The top patios in Toronto for cheap drinks are usually packed, and rightly so. Money and booze are undoubtedly the two most important things in life. Too much of these things generally results in trouble (see: every child actor ever) but too little of one or the other isn't fun, either. That's why it is so important to find a good patio where you can get blackout drunk without going into the red.

It should be noted that while these are the top patios in Toronto to get mangled for little money, the actual cheapest option (drinking a half-empty tallboy that someone abandoned on their way to the Guv while catching clips of the game on the Sportsnet screen at King and Peter and using scraps of yesterday's Metro and your own tears to make a papier-mache friend) was not included.

Here's our list of the top patios for cheap drinks in Toronto.

See also:

The Toronto Patio Guide web site, iPhone and Android app
The top 50 patios in Toronto for 2013
The best patios in Toronto
The best rooftop patios in Toronto
The best backyard patios in Toronto
The top 10 patios with the best views in Toronto

Pour Girl
This University of Toronto patio has pints for as little as $5.20 and seasonal cocktails for around the $6 mark (in case you're feeling fancy or just donated blood). They also serve delicious (enough) and cheap food. Level of drunkenness for a $20: Homer Simpson hallucinating Johnny Cash Coyote (it might be the drink or it might be something you ate)

Java House
Java House's patio serves up pitchers for as low as $11.50 and food that is equally inexpensive. Try their all-day breakfast pancakes and beer is the new wine and cheese. Level of drunkenness for a $20: Child pageant star (not sure if drunk or hocked up on go-go juice)

The Beaconsfield
The Beaconsfield's sidewalk patio is across from the Drake so you can watch the bourgeoisie engage in their capitalist engine while you sip pints for as low as $5. Level of drunkenness for a $20: Truman Capote writing In Cold Blood (drunk yet efficient)

O'Grady's on Church
O'Grady's has $4 domestic pints during week in addition to other well-priced specials. True to their Irish roots, their $6 Martini Monday special starts at 11 am. Level of drunkenness for a $20: Dina Lohan on Dr. Phil (drunk but used to it)

Pauper's Pub
Pauper's Pub has both a rooftop and a sidewalk patio (apparently beggars can be choosers). This Annex patio serves pints starting at $5.76 and specials that include $3.50 Caesars on Sundays and day pints that start at $4.21 on Mondays. Level of drunkenness for a $20: Jack Sparrow in Pirates of the Caribbean 3: At World's End (drunk and starting not to care)

Last Temptation
Last Temptation's sidewalk patio is great for people watching (it's free! Take that, Hollywood) and has cocktails for as little as $4. Level of drunkenness for a $20: Don Draper at Sterling's mother's funeral (drunk and unsuccessfully hiding it)

Ram in the Rye
On Ryerson campus, this patio has pints starting at $4.43. The patio is open to those who aren't yet of age so you can bemoan your growing OSAP loans with friends of all ages. Level of drunkenness for a $20: Yeltsin at the White House (drunk enough to forget that Pizza Hut delivers)

The Lakeview
The Lakeview's $4 daily pint specials make it a patio definitely worth visiting. Come on Sunday and have a pint of Blanche de Chambly (Rickard's White's delicious cousin) and a slice of pie a la mode (cake's prodigal brother) for under $10 . Level of drunkenness for a $20: David Hasselhoff eating a hamburger (drunk enough to eat floorburger)

Sarah's Cafe and Bar
This Danforth patio has pints for as little as $5.70 and a lovely community ambiance should you be too cheap to find a babysitter. Level of drunkenness for a $20: Rusty from MadTV at a Christmas party (a little drunk but mostly excited)

The Departure Lounge
This backpacker's patio has specials every night of the week that range from $3 spirits to $5.50 for a pint of Magners. There are often food trucks around the corner and if you stay until close, you might score some pretty sweet trash-meat. Level of drunkenness for a $20: Reese Witherspoon while her husband gets pulled over (still sober enough to make good choices)

Want more patios? Download the blogTO Patio Guide app for Android and iPhone.

Photo by Sean Smith in the blogTO Flickr pool

Toronto events on August 21st, 2013

ART | Kensington Market at Propeller
Propeller Centre for the Visual Arts hosts an exhibition focusing on art collectives and individual artists based in Kensington Market. This exhibition, which will merge into an Art Crawl this Sunday, will largely involve works that relate to Kensington Market, including portrayals of Market "characters", and renditions of the area, but plenty of work will also fall outside of this theme, and will be the product of artists who reside or work in Kensington Market. Artists to be featured include: Jane Murdoch Adams, Yvonne Bambrick, Catherine Hunt, Tamar Ishaky, and others. This exhibition opens today, and runs until September 1st, with an official reception tomorrow evening.
Propeller Centre for the Visual Arts (984 Queen Street West) 12PM

BOOKS & LIT | George Elliott Clarke: a poetic evening
Tonight, This Is Not A Reading Series presents Toronto Poet Laureate, George Elliott Clarke in conversation with Susan G. Cole. Clarke's latest work, Illicit Sonnets, is a sensual poetic work that also deals with ageism and race relations. Clarke became an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2008, and much of his work has dealt with the communities and experiences of African-Canadians in Eastern Canada, especially Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. Tonight's event will also feature a half-hour theatrical performance based on Illicit Sonnets put together by Diana Manole, with performers Payge Mildebrath and Keith Macfarlane.
The Gladstone Hotel Ballroom (1214 Queen Street West) 7:30PM $5 (free with book purchase)

LAUNCH | Detroit Bikes Launch Party
A different kind of "launch" at the Horseshoe this aft! Detroit Bikes presents its new, and decidedly retro A-Type commuter bicycle today. This company is the brainchild of Calgary entrepreneur Zak Pashak, who is doing his level best to present the ever-expanding bicycle market with a solid, affordable option. These bikes, as the name implies, are built in Detroit, a city with a track record in the "manufacturing and design" department. Today's launch shindig is free and open to the public, and will introduce you to Detroit Bikes, and also fun is guaranteed via DJ Brendan Canning, Cousins, and Gay. This event runs until 8pm.
Horseshoe Tavern (370 Queen Street West) 5PM

FILM | Stand
Stand, an environmental film about the state of the planet's waters, premieres tonight. This film comes from the perspective of the surf and SUP communities - a culture that is closely engaged with the ocean and very passionate about the harmful effects that large corporate "business ventures" can have on the fragile state of the environment. The film follows three main characters: a paddler moving along the coast of Haida Gwaii, a West Coast BC native, and a group of students building stand up paddleboards in their woodworking class.
Ted Rogers School Of Management (55 Dundas Street West) 7PM $12

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

Const. James Forcillo, the police officer charged with the second-degree murder of teenager Sammy Yatim, has been freed on $500,000 bail. Forcillo made a brief appearance at a downtown courthouse yesterday, during which there seemed to be a tense moment between cops and one of Yatim's friends. The police officer's lawyer said he wouldn't "run or hide" from the charges.

