A list of road closures for the 2014 Goodlife Toronto Marathon.

The Goodlife Toronto Marathon goes down this Sunday, May 4, and with it a whole host of road closures. Getting around the city is going to be a tad complicated throughout the morning and early afternoon, so weed through this ridiculously long list before you head out to brunch.

• Beecroft Rd. Elmhurst Ave. to Horsham Ave. (5:30 am to 9:00 am)
• Ellerslie Ave. Beecroft Rd. to Yonge St. (7:00 am to 9:00 am)
• Churchill Ave. Beecroft Rd. to Yonge St. (7:00 am to 9:00 am)
• North York Blvd. Beecroft Rd. to Yonge St. (5:30 am to 9:00 am)
• Park Home Ave. Beecroft Rd. to Yonge St. (7:00 am to 9:00 am)
• Yonge St. Horsham Ave. to Hwy 401 - S/B only (7:00 am to 9:00 am)
• Hwy 401/Yonge St. - S/B ramps (7:00 am to 9:00 am)
• Yonge St. Hwy 401 to York Mills Rd. S/B only (7:00 am to 9:00 am)
• Yonge St. York Mills Rd. to Eglinton Ave. S/B only (7:00 am to 10:00 am)
• Yonge St. Eglinton Ave. to Chaplin Cres. S/B only (7:30 am to 10:30 am)
• Yonge St. Chaplin Cres. to Aylmer Rd. (8:30 am to 10:30 am) (½ Marathon Only)
• Chaplin Cres. Yonge St. to Oriole Pkwy. W/B only (7:30 am to 10:00 am)
• 
Oriole Pkwy. Chaplin Cres. to Lonsdale Rd. S/B only (7:30 am to 10:00 am)
• Lonsdale Rd. Avenue Rd. to Spadina Rd. W/B only (8:00 am to 10:00 am)
• 
Forest Hill Rd. Lonsdale Rd to Kilbarry Rd. N/B only (8:00 am to 10:00 am)
• Kilbarry Rd. Forest Hill Rd. to Warren Rd. W/B on S/S (8:00 am to 10:00 am)
• Warren Rd. Kilbarry Rd. to Lonsdale Rd. S/B (8:00 am to 10:00 am)
• 
Spadina Rd. Lonsdale Rd. to St. Clair Ave. West S/B only (8:00 am to 10:00 am)
• Spadina Rd. St. Clair Ave. West to Austin Terrace (8:00 am to 10:00 am)
• Austin Terrace Spadina Rd. to Walmer Rd. 8:00 am to 10:00 am)
• Walmer Rd./Kendal Ave. Austin Terrace to MacPherson Ave. (8:00 am to 10:00 am)
• MacPherson Ave. Kendal Ave. to Davenport Rd. (8:00 am to 10:00 am)
• Davenport Rd. MacPherson Ave. to Belmont St. (8:00 am to 10:00 am)
• Belmont St. Davenport Rd. to Yonge St. (8:00 am to 10:00 am)
• 
Aylmer Ave. Yonge St. to Rosedale Valley Rd. (8:00 am to 10:00 am)
• Rosedale Valley Rd. Aylmer Rd. to Bayview Ave. (8:00 am to 11:00 am)
• Bayview Ave. Rosedale Valley Rd. to Lower River St. (8:00 am to 11:00 am)
• Lower River St. Bayview Ave.to King St. East (8:00 am to 11:00 am)
• King St. East River St. to Sumach St. S/S only (8:00 am to 11:00 am)
• Sumach St. King St. East to Eastern Ave. (8:00 am to 11:30 am)
• Eastern Ave. Sumach St. to Front St. East (8:00 am to 11:30 am)
• Front St. East Eastern Ave. to Wellington St. East (8:00 am to 11:30 am)
• 
Wellington St. East/West Front St. East to John St. (8:00 am to 11:30 am)
• John St. Wellington St. West to Front St. West (8:00 am to 12:00 pm)
• Front St. West John St. to Bathurst St. (8:00 am to 12:00 pm)
• Bathurst St. Front St. West to Fort York Blvd. (8:00 am to 12:30 pm)
• Fort York Blvd. Bathurst St. to Lake Shore Blvd. West (8:00 am to 12:30 pm)
• Marine Parade Dr. Humber Bay Park East to Waterfront Dr. (8:30 am to 4:00 pm)
Waterfront Dr. Marine Parade Dr. to Palace Pier Ct. (8:30 am to 4:00 pm)
• 
Lake Shore Blvd. West E/B curb lane from just east of the Humber River to Ontario Place

RAMP CLOSURES

Gardiner Eastbound ramps

• Lake Shore off-ramp - Open
• Lake Shore on-ramp - Open
• British Columbia Drive on-ramp - Open
• Spadina off-ramp - Open
• Rees St on -ramp - Open
• York/Bay/Yonge off-ramp - Open
• Bay St on-ramp - Open
• Jarvis St off-ramp - Access to Jarvis CLOSED - Access to Lake Shore Open

Gardiner Westbound ramps

• Lake Shore on-ramp - Open
• Sherbourne/Jarvis off-ramp - Open
• Jarvis on-ramp - Open
• Yonge/Bay/York off-ramp - Open
• York on-ramp - Open
• Spadina off-ramp - Open - Access to Lake Shore WB to be closed
• Spadina on-ramp - Open - Access to Lake Shore WB to be closed
• Dunn off-ramp - Open
• Jameson on-ramp - Open
• South Kingsway off-ramp - Open
• Lake Shore off-ramp - Open
• Lake Shore on-ramp - Open

DVP Ramps

• Bayview Bloor W/B to Bayview Av. S/B - CLOSED
• Remaining ramps to reopen starting at 3:00 p.m., unless notified otherwise by TPS.

Photo by PLTam

Angel Haze was scrappy, fresh and fierce at The Hoxton Thursday night in an oversized XXL tee. I first came across the young rapper thanks to the Mista Jam show on BBC 1XTRA (non-contractual TuneIn Radio shout out!) in late 2012 and had a hard time not buying into the speed demon who's "zero past a hundred, spits like a komodo dragon that went missing from a dungeon."

Over the years, the 23-year-old quickly rose to the top of charts with her venomous flow able to spit at 180 BPM and drop to a silky R&B lull at the drop of a Yankees cap. You'd never know she was born into a religious group that forbade her from listening to music until she was 16.

While Haze stuck mostly to her bouncier tunes, she literally covered all the bases in the club, climbing around unused parts of the balcony and even giving all four corners up front and personal audiences during her finale, "New York". Her debut album "Dirty Gold" has been critiqued for having heavy pop melodies that betray her street sensibility but her performance was anything but. Although she did rely heavily on backing tracks, it was her fire that reigned supreme.

Crowds clapped along to trappy bass rhythms, and four young fans were pulled up from the crowd, hand picked by the angel herself. She knelt at first, as if scoping out her new posse, to see what they were made of before breaking into her hit 'Planes Fly', sharing a dance and a lyric with a couple from her swooning dancers.

