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Morning Brew: Norm Kelly eyed as next deputy mayor, Ford favours byelection, Sarah Thomson plans return, major subway closure looms, and Ford Nation rocks out

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toronto riverCllr. Norm Kelly will become Rob Ford's deputy mayor if Doug Holyday is successful in his run for a seat in the provincial parliament. Ford made the announcement at this weekend's "Ford Fest," his annual summer public get-together, in Scarborough. Holyday is running against fellow councillor Peter Milczyn for a seat in Queen's Park.

In the event one of the two wins the seat, Rob Ford says the city should hold a byelection to fill the potentially vacant seat on council. "You cannot put a price on democracy," he said on Sunday. An election will cost around $150,000 but council has the option of appointing someone to the seat. Is Ford making the right call?

Speaking of appointments, Sarah Thomson, for former mayoral candidate who alleged Ford made inappropriate advances at a military gala, is lobbying to fill the potentially vacant Etobicoke seat, according to the Toronto Star. Thomson is promising not to run for the ward at the next election if she's appointed. How do you rate her chances?

Meanwhile, former TTC chair Adam Giambrone is going to be the NDP candidate in the Scarborough-Guildwood provincial by-election.

Get ready for chaos - the TTC is planning to close part of the Yonge-University line between Osgoode and King for nine consecutive days in October. The line will also be closed between St. George and Bloor - the entire downtown portion of the subway - on the weekends either side of the Osgoode-King outage. The unprecedented move will allow workers to replace decades-old signal infrastructure. Can downtown keep moving without its subway?

Good news, silence lovers. GO says its expanding its Quiet Zones to all rush-hour trains starting 15 July. The special areas have proved popular during a pilot project on the Barrie line this year. Riders are asked to mute cellphones, keep calls brief, and ensure music on headphones is kept low.

Toronto Zoo is working on a device to convert animal poo into electricity. The power plant is capable of turning 3,000 tonnes of dung and 14,000 tonnes of supermarket waste into power, fertilizer, and heat. Just don't complain about crappy electricity in the event of an blackout.

Finally, the Ford Nation anthem we heard about last week now has a video. Titled "Mayor Ford (The World Will Remember)," the tune by singer-songwriter Jenny James features soaring vocals, big drums, and crunching guitar riffs that wouldn't be out of place in the theme song of a particularly epic 1990s Saturday morning cartoon. Enjoy.

FROM THE WEEKEND:

IN BRIEF:

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

Image: Ben Roffelsen/blogTO Flickr pool.


This Week in Music: Skydiggers release cover album, Weezer at Downsview Park, Animal Collective play Danforth Music Hall

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WeezerThis Week in Music rounds up the latest news, releases and concerts coming to Toronto.

IN THE NEWS

Skydiggers release cover album for 25th anniversary

It's been kind of a lean week for local music news, but fans of Toronto roots legends Skydiggers will be pleased to hear that the band has released a collection of cover songs as part of their 25th anniversary celebration. The album, titled No. 1 Northern, pays homage to nine different Canadian artists, including Neil Young, Gordon Lightfoot, Ron Sexsmith, Gene MacLellan, and more. I've listened to the album, and it's a nice little take on some classic Canadian tunes. Head on over to the band's official site for a full track listing and more information.

THIS WEEK'S HOT TICKETS

TUESDAY JULY 9 / ANIMAL COLLECTIVE / DANFORTH MUSIC HALL / 147 DANFORTH / $35.50 - $38 / ALL AGES

While it may not be a sound that appeals to everyone, there's no denying the fact that the psychedelic stylings of Baltimore's Animal Collective are nothing if not unique. The four-piece, made up of Avey Tare, Panda Bear, Geologist, and Deakin (you've gotta love those handles), have been together since 1999, and in that time they've embraced a style of music that is tough to nail down to a single genre. Call it art rock, call it psych folk, call it experimental - against all odds, it works. Dan Deacon will offer support.

FRIDAY JULY 12 / WEEZER / DOWNSVIEW PARK / 35 CARL HALL RD / $82.50 / ALL AGES

Even hardcore fans of Weezer have to admit that the band's recent work has been...well, lacking. In fact, some (including myself) would say that it outright sucks. Their earlier work, however, is considered by many to be some of the best rock of the 90s. That's why this show should appeal to new and old fans of the band, as they'll be performing their debut album in its entirety. With classics including "Buddy Holly," "My Name Is Jonas," "Say It Ain't So," and "Undone - The Sweater Song," this promises to be a very, very fun show. And if that's not enough to entice you, Passion Pit will also be on hand, which almost justifies the outrageous ticket price.

RECENTLY ANNOUNCED CONCERTS

WHAT WE GOT UP TO LAST WEEK

Photo of Weezer courtesy of Andrew Ferguson on Flickr.

New workshop aims to help women, trans folk break into the music industry

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Heather Kirby OhbijouHeather Kirby of Toronto-based band Ohbijou notices a serious gap when it comes to the music being produced around her. There is a shortage of women and trans-folk making music, and so she decided to put on a workshop to get people from those groups out and learning about the industry. "Resampled" is the name of the workshop, which will be held this weekend at the Tranzac. The gathering will help participants to explore the technical as well as the creative aspects of music production in an open, friendly atmosphere, and facilitators will include Maylee Todd, Tara Rogers and DJ Cozmic Cat, among others.

The workshop will explore challenges unique to women and trans folk looking to break into the industry, including "invisibility, lack of mentors and role models, and negative representations in the media." The event's website says the goal is to "'resample' ideas about who can and should be involved in producing the music we hear and to widen creative possiblity(ies) in the process."

Resampled is a free, hands-on event, and it will take place one day only, this Sunday, July 14 at Tranzac, beginning at 10 a.m. It's open to the public, but registration is required.

Toronto gets a new oyster bar

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oyster bar torontoOpen for just over three weeks, this new al fresco-only oyster bar is about as cool as can be; it's built out of old wooden skids; backs on to the train tracks; and is lit after sundown by string lights. On the menu there's oysters, crawfish boil and cocktails by the pitcher.

