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Today in Toronto: 12 Bars of Christmas, 4x4, Ossington Shops, Aidan Baker, HoHoTO, Timber Timbre

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today in torontoToday in Toronto a merry band of bars including Get Well, Handlebar, Tequlia Bookworm, Cloak and Dagger, Loose Moose, Dukes Refresher, The Sauce/The Wren, The Only Café, Louis Cifer, HiLo Bar, Betty's, and C'est What are participating in a charity pub crawl. Then on Ossington, a ton of businesses will be staying open until 10pm today for holiday shopping.

At Hashtag over 100 international artists will show 4" x 4" work priced at $25 until Dec. 21. On stage at Ratio, Nadja's Aidan Baker is in town for a rare solo set, while Timber Timbre kick off three nights at Lee's and Pick A Piper are on the Archi-textures line up at Round. 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.

Toronto Restaurant Openings: Bathurst Local 322, Francobollo Posto Italiano, The Coop, Black Ox Bistro

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Toronto restaurant openingsToronto Restaurant Openings highlights the latest restaurant openings and closings in Toronto and also gives a preview of what's coming soon. Find us here every Thursday morning.

OPEN NOW

  • Bathurst Local 322, a cozy new cafe and bar has debut at where-else but, 322 Bathurst St.
  • The second location of Mean Bao is now open at 167 Bathurst St. south of Queen.
  • Francobollo Posto Italiano, a new Italian restaurant from the same folks behind Terra and Sarpa opens this week at 1959 Avenue Rd.
  • South St. Burger Co. has opened two locations in a little under two weeks. Find the burger chain flipping patties at 102 Yorkville Ave., and check out the new Burger Bar concept, a licensed "grown-up" version in operation at 260 King St. East.
  • BarFish, the new cocktail bar with a Japanese snack menu opens next week next to BlowFish at 668 King St. West.

RECENTLY REVIEWED

OPENING SOON

  • The Coop, a chicken house focused strictly on wings is in the works in out-building behind House Maison. Expect the walk-up operation to open sometime in the new year.
  • Black Ox Bistro is set to open January 2015 in Scarborough at 1780 Markham Rd.
  • A new chippy, Easy Catch Fish & Chips, is opening soon at 1446 Yonge St.

Have you seen restaurants opening or closing in your neighbourhood? Email tips to liora@blogto.com

Photo of Mean Bao

Is Toronto's air-rail link the priciest in North America?

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union pearson expressWell, it's not as if we didn't see this coming. In a city with one of North America's most expensive public transit systems, taking a train to the airport was never likely to be a bargain. Torontonians have long been used to reaching for their wallets when it comes to transportation.

After all, if taking the former airport-downtown express bus cost much more in Toronto relative to othercities, the chance of any new rail link in this town being truly inexpensive was never very good. From the very beginning of the Union-Pearson Express (UPX) project back in 2003, fares of $20 were hinted at.

Per yesterday's announcement from Metrolinx, it appears the actual fare to ride the rails to Pearson in 2015 will be very close to that original, er, vision. Adult one way fare will be $19 for PRESTO-equipped area residents. Tourists in a rush or those not interested in PRESTO will be gouged charged $27.50.

Hmmn. Is this the right price? And how does it compare to airport connections in other cities? The proposed UPX fare is certainly much less than a taxi from downtown to YYZ, and it's not much more than the cost of checking a bag. Good things cost money; what's the big deal?

For one thing the airport rail link project is supposed to replace 5,000 car trips a day. It targets business travelers, but also tourists. If it is mispriced, that projected ridership of 2.5 million per year won't happen.

union pearson expressIt is also since 2010 a publicly-funded project of the regional transit agency Metrolinx. UPX will cost nearly half a billion dollars to construct. You paid for it, so what you pay to ride it matters.

Much has been made about claims that the UPX is "premium service," that it has no comparable express business-class service on this continent. In a recent Toronto Star article, Transportation Minister Steven Del Duca defended UP Express "as superior to airport transit in other cities." Isn't $19, or even the full $27.50, a steal compared to, say, the $37 Heathrow Express?

This is very much the line that is being sold to many Torontonians, and unfortunately they are buying it. In the fare announcement, Metrolinx was careful to mention airport link fares from around the world of not only Heathrow but also Lyon ($22), Oslo($28), Tokyo($29) and Stockholm($42). Nothing to see here, move along, right?

Let's take a closer look at those supposed comparable services. First of all, Heathrow Express and the other examples cited are, in fact, express. They do not stop between the airport and downtown. The UPX will have two intermediate stops and thus in its operations will be closer to the lesser-known Heathrow Connect. That service takes 22 minutes, makes a few stops along the way, and costs only $17.60 Cdn. Tokyo has a similar less expensive alternate service. So Metrolinx is overstating the true cost of comparable links in London and Tokyo.

It is also worth noting that Heathrow Express was also only created as a super-premium service after a less expensive airport rail service with the London had first been established via the London Underground. This provides relief from the high Heathrow Express fares, an option that will not exist at Pearson Airport.

Yes, there will still be the TTC's Airport Rocket connection to the Bloor subway line, but this is a 7 km, 25 min ride that stretches the definition of an airport shuttle. It also requires exact fare at boarding; hardly simple for tourists to use. What about the cities with express airport trains but few other options?

Stockholm's Arlanda Express and Lyon's Rhonexpress are hardly ideal cases. These projects have been widely criticized for their high fares and low utilization, something blamed on building them via Private-Public Partnerships (PPP). UPX may have started as a PPP back when it was Blue22 under SNC-Lavalin, but Metrolinx took over the project in 2010. It is publicly-owned transit but certainly not priced like it. Oh, and despite their high fares, children ride free in Stockholm and Lyon. UPX charges kids a minimum of $9.50.

Finally, Oslo is often rated the most expensive city in the world to live in, so while its 210 km/h Flytoget train might be very nice, this is perhaps also not the best role model to cite for UPX.

union pearson expressSo the high-cost examples trotted out to placate the critics are not exactly as advertised. What about the world's many airport rail connections NOT listed by Metrolinx? Most cost less than the proposed UPX fare. Heathrow and the other London airports are outliers, a fact that has has been widely acknowledged.

The airport train in Hong Kong costs about $14.75 Cdn. Taking the train from Paris to Charles de Gaulle airport costs $13.80. Kuala Lampur's express rail link costs $11.62. In Sydney, the airport train fare of about $15 Cdn sounds reasonable enough, but was considered so "eye-popping" that a government committee recommended it be lowered.

