Just when you thought Rob Ford had slipped off the radar of the late night talk show hosts, Jimmy Kimmel reminds us that, if nothing else, our mayor remains the most excellent fodder for comedy. Case in point: the way this guy gives out candy at parades, something you'd think would be tough to screw up. Have you ever seen how he does this? He doesn't hand the candy out so much as throw or dump it on the ground beside the kids. As Kimmel says, "it's as though he's feeding pigeons or something." Bingo!

The clip, which aired Monday before eventually making its way online, also features an overdubbed Rob Ford playing the part of the evil mayor (Burgermeister) of Sombertown in the Christmas classic Santa Claus Is Coming to Town. Have a watch.

On last night's show, Kimmel was back on the subject of Ford, this time to thank him for all the wonderful material he's provided talk show hosts this year. By way of gratitude, he offered this 12 Days of Rob Ford clip.

Editor's note: the first clip was removed from YouTube. We have replaced it with a new one, but it doesn't contain the first part of the monologue.

The best health food stores in Toronto underscore that it's time we retire the notion that such shops are the stomping ground of rich hippies and granola do-gooders, and fess up to the reality that these stores are an integral part of how Torontonians feed themselves and make themselves well, in mind, body and spirit.

Rarely does one store have it all: some focus on fresh, local produce, building relationships with suppliers and the community, some are mostly vitamin and supplement dispensaries with highly trained practitioners as staff, and some began as centres to buy bulk staples, lowering costs and packaging for customers. But increasingly, as we demand more local, environmental, democratic and sustainable food options, and look for non-traditional therapies and alternative remedies, these health stores grow and change with us.

Here are the best health food stores in Toronto.

See also:

The best gourmet grocery stores in Toronto
The best fruit & vegetable stores in Toronto
The top 10 organic food delivery options in Toronto

Photo by Neil Ta in the blogTO Flickr pool.

Toronto events on December 12th, 2013

ART | Group Glen
Group Glen is a show of collaborative works organized by Canadian cartoonist Marc Bell, represented by the Adam Baumgold Gallery in New York City and Cooper Cole in Toronto. This will be the place to be if you're one to nerd out for comic art and illustration, and if you haven't checked out Weird Things' gallery yet, this would be a good time. The opening will also be a launch for ARBEITEES, a new book by Rupert Bottenberg and Marc Bell. Their first (and only proceeding) book was released in "1996 or so." The show runs from December 12th til January 15th. Weird Things, 998 Bathurst St, 7pm.

MUSIC | Teenanger & Soupcans in-store at Sonic Boom
Sonic Boom will host local noisy punks Teenanger & Soupcans at their Kensington location tonight for free. Get their early to get a good spot (and do some holiday shopping). All they ask is you bring a donation for Ft. York Food Bank and some cashola for Telephone Explosion LPs, 7"s and cassettes (which will all be on sale - score!) Sonic Boom Kensington, 201 Augusta Avenue, 7pm, free with non-perishable food item.

PARTY | Gothmas Fundraiser
Do you wish black nail polish and the holidays got together a little more often? Do you miss those two months in 2010 when witchhouse was a Last.fm group with 666 members? Well the Whippersnapper Gallery is throwing a party for you, my friends. They want you to wear all black (no ugly Rob Ford sweaters here) and party with their DJs at The Henhouse before you fly home to your cozy little family dinners. Proceeds go the the gallery. Dress in all black including nail polish and lipstick and enter for $4.50. Henhouse 1532 Dundas St. West, 9pm, $4.50 or $5-$10.

THEATRE | Weather the Weather
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. Evergreen Brick Works, Dec. 6-30, 8:00pm/5:00pm, $12.50-$32.

MUSIC | Wired City Music Festival
In what could either be a fun way to spend a Thursday or an overambitious head scratcher, a team of Radio and Television Arts students at Ryerson are throwing the Wired City Music Fest. 5 bands will play 3 venues throughout the city - Bruce Peninsula, ColinResponse, KC Roberts & The Live Revolution, Union Duke, and Long Range Hustle will play gigs at Adelaide Hall, Measure and Ryerson University. Every performance will stream live at each location. In a city where 5 band bills for local shows are common, I'm actually not sure if this project is ambitious enough, but the concept (and investigating the question of whether or not they can pull it off) could be fun. Various venues, PWYC/$10/$15

Also Of Note

• Whisky 101
• Moon King
• 401 Artisans Marketplace

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

Marc Bell by Owens Art Gallery

1 Yorkville Condos and its towering height shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone familiar with the current state of development in the area. This former village and home to Toronto's bohemian community in the 1960s has long since gone the way of big money, and now finds itself home to some of the city's priciest homes, retail, and dining. This 610 ft addition is getting all dressed up to join in on the truckload of other skyscraping projects underway in this upscale enclave.

This massive building clad in distinctive metal fins will rise 58 storeys at the corner of Yonge and Yorkville just above and next to the soon to be fully restored Yorkville village buildings, which were first built in the 1860s. According to the architect, the metal fins and cladding will change in appearance depending on the time of day and weather patterns or even what position you gaze at the building from.

Of the 58 storeys, three of them will be dedicated exclusively to amenities: a floor each for a spa, a fitness centre, and an indoor/outdoor rooftop level for entertainment. Also on tap are various guest suites, a hot tub, a pilates room, a dance studio, juice bar, steam room, sauna, hot and cold plunge pools, a movie theatre, 24 hr concierge, guest parking, and a rooftop pool with cabanas. The building will house no less than a small town of new residents in its whopping 577 units. Future "Yorkvillers" can choose from anything from one to three bedrooms, all with fairly standard 9ft ceilings throughout.

