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

OPEN NOW

• The slightly delayed, Wind Up Bird Cafe at 382 College Street opens today Thursday, December 5th.
• Duke's Refresher, the Muskoka spinoff is now open at 382 Yonge Street serving a menu that spans brunch to dinner.
• Two country western bars open this week; Boots & Bourbon Saloon opened last night at 725 Queen Street East; the Rock 'n' Horse Saloon at 250 Adelaide Street West opens on Friday, December 6th.
• Brooklyn Tavern is open now at 1097 Queen East in place of Fare Bistro.
• Classic Wings & Burgers (the name says it all) is in business at 858 Bloor Street West.

OPENING SOON

• The Pursuit of Frosting, a bespoke bake shop is in the works at 866 Eglinton Avenue West at Bathurst.
• Chef Rob Gentile continues to tease to the opening of the long awaited Buca Bar (75 Portland Street) on a Instagram. Let's see some food!

RECENTLY REVIEWED

• P&L Burger
• Toma Burger Addiction
• Pizzeria Via Mercanti (Elm St.)
• Barrio Coreano

CLOSING

• Haute dog shop, Fusia Dog (65 Duncan Street) has been deadpool for a month already. (via Post City)

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

Photo from Duke's Refresher's Facebook page

This new Mexican restaurant on West Queen West from folks with ties to Milagro and L.A.B. is high on ethical and healthful products. Along with locally sourced food ingredients, the drinks menu boasts cocktails that cut back on calorie dense components like simple syrup, and there are even plans to serve kombucha on tap.

Read my profile of Fonda Lola in the restaurants section.

TWENTY Condos is just down the street from last week's featured project Ten93, so if you didn't like its design but are keen on the neighbourhood, this one might do it for you. There's so much development underway on this section of West Queen West you're bound to find something you like, or at the very least plenty to gripe about. TWENTY is the final phase in a condo development that has been slowly transforming the intersection of Queen and Gladstone for a few years now.

Standing at seven storeys, this project will feature 113 residences and a few fairly standard amenities. You can't throw a rock in this condo market without hitting a rooftop terrace or fitness centre, and this place doesn't disappoint. But there are a few extras - namely a cocktail bar and games room - for those looking for a bit more. This is certainly not the neighbourhood you're going to need any amenities in what with the venerable Gladstone next door and the Drake a bit further down the street. But if you're more of a homebody or don't feel live paying cover to go out for fun all the time, the features here at the very least cover the expected bases.

Unlike the homes this building is replacing this condo is certainly geared towards singles and young couples. You won't find anything bigger than a two bedroom at just over 900 sq ft - most of the units seem to be floating around the 600-700 sq ft range though. It also looks like a good deal of the units feature a bit of a loft aesthetic with some exposed fixtures and bare concrete ceilings. This may heighten the west-end artist loft vibe for some, except for the rather un-lofty (heh) ceiling heights (nine feet). Most of the suites will also feature some fairly large windows along with some modest balconies (starting around 50 sq ft). So unlike your southern cousins in Liberty Village you can expect quite a few years of unobstructed views in this predominately low-rise area.

SPECS

• Address: 20 Gladstone Ave.
• Storeys: 7
• Number of Units: 113
• Types of Units: 1 bedroom, 1 bedroom + den, 2 bedroom
• Ceiling Height: 9 ft
• Unit sizes in Square Feet: 478-911
• Amenities: party lounge, kitchen/dining area, fitness centre, guest suites, outdoor terrace with bbqs, cocktail bar, sun deck, games room
• Architect: TACT
• Developer: Streetcar
• Interior Designer: Seven Haus
• Walkscore: 93
• Completion Date: Spring 2016

THE GOOD

With over 70% percent of this building already sold since its launch a short time ago there is an obvious appeal to the location and this quasi-loft style living. And although this is a "master-planned" community - usually something not to get excited about - there are at least a few perks. For one, there is a planned interior laneway and urban park that will feature shops and eventually a connection to the extension of the West Toronto Rail Path Cycling and Walking Trail. It's certainly hard to complain about a developer going out of their way to create an area dedicated to pedestrians, even if they are calling it "The Row". Also the on-site Metro grocery store is just steps away and on those cold winter nights it can even be accessed from the underground parking garage in the building.

It's also nice to see some development move further up this street. There is no indication this area will become anything like Ossington (or even if it should) but this addition may help bring a bit more life to this aging street. All in all, the combination of the 24 hr streetcar, a healthy selection of restaurants, galleries, bars, cafes, and other small retailers make this area fairly livable and exciting no matter the size of your condo unit.

THE BAD

This project, like many more, happens to be taking out a few low rise homes on its march towards density. Whatever your feelings about the loss of these less than stunning homes might be, they did at least at one point house three bedroom units. TWENTY on the other hand has none - meaning there are no options here for those young couples who live in the area and don't want to leave when they decide to expand.

There is quite a bit of retail planned for this overall development, but don't get your hopes up. The types of businesses that give Queen West it's unique character are not usually the ones who can afford rent in new condos, so as nice "The Row" may turn out to be there probably won't be much besides a Shoppers and maybe a half way decent coffee shop.

OUR TAKE

It's great neighbours that make a neighbourhood worth living in, and this one has some excellent ones. So if you love this area and can fit your life into one of these units, this could certainly be a worthy home to live in.

MORE PHOTOS

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

The County General has announced some major plans for 2014. Owner Carlo Catallo plans expansion into two new sites, with different themes riffing on the popular cocktails 'n' rustic food aesthetic that has soaked up so much of West Queen West's dining cognoscenti since it opened in 2011.

