Toronto events on December 2nd, 2013

ART | Celebrating Vera Frenkel
This Is Not A Reading Series and Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art present a special talk with Canadian artist Vera Frenkel, tonight at The Gladstone Hotel. Tonight's event is a launch for a book about Frenkel, edited by Sigrid Schade and made up of texts by various authors. This is the first major undertaking to cover the career and work of Vera Frenkel, an internationally acclaimed multidisciplinary artist who has created installations, video works and received the Canada Council Molson Prize for the Arts, the Governor General's Award in Visual and Media Arts, and more. In addition to a chat with the artist, some excerpts of her work will be screened. The Gladstone Hotel (1214 Queen Street West) 7PM.

BOOKS & LIT | Rower's Pub Reading Series
The Rower's Pub Reading Series reconvenes tonight at a new location - Measure, in the Annex. This long-standing reading series features established writers alongside emerging talent, and is a go-to event for TO literary mavens. Tonight's talent includes poet Jan Conn, winner of a CBC Literary Award for poetry; Jason Guriel; Jessica Hiemstra, winner of the Room Magazine Annual Poetry Contest; and Jacob McArthur Mooney. Come out and support local literary talent! Measure (296 Brunswick Avenue) 7PM

SHOPPING | TSA tinyART SALE
Tonight, the Toronto School Of Art hosts its tinyArt sale, featuring items that are no larger than 10"x10", including paintings, ceramics, mixed media, collage, and more. The Toronto School Of Art has been around for about 40 years, and is essentially an "alternative" school for the arts, focusing on studio-based instruction, smaller classes, and an environment with an "inclusion policy" that ensures diversity in the student body, and accessibility to all interested parties. This sale is a great opportunity to get some holiday shopping done, and get to know what this organization has to offer. Toronto School of Art (980 Dufferin Street) 10am - 6pm

FUNDRAISER | ARTBEAT
An evening of art and music happens tonight at Whistler's on Broadview, with artists and musicians coming together to raise funds for Sketch. Established almost two decades ago, Sketch is an organization that acts as a "community arts initiative" to provide street youth access to arts education and studio space, as well as a diverse network and community that fosters social responsibility, health, and even employment for those who participate. Tonight's event will include music from Edgewater Hotel and James Moyer, and there will also be a silent auction, a henna artist, and other fun stuff. Whistler's Grille & The McNeil Room (995 Broadview Avenue) 6:30PM $10

Also Of Note

• Grownups Read Things They Wrote as Kids 12
• Amsterdam Bicycle Club presents: Lizzie Violet's Poetry Open Mic

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

Photo: Vera Frenkel, The Institute™: Or, What We Do for Love (2003-2009), taken by Charles Hupé

Rob Ford turned out for the Buffalo Bills-Atlanta Falcons game at the Rogers Centre this weekend. At one point Ford, mobbed with photo requests, took a seat belonging to rock musician Matt Mays, who promptly took to Twitter to voice his displeasure. Mays got his seat back but the Falcons went on to win the game 34-31.

Ford also made an official appearance at the Cavalcade of Lights Saturday night. The mayor greeted the crowd, who appeared to respond positively (NOW called it "mixed,") with his wife and two children in tow. Councillors Paul Ainslie, Peter Leon, and Peter Milczyn and their families were also on hand for the illuminating of the Nathan Phillips Square Christmas tree.

A Toronto police officer remains in a critical condition following a collision Saturday at Bloor Street West and Neilson Drive. The 34-year-old's unmarked cruiser collided with another vehicle and struck a tree en-route to a call, police say. Const. John Zivcic is in his 7th year with the Toronto police.

Adding more mid-rise buildings to Toronto's downtown avenues and encouraging building on the available - though less desirable - downtown land will help reduce gridlock by taking cars off the road, a new report suggests. The Pembina Institute found there's enough land inside the city's Greenbelt to last until 2031. "We still think we can run the fourth-largest city in North America on low-density housing and cars," Cherise Burda told the Toronto Star.

A taxi driver was severely beaten over the weekend after demanding two passengers pay a $15 fare, police say. Two men got in Maheswaren Iyampillai's cab near College and Clinton early Sunday morning and left near Bloor and Dundas West without paying. Iyampillai followed them on foot and was punched and kicked. Police are seeking suspects.

A sculpture by Homeless Jesus artist Timothy Schmalz was stolen from a Kensington Market church Saturday night. The resin statue, titled "Whatsoever You Do," depicts a seated Jesus in a thick hooded cloak with his palm out, representing charity. Two week ago the Pope blessed "Homeless Jesus," another one of Schmalz's pieces.

FROM THE WEEKEND:

• The top spoken word events in Toronto December 2013
• The top comedy shows in Toronto December 2013
• Via Mercanti opens second Neapolitan pizza joint
• Yonge St. record shop a DJ's paradise for 20+ years
• A brief history of the first escalator in Toronto

IN BRIEF:

• Ontario hydro rates to rise [City News]
• Food bank use near record level in Ontario, report says [CBC]
• Jurors get final instructions at Ashley Smith inquest [CP24]

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

Image: Vik Pahwa/blogTO Flickr pool.

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

Apply to join the Toronto Music Industry Advisory Council
If you've been watching this whole 4479 coalition thing wondering "what exactly will this do for me and my favourite Toronto bands," here's a chance to get involved. The City of Toronto is soliciting applications for membership on the Toronto Music Industry Advisory Council, "a team of music sector leaders who will help the City shape its strategies and plans for the years ahead." You'd better hurry - interviews are scheduled for the week of December 9th. Learn how to apply to be a member of the council on the City of Toronto's website. If you don't apply you can't really complain too much about this stuff later, can you.

