A visibly emotional Doug Ford said his brother "let people down" with his actions over the last week, appearing in a new series of drug-related videos and making sexist and racist remarks in an Etobicoke bar. Speaking at City Hall a short time ago, Ford did not offer any more information about his brother's leave of absence from the mayor's office and the campaign trail, nor did he directly refer to drugs.

"This is one of the toughest days of my life, but in saying that I also have a sense of relief," he said. "As an older brother, I'm relieved that Rob has faced his problems and decided to seek professional help."

In an explosive few hours last night, the Globe and Mail revealed it had paid $10,000 for a series of still images taken from a video that appears to show Rob Ford holding a pipe. The same evening, the Toronto Sun published an audio recording in which Ford says he would like to "jam" Karen Stintz and refers to someone as a "wop."

"Rob was very emotional when he told me the hardest thing about this is he knows he let people down," Doug said. "He let his family down, he let his friends down, he let his colleagues down, he let his supporters down, and the people of Toronto."

"I love my brother," he said, beginning to cry. "I'll continue to stand by my brother and his family throughout this difficult journey."

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

With Rob Ford officially on a "leave of absence" from City Hall and the election trail, Deputy Mayor Norm Kelly has assumed the duties of the mayor, including those that were still in Ford's command after he was stripped of his powers in November.

With Ford seemingly out of the picture for the foreseeable future, city council can, as of July 8, declare the mayor's seat vacant and appoint a new leader from within to fill the seat until Oct. 27. Alternatively, it can vote to excuse Ford's absence and allow the matter to continue until his return or the next election.

Section 204 (C) of the City of Toronto Act states: "The office of a member of city council becomes vacant if the member is absent from the meetings of council for three successive months without being authorized to do so by a resolution of council."

"We've got a May council meeting, a June council meeting, the mayor would have to return for the July council meeting or council would have to approve a resolution to allow his absence," said City Manager Joe Pennachetti at a press conference this morning.

If that happens, the act allows council to "fill the vacancy by appointing a person who has consented to accept the office if appointed" or hold a by-election. However, the Municipal Elections Act says "no by-election shall be held to fill an office that becomes vacant after March 31 in the year of a regular election."

Bottom line: If Ford doesn't return to council before the July 8 meeting, council will be forced to appoint a new mayor from within or vote to excuse a longer absence. The new mayor would likely Norm Kelly, since he's already doing the job.

It's not clear, however, what would constitute a return for Ford. Since the drug issues first surfaced last year, the mayor hasn't had a problem turning up for at least a portion of the monthly council meetings. It also remains to be seen whether council would vote to excuse a prolonged absence, especially in light of his broken promises to clean up his act.

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

Image: Chris Bateman/blogTO.

It's already widely known that Rob Ford is an international phenomenon, but when news of the magnitude we got last night breaks, it makes waves around the world. And that's kinda weird, isn't it. Toronto, a city so desperate for global recognition, has finally got it, but in the most problematic of ways. It will be interesting to see what happens with on the late night talk shows tonight, but the international headlines have already piled up since this latest scandal broke.

Here's a quick roundup of what the world is saying.

CNN was quick to jump on the story, taking a (much needed) break from Donald Sterling coverage.

On one end of the publishing pole, The New York Times weighed in with a rather dry news story, while on the other, TMZ ran the story at the top of their page with the type of title you'd expect from the site. Perez Hilton also got in on the fun.

ABC covered the hard news story, and then got in on the party with this roundup of the best Rob Ford one-liners.

The Wall Street Journal has remained on top of the story throughout the day. Ditto for the BBC.

The lede of this Washington Post story is pure gold, while Gawker devoted almost as many stories to Ford as we have.

The best part of this Buzzfeed article is the "related links" section, while New York Magazine gets straight to the list-based content with this roundup of times Ford has been caught on tape.

Now all we have to wait for is the latest Taiwanese animated take on the story.

The best burgers in Toronto are mouthwatering icons that cover the gamut of American cheese singles topped dirty burgers all the way to fancy, foie gras crowned creations. Like your burgers old-school? We've got a separate list for those as well as a list of where to inhale some of the best burgers Toronto's finer restaurants have to offer. For this list we've kept our focus on the new wave of gourmet burger joints that now dot our city. Whether you're loyal to something that still resembles the humble classic or looking to sink you teeth into some innovative new riff, these are truly Toronto's burger kings.

Here are the best burgers in Toronto.

See also:

The best old school burgers in Toronto
The best restaurant burgers in Toronto
The best late night burgers in Toronto
The best turkey burgers in Toronto
The best veggie burgers in Toronto
The best cheeseburgers in Toronto

The Guvernment and Koolhaus announced today that they're shutting down for good, just when we thought it was safe to bask in a little optimism. If you smell condos, we do too. The venues' sound might have been muffled (check the debate over on our best Toronto live music venues post) but having opened its doors in 1996 after the closing of RPM, the complex was a crucial part of Toronto's early electronic scene and also Canada's largest and longest-running club.