TTC CEO Andy Byford assured worried transit staff yesterday that the uniform designs leaked online - described by union boss Bob Kinnear as looking like a "Canadiens" uniform - are just one of several proposals. Replacements for the current maroon duds have been in the works for months and will be formally unveiled next year.

12 people have become ill after eating at the CNE last night and at least five were taken to hospital. The symptoms included stomach pain, vomiting and diarrhea. There are few clues yet about where the 12 people ate, or even if it was the same vendor, but the eyes of suspicion are on the cronut burger.

One place you (hopefully) won't find any nastiness at the Ex is inside one of the countless stuffed animals given out as prizes. The CNE has a dedicated worker from the province's Upholstered and Stuffed Articles Program (yeah, it's real) who regularly dissects soft toys to look for soiled, second-hand, or dangerous material. The nastiest thing Nancy Frost has found (not at the Ex, mind) was what appeared to be vacuum cleaner bag contents. Also poop in a cushion.

Doug Ford has been lending a hand with a constituent's flood repairs. During a house call Monday, Ford ended up helping Etobicoke resident Merle Anderson waterproof his leaky basement with sand and other supplies he seemed to purchase with his own money. "He did an excellent job. He really went all out for us," said Anderson.

What's 100 lbs, yellow, and looks like it could command a space station? Why, it's a butter sculpture of Chris Hadfield, of course. Continuing a long-standing CNE tradition of carving likenesses out of churned cream (last year there was a Rob Ford butter head,) the Hadfield sculpture will be on display until September 2.

IN BRIEF:

• Man wounded in shooting in downtown Toronto [CTV News]
• Toronto mom pleads for children's return from Afghanistan [CBC]
• New park named after slain York police officer Garrett Styles [National Post]
• Driver charged in fatal crash at Royal York and Lawrence [CBC]

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

Image: Mark/blogTO Flickr pool.

The Toronto Botanical Garden Organic Farmers' Market is tucked away from sight, on the grounds of the Toronto Botanical Garden. To capture the attention of motorists at the intersection of Leslie and Lawrence dedicated volunteers (dressed as produce) brave the summer humidity and beckon people to visit. Although it's not likely attributable to those pea pod, carrot, and corn cob costumes, the market is usually bustling with shoppers lining up at almost every vendor while a jazz trio sets a relaxed mood.

Despite the market's name, not every merchant at the market is certified organic, although all are committed to the principles of organic farming or use organic ingredients when possible.

Here's a round-up of some of the vendors you'll find at the Toronto Botanical Garden (TBG) Organic Farmers' Market.

Pete's Fresh Organics
Brampton-based farmer Peter Seenath's table is a study in green, with its bags of fresh salad mix, kale, and chard. As his stand's name states, Seenath's crops are all certified organic, and shift with the season: expect tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, and okra, all freshly harvested.

The Bee Shop
As one of the instructors of the introductory beekeeping course at the Toronto Botanical Garden, the Bee Shop's Oliver Couto is at home at the TBG Organic Farmers' market. Here, you should be able to satisfy all your bee-related needs: the table groans with honey, candles, royal jelly, soaps, skin products, bee pollen, and even venom, which some use to treat rheumatism and joint ailments.

Clay Pot Catering
Food shopping while on an empty stomach can be challenging, but Clay Pot Catering has you covered with their Indian-inspired cuisine. Plump samosas satisfy those craving a snack, while those seeking a full meal can enjoy a dinner here, which on a recent visit consisted of red lentil daal, curried green beans, and brown basmati rice. Homemade chutneys and pickles are also available.

Grand River Ecological Growers
An alliance of farmers from around their namesake's watershed, the Grand River Ecological Growers sell a wide variety of food at their stand: venison and bison, goat dairy, mushrooms, and seasonal produce, all raised or grown organically, although not certified, are on offer.

Hearty Catering
Fittingly, given its focus on healthy and organic prepared food, Hearty Catering operates out of the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine. Alongside treats, some of which are vegan and/or gluten-free, chef Evelyne Gharibian offers salads to take home or eat at the market. Shoppers can choose from a taco salad (free-range chicken, vegan, or vegetarian), or a range of shifting seasonal options, including beet and carrot slaw, and kale and cabbage salad.

Green Gate Farms
Although not certified organic, the pork and beef sold at Green Gate Farms' stand is naturally raised, free of hormones and preventative antibiotics. In addition to the standard offerings of steaks, chops, and roasts, Green Gate Farms sells heat-and-serve items for rushed weeknight dinners, including shepherd's pie and tortiere, and a variety of filler-free sausages, such as sweet Italian, chorizo, and apple bacon.

Montforte Dairy
This Stratford-based dairy boasts that its cheese is made from "seasonal milk from humanely treated animals." You're welcome to sample Montforte's cheeses, made from goat, sheep, water buffalo, and cow's milk. Bags of squeaky curds make for a tempting snack while browsing the market.

P & H Farms / Marche 59
With 200 acres, including an orchard, this certified organic farm in Port Hope provides a wide range of fruits and vegetables all summer long. Sharing the stand is Marche 59, the farm's shop, which also bakes bread and treats. Golden loaves of organic bread are available for $5, and baguettes can be purchased for $4.