New Toronto music videos

Fin's grossout, girl-centric new video for "Anin" puts Toronto's mainstream experimental pop scene to shame. Shot in NYC using a FLIR infrared camera (the technology used in drones and surveillance) with dance duo FlucT, girls puke hot and cold liquids into each others' mouth, fight a pitbull, recreate La Pieta, write graffiti, climb fences, you know.

Local filmmaker Justin Friesen has released his award-winning short documentary about Toronto "Balkan-Klezmer-Gypsy-Punk Super Party Band" The Lemon Bucket Orkestra online for the first time. Watch Let's Make Lemonade on Youtube.

Here's a new video of The Soupcans drinking sparkle juice (gore warning).

Doomsquad (Hand Drawn Dracula) have released a video for droney hi-fi pop track "Ovoo" featuring mysterious, woodsy visuals.

Hot ticket

Blackalicious / Adelaide Hall / December 7 / 9pm / $25

I'll let our rap writer Markit take this one on - "Hailing from Sacramento, California, this duo of DJ/producer Chief Xcel and rapper Gift of Gab have been pleasing underground heads for almost two decades. Their music has always been uplifting and positive and the lyrics have been complex, woven with incredible wordplay. Their new EP Sun Giver, which is supposed to drop later this year, will be their first release since 2005. Come through to hear the old and check the new. One of the most active local hip hop acts, Philly Moves, will be opening up the evening."

More concerts this week:

• Montreal noise pop band No Joy hit the Garrison Friday, December 6th. Also on the bill are HSY and Beliefs. Tickets are priced as $10.50 which includes a week of walking around with your hair in your face as you try to emulate these rockers - look our for traffic.
• The Cult, one of the most influential and controversial post punk bands ever to swagger out of the UK, play the Danforth Music Hall on Saturday, December 7th. It'll cost you $34.50-$54.50.
• So-called god of German techno Paul Kalkbrenner coming through Toronto this weekend, and you can win tickets to his December 7th show at The Phoenix here (entry deadline is Tuesday Dec 3rd at midnight).

Local hot ticket

Healing Power Bazaar / Friday, Dec 6 / Tranzac (292 Brunswick Ave) / 1pm-5pm + 10pm-late
Don't let this one get lost in the huge weekend for Toronto craft shows that's coming up - The Healing Power Festival Showcase & Bazaar will be the only event to combine a full on line up of mystery performers with a daytime market. In the afternoon you can find crafts, art, music, clothes, jewelry, food, sparklies and nick-nacks in the Southern Cross and Tiki Rooms. There will be fortune telling, too. After 10pm, mystery artists affiliated with Healing Power Records will perform. Tip - wear the brightest colours you own. Check out the vendor line up on Facebook.

More local gigs:

• On Wednesday, December 4th at The Great Hall, #ProjectLiftPHA will host an auction/concert to raise money for hardest hit areas in central Philippines. Performers will include Maylee Todd's solo electronic project Maloo, Casey Mecija & Jenny Mecija (formerly of Ohbijou) and more.
• Peterborough's Garbageface will bring doom rap to the Coffin Factory (89 Niagara St.) on Thursday, December 5th. He'll be joined by Elms, Cosi e Cosi, and the Holy Gasp. Full disclosure or whatever, I think I'm DJing this noise. $6 or pywc.
• Toronto noise rockers Neon Windbreaker play Sneaky Dee's on Friday, December 6th. Visit ScionSessions.ca for the chance to win a ticket to the show (there are 200 tickets available) but make sure you do it before December 3rd (aka tomorrow) at 5pm.

Recently announced concerts

• Canadian Premiere of The Coen Brother's Inside Llewyn Davis + After Party, December 10, Adelaide Hall, $60 (includes both events)
• Just Shows' 2nd Annual Christmas Show, December 14, CineCycle
• Sunshowers, December 14, Comfort Zone
• Delphic Oracle, December 16, Bambi's
• Wolf Cow + Alpha Strategy, December 22, Handlebar
• Indie88 presents Stars, January 18, Lee's Palace
• Silverstein, Feb 7 @ The Rockpile West & Feb 8 @ The Rockpile East
• The Hidden Cameras, February 15, Lee's Palace

What we got up to last week

• Toronto Concerts, December 2013
• The top 5 local hip hop nights in Toronto

Photo by Lydo Elise Le

With winter comes the big coats, dark hues and practical fashion. But not everyone has called it in for the season. Case in point: Kensington Market. While coats can't be escaped, outfits are made with bursts of colour or subtle patterns in the form of scarves and accessories (including dogs).

Check out all the looks in our style section.

Dufferin Street might not conjure much positive nostalgia for riders of the 29 bus as it slowly plods its way to and fro on the pot hole-strewn road, but it is, of course, a stretch filled with rich history, from the presence of the CNE at its southerly tip to the Queen Street Subway to the long gone racetrack south of Bloor. Named after Govener General (1872-1878) Frederick Hamilton-Temple-Blackwood, 1st Marquess of Dufferin, the street was one of the original concessions running north from Lot Street (now Queen). Although mostly rural north of Bloor at the turn of the century, the area around Queen and Dufferin was already a hub of activity in the late 1890s.

