The second day of Rob Ford's libel trial featured a strong exchange between the mayor's lawyer and George Foulidis, the owner of the Boardwalk Pub in the Beaches. Gavin Tighe, representing Ford, questioned whether Foulidis' reputation was genuinely hurt when the mayor criticized Tuggs Inc., his company, to the Toronto Sun editorial board. In 2010, Ford was quoted in the paper as saying the city's decision to award Tuggs Inc. a new lease on the Boardwalk Pub without seeking competition "stinks to high heaven."

Donald Trump isn't the only thing cracking up at his company. An accident at the International Hotel and Tower at Bay and Adelaide caused glass to rain on the street below yesterday. According to police, a construction worker dropped a sheet of glass that smashed a second pane during its fall. The intersection was closed during rush-hour as a precaution.

Start your watch. GO customers are now eligible for a full-fare refund if a train is delayed by more than fifteen minutes. The policy is expected to cost Metrolinx about a million dollars a year as 70 per cent of its current delays are covered under the guarantee. No cash back if the train is delayed by weather, a medical emergency, an accident, or police investigation. Will you be taking advantage?

A uranium processing plant in the city's west end opened its doors to the public yesterday in an attempt to prove its a safe, neighbourhood friendly operation. There's been concern about the General Electric-Hitachi plant near Dupont and Lansdowne since activist Zach Ruiter started a campaign to draw attention to the decades old factory.

Toronto's upcoming plastic bag ban cleared another hurdle at the public works and infrastructure committee meeting. Despite some opposition, the ban is still headed to city council later this month for final approval. Retailers will be able to use up existing stock until July 1st 2013 when the full prohibition on single-use bags comes into effect.

Sometimes its good to be a cyclist; you don't have to stop for gas, you can coast to the front at lights, and you don't have to ride on an elevated expressway held together with planks of wood [via Reddit.]

Is the pedestrian exit from Pearson "majestic in its carelessness"? Chris Turner from Atlantic Cities explores urban wildernesses and rates the shoddy sidewalks leading out of Toronto's international airport among the most remarkably inept environments for walkers he's encountered.

Finally, City Hall's giant white spruce Christmas tree is now in place in Nathan Phillips Square thanks, once again, to Weller Tree Service. The Grid found out exactly how one gets a 60-foot tree from its natural home in rural Ontario to downtown Toronto.

ALSO HAPPENING:

• Police charge suspect in home invasion sex assaults [CBC]
• Farmer kills hybrid dog he believes slaughtered 14 of his calves [The Star]
• Woman denied haircut goes to Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario [The Star]

Photo: "Untitled" by Richard Rhyme from the blogTO Flickr pool.

This Week in Film rounds up noteworthy new releases in theatres, rep cinema and avant-garde screenings, festivals, and other special cinema-related events happening in Toronto.

NEW RELEASES

Holy Motors (TIFF Bell Lightbox)

The wait for the year's best film to play in Toronto is finally over. Much has been made of Holy Motors' no holds barred Surrealist lunacy, but this is a film that is 'weird' with such singularity, and is so exhilaratingly cinematic that, really, it doesn't even matter what it means. But it clearly does mean many things, not least of which pertains to cinema and humanity's surrender to a non-analog world, as well as the extent to which we rely on an audience ('the beholder') for survival.

In spite of its melancholic core, director Leos Carax infuses every frame with pure joy: there are two ecstatic musical interludes, images that turn a fiery infrared before falling apart via datamosh, an actor, Denis Lavant, masterfully portraying no less than eleven characters, and so much more that needs to be experienced firsthand. Among the reactions to the film at the Cannes film festival last May, where it narrowly missed out on a Palme d'Or, one viewer drunkenly exclaimed "I want to ride it again right now!" Some days, one viewing just isn't enough.

The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2 (Varsity, Scotiabank)

I'll just echo what I said a year ago: "I'm sure not much really has to be said about this one; everyone who is going to see it already made that decision about [four] and a half years ago, so it was only a matter of getting to the release date with eyes and ears intact. For those who made it, the wait is over. And to get it out of the way (I sincerely hope this doesn't count for 'spoilers' these days)...Taylor Lautner removes his shirt as soon as possible in the first few minutes, lest anyone lose hold on the plot while anticipating the money shot. Show up late at your own risk."

Also opening this week:

• Bobcaygeon (Bloor Hot Docs Cinema)
• Citadel (Cineplex Yonge & Dundas)
• I Am Not a Rock Star (Bloor Hot Docs Cinema)
• A Liar's Autobiography: The Untrue Story of Monty Python's Graham Chapman (Cineplex Yonge & Dundas)

REP CINEMA

The Searchers [Digital] (Tuesday, November 20 at 6:30PM; TIFF Bell Lightbox)

When you have a chance to see a John Ford film on the big screen, you take it. And this isn't just any Ford film; it's the Ford film that just finished in seventh place on the 2012 Sight & Sound poll of the greatest films ever made. Like many of the films in this season's Hollywood Classics spotlight on recent restorations, it's screening from a digital print rather than 35mm, but you'll be hard pressed to tell the difference given how pristine the elements were in for this restored transfer. Maybe not my favourite western, but certainly the most iconic.

