The CityPlace Farmers' Market launched its first full season this June after a few successful trial markets last fall. The market is one of four MyMarket certified local farmers' markets throughout the city, put on with support from the CityPlace Residents' Association. It runs every Tuesday from 3:30-7:30pm until October 15th at Canoe Landing Park, near Spadina and Fort York Boulevard.

CityPlace may not seem like your typical farmers' market setting. This glass and concrete jungle of massive towers and never-ending construction has been celebrated as an urban planning success story, but also condemned as a future ghetto that lacks a community feel.

Yet, I was pleasantly surprised by the sense of community during my visit to the market one sweltering afternoon (although the lack of shade was less than ideal). Market-goers included, as expected, single professionals walking their tiny dogs, but also young families and seniors. Regular shoppers chatted with their favourite vendors and neighbours caught up, while kids splashed in the colourful water fountains nearby.

MyMarket representative Leehe Lev says that the arrival of Toronto Community Housing units has brought more families with kids to the area, and the market hopes to offer more children's programming in the future.

While the CityPlace Farmers' Market is small--less than 10 vendors during my visit--it has a solid selection of produce, meats and baked goods, including organic and biodynamic options.

Here are some fave vendors from my recent Adventures in Condoland.

VanHart Greenhouses
VanHart's stand lured me in right away with its abundance of colourful organic veggies, including heaps of golden and red beets ($3/bunch), bins of vibrant salad greens ($3/bunch), and baskets of multicoloured heirloom cherry tomatoes ($5/pint). Amanda VanHart told me her father Ron started farming organically over 22 years ago, after his father and uncle died from working with pesticides. Amanda has worked at the Holland Marsh farm for 10 years, and is "going to take it to the next level," with ambitions of also selling prepared foods and operating a food truck in the future. This season's harvest of organic veggies also includes zucchini, radishes, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, onions, beans, and an impressive 25 different types of tomatoes.

Blackbird Baking Company
This Toronto-based bakery operates out of SOMA Chocolate near King and Spadina, and sells its handcrafted organic breads at the CityPlace Farmers' Market as well as Sanagan's Meat Locker in Kensington and Leslieville's Hooked. The bread is simply beautiful--golden-brown loaves and baguettes with a dusting of snow white flour--and would make the staunchest low/no-carb dieter question such a silly life choice. The baked goods for sale during my visit included sourdough baguettes ($4),Toronto sourdough loaves ($6), and multigrain loaves ($4.50). Based on owner Simon Blackwell's suggestion, I sampled their popular Pecorino Bianco, a savoury and moist bread with a fragrant mix of parsley, rosemary, and oregano, accompanied by a perfect touch of sea salt ($5.50). No surprise it was sold out less than halfway through the market.

Kar-Dean Fruit Farms
"I'm the 'Kar' in Kar-Dean," Karen High warmly explained when I stopped by her stand to chat. I couldn't help but take a few moments to admire her plump cherries, blackberries, currants, plums and apricots, showing off their vivid colours under the bright summer sun. It was particularly hard to resist grabbing a quart of orange apricots ($6) or some cheerfully yellow plums ($3/quart). Karen told me her husband, Dean High, is the third generation of farmers running this family operation in Vineland Station, Ontario. This season will also bring heirloom tomatoes, peaches, nectarines, and pumpkins.

Bio Vision Farm
This certified biodynamic farm in Grand Valley sells 100% grass-fed beef, lamb, pork, chicken, and eggs, with an impressively wide range of cuts and meat products. The long list of meats available include whole chicken ($5.50/lb), steaks ($19/lb), beef burgers (4/$12), as well as sausages, bacon, beef bacon, and salami. It's clear that farmer Henricus Verhoeven strives to use as much of the animal as possible without waste, selling parts like tongue, heart, liver, oxtail, and bones for soup (or as a treat for your four-legged friend). A (biodynamic) meat-lover's dream.

Speers Farm Amaranth
"Well then you could guess my age, couldn't you?" farmer Wayne Speers quipped when I asked how long he's been farming. Speers has been raising beef his whole life, and currently has about 70 heads of cattle on his Amaranth, Ontario farm. The range of hormone- and antibiotic-free beef products for sale includes steak ($5-$23/lb), roasts ($5-$14/lb), sausages ($8/lb), and patties ($5.25/lb). Speers also sells pork and chicken from nearby farms, as well as meat pies. At the end of the work day, however, it was the Speers food truck that was drawing a crowd, with the irresistible smell of hotdogs, sausages, and peameal bacon sandwiches wafting through the air.

Discover more of Toronto's farmers' markets via out Toronto Farmers' Markets Pinterest board.

Photos by Jesse Milns

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

NOW OPEN

• Big Crow is now open outback of Rose & Son's at 176 Dupont. The outdoor, backyard venue is doing up BBQ with all the fixings.
• Foodbenders is now open at 2763 Dundas Street West offering healthy meals to go.
• Food Palace Gelato is now offering chilled treats at 217 Bathurst Street.
• United Coffee is now open at 456 Ossington Avenue at College Street adding to the abundance of indie cafés in the area.
• El Catrin (55 Mill Street), the new Mexican restaurant in the Distillery District opens next week on Tuesday, June 23rd.

OPENING SOON

• The Cocktail Parlour is slated to open next week on Saturday, July 27th at 11 Duncan Street on the third floor of the Story's Building. The stylish new bar from The same team behind Weslodge and Patria will offer an extensive cocktail list and snacks from Staurt Cameron.
• Hunters Landing restaurant and bar from the team behind Williams Landing and South of Temperance is set to open at 82 Fort York Boulevard.
• Rumblings have it that a new snack bar named the Libertine is slated to open on Dundas Street West. Stay tuned for details.

