Photo by Jason Cook in the blogTO Flickr pool.

Today in Toronto you have amazing choices for free ways to pass your time. First, big news for art lovers: the brand new Aga Khan Museum for Islamic art has launched Free Wednesdays Initiative: admission is free between 4-8pm. Check out our photo gallery here. Movie Night at the Garrison is back on Dundas West with Office Space and Beavis and Butthead Do America.

But like. Stuff sucks, hey? Lean in to the winter. Tuck your head into Unlovable to hear all Morrissey, all night. Toronto has some fucked up monthlies, but this mad journey into Smiths territory might top the list. It's free, because no one would pay for this kind of misery. Or would they... Erotic story telling monthly and podcast Tell Me Something Good returns at the Gladstone, so your tantalizing/hilarious sexy stories will be rated by a panel of judges - finally. For more events, click on over to our events section.

• Art: Aga Khan Museum Free Wednesdays Initiative (Aga Khan)
• Sadness: Smiths is Dead (Unlovable)
• Lit: Tell Me Something Good: March Sexy Storytelling (Gladstone)
• Comedy: Holodeck Follies (Social Capital)
• Lit: Brockton Writers Series (Full of Beans)
• Music: Liquid Karaoke (Bambi's)
• Comedy: The Red Panty Diaries (Comedy Bar)
• Dance: Zata Omm's vox:lumen (Harbourfront Centre)
• Free Movies: Movie Night at the Garrison (Garrison)

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

This past Monday was an incredibly fortuitous one for us in Toronto - not only was our weather report mercifully devoid of extreme cold alerts, but rock icons Sleater-Kinney made their return to the city with a long-awaited performance at the Sound Academy.

When the Portland trio announced their "indefinite hiatus" in 2006, it left a noticeable hole in the musical landscape. That was probably the last time I personally heard the words "riot grrrl" used in regular conversation, and for a while it seemed like that era's significance had simply been forgotten.

Carrie Brownstein recently said in an interview that their subsequent inactive years "felt like something was on pause for a really long time," which explains why their recent reunion - complete with a full tour and a brand-new album that continues to push both musical and political innovation - has been so eagerly welcomed, even needed.

Their Toronto date - also the last of this inaugural tour stretch - was a bit of an anomaly in that it still hadn't sold out as even in the minutes before the opener's set.

This is a band whose reunion rumours have been salivated over for nearly a decade, whose other tour dates (including two huge stands the week before in New York City) sold out within seconds, but Toronto fans were dragging their feet for some reason. I'm inclined to blame the less than desirable venue choice, but I'll resist the urge to deteriorate into another Sound Academy rant given that it's not long for this world.

In any case, lagging tickets sales clearly couldn't have been that big a deal; an almost-packed house was already firmly in place as DJ Sophia Eris unleashed the first tunes of the evening. Hyping the audience with snippets of The Runaways, Le Tigre and Bikini Kill, she gave a bit of a crash course in Riot Grrrl 101 before Lizzo bounded out on stage, a flurry of platinum-blonde curls and contagious energy.

Since S-K draws in a much more diverse crowd than your typical rock band, it's no surprise that Lizzo-and-crew's eclectic, infectious and proudly body-conscious hip hop got everyone enthusiastically moving.

The moment when Sleater-Kinney finally took the stage to end their 10-year Toronto absence was nothing short of dramatic. Ripping into "Price Tag" and "Fangless," the first two tracks off of just-released No Cities to Love, they exhibited their most polished and assuredly powerful formation yet, backlit by vivid strobes and an entrancing projection.

I'll begrudgingly admit that while the Sound Academy isn't my favourite venue, most of the smaller, less technically outfitted clubs I love in the city couldn't have done the band such visual justice. And shockingly, the sound mix turned out to be excellent as well.

The impressively thorough 24-song set provided most songs off the new album, but was equally generous the band's back-catalog, pleasing fans new and old. Carrie's more sleek vibe as of late has her playing a delicate Fender Thinline on many new tracks, but she quickly pulled out her classic heavy-duty Guild for the Hendrix-esque swirl of "What's Mine is Yours" and red SG for old favourites like "Youth Decay." Playing up the virtuosic guitar lines with her trademark high-kicks and windmills, she continued to cement her status as one of the greatest living guitarists around.

