The annual No Pants Subway Ride took place this weekend in almost 60 cities across the world, including here in Toronto where hordes of pantless passengers hit up the TTC at Downsview Station much to the bemusement of their fellow riders. The turnout this year was far better than in 2013, and you can bet that the 200 some odd folks who decided to drop their slacks were thankful for temperatures that were at least bearable compared to the cold spell we just suffered.

The crew headed south to Spadina Station, transferred to the Bloor-Danforth Line at everyone's favourite tunnel, before making its way to the Office Pub for a few libations. Along the way they received hundreds of quizzical looks, received a few smiles, and disrupted the mundanity of a boring Sunday on the TTC.

Check out this gallery to see how the 2014 No Pants Subway Ride went down in Toronto.

RuPaul's Drag Race Battle of the Seasons' made its Toronto stop at the Danforth Music Hall on Saturday in front of a sold out crowd. With 1,500 screaming fans in the audience, it was something of a gay Beatles moment. Perfectly timed to promote Season 6, which debuts in February, this tour served to solidify RuPaul's reign, and prove that drag has never been more than it is right now.

Media personality and singer Michelle Visage played 'ring leader' for the night. Since season 3 of Drag Race, she's become a permanent judge on the show, and based on the uproar of applause she received it was clear she's a favourite amongst fans. An honourary drag queen, she was a charming host and sang some of the best numbers of the night, including her group Seduction's 89's hit "Two To Make It Right."

After Carmen's very tame one and only number of the night, she settled into her role as ring girl. This involved her parading across the stage in various almost-not-there swimwear while carrying poster sized pics of the next girl up to perform.

Since coming out as a trans woman after her season in the spotlight she's been focusing on - and having success with - her work as a model. This was absolutely the perfect vehicle for her to display her jaw dropping figure and beauty. I'm going to assume there was some disappointment among her fans though, as all she did was walk back and forth across the stage for the remainder of the night.

Willam, who arguably has had the most success post Drag Race, has a huge online presence with various web shows and a slew of viral parody singles like "Rupologize," "Chow Down" and "Boy is a Bottom." Expectations were high for Willam, but unfortunately her set was marred by tech problems during her biggest hit, "Bottom." As one of the queens who's a legit singer, she inexplicably sang live for less than half of her time on stage. Then her best and funniest (and Annie inspired) number of the night just seemed to be getting going when it abruptly ended. As one of my personal faves, this was most disappointing.

Jinkx was the clearly the highlight of the night. A consummate entertainer, she proved she has talent far beyond the other girls, and I think the first winner of any of the seasons to truly give RuPaul herself a run for her money. From her songs - sung with a Broadway worthy vocal range and power - to her comedic banter and impeccable timing and her hilarious intro video about drugs, she simply ruled the night. Winner of season 5 at the age of 25, she likely has a lengthy diverse career ahead of her.

Also of note were her underwear clad hunx, who reappeared later on to twerk to a condensed version of RuPaul and Big Freedia's great track "Peanut Butter."

Miss Congeniality from Season 5, Ivy Winters had the most unique numbers of the night showcasing her adept circus skills. Stilt walking, juggling knives, and breathing fire while a flurry of snow fell onto the crowd, her sets felt very fresh and she displayed skills you rarely see in drag shows, focusing more on the circus acts themselves and less on the lip synching.

Known primarily for her humour, the only girl of the night from Season 2 was Pandora Boxx. Her first set was a standup routine, which should have infused the night with wit and laughs, but it seemed to fall a little flat. And her second Harry Potter inspired set was completely lost on me.

Manila Luzon has admitted publicly that she's not a singer, and yet currently has four singles to her name - not a great sign. She chose twice to lip synch overtop of her own songs, and when she did sing live on the atrocious cookie cutter dance track "Bring It," it was obvious why. Even Jinkx's involvement in that number couldn't save it.

A favorite from Season 3, she seemed to suffer most from what I'll refer to as "reality TV syndrome" in which someone does amazingly well and is liked on a reality show - including by me! - but then outside of that context their talent doesn't really translate in the real world. Potentially her numbers would have worked in a small club, but they certainly didn't on a stage the size of the Danforth.

With a cute 'grand finale' involving all the girls singing together and a gorgeous Carmen swaying alongside them, we said goodnight to the Battle of the Seasons tour and left anticipating the premiere of Drag Race Season 6 at home.

MORE PHOTOS

Writing by Regina. Photos by Alejandro Santiago

After a six-year stint on Ossington, LeVack Block closed its doors for good after celebrating with one last blow-out dance party this past Saturday. The historic three storey building has been sold to new owners, which signals the end for the bar (and club-like back space) and event venue that was housed on the top floor. Once one of Ossington's hottest Friday and Saturday night destinations, the crowds just hadn't been the same over the last couple of years.

While the address never received a "heritage conservation designation," the building dates back to the late 19th century and future development is subject to review by Heritage Preservation Services. So while it's unclear what's in store for the space, the pressure will be on to preserve the structure in its future iteration.

What would you like to see surface at 88 Ossington Avenue? A new bar? Restaurant? Boutique hotel? Add your wish-list to the comments below.

The best new cafes that opened in Toronto during 2013 speak to the continuing rise of coffee culture in this city, which has led to superior coffee shops popping up in virtually every neighbourhood. Competition is fierce, so baristas and shop owners are becoming increasingly knowledgeable about their product.

