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10 Nuit Blanche exhibits on extended display in Toronto

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Nuit Blanche extendedNuit Blanche 2014 may be yesterday's hangover, but this year's lineup included several projects slated for extended display around Toronto. Take note shy people, misanthropes, or anyone who had to work late on Saturday night: while you may have missed the bulk of Nuit Blanche, you still have time to see a handful of what were arguably the most impressive installations, including the laser beams reaching up to the CN Tower and a convenient screaming booth.

If all these sound underwhelming, you might not hate crowds - you might just hate Nuit Blanche. For everyone else, here are ten exhibits you can check out over the next week.

Global Rainbow
Yvette Mattern (New York / Berlin)'s light installation was hard to miss, at least from certain angles. Her laser rainbow beaming from Chinatown to the CN Tower will be lighting up Toronto until October 13 (after dark, naturally). Make a real wish on a synthetic rainbow, but beware the TTC Leprechaun at the other end.

Screaming Booth
City dwellers often develop romantic notions about simpler locales - countrysides whose residents go around in fields and hilltops screaming just because they can. I haven't observed this in my rural adventures, but the sentiment is likely more important here. Frustrated? Madly in love? Terrified of the future? All of the above? One handy screaming booth by Chélanie Beaudin-Quintin (Montreal) will be at Nathan Phillips Square until October 13, for all your pre-election anxiety.

Made in China
This Chinatown exhibit by Maria Ezcurra (Montreal / Mexico City) was a popular exhibit on Saturday night (Olivia Chow is a fan) - colourful, eye catching, and with an easy-to-digest message, this impressive wall of Goodwill donated, made-in-China clothing is on show until October 13 at 287 Spadina Avenue.

Silent Rise
This ladder installation by Glenda León (Havana) was a head scratcher for some on Saturday, but the music notation-themed stairway to the sky is a must-hit for Led Zeppelin fans who forgot Nuit Blanche. You have until October 13 to see it at Campbell House Museum.

Open Mind
Another maze, or just a place to think? Yoan Capote (Pinar del Rio)'s walkable sculpture in the shape of a brain at Canoe Landing Park will be a great place to ponder essential questions like was that thing I saw at Nuit Blanche art?, What even is art?, Where would art be without the invention of language?, Is it unfair that everyone else had to wait in line for these? And so forth up to October 13.

Big Top Grand Stand
Why are artists obsessed with the circus? Most of us who dream of running away and becoming big name jugglers on the carnival circuit gave those fantasies up the first time a real carnie at the Ex flicked a cigarette our way. SuttonBeresCuller (Seattle) were never so unlucky, and the group's humungous and colourful homage to all things circus tops a 16' flatbed trailer until October 13 at Clarence Square Park. Don't mistake it for a food truck on your lunch break.

More extended official Nuit Blanche exhibits

  • Good News (until Oct 13, Toronto Public Library, Fort York Branch)
  • Ascendent Line (until Oct 13, Fort York National Historic Site)
  • Melting Point (until Oct 13, Fort York National Historic Site)
  • 8th Wonder (until Oct 13, Union Station)

Photo of Made in China by Matt Forsythe


Overheard at Nuit Blanche 2014

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Overheard Nuit Blanche 2014What you over heard at Nuit Blanche last Saturday likely depended where you were - just kidding, there's a 98% chance you heard someone say "is that art?" My own "is that art" experience happened at Fort York and turned out to be the line for the public washroom, but the only #OH that might have produced was my friend and I giggling, momentarily amused after a long stretch of boredom (Fort York was largely underwhelming).

After Doug Ford opened Nuit Blanche in Rob's place (which not everyone is too pleased about) the mad scramble in the cold (y'all know it's going to get way colder, right?) in search of transformative art pieces, food trucks, and phone charging stations began. And the eavesdropping, which might be our favourite part of the whole light installation free-for-all. And the getting man-handled by cops for crossing the street. Art!

Here are your best overheards from Saturday night, and a few of ours.

Hear anything funny/sweet/terrible/transformative at Nuit Blanche this year? Let us know in the comments.

See also

10 Nuit Blanche exhibits on extended display in Toronto

The TTC is set to improve rush hour service

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TTC improvementsThe TTC wants to give its customers something to be thankful for come mid-October, announcing a host of minor service improvements that it hopes will add up to an easier ride during rush hour and beyond. Following Thanksgiving weekend, two additional trains will be added to both Line 1 (YUS) and 2 (Bloor-Danforth), which adds space for 4,600 riders across the system (Toronto Rocket trains hold about 1,200 passengers, while older trains have capacity for about 1,100).

It's not a huge bump, but it's welcome nonetheless. Other improvements you can expect the TTC to roll out include a new staff changeover system that will prevent trains from idling at terminus stations. To keep trains moving, they will have to depart these stations within 30 seconds of receiving a green signal in the tunnel. If you've ever waited to depart Downsview Station, you'll realize this is a good plan.

Less sexy still (but hopefully also effective), the TTC will rejig the way it pulls trains out of service to ensure that active trains get priority at terminal platforms. This might mean that passengers are asked to unload and re-board more often as rush hour service tapers, but if the new system works, overall system speed should increase thereby lessening this inconvenience. Let's sure hope that's the case.

Photo by twurdemann in the blogTO Flickr pool.

