Davenport Road might lack the stature of some of the other streets we've featured in our series of Toronto history, but even if it was never developed to the same degree as nearby St. Clair Avenue or Dupont Street, it remains a fascinating thoroughfare that's unlike any other street in the city. Winding across what the old Lake Iroquois shoreline, the road originated as a First Nations trails, which at one point stretched between the Humber and Don rivers. That's why it doesn't conform to the more grid-like design of most other streets in the city. The curves are what make it interesting, of course, and it remains a favourite route for cyclists who can take shelter in the bike lane (installed in 1994) and then ride up and down the various inclines to the north.

Many of the below photos demonstrate the city trying to manage the inclines to the north of Davenport, which were virtually un-passable after heavy rains or snow prior to being paved in and around the 1920s. To do this day, cars tend to struggle approaching Davenport from Bathurst and Dufferin in heavy know thanks to above average gradients. In the case of Bathurst street, the city actually used dynamite to lessen the incline, which posed significant problems given the amount of traffic on the street.

Also worthy of note is that Davenport was home to the second electrified streetcar line in Toronto. Though it might be hard to believe given its relatively northern position at the time (most development was concentrated further south), the Davenport Railway Company ran cars along the street starting in 1892. Around the same time, a series of tolls were installed along the street to fund improvements to street, one of which serves as heritage museum at Bathurst and Davenport.

In fact, Bathurst and Davenport is a rather important intersection to the city as a whole. Home to the TTC's Hillcrest Yards, the sprawling complex has been the nerve centre for the TTC since it opened in the early 1920s. Prior to that, the area to the southwest of the intersection was actually home to Hillcrest Racetrack, one of many to dot the city back in the day. Just to the north of the TTC facility is Wychwood Park, a private community that was once founded as an artists colony.

Fall is a particularly beautiful time to take in Davenport's many delights, as the north side of the street remains well treed. Stop and have a look around next time you pass by.

PHOTOS

Above Davenport and Bathurst, 1907

Davenport looking east from Bathurst, 1910

Hillcret Racetrack, Bathurst and Davenport 1911

TTC Hillcrest Yards, 1911

Davenport and Poplar Plains, 1912

Looking north on Walmer Road at Casa Loma, 1913

Dufferin north of Davenport, 1913

Davenport looking north up Bathurst, 1913

Davenport west at Bathurst, 1914

Casa Loma, 1914

Looking north up Christie from Davenport, 1915

Lansdowne and Davenport, 1916

Alternate angle.

Davenport and Walmer, 1916

Davenport and Bathurst looking east, 1916

Davenport and Bartlett, 1921

Gage property at Wychwood, 1922

Davenport and (Old) Weston Rd, 1923

TTC Hillcrest Yards, 1923

Davenport and Symington, 1923

Davenport and Salem, 1923

GTR Crossing near Davenport and Caledonia, 1923

Davenport GTR Station at Caledonia Rd, 1923

Small house at Davenport and Albany, 1925

Davenport and Oakwood, 1927

Southwest corner of Avenue and Davenport, 1930

306 Davenport, 1930

191-193 Davenport, 1930

359 Davenport, 1931

Davenport and Bedford, 1933

Davenport towards Dupont, 1938

Davenport and Dovercourt, 1947

Davenport and Bedford, 1947

The Sign of the Steer restaurant at Davenport and Dupont, 1955

Looking west on Davenport at Howland, 1956

Davenport looking eat from Osler, 1958

Looking towards Davenport and Yonge, 1959

Photos from the Toronto Archives

Rob Ford has had an amazing summer, don't you know? Controversy-free, he's been able to really enjoy the city and his constituents, getting out to various street festivals and even arm wrestling with Hulk Hogan (and winning!). Oh, and he was solely responsible for securing a subway in Scarborough, a long dream of his. In other words, it was the summer of Ford!

Or, at least, that's what this new promotional video would have you believe. "This short film is my way of thanking Toronto residents for a phenomenal summer," the YouTube description reads. "I hope that everyone who watches it will get a fraction of the enjoyment I had meeting thousands of residents this past summer."

I just love this thing. Besides the cringe-worthy production values, it's just an exquisite take on a summer that was probably the most challenging that any municipal politician has faced ever. To Ford's credit, no city resources were used in its production. Enjoy!

Lead photo by Christian Bobak

Change rarely comes quickly in cities. Buildings come and go, businesses open and close, and styles change, but it often takes years to notice the endlessly shifting landscape. That's where Toronto's vast collection of archival photos - the city's collective memory bank - plays a vital role.

A new collection of "re-photography" by Toronto photographer Harry Enchin has found a way to link the city of of the early to mid 1900s with present day by blending black and white photos with crisp colour originals, producing a tantalizing and sometimes incongruous blend of old and new.

Dusty workers in caps and suspenders lay streetcar track on Dundas as a bright red modern streetcar approaches; monochrome women in straw hats stroll past Old City Hall unaware a woman in a short blue dress is cutting past.

"About 10 or 15 years ago I went for a drive with my mother to the Junction," says Enchin. "Dundas and Runnymede specifically is where she grew up, she's the ninth of ten children. When we went there for the drive of course her family home was long gone and that got me thinking about changes to the city"

"I wanted to do a project that would combine the old with the new and evoke memory through photography. In recent years my mother developed some memory loss, and that furthered by interest."

Enchin visits the city archives at Dupont and Spadina, selects a high-quality image from the collection - something evocative, like a newsstand or a newsboy - and takes a copy on location to help line up his shot. The two images are then carefully spliced together using digital imaging software.

Enchin's favourite is the one at the top of the page, of the workers laying streetcar tracks just east of Osssington. "There's a social commentary there ... even though they're hamming it up for the camera, you can sense the pride in their work to look in their faces, and that's very interesting to me. But look a little closer and you'll see there's no protective gear, no safety gloves, no safety helmet, and they're working with shovels and a jackhammer."