While being open, friendly, and set on delivering a masterfully pulled jolt from their espresso machines was once enough to build a reputation on, these days you've got to go that extra step. Head out and watch Toronto's best new cafes raising the bar on design, roasting, baked goods, efficiency, and price, and drink to a standout year for caffeine in Hogtown.

Here are the best new cafes in Toronto for 2013.

See also:

The Best New Cafes in Toronto, 2012
The Best New Cafes in Toronto, 2011
The Best New Cafes in Toronto, 2010

The CN Tower had its day in the sun over Romania thanks to something we think about less and less - the little picture on a stamp. Once upon a time snail mail was a huge deal in Toronto, but as it goes out of style (RIP) so will the stamps we kissed for good luck.

Yet in 1996 long before philatelists (stamp collectors, duh) had an inkling of how doomed their passion could become, something called the International Philatelic Libraries Association (IPLA) formed in Toronto at a party called the Capex 96 (the 1996 Canadian Philatelic Exhibition). And what a party it was - forty-five philatelic reps from twenty-five libraries in Canada, France, England, Germany, Finland, Cyprus, South Africa and more - including, one must assume, Romania - attended. Crashing a stamp convention is definitely on my bucket list.

No record currently exists as to how crazy Capex 96 got (possibly a testament to how crazy things got), but Romania must have had fun because its Toronto-centric stamp is probably the best ever to feature this fine city, though we've posted some others below. They didn't even feel the need to add superfluous mountains (see below) or cute kitties.

Apparently the International Philatelic Libraries Association is still active on every continent, but if it is they must do all their business by snail-mail because their Google presence is almost enviably negligible. IPLA, what's up? Someone must remember this party.

As for other Toronto-centric stamps -- while the CN Tower also rather mysteriously appears surrounded by mountains on a Liberian $15 stamp from 2001, Toronto's urban landscape hasn't made an appearance on many Canadian stamps to date - that honour seems most often to go to Canada geese, Parliament Hill, and (ugh) the queen - but the Spadina streetcar was featured in 2013 as part of Canada Post's "Chinatown Gates" series, and a few others have popped up, including a Millennium Collection stamp that featured the good old CN Tower itself.

Here are some of Toronto's other philatelic appearances. You can also check out some (mostly terrible) fan-made stamps here on Zazzle. Obviously we at DrakeTO eagerly await the Drake stamp.

Mount Assiniboine & CN Tower, A Philatelic Tour of The World, 2001, Liberia, $15

Toronto neighbourhood, Ontario Street Scene, 1982, 60¢

Runnymede Library, 1989, $1

1867-1967 Toronto, Capital City of Ontario, 1967, 5¢ (Check out this City Hall stamp that never made the cut.)

CN Tower, The Millennium Collection, 2000, 46¢

Toronto Stock Exchange 1852-2002, commemorating the 150th anniversary of the TSX, 2002, 48¢

Chinatown gates - Zhong Hua Men Gateway Arch, 2013

Capex 87 Post Office (via Toronto's First Post Office)

Global Village Backpackers, Toronto's popular hostel (in business since 1997) at the corner of King and Spadina, abruptly announced to staff yesterday they are closing. We're told the decision was made by the owner of the business and management were informed by phone. Current guests have been given to Monday to find alternate accommodations.

The news was greeted with shock and disappointment among the community of former and current (now out of work) employees and officially became public today around noon with postings to the hostel's Twitter and Facebook page. No reason was given except that it's "due to extreme unforeseen circumstances." We reached out to management (who also lost their jobs) for more information but were told any additional details would be unavailable until Monday.

Condolences and remembrances of good times past reined in on Twitter and Facebook as well as at least one personal blog. The adjacent bar, the Departure Lounge, is also closing while the sister Kensington Hostel continues to remain operational under new ownership. It's unclear what will happen to Moose Travel Network which operated out of the building for many years.

The owners of Global Village do not own the property so any decision what to do with the building will be made by the landlord.

Photo by David Williams in the blogTO Flickr pool.

At the centre of Evelyne de la Chenelière's Flesh and Other Fragments of Love lies the pale, lifeless corpse of a young woman which has washed up on the beach of an Irish vacation village. The body presents less an invitation into the events that led to her demise and more an entry point into the relationship of a married couple transfixed by her discovery and by that which she represents.

The playwright's deeply poetic and arresting dialogue explores the unspoken tensions of jealousy and infidelity that boil beneath a long marriage. While sometimes obtuse and mired in its own personal journey, the language of the central characters portrays a compelling and human portrait of the contradictions of love. It soars when at the extremes of the spectrum, devotion and denial, but feels bogged down in the in between.

A couple's already strained vacation comes to a halt when Pierre (Blair Williams) discovers the untouched corpse of a young woman named Mary (Nicole Underhay) on a solo walk along the coast. For his anxious wife Simone (Maria del Mar), the young woman represents the outside-of-marriage fascinations which have continually stolen Pierre's attention. Together they piece together the events which led to Mary's resting place, a performance that reveals more about their own preoccupations than that of their subject.

de la Chenelière employs an inventive narrative structure to reach the root of Pierre and Simone's partnership. The characters deliver uninterrupted monologues to one another, revisit scenes from their relationship together, and attempt to uncover the mystery of Mary's death by performing invented scenarios. It results in a rich, but sometimes hard to follow, exploration of their shared history.