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

Photo of Big Crow

Toronto party boats are great, boozy escapes from the land. Remember this? Yeah, that's kind of what it's like, guys. Everyone's excited, many of them imbibe a little too much. There are plentiful options when it comes to vessels full of party pirates, and they're heading out of the harbour and onto our beautiful lake all the time. In case you'd like to stop frying like a sad poached egg in the streets of Toronto, we've taken a good hard look at the mothaf***in boats, and we narrowed down a few of the best options.

If you get seasick/claustrophobic, on boats, I get you. Don't forget, there's some other fantastic stuff to do in Toronto this summer:

• 50 things to do in Toronto this summer
• Summer street festivals in Toronto

Here, five potential party boats for you and your crew.

Stella Borealis
Don't you just love that people still call boats "she"? I sure do. This voluptuous lady carries 280 guests for cocktail parties, and 200 for sit-down dinners. There are two decks, the upper one with a retractable roof. A major specialty of Canamac, the company that runs ol' Stella, is staff parties. You can pay $29.95 per staff member plus drinks at $5. This is for companies of 250+, though, but it's billed as "the cruise experience of your life."

Luckily, there are two fully-equipped bars, so you'll have something to do other than moodily ponder your existence as you look out at lovely Lake Ontario. You can ponder it while drunk. Or make a new friend from accounting, whichever floats your...

The Oriole
If you want to take the Oriole out as part of a private function on a Saturday night, it'll cost $3,200 plus $23.95 per person for food. The Oriole is Great Lakes Steamship replica, and I can see children being particularly fascinated by it. There's a canopied upper deck, a full bar, and a range of menu options to choose from catered by the ship's own executive chef. While the Oriole is open to hosting private events, the company it's under, Mariposa Cruises, hosts such fantastically cheesy events as Mix & Mingles, a chance for the post-office set to chit chat over cocktails. I'm picturing the boss from Office Space grinding up on a 21-year-old administrative assistant with mad extensions and obscene bubble gum habits who wants out of the working world a-fucking-sap. Sexy times, no doubt, will be had by all.

The River Gambler
The River Gambler has hosted such sweet events as the The Young Lions Music Club S.S. Songs, in which bands like Dwayne Gretzky and Stella Ella Ola performed, that's right, upon a boat. The River Gambler hosts a variety of events, too, not just parties: upcoming in August is a Serenity Yoga Cruise, with classes instructed by teachers from the Yoga Sanctuary. There are two fully-equipped bars on board, and ample space for dinner parties and other forms of food service. This particular party boat has been in operation for over 30 years, and it's got both an upper deck and a lower lounge, seating 240 in total.

Tall Ship Kajama
Sadly, I cannot think of a single word that rhymes with 'Kajama.' The Tall Ship Kajama is a 165-foot, three-masted schooner with space for 225 people, and, apparently, the only other place this kind of cruise is available is in the Caribbean. Kajama is run by the Great Lakes Schooner Company, and they focus on corporate events, weddings, and educational cruises. That said, the company accepts reservations for private events, as well. Under the same umbrella is a smaller tall ship called Challenge, which has space for a maximum of 72 passengers and can be rented for a mere $1,495 for the day.

Empress of Canada
This regal-sounding vessel is billed (by its own company) as "Toronto's #1 Floating Vessel." Quite the claim, indeed. The ship has been rockin the dinner cruises since 1989, and holds the greatest number of passengers of anyone on this list at 489. You can board this decidedly female water-vehicle for public dinner cruises, as well, which run from about $50 to $75. They've got the catering services, they've got the menu selections, they've got the lunceons and the buffets. All you need to bring is your party pants.

Lead photo by Ben Roffelsen on Flickr.

Tucked unassumingly at the back of the Hasty Market at the southeast corner of Yonge and Davisville, you'll find this unassuming restaurant. Mainly catering to the takeout lunch crowd they've got a cute little counter and a great back patio during the warmer months — and the food is darn good.

Read my review of The Flaming Stove in the restaurants section.

CraveTO, the street food, craft beer and music festival that debuted in Toronto back in May is back with their second edition. Taking place on August 17th, CraveTwO is switching venues (Honest Ed's Alley instead of Evergreen Brick Works) and splitting itself into both a day and night session. Want in on the action?

Check out our contest page for full details on how to win tickets.

Bars to read at in Toronto are a special breed. And while drinking alone, especially in our hyper-connected lives, carries a huge stigma for lots of people, the reality is, going to a bar alone and ordering a drink doesn't have to reek of sad, lonely cowboy syndrome. It can be a nice way to steal a little bit of time for yourself while still being around others' energy (and a great chance for people watching). It's also a nice way to pass the time if you're waiting for somebody, or, to be honest, an exercise in bravery. You might want to forgo the drinks altogether and just have a snack or a coffee, too, which are also offered by most of these spots.

And don't get upset, no one is going to steal your solo watering hole and crowd it up. These places are already well-marked on the map, and for the most part, they're packed with people and loud tunes on the weekends. What I'm talking about here is a weekday afternoon or evening, or a Sunday night type of personal hangout. Here's a list of bars in Toronto that are great for curling up in a corner with a book and a bourbon.

Tequila bookworm
Some barkeeps would get bristly about their bar being called a good spot to read a book. Not so, clearly, with Tequila Bookworm. You could just grab a book from their shelves if you happened to arrive without one, in fact. There are board games, too: it's a bit of a geek's haven, and I mean that in a good way. And the servers don't rush you, either; you're largely left to your own devices in here during the day, and not hustled to order by any means. The Bookworm has ever-changing taps, but they serve local brews like Amsterdam and Oast House. You'll also find a great selection of ciders in here.