More rep cinema screenings this month:

• Dress Rehearsal (Friday, November 16 at 6:30PM; TIFF Bell Lightbox)
• CINSSU Free Friday Films: Monty Python and The Holy Grail (Friday, November 16 at 7PM; Innis Town Hall)
• The Indian Tomb (Saturday, November 17 at 2PM; TIFF Bell Lightbox)
• The Weather Underground (Saturday, November 17 at 3:45PM/Sunday, November 18 at 1:30PM; The Bloor)
• Deux (Saturday, November 17 at 7PM; TIFF Bell Lightbox)
• Halloween (Saturday, November 17 at 10PM; TIFF Bell Lightbox)
• The Tiger of Eschnapur / The Indian Tomb (Sunday, November 18 at 1PM; TIFF Bell Lightbox)
• Hard Core Logo (Sunday, November 18 at 4PM; The Bloor)
• The Kingdom of Naples (Sunday, November 18 at 5:30PM; TIFF Bell Lightbox)
• Amrit Manthan [The Churning of the Oceans] (Monday, November 19 at 6:30PM; TIFF Bell Lightbox)
• Mahal [Palace] (Wednesday, November 21 at 6:30PM; TIFF Bell Lightbox)

SPECIAL SCREENINGS

Early Monthly Segments: Warren Sonbert Retrospective (November 15-17; AGO Jackman Hall)
"Beginning Thursday night, Toronto audiences will be gifted with a complete retrospective of the work of Warren Sonbert at Jackman Hall in the AGO. The seven-programme series arrives thanks to a successful crowd-sourcing effort organized by Early Monthly Segments (Toronto's most consistent and reliable purveyors of avant-garde cinema), and represents their most ambitious undertaking yet." Read our full preview of this exciting and rare retrospective here.

CINNSU SNEAK PREVIEW Double Bill: Hitchcock (2012) and Psycho (1960) (Monday, November 19 at 7PM; Innis Town Hall)

U of T's Cinema Studies Student Union have organized a very special treat for us Hitchcockaholics. To celebrate and promote the upcoming release of Sacha Gervasi's Hitchcock, they're holding this free sneak preview that will be prefaced by The Master's psycho-horror classic, Psycho. The pairing isn't random either, as Gervasi's film details the making of Psycho in 1959, calling itself "a love story between influential filmmaker Alfred Hitchcock and wife Alma Reville." Ticket availability is very limited, so if you'd like a ticket you'll need to swing by CINSSU's office (Room 107 at Innis Town Hall) anytime between 12PM and 4PM from now until November 19th.

FILM FESTIVALS

Reel Awareness Film Festival (November 15-18; Carlton Cinema)
Amnesty International's Toronto Film Team has been producing the Reel Awareness Film Festival since 2006, making this their seventh festival. The Amnesty team is an enthusiastic group of activists and film lovers who work together to raise public awareness about human rights issues around the globe, and their mission is to inform, educate and engage audiences about these issues through film. Take a look at this year's line-up here; admission is Pay-What-You-Can at the door, with a suggested donation of $5.

Darryl's Hard Liquor and Porn Film Festival (November 16-17; Projection Booth East)
I'm sitting here trying to come to grips with the idea that this festival has been around since 2000 and I am only just now learning about it. Darryl's Hard Liquor and Porn Film Festival began on Halloween in 2000 as a party in filmmaker Darryl Gold's bachelor apartment where he invited his friends to dress up and bring clips from their favorite porn movies. Now, twelve years later, DHLaPFF annually throws a party and screens 25-35 short films (very few are 'hardcore,' siding more with creative parodies, mockumentaries, music videos, animations, and live action shorts about sex or anything else naughty).

Since 2006 there's been a '69 Hour Film Challenge' where participating teams are given a list of 10 items and then have 69 hours to produce a finished film using at least of 3 items from the list. The best films are screened at the festival. Tickets range from $10 to $25 and can be purchased here; audience members are encouraged to dress up in porn star outfits.

Film still from Holy Motors

Eglinton and Avenue Road is down one cookie shop, but up an organic bread baker. Win? Though the man behind this new organic bake shop is Russian (not French), you couldn't tell by its spread. Find loaves, baguettes, buns and more made with organic ingredients and spring water, plus organic coffee to sip while you browse and a few gluten-free options from a separate facility.

Read my profile of Boulangerie St. George in the bakeries section.

The start of this week was not without a certain air of intrigue. "50 metres East of Yonge. North side. Grey SUV," is all that the text message I received on Monday morning said. Despite being anxious, and vaguely hungover, I prepared myself for what lay ahead. This was serious business, after all: we were tasting a new beer from Hogtown Brewers.

The ominous texter, and my ride, was Noel Chambers, CEO of Hogtown Brewers. With him was David Jeffrey, Hogtown's first and only full time employee, and we were en route to pick up Ken Dubin, their self-described "beer geek," before heading to Cool Brewery in Etobicoke to sample the fledgling brewing company's sophomore effort; an as-yet unnamed IPA.

The vibe in the car was a mix of excitement and cautious optimism because, despite the moniker "Hogtown Brewers," the folks that run the company aren't actually brewers at all. Instead, the company comprises a mix of friends, colleagues, and rugby teammates, who love beer so much that they opted to invest in creating their own brand. And about a year ago, they did just that, enlisting the help of brewer Jay Cooke to create a Kölsch-style beer they unveiled as their flagship beer, Hogtown Ale.

They've enjoyed modest success with Hogtown Ale, getting into regular rotation in an eclectic mix of about 20 bars in the city which include the Shangri-La hotel, Little Anthony's, Hemingways, Cold Tea, 3030, and most recently, beer-nerd friendly Victory Cafe.