But never mind Europe or the rest of the world. Toronto is in North America, and you will notice Metrolinx did not mention any examples of what it costs to get to the airport on this continent. Why is that? Because UPX is not significantly superior enough to airport transit in other North American cities to justify its steep price.

In the US and Canada, there are now many cities that have airport links operating or under construction involving some sort of rapid transit, be it trains, subways, or light rail. A few more cities use Bus Rapid Transit that runs on a dedicated transitway (much like an LRT line) and one even has a ferry connection. And let's not forget being able to walk to Toronto Island.

All of these connections cost far less than the proposed cash fare of UPX and considerably less than the PRESTO fare. Yes, some of these airport links require shuttle buses, or make more stops, or run less frequently, or provide less comfort, but there are clearly precedents for these kinds of fares, precedents that UPX blows past. At best, UPX is providing slightly better service at a premium price that seems to lack justification.

Let's start with the closest comps, the commuter rail connections. UPX is explicitly not intended for commuters, but will be using typical commuter rail diesel-electric trainsets. While being low-emission, these are hardly any different than those running on commuter lines throughout North America.

union pearson expressIn fact, they are the exact same trains as were bought for a commuter rail system in California. Is there really any comfort difference between riding UPX and riding a shiny new railway carriage out of Boston headed to Providence Airport? Comfortable, direct to the terminal, luggage racks, free Wi-Fi -- sound familiar? The trains that run to the airports in New York, Baltimore, Washington DC, Philadelphia and Denver are also electric, providing an even smoother ride and environmental benefits that UPX cannot match.

Service frequency is planned to be better on UPX than most typical commuter lines that stop at airports, but then again trains running to JFK's terminals leave midtown Manhattan every 5 or 6 minutes at peak times . At the end of the day, heavy rail is heavy rail - there is no functional difference so long as the trains leave frequently enough to be usable for airport connections. Even confined just to this group, UPX costs nearly twice as much for tourists and 15% more for residents than the next most expensive airport train.

Subway (metro) connections to airports tend to cost less than commuter rail. Some systems, like Vancouver, New York and Chicago, tack on extra charges for airport stations but even then their public transit DNA as subway lines tends to keep fares down. A favourite of budget travelers and airport workers, these are far less expensive to ride than UPX while providing more frequent service and a useful tie-in to the regional transportation network. The comfort level may not be the same, and there may be more stops, but the price and convenience is hard to argue as being definitively inferior, and certainly not at a fraction of the fare.

Several airports now have new LRT connections. Of course, Pearson would have by now too, had various politicians not meddled with the Eglinton West Subway and the Eglinton Transit City line. It now seems unlikely that LRT will ever reach YYZ. This is a shame since, due to their low construction and operation costs, LRT fares tend to be the lowest of all. They are not as fast as commuter trains or metros by any means, but they still provide better connections than a lurching bus stuck in traffic. To those simply trying to get to the airport inexpensively, their service has appeal compared to UPX at least in terms of access and price.

No matter how the data is sliced, the Union-Pearson Express seems unfairly expensive for a North American airport rail link. It is overpriced relative to other airport trains. It is prohibitively expensive compared to simple public transit such as subways and LRT, while providing none of their network utility. It gouges the very tourists it is supposed to be getting off the roads. There is no rhyme or reason to why it should cost so much more than rail connections in other cities other than a desire to treat is as a revenue source and not as sorely-needed transportation infrastructure.

And so, the North American title of "most expensive airport rail link" rests tightly around Toronto's neck.

All aboard!

Study Assumptions

  • As always in multi-city comparisons, certain assumptions had to be made to attempt an apples-to-apples showdown. While any of these could be argued in detail, they at least make for a Red Delicious-to-Honeycrisp-quality juxtaposition.
  • Only cities in the US and Canada were included in the charts, since these are the most fair comparisons for Toronto. As nice, and numerous, as the many European and Asian airport rail links are, they live in a different political, economic and physical environment and can't be considered as relevant here.
  • The focus of the study is airport fixed-link connections, typically rail. Some cities employ dedicated shuttles as part of this connection -- these are included but marked accordingly since the extra transfer does rob time and convenience and is worth noting.
  • BRT is included for Ottawa, Boston and Pittsburgh as these are heavy-infrastructure lines that run at least partially in their own ROW transitway, have dedicated stations, and are appropriately comparable in many ways to LRT. Other "lite" BRT such as Calgary are not included as these are essentially regular bus routes with limited stops but the usual traffic and discomfort.
  • Practically every city has a dedicated super-express bus to the airport such as Montreal's amazing $10 "747" bus ( which includes a 24 hour transit pass!), but these too are ignored. The building and operating of a fixed link to the airport is the focus here.
  • All of these airport rail links are either in service or under construction with announced fares (Honolulu and Denver). Some links that are planned but not under construction, such as Las Vegas's potential monorail extension or San Francisco's potential subway extension to SJC, are ignored. Los Angeles is building a new LRT line direct to LAX, but the current LRT/shuttle combination is used in the study for now, as is the current Dulles subway/shuttle combination (Phase II of the Silver Line will eventually run the DC Metro straight to the airport).
  • Some cities are served by multiple airports. Airports within an hour and 20 minutes were included, such as Boston to TF Green Airport in Providence. Longer connections, such as Chicago to Milwaukee's airport or New York to Philadelphia's airport, were ignored.
  • Air-rail links with service frequency of less than once an hour are not included. For example, Metra has an airport connection to Chicago O'Hare but it runs too infrequently to be used often -- most travelers take the subway instead.
  • Fare shown is from the airport property to the downtown or equivalent major transit hub for a single adult traveler. In some cities this requires a combination of an airport station surchage and regular public transit fare (for example EWR, JFK, YVR and ORD). In the case of LRT or subway systems with a single fare zone, this would of course also cover much of the metropolitan region whereas commuter trains only deliver to one or two central stations. But for the sake of this study, it is assumed the traveler is headed downtown. Suburban-destination travel would be a very different and interesting comparison but is too varied to include here.
  • All commuter rail fares are calculated for peak travel times, bought in the station. In some cases they are significantly less off-peak or for multiple trips. Where two services overlap, i.e. Amtrak and a commuter service, the commuter fare is used because the Amtrak fare would never be used for an air-rail link (it is more for travelers coming from distant locales to the airport). On-board surcharges are ignored.
  • Charges for transit smartcards are ignored. Some cities don't require them, some give them out free, while some charge a dollar or two. Toronto's PRESTO costs $6, and is required to get the $19 fare as opposed to the cash $27.50, but it is assumed that the traveler lives in the city or will be there for a while visiting and therefore already has a card. (This is a very generous assumption with regard to UPX.)
  • The Toronto Island tunnel is free but shown as 25 cents on the chart so as to visible.
  • Similarly, it is free to ride the BRT line from Boston's Logan Airport to downtown but it has been shown here as 25 cents for readability.
  • Very importantly, American fares have been multiplied by a factor of 1.15 to reflect the weak Canadian dollar. This may not be appropriate, given that purchasing power remains somewhat local, but it appears the Canadian dollar will remain in the 85 to 95 cent range for the forseeable future so the conversion was applied. If considered at par, Toronto's UPX becomes even more expensive than its peers.

