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New series puts music fans, chefs, and bands backstage

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Eat and Greet band TorontoIn an unassuming and badly lit back room of the Phoenix last Saturday night Elliott Brood and their fans got to meet and greet, while munching on some rather tasty eats, courtesy of Toronto restaurant Rose and Sons, at the first installment of Toronto's newest food and music series Eat and Greet with the Band.

Eat and Greet band TorontoThe dinner was a sold-out pre-show delight. As guests timidly started to line up for the buffet-style service the decadent menu became apparent, scribbled on the paper-table cloth that covered the tables. Various side-dish delectables included deviled eggs, caesar salad, potato chips, cornbread and coleslaw.

Eat and Greet band TorontoThe most comforting of all was a delicious Mac'n'Cheese - perhaps not the best way to start a night out, but worth it. Then there was meat - the centerpiece of the feast - proudly carved by Chef Anthony Rose.

Eat and Greet band TorontoOne fan, there to get a chance to meet Elliott Brood band members, had a hard time deciding which was better, the meat or the band - jokingly saying Elliott Brood should just change their band name to 'meat'. Maybe he'll take it under advisement.

Elliott Brood TorontoWhether or not they'd be taking band name suggestions from fans (probably not), this meet and greet was an event that Elliott Brood simply couldn't turn down. Band member Casey Laforet explained succinctly - "how can you really go wrong with mixing music and food?"

Wilderness Of Manitoba TorontoDuring the bands' performances (The Wilderness of Manitoba also performed), the well-fed band members played a solid set and invited lap steel player Aaron Goldstein to join them for part of it.

Elliott Brood TorontoIt's a scientifically proven fact that food tastes better when you share, and twice as good when you share with artists you love. Guests got to experience that backstage vibe, eat to their heart's content, and chill with a pint of a complementary glass of Beau's, much to their delight. It was a winning combination.

MORE PHOTOSElliott Brood TorontoEat and Greet band TorontoEat and Greet band TorontoWilderness Of Manitoba Toronto

Watch Collective Concerts for more Eat & Greet events.

Photos by Matt Forsythe


Toronto's Canada Geese Society

Today in Toronto: Seven Weeks, Final Descant, Miranda July, Hou Hsiao-hsien, Elle and Eve, Beams, Zoo Owl

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today in torontoToday in Toronto Hausu director Nobuhiko Obayasi's 2014 film Seven Weeks (野のなななのか) will screen (with English subtitles) at the The Japan Foundation. The 3 hour fantasy / drama is free, but RSVP here. Elle and Eve, a brand new consignment store that lets furniture sellers take money home or donate proceeds of their offerings to charity, is throwing an opening party in Lawrence Heights.

After 45 years, #167 - In a Cabinet of Curiosities will be Descant's last issue. Sadly, the mag can no longer continue to publish. See them off this week in Kensington Market: at the launch, Tightrope Books owner Jim Nason, and Mark Kingwell will read. For more events, click on over to our events section.

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

Photo of Zoo Owl by Matt Forsythe

Dangerous Dan's listed for sale at $225,000

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Dangerous DansIf you always dreamed of owning a greasy spoon (who hasn't?), one of Toronto's iconic burger joints could now be yours. Broadview and Queen landmark Dangerous Dan's has just been listed for sale at $225,000. What that means for the future of DD's massive burgers is yet to be determined, but the prospect of more change at an intersection currently undergoing a major makeover is certainly possible.

Will Dangerous Dan's follow in the footsteps of Jilly's or will some intrepid burger lover keep the tradition of the The Coronary Burger Special alive? The real estate listing characterizes the restaurant as profitable, with 28 licensed seats and 1,200 square feet of space. The burger market in Toronto is incredibly competitive, but the double D has built up a loyal following since opening in 1999. It's not so far fetched that someone would look to capitalize on its recognizability.

