Photo by BadPeter! in the blogTO Flickr pool.

Today in Toronto catch a free screening of The Breakfast Club at Fort York Garrison Common. These dour teens will be sure to put a smile on your face! Echo & the Bunnymen, Kiss, and Def Leppard are all in town. What year is it? Who cares. It's summer.

It's Men's Fashion Week from now until Thursday. Will anyone notice? Will Kevin McDonald aka the Kids In The Hall guy make a joke about it at the John Candy Box Theatre? The Workroom on Queen will host "popcorn, iced tea and stitching" which we all know means hardcore gossip about everyone else on Queen Street. And their little dogs too. For more events, click on over to our events section.

• Fashion: Men's Fashion Week (Fairmont Royal York Hotel)
• Comedy: Kevin McDonald (John Candy Box Theatre / The Second City Training Centre)
• Film: The Breakfast Club (Fort York Garrison Common)
• Music: Echo & the Bunnymen (Danforth Music Hall)
• Hair & Makeup: Kiss and Def Leppard (Molson Ampitheatre)
• We Know What You Did Last Summer: August Stitch n' Bitch (The Workroom)
• City: Hogtown Trivia (The Gladstone)

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

This week on DineSafe, Toronto has been spared any restaurant closures, though there are some mighty familiar names on the list. Vesta Lunch, Red Room and Planet Pizza were all handed conditional passes...surely something they're getting used to by now.

Here are the rest of this week's worst on DineSafe.

Vesta Lunch (474 Dupont St.)
Inspected on: August 5, 2014
Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
Number of infractions: 7 (Minor: 4, Significant: 3)
Crucial infractions include: N/A

Red Room (444 Spadina Ave.)
Inspected on: August 5, 2014
Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
Number of infractions: 1 (Significant: 1)
Crucial infractions include: N/A

Gangnam Style (6080 Yonge St.)
Inspected on: August 6, 2014
Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
Number of infractions: 2 (Minor: 1, Crucial: 1)
Crucial infractions include: Operator fail to maintain hazardous foods at 60 C (140 F) or hotter

Times Square Diner (531 Wilson Heights Blvd.)
Inspected on: August 7, 2014
Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
Number of infractions: 8 (Minor: 3, Significant: 3, Crucial: 2)
Crucial infractions include: Operator fail to ensure food is not contaminated/adulterated. Operator fail to maintain hazardous food(s) at 4 C (40 F) or colder.

Mainsha (3275 Dufferin St.)
Inspected on: August 7, 2014
Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
Number of infractions: 5 (Minor: 2, Significant: 3)
Crucial infractions include: N/A

Planet Pizza (331A College St.)
Inspected on: August 7, 2014
Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
Number of infractions: 2 (Minor: 3, Significant: 2, Crucial: 1)
Crucial infractions include: Fail to protect food from contamination or adulteration.

The 2014 Perseid meteor shower has begun, and Toronto stargazers have a chance to see the show if a few rules are followed. The first bit of information to have in your possession is that the storm peaks today (August 12th). There will still be some significant activity on the 13th, but after that you'll probably want to wait for the Leonid shower in November. This year's Perseid event will be diminished by the light cast by the waning Supermoon, but that won't put a complete damper on the celestial fireworks.

Now that you know the date(s), the bad news is that if you live downtown, you're going to need to take a trip if you want to see some meteors. The light pollution downtown is simply too strong to allow for viewing of any significance. While you might get lucky and see one or two stars if you live far uptown or in the east or west end, it's really not worth the bother (especially with the nearly full moon). This is a year in which in it will pay major dividends to get as far away from the city as possible.

Given that the best direction to look is northeast, I'd suggest heading in precisely that direction if you want to maximize your viewing potential. Head to Uxbridge or Port Perry and beyond if you can impose yourself on cottage-owning friends. Outside of that, just get to where it's as dark as possible. This year is forecast to be a high intensity shower, so obstacles aside, it could be worth the effort.

40 Nursewood Road is a bright and cheery home just steps from the Beach. As nice as the outdoor space is, the exterior finds its equal in the interior. The open-concept living and dining rooms bring tons of light into the house, and if you can get past the strange choice of tile in the foyer, you'll find beautiful hard wood floors throughout. And, hey, maybe that foyer is the perfect place for the oriental rug you've always dreamed of, anyway.

Other features include a wood burning fire place and a lower level that walks out into a beautiful backyard. Oh, and did I mention it also currently includes a sauna? Though excluded from the listed sale, it is up for negotiation. I say a home sauna might just be worth a few extra bucks on this $1.2 million home. What could be more perfect after a stroll or dip at the beach?

SPECS

Address: 40 Nursewood Road
Price: $1,200,000
Lot Size: 33 x 127.83
Bedrooms: 4
Bathrooms: 3
Parking: 1
Taxes: $9,121
Walk Score:73

NOTABLE FEATURES

• Steps from the Beach and a dog park
• Finished Basement with a walkout to the garden
• Hardwood floors throughout
• Open concept living and dining room

GOOD FOR

Beach enthusiasts. Art Deco and Michael Ondaatje fans. In addition to being located steps from the beach, this house is also located down the street from the iconic R.C. Harris Water Treatment Plant, an ever popular spot during Open Doors Toronto. You might recognize the beautiful Art Deco building from its description in Michael Ondaatje's novel In the Skin of a Lion. A highly recommended read if you're looking at moving in.

MOVE ON IF

The juxtaposition of styles in this home isn't for you. Open concept, hard wood floors, tiled foyer, modern kitchen, glass brick windows... it's hard to place a style for this house. On the one hand it's all cozy wood burning fire places and built-in book shelves. On the other, it's an open concept feel and sharp corners. It will take a creative mind to tie this place together cohesively. But maybe that's you!

