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This is what the Raptors' training facility will look like

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toronto raptors trainingThe Toronto Raptors' planned $30 million, 68,000 sq. ft. Exhibition Place training facility moved a step closer to reality earlier this week. The city's executive committee voted to give the centre, which will be funded by Maple Sports and Entertainment, the green light. All that stands in the way now is the approval of city council next week.

The basketball centre would be built on a parcel of land at the west end of the Exhibition Place grounds, next to the Medieval Times arena, which is currently a baseball diamond.

Inside there will be two basketball courts and a range of other facilities. As part of the agreement with the city, the Raptors will make the majority of daytime and evening court time available to the public, though Rob Ford criticized the possible $160 an hour rate.

Toronto parks staff say there is a shortage of premium basketball courts close to downtown.

As part of the proposed deal, MLSE will rent the Exhibition Place land from the city. Over the 20-year term, the owners of the Raptors will pay approximately $4.4 million--roughly $205,000 a year. In addition, the team will pay about $400,000 a year in property taxes.

The team hopes to have the training centre open in time for the Toronto NBA all-star game in 2016.

toronto raptors training

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

Image: Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment


First ever Filipino street festival in Toronto this weekend

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Taste of Manila TorontoTaste of Manila, the first ever Filipino street festival in Toronto, goes down this weekend at Bathurst and Wilson. Organized by the Philippine Cultural Community Centre, the two-day fest will showcase a broad array of Filipino culture, including street food, live music, and folk dancing. Oh, and perhaps most intriguing of all, the event promises to feature the world's largest boodle fight. Better bring an empty stomach.

This event has flown a bit under the radar leading up to its first run, but should prove a unique addition to Toronto's roster of summer street festivals. Organizers are predicting upwards of 10,000 in attendance at the inaugural event, which will close down Bathurst between Wilson and Allingham Street. Running from 10am to midnight on Saturday and 10am to 6pm on Sunday, the idea is to appeal to families by day and operate as a more boisterous night market in the late hours on Saturday.

The Best Greek Restaurants in Toronto

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greek restaurants torontoThe best Greek restaurants in Toronto are no longer concentrated to the Danforth (though Greektown certainly represents), and while souvlaki and gyros are still house faves, these are the places to discover other delicacies, too. Flaky phyllo pies, flaming cheese and innumerable combinations of mezedes are all on offer - not to mention fresh seafood that aims to transport diners to the Aegean coast, if only for an evening.

Here are the best Greek restaurants in Toronto.

See also:

Weekend events in Toronto: August 22-24, 2014

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Weekend events TorontoWeekend events in Toronto is our guide to events happening this Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Here's what's happening in Toronto this August 22-24, 2014.

Waterfront Beach Festival
Head down to the lake in your best non-neon for a beach (umbrella) party this Saturday. The under-used HTO Park on the Waterfront is the location for the first ever 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). Saturday, August 23, HTO Park. BB

FOOD

Festival of South Asia
It's the perfect weekend to visit east end Toronto's Little India: Gerrard India Bazaar a.k.a Festival of South Asia's street fest is on this weekend from noon until 11pm. Expect to find over one hundred shops, restaurants, and vendors representing regional diversities of South Asian food, fashion, and music. Saturday - Sunday August 23-24, 12-11pm, Gerrard India Bazaar (Gerrard Street East from Greenwood to Coxwell). LI

See also

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

ART

weekend events TorontoAlex Colville
The AGO's latest exhibit is painter-of-doldrums and danger Alex Colville, who passed away last year. The AGO show will be the largest Colville exhibition ever, and there will not be nap stations or free hankies to wipe the sweat from your brow. Tough it out at the public opening at the Art Gallery of Ontario (317 Dundas St. West) this Saturday.

See also

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

GETAWAYS

Sunday Drive
One of summers most intriguing art events will take place in unassuming Warkworth, ON - about 150km from Toronto. Sunday Drive presents Warkworth will span two weeks, as Toronto artists present installations and performances via Mercer Union, Gladstone Hotel, Huntclub, Art Spin, and more. The exhibit launches Saturday, August 23 with projections by Oliver Pauk, Michael Vickers, and Personnel and a performance by Hazel Meyer. No ride? Take the bus from 87 Wade Ave at 4pm for $25 - the trip includes free drinks, snacks, and surprises, and returns at midnight.

FILM

I Dream of Wires
The Toronto music documentary everyone is talking about is finally coming home. I Dream of Wires is an independent doc that traces the lineage of the noble and hard to comprehend modular synthesizer in a film that's surprisingly straightforward and engaging. The history of electronic music is wound up in I Dream of Wires's modular love-in, connecting with electronic celebs Trent Reznor (Nine Inch Nails), Gary Numan, Chris Carter (Throbbing Gristle), Daniel Miller, Cevin Key (Skinny Puppy), Deadmau5, and more. It's a can't-miss for Toronto music fans. See it Saturday (August 23) at Bloor Hot Docs Cinema with a Q&A and live performance.

