This Week in Fashion rounds up the week's style news, store openings and closings, pop-up shops, sales and upcoming fashion and design events in Toronto. Find it here every Wednesday morning.

NEWS

We all know what a nightmare it is to get to Yorkdale by car. It's almost impossible to find a spot in their zoo of a parking lot regardless of whether if it's a peak time or not. Luckily, the shopping centre took the hint and has implemented a slew of features designed to make customers' experience quicker, easier, and all-around way less stress-enducing. With more parking spots, real-time technology displaying the exact number available, an app (for iPhone, Blackberry, Apple and Windows), and the option for valet service, parking lot rage at Yorkdale is a thing of the past.

Do-it-yourself (DIY) projects are becoming increasingly popular as they steal some limelight from unattainably expensive designer pieces - so it's no surprise that The Make Den is opening a brand new Bloordale location to offer yet another space where people can create their own fashions under the wings of supportive and knowledgeable teachers. The 1244 Bloor Street West studio - opening this Friday (November 30) - will be equipped with sewing, screen-printing, 3D printing, and textiles resources, and anybody and everybody from beginner to expert is welcome.

EVENTS/PARTIES

Tomorrow (November 29), Love of Mine Boutique (781 Queen St W) is hosting a celebration for the launch of the second Blackbird jewellery collection - one inspired by historical and fictional heroines. Peruse the armour-like pieces and shop the boutique over drinks with good company from 7 pm until 9 pm. If you can't make it, the collection will stick around until December 5.

Kick off the season's festivities at Dalston Grey (1317 Dundas St W)'s Holiday Launch this weekend (November 20 until December 2). Shop the new stock of vintage dresses, Gat Rimon cashmere sweaters, and more - perfect to keep for yourself or to give to your loved ones.

Local Buttons is dropping new designs for men and women, so they're throwing Refashioned: A Night of Live Fashion this Friday (November 30) to celebrate. Join them at The Loft Studios (1266 Queen St W) from 8 pm until 1:30 am for a catwalk, live DJ, silent auction, hors d'oeuvres, and drinks for $25 advance tickets or $30 at the door. With all proceeds going to Maison L'Arc en Ciel, everybody wins.

SALES

The PYA Importer Ltd. sample sale kicks off today (November 28) and stretches until Saturday (December 1st), giving shoppers four whole days to snatch up a great deal. Brands like Ted Baker, Line Knitwear, and Corpus will be available at up to 80% off, so be sure to visit 15 Apex Road for a chance to stock up on quality goods.

Don't miss the Reia Sample Sale on December 5-7, taking place at 580 King St. West. You can expect steep discounts on men and women's clothing from brands such as Acne, Alexander McQueen, and Dries van Noten, as well as gift ideas like Take to the Sea's botanical creations.

Photo courtesy of Blackbird Jewellery

Five Guys has been sprouting up on the outskirts of Toronto for some time, but has finally opened a location at Yonge and Dundas, serving up massive burgers and portions of fries, and free peanuts in a '50s diner-style setting.

Read my review of Five Guys Burgers and Fries (Yonge St.) in the restaurants section.

Conor Oberst is best known for his work in Bright Eyes, aka the moody, pseudo-self-loathing soundtrack to your teenage years, although he's also been in bands such as Desaparecidos, and most recently Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band (their documentary, One of my Kind, was recently released). He'll be coming to Massey Hall on December 8, and will be joined by Canada's own Cold Specks.

We're offering up a pair of tickets to the show; read on for how to win.

THE PRIZE

1 lucky reader will receive a pair of tickets to see Conor Oberst and Cold Specks on December 8 (doors at 7:15PM) at Massey Hall (178 Victoria Street).

HOW TO WIN

To win, just answer the following question: What was the name of Oberst's self-released 1993 album?

The first correct commenter win the tickets. Please make sure to include a valid email address in the comment form "Email Address" field so that we can contact you if you're a winner.

FINE PRINT

You must be a Toronto-area resident to win. Only one comment and answer per person. If you include multiple answers or post multiple comments you will be disqualified, and the winner must pick up their own tickets.

UPDATE

This contest is now closed. Winners will be contacted shortly.

Jessica Bradley is known for being a driving figure in the Toronto art scene, and her presence is only growing with the addition of a new gallery in the somewhat gallery-starved Keele and Davenport area. The 2,700 square-foot space is a veritable dream for any gallery owner, as it allows her to display larger-scale works.

Read my profile of Jessica Bradley Annex in the galleries section.

