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10 reasons to fall in love with Toronto right now

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reasons to love torontoThere's no shortage of reasons to love Toronto on this Valentine's Day. We are, after all, the best city in the world to live. But beyond the livability statistics, Toronto is a city becoming more culturally engaging, more culinarily refined, and just more interesting. Why is that? There are so many reasons, but in honour of this day dedicated to love, I've put a few of my personal picks down.

Here are 10 reasons to fall in love with Toronto right now.

Toronto is having a music moment
There's been lots of hype surrounding the "music city" alliance with Austin and Mike Tanner's appointment as Toronto Music Officer last year, but before you write it all off as PR, take note of the the rise of DIY venues in the city of late, and take a listen to the ways in which active members of the local music community want to leverage the Music Office into something that really benefits musicians.

The AGO has come into its own
Ever since the transformed AGO re-opened in 2008, the modern and contemporary programming just took off. Over the last two years, the gallery has hosted major exhibitions featuring Ai Wei Wei, David Bowie, masterpieces from the Guggenheim, Francis Bacon and Henry Moore, Michelangelo, Alex Colville, Art Spiegelman, and Jean-Michel Basquiat. Bravo, AGO. Give us more.

The condo boom
People love to crap on the ubiquity of our condo towers, but that's to ignore gems like L Tower, River City, Pier 27, and the marvellous buildings Frank Gehry has planned. The condo boom in Toronto is creating a city that's more dense, efficient, and, quite frankly, exciting.

You can skate on the lake
Just try and find a sheet of ice with a better view than the Toronto harbour. The winter might be vicious, but consistently cold temperatures keeps the ice thick and provides unique skating opportunities. Hit up the Islands or Grenadier Pond for other natural urban skating experiences.

The TTC is actually improving
While we wait on major infrastructure projects like the Spadina Extension and listen to council debate the future of rapid transit in Scarborough (once again), it's worth noting that since Andy Byford took the reins at the TTC, service has gotten better. The new platform has opened at Union Station, the new streetcars are on the rails, there's WiFi in multiple stations, and all-door boarding on busy streetcar routes.

We are The 6
Even as some people love to hate on Drake (not everybody has taste), having a hip hop mega star rep the city over and over again is something that Tourism Toronto couldn't manufacture with a hundred slick timelapse videos (it took Drizzy just one). When your biggest star is your biggest fan, it's hard not to feel a swell of civic pride.

Ugly streets can be beautiful places
Next time you bemoan the death of authentic Ossington, take a trip to Geary Avenue, the industrial strip north of Dupont that's undergoing a cultural renaissance. You've got bike shops, bakeries, bars, music venues, photo and recording studios, and soon, an indie coffee shop. It's an incredibly diverse place. Soak it up now.

The Raptors are a contender
While Leafs fans pin their hopes on the team tanking and Connor McDavid clad in the blue and white, the Raptors just keep winning. Sure, the team is still short of playoff experience, but fans have every right to be excited about the team's prospects this spring. Get ready for We the North fever to grip this city.

Craft beer is everywhere
Despite persistent complaints about the Beer Store monopoly, craft beer has taken over Toronto, be it in the form of the steady flow of breweries to open in the city or the offerings on taps in bars across the city. You never have to drink watery beer again.

We're getting more beautiful
It is easy to fall in love with beautiful things, and Toronto is certainly undergoing one hell of a makeover. Over and above the statement-condo developments mentioned above, there's the Aga Khan Museum, The Fort York Visitor Centre, Bridgepoint Health, the Goldring Centre for High Performance Sport, and the soon to open Ryerson Student Learning Centre (to name only a few).

What did I miss? Tell us what you love about Toronto in the comments.

Photo by Rob Nelson


Rob Ford opens up an eBay store

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rob ford ebayAttention eBay shoppers Rob Ford goodies are on sale. It's spring-cleaning season and our former celebrity mayor is auctioning off his office cast-offs. So if you missed out on the collectable Ford bobbleheads you can make up for it now.

The first Ford memorabilia up for garbs is a map of the Toronto area port lands from 1990. Other items are to be added soon.

The map, accompanied by a photo of a grinning Ford holding it for display, was posted on eBay on Friday night, as of Saturday morning it had over 30 bids. With the highest being $300.00.

Ford says 10 per cent of the proceeds will go to Liposarcoma research and care facilities. Councillor Ford was diagnosed with pleomorphic liposarcoma, a rare form of stomach cancer in September 2014.

For the history buff, or the fanatic Ford Nation fan, this is your chance to own a token from one of Toronto's most notorious politicians, and the bragging rights to say, yah this map belonged to our crack-smoking mayor.

Canada's largest learn-to-code event coming to Toronto

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html 500 torontoHTML500 Canada's largest learn-how-to-code event is giving 500 Torontonians the chance to learn basic HTML and CSS skills from some of the country's top 50 tech companies for free.

Geek is not only the new chic, it's also where the jobs are at. In Canada we're facing a growing skills gap, meaning that many people looking for work don't have the skills they need for the available jobs. Basic coding skills can open the door to more career opportunities and higher wages.

