There's going to be a subway closure this Thanksgiving long weekend in Toronto. There will be no subway service on Line 1 between Finch West and Lawrence West stations on October 6 and 7 due to signal upgrades.

Line 1: This weekend there will be no service between Finch West and Lawrence West due to signal upgrades. Shuttle buses will run. More info: https://t.co/CzXNd4jrpwpic.twitter.com/LwLyIhNJyx

— TTC Service Alerts (@TTCnotices) October 3, 2018

As always, shuttle buses will operate between these stations for the duration of the closure.

Holiday subway service will be observed on Monday morning.

The next scheduled closure will halt service on Line 1 between Lawrence and St Clair stations on October 27 and 28 due to Metrolinx's Eglinton Crosstown LRT work at Yonge Street and Eglinton Avenue. 

Yes, you read that headline right.

Scotiabank will be handing out thousands of pre-loaded Presto cards at select TTC and GO stations today to mark the Toronto Maple Leafs home opener of the 2018-2019 season.

This will be the first season that the Leafs will play at Scotiabank Arena since the name was changed on July 1 this year.

Doors open at 6PM, puck drops at 7PM. See you tonight! https://t.co/0PdOFwTAAk

— Scotiabank Arena (@ScotiabankArena) October 3, 2018

Presto cards being handed out at TTC and GO stations will be loaded with $6 and $8, respectively, “to get fans to Scotiabank Arena and Maple Leaf Square to cheer for their Maple Leafs and Raptors.”

What’s that? Oh yeah, if you miss the giveaways today, you can try again on October 17, when Scotiabank will once again hand out 10,000 more Presto cards to celebrate the Toronto Raptors home opener against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Giveaways will start at 4 p.m. until they run out at Spadina, College, Kipling, Finch, Eglinton, Don Mills and Kennedy stations, and at Oakville, Mimico, Pickering and Scarborough GO stations.

What is open on Thanksgiving in Toronto is a bit of a mixed bag, as some shopping malls will be up and running but most of the city is taking the day off. Whether you need to do some last-minute turkey day shopping or want to spend the day out with family, let this be your guide on October 8.

Here's what's open and closed on Thanksgiving Monday in Toronto.

General
 

Closed

• Government offices
• Banks
• Libraries
• Post offices

Open

• The TTC will operate on a holiday schedule.

Stocking up on last minute groceries will be possible on Thanksgiving Monday in Toronto. Photo by Hector Vasquez.

Food
 

Closed

• It's worth calling ahead to restaurants before heading out — many already consider Mondays a day off.
• Most major grocery chains will be closed on Thanksgiving with a few confirmed exceptions listed below.

Open

• Fresh & Wild (2294 Bloor St. West) - 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Fresh & Wild (69 Spadina Ave.) - 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• Galleria Supermarket (7040 Yonge St.) - 24 hours
• Galleria Supermarket (865 York Mills Rd.) - 7 a.m. to 12 a.m.
• Galleria Supermarket (558 Yonge St.) - 7 a.m. to 12 a.m.
• Galleria Supermarket (351 Bloor St. West) - 7 a.m. to 12 a.m.
• Loblaws (60 Carlton St.) - 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Pusateri's (57 Yorkville Ave.) - 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Pusateri's (1539 Avenue Rd.) - 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Rabba (various locations) - 24 hours
• Saks Food Hall (176 Yonge St.) - 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• The Food Depot (115 Dupont St.) - 24 hours
• The Kitchen Table (10 Queens Quay West) - 6 a.m. to 12 a.m.
• The Kitchen Table (389 Spadina Rd.) - 7 a.m. to 12 a.m.
• The Kitchen Table (595 Bay St.) - 6:30 a.m. to 12 a.m.
• The Kitchen Table (705 King St. West) - 6 a.m. to 2 a.m.
• Whole Foods (87 Avenue Rd.) - 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Popbox MicroMrkt (725 Dovercourt Rd.) - 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
• Metro (444 Yonge St.) - 24 hours
• Sukoshi Mart (160 Baldwin St.) - 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• T&T (1 Promenade Cir) - 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.
• T&T (7070 Warden Ave) - 8 a.m. to 12 a.m.
• T&T (715 Central Parkway W.) - 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.
• T&T (222 Cherry St.) - 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.
• T&T (9625 Yonge St.) - 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.
• T&T (9255 Woodbine Ave.) - 8 a.m. to 12 a.m.
• T&T (8339 Kennedy Rd.) - 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.

