Today in Toronto the Jason Collett's Basement Revue is changing their game - this edition's line up hasn't been kept under wraps. The stacked line up including Joseph Boyden, A Tribe Called Red, Jennifer Castle, Lee Maracle, Naomi Klein, Leanne Simpson, Tara Williamson, Shary Boyle, Emily Vey Duke, Cris Derkson, and more will raise funds for It Starts With Us, a group dedicated to missing and murdered indigenous women.

On the other hand, Toronto's cuddliest bunch o' goths are back from tour and ready to make your holidays full Nightmare Before Christmas at Mod Club, TO's Silent Shout blog is counting down their favourite tracks of the year, and you can grab craft brickabrack and a drink at the Beaver. For more events, click on over to our events section.

• Music: Basement Revue (Opera House)
• Crafts: Cut Cut Paste Holiday Bazaar (Beaver)
• Music: The Birthday Massacre (Mod Club)
• Music: Jhene Aiko (Sound Academy)
• Party: Silent Shout Countdown (Milk Glass)
• Party: Christmas at the Garrison
• Art: Launch of the new Contact space (Contact)

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 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

• Citta, a new rustic Italian eatery in City Place, is now open at 92 Fort York Blvd., serving up dishes like buffalo ricotta tortellini with walnut pesto.
• Uncle Tony's, a new restaurant channeling '60s-style Italian American eateries (checkered tablecloths and all) is now open at 38 Wellington St. Their menu features antipasti, mozza sticks and spaghetti with smoked mozzarella-stuffed meatballs.
• CC Lounge, a whisky lounge and supper club set in the historic Beardmore Building at 45 Front St., is now open.
• The newly relocated Court Jester Pub is now open at 681 Danforth Ave. along with CJ's Deli in the front room, which serves up an expansive menu featuring smoked meat sandwiches, wings and burgers.
• Queen St. Warehouse, the latest from El Furniture opens this weekend at 232 Queen St., formerly Everest.
• The newest outpost of Delica Kitchen is open for business at 920 Queen St. West.

RECENTLY REVIEWED

• Scratch Kitchen
• Borealia
• Istanbul Cafe
• Ciao Roma

OPENING SOON

• Dark Horse Espresso Bar continues its expansion with a new location soon to open at 120 Geary Ave. [Toronto Life]
• Drupati's Roti & Doubles of Scarborough is opening a new location in January at 2038 Yonge St. (south of Eglinton).

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

Photo of Delica Kitchen.

Located at Bloor and Lansdowne, inside the former Cafe Vatan, this laid-back spot opened over the summer, and has already attracted a local following. Look for live music, a menu of Ontario craft brews on tap, and a snack menu that features sliders and samosas.

Read my review of Penny's in the bars section.

2014 was an unpredictable year in Toronto when it came to finding dependably good dance parties. The outdoor events that made the summer of 2013 so great were often rained out. Reliably consistent venues like Footwork closed down before the year even started, while the Guvernment announced that it too wouldn't be around for much longer.

The Sunnyside Pavilion was closed for renovations all year, and Fort York hosted far fewer dance music events than in previous years. The Electronic Nation partnership between concert promoter giant Live Nation and pioneering rave promoters Destiny also came to an end. But as with all endings, these changes also meant new beginnings, as well as opportunities for party veterans to demonstrate why they've lasted so long.

Here are my picks for the top dance parties in Toronto during 2014.

DJ Harvey / 99 Sudbury / March 22
A very rare Toronto appearance by the legendary UK dance music pioneer demonstrated exactly why DJ Harvey is so revered by other DJs. A magical night of weirdo disco and emotional dance music, and easily the highlight of this year's Foundry series.

Harvest Festival / Midlothian Castle / September 12-14
Technically this wasn't actually in Toronto, but the annual rural underground dance music festival is undisputedly a local institution, and this year's edition once again proved why so many of are willing to brave the long drive and muddy camping.

Art Department / Coda / January 18
As much as Footwork will be missed, Coda's opening night party easily relieved any lingering concerns that the owners' new venue might not measure up. No wonder Art Department's Jonny White also decided to team up with them to invest in the new space.

Mr Scruff / Wrongbar / August 20
It's fine to go to a big festival to hear one hour sets by the flavours of the month, but nothing really beats hearing an experienced DJ like Mr Scruff taking a small club like Wrongbar on an epic musical journey from opening to closing time.

Skrillex / Cherry Beach / June 1
It's hard to say what was more shocking: that EDM superstar Skrillex made a surprise appearance at Promise's long running Sunday afternoon beach party, or that his surprisingly understated tech-house set managed to win over so many skeptical dance music snobs.

Summerdaze / Gossip / May 31
The kickoff party for the outdoor party series Summerdaze felt like a perfect beginning to the season, and headliners Kim Ann Foxman and Maayan Nidam provided the perfect soundtrack to the sun setting.

Carl Craig / 99 Sudbury / April 5
You could argue that it's excessive putting a second event from the Foundry series on this list, but Detroit techno icon Carl Craig's eclectic DJ set was just too good to neglect giving him his own mention.

Promise Heart Party / 158 Sterling / February 14
At the time, no one knew this would be their last chance to party in the cavernous abandoned Tower Automotive Building warehouse, and this Valentine's party made the most of the impressive unique space (full disclosure: my band Chobo played this event).

Nomi Ruiz / The Garrison / June 28
Hotnuts is always a crazy party, but their annual Pride edition is even more intense. Ex-Hercules & Love Affair vocalist Nomi Ruiz played an amazing solo set, clearly feeding off the energy in the room.

