Corso Italia is basically Little Italy 2.0 - the next place postwar Italians lived after College Street got crowded and Woodbridge was still farmland. It's retained its Italian character - alongside a Portuguese and more recently arrived Latin American one, and its residential side streets are full of cute little houses that are going up in value every month, but hey - welcome to Toronto.

For simplicity, the neighbourhood begins roughly around Old Weston Road in the west and peters out at Winona in the east, with the long stretch of St. Clair West between there and Yonge Street given over to the more prosperous retail and real estate activities of Wychwood and Forest Hill. The area took a bit of a retail beating during the long, painful construction of the streetcar right of way (please don't call it an LRT,) but it's slowly coming back even if you'll still see some empty storefronts.

Here's how to spend a day in Corso Italia, from morning to late night.

BREAKFAST AND COFFEE

If you like to start your day with a big traditional brekkie, Boom Breakfast and Sunnyside Grill bookend either side of Dufferin and will give you all the carbs and protein you need for a busy day.

Starving Artist's uptown branch has a lot more seating than its mothership location down Lansdowne if lineups aren't your thing, though if a more continental sort of meal is more your way of starting the day, there's coffee and pastries at Nova Era and Caledonia Bakery, just a car wash apart over by Caledonia.

MORNING ACTIVITY

There's greenspace aplenty in Corso Italia, and a fine post-prandial stroll can be enjoyed in either Earlscourt Park or across St. Clair in the winding pathways of Prospect Cemetery. If all that walking has you footsore and tired, get recharged with espresso and gelato at either Novecento or the neighbourhood's signature gelateria, La Paloma - the first place anyone mentions as the draw that got them to move here.

LUNCH

There's so much to choose from, from Pho Xua and Pho Cuu Long on one end of the neighbourhood, to Latin eateries like Tenoch, Paracas Peruvian, King's Tacos and El Cafetal on the other. But you're on Corso Italia, which means lunch from the steam table.

Centro del Formaggio opens its lunchroom at the back behind the cheeses and meats to locals who swear by its arancini (rice balls,) while Tre Mari Bakery dishes out the veal and meatball sandwiches on its own crusty rolls. While you're there, pick up a ciabatta or olive bread and give yourself another reason to want to move here.

SHOPPING AND CULTURE

Corso Italia got something fewer neighbourhoods have these days when Ayerego Books moved up next to Oakwood Collegiate after leaving their longtime Queen Street home. The new store is tidier and keeps regular hours, and has an outstanding selection of biographies in addition to vintage mass-market paperbacks lovingly featured.

Clothes shopping up here can be a pricey proposition, with options like the designer labels at Christian Boutique (Anna Sui! Moschino! Badgley Mischka!) to the immaculately tailored but wallet-punishing Italian menswear at Genesis, for those gents whose style icons are George Clooney or Gianni Agnelli. Thankfully there's an option for budget shoppers with Boutique Monique Vintage - but only from Wednesday to Saturday when they're open.

Foodies should already know about Tre Mari and Centro del Formaggio, but Corso Italians cherish Diana Grocery, the local market that owner Nick has slowly transformed into a fine food emporium, with his selections of vinegars and olive oils, pastas, an impeccable meat selection (try the Barese sausage!) and carefully chosen fruits and veg.

Finally, Consiglio's recently consolidated from their sprawling three floors to a merely impressive two of kitchen and tableware, showcasing pretty much every kind of espresso maker on the market and tables heavy with cookware, including practically every colour of Le Creuset enamelware. Nonnas take chartered buses from Woodbridge down here on the weekends, so you know it's good.

MID-AFTERNOON SNACK

Stella's Lunch Box, just behind De Soto's pub on Lauder, is the first indie cafe to open on this stretch, which can use some competition for the rather gent-heavy sports bars and cafes on the street. Emma's Country Kitchen sees lineups for its baked goods and healthy lunches during peak hours, so the middle of the afternoon is probably the best time to get a table.

A more obscure stop would be Alli's Fresh Baked, over on the far side of the railway tracks. Not much to look at from the outside, Alli's is like dropping into a neighbour's untidy but very busy kitchen, where something is always hot out of the oven and you can pour yourself a coffee from the pot over by the door. Gluten-free and organic breads are a specialty, but you'll regret it if you don't try the cookies or muffins.

DINNER

Most of the lunch spots also serve dinner, but there are a few places you might want to save till the sun starts setting. For Portuguese, there's Unique Cafe & Restaurant on the far side of Caledonia, and Porto Rotisserie House on the near side. Sabor Brasil and Rio 40 serve Brazilian, while Khmer Thai does Southeast Asian without the usual Thai clichés and Royal Caribbean Cafe has a mean ackee and saltfish. For sushi, there's Sushi California and the newly-opened Tokyo Sushi

For Italian, you're spoiled for choice. Frank's Pizza House and Pizza e Pazzi serve mighty fine pies, and for fine dining, you have everything from the more informal Agio's and The Big Ragu to the white tablecloths at Marcello's and La Bruschetta.

DRINKS AND ENTERTAINMENT

If it's a pub you're looking for, St. Clair West has the Fox & Fiddle and De Soto's Bar & Grill, just a short stagger away from each other. A.C. Ranch Caffe is the friendliest of the local gent's sports bars - there are ladies sitting at the tables! - while Invictus is a nice option for a soccer game and a drink.

If Karaoke with a Eurovision beat is what moves you, head to Glamour Sports Bar and try to remember the lyrics to that song that was big a couple of summers ago when you went to visit family in San Miguel. The itch to club can be scratched at Epic Lounge, which explodes to life late in the week with salsa, Cuban and other latin music.

LATE NIGHT EATS

At the end of the day you'll either end up sitting at one of the metal cafe tables bolted to the ground outside the Piccinnini Centre eating a slice from 241 Pizza by the Lansdowne loop, or scarfing down onion rings and the steak sandwich at Dairy Freeze, wondering at how one stretch of street can contain so much, and just what will eventually fill those empty storefronts.

What did I miss? Leave your favourite spots in Corso Italia in the comments.

761 Queen St. West, a converted church most recently home to non-profits like Community Bicycle Network and the Raging Spoon, has been quietly preparing for several years to transform into upmarket retail space. When a new concept for the building was unveiled two years ago, the development firm even slapped a fake retail concept onto the converted church: "Archeologie".

That joke now seems oddly prescient (or maybe they just knew something we didn't) - either way, it looks like a real, live Anthropologie location is confirmed for the new space, with a projected December opening.

Staff at neighbouring businesses say a location of the Beer Store's craft-oriented Beer Boutique will join the uber-girly clothing and housewares retailer on the first floor of the church. (The existing Beer Store across the street will be shut down.) There's still room in the church for smaller businesses, though - after a flood forced them to move last year, Misfit Studio has settled in on the top floor.

Artists' rendering by Quadrangle Architects.

The Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon is here again, and for most of us that means an afternoon spent watching other people exert themselves. This year's event, the 25th anniversary of the original Coors Light Toronto Half-Marathon, is expected to draw more than 150,000 spectators and raise at least $4 million for local charities, according to the event's organizers.

As the name suggests, the route of the marathon will closely follow the waterfront, from High Park in the west to the Beach in the east, via downtown. For spectators, 12 official "cheering zones" will be set up at various intervals on the course where there will be neighbourhood themed music, food, and other events.

The scale of this year's marathon will mean significant disruption for motorists and TTC riders, the full details of which are outlined below.

Here is everything you need to know about the 2014 Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon.

HOW TO WATCH

25,000 people are expected to take part in this year's Toronto Waterfront Marathon, and that could make finding your friend or family member among the jogging hoards a challenge. Luckily, there's a special web tool that predicts where any given participant will be based on their start time. Fill in the form and choose a location.

Spectators are encouraged to spread out along the route because the start/finish line at Nathan Phillips Square is expected to be crowded. Dedicated cheering zones, which will feature live music, food, charity events, and other family activities, will be set up at:

• The Annex (2 km mark)
• Bathurst and Dundas (5 km)
• Lakeshore and Princes' Gates (7.5 km and 17 km)
• Ellis and Lakeshore (12 km,) Boulevard Club and Lakeshore (14 km)
• Queen's Quay and Sherbourne Common Park (21 km)
• Corktown Common Park (23 km)
• Bayview and River (between 24 km and 25 km)
• Broadview and Eastern (26.5 km and 39 km)
• Eastern and Jonathon Ashbridge Park (29 km and 36 km)
• Kew Gardens Park (between 31 and 32 km and 33 and 34 km)
• Front and Church in front of Berczy Park (before 41 km)

The event is also going to be streamed live on YouTube.

ROAD CLOSURES

The marathon is due to close or partially close numerous roads in Toronto, starting Saturday at midday until the early hours of Sunday morning, depending on the location. Bay from Queen to Dundas will be off limits to drivers Saturday, October 18 at noon to Sunday, October 19 at 7 p.m. to allow for construction of the start/finish area.

Other road closures will be in the area bound by Bloor in the north, Victoria Park in the east, Lake Ontario in the south, and Windermere in the west. Click here for a full list of closures and times. There's also a neat interactive road closure tool.

Organizers recommend taking the Gardiner from the west, exiting at Spadina, and using either Dundas, Queen, or Adelaide to get downtown, depending on the time. From the east, take the DVP south to Richmond and park east of Yonge.

TTC DIVERSIONS AND RESTRICTIONS

The marathon will have a significant impact on the TTC, too. At least 20 different bus and streetcar routes will be affected, including the 501 Queen, 504 King, 506 Carlton, 509 Harbourfront, 510 Spadina, and 511 Bathurst, which is closed for track repairs. At the same time, Line 1 will be closed between Bloor and Eglinton on Saturday, October 18 and Sunday, October 19 for track and signal work.

Affected bus routes include: 5 Avenue Road, 6 Bay, 22A Coxwell, 64 Main, 65 Parliament, 75 Sherbourne, 83 Jones, 92 Woodbine South, 94 Wellesley, 172 Cherry Street, 300 Bloor-Danforth, 310 Bathurst, and 320 Yonge, the TTC says. Click here for full details.

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

Image: Greg's Southern Ontario/blogTO Flickr pool.

Rain in Toronto can dampen your enthusiasm for life - unless you have a plan for combating those blues. While we don't suffer the same wet days as cities like Vancouver or Halifax on either coast, we see our fair share of rain here in Toronto, so it's useful to find some inspiration for rainy-day fun.

Here are 30 things to do on a rainy day in Toronto.

GALLERIES AND MUSEUMS

See what's new at the Design Exchange
Housing many articles of Canada's unique design history in their permanent collection, as well as some impressive exhibitions, there is always something sure to delight at the Design Exchange. (Take, for example, the recent This Is Not A Toy, a show of conceptual toys guest-curated by Pharrell Williams.)

Take in some culture at the AGO
The architecture alone at the Art Gallery of Ontario is worth a rainy day visit, with the pitter-patter of droplets hitting Gehry's arch of windows as you walk in the sculpture garden. The collection, or more rightly, the several collections, include the cannon of Canadian art, Old Masters, Modern and Contemporary work, and more.

Go under the sea at Ripley's Aquarium
If the weather wasn't wet enough, why not take a visit to the aquarium, go to the underwater tunnel or one of the observation rooms, and be surrounded by water and sea life? They've got thousands of different types of creatures, including many varieties of sharks.

Check out the new Aga Khan Museum
The brand-new Aga Khan Museum celebrates the artistic accomplishments of Muslim civilizations from the Iberian Peninsula to China. Some of the world's most exciting Islamic art is on display, including paper works, ceramics, metalwork, ivory, stone, textiles and other objects.

Visit the Ryerson Image Centre
Dedicated to photography and related disciplines, the Ryerson Image Centre is a great place to spend a rainy afternoon. Some of this year's most notable exhibits include "What It Means To Be Seen: Photography and Queer Visibility" and "Dispatch: War Photographs in Print, 1854-2008", both evocative reflections on human experience.

ENTERTAINMENT

See a play
Fans already know of the abundance of great theatre in Toronto, but those unfamiliar with the many productions around should take some time on a grey-skied day and explore the local options. Summerworks, Toronto Fringe, Rhubarb and NextStage all have wonderful programming if they are going on; otherwise check the listings at one of the local theatres, like Annex, Mirvish, Soulpepper or Tarragon.

Watch a movie
Toronto is a well-respected 'movie' town: we make them, we act as a backdrop and work supply for others who make them, we celebrate them with many festivals, of which TIFF is just the largest, and boy, do we watch them. My favourite screen is the number 8 at Varsity, but there are many wonderful cinemas to escape to for a rainy day matinee.

Visit the TIFF film library
TIFF's Film Reference Library carries thousands of cinema related books and magazines, scripts, and importantly for those rainy-day wanderers, viewing stations with 11,000 film and TV programs to plug into. If that wasn't enough to keep you occupied, there are exhibits, like the current Kubrick exhibit nearby in the Lightbox, that you can view for a charge.

Cheer on the local team
Some of the best sporting arenas in Toronto are covered, making them perfectly enjoyable no matter what the weather. The Rogers Centre (aka the Skydome) lets you enjoy Major League Baseball games (plus the nosebleed sections can be quite cheap), The Air Canada Centre is home to both the Raptors NBA team and Toronto's beloved Maple Leafs, while the Ricoh Coliseum houses the AHL Marlies hockey games. Don't have enough dough for tickets? Hit up a sports bar.