SPECS

Address: 1 Yorkville Ave
Storeys: 58
Height: 610 ft
Number of Units: 577
Types of Units: 1 - 3 beds
Ceiling Height: 9 ft
Amenities: pool, 24 hr concierge, party room, guest parking, guest suites, roof deck, movie theatre, spa level, fitness level, entertainment level
Architect: Rosario Varacalli, ERA
Developer: Plaza, Bazis
Landscape Architect: NAK Design Group
Interior Designer: The Design Group
Walkscore: 100

THE GOOD

Is it worth putting up a building purely because of its architectural benefits? That's the discussion being had with a few projects around the city right now, principally the Mirvish/Gehry proposal. And although the same discussion will inevitably happen here, this place does have a few nice additions that will probably make it an easier sell, specifically the historic preservation at ground level, which Mirvish/Gehry lacks.

So far there aren't really a ton of details about what to expect from the inside of these units but as most city dwellers know, a great location can justify all sorts of situations (I'm talking to you "can't quite stand up in your attic apartment" guy!). This place earns a perfect walkscore and that's nothing to scoff at. With two subway lines just steps away, a fairly vibrant street scene, the Reference Library, the ROM, and even a decent amount of wide sidewalks, this area is a great one for the car-less among us. The project will even add a new 25 ft wide pedestrian walkway connecting Yorkville and Cumberland streets.

THE BAD

1 Yorkville or its future nickname "the bane of window washers" is an undeniably good looking tower from the outside. On the other hand, the interiors views we have seen so far have been less than revealing. What the metal fins will look like from the inside is anybody's guess. The possibility that you might feel like you've been snared in a net above the city seems high. Or at the very least, the sheer number of high-rise proposals on this block will make for some crowded views.

Luxurious amenities are nice when warranted. But in a neighbourhood overflowing with things to do for those with a bit of extra pocket change, three entire floors of amenities seem a bit excessive even with the number of new residents. The benefits local businesses might expect from thousands of new residents will certainly be dulled when people paying maintenance fees to keep these spaces up would rather not pay twice for their fun. It seems developers are giving new residents less and less reason to go out and interact with the communities, ones they are changing so much.

THE VERDICT

The developers say this place will be like living at a "six star" hotel. Apparently my impression that five stars is the pinnacle of luxury is decidedly unfounded. There are even hotels/resorts going under the six star rating. So, since these ratings seem to be entirely arbitrary and a lot of times made up by the developer, I will be removing a star from my final (arbitrary) rating. So... really great looking building and location, excessive amenities, but another luxury tower isn't doing anyone any favours -- the neighbourhood needs more diversity not just in appearance. 4/6 stars!

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

Ontario cider has for a long time been something like a best kept secret among those among us who, for whatever reason, can't drink beer. Lately however, word seems to be getting out that the province's cold climate helps grow highly-acidic apples perfectly-suited to cider and so there's been something of a mini-boom in local craft cider.

The result is that the secret is finally out, great craft ciders are flooding the shelves, and Ontario's cider market now has something for everyone--even those without celiac, crohn's, colitis, or a propensity for unnecessarily following fad diets.

Here are 10 excellent and local ciders to help you get started understanding this unfairly long-neglected beverage.

Waupoos Cider from the County Cider Company
Operating since 1995, The County Cider Company makes a variety of hard cider products, but their Waupoos Cider--a crisp, semi-sweet, cider--is a reliable choice that won't steer you wrong. Don't let the vaguely cheesy plastic one-litre bottles in the LCBO fool you, this is a nice, well-balanced little beverage.

West Avenue Cider Heritage Dry
The flagship offering from the brand new, husband-and wife-team of Chris Haworth and Amy Robson, Heritage Dry is crisp but fruity, acidic, but balanced--generally quite impressive. More importantly though, it's a strong first offering from a company with some lofty goals. When I met Haworth, who's trained as a chef, he talked of pitching a cider with koji, an upcoming tap-takeover at Bar Isabel, and told me about a bourbon-barrel-aged cider that is out this month. Installed on tap at beer bars like Bar Hop, Bellwoods Brewery, barVolo (and a lot more), West Avenue seems poised to be one of the companies leading Ontario's craft cider renaissance and teaching beer nerds that it's OK to like cider.

County Cider from the County Cider Company
The namesake cider from the family owned County Cider Company & Estate Winery is a fresh and crisp, dry, sparkling cider. For my money and my puckery palate this is far tastier than their perhaps more well-known Waupoos Cider. In addition to their tasting room and store, you can find this in bars, restaurants, and LCBOs.

66 Pickup from Hoity Toity Cellars
Hoity toity makes not only cider, but also wine from Bruce County cold climate grapes--but don't let their name fool you, their vibe is decidedly laid-back and and their products are wholly approachable. 66 Pickup is made from apples grown in the Bruce & Grey Counties and is an off-dry and lightly carbonated cider. It's not too sweet and, with a gold medal from the 2013 Great Lakes International Cider & Perry Competition in Grand Rapids, Michigan, it's a proven crowd-pleaser. You can find it in a handful of pubs and bars or you can buy it from their onsite store or online.

Spirit Tree Cider's Draught Cider
Cellar-aged for four to six months, Spirit Tree's Draught Cider has unique straw and grass aromas on top of the apples, semi-sweet taste and a sparklingly clean, crisp finish. You can usually find it on tap in decent bars as well as in the LCBO, but with an onsite bakery, kitchen, and farm store, Spirit Tree is more than worth the visit to Caledon, Ontario to pick some cider up right from the farm.