There's something to be said about an artist that knows how to create a true fan experience, and Angel Haze has captured that ability early in her career. It could be her own earnestness and drive to fight powers that be. It's not like she hasn't run into trouble before - like that time she leaked her album while in a dispute with her label, three months ahead of time.

She fully embraced her divine side last night, standing like a messianic figure as fans clung to her hands in supplication. After a roaring encore of crowds begging and chanting "ANGEL HAZE, ANGEL HAZE," she returned for a cooled-down final tune, "Battle Cry" recorded with Sia.

MORE PHOTOS

Photos by Alejandro Santiago

When Rob Ford and several other members of city council worked themselves into a lather last year over the cost of replacing several designer chairs at City Hall, they didn't realize they were adding another chapter to an epic and fraught furniture debate that started 50 years ago.

In case you don't remember, in 2013, the city revealed it had paid $75,000 to buy replicas of the original William Platner-designed members' lounge table and chairs instead of fixing up the ones it already owned.

The expertly crafted decor, installed decades earlier by design firm Knoll International and protected by a heritage agreement, was heavily worn and in dire need of refurbishment. Rob Ford was angry at the expense, but others, including councillor Adam Vaughan, were concerned that the city had bought "cheap knock-offs."

The rest of the Knoll furniture, desks, chairs, and credenzas, much of it still in use at City Hall, wasn't without controversy when it was new, either.

Finnish architect Viljo Revell might have won the competition to design Toronto's new city hall, but the battle over who would furnish the building was still raging even as the curved towers were approaching completion in Summer 1965.

Five companies entered bids for the $850,000 contract, including: T. Eaton Co., Simpson's Ltd., and U.S.-based Knoll International, a furniture maker that made (and still make) office systems to modernist designs by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, Harry Bertoia, and Florence Knoll.

In truly bizarre, only-in-Toronto fashion, four of the companies submitted design proposals, but only one was ever opened. "A clerk brought in four sealed tenders," Geoffrey Stevens reported for the Globe and Mail. "The board argued heatedly, then opened tender No. 2. It argued again before deciding to send the other three back to the vault, unopened. Unable to understand the open tender, the controllers unofficially declared a state of emergency."

It turned out, after some probing, that the tender the group had chosen, apparently at random, belonged to Knoll International - it was projected to cost $1.1 million.

A year earlier, when the rules of the competition were laid out, there was an attempt to disqualify Knoll and another company because they hadn't met the city's budget requirements.

Amid the chaos, Viljo Revell had furiously resigned from the committee after being told he couldn't design the furniture himself. He died a few months later without ever seeing his building completed. According to Marsha Kelmans in Concrete Toronto: A Guidebook to Concrete Architecture from the Fifties to the Seventies, the blow was the "biggest disappointment of his life."

Although Knoll asked $165,000 more than the budget, it's worth noting that Eaton's also broke the rules by offering to kit out the building for just over a $1 million. Simpson's and another bidder, Mitchell Houghton, managed to produce a proposal that stayed within budget, but before the final council vote on the matter, Knoll agreed to knock $40,000 off the price to the apparent approval of several aldermen.

In the meantime, the Board of Control - a precursor to today's Executive Committee - voted under mayor Phillip Givens to reject the Knoll proposal due to its high price tag. Only then, finally, was Knoll persuaded to fall under the $850,000 ceiling. Council voted 11-9 in favour of accepting the American company's bid.

But still the wrangling continued. In the 1960s, the Board of Control was the only group able to officially award a contract, so the matter was recycled again. This time, the board voted for Simpson's, pending the final approval of council which, of course, voted 16-6 for Knoll again, settling the matter at last.

By this point the process had taken so long that when the new building opened three months later, in Sept. 1965, the offices above the second floor were filled with used furniture from Old City Hall.

For it's money, the city got 600 pieces of furniture, including stainless steel chairs designed by Mies van der Rohe, the architect behind the black towers of TD Centre, a blue football shaped couch for the members' lounge, and numerous coffee tables, waste paper baskets, and desks.

The mayor's desk, the work of Leif Jacobsen Ltd., was made of teak and cast concrete. The 1.1 by 2-metre top looked "big enough for table tennis," according to reporter Martin O'Malley in the Globe and Mail, who toured the factory during the assembly process.

The cast concrete legs were poured into glass-fibre moulds, rolled through an oven on a trolley, then sandpapered smooth. "Everyone worried that the concrete would look big an ungainly," said John Quigg, the general manager of Knoll. "It looks more like granite."

All the soft furnishings for the east tower, which collected the majority of afternoon sun, were upholstered in cool blues and greens. The west tower got warm shades of yellow, gold, and orange, because it spent most of the day in the shade.

Even after it was delivered the furniture continued to be a magnet for controversy. Typists complained wobbly "go-go" desks moved with each toss of the typewriter cartridge and bemoaned the lack of "modesty panels," which would have shielded legs in short skirts from view. Aldermen spoke out about a lack of storage space and many ordered credenzas and cupboards. Some even opted to keep their old office furniture.

The first civic leader to sit at the monstrous mayor's desk was Philip Givens, who was in office when new City Hall opened. Since then, ten more have spread papers out on its massive surface, including David Crombie, John Sewell, Art Eggleton, June Rowlands, Mel Lastman, and David Miller.

It's still there now, according to the city, beneath Rob Ford's family photos, next to a giant white oriental vase (according to police documents, an aide to the mayor found a joint stashed in one of the Knoll credenzas.)

Happily, more original furniture survives in many of the city councillor's offices, waiting to stir up more controversy when it eventually needs replacing.

(Note: The only archival images I could find of the original furniture in use also feature a chimpanzee named Heidi. The animal was given a tour of City Hall for reasons that aren't entirely clear. Just go with it, OK.)

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

Images: City of Toronto Archives; "Chimp Heidi At City Hall," 1974, Toronto Telegram staff photographer, Toronto Telegram fonds, F0433.

Defining what constitutes cool is about as uncool of an activity as one could imagine, but compliments are compliments, so when the BBC calls you cool it's worth noting, even if just by shrugging your shoulders and nodding. While Toronto might not feel so cool at 2:00 a.m. (compared to, say, Montreal), we're probably our own worst critics when it comes to the vibe of our city. But, hey, maybe that's a key to the whole thing.

"...The definitive, if circular logic of coolness is that cool things don't need to convince anyone. They don't even care. Because they're cool... That's why Toronto is cool: it has been for a long time, and since it doesn't feel the need to advertise the fact, most of the world doesn't even know. Canada in general is understated in this way; it's not very Canadian to point out one's own awesomeness. Toronto is so cool, it might not even know it is."

If I were back in grad school, I'd buy a bottle of wine and spend the night pointing out how bankrupt this argument is coming from a travelling journalist with no intimate knowledge of the city. But because I'm older and wiser now, I can acknowledge that 1) that wouldn't be a cool way to spend a night, 2) it's better not to put too much stock into articles like this, and 3) I just don't like to try that hard anymore.