Potager duKanada
Iqbal and Sanndhea Mauthoor are two urbanites who left the city to grow produce organically at their small Brampton farm. The couple sells Asian and fenugreek greens, radishes, onion scapes, green onions, and herbs, with a changing variety of vegetables available throughout the summer.

Trillium Organic
This Walsingham-based, certified organic farm sells produce staples: lettuce, onions, peas, broccoli, potatoes, and more. Christine and Martin Jurjans also sell eggs from their farm's chickens, as well as jams, and ketchup made from their own tomatoes.

The Toronto Botanical Garden Organic Farmers' Market is held Thursdays from 3pm to 7pm from May through mid October.

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

Writing by Robert Hickey. Photos by Jesse Milns.

This Week in Fashion rounds up the week's style news, store openings and closings, pop-up shops, sales and upcoming fashion and design events in Toronto. Find it here every Wednesday morning.

NEWS

After two years on College Street, The Arthur (550 College St) - a decor boutique filled to the brim with vintage curios - is closing up shop at the end of the month. Owner Liz Ikiriko is starting a new chapter in her life, so be sure to pop by for one last look at all the remarkable knick-knacks she has in-store - and score 'em final sale at 50% off!

EVENTS/PARTIES

Tomorrow (August 22) from 7 pm until 11 pm, celebrate the official launch of Black Flower Vintage (2 Lakeview Ave) - a new men's boutique in Dundas West specializing in spunky 70's pieces. Peruse one of the very few vintage menswear spots over food and refreshments, and get 15% the stock when you like Black Flower on Facebook or follow them on Instagram!

Walk-In Closet and Shoppalu are launching a collaborative pop-up shop and everyone's invited! Drop by the Oz Studios (134 Ossington Ave) some time between this Friday (August 23) and next (August 28) to shop Rehana Hirjee's wardrobe, handpicked vintage goodies, and more. The opening party - happening tomorrow (August 22) from 7 pm until midnight - will be dazzled with snacks, drinks, tunes and good company.

For two days only this weekend (August 24 - 25), the IndustREALarts Room (688 Richmond St W) will be home to the Muddy York Collective's pop-up shop. Support local talents - like Little Green Design, Wild Thing, Tomorrow Never Knows, and more - by taking a gander at the vintage and handmade clothing, jewellery, and housewares from 10 am until 5.

Rosie the Rebel and Loveless - two retro-inspired boutiques under one roof (961 Bloor St W) - are having their grand opening bash this Saturday (August 24) from 9 pm until midnight. But, it's not just any ol' launch party; there'll be a fashion show, magic tricks, palm reading, tarot reading, carnival games and - best of all - burlesque performances by Dolly Berlin, Fiona Flauntit, Miss Mitzy Cream, and more!

A new vintage clothing boutique (yes, another one) has landed in the west end, and unlike many shops in the same family, it specializes in affordable and incredibly fashionable merchandise. If you don't have personality, though, stay far away—the racks in this place are full of it.

Read my full profile of DuWest Vintage in the fashion section.

The Toronto International Film Festival used to be called the Festival of Festivals. The reason was simple: All of the major films from Sundance, Berlin, Cannes, Locarno, and dozens of other important festivals made there way into the ten-day event, so we ended up with a who's who of festival darlings, without most of the filler that occupies even the most prestigious festival's line-up.

Even after the name changes, TIFF has stayed true to this philosophy, so among other perks, Toronto cinephiles have access to most of the big winners from Cannes, the most important film festival in the world. Aside from some nagging omissions - Coen brothers? James Gray? Alexander Payne? - TIFF programmers have done an exceptional job this year at reeling in the heavy hitters.

TIFF this year is atypically light on representation from Berlin and Sundance so I've decided to focus specifically on 2013 award winning titles that premiered on the Croisette, all compiled in a tidy package below. I attended Cannes this year, so will try to offer some personal guidance as well.

Blue is the Warmest Color [Palme d'Or]
As I mentioned in yesterday's post spotlighting the most buzzed about films at TIFF this year, Blue is the Warmest Color won the Palme d'Or, which in many people's books is a prize that sits right next to the Best Picture Oscar in terms of prestige. The film shows the sprawling relationship between two young French girls (performed so well by actresses Léa Seydoux and Adèle Exarchopoulos that the Steven Spielberg-led jury decided to award them a Palme d'Or, too). Controversial for its sexual frankness and extended sex scenes, the extremely divisive film has struck up an intense dialogue since its Cannes victory about the ethics of female and lesbian representations in movies.

Like Father, Like Son [Jury Prize]
The Jury Prize is essentially third place, and it didn't come as a shock to anyone that Hirokazu Kore-eda (Still Walking. I Wish) took home a major award such as this one. The film seemed to play right into Steven Spielberg's wheelhouse, in the sense that it was an extremely moving and sentimental film about fathers' bonds with their sons. This isn't your ordinary family drama, though. The premise of the movie is situated on a pair of families who learn, six years after the fact, that their babies were switched at birth. They decide to swap the grown sons to their rightful parents; from there, much heartstring-tugging ensues.

A Touch of Sin [Best Screenplay]
Would've been my pick for the Palme, personally; instead, as perhaps the least-scripted film in the entire Competition slate, it got a Best Screenplay nod. Better than nothing, eh? As an ostensible (read: utterly unrecognizable) tribute to King Hu's A Touch of Zen, Jia Zhang-ke breaks form and makes an all-out, bloody wuxia picture. There's still some of his trademark introspective ruminations on the state of his union, but there's a dreamy and lucid undercurrent that feels wholly new for the Chinese master (he had two films in the Top 3 of Cinematheque Ontario's Best of the Decade (2000-09) Poll).

The Past [Best Actress for Bérénice Bejo]
Asghar Farhadi is a great dramatist. Probably the best one Iran has ever seen, and certainly one of the best working today. His last two films, About Elly (2009) and A Separation (2011), are riveting, class conscious dramas of the highest order. Now comes his new film, which is his first to play in Cannes, an honor well-deserved. The film is a melodrama about, to be blunt, the dangers of peaking through the rear-view mirror of life. The lead, Bérénice Bejo, does a lot of crying and screaming, which won her an award. Mileage on this one seems to vary greatly.