After two years of close affiliation with Splendido, County is branching out by itself with chef Danai Hongwanishkul (Canoe) taking the reins from Victor Barry for culinary direction. While the original location at Queen and Shaw will continue pumping out their famous buttermilk fried chicken thigh sandwiches, they'll be expanding in the new year to the east end of the city at Queen and Boulton in the former site of the Canadian Pie Company with a cocktail-focused spot.

Catallo's plans include more light lunches and coffee during the day, with a shared plates / tapas focused menu in the evening. Here's hoping the east end gets treated to more of Jeff Carroll's much loved Manhattans and Caesars.

Later in the year, the County brand will also be extending north by moving into the restaurant space attached to the Paradise Cinema in Bloorcourt (formerly the home of Beirut Palace). With plans for a sizeable patio, Catallo and Hongwanishkul hope to bring their locally-sourced product to a wider crowd. With the original site still experiencing lengthy wait lists for both brunch and dinner, the soon to open new locations should make it easier to grab a table for one of their indulgent KFC dinners.

For more Toronto restaurant openings, check out our weekly roundup post.

Brad Thomas Parsons, the author of essential bartender's manual Bitters: A Spirited History of a Classical Drink' writes "Gone are the days when a lonely bottle of Angostura bitters held court behind the bar." What was once an ingredient used only in a handful of classics is now an integral part of any good bartender's arsenal. They give a much needed punch of flavour without occupying much space, or diluting the cocktail. It also allows a bartender to have an array of tastes at his fingertips without having to stock a fridge full of expensive perishables. And now Toronto company Bar40 Bitters is looking to take the ingredient to the next level.

Bitters are an infusion of herbs, spices, roots, flowers and other flavourings steeped in high-proof alcohol, along with an added bittering agent such as wormwood, citrus peels or gentian. After about a month of steeping, the flavours start to shine through brilliantly. The sky's the limit on what flavours or flavour combinations can be achieved: Peppercorn bacon, smoke and coffee, curry, and Jamaican jerk are just the tip of the bitters iceberg. No flavour is too bold or too intricate to create.

There's been much attention paid to the emerging bitters scene here in Toronto, with every serious cocktail bar having at least one or two mysterious jars behind the bar including a house recipe or two, but for the home enthusiast, the prospect of tracking down all sorts of rare barks and spices, then sacrificing a whole bottle of booze, before waiting over a month, seems like a big undertaking. Thankfully, there's a huge range available at places throughout the city like BYOB where home bartenders can get their hands on materials with which to experiment. Until recently, most of these were imported (at a hefty cost) from the States and the UK, but it seems that a few locals are now trying to make their own versions available to us amateurs.

Bar40 Bitters advocates a more scientific approach in developing bitters for cocktail use. They've based a range of four varieties on the understanding that the tongue allows one to distinguish five specific flavour profiles: bitter, salt, sour, sweet and savoury (or umami). Ideally, any perfect taste experience should combine the five in some fashion. Owner Jamie Beurklian and business partner Robin have aimed to produce a set that complemented cocktails without dominating them.

By allowing a budding mixologist to augment a drink with a touch of saltiness or a gentle savoury note, the four bitters they've released, used either individually or in tandem, tweak the balance of a drink to bring it closer to that ideal taste experience. Should you be interested in finding ways to better balance your drinks, but don't want to shell out on obscure flavours that might only have one or two possible applications, then this might be the best starting point.

You can pick up Bar40 bitters at BYOB and The Crafty Bartender for $19 a bottle at their online store or in the next drink at your favourite bar. Plans are also afoot for an olfactory set (similar to those really expensive sommelier kits you see in wine stores). Jamie also has a mystery third set in the works as well as plans to bring his sensory approach to other bartending staples like vermouth and amaro.

According to local drug dealers, Rob Ford is into hezza. That's heroin. Or at least we're pretty sure it is. Drug dealers from low income neighbourhoods call heroin "hezza" either because they think it might help them evade police (who seem to know what it means - thanks a lot, whoever wrote this Urban Dictionary entry) or because it takes less time to say and they're busy hustling. Journalists were pretty over the moon when this news broke last night, seemingly because they learned a new word, and/or can't deal with the jarring juxtaposition between "Mayor of Toronto" and "hezza." Here's a slice of what went down on Twitter - where the media indulged in a little schadenFord - last night.

This newish burger shop on the East Danforth (it opened in September) has a small, no frills menu that's big on fresh ingredients. You won't find gourmet burgers here, but you will get your fill of well-priced and classically prepared and assembled fast food favourites. Make sure to order the poutine if you're a fan, as this might just be the menu's hidden gem.

Read my review of Joe's Wings and Burgers in the restaurants section.

The ToronTOpia pop up shop is a collaboration between Coach House Books and Spacing Magazine who have set up shop on Portland just south of Queen. The shop is stocked full of all things Toronto themed, making great gifts for the savvy city slicker or souvenirs for your tourist friends. One side of the store is dedicated to Coach House's Toronto-themed publications, and the other has buttons, prints, posters, t-shirts, toques and lots of other collectables.

Here are 5 picks for great gift giving you'll find at the ToronTOpia pop up.

Neighbourhood Maps
These small neighbourhood maps can help you navigate around any area of Toronto. A Kensington map is a good choice, cause everyone knows it can be confusing to find your way at first. Maybe you'll want to collect a bunch to represent every neighbourhood you've lived in. They are $20 for 12x12 (seen here) or $25 the 12x18 version.

Toronto Streetscape Prints
These prints are perfect for calling on some good Toronto nostalgia. Do you have memories of summer fun at Ontario Place? Or of an afternoon chilling by the Scarborough Bluffs? These vintage-style posters will harken back to a simpler time. They come in two sizes: 8x10 for $30 and 16x20 $75.

