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The top 10 film directors from Toronto

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toronto film directorsThe top film directors from Toronto prove this city is rich in cinematic excellence in more ways than just TIFF. From mainstream movies to indie classics, the cinematic contributions made by our city's most eminent filmmakers owe much to Toronto's thriving film community, a little bit to luck, and that rare flicker of greatness.

Here are my picks for the top 10 film directors from Toronto.

David Cronenberg
Forty years of consistently shocking, original and challenging films including A History of Violence, Dead Ringers and The Fly is what puts David Cronenberg at the top of this list. Cronenberg also founded the Toronto Film Co-op with Ivan Reitman, and is a staunch supporter of Telefilm Canada and government funded film projects. He has received the Cannes Lifetime Achievement Award and in 2014 was made a Companion of the Order of Canada. We're still waiting for his park.

Norman Jewison
Norman Jewison is perhaps the most highly acclaimed Canadian filmmaker of all time. He began his film career as an assistant director at the CBC and in the four decades since has directed 42 feature films including In The Heat of the Night, The Hurricane and Moonstruck. The director's legacy has been cemented with his films receiving 46 Oscar nominations including 12 wins.

Atom Egoyan
Stylistic and moody, the films of Atom Egoyan embody Canadian art-house cinema. Early films like The Adjuster and Speaking Parts gained him international attention, and his non-linear narrative style was refined with Exotica and won the International Critics Prize at Cannes. The Sweet Hereafter is Egoyan's most critically successful film earning a Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Director nod at the Oscars.



Deepa Mehta
Over the course of her 25 year career, Mehta has proven herself to be a master storyteller presenting characters in lush, emotional landscapes punctuated with rich details and vibrant cinematography. Her debut feature Sam & Me was a runner up for the Camera d'Or at Cannes, and Water, the final installment in her Elements Trilogy garnered nine Genie nominations and an Academy Award nomination for Best Foreign Language Film.

Bruce MacDonald
Born in Kingston, Bruce MacDonald attended North Albion Highschool. Feature films like Roadkill, Highway 61, and Hard Core Logo have established him as the King of the Canadian Road Movie. He directed the Broken Social Scene pseudo-concert doc This Movie is Broken, and 2008's Pontypool was nominated for three Genies including Best Director. More than anything MacDonald is, perhaps, the punk-rock of Canadian cinema.

Sarah Polley
Intelligent, poised, focused - these words can be used to describe Sarah Polley's acting as much as the films she's directed. Her debut film, Away From Her received eight Genie awards. She followed this with the charming, set-in-Toronto romance, Take This Waltz and her documentary Stories We Tell which won Best Feature Length Documentary at the Genies and gained international praise. Polley has proven herself to be a deft, accomplished storyteller. Her directing career has only just begun.

Ivan Reitman
Born in Czechoslovakia but raised in Toronto, Ivan Reitman and business partner Dan Goldberg were the first Canadians to be convicted under Canada's decency laws for producing a movie called Columbus of Sex. They were fined $300. This smut-pioneer went on to direct Stripes, Ghostbusters, Twins, and Kindergarten Cop - collectively known as the best movies ever made. He helped launch the careers of Eugene Levy and Bill Murray, and made Arnold Schwarzenegger (intentionally) funny.

Ruba Nadda
Born in Montreal, Ruba Nadda attended York University. After taking a six-week film production course at the Tisch School in New York, she began her career with a series of 13 short films produced between 1997 and 2004, which have been shown in over 500 festivals around the world. Among her four feature-length films, Cairo Time starring Patricia Clarkson took home the Best Canadian Feature Film award at TIFF and was the best-reviewed romance on Rotten Tomatoes in 2010.

Don McKellar
Born in Toronto and more or less a fixture in Parkdale, Don McKellar began his career writing, directing, and acting in plays as part of the Augusta Company - a theatre group he founded alongside Daniel Brooks and the late, great Tracy Wright. His directorial debut, Last Night collected many awards and accolades including the Toronto Film Critics Award for Best Canadian Film. He's directed two features since, Childstar, and The Grand Seduction.

