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Three new charges brought against Jian Ghomeshi

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jian ghomeshiJian Ghomeshi was back in court this morning, where it was revealed that three new charges have been brought against the former CBC radio host, bringing the total charges against the host to eight (seven counts of sexual assault and one count of overcoming resistance -- choking). The names of the new complainants are subject to a publication ban.

Reports from the courtroom today described a sombre Ghomeshi, who has continued to avoid speaking to the media since October 30. At a previous court date, his lawyer claimed that he will plead not guilty. Ghomeshi's next appearance in court is scheduled for February 4th.


Condo of the future coming to Toronto

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5959 yonge stEver watched a Star Trek episode featuring its infamous holodeck only to declare - that's going to exist one day? Well, the future has arrived. A new Toronto condo development called 5959 Yonge has announced some very sci-fi-esque fitness amenities - including an interactive glass LED fitness court.

At the push of a button, you can choose more than 12 different courts to play on including basketball, volleyball, squash and badminton. Heck, why not invent your own? The courts are customizable. It's the first time ever that a condo development has included this tech-savvy sports screen.

But that's just one amenity offered in the over 40,000 square feet amenity zone that takes up the building's top four floors. Kirkor Architects Planners are also including a 10-pin bowling alley, requisite Yoga/Pilates studio, fitness centre, movie theatre, pet spa (!!), and indoor pool area with nearby rain room.

Prices for suites begin in the $288,900 range for around 510 square feet.

5959 yonge stWhat do you think of the plans for the 5959 Yonge Street Condos? Would you live here?

Writing by Jenny Febbraro.

The top 20 street style looks in Toronto from 2014

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street style torontoStreet style in Toronto is as varied as Torontonians themselves - but poring over the highest-voted pics from the past 12 months, a few trends stand out. For women, monochromatic, edgy looks (topped off with skinny trousers and boots) reign supreme; for guys, a tailored, classic look is key. And when in doubt, remember: A bike is always the best accessory.

Here are the top 20 Toronto street style looks from 2014,

1. Ashley (pictured at top)

street style toronto2. Laurel

street style toronto3. Jaydee

street style toronto4. Susada

street style toronto5. Emily

street style toronto6. Lauren

street style toronto7. Arnika

street style toronto8. Hanna

street style toronto9. Bisi

street style toronto10. Emily

street style toronto11. Daniel

street style toronto12. Jack

street style toronto13. Jessica

street style toronto14. Joseph

street style toronto15. Sanjay

street style toronto16. Jim

street style toronto17. Jade

street style toronto18. Jay

street style toronto19. Schaefer

street style toronto20. Sean

Which one's your favourite? Let us know in the comments.

Photos by Mauricio Calero.

15 iconic paintings of Toronto worth knowing about

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Iconic Toronto PaintingsToronto's depiction in paintings doesn't seem to get much attention, particularly these days as we're inundated with photographic images of the city at an astonishing pace. Yet, even as Toronto is not a place with an enormous catalogue of artwork devoted to it (compared to say Paris or New York), there's a rich artistic history to be found if you care to look.

The last time I visited this subject, I wanted to draw attention to Edith G. Firth's Toronto in Art, a book which is sadly no longer in print. This collection expands on the previous one by adding significant works by John DeRinzy, William Kurelek, Peter Doig, Brian Kipping, and two of Toronto's most prolific plein air painters, Jerry Campbell and Michael Pieczonka.

Take a tour of Toronto through the eyes of a painter.

20111122-Lawren-Harris-Houses-St.Patrick-Street.jpgLawren Harris, House on St. Patrick St. 1922

20111122-Tom-Roberts-City-Lights.jpgTom Roberts, City Lights 1945

201518-ttc-subway-construction-john-derinzy-1950.jpgJohn DeRinzy, Men excavating timber-lined trench 1950

201518-behind-massey-street-albert-franck-1966.jpgAlbert Franck, Behind Massey Street 1966

20111123-a-and-a-clark-mcdougal-1969 (1).jpgClark McDougal, A&A Music 1969

20111123-ondaatje-hearn-1974.jpgKim Ondaatje, The Hearn 1974

201518-wm-kurelek-balsam-ave-toronto-after-heavy-snowfall1.jpgWilliam Kurelek, Balsam Avenue After Heavy Snowfall

201518-william-k.jpgWilliam Kurelek, And in Harvest of Our Mere Humanism

20111123-les-tait-1182-bloorW-1982.jpgLes Tait, 1182 Bloor Street West, 1982

201518-peter-doig-1999.jpgPeter Doig, Country-Rock (Wing-Mirror), 1999

201518-peter-harris-Dundas_Garden_w-2012.jpgPeter Harris, Dundas Garden 2005

20101120-Captain-Johns.jpgMichael Pieczonka, Captain John's, 2000s

201518-brian-kipping-union-station-6-58-2005.jpgBrian Kipping, Union Station 6:58pm 2005

201518-jerry-campbell-skyline-2014.jpgJerry Campbell, Toronto Skyline 2014

What's your favourite painting of Toronto? Share your contributions in the comments.