Vintage TTC Posters
These are poster size versions of Toronto transit history. They are great for adding a little city cred to your living room or treating your Toronto savvy friend to some cool Tdot memorabilia. They are $25 each.

Subway & Rob Ford Magnets
With a handful of these Subway magnets, you can map out the TTC on your fridge. They make a good small gift to pass out to co-workers or to include with a your mailed out Christmas cards. Oh, and if you're not so happy with our mayor, there's magnets for that too. Individually they are $3, or you can get 4 for $10.

Coach House Books
For the book lover on your list, Coach House has a wide selection Toronto-themed publications to browse through. Recent releases like Edward Keenan's Some Great Idea ($12) and Full Frontal T.O. ($20) are available, along with stacked tables of fiction for $18, non-fiction for $20, and poetry for $15 each. They also have a $50 deal that gets you three books and a Coach House tote bag.

The shop is now open for holiday shopping season through to December 22nd. Hours are 12-7pm Wednesdays and Thursdays, 12-9pm on Fridays, and 12-6pm on the weekends.

Photo by Oleksiy & Tetyana Kovyrin in the BlogTO Flickr Pool.

Rob Ford's lawyer is leading the charge in defence of the mayor. Dennis Morris told the Toronto Sun the Toronto Police should be embarrassed by the latest ITO release that reveals allegations Ford was blackmailed over the crack video. Morris accused the force of having a political agenda. "This is just dirt piled upon dirt piled upon dirt in order to humiliate the mayor," he said.

Speaking on a Washington D.C. sports radio station yesterday morning, Ford called the latest allegations an "outright lie." He told the Sun's Joe Warmington the information in the ITO is "so far fetched, it isn't even funny,"

Meanwhile, Brad Duguid has become the first provincial cabinet minister to call for Rob Ford to resign. "It is time for the mayor to step aside," Duguid, the minister of training, colleges and universities and former city councillor with Rob Ford, told reporters. "I think it has been very disruptive to us all."

Rob Ford is still invited to the Etobicoke Lakeshore Santa Claus Parade but it's not clear whether he will go. In previous years Ford has walked the route and handed out candy. The organizers haven't heard back from the mayor's office.

A shooting in a luxury condo at Yonge and the 401 in June 2012 provided some of the impetus for the Project Traveller raids, CBC News reports. The gun death of Hussein Hussein, possibly as the result of a mistake handling a weapon, revealed links to a Detroit-Toronto smuggling operation and was part of the reason police decided to carry out a series of city-wide raids in June.

Dancing crossing guard Kathleen Byers has been told to lay off the moves. 64-year-old Byers has been bringing music and fancy footwork to the intersection of Gordon and Dufferin for almost a decade. Toronto Police, who run the crossing guard program, say it's a safety risk.

Get ready to pay a little more for a ride on GO Transit. The Metrolinx board approved a hike that will add between 35 and 55 cents to every cash fare, but less to Presto users. Riders who make longer commutes will end up paying more. It's expected the increase will raise an extra $25 million.

A statue of Jesus stolen from outside a Kensington Market church has been returned with a note of apology. The distinctive Timothy Schmalz figure, titled "Whatsoever You Do," was found outside St. Stephen-in-the-Fields yesterday morning with a rain-damaged letter. "It looks like it says, 'I'm sorry, it seemed like a good idea at the time,' Rev. Maggie Helwig told The Star.

IN BRIEF:

• Rob Ford loses control of news release paragraph [Toronto Star]
• $15-million gift aims to transform Toronto's Sinai hospital [Globe and Mail]
• Toronto cab driver feared for his life during weekend attack [CBC News]
• No more curfew for man accused in Anthony Smith's death, lawyers say [CTV News]
• Leafs' Bozak out indefinitely with oblique injury 3 [CTV News]
• Maple Leafs drop Stars in OT, snap 5-game skid [CBC News]

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

Image: s.awan/blogTO Flickr pool.

Drag shows in Toronto are energy-packed performances by phenomenal entertainers in gender-bending getups. There are only a handful of places that offer regularly scheduled drag shows, but these venues attract a ton of admirers who love to interact with these larger-than-life personas. Relative newcomer Mojo Lounge deserves a nod, but these are the top places to watch queens nail high-kicks like fierce ballet dancers, and kings exude confident swagger that you just can't quite get enough of.

Crews & Tangos
Every night of the week at this Church St. mainstay the city's finest talent struts all over the main stage. The front room gets packed with all types of drag fans, cheering on shows that are chock-full of spins, splits, and sass like you ain't nevah seen. It's a hub of drag culture in the city, where aspiring kings and queens hope they'll land a recurring gig one day. There's no cover on weekdays, and it's $5 on weekends.

Zipperz / Cellblock
The kings reign at Zipperz every Wednesday night. It's the only show on the list that features kings rather than queens, and therefore it tends to bring out a predominantly female crowd. Things get crazy, scandalous even, when audience members take $10 bills between their teeth and lure in one of the dapper Kings. These high-energy shows make the crowd go bananas, with the kings gyrating all over the dance floor, swinging from the ceilings and busting out coordinated dance routines. With no cover, you can save your cash for the dancers.

El Convento Rico
This College St. club has been around for over 21 years and is a staple of Toronto's drag scene. Its welcoming atmosphere brings out a diverse crowd of all ages and sexualities, generally those who are looking for a healthy dose of latin music. On the weekends, Queens take over the stage just past midnight. This is a show to gather around and watch, the Queens give entertaining the crowd their all, which usually involves flirting with a handful of bachelorette parties. Cover is $10, but the drinks are cheap, usually around 6 bucks.