Michael Snow
Michael Snow creates challenging works of avant-garde cinema - non-narrative pieces that toy with conceptions of time and space. His 1967 structural film, Wavelength is plainly referred to as one of the greatest underground art-house films ever made, and was designated as a masterwork by the (now defunct) Audio-Visual Preservation Trust of Canada. He's made 23 films over his 50-plus year career.

BONUS

Allan Dwan
Toronto native Allan Dwan helped lay the foundation of modern cinema. His 50-year career (directing over 400 films) encompassed the silent-era, the advent of talkies, and extended well into the epic Technicolor-productions of post-war Hollywood. His directing career includes iconic classics - Robin Hood (1922) with Douglas Fairbanks, Heidi (1937) starring Shirley Temple, and perhaps his most famous, Sands of Iwo Jima (1949) starring John Wayne.

Who did I miss? Add other notable Toronto film directors to the comments.

Photo: Julian Carrington


The five spookiest abandoned buildings in Toronto

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toronto hearn generating stationToronto might be in the midst of a construction boom, but there are still abandoned buildings across the city stuck in limbo, awaiting restoration, demolition, or repurposing. In the cases of the massive Hearn Generating Station in the Port Lands and the Symes Transfer Station near St. Clair and Keele, the challenge of successfully rescuing the long-abandoned structures has so far proved too great for even the boldest developers.

However, the future appears brighter for the disused Canada Linseed Oil Mills Building on Sorauren and Kodak Building #9 on Eglinton, both of which have been recently targeted for adaptive reuse. The Kodak building, it seems, will be folded into a new transportation hub on the new Eglinton-Crosstown LRT.

Here are 5 abandoned Toronto buildings that could use some

Hearn Generating Station
Experts agree the Hearn power station on Unwin Ave. has potential, but no-one seems able to find a way to properly repurpose the massive building. The last electricity produced by the Port Lands plant entered the grid in 1983. Since then, the structure has been in a state of decay, attracting urban explorers like 26-year-old Ryan John Nyenhuis, who died after falling into a disused coal hopper in 2008. More recently, the Hearn has provided the backdrop to numerous stylish parties.

toronto kodakKodak Building #9
The once massive Kodak manufacturing plant at Eglinton and Black Creek Dr. is now a rubble-strewn wasteland, but at its peak 900 people worked there, producing camera film and other photographic equipment. Building 9, erected in 1940 and shown on the far right of the picture above, was the employee recreation area and the only building not demolished when Kodak fell on hard times in 2006. Now under the ownership of provincial transit agency Metrolinx, it looks likely the structure will see use once again in the near future.

toronto symes destructorSymes Transfer Station
The tall grass and detritus around the former trash incinerator near St. Clair and Keele hides what was once an impressive art deco structure, albeit one used for burning garbage. The heritage structure has potential to be renovated and repurposed, but at considerable expense. In the 20 years since it was last used, the building has been set on fire several times, used for illegal parties, and subjected to vandalism. "The derelict building had become a safety hazard and concern for the neighbourhood," writes Build Toronto, a city corporation responsible for selling off surplus buildings.

Canada Linseed Oil Mills Building
Before it joined the city's extensive list of abandoned industrial buildings, the Sorauren Ave. linseed oil mill, built in 1910, was a bustling factory. The company produced its last batch of pale yellow oil in 1969 and its former home has been dormant ever since. The City of Toronto currently owns the property and has spent considerable money decontaminating the soil, but so far no-one has come forward with a viable restoration plan. Meanwhile, water damage and vandalism continue to threaten the structure.

Kormann House Hotel/Canada House Tavern
The derelict and disheveled brick building on the southwest corner of Queen and Sherbourne almost became a condo, but market forces intervened. Now, the former hotel and Canada House Tavern sits empty, an empty shell awaiting a make over. Condo sales king Brad Lamb had a hand in the original Kormann House project (he claimed in 2012 to have sold 50 percent of the promised units) and has since tried to revive the development, but to no avail.