Photo via Bosley Real Estate

Toronto Restaurant Openings: Hanmoto, Furlough, My Zaidy's Abulafia, Flock Rotisserie + Green, Bar Three

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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

  • Hanmoto, the newest project from the Oddseoul crew, is now open at 2 Lakeview Dr.
  • Furlough from the same folks behind BarChef has opened its doors at 924 Queen St. West and is serving bistro fare along with a cocktail-focused bar menu.
  • Me Va Me, the growing chain of Middle Eastern eateries has opened its newest location at 860 York Mills Rd.
  • My Zaidy's Abulafia-style bakery opened last week at 9340 Bathurst St. in Vaughan, and is serving savoury puff pastries and falafel.

RECENTLY REVIEWED

OPENING SOON

  • Flock Rotisserie + Green, a new eatery focused on chicken and salad from Cory Vitiello (Harbord Room) is slated to open this spring at the base of the Peter Street Condominiums (338 Adelaide St. West) next to Khao San Road. [Now Magazine]
  • Bar Three and upscale club and lounge is slated to open soon at 667 King St. West.

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

Photo of Hanmoto

The top 5 dance parties in Toronto February 2015

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dance parties toronto februaryThe Guvernment has finally finished its year of closing parties, but that doesn't mean that there aren't plenty of other places to dance this February. Sure, it's cold and depressing outside, but it will be spring sooner than you think, so help the time pass by getting hot and sweaty on the dance floor.

While it didn't make it on to the list this month, the ongoing winter monthly Sunday Afternoon Social parties is always a good bet for chilled out day time dancing, and a good winter replacement for the summer Promise Cherry Beach events. Last year's run proved that there are indeed a lot of people looking to get down on a Sunday afternoon at a downtown loft party.

Here are my picks for the best places to dance in Toronto this February.

Giraffage (February 6, the Hoxton)
Up-and-coming California DJ/producer Giraffage (aka Charlie Yin) has been making a name for himself for his tripped-out and unpredictable remixes of pop and R&B hits. His productions feature dreamy atmospherics rubbing up against tough beats, sprinkled with his quirky sense of humour, and his DJ sets pack even more unexpected surprises into the mix. 10 pm, $15.

Turning Point (February 7, the Garrison)
A Man Called Warwick welcomes special guest Frederik Lavik all the way from Finland, who will be bringing selections from his vast collection of rare East African music. There's nothing else in Toronto quite like Turning Point's "tropical funk" mixture of sounds, and the event always brings out a dedicated room of dancers each month. 10 pm, $15.

Bump N' Hustle (February 14, the Rivoli)
The Valentine's Day edition of the monthly Bump N' Hustle jam is also the long-running party's 19th anniversary bash. Not many parties last that long, but once you've caught their resident DJs Paul E Lopes and Mike Tull smoothly cutting up classic soul, hip-hop, disco, Latin, house, reggae, and Afrobeat you'll understand why the crowds keep coming back year after year. 10 pm, $10.

Chris Liebing (February 28, Coda)
German techno pioneer Chris Liebing was not only one of the key figures in building the underground scene there, but also one of the early enthusiasts for digital DJing, which helped pave the way for the new generation of laptop performers. Expect a dark and dirty night of pounding mind-melting techno, mixed aggressively. 10 pm, $30.

Nightmares On Wax (February 28, Wrongbar)

UK downtempo pioneer Nightmares On Wax (aka George Evelyn) is the longest serving artist on the Warp Records roster, and brings that level of experience to his wildly eclectic DJ mixes. Expect plenty of mellow jazz vibes, dubbed out textures, and slow rolling grooves. 10 pm, $15.

Photo of Giraffage

Where to eat poutine pizza in Toronto

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poutine pizza torontoPoutine might be an iconic Canadian dish, but it certainly lends itself well to some monstrous mash ups.

While poutine pizza isn't new (Bannock makes its duck confit poutine pizza a menu staple), it's clearly catching on across the city. In Scarborough you'll find poutine pizza at Mr. Mike's, where the gooey mess is piled atop a plain cheese pizza.