See also

MUSIC

Zvi + Isa Christ
It's been a light summer in Toronto for true noise shows. Why is the experimental scene trying so hard to be a party scene? Psych sock-hops and slacker stoner culture, how avant. Finally, here's your no bells, no whistles noise show of the month via Burn Down the Capital, held at Toronto's newest second-floor event space, Ratio in Kensington Market. Your Instagram needs more straight up effects-board gazing. Friday, August 22, Ratio (283 College).

See also

For more music listings, check out our August Concerts, Summer Concerts, and Summer Music Festivals posts.

STOMACH PAIN

CNE
What rides? The CNE has become something of a Mecca for deep-fried eats. Consume at your own peril. Check out our outrageous food preview here and our top entertainment picks here. There are rides, games, and male-dominated musical performances too. Until September 1, Exhibition Place (200 Princes' Blvd).

FASHION

Fashion Friday
Head to Toronto's shipping container market at Dundas and Bathurst for a fashion pop-up today until 9pm. There will be giveaways, food, a catwalk, and more. If you want to vogue, everyone wants to see you vogue. If you just want to shop, that's fine. Friday, August 22, 5-9pm, Market 707 (707 Dundas St West).

See also

COMMUNITY

Cityfest
The second annual Cityfest means you can eat, drink, and win prizes at this free celebration of, well, Toronto. Performances and DJ sets are on tap from the likes of Glenn Morrison, Frank Walker, No Big Deal, Wil Young, Brothers of North, South of Bloor, and Red Eye Flights. Saturday, August 23, 4-10pm, Canoe Landing Park (95 Fort York Blvd).

See also

WATERSPORTS

Canada's Biggest WaterFight
Will this be the biggest water fight in Canada ever? A thousand un-recorded summer camp face-offs will never prove otherwise. Saturday, August 23, 2-5pm, Trinity Bellwoods Park.

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

With contributions from Liora Ipsum, Benjamin Boles.

Photo via rvnix in the blogTO flickr pool. Alex Colville photo at the AGO by Emily Baillie via Instagram

Captain John's finally sold and ready to move

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captain johns soldCaptain John's has finally been sold, and a date has been set to remove it from the Toronto Harbour. Entrepreneur James Sbrolla, who bid successfully for the ship a few weeks ago before complications related to its removal put the sale in doubt, came through with the remaining funds (in the neighbourhood of $30,000) this afternoon. While Sbrolla's hope was to save the ship from being scrapped, this ultimately proved too tall a task.

"While we tried and tried to find a home for the ship as a whole (we had hoped that we could save the entire ship), we ultimately came to the conclusion that it was not possible for it to be 'reused' as is," Sbrolla wrote in a statement today. "Priestly Demolition will be the new owner of the Jadran. We will work closely with Priestly to move the ship and stay involved where possible to ensure that there is as much saved as possible."

Also part of the project is Toronto Brigantine, a tall ship charter company who hopes to reuse as many parts of the old vessel as possible. The plan is to move the ship on August 29, though a destination has yet to be announced. While putting too much faith in that date might be naive, the end to the Captain John's saga is near. In any case, it will soon no longer occupy the pier at the foot of Yonge St. where it has been docked since the 1970s.

Lazy day by the lake

What bars used to look like in Toronto

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toronto Empringham hotelFor as long as there's been a Toronto (or York,) there have been bars and pubs. The earliest drinking establishments often doubled as general stores, hotels, community meeting places, and restaurants. The Toronto Coffee House--the first business to include "Toronto" in its name--was one such early establishment. Opened in December 1801 by William Cooper, who was variously a wharf keeper, teacher, auctioneer, and coroner, the establishment served brandy, wine, and London porter beer.

Cooper said he hoped to operate his coffee house "as nearly on the footing of an English inn as local circumstances" would allow. As it happened, early Toronto had a shortage of public buildings, and it appears at least one coroner's inquest was held at Cooper's tavern.

Since then, Toronto has embraced alcohol, seen banned it completely during prohibition, and accepted restrictive laws that still limit its availability outside of bars. Despite an 11-year dry spell, many of Toronto's oldest drinking establishments can trace more than a hundred years of history.

Here's what Toronto bars used to look like.

See also

toronto st charles hotelSt. Charles Hotel, King and Yonge, 1911.

toronto red lionThe Red Lion Hotel, Yonge and Bloor, 1912.

toronto oyster barOyster Bar, 1913.

toronto silver railThe Silver Rail, Yonge and Shuter, Toronto's first licensed cocktail lounge.

toronto jolly millerJolly Miller Tavern, Yonge Street, 1945.

toronto jolly millerJolly Miller Tavern, Yonge Street, 1955.

toronto beauchamp tavernBeauchamp House (formerly the Greenland Fishery Tavern,) Front and John streets, 1885.

toronto angelos tavernAngelo's Tavern, Chestnut and Edward, 1955.

toronto brown derbyThe Brown Derby, Yonge and Dundas, 1952.

toronto brown derbyThe Brown Derby, Yonge and Dundas, 1971.

toronto o'keefe'sO'Keefe's Pub (during tour by Fosters Advertising,) 1956.

toronto colonial tavernColonial Tavern, Yonge Street, 1977.

toronto hard rock cafeHard Rock Cafe, Yonge and Dundas, 1979.

toronto pretzel tavernThe Pretzel Tavern, Adelaide and Duncan, 1979.

toronto wheat sheafThe Wheat Sheaf, King and Bathurst, 1981.

toronto horseshoe tavernThe Horseshoe Tavern, Queen Street West.