So much so, in fact, that the city decided that the level railway crossing at Dufferin and Queen was no longer viable based on traffic delays and overall safety. The construction of the Queen Street Subway - often referred to as the Dufferin overpass - resulted in a 100+ year jog in which drivers and cyclists had to divert to Gladstone before returning to the street north or south of the rail bridge. While the overpass still remains, the jog was (thankfully) eliminated a few years ago.

Current construction on the street involves the replacement of the bridge near the entrance to the CNE grounds, a structure that dates back to 1911. Dufferin meanders as it reaches its southerly tip on account of the fair grounds, which hosted the Exhibition as early as 1879. Not much remains from this period, but the Ex is still going strong some 130+ years later.

If there's one bit of of the street's history that not too many people know about, it's the racetrack that once sat where Dufferin Mall does today. Opened in 1907, the track was a popular destination until its eventual demolition in 1955. Needless to say, it served as the prefect site for a mall as the land on the west side of the street was almost entirely undeveloped south of Kent Public School. Not everyone will consider the current occupant an improvement, but at least Dufferin Grove Park has been preserved for all these years.

PHOTOS

Dufferin looking south of Queen, 1898

Dufferin looking north to Queen, 1898

Dufferin racetrack, 1910

Southwest corner of St. Clair and Dufferin, 1911

Dufferin north of Davenport, 1912

Dufferin Grove, 1913

Dufferin Pier, 1912

Northeast corner Dufferin and St. Clair, 1920

Davenport looking west from Dufferin, 1923

Streetcar at Dufferin and St. Clair, 1924

King and Dufferin, 1928

Aerial of Dufferin racetrack, 1930

Dufferin north of College, 1948

Intersection of Dufferin and College, 1948

Dufferin looking south of College, 1949

Dufferin south of Dundas, 1951

Dufferin and Eglinton, 1955

Dufferin Bridge, 1959

Dufferin and the 401, 1960

Photos from the Toronto Archives

Movember 2013 is in the books, much, I should think, to the delight of girlfriends everywhere, who surely spent the month with a barely veiled grimace on their faces. OK, in fairness, some dudes can pull off a stache, but part of the fun of the whole exercise - over and above its charitable grounds - is the humour in seeing men who are decidedly inferior to Tom Selleck attempt to mimic him. We asked our Instagram followers to share their moustache pics with us over the course of the month, so you can be the judge of how well they wear their facial hair - but do keep in mind this is all for a very good cause.

Check out all the photos in our Movember Toronto stream.

Photo by mrbryanmurphy

Photo by acisco

Photo by joealduino

Photo by joealduino

Photo by salutestache

Photo by thinkeric

Photo by we_got_worms

Photo by posenforit

Photo by kenenlow

Leap photo by salutestache.

Hamilton restaurants and food shops are thriving right now. So too is the city's music scene. In fact, Steeltown seems to be in the midst of a cultural renaissance of sorts. So when I was invited to tag along on a chef/investor-oriented tour, I jumped at the chance. Sure it was accompanied by a PowerPoint pitch (a la timeshares everywhere) aimed at highlighting the cheap real estate and aggressive financial incentives currently offered to lure potential investors and entrepreneurs to its downtown core, but for me it served as a sampling of the city's thriving food scene.

Ultimately, what I saw made me a little jealous. The city enjoys progressive attitudes towards food trucks; their Artcrawls, Supercrawls and Dishcrawls boast enthusiastic participation; existing business owners seem to share more of a camaraderie than sense of competition; and, aspiring businesses are encouraged and accommodated by consolidated government services that are offered in a one-stop shop. As robust as our food scene is, Toronto could learn a thing or two, I suspect.

Here are some of my highlights from the thriving Hamilton culinary scene.

Cheese Shop on Locke
This four year old fromagerie occupies a 2,500 square foot shop and offers 500 or so varieties of cheese, ice cream, preserves, canned goods and giftwares. The selection focuses heavily on Quebec and Ontario goods, plus hard-to-find, small batch producers. Co-owned by interior designer Catherine Corey and certified cheese maker Torsten Krueger, the shop not only operates a retail destination but also as an event space for wine tastings and private functions.

Chuck's Burger Bar
This burger bar owned by Chris Preston is so popular it's soon to open a second Hamilton location. The menu boasts handcrafted patties made from every meat imaginable: Angus beef, lamb, venison, bison, chicken, turkey and even bacon (that's right, ground bacon patties). Premium extras include nine different poutines loaded with everything from curry to lobster, plus, small plates, turkey wings and rotating daily specials like bacon wrapped cheese curds and garlic breaded mushrooms.

NaRoma Pizza Bar
Also on Locke Street, this bustling pizzeria that does brisk business in square slices and Roman style pies. Here, the crust is special, the product of handmade dough left to rise for 72 hours before being baked in heavy cast iron pans. It's light and thin but also crisp on the bottom. The menu showcases traditional varieties like a solid Margherita, along with inventive combinations of premium toppings like triple cream brie, prosciutto, fig jam and caramelized onions.

Mulberry Street Coffee House
This massive cafe occupies the first floor of a landmark building that dates back to 1887. The interior checks off all the signature design features of any hip metropolitan establishment: ornate tin ceilings, terrazzo flooring, exposed brick, upcycled furnishings and rotating exhibits from emerging artists. At the coffee bar, owner Ella Shepherd brews locally roasted Coffeecology and is known to offer an accommodating selection of gluten-free and vegan fare. Adding to its charm are the colony of artist lofts situated on the floors above.