It starts with house made dough slathered with deep red tomato sauce and dressed in shredded cheese. Once the pizza comes out of the oven, fries are applied carefully over the surface then sprinkled with cheese curds and more shredded cheese.

Traditional gravy in a choice of beef, chicken or vegetarian smothers the entire pie, and then it's boxed immediately so that all the components have a chance to melt and mingle together. It really is exactly what it sounds like and perhaps one of the best hangover fighters out there.

Thanks to IBM for sponsoring this post. IBM Watson's cognitive system helps chefs create new recipes and helps businesses cook up new ideas.

Know of any Toronto restaurants doing interesting takes on poutine? Let us know in the comments.

Home for sex trafficking victims to open in Toronto

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covenant houseClose on the heels of the announcement that the city will open more shelter beds for women and LGBTQ youth, another at-risk population is about to receive a boost in resources. Covenant House has announced that they will be opening a new facility geared specifically toward rehabilitating victims of sex trafficking.

The house, which is currently being overhauled by Toronto Community Housing, is slated to open within the next year. The facility will provide space for seven women and girls (aged 16 to 24) to live for up to two years; each will have a small, self-contained unit, along with 24-hour support from staff. Covenant House staff say they'll look for suitable candidates within their own shelters, as well as referrals from outreach workers.

The move is meant to provide direct support to homeless youth vulnerable to being forced into sex work -- a city report from 2013 put the number at roughly 2,000 on any given night.

Photo of Covenant House by Snuffy on Flickr


Province considers lowering speed limits in Toronto

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speed limit torontoThe provincial government is looking into the reduction of speed limits in Toronto and other cities across Ontario in a bid to improve safety for pedestrians and cylists. The default speed limit in Toronto and other municipalities is 50kph, but there's been pressure to lower this number for years. A 2010 report from the Chief Coroner requested that municipalities have the option to reduce the default speed limit to 40kph, which allows a car to stop roughly five metres quicker than one traveling 10 kilometres faster (8 metres vs. 13).

A number of options are being weighed by the province, one of which is mandating a 10kph reduction in the default speed limit to 40kph. Giving the municipality the right to choose between 40kph and 50kph as the standard limit on its streets is also a possibility, and one that I suspect would be more popular.

Any decision is still a long way off, but it's sure to be a talking point as consultations take place. As much as other factors like on-street parking and the number vehicles on the road factor into travel times, the topic of speed limits often incites intense debate. What do you think? Is 50kph too fast in densely populated areas?

Photo by Paul on Flickr

The top 25 restaurants for Valentine's Day in Toronto

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valentines day restaurants torontoValentine's Day in Toronto is fast approaching and reservation books at restaurants are filling up fast. Got no game and need a little assistance? We've assembled some special suggestions on how to treat your honey.

Here are 25 Toronto restaurants offering special menus, prix fixes and favours for Valentine's Day.

Le Select Bistro (432 Wellington St. West)
The French bistro is offering a special $59 prix fixe menu on VDay, while a special prix fixe brunch menu is available the whole weekend (including Family Day).

Nota Bene (180 Queen St. West)
Love is in the air at Nota Bene where Chef Lee is treating guests to a four-course menu for $89. The menu features charcuterie or tuna tartare to start, followed by a lobster bisque soup course, beef or bass entrees, and sweet selections to finish.

Eastside Social (1008 Queen St.)
Enjoy oysters and order off the regular menu, or book a whole fish to be seared and shared when you book a table for Valentine's Day at this cozy Queen East destination.

The Carbon Bar (99 Queen St. East)
The east side smokehouse is encouraging dates to dive into a Pit Master Platter together - it's the highlight of the special, shareable VDay menu priced at $69 per person.

The Steady (1051 Bloor St. West)
The Bloor St. bar hosts a special supper club featuring a five course dinner ($40) at 6pm followed by a mini lecture series on relationships at 8pm.

