  beef heart tartare with cured duck yolk and pasta dishes with black spaghetti and charred squid.
• Woods Restaurant from chef, Bruce Woods (formerly of Modus Ristorante) is now open at 45 Colborne Lane.
• Templeton's is the working name for this signless kitchen that opened its doors this week at 319 Augusta Avenue (formerly Burger Bar) in Kensington Market. The menu is a work in progress too, but includes burgers and bar snacks like lotus root chips and jerk chicken nachos.
• Beach Boys food truck is the newest mobile eatery around town, offering a rotating menu of burgers, fries and poutine.
• Shawarmama is now open in the site of short lived, Horno BBQ at 251 Augusta Avenue and is serving up shawarma, kebab and falafel sandwiches for no more than $6.
• Live Market is now open in Liberty Village at 134 Atlantic Avenue. Owners of Live Organic Food Bar and Ezra's Pound have joined forces to offer up espresso and juice cleanses and healthy fare.

OPENING SOON

• Cut The Cheese, a new specialty grilled cheese café is set to open this summer in The Junction at 2901A Dundas Street West.
• Castle a new board game café is aiming to open by the end of May at 454 Spadina Avenue, just south of College Street. The plan is to eventually serve drinks, but in time for the opening there will coffee, tea and cakes to fuel game players.
• The One That Got Away is hoping to open a second location in early June, in the former site of a Mamma's Pizza at 2392 Bloor Street West.
• Salutè Piano Bar from the owners of the nearby Zaza Espresso Bar in Yorkville, is slated to open at 29 Bellair Street this summer.

OTHER NEWS

• Le Trou du Diable are coming to LCBO shelves and Ontario bars this summer, thanks to a new facility that allows the Quebec brewery to brew more of their renowned Belgian-style and barrel aged beers.

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

The developers of this property insist that they're not just putting together another batch of condos. While the building does include some smaller units, O2 is actually composed of mostly two-story maisonettes. Developers tout it as being "focused on art, design and space...each home is filled with Imported italian finishes in an area that's ready to burst with life."

I think the key to focus on here is "ready to." The area is not yet bursting with life by any means. I'm sure some would debate my assessment, but I'm pretty sure I saw a tumbleweed billowing by as I checked out the development site. An elderly lady glared at me from her rundown porch as I scoped the scene. She was the only human I saw. That said, no one can wholly predict the direction a section of the city will take.

SPECS

Address: 102 Shuter St.
Floors: 14
Total number of units: 53
Types of units: Maisonettes
Unit sizes (in square feet): 550-2185
Ceiling heights: 8' to 9'
Initial pricing: $329,900 to $1,349,000
Developer: Identity Developments, Stal Inc.
Amenities/building features: Gym, lounge, fully-furnished patio, rooftop deck.

THE GOOD

The developer hasn't released many images yet, but I do like the spirit of the design. It makes a lot of sense to build more multi-floor units in the city because it accommodates families so well but also because it (at least somewhat) breaks with the cookie-cutter approach to condo design.

The floor plans appear to be nicely proportional as well, with plenty of space allocated to living areas, and generous terrace space.

THE BAD

For a property that claims to be so luxurious, O2 is kind of lacking in the amenities department. Where are the all-inclusive horse drawn carriages and pillow caviar and private jets and so on? This is sort of a flip-coin criticism, though, as fewer amenities can keep the maintenance fees down.

OUR TAKE

This appears to be a development in the midst of an identity crisis. It doesn't want to be a soulless condo development, but it doesn't seem like it'll be able to make the leap into much else. And the area isn't fabulous. Time will tell, however, and maybe they'll blow all of our socks off in the end. Maybe. Stay tuned.

Read other posts in this series via our Toronto Condos and Lofts Pinterest board.

Thanks Drake. Our summer festival round up goes up, and later that day you announce the line up for your OVO Fest. Thanking you right now for showing us who runs this city. It's you, Drake.

OVO stands for October's Very Own (I'm sticking with my dubious story that I didn't just realize this) but the 2 day OVO Fest begins not in the fall but on the final day of Caribana, August 4th. Only Drake himself, Frank Ocean, and James Blake have been divulged as playing, so so far I think I could bring my mom to this, though I'm not holding out on that staying true. Last year featured Waka Flocka Flame, Snoop Dogg, Nicki Minaj, ASAP Rocky, 2 Chainz, The Weeknd, and Rick Ross. 2013's line up will swell out whenever Drake decides he's ready to let us know.