15 restaurants serving Thanksgiving dinner in Toronto

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thanksgiving torontoThanksgiving is fast approaching which means for most of us that a big home-cooked feast is in the cards. Of course, if you're not a whiz in the kitchen, or say live in a condo with mini amenities then the thought of cooking a turkey dinner complete with stuffing, candied yams and pie might just be an overwhelming undertaking. Thankfully, plenty of Toronto restaurants will be serving up festive meals or will even do the cooking for you for delivery or pick-up.

Here are my top picks for Thanksgiving dinner in Toronto.

See also:The best places to buy Thanksgiving turkey in Toronto.

THANKSGIVING FEASTS

The Bristol
The cozy English pub at Queen and Dovercourt hosts Thanksgiving dinner over two nights on Sunday, October 12 and Monday, October 13. The festive $25 prix fixe starts with a cauliflower, red onion, and roasted chestnut tart and squash soup followed by a choice of traditional roast turkey, tandoori turkey or tofurkey with all the fixin's. For dessert finish up with a slice of vanilla pie with pumpkin pie ice cream, or a smoked apple, cranberry, walnut crumble with custard.

The Drake Hotel
Get stuffed at the Drake Hotel on Sunday, October 12 at 6pm with a turkey dinner complete with mashed potatoes, buttered beans and carrots, maple glazed squash, wild rice stuffing, gravy, crab apple and cranberry sauce. Priced at $30 per guest, dinner also includes a 5oz glass of Drake Starving Artist Chardonnay or Cabernet and a wedge of pumpkin pie with vanilla whipped cream. Reserve your spot before October 10th.

Smith Brothers Steakhouse
The three course dinner priced at $29 at this Scarborough steakhouse is being billed as a way to experience all of the joy with none of the work. The festive dinner starts with a steaming bowl of sweet corn chowder plus a roast turkey platter with stuffing, butternut squash, mashed potatoes, pan gravy and cranberry sauce. Be sure to leave room for cinnamon apple cobbler.

Sneaky Dees
Just $15.95 will buy you a turkey dinner with stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, cranberry sauce and dinner roll. Add on a slice of pumpkin pie for $2.95 hours or a pumpkin cupcake for $2.50. Served Sunday, October 12 after 4pm and all day on Monday, October 13.

Momofuku Daisho
Daisho celebrates Thanksgiving on Sunday, October 13 with a special menu featuring a choice of apps, roasted turkey or halibut with side dishes and dessert for the table like brussel sprouts, green bean casserole, stuffing, pomme purée and carrot cheesecake.

Cafe Boulud
Thanksgiving at the Four Seasons Hotel spans from 5:30pm to 10pm on Sunday, October 12, and from noon until 10pm on Monday October 13. The three course prix fixe costs $85 per person and features choices like red kuri squash soup, lobster salad, pate en croute or seared foie gras to start, followed by a selection from seasonally-inspired mains like sweet corn agnolotti, roasted heritage turkey or grain crusted venison. Decadent dessert options include a warm chocolate coulant, hazelnut custard or pumpkin tart.

Oliver & Bonacini Café Grill
Both the Yonge and Front and Bayview Village locations will be offering Thanksgiving dinner from this weekend from October 11 to 13. Menus might vary but expect a proper turkey dinner with accompaniments like roasted acorn squash and brussel sprouts, whipped potatoes, stuffing and cranberry sauce, or seasonal veg-friendly alternatives like parsnip and roast chestnut ravioli.

Colette
The Parisian bistro at the base of the Thompson Hotel gets festive at brunch on Sunday October 12th from 10am to close. The harvest-themed brunch buffet will feature an array of seasonal offerings and Thanksgiving favourites.

Destingo
The Italian restaurant on West Queen West will offer a hearty three-course Thanksgiving meal for $29. Kicking off with butternut squash soup, dinner also includes roasted turkey and cranberry sauce, completed with a slice of pumpkin pie.

Asada
The Mexican grill gives thanks to its St. Clair West community and all its fans with the first annual turkey burrito giveaway. Stop in from noon to 4pm on Monday, October 13 while quantities last for a free festive turkey burrito.

TAKE HOME TURKEY DINNERS

Barque
Pick up Thanksgiving dinner for the whole family at this smokehouse on Roncy where herb and lemon rubbed smoked turkeys are sold $12 per pound. Sides and salads to serve five priced at $30 each include choices like green peppercorn gravy, orange-spiked cranberry chutney, herbed mashed potatoes, maple glazed sweet potatoes, honey glazed carrots and turnips, green been salad, cornbread stuffing or roasted brussel sprouts.

Globe Bistro
The Danforth restaurant is a great destination for Thanksgiving weekend thanks to a $35 three-course turkey dinner prix fixe and $10 kids menu available on Saturday and Sunday dinner. Those that want to enjoy the holiday at home can pick up a whole roasted bird with stuffing, gravy and cranberries for $100. Lots of extras are available too, just inquire.

All the Best Fine Foods
The specialty food shop makes ordering Thanksgiving diner easy with a catered feasts packed in oven-ready containers available Saturday and Sunday for pick-up at both locations or free local delivery. Priced $24.95 per serving, each order includes herb roasted free range turkey with gravy, stuffing, brussel sprouts, squash purée, buttermilk mashed potatoes and cranberry orange compote. Orders must be in by October 8th.

Hogtown Smoke
The Queen East smokehouse has 80 smoked turkeys (12-18 lbs.) priced at $7 per pound. Available for pre order, these holiday birds come complete with apple cranberry stuffing, scratch gravy, and a cranberry chipotle "drenching" sauce. Pick up times are available Friday through Monday and just need to be reheated and served.