Guest contribution from Larry Green

New cafe brings Turkish coffee and snacks to midtown

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turkishncafe torontoLocated near Yonge and Eglinton, this brand-new cafe does Turkish coffee, pastries and light meals, all made in-house. You can enjoy them lounging in wingback chairs by the fireplace - for an area dominated by corporate-owned cafes, it's a cozy, refreshing new twist.

Read my review of Istanbul Cafe in the cafes section.

Queen Street cocktail bar does cheeky and clever drinks

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lindwood essentialsPBR-syrup cocktails (topped off with an orange-peel moustache) and tipples served in old-timey elixir bottles figure prominently on the cocktail list at this newish bar, where top-shelf booze gets a healthy dose of irreverence. Open since August, it's already become a fast favourite of cocktail aficionados across the city.

Read my profile of Linwood Essentials in the bars section.

10 holiday gift ideas for the food lover in Toronto

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Food Gifts Toronto
Shopping for that food lover in your life could be as easy as stocking up at one of Toronto's many gourmet food stores, though there are an abundance of other options if you're looking to shop locally. No matter if you're gifting an avid home cook, entertainer or eater, this list has a little something that should satiate even the most discerning tastes.

Here are my picks for gifts that will make food lovers happy this holiday season.

Vegetabowls / Room 2046 $22-55
These dishwasher and microwave-safe earthenware bowls would be charming additions to any home cook's collection. Cast from various vegetables and brightly glazed, find pumpkins, acorn squash, cantaloupes, and my fave, a cute 3-piece salsa set featuring tomatoes and onions.

8" Zanmai Chef Knife (Gyuto) / Knife $250.00
Pro-cooks and amateurs alike will find themselves lusting after pretty much everything at Knife on Crawford. This 8" chef's knife from the Classic Pro line comes highly recommended because it's got a great handle, is light, thin and easy to yield, and above all, looks really badass.

Stasis Preserves $7-15
Niagara black walnuts in raw wildflower honey, ghost chili hot sauce and caramelized onion jam are just some of the locally made goodies in stock and ready for gifting at this deli and pantry on Roncesvalles.

Cube 57 / Ninutik $42
Give Canada's most iconic sweet in an elegant and distinct new way. These solid blocks of pure maple sugar come paired with a stainless steel shaver to grate into wisps over pancakes, yogurt or fruit.

Life's Soundtrack Tea Towels / Good Egg $20 each
This Kensington Market store specializes in books and gift wares for food lovers, but if you're looking for something locally made then this collection of linens will be music to you ears. The screen printed towels from Kempton Jones feature food-themed sound wave patterns that graphically portray the sounds of slurping coffee, popcorn popping and sizzling bacon.

Arborist Hickory Apron / Drake General Store $9-$32
Encourage culinary brilliance with this rugged, but beautiful conductor-inspired apron, featuring brass rim details and handy pockets for utensils.

Swaine Street Cutting Boards / Scout $90
Sturdy and beautiful handmade wood cutting boards come laser engraved with a cow on one side and a carrot on the reverse (to prevent kitchen cross contamination) are popular picks for foodies this season. The giftware store on Roncesvalles is stocking multiple designs from this Halifax-based crafts woman who's recently transplanted to Toronto.

Toronto Foodie Box / FoodiePages $55-$110
Looking for a well curated sampling of delicious Toronto-made edibles? These limited edition holiday boxes come in two sizes and feature goodies like bacon beer nut brittle from The Drake Hotel, Drip Maple Syrup, and Live On Chocolate's raw chocolate bars and more.

Rifle Paper Co. Recipe Tins / Cry Wolf $42
Sure the internet makes every recipe imaginable available instantly, but these patterned recipe tins with matching cards ($15) are lovely keepsakes. While they're great new - I'll be giving these out to relatives who seem set on taking family recipes to the grave. I'm hoping to get the contents filled out and bequeathed back to me eventually.

Toronto Cooks by Amy Rosen / Indigo $37.95
Cross off cookbook lovers and Torontophiles on your list at once with this compilation of over 100 signature recipes from over 40 of Toronto's best restaurants. A perfect present for any kitchen whiz and best of all, there's potential for the appreciation to be reciprocated with a little home cooking. (On a side note: this book can be picked up at many of the restaurants featured, though Indigo is happy to slash that list price if you can wait for it to ship).

What amazing items did I miss? Leave your ideas in the comments.

lcboThanks to the LCBO for sponsoring our 2014 Gift Guide.

Photo from Stasis Preservs

Heavy snowfall brings Toronto commuter woes

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toronto snowThe first significant snowfall of the season is making for a sloppy commute in Toronto. Highways, city streets, and surface transit lines are all moving slowly as a heady blast of wintry weather makes its way through the province.

As forecast, the snow began falling in the early hours of this morning, with about two to four cms on the roads by 7 am. Environment Canada issued a special weather statement for a large swath of Southern Ontario, calling for a total of 10 cms by the evening and potentially setting the stage for a rough trip home, too.

The TTC is reporting delays on its streetcar and bus routes due to slow-moving traffic. GO Transit is also reporting delays of around 10 to 15 minutes on the Lakeshore, Kitchener, Richmond Hill, and Milton lines.

The Don Valley Parkway, Gardiner, and 401 are, as you'd expect, also a mess. Slow moving at best, a standstill at worst. To make matters worse, several accidents have been reported. The city expects all major highways to be plowed by late morning and city streets by evening.