Philosophical arguments aside, this isn't the worst travel article ever penned. Sure, many of the spots the writer hits up are predictable -- is a place that tries as hard as The Drake Hotel compatible with this coolness argument? -- but it's not all tourist traps (The Monkey's Paw is about as interesting as bookstores get). And, hey, when all you've been talking about for the last two days is your crack-smoking and slur-dropping mayor, it's nice to hear that the view from the other side is still glowing. Cool.

The list of breweries participating in Toronto beer festivals this season might be considerably shorter than you'd expect. That's because today, as reported by Toronto's own Left Field Brewery, the AGCO has ruled that the products of contract brewers--those small companies that opt to "rent" space from larger brewers to make their beer--won't be allowed at events that are licensed with a Special Occasion Permit (SOP).

Detailing the events in a release on their blog, Left Field Brewery owners Mark and Mandie Murphy explain, "We've learned that the AGCO deems the activity of us selling directly to SOP permit holders, including beer festival organizers, as illegal."

Indeed, a quick look at the details for obtaining an SOP confirm that:

"Once an SOP is issued, all alcohol for the event must be purchased under the permit from an authorized government retail store (such as an LCBO, an LCBO Agency Store, The Beer Store or any Winery, Brewery or Distillery Store)."

What this means is that most contract brewers like Left Field will be unable to offer their products to any of the events and festivals who choose to temporarily license a space with an SOP.

So far, only Left Field Brewery has heard from the AGCO about this issue and no one I've spoken to yet seems sure why the AGCO seemingly decided to start enforcing a rule that's always been in place, but speculation seems to be that someone with a grudge might have complained--or, as the Murphys delicately put it in their release, "some attention has been drawn to the issue just recently and we seem to be the initial target."

Regardless of the intent, the potential consequences are rather broad and pretty devastating for fledgling contract breweries. The decision, if upheld across the board, means that contract brewers who don't sell their products in the LCBO or The Beer Store--i.e. the folks who largely rely on the word of mouth, brand recognition, and even the income they are able to drum up at beer events and festivals--will no longer be allowed to participate at any events licensed with SOPs.

This is an event list that includes Toronto's Festival of Beer and the Beaches BBQ and Brews Festival, among others, and even private and catered events that opt for that licensing option.

The Murphys' post includes a call to action asking craft beer fans to write their MPPs and the Ontario Minister of Economic Development, Trade and Employment, and it caused an outpouring of public support when Left Field Brewery tweeted about the events. Beer bloggers (ahem) also subsequently took up the cause and, in my opinion, it now seems fairly likely that sanity will prevail in this case and contract brewers will be welcomed back--if only because enforcing the rule at every single SOP-licensed event seems impossible.

And also because thousands of festival going Ontarians who suddenly find their beer selections limited this summer might make for one angry and vocal demographic entering an election...

Ben Johnson also writes about beer over on Ben's Beer Blog. If you like outrage mixed with humour and soaked in beer, follow him on twitter @Ben_T_Johnson.

You've recently upgraded to a new iPhone. While your shiny new toy has you on a serious device high, you can't help but get a sinking feeling every time you open your sock drawer and your rejected (and expensive) old iPhone stares you in the face. What to do?

Orchard offers a solution. Available as a web-based app or an iOS tool, this Toronto startup is an online marketplace to buy or sell a used iPhone, with many added perks to make the process easy and honest. And they're off to a solid start: the iOS app has been downloaded 3000 times since its March launch, the web app had 13,000 unique visitors last month, and transactions are growing rapidly.

If you're looking to sell an iPhone, start by downloading the app. In-app tools will assess your phone's hardware and software to make sure it's in good shape (only phones that pass these diagnostic tests can be listed on Orchard), help you describe your phone's condition, and guide you through erasing all personal data from your phone. The app will also evaluate what your phone is currently worth, determine a fair price and create a listing.

On the buyer side, Orchard's search tool helps you find a phone based on your needs and budget, and securely process your payment. When a buyer has purchased a seller's iPhone, Orchard sends the seller a pre-paid shipping box and insured shipping label filled out with the buyer's address. In an effort to keep the transaction honest, Orchard withholds payment to the seller until the phone has been confirmed as received by the buyer. Unsatisfied customers are protected by a 30-day money back guarantee.

I chatted with co-founder Bruno Wong, who told me why he and partners Alex Sebastian and Hamza Javed saw great potential behind a simple, transparent smartphone marketplace.

What was the vision behind Orchard?


It's a pretty classic story: founder has horrible experience, and decides to build something to solve his own problem. This was around the time when the iPhone 5 had just launched and I was looking to sell my iPhone 4S to cover the cost of an upgrade. I knew the best reward came from the DIY route, so I poked around Craigslist and Kijiji to see what selling would entail. I didn't make it past the first page of search results. There were too many misplaced ads for iPhone repairs and unlocking services. I founded Orchard and used it to sell my iPhone instead.

Who's your competition in this space?

If you're looking to sell a used device, there are two routes you could take. The first is through the various buyback programs offered by wireless carriers and iPhone retailers. You'll have a fairly hassle-free experience, but these programs give you about half of what your phone is actually worth. Alternatively, you can sell through Craigslist or Kijiji where you stand to get a better return. But not everyone is comfortable with trekking to meet a total stranger at a mutually-inconvenient subway station to sell their phone.

With Orchard we want to make selling both bankable and easy. You deal with us and we do all the grunt work to sell your device. We'll either find you a buyer or buy the phone from you ourselves and make sure you get paid quickly. Buyers know they can trust us and that our phones are fully functional, not stolen or damaged.

Why focus on iPhones exclusively?

We don't intend to keep our company exclusively tethered to iPhones. We envision Orchard as a solution for buying and selling all used smart devices. That being said, we're perfectionists. We want to offer the best service and we want to know our product inside and out. Sticking with iPhones right now has allowed us to build a highly accurate diagnostic app and offer our customers unparalleled service. It also doesn't hurt that there are $9 billion dollars worth of iPhones buried in sock drawers every year. They keep their value well and represent a huge slice of the smartphone market.

What's your revenue model?


We charge each seller a fee somewhere between 12-25% when their phone sells, depending on how quickly a seller wants to get paid.

What's coming up next for your startup?

Boy Genius Report called us the only app you'll need when the iPhone 6 launches, so we're bracing ourselves for this benchmark as a way to help people move their old phones once they upgrade. While we call Canada home, we've had a lot of interest in Orchard in the U.S. Making the leap across the border is definitely on our radar too.

Farmhouse Tavern's new sister restaurant - located just across Dupont - inherited the original's focus on seasonal dinner and brunch menus. But the new spot sets itself apart through a seafood-centric selection - and creative dishes like green eggs and frog waffles.

Read my profile of Farmer's Daughter in the restaurant section.

Malls in Toronto are havens of unabashed, unabated consumerism, where Amy Heckerling's '90s don't need nostalgic revisiting, because they never really went away. Unsurprisingly, Toronto has a love-to-hate-it relationship with Cher Horowitz's second home - many of you answered our highly unscientific Twitter polls by telling us not which malls you liked most, but which ones you despised the least.