There's still time to pick up last minute brews for Thanksgiving dinner. Photo by Hector Vasquez.

Drink
 

Closed

• LCBO
• The Beer Store

Open

• For a list of independent bottle shops in Toronto, see this directory. Holiday hours are provided where applicable, but we advise calling ahead to confirm.

Some major malls across Toronto will remain open on October 8. Photo by Hector Vasquez.

Malls
 

Closed

• Bayview Village Shops
• CF Fairview Mall
• CF Sherway Gardens
• Dufferin Mall
• Scarborough Town Centre
• Yorkdale Shopping Centre

Open

• CF Markville (5000 Hwy 7) - 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• CF Toronto Eaton Centre (220 Yonge St.) - 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Hillcrest Mall (9350 Yonge St.) - 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Pacific Mall (4300 Steeles Ave. E.) - 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Promenade (1 Promenade Cir.) - 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Square One Shopping Centre (100 City Centre Dr.) - 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Toronto Premium Outlets (13850 Steeles Ave. W.) - 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Vaughan Mills (1 Bass Pro Mills Dr.) - 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Yorkville Village (55 Avenue Rd.) - 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The AGO will be one of many attractions to visit with family and friends on Thanksgiving. Photo by Jesse Milns.

Attractions
 

Open

• Aga Khan Museum (77 Wynford Dr.) - 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Art Gallery of Ontario (317 Dundas St. West) - 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Bata Shoe Museum (327 Bloor St. West) - 10 a.m. to 5 o.m.
• CN Tower (301 Front St. West) - 8:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.
• Hockey Hall of Fame (30 Yonge St.) - 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Ripley's Aquarium of Canada (288 Bremner Blvd.) - 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.
• The Ontario Science Centre (770 Don Mills Rd.) - 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• The Royal Ontario Museum (100 Queen's Park) - 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
• Gardiner Museum (111 Queens Park) - 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Canada's Wonderland (1 Canada's Wonderland Dr.) - 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
• The Toronto Zoo (2000 Meadowvale Rd.) - 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Movie theatres

An anti-abortion rally turned violent this past Sunday when a woman was roundhouse kicked by a man at the corner of Bloor and Keele. 

Around 76 people gathered at the intersection on Sunday afternoon for Life Chain, an annual anti-abortion protest held simultaneously across the country at over 200 locations. 

Young women are being assaulted in the streets of #Toronto just for having a controversial opinion?
If we don't speak up about the trend of normalizing violence against pro-lifers, then it will never stop.https://t.co/wPHbwYosOB#cdnpoli#TOpoli#ProLife

— Show The Truth (@STTactivism) October 3, 2018

There was also a couple of pro-choice protestors (who were not affiliated with the attacker) counter-rallying peacefully against the Life Chain crowd on the same corner.

At around 2:30 p.m., a man with lip piercings and a purple zip-up hoodie approached the groups and allegedly used red and blue markers to deface protestors' anti-abortion signs, at one point even scribbling on their clothing. 

SICK: Just now a pro-abortion advocate roundhouse kicked a young pro-life woman from @clcyouthprolife in Toronto

He has not yet been found, RT!! pic.twitter.com/k1XlXBCVRP

— Devin Sena (@DevinSenaUI) October 3, 2018

He also approached the counter-protestors, who can be seen in the video deflecting his approaches. 

Organizer Marie-Claire Bissonette began to record the altercation on her phone and in the video, the man can be seen winding up for his attack before roundhouse kicking Bissonette in the shoulder, causing her to drop the phone on the ground. 

@TorontoComms // woman with pro life sign assaulted & the police would not even exit their car - shameful !

— Von Beasley ❌ (@vonbeasley) October 3, 2018

Police were called to the scene shortly afterwards, but the man—who told Bissonette he had meant to kick the phone but missed—had already fled the scene, heading east on Bloor.

According to Bisonette's write-up on the incident for the pro-life website LifeSiteNews, policemen "rolled down their window but did not exit their vehicle" after arriving to the intersection.