And so it seemed that if it were to fall short of rave reviews, the Hogtown IPA project we were about to try would be very short-lived.

Vince Maarsman, a staff brewer at Cool Brewing who worked with Jay Cooke on Hogtown's new beer, poured the first pitcher of their IPA--a cloudy, coppery, as-yet-unfiltered brew--and the guys from Hogtown anxiously divvied it up.

Off the top, the beer was all big floral and citrus aromas; likely owing to inclusion of Centennial hops. The immediate taste was bitter hops (in a good way) due not only to the fact that the recipe included Magnum hops but also because the beer had only recently been dry-hopped using Amarillo hops.

However, despite the fairly big hop profile (70 IBUs), the beer was well-balanced with a subtle, biscuity, malt backbone. It was a pretty smooth beer and, while it had a bitter finish and medium to heavy astringency, the fact that our sample had only recently been dry-hopped and was set to be cold crashed means that the final product will likely be considerably smoother and, once it's carbonated, less astringent.

In short, beer-lingo free terms: this may well turn out to be a very good beer.

The guys from Hogtown seemed to concur. CEO Chambers noted flatly, "I love this," and Hogtown President Peter Shippen, who joined us for the tasting, also had positive feedback-- despite being an admitted fan of less complex beers (and the driving force behind a Kölsch-style flagship beer).

Interestingly, Hogtown has opted to sell their IPA--now christened "Hog Wild"--unfiltered; a decision that means they'll likely retain some of the beer's big aromas and, perhaps not unintentionally, offer something a little different to a Toronto beer scene fairly flush with IPAs at the moment.

You can expect to see Hogtown's limited run Hog Wild IPA in Toronto bars as early as this weekend as they've already pre-sold a number of kegs; but get it soon, because it might not be around forever.

If you're a fan of the company's easy-drinking Hogtown Ale, you may also be interested to learn that the guys from Hogtown are working on an LCBO release and you can expect their Kölsch-style beer in 473 mL cans sometime around April or March.

Origami Lofts is a condo development inspired — I think — by little paper cranes. Or, to borrow directly from marketing-speak, it is a "beautiful series of angular folds and sleek cutouts that hide and reveal, soothe and provoke." I'm not entirely sure how a building serves to "soothe and provoke," but I think I'll leave that statement unexamined. A Symmetry project at Bathurst and Queen, Origami will be modest in height, ostentatious with angles, and is already being snatched up by buyers. Maybe low-rise is the way to go? Here's a closer look at Origami.

SPECS

Address: 202 Bathurst Street

Exterior: Glass, metal cladding

Number of floors: 7

Total number of units: 23 (incl. four 2-storey penthouses)

Type of units: Studio, one-bedroom + den, two-bedroom + den

Unit sizes (in square feet): 387 - 983

Ceiling height: 9'

Prices from: $229,900

Parking: $35,000

Maintenance: $0.50/sf

Locker: $4,000

Architect:Teeple Architects

Interior design:DK Studio

Expected occupancy: November 2014

THE GOOD

Let the sardines live in their 34th floor, seventh unit, 500-square foot income-drains. With just 23 units, Origami offers a bit of exclusivity in a market saturated with homogenous, cookie-cutter condos. Yeah, I'm taking about youguys. While there are some drawbacks to living in a smaller building (few amenities, most notably), I'd say the benefits far outweigh the limitations. There's less wear and tear on common spaces and elements, for one, plus greater familiarity with neighbours, better cohesion when something goes wrong, and (generally speaking) less noise. Personally, I'm glad to see that Bathurst and Queen will not be taken over by some giant mega-structure (like some other forlorn intersections we all know) and that developers here have opted for a little architectural ingenuity. Origami looks like it will complement the area without overpowering it.

And speaking of the area, the stretch of Bathurst north of Queen has the good fortune of being just at the cusp of some serious upgrades. Or at the very least, it certainly looks that way. For now, there are a still a few vacant and boarded-up retail spaces nearby, but the west side does have a relatively new Starbucks in its corner (sorry Starbucks-haters, but that's a good thing if you're investing in real estate) and a couple new shops that might add to its edge. For now, would-be Origami residents can get in somewhere around $600-$650 per square foot range, which isn't an outstanding deal, but not a half-bad price either. In fact, it's probably right where it should be for a condo by two streetcar lines and near endless cafes, shops, and restaurants, but with an immediate vicinity that could use a touch of work.

THE BAD

In an ideal condo-living world, you'd be able to have a concierge/front door security and as few as 23 units in your building. Unfortunately, this is real life (someone should tell Donald Trump) and a person at the door is far too expensive for a building with so few suites. So I understand why Origami is without concierge, but it doesn't change the fact that Queen and Bathurst can sometimes get quite... animated. And before I'm accosted with accusations of "spoiled little suburban girl" (which is untrue — I'm not little), let me just say that I realize that there are plenty of other residences in the area without anyone guarding the entrance. And that's fine, both for living and renting. But when it's time to appraise the value of a condo unit for purchase, security issues — either real or perceived — can certainly affect your overall bottom line. Especially when it comes time for resale; something to keep in mind as an inevitable drawback of purchasing in a low-rise.