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

Images: City of Toronto Archives

Organic juice bar opens on King West

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pulp and press torontoIn just under a year, this London-based juice company has brought its bottled wares to stores all around southern Ontario on the strength of its cold-pressed, organic blends. Now, they've opened up a storefront at King and Niagara devoted exclusively to doling out their juices, which are available one by one or as cleanses.

Read my profile of Pulp & Press in the restaurants section.

Swimming Anyone?

Today in Toronto: Caribou + Jessy Lanza, RuPaul Trivia, Heritage Minutes, Culture Club, Mixed Company

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today in TorontoToday in Toronto a match of remarkable Ontario talents in electronic music will join forces at the Danforth, as Jessy Lanza opens up for Caribou. If your Monday needs something more glam, the Beaver wants to test your Drag Race trivia.

Canadian kitsch-wise, do you miss those Heritage Minute clips? Carlton Cinema is going to show them all, or at least a lot of them. If you can't wait until December to pull out your ugly cat sweater, there's also this. 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.

Correction: Culture Club has been canceled.

Photo of Jessy Lanza by Jesse Milns

The top 10 stores to buy winter boots in Toronto

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winter boots torontoWinter boots in Toronto are a must if you want to navigate our city's annual lakes of evil black slush. When we think about big-city winter style, our minds conjure up imagine sleek leather boots and perfect, minimal coats - not gigantic, clunky, fur-lined Sorels - but with five months out of the year spent in salt-encrusted snowy darkness, we can't help but be practical.

Luckily, winter boot manufacturers - and vendors have brought in trendier styles in recent years. When it comes to the cold, you don't need to suffer for fashion.

Here are my picks for where to buy winter boots in Toronto.

Sporting Life
Toronto's original sporting-goods store, located north of Yonge and Eglinton, naturally comes well-stocked with performance-oriented snow boots. Men and women can choose from a dozen brands, with styles generally focused on the chunky, plasticized and/or fur-topped (one notable exception: these fancy-pants apres-ski boots from ski brand Rossignol).

Get Outside
Sprawling over two storefronts, this Queen West favourite has plenty of space for seasonal footwear (they pack away the sneakers come winer). Their boot offerings focus on trendy yet practical brands for men and women, including a few relative rarities like Palladium, Native, and Bogs. The tradeoff for all that selection: You'll likely pay the full MSRP.

Heel Boy
Come wintertime, this pair of stores (one on West Queen West, the other in the Distillery) swaps out some of their sandals and heels from cool international brands for boots from the likes of Rudsak and Dubarry of Ireland.

Gravitypope
This Ossington store, a western-Canadian import, stocks every cool shoe brand under the sun (and deals equally in Converse and Comme Des Garcons). When it comes to winter, there's performancewear from UGG, Patagonia, Kodiak, Manitobah, and Woolrich. If it's not in store, it's most definitely on their website.

Australian Boot Company
Maybe you're the type to buy one pair of boots and kick the daylights out of them year-round. Your first and only stop should be the Australian Boot Company, where you can pick up a pair of wear-everywhere Blundstone boots. If you want something more specialized, they offer winterized models with fleece insoles, along with a selection of rugged UGGs (and the sheepskin ones, but don't buy those).

Mountain Equipment Co-Op
Outdoorsy types flock to MEC on King West for their Nalgene bottles and Gore-Tex everything; their boot offerings lean more toward hiking than snowy weather, but with pairs from Merrell, Keen and Pajar, you'll find something to keep the snow out (plus, while you're there, their helpful staff will be able to sell you all the self-heating socks and merino long johns you could need).

Atmosphere
Formerly known as Coast Mountain Sports, this outdoorsy chain (part of the Sport Chek family of stores) shares MEC and Sporting Life's focus on hitting backwoods and trails (as opposed to the city streets, which I would argue are equally treacherous). That big-chain status means the possibility of markdowns on that performance-oriented footwear, including pairs from Merrell and Patagonia.