Check out the comedy scene
Bluesy weather can be directly combatted with a steady stream of laughs, so why not seek out some comedy the next time the clouds roll in? The three major sites for comedy in Toronto were Yuk Yuk's, Second City and Absolute Comedy, but up and comers and renegade comics are now also found at Comedy Bar, Black Swan Comedy or the Laugh Sabbath nights at the Rivoli.

ACTIVE PURSUITS

Bowling
Bowling is a wonderful pastime, and easier to consider when the weather is less than pleasant. The Ballroom may be the only downtown spot to bowl, though Thorncliffe Bowlerama and Danforth Bowl are close; otherwise head north to Playtime Bowl or Bathurst Bowlerama. (How can you resist a place called Bowlerama?)

Indoor beach volleyball
Even on a sunny day, you may not consider Toronto an apt location for beach volleyball, so it seems like a stretch that such a sport could be enjoyed in TO on a glum, wet day. Not so: Both Beach Blast and North Beach Volleyball offer year-round indoor beach volleyball with actual sand courts.

Indoor badminton
Drop-in fees for badminton clubs across the GTA are sometimes low, making it a great choice to occupy a couple of listless hours on a rainy day, or maybe it's a steady passion in your life, come rain or shine, in which case you may want to invest in a club membership at a spot like The Boulevard Club.

Indoor tennis
Indoor tennis is another thought for a rainy day. Rosedale, North York Winter Tennis Club, Eglinton Flats Winter Tennis Club, and the Scarborough Winter Tennis Club have rates plebes can afford, while the Toronto Lawn Tennis Club is where you want to go if you know a member.

Swimming
Sometimes the way to best deal with a rainy day is to dive right in. Many neighbourhoods have their own indoor community pool like the Regent Park Aquatic Centre which has free and lane swimming at various times throughout the day. There are university pools like U of T's, or the familiarity of the old YMCA - or you could spring for the luxury of a hotel pool, like the Four Seasons, but you'll pay dearly.

Ping pong
There are lots of outdoor table tennis locations around the GTA, but what happens when the sky rains on your ping-pong parade? Some community centres have ping pong tables, like the Trinity Bellwoods, or hit one of T.O's table tennis centres - there's Top Spin Table Tennis or SPiN Toronto - where you can eat, drink and hit the court.

Indoor golf
Who said hitting the green was a summer time pursuit? You can also par bogey bogey par if the weather is rotten - even in a thunderstorm, you can keep working on your hole in one without worrying about getting electrocuted. Try the Lakeshore Links, Tee Times Indoor Golf or Metro Golf Dome.

Curling
If there is one thing that's more Canadian than skating, it's curling, a sport played by basically no one but us. I have yet to understand all the rules, and think the next time the weather turns I'll head to one of the many clubs in TO and get a better grip on one of the nation's favourite sports.

Skating
Many community centres and parks have rinks, and what's more Canadian than taking a spin on the rink? We've found ways to skate in any weather, but unlike outdoor rinks (useless with an inch of water on them) an indoor facility works come hell or high water.

Spinning
Want to combine exercise, cycling and nightclub energy? Find a spinning class. Every body gets on these stationary bikes, while the leader or coach plays crazy music and shouts "GO, GO, GO" at the hard parts, and you sweat a ton and generally feel like a tired million bucks at the end. Quad is a reputable one, with two locations, while Track Fitness in Forest Hill and RPM in the Junction service other neighbourhoods. Check out our list of Toronto's best spin classes to find one near you.

Rock climbing
An indoor gym is a fantastic way to enter into the world of rock climbing, with qualified instructors, safe climbs and mats and rentable gear. (Besides, climbing in a downpour sucks.) Boulderz Climbing Centre, Zen Climb, Toronto Climbing Academy, and Joe Rockhead's Indoor Rock Climbing are all available for amazing climbing experiences.

Parkour
Wet weather makes me sluggish, so to keep the blood moving, I need to move. The Monkey Vault training centre is a huge indoor (and outdoor) space set up for parkour. There's room for free running, tricking, gymnastics, breakdancing, even a place to work on your circus acts.

MAKE THINGS

VIsit a DIY cafe
We could all learn a new skill or two, and there is often a café or shop with highly skills persons there to help lead the way. You can learn to fire a mug at The Clay Room or All Fired Up, or knit at The Purple Purl or fashion some outfit at Sew Be It or The Workroom. You can even make jewellery at Jewel Envy and glass art at Nanopod Studio try your hand at 3D printing at 3DPhacktory. I personally want to be able to fix cars, but they don't have a café for that yet.

Unleash your inner artist
Painting in public doesn't sound like everyone's cup of tea with all that pressure to create something great, but drop into a Paintlounge some rainy day and the hesitancy will subside. They provide the supplies, right down to the canvas, and there are knowledgeable instructors to help you get the hang of being a real-life artiste.

Brush up on your life drawing skills
Not for jokesters, life drawing is a serious activity where you draw awkwardly posed naked people in a semi-private environment. There are tons of opportunities to participate in this time-honoured artistic tradition, which is, in all seriousness, a cornerstone of good drawing practice. Bring your kraft paper and drop into one of these life-drawing classes the next rainy day.

Borrow something from the Toronto Tool Library
Sometimes it takes a bad weather day to look around your home and reflect on the state of affairs. Inevitably you want a new table, to put up that shelf in the bathroom, or to fix a wonky doorframe, but come on, who has all the equipment these days? Enter the Toronto Tool Library, where you can borrow all the tools you need to get the job done.

GAMES

Get lucky at a bingo hall
I love everything about bingo - except for the dreaded bingo arm, and the fact that bingo seems a little sacrilegious on a sunny day. No worries, then, when the clouds roll in - grab your stampers and strips and head on down to the hall for some games, and when you win a round, raise up those arms with pride, waddle or no waddle. You could be playing for big money!

Play at a board game cafe
An overcast sky can be a welcome indication of a cozy afternoon, tucked away with a book or a board game. Board game cafes have sprung up all over the GTA (Snakes and Lattes, Snakes and Lagers and Castle Board Game Café are some of my favourite spots) to offer just such a respite on a rainy day.

Go crazy at karaoke
Sing your heart out in one of those private karaoke rooms the next time the weather turns sour. They usually have no windows anyway and are illuminated by the background videos of cheesy beach walkers and eye-gazing lovers while you read the accompanying lyrics. You'll be so busy struggling to sing "Yah Mo Be There" you won't even notice the torrential downpour outside.

Get stuck in an escape room
Next time the showers start, why not grab a couple of your wisest friends and book yourselves in at escape room? The principle sounds terrifying: Lock yourself in a room in a setting - say, murder mystery, Saw-like horror scenario, or other speculative fiction - and race against the clock to figure your way out. But businesses like Real Escape Game T.O, Mystery Room, or Locked-In are all making a go of it, so who knows? It's worth a try.

What did I miss? Add your picks for rainy day activities in Toronto to the comments.

