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The TTC is launching two-hour unlimited transfers this weekend

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One price, two hours, as many rides as you want.

Time-based transfers are like an all-you-can-eat buffet, but for public transit — and they'll officially be a thing in Toronto as of Sunday morning.

On August 26, TTC riders will get the right to hop on and off any bus, subway or streetcar line as many times as they want to within the span of two hours for just $3.25, as promised.

This means you can hop on the streetcar for 10 minutes, hop off to grab a coffee, and hop back onto the next streetcar that comes through without paying two fares.

Take the bus to an appointment, take the same bus home again. Hit the subway line and boot across town. Walk a bit, get back on, get off again, who cares? It all costs the same amount of money.

The only catch is that you'll need a Presto card — but what else is new?

"The two-hour transfer is a new feature that will be available to PRESTO card customers only," reads the TTC's website. "With this transfer customers will be able to hop on and off the system and switch directions any point in their journey, within two hours of their first tap."

Riders will still need to tap a Presto card reader every time they board the bus, streetcar or subway, but they won't be charged within two hours of the first hop on.

"When the two hours runs out, you will be charged another fare and the two hour time frame will start again," explains the TTC. "The two-hour transfer does not apply to ticket, token or cash customers."

We've known that this was coming since November, when the TTC Board greenlit two-hour transfers after more than a decade of piloting them on St. Clair Avenue.

It's all part of a five-year Ridership Growth Strategy designed to boost Toronto transit usage and, hopefully, the amount of money coming in to the TTC.

Transit officials hope that the $21 million program will boost ridership numbers by about 5 million new customer trips each year by 2020, but all we know for certain right now is that paper transfers are on the way out.

Confused? The TTC released a nifty new animated video on Monday morning to explain how everything works.


The brightest comet in years will be visible over Toronto this fall

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If you enjoy stargazing and want to see a spectacular show, look to the skies this December. 

The 46P/Wirtanen comet, which takes about 5.4 years to orbit the sun, is set to pass by Earth in the middle of the month—and it should be visible from Toronto.

The comet is so bright as it passes that it can usually be seen with the naked eye, and is the brightest comet to be visible here for almost five years. 

From December 12 to 16, the comet will be at its brightest.

If you'd like to find the best possible viewing location, consider heading to a dark sky reserve to avoid light pollution from the city. 

People are leaving chalk messages for Doug Ford outside Toronto City Hall

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Toronto councillors are cloistered inside the chambers of City Hall today, deciding on whether or not to pursue legal action against Ontario Premier Doug Ford for what Mayor John Tory calls a "wrong and unacceptable" move.

Meanwhile, colourful anti-Doug Ford messages are spreading across Nathan Phillips Square. 

doug ford chalk protestFord's majority PC Party officially passed a law at Queen's Park last week that reduces the number of seats on Toronto City Council from 47 to 25. Bill 5, as the legislation is called, also completely redraws the city's thoughtfully mapped out ward boundaries.

Adding insult to injury, this bill was introduced in the middle of a municipal election — something that many in the city have taken as a direct affront to the democratic process.

doug ford chalk protestToronto City Councillors, most of whom are opposed to Ford's plan, gathered at 9:30 a.m. on Monday morning to start working on a counterplan.

As of 4 p.m., they're still debating a confidential report called "Legal options to challenge Bill 5" that is believed to contain advice about a potential court challenge.

When they leave the building, they'll be greeted by an onslaught of messages about this very issue, written in chalk by Torontonians.

doug ford chalk protestThe easternmost wall of inner Nathan Phillip's Square  is quickly filling up with chalk graffiti that reflects what the mayor, councillors and thousands of protesters have been saying since Bill 5 was first announced:

"Doug Ford, stop hijacking our city."

Doug Ford chalk"Where is William Lyon Mackenzie when you need him?" (Dead. The answer is long dead.)

doug ford chalk protest"Say no to Dougs"

doug ford chalk protest"Fewer cops, more councillors!"

doug ford chalk protest"This is our freedom!"

doug for chalk protestProgress Toronto, a not-for-profit activist group, reported on Twitter shortly after noon on Monday that "staff at city hall have said they're going to powerwash it off soon."

This has yet to happen, but Toronto is expecting one heck of a rainstorm on Tuesday, so check out the growing sprawl of political graffiti ASAP if you want to see it in person.

Luxury sports car busted doing four times the speed limit near Toronto

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Just because your car can go 158 km/h doesn't mean it should — especially in a school zone. 

York Regional Police caught a 31-year-old Vaughan man being 2 Fast, 2 Furious on Sunday night around 8 p.m. when they clocked him driving nearly four times the 40 km/h speed limit on Martin Grove Road, just south of Highway 7.

The man was promptly charged with stunt driving, dangerous driving and speeding, forcing police to confiscate his car: A brand new, 2019 Aston Martin Vantage (approximate value $200,000.)

"This lovely 2019 Aston Martin is parked on a tow truck," wrote the YRP on Twitter Monday morning with a photo of the impounded car. "That's because we've impounded it after the driver was clocked going 158km/h in a 40km/h school zone last night in Vaughan."