Pommies Dry Cider
Made from Ida Red, Northern Spy, Gala, Empire, and Russets apples, this is a light, refreshing, fairly-sweet and easy to drink cider. Despite what they name says, this cider actually isn't all that dry. I'd actually recommend it to those who prefer a sweet cider or those who don't want too intense a flavour. If there were such a thing as an "entry-level cider," I think this would be it.

Sir Isaacs from Puddicombe Cider Company
There's something inherently interesting in a beverage named for a Canadian Major General who once captured Detroit (back when it was worth capturing, that is), but that's not all this pear cider has to offer. The flavours and aromas here are all subtle pear. It's a clean and somewhat muted beverage--you won't get too much sweetness here--but the pear flavour finishes with a noticeable but not unpleasant bitterness. Very nice, and available in bars and in the LCBO.

Sweet Tux from Hoity Toity Cellars
For those who like their cider a little sweeter and a little less acidic, Sweet Tux is Hoity Toity's "refreshing but bold" pear cider. This is a unique offering from a company with some equally unique ways of doing business--including employing sheep to remove the lower leaves on their grapevines to increase air circulation and light to the fruit. I know that doesn't have anything to do with this cider, but I had to find a way to work that cool fact in. Work sheep!

Thornbury Premium Apple Cider
There's something a little unromantic about Thornbury Cider given that it was launched in 2011 with the expressed purpose of gaining a foothold in the lucrative cider market in Ontario, but there's no denying it's a tasty beverage nonetheless. The product of an acquisition by alcohol distributor Beer Barons, the goal of the people behind Thornbury Cider was to create an easy-to-drink, English-style cider--and they've done that quite well. Thornbury Cider is pressed entirely from apples grown in the area of Thornbury, Ontario and is a nice, dry cider with plenty of carbonation, and a bit of tartness that's balanced by a subtle sweetness. You can buy it on tap and in the LCBO.

Spirit Tree's Apelager Cider
Potentially a little offputting to cider fans owing to its hazy, unfiltered appearance, don't pass this one up. Winner of a Silver at the 2013 Great Lakes International Cider & Perry Competition, this cider, made with Lager yeast, has a complex taste that belies its 3% ABV. Well-suited to a place that makes both bread and cider, the takeaway aromas and taste here are yeast and apples. An excellent rustic cider available on draught and in bottles in bars (as well as at the farm in Caledon).

Got a favourite Ontario cider? Why not share it in the comments below? There's a growing number of local cider options out there, as evidenced by the creation of the Ontario Craft Cider Association.

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

The crop of restaurants participating in Winterlicious 2014 has been announced in anticipation of the January 31st start date of this year's prix fixe festival (and the opening of reservations on January 16th). While the list as a whole won't get anyone jumping out of their socks, it's by no means a bad year for the festival. Perennial favourites like Canoe and North 44 once again grace the list (not to mention other established restaurants like Splendido, Mistura, and Celestin), but there's also a small selection of newer restaurants that appear this year, including Momofuku Daisho the Noodle Bar, Bent, Cafe Boulud, and Origin North.

Also of note is that tickets for the Culinary Events series go on sale today (yes, today). These tend to be on the pricey side to my mind, but they will absolutely appeal to the self-declared foodie looking to rub shoulders with Toronto chefs or to have an immersive culinary experience. We'll have more on Winterlicious as the opening of reservations nears.

Lead photo from our review of Momofuku Noodle Bar

Drivers in the Toronto and Hamilton area should be asked to pay more at the pump to help fund new public transit, a report by a government-appointed panel due to be released today recommends. The province should increase the gas tax by 5 cents per litre to pay for new transit in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton area, it says.

The hike in the current 14.7 cent per litre gas tax on unleaded fuel, which the report notes hasn't been raised in more than 20 years, would deliver around $800 million a year plus another $80 million through extra HST.

The report comes from a 13-member panel chaired by Ryerson University's Anne Golden that was tasked with finding ways to generate the roughly $2 billion needed every year for transit in Ontario.

In addition to the gas tax increase, the province should also collect taxes from corporations and developers that benefit from improved transportation infrastructure. The money raised from the proposed hike and other sources would be placed in a dedicated transit account and used as leverage to borrow additional money.

The additional tax would not be applied outside the GTHA.

The long-awaited Yonge relief line (don't call it the Downtown Relief Line) is one of the projects that would benefit from the new funding, which would be put towards the next phase of Big Move projects.

Earlier this year a separate report from Metrolinx backed a gas tax, a business parking levy, and an increase in development charges and HST.

The report will be presented to Premier Kathleen Wynne, who will decide how to proceed.

Is this a fair way of raising money for new transit? How do you expect the report will be received? Does a gas tax increase unfairly target drivers?

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

This cozy new tavern offers a casual spot for lunch, dinner and weekend brunches. The menu channels classic American cuisine along with familiar favourites like all-day breakfasts and Sunday night roasts.

Read my profile of Brooklyn Tavern in the restaurants section.

We've seen some pretty out there animations of Rob Ford since the crack controversy broke earlier this year, from wacky Taiwanese takes on the mayor's popularity rating to late night talk shows riffing on holiday classics. But this new clip from Next Media Animation surely takes the cake for creepy factor.

