The beer renaissance in Toronto continues to chug away, with more local breweries opening and with more new festivals and events bringing together lovers of a cold brew (are you ready for winter craft beer fests)?. Has the city ever been more beer-obsessed? I doubt it. To get a sense of our local passion for beer (Toronto-brewed or otherwise), we challenged our readers to share their favourite ale-focused photos. Muskoka Brewery generously offered a prize pack for the top photo, which we're proud to announce goes to Janet Hinkle, who shot the top photo in this gallery.

You can check out all the submissions in our #beerTO photo stream, and be sure to sign up for emails about future photo challenges.

Photo my mgola

Photo by Oliviyayo

Photo by dotquan

Photo by markblommers

Photo by markymarkdashark

Photo by beerintoronto

Photo by walker_mj

Photo by whiskyjean

Photo by alesndrs

For more beer photos check out our Beer stream.

As flurries of snow lazily made their way down from the sky Sunday morning, Torontonians made their way to the Evergreen Brick Works to check out the locally-sourced goods and vintage wares at the Junction Flea Winter Market. The vendors, who are not so lazy, set up their booths the day before in -20 C weather. The market had everything up for grabs from boozy cider to wool blankets, hats, and undies made from re-purposed wool sweaters.

Check out this photo gallery for my top 20 finds from Sunday's frigid, yet charming, outdoor flea.

The best stores for eyeglasses in Toronto have the four-eyed among us sporting their specs with plenty of pride (and style to spare). These boutique optical outposts (many of which scour the globe for the best eyewear brands, or hunt tirelessly for deadstock vintage glasses) will sell you anything but cheapo plastic frames or dated wire specs.

Whether your style is conservative (perhaps a subtle titanium frame), bookishly hip (a vintage tortoiseshell pair) or outlandish (the sky's the limit), the wide-ranging frame selections at many of these spots means you won't have to look too long (or squint too hard) to find what you seek. What if your vision's 20/20, you ask? There's always designer shades.

Here are the best eyeglasses in Toronto.

See also:

The best sunglasses in Toronto
8 places to find vintage eyewear in Toronto

More than just snow hit Toronto this weekend. A swarm of Santas blew through the city on Saturday night. The infamous Santarchy event is said to be inspired by SantaCon which takes place in over 300 locations around the world. The goal is to spread Christmas cheer while drinking and handing out treats. It all started at the Imperial Pub with nearly 100 Santas. As they hopped from pub-to-pub, the crowd grew, as each Santa came prepared with extra swag to recruit along the way.

View our photo gallery for all the photos of this year's Santarchy.

Today we're opening the voting for nine end of year Best of Toronto categories. What was the best restaurant to open in the last 12 months? How about the best bar? The best cafe? Along with those categories, we have six more including fashion, design shops, brunch, bakeries, specialty food stores and cheap eats. As usual, all categories are optional so don't feel you need to vote for a category you don't have an opinion about.

Take the Best of Toronto poll here

The voting period starts now and runs until the end of the year.

Photo by Jonathan Castellino in the blogTO Flickr pool.

Toronto events on December 17th, 2013

BOOKS & LIT | Eat Your Heart Out with Morro and Jasp Book Launch
Morro and Jasp, TO's favourite "ironic socialite hipster clowns", celebrate the release of their new book Eat Your Heart Out with a launch at The Drake Hotel tonight. This book is about connecting your emotions with the right food. People are always talking about pairing the correct wine with a meal, but this is about pairing the right food with your mood. There are over 100 recipes, plus art, stories, poems and other fun bits. The book will, of course be available tonight, and both Morro and Jasp will be on hand to sign it for you. The Drake Hotel (1150 Queen Street West) 6PM .

MUSIC | Spookey Ruben's Dizzy Playground LIVE!
Tonight, Spookey Reuben's Dizzy Playground LIVE!, a monthly variety night featuring music and comedy, hits the Rivoli to rock your Tuesday evening something fierce. An exceptional weeknight blowout is promised to lead up to the holidays in style. Better late than never: this is a "Chanukah Party special edition" that will feature, of course, Spookey Reuben, Hooded Fang, Fitness, and the talents of Rae Matthews, MC Bryan O'Gorman, Jef Farquharson, Christian Aldo, and others. The Rivoli (334 Queen Street West) 9PM $10.

ART | REDROSPECTIVE 2013
Toronto artists' cooperative The Red Head Gallery is celebrating its twenty third year this year and holding a special fundraiser this evening. It promises great conversation, schmoozing, hors d'oeuvres, and drinks. Your admission tonight also gets you a print from an original collection put together in the gallery's earliest days. You'll be given a number when you arrive, which will determine which print you receive in a lottery that takes place at 8pm. Help support this TO cultural community, and take home a piece of art - it's a win/win! Red Head Gallery (401 Richmond Street West, Suite 115) 7PM $100 (admission and print/$120 one print, two admissions).

BOOKS & LIT | Queen Gallery Poetry Night XIII
The Queen Gallery Poetry Night returns at a different time of the month tonight. This is a monthly series that normally goes down on the last Tuesday of every month, but in order to navigate the Holiday season, things are working differently this time. This event is an open-stage format event where poetry, music and art can be shared with an appreciative audience, and tonight will be no exception, with spoken word artist Patrick de Belen filling the role of tonight's featured guest. Bnoo Zan is tonight's host. Queen Gallery (382 Queen Street East) 7PM (6:30 sign up) PWYC ($5 minimum).