Quite the trophy, indeed, but you won't be able to bid on it in a police auction anytime soon.

The vehicle is only being impounded for seven days, but next time the driver might not be so lucky.

"Aggressive driving and street racing are dangerous, unlawful activities which put innocent people at risk of injury or death," reads a release from York Regional Police on the incident. "The real finish line may be court, fines, jail, vehicle seizure, a loss of driving privileges or even worse, the hospital or the morgue."

Toronto votes to take the province of Ontario to court

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Toronto City Council has just voted to take the Province of Ontario to court over Bill 5, or the Better Local Government Act.

The bill passed last week and cut Toronto's council nearly in half. 

Council organized a special meeting today to debate their next steps, weigh legal options, and speak with the city solicitor. 

After a lengthy private session, council resumed in the public gallery and voted on whether it would challenge the province. The vote passed 27-15. 

From here, the city will "exhaust all legal avenues," according to the motion that passed. The hearing date for the court challenge is currently scheduled for August 31. 

About a dozen councillors introduced petitions from their wards' residents instructing them to oppose the cuts. Mayor John Tory also expressed his support for legal action against the province. 

City staff expressed that returning to a 47-councillor model by the time of the municipal election would perhaps not be possible. They have allegedly worked 18-hour days for three weeks preparing for the new 25-councillor model. 

Meanwhile, in a speech in Ottawa, Premier Doug Ford says he has "never ever had more positive feedback than what we did at the City of Toronto." 

The City's legal plan was also the subject to a vote, specifically on whether it would be released to the public. That motion did not pass. 

The top 75 restaurants in Toronto by TTC subway station

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Grab your PRESTO card and head on the TTC: with 75 stations on the system, Riding The Rocket has its benefits (culinarily speaking, specifically.) Each line has plenty of restaurants worth exploring — even the most underused stops on the TTC. 

Here are my picks for the top restaurants in Toronto by TTC subway stop.

Yonge University Line

Finch

Located in the heart of Koreatown North, Ssam has juicy barbecue and bowls of cheesy fondue for dipping.

North York Centre

It’s safe to say the area around this station is bursting with new restaurants, but the experience of flame-seared sushi makes Aburi Room a worthwhile stop.

Sheppard

With a simple but stylish patio and great oyster deals, Nome reigns as one of the best places to visit when around the Sheppard-Yonge area.

aburi room toronto

Aburi Room does flamed seared sushi near North York Centre. Hector Vasquez.

York Mills

This area is big and not that great to walk around: the only destination here is the famed Auberge du Pommier, known to serve some of the finest French food in the city.

Lawrence

One of the few Latin American spots in the area, Maiz serves up some delicious arepas and big plates of churro sundaes in the heart of Lawrence Park.

Eglinton

Sushi burritos have long caught on in Toronto, and the Yonge and Eg location of Rolltation remains a popular midtown hit.

Davisville

Flaming Stove is a gem in the Davisville area for quick lunchtime specials. After years their chicken shawarma is still a local fave.

St. Clair

Holy Chuck burgers are pretty legendary, plus it’s just a few seconds from the station, which might actually be a bad thing since you’ll definitely want to walk this one off.

yeah yeahs toronto

Yeah Yeahs slices up tasty pizzas by Summerhill Station. Hector Vasquez.

Summerhill

Just steps from the subway and the historic LCBO, Yeah Yeahs jazzes up the area with killer slices of pizza using 24-hour fermented dough.

Rosedale

Black Camel’s renowned sandwiches stuffed with slow-cooked beef brisket and other tender meats can be found just north of Rosedale station.

College

Head upstairs to the condo complex above the subway station and you’ll basically find yourself in Salus Fresh Foods, a spot for boxes of salads to-go.

Wellesley

You can build your own poke at Hoki Poke, with options to fill a big bowl with ingredients like fresh fish, crab salad and kimchi. 

Dundas

It’s been a big upgrade since the Eaton Centre renovated its food court situation. The Urban Eatery houses a number of good chains and is just one escalator away from Dundas station.

beer bistro toronto

Just steps from King Station is Beer Bistro for a big beer selection and fancy poutine. Hector Vasquez.

Queen

This retail-heavy area is home to Sak’s Food Hall, where you’ll find several small food stalls and cafes for fancy eats. Spot it under Saks Fifth Avenue, across from the Eaton Centre.  

King

The busy intersection right outside this station has a surprisingly spacious reprieve in the form of Beerbistro, an upscale bar with a killer beer selection and decked out poutine.

Union

You don’t even have to leave the station to reach Amano, where you’ll be served delicious portions of pasta while more is being handmade in front of you.

St. Andrew

Usually a good spot to pre-drink and eat before hitting up the rest of the Entertainment District, El Caballito has a great back patio to crush tacos.