The Beaver
The hip little West Queen West bar holds Industry Nights every Monday. There's an open call for new kings or queens to play MC for the evening and try out performing two routines. It's an encouraging environment, where audiences can cheer on some up-and-coming talent. It won't burn a hole in your wallet either, as entry is free and bottles of Labatt 50 and Budweiser are only $3.50.

Woody's
Woody's has a fun and relaxed environment and provides a Village meeting place for gay men to mix and mingle. The drag show has stayed relatively the same for many years, with queens performing their stage routines before haggling men in the audience to take part in the Best Bum and Best Chest contests. You can choose to participate in the show, or just let it provide the background noise while you chat up the bartenders. There's no cover, making it a perfect place to start out a night.

BONUS

Buddies in Bad Times
Buddies in Bad Times Theatre turns into a wildly busy nightclub on the weekends. Drag Queens take their places on a long flight of stairs located in the middle of the dance floor. The DJs spin top 40 pop, dance, and house, while the Queens give attitude by stomping up and down those stairs in the highest of high heels, entertaining hundreds of gay boys and, typically, about a dozen ladies. Cover on the weekends is between $5 and $10.

MAP

Photo from our review of Crews and Tangos

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

THIS WEEK

• Le Dolci (1006 Dundas Street West) is offering family friendly Gingerbread House Decorating workshop on Saturday, December 7th.
• The Slow Room (874 College Street) will host Bestia foodtruck on Saturday, December 7th for a pop up lunch starting at 11:30am.
• The monthly instalment of La Domenica Brunch at Buonanotte (19 Mercer Street) is on this Sunday, December 8th starting at noon. The DJ'd brunch is $45 a head.
• Habits Gastropub (928 College Street) is holding Whisky 101 on Thursday, December 12th at 8pm featuring 5 whiskies from 5 countries with food pairings for $55.
• Dog Days a bi-monthly pop up restaurant launches this Sunday, December 8th at The Beaver (1192 Queen Street West). The evening will feature karaoke and a $13 menu from Rob Webster, Buca's chef de partie.

UPCOMING

• The Depanneur (1033 College Street) hosts Lisa Sanguedolce for a Classic Mince Pies Workshop at 4pm on Sunday, December 15th. Tickets are $40, kids are half price.
• Starting December 22nd and running every Sunday until February 23rd Steam Whistle (255 Bremner Boulevard) will host a Winter Farmer's Market.

OTHER NEWS

• Chopped Canada has announced its first 52 competitors, 19 of which will represent Toronto in the first season of the televised Food Network Canada cook-off debuting Thursday, January 2nd.

Photo from Depanneur's Mince Pie Workshop page

Time to put away that fall gear - the skating season is officially upon us. Toronto's public rinks are now open for shinny and the first Bambi-like forays onto the hard stuff, despite a recent uptick in temperatures.

Unfortunately, there's no more skating on the Don or the Toronto Bay, as there was until around the 1930s and 40s - the temperatures don't get low enough and it was probably never all that safe anyway.

In winters of old, however, every patch of frozen water became prime real estate for skaters, even shallow puddles in vacant lots. Here's a look back at when skaters in Toronto looked like subjects in an L. S. Lowry painting.

Skaters on the Toronto Bay

A frozen Don River near Riverdale Park, looking south to Gerrard

Skaters at Christie Pits

Figure skaters put on an outdoor show

A group of girls take to the ice between 1910 and 1912

Women lace up beside Grenadier Pond in High Park

Skaters on Grenadier Pond

Nervous skaters cling together in High Park

Moss Park skating championships race

Another view of a skate race at Moss Park

Women on the ice at Riverdale Park

Wide shot of a frozen Riverdale Park

A makeshift rink on a vacant lot

Figure skaters show off for the camera at Varsity Arena

Heavy winter coats on display at Varsity Arena

Rinks at Christie Pits, then Willowvale Park.

Skaters at Withrow Park

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

Image: City of Toronto Archives

This brand new saloon at Adelaide and Duncan brings some (forced) Western charm to the space previously occupied by The Tap House, complete with line dancing and a mechanical bull. The vibe is jovial (surely on account of the massive margaritas), the food servings are massive, and the decor looks a bit like a movie set, but, on the whole, the place is fun.

Read my profile of the Rock 'n' Horse Saloon in the bars section.

Local spirits are actually something of a rarity at the LCBO. Unlike other alcohol segments, like wine and craft beer, where local producers have flourished as of late, Ontario's liquor legislation makes the production and sale of hard alcohol in this province pretty difficult and expensive.

The result is that there aren't a lot of local spirit options yet (there's a reason this list isn't a "top" ten--I think this is all of them), but perhaps owing to the perseverance required to get their product on the shelf, what is available is actually really, really good. While all these companies offer their full product range at their onsite retail stores, here's a roundup of what's available on the shelf of the LCBO, in case you don't feel like driving around the province to stock up.

Still Waters Stalk and Barrel Blended Canadian Whisky | $39.95 | 750 mL bottle
When we first checked in with Vaughn's fledgling boozemakers, they were patiently waiting for their first batch of whisky to reach the age of three years so that it might legally be branded whisky in this country. In the meantime, they had crafted "Still Waters Special 1+11 Blend Canadian Whisky," a blended whisky they created using a little of their own product and whiskies sourced from other Canadian distillers. The company has since hit that crucial three year mark and has started selling their own single malt whisky (available at their distillery or online), but they've also opted to continue selling their award-winning blended whisky, now redubbed, Stalk and Barrel Blended Canadian Whisky, at the LCBO.

