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The top 10 concert and live music venues in Hamilton

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hamilton concertsConcert and live music venues in Hamilton date back to the founding of The 1,100 capacity Grand Opera House for music and theatre in the 1880's. Notably, in 1958 Ronnie Hawkins and the Hawks played their first show at the Golden Rail tavern on King St. East. Today the largest venue for music (and sports) is FirstOntario Centre (Copps) with a 19,000 capacity, which opened in November 1985. There remain no shortage of smaller clubs, cafes, art galleries, and multi-use theatres hosting independent music.

Here are my picks for the top live music and concert venues in Hamilton.

FirstOntario Centre
Originally Copps Coliseum, the 19,000 capacity concert-sports-multi use venue was renamed FirstOntario Centre in 2013. Since opening November 1985, Rush, The Who, Britney Spears, Areosmith, Elton John, U2, and the Grateful dead have all played there. Bruce Springsteen, and Shania Twain hold the highest attendance concerts at just under full capacity.

Hamilton Place Theatre
A mid-sized performing arts centre, Hamilton Place (once the Ronald V. Joyce Centre for the Performing Arts) has been the home of the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra for 42 years. It has concert rooms in the main auditorium and small studio theatre. Opera, Broadway theatre and major names Leonard Cohen, Gordon Lightfoot, Anne Murray, and Céline Dion have all performed there.

The Baltimore House
Victorian-Gothic Edgar Allan Poe inspired, the Baltimore House is a unique mix of cafe-music venue. Daytime patrons sip coffee, read, and enjoy sandwiches. Nighttime goers experience everything from Supercrawl Nights to open mic to DJs to live bands.

The Casbah
Regarded as a Hamilton staple for presenting both emerging and established independent artists, the Cashbah has been around since January 2001. They've featured names like the Pixies, the Constantines, and Wanda Jackson. The small lounge room has been sold, but the 350 capacity main hall remains rocking.

Club Absinthe
When Club Absinthe moved from King St. E. to King William St./Hughson St. in 2011, they also transplanted their wildly popular Motown Wednesdays. DJs spin yesterdays hits on the main floor dance hall with no cover charge. An eclectic mix of live bands feature on select other nights of the week.

Mills Hardware
The 147 capacity community and concert used venue is fully licensed, and has high end sound, lighting, and a HD projector/screen. Concerts there include names The Beaches, The Wilderness of Manitoba, Elliott Brood, and Devin Cuddy.

This Ain't Hollywood
Hamilton bar This Ain't Hollywood brings Metal Mondays, an anything goes open mic Tuesday, and punk, honky tonk, and good ol' rock 'n roll just about every other night of the week. B.A. Johnston, the Trews, and the Ketamines have all played there.

Homegrown Hamilton
Located at 27 King William St., Homegrown Hamilton leans towards "local flavour and local talent." The cafe-restaurant maintains vegan, gluten-free, organic, and fair-trade food and drink options. Thursdays is their open jam with Dave Gould (on kit). Other nights feature everything from singer-songwriter to rock, swing, Celtic, and spoken word.

The Pearl Company
Operated by Gary Santucci and Barbara Milne, The Pearl Company is a multi-arts performance venue. The second floor renovated concert hall has excellent acoustics, hardwood flooring, and back row raised couches for the audience.

The Corktown Pub
Former Toronto stockbroker, Jim Perdikoulias, purchased the 83 year old Corktown Pub in June 2013. Under the new management the pub has a new menu, new staff, new beers on tap. Live music continues with an Irish Jam (Tuesday), Blues (Wednesday), and weekend local and international touring acts.

What did I miss? Add your suggestions for music venues in Hamilton in the comments.

Photos via the Club Absinthe Facebook page


Snow removal in Toronto

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snow removal torontoSnow removal in Toronto kicks in once we get our first big dump of white stuff. Whether you're responsible for clearing a segment of a path, driveway, sidewalk, or something as large as a commercial property, it's an annual routine and job that's part of life in our city.

