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The Leslieville Flea brings flea markets to the east side

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Leslieville FleaAt the Leslieville Flea, despite a rainy start, the sun and the community came out in support of the neighbourhood's inaugural flea market, which took place behind The Duke at Queen and Leslie.

The market takes place on the third Sunday of every month. Twenty three vendors offered an eclectic range of items - from antiques to vintage and salvaged items, art, hand-crafted designs and clothing.

In an age where websites like Etsy are a staple for art, crafts and vintage finds, a flea market is the perfect way to bring out the community, says co-founder Christine Roberts. "It embodies everything that the city is. Toronto is a mix of cultures, of people and there is something for everyone in the Flea."

As the Flea grows, Roberts says they will be selective in how they curate the show. "We're looking for originality and we don't want too many people who sell the same kind of things."

Below is a list of eight vendors who caught my eye at the inaugural event.

She's Crafty
Nothing satisfies antique lovers more than reworking salvaged building material into a new item of beauty and function - or better yet, buying already re-imagined pieces. Items on sale included windows converted into chalkboards and an airplane food storage case waiting for a visionary to reinvent it.

LATrELATrE
Designer Brian Tuan Vu offers a collection of authentic military clothing that he has acquired, reworked and dyed by hand. Jackets, pants, shirts, tees, and other items are grounded in military roots but re-imagined for an urban setting and sensibility.

Province ApothecaryProvince Apothecary
Looking for aromatherapy? Founder and certified Holistic Health Practitioner Julie Clark offers an array of natural skin care products - from essential oils to herbs. She says that as her knowledge developed, she was able to create products that can help clear eczema and improved skin allergies and asthma.

Beach Girl Art
Beaches resident and artist Jenna Westphal celebrates her local community through her photography, oil paintings and mixed media art. The petite pieces on display were timely for the summer and perfect for any setting, as you yearn for the outdoors.

Crown FloraCrown Flora Studio
Handmade bags and mason jar terrariums - miniature landscapes with living plants, such as air plants and succulents - sound like an unusual juxtaposition, but it works in a charming and minimalist way. The recently-opened Parkdale-based store continues to delight with its marriage of textile and nature.

ScandimaniaScandimania
This certified vintage shop is inspired by and dedicated to exploring Scandinavian and North American modernist design. Many of their selectively hand-picked shop items - which include jewelry, furniture and other home items, and vintage clothing - were on sale at the Flea.

Rong DesignsRong Designs
Furniture designer Jennifer Rong has channeled her love for wood and junk into art and design, creating a line of furniture, home decor and even jewelry - all based on wood. Items on display included a beautiful oval coffee table, earrings and necklaces, and a custom-made wooden clock.

Broody Hens Designs
There was even something at the Flea for those looking for baby gifts. Owner and designer Lisa Edgar has turned a hobby of creating gifts for her friends' baby showers into a charming business - offering hand-made onesies and other clothing, blankets, quilts, pillows, and even custom art for kids.

Photos by Jesse Milns


30 photos of naked people riding bikes around Toronto

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World Naked Bike ride Toronto 2013The World Naked Bike Ride rolled through Toronto on Saturday, bringing with it a hefty dose of skin and the usual curious glances from those who encountered the caravan of nudists. Officially positioned as a protest against oil dependency, the event — which takes place in cities around the world — is also meant to foster positive body images. I mean how can you not admire the balls on these people putting themselves out there like that? It's genuinely refreshing — no puns required.

The group of 100+ cyclists gathered at Coronation Park before winding downtown to Yonge and Dundas, hitting up Queen West and Yorkville along the way. It was a gorgeous day for a clothes-free ride, and the joviality of the group was contagious. On the flip side, there were a few BIXI bikes under naked bums, so cue the chorus of "ewwwws" now.

See how it all played out in this slideshow of the event.

Warning: in case it's not clear, by clicking this link you're about to see naked people. Possibly NSFW.

Photos by Jesse Milns

The Parkdale Flea coming this summer

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Parkdale FleaThe Parkdale Flea is now a thing that exists. That's right, folks. This will be an event to look forward to, if the hood's personality on the day-to-day is any indication. Parkdale has a flea-markety vibe as it is, with loads of antique shops dotting that stretch of Queen Street. Like the Junction Flea and the Leslieville Flea, Parkdale's will feature antiques, vintage items, collectibles, and various works by local designers and artisans. Entry is free, and snacks and drinks will be available, as well.

The Parkdale Flea will be held at 1266 Queen St. W., at Dufferin, and it'll run from 10 a..m. until 5 p.m. There will only be two dates for the flea's inaugural summer, with the grand opening falling on July 7, and another date on August 4.

Masonic Temple to get facelift (avoids condo-ification)

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toronto masonic temple mtvMaybe it was too much of a long shot, but I doubt many of you will be surprised to learn this morning that the Masonic Temple at Yonge and Davenport will not be reprising its role as a live music venue. Well, not full time anyway.

London, Ont.-based IT company Info-Tech Research Group have bought the building for $12.5 million and plan to convert the storied venue in to a new location for its Toronto satellite office, currently located on Front Street East.

"We're making some alterations to the building to accommodate our consulting and research usage," says Joel McLean, the company's president and CEO. "We're really trying to preserve the historical elements, for sure."