CONTINUING

FILM | Spirited Away: The Films of Studio Ghibli
Hayao Miyazaki and Japanese animation company Studio Ghibli is famous for making emotionally complex animated features like notable titles Spirited Away, My Neighbour Totoro, and the heart breaking Grave of the Fireflies, set in Japan during World War II. The latter is considered one of the greatest animated films of all time and is rarely screened, so it's worth a trip to TIFF for this one especially - but bring Kleenex and someone you like holding hands with. A ton of other films are screening too - check the full listing out on TIFF's website. TIFF Bell Lightbox (350 King St W), until January 3, 2014, various showtimes and prices.

Also Of Note

• Bookie's Holiday Bash
• Carpathian Photo Patterns Exhibit

Photo via Morro and Jasp's Facebook

Daniel Dale says he will proceed with libel action against Rob Ford after the window of opportunity for the mayor to formally apologize passed. Dale has up to three months to prepare a statement of claim against Ford for the case to continue. "I would have very much preferred to not be carrying on and just accepting a retraction and apology, but since an apology hasn't been received, I'm moving forward on this," Dale told The Globe and Mail.

It could be a slow commute this morning: 10 cms of snow is expected to fall in the next few hours, covering recently cleared roads. Environment Canada issued a special weather statement about the lake effect snow for the regions of Halton, Peel, York, Durham and Toronto last night. At King and Jarvis, a car skidded into a fire hydrant, creating a sheet of ice across the intersection. The TTC isn't reporting any delays on the 504 streetcar.

Councillor Giorgio Mammoliti billed taxpayers $25,000 for renovations to his constituency office, the Star reports. The expenses, though completely legal, are "unusual," according to the paper. Mammoliti spent the money renovating a former classroom at Carmine Stefano Community Centre after he said constituents complained about the location of his old office on Wilson Ave.

Rob Ford is hoping to contract out garbage collection east of Yonge St. before 2015. At a press conference yesterday, Ford said he hopes Green For Life will take over garbage and recycling services in the remainder of the city. He said contracting out waste service in the west has saved the city $12 million. Councillor Denzil Minnan-Wong said he wants the same by spring 2014.

Councillors Maria Augimeri and Josh Colle are early favourites to replace mayoral hopeful Karen Stintz as TTC chair. As the Star notes, Colle has historically favoured Stintz's pro-subway stance for Scarborough while Augimeri has leaned in favour of light rail. Council will decide in Feb. 2014 who gets to lead one of the city's most volatile files.

Finally, Rob Ford and Giorgio Mammoliti will be asked to apologize when council resumes this morning after last night's meeting ended in chaos. Speaker Frances Nunziata abruptly cut the meeting short after failing several times to eject Mammoliti from the chamber. "The mayor said, 'Only the corrupt ones get to stay,'" said Councillor Gord Perks, which added to the ruckus.

"I had to adjourn the meeting, everybody was screaming and being disruptive ... Councillor Mammoliti wouldn't stop and the mayor wouldn't stop," Nunziata told the Sun. Mammoliti was objecting to city staff commenting on motions before they were being voted on.

IN BRIEF:

• Chief Blair addresses use of lethal force after Queen subway shooting [Globe and Mail]
• Racial bias alleged in wrongful arrest suit against Toronto officers [CBC News]
• Ukrainian community protests in Toronto [Toronto Sun]
• Beer Store invests $30 million in redesigned stores [Toronto Star]
• Sidney Crosby propels depleted Penguins past Leafs [CBC News]

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

Image: Bruce Wang/blogTO Flickr pool.

You'll soon be able to buy Ontario wine at farmers' markets in Toronto (and beyond). Premier Kathleen Wynne has announced that all Vintners Quality Alliance (VQA) wines will be legal for sale alongside local produce, giving Ontario grapes a new hand up, and making our lives about a billion times better. Wynne went on to try to ease the worries of -- okay, I'm not sure who -- by reassuring us the wine will be sold with the utmost "social responsibility." The Mayor of Toronto smokes crack, but Ontario vinters will be on the level. Sounds about right.

Kidding aside, the news represents a significant loosening of liquor laws in Ontario. While it isn't the long hoped for news (at least for some) that booze will be available in convenience and grocery stores, it's definitely a step in the right direction for those of us who question the LCBO's near complete control of booze sales.

This decision is at least somewhat strategic (looming elections, plans to give our homegrown nectar an international push), but also makes sense as a middle ground - the conservatives have hinted at making wine and beer more widely available but don't have the power to do so -- yet. What matters is soon you can grab a bottle of red while browsing bell peppers and homemade jam, meaning summer could be amped-up this year. It's yet to be seen if this means drinking in Trinity Bellwoods will soon get easier.

Perhaps all the snow this week prevented people from venturing outside their homes, leaving restaurant employees with nothing better to do than a top-to-bottom clean. Or, maybe the health inspectors channelled holiday cheer into their investigations, because there were no closings, and only a handful of major infractions reported.