SAIL
This Quebec-based outdoor-goods chain, with locations in Etobicoke and Vaughan, stocks a range of brands, from the entry-level to the high-tech, including some unusual ones like Baffin and Quebecois line Saute-Mouton.

Imelda
This adorable boutique on Roncy is a particular weakness of west-end accessory lovers - particularly those whose tastes run to the practical-yet-funky (think Miz Mooz and Clarks). If winter weather is a weakness in your shoe arsenal, their on-trend styles from Kodiak, Native, Sorel and Bogs will have you covered.

Hudson's Bay (Queen St.)
Yeah, it's a department store, but we'd be remiss to not mention the shoe floor at the Bay's Eaton Centre flagship, which bills itself as the largest shoe section in all of Canada. Naturally, their selection of both heavy-duty and fashion brands (including some upscale runoff from the Room upstairs) is unmatched - as are their shoe sales.

See also:

The Best Shoe Stores in Toronto
The top 8 stores to buy hiking boots in Toronto
The top 10 places to buy a cheap winter coat in Toronto

Did I miss any? Leave your favourite stores for winter boots in the comments.

Photo by Kyra Savolainen in the blogTO Flickr pool.

Pizzeria Libretto an instant hit in the Financial District

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pizzeria torontoThe newest outpost of Rocco Agostino's Neapolitan pizzeria is now open on University north of King and has immediately become popular with the local business lunch crowd looking for casual sit-down options. Expect to find a three-course prix fixe menu for $15 plus all the familiar favourites from the other locations.

Read my profile of Pizzeria Libretto (University) in the restaurants section.

Bike Pirates launches crowdfunding effort to relocate

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Bike Pirates TorontoAfter eight years near Bloor and Lansdowne, DIY repair joint and community hub Bike Pirates is set to relocate. The volunteer-run organization wants to expand to a bigger space, for which it's asking for the public's help via an Indiegogo campaign to the tune of $20,000.

It's an ambitious goal, to be sure, but given that the operation is completely funded by donations to begin with, one suspects those affiliated with the shop know a thing or two about fundraising. On top of that, a bigger Bike Pirates is a good thing for both Toronto's cycling community and those who support grassroots organizations.

The crowdfunding campaign is designed to help cover the costs associated with renovating a new space to serve as a function repair shop -- things like electrical updates, shelving, new flooring and a security system. As to where the new location will be, it's still up in the air, but the plan is to take space by January and to be operational sometime in March, just in time for cycling season.


World's Biggest Bookstore meets the wrecking ball

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Worlds Biggest BookstoreThe World's Biggest Bookstore was demolished this weekend, bringing a close to an era that began in 1980 on Edward St. The store had already closed its doors back in March, but the loss of the structure that once housed the shop serves as a sort of exclamation point to end the narrative, one which has troubling implications for other bricks and mortar bookstores around the city.

Demolition got underway on Saturday, and while the majority of major destruction has concluded, the site won't be cleared of rubble for sometime. Eventually this stretch of Edward street will be home to a row of restaurants (yes, there's still no talk of condos) that will attract tourists visiting Yonge-Dundas Square and the Eaton Centre.

This was never the nicest bookstore in the city, nor was it actually the world's biggest -- but death of the store is bothersome because it forces us to wonder if its lack of tenability signals that bookshops in general are no longer viable businesses in a market dominated by Amazon and other online retailers.

Lead photo by Bryan Bonnici in the blogTO Flickr pool.

10 signs you grew up in the Annex

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annex vintageThe Annex, like so many Toronto neighbourhoods, is a very different place than it was a couple decades ago. Beyond the updated mural at Lee's Palace, the rise of corporate chains, and the recent loss of Sonic Boom, the place has undergone subtle shifts over the years -- some for the better and some for the worse. It's hard not to miss some of the old places even as it's imprudent to groan about the putative loss of authenticity tied to a more bohemian past.

