Photo by Paul Hillier in the blogTO Flickr pool

The top Toronto metal bands of all time make for a curious collection. Toronto's metal scene has never really been big enough to capture worldwide attention the way Sweden, San Francisco or even Quebec scenes have throughout history. Often our best and brightest have toiled underground, with little chance of mainstream recognition. In spite of it all, there have still been some key figures from right here in Hogtown that managed to leave an indelible mark on the evilest of music and its diehard community.

It's tough to narrow Toronto's metal scene through the ages down to ten groups, not least of which is because a number of our bands really push the boundaries of what metal even is. One of the arguable for bearers is Rush, who early on were blending elements of traditional heavy metal with progressive playing in a way that was pretty hard to categorize. Since then, some of Toronto's best metal-makers have successfully fused the genre with all sorts of styles, from punk to jazz to electronic.

Without further ado, here are the 10 of the most significant metal bands to come out of Toronto. As always, convey your thoughts (or raging all-caps disagreement) in the comments.

Anvil
Of course, there's no way we could ignore Anvil, one of the first Canadian mainstream metal acts to make it big and the subject of one of the most well-received rock docs in ages. Early albums Hard 'N' Heavy and Metal on Metal helped sow the seeds of NWOBHM-derived speed metal as we know it today.

Perhaps just as importantly, frontman Steve "Lips" Kudlow forever messed with the world's notion of "polite Canadians" by strutting stages in bondage gear and strumming his guitar with a vibrator. The film might be a little guilty of overstating Anvil's importance, but there's no denying that they were one of the most fearlessly heavy and subversive bands around at the time.

Sacrifice
Overproduced rock and gaudy hair bands of the early eighties spawned a reaction that gave birth to thrash metal, and while the American Big Four are credited with taking it to worldwide fame, Canada had it's own Big Four of pioneers: Voivod, Razor, Annihilator and the Scarborough-based quartet Sacrifice.

MuchMusic (back when that was a thing, *sniffle*) put their video for "Re-Animation" in high rotation when very little metal was played on the station, and a handful of memorable shows with Razor and Exodus spawned an influx of thrash bands eager to play Toronto. As the metal scene began to soften, Sacrifice came to a sudden end in '93, but an undying fan base encouraged the group to reform in 2006.

Slaughter
Though doomed to be confused forever with a much worse band bearing the same name, Toronto's Slaughter were essential to the emergence of the death subgenre. Their seminal album Strappado was recorded in just a terse 24 hours in 1985, yet took an agonizing two years to be released; once it saw the light of day, extreme metal was never the same.

An incarnation of the lineup briefly included Chuck Schuldiner on guitar, who wound up leaving to reform the now legendary band Death. Who knows, maybe his musical achievements would've been different had it not been for the fleeting influence of these viciously fast-playing Canucks.

Rammer
The local metal scene was really starting to wane in the mid-nineties - let's blame boy bands for that - but Rammer was one of the few groups who valiantly tried to carry on the angry underground music tradition... y'know, without resorting to the horrors of nu-metal.

Their only full-length release Cancer was a landmark offering that indiscriminately ran through thrash, death, black and even punk influences with technical precision, and their live shows were pure, joyful carnage. Bad timing and frustration led to their eventual split; still, their legacy lives on.

Woods of Ypres
Even three years later, it's still a little tough to talk about David Gold. The frontman and founder of Woods of Ypres was admired as much for his musical ingenuity as for his humanity, always happy to reach out to fans who'd discovered the band's powerful, dramatic, utterly northern swell of blackened doom metal.

Then in 2011, three days before Christmas, he was suddenly killed in a tragic car accident. The loss reverberated worldwide - heartbreaking proof of just how influential Woods of Ypres had become even without mainstream recognition. Though they bounced around from Windsor to Sault St. Marie, they spent many of their formative years recording and performing in Toronto.

Nadja
Thanks to file sharing and sites like Pitchfork, people seeking reprieve from teen-pop mania in the early 00s could delve into the Internet to find newer, weirder and refreshingly heavy stuff. Toronto-born (but now Berlin-based) Nadja is exactly the type of band that could benefit from that era.

Comprised of duo Aiden Baker and Leah Buckareff, the project takes the genre to experimental new heights with droney, dreamy soundscapes that wash modern electronics over metal's massively distorted fury. One of their best offerings is Dagdrøm, a collaboration with The Jesus Lizard's Mac McNeilly that marries old experimentation with new - read all about it in our 2012 interview with them here.

Mare
It's shocking how much impact a band can have in such a short period of time. Mare produced only one recording in their brief existence, a five-song EP released on Hydra Head that turned heads as a dark, sludgy masterpiece melded with experimental jazz, chamber music and even Gregorian chant.

Then suddenly, it was over, "a lack of motivation to write and record more material" according to the band's MySpace farewell message. It was the ultimate tease, and in a way, Toronto's experimental metal community has been at least partially spurred on by the desire to recreate Mare's genius ever since.

Cancer Bats
See what I mean about Toronto bands pushing boundaries? One of our best metal acts today is also somehow one of our best punk acts, too. Cancer Bats have never really fit neatly into either group; even their early and more straightforward hardcore offerings were steeped in thrashy low-end riffs and the southern-metal twang of Liam Cormier's vocals.

Over the years, the scales have slowly tipped towards the darker side, culminating in their recent foray as Bat Sabbath, a Black Sabbath cover band. But really, who cares about labels? Cancer Bats are a prime example how bands no longer actively try to get filed in any particular section of the record store anymore, and thank goodness for that.

Blood Ceremony
Everything old is new again, and sins of the past have been forgiven. Toronto's Blood Ceremony are leading the current revival of psychedelic doom, their hypnotic dirge paying loving tribute to the roots of metal through authentic paganistic references, ghostly vocals and, yes, flute solos that could even make Jethro Tull gasp.

The aurally demanding, often difficult nature of most of Toronto's metal scene is part of what makes it so important, but bands like Blood Ceremony are essential to its ecosystem, reminding us of the beauty and resilience that can be found in such dark music.

Thantifaxath
Today, Toronto's metal scene is more diverse than ever, large and independent enough to ignore outside trends in favour of creating its own. Thantifaxath certainly aren't looking to hop on any bandwagons; one of the few black metal purveyors here, its members refuse to reveal their identities and insist on only providing the public with the darkest, most effectively frightening music that's possibly ever been produced in this country.

