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

OPEN NOW

• Luther's Chicken is now in operation out of the kitchen at Churchill at 1212 Dundas St. West
• Fat Pasha, the latest venture from chef Anthony Rose is now open and offering a menu featuring schmaltz fried rice, fattoush salad and mixed grill platters at 414 Dupont St.
• Ed's Real Scoop has opened a new store at 189 Roncesvalles Ave.
• Shishalicious, a new Middle Eastern cafe and hookah, lounge is now open at 235 Jarvis St. (at Shuter).
• Kenzo Ramen's latest location is now open and dishing up noodle bowls at 671 Queen St. West.

RECENTLY REVIEWED

• Gordo Ex Cafe
• Gyugyuya
• Luckee

OPENING SOON

• Kupfert and Kim, the meatless and wheatless lunch counter in the PATH, is expanding with the opening of a new cafe location in Brookfield Place.
• Chino Locos Burritos is opening another outpost at 368 Broadview Ave. (at Gerrard). The new spot is slated to open April 29th.
• Portland Variety is now under construction at 587 King St. West. The new spot from the mastermind behind Le Gourmand plans to offer convenience foods throughout the day, meaning it'll function as a bakery and cafe early on before switching to a restaurant and tapas bar at night. [Toronto Life]
• The Good Press, a new cold press juice bar, is set to open in the coming weeks in Yorkville.
• Bake Them Pretty, a novelty cake specialist, is relocating from Vaughan to a new spot at 106 Harbord St.
• Bywoods, a new dinner-focused spot from the team behind BOOM Breakfast & Co., is soon to open at 760 St. Clair Ave.

CLOSED

• The Pantry, an Irish shop and deli at 1620 Gerrard St. East, has closed, and is in the process of rebranding as The Pantry Cheese.

OTHER NEWS

• Hogtown Cure (1484 Dundas St. West) now has a liquor licence - they're serving craft beers and cider in bottles or cans, plus half a dozen wines by the glass.

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

Photo of Chino Locos.

The tents at David Pecaut Square - and its gussied-up showgoers - may have up and left when World MasterCard Fashion Week came to a close four weeks ago, but the fashion shows won't stop there.

Fashion Art Toronto ("|FAT|") Arts & Fashion Week returns next week (April 22 26) for its ninth annual edition, celebrating the conceptual - and sometimes downright confusing - side of fashion with runway shows, live performances, short films, photography exhibits and art installations. This time around, the event will be held at Daniels Spectrum (585 Dundas St. East), a site that's a little more central than the previous event venue, an industrial warehouse.

This year, the theme - "INFASHION/UNFASHION" - focuses on the push and pull of opposing values, with each day featuring two contrasting ideas working together. Subcategories like minimal vs. extreme and grit vs. glamour shape the five-day extravaganza, while over 70 artists and designers bring them to life. Tickets are available online or at the door, and they cost $35 per day or $100 for a full week pass.

Here are 5 things to check out at this year's |FAT| Arts & Fashion Week.

45 runway shows
The runway shows at |FAT| are notorious for pushing the boundaries between trendy and avant-garde to extremes, so if you're one of those people who get bogged down by World MasterCard Fashion Week's conservativeness season after season, you'll find all the left-wingers hiding out here. Names like Toronto's own Benji WZW and Doreen To are refreshingly inspiring artists amid a sea of familiar fashions.

Focus Montreal
Every year, |FAT| not only supports up-and-coming local talent, but serves as a platform for budding international artists and designers as well, with the last few events highlighting creators from Germany and Mexico. Though this year still embraces wonderful work from worldwide, the focus falls on good ol' Montreal. The city certainly boasts some of the coolest Canadian designers - and yet, Montreal Fashion Week was cancelled this season. Don't miss Brit Wacher, Atelier Wonder, YDNA, and many more.

The Dressing Room Project
|FAT| isn't all about the clothes; art is just as prominent. This year, expect to walk through nine installations, performance pieces, and multimedia works addressing social matters like gender roles and commodity fetishism. Then there are the more ambiguous pieces, like a tree covered in shoes. The event's on-site art "labyrinth" is definitely a must-see whether you get lost in them before, between, and/or after shows.

Fashion on Film
It's no surprise fashion films are embedded within the |FAT| program. Works by Toronto-based filmmakers - as well as a handful from Moscow and Mexico - will be projected right on the runway between shows. Be ready to put your thinking cap on - fashion films tend to be as enigmatic as they are beautiful.

Photography Exhibit
Lookbooks and editorials merge art and fashion seamlessly - |FAT|'s photography exhibit is proof. Rotating images will showcase about a dozen Canadian and international photographers, all with a great eye, unique aesthetic, and strong message. See Hans Withoos' tribute to the children of Africa in My Name is Blessing, From Zambia with Love or the blurring of lines between masculine and feminine in Narbir Gosal's Metamorphosis.

Photo by Stephen M. Loban.

Howard Park 2 is the second phase of a large scale condo project that's transforming a stretch of street once known for its collection of auto-shops. It's been a long time coming. Development has ramped up on nearby streets like Ritchie and Sorauren, and Roncesvalles is as busy as ever. Along with 96 proposed residential units, this mixed-use project will offer retail space at ground level (in response to community pleading), which should prove a boon to the vibe of the street, which remains fairly lethargic right now.