The Guv plans to celebrate its esteemed 17 years - and performances/sets by The Rolling Stones, Prince, Bob Dylan, Lady Gaga, Tiesto, Avicii, and Deadmau5 - with a huge bash, though details are still TBA. The club will be "open as normal through summer and autumn," reads a press release issued by INK Entertainment earlier today. "The farewell will begin in the two or three weeks leading up to The Guvernment's close, with a series of closing parties featuring The Guvernment's closest DJs and promoters, and a grand closing weekend at the end of January [2015]."

Notably, waterfront/Queens Quay condo development has reached a frenzied pace over the last few years. With in-progress developments lining the south side of the street, a massive project proposed at the foot of Yonge Street, and the LCBO selling off its downtown headquarters, it's hard to imagine that the nightclub and live venue won't become part of the residential mix once the music's over.

I guess soon some jerks (maybe you!) will be able to say they live in The Guvernment/RPM with varying degrees of irony depending on their chosen lifestyle brand. Toronto will soon be lacking another mid-sized venue, and though this change was inevitable, both clubs will be missed by Toronto music lovers.

Photo by David Williams in the blogTO Flickr pool.

Mother's Day is Sunday, May 11, and your mom could probably use a day of pampering. Wait, scratch "probably use" and replace it with "desperately deserves." We've teamed up with Elmwood Spa to give away a Mother's Day package including water therapies, mani & pedi, and a 3 course lunch.

Enter to win a Mother's Day spa package here.

After several years of cranking out clean-lined, athletic-inspired unisex clothing in the Junction, this clothing brand finally has its very own brick-and-mortar location on Roncesvalles. Though they've expanded past selling their own threads, the focus on Toronto talent remains, folding more sleek sportswear from local designers into the offerings.

Read my profile of Muttonhead in the fashion section.

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

• The third annual Toronto Wing Festival takes place this Sunday, May 4 from 1:30 to 5:30pm at Daniels Spectrum (585 Dundas St. East). Among this year's 18 competitors vying to be crowned lord of the wings are Lou Dawgs, The Pilot and Aft.
• Cinco de Mayo falls on Monday this week, and there are plenty of taco and tequila-centric celebrations happening citywide. See our fiesta round-up right here.
• Dutch Dreams (36 Vaughan Rd.) celebrates Dutch Independence, the grand opening of their newly relocated ice cream store, and 30 years in business. Stop in on Monday, May 5 from 4 to 8pm for free ice cream.
• Ryus Noodle Bar (33 Baldwin St.) hosts a Tokyo cafe-style ramen tasting on Thursday, May 8 from 6 to 7:30pm. Tickets are $20.

UPCOMING

• Savour Toronto launches Vegecursion, a culinary walking tour leaping off from Bathurst and Dundas to visit local establishments and sample meatless goods. Tickets are $75 for the afternoon adventure, happening most Saturdays from May through August.
• Tickets are on sale now for $15 ($22 at the door) for the latest edition of the Toronto Underground Market, set to take place at 99 Sudbury on Saturday, May 17. Doors will open at 5pm for the feeding frenzy featuring new and returning vendors.
• The Depanneur (1033 College St.) hosts Brad Kurtenbach for a cheese-making intensive workshop. Sign up now for the full-day class, priced at $125, that will cover the fundamentals of cultured cheeses.

Photo by Tracy Zhang via the blogTO Toronto Underground Market stream.

There's a brand-new cabin-themed club in Toronto. Along with the wood beams and antlers, this spot promises great music and good times at competitive prices (especially for early birds). Will this bar be more cottage country or Cabin in the Woods?

Read my review of Lodge 559 in the bars section.

Canadian Music Week (CMW) 2014 is set to officially kick off Toronto's summer music festival season, finally moving from its normal dreary March time slot to May 6-10. Aside from all the conferences talks and schmoozing, the 32nd annual edition of this massive industry event promises to bring more than 800 bands to roughly 60 venues all across the city - a schedule that can leave even the most informed music nerd feeling totally lost.

Thankfully, the CMW programming czars have organized most acts and genres into the venues that best fit them, making it a bit easier for concert-goers to find a good show at their favourite local haunt. Some places, however, have more worth checking out than others. Nab yourself a wristband or tickets, take a peek at our full CMW 2014 preview for must-see bands and more info, and head over to any of these top five venues during this year's event.

Here's where to hang out during CMW if you're too lazy to spend hours making schedules.