"It's a very interesting commentary on how things have changed over time. They can be really proud they're building the infrastructure for decades to come for the city of Toronto but little do they know behind them, coming down the rails, is the newer version of the streetcar."

Enchin's show, Toronto Time, runs until October 26 at Akasha Art Projects on Church Street. Next up, New York City, he says.

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

Images: Harry Enchin.

Weekend events in Toronto is our guide to events happening this Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Here's what's happening in Toronto this September 13-15, 2013.

Roncesvalles Polish Festival
The final street festival of the summer takes place this weekend when Roncesvalles shuts down for the annual Polish Festival. Roncy will be crowded with food vendors serving only the best for Polish palettes and stores will be hosting sidewalk sales with major discounts. Drink in the beer gardens along the street or walk the road to catch street performances. Not satisfied with the Polish festival? Swing around the corner to Bloor West Village for the 17th Annual Bloor West Village Toronto Ukrainian Festival.
Roncesvalles Avenue, September 14-15, 2013, 11AM Free

MUSIC

CHVRCHES
This Scottish electropop trio seems to be everywhere despite only just releasing their first studio album The Bones of What You Believe in 2013. Playing Danforth Music Hall on Sunday night, CHVRCHES brings their small roster of songs and youthful energy to Toronto once again with openers XXYYXX. Tickets are still available at press time through the usual suspects--Ticketmaster, Soundscapes and Rotate This.
Danforth Music Hall (147 Danforth Avenue), September 15, 2013, 8PM $28.50

TEENANGER
Toronto band TEENANGER were once credited as the future of punk by The Globe & Mail but in a less than punk move, the four-piecer is playing a free show at The Silver Dollar Room on Saturday night for their fans. Joining the show, which marks the release of their latest LP Singles Don't $ell, are friends in music-making Gomet Control and Cellphone. Show up early enough to get in but not too early to be lame. Doors open at 9 and this is a 19+ event.
The Silver Dollar Room (486 Spadina Avenue), September 14, 2013, 9PM Free

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

MARKET

The Leslieville Flea
Flea markets are all the rage these days but if you're looking for a new location and new market to explore, the east end is the place to go. The Leslieville Flea opens on Sunday morning in the backlot of the Duke Tavern, where 37 vendors will be selling vintage clothing, antique furniture, art pieces and handicrafts. The flea is open from 10-4 and you can find updates on what is available for purchase at leslievilleflea.blogspot.ca. Happy treasure hunting!
Queen Street East and Leslie Street, September 15, 2013, 10AM Free

Toronto Flower Market
Expect your Instagram feed to be flooded with pictures of flowers on Saturday morning. The successful Toronto Flower Market returns this weekend with Ontario growers and florists displaying seasonal flowers and plants for purchase. This humble gathering of local growers and their products will be a showcase of Ontario's best flora. The market opens early and closes by 3PM.
99 Sudbury Street, September 14, 2013, 10AM Free

FOOD & DRINK

Junction Night Market
The Junction gets its own night market on the old train platform and this one is all about the food and booze. Local eateries and brewers will be on site to satiate the community with $5 offerings, ranging from grilled cheese to tacos to s'mores. All proceeds go toward the Junction Farmers Market Voucher Program and The Stop Community Food Centre. The market operates from 7-11 on Saturday night.
Junction Train Platform (2960 Dundas Street West), September 14, 2013, 7PM $5

Toronto Beer Week
Toronto Beer Week provides a platform for the expansion of the craft beer movement and this year, dozens of local brewers will showcase their talents in events across the city. New flavours, brewing demos and cask beer tastings are all par for the course during TBW, which has several events taking place over the next 8 days. For the full schedule of events, visit torontobeerweek.com.
Locations across Toronto, September 13-21, 2013, various times and prices

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

ARTS

Toronto Indie Arts Market
A marketplace of curiosities and creativities, the Toronto Indie Arts Market opens at the Gladstone this Saturday to showcase youthful, urban, edgy handicrafts. Over 50 vendors gather to sell crafts, canned goods, clothing and more in support of the Toronto Cat Rescue. Add some quirk to your Saturday by stopping by. Admission is $5 after 11AM.
Gladstone Hotel (1214 Queen Street West), September 14, 2013, 10AM Free

Liberty Village Art Crawl
The streets along Lamport Stadium and Liberty Village Park will be filled with 40+ artists this Friday and Saturday for the Liberty Village Art Crawl. A neighbourhood street event, this crawl will have food, drinks, art, music, sales, activities and prizes all weekend long. Show up early or stay late--it doesn't matter because this one's free!
Liberty Village (1151 King Street West), September 13-14, 2013, 11AM Free

FILM

COMMFFEST Global Community Film Festival
It's closing weekend for TIFF, but if you're all worn out by the big festival, check out the COMMFFEST Global Community Film Festival, which features films and filmmakers who engage in a dialogue of social issues and cultural exchange. These are typically smaller productions, but they represent some serious up and coming talent. Be sure to check out "My Friend Jodie" by Tracy Toscano, which makes its Canadian premiere September 14, 2013 (11am - 4:30pm) at Rainbow Cinema.
.
THEATRE

Peace of Mine Festival
Eight black playwrights present works in development that are telling of contemporary realities and use elements of hip-hop, spoken word, dance and live music at Peace of Mine Festival. What's unique about this theatre festival is that each evening, audience talkbacks allow for the artists to be provided with feedback to help question and further develop their work. Peace of Mine premieres this Friday evening and runs until Sunday with a full schedule of presentations each night.
Palmerston Library Theatre (560 Palmerston Avenue), September 13-15, 2013, 7:30PM $10

For more theatre listings, check out ourThis Week in Theatre post.

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

Photo of the Roncesvalles Polish Festival by makoto2007

Photo by Michael Herrera in the blogTO Flickr pool.

Toronto has had its fair share of aborted construction projects and big development ideas brought low - enough to fill two fascinating books, in fact - but Eaton's John Maryon Tower, a giant precursor the the CN Tower, is perhaps the biggest project (literally) to never get off the ground.