Read my profile of Cool City Oyster Yard in the restaurants section.

Street Style: 20 looks from a rainy day in Yorkville

New King West lounge features massive rooftop patio

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rooftop patio king westThis new lounge and rooftop patio on King Street West boats 3000 square feet of aesthetically-pleasing indulgence. Will the specialty drinks, lush plants and high-quality hookahs be enough to make this spot standout out on what is a crowded strip for nightlife?

Read my review of EFS in the bars section.

The Gladstone Flea ain't your conventional flea market

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Gladstone FleaThe Gladstone Flea is not your typical flea market full of aggressive rummagers and treasure-hunters, sidelining competitors with rogue but purposeful elbows. The Gladstone Flea is a civilized operation, with local artisans positioned as the peaceful sentinels of their wares in the transformed bar on the ground floor of the Gladstone Hotel.

The market crops up on the first Saturday of the month throughout the summer, and vendors sell everything from re-purposed and painted Mason jars to jewelry, stationary and a phenomenal collection of vintage clothing. Just about everything is up for grabs at flea market pricing, too.

Here's a roundup of the stalls I loved most at the most recent Gladstone Flea.

bright brown boutiquebright-brown boutique
bright-brown tops my list of shops at the Gladstone Flea. Sometimes really good fashion seems spiritual, and Gin Murray, the owner of this operation, is clearly in possession of that tidbit of info. On offer in her little corner were a selection of '90s swimsuits for dudes and ladies (around $30), a crop top suit straight out of Full House for $28, and a thorough and commendable collection of vintage footwear. She also travels around to sell her incredible finds at music festivals in a '60s travel trailer. Friend crush: complete.

Said the KingSaid the King
If I cared about living in a less-than-slovenly home, I would purchase just about everything these geniuses create. Double-sided pillow cases with "fuck" and "love" on one, and "you" and "me" on the other ($45). Cool floating shelves. Saucy coasters. And, like everything else, it's locally made. And to top it off, the owner acted like it was just a weird coincidence that she'd created all of this cool shit—bonus points for real modesty (and cute smiles).

joolJool
Usually sold at Lavish&Squalor and The Coal Miner's Daughter, these perfectly re-purposed vintage duds are completely on point. The '90s DIY effect is in full swing, with spruced up old wolf shirts ($20) and studded denim vests (about $40) a-plenty. There are also handmade, totally unique clutches that would make great gifts, or mood-boosting makeup bags.

She Said JewelryShe Said Jewelry
The energy of all of the powerful female spirits of our universe flows straight out of these ethereal necklaces and directly into the brain of the wearer. Each piece is unique and handmade in Toronto from raw materials like crystals, feathers and wood. Owner Cara Said takes clients by appointment, and her stuff is also available at The Coal Miner's Daughter.

Made in Brockton VillageMade in Brockton Village
The greeting cards by Made in Brockton Village are terribly adorable. You kind of want to buy them all and turn them into custom wallpaper. They've got everything from owls wishing the receiver a happy birthday, to avocados, bikes and VW vans printed on the front, and can be had for about $6. In case you can't live without one, they're also available at General Tao and Scout.

gladstone fleaOne-Off
One-Off brands itself as "curated vintage apparel," and though lots of people have some sort of inexplicable beef with the too-perfect word 'curated,' I'm going to go ahead and use it anyway. Because in this case, it applies, but the prices are still amazing—all tops were $10, and all bottoms were $20. Standouts for me were a gorgeous yet miniscule pair of tropical-print high waisted trousers, and a $5 table stocked full of vintage baubles.

Savannagh and MagidaSavannagh & Magida Knick-Knackeries
The owners of this little nostalgia bomb have been collecting rare and vintage items for years, and it's their collection that stocks their shop. Their stand brims over with baskets of old photographs, a vintage shaving kit for the kitschy dude in your life ($12), and all kinds of other antique baubles like broaches and razors and corn cob pipes ($5).

Light and Paper ShopLight and Paper Shop
Light and Paper products have an impossibly cute vibe and an irresistible sense of humour. Each card is hand-cut with a special design—everything from the likeness of our venerable mayor to a map of our city. Messages include the ever-sympathetic "Cheer the fuck up" and "Bitch, don't kill my vibe," all for around $5. Too great.

House of BaubleHouse of Bauble
Designer Justyna Zarzeczny makes perfectly on-trend spiky necklaces and other treasures, the materials for which were clearly mined straight from the little mermaid's grotto. Necklaces are shades of coral and turquoise, and everything has the perfect twinge of sea-punk. Not only that, some of these handmade treats can be had for about $30.

Team ArtTeam Art
This little operation is the ideal stop for nerd friends on your shopping list. Or for friends who have boring office jobs and need a pick-me-up other than booze or whatever their thing is. They sell hand-drawn colouring books ($12) of everything trendy on TV and the interwebs, such as Mad Men, Game of Thrones, and cats, people.

The next Gladstone Flea will be held Aug. 3 from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.

The top 25 cheap chicken wings in Toronto

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Cheap Chicken Wings TorontoCheap chicken wings in Toronto aren't really all that cheap these days and generally hover around $9 to $12 a pound in the absence of a special. For the best value, it's smart to adopt one of three strategies: order en masse, snag a combo with sides or beers, or, take advantage of nightly specials.

Here's a round-up of 25 joints that offer finger-licking chicken wings on the cheap.

SEE ALSO:The best chicken wings in Toronto

A-OK Foods
This West Queen West snack bar doesn't do specials, but comes in slightly cheaper than average on a regular basis. Spicy chili-spiced Chino Wings and KFC (that's Korean Fried Chicken) Wings go for $9.50 each order and are available late night on weekends.

All Star Wings and Ribs
This York Region franchise does wings in 200+ flavours and is known for accommodating big groups and big appetites. While a single order goes for $11, ordering in quantities of 30, 50 or 100 can drop the price down to $1 a wing or less.