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

Images: Beauchamp House, 1855, Toronto Public Library, B 11-19b; Empringham Hotel, 1900, Toronto Public Library, 966-2-13; St. Charles Hotel, 1911, City of Toronto Archives; Red Lion Hotel, 1912, Toronto Public Library, JRR 716 Cab; Oyster Bay Lunch Counter, 1913, City of Toronto Archives; Jolly Miller Tavern, 1945/1955, City of Toronto Archives; Brown Derby, 1952/1971, City of Toronto Archives; Angelo's Tavern, 1955, Toronto Public Library, S 1-2315; O'Keefe's Pub, 1956, City of Toronto Archives; Colonial Tavern, 1977, City of Toronto Archives; Hard Rock Cafe, 1979, City of Toronto Archives; The Pretzel Tavern, 1979, City of Toronto Archives; The Wheat Sheaf, 1981, City of Toronto Archives; Patrick Cummins

The top 50 stars scheduled to appear at TIFF 2014

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tiff starsWant to know where to find celebrities at TIFF? You might get lucky, and spot Ryan Reynolds grabbing a burrito at your favourite local spot - or get even luckier, and snag an invite to a top-secret bash. But if you want to get all scientific about it, it's as easy as buying a ticket to - or staking out a spot in front of - the screenings and panels where they're scheduled to appear.

In an effort to give you stargazers a good place to start, I've narrowed down the list of luminaries headed to the festival to the top 50 screen legends, and listed them by scheduled public appearance date; click on each name to get more info on times and locations for each screening. Hope you've got your autograph books and Sharpies ready.

Here are the top 50 stars scheduled to appear at TIFF 2014.

Thursday, September 4
Al Pacino
Juliette Binoche
Robert Downey, Jr.
Robert Duvall

Friday, September 5
Bill Murray
Diane Keaton
Jake Gyllenhaal
Kristen Wiig
Morgan Freeman

Saturday, September 6
Adam Sandler
Al Pacino
Dustin Hoffman
Holly Hunter
Jennifer Garner
Juliette Binoche
Kevin Costner
Michael Douglas
Octavia Spencer
Richard Gere
Salma Hayek

Sunday, September 7
Anna Kendrick
Denzel Washington
Jane Fonda
Jason Bateman
John Cusack
Jon Stewart
Kevin Kline
Reese Witherspoon
Richard Gere
Tina Fey
Sam Worthington

Monday. September 8
Andrew Garfield
Anna Kendrick
Ben Stiller
Channing Tatum
Gael Garcia Bernal
Jennifer Aniston
Jon Stewart
Julianne Moore
Mark Ruffalo
Michael Shannon
Reese Witherspoon
Sam Worthington
Steve Carell
Vanessa Redgrave

Tuesday, September 9
Benedict Cumberbatch
Keira Knightley
John Cusack
Julianne Moore
Robert Pattinson
Viggo Mortensen

Wednesday, September 10
Catherine Keener
Keira Knightley
Mark Ruffalo
Sam Rockwell
Viggo Mortensen

Thursday, September 11
Adam Sandler
Anna Kendrick
Benicio del Toro
Dustin Hoffman
Hayden Christiensen
Ryan Reynolds
Tobey Maguire

Friday, September 12
Anthony Mackie
Jennifer Connelly
John Travolta

Saturday, September 13
Kate Winslet

the equalizer movieThanks to the Equalizer, starring Denzel Washington, for sponsoring our coverage of TIFF 2014.


Meet the newest live karaoke band in Toronto

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Good Enough live karaoke TorontoLive band karaoke isn't a new idea in Toronto (a city that most definitely lovesits karaoke), but if you have rock star dreams or ever wanted to front a band, chances are you're already pretty excited about the newest band on the scene. For uninitiated aspiring frontmen and frontwomen, meet your back up: Good Enough.

Good Enough live karaoke TorontoComprised of Tim McCready (rhythm guitar/keys) whom you may know from 159 Manning's parties (where Buck 65 employed Good Enough as a backing back), Fraser McEvoy (drums), Jesse Bellon (lead guitar) and Craig Mailman (bass), Good Enough's existence emerged from a Christmas party request last year.

"We had two weeks to get it together," McCready recalls. "I got a call from the sound guy at the Hoxton. He had a corporate thing where he was like, 'They only have $400, but they need a karaoke band. Can you put a band together? It doesn't have to be very good.'"

McCready made some calls and from there they made a list of 50 songs, which was then whittled down to about 20 - mostly Christmas songs. And that's where the name came from. "Because we had two weeks to pull it together... we'd be rehearsing and going through the songs. It'd be like, 'Okay. That one's good enough. Next! Okay, good enough. Next..."