However, Torontonians still patronize malls like a Mean Girl - both Yorkdale and the Eaton Centre boast over $2 billion in sales per year - and the best ones manage to provide enough diversity, convenience, escapism and top-notch people-watching to keep us coming back. So read on, loser. We're going shopping.

Here are the top shopping malls in Toronto.

Yorkdale
A trip to Yorkdale is all about perusing Mink Mile staples without the pressure to buy anything or leave - like visiting a museum of useless things money can buy (the admission fee is surviving the apocalyptic parking lot). Nothing cures suburban ennui like eating Kernels popcorn while playing "spot the apology jewelry" at Tiffany. For the more dignified, there are unique stores like Topshop, L'Occitane and Zara Home, and tons of covetable fashion items for all budgets.

Scarborough Town Centre
Unfairly maligned for being east of Victoria Park, Scarborough Town is a useful, logically planned resource for shoppers more interested in variety than marble floors and designer duds. Its mix of major chains, big box retailers and independent shops offer just about everything, including high-end makeup, those ubiquitous transparent yoga pants, bizarre British candy, and axolotls. It also makes the list for being the only mall in the GTA city with adequate clothing options for plus-sizes.

Sherway Gardens
This Etobicoke mall is home to many of the same shops as Yorkdale, the Eaton Centre and Bayview Village, adequately servicing west-enders with plenty of upscale choices. The mall, best known for its iconic tented roof, is the city's best for a day of relaxed window shopping. The environment, meant to replicate a stroll through a series of manicured gardens, is serene and simple (though the layout can be overwhelming), and crowds are often minimal. The mall's only real flaw is a lack of high-quality food options.

Fairview Mall
Thanks to a makeover and Mayor Mel's transit plan, this North York staple is clean, spacious, and easy to access. Fairview manages to pack a lot - books, booze, small appliances, toys and fashion for every age and budget - into a manageable space, meaning shoppers can find everything they want without having to give up an entire day. However, the sub-par, chaotic food court does little justice to the mall's signature atrium above.

The Shops At Don Mills
Cadillac Fairview paved paradise (or at least this writer's former favourite mall) to create this outdoor complex, intended to bring highbrow shopping to an otherwise humble neighbourhood. The European piazza feel of the central courtyard and dining that stays open late inject some liveliness to the area. Stores like Oak+Fort and YellowKorner photography make for a diverse shopping experience, but the mall suffers from a try-hard vibe (think valet parking) and poor use of space.

Pacific Mall
Billed as the "Largest Chinese Indoor Mall in North America," this Markham tourist attraction is more about visual overstimulation, exploration and snacking on addictive cream puffs from Beard Papa's (the world's most perfectly, disturbingly named snack stand) than stocking up on the necessities. Many of the nearly 500 market-style shops trade in the cutesy, kitschy and unusual, but there's no shortage of practical finds like small electronics, cosmetics (including legit BB cream) and kitchen gear.

Toronto Eaton Centre
Though it's overcrowded and inefficient, the city's largest mall remains a fashion destination, with stores like J. Crew, a flagship H&M, and Michael Kors (with the arrivals of Saks and Nordstrom pending). Recent revamps have elevated dining options, and brought visual interest to standard mall staples like Sephora and Shoppers Drug Mart. Stay away on weekends and holidays, when it transforms into the naked mole rat exhibit at the Toronto Zoo.

Vaughan Mills
Vaughan Mills is worth the trip for flagship store Bass Pro Shops alone. This temple of outdoor gear, taxidermy, and inanimate objects shaped like fish is equal parts surreal and scary, like an early Michael Moore movie. The mall itself delivers bargains from Joe Fresh, Holt Renfrew's hr2, and outlet versions of almost every major shoe store, as well as nostalgic entertainment from Lucky Strike bowling and adults night at Lego Land (which is neither as dirty nor as sad as it sounds).

East York Town Centre
It still needs a makeover, but this modest mall is weird and wonderful, with the area's only Target, a throwback bowling alley, a produce market, cute kitchenware, and apparel that could outfit Jilly's dancers. The Dollarama is deceptively great, loaded with scores like DVDs (hello, Barefoot Contessa box sets) and perfect bad gifts (Twilight Scene-It for $3). Thorncliffe Park is rife with delicious Middle Eastern and South Asian eats, and the food court is no exception.

Square One
Practically a city unto itself, this Mississauga mall is similar to Scarborough Town Centre in its mix of independent, chain and big box retailers. Though slightly less eclectic (and far harder to navigate) than its eastern counterpart, Square One stands out for bringing western GTA residents less-common stores like Lush, Target and Boathouse. The mall is also home to vital community services, including the GTA's largest farmer's market and the Square One Older Adults Centre.

Did we miss any? Leave your favourite Toronto mall in the comments!

Writing by Ashley Petkovski. Photo by Daniel Gueorguiev from the blogTO Flickr pool.

Photo by Infinity Over Zero in the blogTO Flickr pool.

Moving boxes in Toronto can be hard to come by. One can always hope that the dude working at the nearest LCBO or c-store will be merciful and donate a few boxes to the colossal pain in the ass that is moving, but collecting enough vessels with which to house one's records, unread books and cat accessories is always a challenge, no matter how much you flirt with that be-visored, largely unimpressed cashier.

Fear not, Torontonians. There are companies sprinkled across the city who have anticipated this problem, and solved it for you long before you knew you would face it. From re-usable moving boxes to the more traditional cardboard variety, here (in no particular order) are the top options for moving boxes in Toronto.

Cityboxes
CityBoxes is based on a model of eco-friendliness. They alleviate some of the pain of moving by simply delivering reusable plastic boxes to your home, letting you pack them up and move them, and then coming to your new home to collect the boxes again. No more getting tangled up in packing tape, and no more canvassing businesses in your neighbourhood for charity boxes. You can rent 20 moving boxes from them for $80 dollars per week, and the prices go up from there.

Frogbox
Frogbox also rents out reusable boxes en masse. They deliver, and you can order online or by phone, with 25 boxes available for $109 to start, and they pick up the boxes after you move them, too. Delivery is free for orders over $75, and their pricing list offers a number of bundles to suit different sizes of home, and they rent to all of the GTA as well as within the city.

The Box Guys
The Box Guys in Leslieville sell a variety of box sizes (haha) which will cost you anywhere from $1.75 to $3.75. They offer a long list of specialty boxes, too, including wardrobe boxes, wine boxes, and flat screen TV boxes, among others.Shipping is free on orders over $99, and the company will usually deliver within a day.

Cargo Cabbie
Cargo Cabbie, at Dundas and Carlaw, will not only fulfill your need for boxes, it will also pack and move all of your junk for you. They will take care of small or large moves, whether you need to move from your hoe, condo, or office. Their services will cost at least their one-hour minimum rate, and to get a sense of what they charge, you need to get a quote online.