Bishop and The Belcher
Taking wing specials seriously, this Bloor East bar does 3lbs. of wings for only $12 on Wednesday nights; on Sundays, 2lbs of wings with fries and onion rings are only $11; and on Tuesdays, 1lb of bourbon BBQ wings go on special with fries and slaw for $13. Sauces include unique flavours like chipotle, sriracha and sesame garlic.

Bistro on Avenue
This Avenue Road joint is the OG of Buffalo-style wings in Toronto and the predecessor of the Chick' n' Deli and St. Louis franchises. Here, a regular order with fries goes for $10 and a large order is $16. Weekday lunch specials will slash a couple bucks off from 11am to 3pm.

Clinton's Tavern
This tavern near Christie Pits does the first pound of crispy fried wings for $9 but save a dollar on the next pound, and save $2 on the third. Sauces are served on the side in flavours like hot, medium, BBQ, Thai chili and housemade honey garlic. Occasional $6 specials are advertised on facebook.

Crown & Dragon
This Rosedale pub does wings in 30 novel flavours like Honeycomb Heaven and baked Bollywood. The first pound costs $11, but order in bulk for up to three additional pounds at $10 each. All day on Sundays and after 5pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays; take $3 off each order with a drink purchase.

Czehoski
This West Queen West eatery serves up chicken wings for $12 an order in mild, medium, hot, BBQ or suicide with crudités and blue cheese dip on the side. On Tuesdays starting at 5pm, $15 will get you a pound and a pitcher of Pabst Blue Ribbon.

Drums N Flats
Pick from drummettes or flats and have them fried dry, wet or double dipped then doused in one of 12 sauces. This North Toronto joint does wings to spec' for $11.50 per pound (2lbs. for $22) served in papered baskets with veggie sticks and buttermilk dill or blue cheese dip.

Duff's
Three GTA locations specialize in classic Buffalo wings available in varying degrees of heat. On Tuesday nights, ten wings with celery and creamy dill or blue cheese dip are only $7.25 with the purchase of a drink. Week-round, the best value can be had when ordering 20 at time in combos with fries and a pitcher of pop or beer for $29.25 to $41.25.

Einstein Cafe & Pub
Situated across from UofT, this College Street bar does $10 plates of meaty over-sized wings with chunky blue cheese dip. Have them naked; in the standard medium to hot varieties; or try the house specialty, a honey garlic and BBQ sauce mix.

Fresco Fish & Chips
Situated in Kensington Market, this tiny fish and chip shop happens to do pretty decent wings too. The one pound combo is $11 and includes a choice of sides like fried pickles or breaded mushrooms and either blue cheese, ranch or chipotle dip.

GameDay on College
This College Street sports bar does single orders of traditional, breaded or boneless wings in a choice of 40+ sauces or seasonings for $11 — greater discounts applied when ordering en masse. On Tuesdays, wings and a pint of Molson are on for $14, and, Wednesdays are dedicated to half price wings.

Hurricane's
This Bloorcourt roadhouse does ten varieties of wings grilled or fried by the pound for $11 (2lbs. for $20 or 3lbs. for $29). Each order includes shoestring fries and veggie sticks with blue cheese dip. On Mondays and Tuesdays, 2-for-1 specials are offered all day.

Lou Dawg's
Lou's two downtown locations dry rub then slow smoke their juicy jumbo wings before dousing them in one of three Southern style sauces. Here a pound will set you back $10, or, take advantage of Mondays and Wednesday $5 specials with a drink purchase.

Mill Street Brew Pub
This Distillery District brew pub regularly offers wings at $12 per pound (2lbs for $22) in flavours like Jamaican Jerk BBQ plus all the old faves; medium, hot or honey garlic. Go on Tuesday nights for 55¢ wing specials offered with a drink purchase.

Oddseoul
This popular Ossington Avenue bar slings fingerlicking, Korean-style fried poultry, painted with a sweet and spicy glaze. While the $5 snack sized portion isn't suitable for a meal, it'll satisfy a hankering in a pinch.

Opera Bob's
The kitchen at this Dundas and Ossington pub tosses wings in a choice of six tried and true sauces including hot and honey and the full gamut from medium to suicide. Each order goes for $10 and includes a side of fries and veggies.

Peter's Cajun Creole Pizza
This pizza joint on Parliament at Gerrard does spicy and smoky cajun seasoned chicken wings for $11.25. Not too bad considering that delivery is free.

Sloppy Joe's
Regularly, this family owned and operated Etobicoke establishment serves ten wings for $11 (20 wings for $20). Go Tuesdays and Thursdays for the best value when the pub grub specialty is offered up for 50¢ a wing.

Right Wing
This midtown sports bar at Yonge and Eglinton does wings by the pound for $12 an order. Pick from jumbo or bistro sized, and, choose from dozens of unique sauces and rubs like Baja Chipotle or even Wing Poutine. On Mondays after 5pm the Wing-O-Mania special kicks in with a half price discount.

Squirly's
This West Queen West bar near Trinity Bellwoods regularly serves up jumbo grilled wings in mild, medium or hot for $9 an order including a choice of fresh salad. Tuesday wing night specials start at 4pm and feature a pound of wings for just $6.50.

Tara Inn
This Scarborough joint serves up jumbo, meaty wings doused in a choice of sauce. Five wings go for $9, seven for $11 and ten for $13, but, go on Mondays for the best value when the pub grub favourite is served ten at a time for only $6.80.

The Pilot
This landmark tavern and jazz den is generally a budget destination by Yorkville standards, though wings are $11 per pound (2lbs for $20) and they don't do specials. Done in classic pub styles and sweet chili or lemon pepper variations, the wings are tasty enough but the real reason to go is for the glorious rooftop patio.

The Roy
This public house on Queen East does roaster wings by the pound for $11 (two for $18) in medium, hot, honey garlic or BBQ. Wing nights on Mondays and Wednesdays start at 5pm and drop the price per pound down to $6 with a beverage purchase. All orders are served with carrots, celery and blue cheese dressing. Add fresh-cut chips for $2.