The workshop taking place on Sunday Feb. 22 at the MaRS Discovery District gives participants a full day of hand-on learning as well as an opportunity to apply for technical and non-technical jobs at the on-site career fair. Participants are encouraged to bring along their resumes, as well as their schmoozing A-games to network with participating companies.

HTML500 events have been happening in cities across Canada including Vancouver and Calgary. The event organizers are looking for a diverse group. Past sessions have included participants ranging from age seven to 65, with half of the group being female.

Photo via Lighthouse Labs on Facebook.

Local strip club to become Canada's 1st adult sports bar

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for your eyes onlyToronto strip club, For Your Eyes Only, is being revamped as Canada's first adult sports bar.

The battle of naked girls versus sports games will be settled once and for all, as both will be on offer in one "convenient" location. The converted bar is promising adult entertainment as well as sports coverage via big screens and private booths.

Have no fear ladies, at least we'll know where to find all those Tinder date rejects on Friday nights.

Photo by b|m in the blogTO Flickr pool.

Toronto staff wants to remove Bay Bloor scramble

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bay bloor scrambleThe Bay/Bloor scramble is on its way out. Toronto city staff is recommending getting rid of the all-way signal, which allows pedestrians to cross the intersection from any direction, including diagonally.

The cost of scrapping the Bay/Bloor scramble is estimated at $26,000.

According to city staff the all-direction crossing has done little to help pedestrians while causing much grief for drivers.

A recent traffic study concluded that few people crossing at the intersection are actually using the all-way features.

According to the study the Bay/Bloor scramble has only saved pedestrians eight seconds of time while more than doubling rush hour wait times for drivers. With eastbound drivers facing the most delays in the afternoon rush hour, with waits up to five minutes.

The scramble has also doubled the number of accidents at the intersection.

Toronto has three scramble intersections, the other two are at Yonge/Dundas and Yonge/Bloor.

The recommendation to eliminate the Bay/Bloor scramble will be reviewed by Toronto's Public Works and Infrastructure committee on Feb, 23.

What do you think, should the Bay Bloor scramble be scrapped?

Photo from Randy MacDonald via the blogTO flickr pool.

Toronto gets a new carpooling app

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carpooling torontoBlancride, Toronto's newest carpooling service, has launched a new app for both iOS and Android devices.

The service matches passengers looking for a ride with drivers who are heading their way. Blancride promises to be a hassle free service that automatically calculates how much to charge for the ride and automatically charge the passenger and pay the driver. There's also a built-in rating system that can be used to flag bad rides.

The app's developer, Hamid Akbari, an assistant professor with the Faculty of Business and Information Technology at the University of Ontario Institute of Technology says he developed Blancride to make carpooling, which reduces traffic and helps the environment, more stress free.

The app was first launched in November for students and faculty at Oshawa's University of Ontario Institute of Technology where it attracted over a thousand users. Now Blancride is making its way to Toronto with hopes of gaining more users from the GTA's large population of students and young professionals.

So If the TTC is getting you down, and Uber seems too lonely a ride, you might want to give these newbies a try.

Photo via the Blancride Google plus page

What you'll see at the 2015 Toronto Auto Show

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Toronto auto showThe 2015 Toronto Auto Show kicked off with a keynote address from Ford that touched on every possible theme in the auto industry's repertoire. Joe Hinrichs, president of Ford in the Americas, talked about congestion, pollution, urbanization, social media, China, millennials and autonomous cars in a speech that was equal parts economics and sociology.

I patiently endured the speech, knowing that the new Ford GT was sitting under a big blue sheet just behind him.

Hinrichs and Ford Canada president, Dianne Craig, also announced that the GT, Ford's halo supercar, and the successor to their Ferrari-beating '60s race car, would begin production next year in partnership with Multimatic in Markham.

That just goes to show that despite all the talk of new technologies and a smarter, greener future for the car, the auto industry still runs on pistons and gas and the brute promise of speed.

Nissan Blade Glider concept carThat isn't to say that automakers aren't pursuing a post-hydrocarbon future. Nissan reserved one of their two podiums for the BladeGlider concept, an electric vehicle inspired by their startling-looking but troublesome DeltaWing endurance race car.

At the same time, however, the other podium was dominated by the monstrous new Titan truck, a diesel-powered V8 behemoth that probably looks more at home in the Alberta tar patch than on any city street.

Chevy Bolt EV concept carChevy's showcase revolved around their new Volt, redesigned to look a lot more like any other sedan, and their Bolt prototype, a five door model meant to compete with BMW's i3. This model is targeted to hit the streets in two years and boasts a 200-mile range on a charge.

The first Hyundai Tuscon Hydrogen-powered car presented to its owners at CIASHyundai upped the ante even further by rolling out the first of their hydrogen fuel-cell powered Tuscon crossovers in front of the press. They marked the occasion by presenting the keys to its first buyers, a photogenic Vancouver family. Don't bother hoping to drive one any time soon, the fuel cell program is limited to Vancouver for now.

A test drive of the Toyota i-Road concept car at CIAS 2015Toyota went for broke again by featuring their iRoad, an altogether more practical iteration of last year's futuristic but mad, FV2.

It's a single-person vehicle that they demonstrated by driving in figure eights around the concrete floor to show its ability to lean into corners. A fantastic piece of engineering, to be sure, but it was hard to think of how it would find a place on either our roads or sidewalks under any current traffic laws or regulations.