Here is everything you need to know about snow removal in Toronto

CITY SNOW REMOVAL

The City of Toronto is responsible for salting and plowing roads (your tax dollars at work) but sidewalks are often the responsibility of the adjacent property. According to the city, snow and ice should be removed from the sidewalk within 12 hours of the weather clearing. Failure to do so could result in a $125 fine. Seniors and people who require assistance can apply for free sidewalk clearing.

TOP OPTIONS FOR PRIVATE SNOW REMOVAL

Not everyone has the time or ability to shovel in winter, so here are 5 private snow removal options for Toronto and beyond.

Monster Plow
Monster Plowing Co. claims the lowest accumulation trigger of any Toronto companies, just 2.5 cms for all subscribers. There are no limits on the number of visits and pricing is based on a flat rate seasonal contract. The company's plows and trucks are even fitted with GPS tracking devices, which means you can spy on their progress from the comfort work.

Greenbloom Landscape Design
Greenbloom landscaping offers winter snow removal and salting among a variety of outdoor services. Prices, which range from about $300 to $1,000 per season and are capped regardless of the number of actual visits, include plowing, salting, and manual clearance of entranceways and paths. Service is activated when more then 2.5 cms of snow is on the ground.

The Snowmen
This east end snow services company covers most areas east of (and including parts of) Scarborough. A typical one-car driveway home costs $450 per season, plus $100 for pathway, step, and porch clearing. Based on 60 snowfalls a season, the price works out to about $9.16 a visit, the company says.

Clear My Snow
Serving Etobicoke and Mississauga, Clear My Snow swings into action when 5 cms of snow has accumulated on the ground and promises to arrive within 24 hours of the end of the storm. GPS tracking is available, too.

East West Snow Services
Based in Scarborough, East West specializes in the salting and plowing of commercial properties, apartment buildings, condominiums, parking lots, and other large properties (sorry, no single-unit residential buildings.) The company owns more than 65 formidable looking vehicles and uses environmentally-friendly deicing agents.

GET YOUR OWN SHOVEL

Any local hardware store or Canadian Tire will hook you up with a suitable shovel for clearing snow but for something a little more stylish (and locally designed by an OCAD student and grad) splurge on one of these Firn snow shovels by contributing $150 to their Indiegogo campaign.

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

Image: Stephen Gardiner/blogTO Flickr pool.

Mexx bankrupt but Toronto stores still open (for now)

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mexx torontoFirst Jacob, then Smart Set - the business-casual clothing market has taken a beating this year, with Mexxthe latest to bite the dust. A judge in the Netherlands declared the Dutch fashion chain bankrupt on Thursday, sealing the fate of its 315 stores, including eight GTA locations and 87 others around Canada.

So prevalent is the brand, which was also sold at The Bay in addition to its own stores, on Canadian soil that "promotional pricing pressure in Canada" actually contributed to the company's demise, according to company higher-ups. Currently, Mexx plans to keep stores open - for now - as they clear out merchandise. Time to go get a deal on a new skirt suit (but don't act too happy about it).

NOW Magazine to still sell sex ads despite new laws

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now magazine torontoThe half-dozen pages of adult classifieds in the back of every issue of NOW Magazine are a familiar sight to the magazine's readers - and now, their editors are going to the wall to defend their right to run them. Faced with new federal anti-prostitution legislation, Bill C-36, that features a ban on advertising sexual services, the magazine has vowed to continue running the ads, claiming the ban is discriminatory.

Editor Alice Klein told the Canadian Press that the magazine accepts ad placements from all kinds of advertisers, and they refuse to discriminate against sex workers: "We are committed to free expression and we don't believe it's our right to say which advertisers are allowed to advertise and which advertisers aren't."

