Photo by BruceK in the blogTO Flickr pool

Leading up to the long weekend, we challenged our readers to celebrate this national treasure and share their cheesiest, most gloriously gravy-soaked photos of poutine. We chose the above photo from Cafe Reznikoff by ruchika___ to award our prize of two poutines proudly supplied by Poutini's House of Poutine.

Check out all the submissions in our Poutine photo stream.

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

New Drake merch
Drake is letting you give a shout out to which side of Yonge you live on. Go ahead and order us some east end swag and we'll be sure to Instagram ourselves wearing it.

New Drake song
OB O'Brien, aka the guy in the OVO owl suit, is on this duet with Drake in This Week in Drake. Drake talks about having sex in his office - Drake has an office? I wonder if Drake ever tried on the owl costume.

Swans will for sure be at Yonge & Dundas Square for NXNE
Well, who didn't see that coming.

New Toronto songs and vids

Friendly Rich - Sausage Samba
Friendly Rich is one of Toronto's most prominent fringe musicians (and it's a weird town). In this new video, a hot dog attacks the cast of Star Trek. The frightening realism will terrify you, or send you running to Little Dog. Rich's new album Bountiful is out June 24.

Babe Rainbow - Twin Peaks
Keeping on with the oddball dudes: Babe Rainbow, whom we once photographed with a dog, is finally releasing music again. And he's being super weird about it. Rainbow is posting life hacks, and Life Hack #1 is about cutting open an avocado and eating it with a spoon. The first time someone showed me how to do this I was blown away too. But Rainbow, why didn't you put pepper on it? The song sounds lovely. Falling Apart is out July 7.

PUP - Guilt Trip
According to our lifestyle editor, the child-casting of PUP members in this video is creepily accurate. Must have been fun for the PUP gang. The vid is a slick update on Stand By Me where murderous child pals start a band.

Fucked Up - Sun Glass
A song that sounds like a hardcore track and a shoegaze track being played simultaneously. A video about how hard rocking people enjoy sunlight. Glass Boys is out June 3.

Gay - Another Green Stitch
This is just getting silly.

Hot ticket shows

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.

Extra hot ticket

All Toronto's Parties / May 24 / Kensington Market + Comfort Zone
All Toronto's Parties is back - and super-groups are hot this time. On Saturday, May 24 there will be daytime performances throughout Kensington Market. The nighttime show is at The Comfort Zone. See Isla Craig, Darlene Shrugg (Slim Twig / US Girls / Tropics / Ice Cream), DJ Glit Clit (Lido Pimietna), Tough Guy Mountain, and way more.

See also

• The top concerts in Toronto May 2014
• The top 5 dance parties in Toronto May 2014
• 20 must-see spring concerts in Toronto
• The top 10 metal, punk and hardcore shows in Toronto
• The top 5 spring music festivals in Toronto for 2014
• Just Shows

Recently announced concerts

• Dan Deacon & DIANA / May 29 / Adelaide Hall
• Pharmakon / June 12 / S.H.I.B.G.B (225 Geary Ave (Middle Door))
• The Fresh & Onlys / July 18 / The Horseshoe
• The Cure (at Riot Fest) / September 6-7 / Downsview Park
• Lily Allen / September 28 / Sound Academy

What we got up to this week

• Breakout Toronto Bands: Pick A Piper
• HAIM whip Kool Haus into a frenzy (with their hair)
• Dance in support of Dufferin's dancing crossing guard
• The top 10 metal, punk and hardcore shows in Toronto
• Variety show spirit alive (and Spookey) in Toronto
• New website traces Drake's life from the bottom up
• The top 5 folk bands to watch in Toronto

Some of Japan's best bands were highlighted in the first night of the sixth Next Music from Tokyo at the Rivoli on Friday. Toronto-based MC Steven Tanaka runs this unusual mini-fest: out of his own pocket, Tanaka frequently makes the trip to Japan searching out the best and brightest bands, then brings them to Canada for an affordable show. (Two shows, actually: the bands played at Lee's the following night). This year we were treated to five bands, one of which was a great favourite from last year's show.

First band Nayuta was a jammy blues-based band with frequent improvisation - they had an appealingly messy style, with songs that often sound like they were about to fall apart before they're pulled them back together. Some of their heavier bits reminded me of noise-rock bands like Swans. Nayuta used male/female harmonies very effectively with elements of various genres of music that even include a bit of metal and samba.

Unfortunately, the next band, Uchu Conbini, had an interesting style that didn't fully come together. They attempted a precise, intricate variety of emo with mixed results. The vocals were soft and dreamy, but the singer struggled when trying to sing higher notes. Added to that were serious sound issues, with frequent feedback distracting from their style. The guitarist was the most impressive element, as he shredded his way through double-tapped solos. Nonetheless this was the first act of the night to lead to crowd surfing, which became a frequent occurrence throughout the night.

Highlight of the night was Happy!Mari. They played a dancey, keyboard-driven variety of punk reminiscent of early-Blondie. The keyboardist acted as hype man, stage-diving and leading the crowd while the singer provided staccato, high pitched rhythmic vocals. The band was especially tight and had a rousing anthemic vibe.

Kinoko Teikoku, the returning band from last year and this year's headliner, played a heavier, darker set that emphasized their shoegazer roots. Lead singer Chiaki Sato is also an actress of some renown in Japan. She's got a powerful voice that reminds me of Elizabeth Fraser of Cocteau Twins. They were characterized by well-written songs and ethereal guitar sounds. For example, "Paranoid Parade" was a particularly great song.

Despite a polished sound, towards the end the songs blended together and I wished they'd try to diversify a bit. Still, they were called back for an encore, which rarely happens at these events.

In what looks like is becoming a tradition after last year, the show ended with an instrumental jazz group. This year the band was Jizue, a band known for a love of both jazz and soccer. Instrumental jazz can at times be a bit of a drag for us non-professional musicians, but Jizue were consistently fun and compelling. Many people left after Kinoko Teikoku, but those who remained were clearly enjoying Jizue's hybrid style. The band explores many genres outside of jazz, with several songs that were remarkably similar to a renowned Chilean prog folk group called Los Jaivas.

Kinoko Teikoku and Jizue both came back for encores, and left the remaining crowd thrilled by the varied and unique bands showcased.

Writing by Dorian Barton, photos by Rose Villote

Victoria Day events in Toronto include a wide range of events to Instagram yourself, proving to your cottage-rich followers that you, too, are living life to the fullest. Some fireworks tips: watching them sans screen in front of your face is generally more fun. Same goes for comedy, beer and nerd culture gatherings (overlap alert), circus festival BBQ's (!), and live music. Maybe just tell your friends how great Toronto was in person on Tuesday. For more events, click on over to our events section.