A mostly triangular-shaped building (thumbs up for going the extra mile here architecturally speaking), Howard Park 2 will stand five-storeys above the street on a charcoal-brick base, followed by three floors featuring open and staggered green-terraces that will provide better views and reduce the visual impact of the development on neighbouring properties. Yes, it's pretty as far as condos go. The terraces feature picturesque vine-covered walls visible from afar and gas hookups should ensure that people are actually outside grilling away during barbecue season (the duration of which depends on how hardcore you are).

SPECS

• Address: 24 Howard Park Avenue
• Storeys: 8
• Number of Units: 96 units
• Types of Units: 1, 1+den, 2, 2+den bedrooms and 2-storey townhomes.
• Amenities: Meeting/media room, event/lounge flex space, library, gym, and concierge
• Walkscore: 98 out of 100
• Price: Expected to start from the low $300,000s
• Maintenance Fee: $0.49/Sq.Ft. (Hydro metered separately)
• Architect: RAW Design
• Landscape: Ferris + Associates
• Developer: Triumph Developments

FEATURES

• Excellent proximity to public transit
• 9ft. ceiling height units (10ft. on 8th floor)
• Engineered hardwood flooring, premium appliance package
• Stone countertops in kitchen and bathroom, gas hookups (on terrace suites).
• Bicycle storage (up to 131 spots) and two-level underground parking
• Green roofs, vine-covered terraces and geothermal heating & cooling energy

THE VERDICT

While Howard Park isn't the first development in the city to integrate green-roofs or private gardens, its vine-covered terraced suites are about as eye-catching as they come (which likely explains why phase one is already sold out). One only hopes they look as good in real life as they do in the renderings.

The trade-off for a retail presence at this development is amenities, or lack thereof. Compared to other new condos around the city, this is pretty average in the perks department. But, hey, Roncesvalles is right there, so micro-city is hardly necessary. The floor plans have yet to be released for Howard Park 2, but the developer promises 60, yes 60, different layouts, so cookie cutter claims won't apply here.

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

Writing by Cathy Esaa

Sam James Coffee Bar's combination of high-quality brew, basic snacks and unusual environments is, clearly, a winning formula. The fourth addition to the Sam James family just opened at Queen and Ossington in a tall, slim, starkly monochromatic space; it's basic and beautiful, and so is the coffee.

Read my review of Sam James (Ossington) in the cafes section.

The top stores for plus size clothing in Toronto are a far cry from what shoppers have come to expect from 14+ clothing. The elasticized waists, polyester turtleneck tunics, and sequined butterfly motifs that still haunt the shelves at some specialty retailers are slowly disappearing, thanks to the rising popularity of style blogging and the growing realization that plus-sized shoppers want and need real fashion - not just what's "forgiving," "flattering," and "camouflaging."

While there are still improvements to be made, particularly in terms of accommodating all sizes and budgets, Toronto is giving its plus-sized customers reason to get excited about going shopping through friendly environments, a sense of inclusivity, and most of all, beautiful clothes.

Here are the top stores for plus size clothing in Toronto.

Your Big Sister's Closet
There's something for everyone at this cheerful Junction boutique: Wannabe Bettie Pages, Edie Segwicks and Claire Underwoods can all find gold among owner Karen Ward's collection of dresses and separates in sizes X-3X. Don't leave without perusing their accessories, including bright tights, costume statement rings, and sharp handbags with extended straps. (Ward also organizes Big Deal Toronto, a popular annual pop-up sale where fashion bloggers sell pieces from their own closets. Finds are phenomenal and rarely over $20.)

Gussied Up
This elegant Bathurst boutique is a top destination for classic pieces and Canadian designs in sizes X-3X. Helpful owner Victoria McGroarty has an eye for wearable, versatile pieces like day-to-evening dresses, casual blazers, leggings and cute but practical undergarments. Feminine details and timeless prints are a constant, as are current looks like bright pastels and sweet blouses with menswear detailing. Vintage-inspired bathing suits that fit like a dream are pricey, but completely irresistible.

SexyPlus Clothing
This aptly named shop, offering sizes 12-30, recently underwent a move and a makeover after opening five years ago at Yonge and Church. While it's no longer technically in Toronto, the shop itself is now as vibrant as its unique merchandise - a substantial collection featuring covetable day and evening dresses, and made-to-be-seen lingerie. Owner Stefanie Augusteijn works hard to make sure shoppers keep coming back, offering private shopping parties and meet-and-greets with local bloggers.

Voluptuous
A welcome affront to the belief that plus-sized shoppers should be covered from head-to-toe, Voluptuous sells bold, blatantly sexy clothes in sizes X-3X. This small Canadian chain's selection recently transitioned to include (slightly) more diverse pieces: High-waisted booty shorts and strapless bodysuits now share space with beachy maxis, crisp A-line dresses, pencil skirts, and sheer boho blouses. Service ranges from encouraging to entirely disinterested, but prices are usually on point.

PRiMAALA
Architectural, modern and sophisticated is the rule at this brand-new Dundas West shop. PRiMAALA is unquestionably fashion-forward, featuring sharp blazers, crisp skinny pants and richly textured knit dresses in sizes 12 to 24. Saturated colours and substantial fabrics mark much of the selection - an alternative to the bright, feminine pieces favoured by other boutiques. The store's stunning, opulent design gives some glamour to the shopping experience, something lacking in a lot of plus-sized stores.