Their confessions -- about freedom, jealousy and all-consuming dependence -- are poetically penned. de la Chenelière has a wonderful grasp on language, matching potent visuals with their corresponding emotion (credit also due to translator Linda Gaboriau). These reflections are sometimes so deep that we become lost in a torrent of words, losing sense of the true meaning.

Director Richard Rose helps uncover the unique dialogue placing Pierre and Simone in orbit of Mary's body. While there is initially enough room to accommodate their musings, the staging becomes less dynamic as the play progresses -- the characters break into Mary's dramatic space but with little impact.

Williams and del Mar are well matched in the discussions of freedom and devotion. As a curious and intellectually driven hedonist, Williams is equal parts charm and revulsion. del Mar delivers the most emotional impact as a woman searching for dependency.

de la Chenelière's tale, adapted from Marie Cardinal's novel Une vie pour deux, is an intellectually challenging and poetic study of long term love, set under the microscope when death intervenes. It resonates with human yearnings that are as relatable as they are opaque.

--

Flesh and Other Fragments of Love, written by Evelyne de la Chenelière and directed by Richard Rose, runs at the Tarragon Theatre until February 16.

Photos by Cylla von Tiedemann

Martin Short is one of Canada's best-known comedy exports. After making his mark on the Toronto comedy scene (alongside fellow Can-con legends John Candy and Eugene Levy) in the Second City troupe in the late '70s, his work on SCTV and Saturday Night Live in the early '80s catapulted him into the sketch-comedy pantheon.

In the years since, he's popped up in countless oddball character roles on film and TV (notably in How I Met Your Mother and Arrested Development); created his celebrity-interviewer alter ego, Jiminy Glick; and judged the first - and to date, the only - season of Canada's Got Talent.

Toronto hasn't been Short's home base for a long time - the Hamilton native moved to California in the mid-'80s, and he's quick to point out he's around only a handful of days each year - but his roots in the city still remain. He's set to return on Feb. 8 as the headlining act for Laugh Out Loud, a charity gala benefit for the Trillium Health Partners Foundation.

Short called me from L.A. to chat about where he likes to go for pasta, and why he's not going to invite Rob Ford onstage anytime soon. (I resisted the urge to ask him if he was a strong swimmer.)

You're headlining the Laugh Out Loud gala next month. Tell us about why this cause is so close to your heart.

First off all, I'm always drawn to any time I can go back to Toronto and hang, I'm happy to go back. And my son, Henry, actually lives here. But it's an amazing organization -- they do fantastic work. The hospitals are the most important element of a community, and that's what they help support, so I'm all for it.

What's in store for your performance at the event?

It's Martin Short Live...it's me hosting Saturday Night Live and being the cast, as well. It's a one-man variety show...it's a party with Marty.

You've signed on to guest star on SCTV costar Andrea Martin's new show. What was it like shooting in Toronto again?

I was a guest on one of the shows, yeah. I was just there in December. It's always fun [to come back]. I lived in Toronto from '72 to '86 or something -- it was my principal residence. But, you know, I have a cottage up in Muskoka, so I'm back in the Toronto area in the summer.

How often do you get back to Toronto? What are your days usually like while here?

If I'm in Toronto, usually, I'm working. But sometimes I'll do days on either end of the work session to see friends, see my son, go to a hockey game, things like that.

Any favourite hangouts or restaurants?

Giancarlo, I love Giancarlo. Sotto Sotto. Those are probably my two faves.

Growing up in Hamilton, what was your relationship with Toronto like growing up?

We used to come in as a family to go to the O'Keefe Centre, now the Sony Centre, and we would see Harry Belafonte, people like that. Judy Garland, the musical Oliver. So that was my first connection to international show business, was through the O'Keefe Centre. And I'd come in to the Ex, every year.

Have you kept an eye on the comedy or theatre scene in Toronto since you left?

I will still go to the Second City shows. Andrew Alexander, who ran Second City for 40 years, is a dear friend of mine, and I'll always go see the shows. I'm curious about that.

What's next for you after this?

I'm doing a television series for FOX right now, called Mullaney, and we're shooting six episodes of that, so I'll be doing that 'til probably the end of March in L.A.

We hear that when you're touring your solo show, you ask the mayor of whatever town you're in to make an appearance. Do you see a Jiminy Glick-Rob Ford showdown in the future?

No, I think Rob Ford is really not very good for Toronto. I don't find the Rob Ford thing as funny as some. I find it makes Toronto look silly to have a mayor like that. A mayor is the ambassador to the city. And so I always feel a little bit, y'know, like I wish he'd had resigned, dealt with his personal issues, and if he wants to run again, fine. But him sitting there and being entrenched in his position doesn't make him a fan of Toronto, it makes him a fan of himself. And the constant support for him makes the city look silly internationally.

The top free events in Toronto this week run from predictable art openings to David Cronenberg to the world's largest rocking horse. When cruising through our events section, I'll sometimes think to myself damn, there is a lot to do in this city that is absolutely free. Lucky us.

Yet if you're broke enough to salivate at the words "free event," you probably don't have time to comb Toronto's listing websites looking for things to do. No cash? No time? No problem. Here are some things to get up to this week for the price of however much wear and tear you put on your shoes/clothing/body while attending. And maybe TTC.

Leslieville Flea
The Leslieville Flea is back this weekend, and The Distillery District is where you'll find east-enders doing their vintage and crafty shopping today. 70 vendors will be on hand selling vintage, salvage, antiques, furniture, art, handcrafted items and more. The Fermenting Cellar will house the vendors this time, and hopefully keep them toasty. Look for clothing, nicknacks, handmades, edible goodies, and much more. The Fermenting Cellar (28 Distillery Lane), Sunday, January 19, 10am-5pm.

