The top dance parties in Toronto in August will do their best to keep you outdoors. The city's clubs in the summer can seem far less crowded than normal, partly because so many try to escape the city for cottages up north, but also because there are so many great opportunities to dance all day in the sun at the growing number of open air parties.

While this month's event recommendations are all outdoors, that's not even including the weekly Promise Cherry Beach parties, the ongoing Summerdaze series, and of course the festival formerly known as Caribana. Just remember to stay hydrated on hot days.

Veld Music Festival / August 2-3 / Downsview Park / 11 am / $225.44
If you got there when the gates open both days, you could spend 24 hours being pounded by EDM beats at this year's Veld Music Festival. Headliners include the expected big room DJs like Calvin Harris, Armin Van Buuren, and Martin Garrix, but also some unexpected performers, like party rappers Iggy Azalea and Waka Flocka Flame.

Electric Island / August 4 / Olympic Island Park / 1:30 pm / $35
Seth Troxler makes his second appearance this year at Electric Island, but this time he's joined by UK DJ/producer Maya Jane Coles, NYC/Vancouver live duo Bob Moses, and local support from My Favourite Robot, Nitin, and Koki. Expect a full day of sleek streamlined tech-house and melodic minimal sounds.

Mad Decent Block Party / August 15 / Fort York Garrison Common / 4 pm / $55
This year's Toronto stop for the Mad Decent Block Party tour features label head Diplo playing one his genre-hopping DJ sets of global club bangers. Torontonians might feel a bit slighted that Outkast are only appearing at the Denver edition of the travelling party, but at least we are getting a performance by Chance The Rapper, as well as hometown dubstep heroes Zeds Dead.

Corona Sunsets / August 16 / Hanlan's Point Beach / 1:00 pm / $49.50
Weekend afternoons at Hanlan's Point already feel like a party, but this two stage festival of techno, house and downtempo promises to crank it up a few notches. Headliners include rave veteran Moby, chillout stars Thievery Corporation, Cajmere (aka Green Velvets deep house alter-ego), and Brooklyn tastemakers Wolf + Lamb, as well as a slew of other talented DJs.

Waterfront Beach Festival / August 23 / HTO Park / 1:30 pm / $33.90
The under-used HTO Park on the Waterfront is the location for the first Waterfront Beach Festival. The tech-house party features DJs from all over the world, including Spain's Pig and Dan, Brazil's Christian Smith, Hungary's Jay Lumen, England's wAFF, and Miguel Campbell (also from the UK).

Photo: Brian Morton

Mayor (he's still the Mayor, how about that) Rob Ford went for a ride this week with Toronto EDM star Deadmau5, sans mouse mask, to grab drive thru coffee in the Deadmau5 Purrari (a Ferrari custom wrapped as a "Nyan Cat Car").

They talk about internet jokes, BMX scams (damn all bikes), and potholes, and while at first Deadmau5 looks like a kid in a candy store, he relaxes and just starts nerding out with Ford, looking a little bored at times. It's like watching someone hang out with someone else's dad, and Ford shifts between various layers of discomfort and glee as he keeps the conversation going. The truly beautiful moments are periods of silence.

Ford admits he likes espressos with his Italian friends (not lattes, though, of course) and at the Tim Hortons drive thru they order a double double for Deadmau5 and five espressos in one cup for Ford. Ford giggles over Deadmau5's worldly "single, double, and a double" explanation and pays for the both of them - very dadcore. Ford refers to himself and Deadmau5 as "celebrities" at one point.

Deadmau5 is trying to sell his car, which apparently goes to 210 miles per hour, and thanks to Ford's coffee run the value just shot up. This car belongs in city a museum now, along with Ford's mayorship.

The night market, a fixture in Asian cities, is alive and well in Toronto, with crowds flocking to events like Night It Up as well as its downtown counterpart. Now, just like any other food trend in Toronto, the night market will soon be going upscale, tiny, and right to the heart of the Financial District.

Drake One Fifty and Momofuku, two of the area's biggest culinary destinations, are joining forces to convert the parkette on York between Richmond and Adelaide, right next to One Fifty, into a tiny night market dubbed Twilight Tuesday. Alongside Richmond Station and the Garbardine, the restaurants will be doling out street foods and summertime snacks to a backdrop of live music on August 5th between 6 and 9pm. The market is set to return every Tuesday for the remainder of August.

This is the first-ever installation of the market, so it remains to be seen how much resemblance these snacks will bear to the classic night-market eats. Will there be meats on sticks? Whirly taro chips? Stinky tofu? Drop by next week to find out for sure.

Photo of Momofuku by Jesse Milns

If you like sausages and you like to keep things simple this butcher/sausage slinger on Dundas West in the Junction just might be the ticket. Go here to find fresh barbecued sausages for $5 or get a lunch combo for only a buck more.

Read my profile of Sorella Toronto in the restaurants section.

Ontario Place is getting a $100 million make-over from the province that will transform the former entertainment venue into a brand new waterfront park.

At a press event this morning, the Ontario Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport, Michael Coteau, said the first phases of the project--a waterfront promenade with shops and restaurants, expanded outdoor music facilities, and an large outdoor space named Celebration Common--will be completed by 2016.

The famous Cinesphere and pods will be saved from demolition, he said, though it's not clear when they will be re-opened.