Yam Chops
The vegan butcher in Little Italy is offering a Thanksgiving dinner package for $29.95 that comes with wild rice and cranberry soup, butternut squash steak with caramelized onions and chimichurri sauce, sage thyme stuffing with apple and pecan, garlic potato mash with shiitake miso gravy, red cabbage, fennel and orange slaw pumpkin spiced black bean brownies. Advance orders required by Thursday, October 9 for pick up on Saturday, October 11 or Sunday, October 12.

BONUS

The Fairmont Royal York
Thanksgiving-to-go is also on offer from Executive Chef Collin Thornton and the award-winning culinary team at this historic hotel. Complete meals for four (or eight) start at $195 and feature maple roasted butternut squash and sweet potato bisque, free range turkey, onion sage stuffing, pan gravy, cranberry sauce, herb roasted château potatoes, a medley of root vegetables and homestyle pumpkin tarts with whipped molasses cream.

What did I miss? Add more spots for Thanksgiving dinner in the comments.

Toronto gets a New Orleans inspired restaurant

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ronnis bs torontoIn Cabbagetown, a former sushi spot has given way to a Southern restaurant dishing out Creole and Cajun-influenced cuisine. The jambalaya and catfish are served up in huge portions, but don't skip the signature cocktails - your options range from bean and bacon Caesars to Mississippi Mudslindes.

Read my profile of Ronnie B's Southern Kitchen in the restaurants section.

How to spend a day in The Annex

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the annex torontoThe proximity to the University of Toronto has always defined The Annex as part student quarter, part home to Toronto's intelligentsia. Some of Toronto's most famous authors - Margaret Atwood, bpNichol, Marian Engel, Jane Jacobs, John Ralston Saul, Austin Clarke and Morley Callaghan - all lived in the Annex, and its particular architecture, known as the Annex style house reflects the elite origins of the neighbourhood.

My favourite part of the history of the Annex is near forgotten Rochdale College, now home to the David A. Croll apartments. It doesn't look like much but it was once the site of the largest co-op residence in North America, a hippie haven designed for communal student living, and a centre for social and political idealism and experimentation.

Toronto cornerstones of culture, including Coach House Press, House of Anasi, Theatre Passe Muraille, the Toronto Free Dance Theatre, and the Spaced-out/Merrill Collection of the Toronto Public Library began within the walls of Rochdale College, before it succumbed to the pratfalls of the counterculture revolution- sex, drugs and taxes. The Unknown Student sculpture out front is all that remains of this rich legacy.

Here's how I like to spend a day in the Annex from morning to late night.

BREAKFAST AND COFFEE

In the glory days of the Annex, I would have gone to Dooney's for breakfast, if for no other reason than to see one of the neighbourhood writers engaged in witty banter or scribing their latest work, but now that that's gone I hit Grapefruit Moon. The breakfast offerings strike that perfect balance between greasy and healthful and the patio is great.

Almond ButterflyToronto has some great independent cafes, but the Annex is surprisingly lacking in them. Mini chain Aroma services the mid-section of Bloor along with the Green Beanery while Ezra's Pound does a steady business north on Dupont. For my morning jolt I like to head to Harbord where Almond Butterfly can pair a well made cappuccino with gluten free banana walnut bread. If I'm not too picky about the borders of the neighbourhood I'll make the trek west to Sam James.

MORNING ACTIVITY

If I want to get in some morning exercise there's plenty to choose from (Kula Yoga is a real hit) but I prefer the community feel of the Miles Nadal JCC with its pool, running track and gravity room, and if not the gym then a morning session at the Lillian H. Smith Library on College. It's home to the aforementioned Merrill Collection, as well as the Osborne Collection of Early Children's Books, and it's a place I'm good to be lost in for hours.

the annexLUNCH

There was an influx of Hungarian immigrants that came to the Annex after the 1956 Hungarian Revolution and I pay my respects with lunch at Country Style Hungarian restaurant, where a plate of cabbage rolls, schnitzel and sauerkraut will set you right. Otherwise there's always the Future Bakery, Fresh, warring sushi joints New Generation Sushi and Sushi on Bloor, or the always-delicious One Love Vegetarian.

SHOPPING AND CULTURE

Afternoons are spent perusing the various second hand bookstores like BMV and Seekers. There's plenty of typical college shops selling dorm room staples but the best shops are a little off the beaten path on Bathurst - near Dupont you've got Ewanika for beautiful tailored women's wear and near Bloor there is Trove, full of fun accessories.

apiecalypse nowMID-AFTERNOON SNACK

I like Chabichou on Harbord for a French twist on an afternoon snack or vegan bakery Apiecalypse Now on Markham for one of their compassion flakies.

Fat PashaDINNER

Harbord has been a culinary destination for years, ever since Splendido opened its doors and The Harbord Room and THR & Co. carry on the tradition. The neighbourhood rival, and where I'd book for dinner, is an area around Dupont. Find yourself at any one of Anthony Rose's three restaurants - Rose and Sons, Big Crow, and Fat Pasha - and you are pretty much guaranteed a memorable meal. Fat Pasha is the most recent of the three and treats you to a lovely selection of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern dishes.