It's definitely getting blustery out there, which means the coats are coming out, and the layers are piling on. From a vintage-loving social worker, to a bleached denim jacket-sporting assistant architect, Yonge St. offered up a slice of how Toronto's staying warm.

Check out the cozy looks in our Style section.

Toronto city council has voted 38-7 not to adopt a bylaw banning the sale of single use plastic bags, instead opting for further study into alternative ways of discouraging use of the shopping containers.

The result, which can be considered a victory for embattled mayor Rob Ford, essentially kills off any chance of the city preventing supermarkets handing out carrier bags to customers in the new year as planned. Instead, a study looking at different solutions will be presented in 2013.

Two separate interest groups, the Ontario Convenience Stores Association and the Canadian Plastic Bag Association, filed lawsuits against the city this month in protest at the way the ban was enacted earlier this year.

During a debate on the nickel checkout fee, a surprise motion by councillor David Shiner to ban plastic bags entirely passed 24-20, much to the anger of the mayor. Both plastic bag groups taking legal action against the city claimed the prohibition was enacted without proper consultations. It's not clear what effect today's decision will have on the intentions of the OCSA and CPBA.

Speaking before the vote, Councillor Gord Perks told Rob Ford "congratulations Mr. Mayor, you won, but the city of Toronto lost." Shortly after, councillor Doug Ford questioned the sense behind preventing the sale of cheap plastic bags, saying "What are you going to do? Walk out with grapes and fruit in your hand?".

Several other councillors, including Giorgio Mammoliti and deputy mayor Doug Holyday, said this was a chance to go back and re-examine the process that led to the ban, not an indictment of the idea itself.

As it stands, there will not be a return of the 5-cent bag fee either. It's possible the ban or another form of prohibition will be discussed again next summer.

How do you feel about the result - will it change the way you pick up groceries? Do you already bring re-usable carriers to the supermarket?

Photo: "Harold Still Bargains" by Tsar Kasim in the blogTO Flickr pool.

Photo by suesthegrl in the blogTO Flickr pool

MUSIC | Diamond Rings
Local synthpop electronic artist Diamond Rings caught international attention a few weeks ago with back-to-back appearances on late night television with both Letterman and Leno, and now, fresh off his U.S. tour supporting Stars, he's playing a string of Canadian dates. Headlining his own show tonight at the Mod Club, the 27-year-old Oshawa native will play music from his recently-released sophomore album Free Dimensional. Joined by Gold & Youth and Light Fires, the show is part of the Edgefest Jingle Bell Concert Series, which sees $1 from every ticket sold going to The Daily Bread Food Bank. Enjoy some evocative pop music for charity and pleasure.
Virgin Mobile Mod Club (722 College Street) 7PM $18.50

FOOD | Movember Toronto Food Week (MOTOFO): Fidel Gastro One-Year Anniversary Bash
MOTOFO, or Movember Toronto Food Week, continues today in and around the Market with a feast at the ElMo. Celebrating the one-year anniversary of Fidel Gastro's, the Cuban sandwich aficionado, MOTOFO honours the man and the sandwiches of the Toronto-famous pop-up and food truck while helping to raise funds for prostrate cancer awareness. DJs will play tunes, the MoSistas will keep the crowd lively and several other food truck friends of Gastro's will also be selling their foods, including newbie Kung Fu Taco, Neptuno Oysters and many mo'.
El Mocambo (464 Spadina Avenue) 7:30PM $5

HOLIDAY | Light Up The Riverside
Holiday music, warm cocoa, tree lightings and shopping will light up historic Riverdale as the neighbourhood gets festive this evening. Santa will set up shop in the parkette for little visitors while carolers from the Beaches Chorus perform. Christmas craft stations will be set up with the Christmas tree lighting happening at 6PM. Free pizza will be provided and Riverdale shops will offer special discounts for late night shopping. Head down to Queen East for the festivities, which run until 9PM tonight.
Mustard Seed Parkette (791 Queen Street East) 5PM Free

CHARITY | The Shave Off! Movember's End Party
Because most straight ladies are happy to see them go, it's time to celebrate the end of Movember with a Shave Off. Whatever you may call them--crumb catcher or lip scarf--old-fashioned barbers will be set up at May Bar to shave them off for a good charitable cause. Prizes for all types of mo's--best, worst, finger, lipstick--will be given out. Open up your wallets and clean your upper lips to help fight prostrate cancer.
May Bar (876 Dundas Street West) 8PM PWYC