It took me a moment, though, to realize that while Toyota obviously has no intention of actually producing the car in any significant numbers, it is looking to get the attention of Baby Boomers as they transition from their Lexus and Benz years.

The frequent use of the phrase "personal mobility vehicle" by Toyota made me realize that the iRoad is a souped-up and branded evolution from the motorized wheelchairs that I'm seeing more of these days. Many of which are finished in Ferrari red and accessorized with a prancing pony sticker placed by the children and grandchildren of the nonnos who drive them along St. Clair W..

Toyota's FT-1 concept car at CIASToyota teased us by bringing along the FT-1, the luscious concept vehicle that they insisted on calling their "ideological pace car." Meanwhile, they used their "kiddie brand" Scion to target a younger demographic.

Scion's iM concept hatchbackAmidst the race-prepared FR-S sports cars on their showroom floor, they presented the iM, a hatchback concept that's supposed to be just a year or two from actual production, and an overdue entry in a market segment that Scion should have tried to own from the beginning.

KIA GT4 Stinger concept car at CIASAt the Kia booth, the automaker made an abrupt departure from their generally zipless line of autos with the GT4 Stinger, a sports car concept model that looked like a pastiche of familiar classics but done with just enough conviction to pull off. Imagined with a 315 horsepower turbocharged 4-cylinder engine under the hood, it would only make sense, if it ever gets built, as a no-frills entry-level sports car to compete with the Scion/Subaru FR-S/BRZ.

Mini's Superlegerra concept carAnother exciting concept came from Mini, another sports car that does an about-face by going small and light. The Superleggera Vision takes the Mini's distinctive front end and evokes the much-loved Austin-Healey bug-eyed Sprite, but it's at the back where things get exciting, with a set of Union Jack taillights and a central fin that harks back to Jaguar's '50s race cars.

The new Jaguar Project 7 at CIASJaguar's Project 7 edition of their new F-Type sports car looks like a concept, but the model on the floor at CIAS was a production vehicle. Only seven will be imported into Canada, and all pf them were sold before they crossed the Atlantic.

Infiniti Q80 concept presentation at CIASThe king of this year's concepts came from Infiniti. The Q80 is a beauty, to be sure, but it was launched with an unintentionally hilarious spiel. The company's head designer listed a bridge, the human eye, the last phase of the moon, Sophia Loren and a black swan as inspirations for the design.

Mercedes Benz Maybach at CIASLuxury car makers had a mixed bag on offer. Mercedes Benz revived the Maybach name as a model instead of a marquee with what's probably the ultimate S-class sedan. Meanwhile Lexus went in a whole different direction by spearheading their new RC model with a new motorsport division that's sending the RC-F GT3 onto race tracks all over the world with a lethal-looking set of modifications, including this year's best rear wing.

The Lexus RC-F GT3 race car at CIASFiat-Chrysler went straight for the gear-head heart with two very different cars, putting the unholy 700-horsepower Dodge Hellcat on centre stage while, off to the side, displaying a coupe and a convertible version of Alfa-Romeo's gorgeous 4C.

Chrysler Charger Hellcat at CIASThe Hellcat will no doubt be hitting car blogs very soon as its new owners discover how badly prepared they are to handle that much power. The 4C is a welcome return to North America from a brand that had brought Italian performance to the masses.

Alfa Romeo 4Cs at the CIASCadillac Elmiraj concept carCadillac is choosing a risky strategy in an attempt to compete with BMW and Mercedes Benz. While putting their breathtaking Elmiraj concept car on the showroom floor, they put their heads of brands and marketing onstage to introduce the new ATS-V and CTS-V models. These are the two-door and four-door flagship Cadillacs that the company is hoping to sell to millennials.

Cadillac CTS-V with Cadillac executives at the CIASThe new Mazda Miata at CIAS 2015Mazda introduced their new MX-5 to an assembled press that will always be happy to write about the greatest affordable sports car to hit the road since the MGB.

Acura NSX at the CIASOn the other end of the sports car market, Acura finally stopped teasing us with endless concepts and prototypes and brought out the new NSX, a super car with a hybrid power-train that they saved for the end of the day. Maybe you'll see one in Yorkville one of these days.

1936 Cord Phaeton at the CIASThe basement of the convention centre's was reserved for the auto show die-hards. The Cruise Nationals were bumped from the south building this year to make way for The Art of the Automobile, a showcase of concourse quality vintage autos set up in front of mural-sized blow-ups of Toronto scenes. One of the show's co-sponsors is Murdoch Mysteries.

It's sort of a greatest hits of car designs, and features a Bugatti, Auburn, Stutz and a Delahaye. You'll also find concept cars like the Chrysler Turbine, the Cadillac Cyclone, a Mustang prototype, the Atomic Age tail fins of the '59 Cadillac Eldorado, and that art deco marvel, the Cord Phaeton, there.

Maserati Alfieri concept car at CIASThe basement of the north building is home once again to Auto Exotica, where luxury auto importers show off the Ferraris, McLarens, Bentleys, Lambos and Aston Martins that we drive in our dreams. Pride of place was given to Maserati's new Alfieri concept, which is just two years from actual production and will hopefully let the Italian automaker compete with Porsche's evergreen 911. For those of us grateful to anyone willing to take a few 911s off the road, it looked very nice.