Osgoode

Assembly Chef’s Hall is home to a variety of delicious stalls that range from tacos to pizza. There’s even a stand-up omakase here. Just walk down to Richmond for about eight minutes to access all the options.

ramen isshin

Ramen Isshin is just one of the options available at Assembly Chef's Hall by Osgoode. Hector Vasquez.

St. Patrick

Sansotei Ramen is a Japanese soup noodle favourite. Get to this traditional restaurant for those quintessential welcome cries and delicious bowls of tonkotsu.

Queens Park

For standard Italian fare like papardelle and cheese boards, head to Mercatto, located at the northeast corner of the MaRS building. 

Museum

If you’re just visiting the station, it’s likely you’re here to see none other than our beloved museum. An apt visit would be to Museum Tavern, an old-school New York-style bar directly facing the ROM.

Dupont

The original location of Live Organic Food Bar is super accessible and has the usual menu of healthy wraps and juices.

St. Clair West

Lasa by Lamesa has long been a pitstop for anyone looking for more contemporary twists on Filipino classics. It’s an easy ride from the station if you jump on the 512, otherwise just walk 10 minutes.

lasa by lames a

Not far from St. Clair West station is Lasa by Lamesa for Filipino food. Hector Vasquez.

Eglinton West

It’s all kosher at Aish Tanoor, the Israeli-Middle Eastern spot. The Eglinton LRT construction makes this walk about 15-minutes (unless you jaywalk, not recommended) but their shawarmas are worth it.

Glencairn

Mediterranean-style home cooked foods are the speciality at Mika. Tasty soups and couscous are about a 13-minute walk away, or a super quick 5 minute ride on the 14 bus.

Lawrence West

In the heart of kosher eats, Dr. Laffa takes the cake as one of the best counters for shawarma and falafel. Hop on the 52 or 59 buses for a quick five-minute trip there.

Yorkdale

If you’re going to eat inside a mall, it might as well be Cheesecake Factory. Lineups aren’t as bad as they used to be (depending on what day, obviously) and well, the cheesecake.

Wilson

In the heart of the area dubbed Little Manila, Wilson’s Haus of Lechon has made a name for itself as one of the best places to get Filipino-style suckling pig, extra crispy.

Sheppard West

It may not be remotely related to the famous NYC destination, but Times Square Diner is a classic that’s a destination of its own, especially in an area that’s pretty short of spots worth visiting.

haus of lechon

Wilson's Haus of Lechon is a Little Manila favourite not far from Wilson Station . Hector Vasquez.

Downsview Park

It’s pretty slim pickins around these parts, but if you walk about 10 minutes south to Downsview Merchant’s Market, you’ll find an amazing food court serving up tacos, jerk, empanadas and more on weekends.

Finch West

Located in a plaza right at the corner of Finch and Keele, Pho Lien Hung slays serving popular portions of affordable Vietnamese and Thai dishes.

York University

Many York U students will swear by Bamiyan Kebab, the large Afghani halal spot located right on campus. This one is definitely more spacious than its other locations across the city.

Pioneer Village

One of the newer TTC stops, there’s definitely fewer food options here. Luckily Sofra Istanbul saves the day with great pide, about a ten-minute bus ride west away.

Highway 407

Ikea restaurants in the city tend to be pretty reliable: meatballs, quiches and soups make this Ikea in Vaughan pretty much the only place worth visiting around these ends.

Vaughan Metropolitan Centre

You’ll get the full retro experience at Gordo’s Diner, the ex-Wimpy's location decked out with all the accoutrements of a 50s shake shack. It’s not too far, just an 11-minute walk. Find it next to the Lowe’s.

apache burgers toronto

For latenight burgers, head to Apache Burgers, just a walking distance from Kipling Station. Jesse Milns.

Bloor-Danforth Line

Kipling

One of the handful of iconic burgers spots in the city, Apache Burgers remains an Etobicoke classic. If you’re around the station late at night, head toward the neon lights of this restaurant across the way.

Islington

Jerk lovers probably recognize the Etobicoke classic Mitzie’s Jerk as a go-to for Caribbean specials. A couple minutes walk east will get you deals like “Mitzie’s Mondays” on ackee and saltfish.

Royal York

Lovers of fish and chips might be compelled to travel to Royal York for a taste of Kingsway Fish and Chip’s fried fillets and crispy fries.

Old Mill

It’s the Old Mill Toronto Restaurant or nothing. This elegant restaurant located inside the century-old hotel off the Humber River is perfect for a romantic dinner in an historic setting.

Jane

You can head to Janchenko Bakery to dine-in or takeout Eastern European eats like latkes, schnitzels and potato salad.

Runnymede

Gin Mill offers a cozy place to eat some really delicious, more upscale pub food like tacos and burgers to go along with a menu of cocktails.

janchenko

Eastern European eats at Janchenko Bakery aren't far from Jane Station . Hector Vaquez.

High Park

It’s definitely low-key, but Aztec’s Mine is known around High Park for having great authentic Mexican like tacos and enchiladas.

Keele

Sitting on the eastern corner of the sprawling High Park, Mugshot Tavern is a cozy spot for beers and brunch: find it right across from the subway station.