Wallflower
Wallflower has to be one of the coziest little bars in Toronto. Located on Dundas West just east of Lansdowne, it fits in perfectly with the galleries and little specialty shops dotted along the stretch. It's wallpapered in vintage florals, and serves a variety of nibbleable treats like deviled eggs and cheese plates. They also make a marvelous Manhattan, dahling, and they have beers on tap like Mill St. Cobblestone stout and Duggan's, if that's more your jam.

No One Writes to the Colonel
This gem in the easternmost edge of Little Italy is a comfy, unpretentious bar with lots of space to spread out. The name comes from a novella by Gabriel García Márquez, so I doubt anyone would bat an eye at a patron with a good book. You'll find a selection of beers by St. Ambroise on tap, and their signature drink is a mojito shot. There are plain but serviceable snacks for grabs, too, like nachos and salsa. And they make a decent Negroni, too, if I remember correctly.

Northwood
Northwood is one of my favourite spots in the city. One of those places where you can feel comfortable working or drinking (or both), the dark-but-not-too-dark room is a great spot to read. They mix up their cocktail menu according to season, and each cocktail ($10) is strong, artful and inventive. At the top of the list for me is Dark as Night, Sweet as Sin, which is concocted from Pimm's, gin, grapefruit, agave, sage, basil, cucumber, and cava. But if that doesn't do it for you, their menu is extensive. They also have snacks, including a variety of grilled cheese sandwiches and muffins, and their coffee, that greatest of friends, is derived from Pig Iron Coffee Roasters beans.

Hitch
There are reading-friendly bars in the east end too, guys — and this one might be the best. Hitch is designed for the serious drinker (and named after one, too). Each cocktail contains a double shot, with the star of the menu dubbed The Hitch. Spoiler alert. It's a whiskey soda with lemon. There's a list of other classics on offer, as well, all waiting to be consumed under the creepy shadows of animal busts cast by the glow of candlelight.

Comrade
If you're in the Queen and Broadview area, The Comrade's a good place to settle in for a quite drink and a book during the week. They offer a strong wine list, and they aren't lacking in the beer department, either. Decor includes lush daybeds to either stretch out and read upon if the place is dead, or (maybe) makeout on the edge of if it's busy. The crowning glory here, though, is the bourbon sour. You won't be disappointed. Unless you hate bourbon, in which case, I retract.

The Yukon
The Yukon is one of those deep, dark, Toronto bars with the requisite exposed brick and shelves full of LPs. Located in Parkdale, The Yukon has an easygoing nature, chill vibes, and it's easy to feel friendly with the folks sitting next to you. (As we all know, the same cannot be said for all cramped establishments in the city). They mix up their drink specials depending on the day, but, for example, you might find something like a pint of Beaus and a shot of whiskey for $10. (You can find the same deal deep in the bowels of Brooklyn for $4, but that's okay). For cocktails, you'll find all the classics for $10-$13.

Victory Cafe
Many a grad student can be found with their nose in a book at Victory. You could camp out here for ages during the week, and their menu supports that assertion. Victory serves what amounts to classic pub food, with burgs, salads, and fish and chips all making an appearance. Their mac and cheese, though, is truly phenomenal. For drinks, you'll find local brews from Amsterdam and Flying Monkey ($3.95-$5.09), as well as a decent selection of scotch, whiskey and bourbon.

Embassy
You probably want to save this one for a day drink, as it tends to get pretty crammed in the evening hours. During the early evening hours on a week day, though, and definitely in the afternoon, it's possible to find seating and make a corner of the space your own. Embassy has a full bar, but the focus is on craft beers. Chances are you'll find McAuslan Apricot Wheat Ale, Black Oak Pale Ale, and Blanche de Chambly on tap.

1602
This little bar on Dundas St. W. just west of Dufferin is a bit of a nameless hole in the wall, open to interpretation. That in itself makes it an ideal spot to let your imagination roam. That, and the 19 or so different varieties of scotch waiting to warm your belly. Aside from the scotch list, specialties include the Old Fashioned and the Manhattan. Like many spots on this list, be warned that if you pop by on the weekend, you shouldn't expect to get any reading done whatsoever. But during the early part of the week, this is a great choice for nabbing some time to yourself.

MAP

Photo of Wallflower

Within the four-block radius of Koreatown lies a terribly adorable mini-Mecca for fashion girls. I'm aware that calling Korean style cute is a bit of a stereotype, and to be sure, many other adjectives could be applied to it as well. But to say it isn't cute would be a straight up lie. There are six shops that stand out above the rest along that stretch of Bloor St. W., and they carry sweet summer dresses, trendy statement pieces better than what they've got going on at Urban Outfitters, and unique items that you may not find anywhere else in the city. This list is tailored to the ladies, but dudes can get outfitted at Ted's Style Shoppe, too.

Here are six great places to shop in Koreatown.

House of Rinka
House of Rinka just might have the best selection of dresses in the city. This is one of those times I feel like I'm revealing a gem that I should leave hidden for those who are already dedicated. While you will find your standard mix of Put a Bird On It sundresses in here, there are lots of beautiful things I've never seen elsewhere in the city. I spot a pink pleated maxi dress ($65) with a sleeveless crème lace overlay, crop-length, that also exposes the shoulders. The dress looks like my grandmother's ancient curtains, only sexily repurposed, and not at all like a crazy lady's nightie. It is ideal in every way. I also spot a blue mini dress with orange birds on it (I know, I know) and a white Peter Pan collar for $35, and a white backless dress in lace for $69.

Cherie
Far and away, this spot is my favourite. For the most part, the pieces are neatly divided into two groups. Many of the dresses and blouses feature girly details like polka dots and florals. On the other hand, you have pieces with a bigger sense of humour, like a plain heather-grey maxi dress in jersey with a giant moustache across the front ($39), or a pair of high-waisted denim booty shorts with little pictures of Bart Simpson all over them ($49). Other standout garments include paperbag trousers in navy and burnt rust ($49).