Growing up, I never actually had an Annex address, but I spent every weekend there once I hit 16 and became friends with a group of neighbourhood kids. As much as North Toronto was where I spent my youth, it was the Annex that captured my heart when I was old enough to choose where I spent my time.

Here are 10 signs you grew up in the Annex.

1. You remember drinking at the Blue Cellar Room, the Hungarian restaurant once located around where BMV sits today. The place looked like it was out of a Kubrck film it was so eerie , but the beer and food was cheap and, best of all, you never got carded.

2. There was a time when there were more Hungarian restaurants and bakeries than sushi joints. The strip of Bloor West in the Annex used to be referred to as the Goulash Archipelago on account of the bevy of Hungarian restaurants and delis found there. Country Style is the last one standing.

3.Dooney's (RIP) lives on in your memory not just as a place where you loitered over a single coffee for unreasonable amounts of time, but as ground zero for the old neighbourhood's fight against corporatization when Starbucks planned to move into the space. Needless to say, that spirit wasn't so resilient in the long run.

4. You used to do naughty things at the Bloor Cinema. Before it was renovated and reborn as the Bloor Hot Docs Cinema, the old rep house was a great place for angsty teens to catch a flick. We used to head to the balcony where we'd drink and smoke while watching such gems as Strange Days (awful, awful movie). The sound sucked up there, but no one ever bothered us.

5.The Green Room wasn't just a place to chug cheap beer. Back in the day, there was a sprawling pool hall on the second floor (the entrance was where the upstairs washrooms are today). The space was eventually converted to apartments.

6. Before there was Aroma, JJ Mugs graced the northwest corner of Bloor and Albany. Even if the food left a whole to be desired, a nostalgia persists for the burger, which back in the days before the whole gourmet trend, seemed just right.

7. You can't keep up with how many restaurants have occupied the southwest corner of Bloor and Markham (585 Bloor St. W) over the last couple decades. In recent years it's been Sichaun Secret Restobar, Ka Chi Korean Restaurant, Rocco's Plum Tomato, and more iterations that I can't remember. When I was young, it was a cheap diner (bacon and eggs was $3) where you would commonly see Ed Mirvish grabbing a bite on Saturday mornings.

8. You don't miss the old Blockbuster store that used to occupy the south side of Bloor just east of Borden. Did anyone ever manage to rent a new release at this place? All I remember is wandering the aisles in vain. Often I just gave up and watched Late Great Movies on Citytv.

9. A vague memory persists in your brain of the bizarre robbery that went down at the doughnut shop at Bloor and Walmer before it became Cluck, Grunt and Low (now Puck N Wings). It's become something of an urban legend, but someone did actually hold a goose hostage before a customer forked over some cash and the bird was released.

10. You probably didn't care much at the time, but you now miss David Mirvish Books and the cultural hub that was Markham St. Staff at the store were always suspicious of kids, but it was an increasingly fascinating place as Annex kids grew up and went off to universities and art schools.

Some honourable mentions

  • You listened to jazz at the short-lived bar 525 West
  • You ate from the same menu at Serra Ristorante 15 years ago
  • You recall smoking hundreds of cigarettes at the Annex Billiards
  • You remember the "Sorry, we sell chicken" sign at By the Way Cafe
  • You got drunk at the James Joyce pub and felt gross about it later
  • Ditto for the Tap and Las Iguanas

What did I miss (there's a lot!)? Share you Annex memories in comments.

Ontario bans flavoured tobacco and restricts e-cig sales

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flavoured tobacco banSmoking restrictions in Ontario are getting tighter than ever. New legislation will ban the sale of flavoured tobacco -- including menthol cigarettes -- throughout the province, while the smoking of e-cigarettes will be forbidden in all those places regular tobacco is restricted (e.g. restaurants, bars, parks, etc.). The sale of e-cigarettes will also be prohibited to those under the age of 19.