Dundas West

The Roncy BBQ joint Uncle Smoke Cookhouse serves up meaty sandwiches just seconds away from the TTC exit.

Lansdowne

Sugo has become a favourite for casual Italian. Cross Bloor to grab a seat at the cute red-checkered tables of this popular red sauce restaurant.

Dufferin

Part craft brewery, part live music venue, Burdock has a hearty menu and live music all together and is located just west of the station, across from Bloor Collegiate.

Ossington

The Vietnamese snack bar Vit Beo is quickly becoming a go-to in the city, so naturally it’s the spot to hit up when around Ossington station.

vit beo

Vit Beo is a tiny Vietnamese snack bar by Ossington. Hector Vasquez.

Christie

Head to the yakitori joint Japanhako, seconds away from the station, for skewers of meat grilled on a real yakitori grill.

Bathurst

Just steps from the station, the Annex favourite One Love Vegetarian serves Caribbean-style vegan eats and is best known for their vegan corn soup.

Spadina

Bang Bang Burrito is way better than your regular burrito spot. U of T students in the area are lucky to have a place for decently-priced fish tacos and crispy burrito bowls, just moments from the station.

St. George

A coffee house meats Italian restaurant, L’Espresso Bar Mercurio is where U of T students and profs alike can grab some coffee and a quick panini.

Bay

Another plant-based spot, Planta has become the hottest spot for tasty vegetarian eats and cocktails with cold-pressed juice just a short walk from the station.

Bloor-Yonge

Just east of the station, Sabai Sabai sits in a basement serving up hip takes on Thai food and beer from Laos.

tinuno toronto

Prepare for an epic Filipino feast at Tinuno right by Sherbourne Station. Hector Vasquez.

Sherbourne

Tinuno is a popular spot for kamayan feasts. Get off at the station’s Howard exit and prepare to get your hands dirty with a delicious Filipino meal of fried rice and seafood

Castle Frank

Honestly, there’s nothing around this station remotely close, but if you’re willing to make the 13-minute walk down south to Wellesley, the jerk from Mr Jerk is definitely worth the trek.

Broadview

Hop across the street from the station to Ryus Noodle Bar, which consistently scoops up some of the best bowls of ramen in the city.

Chester

Danforth is full of Greek spots and Messini is perhaps one of the most well-known of them all. Walk a few minutes east for their gyros.

Pape

Burger and bourbon are all just seconds away from Pape Station at Greenwood Smokehouse, where meat gets smoked in an American-style setting.

Donlands

The souvlaki from Square Boy is basically part of the fabric of the Danforth. If you’re heading to Donlands station this spot is a must-visit.

square boy toronto

Souvlaki and burgers are the Donlands Station go-to at Square Boy. Jesse Milns.

Greenwood

Sala Modern Thai has some of the tastiest Thai around. Elegant and refined, a trip to Greenwood is more than worthy of the two-second walk to get there.

Coxwell

Local 1794 is a gastropub focusing on locally-sourced ingredients. Expect charcuterie boards and homemade pizzas, all five minutes from the stop.

Woodbine

You’ll find live music happening at the little tapas bar Relish every evening, plus on weekends during brunch. It gets packed, so make sure to jump on the TTC early to get here.

Main Street

For one the top BBQ experiences you’ll have in the city, go south on Main until you hit Beach Hill Smokehouse for an authentic Southern feast.

Victoria Park

Head back down to Danforth from the station to find a cozy spot in the affordable Pizzeria Subhan Pizza.

Warden

It’s about seven minutes on the 70 bus to find Lageez, the narrow Indian gem hidden in a plaza that serves some of the best naan, samosas, and butter chicken around.

tabule toronto

Inside Bayview Village is where you'll find the Middle Eastern restaurant Tabule. Hector Vasquez.

Sheppard Line

Don Mills

Descend into the Fairview Mall food court (which is looking pretty nice these days) and hit up YOi Japanese Eatery for a surprisingly fresh-tasting mall meal of chicken katsu.

Leslie

The entrance to Leslie station is oddly facing nothing, but head across the street to Peking Man, a surprisingly hidden gem at the top of the bridge with great potstickers and Chinese noodles.

Bessarion

One of the best spots in North York for fresh takeout sushi, Taro’s Fish is located in the plaza right outside the least used subway station on the entire TTC. 

Bayview

Inside Bayview Village, this location of the Mediterranean spot Tabule has the same menu of Beiruti faves like falafel, flatbread and labneh.

chung moi toronto

Get off at Kennedy Station to hit up the hakka spot Chung Moi. Photo by Hector Vasquez.

Scarborough Line

Kennedy

Hit up this station for one of the best Hakka spots in the city: Chung Moi. This Scarborough playa mainstay has legit Masala fried rice and chilli chicken.

Lawrence East

Scarborough staple Harry’s Drive-In is the definition of a greasy diner. If you’re craving homemade burgers and ridiculously gooey poutine, walk about ten minutes west toward Kennedy.