A number of restaurants had trouble with pest control, like Gino's Pizza on Bloor and Pho Houng. The critter infestations weren't, however, flagged as crucial, so I guess they can't be that bad? The restaurant with the most dings was Buddy Hong Kong Cafe, with a total of 12, including a lack of hot and cold running water in food prep area. That must have made things a little difficult for them. This less-gross-than-usual list can encourage us to get out and enjoy some Toronto dining while things seem to be on the cleaner side.

Buddy Hong Kong Cafe (2950 Birchmount Rd)
Inspected on: December 12
Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
Number of infractions: 12 (Minor: 5, Significant: 7)
Crucial infractions include: N/A

Delimark Cafe (90 Sheppard Ave E)
Inspected on: December 12
Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
Number of infractions: 7 (Minor: 4, Significant: 2, Crucial: 1)
Crucial infractions include: Operator fail to maintain hazardous food(s) at 4C (40F) or colder.

Eggsmart (4695 Yonge St)
Inspected on: December 11
Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
Number of infractions: 3 (Minor: 1, Significant: 1, Crucial: 1)
Crucial infractions include: Operator fail to maintain hazardous food(s) at 4C (40F) or colder.

Gino's Pizza (520 Bloor St W)
Inspected on: December 10
Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
Number of infractions: 5 (Minor: 3, Significant: 2)
Crucial infractions include: N/A

Henry VIII Ale House (2469 Bloor St W)
Inspected on: December 12
Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
Number of infractions: 3 (Minor: 2, Crucial: 1)
Crucial infractions include: Operator fail to ensure food is not contaminated/adulterated.

Pho Huong (394 Pacific Ave)
Inspected on: December 11
Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
Number of infractions: 6 (Minor: 3, Significant: 3)
Crucial infractions include: Operator fail to thoroughly re-heat hazardous food item(s).

Pita Q (750 Spadina Ave)
Inspected on: December 12
Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
Number of infractions: 4 (Minor: 1, Significant: 1, Crucial: 2)
Crucial infractions include: Operator fail to thoroughly re-heat hazardous food item(s), operator fail to maintain hazardous food(s) at 4C (40F) or colder.

Sushi Shop(65 Front St W)
Inspected on: December 11
Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
Number of infractions: 3 (Minor: 1, Significant: 1, Crucial: 1)
Crucial infractions include: Operator fail to maintain hazardous food(s) at 4C (40F) or colder.

It's officially time to start panicking about about what to buy people for Christmas. Have no fear though, because as long as the people on your list are into beer (and if they're not you might want to consider the value of your relationship), I've got just the thing for them. Read on and you won't have to endure the special hell that is the Eaton Centre this time of year. You're welcome.

Moleskine Beer Journal
For the more discerning beer drinker on your list, this handy notebook provides ample tools for tracking and judging every beer he or she drinks. The tastings section includes spots to record when and where you had each beer and what it looked, smelled, and tasted like. For the aspiring homebrewer there's even a section to record recipes, there's a section to keep track of what's in your beer cellar and a section of addresses -- presumably to record the names of folks to call when you crack something from the cellar. Feel free to add me, incidentally.

The Pocket Beer Guide
Toronto's own Stephen Beaumont, an authority on all things beer, co-authored this handy book with UK-based beer expert Tim Webb. Ideal for the thirsty traveller on your list, the book is a selection of tasting notes on beer from across the globe, organized by country, and includes not only info on the breweries, but a list of beer destinations and a calendar of worldwide beer festivals.

Ginger Syrup
This will do fun things to a handful of cocktails, but perhaps most interesting is its potential to pep up beer. Pick up this Brooklyn-made product at The Drake General Store and the next time that special someone on your holiday list is handed a boring beer, he or she might add some of this, a little rum, and lime juice and --voila!-- that can of OV is now a Sailor's Ale.

Canada Mason Jar Jug
Also available at The Drake General Store, this kitschy "Canada" jar with a handle seems ideally suited to drinking local beer -- just don't put any beer that actually has "Canadian" in its name or you might seriously damage your hipster cred. A perfect slice of Canadiana for those who live elsewhere or a helpful reminder to friends and family who frequently drink so much they forget what country they're in.

The Hungover Cookbook
While cooking is usually the last thing you want to do when you're hungover -- indeed we can think of at least 10 things we might rather be doing -- this book might change your mind. Including recipes (or just menu suggestions) for six different levels of hangover, you'll find something here custom-tailored to your particular morning-after funk. There's also jokes, quizzes, and a handy guide to determining if it's actually a hangover or if you are in fact still drunk.

The Canadian Craft Beer Cookbook
Beer writer David Ort's concise collection of 75-beer-related recipes will probably make most of the "drinkers gift guides" you read this year -- and with good cause. Firstly, because he sent all of us other beer writers free copies of the book and these lists aren't that easy to come up with and, secondly, because it's actually a really, really good cook book. There are great recipes of varying degrees of difficulty, insights into beer and food pairing techniques and even informative sidebars about people and places important to Canadian craft brewing.