Should the bill pass, the age restriction on e-cigarette sales would go into place on January 1st, 2016, followed a year later by the ban on vaping in public. The flavoured tobacco ban, on the other hand, won't go into effect for two years. Today's legislation follows a recent ban on patio-smoking in Ontario that takes effect January 1st, 2015.

The ban on e-cigarette smoking might be the most controversial of these proposed laws given that vaping doesn't transmit second hand smoke. What do you think? Are stricter smoking and vaping regulations a good thing for Ontario?

Photo by Lyndsay Jobe in the blogTO Flickr pool

The Best Italian Bakeries in Toronto

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italian bakeries torontoThe best Italian bakeries in Toronto call on one of the world's most cherished culinary histories for recipes and inspiration. Italy's many varieties of bread and baked goods each reflect a different regional experience. Take, for example, the cassata, a Sicilian cake that features Middle Eastern flavours held over from a period of Arab dominance in the region. Tuscan bread tends to be plain, as it's used to dip into the rich stews typical of local cuisine, while Milan was the birthplace of panettone, the domed egg bread that's a favourite Christmas treat.

Now the bakeries of Toronto, each in the own way, and usually with their heart linked back to one region of Italy (North, South, Sicilian, etc.), provide examples of the rich baking traditions of the mother country. They're serving the strong Italian communities of Toronto, bringing them back with a slice from home, while spreading the good taste to everyone.

Here are the best Italian bakeries in Toronto.

See also:

The best Italian restaurants in Toronto
The best Cannoli in Toronto
The best Portuguese bakeries in Toronto

Photo of Lamanna's by Libby Roach.

New video builds hype for BMO Field expansion

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bmo field expansion torontoEarlier this fall, Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment unveiled details of a $105-million expansion at BMO Field, the home turf of Toronto FC. The renos, which are currently underway, are set to add 8,400 seats, 12 executive boxes, and upgraded concession stands, among other amenities.

If the initial renderings weren't enough to get sports fans excited, MLSE has just released a video preview of the upgrades. The fly-through illustrates where (and when) visitors will see the new additions; wider concourses, additional seats and a brand-new scoreboard are set to be installed by May 2015, with a full-sized canopy coming for May 2016. Check out the new BMO Field in the video below.

Wild winds blast through Toronto

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toronto windMonster winds are rocking Toronto this evening, knocking down trees and hydro poles, and leaving pockets of the city in darkness. There have also been isolated road closures in the west end due to danger from blowing debris.

Environment Canada issued a wind warning earlier this afternoon, calling for gusts of up to 100 km/h through the evening and into the night. So far, blasts of up to 80 km/h have been recorded within the City of Toronto. Temperatures are expected to fall to around 1 degree later tonight.

Toronto Hydro is reporting isolated blackouts across the city, mainly in the north and west ends. A total of 10,000 "customers" (that's buildings, not people) are without electricity and due to downed wires. Official advise is to stay well clear of fallen power infrastructure and call 416-542-8000.

Parts of Lake Shore Blvd. between (Albert and Mimico Avenues) and Superior Ave., between Stanley Avenue and Lake Shore Blvd. are closed due to blowing debris. Parts of McCowan and the Queensway are blocked by fallen hydro poles, according to police.

So far, there have been no major disruptions reported on the TTC.

The winds are expected to die down later tonight.

Here are some highlights from the wild weather on Twitter.

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

Image: MonicaTorresRdz/Twitter.

Double rainbow over Toronto


Today in Toronto: Ferguson, Twin Peaks Mural, Gentle Breeze in the Village, True Stories Live, Amanda Palmer

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Today in TorontoToday in Toronto, did you know Unlovable has a Twin Peaks mural? Tonight is your last chance to check out Justin Cozens' tribute to the cult series. Then two very different films will screen for free tonight: the Japan Foundation is screening Nobuhiro Yamashita's A Gentle Breeze in the Village, while chilling Polytechnique will show at OISE. Amanda Palmer is at Lee's, but I'm not touching it.