Photo by Stephen Lee in the blogTO Flickr pool.

The best pho in Toronto will fill you up and warm you from the inside out. Whether topped with rosy, paper-thin sliced meats, luscious tripe and tendons, or floating meatballs, these steaming bowls of Vietnamese noodle soup can incite divisive allegiances and fierce debates amongst pho enthusiasts.

For me, what sets one bowl apart from another comes down to the quality of the broth. It should be almost clear - not murky - and imparted with complex flavours developed through hours-long simmering, then perked up with a little fish sauce at the end. The finishing touch: A selection of DIY additions including vibrant herbs, sprouts and chilis.

Here are the best bowls of pho in Toronto.

See also:

The Best Vietnamese Restaurants in Toronto
The Best Banh Mi in Toronto

Photo by Oscar Flores in the blogTO Flickr pool

Voting in Toronto is simple if you follow the rules. Read on to make sure your vote counts on election day.

WHO CAN VOTE

In order to vote in the 2014 municipal election you must be all of the following:

• A Canadian citizen
• At least 18 years old
• A resident of the City of Toronto (or non-resident if you or your spouse own property in Toronto)
• Not prohibited from voting under any law

WHO CANNOT VOTE

You are prohibited from voting if you are:


• Serving a sentence of imprisonment in a penal or correctional institution.
• Acting as an executor or trustee (voting proxies excepted.)
• Convicted of a corrupt practice described in section 90 (3) of the Municipal Elections Act, 1996.

WHEN TO VOTE

Election day is Monday, Oct. 27th from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. If you can't make it to a polling station on the day, you can cast an advance vote up until Sunday, Oct. 19th from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. You do not need a reason to cast an advance vote. Find your local polling station and a list of candidates using this tool. Alternatively, anyone can cast an advance vote between the dates listed above at City Hall.

WHAT TO BRING WITH YOU

In order to cast a ballot, you must bring acceptable identification showing your name and qualifying Toronto address to the polling station. If you are not on the official voters' list (check here, you should have received a voter information card in the mail) your name will be added when you vote. If you do not bring ID, you can still vote provided you are already on the voters' list.

WHERE TO VOTE

Every address in Toronto is assigned a place to vote. Input your address in the city's MyVote tool and click "Where do I vote?" at the top of the page to find out where you will cast your ballot.

WHO TO VOTE FOR

At the polling station, you will have a chance to vote for one city councillor, one candidate for mayor, and a local school board trustee. Above is a sample ballot sheet from the City of Toronto based on Ward 32. To cast a vote, simply complete the arrow that points to the candidate of your choice. Below are some resources.

• 8 wards that will decide the 2014 Toronto election
• The top 5 issues set to define the 2014 Toronto election
• 5 things you didn't know about John Tory
• 5 things you didn't know about Olivia Chow
• New site lets you compare Toronto election candidates

FREE BEER

Someone must have figured out that free (or cheap) beer was the best possible incentive to increase voter turnout. If you live in Ward 19 you'll not only feel pride in doing your civic duty but a vote in the election will also score you tickets to a party and free beer. Really.

For information about accessibility, services in languages other than English, or to download additional resources, visit the City of Toronto's election site.

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

Toronto photo by Ian Mationg in the blogTO Flickr pool.

This year-old Queen West boutique, dedicated to high-end streetwear and killer sneakers, is also home to an in-house streetwear brand. They've even established a new must-have Toronto accessory: The "YYZ" hat. On top of that, they host pop-ups for exclusive brands, have some super famous fans, and will soon be installing a Hennessy lounge in-store.

Read my profile of Get Fresh Company in the fashion section.

Those sleepovers where you danced the zombie dance while your friends' parents begged you to go to sleep and stop making noise up there are about to pay off. Next weekend a spooky cast of dancers are calling on Toronto to rattle its gross, brain eating (costumed) bodies in an attempt to set a new world record for the most people sashaying the zombie dance from Michael Jackson's Thriller video. Toronto held claim to the first such record in 2006, in case you dance best under pressure.

If you'd like to take part, bring a donation for the Prostate Cancer Canada to Nathan Phillips Square, specifically "the washroom, at the skate rental area" (sketchy), at 4:30pm Saturday, October 25th - it's the same day as Zombie Walk, so you don't have to worry about over-zombie-ing your pores this year - and join the hour long rehearsal before the 6pm showdown. If you just want to watch, look out for the bitey ones.

The top bars for up and coming DJs in Toronto are the places to be if you think you got what it takes to become a choice selector, or if you're a fan who likes to seek out (and dance to) talent on-the-rise. It helps that cover charges are usually cheap or non existent, too.

There's almost no question that the heart of any party is the DJ. Dropping the right tune at the right time can make or break a night. Seamlessly mixing sets requires skill with the equipment, an encyclopedic knowledge of genres, beats and styles, and a sixth-sense for the crowd. These days it can seem like everybody'sa DJ, but not everybody's a good DJ - at least not without some practice.

Here are Toronto's best bars for up and coming DJs in Toronto, ranked by their official capacity. PLUR! Is that the right time to say PLUR?

Detour Bar
This tiny dive bar in the heart of Kensington should be the first place you look if you're trying to find a DJ in Toronto. Despite its small size, Detour's become a hub for the city's underground dance community. Co-owner/operator Chris Buck (a DJ himself) says Detour Bar is all about fostering a community where music producers and DJs can connect with each other, and i's true - on any given night you couldn't swing an RCA cable without hitting a DJ. If you're an up an comer who thinks they're ready to rock a room full of their peers, just stop in and talk to Chris.
Capacity: 30

Milk Glass Co
Art gallery turned event space, Milk Glass is a quirky, charming venue on the Dundas West strip and a great spot to book your first DJ night. There's no official dance floor, but there's room to shake multiple booties, and the place is small enough to start a party without much pressure. The venue hosts a diverse range of events including some goth(!) nights, and monthly drone... um... party? So your genre of choice will probably be welcomed here. Owner Kelly Wray advises all potential bookers and DJs to bring a positive crowd with good vibes, and have a good time.
Capacity: 41

Holy Oak
This low key cafe by day casually transforms into a low-key neighbourhood pub by night. The vibe here is very relaxed, and should you stop in there's a good chance you'll catch a dedicated genre-nerd curating deep cuts from lesser-known country, soul, or funk artists. Aspiring DJs, here is a place where you can flex your curational muscle without the pressure of making people dance (no dance floor). If you're a music fan, check out their listings to hear things outside of the well-played catalogue.
Capacity: 45

TOTA Lounge
Owner Anthony Guerrera has been encouraging Toronto DJ talent at TOTA for years. He seeks out DJs who are passionate about the craft and display the necessary skills to progress in their careers. He believes that Toronto audiences are educated and selective about music and recognize quality, so aspiring DJs should have some skills and a few gigs under their belt before booking. TOTA is a place where fans of drum n' bass, hip-hop, and house can check out the city's emerging talent.
Capacity: 80