Lead painting by Walter Coucill (Eaton Centre Excavation 1975)

The top weekend events in Toronto: Jan 9-11 2015

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weekend events torontoWeekend events in Toronto will have you shivering on the subway with a group of exhibitionists embodying unpredictable degrees of regret. If you'd rather sweat than shiver, Long Winter is back, and it's a good weekend for dance parties. Then don't miss theatre and film fests Next Stage and Canada's Top Ten.

Here are my picks for the top events happening in Toronto January 9-11, 2015.

No Pants Subway Ride Toronto 2015 & Dance Party (January 11, TBA)
Improv Everywhere's annual scantily clad ride-of-goose-pimples is back. On Sunday at 3PM, the gang of pants-less Torontonians, possibly including you, will leave from a yet to be disclosed location. There will be an after party at The Office Pub at 6pm where you can dance away the chills (and icy stares). Last's year's event was the mist popular yet, so expect a big turnout.

LIVE MUSIC

Class of 2015 (Silver Dollar)
No need to mope around after the NYE fuss is over - live music fans will have more fun with the 2015's Indie Music Honour Roll series at Silver Dollar. On weekends from January 1 - 30 catch seven different line ups including Calvin Love, Pistol George Warren, Dead Projectionists, CHOBO, MIMICO, and Most People. Check out our preview here.

Long Winter (January 9, Great Hall)
This session is stacked with bands who made our 2014 music round-ups: artists, bands, and speakers include Jason Doell, Dilly Dally, Bile Sister, and Nick Storring, plus Miracle Fortress, Mas Aya, ZONES, Moonwood, Das Rad, Tenderness, Analogue Preservation Network, an Apocalyptic Beach Rave, Jesse Brown of CANADALAND, and more.

FILM

Canada's Top Ten (January 2-11, TIFF)
TIFF excites the city each year, but it's our homegrown talent that fills our hearts with pride the most. The nominees for best Canadian picture are Denis Villeneuve's Enemy, Michael Dowse's The F Word, and Xavier Dolan's Mommy. In addition to these major films, the festival will Canadian docs and feature interviews with Naomi Klein, Avi Lewis, and Agent Johnny Utah (you know, Keenu Reeves). DF

Not a Love Story: A Film About Pornography (January 9, TIFF)
Broke? As part of Canada's Top Ten Film Fest, see this free Canadian Open Vault screening of Bonnie Sherr Klein's 1982 feminist documentary, Not a Love Story: A Film About Pornography. You can also catch this free Canada's Top Ten panel discussion at noon.

PARTY & DANCING

Danny Tenaglia (January 10, Guvernment)
We knew the Guvernment would be bringing in some huge names before they close forever at the end of this month, and this special appearance by NYC legend Danny Tenaglia is exactly the kind of special treat we were hoping for. Last time he played Toronto he spun for 20 hours, and few DJs can rock a big room like he can. 10 pm, $30. BB

Alton Miller (January 10, Coalition)
Deep house veteran Alton Miller has a sound that bridges the histories of Detroit and Chicago underground dance music. His syncopated percussion, soulful chords, and soaring melodies are always a hit with the old school house crowd, and continue to seduce new listeners all over the world. 10 pm, $10. BB

Sunday Afternoon Social (January 11, Loft 404)
Good news if you prefer to dance while the sun is up: Sunday Afternoon Social is returning to Loft 404. Dance to sets from Box of Kittens, Jeremy Greenspan (Junior Boys), Leelee Mishi, Martin Fazekas, and more.

ART

Michael Dumontier (January 10 - February 7, MKG 127)
In the new year, see (former, RIP) Royal Art Lodge member Michael Dumontier's new conceptual work at MKG on Dundas West (not illustration this time or giving animals sharpies this time). Some of the objects in the exhibit "are handmade, while others are machined; some materials are disguised, while others speak plainly."