The 2015 Canadian International Auto Show runs through February 22 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.

Skating at City Hall


The top 10 bath stores in Toronto

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bath torontoThe top bath stores in Toronto feature a selection of brands to help you renovate your bathroom from top to bottom. Whether you're looking to build a simple powder room or create your own luxury spa retreat, there are plenty of options available at every price point. Having experienced staff who know the products but also understand the ins and outs of bathroom renovation is essential.

Here are my picks for the top bath stores in Toronto.

Taps Bath Centre
They pack a lot into this busy showroom, which offers a good selection of popular, mid-range products. Bring your patience, while they have lots of helpful, friendly staff, it gets quite busy.

Watermarks Boutique
Kohler is very popular at this higher-end store, which offers quality service, possibly because their staff does not work on commission. They're one of the few retailers who carry Kallista, which features collections from top international designers.

Gingers
Part of the Elte family, Ginger's carries an impressive selection of taps, tubs, and spouts, but also bath accessories - from towels, to laundry bins, to soap dishes, and even fragrances. Their big and beautiful showroom features the top luxurious brands, including Waterworks, which is exclusive to them.

Tubs
This giant showroom has over 100 suites displaying various bathroom combinations - from powder room to corner shower to big tub configurations - which helps take the guess work out of your renovation. If you have a hard time visualizing the job, this is the place for you. They even have a substantial tile section, although it's currently under construction.

Roman Bath
Family run for over 25 years, Roman Bath has a bright and modern showroom stocked with items in the mid to high range, a lot of it imported from Europe. They have knowledgeable sales staff and are known to provide excellent customer service. If you ever wondered what a $3,000 toilet looks like, they have one on display!

New Canadians Lumber
Owned and operated by the same family for 40 years and carrying many popular brands (Moen, American Standard, Riobel) at a competitive price point, New Canadians is a great place to start your search for bath supplies. They recently started creating their own line of vanities, capturing designer looks at an affordable price. They also offer installation services.

Atlantis Bath Centre
If you're looking for Kohler, visit Atlantis Bath, while they also carry other top brands, they specialize in this popular line. They also offer a one-stop experience for custom work, from design consultation right through to delivery and installation.

Taps and Stone
Catering to the budget-conscious renovator, Taps and Stone carries lines like Riobel, Grohe, and Cabano that offers quality at a good price point. While they sell pre-fab choices, they are known for their custom cabinetry and mill-work - a great choice when working with unique spaces. They're also soon opening up a new location in the Castlefield area.

H20
Family-run by two Etobicoke guys, H20 has a wholesale plumbing section in the back that sells valves, fittings and pipes. The showroom features a range of medium to high-end faucets and shower kits.

Ikea
With a full line of sinks, faucets, and cabinetry that can be customized to any space at an affordable price, Ikea may not be the most creative choice, but it sure is a logical one. Their storage and organization solutions are especially popular, helping to maximize small spaces with style.

What did I miss? Add your suggestions for top bath stores in Toronto in the comments.

Photo via Ginger's on Facebook.

Winter art shows at U of T all about signs and power

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sign art exhibit u of tThis winter has turned out to be a robust season for art exhibitions with a conceptual slant, and the current offerings at the University of Toronto are no exception. At the Jackman Humanities Institute there is This Area is under 23 Hour Video and Audio Surveillance and between the U of T Art Centre and Justina M. Barnicke Gallery there is Sign, Sign, Everywhere a Sign.

Interrogative and engaging, the artworks examine the sign as a public utility device and as an object to be scrutinized regardless of its content.

this area under 23 hour video and audio surveillanceThe name This Area is under 23 Hour Video and Audio Surveillance comes from a work by Ahmet Öğüt, whose subtle proposal in his superficially typical surveillance sign serves as inspiration for the show. The artists here explore how such implied constraints are created (think Foucault on surveillance and discipline) and, given a loophole, what to do in that 24th hour.

100 variationsFor example, the painfully clean lines and sly humour in Roula Partheniou's 100 Variations (an architectural rumination by way of grey-scaled Rubik's cube) are a neat juxtaposition to Katie Bethune-Leamen's #Hologramtupacselfie Station, where the visibility of the artist's material handling of porcelain and layers of iridescent paint gives depth to the work's pop culture-heavy, neo-pagan impression.

On that note, a lot of the works are very polished in their production and presentation, so much that despite the show's subversiveness, the pieces seem to blend in with the office environment perhaps just a bit too well.

Situated in a public access academic environment, the show itself still feels private. Some works are in rooms that could be in use at the time of visit and therefore utterly inaccessible. Placing the show in such a space is therefore appropriate - particularly when the pieces talk about making and breaking the rules.

signs art exhibit u of tFurther down campus at Sign, Sign, Everywhere a Sign, Kelly Mark's satirical performance Demonstration takes away the message of a public protest to underscore how the placard and crowd have become so encoded in public consciousness that the meaning feels the same no matter what the cause. Likewise, Robin Collyer's work removes all text from recognizable graphics and signs, and even wordless the original branding comes through.