THEATRE | Ordinary Days
Making its Canadian premiere at Toronto Centre for the Arts tonight, Ordinary Days tells the story of four 20-somethings in New York City, whose lives link up after an incident sets off a chain of events. With music and lyrics by up-and-coming composer Adam Gwon, this Kayla Gordon-directed musical stars young actors Justin Bott, Jay Davis, Connie Manfredi and Clara Scott. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster; the show runs until December 9th.
Toronto Centre for the Arts, Studio Theatre (5040 Yonge Street) 8PM $36.25

OTHER EVENTS ON OUR RADAR:

• Complete History of the Moustache
• BLACKBIRD Collection II Launch Party
• Rockin'Stache
• Canada Reads 2013 Launch

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

For Toronto movie showtimes, view our Movie Listings section.

Photo by Reneos in the blogTO Flickr pool

Rob Ford took most afternoons off from his city hall duties during the early part of the football season between Sept. 1 and Oct. 26, according to documents seen by The Star. The piece notes "private" appointments scheduled for 3:30, roughly the same time as the Don Bosco Eagles practice. Is this further proof that Rob Ford's a part time mayor or just evidence he doesn't keep detailed itineraries?

Doug Ford is refusing to rule out a run for mayor if his brother is removed from office after a report appeared in The Star yesterday suggesting the mayor's inner circle could planning a switcheroo. A poll conducted Monday suggests Olivia Chow, were she to run, would still have no problem beating Doug.

The TTC signed two important agreements yesterday; one confirms four new LRT lines for Toronto by 2020, the other sets a 2015 deadline for system-wide Presto card facilities. By the time the decade is out, Torontonians should (barring any unforeseen circumstances) have four new rapid transit lines and the option of paying with contactless card or cash.

Imagine unearthing one of the most astounding archaeological finds in Toronto's history and then just pouring concrete over it. Well, according to Adam Bunch at Spacing, that's exactly what happened in 1908 when workers installing a pipe off Hanlan's Point found 11,000 year old human footprints in the clay. The astonishing story surely has to be the first example of the city's careless management of its historical features.

I guess Edmonton didn't take too kindly to our council suggesting the Alberta city move their elephant south to a warmer climate. Stephen Mandel, the mayor, said it was none of Toronto's business what it does with its zoo animals, and was "noticeably irate."

U of T researchers have scored $2.2 million from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, a fund that provides cash to healthcare and poverty reduction projects, to produce a waterless toilet for use in the developing world. The team is working with sand filters and UV-ray sanitation.

Just a heads up - the Bloor-Danforth line will be closed this weekend (all day Saturday and Sunday) between Keele and Kipling for track replacement work at Jane station. Shuttle busses will replace trains between the stations. Normal service resumes Monday at 6 am.

IN BRIEF:

• Toronto house fire claims father, son [CBC]
• Rob Ford reverses position, votes to recognize anniversary of Nanking massacre [National Post]
• Father and son killed in house fire [The Star]
• Man, 90, badly beaten in east-end Toronto apartment [The Star]
• Man donates $150K to Danzig Street community [CBC]

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

Photo: "Seeing Double" by Aband1d_Urbex in the blogTO Flickr pool.

This Week in Film rounds up noteworthy new releases in theatres, rep cinema and avant-garde screenings, festivals, and other special cinema-related events happening in Toronto.

NEW RELEASES

Killing Them Softly (Rainbow Market Sq., Scotiabank)

This film was originally slated for a release last September, then October, then the end of November, and now we know why. Could a slow, talky, Tarantino-esque Brad Pitt movie that heavily chastises the Obama administration have had an impact on the US elections? Considering how close things were looking, you never know. As a movie, though? It's no Assassination of Jesse James etc., but Andrew Dominik - who could learn a thing or two about subtlety when it comes to his subtext - ought to be commended for having the cajones to make a film that's this off-putting to his likely audience.

Anna Karenina (Varsity, Cineplex Yonge & Dundas)

The original 19th-century serial was declared by one Fyodor Dostoyevsky to be "flawless as a work of art." Joe Wright's telling more than a century later? Not so much. For one, Aaron Taylor-Johnson as Vronsky has got to be one of the worst casting decisions of the year (narrowly saved by putting Jude Law in the role of Alexei Karenin, which is, alternately, one of the year's most inspired). If you've at least seen Atonement, then you'll know more or less what to expect here: whirlings and twirling, eratic camera sweeps across the room, as well as divings, swooshes, and Please Calm Down and focus on some of the non-technical parts of your production.