Here's how social media reacted to the wintery blast.

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

Image: Chris Bateman/blogTO.


The top 10 concerts in Toronto this winter

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winter concerts torontoConcerts in Toronto this winter give us a bunch of good reasons to venture outside this chilly season, potential ice storms be damned. Whether you're into straight-laced top-40 music or weirdo noise experimentalism, a band you love is likely swinging by the city sometime in the next few months.

Get your fill of CanCon indie with the likes of Alvvays, New Pornographers, and Austra in the east-end this winter, while both Canada's pride (The Tragically Hip) and great shame (Nickelback) will visit the ACC in February. Controversy-loving metalheads have Mayhem or Marilyn Manson, but if that's your worst nightmare, maybe pop sensation Ariana Grande is more up your alley. If you still need gift ideas for your parents, nab tickets to Bob Seger, Donny and Marie Osmond or Wynton Marsalis.

Those are just a handful of highlights - here are my picks for the top winter concerts in Toronto.

Nadja (December 20, Geary Lane)
After a season full of inventive and arty shows, Man Finds Fire has cooked up a wonderfully bleak way to celebrate the holidays at Geary Lane. Dubbed "A Nightmare Before Christmas," the night will be headlined by prolific drone-metal duo Nadja, accompanied by sombre soundsmith Black Walls and guitar experimentalist thisquietarmy.



A$AP Ferg (January 14, Sound Academy)
The first major hip hop show of the year brings us a member of the A$AP Mob crew. Trap Lord himself A$AP Ferg just released a new mixtape and has been touring with YG on the Bestcoast Connection Tour - their original November date got derailed at the last minute, but hopefully this reschedule goes more smoothly.



The Vaselines (January 19, Lee's Palace)
Considering a 21-year gap separates their first two LPs, it's safe to say a Vaselines tour doesn't come around very often. If you dig the infectious punky-pop hooks of this Scottish indie band even half as much as Kurt Cobain did, you'd better snap up some tickets to their Lee's Palace show fast.



Sam Smith (January 20, Air Canada Centre)
The UK's newest soul-crooning export (and perhaps most acclaimed mopey Brit since Morrissey) comes to the ACC in January to perform hits from his debut smash, In the Lonely Hour. The 22-year-old has practically become a star overnight and just nabbed six Grammy nods thanks to sheer vocal talent and relatable tunes about unrequited love. George Ezra opens.



Zola Jesus (January 22, Drake Undergound)
In support of new record Taiga, Zola Jesus brings her North American tour to The Drake's intimate Underground venue - a perfect venue to experience her dark, gothy electronic vibes up close. Her recent gig at NYC's Webster Hall elicited this new music video, which'll give you a taste of what you're in for. Arrive early. Really.



Owen Pallett (January 31, Lee's Palace)
It's been a banner year for violin-wielding virtuoso Owen Pallett thanks to an acclaimed LP, popular music theory lessons and everything from Emmy to Oscar nominations (he even handled that JG controversy like a pro). His gig with Jennifer Castle will feature the intricate compositions and deft musicianship that make him such a sought-after collaborator across the music world.



Ariel Pink (February 19, Phoenix)
When he takes a break from saying gross thingsabout women, Ariel Pink can actually be a talented songwriter and fascinating performer. He's just released newest effort Pom Pom to yet more critical praise, and though it's his first in a while without the "Haunted Graffiti" moniker, the regular backing band still accompanies him on tour.

Swans (February 20, Phoenix)
Three decades on, no wave legends Swans are still a force to be reckoned with live. Michael Gira and co. put building codes to the test with their increasingly visceral, earth-shaking music. Sonically experimental and epically loud, it'll be quite a 180 from Ariel Pink's set the day before at the Phoenix.

Sleater-Kinney (March 2, Sound Academy)
In things I've been desperately hoping to say for the past decade: Sleater-Kinney have reunited. The much-loved riot grrrls are about to release their first album in 10 years and have just announced a major tour that thankfully includes one precious date in Toronto. The only downside is the venue, which I think we're all in agreement about.

St. Vincent (March 3, 4, Danforth Music Hall)
If you didn't get a chance to see Annie Clark headline NXNE this summer (either because you didn't go, or because you did go but the sight-lines at Yonge-Dundas Square are the worst), you'll get two more shots in March. She'll play back-to-back shows to continue her massive Digital Witness Tour.

BONUS

Horsey Craze (December 31, Silver Dollar)
We'll be doing a full preview of New Year's Eve picks soon, but one show that'll definitely be a highlight has to be the elusive Horsey Craze, the Neil Young tribute band comprised of Constantines members. As usual, they'll bring a string of special guests - catch Andre Ethier's Sunset Pigs and Tropics offshoot Darlene Shrugg as openers.

What did I miss? Add your suggestions for the top Toronto concerts for winter in the comments.

See also

toyota corollaPhoto by Jay L. Clendenin

5 under the radar toboggan hills in Toronto

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toboggan torontoToboggan hills in Toronto aren't exactly the most controversial topic (famous last words). Most agree that Riverdale Park takes the crown for its combination of length, steepness and lack of obstacles. Hills at High Park, Christie Pits, and Withrow Park tend to also get lots of love -- while the monster at Centennial Park is a favourite for those who feel the need for speed.

Beyond the city's most popular parks, however, there are a host of other hills well-suited for sledding, some of which are straightforward and easy and some of which require caution on account of their gradients. Either way, they're every bit as worth checking out, particularly if you're the type that likes to avoid the post-snowfall crowds.

Here are my picks for 5 under the radar toboggan hills in Toronto.

See also:The best tobogganing hills in Toronto

Rennie Park
Located on the southwest side of the park near the school, Rennie's tobogganing hill isn't underrated by area locals, but it deserves plenty of accolades for being relatively steep (by Toronto standards) and almost completely obstacle free (save for other people).

L'Amoreaux Park
Located in the Hydro corridor south the L'Amoreaux community centre, the hills here generally see low traffic, but they're actually nice and steep (if not so wide) with long enough run-outs that you don't feel like you'll end up in the hospital if you kick it into high gear.

Pine Point Arena Hill
Noticeable when driving along the 401, the hill behind Pine Point arena between Weston and Islington roads is very similar to the ever-popular Riverdale Park. It's a decent length and steepness, but also wide with a huge run-out at the bottom. There's ample parking at the arena.