Drake One Fifty (150 York St.)
Woo loved ones with bubbly and a four course prix fixe for $80 featuring seafood platters to share. Making out in the photo booth optional.

Bestellen (972 College St.)
Enjoy a romantic evening for two at this College Street steakhouse where a four-course menu will be on offer for $79 per person. Expect menu highlights like braised rabbit raviolo and a shared dessert.

Beast (96 Tecumseth St.)
Chef Scott Vivian offers a three course menu for $45 per person with wine pairings on offer for $35 more. Get lucky on Friday, the 13th too, this special prix fixe starts a day early.

Borealia 59 Ossington Ave.
Reserve a table at this Ossington restaurant to enjoy prix fixe menu priced at $65 per person. Four-tops are available too for double-daters and groups.

Momofuku (190 University Ave.)
Daishō is offering 3 and 4 course prix fixe dinner menus all weekend, February 13 to 15, and on the 14th they're offering a special Valentine's Day brunch. Shoto is offering a 12-course tasting menu including a glass of sparkling wine on February 13 and 14.

Skin + Bones (980 Queen St. East)
Share a Valentine's Day couples menu at this east side wine bar where dinner will be served family style for $45 per person.

Home of the Brave (589 King St. West)
Expect an all-American Italian Valentine's Day dinner featuring food and drink specials that promise to be saucy and a little cheesy in all the right ways.

Canoe (66 Wellington St. West)
Treat your Valentine to a multi-course tasting menu for $150 with additional beverage pairings on offer. The restaurant can oblige any requests for flowers or presents to be placed at the table too, so says the press release with a wink.

Cafe Boulud (60 Yorkville Ave.)
The Yorkville restaurant spends Valentine's weekend celebrating with a four course prix fixe for $95. Expect an abundance of options offered for each course including delectable appetizers like chestnut velouté or seared foie gras, and main courses like hazelnut crusted Digby scallops, or potato wrapped sea bass.

Pusateri's
The purveyor of fine foods is offering multi course tasting menus for two all packed to go and ready for reheating - you might even be able to pass it off as your own cooking if you're sauve. Choose either six or nine course menus featuring butter poached lobster and seducing desserts. Orders are available with just 48 hours notice.

Ki (181 Bay St.)
The Japanese restaurant in the Financial District presents a six-course menu for $70 per person with otoshi to start and house-made truffles to take home. The special menu is available on the Friday prior to Valentine's Day too. Add premium sake pairings for $35 per person.

The Good Son 1096 Queen St. West
Book a table at this Italian restaurant on Queen St. West and enjoy a four course prix fixe for $70 per person with complimentary champagne to add a little extra sparkle to the evening.

Osteria dei Ganzi (504 Jarvis St.)
Enjoy a rustic Italian feast in this romantic mansion where a four course prix fixe featuring a shared charcuterie board and options like house-made ravioli are on offer for $45.

Parlor Foods & Co. (333 King St. West)
Reserve a table for two at Parlor and celebrate your loved ones with a multi-course prix fixe menu for $55 per person.

Cafe Belong (550 Bayview Ave.)
The restaurant presents Food Is Love Weekend with a three course menu offer for $100 per couple, or five course for $160 a pair.

The Passenger (2968 Dundas St. West)
Enjoy Cupid's creative cocktails and classic crooners in The Junction with a special three course prix fixe on offer for $40.

The Hogtown Cure (1484 Dundas St. West)
Enjoy a 3 course dinner for $50 per person on Dundas West with a bottle of Hinterland Ancestral Rose sparkling wine, and cheddar and ale fondue included.

The Ace (231 Roncesvalles Ave.)
The restaurant on Roncy hopes to entice couples in with a $65 prix fixe menu featuring selections like ravioli stuffed with leek and blue crab or ricotta, peas and mint.

Tilde (699 Danforth Ave.)
The fusion taqueria ditches romance in favour of all you can eat wings and tacos. Wingentine's Day is an all day affair on February 14 offering unlimited food for $24.99.