Less funny than it is chilling and bizarre, the narrative follows Ford through a failed re-election attempt, divorce, and ultimately his death (I won't reveal how that happens, but you can probably guess). Although I wouldn't call it realistic, the clip makes one uncomfortable precisely because at least some of it is imaginable. Is it tasteful? Not in the slightest. Does it cross a line? Probably. And yet it's hard to stop watching after you've hit play.

Toronto themed holiday gifts are catching on more and more each year, even amidst scandals at City Hall, TTC fare hikes, and winter ennui. That said, some people may never forgive you for a poster forever reminding one of subway delays, widely available Rob Ford themed gifts might not be funny when he's still the Mayor in 20__ (knock on woodgrain), and you can't buy a city streetsign yet without talking to some resourceful teenagers or scouring sketchy antique shops.

Here are 5 less anxiety inducing Toronto themed gifts, at least some of which should please even those who treat civic pride with a healthy dose of suspicion.

City of Neighbourhoods toques
If you missed these at our Popify shop, Toronto designer Lyndsay Borschke at Tuck Shop Trading Co's City of Neighbourhoods' toque collection allows you to show off some hyper-local Toronto pride, and keep your head toasty at the same time. The 100% acrylic hats sport the names of 14 different neighbourhoods like High Park, the Beaches, and the Annex. Hopefully next year someone makes "Condos pushed me out of West Queen West" pride hats, but until then you can grab these for $35 each online, or at the ToronTOpia pop up shop until Dec 22.

Mathew Borrett's A Future Toronto?
If you somehow haven't seen this on social media or at the ToronTOpia pop up shop yet, take a closer look now - Borrett's illustration is a spell binding view of a Toronto ravaged by time, and maybe some disaster (and pirates?), though the lush greenery is more beautiful than fearsome. Made for the 10th anniversary edition of Spacing Magazine, the print is available for $150 at the ToronTOpia pop up shop - only a few are left - or you can place orders on Borrett's website for a larger signed print of the scene either during day or night ($200).

Casey VonEsteban's wood embroidery
Pictured is Casey VonEsteban's "Toronto Streetcar" hand-embroidery on wood piece, showing that old rascal the 501 ($145US), but in her shop you'll also find a cute map of The Junction ($121) in the same style. Not feeling The Junction? She can also do any neighbourhood you chose for $170. Browsing further in her shop, this portly raccoon embroidered on aluminum ($97) would make a few of my Toronto pals very happy - and a few others (let's call them "homeowners") very mad at me.

Stamen Design's Watercolour Toronto map
We've posted about a lot of Toronto maps over the years, from the quirky to the historical, but few are as, well, pretty as these watercolour-like prints from Stamen Design, a studio located in San Francisco. So, no, these aren't a local offering, but they're readily available in a variety of sizes (and cities) at online art gallery 20x200. These are loosely based on an interactive map project by the company, which incorporates Flickr shapefiles, Natural Earth and the OpenStreetMap project. They start at $24 for an 8x10 version and go up from there (the popular 11x14 size is $60).

Liz Worth's PostApoc
Continuing with the doomsday-in-TO theme is this new book by Toronto author Liz Worth, writer of Treat Me Like Dirt: An Oral History of Punk in Toronto and Beyond which documented the 1977 Toronto punk scene - not a bad Toronto themed gift itself, actually. In PostApoc Toronto is never named directly, but there are enough hints to make it obvious where this book takes place. The story follows Ang's experience with an "underground music scene obsessed with the idea of the end of the world" and what happens when the apocalypse finally arrives. You can buy it from her website for $19.95.

More Toronto-centric gift guides and ideas

• 10 TTC gifts for the transit fanatic on your holiday list
• 5 Toronto gifts at the ToronTOpia pop up shop
• The best and worst of Rob Ford merch
• 5 quirky maps for the Toronto-lover on your list
• The top 5 books about the Toronto music scene

Toronto Star reporter Daniel Dale has served Rob Ford with notice of libel for comments the Mayor made that suggested Dale might be a pedophile. "I am also serving Vision TV, which twice broadcast Ford's vile and defamatory remarks to Conrad Black even though their interview was filmed days before it aired," he writes in an article published on his paper's website. Although Dale had previously been torn about proceeding with legal action, he claims today that "enough's enough."

Dale explains that Ford's refusal to back down from his claims pushed the reporter over the edge. "I'm asking Ford to immediately retract the false insinuation that I am a pedophile and all of his false statements about my conduct on May 2, 2012," Dale explains. "I'm also asking Ford and Vision owner ZoomerMedia to apologize immediately "publicly, abjectly, unreservedly and completely."

So, Dale has given the Mayor an out. All he needs to do is apologize to make this suit go away. Will he?

Photo by Sean Robichaud in the blogTO Flickr pool.

Doug Ford has said sorry if he offended anyone by handing out $20 bills in a Toronto Community Housing building earlier this week. "If I offended anyone, I apologize. I'm just trying to do some good for people," he said. Ford initially said he didn't see the difference between handing cash to voters and giving out Tim Hortons gift cards. He said he would stick to coffee cards in future. Here's a GIF made by Reddit user "okaybudday."

Rob Ford has yet to publicly respond to Daniel Dale's notice of libel action, which was served on behalf of the Toronto Star reporter yesterday. The document accuses Ford of "vicious libel" and names ZoomerMedia, the company that edited the show, for failing to remove the material from the final version of the program. Read the full text of the notice here.

ZoomerMedia, however, has issued a statement that says it won't be making a statement "until such time as we can consult with our attorneys."