Can I ask a serious question? What ever happened to the double-bowl inset sink? Did all of Toronto's developers get together about five years ago and decide that two basins was a needless frivolity? If so, I'd like to invite them over to do my dishes after cooking for more than two guests. While I must say that the majority of Origami's suites do look pretty fine — many with plenty of windows, interesting angles, some with semi-ensuite bathrooms and multiple closets — the kitchens, as is often the case, are lacking. These "appliance walls" as I prefer to call them, typically offer little by way of pantry or other cupboard space, nevermind counters that would be overwhelmed by the presence of a simple coffeemaker, and the aforementioned sorry single-bowl sinks. What's a buyer gotta do for a little counter space? (Ante-up for customization, I know.)

THE VERDICT

It is good looking. Invest in a heavy-duty bike lock.

What do you think? Would you live here? Add your comments to the thread below.

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

The TTC officially peeled most of the wrapping off one of its new streetcars this morning, giving members of the press a chance to poke around and coo over a working version of the cars that are due in working service on Toronto's streets in roughly a year.

Maybe it's the LED lights, clean seats, and shiny, unscuffed bodywork, but sitting along side an example of each of its predecessors - a Peter Witt car, PCC, and CLRV, the vehicles currently making the rounds in Toronto - the Bombardier machines look remarkably futuristic.

Perhaps the most noticeable difference is the sheer size of these new streetcars. Standing next to one at street level really gives a sense of just how much more space there is inside. In terms of riding experience, multiple Presto readers will finally give transit users a chance to board via any door and pay without cash across system in earnest.

The next step is the first road test scheduled for early next year. TTC CEO Andy Byford says Torontonians will be able to see the new vehicles tentatively making their way along existing streetcar routes in January. You won't be able to board just yet; the testing phase will be used solely to identify any potential issues with reliability and handling.

"We think we've got the design right but there's bound to be some minor points we'll need to change," says Byford. "I'm confident that at the end of 2013 we'll be able to say to Bombardier 'go ahead, start manufacturing' and we'll start the roll out of vehicles in 2014. We'll completely replace the existing fleet within four years."

"It's once in a generation really ... it's a key piece in the jigsaw of our modernization at the TTC and it's demonstrable proof that we're serious about improving customer satisfaction."Give us your thoughts on the new streetcars below. Are you excited to finally see Toronto's aging surface transit fleet get replaced? Will you miss the CLRVs and ALRVs?

QUICK FACTS:

• Carbody width: 2.54 metres
• Vehicle length: 30.2 m
• Number of seats: 70
• Standing room: 62 (average)/181 (maximum)
• Maximum speed: 70 km/h
• Horizontal curve radius: 11.5 m
• Number of motors: 6 (one per axle)
• Bonus features: AC, wheelchair access, bike-friendly area, CCTV, and emergency alarms

MORE PICTURES:

Photos: Derek Flack and Chris Bateman/blogTO

While there's no shortage of vintage fashions in Toronto, 69 Vintage owner Kealan Sullivan marries vintage finds with a fashion-forward aesthetic in her new West Queen West store. Thanks to designer Evan Biddell, who will be the in-house tailor and prodcue a capsule collection for the shop, much of the store's stock is tweaked to become entirely modern. And while the name of the store might be familiar (there was a venture on Walnut Ave. by the same name), it's not strictly the same idea.

Read my profile of V by 69 Vintage (Queen St.) in the fashion stores section.

There are some music-related events that will forever live in a city's memory. Even Toronto has had its fair share, including one in particular that took place at the El Mocambo Tavern on March 4th and 5th, 1977 involving a nondescript band billing themselves as "The Cockroaches." If this is starting to sound familiar amidst all the hoopla surrounding The Rolling Stones' much-ballyhooed 50th anniversary, then you probably have an inkling of the legend that was those secret club shows.

Oh, if the El Mo's walls could talk, especially the rickety ones that feel like they're closing in on you as you carefully make your way upstairs...just imagine the stories they would have overheard over the years. Like Keith Richards' heroin bust a few days earlier. Or about Ronnie Wood and Margaret Trudeau. But I digress — the Stones were among the many players that helped grow the multilevel venue's reputation as a go-to destination for musicians looking to make an impact in North America, let alone Toronto.

If any place in our fair city could be considered a monument to rock and roll, it's the queue of punters that have consistently formed under the El Mo's 65+ year-old neon palm tree sign identifying the joint's location just south of College on Spadina. I also don't think it's the craziest thing to suggest that it is the closest Canadian equivalent to the forever-worshipped CBGB's in New York.

The pedigree is certainly there.

August 3rd, 1978 - Debbie Harry and Blondie bring sex and disco swagger to town while teasing their soon-to-be released breakthrough Parallel Lines. October 25th, 1978 - Shortly after defending their theory of "de-evolution" on Saturday Night Live, Devo donned their yellow jumpsuits for a weeknight Toronto appearance to the delight of Mohawk-sporting punks everywhere. July 12th, 1979 - Joey, Johnny, Dee Dee and Marky Ramone make a case for the building having proper air conditioning with a perspiration-inducing set of three-chord thrashers, a luxury El Mo concertgoers are still waiting on (but new ownership promises it's coming!).