Just You Sarah & Tom
Along with sounding like a pretty hot threesome, Just You Sarah and Tom has some pretty bangin accessories. Hello Kitty reigns supreme in here, and while that look might be a bit juvenile for some, I absolutely adore the concept of a serious outfit punctuated by bedazzled Hello Kitty clip-ons ($8.95) or a clutch emblazoned with her buttoney little face ($32). Accessories like this work with more wild outfits, too, if you have the will and the desire to rock it.

Kantipur Krafts
If you're more of a floaty bohemian at heart, you should prrrrrobably make a stop in here. Everything is handmade in Nepal, and while there are plenty of stores of the same ilk in Kensington Market and elsewhere in the city, I have yet to stop into one in which every single item is perfect. There are long tie-dyed dresses for $19, airy silk skirts for $12, and an assortment of gorgeous, handcrafted buffalo leather bags that range from $35 to $45. Aside from all of that, they also sell elf slippers for a mere $13.

Vivace
At Vivace, you will find a huge number of unexpectedly charming designs, from laptop-shaped backpacks with floral designs to rompers with Yorkies printed all over them. They've got practical, everyday items like bamboo t-shirts and leggings in neutral colours ($30), but their stock stretches to lovely, frilly dresses as well. Highlights include long tiered dresses in fuchsia, heather or black ($110) and lace figure skater dresses with detailed rose appliqués on the chest, available in black or crème ($62).

Top Half
When I first started spending time in Toronto, I used to hunt through Chinatown for Louis Vuitton knockoffs. I was never able to find anything good, and it turns out that's because they were all hiding in Koreatown the whole time. There are Louis bags for a mere $9.99 to $35, a rack of Ralph Lauren and Lacoste polos for $29.99, and Burberry print headbands for $10. They also sell the perfect slouchy t-shirt for $24.

MAP

Photos by Denise McMullin

Cocktail trends this summer have bars across the city utilizing the best of Ontario's seasonal produce. Rhubarb abounds, as do cucumbers. There's also lots of ginger beer around (most bars we surveyed like using Old Tyme). We traversed some of our favourite cocktail bars around the city, to find the best drinks for escaping the sweltering summer heat. Here's our top ten, in no particular order.

Guava and Jalapeno Margarita - The Drake Hotel
I'm a sucker for margaritas, and this one is just plain delicious. Using Tromba tequila, along with the addition of jalapeno syrup and guava nectar, the balance of spice and sweet is played out beautifully. The Skybar is also a lovely setting to hide away from the outside world.

Dr. Painkiller - The County General
A refreshing blend of cucumber infused rum, house-made grenadine, lime juice, and cranberry bitters, topped with spicy ginger beer. The massive mason jar this drink comes in makes it a great way to beat the heat (after an afternoon of trying not to get busted by the cops in Trinity Bellwoods).

The False Dawn - OddSeoul
Bar Manager John MacDonald created this after a trip to Scotland. A 'false dawn' being the morning after a night of drinking, in which one's still drunken state gives the mistaken impression that there's no hangover to come. A blend of Auchentoshan 12 yr, grapefruit juice and Scottish breakfast tea syrup, it's garnisheed with fresh lavender for a wonderful aromatic note.

Smokestack lightnin' - The Harbord Room
Smoky Fortuna mezcal combines with a rhubarb-agave-ginger syrup, balanced with citrus, and delightfully topped off with a little piece of candied ginger. Also available with smoky whisky for those who prefer it. Step into a little slice of Paris on the back patio here, and maybe follow this guy up with a really excellent alcholic root beer float.

Mirror Lake Drive - Origin Liberty
Made in memory of bar manager Scott McMaster's grandparents (who loved Drambuie and rhubarb pies), this drink is a nostalgic cottage trip in a glass, the drink calls for Drambuie with cedar tea, lemon juice, and rhubarb bitters. Distinctly refreshing, the honey of the Drambuie cuts in really nicely with the cedar notes.

La Societe Smash - La Societe
Combining Hennessy, Grand Marnier, mint and fresh sour cherries, all muddled with orange peel and sour cherry syrup, before topping with ginger beer, a hot day in Yorkville can be idly whittled away with a few of these on the patio overlooking Bloor and Avenue.

Shibuya Punch - The Miller Tavern
A mint-infused gin is added to pomegranate juice and fresh lime, with lashings of Fever Tree tonic water and fresh mint, before a massive bunch of mint is stuffed into the top of the glass as a garnish. It looks a bit silly, but that garnish makes the whole room smell amazing.

The Esquire Smash - Salt Wine Bar
Another smash, but this time making use of liquid nitrogen to freeze cucumber pieces before muddling them with absinthe, elderflower, and gin. The guys at Salt have something of an addiction to playing with ice and fire, and the plumes of nitrogen vapour produced every time this drink is ordered add a touch of drama to a night at the bar. Patio be damned, this one is just plain cool.

The Fortnight Cocktail - 25 Liberty
The only cocktail on this list to be stirred, rather than shaken, it's still a bright and refreshing tipple. Beefeater gin, Dolin dry vermouth, house made apricot brandy, and finally, Briottet Creme de Violette liqueur. The serene and civilized patio at 25 Liberty is also a world away from the frantic hubbub of The Brazen Head and William's Landing.

The Summer Vacation - Scout's Honour
If the drink's name doesn't give you a taste of nostalgia, the atmosphere at the new Scout's Honour (formally Mr. Pong's) bar will. Lined with picnic tables and cedar walls, this make-shift summer camp fits the bill for catching up with old friends while enjoying this tropical mixture of Metaxa brandy, Cointreau, lime juice, salted pineapple syrup and orange bitters. The hint of salt tempers the natural sweetness of the pineapple really well.