The man has yet to be found, though the video has been circulated widely on social media. 

It’s the most wonderful time of the year… or at least, it will be soon.

Mark your calendars because next month, the Cavalcade of Lights will return to Nathan Phillips Square on November 24. This 52nd annual event promises bright lights, live music, skating on the outdoor rink, and an enormous fireworks show right in the heart of the city.

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Toronto's official #Christmas Tree! 🎄#CavalcadeOfLights #HolidayFairInTheSquare #NathanPhillipsSquare #TO

A post shared by #MissBiyahera (@missbiyahera) on Dec 27, 2017 at 8:40pm PST

Also taking place at the Cavalcade of Lights will be the city’s tree-lighting ceremony. Last year, it took nearly 600,000 LED bulbs to cover the massive tree, and I don’t expect anything less this time around.

There is no official line-up of performers or special vendors yet, but a full schedule will be released in November. In past years, the square hosted performances on their main stage, as well as DJ sets.

Get excited for Christmas with more than 50,000 people at this annual event. Luckily, you won’t need to be up close to see the twinkling lights and colours, both on the tree and in the sky.

And the best part? It’s all free! Instead, spend your money on an extra steamy hot chocolate to warm your spirits and your hands.

The best oysters in Toronto bring a little taste of the sea to this lakeside town. The places that serve them well know how to properly source, shuck, and accompany these delicacies.

Here are the best oysters in Toronto.

There's nothing better than a good pun to get the Twittersphere going, and Toronto might have gotten the G.O.A.T. of jokes yesterday—literally—when a goat was spotted on the DVP. 

Hazard:
NB DVP and Eglinton Ave E.
Reports of a goat on the shoulder in a baa'd spot.
Please use caution.@TPS54Div#GO1820825^adc

— Toronto Police OPS (@TPSOperations) October 2, 2018

The Toronto Police tweeted out an announcement around noon about the bewildered billy hanging out by the DVP and Eglinton, getting the thread of jokes going by saying, "Reports of a goat on the shoulder in a baa'd spot." 

You goat to be kidding. I hope there is a ruminant of truth to this. Guess he was hoofing it home?

— Michele Sparling 🇨🇦 (@HRisInnovative) October 2, 2018

And from there, the cringeworthy dad jokes continue. 

Is he on the off RAMp ?🐐

— Bill Chase (@BillChase1965) October 2, 2018

You can almost hear the brain cogs turning in an attempt pun up the situation.

I see what ewe did there

— Pam I Am (@mmmmmmcoffee) October 2, 2018

Bust out the thesaurus everyone: it's time to find every possible synonym for goat.

I’m actually quite maaad that you have attributed what everyone knows is a sheep’s call to this wayward goat.

— Mel (@Schmell0) October 3, 2018

But if you're going to make a punny joke, make sure it's accurate or dare getting called out.

Oh an escape goat.

I'll see myself out.

— Cyclo Kitty (@cyclokitty) October 2, 2018

Of course, there was no shortage of sports references, with the overusage of the term G.O.A.T. these days.

Kawhi's still finding his way around Toronto. pic.twitter.com/3lEGCYO3T5

— Andrew Hockridge (@drew_hockridge) October 3, 2018

The best one for sure goes to the Kawhi Leonard reference, which comes with its own awkward laugh. Well punned.

There is no better way to view fall colours near Toronto than from the elevated perch of a lookout. Whether it's a natural phenomenon or an observation tower, these spots offer unparalleled panoramas of the province bursting with fall foliage throughout October.

Here are my picks for breathtaking lookouts to check out fall colours around Toronto.

Dundas Peak

One of the most beautiful places in the province during the fall, Dundas Peak is less than an hour's drive away from Toronto. The view from the top is majestic, but there are also plenty of attractions to spot along the way, including Webster and Tews Falls.

The golden foliage of the Niagara Escarpment near Rattlesnake Point. Photo by Phil Marion.

Rattlesnake Point

The ridge at Rattlesnake Point offers numerous vantage points on the golden country below spanning all the way to lake Ontario. The view from the Niagara Escarpment is one of the prettiest for its combination of farmland and the rugged rock face below. Make sure to hike along the trail to check out different angles.

