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Toronto hat maker's business explodes after New York photoblog appearance

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Tierre JolineSome days are good business days, but none quite so marvellous, I suspect, as yesterday for Toronto hat maker Tierre Joline. That's when her photo appeared on the wildly popular (and generally awesome) Humans of New York photoblog.

At the outset of the day her Facebook page had roughly 4,000 Facebook likes; now the number hovers near 45,000. Such is the power of HONY. In the brief caption that accompanies her photo, Joline references the unique hat that she's wearing (the photo was taken on a trip to New York).

"I wish I could sell my hats unapologetically. Whenever someone compliments my hat, I only say: 'Thank you.' I wish I was bold enough to say: 'Here I am. This is what I do. And you can have one too.'"

Well, it looks like at least part of her wish has come true. Joline, a graduate of George Brown College's Millinery Arts Program, has been inundated with requests for hats in the wake of her appearance on Humans of New York. And why not? The designs are daring and stylish -- not the type of thing you're bound to see elsewhere. If you're featured on HONY, they will come.

Photo via Humans of New York


Local residents want to kill WayHome Festival

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Wayhome OroFollowing news of the inaugural WayHome Festival at the Burl's Creek Event Grounds, some of the new festival's neighbours, local residents of Oro-Medonte, started the website SaveOro and began circulating flyers in an attempt to preserve their rural lifestyle and agricultural land.

The SaveOro website states that a temporary by-law exists allowing for the expansion of Burl's Creek Grounds to accommodate large scale events. Section 7.30.1 states under temporary events "a rock music or heavy metal show is not a permitted special event." SaveOro members intend to stop the bylaw, thus preventing WayHome and others (like Boots and Hearts) from holding such events.

The SaveOro group has expressed concerns over the additional noise, pollution, and overall traffic on roads. One resident apparently posted his/her issues in a post on Reddit Toronto. The actual number of residents supporting the dramatically titled SaveOro initiative is not known. Residents and festival goers should know the Burl's Creek Event Grounds venue are privately owned. Republic Live and Burl's Creek Event Grounds remain separately entities, which may have caused confusion among some people.The owner of the grounds is a stakeholder in Republic Live.

In 2013, the Grove Music Festival, presented by AEGLive/Goldenvoice and Arts & Crafts records, was moved from Butler's Barracks at Niagara-on-the-Lake to the Toronto Fort York Common. Some lineup changes happened as a result, possibly due to the touring commitments of participating bands.

While no official explanation of the festival relocation was given, Elliott Lefko, Goldenvoice VP, made the announcement during a public meeting to discuss local residents' concerns over the festival.

WayHome is a product of Republic Live and styled after the Bonnaroo Festival. Before being named WayHome, and before the lineup announcement including Kendrick Lamar, Sam Smith, Alvvays, and St. Vincent, the festival was already highly anticipated.

Republic Live is working with various brand partners to create "a powerful, unforgettable, and eye opening experience using music and art as a catalyst." Some confusion has arisen as online sources list numbers as high as 70,000 people and 45,000 campers. Those numbers reflect venue capacity, not actual festival numbers. The WayHome festival will include camping or parking as part of its, and all people should understand that the allocation of tickets that will be on-sale for WayHome Music and Arts will ensure that every ticket holder will have access to camping or parking. In addition to music, there will be art installations, a "late-night forest," film screenings, a farmer's market, and international and local cuisine.

I spoke with Laura Kennedy, Director of PR at Republic Live, regarding the WayHome Festival and Oro-Medonte.

Has Republic Live opened up conversation with local Oro Medonte (SaveOro) residents and/or city staff regarding their concerns like higher noise levels, increased/redirected/congested road traffic, noise levels, and late night parties?

Laura Kennedy (Republic Live): We have been working with the township and appropriate agencies as part of the planning process in relation to traffic plans, noise levels, etc. and will continue to do so throughout this process.

It's really important to us to be good neighbours and create a forum where we can address any concerns the community might have. Just prior to announcing our move to Burl's Creek Event Grounds we began reaching out to residents in Oro-Medonte to open the dialogue and we hosted an initial information meeting in November along with representatives from Burl's Creek Event Grounds.

We have another meeting scheduled in mid March for the community and plan to host a pre-festival meeting to review all the final plans, as well as a debrief after the festival to get neighbours feedback on their experiences. We can be reached directly at community@republiclive.com.

In regards to the SaveOro group, Burl's Creek Event Grounds have reached out directly to them with the intention of attending their meetings to articulate their plans and dispel some of the circulating rumours, but at this time they have not received a response.

bonnarooWhat positives will the festival bring to the region?

Both Republic Live and Burl's Creek Event Grounds want to ensure that there are positive impacts for the region. The projected economic impact, based on the TREIM model, sees Boots and Hearts generating upwards of $20 million and WayHome a minimum of $15 million per year for the region.