In the wake of the scandal alleging that Mayor Rob Ford smoked crack, we've all been left with a host of unanswered questions. One of the most pressing, at least for those who donated to Gawker's crackstarter fund, was "What happened to my money?" Gawker raised a total of $201,199, and after PayPal and Indiegogo took their respective cuts, the number was cut down to $184,782.61. The video, however, was suddenly 'gone,' and Gawker was left trying to find another direction for the funds.

In the wake of certain overly salacious media coverage, many people spoke up and criticized journalists for being insensitive to the very real illness that is addiction. Gawker is doing something to bring awareness to addiction and mental health by splitting the money four ways between organizations helping Canadians deal with substance abuse. A total of $46,195.65 will go to The Somali Canadian Association of Etobicoke, The South Riverdale Community Health Center, Unison Health and Community Services, and the Ontario Regional Addictions Partnership Committee.

Does this draw the crack scandal to a close — or do you think there's a tape out there that will eventually surface?

Could Scarborough's subway extension be going off the rails already? Provincial transit minister Glen Murray says the $1.8 billion once budgeted for the now-dead LRT will not be simply transferred to the subway project. $400 million needs to be spent on Kennedy station, he maintains, a position that could put the entire project in jeopardy.

A motion passed at city council on Wednesday makes the subway entirely reliant on all of the provincial LRT cash being diverted by September.

In local byelection news, Adam Giambrone will be holding on to the NDP nomination in Scarborough-Guildwood after the runner-up agreed not to pursue legal action against the party over their decision. In Toronto Centre, former MuchMusic VJ Jennifer Hollett is hoping to get the NDP nod.

In case you missed it yesterday, Gawker has revealed the list of charities that will receive a cut of its Crackstarter money. The Somali Canadian Association of Etobicoke, The South Riverdale Community Health Center, Unison Health and Community Services, and the Ontario Regional Addictions Partnership Committee will each get $46,195.65. The site was unable to track down the alleged Rob Ford crack tape. Are you pleased the cash is going to good causes?

City council won't be getting any smaller. Rob Ford had hoped councillors would vote to cut their numbers from 44 to 25 in the name of cost saving and efficiency. The idea was discussed at length yesterday but ultimately died with a vote of 25-13. Matthew McGuire of the Toronto Taxpayers Coalition says he'll take the fight to the Ontario Municipal Board. Is this a sensible way of cutting costs?

Guess what guys - e-bingo is coming to Toronto! Yep, that's right, e-bingo. It combines the white-knuckle ride of a suburban gaming hall with the fun of using a tablet computer. Struggling bingo parlours got permission to use the technology at yesterday's council meeting, meaning they have a better hope of staying in business in future.

Finally, you know that drumroll at the start of the Surfaris' song Wipe Out everyone knows how to play? Well, Etobicoke's Tom Grosset is really good at that. He broke the world record for the most drum beats in a minute earlier this month in Nashville, hitting a snare drum 1,208 times, which works out to more than 20 beats a second.

IN BRIEF:

• Yonge St. shop busted for fake IDs [Toronto Sun]
• Police locate suspect in hit-and-run in city's east end [CTV News]
• Man rushed to hospital with serious injuries after being struck by car [Toronto Star]
• Toronto basketball court damaged during police pursuit [CBC]
• SickKids Hospital dragged into U.S. breast cancer gene suit [CBC]
• Jays reliever Santos strikes out 3 batters during rehab game with Buffalo [CTV News]

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

Image: Ian Muttoo/blogTO Flickr pool.

The photos of the week collect each of the editor-selected photos of the day into one post for a contest to be decided by our readers. Sponsored by Posterjack, the photographer whose image receives the most votes will be awarded with a voucher code for a 24"x36" poster print of their work.

All the rules and fine-print can be found in the original announcement post on the blogTO Flickr page. One thing to add, however, is that the voting period ends at 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, after which the winner will be contacted with the good news.

For those photographers whose images are featured below, please feel free to give us a little information about your shot — i.e. where and when it was taken — in the comments section. Who knows? Maybe your description will sway voters in your favour! Note: We're currently delayed on voucher distribution, but should be back up to date by next week.

Lead photo by Jack Landau.

2.
Photo by Jack Landau in the blogTO Flickr pool.

3.
Photo by Neil Ta in the blogTO Flickr pool

4.
Photo by freaktography in the blogTO Flickr pool

5.
Photo by mcdux in the blogTO Flickr pool

6.
Photo by Ben Rofflesen in the blogTO Flickr pool

7.
Photo by Tim Gonzalez in the blogTO Flickr pool

This new shop stocks everything from environmentally friendly laundry detergent to pickles to vegan soaps and cosmetics. Everything is handmade, and much of it was created by Toronto artists and artisans, right down to the custom wallpaper on the back walls.

Check out my full review of Likely General in the design section.

Toronto Food Events rounds up the most delicious events, festivals, pop-ups, winemaker dinners, supper clubs and other food related happenings in Toronto this week and next. You can find us here every Friday morning.

THIS WEEK

• T&T Night Market takes place evenings this weekend from Friday, July 19th to Sunday, July 21st at 222 Cherry street. The free event boasts live entertainment, a kids zone, and, most importantly a vendors alley with 150+ booths selling food and general merchandise.
• DOS is on tonight, Friday, July 19th at Evergreen Brickworks (550 Bayview Avenue). The sold-out DJ'd art show will be featuring street foods from La Carnita and Chicago's Big Star plus some new dishes from the yet-to-open Home of The Brave.
• The Midnight Market is also on tonight, Friday, July 19th at 2nd Floor (461 King Street) from 8pm to 2am. The event showcases local independent designers, artists, and vintage clothing retails along with music, drinks and street style food.
• The Ontario Oyster Festival (or OOF) takes place Sunday, July 21st in the alley beside Rodney's Oyster House (469 King Street West) including a battle of the bivalves shucking competition and hands free oyster eating completion. tickets are $35 per person and includes two drinks and half a dozen oysters.
• Pop up restaurant, Knaves Kitchen returns to the Henhouse (1532 Dundas Street West) on Wednesday, July 24th with an original menu. RSVP to ensure seating availability.
• A new weekly Night Market at 99 Sudbury brings together food and beverage vendors plus local artisans every Wednesday evening from 5pm-10pm.