Ellesmere

Housemade pita and sauces make Shawarma 360 one of the best casual Middle Eastern spots on the block. Head up to Progress Road a bit north to find it.

Midland

Affordable sushi, teriyaki, and a few Korean dishes are the draw at Ni Ji Sushi, which sits just south of the station via a short walk.

Scarborough Centre Station

Kwan Dim sum has expanded with an express location designed for in-mall consumption. With restaurants at St. Clair and York Mills, this is the brand’s first foray into Scarborough with a space right in STC.

McCowan

Takeout from Canbe Foods is an excellent move when you’re around STC. Just head down and then east along Ellesmere for beautifully made roti and masala dosa.

10 things to do in Toronto today

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It's Tuesday in Toronto and events today might actually see Drake take the stage after two postponements. Whatever happens, you can still grab some tour merch at the Scorpion pop-up, hit up a free outdoor film screening or drop by a fireside storytelling session. The day is yours.

Events you might want to check out:

Drake (August 21 @ Scotiabank Arena)
Experience the rollercoaster ride of emotion that is Drake as he arrives home with Migos for the first show after Monday's concert was postponed.
Scorpion Pop-Up (August 21 @ 49 Ossington Avenue)
It's the last day to grab what's left of Drake's Scorpion tour merch with official gear including jackets, shirts, hoodies and more.
What Happened, Miss Simone? (August 21 @ Yonge-Dundas Square)
Catch a free outdoor screening of What Happened, Miss Simone? based on the story of how jazz singer Nina Simone used her music as a call for justice.
Seu Jorge (August 21 @ Queen Elizabeth Theatre)
Part of the CNE concert series, Brazilian musician Seu Jorge brings the summertime vibes with his flavourful soul tunes.
Fireside Tales (August 21 @ Dufferin Grove Park)
Storytellers gather around the fire to regale listeners with tales alongside hot cocoa and marshmallows. Bring your own blanket!
Godflesh (August 21 @ Lee's Palace)
Growling and screaming all the way from merry old England comes old school industrial metal rockers Godflesh for a one-night stint in Toronto.
Killer of Sheep (August 21 @ The Royal Cinema)
Black Gold returns to showcase the 1978 Charles Burnett experimental documentary focused on South Central Los Angeles after the Watts riots.
Snack Time Comedy (August 21 @ Comedy Bar)
One of the few comedy shows that comes with a literal loot bag, have a laugh tonight with a big lineup of comedians giving out goodies.
Techno Tuesday (August 21 @ Socialite Tapas Bar)
Tuesday are for techno and this community gathering features local DJs, dancing, food and drinks, techno merch and vinyls for sale.
Twilight Tuesdays (August 21-28 @ Drake One Fifty)
The second week of this downtown market returns for a night of tunes, activities and $5 food and drink with proceeds going to charity.

House of the week: 30 Fifeshire Road

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This house, if you can even call it that, doesn’t look like it belongs in Canada. It really should be in Europe.30 fifeshire road toronto

The French Chateau-style limestone mega mansion was built to resemble Versailles and has been dubbed “La Belle Maison.” It boasts 24,000 square feet of living space.

30 fifeshire road torontoAlong with the 14 bedrooms and 16 bathrooms, there’s just about every bell and whistle a mansion can have inside. There’s a home theatre, golf simulator, a wine cellar, banquet hall, an indoor and outdoor swimming pool and so much more.

30 fifeshire road torontoThe foyer is inspired by the Sistine Chapel and it’s almost as breathtaking as the real deal. The marble staircase, domed ceilings and frescoes are stunning.

30 fifeshire road torontoThis house is built for large scale entertaining. The massive dining room is regal and also features painted ceilings.

30 fifeshire road torontoThe kitchen is exceptionally spacious and walks out onto a private balcony.

30 fifeshire road torontoThere are also a number of formal sitting rooms. The rich wallpaper, marble features, painted ceilings, heavy drapery and medallions all add to the European royalty vibe.

30 fifeshire road torontoThe extensive lower level has a modern flair and is suited for banquet gatherings or private weddings.

30 fifeshire road torontoUnfortunately this place doesn’t quite have the lavish gardens of Versailles, but it does have a luxurious saltwater pool that’s surrounded by limestone sculptures and fountains. There’s also a pool house.

30 fifeshire road torontoSpecs
30 fifeshire road torontoGood For

Louis XIV. Barring a dead French king, maybe the French Embassy is looking for a new place… or should I say palace?

30 fifeshire road torontoMove On If

You aren’t a big fan of 17th century French decor.30 fifeshire road toronto


This nature reserve near Toronto is an explorer's dream

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Considered the 8th wonder of the world to Canadians, Niagara Falls is one of the most breathtaking places in the entire country. So, it's no surprise that the Niagara area attracts nearly 30 million tourists every year. 

Although the Horseshoe Falls is the main attraction to most visitors, the Niagara Glen Nature Reserve is a lesser known area that deserves more of the spotlight. Overlooking the powerful rapids of the Niagara River, this protected land is only an hour's drive from Toronto. 