The venue is currently exploring educational initiatives with local colleges, developing careers and providing experience to future employment pools. Another aspect for the region is working with local service groups being brought into vending roles, this will allow them to generate funds that are directly injected back into the community as a whole.

It's very important for us as a company to support the community that we are in. Through our partnership with MusiCounts, one local school will be selected as a recipient of a BandAid grant as we earmark funds annually for this initiative. We also have funds allocated for community-based charities, and we will be supporting several non-profits that provide valuable services to the region annually.

Our track record in Clarington clearly shows that we believe in supporting the community as we have donated just over $60,000 in cash and in-kind donations of tickets over the past 3 years there and we certainly intend to support our new home to the same extent.

For such a large outdoor festival, has Republic Live planned any eco-friendly initiatives?

We'll be working with the venue and some key partners to implement a recycling program and engaging with community groups to divert waste from landfills.

SaveOroI also spoke briefly with Al Sinclair of SaveOro about tonight's meeting, which he believes will draw a significant number of local residents concerned most, it seems, about the lack of information they received about Republic Live's plans.

Ahead of the February 19 public meeting, have SaveOro spoken with members of government about residential concerns?

Al Sinclair (SaveOro): We have been very vocal with the local politicians to date several of them have been non responsive to our inquiries. Our Mayor has removed himself from any comments due to a conflict of interest.

Do you have an estimate on how many people (including municipal politicians) will be attending the public meeting on February 19?

One never knows, but we have moved to the Guthrie Public School 22 5th line south Oro-Medonte as our response has been good.

Are local residents also planning to attend the mid-March meeting set up by festival organizers to gain local feedback?

I would hope so. They have not been very forth coming with site plans, etc. - at this time as a community, we are very uninformed as to what their plans are.

Have any local residents, including SaveOro members, spoken directly with staff from Republic Live and/or Burl's Creek Event Grounds? It's my understanding some concerns should be directed to the Burl's Creek Event Grounds staff, as they were present at an initial information meeting in November.

It was a great PR vehicle for them to try and lull the local people into a sense of false security. It was an information night full of ambiguous plans and motives. No mention was made of other concerts or events at that time.

WayHome takes place July 24-26. A public meeting to discuss the issues of SaveOro scheduled for February 19 at 7pm at the Oro Station Hall has since been moved to Guthrie Public School at 7:30pm on February 19th.

This post originally stated attendance in the range of 70,000 with 45,000 campers. Those numbers reflect venue capacity, not WayHome ticket sales and parking and camping guarantees. Burl's Creek Grounds ownership was also reported in error. It has been corrected.

Photos of Bonnaroo via Facebook, flyer image shot by Tiana Feng.

Your photos of cold weather in Toronto

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cold weather torontoCold enough? Toronto is once again in the throes of a deep winter chill, with temperatures hovering around well below minus 20 Celsius if you factor in the windchill (and still pretty damn cold if you don't bother with that hotly debated measuring stick). After a certain point, it doesn't really matter what the exact temperature is; you just know you're frozen.

We've already rounded up some of the excellent cold weather photography submitted to our Flickr pool, but we've also received a host of submissions via Instagram, as brave smartphone shooters have given up on the gloves for just long enough to snap a pic of a picturesque winter scene or two.

Have a look at some of our favourites below or check out the whole gallery here.

cold weather torontoericmarrone

2015218-cold2.jpgen.elle

cold weather torontoreadpaulina

cold weather torontolisarobertsonpics

2015219-cold5.jpgkary_me_away

cold weather torontorogercullman

cold weather torontogabynocanada

cold weather torontochew.this

Lead photo by cohengilad

Toronto condo to be designed by Karl Lagerfeld

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karl lagerfeld condoToronto is getting a dose of one of the world's iconic fashion designers, and the location couldn't be more fitting. The Art Shoppe Lofts + Condos, a new development by Freed and CD Capital Developments, will feature lobby spaces designed by Karl Lagerfeld. It's his first foray into the Canadian residential market, and one that makes sense given the former occupant of the site.

Anyone who ever passed by the Art Shoppe when it was located on Yonge between Hillsdale and Soudan will remember the avant-garde sensibilities that would inform the old window displays, particularly back in the 80s and early 90s when the store really pushed the design envelope in Toronto.

Sure, it's only the entrance space that Lagerfeld is putting his hands on, but that's arguably the most important part of a condo from a public interest standpoint (who cares what inaccessible spaces look like?). There's no word yet on what the designer has in mind, but he'll have lots of space to work with given that there are two lobbies in this dual-tower condo.

Toronto studio teaches you how to take a better selfie

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selfie school torontoIf you're unpopular on Instagram and Facebook and unlucky on OkCupid and Tinder, maybe you've considered going outside or developing new skills and interests - or maybe you've dreamed of selfie school.