The County General (936 Queen St. West)
Not the kind of couple to embrace the lovey-dovey hype? The FU V-Day menu at The County General feels the same way. The $45 prix fixe will feature three courses, cheekily dubbed; the first date, intercourse, and the breakup.

Photo from The Good Son by Jesse Milns

What did I miss? Share more suggestions on where to spend Valentine's Day in the comments. Do you know of any anti-Valentine's Day parties happening for singles? Email details to liora@blogto.com

Hot Beans set to serve its last vegan taco

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hot beansSad news for vegans and lovers of Mexican cuisine: Kensington Market's own Hot Beans has quietly announced it will be closing its doors at the end of next month. The team behind the restaurant hasn't announced a reason for the shutdown, but it's safe to say the co-owners have had their hands full lately, with Ross Corder launching vegan pub Porter House on Dundas West in recent months.

The Baldwin St. restaurant, open since 2011, had a loyal following for its flavourful vegan takes on tacos and burritos, featuring yuba "chicken" and pulled jackfruit -- to say nothing of the unusual delights on the "secret" menu. (In my humble opinion, the closure of any place that makes a mac and cheese burrito represents a true loss to the city's culinary landscape. Hot Beans, you will be missed.)

CMW 2015 hosts Jesus and Mary Chain anniversary

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cmw 2015 torontoCanadian Music Week is exciting to someone, somewhere, so here are your newest line up details. Billy Talent, Magic, Faith No More, Lights, Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds, Kiesza, John Mellencamp, Alvvays and more have been added to the bill for the extended May 1-10 festival.

Most notably, Scottish rock band The Jesus and Mary Chain will celebrate the 30th anniversary of gorgeous LP Psychocandy in Toronto. And then Detroit. And then Chicago, Dallas, Austin, Denver, Vancouver, Seattle, and San Fransisco. But it will be um, very special.

More local acts playing CMW include Jazz Cartier, Stacey, the Dirty Nil, Animalia, Whitehorse, Birds of Bellwoods, Champion Lover, Shi Wisdom, Blue Sky Miners, Harrison, and the the OBGMs.

In May, nearly a thousand bands will fill 60-ish Toronto venues. Wade through the line up here, look into tickets, concert lotteries, and volunteer opportunities on their site, or just go to the unique shows that genuinely engaged Toronto promoters put on every day of the week.

What are you excited about from the CMW 2015 line up? Let us know in the comments.

Toronto gets a new Armenian pizzeria

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Mamajoun TorontoArmenian flatbreads topped with minced meat, za'taar and red pepper paste are the house specialties at this takeout counter in Scarborough. Have lahmajoun folded into sandwiches or topped like an American pizza -- you can't go wrong here. Everything tastes delicious and nothing costs more than 10 bucks.

Read my profile of Mamajoun in the restaurants section.

Toronto ranked the best city to live in the world

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toronto safest cityToronto has been ranked the best city to live in the world by the Economist. The ranking aggregates Toronto's performance across a range of indexes, which include safety, livability and cost of living. National level rankings like the Economist's Democracy and Global Food Security Index were also factored into the overall rank. So, like, we're the best. Give yourself a pat on the back.

The overall rankings come as part of a new survey from the Economist Intelligence Unit that ranks cities based on how safe they are. According to this report, Toronto is the safest city in North America and eighth-ranked city in the world, trailing Tokyo, Singapore, Osaka, Stockholm, Amsterdam, Sydney, and Zurich. The safety index is ranked according to the following criteria: digital security, health security, infrastructure and personal safety.

In the overall rankings (what the Economist calls the "index of indexes") Toronto has only one category in which it doesn't rank in the top 10 globally. Can you guess what it is? Yep, cost of living. In this category, our city comes in 70th place. That's not really surprising, and for what it's worth, most of the other cities in the top 10 of the overall rankings are deemed to be more expensive than Toronto.