Toronto's Ferguson Response is at the US Consulate at 6pm, which is a bit different than the advertised 24 hours. Dress warm and wear black. 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 via Unlovable

This week on DineSafe: Utopia Cafe, The Homeway, The Dizzy, Ryus Noodle Bar, Chinese Bakery, La Prep

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dinesafeFor the third consecutive week, there was a red card handed out on DineSafe. Chinese Bakery on Dundas West is the second bakery in two weeks to be shut down for pest infestation and food contamination.

See the rest of this week's worst offenders on DineSafe.

The Homeway (955 Mount Pleasant Rd.)
Inspected on: November 17, 2014
Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
Number of infractions: 3 (Minor: 1, Significant: 2)
Crucial infractions include: N/A

The Dizzy (305 Roncesvalles Ave.)
Inspected on: November 17, 2014
Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
Number of infractions: 3 (Minor: 1, Significant: 2)
Crucial infractions include: N/A

Chinese Bakery (433 Dundas St. West)
Inspected on: November 17, 2014
Inspection finding: Red (Closed)
Number of infractions: 7 (Minor: 4, Significant: 1, Crucial: 2)
Crucial infractions include: Operator fail to provide adequate pest control. Operator fail to ensure food is not contaminated/adulterated.

Utopia Cafe (586 College St.)
Inspected on: November 18, 2014
Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
Number of infractions: 4 (Minor: 1, Significant: 3)
Crucial infractions include: N/A

Ryus Noodle Bar (33 Baldwin St.)
Inspected on: November 19, 2014
Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
Number of infractions:1 (Significant: 1)
Crucial infractions include: N/A

La Prep (125 Queens Quay E.)
Inspected on: November 19, 2014
Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
Number of infractions: 6 (Minor: 2, Significant: 4)
Crucial infractions include: N/A

Dooney's to return to Bloor St. (but not the Annex)

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DooneysDooney's, the much loved Annex cafe and restaurant, is set to make a return to Bloor St. after closing its doors at Bloor and Borden streets back in 2009. The rebirth of the cafe will not, however, take place in the old hood. As the CBC reports, the new iteration will be located at Bloor and Carling, just over a kilometre west of the original spot.

Will a new Dooney's be able to re-achieve the success it enjoyed in its heyday? The rent is certainly cheaper in Bloorcourt than the Annex, the cafe certainly still has a following all these years later, and the new spot might even accommodate a small side patio -- all of which are positive signs. But the independent coffee scene has blown up since Dooney's closed up shop, and the area itself already features spots like Northwood, Ella's Uncle, The Common and Rustic Owl.

Despite the presence of some additional competition, one expects that nostalgia alone should help get a new Dooney's off to a strong start. Owner Graziano Marchese indicated to the CBC that he wants to keep things as similar as possible to the old cafe, which just sounds smart to me. Dooney's 2.0 is set to open sometime around the new year.

Where to grab burgers and souvlaki in Scarborough

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Mamas Boys Burgers TorontoThe top attraction at this family-run Scarborough diner are burgers offered in a choice of styles; flat top-smashed or charbroiled, then stacked up sky-high. Also available is a lineup of hearty souvlaki dinners, as well as home-style soups and desserts.

Read my profile of Mama's Boys Burgers in the restaurants section

The top 10 cheap lunch options in the Financial District

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cheap lunch torontoCheap lunch in the Financial District can be found at longstanding staples with loyal followings of office veterans as well as a few fresher-faced options that inject some excitement into the midday routine. It can be tricky to find affordable and health-conscious options in this area while avoiding all the same old boring chains in food courts (let's face it: they all start to look alike after a while), but it's not a hopeless task.

Here are my picks for some of the top spots to work into your lunch rotation, all of which clock in under the $10 mark.