Toronto, it's not a dream. Richmond Hill photo studio Selfies is offering to "teach people how to take professional pictures on their own with a high quality DSLR camera, costumes, backgrounds and a variety of props." Just show up with your pals/extras and a USB stub - Selfies will take care of the rest.

The concept is a bit misleading as none of the sample photos on the actual website are handheld selfies proper, or even selfie stick pics. The studio instead hooks you up with a DSLR on a tripod and a remote, for which you've been given some handy tips that, I assume, include "stay still" and possibly "relax your mouth."

Rates are $25 per hour per person for three people or less, and $22 per person for four people or more. To use these tips at home you'll basically have to buy a studio set up - but isn't that how any school functions?

Will you shell out for selfie tutorials and cute pics, or just keep dreaming of the day someone with an iPhone 6 knows you well enough to accurately capture your inner light? Let us know in the comments.

Photo via Selfies

Panorama closes and will relaunch as The One Eighty

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the one eighty torontoPanorama is no more. The 51st floor restaurant at the Manulife Centre has closed its doors as extensive renovations get underway to rebrand the space as The One Eighty, an upscale cocktail-focused eatery and event space. The makeover is at least somewhat overdue, as Panorama had become a restaurant that relied almost solely on its view to attract would-be diners and event-hosts.

The One Eighty is going for a more immersive dinning experience than the space's previous iteration. Guests will be served cocktails from bar-carts and will be treated to various table-side preparations, while the food offerings from Chef Christopher Matthews will be accessible and refined (think white pizza flatbread with prosciutto and smoked provolone).

Panorama always had a touristy vibe about it. Will this makeover change that? It's tough to say. This certainly sounds like a more contemporary concept, but the word trendy comes to mind, and that might pose challenges down the line. The One Eighty will open in mid-March.

The top weekend events in Toronto: Feb 20-23 2015

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Weekend events TorontoWeekend events in Toronto dare you to get out into the cold to celebrate Chinese New Year, fall in love with Toronto through art, interact with a laser maze, or dance your winter SAD away.

Here are my picks for the top events happening in Toronto February 20-23, 2015.

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

OSCAR PARTIES

(Various, Sunday, February 22)
Why watch the 87th Academy Awards at home with the cat, when you can get glammed up and even win prizes? Many theatres are offering ballots, trivia, and more such as The Bloor, Innis Town Hall, the Royal, and the Revue, plus bars like the Drake, and 3030 are in on the fun. See our list for where to watch the Oscars here.

ART

Peter Harris TorontoPeter Harris - Night Watch - New Paintings (Mira Godard Gallery, February 21 - March 14)
Extreme cold has us favouring Toronto, Australia, so this weekend skip the season's blockbusterart shows, for this Toronto love-in. Local artist Peter Harris' "Night Watch - New Paintings" exhibit features nighttime scenes around the city. You might remember Harris from "15 iconic paintings of Toronto."

The Artist Project (Better Living Centre, February 19-22)
The Artist Project is open at the Better Living Centre. Instead of a typical gallery curated art fair, here you'll find the artists themselves working their own booths. Check out our review of last year's show here.

LIVE MUSIC

Somewhere There Creative Music Festival (February 20-22, Tranzac)
While Somewhere There have regularly booked gigs around the city since losing their home, weekend-long Somewhere There Creative Music Festival is a chance for weirdo musicians from varying scenes to come together. For the festival's third year, over 60 performers and speakers include Marie LeBlanc-Flanagan (Weird Canada) and groups as diverse as Friendly Rich and the JunctQín Keyboard Collective.

D/P/I (February 20-21, Double Double Land/The Music Gallery)
You'll wish the venue had seat belts (or straight jackets) for this one: Healing Power Records is going all out with "Trashy microsampling from L.A. brought to you by the label at the Heart of Toronto" - D/P/I (Sun Araw, Deep Magic) play with with Craig Dunsmuir, Fleshtone Aura, DJ HVYWTR, and DJ Longhorne Grille first at a DDL dance party on Friday, then in concert at TMG on Saturday.

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

GEEK

Vector Game Art & New Media Festival (February 18-22, Interaccess, Bento Miso, Videofag)
On now, the 3rd annual multi-venue expo of Canadian and international innovation in digital games, new media art, and more will feature a huge game art centric exhibit, plus music performances, early computer animation screenings (hint: Star Wars tie-in), a new media panel, the return of workshop GlitchJam, and a live action laser maze - and many events are free or PWYC. Read more here and check out their website.

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.

Toronto Postcard Club Show (February 22, Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre)
The 34th annual Toronto Postcard Club Show asks if postcards were an early form of Twitter - uhh - but makes up for it with a huge selection of nostalgic items for show and sale in East York.