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Read other posts in this series via our House of the Week Pinterest board.

Note: This house has just been taken off the market. Info on the final sale price has yet to be announced.

Writing by Isabel Ritchie

The former Tula West yoga studio near Ossington station has been taken over and totally revamped into a new, modern space where yogis of all kinds have room to stretch out. Though their schedule currently tends toward hot yoga courses, they offer a wide range of classes, including hatha, vinyasa and restorative yoga, with even more set to arrive in the fall.

Read my review of Union Yoga in the fitness section.

Fashion on Instagram isn't difficult to stumble upon. After all, anyone with a smartphone can take an artful shoe selfie (shoesie?), or a melancholy portrait while wearing cool outfit. But there are a handful of Torontonians working their modest phone cameras into something a little more progressive, turning their feeds into a source of inspiration for fashion enthusiasts everywhere.

In a sea of #ootds, these are the names that stood out to me the most - certainly making the hashtag a lot more bearable to peruse. Here are my picks for the 10 must-follow Instagram accounts for fashion lovers in Toronto.

vanessacesario_
Fashion blogger Vanessa Cesario has an unwavering penchant for all things black and white. Often pulling photos from her blog The Brunette Salad, she posts food, shoes, makeup tips, and a whole lot of crop tops on her Instagram.

jennifer_cee
MTV FORA art director Jennifer Cheng puts a surreal spin on everything she posts. You won't find a generic outfit post here - instead, look out for offbeat cropping and bizarre locations.

edwardrow
Edward Row has a good eye. Capturing landscapes, old buildings and fashionable friends, his feed is easy to get lost scrolling through.

momoraru
Monica Moraru, an "artist gyal from the 416," shoots architecture, botany and - of course - selfies with a humble iPhone camera.

othellogrey
Both a photographer and creative director, Othello Grey has an Instagram account filled to the brim with fashion-centric snaps - each one both stunning and slightly unsettling at the same time.

common_base
Common Base is a new communications and management consultancy for fashion boutiques and designers. With a mission to add character to the corporate industry, their feed is an inspiration board far from your average.

daniirey
Dani Reynolds is an urban nomad with an iPhone that captures her boho-chic outfits, picturesque road trips, charming dog friends and sweet snacks.

byseanbrown
NEEDS&WANTS designer Sean Brown finds beauty in the mundane through his stylish, stylized snaps of day-to-day life.

creationsofla
With a background in photography and videography, it's no surprise artist/director/designer LA has an Instagram account worth a gander. Find edgy outfits, cool sneakers and more than enough selfies here.

shopsoopsoop
Soop Soop's Instagram may be a marketing tool, but the Dundas West store's product-heavy posts are way more stimulating than the standard product shot. Follow for what's new in-store (and fun to look at).

Did I miss any? Leave your favourite fashion-focused Toronto Instagram account in the comments..

This late night Chinese stalwart in the original Chinatown does double duty as a dependable option for a quick lunch just steps from City Hall. While the food here isn't revelatory, the spot is still a serviceable bet for General Tao's Chicken or Cantonese style lobster.

Read my profile of Hong Shing in the restaurants section.

There's never a dry moment in the land of Rob and Doug Ford. Police Chief Bill Blair served the elder Ford (that's Doug, by the way) with a defamation suit this morning in relation to comments the Ward 2 councillor made that suggested Blair had leaked information regarding an investigation into Mayor Ford to the press. The Chief immediately denied the claims and threatened legal action, which is what has brought us to this latest bit of drama from Ford Nation.

It might not even be altogether that newsworthy that a Ford was served with legal notice (it's certainly not the first time), but the fact that it comes from the chief of police and pertains to an investigation involving the mayor is a measure of just how dysfunctional Toronto politics have become in recent months (but let's be honest, it's a lot longer than that). Blair's suit calls for a complete retraction on the part of Ford. What are the odds that he will comply?

Photo by BruceK in the blogTO Flickr pool

The Toronto harbour is a place rich in history, complete with buried oddities, unfinished projects, and little known facts. Although industrial activity has waned at the port over the last 30 years, decades of heavy use has left its fair share of buried boats and strange stories. The city's relationship with the harbour has become increasingly complicated since the early 20th century when the Harbour Commission filled in a huge portion of the harbour south of Front St.

From the various plans to build on the Islands to the Queens Quay condo boom to the expansion of the airport, the harbour is very much a contested space. Perhaps that's why its history is so fascinating. Here's a little trip through the past of our port. Next time you pay a visit, it might not look the same.

Whale bones were once found in the harbour
Long attributed to the presence of Piper's Zoo at Front and York streets, the provenance of the whale bones discovered when the TTC excavated the tunnel for the streetcar from Union to Queens Quay remains a complete mystery. Carbon dated back to the 1840s, it's anyone's guess as to how the vertebrae of a whale made it into the inner harbour. Theories anyone?

Most of the area south of Front Street is reclaimed land
Starting in the early 20th century, the Toronto Harbour Commission aggressively filled in the harbour, expanding Toronto over a kilometre south. For perspective, in the early 1920s the Harbour Commission Building was on the water at the edge of a two hundred foot pier, while today it would take someone five minutes to walk to the shore from its front door.

The oldest ferry dates back to 1910
Built at the Polson Iron Works, formerly a fixture on the east side of the harbour, the PS Trillium has been make the trip to and from the Islands for over a century. It was decommissioned in the 1950s only to return to service in the 1976. Prior to being returned to service the ferry, which was docked at the Yonge St. slip, collided with the MS Normac, the former home of Captain John's, which sank two weeks later.