UPCOMING

• Tickets ($40) are available now for Squiggfest VII; Vegan edition, happening on Saturday, August 10th at The Depanneur (1033 College Street).
• Limited tickets are still available for the Toronto Festival of Beer happening next weekend from July 26th to 28th at Bandshell Park on the CNE grounds.
• CraveTO is set to pop-up in Honest Ed's alley and parking lot on Saturday, August 17th. Tickets go on sale today, Friday, July 19th at 11am for daytime and night versions of the street food and craft beer festival. Want a chance to win free tix? Check out our contest here.

OTHER NEWS

• Today only, from 11am to 5pm you can order an ice cream truck to your location via Uber.
• New Toronto-based app, Vouchr is making it easy to buy the next round when you're not even there. The app offers an electronic way to gift fellow users with personalized gift certificates.

A new startup here in Toronto wants to make your life a little easier by offering a delivery service which will pickup and even purchase any item anywhere in the city and bring them right to your door.

Hurrier is a one-hour online delivery service which uses eco-friendly bike couriers to grab items anywhere in the downtown core - anywhere from Pape to Jane and Eglinton to Lake Ontario. Using Hurrier is pretty simple. You hop online, list the items you want purchased or picked up, give Hurrier your pickup and drop-off details and you are good to go.

Right now Hurrier is only open weekdays from 10-4PM which is great for things like lunches. They will soon be opening up their hours to weekends which they know will help them get even more traction.

I had a chance to sit down and talk with founder Adam Hasham on how his company is set to change inner city delivery.

What was the inspiration behind Hurrier?

Local shops have some of the best the city has to offer but yet a lot of people either don't know about some of these hidden gems or aren't nearby so they end up buying more out of convenience. I wanted to create a company that would remove this obstacle by connecting people with the best their city has to offer them.

Who is the target audience for Hurrier?

We target three main groups. The first is the busy mom at home with her kids that may need something for dinner or have an urgent need for diapers but can't leave the house. The second are professionals whose busy lives at work make it challenging for them to pick things up. The third group is the everyday urban dweller who may find themselves at the park and want the picnic brought to them or are hosting a BBQ and forgot to get the burgers.

What are the most common orders you have seen so far?

We launched just over two weeks ago and are finding that most of the people are using Hurrier for food or flower deliveries. Burger's Priest, Banh Mi Boys and St. Lawrence market's Di Liso's Fine Meats are pretty popular right now.

There are many delivery services in Toronto, what sets yours apart?

Ease of use is the biggest differentiator. The fact that the entire process is online and can be completed within minutes makes it fast, simple and reliable. Plus, Hurrier couriers anything to your destination and can even facilitate the purchase on your behalf.

Other companies like dot-com bust Kozmo.com have tried this model and failed based on a flawed business model. What makes Hurrier different?

We charge for delivery based on dynamic pricing which takes in account time and distance to make sure that we are charging a fair price. In addition there is a 5% surcharge to every order.

How important are the partnerships you are forming with merchants?

Very. Merchant partnerships allow us to integrate with them to make it easy and quicker for pickups. Our featured partners are those that we can call ahead and make sure that the order is ready to grab when we get there.

We have some great partnership started with Di Liso's in St. Lawrence market and the Shoppers Drug Mart at King and Yonge and are in talks with others around the city like Banh Mi Boys.

What's on the Roadmap for Hurrier?

We definitely plan to launch an Android and iPhone app once we have gained more traction with the website. But in the meantime we are focused on expanding our team, growing our fleet and working on gaining new partners to feature. We are also in talks to expand Hurrier outside of Toronto into Mississauga, Vancouver and Montreal.

Hurrier is giving all blogTO readers $5.00 off their first delivery. Use the code "BLOGTO" and shoot us a comment on what you thought of the delivery service.

To mark the 175th birthday of the great city of Toronto in 2009, Mayor David Miller presided over the Toronto Song Contest, inviting Canadian residents 13 years of age and older to submit a song that reflected "Toronto's amazing spirit and unparalleled diversity," offering up a prize of $5000 and a place in history as our city's de facto theme song. He needn't have bothered, as Toronto already had a de facto theme song, a perfectly legit one at that, called "People City."

Written by Gary Gray and golden-larynx crooner Tommy Ambrose, "People City" was stealthily commissioned by Moses Znaimer in the summer of 1972 to mark the launch of his small but mighty local UHF station Citytv. The remit was simple - he wanted a love song about the city of Toronto. "People City" bookended each exciting new day of Citytv's broadcast: the full vocal mix played when the station signed on in the early morning hours, while the more laid-back muzak-y instrumental mix played when they signed off in the late hours. The song was released as a 45rpm single and climbed to 44 in the Canadian adult contemporary chart in 1973.

Ambrose was born in Toronto and cut his teeth as a Gospel singer and frequent subject of CBC's Cross Canada Hit Parade in the 1950s, which led to his own series, The Tommy Ambrose Show in the early '60s.
By the '70s, Ambrose had established himself as a champion jingle maestro able to compose and perform memorable audio campaigns effortlessly across radio and television. As a rallying cry for the boys and their beer, his Labatt 50 jingle "Me and the Boys and our 50" has never been bettered. Ambrose ran a jazz bar in downtown Toronto between 1977 and 1989 ironically called "Jingles", which by all accounts was a hopping place to drink, smoke and get down on some bad assed sound styling.