Horseshoe Tavern
As one of Toronto's most venerable music institutions, it's no surprise the "Legendary" Horseshoe gets packed with must-see bills during every festival. This year, CMW brings a bunch of artists making highly anticipated comebacks; growly-voiced goddess Brody Dalle headlines May 7 to promote her first solo record, Diploid Love, after a five-year break, while Edmonton country-punk heroes Jr. Gone Wild (recently reunited after a nearly 20-year absence) take the stage May 8. Other performances of note include The King Khan & BBQ Show, Bedouin Soundclash and "The Aussie BBQ," a string of artists from the Down Under playing all Saturday afternoon.

Tattoo
No longer known as "Tattoo Rock Parlour," this slick Queen West establishment is undergoing a rebranding strategy that should be on full display during CMW's festivities. Just like the venue's transitioning focus, their week of shows phases from rock one night (The Reason, The Dirty Nil) to hip hop the next (Naturally Born Strangers, Tre Mission, The Airplane Boys), plus electro dance parties to end the week (ODESZA). A last-minute hiccup with M.I.A.'s planned Yonge-Dundas Square gig has shuffled her over to this 400-person space, so if you're one of the lucky few to win wristband access via lottery, you'll have to squish into this much more intimate setting to see her play. As long as Tattoo's excellent sound quality stays intact, the changes should be worth it.

El Mocambo
With the El Mo going up for sale once again last month, the best reason to see a CMW show there is because, frankly, it might be your last chance. Both the upstairs and downstairs portions of the venue are open with a very eclectic, global mix of bands, giving you plenty of chances to discover "the next big thing" (or a band that drives you to drink more than ever before, thus saving the El Mocambo) on the same stage that's hosted The Rolling Stones and Jimi Hendrix. Here you'll find Juno Award-winning blues-rockers Monkeyjunk, Taiwanese EDM-ers RED and British singer-songwriter Gabrielle Aplin.

The Central
This popular hangout for young 20-somethings is hosting the largest number of CMW acts this year by a wide margin - 63 in total. That, coupled with some of the lowest single-ticket prices of the festival, guarantees the most bang for your buck. Lineups mostly consist of danceable pop-rock groups and folky singer-songwriters, a crowd-pleasing blend you'll have no problem convincing a group of friends to come see. Big Mumford and Sons fans should hold out until the wee hours Thursday to discover their next favourite band, The Dead South, while those who want to jam to more modern sounds should see Heartcopy, a Montreal five-piece that sets sombre boy-girl harmonies against a catchy synthpunk backdrop.

Adelaide Hall
One of the newest live music venues in the city, Adelaide Hall is still honing its identity and getting its feet wet in the festival circuit. But it's quickly built a great reputation thanks to its location, layout with impressive balcony sightlines, and ability to book stellar acts. The CMW schedule includes, interestingly, a couple nights of straight-up country (such as Brett Kissel), and youthful emo-rockers Ten Second Epic, who just announced their breakup earlier this year, playing a farewell show Thursday night. The most talked about showcase has to be the Osheaga-sponsored Saturday lineup, though; it features electro punks We Are Wolves, loud shoegazers Nothing, and two slots for secret mystery guests at the end of the night. Let the speculation begin.

Writing by Shazia Khan. Photo of Tre Mission at Tattoo by Matthew Forsythe.

Damning new allegations have surfaced regarding the night that a new drug tape of Rob Ford was filmed. According to a report in the Toronto Star, the mayor assaulted his friend and former driver Sandro Lisi on multiple occasions and hurled racial slurs in referring to recently departed Toronto Community Housing boss Eugene Jones as well as the dealer himself.

"'No n----- gets fired in my town. When I get re-elected that n----- is going to be back in charge,' Ford said, according to the dealer's account of the night... The Star met the 20-year-old man and an associate Thursday in Kingston. The man spent two hours going over his account of the night."

According to the report, Ford beat Lisi on three occasions, which left him "crying like a baby." The informant also claims that Ford pushed and kicked at his sister Kathy when she intervened during the attack. No one has corroborated these allegations, though Star reporter Kevin Donovan has now also viewed the three videos recorded that night, and confirms the presence of Lisi and Kathy Ford as well as the mayor's use of the pipe captured in the notorious screengrab published by the Globe & Mail and Gawker.

Photo by David Chu

Cider in Ontario has historically been something of an overlooked category when it comes to adult beverages, which is strange given that it was likely one of the first alcoholic beverages consumed in North America--and also strange given that Ontario's climate makes for perfect apples for making damn tasty ciders.

Luckily, there are some great cideries popping up in the province as of late, they've been widely embraced by the craft beer community (among others), and, since 2012, they've been associated under the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs as the Ontario Craft Cider Association (OCCA).

So it's high time the great ciders of Ontario got some of the praise they deserve. Enter Ontario Craft Cider Week.

Taking place from June 2nd to 7th, the inaugural edition of Ontario Craft Cider Week will feature six events over six days and will see over 40 different kinds of locally made cider being poured.