The Toronto Islands were once a peninsula
Formed from sediment that drifts off the Scarborough Bluffs, the Toronto Islands were once no such thing. Once a long peninsula extending southwest from Ashbridges Bay, a huge storm on April 14, 1858 created what we now call the Eastern Gap, which has remained to this day. In the 1970s, the city dredged the gap in order to allow major ship traffic into the harbour through this route.

Toronto started a tunnel to the Islands in 1935
The plan to build a tunnel to the Island airport has been in the works for a long time, a very long time. In fact, back in 1935 the city actually started construction on the project. While there was opposition to the project from the very beginning, the federal government gave the city money to complete the project. But, like so many Toronto infrastructure projects, a a change in party leadership - in this case the victory of William Lyon Mackenzie's Liberals - led to a change of plans, and work on the tunnel was halted. The new tunnel to the Islands is expected to be completed in 2015.

Our new subways and streetcars once arrived by boat
This isn't altogether that quirky, but surely one of the most valuable deliveries to our harbour over the years was the first Gloucester subway cars, which arrived by boat from England in 1953. Many of the PCC streetcars also came through the harbour before entering service. With Bombardier building our new Rocket subways and low-floor streetcars in Thunder Bay, shipments now come by train.

The worst accident in harbour history claimed hundreds of lives
In the early hours of September 14, 1949 the S.S. Noronic caught fire in the Toronto harbour and was terrifyingly consumed by flames in a matter of minutes. The speed of the fire and a the lack of preparedness for an evacuation effort were the primary culprits in the tragedy. The cause of the blaze was attributed to a discarded cigarette.

Something called the Roller Boat is buried in the harbour
Of the many strange things sunk in the harbour, the Roller Boat might take the cake. Augustus Knapp built this oddity in the late 19th century in the hopes of improving the trip across the Atlantic. The concept was a disaster and barely worked to ferry passengers around the Toronto harbour. The boat is buried somewhere near Lake Shore Blvd. and Sherbourne St.

Toronto almost built a mini-city on the lake
Harbour City remains to this day one of the most ambitious projects Toronto never completed. To be built on the Islands and an additional 510 acres of infill, the island community was to feature canals, a ring road that would connect it to the mainland (at Bathurst and Strachan streets) and pre-engineered building modules. Eventually the provincial government killed the idea.

1.6 million tonnes of goods passed through the harbour last year
Yes, the harbour is still used as an industrial port. Much of this activity involves Redpath Sugar, which has operated its refinery at the foot of Jarvis St. since the 1950s. The Toronto Port Authority removes 150 million pounds of debris from the inner harobur on a yearly basis to keep navigation safe. It is also the busiest port in the country for pleasure boats.

What quirky facts do you know about the Toronto harbour? Share them in the comments section.

Cycling in Toronto, depending on who you ask, is a risky move, a political statement, or an incredibly rewarding way to get yourself from point A to point B. With cycling-focused infrastructure and services steadily on the rise in the city, it's clear the folks who place themselves in the latter category are increasing in number.

But with so much to consider - the multitude of bike stores to shop at, the hair-raising traffic, and the ever-evolving lanes and regulations - getting started can be a bit intimidating. Study up on our handy cheat sheet, and you'll be cruising comfortably across town on two wheels in no time.

Here are 15 things you need to know if you're a cyclist in Toronto.

GEAR AND BIKE STORES

Where to buy a bike
Toronto has tons of great bike shops that will help you pick the ride that suits your needs, including your riding style and habits (leisurely or bat-out-of-hell), terrain (bike lanes or mountain bike trails), and body geometry. They're way more knowledgeable than your standard big-box store, and will often throw in extras like free tune-ups. If you're hoping to save some cash, used bike stores are another option; other spots specialize in custom road bikes or mountain bikes. (We can't tell you what kind of bike to buy, but we'd recommend something with at least three gears - this city is hilly.)

What extras you'll need
Cyclists under 18 are required to wear helmets while cycling; it's still an excellent idea for cyclists of all ages (talk to any cyclist who's ever had a nasty crash, and the phrase "thank God I was wearing a helmet" will come up at least once). Other (legally) necessary accoutrements include lights, if you're riding after dark (a white light at the front, and a red rear light or reflector in back), and a horn or bell. (You may want to purchase lights that you can easily take off and carry with you - they're popular targets for theft.)

Where to learn to fix your bike yourself
You know that old saying about teaching a man to fish? It's also true in this case; you'll save a ton on tune-up fees and maintenance with a few DIY skills. Toronto has a handful of do-it-yourself repair shops in Toronto, with staff who'll walk you through the process, rent you tools and supply parts for either a donation or a small fee (still way less than you'd pay to have someone else do it for you). Cycle Toronto also holds frequent Tune-Up Tuesday events around the city teaching cyclists basic maintenance skills while offering free tune-ups.

How to use Toronto's bike share program
Toronto's bike-sharing program, the somewhat-beleaguered, recently rechristenedBike Share Toronto, puts hundreds of bikes at your disposal. (Granted, none of them are west of Ossington or east of the Don, but still.) For $90 a year (or $18 per month), you can borrow a bike at one of their stations and return it when you're done. (If you're in a bind, you can also get 24 hours of access for $7 or 72 hours of access for $15.) It's best for short rides, since you start incurring additional fees after 30 minutes. (Another option: Renting a ride at a bike store.)