Their efforts for anonymity - right down to the hooded cloaks they wear during rare live gigs - are symbolic of modern Toronto metal's lack of ego; community and artistic integrity are far more important to work on than individual fame or buzz. If you aren't paying attention, it's your loss.

Writing by Shazia Khan. Photo of Blood Ceremony in Moscow by Alexandr Horoshilov‎ via Facebook.

Toronto's already got tons of talented designers creating awesome furniture with their own two hands; now, they've got a locally-built online marketplace to help them get their pieces out there. Sonder Mill, a brand-new Toronto-based e-commerce site, mixes pieces from Toronto designers with creations by up-and-comers from all over North America.

If the thought of buying a giant table sight unseen (no matter how reclaimed or artisanal that table may be) freaks you out, you can head over to Metropolis Factory in the Junction (50 Edwin Ave.) Friday and Saturday to check out some of the wares in person. The site has been converted into a showroom/pop-up shop, featuring tons of pieces from Toronto-area vendors (and a couple from as far away as Montreal and California).

Best of all, there's something for every budget, starting at $40 for a vintage letter sign or $80 for a Pekota Design pendant light. (My fave: Zenporium's pieces made from reclaimed painted boat hulls.)

Photo of Tool + Bark lamps and table via Sonder Mill.

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

• The free-to-attend T&T Waterfront Night Market is on this weekend at T&T Supermarket (222 Cherry St.) The fifth annual night market will be open 6pm-midnight Friday (July 25), 4pm-midnight on Saturday (July 26), and 4-10pm on Sunday (July 25).
• Taste of Toronto is on now until Sunday, July 27. Taking place from noon daily at Fort York (250 Fort York Blvd.), the international festival will be making its Toronto debut with a line-up of summer eating, drinking and entertainment, featuring 14 restaurants and over 50 food and drink producers stocking the artisan marketplace. Tickets are still available starting at $30.
• Taste Your Neighbourhood taking place on Saturday, July 26 will offer guided tours of 15 Toronto neighbourhoods. While registration is mostly full, at last look, the tour of downtown Milton still had spots left to reserve.
• Toronto's Festival of Beer takes place this weekend (July 25 to 27) at Bandshell Park at Exhibition Place. Over 300 brands will be onsite, and while the first two days are sold out, tickets ($39.50 including five sample tokens) are still available for the Sunday.

UPCOMING

• Tickets ($15) are on sale now for the next instalment of the Toronto Underground Market set for August 10 at 99 Sudbury. Taking place between 11am and 4pm, the Sunday afternoon event will be the first brunch-themed market.
• Reserve a space now for an all-day sausage-making workshop taking place at The Depanneur (1033 College St.) on Monday, August 4 from 10am to 6pm. Brad Kurtenbach leads the class teaching the basics of grinding, seasoning, stuffing, salt-curing and smoking. The hands-on workshop is $125 and includes a gourmet BBQ lunch.

Photo of the 2013 T&T Waterfront Night Market by Jimmy Lu.

This CNE-born, food truck-reared purveyor of various bacon-laden heart attacks on a plate finally has a seasonless year-round restaurant to call home, located in the former Come & Get It at Queen and Spadina. Expect poutine dressed with four different iterations of pork, burgers with all-pork patties, and tacos with the tortillas swapped out for peameal bacon. Vegetarians: Click through at your own risk.

Read my review of Bacon Nation in the restaurants section.

This popular food truck started from the bottom. Once total noobs without a lick of food-industry experience, co-owners Allen Tan and Brian Siu-Chong have put in some serious (and respectable) legwork to achieve their dream. Their truck's debut menu of Asian street foods features fried rice balls, roti tacos and burgers between rice buns...oh, and they're also operating a 3,000-square-foot restaurant at an amusement park.

Read my profile of ME.N.U Food Truck on Toronto Food Trucks.

The first Toronto ice lounge is open and ready for some cool customers. Chill Ice House, the latest in a family of lounges from Boston to Dubai, turns the freezing weather we Torontonians love to hate into a permanent, year-round party. The former Drake General Store space at 82 Bathurst St. has been totally transformed into a wintry wonderland, fitted with a massive freezer and filled with 185,000 pounds of ice sculptures, ice benches, a functioning ice bar, an ice chandelier, and one ice Olaf-from-Frozen.

Take a look inside in our photo gallery of Chill Ice House

The ever-expanding City of Toronto has absorbed and digested a multitude of once-independent small towns in its hungry quest for size and strength. Among the lost communities are Brockton, Carlton, Davenport, and Chester; some, like Parkdale and Yorkville, live on as well-known neighbourhoods.

The shifting urban landscape has also led to the loss of at least one prominent neighbourhood, The Ward, pictured above. Though new condos are bringing residents back to the area around City Hall, Yonge Street, and University, north of Queen, the name of the densely-populated immigrant area was lost long ago.

Here are 5 lost neighbourhoods and towns in Toronto.

THE WARD
The Ward, Toronto's original immigrant neighbourhood, was for several decades a dense slum in the Queen, Yonge, University and College area. The area sheltered generations of immigrants and refugees from around the world, some of them displaced by the Irish potato famine, others fleeing persecution via the Underground Railroad.

The Ward was gradually overtaken by the expansion of the city, giving way to both city halls, Nathan Phillips Square, and other landmark buildings in the area. Loosely speaking, the area that was once The Ward is now within the city's Discovery District.

CARLTON AND DAVENPORT
The postal village of Carlton was in the vicinity of Old Weston Road and St. Clair (nowhere, it should be noted, near Carlton St.) in the mid-19th century. At its zenith, the little village had its own rail station and a population of around 150. Davenport, a town of a similar size just to the southeast, centred around Davenport and Lansdowne and once discussed a merger with Carlton, but both were eventually annexed by the West Toronto Junction and then the City of Toronto.

NORWAY
The name of Little Norway Cemetery at Kingston Road and Woodbine is one of a few relics of this lost Toronto neighbourhood to endure. In 1837, around 80 people lived in the village of Norway, sometimes spelled Nor-Way, which included a toll booth, post office, brewery, store, hotel, and several factories.