DRINKS AND ENTERTAINMENT

The College kids go to the Brunny, or Brunswick House, or the Green Room, but since my uni days are behind me, you won't find me there. I prefer to get my drink on at the slightly more classy Pauper's Pub, they have a great reading series in the piano bar at the top and two patios, one roof top and one massive wrap around.

brunswick houseNo experience in the Annex would be complete without a music show. Go to Lee's Palace for the latest indie rock and your favourite 90's band reunion, the Tranzac for unexpected and unusual local acts and experimental music, and Trinity St. Paul's United for classical and choral events, home of the famous Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra. Otherwise, I stroll over to the Bloor Hot Docs cinema. I don't even bother to look up what's playing; they've got such stellar programming you are sure to get something entertaining and informative.

LATE NIGHT EATS

Late night eats are a student and neighbourhood speciality - Sarah's or Ghazale gets my money for falafel and shawarma, Big Fat Burrito (open to 3:30am on weekends) is my burrito joint, but nobody brings me back more than Vesta Lunch at Dupont and Bathurst. That 24 Hour diner has cracked more eggs before dawn than the local Lothario.

What did I miss? Add your suggestions for how to spend a day in the Annex to the comments.

50 crowd-filled photos of Nuit Blanche in Toronto

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nuit blanche 2014 torontoNuit Blanche in Toronto has come and gone for another year, with the aching feet, frosty hands and powerful food truck cravings slowly fading from our minds - but, hopefully, the memories of arrestingly gorgeous visuals and thought-provoking art will remain. No? Well, at the very least, you'll probably retain some funny anecdotes about ridiculous stuff people said while searching for "art."

Though many lamented the long, dull stretches between zones and installations, there were some stunning gems to be seen if you searched long enough. People will likely be talking about that gorgeous laser rainbow for years.

Check out all the action in our huge photo gallery from Nuit Blanche in Toronto.

Subway map reimagines the TTC as a musical journey

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ttc mapThe Lonely Vagabond knows Toronto. The guy's been writing about the city's music scene anonymously for years, heading to show after show (and slipping bands pithy, heartfelt notes about their sets on social media afterward) but never, ever making his presence known in the bar. He's probably seen every band in Toronto at least once. Every band. (Your basement no-wave act? The only two people who have seen you play are your cat and the Lonely Vagabond.)

His latest project: Turning the TTC into a musical journey via his reinvented subway map (not unlike our series of bar, cafe, restaurant, and cheap eats maps). Imagining a subway train that played melodies from Toronto bands instead of that tri-tone chime, he assigned a tune by a Toronto act or band to every station in the system. Old faves like Neil Young and the Rheostatics appear next to Feist, Fucked Up, PUP and Hooded Fang. Yorkdale (curiously) gets "Echo Beach", while Kennedy (hilariously) is "Be My Yoko Ono".

How'd he make his picks? "For some I chose the most well known or popular song by the band. Others I chose a song that fit the subway theme, and for some, I chose a song that had some connection to the subway station," he says. "For example, I gave 'Rise Up' by The Parachute Club King Station because in the video, they're all dancing and parading down King Street. "Romantic Traffic" by The Spoons gets Yonge/Bloor because that's what I considered the busiest subway station."

Obviously, we can all agree that this is the sort of idea Toronto needs (LV for mayor).

You can check out the full map here or by clicking the map below.

ttc mapDo you agree with his picks? What songs would you give each station?


The Best Portuguese Restaurants in Toronto

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best portuguese restaurants torontoThe best Portuguese restaurants in Toronto mine the unique flavour territory of Iberian cuisine - touchstones that include their rich history of sea exploration in grilled fish and seafood, small tapas plates of pork and charcuterie, and the fiery piri piri sauce, which takes its blend of spices from the Portuguese connection to North Africa and the Mediterranean. While each restaurant offers its own particular take on the delightful Portuguese cuisine, they all in some way celebrate the culinary history of one of Toronto's landmark cultures.

Here are the best Portuguese restaurants in Toronto.

See also:

The best BBQ Chicken (Churrasqueiras) in Toronto
The Best Portuguese Bakeries in Toronto
The best Portuguese Custard Tarts in Toronto

Photo via Churrasqueira Martins.

The best and worst of Nuit Blanche 2014

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2014105-gb.jpgNuit Blanche 2014 displayed both the event's power to bring people onto the streets of Toronto for a cultural experience and also the organizational challenges faced by an undertaking of this size. What attendees got out of the all-night art affair likely had a lot to do with the expectations that they had going in. Those who were confident that they'd witness a series of thought-provoking art installations were probably disappointed. As the years have passed, the exhibits have tended more and more towards flashy spectacle with little substance or attempt at subversiveness.

Those who thought that new zone locations would reinvigorate the event likely also went home tired and unfulfilled. Though promising on paper, neither a semi-closed down Spadina nor an installation-filled Fort York managed to better previous years in which the ample public space of the Financial District has been put to good use (never thought I'd say that).

Attendees who were looking to hit the town late into the night, see a bit of art and have a raucous time, however, probably felt that this year's Nuit Blanche was just fine. The crowds were as dense as I can recall, and the party element was as visible as it's ever been. Perhaps a bit of booze or greenery was precisely what was needed to make the trips between exhibits -- which seemed further spaced out than in the last few years -- more palatable.

Here is the best and worst of Nuit Blanche 2014.

BEST

Global Rainbow
The laser beams shooting out of the CN Tower towards Chinatown didn't look so amazing from the side walking up Spadina, but like any good rainbow, when you found the end, there was a treat in store.