Bambi's
A self-described "micro-club", some of the best DJs in the city play at Bambi's. This unassuming basement enclave at Dundas and Dovercourt hosts the likes of Kevin McPhee, Gingy, MEMBERSONLY, and should you stop-in around Electric Island or Digital Dreams you might catch an international headliner rocking a club the size of a bachelor condo. But owner Mikey Apples is also a big booster of local talent, and will hand-pick stand-outs from local monthly events to shuffle the decks at his bar. Fans of forward-thinking house, techno and hard disco will find a cozy home here.
Capacity: 80

Bassline
Owner Craig Kovacs likes to think of his club as the C.B.G.B.'s of Toronto's DJ scene and loves to invest in new, up and coming talent. His goal is to see the scene grow and prosper by giving promoters and talent a place to network, test their skills, and try out new material. Subtle Blend takes place every second Friday showcasing work by local producers; and every Tuesday they hold Open Decks which is like an open mic for DJs where you can sign-up and get up to a half-hour to strut your stuff. The only rule, no hip-hop. No hip-hop? No hip-hop.
Capacity: 100

751 Lounge
751 is where Toronto DJs have been cutting their teeth (and their tracks) since before the internet (ok, definitely before Facebook). Their cramped, sweaty, downstairs still hosts all genres of party DJs including the monthly Motown Party and even a Soca! night. The upstairs portion caters more to rock and punk and hosts a weekly metal party too. At their open mic on Tuesdays, aspiring DJs can take a turn at the decks for an allotted 15-20 minutes. If you're a DJ looking for a gig, chances are good to start a party here.
Capacity: 140

The Central
Flexibility is key at The Central where they will move heaven and earth (furniture, I mean) to make your DJ event a success. Aspiring, or up-and-coming DJs booking a night here will have access to a range of professional DJ gear and if you'd like auxiliary lights, they'll rent it. Want to decorate? Go for it. A special house cocktail or shot for your party? They'll make it. For the guests, drinks are cheap so your friends won't go broke trying to support you. The Central is always looking to book people who show passion for what they do.
Capacity: 150

Round
Round is a relatively new venue that has taken up residence in what used to be Augusta House. The renovated interior brings out the best in the space and even seems, dare I say, classy. Pop in any time (preferably after dark) between Thursday and Sunday to catch EDM, house, techno, trap, and drum n' bass. Every Thursday, Round hosts Archi-Textures - a PWYC DJ event series curated by a different promoter collective each week. Round also features a bamboo dance floor. Talk about trying to panda to the audience! I'm so sorry...
Capacity: 200

Nocturne
The first live act to grace Nocturne's stage was TRST. In the six years since, owner Spencer Sutherland has kept the focus of his club on the talent. In addition to the full range of professional DJ gear (bring your own needles), DJs booking here will have access to a full-time sound tech to walk them through the equipment and help them make the most of it. There is also a dedicated club-photographer to capture the DJ performance.
Capacity: 200

Photo by Jesse Milns

CityPlace is great if you like banks (there's one on every corner), a sea of tall, anonymous buildings and an overpriced Sobey's. And the Harbourfront is perfect for tourists. Well, tourists that can actually get around down there now that the Queens Quay streetcar is back. As CityPlace is still a nascent community, the whole indie coffee shop and restaurant scene isn't really established. But there's still some great spots to spend your day. You just have to hunt for them a little harder than, say, Parkdale or the Danforth.

Here's how to spend a day in and around CityPlace and Harbourfront, from morning to late night.

BREAKFAST AND COFFEE

For third wave coffee, I head across the pedway bridge (Bridge of Light) to Atlas Espresso Bar on Front Street. Their cortado and baked goods (try the pastry of the week) are second to none. They're always trying new dishes daily, but I go for the egg scramble with onion and bacon and a hashbrown. Or you can't go wrong with the egg on a croissant.

If not here, I'll travel up to Thor Espresso for one of my favourite Americanos in the city. If i'm closer to Spadina I'd head to The Coffee Bar for a cappuccino and something gluten free.

MORNING ACTIVITY

With a coffee in hand, I take my dog Hank for a walk along the Harbourfront. There are some great little parks along the way including the Music Garden and HTO Park. If it's the summer, I'll go to the island for the day. Hanlan's Point is where it's at. And no, it's not for the all nude beach - they have the best sunsets. If I don't have time for the ferry ride, I'll end up at Sugar Beach to set up shop with a good magazine and watch the seagulls fight one another along the shoreline.

LUNCH

I'm a big fan of breakfast for lunch (some people call this brunch), so I'll often head up to Wellington to classically styled French bistro Le Select. If I'm hungry, I order the freshly squeezed orange juice and the french toast stuffed with apples and glazed in maple syrup. And maybe a freshly baked croissant on the side. If I'm in for a lighter lunch I'll keep with the French theme and cross Spadina on Wellington to Le Neuf. This cozy cafe never disappoints, especially when it comes to the fresh berries crepe with the soup du jour.

SHOPPING AND CULTURE

I'd be remiss if I didn't mention the Harbourfront Centre. They have something new going on all the time (the International Festival of Authors or IFOA is just around the corner). If it's a summer weekend I'll try to catch a food festival like Hot & Spicy. Aside from trying food from all over the world there are also workshops with artisans who work out of the centre.

Right next door, The Power Plant is one of my favourite contemporary art galleries in Toronto. It was originally built in 1926 to house heating equipment and was in operation as an actual power plant until 1980. Today it houses contemporary work by leading Canadian artists, along with talks, exhibits and a retail store.

MID-AFTERNOON SNACK

You rarely can go wrong with gelato, and this is always true with Lick it Gelato on the Harbourfront. They've only been open for a couple of years but have a solid selection of gelato and sorbet (around 20 options). I go for the banana gelato in one of their waffle cones.

DINNER

When it comes to dinner, the choices open up. I'm usually down for Hunters Landing. And yes, it's a little expensive but the atmosphere and food is always on point, including the wings. Speaking of wings, if a game is on, the best wings in town really are at Real Sports. And you can't go wrong with that giant projector screen.

If it's raw fish I'm craving I'd choose Mi-Ne Sushi, a snug little spot across from the Rogers Centre. I'd bring a friend and get one of their boats (the Mi-Ne Special Dinner). It's so much food I can never finish the whole thing.

When I have friends and family from out of town, I take them to the Amsterdam BrewHouse. This sprawling, two-storey waterside eatery and brew kingdom has some of the better food in the neighbourhood. Try one of the wood oven pizzas (go with the Brewmaster's Sausage) or if you're feeling adventurous, the grilled swordfish. I always order a couple of Amsterdam beers to wash it all down. For those stocking their fridge atr home you can also buy beer from the retail store (open weekly until 11 p.m).