The Answer
The Answer specializes in mid-to-high-end plus-sized clothing from sizes 14 to 24. Selection relies heavily on drapey fabrics and modest shapes - think art-teacher chic - but interesting details, good quality, an emphasis on natural fabrics, and a welcoming environment set this midtown boutique apart. Classic businesswear, athletic gear and a great selection of sweaters are highlights. (Just stay away from the obnoxious style tips on their website.)

Curvaceous Consignments
While it lacks the cool chaos or Cinderella-at-the-ball awesomeness of some of the city's better used clothing destinations, Curvaceous Consignments is the only local store of its kind catering exclusively to plus-sized customers, from sizes XL-5X. Most pieces err on the side of conventional and business casual, but there are a few vintage knockouts waiting to be discovered, including knockoffs of Marilyn's famous halter and Joan Holloway-worthy curve worshipping sheaths.

Legs Plus and Bra Boutique
Hidden in a suburban strip mall, Legs Plus is claustrophobically packed with both upscale and everyday lingerie. Unlike other bra specialists claiming to service plus sizes, only to stop at a 40, this welcoming shop sells sizes 28D-58J. They make the list for understanding not all plus-sized bodies are created from the same DD-and-up mould. Hard-to-fit sizes, like small cups with a large band, are readily available and can be ordered if not in stock. Bonus: the store offers a 15-day trial period.

Marina Rinaldi
This high-end Yorkville boutique is renowned for its colourful, upscale workwear in sizes 8 to 26. While the larger sizes are overpopulated with matronly styles and boxy cuts, there are some beautifully tailored pieces with interesting details to be found. Of-the-moment jacquard coats, cropped patterned pants and pencil skirts with subtle, eye-catching details are standouts, as are opulent beaded accessories.

Rosie the Rebel
Calling themselves "Canada's rockabilly, psychobilly and retro clothing retailer," this Bloorcourt boutique sells '40s and '50s-inspired pieces - mostly glamorous and cheeky full-skirted dresses - in sizes XS to 4X. Their selection is limited, but this is the only shop in town catering to lovers of brash pinup style that gives substantial shelf space to plus sizes, and makes sure shoppers on the larger end of the spectrum aren't left out. Friendly staff know their products and how they work on plus-sized bodies.

Writing by Ashley Petkovski. Lead photo of PRiMAALA by James C Lee.

Condo sales in Toronto reached a record high for March, with buyers snapping up almost 2,500 new units last month, a figure that more than doubles sales a year ago. This comes, of course, as worry mounts that the local condo market is overdue for a correction -- or worse, a crash. Development continues apace, sparking concern over rising numbers of units that have yet to be sold, but the drop in prices that's been predicted for years has yet to come to fruition.

According to RealNet, the Terminator-sounding research firm behind these numbers, condo prices remained mostly consistent from February to March, with a benchmark price of $436,898. Every real estate expert in the city has a theory on what will or won't lead to a correction, though most agree that there's legitimate concern Toronto's condo supply will outweigh demand. Just how great the gap will be is, however, cause for significant debate.

Some hypothesize that vacancy rates won't reach high enough levels to correct the market. Others predict that overbuilding might be tempered by a greater openness to high density living in a city with a housing market that's daunting to first time buyers looking for a traditional home. For now, the market continues to boom.

Cards Against Humanity, the wildly popular party game, has had its fair share of imitators since being launched via a Kickstarter campaign back in 2011, but an unofficial Toronto version of the game (which many argue is itself based on Apples to Apples) is a new development that might interest local experts and those who've played the original one so often that it's impossible be shocked by anymore.

The work of Scotty Graham, who also designed those Rob Ford Valentines so many of us snickered at, from what I can gather, the Toronto-fied game is decidedly more PG than Cards Against Humanity, but perhaps that's to be expected given the municipal subject matter. Or not. You can count on a few Rob Ford funnies to dial up the lewd factor and plenty of opportunities to make fun of our various neighbourhoods.

Cards About Toronto costs $25 and is available through the designer's website. If you're looking to purchase Cards Against Humanity in Toronto, head on over to Snakes and Lattes.

The most secretive boutique hotel in Toronto looks to have fallen on hard times. Rumours are swirling that the Templar Hotel, located at 348 Adelaide St. W., has fallen into a power of sale after the hotel's mortgage fell into arrears, with an initial list price of $13 million.

The Templar has never exactly been stable. The tiny boutique hotel, at just 27 rooms, has only been open for about two years, but was conceived way back in 2000 and spent much of the next decade as a half-finished concrete shell. After about eight years of protracted, on-again off-again construction, it finally opened in 2012, quickly becoming a popular destination for big brands renting out the hotel space for events. The splashiest example: Target's takeover at TIFF 2012.

Though the mortgage-holder now has the power to sell off the hotel, it appears to be business as usual for now, with the hotel still accepting reservations - though the schedule is looking pretty open.

Record Store Day 2014 is this Saturday in Toronto and all across North America. Do you enjoy music? Do you like limited, tangible keepsakes? Hell, are you simply a sucker for free entertainment that can fill those dull Saturday hours of this phony spring? If so, Record Store Day has something for you.

Now in its eighth year, Record Store Day has been injecting much needed interest in struggling brick-and-mortar record shops worldwide, providing exclusive releases and unmatched dopamine rushes for vinyl fiends of all ages.

