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Boxing Day events in Toronto: December 26, 2013

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boxing day eventsIf you're not into hitting up one of Toronto's Boxing Day Sales today (or you are but you'll somehow still have energy in the evening), there are a few things worth doing in Toronto tonight. Most notably The Drake Hotel returns tonight with their Boxing Day music series What's in the Box. From December 26 - 30th this annual mini fest will keep you warm and give you an excuse to duck out of the house to get sweaty in style with acts like Nautiluss, Phèdre, Doomsquad, Kevin McPhee, Prince Innocence, and Rich Aucoin.

Here's what to do in Toronto today.

Photo of Prince Innocence by Denise McMullin


What's open and closed on Boxing Day 2013 in Toronto

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open closed boxing day toronto 2013What's open and closed on Boxing Day 2013 in Toronto:

Closed

  • LCBO and Beer stores
  • Government offices and banks
  • Public libraries and museums
  • City services like garbage pick-up
  • No mail delivery
  • Major attractions like the Zoo, AGO, and ROM are closed

Open

  • Most grocery stores (although some will close earlier than usual)
  • Major movie theatres
  • Toronto's public skating rinks will be open from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.
  • Ripley's Aquarium Toronto (9am-9pm)

Malls

  • Eaton Centre: 7am-10pm
  • Yorkdale: 8am-8pm
  • Fairview Mall: 8am-8pm
  • Dufferin Mall: 9am-8pm
  • Scarborough Town Centre: 8am-8pm
  • Shops at Don Mills: 9am-8pm
  • Sherway Gardens: 7am-9pm
  • Pacific Mall: 11am-8pm

Public Transit

  • The TTC will operate on a Saturday schedule.

Boxing Day Sales

Photo by Dubes in the blogTO Flickr pool.

The top 5 new yoga studios in Toronto for 2013

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Yoga TorontoThe number of new yoga studios in Toronto are a reminder that if you thought the scene had reached its peak, it's time to think again. New studios are continuing to pop up in all corners of the city, with Queen West and Leslieville attracting more than a few. Many new studios are choosing to make their mark on discerning yogis by offering a little something extra - think spin yoga, ballet barre classes, and gravity-defying aerial yoga.

Here are five yoga studios that have all opened in Toronto within the past year.

YYoga
The yoga behemoth on this list, YYoga has it all - spin bikes, hot and cool rooms, tons of product, and even an infrared sauna. Opening in September near Queen and John, this is the Vancouver-based company's tenth studio and first in Ontario. They offer 135 classes a week and eight kinds of yoga. The options are endless. I recommend the prop-heavy restorative class for some serious Zen time. Your first class is free, and there's a competitive monthly membership package - $120 for unlimited yoga and sauna - that is quite appealing given the extra amenities and top-notch shower and changing facilities.

Fly Queen West
Charming and boutique-y, owner Colin and instructor Natalie opened Fly Queen West in October to offer small classes in aerial and suspension yoga and reformer pilates. Aerial yoga is indeed different from suspension yoga, and hanging about in silk is great fun - not to mention the spinal decompression benefits. Needless to say, a floating, cocooned Savasana is something everyone should experience. Giggles are encouraged. Did I mention there's a warm and friendly vibe? Right now all drop in classes are only $15 (a pretty good deal in the yoga world).

Yogathletix
Conveniently plopped smack in the middle of Leslieville (Queen and Carlaw), Yogathletix opened almost a year ago with an agreeable mix of yoga, pilates, and barre classes. With a focus on body toning rather than "OM-ing", friendly instructors, a variety of classes, and a stunning studio room is more than enough to entice visitors. And if you haven't used an UGI ball, your triceps are in for a treat. Personally however, I plan on going back for the exposed brick and Britney beats. With your first month unlimited for $40, it's totally worth it.