The magazine previously faced pressure to pull their ads after the New York alt-weekly Village Voice came under fire for running the ads - but this time, with the Tory government vowing to hold those who profit from advertising sex services "to criminal account", the magazine could eventually face legal repercussions.

What do you think? Should NOW pull its sex ads? Let us know in the comments.

Can cocktails reverse fortunes of Trump's new bar?

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trump hotel barEarlier this year Suits Lobby Lounge inside the Trump was rebranded and remade into a hotel bar intended to draw in locals instead of just the usual mix of hotel guests. Initial impressions? The food menu is mostly ridiculous but the cocktails and wine list show there's skill and thought behind the bar.

Read my profile of The Calvin Bar in the bars section.

Old City Hall

Today in Toronto: 416 Dating Stories, Early Monthly Segments Holy Ghost People, Crafts and Confetti

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today in torontoToday in Toronto if you're a fan of True Stories Told Live, the newest voyeuristic tell-all at the Garrison is focused on the horrors of dating in the 6. Not enough Drakes to go around, if you ask me. Early Monthly Segments is also getting creepy with Peter Adair's Holy Ghost People, a 1967 cinema verite look at Pentacostal Christians/voyage into snake handling country. O-Town (yes, that MTV-assembled boy band) are playing at Lee's, which could make for an interesting place to drink if you're desperate. For more events, click on over to our events section.

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

Photo of the Dead Projectionists on Facebook.

Younger than Beyonce Gallery opening in Toronto

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younger than beyonce torontoIt's Beyonce's 33rd year on earth, and the holy queen of pop's name is about to gain a little more prestige in Toronto. Younger than Beyonce's gallery will showcase work by emerging artists younger than 33 starting in 2015, with its name inspired by the New Museum's Younger Than Jesus show in New York City (Jesus died at 33, Beyonce... is 33 for the moment).

"We chose her because she is our personal Jesus. We admire her ambition, talent, and her ability to reach a wide audience," OCAD MFA grads Marjan Verstappen and Humboldt Magnussen, the programmers and artists behind the gallery, tell me. While Beyonce made her millions through song, the nomadic gallery will be entirely crowdfunded through fundraisers and a just-launched Indigogo campaign.

The young entrepreneurs explain the unique-to-Toronto gallery concept. "Opening in early 2015, YTB will program month-long pop-up shows in spaces throughout Toronto, including short art exhibitions, artist talks, and performance art nights celebrating experimental practices." Confirmed artists and curators include Rouzbeth Akhbari, Ella McGeough, and Jessica Kichoncho Karuhanga. For aspiring young artists, a first call for submissions will drop December 9.

Toronto galleries have struggled of late to make it in high-traffic areas, often due to rising rents - so YTB's plan just may beat the system. Learn more on their Indigogo campaign or catch them in person at their Beyoncé VS The World fundraiser at the Henhouse December 20 (where Bey will feature on every other song). The party is $5/PWYC.

Photo: AP Select


The top 10 free things to do in Toronto this winter

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free events winter torontoFree events in Toronto this winter know that you need an excuse to leave the house beyond the vague promise of "exercise" and potentially dog-smushing snow fort wars. Whether your pace is film screenings, live music, or skating in one of Toronto's newest rinks, you don't have to spend the winter indoors sewing your rags to other rags until hypothermia claims what digits you have left. Instead, you can wear those rags in style to the symphony. No, really.

You already know about the AGO and CINSSU, so here are my picks for the top free things to do in Toronto this winter.

Sweat to the arts at Long Winter
This all-ages carnival is PWYC, so dig some money out from under the cat and head through the cold to the Great Hall's sweat box for music, art, talks and more. December features Sean Nicholas Savage, Army Girls, Animalia, Man Made Hill and more. Future lineups are TBA. (Dec 12, Jan 9, Feb 13, Mar 13, The Great Hall)

Make a break for a mini getaway at Toronto Islands
Winter on the Toronto Islands is a lot quieter than the summer, and while ferries dwindle, the trip to Ward's Island is still consistent throughout the day. Once you arrive, you'll find skating and cross country skiing, art exhibits, a cozy B&B, a farm, and a quiet winter oasis for all your hiking and shoe-shoeing desires.