Digital Dreams / Ontario Place / June 27-28
It's hard to say what's in the future for Digital Dreams, now that the original organizers have been replaced by INK, but at least the final edition to be hosted by Destiny went out with a bang, pairing the new generation of superstars with old school legends like Danny Tenaglia.

What did I miss? Let me know what dance parties you won't forget from 2014 in the comments.

Photo of Digital Dreams by Jesse Milns

Marty Millionaire, the sprawling, 2,800 sq. m. vintage furniture store at Queen and Parliament, will close its doors next summer after almost 50 years in business.

Brothers and co-owners Marty and Norm, who prefer not to use a last name, are selling the building and are likely calling it quits. A sign was placed in the window earlier this week announcing "everything must go."

Marty Millionaire opened at Queen and Spadina in 1967 and moved to its present cyan-coloured location 11 years later. The store, an icon of Corktown, sells one-of-a-kind pieces of furniture and supplies movie and stage shows with set dressing, often at "benevolent" rates during the offseason.

Marty says he and his brother are considering retiring, but that they may keep the business going in another location, if one can be found. They are also open to selling the company and its remaining stock within the industry.

As for the future of the building, no one, not even Marty, seems quite sure about what the potential new owners have in store.

"The jury's out but the verdict hasn't been made," he says.

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

Zane Caplansky, owner of the eponymous College St. deli, has returned to the kitchen where he cut his teeth, the Monarch Tavern, to open up a brand-new barbecue spot. The menu focuses on tried-and-true classics like ribs, brisket and collard greens - but just as the Monarch below is still figuring out what it wants to be, it seems like the recipes still have a little growing to do.

Read my review of Baju at the Monarch Tavern in the restaurants section.

Looking forward to 2015, Toronto restaurant openings show no signs of slowing down. On the horizon are a whole new crop of snack shops, splurge sushi bars, spaghetti houses and bistros promising to make the new year happier (and more delicious) than ever.

Honourable mentions go to the imminent openings of QMP's fourth location, the side by side Libretto and Porchetta & Co., and the multi-restaurant Memory Lane & Co. project.

Here are my picks for the most anticipated restaurant openings in Toronto for 2015... so far.

Kanpai
This Taiwanese night market-inspired, snack bar at 252 Carlton aims to open in early January with owner Trevor Lui teasing to large-format Caesar cocktails, a rotating selection of a classic batch-made cocktails in pressurized kegs, an original cocktail list developed in collaboration with Dustin Keating of Montauk, and a food menu featuring yakitori grilled items, up to 15 variations on fried rice, and TFC, Taiwanese fried chicken.

Bar Raval
Soon to open where Teatro used to be at 505 College St., this new Spanish taverna from Grant Van Gameren and partners, Mike Webster and Robin Goodfellow is slated to open towards the end of January. Expect the new spot to operate week round from 8am to 2am offering coffees, snack foods and a menu of low-octane cocktails that encourage daytime imbibing.

Furlough
Taking over 924 Queen West address recently vacated by Ursa, this new bistro bar from Brent VanderVeen and Frankie Solarik of BarChef is shooting to open before the end of January. Expect a comfortable warm setting and menu of good honest cooking the covers the basis of bistro favourites (think tartare and steak frites), plus a few playful dishes like foie gras on brioche, and pork belly with butter beans.

Miku
Aburi-style, flame-kissed sushi is coming to the base of the new RBC Building next summer. This will be the second outpost for the popular Vancouver brand of upscale Japanese establishments operated by Aburi Restaurants Canada.

Maple Leaf Tavern
The historic 100-year old landmark on Gerrard is undergoing a detailed restoration and will reopen in early 2015 with chef Eric Wood (ex-Beverley Hotel, Hawthorne Food & Drink) heading up the kitchen.

Jamie's Italian
Jamie Oliver's rustic Italian eatery continues its quest for global domination (there are already 40+ outposts internationally) with its Toronto debut at Yorkdale Mall set for the spring. To kickstart the first of many Jamie's in the GTA, the famed Brit chef is partnering with King Street Food Company, the same folks behind Buca and Jacobs & Co. Steakhouse.

Honest Weight
In the works at 2766 Dundas St. West and Indian Road, this new fish shop is not just some chippy, but rather a boutique shellfish shop and 20-seat lunch counter with a seafood-centric menu.

Drupati's Roti & Doubles
Good news for fans of Rexdale and Scarborough's superior doubles, this Caribbean snack shop is opening a new location at 2038 Yonge Street south of Eglinton in mid-January.

Sweet Olenka's
Good news for fans of this confection shop; the Queen West pop-up will be sticking around a while longer after a brief reno planned for the new year. Better still, there's a new factory with on-site retail store coming soon to 23 Jutlan Rd. in Etobicoke.

Odin Hus
The new licensed project from the same folks behind Thor Espresso Bar is aiming for a February 1st opening at 515 King East. While the concept is still evolving, expect this new community hub to operate daily from 7am to midnight, serving a seated brunch menu on weekends, salads and sandwiches in the afternoon, and craft beers, wines and nibbles into the evening.

What did I miss? Add your most anticipated restaurant openings to the comments below.

Photo from the Jamie's Italian

Looks like Drake has finally decided to stop playing with our hearts. We thought the OVO pop-up was gone for good after it left Dundas West in the rearview this summer, only to quietly return earlier this fall without so much as a phone call. (What are we to you, Aubrey?)