RIDING IN THE CITY

How to ride in traffic
Basically, just act like a car - a very small car that doesn't include a huge steel frame, which means you have double the incentive to be smart on the road. Make sure you're visible, obey lights and stop signs, and avoid making unpredictable, sudden movements. Familiarize yourself with the rules of the bike lane, and, of course, Toronto cyclists' worst habits. (By the way, don't ride on the sidewalk. Not only is it uncool - if you're riding an adult-sized bike, it's illegal.) Above all else, remain calm - if you feel nervous about riding in traffic, plan your routes around quiet side streets and bike lanes at first. For a full rundown of rules you can check out the Toronto Cyclists Handbook.

Where to find bike lanes and sharrows
Toronto's cycling infrastructure and network is growing year by year; these include separated or raised bike lanes (the kind seen on Roncesvalles or Sherbourne), flat bike lanes, which are demarcated by a painted line, and sharrows, which are demarcated by a bike signal with an arrow, and signal to cyclists and drivers that they are to share the lane. Use the city's online map or Ride The City's online map or app to familiarize yourself with routes. (If you want to influence where the next set of lanes go in Toronto, download the city's Toronto Cycles app, which tracks where and when (and, crucially, why) people ride in the city.)

What the worst roads are for cyclists
Part of staying safe while riding in Toronto is knowing which streets to avoid. Everyone has their picks for worst roads, but there are a few that consistently show up on most people's lists. Pothole-strewn and bike lane-free, Dufferin is a top contender. So too is the Bloor-Danforth corridor, which is always busy and a prime place to get doored. And please be careful on any street that crosses the 401. Darting out of the on ramp lane can be terrifying.

How to avoid the dreaded dooring
It's one of the city's worst cycling hazards - drivers opening their car doors just as cyclists pass by. When passing parked cars, keep your eyes peeled for rear lights that are still on - and if you see them, slow down and ring your bell to make sure they're aware of your presence.

How to coexist peacefully with streetcars
The law states that when a streetcar's doors are open and the red light on the side of the car is on, vehicles need to wait to pass until the light is off and doors are shut - that includes you, cyclist. Often, streetcar drivers will ring their bells at you when they're approaching from behind - mostly in an effort to make sure you know they're coming (best to give them as wide a berth as possible). The biggest streetcar-related challenge for cyclists, though, isn't the vehicles themselves, so much as it is their tracks - those grooves in the road can catch bike tires and lead to an instant faceplant. Keep your eyes peeled for them, and be sure to roll across them at an angle.

Where to go off the beaten path
Toronto has its fair share of bike paths, but sometimes you'll want to get as far away from vehicular traffic as possible. This is why the city's bike trail network is so crucial. Not only is it a fun way to explore our ample ravine space, but some trails also serve as short cuts through the city for savvy commuters. The best area for off-road riding in the city is the network of trails in the Don Valley, which offers options for a variety of skill levels.

AVOIDING THEFT

What kind of locks to use
Bike theft is all too common in Toronto, and a good, solid U-lock is a must. Put as much as you can afford toward your lock; bike store staff often suggest sinking in at least 10% of the retail price of your bike. Sturdy brands you'll commonly find in Toronto shops include Kryptonite and Abus. Cable locks can help deter wheel thieves - loop one through your front and back wheels and secure it to your main lock. The city offers a ton of anti-theft locking tips on their website to better arm yourself against scumbags with lock-breaking tools.

Where to lock your bike
Toronto's city-approved ring and post locks aren't entirely tamper-proof, but they're generally pretty sturdy. The trouble is, they're often tough to find, especially in high-traffic areas with a high commuter population during the daytime. If you're having trouble finding a ring and post, check out the BikeParkTO website and app for a handy map; you can also request one near your workplace or home through the city's website. If you insist on locking to a fence, tree, or other object, proceed with caution - some private businesses have been known to remove offending bikes.

Do you have a cycling tip to share? Leave it in the comments.

Additional writing by Derek Flack. Photos by Paul Flynn/blogTO Flickr pool, Jesse Milns, Xander Labayen/blogTO Flickr pool, Steve Jones/blogTO Flickr pool.

Self storage solutions in Toronto will save you from overflowing closets, being surrounded by stacks of important paperwork, or even allow you to squirrel away the contents of a family home if necessary. There are dozens of storage companies that will gladly keep your precious belongings safe from intruders, pests, and the ravages of winter ice storms or summer heat waves. The price you pay typically varies by size, features, and location: downtown units are unsurprisingly more expensive than ones in the suburbs.

Most self storage companies in Toronto also charge a mandatory monthly insurance premium, a set-up fee or refundable deposit. Because the billing period varies between companies, I've included an average price per day for a typical 50 square foot unit, which should make it clearer how much each charges to keep your stuff safe. Prices listed here do not include HST or any special offers, of which there are many available.

Here are the best self storage solutions in Toronto.

See also:

The best movers in Toronto
The top 10 options for moving boxes in Toronto

There will soon be no shortage of places to drink freshly-made beer in Liberty Village. Two brew pubs have recently announced they'll be setting up shop there.

The international franchise Les Trois Brasseurs/The Three Brewers, with locations across Ontario and Quebec, in addition to French Polynesia, New Caledonia, La Réunion, and Brazil, will soon be adding to their Toronto portfolio by setting up shop at 99 Atlantic Avenue.

News also broke this past week that Alberta-based Big Rock Brewery would be making a second venture outside of their home province (the first was in Vancouver) to bring their beer to Toronto, building a brew pub at 60 Atlantic Avenue on the corner of Liberty Street, less than 100 metres away from the new Three Brewers location.

Big Rock CEO Robert Sartor confirmed the news by phone earlier today and told me that outdoor beer-drinking will be a big part of the concept. "It's a pretty cool space," he says. "The building is over 100 years old and we occupy part of the old and part of the new and what's exciting to me is that we're going to have a really large patio."