THEATRE

Next Stage Theatre Fest (January 7 - 18)
The Toronto Fringe's annual Next Stage fest is a smaller version of the warm-weather Fringe, a smaller version of the warm-weather Fringe that showcases 10 shows mandated to showcase the best of Canadian indie theatre. Check out our preview here. Tickets and schedule are available via Next's website.

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

BOOKS

In Conversation with... Naomi Klein & Avi Lewis (January 10, TIFF)
As part of Canada's Top Ten Film Festival, Festival Artistic Director Cameron Bailey will host a conversation on activism, writing, and film making with Naomi Klein and Avi Lewis at TIFF. You'll also catch a glimpse of Klein-inspired documentary by Lewis, This Changes Everything.

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

Photo by Natta Summerky

The top 10 wedding & bridal shows in Toronto for 2015

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bridal shows toronto 2015Bridal shows in Toronto for 2015 will bring hundreds of caterers, bridal designers, decorators, planners, and entertainers together before a captive audience of hundreds of brides and grooms-to-be. Though many of these are massive recurring fairs, packing convention halls year in and year out, there are also smaller events worth checking out in your search for vendors (particularly if you're easily overwhelmed by an over-abundance of options). Look for more shows to pop up as the year progresses.

Here are my picks for the top wedding and bridal shows in Toronto during 2015.

Canada's Bridal Show (January 9-11 / September 11-13)
Kicking off 2015 is Canada's Bridal Show, one of the city's largest wedding fairs. Hundreds of wedding vendors will be setting up shop at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, ready to show their stuff to brides-to-be. (If you can't make it this weekend, they'll be returning to the MTCC for a fall edition.)

WedLuxe Wedding Show (January 11)
This year, the high-style bridal show moves to the Arcadian Courts at Queen and Bay, where they promise to transform the show floor into an immersive, showstopping experience for brides-to-be (take that, booths). Expect live demonstrations and plenty of freebies.

Total Wedding Show (January 16-18)
At the International Centre in Mississauga, the Total Wedding Show promises 350 vendors of all kinds, from food and venues to decor and entertainment (after all, they've got that name to live up to). A perennial highlight: Their massive bridal gown sale, one of the biggest you'll find in the city.

National Bridal Show (January 23-25 / September 5-7)
Not to be confused with Canada's Bridal Show, the National Bridal Show is Toronto's other most sizeable, comprehensive wedding fair, bringing dozens of trend-focused vendors to the Metro Convention Centre at the CNE. (Pro tip: Brides-to-be are free - just pre-register online.)

Perfect Wedding Show (Feburary 8)
Catering to Mississauga and Brampton, the Perfect Wedding Show keeps things fairly intimate with 60 vendor displays and tons of interactive opportunities, including mini-makeovers, photo booth, and food samples.

The Wedding Co. Show (February 22)
If the thing you're most pumped about is ordering tons of cute wedding items on Etsy, we've got a show for you. Coming to the very un-convention-centre-like Wychwood Barns is the Wedding Co. Show, where you can check out independent Toronto businesses that will lend your big day a creative touch.

The Middle Eastern Bridal Show (March 7)
At the International Centre, you'll find outfits offering traditional Middle Eastern performances, food, and clothing for your big day. Past vendors have included belly dancing troupes, hookah caterers, and henna studios.

Toronto's Bridal Show (April 10-12)
This blockbuster wedding fair and its overwhelming array of vendors will take over the Direct Energy Centre again this spring. Booths and giveaways abound, but the centrepiece of the show is their schedule of fashion shows displaying the latest and sparkliest in bridalwear.

Rebash (April 18)
It's a new spin on the old wedding-show theme - in fact, this brand-new event is all about breathing new life into used pieces. Here, vendors focus on upcycled, reused or handcrafted wedding goods - so you can save cash, shop with a conscience, and infuse a little extra personality into your big day.

The Platinum Bride Show (April 19)
In Woodbridge, the Platinum Bride Show will feature vendors, wedding planning workshops, the Something Blue Groom's Lounge, and an appearance by bridal stylist Renee Strauss of Brides Of Beverly Hills fame.

Did I miss any? Leave your picks for Toronto bridal shows in 2015 in the comments.

Photo by Gerardo Rico via the blogTO Flickr pool. With contributions from Amanda Burcul.

$2 million homes in Toronto now considered average

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2 million house torontoIt's no surprise that the Toronto housing market continues its upward trajectory. But with the Toronto Real Estate Board's recent announcement of a major listings shortage, just how much money does one need to afford a house? Quite a bit it seems.