The Niagara Glen is a nature lover's playground because of the sheer amount of diverse areas to explore on foot. Located deep in the Gorge, stairways lead to four kilometres of rugged paths that wind through the Carolina Forest, and past mammoth-sized boulders. 

A post shared by James Mahoney (@jmahomey) on

When hiking along the trail, just be aware that you'll experience an elevation change of more than 60 metres, and with the steep climb, wearing good footwear is an absolute must.

Along your hike, be sure to stop and admire two of the coolest attractions―the Devil's Arch and the Mammoth Pothole, both formed centuries ago through natural erosion.

A post shared by John (@aafilming) on

Niagara Parks also offers guided hikes through the Niagara Glen twice daily, if you wish to learn more about the geology, plant and animal life that call this area home. 

A post shared by David Ha (@davidha02) on

With the Niagara River Whirlpool swirling below you as you hike, there's no better backdrop for your trek.

If you're an adrenaline junkie, then perhaps bouldering might be up your alley. This extreme sport has gained a ton of popularity over the past 30 years, and the endless cliffs and rock formations of the Niagara Glen make it the perfect spot for mountaineering.

A post shared by Tugce (@tugceonder) on

Bouldering permits are available at the Niagara Glen Nature Centre, and you must complete a waiver form before you hit the slopes.

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The Niagara Glen Nature Reserve is open year-round from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Although the park is free to the public, there's a $10 fee to park your car for the entire day. 

Someone just got married at a Toronto dive bar

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There are plenty of splashy venues for getting hitched in Toronto, but many of them require a reservation months or even years in advance, and booking fees can amount to thousands of dollars.

So, when one couple found themselves wanting to tie the knot but without the resources to do it at a more conventional venue, the groom simply reached out to the local bar where he’s been a regular since it opened.

The result was a totally unique wedding ceremony that took place at Penny’s Bar on what would have normally been a sleepy Sunday evening.

Ian Vaisive and Ai Yamada originally had planned to get married in High Park and have their friends “cater the reception” with a potluck picnic.

Afraid to rely on the recent stormy weather and having heard that High Park doesn’t look too kindly to being used as a makeshift wedding venue, Vaisive made an inquiry at Penny’s.

Penny’s bartenders were asked to do the decorating less than two weeks before the ceremony.

Their hurried decor, inspired and obtained from the likes of Walmart, Dollarama, Amazon Prime and Pinterest, was supplemented by 30 lotus tea light decorations handmade by Yamada.

Apparently friends still came through with the potluck dinner for food, the Caesars were flowing and a friend DJ’d.

The pair weren’t in such a rush to get married for purely romantic reasons. Yamada has to head back to Japan soon, and it’ll be a while until she gets back, so there was no time to waste.

Air Canada is buying back Aeroplan after all

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Air Canada and Aeroplan have been trying to lift off the tarmac for some time now, and it looks like flight has finally been achieved. 

In an early morning development, Air Canada reached a deal with Aeroplan's parent company, Aimia, for around  $2.45 billion. That's $450 million outright, and $2 billion for the outstanding, unredeemed Aeroplan miles. 

After parting ways with the travel points program, Air Canada then attempted to purchase it back a few weeks ago, without success. Then shortly after, Aeroplan announced plans to partner with Porter Airlines. 

Air Canada decided it wasn't having any of that, and almost doubled the original bid, which Aimia accepted today. Air Canada partnered with Visa Canada, TD Bank, and CIBC to make the deal. 

The airline's up-and-coming, unnamed loyalty program was slated for 2020 and announced once it disposed of Aeroplan. Now, it looks like the programs will be merged together. The status of consumers' points is not yet known. 

However, Air Canada CEO Calin Rovinescu said that the new deal will "allow for a smooth transition to Air Canada's new loyalty programming" for Aeroplan members. 

Heavy rains could flood the streets of Toronto again today

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The spinning wheel of "hot" and "wet" that is Toronto this summer has landed on wet again, it seems, and meteorologists say it'll stay there until at least tomorrow morning.

Environment Canada has issued yet another special weather statement for the City of Toronto to warn of long, heavy rains that could dump as much as 40 mm of water on us by this evening.

Parts of the city that get hit with thunderstorms, however, "may receive significantly higher amounts" of rain than what's expected — which could spell more destructive flooding.

"The rain is expected to be periodic in nature with significant breaks from time to time," wrote the federal agency early Tuesday morning.

"However, as the air mass will be very moist, torrential downpours giving significant rainfall amounts in relatively short periods of time are likely."

Being that 64.3 mm of rain basically turned Toronto into poop water Atlantis two weeks ago, residents would be wise to wear boots today — and to stay the heck away from Lower Simcoe Street with their cars.

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A huge street festival is coming back to King St. for TIFF

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As if King Street didn't have enough going on already, the 2018 Toronto International Film Festival is bringing back its big street festival for another year.