Lug your boombox to Unsilent Night
Want to blast a boombox in the streets of Toronto? Not quite a flash mob, this is about as different as it gets than your usual Christmas caroling. Philip Kein's composition calls for a mass of marchers to BYO music for a dissonant, free-for-all holiday march. Admission is PWYC, with a fundraiser proper to follow at the Music Gallery. (December 19, Music Gallery)

Watch your festival favourites at the Bloor
The Bloor has caught the holiday spirit, and you can reserve free passes now for holiday and holiday-ish classics including Bad Santa, Elf, Miracle on 34th Street, A Christmas Story, Love Actually, and more. (December 19-23, Bloor Hot Docs CInema)

Get close to the flame at the 25th Annual Kensington Market Winter Solstice
Do you want to play with fire, little girl? The Kensington Market Winter Solstice will fill Augusta with night-defying antics, complete with puppets on stilts and a healthy dose of pyrotechnics and fire jugglers. If you want to help out, donate to their Kickstarter here. (December 21, Augusta Ave)

Get dressed up for a gentle night at the opera
September through to early June, Canadian Opera Company let you get fancy (or not, you lumberjacks) to catch free classical shows at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts "most Tuesdays and Thursdays at noon, and some Wednesdays at noon or 5:30pm" at the Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre.

Skate out of the elements on a covered rink
Outdoor skating in Toronto is a tradition with a huge number of options, but Greenwood Park rink joined the ranks in 2013 offering a covered skating and hockey experience in the east end which is worth a lace up. If you're feeling a shade of goth, there's also a wide variety of night-time accessible skating rinks to be had.

Duck out of the cold with a free movie at TIFF
You'll have to wait for now for the programming line up, but TIFF's Cincinematheque free screen series offers a warm place to hide out with challenging cinema during the winter months. Here's a peak at Fall's offerings.

Get lit up with Toronto's best writers
There's nothing that will push you in a literary direction like cold weater, and Toronto has a thriving series for readings and live monologs, including regular free and PWYC picks like True Stories Told Live, Pivot, Blue Coffee, Tell Me Something Good, and Chiaroscuro.

Take in a visual feast with Douglas Coupland
Canlit fans will be excited about this upcoming exhibition at MOCCA: Douglas Coupland's everywhere is anywhere is anything is everything installation will continue the writer's obsession with tech and pop culture via whatever means necessary - including Lego. The MOCCA exhibit is free, but the one at the ROM will cost you. (January 31 - April 19, MOCCA)

What did I miss? Leave your picks for free things to do this winter in the comments.

Photo of True Stories Told Live by Tania Haas

20 photos of the Yonge and Dundas holiday market

Coffee battle brewing in the West Don Lands

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tim hortons coffee houseThe slow reawakening of the West Don Lands is taking place as construction in the area finally eases. With the Cherry St. revitalization finally completed last month, and work on the bridge over the Don Valley to King East about to reopen traffic flow to the area, businesses are already springing back up among the graffiti'd underpasses in the area south of Corktown.

A notable new addition is the excellently-named Odin, a cafe and event venue from the same people behind Bathurst cafe Thor, set to open soon at 514 King St. East. Strangely, they're located directly across the street from a brand-new Tim Hortons (with a "coffee house" in the name), which opened its doors only a month ago - but with Odin already pushing a "keep it local, keep it well made" angle, and Tim's being, well, you know, it remains to be seen how the proximity will play out.

odin cafe torontoIn the meantime, coffee junkies will probably want to start looking for apartments in the area - with Tandem and the Rooster west on King, this is quickly becoming the most caffeinated little area in Toronto.