Power Yoga Canada Leaside
Power Yoga Canada opened its first Toronto franchise in August and it already has a loyal following of Leaside yummy mummies (and daddies), getting their sweat on with the signature Power60 or Power75 classes. The bright studio has plenty of space, though the changing facilities leave a lot to be desired. Definitely more yang than yin, expect a hearty round of applause as opposed to a long Savasana at the end of class. One advantage to being located in a strip mall complex: unlimited free parking. There's a decent introductory deal, too - five classes for $40 - that amazingly doesn't expire.

Float Suspension
Amber, the owner and instructor at Float Suspension, opened her suspension yoga studio this past summer, nestled in the basement of a George Street town house. Cozy, yet smartly decorated, the space is equipped with state-of-the-art Omgym Suspension Systems. If you're new to the practice, Amber's Intro-to-Suspension class is a non-intimidating way to get the hang of it. Small class sizes (she can accommodate five people per class) mean more attention - and trust me, when you're maneuvering yourself into floating inversions you'll appreciate a spotter. Try your first class for $10, or two weeks unlimited for $45. After that it's a bit pricier - ten classes for $170 and one month unlimited for $198.

Writing by Jean Grant

How Toronto plans to spend a #darkTO Boxing Day

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#darkTO Boxing DayBoxing Day in Toronto usually offers standard options - braving the wilds of discount shopping, catching a movie, or a cozy day of hermitting at home (aka detoxing from holiday parties pre NYE parties). This year is different - after hundreds of thousand of Torontonians lost power (and heat) for days, holiday plans got messed the eff up. Communication barriers and homes unfit to host a punk show let alone a family gathering turned bustling malls into unofficial warming and phone charging stations. As the 26th dawns, the latest number on outages is 70,000 homes currently without power.

We polled our Twitter followers to found out what you're doing this Boxing Day, and as expected the answers range from enthusiastically commercial to downright depressing. Here's a slice of Toronto's plans for this #darkTO Boxing Day.

How will you be spending this Boxing Day in Toronto? Let us know in the comments.

Don't forget to enter our Holiday Photo Challenge.

Toronto Restaurant Openings: Agave y Aguacate, Bar Buca, Cut The Cheese

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

OPEN NOW

  • Agave y Aguacate at 35 Baldwin Street opens officially on January 7th but is open for a public preview today, December 26th 'til Saturday, December 28th.
  • The long awaited Bar Buca is finally open at 75 Portland Street.
  • Von Doughnuts, a new gourmet bakery cafe opened this week at 713 Danforth Avenue with holiday hours.

RECENTLY REVIEWED

OPENING SOON

  • Kwan a new Chinese and dim sum spot is opening at 1496 Yonge Street in place of Didier. (via Chowhound)
  • Cut The Cheese in The Junction might finally start serving up grilled cheese and mac 'n' cheese this week or next at 2901 Dundas West.

OTHER NEWS

  • Hapa Izakaya (602 College Street) was shuttered this summer for flood-induced repair work. Now ready for a fresh start, the Japanese pub reopens on New Year's Eve.

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

Photo from Cut the Cheese's Facebook page.

How's the new Neapolitan pizza joint in the Annex?

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Napoli CentraleThe Annex has a new Neapolitan pizza joint that's been drawing in locals to the old Trane Studio space since the beginning of this month. So how's the pie?

Read my review of Napoli Centrale in the restaurants section.

Today in Toronto: Long Winter AGO Takeover, Only New Art, Sketchersons, Thom Gill

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Today in TorontoAGO's First Thursday opens its doors to Long Winter tonight. Performers include Snowblink and Doom Squad, an interactive video portrait installation with a live soundtrack by Dangling Participle, plus DJ Stelmanis (Katie Stelmanis of Austra), pop up carols by Isla Craig and Henri Fabergé, and installations by Paul Kneale, Megan Rooney, Anni Spadafora and Tough Guy Mountain. "21st-Century Art: Why Feminism Still (Really) Matters", a conversation between Shary Boyle, Vanessa Dunn (of VAG HALEN) and Petra Collins, will be going down at 7pm.

Here's what to do in Toronto today.