Biblio-mat Fanatic Day
The Biblio-mat is an actual vending machine by Craig Small (of local animation studio The Juggernaut) that, rather than dispensing diabetes-inducing treats, drops down books - mystery used titles out of the 100 or so volumes that the machine holds. Vincent Lui, a big fan of the 'mat, purchased one book from the machine each week for an entire year - and yes, he read them all, and published reviews of all 52 online. Today, The Paw will celebrate his achievements with a cocktail party! Read more about it here. The Monkey's Paw (1229 Dundas West), Sunday, January 19, 4-7pm.

Videos of People Having Their Picture Taken
If you like your art creepy, tonight is your night. Videos of People Having Their Picture Taken is a video portrait series Jole Walinga where "strangers are unaware that their pose is being documented as a performance rather than a still image." Awk-ward. OZ Studios (134 Ossington Ave Toronto), Sunday January 19, 6pm.

The W.O.W. Project At Videofag
Tomorrow you can stop by Videofag for Canadian Queer Women's theatre. There will be a reading of Ann Marie MacDonald's international hit "Goodnight Desdemona Good Morning Juliet" plus snacks, drinks, and discussion. The event is PWYC, so hey, pay what you can. Videofag (187 Augusta Ave), Monday January 20, 8pm.

A Conversation Between David Cronenberg and Piers Handling
I've never heard David Cronenberg talk, and I just realized I think I'd find that really, really interesting. Before I start Googling for interviews with Canada's King of Creep, I'll recommend us both checking out this discussion about "creativity and the generation of ideas: an exploration of the possible relationships between technology art cinema architecture design and city landscapes." Come on, you know he's going to sneak something about aliens in there. OCAD University's Auditorium Room 190 (100 McCaul St), Tuesday January 21, 7pm.

Open House Another Project by Tough Guy Mountain
I wish I'd thought of calling something Tough Guy Mountain. It really rolls off the tongue. Check out this weird Toronto art... thing: "From condo show rooms pop-up office synergy beautifully designed new products piping hot videos and clever marketing schemes; Tough Guy Mountain is a vital new force in the city of Toronto." This is part of the Toronto Design Offsite Festival. Narwhal (2988 Dundas Street West), opening Wednesday January 22 from 6-10pm.

RIC Opening Reception
If you have nostalgia for the fading art of the darkroom (may it never truly die), stop into Ryerson's The Disappearance of Darkness for Burley's photos taken between 2005 - 2010 of sites and events related to the production and business of photography, including corporations like Kodak, Agfa, and Ilford. The exhibit is fresh from the National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa. Also on display: Phil Bergerson, Pierre Tremblay, and Elisa Julia Gilmour. Ryerson Image Centre (33 Gould Street), Wednesday January 22, 6pm - 8pm.

Draw By Night Toronto: Part Quatre
Hey, you haven't been drawing enough this winter. I see you, not flexing your drawing hand. Get to Handlebar and fix this situation! From the programmers: "DBN is a social drawing event. We cover all tables with kraft paper and provide supplies (feel free to bring your own). There's usually a theme... people can either stick to it or just have fun drawing something of their own. There's no competition. After the event we scan the drawings and post them on Facebook. Come, bring your friends, meet new people." Handlebar (159 Augusta Ave), Wednesday, January 22, 7pm.

East End Music Swap
Okay, so you're probably going to buy a drink. You still get to hang out at Hitch and trade mixes (CD or otherwise) with strangers. There's no way this could go wrong. "Listen to this - it will change your life" - me, talking about 4 Pozicii Bruno shortly before you walk away in disgust. Hitch (1216 Queen St. East), Wednesday January 22, 10pm.

The Toronto Zine Library's 2014 AGM and Potluck Party
I love the Toronto Zine Library, and you should too. This potluck will help determine the next 365 days of the library's goings-on, which are a mystery to most. While this event isn't really free (you should bring food and zines to share) there won't be any money changing hands. Unless you want to reward your favourite zinester for writing your favourite thing ever. Which you should. Tranzac Club (292 Brunswick Avenue, 2nd Floor), Saturday January 25, 6pm.

2014 LunarFest
The Harbourfront Centre will bring in the year of the horse this weekend with - wait for it - the largest rocking horse on earth. "The Horse and I," will be a two-story-tall installation. There will also be lantern decorating, dumplings, and more. Can you ride the rocking horse? That is the million dollar question - but the event is free, so just go and find out. Harbourfront Centre (235 Queens Quay West), January 25 - 26, 11am - 7pm.

Do you want everyone to know about your kinda random free or pay-what-you-can event? Submit it to our event section! (You can also submit your for-money events here, greedy-pants.)

Photo by Ben Roffelsen in the blogTO Flickr pool.

Today the Toronto Design Offsite Festival, now in its fourth year, begins and runs through January 26th. Watch a video preview of the venue spanning art and design fest here. Some happening musical events will also go down tonight, including the much-anticipated Neutral Milk Hotel show at Kool Haus. For those looking for variety, Doored returns to Double Double Land boasting an assortment of performers and hosted by Life of a Craphead with Glenn Macaulay.