Yakitori Bar
This Baldwin Village restaurant dubs its offerings "Seoul Street Food meets Tokyo Grill" and does spicy chilli pepper and rice battered wings for $9, as well as, a grilled option served a la carte for $5. Better still, $10 combos include fries and a choice of sauce like kimchi honey, teriyaki or sesame garlic.

Photo of Duff's Famous Wings


Inaugural Parkdale Flea brings the kitsch to Queen St.

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Parkdale FleaParkdale is possibly the most idyllic mini-borough in Toronto to be hosting a flea market. This stretch of Queen West is already liberally speckled with antique stores, vintage clothing boutiques, and rambling junk shops. It only makes sense to rustle up some of those vendors, as well as more flea-oriented entrepreneurs, and put on a delightful summer yard sale. The inaugural flea was on Sunday at 1266 Queen St. W., at Dufferin (the same building as the Parkdale Legal Clinic).

If you're a vintage lover and you missed this, you can at least look forward to the fact that there's another one coming up. The stars that govern ethical commerce have smiled upon you: there will be another flea on August 4. Hoarders, go forth and rejoice! Here are my top picks from the vendors at the first round of the flea.

Flock accessories
In jewelry right now, so many designers have drawn inspiration from the same trends (feathers, teeth, spikes) that it's hard to find a piece that's truly unique. Flock is one few I've seen lately who makes the cut. If you grew up on a farm, you need to check out this shop: designer Lauren Ho uses fish skin instead of leather, and dyes horse hair and puts it on necklaces. She hand-dyes her own suede. She is awesome, and her creations are so weird (and beautiful) that they're a little story in themselves.

ParkdaleFitzy
Fitzy makes classic leather accessories that I have been altered or morphed to have a more high-end, designer vibe, but the pieces are also really affordable. Highlights at ther table included a nude leather glasses case ($65) and a collection of small leather pouches, leather-embellished jewelry and key chains ($30).

Parkdale Fleae79
Joti Gill and Kristen Hiney just launched e79 jewelry, and I'm willing to bet they'll soon be well-known jewelry designers in Toronto. They make long gold necklaces with inch long charms that look like little magical telescopes, adorned with bright sapphires ($180). They also have precious bow rings (starting at $65), which seem to suit everyone so well right now, from tattooed rockabilly chicks to preppy, proper young ladiezz. Soon to open up shop in the Junction, e79 is not one to be missed if you have a girly gal in the circle of your heart.

Parkdale Fleaearth&city
As always in our fair city in July, the weather was sticky and stifling on this particular Sunday, despite spastic bouts of rain. earth&city beckoned through the heat like a mirage, with a table full of fresh juices and healthy smoothies. I ordered a frothy potion of kale, strawberry and cinnamon, which sounds gross but actually tastes like the kind of breakfast you'd feed to a shrill and finicky child. Aka, delicious. It's also so nutritious I can feel it making up for the fact that I subsisted on cigarettes and bourbon for the preceding days of the weekend. They also make lemonade and beet juice, and their products are totally vegan. Nom.

Parkdale FleaNola Grimes
Nola Grimes is so ironic I'm almost convinced the shop isn't stylish on purpose. Seahorse necklaces. Cleopatra-inspired chokers. Lady-compacts complete with little rose patterns and mirrors. Leather lady-bags. Everything in here would pair perfectly with messy-ass hair and leather, just to add a bit of jokey femme and propriety to the situation.

Parkdale FleaNoble Street Antiques
Noble Street was a standout participant at Sunday's flea. Their wares were displayed inside the building, and they essentially had anything any home decor connoisseur could wish for. There were Polaroids, vintage suitcases, antique windows repurposed as chalk boards. There were small just-because-i-love-you gifts, like horns ($5) and Coke jack-knives ($20). There was an actual pinball machine. Noble Street stole the day, boys.

Parkdale Flea1% talent
These screenprinted tees are ideal for the geeks and fringey class-clown types in your life. They proudly feature strangely-shaped animals and mountains with faces, among a gamut of other choices, for about $30. There are different designs, too, including slim-fit tanks and loser-fitting tees. Weird for sure, but awesome.

Parkdale FleaViolet Crown vintage
Violet Crown vintage deals in truly wearable retro finds. I spot a pair of Yves St. Laurent sandals that look straight out of 1994, a fringed cowboy vest in powder blue (on sale for $99), and a huge collection of wooly sweaters for chilly nights by the water (about $20 to $30). They've got a bit of a country vibe going on, and it makes for standout shopping.

Parkdale FleaL&A Vintage
L&A Vintage sells a carefully selected collection of antiques. They have lots of great jewelry in the form of lockets and bright earrings, but the standouts are definitelypieces made out of wood. Standouts include canes to get your pimp on (or..prop yourself or a friend up if either of you needs it, obviously) and vintage wood shipping crates for about $20 to $50.

Parkdale FleaGotamago
Gotamago doesn't just churn out cards based on trends. Their designs are goofy, inspired by sumo wrestlers, maps, pho, and Toronto's architecture. Cards are created for all occasions, and they can be purchased online for a mere $5.43.

The next Parkdale Flea is August 4 from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m., and it will again be set up at 1266 Queen St. W.

Photos by Jesse Milns

Giant condo project could change the face of Yorkville

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toronto 2 bloor westThings have been very quiet around 2 Bloor Street West for several years, almost too quiet. In January 2010 the city granted an Oxford Properties project zoning approval - the right to put up a building of a certain height and footprint - but an appeal to the Ontario Municipal Board from local residents put the brakes on the idea before aesthetics could become a factor.

Now, over three years since the plans first surfaced, things seem to be heating up just a little. A set of digital renderings released online by Architects Alliance show in greatest detail yet what Oxford is planning, even if the company is distancing itself from the images.

toronto 2 bloor westAs the VP of development for Oxford Properties, Johann Schumacher, is keen to point out, the designs depict a very early concept for the L-shaped Yorkville site stretching from Bay to Yonge and down to Bloor. He says almost nothing is certain at this stage, including the status of the CIBC tower at Yonge and Bloor.