The schedule for the week is as follows:

Monday 6pm
"Meet the Cider Maker" at The Loose Moose. 16 taps dedicated to Ontario ciders and, presumably, a chance to meet the people who made them.

Tuesday 6pm-10pm
"Scrumpy Night" at Tequila Bookworm. 12 taps dedicated to alternative and funky Ontario ciders paired with appropriately "funky" food.

Wednesday 6pm until the cider runs dry
"Flight Night" at WVRST. 16 taps dedicated to Ontario ciders with a choose on your own flight option that will include a sausage (price TBD).

Thursday 6pm-10pm
"Buck a shuck oysters, charcuterie and cider" at Bar Hop. The name pretty much says it all. 12 taps dedicated to Ontario cider, charcuterie will be provided by Hogtown Charcuterie.

Friday 6pm-9pm
"Pig toast and tasting seminar" at The Only Cafe. Pork and cider on the patio.

Saturday All day
"Tap takeover" at barVolo. On Saturday, all 32 taps at barVolo will be pouring Ontario ciders. Much like other events at Volo, the event will be ticketed and there will be two sessions. There will be a 12-4 pm session and a 5-9 pm session. Ticket includes a commemorative glass and individual drink tickets will be sold separately. There will be food from a handful of as-yet-unnamed restaurants in the city and a limit of just 100 tickets per session will be sold. Pricing information will be available closer to the event date.

Incredibly, each event in the week will see a different selection of ciders being poured so you can imagine the events go a long way to promoting and educating people about craft cider in the city; which is, as co-founder Nick Sutcliffe admits, kind of the idea.

"We're [OCCA] scattered all over the province a bit, and not too many of our members are in urban settings," he says, "so we're trying to put ourselves on the map in Toronto a bit by coming down to where the bars and patios are."

As you might expect, Sutcliffe says the cider producers have found some easy allies in the craft beer scene. "I think they see us as brothers in arms," he says. "They're further down the path than we are. They've been [organized] for maybe seven or eight years and we're behind them a bit, but we've got common adversaries. We're fighting the imports," he tells me, explaining that even though cider is currently the fastest growing segment of alcohol sales in Ontario, the biggest selling cideries in the LCBO are from outside the province.

With events like the Ontario Craft Cider Week and support from the province's bars, Sutcliffee and the OCCA are hoping to change that, one tap at a time. "We've had a lot of support in bars in Toronto from the get-go," he says, "but next year I imagine most bars will have at least a few Ontario ciders on tap."

Further details about the week will be available shortly at ontariocraftcider.com. As for some beverages to watch out for, keep your eyes peeled during the week for Hammer Bent Red cider from Twin Pines Orchards & Cider House, which recently took home Best in Class at the Great Lakes International Cider and Perry (GLINTCAP) competition.

Also look out for "West-WVRST" a top secret collaboration between West Avenue Cider and WVSRT that's rumoured to be nitrogen-charged (yes, creamy cider). Also, West Avenue's Chris Haworth says he's got a sour cherry cider coming that will appeal to fans of gueuze beers.

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

The Taylor Lofts are a new addition to the corner of Carlaw Ave. and Dundas St. E. This shouldn't come as a surprise since Carlaw Ave. has been in the midst of some major condo-facelifting for the past four years as Leslieville becomes an evertrendier neighbourhood. Case in point, The Taylor will be sharing the glory with another condo currently under construction, The Carlaw, with each of them acting as sister projects (both projects were conceived by the same developer).

With only seven storeys that transform into four storey townhouses on the eastern end of the development, this building seems to respect its neighbours by also integrating hints of the industrial past in the area. You have your brown cladding made of Öko Skin (a low-maintenance concrete slats system) and uneven framed-balcony façades, which if you think about it, kind of resemble scaffolding from afar. There will be 96 units ranging from 530 to 870 sq. ft. featuring loft-like 9 ft. exposed-concrete ceilings.

SPECS

• Address: 1220 Dundas St. East
• Storeys: 7
• Number of Units: 96 units
• Types of Units: 1+den, 2, 2+den bedrooms w/2 bathrooms and Townhouses.
• Units Sizes: From 530 to 870 Sq. Ft.
• Walkscore: 92 out of 100
• Price: Starting from the mid $200,000s
• Maintenance Fee: $0.50/Sq. Ft.
• Architect: TACT Architecture Inc.
• Interior Designer: Seven Haus Design
• Developer: Streetcar Development

FEATURES

• 9 ft. high exposed-concrete ceiling units.
• Engineered hardwood flooring.
• Quartz kitchen countertops and porcelain backsplash.
• Integrated stainless steel appliances and under cabinet lighting.
• Soaker tubs and fully tiled shower stalls.

THE VERDICT

The Taylor achieves a smooth integration with the existing neighbourhood, respecting heights, and materials with a design that's understated and modern. So much thought on the exterior, however, seems to have left out the interior.