Robyn Collyer ScreenJamelie Hassan's timely Al Jazeera/Prisoner 345 reworks the network's logo in neon, functioning here as a historical memorial. The title refers to the US' first incarcerated journalist, Sami al-Haj, and the lettering of the logo has changed to "shame on you." The sombre message of the work is resonant, and heightened by the eerie glow of the neon adding a layer of ironic American seediness to the piece.

Jamelie Hassan Prisoner 345With over 20 artists represented in both exhibitions, these shows are complex and thought-provoking as they explore many issues inspired by public signage, branding, and symbols. This Area is under 23 Hour Video and Audio Surveillance is on until June 30 and Sign, Sign, Everywhere a Sign runs until March 7.

sign everywhere a sign u of tWriting by Irene Dongas.

This area is under 23 hour video and audio surveillance by Ahmet Öğüt (2009). Ink on aluminum plate, 8 x 11 1/2 x 1/16 inches. Laumeier Sculpture Park Collection with funds from the Mark Twain Laumeier Endowment Fund. Photo courtesy Laumeier Sculpture Park. 100 Variations by Roula Partheniou. Installation photos of Sign, Sign Everywhere a Sign by Toni Hafkenscheid courtesy of the Justina M. Barnicke Gallery and UTAC. Robin Collyer, Screen, 2000. Coloured print on paper. 50.8 x 60.9 cm. University of Toronto Collection. Gift of the artist, 2013.

The Best Bridal Stores in Toronto

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bridal stores torontoThe best bridal stores in Toronto can be found all over the city with each offering a broad range of options for both your sense of style and budget. From smaller local designers to custom couture creations, this list provides insight into not only the best selections of gowns, but also some of the best bridal experiences in the GTA. A wedding dress is often the most elaborate and expensive gown a person will ever wear and these stores will help you find the right dress for you.

Here are the best bridal stores in Toronto.

The top 5 free events in Toronto: Feb 16-22 2015

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Vector TorontoFree events in Toronto this week spoil us, much like the discounted Valentine's candy we're using to self medicate the stresses inherent to poverty. Other PWYC events this week include Coach House Book Club's first meeting, and The League of Lady Wrestlers' Hogtown Throwdown ft. New Fries, while you can tour the 100 year old Elgin and Winter Garden Theatres or catch a feminist film screening series at Likely General for free.

There will also be free burgers on Tuesday. Free burgers.

Here's how to work off the sugar and discount-excitement high in Toronto this week.

1. In Her Place (February 16, Carlton Cinema)
This free public screening will be attended by director Albert Shin and producer Igor Drljaca. In Her Place, the story of a wealthy couple's attempt to adopt an impoverished teen's unborn child in secret, was nominated for 7 Canadian Screen Awards - Best Picture and Best Director among them.

2. Vector Game Art & New Media Festival (February 18-22, Interaccess, Bento Miso, Videofag)
Vector's 3rd annual expo of innovation in digital games, new media art, and more will feature a huge game art centric exhibit, a new media panel, and a party with a live action laser maze. Many more events are free or PWYC. Read more here and check out their website.

3. Somewhere There Creative Music Festival (February 20-22, 10pm, Tranzac)
Somewhere There's weekend-long festival is a chance for weirdo musicians from varying scenes to come together. Over 60 performers and speakers will gather all weekend at the Tranzac. Friday and Saturday feature free late shows at 10pm in the Southern Cross Lounge with acts like Eucalyptus and Alaniaris.

4. Podcamp (February 21 - 22, Ryerson)
Hailing itself as hipper than your 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.

5. Bloor Broadcast: 87th Academy Awards (February 22, Bloor Cinema)
Pretty straight forward: pretend you're part of the glitz with big screen magic at the Bloor. They'll sweeten the deal with trivia, contests, prizes and "surprises" because they know leaving the house is hard right now.

BONUS

6. An Interview with Mike Tanner (February 19, The Music Gallery)
While this will only appeal to those interested in Toronto's ever-changing music scene, David Dacks, Artistic Director of lauded venue Music Gallery, is interviewing Toronto's new Music Development Officer Mike Tanner about how the city can aid non-band oriented music. Thin Edge New Music Collective will also perform.

Also check out these regular free events

Elvis Mondays (Mondays, The Drake)
Toronto's longest running indie showcase, William New's free show has put thousands of bands on stage. It's at the Drake Underground every Monday.

Free Nights at the Horseshoe (Monday/Tuesday, The Horseshoe)
The Legendary Horseshoe has a storied history, and hosts free indie rock shows in the early week with Shoeless Mondays and Dave Bookman's Nu Music Night on Tuesdays.

Free Evening (Wednesday, AGO)
The Art Gallery of Ontario's free evening runs from 6-8:30pm. It can be a little crowded, but sometimes the people watching is as good as the art (sometimes).

CINSSU's Free Friday Films (Fridays)
Though the Innis Town Hall is still under construction, you can follow the Cinema Studies Student Union for reliable Friday night movies and solid picks at Isabel Bader Theatre and/or Alumni Hall 100.

Canadian Opera Company (Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre)
September through to early June, catch free classical shows at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts "most Tuesdays and Thursdays at noon, and some Wednesdays at noon or 5:30 p.m."