Good Enough live karaoke TorontoSince then, Good Enough has been gaining momentum as pretty much the only live karaoke band in Toronto (previously, Shark Week held that title, but haven't been active since 2009). They've been doing live karaoke nights at Clinton's Tavern every other Wednesday and recently additional nights at Junction City Music Hall and Parts & Labour.

Good Enough live karaoke TorontoReception has been positive - audience members actually move to front-of-stage to support performers (a rare occurrence in the Toronto live music scene!). "A lot of people who come out have super incredible voices. They don't want to deal with the bullshit of a band, but they want to sing," says McAvoy. "They know the songs inside out. They're not musicians, per se, but they're just super talented individuals."

Good Enough live karaoke TorontoGood Enough's song catalogue ranges from Alanis Morissette and Erykah Badu to Minor Threat and The Smiths. Says McCready and Bellon, "It's fun to feel like we can do anything. It's not like we're stuck with one style," and the changing set list "keeps you on your toes." The guys tell me Miley Cyrus' "Wrecking Ball" is one of their favourite songs to play.

Good Enough live karaoke TorontoSingers and prospective attendees alike can request songs ahead of time via the Good Enough Facebook group and view their current repertoire and upcoming karaoke nights. The band are willing to tackle any song requests, boasting an impressive and rapidly growing catalogue at 300+ songs.

"If people are going to come and do justice to the songs, then we're happy to do whatever they want to do," says McAvoy.

Outside of Good Enough, all four members have their own projects and are also considering expanding Good Enough beyond the karaoke band realm at some point. Unsurprisingly, they also have the chops as a backing band for established musicians - they will be acting once again as Buck 65's band for his show at Danforth Music Hall in November.

Good Enough live karaoke TorontoAnd, aspiring singers of Toronto, Good Enough can also be your backing band. Says Bellon, "Just on Wednesday, someone was on stage and she was like, 'Whoa! I'm in a band!' And I was like, 'Yes, you are!'"

Your next chance to sing with Good Enough is Thursday, August 28 at Parts & Labour.

Photos by Rhett Morita. Photo with Buck 65 from 159 Manning by Matt Forsythe.

The 5 busiest TTC subway stations

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ttc subway stationsThe TTC subway and RT ridership figures tell a tale of extremes. The busiest station, Bloor-Yonge, is an astonishing 352 times busier than the quietest, Ellesmere, which handles just 1,140 riders a day due to its terrible location in the middle of an industrial area. Bloor-Yonge checks all the boxes: it's downtown at a major crossroads,

The comparison isn't entirely fair because Bloor-Yonge is busier than every station on the network by a long, long way. Even the second busiest station, St. George, handles just 63 percent of the riders of its neighbour two stops to the east. Interchange stations, which benefit from counting some riders twice (the ones that switch lines,) make up four of the top five for that reason.

Here are the five busiest TTC subway stations.

Bloor-Yonge
No surprises here. Bloor-Yonge is the busiest station on the TTC subway by an astonishing distance. Every day, about 401,000 people combined use the stations' two levels. The Line 1 Bloor platform is the busiest of the pair, seeing about 211,000 a day. The Line 2 Yonge level is slightly less busy with 190,000 daily users. To put these figures in perspective, the combined number for both platforms is more than the daily riderships of the Scarborough RT and Sheppard line put together.

St. George
Anywhere people change lines on the subway is a ridership hotspot. St. George, which handles about 253,000 people a day, can't touch Bloor-Yonge in terms of crowds, but it comes closest of any other TTC subway station. The lower Line 2 level of St. George station is slightly busier (129,000 riders) than the upper Line 1 level (124,000,) but it's a relatively even split. Excluding Bloor-Yonge, St. George is the busiest station on Line 2 and Line 1.

Sheppard-Yonge
Though the ridership levels of the Sheppard line (Line 4) leave a lot to be desired, Sheppard-Yonge, the western terminus of the five-stop subway is the busiest. Combined with the Line 1 riders, the station moves about 124,000 people a day, on average, which is about half that of St. George. The second busiest station on Line 4 is Don Mills, which sees about 33,000 daily users.

Kennedy
Scarborough's Kennedy station is a hive of activity during rush hour. Here, unlike other TTC interchanges, three modes of transportation meet: there's the subway underground, a busy bus level, and the Scarborough RT platform on the roof. In total, 105,000 riders use Kennedy's subway and RT levels. The subway alone accounts for 71,000. At the other end of the line, Kipling station processes about 53,000 riders.

Union
Before the opening of the second platform, tiny Union station processed 100,000 riders a day, close to its capacity, especially during Leafs and Raptors games. The narrow original platform, which now serves Downsview trains only, was a relic of the 1950s and early 60s when Union was the southern terminus of the Yonge line. The ridership figures are a touch higher than Finch (97,000,) which is the sixth busiest on the subway.

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

Image: MrDanMofo/blogTO Flickr pool.