Planned to replace Eaton's College Street store, the tower would have bested even the World Trade Center towers in New York for height and would still be the fifth tallest building in the world (if like the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat you exclude the likes of the CN Tower, which has few real floors.)

It's perhaps fortunate for fans of College Park that the giant triangular monster never seriously got going.

Despite its grand, imposing presence, the Eaton's Art Moderne College Street store was never quite as impressive as the company had once hoped. The original proposal for the Eaton's second major Toronto store called for a 36-storey, 204 metre tower that would have risen from the centre of a sprawling store covering the entire block bound by College, Yonge, Bay, and Hayter.

As Mark Osbaldeston notes in Unbuilt Toronto, the building would have been second in height only to New York's Rockefeller Center, then still in the concept phase and one of the largest private enterprises ever undertaken.

T. Eaton Co. had spent the early part of the 20th century gobbling up land on the east side of Yonge, north of Carlton, west of Church, in anticipation of Toronto's commercial district shifting north to what was then midtown. The land grab was kept top secret, leading to speculation CPR was planning to build a massive new train station and run tracks underground to Davisville from the site.

In the end, Eaton's opted to build its new flagship store on a second plot of land it had snapped up around the same time on the southwest corner of Yonge and College. The ambitious set of blueprints were drawn up by Ross and MacDonald and Sproatt and Rolph, two architectural firms that had previously teamed up to produce the Royal York Hotel.

It would have been the largest department store, maybe even the largest building in the world, butjust as the Depression put paid to grand plans for University Avenue, the financial downtown similarly decapitated Eaton's skyward development. The planned main tower was shifted around on drawings until it was lopped off entirely, along with several floors.

The Eaton's store that was finished in 1928 was only seven-stories, though it did manage to retain much of its grandeur and some of its finest design touches, including the top-floor event space now known as The Carlu.

Perhaps in the hope of reviving the tower, Eaton's had the foundations sunk into the bedrock behind the store just in case.

Though its first attempt had come a cropper through lack of money, Eaton's clearly never gave up on its high-rise dream for College Street. In October 1971, the company announced it wanted to build a new office tower - the tallest in the world, no less - and knock down its College Street outpost.

The John Maryon Tower, as it would later be known, was to be 503 metres and 140-storeys high - taller than Malaysia's Petronas Towers, finished in 1998, the Willis Tower in Chicago, and New York's original World Trade Center towers.

The department store had been itching to redevelop its downtown holdings since the 1960s, when it first pitched the Eaton Centre as a cluster of separate towers. That original proposal assumed the demolition of the Church of the Holy Trinity and Old City Hall, though it later revised its proposal to include the clock tower of Toronto's former civic heart.

A model of the triangular concrete, steel, and glass John Maryon Tower was officially unveiled by its engineer namesake at the CNE's International Building Exhibition that year. Maryon was an expert in tall buildings and and President of John Maryon & Partners Ltd., the company behind the Bell Aliant Tower in downtown Moncton.

The tower he designed would have been built on the vacant lot behind the Eaton's store and the original demolished to create an expansive approach from the north. It's unusual shape would deflect winds of up to 200 km/h, Maryon said, and help it stand for "1,000 years." Two small pavilions, in a similar shape, were drawn just to the north.

Office workers would have been tapping away on Selectric typewriters in the building's 265,000 square metre interior while a 183-metre rooftop radio mast ensured TV viewers in Toronto received a crystal clear picture. One of the benefits to the CN Tower, built two years later, was the ability of its antenna to transmit UHF, FM, and AM signals over new downtown skyscrapers.

In the Toronto Star write-up of the announcement, it was noted the Maryon tower would have been more than twice as tall as Commerce Court, then under construction at King and Bay on its way to becoming the Commonwealth's tallest building.

As revealed at the time, the development was dependent on T. Eaton Co. receiving permission to demolish its original store, the Eaton's Annex, and its other buildings north of Queen Street for the Eaton Centre.

The revised proposal that offered to leave the clock tower of Old City Hall marooned in the centre of a concrete plaza was panned by Toronto residents and the company was forced back to the drawing board again, delaying construction on the centre for several years.

The company would eventually get its mall but the John Maryon Tower was less fortunate. Interest in the development petered out not long after it was proposed as demand for new office space dwindled. The handful of public drawings released in 1971 were filed away for good in the dusty draw reserved for lost Toronto developments.

Despite its dormant status, the company confirmed it was still weighing the project next year in 1972. Announcing the news, Toronto Star columnist Alexander Ross called the prospect of the monumental tower "insane urban planning."

A series of financial setbacks in the late 1970s severely hobbled the nationwide company. A chain of smaller department stores named Horizon failed and was closed down while several other Eaton Centres in cities like Sarnia, Guelph, and Peterborough struggled with low occupancy rates.

The company finally went bankrupt in 1999 and was bought by rival Sears for $50 million. Serendipitously, the plot of land that was to be used for the John Maryon Tower is now the site of the Aura condo, which will be a whopping 272 metres tall when it's finished next year - still barely half what Eaton's had planned.

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

Images: Toronto Telegram, Ontario Archives, The Globe and Mail, Toronto Star

Just for Laughs in Toronto is pretty stacked this year. Family Guy Live. Aziz Ansari. Sarah Silverman. 42 other killers. Questions? Follow me as I walk you through the star-studded line-up...

The Pass System

Rather than selling tickets to individual shows, they're selling five different passes, ranging from a Base Model Pass at $69 (4 credits, one headliner, nosebleeds) to a Deluxe Model Pass at $299 (4 credits, all three headliners, premium seats). Wait, what? Credits? I'll explain.

Let's say you want to see Bill Burr:

Step 1: Reserve a seat online. This will burn one of your four credits.
Step 2: Go to the show.
Step 3: While you wait for Ol' Billy Redface to strike up, Check-in to the event using Facebook's location services and your credit will be added back.