A grilling interview between the CBC's Carol Off and Conrad Black, the disgraced media baron who was interviewing Ford when he first made the Daniel Dale comments, is attracting plenty of attention. Off took Black to task for failing to question the mayor's claims. A full transcript here.

Could there be a "Mandela" station in Scarborough's future? In a surprise motion before the Ontario legislature, NDP Leader Andrea Horwath asked that the first stop of the new subway extension into Scarborough be named after the late anti-apartheid leader and received unanimous support. The TTC usually names stops after streets.

Also in transit, TTC officers are getting their special constable status back. Toronto Police removed the special designation, which includes the power to make an arrest, in 2011 after it was claimed officers overstepped their bounds. Roughly 40 transit enforcement officers will receive the new powers in the next months, down from 100 in 2011.

Finally, the TTC is also seeking an additional $27 million from the city for its 2014 operating budget, an increase 4.1 per cent over what it currently receives. CEO Andy Byford said the subsidy freeze that's been in place the last two years has left the Commission struggling to keep up with increased ridership. The TTC announced a 5-cent fare hike last month.

IN BRIEF:

• Hugh Segal, Tory senator, to retire for Massey College job [CBC News]
• Man wounded in Rexdale shooting [Toronto Sun]
• Sugardaddy website invites Rob Ford to party [Toronto Sun]

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

Image: Jason Cook/blogTO Flickr pool.

The morning shock jocks on the Dean Blundell Show have been taken off the air "effective immediately" following a series of homophobic jokes between the show's producer, Derek Welsman, and the other presenters.

In a statement, Corus Entertainment, the company that owns 102.1 the Edge, said the suspension "will allow us to review our internal practices to ensure that our programming is compliant with our station's policies, as well as community and broadcast standards."

The producer's remarks were in reference to the sexual assault trial of Joshua Dowholis, in which Welsman was the jury foreman. Before finding Dowholis guilty of all charges, Welsman was required to swear on a Bible that he had no prejudice toward homosexuals.

"If anyone wants to get into the backdoor business, I can give you some tips," Welsman said. Later, after the conviction, he described the Dowholis' reaction: "When you said guilty, was he like, 'Hot diggity dog! Everybody dance now?' When he phoned home, 'Good news, Mom ... I'm going straight to the showers.'"

A Toronto Star story earlier this week exposed the situation.

Earlier this week, Dean Blundell issued an audio apology for the behaviour. "We both made rude, homophobic, and inappropriate remarks, which were offensive and unacceptable. We offended a lot of listeners, our families, and our friends," he said.

"Those conversations were not entertaining. They were plain and simply wrong. For this I sincerely apologize."

The judge in the case has declined to order an inquiry, though Kathryn Wells, lawyer for the convicted man, is planning an appeal. In the meantime, Blundell and company are off the air. Will it be for good?

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

Toronto has too many bands to fathom. They're busking in Bellwoods, playing Supermarket's open mic, or headlining a packed Horseshoe on Friday, then asking you to like their Facebook and listen to their new demos (recorded in the basement of some guy hangs out with Sloan). Cool, cool, but none of this makes a break out band. That takes real talent, dedication, originality - and some magic. Toronto's been lucky in this department - PUP just won two CBC Bucky awards, DIANA is basking in a buzz halo, plus there's July Talk, Ell V Gore, Lido Pimienta, Gay, and Maylee Todd all repping our city. Who am I forgetting?

In 2013 we featured 16 different Toronto bands in our Break Out Bands series. We've broken them down into the top five that are already making it, five more to keep your eye on, and six others that are still gaining speed.

TOP 5

Tre Mission
Tre Mission is a young Toronto MC who lays down razor-sharp rhymes overtop of fast and frantic beats. He's found most of his success overseas, blowing up within the UK's grime scene. He also made a name for himself with wicked YouTube freestyle videos that have racked up hundreds of thousands of views. He made his debut album "Malmaison" available free for download here.

Majid Jordan
If you put on Majid Jordan's house/RnB track "Good People," you will likely become helplessly caught in a cycle of play and replay. Same goes if you're a Drake fan - Majid Jordan is featured on his single "Hold On, We're Going Home" which has a mere 30 million YouTube views. Clearly, working with an international superstar is a pretty good indicator that they're on a successful career path. No news about their future releases has been released, but you can listen to their EP on YouTube in the meantime.

Jessy Lanza
Jessy Lanza partnered up with beat-maker Jeremy Greenspan of Junior Boys to fill out her dreamy solo project. They create electronic grooves with fuzzy baselines that support her effortlessly smooth vocals. In terms of impressive accomplishments this year, her debut album 'Pull My Hair Back' was released through major London-based label Hyperdub, and she's already jet-setted on a European tour.

Beliefs
This March, Beliefs truly broke out of the crowd with the release of their full-length album on Hand Drawn Dracula Records. Critics took notice, giving them positive reviews on NME, NPR, World Cafe and many other music blogs. They've been everywhere this year, playing Toronto's ALLCAPS and Long Winter festivals, plus they've embarked on a tour that took them through Europe, the UK and Iceland.

The C'mons
The C'mons have had quite a year of successes, playing NXNE, Pop Montreal, Indie Week and recording a brand new EP. They deliver dynamic rock sets, chock-full of all the power chords and anthem choruses your angsty inner self could want. Their small-but-mighty lead-singer Steph Bosch has a command of the microphone that makes audiences take notice each time they grace the stage.