Before you decide where you're going to trade your hard earned cash for some of that delicious, delicious vinyl, you should have an informed idea of the goods you'll be scouting out this Saturday. Not only is there a glut of limited releases and reissues being distributed worldwide, as usual, but this year sees a greater focus towards regional exclusives, to make everyone feel the warm tingly sensation that freshly-pressed wax from your homeland inspires.

The "regional," insofar as it applies to Canadians, is constituted by stuff your grandpappy will probably dig, including the concentrated Canadiana of Gordon Lightfoot and Blue Rodeo (the latter of which are the "ambassadors" of our country to the world this Record Store Day, a role obviously necessitated by a national struggle towards maximum cultural bragging rights among record nerds). Elsewhere, there are Ontario institutions like The Darcys and Arkells, who are pressing limited releases on a slightly larger production run.

The international releases are obviously more diverse and, well, pretty much objectively better than the relatively sparse Canadian exclusives. That said, a brand-new four-song EP from the eccentrically brilliant Chad VanGaalen, conspicuously titled I Want You Back, is one of the more exciting releases on the list, as is the new Michael Feuerstack (don't call him Snailhouse) record, Singer Songer, punnily titled for the multiple guest vocalists employed throughout. Looking south to the States, one can see America swimming in riches with damn fine reissues from the likes of Built to Spill, Outkast, and Link Wray (luckily these, and most others, will have worldwide distribution to some degree).

Everybody's got a stake in the spotlight the world over, with locales as far flung as Sweden (represented by pop mastermind Nina Persson) and, um, space (repped by a compilation entitled The Space Project) participating. The latter has to be the strangest release of all on the list, incorporating actual electromagnetic vibes produced by planetary bodies, as recorded by Voyageur 1 and 2, and logically worked into the material of Spiritualized, Absolutely Free, and many more space-friendly bands to create a medley of spacey jams.

Stream it over at NPR if it sounds like your thing, but regardless of taste and genre preference, you ought to scour the wealth of bounty on offer over at the Record Store Day Canada site.

You can also find listings of particular Record Store Day happenings in your area. Since this holiday was founded on the dream of thinking local (and following through on those thoughts), you should at least make it out to show your support for the endeavour to save the tactile parts of music enjoyment, damn it.

Your best bet for the afternoon is probably in the Annex, at the day-spanning blowout at Sonic Boom. Expect live sets from all-caps enthusiasts and altogether good folks DIANA and HSY, along with GTA classics like The Bicycles, Luke Lalonde, and more. However, if staying in one place for hours seems antithetical to a day where the concept is predicated on an easily accessible free consumer market, well, you'd probably be right to want to boogie 'round the city for maximum exposure. If you self-identify at all as a music fan, a busy Easter weekend schedule is no excuse to miss out on the proceedings.

Really, it shouldn't take any press blurbs or master list to convince you (though they're handy, and again, the official site is worth quite a few looks over). It's the active engagement principle: run a torch map of Soundscapes, June Records (DJs all day), She Said Boom, and Kops. Pop by Grasshopper while you bring your Bellwoods brews to the park to celebrate spring's arrival. Just introduce exposure into your routine in some capacity, and note that many spots are opening early to sate the impatient brats we can all become when exclusive record swag is involved.

For an alternative view (and to break free from maintaining hopeful cynicism for a moment), Good Records and Vortex won't be participating in Record Store Day. Read why here. Then if you really want to get into the thick of it, the Quietus has a scoop on how Record Store Day actually hurts small labels.

Record Store Day is Saturday, April 19th 2014.

Photo by Joseph Fuda via June Records on Facebook

What's open and closed on Good Friday 2014 in Toronto:

CLOSED

• Government offices (post offices, City Hall and others) will be closed.
• Banks will be closed Friday to Sunday, with most resuming service on Monday.
• Toronto Public Library branches will be closed on Friday and Sunday, but open regular hours on Saturday
• Most shopping malls (Yorkdale, Fairview, Sherway Gardens, Scarborough Town Centre, Vaughan Mills) and retail stores will be closed - although there's usually some unexpected openings, so call ahead.
• The Beer Store and LCBO stores will be closed on Friday and Easter Sunday.
• St. Lawrence Market is closed Good Friday.
• Most major grocery stores will be closed on Friday and Sunday.

OPEN

Transit

• The TTC and GO Transit will operate on a Sunday schedule.

Shopping

• The Eaton Centre is open 10am to 6pm on Good Friday, and noon to 5pm on Sunday. Some retailers surrounding the Eaton Centre and up Yonge St. will observe similar hours.
• Pacific Mall is open all weekend.
• Loblaws at Maple Leaf Gardens (60 Carlton St.) is open 10am to 8pm on Good Friday and Easter Sunday.
• Whole Foods Yorkville (87 Avenue Rd.) is open Good Friday from 10am to 6pm.
• T&T Supermarkets are open for business as usual.
• Pusateri's three locations are open Good Friday from 8am to 6pm but closed Easter Sunday.

Eating Out

• Call ahead, as restaurants citywide are taking the day off at their own discretion.
  
• Fish and chip shops will be in their element on this customary fish-eating day. Check out our best of list for where to go, or take a look at our directory of Toronto fish and chip shops here.
• The beer stores may be closed -- but local breweries are generally open! Steam Whistle Brewery (255 Bremner Blvd.) might even extend hours for the Jays game.
• The Evergreen Brickworks (550 Bayview Ave.) hosts a special edition of Brewer's Backyard dubbed Great Friday from noon until 6pm. Admission is free, plus there will be a free shuttle to the Mill Street Beer Hall for an after party.
• Aunties & Uncles (74 Lippincott St.) is open on Good Friday, but closed Saturday to Monday.