Show sold out? Never fear! Add the show to your Wishlist. If enough people add Ol' Billy Redface to their Wishlist, the JFL pantheon will add another show or move him to a bigger venue worthy of his genius.

Still unsure about how all this works? Click here for more details. While a bit confusing initially, this system allows you to see an unlimited amount of shows because you can always get your credit back.

On to the acts!

Your Headliners

SEPT 28 / FAMILY GUY / SONY CENTRE / 7PM & 10PM

People are almost always disappointed with the movie adaptations of their favourite books, and I think that's because nothing can match the rich palette that our imagination paints with. With that in mind, when I attend this live reading accompanied by a 40-piece orchestra, I'm going to shut my lids and let my mind's eye do the animating. Book early to avoid disappointment!

SEPT 20 / SARAH SILVERMAN / SONY CENTRE / 10PM

Sarah's seen it all. Early in her career, she was a writer for SNL. Then, she had her own show on the Comedy Network. Hell, she was even on the Larry Sanders Show. Many know her from her video, "I'm Fucking Matt Damon." I like her because she genuinely doesn't seem to care what people think, and in my opinion, that's when the real comedy rises to the top.

FRI SAT 27 / AZIZ ANSARI / SONY CENTRE / 7PM & 10PM

There's a saying that we get recognized in public for the disciplines we practise in private, and Aziz is the perfect example of that. Thirteen years ago, he started out on the open mic scene while he was attending NYU. In 2005, he was put on Rolling Stone's Hot List for stand-up comedians. The next year, he won the Jury Award for Best Stand-up at HBO's US Comedy Arts Festival.  Then, he spent a few years on MTV with sketch troupe Human Giant.  Things got even better when NBC came calling with the show Parks and Recreation...you get the idea. Dude's unstoppable right now.

Vincent's Picks

Here are the five shows that I'd suggest you check out. If you have any questions, comments, or violent disagreements, let's hash it out in the comments section!

SEPT 21 / BILL BURR / QUEEN ELIZABETH THEATRE / 7PM & 930PM

Forgive my bias, but this is the real headliner of JFL42. He got his start in Boston, put together a nest egg, travelled to New York, and ate spaghetti and bread for dinner every night while he followed his dreams. In all honesty, his one-man Monday Morning Podcast is more entertaining than 90% of the manicured, laugh-tracked stand-up specials you'll see on television.

Why do I love him so much? Awhile back, some comedians found out that they could shock the audience into laughter by using semi-funny, but controversial, material. Burr, on the other hand, is only controversial because he says what's truly on his mind. Case in point, check out the above clip where he heckles the audience for 12 minutes and wins them over.

SEPT 20 / ANTHONY JESELNIK / QUEEN ELIZABETH THEATRE / 930PM

In 2009, he became a writer for Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. When they found his stuff too dark, he didn't change one bit. In fact, it's his dark side that helped him put his stamp on the uber-competitive Roast of Donald Trump. How good was it? Comedy Central got him to do two more roasts, a stand-up special, and even gave him a development deal which you now know as the Jeselnik Offensive. Like Silverman, he just doesn't care, and it's what I love about his stuff. Jump to 1:24 for his Shakespeare joke. If you laugh at 1:46, we're on the same page.

SEPT 19, 22, 27 / CHRIS LOCKE / VARIOUS LOCATIONS

Most headliners can make you laugh, but there are a rare few that can make you double over and hold your stomach; Chris Locke's one of those guys. If that wasn't enough, stand-up isn't the only place Locke shines. He actually started out doing YouTube videos, and it's the reason why that he's going on a rampage in his new role on MTV. It's the perfect fit for Chris because it will help him build an audience with the market that's about to enter the 18-35 cash cow demographic. If I could only see three shows at JFL, Chris Locke's would be one of them.

SEPT 26 & 27 / HANNIBAL BURESS / QUEEN ELIZABETH THEATRE / 930PM (26th) & 7PM (27th)

At 29, Hannibal Buress has put together an enviable CV, making appearances on Craig Ferguson, Jimmy Fallon, David Letterman, Jimmy Kimmel, Conan O'Brien, not to mention writing for SNL and 30 Rock.  Hannibal's my kind of guy because he simply states the truth on stage.

SEPT 25 & SEPT 26 / JOHN MULANEY / QUEEN ELIZABETH THEATRE / 7PM (25th and 26th)

I first heard about Mulaney from a fellow comic who named him his favourite up-and-comer on the scene. When I checked out the above clip, I was sold. His manicured style reflects his English Lit. degree from Georgetown. I love the way he describes everyday situations from the perspective of a wide-eyed, confused child that's and not afraid to ask questions. Oh, and if you get a chance, check out his Donald Trump bit!

SEPT 19, 20, 21, 23 / MARK LITTLE & KYLE DOOLEY / COMEDY BAR / 7PM

Mark Little and Kyle Dooley, are, ugh, they're so good. If I had to pick only three shows to watch at JFL, this would be one of them. You may know them from their sketch troupe's stint on Comedy Central, PicnicFace. First of all, Mark's one of the best stand-up's in the world right now. Oh, and he has a Masters in Theatre. The last time I saw Kyle, he destroyed at Bad Dog Theatre's spoof of the Walking Dead. Put these guys together, and they're indestructible.

About the Author: This is Michael Jagdeo, and I refuse to write about myself in the third-person. My blog, Diary of a Stand-up Comedian, walks you through the up's and down's (they're mostly down's, really) in my quest to become a killer comic in Toronto.

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

IN THE NEWS

Hayden announces fall tour, premieres new video

After releasing Us Alone, his first album in four years, back in February, Hayden will close out 2013 by heading out on a 10-date North American tour. The notoriously reclusive artist, who didn't tour in support of his 2009 album The Place Where We Lived, will play four shows in the northeast US before coming back to Ontario for six more shows across the province. He'll close out the tour on Nov. 30 in Toronto at the Danforth Music Hall. In addition to the tour, Hayden also unveiled a music video for "Blurry Nights," which you can watch below. Head on over to his official website for more information on the tour.