Cedarvale Park
Cedarvale is a good hill to hit up when you're not feeling that brave. The setting is lovely and feels isolated from the rest of the city, and the hill is steep enough that things don't seem boring, but there are certainly faster runs out there.

Westlake Memorial Park
This hill somehow remains a hidden gem despite having all the characteristics you'd ever want in a Toronto toboggan run. It's plenty steep, there's a bit of undulation near the bottom for brave kids to make jumps and the like, and there's lots of room at the bottom.

BONUS

Snake Hill
I put Snake Hill in as a bonus because it's technically not open to sledding. That, of course, doesn't stop people from trying out this thrill-filled run, but given that the closure is due to environmental concerns (erosion), it's hard to recommend. That said, it is one of the legendary (and scary) hills in Toronto.

What did I miss? Let us know about your hidden gems in the comments section.

Photo by Keith Armstrong

The top 10 stores for women's suits in Toronto

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womens suits torontoStores for women's suits in Toronto vary between big chains, boutiques and bespoke tailors. When it comes to career-wear, we've got plenty of obvious options: On the budget end, there's Banana Republic or Topshop, and if you've got dough to spare, you can find what you need at Holts or The Room. But smaller shops often take a more idiosyncratic approach - and for the true queens of the boardroom, several tailors offer bespoke options as well.

Here are my picks for the top stores for women's suits in Toronto.

Tiger of Sweden
This chain's Toronto flagship on Ossington is a favourite for razor-sharp suits for gents; on the women's side, pencil skirts, cigarette pants, tux jackets and blazers (of comparable degrees of sleekness) are available in a variety of tones (including occasional fashion colours) from $179 to $429.

Hugo Boss
No one does the classics like Hugo Boss, and their Yorkville boutique is a constant source for basic but carefully-cut suits in neutral hues perfect for everyday business wear. Pieces range from $400 to $800.

Judith & Charles
This Montreal-based womenswear line has a Toronto outpost in the PATH's First Canadian Place. Look to them for tailored suits that mix professionalism with a relaxed edge. Separates go for between $250 and $500.

FEMME
Formerly known as "Femme de Carriere" (yep, as in 'career woman'), this Quebecois chain helmed by designer Sandra Angelozzi does business wear with a feminine twist. Look for locations in the Eaton Centre, First Canadian Place and TD Centre.

Brooks Brothers
Formerly synonymous with stodgy prep, the American clothier has modernized its wares in recent years, though the women's suiting at their Toronto stores (including locations in the Annex and the PATH) err on the side of conservative. Pieces range from $200 to $600.

Gotstyle (Distillery)
In addition to a wide range of Tiger of Sweden suits for women, the Distillery location frequently features suiting from SAND, Ted Baker and J. Lindberg. Blazers usually run $350-500, while bottoms are $150-300. (They don't quite have all the options the fellas do, but you can raid their section for bowties, pocket squares and fancy socks.)

Marlowe
The Italian chain's Yorkville boutique is a favourite of high-powered, sophisticated Torontonian women. Their Bay St.-ready suits, rendered in ultra-fine wool, come with the price tag to match - they start at around $2,200.

BESPOKE

Trend Custom Tailors
This bespoke shop on Sherbourne attracts a number of professional female patrons, who come through our doors seeking the expertise of tailor Don Lee. They take pride in infusing their suits with a little panache through vibrant fabrics and punchy details.

Isaac Ely Bespoke
This bespoke tailoring shop started doing women's suits a year ago when, as staff explain it, the partners of their male clientele started protesting that they wanted suits of their own too. Their bespoke suits, all made in their North York studio, start at $1800, with a turnaround time about four weeks.

Walter Beauchamp Tailors
Don't let their new location in Holt Renfrew Men put you off - Walter Beauchamp has been making bespoke suiting for men and women since 1908. About 20% of their clientele comes from women looking for tailored pieces (NB: they don't do dresses). A two-piece suit typically starts at around $2,000.

Did I miss any? Leave your suggestions for where to find women's suits in the comments.

Photo of Tiger of Sweden by Morris Lum.

The top weekend events in Toronto: Dec 12-14, 2014

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weekend events torontoWeekend events in Toronto will have you eating, drinking, and dancing, whether your sweater is ugly and festive, ironically Death From Above 1979 related, or tasteful. You'll have a chance to wear your coziest gear to concerts, craft shows, and beer drinkathons around the city.

Here are my picks for the top events happening in Toronto from December 12-14, 2014.

City of Craft (December 12 - 14, Theatre Centre)
Toronto's favourite craft show is a must-hit for the hand-made addicted and the artisanal wary alike. High quality wares by deftly curated established and/or promising local crafters and more will be on sale amid installations and workshops at the new Theatre Centre. Show up early for a free tote bag.

FOOD

Eat n' Mingle (December 12, Burroughs Building)
Foodee presents this holiday social, which showcase catering partners Porchetta & Co., The Food Dudes, Japango, and Butter Avenue and tickets (priced at $30 per person) include all food sampling. LI

12 Beers of Christmas (December 13, Gladstone Hotel)
If you haven't gotten a chance to wear your ugly sweater yet, don't cry into it. Just go to the Gladstone on Saturday a two-room tasting of 'a glass of beer or 12." Stay late for Shameless Karaoke with Wil McLean and sing that terrible wool item into sweet catatonia.

FILM

A Spoony Toons Holiday Special (December 14, Cinecycle)
Have some fun on a Sunday afternoon for once with cereal, alcohol, and cartoons from the 80s and 90s. The alcohol is not for the cereal. I guess. Depends how your December is going. The party starts at noon.

ART

Papirmass Holiday Art, Lit, & Design Pop-Up (December 12, Herman and Audrey)
It's been 5 years now for indie arts racket Papirmass, who now have release over 60 issues. They're celebrating with a "until-now secret comic" by Sook-Yin Lee and Jennifer Sanchez and an affordable art pop up shop in the gallery. Wish them a happy one and pick up a unique art print.

The Lost Dhow (December 13, Aga Khan Museum)
Yet to check out Toronto's new Aga Khan Museum Presents? The Lost Dhow: A Discovery from the Maritime Silk Route, including shipwrecked artifacts and more, has never before left Singapore. It's their first major exhibition.

Besides, Your Neighbours (December 13, 8-11)
That odd Spadina gallery 8-11 is collecting "images documenting the results of interactions with the direct neighbour of an art space," which should make for a good showing of Toronto kitsch and random oddities.