The increasingly pedestrian-friendly King Street will become even more so for four days to make way for live music, performances, food trucks, installations, activities and a bunch of free film screenings.

Programming this year also includes the Share Her Journey Rally in support of women in film, and a big rooftop party on top of the TIFF Bell Lightbox.

Save for a handful of events, the street festival is almost completely free. Like last year, you'll be able to stroll through the busy downtown corridor and check out the many fun additions as a result of the ongoing King Street Pilot.

The street festival runs along King Street between Peter Street and University Avenue from September 6 to 9, while the film festival continues until the 16.

Drake cancelled his Toronto concert to visit a sick little girl in the hospital

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If you're bent about the fact that Drake postponed one of his three shows in Toronto this week, you should know that he did it for Sofia Sanchez: An 11-year-old child who's currently fighting for her life in Chicago.

Sofia, whose birthday was on Saturday, is diagnosed with cardiomyopathy and underwent open-heart surgery last month.

She's been waiting for a heart transplant at Lurie Children's Hospital ever since, but has been keeping herself busy doing such things as filming a Kiki Challenge dance video for Drake while tethered to her IV pump.

Hospital officials says that Sofia had only two birthday wishes: One, to receive a new heart, the other to meet Drake.

An eligible donor organ has yet to come through, but the little pop culture aficionado did get her other birthday wish — much to the delight and surprise of her entire family.

You see, good guy Drake just happened to be in Chicago this weekend with his Aubrey and the Three Migos tour when he saw Sofia's take on the In My Feelings challenge on Youtube.

He decided to visit Sofia before leaving town, leaving the young girl speechless when he walked into her hospital room on Monday.

Video footage of the meeting shows Sofia screaming "OH MY GOD!" when Drake, clad in OVO tracksuit finery, emerges from behind a curtain.

"You asked me to come, I'm here," said the Toronto-born rapper, beaming from ear to ear. "What's up?"

Sofia is speechless for a few moments, but opens up when Drake asks what she's watching on her laptop.

"Riverdale," she says. "Have you seen it? It's on Netflix!"

Drake says he's only seen one or two episodes of Riverdale (your loss, Aubrey) and then gives the Sophia a hug.

In an Instagram clip published by Sofia's uncle, Drake can be heard saying "I'm so happy I got to see you!.... I called and cancelled a concert so I could come and see you, to be honest with you."

Me and my love Sofia talking about Bieber and Owls and Basketball💙💙💙

A post shared by champagnepapi (@champagnepapi) on

The pair wound up exchanging autographs, according to the hospital, and talking about things like Justin Bieber, Drake's dogs and basketball.

They also sang "God's Plan" together and took many selfies.

"The Canadian Rap star was generous with his time," wrote Lurie Children's Hospital on YouTube. "Sofia said meeting him 'was a miracle' and it was her best birthday gift ever."


TTC buses are getting fancy new LCD screens

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First USB chargers and now 29-inch LCD displays?

The TTC continues to invest in a smoother, more modern bus riding experience for the people of Toronto. Now, if only they could keep people from blocking the aisle with strollers we'd be all set.

A total of 525 buses with two LCD display signs each will be hitting the streets of Toronto over the next couple of years, according to Toronto Transit Commission spokesperson Stuart Green — 325 of them by the end of this year alone.

"Right now we only have a couple in service but customers will start seeing more very soon," he says.

"Like the USB ports on these same vehicles, this is another feature we have added to our bus fleet in order to improve service to our customers and enhance their trips with us."

Right now, the screens are displaying only basic information, such as stop names, as seen in this video posted to Reddit on Monday, but Green says that will change.

The TTC is working with customers and stakeholders to design a more permanent screen layout with the "information we have found is most valued by customers based on our research" — things like route, next stop announcement, confirmation of stop request, customer announcements and service alerts.

"There are no plans for advertising… or in-trip movies," Green says. "We have to draw the line somewhere!"

So, there goes that dream.

The cost for the system and two 29-inch screens is $1,750 per vehicle and reflects the "TTC Way" commitment set out in the agency's five-year corporate plan earlier this year.

The King streetcar will be diverted for TIFF and Toronto isn't happy

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It's starting to look wiser and wiser to avoid the King streetcar when you can. If it's not flooding with raw sewage, it's being diverted up to Queen for the TIFF Street Festival

Starting September 6 at 5 a.m., until September 10 at 5 a.m., the 501 King will be diverting up to Queen Street. Westbound routes will head up York and down Spadina; Eastbound routes will divert up Spadina and down Church.  

Commuters are unsurprisingly upset, as the King streetcar is one of the busiest routes in the city.

Plus, the King Street Pilot program results showed ridership increasing on the route, celebrating the success of opening the street to transit. Now, it seems that success is being ignored.

Hopefully the closure doesn't cause too many delays, but, if you've lived in the city long enough, you know optimism isn't really possible.

Toronto takes steps to end lockout of workers at the CNE

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Things are heating up at The Ex this week as skilled technical workers remain locked out amidst an ongoing labour dispute between their union and the city.