• Sparkies: Victoria Day Fireworks (Ashbridges Bay)
• Beer: Brewer's Backyard: Queen Victoria's Secret (Evergreen Brick Works)
• Geek stuff: Nerdy Talk (Black Swan Comedy)
• Circus/Food: Toronto International Circus Festival - Community BBQ (Centre of Gravity)
• Music: Metronomy (Phoenix)
• Comedy: Press Club 7 Reunion Show (Press Club)

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

Photo by wvs in the blogTO Flickr pool

Options to have fun on a bike in and around Toronto are limited only by one's imagination. Whether you favour the knobby tires of a mountain bike or prefer your rubber inflated to 110psi (no inappropriate jokes, please), the GTA is rich with possibilities. Within the city, one has the Don Trails, the Waterfront bike path, and places like High Park to explore (to name only a few). Throw in the ample cycling clubs and weekly rides based out of Toronto and you have a city that's primed to satisfy the whims of cyclists of all kinds.

Here are 10 fun things to do on a bike in Toronto.

Try your hand a North Shore riding
The Don Valley trails in and around Crothers Woods feature lots of North Shore style structures that will test even the most accomplished mountain biker's mettle. Bridges, seesaws, and various log obstacles make for a unique and challenging ride on the already difficult ridge trails. Thankfully you can start slow and ride around many of these human-made elements, but it's a whole lot more fun when you take the plunge -- that is, if you don't bail.

Hit 75kph on Redway Road
There's also some fun to had for road riders in the same area. Tucked behind the Loblaws is Redway Road, which provides access to the North Toronto Sewage Treatment Plant. Depending on how brave you are, you should be able to get your speedometer up to at least 75 kph on this incredibly steep stretch. Just watching out for the left turn at the bottom. It's not that tight, but I've seen riders bail out and slam into the fence on the right. Oh, and do bear in mind, the joy ride on the way down must be paired with a leg-burning climb on the way back up.

Take the Toronto-Niagara Greenbelt Express to wine country
Riding in Toronto is great, but the options just outside the city are positively tantalizing. Take, for instance, the Niagara Escarpment. It's a road rider's dream, with rolling country roads and gorgeous scenery (hello distant skyline framed by vineyards). The GO Train service, which costs $41 for a roundtrip, takes you to Niagara Falls Station, from where you can access the Niagara River Recreation Trail, a 56km paved path that'll take you into the heart of some of the best riding in Ontario (note well: leave the path if you want to climb).

Do the Donut Ride (feel no remorse at eating doughnuts)
If you're interested in trying out group riding, but aren't committed enough to join a club, the Donut Ride is the best place to get started. Named after the old doughnut shop that occupied the site of what is now the Great Canadian Bagel, the ride isn't for beginners. Not only does it typically cover at least 100km, the pace at the front is quick. Thankfully, the group tends to splinter and riders can find a pace that suits their ability.

Strut your stuff in the World Naked Bike Ride
This ride takes a different kind of bravery. Conducted as a protest against oil dependency, a group of 75 some-odd cyclists tour downtown Toronto in the nude. It's takes someone who's quite secure with his or her body to strut in front the the thousands of people the ride passed by, and in that sense, the event also tends to endorse positive thinking about body image. Whatever the purpose of the ride, the whole thing is one big spectacle, and those who participate tend to wear a smile on their faces the entire time. Good clean (?) fun.

Push your boundaries in Tuesday night crit
Ok, you've been putting in some serious miles on your own and find that you can keep up with the fast group at the Donut Ride. It's time to get competitive in an official capacity. The absolute best way to get your feet wet with racing in the Toronto area is the Tuesday night crit series hosted by the Midweek Cycling Club. It's startling how much faster things are when there's a little bit on the line, and you're bike handling skills will be put to the test as you try to stay near to the front of the pack. Who knows? Maybe you'll be finish on the podium after a few tries.

Get your BMX fix at a bike park
Few things are more purely fun than BMX. The problem is, of course, that unless you build your own ramp or are content to fool around on the North Shore structures in the Don, there just aren't that many places to ride. There's a big BMX park on the way at Centennial Park for the Pan Am Games, but in the meantime, you can check out the Bayview Arena Bike Park and Wallace Emerson BMX Park, the latter of which has 8,000 sq. ft of quarter pipes, gridboxes and grind rails, roll-ins, pyramids, jump boxes.

Cruise to the end of the Leslie Street Spit
There's a reason why the spit is covered in cyclists on weekends in Toronto. It's some of the most serene riding out there. Not only is the terrain beautiful, but the as you push out into the lake, the temperature dips just enough to provide much needed reprieve in the middle of the summer. Head to the very end and take in the majestic view of the Toronto skyline.

Ride for 24hrs straight
Of the many ways to make use of the longest period of daylight this year, riding a bike for an entire day might be one of the most gruelling and rewarding. 24 Hours of Summer Solstice is the largest event of its kind in North America and features both solo and relay options (let's be honest, most people should try the latter). On a 17km course just north of the city at Albion Hills Conservation area, this test of endurance is also a great community builder as relay riders mingle with other participants around the campfire and various feed zones.

Get lost in Durham Forest
With 40km of free-to-access trails, the Durham Forest is a mountain biker's dream. Located in Uxbridge, just outside of the city proper, this is a place to go for a longer ride. A healthy mix of technical singletrack and throw-the-hammer-down double track, it's a great place to get lost on the trail. Literally. While the markings have improved greatly since I last dusted it up here, the dense forest feels worlds away from Toronto, even as it's just a half an hour drive.

Thanks to Growers Cider for sponsoring this post.

For more fun things to do this summer, check out our Toronto Fun Guide.

Photo by Andy Carroll in the blogTO Flickr pool

The Toronto Islands may be compact, but they're only a hop,skip and a ferry from the city, and they offer a surprising number of fun summer activities within their bounds. Your summer enjoyment can start on your way there, by eschewing the aforesaid ferry, and can continue on to include everything from nudity to sports.

The islands are, without a doubt, the best way to escape the stickiness of a summer heatwave in Toronto, and they're pretty accessible: it costs $7 roundtrip for an adult ferry ticket, and the ferries are wheelchair accessible.

Here are 10 fun things to do on the Toronto Islands this summer.

Check out the Electric Island music series
Electric Island, which is pretty much exactly what it sounds like, is back for another year, with four dates this summer. The electronic music fest on Centre Island kicks off today but the party carries on in July, August and September. General admission is $35, or $39 with a ferry ticket included.

Visit Artscape Gibraltar Point
Artscape Gibraltar Point is home to 15 artists-in-residence, and it also provides studio space for visiting artists. Beyond that, though, the facility, which used to be home to Toronto Island Public and Natural Science School, is sometimes open to the public for various arts and music festivals each year. You can also book weddings and special events if you get in touch with the folks at Artscape.

Get lost in a maze
There used to be a maze on Centre Island, until it was destroyed because the city didn't deem the maintenance of it worthy of funding. Last summer business man William Meany pledged $200,000 to have it remade, and the city will replant the maze in June. It will be fully and officially open for business by August.