66 Gilead's Loyalist Gin | $43.65 | 750 mL bottle
Cheekily named after the United Empire Loyalists who settled the part of Prince Edward County from where the booze is made, 66 Gilead's Loyalist Gin is an interesting spirit that probably would have helped take some of the sting out of losing the revolutionary war. It's likely a bit sweeter than you'd expect gin to be, owing to its whole wheat base and abundance of fresh juniper aromas, making it dangerously easy to drink. With an ingredient bill that reads like a historic account of what loyalist settlers might have used to make their booze, locavores will flip to learn that the juniper, aromatic hops, coriander, and lavender used to flavour this spirit are actually all grown on the distillers farm.

Dillon's The White Rye | $37.45 | 750 mL bottle
As is to be expected, when Beamsville distiller Dillon's decided to craft a 100% Rye whisky, they put it in barrels and began patiently waiting for that crucial three-year period to pass so that they might legally be allowed to sell it as whisky. However, they also opted to bottle some of that spirit right out of the still (watered down to a potable 40%) and the result is The White Rye, a peppery, brash, and interesting spirit with a je ne sais quois that Dillon's website elegantly calls an "eager friskiness." Unaged spirits can be something of an acquired taste, but this stuff is worth picking up to do some weird things to your favourite cocktails or even sip on its own to realize that drink you've called "rye" all these years probably doesn't deserve the moniker.

Still Waters Single Malt Vodka | $34.95 | 750 mL bottle
Despite what you might think you know about vodka and potatoes, the fact of the matter is that most commercially available vodka is actually made from grains and, typically, an assortment of them. Conversely, this award-winning vodka, made so that the guys at Still Waters could keep the lights on while they waited for their whisky to age, is made from 100% malted barley; thus the name "Single Malt Vodka." With hints of malt on the nose and a sort of subtle vanilla taste, this ain't your standard vodka -- and that's a good thing. Available only in limited supply at select LCBOs, it's worth the search.

Forty Creek's Barrel Select Whisky | $26.45 | 750 mL bottle and Forty Creek's Copper Pot Reserve Whisky | $26.45 | 750 mL bottle
Produced by distiller John Hall, a winemaker by trade, Forty Creek Distillery makes blended whiskies that help you to understand why blended whiskies are a good thing. Hall ages corn whisky, rye whisky, and barley whisky separately in oak barrels with different degrees of charring designed to maximize each grain's character. He then blends them all and ages them further in Kentucky bourbon barrels. The result is a great Canadian whisky that's got the richness of pecans, vanillas, and roasted nuts. For his Copper Pot Reserve Whisky, Hall followed the same process as above but chose the best of each grain whisky, and aged them each a little longer so they could develop more complexity from their respective oak barrels, then he bottled it at a slightly more potent ABV to give Copper Pot a little more oomph, to use a technical term.

Dillon's Unfiltered Gin 22 | $39.55 | 750 mL bottle
What differentiates gins from each other is, naturally, the selection of botanicals with which a distiller chooses to infuse their spirits. At Dillon's, the selection of 22 different botanicals that are infused in their grape-based Unfiltered Gin 22 is what sets this spirit apart from others on the shelf. Dillon's takes an approach to distilling that focuses on seasonal and local ingredients and the result of that philosophy is that this gin is remarkably smooth but full of complex flavour. It's a spirit that would be as well-suited to drinking straight from a jar while you hammer out a novel on an old typewriter as it would be to mixing with a splash of tonic to take to your daughter's soccer game in a hidden thermos (and, presumably, for myriad other less-weirdly-specific occasions, too).

66 Gilead's Canadian Pine Vodka | $38.95 | 750 mL bottle
If the folks at 66 Gilead had "re-distilled" this vodka using juniper berries, it would have become gin (because that's basically what gin is). But they didn't. Instead, they vapourized their redistilled whole-wheat vodka through fresh pine needles collected from their own farm and the result is an excellently fresh and -- well -- piney vodka. Clearly well-suited to holiday cocktails that include red fruits, this one will serve you well at your next holiday party since you can talk about the unique pine vodka until you drink enough of it to stop caring about making conversation.

Toronto Distillery Company's Organic Ontario Wheat Spirit | $39.50 | 750 mL bottle
It would probably be easiest to describe this as simply "unaged whisky," but that would be doing it a disservice. Indeed, whether you call it moonshine or white lightning or new make, the "Organic Wheat Spirit" from Toronto Distillery Co. is more than simply a means to a future-barrel-aged-spirit. The company has made no mention of barrel-aging and instead is focusing on bringing a certified-organic spirit to LCBO shelves that highlights the qualities of Ontario grain. In an industry where there's not a lot of rules about advertising what goes into the finished product, this bottle is unique in that you can literally read about its entire story from grain to glass.

66 Gilead's Whole Wheat Vodka | $37.30 | 750 mL bottle
Here's the thing about the vodka you usually drink: it sucks. Vodka, by definition, is a tasteless spirit that's essentially the base for all the other, tasty spirits. To make "good" vodka, you basically just keep distilling that base booze until you get as close to pure ethanol as possible. When "premium" vodka makers brag about how many times they've filtered their booze, they're really bragging about how much it tastes like water. And water, I think we can agree, is not something that we alcohol enthusiasts want to waste our time with. That's why 66 Gilead's vodka is worth checking out. It's made with local organic wheat (though they'd like to remind you it's not certified organic because that's really expensive) and so the flavour is reminiscent of something like baked goods with soft vanilla undertones.

If you're chugging before your high school dance, by all means stick with the usual vodka, but if you enjoy interesting flavours, trade in the water for something local and interesting, i.e. this.