He's also excited to bring some more of Big Rock's small scale and experimental offerings to Ontario, the kind of beers that his company makes in Alberta and BC but rarely make it out of the province given the small scale of those offerings.

Sartor says he's hopeful the doors will open on their brewpub by March and word is that Three Brewers will also be opening sometime next year.

While a representative from Liberty's eponymous brewing company told me today that they are still "actively scouting" locations for their brewery in the same area, this might be bad news for fans of local craft beer and Liberty Village Brewing Company.

It's never a bad thing when we get more options to have food and beer made under the same roof, but the arrival of two established franchise brewpubs (and Local Public Eatery) in the neighbourhood, likely means competition will soon be fierce (and rents high) for any beer-makers and publicans looking to make Liberty Village home.

Photo of an existing Three Brewers location.

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

The TTC is expanding the number of stations with WiFi to cover the entire lower loop (i.e. those stations south of Bloor on Line 1) in time for the Pan Am Games. Already available at Bloor-Yonge, St. George and Bay stations, the new timeline is speedier than some might have expected, but a pleasant surprise. According to a press release, work is currently underway at Wellesley, College, Dundas, and Union stations, with 2015 dates attached to most of the stops on the University side of the line.

BAI Canada still owns the rights to provide cellular signals in the TTC, but no major telecommunications provider has signed on to provide the service, which has left passengers mostly out of luck when wanting to check Instagram before the next train arrives. While the company claims that it will provide cellular infrastructure over the next three to four years, that's far from a sure bet.

And that's way the expansion of the WiFi network comes as welcome news. Sure, a cellular signal would be more convenient, but for compulsive email checkers like myself, the ability to have a quick look at my messages on the platform via WiFi is more than adequate. Is this a step in the right direction for the TTC, or is it still disappointment that we trail cities like Montreal who are moving forward with cellular signals underground?

Photo by Giulio Calisse in the blogTO Flickr pool.

Karen Stintz's path to city council and the 2014 mayoral ballot has been astonishingly direct. From civil servant with no political experience to chair of the Toronto Transit Commission in just 7 years, the rise of the North York-born fiscal conservative is "the stuff of minor legend at city hall," in the words of political commentator John Lorinc.

Elected at the expense of 30-year veteran Anne Johnston, in part due to a controversial condominium project, Stintz has drawn praise from both sides of the political spectrum during her 11 year term as the representative for Ward 16--Eglinton-Lawrence.

Although her degree from the University of Western Toronto is in political science, Stintz briefly pursued a career in journalism after completing a masters program at Boston University, later reporting for a local community newspaper. "I wanted to be [Globe and Mail columnist] Jeff Simpson," she told the paper in 2011. "Honestly, I'm not a very good journalist. I always got the lead wrong." Stintz was working with the province's Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care when she decided to run for councillor in 2003.

"I believe strongly in the role of government," she said, shortly after winning her first election, supporting the contracting out of services. "But government should only do certain things. It needs to be responsible, ensuring service happens efficiently. That doesn't mean they need to be city employees. We can find ways to partner with the private sector."

Was convinced to run for council by a newspaper advert

The Minto Condominiums on the southeast corner of Yonge and Eglinton were the match that lit the fire under Ward 16 and Karen Stintz. Although not within the ward boundaries, incumbent councillor Anne Johnston, entering her thirteenth campaign since 1972, lent support to the two-tower residential development, despite protests from local residents' groups.

One group, the Coalition for Local Change, placed an ad in the North Toronto Town Crier, a local paper, calling for candidates willing to oppose Johnston, and Stintz answered. On election day in November 2003, Stintz upset the veteran councillor, winning 42 percent of the vote to Johnston's 31.

Her father was a NASA engineer who worked on the CanadArm

Karen Stintz, the only child of divorced parents, grew up with her father, Henry Stintz, an American, in North York. Henry was employed by NASA in the United States before moving to Toronto to work for SPAR Aerospace, the company responsible for the design of the arm and main control mechanisms. "I actually got to touch the arm when it was in Brampton," Stintz told The Globe and Mail in 2011, though she never saw a shuttle launch.

Came under fire for spending part of her office budget on speaking lessons

In 2009, the fiscally conservative Stintz was criticized for spending $4,500 (US)--about 8.5 percent of her $53,100 office budget--on speaking lessons from Lynda Spillane, a vocal coach based in Colorado. Stintz defending the spending, saying she had received complaints that she "spoke too fast and sounded 'shrill,'" according to The Star. "Knowing you speak a certain way and trying to correct it on your own is not always successful," she said. Spillane gave her "tips for speaking slower. Where to pause, how to speak, how to communicate, how to get your message out, how to lower your voice, how to be most effective."

Was chair of the TTC for the cancellation of Transit City

Following his 2010 election win, Rob Ford appointed Karen Stintz chair of the Toronto Transit Commission. Though she didn't publicly support Ford during the campaign, Stintz agreed with the new mayor's campaign pledge to build new subway lines instead of several LRTs. The project, which would have seen several light rail lines built across Toronto, was "cancelled" with Stintz at the helm, though she was left out of talks with Metrolinx and Queen's Park, at a cost to the city of about $65 million.

Appeared in an episode of Undercover Boss Canada

While TTC chair, Stintz appeared in an episode of Undercover Boss Canada, a show on the W Network that gave executives of companies such as Second Cup, Pizza Pizza, 1-800-Got-Junk? and FedEx Canada, among others, the chance to experience what it would be like to work at ground level in their own businesses. Stintz adopted the name Ruth Bear--her middle and mother's maiden name--and wore a dark wig ostensibly to see which parts of the TTC could be cut down to size, working in the upholstery shop, learning to drive a subway train, cleaning buses, and working as a janitor.