Despite the name, it seems the community wasn't named for the European country, but rather the vast stands of red pine in the area - "the valuable and scarce article, the Norway Pine," according to the Toronto Patriot, a newspaper of the day. The Norway Steam Saw Mill was established in 1835 to capitalize on the available wood. Today, Norway is part of the Upper Beaches neighbourhood.

CHESTER
Located around Danforth and Broadview, the Village of Chester (known for a time as Doncaster) became part of the City of Toronto less than 100 years ago. The little community benefited from the building of Danforth Avenue as a link between Broadview with the Danforth Road, and again with the arrival of streetcars on the Prince Edward Viaduct. Chester lives on in the name of Chester Ave. and the subway station between Broadview and Pape.

BROCKTON
The name still lives in the name of the Dufferin St. neighbourhood, and a few traces remain of Brockton Village as an independent community west of Toronto. Named by and for the Brock family, who were early local landowners, the village was developed with Brock Ave. as its central street. Its town hall - which still stands, albeit as a shabby storefront - is at the southwest corner of Brock and Dundas. The town was incorporated for only three years before being annexed by the City of Toronto in 1884.

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

Image: Toronto Public Library, City of Toronto Archives

The best charcuterie in Toronto isn't just plates of cold cuts and cornichons, but rather an old world craft taken up with great reverence and gusto by a new wave of hog-wild chefs. Luckily for Toronto diners, this translates to an astounding array of cured, smoked and salted delicacies; accompanied by the equally strong and unwaning trend of canning and preserving, we've got ourselves a veritable smorgasbord of good eating.

Here is where to find the best charcuterie in Toronto.

See also:

The Best Bone Marrow in Toronto
The Best Steak Tartare in Toronto
The Best Sausages in Toronto

Photo of Workshop by Latitude which isn't on the list but you should try out if in Roncesvalles Village.

The top patios with WiFi in Toronto are the perfect places to kick back with a beer or a coffee, soak up some rays - and crank out yet another page of that paper that's due on Monday. For those who take their work everywhere (yes, even to the patio), working with a little refreshment al fresco can be a great way to take edge off what would otherwise be another airless day indoors at the keyboard.

Here are my picks for the top patios with WiFi in Toronto.

See also:The best cafe patios in Toronto

Fore more patio ideas, check out our Toronto Patio Guide or download our Patio Guide app for iPhone or Android.

Northwood
The al fresco WiFi at this cafe/bar across from Christie Pits is a major draw for local writers and freelancers, with a steady population of laptops and journals giving way to the evening bar crowd. Drinks range from espresso to local brews to creative cocktails; if you feel your blood sugar dipping, they offer a tightly-edited selection of snacks and sandwiches. (French cheese sampler plate, anyone?)

Dundas and Carlaw
This new Leslieville coffee shop/bar will welcome you at all hours, with the hours (7am until late) and the slate of necessary beverages to match. The wireless reaches out onto their very roomy front patio, where you can get some work done while enjoy your craft beer, latte, or sangria.

Fika Cafe
If you love minimal-whimsical Swedish decor, like I do, you'll have to tear yourself back out of this Kensington cafe. (The cozy wingback chairs! The palette of muted greys! The cute little teacups and horse-shaped knick-knacks!) But their front deck is just as charming, featuring four tables with umbrellas, bench seats, a couple of outlets, and an ingenious scheme where you can check in to the restaurant on Facebook to trigger free WiFi (no password required).

Cadillac Lounge
The party crowd descends on weekends and evenings, but during the week, this Parkdale staple's back patio is a great place to relax, shoot some pool, or (in your case) get some stuff done. The WiFi reaches most of the seats - but considering that the massive patio can fit over 200 people, that's still quite a feat. (Opt for either covered or uncovered sections, depending on your laptop screen glare levels.

Starving Artist
Bloorcourt residents and St. Clair West-ers, you'll be pleased to know that both locations of the popular waffle joint have WiFi-equipped patios. The original Lansdowne location's 15-seat covered patio is a summertime fave (read: busy at peak hours); there's a little more room to spread out at the new location's 30-seat side patio. Risk a food coma with their lineup of waffle-based delights, and pull back out of one with their rocket fuel-like coffee.

Jimmy's Coffee
Whether you opt for the streetside atmosphere of the tiny front deck or prefer to spread out on the quieter, roomier back patio, the original Jimmy's location near King and Portland has strong enough WiFi to go around - plus, you can work without that big portrait of Jimmy Carter staring at you. (Major bonus: A few outlets set into the fence along the back patio.)

Hunter's Landing
The most impressive thing about this spot near CityPlace is ... probably their ridiculously elaborate Caesar, which comes topped with bacon slices, mozzarella, a brisket slider, and an entire lobster tail. But the second most impressive thing is their 2,000 square foot patio, which boasts solid WiFi throughout. (Laptop-toters may want to steer clear on Blue Jays game days.)

Cafe Pamenar
The long, narrow back patio at this Kensington cafe is something of an oasis for daytime cafe-workers (NB: you can't avail yourself of the bar's many alcoholic offerings back there). Try to grab a spot at one of the picnic tables if you can - the other half of the seating comes from folding tables, which feel all the more rickety when you have a Macbook perched on one. Tea lovers will adore the 20-plus-long list.

Full Stop
This Junction cafe is a freelancer favourite for its cheery atmosphere, delectable meals and desserts, and super-spacious layout. That roomy feel extends to the back patio, which seats about 20 people on huge communal wooden tables. The WiFi signal is solid for most of the patio, though you'll have to head in if you need to give your laptop a charge (there's plenty of outlets inside).

Tango Palace Coffee Co.
What most patios lack, Tango Palace has in spades: The almighty power outlet. You'll be able to keep the juice flowing to your laptop as you work, while the popular study spot's delicious baked goods and coffee will keep you going. Frequent cafe denizens say the staff are cool with letting you work there for several hours at a stretch.

Did I miss any? Leave your favourite patio with WiFi in the comments.

Weekend events in Toronto is our guide to events happening this Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Here's what's happening in Toronto this July 25-27, 2014.