THIS WEEK'S HOT TICKETS

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 20 / MUSHY CALLAHAN / TATTOO ROCK PARLOUR / 567 QUEEN W / 19+

After successfully completing a UK tour, Mushy Callahan is coming home. The Alberta-bred quartet, which is now based out of Toronto, will be releasing their debut album Makings of a Man this month, and they'll be celebrating with an album release party at the Tattoo Rock Parlour. The band has quietly been making a name for themselves over the last little while, and I predict that you're going to see big things coming from them. They've certainly got the chops to make it big.

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 21 / LADIES OF THE CANYON / HORSESHOE TAVERN / 370 QUEEN W / $8 / 19+

I saw Ladies of the Canyon live at Festival Music House back in 2011, and as a fan of roots and country, I was immediately taken in by their music. The all-female quartet out of Montreal has an awesome stage presence, and their music is very accessible. Eight bucks for a ticket is ridiculously cheap, and you also get to see Taylor Knox and local folk heroes The Old Salts. This will be a great night of music.

RECENTLY ANNOUNCED CONCERTS

• THE SOUNDS / THE MOD CLUB / OCTOBER 17 / 8PM
• THE BELLE GAME / THE DRAKE HOTEL / OCTOBER 25 / 7PM
• MY BLOODY VALENTINE / KOOL HAUS / NOVEMBER 5 / 7PM
• KYARY PAMYU PAMYU / SOUND ACADEMY / MARCH 7 / 7PM

WHAT WE GOT UP TO LAST WEEK

• The top 5 venues for hip hop in Toronto
• Who deserves to win the 2013 Polaris Music Prize?
• Ohbijou bid farewell at the Great Hall

Photo of Hayden courtesy of Sara on Flickr.

Seemingly perfectly timed with my newfound interest in the art on Toronto's beer labels, a new Ontario brewer, Collective Arts Brewery, officially launched last Thursday night, with a goal no less ambitious than "fusing the craft of brewing with the inspired talents of emerging and seasoned artists, musicians, poets, photographers & filmmakers."

How exactly founders Matt Johnston and Bob Russell are attempting to do this is by featuring the work of emerging artists on the labels of their beers.

Series one of their beer/arts collaboration will be plastered on their first beverage, Rhyme & Reason Extra Pale Ale, a 5.7% ABV American IPA flavoured with Citra, Centennial, Chinook and Simcoe hops. This first series will feature 90 artists on 90 different labels and includes visual art, short film, animation, and music videos.

How do you get a music video on a beer label?

Well the founders of Collective Arts have partnered with Blippar, a smart phone app that will recognize the art on the label and take you to the corresponding video or information about the artists.

Johnston is an 11-year brewing industry veteran who's worked with breweries big and small, and is also the co-creator of Hop City Brewing Co. Co-Founder Russell is responsible for creating the brands for some of North America's leading breweries, perhaps unsurprisingly among them Hop City Brewing Co.

Taking on the role of "Brewmaster-in-Residence" for the company is Ryan Morrow, who is also a brewer at Nickel Brook and, if the title seems a bit odd, it's likely because it's a hint at the company's loftier and more geographically diverse goals. Johnston tells me that the plan is to expand the brewery to a handful of locations and tap other brewers to take on the beer making duties — something like an extension of the company's creative and unique business model.

For the time being they're brewing their beers out of Nickel Brook's facilities, but expansion is already on their minds and the goal is to expand and collaborate with brewers in BC by as early as the summer of 2014.

Rhyme & Reason Extra Pale Ale will be available this month at select LCBO locations and is currently available in Toronto at The Rhino, Barhop, barVolo, WVRST, Thirsty and Miserable, and the Mugshot Tavern

To submit your art for a chance of gracing your very own beer label (not to mention pocket a righteous $200 in the process), you can visit Collective Arts' website here.

Ben Johnson also writes about beer over on Ben's Beer Blog. You can follow him on Twitter @Ben_T_Johnson .

Photos by Justin da Silva

Parkdale has a new dining and late night destination and the menu is bistro meets seafood snack bar. Channelling the glitz and glamour of the 1920's, the new bar boasts classic cocktail standards and surprisingly affordable fare.

Read my profile of the Geraldine in the restaurants section.

The 7th Annual Manifesto Festival returns to Toronto from September 19 to 22 at venues across the city. This non-for-profit grassroots organization with a focus on youth and hip hop culture aims to educate, unify, and entertain the masses. From live events featuring musicians, producers, visual artists, and dancers, to panels with industry experts and even mentor sessions, this year's festival has even more in store than previous iterations. Fans of hip hop, electronic music, dance and bold visual art will find lots to love in this year's lineup. Here's what's in store:

THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 19

Common Thread: Launch Party
Measure, 296 Brunswick Avenue
9pm, $10 tickets, 19+

The festival's launch party, presented by Pirates Blend Records, features a lineup curated by Eon of Bedouin Soundclash and includes DJ Nana, DJ L'Oqenz, as well as Montreal-based NinjaTune DJ/producer Poirier. This is slated to be the first of many Common Thread events, and is being held in one of Toronto's newest live music venues in the form of Measure.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20

The Beat: Producer Showcase
Adelaide Music Hall, 250 Adelaide Street West
9:30pm, $15 early bird, $20 advance

Co-presented by Mansion, this evening will showcase talented beat makers such as Sango and Oddisee, as well as Toronto-based producers Elaquent, Sunclef, Lancecape, and Rich Kidd. It's also being held at a relatively new live venue. Adelaide Hall is getting rave reviews from concert-goers, so if electronic music is your thing, this is the night for you. Advance tickets are available at Play De Record, Soundscapes, and MOOG Audio.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 21

So Much Things To Say: Evolution Summit
George Brown College, Waterfront Campus, 51 Dockside Drive
12:00pm - 9:00pm, $5 advance, $10 door

This is the more explicitly educational segment of the festival. A wide array of topics will be covered in the panel sessions, ranging from how to translate art into a viable business venture to a look at the lives of successful women in the entrainment industry. At the end of the day, singer songwriter Jhené Aiko will have the final word in what is bound to be an impactful talk. Mentor classes will allow listeners to hear from and pick the brains of experts in social media, public relations, and musical production.