Other new releases opening this week:

• Back to 1942 (Cineplex Yonge & Dundas)
• The Last Movie (The Royal)
• A Late Quartet (Varsity)
• The Suicide Shop (TIFF Bell Lightbox)
• Talaash (Cineplex Yonge & Dundas)

REP CINEMA

CINSSU Free Friday Films: F for Fake (Friday, November 30 at 7PM; Innis Town Hall)

Don't be alarmed by the nearly-ten-minute running time for the above clip - it is, indeed, Orson Welles' original F for Fake trailer that he personally cut. For their last Free Fridays screening of the Fall term, CINSSU have decided to go out with one of the best documentaries ever made. Early on in this essay film about art forger Elmyr de Hory, Welles promises that everything in the next hour will be true. One hour later, things start to get...interesting. Simply put, if Abbas Kiarostami's recent near-masterpiece Certified Copy could be said to be a copy of another film, it'd most certainly be this one, which also happens to be Welles' last fully imagined work.

More rep cinema screenings this week:

• Salome w/ Neurasia (Friday November 30 at 6:30PM; TIFF Bell Lightbox)
• Modesty Blaise (Friday November 30 at 9:15PM; TIFF Bell Lightbox)
• Der Bomberpilot w/ Winter Journey (Saturday, December 1 at 4PM; TIFF Bell Lightbox)
• The Hard Part Begins (Saturday, December 1 at 7PM; TIFF Bell Lightbox)
• The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (Saturday, December 1 at 10PM; TIFF Bell Lightbox)
• The World is Not Enough (Sunday, December 2 at 12:30PM; TIFF Bell Lightbox)
• Flocons d'or (Sunday, December 2 at 3:30PM; TIFF Bell Lightbox)
• Willow Springs w/ Argila (Thursday, December 6 at 6:30PM; TIFF Bell Lightbox)

SPECIAL SCREENINGS

The Free Screen - Gregory J. Markopolous: Through A Lens Brightly (Sunday, December 2 at 7PM; TIFF Bell Lightbox) + The Free Screen - Robert Beavers: My Hands Outstretched... (Monday, December 3 at 6:30PM; TIFF Bell Lightbox)

Shortly after Gregory J. Markopolous left the US with his life partner Robert Beavers to live in Europe, they both withdrew their films from circulation. For the last twenty years of Markopolous' life, he continued to work, making films in 'cycles' that were meant to be shown for occasions in which they could be seen together. This only happened at special screenings at a remote outdoor theater in Lyssaraia, Greece called the Temenos. Special showings are still held there even now, twenty years after his death in 1992, but lately his partner Beavers maintains and shows both of their works outside of Greece, even though this is still quite rare.

Which is all to say, this two-night event presented by TIFF's The Free Screen is very much a 'Holy Cow' kind of thing. Those familiar with Toronto's monthly screening series Early Monthly Segments will know that the name is in reference to one of Beavers' very early films, and this is on account of Beavers being a pretty big deal. Beavers will be present at both screenings, and will also be presenting a reading as part of No Reading After the Internet at LIFT (1137 Dupont St.) on Saturday, December 1at 4PM.

Jem Cohen - We Have an Anchor (Tuesday, December 4 & Wednesday, December 5, both at 8PM; TIFF Bell Lightbox)

Fugazi, Dirty Three, The Quavers, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, and Thee Silver Mt. Zion. How this isn't sold out already, I have no idea. Many Toronto cinephiles were unfamiliar with the work of Jem Cohen before his new film Museum Hours made waves at TIFF last September. This is an entirely different operation ("a documentary-based, interdisciplinary hybrid built from footage he gathered in Nova Scotia over the past decade"), but the've got quite the crew of musicians lined up to do the music. This is without question one of the best expanded cinema events in North America this year. Tickets can - miraculously - still be purchased at tiff.net.

FILM FESTIVALS

Fright Nights: The Blood in the Snow Canadian Film Festival (November 30 - December 2; Projection Booth East)

Now that all of the Projection Booths' gears are chuggin', film festivals and other major events seem to be a weekly occurrence. Following up Darryl's Hard Liquor and Porn extravaganza last week, here comes "a weekend-long film festival celebrating the best in contemporary Canadian horror filmmaking." Fright Nights is a monthly series hosted by film writer Kelly Michael Stewart. Individual tickets are $10.20 each and can be purchased now here.

Lead still from Killing Them Softly

New in Toronto Music rounds up recently released audio & video from local talent.