"People City" however remains the unquestionable Ambrose masterpiece, a haunting, slightly schmaltzy ode to the friendly multicultural city which in 1972 was brimming with the same magnanimous stuff that still makes us proud today:

"Find yourself in people city
Stay awhile if you can
With folks who will be tomorrow's faces
Kickin' the traces
Showing you places
In Toronto
That's people city
Where love takes hold
Makes old dreams happen
She makes you feel things
So very feeling
Take on old meaning
In Toronto
That's people city
Winter's white in people city
Green ravines make summer pretty
When leaves start to turn
Then the rainbow burns
That's when you learn
That you're in Toronto
That's people city"

Not surprisingly, Ambrose was later commissioned to also perform the theme song for the launch of Global TV - "A Point of View," two years later in 1974. While not as immediate as "People City", "A Point of View" is yet another maudlin theme which bottles the past, the present and the future into one spooky aural vintage. Global TV used it as well in their sign-off videos in the '70s and early '80s, guaranteeing it a place in the warm nostalgic tickle trunk of Ontario ephemera.

Other than the occasional spin on Zoomer 740 AM (owned and operated by a certain Moses Znaimer), you don't hear much of "People City" these days; You hear even less of the 2009 winner of Mayor Miller's Toronto song contest, a modest ditty called "Love to Live in Toronto" by George Axon and Aidan Mason.

Perhaps Tommy Ambrose's love song to Toronto just captured the melancholy vibe of the city in a way that that no one else has in the last 40 years.

Retrontario plumbs the seedy depths of Toronto flea markets, flooded basements, thrift shops and garage sales, mining old VHS and Betamax tapes that less than often contain incredible moments of history that were accidentally recorded but somehow survived the ravages of time. You can find more amazing discoveries at www.retrontario.com.

While Church, College and Cabbagetown might be home to Toronto's most well-loved izakayas there's a new contender drawing crowds north of the 401. Located just north of Yonge and Sheppard this rockin' and tasty spot just might be a worthy alternative to Guu.

Read my profile of Nome Izakaya in the restaurants section.

Late last night at Northwood, I got to chatting with manager Brian O'Reilly. He usually works during the day, but he's here now in order to furiously bottle more cold brew coffee for tomorrow's order. Likely General, a cute new shop in Roncesvalles that just opened yesterday, is the first shop outside of Northwood itself to sell the brew. They sold out on day one, which is why O'Reilly is here now.

The cafe/bar hybrid has been concocting batches of cold brew all summer, but they just decided to sell it by the bottle a week and a half ago. The one dinger is that the brew takes 16 hours to come to life, because to make it involves steeping the grounds. Though he's super friendly, O'Reilly won't disclose the temperature of the water or the water-to-coffee ratio. He just smiles and says that's his secret.

The cold brew comes in two forms: a small, personal serving sized bottle ($3.50), and a larger, concentrated version ($17.50) that will yield about ten drinks, and is meant for mixing with a bit of water, milk, bourbon or whiskey. Some may raise a brow at the latter, but to be sure, O'Reilly has concocted a shot called the Night Owl, which he kindly asks his co-worker to cook up for us.

He takes one with my friend and I, and the Jameson shot actually makes sense when chased by ice-cold coffee. He promises it will taste like chocolate, and it does.

Once they get a system down that will allow them to keep up with orders, Northwood wants to supply the stubby bottles of brew to more shops. O'Reilly says his dream would be to be able to get a bottle of it at a Jays game to jolt himself awake after several $10 beers. Regardless of where it's available, though, this coffee is a win. It's strong, with a bit of a fruity flavour, perfect for summer. Beats the hell out of a Frappucino.

The best ice cream sandwich in Toronto can be found at bake shops, ice cream parlours and even fast food burger joints around the city. Improving upon the already awesome, handheld combination of crunchy cookie and creamy frozen filling hardly seems necessary, and yet this list proves it has been done.

Along with classic variations, ice cream sandwiches are available in all sorts of fancy flavours loaded onto inventive platforms like donuts, pop tarts and grilled cheese buns.

Here is the list of the best ice cream sandwiches in Toronto.

See also:

The Best Ice Cream in Toronto
The best gelato in Toronto
The best frozen yogurt in Toronto

Weekend events in Toronto is our guide to events happening this Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Here's what's happening in Toronto this July 19-21, 2013.

FESTIVAL

Big On Bloor
Bloor West is going car-free for Bloordale's annual street festival this weekend. Beginning Saturday afternoon, Big On Bloor will see local small businesses, artists, musicians and entertainers filling the street between Dufferin and Lansdowne for an anticipated 70,000 festivalgoers. The Bloordale BIA has arranged for six events to take place throughout the weekend, including The BIG Market Place, Savour Bloor and RAW: Real Art Wear. Buy, eat and look at all the things for as long as you like--this event is a freebie.
Bloor Street (between Dufferin and Lansdowne), July 20-21, 2013, 1PM Free

MARKET

Leslieville Flea
Neighbourhood fleas seem to be the big thing this summer and Leslieville's own is open for business once again this Sunday. Operating in the lot behind the Duke Tavern, the Leslieville Flea will have 30 vendors set up hundreds of items, ranging from handmade jewelry to vintage clothing. To see some of the items that will be available for sale, check out the market's blog at LeslievilleFlea.blogspot.ca. The flea is on until 3PM.
Behind the Duke Tavern (Leslie and Queen Street East), July 21, 2013, 10AM Free