5 MORE TO WATCH

Petra Glynt
Petra Glynt, aka local artist/illustrator/activist Alex MacKenzie, has risen this year from the simplistic Grimes comparisons some neatly clipped upon her to proving herself an artist whose strong original vision is unmistakable and fiercely sincere. The former Dentata member made waves at NXNE, Electric Eclectics, and a host of other fests, and while she's also been busy with her visual art and duo Pachamama with Brandon Valdivia, it's Petra Glynt's bold vocals and unique percussion that made single "Sour Paradise" one of Toronto's most memorable tracks in 2013.

Tasha the Amazon
Tasha the Amazon is a self-proclaimed "bomb in a china shop," laying down her raps with fierce attitude and a larger-than-life stage presence. The rapper hasn't been on the scene long, but she's quickly become a well-known on the local hip-hop scene. Her inventive lyricism and passionate delivery have been given nods in Earmilk, Now Magazine and HipHopCanada.

Isla Craig
Here's an artist who is really making a new sound. Isla Craig's a cappella creations are moody and soulful while containing folky elements at the same time. On Craig's recent release, she works closely with friends to explore different layers of tones and harmony. She's ever expanding her songwriting describing the creative process as "collaborating across genres and styles, being influenced and introduced to new things and new ideas." Think sulty R&B meets fireside folk - then keep going.

Yacht Club
Yacht Club has made themselves known by bringing back the 80's in 2013. Fucked Up's guitarist Ben Cook teamed up with Matt DeLong on guitar and Robin Hatch on keys to kick start their '80s-inspired pop band. They've been making a stir this year by releasing a 12", new videos, opening up for Austra as well as playing Long Winter festival.

Some Minor Noise
Jane Void and Wayne Doe came together when the singer-songwriter was looking for a new producer to work with for her solo project. Doe's beats added a modern-90s-rock quality that they loved, and thus the pair created Some Minor Noise. They take a lo-fi sound and add electronic elements, creating a sort of indie dance pop that's moody and ambient.

MORE BREAKOUT BAND FEATURES FROM THIS YEAR

• The Beaches
• L-CON
• SlowPitch
• Cale Sampson
• Young Rival
• The Box Tiger

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

• The Gladstone Hotel (1214 Queen West) presents the 12 Beers of Christmas tonight, Friday, December 13th starting at 7pm. Admission is $5 for the festive beer tasting and ugly sweater party.
• Porzia (1314 Queen Street West) launches Piazza, an afternoon event featuring cheap drinks and free snacks on Sunday, December 15th from noon until 4pm.
• Midfield Wine Bar & Tavern still has a few spots available for a Greece/Portugal wine class on Wednesday, December 18th at 6:30pm.

UPCOMING

• Tallboys presents a Christmas Craft Beer Carnival on Saturday, December 21st at The Centre for Social Innovation (720 Bathurst Street) from noon until 8pm. Admission is free, but a sampling glass and two drink tickets will cost $10.
• The inaugural Toronto Bar Fest from Joylister (the folks behind Toronto Poutine Fest) is happening at Roy Thompson Hall on Friday, January 24th from 7pm until midnight. The event will represent the specialties in drink categories like whisky, tequila, vodka, sake, raika, wine, craft beer and mixology.
• Advance tickets ($20) are on sale now for The Roundhouse Winter Craft Beer Festival taking place on Saturday, January 25th at Steam Whistle Brewery (255 Bremner Boulevard).
• Early bird tickets are on sale now for Recipe for Change happening on Thursday, February 27th from 6pm to 9pm at St. Lawrence Market. The celebration of food will support FoodShare's innovative work in schools. Advance tickets are available up until December 19th for $100.

OTHER NEWS

• The baking is done but The Pie Drive is accepting donations for one more day (until Saturday, December 14th) to Covenant House.
• Winterlicious 2014 opens restaurant reservations on January 16th but tickets for the Culinary Event Series are available now.

Used to be when it came to family dining out on a budget, Toronto was spoiled for choice. The Gods of frugal yum smiled down on us, bestowing fabled chains which offered affordable eats for family friendly visits and left behind indelible impressions in our minds and taste buds even long after they had shuttered, gone into receivership or been chewed up by corporate garburators.

Toronto based chain Frank Vetere's Pizzeria was one such magical eatery: Started eponymously in 1972 by Frank Vetere, the red and green shutters and offbeat interior (mixing Carnival mirrors, cartoons and great moments in Pizza history) provided an imaginative setting, bested only by their Chicago style deep-dish toppings heavy Pizza which oozed that authentic Italian touch and was rightfully branded "the best Pizza you've ever tasted". In fact, Frank Vetere's actually trademarked the name "Deep Dish Pizza".

Frank Vetere's menu also included mouth-watering Italian sandwiches, burgers, pasta and an all-you-can-eat salad bar. Arcade games (usually Asteroids, Pac-Man, Dig-Dug or Zaxxon) lined the walls and could be operated with plastic tokens that also worked in the gumball machines, and of course every kid got a free token with their meal. Dads were happy to sink their $2 steins of house lager while the legendary free-with-dinner Frank Vetere's soda glasses can still be found at local thrift shops.

After a massive expansion which saw over 40 locations arise in Ontario (22 in Toronto alone), the chain was crippled by the 1982 recession, forcing owners Foodex Inc. to sell most of their locations to Pizza Hut, who wasted little time in aping Vetere's popular Deep Dish style Pizza but without the pizzaz.

Another fondly remembered chain also owned by Foodex Inc. of Toronto was Ponderosa. Named after the ranch in TV's long running oater Bonanza, Ponderosa offered up affordable chopped steak, baked potatoes, all-you-can-eat salad bar, coconut cream pie and mushroom gravy smothered fries.