Bicycle wine rack
As the name might imply, this handsome leather accessory's stated purpose is actually hauling vino on your two wheeler, but it functions just as well with a specialty 500 or 750mL bottle from your favourite local brewery. Sure, using it in the snow seems a little dangerous, but once the sun comes out again, your beer-drinking, cycling friend will be thankful that you're so thoughtful while they strap something from the Indie Alehouse to their fixie --hopefully before they pedal over to your place.

Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon
It's a little known fact among serious alcohol enthusiasts that nothing pairs quite so well with a hoppy beer as a delicious glass of bourbon. Why not pick up a bottle of this rich and complex Kentucky bourbon for the discerning drinker on your list and let them experience how well the vanilla and candied fruit flavours chase the piney, bitter goodness of an IPA? I mean you have two hands for a reason.

BEER!

It probably seems a little obvious, but that doesn't mean it ist't the perfect gift. In fact, there's probably nothing more appropriate for the beer lover in your life than actual beer. Of course, if you want to keep it local, our coverage of Toronto's beer scene this year will have you well covered for ideas (most recently we provided you with our list of 10 local beers to drink this winter in Toronto), but if you're aiming for something more exotic this holiday season, here are a few imported gems you can find right now at the LCBO (some only for a limited time).

La Fin du Monde
A Belgian-style tripel with honey, spice, and coriander notes, brewery Unibroue has recently announced that this popular beer that's been around 20 years will now be listed full time at the LCBO. $12.95 for a four pack of 341 ml bottles

Brouwerij Bosteels DeuS Brut des Flandres
Something like a beer and Champagne hybrid, this is a unique sparkling drink with a barley base that would be just as at home in your glass on New Year's Eve as the hoity-toity Veuve Clicquot you've been saving. It's got tons of citrus and grape flavour and is balanced by a the subtle spiciness of a farmhouse ale. $19.95 for a 750 mL bottle

La Trappe Quadrupel
La Trappe's Quad is a beast of a beer with rich and intense flavour. It's malty and sweet, offering aromas of banana, almond, and vanilla with tastes of raisins, dates, caramel malt, and almonds, and it finishes pleasantly with a bittersweet aftertaste. $7.10 for a 750 mL bottle

Unibroue 17 Grande Réserve
First brewed in 2007 to mark the 17-year anniversary of Unibroue, 17 Grand Reserve returned in 2011 and has since been brewed in small, seasonal batches every year. It's a rich Belgian-style ale with a roasted malt nose, a hint of sweetness and a subtle oaky finish. $12.95 for a 750mL bottle

Hornbeer Black Magic Woman Imperial Stout
An imperial stout made with smoked malt, Black Magic Woman is brewed with roasted barley malt, birch-smoked malt, peat-smoked malt, and caramel malt. All that smokiness is balanced with hops, making this strong and complex beer well-suited to pairing with dark chocolate, strong cheeses, or even just the gas-smell of a garage as you hide from relatives this holiday season. $7.05 for a 500 mL bottle.

Rochefort 10
One of the world's best trappist ales, the Rochefort 10 might have you saying Westvleter-who? And with a much larger quantity in LCBO stores than the panic-inducing supply of Westy, it should be a little easier to find (but not for long) this dark brown, and delicious Belgian beer with all kinds of aromas and tastes ranging from raisins to plums to ripe fruit to sweet sweet booze. $3.65 for a 330 mL bottle

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

The Perth/Dupont Library in the Junction Triangle is set for a makeover - or, better, a complete overhaul. Last night Toronto City Council voted to approve a motion that will see a 10,000 square foot library replace what is currently Toronto's tiniest (except for the Toronto Zine Library at the Tranzac, but that doesn't count). As our Mayor once said - "libraries, libraries, libraries!" - wait, that's not how it went.

In the wake of libraries being threatened across Canada, this news seems like a holiday miracle for Junction Triangle residents, who've been fighting for the branch for over two years.

The miracle (this was one of the libraries briefly slated for closure) comes via an unlikely source - namely condos, condos, condos. Property developer TAS are working on a development at 299 Campbell (at Dupont) which will host the new whopper of a book depository in their space a mere five minute walk from the library's current digs at 1589 Dupont Street. Will the new condo be called "The Book Depository," and will this make you finally shell out for a glass box in the sky? If the condos sell and the story plays out as planned, the library could be complete and open for business in just three years.

Photo by dalmond on Flickr.

The top Toronto hip hop acts underscore just how rich and diverse (not to mention often under appreciated) Canada's hip hop scene is. Being Canada's foremost metropolitan centre, it's no surprise that many of our country's hip hop heavyweights come from TO. While there were some obvious picks, it's a difficult task to narrow down a list like this in any genre. My criteria for inclusion here was an act's historical significance, the success of their releases based on album sales and critical acclaim, and their ability to break through into international markets. If you think someone's been missed, let us know in the comments.

Here are the top 10 Toronto hip hop acts of all time.

Drake
No rapper reps Toronto more than Drake - the most recent notch on that belt being his global ambassadorship for the Raptors. Aside from the big business movies, his musical talent and influence on hip hop are undeniable. His last three albums have gone platinum and peaked at number 1 on BillBoard and he holds the record for most number 1 hits on the Billboard Hot Rap Songs chart (14). He's been nominated for 13 Grammy's and won one, plus countless BET awards and 6 MuchMusic Video awards. People who question whether Forest Hill constitutes as "the bottom" fail to realize Drake's talking about his career. He skyrocketed from nothing and has found everything. All signs point to Drake sticking around for a while... so get used to it!