Attractions

• Attractions such as the AGO (10am to 4pm), the ROM (regular hours), Ripley's Aquarium of Canada (9am to 9pm), TIFF Bell Lightbox (10am to 10pm) will be open.
• Most of the shops, galleries and restaurants in the Distillery District remain open all weekend.
• Major movie theatres are open across the city.

Did we leave something out? Please let us know in the comments section below.

Photo by Dmitry Kichenko in the blogTO flickr pool.

The Toronto Raptors playoff quest begins Saturday afternoon with a date against the Brooklyn Nets at the Air Canada Centre, and the hype machine is already in full effect. Perhaps it's because the Leafs imploded and missed the post-season, or perhaps it's because this is the Raptors' first playoff appearance in six years, or perhaps it's just because Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment (MLSE) does promotion so well (winning is another matter altogether, of course). Hiring Drake as an ambassador looks like a pretty good move right now. He might even help to bring a nightclub to the ACC, if you can believe it.

So while the team has already heard some complaining about the price of playoff tickets -- on average the highest in the NBA -- what most of the city is talking about is just how exciting it is to be in the playoffs. While the Leafs will always be the biggest ticket in town, don't be surprised to see our basketball team acquire a massive bandwagon this year, some of whom might even remain fans.

One lesson that MLSE learned from the Leafs' dramatic (but ultimately tragic) seven game series with Boston last year is that converting Maple Leaf Square outside the ACC into a public viewing zone is a great way to generate excitement for a playoff run. Enter Party in the Square, which will bring thousands to the ACC before home games to watch the action on the massive screen that adorns the west side of the arena.

The promotional video the team recently released hasn't hurt the excitement generation, either. Riffing at least a little on Game of Thrones, the promotional spot features cool shots of Toronto mixed with game action and, most of all, dunks. It's hard to watch it and not get at least a bit excited if you're at least a casual fan.

For all the optimism that greets the team heading into its first game against the Nets, this is going to be one tough series, with the eventual winner likely destined to take on Miami in the second round. But perhaps that's actually a really good thing. Super tight basketball games with high drama in the last couple minutes of play are great for fans.

Photo by Howard Yang in the blogTO Flickr pool.

Photo by Johnny Shakedown in the blogTO Flickr pool.

These cheap and cheerful plastic watches have been spotted in magazines, on blogs, and the wrists of fashionable folks around the world. Believe it or not, they're designed (and, often, assembled) right here in Toronto. Their studio, located just off Trinity Bellwoods Park, is open to visitors and shoppers - and if you email them your favourite photo, they'll oblige you with a custom-made watch of your very own.

Read my profile of May28th in our fashion section.

Queen Street East at Greenwood has (so far) been mostly overlooked by the recent popularity of Leslieville and the Beaches, perhaps because the stretch doesn't quite feel like it's part of either neighbourhood.

But that could all be about to change with the arrival of an 8-storey, mixed-use condo on the south side of the street, just west of Greenwood. Where there are currently three semi-detached homes that date back to before 1913, developers are planning a new mid-rise residential building with room for four stores.

The building, as it's currently proposed, would include 110 residential units, split roughly 60-40 between 1- and 2-bedrooms, and a total of 685 square metres of retail. The architects' drawings show the building flush against the sidewalk, then stepping back a metres above the fourth floor. On Memory Lane, which runs directly behind the property, developers Rockport Inc. want 14 "stacked" townhomes with tiny (1.5 square metre) front yards.

In the planning rationale document on file with the city, the developers say the building is "appropriate and desirable" for this stretch of Queen East. Several other buildings are in the works nearby, too. At 1249-1251 Queen, which, just east of Leslie, includes Queen Street Variety, Noble HVAC, and union offices for Unifor, there's a proposal for a 6-storey building. The vacant lot next to Stratengers and a disused brick building at 1075 Queen are also targets for development.

Retail is currently sporadic beyond Alton Avenue on Queen until the Beaches picks up beyond Coxwell. The strip is a mix of detached homes - a reminder of the old residential make-up of the area - low-rise apartment complexes, and the occasional cluster of stores, including one near the Russell streetcar yard that includes a butcher, pizza restaurant, and the east-end location of the Film Buff movie rental store.

As it stands, buildings on the property are capped at 12 metres, just over a third of what's proposed. The six homes that are due to be knocked down do not have heritage protection, so that's one less hurdle to overcome.

Nobel Auto Service and Blue Sky Autobody, two worn out car repair shops on the corner of Knox Avenue, and the semi-detached home next door are not included in Rockport's plans.

What do you think?

QUICK STATS:

TYPE: Condo
HEIGHT: 30.15 metres (8 storeys)
UNITS: 110 (67 1-bedroom, 41 2-bedroom, which include the 14 townhomes)
TOTAL RESIDENTIAL SPACE: 9,568 square metres
TOTAL RETAIL SPACE: 685 sq. m. (4 stores)
PARKING SPACES: 106 (basement)
LOADING DOCKS: 1 (at rear)

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

Images: Rockport Inc., Chris Bateman/blogTO

Toronto Food Events rounds up the most delicious events, festivals, pop-ups, winemaker dinners, supper clubs and other food related happenings in Toronto this week and next. You can find us here every Friday morning.