The Molson Amphitheatre will continue to operate as a live music venue, though it the future is less certain for Echo Beach, which doesn't appear in the latest renderings. The province said it is "exploring options to bring live music acts to the site year-round" in a news release.

Among the other features announced today is a landscaped pedestrian bridge that will connect the western part of Ontario Place with Lake Shore Blvd.

The plan does not include a residential component. The province said the park, which first opened in 1971, "should remain public."

In July 2012, the Ontario Place advisory panel released a set of 18 recommendations on how to renovate the 63-hectare site, including placing a focus on environmental and cultural activities that are accessible to the public. The document also suggested setting aside a small portion of the land for residential use, but it appears that idea has been shelved.

The first portion of the Ontario Place revitalization that will turn a former parking lot on the eastern portion of the land into a landscaped park is in the final design stages and is due to be open in 2015.

The next phase of the project includes an environmental assessment and a series of public consultations. Work is also required to clean up some of the soil.

What do you think of the plans?

MORE IMAGES:

Romantic Garden
Bluffs Lower Trail
Celebration Common
Celebration Common
Pedestrian land bridge
Blue Park Winter
Blue Park
Site Map
Culture, discovery and innovation hub

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

LeBron James, the prodigal son of the Cavaliers and foundation of Cleveland's entire economy, is returning to the Cavs this NBA season, and he's taking his victory lap to, naturally, Toronto. This Saturday, James himself will host a glitzy bash at King West nightclub Maison Mercer.

The event, entitled Return Of The King, promises to be a "a diverse progressive nightlife event catering to Toronto's cosmopolitan jetset and visiting elite", which in this case means "a few high rollers in town for OVO Fest weekend, and a lot of other people who want to spend $60 to be in the same building as a very famous basketball player". If you're one of those folks, tickets are available now.

LeBron doesn't seem to be throwing any other similar events in other cities, aside from a massive bash in his hometown of Akron, Ohio. Our renewed status as a basketball town aside, we just might have Drizzy to indirectly thank for this one (just like our groovy new nickname and the peanut butter chocolate flavour at Dutch Dreams).

Photo by Stephen Gardiner via the blogTO Flickr pool.

Bar Ape rolled onto the Toronto food truck scene just last week, toting a freezer full of handmade gelato bars in the back of a tiny, three-wheeled Piaggio Ape truck imported from Italy. Owner, driver and gelato-maker James Carnavale sticks to classic flavours like pistachio and chocolate hazelnut, sealed in with a dipped chocolate crust, but he's keeping things fresh with an ever-changing feature flavour - you might see coffee, melon or passion fruit this summer.

Read more about Bar Ape on Toronto Food Trucks.

The highest patios in Toronto offer drinks and dining offset with a swift breeze and a bird's eye view of the city's skyline. This city has no shortage of high places - unsurprising, since we're a city of serious skyscrapers. Heck, the CN Tower even nabbed us a world record for 34 years. (Now we've got the tallest free-standing structure...in the Western Hemisphere! Still number one! Right, guys?)

Disclaimer: If you were the kid who had to climb back down from the high diving board as a kid, these patios and decks may not be your idea of a relaxing time. Acrophobes to the left. Everyone else: Take the elevator or stairs to the top, and hang onto your hats.

Here are the highest patios in Toronto.

Panorama Lounge
At the top (literally) of the list is the Panorama Lounge, perched on the 51st floor of the Manulife Centre on Bloor St. Said to be the highest patio in all of Canada, the Panorama serves up a 180-degree view of the city, along with not-terribly-cheap meals (mains start at $18). Still, I can think of nothing that would make a plate of $20 prosciutto-wrapped scallops taste better than eating them 166 metres up in the air.

Stock
Halfway up the massive Trump Hotel, which towers 60-plus storeys above Bay St., you'll find Stock, an (unsurprisingly) upscale steakhouse set into the 31st floor. They've earned just as many raves for their locally-based menu as they have for their terrace, which winds around the restaurant and provides a gorgeous view of downtown. Caviar and blinis, anyone?

Roof Lounge
The Park Hyatt's 18th-floor Roof Lounge is a favourite Yorkville hangout; in addition to a fabulous view of downtown off the terrace, the plush, Rat Pack-worthy lounge also features a roster of classic cocktails and a fireplace. Enjoy a classic martini or Manhattan while spotting A-through-Q-list Canadian celebrities.

Thompson Hotel
Up on the 16th floor of this King West hotel, geared primarily toward movers, shakers, and their assorted hangers-on, is a swanky rooftop deck. In addition to the infinity pool, visitors can enjoy a 360-degree view of the city skyline (a nice bonus to the comparatively-lower buildings in the neighbourhood). Technically, you need to be a guest (or a guest of a guest) to hang out up there. Get ready to talk your way in.

Fifth Grill
Good things come in fives at the Fifth entertainment complex, where the Fifth Grill (one of five built-in restaurants and lounges) resides on the fifth floor. The views aren't as sweeping, but the covered wooden deck provides a cozy, tucked-above-the-fray atmosphere, which makes for a romantic date spot (complete with a menu of grilled delicacies).

Beverley Hotel
The Queen West hotel's fifth-floor patio is chic, yet approachable - kind of like the boutique hotel itself. You'll find sleek seating, tons of palm fronds, a light menu of casual munchies, and a wide-open view.