"We need to build more accountability and more ownership in the TTC, building a culture of accountability," she reported. "Everybody I worked with were longtime TTC employees that did have a lot of pride, and were frustrated by their colleagues that don't."

SEE ALSO:

• 5 things you didn't know about John Tory
• 5 things you didn't know about Olivia Chow
• 5 things you didn't know about David Soknacki

Next week: 5 things you didn't know about Rob Ford.

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

Images: Toronto Star, Nov. 12, 2003, B1.

Today in Toronto you can catch the first of Alvvays' two shows at the Horseshoe. Alvvays hold the distinction of being the only Toronto band to release something catchy this summer. If I'm wrong let me know as I'm not an authority on catchyness, like you, but watch this video first to lighten your outrage.

Free film-wise Open Roof is screening the Grand Budapest Hotel with a musical performance by Ascot Royals, but if you want something with some substance Mooz-lum at Regent Park is a smarter choice. Saving the best for last, SummerWorks will present Lido Pimienta and Natasha Greenblatt doing a one-time collab called The Secret Garden of Lido Pimienta. For more events, click on over to our events section.

• Music: The Secret Garden of Lido Pimienta (Lower Ossington Theatre)
• Film: Open Roof Festival - Grand Budapest Hotel + Ascot Royals (99 Sudbury)
• Film: Outdoor screening of Mooz-Lum (Daniels Spectrum)
• Variety: Spookey Ruben's Dizzy Playground (Supermarket)
• Music: The Indie Blender's 1 Year Anniversary (Dakota)
• Fashion: Raconteurs Storytelling & WORN present "FASHION" (Tranzac)

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

Photo of Alvvays by Irina No

Plus-size fashion lovers, rejoice. International fashion chain H&M's line geared toward women sizes 14 to 24, H&M+, is being rolled into a select few stores across Canada, from Surrey, B.C. to Dieppe, N.B. Last week, the plus-sized selections finally made their way to Toronto, with the chain's store at Vaughan Mills Shopping Centre stocking the collection.

In a plus-size fashion landscape filled with unfortunate shoulder-cutout tops and gaudy rhinestones, H&M+ has often been a breath of fresh air - hell, I've been dreaming about this jacket for like a year. Their current lineup features a variety of under$50 pieces that range from everyday staples (biker-detailed leggings) to trendier, edgier pieces (lace crop tops) to workwear (elegant blazers). Add this collection to boutiques like PRiMAALA and Voluptuous opening boutiques downtown, and it's a pretty good summer for plus-size fashion in Toronto.

After months of popular pop-up appearances, chef Nick Liu has a restaurant and bar to call home. The two-storey spot is now serving up snacky hybrid foods like Big Mac baos, as well as unusual and mildly addictive (literally) two-bite foods nestled on betel leaves.

Read my profile of Dailo in the restaurants section.

Underrated live music neighbourhoods in Toronto are known mainly to their respective locals, and to musicians themselves. For many people Yonge & Dundas Square or Queen St. West (The Rivoli, The Horseshoe, The Cameron House, Tattoo, Czehoski) or College-Bathurst-Spadina (El Mo, Silver Dollar, Rancho, Sneaky Dee's, Free Times Cafe) are their reliable go-tos for live music in the city. Yet the rest of Toronto is no stranger to music and arts on any night of the week, and many neighbourhoods host hidden gems for music lovers.

Here are 5 Toronto neighbourhoods sometimes overlooked for live music, and where and when you can catch it.

THE DANFORTH
Linsmore Tavern (1298 Danforth Ave.)
The Linsmore Tavern will be 80 years old as of December. Its history dates back to when it was the Linsmore Hotel with no windows for certain reasons. Today it's less of a dive with the long bar, pool table, dart boards, TVs, cheap draft and music four nights a week - Thursday to Sunday. Expect high energy indie bands, blues, jazz, soul, and tribute nights (Think: U2, Neil Young, Tom Waits).

The Olde Eton House (710 Danforth Ave.)
14 drafts on tap, a pool table, dart board, and 10 TVs are at the Olde Eton House in Greektown (also part of the "Dirty Danforth Pub Crawl"). Entertainment is varied with DJs, comedy on Tuesdays, and live music Fridays and Saturdays (country, classic rock, and the odd indie band). Venue capacity lists at 200.

Dora Keogh (141 Danforth Ave.)
Considered one of the best "real" Irish Pubs in Toronto, Dora Keogh has a wide list of imported beers. They have live music Thursday nights, and all ages are welcome Saturday afternoons, which draws some of the best Irish musicians around. On Monday they have the Monday Night Jam & Undiscovered Artist Series with Julian Taylor (8pm).

Danforth Music Hall (147 Danforth Ave.)
Not quite 100 years old, the Danforth Music Hall has a long history starting with its first film screening of "Through the Wrong Door" starring Madge Kennedy. After going through changes in ownership, hard times, disrepair, it is now more in line with a top concert hall. Seating capacity is now removable and at about 1,100.

Relish Bar & Grill (2152 Danforth Ave.)
Relish is one of the busiest venues for live music on the Danforth with entertainment seven nights a week. The staff will learn your name. Tapas make up the menu. The floor stage which features monitors, house drum kit and keyboard is near the front window, and the rest of the venue has seating around for around 40. Sundays feature a jazz brunch and evening open jam. The rest of the week has quality indie artist features of various genres.