I guess we should remind ourselves of how good we have it the next time we're inclined to complain about tough commutes and winter weather (yeah, right -- like we're going to stop complaining).

economist city rankingsPhoto by jeffisy in the blogTO Flickr pool.

The top weekend events in Toronto: Jan 30 - Feb 1 2015

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weekend events torontoWeekend events in Toronto will keep you warm and well fed, as Winterlicious's prix fixe mania and mountains of poutine join celebrations of beer, tea, and Drake. If you're not into Drake-drag, there are cosplay parties and film fests to hit up.

Here are my picks for the top events happening in Toronto January 30 - February 1, 2015.

La Poutine Week (February 1 - 7)
Celebrate this gravy-covered national treasure at restaurants in Montreal, Quebec City, Sherbrooke, Ottawa, New York and Toronto. Toronto participants include Poutineville, Cut the Cheese, Marky & Sparky's, Joy Bistro, Mr. Ciao, Holy Chuck, Caplansky's, Duke's Refresher + Bar, Fancy Franks and Lou Dawgs. LI

FOOD

Winterlicious (January 30 - February 12)
Hope you've done your research on this annual prix fixe celebration: there are over 200 participating restaurants to choose from. Check out our guide of must-hit restuarants for Winterlicious 2015 here. LI

DRINK

The Toronto Tea Festival (Jan 31 - Feb 1, Toronto Reference Library)
Tired of all the alcohol-centric events popping up on your calendar? Warm up with winter's true drink, tea. Showcasing and selling loose tea and tea-made foods to brewing gear, the two day festival is, fittingly, at the library, but you don't have to be too quiet - there will be tea-centric music, too.

Roundhouse Winter Craft Beer Festival (January 31, Steam Whistle Brewery)
The second annual Winter Craft Beer Festival hosted by Steam Whistle Brewery returns to the Roundhouse Park from 11am to 5pm. Over 20 breweries and 5 food trucks have already confirmed they'll be in attendance, and the first 500 people through the gates will get a 2015 festival toque. Tickets are on sale now for $20 (+$5 at the gate). LI

FeBREWary (February)
Beau's month-long celebration of beers is back in February with new special editions released each week and events, and tap take-overs happening at beer bars all month. LI

ART

art shows torontoDouglas Coupland (January 31 - April 19, MOCCA + ROM)
Canlit fans will be excited about this upcoming exhibition at MOCCA and the ROM: Douglas Coupland's everywhere is anywhere is anything is everything installation will continue the writer's obsession with tech and pop culture via whatever means necessary - including Lego.

PARTY & MUSIC

Class of 2015 (Silver Dollar)
No need to mope around after the NYE fuss is over - live music fans will have more fun launching 2015 with the New Year's Indie Music Honour Roll series at Silver Dollar. On weekends from January 1 - 30 catch seven different line ups including Pet Sun, NOBRO, Champion Lover, Several Futures, and CANYUN. Check out our preview here.

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.

The Crush Project presents Drake Expectations (February 1, The Gladstone)
Toronto's rap darling surely gets a lot of invitations to parties, but none, I suspect, that sound quite so entertaining as this upcoming event hosted by the Crush Project. Drake Expectations is a night of comedy, burlesque, drag, and live music all devoted to our biggest star, clothier, weatherman and onomastician. What could be better than Drake-themed drag and burlesque?

FILM

Good Men, Good Women: The Films of Hou Hsiao-hsien (Jan 29 - March 1, TIFF)
TIFF presents a complete retrospective of Taiwanese director Hou Hsiao-hsien all through February. This weekend see Dust in the Wind, A Time to Live and a Time to Die, and City of Sadness. Not to be missed for fans of new wave cinema.