Jack Astor's (Yonge and Dundas)
The Yonge and Dundas Astor's boasts a killer view on its heated patio, four escalator-rides up in the 10 Dundas East complex. The sound system is loud, but the beer list is respectable, and the crab dip is dangerous. (NB: This is the ultimate refuge during Y&D outdoor shows.) For more rooftop dining fun atop the Dundas Square Death Star, head to the Spring Sushi or Milestones patios on the same floor.

The Chase
Located on the fifth floor of the Dineen Building on Temperance St., this upscale spot for "modern American" dining offers a 75-seat rooftop terrace with expansive views of the Financial District to the south. (This is not to be confused with the Chase Fish & Oyster on the ground floor, which has a popular sidewalk patio of its own.)

Momofuku Daisho
Technically, the biggest sister in the Toronto family of Momofuku restaurants is only three floors up in the Shangri-La Hotel. But a.) they're some pretty tall floors, and b.), with a patio that looms grandly over the Financial District to the east, you'll feel about 10 feet (er, floors) tall dining at Daisho. Split an assortment of shared plates with your closest friends while you feel totally superior to the people eating downstairs at Noodle Bar.

Rock 'N' Horse Saloon
Perched atop the massive Rock 'N' Horse/Adelaide Hall complex, the patio affectionately known as the Porch offers great panoramic views of downtown. (Downstairs, though, you can watch someone get thrown off a mechanical bull; it really all depends on what you're in the mood for. Afternoon visitors can enjoy a snack menu; at night, it's all about lounge seating. Giddy up.

Honourable mentions to Drake SkyYard, Brazen Head, Maison Mercer, Luma, and other pretty-darn-high patios; proof that even if you shoot for the moon and miss, you still land among the stars.

See also:

The Best Rooftop Patios in Toronto
The top 10 patios with the best views in Toronto
The 15 biggest patios in Toronto

Did I miss any? Leave your favourite sky-high patio in the comments.

Road closures in Toronto for the August long weekend rounds up the key transportation shut-downs affecting the city, including street and TTC closures.

KEY ROAD CLOSURES IN TORONTO

Lake Shore: Colborne to Strachan. The grand parade of the Scotiabank Caribbean Carnival will close Lake Shore Blvd. in both directions from Saturday, August 2 at 12:01 a.m. until Sunday, August 3 at 6 a.m.

TTC CLOSURES

510 Spadina: The ongoing closure of the Spadina and Dundas intersection for water main and streetcar track replacement means the replacement bus service will be operating in two parts: between Spadina Station and Baldwin St. and Sullivan St. and Queens Quay. Riders will need to transfer between the two buses at Dundas until Aug. 11.

ONGOING CLOSURES

Over and above the special closures this weekend, construction projects across Toronto result in numerous other road restrictions across the city. For a comprehensive list of such closures, you can consult the official map maintained by the City of Toronto (also available as a PDF.)

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

Last night, Blood Orange erupted at the Danforth Music Hall with a salvo of sexy, 80's inspired r&b. Backed by a crack six-piece band consisting of drums, bass, guitar, keys, saxophone and a co-vocalist who was out-of-this-world, Devonté Hynes cast a groove-heavy spell concocted of cuts from his 2013 sophomore record, Cupid Deluxe.

Hynes began the night solo on guitar and vocals backed by a drum machine. Once the band came on he moved restlessly, moving from the front to the back of the stage, seemingly unsure of where he felt most comfortable. His reluctance to be a classic front-man really allowed the band to shine as a whole. Saxophone solos wailed through the hall.

Hynes is well known for his collaborations with Sky Ferreira and Solange - even more so perhaps for his public falling-out with Solange last fall - and much of the music on Cupid Deluxe is fleshed out with ethereal vocals from Samantha Urbani. These essential elements were handled with ease from his current touring on-stage counter-part, whose rendition of "Bad Girls", which appeared on Solange's True EP (produced by Hynes) was soaked with soul. Solange, who?

At one point Hynes thanked us all for coming out and confessed, "this is very different from our last Toronto show," referring to a sparsely attended gig at The Garrison in 2011 after the release of his debut album Coastal Grooves. On this night, the Danforth was packed with fans dancing and singing along.

The house was eager and responsive, enthusiastically shouting for an encore that never came. Although he's blatantly influenced by Prince, the four-hour mega-sets are still a few album-cycles away, but the hour-ten minute set was satisfying regardless of our greedy desire for more. Dynamic, emotionally charged, and flawlessly executed, Toronto is lucky to have witnessed one of only four tour dates scheduled this summer.

MORE PHOTOS-

Writing by PO Karim, photos by Alejandro Santiago

Photo by Peach, Plum, Orange in the blogTO Flickr pool

The majority of Toronto's city councillors are seeking re-election this October 27, meaning that, barring an unprecedented clear-out, there will be several familiar faces in the chamber next year. That said, several wards will certainly be electing a new representative, either because the incumbent has been elected elsewhere, or has decided not to run.

At time of writing, councillors Gloria Lindsay Luby (Ward 4, Etobicoke Centre), Peter Leon (Ward 3, Etobicoke Centre), Mark Grimes (Ward 6, Etobicoke-Lakeshore), David Shiner (Ward 24, Willowdale), and Glenn De Baeremaeker (Ward 38, Scarborough Centre) have not filed registration papers, but could still enter the race (Lindsay Luby looks like she will do just that.)