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

Photo of Petra Collins by Zara Mirkin

The top 5 winter music festivals in Toronto for 2014

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winter music festivals torontoWinter Music Festivals in Toronto are generally not as massive or memorable as some of our spring and summer fests, but they're still pretty exciting. They're also something to do after you finally catch frostbite from winter surfing (check out our 50 things to do in winter post for more indoor and outdoor winter ideas). From a one day outdoor EDM fest to indoor showcases by local promoters committed to doing the talent scouting heavy lifting for us, here are five ongoing and upcoming winter music fests to look forward to.

Long Winter | Jan 10, Feb 7, March 7th | The Great Hall | PWYC
Long Winter is back for year two and already in full swing. The Fucked Up curated/invented/branded dealie mixes bands, art installations, food and more at The Great Hall, where temperatures are always womb-hot no matter how much ice and snow deign to cover this great metropolis. Remaining concerts will take place January 10, Febrary 7, and March 7. They're also taking over the AGO for first Thursdays tonight.

Class of 2014: Indie Rock Honour Roll | January 3, 11, 17, 18, 24 | Silver Dollar
From January 11 - January 25, the Class of 2014 concert series will rock out at the Silver Dollar Room every weekend. Headliners include Fresh Show, Jef Barbara, Cellphone, and Akua, while presenters include Wavelength, Silent Shout, Mark Pesci's Toronto Punk and Hardcore Shows, and Aron Miller of Arts & Crafts. Read our full preview here. Will these bands be Toronto's break out acts of 2014? Decide for yourself.

Brrrrr! Winter Music Festival | Feb 1 | Echo Beach | $47 - $94
Brrrrr! Winter Music Festival will be back for a second year, heating up outdoor venue Echo Beach on February 1st, 2014. Brrrrr! promises "a diverse lineup, stunning visual displays and an incendiary vibe" for about $50-$60. Wolfgang Gartner, Sharam, Bass Jackers, Lee Foss and Felix Cartal and more are on the line up. VIP tickets are pricey at $97 but get you access to heated areas and bottle service. Did anyone go last year? Was this awful, or fun?

Wavelength 14 | Feb 13-16 | Various Venues | free - $49
Now entering its 14th year, the 2014 Wavelength Festival will run from February 13-16. The local collective's music and arts fest will showcase some killer bands at venues around Toronto. This year you can see Colin Stetson, Marnie Stern, DIANA, Cousins, TOPS, US Girls, The Wet Secrets, Odonis Odonis, and many more. You can also bet on special connected events and daytime programming, freebies, and hopefully some all-ages gigs. Weird Canada will be launching their new distro, too - whoah. $49 all access passes are available.

Winterfolk | February 14-16 | Various venues | $15+
Not feeling the indie and electronic concerts? If you're looking for something more roots oriented, Winterfolk XII will showcase over 150 blues and roots artists on 5 stages from February 14-16. This winter festival is held at various locations on the Danforth. It will also include panels, and workshops for guitar playing, song writing, and more. Check out ticket pricing here.

Photo of Wavelength 13 by Brian Chambers


Art gallery meets oddity shop on Bathurst St.

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Weird ThingsThis art gallery / antique shop / curio emporium opened last summer on Bathurst just south of Dupont. It might be too early to speak of a bonafide arts resurgence along here, but with the camera-happy Nerd's World virtually next door, something interesting is going on to be sure. With new exhibitions once a month-ish and plenty of offbeat items on offer in between, this shop is a bright spot on what can sometimes feel like a tired stretch of road.

Read my review of Weird Things in the gallery section.

Toronto Restaurant Openings: Nine Bars, Carbon Bar, Roast, My Zaidy's Gluten Free Bakery, Sky Blue Sky

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

OPEN NOW

  • Nine Bars is now open at 46 St. Clair East. The new cafe has launched with a coffee only menu but has plans to roll out a menu of gourmet sandwiches too.
  • Carbon Bar from the team behind Nota Bene has been open for two weeks already at 99 Queen Street East.
  • Roast Butcher Shop and Fine Foods has opened at 786 St. Clair West, offering naturally raised meat and prepared food.