FILM

The Peanut Butter Solution (February 21, The Royal)
Kid Power!, Toronto's only cult screening series for kids and adults, is back with a showing of The Peanut Butter Solution at The Royal. The psychedelic story winds a strange narrative of ghosts, hair loss, peanut butter, and childhood. Tickets to the matinee are $8-10.

The Holy Mountain (February 21, Ratio)
The psychedelic excuses to keep out of the cold continue Saturday night when Mystic Arts Collective and Ratio present Jodorowsky The Holy Mountain in their second floor College space. Infinite popcorn is assured.

CULTURE

Toronto Chinatown Chinese New Year Festival (February 21, Chinatown)
Chinese New Year fell on February 19th this year, but on Saturday Spadina will be bustling with performances, crafts, activities, and a panda mascot (even though we've entered the year of the ram... pandas are pretty cute). Opening Ceremonies begin at noon at Dragon City Mall, with a second bash at Chinatown Centre at 1pm.

THEATRE & PERFORMANCE

The Wild Party (Feb 20 - March 8, Berkeley Street Theatre)
This musical will transport you to Manhattan in the roaring '20s where the gin and jazz are flowing. You'll be in the front seats watching as the reckless relationship between a Vaudevillian clown and dancer spirals out of control. The Tony-nominated musical is produced in association with Obsidian Theatre Company who are known for their award-winning work featuring the black voice. SSZ

Rhubarb Fest (Buddies in Bad Times, February 11 - 22)
The Rhubarb Festival is a carnival ride of unconventional performance pieces. In its 36th year Rhubarb is Canada's longest-running new works festival. Every nook and cranny of Buddies in Bad Times Theatre - and I mean every little corner, including the bathroom - will be transformed to a backdrop for various music, dance, theatre and performance pieces. Check out our preview here. SSZ

COMEDY

The Mary-Janes of Comedy Present... The Underwear Show (February 20, Comedy Bar)
If you want to donate to charity and wait out the weirdness of Valentine's Day proper, this comedy show on the 20th featuring 'the best stand-up comedy couples in the city" is a fundraiser to purchase underwear for the Bloordale Women's Shelter.

SHOPPING & LIFESTYLE

Bellwoods Flea (February 21, Magpie)
Toronto's newest flea market is back, and even though it's frigid outside it is almost March, so maybe you can finally haggle that vintage mink stole down into your price range.

Auto Show (February 13-22, Metro Toronto Convention Centre)
While many of Toronto's nicest sets of wheels are being hoarded away over the winter in garages nicer than the average city apartment, car lovers can drool over classics and new rides for the next two weeks in the heart of downtown. Check out our review of this year's show here.

Motorcycle Show (Feb 20-22, Direct Energy Centre)
It's back! If you already saw the car-mania downtown last weekend, head down to Exhibition Place for motorcycles galore. The dream of the open and un-sleeted road is alive in your leather jacketed heart, James.

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, Ben Boles, Derek Flack, Sima Sarah Zerehi

The Best Persian Restaurants in Toronto

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persian restaurants torontoThe best Persian restaurants in Toronto is a hard list to compile. When it comes to ethnic restaurants, this city seems to mix its highs and lows. While no one would dream of putting a no-fuss pizza joint on a list of best Italian restaurants, we don't bat an eye when making the same comparisons with cuisine from other parts of the world.

Perhaps this has to do more with scale, with fewer restaurants specializing in food from certain regions. With that disclaimer out of the way, this list highlights some the best places to sample Persian food, ranging from restaurants known for innovation and quality to those offering classic take-out options and family-friendly meals.

Here are the best Persian restaurants in Toronto.

See also:

The best kebabs in Toronto
The best Afghan restaurants in Toronto


Bird yin yang

Toronto Food Events: Jamaican Patty Day, In The Land of Sea & Honey, Louis Jadot Dinner, Toronto Sushi Fest

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Jamaican Patty Day torontoToronto 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.

THIS WEEK

  • Yum Cha, a festival devoted to dim sum is on this Saturday, February 21 at Daniels Spectrum (585 Dundas St. East). Limited tickets ($10) remain for afternoon session of feasting on dumplings, steam buns and spring rolls from vendors like Come and Get It, Rolling Pin TO, and Babi & Co. (to name a few).
  • This Monday, February 23 is Jamaican Patty Day and the Jamaica Tourist Board wants to encourage you to eat a patty in celebration of 30 years since the Patty Wars erupted in Toronto, and patty vendors won the right to use the term beef patties despite food inspectors deeming that they don't contain a sufficient amount of beef.
  • Fat Girl Food Squad in conjunction with Render: Feminist Food & Feminist Quarterly present In The Land of Sea & Honey Dinner, a night \to celebrate females in kitchens and elsewhere. Chef Charlotte Langley and company present a four-course meal with wine parings for $65 on Monday, February 23 from 7pm at Beast (96 Tecumseth St.)
  • Auberge du Pommier (4150 Yonge St.) hosts a Louis Jadot wine dinner on Friday, February 27 from 6:30pm. Offered for $200, enjoy a four-course dinner featuring B.C. scallops, black truffles and venison paired with fine burgundy wines from Louis Jadot fine burgundy wines.