The restaurants housed an authentic Cowboy styled atmosphere with saloon doors, stag horns, wood walls, yellow and brown uniforms for the staff and red and white checkered table clothes. Ponderosa was a popular birthday destination in the 80s, owing to the group friendly prices, kid friendly zones and fun-tastic birthday hats. Also, the deserts on display were always a sight to behold.

Sadly the same issues which had affected Frank Vetere's ultimately brought down Ponderosa, which still survives as a US chain but saw a total collapse in Canada in the late 1980s when the majority of their locations were converted into Red Lobsters (run by the General Mills Canada) at a time when our country was experiencing a massive renaissance in seafood)

Chi Chi's Mexican restaurants - catchphrase "A celebration of food!" - also score high on the nostalgic food-o-meter, primary thanks to their yummy deep fried ice cream, piping hot plates and cheap margaritas. It helped that before Taco Bell got a stranglehold on the GTA in the mid-1990s, Chi Chi's was the only ubiquitous Mexican game in town.

By the 2000s, Chi Chi's fell apart thanks to a combination of bankruptcy and a fatal hepatitis A outbreak traced back to green onions served at one of their Pittsburgh restaurants. The majority of their remaining locations were unceremoniously gobbled up by Outback Steakhouse, with nary a drop of salsa left behind. Not much of a happy ending for that "celebration".

Thankfully not all of our beloved retro chains have sad endings: Mothers Pizza Parlour & Spaghetti House, another fondly remembered family joint - recently returned from the grave in April of this year. Businessman Brian Alger acquired the expired trademark to Mother's Pizza - one of his favorite brands growing up (along with the Pop Shoppe, which he also acquired) - then teamed with Restaurateur Geeve Sandu to reboot the franchise using the same original formula.

It's not hard to see why Alger was so enamoured with Mothers - Like Frank Vetere's, the ambiance was crucial to the experience. Roaring 1920s style décor with wood and decorated glass, Tiffany lamps, red and white gingham, and Black & White silent films playing on screens all around the restaurant guaranteed Mothers was a place that once visited was never forgotten. Also like Vetere's, the Pizza was phenomenal, and their 99 cent Root Beer floats with take home glass were the stuff of playground legend.

The 1980s were unkind to Mothers, and even though Blue Jays Ernie Whitt, Loyd Moseby and Cito Gaston invested in the company (there was even "Ernie Whitt Specials") and helped market it along with Duel dodger Dennis Weaver! By 1989 Mothers had gone into receivership and was bought up by Little Caesers, who disposed of the classy Mothers style and helped usher in the era of cheap tasteless cardboard Pizza (aided and abetted by other chains who shall remain nameless).

Many other deceased or decimated chains not mentioned here - The Olive Garden, Lime Rickey's, JJ Muggs, Harvey Wallbangers, Bo Peep, Eddie Shack Donuts, Bobby Orr Pizza, etc - live on in our memories and through dusty promotional glassware found at garage sales or old commercials on YouTube. Will the cookie cutter family restaurant chains of 2013 - Boston Pizza, Montana's, Milestones, Eggsmart, etc - ever be as fondly remembered as the likes of Frank Vetere's, Ponderosa, Chi Chi's and Mothers?

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

Toronto music lovers already have that Arcade Fire thing, or else they do. Not. Want. It. Trust me. So, you're going to have to think outside of the box this year. Maybe you could grab that Arts & Crafts comp, that smooth Jessy Lanza chill-out LP, or that Diana record people kinda like. But those are kind of basic, hey? A little predictable? "Oh, an Arts & Crafts release and some socks, thanks mom." What are the holidays for if not impressing people with your exquisite taste? Oh yeah, love. Here are some more gift ideas for Toronto music lovers (and yes, Drake is basic, but this is drakeTO and anyway, he's great).

SOUNDS

Petra Glynt - Of This Land
If you've caught the bug for experimental pop and haven't heard Petra Glynt yet, consider this my present to you. Local artist/illustrator/activist Alex MacKenzie has poured her soul into her cassette EP Of This Land. Her vocals on single "Sour Paradise" will give you chills, and the elaborate packaging pictured above is some of the best artwork Toronto's music scene produced this year. If you like this, check out the Pachamama tape, too.

Heart of Toronto compilation
This banging compilation from Healing Power Records will impress both veterans of and newcomers to Toronto's dance music scene. Look out for Fan Fiction, Prince Nifty, Tenderness, Guy Dallas, Jennifer Castle, Princess Century, Mas Aya - and well, just a lot of awesome local musicians making dance music that steps outside of the norm. The CDs are sparkly, too.

US Girls - Free Advice Column
US Girls has come through with another great album. Free Advice Column features "story songs for the new millennium." It's beat heavy and hypnotic, with the usual twisted soul, plus production by Onakabazien. By the limited edition vinyl from Bad Actors, or get it on Bandcamp.

Ketamines Pack
You want something louder? You want a bang for your buck? You want this Ketamines Pack from Mammoth Cave Records. The pack includes their 7" All the Colours of Your Heart b/w Turning You On on Pleasence Records, Hosehead Records 7" (So Hot b/w New Skull Tattoo + Summer Mothers), plus the new Ketamines LP You Can't Serve Two Masters. You can't serve... missing this deal.

Black Walls - Mary of the Shrines
Just in time for a very gothic little Christmas, you can buy the sweet sounds of Black Walls from Pleasence. The cassette is a steal at $6, and if you're a reformed post rock fan looking for something a bit little metal and a little bit droning, sad, and gentle, Black Walls is your new best friend. Listen on Bandcamp here.