But now, with the paper off the windows and the owl-branded T-shirts flying out the door, it looks like the OVO store won't be sailing off into the sunset anytime soon. OVO co-founder Oliver El-Khatib has promised Toronto Life that the shop at 899 Dundas St. West is here to stay, and hopes that it will become a hub for young, creative types. Meanwhile, their merch offerings are getting ever-wider - including a splashy new orange-and-camo collaboration parka with Canada Goose.

Photo by Andrew Williamson.

Fashionable holiday gifts in Toronto are easy to find - even without setting foot inside a shopping mall. With so many incredible designers and crafters in this town (enough to populate eleven jillion craft sales this fall alone), it's easy to find something unique, handmade and fabulous for the style-obsessed person on your list. (That having been said, if you wanted to check out a splashy new chain store or two...well, we won't judge.)

Here are 10 holiday gift ideas for fashion lovers in Toronto.

Something sparkly
We fashion people are magpies, powerless before the lure of shiny stuff. An easily-giftable local pick: iridescent earrings ($32) and quartz necklaces ($28) by local designer Sonia Kang. Over on Queen West, local cute stuff repository Bicyclette is about to shut down; pick up a gold tux jacket ($140) and support them while you can.

Something not at all sparkly
Fashion's love affair with the minimal and health-gothy remains strong - perfect for you, humble gifter, since you can now just buy the black version of whatever you think they'll want and call it a day. I dig the all-black, unisex accessories from Blanc de Noir, like this origami-inspired leather card case ($45) or leather scarf ($180, both available at Parloque).

Something from Muji
A year from now, every house in Toronto will be up to their eyebrows in stylishly spare Japanese housewares; get in on the ground floor and buy people cheap gifts from the new Muji store before the novelty factor wears off. My picks: striped cotton boatneck shirts ($44.95), fragrance diffusers ($69.50), and touch screen gloves ($15). (FYI: They're pretty much cleared out of notebooks and stationery right now.)

Something kind of spooky
Put this Ouija board ring from the Drake General Store ($25) on top of a Ouija board clutch from Falconwright ($78, available at Victoire) and see if a friendly ghost will give your giftee some fashion advice from beyond the grave. (Do not take them to go see Ouija.)

Brand-new skincare products
If you're shopping for a beauty junkie, treat them to something they haven't already seen in a million YouTube beauty reviews. F. Miller launched locally this year with a series of oil-based skin products ($12 and up, at Cure Apothecary), while Trinitae opened a shop on King West stocked with skin products made with fair-trade ingredients, including some really beautiful soaps ($11).

Something cozy
Yeah, hats with your local stomping grounds or province of origin make great gifts. But if your gift-ee turns up their nose at anything with a slogan on it, you'll be better off picking up toques with a vintage fur pom-pom from Headmistress ($79, available at Coal Miner's Daughter and others) or a dip-dyed version by Westlake Designs ($77, available at Scout).

Geometric jewelry
Clean lines let jewelry make a bold statement that still works for everyday wear. Canadian designer Dean Davidson marries strong shapes with fine jewelry materials, like in this gold and white topaz pendant ($245, Labour of Love); for a more budget-friendly option, check out the simple pieces from White Feather Designs ($15 and up, available at Victoire).

A practical bag
The drawstring handbag is back with a vengeance; St. Lawrence Luggage does a version in super-soft buffalo hide ($338), and if that's not enough of a statement for you, Opelle has one in beautiful silver-foil leather ($258).

Some reading material
The sadly-departed WORN Journal was one of Toronto's best fashion exports; if there's a fashion lover in your life who never got to check it out, the time to snap up their back issues or anthology is now. Top it off with a copy of Women in Clothes, a collection of essays on beloved items of clothing co-edited by Toronto's own Sheila Heti.

Something they'd never, ever buy themselves
The undisputable top pick for for "gag gifts they'll think is ridiculous but then wear forever, probably": Burger sweaters and cereal hats by local company Shelfies (if food isn't your scene, there's also random '90s pop-culture stuff and pope sloths.) Runner-up: Steve Zissou and Ziggy Stardust pins by Brooch Boyfriends ($15 each, available at the Drake General Store).

Did I miss any? Leave your fashionable gift suggestions in the comments.

Thanks to the LCBO for sponsoring our 2014 Gift Guide.

Weekend events in Toronto could seem tame if viewed by Solstice celebrating Pagans from the distant past, but then again I think they'd find a noise march of electronic music players and bystanders recording cellphone vids of fire twirling rather overwhelming. As darkness falls, don't forget to buy your brothers and sisters' kids little knitted animal caps.

Here are my picks for the top events happening in Toronto from December 19-21, 2014.

25th Annual Kensington Market Winter Solstice (December 21, Augusta Ave)
It's the darkest night of the year, and while fire in Kensington Market is a touchy subject right now, nothing can hold this celebration back. 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.

FOOD

Stout Night (December 20, Indie Ale House)
In the Junction, the Indie Alehouse's 3rd annual Stout Night is where beer snobs want to be. Don't get confused - the two Ontario stout tasting sessions are actually afternoon/early evening-ish: 1-4pm and 5-8pm. Both will be at IA's barrel at 165 Geary Ave.

HOLIDAY

Unsilent Night (December 19, Music Gallery)
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 Kline's composition calls for a mass of marchers to BYO music for a dissonant, free-for-all holiday march. There's a PWYC fundraiser proper to follow at the Music Gallery. Learn more here.

FILM

Holiday classics at the Bloor (December 19-23, Bloor Hot Docs CInema)
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. (None will be in 8 bit.)