Green Box Rental
Green Box Rental also provides reusable stacking boxes. Its prices are comparable to businesses with the same model. Thirty boxes can be rented for $99, and as prices go up, they remain reasonable. Green Box only delivers and picks up the boxes after use. Though they're located in Toronto, there is no physical location to visit at this time.

Rotblott's Discount Warehouse
Rotblott's Discount Warehouse on Adelaide St. W. just east of Bathurst St. sells not only random office furnishings, but also boxes, and at highly reasonable prices. They start at $1.99 for smaller boxes, are sometimes sold in bundle packages, and if you buy 10, you get 10 per cent off your purchase. If you're going to go the cardboad route, this one is a good pick. It's kind of a one-stop-shop too. They've got ladders, tape, power tools, and all of those other superfun items that come with a superfun moving day.

All Canadian Self Storage
Alongside offering a wide range of self storage solutions, All Canadian Self Storage provides no fewer than nine sizes of boxes, wrapping and covers for furniture, and specialty boxes such as wardrobe and TV boxes. They even offer a drive through option at their west end location, at Weston Rd. and St. Clair Ave. W. For pricing, you need to get a quote.

Rent a Son
Well, this place has a creepy name (rent a son for your box? I don't know), but it comes with good recommendations. They offer household moving, commercial moving, and long distance moving (how many sons are there?) They can do it all if you need, from providing the packing materials and boxes to helping you pack and, ultimately, moving all of your junk from one locale to the next. Ideal. Costs can be obtained by requesting an estimate from the company.

The Box Spot
You've got to call or visit the store (one at 542 Mt. Pleasant Rd. and one at 2877 Bloor St. W.) to get any information on pricing, but when it comes to moving materials, this place is not skimping in its stock. It offers bubble wrap in multiple bubble-sizes, labels, furniture foam wrap, boxes for pictures or computers, custom boxes, etc. They also offer a variety of specials, and free delivery within the GTA.

Boxed Inn
Boxed Inn is located on The Queensway at Kipling Ave., and it boasts a huge selection of moving-related items, from single boxes, which start at $1.99, to entire moving bundles, which start at $56 and include everything you need to pack up your life and go, fugitive style.

Did I miss a good spot to get moving boxes? Add it to the comments below.

Breakout Toronto Bands features local artists that we think you should give a listen to.

Resolved Dissonance, aka Sameer Kalra, is a Toronto-born, Hamilton-based beatmaker elbowing his way into the beat scene. He's making chill hip-hop vibes in the vein of Fredo and Oddisee - and has no plans to stop. We featured his track "Less>More" in our February collection of best Toronto songs. I caught up with the up-and-coming cratedigger this month to see what Resolved Dissonance was all about.

WHO IS HE?

An avid fan of in his teen years, Sameer nursed a growing interest in the beats scoring shows like Samurai Champloo. Beatmakers from America and Japan would produce the music for most of these shows, and Sameer fell in love with the music.

He began experimenting with his own mixing and beatmaking. A year-and-a-half tenure as the DJ for These Beats Are So Fresh on 93.3 CFMU in Hamilton allowed him to test his skills on a grander scale.

At this point, Sameer might just be a dude from Hamilton spinning awesome instrumental beats, but as he notes, the internet is worldwide and it is allowing musicians to connect to music fans regardless of distance. "It's still crazy to me how you can make something within the comfort of your own home," Sameer writes, "put it on the internet and wake up in the morning to a message from someone in Brazil telling you that they dig what you've done."

WHAT DOES HE SOUND LIKE?

RD's work features soft sample-based tracks that float from ear to ear, getting lost in reverb, with only steady hip hop and trap drum beats to guide the way. Often the warm, dreamy sampling is accompanied by horns or fluid 8-bit chimes and tweaked vocals. If you search back to his earlier stuff, you'll find beats that would sound right at home on Dilla's Vol 2: Vintage, while his new stuff seems to be heading more in the direction of Shlohmo and Gold Panda. Unlike many instrumental hip hop producers, Sameer doesn't just loop his beats, but works hard to keep them interesting throughout.

HEAR HIM / SEE HIM

For now you'll just have to keep watch on Resolved Dissonance - no live shows are scheduled for this year so far. With summer on the way and an album from this dude expected sometime this year, for now just sit back, turn up the beat, and start dreaming.

Follow Adam on Twitter and Instagram.

The top stores to buy a tuxedo in Toronto are seemingly far and few between. A classic tux is just about the fanciest thing a man can wear, but there is very little attention given by the modern man to tuxedo culture in the current era of "swag" - and the price tag on your average tux alone reiterates why it's pretty much a 'once in a lifetime' purchase. Many men often find themselves at a crossroads because buying a tuxedo is often more expensive than a suit, and will get significantly less wear.

But if you're sprucing up for prom or showing your A-game as a groomsman, there's nothing like a good tux to transform a lacklustre schmuck into a polished, debonair gentleman. And if you're on a budget, fear not: Toronto has a number of menswear shops that offer classic tuxedos with modern details, and - pardon the pun - the price tags are very suit-able. This one's for all the men out there looking to break necks without breaking the bank.

Here are the top stores to buy a tuxedo in Toronto.

Tiger of Sweden
I wouldn't have thought Tiger would have much in the lines of tuxedos - but what they do have is one badass tuxedo that knocks it out of the park. Their Sinatra tux ($849) is a great fit for slim to average builds, though you don't have to be a complete stick to wear it. The tux features a slim shawl collar, slightly tapered arms, classic single vent, and slim straight pants. The shop houses all the accessories you might need, including shoes, socks, pocket squares and bowties. Staff were friendly and happy to help without pressuring me. A bit of bad news: they only cover the most expensive alteration needed.

Tom's Place
I know what you're thinking: James Bond wouldn't be caught dead in this Kensington shop. But most of us aren't on the MI6 payroll, and the general price range for tuxedos at Tom's is $695-1500. At the two-storey shop, a salesman greeted me instantly, directing me to the second floor, where they have tuxedos from Hugo Boss, Calvin Klein, Strellson, Armani, and one I personally fell in love with from Ted Baker. The shop feels a tad cluttered, but once you catch your bearings it's somewhat cozy and personal. The bestseller is a house-brand, one-button, classic tux that is available in peak or notch lapels. Alterations not included, but Tom himself is usually around to hook you up if you ask with a smile.

Suitsupply
This Yorkville boutique is not even a year old, but it has the presence of a solidified menswear staple shop. In the front window is the on-site tailor, working away on alterations as I walked in. Two single-button, peak-lapel tux styles are available: a Super 110 black tuxedo ringing in at $599, and a blue version with a black lapel that screams modern finesse. Much of the suiting is made in China, but all of the material is sourced from Italy and other dependable fabric mills. For a beautiful $899, you can walk away with a black tuxedo, shirt, shoes, and bow tie - alterations not included.

Garrison Bespoke
Garrison's is a savvy style emporium known for its repeat clientele and top-notch work. Your options at the appointment-only studio include made to measure (alter to fit) and bespoke (from scratch) tuxes. While going bespoke (starting at $1800) will obviously give you the best fit, MTM (from $995) is still a great option for half the price. With over 100 swatches of fabric to choose from, a pristine, fully customized tux can be yours within 8-10 weeks. Staff are knowledgeable and creative, which helps when you have such a wide array of details to choose from.