Manuscripts Don't Burn [Un Certain Regard FIPRESCI]
Now to move away from Cannes' Main Competition over to the sidebar (not to be confused with second-rate) section Un Certain Regard, which for my money had the best films in Cannes this year. This one, which won a prize awarded by the prestigious International Federation of Film Critics, comes from Mohammad Rasoulof, who, along with Jafar Panahi, is one of several high-profile Iranian filmmakers who were infamously arrested in 2010, sentenced to prison, and banned from filmmaking. That info alone will tell you how incredible it is that this film even exists, not to mention the pain in the ass it must have been to get it out of the country. The film is, as you might imagine, quite bleak.

The Missing Picture [Prize of Un Certain Regard]
Un Certain Regard's top prize; the winners are often political decisions, and I believe this to be one of them. Nothing to write home about cinematically, the film is, nonetheless, an extremely original and important work that mines Cambodia's gruesome political history, viz. Pol Pot and Khmer Rouge. Using handmade clay figurines and dioramas, director Rithy Panh recounts the ravages that Pol Pot's regime visited upon the people of Cambodia following the communist victory in 1975.

Stranger by the Lake [Un Certain Regard Best Director]
I was hoping this film would end up in the Masters programme (or, at the very least, in Wavelengths), because, pace Todd Stephens, this is not just another gay movie, and I worry that it will be treated like one in a mass of Contemporary World Cinema titles. Stranger by the Lake is, simply, the best and most artful queer film since Apichatpong Weerasethakul's landmark Tropical Malady (2004); there's a reason why it topped Blue is the Warmest Color to win the Queer Palm. In perhaps the boldest depiction of cruising life to ever grace an art house screen, French filmmaker Alain Guiraudie draws up a mysterious, noir-ish romance like nothing you've ever seen before. Yes, there is a lot of penis in this movie, but it's there with a purpose; by the time the last lines of the movie are spoken (rather, yelled, into a pitch black summer night), I was too stunned to speak.

Omar [Un Certain Regard Jury Prize]
From the director of Paradise Now comes another daring and provocative psychological thriller. I didn't see this film, so here's what the festival has to say: "Ever since the concrete Separation Wall divided their West Bank town, childhood friends Omar, Amjad and Tarek must surreptitiously climb over the wall -- risking their lives -- just to hang out. Omar has an additional motive for dodging the punishing watch of the Israeli military and their bullets: he is in love with Nadia, Tarek's younger sister."

Blue Ruin [Directors' Fortnight FIPRESCI]
Another prize-winner courtesy of the International Federation of Film Critics, here's a film I'm surprised wasn't placed in the Midnight Madness programme, not because it's some over-the-top, extravagant slasher flick; far from it. Rather, the film can work a crowd, and it'd have been awesome to view it with a revved up Ryerson audience. The film is a fairly classical, albeit gritty, revenge film. Made by the guy responsible for Matt Porterfield's bare aesthetic, it's best to go in knowing pretty much nothing.

The Selfish Giant [Directors' Fortnight Label Europa Cinemas Award]
If you've had a chance to see The Arbor, you know what a major new voice Clio Barnard is. The Selfish Giant is a totally different film - much more kitchen sink with zero documentary subversion, but it's a masterful neo-sink entry, much more credible than anything Andrea Arnold has made to date, and also quietly powerful.

Thanks to Grolsch for sponsoring our coverage of TIFF13Top film still from A Touch of Sin

There's a new big fat Greek restaurant now open at Woodbine Beach and it's offering an upscale taste of the leisurely Mediterranean lifestyle. You can keep it light with mezze or mini lamb souvlakis or bring your appetite (and pocket book) and get down, beach-side with family style feasts and cocktails.

Read my profile of Trinity Taverna in the restaurants section.

Breakout Toronto Bands features local artists that we think you should give a listen to.

Who are they?

Founded in 2009, The Box Tiger was brought together by singer/songwriter Sonia Sturino. She's joined by Jordan Stowell (guitar), Marcus Cipparrone (drums), and Benjamin Tran (bass).

They've only been around for four years, but it wouldn't be an overstatement to say that the band has experienced a bit of a rocky road leading up to the release of their debut album, Set Fire. The current lineup is radically different from the personnel that made up the quartet in their early years, with bassist Tran being the newest addition (he came aboard in late spring of 2012). Nonetheless, this is a band that obviously feels comfortable playing together—their music has a maturity and tightness that is almost immediately evident.

They sound like....

I only became familiar with The Box Tiger over the last few months, and my introduction to their music was Set Fire's second single, "Knives." It's not hard to see why the track was chosen as a single: one of the highlights of the album, it's a quick-and-dirty little number that serves as the perfect showcase of Sturino's vocal talents.

And yes, while The Box Tiger is, collectively, a very talented group of musicians, it's Sturino that is the true standout. As a singer, she's been positively compared to Florence Welch, and while I won't fully agree or disagree, she possesses a vocal range that you don't often hear. On the ballad "Hospital Choir," you can hear the emotion dripping as she sings "Rise again / my love, my friend," and "I'm so sorry that I / I can't be better at all and / I'm not better at all for you." It is, in fact, my favourite track on the album, haunting and beautiful in its simplicity.

The band isn't out to reinvent the wheel, but they don't have to—what their sound lacks in straight-up uniqueness is overwhelmed by the technical tightness of their music and the fact that they're clearly having the time of their lives. This is most evident in kickoff track "Bleeding Hart," a total banger that starts the album on a high note that it never really loses. Sure, there's a misstep or two—namely "Julian," a slow and stumbling track which really didn't catch my attention no matter how many times I listened to it. But the band can be forgiven for this, as the rest of the album cruises along at a great pace.

Hear them / see them

Unfortunately, the band has no shows scheduled in the near future. They've been touring around for the last few months in support of the album, and I'd imagine that more dates will be announced sooner rather than later. Fact is, this is a band that you're going to hear a lot from over the next little while.