"We tested a lot of concepts out on the site and those images are quite early," he says. "We're still working on the site and working through a number of concepts - nothing's been locked down firm in place."

Oxford owns the 34-storey CIBC building and could, if they wanted, pull it down to make room for one of its two proposed new towers. Were it to be demolished, it would be the tallest building ever pulled down in Toronto's history, but that doesn't mean it will actually happen.

"In working with the city planners we don't have any immediate plans to go demolishing that tower," Schumacher adds. "This is one of many options we've looked at on that site."

toronto 2 bloor westWhat we do know is this: Oxford has basic consent for two towers, 125.3 and 162 metres, one possibly mid-block and one closer to Yonge. The existing shopping mall located on the south side of Cumberland St. will likely be demolished and replaced with new retail.

Pushing ahead with the project could have consequences for another proposal currently working its way through the approval process. An 85-storey condo planned for the current Holt Renfrew site could mean three extremely tall residential buildings appear on the same block before 2020.

It's a particularly challenging piece of land to develop. The site is directly above the Bloor-Danforth line and would require creative structural supports to make it viable. The lack of underground space also means many of the development's amenities will likely be located above ground.

Oxford, however, says it won't make a move until the market conditions are right. The next step toward realizing their designs would be to submit a detailed site plan application to the city. At that stage, we would get a more detailed look at what's in store.

What do you think of the sudden increase in activity on this block? Is it an appropriate area for high-rise residential towers? Would you be sad to see the CIBC tower go?

toronto 2 bloor westChris Bateman is a staff writer at blogTO. Follow him on Twitter at @chrisbateman.

Images: Architects Alliance

Massive rain storm hits Toronto causing flooding and power outages

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Rain storm toronto july 2013Toronto is in the midst of getting hit by a massive rain storm, with totals reaching as high as 75mm of precipitation (some reports have as much as 90mm fallen at Pearson Airport). A procession of powerful thunderstorms is currently working its way through the GTA, causing localized flooding, power outages, and frowns all round.

Right now, the TTC says the subway system holding in key areas due to a series of signal and flooding issues. There are pockets which remain in use on the YUS line and the Bloor-Danforth line is running between Jane and Kennedy, but much of the system is shut down. There are also widespread reports of flooding at Union Station.

Streetcar service may be affected due to surface flooding but there are no reports of any issues with power. There are also reports of flooding on the DVP, 401, and several other major roads, including Lake Shore and Esplanade.

Widespread power outages have been reported in Toronto, while reports indicate that 70 per cent of Mississauga is without power. Both Square One and and Sherway malls have been evacuated due to flooding.

Pictures began to surface almost immediately of cars stranded in flooded underpasses, burst storm drains spewing geysers, and general soaking misery for thousands of rush-hour commuters. Here are some preliminary photos of the storm, with more to come shortly.

Add your photos of the storm to Instagram with the hashtag #drenchedTO.

UPDATE: 19:36

TTC: Yonge-University-Spadina line is closed Davisville to St. Clair West, Osgoode to Bloor, Lawrence to Finch, Bloor-Danforth is down from Ossington to Kipling, and there's no service on the Sheppard line.

ROADS: Disaster, frankly. Too many local floods to count. DVP is closed south of the Bloor/Bayview exit and cops are turning cars around, Allen Road is closed at Eglinton, Lake Shore is a mess, Bayview is closed south of Pottery Road, King is reportedly bad around Atlantic Ave., and a large portion of Highway 427 is a lake.

HYDRO: Current estimates are 300,000 without power in the GTA.

WEATHER: Rain is easing right now but more is in the forecast. Here are some current rainfall levels: 92 mms at Pearson, 90mm downtown, 107 mm reported in places. The one-day record is 121 mm at Pearson and the CBC says that could go with this next wave.

UPDATE: 19:55

Reports now of a trapped GO train south of Pottery Road on the Richmond Hill line. Pictures show water rising through the train. Pictures below.

Toronto Police, not surprisingly, are advising people avoid traveling and warn to steer clear of rivers and streams. Waters are extremely unpredictable.

UPDATE: 20:15

Rob Ford on CBC Radio: "We have to batten down the hatches and do the best we can." Says call 311 for non-emergencies, 911 for emergencies. "I don't want to say this is scary but it's getting very uncomfortable right now," he added after seeing some flood damage. "It's a major concern."

"Stay at home and take care of people who might be vulnerable"

UPDATE: 20:20

Pictures now emerging of commuters swimming away from GO train trapped in the Don Valley. Marine unit responding.

More rain on the radar - weather reports say it won't be as heavy, possibly another 10-20 mms. Should be here in around 30 to 40 minutes.

toronto flood radar

UPDATE: 20:33

TTC: No service on Yonge-University-Spadina from Downsview to St Clair West, Osgoode to Bloor, Lawrence to Finch. Bloor-Danforth down Ossington to Kipling, Sheppard Line still shut. Shuttle buses on routes. TTC's Brad Ross: "It will be slow."

GO TRANSIT: Reports of trains trapped in several locations. Staff say avoid the service until further notice.

AIRPORTS: Porter has cancelled all flights out of Billy Bishop this evening. Some cancellations at Pearson though getting there will be one of the biggest issues for travelers.

ROADS: Avoid, avoid, avoid. DVP closed south of York Mills, floods on Highway 427, 401, and Allen Road. Still lots of local floods, too. Traffic lights are out at numerous intersections across the city - treat these intersections as a four-way stop.

POWER: Toronto Hydro says around 300,000 still without power. Crews assessing damage.

UPDATE: 20:56

FORD: 30 minutes ago the Toronto Sun's Don Peat reported the mayor was in his SUV with the AC running. Power is out at his Etobicoke home.

UPDATE: 21:00

TTC: Service is back on the Bloor-Danforth line west to Jane. Problems on the Yonge-University-Spadina and Sheppard lines still as reported earlier. 501 Queen streetcar is turning back at the Humber loop due to flooding at Parklawn. 504 King is out between Roncesvalles and Shaw due to flooding. 65 shuttle buses in service right now.