WE WERE HEADS / TRASH FACTORY / NOVEMBER 30TH
You know, I was ahead once but now I feel behind. Somewhat similarly, We Were Heads sound ahead while also sounding behind. What do I mean? Take "You Like the Shop, Pops?" It's fresh, it's cool but it also gestures to that '90s sound that all the kids are going crazy for — again — these days. Am I the only one who enjoys the renaissance of the sound more then the sound that's being renaissanced? I think I just dug my own grave there. Sheesh. Catch We Were Heads live on November 30th at the Cameron House as they release their hilariously titled album Trash Factory.

SERENA RYDER / HARMONY / NOVEMBER 27TH
Serena Ryder is back with a fresh new sound that will surely have all sorts of folks exclaiming "this sounds like a better and more organically titled version of that Skyfall song!" "Stromba" is fairly good indication of what Harmony, a somewhat eclectic collection within loose neo-soul parameters sounds like. I would like to take this opportunity to apologize for the phrase "a somewhat eclectic collection within loose neo-soul parameters." This reporter would definitely not surprised to hear a song like this in one of those cool Heiniken beer commercials in which the hero does some astounding things amidst exotic people and surroundings.

RUN WITH THE KITTENS / LETTERS FROM CAMP / NOVEMBER 23RD
The tricky part in writing about Run with the Kittens is avoiding penning a sentence that can be pulled for a quote for their website. Here goes... The always entertaining Run with the Kittens are back with a new album that's sorely lacking--a dull moment, that is. What it does have is moments that'll make you want to get up and dance, albeit poorly, because any intimation of societal pressure to dance within normal conventions is gone, much like your interest. Your interest in reading this, that is, because it's probably very confusing. Run With the Kittens suck. Like a tree, sucking up the CO2 of unspirited music, only to breathe out fresh, clean oxygenated music.

CRYSTAL CASTLES / III / SAD EYES / NOVEMBER 6TH
Crystal Castles' MANY fans have surely had a great week listening to the new Crystal Castles album, III. Across the city people were walking their dogs and listening to Crystal Castle's III, they were riding the streetcar and listening to Crystal Castles III, and perhaps they were even washing the dishes and listening to Crystal Castles III.

The follow up to II (duh!), III offers the classic Crystal Castles beep-bops with more of that "Euro-feel" that made me oddly nostalgic about playing mini-sticks and listening to Dance Mix '96 at my friend Eric Ihrig's birthday party when I was 11. Eric Ihrig's was the best because his parents had a restaurant and thus a soda fountain. In many ways, Crystal Castles III is like having a best friend with a soda fountain. Crystal Castles make interesting and engrossing music (the best friend) but it also comes with some cultural cachet (which is like the soda fountain). Crystal Castles: like a best friend with unlimited soda. I'm great at my job.

MILES JONES / THE JONES ACT III / CATCH ME IN THE RYE
The production on the new Miles Jones album, The Jones Act III, is very relaxing. Maybe that's not what Mr. Jones was shooting for, but listen to "Catch me in the Rye" and you can't tell me that the burden of stress in this workaday isn't lifted a little bit. The name is even a relaxing allusion — whatever your memories of Holden Caulfield, protagonist of the J.D. Salinger classic The Catcher in the Rye, you were probably in high school when you read that novel. Life was simpler then.

Lead photo by aktivioslo on Flickr

Because of its location in Kensington Market, it's tough to say for sure if the handful of mustaches on hand at Burger Bar on Tuesday night were actually the result of charity or just an ironic fashion statement. But it's probably safe to say that the majority of the flavour savers in attendance were there as a result of "Burger N' Beers," part of the first ever Movember Toronto Food Week (or, if you want to sound like a Japanese super villain, "MOTOFO").

The evening, organized by the newly-launched online marketplace Uniiverse and Toronto pop-up supper club, Death Row Meals, was part of a week-long inaugural series of events allowing food lovers to simultaneously indulge, and raise money for prostate cancer research.

MOTOFO kicked off on Monday with an evening of braised venison and honey- and ginger-infused Old Fashioneds prepared by Amanda Ford, better known as the City Girl of City Girl Catering, and last night David Ort of foodwithlegs.com gave a demonstration on kimchi, pickles, sourdough bread and all things fermented.

Tuesday's celebration saw a smattering of diners, mustachioed and bare-lipped alike, sipping craft beer flights and dining on Burger Bar sliders for a $25 fee in support of prostate cancer awareness.