THIS WEEK

• Just-Eat presents the first ever Cross-Country 420 Pizza Mob this Sunday, April 20. The food-ordering service has convinced its local pizza partners to help combat the munchies by supplying free pizza to revelers at 420 rallies in Toronto, Ottawa and Vancouver.
• The Society of Beer Drinking Ladies hosts their monthly meet-up on Friday, April 25. The sold-out event (location TBA) opens up admission after midnight. Snag a ticket for the next one (held the last Friday each month) by joining the mailing list.

UPCOMING

• The Gladstone Hotel hosts Equinosh as part of their Grow-Op exhibit on Saturday, April 26 from 5-8pm. Tickets are $10 for the ambulatory feast for the senses presented by chefs Mario Paz, Miriam Streiman, and chef Jamie Kennedy.
• Cafe Boulud (60 Yorkville Ave.) hosts Parts & Labour's Matty Matheson for a four-course collaborative dinner ($125) with wine pairings on Tuesday, April 29 at 7pm.
• Momofuku Shoto (190 University Ave.) collaborates with chef Daniel Burns (of Brooklyn's Luksus) on Tuesday, April 29, for a 12-course tasting menu priced at $200 per person.
• May the Fourth Be With You, a vegan bake sale, is slated to pop-up in Kensington Market on Sunday, May 4 from noon 'til 3pm.
• Shuck-U is now accepting enrollment for its oyster class happening Friday, May 9 from 5:30-7:30pm at the Miele Gallery at the Market Kitchen in St. Lawrence Market. Patrick McMurray (Starfish, Ceili Cottage) leads the freshman class ($52). See the website for advance tickets and wine-focused add-ons.

Photo by Steve 16:9 in the blogTO Flickr pool

This brand-new CrossFit gym offers a frills-free workout space for downtown die-hards. There aren't a ton of amenities, but owner/instructor Michael Cheung's enthusiasm and warmth has already been drawing in downtown professionals and Ryerson students alike.

Read my profile of Argon CrossFit in the fitness section.

The best quiche in Toronto is a versatile cafe staple; ideal at brunch-time, perfect for picnicking, or easily enjoyed by the slice at a relaxed cafe. This assortment of savoury tarts sets the standard high with light, flaky crusts and fluffy centres, filled with delectable combinations of eggs and cheeses, seasonal vegetables and herbs, and cured meats or seafood.

Here is the best quiche in Toronto.

See also:

The Best Meat Pies in Toronto
The Best Pies in Toronto
The Best Shepherd's Pie in Toronto

Weekend events in Toronto is our guide to events happening this Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Here's what's happening in Toronto this April 18-20, 2014.

420
Ah, yes. Each year, hundreds gather at Yonge-Dundas Square to smoke out the domineering billboards and give peace a chance, while the police will look on and wish the day would end so they could go home and party, Canada-style, themselves. If you're going to brave the crowds, remember not to operate heavy machinery within the next few hours and don't ride the dogs with the pot leaf bandanas, because they are dogs, not dragons. Sunday, April 20, 4:20-ish, Yonge-Dundas Square.

HOLIDAY

HAIVKY! Spring Revels in the Park on Easter Sunday
Toronto folk collective Kosa Kolektiv, together with a lot of good friends, will host a singing procession that starts at the main gates of Trinity Bellwoods Park and then leads into park for a picnic (BYOsnacks) under a red tent, folk dancing, games and walking formations, Ukrainian and Breton folk dances led by local musicians, Village Voice singing, and games for little sugared-up ankle-biters. If it rains, activities might move into the church basement hall of St. Nicholas Church, 4 Bellwoods Ave. Sunday, April 20, 4pm-dark, Trinity Bellwoods Park.

See also

• Craft Pop-Up: Easter Egg Pinatas (The Shop)

MUSIC

Girls Just Wanna Have Punk (Friday, Smiling Buddha)
Female-driven punk bands are taking over Smiling Buddha tonight to celebrate the release of international punk compilation This is Not a Test from TO label High Art For The Low Down (HA4TLD). And yes, one of the bands is named Beaver Slaps. Read our preview of the night here. Friday, April 18, 7pm, Smiling Buddha (961 College St.), $10-$12 including a copy of This is Not a Test. All ages.

Folk the Winter
A parade in a FreshCo. parking lot sounds underwhelming, especially from promoters who think mixing "fuck" and "folk" is clever. But just trust us: messing around on the street in West Queen West is more or less time well spent, and this will be a good time if you don't mind some lil' kids hanging around. A surprise guest band is in store - who will it be? Friday, April 18, 7pm, Gladstone Ave. & Queen St. West.

Record Store Day
If you only shop at record stores on RSD, then the industry truly is screwed, but the event is still a fun thing. For music fans and industry peeps, the third Saturday of April is Thy Holy Day of Records, which since 2007 has been a global pep rally for struggling (or are they?) (yes, they are) independent record shops. Mark Sonic Boom's party down - DIANA, Greys, PS I Love You, Unfinished Business, HSY, and The Bicycles are playing for free - then read our full preview of Record Store Day in Toronto here. Saturday, April 19.

Construction
Did you love the Long Winter series so much you betrayed us and used dark forces to make the winter longer, and longer, and longer? You committed a severe error in judgement, because Long Winter will rebrand itself this summer as Construction, an all-ages music series for the hot weather, a.k.a. construction season. The first show is Saturday at Double Double Land (other shows will hop between DDL and Smiling Buddha) with Tasseomancy, Wish, and RLDML. Saturday April 19, Double Double Land (209 Augusta Ave.), PWYC.