The rolling hills of Orangeville as seen from Mono Cliffs. Photo by @lmrncprjct.

Mono Cliffs

This amazing system of cliffs is just an hour away from Toronto and features a number of trails with pristine lookouts from atop the Niagara Escarpment. It also tends to be less busy than some of the other spots on this list. While you're there check out the trails that cut beside the stunning rock faces.

Now that's a view. Mount Nemo has some of the best vistas for fall colours near Toronto. Photo by Robert Prior.

Mount Nemo

Located just 45 minutes from Toronto, Mount Nemo is a day tripper's paradise. The trails here aren't terribly challenging, but what they do offer is stunning vistas from which you can gaze over the picturesque countryside that leads all the way to the Toronto skyline in the distance.

One of the most spectacular views in the entire province can be found in Dorset. Photo by Igor Laptev.

Dorset Lookout Tower

All of these vantage points feature alarmingly beautiful views, but Dorset Tower near Lake of Bays is noteworthy for the undisturbed beauty it soars above. When mist rises from the lake on a fall morning, the scene can seem almost unworldly it's so gorgeous. At 142 metres, you have a panoramic view of cottage country to soak up.

Events in Toronto today offer more than a few pick-me-ups to get you out of your rainy weather funk and ready for the long weekend ahead. First Thursdays is back with a big party at the AGO and J. Cole is here to perform. Free mini pies, comedy and art are all on the list too.

This new Le Corbusier inspired condo reminds me of a treehouse, spaceship, and robot all rolled into one. The condo sits atop steel beams and has a bit of a shipping container vibe to it.

Inside is a delightfully modern open plan layout. The large windows flood the rooms with natural light.

The kitchen is bright with the neon backsplash and crisp white cabinets. While cool to look at now, I have a feeling those neon walls are going to be tired in about a year. But the kitchen also has top of the line stainless steel appliance for all your gourmet cooking needs.

Upstairs are the two bedrooms, although one is currently being used as an office.

The master bedroom is spacious and has a small balcony. Unfortunately, there isn’t an en suite bathroom.

The bathroom is a four-piece that is simple and modern.

As for outdoor space there’s a large balcony off the living room, as well as a massive rooftop patio that has sweeping views of the city and treetops.

Specs

• Address: U4 - 15 Cummings St.
• Price: $1,485,000
• Bedrooms: 2
• Bathrooms: 2
• Parking: 1
• Walk Score: 96
• Transit Score: 97
• Maintenance Fees: $873.87 monthly
• Listing agent: Bram Siskind
• Listing ID: E4251629

Good For

Fulfilling your childhood dream of living in a treehouse. Sure it’s not in an actual tree but the Swiss Family Robinson treehouse isn’t practical in a bustling metropolis.

 Move On If

You can’t stand bright pop colours. This condo has a blue bathroom, yellow kitchen and another bathroom that’s all maroon. If you like beige or grey, or more subdued decor, you’re going to loathe this place.

Toronto Restaurant Openings highlights the latest food news in Toronto and gives a preview of what's coming soon. Find us here every Thursday morning.

Open now

• Sara, a sister restaurant to Rasa from The Food Dudes that has Japanese influences, is now open at 98 Portland Street (at Adelaide Street West).
• Quality burger joint Rudy now has a second location, at 69 Duncan Street (just south of Queen West), that opened just in time for Nuit Blanche last weekend.
• My Roti Place also has a second location now, this one at 901 King Street West (by Strachan Avenue).
• The Peacock Public House, a sister pub to the Queen and Beaver, is now open in the space that was briefly Mad Crush Wine Bar at 582 College Street in Little Italy.
• Myato Gastropub, a Korean fusion restaurant, has soft opened at 549 Bloor Street West in the Annex.
• Cafe Old Town Bodega is now open at 402 King Street East in Corktown.
• The Mt Pleasant Rose, a music venue and pub, has made its debut at 744 Mount Pleasant Road (just south of Eglinton Avenue East) in Davisville.
• Mantra, an Indian restaurant that also serves butter chicken bao and pulled jackfruit tacos, has opened at the CF Shops at Don Mills at 2 O'Neill Road.