Sotheby's International Realty Canadareports that houses that go for $1 million to $2 million aren't even considered luxury anymore. It's now the average one should expect to pay for a conventional single family home

Sales for properties that fall into this price range have jumped by 38 per cent in 2014 alone as compared with the 2013 stats. According to Sotheby's, Toronto beat out the growth thresholds for every other major Canadian city.

The trend is predicted to continue into 2015 as well as demand continues to overshadow supply. For those sitting on the sidelines, this housing bubble may not be popping anytime soon.

Writing by Jenny Febbraro. Photo of 297 St. Clair Ave East.

Symmetry


Toronto Food Events: Sir John A. MacDonald Pizza Day, Beau's Tasting Dinner, Chefs for Change

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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

  • Big House Pizza (962 Danforth Ave,) celebrates Sir John A. MacDonald Day on Sunday, January 11 by offering its John A. MacDonald pizzas (essentially a Big Mac Pizza) for $10.
  • Montecito (299 Adelaide St. West) launches a champagne brunch on Sunday, January 11 featuring a buffet experience with champagne and Caesar stations for $35.
  • Sommelier Peter Boyd presents the Wonderful World of Sparkling Wines at Pukka (778 St. Clair Ave. West) on Monday, January 12 at 6:30pm. Paired with a menu of Indian fare, enjoy a eight different styles of bubbly priced at $95 per guest.
  • Beau's Tasting Dinner at The Westerly (413 Roncesvalles Ave.) takes place Wednesday, January 14 at 7pm. For $90, partake in a four course menu featuring charcuterie, beer-braised pork belly, short ribs and smoked cheddar grits paired with select seasonal ales.
  • Winterlicious menus are already advertised online and reservations for two week prix fixe fest open on Thursday, January 15.

UPCOMING

  • The first installment of Chefs for Change, a dinner series curated by Chef Chris Brown, debuts on January 23 at Propeller Coffee Roastery (50 Wade Ave.). Tickets are $75 for the multi-course dinner presented by a line-up of top Toronto chefs.
  • Join Jennifer Bain, Saucy Lady columnist and Toronto Star food editor, at the North York Central Library on Wednesday, February 18. The one hour talk, Eating for a Living, starts at 7pm and will cover how she got into the biz, Toronto's changing food landscape and the process of writing a cookbook.

Photo of Pukka by Jesse Milns.

Work out for $10 a month at this brand new gym

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planet fitness torontoA popular U.S. fitness chain has finally made its way north, setting up their first Canadian location in the Galleria Mall at Dufferin and Dupont. Though they don't do many of the fitness courses you'll find at most gyms (and offer fringe amenities that range from the perplexing to the mildly infuriating), if you're just looking to get some basic cardio in or break a sweat on their array of fitness machines, there's no better deal in town.

Read my profile of Planet Fitness in the fitness section.

The top 5 Toronto goth haunts we miss

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Goth club TorontoToronto's goth haunts may be few and far between nowadays, but once upon a time, these special places weren't just relegated to the shadows. The height of goth culture in the nineties produced a litany of clubs, bars and boutiques throughout the downtown core where self-professed freaks loved to slink away and rub vinyl-covered elbows with like-minded outcasts. Unlike some other cities, Toronto welcomed the subversive counterculture in the mainstream, and some of our most popular hangouts at the time reflected that.

Some of the classic goth watering holes, such as The Rivoli, are definitely still thriving, though they no longer cater to the same alternative crowds that they used to. Places like the Velvet Underground and Nocturne have managed to survive the yuppification of Queen West, but otherwise, goth is a bit of a ghost on the streets of Toronto.

Here are the five defunct Toronto goth haunts we miss the most.

Silver Crown Tavern
One of the earliest Toronto nightclubs to indulge in the dark side, The Silver Crown was the place to be for the first true children of the night. No goth band in the 80s could get Batcave cred without paying a visit, or at least having their record spun here. Notable DJs like Ivan Palmer got their start at the club manning the legendary late-night dance parties.

Siren/Hell's Belles
The first fashion store of its kind in Toronto, Siren sowed the seeds for goth's residency on Queen West. Owners Groovella and Morpheus Blak opened the shop with handfuls of wares direct from the UK's gothic epicentre, and soon everyone from local street kids to members of Nine Inch Nails were eagerly perusing their racks for coveted Victorian frocks and spiked collars. Longtime staffer Sarah Khokar took over and renamed it Hell's Belles in 2005, keeping the vibe; I definitely remember scanning their rainbow of Manic Panic more than once.