Sacred Seven: Art Exhibition
918 Bathurst Street
6:00pm - 1:00am, $5 minimum donation

In an effort to explore the notions of connectedness and evolution, this show will display works from over 25 artists across Canada and internationally, with a special headlining exhibit from Aboriginal artist and elder Paul Dazaunggee Shilling. The evening will also include a pre-show panel discussion, live art battles, and musical performances.

The Floor Awards
918 Bathurst Street
6:00pm - 11:00pm, $5 minimum donation

The 3rd annual Floor Awards have become the perfect platform to honour and celebrate the best urban dance artists, educators, youth and community catalysts in Toronto. Aside from the actual awards, prepare to be wowed all night long by dance cyphers and special mixed duets from MNFSTO dancers. Before the awards get underway, "Dinner Dance & Dialogue" will set the table with a conversation on vital issues in the dance community.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 22

Live At The Square
Yonge - Dundas Square
12:00pm - 11:00pm, Free

All of the festival's elements will mesh together for one final hurrah at Yonge-Dundas Square. A long list of local acts will warm up the stage for headliners Souls of Mischief and Jhené Aiko. Make sure to catch trap all star duo Thugli's high energy performance alongside choreographed street drummers and dancers. Other than music on the main stage, there will also be dance battles, live art shows, and the 7th Annual Freshest Goods Market, with a variety of clothing on offer.

Writing by Markit / Photo by Christian Bobak

The Junction Night Market debuted on Saturday night at the Junction Train Platform. The inaugural outdoor market in West Toronto attracted big crowd with free admission and the promise of $5 plates and pints. Alas, not everyone was able to get in on the fun. Those who arrived promptly at the 7pm start time were lucky enough to taste a few things but the event filled up so fast that by 8pm, it was dominated by line-ups and most of the food was gone within the next hour. This night market has loads of promise (just check out the photos), so here's hoping the next one is more crowd-friendly.

Check out all the food that you might have missed in our slideshow.

The top movies at TIFF 2013 represent a wide range of genres with some predictable inclusions and under the radar surprises. At the start of the festival I floated my top picks and yesterday TIFF weighed in with their award winners. For this list we decided to poll our Twitter followers to give them the final say (at least on this site) about what films impressed them the most at this year's Toronto International Film Festival.

Here's the list, in alphabetical order, of the top 50 movies at TIFF 2013.

Aiden Glynn sees monsters everywhere. They're lurking in doorways, peering out of alleys, and tucked low in the undergrowth with a toothy grin and a floppy tongue. Now, thanks to a set of homemade facial features, the crazy menagerie is available to you too.

The goofy monsters first appeared on Toronto's streets a couple of years ago when Glynn, an animator on cartoons like Sidekick, Scaredy Squirrel, Handy Manny, and Ruby Gloom, started attaching faces to garbage cans, dumpsters, and concrete slabs on a whim, then documenting the results online.

"Because I'm an animator I see things that aren't necessarily there," he says. "I look at a park bench and I'm like, 'that's kind of funny, it looks like a nose or a mouth or something.' It has to come to me, I just have to see an object and if it looks funny or I see something in it, I'll do something with it."

The idea started when the animator posted a series of pictures that had been digitally altered to include cartoon faces - tired eyes on chimneys, nervous expressions on concrete slabs, that sort of thing.

"People on the Internet were like: 'It's not street art if you don't actually do it.' So I was like, 'OK.' I went out and got some styrofoam eyeballs and stuff, I made some teeth and started gluing them on to things, and people liked it."

This week Glynn started dedicating more time to the project, creating "six or seven" new creatures, one of which briefly devoured trash in a doorway outside the Air Canada Centre.

The eyes, teeth, tongues, and moustaches occasionally stay in place unless there's a chance they will be damaged or stolen. It's not clear how property owners will react to their furniture being animated, either. "It's kind of like vandalism so I try to keep it as low key as possible, I try to be sneaky about it," he laughs.

As for the prospect of creating more beasties, Glynn doesn't have any specific plans. "Whenever the inspiration hits me I'll just do one, and if it's funny I'll do more."

MORE IMAGES:

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

Images: Aiden Glynn

Roncesvalles played host to its annual Polish Festival this weekend, bringing out over 300,000 people with food, music and a variety of street performances. In its eighth year, the Festival was a celebration for Polish culture and an opportunity for the various vendors and restaurants in Roncesvalles to showcase their goods. The weekend had a similar vibe to the annual Taste of Danforth, but with shorter lines and less commercialism.

Checkout all the highlights in our slideshow of the festival.

Photo by carlosbezz in the blogTO Flickr pool.

Toronto events on September 17th, 2013

MUSIC | Majical Cloudz w/ Matthew E. Duffy at Wrongbar
Montreal-based duo, Majical Cloudz, hit Wrongbar tonight. This duo, made up of Devon Welsh and Matthew Otto deliver largely atmospheric and brooding tunes slightly reminiscent of Coldplay's slower moments (perhaps because Welsh's voice has been said to sound a little like Chris Martin's), but with a bit more of an electronic flavour. Their most recent release, Impersonator, made the 2013 Polaris Music Prize longlist. They have played NXNE, festivals in the US, and rumours have it that Welsh's singing brings audience members to tears, so bring some tissues, perhaps? Tonight's opener is fellow Montrealer Matthew E. Duffy.
Wrongbar (1279 Queen Street West) 8PM $12