Waterfront Night Market
The free-to-attend T&T Waterfront Night Market is on this weekend at T&T Supermarket. Sample the delights of Asian themed street food while checking out performances, browsing the marketplace, and more - see our photo gallery from last year for an idea of what's in store. The fifth annual night market will be open 6pm-midnight Friday (July 25), 4pm-midnight on Saturday (July 26), and 4-10pm on Sunday (July 25). T&T Supermarket (222 Cherry Street). LI

FOOD

Taste of Toronto
After taking London, Milan and Moscow by storm, this global food event makes its first appearance in Toronto at Fort York on July 24th to 27th. The highly anticipated festival will bring together 20 big-name restaurants for lunch and dinner sessions featuring special menus and starter sized tasting plates. General admission is $30 for the culinary showcase promising demos, an interactive tasting room and an artisan marketplace. Until July 27, Fort York Garrison CommonLI

Toronto's Festival of Beer
Featuring over 300 different brands of beer, for better of for worse, TFOB is quite possibly the largest summer beer festival in the province. The beer vendors comprise a non-discriminatory lineup of brewers big and small. Over the event's three days you can expect thousands of beer drinkers to descend on Exhibition Place so it's sure to be a good scene (with lineups to pee and buy tokens). Among other features, there will be a pavilion dedicated to East Coast beers, gluten free options, and musical entertainment featuring formidable lineup of Canadian acts including K-OS, The Trews, Matthew Good and more. July 25-27, Exhibition Place. BJ

Taste Your Neighbourhood
Toronto's being taken over by this Taste Your Neighbourhood, taking place on Saturday, July 26. They will offer guided tours of 15 Toronto neighbourhoods including The Junction; Cabbagetown; Beach Village; Riverside are taking part. While registration is mostly full, at last look, the tour of downtown Milton still had spots left to reserve. LI

Psychic Brunch
While the promoters would rather not call it Psychic Brunch, they know that those two words are too enticing not to pair. Skeptics and believers (aka Mulders and Scullys) are advised to bring an open mind to the Flying Beaver on Sunday for a 15 minute reading with a psychic of your choosing, and Toronto's favourite-est thing in the whole universe: brunch. Readings are $29 and come with a $5 meal voucher. Sunday, July 27, 11am-3pm, The Flying Beaver (488 Parliament).

See also

• The Tiki Sea - a pop-up bar party (Friday, Bento Miso)

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

MUSIC

Beaches International Jazz Festival
On now, the Beaches Jazz Festival has newly expanded to Woodbine Park. The free all-ages affair is on until Sunday. Check out our guide to the Beaches Jazz Fest here. July 18-27, Woodbine Park/Queen St. East (The Beach), free. MF

I Have Eaten the City
An experimental night of chill vibes at Toronto's newest mixed-used art space in Kensington Market. Khora and Fake Humans (Carl Didur/ Colin Fisher) will play along with I Have Eaten the City, who are releasing their firstly album since 2007. Friday, July 25, 9pm, Ratio (283 College Street), PWYC.

Man Finds Fire Presents A Summer Sesh/BBQ
Check out this new DIY concert space on Geary for live music by Bile Sister, Mimico, Akua, and more, plus art installs by Petra Glynt and Lorde Awesome. Kensington Brewing Company will be keeping you in beer. Saturday, July 26, 12-6pm, Geary Lane (360 Geary Street), PWYC suggested $10.

Unity Festival
Enough with the underground indie rock/psych smatterings and onto some hip hop. Catch Maestro Fresh Wes, Biz Markie, Raz Fresco, Airplane Boys, and more for free at Yonge-Dundas Square on Saturday. Learn more about Unity Festival here. Saturday, July 26, Yonge-Dundas Square, free.

Nine Inch Nails and Soundgarden
A pretty specific demographic will be present at this show (and I'm sure that demographic will enjoy it immensely, though their stony faces may not show it). Two huge alternative names from the 90s get together for a double header at the Amphitheatre. Sunday, July 27, Molson Amphitheatre. AG

See also

• Construction (Friday, Double Double Land)
• Advance Base (Friday, Rancho Relaxo)
• Ought (Friday, Silver Dollar)
• B17 (Saturday, Junction City Music Hall)
• Doldrums + Tonstartssbandht (Saturday, Comfort Zone)
• Backyard Afternoon ft. HVYWTR (Sunday, Tibet Kitchen)

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

FILM

Retrospectives on American Masters
Jim Jarmusch. Sara Driver. Robert Altman. Besides India, this summer sees TIFF put a keen focus on old school American cinema dating back to the 60s, roaring through the '80s, and continuing to flourish well into the 21st century. Nashville. You Are Not I. Dead Man. McCabe & Mrs. Miller. Stranger Than Paradise. The Long Goodbye. Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai. Sleepwalk. 3 Women. Mystery Train.BW July 24-August 31, TIFF Bell Lightbox (350 King St West).

Movie Night in Liberty Village Park
Head to Liberty Village for a free screening of Jurassic Park. That's Jurassic, not gentrifurassic. Hide your small dogs and take in this dino flick tonight. Friday, July 25, 8:30pm, Liberty Village Park (70 East Liberty St).

CPFF Days of Summer: Rear Window
Rear Window is this week's screening at Christie Pits. Bring a donation, a blanket, and someone to grip hands with during this Hitchcock flick. Sunday, July 27, 7:30pm, Christie Pits Park (779 Crawford Ave West), PWYC.

See also

• The Room (Saturday, Carlton Cinema)
• Dave Chappelle's Block Party + party at Hot Docs (Saturday, Bloor Hot Docs Cinema)
• The Princess Bride (Sat/Sun, Revue)

ART

Before and after the Horizon
Before and after the Horizon: Anishinaabe Artists of the Great Lakes will showcase contemporary and traditional Anishinaabe art by Norval Morrisseau, Bonnie Devine, Robert Houle, Michael Belmore, and many more. Artifacts such as birchbark wall pockets and beaded bags will be juxtaposed with contemporary painting work. The nations of Algonquin, Mississauga, Nippissing, Ojibwe (Chippewa), Odawa (Ottawa), Potawatomi and Saulteaux make up the Anishinaabe's region. See it starting this Saturday. July 26 - Nov 25. AGO (317 Dundas St West).

Animated GIF Workshop at Xpace
Xpace wants to teach you how to make animated gifts, and all they ask in return is that you remember to sign up and show up with your laptop and the video you want to make into a gif. You will be judged according to how cute/weird your provided video is. Saturday, July 26, 1-4pm, Xpace Cultural Centre (2-303 Lansdowne Ave).