"In the main auditorium we're going to make that in to an open area for our research group but we want to have that space designed in such a way that once a year we're able to pack up those desks and have a black tie charity rock concert."

The various other offices and boardrooms will be decorated with rock memorobilia and named after the bands that trod the planks of the main stage during its Rock Pile days ("coffee in the Shane MacGowan Conference Room, anyone?")

Windows that were sealed by Bell to shut out natural light will be opened up and original doors and fixtures removed and placed in storage will be rehung during the reconfiguration.

toronto masonic templeBell Media decided to sell the 96-year-old former home of MTV Canada, eTalk, So You Think You Can Dance Canada, Canadian Idol, and others in late 2012 in an effort to consolidate its TV operations at its downtown Queen and John property.

The surplus building was placed on the market in March and Info-Tech Research Group took possession in the last few days, paying "pretty much" what Bell asked. In a press release the company promised to "maintain the integrity and spirit" of the Masonic Temple by moving in its 300 staff.

Though it started life as a meeting hall for masons, the historic building was used mainly for concerts from 1930 until the late 80s. Acts such as Led Zeppelin, David Bowie, The Pixies, The Pogues, Pearl Jam, and Red Hot Chili Peppers all played there.

toronto masonic templeWhile the sale should ensure the building remains in its current state, the news will be a let down for anyone who had their fingers crossed for something a little more creative, even if Info-Tech promises to honour its "Work Hard, Play Hard" motto once inside.

"It's going to be a great office for our staff," McLean continues. "It's certainly not the most practical space, but it's beautiful and that's important to me and it's important to our staff. I think it's a really good fit."

Are you happy the Masonic Temple is going to be preserved? Would you have preferred another company to take on the space and make more frequent use of the ballroom?

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

Image: Alex, PLTam, Tomitheos ©/blogTO Flickr pool.

25 sights and tastes from Taste of Little Italy

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Taste of Little Italy TorontoTaste of Little Italy took over College Street this past weekend and for the first time in recent memory, it was flush with actual local businesses, not just crappy gyro/fajita vendors. A new crop of local businesses were out to represent along with old favourites, patio seating was more plentiful than ever, the rain stayed at bay (for the most part), and oh yeah, Rob Ford got a drink thrown in his face... Overall, a success!

Check out the highlights in this slideshow from the event.

Photos by Jesse Milns

Luminato brings world's largest disco ball to Toronto

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Michel de Broin Luminato TorontoOn paper it sounds a bit gimmicky or a repeat of U2's stage antics back in the late '90s, but Michel de Broin's giant disco ball (a.k.a. "One Thousand Speculations"), which is lifted above David Pecaut Square each night of the festival, is actually a stunning sight. Almost eight metres in diameter, the ball features 1000 mirrors which fashion a spectacular light show during performances at the Luminato hub.

This, the largest mirror ball in the world (or at least so Luminato claims), debuted in 2009 at Nuit Blanche in Paris. It's the type of public art that achieves that difificult balance between spectacle and intrigue, and is one of the more successful Luminato installations in recent memory. If there's a detractor, however, it's got to be the dude operating the crane from which the ball is suspended 80 feet off the ground. When it's up in the air, he's stuck in his cabin due to safety concerns. Oh well, I'm sure he's paid well enough.

Check out pics of the installation below.

Michel de Broin Luminato TorontoMichel de Broin Luminato Toronto=Disco Ball TorontoDisco Ball TorontoDisco Ball TorontoDisco Ball TorontoPhotos by Tom Ryaboi

10 bird's eye views of Toronto on Instagram

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Toronto aerial photoIn the 19th century one of the dominant cartographic techniques was known as the bird's eye map, which prefigured Google's satellite views in allowing readers to look down upon their city as if flying in an air balloon. Even as technology has made such perspectives ubiquitous, our collective fascination with aerial views of our cities has yet to diminish. There's something about the scale one perceives at a position of height that just seems to make everything seem unfamiliar and interesting. By way of example, we asked our Instagram followers to label their favourite aerial(ish) shots of Toronto with the hashtag #birdseyeTO. The resulting gallery offers a stunning look at our fair city. Lead pic by stilez.

Check out all the photos in our bird's eye stream.

toronto aerial photoPhoto by blogTO (but really this guy)

toronto aerial photoPhoto by freaktography

toronto aerial photoPhoto by mattkissick

toronto aerial photoPhoto by aridler

toronto aerial photoPhoto by saracollaton

toronto aerial photoPhoto by buzzbuzzhome

toronto aerial photoPhoto by coreycott

toronto aerial photoPhoto by yuurina

toronto streetcarPhoto by emrichtom

toronto planePhoto by bittersweetmoon

Porsche 911


Radar: We're Having Friends For Dinner, ProFusion Pro Imaging Expo, Delectable Dundas West, Lost and Found

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Dundas West SandwichesToronto events on Tuesday, June 18, 2013

FOOD | Hannibal: We're Having Friends for Dinner
Janice Poon is a professional food stylist, working to create gorgeous tables on television shows like Hannibal. Setting the table for Dr. Lecter may be her day job but tonight, Poon will style a pop-up feast at The Cookbook Store in Yorkville for foodies who like to feast their eyes on extravagant spreads. Chef Matt Kantor will be serving up several courses with Poon at the helm of the design. Tickets to Hannibal: We're Having Friends for Dinner are $150 including drinks.
The Cookbook Store (850 Yonge Street) 7:30PM $150