Set Fire is available in digital and CD format, with a limited edition version containing an extra track for a few dollars more. Head on over to the band's official site for pricing info and a full track list. Let's hope for some tour dates.

The best frozen yogurt in Toronto comes in seemingly endless flavours, with many lovely cavity-inducing toppings to match (Teddy Grahams and gummy bears, anyone?) As I write this list, I fantasize about froyo the entire time. The resurgence of summer weather makes this the perfect few weeks to grab the dessert, and I just might have to head to one of these spots on my way home to cure my craving. Anyone else suffering from the same obsession?

Here are the best places to grab frozen yogurt in Toronto.

See also:

The best ice cream in Toronto
The best gelato in Toronto

The top patios in Toronto to pick up at are the ones packed with the people looking for love (or a one night stand, let's not get picky), Summer is prime season for patios, and it's also prime season for hooking up. From Sandy and Danny to those weird singing children (seriously, are they okay? Is someone making them do that?), everyone can agree that summer love is here to stay.

In Toronto, certain patios are more conducive to getting down without getting turned down. Please note that the data for this list was gathered anecdotally and may vary wildly as there is no data less rigorous than a dude bragging to his pals about how many numbers he got from chicks while their backs were turned: "Jeah brah, the bartender totally wants me. She gave me my polar bear shot without spilling it...so she was practically in my pants, man."

Here is our list for the top patios to pick up at in Toronto.

See also:

The Toronto Patio Guide web site, iPhone and Android app
The top 50 patios in Toronto for 2013
The best patios in Toronto
The best rooftop patios in Toronto
The best backyard patios in Toronto
The top 10 patios with the best views in Toronto
The top 10 patios for cheap drinks in Toronto

The Ballroom
The Ballroom's two types of patios are ideal for the sporty type looking to capitalize on someone's vulnerable anguish upon losing a game of bowling. Patio Pick-up Line: "I like my men/women the way I like my bowling balls - being handled onscreen by John Goodman in front of Steve Buscemi for a Russian award."

The Madison
Though The Maddy has a reputation for being a fratty, student bar, fratty, student bars are great for when you're looking to pick up. This patio is often packed, which is great for mingling with strangers. Patio Pick-up Line: "Are you a psych major? 'Cause I'd like to put my Piaget in your Vygotsky."

Skylounge
This hotel patio is well-decorated and packed with equally attractive patrons. The tapas-style menu (PDF) allows for sharing among friends and potential lovers. Patio Pick-up Line: (Just start softly singing Skyfall while maintaining eye contact with someone. Don't stop until they agree to talk to you.)

Boutique Bar
Boutique's Bar's patio faces Church Street, operating as the audience of the runway that is Attractive People of Church and Wellesley. Channel your inner Anna Wintour (if Anna Wintour had a good love life which she doesn't if Hollywood has anything to say about it) and keep an eye open for the right one for you. Patio Pick-up Line: "I saw you sashaying down Church Street. You have the good looks of Alyssa Edwards, the sassiness of Willam and the mystique of Mystique."

Cabana Pool Bar
At Cabana Pool Bar, people (and occasionally Canadian celebrities) sit around in their bathing suits, drinking seductive cocktails and eating phallic foods. It doesn't get much sexier than that. Patio Pick-up Line: "Hey, wasn't that guy on Degrassi? Let's make out."

Bier Mrkt (The Esplanade)
This downtown patio is popular with tourists, perfect if you're looking for something with no strings attached (or if you're afraid you'll run into her one day on the TTC and she'll point you out and mimic your crying face to all the other passengers). Patio Pick-up Line: "Want a bite of my smoked meat poutine?" (Wait for person to decline) "Well it's not the only meat that's smokin' in here."

EFS
EFS has a very ethereal, romantic vibe, reminiscent of picnics and twilight walks and all the other things people did for dates before there was Starbucks. Patio Pick-up Line: "This patio reminds me of NYC in autumn. How'd you like to go meatpacking district on my Anthony Weiner?"

Earls Toronto
This Financial District patio is perfect if you're looking to hook-up with Bay Street's best, brightest and horniest. Earl's Toronto has some of Canada's nicest washrooms in the event you find someone worth investing with. Patio Pick-up Line: "I hear the bathrooms here are nice. I bet you're way nicer looking than a toilet, shall we make our way into a private stall and confirm?"

Terroni Bar Centrale
Terroni Bar Centrale's multiple patios bring in the well-heeled Rosedale crowd for those looking for a sugar daddy. They have an elegant vibe that is only enhanced by the aphrodisiac-heavy menu and romantic decor. Patio Pick-up Line: "You ain't no spaniel, but I'd love to share some spaghetti with you. I'll let you choose if you want to be a lady or a tramp."

Muzik Beach
Muzik Beach is made up of a bunch of different patios and cabanas, like a sexy upscale shanty town. With MB's huge capacity, you have a ton of different options if the first one (or seven) don't work out. Patio Pick-up Line: "This patio is big. You know what else is big?" (Wink and pause for disgusted reaction) "My enlarged heart. I only have several days to live. Please take pity on me."

Want more patios? Download the blogTO Patio Guide app for Android and iPhone.

Photo by [bastian.] in the blogTO Flickr pool.

The worst places for parking tickets in Toronto aren't necessarily where you might think they'd be.

As many drivers will know, this city has some incredibly zealous parking attendants. Between 2008 and 2012 the enforcement officers handed out fines totaling $550 million - $110 million a year. One man, Zulfiqar Khimani, personally ticketed $4 million over that period. It's tough out there for rule-breakers.

Park in Toronto, a website set up by web developer Darek Kowalski aims to shed some light on Toronto's illegal parking blackspots. By mining and processing data released by the city, Kowalski has managed to identify the worst streets and most dangerous addresses to break the rules in Toronto.

"I took the data, 14 million tickets, and I worked with it, analyzed it, rebuilt it, changed it around, and created [Park in Toronto.]" Kowalski says. "This application uses five years worth of data."

It's not supposed to help anyone become a scofflaw, he says. "It's providing info, it's up to the people to decide what they want to do with it. People will still park regardless."