Recently reviewed

• Indilicious
• Coffee and Clothing
• Rebel House
• Square Boy
• Tertulia
• Kingyo Izakaya
• Jumbo Burgers
• Hey Noodles
• Vesuvio
• BBs Diner
• Coconut Seasons

Closed

• Oak Island, a bar on Ossington, is no more.
• Nine Restaurant and Tapas Bar has shuttered on Roncesvalles due to non-payment of rent.
• A fixture in Harbord Village for years, the Boulevard Cafe has closed.
• Fargo’s Snack Bar didn't last long – its windows are all papered up on College Street.
• Monk’s Table in Summerhill has bit the dust.

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

Riding the TTC can already be a hassle in this city, and although Scotiabank just tried to make it easier, they probably made it a bit worse for one day. 

Wow. @TTChelps College St lineup for #free@PRESTOcard is huge now #toronto#publictransportpic.twitter.com/SFrPZqSjTJ

— nicolas bello (@nbellotoronto) October 3, 2018

A free Presto Card giveaway at several TTC and GO stations caused some havoc in the streets as thousands lined up to get their hands on the cards.

Yep, a presto card loaded with $6. I feared for my life trying to exit College station just now

— Joanna M (@jojomasc88) October 3, 2018

The promotion was meant to advertise the Maple Leafs' first game at the newly-named Scotiabank Arena.

Lineup for the free $6 presto card #Toronto#ttc#topoli#smhpic.twitter.com/Vsk9PsCvKr

— james' ghost (@urpaljames) October 3, 2018

In addition to the fact that free stuff makes people line up like crazy, Scotiabank decided the ideal time to give the cards away was right at the beginning of rush hour, starting at approximately 4 p.m. 

Line 1: Customers may experience delays and overcrowding at College, Eglinton and Finch Stations due to Presto Card giveaway

— TTC Service Alerts (@TTCnotices) October 3, 2018

Lineups formed early, and began to block many sidewalks outside transit stations very quickly.

The good people who run the TTC Customer Service Twitter account spent the day explaining to people why the lines were forming, despite not being involved in the giveaway. 

Hi Kaila, this was an initiative by @PRESTOcard and @scotiabank I'm sorry if you were negatively impacted^MD⚡

— TTC Customer Service (@TTChelps) October 3, 2018

One person who tried to get a card was Cindy Rossi, who headed to College Station.

The line up at college subways sattion starts at Carlton and Church St #presto#TTC#goleafsgopic.twitter.com/gYX4ykZrZj

— TorontoTours.ca (@TorontoToursCa) October 3, 2018

According to her, it was unorganized chaos as the TTC staff, police, and Scotiabank representatives were giving conflicting information and mob-mentality set in. 

A fila hoje dobra a Bloor St para conseguir os cartões Presto de graça que estão distribuindo (@ Spadina Subway Station in Toronto, ON) https://t.co/WRxcqh6xRGpic.twitter.com/pDA5GYTaES

— 🌶Fernanda Amaral🌶 (@FeAmaral_online) October 3, 2018

"You had to look for a hand holding out a pass and push through the crowd hoping you would get it," she says, "It got really hot, congested, and scary." 

I got to Kennedy and it looks like...this? I thought the subway was shut down and asked a police office and he said: "It's very serious... it's a free presto card giveaway"

yikes pic.twitter.com/ELm3oFoIQu

— Spooktoria 🎃 #GibbyTheBest (@biaginger) October 3, 2018

The mayhem will probably take place again, as Scotiabank is preparing a second giveaway later this month on October 17. 

The man who was caught on camera roundhouse kicking a woman at an anti-abortion rally on Sunday has been fired from his job. 

Jordan Hunt was seen kicking Marie-Claire Bissonette—an organizer of the Life Chain rally—on Sunday after an altercation where he allegedly defaced several anti-abortion signs with markers. 

An anti-abortion rally in #Toronto turned violent this past weekend https://t.co/dVbmylgrxipic.twitter.com/VzkKKXAuhi

— blogTO (@blogTO) October 3, 2018

The incident was captured on Bissonette's phone, and the video has seen be widely spread on social media. 