Play Frisbee golf
In a fresh version of hell for those of us with zero hand-eye coordination, one can now play Frisbee golf on the islands. It's free is you BYOF. Like regular old golf, there are 18 holes, and there's even a tournament in the summer.

Skip the ferry and take a canoe
There are plenty of places, spread across town, from which you can rent a canoe in Toronto, and if you feel like having your own little adventure, you can skip the ferry and paddle on over to the islands. It's a good way to get some sun, come and go on your own terms, and even clock in a bit of exercise while you're at it.

Go lawn bowling
Something about lawn bowling has always struck me as a little hilarious. In case you feel the same, or oppositely, you can actually go lawn bowling at the clubhouse on Ward's Island. Lazy people, rejoice! For this is the sport for you.

Stay at a Bed and Breakfast
There's something so romantic about staying at a cozy bed and breakfast, especially when it's combined with the island's gorgeous scenery. If you want to get away from the heat and noise of the city for a night, check out Swan's End bed and breakfast on Algonquin Island. The nightly price of a room includes a heart, old-fashioned breakfast as the name would imply, and the place is discreet, so you can truly relax and unwind.

SUP paddleboard
In case you're more of an "activities" person, give stand up paddleboarding a try. The Paddleboard Addict offers lessons on the lake, and rentals too, in case you just want to give it a go on your own (though previous experience is required to rent). It's $30 for an hour, and $75 for a full day.

Get liberated at Hanlan's Point
Hanlan's Point features one of Canada's only (legally) clothing optional beaches. It's really a lovely place, and a great spot to conquer your fears if you're shy about your body. There's no judgment here, but beware: cops will patrol and ticket you, and I have seen more than one naked person be ticketed for open liquor, only to have nowhere to put their unwanted ticket. It's funny until it happens to you.

Rent a bike
Rather than dragging your bike all the way over to the islands on the ferry, you can skip the hassle and simply rent one while you're over there. Double the points for this option if you don't even own a bike, but want to move around the islands quickly. There are walking paths, but it takes much longer to get from point A to point B than you'd expect. (I took the wrong ferry once and had to walk over an hour to get to Hanlan's).

Thanks to Growers Cider for sponsoring this post.

For more fun things to do this summer, check out our Toronto Fun Guide.

Photo by Ali Tawfiq in the blogTO Flickr pool

When many of us think of Toronto's parks, we think of laying back and unwinding, not really doing much of anything at all. That's what I think of, at least. But there's a long list of much more creative, unique experiences to be had in Toronto's lush outdoor green spaces, including outdoor cooking, camping, and venturing out to one of the city's many farmers' markets.

Here are 10 fun things to do in a Toronto park this summer.

Have a camp fire
If you long to get out of the city and roast some marshmallows or cook some spider dogs and sing campfire songs, you can do that right here in town. Several of the city's parks feature camp fire pits, from the west end to the east. Morningside Park, Carlton Park, and Dovercourt Park all have fire pits, amongst others. Check in with the city before you head over, though, because a permit (and permit fee) is required.

Use a grill
There's something about eating outdoors. The food just tastes better, even if bugs and sand manage to weasel their way into your sandwich. I don't know, it's like a primal effect. If you're not blessed with a small yard in Toronto, you can barbecue in one of the city's parks. Earl Bales, Centennial Park, and Sunnybrook Park all offer the service. Be warned, though: you need to bring your own charcoal and equipment.

Visit the Humber Bay butterfly sanctuary
I don't think I can imagine a lovelier, more calming afternoon than a visit to the Humber Bay butterfly habitat. Not only does the park feature gorgeous plants and butterflies, it also teaches you what you can do to attract urban wildlife to your own yard.

Watch a film in Bellwoods or Christie Pits
It's like a drive-in, but you don't have to worry about driving! So head out on a cute date, family outing, or with a group of friends to catch a flick in the park. Both Christie Pits and Trinity Bellwoods both have outdoor screenings in the summer. Christie Pits' listings can be found on Twitter, and the Bellwoods movie nights at the dog bowl are listed on Facebook.

Make a pizza at Dufferin Grove
As aforesaid, food just tastes so much better and more fortifying when consumed outdoors. Dufferin Grove Park has outdoor, wood-fired ovens, and for a suggested donation of about $2.50, you can get a lump of dough, some sauce and cheese, and make your own pizza, and park staff will bake it for you.

Go camping at Rouge Park
Many don't realize there's a full-on camping-in-the-wilderness (sort of) experience right in Scarborough. Rouge Park, which is on its way to becoming Canada's first "urban national park," is home to Glen Rouge campground. There are hiking trails throughout the park, as well as a beach, so you can really go for the full-blown nature person experience in the city. Reservations for a camp site can be made online.

Check out some cricket at Sunnybrook Park
I've always been of the persuasion that a cricket bat would make a most excellent weapon. If you feel the same, or if you tend to crush a lot on all things British, hit up the cricket scene at Sunnybook Park. Be warned, though, that the city asks that you not wear cleats, as it can tear up the grounds.

Fish at Grenadier Pond
High Park's Grenadier Pond, the largest of the park's bodies of water, is home to an assortment of fish, including largemouth bass and northern pike. The pond, said to be bottomless, is actually infamous for its fishing derbies, in case you want to go all out.

Get your glutton on at Rib Fest
Carnivores' dreams come true during summers in Toronto when Ribfest comes to town. Over 100,000 people turn out over Canada Day weekend to beat the heat with meat in Etobicoke. Scarborough hosts a Ribfest, too, in Thomson Memorial Park, as do various spots in the GTA.

Check out an outdoor art fair
Many of the city's parks feature outdoor art fairs supporting local artists. There's the Queen West art crawl, the Cabbagetown arts and crafts show, the Liberty Village art crawl, the Entertainment District Crawl, and the City Place crawl. No matter where you are in the city, there's a chance to support local artists while you bask in the sun.

Thanks to Growers Cider for sponsoring this post.

For more fun things to do this summer, check out our Toronto Fun Guide.

Photo by Lu in the blogTO Flickr pool

Summers in Toronto leave us with faces slick with sweat on a near-permanent basis, and it can often feel like there's no reprieve. But luckily, there's this seemingly oft-forgot aspect to summer in Toronto: we've actually got lakeside living built in. Our natural environment is beautiful, though we don't usually get to take the time to leave the more developed areas and enjoy it.

This spring and summer, challenge yourself to a personal refresher course on enjoying nature and the city, and pick at least one thing from this list that you've never done before.

Here are 10 fun things to do by the lake in Toronto.

Rent a cabana at Cabana Pool Bar
Cabana Pool Bar tries hard to provide that exclusive feel. You can rent your own private cabana with bottle service at untold costs. To do so, you can reserve a spot online. Be strictly warned, though: "no baggy attire, no dewrags...no personal towels." I think they think they're casting a music video c. 2001 at all times. Not saying that's a bad thing, though, or that I wouldn't go. It's beautiful. And anyone who knows me would say I'm hard-pressed to say no to a subtley-flavoured slushie drink with alcohol in it.