MOCCA (Tuesday - Sunday)
While nearly all art galleries in the city are free to enter, it's worth noting The Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art (MOCCA) is always PWYC.

Have a free event you'd like to plug? Submit it using this form.

Photo: Vector Game Art & New Media Festival

Smoke's Poutinerie to open Toronto hot dog shop

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Smokes WeinerieSmoke's Poutinerie is opening a wiener store in Toronto, offering hot dog lovers yet another place to satisfy their cravings. The new Smoke's Weinerie will be located at 457 Spadina near College.

The hot dog shop will be competing with the nearby Fancy Franks and the soon to be open Let's be Frank for the honour of being named the best wiener in town.

This is the second Ontario location for Smoke's Weinerie, the first location was opened in Ajax.

With these many options, 2015 might heat up to be the summer of Hogtown's hot dog wars.

Toronto restaurant lowers prices as temperature drops

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restaurant weather discountLuce is offering discounts to customers based on the cold weather. There are few reasons to celebrate this past week's record cold temperatures, but this King W. restaurant is showing us the silver lining to the frigid cold by adjusting their price based on the lowering temperature.

You're sure to get a great deal this week with the thermometer dipping below -25 C. The restaurant also takes into account the wind chill. That means something like 37 per cent off your bill at Luce today.

The restaurant is building a reputation for their quirky approach to billing. On their Facebook page they also invite customers to pay for their bill using Canadian Tire money. "Do you have Canadian Tire #money laying around? Pay up to 10% of your bill with this currency."

Luce is an Italian tapas eatery that offers dishes that are GMO, hormone and antibiotic free.

Follow Sima Sahar Zerehi on Twitter @SimaSaharZerehi.

Photo via the Luce on King Facebook page.

Toronto startup promises groceries delivered in 3 hours

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urberyA new Toronto startup wants to deliver your groceries. Urbery has rolled out a pilot program and says they can have groceries at your door in less than three hours.

This is part of a growing trend of grocery delivery services like Grocery Gateway, connected to Longos and Instacart which currently operates in the US and delivers groceries in less than an hour.

Urbery's service is unique as it allows the customer to decide which store they want their purchases to be made at. The company has no affiliation with any grocery chains and says their shoppers can make purchases from a variety of places such as Sobeys, Loblaws, and FreshCo.

"Our grocery gurus visit multiple stores in a trip to find the freshest products possible," says Nila Halycia a spokesperson for Urbery.

The company says their policy is to have groceries come straight from the stores to the customer, unlike other services that may keep your purchases on delivery vans for hours before drop off.

Customers can select their groceries from Urbery's online catalogue, which offers over 3,000 products and their corresponding pricing.

There is a tiered delivery fee for the service, the higher your grocery bill the lower your delivery cost. But delivery is free for any order above $99. As a promotion the company is waving the delivery fee for any purchases above $65 during their launch month.

There is no minimum order, so if you're too lazy to walk in the cold to pick up a carton of milk or a loaf of bread, Urbery might be the service for you. Sadly you won't be able to take advantage of the service this weekend as the company is on a short break until February 17.

Mudit Rawat, a graduate of Toronto's Schulich School of Business, developed Urbery. Currently the company is recruiting "grocery gurus" to work as shoppers.

Would you order from Urbery? Let us know in the comments.

Follow Sima Sahar Zerehi on Twitter @SimaSaharZerehi.


Can Toronto support an outdoor winter music festival?

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Igloofest MontrealThe Brrrrr! Festival existed in Toronto for a short span from 2013-2014, taking place at Echo Beach over first two days in its first year, then just one night in its second year. The event was inspired fairly directly by Montreal's Igloofest - scouts spent long nights at in Montreal learning on the (frozen) field how Piknic Electronik make it work in sub zero temperatures.

Quebec's Igloofest is actually a series, running over several weekends each winter (first Thursday-Satuday each week, now Friday-Sunday) run by the much lauded founders of summer dance series Piknic Electronik, who invited me out on a junket for a frigid weekend at the 2015 festival. This year saw a total of twelve nights of dancers donning full winter gear at Montreal's Old Port.

The event has become one of Montreal's hottest winter tourism draws, and on site it's easy to see why. The place becomes a microcosm of Canadian traditions: igloos made from real ice, sumo hockey, red cheeked partiers drinking beer and roasting weenies by roaring fires, and enormous parkas and plaid winter wear harkening back to a time when lumbersexual was not a choice.

Igloofest MontrealIt's also a unique experience for the DJs. Montreal techno DJ/producer and Igloofest veteran Paskal Daze is eager to heap praise on the concept.

"There's an amazing energy from the people," he says moments after his January 30th DJ set. He's always stunned by the visual experience from the (heated) outdoor DJ booth. "There's ten thousand people. Winter is special: tourists come here just for Igloofest."

"They built a monster here" he tells me, "I've never heard someone say a negative thing about Igloofest. You have to live the experience."

Outside of the VIP trailers, the crowd's energy and enthusiasm echoes Paskal's. Montreal has created a tiny, ultra-Canadian version of Burning Man's surreal and carnivalesque nightlife experience, and of the thousands who attend each night, about 15% are tourists from Canada, the US, and further abroad.