The Great Digital Film Festival (January 30 - February 5, Cineplex Theatres)
Cineplex's annual gathering of mega-popular crowd pleasers returns once again to give audiences the chance to see some of their favorites on the big screen. This year's line-up includes tried-and-true pictures like Blade Runner, Kill Bill, Alien and Aliens. But it's especially worthwhile this year to check out the welcome inclusion of beloved cult classics like The Rocketeer, Darkman and The Monster Squad.AH

8 Fest (SPK, Jan 30 - Feb 1)
This weekend at the SPK Polish Combatants' Hall super 8 and small gauge filmmaking makes a comeback with the 8 Fest. Programming includes Canadiana, a David Anderson spotlight on Saturday, a concert with Fresh Snow, artist talks, and more. A weekend pass is just $25.

THEATRE

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.

GEEK

Frostcon (January 31, Chestnut Conference Centre)
Cosplay your favourite character at Chestnut Conference Centre this Saturday for Frostcon, Toronto's cold-weather geek convention. There will be merch, Q&A's, art, special guests, and more.

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 Liora Ipsum, Alexander Huls, Derek Flack

Photo of Poutineville by Jesse Milns


Winter Crossing

New midtown pizzeria turns out pies in three minutes

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180 secondi torontoIs artisanal fast food an oxymoron? Decide for yourself at this new Yonge and St. Clair eatery, where they churn out made-to-order, customized pizzas, cooked in a stone hearth oven in 180 seconds flat (give or take a few). Using high-quality ingredients and painstakingly developed techniques, these thin-crust pies might just be a good argument against the old saying that good food takes time.

Read my profile of 180 Secondi in the restaurants section.

The top 10 events in Toronto for February 2015

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toronto events februaryThe top events in Toronto this February threaten the bonding time you meant to reserve for novels, to-do lists, and Netflix. Beyond the must-hit food, film, music, art, and geek events below, there's Family Day (Feb 16), Rhubarb Fest (Feb 8), Winterfolk (Feb 13), Chinese New Year (Feb 19) Somewhere There Festival (Feb 20-22), and of course, Scenefeld (Feb 8), to name a few. Winterlicious (January 30 - February 12) and The Great Digital Film Festival also continue.

Here are my picks for February's can't miss events.

Black History Month
It's Black History Month, and Toronto has the longest record of any city in Canada to celebrate this occasion. Tons of programming is planned and city wide, including the Harbourfront's Kuumba February 6-8 and the Toronto Black Film Festival February 10 - 15 at Carlton Cinema. Watch out for our full preview. SSZ

La Poutine Week (February 1 - 7)
Celebrate this gravy-covered national treasure at restaurants in Montreal, Quebec City, Sherbrooke, Ottawa, New York and Toronto. Toronto participants include Poutineville, Cut the Cheese, Marky & Sparky's, Joy Bistro, Mr. Ciao, Holy Chuck, Caplansky's, Duke's Refresher + Bar, Fancy Franks and Lou Dawgs. LI

Progress (February 4-15)
Progress, Toronto's newest theatre festival, is the love-child of SummerWorks Performance Festival and The Theatre Centre, and promises to shake up the city's arts scene by bringing global talents to local audiences. While the outlook is international, the festival is very much rooted in this city's arts community, with each show curated by a Toronto company. Watch out for our full preview. SSZ

Basquiat (AGO, Feb 5, Feb 7 - May 10)
Another AGO blockbuster, this will be Canada's first large retrospective of the NYC graffiti/fine art artist. Basquiat's often massive paintings are fascinating to behold in person, as child-like sketches and sardonic scrawled wordplay tackle issues of racism, social justice, and politics that are unfortunately just as relevant today. On February 5, Grandmaster Flash will be part of the AGO's Basquiat-tied First Thursday event.

Blackout5 (February 7-8, Queen Elizabeth Theatre)
Battle rap has taken the world by storm. Leagues have popped up all over the world, but arguably the biggest one of all is Toronto's own King of the Dot (KOTD). On February 7-8 they'll be hosting their biggest event to date: Blackout 5. Check out the line up here, though who knows who the special guests will be. M

Wavelength 15 (February 13-15)
Get in the know with Toronto's weird scene at Wavelength. For the first time ever the local-focused indie music fest will stretch across multiple venues as it celebrates its 15th year with a theme of Past, Present and Future. The Huntclub pop-up programming is actually on already, while the fest proper runs over Valentine's Day weekend.