Southern Souls Screening
Southern Souls film bands. A lot of bands (well over 1,000), all around Ontario - the list includes names like Austra, Whitehorse, Young Galaxy, and July Talk. This will mark their first screening after five years of hard work. This will also be one of the last shows at Oz (sadface). Read our interview with Southern Souls creator Mitch Fillion here. Saturday, April 19, 9pm, Oz Studios (134 Ossington Ave.), free.

Other Easter Weekend concerts

• Big Shiny Dwayne: Songs of the 90's (Friday, The Phoenix)
• Loving in the Name Of (Friday, Mod Club)
• Hip Hop Karaoke (Friday, Revival)
• Avey Tare's Slasher Flicks (Saturday, Lee's Palace)
• Healing Power 3 (Saturday, The Tranzac)
• Mount Eerie & Wyrd Visions: HalfEaten Guitar Reissue (Sunday, Soybomb)
• Telephone Maison Cassette Release (Sunday, The Tranzac)

For more music listings, check out our This Week in Music, April Concerts, Spring Concerts, and Spring Music Festivals posts.

COMEDY

Records Empire
Confession: when I was sixteen, I watched Empire Records over, and over, and over. It gave me this strange idea that working in a record store would be the best thing ever, and I applied to my favourite downtown Winnipeg shop (shout out to Into the Music) with a resume that I airbrushed with green paint so that one of the guys from Love was silhouetted onto it. Needless to say, I looked crazy and I didn't get the job. Celebrate Record Store Day early tonight at this Empire Records-themed comedy show. Friday, April 18, 7pm, Black Swan (154 Danforth Ave).

LIT

Bad Day Issue 17 Release Party
Bad Day Issue 17 contains work by Sean Nicholas Savage, Kelela, Roe Ethridge, Nathalie Du Pasquier, Gia Coppola, Jon Rafman, Telfar, Kristie Muller and more. Pick up a copy of this biannual arts and culture interview magazine (apparently Guy Maddin is a fan) and see a performance by up-and-coming Toronto band Ice Cream. I know you like to be fashionably late, but show up early for this one. Friday, April 18, 10pm, Brockton Collective Inc. (442a Dufferin St).

Studio Warming Party for Papirmass & Paper Pusher
Papirmass and Paper Pusher are two names in Toronto's DIY scene that you need to know. They're inviting you to their brand new studio tonight, so see the magic for yourself. Note: I know you're shy about IRL phone calls, but after 5pm you've got to call the number listed on the page here in order to get inside. Friday, April 18, 4-10pm, #406 196 Spadina Avenue.

See also

• Queer Eclipse: A Reading with Leah Horlick & Friends (Friday, The Steady)

PARTY

AVANT_MUTEK
Montreal's unique MUTEK festival has been delivering impressive programming of electronic music and digital art since 2000. This Saturday, the Montreal fest will present AVANT_MUTEK at 99 Sudbury, together with lauded Toronto promoters breakandenter. Swedish duo Minilogue, who've played MUTEK proper twice, will play a delirious four hour set, and mark their first and last time in Toronto - the duo will take an indefinite hiatus after their current tour. Read our quick interview with MUTEK here. Saturday, April 19, 99 Sudbury.

Mickey Finn
Dance music has made a huge comeback in recent years thanks to the mainstream EDM boom, but that doesn't mean that the old school rave scene has disappeared. If anything, drum 'n' bass seems on the verge of a comeback. See for yourself when UK jungle pioneer Mickey Finn headlines this all-ages Easter Long Weekend party. Sunday, April 20, Opera House (735 Queen St. East), 9pm, $40.

See also

• Armin Van Buren (Saturday, Metro Toronto Convention Centre)
• Deep Endz (Saturday, The Steady)
• Blunt Hunt Deal001 (Sunday, Opera House)

For more dance listings, check out our Top Dance Parties in Toronto in April post.

FILM

Michel Brault, maitre
If you got a taste of the (sadly) late Michel Brault at Hot Docs last year, you'll no doubt consider TIFF's retrospective of his more fictional work in this week-long retrospective a can't-miss event. A pioneer of the Direct Cinema movement, Brault's eclectic filmography also features some of the most rapturously poetic and scathingly political films in the history of Quebecois cinema, reaching its zenith in 1974 when he won the Best Director prize in Cannes for Les Ordres. April 17-22, TIFF Bell Lightbox (350 King St. West).

Transcendence
Spring's getting into high gear, we had a day this week where shorts were permissible, and studios figure what better way to heat things up than to unleash a $100-million Johnny Depp sci-fi vehicle. I get the logic, I really do - especially in a post-Inception age when anything quasi-future/dream/dystopias appears to be the next opportunity to blow the public's eyeballs and minds. Unfortunately, there's also this thing called a script.