• Toronto Design Offsite Festival
• The Reverend Horton Heat @ The Hoxton
• Neutral Milk Hotel @ Kool Haus w/ Elf Power
• Blue Coffee Reading Series
• DOORED 12

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

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

Kraftwerk announce Toronto show
Krautrock legends Kraftwerk are coming to Sony Centre on March 29th, and it will be in 3D! Ticketmaster currently states "Keep checking back for tickets! No tickets available right now... sometimes tickets from the venue may become available closer to the event." So if you aren't gripping tickets yet, get used to clicking that refresh button.

Petra Glynt releases video for "Sour Paradise"
Finally! Petra Glynt, along with director Blake Macfarlane and friends (including Lido Pimienta) have pulled off a video that explodes with colour and people who look like they actually care about what they're doing.

Kevin Drew releases new single
Broken Social Scene's Kevin Drew released "Good Sex," a song from his upcoming album Darlings. Don't click the above link unless you want an extreme close up of Drew's face. You can stream the single safely below. Darlings is out March 18.

Tokyo Police Club announce new album
Tokyo Police Club released "Hot Tonight," a song from their upcoming album Forcefield. Don't click the above link unless you want to see a photo of a bunch of dazed looking guys. You can stream the single safely below. Forcefield is out March 25.

New Doomsquad video for "Disremember/Dismemberment"

This week in Drake
Drake was on SNL. Like the whole show. It was like the blogTO of SNLs. Watch on Complex here.

Wolfcow release Satanic Vacation
Dig the new Wolfcow album (and pretty divinely awesome artwork) with Satanic Vacation on Bandcamp here. 17 songs of w-t-f.

Hot Tickets

Perfect Pussy / January 25 / Silver Dollar (486 Spadina) / 9pm / $10.50
This Syracuse punk band, recently signed to Captured Tracks, has the name you wish you came up with and the sound to back it up. Perfect Pussy have screwed with noise in just the right way to achieve that illusive hype blisspoint that isn't annoying (it will never not feel fun to Google Perfect Pussy), so this should be a great tour for them. I'll stop talking, just go.

Jay Z / January 27 / ACC (50 Bay Street) / $50 - $167.50
Next Monday, one month after Beyonce coated Toronto in solid gold, Jay Z will follow behind - convenient, because maybe she left a bracelet behind at the hotel and now Jay can grab it and save on pricey insured mail rates. Why do I always leave jewelry in hotel rooms? Jay-Z's 2013 album included two Toronto producers (Boi-1da and Wondagurl), so it should be special.

Local hot tickets

SINS' I Die vinyl release Jan 24 / White House (277.5 Augusta Ave) / 8pm / $5
We named I Die as one of Toronto's top albums of 2013 and called it "too dark for a summer album" - now Pretty Pretty Records is releasing the album again, this time on vinyl and during the dead of winter. Check it out: "Possibly Toronto's most overlooked album of the year is ϟ†Nϟ' debut full length. The disc features guest spots by Anna Coquette, Rich Forbes (Mauzoleum), and Ell V Gore, and while the retro-meets-internet production alone is bliss for the blissless, the decision to bring on guests gives it an extra push." Huren, Vierance, and Candle Eater are on the bill as well.

Other local gigs

• CINERAMA: The Music of Nicole Lizee / Jan 24 / Artscape Wychwood Barns
• Wavelength Featuring Jay Holy / Jan 25 / Handlebar

Recently announced concerts

• Weyes Blood / Jan 25 / Magpie
• Long Winter / Feb 7 / The Great Hall
• Cuff the Duke / Mar 14 / Horseshoe
• Happy Mondays / Mar 19 / The Danforth Music Hall
• Kraftwerk / March 29 / Sony Centre
• The Knife / April 29 / Kool Haus
• Katy Perry / Jul 18 / ACC

What we got up to this week

• New Toronto music collective launches all ages shows
• Pixies seamless and bloodless at Massey Hall
• Owen Pallett nominated for an Oscar
• Disclosure live up to the hype at Danforth Music Hall
• Would you pay $100K for a pair of Drake sneakers?

A popular Mississauga restaurant has now opened a second location near St. Clair and Yonge. Lunch, dinner and weekend brunch are all up for grabs. In addition to a diverse menu, the new spot boasts deep discounts on drinks and they do a daily taco happy hour from 3pm to 5pm.

Read my profile of Union Social Eatery in the restaurants section.

Toronto Design Offsite (TO DO) is now officially underway - expect to see venues all over the city decked out in design exhibitions, immersive installations, and more by both emerging and established Canadian designers. Take a stroll in the Junction on your day off to contemplate the cluster of window displays, visit the Fermenting Cellar to peruse local artists' reinterpreted kitchen appliances, or enjoy an open bar before presenting your creative work at PechaKucha Night.

Though there are well over 60 things to see and do from now until January 26 (and in some cases beyond), here are ten you definitely don't want to miss.

Opening Party
When: Wed, Jan 22, 2014
Where:SMASH (2880 Dundas St W)
What time: 8pm - midnight
Admission: Free / Pay What You Can
The festival may start today, but the kick-off's mid-week in the Junction. Mingle with some of the designers, enjoy a craft brew or two from Indie Alehouse Brewing Co., and shimmy to the sounds of DJ Joe Blow - hopefully after some pre-party street roaming to catch some of the event's window installations. There'll also be works by Paul Mercer, Yasaman Pishvai, and Jessica E. Levine at SMASH, so RSVP while you still can.