WEARABLES

ϟ†Nϟ Sign of Silence T-Shirt
Toronto producer SINs dropped an amazing album this year on Pretty Pretty Records, but he's also been creeping around in the dark designing shirts which combine the whole pin up aesthetic (meh?) with two-headed-albino snakes (awesome!) plus the covered face of a guy who probably lives under my bed. They're a steal at $15, and a good candidate for your new fave XL "don't talk to me" tee.

Hand Drawn Dracula totes
I can't link to this directly, so it's also an excuse to send you to the whole Hand Drawn Dracula store. Don't spend all your money in one place - unless you want to. Anyway, these simple totes are way cute, and if you wear 3D glasses while on acid they probably look even cuter. I love that little vampire guy. He looks so polite.

Keep Drake warm this Chri$tma$
Drake has a web-store worthy of, well, Drake's ego, and while those Drake-does-Blue-Jays caps are sold out, there's plenty of pricey swag to be had, from $150 hoodies to these typesetter's nightmare tees. And the quality, you ask? Hey, if it's good enough for Drizzy...

Writers' note - do bands not make good shirts anymore? Do y'all bands not know how easy putting merch on Bandcamp is? I'm coming up empty. Link yours in the comments.

MISC

Gift Certificates
If you're not sure what your sonic sweetie wants playing from under the tree beyond "something other than Nothing Was the Same all the damn time, please," Rotate This, She Said Boom, Sonic Boom, and Soundscapes all sell gift certs for any amount - as do many of Toronto's fine record stores. While imposing you own music tastes on loved ones might be tempting (see this post), local record shops will tell you these are a good way to avoid looking like a jerk.

NXNE
Okay, it's a little early. But the first batch of bands has been announced, and some people on your list really love music festivals, so I'm just here to let you know NXNE wristbands are on-sale - and for cheap. From December 10-24, there's a special two-for-one wristband deal. That's right, $75 gets you and a friend info the city's biggest music fest. Planning ahead is for winners.

A neo-classical year
Pretty little church venue (and friend to experimental sound) The Music Gallery offers memberships for only $35 per year. This gets you up to half off to shows, a schedule mailed to your door (until Canada Post finally calls it quits) and no service charges when buying tickets. There are deals for students and groups, too. You can take a look at their 2013 programming here to see if it's for you.

More Toronto-centric gift guides and ideas

• The top 5 books about the Toronto music scene
• The best and worst of Rob Ford merch
• 5 Toronto themed gifts for the 2013 holiday season
• 10 TTC gifts for the transit fanatic on your holiday list
• 5 Toronto gifts at the ToronTOpia pop up shop
• 5 quirky maps for the Toronto-lover on your list

Your favourite shit's missing? Link it in the comments and people might spend money on it!

The festive season is finally upon us in Toronto, and everyone's dragging you out for that holiday drink. There's only so many ways to look sophisticated, and the fancy sweater you bought just got eggnog on it. What's the next move? I've come up with a list of five drinks to go hunt down at Toronto bars to make you look like someone in the know during holiday time. Just make sure to call ahead and make sure the bar's got some mistletoe above the door.

The Geraldine - The Doc Holliday
The Geraldine opened this year with a phenomenal cocktail program (featuring a heavy absinthe focus) from Bar Manager Mike Mooney. The Doc Holliday just launched as part of his winter list and features Wild Turkey rye shaken with smoked cedar syrup, fresh cranberries, and Dr. Heather Duncan's Xmas Bitters. It combines a welcome spice and smoke, and is reminiscent of one of those great Boxing Day sandwiches we all like to make.

Home of The Brave - The Wet Bandit
When the guys behind La Carnita opened their new space this year, they pinched the talented Veronica Saye from The Harbord Room to work the wood. She's been a staple at many of the city's top cocktail competitions over the last year, but she's enthusiastically joined with local legend Taylor Corrigan's snappy bar program for the Southern US homestyle joint. Her cocktail features Sailor Jerry spiced rum, Briottet Curacao, orange juice, a house-made cranberry compote, egg white, and is garnished with fresh nutmeg.

Boehmer - The Xmas Pick Me Up
Mike Birdsey's cocktail is for those feeling a bit more jaded after being dragged around on a shopping trip. The cocktail is composed of fresh espresso, house-made gingerbread syrup, and 360 double chocolate vodka. He's been slinging his Northern British charm at Boehmer for a while now, which should be a stop on any Ossington shopping trip.

Reposado - Acapulco Gold
Heading further up the Ossington, you'll find Reposado. Whilst most don't associate tequila with winter, head bartender Megan Jones begs to differ, using the season's favourite citrus fruit (no, not satsumas), grapefruit, with pineapple-infused mezcal, Cynar, and simple syrup to create something bright and refreshing to take away the winter blues.

The County General - Peppermint Sour
Fashioned after the flavours of a Christmas candy cane, the bar team at the County have worked bourbon, cinnamon syrup and peppermint bitters together with lemon juice and egg whites. It's a fabulous way to get in the spirit of the season.

BONUS

Crazy Uncle - Blood Orange, Rosemary and Maple Punch
If you don't feel like leaving the house, Barchef's Frankie Solarik has been working on a pre-made holiday cocktail to pick up at the LCBO. Add soda and ice, and turn the lights down really low, and you can pretend you're hanging out on Queen West, from the comfort of your bathtub.