There are few and rather small unit options for an emerging neighbourhood, with the largest one at 870 sq. ft. for two bedrooms. Units typically feature poor kitchen counter space, and what's with the small closet in the "master" bedroom? And while on-site amenities won't win any awards here, that's becoming more typical for developments in neighbourhoods with rich retail and dining scenes.

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

Writing by Cathy Esaa

The top concerts in Toronto in May are dominated by Canadian Music Week (CMW), which we've already done our best to fill you in on. Still, there are also tons of shows in town that don't require wristbands or frantic scheduling, from a free space soundtrack odyssey to Thy Holy Queen Lana to National Drone Day.

Before we get into the live music you can and can't afford (or plan to skip meals for, oh divine Lana supreme ruler of Kijiji scalpers), here are Toronto music's finest Craigslist's missed connections from April. Hard to surpass in its strange beauty is "Lent Difference of the Day 25 - m4ww - 27 (ACC Miley Cyrus)," which begins by admonishing "high school girls, dressed so provocatively that it would make Jezebel embarrassed" and goes on to send general love vibes to, uh, everybody who was there for the Miley singing on a hot dog thing.

Competing for most memorable Craigslist love connection is "CHER A MOMENT WITH ME - m4m (Air Canada Center)," which packs in the Cher lyrics and boldly confesses "I think you may have been with someone. You in blue. I was blue because I left without saying you are a sexy man." Sometimes you have to lean right into your vulnerability and take risks. Then, did you have a bowl cut at The Knife? Somebody misses you.

If you were a bumpin' dude at The Head and The Heart, check that link. A certain brunette with glasses from Chronologic is in demand, and if you happened to see some "eyes that matched your own" while The Cardinal Dream was on stage this month, you know what to do. Are you a girl, in a band? You're cute. There were no missed connections from the National - guess everyone's busy bein' a dad.

Here are the best live music shows you can silently fawn over strangers at in Toronto this May.

Feast In The East Anniversary / Jam Factory / May 2
Feast in the East is like one of those horrible couples - it seems like they're ringing in an anniversary all the damn time. Or did a year really pass by that fast? Jam Factory is TO's newest east end music venue, and Petra Glynt, Mmm Mmm (Sexy Merlin & Man Made Hill), Wolfcow, and New Fries are on the bill.

Canadian Music Week / May 6-10
CMW, Canada's largest music festival, brings established and hopeful musicians from around Canada and the world to Toronto. If you see someone dragging gear and looking lost this week, help them out. Read our full preview of what to see at CMW here including M.I.A. (May 3), Owen Pallett, Neko Case, Tegan & Sara, Television, and more, and check out our guide to where to hang out during the fest if you're lazy here.

Angel Olsen / Lee's Palace / May 7 / $13.50
"She's like a magical pixie folk singer. She probably sold her soul to Stevie Nicks." - the person sitting next to me at this bar. I believe it.

M for Montreal / The Garrison / May 7 / $10 or free w/ CMW badge
Okay, one CMW highlight because I miss those open input nights at Stella where you could drink and cycle through the alphabet night by night, and I'm really enjoying this book. Wavelength, M for Montreal, and CMW are getting their alliteration on and co-presenting Mozart's Sister, Mas Aya, Maicamia, Mannerisms, Moonwood, and Most People. Hey, do the letter X next.

Jerusalem In My Heart / May 9 / The Music Gallery / $15
Few artists are tapping into the kind of sound Montreal's Jerusalem In My Heart (Constellation) have captured, At The Music Gallery 16mm film projections and "light-based (de)constructions" (again, Constellation Records) will be presented along with JIMH's compelling contemporary take on traditional music from the Middle East. Steve Kado is also on the bill.

National Drone Day / May 10 / Tranzac
Born of a Twitter joke, Drone Day is about to launch as a real thing. Is there anything Weird Canada can't (won't) do? Toronto's event features Black Walls, Colin Fisher, Man Made Hill, Hoover Party, Moonwood and more (Rob Ford's post-rehab ambient proj?). Check out our very controversial list of Toronto's best drone artists. Plus this just in - Egyptrixx is throwing a huge Toronto Drone Day event too.

Lana Del Rey / Sony Centre / May 13 / sold out
The Coney Island Queen's superb vocal inflection and high drama might be lost on huge crowds, but it will never disappoint the individuals who have found a patron saint in Lana. Look for me in my Shelfies sweater and false eyelashes, and don't buy tickets from Richard Reeves. Sometimes the road gets tough and I don't know why.

Emergents IV / May 15 / The Music Gallery $12
Emergents is a great (and aptly titled) series at the Music Gallery which highlights emerging talents in experimental music. At IV, Thin Edge New Music Collective, music box musician Jason Doell (winner of the 2014 Toronto Emerging Composer Award), and Germaine Liu will perform.