December 9th, 1980 - Four unassuming, stylishly coiffed Irish lads play their first-ever concert in T.O., in support of their debut recording Boy. I am of course referring to the one and only U2. Bono especially had quite the look going on, arguably influencing A Flock of Seagulls down the line. September 26th, 1981 - Duran Duran were yet another ensemble that used this downtown club setting as a coming-out party of sorts, introducing themselves to an entirely new audience. In addition, they represented one of the last vestiges of the melding between New Wave and pop at the el Mo, as the still-hot concert spot began to transition primarily towards more rawer-sounding, bluesier acts.

February 20th, 1982 - After fleeing from the messy breakup of her former all-girl group The Runaways, Joan Jett storms into the El Mo on the strength of two albums with killer anthemic title tracks, "Bad Reputation" and "I Love Rock 'n' Roll." February 10th, 1983 - Steven Van Zandt takes a short break from his E Street Band duties to front a solo project, Little Steven and the Disciples of Soul. His work with Bruce Springsteen may now be a fixture on classic rock station Q107, but back then, it was CHUM-FM who did a live broadcast of Van Zandt's Toronto tour stop.

July 20th, 1983 - Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble burn down the proverbial house with searing blues guitar that leaves tongues wagging, thirsty for more "Texas Flood." Sadly, Vaughan died in 1990, but his status as an all-time great will live forever thanks to the release of Live at the El Mocambo the following year. But don't think people with international passports are the only ones to have won over crowds on either story, which currently have capacities of roughly 400 bodies each. July 2nd, 1987 - The then relatively unknown Tragically Hip travel down the 401 from Kingston to redefine Canadian rock, playing rowdy versions of tracks from their eponymous EP like "Highway Girl" and "Last American Exit."

I'm not sure if I buy that the El Mocambo has been hosting live music since 1850 as claimed on their web site. I do however believe new owners Sam Grosso and Marco Petrucci, proprietors of the successful Cadillac Lounge and 99 Sudbury, respectively, when they say the venue will be restored to its former glory. The old boy definitely needs more than a simple splash of paint to brighten up an edifice that experienced its darkest moment when the doors at 464 Spadina Avenue were briefly closed in November of 2001.

The Cult were the last big headliner before this unfortunate incident, with former Hamilton resident Ian Astbury specifically requesting a gig on October 29th, 2001 so it could go out with a bang. But like rock music itself in the 21st century, the El Mocambo has persevered, and it's not like anything significant hasn't happened there since its acknowledged heydays. Some of my fondest personal "El Mo-meries" have occurred fairly recently, like when Dine Alone Records took over both floors for its Canadian Music Week showcase on March 23rd, 2012, featuring a Rolling Stones-worthy surprise from The Sheepdogs.

And during North by Northeast a few months later (June 14th, 2012 to be exact), post-alternative distortionists A Place to Bury Strangers not only blew everyone's eardrums, they blew minds with their performance art that included guitarist Oliver Ackermann trying to piece a hole through the main level's ceiling with his already-battered instrument. Or maybe he was just helping kick-start the much-needed renovations.

Whatever cosmetic changes Grosso and Petrucci make to reflect their sense of tradition going forward, they seem committed to returning the venue to its former glory. The iconic neon sign has been restored, and work continues on the interior to update amenities like the bar area and sightlines to the stages. They aren't the biggest or even all that impressive, but the el Mo's twin stages have acted as valuable launching pads, not only vaulting emerging talent from one floor to another, but onto bigger and better things.

Writing by Gilles LeBlanc.

Photos from the El Mocambo, Ken Schafer, salvi08, Sgeulachdan, Philip Johnson.

For the past few years, The Monkey's Paw on Dundas West has garnered a reputation for doing things a little bit differently. From their notoriously eclectic and rare collection of books, to their unusual window displays, they've always upheld one of my personal mandates--that from strolling through musty bookcases, to being drawn in by particularly odd cover art, every book should feel like a surprise. Owner Stephen Fowler is now taking that a step further with the world's first and only book vending machine, the Biblio-mat. Fowler says that "it's an extension of the shop--people come here expecting to be startled."

The Biblio-mat came in a few weeks ago, and yes, it's an actual vending machine by Craig Small (of local animation studio The Juggernaut), but rather than dispensing diabetes-inducing treats, it drops down books (nourishment for the mind, dontcha know). The look follows from the "self-consciously antique vibe," of the shop, and references old vending machines and signage.

Unlike a vending machine, there's no choice involved, and for $2, you'll get a mystery used book out of the 100 or so titles that the machine holds. Due to the general bent of the store--"weird non-fiction"--you can expect books (both small and large, and mostly hardcover) in that vein.

Fowler puts me on speaker-phone with two customers who just used the machine, Martha and Naz, and they both love their books--an illustrated book of Spanish poetry about mothers, and something called Legend of Ghost Lagoon. They deem it "really fun and unique." But due to its crapshoot nature, it might be your next favourite, or maybe not, as with the occasional dissatisfied customer. Fowler gamely chalks it up to a fundamental abundance or lack of imagination. One customer was heard to loudly complain that "everyone else got something really good." His book? A guide to repairing antique dolls. Case in point.

Despite the seemingly random selection, Fowler hand-picks each title. "They're not $50 books," he tells me. "We end up with a lot of interesting and old books that don't quite meet the standard of our stock, but are too good to throw away." Ergo, cultural artifacts, like what popped out in an interview with NPR earlier today--Slavery and Slave Ships. The Biblio-mat, it seems, has a knack for comic timing.