Korry's
Good ol' Korry's. When it comes to Toronto menswear, this Danforth suit shop has a rep that's good as gold. Owner Saul Korman is there daily, and is truly as wise as he is friendly when dealing with clients. Tuxedos start at $795 for the in-house brand Robertos (made in Canada). Hugo Boss tuxedos are available for $1195, and Canali start at $2000. With six on-site tailors, this shop knows what it's doing. Wedding parties, take note: Korry himself will cut you a break when buying for groomsmen.

Gotstyle
Gotstyle does many things right - and their Hilton wool shawl collar tuxedo is one of them. At a price point of $898, this 100% wool, single-button, single-vent tux is sure to make the bride blush. The slim fit, charcoal grey hue and black contrasting shawl make for a classic-meets-modern look. The environment of both shops (Bathurst/Distillery) is superb, and you will likely get occupied browsing around for things you didn't know you needed. Staff is happy to help, and I often feel like a friend rather than a customer while in either boutique.

MADE Clothing
This Toronto-based custom menswear brand offers custom suiting starting at $1095. Beyond black, MADE can offer any colour and fabric - from midnight blue to oxblood - along with you choice of lining, lapel, buttons and monogram. Since all MADE suiting is tailored in Montreal, they can offer a turnaround of only 3-4 weeks, and even faster in rush occasions. The process all takes place at their stylish private downtown studio where you can check out swatches while enjoying some scotch(es). To complete the look, they offer package deals with accessories like socks and bowties.

Grreat Stuff
This family-run shop near Trinity Bellwoods is known for exceptionally friendly staff and noteworthy styling advice. Owners Mark and Adam (one of whom is at the store pretty much every day) are great at understanding their clients. The go-to tuxedo of choice happens to be by Tiger of Sweden (which they've been carrying since before the Ossington flagship even opened), and runs from $600-800. With what they lack in variety for tuxedos, they make up for in helping you create unique, compliment-worthy outfits.

Stavros
You didn't we would leave this behemoth off the list, did you? It's not a list of Toronto's best tuxedo outfitters without this Yorkville gem. With a hefty entry-level price tag of $3,500, John Ferrigamo boasts nothing but 007-quality threads. These master tailors maintain the heritage of artisan clothiers of Savile Row through bespoke and made to measure tailoring. The service is personalized and the decor is reminiscent of only the most refined of gentleman's clubs. Any groom out there looking to pull out all the stops: Your tuxedo awaits.

Theodore 1922
This colourful Bloor St. West boutique offers an ever-so stylish shawl collar Zegna tuxedo for $1775; a poised Samuelson label tuxedo is also available for $1495. The shop is known for it's abundance of colourful accessories that are sure to make any outfit stand out, including Happy Socks, cufflinks, and lots of bowties. The cherry on top: all alterations are included.

Writing by Jacob Martella. Photo by Marcin Moka in the blogTO Flickr pool

Free events in Toronto this week include free ice cream, which should sweeten up this dreary spring we're having so far for a moment even if it's not quite ice cream weather. Canadian Music Week means some free music shows you can drop into, and Toronto is preparing for TCAF (the Toronto Comic Arts Fest).

Here's how to avoid the deathbed regretsies without angering creditors in Toronto this week.

Dutch Dreams Block Party
Sweet stuff (free ice cream!) is up on Monday up near St. Clair West/Wychwood: family-owned ice cream shop Dutch Dreams is celebrating its recent move a couple of blocks south of its previous location, their 30th Anniversary, and Dutch Liberation Day (the date the Netherlands were liberated from Nazis by the First Canadian Army). Music, entertainment and free ice cream will make for one delicious block party. Monday, May 5, 4-8pm, Dutch Dreams (36 Vaughan Road)

Magpie May Movie Majik: The Doors, Zardoz
Perk up, cult film fans: The Doors (1991) and Zardoz (1974) are screening at Magpie Taproom. Take them in along with super cheap drinks. Tuesday, May 6, 8pm, Magpie Taproom (831 Dundas St. West).

Pivot
This month's Pivot readings series at the Press Club features David James Brock, Nicholas Ruddock, Kevin Spenst, and Jacob Wren. They know you're a broke wannabe writer, but would appreciate a donation just the same. Wednesday, May 7, 8pm, The Press Club (850 Dundas Street West)

TCAF presents the 2014 Drink & Draw!
Toronto Comics Arts Fair is coming up this weekend, and you can get ready for the madness by hanging out at an English Pub with other comic artists and fans at this group draw-a-thon. Wednesday, May 7, 8pm, The Spotted Dick (81 Bloor Street East).

Tell Me Something Good: MAY Sexy Storytelling Slam
Miss playing truth or dare? Inspired by Bawdy Storytelling in California, Tell Me Something Good invites you to stop by and throw your name into their (sexy?) hat -- a lucky few will be selected to speak. And yes, warm up games include truth or dare. Wednesday, May 7, 8pm, Gladstone Hotel (1214 Queen Street West).

FLAME: Collaborative Art Jam
If you're feeling crafty, Flame is open to all LGBT2SQ spectrum youth under 29. This session will focus on projections, mini videos, art jamming, and doodles. Wear clothes you don't mind trashing and stay for the snacks. Wednesday, May 7, 6-8pm SKETCH Working Arts (180 Shaw Street, suite 201).

Brockton Writers Series: 07.05.14
Another lit event - battle of the bards? Forget I just said that, and anyway Pivot and Tell Me Something won't start until 8pm. At this edition of BWS Adam Abbas, Kate Cayley, Tom Cho and Amanda Leduc will read, plus Ludec will give a talk on From Couchsurfing to Cafs: The Magic of the DIY Book Tour. Drop a few dollars in the jar, please. Wednesday, May 7, 6:30pm, Full of beans Coffee House & Roastery (1348 Dundas St. West).

Comics vs Games 3D VRcade Opening Party
Do this one as you can afford, gamers: advance tickets are ($10) get you a drink ticket and a pie ticket (pie!), or just show up for free admission. Attract Mode's Comics vs Games 3D Gallery is opening up, and in the VRcade you can play new Oculus Rift collaborations. Thursday, May 8, Bento Miso Collaborative Workspace (862 Richmond Street West).

The Brinkley Girls, World War I and American Patriotism in Womens Comics: A Talk by Trina Robbins TCAF
More TCAF stuff: comics writer, artist and historian Trina Robbins (USA), who authored Pretty in Ink: North American Women Cartoonists 1896-2013, will discuss the Brinkley Girls and war time patriotism. Thursday, May 8, 8pm, MLC Gallery, Ryerson University (111 Gerard Street East).

Ku and Videofag present The Last Match
It's a good week for fans of illustration in TO. "Since 2009, comics magazine ku! has invited international comic artists to draw their interpretations of the last match on paper snips the size of matchbooks." 380 artists from over 52 countries have participated. I love a good concept show and can't wait to check this out. Thursday, May 8, 7-9pm, Videofag (187 Augusta Avenue).