OPENING SOON

RECENTLY REVIEWED

OTHER NEWS

  • The Steady (1051 Bloor Street West) is now serving brunch on weekdays from Wednesday to Sunday. The rest of the menu is set to transition to a selection of small plates.

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

Photo from our review of Sky Blue Sky Sandwich Company

Rob Ford officially running for re-election in Toronto

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Rob Ford election 2014Embattled Toronto Mayor Rob Ford was resounding in his desire to run for the re-election in the wake of numerous scandals that rocked his office in 2013, and now he's made it official. Showing up early (especially for Ford) to City Hall, the current mayor was first in line to submit his nomination papers for the 2014 municipal election in Toronto.

In an interesting twist, the Mayor's brother, Councillor Doug Ford, confirmed that he will not be running for re-election in his ward but will instead act as campaign manager for his younger brother. He also mentioned the possibility of running for provincial politics in an interview on AM640 this morning.

Rob Ford election 2014In a brief scrum after filing his papers, the Mayor revealed that his campaign slogan would be "Ford more years," a phrase that's as grating as it might be effective. And, as was to be expected, the early strategy for dealing with questions related to the crack scandal that plagued the mayor for much of 2013 is to characterize them as "personal" while turning attention to Ford's record.

Election Day is Monday, October 27, 2014. What do you think Rob Ford's chances are?

Photo by John Tavares in the blogTO Flickr pool.

New restaurant brings a bit of rural charm to Parkdale

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Parkdale restaurantThe vision behind this casual new kitchen and bar is rooted in rural hospitality and small town charm. The menu features riffs on familiar comfort foods like scotch eggs and classic cocktails with clever updates to please modern tastes.

Read my profile of Small Town Food Co. in the restaurants section.

10 teeth-chattering photos of the annual Polar Bear Dip

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Polar Bear Dip Toronto 2014The annual Polar Bear Dip took place New Year's Day at Sunnyside Beach in the midst of a deep freeze in Toronto, with temperatures hovering around -12C. Some 400 people participated in fundraising efforts for Habitat for Humanity, the beneficiary of the event, though about half that number took the frigid plunge into Lake Ontario. The water was just above freezing, and the teeth chattering began well before participants introduced themselves to its unwelcoming grips. These are some brave people. Or aliens. Charitable aliens.

Check out all the shiver-inducing photos in this gallery of the Polar Bear Dip.


Welcome to 2014

Next Stage Theatre Festival preview 2014

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Next Stage Theatre FestivalThe Toronto Fringe Festival took a small hit this past summer when clouds moved in and delivered more rain in one day than ever on record in the city. The weather wasn't able to dampen the spirit of the 25th annual indie festival though -- there were record ticket sales during the first four days and spontaneous pop-up performances in the wake of cancellations. The Next Stage Theatre Festival, the Fringe's winter programme, provides an annual jump start to another year of theatre. Here are some of the most exciting on offer in 2014.

A Misfortune / Common Descent / Factory Studio Theatre
Adapted from an Anton Chekhov short story of the same name, A Misfortune is a romantic tale about a married woman and her lover, a young lawyer, who take a stroll through the woods. While Sofya knows that she must end the relationship, doing so proves to be more difficult than she ever anticipated. It's a tall order adapting the thoughtful Chekhov, especially into musical form, so it'll be interested to see how Director Evan Tsitsias brings this one to the stage.

Fatherly / Sam S. Mullins / Factory Theatre Antechamber
Writer and performer Sam S. Mullins found success at last summer's Fringe Festival with Weaksauce, a coming-of-age tale about falling in love and losing that love to another guy. Mullins has established himself as a clever, humorous storyteller and an affable performer. Fatherly finds Mullins taking us on a journey from a heart-to-heart conversation with his dad to the eventual death of a Texan firefighter.