Corin Tucker's powerhouse voice cut through the room with just as much shrill intensity on new songs like "Surface Envy" as older standbys, including the moving closer off of 2002's One Beat, "Sympathy." Though she usually demures from big frontwoman displays, she was emboldened to speak passionately about women's rights and equality before launching the encore with "Gimme Love" - sans guitar, whipping her hair and reaching hands out to the front row.

As always, Janet Weiss was the rhythmic engine behind the band, her fills on songs like "Entertain" and "A New Wave" sending shockwaves through the room. Sleater-Kinney's new incarnation also features a fourth touring member, Katie Harkin, who adds occasional flourishes of guitar, keys or percussion. I was a bit worried adding an extra player would ruin the trio's unique chemistry, but her presence was largely unobtrusive (and at times, not even noticeable).

Since the show was their last with tourmates Lizzo, they invited all the members up to join them on the final tune of the night, Dig Me Out's "Turn It On." Right up until the final chords, the energy from both band and crowd never wavered - it was as if the past decade had only been a few months, and they'd never really left.

As if the evening hadn't been magical enough, I managed to make my way out of the ill-located Sound Academy and quickly found a cab driver actually willing to take me as far as the closest subway station. I'll take that as the truest sign that the spirit of Riot Grrrl, the belief that women can accomplish anything (even getting out of The Docks after midnight), lives on.

Photos by Matt Forsythe

Developer Westbank plans to replace Honest Ed's not with condos, but with an eclectic residential neighbourhood of 40 buildings centered around a new public market.

At a public meeting Tuesday evening, the Vancouver-based owner of the Honest Ed's site revealed their preliminary concept for the Mirvish Village Public Market and surrounding buildings.

Inspired by New York's Flatiron District, their proposal is anchored by a 29-storey tower at the corner of Bloor and Bathurst. Elsewhere, the building heights are much lower--between 5 and 10 floors.

Surprisingly, Westbank isn't planning any condos. All of the roughly 1,000 residential units on the site are rental, and more than half of them contain two or more bedrooms. A daycare, bicycle valet parking, auto share facilities, and electric car charging stations could also be included, the meeting at the Park Hyatt on Avenue Rd. was told.

By far the most striking element, however, is the potential treatment of Markham St. The north-south road just west of Bathurst could be closed to vehicular traffic and transformed into a covered outdoor event space lined with small retail spaces. 14 of the existing homes in Mirvish Village would be retained.

Gregory Henriquez, the lead architect on the project, said Westbank will be asking artists to produce concepts for decorating the street. Hot Docs and others have expressed an interest in producing outdoor events in the space, were it to be built, he said.

Another laneway, built on the site of present day Honest Ed Alley, would be populated by micro stores curated by the Centre for Social Innovation. The concept also includes 57 live/work artist studios.

Fans of the famous Honest Ed's sign will be disappointed, however. The rapidly deteriorating illuminated exterior that was first switched on in 1983 is coming down and its future is uncertain.

Westbank hopes the development won't look like it was built all at once. Henriquez said the varying height of each building and the drastically differing exteriors will make the site appear as though it evolved organically. In an attempt to retain some of Honest Ed's eccentric visual legacy many of the stores will be given their own signs and exteriors.

Right now, Westbank hasn't submitted their plan to the city. Over the next few months, the developer will be gathering public feedback, making minor tweaks, and finalizing the design.

In short--this one's got a long way to go.

What do you think of the proposal?

MORE IMAGES:

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

A driver-less TTC bus was filmed making a ghostly funeral march across Bathurst Station earlier tonight, rolling almost silently through the sleet until smashing into a parked truck. Apparently passengers aren't the only ones feeling ruffled by the the weather.

The video, captured by Toronto tattoo artist Xris Kukiel and posted initially to Facebook, is both a cathartic and stressful watch, as good samaritans stop their nervous giggling and shout "noo" with as much drama as they can muster when the bus makes contact.

The unforgettable paranormal experience seems to have a pretty happenstance explanation. Quote Kukiel: "waiting for driver to come from bathroom; brakes didnt engage. Bus roll. Bus smash. Or, GHOST BUS!" Ghost bus indeed. We're waiting to hear back from the TTC re: the fate of the possessed bus. Stay safe out there, Toronto.

Are you ain't afraid of no ghost buses? Let us know in the comments.

One of Ontario's best craft beer bars has announced a few details of a second, much larger location downtown.

Rob Pingitore and James MacDonald, the owners of Bar Hop, have officially announced they'll be expanding their craft beer dominance of the Entertainment District when they open up Bar Hop Brewco at 137 Peter Street later this year.