The Old Nick Pub (123 Danforth Ave.)
The Old Nick is known for a laid back atmosphere, back patio, and standard pub fare including a new menu as of July 2014. Monday nights are "M-Factor" Mondays with host Elana Hart. Tuesdays are open stage night 8pm start. Thursdays have Stiletto Flats with retro and classic rock. Jennifer Brewer hosts an indie songwriter night Saturdays. The floor stage in the front window accommodates the musicians.

Black Swan Tavern (154 Danforth Ave.)
Operated by John and Bill Pachis since 1999, the Black Swan Tavern was originally the Hotel Commerce (est. 1903). An English style pub, they currently feature mostly acoustic bands during the week on the main floor. There's also an open mic with Sebastian Agnello on Mondays, open jam with Nicola Vaughn on Wednesdays. The upstairs has mainly live comedy with the odd music feature.

The Groove Bar & Grill (1952 Danforth Ave.)
If you're looking for beer and wings, the Groove Bar & Grill sports bar has plenty every night. Their entertainment has gone the way of the open mic with events on Tuesdays 8pm, Karaoke Wednesdays, and open mic comedy Thursdays 10pm.

The Only Cafe (972 Danforth Ave.)
The Only Cafe's website advertises that the bar has "events, fun facts, and pictures of kittens." Inside the actual Cafe you'll find 25 local craft brews and 230 bottles. The venue is narrow and thus intimate as can be. Music features are several nights a week with small bands that are folk-rock, blues, and some slightly more psychedelic.

DUNDAS WEST & LITTLE PORTUGALThe Emmet Ray (924 College St.)
College St. locals can be seen the Emmet Ray's front windows enjoying their very long list of whisky and Scotch (not to mention beer). In the smaller back room, most nights have rotating live music features. Music is a mix of folk, blues, jazz, gypsy, funk, soul, and on weekends, DJs. The food menu is relatively small. Cash only with an ATM on site.

Habits Gastropub (928 College St.)
In the three years that they've been open, Habits Gastropub has gone through a few renovations, always maintaining the open kitchen, wide selection of Ontario craft beers, whiskey selection, and VQA wine. The music room in the back with a full upright piano, makes up about a third of the 100+ capacity. They feature popular Jazz bands on most weekends, and local indie artists on other days.

Smiling Buddha (961 College St.)
According to the owner Wayne, the Smiling Buddha continues to feature "hundreds" of indie acts annually. It may be hard to name all of them as most are about as independent as indie gets. In the 10 years they've been open, not too much has changed as far as the decor goes. X-mas lights illuminate the room, inexpensive beer bottles, and sometimes questionable audio.

The Caledonian (856 College St.)
The Caledonian advertises its award-winning Haggis. Though its unclear what committee determines this award, the gastropub is about as traditional Scottish pubs gets. They have an impressive list of Scotch whiskys. On some occasions they have traditional Scottish live music as well.

Dakota Tavern (249 Ossington Ave.)
"We are a little bar tucked into the heart of Little Portugal in Toronto. Bad music doesn't happen here." Lots of good things happen at the Dakota Tavern including their bluegrass Sunday Brunch. Evenings are filled with great sound and great bands in the country, Americana, roots, folk-rock genres.

Painted Lady (218 Ossington Ave.)
A small-ish venue, The Painted lady squeezes a lot in the inside. Various paintings of women all the wall, red-lights, vintage decor, pin-ups, and a bar-top burlesque dancer. They have an open mic Monday, late night dance DJs. Music five to seven nights a week includes rock, soul, funk, ska, reggae, trance, garage, surf-rock...

Opera Bob's Public House (1112 Dundas St. West)
Unique to Opera Bob's is Mill Street's Bob's Bearded Red beer. Joel Manning of Mill Street creates the beer for oper singer Opera Bob. Located at the very east end of Little Portugal on Dundas St. West, the venue has live Americana-Bluegrass-Country-Tinged music from The Ole Fashion every Sunday night.

Lula Lounge (1585 Dundas St. West)
Lula Lounge has established itself as a top venue for Latin music in Toronto, and likely Canada. Capacity lists at 250 with most events programmed for seating 150-190 and high quality sound. Friday and Saturday feature are dinner and show packages, and the rest of the week varies. Other featured genres are Jazz, Latin Jazz, soul, world, funk, Reggae. Some independent other genre artists play special event shows at Lula.

Full of Beans (1348 Dundas St. West)
Owner Lori Nytko puts a lot of work into selecting and roasting the coffee found at Full of Beans. Blends include South American, African, and a number of more exotic and fair trades. Light snack foods are also available. Music on afternoon weekends include a mostly acoustic open mic Saturday 1pm, and features from the open mic Sunday 2pm.

The Garrison (1197 Dundas St. West)
One of the largest venues in Little Portugal with a capacity of 270. The Garrison is known in the indie music scene due to former Sneaky Dee's booker Shaun Bowring. Also known for shell tacos served up front. In the back room, you get excellent site lines, sound, and everything fans want in a cantina style-dive bar. In addition to indie rock, the Garrison features a rotating list of DJs.

PARKDALE
Not My Dog (1510 Queen St. West)
Not My Dog may be the smallest live music venue in Parkdale with a capacity around 40 (not including patio) and most of it standing room only. It may also be the busiest live music venue in Parkdale with live music every night of the week. Features include excellent emerging and established singer-songwriters. Not My Dog also has a "house cat" who often makes the rounds.

Wrongbar (1279 Queen St. West.)
With a large dance floor and quality acoustics, Wrongbar is perfect for the scenesters, hip-hop and DJs most nights. NXNE typically also hosts larger special access events at Wrongbar.