MUSIC

Beaches International Jazz Festival
The popular annual Beaches International Jazz Festival begins this Friday, opening the east end of Toronto to one of the city's largest street festivals. Having evolved from being just a celebration of jazz music, this festival now celebrates all genres of music, with multiple stages set up around the Beaches and the boardwalk for different types of performers. Food will also be a large part of this year's festival with food trucks located nearby all performance venues. Queen East will be shut down from Woodbine to Beech and Woodbine Park will be the epicenter of the festival. Show of jazz hands for those that will be there.
Woodbine Park (Coxwell Avenue and Lakeshore Boulevard East), July 19-28, 2013, 7PM Free

Poor Pilgrim Island Show 6
If you're looking for a hidden gem event to hit up this week, Poor Pilgrim Island Show lands on Sunday. Worth the $7 roundtrip fare to Toronto Island, this annual music show has apparently been around for six years and yet remains largely untalked about. Audiences will follow a special map to find the secret performances littered throughout the island. The meeting point is at Franklin's Storybook Garden on Centre Island (note that if you're bringing a bike, you are only allowed to bring it onboard the ferries heading to Ward's or Hanlan's). From there, you'll be met by a guide who will provide you with maps to finding the performers, who include L Con, Pachamama, Steve Kado's 2003 and Nick Ferrio. Think of it as a treasure hunt for local music.
Toronto Island, July 21, 2013, 5:30PM PWYC

For more music listings, check out our This Week in Music and July Concerts posts.

ART

Leisure Lounge
N/A Collective gathers artists in one room to be at their leisure this Friday night. Located behind Lula Lounge, the space will be opened to the public for therapeutic pursuits, with artists setting up shop to offer life advice, massages, personalized songs, and whatever "whiskey yelling" is. 20 artists will be available to pull you along in life (or, for the night). The event directly supports Whippersnapper Gallery's programming and will definitely make for an interesting evening.
N/A Collective (1585 Dundas Street West), July 19, 2013, 9PM $10-$20

FOOD

2013 T&T Waterfront Night Market
If you haven't yet tired of night food markets, the expansive T&T Waterfront Night Market opens Friday night for the weekend. This large food festival includes all the typical fair foods with some cultural specialties (like the popular "stinky tofu"). This free market on Cherry Street can be difficult to get to but is absolutely worth it if only for all the deep fried goodness you'll ingest once there. The market is open until midnight but don't go too late--food does run out. The full performance schedule is posted on waterfrontnightmarket.com.
T&T Supermarket Grounds (222 Cherry Street), July 19-21, 2013, 6PM Free

DOS
International artists like Sam Flores, Mike Giant and Faith 47 compete in an art battle to create original pieces at DOS, the Friday night follow-up party to UNO that brings the art world together with DJs and foodies. 40 artists will participate in the event with DJs Platurn and Grandtheft spinning on four turntables. La Carnita and Big Star will collaborate on a street food menu for the night to keep the crowd satiated in between the mayhem. Tickets can be purchased online through Ticketfly.
Evergreen Brick Works (550 Bayview Avenue), July 19, 2013, 7PM $20

For more food events, check out our Toronto Food Events post.

FASHION

MIDNIGHT MRKT
MIDNIGHT MRKT is part-shopping experience, part-party. For $5, eventgoers gain access to this party, which starts out as a market with posters, jewelry, clothing, vintage and baked items for sale. At the stroke of midnight, the bar takes over and the event becomes a full-on party, with DJ sets by Lucie Tic, Kid MK and Johnny Hockin. While this is probably one of Toronto's sexiest markets, keep in mind that this isn't the Junction Flea--dress your best to avoid feeling awkward. The party goes until 2AM.
2nd Floor (461 King Street West), July 19, 2013, 8PM $5

Bridge & Bardot 1st Anniversary Event
One of Toronto's most beloved Dundas West vintage stores, Bridge & Bardot celebrates its first birthday with a small Friday night party. Taking place inside the store--which has some of the best vintage finds in the city for very affordable prices--the party will begin at 6PM and of course will include champagne and cupcakes. Stop by to shop and celebrate with the B&B team.
Bridge & Bardot (1138 Dundas Street West), July 19, 2013, 6PM Free

For more fashion events, check out our This Week in Fashion post.

FILM

Junction Movie Nights: Outdoor Cinema
The rare Junction Movie Nights takes place this weekend! Screening Greenwich Village: Music That Changed A Generation on Friday night on the Junction Train Platform, this quieter alternative to the city's large outdoor screenings has been slowly gaining momentum in the neighbourhood, playing just five movies this summer. This Laura Archibald documentary is a fun examination of the music culture centered in New York City's Greenwich Village in the '60s and '70s, featuring interviews with the likes of Carly Simon and Don McLean. Stop by Dundas West and Pacific after sundown with a chair and a blanket if this heatwave ever ends.
Junction Train Platform (2960 Dundas Street West), July 19, 2013, 9:30PM Free

For more film events, check out our This Week in Film post.

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

Toronto's first big heatwave of 2013 came to a tempestuous end this evening with a spectacular cluster of thunderstorms. As the rain cascaded down (no floods this time, thankfully) thousands of you turned your cameras skyward to capture the end of what at times felt like interminable heat and humidity.

Unfortunately, it seems a substantial portion of the Leslieville tree that inspired Alexander Muir to write the song "The Maple Leaf Forever" seems to have fallen victim to the weather. Toronto Hydro is reporting a scattering of outages across the city, but otherwise Toronto seems to have come off nicely unscathed.

Soon after the rain shut off, large parts of Toronto were treated to an impressive rainbow and some rather unique "mamma" clouds. According to my trusty Cloudspotter's Guide, mamma, sometimes "mammatus," form on the underside of anvil clouds and are associated with particularly severe storms.

They indicate a high level of instability in the air near the top of the cloud and are so named because they look, well, like boobs. How mature.

Rejoice, everyone. This weekend might actually be pleasant. Here are some of the best social media shots from the heat wave slayer of 2013. Stunning lead image by rhyshastings.

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