Here are the top 10 worst places to illegally park in Toronto, according to the city's latest information:

10) 225 King Street West (Sun Life Financial) - 11,868 tickets ($178,035)

This stretch of King Street between Simcoe and John is home to Metro Hall, the Princess of Wales Theatre, the Royal Alexandra Theatre, Roy Thompson Hall, and some serious parking ticket action. The exact address is for Sun Life Financial, but it's likely the fines are for this entire stretch, which is also part of a busy transit corridor. (Average fine: $15.00)

9) 2 Cooper Street (LCBO) - 12,006 tickets ($479,880)

Drivers hoping to dash in to the LCBO at Yonge and Lake Shore without displaying a ticket are like limping zebra to the hungry parking enforcement lions. The store has a large parking lot which means plenty of fresh meat. (Average fine: $39.97)

8) 200 Elizabeth Street (University Health Network) - 12,100 tickets ($321,540)

Visiting an ailing friend at Toronto General Hospital is a potentially costly act of kindness if you don't find a proper place for your car. Blocking the EMS entrance is also not a good idea. (Average fine: $26.57)

7) 25 St. Mary Street (Briarlane Apartments) - 12,682 tickets ($212,410)

Visitors to the Briarlane apartment building a few blocks southwest of Yonge and Bloor are clearly doing something wrong. The pay-and-display system is nothing unusual, neither are the parking hours, and there's nothing on the street to suggest why the cops would be so keen. Weird. (Average fine: $16.75)

6) 70 York Street (HSBC Bank Canada) - 14,351 tickets ($495,760)

This address, the southwest corner of TD Centre, covers a number of bank towers around the intersection of King and Bay. I suspect delivery drivers and couriers make up a good portion of these tickets. (Average fine: $34.55)

5) 60 Bloor Street West (GAP clothing) - 14,878 tickets ($537,340)

The GAP store sits on the northeast corner of Bay and Bloor, also home to several major banking institutions. It's also the gateway to Yorkville. The amount of tickets is close to the number recorded at 70 York Street but the total is higher, which suggests more serious or prolonged infractions. (Average fine: $36.12)

4) 25 The West Mall (Sherway Gardens) - 20,231 tickets ($793,680)

Sherway Gardens is Toronto's biggest retail offender and home to some of the city's costliest fines, on average. Chances are if you park illegally or overstay in a space the damage will be at least $40. (Average fine: $39.23)

3) 20 Edward Street (World's Biggest Bookstore) - 31,357 tickets ($137,760)

Though the street outside the World's Biggest Bookstore sees over 31,000 tickets, the fines levied here are generally quite low. 20 Edward Street wouldn't make the cut if this top 10 list were ranked by the value of the yellow slips. Make of that what you will. (Average fine: $4.39)

2) 1750 Finch Avenue East (Seneca College Newnham Campus) - 39,792 tickets ($427,700)

Another case of keen ticketing but low fines makes Seneca College near Finch and the 404 the second worst spot to leave your car without the proper permission in Toronto. Be comforted, students: the average cost is pretty low. (Average fine: $10.74)

1) 2075 Bayview Avenue (Sunnybrook Hospital) - 49,888 tickets ($342,450)

It's an absolutely bonanza up at Sunnybrook. 2075 Bayview got 10,000 more tickets than its nearest competitor to take the title of worst address to park in Toronto. That said, the total amount collected here is remarkably low, so that's something. (Average fine: $6.86)

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

Image: Steve M/blogTO Flickr pool.

A new cafe has landed in the east-end that is half coffee house, half design inspiration. Alongside a more inspiring spin on the trendy white interiors dotting design blogs and magazines everywhere, this cafe serves up the perfect little lunches, too.

Check out my review of Cafe Nikoletta in the cafes section.

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

OPEN NOW

• Jacob's Deli, a certified Kosher deli, is now open at 1470 Centre Street in Thornhill.
• Delica Kitchen's newest east end outpost is now open in place of recently deadpooled, Paulette's Chicken & Donuts at 913 Queen Street East.

OPENING SOON

• Barrio Coreano, the fourth concept (this time tacos with a dash of Korean influence) from Playa Cabana taqueria-teur Dave Sidhu is set to open at 642 Bloor West in Koreatown this fall. (via NOW magazine)
• Harvest Kitchen, a new restaurant triumphing fresh, affordable, locavore food is soon to open at 124 Harbord Street. (via Post City)
• Humble Beginnings at 3109 Dundas Street West is set open Labour Day weekend and will offer cross-cultural, hot and cold prepared foods and made-to-order lunches and dinners for dine-in, take-away and catering.
• Kensington Lodge at 21 Kensington Avenue now has the green light from DineSafe though I've got little else to report. Details to come as we know more.
• The Fifth Pub House & Cafe is nearing its opening at the site of the already bustling Easy & Fifth "complex" at 225 Richmond Steet West.
• Papered windows indicate It's All GRK, a new gyro shop is soon to open at 754 Queen Street West.

OTHER NEWS

• Porchetta & Co. now does delivery!

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

Duke Condos is, at very minimum, a well-named condo development. There are a lot of horrible condo names in our city, and this for once isn't actually one of them. Although naming a new building after its intersection is not the most original idea going, it does speak to the growing public desire for condo names that have anything at all to do with their locations(see: Ice?, Nero?). Duke Condos, at the corner of Dundas West and Keele St, is actually making a real effort to become part of this unique neighbourhood. Developer TAS has hired local artists to design Duke's sales centre as well as continuing to sponsor the popular Junction flea market. Now a hub for alt culture and homespun entrepreneurs, the Junction has undergone a real transformation over the past few years and has now reached that venerable point when shiny new condos are soon to graces its streets.

Duke isn't your average condo tower though; at only seven storeys this mixed use building features extensive ground floor retail, graceful cantilevered living spaces, as well as a real variety of units including artist-centric live/work lofts(although the prices are not necessarily artist-centric) and some pretty unique floor plans in the penthouse suites. The live/work spaces actually all feature double height ceilings for whatever creations you can afford to build after your sizeable down payment. Some units on the upper floors also include two-storey windows on both north and south ends of the building, allowing for all day sunlight, these units are not really recommended for creatures of the night like vampires or bartenders.