Castles in the Sky
New Mind Space invites you to march in a magic parade that may or may not include unicorns. They will march on Bloor, in the subway, and at the Waterfront with a "marching bands, soundsystem buses, fireworks and a thousand shiny, happy people" - maybe Michael Stipe will be there (I might go dressed as Michael Stipe). Bring $7 and wear a costume. Saturday, July 26, 3pm, email love@newmindspace.com for details.

2014 Art Battle National Championship
Is this the largest live painting competition of all time? It might be. As an audience member, the voting is on you. Can you take the pressure? I'm sweating sparkles and oil paint already. It's gross but I like it. Saturday, July 26, 7pm, Mattamy Athletic Centre (50 Carlton St.)

See also

• Figment Arts Festival (July 26-27)

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

PARTY

Otherland
OTHERLAND is the newest dance party series in Toronto, but it arrives with a reputation already laid out ahead of it. This is Mansion's new year-long series that pulls inspiration from other worldwide rave utopias such as London's Fabric and Corsica Studios, Berlin's fabled Panorama Bar and Stattbad, Brooklyn's Output, and Rex Club in Paris. Headlining tonight is Detroit flagship techno act Model 500 with Junior Boys' Jeremy Greenspan (DJ set), and local fixtures Kevin McPhee and Gingy. Read more about OTHERLAND in our preview here. Friday, July 25, 10pm, Tattoo (567 Queen Street West). BA

Hudson Mohawke
Glasgow's Hudson Mohawke is one of the more unpredictable electronic artists around, but unlike some left-field producers, he's got the turntablist background to actually pull off a strong DJ set without compromising his idiosyncratic vision. But considering his Hoxton gig is on a Friday, he'll probably be focusing on the bangers. Friday, July 25, 10pm, The Hoxton, $15. BB

Healing Power Records - Heart of Toronto 3
Last fall saw the first Heart of Toronto compilation feature some lesser known local musicians not known for making pure dance music - at least in the way TO projects Azari & III or, I guess, Deadmau5 are - including Tenderness, Prince Nifty, Jennifer Castle, Princess Century (Austra), Petra Glynt and Man Made Hill. The next HOT party is July 26 at Double Double Land with David Dacks (The Music Gallery) and Daniel Vila spinning only Toronto produced music. Saturday, July 26, 9pm, Double Double Land (209 Augusta), $5.

New Kanada Presents
Toronto techno veteran Adam Marshall's New Kanada label has been getting lots of attention lately, largely for the success of Graze, the live electronic duo of Marshall and Christian Andersen, who will be headlining this label showcase alongside Basic Soul Unit, Kevin McPhee and Crushfield. Saturday, July 26, 10pm, Coda, $15. BB

See also

• Shit Fun Death Fun (Friday, Cinecycle)
• ITZSOWEEZEE (Saturday, Drake Underground)

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

COMMUNITY

The Lab Cab Festival
One of the summer's most anticipated street fest's is Lab Cab in Parkdale. Check out one of Toronto's most creative neighbourhoods for music, readings, art happenings, food, dance, theatre, patio hangs, and more. Saturday, July 26, 2-9pm, Parkdale - over 75 venues on Queen Street West, between Dufferin St. and Roncesvalles Ave.

MATSURI 2nd Toronto Japanese Summer Festival by Kurakake
MATSURI is back to bring all things Japanese here to you in Toronto, which is lucky if you can't even afford gas to Montreal these days. From music and drumming to fashion and food, Yonge-Dundas Square will be showing its inner Tokyo on Sunday. July 27, 10am-9pm, Yonge-Dundas Square.

SPORTS

2014 North American Women's Parkour Jam
Literally feeling like you're climbing up the walls? Here's the sports event for you. The Monkey Vault Movement Training Centre is the headquarters of this event where all the workshops are free. Check out more here. Saturday, July 26, The Monkey Vault Movement Training Centre (100 Symes Rd).

2014 Toronto Vintage Bicycle Show
Stroll through Trinity Bellwoods this Sunday to gaze at vintage bikes galore. Warning to broke bike lovers: if you're currently wheel-less or yearning for a beautiful ride to replace your beat up embarrassment of a Craigslist find, this might be more of a tease than you can stand. Sunday, July 27, 10am-5pm, Trinity Bellwoods Park.

FASHION

The Annex Flea
Annex residents are getting used to having their own flea for vintage goodies, handmade items, foods, and more - but this one will be special because hello, it's July. Summer vibes in the Honest Ed's Alley are what makes lasting memories, even if the memories are based around a little thing like shopping. What am I saying, it's the heat that makes me ramble. Sunday, July 27, 11am-6pm, Honest Ed's Parking Lot.

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

Contributions by Liora Ipsum, Ben Johnson, Blake Williams, Adam Golfetto, Benjamin Boles, Brendan Arnott

Photo by Ed Tse in the blogTO Flickr pool

Draw By Night Toronto celebrated a year anniversary this past Wednesday with one of its most successful events to date as it attracting over 60 established and emerging artists as well as first-time doodlers to Handlebar in Kensington Market. Draw by Night is a public event promoting creativity, imagination and collaboration.

The drink-and-draw event was introduced by a featured artist Stephanie Ramon (a storyboard professional working in Toronto's TV and film industry) with a live demonstration of the theme "Streetcar Named The Rocket" - a playful topic where each doodler was able to create a unique version of what an individual TTC wagon might have looked like.

Check out our photo gallery of Draw by Night Well where artists created what might be the longest and craziest streetcar in the world.

The next event is scheduled in September with a new secret theme, make sure to follow Draw by Night's updates on their Facebook page.

This massive MMA training facility is home to a huge array of equipment and top-level instruction - their head coach has trained several fighters who have gone on to win titles. Don't be intimidated if you're a newbie - the gym's regulars are friendly and the atmosphere is welcoming. The emphasis is on learning technique instead of calorie burn - but with classes this demanding, you'll be in fighting form in no time.

Read my review of Black Devil MMA in the fitness section.

Funnel Cake Dream is the result of one man's lifelong love affair with the favourite carnival snack. Paul Juchniewicz's food truck hit the road this spring, dishing out deep-fried squiggly treats to crowds across Toronto. The classic strawberry-topped funnel cake is - obviously - still on the menu, but you can get everything from Nutella to apple-cinnamon compote to maple syrup and bacon bits. (That's right - he'll make you a maple bacon funnel cake. O Canada!)