DRINKS AND ENTERTAINMENT

Before it's gone, I'll try to take in as many shows at the Kool Haus as possible. It's one of the best venues to see top bands in the city (Alt-J, T.I. and Julian Casablancas + The Voidz are all playing there in November), mainly because it's not Sound Academy.

Next best is something the city is only starting to catch onto: Jazz Nights at the Aquarium. Friday Night Jazz happens on the second Friday of every month and is as described with live jazz, a cash bar and appetizers as you amble through the aquarium.

If it's the winter, I head out to one of those DJ Skate Nights on the ice rink behind the Harbourfront Centre. (Bring a flask to top off the free hot chocolate).

LATE NIGHT EATS

The I'm-drunk-and-need-sustenance neighbourhood go-to used to be Liberty Shawarma. That was until it got nabbed by DineSafe with a number of criticals back in August. Again, a real pity, as we're grabbing at straws here. Now I just order in pizza from the Dominos at Bathurst and Front.

What did I miss? Leave your favourite spots in CityPlace and Harbourfront in the comments.

Photo by Riley Snelling in the blogTO Flickr pool

The top costumed Toronto bands might see October as a little basic - after all, they've committed to dressing up 365 days a year (or at least, for x amount of gigs per year). Halloween will soon be upon us and many of us are already choosing costumes ourselves, but first we need to pay tribute to those bands who have rocked a variety of get ups year-round. From pylons to robot suits to 80s exercise wear, these Toronto acts' DIY styles take them to the next level. Who knows, they might hold the inspiration you need this year.

With all respect to the goths (they know we love them), here are the top ten costumed Toronto bands of all time.

Shuffle Demons
These rapping jazz-fusion pioneers had a top 40 hit with their 1986 single "Spadina Bus" , the original theme song of Speaker's Corner. Their eye-popping outfits include custom suits with wild black-and-white artwork and a variety of headgear, including military hats and a pharaoh's headdress. They've been enjoying a resurgence since their 2012 album Clusterfunk. Enjoy the outfits while you can - saxophonist Richard Underhill has entered the less-stylish realm of politics. He was running for mayor, but recently dropped out to support Olivia Chow.

Matrox
Toronto's resident interplanetary robot overlords are newcomers to the scene, but their level of commitment is total. Their outfits would make fans of 70s Doctor Who and The Day the Earth Stood Still proud. Judicious use of lights as well as some sweet saxophone placements give Daft Punk a run for their money as the kings of robot rock. The pounding beat, vocodor and synth-based tunes provide a solid match of sound and aesthetic.

Tupper Ware Remix Party
Inspired by Iron Maiden, Daft Punk and Jamiroquai, their costumes are even more diverse than their influences. With pylon heads, multi-coloured spandex, cat masks and gas masks, these guys make your average band jealous with their immense wardrobe. Much like Matrox, TWRP tout intergalactic origins, but you may find these guys, as I did, synth-rocking out at your local street corner.

Fat as F**k
Describing themselves as the cosmic offspring of King Crimson, Paul Oakenfold, Iron Maiden and Ronald McDonald, this instrumental prog-funk septet keep a unique style. They wear translucent white coats in case of an epidemic and transparent party masks in case of a ball. They released their excellent self-titled debut earlier this year.

Barbara
Unclassifiable weirdo provocateurs have been unsettling audiences for a couple years now and their disturbing costumes have played a big part. The duo's ever-changing outfits include mop wigs, over-sized raincoats, canvas masks and the occasional chiton. With these outfits, their diseased R&B sounds and perplexing short films, Barbara are definitely in the running for Toronto's weirdest band.

New Horizzzons
A group that understands the importance of presentation, they housed download codes in packages of incense while playing an unhinged style of glam-psych. This commitment to the theatrical extends to their radical fashions. They can be seen clad in campy tennis outfits, bright-red robes, mime makeup and wigs. Their choices of venues are equally inspired, having played at the Eyesore Cinema and a cat's birthday party.

The Vulcan Dub Squad
One of Brampton's finest bands, the Vulcan Dub Squad disbanded in 2008 after an 11 year, five album career, but their impact is still felt. The group's unique sound was a mix of post rock, Cure-inspired new wave, punk and jangly, Kinks-referencing pop. For much of their career, they performed in matching suits and black masks, which rather than having an alienating effect, seemed to bring them closer to their audiences. A highlight was "Alpha Flight #12", referencing the classic Canadian superhero team.

Fitness
Out of all our costumed bands, Fitness have the ultimate synchronicity between form and function. Their moves and costumes come straight out of an 80s workout video, but don't call them a parody - they're seriously invested in the concept. At their shows, you'll see brightly coloured leggings, short shorts, neon armbands, and some sweet choreography. The music fits with the theme as well, with upbeat post-punk tunes that get audiences moving. The icing on the cake is a series of TTC Fit videos made for commuters to get their groove on.

Thantifaxath
Representing Toronto's black metal scene, these robed rockers released their first album, Sacred White Noise, earlier this year. Their robes give the group both ample menace and total anonymity, and the use of grainy black and white for promotional photos furthers their impression as scary monks. They combine noise and progressive elements for their distinctive take on black metal, and have toured diverse locations, from New York to Switzerland to Slovania.

Nash the Slash
No discussion of costumed musicians would be complete without veteran avant-garde multi-instrumentalist Nash the Slash, who passed away earlier this year after an almost forty year career. Nash's distinctive costume was iconic to the Canadian music scene. His bandaged face, black aviator goggles, white suit and top hat combined to create an instantly recognizable character. With a background in progressive rock, he was best known in his later years for performing live soundtracks to silent horror films, such as Nosferatu and The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari. His image lives on in a series of murals in Leslieville.

Free events in Toronto this week will get a little spooky, though nothing is as terrifying as walking by the ATM to check your bank balance (also not always a free activity). The Zombie Walk and Night of Dread are big ones, plus there are parties, street fests, film screenings and more.

If you'd like to have fun on the cheap without having the pants scared off of you (I can't afford new pants either), the week holds tons of Hallo-whatever options. Showing up early to a book launch at Hashtag on Thursday will get you a free drink - then you can head to Philistine for free nail art, free shoe shines, free food, and free beer.

Here's how to live like you're not the economy's walking dead in Toronto this week.