Patchworked in Canada
When: Mon, Jan 20, 2014 - Sun, Jan 26, 2014
Where:Bosley Real Estate (1108 Queen St W)
What time: Mon - Fri 3pm - 7pm, Sat 12pm - 7 pm, Sun 12pm - 5 pm
Admission: Free
Patchworked in Canada is an installation of 1200 six-inch Portuguese ceramic tiles, each one unique in its appearance as well as its origin. TO DO will be the final opportunity to see the quilt-like wall in its entirety; after being shown, they'll be scattered throughout Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver as eclectic treasures in an urban world. Design duo Jasna Sokolovic and Noel O'Connell of Dear Human also made it a point to include a QR code with each tile - so that passers-by can discover the project and share where they found their pieces.

CAPACITY
When: Thurs, Jan 23, 2014 - Sun, Jan 26, 2014
Where:Gladstone Hotel Art Bar (1214 Queen St W)
What time: Thurs 11am - 4pm, Fri 11am - 8:30pm, Sat 11am - 10pm, Sun 11am - 6pm
Admission: Free
This weekend, the Gladstone Hotel will be home to CAPACITY: an annual exhibition of design work by Canadian women. Though men dominate most sectors of design, this exhibition garners thousands of visitors annually with its innovative and truly beautiful pieces - like the sneaky chair-benches and handpainted teapots from previous shows. Expect nothing less from this year's colourful roster of participants, including illustrator Shea Chang and sculptor Erin Mccutcheon.

From Nothing, Something
When: Mon, Jan 20, 2014
Where:Bloor Hot Docs Cinema (506 Bloor St W)
What time: 6:30 pm
Admission: $11
For one night only, Hot Docs is premiering From Nothing, Something: A Documentary on the Creative Process. Delve into the minds of accomplished creatives - like musician Sara Quin of Tegan & Sara, Hollywood creature designer Neville Page (Avatar, Prometheus), and Choreographer Keith Young (Rent, Dancing with the Stars) - to discover what it takes to conceive an idea and run with it.

TABLES, CHAIRS & OTHER UNRELATED OBJECTS
When: Wed, Jan 15, 2014 - Sat, Feb 1, 2014
Where:OCAD Student Gallery (52 McCaul St)
What time: Wed - Sat 12pm - 6pm
Admission: Free
The students at OCAD University never fail to wow us with their work across all fields. However, the annual TABLES, CHAIRS & OTHER UNRELATED OBJECTS exhibition spotlights the furniture design students in all their woodworking, metalsmithing glory. This year, they were challenged to explore furniture as personal expression, as a reflection of social/cultural norms, and as an influence on human behaviour - and I've no doubt they came up with the most remarkable of solutions.

Get Your Hands Dirty
When: Wed, Jan 22, 2014
Where:The Junction Train Platform (2960 Dundas St W)
What time: 5pm - 10pm
Admission: Free
Get Your Hands Dirty is as straightforward as an event name can get. For one day only, collaborate on a 20-foot mural with artists and non-artists alike - through large charcoal drawings of whatever the heck you want. Plus, you can jam out to sweet tunes and sip on hot apple cider. What's not to love?

PEACE & PLENTY
When: Thurs, Jan 23, 2014 - Sun, Jan 26, 2014
Where:Milk Glass Co. (1247 Dundas St W)
What time: 8 pm - midnight
Admission: Free
Design duo Vincent Joseph Monastero and Matthew Alexander Cherkas of TREATY - combined with the artistic eye of photographer Babak Khairi - are showing at Milk Glass Co. all weekend long. Their work is equal parts clean-cut, experimental, and downright surreal - suffice to say I have absolutely no idea what to expect (but that's what they're all about anyway).

Light It Up
When: Thurs, Jan 23, 2014 - Sun, Jan 26, 2014
Where:Cooper Cole (1161 Dundas St W)
What time: Thurs - Fri 1pm - 7pm, Sat 11am - 7pm, Sun 11am - 5pm
Admission: Free
Let there be light! This weekend, the same movers and shakers who brought last year's Shiny Pretty Things to life (along with a whole slew of other award-winning exhibits) are featuring lamps of all shapes and sizes at Light It Up. Only the best of the best Canadian object designers will be showcasing their ultramodern creations, including Derek McLeod, Bettie Cott, and Joy Charbonneau.

Tableau Vivant | ILLUSTRATION Noir
When: Thurs, Jan 23, 2014
Where:Toronto School of Art (980 Dufferin St, 2nd floor)
What time: 7pm - 9pm
Admission: Free
Aside from the multimedia installation along the main stairwell leading up to the studio, Toronto School of Art is hosting a free, one-night only life drawing session open to the public. But, it's not just any life drawing session - it's a theatrical, sexy-yet-cynical film noir life drawing session (complete with props and dramatic lighting, no less). Bring along your art supplies to interpret the models' tableaus and capture the classic film noir mood.

Closing Party
When: Sat, Jan 25, 2014
Where:Gladstone Hotel (1214 Queen St W)
What time: 10pm - 2:30am
Admission: Free
The closing party is slated for the second-last day of the festival at the Gladstone Hotel. After a week's worth of gallery hopping, installation contemplation, artist talks, and workshops, end the design celebration off with a bang (read: drinks and dancing). Then, wind down from all the excitement with a relaxing last look at TO DO the morning after!

Photo via the festival's Facebook page

Robbie Burns Day in Toronto is an occasion to recall the man who was recently chosen by his countrymen as The Greatest Scot of all time. He earned that honour by penning some of Scotland's most famous and memorable poems, writing that song we don't know the words too but drunkenly sing at midnight on new year's eve, and by being a cultural icon and a beacon to liberalism.