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

There's a new all purpose cafe, restaurant and bar open at the corner of College and Borden that's serving up casual daytime fare and seasonally driven dinner menus. To start, the eatery plans to get the kitchen offerings just right, though in the new year expect to find ambitious programming that'll promote the arts and social activism.

Read my profile of Wind Up Bird Cafe in the restaurants section.

The first time Nelson Mandela stepped into the heat of a Toronto summer it was from the doors of a Canadair Cosmopolitan on the tarmac of Lester B. Pearson International Airport. It was June 19, 1990, and the anti-apartheid leader, released from prison only months earlier, had come to thank the people of Toronto for their support.

30,000 people packed University Ave. and Nathan Phillips Square to hear the 71-year-old leader of the African National Congress party, still fragile from 27 years of incarceration, address the city. Security was tight, as if for a royal visit, but this occasion had a different feel.

As Walter Stefaniuk wrote in the Toronto Star: "Mandela is a black man and a black or coloured person cannot lead an apartheid nation, or aspire to a state in life another human being may have as a political birthright."

He would become an honorary citizen of Toronto before he could legally be elected South Africa's first black president, but the barriers to his historic term of office were beginning to tumble.

Apartheid's racist laws permeated every part of life in South Africa in 1990. Blacks were not allowed to live in the same neighbourhood as whites, were not allowed to travel within the country without a passbook, and were not allowed to use beaches or park benches in the land of their birth, to name just a few of the countless restrictions.

Mandela had spent 27 years in an island prison, handed a life sentence for sabotage and conspiracy over his over his party's plans for a new model of government in South Africa, one not centred on division and hatred. He was released after years of mounting international pressure and trade boycotts on 11 Feb., 1990 before an international TV audience of millions.

In Toronto that summer, Mandela had been scheduled to speak at Nathan Phillips Square but was too tired from a hectic travel schedule. When he did address the public, it was from a stage on the front lawn of the Queen's Park legislature.

"We thank you for refusing to forget us," he said. "We thank you for your tireless support. It is remarkable that so many of you could give up so much of your time to help the people separated from you by thousands of miles. Thank you for that commitment and dedication. It reached all of us. We are on the threshold of major changes in South Africa."

His closing words were almost drowned out by chants of "Mandela, Mandela, Mandela." In Ottawa, he urged parliament and the people of Canada to "walk the last mile" with him on the road to democracy. Four years later he was elected president in the country's first ever multiracial vote.

When South Africa's outgoing president returned in September 1998 it was to collect an honorary companion of the Order of Canada, Canada's highest award. He had been South Africa's head of state for four years, leading the country out of apartheid and through a difficult process of healing.

"I humbly accept it as an expression of the deep bonds between the Canadian and South African peoples, based on our shared commitment to common values," he told a rapt audience at Rideau Hall in Ottawa. "I thank you from the bottom of my heart."

As newspapers reported, Mandela, 80, appeared physically frail. He wore hearing aids and was helped from the lectern by prime minister Jean Chrétien. Flash photography was prohibited due to problems with his eyesight but his distinctive voice was clear and unwavering.

The official Canadian visit - his last in office - culminated in a packed mass rally at the SkyDome where Mandela was to announce the formation of the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund (Canada,) a local chapter of an international charity focused on children and youth.

40,000 eager students crowded the ball park to hear the international icon speak but likely few were as excited as 9-year-old Alon Meyer of Thornhill.

Born in South Africa, Alon was just a baby from an ordinary white family when he was suddenly thrust into the arms of newly released Nelson Mandela by his mother during a media event. The resulting photograph was carried in newspapers around the world and dubbed the "Hug of Hope."

"This is the picture of tenderness that explodes the myth spread by South Africa's apartheid rulers," wrote Britain's Daily Mirror. Alon was among the electric crowd at the SkyDome and said he planned to reach out and touch the man with whom he had shared an iconic photograph.

After Mandela's speech, in which he called Canada a "home from home," the first check for his new fund - $72.46 - awaited from the kids at Park Public School on Shuter Street, the oldest educational institution in Toronto still on its present site.

Mandela last visited Toronto in 2001, taking special time to repay the generosity of the Regent Park kids. In a visit to the school, he spoke powerfully of his affection for the students. "I love each and every one of you. Not as my child, not even as my grandchildren, but as our great grandchildren ... I love you from the bottom of my heart."

In return, Park Public School became Nelson Mandela Park Public School.

Ryerson celebrated the man known as "Tata" (Xhosa for "father") in his home nation, with an honorary degree, but there was one last gift from the people of Canada. In a simple ceremony at the Museum of Civilization on the banks of the Ottawa River, Jean Chrétien handed Mandela a certificate, the first of its kind issued to a living person.

South Africa's anti-apartheid leader, an icon and inspiration for millions, had become an honorary Canadian citizen.

"You have honoured me beyond anything I might have deserved," he said. "I thank you."

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

Popify is live in Kensington Market now until Sunday, so if you're enjoying the nice-ish weather and cruising down Augusta, lookout for the temporary storefront. Walking into A Homerun, you'll find an array of colourful, high quality swag lining the tables, shelves, and walls between the bare wood floor and exposed ceiling beams - plus a lot of screens. This store isn't just an IRL experience, after all - it's also an online store. With free shipping. Here's a further look inside Popify.

That cliched old line about finding a gift for someone who has everything actually gets more apt each year, as online shopping bridges the canyon between what people want and what they can get their hands on, delivery droids or no delivery droids. To this overwhelming access to goods comes the specialty pop-up shop in answer. Curated to avoid the stress of endless selection by experts in the fields of trending high tech gadgetry, Popify aims to beat the internet at its own game.