UPCOMING

Photo from Patties Express by Jesse Milns

Inside FreshBooks' massive new Toronto office space

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freshbooksWhen you've started and grown a business from a basement, one that raised $30M in funding last year, converting a damp old warehouse located in an up-and-coming Toronto neighborhood into a sprawling, energetic office space for nearly 200 employees doesn't seem too far-fetched an idea.

Levi Cooperman, co-founder and VP operations, and Casey McKinnon, the head of product at FreshBooks, are gracious, humble, and full of stories about how it all started and how much the team has grown as they take me on a tour of their new office space that stands at a whopping 43,000 sq. ft.

freshbooksPreviously home to the Planet Storage warehouse, 1655 Dupont St., a designated heritage building in the Junction Triangle now houses Phase 1 of 3 of the FreshBooks campus spanning two floors of cafeterias, gyms, ping pong tables, lounge areas, open concept work spaces, and multi-themed meeting rooms.

freshbooks torontoPaying homage to its tech startup roots, the majority of the seven-year old company's office is dedicated to open, extremely "movable" work space. Built around the concept of the "Three C's" - connectedness, collaboration, and collision - the furniture and layout are designed to aid the extremely agile work environment at FreshBooks.

freshbooks officeThe concept of collision manifests itself in the signature common areas and hallways that connect all parts of the office together. The lack of separation between business further allows teammates who wouldn't normally work together to have unplanned, serendipitous conversations.

One of Levi's favorite spots in this office is the staircase landing that peeks into the cafeteria downstairs while still offering full visibility into the main floor.

freshbooks torontoFreshbooks meeting rooms are named after different themes to help with easier navigation. One set of rooms, for example, are named after Canadian inventions like "IMAX" and "Butter Tarts." Perhaps the best part is that these names were selected and voted on by FreshBooks' employees. The above is my personal favorite - nobody really knows how to pronounce it, yet it still won out in the company poll.

One room actually has two IMAX home theatre chairs and is awaiting screen installation. Almost all of the meeting rooms make use of glass walls to allow the natural light to penetrate through to the rest of the office.

freshbooks torontoThe product teams at FreshBooks all operate like "little startups" within the company, says Casey. Each has its own director, designers, development team, and an information radiator - - an agile concept that help teams showcase their latest product work to the rest of the company.

freshbooks torontoNo stranger to housing various Toronto meetups in its space, the new FreshBooks "Learnatorium"  -  a multi-purpose room in the west-wing of the campus  - is set to open its doors for a four-day intensive Girls Learning Code Camp this March.

freshbooks torontoLike any respectable work space, dogs of all shapes, sizes, and breeds are not only welcome, but highly encouraged. Maintaining its reputation as a bike-friendly office, the lower level has a dedicated bicycle storage and repair area.

freshbooks torontoPhase II of the FreshBooks office project, which will include knocking out some of the sealed up windows and adding more open work spaces, commences in November 2015.

freshbooksOh and they're hiring, if working in a brick-and-beam building with high ceilings and all the natural light you could ever ask for is your kinda thing.

freshbooks torontoWriting by Huda Idrees. Photos by Jimmy Lu.

The CBC might sell its Toronto headquarters

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cbc building torontoIn the midst of major budget cuts across its network, the CBC might sell its Toronto headquarters as a revenue-generating measure. The buiding dates back to the 1990s, a time when the CBC was in a far more prosperous position with thousands more employees.

According to the National Post, the CBC currently uses about a third of the building's space. If it sold its headquarters, the public broadcaster would ideally like to stay on as a tenant. Parts of the building have also become drab and dated, having not been updated since it opened in 1992.

The main concern with the possible sale of the building is apparently employee morale, which has already taken a number of blows thanks to widespread layoffs and the Jian Ghomeshi scandal. Working in an already under-occupied space must not help staff feel cheery about the network's prospects.

A decision on the sale of the building isn't imminent. Any plans to put it on the market would have to be approved by the Treasury Board after consultants determine whether or not such a move makes sense. What do you think? Should the CBC unload its Toronto centrepiece?

Photo by Grant D in the blogTO Flickr pool

New snack bar serves outrageous junk food until 4am

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Junked Food Co TorontoThere's a new late night snack food counter open on Dundas West offering monstrous creations that you pretty much have to be drunk to love. Look forward to a menu featuring deep dish pizzas, doughnut sandwiches, and Doritos "smash bags."