ART | Nomadic Resident: Candice Breitz
The Faculty of Art at OCAD University has just begun its Nomadic Resident program, welcoming well-known South African artist, Candice Breitz, who will hold the resident position until the end of this week. Tonight, Breitz will deliver a public talk, entitled From A to B and Back Again, describing her creative practice, as well as the origin and development of some of her newer pieces. Brietz, a tenured professor at the Braunschweig University of Art, has recently spent a considerable amount of time working and creating in various global locales.
OCAD University Auditorium (100 McCaul Street) 6:30PM

FILM | Bidder 70, Cinema Politica at The Bloor
Cinema Politica is a regular film night at the The Bloor Hot Docs Cinema devoted to the screening of films that offer an independent political commentary and viewpoint, with a discussion period following the films. Tonight's feature is Bidder 70, a 2012 documentary chronicling climate activist Tim DeChristopher's battle against the US oil and gas industry. In 2008, DeChristopher wreaked havoc at an oil industry land auction, participating clandestinely as "Bidder 70" and stopping the industry from allegedly "land grabbing" 22,000 acres. Subsequently, Tim DeChristopher gained traction as a protester and was imprisoned, but not before becoming an icon of "civil disobedience".
The Bloor Hot Docs Cinema (506 Bloor Street West) 6:30PM PWYC

BOOKS & LIT | "The Dove in Bathurst Station" book launch
Toronto-based author, Patricia Westerhof, launches her new novel, The Dove In Bathurst Station, tonight at the Gladstone Hotel. Westerhof spent her childhood in both Alberta and Holland, and memories of these two places figured prominently in her first novel, Catch Me When I Fall. Westerhof has also co-authored a textbook for students of creative writing, and is currently active as a teacher, as well. The Dove in Bathurst Station features a protagonist who is a guidance counselor, struggling with her occupation and her domestic life. Tonight's book launch will also feature musical guests, Mr. Bennett and Tessa Romanow.
The Melody Bar at the Gladstone Hotel (1214 Queen Street West) 7PM

Also Of Note

Audiopollination @ Array Music
"How To Kill A Vampire" book launch

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

Photo of Majical Cloudz

The home of the man who tried to sell a video allegedly showing Rob Ford smoking crack cocaine was raided during Operation Traveller, a widespread police search of high-rise apartments in northwest Etobicoke. Crown prosecutors released a list of addresses that were targeted in the raid, which included the apartment of Mohamed Siad at 320 Dixon Road. Siad was arrested and charged with a slew of drugs and firearms offences.

The mayor was a no show at a media event his press secretary advertised yesterday. Amin Massoudi said Ford would be at a mural unveiling at Kipling and Belfield but the mayor never appeared. Sunny Petrujkic, another spokesman, blamed a "scheduling change."

Ford told the Star he can't predict the outcome of an upcoming council discussion on the Scarborough subway extension. Councillors must choose between a longer, city-funded line, the shorter provincial alignment, or a fully-funded LRT. Expect fireworks.

Also in Ford, Cllr. Gary Crawford has finished his long-awaited portrait of the mayor. The bright acrylic portrait of Ford smiling against a yellow background is destined for the home of the mayor's mother, Diane. She asked Crawford if he would paint her son three years ago but his busy work schedule delayed the project until now.

Bombardier unveiled its new CSeries 100 jet, the aircraft Porter hopes to operate out of the Island airport, with a maiden test flight at Mirabel airport in Montreal yesterday. The plane few for around two and a half hours flanked by a chase plane, but all you care about is how it sounds. Here is video of the takeoff.

Two Toronto firefighters have been dismissed over sexist remarks made on Twitter. Matt Bowman and Lawaun Edwards were fired after an internal investigation found a negative "pattern of social media activity" that "violates city policies and is not in any way acceptable for city employees." It's not clear what role social media played in the dismissal of a third, unidentified firefighter.

The Hells Angels have opened a retail store in Leslieville, selling coffee mugs, t-shirts, and other merchandise carrying the slogan "Support Local 81 Downtown," the CBC reports. Local councillor Paula Fletcher says she wasn't aware of the store but will be keeping a close eye on what goes on. It's probably not the kind of place you can get a refund for a chipped cup.

Finally, Toronto's beleaguered Bixi bike share program has seen its share of misery this year, but things seem to be just fine in New York City. The city's Citi Bike program, which uses the Montreal-based Bixi technology, has spawned a joyful viral video featuring BMX king Tyrone Williams. Enjoy.

IN BRIEF:

• Shooting leaves man, 24, in critical condition [CBC]
• Markham firefighter dies after unprovoked stabbing [Toronto Star]
• Arrest made in York University library sex assault [CBC]
• Leafs fall to Flyers in pre-season shootout [CBC]

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

Image: Branko/blogTO Flickr pool.

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

NEW RELEASES

World War Z (Paramount)

Based on the enthralling "oral history of a zombie war" tome by Max (son of Mel) Brooks: A pandemic sweeps the planet as the United Nation scrambles to identify patient zero and halt the undead spread which threatens to wipe out the entire population of Earth.

Brad Pitt's family friendly zombie movie still manages to pack a spooky wallop, amazing considering the zombie saturated entertainment age we currently live in. The Blu-ray release contains a new extended cut featuring "intense footage not shown in theatres" which doesn't amount to much more than a few juicy close-ups.

Extras include a look behind the scenes, although interesting the real drama behind the scenes involving sacked and carpet bagging writers, toys being thrown out the pram, and Brad Pitt's mighty influence is not referenced, leaving interested parties little choice but to troll the IMDB for gossipy tidbits.

The Bling Ring (eOne)

A group of fame-obsessed teens living in the suburbs of LA use the internet to track celebrities whereabouts in order to rob their homes. Ostensibly based on the true story of the 2009 Bling Ring, director Sofia Coppola chooses to approach her subject matter artfully, slightly more Antonioni than TMZ, rendering and exploitative expectations useless (although Emma Watson gets to dance in slow motion with her tongue wagging).

Curiously the second European styled missive on nihilistic contemporary teens and their vacuous existence this year, but truth be told Spring Beakers just edges this out for sheer Trojan horse chutzpah and overall success.