ELSEWHERE: Drake Hotel's Calgary Flood benefit is cancelled due to flooding, says @SallySalmon on Twitter.

UPDATE: 21:10

ELSEWHERE: Doug Ford is directing traffic at Dixon and Islington, reports CBC's Steven D'Souza on Twitter. Picture below.

UPDATE: 21:14

It's still raining steadily in the GTA - no sign yet of any issues related to the predicted next wave of storms. Here's the latest radar image. In short, more rain to come.

toronto radar

UPDATE: 21:25

GO TRANSIT: The Toronto Police Marine Unit is helping evacuate passengers off that stranded GO train near Pottery Road. Here's what their website has to say:

"Lakeshore West Passengers: A portion of the track west of Long Branch is completely under water, making us unable to operate trains along the Lakeshore West line. We are investigating alternatives and an update will be provided as information becomes available."

"As our trains run from west to east, Lakeshore East Passengers will experience delays and possible cancellations this evening. Updates will be provide as they become available."

"Weather conditions and the resulting traffic delays are affecting our GO Buses this afternoon. GO Buses are experiencing delays of up to 60 minutes."

toronto flood GO

Lead photo by deftonia11

Floodlines

Radar: oPHISHal After Party, Arcadia of My Youth, The Specials, Joe Lepiano, Animal Collective

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The Specials BandToronto events on July 9th, 2013

MUSIC | oPHISHal After Party
Phish plays tonight at the Molson Amphitheatre for the first time in over a decade. Scorned by detractors, but deified by their fans (dubbed "phans"), this band is one of the top grossing live acts in the music biz today, with no radio play or "chart" presence whatsoever. This is 'word of mouth' at it's finest ("phinest"?). The Great Hall will be hosting an extraordinary afterparty tonight with three great live bands: the very danceable eight-piece After Funk are headlining, joined by The Company; and Sam Klass will be getting the show started. Klass, a Hamilton-based singer/songwriter, does the 'live-looping' thing. He is having quite a Summer, having been recruited for an appearance by all of the cool Canadian electronic music festivals (Shambhala, Evolve, etc.) following his acquiring of a spot at this year's Electric Forest festival via a YouTube contest. This shindig is slated to go to 3am.
The Great Hall (1087 Queen Street West) 11PM $12 ($10 w/ Phish stub)

FILM | Free Classic Anime Screening: Arcadia of My Youth
In conjunction with the Toronto Animation Arts Festival International that happens at the end of the month here in TO, the The Japan Foundation presents one of several free screenings of classic anime films as well as lectures on Japanese culture and animation practice. Tonight, Arcadia Of My Youth will be shown in 35mm format with subtitles. This 1982 film, directed by Tomoharu Katsumata, follows Harlock, a space captain, on his adventures as he attempts to save the Earth from Illumidas Command. This screening and lecture series continues until July 27th.
Innis Town Hall (2 Sussex Avenue) 6:30PM

MUSIC | The Specials
The Specials hit TO tonight! Possibly the greatest ska band ever, The Specials, came together in the late '70s for the second wave of Ska, which was inextricably tied to the punk rock and mod revival scenes in the UK. This band truly led the movement, and some of its members even started the 2 Tone label, which carried titles by all of the major players in the scene at one point of another. Although they disbanded in 1984, they have regrouped a few times to tour, and have released a few albums since their heyday, the most recent being Conquering Ruler from 2001. One thing is for sure, the Kool Haus will not be so "cool", but rather hot and sweaty, because this band makes bodies move!
Kool Haus (132 Queens Quay East) 8PM $39.50

PHOTOGRAPHY | Photography Exhibition by Joe Lepiano
Tonight is the opening of an exhibit of photographer Joe Lepiano's work at Gallery M. Entitled, Works From The Recent Past this collection draws upon themes of both solitude and eternity. Currently, Lepiano works at George Brown College as an instructor, and has had a lengthy career in the visual arts. Beginning as a commercial photographer, and then transitioning into graphic design, the influence of these different and related worlds come together in his work. Tonight is the reception for this exhibition that runs until July 31st.
Gallery M (7039 Yonge Street) 8PM

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.

Lead photo of the Specials by Nolux

Morning Brew: Toronto gets a record-breaking soaking, a road and transit update, a storm timeline, riders saved from GO train, Fort York maps, and a Legoland letdown

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toronto flood donIt rained yesterday. It rained a lot. It rained so much that a GO train became trapped in the Don Valley, the highways disappeared under an oceanic amount of water, and Doug Ford even started directing traffic at Dixon Road and Islington Avenue. Rob Ford, on the other hand, had to decamp to his idling SUV because the power and AC was out at his home. Crisis? What crisis.

Re-live pictures of Toronto's worst ever rain storm in all its soggy-shoed glory here and be glad things didn't turn out worse. If you're counting, the Pearson received 126 mms in under two hours - more than what fell during Hurricane Hazel and more than what's expected for all of July.

Here's an update on how things stand around the city:

TTC: Service has been restored on the Yonge-University-Spadina and Sheppard lines and the TTC expects to be operating at full capacity for the rush-hour. The Bloor-Danforth line is using shuttle buses between Jane and Kipling due to a flood that damaged a substation. Streetcars may experience delays due to localized problems - the 504 King is out between Roncesvalles and Shaw due to a flood at Dufferin.

ROADS: Mostly back to normal. The DVP, 401, 427, Lake Shore, and Bayview have all re-opened are operating as normal. The underpass at King and Atlantic is still underwater the 401 collector exit ramp to the 400 is closed. Downed trees and localized issues are causing problems city-wide.

GO TRANSIT: There are a lot of lingering delays specific to each line. Trains are running on the Lake Shore East and West lines though there is a shuttle bus between Port Credit and Union and there are a handful of cancellations and outages elsewhere.

AIR: No closures though there may be delays out of Pearson. Best to check with the airline.