One of the real highlights here is actually Duke's lack of a ton of amenities. We all too often see projects these days filled to the brim with things to keep people inside and not engaged in with their surroundings. With only a gym and a party room you should have plenty of time to head out and explore the one of a kind offerings of the area. But, if you are looking for a little outdoors without the crowds you will find that almost all of the 92 suites feature either terraces or balconies. Each balcony also comes fitted with custom planters for those looking for a more manageable green space. Along with the convenient garden space TAS has included a few eco-friendly additions to keep our modern guilt in check including a green roof as well as in-suite energy recovery ventilators.

SPECS

Address: 2803 Dundas West
Storeys: 7
Completion Date: November 2015
Unit sizes In Square Feet: 450 to over 1,600
CeilinTypes og Heights in Feet: 9 to 18
Types of Units: Studio, one-bedroom, one-bedroom-plus-den, two-bedroom, two-bedroom-plus-den, three-bedroom, three-bedroom-plus-den, townhomes, and live-work lofts
Starting Price: low $200,000s
Architect: Quadrangle
Developer: TAS
Amenities: Gym and party room

THE GOOD

This may be one of the best new projects I've seen in while considering its respect for the neighbourhood, excellent design, relatively modest size and unique selection of units. Also If you're the type who gets excited about environmentally conscious design (and you damn well should be!) this place has got you covered whether you plan to utilize the terrace planters or not.

THE BAD

Although so far this is an excellent building, it's fair to assume this won't be the last development in this area, and as we all know odds are most won't be too spectacular. So prepare for the scorn of Junction locals when this area becomes filled with middle of the road condo buildings seeking to capitalize on another vibrant neighbourhood.

OUR TAKE

Excellent building , awesome neighbourhood, and despite its semi-hokey name, it will most likely be a few more years (filled with cheesy ad campaigns) before Toronto becomes the kind of city that's OK with just a building's address....so you'll just have to deal with it for now!

Read other posts in this series via our Toronto Condos and Lofts Pinterest board.

TIFF is great for watching great movies, sure, but a significant share of the hype around the festival every year stems from the fact that a whole lot of A-list celebrities are coming to town. Walking past the Shangri-La, Ritz-Carlton, or Four Seasons? Good luck steering through the mass of desperate fans swarming the driveways and sidewalks surrounding the premises.

Along with their hefty slate of potential masterpieces, TIFF also recently announced their international guest list of filmmakers and actors, and it's enough to make you invest in a solid set of earplugs.

If you happen upon a stampede of screaming fans, or can hear their echos in the distance, bouncing off the Hyatt glass, chances are you're within shouting distance of any of the following: Joseph Gordon-Levitt (here as director and actor this year with Don Jon), Marion Cotillard, or Jennifer Aniston. You can also expect James Franco, Adam Levine, Matthew McConaughey, Michael Fassbender, and Zac Efron.

Among the fine directors who will also be in attendance. Denis Villeneuve (whose one-two punch of Enemy and Prisoners bring with them Jake Gyllenhaal and Hugh Jackman), Claire Denis, Francois Ozon, Jim Jarmusch, Steve McQueen, David Gordon Green, Spike Jonze (who is here not for a film but rather an In Conversation... in the Mavericks programme), and actor-turned-directors Xavier Dolan, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, , Mike Myers, and Keanu Reeves.

Special mention goes out to whoever made it possible for Iranian filmmaker Mohammad Rasoulof to make an appearance. Rasoulof, along with Jafar Panahi (another TIFF13 filmmaker) was arrested and sentenced to six years in prison and an extended ban on filmmaking. It's hard enough for either of them to make a film, let alone get out of thecountry to play in festivals, and then to come out to support it in person. Wow.

Some other worthy names are among the guests expected to attend, including Adrien Brody, Annette Bening, Juliette Binoche, Josh Brolin, Pierce Brosnan, Sandra Bullock, and Nicolas Cage. Actress junkies will have lots to look out for, including Jessica Chastain, Glenn Close, Scarlett Johansson, Nicole Kidman, Keira Knightley, Kate Winslet, Julia Roberts, and Meryl Streep.

And even though I put down some money last year that there would never be another TIFF without a Ryan Gosling sighting, it turns out that he's the only person not showing up for the big even this year. Hopefully y'all got your fix during the extended run of Only God Forgives at the Lightbox.

Thanks to Grolsch for sponsoring our coverage of TIFF13

Have you ever really looked forward to a show, only to find out the artist didn't make it over the border? While this can happen to even the most solid of concert promoters, fans often won't see much of an explanation. Meanwhile, artists with the best of intentions can be left stranded at airports or border stations — resented by fans and jaded by Canadian bureaucracy.

When talking about building a stronger music scene in Toronto no one debates the need for more capable promoters: people actively bringing talent to Toronto, and helping touring acts find local audiences. Competition is healthy, and a tale of a strong show for one artist can travel far through touring networks: but the same goes for disasters. So how can Toronto promoters defeat the whims of Canada Customs?

Rules can be fickle, bands can be unaware of restrictions, and when Customs flexes its authority on artists, it's a worst nightmare for everyone involved. Bands from psych punk favorites Tonstartssbandht to old school teen-poppers New Kids on the Block have had troubles at the Canadian border, and Toronto fans have missed out on acts like White Ring, Dipset, Coolio, Rye Rye, Kreayshawn, and Balam Acab, to name a few.

An extreme example is one Italian musician, scheduled to play The Garrison last winter. Calgary customs found the artist's extensive collection of pedals and musical gadgets in his luggage, located tour dates via Google, and made the artist buy a ticket back to Europe; he never officially made it onto Canadian ground. As Bobby Kimberley of Young Lions told us below, even Andy Rourke (The Smiths) has gotten jerked around.

So, say you're an aspiring promoter, or you just want to help a band out with a Toronto show, but you've heard the horror stories. In the interest of someone out there finally bringing Tearist up to Toronto, or (yeah right) solving Pictureplane's border issues, I asked local DIY, or DIY-ish, concert promoters how they address getting bands and artists into Canada, and how to (legally) beat the system.