Read more about Funnel Cake Dream on Toronto Food Trucks.

Sunnyside is now home to a world class BMX park, tucked between Lake Shore Blvd. and the Gardiner Expressway. Designed by the much-lauded Jay Hoots, the park is an off-road rider's dream with ramps and jumps galore. Beyond the thrill factor for riders, what might be the coolest feature of the park is that it was built with fill from Toronto condo developments and the wood elements are (mostly) fabricated out of downed trees from the ice storm last winter. How's that for re-use? Free to use (first come first to ride), it's a little gem for those who take their rides with a dose of air.

Check out all the jumps and trick opportunities in this photo gallery.

Music open mic nights in Toronto lead us to 1967, a historic year in Toronto history. The Leafs last - ahem, that is, Fat Albert's first hosted its open stage in the Bloor St. United Church in 1967, and except for a brief lockout over rent issues, and venue change to the United Steelworks building, continues weekly.

There have been no shortages of open mics since the first Fat Albert's with new open mics starting across the GTA (and some closing). They continue to be starting places for emerging artists, a chance to hone new songs, meet new people, for audiences to listen, and for some, be part of a community.

To help you keep track and achieve your dreams of stardom - or of discovering a diamond in the rhinestone ruff - here's a list of ongoing open mic / open stage / open jams for musicians by days of the week. Some series refer to themselves as open mic, with others as open stage, and open jam generally referring to a full band format and genre specific. Times listed generally reflect sign up times (at the date of this posting).

See also

Karaoke nights in Toronto by day of the week
The best karaoke bars in Toronto
10 under the radar folk, blues & roots venues in Toronto
The top 10 rehearsal studios for music in Toronto

SUNDAY

Freefall Sundays (Supermarket, 268 Augusta Ave.), sign up 5pm online
Host: Steve York and Tony "LehLo" Rabalao
The Freefall Sundays open mic/jam is easily one of the busiest not only on Sundays, for any day of the week. Performers get two songs with a featured artist every week. The Supermarket has a quality backline of house keys, drumkit, and amps (courtesy Long & McQuade). There is a pre-list sign up on Facebook that opens up at 5pm stating "the prelist is now open" and at 7pm, performers claim their spot in person in the order of commenting.

Also on Sundays

• The Cavern Bar (76 Church St.), 9pm
• The Cage 292 with Phil Hood (292 College St.), 9pm, 10pm with full backline available
• Sotto Voce Music Sessions (595 College St.), 8pm. Note: starts November 2014
• Relish Bar and Grill Stir It Up Sundays with Paul Brennan (2152 Danforth Ave.), 9pm
• King Henry's Arms with Ben Crosby (9301 Yonge St., Richmond Hill), 9pm
• Grossman's Tavern Blues Jam with Brian Cober (379 Spadina), 10pm
• McGradie's Tap and Grill R&B Jam with Dan Walek (2167 Victoria Park Ave., Scarborough), 6pm
• Black Bear Pub SNAFU Jam (1125 O'Connor), 3:30pm
• Scruffy Murphy's Jam (150 Eglinton Ave. E.), 10pm
• Lazy Cat Cafe Open Stage (Bain Cooperative Apartments Community Centre), 3pm, last Sunday of the month from September-June
• Southside Johnny's Bar and Grill with Rebecca (3653 Lake Shore Blvd. W., Etobicoke), 9:30pm
• Lizzie Violet's Cabaret Noir (The Central, 603 Markham St.), 7pm, second Sunday of the month, limited open stage.

MONDAY

Free Times Cafe Open Stage (320 College St.), sign up 7pm
Host: Rotating hosts every Monday
This open stage has been running close to, if not 30 years (Free Times opened 1980, with music around 1984). With a strong regular attendance, performers are encouraged to arrive on time for sign up. The venue acoustics are excellent for singer-songwriters who enjoy a listening room/audience. After 30 years, the open stage has been a launching pad for Ron Sexsmith, Sarah Slean, Jory Nash, Glen Hornblast, Jason Fowler, Liam Titcomb and more.

Also on Mondays

• Dora Keogh with Julian Taylor (141 Danforth Ave.), 8pm
• Tranzac (292 Brunswick Ave.), 9pm
• Bar Radio (615 College St.), 8pm, Note: Approx. first Monday of each month
• The Painted Lady (218 Ossington Ave.), 9pm
• Dominion On Queen - Good Neighbours Open Mic (500 Queen St. E.), 8pm, second Monday of the month
• Amsterdam Bicycle Club with Lynne Rafter (54 Esplande), 10pm
• Black Swan Tavern with Sebastian Agnello (154 Danforth Ave.), 9:30pm
• Hole In The Wall (2867A Dundas St. West), 9pm
• Scarborough Uke Jam (3750 Kingston Rd, corner of Scarborough Golf Club Road), 7:30, second Monday of the month

TUESDAY

The Old Nick Pub (123 Danforth Ave.), 8pm
Host: Jennifer Brewer
East end performers will find a few options on Tuesday for dropping in open stages. They'll find resident musician, Jennifer Brewer, hosts the Old Nick Pub at Danforth and Broadview every Tuesday. The Old Nick has that old watering hole atmosphere, and is a welcoming supporter of emerging musicians. The stage fits solo acoustic performers best and generally all genres.

Also on Tuesdays

• The Press Club (850 Dundas St. W.), 10pm
• The Groove Bar & Grill (1952 Danforth Ave.), 8pm
• Axis Gallery & Grill Junction Jam with Derek Downham (3048 Dundas St. W.), 10pm
• Brooklynn Bar with Alex Quail (1186 Queen St.), 9pm
• The Duke with Frank Wilks (1125 Queen St. E.), 8:30pm
• The Rex classic jazz jam (194 Queen St. W.), 9:30pm

WEDNESDAY

The Corktown Ukulele Jam (Dominion on Queen 500 Queen St. E.), 8pm
Host: Steve McNie
The CUJ has the unique title of being the longest running uke-centric open jam - likely anywhere in Canada. On three of the regular Wednesdays of the month, find a uke workshop, group jam, then open stage - seven people sign up in advance. The remaining night is a theme night (think event night or artist cover night) with a longer open stage. The CUJ brings out a diverse community of performers and listeners.