The Burnt Tongue
Primarily a soup shop, the menu from Chef Dan Robinson at this casual spot has evolved to also include Belgian style fries, craft burgers and specialty sodas. The compact shop is known to offer a daily roster of six or so hearty, house-made soups with crunchy or fresh garnishes in varieties like Senegalese Peanut, Moroccan Lamb Meatball and Curried Sweet Apple.

Cultantro
A contemporary eatery opened by chef Juan Castillo that offers fresh takes on traditional Peruvian foods. The menu features composed plates of chicken empanadas, quinoa croquettes and pork belly chicharron for generally $10 a plate or less.

Roux
This commissary is owned and operated by the pioneer food truck team formerly behind one of Ontario's most popular food truck, and supplies commercial kitchen space, storage, equipment, branding, marketing, vending opportunities and, a whole bunch of other helpful resources and consulting services to incubate new food based business and food trucks.

Radius
Radius takes its name from its hyper local philosophy of sourcing ingredients. Housed in a restored historic building, the interior takes advantage of original features like 16-foot tin ceilings and exposed brick. Inside, two adjacent rooms function as a casual cafe/lounge and bistro/bar, plus there's an expansive back patio in warmer months. The sophisticated menu from chef Lance Gault (former Chef de Partie at Langdon Hall) draws from varied cultural influences and is known to include everything from charcuterie and cheese boards to poutines topped with herb roasted pork shoulder and steakhouse-worthy mains like the ribeye over potato rosti.

Photos by Jesse Milns

Preservationists be happy - the TTC is looking to the past in its ongoing overhaul of several damaged and dust-covered subway interiors. Whether intentional or not, the new reflective stainless steel wall panels at St. Andrew station, roughly a third of which are installed, hark back to a time when many of Toronto's stations were decorated in glassy coloured tile.

The TTC covered the original vitreous marble wall panels at St. Andrew and Osgoode stations when water damage caused the brittle tiles to warp and break. As photos show, the present vertical strips of plastic - also a feature of Kipling, Kennedy, Sheppard-Yonge, and Finch stations - simply cover the original pockmarked and dusty walls.

The original tiles at every station from Union to Davisville were either knocked out or covered over in the 70s and 80s. Eglinton, trivia lovers, is the only stop to retain some of its original glossy aesthetic at track level.

"The real challenge in dealing with subway stations is brake dust," says TTC spokesman Brad Ross.

"The wall panels, the slats, [at St. Andrew] had deteriorated. They were stained, they were damaged, very labour intensive to keep clean and maintain so they're being replaced with this new panel."

The $275,000 cost of the new wall treatment, which doesn't include the tile in the ticket hall or on the platform, came out of the TTC's annual maintenance budget. Osgoode, St. Patrick, Queen's Park, York Mills, Kipling, and Finch stations are also scheduled to get the same treatment in the next few years.

At St. Patrick and Queen's Park, water damage has damaged the current wall covers, which replaced the original 1960s tile, beyond repair and is negatively impacting the stations' appearance, the TTC says. An earlier test of new wall panels at St. Andrew was undertaken in 2009, but these metal panels are more resilient than the earlier version used.

What do you think of the new look at St. Andrew? Are you pleased to see the tired wall slats banished for good? Will you miss St. Patrick's neon green interior?

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

Images: Derek Flack/blogTO, apta_2050/blogTO Flickr pool, City of Toronto Archives

Wychwood Barns played host to the first annual Canadian Artisan Tasting Fair on Sunday, and over 40 vendors were onsite, offering attendees the chance to sample and purchase Canadian cheese, charcuterie, baked goods, and beer. It was a local food lovers paradise, and the house was packed with hungry fair-goers. I did my best to sample as much as I could before leaving with one very, very heavy stomach.

Here are 20 of my favourite items from the inaugural Canadian Artisan Tasting Fair.

The best cafes in Toronto for free WiFi must have comfortable seating and ample table space to start, but also a combination of natural and artificial light to prevent screen glare. I find an open and airy space that has music kept to a reasonable level really get the mental juices to flow. Add some tasty caffeination and snacks to keep the tummy from grumbling and we're off to the races.

While a plug for every computer is a near impossibility, plenty of outlets or a power bar goes a long way. I've heard of people who hog the lone plug, not for the electricity, but because it can spark conversation with that cafe cutie looking for power. Who knew you could geek out and hook up at the same time?

Here are the best cafes in Toronto for free WiFi.

See also:

The best cafes in Toronto (West Side)
The best cafes in Toronto (East Side)
The best late night cafes in Toronto
The best Americano in Toronto
The best cappuccino in Toronto
The best cafe patios in Toronto
The best coffee roasters in Toronto

Photo by iamshaheen in the blogTO Flickr pool.

Toronto events on December 3rd, 2013

MUSIC | Run With The Kittens 10th Anniversary Show
Spirited indie rockers Run With The Kittens celebrate their 10th anniversary tonight at loyal stomping grounds The Cameron House. This band has 5 albums and an EP under their belt, and it's a bittersweet occasion tonight, patting themselves on the back for sticking it out for a decade, and also bidding guitarist Champagne James Robertson farewell. The band has thrown down the gauntlet by proclaiming that they will perform 10 sets to celebrate this decade, with no repeats. Things start at 5pm, and go until 2am. All proceeds from tonight's show go to the Regent Park School Of Music. Cameron House (408 Queen Street West) 5PM PWYC.