Swim at Gus Ryder pool on a sweltering night
In case the water quality in the lake is off, or in case you're excessively paranoid and think it is no matter what they say, Gus Ryder pool is there for you if you're in the far west end. Located at Lake Shore Blvd. W. and Twenty Second St., the pool is also part of a health club with about 25 different fitness classes, offered alongside public swims and swimming lessons.

Hit up Promise at Cherry Beach
Promise, the outdoor dance party, has graced Cherry Beach for years. It's ideal if you want to spend hot summer days raving like when you were a teen. Or have something to do if you're in the mood to chew some handfuls of Molly. To find out when the next outdoor Promise is, your best bet is Twitter.

Catch a show outside at the Molson Amphitheatre
There's something about the community at an Amphitheatre show. Yes, it's an annoying trek for many of us to get there, but when we do, it feels like we've all left Toronto in favour of going camping together. This summer, everything from OVO Fest to Arcade Fire's Reflektor Tour will be passing through.

Visit the Toronto Music Garden
The lovely Toronto Music Garden is right down on the harbourfront along Queens Quay W. just west of Lower Spadina Ave. Inspired by Bach, the serene spot has beautiful unobstructed views of the Lake, as well as a summer concert series and various eco programs.

Go fishing at Tommy Thompson Park
Guys, fishing at Tommy Thompson Park is a serious thing. You can catch bass, perch, and trout, amongst other breeds. The park at the base of Leslie Street at Unwin Street, is the perfect escape for Leslievillains, and with luck, includes dinner.

Go to Aloha Toronto
Aloha Toronto is the city's only beach festival. It provides the chance to surf, paddle a boat standing up, and celebrate Hawaiian culture in the city. The festival is affiliated with Surfers Healing, a group that helps teach children with autism to surf and enjoy the ocean as a calming, therapeutic experience. This year's festival will be during the sultry end of Toronto's summer, August 24.

Chill out at Sugar Beach
A visit to the beach, with its candy striped umbrellas and white sand, feels like being inserted into a '50s throwback. At the foot of Jarvis on Queens Quay E., the beach is beside George Brown's new campus, Corus Quay, and Against the Grain, whose lovely salads I can testify to. Other than that, there's not much to do at Sugar Beach, but that's kind of the point.

Play tourist and stay at the Boatel
Maybe you're homesick because you come from one of Canada's lovely coasts, or maybe you're just sick of the sticky heat that rises from the pavement. Either way, give yourself a treat and let the lake rock you to sleep by staying at the Boatel. You can pitch in with friends and rent the entire thing for $525 per night, or have a minimum two-night stay in your own room for $175-$225.

Hike around the Scarborough Bluffs
Begin your hike with a picnic at Bluffer's Park for fortitude, and then focus on taking in Toronto's stunning natural landscape, so often lost to our view by towering steel and concrete. The towering cliffs are one of the most remarkable and beautiful parts of the city, and the 12 Kingston Road bus will get you straight there.

Thanks to Growers Cider for sponsoring this post.

For more fun things to do this summer, check out our Toronto Fun Guide.

In the immortal words of The Burning Hell, do you love the things that people make? Then mark off June 6 on your letterpressed, hand-bound calendar with drawings of twigs on it, because Etsy is throwing a wild night of four (!) Toronto parties dedicated to the love of crafting.

The massive online craft marketplace has unveiled plans for its first-ever Canadian Craft Party, which will coincide with a worldwide event bringing the site's vendors and shoppers together for one big do-it-yourself love-in. (Crafters in Vancouver, Halifax, Montreal, and Ottawa will also take part in the festivities, so you can take solace in the fact that somewhere across the country, somebody else also just stabbed themselves with a pair of needlenose pliers.)

Here in Toronto, we've got our pick of crafty events happening that Friday evening, all featuring hands-on activities tied to the theme of reclaiming photographs (so come armed with your own snaps from home). At Etsy's Canadian HQ in the MaRS Centre, transform a photo into a work of art with a little help from Hoopla event design, while enjoying tacos and tasty cocktails from none other than Grand Electric. Over at the Textile Museum of Canada, create something cool with your chosen pic using heat transfers, embroidery (like the creation posted above) and other techniques.

At Airbnb HQ on Queen St. East, blogger Anabela of Fieldguided (she of the ubiquitous "There is thunder in our hearts" tote bags) will show you how to create home decor pieces from vintage photos. And at College St. maker space The Shop, if you bring some photocopied photos from home, you can transform them into an 8x8 art piece.

The catch? Space is limited, and everything's happening between 6 and 8 pm (the Textile Museum event starts a little earlier, at 5), so you'll have to pick your crafts carefully. Sign up for the events at their respective pages (Etsy HQ, Airbnb, The Shop and Textile Museum).

Photo via Etsy on Instagram.

The best French restaurants in Toronto might deal in a relatively limited quantity of dishes, but they show off a wide variety of approaches to the country's much-loved cuisine. There was a time when it might have been possible merely to divide the city's French offerings into the categories of casual bistro and upscale dining room, but as the list below shows, there's a growing middle ground where some of the most exciting cooking is happening.

To a great extent, one's mood will dictate what qualifies as the perfect French meal. While establishments like Auberge de Pommier and Ici Bistro offer the most refined of fare, neighbourhood bistros like Batifole and La Palette offer diners a butter-soaked experience that's tough to beat. Oh, and do make sure to order some wine: it wouldn't be a French meal without it.

These are the best French restaurants in Toronto.

See also:

The best steak frites in Toronto
The best baguette in Toronto
The best crepes in Toronto
The best croissant in Toronto

Photo from Auberge Du Pommier

Weekend events in Toronto is our guide to events happening this Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Here's what's happening in Toronto this May 30 - June 1, 2014.

Ready, Set, DIE! Zombie 5K Obstacle Course Run
Toronto's hungry for brains, and charity-based zombie runs proved so insanely popular that last year's zombie run has been given a new name. Toronto will host this event benefiting the Heart and Stroke Foundation, the first out of six Ontario zombie runs, at Alpha Obstacle Training at Polson Pier. While technically more of a run than a race, this 5K team-based obstacle course pits zombies (decked out by professional makeup artists) against survivors (working hard to keep their free Ts blood free). Saturday, May 31, 10am, Polson Pier (11 Polson St).

PARTY

Ricardo Villalobos
Eccentric Chilean-German DJ/producer Ricardo Villalobos is a bit of a legend in certain circles, and for good reason. Unlike most big-name DJs, he doesn't play Toronto very often, so his Coda debut is highly anticipated. He could fill the club on his own without a problem, but they've also stacked the bill with Chicago-Toronto house icon DJ Sneak, Doc Martin, and Nitin. Friday, May 30, Coda (794 Bathurst St.), 10pm, $35.