While their intention was to keep the news a secret until details were ironed out, the exciting development already made some small waves on the internet recently when some astute folks noticed the item "Bar Hop Brewco" among the businesses awaiting AGCO approval for a liquor license.

Toronto nightlife enthusiasts will recognize the address as the former home of OhSo, Reign, and before that Budo, and if you've ever been to any of these establishments, first, sorry, and second, you're likely aware that this space formerly housed two floors of cologne-drenched clubbing action and a rooftop patio, which makes the space considerably larger than Bar Hops current digs.

While licensing details haven't yet been ironed out enough to announce the official capacity (or the fate of said rooftop patio), Pingitore tells me that the second installment of Bar Hop is being built in direct response to the overwhelming support and loyalty that the-almost-always-crammed original location has built up in the two and a half years since its inauguration.

"We really just needed more space," he says. "And with an increased capacity we'll be able to accommodate more of the group requests we get and we'll have a more comfortable space for hosting beer events."

While Pingitore was hesitant to get into too many details on-the-record owing to the often fickle and delicate process involved with licensing a new establishment, Ontario craft beer fans can likely draw some of their own conclusions based on the size of the new space and the fact that the establishment will be called "Bar Hop Brewco."

We'll have more details as soon as Pinigitore and MacDonald are prepared to talk more candidly, but what is certain is that, as has always been the case at their original location, the focus will be on local, independent, and craft beer offerings and you can likely expect a regular rotation of unique and seasonal offerings, making it a pretty safe bet that Bar Hop 2.0 will be a hit with the city's growing scourge of craft beer enthusiasts.

Ben Johnson also writes about beer over on Ben's Beer Blog. Follow him on twitter @Ben_T_Johnson.

Photo by Jesse Milns

This new late-night snack shack is slinging dirty Japanese foods like deep fried chicken wings stuffed with gyoza filling, and panko-crusted pork belly on deep fried coco buns. The food and drink prove themselves totally worthwhile, just be prepared to jostle for a table - the compact eatery only seats 30 and once you score a table, there are plenty of reasons why you wont want to leave.

Read my profile of Hanmoto in the restaurants section.

The best furniture stores in Toronto are stellar showcases for local and international design (and, with a big enough budget, your home can be one, too). Though clean, contemporary style continues to dominate the city's design scene, these stores reinterpret current trends in myriad ways, from industrial-cool to sleek minimalism to statement-making drama.

Here are the best furniture stores in Toronto.

See also:

The Best Vintage Furniture Stores in Toronto
The Best Antique Stores in Toronto
The Best Salvage and Reclaimed Furniture in Toronto

The average price of a detached home has surpassed the $1 million mark for the first time in Toronto's history. That's a staggering number when you think about it, but it's not really a surprise that our real estate market has reached this point.

Remember when Toronto was ranked the best city in the world to live in? That honour was won based on high rankings across a wide range of criteria, but there's one metric that the city trailed well behind on: affordability. Yes, Toronto is a lovely place to live, but if want to buy a decent home, it's going to cost you a lot of money.

This new mark represents nearly a nine per cent increase over the average price of a detached home as calculated last year. Home sales are up just over 11 per cent this year, while supply is down, which partially accounts for the significant price bump. Better get saving if you want your own white picket fence.

After 20 years in the coffee biz, the brother-sister team behind one of the Beaches' most beloved cafes have headed westward to Leslieville. That's good news for east-enders who love their freshly house-roasted coffee and homemade baked goods - they're still roasting beans and baking up muffins daily in the new space.

Read my profile of the Leslieville location of Remarkable Bean in the cafes section.

When it rains it pours... e-sports bars. Hot on the heels of the announcement that Got Game e-Sports Bar and Lounge is set to open in Toronto late this spring, a new player has emerged on the scene, one that is linked to the Meltdown e-sports bar franchise that's become popular in cities across Europe.

Given that Meltdown Toronto is also targeting a spring opening, it remains to be seen which establishment will take the honour of the first to open in Toronto. I'm not sure that it matters, though. While some traditionalists knock the idea of e-sports bars, a city of our size can almost surely support two of these bars.

What will be interesting to see is how both bars go about differentiating themselves. The Meltdown franchise already boasts 12 branches around the world and has become the early standard for bars of this type. That might hold some weight as the e-sports bar scene lands in Toronto.