Sanctuary Vampire Sex Bar
Not long after Siren began draping Toronto's undead, Sanctuary moved out of its basement digs and set up down the street. Laden with black paint, ghoulish decor and DJs well-versed in Bauhaus, the bar finally provided goths a cool hangout with weekend events and even an all-ages hub, Catacombs. The "Vampire Sex Bar" wasn't nearly as salacious as it sounds, but that didn't seem to placate the building's owner, who kicked Sanctuary out in favour of a much less sinful Starbucks.

Savage Garden
Aside from Sanctuary, the goth scene was mostly lurking in dingy basements when Paul Samuels (aka Paul Savage) moved to Toronto in the mid-nineties. With Savage Garden, he sought to elevate goth's standing in a sleek, fashionable nightclub. A premium sound system and string of top DJs specializing in industrial and alternative drew the masses for decadent dances. Though Savage Garden is gone, its spirit haunts Nocturne, the club that took over the space in 2011.

Ilyich's
A bar that seems to fly under the radar of nostalgic goth convos, Ilyich's occupied the small space behind Future Bakery that's now Labyrinth Lounge. An unabashed neo-communist theme bled through the decor - Soviet newspapers on the walls, barbed-wire ceilings, and a giant, glowing Lenin bust on display. The radical imagery and blaring industrial music attracted many a goth throughout the 90s - cheap drinks didn't hurt, either.

BONUS

toronto-goth.com
Hey, this is the information age, and even the most dedicated vampires hang out online. A handful of hyperlocal goth sites came to life at the dawn of the millenium, but toronto-goth.com was one of the most thorough, offering event and store listings, photos, advice columns, profiles on goth's local elite, and a thriving forum where one could discuss The Birthday Massacre's last show or where to find the best deal on corsets.

What goth haunts do you miss? There's a lot more out there. Add your suggestions for ones we didn't mention in the comments below.

See also

The top 10 Toronto goth bands of all time
The goth scene in Toronto

Photo: Mortiis release party (seriously) at Savage Garden via earache.com

New juice bar offers cabbage and sweet potato blends

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village juicery torontoA brand-new juice bar at College and Euclid is distinguishing themselves from the pack with fresh-pressed, nutrition-obsessed recipes that feature some truly unique ingredients. Their goal is to give customers all the health benefits of raw, organic fruits and veggies - and though you might not have thought you'd ever be drinking juiced dandelions, cabbage or turmeric root, these blends are as intriguingly tasty as they are good for you.

Read my profile of Village Juicery in the restaurants section.

The top 10 episodes of Degrassi Junior High

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Degrassi Junior HighIt's likely that Degrassi is the best known Toronto street in the world: From London to Sydney, Los Angeles to Paris, Halifax to Johannesburg, the serene passage is loved and still madly obsessed over all thanks to a low-key, acid-wash jean wearing, acne-scarred tween drama.

Degrassi Junior High (later Degrassi High) started quietly enough in January of 1987. Most viewers' first exposure to it came in the form of classroom screenings - as it had with the series antecedent The Kids of Degrassi Street, a slept on masterpiece of early 80s Hogtown lore. Primarily shown across North America in classrooms on beaten up, pinking 16mm films, Kids was as much loved by lazy teachers as it was bored students, and blazed a curriculum friendly edu-tainment trail which Junior High successfully followed.

Degrassi Junior HighHealth class was always more sprightly when you got to watch a fuzzy VHS of Joey Jeremiah buying a Jimmy hat at the Shopper Drug Mart at Queen & Pape, or recoil in horror at a lecherous substitute teacher's Christmas hands all over poor Lucy. While the CBC carried the show in first run, it was never a ratings bonanza and only attained mass cultdom once syndicated worldwide by WGBH, the nerve centre of America's PBS network.

Like any bona fide cultural touchstone, Degrassi remains welded to our psyche, inspiring everything from fan fiction about the real life death of Wheels actor Neil Hope, Reggae covers of Zit Remedy's opus "Everybody Wants Something" to slightly depressing semi-annual Where Are they Now? round-ups in the National Post.

Degrassi Junior HighBy far one of the most useful fan service paid in recent years is the Degrassi Panthers Project, a blog dedicated to "mapping out the shoot locations of all 3 seasons of the Canadian TV series Degrassi Junior High." Spearheaded by local artist Brian Donnelly, Degrassi Panthers unravels the geographically challenged mysteries of Degrassi filming locations, sometimes sleuthing off only an errant streetcar lurking in the background of a heated dramatic sequence.

Who better to ask for an opinion on the 10 best episodes the series ever produced?