Black Christmas (December 20, The Royal)
Need a break from warm and fuzzy Christmas classics like It's a Wonderful Life and A Christmas Carol? The Royal has you covered. Five days before Santa arrives, they'll be screeningBlack Christmas, the influential 1974 Canadian horror classic about a killer terrorizing a sorority house. The movie will be double-billed with fellow Can-Con flick, Cooper's Christmas. AH

ART

Art Spiegelman Retrospective (December 20, 2014 - March 15, 2015, AGO)
Pulitzer winner and one of the Time's 100 Most Influential People, the Maus cartoonist's work is a thrill to see in person. The AGO exhibit includes rarely seen works from Spiegelman's career, including autobiographical continuous strip called Portrait of the Artist as a Young %@?*!.

Beyonce VS the World (December 20, Henhouse)
This arty dance party will raise money for the upcoming Younger than Beyonce Gallery. Bey will, of course, feature on every other song throughout the night.

PARTY & MUSIC

Austra (December 19, Opera House)
These bats of glittering neon wingspan may be more popular over in Europe, where dancing to strange electronic music is as natural as owning eighteen different plaid button downs is over here, but Toronto fans will show them a good time. Blue Hawaii will open.

Dennis Ferrer, (December 20, Ryze)
NYC DJ/producer Dennis Ferrer originally made his name with soulful jazzy deep house, but has since proven himself just as skilled at crafting dark minimal tech house grooves, giving him the versatility to play engaging, epic DJ sets. Expect him to give Ryze's powerful Dynacord sound system a real workout, not to mention sweating he'll inspire on the dance floor. 10pm, $20. BB

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. SK

THEATRE

Venus In Fur (Berkeley Street Theatre, December 18-28)
Who needs a roaring fire when you've got a Canadian Stage revival of the steamy Venus In Fur. Based on the erotic novel 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. KB

SHOPPING & LIFESTYLE

The Artisans Gift Fair (December 20-21, Tranzac)
Do your craft pop up shopping without leaving the Annex by hitting this fair and grabbing everything else at Honest Ed's. This is the pro leagues for last minute shoppers. Sunday is your last chance to pop by the AGF and grab your nieces and nephews knitted animal caps.

Coconut Christmas Zine and Maker Fair (December 20, Xpace)
Drop into Xpace Saturday afternoon tote bags and music. If you got everyone on your list tote bags last year, tons of zines, comics, greeting cards, prints, t-shirts and more will also be on sale.

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 Alex Huls, Benjamin Boles, Shazia Khan, Keith Bennie. Photo by Jimmy Lu

As the continued popularity of local escape rooms and adventure-themed fitness clubs shows, we Torontonians apparently love feeling like we're in mortal peril - and if the continued existence of BATL says anything, it's that we love brandishing weapons. Put it all together, and this city should be one giant LARP battle, 24/7 - but chain mail gets heavy, so we're left to think of new ways to amuse ourselves.

The latest: Archery District, a new facility in Scarborough revolving around archery tag. For those unfamiliar with the game, you run around shooting one another with foam-tipped arrows, strategizing with teammates to best neutralize the opposing squad (like laser tag for Luddites). The facility is currently looking for staff members, with plans to open sometime in 2015.

Photo via Archery District on Facebook.

New Year's Eve parties in Toronto bring out our city's most talented DJs and musicians, and let the bartenders cash in while the rest of us suckers bleed money and a year's worth of emotional residue all over our friends and the lost the out-of-towners who can't figure out where Coda is even though it's right across from the subway station that dumped their inebriated neon bodies onto the street.

Toronto gets it all on New Year's Eve - live concert fans will stay with their plaid adorned kind, blissfully unaware of the haunting bottle service tabs descending on good citizens elsewhere in the night. Remember to tip every busker you see, don't kiss strangers without chewing a Tic Tac (don't kiss a friend without chewing three), and just because the TTC is free all night doesn't mean they're supplying those handy paper bags they have on airlines, so plan ahead.

Here are my picks for New Year's Eve parties and events in Toronto.

See also:The top 25 restaurants for New Year's dinner in Toronto

NEW YEAR'S EVE PARTIES: EVENT SPACES, HOTELS, CONCERT HALLS + ALTERNATIVE VENUES

Rich Aucoin (Lee's Palace)
What's the appeal of an artist who brings a huge, colourful parachute everywhere he goes? Peter Pans and Wendys know what I'm talking about. Celebrate with Rich Aucoin, secret special guests, and late night karaoke at Lee's.

Ruins (Geary Lane)
Mansion's NYE Party should find a cozy fit away from the hubbub further downtown. At new venue Geary Lane dance in a sprawling warehouse with Bwana, ÈBONY, Eytan Tobin B2B Lum, plus the Bedroomer co. NYE's most beat-savvy partiers can also expect the usual perks like art installs.

159 Manning's 10 Year NYE Anniversary (159 Manning)
It's ten years strong for NYE parties at the little house that could on Manning Ave. Sing with a band thanks to Good Enough's live karaoke, which will definitely involve some CanCon celebs. It's BYOB, so maybe you can afford 2015 after all.

Dude's New Year's: The Big Lebowski (Bloor Cinema)
This marks the Bloor's third annual Dude's New Year's event featuring The Big Lebowski. Host and comedian Freddie Rivas and hundreds of "Little Achievers" will ring in the New Year in style, if you can call plaid and vodka a style. The cinema will have a White Russian express bar and stay open long after the ball drops.