Polar Opposites / TiltHAUS / Factory Theatre Antechamber
Intriguingly billed as "2 parts comedy, 1 part tragedy, ½ table tennis, and ¼ mask theatre," Polar Opposites examines a moment in the life of two polar bears floating on an iceberg that's slowly melting. Don't expect a Coca-Cola commercial. Playwright and performer Nicole Ratjen, who appears alongside Stephanie Jung, has created the polar masks for the production, that will help give animation to the arctic characters.

Rifles / Praxis Theatre / Factory Mainspace
Playwright Nicolas Billon had a memorable 2013, taking home the Governor General's award for his collection of plays, Fault Lines: Greenland -- Iceland -- Faroe Islands. The new year sees him premiering an adaptation of Brecht's 1937 play Senora Carrar's Rifles for Praxis Theatre. Directed by Michael Wheeler, the play explores a widow's desire to save her sons from combat during the Spanish Civil War.

Scheherazade / Nobody's Business Theatre / Factory Studio Theatre
Creative duo Morgan Norwich and Johnnie Walker (The Other Three Sisters, A Maude-Lynne Evening) routinely tour Canada's fringe circuit with thoughtful, clever work. Their newest, Scheherazade, riffs off of the classic One Thousand and One Nights to consider opulence, unions, and well-kept secrets. Re-told through a contemporary sensibility, the play follows the title character's plan to stop a lustful King who kills his bride each and every morning.

Stencilboy and Other Portraits / Paradigm Productions / Factory Studio Theatre
Susanna Fournier's Stencilboy and Other Portraits considers the desires that drive us toward action. Lily moves to the big city in an attempt to fulfill her dream of being immortalized on an artist's canvas. She meets two men who can make her wish come true, one a once successful artist and the other who creates graffiti. The play, an exploration of art, love, and desire, stars Richard Clarkin, Brandon Coffey, and Sochi Fried.

The Next Stage Theatre Festival runs from January 8-19 at Factory Theatre. Visit the Toronto Fringe Festival website for tickets, venue information, and the complete festival lineup.

Photo from Polar Opposites


The top 5 indie bands from the Class of 2014 in Toronto

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Class of 2014At the beginning of each new year, The Silver Dollar hosts a show series featuring a selection of fresh bands that stand out as the best bets to rise above the rest in the indie ranks. The Class of 2014 series will fill up the Silver Dollar on five separate dates: January 3rd, 11th, 17th, 18th, and 24th. How can you trust that these bands are any better than the terrible noise rockers that jam in the basement of your apartment complex?

Put your faith in Toronto's indie scene saviour, Dan Burke, who has collaborated with Wavelength Music Series, Silent Shout, Arts & Crafts' Aaron Miller, and the hardcore scene's Mark Pesci to book the most promising acts. The Silver Dollar understands that you spent all your money on hard liquor to help you through the holidays, so these shows stay in the $7 range. Each installment of the Class of 2014 will have a totally different vibe, with wicked new talent from a wide array of genres. The highlights below are definitely worth checking out - in a year from now, you'll be able to say "I knew them when."

Alex Calder
Kicking off the series will be Montreal-based composer Alex Calder, singing his washed-out vocals over a lo-fi grumble of basic drums and tinny guitar. The 23-year-old played drums in Mac DeMarco's band Makeout Videotape and has since explored his own songwriting skills on his self-recorded EP, Time. Critics are paying close attention, he's been reviewed by Pitchfork, Exclaim, and a whole slew of other music blogs. This year he set a fast pace for himself, releasing new songs and videos, touring throughout Canada and the US, keeping in touch with fans... and even recording an anime make-up tutorial vid.

Fresh Snow
The Wavelength curated show on January 11th will have Toronto favourites Fresh Snow performing their synth and guitar powered instrumentals. This July, they released their debut full length "I" to a whirlwind of positive reviews, quickly turning these guys into what I'd call Toronto hometown sweethearts, cause just about everyone named them as a band to watch. Year end lists reflected that, we named them in our top albums of the year, and Gray Owl, The Toronto Star, The Grid, Torontoist, and NOW all had similar things to say. In December, they graced the cover of NOW before taking part in Long Winter. They will keep it coming in 2014.