Meltdown hopes to open in May or June near College and Spadina. The e-sports surge is almost here, Toronto.

Photo of Meltdown London

Cycling season might seem like an eternity away if you're a fair weather rider, but here's a little something to get gearheads excited about. Toronto company Helix claims to have designed the world's smallest folding bike. Regardless of whether that turns out to be true, this is certainly the slickest looking version of such a bike I've ever seen.

Crafted out of titanium and weighing a paltry 21 pounds (very light for a folding bike), the Helix looks sturdier than many of its competitors. When folded, the bike comes in at a tiny 23" × 25" × 9" -- which means that it's only slightly larger than its wheels, which, it's worth noting, also work when in the compact position for easy transport when not riding.

The bike has yet to be officially released, but company founder Peter Boutakis plans to launch a Kickstarter campaign in the coming weeks. The estimated retail price for the Helix will be $1850, with a $350 discount for orders placed through the crowdfunding campaign. So it ain't cheap, but it also looks like an ideal ride for those with small apartments and condos in Toronto.

Check out the video below to see the bike in action.

Working at the TTC can be pretty dangerous. Subway track workers spend their day in dark, noisy conditions with the constant threat of electrocution or injury from passing trains. Streetcar and bus drivers must safely direct a large, valuable vehicle through an ever changing obstacle course while courteously processing passengers and reacting to unexpected problems.

At the TTC's Hillcrest facility on Bathurst St., new recruits are put through their paces in a variety of controlled environments from hyper-realistic bus and streetcar simulators to an accurate mock-up of the inside of a subway tunnel--dim light, deafening noise and all. The result, the TTC hopes, is a safer ride for its staff and customers, even if sometimes a driver forgets to apply the parking brake.

Here's a look behind the scenes at the TTC's training facilities.

The bus simulator is a FAAC Inc. MB-2000--the standard training device at transit systems across North America, including Los Angeles and New York City. "It allows you to teach a simple, core concept like 'how do I get a bus around a corner' without damaging everything in sight," says Jack Martin, the instructor in charge of the machine. "We can write it down, there's a textbook that explains how it should be done, there's a slide presentation that explains it's done, but that doesn't give you a chance to really do it," he says.

The simulator has small screens where each mirror would be and the steering wheel jolts and vibrates to virtual objects that pass under the wheels (trust me--avoiding the curb is harder than it looks.) Training takes 25 days. On the second day, students advance to a driving real bus in a controlled environment. Those who fail the training are not allowed to apply again for two years.

"Almost every single person who comes into this room thinks they need to learn how to drive a bus around a corner--the truth is they already know," Martin says. "There are two simple instances in your life where you had to learn this exact same skill ... one of them is pushing a shopping cart around a supermarket ... the first time you learned it was when you were five, pulling a child in a wagon. If you turn around the tree too soon, your sister falls out and now you're in trouble."

Fare collectors receive training inside a mock booth at Hillcrest. The fake station entrance includes a working turnstile, credit and debit machine, and cash vault which, by the way, only armoured security are allowed to access.

The new streetcar simulator was installed a few months ago as part of the TTC's $1.2-billion contract with Bombardier for a fleet of new low-floor vehicles. The training cab is an exact replica of the real thing: the seat vibrates when the virtual streetcar moves over track switches and the swoosh of outside traffic is piped in through speakers. The only things that aren't a match are the mirrors.

The training streetcar operates in a virtual version of Toronto. Landmarks like City Hall, the Art Gallery of Ontario, and Yonge-Dundas Square glide by out the "windows." Most importantly, every inch of the TTC's streetcar network is rendered accurately in the computer down to the slightest curve.

Just making the new streetcar stop and start is surprisingly simple. The operator uses a touch-sensitive lever to control power and braking; push it forward and the vehicle begins to accelerate, pull back to slow down. Just don't let go. The system knows when the operator's hand has left the controls and if it isn't replaced within four seconds the emergency brake will bring the journey to a sudden halt.

Once trainees are comfortable with starting and stopping the instructors add in controlling the doors, signalling, even contacting transit control or dialling 911 if there's a medical emergency or a disturbance on board. Fixing technical issues like blown fuses or detached trolley poles is also part of the curriculum.

"It's just getting people used to things that can go wrong," says Lionel Jordan, a senior streetcar instructor. Instructors can also steer pedestrians into the street, swerve cars, and cause all manner of chaos with the weather. "Here we can throw snow at you in July," he says. Day can turn to night in seconds and rain has been known to fall from a clear blue sky.