HAIM / May 15 / Sound Academy / $25
HAIM are one of those bands you can take your kid cousin to - if you and your kid cousin need more quality time, why not spend it trash talking Sound Academy? You'll bond forever.

UNIVERSE: A Live Soundtrack Experiment / Revue Cinema / May 15 / free
Absolutely Free,  Fresh Snow, and Marcel Ramagnano will travel from here to outer space: the three will soundtrack archival film footage of the moon landing, strange vantage points in the galaxy, and even the lowly people who hang around Earth. Oh, and it's free! Like the wonder of the universe.

You've Changed Records Anniversary Show / May 22 / Horseshoe Tavern / $12
Indie country/folk bands The Weather Station, Shotgun Jimmie, Baby Eagle, Marine Dreams, and more are on the line up with "special guests" to celebration the label's fifth year. Will those guests include The Constantines celebrating the re-release of Shine A Light on You've Changed? Your guess is as good as mine.

Jessy Lanza / May 23 / The Garrisson / $12.50
Hamilton's best setter-of-moods, it won't be long before tickets to Jessy Lanza are no longer $12.50. Catch up with her in our Breakout Band feature from last year.

See also

• The top 5 dance parties in Toronto May 2014 (Skrillex)
• 20 must-see spring concerts in Toronto
• The top 25 shows at Canadian Music Week 2014
• The top 5 spring music festivals in Toronto for 2014
• Just Shows

Photo of Lana Del Rey by Luigi Orru on Flickr

Mother's Day brunch in Toronto is always a busy time for restaurants around the city. To avoid leaving mom disappointed, a little advance planning is always a good idea and will save you the displeasure of queuing up in front of some overcrowded brunch mecca or greasy spoon for her mimosa and eggs. Indulge that special lady in your life on Sunday, May 11th with special menus and decadent buffet brunches on offer for just this occasion.

Here are my picks for the top Toronto restaurants to treat Mom for brunch on Mother's Day. Note: I've excluded restaurants that are no longer taking reservations or additional guests at the time of this posting.

BRUNCH BUFFETS

• The Gladstone Hotel is accepting reservations for a la carte brunch in the cafe between 8am and 4pm, or settle in for some live bluegrass at the Acoustic Family Brunch Buffet in the ballroom ($16/adults, $10/kids).
• Frank Restaurant at the AGO is doing a brunch tricked out with serving stations including raclette, seafood, carved roasts, a fresh squeezed juice bar, and more. The brunch runs from 11am to 3:30pm; adults eat for $75, children ages 6 to 10 eat for $20, and ages five or younger eat for $12 at the kids station.
• Stock Restaurant hosts a Mother's Day buffet brunch in the grand ballroom featuring a selection of their most delectable signature dishes. Adults dine for $75 while children under 12 are $39.
• Spice Route is offering an alternative, in case brunch isn't really mum's thing. The special All You Can Eat Asian Feast is $24 per person from noon until 10pm.
• Epic Restaurant, the opulent restaurant at the Fairmont Royal York, celebrates moms with a brunch buffet ($89/adults, $44.50/children), live piano music and roaming professional photographers ready to take a family photo keepsake.

PRIX FIXE

• The Drake Hotel accommodates early birds with delectable brunch starting at 9am. Served in the lounge, a three-course prix fixe for $42.50 will offer selections including fried chicken 'n' waffles, lobster tartine and truffled mushroom and goat cheese omelettes. Moms get a surprise treat to take home too.
• Cafe Boulud, the famed French cafe at the base of the Four Seasons, is offering special three-course prix fixe menus for brunch ($70/adults, $32/children) and dinner ($85). The morning menu features fine fare like tarte flambee and oeufs meurette, while evening selections include lobster salad and sear foie gras
• TOCA at the Ritz-Carlton will be serving up a decadent seasonal brunch featuring selections from the seafood and antipasti bar, breakfast basket and charcuterie boards. Indulge your mom and yourself for $98 per person.

MORE TOP PICKS

• Bestellen is well stocked for a celebratory brunch with bubbly, oysters and even fresh sugar-dusted donuts on offer.
• The Beverley Hotel is ready to feed your whole family with luxe options for grownups - think eggs benny or lobster and grits - and a $9 brunch menu thoughtfully designed for the little ones in your life.
• Cafe Belong at the Evergreen Brick Works offers a serene setting to share a meal with mom.
• Edward's (formerly Edward Levesque's Kitchen) in Leslieville is sure to impress Mom with its eclectic made-from-scratch menu that uses top-notch ingredients.
• Mildred's Temple Kitchen is very mom-appropriate thanks to its cozy interior, polished service and famed daytime menu.
• Origin's two locations (on King East and in Bayview Village) offer an elegant setting, with brunch menus featuring fancy French toast options (like one with duck confit and blueberries).
• Table 17 is a Queen East favourite, but luckily, they take reservations at brunch. Take Mom here to enjoy quiche or pain dore and toast over $5 cocktails.