Read my profile of Junked Food Co. in the restaurants section.

Ryerson unveils gorgeous building at Yonge and Gould

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Ryerson Student Learning CentreRyerson's new Student Learning Centre, a marquee building on the site of the old Sam the Record Man, is on the cusp of opening at Yonge and Gould. In the lead-up to the big reveal, media were invited to tour the recently completed structure.

A collaboration between Zeidler Partnership Architects of Toronto and Snøhetta of Oslo, the eight-storey building features sweeping open spaces, a floor that's designed to mimic a beach, and a host of technological features befitting a contemporary academic institution. Other features include a bridge to the Ryerson Library, three green roofs, and large entry plaza accessible by both students and visitors.

Have a look inside the brand new Ryerson Student Learning Centre in this photo gallery.

Photos by Vik Pahwa

The top 10 YTV PJs of all time

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YTV PJsThey were there for you when it mattered most: after school, on Saturday mornings, and for a while even during lunch time. Canadian children of the '90s and '00s will probably never forget the magical, pre-internet times they shared with those irreverent yet inspirational televisual guides, the PJs.

Long before YTV was the elder statesman in a buttoned-up "Corus Kid and Family Vertical" at their state-of-the-art Queens Quay digs, it was a scrappy independent new kid born into late '80s era Liberty village (co-incidentally, within the exact same building which now houses the silver fox powered Zoomer Empire).

After a promising John Candy fronted debut in the fall of 1988, YTV experienced a turbulent and awkward childhood of its own, splashing out with repeats of Bonanza, Count Duckula, Australian soap operas like Home & Away, and in-house music video shows like YTV Rocks and the prophetically punky Rec Room.

In 1991, the network hit puberty and it all coalesced: September saw the debut of the Program Jockeys, or PJs, modelled upon the mega successful VJ rotation at MuchMusic. PJs first appeared on The Afterschool Zone (later shortened to just 'The Zone'), a block of eclectic programs like Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, Biker Mice from Mars and vintage Adam West Batman, and the rest is history.

The YTV of 2015 even still has four or so of them on payroll (take that, Much). In fact, Carlos Bustamante now holds the impressive title as longest serving PJ, with over a decade under his janitor's belt.

Mileage may vary, but here are my picks for the top 10 YTV PJs of all time.

PJ Katie
Delightfully bonkers Katie was a true YTV superstar. Her epic on-air role playing with miniature plastic toys led to the creation of PJ Katie's Farm, an actual series that epitomized the random, anything goes ethos of YTV back in the 90s. Apparently there is a bar in Nova Scotia which still runs the episodes on a VHS loop for intoxicated college students.

Gord the PJ Man
Technically the very first PJ to appear on YTV's brand spanking new Afterschool Zone on Labour Day in 1991. In the following clip, Gord Woolvert's bizarre shtick and ultra-90's attire provides a tiny glimpse into what watching YTV was like back in the day - it often felt as if simply anything could happen.

PJ Jenn
Jennifer Beech, daughter of popular children's entertainer Sandra Beech, was part of the original Zone line-up and always managed to hold her own with the more anarchic PJ Phil and the other boys. Whether singing, playing guitar, or warning of stranger danger, Jenn was like the ultimate babysitter you wished you had in real life.

Snit
Joining The Zone in 1994, Snit was a sentient computer monitor gone berserk, brought to life by a combination of saliva and gum. Voiced and operated by the insanely talented Atul N. Rao, Snit grew increasingly demented for the duration of the decade until he was blasted off into space in a memorably moving final segment. Viewers were so incensed and fan-mail so overwhelming, Snit was finally given his own spin-off show on YTV entitled Snit Station.

PJ Aashna
Starting off as a yeoman host of YTV Hitlist and Saturday morning cartoon block titled The Alley, Aashna is probably best known as singing the national anthem which played every night on YTV when they went off-air (in fact, her rendition is still used in many schools across Canada).

Warren Chester Grog
The Grogs were bizarre puppets created by the spectacular duo of Jamie Shannon and Jason Hopley. For a while the popularity of the Grog family (Warren, Gidian, Chigonk, Rosencrantz, Jasper, Filth, Sorbet, and Iffer) eclipsed even the human hosts, but alas their time at YTV was short lived. It all culminated in a gonzo New Year's Day stunt in 1994 when Grog took control of the station and began broadcasting his favourite programs before being stopped by PJ Phil & Jenn.

PJ Paul
Pop culture boffin PJ Paul first appeared as host of The Breakfast Zone (later B-Zone), where his loquacious nature was an instant success and his natural on-air bond with PJ Phil resulted in TV gold like the legendary Halloween Dark Night specials. He now goes by the more mature handle Paul McGuire on the Corus owned CMT, where it's doubtful you'll ever see something like this pitch perfect re-enacting of Star Wars.