Cadillac Lounge (1296 Queen St. West)
Not too much has changed at the Cadillac Lounge since it opened in 2000. The rusted old 60's Cadillac still sits above the front doors and the neon sign in the window advertises live bands, amback yard patio and uh, beer (and some dispute over food quality). Music, not always nightly, focuses on roots, country, bluegrass, rockabilly, and related genres.

The Sister (1554 Queen St. West)
Renamed The Sister in 2012 from Mitzi's Sister, the venue is locally known for their huge portions at weekend brunch. At night it has a darker atmosphere, and music nights still continue, though not every night as they once did. Mostly indie rock bands take the mid-size stage there with relatively low cover charges.

Motel (1235 Queen St. West.)
If you don't live in Parkdale, Motel Bar is one spot you might not know about. Open for almost five years, the name implies non-hotel size-decor as found further east on Queen St. It's narrow, there's limited seating, old art lines the walls, and like the rest of the place the stage is small. Thursday, Friday, Saturday DJs and the odd jazz or indie band on some other nights.

Amico's Pizza (1648 Queen St. West)
Amico's is a staple in Parkdale for their late night hours and large portions of just about everything. They currently feature a Thursday night open mic and solo singer-songwriters on Friday nights.

Parts & Labour (1566 Queen St. West)
Parts & Labour is a little bit of an anomaly for Parkdale with its main floor that serves a full menu and cocktails galore. Downstairs, the Shop is a 170 person capacity room featuring local DJs, live bands (Britpop, Hip Hop, R&B, Funk, New Wave), and other special events with a full party atmosphere.

THE JUNCTION
3030 Dundas (3030 Dundas St. West.)
Owner Jameson Kelly has put together an eclectic mix of full menu, tapas, black and white television, pinball machines, and a concert-event venue. The music room is a long bar, wide stage, full sound system (though boomy sounding and extensive backline) and capacity for over 100. Events seven nights a week include live bands (mix of genres), comedy, trivia, DJs.

Humble Beginnings (3109 Dundas St. West)
Humble Beginnings is coming up on one year in operation. It is a smaller eat-in and take-out spot in the Junction with a focus on fresh ingredients and celebration of 160 different cuisines. In the small back room (capacity 15-20) they host live acoustic music on Saturdays 12:30. Genres include folk, jazz, blues, and Flamenco in primarily solo or duo format.

Junction City Music Hall (2907 Dundas St. West)
JCMH as they are calling themselves on Facebook, are a new concert venue in the Junction. A first person account of their Junction Punk Rock Throwdown describes the place as, "part of a secret club that only the cool kids know about." It's a basement level place and accessed by a steep staircase. Loud sound in the easy to engage in dancing in kind of way. Music and events vary depending on the night of the week.

Hole In The Wall (2867 Dundas St. West.)
The Hole In The Wall is another one of the aptly named venues in the Junction. It has a bar that is narrow, that is very narrow, 20 or so seats, and size-wise, the stage could fit in a guitar case or two. The venue has gone through a few changes after opening about 14 years ago. The clients lean more towards hipsters, locals, and music lovers. The music format now includes an open mic every Monday, Derek Downham every Wednesday, and a rotating list of regulars every Friday, Saturday evening.

La Revolucion (2848 Dundas St. West)
La Revolucion is starting to make a name for itself on the popularity of its guacamole alone. The Mexican restaurant has a number of authentic dishes on the menu as well. Music is starting to expand their with Tinderbox Thursday acoustic open mic for musicians and comedians. Saturday music includes Spanish (and English) performing artists. They have also have a nice piano on site.

Axis Bar and Grill (3048 Dundas St. West)
The Axis Bar and Grill has a reputation for friendly staff, pub fare including the notable sweet potato fries, and live music. Total capacity lists at 135 which is split between the main floor and downstairs lounge. The side patio is extra. Tuesday is their popular open jam night, Friday DJs, Saturday live music, and Saturday and Sunday brunch with live music.

BEACHES
Castro's Lounge (2116 Queen St. East)
Castro's Lounge might be in the running for smallest live music venue with a capacity under 40 people. Under new ownership for just over a year, they have switched over to a vegetarian menu. They still maintain a selection of microbrews and imports. Music start times vary depending on the day with some early and late showcases. Formats include rockabilly, jazz, folk-rock, and blues.

The Feathers Pub (962 Kingston Road, Upper Beach)
Feathers Pub is an English style pub that has been around for over 30 years. Just about every photo related to them showcases their impressive malt selection. Live songwriter style nights happen every Saturday.

The Madhus Cafe (982 Kingston Road., Upper Beach)
The Madhus Cafe occupies the old Dip'n Sip location in the Upper Beach. "Madhus" could be a play on any number of name origins: in Danish it means Food-House, and in Indo-Aryan languages it means honey-sweet. Open only since February 2014, they are a mixed arts venue with coffee, and music and arts events. Soul, funk, DJs, and acoustic are currently being featured on various nights.

My Place In the Beach (2066 Queen St. East)
The 42 different fonts they use on their website might distract you a little from the fact My Place In The Beach serves food. And has music. The venue serves mostly traditional pub fare with a focus on wings. Hard to tell again with those 42 fonts. Tuesdays are Karaoke, Thursday all request DJs, Friday and Saturday DJ party nights, and Sunday there's an open jam with Eddy Culjak.

Melange (172 Main Street)
The Melange restaurant has the same ownership as Cool Running nearby in the Beach. The decor is often commented on as pretty drab and the music while advertised as the best in the city, can be marginal depending on your taste. Open Mic Thursdays 9pm. Singer-songwriters most other nights and some Karaoke.

Writing by Ryan Ayukawa