SEE ALSO:

• The Best Restaurants that take Reservations for Brunch in Toronto
• The Best Splurge Brunch in Toronto
• The top 50 brunch restaurants in Toronto
• The Best Brunch in Toronto

Photo of Edward's by Jesse Milns.

Rob Ford was, rather naturally, the biggest item on late night TV last night, as the various hosts did their bit on the latest crack allegations and the mayor's subsequent to rehab. The widespread coverage comes as no surprise, but it's interesting to track how each host handles a situation that is at once comedic fodder and at least somewhat tragic. Toward that end, my vote goes to Jon Stewart as the best in show. His take manages to underscore the severity of Ford's problems while dramatizing just how baffling the whole narrative is when you step back for a second.

Jon Stewart

The Daily Shows combination of physical humour and news clips works just about perfectly here.

Jimmy Kimmel

Kimmel, who's carried the torch on late night Rob Ford coverage, gives a full rundown of the latest revelations. While the tone is perfectly sarcastic (he goes so far as to suggest that Ford should join his show in an official capacity), there's no gloating.

Jimmy Fallon

The Tonight Show host never really hits his stride with this one, but at least the bit is PG-enough that it doesn't come off as bottom of the barrel laughs.

David Letterman

I'll admit that I thought this top 10 list (his second on Ford) might be in poor taste, but Letterman manages to keep mostly light. His serious bit at the beginning does, however, ring hollow.

The best bike stores in Toronto show considerable diversity in their areas of specialty. From the humble repair-focused shop to places that deal almost exclusively in race-ready road bikes, Toronto's got it. In fact, for a city that often appears to struggle to be bike-friendly, there's actually an embarrassment of riches when it comes to retail outlets.

If it's possible to break these stores into categories, there are four main types of bike shops that we have in rather plentiful supply: those that cater to commuter/utility cyclists, those that focus on repairs and the used bike market, high-end specialty boutiques, and the bigger stores that pretty much do it all. There are pros and cons to shopping at any of these stores, as well as significant variance in price point. And yet, thankfully, on account of the many options out there, cyclists of all kinds can be confident that there are a selection of stores that will cater to their specific needs.

Here are the best bike shops in Toronto.

See also:

The best used bike shops in Toronto
The best custom and road bike shops in Toronto
The best bike repair shops in Toronto
The top 10 stores to buy a mountain bike 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 May 2-4, 2014.

The Toronto Marathon
One way to the avoid the nuisance of road closures caused by the Toronto Marathon is to run in it, and over 2,500 runners are expected to do just that this Sunday. The race to temporarily forget Rob Ford will begin in Mel Lastman Square in North York and finish at Ontario Place. There's also a half-marathon, 5K run, 5K walk and a relay - learn more here. No dogs allowed - I guess tripping over giant Bernese Mountain Dogs would lead to less personal bests being accomplished. You'd best leave your skates, boards, bikes, and babies (or at least strollers - maybe your baby runs like the wind) at home too. Sunday, May 4, 7:30am, Mel Lastman Square (some events at Ontario Place).

FOOD

Toronto Wing Festival
The third annual Toronto Wing Festival takes place this Sunday at Daniels Spectrum. Among this year's 18 competitors vying to be crowned lord of the wings are Lou Dawgs, The Pilot and Aft. Sunday, May 4, 1:30 to 5:30pm Daniels Spectrum (585 Dundas St. East).

Gluten Free Expo
Canada's largest gluten free event will be spanning the Metro Toronto Convention Center this Sunday. Go with questions, and get ready to spend on goodies galore - gluten free dietary restrictions no longer mean you can't have a good time. Learn more about the expo here. Sunday, May 4, 10am-4pm, Metro Toronto Convention Centre - South Building (222 Bremner Blvd.).

See also

• Sew Hungry (Hamilton)
• Vegan Bake Sale - May the Fourth Be With You

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

ART

Contact Photography Festival Festival launch at MOCCA
MOCCA's putting on some great work for Contact, but this ain't your average art opening. Art-speak and hobnobbing will be in full effect, but fine art photographers would do themselves a service by mingling in this crowd. Not an artist? No matter: just play dress up, drink horrible white wine, and remark that since William Eggleston, contemporary fine art photographers seem infatuated with the idea of the democratic forest and no longer know how to tell stories. Well, except Alec Soth. The after-party at the Gladstone will be decidedly more laid back. Check out our full Contact preview here. Friday, May 2, 7pm, Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art (952 Queen St. West).

Spring Beach Studio Tour
Twenty-four artists at 14 sites will participate in this open studio event. Wander the Beaches and find a new favourite artist, or just get a peek into what it would be like to get paint all over all your stuff, all the time (#artlife). This is the 20th anniversary of the tour. Friday, May 2 (6-9pm); Saturday, May 3 (10am-6pm) and Sunday, May 4 (11am-6pm). Find the tour map here.