The Best Latin American Cafes and Bakeries in Toronto

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latin american torontoThe best Latin American bakeries and cafes in Toronto offer tastes of home for the many South American communities in the GTA, but they also open their doors to newcomers who have opened their eyes, and their tastebuds, to the region's vibrant cuisines.

From big bakeries to tiny cafes to supermarkets with tucked away counters to Cookie Martinez's container stall, each location sells their signature take on traditional goods like alfajores, arepas, churros, empanadas and more. Those may be the familiar favourites, but take a step into the unknown, ask the helpful owners, bakers and servers what to try, and you'll be rewarded greatly.

Here are the best Latin American bakeries and cafes in Toronto.

See also:

The best Latin American restaurants in Toronto
The best empanadas in Toronto
Where to eat arepas in Toronto

10 holiday gift ideas for the cocktail lover in Toronto

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cocktail gifts torontoNo holiday list would be complete without some cocktail-related ideas. So as the festive season comes careening at us like the runaway locomotive of shattered dreams and dried out roasted vegetables, one can take solace in knowing that booze makes every family gathering just a little bit more palatable. Although there's no shortage of socks, ties, and ugly sweaters to give to your loved ones, it seems that no family get-together is manageable without the sweet embrace of a good stiff drink.

Here are 10 holiday gifts ideas for the Toronto cocktail lover.

Death and Co:Modern Classic Cocktails $30
This East Village speakeasy has become one of the world's most revered cocktail bars, and the publication of its first book, a collaborative effort between the many bartenders that have worked the wood. Going far beyond the 500 cocktail recipes listed, the book operates as a how-to guide for any budding bar owner, revealing the tricks (and the vast amount of work) involved in running a top cocktail establishment.

'It's Happy Hour' Cocktail Gift Basket / Bites Baskets$110
Featuring a range of nifty ingredients, this little basket neatly wraps up a few great gifts into one. With stuff for caesars to get Christmas breakfast started, there's also cocktail cherries, flavoured syrups, and a pack of the excellent Scrappy's bitters.

The Carry on Cocktail Kit / BYOB $26.00
Accompany the mini bottles on your next flight with this carry on cocktail kit, it includes a spoon with a muddler on the the bottom, a bottle of aromatic bitters, a coaster, 2 packets of sugar and a recipe card.

Deco Barware / West Elm $69.00
West Elm in Liberty Village has everything people need for making their home look great, bar tools being no exception. The Deco barware collection comes with a jigger, fruit knife, tongs and a bottle opener. With a silver finish, and a wooden base, they'll look equally at home in either a modernist or vintage-themed bar.

Ice Cube Tray / CB2$7.95
Those tiny little cubes that melt in five minutes just don't cut it any more. Any serious cocktail bar now employs either ice spheres or gigantic king cubes, like the ones you'll get out of this tray. Pro tip: use distilled water to help ensure your ice is crystal clear.

Carroll and Co Bitters $15.00
Jeff Carroll's bitters are only available from his website (as is his excellent caesar mix and tonic syrup), but at $15 for 150ml, they're fantastic value for money. The Cherry Masala Chai is the secret ingredient in our pick for Toronto's No.1 Manhattan, but the Root Beer Rum Bitters are something of a must-have for my favourite twist on an old-fashioned.

The Coin Laundry Hand screen Tea towel - Urban Outfitters$12
More of a stocking stuffer, these charming towels, printed with 'Gin', 'Whiskey', or 'Vodka' are best put together for a nifty set of three. As anyone with a home bar will attest, there's plenty of mopping up to do at the best of times, and those glasses certainly won't polish themselves.

The Smoking Gun / Williams Sonoma $99.95
Adding smoky flavour to beverages has long been considered the exclusive preserve of bartenders with belljars, great ventilation, or other equipment you might only find in professional kitchens. thankfully, Williams Sonoma have you covered here, with a sneaky little gadget that pipes cold smoke through a hosepipe into whatever container your drink is in. Use it creatively for a touch of added showmanship.