MONDAY

• EARLY MONTHLY SEGMENTS #67 - Gregory Markopoulos (Gladstone)
• Free Ontario College Information Fair (Direct Energy)
• Toronto Photo Walks Group Exhibition 2014 (Art Square)

TUESDAY

• Philippe Blanchard - LUMIERE CONCRETE / STRUCTURED LIGHT (Glendon Gallery)
• ADULT BULLIES, DAVEY BRAT the Brat Attack & STINKBOX (Bovine Sex Club)
• The Portuguese in Kensington Market (Toronto Public Library, Lillian H. Smith branch)
• Free Adult Yoga Classes (The Sony Centre For The Performing Arts)
• LOSING MY GRIPS: KNTRO TURNS 26 A DEATH GRIPS PARTY (Detour)
• Amy Thiessen launches In Between Goodbyes [PWYC] (Not My Dog)

WEDNESDAY

• CURATIONISM Launch Party (The Drake Hotel)
• Shift Reunion & Book Launch for Chris Turner's "How to Breathe Underwater" (The Garrison)
• Eat Pray Love The FU Drag Musical [PWYC] (Bloor Street United Church)

THURSDAY

• Philistine Four Year Anniversary Party (Philistine)
• Book Launch Party (Hashtag)
• Nightmare on Queen Street - Grand Opening Masquerade Party [With Mask] (416 Gallery)
• BUMP IN THE NIGHT [PWYC] (Central)
• Friends of Friends w/ Iderdown, No Step, The Databats, Deeper Arcades [PWYC] (Handlebar)

FRIDAY

• Film Screening & Discussion of "Wretches & Jabberers" (York University)
• Beach Studio Tour (Friday - Sunday)
• Vakent, a photography exhibit by Craig Chambers (hub 14)

SATURDAY

• 2014 Toronto Zombie Walk and Halloween Parade (Nathan Phillips Square)
• Larry Towell: Afghanistan (Stephen Bulger Gallery)
• Film Screening & Discussion of "Wretches & Jabberers" (Bloor Hot Docs)
• Halloween (Paradise Comics)
• PRE-HALLOWEEN DANCE PARTY (Sex Laser)
• BOO! at the Barns (Wychwood Barns)
• Night of Dread 2014 [PWYC] (Dufferin Grove Park)
• Thrill The World Toronto 2014 [PWYC] (Nathan Phillips Square)
• "Night Of The Living Dead" HALLOWEEN kiki ball [PWYC] (519 Church St)
• DESIRE w/ boyBITCH, Simple Chemistry, Valkyrie 1984, Deeper Arcades [PWYC] (Holy Oak)

SUNDAY

• Bad Movie Night Toronto presents DEATH SPA (Clinton's)
• Toronto West Halloween Fest 2014 (Bloor b/w Jane and Runnymeede)
• Halloween on Queen (Beach Village)
• Her Harbour, Formalists, Oxford Blue, / a Grayowl Point show & tell [PWYC] (Handlebar)

Also check out these regular free events

• Elvis Mondays at the Drake
• Foosball Battle Royale, Monday, Disgraceland
• Art Gallery of Ontario free evening, Wednesday, 6-8:30pm.
• IFOA Weekly, free for supporters, students, & youth under 26, Wednesday, Harbourfront Centre
• Skin of My Nuts Comedy Show, Thursday, Sonic Espresso Bar
• Canadian Opera Company's Free Concerts series
• While nearly all art galleries in the city are free to enter, it's worth noting The Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art (MOCCA) is always PWYC.
• The ROM (Royal Ontario Museum) offers discounted tickets on Fridays ($10).

Do you want everyone to know about your kinda random free or pay-what-you-can event? Submit it to our event section. (You can also submit your for-money events here, greedy-pants.)

Photo by Jess Milns

The duo behind one of Leslieville's most successful bakeries started out making lavish wedding cakes - but found that Torontonians were just as likely to pop into the shop on an average day for a scone and a coffee. Their retail expansion efforts have taken them to Yonge and Lawrence, bringing with them a host of carefully-refined recipes for macarons, scones, bread puddings, and other sweets.

Read my profile of the new Bobbette & Belle in the bakeries section.

Toronto Fashion Week is back at the tents at David Pecaut Square for the spring/summer 2015 season. As designers make a mad dash to perfect their collections before sending them out the door, and countless volunteers pull on their black T-shirts and pick out stylish-yet-practical shoes, the Canadian fashion media debates how much the spectacle of the shows does for our homegrown talent (even Jeanne Beker herself recently weighed in).

Still, even as buyers trickle out of the fashion week shows, journalists and industry members trickle in, preserving fashion week's value as a platform for exposure and keeping all eyes - at least for one week - firmly on Canadian talent. Where should your eyes go this week?

I've rounded up some of the new and returning designers to watch - as well as a few potential curveballs - on the spring/summer 2015 runway.

Brand-new faces
The tents tend to be pretty empty during the early-afternoon shows, but you may want to turn up early - there's a lot of new talent hitting the catwalk this year. Som Kong, a clear audience fave at TOM's emerging designers competition, wlll be showing as part of the Threshold showcase. Luxurious-Canadiana line Elan + Castor, after popping up at industry showcases around WMCFW, are finally hitting the runway, along with Rudybois, a Montreal line already known for dressing Quebecois luminaries like Marie-Mai, and the neon-brites of Aussie-bred designer Hayley Elsaesser.

Rising talent
Yeah, Mackage, Pink Tartan and Joe Fresh are always going to pack the house - but some of the most exciting names on the schedule are newbies who made killer first impressions on last season's runway. Brit Wacher, coming off a season that saw St. Vincent wear one of her pieces on SNL, has imagined an alternate Earth for her spring 2015 collection. Malorie Urbanovich, who tied for top honours at last year's MBSU competition, is back for her first proper runway show. And Hilary MacMillan, after two strong initial collections, is back for another go - I can't wait to see what she shows next.

Major luxury
Scrappier, streetwear-oriented brands (Travis Taddeo) and denim lines (Triarchy) are taking a season off, but glamorous collections for men and women - Narces, Stephan Caras, Christopher Bates, Mikael D, and Matthew Gallagher, to name a few - are staying strong. Expect Caitlin Power and the Beyonce-approvedMikhael Kale to add some edge.

A fashion-design battle-royale
Hometown young'uns Beaufille and Sid Neigum, year after year, make for two of WMCFW's most riveting shows; this year, they're competing - along with fellow Fashion Week veteran Laura Siegel - for the Mercedes-Benz Start Up award, usually the domain of brand-new faces at Fashion Week. Also in the running: Eliza Faulkner, BLAK.I and VAIKEN. At stake is a $30,000 bursary and an industry mentorship; I'm willing to bet one of the three veterans will take the crown, but anything can happen.

Splashy surprises (maybe)
The upstart designers will be the ones bringing excitement to the collections, but WMCFW's two dueling mega-retailers tend to bring the showmanship elsewhere. Joe Fresh flew in Heather Marks last season, while Target threw around some of those marketing dollars and brought in bonafide supermodel Erin Wasson for their first show.

More info on the official World MasterCard Fashion Week site.

Stores that sell British products in Toronto stock all those nostalgia-inducing items that take you right back to the fair isles. You can spend a little on sweets or you blow all your shrapnel in a Harrod's-like shopping frenzy. Don Barbour jackets and Liberty prints, throw a couple of Union Jack pillows on your chesterfield, serve Yorkshire Gold in the Spode china and clean up afterward with Fairy washing-up liquid, and you'll be as British as, if not the Queen, then the Queen of Pop - Madonna, perhaps the world's most ridiculous Anglophile.