PARTY & MUSIC

Long Winter (December 12, Great Hall)
It's fun, PWYC, and all ages. This carnival inspired multidisciplinary celebration of leaving the house in cold weather will feature music from Man Made Hill, Sean Nicholas Savage, Army Girls, Animalia, Wrong Hole, Wish, and more.

Jason Collett's Basement Revue (December 12, The Dakota)
Collett's annual Basement Revue shows promise an element of surprise, as you don't know who will be performing out of the star-studded contact list of locals on his phone - though the concert on the 18th will be pretty special. From punk to choral, find more holiday concerts here.

DBX (December 13, Adelaide Hall)
Breakandenter celebrate 7 years of quality underground dance parties with a live appearance by techno pioneer DBX (Daniel Bell). While Bell is most closely associated with the 90s Detroit scene, he grew up in Canada, so this rare local performance will be a bit of a homecoming for the influential veteran. 9pm, $25. BB

THEATRE

Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (Storefront Theatre, December 10-21)
Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? could easily take place at Christmas when families and friends, with the help of a little booze, hash and rehash old stories. 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. KB

SHOPPING

Toronto Young Designers Holiday (December 13 Church of St-Stephens in the Field)
The 5th annual Toronto Young Designers Holiday Sale is back to host another impressive line up of local vendors. Look for jewellery, home decor, paper goods, clothing, art, and of course, tote bags. If you're hitting up a ton of craft shows this weekend, don't forget to bring a lot of change - breaking twenties is hard for the little guys.

The Pup Up Shop Sale (December 13, Chocolate Lofts, Party Room)
On Saturday at the Chocolate Lofts (955 Queen Street West) across from Trinity Bellwoods, the pop up Pup Up Shop (say that three times really fast and your dog will think you're crazy) will sell dogly duds. Then you can bring your designer-decked mutt for a roll-around in the park, because they don't understand nice things.

COMMUNITY

Winter Folk Fair (December 13, St. Vladimir Institute)
Celebrate the holidays with Eastern European arts group Kosa Kolektiv this weekend for a family friendly celebration including an art show and live music. The main craft workshop is $25, but the bazaar for edibles and handmades is PWYC suggested $5, and there's also a PWYC singing workshop.

FESTIVE SPORT

Santa Speedo Run (December 13)
Runners don't hang up their shoes come December. On the contrary, cold weather running helps build fitness and, assuming you're dressed properly, is a relatively warm activity as you're always moving. If you're feeling brave and don't suffer from body image issues, the Santa Speedo run is your most hardcore option. DF

For more events this weekend click on over to our Events section. Have an event you'd like to plug? Submit it for free using this form.

Contributions by Benjamin Boles, Keith Bennie, Liora Ipsum, Derek Flack

Lead photo via City of Craft

Levels

Toronto Food Events: Holiday Turkey Pie, 12 Beers of Christmas, The Art of Whisky, Holiday Harvest Market

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toronto food eventsToronto Food Events rounds up the most delicious events, festivals, pop-ups, winemaker dinners, supper clubs and other food related happenings in Toronto this week and next. You can find us here every Friday morning.

THIS WEEK

  • The Bristol (1087 Queen St. West) hosts a Holiday Turkey Pie Dinner tonight (Friday, December 12) and Saturday, December 13. The $20 event will feature hand-raised pies baked with stuffing and topped with cranberries, plus all the fixin's.
  • Don your best ugly sweater this Saturday, December 13 for the 12 Beers of Christmas at the Gladstone Hotel (1214 Queen St. West). Cover at the door is $10 for unlimited beer tastings, snacks and holiday hits.
  • The Stop's Holiday Farmers' Market is on this Sunday, December 14 at Steam Whistle Brewing from 11am to 3pm. Stock up for the holidays from vendors like Chocosol and Monforte Dairy.
  • YamChops (705 College St.) hosts an evening of vegan wine and food pairings with A Vine Romance. General admission is $52.25 and includes a lineup of 10 wines to taste along with vegan canapés.
  • Newly opened Parlor Foods (333 King St. West) hosts a Holiday Harvest Market on Sunday, December 14 from 10am to 3pm. The brunch menu will be on offer, along with house-made food items for sale including pickles, preserves, holiday loaves and more.
  • The Art of Whisky Workshop at MOCCA (952 Queen St. West) takes place Monday, December 15. Learn about the distillation process, what makes a great whisky and how to taste it from Toronto Distillery co-owner Charles Benoit.

UPCOMING

  • Early bird tickets ($100) are available now Food Share's annual fundraiser, Recipe for Change, happening on Thursday, February 26 at St. Lawrence Market North Building. The event will feature 30 chefs, four craft brewers and two wineries.
  • King Catering presents a Caribbean Holiday Pop-Up Taster at The Ballet (227 Ossington Ave.) on Saturday, December 27 from 7:30pm to 10:30pm. Enjoy five courses of Caribbean cuisine including callaloo soup, tropical bruschetta, jerk pork ravioli, fried breadfruit with Trini meatballs and coconut sorrel mousse to finish. Tickets are $25.

Photo via Parlor Foods on Facebook.

BYO boombox to a noisy downtown holiday procession

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Unsilent NightWant to blast a boombox in the streets of Toronto? What if you could call it in as a holiday party? Toronto venue The Music Gallery near Queen and John is organizing an informal procession (don't call it a flash mob) that will spin Chrismas carols so fast on their head they sounds like Chipmunk songs (which you can bring). We asked TMG's David Dacks to explain this Philip Kein composition, which is meant to be sung outdoors and has been performed across the world in 98 countries, is all about.

"Unsilent Night is a composition broken into four parts. Each participant brings a boombox or phone and we set them up with one of the four parts, then we all hit 'play' at the same time and parade through the neighbourhood with devices cranked up to 11. It's a joyful noise collision that makes Terry Riley's In C sound dissonant by comparison. This has all the fun of being in a choir without having to sing." Dacks tells us, clearly excited because he has no idea I'll be bringing slowed down Chipmunks carols.

On Friday, December 19, you can bring a portable music player or phone and join the mass of marchers at 7pm by the Music Gallery (197 John St). Admission is PWYC, with a indoor fundraiser for the venue to follow at 9pm featuring a cappella trio O'Pears.