ART | Art And Craft
Art, food, and wine - what more do you need? Tonight's Art and Craft event at Walnut Contemporary will bring these three vital elements together with a food and wine tasting featuring VQA wines and beers from Sideroad Twenty Cellars, and a sneak peek at the upcoming group exhibition, Little Salon, a neo-pop art show featuring a group of TO artists who use contemporary cultural artifacts as ingredients for their work. There will also be an auction on a painting that will be created live, at the event, and the best part is that proceeds go to Blank Canvasses, an after school art program for children. Walnut Contemporary (201 Niagara Street) 6PM $40.

BOOKS & LIT | Writing Women
Tonight at The Garrison, Writing Women presents a special staged reading of eight selected screenplays. Writing Women is a screenplay development workshop and series that is focused on producing short female-oriented films. This evening's event will feature a silent auction, as well as readings of plays by Natalie Lisinska, Wendy Anderson, Nathalie Younglai, Bronwen Keyes-Bevan, Anna Hardwick, Gillian Ferrier, Clara Altimas & Anna Hopkins, and Robyn Laliberte. The Garrison (1197 Dundas Street West) 7PM PWYC.

Continuing

ART | Photorama
Toronto's contemporary photography fans know Photorama is a can't miss exhibit of the year. Gallery TPW's annual fundraising exhibition will basically sustain them through 2014, and features over 80 artists including Edward Burtynsky, Sara Angelucci, Toni Hafkenscheid, Robert Burley, Diana Thorneycroft, Annie MacDonell, Carole Condé, and Karl Beveridge. Gallery TPW (1256 Dundas Street West), until Saturday, December 7, Noon - 6 pm, free.

CRAFTS | Toronto Christmas Market
The Toronto Christmas Market is back for its fourth year, and its expansive set up will (sort of) emulate a European Christmas Market in the Distillery District for the first two weeks of December. Local handcrafted products will be for sale from a variety of vendors. Entertainment will be provided by carollers, a Bavarian brass band, children's choirs and more, plus there will be beer and mulled wine gardens. Damn, mulled wine isn't a thing that happens often enough in Toronto. Distillery Historic District (55 Mill Street), until Sunday December 15, Mon - Fri noon - 9pm & weekends 10am - 9pm.

Also Of Note

• Venite Adoremus 2013
• Canadian Day Revisited

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

Photo of Run With The Kittens by David Leyes

Doug Ford called the cops on a Rob Ford impersonator he says was stalking his mother Sunday. Doug confirmed he called the police and confronted Dave McKay, "a Vaudeville performer also known as Sketchy the Clown," on Weston Wood Rd. McKay had been hired as part of a bus tour: when the vehicle arrived he was to stumble through a nearby park dressed as Rob Ford. He called the accusation of stalking "ludicrous."

"I had the impression [Doug Ford] is a classy guy. Now I'll have to reconsider that," he told The Star.

The head of the Toronto Region Board of Trade says the city's transit decisions have become too politicized and less fiscally responsible. Speaking outside budget discussions at City Hall, Carol Wilding said her group isn't against the Scarborough subway, though it will likely require a bigger tax increase to finance, but would prefer a comprehensive regional strategy. Those monsters.

Doug Ford didn't take too kindly to Wilding's remarks, accusing her of being out of touch. "I know the folks in the Board of Trade. They love our fiscally prudent message," he told reporters.

Elsewhere, Toronto city councillors and Rob Ford could be in for a 1.5 per cent raise.

Rob Ford was forced to ask Premier Kathleen Wynne to let him in on a meeting planned for later today with Deputy Mayor Norm Kelly. Wynne announced she would be having "a get-to-know-you meeting" with Kelly, which (naturally) activated Doug Ford, who called both "unelected." Wynne's office says Ford will be allowed to attend.

Meanwhile, Kelly is making himself at home in his newly expanded office. The Deputy Mayor hung a portrait of former Metropolitan Toronto chairman Fred "Big Daddy" Gardiner where Rob Ford's fish tank used to be. Kelly said he admires Gardiner's ability to "think forward and think big."

Will Ferrell isn't joking (much) anymore about Rob Ford. Stepping out of his Anchorman character Ron Burgundy, Ferrell told The Star he's "amazed" at Toronto. "Considering it's such a sophisticated city, and that's the mayor. It's hilarious." he said. Ferrell dedicated a rendition of Loverboy's "Working for the Weekend" to Rob Ford on Conan O'Brien last week.

Finally, Rob Ford is going to be interviewed by someone familiar with scandal: convicted fraudster Conrad Black. The former media baron will speak with Toronto's embattled mayor on Vision TV, a spokesperson confirmed.

IN BRIEF:

• Toronto police Const. John Zivcic dies after weekend traffic crash [Toronto Star]
• Toronto officer who shot Michael Eligon feared for his life [CBC News]
• Rob Ford featured in American political attack ad [Toronto Star]
• Man dies in subway station after public defibrillator malfunctions [Toronto Star]
• Artist Viktor Mitic does Mayor Rob Ford in bullet holes [Toronto Sun]
• Toronto school board re-elects Chris Bolton to chair [Globe and Mail]
• Toronto Blue Jays strike deal with catcher Dioner Navarro [CTV News]

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

Image: sigma/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, buy, talk or see movies in Toronto.

NEW RELEASES

The Wolverine (20th Century Fox)

Troubled mutant Wolverine visits Japan and battles evil, both internal and external.

Hugh Jackman's 5th go around as the titular Marvel superhero finally gets the balance right and creates the definitive loony toons version of Wolvy slicing and dicing ninjas, samurais, and various other villains informed by Eastern mysticism.