Not surprisingly, given that Burger Bar owner Brock Shepherd is also the proprietor of Kensington Brewing Company, KBCo's West Coast-style pale ale, Augusta Ale, was among the craft beer offerings on-hand, as was their Baldwin Fish-Eye PA--both of which were fine by me. Both are great beers and they paired well with their sliders--a chorizo-blended patty with arugula pesto, and a lamb burger with blue cheese and kimchi, respectively.

The quartet of pairings was rounded out by a bison burger with chimichurri and gruyere paired with a Sawdust City Ol' Woody Alt and, presumably for those who like things simple, a natural cheese burger served with King Pilsner.

In keeping with Burger Bar's typically low-key vibe, the evening was less structured than one might expect from a formal food-pairing event and, in the absence of any guided dining instructions, I noticed a handful of savages simply eating whatever burger they felt like eating, and pairing it with any beer they wanted. Shameful.

Nevertheless, the event proved successful and there's still time to get in on the MOTOFO food/charity fun. Tonight, you can join Matt Basille of the about-to-turn-one-year-old Fidel Gastro's as he celebrates "the elevation of street food" at El Mocambo from 7:30pm-1:30 am for just $5, then tomorrow night join Allison Slute, the sommelier from Pillitteri Estates Winery as she leads a $25 tasting of wines from Niagara-on-The-Lake and Prince Edward County.

To learn more or book tickets, you can visit MOTOFO. Photos by Mark Sivilia.

The best toy stores in Toronto serve neighbourhoods where the children of Gen Y and late-breeding Gen X are being painstakingly raised by parents who've read the books and websites and strive to fill their nurseries and playrooms with toys that are sturdy, attractive and educational, in varying ratios. It's where the dolls come in every colour, the choking hazards are kept on the high shelves, and toy guns are nowhere to be seen.

These are toys for children who will never know a world without high speed internet and omnipresent wifi, won't remember broadcast television, and will have at least one teacher who was once arrested at an Occupy protest. Parents can, of course, shop for toys at any number of chains, from Toys R Us to Indigo Kids to Mastermind, but this list concentrates on independent toy shops that tend to respond to local tastes.

Here is the list of the best toy stores in Toronto.

See also:

The best kid (family) friendly restaurants in Toronto
The best baby stores in Toronto

There's a new addition to Toronto's clamouring ramen scene, and this one comes from the owners of two beloved West Coast ramen spots. It's more spacious (meaning shorter wait times) than some other ramen spots, but how does the food measure up?

Read my review of Raijin Ramen in the restaurants section.

Musician Patrick Watson frequently gets compared to other acts such as Rufus Wainwright, Andrew Bird and Jeff Buckley--in short, the man and his band are in very good company. He's previously worked with the Cinematic Orchestra, and his music has appeared on a slew of TV shows. On December 6, he'll be joined at Massey Hall by Canadian folk musicians The Barr Brothers, and we have one pair of tickets to give away.

THE PRIZE

1 lucky reader will receive a pair of tickets to see Patrick Watson and the Barr Brothers on December 6 (doors at 7PM) at Massey Hall (178 Victoria Street).

HOW TO WIN

To win, just answer the following question: In what year did Watson's album Close to Paradise win the Polaris Music Prize?

The first correct commenter win the tickets. Please make sure to include a valid email address in the comment form "Email Address" field so that we can contact you if you're a winner.

FINE PRINT

You must be a Toronto-area resident to win. Only one comment and answer per person. If you include multiple answers or post multiple comments you will be disqualified, and the winner must pick up their own tickets.

In Vintage We Trust treats vintage as gospel. In that way, a camo jacket is not just a camo jacket, but rather, an excuse to discuss the camouflage clothing evolution from the Napoleonic wars to countercultural 1960's youth. A Detroit Lions warm-up jacket might spawn a 400-word blog post about the 1957 season, and pair vintage aviation coveralls most certainly demands discussion of the Air Force during the 1940's and 1950's.

Vintage clothing, in other words, is not just clothing to Josh Roter and Chantal Varela, but pieces to examine, contextualize, admire, and yes, sometimes also to wear. The couple started In Vintage We Trust, an Ebay store, about two years ago, quickly rising to become one of the top international names in vintage menswear and winning the "Service-preneur of the Year" award for 2011.

And this weekend, In Vintage We Trust will host its first ever public warehouse sale from its headquarters on Dufferin Street. "We really want to test the market," Josh tells me as he and Chantal tell me a bit about the event. "We have retail aspirations, but then again, we're mostly just trying to introduce ourselves to the local market."