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A post shared by Noble Studio 101 (@noblestudio101) on Oct 3, 2018 at 1:01pm PDT

Yesterday, a Parkdale salon called Noble Studio 101 posted a statement on Instagram informing its followers that they had fired Jordan Hunt from their team. 

"It has been brought to our attention that Jordan Hunt has been caught on camera assaulting an innocent bystander at a pro life rally," says the post. 

"We don't condone his actions and he has been let go. We believe that everyone has a right to an opinion and the right to voice their opinion without fear of physical violence." 

Thanksgiving weekend events in Toronto for 2018 have lots going on in between family feasts and post-pie naps. Screemers kicks off a season of scares down at the Ex and Oktoberfest action is on at the Aleyards. There's markets, music galore and a big party inside the ROM.

Toronto mayoral candidate Jennifer Keesmaat wants to help people own a home, and she plans to do it through a new rent-to-own program.

If elected, Keesmaat hopes the new plan, which will help young, low income, and struggling residents work toward owning their home. The program would be funded by a new property tax on luxury homes—those valued at around $4 million and higher. 

In a press conference today, Keesmaat announced that the high cost of housing is leaving many concerned and priced out of the city, so the new program would be necessary to help gain access to house ownership. 

There is an entire generation of people being priced out of Toronto. They are struggling with debt, have little saved for retirement, and have seen the home ownership ladder kicked out from under them. #Keesmaat4Mayor#topolipic.twitter.com/U1lC2GoETz

— Jennifer Keesmaat (@jen_keesmaat) October 4, 2018

"The most fortunate among us, the people who have done best at the highest end of Toronto’s housing market, can afford to contribute a little more to help people get their start," she said.

As Mayor, I will implement a Rent-to-Own home ownership program, focused on those who are are having a hard time making the leap from renting to owning. It will give Torontonians an opportunity to build equity and invest in their future. #Keesmaat4Mayor#topolipic.twitter.com/KgpDcFXUP2

— Jennifer Keesmaat (@jen_keesmaat) October 4, 2018

Here's how it would work: a down-payment toward owning the home would be paid via monthly instalments. At the end of the payment period, a tenant can enter into an ownership arrangement since the equity will have accumulated.

Another option consists of the City or housing program sharing ownership of a home to lower the price of the mortgage. 

Considering the extremely staggering cost of Toronto's housing market, the plan is sure to resonate with many. People are leaving the city for cheaper accommodations elsewhere, and the housing bubble is reaching new proportions. 

Don't panic, veal and meatball sandwich lovers: old school joint Nonna's Place may not be going anywhere.

The hours have been dwindling recently, and there's now real estate signage in the window, but the tiny restaurant that's been on the market since April is actually looking for someone who will preserve the business's 50-year history and keep running the place as it is.

It's a taller order than it may seem. The family-run operation has been surviving for a long time with a staff hovering around three, who open the store at 9 a.m. and are often slammed with a lunch rush for hours.

One of those three people, Joanne Ferrari, says she and her husband Biagio are trying to retire and are just "putting a line out there."

With no definitive cutoff point for closing the doors, Italian food fans will just have to keep getting their fix as often as they can until the doors close or some brave sandwich hero steps in to save this local red sauce institution.

If you're looking for a chance to see some gorgeous fall colours, it pays to seek out the most scenic trails in Ontario. This trek through Algonquin's stunning wilderness might be one of the best places to absorb autumn's splendour.

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A post shared by Ingrid Yuen (@inagridyuen) on Jul 11, 2017 at 6:20pm PDT

The magnificent Spruce Bog Boardwalk Trail is located just off the Highway 60 corridor, and is famous for its brilliant displays of fall colours. The 1.5-kilometre routes snakes through some of the most beautiful terrain in the park.

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A post shared by Cam O'Shea (@camscottoshea) on Aug 8, 2018 at 1:30pm PDT

While the changing leaves are obviously a huge attraction each autumn, visitors can also admire the small, sheltered ponds and spruce bogs for which the trail is named.

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A post shared by Nikki De Haan (@nik.dh) on Sep 17, 2017 at 7:15pm PDT

One of the best parts of the boardwalk trail is its length. Under two kilometres, it can be completed by even the most amateur of hikers. It's also wheelchair accessible for the entire length.