Bizzarh
In collaboration with Silent Shout, The Class of 2014's third installment will feature two Toronto teens that make up the soul/rap duo, Bizzarh. Their one-of-a-kind cosmic hip-hop sound has gained them a ton of attention, and their freshness to the scene makes this act that much more promising. They released Soft Porn EP in the summer, and followed it up by hosting underground late-night parties known as Aftershock. You might have seen them at Wavelength's Outdoor Music Festival, or when they took over Wrongbar for NXNE earlier this year.

Red Mass
This band does things a little differently. The Montreal-based rock band is an ever changing collaborative project that brings together artists and musicians from all over the world. Their creations are influenced by punk, rock'n'roll, roots, metal, folk, pop and experimental music. Their roster is only growing as their releases become more and more frequent, and they're quickly racking up festival and blog cred. On January 18th they will pack onto the Silver Dollar stage for the punk/hardcore edition of Class of 2014.

Akua
Akua's solo career is off to a promising start, having received musical comparisons to Rhye and Jessie Ware, and opened for Katy B, Solange and Cody ChesnuTT. She spent 2012 making herself seen and heard at NXNE, Pop Montreal , CMW and Tinderbox Music Festival. Following that, 2013 saw the debut of One's Company EP, which caught the attention Pigeons & Planes, Okayplayer, MTV Iggy, Exclaim!, Yours Truly, IndieShuffle and Earmilk. Her future is bright, she'll keep things rolling by touring her EP this year while working on a collection of new material.

Photo of Bizzarh via Facebook

Toronto Food Events: Las Americas, School Shucks Oyster Class, 100-Mile Pinot Tasting

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oysters torontoToronto 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

  • Nota Bene (180 Queen Street West) presents Las Americas from Wednesday, January 8th until Thursday, January 30th. The special 4-course menu for $68 will feature dishes from Ecuador, Peru, Argentina and Mexico.
  • The Winter Farmers Market returns to Steam Whistle Brewing (255 Bremner Blvd) this Sunday, January 5th from 10am 'til 2pm.

UPCOMING

  • School Shucks Oyster Class is in session Sunday, January 12th from 2pm to 5pm at Hogtown Pub and Oysters (633 College Street). Tickets are $95 for the hands on class.
  • Passport for Change, a speed dating-style event focused on health and wellness will offer participants one-on-one 6-minute sessions with dieticians, nutritionists, personal trainers and life coaches on Sunday, January 12th at Artscape at Wychwood Barns (76 Wychwood Avenue).
  • Monday, January 13th, The Ontario Wine Society presents a 100-Mile Pinot Tasting at UofT Faculty Club (41 Wilcocks a Avenue). General admission is $75.
  • Porzia (1314 Queen Street West) celebrates its first year at 7pm on Sunday, January 26th with a collaborative 5-course dinner menu ($85) with wine pairings from Basilio Pesce and guest chef Craig Harding (Campagnolo). Reservations are a must.
  • Momofuku features Hinterland Wine Company at the next instalment of their Ontario Wine Dinner Series happening Monday, January 20th from 6:30pm. Tickets are $100 per person for the family style feast with wine pairings at Daisho (190 University Avenue).

Latin American restaurant lounge replaces Moskito

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Ricky RicardosIt's been a while since something had staying power at 423 College St. Moskito, the last iteration of the space, has now given way to a more food-friendly restaurant lounge with Latin American roots. Will a creative menu and lots of live music be enough to make this place stick?

Read my review of Ricky Ricardo's Restaurant and Mojito Bar in the restaurants section.

Toronto toys with calling in the army for storm cleanup

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Ice Storm Army TorontoOh, boy, Deputy Mayor Norm Kelly is considering asking the Canadian Army for help in cleaning up the extensive damage caused by the December 2013 ice storm in Toronto. With a $75 million price tag and an estimate eight weeks of work to clear downed trees, power lines and other debris from the storm, there's likely a convincing argument to be made that our armed forces should be put to work, but one has serious doubts that it'll do the city any favours in the reputation department. For whatever reason, people still find it endlessly entertaining that Mayor Mel Lastman brought in the troops to help dig us out back in 1999.