Perusing the storefront of unique items, you might not know what some are. Colourful toy robots sitting on cubes can be manipulated to become these cubes. Coffee bean paper weights contain high tech heating and cooling powers. An axe mounted on the wall is - well, just an axe, but if you're planning to spend the winter in the woods it's a tempting goodie.

While the shop caters to lovers of techie luxury goods rather than the rustic vintage crowd, campers and woodsy-folks are well represented at Popify, from a kayak (all aboard! Heh, just kidding) to a sleeping bag that becomes a cozy lounge jacket. The weather might feel a little nippy right now for camping (or kayaking) but some shiny new gear for the outdoors might help remind you or your loved one that summer's on its way. In the meantime, you can grab one of the Toronto neighbourhood toques (Queen West, Kensington, etc) to keep your head cozy warm.

I already knew about Joulies, stainless steal beans that find and maintain heat levels in your coffee, but I was surprised by their size and light weight. Luckily Popify is a hands-on affair, but a helpful staff member took it upon himself to explain - lest I assume they were paperweights. I asked if he thought they could be ingest-able - purposefully - because, like so many grandmothers, I get terrible chills. He chuckled that they'd make for a tough swallow but I might just be onto something, though I think at heart he likely believed I, like our Mayor, was just on something. I guess I'll stick to fighting chills with cold meds for now.

Had I decided on Joulies and/or a kayak, I could have ordered both while in the shop, and received free shipping to my apartment - meaning I wouldn't be the one lugging the kayak on the TTC (at least not until summer - look out, Sunnyside Beach). The friendly (and joke obliging) staff can help you get set up.

At Popify you'll also find fine linens, jewelry, poster art, more toys, a wireless music player, iPad cases bound like books, and a few more random finds. You can get a preview on the Popify website, but it might be better to stop by this weekend and have a hot cup at coffee bar from Sense Appeal Coffee Roasters while trying on Annex toques, grabbing food truck eats, and having a good time. That's right, online holiday shopping doesn't have to be lonely.

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

Photos by Andrew Williamson

The Best Eggs Benedict in Toronto are a pleasure to dig into, guaranteed to be oozing with golden yolks, and doused in lusciously buttery hollandaise. While the iconic recipe calls for a base of English muffins and peameal bacon, this list showcases compelling variations made with smoked meats, fish or veggies and served on top of croissants, baguettes and even donuts.

Here are the best Eggs Benedict in Toronto.

See also:

The Best Brunch in Toronto
The Best All Day Breakfast in Toronto
The Best Breakfast Sandwich in Toronto
The Best Pancakes in Toronto
The Best French Toast in Toronto

Weekend events in Toronto is our guide to events happening this Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Here's what's happening in Toronto this Dec 6-8, 2013.

One Of A Kind Christmas Show & Sale
Sunday is your last chance to stop by the One of a Kind show. OOAK is like a craft fair mall experience (so, way nicer). Over 800 Canadian artisans from each and every province are showing and selling handmade gifts at the Direct Energy Centre until Dec 8. Caffeine up and power through this one, and you might just win the holidays. There will be a gift wrapping centre and, to keep this extra Canadian, daily figure skating performances. Check out our gallery of gift-worthy items here. Direct Energy Centre, (100 Princes' Blvd), Until Sunday, December 8, 10am - 9pm (Sunday 10am - 6pm). $12 adults, $7 seniors & students, kids free.

POP-UP

Popify
Popify has officially launched in Kensington Market. The space is part pop-up shop part gallery, part hands-on storefront, part party 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. Read our preview of what you'll find at the Popify storefront here. Until Sunday December 8, 11 am - 7pm, Homerun (165 Augusta Ave), free.

Nathalie-Roze Holiday Pop-Up
A yurt is a "a portable, bent dwelling structure" aka a Mongolian tent, and this weekend you can visit the very ornate, dainty, and best of all heated yurt structure in Leslieville (it looks like this) to hunt for vintage clothing and craftware including jewellery, accessories, cards & prints, honey-soap, vintage dresses, upcycled toques, and more. Promoters promise most items will be under $50 - good news for your walley .You can also grab some brews at adjacent pub Céilí Cottage. Saturday, December 7 - Sunday, December 8, Ceili Cottage - Yurt (1301 Queen St. East), 11am - 4pm.

GLDSTK Standard Holiday Pop-Up Market
This fashionista-friendly pop-up market is back at 109OZ. You'll have three days to hit up the 2nd floor of 109 Ossington for Fall/Winter 2012 garments and accessories from Gouldscttock Standard Supply Co. / Estate Family Guilds. Stock is limited, so if you there's something you've got your eye on here's your warning. 109OZ (109 Ossington, second floor), December 7 - December 9, 5pm - 9 pm Friday, 10am - 9 pm Saturday, 11am - 6pm Sunday.

FOOD

Lunch at The Slow Room
Craving Italian? The Slow Room will host Bestia foodtruck on Saturday, for a pop-up lunch starting at 11:30am. Bestia is Toronto's first truck with an on-board, wood burning oven. The all-black roaming Italian kitchen is beast when it comes to serving up personal sized, Naples-style pizzas along with rustic roasted meat sandwiches, salads and sweet specialties. The sandwich on special this weekend will be braised short ribs, Italian slaw and a bomba horseradish aioli. The Slow Room (874 College Street), Saturday, December 7th, 11:30-2:30pm.

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

ART

Photorama
This is your last chance to see Photorama 2013. 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 will feature over 80 artists including Edward Burtynsky, Sara Angelucci, Toni Hafkenscheid, Robert Burley, Diana Thorneycroft, Annie MacDonell, Carole Condé, and Karl Beveridge. You can hit up the artist run centre's opening party tonight, or stop by during the gallery hours. Gallery TPW (1256 Dundas Street West), Until - Saturday, December 7, Noon - 6 pm, free.