Here are five council seats up for grabs this election.

ETOBICOKE NORTH (WARD 2)

Doug Ford hasn't completely ruled out running for re-election, but the presence of his nephew's name on the ballot is any indication, the mayor's brother will be sitting out the next term of office. Twenty-year-old Michael Ford and Andray Domise, a writer, financial planner, and community organizer, are among the favourites to fill the seat.

ETOBICOKE-LAKESHORE (WARD 5)

James Maloney, the replacement for MPP Peter Milczyn, says he's not running in October, leaving the door open for a new representative in Ward 5. Already on the ballot: Justin Di Ciano, who narrowly missed out on winning the council election in 2010, and Kinga Surma, Milczyn's former executive assistant.

EGLINTON-LAWRENCE (WARD 16)

Incumbent councillor Karen Stintz is making a bid for mayor, meaning the midtown ward of Eglinton-Lawrence is almost certain to see a new face come October. Stintz's former TTC advisor Jean-Pierre Boutros is running, as are nine other candidates. The ward was previously represented by long-time councillor Anne Johnston.

TRINTY-SPADINA (WARD 20)

With Adam Vaughan in Ottawa and his replacement Ceta Ramkhalawansingh vowing not to run for re-election, the downtown ward of Trinity-Spadina is up for grabs. At time of writing, there are 25 candidates in contention, including Joe Cressy, the NDP candidate who lost to Vaughan in the federal by-election earlier this year, who has the support of former mayors David Crombie and John Sewell.

SCARBOROUGH-AGINCOURT (WARD 39)

Former budget chief Mike Del Grande, a firm believer in term limits for city councillors, said he would not be returning to City Hall this Fall after more than a decade in office. The fiscal conservative told the Toronto Sun he was working between 75 and 80 hours per week when he had a heart attack last year. Former MP Jim Karygiannis and subway advocate Patricia Sinclair have registered to fill the seat.

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

Photo by inventor_77 via the blogTO Flickr pool.

August 19, 1980: Picture 13,000-plus heavy metal fans milling around Exhibition Place Grandstand, drunk, high and simmering on a muggy August night. They have already endured a torturous 30 minutes of noodling from Toronto-area progressive rockers Zon, and then an additional 90 minutes of roadies setting up for star headliner Alice Cooper's "Welcome to my Nightmare" tour, as the house lights raised and dimmed ad nauseum. Someone appears to announce that Alice Cooper is running a little late due to lost luggage at Pearson.

Storm clouds begin to roll in and the temperature spikes; the crowd is anxious, and the stadium is a foggy hothouse of pot and tobacco smoke. Something is amiss. Rumours swirl that the Godfather of shock rock ain't coming out. At 10:05pm, Cooper's lead guitarist Dick Wagner takes to the stage to confirm that Alice won't, in fact, be attending the show tonight, but Zon would be more than happy to come back out and play some more space jams. What could possibly go wrong?

Before Wagner had even finished his ballsy peace offering, chairs and stubbies started flying and the tinderbox of pissed-off metalheads exploded into a frenzy of pent up violence. With only 25 or so policemen and Exhibition Place security staff on hand, a crackle came over the radio for all available Toronto Police officers to proceed directly to the CNE - the great Alice Cooper riot of 1980 was in full swing.

For roughly 30 minutes, the Grandstand became a pitched battleground. Mounted police were the first to arrive, storming the floor area of the stadium and pushing the chaotic mess of Canadian tuxedo-wearing fans towards the opposite side's exit. While chairs and bottles rained down with escalating urgency, fistfights began to break out as crowds heaved away from the mounted units and came dangerously close to being crushed. As more police arrived, troublemakers taunted them to draw their weapons and made sport of vexing them at every turn.

As the rowdy scrum exited the stadium, it became open season on the CNE midway as stalls were looted and food trucks tipped. A defenceless 511 streetcar was even ransacked by a breakaway mob.

In total, 12 fans, five policemen, and a security officer were seriously injured in the melee, and 31 people were arrested. The Toronto Star reported: "Thousands of rioting fans tried to wreck the Grandstand last night. They bombarded 268 policemen with bottles, chains and other missiles during a 30-minute rampage that will cost at least $175,000 to repair. They tore out 200 seats welded to steel posts and bolted to concrete. They ripped out steel turnstiles, smashed windows and ticket booths and the Grandstand restaurant, and damaged several cars outside the stadium".

Public outrage followed the next day as the city awoke to news which pretty much confirmed Alice Cooper and his ilk were the spawns of Satan. The Star quoted concert attendee Greg Delaney, 18 of Halifax, who proudly boasted: "I hit a cop on the head with a chair. It was really great. He gave chase but didn't catch me. Concerts aren't any fun if you just sit there and listen to the music. You gotta make things happen!"

Toronto was still reeling from a summer of rock concert discontent: In June, a mini riot of 400 youths assaulted police and destroyed cars when they were denied entrance to a Teenage Head show at Ontario Place. The previous month saw subways cars and a station attacked by youths leaving a Nash the Slash concert at the same venue.