The top 10 cafes that serve brunch in Toronto

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cafe brunch torontoThe top cafes that serve brunch in Toronto are perfect for those who give food and drink equal weight in their weekend rituals. Knowing of a cafe equipped with a well-stocked kitchen can save you from subsisting on bottomless drip coffee (that can wreak havoc on your not-yet-fortified tummy). Here's a list of places where you can have it all; superbly crafted espressos along with eggs, waffles, pancakes and the rest.

Here are my picks for the top cafes that serve brunch in Toronto.

Voodoo Child
This cafe on College is a daily destination to get that first caffeine fix, and on weekdays, you'll find sandwiches, croissants and bagels on the menu. Weekends are another story - brunch starts at 10am, and while the menu is limited to just three selections, it's always changing, so it's hard to get bored. The offerings generally include an omelette or some sort of eggy fare, plus something sweet like pancakes or french toast. The last option usually gets inventive, with recent selections including bibimbap, smoked salmon tartare, or wieners on a bun (featuring Sanagan's breakfast sausages).

The Scullery
This Cabbagetown cafe pairs its lineup of Pilot blends brunch menu with various bennies ($10.50-$13.50), waffles ($11.50) and huevos rancheros ($11.50). Vegans and vegetarians will find tofu substitutes ready to accommodate, but for those without restrictions, I recommend the scones ($5.50) with butter, jam and devon cream. Their brunch menu is served weekends from 9am to 3pm.

Brickyard Grounds
Brunch starts at 8:30am on Saturdays and at 9am on Sundays and goes until 2pm at this cafe just west of Little India. While breakfast sandwiches ($6) are a tempting to-gooffering, on weekends the menu will encourage you to linger over berry or banana waffles ($10) and hangover-helping plates like the Mason's breakfast ($12) that sees a savoury, chive-studded waffle served with pulled rotisserie-cooked chicken, mashed potatoes, strip bacon and gravy.

Belljar Cafe
Served 10am to 3pm on weekends, this Roncesvalles Village coffee house offers a full menu for brunch. Expect to find morning staples like eggs benny ($11-$15), breakfast burritos ($9-$12), sweet and savoury crepes ($9-$11) and waffles ($10-$15) to go along with coffees from Classic Gourmet in Concord.


Hub Coffee House & Locavorium

Recently relocated from Shaw to a new address on Dovercourt, the Hub serves brunch on Sundays only from 9am to 2pm. While Dark City coffees are a big enough draw throughout the week, expect the Sunday menu to satisfy substantial appetites with features like eggs benedict ($11) and huevos rancheros ($12), as well as more unusual offerings like eggs Angkor ($12) - a Cambodian-inspired cashew, coconut cream, lime and kefir curry over poached eggs.

Crema Coffee
While the cafe's three Toronto locations are known for top-notch espressos, at the Danforth outpost, you'll also find brunch offered on weekends. Chef Josh Charbonneau has converted an under utilized back room into a kitchen to offer breakfast burritos ($6) weekround and a full brunch menu on the weekends. Expect to find poached eggs in "benny form" on top of roast pork loin and buttermilk waffles ($13), as well as in huevos rancheros ($12) served with house-made salsa rojas, baked black beans and corn tortillas.

Scout and Cash
Replacing the beloved brunch spot The Bristol Yard, this newly-opened neighbourhood cafe offers a concise brunch menu on weekends that helps to fill the void left behind. While the selections are limited, there's a little something for everyone including all-time faves like French toast ($11.75), eggs florentine ($13) and three-egg omelettes ($14).

Le Gourmand
This bakery cafe at Spadina and Richmond might be best known for its delicious cookies and walk-up lunch counter, though on weekends they're happy to bring brunch to your table. From 9am to 3pm, expect to find a rotating menu featuring delectable lemon ricotta pancakes ($11.16), creme brulee French toast, ($11.16) or huevos chilaquiles ($10).

Atlas Espresso Bar
On Front, this coffee house offers some surprisingly varied and creative daily food specials. While brunch is on hiatus for the rest of the summer, you'll find chef Dale Fraser there most weekends whipping up off-the-cuff menus that have, in recent months, featured dishes like chicken and waffles or build-your-own omelettes, all generally priced around the $10 mark (including a coffee).

Lazy Daisy Cafe
This busy Little India cafe offers an extensive list of chow to be enjoyed while sipping lattes. Select from indulgent options like marscapone stuffed challah french toast ($13), or try the very reasonably-priced breakfast, the Ultimate ($8), which comes with Mennonite sausage, a fried egg, melted cheddar and apple butter stacked on a buttery breakfast biscuit. Their brunches are served exclusively on Sundays from 8:30am to 2:30pm.

Did I miss any? Leave your favourite cafe that serves weekend brunch in the comments.

Photo of Voodoo Child by Jesse Milns.

New Greek diner serves late-night eats all week long

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tzatziki restaurant torontoThere's a brand-new gyro shop on the east side. Just off the beaten path in Pape Village you'll find this newly opened diner serving locals at lunch and hungry crowds into the wee hours of the morning. The menu offers a dozen pita wraps to pick from, plus big dinners, assorted mezedes and home-style specials.