PHOTOGRAPHY | ProFusion Pro Imaging Expo
Photographers, camerapersons, filmmakers and anyone who views life through a lens will appreciate the latest expo to open at the Toronto Congress Centre. ProFusion Pro Imaging Expo is a trade show featuring the best selection in cameras and camcorders in the country, specializing in tools for industry professionals. Speak to innovators, take seminars on improving your photo and video skills and geek out over the latest technology from the largest and the upcoming brands. Stop by the demo theatre for a show or check out the pro studio where photographers Iden Ford and Miguel Jacob will be live shooting. Get snapping!
Toronto Congress Centre (650 Dixon Road) 9AM $10

FOOD | Delectable Dundas West
Dishcrawl is hopping over to Dundas West for their latest foodie food crawl through neighbourhood restaurants, cafés and bars. Delectable Dundas West will visit the top places to feast in the west, keeping the locations secret for ticketholders' knowledge only. Travel with a hungry roving pack of foodies and drink special pairings to go along with the food you'll be trying. Interested? Like the mysterious nature of Dishcrawl? Contact yulis@dishcrawl.com for tickets.
Contact yulis@dishcrawl.com for location, time and ticket information

QUEER | Lost and Found: Uncovering the Spirit of Pride
Pride is fast approaching and Gladstone Hotel will transform over the next two days in celebration of the city's biggest party for the LGBTQ community. A burlesque perfomrance taking place over two evenings, the 3rd Unapologetic Burlesque showcase explores the things found within that are often lost and found again. This fully accessible event is for every member of every community who is open-minded and willing to share in the communal Pride. The event is pay-what-you-can and no one will be turned away.
Gladstone Hotel (1214 Queen Street West) 7PM $5-$25 (PWYC)

ALSO OF NOTE:

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

Morning Brew: Rob Ford waits on Supreme Court status, Doug Ford vows to fight new market building, a giant parking fine, and a photo of Chris Hadfield in a streetcar

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toronto kayakRob Ford will find Thursday whether or not he'll be contesting a case at the Supreme Court of Canada. Toronto resident Paul Magder, who brought the original conflict-of-interest case against the mayor, is asking Canada's highest court to hear his appeal of a judge's decision to keep Ford in office. Predictions?

Toronto police have named 35 of the 44 people arrested during last week's Operation Traveller, a co-ordinated series of raids targeting the Dixon City Bloods gang, also known as the Dixon Goonies. The gang was known to be associated with a Dixon Road apartment complex and many of its members are facing drug and gun charges. One of those charged, 19-year-old Muhammad Khattak, was reportedly pictured with Rob Ford.

The Star has you covered in case you're wondering what kind of person would throw a drink at the mayor of Toronto. Shannon Everett, the 27-year-old accused of hurling the beverage, possibly a slushie, at Ford is a University of Ontario Institute of Technology worker and a yoga teacher. She's been understandably laying low since the incident.

A $45-million redevelopment project is underway at Toronto's Six Points Interchange at Kipling, Bloor, and Dundas West. When it's finished, the tangle of roads dubbed Spaghetti Junction will feature new parks, residences, and retail outlets. Local councillor Peter Milczyn ceremonially tore down part of the Westwood Theatre yesterday. The city bought the site in the 1960s for a subway yard but later abandoned the idea.

Councillor Doug Ford says he'll try to stop the $91 million redevelopment plans for St. Lawrence Market North at city council. The government management committee were deadlocked on whether to halt the project, which has risen in cost, meaning the debate will continue at full council. The plans would see the bunker-like north market demolished and replaced with a multi-storey building with space for a municipal court. Should the city invest in the St. Lawrence Market?

A Toronto man has solved the mystery of the $854.50 parking ticket he racked up while on his honeymoon. Turns out parking enforcement officers moved Adam Halim's car during tree trimming outside his home to a no parking zone where it was repeatedly ticketed and eventually towed. The city has promised a full refund.

Chinese dissident artist Ai Weiwei's "Circle of Animals/Zodiac Heads" installation will be officially unveiled later today in the reflecting pool at Nathan Phillips Square. The bronze animal heads will stay in the square until September 22. There will also be a Weiwei show at the AGO.

Finally, Commander Chris Hadfield is famous throughout the world for his exploits in outer space but at one time he sampled a far more terrestrial calling. A picture posted on Reddit this morning shows the astronaut at the controls of a PCC streetcar with TTC employee Frank Hood in 1996. Hood drove Hadfield to opening of the CNE that year.

IN BRIEF:

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

Image: Ilona/blogTO Flickr pool.

This Week in Home Video: Stoker, Jack Layton, New Age Werewolves, Space Vampires and H.G Wells

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

Stoker (20th Century Fox)

Park Chan-wood, the auteur behind such visceral films as Oldboy and I'm A Cyborg, aims his lens squarely at dysfunctional Americana in this beautifuly photographed gothic mystery.

After her father dies, India (Mia Wasikowska) becomes obsessed with her Uncle Charlie (Matthew Goode), a man who she never knew existed but has come to live with her and her unstable mother (Nicole Kidman).

Extras include short pieces on the look of the film, the music, the work of Park Chan-wood, and much more.

ALSO OUT THIS WEEK

Jack the Giant Slayer (Warner Bros.)