Dwayne Gretzky (Danforth Music Hall)
Give the scary New Year a ring of comforting familiarity with Toronto cover darlings Dwayne Gretzky. The nine piece band will play from songbooks spanning the ages, with Young Offenders Collective providing the decor and Lazy Ray on the decks.

BODYINTERFACE0 (Double Double Land)
If you want to wear pink and have a weird and wonderful New Year's in a place you'll think you dreamt up, Kensington Market's oldest DIY venue is the place. Body Interface will have scroungy artists fancying up the room and a ton of DJs will keep you dancing all night. Support the arts with your sweat, and check the art in the bathrooms.

Interface (99 Sudbury)
Another party called Interface? If someone told me they were spending NYE at 99 Sudbury, whew would I ever have something to say to them. Something very simple - get there before 11. DJs include All Blak, Sam Haze, Mina, Olenonly Sybil, Night Vision, and Simon Jain.

Lemon Bucket Orkestra (Opera House)
Balkan-Klezmer-Gypsy-Party-Punk street band Lemon Bucket Orkestra are throwing an NYE party where the vibes will literally be so good, haters for miles away will wake up singing Ukrainian folk ballads. Not the best thing for a hangover.

Lower West Side NYE (Gladstone)
Wish you could have celebrated 1925 instead of 2015? Sounds like a limited cocktail menu and malnourishment to me - but I doubt either will be a problem at the Gladstone Hotel's roaring 20s party. Whiskey may or may not be served in teacups, which sounds a lot like a roaring highschool Tuesday, but hey.

Majestic NYE (Fairmont Royal York)
Want to party with a crowd? One of Toronto's most famous hotels will play host to 3,000 revelers dining and dancing to the sounds of live percussionists, an electric violinist and a line-up of DJs spinning house, hip hop, EDM and rnb. There's also a live cabaret show, a three course menu and discounted room rates if you need a place to crash. Tickets start at $50.

One Night Only (Drake Hotel)
The Drake Hotel always goes all out for its NYE parties and this year is no exception. A tiered ticket system starting ranging from $25 to $125 will get you anything from entry to the party to a four course dinner and bubbly.

NYE Pop Up at Yonge & Gould (335 Yonge Street)
Remember that flea market by Dundas Square? Want to celebrate the New Year there? Well, too bad, because this party looks bogus. But, it's an option. Be warned: "MATURE CLIENTÈLE with STRICT DRESS CODE IN EFFECT." A gold package is $2300, which could buy you so much flea market bric a brac.

New Year's Eve Comedy Extravaganza Hosted by Tom Green (Massey Hall)
Remember Tom Green? This comedy show will get you back on the street by 10pm. Canadian comedian Derek Edwards headlines.

See also

• New's Years Eve Celebrations(Nathan Phillips Square)
• Big Sound (Mod Club)
• RIP NYE (Adelaide Hall)
• Carla Collins Comedy Shows (Flying Beaver Pubaret)
• New Year's Eve Skating Party (Harbourfront Centre)
• New Years Eve Gala Dinner Cruise (Northern Spirit)
• Retro Mix (Old Mill Inn & Spa)
• Static NYE (Kool Haus)
• Swing & Blues Double Deck Ball (Dovercourt House)
• Back & White Ball (Trump Hotel)
• Sheila Gostick (Cineforum)
• Strike at Midnight (World Bowl)
• New Year's Eve (Thompson Hotel)

NEW YEAR'S EVE PARTIES: BARS + RESTAURANTS

The Sadies (Horseshoe Tavern)
The Legendary Horseshoe is playing it safe and bringing back acclaimed Toronto alt-country outfit the Sadies. As the cowboy said, if it ain't broke, don't fix it. The band plays at 11:15pm (2014) and 1:15am (2015).

Horsey Craze (Silver Dollar)
Hide out at Silver Dollar at midnight with 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/US Girls offshoot Darlene Shrugg as openers. SK

ITZSOWEEZEE (Drake Underground)
If you can't imagine NYE without the Drake Hotel, look back on the past ten years and smile. Or sigh, I don't know your life. There's a party upstairs in the Hotel proper, but the hip hop & electronic dance party in the basement is the place to be with Tom Wrecks, DeMiGGs & V.

Judy Virago (The Beaver)
If big rooms don't do it for you, slide your campy glitter shaker over to the Beaver for DJ sets by Boy Pussy and Peg Zilla, plus the effervescent Allysin Chaynes, Nancy Bocock, Buzz Huneedew, and Quanah Style.

Tranzac NYC (Tranzac)
At the Tranzac in the Annex find three rooms of some of the bands who ruled Toronto's underground music scene, and no bottle service. (Ask Lido Pimienta what she thinks about bottle service.) Pimienta, Tenderness, New Fries, Sexy Merlin, Mas Aya, and more are on the bill.

Essence Brown (Steady)
Don't over think NYE when all you really want to do is keep it casual, down a drink or ten, and dance. Enter Essence Brown, where you'll sweat to hip hop, dancehall, and r&b while your less fortunate friends take sad Instagrams over their sad bottle service.

Much Music VJ Legend Master T hosts New Years (The Smiling Buddha)
Do you like... nostalgia? If not, please exit blogTO, take a right at the millennium, and keep walking, while history's most sentimental generation finds a warm embrace at this 90s party with VJ Master T.

Chronologic (The Garrison)
The Goin' Steady DJs can save you from choice - just like on Halloween, the Garrison offers a sturdy salvation for those who just can't make a decision (but show up early or you'll have to make another decision). The night will have you dancing chronologically through the ages - into 2015.