Nuit Blanche 2014Made in China
Another installation with global registers, Maria Ezcurra's project also relies on scale, this time to shed light on the socio-economic underpinnings of the neighbourhood in which the exhibit is on display. Featuring thousands of garments bearing the tag "Made in China," the piece gestures to the complicated connection between the East and West.

Nuit Blanche 2014Walk Among Worlds
Máximo González's 7,000 beach balls, sprouting out in clusters that resemble the tissue in human lungs, were both worthy of critical thought (the balls were divided in three sizes to represent differing global economies) and stunning to look at. Take note future Nuit Blanche curators; this is how it's done.

Nuit Blanche 2014Holoscenes
Part reference to Houdini, part commentary on the mundanity of everyday life, Holoscenes aquarium performers were fascinating to watch go about their business as if they weren't about to drown. The apocalypse is coming; better get ready.

Nuit Blanche 2014Between the Doors
Upon arrival at this installation I was immediately underwhelmed. Why would anyone line up to pass through an array of doors with arbitrary choices on them? After a couple minutes of listening to crowd chide people for their choices, however, the whole thing made sense. "Why is everyone in love," wondered someone at the popularity of this particular door. Why indeed.

WORST
Nuit Blanche 2014New Zones
Getting out of the Financial District might have seemed like a good idea to organizers, but the new zones along Spadina and in and around Fort York were underwhelming to say the least. Fort York is a site that brims with potential for something like Nuit Blanche, but numerous video installations and the small scale of projects just didn't captivate. Worse, Spadina was only closed on the west side, which led to overcrowding, close encounters with streetcars, and, at times, mass confusion.

Nuit Blanche 2014Exhibit spacing
Tied, no doubt, to the experiment with new zone, the spacing of the exhibits this year posed a challenge. Walking up Spadina from Fort York to Queen, there was very little to see. That proved unfortunate for those headed northeast from Before Daybreak to the Possibility of Everything.

20141005-NuitBlanche2014-tp.jpgCorporate Art
While it shouldn't be forgotten that corporate sponsorships help to make cultural events like Nuit Blanche possible, it'd be nice to see a division between church and state when it comes to the exhibits. Luigi Ferrara's Garden of Renova certainly looked cool, but this type of product placement is worrisome trend.

Litter, litter everywhere
Yes, the crowds of Nuit Blanche make for a serious strain on our public garbage and recycling bins, but the city just looked like a complete dump the next day. All this does, of course, is contribute to the notion that the night is all about licentious partying at the expense of appreciation for the art on offer.

What were your highlights and lowlights from Nuit Blanche 2014?

Photos by Tom Ryaboi, Matt Forsythe, Christian Bobak, and Ben Roffelsen

Today in Toronto: Start Up Fashion Week, I am Femen, Gilmore Girls Trivia, Sharon Van Etten, Tender Offer

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Today in TorontoToday in Toronto Startup Fashion Week err, starts up, and runs until October 9th, so start coordinating three-days of fall weather outfits accordingly. Their Future of Fashion Forum opening event is tonight. Magpie is showing VHS cult film Mindwarp, a campy fantasy that winds love and virtual reality which was Fangoria Films' first release. You can also play SEGA games and munch free popcorn. Sharon Van Etten is at the Opera House, and New Music 101 is in Koreatown with Music in the Barns, Array Music and Author Martha Baillie. For more events, click on over to our events section.

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

Photo of Sharon Van Etten by Stars Are Underground via Facebook

Skate or die

This Week on DineSafe: Burrito Boyz, Hula Girl, Ba Le Sandwiches, Banh Mi Nguyen Huong, Poonam Delight

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dinesafeThere were no closures on DineSafe this week, which makes for three consecutive weeks of red card-free roundups. There weren't even all that many crucial infractions - only Banh Mi Nguyen Huong got cited for failing to maintain hazardous food at cold-enough temperatures.

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

Hula Girl Espresso Boutique (2473 Dundas St. W.)
Inspected on: September 29, 2014
Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
Number of infractions: 5 (Minor: 2, Significant: 3)
Crucial infractions include: N/A

Ba Le Sandwiches (538 Dundas St. W.)
Inspected on: September 30, 2014
Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
Number of infractions: 2 (Significant: 2)
Crucial infractions include: N/A

Noble Seafood Restaurant (530 Dundas St. West)
Inspected on: September 30, 2014
Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
Number of infractions: 5 (Minor: 2, Significant: 3)
Crucial infractions include: N/A

Burrito Boyz (5314 Yonge St.)
Inspected on: September 30, 2014
Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
Number of infractions: 1 (Significant: 1)
Crucial infractions include: N/A

Banh Mi Nguyen Huong (5314 Yonge St.)
Inspected on: October 1, 2014
Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
Number of infractions: 1 (Minor: 1, Crucial; 1)
Crucial infractions include: Operator fail to maintain hazardous food(s) at 4C (40F) or colder.

Adam's Rib (1604 The Queensway)
Inspected on: October 2, 2014
Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
Number of infractions: 5 (Minor: 2, Significant: 3)
Crucial infractions include: N/A

Poonam Delight (2658 Danforth Ave.)
Inspected on: October 3, 2014
Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
Number of infractions: 5 (Minor: 2, Significant: 3)
Crucial infractions include: N/A

Beloved Toronto butcher opens opulent Queen St. shop

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cumbraes queen torontoThis butcher shop is a name well-known to any Toronto food lover - it sells its locally-sourced meats to some of Toronto's most noteworthy restaurants. Thanks to a gleaming, marble-swathed new shop in a prime location on West Queen West, the butchery is about to be even more well-known. On any given day, you could pick up some dry-aged steaks or smoked duck, a rotisserie chicken, a selection from the "ham bar", or a fresh sandwich - made of some of their own house-roasted meat - to go.