Campy CGI-heavy retelling of the Beanstalk fable, with a slightly more sinister giant and heart-throbby Jack (UK import Nicholas Hoult). Directed by Bryan Singer, best known for his work on The X-Men and that Superman movie no-one really liked. Extras include deleted scenes, a gag reel, and a behind the scenes expose hosted by baby faced Hoult.

Jack (eOne)

Not to be confused with the above title, this clunky CBC biopic chronicles local hero humanitarian Jack Layton as his health wore down during the 2011 election. Cutting between his final campaign and moments from his past, Jack's earnest melodrama might have been better served with more distance from its subject matter ; CBC has produced amazing biopics of Tommmy Douglas and Trudeau, decades after they had passed on, and this feels rushed. An important story and man, who hopefully will get a more detailed look-in in the future. Extras include interviews with Rick Roberts, Olivia Chow, and former MTV VJ Sook-Yin Lee, who plays Olivia Chow here.

The Howling: Collector's Edition (Scream Factory)

The second greatest werewolf movie ever made (after An American Werewolf in London, also from 1981) follows a shaken up TV journalist (Dee Wallace, aka the mom from E.T) looking for a retreat but inadvertently uncovering a colony of werewolves masquerading as new age self-help weirdos. Brim full of in-jokes and references to classic horror films, this is a triumph of special effects, studied pacing and mood based horror. Extras include audio commentary from director Joe Dante, deleted scenes, a look at the locations and an in-depth documentary marking the influence it had on subsequent horror films.

Lifeforce: Collector's Edition (Scream Factory)

After the gargantuan financial success of Poltergeist, director Tobe Hooper was given a blank cheque to realize this pulpy sci-fi action flick that starts off with aw shucks astronauts exploring Halley's Comet and ends with London being overrun with zombies and the apocalypse waiting in the wings. While utterly bananas, Lifeforce has a sense of fun and grand wonder that is missing from major sci-fi blockbusters of late, who could stand to loosen up a bit (see Prometheus). Bountiful extras include insightful commentary from Hooper, retrospective on the cast (including a pre-Jean Luc Patrick Stewart), a look at the amazing special effects form John "Star Wars" Dykstra, and much more!

Quartet (eOne)

Dustin Hoffman's directorial debut plays like a 2-hour promotion from Zoomer: Long time status quo at a home for retried musicians is thrown into disarray with the arrival of Downton dame Maggie Smith, kicking off all sorts of comedic and romantic mishap. Perfect for a night in with Grandma.

American Mary(Anchor Bay)

B.C's Twin Soska Sisters engineered this steel cold bit of ultraviolence with an eye on Amercian Psycho, and probably early Cronenberg. The first hour is great, with Ginger Snaps alumni Katherine Isabelle delivering a layered performance and a great sleazy Canadian grindhouse vibe. The second half however, gets nasty as a slight twist on the rape/revenge genre (which has been somewhat crowded of late) careens all over the place. Regardless, the Soska Sisters are a duo to keep an eye on, and their commentary on the DVD is a highlight.

Movie 43 (eOne)

Botched concept comedy experiment made by 12 directors (including Brett Ratner and James Gunn), this bottom of the barrel assortment of sketches plays like a 3rd rate MADtv prime-time special. With a cast including Halle Berry, Anna Faris, Richard Gere, Emma Stone and a bunch of other people who should have known better.

Springhill: Series 1 (Acorn)

Described as "Twin Peaks" meets "Eastenders", this spooky 90s UK drama series effortlessly blends mundane soap opera drama with supernatural themes. No doubt head writer Russell T Davies went on to revive Doctor Who in 2005, and creator Paul Abbot went on to birth Shameless. Series 1 contains 26 episodes, 624 minutes of videotaped soapy British goodness. Hopefully Series 2 isn't far behind

Things to Come(Criterion Collection)

Truly prophetic Sci-Fi masterpiece from H.G Wells, who conceived, wrote and oversaw this ambitious look at the past and future of humankind, through war, disease, dictatorship and finally utopia. Made before World War 2 had kicked off, Things to Come is a deft classic of imagination and technical audacity. The Criterion Collection have turned in an array of amazing extras for a film of this age, including un-used special effects footage from noted Futurist László Moholy-Nagy, audio recording from 1936 of a reading from H.G. Wells, and an audio commentary from film historian David Kalat.

STILL FRESH

TORONTO SPOTTING CHECK LIST PART 1

We all know that Hollywood loves to shoot movies in Toronto, while dressing it up to look like Chicago, or New York, or even Pittsburgh, but have you ever spotted a Toronto landmark in something which was so un-Torontonian that you hardly believed your eyes? Here are five classic Toronto locations which pop up in the following movies, believe it or not.

SHERWAY GARDENS

CASA LOMA

DIP'N'SIP DONUTS ON KINGSTON ROAD

HONEST ED'S

QUEEN ST EAST BETWEEN BROADVIEW AND PAPE

This week on DineSafe: Aroma, Timothy's, Mavericks Pub, King's Noodle, Souvlaki Hut

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dinesafe torontoThis week on Toronto's DineSafe database no fewer than 24 restaurants were slapped with conditional passes. None were forced to close up shop, but there were a couple of repeat offenders. Mavericks Pub was on the list two weeks ago for failing to keep food cold enough, and it failed to get itself back in the good books this week. And JJJ Caribbean Restaurant was on the list for the second time in a month. Here, the rest of the gastro-villains.