Bobby Kimberley (Young Lions Music Club)

When dealing with agents, make sure they tell you explicitly what needs to get done. Often they'll assume you've done this a million times, rather than walking you through the process, and you'll end up in a pickle when it matters most and you've forgotten to fill out some of the paperwork because you didn't know any better. At least, that's what happened to us last fall.

We were bringing Andy Rourke (of The Smiths) in for a DJ party on a boat. As a new company, it was our first time dealing with an international act, and we were guessing our way through. On the day of the show, we ended up getting a call from Canadian Customs telling us they had Andy held at Billy Bishop Airport on Toronto Island because we had missed something (I'm still not 100% sure what). Seconds later, Andy's agent was on the other line wondering WTF was going on, after which we accepted mutual blame for making assumptions throughout the booking process.

After about a dozen phone calls and frantic pacing, it ended with me hopping on my bike, taking the ferry to the airport, and making an in-person plea to the border guards to let it slide. Let it slide they did, thankfully, but it's certainly a mistake we'll not make again.

Next in action: Kubrick II feat. WEAVES, Sept. 6 at Adelaide Hall.

Mark Pesci (Mark Pesci's Punk & Hardcore Shows)

Getting bands over the border into Canada has become a lot easier over the last 10 years. When I first started booking shows, it was common for promoters to fake recording contracts to get bands over the border. Now it's comparatively far less stressful. However, I see three major problems with the current immigration system.

The decision to let a band into Canada or not is 100 per cent at the discretion of the Immigration Canada officer or supervisor on duty. This is a constant source of anxiety; catch somebody in a bad mood and you risk not getting in. Some borders are more welcoming than others. I'd argue there need to be clearer rules regarding bands entering Canada without permits, but I fear that this would likely make it harder for bands to get in.

Second, the perception of international bands that it is difficult to get into Canada needs to change. I talk to bands all the time who are under the impression that it is impossible to get into Canada, despite changes in immigration policies making it easier.

Finally, Immigration Canada considers DUI offenses as a serious criminal offense. Sadly, the culture in some areas of the States means it's fairly common to see artists with DUI's; there is a process for artists with DUI's, but it takes time and money, and for small artists it simply isn't worth the risk to play to 100 people in Toronto and Montreal. It would be nice to see our country's immigration soften the rules for about what amounts to a non-felony offense in the USA.

I also tell bands not to lie to immigration officials, as they really hate that. Coach your band on how to talk to the border people: "Our show is not at a bar, it's at a concert venue"; "Our show is not at a house, it's at an arts space that has been rented for the show"; "People are buying tickets or paying cover at the door." And tell them to wear clean clothes and be polite. Sometimes that's not obvious to a band that's been on the road for six weeks.

Next in action: Screaming Females w/ Greys & The Beverleys, Aug 22 @ The Shop under Parts & Labour.

Nancy Mansion (Mansion, Foundry)

It isn't difficult to bring artists across the border once you've figured out the LMO application process and the necessary paperwork. The most difficulty I have had are artists that I want to bring with misdemeanor charges, which could be as small as having a DUI, unable to cross the US-Canada border. That said, there is definitely a barrier to becoming a promoter that books artists from around the world. When we first began, it wasn't easy to convince agents to give us a shot, it was almost a Catch-22 situation in that you have to have experience doing international bookings in order to do international bookings. However, my suggestion is to start off smaller with great emerging artists, really handle them professionally and let your events speak for themselves.

Next in action: TBA.

Matthew Almeida (Nocturne Club, The Rockpile, & various)

I come from a unique perspective, having brought over artists both legitimately and with my own personal legal tactics when it comes to work visas. Usually when dealing with agents, they will handle most of that stuff. I'm fortunate that both The Rockpile and Nocturne, the venues I do 75% of my bookings in, have entertainment licenses, so most acts are exempt from needing visas. When dealing with artists directly, it's not that complicated if you read over Canada Customs' policies for what does and does not need a work permit. Say you bring an artist over to Canada and you shoot a music video and record a song for them as deferred payment for their shows, they don't need a visa.

If any young promoters out there want to bring in an act from out of town, I will happily explain the paperwork, hell, I'll even email you the contract template I use! There is also a great resource that my friend Jess Montebello from Folk The System has been putting together called the "Do It Together Phonebook" that is a resource for bands to book their own tour with DIY promoters all over the world.

Next in action: Bridge Rave, Sunday August 25th (the meeting Point is Broadview and River Street Skatepark).

Almeida's enthusiastic offer to share his dox is a perfect place to break. A strong scene is an open scene, and I doubt anyone above would mind newbies, or experienced promoters, reaching out to them for advice.

In my experience, a simple template exemption notice on venue letterhead will go a long way. Make sure the artists have your contact information for any bad situations that might arise, and to prevent bad situations. Don't assume anything: check to be sure they will know the rules, have their visas and paperwork handy, and not act suspiciously, or blare Celine Dion, while attempting to cross.

And to bands: please, just pretend to be as bougie as you can manage. Dress conservatively, have your papers and passports ready, turn your stereo off, harass everyone in the band until you're sure there's no contraband kicking around, and speak politely and evenly. Everyone in the vehicle or party needs to know what's going on, who is taking care of you in Canada, and the locations and contact info for places you'll be staying (idea: everyone should have this information written down somewhere on their person.) Don't act sus. When you're 10 kilometers past the border, then freak out and blast Celine Dion. You made it!

Photo of White Ring by Galen Oakes. Second photo by Michelle Cortese, Mean Jeans photo by Ivy Lovell, fourth photo by Denise McMullin. oOoOO & Young Prisms photos by Aubrey Jax.

This Leslieville barber shop opened late last year, and has quickly developed a following from locals looking for the personable brand of service offered at the throwback shop. Complete with taxidermied deer heads and a stack of vintage Playboys, there's a playful masculinity on display that makes the act of getting a shave a ritual worth returning for.

Read more in my review of Hastings Barber Shop.