Double Old Fashioned pineapple glasses / Drake General Store$12
The Pineapple has long been a symbol of hospitality and friendship, going back as far as the days of Christopher Columbus. These gold rimmed glasses with a vintage pineapple print are a welcome mix of playful and elegant, suitable for both stirred, boozy cocktails, as well as elaborate tiki and tropical drinks.

Japanese Bitters Bottle / The Crafty Bartender$40
For those cocktail enthusiasts who like to craft their own ingredients, a snazzy little bottle like this is the ideal place for them to present their bitters, tinctures, and drams. Doling out a conservative dash each time, they're ideal for serious cocktail use, as well as adding a welcome touch of class to any home bar.

lcboThanks to the LCBO for sponsoring our 2014 Gift Guide.

Vote for your favourite photo of Cavalcade of Lights

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Cavalcade of LightsCavalcade of Lights returned to Toronto City Hall at the end of last month with Fireworks and musical performances by Shad, Maestro Fresh Wes, and Kardinal Offishall. We challenged members of our Flickr and 500px groups to capture the event and submit their photos for a chance to win prizes.

Here our are top 10 picks for Cavalcade of Lights photos this year. Be sure to vote for your favourite. The deadline for voting is end of day December 14th.

Lead photo by S. Awan

Cavalcade of LightsPhoto by Carla E

Cavalcade of LightsPhoto by Alex Meoko

Cavalcade of LightsPhoto by Jiduo An

Cavalcade of LightsPhoto Marlon Sidlacan

Cavalcade of LightsPhoto by Lori Whelan

Cavalcade of LightsPhoto by Carl Sim

Cavalcade of LightsPhoto by jie.mc

Cavalcade of LightsPhoto Alana de Haan

Cavalcade of LightsPhoto henry7856



cavalcade of lightsThe winning photo will be announced on December 16th, 2014. Prizes include:

  • 1st place: $300 gift certificate to Henry's Camera
  • 2nd place: $150 gift certificate to Henry's Camera
  • 3rd place: $50 gift certificate to Henry's Camera

Light explosion


Today in Toronto: Gwar, Simpsons Trivia, Cello Suites, Audiopollination, Jesse Marchant, localTOmrkt

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today in torontoToday in Toronto it's a huge day for music fans, and even the deaf enjoy the circus that is Gwar, who live on despite the passing of Oderus Urungus (RIP). If bloody ejaculate isn't up your... alley, try classical at Mazzoleni Concert Hall, indie at the Garrison and the Horseshoe, or Somewhere There's experimental grab bag Audiopollination at Array. You can also warm up your night with Simpsons trivia - in keeping with the night, maybe they'll ask about that Smashing Pumpkins episode. 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 by Matthew Kozovski

This Week on DineSafe: Colette, Clinton's, La Cubana, Bakerbots, Bar Wellington, Dumpling Queen, Ferro

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dinesafeThis week on DineSafe there are no closures to report, though I'm sad to see Bakerbots and La Cubana get yellow carded for inadequate pest control (among other things). The high-profile Colette joins these first-time offenders too, for #dishwasherproblems.

Check out the rest of this week's worst on DineSafe.

Bar Wellington (520 Wellington St. West)
Inspected on: December 1, 2014
Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
Number of infractions: 2 (Minor: 1, Significant 1)
Crucial infractions include: N/A

Clinton's Tavern (693 Bloor St. West)
Inspected on: December 1, 2014
Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
Number of infractions: 4 (Minor: 1, Significant 3)
Crucial infractions include: N/A

Colette (550 Wellington St. West)
Inspected on: December 1, 2014
Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
Number of infractions: 1 (Significant: 1)
Crucial infractions include: N/A

La Cubana (392 Roncesvalles Ave.)
Inspected on: December 1, 2014
Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
Number of infractions: 2 (Minor: 1, Significant: 1)
Crucial infractions include: N/A

Mexi Taco (828 Bloor St. West)
Inspected on: December 1, 2014
Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
Number of infractions: 1 (Significant: 1)
Crucial infractions include: N/A

Dumpling Queen (649 Yonge St.)
Inspected on: December 3, 2014
Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
Number of infractions: 6 (Minor: 2, Significant: 4, Crucial: 2)
Crucial infractions include: Operator fail to ensure food is not contaminated/adulterated. Operator fail to maintain hazardous food(s) at 4C (40F) or colder.