It's a very clever take on the book-buying process in general. On paper (pun intended), a book might sound fantastic, but upon reading it, you might find it lacking. And if you're the romantic sort of reader who ascribes meaning to the books you haphazardly stumble across in bookstores, this is a surefire way to feel as though whatever pops out of the Biblio-mat was somehow meant for you. Even if it is something like Does God ever Speak Through Cats? or C Is for Chafing (and we can really only hope).

Photo by Stephen Fowler

Toronto's bag ban might not be in the bag just yet. The Ontario Convenience Stores Association says it will mount a legal challenge to the city's decision to outlaw reusable plastic containers at the checkout. Earlier this week the public works committee voted 4-2 to proceed with the ban, though they decided to give stores a six-month grace period to use up existing stock before issuing fines.

At that meeting, dissenting councillor Denzil Minnan-Wong implored any special interest group to sue the city and put a stop to the proceedings. Today, he got his wish. OCSA believes the city didn't have the authority to issue the ban in the first place and says the rules were enacted without proper consultations.

The ban itself came about after a bizarre twist of events at a city council meeting earlier this year. During a debate about whether or not to scrap the 5-cent fee, councillor David Shiner introduced a surprise motion to eliminate bags at the checkout altogether. Council, much to Rob Ford's chagrin, voted 24-20 in favour.

In the aftermath, the city went back and conducted an environmental assessment and gave groups on both sides of the political coin a chance to speak at yesterday's committee meeting.

The main opponents to the prohibition are, naturally, groups with a vested interest in making sure retailers keep buying plastic bags. "Reverse the Bag Ban," one such group, produced a series of online PSA-style videos featuring talking dogs to try and drum up support for their campaign.

Here's the full text of the OCSA's lawsuit against the City of Toronto:

OCSA vs. City of Toronto

Are you in favour of banning bags? Are you likely to buy less or change your buying habits based on the city's decision?

Photo: "Plastic Bags" by ravenswift from the blogTO Flickr pool.

Photo by Metrix X in the blogTO Flcikr pool

Rob Ford is due in court today to testify in a $6 million libel lawsuit brought against him by Boardwalk Pub owner George Foulidis. It's alleged Ford defamed Foulidis by telling the Toronto Sun a deal to award his company a lease without asking other companies to bid "stinks to high heaven."

Taking a day off from court yesterday, Rob Ford coached the Don Bosco Eagles to victory in their latest Toronto Bowl match. The team thrashed Northern Secondary 31-0. For his efforts, the mayor got the obligatory Gatorade shower. Cue photos of kids hoisting the mayor aloft in celebration.

An earlier accident and fire is blocking the westbound collector lanes of the 401 near Keele this morning. Lanes are starting to re-open but there's plenty of debris to clear up.

Arriving at City Hall can be a daunting experience for people unfamiliar with the layout, and that's why Doug Ford and civic advocate Dave Meslin say we need dedicated supermarket-style greeters waiting at the front door. The reception area isn't always staffed and the building's signage isn't all it might be. Gravy?

Speaking of city hall, the Nathan Phillips Square renovations are going to cost more than expected after workers found numerous additional problems, including corroded supports inside the concrete arches over the skating rink. The government management committee approved an extra $750,000 yesterday, bringing to total to $2.6 million.

A TTC streetcar operator has been relieved of duty after leaving the controls to chase down an alleged attacker. Dino Oroc, a marathon runner, abandoned his vehicle at Queen and John but couldn't catch the suspect. It's strictly against TTC policy to leave a vehicle without permission.

An anti-casino lobby group is garnering support from prominent members of the local community. "No Casino Toronto" has gathered more than 3,000 signatures for its online petition and received support from noted architects and urbanists.

If you're going to stomp on remembrance day flags, make sure there's no-one snapping your photo. Pictures of a runner appearing to kick over small flags on the grounds of Sunnybrook hospital has caused readers of the link sharing site Reddit to try and identify the man. No luck yet, though.

The TTC officially opened the doors of its Hillcrest Yard yesterday to give the media a first look at it the first working version of its new streetcar design. A few weeks ago, photos of the mammoth moving operation required to get the vehicle to Davenport and Bathurst surfaced online. Thankfully, the Commission has put together a time-lapse of the big move for those that missed out.

IN BRIEF:

• Saying goodbye to Etobicoke's motel strip [The Star]
• Big city mayors pledge to match federal infrastructure cash [CBC]
• 'Disturbing' allegations of neglect at Sunnybrook Veterans Centre spark federal audit [National Post]

Photo: "Toronto Downtown Core from CN Tower" by bukharov from the blogTO Flickr pool.

The photos of the week collect each of the editor-selected photos of the day into one post for a contest to be decided by our readers. Sponsored by Posterjack, the photographer whose image receives the most votes will be awarded with a voucher code for a 24"x36" poster print of their work.

All the rules and fine-print can be found in the original announcement post on the blogTO Flickr page. One thing to add, however, is that the voting period ends at 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, after which the winner will be contacted with the good news (We're still in the process of contacting past winners).

For those photographers whose images are featured below, please feel free to give us a little information about your shot — i.e. where and when it was taken — in the comments section. Who knows? Maybe your description will sway voters in your favour!

Lead photo by Photo by Martin Reis.