POWER: Mostly back on though there are pockets in the west end where the lights may still be out.

WEATHER: More rain! Showers and thunderstorms expected this afternoon, though nothing on the scale of yesterday's deluge. High of 26 C plus humidity.

More than 1,400 people were rescued from a GO train that became stranded in rising flood waters just south of Pottery Road in the Don Valley. Many of the passengers were stuck on for more than four hours and two people attempted to swim to safety. One needed rescuing from the water. Amazingly, no injuries, and the line is now clear.

In drier news, Nathan Ng, a local map enthusiast, has put together another collection of cartographical wonders, this time focusing on Fort York and environs. Ng has already assembled a collection of late-1800s fire plan maps, and a substantial archive of Toronto street maps. Some of the Fort York images have never been published online before. Check it out.

Finally, all this Windsor, Ont. Lego enthusiast wanted to do was visit the Legoland Discovery Centre in Vaughan Mills - trouble is, the Danish toy company has a weirdly strict policy that prevents adults entering the attraction without a young child in tow. As such, John St-Onge, a 63-year-old cancer patient, was given the boot at the door despite protests. Ouch.

IN BRIEF:

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

Image: ~EvidencE~/blogTO Flickr pool.

This Week in Home Video: Spring Breakers, The Host, The Gatekeepers, and Flood movies

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Spring BreakersThis 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.

Spring Breakers (VVS)

Harmony "Trash Humpers" Korine's filmic Trojan horse brings European style avant-garde to the Belieber set with mixed results, so bring a pillow. His fans maintain it is intentionally boring, but even so, what's the point? Watching the ex-Disney Princesses' smoke bongs and butt wiggle to the thundering dubstep basslines of Skrillex makes for some great visuals, while James Franco's utterly terrifying "Alien" gangster crowns this the ultimate Afterschool Special for parents with young daughters: YOLO never rang so hollow.

Bonus features include an even more sizzurped shenanigans with a look at the music of Spring Breakers, some Vice Magazine content, audio commentary and deleted scenes. While you've probably heard much about Franco's improved "look at my shit" monologue, it really is worth its weight in gold, even though the rest of the movie is as confused as the generation it seeks to titillate.

ALSO OUT THIS WEEK

The Host (eOne)

Poor Stephanie Meyer's The Host. Like JK Rowling's The Casual Vacancy, fans desperately want to love it as mush as the cash cow cult series which preceeded it, but something is clearly missing. Sadly whatever merits the book had are squandered by the almost TV movie like quality of the movie, which shamelessly mimic's all of TWILIGHT's tics right down to the placement of the main characters on the poster. Bonus Features include Deleted scenes, audio commentary with Stephanie Meyer, Andrew Niccol and Nick Wechsler, and more.

The Gatekeepers (Sony)

Ice cold look at the Shin Bet - Israel's no nonsense Secret Service from the eyes of six former heads of the agency. Accused of shilling propaganda from all sides, this is actually an exercise in master class documentary filmmaking - letting the subject speak while the camera listens. If only all modern docs followed that simple ethos!

Dynasty Season 7 (Paramount)

In 2013, the fur flying camp fest famous for throw down cat fights that epitomized 80s excess looks like it was beamed from another planet. This season covers the usual "dizzing wealth, unbridled ambition and cunning betrayl" with stars John Forsythe, Joan Collins, and Linda Evans. Big hair, big cars, big dreams.

Hands of the Ripper (Synapse)

Renowned UK Hammer Horror studio's cracking and gruesome take on the Jack the Ripper legend. Unavailble for many years in North Amercia, this bells and whistles edition features a brand spanking new transfer as well as a host of extras including "The Devil's Bloody Plaything: Possessed by the Hands of the Ripper" and "Slaughter of the Innocence: The Evolution of Hammer Gore".

Kentucky Fried Movie (Shout Factory)

John Landis started small with this sketch comedy collection which lampoons news programs, commercials, porno, kung fu, disaster films, blaxploitation, spy films, mafia films, and even Spaghetti Westerns. Landis followed this up with Animal House, The Blues Brothers and An American Werewolf in London, and it's fascinating to see many of the threads start here.

STILL FRESH

  • No
  • The Incredible Burt Wonderstone
  • Pusher
  • The Rambler
  • The Beatles: Help!
  • Dead Souls
  • Tower Block
  • The Producers

FLOOD MOVIES

Wanna relive the drama and excitement of Monday's #FloodTO? Any one of these fine Disaster movies should tick that box.

Hard Rain

Deluge (1933)

Flood

The Poseidon Adventure

Nihon Chinbotsu

Stay Dry!


New Riverside bike shop a go-to for urban cyclists

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switchback torontoThis new bike shop near Queen and Broadview stocks all the essentials for urban cycling, including a great accessories selection on top of their bikes. They're also funded by the Toronto Enterprise Fund, and give back to the community through social purpose enterprising. Friendly staff, to boot.

Check out my full review of Switchback Cyclery in the services section.

Vote: 15 new best of categories

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eggs and toastToday we're opening up voting in our latest Best Of poll. Now you can have your say in a new batch of categories including brunch, Italian restaurants, frozen yogurt, shoe stores, film festivals and more.

Take the best of poll here

Voting in the poll ends at midnight this Wednesday July 10th.

This week on DineSafe: Aristokrat, Berries & Blooms, Bow Thai, Dragon Dynasty, Subway

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DineSafe TorontoThis week on DineSafe, Aristokrat gets a conditional pass, making it a repeat offender after getting nabbed by inspectors last month. Sunshine Spot Grill clocks in with 14 infractions (two of them crucial), which is the highest number on our list this week. For the rest of our weekly round-up, take a look at the list below.