See also

• Studio 1265 (Mr Flamingo / Bambi's)
• New Year's Bash (Junction City Music Hall)
• Tupper Ware Remix Party & more (Bovine Sex Club)
• Bitch Craft (Parts & Labour)
• Soul in Motion (Round)
• The Superstars of Comedy (Comedy Bar)
• Poo Year's Queefs (Comedy Bar)
• F'Unreal (The Boat)
• NYE 2015: Champagne Showers (Tattoo)
• NYE 2015 (Amsterdam BrewHouse)
• New Years Eve (The Mil St Beer Hall)
• Back to the Electric Circus (Carbon Bar)
• Back to the Future (Central)
• Bangs & Blush (Clinton's)
• Stiletto Flats (Old Nick)
• Chicken & Waffles Band (Joe Mamas)
• Chill NYE (Montauk)
• Countdown in Downtown (Azure)
• A Great Gatsby New Year's Eve Soiree (The Forth)
• Get Happy (Rockpile)
• Lula All Stars NYE (Lula Lounge)
• New Year's Eve (Cameron House)
• New Year's Eve (Buddies in Bad Times)
• New Year's Eve (The Dakota)
• NYE Casino Royale Masquerade Party (Louis Cifer Brew Works)
• Eve Me Up - A Disco New Year (La Perla)
• New Year's Eve (Supermarket)
• New Year's Eve (Studio)
• Midnight Mix (Revival)
• New Year's Eagle (Black Eagle)
• New Year's Eve (Yukyuk's)
• Nearly Naked (Cherry Cola's)
• New Year's Eve 2015 (Rosewater)
• DJ Lazarus (Velvet Underground)
• New Year's Eve (Ciao Wine Bar)
• New Year's Eve (George Restaurant)
• New Year's Eve (Milagro)
• New Years Eve (Nota Bene)
• New Year's Eve (Spice Route)
• New Year's Eve (Thoroughbred Food & Drink)
• Tight & Bright (The Office)
• New Year's Eve (Czehoski)
• New Year's Eve (The Sister)
• Studio 54 (Toula Fine Dining)
• Databats (Cavern)
• Atomzero (Nocturne)
• New Years Party Rockabilly Show (Black Dice)
• No Hassle (Emmet Ray)
• Fred Falke (Wrongbar)
• Let there be House (Bassline)
• NYE 2015 with Hot Stepper Productions (Rivoli)
• New Year's Eve (Borealia)
• NYE Countdown to 2015 (Nawab Fusion Grill)
• Punk Motherfucking New Years (The Cage)
• Winter Wonderland (Brassaii)
• New Year's Eve (Barsa Taberna)
• Solid Gold (Cabal)
• Soul Stew (Jazz Bistro)
• Rock N Roll New Year's Eve (Drums N Flats)
• Souled Out (The Ossington)
• Soulful Resolution (Harlem)

NEW YEAR'S EVE PARTIES: CLUBS

Magic NYE (Guvernment)
Strange but true: this is your last chance to celebrate the new year at Guvernment - the club is slated to close in early 2014. Make memories one more time with Manzone and Strong and Mark Oliver.

Union (Coda)
Coda at Bathurst and Bloor (you can see it from the subway station, friends) has Carlo Lio, Nathan Barato, and the Junkies playing back to back all night.

FlicFlac (The Hoxton)
Austria's FlicFlac is coming all the way to Toronto to headline the Hoxton's NYE bash. Special guests are also in store, and there are so many people who want you to call them re: bottle service.

NYE 2015, A Jazzy Event with Aura & Friends (Palais Royale)
Jazz. Said to be Duke Ellington's protégée, Aura Rully (Urziceanu) has performed with the likes of Ella Fitzgerald and Quincy Jones, and you have to dress to the nines to see her. Jazz. Isn't that a nice way to end things?

See also

• Back in the Day (FORTY2 Supperclub)
• Cirque (Solarium)
• Arcadian NYE (Arcadian Court)
• CIRCA 1926 New Years Eve (The Everleigh)
• Countdown NYE (Liberty Grand)
• CrushTO (Club 120)
• Enchant (Maison Mercer)
• Grindhou5e NYE (Li'Ly Lounge)
• Ebony & Ivory (Epic Lounge)
• My Friends Over You if Fucking Dead (751 Lounge)
• New Year's Eve (Cake)
• New Year's Eve (Vagabondo Italian RIstorante & Lounge)
• New Year's Eve (Cube)
• Black n White (Boxing Loft Social Club)
• New Year's Eve (Uniun)
• OU100 NYE featuring Simon Patterson (Red Nightclub)
• Raw NYE (Remix)
• Pop Machine (Wayla)
• Chus & Ceballos 12 Hour Extended Bash (RYZE)
• A night under the stars - PROM 2015 (F Stop)

For more NYE events click on over to our Events section.

What did I miss? Let us know what hole in the ground you'll be partying in on NYE in the comments.

Contributions by Shazia Khan. Photo via The Guvernment.

Photo by photobyleighton in the blogTO Flickr pool.

Toronto 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 Riverside Antler Breakfast featuring an Irish fry-up is on this morning Friday, December 19 from 8:30am to 10:30am at An Sibin Pub (709 Queen St East). Tickets are $20 each.
• The Real Jerk (842 Gerrard St.) is having an IRIE Christmas on Saturday, December 20 with a party featuring reggae, soca, old school, and R&B, plus a prix fixe menu featuring ham, curry goat, sorrel and rum cake.
• The Drake Hotel (1150 Queen St. West) does Chrismukkah on Sunday, December 21. The festive fusion of holidays kicks off at 6pm and will feature a spread including prime rib, Yorkshire pudding and latkes for $29.95. Reservations are required.
• Brassaii (461 King St. West) presents its World Famous Le Brunch, a DJ'd daytime event running from 10am to 3pm on Sunday, December 21. Expect a $45 prix fixe menu and $125 bottles of Moet and $150 bottles of Grey Goose.