While attendance to Brrrrr!'s first years in Toronto was, in the opinion of Igloofest, as strong as a the concept could expect and in line with Igloofest's early numbers, Live Nation dropped the festival for 2015.

Project Manager Mark Russell told me of Brrrrr!'s untimely demise: "at this time we have decided to go in a new direction with our programming, which does not include plans for Brrrrr! We will continue exploring ideas for new concepts as we strive to create new immersive musical experiences for our fans."

In Montreal, opinions are varied on whether Brrrrr! could have sustained itself long term, and if Toronto itself can support a future event similar to Igloofest.

The Music
Toronto's dance community is huge, as evidenced by everything from the club scene to Foundry and Cherry Beach to the resounding success of mega summer festivals VELD and Digital Dreams. There's no denying that niche techno and big ticket EDM events sell tickets and move bodies.

While Igloofest stress that their careful lineup curation is extremely important, surveys of the crowd have shown that each night many attendees don't have a clue about who's playing - though these dancers' musically minded friends naming it a place to be likely doesn't hurt attendance.

Considering Toronto's diverse dance communities, it doesn't seem like Brrrrr! fumbled its lineups - or that they even could have with the power of Live Nation's booking prowess behind them.

Igloofest MontrealFood & Drink
Brrrrr! had food trucks (of course - it's Toronto) offering more selection than Igloofest grubwise, and the bars were serving up both alcoholic and non alcoholic hot drinks at both. But while gourmet food trucks can add to a summer festival experience, when it's -20C maybe all a dancer wants to do is scarf down a hot dog or take a shot and put their gloves back on.

Igloofest MontrealClimate
Brrrrr! and Igloofest provided warming stations for all general admission partiers, plus heated VIP areas for those willing to spend a bundle - again, it's clear that Brrrrr! didn't go ahead in Toronto without checking in at Igloofest. Even a five minute respite from the frigid air outside is rejuvenating, especially if you need to send texts and locate friends.

Toronto's warmer than Montreal, so a winter dance festival should be preferable here - less layering and less risk of hypothermia, right? In Montreal, this sentiment rings untrue both to Igloofest organizers and the festival's fans.

Igloofest's François Fournier explains that historically some of Igloofest's best attended nights have been during spouts of -30C weather. "Cold nights make it a challenge," he says. Montreal's harsh winters mean that partiers develop a built in resilience to the cold, while in Toronto a wind-chill terror period like we're currently experiencing will only last a week or two.

Is Montreal right? Is Toronto too soft to support a hearty outdoor dance fest? It may not even matter - our climate itself may be too soft. Piknic have developed special shields for audio, video, and lighting equipment to protect gear from ice and snow, but in Toronto there will always be a risk of rain.

"The site will look disgusting" Igloofest explain of a 0 Celsius, rain-struck winter event - which indeed is described in this beyondthedrop.com review of Brrrrr!: puddles troubled dancers in at least one dome during 2014.

Igloofest MontrealTicket prices
Surprise: Igloofest is more affordable than Brrrrr! was. While for both festivals VIP access was in the $75 range, general admission for Brrrrr!'s one-night-only 2014 event was $37.50-$47.50: doubling Igloofest's $20-$25 nightly price tag. Particularly for a new event, the idea of spending $40 to spend hours outdoors might have turned away many curious dancers.

Igloofest MontrealLocation
Both festivals had a less-than-ideal location on the water, a.k.a. the coldest places in their respective cities. But while Toronto's Echo Beach is picturesque in its own way, it doesn't rival the Old Port's views of Old Montreal lit up at night.

There's also the matter of access - Igloofest is easily accessed, with the Champs-de-Mars or Place-d'Armes metro stations both within five minutes of chilly walking time.

Between Ontario Place's exorbitant parking prices and tricky TTC access to Echo Beach, as far as Brrrrr! was concerned, beforelastcall.ca basically advised cabbing it, meaning no matter how many friends you arrive and leave with, the fest's pricetag just climbed again.

Igloofest MontrealThe Winter Carnival
Warming stations aside, Igloofest takes on winter as a thematic contest and runs with it. Dancers can suit up for rounds of sumo hockey, play drumming games, roast marshmallows, play outdoor air hockey, and wander ice sculptures (and slide on an ice slide).

Each weekend promotes a free-to-enter snowsuit photo competition held in one of the warming domes. Attendees dressed as animals or in neon one-pieces pose ridiculously with snowshoes and other props to win prizes like vacations for two, headphones, winter gear, and Piknic Electronik passes.

The attention to detail wins the festival a lot of loyalty. Igloofest branded merch doesn't bother with t-shirt territory - it's freezing after all. Vibrant branded toques, socks, and gloves have likely saved the digits of many a dancer.

While Toronto's rep may be that we're too image conscious to participate in this kind of fun, EDM weekends, Field Trip's bouncy castles, and even Ke$ha-love suggest we're more into embracing silliness than we're given credit for. Would the condo crowd embrace snowsuit competitions? It seems like we weren't given time to find out.

Igloofest MontrealWord of Mouth
Igloofest has had almost a decade to build its reputation in Montreal. Piknic Electronik has been throwing some of Montreal's best events since 2003 and is now branching out as a worldwide event - but both their summer and winter events started small.