Extras wise: Along with an alternative ending, X-Men fanboys will be interested in the X-Men: Days of Future Pats set tour, along with "The Path of a Ronin", "High Jackman: The Man Behind the Mutant", and "Reflections: The Evolution of Wolverine".

Anchorman: The Rich Mahogany Edition (Paramount)

Burgundy is the new Blu, apparently. With nary a concern of over saturation, this souped-up special edition contains 3 whole different versions of Anchorman - The theatrical cut, the unrated cut, and "Wake Up, Ron Burgundy: The Lost Movie".

With bloopers, 38 deleted scenes, commentary from the main players, and raw footage, this is about as definitive a collection of the first Anchorman you are going to find anywhere, pal. We can hardly wait for the mammoth collection of material that will accompany the Bluray/DVD release of the sequel.

Nashville (The Criterion Collection)

Robert Altman's sprawling polaroid of 1975 America shot through with a lens of paranoia and an earful of country music. With more than 24 main characters criss-crossing one another (people like David Arkin, Barbara Baxley, Ned Beatty, Karen Black, Ronee Blakley, Keith Carradine, Geraldine Chaplin, Robert DoQui, Shelley Duvall, Allen Garfield, Henry Gibson, Scott Glenn, Jeff Goldblum, Barbara Harris, Michael Murphy, Allan F. Nicholls, Cristina Raines, Bert Remsen, Lily Tomlin, Gwen Welles, and Keenan Wynn).

Often cited as a major work of the 1970s American film renaissance, this auteurist work feels right at home in the Criterion Collection. Extras include an audio commentary featuring director Robert Altman, a new documentary on the making of the film, featuring interviews with actors Ronee Blakley, Keith Carradine, Michael Murphy, Allan Nicholls, and Lily Tomlin; screenwriter Joan Tewkesbury; assistant director Alan Rudolph; and Altman's widow, Kathryn Reed Altman, Three archival interviews with Altman, Behind-the-scenes footage , demos of Carradine performing his songs from the film, and a booklet featuring an essay by critic Molly Haskell

TV

The Simpsons - The Complete 16th Season (20th Century Fox)

The 2004-2005 series of The Simpsons, its 16th season on television arrives on DVD and Bluray. Stand out episodes include "Sleeping with the Enemy" when Nelson and Bart become best friends, "Midnight RX" which involves Homer and Grandpa smuggling prescription drugs to Springfield from Canada, "There's Something About Marrying" The Simpsons treaty on gay marriage, and "Goo Goo Gai Pan" aka The Simpsons go to China. Hard to believe it's been almost 10 years since these episodes aired. What then seemed stale and played now seem like an oasis of creativity.

CULT CLASSICS

Saturn 3 (Scream Factory)

Frankly bonkers Sci-Fi /horror, with old man Kirk Douglas and his young nubile girlfriend Farrah Fawcett minding a remote research facility called Saturn 3 that gets violated by a homicidal Harvey Keitel (although his voice is bizarrely dubbed by someone else) and his terrifying robot Adam. While the concept may be old hat now, rampaging murderous robots were all the rage in the '70s. We still wonder what Fawcett saw in flaccid Douglas. Once again, another ultra-obscure classic unearthed by the Scream Factory outfit - can they do no wrong?

The Ghost and Mrs. Muir (20th Century Fox)

Widowed Lucy Muir moves to a quiet seaside cottage, only to fall deeply in love with the crusty sea captain who haunts it. Proper, old school Gothic romance with nary a vampire or trench coat in sight, although the bad ass Bernard Hermann score probably sent your grandma into a tizzy back in the day.

Call of the Wild (20th Century Fox)

1930s Mack daddy Clarke Gable stars as Jack Thornton, a rugged outdoorsman and adventurer on the trail of gold. Fans of There Will Be Blood might want to check this out, but while Thornton is driven like Daniel Plainview, he thankfully has a healthier outlook on humanity. Nothing at to do with anything written by Jack London (other than snow dogs and the Alaskan setting), William Wellman's 1935 version of The Call of the Wild is strait up '30s thriller and snowbound Hollywood magic.

STILL FRESH

• Breaking Bad: The Complete Series
• Getaway
• Jobs
• Murdoch Mysteries: Season 6
• Knightriders
• The Horror Show
• The World's End
• We re the Millers
• Planes
• Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 5
• Doctor Who: The Tenth Planet
• Assault on Precinct 13: Collectors Edition
• Night of the Comet
• Eve of Destruction
• Tank Girl

Joel & Ethan Coen: Tall Tales at TIFF

In celebration of their latest film Inside Llewyn Davis (opening at TIFF Bell Lightbox on December 25), there is a killer Coen Brothers festival happening at the Lightbox this month. Although these films may live on Netflix and our DVD collections, their spiritual home is the big screen and they always play better with a large audience. Especially Lebowski.

Raising Arizona

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 5 8:45PM

Barton Fink

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 6 8:45PM

The Big Lebowski

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 13 8:45 PM

True Grit

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20 9:00PM

Each month we round up the most noteworthy live theatre playing in Toronto. This December features a host of holiday productions to help get audiences into the spirit of the season.

The Nutcracker / National Ballet - Four Seasons / Dec. 14 - Jan. 4 / 7:00pm/2:00pm / $55-$100+
After over fifteen years, the National Ballet's production of The Nutcracker hasn't missed a step. The ballet is a wildly imaginative journey through the decadent and playful sights and sounds of the Christmas season. Like a richly detailed picture book come to life, the production is full of magic and humour, which all the while encourages audiences to contemplate the true themes of the holiday. Check out our full review from last year.