Photo by via mixedreality.me


Torontonian turns old sweaters into hats for homeless

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homeless hats torontoWant an easy way to spread a little warmth - figurative and literal - this holiday season? A Toronto accessory designer is launching an initiative geared toward helping clothe the less fortunate, and it's a touch more locally-oriented - and eco-friendly - than those Habitat For Humanity toques.

Nathalie-Roze, an Etsy-based designer who once ran a Leslieville boutique under the same name, specializes in hats and headbands made of upcycled fabrics. She'll be at City of Craft this weekend, collecting donated sweaters to refashion into warm, snuggly mittens, cowls and gloves for those who need them. She's calling it The Lemmie Project, inspired by her "big-hearted uncle." (Aww.) To get involved, bring your woolies to the sale at the Theatre Centre today through December 14.

Photo via Nathalie-Roze on Facebook.

Live bands & cheap drinks bring the party to hostel bar

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the cavern barBuried deep inside Hostelling International Toronto at King and Church is this appropriately cave-like bar. In some ways, it might be as you expect - folks from faraway lands, inexpensive and unsophisticated booze - but the decent live music and creative (if sugary) drinks make for a an atmosphere that's unpretentious and fun.

Read my review of The Cavern Bar in the bars section.

The top 25 stores for warm winter clothing in Toronto

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winter clothing torontoWarm winter clothing in Toronto is a necessity, no matter how little snow we get compared to our neighbours of the north. Question is, where exactly are the best places for all the types of clothing we Canadians need? It's no doubt that specialty outdoor stores and chains stock a variety of warm items, but luckily for us, Toronto also has some home-grown talent in the keeping warm department.

Here are my picks for the top places to buy warm winter clothing in Toronto.

SCARVES

Scout
This quaint gift boutique on Roncesvalles stocks a lot of fun winter items, including headbands, Cokluch leather mittens, and most importantly, warm knit wool scarves and cowls. The store carries Westlake Knits, handmade in Toronto and definitely a 10/10 on the cozy factor.

Blue Button Shop
Blue Button Shop's 'Made In Japan' appeal is strong if you're looking for patchwork silk scarves and Banshu-woven textiles to up your winter apparel game. Their cashmere cowls for women offer the option of covering up both your shoulders and your neck, making it easy to layer on extra scarves and sweaters over top, if necessary. There are also simple knitted neck warmers for men.

Oliver Spencer
This U.K. brand may be intended for the dapper gentleman, but their selection of scarves are easily unisex. The shop sells thick, knitted scarves in neutral colours (with hats to match!) amidst a stock of modern men's clothing and accessories.

Lost & Found
Lost & Found boasts a special talent in finding unique pieces for any time of year. As far as winter's concerned, the Ossington shop carries a number of scarves from New York, with fabrics sourced from Japan. They carry plaid and printed scarves from The Hill-side in natural cotton twill tape.

LONG UNDERWEAR

Camp Connection
Not only does Camp Connection stock their shelves with the necessary base layers for outdoor enthusiasts, including Hot Chillys and Truro's own Stanfields underwear, they also stock onesies (which are technically not underwear, but deserve our appreciation nonetheless).

Honest Ed's
As usual, Honest Ed's pulls through on the odd items you can't always be guaranteed to find just anywhere. For long underwear, Honest Ed's go-to stockpiles of new clothing that seemed to have been packaged years ago supply to any thermal underwear need - and for low, low prices!

AAA Army Surplus
Long underwear is a staple for any army surplus store, but Kensington's resident surplus location stocks a variety of thermal base layer choices in all sizes. Their woolen long johns with zippers along the legs are a great pick for adjustable leg coverage.

Mark's Work Wearhouse
Printed long underwear is where Mark's Work Wearhouse really counts, since most base layers tend to be restricted to plain, patternless colours. At Mark's, both are available for men and women. Brands include T Max Heat, Helly Hansen, and Driwear.

SOCKS

Floorplay Socks
Floorplay Socks, Toronto's only independent sockwear boutique, is obviously a must in this category. If you don't leave with a pair of cozy, bulky winter wears, you'll definitely end up with a colourful pair of socks that are sure to warm an otherwise suffering winter spirit.

Bass Pro Shops
As any good outdoor supply store should, Bass Pro Shop has a fine selection of socks. Whether you're looking for double-layer wool socks, sport socks, hiking socks for those long Toronto winter walks, socks with lifetime warranties, or toe socks, Bass Pro has got you covered (at least from the knee down).

The Great Canadian Sox Co. Factory Outlet
The Great Canadian Sox Co. makes the best Merino wool socks of them all. Their winter sock selection is not limited to outdoor sports and regular foot coverage: it also includes socks made for extreme cold situations in varying negative degrees (starting at -30 below).

Al Flaherty's
You can find the classic red-striped grey wool sock in abundance at Al Flaherty's, along with a generous selection of Duray wool socks for work and play. They're the kind of socks that you want in bulk, and they come packaged that way - three pairs of charcoal grey ultimate thermal winter socks? Yes, please.

KNITS AND FLEECE

Patagonia
That Patagonia has a category in their store titled 'Insulation' should sum up their reliability in the area of warm winter pretty well. The store stocks pullovers, repurposed wool jackets, parkas, fleece, vests, and down apparel in light and breathable fabrics. While prices are a little steep (starting at $120 for a fleece sweater), they're investment pieces worthy of any winter closet.

Working Title
Working Title on Davenport has a great stock of unisex mohair and wool knitwear in pullovers and cardigans, each heavy enough to forgo a proper winter jacket in favour of a light fall coat. They also have a ton of plain sweatshirts and hoodies for a more casual option, while their turtlenecks and printed sweatshirts offer a little more style personality.

Winners
Let's face it: Winners can do no wrong when it comes to stocking up on new clothes for every season and occasion. Between designer goods and odd one-offs, the best Winners locations almost always pull through in on the winter front with a huge selection of sweaters.

The North Face
The North Face's sweater game is akin to that of Patagonia's: reliable clothing available in a number of colours with lasting quality. These pieces can be layered and matched or worn solo and come in heavyweight knits, wool-blends, fleece, and sturdy cottons.

HATS

North Standard Trading Post
North Standard Trading Post stocks this year's favourite hat, Tuck Shop Trading Co.'s neighbourhood toques. The Parkdale shop's cozy Canadian vibe is worth checking out while you make your purchase - you'll probably find a few more layers.