Also on Wednesday

• Not My Dog (1510 Queen St. W.), 9pm
• Black Swan Tavern with Nicola Vaughn (154 Danforth Ave.), 9:30pm
• Chalker's Pub Vocalist Friendly Jazz Jam (247 Marlee Ave.), 8pm
• Ein-Stein (229 College St.), 8pm
• Johnny Jackson with Matt Cooke (587 College St.), 9pm
• Lola with Johnny Bootz (40 Kensington AVe.), 8pm
• Fat Albert's Open Stage (United Steelworkers Hall, 25 Cecil St.), 7pm
• The Unicorn Pub open jam (175 Eglinton Ave. E.), 9pm

THURSDAY

Dave's on St. Clair (730 St. Clair Ave. W.), 9pm
Host: Brian Donkers, Jay Pennell
Running for about 5 years now, this open mic was previously hosted open mic mainstays "Uncle" Herb Dale and Fran McCann. Brian Donkers and Jay Pennell are the current hosts. Dave's boosts bottle selection, but a small menu. Most open mic nights sign up fill up quickly. Folk, blues, jazz genres are welcome in solo or small band, and a partial kit and upright piano are available. Regulars will be glad to know, after health issues, Uncle Herb has briefly resurfaced musically elsewhere.

Also on Thursday

• Aspetta Cafe (207 Augusta Ave.), 8pm
• Birchmount Bar (462 Birchmount Rd.), note: starts Sept. 2014
• Kensington Lodge with Derek Mok (21 Kensington Ave.), 7pm
• The Local Gest with Porter (424 Parliament St.), 8pm
• Pauper's Pub with Mike Barnes (539 Bloor St. W.), 10pm
• Karla's Roadhouse open mic (4630 Kingston Rd.), 7:30
• DeSotos Jazz and Classic Rock open jam (1079 St. Clair Ave. W.), 8pm

FRIDAY

Catweazle at Smock Cafe (287 Roncesvalles), 7:30pm
Host: Special host each month
Every month Catweazle promises a special and unique show including an open stage. The show is based on Catweazel (a club-slash-show-slash-format) in Oxford that has the feel of a house concert. High level performers engaging an audience, is something magical each time. As with many house-concert style shows, totally acoustic (well, there's a Roland keyboard).

Also on Friday

• Big Daddy's open mic (460 Elgin Mills Rd. E, Richmond Hill), 9:30pm

SATURDAY

Rebas Open Mic at Full of Beans (1348 Dundas St. W.), 2pm
Host: Special guest host weekly
Rebas open mic has moved venues a few times and finally settled at Full of Beans on Dundas in Little Portugal. Full of Beans has a number of fair trade coffee blends, in-house made snacks, and weekend music, including their Saturday open mic. The open mic is a mix of emerging (many local area residents) artists, and some more established. This one's generally only for solo or duo acoustic acts, as the sound system supports only that.

Also on Saturday

• King's Belly English Pub (429 Donlands Ave.), 8pm
• Port Credit Legion (35 Front St. N., Mississauga), 3pm
• MacKenzie's Bar (1982 Bloor St. W.), 2pm

Writing by Ryan Ayukawa. Photo: Nic McPhee

Need a caffeine jolt this summer in Toronto? You can choose from a mix of the city's best roaster offerings, delivery services, events and ice cold beverages. A little coffee buzz might be necessary to keep energy up for all the fun events of summer, so if you need a little pick-me-up (or just love coffee), this list will be your guide.

Here are my picks for the top ways to get caffeinated this summer in Toronto.

Learn the art of coffee roasting
The amazing new roasting facilities of Sense Appeal, Pilot Coffee and Propellor may be off the beaten track, but the expansive cafe quarters attached to each make it worth the travels. Head to one of these three spots and watch the bean go from green to cup.

Hunt down Toronto's fleet of coffee food trucks
You can either hit one of the two food truck alleyways, or hope for a random run-in with one of Toronto's coffee-on-wheels. They are pretty easy to spot, Macchina is in a so-cute Piaggio Ape, Steel Cut Coffee lives in a refurbished Citroen van, while Detour Coffee drags a sweet 60's yellow trailer. Hit the road, Joe!

Get latte art inspiration from top baristas
Get your tickets now for the Canadian Coffee and Tea Show and spend the whole weekend loading up of the most pretty caffeination in the whole coffee-nation. Baristas from around the country with dazzle you with their skills.

Get a coffee subscription pack
Want to try all the coffee, keep the Canadian Post in business, and stay at home? Go in for a subscription to Parachute Coffee or The Roasters Pack, two coffee distributors who select the best local beans and deliver them to your door, complete with tasting notes and brew tips.

Cool down with some cold brew
Cold brew trumps iced coffee in every way, so why not set down the Starbucks and find a local haunt that steeps its beans instead? We've got a great list of cold brew drinks right here to get you started.

Take some barista classes
You know that saying, "Give a man a coffee and he a has a nice jolt for a day, teach a man to make coffee with some barista lessons and he can impress his friends and been well caffeinated forever"? Yeah, I thought so. The Canadian Barista & Coffee Academy will teach barista skills, as well as the basics of running a cafe, to novices and experienced coffee scholars alike.

Swap regular for buffalo milk at Bar Buca
Morning routines are hard to break, but I suggest you stop your usual routine and instead head to Bar Buca for your morning cup. Rob Gentile's latest offering has taken coffee drinking to the next level, with several specialty coffees and awesome milk options, like buffalo milk, and an organic cow's milk from Quebec.

Have it in a cone
World's collide in Bang Bang's espresso ice cream. They use Sam James espresso from down the road, and while it may not be an orthodox way to get your caffeine fix, it is icy, creamy and delicious.

Head to Mill Street Brew Pub and have Ontario's only coffee beer
Tim Horton's may be contemplating a coffee flavoured beer in the future but the only place you can actually have a coffee beer right now is courtesy of Mill Street Brewery. Their Balzac'sCoffee House Porter is chocolatey and full of jolt.

Try a seasonal affogato
If you haven't tried an affogato, do so. A scoop of ice cream with a shot of two of espresso poured over top, it's the perfect summer treat. We've rounded up 10 spots in the city that do the caffeinated Italian dessert right.

Thanks to Pure Leaf for sponsoring our summer adventures. For more things to do this summer, check out our Best of Summer page.