In the wake of the riot, the usual Pablum about youthful alienation, Satanism in heavy metal, and drug and alcohol abuse were bandied around as prime suspects for fuelling these orgies of vandalism and destruction. Some celebrated the mayhem as a signifier that the hedonistic rock 'n' roll ethos would thrive and survive into the new decade - "You're a Riot, Alice" buttons were a popular fashion item in the Fall of 1980.

Things returned to normal fairly quickly. Three nights later, Burton Cummings opened his show at the Grandstand (the first since Alice) by saying "Yes, there will be a show tonight". Local rock band Moving Targetz, who had been in attendance at the fateful Cooper riot, even wrote a song about the incident entitled "Fly to a Flame" which featured samples of the crowd they had recorded in situ. While many suspected Cooper's non-appearance was due to a drug or alcohol related relapse, his biography stated it was a severe asthma attack.

Riots at concerts have always been a fairly common occurrence, but nothing quite like it had happened in Toronto before that sweaty night in August when Alice Cooper welcomed us into his nightmare.

Retrontario plumbs the seedy depths of Toronto flea markets, flooded basements, thrift shops and garage sales, mining old VHS and Betamax tapes that less than often contain incredible moments of history that were accidentally recorded but somehow survived the ravages of time. You can find more amazing discoveries at www.retrontario.com.

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

THIS WEEK

• The Depanneur (1033 College St.) turns three this summer, and will celebrate on Sunday, August 3 with an open-house shindig complete with music, $4 snacks and drinks, door prizes and more.
• Twilight Tuesday, a mini night market, is popping up in the parkette on York between Richmond and Adelaide on Tuesday, August 5 from 6 to 9pm, and recurring every Tuesday for the rest of August. Drake One Fifty, Momofuku, Richmond Station and The Garbardine will be there serving up street foods and snacks to a backdrop of live music.
• Mean Bao (275 Dundas St. West) and Toronto Common host a Dim Sum Sampler on Wednesday, August 6 starting at 7pm. Meat eaters and vegetarians alike can take part for $12.

UPCOMING

• Ontario Food Truck Fest is coming to Ontario Place on Sunday, September 21. The festival, put on by the folks behind CraveTO, already has a line-up of 11 food trucks on board, including Food Dudes, Me.n.u and Curbalicious. Ticket sales to be announce soon.
• Top Toronto chefs will tap their alter egos to each present a dish along the theme of Heroes vs. Villains at this gastronomic adventure hosted by the Cheese Boutique on Thursday, August 14 from 7:30pm. Tickets are $175 but extremely limited. The evening will also include drink pairings from Samuel Adams and Stratus Wines.

Photo of Food Dudes fish tacos.

The top daiquiris in Toronto aren't quite enjoying the renaissance some other trends are seeing in the city's most recent cocktail boom. That's a shame, because the humble daiquiri, a clean fusion of white rum, lime, and sugar, when made well, produces one of the most stunningly crisp and appetite-whetting drinks in existence. There are a number of classic variations, though many bars have settled on the Hemingway Daiquiri (named after Havana's most famous adoptee, Ernest Hemingway) as the definitive iteration.

Here are my picks for the top daiquiris in Toronto.

County General
At West Queen West's ever popular rum 'n' bourbon bar, the Esteban Daiquiri ($12) has apparently been selling like gangbusters. Shaking up mint with a cucumber-infused rum, lime, and watermelon syrup may seem pretty far from a traditional daiquiri, but all of the requisite crisp flavour and bright punch remains intact, albeit in amazingly refreshing fashion.

Rhum Corner
Possibly the only frozen daiquiri really worth getting excited about, Rhum Corner's offering, at $7, also represents fantastic value for money. Yes, it gets poured from one of those slushie machines, but the devil is in the details - the classic combination of lime juice, rum and sugar is topped with grated lime zest and sprayed with a fine mist of Goslings rum to finish.

La Creole
OK, so the Ti'Punch ($8) at St. Clair West's Haitian eatery isn't technically a daiquiri, but it is very closely related, mixing rhum agricole with cane syrup and lime juice. Their version provides a more pungent and spicy variation than the crisp and sour Cuban classic.

BarChef
BarChef's basil daiquiri ($13) is, like the County General's offering, twisted with a number of flavours: coconut rum is shaken up with fresh basil, lime, a pineapple-infused honey, and black pepper, offering bite and subtle spice along with a delicious background fruitiness.

SpiritHouse
The Hemingway Special ($12) at SpiritHouse can't really claim to be a true Hemingway Daiquiri. After all, the great man himself was a diabetic, and required the use of maraschino liqueur and grapefruit as a substitute for sugar, producing a notoriously punchy cocktail. The one on offer here tempers that with a little simple syrup to provide a little more balance.

Weslodge
This King West saloon's take on the classic Cuban cocktail takes its name after the famous La Floridita bar in Havana. Known as 'the cradle of the daiquiri', La Floridita is credited with elevating what sounds like a devastatingly simple concoction and turning it into an art form. Weslodge provide a sparkling update to the Hemingway with the addition of cava, orange spiced simple syrup, and lemon oil ($14).

The Beverley Hotel
Since taking control of the front of house operations at Queen West's microscopic boutique hotel, Aja Sax has been developing a competitive bar program to draw people up to the outstanding roof patio. While there are a number of inventive signature creations, there's also a short, snappy list of classic cocktails made well. The daiquiri on offer ($12) is as classic as they get, shaking up Havana Club Blanco with lime and sugar.