Josh and Chantal estimate that only about three per cent of their online sales come from Canadian shoppers. Of the other 97 per cent, buyers include individual international customers, various abroad wholesale operations, labels such as Ralph Lauren, J.Crew and Nike (who want to get their hands on their own vintage duds, mostly for promotional purposes), and the odd name-drop-worthy celebrity such as John Mayer and Sting (or rather, Sting's son...close enough).

The pair met working at Over the Rainbow back in 2005. Chantal later moved on to work for Le Château corporate out in Montreal, while Josh stayed in Toronto and engrossed himself in the vintage industry. He bought and sold select pieces on a full time basis over the past several years, eventually partnering with Chantal to create In Vintage We Trust in 2010.

"Most of the time, I'm out sourcing product," Josh says. "And Chantal is here, basically running the business."

Without giving away his sourcing secrets, Josh says he generally looks across the border for those formidable metal t-shirts or vintage sneakers. "We do a lot of traveling during the summer," Chantal says. "One time, we ended up out in rural Maryland, digging through a barn on a farm where we expected to find a store."

"I think it was something like the wife's ex-husband who used to own a skateboard shop," Josh adds. "And she got all of the inventory in the settlement. Anyway, that's how we got some great Vision Street Wear.

While some In Vintage We Trust finds are both history-laden and affordable, the most beloved, generally, come at quite the price. I ask Josh and Chantal to recall some of their best vintage finds, to which they respond a 1920's denim Carthartt first-version Chore jacket, and a 1940's Cincinnati Reds jacket worn by Jimmie Wilson. Both items were tagged with several zeros before the decimal.

The price tags this weekend, however, will generally be between $10 and $50, with sportswear, rock tees, military clothing, footwear, and accessories all on the roster. And if you want any context, just ask Josh or Chantal. But prepare for much more than a one-sentence answer.

The In Vintage We Trust sale will be held Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. at 215-2770 Dufferin Street

Photos by Brian Chambers

Saul Korman has been dressing Toronto's "Gentleman" for 60 years. He's an unabashed advocate for investing in quality clothing (so put away those $99 suits), a familiar voice on local talk radio stations, and a staunch Danforth Avenue devotee. Korry's Clothiers To Gentlemen began as a father-son partnership at Coxwell and Danforth, moving further west when Saul took the helm. It has since been known as one of the men's suits stores in Toronto, touting a wardrobe of Hugo Boss, Canali, Coppley, and its house Roberto label.

Stepping into Korry's, in some ways, is like stepping back in time. While the clothing styles, needless to say, are all up to date, staff members still ask if they can hang up your coat, get you a coffee, and make small chit-chat about the weather. Perhaps that's still the way of some upscale clothiers in the city, but to me, it seems too few and far between. Saul begins our interview by asking me some questions ("Where did you go to school?" "Where do your parents live?" "Married?") before settling into his desk chair and telling me about the Danforth's early days.

What was Pape and Danforth like when you moved over from Coxwell?

It was a thriving area. It had Tip Tops, Jack Fraser, great lady stores, Town Talk. And everybody here, all of a sudden, they started to leave. This was 1965. They started to go to the shopping centres. And then a Greek guy opened a restaurant here. And then that started to change. So now the Greek community started moving in. When one restaurant opened, his cousin decided to open another restaurant, the dishwasher opened a third. And then it became a great, thriving Greek area.

I was thinking you might ask me that, so here, I printed out these for you. A customer sent me that. You can take it, but I'd like to have it back.

Did you ever think of moving Korry's to another location?

In 1972, I was going to go to Yorkville. I went where Rainbow jeans is, and right there there was a luggage store and I was going to rent it. And they wanted $22 per foot. But I couldn't negotiate out of my lease, and I had two years left.

When the other clothing stores started moving to shopping centres, why didn't you join them?

Because I was stupid. First of all, I did well, and I started to live a little better. I adopted a second kid, bought a little house at the same time, just bought a building, had mortgages up to here. But parking in this area has always been a problem. If I could do it again, I might have done it in a different location.

How do you get the word out in a city as saturated with clothing options as Toronto?

Actually, I have a big market in Hamilton that comes here to buy clothes!

How do they hear about you?

Radio! I really started with radio. I did every talk show. And then I went across Ontario doing speeches, saying "If you've got creases in the suit — puckering — don't blame the cleaner, blame the quality of the suit." I was in Ottawa doing the Rotary Club. And I built a column in the Globe and Mail, but that didn't work as well as radio. All the newsprint I did in the world didn't work as well as radio.

And now we're doing other things — we're updating our website; it'll be open in a week. We're trying to build Twitter; I don't understand all of this, but I know it works.