Aroma Espresso (2901 Bayview Ave.)
Inspected on: June 13
Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
Number of infractions: 4 (Minor: 2, Significant: 1, Crucial: 1)
Crucial infractions include: Failure to ensure food is not contaminated/adulterated.

Mavericks Pub (804 Danforth Ave.)
Inspected on: June 11
Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
Number of infractions: 6 (Minor: 1, Significant: 4, Crucial: 1)
Crucial infractions include: Failure to use potable ice.

New Concept Japanese Cuisine (2026 Queen St. E.)
Inspected on: June 11
Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
Number of infractions: 4 (Minor: 2, Significant: 1, Crucial: 1)
Crucial infractions include: Failure to maintain hazardous foods at 4 C (40 F) or colder.

King's Noodle Restaurant (296 Spadina Ave.)
Inspected on: June 13
Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
Number of infractions: 7 (Minor: 2, Significant: 4, Crucial: 1)
Crucial infractions include: Failure to maintain hazardous foods at 4 C (40 F) or colder.

Timothy's World Coffee (327 Roncesvalles Ave.)
Inspected on: June 13
Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
Number of infractions: 4 (Minor: 2, Significant: 2)
Crucial infractions include: N/A

Souvlaki Hut(876 Yonge St.)
Inspected on: June 13
Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
Number of infractions: 4 (Minor: 1, Significant; 2, Crucial: 1)
Crucial infractions include: Failure to maintain hazardous foods at 60 C (140 F) or hotter.

Danforth Fruit Mart (2742 Danforth Ave.)
Inspected on: June 11
Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
Number of infractions: 7 (Minor: 2, Significant: 4, Crucial: 1)
Crucial infractions include: Failure to ensure food is not contaminated/adulterated.

Aux Delices de Bayview (2901 Bayview Ave.)
Inspected on: June 13
Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
Number of infractions: 5 (Minor: 1, Significant: 2, Crucial: 2)
Crucial infractions include: Failure to maintain hazardous foods at 60 C (140 F) or hotter, failure to maintain hazardous foods at 4 C (40 F) or colder.

House of the Week: 1 St. Ives Avenue

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1 st ives avenue torontoThis home at 1 St. Ives Ave. in Lawrence Park (At Lawrence Ave. E. and Mt. Pleasant Rd.) is much like your ex: it has lots of crazy personalities all rolled into one big ball of it's-impossible-to-see-what's-going-on, but that's kind of what you like about it. In some moods, like the wine cellar, this house thinks of itself as a modern, wooded Tuscany situation. In others, it's more Victorian-mod, with a touch of the pearl-clutching but relentlessly stylish elderly lady. There's even a touch of the lumberjack in the exposed beams in one of the dining rooms—something for everyone!

1 st ives avenue torontoSPECS:

Address: 1 St. Ives Avenue
Price: $5,880,000
Size (square feet): N/A
Storeys: 2
Bedrooms: 3 + 2
Bathrooms: 7
Parking Spaces: 2
Property Taxes: $25,784.84

1 st ives avenue torontoNOTABLE FEATURES

  • 1,200 bottle wine cellar
  • Inground pool
  • Skylights
  • Oak herringbone floors
  • Custom mahogany china cabinets
  • Gas Fireplaces
  • Private courtyard
  • Home theatre

1 st ives avenue torontoGOOD FOR

People with as many personalities as the house, who get bored easily and require room to wander. Winos. Cinephiles.

1 st ives avenue torontoMOVE ON IF

Redecorating a house this size will give you a headache/anxiety attack. Or if you want a more low-maintenance kind of life.

ADDITIONAL IMAGES

1 st ives avenue toronto1 st ives avenue toronto1 st ives avenue toronto1 st ives avenue toronto1 st ives avenue toronto1 st ives avenue toronto1 st ives avenue toronto1 st ives avenue toronto1 st ives avenue toronto1 st ives avenue toronto1 st ives avenue toronto1 st ives avenue toronto1 st ives avenue toronto1 st ives avenue toronto1 st ives avenue toronto1 st ives avenue toronto1 st ives avenue toronto
Read other posts in this series via our House of the Week Pinterest board

How to make a cocktail: The charred cedar Manhattan

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Salt TorontoToronto's cocktail renaissance can be traced back to a number of sources, but few would argue that Barchef's Smoked Manhattan represented something of a turning point, both in terms of ambition, and skillful execution. Utilizing the theatre of a grandiose belljar, ordering one became an event that was worth the inevitable wait. Though Frankie Solarik's creations have a tendency to be hit-or-miss (Peking duck is not a welcome addition to a beverage), there was something really special about the ceremony involved when that jar was lifted, and the room was filled with memories of campfires past.

Salt TorontoNick Kennedy, of Salt (Ossington & Dundas), speaks fondly of the drink, but declares both the price point and the, admittedly extensive, ceremony involved as somewhat exclusive. It's not difficult to imagine why he laboured to produce something that could inspire the same feelings in its consumers, but without the high price, nor the need for such highly specialized equipment.