Members of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) Local 58, which represents workers with technical and staging expertise, have been picketing outside the city-owned Exhibition Place for almost a month now.

Workers say the venue's Board of Governors locked them out of their jobs on July 19 after months of negotiations for a new collective agreement, and that management has refused to bargain in good faith.

The situation has become significantly more intense on Friday with the launch of 2018's Canadian National Exhibition.

Support for the union's position is growing among members of the public, and many have said on Twitter in recent days that they are choosing to boycott the CNE this year.

This is posing problems for our municipal and provincial governments, as well The Canadian National Exhibition Association (CNEA), which generates an estimated $93.1 million for the city and $128.3 million for Ontario each year.

"As we have repeatedly warned the Mayor, the Board of Governors of Exhibition Place and City Councillors, this lockout is having a significant negative impact on both attendance and revenues at the 2018 CNE," reads a letter to Mayor John Tory from the CNEA published Tuesday.

"Despite overwhelmingly positive feedback from visitors over our initial few days, we regret to report that our projected losses to-date are in the range of $1.5 million."

The CNEA is calling upon Mayor Tory, the Board of Governors of Exhibition Place and Toronto City Council to "take action by re-engaging with IATSE Local 58."

Like most people, they want to see this dispute resolved so that Toronto can get on with enjoying the annual exhibition.

"We have made three offers directly to IATSE," notes CNE CEO Virginia Ludy. "The most recent, to engage IATSE workers in a direct contractual agreement to provide services directly."

"Although my door is always open, so far, union leadership has declined each of these attempts to resolve this dispute."

In an effort to move things along, 23 members of Toronto City Council signed a petition on Monday to hold a special meeting in which they will be updated on specifics surrounding the labour dispute between IATSE Local 58 and the Exhibition Place Board of Governors.

The meeting started on Tuesday at 2 p.m. but, since the subject matter has been deemed confidential, council is meeting in closed session.

It has yet to be seen what councillors will decide to do for the CNE. 

Some protesters say that the workers hired from out of province to replace them should be banned, and that Exhibition Place should be forced to use only trained workers from IATSE Local 58 for its venues, as it has for the past 60 years.

The CNE, which is a tenant of Exhibition Place, simply wants the fighting to stop and for things to move forward as usual.

"We are also a not-for-profit Agricultural Society which does not receive any government subsidy and we have prepaid Exhibition Place $3.7 million, for expenses related to the 2018 fair," wrote the CNEA in its latter.

"This means that while we are not party to this dispute between labour and employer, our event stands to be even more severely impacted if this situation continues."

"This stalemate cannot continue," reads the letter. "The CNE has only 14 days, including today, to try to recoup our early losses, reverse the negative messages regarding the picketing and put the focus back on the terrific programming on display at this year’s CNE."

Loblaws says it will participate in buck-a-beer

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Pretty much every reputable brewery in Ontario has rejected Premier Doug Ford's idea of selling $1 beers on account of the fact that they'd like to maintain product quality and continue to pay their employees a living wage.

It seems Loblaw Companies Ltd. had a different idea.

Canada's largest retailer, owner of Shopper's Drug Mart, Joe Fresh and thousands of supermarkets nationwide, announced on Tuesday that it would start selling its President’s Choice-brand beer for a loonie (plus deposit) to "celebrate the return of buck-a-beer in Ontario."

While no end date has been announced for the promotion, PC says that $1 beer will only be available for a limited time.

Also available for a limited time were the $25 gift cards Loblaw gave out earlier this year after admitting to its participation in a 15-year-long, industry-wide bread price-fixing arrangement that saw Canadians spend way more than they should have on packaged bread products between 2001 and 2015.

Unlike its competitors, which were found to have "committed indictable offences under the Competition Act," Loblaws received complete immunity for cooperating with investigators during that scandal — so no worries, the corporation can probably afford to charge you slightly less for beer next week.

"It's been a decade since the end of buck-a-beer in Ontario, but our brand has continued to deliver great taste at exceptional value in other provinces," said PC Senior Vice President Ian Gordon in a press release today.

"With the change in pricing rules here, we were excited to help our customers in Ontario celebrate this long weekend."

The President's Choice promotion is set to begin next Monday, Aug. 27 at the Beer Store, where six types of PC brand beer will sell for $13.20 per dozen bottles or $26.40 for 24 bottles.

Like I said, 10 cent-a-beer deposit fees are not included.

Only in Toronto #21: Drake's pop-up, Aunties & Uncles, New Toronto, Japanese ice cream

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Drake is in Toronto this week but a bit later than expected. After launching a pop-up on Sunday he postponed a concert on Monday before surprising a girl in a Chicago hospital.

In this episode of the Only in Toronto podcast, we hang out on Ossington to see what people thought of the $300 hoodies, and stop for sustenance at local brunch spot Aunties & Uncles.

Plus, we discover Toronto's next Instagrammable dessert, the Japanese ice cream sandwich at Koishi in Kensington Market, and find out what's up at a vinyl shop in New Toronto. 

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