SCUM TV Launch Party w/AYAHUASCA MAY 9
It's a free TV/metal party at KITCH! ScumTV is a video web-zine showcasing metal bands from around the world with interviews, concert footage, and more. Friday, May 9, 9pm KITCH (229 Geary Ave).

Bit Bazaar Spring Fair 2014
If you love gaming, shopping, or food, Bit Bazaar's got something for you. (If you love all three, as I do, then you may want to leave your bank card at home.) This edition of the combination arcade and zine fair is part of TCAF-sponsored event Comics Vs. Games 3; there'll be over 30 exhibitors, from indie game developers to fine artists to Haitian street food vendors. Saturday, May 10, 11am-8pm, Bento Miso (862 Richmond St. West).

May Acts
Sterling Studio Theatre Collective are celebrating their second season at 163 Sterling Rd. Week 1 features PWYC matinees - see more info here. Saturday May 10 and Sunday May 11, 2pm, Sterling Studio Theatre (163 Sterling Road).

Rudy & Detrimental Information Launch Party
Weird Things on Bathurst is launching two books: Rudy and Detrimental Information. There will be readings, spoken word, live music, and drinks. Oh, and drawings of cute cats. Saturday, May 10, 7:30pm, Weird Things (998 Bathurst St.).

BAD TUCK: Maleficunt
This wild Maleficent theme party at the Beaver is only free under one condition: you try your hand at Maleficunt themed drag. (Princess Whore-ora, Pink/Green/Blue Hairy Fairies, etc - be creative!). Otherwise it's $5 and you're normcore. Saturday, May 10, 10:30pm, The Beaver (1192 Queen St W).

Free Canadian Music Week concerts by the day:

• iM & CMW: The Other Girl / Port Of Call / Goodnight Sunrise / Jordan Faye & The Grey Owls / Sarah Budden Wed. May 7, Charlie's Gallery 112 Harbord St
• CMW at The Central Wed. May 7, The Central (603 Markham Street) - free before 8pm only.
• iM & CMW: Jeff Beadle / The Hollowbodies / Jay Miln / DT & The Dinosaurs / Dean Marino Thurs. May 8, Charlie's Gallery 112 Harbord St.
• CMW: Saturns // Ariel // Devah Quartet // Bathurst Station Thurs. May 8, Velvet Underground (510 Queen Street West) - free after 12:15am (until 4am) only.
• CMW at The Central Fri. May 9, The Central (603 Markham Street) - free before 8pm only.
• iM & CMW: Marlon Chaplin / Mark Martyre / Jon Hynes / Emily Reid / Gdansk Fri. May 9, Charlie's Gallery 112 Harbord St.
• CMW at The Central Sat. May 10, The Central (603 Markham Street) - free before 8pm only.

Also, check out these regular free events in Toronto

• Elvis Mondays at the Drake
• Foosball Battle Royale, Monday, Disgraceland
• Art Gallery of Ontario free evening, Wednesday, 6-8:30pm.
• IFOA Weekly, free for supporters, students, & youth under 26, Wednesday, Harbourfront Centre
• Skin of My Nuts Comedy Show, Thursday, Sonic Espresso Bar
• Canadian Opera Company's Free Concerts series
• While nearly all art galleries in the city are free to enter, it's worth noting The Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art (MOCCA) is always PWYC.
• The ROM (Royal Ontario Museum) offers discounted tickets on Fridays ($10).

Photo: Jesse Milns, Bit Bazaar contribution by Natalia Manzocco.

This new Dundas West yoga studio sets newcomers at ease, with a relaxed atmosphere and classes designed to appeal to beginners. The fun tweaks extend to the environment, like LED lights meant to mimic a sunrise. But despite the low-pressure environment, the classes - from yoga boot camp to "Hangover Helper - are no slouch.

Read my review of Studio Blue Yoga in the fitness section.

Bibliophiles, rejoice. After a string of bookstoreclosures in recent months, it seemed like the writing was on the wall for the written word in Toronto - but now, west-end book lovers can count one for the win column. Toronto bookstore chain Book City is pulling its Bloor West Village location, which closed in 2012, back out of the deadpool: A new Book City store is set to open at 2350 Bloor St. West, just a couple of doors down from the original.

The Bloor West Book City location was open for over 20 years before rising rents and tough competition from the Chapters location at Bloor and Runnymede forced the store's closure. The Chapters, in turn, went under earlier this year. Book City general manager Ian Donker told Quill and Quire he saw how upset residents were when both Book City and Chapters left the area, which led him to feel that there might still be a demand for a neighbourhood bookstore.

The new location, a former Telus store, was secured not long after the store's Annex store shut its doors in March, and hiring is underway for new staff (Book City has stated that none of the Annex store's staff would be moved to other locations). The new store, Donker said, will feature an increased number of books catering to families and younger readers - but true to the Book City chain, there'll be a little of everything for everyone.

Rob Ford has seemed every bit the teflon mayor in the past, as repeated scandals did little to diminish his popularity in approval ratings or campaign polls. Not so this time, it would appear. In a poll compiled shortly after Ford announced that he was taking a leave of absence, the picture finally looks less promising for the mayor. The Forum Research survey shows that "fewer than four in 10 approve of the job he's doing as mayor (38%), and this is down sharply from two weeks ago (46%). In the meantime, approval ratings for John Tory have increased (from 65% to 69%), while those for Olivia Chow are stable (60% to 58%)."

While the number of Torontonians who think the mayor should resign holds pretty steady at 63% (up slightly from 60% in December 2013), so-called Ford Nation has lost some confidence in the mayor. One quarter of voters say they will vote Rob Ford in the municipal election (with not other contenders mentioned - 25%), and this is down from three in 10 two weeks ago (April 15 - 29%), and from close to four in 10 in previous months."

As far as the mayoral race itself goes, John Tory's stock is on the rise as Ford's falls. "In a five-way race (including Rob Ford, assuming he returns), Olivia Chow would win with one third of the vote (33%), closely followed by John Tory with more than a quarter (27%). Rob Ford would take just more than a fifth (22%, while Stintz (6%) and Soknacki (5%) trail. These results represent an increase for John Tory (from 24%) and a corresponding decrease for Rob Ford (from 27%)."

What this picture will look like once Ford returns from rehab and declares himself a changed man (for real this time) is completely up in the air, but it's clear that the mayor no longer goes untouched by scandal.

Photo by BruceK in the blogTO Flickr pool.

Just weeks after a ban on electronic music events was put in place on the CNE grounds, there appears to be hope that the decision will be reversed by city council. Originally adopted by the Exhibition Place Board (in a 4-3 vote) after pressure was applied by Councillor Giorgio Mammoliti, a new motion to be put before council on May 7 asks that the board of governors be required to reverse its decision. The motion is the work of Councillor Mike Layton, who claims that it's within council's rights to override the Ex board.