2.
Photo by Metrix X

3.
Photo by Ben Roffelsen

4.
Photo by Matthew MS

5.
Photo by sniderscion

6.
Photo by Subjective Art

7.
Photo by Simon Remark

Need a tip for something fun to do this weekend? I've got more than just the tip for you. Darryl's Hard Liquor and Porn Film Festival. Don't let the name fool you--the fest is not a hardcore pornographic event. It's actually a very silly, and sometimes sexy, short film fest that features hilarious parodies, mockumentaries, music videos, brilliant animations, and live action shorts about sex or anything else naughty. It's safe enough that you could bring your mother, if she hadn't already agreed to be my date.

The festival is described as "a get-together of filmmakers, film fans and partygoers devoted to the sheer fun of wallowing in images of campy excess and outrageous innuendos. It's an annual comedy short film event that includes a screening of 25-35 short films and an after-party. Audience members are encouraged to dress up in porn star or otherwise sexy outfits (or as a banana). It's not required but it is fun. The audience is 50% male and 50% female ranging from 18 to 90 years old."

Having had the pleasure of pre-screening a half dozen films, I can say that this years festival attendees are in for a real treat. From the brilliantly animated Tram, the story of a busty sex-crazed tram operator, to a live-action post-coital escape attempt in the aptly named One Night Stand, the broad selection of funny shorts won't give you the shaft. Unless that's your thing.

The promoters say the festival is "all about having a good laugh. We don't censor films; if it's legal, it's fine. The Festival likes to promote films that are fun and make people feel good about themselves." How can you argue with that?

In the ten years since the festival began, the event has amassed hours of sex-parody from filmmakers, animators, comedians, actors, and artists from around the world. Besides Toronto, the festival has also played in Montreal, London, and Australia.

The festival runs from Friday, November 16th to Saturday November 17th, 2012 at 7 & 9pm at The Projection Booth East (1035 Gerrard Street East).

The After-Party on Saturday is at The Centre of Gravity Circus Training Studio East (an old 1920s vaudeville theatre at 1300 Gerrard Street East).

Tickets are $20 for the main showings (ticket packages also available) and are available online for purchase, and also at the door (but they might sell out).

This Week in Food rounds up the week's food news, restaurants openings and closings, chef movements and upcoming food events in Toronto. Find us here every Friday morning.

OPENINGS & CLOSINGS

• Veteran Toronto restauranteur, Sang Kim is opening a pair of new restaurants in Baldwin village and documenting the ambitious 30-day process. Expect Yakitori Bar and Seoul Food to open at 1 Baldwin Street on December 1st.
• Aprile Bambina Cantina is under construction next to Great Burger Kitchen near Jones and Gerrard. The sign on the window promises Simple Sicialian Food.
• Rashers is now open on Queen East near Logan. Anyone who is a fan of bacon should head here pronto.
• The Wallflower bar is now open in the old Naco Gallery Cafe space at 1665 Dundas St. West. The owners are the same people behind 3 Speed.
• Bloor and Lansdowne fave the Bloordale Pantry has closed and in its place The Whippoorwill Restaurant and Tavern has surfaced.

UPCOMING EVENTS

• The 100th Grey Cup Festival has stepped up its game with food venues including the High Octane Food Zone at Nathan Philips Square, where $5 options will include venison chili, maple encrusted glazed pork loin sandwiches, and East Coast fish tacos. At Yonge and Dundas Square, the Nissan Family Zone will showcase vendors from the Eaton Centre's Urban Eatery.
• Foodies on Foot will eat its way across Queen Street during the 501 Streetcar Food Tour happening this Saturday, November 17th. The guided tour begins at 11am and makes 6 stops in 6 neighbourhoods. Tickets are $65 to $75.
• MOTOFO (Movember Toronto Food Week) is ready to dominate your calendar with 5 events happening over 5 nights starting Monday, November 26th. The weeklong event features a fall cooking demo from chef Amanda Ford (City Girl Catering); Burgers n' Beer at Kensington Market's Burger Bar; a Fermentation Workshop with David Ort of foodwithlegs.com; Fidel Gastro's one-year anniversary; and the Uncorked Wine Tasting presented by sommelier Allison Slute (Death Row Meals, Pillitteri Estates Winery). Ticket prices, times and locations vary.
• The Depanneur (1033 College Street) and Emily Zimmerman share Secrets of the Vegan Kitchen on Wednesday, November 21st from 6:30 to 8:30pm. This $40 workshop offers plenty to try and taste, plus a recipe package to take home.
• Toronto's best Ocean Wise chefs will battle it out at the 2012 Chowder Chowdown on Wednesday, November 21st at the Fairmont Royal York (100 Front Street West). Tickets are $45 ($40 for students) and offer guests the chance to sample chowder and beer pairings and vote on the People's Choice Award.
• The Cookbook Store (850 Yonge Street) hosts a free in-store event with cookbook writers Elizabeth Baird and Rose Murray presenting Canada's Favourite Recipes on Friday, November 23rd at 6:30 pm.

OTHER NEWS

• The Dakota Tavern introduces Colonel Tom's Beer Barrel Bingo, a new weekly Bingo night, complete with chicken and waffles, drink specials and country music. Local bluegrass raconteur/bingo caller Colonel Tom presides over the first game on Saturday, November 17th.
• The Documentary Organization of Canada will screen the chocolate-themed documentary, Semisweet: Life in Chocolate on Wednesday, November 21st at 6pm at the Revue Cinema (400 Roncesvalles Avenue).