Tortilla Flats
By no means the most refined daiquiri on this, or any, list, Tortilla Flats merits a mention entirely on the basis of price. On Mondays, their frozen fruit daiquiris can be had for a bargain $3.50. With a base mix of lime and sugar working it's way around the slushie machine, punters can choose from a variety of flavours - peach, mango, strawberry, mojito, lime, raspberry, or pina colada. On any other day, they're available for $5.25.

Portland Variety
This brand new spot at King and Portland is impressing with some deft and restrained use of molecular technique in a short, but well-worked, menu. The Hibiscus Daiquiri ($9) uses a dash of hibiscus water alongside lime and sugar, with a hibiscus flower infused Bacardi. It's floral and very fresh, and certainly worth a try.

Mambo Lounge
The only restaurant on this list under authentic Cuban ownership, Mambo Lounge's Hemingway Daiquiri ($9) can also be served in Ernest's favourite style, as a 'Papa Doble' (requiring a double helping of rum) for $14. However, in place of the maraschino, you'll find that Mambo opt for triple sec, so not quite as authentic, though certainly still delicious.

Did I miss any? Leave your favourite spots for daiquiris in the comments.

The top bars and pubs with WiFi in Toronto let you feel semi-connected to society - through the power of booze, good tunes, and a casual atmosphere - while still being permanently connected to your digital device of choice.

Toronto's got tons of coffee shops - and even patios - that welcome the screen-staring crowd with open arms and wallets, but when the temperature dips and evening falls and that big report still isn't done, these places will give you the fuel you need to crank it out (i.e. burgers and brews) in a friendly, not-too-rowdy atmosphere.

Here are my picks for the top bars and pubs with WiFi in Toronto.

Northwood
The Christie Pits freelancer fave starts as a cafe in the morning, and transitions over to a bar; it's earned a rep as an all-day hangout where you can bring your laptop by day and friends by night. They've earned just as many raves for their cold brew as they have for their cocktails (and the $2-off happy hour pricing on beer every day don't hurt, either).

The Rhino
The selling points of this super-chill Parkdale pub include: a beer list that frequently includes some wacky taps from around Ontario and North America; a not-too-rowdy atmosphere; readily available snacks; and some choice seats near the window. Do the ultimate in multi-tasking: Enjoy a beer, while working, while waiting for your table at Grand Electric to open up.

The Beaver
The Beaver is at once a cafe, a bar, a gay bar, a restaurant and a party venue; during the day, and on evenings when drag nights aren't happening, the Queen West spot is a peaceful place to bring the ol' lappy. The draft list is nicely varied, and the menu caters to all kinds of eaters.

Old Nick
The staff at this Danforth pub are beautifully unbothered by most things, including the presence of people on laptops. (They even post the WiFi password on the beer chalkboard - handy!) It gets a bit rowdy during weekend nights and open mics, but there's elbow room most times, including during their incredibly-underrated weekend brunch. The WiFi signal even reaches out to the first couple seats on the backyard patio.

C'est What
I'm an odd-hours worker par excellence, and C'est What is my go-to; the brick-lined, library-like basement is cozy and comforting, the beer selection is fantastic, and the menu - while not particularly cheap - has tons of tasty, filling options. (It's also home to what in my estimation is the best-tasting low-alcohol beer on the planet, Joan's Dark Secret - that's a bonus, since you'll still be able to type accurately after a couple o' pints.) There's often a big after-work crowd; proceed with caution (or wait until late) if you like quiet.

Cloak and Dagger
This dark, bunkerlike pub on College St. is a solid place to hole up with your laptop and kill a pint or two - they've got 20-some beers on tap. On Sunday afternoons, you could spend an entire day at their all-you-can-eat taco buffet and probably write yourself a short novel.

Lipstick and Dynamite
A newer face on this list, this Queen West "bar-staurant" comes with a sweetly dive-y atmosphere, complete with pinball machine and fringed lamps. It doesn't tend to get too rowdy (at least, not until the wee hours), leaving you free to pull up a bar stool and grab some vegetarian pub food, a $6 Caesar, or a pint of watermelon wheat ale while you work.

The Abbot
This Yonge and Lawrence pub is a neighbourhood fave for its menu of refined British pub fare (think fish and chips, shepherd's pie and meatloaf). It's cozy and dark - perfect if you like working by the glow of your own screen. Tip: Avoid the dinner rush around 6pm - it fills up fast. The after-work bar crowd usually rolls in around 8.

Prohibition
Riverside's Prohibition is a restaurant by day, a bar by night, and a nightclub (complete with DJs, bros in ballcaps, and separate cover charges for men and women) on the weekends. It fills up pretty good with diners during meal hours, but the WiFi is indeed free - and with a menu packed with hearty, meaty, cheesy selections like bison burgers, truffle mac and cheese and duck poutine, you won't have any trouble justifying your continued presence at your table.

This End Up
Dundas West's This End Up is a cozy joint populated by couples and friends in the evening, but whip out a laptop and they won't bat an eyelash. (They even asked me if I wanted their WiFi password before I asked them - a first!) Linger over a cocktail (or one of their dozen or so housemade flavoured sodas), or grab one of their stellar sandwiches. (The wings are reportedly great, but if you brought your laptop, you probably shouldn't order them. Just saying.)