Bakerbots (205 Delaware Ave.)
Inspected on: December 3, 2014
Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
Number of infractions: 3 (Significant 3)
Crucial infractions include: N/A

Ferro Bar & Cafe (769 St. Clair Ave. W.)
Inspected on: December 4, 2014
Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
Number of infractions: 8 (Minor: 4, Significant: 3, Crucial: 1)
Crucial infractions include: Operator fail to ensure food is not contaminated/adulterated.

Pay what you can for a bag of clothes this weekend

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kind exchangeWith a dozen locations across Toronto, the Kind Exchange is now home to about half of Toronto's closet castoffs. The local resale chain specializes in (mostly) gently-used threads at bargain-basement prices, and "fill a bag for $20" sales are now common at their various locations. But the holidays are a time for giving back, and the city's packrats are getting the gift of a lifetime, thanks to their first-ever PWYC sale this Friday through Sunday (December 12-14) at their original location at 611 Queen St. West.

Here's how it works: Grab one of their bags (don't bring a trash bag or novelty Santa sack or anything) and head down to the basement (not the main floor, where they keep most of the primo stuff). Fill a bag with threads and pay however much you can afford, with all proceeds going to the Canadian Cancer Society. To keep things in check, they provide a suggested donation amount of $15; if you can't come up with that, they ask shoppers to stick to one bag per day.

The top 10 live theatre shows in Toronto this winter

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live theatre winter torontoLive theatre in Toronto this winter runs the gamut from holiday-themed productions to contemporary takes on modernist classics. Local stages will be home to a diverse collection of comedies, dramas, and even a thriller over the next few months, including the highly acclaimed production of Noel Coward's Blithe Spirt, where Angela Lansbury was all the rave on Broadway. As the weather becomes unforgivingly cold, there's no better time for an injection of arts and culture.

Here are my picks for the top winter theatre productions in Toronto.

Holidazed and Confused / Second City / November 17 - January 1 / $22-$35
Let's face it, the holidays can be a weird and awkward time of year. Whether it's spending time with family members you don't see for eleven months or battling strangers at the mall for the perfect piece of consumerism, there are some wacky activities associated with the festive season. The clever Second City troupe hopes to capture and examine all those rituals in this revue about the trials and tribulations of the holiday season.

Cinderella / Ross Petty - Elgin Theatre / November 21 - January 4 / $27-$93
You can say this about the annual Ross Petty pantomime - you certainly won't be bored. Questionable taste level and overt corporate sponsorship aside (be ready for commercials at the theatre), Petty has a way of cramming each production chock full of local commentary, sight gags, and the year's pop hits. Check out our review from seasons past.

A Christmas Carol / Soulpepper - Young Centre / November 27 - December 27 / $29-$89
Soulpepper presents Michael Shamata's adaptation of Charles Dickens' classic story, A Christmas Carol. The Soulpepper company brings to life the characters from the Victorian tale, which features fated visits from the ghosts of present, past, and future. The correction of Ebenezer Scrooge is, by now, a well-known story, teaching us that, during the holidays and in general, to give is always better than to receive.

Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? / Storefront Theatre / December 10-21 / $25
While not exactly a holiday story, the evening that unfolds in Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? could very well take place at Christmas when families and friends come together, with the help of a little booze, and old stories are hashed and rehashed. George and Martha are one of the theatre's best on-stage couples. If an overdose of holiday cheer is making you nauseous, a little acid and vitriol courtesy of this twosome is sure to level things out.