Parfumerie / Soulpepper - Young Centre / Dec. 3-28 / 7:30pm/1:30pm / $51-$8
It's with good reason that Soulpepper continues to trot out Parfumerie each holiday season. Miklós László's production is, by all accounts, a play built for this time of year. It profiles the hustle and bustle of the season in a community perfume shop where the product isn't the only thing that lingers in the air—love, too, wafts through the store. The ideals of forgiveness, reconciliation, and good will anchor the storyline on a beautiful set from Ken MacDonald.

Little Mermaid / Ross Petty - Elgin Theatre / Nov. 22 - Jan. 4 / 7:00pm/2:00pm / $34-$93
That Ross Petty is up to his old tricks again, recruiting a young, talented cast of singers and dancers to delight audiences as part of the annual Christmas pantomime. This year's theme, the Little Mermaid, sports perhaps the most cringe worthy pun in recent memory, "Ontario's O-fish-al Musical." If the title alone makes you gag, you might want to avoid the show. It's a reflection of the type of jokes you're in for, amidst all the pop culture mash-up and goofing around.

A Christmas Carol / Montgomery's Inn / Dec. 5-29 7:00pm/2:00pm / $10-$20
Humber River Shakespeare presents a minimalist's approach to the classic story, A Christmas Carol. Five actors present the various characters from the Victorian tale, which features fated visits from the ghosts of present, past, and future. The correction of Ebenezer Scrooge is, by now, a well-known story, teaching us that to give is always better than to receive.

Weather the Weather / Evergreen Brick Works / Dec. 6-30 / 8:00pm/5:00pm / $12.50-$32
Theatre Columbus is the group behind The Story, the smash-hit, wandering Christmas show that originally premiered in 2011. The group is returning to the Evergreen Brick Words for more site-specific holiday fare. Playwright and actress Haley McGee is the brains behind the newest creation, Weather the Weather or how we make it home together, an original fairy tale inspired by northern folklore and our compulsion to ensure we've made it home for the holidays.

Elizabeth - Darcy / Campbell House Museum / Dec. 14-29 / 8:00pm/2:00pm / $20
This happens to be the only play on the list that isn't holiday focused. Nevertheless, Elizabeth - Darcy features the cozy and familiar characters of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. Hallie Burt and Kate Werneburg play the title characters, giving the adaptation an innovative gender bend through which to view the classic tale. The Campbell House, which is fast becoming a theatre outpost for sight-specific period pieces, serves as the backdrop.

For more listings, head on over to the events calendar for local info updated regularly during the month.

Have a spoken word event coming up that you'd like us to plug? Submit your own listing to the blogTO events calendar.

Photo from Parfumerie by Cylla von Tiedemann

This week on DineSafe we have one restaurant closure, and it's well-deserved to say the least. Wes Bes Patties got themselves nailed with a whopping 15 infractions, including failing to prevent gross unsanitary conditions, and failing to maintain hazardous foods necessary temperatures. Disgraceland made the roundup this week, but their offences are outnumbered by Balwin Village's Yakitiri Bar and Seoul Food Company with 6 dings, and the York Mills Country Style with a total of 9 infractions. The rest of this week's DineSafe report can be found below.

Country Style (799 York Mills Rd)
Inspected on: November 25
Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
Number of infractions: 9 (Minor: 1, Significant: 6, Crucial: 2)
Crucial infractions include: Employee fail to wash hands when required

Cusina Lounge (288A Wilson Ave)
Inspected on: November 28
Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
Number of infractions: 3 (Crucial: 3)
Crucial infractions include: Employee fail to wash hands when required, operator fail to ensure food is not contaminated/adulterated, operator fail to maintain hazardous food(s) at 4C (40F) or colder.

Disgraceland (965 Bloor St W)
Inspected on: November 26
Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
Number of infractions: 3 (Significant: 2, Crucial: 1)
Crucial infractions include: Operator fail to thoroughly re-heat hazardous food item(s).

Dragon Dynasty Chinese Cuisine (2301 Brimley Rd)
Inspected on: November 26
Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
Number of infractions: 8 (Minor: 3, Significant: 3, Crucial: 2)
Crucial infractions include: Fail to protect food from contamination or adulteration, operator fail to maintain hazardous foods at 60C (140F) or hotter.

Ka Ka Lucky Seafood BBQ Restaurant (349 Broadview Ave)
Inspected on: November 25
Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
Number of infractions: 7 (Minor: 2, Significant: 4, Crucial: 1)
Crucial infractions include: Operator fail to ensure food is not contaminated/adulterated.

Mandarin (2206 Eglinton Ave E)
Inspected on: November 27
Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
Number of infractions: 8 (Minor: 4, Significant: 4)
Crucial infractions include: N/A

Wes Bes Patties (371 Oakwood Ave)
Inspected on: November 27
Inspection finding: Red (Closed)
Number of infractions: 15 (Minor: 4, Significant: 8, Crucial: 3)
Crucial infractions include: Operator fail to prevent gross unsanitary conditions, operator fail to ensure food is not contaminated/adulterated, operator fail to maintain hazardous foods at 60C (140F) or hotter.

Yakitori Bar (1 Baldwin Street)
Inspected on: November 28
Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
Number of infractions: 6 (Minor: 1, Significant: 4, Crucial: 1)
Crucial infractions include: Operator fail to provide potable water supply.