Goorin Brothers
Queen West's Goorin Brothers location isn't just for fedoras and finely-crafted cloches - they also sell an assortment of knit hats and toques in fitted sizes and loose-fitting knits for the crown of your head. They're acrylic, which means these pieces are also affordable for your changing winter preferences.

Tilley Endurables
With a location in North York, Tilley Endurables is a Canadian brand with lasting hat designs. You won't find any casual headgear here since their cold weather hats are more structured pieces, like duckbills, cadets, and wide-brimmed hats for both men and women.

Brimz
Another Queen West hat store gem is Brimz, a shop that's well known for being having attentive customer service and rotating stock on hats of all kinds. Their winter beanies come in chunky knits, long slouch styles, and some in Raptors designs (since they're Toronto-made, of course).

Drake General Store
Canadiana seems to be Drake General Store's specialty, something they haven't forgotten when stocking this year's winter hat selection. You'll find Arborist's popular provincial toques on sale at the Queen West, Yonge and Eglinton, and Bay pop-up locations, so Ontarians and other province dwellers can show off their home pride in unison.

GLOVES AND MITTENS

Mountain Equipment Co-op
They have nearly everything you need to guarantee a warm winter outing, but one place Mountain Equipment Co-op stands out is in their protective gear for your hands. Heavy-duty mitts for sports activities and lighter gloves for everyday wear are easily found in a store stocked with their own clothing line as well as Castelli cycling gloves, Auclair woolen gloves, and Black Diamond apparel.

Europe Bound
Europe Bound's stock of gloves and mitts easily matches that of MEC, where shoppers are able to find a selection of products for whatever winter activity they choose. Slim, lightweight fleece gloves are accompanied by waterproof mitts with tied or tapered wrists to ensure no dreaded snow touches you.

Running Room
Insulated gloves and mitts aren't just important when you're a runner. For those of us who trekked through long walks and being outdoors in general during last year's polar vortex, we know better than to go through winter without keeping our hands toasty throughout it. Running Room carries shell mitts for harsh winds, lighter gloves, and insulated gloves for a perfect pairing of mobility and protection.

The Canadian Outdoor Equipment Co.
The Canadian Outdoor Equipment Co.'s mitten and glove offerings are for those who enjoy outdoor winter activities but also need to use their hands without the bulk of shell fabrics. Their super warm woolpower mitts come both fingerless and covered. The store also sells genuine moose and deer hide mitts which are naturally water repellant and the coziest all-natural mitts on the market.

See also:

The top 10 hat stores in Toronto
The top 10 places to buy a cheap winter coat in Toronto
The top 10 stores to buy winter boots in Toronto

Did I miss any? Leave your favourite spots to shop for warm winter wear in Toronto.

Photo via North Standard Trading Post.

Second Cup debuts flashy new look at King and John

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second cup torontoIn an effort to claw back their market share from Starbucks, Tim Hortons, and a trillion independent cafes, Canada's other coffee chain has mounted a massive revitalization campaign that starts with a total overhaul of their King and John location. They've added trendy-upscale flourishes like marble counters and a showshopping espresso machine - but is it enough to get Torontonians back in the door?

Read my profile of the new Second Cup Coffee Co. in the cafes section.

The top 10 new cupcake shops in Toronto for 2014

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cupcakes torontoNew cupcake shops in Toronto stoked the fires of the ever-unstoppable baking trend in 2014. If you thought we'd be over cupcakes by now, think again: All it takes is a knock-out recipes and some surprise flavours, and we find ourselves back in line, waiting patiently for one of those delightful mini-cakes (or two or three or four).

Here are my picks for the top cupcake shops that opened in Toronto in 2014.

The Pursuit of Frosting
This Eglinton shop spun out of a mobile cupcakery called Pretty Sweet, so you can imagine the attention paid to cupcakes. Flavours include cookies and cream, coconut, chocolate, red velvet and marble and are $2.80 each.

Bobbette and Belle (Yonge St.)
The Leslieville patisserie has been pleasing people for three years with their cupcakes, and now the uptown Yonge location is doing just the same. $3.10 for a cupcake in a myriad of flavours from chocolate, strawberry, salted caramel, mango passionfruit and more.

Bloomer's
Bloomer's is the latest vegan bakery in Bloorcourt, and they make vegan cupcakes in exciting combinations like dark rum and toasted coconut, apple pie, maple pecan, double chocolate raspberry and spiced rum and eggnog.

Don't Call Me Cupcake
Kensington Market has a new favourite cupcake joint; the shop checks out what ingredients are available elsewhere in the Market, and decides which eight or 10 types of cupcakes they'll make that day. One thing is for sure: The rum cupcake ($3.25), based on an old family recipe, is a real hit.

Bake Them Pretty
Beginning in Vaughan and then launching recently another location on Harbord, Bake Them Pretty has always be a fan of the cupcake. They make mini ($1.50) and regular cupcakes ($3.75) and they can customize the regular ones to suit any occasion.

Almond Butterfly
You'd think wheat flour might be intrinsic to a fine cupcake, but gluten-free bakeries like Almond Butterfly on Harbord continue prove the assumption wrong. Flavours like chocolate salted caramel, vanilla coconut, strawberry milkshake, and their signature almond butterfly.

Home Baking Co.
The co-owner of Bakerbots opened Home Baking Co. this past summer to great acclaim, in no small part to the decadent cupcakes made fresh using all the good stuff - cream, flour, sugar, and lots of butter.

The Rolling Pin
Fat piped buttercream frosting sits high on the cupcakes at The Rolling Pin, in flavours like carrot, red velvet and brown sugar caramel ($3.00 each or $17 for 6). They also make cute mini versions ($1.75 each or $10 for 6).

Sweet Serendipity
The Danforth and Greenwood area was in need of a bakery and Sweet Serendipity came to the rescue with its divine cupcakes. They're sweet and moist and come in chocolate, red velvet and vanilla flavours.

Bunner's (Kensington)
Bunner's, in the Junction and now in Kensington, makes customers happy with their gluten-free and vegan cupcakes. With choices like carrot, vanilla, red velvet, lemon, French toast, and some seasonal favourites at $3.75 each, how can they disappoint?

BONUS

Bake Shoppe
The Bake (formerly Wedding Cake) Shoppe girls bake three daily flavours of cupcakes, keeping the cake confection fresh in customers minds, even if cupcakes are less prominent in their developing business.

Did I miss any? Leave your favourite new cupcake shop in the comments.

Photo of Almond Butterfly by Jesse Milns.

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