PJ "Jazzy" Jan
Now better known as Janis Mackey Frayer, the sombre Asia bureau chief for the CTV National news, "Jazzy Jan" was the original PJ. Breaking out of YTV's late night Rec Room, "Jazzy Jan" took the early afternoon shift and empowered children across Canada to send in their drawings. No doubt a large number of current artists and designers owe her a debt of gratitude.

Sugar
Stephanie "Sugar Baybee" Beard had a voice like a cartoon character on helium, and a friendly but street savvy personality thanks to her Scarborough hip-hop roots. An instant idol when she premiered on The Zone, Sugar helped solidify YTV's rep back in their "Keep it Weird" salad days of the new millennium. Apparently YTV is still inundated with fan mail demanding she be re-instated.

PJ "Phresh" Phil
The undisputed King of PJs. Not only did his style embody YTV's central "As Young As You Are" tenet, at times his adventures were so unconventional and offbeat it seemed as if he was broadcasting from another universe. He encouraged a generation of Canadian kids to pick up a guitar and follow their dreams, while at the same time to respect others and enjoy life to its fullest. TV in general has been a poorer place since his departure from it many moons ago.

2015220-pjs-90s.jpgWho did I miss? Please add your suggestions for the best YTV PJs in the comments section.

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 ice rinks start to close in midst of deep chill

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toronto skating rinksIt might be minus 20 Celsius outside, but a host of Toronto's outdoor skating rinks are slated to close this weekend. 35 rinks in total will shut down this weekend, while the remaining rinks are slated to close March 22. On occasion, corporate sponsorships allow for the extension of rink openings, though none have been announced thus far.

Despite the cold weather, it's essentially a numbers game. The city's budget is tight, and demand for outdoor ice wanes as the season goes on. It's not really possible to know at the outset of winter that the city will be at its coldest when so many rinks are scheduled to cease operations.

On the bright side, there will still be lots of rinks left in service for another month. And, given the cold spell, Toronto's natural ice rinks, ponds, and the harbour are in top shape. Below is a list of rinks that will lock up on February 22. Check the City of Toronto website for information about which rinks are still open after this weekend.

  • Alexandra Park/Harry Gairey
  • Buttonwood Park
  • Campbell Ave. Playground
  • Christie Pits
  • Giovanni Caboto
  • High Park
  • Humber Valley Rink
  • Jimmie Simpson Park
  • Joseph Bannon Park
  • Lambton-Kingsway Rink
  • Ledbury Park
  • Monarch Park
  • North Toronto Memorial CRC/Eglinton Park
  • Otter Creek Centre
  • Prince of Wales Rink
  • Queensway Rink
  • Ramsden Park
  • Regent Park (North)
  • Rivercrest Rink
  • Riverdale Park East
  • Rosedale Park
  • Royalcrest Rink
  • Ryerson Community Park
  • Sherbourne Common
  • Sir Adam Beck Rink
  • Summerlea Rink
  • Trinity Bellwoods Park
  • Valleyfield Park
  • Van Horne Park/Pleasantview Rink
  • Wallace Emerson Park
  • Wedgewood Park
  • West Deane Park/Martingrove
  • Westgrove Rink
  • Westway Outdoor Rink
  • Withrow Park

Photo by Michael Monastyrskyj

Now you can get paid for driving your car in Toronto

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commuting pays torontoNaive childhood passions for Adbusters Magazine long behind us, Toronto more than any other city in Canada has adjusted to a sponsored life, from our concerts and street festivals to our cabs and, even, dogs.

So what modern commuter (scrawling a black circle over the logos on your school textbooks, you never thought you'd commute) wouldn't want to make up to (capitalism's wonder wonderful up to) $150 per month by branding the back window of the moving prison that shuttles you to and from work each day?

Commuting Pays is a new Toronto company that wants to slide a bit of cash into your back pocket in exchange for selling out the last bastion of North American freedom, your wheels. All you have to do is sign up and wait for a match - modern day romance - after which Commuting Pays will install (for free!) an ad on the back window of your vehicle.

According to their website, an unnamed percentage of the money Commuting Pays goes to some charity, somewhere. So everyone really does win. Except for the brand if you drive like reckless hellspawn on the freeway.

Does everyone win in this brave new world? Let us know in the comments.

Photo by red_dotdesign in the blogTO Flickr pool

Did you know Paramount Fine Foods has a butcher shop?

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halal butcher torontoThe popular Middle Eastern eatery Paramount Fine Foods is a draw for falafel, shawarma, manakeesh and kebabs but did you know where it gets all its meat from? As it happens it has its own butcher shop which is open to the public and is a top destination for the finest halal meats in its own right.

Read my review of Paramount Butcher Shop in the grocery section.