Bye-Bye Junior High
"They burned down the damn school. In a bold move to keep the cast together, they decided to write the burning down of the school, forcing all students to be relocated to Degrassi High. New series, same characters. Convenient fire."

The Great Race
"Melanie has body issues. The episode revolves around the swim team, and the school pool....a pool which is never in another episode or spoken of again....like Rick, who he disappears after Season 2."

It Creeps!!
"Lucy shoots a feminist horror film in the school on the weekend. For some reason the episode has always resonated with me, maybe the need to make art. It's the episode that defines the direction of Lucy's character."

Trust Me
"This episode goes all over the place location wise, actually the most locations in one episode, and at extreme distances from each other. A lot of fun to research and re shoot....Plus joyriding with the Zit Remedy, what else do you want in an episode?"

The Cover Up
"Joey finds out Rick has an abusive father. I just really like it because its the episode that sparked the idea for my project. Also I spent almost a year scouring maps before I found Joey's house."

Can't Live With 'EM - parts 1 & 2
"This is the heaviest pair of episodes, Wheels' adoptive parents are killed by a drunk driver. Sets the tone for Wheels as a character moving forward. It was also a big piece for me to locate, a gravesite? Come on! Still nailed it though."

Bad Blood - parts 1 & 2 (Degrassi High)
"Dwayne has HIV. This is probably the biggest, craziest piece of Degrassi High. Not only do we have to sit through a bunch of homophobic nonsense from characters, but Dwayne actually contracts HIV, in a hetero relationship. This is a barrier busting bonkers piece of TV."

Best Laid Plans
"Wheels buys condoms for his date with Stephanie...from Stephanie's pharmacist mom. Has a frank discussion with his dad about sex. Arthur and Yick get their hands on a porno called Swamp Sex Robots. The whole episode ends in disaster. I found Wheels' house by accident while out for a run one summer, very close to my own house, I pass it all the time, and it always reminds me of my whole project."

Currently Degrassi Panthers is a few episodes into sourcing locations from Season 3. Asked about the future of the project, Donnelly says "I'll probably finish it this summer, I just need to get to Port Hope. I haven't decided if I want to do the two seasons of Degrassi High yet - it's not actually very interesting, really limited shoot locations."

Degrassi Junior HighNostalgia for Degrassi Junior High remains in good stead. While its hollow follow-up Degrassi: The Next Generation has chalked up over 369 episodes across 14 seasons (!) and helped launch millennial superstars like Aubrey Graham and Shenae Grimes, it barely registers on the cultural odometer (in fact, most people probably don't even realize it is still on TV).

Could it be that Degrassi: TNG (now just Degrassi) was lab engineered as a glitzy prime-time teen soap populated by beautiful people, unlike its predecessor which at times looked more like a cinema vérité exposé of a real Toronto Junior High school, zits and all? Broomheads like us.

Degrassi HighRegardless, for most people Degrassi Junior High remains the definitive "Degrassi", a legit Toronto institution that still reps the city nearly three decades later.

The Zits DegrassiSpecial thanks to Brian Donnelly and @djhpanthers

Retrontario plumbs the seedy depths of Toronto flea markets, flooded basements, thrift shops and garage sales, mining old VHS and Betamax tapes that less than often contain incredible moments of history that were accidentally recorded but somehow survived the ravages of time. You can find more amazing discoveries at www.retrontario.com.

Toronto gets the 3D treatment on Google Maps

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toronto google mapsToronto is looking decidedly less flat now that Google has published a new 3D version of its map of the city. Google spokesman Aaron Brindle says the new perspective went live Wednesday.

The effect was generated by combining existing aerial and 45-degree angle photos of the city. Buildings, terrain, even prominent landscape features like hills and trees can be explored up close from all sides, he says.

It's not just limited to downtown, either. 3D street views are to be had as far as western Etobicoke, Richmond Hill, and even Bowmanville. In total, 12 Canadian cities, six of them with metro populations of over a million, are getting the treatment. They are: Toronto, Edmonton, Calgary, Winnipeg, Ottawa, Montreal, Regina, Victoria, Greater Sudbury, Peterborough, Saskatoon, and Barrie.

In order to view the effect, switch to "Earth" view with the map positioned over the city in any web browser, desktop or mobile. Holding CTRL in Chrome on a computer opens up the ability to pan and rotate the view.

Bizarrely, the 3D processing appears to have cleared the streets of vehicles, giving the city a tranquil, deserted feel.