Did we miss any? Leave your favourite ways to get caffeinated during the summer in Toronto in the comments.

Early brunch in Toronto might be an oxymoron (or more plainly, it might just be breakfast), but it's not exactly nonexistent. Sure, some might argue that brunch involves booze, which makes even the concept of an early brunch negligible - I, however, am happy to argue that "brunch" is a verb, something we Torontonians like to do on weekends. Or in the very least, it can be defined as a menu that offers both breakfast and lunch on one page.

Here are my top picks for early brunching (see, it is a verb), so that next time you find yourself trying to get an early start, you'll need not endure a torturous wait 'til 11am for some french toast or eggs.

See also:The best 24 hour restaurants in Toronto

Lady Marmalade
Brunch is the forte of this popular spot on the east side and is available from 8am on making it a magnet for early risers. The menu encompasses both sweet selections like fruit parfaits and baked french toast, as well as savoury options like cheddar and spinach waffles and a crepe croque monsieur.

Bonjour Brioche
Skip the lineup at this French bakery cafe on the east side by taking advantage of their 8am start time. Here the early birds get first pick from the selection of fresh baked goods on display, or can opt for sandwiches on ultra-fresh baguettes, tarts, quiches by the wedge, and other eggy morning standards.

Luna Cafe
Tucked into a sleepy residential stretch of Dovercourt, this Beaconsfield Village cafe opens daily at 8:30am to appease early-waking locals. The menu offers selections like pancakes, breakfast burritos and bennies.

Uncle Betty's
In midtown, this over-the-top eatery runs its brunch on Saturdays and Sundays from 8:30am to 2pm. The weekend menu might start early, but it's considerably more indulgent then the regular weekday offerings. Choices include fluffy chocolate chip pancakes, steak 'n' eggs, and most notably, an egg and cheese breakwich that's stuffed into a fresh, house-made doughnut.

Pain Perdu
The location on St. Clair is home to an astounding assortment of Parisian pastries, croissants and baguettes which are available at their freshest at 8am each morning. Order a croque monsieur, or the namesake pain perdu with frothy cafe au lait in a bowl, and you've got yourself a recipe for a perfect start to any weekend.

George Street Diner
This fire engine red diner operates weekdays from 7:30am and on weekends from 8:30am dishing out classic Irish breakfasts, frittatas and tall stacks to the morning crowd. Situated just a short walk from St. Lawrence Market, this is an ideal spot to start a Sunday of antiquing.

Lazy Daisy's Cafe
While breakfast is available weekdays from 8am and Saturdays from 8:30am, it's the Sunday brunch (also commencing at 8:30am) that could be reason enough to drag yourself out of bed. The cafe in Little India makes a pretty mean espresso - and better still, bakes its own pastries from scratch and prides itself on making big breakfasts from all-natural, locally sourced ingredients, like free-run eggs and mennonite sausage.

Boom Breakfast & Co.
This brunch specialist boasts four locations in the GTA where you can get an early start, though the College St. outpost is open the earliest, slinging eggs and bacon daily from 6am on. Here, the menu doesn't discriminate between breakfast and lunch - thoughout the day, you'll find sweet and savoury fare from waffles and omelettes to salads, sandwiches and burgers.

The Lakeview
Brunch is served at all hours of the day at this 24-hour joint on Dundas at Ossington. Being a notch above most diners means you're not limited to greasy spoon options, either (though those are available, too). On the menu you'll find nine types of eggs benedict, as well as Montreal bagels with lox and stacks of maple syrup-smothered buttermilk pancakes.

The Senator
Located on Victoria St. just behind Yonge and Dundas Square, this retro diner serves brunch on weekends between 8am and 2:30pm. The menu offers all the typical breakfast foods like fluffy pancakes and bennies, though you'll also find comfort foods like cobb salad or macaroni and cheese.

Did I miss any? Leave your favourite restaurants that serve early brunch in the comments. Photo of Luna Cafe by Jesse Milns.

"He's had his problems, but he's not the boogeyman," said Allie as we rode the bus up Brimley Road to Thomson Memorial Park. A woman in her sixties, she had traveled alone from her home near St. George station, and although she didn't know how she would vote, she wanted to witness the spectacle of Ford Fest first hand. She wouldn't be disappointed.

Several thousand people, some of them in white Ford Nation t-shirts, many of them fanatical in their support for the Ford family, descended on Scarborough last night, lured by the promise of free burgers and the chance to meet the city's incumbent mayor.

Before Rob Ford arrived, a DJ played AC/DC and other classic rock songs at the wrong speed, making the vocals sound high-pitched. "Video Killed The Radio Star" thumped over the PA as Ford, shielded by security, entered the small white tent that contained, among others, his wife Renata and two children, brothers Doug and Randy, and former boxer George Chuvalo.

Near the head of the meet-and-greet line, which snaked for some distance across the park, was a nun in a habit. At least two convincing Rob Ford lookalikes worked the crowd outside the tent, content to catch a watch from afar rather than wait for a fleeting encounter.

"I enjoy it, most people are really considerate," said Barry Neelin, who came dressed in a white shirt and sported a Ford-style hair cut. Another, Kevin Cearl, seemed shy about his resemblance. "I don't mind it most of the time, don't get me wrong. I have fun with it--they call me mayor at work."

Also outside of the line-up, a hardcore band of Ford supporters, one of whom said she had named her young son "Rob" in tribute to the mayor, seemed bent on disrupting reporters interviewing the few people critical of the mayor. Some formed a circle and screamed in an attempt to drown out any dissent. One man clutched a hand-held video camera and appeared to be intent on stoking the palpable tension.

Later, a man with "Queeruption," a group of activists protesting Ford's recent vote against a LGBTQ homeless shelter, was allegedly assaulted and the group's protest signs smashed. "First it was just verbal harassment, 'Adam and Eve not Adam and Steve' and chants for us to go home," said Poe Liberado with the group.

"One of our supporters got tackled and the sign in his hand was ripped up and then our friend got punched in the face ... we thought people would be unhappy with us being around but not physically attacking us. This says something about Ford Nation what Rob Ford stands for."

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Chris Bateman is a staff writer at blogTO. Follow him on Twitter at @chrisbateman.
Photos: Christian Boback, Chris Bateman