Now, nearly everyone I meet in the city has been to Igloofest, usually multiple times, and I'm not talking about traditional techno fans. "Say hi to Everyone I Know in Montreal" one friend messages me when I leave for the site. I can't remember ever having a conversation with him about music.

I see friends running into friends constantly: for a few days a week, the Old Port becomes one of Montreal's favoured hangout spots as well as one of its most exciting nightclubs. People are here for the vibe as much as the music, and that takes time to establish.

Brrrrr! had Live Nation's financial backing behind it, but an event this kitschy, weird, and potentially unpleasant can't climb to success in a year or two.

So don't give up hope. As Toronto edges closer to having a summer event on the scale of Piknic or MUTEK, this winter's festivals will keep us huddled indoors, but I doubt the city's talented music promoters will let a little rain allow Montreal to hold its grip on the neon snowsuit contest fun forever. May partiers have a chance to raise their mittens and wave their self sticks in the face of winter in Toronto soon.

Photos via Igloofest

Long Winter throws frozen West Queen West street fair

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Long Winter Fair TorontoLong Winter Fair's first West Queen West street party was troubled by extreme cold on Friday night, but nothing could stop the the music and art carnival spilling from The Great Hall out over Queen Street West, the Theatre Centre, and 99 Sudbury.

Snacks and hot drinks kept winter-braving crowds going as they celebrated the series' expansion and took in art installations and live sets by LIDS, Bruce Peninsula, The Cybertronc Spree, STACEY, Hush Pup, The Beverleys, Dead Tired, Eucalyptus, Nautiluss, and more.

Check out 25 moments from the festival's first venue spanning night in our photo gallery.

Corktown murals

Family Day events in Toronto 2015

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family day torontoFamily Day events in Toronto include eating to your hearts content at the first Heatfest, 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".

Pocket Concerts, who put on classical shows in residential homes, are hosting a Beethoven 101 event complete with free drinks (warning: It's a bit pricey). At Carlton catch a free public screening of In Her Place, the story of a wealthy couple's attempt to adopt an impoverished teen's unborn child in secret which was nominated for 7 Canadian Screen Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director. For more events, click on over to our events section.

See also:What's open and closed Family Day 2015 in Toronto

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

Contributions by Natalia Manzocco

How pay parking came to Toronto

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pay parking torontoCongratulations, Toronto. You've been feeding coins into parking meters for just over 63 years. On February 6, 1952, the first 11 curb parking meters were installed on the west side of James St. between Old City Hall and present-day Eaton Centre.

Within a week, 1,300 would be installed downtown between Dundas, Simcoe, Front, and Jarvis. The fee was 10 cents for 30 minutes or an hour, depending on the location.

The city's decision to install parking meters was a controversial one. Newspaper editorials decried turning downtown streets into parking lots.

"The essential need in a city like Toronto is to facilitate the movement of traffic," the Globe and Mail wrote. "What is required is the progressive removal of parking from downtown streets ... a policy to bring this about is long overdue."

"The function of the streets is primarily to carry traffic and not to provide parking spaces," wrote columnist Frank Tumpane. The TTC was likewise opposed to the idea. Chairman William McBrien said the meters would lead to increased traffic congestion and slower bus and streetcar service.

Nevertheless, the plan went ahead, initially on a trial basis. A variety of devices from six companies were rigorously tested by the city. Salt sprays mimicking the slush kicked up by passing vehicles, ice cold and boiling hot temperatures - even a smack from a 2-kg lead ball were directed at the clockwork devices.

Only models that passed the battery of tests were considered for the contract, which was eventually won by Park-O-Meter Co. Ltd. of Main St., Toronto.

toronto pay parkingThe money raised from the meters was to be put into a city fund for buying off-street surface parking lots. Police would patrol the parking bays, issuing $2 fines to overstayers and scofflaws. The first collection a month later yielded $1,605 - equal to 16,060 dimes, although a few enterprising crooks used slugs or paper clips to get free parking.

Others used craftier methods of dodging fines. Tickets were torn up because drivers variously claimed they were making emergency visits to hospitals, collecting payroll from a bank, and delivering heavy equipment. One cancelled ticket had the name of a Supreme Court judge on the back and no other explanation.

The cartoon above, printed in the Vancouver Sun in 1954, captured the feelings of drivers across the country who felt they were being unfairly charged for using public roads. Numerous cities across Canada saw fees introduced for on-street parking in the 1950s, too. Edmonton got devices that doubled as engine warmers during the night.

toronto parking lotsWithin a year, downtown parking meters were taking in $18,000 a month. Using that money, the first Parking Authority of Toronto multi-storey lot was built over the subway tracks between Charles and Hayden streets, just south of Bloor station. By 1953, there were five municipal lots over the subway between Maitland and Hayden streets with room for 420 vehicles.

The Toronto Parking Authority has grown to be the largest municipal parking provider on the continent, operating more than 17,500 metered spots in the city. Most cost more than a dime.

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

Images: Library and Archives Canada, Acc. No. 1988-243-23, City of Toronto Archives. Top photo by Gadjo Sevilla in the blogTO Flickr pool.

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