Nick's enthusiasm is infectious, and though he keeps a short cocktail list, tailored around the different stages of the dining experience, to pass to those in the restaurant, those propping themselves up at the bar will find themselves with no such guide. Nick himself inquires and probes, crafting beverages to suit each customer's personal tastes. The Cedar Manhattan, however, has become a favourite, and he's made sure to keep his cupboards well stocked with the necessary ingredients.

Salt TorontoUtilizing food-safe cedar planks and a plane, Nick shaves curls of wood that he uses to smoke the glass, prior to even beginning the cocktail production itself. Though he uses a blowtorch, a cigar lighter will probably do the job in a pinch.

That same cedarwood is used in making his cedar bitters. Home-made bitters are something of a micro-industry amongst Toronto bartenders these days (given the paucity and expense of offerings Ontarians are left with by the LCBO), and Nick has thankfully shared the recipe for these too.

Salt TorontoCombining 1¾ ounces of Maker's Mark bourbon with a ½ ounce of Martini Rosso and ¼ ounce of Martini Dry in a Yarai mixing glass, he stirs the alcohol over ice with 1½ eye droppers worth of cedar bitters. The drink is strained into our smoked glass, and served with a hand-cut king cube of crystal clear ice. It's still dramatic, but Nick is confident that he can pump them out over an evening without the bar coming to a grinding halt every time.

Cedar Bitters:

1 x 6"x8" food safe cedar sheet
⅛ cup cinchona bark
⅛ cup wild cherry bark
⅛ cup cassia chips
1 cup bourbon
½ cup water

(Most of these ingredients can be found with a visit to a specialty spice store. We recommend House of Spices in Kensington Market)

Cut cedar sheet in half, and torch one half to char it. Chop all into small pieces, then combine ingredients into a mason jar and steep for at least two weeks.

Salt TorontoCharred Cedar Manhattan
1 3/4 ounces Makers Mark
1/2 ounce Martini Rosso
1/4 ounce of Dry Martini
1 1/2 eye droppers of Cedar Bitters
Stir and strain into smoked filled glass, add ice.

Photos by Jesse Milns

Miami-style pool bar opens at Polson Pier

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Pool bar torontoCharles Khabouth wants to take you to Miami. He also wants you to rent his towels. His new pool bar at Polson Pier has got a lot of people talking, but will beautiful skies, attractive guys and delicious fries be enough to make all your Instagram followers jealous? Probably.

Read my review of Cabana Pool Bar in the bars section.


Overheard at NXNE 2013

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NXNE 2013Stumbling around late on any given night, you're bound to hear some ridiculous things. During the week-long NXNE festival, though, there is a whole other breed of conversation you'll have the pleasure of overhearing. While there have already been some mid-fest compilations of great overheard lines ("You're like Bob Dylan with a uterus"), we've rounded up the top tweets and our (sadly) personal experiences for your reading pleasure. Some of it features sex, some of it features music, but much of it features beer-addled brains and loose tongues.

My personal favourites were conversations. Case in point, this exchange at the Bill Orcutt and Chris Corsano show at Double Doubleland:

Bill Orcutt: "Toronto rules!"
Random: "Toronto has rules!"

Or this back and forth outside a show:

Strange man to woman: "Can I touch your ass?"
Woman: "No."
Strange man: "Why is there so much ass in this city?"

I was, however, treated to a few solid one-liners. Case(s) in point:

Dan Deacon: "We're going to get two people to come dance inside the circle. This girl here, and the guy with the hat and the astonished look on his face."

And...

"That's so hipster you can't even Google search it."

Here are some of the best things our Twitter followers overheard at NXNE 2013.

Lead photo by Alejandro Santiago

Get to know a Toronto startup: YouShouldTotallyMeet

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You Should Totally MeetGiven all the revolutionary applications of the web over the last decade or so, it's somewhat surprising that online dating is still playing catch up. With sites based on bizarre matchmaking algorithms or trolling through pictures to find physical attraction, the industry seems ready for a makeover.

Hoping to bring a fresh perspective to online dating, a team of four from Toronto launched YouShouldTotallyMeet. In an attempt to take online dating into a new direction, YouShouldTotallyMeet is hoping to transition real-world matchmaking into the realm of social media through Facebook.

If you are single, YouShouldTotallyMeet encourages your friends to vouch for you and make introductions into their social circle. Kind of like six-degrees-of-online-dating. With an estimate of over 30 million singles on Facebook in North America, the team at YouShouldTotallyMeet is convinced that their idea will increase your chances of finding love.

Where did the idea for YouShouldTotallyMeet come from?

Well, two of our founders are happily married and the other two are single. But we've all gone through the tribulations of dating in Toronto. Ironically, in a big city with so many people, it's not easy finding someone you're compatible with. We realized the best way to meet quality, non-crazy people is through the friends we know. After all, if they can vouch for a potential suitor, similar to how LinkedIn recommendations work for a potential employee, they're no longer a stranger you're meeting for a first date. Instead, they're simply a friend of a trusted friend.

Also, through our own experiences with online dating, we know that generating your own profile is one of the biggest barriers in getting yourself online; so we thought, why not have your friends create an honest and meaningful profile for you.

What differentiates YouShouldTotallyMeet from the typical online dating sites like Match.com and Plenty of Fish?