UPCOMING

• The Spotlight City Events Passport is on sale now for $50, offering access to a full year of foodie events, commencing with Yum Cha, the dim sum festival happening on Saturday, February 21.
• Tin Chef returns to Mildred`s Temple Kitchen (85 Hanna Avenue) in part of Winterlicious on Tuesday, February 3 from 7pm to 10pm. The culinary competition will see five lucky home cooks compete before a panel of celebrity chef judges. Tickets to watch are $45 and include a full meal of menu favourites and a signed copy of award-winning cookbook Out to Brunch.

Photo of Yum Cha by Jesse Milns.

Whether it's the NHL, NBA, NFL, MLB or EPL, this is the hip new spot to watch whichever three-letter acronym sporting event you may be into. With a good selection of beer, better-than-average pub food, DJ nights and pop-up Southern-style barbecue Sundays, there really isn't much more you could ask for from your local neighbourhood bar.

Read my profile of The Derby in the restaurants section.

Winterlicious 2015 menus have been released by the City of Toronto, so it's time to do your research on where to cash in on the annual prix fixe celebration. You won't be able to start eating until January 30th (through to February 12th), but with reservations opening on the 15th, it's best to wade through the options early so that you can secure a table at the restaurant of your choice. There are over 200 to choose from, so it'll take a bit of time to settle on your picks.

In addition to reliable fine-dining spots that tend to appear year after year (think Auberge du Pommier and North 44), there are a host of new restaurants on the list this year that will surely attract a lot of attention. Susur's Luckee is a nice new addition (his other restaurants are participating as well), as is the gorgeous French bistro Cluny, if only for the lovely room. Michael's on Simcoe is a solid steak option, while Pukka has some great Indian on St. Clair West.

Photo of Cluny

This new bar in Leslieville, formerly the home of Swirl Wine Bar, mashes up rock, tiki, and dive bar flavours, complete with $3 cans of PBR and '80s comedy and rock records plastering the walls and ceiling. Can this unique combination bar live up to its legendary comedian namesake?

Read my review of Bill Hicks Bar in the bars section.

Holidays are an extra special time of year for the decor lover in Toronto - any holiday, really. They get to spiff up their home (even more than usual) and show everyone just how amazing they are at decorating their place by throwing the most jaw-dropping dinner parties. When someone has as much of an eye for design as your favourite decor lover, you want to make sure your gifts don't disappoint.

Here are my picks for holiday gift ideas for the decor lover in Toronto.

Wolf head wall hangings
Move aside deer bust, it's all about the wolf now. Yes, we love antlers on our walls - they're timeless and fab - but the decor lover on your list will appreciate the refreshing Canadiana-style touch these wolf heads bring to a room. Available at Cry Wolf Clothing from $60-150.

Geometric tealight golders
Made from solid cedar and finished with natural linseed oil and lemon scent, you can bet these geometric candle holders will add warmth to any space. Set of 3, available at Sondermill for $63.36.

Buffalo-checked tea towel
For the decor lover on your list that appreciates old country charm, this classic tea towel makes for a versatile gift. From Pehr Designs, $15.

Wooden acorns
Cute as can be - and functional, too! Little knick-knacks can be stored inside these handmade oak and cherry containers. They're great for placing around the house - particularly in decorative bowls or alongside books on a shelf for an attractive vignette. At Green Light District Design, $55 each.

Handmade art tiles
Attractive earthenware tiles by Xenia Taler can be used as trivets, coasters or simply hung on the wall as art. Choose from a range of different motifs such as cats, penny loafers or flowers - whatever suits the recipient's personality best. From $20-$56.

Woodland matryoshka dolls
Russian dolls get a fun, furry twist. This set of woodland characters will make for a charming piece all year long on the mantel, on a side table or even on a bookshelf. Available at The Paper Place, $24.95.

Brass mist sprayer
If your decor lover likes to keep high-maintenance plants in the house that need to be misted, not watered, a mist spray bottle makes a useful and stylish gift. When not in use, it's good-looking enough to be displayed on a shelf as an "objet". At La Merceria.

Spiral line vase
There are times when gifting a vase can be a yawn - but not when the vase looks like this. A clean black-and-white colour palette and gradated spiral stripes give this vase a modern aesthetic that's hard not to love. At Vintage Fine Objects, $39.

Geometric doormat
Do your part to keep that impossibly well-decorated place clean. Before the weather gets really bad and people start trekking slush indoors, impress your decor lover with a cool door mat. At Drake General Store, $38.

Cupcake and donut ornaments
Is your decor lover a Christmas enthusiast (with a massive sweet tooth)? They'll love decorating the tree with these sweet ornaments. Mini donuts, $8 each, and cupcakes, $7 each, at Scout.

Did I miss any? Leave your decor gift suggestions in the comments.

Thanks to the LCBO for sponsoring our 2014 Gift Guide.

The best peameal bacon sandwiches in Toronto are a homegrown icon, and while the famous vendors of St. Lawrence Market still top this list, there are plenty of great renditions happening at diners and sandwich shops around the city. While Hogtown's signature dish needs nothing more than a stack of thinly sliced, cured pork loin, and a bun, you'll find the new guard imparting a little flourish here or there - nothing major, just a slice of cheese, tomato or fried egg.