Lead photo from our profile of Burger Bar

Opened recently in the former Camto space in Koreatown, this sushi joint differentiates itself with the addition of an oyster bar, tapas menu, and late hours. Co-owner Kim Chou is also the man behind Kensington Market's New Seaway Fish Market, which bodes will for the product on offer here. Already a hit with the locals, the whole concept is a nice diversion from the many sushi options a few blocks east.

Read my profile of Japas in the restaurants section.

The best vintage and designer handbags in Toronto can foster some absolutely terrible spending habits. If you're anything like me, you simply can't resist the lure of a finely formed vegetable-tanned leather handbag, though said purchased bag never seems to make it into the everyday rotation (why risk the rain!?). And so, the handbag collection continues to grow (while storage space shrinks), with these Toronto accessories shops only complicating attempts at handbag abstinence--but I'm sure we'd all agree that we wouldn't have it any other way.

Here is the list of the best vintage and designer handbags in Toronto.

See also:

The best shoe stores in Toronto
The best new fashion stores in Toronto, 2011
The best vintage clothing stores in Toronto

Wednesday night at The Drake Hotel Halifax's Cousins opened for 22-year-old Montrealer Mac DeMarco. I hadn't seen the underground that packed since Peaches, so I guess the word has gotten out on DeMarco's charms.

Cousins played a fantastic set as usual — their Toronto fan base seems to grow with each visit. Fortunately, they're in town for a while working on a new album, so we should get some more shows out of them before they head back east. Crucial observation: Aaron Mangle of Cousins and DeMarco are possibly twins (or at least were dressed the same).

Mac DeMarco is a bit of an enigma. He enjoyed a wealth of critical success with his first LP 2 (don't pretend you don't read Pitchfork anymore) and yet seems to have come out of nowhere. His performance only furthered the mystery as he teetered between a grinning lovable brat and an old timey crooner with a buttery voice. His tunes fall somewhere between lounge and 80s glam and have an incredibly woozy lo-fi quality that makes me feel like I'm drunk in a hot-tub.

"My Kind of Woman," especially made me feel like someone had dropped a Quaalude into my drink.

He and his band intertwined snippets of "Blackbird" and "Message in a Bottle" into their own loungey songs, and I couldn't help but think of Richard Cheese.

That, and his shit-eating grin makes me question whether this is all a hilarious prank or at the very least whether he's not taking any of it very seriously (a good thing, to be sure). Regardless, the band was tight, his guitar playing and vocals impeccable, and I can't wait to see what he does next.

Photos by Matthew Broszkowski

Barista Espresso Bar had been in Liberty Village for a while when Mike Rutigliano (also owner of Maialino Enoteca in Parkdale) decided to go back to basics with a new restaurant featuring a concise menu of Italian sandwiches such as steak, veal and veggie, some light antipasto, and the same knowledge of brewing coffee that's been passed down in his family for generations.

Read my review of Panino and Co. in the restaurants section.

This past Thursday night, the 2012 Gourmet Food and Wine Expo kicked off with a preview, although the weekend-long event properly begins today. This was my first time at the event, so the concept of an expo at the Convention Centre had me picturing stark florescent lighting, and people walking around in bacon costumes.

Fortunately, it's nothing like that--it's more of a mingling party, and it's one of the few events where there seems to be something for everyone. Looking for classics? Caesars and sliders are on hand. Feeling pretentious? Cheese and wine sampling is available all night long. Personally, my inner food geek came out full force.

It started with Victor Restaurant serving duck pate ice cream and Saskatoon berries. My brain expected to bite into a cold wad of liver, but my taste buds got a hit of sweetness that tasted suspiciously like vanilla ice cream. By the time I hit the pate, I'd bitten into the sweet berries. The sample left my blind-sighted taste buds working in overdrive, trying to figure out what just happened.

If the idea of tastebud-trickery appeals to you, there are a few other options to try.
Kelp Caviar is a good one. Mad science--that is, molecular gastronomy--has repurposed seaweed into little spheres of wasbi, salmon, and sturgeon-flavoured caviar. It's pretty close to the real thing, considering what it's made from. My only gripe is that it's piled onto stale, toast crackers, but scrape it off and you're good to go.

There's an LCBO's worth of drink at this event. I zeroed in on the ice wine vodka from Vice. It's a chance to mix two drinks that shouldn't be mixed. Again, your taste buds will be confused. You'll get an equal mix of sweet wine and vodka without the chemical burning taste.

Molson is also mixing beer cocktails (read: Molson meets Skinny Sour), but if you're a brewskie or wine purist, you'll still find it here.

There are crowds at this event, but the wait times are surprisingly short. I dreaded getting into a snaking line for sampling tickets, but I was at the front of the ticket booth within a couple minutes. The event is really whatever you make of it. You can choose to go to the premium wine tasting lounge, or you can play a vigorous game of wine glass pong.

I also discovered that seating is sparse when I tried to gracefully eat an entire lobster tail out of a Dixie cup--suffice to say that I failed miserably. This is more of a mingling event. I recommend going for finger foods, or at least ones that don't require major utensils.

Dessert was my final stop on this tour. The macarons from Ruelo Patisserie are moist and come in classic vanilla or chocolate, but if you want to finish the night with one more tongue teaser, they also have wasabi grapefruit, black truffle, and rose lychee raspberry on hand.

The Gourmet Food and Wine Expo runs from November 16-18, and tickets are $20 and can be purchased online.

Additional photos:

Photos by Natta Summerky