The big differences are that 1) we rely on your Facebook friends and 2) we don't claim to match people with fussy algorithms or compatibility formulas. All we're doing is making it easy for your friends to set you up at the click of a mouse. We think it's bringing a human touch back into online dating. Dating sites are great and all, but they take a lot of effort. You have to spend time searching through hundreds of potential dates, not to mention the initial time invested making your profile as attractive and witty as possible. And let's be honest, a lot of people embellish their profile. What makes our approach special is that the dates that come to you are already vetted through your friends.

Basically our hope is that this app makes you kiss fewer frogs to get you to your prince or princess.

How do I set up an account? Is it easy to start meeting people?

It's super easy. And it's free! Just go to facebook.com/youshouldtotallymeet and install the app. Like any Facebook app it'll ask for basic permissions to your profile. But it's all secure and above board. Then, you choose whether you want to be a wingman for someone, or whether you're the one who wants to be set up. If you're the one who wants to be set up, you pick out a few wingmen and have them say nice things about you. Then it's in their hands to help introduce you to people in their network. Ask them to think of who'd be a good match for you and go from there. How many people you meet ultimately depends on how many wingmen you have, and how connected they are. The more the merrier.

If wingmen are required to set up accounts, don't people get concerned about who knows their business?

We don't see it that way. We recognize there's still this stigma attached to online dating, like it's somehow a less valid way of meeting people. But it's not. It's also not true that finding a relationship has to be done on your own. Your friends are there to help you. They're a fantastic resource, and they want to see you happy.

If people are concerned over privacy, they should know the only notification your Facebook friends will see is when you install the app (it just says "So-and-so just joined YouShouldTotallyMeet") or when your wingman shares a quality they wrote about you as a wall post. They're helping you out by saying 'hey, I know someone great that you all should meet and here's why.'

Are there other options similar to YouShouldTotallyMeet?

We've come across a couple apps and sites that are kind of similar, but don't have the simplicity we're so proud of. There's LikeBright who we think is great. But again, it's an app that tries to predict and serve up who will be a good match for you. We're boiling everything down to plain-and-simple human connections. We're asking your friends to simply go through their rolodex of friends and think of who'd be a good match for you. That's all.

What's your perspective on the future of Online Dating?

The fundamental structure of online dating hasn't really changed a whole lot. It's still a very independent (some might say lonely) system where you do all the work by yourself. We think there's opportunity to change that. It doesn't have to be something that single people need to be secretive about. Because we're making a conscious move away from anything that's programmed or automated, we hope to bring a sense of humanity to online dating.

I think that's what was missing for a long time. No one should feel embarrassed for wanting a relationship. The more people who know you're on the lookout for someone special, the better your chances of finding that person.

10 local wines to try this summer in Toronto

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Ontario wineriesOntario wines have now long outlived the bad reputation that they had a decade ago for being overly priced and decidedly vegetal in character. Pair that with the growing push toward locally sourced products, and you now see a far more pronounced Ontario presence on wine lists at Toronto restaurants. I suspect, however, that not everybody's been won over. And, in fairness, there's still a lot of crap out there at shudder-worthy prices. But if you know a few wineries to look for, there's a lot to like about drinking local(ish) wine this summer.

Here's a list of some of my recommendations, based mostly on taste but also to some extent on availability. It's completely subjective, of course, but a good place to start if you're looking to try out wines made in Toronto's proverbial backyard. If you're a fan, it's probably worth considering a trip to visit the wineries themselves.

Thirty Bench Riesling 2012, $18.75
Thirty Bench does Riesling very well, and although the single vineyard offerings come with a bit more cachet, the standard bottling is every bit as good available in greater supply. Look for a combination of orange citrus and lots of mineral notes. Purchase via the winery or at the LCBO.

13th Street White Palette 2011, $14.95
Head winemaker Jean Pierre Colas loves to blend varietals and does so to great success with this vintage, Composed of Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Gewurztraminer, Musqué and Viognier this is an intriguing wine that's fresh and fruit forward. Available via the winery or after June 22nd at the LCBO.

Featherstone 2012 Black Sheep Riesling, $16.95
This wine is named for the vineyard sheep who eat away at the low-hanging leaves on the Riesling vines, which helps expose the grapes to sunlight. It's a great idea, but wouldn't be worth talking about if the wine sucked. Good news! It doesn't. Available via the winery or at the LCBO.

Fielding Estate 2011 Rose, $16.15
There's lots of Ontario rosés to choose from, but Fielding's version gets my vote on account of the Cabernet Franc in the blend, which gives the wine peppery notes against its more obvious fruitiness. Available via the winery or at the LCBO.

Hinterland Whitecap 2012, $22
I wanted to keep the majority of these wines under $20, but it's easy to make an exception for this sparkling wine from Prince Edward County. Think of this as Ontario prosecco, and bust it out on a special occasion. Available via the winery.

Huff Estates 2012 Pinot Gris, $19.95
As I mentioned last week, most wine drinkers tend to associate Prince Edward County with Pinto Noir and Chardonnay, but this is a standout Pinto Gris built around a combination of sour citrus and minerality. Substitute this as a pairing with salmon instead of Chardonnay for something a bit different. Available via the winery or at the LCBO.

Inniskillin Niagara Estate Pinot Noir, $15.95
There's no rule against drinking red in the summer of course, but if you want to keep things light, try chilling this Pinot Noir down a few degrees. It's (relatively cheap) and fruit-forward (think cranberries), but it's got a great bouquet. Available via the winery or at the Wine Rack.