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A post shared by Anne Marie Ratych (@annemarieratych) on Sep 17, 2017 at 11:03pm PDT

The luckiest of visitors may even catch a glimpse of some local non-migratory birds while hiking, like the Boreal Chickadee, Spruce Grouse, Blue Jay, and woodpeckers.

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A post shared by KC (@kchoedon) on Oct 2, 2017 at 10:26am PDT

With Algonquin's fall colours already reaching their peak, a jaunt up to this great spot is sure to offer some of the most epic views in the park, especially in the sections where the trail departs from the heavy pines that surround it and you get wider vistas of the majestic wilderness.

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A post shared by Kevin M (@kevin5661) on Sep 25, 2017 at 3:38pm PDT

And, while you're in Algonquin, why not drop by this other stunning trail? The Fire Tower Trail is about half the length, and has a fantastic wooden lookout. This route features a series of self-guides tours that explore the history of fire towers in the park.

A popular chain for Chinese rice noodles is opening its very first location in Toronto where Jackpot Chicken Rice used to be. 

Shi Miao Dao, which has over 750 locations in China, specializes in Yunnan-style rice noodles, also known as 'crossing-the-bridge' noodles, where soup and noodles are served separately. 

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A post shared by SHIMIAODAO Toronto (@shimiaodao) on Sep 27, 2018 at 12:16pm PDT

It's not the chain's first foray into North America (it has a popular location in New York) but it'll be making its entry into Toronto with a restaurant at 318 Spadina Ave.

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A post shared by Lu Yao (@luyaozers) on May 12, 2018 at 10:31pm PDT

Known for their soups, Shi Miao Dao's bowls are pre-heated to 250C and can cook ingredients like veggies, eggs, and fish in a matter of 10 seconds—hence the chain's name, which translates to 'ready in ten seconds' in Chinese.

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A post shared by @hungrynwyrker on Jul 8, 2018 at 7:16pm PDT

You can pick from four types of soup: original, tomato, mala—a spicy base with Sichuanese peppercorn—and cabbage. Noodles are meant to be combined at the table: the action of lifting the rice noodles over into the soup bowl is the 'crossing the bridge' part. 

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A post shared by Famished No More (@famishednomore) on Sep 27, 2018 at 8:55am PDT

And with every order of noodles, you'll get sides of bean curds, black ear fungus, raw quail egg, ham, and a chicken wing.

While it's not clear when exactly the restaurant will launch, signs on the windows show Shi Miao Dao is gearing up to open soon.

Chef David Lee’s restaurant Nota Bene announced today they're be closing at the end of this year. Their final service will be on New Year’s Eve. They'll be replaced by a new Planta concept from the Chase Hospitality Group.

Whereas Nota Bene served mostly creative Canadian small plates, the plant-based menu Chef Lee will design for the re-imagined 180 Queen West location of Planta will have strong Asian influences.

The sophisticated 7000-square-foot interior will be transformed as well, taking inspiration from Chinese alleyways known as Hutong, and creating an energetic atmosphere.

Nota Bene has been critically recognized as one of the best restaurants in Toronto and Canada overall during its decade in business.

Opening in 2019, this new Planta location joins two others already operating in Toronto, one in Yorkville and one on Temperance.

It's about to look like 4/20 in October.

The two-week countdown to legalized recreational marijuana has begun, and Toronto is preparing to spark up with parties to celebrate the Cannabis Act coming into effect on Oct. 17. 

The Cannabis resource site Leafly is hosting a New Year's Eve-style countdown party at the Mod Club dubbed Bud Drop to "ring in this new high point in Canadian history at the stroke of midnight." 

Meanwhile, many will likely gather at the Love Child Social House on Oct. 17 for a party hosted by The Entrepreneurship Society and Fireside, complete with DJ's, free merch, cannabis oil cooking session and vape lounge. 

Radio station Indie88 is throwing its own jam at the Phoenix Concert Theatre the same day with a performance from B.C. band Japandroids. 

In Trinity Bellwoods, a celebration marking the first legal smoke is in the works.

And in what's most likely going to be the most challenging event ever, The Rabid Dabber and 2 High Media are hosting a legalization day Instagram scavenger hunt on Oct. 17 for prizes like edibles and extracts, if you're not superbly high enough already.