According to the Globe & Mail, Kelly claims that it's merely a matter of so-called manpower. "It's just, if we can get a lot of guys here and we can get into neighbourhoods and just say, 'Hey, can we give you a hand and get that stuff out?' ... I'm not sure technically how the army and its reserves could fit into that, so it's something I'm exploring," the Deputy Mayor explained.

Logical or not, should the army be deployed once again, Toronto's likely to become known as the city 1) with a crack smoking mayor and 2) that calls in the army whenever a big snow or ice storm rolls through. Only one of those statements would be true, of course, but tread lightly Mr. Kelly, lest you want to make the rest of the country feel very smug.

Photo by Ferit Onurlu in the blogTO Flickr pool

The Best 24 Hour Grocery Stores in Toronto

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24 hour grocery stores torontoThe best 24 hour grocery stores in Toronto come in handy when you find yourself working late, partying late, or just looking for a midnight snack. The key, of course, is to know what grocery stores are open when you need them. We tend to pay for our 24-hour convenience out of pocket as stores typically increase their prices at all night locations, but they got to pay someone to be there so we can have our Cheetos fix, so I'm thinking it's still a win.

Here are the best 24 hour grocery stores in Toronto.

See also:The Best 24 Hour Restaurants in Toronto

Galleria (Thornhill)
Opened in 2003, Galleria Supermarket in Thornhill is a huge grocery specializing in Korean products. The prices aren't the cheapest in town, but low for a 24hour grocery, perfect for satiating a late night tofu and kimchi craving.

Metro (Liberty Village)
The Liberty Village Metro has the wider selection of the two 24 hour Metros, with more organic, gourmet and health food options as well, though prices at all Metro Groceries seem steeper than other places. Still, it's clean, bright and well organized with plenty of parking for one of those late night lingering grocery shops we all take now and then.

Bloor SuperFresh (384 Bloor St. W)
Located in the Annex, Bloor Superfresh has a wonderful selection of fresh fruit, vegetables, and health food products, making it a great late night pit stop for those who prefer carrot sticks to ketchup chips, but don't worry they have those too.

Tremblett's Valu-Mart
Serving Bayview and Davisville, Tremblett's Valu-Mart is community focused and family friendly, with a complete supply of fresh produce, meat and packaged food. They carry the full line of President's Choice products too so you can make those chocolate soda pop floats everyone's drooling over.

Metro (College Shaw)
Overpriced and understocked it may be, but the Metro at College and Shaw is hopping in the wee hours of the weekend, serving all the stragglers after the bars close. They often have deals on Dr. Oetker's pizza and Ben and Jerry's just for that purpose.

Rabba Fine Foods (Wellesley)
Under the Verve condo building at Wellesley and Homewood Avenue, this Rabba Fine Foods has friendly cashiers and a surprising good assemblage of products, not to mention a Subway counter at the back if you've got a late night hunger that's a foot long.

Sobey's (Danforth East)
There are several perks to this Sobey's location, 24-hour service, fresh fruit, vegetables and meat plus all the great brands you're looking for. There are cheaper deals at other spots during the day, but who else offers a bulk candy aisle in the neighbourhood at 2 am?

Metro (Lawrence and Bathurst)
This Metro, located in the Lawrence Plaza, has the usual fare, with the added bonus of a expansive kosher section, not to mention a Tim Horton's inside, thus guaranteeing customers at least two types of bagels at all times.

Sobey's (St. Clair East)
The St. Clair East Sobey's is a condensed grocery store with the benefits of 24-hour accessibility. To-go hot food and take-away salads make for an easy meal in the middle of the night, and if you make it by 11 pm you can hit the Wine Rack located inside.

Use this map to find additional 24 hour grocery stores in Toronto

Photo by Benson Kua

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