Rief Estate Gamay Noir, $13.15
This is another one to drink on the cooler side (like 14 or 15C). Similar to a Beaujolais (yep, gamay is the grape), this is an easy drinking wine with lots of sour fruit notes and lively acidity. It'll pair up well with casual food on the barbecue or on its own. Available via the winery.

Tawse 2012 Quarry Road Estate Gewurztraminer, $24.95
I'd be a goof not to put a Gewurztraminer on this list, if only because it's one of those wines that holds up well against spicier foods and Asian cuisine. There's tons of honey and sweet citrus on the nose, and as a bonus it's certified organic and biodynamic. Available via the winery.

Hidden Bench 2010 Nuit Blanche Rosomel Vineyard, $40
OK, so this one might be harder to find (I think there's a bit left at the winery itself) and it''s the most expensive on the list, but it's as close as you're going to get to an Ontario Cult wine, a fact which is underscored by its presence on Momofuku's wine list. A combination of Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon, it's hard to fathom that this wine was produced 45 minutes away from Toronto. Available via the winery (maybe).

Thanks to the New Listerine UltraClean for sponsoring our wine-soaked adventures.

The coolest people at NXNE 2013

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blue hawaiiNobody likes going to shows alone. Well, some people do but they are shows themselves: freak shows. I certainly don't like it, but at NXNE it's a different matter. The nature and fluidity of the festival allows for a great number of encounters with fellow travellers as well as the good people who support the infrastructure of the madness.

So for this summary I'm taking the point of view that the festival is more about the people then the music, film, art, interactivity, or even the alcohol. Here are the coolest of the cool of NXNE 2013.

The Lady who gave me my media pass

It was a brief interaction, but she was super cool despite having to work with media people all week. She laughed at my quip, was efficient, and wasn't wearing an obnoxious fedora. Usually the Hyatt Regency (headquarters of NXNE), gives me weird vibes due to the large concentration of "industry people," but she alleviated that stress and I was able to slip out before someone gave me a dirty look.

That dude I met outside The Horseshoe

This dude was taking pictures outside of the Horseshoe. Trying to make my own impression of the crowd, I asked him what his caption for the photos would be: "Too drunk to get into The Horseshoe," he quipped and went on to explain that he was referring to himself.

Despite his strong desire to get into the Dan Deacon, show he remained in high spirits (literally and figuratively), going into great detail about the positive experience he had so far, particularly with the interactive aspects of the show. Finally, he gave me his wrist band that would have entitled me free drinks at The Hoxton. Solid move by a solid dude.

The Sax Player of Nicholas Doubleyou and The B-Squad

Actually, all the members of Nicholas Doubleyou and The B-Squad seemed cool and their set was amazing, but there's looking cool and then there's looking cool ripping saxaphone, which is the coolest thing one can be doing. This dude had more chops than Master Tommy Chang's Black Belt World.

Yonge Dundas NXNEThe Crowd at the Yonge & Dundas Square concerts!

Just by the sheer fact that no-one got shot, trampled, stabbed, beaten, jumped, thugged, jugged, wedged, slegged, dregged, or blown up. Really cool everyone!

Most of the Bouncers

NXNE shows are extra confusing due to the hierarchy of the passes but not one took out their frustration on me, an easy target (see previous comment sections).

The band DIANA

From the very back of the bar I was immersed in their show, even if I had to squint. The energetic blobs bustling behind what I assumed to be instruments put on an dynamite show. My impression was enforced by the audience, whom I could see much clearer, and whose apparent delight reached all the way to my spot.

The only frustration I felt was during the first few songs wherein I was disappointed with the use of a pre-recorded saxophone. So imagine my delight when a fellow 12 feet away moved his head and revealed a saxophone player!

I could have come earlier so the blame is entirely mine. I don't don think it was a fair impression of a band, really it was more akin to watching a preview of what DIANA is like live. The reporter, for one, can't wait to see them within my range of vision.

Me.

I thought I did a pretty good job being a participant.

Photos by Denise McMullin and Andrew Williamson

25 highlights from the red carpet at the 2013 MMVAs

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2013 MMVAs TorontoThis past sunday myself and photographer Alejandro Santiago had the opportunity to attend vanilla teen Mecca, "The MuchMusic Video Awards." Being two adult men, we were quite lost as to who was a celeb and who was just a member of the Bell Media elite. Being an event that only seemed to celebrate celebrity, this was a definite handicap.

This confusion was compounded by the fact that we were delegated to the press room and back corridors of the MuchMusic establishment, unable to see the show and judge relative popularity levels by the adolescent screams. We were reserved to making glib comments in the back row, our humour based in the fact that we were too cool or simply too old to recognize most of the faces we encountered. It was actually kind of fun being ignorant of the who's who — like everyone else could see ghosts but I couldn't and thus was not afraid. Plus there was free beer!

I can say with certainty that I almost stepped on the toe of the guy with the "hair" from Billy Talent. It wasn't intentional, he seemed quite nice. I also had the opportunity to ask the bearded man who plays the teen wolf in Teen Wolf and Avril Lavigne a question. I declined due to lack of curiosity. But hopefully, your time spent stargazing over the following slideshow is more fruitful than my own vague celeb experience. I hope they get the Muppets next year, because I love those guys and they are easy to spot.

Check out our slideshow for a visual recap of the red carpet festivities.

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