Read my profile of Cumbrae's (Queen) in the grocery section.

How to spend a day in Kensington Market and Chinatown

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A day in Kensington and Chinatown TorontoKensington Market and Chinatown are two of Toronto's most vibrant and diverse neighbourhoods and while each boasts its own unique character, being located in near proximity makes them opportune neighbourhoods to explore in tandem.

A common thread between these two areas is how each has resisted (and in some cases, fiercely protected against) the march of "progress" that has seemingly touched almost every other corner of this city. Both neighbourhoods are home to an eclectic mix of long-established retail shops, cafes, watering holes and restaurants joined by young guns that for the most part, aspire to fit in with the local vernacular.

Here's how to spend a day in Kensington and Chinatown, from morning until late night.

BREAKFAST AND COFFEE

While Kensington and Chinatown are bustling almost every other time of day or night, mornings are relatively quiet and populated mostly by residents fetching coffees or produce (the few types of businesses to get an early start). No nonsense breakfasts are plentiful, offered by KOS, Our Spot or Kensington's, though I tend to gravitate to unassuming Average Joe's where seating is just as limited as the menu but the quality and care put into the two egg breakfasts is top notch.

When I'm not in the mood for eggs I head to NuBugel for hot-from the wood-fire oven bagels, or Fika for Swedish-inspired fare like open faced sandwiches on rye with smoked salmon and creme fraiche with chives, radish and cucumbers.

Casa AcoreanaWhen it comes to coffee, I'm spoiled for choice. Discerning coffee drinkers will find what they want at Jimmy's, I Deal or Cafe Pamenar, though I'd argue that patio seating positioned with prime views for people watching (like at Casa Acoreana) should play into any decision.

MORNING ACTIVITY

Milk that cup of coffee as long as you can because mornings in this part of town are sleepy and you'll find that stores open at their own pace and not reliably until at least 11am. Make the most of the slow start by meandering through Chinatown checking out bric brac at stores like B And J Trading Co or picking up that hard-to-find can of curry paste at Hua Sheng Supermarket. The srtetch of Kensington Ave. north of Dundas comes alive just before lunch when various vintage shops like Courage My Love and Flashback open for business.

LUNCH

There are a couple ways to approach lunch-time in Kensington Market, each with its own merits.

Assembling a lunch from various vendors is great way to discover each shop's specialty and for me, often entails focaccia from Blackbird, a ball of burrata from Global, white anchovies from Hooked, pickles from Thomas Lavers and some tomatoes or figs from wherever they look good.

pupusas kensington marketYou'll also find a number of made-to-order street foods, and my top picks include the pupusas at Emporium Latino, blackened mahi mahi tacos from Seven Lives, or the fried chicken sandwich from the lunch counter at Sanagan's (sometimes it's tandoori-spiced covered with Bombay mix, other times it's tossed in Korean hot sauce with kimchi, or, done like schnitzel with braised cabbage. Regardless it's always delicious).

SHOPPING AND CULTURE

If you've exhausted the vintage stores on Kensington Avenue be sure to explore Augusta in the afternoon. Here you'll find Good Egg, a cookbook-centric store, as well as locally designed goods from Fresh Collective, Kid Icarus and Model Citizen.

Envious of the local talent? Try learning a new skill at Lettuce Knit where they offer workshops on knitting and crocheting, or at Kid Icarus or Model Citizen where you can sign-up in advance for screen printing 101 workshops.

A day in Kensington and Chinatown TorontoOn a rainy day, I like to cozy in at Castle Board Games Cafe on Spadina or get competitive at Breakout, a 45 minute "escape room" adventure. Another option (and one I can promise will be a totally singular experience) is to see a collection of obscure short films at the Cineforum on Bathurst south of College, just be warned: you will be sitting in the front room of Reg Hart's home and it's BYOB.

MID-AFTERNOON SNACK

For a quick nosh in the market I like Jumbo Empanadas, not necessarily because their empanadas are better than elsewhere (the dulce ones across the street at Segovia are good too) but because they make the best salsa I've ever tried. They kind of hoard it, so take my advice; order a couple empanadas, and then only after they've put the complimentary side salsas in the bag order an extra salsa to go too.

bunnersSweet tooths should check out Wanda's (pies), Bunner's (vegan baked goods) or Millie Creperie (Japanese desserts), or just stop in at the Toronto Popcorn Co. for some serious sampling opportunities.

DINNER

If you've done things as recommended this will be your first opportunity to sit down in a proper restaurant all day. Try Pizzeria Via Mercanti if you're craving hearty Italian fare or El Trompo for Mexican flavours from the grill. For something a little upmarket opt for Le Kensington Bistro or Torito Tapas Bar, both of which are excellent date-night destinations.

A day in Kensington and Chinatown TorontoDRINKS & ENTERTAINMENT

There are plenty of places to grab a drink in the area but my favourite for cocktails is Cold Tea tucked away at the end of the decrepit alley known as Kensington Mall. Beer drinkers will find what they're looking for at the Embassy, Ronnie's or Handlebar, while live music and/or dancing is usually the main attraction at Detour Bar, Graffiti's and The Boat.