We Steal Secrets: The Story of Wikileaks (eOne)

While there is no Benedict Cumberbatch to speak of, this riveting documentary from Alex Gibney covers the Julian Assange ascendance and decline using incredible real footage and testimony, thus giving it the edge or any fanciful dramatized re-telling. Like all great docs, it also tells a parallel story: our never-ending quest for "the truth" often endangers others and ultimately leaves us unsatisfied. QED. Bonus features included deleted scenes and testimony from Pfc. Bradley Manning, the jaded young soldier who leaked hundreds of thousands of classified documents.

TV

Arrow - Season 1 (Warner Bros)

Spoiled Billionaire playboy Oliver Queen, is missing and presumed dead when his yacht is lost at sea. He returns five years later a changed man, determined to clean up the city as a hooded vigilante armed with a bow. Filling the Smallville niche quite nicely, Arrow continues to please both fans of DC Comics and viewers of CW's brand of sexed up cult TV. Features all 23 episodes of Season one, plus special features including "Arrow Comes Alive!", "Arrow Fight School", unaried scenes, a gag reel and a meeting of fans at the 2013 Paleyfest.

Falling Skies - Season 2 (Warner Bros)

Steven Spielberg's small screen post-apocalyptic alien drama picks up some time after the fist clenching season 1 finale, delivering the continuing drama as freedom fighters attempt to starve off the alien nasties making mince-meat of earthlings. Extras include a look at the evolution of the Skitter aliens, audio commentaries, behind the scenes reels, an animated trailer created by Dark Horse comics, and a preview of Season 3.

Doctor Who - The Ice Warriors (BBC)

Vintage Doctor Who culled from the archives, sadly this story is actually missing 2 episodes which the BBC incinerated back in the '60s when they assumed no one would care about Black and White TV shows in the future (clearly, they were wrong). Second Doctor Patrick Troughton is in top form here, battling the lumbering Ice Warriors who just recently gave the Eleventh Doctor Matt Smith similar headaches. Bonus features include animated versions of the lost episodes, and a cool look at the making of this classic 1967 adventure.

CULT CLASSICS

Slacker (The Criterion Collection)

Richard Linklater's revolutionary day-in-the-life of Austin Texas randoms turned heads in 1991, and led to his ultimate masterpiece Dazed and Confused being green lit a mere 2 years later. Sadly forgotten about in the intervening years, Criterion rescued this oddball classic from obscurity and jacked it up with a beautiful new transfer, audio commentaries with cast and crew, footage form the Slacker 10th anniversary reunion, and much more.

Most exciting of all is the inclusion of 2 of Linklater's earliest films, Woodshock (1985) and It's Impossible to Learn How to Plow by Reading Books (1988). Fans of his later works like Before Sunrise, School of Rock and most recently Bernie should check out this amazing collection of his earliest works.

Friday the 13th: The Complete Collection (Warner Bros.)

At long last, the entire Friday the 13th ouvre in one hefty Blu-ray collection. Parts 1-5 are glorious gory classics and mandatory viewing if you grew up in the '80s, while Part 6 seems to have stood the test of time better than its contemporaries. Parts 7 and 8 are mostly forgettable, TV movie like affairs, but its Part X aka Jason Goes to Hell that things really fall apart. Part 11 starts off well with a Sci-Fi setting and a cool as ice David Cronenberg cameo, before turning into a laugh-free comedy, while Jason Vs. Freddy at least keeps things moving along quickly so you don't see the seams. Sadly, the 2009 reboot misses the point entirely. With an abundance of extras and more musical stabs than Jason Voorhees can manage in 12 films, this is a box set that no F13 fan should be without.

Day of the Dead (Scream Factory)

The Don of the "Dead" movies George Romero was somewhat down on his luck and on the decline when he shot this third in his original Dead trilogy in 1985, however what it lacks in epic scope it more than makes up for in sheer brutality, dank claustrophobia and balls out nastiness. With a bleak as you like view of humanity, Day remains the most hardcore of all the Dead movies, and is totally worthy of Scream Factory's deluxe special edition.

Extras include a new documentary - World's End: The Legacy of Day of the Dead, audio commentary from Romero himself and splatter master make-up artist Tom Savini, who also shows up in some choice behind-the-scene footage. This would make a most excellent double bill with our first title World War Z as a warm-up to the season premiere of The Walking Dead on October 13. Any takers?

STILL FRESH

• Star Trek Into Darkness
• From Up on Poppy Hill
• Sharknado
• Homeland - Season 2
• Star Trek - Origins
• Vampire Diaries - Season 4
• Snake Eyes
• Marathon Man
• The Fly
• The Great Gatsby
• Pain & Gain
• Epic
• The Walking Dead - Season 3
• Boardwalk Empire - Season 3
• Sapphire & Steel: The Complete Series
• Ultra Q: The Complete Series
• Dark Angel/I Come in Peace
• Q: The Winged Serpent
• Schizoid/X-Ray
• The Many Adventures of Winnie The Pooh

DOWNLOAD THIS!

REWIND THIS! Is an amazing new documentary looking at the rise and fall of the video tape era, highlighting those magical moments spent wondering video rental shops which democratized all movies, high budget or low.

Spotlighting mostly those titles on the low end of the spectrum (because, frankly that is the gold), REWIND THIS! Also looks at the obsessive VHS collectors who scour flea markets and hoarders houses looking for elusive VHS titles that never made it to DVD.

A valentine to the world of VHS, REWIND THIS! Was crowd sourced and boasts an array of impressive interview subjects, including local auteur Atom Egoyan. Well worth your time and money, only sadly you can't rent it on VHS the old fashioned way, why not download it or stream it the new fashioned way?

http://buy.rewindthismovie.com/

This cafe at Yonge and Eglinton, which was most recently the short lived midtown location of Bulldog Coffee, doubles as a Taiwanese tea house and coffee shop with its bubble tea drinks, espresso, smoothies and homemade desserts.

Read my review of Formocha in the cafes section.