Seth Troxler
Seth Troxler may be Berlin-based now, but his DJ sets still reflect his Detroit roots. His quirky sense of humour cuts through the tech-house thump with an eagerness to surprise and play with the audience's expectations. Friday, May 30, Maison Mercer, 10pm, $20

Mothership Tour 2014
We've heard your Skrillex jokes, and a lot of them are pretty funny, but the guy is a superstar for a reason, and it definitely isn't his haircut. Haters can hate, but the guy knows how to rock a giant festival stage. And really, what's wrong with bass lines that sound like Transformers puking? May 30-31, Echo Beach, $75.

Deep North Records Fundraiser ft. TX Connect, Douglas Carter & GCue
Deep North throw some of Toronto's best dance parties - and even though the show at Wrongbar on Saturday is a fundraiser for their record label, the promoters are so nice they're going to let you in for free/PWYC before 11pm. We're a lucky city. TX Connect is headlining. Saturday, May 31, 10pm, Wrongbar (1279 Queen Street West).

Summerdaze
Hello, summer parties (goodbye, sleep and hydration). This venue-hopping electronic music series will launch this weekend at Gossip with Kim Ann Foxman, Mayaan Nidam, Members Only, and Shea Marie. In the spirit of summer relaxation there will be plenty to eat and drink, plus art to look at too. Saturday, May 31, 4pm-2am, Gossip Restaurant (CNE Grounds, 50 Prince Edward Island Cres.)

See also

• Focus Friday with James Murphy (Hoxton)
• Yes Yes Y'all (Friday, The 519 Church Street Community Centre)
• DEATHWISH (Saturday, The Beaver)
• ITZSOWEEZEE (Saturday, Drake)
• Marcus Visionary (Saturday, Tattoo)
• Pacific High with Bruce Trail and DJ Colin (Saturday, Bambi's)

ART

Carly Waito
Narwhal's Toshio Saeki exhibit as part of TCAF was anything but a soft opening (hardcore soft opening?), proving the wandering gallery is out to wow us with their latest location at 2104 Dundas West. Toronto-based artist Carly Waito will show oil paintings, graphite illustrations, and video from tonight until June 28. Opening: Friday, May 30, 6-9pm, Narwhal (2104 Dundas St. West).

Matthew Barney - Drawing Restraint
Opening this weekend at the AGO is Matthew Barney's Drawing Restraint, which runs from May 31 - September 28, 2014. Drawing Restraint is an ongoing work (the piece is listed as having started in 1987) where Barney employs his life as a former athlete to "foreground the physical body and its tensions in a studio practice" with drawings, sculpture, photographs and video works. Barney himself will be in Toronto June 7 and River of Fundament will screen as part of Luminato three times in June. AGO (Art Gallery of Ontario (317 Dundas St West), May 31 - Sept 28.

Pitiful Human-Lizard Launch Party at Silver Snail
A new comic book takes the typical superhero tropes and smacks them right down in the middle of Toronto. Cartoonist Jason Loo's graphic novel follows The Pitiful Human-Lizard from the Financial District and Y&D Square to Parkdale as he works some awful day corporate job by day and fights crime by night. The book launches in its hometown tonight. Friday, May 30, 7pm, Silver Snail (329 Yonge St).

See also

• Rosedale Art Fair (Saturday - Sunday, Rosedale Main St.)
• Walnut Studios Open House (Saturday)
• Queen West Gallery Tour (Saturday, The Drake)

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

FOOD

CraveTO
CraveTO happens tonight from 5pm at Wychwood Barns. General admission is $16.75 for the food fest, which features vendors like The Goods, Food Dudes and Asada Mexican Grill. Friday, May 30, 5pm, Wychwood Barns (76 Wychwood Ave).

CBP Launch Party
The Craft Beer Passport is launching at The Piston, and there will be many a sample to be had and prize to be won. If you're not in the know, these passports mean deals on beer. Need I say more? Buy an actual passport for $20, or wait until your last cheque clears. Sunday, June 1, 8:30pm, The Piston (937 Bloor St. West).

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

MUSIC

Absolutely Free, Jason Doell, Swiss Dice
Mercer Union's gallery is always worth a visit, so long as the door price isn't a hundred billion dollars (for events, it usually is). Absolutely Free, composer Jason Doell, and Swiss Dice will start your night off right tonight. Friday, May 30, 8pm, Mercer Union (1286 Bloor St. West), $10.

Construction
Long Winter's summer event series is back with The Dirty Nil, Milk Lines, Billy Dre & The Poor Boys and DJ Cell Memory. Construction hasn't been getting as much attention as the massive Long Winter shows at Great Hall, but this is still a great all-ages event highlighting local bands. Friday, May 30, 9pm, Double Double Land (209 Augusta Ave), PWYC $5-10.

Roc The Mic
Hip hop rules this Saturday at the Phoenix: JD Era, Rich Kidd, A-Game (Chase and Nova), Tommy Spitz, Young Cake, Mad Poets, Spoiled Green and Billi D'Kid aka Black Sage will perform along with DJ's Christylz, P-Nutt, DJ Law and Andre 905. Saturday, May 31, Phoenix (410 Sherbourne St.), $25.

See also

• 100 Years of Hugh Le Caine (Friday, Music Gallery)
• Sheezer Spring Fling (Friday, Lee's Palace)
• Pinball Sessions 1 Year Anniversary Show (Saturday, Handlebar)

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

FILM

Inside Out Web Series Showcase
Inside Out LGBT Film Festival is highlighting their favourite web series. Look for the minds behind Fminin/fminin, F to 7th Web Series, Gay Nerds, LESlieVILLE, Little Horribles, and Other Men. Sunday, June 1, 3pm, TIFF Bell Lightbox (350 King St. West).

See also

• Inside Out: Closing Gala Party and Awards (Sunday, Hotel Ocho)

FASHION

Fat Girl Food Squad & Friends Plus Size Pop Up Shop
This Sunday (June 1), head to Sneaky Dee's upstairs space for Fat Girl Food Squad's plus size pop-up shop. Find vintage and second hand gems including clothing sizes 14 and up, a smattering of shoes, and handmade jewellery all in one place. Sunday, June 1, Sneaky Dee's (431 College St.).

See also

• Midnight Market (Friday, 2nd Floor Events)
• More Than Just a Yardage Sale (Friday, Textile Museum of Canada)
• CAFTCAD Movie Wardrobe Sale (Saturday, Pinewood Toronto Studios)
• Artisans of the Metropolis: A Junction Bazaar (Saturday, 50 Edwin)
• The Post Market (Saturday & Sunday, Queen East & Winnifred)
• The Leslieville Flea (Sunday, Harbourfront Centre)

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

COMMUNITY

Festival of Social Innovation
The Centre for Social Innovation wants to celebrate their 10th birthday with you. Details are scarce on what the party will actually be about, but social innovation might be explained once and for all (it involves parties? Or it should...) Saturday, May 31, 2-6pm, CSI Annex (720 Bathurst St.)