Basically, he was a huge celebrity during a time when being celebrity meant one required actual talent, skills, intelligence, and abilities. In short, Robbie Burns was the man. Accordingly, to pay tribute to him, on his birthday on January 25th, we now gather to drink Scotch, eat traditional Scottish fare, and share his poetry. So if that's the kind of celebrity worship you want to be a part of, here are ten places in Toronto where you can get in on the fun next week.

Allen's
Burns' Night at Allen's is typically a fairly spirited evening and this year's event seems slated to be true to form. On Saturday January 25th they'll be serving a three-course meal kicked off by a traditional address to the haggis and accompanied by The Scarborough Pipes and Drums, songs by Diane Raeside, and highland dance performances. $65. For reservations call: 416-463-3086

The Caledonian
Once again Toronto's Scottish restaurant and Whisky Bar will host a full week of events to commemorate The Ploughman's Poet. Festivities kick off on January 21st with a tasting of Macallan's 1824 Collection, then continue with an Aberlour and Glenlivet tasting on January 23, an Ardbeg tasting on the 24th (sensing a theme?), and, finally, culminating with a three course Burns dinners on Saturday. Naturally, the evening will include a Scotch tasting. Tickets for the dinner are $50 and proceeds will be donated to Wounded Warriors Canada. Call 647-547-9827 for reservations.

Mill Street Brew Pub
Mill Street's traditional Robbie Burns Day Brewmaster's Dinner on Thursday January 23rd will feature six courses and a different beer paired with each course--and this year will even include a sampling of their in-house distilled Hopfenshnaps. In addition to a solid lineup of beverages, there's tons food, including haggis (naturally), a scotch egg, whiskey glazed beef tenderloin, and the giggle-inducing cock-a-leekie soup. Given the excellent beer content, this is typically where you'll find me enjoying Burns Day. $59.99. Call 416-681-0338 for reservations.

St. Andrew's Society
If you're looking for a traditional Burns Day event, then look no further than the St. Andrew's Society, an organization dedicated to celebrating Scottish heritage. On Friday January 24, at the University Club of Toronto the festivities will not only include the the traditional piping in of the haggis and toast to said haggis, but also a reading of Immortal Memory, the Toast to the Lasses, and also the ladies' chance to rebut, aka the Toast to the Laddies. The cost is a steep $125, but that includes a $25 charitable donation and obviously the cost covers a traditional meal and a wee dram, too. Download a registration form here (You know it's a good party when it requires a form!).

McGugan's
Leslieville's Scottish bar hosts not only two Burns day events, but also a Burns Eve celebration. Each will include will include a four-course dinner with three wee drams and a pint, in addition to traditional fare like a scotch egg and haggis. Heads up: The McGugan clan's motto is "Victory or death" so if the event isn't a success things might get messy. $49. Call 4160910-9859 for reservations.

Cameron's Robbie Burn's Cask Night
Camerons Brewery in Oakville is holding their second annual Robbie Burns Cask night on Thursday January 30. The evening will feature food by local restaurant Paradiso, live music, and most importantly, cask beers. Cameron's website suggests there's an extra drink ticket available to all who show up in a kilt, so there's that. $20 in advance, $25 at the door, $15 for students. Call 905-849-8282 for reservations.

The Pipers Pub and Grill
On January 25th, Pipers on St. Clair West will be hosting their second annual Robbie Burns Supper featuring haggis and yes-this-is-the-name-of-a-food neeps and tatties. Bagpipes will be piped, toasts will be toasted, and highland diancers will dance before the floor is cleared for folk, rock, and pop music to help dance off some the whiskey before you brave the St. Clair Disaster to get home. $25. Call 647-748-6800 for reservations.

The Monk's Table
Toronto Star beer columnist Josh Rubin will once again be hosting the Burn's Supper at the Monk's Table and, as you'd hope, he'll be including Scottish beer along with the traditional Scottish foods. There will also be readings of the Ode to a Haggis and (methinks) a single malt to properly toast. $60. Call 416-920-9074 for reservations.

Auld Spot
The Auld Spot Pub will be celebrating Robbie Burns' day on the 25th with Scottish Highland dancers, a-promises-to-be-hilarious address to the Haggis and supper which includes a scotch egg, haggis with neeps & tatties and where-do-these-food-names-come-from Kedgeree. As a beery bonus, the evening will afford you a chance to try new beer from Sweetgrass Brewing Co., contract brewing in Guelph but started by the Auld Spot owners. Their first beer is a Belgian-style Golden Ale currently only available in limited bars. Price TBD. Call 416-406-4688 for reservations and pricing details.

Urban Acorn Catering's Vegan Supper Club Presents: I Heart Robbie "Burns"
If, for some crazy reason, the idea of eating a sheep's minced heart, liver, and lungs crammed into a stomach doesn't float your boat, you might opt for this vegan Burns day dinner offered by Urban Acorn, a Toronto-based start-up catering company working out of Bento Miso. Food will include potato pancake with curried apple and ginger chutney, a traditional hogmanay black bun, and even vegan haggis made with apricots and pearl barley. Since it's a private event, you can bring your own wine. $45. Click here for tickets.

Got a Robbie Burns Day event worth sharing? Let us know in the comments.