The decision to ban EDM events at the CNE has come under considerable scrutiny in the wake of reports that Mayor Rob Ford is friends with Muzik nightclub owner Zlatko Starkovski, who initially pushed for the ban with a hyperbolic rant about protecting children from predatory drug dealers. That line of reasoning doesn't sound particularly convincing after reports that Ford was high on cocaine and vomited in the washroom at Muzik.

And while Starkovski has attempted to distance himself from the beleaguered mayor, the ban he pushed for always seemed backward, which it was a surprise to see it adopted in the first place. Now council will be given a chance to consider the issue more carefully. One suspects that upon doing so, the ban will be reversed.

Photo from the CNE's Facebook page.

Tacos, tequila cocktails, and the whole enchilada have become staples on Toronto menus, whether it's Cinco de Mayo or not. During the past week we challenged our readers to share photos of their favourite Mexican foods in the city, like the above shot of guacamole and chips at Rebozos by crazystylelove, which we chose to award our prize of a $100 gift certificate kindly donated by Valdez.

Check out all the submissions in our Mexican photo stream.

M.I.A.'s North American tour in support of her latest record, Matangi, was due to hit Toronto's Yonge and Dundas Square for a free outdoor concert to jumpstart Canadian Music Week (May 6-10) until a last-minute venue change resulted in the always-controversial performer playing to a crowd of no more than four hundred at Queen West's newly revamped Tattoo. A chunk of the free tickets had to be acquired through an online "wristband-lottery" system, and indeed, everyone in attendance seemed ecstatic and grateful to have snagged a spot for the intimate show. The venue's small stage was adorned with a miniature version of the Matangi tour's light-up Hindu-inspired wheel structure.

In a polka dot body-suit and translucent white trench coat, M.I.A. stormed the stage with a trio of dancers and launched into her catchier early hits, opening with "Bucky Done Gun," "Bird Flu," and "Sunshowers." Much like last year's show at the Danforth Music Hall, M.I.A. and her DJ rarely took breaks between songs, instead transforming her catalogue into a seamless dance set (as it should be).

When she did pause to greet the crowd after "World Town," she opened the floor to audience requests - though when someone suggested "Teqkilla," she quickly shut it down, instead opting for "Bamboo Banga." Regrettably, the set featured little from 2010's /\/\ /\ Y /\, an underrated record that many have now credited with paving the way for mainstream consumption of Death Grips' records and Kanye's Yeezus. Instead, songs from Kala took centre stage, and the audience became truly lost in a dance frenzy when she threw in newer hits from Matangi, including ferocious renditions of "YALA" and "Double Bubble Trouble."

It wouldn't be a true M.I.A. show without the occasional enthusiastic (if slightly half-baked) political interjection - at one point, she addressed the crowd: "Future Canadian generations! Don't take the easy route and be Americans!" The singer's (in)famous sass also showed through towards the end of the performance, when she declared she wouldn't perform "Bad Girls" without proper bass.

She proceeded to wander through the crowd, performing the song acapella while technicians adjusted the sound equipment. The sight of M.I.A. making her way through a small bar setting was surreal to say the least, but her visible frustration with the venue's sound system derailed some the show's blissed-out momentum. After performing "Paper Planes" and a full rendition of "Bad Girls" to an elated crowd, she made a quick, subdued exit and did not return for an encore.

While it was a privilege to see an established act perform in such an intimate setting, it was surely a let down to those who were anticipating a free outdoor show. Many speculated that the show was moved indoors due to the prospect of poor weather conditions, but nonetheless, music such as M.I.A.'s, steeped in themes of free expression, subversion, and multi-culturalism, should be properly enjoyed by the masses, outside the confines of a small, exclusive venue.

MORE PHOTOS

Writing by Eric Kostiuk Williams, photos by Alejandro Santiago

It's barely three months old, but so far the 2014 Toronto mayoral campaign has already seen plenty of twists and turns. Olivia Chow, long-time favourite of the left, quit federal politics to seek the city's top job while Rob Ford, still a contender despite months of drug-related scandal, suddenly split for rehab in the States, taking a sizeable hit in the polls.

The most recent projections put Ford in third place (22% down from 27%) behind John Tory (27%) and Olivia Chow (33%,) the lowest he's been since winning election in 2010. The Forum Research poll, which was conducted Thursday evening in the aftermath of the latest video scandal, reflected the opinions of 888 Toronto residents reached by phone and is considered accurate considered accurate within 3 percentage points.

Though it might be something of a crap shoot (with Ford expected to return, who knows what's going to happen in this election) here are five wards that will likely play a pivotal role in deciding who becomes the next mayor.

WARDS 1 AND 42 - 2010: FORD, 2006: MILLER, 2003: MILLER

Tucked up in the city's northern corners, wards 1 and 42 are bellwethers of Toronto elections. The results of the mayoral votes in Etobicoke North and Scarborough-Rouge River have matched the overall winner in all of the last four elections (though the ward boundaries were different in 1997.) Ford scored strong victories in 2010, but in 2006 and 2003, both constituencies went to Miller. Mel Lastman took the wards that included these neighbourhoods in 1997. History says that wins here are essential to taking the election.

WARD 16 - 2010: SMITHERMAN, 2006: MILLER, 2003: TORY

Eglinton-Lawrence was a close win for George Smitherman in 2010; Ford lost by just 9.8%, or 1,431 votes. One ward over, the incumbent won convincingly by 27.5%, suggesting this is constituency could swing. John Tory was victorious here in 2003 during his first stab at Toronto politics. Three years later, Ward 16 was taken by David Miller. Ward 16 could go to Olivia Chow or a strong conservative candidate, most likely John Tory, as he has a history of winning in this part of the city.

WARDS 25 AND 26 - 2010: FORD, 2006: PITFIELD, 2003: TORY

The two Don Valley West wards, currently represented by councillors Jaye Robinson and John Parker respectively, went to Rob Ford by a hair in 2010 (727 votes in Ward 25 and just 50 in Ward 26.) In 2006, these were the lone wards scored by Jane Pitfield during Miller's landslide victory. In 2003 they were won by John Tory. It looks like these conservative-leaning wards, like Ward 16, could go either way in 2014.

WARD 31 - 2010: FORD, 2006: MILLER, 2003: MILLER

In 2010, the northernmost of the two Beaches-East York wards went to Rob Ford by about 8.2%. Typically, downtown (in voting terms, a rough upside down T shape from the Humber River to Victoria Park Ave. and north up the Spadina line to about the 401) is the exclusive domain of the strongest liberal candidate, but this was one area Ford managed to steal. If he, Tory, or Stintz, can do it again, it would likely be part of an election victory.

WARDS 35 AND 36 - 2010: FORD, 2006: MILLER, 2003: MILLER

The pair of Scarborough Southwest wards went to Rob Ford in 2010 but, in the three elections before that, both were won by David Miller or (under different ward boundaries) Barbara Hall. Liberal candidates will see these as areas where Ford's grip can be easily weakened, especially in light of recent events. They are currently represented by councillors Michelle Berardinetti and Gary Crawford respectively.

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