Check out the following locations:

toronto google 3dDowntown bank towers.

toronto google 3dCity Hall.

toronto google 3dCaptain John's.

toronto google 3dOCAD U.

toronto google 3dOntario Place.

toronto google 3dThe L Tower.

toronto google 3dQueens Park.

toronto google 3dBloor Viaduct.

toronto google 3dThe Hearn Generating Station.

toronto google 3dGreenwood subway yard.

toronto google 3dNorth York Centre.

toronto google 3dPearson Airport.

toronto google 3dCanada's Wonderland.

toronto google 3dYonge-Dundas Square.

Suggestions for good views are welcome in the comments.

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

The Best New Design Stores in Toronto, 2014

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best new design stores 2014 torontoThe best new design stores in Toronto for 2014 brought new blood to the city's design scene (and precipitated more than a few redecorating sprees). Whether your bag is sleek, modern decor fit for a luxury condo, vintage and reclaimed items full of scrappy charm, oddball art and gifts, or even something you made all by yourself, design aficionados had a lot to cheer about (and drop cash on) this year.

Here are the best new design stores in Toronto for 2014.

See also:

The Best New Design Stores in Toronto, 2013
The Best New Design Stores in Toronto, 2012
The Best New Design Stores in Toronto, 2011
The Best New Design Stores in Toronto, 2010


Northwood to open new location on Dundas West

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NorthwoodSince it opened at the corner of Bloor and Crawford back in the spring of 2013, Northwood has attracted a devoted following of coffee-drinkers on laptops during the day and cocktail aficionados at night. It's one of those places that nailed its concept and has proved successful for doing so. As such, it's not surprising that the bar is opening a second location.

Dundas and Bellwoods will be home to the new Northwood, an area that's well-stocked with bars but also one that will likely eat up the work-by-day-drink-by-night vibe the establishment offers. If an early photo is any indication, the interior will be quite similar to the existing bar, which has always been one of the nicer places to drink a Negroni while the sun sets.

A Facebook post indicates that the new bar could be open in as little as two weeks. Keep an eye out for a focus on apertifs and amaro alongside the excellent cocktails already on offer at the original location.

What kind of apartment does $1000 get you in Toronto?

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apartment rental torontoWhat does 1,000 bucks a month get you in Toronto's ever-competitive rental market? It's a benchmark number, one that provides a glimpse into the type of value (or lack thereof) you can expect to find when apartment hunting. From the dark and dingy to a one bedroom gem, here I compare six rental listings on Craigslist in this price range as a way of establishing what's worth the money and what's worth taking a pass on.

Here are six Toronto apartment rentals in the $1,000 range.

$1,050 in the Annex
toronto apartmentThis one bedroom basement apartment in the Annex is not pretty. It's 500 square feet with bars on the windows and a floor heater.

Move on if: Your student paycheck can't afford the Annex. Try Dundas for slightly cheaper rents.

$1,010 at Yonge and Wellesley
toronto apartmentHere's a cozy bachelor apartment with 525 square feet. There's not much to see and the floor plan is posted.

Move on if: A vintage elevator freaks you out. Thankfully, you can walk up stairs to this second floor unit.

$1,000 at Dufferin and Davenport
toronto apartmentA cute one bedroom basement apartment that's never been lived in. There's a brand new toilet and kitchen.

Move on if: A basement apartment is not your thing. Plus, you're slightly concerned that the unit is renting for $1,000 a "mouth."

$1,010 at Richmond and Niagara
toronto apartmentIt's a tight squeeze for this 236 square foot bachelor near Queen West. It might come fully furnished but does it include a Murphy Bed?

Move on if: You get claustrophobic walking into the Sam James Coffee Pocket.

$1,000 in St. Clair West
toronto apartment 1000 dollarsAt St. Clair and Christie, you can rent a one bedroom, one bathroom apartment on the second floor of a retail space. It's a renovated unit, although there's no photos to corroborate.

Move on if: You don't want to live above a restaurant. Watch out for unwanted pests and odours.

$980 at Danforth and Pape
201519-craigslist-pape.jpgIt's a parquet lovers dream space near Danforth and Pape. It's a one bedroom with a balcony and underground parking available.

Move on if: You want more than one bedroom without breaking the bank. There's a two bedroom renting in the same building for $1,100/month.

What do you think? Would rent any of these apartments?

Writing by Alana Charles

The top 5 things to see at Villa Toronto

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Villa TorontoVilla Toronto is a unique major event for Toronto's arts scene. Over 20 art galleries will take over Union Station next week (January 16-23) for a major contemporary art festival that's previously been held in Tokyo and Reykjavik. Events, exhibitions, and parties will take place on site and at galleries around Toronto in conjunction with the festival. At Villa you'll see the predictable silly art element like this kale-focused exhibit, but from stalls to performances and screenings, most of the programming looks fascinating.