Read my profile of Tzatziki in the restaurants section.

The top 10 restaurants in Toronto to eat at when you're drunk

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drunk torontoYou're drunk in Toronto and you need food. Where to go? While the bars, pubs and late night eats app will help, I've rounded-up ten of my favourite places when nothing but a cheap, alcohol busting late night meal will do. Will you even remember eating there? Doesn't matter. By the next morning, with last night's greasy snack creating a little buffer from the crazy hangover you're about to get, you'll be thankful for the extended hours and sustenance at these joints.

Here's my list of the top restaurants in Toronto to eat at when you're drunk

Poutini's
There are plenty of places to grab poutine these days but this popular spot near Queen and Dovercourt is arguably the best. The classic fries with cheese curds and gravy is available here but this joint also has tons of other toppings too to take it to the next level and they're also open until 3am. Poutini's is a play on Houdini's, because this stuff is magic for a hangover.

The Lakeview
I have one word for you- 24-hour diner. You say that's three words? Well, you might have had a little less to drink than me. After the show, it's the after party and after the party, it's the hotel lobby and round about four you got to the Lakeview, and eat eggs or a grilled cheese or something weird like chili in a bread bowl, and there's your night.

Dairy Freeze
Why you'd be at St. Clair and Caledonia, who knows, but then you often end up in unlikely places when you've imbibed too much. But when that golden Dairy Freeze sign crosses your hazy view, and you tilt your head to read "Beef Burgers" and "We Only Serve the Best. Try Our Steak on A Bun. Homemade Fish & Chips. Souvlaki" you'll be so psyched, shouting OMG and running like a manic through the parking lot like it's the second coming.

Hong Shing
Greasy Chinese is my go-to hangover food, and it's seems I'm not alone. Whenever I show up at Hong Shing I'm like, "What are you guys doing here?" No worries though, as there is plenty of General Tao and snow peas to go around, as food is fast, plentiful and cheap, and it's open late.

El Furniture Warehouse
It hasn't been opened long in Toronto, taking over from the Pump, though as a hangover restaurant it might have impressed itself in the minds of the college kids on their snowboard vacays in Whistler (that's where the chain started). Dive bar aesthetic helps transition from party to post party eats, and with everything at $4.95 on the menu, you won't walk up and wonder where those last two twenties went.

Rol San
Dim Sum in the middle of the night is a revelation. Small, fried things with dipping sauce? Yes please. Head to the very back room of Rol San and grab a table and order item after item until you are stuffed. There are no windows so you have no idea how late (or early) it is getting so you just finally emerge, slightly less drunk and ready to greet the day (or your bed).

Kabul Express
Downtowners and Ryerson students know where to go to quell the booze blues - it's Kabul Express. The bright lights and cafeteria trays do nothing to deter the throngs of drunkards from getting their kabob on. Staff is friendly and prices are cheap, which makes the whole experience that much more palatable, and the rice sides provide a good base for soaking up all that alcohol.

Big Slice on Yonge
The grease wheel is a time honoured dish for salty dogs, and where else would you get it but the Big Slice? Their pizza is thin and cheesy and the slices extra 'monster' big, plus they have Italian sandwiches and lasagna. They are also open between 9 am and 5 am seven days a week, which by my calculations means there is only a total of 28 hours you cannot get your 'za fix.

Lou Dawg's
Sometimes it's best if the food you are about to eat is as sauced and sloppy as you are. That's why Lou Dawg's is such a winner - with menu items like BBQ chicken wings and pulled pork and brisket and the Mighty Loutine - a twist on poutine topped with pulled pork- that if it gets all over your face you can just wake up the next day, lick your lips and find yourself enjoying a second helping.

Pho Pasteur
Many places in Chinatown keep late hours but few can claim to be open 24 hours like Pho Pasteur can. You don't come for the decor or the service, you come because you've had a few too many and need a liquid elixir of a different sort to get yourself righted and on your way. If you can't remember anything else, remember this - Pho Pasteur is your answer.

What did I miss? Add your picks to the comments.

Now you can wear Toronto street art on your feet

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huely socksThe fun sock is experiencing an undeniable - if inexplicable wave - in popularity. Colourful, patterned Happy Socks are ubiquitous in Toronto menswear stores, and multiple sock-oriented startups, including WeSell Socks and YoSox, have launched over the last few months in this city alone.

Now, another Toronto company, Huely, aims to reinvent everyone's favourite insulating foot sleeve with a limited-edition twist that draws on the city's street art scene. The brand-new startup offers limited runs of socks designed by beloved local street artists, blind-boxed like vinyl toys for that added element of surprise.

The first series, created mostly by lead designer Nate Koger, also features a few top-secret designs (by equally top-secret artists) in the rotation. They've already tapped a half-dozen street artists, including Anser, UBER5000 and SPUD1, to contribute designs for their next collection, which will be out mid-October.