Also opening in theatres this week

• Afternoon of a Faun: Tanaquil Le Clercq (The Bloor)
• Authors Anonymous (Carlton)
• The Battery (Cineplex Yonge & Dundas)
• Bears (Carlton, Cineplex Yonge & Dundas)
• The Face of Love (Varsity)
• A Haunted House 2 (Scotiabank)
• Heaven is for Real (Cineplex Yonge & Dundas)
• Hold Fast (Carlton)
• Journey to the West (The Royal)
• Kid Cannabis (The Royal)
• Small Time (Carlton)
• Stress Position (Carlton)
• That Demon Within (Cineplex Yonge & Dundas)
• Trailer Park Boys: Don't Legalize It (Carlton, Scotiabank)
• 2 States (Cineplex Yonge & Dundas)

See also

• Live Images: Violent X (Friday, AGO Jackman Hall)
• Images (Final weekend)

For more film events, check out our Top film events this spring post.

FOOD

Brewer's Backyard: Great Friday
The weather's been moody as hell (maybe it needs a good patio brew?) but Double Trouble, Junction Craft and Mill Street will treat you right at tonight's Brewer's Backyard. Bricks & Mortar are supplying the food, and the after party's at Mill Street Beer Hall. Feeling over regular transit, yet not ready for cycling? A free shuttle bus will run from Evergreen Brick Works to Mill Street Beer Hall. Friday, April 18, 12-6pm, Evergreen Brick Works (550 Bayview Ave.), free.

For more food events, check out our Toronto Food Events, Spring Food Events, and Spring Beer Events post.

CYCLING

Red Bull Race the Place
Ontario Place is opening back up this Saturday for a public urban bike race. Watch as "dozens of seasoned cyclists to chase through the island's abandoned industrial jungle, on a track chock-full of both natural and man-made obstacles." Tires will be flashing mad bling (no? Aw.) while a vendors' village and on-site bike demonstrations amuse those who'd not rather be at the ponies. Learn more here. Saturday, April 19, 10:30am-6:30pm, Ontario Place (995 Lakeshore Blvd. West), free for spectators.

ART

Spring Gallery Crawl
Akin Collective on Wade wants to take you on a tour of west end art galleries this Saturday. The galleries on the crawl are Mercer Union, Stella, Daniel Faria Gallery, Scrap Metal, and Division Gallery, and the walk starts at noon. Saturday, April 19, 12-5pm, Akin Collective (87 Wade Ave.).

For more art listings, check out our Top 10 Must-See Art Shows This Spring post.

THEATRE

Belleville
Amy Herzog's Belleville is frighteningly intense. So intense, even, that you may find yourself holding your breath and digging fingernails into your seat during one of the many unnerving scenes. Read our review here. Until May 4, Berkeley Street Theatre (26 Berkeley St.).

Beatrice & Virgil
The follow up to his widely celebrated, Booker Award-winning novel Life of Pi, Yann Martel's Beatrice & Virgil is adapted for the stage by Lindsay Cochrane in a collaboration between Factory Theatre and Canada's National Arts Centre. A visit to a taxidermist inspires a journey through the complex story of a donkey and a howler monkey only reached and understood through art, imagination, and the little facts that help sketch the full picture. Given that an adaptation of the visually-stunning Pi was only possible with the most advanced big-screen technology, it will be special to see the celebrated author's work in a smaller, more intimate setting. April 17-May 11, Factory Theatre (125 Bathurst St.), $30-$45.

For more events on stage, check out our The top theatre productions in Toronto April 2014 post.

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

Lead photo by Tom Ryaboi. Film writing by Blake Williams. Contributions by Keith Bennie, Ben Boles.

Rob Ford's bid for re-election is officially in high gear. Before a raucous crowd of some 1,000 Ford Nation patriots, the mayor, surrounded by people in baggy white "Ford More Years" t-shirts, pledged to keep working for the taxpayers and battling the gravy train. He said be believed in "the spirit of second chances."

The massive event was like a physical manifestation of the inside of Rob Ford's brain. There was a big red firetruck covered in signs, one of which said the mayor had "saved the taxpayers a billion dollars" (Doug said Rob paid $4,000 for the vehicle at auction,) and vocal fans screaming messages of support. "We love you, Robbie," "Ford more years," "fight the power."

There were bobblehead dolls (three kinds, one limited "Jimmy Kimmel" edition,) big signs, foam fingers, branded coffee flasks, Ford Nation t-shirts, booming music, and a team of uniformed bagpipers who piped the mayor on stage.

People of all ages sat at tables or crowded around the stage in the main hall of the Toronto Congress Centre on Dixon Road, a five-minute drive from 15 Windsor Road, the house at the centre of the crack video scandal. Though it was undoubtedly the biggest launch in terms of attendance so far, the sheer size of the room made the crowd seem patchy.

During his speech, Ford said he would continue to battle against "elitists, the special interests, and those who want to spend our hard-earned money." He promised to scale back the cost of government and cut red tape. "Together we have derailed the gravy train ... together we have saved the taxpayers a billion dollars."

"I promise you, I promise you, Rob Ford will have your back for the next four years," he said, as We're Not Going to Take It by Twisted Sister began to play over the PA. Unfortunately, a net of red, white, and blue balloons hanging from the ceiling failed to deploy at the climax of the speech. Ford was piped off the stage and spent the next hour signing autographs and posing for photographs.

Standing in the hallway as the event was winding down, a woman recognized me as a reporter and nervously asked how many people had been at Olivia Chow and John Tory's launches. She said it was good to know last night's event was the biggest so far, and that she wanted a mayor who would keep her taxes low.

Ford was more confident earlier in the night. "This is just the beginning, folks. This is just the beginning."

MORE PHOTOS

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

Images: Christian Bobak/blogTO

Photo by Georgette in the blogTO Flickr pool.