Art of the Danforth
More art in the east end - this time, to the north. Art of the Danforth is a free family-friendly east-end festival now entering its third year. Learn more about the 20+ large-scale public art projects here. Friday, May 2-Sunday, May 11, East Danforth.

Rockem Sockem the Great Canadian Hockey Art Show
Finally, if you're looking for something more playful, AWOL has the show for you. The Ossington hold-out is showing hockey themed artwork in May (why not?) and, in line with art shows where all the artists contribute works on vinyl records, AWOL has gone full patriot: as part of the show twenty artists have created surreal, cheeky, and oddball artworks on hockey pucks. The reception is Saturday, May 3 at 7pm, and the exhibit runs until May 11. AWOL Gallery (76 Ossington Avenue).

See also

• GradEx 2014- OCAD University's 99th Annual Graduate Exhibition
• Dr. Sketchy's

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

MUSIC

Feast In The East Anniversary
Feast in the East is like one of those horrible couples - it seems like they're ringing in an anniversary all the damn time. Or did a year really pass by that fast? Jam Factory is T.O.'s newest east end music venue, and Petra Glynt, Mmm Mmm (Sexy Merlin & Man Made Hill), Wolfcow, and New Fries are on the bill, and Healing Power Records / HVY WTR's Victoria Cheong is serving up rice bowls. Friday, May 2, Jam Factory (2 Matilda St).

M.I.A.
Contrary to her name, M.I.A. has been quite visible lately. She released her new album Matangi not too long ago, and now she's jet-setting around, playing tour dates like it's going out of style. This free performance falls a little before Canadian Music Week officially kicks off. Initially scheduled as a huge, mind blowing free show at Yonge & Dundas Square, the move to the (admittedly revamped, but insanely smaller) Tattoo on Queen has dampened enthusiasm for this year's fest. Still, it's M.I.A. Saturday, May 3, Tattoo (567 Queen St. West).

See also

• July Talk
• Rhythm & Soul Revue
• Nite Comfort #8: Videodrone

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

FILM

Hot Docs
The 2014 Hot Docs Festival runs until May 4. Hundreds of hypey and underground documentaries will screen at Toronto's second-largest film event (behind TIFF), and the printed schedule is always a huge exercise in frustration no matter how much time and money you have - there are just too many intriguing titles. Check out our picks for the festival here. Until May 4, various venues.

Toronto Jewish Film Festival 2014
The largest Jewish film festival in the world is on in Toronto until May 11. Over 90 films from over 15 countries will be screened across Toronto - check out their website to learn more. Until May 11, various venues.

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

COMEDY

SheDot Festival
More than 60 female comedians and comedy troupes will be splitting your sides with frying pans of laughter at (mostly) Comedy Bar for the first ever SheDot Festival, which will end with a big closing event May 4 at The Opera House. Until May 4, various venues.

FASHION

WORN Journal's Book Launch
WORN is releasing The WORN Archive this Saturday, and there's no better way to celebrate the launch of a 400-page book rounding up the publication's very best articles and editorials than with a Secondhand Prom. So pull out your floor-length ball gowns and powder-blue tuxedos from the back of your closet and get jiggy with DJ Teddy the K (read: semi-shimmy by the Bunner's Bake Shop snack table). Saturday, May 3, 9pm-2am, Adelaide Hall (250 Adelaide St. West), $15 at the door/free with the purchase of WORN Archive at Type Books.

See also

• Bellwethers Vintage Pop-Up in Parkdale
• Parkdale Flea

For more fashion listings, check out our This Week in Fashion post.

PARTY

Young Adults
Benjamin Boles has been writing some venuehistories and plugging Toronto's best dance parties for us, but that doesn't mean we can't plug his dance party - CHOBO is playing a free basement hop with Gaunt and Ira Oskman. The show has been moved from Smiling Buddha's basement to Tattoo's basement. Friday, May 2, 10pm, Tattoo (567 Queen St. West).

See also

• Mad Men No Pants Dance Party
• Spring Loaded

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

CITY

Jane's Walk
Jane's Walk hosts a huge number of free, locally led walking tours inspired by, of course, Jane Jacobs. To find the right walk for you, visit their website here. Friday, May 2-Sunday, May 4.

COMICS

Free Comic Book Day
It's like Record Store Day, but for comic shops, and the swag is free. Visit events at Dr.Comics,
The Beguiling Books & Art, Collective, Little Island, Comic Book Lounge / Temple of Toys, Paradise Comics and more. Get pepped up for TCAF (next weekend) while wandering the city's fine comic book depositories. Saturday, May 3.

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

Contributions by Liora Ipsum, Bianca Venerayan, Derek Flack, Julia Stead.

Photo by Steve Chui in the blogTO Flickr pool.