Maestro Fresh Wes
It would almost be easy to underestimate the importance of Maestro on this list, given the strength of Toronto's hip hop community today. It was a different story back in 1989 when he released "Let Your Backbone Slide," a single that actually made the top 40 (unprecedented for Canadian hip hop at the time). Much of the 1990s were less friendly to Maestro, but he's returned to being a Toronto hip hop fixture and an ambassador for the community at large since dropping the Black Tuxedo in 2012. Drake might be the international poster boy for Toronto hip hop, but Maestro is, well, the backbone of the local scene.

Saukrates
One of Toronto's most prominent hip hop figures is rapper, singer, and producer Saukrates. In 1994 Capitol Hill released his heavily popular Brick House EP, featuring Common, O.C. and Masta Ace. This led to full length, The Underground Tapes, and collabs with Choclair, Pharoahe Monch, Xzibit, and Heltah Skeltah. He snagged his second Juno nomination for "Money Or Love", had a track on the soundtrack for Red & Meth's "How High," and produced "Heaven" on Nas' God's Son. In '06 he worked extensively with Nelly Furtado, appearing with her at the 94th Grey Cup, the American Music awards, and on her "Get Loose" tour. He's still a member of Redman's Gilla House crew. Last year Saukrates released sophomore album Season One, featuring production by Rich Kidd and appearances by Redman, Nelly Furtado, and k-os.

Kardinal Offishall
Born in Scarborough, Kardi is responsible for more than just popularizing the term T-dot. His career started off on an incredible note - at age 12 he played his first show to an audience including Nelson Mandela. Kardinal's dancehall reggae influenced style was embraced internationally, letting the world see Toronto as the multicultural hub that it is. He's collabed with Sean Paul, Baby Blue Soundcrew, the Rascalz, and, in 2005, Akon (he would eventually signing onto his Kon Live Distribution label). In 2007 his single "Dangerous" became a top five hit on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and went triple platinum in Canada. Most recently Kardi released Allow Me to Re-Introduce Myself, a collaborative mixtape with producer Nottz.

k-os
Referred to as an alternative hip hop artist, k-os has certainly worn many hats over his stylistically diverse career. He won a MuchMusic Award for his '93 single "Musical Essence," then took time to better define his sound. His debut album Exit was released in '02, and Billboard praised it as being one of the Canadian best hip hop releases ever. His next two albums went platinum in Canada, with a slew of singles including "Crabbuckit", "B-Boy Stance", "Man I Used to Be", and "Sunday Morning". In 2005 he was nominated for a Grammy for his collaboration with The Chemical Brothers, "Get Yourself High." This year k-os dropped BLack on BLonde, a double-disc highlighting his ability to cross genres - one disc hip hop, the other rock.

Dream Warriors
Hailing from Jane & Finch and Willowdale, this group formed in '88 when King Lou and Capital Q joined forces. They made waves a few years later with their jazzy rap debut And Now The Legacy Begins. The album ended up winning a Juno and going gold Canada, and was well received abroad. In '95 they added rapped Spek and DJ Luv to the group and released Subliminal Simulation featuring Butterfly of Digable Planets and Gangstarr. King Lou and Capital Q stuck around for the release of the Dream Warriors' greatest hits comp Anthology: A Decade of hits 1988-1998, and their final studio album, '02's The Legacy Continues... In 2011 they performed at CBC's Hip Hop Summit alongside Maestro Fresh Wes, Michie Mee, and Ghetto Concept.

Michie Mee
One of the most significant Canadian hip hop pioneers, Michie Mee has been an integral part of Toronto's hip hop history. In 1985 when she was only 15 she performed on stage with Boogie Down Productions. She then recorded with KRS-One and Scott La Rock for her duo project with DJ L.A. Luv. In 1988 they signed with Atlantic, making her the first Canadian rapper to sign a deal with an American major. Three years later their single "Jamaican Funk" earned a Juno Award nomination. As time went on she would turn more of her attention to acting, but still released singles sporadically, and maintains her influence on the community as an advocate for education.

Choclair
Born in Scarborough, Choclair aka Chox or Chiznock would leave a major impact on Canadian hip hop. After climbing the ropes in the underground he released his What It Takes EP in 1997. Two years later his first full length, Ice Cold, would go down as a Canadian classic. Off the strength of the Kardinal Offishall produced single "Let's Ride," the album would sell over 50,000 copies and win a Juno Award, a MuchMusic Video award, and a SOCAN award. Choclair would go on to release three more studio albums as well as a collection of early unreleased recordings. Although none of these albums would garner the attention that came from his debut, Choclair's place in Toronto's hip hop scene was set in stone.

D-Sisive
Known for his off-center style and introspective lyricism, D-Sisive aka Derek Christoff has been around late 1990s. After the release of his first two EPs, other than being featured on DJ Format's popular single "3 Feet Deep", he went through a lengthy self-proclaimed period of dormancy until The Book EP in 2008. As if struck by a lightning bolt of creativity, he unleashed years of pent up artistry, spreading it out over 2 more EPs and 6 albums during the next half-decade. His '09 release "Let The Children Die" was nominated for a Polaris Music Prize. D-Sisive has never shied away from using his music to address the deep trials and tribulations of his personal life, and this freedom from creative constraints puts him in a unique category.