The track level room was added after the death of 49-year-old track worker Peter Pavlovski, who was struck by a work train near Yorkdale station in 2012. It includes an accurate mock-up of the track inside old cut-and-cover and newer bored subway tunnels, as well as the Scarborough RT guideway.

Avoiding the 600-volt third rail is important, but so is understanding the various warning lights and signals used in the tunnel environment, says Karim Rajan, a subway instructor. "It allows our trainees to get some hands-on experience before actually going to track level and experiencing the real thing," he says.

The lights in the training room can be dimmed to match the ambient light level in a real tunnel while large speakers play the sound of passing trains, drowning out conversation. The gear on the floor includes a basket for catching trash and a device that automatically activates the emergency brakes of a train if a signal is passed at red.

Unlike the subway, Scarborough RT track includes a nickel-iron reaction rail that generates forward thrust when combined with an electromagnet mounted under each of the trains. The live third rail is located to the side.

Bus drivers are shown how to alter the display at the front of the bus, load the bike racks, and safely secure mobility device users inside the vehicle, says instructor John Benyon. Safely fastening a wheelchair may sometimes take up to 10 minutes, he says.

"We teach the new hires as well as the recertifications how to properly use the bike rack," says Benyon. Most cyclists know how to load their bicycles, but drivers are on hand to offer assistance. All operators must return to the classroom at least once every five years for refresher training.

Before graduating Hillcrest and hitting the streets for real, bus trainees must drive a specially equipped training vehicle that tracks and logs their every movement.

Cornering g-forces, braking force, whether or not the driver looked both ways at a stop sign are all tracked by an array of sensors and cameras on the inside and outside of the vehicle, as well as by an instructor.

Xavier Andrenucci monitors the actions of fellow instructor Pam Ashcroft as she steers the sensor-equipped bus along Davenport Rd. Her speed and the current g-forces being applied to the passengers in the vehicle appear in real time on the laptop screen. At the end of the test the computer generates a report based on the quality of the drive.

Ashcroft says the TTC bus that was filmed coasting into a parked vehicle at Bathurst station last night likely didn't have its spring brake applied. The device acts like the parking brake in a regular car, stopping the bus from coasting when it's in neutral or switched off.

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

Images: Chris Bateman/blogTO

Nail salons in Toronto will get you feeling together and polished in no time flat. But with so many (like, so many) nail salons scattered around the city, it can be hard to choose the best one - so we've done the hard work for you. Whether you're looking to get gelled, shellacked or just need a speedy mani/pedi, there's definitely a great option to be found in your neck of the woods.

Here are my picks for the top 25 nail salons in Toronto by neighbourhood.

THE ANNEX
The great thing about Tiffany's Nails, located around Bloor and Spadina above a camera shop, is the service. Don't expect any frills at this place - just fast and efficient service at $17 for a manicure and $28 for a pedicure (or just $7 for a polish change).

THE BEACHES
The staff at Fresh Nails pay close attention to details, whether it's designs or just giving you a great shellac mani, which many say will last you weeks and weeks without chipping (talk about money's worth!). For just $35 you can get a mani/pedi combo.

BLOOR WEST VILLAGE
You'll love the huge selection of nail colours (over 300 to be exact!) at Ana's Nail Boutique and if you're like me, will have the hardest time choosing! They offer organic gel manicures that will keep your nails healthy, or you can opt for a classic mani for just $15, while a classic pedi will cost you $25.

CABBAGETOWN


If you don't need any thrills and frills just to get your nails done, only quality service - then Star Nails is for you. At just $15 for a mani and $25 for a pedi, the service is quick and efficient.  

CORKTOWN
With a lovely staff that pays close attention to detail to ensure that every nail is perfectly polished, Pinky Nails & Spa has a loyal clientele that wouldn't go anywhere else. Hey, they even throw in a shoulder massage during your mani/pedi if you're into that kinda thing. A mani will cost you $18 while a pedi is $29.

THE DANFORTH
If you're cool shelling out a few extra dollars to get polished in a trendy and comfortable space, then Tips Nail Bar is the place to go. Here they do gel, shellac, spa manis and pedis ($30 & $50), as well as speedy versions for those on the go.