See also

• MEC Toronto Bikefest 2014 (Saturday, Trinity Bellwoods Park)
• The Bellwoods Blockparty (Sunday, Walnut Lane)

GAMES

Free Board Game Afternoon at the Eaton's Centre
If zombie runs are too much for you, head to Richtree Natural Market to play board games. Not as fun as Snakes and Lattes, but it's free! And there will be prizes. Saturday, May 31, 1-9pm, Richtree Natural Market, Eaton Centre (14 Queen St. West).

COMEDY

BeerProv
So straightforward. Beer. Improv. The venue is actually called Comedy Bar. The show is tonight. Friday, May 30, 10:30pm, Comedy Bar (945 Bloor St. West), $20.

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

Contributions by Benjamin Boles, Liora Ipsum, Bianca Venerayan, Libby Roach. Matthew Barney image copyright Matthew Barney, Photo: Chris Winget, Jointly owned by Laurenz Foundation, Schaulager, Basel; and The Museum Of Modern Art, New York, Richard S. Zeisler Bequest and The Blanchette Hooker Rockefeller Fund (both by exchange).

Photo by Marc in the blogTO Flickr pool.

Revisiting this restaurant after any amount of time away will likely conjure a sense of deja vu: the interior seems familiar though more comfortable than ever; the menu is not as meat-centric as it once was and has picked up a Spanish accent. While I can't pin down every difference, the patio is as glorious as ever and the bar menu is just as enticing...likely why my last visit is a little foggy in the first place.

Read my profile of Marben in the restaurants section.

David Blythe Hanna was confident the big day would go off without a hitch. As the first chairman of the newly-established Liquor Control Board of Ontario, the former railway manager was charged with making sure the province's loosened licensing laws would be followed to the letter. June 1, 1927 was to be the first day of public alcohol sales since the start of prohibition 11 years earlier. Before that, alcohol was dispensed by prescription only.

In 1916, Ontario partially nixed the sale of alcohol, partly as a wartime austerity measure. The Temperance movement became all-out prohibition when the restrictions were beefed up in the 1920s. Inevitably, bootleggers from the United States ran liquor across Lake Ontario and the Detroit River, sometimes in the false bottoms of small boats, to underground bars and blind tigers.

Notorious gangster Rocco Perri was one Ontario's bootlegging kingpins. Based out of Hamilton, the Italian immigrant rose to prominence off the back of a series of brazen smuggling missions in the mid-1920s. The self-described "King of the Bootleggers" saw himself as a sort of Robin Hood character, delivering alcohol to a thirsty province subdued by unfair rules.

"It is an unjust law. I have a right to violate it if I can get away with it," he told the Toronto Star in sensational 1924 interview. "Men do it in what you call legitimate business until they get caught. I shall do it in my business until I get caught. Am I a criminal because I violate a law that the people do not want?"

On the other side, The Globe was a supporter of the Ontario Temperance Act, the legislation keeping the province dry. "With all its faults, the [act] was a step in the right direction of eliminating the evils that have been associated with the liquor traffic and developing a generation of sober, temperate people," read an editorial on the eve of birth of the LCBO. "Government control makes for the breakdown of sobriety, aids drunkenness, and provides easy facilities for the obtaining an abundance of liquor."

But the majority of people in Ontario appeared happy for prohibition to end up on the scrap heap. In 1927, the LCBO, the government body charged with ensuring no-one had much fun as a result of the new rules, set up its first 12 stores, six of them in Toronto, and established the process by which liquor would henceforth dispensed.

On the morning of the first day of sales, hundreds of people queued outside the Toronto stores, hours ahead of the official opening time at 10:00 a.m. Some women brought empty strollers to use as shopping carts and, despite long waits, "there was very little jostling," according to the Globe. Some people showed up in taxicabs, others in limousines.

Procuring a tipple quickly proved a bureaucratic nightmare. Anyone wanting, say, a case of O'Keefe's Special Half and Half -- an "extra mild blend of O'Keefe's Special Ale and Special Stout for smoothness and flavor unequaled" -- would first have to apply for a license at the liquor store or at a dedicated outpost on King St. In Toronto, the store locations were: 1271 Dundas St. W., 154 Wellington St. West, Church and Lombard, 170 Danforth Ave., 1271 Queen Street West in Parkdale, and Queen and Woodbine in the Beach.

The crowd around the licensing window was tight, The Star wrote. "One had to be a contortionist to get one arm free to write out a slip." Once furnished with a license to buy alcohol, customers were allowed to proceed to the store proper, where there was a team of censors who checked and vetted paperwork. A pink slip had to be completed for delivery orders or a white slip for "cash and carry."

For reasons that weren't made clear, differing brands were not permitted on the same form. "This is absolutely the worst system I have ever seen," said one customer. "Me for the bootleggers," said another, departing. "where you can get fast service."

"Getting through Uncle Sam's immigration turnstiles was child's play compared with running this gauntlet," The Star wrote. "The crowd of purchasers moved as slowly as a great mogul engine being derricked out of a ditch."

D. B. Hanna's LCBO set strict limits on the amount each person could carry out. No more than a single six pack of beer was permitted to leave the store in the hands of a member of the public and mixing types of alcohol was also banned: no whiskey and wine on the same visit. Delivery was mandatory on larger orders, at a fee of 30-cents.

No "repeating," placing two large orders on successive days. Cash only.

"The purchase of the liquor required much ingenuity and patience," The Star said. Many left empty-handed.

Though permits had been available a week in advance, few people had claimed one, and lines moved slowly. The Star reported that 1,070 had been served as of 2:00 pm on the first afternoon across all of Toronto. The biggest purchase of the day was for "an assortment of wines and spirits" at the Dundas store. The bill was $68.50--close to $1,000 in today's money.

Customers unfamiliar with the complex ordering procedure scattered spoiled pink and white slips on the floor and tempers occasionally flared, especially when it came close to closing time. There were 200 people still waiting in line when the central store at Church and Lombard closed at 9:30, and police were called to escort the crowd away.

Hanna blamed the lack of organization on the public: the drinkers of Toronto should have applied for their permits in advance. "It was the people that came [to the stores] for their permits who caused the congestion," he said. Critics also bemoaned the narrow selection in the small stores.

The Toronto Star put it poetically: "Mr. Hanna can now appreciate the truth of the saying that the best laid plans gang aft agley. If he aimed at dignity he got a scramble and confusion and made many as they abandoned the hunt exclaim that after all prohibition was better than no liquor at all."

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

Images: "D. B. Hanna, Ontario Liquor Commission," Feb 8. 1927, Globe and Mail fonds, City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 1266, Item 9936; "The great deceiver: water & alcohol alike in appearance, different is effect," 192-, Dominion Scientific Temperance Committee, Toronto Public Library, Item 9. M; "Out To-Day--A Great Day for Ducks," June 1 1927, Toronto Star.