Ghetto Concept
Hailing from Rexdale and Lawrence Heights, this duo was most active in the 1990s, winning two Juno awards for singles "Certified" and "E-Z On Tha Motion", respectively. Although they formed in 1989, the duo wouldn't release their debut album until 1998. It was well received, but their most popular single didn't come until 2001, in the form of "Still Too Much" a remix featuring Maestro, Kardinal Offishall, Red-1, and Snow. Currently they've formed G7 Records representing a handful of artists, and rumour has it Ghetto Concept is planning a new album called Times Up.

BONUS

Main Source
Main Source were split between Toronto and New York - hailing from Toronto were Sir Scratch and K-Cut, who first teamed up with NYC's Large Professor, then Mikey D. Fans of random trivia (or, you know, hip hop history) will know their first disc Breaking Atoms (1991) boasted the first on-record appearance of Nas on track "Live at the Barbeque." The followed this up with '94's Fuck What You Think, which caught the attention of Madonna - she sampled "What You Need" in a little track called "Human Nature." K-Cut went on to work as a producer for Maestro Fresh-Wes, Queen Latifah, and (seriously) Shaquille O'Neal.

Photo of k-os by Brian Morton

Google Canada has just confirmed what we all knew deep down inside: Rob Ford was the biggest Canadian news event of 2013. The search giant says Toronto's troubled mayor was the number one "trending" search term of the year, beating out five awful tragedies to claim the top spot.

Ford placed ahead of late "Glee" actor Cory Monteith, "Fast and the Furious" actor Paul Walker, who died in a car crash last month, Hamilton murder victim Tim Bosma, and the Boston marathon bombing between January and December this year, with big spikes in early spring with Gawker and the Toronto Star broke the crack video story and again in November with the first ITO release.

The crack scandal even propelled Ford into a list of male politicians searched by users in the United States, where he placed sixth.

The trending list Ford leads ranks searches that stand out over perennial favourites, like "Facebook," "YouTube," "Justin Bieber," etc. Nelson Mandela, the royal baby, North Korea, the Harlem Shake, and the Lac-Megantic train disaster rounded out the trending top 10.

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

Image: Chris Bateman/blogTO

We Got Balls is Toronto's newest food truck. The week-old mobile meatball eatery is serving up a daily selection of internationally-inspired meatballs, risotto balls and veggie balls customized with a choice of cheese, truck-made sauces, and fresh garnishes. Find it parked at Dupont and Dufferin for the foreseeable future.

Read more about We Got Balls on torontofoodtrucks.ca

Love wallpaper? Buy this house. 19 Gardiner Road is a well-maintained, classically-styled brick and stone estate with seven bedrooms, lots of storage space and a wide backyard. Not to mention some of the best wallpaper in the city, with matching ceilings and curtains to boot.

The house is on a quiet, short street in Forest Hill near Eglinton and Spadina. This is a high-end, sought-after neighbourhood, and 19 Gardiner is definitely priced for location rather than updated finishes. The kitchen and bathrooms could benefit from a modern facelift -- unless that repeated tile really speaks to you -- and do consider painting over the painfully bright ceiling mural in the upstairs hallway.

Many features of this house are still in great condition, from the stairs to the wainscoting to the tray ceilings. There's plenty of parking thanks to a two-car garage and long drive, the rooms are spacious, and the backyard hot tub is included in the sale. And that wallpaper! It's either the wallpaper of your dreams or the setting for your nightmare.

SPECS

Address: 19 Gardiner Road
Price: $2,200,000.00
Lot Size: 50 x 132 ft.
Bedrooms: 7
Bathrooms: 5
Parking: 2-car garage, plus spaces for 2 cars
Taxes: $14,960.00 (2013)
Walk Score: 78

NOTABLE FEATURES

• 12 total rooms
• Large landscaped lot
• Immaculate hardwood floors

GOOD FOR

A buyer looking to get into Forest Hill at any cost, and preferably someone who isn't hell-bent on modern style. Although the interior could use a little cosmetic work, the house has plenty of curb appeal, a good layout and a solid foundation.

MOVE ON IF

You were deeply traumatized by "Something In the Walls," the 80's Twilight Zone episode about a woman who is terrified of patterns and convinced the walls are out to get her. This house is also spacious, nearly to a fault, so move on if you would prefer to spend less and don't need quite so many bedrooms.

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

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

Rob Ford offered something of an apology to Toronto Star reporter Daniel Dale earlier today during a city council meeting. Kind of. Addressing members of council and those in attendance -- of which it would appear Dale was not one -- Ford read a prepared statement. "I want to take this opportunity to clarify my comments made in an interview with Conrad Black and to apologize to Daniel Dale for the way in which the media has interpreted my statements," Ford began. "I never called Mr. Dale a pedophile, I do not believe Mr. Dale is a pedophile. My comments related to the fear I had for my family when my long-time neighbour told me that someone was lurking at my fence and appeared to be taking pictures of my family home over the fence."