7 West
It's open in the morning. It's open at night. It's open at whatever you would call 4:30am. Yonge and Charles' favourite late-night secret weapon, in addition to offering tasty-to-middling 'round-the-clock eats like pasta and pita pizzas, has - you guessed it - free WiFi. It's just as much of a cafe as it is a bar, so if you're starting to wilt, bypass the decent beer selection and dozen-or-so martinis, and get a giant latte bowl the size of your face.

Bryden's
This no-fuss, no-nonsense little pub in the Bloor West Village offers 17 taps (including rotating selections) and a menu of snacks, sandwiches, and some surprisingly classy-sounding dinner entrees (even if they're called things like "Fo' Schnitzel My Nitzel"). It's a little worn-in and divey, but in the kind of way that feels like home.

Marquis of Granby
Conveniently located between the Village and the Ryerson campus, the Marquis of Granby, formerly gay landmark the Barn, isn't big on cozy atmosphere (it's rather clublike and cavernous) or fancy food (the menu is stocked with burgers, wings, mozza sticks and other pub fare). But then again, fried food, cheap beer and lots of room to dump your stuff sounds like a student's dream - and you'll see a fair amount of kids with laptops capitalizing on those exact conditions during the day.

Tequila Bookworm
We at blogTO have been singing the praises of Tequila Bookworm's WiFi since 2007. This Queen West bar/cafe is a popular spot for solo workers; it occasionally gets a bit raucous in the evening, but the kitchen's open until 2am, and their all-Ontario beer roster is flanked by one of the best cider selections around.

Dundas and Carlaw
Another one in the coffee shop/bar category, this brand-new Leslieville spot is whatever you need it to be. They open at 7am for the coffee crowd and stay open until late, slinging pints and pitchers of sangria on the front patio (which, yes, also gets a good Internet signal). The food situation is limited to baked goods during the day and some dip and charcuterie platters at night, but a full menu is in the works.

Did I miss any? Leave your favourite pub or bar with WiFi in the comments.

What's open and closed on the August Long Weekend and Simcoe Day, Monday August 4, 2014 in Toronto

GENERAL

Closed

• Government offices and banks
• Libraries
• Public post offices are closed, and regular mail collection and delivery takes the day off.

Open

• Outdoor swimming pools, wading pools and splash pads will all be open. Swimming pool schedules are available online.
• All five City golf courses will be open. See hours and locations posted online.

TRANSIT

• The TTC will operate on holiday service schedule with a start time of 6am.

FOOD & DRINK

Open

• Grocery stores are for open citywide though some might be operating on holiday hours. Check online for individual store hours.
• Select Beer Stores and some of the LCBO's 370 stores will be open, check individual store hours online before heading out.
• Steam Whistle (255 Bremner Blvd) - retail store and tours from noon to 6pm
• Mill St. retail store (21 Tankhouse Lane) - 11am to 8pm
• Amsterdam Brewhouse & Retail Store (245 Queens Quay West) - retail store 11am to 11pm, brewhouse until 1am
• Amsterdam Brewery and retail store (45 Esandar Drive) - retail store 11am to 9pm

MALLS

Malls are open, operating holiday hours.

• Eaton Centre (220 Yonge Street) - 10am to 6pm
• Yorkdale (3401 Dufferin St.) - 10am to 6pm
• Square One Shopping Centre (100 City Centre Drive) - 11am to 7pm
• Vaughan Mills (1 Bass Pro Mills Drive, Vaughan) - 10am to 7pm
• Pacific Mall (4300 Steeles Avenue East) - 11am to 8pm
• Fairview Mall (1800 Sheppard Ave E) - 10am to 6pm
• Dufferin Mall (900 Dufferin St) - 10am to 6pm
• Scarborough Town Centre (300 Borough Drive) - 10am to 6pm

ATTRACTIONS

Most major attractions are open, with the exception of the Art Gallery of Ontario which is normally shut Mondays anyway.

• The Ontario Science Centre (770 Don Mills Road) - 10am to 5pm
• The Royal Ontario Museum(100 Queen's Park) -10am to 5:30pm.
• Canada's Wonderland (9580 Jane Street) - 10am to 10pm
• Ripley's Aquarium of Canada - 9am to 11pm
• Movie theatres are open citywide.
• The Toronto Zoo - 9am to 7pm

Did I miss anything? Add it to the comments below. Photo by Jen Yeamen in the blogTO Flickr pool.

That Jack White is a bona fide rock star. Among other things: producer, album label mogul, entrepreneur, occasional actor, unsmiling baseball game attender - but make no mistake, none of those aspects of Jack White precede his status as a full-on rock star.

I'll admit it: Jack White as a solo artist doesn't hold the same magic or allure that the White Stripes once had, when they were still a fledgling band. For me, the magic was in the simplicity of Meg White bashing away on the drums with childlike abandon, paired with Jack's impressive guitar work and blistering vocals. The dueling intensity between Meg and Jack was key, along with their overall ramshackle vibe.

Cut to last night at the Air Canada Centre, where Jack White was backed by a tight, incredibly talented band - it was without a doubt, a slick, unabashed rock show. I've gone from seeing the White Stripes at the Kool Haus (which isn't even that small a venue) to Molson Amphitheatre, and White never looks out of place on a big stage.