The top concerts in Toronto in June will range from robotic, futuristic art installations courtesy of Detroit to Toronto's grand-scale SXSW inspired music festival NXNE. Festival season will get into full swing starting next week: Field Trip is back for another go, Luminato is bringing some music to the city, and the Jazz Fest hits us later this month. Whether you're looking for scuzzy NYC noise artists or bearded Mississippi rappers, June has your brightest day or blackest night in the sun.

Before we get started, I'm sorry to say May was a disappointing month in Toronto music missed connections. Is the music so good you creeps have stopped obsessively checking each other out? Lack of intrigue aside, there are still a fair number of hopeful why-the-fuck-not's: Tara from the Avicii show has a fan (who hopefully didn't end up in the hospital), a fit normie guy from Jack Johnson has an admirer, one sleepless Chad VanGaalen lover impressed last week, and a reluctant creeper from the Guvernment admits a MSTRKRFT crush.

Did you have gold/red/green hair at the Elbow show? A backpack at Bombay Bicycle Club? Chat up a stranger at CMW? French sparks were exchanged at Absolute Journey at Rockpile East, and someone wrote a lot about Sheezer playing "Hash Pipe" at Lee's in a post which for some reason I'm having trouble comprehending - guess you had to be there.

Here are the best places to have special musical moments no one understands in Toronto this June.

Die Antwoord / June 4 / 7pm / The Danforth Music Hall (147 Danforth Ave.) $41-$47
Should this be in fashion events? I don't know what this duo sounds like - and I've watched their videos.

Scarlett Jane / June 5 / the Drake Hotel / $15.00
From our folk writer Ryan Ayukawa: both Andrea Ramolo and Cindy Doire, aka Toronto's folk/noir duo, Scarlett Jane, have toured cross-Canada, bringing their "sultry, boot-stompin' magic" and haunting harmonies wherever they play. They perform at the Drake Sarnia's Andrew Austin.

The Unbearable Lightness of Bass / June 6 / 7pm / The Music Gallery / $10
Have you tried the Subpac yet? It's like those John Waters scratch and sniffs but for your body instead of your nose, and for music instead of film. If that doesn't make sense, this Thump article should bring you up to speed on the Subpac bass experience. Prince Nifty, Sunclef, and Bile Sister will perform.

BriefcaseFest 2014 / June 6 & 7 / Silver Dollar & Comfort Zone / $10 for day one, $12 for day two, $20 for both
Via Shazia Khan: after the success of last year's inaugural event, the organizers of BriefcaseFest have resurrected this two-day shindig for 2014 to properly celebrate the inventive, inspiring and often underrated landscape of extreme music in Southern Ontario. Once again, the madness begins at the Silver Dollar on day one - here, you can revel in the sludge-rock innovation of Godstopper, the deafening plod of Demonic Possessor and the harmonically adept prog styling's of Ayathuasca, among others. Day two sinks down to the Comfort Zone for a more out-of-province mix, such as Rochester grindcore Sulaco and Quebec black metal Ordoxe.

Apetechnology / June 7 / 8pm / The White House (277 1/2 Augusta Ave.) / $7
I'm stealing part of Tad's description it will be better at enticing people to this strange, futuristic show than I could be at this hour: "From the crumbling apocalyptic landscape of Detroit, electromechanical sound art collective Apetechnology breathes new life into the decline of the industrial age. Home made electronics, modular synthesizers and a new auto-kalimba birth warped rhythms & haunting drones. Building their own brand of Detroit Retrograde Futurism illuminating the last cries of a self destructed future." Whoah. Local experimental legend Brian Ruryk is opening, as are Giant Claw and Toblerone Boys.

Field Trip / June 7-8 / Fort York: Garrison Common (250 Fort York Blvd.) / $65--$200
Of course Field Trip is coming back for year two: Arts & Craftsmade tons of people happy last year at Fork York Garrison Common. Field Trip will return to the same sod June 7th & 8th, and Broken Social Scene are playing again - shocking, I know - along with Interpol, The Kills, The Constantines (back together!), Chvches, Shad, Austra, A Tribe Called Red, and more. Field Trip also promises the most free hugs per non-EDM festival in the GTA. Various ticket packages are available here.

Buffy Sainte-Marie and Tanya Tagaq / June 10 / David Pecaut Square / Free
There's nothing about contemporary Yellowknife throat singer Tanya Tagaq that isn't mind blowing. Her voice runs from guttural growls to sensual R&B hooks emphasized by high pitched notes and, eventually, bone chilling screams. You'll want to check her feet for effects pedals, but there won't be any - this is amazing magic, and it's free thanks to Luminato. Check out our review of her show with Lido Pimienta last month here.

Pharmakon / June 12 / 9pm / S.H.I.B.G.B's / 225 Geary Ave (Middle Door) / $10
Sacred Bones has posted one of my favorite quotes of all time in relation to a band on their page for NYC noise/experimental artist Pharmakon: "Her music may be as cuddly as a trepanning drill." Fans of the weird and all things scuzz, art, and underground will want to check this one out. SINS and Spore are also on the line up, so you know this night is going to be memories.

NXNE / multiple venues / June 13 - 22
NXNE (like SXSW but Canadian, possibly with the same amount of flannel shirts) will pull a ton of bands into TO including Spoon, St. Vincent, Ryan Hemsworth, Le1f, Swans, Future Islands, Perfect Pussy, Spiritualized, and way more for a week of multi-venue concerts here and the usual big free shows at Yonge & Dundas. Festivals of this scale can be a delirious and curious experience (why would anyone book the Pizza Underground?), but that's what alcohol is for. There will also be panels, film, comedy, and art. Learn all about tickets and wristbands here, and don't forget to brush up on our guide to staying sane at Yonge & Dundas Square. We'll post our full previews soon.

Elvis Costello / June 14 / 7pm / all ages / $35-99
Jazz.FM91 plays this jazz version of "Watching the Detectives" that is absolutely disturbing. I rarely ever say this about music that wasn't made by four plaid-shirt wearing garage-chillers but that song is awful, and it's all I can think about now when I see Elvis Costello's name (that and Bret Easton Ellis). This is getting personal so I'll quit griping here - Costello's in town and it's all ages, so bring your mini Elvis's (who might love that jazz re-do, who knows).

Rick Ross / June 15 / 8pm / Sound Academy (11 Polson St) / $65
Recent quote from beardly, Grammy-nominated hip hop artist Rick Ross' Twitter: "We good business." Nothing to add to that.

Black Flag / June 19 / CODA / $26
Via Shazia Khan: Well, this should be... interesting? Since their reformation last year, punk icons Black Flag have been mired in drama, attempting to sue their former bandmates in FLAG, firing their lead singer on stage and releasing an album (What The...) panned by both critics and fans. Let's see if new singer Mike Vallely can save this reunion from utter catastrophe at CODA on June 19 - he's already vowed to never perform any of the material off of What The..., so that's a step in the right direction. They'll be joined by Greg Ginn's experimental electronic project Hor and Brooklyn punks Cinema Cinema.