The Mayor then explained that he had nothing against Dale, only his superiors at the Toronto Star. "I did not mean to insinuate anything personally about Mr. Dale in my interview with Conrad Black," the Mayor explained. "I certainly did not mean to insinuate that he was a pedophile... It's unfortunate the word I did not say has been ascribed to me by the media, but I wish to sincerely apologize to Mr. Dale if my actual words have caused him any harm or personal offence."

Is this a good enough apology? It certainly meets the standards of self-defence (I didn't mean it) but he fails to register much responsibility for the nature of his claims aside from a half-baked explanation that he was protecting his family. Most would argue that accountability for one's actions is the true measure of saying sorry. I'm not so sure this meets that criteria. Share your thoughts in the comments.

Photo of Ford from a previous council meeting

This morning tens of thousands of people from the GTA and beyond woke up truer, fuller, and more complete. We are the ones that saw Beyonce last night at the Air Canada Centre. We are the changed ones. Did the changed ones sleep? Surprisingly, some of us did, dreaming of Queen Bee floating softly but with purpose, a Jungian angel in a purple sequin dress assuring us that despite heartbreak everything will be OK.

Others of our kind sat in bed all night, replaying the nights event in their heads, coming to terms with recent memories. Trying to rationalize, contextualize, and summarize. Placing what we witnessed into a reality. A futile effort for the effect of Beyonce surpasses the delicate and easy manipulatable nature of our memories. A bold Bey is burned into our brain, to be tarnished never by time, dementia, and certainly not mere will.

And the lovers among us... well they did what lovers do, haunted by the sensuality they could still taste on their lips. One would think witnessing the scion of sexuality would make our paltry bodies seem like lumpy pieces of shit - but no, Beyonce transformed our libido into a higher, sexier and truer extension of spirit with every jerk of her hips (crane spirit), snarl of lips (tiger spirit), and shake of the most renowned,beatific butt on earth (bonobo spirit).

We are the changed ones. I would go as far to refer to us as "Beyonce's children" but that would discredit the holy child and future President Blue Ivy. What is clear is that us changed ones are closer to god then the rest of you plebeians. Having heard "Love on Top," "Single Ladies," "Halo," etc without a buffer of technology and in purest form, well, your definition of what music or art is makes us laugh.

The question for us now is how do we re-enter the world? We, whom Beyonce asked if we wanted to party. How do we navigate through our lives with such fire in our souls whilst the rest of you trot around empty and, well, dead? But we will live because true life is part of us. For we are the changed ones. This is our joy and our burden.

Photos courtesy of AP Select

The top restaurants for New Year's Eve dinner in Toronto aim to make 2013's last meal especially memorable, no matter if it's the main event or just the precursor to a wild night to come. While many restaurants are promoting over-the-top themed events, planned and priced for champagne tastes, there are a number of promising parties with a more laissez-faire attitude too.

Here are the top 20 restaurants for New Year's Eve dinner in Toronto.

The Gladstone Hotel (1214 Queen Street West)
Big Top NYE is a circus themed celebration featuring jugglers, acrobats, carnival games, cotton candy, themed VIP rooms and "ring side seats" avec bottle service. Advance tickets are $50 ($70 at the door), or reserve a table for a 4-course dinner and stay for the festivities for $126.05.

Boots & Bourbon Saloon (725 Queen Street East)
The newly opened cowboy bar will host two bands and an evening of line dancing and party favours. Entry will be $10 at the door on a first come first served basis. The requisite toast at midnight may or may not come in the form of a tall can.

The Drake Hotel (1150 Queen Street West)
General admission to The Drake's Black & White NYE party is $40 from 8pm or $20 after midnight. The best bet to ensure a spot is to get a ticket to the Strolling Cabaret ($75) happening in The Underground that will be catered by food stations featuring signature Drake favourites. You can also reserve a spot for dinner, the first seating of which offers three courses for $75, while the second seating is 4-courses at $115.

Drake One Fifty (150 York Street)
The Financial District offshoot is offering a casual canapé menu or full dinner for $50 to $150. After midnight, admission to their Day and Night party is $10 until 3am for dancing.

Lisa Marie (638 Queen Street West)
Reservations are accepted for dinner served from 6pm to 10pm. The a la carte menu will feature new cicchetti and luxe street food specials like melted marrow and garlic tossed Lobster Chow Mein. After 10pm it's $10 at the door for a Viva Las Vegas party and a countdown hosted by DJ Carl Allen.

Momofuku (190 University Avenue)
Momofuku is ushering in the new year with something a little special at each restaurant. The Noodle Bar celebrates with large format fried chicken and caviar dinners for $90 an order, as well as, a $17 prix fixe for a choice of bun and noodle. Daishō is doing a lucky family style feast featuring 10+ dishes for $120 per person (add $60 for beverage pairings), available for parties of 2 to 10, from 9pm 'til close. Shōtō going all out with a $200, 12-course tasting menu (add $45-$120 for optional beverage pairings.

El Catrin (18 Tank House Lane)
The visually spectacular restaurant in the Distillery District is offering a Mexican tasting menu offered for $110 per person. Add cocktail, tequila or wine pairings for $60-$90. Fiesta into the night with more drinks during their NYE party.