Toronto opera company to host blow-out costume sale

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Tapestry Opera Co saleToronto's Tapestry Opera Co just celebrated their 35th Anniversary (with bagel donuts!), and over that third of a century or so, the opera co have found they've hoarded more dramatic memories than their costume trunks have room for. Haven't we all.

This means Toronto admirers and collectors of artful stage costumes and theatre production knick knacks are in luck: this Sunday, February 22, the Distillery District will be a hot spot to pick up 35 years worth of costumes, wigs, props, furnishings, and books - plus sheet music, for the musically inclined.

The cash-only sale will run from 11am - 4pm at Tapestry (9 Trinity Street, Studio 316). Bring your own bag for the goodies and keep us posted on your newly founded indie opera co.

Afterwards, you can hit up the Leslieville Flea in the Distillery at the Fermenting Cellar (55 Mill Street).

Photo via Tapestry on Facebook

Ghostface & BadBadNotGood a killer team in Toronto

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Ghostface Opera House"Michael Jackson, besides Jesus, was the most popular person to walk the earth," Ghostface Killah proclaims to an Opera House rammed to fish gills on Thursday night.

The most consistent Wu Tang Clan hero is in the ethereal throes of the best kind of musical journey. Earlier he lewdly professed his admiration for R. Kelly and bellowed, "I feel like Lionel Ritchie in here!" Later he'll cut a rug to the Isley Brothers' "Footsteps in the Dark," the slice of soul Ice Cube rejuvenated with "It Was a Good Day."

Ghostface Opera HouseNow he and linebacker-sized hypeman Killah Priest are launching into the Jackson 5's "I Want You Back," performed note-perfect by Toronto's own BadBadNotGood.

Ghostface Opera HouseGhost delivers a messy, heartfelt eulogy to friend Ol' Dirty Bastard - the type of dude to wear his filthy socks inside-out instead of washing them, we learn - and conducts the crowd into a sing-along of "Shimmy Ya." He nails a "The World Is Yours" cover in the reflection of smartphones, and boasts: "Nas is gonna see that shit and bug out." He goes on to threaten to buy a second home in our city.

"You know when you're jogging and shit? When you're doing whatever sport," the 44-year-old emcee spouts, "and you get that second wind? You're witnessing my second wind. Everything up till now was Baby Ghost."

Ghostface Opera HouseAll saggy jeans, non sequiturs and charisma, Tony Starks is the happiest, loosest, and most improvisational I've seen him. And BBNG, with whom he linked up with for Tuesday's Sour Soul LP, deserves to be credited with a big assist.

It's an unlikely combo: the crime-rap legend in his blood-red bubblegoose fronting a trio of jazz-trained Canadian kids, roughly half his age, who grew up on 36 Chambers. It looks like the Wu crashed a high school battle of the bands.

BadBadNotGood Opera HouseAfter the night's free "sold-out" show, an event put on by Converse as part a pop-up studio program, kicked off with a 20-minute set by upcoming local mixtape rapper Raz Fresco, BBNG - Matthew Tavares (keys), Chester Hansen (bass) and Alexander Sowinski (drums) - assumed their positions.

BadBadNotGood Opera HouseIt's important the band plays its own set before bringing out Ghost for their first performance as a unit; the rapper's XXXL personality is so overpowering, the kids' musicianship can get swallowed.

BadBadNotGood Opera HouseHansen and Sowinski look back to the drum kit, taking their cues from Tavares, the clear leader. There's a searing Flying Lotus cover; a nice saxophone appearance; a killer rendition of III's "Kaleidoscope," and the debut of a new BBNG joint, "Four Shots," which sees Tavares go full Whiplash on the drums.

Factor the wind chill and it's minus-32 outside, but indoors, the elbow-to-elbow crowd is fired-up proper when Ghost strolls out, drumsticks hanging out his pocket for no reason.

Ghostface Opera HouseThe classics link together like drink tickets: "I Can't Go to Sleep," "Run," "Daytona 500," "Nutmeg," "One," "We Made It," "Mighty Healthy," "New God Flow."

For the climax, Ghost takes it back to 1993, performing "Can It Be All So Simple," "Wu-Tang Clan Ain't Nuthing ta Fuck Wit," and "C.R.E.A.M."

Ghostface Opera HouseBefore peacing out, he promises to be back in Toronto next month, or maybe April - "I don't know. One of them shits" - with GZA and Cappadonna.

Ghostface tosses the unused drumsticks into a tangle of raised hands.

Not all free shows are priceless, naw mean? This one was.

MORE PHOTOS

Raz FrescoRaz Fresco Opera HouseRaz Fresco Opera HouseRaz Fresco Opera House

BadBadNotGoodBadBadNotGood Opera HouseBadBadNotGood Opera House

GhostfaceGhostface Opera HouseGhostface Opera HouseGhostface Opera House

Writing by Luke Fox, photos by Matt Forsythe

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