LATE NIGHT EATS

While the rest of the city sleeps, Chinatown is still bustling. Here you'll find People's Eatery serving up snack foods until last call, and after hours you'll find a bevy of Chinese restaurants open until 5am. Help me resolve which is better; Taste of China (where daily specials and General Tso chicken excel) or Swatow across the street (where shrimp wonton soup is unbelievably awesome).

What did I miss? Add your suggestions for how to spend a day in Kensington Market and Chinatown to the comments.


New poll puts Doug Ford neck and neck with John Tory

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Doug Ford pollA new poll by Forum Research promises that the last three weeks of the Toronto mayoral race will be interesting. Despite every other polling company having John Tory comfortably in the lead, Forum's latest numbers suggest that the race is much tighter than has been previously thought. According to survey results released late Monday, the mayoral race breaks down as follows: John Tory takes 39 per cent of the projected vote, followed by Doug Ford at 37 per cent, and Olivia Chow at 22 per cent.

When the margin of error for the poll is factored in, Ford and Tory basically stand in the same position. That's a dramatic change from Forum's last effort, which had the candidates separated by 10 per cent just last week. The survey is based on a sample size of 1,218, so make of it what you will. For context, the last poll from Mainstreet Technologies, also released yesterday, put Tory ahead by 14 per cent. Who's screwing up, one wonders?

Photo by Christian Bobak

House of the Week: 114 Birch Avenue

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114 Birch AvenueSteps from Avenue Road, you'll find this tiny row house located at 114 Birch Avenue in Summerhill. The renovations make the most of the narrow space, which harkens back to the row houses once so popular in Toronto at the turn of the century. Walking in through the front door, you're met with a newly renovated kitchen with custom shelving and bar. Because of that, though, this house is probably better for the neat freaks among us. There's no hiding dirty dishes from visitors here.

The spacious backyard is another highlight, especially given the size of the house itself. Opening off the living room, there's plenty of room for a barbecue, a large table, and some garden space to boot. There's not enough room for running a dog or playing backyard games, but if you're looking for some extra space, you don't have to wander too far to find a neighbouring park. This historic neighbourhood has tons of green space and mature trees. A city within a park, indeed.

114 Birch AvenueSPECS

  • Address: 114 Birch Avenue
  • Price: $879,000
  • Lot Size: 1828.5 ft2
  • Bedrooms: 2
  • Bathrooms: 1
  • Parking: 1
  • Taxes: $4,637
  • Walk Score: 88

114 Birch AvenueNOTABLE FEATURES

  • Prime Location in Summerhill
  • Lush, secluded backyard
  • Modern renovated kitchen with custom shelving
  • New hardwood floors throughout

114 Birch AvenueGOOD FOR

Starter families looking for a central location. This quiet street offers a bit of seclusion in the midst of it all. Away from the hustle and bustle, but still only a short walk from Avenue Road., Yonge Street, and Summerhill subway station, not to mention the shops and restaurants of Summerhill itself. The house itself isn't large, but that'll save on cleaning and maintenance.

114 Birch AvenueMOVE ON IF

You need a little more room to stretch your legs. Calling this house a two bedroom is generous. The second bedroom is better equipped to be a nursery or home office. And the single washroom might be a sticking point. I don't think even Hilary Farr could find a magic space to add a powder room here. It just depends how important the toilet count is to you!

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

114 Birch Avenue114 Birch Avenue114 Birch AvenueRead other posts in this series via our House of the Week Pinterest board.

Thanks to Bosley Real Estate for sponsoring our House of the Week.

Hula Girl brings infamous butter coffee to Ossington

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hula girl ossingtonHula Girl struck gold this year at the CNE when they brought in butter coffee - yep, it's exactly what it sounds like. Now, they've brought the fortified beverage to a brand-new spot, located on Ossington just north of College. If that doesn't sound appealing, you can also indulge with a "crowbar" - that's a croissant with a chocolate bar baked inside. Clearly, restraint is not their strong suit.

Read my profile of Hula Girl (Ossington) in the cafes section.

Massive designer warehouse sale coming to Toronto

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designer warehouse saleIf you won't be busy spending a week in a giant tent at World Mastercard Fashion Week later this month, checking out the latest from Narces, Mackage and Farley Chatto, you're in luck. Catwalk 2 Closet, a massive sample sale featuring more than 100 brands from Canada and abroad, will allow you to get your mitts on pieces from those very designers (and many more).

The warehouse sale, which cleverly coincides with Fashion Week, is set to take over Heritage Court at the CNE's Direct Energy Centre October 23-26.

Top Can-Con picks (in addition to the above) include Arthur Mendonca and newcomer Jennifer Torosian; if you're looking for a bigger name on the label, there's also pieces from Rachel Roy, BCBGeneration, Sam Edelman, Boy London, Vince Camuto, and more. Put on your craziest new find, stroll past the tents at King and John, and a bored street style photographer will probably shoot you anyway.

Photo via Mackage.

10 quirky things to know about the Toronto Islands

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toronto islands ferryThere's no place like the Toronto Islands. Over the last 200 years, the sandy strip of land that affords the city a harbour has evolved from a pond and wildflower-covered peninsula, to summer playground complete with rides and amusements, to car-free parkland. Along the way, the natural landscape of islands and waterways were extensively altered to suit the needs of the day. It's doubtful anyone who rode the wooden roller coaster at Hanlan's Point would recognize the present topography of the Islands.