Here are best peameal bacon sandwiches in Toronto.

See also:The best sandwiches in Toronto

Photo of Lisa Marie by Kyla Zanardi.

During more than 220 years of growth from a little garrison town into a full-fledged megacity of skyscrapers, subways, and highways, the people of Toronto have witnessed numerous events that have profoundly shaped the city we know today. From wild storms and political movements to planning decisions and infrastructure projects, here are 10 events that helped shape Toronto.

The Toronto Purchase
In 1787, the Mississauga First Nations traded a massive swath of land that would eventually form parts of Toronto, Etobicoke, Scarborough, North York, and York Region for "2,000 gun flints, 24 brass kettles, 10 dozen mirrors, 2 dozen laced hats, a bale of flowered flannel, and 96 gallons of rum" worth about $60 in today's money. The deal, which was clarified in 1805, was eventually settled with a $145 million payment in 2012. Without it, it's possible Toronto might never have been founded, at least not here.

The storm that created the Toronto Islands
Before a storm punched a hole in the sandbar that connected the Islands to the mainland, it was possible to walk from the foot of present day Woodbine Ave. to the tip of Hanlan's Point. The spit, naturally formed by material eroded from the Scarborough Bluffs, was popular hunting and fishing location for First Nations people and later a prime piece of real estate for the Toronto's wealthy. It's possible that without natural intervention the Islands might not be islands today at all.

Completion of the Prince Edward Viaduct
One of Toronto's first megaprojects, the linking of west and east via the Bloor Viaduct was a critical moment in the evolution of the city. Before the bridge, which cost $2.5 million and took four years to complete, the Don Valley was still a significant obstacle. Originally carrying auto and streetcar traffic, the bridge closed the gap between east and west and signalled newfound prosperity. Foresighted designers even included a rail deck that would eventually become part of the Bloor-Danforth subway line in the 1960s.

Hurricane Hazel
The hurricane that battered Toronto in 1954 wasn't just memorable for the havoc and destruction it wrought (81 dead and 1,868 homeless,) the aftermath profoundly changed the city's urban planning. Post-Hazel, building on river flood plains was all but eliminated and the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority was formed to managing the GTA's watersheds. Many of our best loved ravine parks are under the stewardship of the TRCA and development-free as a result of Toronto's worst natural disaster.

Amalgamation
Before the "shotgun marriage" of the late 1990s that smooshed together the former boroughs of Toronto and Metropolitan Toronto, the former senior level of local government, the various constituent parts of the city (Etobicoke, North York, Scarborough, and Toronto) elected their own mayors and had a greater say over their own affairs. With amalgamation, some argue, came urban/suburban divide and a city that too big to adequately handle local issues and too small to deal with regional challenges, like transit.

The opening of the Yonge subway line
By building subways, Toronto hoped, the city could finally do away with its streetcars. When the Yonge line opened between Eglinton and Union in 1954, it directly replaced one surface rail route and led to the closure of others on Bay and Church. The St. Clair streetcar was also altered. The city and TTC hoped that all of Toronto's streetcars would be abolished by 1980. They were, in the words of Metro Toronto chairman William Allen, "as obsolete as the horse and buggy." In the ensuing decades, Toronto's sprawling subway dreams were gradually dashed, and streetcars left to become the workhorse of the downtown network.

Opening of New City Hall
Like the Prince Edward Viaduct 47 years before it, Toronto's space age headquarters became more than just a building, it was a symbol of the city's growth. Designed by Finnish architect Viljo Revell, the pair of curved towers, raised "clamshell" council chamber, and sprawling concrete square still look as starkly modern as they it on opening day in 1965. In the years that followed, TD Centre, Commerce Court West, and First Canadian Place would breathe futuristic new life into Toronto's low-rise skyline.

The cancellation of the Spadina Expressway
It's rare that cancelling a major transportation project (especially one that's already under construction) has a demonstrably beneficial effect on a city, but the nixing of the controversial expressway that would have linked Bloor and Spadina with the 401 was clearly a good move. Championed by renowned urbanist Jane Jacobs, the "Stop Spadina Save Our City" movement successfully halted short-sighted urban planning that could have seen some of Toronto's best bits permanently destroyed.

The G20 protests
More than four years later, and the legacy of the largest mass arrest in Canadian history is still unfolding. Over two days in June 2010 during the G20 summit at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, more than 10,000 people gathered in downtown Toronto to protest poverty, government environmental policies, and the suffering of First Nations people. The riots began when a small group of masked rioters broke away from the main group, smashing windows and setting fires. In the melee, police briefly lost control of the core, deploying tear gas for the first time in the history of the city. In 2013, a police officer was convicted of beating Adam Nobody, an unarmed protester.

Rob Ford winning the mayoralty
Less than a month into the post-Ford era and it remains to be seen what will be the legacy of the city's most divisive mayor. Elected on a cost-cutting platform, the bombastic city councillor was controversial before his mayoralty descended into a bizarre and protracted drug and alcohol scandal. By upsetting and alienating large swaths of the city, Ford may have actually fostered greater civic engagement in Toronto, but without a doubt the city is a different place politically then it was in 2010.

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

Image: City of Toronto Archives (as marked,) Toronto Public Library. Top photo of G20 by Ronnie Yip in the blogTO Flickr pool. Photo of 2010 mayoral candidates by Shaun Merritt.