Of course the most important thing here is that we all need to cross ourselves or at least cross our fingers and hope there won't be an Aaliyah hologram. No one needs to see me cry. While we're speaking of hope for the future, I doubt anyone would mind seeing Future's name in the next OVO communiqué.

Ovo Fest is fairly affordable: package tickets for both the August 4th & 5th line ups at the Molson Amphitheater start at only fifty bones. You can thank Drake later. Tickets go on sale May 24th.

Photo by Paul Flynn in the blogTO Flickr pool

If you weren't at the Garrison on Tuesday, you missed the most surreal performance of the season: go ahead and berate yourselves accordingly. Japan's Hikashu freaked me out like the best possible good natured psychedelic carnival haunted house: avant-garde vocalist Makigami Koichi has - I swear this to be true - at least seven people living inside of him: including a guttural voiced wizard of darkness, a small child, a beautiful lady, and - get this, I found him, he's alive - Elvis, the golden voiced King himself. Plus Makigami has a few more small people hidden in his theremin. Creepy.

The whole night focused on masterful vocal exploration. Arrington De Dionyso's Malaikat dan Singa were fire: no effects, none, just three guys making Indonesian avant rock that passed over hippy jam-time boredom zone into an overpowering display of artistic heat and incredible skill. Dionyso (Old Tme Relijun) can throat sing and still pronounce defined (if warbling) lyrics via his bassy tones. Can you even imagine how hard that must be? I was all about their set.

Yet my favorite must have been Toronto's Mary Margaret O'Hara, who performed with Aidan Closs and John Oswald and made wonderful, minimal sound art just by opening and closing her mouth. I wish she was my best friend; it felt like she was during her set. Toronto's Wolfcow opened the show with less investigation of the possibilities of the naked voice as instrument, instead providing daring performance art that riffed on bands everywhere.

View all the photos in our Streams section.

Photos by Denise McMullin

This popular Riverdale coffee shop has opened a second location on the rapidly changing stretch of King Street between Sherbourne and Parliament. With the new Toronto Sun building bringing in mid-day traffic and lots of condos in the vicinity, the place is already bustling.

Read more in my review of Rooster Coffee House (King East) in the cafes section.

The next few years are going to be a crazy time for Yonge and Eglinton. The intersection has been the focus of an intense amount of redevelopment, proposed and approved. There's the E Condos vision for the northeast corner, Build Toronto's plans for the disused bus bays above Eglinton station, and 3 other major construction projects slated for the busy intersection turning major transit interchange.

Leading the intensification plans is RioCan's $100 million overhaul of Yonge Eglinton Centre on the northwest corner, currently home to two stern office towers and a small underground shopping mall. New renderings show the in-progress project replacing much of the grey concrete with angular glass and steel while adding a significant amount of retail space.

The most noticeable changes are happening at street level on the site of the current public square. A new three-storey glass "cube" (their term) will create a new entrance to a renovated shopping area while providing a public rooftop patio in exchange for the open space devoured by its footprint.

The twin office towers will remain but be extensively altered inside and out. When work wraps, both will be several storeys taller and clad in a reflective "curtain wall." The existing retail space above and below grade will also have been expanded by around 3,700 square metres.

The Metro supermarket and Cineplex theatre will remain in their present locations.

Yonge Eglinton Centre opened in 1974 and currently sees more than 30,000 daily shoppers, according to figures posted on the RioCan site. The development company purchased the property in 2007 and moved its corporate headquarters to the office towers a year later. Since then several minor tweaks have been made to the retail space and parking garage.

Prior to that a similar proposal for a two-storey addition in the space currently occupied by the public plaza was withdrawn in 2005.

The builders were criticized earlier this year for hammering, sawing, and drilling on the site 24 hours a day, disturbing residents of a nearby apartment building. A complaint to City Hall eventually silenced the late night construction and RioCan was denied an exemption to the noise bylaw.

It's expected the renovations will finish in stages starting in 2015. What do you think of the new look for the Yonge Eglinton Centre? Do you think the planned construction projects for the site will make the transit hub a desirable destination?

VITAL STATS:

Site size: 94,251.7 square metres
New office space: 19,449 sq. m.
New retail: 4,020 sq. m.
Parking: 787 spaces (unchanged)
New bike parking: 85 spaces (plus showers)
New floors (Yonge Tower): 7 (33m)
New floors (Eglinton Tower): 5 (26m)
Density increase: From 7.5 to 8.7 times the site area

MORE IMAGES:

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

Images: Riocan