Here's my guide to getting the most out of the eight day festival.

Villa TorontoUnion Station
Exhibiting galleries at Union include Toronto's Art Metropole, Jessica Bradley, and Cooper Cole plus galleries from London, Milan, Tokyo, Reykjavik, Paris, Barcelona, Zurich, and Mexico City. Seek out highlights such as Derek Sullivan's Endless Kiosk at Jessica Bradley, Aneta Grzeszykowska at Raster, Erick Beltrán's politically charged Labor, Guillaume Leblon and Elodie Seguin at Jocelyn Wolff, and (kinda funny) Zeke Moores' gold dumpster and silver port-o-potty at Diaz Contemporary. Disappointingly, out of over 25 exhibiting artists, only three are women.

Offsite Exhibitions & Events
The mass of art, screenings, and performances descending on Toronto aren't all landing at Union Station. Galleries and groups participating as venues during Villa Toronto include the AGO, MOCCA, Camera, Scrap Metal, Goethe-Institut, 8-11 in Chinatown, and more.

villa torontoParties & Talks
The Jan 16 free opening party at the AGO, Ragnar Kjartansson and Dav r Jnson present: An Evening of Misery, is rush entry only now, so arrive very, very early. Tyler Coburn will lead a talk on the "industrialization of online writing" at Union on Jan 21, and foodies can catch Food Panel with Reto Pulfer at the Drake Jan 20. See more talks and launches here.

Screenings
If you missed the party at the AGO, the gallery's open hours might be a better chance to see Edward Krasiński's Studio, Babette Mangolte's documentary on the Polish avant-garde artist. See it between Jan 16-23. Fans of Michael Snow can see him and a special screening at Drake Underground Jan 21, and stop by Camera for Cozy Magic: Snow and Experiment in Film, six Polish shorts. See more screenings here.

Performances
Fans of performance art will be busy this week: at Union January 18 is Albert Camuss The First Man and W. G. Sebalds' The Rings of Saturn as selected by Iris Hussler, while on January 19 see Christine Atkinson and Laurie Kang's Is 1 hr 1 hr?. Only 10 people at a time can attend Tyler Coburn's I'm that angel readings, but you can pack MOCCA on Jan 23 to see Jon Sasaki stack a tower of bouncy castles. Find more performances here.

Villa Toronto runs January 16-23 at Union Station.

Lead photo by Chris Lyn from the blogTO flickr pool, Zeke Moores Gold Dumpster via cafka.org, AGO photo via the AGO

Toronto Humane Society launches brilliant ad campaign

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toronto humane society ad campaignEver wanted to get rid of a pet that turned out to be too much work? The Toronto Humane Society is here to help with the launch of a new service called Puppy Swap. The way it works is pretty simple: pick a dog, keep it for a while, and when you get bored, swap it out for a new one! No more tired old pets to deal with.

Does that sound promising or problematic? Hopefully you chose the latter. Without ruining the surprise, there's more going on with this new campaign from the THC, which deploys the idea of Puppy Swap to achieve something quite different altogether. Just make sure to watch the video until the end, please. And check out the website for more information. Kudos to Grip for some savvy creative work here.

Snorting chocolate could be coming to Toronto soon

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snort chocolateToronto has recently welcomed a surge of culinary influences from the west coast and while ramen and $4.95 menus have thrived, we're not so sure about this newest trend out of Vancouver.

Brought back from Belgium by candy shop owner Mary Jean Dunsdon of Vancouver's Licorice Parlour, the inhalable chocolate was originally produced by confectioner Dominique Persoone for a birthday party for Ronnie Wood of The Rolling Stones. It's since been rolled out for retail in two flavours, cocoa-raspberry and cocoa-ginger and come complete with a purposefully designed mini catapult to deliver that chocolate fix straight to the brain.

The candy shop in Vancouver is letting patrons sample the goods (ultra-fine high quality cocoa) in store for $2 a "hit," and also deals a limited number of kits ($109) to take home. So can we expect the trend to emerge here in Hogtown?

We reached out to a bunch of Toronto chocolate stores, and with the exception of Pusateri's (who've looked into the possibility of carrying it), no one had heard of it before - most just broke out in hearty laughter as I tried to explain how it works.

You can thank me (or curse me) later if the goods show up at The Candy Bar too - owner Paola Giavedoni was intrigued enough that she at least intends to sniff some out.

Photo courtesy of The Chocolate Line

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