The socks are $20 each, and available through their website; if you really want to be a patron of the arts, grab three for $50 or five for $79.

Old-school College St. diner gets a brand-new menu

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Mars Food TorontoLike many of Toronto's retro diners, the quality of food at this College Street greasy spoon had been diminishing in recent years (or maybe just unable to keep up with the city's increasingly sophisticated tastes). Proving that it's not stuck in the past, the neighbourhood institution has given its menu an update. There are hits and misses at breakfast, and a few major improvements to the sandwich menu - all still served in a nostalgic environment, priced reasonably and readily accompanied by bottomless coffee.

Read my profile of Mars Food in the restaurants section.


The top 5 vegan ice cream sandwiches in Toronto

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vegan ice cream sandwiches TorontoThe top vegan ice cream sandwiches in Toronto will keep dairy-averse folks from missing out on some of Toronto's tastiest frozen treats. By popular demand, I've assembled this list of the ultimate, hand-held frozen alternatives for those living life dairy-free. (Bonus: Many of them omit gluten as well.)

Honourable mentions go to Bunner's Bake Shop and APieCalypse Now!, who both make delicious (but not frozen) cookie sandwiches - so, technically, they're whoopie pies (though I bet they taste great too, if you store them in the freezer).

Here are my picks for the top vegan ice cream sandwiches in Toronto.

Doug's Public Kitchen
While not available at his eatery, you'll find Doug McNish slinging handheld frozen treats ($6) at the Evergreen Brick Works weekly Saturday farmers' market. Nestled between gluten-free vegan cookies or Belgian wafflettes, select from Pleasantville Creamery ice cream flavours like summer berry, almond butter ripple or double raw cacao.

Tori's Bakeshop
Vegans in the Beach(es) can enjoy this nostalgic frozen treat at this dairy- and refined sugar-free bakeshop. The house-made chocolate ice cream is made of dates, cashews and coconut cream, and is available sandwiched between two gluten-free oatmeal chocolate chip cookies for $5.

Coco and Cowe Confectionery
While vegan creations aren't reliably stocked in this bike-powered ice cream cart, they can be made to order. Inquire about raspberry sorbet sandwiched between dairy-free, gluten-free almond sponge cake ($5), available for special orders and catering gigs.

Cookie Martinez
Found in the 707 Market at Scadding Court, this cargo container vendor offers a vegan and gluten-free version of their popular ice cream sandwiches. Enjoy a scoop of creamy coconut ice cream nestled between crunchy almond cookies.

Bakerbots
Among the line-up of mix-and-match cookies and ice creams at this Bloorcourt bakeshop you'll find a vegan, gluten-free oatmeal chocolate chip cookie, as well as dairy-free ice creams in flavours like raspberry and chocolate. Ask for both frozen flavours together for delicious results.

Did I miss any? Share your favourite vegan ice cream sandwiches in the comments.

Photo via Coco and Cowe on instagram.

Toronto burger and fries chain rolls out food truck

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south st burger food truckIf you hit the CNE's Food Truck Frenzy today, you'll be sure to see some new food trucks, some familiar faces, and one new food truck that's also a familiar face.

South St. Burger Co., the Toronto-based burger chain and New York Fries offshoot, is the latest major company aiming to get in on our city's recent mania for any food served on wheels. Their 1946 bus, freshly converted into a burger and fries slinging machine, hit the road for the first time at the Ex this weekend.

The truck dishes out a selection of foods from both South St. Burger and NY Fries, including burgers, veggie burgers, and those food court staple fries, with the menu set to rotate and change depending on what the company's offering.

But lest you dream of these burgers and fries being sold on the corner outside your office, don't get your hopes up - the truck will be mostly serving at charity events and private parties, with possible future appearances at food festivals and other events.

Photo by Jesse Milns

Street Style: Bloor St. vs. The Danforth

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toronto street styleToronto's main east-west drag has two names and an infinite number of personalities. Bloor and the Danforth morph massively as they stretch across the city; you'll see everything from edgy student style to Yorkville glam. We pitted the upscale Mink Mile against the laid-back style of the Danforth's western reaches - find out whose style reigns supreme.

Check out all the looks in our street style gallery.

Where to donate used clothing in Toronto

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donate clothing torontoLooking to donate used clothing in Toronto? Your closet castoffs have plenty of options for new homes. Major thrift chains, including Value Village, Salvation Army and Goodwill, are an obvious choice - in addition to being convenient, they'll use the proceeds to fund their own charitable outreach (or, in VV Boutique's case, donate some and profit off the rest).

But if you'd really like to feed your donations back into the community, there are a few local thrift stores still operating in Toronto, run by local non-profits that use the cash to fuel programs of their own.

If you'd like to make sure that that special item gets into the hands of someone who can really use it, there are organizations that collect professional clothing (think job interview suits) for folks trying to re-enter the workforce, and shelters collecting warm clothing to help those living on the street. You can even donate your wedding gown, with the money from the resale going to benefit charity.

Here's a selection of some of the best places to donate clothing in Toronto - where they are, what they'll take, and where your donation is going.