Aristokrat (3434 Bathurst St.)
Inspected on: July 3
Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional Pass)
Number of Infractions: 3 (Minor: 2, Significant: 1)
Crucial infractions include: N/A

Berries & Blooms - York University (4700 Keele St.)
Inspected on: July 3
Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional Pass)
Number of infractions: 3 (Minor: 1, Significant: 1, Crucial: 1)
Crucial infractions include: operator fail to ensure food is not contaminated/adulterated

Bow Thai Restaurant (1970 Queen St. E.)
Inspected on: July 5
Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional Pass)
Number of infractions: 4 (Minor: 2, Significant: 2)
Crucial infractions include: N/A

Dragon Dynasty Chinese Cuisine (2301 Brimley Rd.)
Inspected on: July 4
Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional Pass)
Number of infractions: 10 (Minor: 3, Significant: 6, Crucial: 1)
Crucial infractions include: Operator failed to maintain hazardous food(s) at 4C (40F) or colder

Subway (727 Queen St. E.)
Inspected on: July 2
Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional Pass)
Number of infractions: 2 (Significant: 2)
Crucial infractions include: N/A

Sunshine Spot Grill (796 Sheppard Ave. E.)
Inspected on: July 4
Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional Pass)
Number of infractions: 14 (Minor: 4, Significant: 8, Crucial: 2)
Crucial infractions include: Operator fail to ensure food is not contaminated/adulterated, employee fail to wash hands when required.

Sushi Ocean (1010 Eglinton Ave. W.)
Inspected on: July 4
Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional Pass)
Number of infractions: 10 (Minor: 5, Significant: 3, Crucial: 2)
Crucial infractions include: Operator fail to ensure food is not contaminated/adulterated, employee fail to wash hands when required.

Thai Country Kitchen (412 Spadina Ave.)
Inspected on: July 4
Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional Pass)
Number of infractions: 7 (Minor: 3, Significant 3, Crucial: 1)
Crucial infractions include: Operator failed to maintain hazardous food(s) at 4C (40F) or colder

House of the Week: 355 Briar Hill Avenue

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355 Briar Hill Rd TorontoThis is probably the eighth time I've tried to write about this property and every time I want to balance out the negatives with positives, but it's just so hard! This place is a monstrosity; A giant monolithic box amongst a sea of modest two storey homes. From the outside there is some appeal as the property sits on a corner lot, has some nice clean lines and what appear to be natural wood accents to contrast the grey stucco and glass, and add some warmth to the façade. Then you get a look at the side of the lot and the backyard and lo and behold there is a giant fence that feels just as intrusive as the building itself.

Hopeful that the inside would be so appealing you could grow to love what you have to look at every day, it's painfully obvious there is just far too much grey and the prospect of love is lost. It makes the space cold, unwelcoming and hard on the eyes, but If you like painting this would definitely be a project that could keep you busy for a while.

All in all, it's a shame that the sheer size of the structure paired with the onslaught of grey also takes away from some cool features like glass cutouts in the kitchen and foyer, plank flooring throughout and built in speakers in the ceiling.

355 Briar Hill Rd TorontoSPECS:

  • Address: 355 Briar Hill Avenue
  • Price: $ 1,899,000
  • Storeys: 3
  • Sq Ft: 2400
  • Bedrooms: 4+1
  • Bathrooms: 6
  • Parking: 3
  • Taxes: NA

355 Briar Hill Rd TorontoNOTABLE FEATURES:

  • Third floor master retreat
  • His/hers wall-to-wall closets
  • Sprinkler system
  • Ceasar stone countertop
  • Floor-to-ceiling windows
  • In-ceiling speakers

355 Briar Hill Rd TorontoGOOD FOR:

Someone who doesn't mind living in "that house on the corner". In all seriousness though, this property will suit someone who enjoys modern luxury and has no issue with sticking out like a sore thumb on a lot with no trees. This place has the potential to become warmer and more welcoming with a few coats of paint and some more greenery.

355 Briar Hill Rd TorontoMOVE ON IF:

You actually want to be friends with your neighbours because, unfortunately, whoever decided to build this thing has likely alienated them with the giant grey wall staring them in the face from the side of the house, or the giant wood wall staring them in the face at the back. Not to mention the nearly $2 million dollar price tag. It would be interesting to see the tax assessment on this one.

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

355 Briar Hill Rd Toronto355 Briar Hill Rd Toronto355 Briar Hill Rd Toronto355 Briar Hill Rd TorontoRead other posts in this series via our House of the Week Pinterest board.

What the Toronto floods looked like on Instagram

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flood toronto july 2013The great Toronto rain storm of July 2013 left in its wake a localized flooding, widespread power outages, some terrifying moments on a GO Train, and, of course, thousands of photos. As is so often the case nowadays, the the first photos of the storm and subsequent flooding came courtesy of smartphone-wielding commuters, who posted their captures of the event to social media sites as the rain still pounded down — as was the case with our lead photo of a whirlpool on Fleet St. by hooksncrooks. Here's a collection of some of the best images we received under the tag #drenchedTO.

Check out the entire set of stunning images in our Toronto rain storm July 2013 stream.

flood toronto july 2013Bloor and Islington by urbanstrategist

flood toronto july 2013King and Atlantic flooding by philipeley

flood toronto july 2013Storm coming in zivanod

flood toronto july 2013Streetcar backup on King St. by freaktography

flood toronto july 2013Storm front by emilyjytu

flood toronto july 2013Another angle on King and Atlantic by lukehanmac

flood toronto july 2013A canoe at Lower Simcoe by ksolda

flood toronto july 2013The Don as the Amazon by leah_lionheart

flood toronto july 2013Submerged by renakins

flood toronto july 2013Flooded parking garage by tejbabra

flood toronto july 2013A Shawshank moment by alexandra_johanna

flood toronto july 2013Inside the flooded GO train by leasheroo

flood toronto july 2013Flooding in the subway by alexakay0

flood toronto july 2013Flash flood by chickandtheduck

FLOOD FUNNIES

As you'd expect, there's a bunch of Toronto flood mashups out there. Many of them are recycled from the last year's Union Station flood, but here are a few new ones.

flood torontoflood torontoflood torontoflood Torontoflood TorontoAdd your photos to our stream or tag them #drenchedTO on Instagram

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