Heatfest (February 16, Distillery District)
Heatfest is a new comfort food festival dedicated to soups, stews, curries, gravies, and more. Food trucks will pull into Trinity Square the day of to dish out the aforementioned comfort foods, while the Distillery's surrounding restaurants will be offering comfort food specials of their own. Organizers also promise "interactive dance and fitness workshops to get your blood pumping". NM

Vector Game Art & New Media Festival (February 18-22)
Calling all nerds from high art to low brow: Vector is back and better than ever. The 3rd annual multi-venue expo of Canadian and international innovation in digital games, new media art, and more will be at Interaccess, Bento Miso, and Videofag, with art, screenings, games, music, talks, parties, and more.

Podcamp (February 21 - 22, Ryerson)
Hailing itself as hipper than you're typical dreary conference by preferring the term "un-conference," PodCamp is a free hub for podcast makers and those who love them. Attend panels, take workshops, and discover your new favourites.

Yum Cha (February 21, Daniel's Spectrum)
Spotlight City Events has big plans for 2015, and it all kicks off with a fresh roster of chefs dishing up their finest dumplings, bao and spring rolls at the second annual dim sum festival at Daniel's Spectrum. General admission will be $10, but there will also be the option to buy one of 200 passports ($50) that will be good for a whole year of delicious events. LI

Contributions by Liora Ipsum, Natalia Manzocco, Markit, Sima Sarah Zerehi

Photo of Yum Cha by Jesse Milns

Toronto Food Events: Winterlicious, Latino 'Licious, Winter Fare, La Poutine Week, Get to Know Pinot

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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

  • Winterlicious starts today January, 30 and runs to February 12. Over 210 restaurants will participate by offering prix fixe menus at lunch priced at $18, $23 and $28, and at dinner priced at $25, $35 and $45. Daily reservation availability will be posted on the official Winterlicious website.
  • The Good Son is running their own promotion; Winter Fare, starting today and running until February 12. Enjoy three course menus for brunch ($30) and dinner ($45).
  • Valdez (606 King St. West) presents Latino 'Licious until February 13. Expect a three course menu on offer for $35.
  • La Poutine Week starts February 1 and runs until February 7. Twenty-three Toronto restaurants join simultaneous celebrations in Montreal, Ottawa, Quebec City and more.
  • The County General celebrates winter Quebec-style with a special menu from February 2 to 12. The menu featuring goodies like tourtière, cauliflower poutine and tarte au sucre offered a la carte or in its entirety for $35.
  • Mr. Flamingo (1265 Dundas St. West) hosts a Get to Know Pinot Dinner on Tuesday, February 3 starting at 7pm. Billed as "an irreverent wine class with terrific food", the $75 multi-course menu boasts dishes like scallop crudo, foie gras torchon, and sweetbread and wild mushroom pappardelle, each paired with a pinot noir.

UPCOMING

Photo of the Good Son

Moe Pancer's deli calls it quits after 50+ years

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Moe pancers closedMoe Pancer's deli is the latest in a long line of old school Toronto restaurants to pull the plug. Open since 1957, the corned beef staple closed its doors recently after failing to keep up with rent. The Pancer family sold the business in 2010 before briefly partnering up on Pancer's Deli Emporium in Vaughan, which is now owned solely by Frank Houston.

There may be some good news in the pipe for those hooked on the original deli's sandwiches. The National Post reports that Lorne Pancer is considering opening a traditional deli based partially on all the nostalgic requests that he gets from former customers. In the meantime, Houston is looking to preserve the signage from the original Moe Pancer's for his Dufferin St. deli.

So Pancer's will live on in some form, but the Bathurst and Wilson area is short an iconic restaurant.

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