I lived in London while I was going to school, and can attest to the attachment one develops to their particular brands and snack choices. I loved a Branston pickle sandwich with thick cuts of white Wiltshire cheese, eating Galaxy Mistrels by the handfuls at the Curzon movie theatre, and perfectly dusty and currant-studded scones with real clotted cream and strawberry jam. While we can't yet transport the dishes of St. John, Ottolenghi, Moro, River Café, Heston Blumenthal, or Hawksmoor to Toronto, we can be reminded of the wonderful culinary experiences of Britain, one Hobnob and a cuppa at a time.

I had half a mind to write this all in Cockney rhyming slang, but I'll just do a little: Here are my picks for the cock-and-hen (ten) Mae West (best) drum-and-bass (places) to find British products in Toronto.

The Chocolate Box
Pull the lid off The Chocolate Box on The Donlands and you'll find a host of British sweets and products to buy. The focus is on Brit chocolates like the Flake, Yorkie, Twirl and Fry Orange Cream, but they also carry a lot of flavours of Walker Crisps and Border's biscuits.

Empire by Bullet
A number of years ago home decor mavens Bullet launched Empire, their whole shebang British shop in Riverside. Looking for a Doctor Who snow globe? Emma Bridgewater mugs? Marmite aprons? Dog head in heraldic dress on throw pillows? Gardner's Butter Scotch in a tin? Glengoyne Whiskey Fudge? All the Cadbury, Walkers and McVitie's you can handle? Pop into Empire, chum, and you'll find it all.

Nutty Chocolatier
The Nutty Chocolatier, with several locations around Ontario, has been a longtime go-to for British products. They've got most of the British chocolate bars, Turkish Delight, and those wild Walker's crisp flavours like Steak and Onion, Curry, Pickled Onion and Lamb and Mint, as well as Scottish shortbread, tea sets - even Marks and Spencer's Cream of Tomato soup.

Sweet Thrills
Sweet Thrills on Roncesvalles has been charming the neighbourhood for quite some time with its selection of British products - including wacky Walker's crisps flavours and Cadbury chocolate - and friendly service, courtesy of owner Michael.

Uncle John's Candy Shack
Uncle John must have some fondness for the British Isles, because his Candy Shack is filled with overseas treats. Items from Marks and Spencer's, McVitie's, Cadbury and Walker are all available - as well as a cooler filled with a selection of meat pies and Brit sodas like Irn Bru.

Candy Bar
Imagine the candy store scene at the beginning of Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory. The Candy Bar is something like that. They have a big selection of British sweets alongside their other treats: Squirrel Brand Floral Gums from Blackpool, Caramac Bars, Blackcurrant fruit pastilles, Kit Kat bars, chocolates, toffees, Walkers Crisps, McVitie's biscuits, and the delectable Irn Bru. Plus, owner Paola is a real gem.

McCormick Imports
The mother daughter team behind McCormick's Imports sure knows a thing or two about British whimsy: Polka dot teapots, Beatles memorabilia, Paddington Bears, beautiful bound copies of English favourites like Dickens' Great Expectations, along with linens, tea towels and pillows and more. It's a perfect spot to pick up a gift for an Anglophile.

A Bit of Home
Stop into the Tomken Shopping Centre in Mississauga to find A Bit of Home, a shop filled with 'the best of Ireland and Britain'. Home goods include Arsenal bar towels and Coronation Street wall calendars; pantry items include Bisto White Sauce Granules, Lyons Jaffa Cakes, Rose's Lime Marmalade, both the big and small chunk Branston pickle, and Heinz Ploughman's Pickle. They've even got Burtons Jammie Dodgers!

London Calling
A newer addition to this list, I think this Cabbagetown store has a while before it finds it real British sea legs. Find a selection of English sweets, Dandelion and Burdock soda, wack and crack toffee, mushy peas and real Heinz beans next to a lot of Union Jack pillows, tissues, oven mitts and more. Also fond of anything of the "Keep Calm" variety.

Mrs. Bridges British Bakery
Mrs. Bridges British Bakery in the Eglinton Square Shopping Centre is both a bakery (specializing in sausage rolls, meat pies, and Albert Cakes, a type of tray bake with currants named after Prince Albert) and a British food emporium. They carry Marks and Spencer, Cadbury, Bisto, McVitie's, Colman's, Tunnock's, Bird's, Walkers (and Walkers' - for those that know the difference), Heinz and Fox's, among many others.

Did I miss any? Leave your favourite stores that sell British products in the comments.

Photo of McCormick Imports by Kat Rizza.

Photo by Don JL in the blogTO Flickr pool.

Today in Toronto it's that biannual event you can't help but forget, Toronto's Fashion Week. Take a look at our preview here, and try to get street styled at least once, you mongrel you.

Early Monthly Segments is back at the Gladstone - and drunk as hell from the looks of it (it's definitely past the mid-month point, EMS), but we don't mind because the event is a thin strand holding the city's experimental film community together, tipsy with calendars or not. The films, and new book, of Gregory Markopoulos will be featured. For more events, click on over to our events section.

• Fashion: Fashion Week (David Pecaut Square)
• Film: Early Monthly Segments (Gladstone)
• Comedy: Laughable (Unlovable)
• Music: Young Widows (Garrison)
• Lit: Where We're Going We Don't Need Roads (Steady)
• Dance: Series 8:08 Choreographic Performance Workshop (Videofag)

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

Rob Ford might have thought it would be easy to slip back into his old Ward 2 council seat, but it appears his closest rival, Andray Domise, is making up ground, possibly even leading, in the race to succeed incumbent Doug Ford.

An internal poll conducted by the Domise campaign earlier this month put their candidate on 53 percent, eight points ahead of Ford. However, Andrew Young, Domise's campaign manager, says the figures should be taken with more than a pinch of salt.

The informal, live-caller telephone poll was conducted between the October 7th and 10th with "about 4,000" decided voters, he says, as part of regular canvassing. Voters were asked how they would cast their ballot after some "persuasion and discussion."

"We had a fundraiser coming up, which we were inviting people to, and so we initially gauged support to figure out if we should be offering the invitation."

News of the internal poll comes after a week in which Ford was asked to leave three polling stations for being in potential breach of the Municipal Elections Act.

An email sent to Domise's supporters Friday thanked donors and volunteers, but said the team's signs were being destroyed faster than they could be replaced.

Despite the unscientific nature of the questioning, Domise's camp believes it's within striking distance of Ford.

"The response at the door, and online, and in every form that we've been featured in has been overwhelmingly positive," Young said. "It's just nice now to know that other people are kind of picking up on that a little bit."

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