How can new clothing stores in Toronto survive and thrive for the long haul?

OK. Let's say, a guy owns a retail store. He can't get into a plaza. There's no way he can afford it. So now he opens a store. So he wants the names, he wants to buy Boss — big, big label. Boss is only going to have their own retail eventually; Boss is not going to want to sell to me. If I didn't have my own private label, I'd be in trouble. Why do you think I built Roberto? The manufacturers all have retail outlets now. If I didn't come up with Roberto, I wouldn't be in business today.

How do you think Danforth will change over the next few years?

I have to tell you; I went to the Bell store the other day, which is at 230 Danforth. That area is exploding with young little boutiques, young little stores. I went to the bread shop for something — great bread; I had a cheese danish, fantastic. I went to the butcher. That's the hot area, not us. This used to be, because of the fruit stores. The Greeks are moving out. They've sold their homes and made money. Now they want to come back and they can't afford to come back.

I think it's going to change. I think the big Greek restaurants are going to go because they can't afford to stay. [...] We gotta get a Keg. I'm working on that.

RAPID FIRE QUESTIONS

What area do you live in? Thornhill

Favourite restaurant:House of Chan

Are you a coffee drinker? Yes, but I drink 90% water, 10% coffee

Where do you get your fix? I go to Starbucks every morning

What paper do read? The Globe and the Post. I prefer the Globe, even though my column is in the Post.

Best women's clothing store? I'm trying to think of where my wife shopped. I think Holts is pretty good.

See also:Toronto through the eyes of Tom's Place's Tom Mihalik

Photos by Kat Rizza

Pink Tartan, Chanel, Miu Miu and more. This Yonge and Lawrence consignment shop has all the brands you'd expect to find in a downtown consignment boutique, except with an uptown address and a particular focus on the needs (and wants) of young moms and working women.

Read my profile of HazelLily in the fashion stores section.

Metrolinx plans to break ground on a relief valve for the overcrowded Yonge subway line in the next 15 years, the transit agency's CEO Bruce McCuaig told the Toronto Board of Trade in a keynote speech this afternoon. The next phase of a $34-billion provincial project dubbed the "Big Move" will also see the Yonge line extended beyond Finch into Richmond Hill.

The elephant in the room, as always, is funding. McCuaig encouraged GTA municipalities and the province to "start the conversation" on ways to pay for the new projects, which also include bus rapid transit lines on Dundas West into Mississauga and Halton, and an LRT on Hurontario-Main from Port Credit to downtown Brampton, but offered no little solid advice on how Metrolinx plans to pay for the work.

"There's an expectation there's going to be use of both what are normally considered to be provincial funding tools and municipal funding tools," McCuaig told the media. "What those tools are, the spread between them, and the rates, we'll have to see when we come up with our final advice in June."

"It's important to provide more capacity, not just for the downtown area but more broadly in the region so we can support other projects. It's as important to bring suburban people ... as it is to move people within downtown Toronto."When the TTC release its own plan for the relief line, city manager Joe Pennachetti proffered several fees, taxes, and tolls as a way of bridging the gaping funding gap. The items that promised to generate the most cash were a 1 cent a kilometre highway toll ( $1.5 billion), a 1 per cent personal income tax ($1.4 billion), or a 1 per cent sales tax ($1.3 billion). Including the broader GTA in these fees would be a good way to kick-start the fund raising.

Specifics on the line could still be some way off. Brad Ross at the TTC confirmed moving the project forward ties in with the Commission's own idea for the connector line most recently discussed in October. "We will work closely with Metrolinx," he said. "There is a financing strategy that Metrolinx is undertaking, the City of Toronto is doing public consultations on funding mechanisms for public transit ... obviously a DRL would require several billion dollars so the funding needs to be in place."

"The first thing we need to do is step back from the lines on a map that we're sometimes so quick on drawing and just think about what's the best project," McCuaig continued, mentioning that a Queen/King to Pape route or an alignment that uses existing rail corridors is on the table.

The whopping $34 billion funding target for the DRL and all of Metrolinx's other transit projects is positively eye-watering, but it's certainly achievable. A report on just how they plan to get that money is due on June 1st 2013 and a firm decision will (ideally) be made soon after. They'll need to hurry up if they're to keep to the 15 year time frame.

Does this announcement make you anymore hopeful for the DRL? Is this a sign Metrolinx, the TTC, Toronto, and the province are getting serious about finding funding? Sound off.

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

Images: Metrolinx and TTC.

Photo by Ronnie Yip in the blogTO Flickr pool