Lauryn Hill / June 21 / 8pm / Sound Academy (11 Polson St.) / $60
Woman is a legend - like breath-catch-in-throat when she hits the stage legend. She's hitting Toronto during NXNE's big weekend, so show her some love.

Toronto Jazz Fest / multiple venues / June 19 - 28
Can't not give a shout out to Toronto Jazz Fest, where over 1,500 bands and artists will perform at 40 venues across the city. We'll post our full preview later, but for now check out the line up on their website for acts like Melissa Etheridge, Deborah Cox, and Chaka Khan.

Beck / June 27 / 7pm / Sony Centre (1 Front St. East) / $50-80
Opinions in my friends pool are divided on the quality of the new Beck album Morning Phase. I must have been born a little too late, because people having opinions on Beck strikes me as fishy.

See also

• The top 5 dance parties in Toronto June 2014
• 20 must-see spring concerts in Toronto
• The top 10 metal, punk and hardcore shows in Toronto
• The top 5 spring music festivals in Toronto for 2014
• Just Shows

Photo of Tanya Tagaq by Alejandro Santiago

BigPigTO, a pig-centric scavenger hunt, is enlisting over 30 of Hogtown's finest pig-focused restaurants, pubs and food trucks to offer deals on food and drink items throughout June and July.

Presented by Big Pig Production Co., in collaboration with Toronto Underground Market and Hogtown Brewers, the new initiative will brand participating businesses with a Big Pig vinyl sticker. All you have to do is spot the pig and mention it when ordering to bring home discounts and deals on your bacon. Enter to win prizes - like tickets to upcoming TUM events or Hogtown Brewers monthly prize packs - by hamming it up for the camera and tagging your photos with #BigPigTO.

Look out for deals like Lisa Marie's deep fried pork belly chow mein pizza (plus a can of Hogtown Ale) for $17, or, add bacon to any poutine at the Two Bite Saloon for just $1. Other participating restaurants include Smoque N Bones, Fancy Franks, Hogtown Pub & Oyster and Hey Meatball, plus food trucks Hogtown Smoke and Stoke Stack BBQ.New restaurants, contests and prizes will be announced all summer long.

Organic farms near Toronto are just about to hit their stride for the summer growing season. Good things grow in Ontario, and with more of us choosing local and organic food options, there's no shortage of places near Toronto to find freshness and quality. If you're up for an afternoon in farm country, you can explore the quaint lands of Ontario's fantastic organic farms - or look for these producers at a market near you.

Here are my picks for the top organic farms located close to Toronto.

Meadow Sweet Farm
A regular supplier to high-end produce markets like Harvest Wagon, Meadow Sweet Farm also has a farm stand open at Warden Avenue and Stouffville Road on weekends throughout the summer months. Here you'll find heirloom vegetables, pork and beef, as well as various greens. There's also a hop farm that supplies local breweries and DIY types.

Organics Family Farm
Located in Markham, Organics Family Farm is a small family owned and operated certified organic farm in operation since 2007. The farm offers naturally raised meat included pastured raised beef & pork, which in turn makes the offerings hormone and antibiotic free. They also have an abundance of crops that come in through the season including asparagus, raspberries, apples, kale, beets and more. All crops have been certified organic and vary due to availability of the season.

Fenwood Farm
Ancaster's Fenwood Farm has been a family owned and operated business since 1990 providing quality organic and antibiotic free meat. They offer everything from chicken, beef and pork, plus turkey during Thanksgiving - you can either pre-order or visit the farm direct. Also on-site at the farm, they offer a variety of items such as coconut oil, emu oil soap, honey and organic ice cream.

Greenfields Organic Farm
Greenfields Organic Farm has been operating in Campbellville since 1989; it's been certified organic since 1997. The farm offers everything from organic fruits and vegetables (year-round) to fresh farm eggs and chicken (depending on availability). Visitors can stop by the farm or visit them at one of the many Toronto farmer's markets they frequent weekly.

Moondance Organic Gardens
This Angus family market garden farm opened in 2001. Moondance offers a variety of different garden day camps and workshops to inspire aspiring gardeners and teach the basics of tending your garden or farm. For those looking to try out some of Moondance's offerings, several different season veggies and herbs are available, alongside fresh eggs, honey and seeds.

Mapleton's Organic Dairy Farm
Mapleton's Organic Dairy Farm has been processing organic milk into ice cream and fresh yogurt for purchase since 1999. The Wellington County farm also produces organic pork, free-range chickens and turkey available only in the summer months. Visitors are welcome to take part in the many barnyard demonstrations or explore the on-site cedar hedge maze and labyrinth.

Our Father's Farm
Located in Dundas, Our Father's Farm offers up CSA-approved organic weekly vegetable baskets as well as grass-fed beef. The farm is available for on-site purchases or online ordering (with delivery to Toronto) - they sell everything from herbs, sprouts and root vegetables to maple syrup and raw honey.

Vanhart Greenhouse All Organic
This family-owned organic farm located in Kettleby has been in business since 1975. Within their 10,000-square-foot greenhouse, they grow several different types of produce, including tomatoes, lettuce, spinach, cucumbers, onions and carrots (to name a few). Open Monday through Saturday, the farm encourages visitors to visit and find out more about organic crop production.

Uphill Farm Organics
Located in the town of Erin, Uphill Farm Organics specialises in perennial crops, plants/herbs and free range eggs. All items through Uphill are available in their Farmhouse store open Tuesday through Friday and weekends. 

Everdale Organic Farm
Hillsburgh's Everdale is more than just an organic farm. They pride themselves on being a farm-based organization that provides hands-on farming education and engaging community programming on food and farming. While you can visit on-site, Everdale has set-up the Harvest Shares package where you can choose from 20-30 seasonal vegetables weekly for pick-up at local farmers markets.

BONUS

Beretta Family Farms
Beretta Family Farms has been in business for 20 years providing grass-fed, all-natural and organic beef, chicken, pork and a frozen baby food line called Sweetpea. They butcher, prepare, and ship out all retail orders (unfortunately no walk-ins allowed at this time) at their Etobicoke location. Several farm events (open to the public) are held year round which can be found on their Facebook group.

Writing by Amanda Scriver. Photo via Everdale Organic Farm on Facebook.

Photo by jp1958 in the blogTO Flickr pool.

Following Jessica Bradley's move to this mostly industrial street nestled between the Junction and the Junction Triangle, this gallery (once operated by Leo Kamen) has followed suit by opening up in a large warehouse space. With three exhibitions under its belt (including a recent Contact show), the gallery is building momentum -- so much so that it wouldn't be surprise to see more arts spaces set up shop on Miller St.

Read my review of Katzman Contemporary in the galleries section.