The Great Upheaval: Masterpieces from the Guggenheim Collection, 1910-1918
Selected masterpieces from the Guggenheim are now on display at the AGO. While the idea of a collection of World War One era abstract artworks may seem a dour contrast to the flamboyant David Bowie exhibit that just closed upstairs, the bold and symbolic, often psychedelic avant-garde works exploring the emotional turmoil of the age actually carry on the torch of colourful stimulation surprisingly well. See your old pals Picasso, Kandinsky, Matisse, Duchamp, Ernst, and many more all together in a room. No drama. Check out highlights from the exhibit here. Art Gallery of Ontario (317 Dundas Street West), Until March 2, 2014, 10am - 5:30pm, $25.

MUSIC

Healing Power Bazaar
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 tarot readings, 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. Friday, December 6, Tranzac (292 Brunswick Ave), 1pm-8pm + 10pm-late.

Blackalicious

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." Adelaide Hall (250 Adelaide Street ), Saturday December 7, 9pm, $25.

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

THEATRE

Parfumerie / Soulpepper
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. Young Centre (50 Tank House Ln), December 3 - 28, 7:30pm/1:30pm / $51-$8.

For more events on stage, check out our This Month in Theatre post.

COMEDY

Superstars of Comedy
Never heard of K. Trev? When Louis CK did JFL42 last year, he asked K. Trev, who was opening for him in the sold-out Sony Centre, to perform his Christmas mass joke. That's right: Louis CK remembered one of K. Trev's jokes, and asked him to do it in front of 3,000 of his most loyal fans. So yeah, K. Trev's a monster. I'd recommend also paying close attention to Ryan Horwood. The first time I saw him live, he had me laughing so hard that I couldn't even hear his follow-up punchlines! Saturday, December 7, Comedy Bar (945 Bloor W), 9:30pm, $10.

Monkey Toast
The show that's one part talk show, one part improv, is back again with a doozie of a guest. Andrew Coyne, currently writing for the National Post, has had his works published by The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and Time freakin' Magazine. So yeah, you're pretty much guaranteed to witness a spellbinding chat between Andrew and your host, Ron Tite. Who's Ron? Well, not too long ago, he was named one of the Top 10 Creative Canadians by Marketing Magazine. To give you an idea of the format of the show, Ron will interview his guests for 7-8 minutes, and then an improv troupe consisting of some of Canada's best players will act out a scene from the conversation. It's truly something magical to see live. Saturday, December 7, Comedy Bar (945 Bloor W), 8pm/10pm, $10.

For more comedy events, check out our This Month in Comedy post.

FASHION

Annex Flea
The Annex Flea will take over The Centre for Social Innovation this Sunday for the very first time. Echoing the Junction, Parkdale, Gladstone, and Leslieville Flea, this new Annex market will see small vendors hosting carefully curated handmade wares and vintage items. Shoppers will find snacks, artwork, and hand-mades crafted with local materials from Avani Creations, Parade Vintage, Son of A Woodcutter, Foodbenders, Province Apothecary, Zazou Bisou, Sprouts Press, Eli's Body Shop, FoldIt Creations, and many more. See the full vendor list here. Sunday, December 8, The Centre for Social Innovation (720 Bathurst Street), 10am - 5pm.

18 Waits Pop-Up Store
If you're still in need of a gift for a pal of the more masculine persuasion in your life, 18 Waits has your back. From tonight until next Wednesday (December 11), shop their utilitarian menswear from past and current seasons at 134 Ossington Avenue. Otherwise, you can find them at Future of Frances Watson (1390 Queen St W), Gerhard Supply (2949 Dundas St W), and Uncle Otis (26 Bellair St) all year 'round. December 5th to December 11th, 134 Ossington Avenue.

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

CRAFTS

Bit Bazaar Winter Market
Presented in part by TCAF, this might be the coolest holiday craft event of the season. Bit Bazaar will "celebrate the art and craft of indie games, web comics, and good food" — all of those things are pretty great, right? Exhibitors include indie game creators, arcades, comic artists, zine makers photographers, and chefs (there will be pie). It's like Christmas for nerds. Read our preview here. See you there. Bento Miso (862 Richmond St W), Friday, December 6, 7pm (RSVP), Saturday, December 7, 11am - 7pm.

Toronto Young Designers Holiday 2013
Glad to see this one is back! The 4th annual toronto young designers holiday sale will host nineteen local vendors at Brassaii on King West this year. Look for jewellery, home decor, paper goods, baby gifts, clothing, tote bags, art, furniture and beauty supplies. There will be gift wrapping on site. So, why shop till you drop when you can shop til you... brunch? Saturday December 7, 10am - 3pm, Brassaii (461 King Street West), free.

For more holiday craft and art sale events, check out our Holiday craft shows in Toronto for 2013 and 5 holiday art sales in Toronto for December 2013 posts.

SCIENCE

AstraZeneca Human Edge
The Science Centre's first new permanent exhibition in seven years opens this weekend. It features some pretty cool skeletons and a photo-aging machine that more or less works. Warning to parents of kids with body issues: for a collection that prides itself on being a lasting exhibit, it's pretty sad (and possibly traumatizing) to see an entire section that uses body shaming language and science that is already becoming dated like BMI calculations and calorie counting. Still, there's a climbing wall and a tarantula, so if your kids are already bored of the aquarium and you need to take them somewhere indoors this is an option. Ontario Science Centre (770 Don Mills Road), $13 - $22.

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

One of a Kind photo by Jesse Milnes, Photorama photo is by Joe Lepiano, Bit Bazaar photo via flickr