ETOBICOKE
This place has a handful of regulars who would never go anywhere else but Aqua Nails and Spa - and for good reason. Their manis will set you back $13 while a pedi is $25 - great prices for their attentive service.

FOREST HILL VILLAGE


A great place to spend the day and get pampered is the Forest Hill Spa - and what a better way to top off a facial or massage then with some pretty fingers and toes? There's a variety of different hand and foot treatments, but you can't go wrong with a regular mani ($26) and pedi ($65).

JUNCTION
When you want your nails polished but are on a serious budget, Lucy Nails is your best bet. At just $8 for a manicure (!) and $18 for a pedicure, you'll definitely want to call ahead to make an appointment as this place is guaranteed to be busy.

KING WEST
Make a date with your girlfriends at Her Majesty's Pleasure where you can get your nails done while sipping on bubbly or coffee from their bar, and then proceed to get a blowout - definitely your one-stop shop for looking and feeling great. Their signature manicure will set you back $35 while a pedicure will cost you $45.

LESLIEVILLE
Timeless Nails is perpetually busy, thanks to their rep for quality and portfolio of fun nail art. Get your nails done at this spot for just $15 for a mani or $25 for a pedi.

LEASIDE


With a variety of OPI polishes (the good stuff!) to choose from, Unique Nails is actually a few dollars cheaper than your average nails salon at just $13 for a mani. They're great at accommodating your schedule is you're a girl on the go.

LIBERTY VILLAGE
Can you think of a better name for a place to get beautified than The Beauty Room? Located inside the L Studio Salon and Spa, this place offers facials, waxing, and of course, manis and pedis ($28 and $48 for the basics). The best thing about getting a pedicure here is that you get to relax in an esthetic bed, rather than a chair.

LITTLE ITALY
Lily of the Valley does a little bit of everything. Here you can get your hair cut, get waxed, and of course, get your nails done. This one stop shop has a pretty Asian décor and you're guaranteed to get a quality manicure or pedicure ($30 & $40, respectively).

NORTH YORK
The friendly and attentive staff at Daisy Nails makes for a wonderful experience and even better nails! Regular manis are $15 while pedicures are $25 but they're known for the amazing shellac manicures (so you're getting a good paint job that will last!).

RONCESVALLES VILLAGE
While there may be another nail salon that has set up shop right next door, many say that it doesn't rival the quality of Q8 Nails & Spa. At just $15 for a mani and $25 for a pedi, if you're situated in Roncesvalles, this place is for you.

ROSEDALE
Gee Beauty does a little bit of everything, from laser hair removal to skin rejuvenation so it's no surprise that you can get a manicure that goes above and beyond. They do a basic mani for $25 but if you're looking for something a little extra, they offer a hand lightening mani that will get rid of sun spots and make your hands look radiant.

SCARBOROUGH
At just $35 for mani/pedi combo, you really can't go wrong at Scarborough's Fancy Nails. The staff are professional and courteous and will make you feel right at home while getting polished.



ST. CLAIR WEST
Another Tiffany Nails on the list (though not associated with the Annex shop), Tiffany Nails and Spa is just west of Bathurst. This place is known for being impeccably clean, and the nail technicians are perfectionists when it comes to giving your tips the best application possible. A regular mani will cost you $18 while $25 will get you a pedi.

WEST QUEEN WEST
With a number of locations around Toronto, The Ten Spot may be known for their amazing waxes, but they do some pretty good nails too. Here you can get just a basic polish change ($15), quickie mani/pedis ($22/$38), regular mani/pedis ($30/$50), and gel mani/pedis ($45/$65).

YONGE & EGLINTON


You can tell just by the name that Pretty in the City

 is going to be adorable. This chic boutique-like salon offers a full range of services, notably lash-extensions and their Gellish manis/pedis. It's a little pricier than most at $36 for a manicure and $46 for a pedicure - but they say you get what you pay for!

YONGE & LAWRENCE
Many say NailSense is the cleanest nail salon that you'll find in Toronto, and with a 7-day guarantee that your shellac or gel won't chip (if it does, they'll fix it for free!), you really can't go wrong here. Get a manicure here for $15 or pedicure for $25 - or get both for the combo price of $35.

YONGE & ST. CLAIR


Known for being absolutely spotless (obviously, very important when working on your precious fingers and toes), Nail Boutique has a great and updated selection of colours that you can get put on your fingers for $16 or toes for $29.