One of the few things that has remained constant (at least in living memory) is the islands' separation from the mainland. Though there have been many proposals to dig tunnels and build bridges, at time of writing, a water craft is required to reach Centre Island (though that will change in the coming months with the opening of the airport tunnel).

Here are 10 quirky things to know about the Toronto Islands.

The Islands used to have a name
Toronto is full of painfully unimaginative names. Where is the Exhibition held? Exhibition Place. What should we call the new square at Yonge and Dundas? Yonge-Dundas Square. The Toronto Islands fall into that same category, but for a while, the area had a semi-official name: Island of Hiawatha, after an early First Nations leader and co-founder of the Iroquois Confederacy. The name appeared on maps as late as 1924 as a collective name for all the Toronto Islands.

toronto island mapThe Islands used to be a peninsula
The Toronto Islands were, until a particularly strong storm in 1858, linked to the mainland. Before the marshy mouth of the Don River was turned into the Port Lands, a 9 km spit of eroded Scarborough Bluff sand stretched from the foot of Leslie Street to roughly Bathurst Street, forming a "narrow neck of ground," in the words of Elizabeth Simcoe, wife of York founder John Graves Simcoe. The sand bar, which is now the Islands, was covered in small ponds, wild flowers, vines, fir, and poplar trees. It was also an important ground for First Nations hunters and fishers.

The first lighthouse keeper was murdered
Poor unfortunate John Paul Radelmüller has had a rough ride. Lazily accused by some historians (including me) of being mixed up with bootleggers and crooks before his murder in Jan. 1815, it seems the unfortunate German-born lighthouse keeper likely met his end as the victim of a robbery.

As writer Sarah B. Hood wrote in the winter 2012 issue of Spacing, Radelmüller was responsible for collecting import duties, and he may have been killed for the tax revenue in his possession. No-one was ever convicted of the crime, and over the centuries the death has been embellished to include ghouls and bloody staircases.

toronto gibraltar pointThe Island used to be a popular location for mansions
The boardwalk on the lake side of Centre Island roughly follows the path of Lake Shore Avenue, a lost road that used to be Toronto's mansion row. The city's richest people--investment banker Arthur Massey, city engineer Charles Rust, and Gooderham and Worts president Gordon Gooderham--built large summer homes along the street that afforded expansive views of the lake. The church of St. Andrew-by-the-Lake, built in 1884, is a conspicuous relic of this time.

Babe Ruth hit his first professional home run at Hanlan's Point
In 1914, before he was the Bambino or the Sultan of Swat, George Herman Ruth was a minor leaguer with the Providence Grays. During a game at the 18,000-capacity Hanlan's Point Stadium against the Toronto Maple Leafs, Ruth belted one into right field, the first of many home runs in his professional career. No-one is sure where the ball went. It could have dropped into the water, been collected by a fan, or simply thrown back onto the field. Either way, the Holy Grail of baseball is long gone now.

toronto harbour cityThe Islands could have had a manmade neighbour
Harbour City was one of the most ambitious unbuilt projects in Toronto. The chain of manmade islands were supposed to include offshore housing for some 60,000 people, a network of artificial lagoons and canals for recreation and transportation, and commercial properties. Part of the development would be in the lake opposite the Exhibition Place, the rest on what would become former airport land (see below.) Harbour City died with the Spadina Expressway project in the early 1970s.

toronto island stolportThe Island airport could have been in the Port Lands
STOLports were all the rage in the 1960s. Short for "short take-off and landing," the miniature air strips were designed for special city-hopping aircraft that were able to use extremely short runways. The Toronto STOLport was supposed to have been built on the tip of the Leslie St. spit. From there, the planes, De Havilland DHC-7s, could reach cities up to 800 kms away, including New York, Chicago, Quebec, and Louisville. The plans fizzled, but eventually led to the expansion of the existing Island airport into its current size.

There used to be a lot more people living on the Islands
Today, there are about 260 homes on the Toronto Islands, but until the 1950s, there were as many as 8,000 people living offshore. The decline is the result of a lengthy legal dispute between the various owners of the Islands, who would rather the area become parkland, and the existing residents. The feud was most recently settled in 1982 with a decision that allowed existing islanders to lease land from the city until 2092.

hanlans pointHanlan's Point used to be Toronto's Coney Island
While the eastern portion of Centre Island was an area popular with the city's highest earners, Hanlan's Point was Toronto's working class playground. An amusement park with a massive wooden roller coaster, miniature railway, whiplash-inducing "whip," circular roller rink, and baseball stadium drew massive crowds until the late 1920s, when the park fell into decline amid competition from Sunnyside and financial pressure brought about by the Great Depression. It closed for good in 1930s and was replaced by the Island Airport.

The airport ferry is among the shortest of its kind in the world
The Island airport ferry is ridiculous. At 121 metres, the gap between the mainland and the terminal is so short that the Port Authority could technically park a longer vessel in the gap and have people walk on the front and step off the back. For complex political reasons, the city was unable to build a fixed vehicle or pedestrian link to the Island until work began on the pedestrian tunnel in 2011. When it opens, it will be the first permanent link to the Island for walkers.

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

Image: City of Toronto Archives, Grégory Thiell/blogTO Flickr pool.

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