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

Saying Indie88's Power Party this past Saturday night was a hot ticket is an understatement. To celebrate the fledgling Toronto station's recent signal boost, the team at Indie88 convinced Stars to come out of the studio for a one-off show, added local rising stars July Talk, and crammed them into Lee's Palace.

While Stars could easily sellout a much larger venue, tickets for this deal went for only $8.81, with Indie88 giving the rest away on-air. Well, except the last four tickets, which were auctioned for a total of $1800(!) for the set, rounded to $2000 by the generous winner. All proceeds went to Indie88's charity of choice, SKETCH Working Arts, giving opportunities to struggling youth through the arts.

After the promise of a rowdy night, July Talk opened looking to deliver. Whether they got the response they wanted or not, front duo of Peter Dreimanis and Leah Fay still did what they do best. The very definition of chemistry, they lit up the stage making it easy to forget there are three other talented band members who help make the raucous July Talk sound.

Even if you've seen them before, the magic of what could happen on stage (Leah soaked in fake blood à la Carrie, a pillow fight, a full wedding dress... all have happened in recent past) helps mask the fact that they're still a new band with a small catalogue. You may have heard all the songs before, but there's no question you still want more.

With "The Night Starts Here," everyone knew it was Stars time. Called up from working on a new album and used to playing larger venues, the band may not have been in touring form, but true professionals don't let technical glitches and a little rust get in the way of a good show.

The depth of Stars' catalogue became immediately evident, with newer synth-heavy tracks like "Hold On While You Get Love..." still making room for hits from the decade-old Set Yourself On Fire.

Song by song the passion of frontman Torquil Campbell and tag-team partner Amy Millan went out to the crowd - and came back ten-fold. Between Stars' deep Toronto roots (despite finding their inspiration in Montreal) and July Talk's local rookie status, Indie88 couldn't have chosen two better bands to represent their boosted power in the city.

MORE PHOTOSWriting and photos by Matt Forsythe

World Stage 2014, as is the case each year, showcases a group of innovative artists and their latest obsessions in contemporary performance modes at Harbourfront Centre. It's a breeding ground for bold, new approaches, across a number of different disciplines that take performance further. This year's festival will launch with the #artlive Vogue Ball, an inclusive jam that hearkens back to the golden days of queer balls, which took place in a trangressive 1980s New York.

Here are some of the highlights at this year's World Stage.

UNTITLED FEMINIST SHOW / February 12-15 / United States / Fleck Dance Theatre
Young Jean Lee is a World Stage veteran, having appeared at the festival in 2012 with The Shipment. Her newest project, UNTITLED FEMINIST SHOW, features six performers in a play without words and without clothes. In place of words is an irreverent exploration of the possibilities of gender and identity. Lee is an Obie Award-winning artist whose charming mantra, borrowed from teacher Mac Wellman, is to "write plays based on the worst idea imaginable."

Major Tom / February 26 - March 1 / UK / Enwave Theatre
The most talked about piece from last year's World Stage was Dachshund UN, a nearly unfathomable installation of a mock United Nations Commission on Human Rights performed by 36 dachshunds. Victoria Melody, a performer from the UK, continues the canine trend when she appears alongside her six year-old basset hound Major Tom, for whom the play is named. In a strange turn of events that begins when she enters MT into a dog show, Victoria finds herself in a beauty pageant partly as an act of protest.

Conte d'amour / April 1-5 / Sweden, Finland, Germany / Fleck Dance Theatre
The brainchild of Markus Öhrn, a visual artist from Sweden, Conte d'amour is a video play composed of images that traverse and journey between the borders of desire and horror. A challenging piece, to be sure, given that the subject matter is inspired by the recent stories of home imprisonment perpetrated by Josef Fritzl in Austria and Ariel Castro in Cleveland. The play reads not as an attempt to understand the tragedies, but rather to probe the disturbing darkness of patriarchal madness.

Foudres / April 29 - May 3 / Canada / Fleck Dance Theatre
Performances choreographed by Dave St-Pierre are the type of stuff that makes you want get out of bed and run to the theatre -- they're brash, aggressive, in-your-face, and unapologetic. His newest, Foudres, is the final installation of a trilogy of work which mines the brutal battlefield of love, sex, and death (joining the previous two pieces La pornographie des âmes and Un peu de tendresse bordel de merde!) If you see one performance during the festival, startle yourself and make it this one.

Mies Julie / May 6-10 / South Africa / Enwave Theatre
August Strindberg's Miss Julie, while always a classic play in the usual rotation, has seen a resurgence of late, with numerous adaptations and treatments. With the gulf between the rich and poor widening and a renewed discussion of class struggle, there's no wonder the play continues to resonate. Celebrated South African writer and director Yael Farber arrives at World Stage with a provocative adaptation of the kitchen tale set eighteen years after the end of apartheid.

Special this year, on the occasion of the Harbourfront Centre's 40th anniversary, FIXT POINT weaves together the collected memories of the centre with the radio drama, The Tale of Harbourfront Centre. The performance is available for download online starting April 1.

Harbourfront's World Stage, runs from February 1 - May 18. Visit the World Stage website for information on tickets and scheduling.

Photo from Major Tom by Liquid Photo Image Cinema

This noodle shop has built a solid reputation for delicious pork-based broths, but at its recently opened and slightly larger second outpost, they've added some new alternatives, like chicken soup with thin or thick alkaline noodles. What else is different about the new location?

Find out in my profile of Kinton Ramen (Bloor St.) in the restaurants section.

Photo by Medium Muffin in the blogTO Flickr pool