#UncleJohn / The Great Hall / December 11-19 / $40
Against the Grain Theatre is slowly building a reputation for their presentation of opera turned sideways, having recently won the Dora Award for Outstanding New Musical/Opera for their take on Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro. Their newest,#UncleJohn, is a modern "transladaptation" of the tale of the seducer Don Giovanni featuring a new English libretto by Joel Ivany. After a summer workshop at the Banff Centre, the show arrives in Toronto for a short run at the Great Hall.

Venus In Fur / Berkeley Street Theatre / December 18-28 / $29-$59
Who needs a roaring fire when you've got a Canadian Stage revival of the steamy Venus In Fur, starring Rick Miller and Carly Street. When casting begins for a new play based on the erotic novel Venus in Furs, from Leopold von Sacher-Masoch, a young actress gets so invested in the part that she begins a dangerous game of cat and mouse with the show's director. The play contains allusions to classical art and mythology making this a complex, layered look at sexual dynamics, which was an all around crowd-pleaser in 2013.

Elizabeth - Darcy / Campbell House Museum / December 18-21 / $20
Elevated dialogue is a defining feature of this adaptation of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. Hallie Burt and Kate Werneburg play the title characters, giving the treatment an innovative gender bend through which to view the classic tale. The Campbell House, which we identified last year as an exciting new theatre outpost for sight-specific period pieces, serves as the backdrop.

The Seagull / Berkeley Street Theatre / January 11 - February 8 / $30-$49
CanStage puts on Chekov's classic existential drama this winter under the directorial guidance of Chris Abraham. The play has a fascinating history, which started with an utter failure on its opening night all the way back in 1896. It's since become one Chekov's most important works, one which resonates today as much as it did a century ago.

Blithe Spirit / Princess of Wales Theatre / February 11 - March 15 / $45-$175
Angela Lansbury plays Madame Arcati in Noel Coward's Blithe Spirt, which comes to Toronto after critically acclaimed runs on Broadway and in West End London. The television star has been lauded for her performance in the sophisticated comedy that pits two wives -- one dead, one living -- against one another in a battle for the heart of Charles Condomine.

Abyss / Tarragon Mainspace / February 3 - March 15 / $27
This thriller tracks the disappearance of Karla Richter, a 24 year old who vanishes on her way to the grocery store. Set in the European underworld, the play is at once a mystery and an exploration of the psyche of those who live amidst war. This, the English premiere of Maria Milisavljevic's Abyss, is directed by Richard Rose.

What did I miss? Add your suggestions for winter theatre in the comments.toyota corollaPhoto from #UncleJohn

Toronto underground music festival to go legit

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Somewhere There TorontoIf you're not familiar with Somewhere There, don't be surprised - the much esteemed music venue has been transient (fancy art world name for homeless) for two years, since it lost its space on Sterling Ave. The venue, first born at Queen and Dufferin in 2007, was home to the types of concerts that are vital to the city's thriving arts community but didn't often make it into concert listings: free jazz, noise, improv, avant chamber, drone, freak folk.

While Somewhere There have regularly booked gigs around the city since losing their home, 2014's weekend-long Somewhere There Creative Music Festival at the Tranzac was a big step forward - and a chance for weirdo musicians from varying scenes to come together. For the festival's second year, over 60 performers and speakers will fill the Annex venue from February 20-22, 2015 including Marie LeBlanc-Flanagan (Weird Canada) and groups as diverse as Friendly Rich and something called the JunctQín Keyboard Collective.

Learn more, view the whole schedule and buy passes and other goodies on Somewhere There's Indiegogo page, where they're raising funds to take the sophomore fest to the next level.

Not convinced? Not sure what avant-whatever even is? You can meet Somewhere There tonight (December 9) at Array Space at Audiopollination.

Photo of Friendly Rich by Todd Fraser via Facebook

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