La Société (131 Bloor Street West)
Yorkville's upscale French bistro hosts a Midnight in Paris celebration, which kicks off at 8:30pm featuring a luxe $79 set menu and evening of live-spun music.

Stock Restaurant (325 Bay Street)
Looking to splurge? The Toast 2014 in Grand Style celebration will let you do just that. The 31st floor restaurant at the Trump International Hotel is offering an ultra indulgent 9-course tasting menu for $220 dollars. Optional wine pairings are $120 more.

Big Crow (176 Dupont Street)
For NYE at the Big Crow, the backyard-BBQ will be open for dinner, but better still they're offering to cater house parties with smokey, family style feasts suited for four to 10 guests ($159-$279). Orders must be placed by 6pm on December 30th for pick-up between 4pm to 7pm on the 31st.

Ganzi dei Osteria (504 Jarvis Street)
On tap here is a celebratory 4-course dinner with a sparkling libation for $74 that'll later transition into Guys and Dolls, a cocktail soirée and dance party. An early seating is also on offer with a 3-course menu for $45.

Home of the Brave (589 King Street West)
This Hawaiian themed New Year's party features a 3-course, $50 prix fixe menu with a rum cocktail pairing and midnight toast in a coconut shell. DJ Brains4brkfst will be live-spinning eclectic tunes all night.

Bestellen (972 College Street)
The steakhouse will hosts two seatings for their New Year's Eve Bash featuring special tasting menus from chef Rob Rossi. Early evening guests will be offered a 4-course menu ($36) while tables reserved between 9pm and 10pm will be offered five courses ($79). Wine pairings are additional.

Hunter's Landing (82 Fort a York Boulevard)
Geared towards Cityplace dwellers, this New Year's Eve party is bound to be attended by revellers who don't have to worry how they'll get home. The evening offers a $50 menu starting with oysters followed by four more courses, and will later transition into a DJ'd dance party ($10) avec requisite midnight toast and late night hors d'oeuvres.

Parts & Labour (1566 Queen Street West)
Offering an alternative to exorbitant covers and special menus, this Parkdale restaurant is hosting Business As Usual, serving their standard menu at no extra cost. Eat dinner and get free admission (otherwise $15) to DJs upstairs and in The Shop starting at 11:30pm.

Splendido (88 Harbord Street)
Chef Victor Barry bids farewell to founding partner Carlo Catallo (who is opening two new County General offshoots in the new year) with a special menu featuring Catallo's favourites. Their New Year's Eve multi-course prix fixe menu costs $140 per head with wine pairings for an additional $100.

The Libertine (1307 Dundas Street West)
Ring in the new year with a dinner and show at this hidden speakeasy-style bar. Receive dinner from chef Leonie Lilla and live entertainment from The Girls Club for a $60 fee. Reservations are required.

Mill Street Brew Pub (21 Tankhouse Lane)
No Hassle New Year's at the massive Distillery District brewery bar will be offering a full menu plus chef creations, live music, party favourites, a midnight toast and snacks. Alternately, reserve a seat next door at the Mill St. Beer Hall and celebrate over a 4-course meal with beer pairings and DJ Humble Mike spinning vinyl.

Harlem (67 Richmond Street East)
Soulfully celebrate the New Year with an all-you-can-eat appetizer buffet and open bar for $70. Entertainment provided by Poetic Sound Crew featuring JR the Superstar and Larry Uptown Smooth.

Valdez (606 King Street West)
Dubbed the ultimate Latino street party, The Night Market at Valdez will be spinning old school hip hop and celebrating with all-you-can-eat food stations plus $10 cocktails and $6 beers. Tickets are $50 and available now at the restaurant or online.

OTHER RESTAURANTS WITH SPECIAL NYE MENUS

• Lee (601 King West) and Bent (777 Dundas West), Susur Lee's Toronto restaurants are each offering a three course menu for $85.
• The County General (936 Queen Street West) is planning a tasty celebration featuring menu favourites and five beverages included with each $75 ticket.
• The Beverley Hotel (335 Queen Street West) celebrates with $100, 5-course dinner with champagne toast and party favours. Come for just the countdown at 11pm for $25 at the door.
• Ursa (924 Queen Street West) is offering a 9-course dinner for $125.
• Rosewater (19 Toronto Street) four courses for $125 plus live entertainment by Take Note.
• Cibo Wine Bar (522 King Street West)is offering a $70 prix fixe menu featuring four Italian courses
• Ki Modern Japanese is offering a $60 7-course dinner. Add premium sake pairings for $35.
• Hapa Izakaya (602 College Street) hosts its grand reopening (after months-long renos) with a 7-course omakase dinner followed by a dance party for $50 each head.
• Huntsman Tavern (890 College Street) is offering a $45 prix fixe menu, opt to including wine pairings for $70 total.
• Nyood (1096 Queen Street West) celebrates with a special multi-course prix fixe dinner offered for $60
• Wind Up Bird Cafe (382 College Street) is doing a kid-friendly, 3-course family style feast. Adults can eat for $25, kids under 12 eat for just $10.

MAP

Photo of Drake One Fifty

Photo by Ben Roffelsen in the blogTO Flickr pool.