It's one of the city's most well-stocked, fascinating vintage furniture stores. But instead of sitting in a row of design shops on a trendy downtown street, it's hidden away in an office park in Scarborough. Venture out to this overstuffed showroom, and you'll find hand-refinished teak buffets, dining sets and retro odds and ends, all delivered (for free!) with a friendly smile.

Read my profile of What the Vintage in the Design section.

If you've nursed dreams of living in Cabbagetown and have a real estate budget of at least $1.4 million, this restored Victorian on Sackville Street could fit the bill. The red brick exterior fits in with the neighbouring Victorian properties, but projects a little extra curb appeal thanks to a restored railing and standout door. Around back you'll find a modern two-tiered deck and parking space for two cars through an electric gate.

The house has been renovated and restored from floor to (high) ceiling. There's virtually no work to be done, unless you think the wrought iron stair railing feels a bit out of place. The white and grey kitchen doesn't have enough space for a full table, just a space-hogging marble breakfast bar, but whose feet can argue with heated floors?

If you're weak to Cabbagetown's charms, the location really can't be beat. This stretch of Sackville, from Carlton north to St. James Cemetery, is arguably the nicest block in the whole neighbourhood. It's just a short walk to the area's best amenities, from ghosts (Necropolis) to goats (Riverdale Farm) to good fresh food (Riverdale Farmer's Market). And don't worry about the ghosts--they're gentrified, too.

SPECS

• Address: 430 Sackville St
• Price: $1,395,000
• Sq. Ft.: 1,715 + 930 in lower level
• Bedrooms: 3
• Bathrooms: 2
• Parking Spaces: 2 in laneway
• Taxes: $4,989.17 (2013)
• Walk Score: 92

NOTABLE FEATURES

• Heated porcelain tile floors in kitchen
• Open concept living/dining areas
• Backyard designed by a landscape architect
• 2-tiered deck
• "Period style" gas fireplace dupe in living room

GOOD FOR

Cabbagetown enthusiasts itching to get into this high-demand neighbourhood. Three bedrooms won't fit a large family, but the house is more than roomy enough for two adults, a few kids and a revolving door of guests. The open concept main floor (living room, dining room, kitchen, back deck and all) is well suited for entertaining.

MOVE ON IF

You'd prefer a grassy backyard to a private parking pad. You think a house listed for this price should boast more square feet, or at least more bedrooms. You get the creeps being that close to all those graves.

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Read other posts in this series via our House of the Week Pinterest board.

Popify is launching for a few short days this week in Kensington Market. While Toronto has pretty much won the lottery with holiday time ephemeral store fronts and craft shows, our very own collaboration Popify will be part gallery, part hands-on shop, part party (say that 5 times really fast), and part online store - with free shipping North America wide. We've teamed up with e-commerce website Shopify to create an IRL + URL hub for indie makers to showcase everything from designer toothpicks to skateboards, plus clothing, curiosities, and (hopefully) a few things you've never seen before.

Here are a few things you'll find at the Popify storefront.

Robotic Puzzles: Areaware's Cubebot
For the lover of toys and colour in your life (or toys and natural woodgrain), these Transformer-meets-creepy-artists-model bots are designed by David Weeks Studio (USA). Inspired by Japenese Shinto Kumi-ki puzzles, the cubebot can hold oodles of poses (suggestive or otherwise) and fold into a perfect cube. You can add this delightfully controllable human-esque figure to your chaotic, un-cube-able life for $24.

Magic Metal Coffee Beans: Joulies
Speaking of the perfect gift for a control freak, check this out. Joulies are stainless steel coffee-bean like shells with "an advanced phase change material that melts at 60ºC." So what? So you put them in your scalding hot coffee (thanks, grumpy barista of my life past), and they make your brew not only become the perfect temperature - they make it stay that way. I could not make this up. The magic beans will be yours for $60.

Wireless Faux-Analog: Grain Audio
Fireplace DVDS are passe - just kidding, they're great - but here's a (better) bit of trickery, geared especially for the lover of radio aesthetics in your life. PWS - The Packable Wireless System is a portable Bluetooth speaker that looks like the kind of slick old transistor radio that I would literally fight to the death over at Value Village. You can tune into your Spotify playlist via this gadget you got at Popify for $250.

Lazy Camper Snuggie: Polar Outdoor Stuff
Polar is onto something big here. The Napsack is a sleeping bag with zippers at the arms and a cinch at the bottom. You can wear it like a puffy, ridiculously styling coat around the campfire, then (hopefully, depending how many PBRs were consumed) find your tent, and snuggle in to sleep as easy as 1, 2, 3 - no drama required (there's only room for one in this thing). It's $97 and comes in burnt orange or black.

The Requisite iPad Case: DODOcase
While the dodo bird never lived to evolve thumbs and own an iPad, you did, my friend, and you deserve a case worthy of the effort. These cases are in a league of their own - crafted using age old book binding techniques (also developed by thumb wielding humans - score!) they're worthy items to point out when jerks say the art of book binding is dead. These library friendly American-made iPad Air cozies are $85.

Popify runs from December 5 - 8, 11 am - 7pm, at Homerun, 165 Augusta Ave in Kensington Market.

This new burger joint near Queen and Manning offers a French twists on the fast food classic, with subtle updates like brioche buns and Brie cheese to accompany patties made with ground rib eye. The results are unique, and in some cases, downright decadent.

Read my review of Toma Burger Addiction in the restaurants section.