YONGE & WELLESLEY
Known for their amazing nail designs, and of course, their gel manicures, Get Gelled has a cozy boutique vibe that will make you feel relaxed as you get your nails done. Their popular Get Gelled Mani is $50 - plus they offer free Shellac removal.

YORKVILLE
Of course, coming to the fancy Four Seasons Spa will cost you a little more (okay - a lot more) than most nail spas ($50 for a mani, $85 for a pedi), but the manicurists take their time (like an hour or more) on your nails and will gladly re-do if you're not satisfied.

Did I miss any? Leave your favourite manicure-pedicure spots in the comments.

Photos via Gee Beauty, Get Gelled.

Someone just dropped $16,100 on the football themed tie Rob Ford wore when he admitted smoking crack cocaine in November 2013. The mystery bidder, identified as a***a on the site, beat out 41 other people for the chance to spend the equivalent a year's rent on the 20-year-old accessory.

In a somewhat disturbing move, the former mayor has been auctioning off his used clothes on eBay: the sweatshirt he wore in that infamous photo outside 15 Windsor Rd. with murder victim Anthony Smith, his Don Bosco Eagles jacket, and various sports jerseys--all complete with a signed certificate of authenticity.

Don't worry, $1,610 is going to cancer research. The rest? Who knows.

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

Photo by Jeremy Gilbert in blogTO Flickr Pool.

Today in Toronto the First Annual Toronto Sushi Festival will run until tomorrow at the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre. Touting itself as Canada's largest sushi fest, we'll all have to see if it's unfun or pretty good (will you risk it?). $30 gets you five food tickets. At TIFF the I for Iran festival, curated by Iranian filmmakers, is screening a can't-miss retrospective until until April 3rd. Check out the programming here.

The Sketch Comedy Festival kicks off today until March 15th, if your funny bone is hurting for attention. Future is the Future's online clothing shop for guys and gals is throwing a party, while, speaking of future, the new Fresh & Future weirdo electronic music series is back on Bloor at Bassline. On this month's line up are Sexy Merlin, Zoo Owl, Kovacevic, and Baalam x S/ck F/sh. Before 11pm both drinks and cover are $5. For more events, click on over to our events section.

• Film: Sushi Festival (Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre)
• Film: I for Iran (TIFF)
• Music: Fresh & Future (Bassline)
• Comedy: Sketch Comedy Fest
• Music: Death to Vag Halen (Smiling Buddha)
• Art: The Wild Colin Boyd Shafer & Anna Sabrina Sopian (Black Cat)
• Music: Moon Duo (Silver Dollar)
• Music: Sam Cash & The RoDo (Cameron House)

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

Toronto Restaurant Openings highlights the latest restaurant openings and closings in Toronto and also gives a preview of what's coming soon. Find us here every Thursday morning.

OPEN NOW

• The Dirtybird Chicken + Waffle outfit is now open at 79 Kensington Ave. serving up Northern Fried Chicken which in this case, means coated in maple dust.
• Famous Laffa has opened its second location at 6283 Yonge St. in North York.

RECENTLY REVIEWED

• Hanmoto
• Honest Weight
• Mr. Mike's
• Bar Raval

OPENING SOON

• Trinity Common is set to take over 303 Augusta Ave. where Waterfalls Indian Tapas Bar used be.
• Kasa Moto, a new contemporary Japanese restaurant from The Chase Hospitality group is slated to open this spring at 115 Yorkville Ave., where Remy's was before it was briefly converted to Montage.
• Marky of Marky & Sparky's is going solo. Marky's BBQ Smokehouse is relocating to the Mad Mexican's former digs at 383 Jane St. and is slated to open March 15.

CLOSING

• Le Kensington Bistro & Rotisserie is cleared out and sporting a For Lease sign in the window.
• The Happy Hooker at 887 Dundas St. West has gone belly up.
• Middle Eastern restaurant 93 Harbord has been shuttered.

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

Photo of Famous Laffa

Finding fresh pita in a Toronto has long been an obsession of mine. I grew up eating Sababa, and it didn't occur to be until I moved downtown (many dry falafel wraps and sad shawarma sandwiches later) that fresh pita is not as ubiquitous as I'd thought.

Luckily in recent years, the pita situation in this city has improved, restaurants are baking their own (acknowledging that fresh bread is crucial to great food), and Middle Eastern grocers in the GTA are making the good stuff from scratch.

Here are my picks for where to find the freshest pita in Toronto.