SPECIFIC ITEMS

Dress Your Best and Dress For Success
These complementary organizations help disadvantaged men and women (respectively) build up a professional work wardrobe before re-entering the workforce. They'll accept your suits, sweaters, dress shirts, shoes, and other professional attire; everything should be dry clean or laundered and donated folded or in hangers. Donations can be made on the third floor of 188 Lowther Ave. on Tuesdays (10am to 4pm).

The Brides' Project
This little shop at 431 Broadview Ave. accepts bridal gowns that are less than five years old; they're sold at half the retail value, with all proceeds going to cancer charities. Your dress doesn't have to be professionally cleaned, and if you'd like to ditch some bridesmaid or mother-of-the-bride dresses, they'll pass them on to other charities for you. They've begun coordinating some further-flung drop-off locations due to demand.

COMMUNITY GROUPS

New Circles
Operating in the Don Mills and Eglinton area, New Circles aims to offer resources for families in Thorncliffe Park and Flemingdon Park through their "boutique-like" setup. Clothing for teenagers and plus-size women are currently high on their wish list; check out their list of donation guidelines.

Rotary Centre at St. Michael's Hospital
St. Mike's Rotary Transition Centre acts as a resource for homeless patients who end up hospitalized; before they leave the emergency department, they can rest up, shower, have a meal, and pick out clothing items from the donations closet. The centre is looking for warm, clean clothing, with a special focus on winter coats, hats and scarves as well as new socks and underwear. Drop off donations at the centre, located on the first floor of the hospital's Shuter Wing (entrance at Shuter and Victoria).

If you'd like to help the homeless population in your community, contact your local shelter to see if they accept clothing donations.

CHARITIES

Canadian Diabetes Association
One of the few charities that offers a pickup service for smaller donations of clothing, the Canadian Diabetes Association sells donated items on to chains like Value Village in order to fund diabetes research. You can schedule a pickup online or by phone, or find a dropbox. (Just a gentle reminder: Don't leave bagged clothing sitting outside boxes.)

Oasis Clothing Bank
Those green boxes you see around town are operated by Oasis, which accepts clothing and shoes to either pass on to people in addiction recovery programs or sell the items to other companies (including textile mills or Value Village) to fund their programming. They'll also do clothing pickup - provided your donation is large enough. Since a definitive list of drop boxes is currently not available online, I'd recommend contacting the company for the best way to donate in your area.

THRIFT STORES

Value Village
If you're just looking to get stuff out the door, dropping it off at a thrift store can be a good option. Value Village is a for-profit enterprise, though the company adds it's donated $1.5 billion to various non-profits over the years. Toronto has seven stores across the GTA, including one in Leslieville and one near Bloor and Lansdowne; check out their site for more. (They've also partnered with Oasis and Canadian Diabetes Association to accept pick-ups through those groups.)

Goodwill
Another thrift mainstay, Goodwill uses the cash from donated items to help fund job training and employment placement for people with disabilities. In addition to a number of stores throughout the GTA, they also have donation centres where you can bring in your used clothing, including a downtown dropoff at Richmond and Jarvis. Find a location on their site.

Salvation Army
The charity uses sales from their stores to fund a number of programs, including food banks, shelters, addiction treatment facilities, and summer camps for kids. In addition to stores across the GTA, including Parkdale, Bloor West, Regent Park, they have a few drop boxes in Scarborough and North York.

Double Take
On Gerrard, just east of Parliament, Double Take is operated by the Yonge St. Mission, which offers a variety of services and programs. In addition to raising funds for the mission, the group also allows folks in need to pick out workwear for job interviews via specially allocated gift certificates. With that in mind, they're always looking for professional work attire; they're also particularly in need of menswear of all kinds and plus-size womenswear. They'll accept donations inside the store during operating hours.

Pegasus
Located in the Beaches, Pegasus' thrift store raises funds to support adults with special needs. They'll accept your donations of clothing, jewelry and accessories during store hours; visit their site for more detailed info.

RESALE SHOPS (if you're hoping to sell)

Common Sort
If you're hoping to get a little cash in hand for your old clothes, you might want to try bringing them by a resale store (or, for designer or high-end items, Toronto's best consignment stores). Common Sort - which is a for-profit boutique, not a charitable entity - has locations in Parkdale and Leslieville; bring them in-season items and they'll work out how much they can sell each item for, then offer you half that price in store credit or 25% cash.

Kind Exchange
With nearly a dozen locations across Toronto, the Kind Exchange's business model banks on convenience. If they choose your items - based largely on what's in season, how many of a given item they have, and how likely it is to sell - they'll offer you either 20% of the selling price in cash or 30% in store credit. They'll also give you the option to donate items they don't want to purchase (great if you don't want to haul things around). Additionally, their East Danforth store, dubbed Kind Exchange Cares, donates all proceeds to charity.

If you're looking for a convenient donation location, check out DonationBoxes.ca to find a drop-off point for used items near you.

Photo of Common Sort by Dennis Marciniak

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