Petit Four
This cheaper takeout alternative to Four Restaurant next door has a daily hot sandwich on freshly baked bread for $8.45 (Mondays feature pulled pork with pepper jack cheese; on Fridays, there's a reuben with sauerkraut and gruyere). There is also a variety of other sandwiches on focaccia (roast beef and truffle chicken among them) that come with a side of field greens ($7.95/$9.95) as well as made-to-order and ready-to-go salads ($5.95-$7.95).

Sandwich Box
The 67 Richmond St. West location of Sandwich Box is a Financial District staple, thanks to its appealing concept: Customers can come up with their own made-to-order gourmet sandwiches using fresh and natural ingredients. You pick a fancy bread, spread and combo of three toppings for $9.50. If a deluxe salad is more up your alley, you can create your own at $2.35/100g; choose carefully to get the most value out of your meal.

Cafe Plenty
The second location of Cafe Plenty (the first is at Dundas and University) recently opened at 1 King West. Sandwiches ($10) come with a side of greens and change up daily, with offerings like The Plenty Club - chicken confit, smoked bacon and tomato jam - or its signature roast beef with house-made horseradish, caramelized onions, pickled mushrooms and blue cheese. There are also a variety of fresh salads (superfoods like quinoa appear regularly) to choose from (two for $7, three for $10).

Tropical Energy Juice Bar
It's been around for over 20 years, and this smoothie and juice bar is an essential stop for many who pass by every day. Tucked away in the Commerce Court concourse by the King subway station in the PATH, Tropical not only provides freshly squeezed liquid sustenance to harried office workers but also quick grab-and-go pre-made eats like Korean japchae ($3.33), salads ($5.53) and Chinese buns ($1.14).

Mos Mos
Coffee is what most people line up for at this stall right next to Tropical Energy Juice Bar, but it's a great option for a quick lunch as well. All the wraps (stuffed with tandoori, butter or lemon chicken) and sandwiches (the usual variety: tuna or egg salad, turkey, ham, etc.) include a soup, fruit or small beverage and top out at $7.25 with tax.

Naturally Yours
Vegetarian and vegan offerings abound at the takeout counter of this health food store in the Market Place corridor of First Canadian Place. Zucchini lasagna, yam burritos and lentil loaf are just some of the hot dishes you can get for under $8 tax included. For an extra few coins, they'll even toss in a salad.

Furama Bakery
This spot in First Canadian Place's Market Place is super friendly on the wallet, although maybe less so on the waistline. The prices of the Chinese buns and pastries at this outpost are a little higher than at the bakery's Chinatown location, but at $1.45 with tax for a pork or curry beef bun (buy five and get one free), it's tough to complain too much.

Fourno
A relative newcomer to the Exchange Tower's food court, this place specializes in pressed panini made from local and organic ingredients. The Fourno Club (chicken, pancetta, asiago, tomato jam, pickled red onions and mustard seed aioli) comes on white or multigrain ciabatta and costs $7.90. All of the panini can be made as minis ($3.60), and combined with a salad for $3 extra, can make for a pretty satisfying midday meal.

Brick St. Bakery
This chain of bakery-cafes features a location under First Canadian Place, a favourite destination for comforting grab-and-go eats. Grab a grilled cheese or BLT sandwich for less than $5 or splurge on one of the many individual-sized meat pies filled with chicken, steak or the classic shepherd's pie (all $6 each).

Clipper Cafe
Technically, this spot on the fourth floor of the Bank of Nova Scotia building is a subsidized cafeteria for Scotiabank staff, but it's an open secret that non-Scotia workers also head up to eat, as IDs are never checked. Offerings change weekly and can vary in quality, but you reliably can score a hot entree lunch - curries, pastas, fish and chips and souvlaki are some of the rotating options - with a side, beverage and dessert for under $7.50. Worth a trip if only for the cheap thrill of eating somewhere you're not supposed to.

Did I miss any? Leave your favourite cheap lunch options in the Financial District in the comments.

Photo of Cafe Plenty by Jesse Milns.

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