He commands the stage like a natural frontman. The crowd was endlessly roaring, cheering and applauding so enthusiastically that I think if White came out on stage and just noodled around on his guitar for an hour, they would still eat it up with the same fervor.

As a self-confessed White Stripes fangirl, I've spent an embarrassing amount of money collecting their massive back catalogue of 7-inch records, various paraphernalia (um, I have a Jack White USB key) and yes, I've visited the Third Man Records shop in Nashville, Tennessee.

I don't claim to be the biggest fan by any means, but the White Stripes were definitely one of my big favourites for a period of time. Part of me continues to follow Jack White's career out of loyalty to the White Stripes. But the Raconteurs, Dead Weather, and White's solo stuff just don't really do it for me.

So, it'll come as no surprise when I say that the highlights of the night for me were the White Stripes songs - the last time Jack White played Toronto, in 2012 at the Sony Centre, I remember feeling like the full-band rendition of White Stripes songs were too slick-sounding and in turn, missing that essential simplicity of just guitar and drums.

This time around, I was more prepared and accepting that Jack White-as-a-solo-artist's versions of White Stripes songs aren't going to sound like the White Stripes playing White Stripes songs. He and his band transformed classics "Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground," "Hello Operator," and "Seven Nation Army" into rousing arena rock anthems, complete with audience singalongs, guitar solos, fake endings and fist pumping. Oh yeah, so much fist pumping.

White brought some lovely country and bluegrass twang to "We're Going To Be Friends" and "Hotel Yorba" (and he even mentioned Stompin' Tom Connors, bless him), which were probably my favourites from the set list. There were moments where White would share a mic with violinist/vocalist Lillie Mae Rische that were reminiscent of the onstage intensity with Meg White back in the White Stripes days.

I won't deny that Jack White puts on a fantastic rock show and is exceedingly good at what he does. He may even be a legend in the making, if he continues to excite fans and evolve as a musician and music industry figure in the years to come. Me, I'm fine a bit stuck in the past - I'm probably always going to be that girl in the audience who says, "I'm really just here for the White Stripes songs."

Set list

Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground
Lazaretto
High Ball Stepper
Hotel Yorba
Temporary Ground
Weep Themselves to Sleep
Missing Pieces
Apple Blossom
The Rose With the Broken Neck
Cannon
Astro
Just One Drink
You Don't Know What Love Is (You Just Do As You're Told)
Top Yourself
I'm Slowly Turning Into You

Encore

Icky Thump
Ball and Biscuit
Alone in My Home
We're Going to Be Friends
Love Interruption
Steady, As She Goes
Hello Operator
Would You Fight for My Love?
That Black Bat Licorice
Seven Nation Army

Writing by Wini Lo. Photos by David James Swanson.

Photo by 35pix in the blogTO Flickr pool.

Push this guy away! Moments before Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds took to the stage at the Sony Centre for Performing Arts last night, a scuffle breaks out in the front row, as hordes of fans rush the stage.

A blonde woman repeatedly smacks a large man for, apparently, standing in front of her, yelling profanities over and over at the top of her voice. As a security guard arrives, others shout "get her outta here!" Security seems relaxed and lets her stay, standing between the two fans just as Nick Cave launches into "We Real Cool" off their 15th studio album, Push The Sky Away.

By the second song in, "Jubilee Street," all is forgotten and Nick Cave is electrifying, striding about the wide stage in a dark suit, punctuating each clever phrase with a pointed finger or a kick of a pointed black shoe.

The audience is mostly well behaved, but there's another incident later on between after a pair get too close while people press close to the stage. I don't recall things getting as rowdy last year when Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds played Massey Hall during Canadian Music Week.

The next song is "Tupelo," and Cave cranks it up a notch, connecting with the audience by jumping onto the small platforms in front of the stage, lunging at the crowd, staring fans down, and grabbing outstretched hands.

One of these times, while a stagehand is ensuring Nick Cave has enough slack on his microphone cord, an audacious fan hops up onto one of the platforms, strolls to the piano and places a CD there - then returns to his spot in the pit, much to the astonishment of security and fans alike.

Several times throughout the show Nick Cave ventures even further, making his way ten-rows deep into the crowd all the while continuing to sing. Other times he'd saunter to the upright piano at centre stage and play for a while with his six-piece band for slower songs such as "Love Letter," "Into My Arms," and "God Is In The House."

Warren Ellis was as animated as ever on his fiddle, shredding his bow like no tomorrow. At one point he had enough of his bow and tossed it like a spear towards the back of the stage (he must have anticipated the move, and kept a few spares on hand).

Other highlights included "Red Right Hand," "Weeping Song" and the newer "Higs Boson Blues." After over 90 minutes, the crowd is rewarded with two encores, which included "Lyre of Orpheus" and "Stagger Lee."

Opening act Nicole Atkins warmed up the crowd with a simple setup of vocals, guitarist and drummer. Her sultry voice reminded me of Elysian Fields' singer, Jennifer Charles.

Nick Cave's tour coincides with a new rockumentary film by Iain Forsyth and Jane Pollard called 20,000 Day on Earth, a fictionalized day in the life of Nick Cave set to an original score by Cave himself and fellow Bad Seeds bandmate Warren Ellis. The film opens at TIFF Bell Lighbox in Toronto on Sept. 19.

Review and photos by Roger Cullman.