Adonis
The Middle Eastern grocery chain from Montreal has set up shop in Mississauga and Scarborough and bakes fresh pita in sight of curious customers. Watch as stretched dough travels through the oven on a conveyor belt, where it inflates like a balloon then cools enroute to being bagged.

Sababa
To my knowledge, Sababa is the longest running pita bakery in Toronto. The restaurant and grocer has been in business since 1987 baking fresh pita bread (plain, sesame, whole wheat and mini) each morning, which can be had as a sandwich, in part of a mezze spread or bought in bags by the half dozen.

Arz Fine Foods
Fresh pita bread made by Arz's offsite bakery is delivered to the Scarborough supermarket daily (except on Tuesdays). Available in bags of a half dozen or used for sandwiches, you'll find plain and whole wheat varieties in sizes ranging from regular to extra large.

District Oven
As its name suggests, the flaming stone oven is the heart of this Middle Eastern restaurant at College and Ossington. Here, house-made flat breads and pitas are baked fresh nightly and best had alongside mezze dips and spreads.

Rose City Kitchen
The tiny falafel shop on Queen near Spadina sells half moon, pita pocket sandwiches that are a cut above thanks to freshly baked bread. Thick, puffy pita bread arrives par-baked to the shop, and is finished onsite in a stone oven for ultimate freshness.

BONUS

Pita Bros.
This wholesale supplier stocks major supermarkets throughout Southern Ontario, but to enjoy their pita at its freshest, order ahead and pick up bags of regular and whole wheat varieties at their bakery outlet on Chesswood Drive in North York.

Lead photo from Adonis

When Toronto last retired a fleet of streetcars, it sent 742 of its 744 workhorse maroon and beige Presidents' Conference Committee vehicles to a dizzying array of locations around the world. 10 went to Mexico to serve with the Transportes Eléctricos de Tampico, San Francisco took 11, and Philadelphia's SEPTA transit agency bought 29 after a fire at a car barn on Woodland Avenue wiped out a third of the city's rolling stock.

By far the biggest buyer, however, was the city of Alexandria in Egypt, which took 139 of the former Toronto vehicles for use on its extensive tram network.

Those that weren't scrapped by the TTC were sold off to buyers across the U.S. and Canada: museums, heritage railways, private collectors, even restaurants snapped up the heavily-used vehicles that debuted in Toronto on Sept. 22, 1938 and were retired starting in the early 1980s.

On Eglinton East near Bermondsy Rd., La Pentola ("The Pot") restaurant offered diners the chance to eat in a used streetcar. Velvet curtains were added for romantic privacy and a Canadian flag strung from the trolley pole. The driver's controls were stripped and replaced with a cocktail bar.

At Dundas and Bay, where the Atrium on Bay stands now, a used PCC was painted bright red and stored on rails at the edge of a surface parking lot. It housed a boutique owned by two art teachers: Wesley D'Angelo and Frieda Hafezi. They sold it in for $16,500 in 1975 and it was shipped to Thornhill, where it became offices on a corn farm and later, once again, a boutique at Rutherford Rd. and Bathurst. It has since been scrapped.

In Springville, New York, a small town about 35 kms south of Buffalo, another former Toronto Transit Commission streetcar--#4434--was renamed "A Streetcar Named Desert" (catchy, right?) and installed on a curved side street off the town's main strip. Inside and on the small wooden deck added to the exterior, staff served coffee, tea, cappuccino, and espresso before the business closed down some time after Oct. 2007.

One place where it's still possible to dine inside a streetcar is in Primrose, Ontario, where Highways 10 and 89 meet. Super Burger, which divides Mulmur and Mono in Dufferin County, has used #4314 for decades, though its days may be numbered now the owners are planning to move to a new building.

The afterlife wasn't kind to all PCCs. Some lie rusting in fields in Ohio and Pennsylvania, while others are stored on private property, stripped of their working parts or heavily damaged. Evocative though the photos might be, it's hard not to feel a twinge of sadness at the slow death of these once working machines.

On the map below, red pins mark locations where TTC PCCs were sent and later scrapped, yellow where cars ended up junked but otherwise whole. Blue pins represent sites where streetcars were stored in working condition, green where PCCs are maintained and still operate.

(Note: I've tried to verify the accuracy of each pin on the map, but in some cases it's just not possible to confirm whether or not a PCC seen in a field 10 years ago is still there. The bulk of my information came from this list and the consistently excellent Transit Toronto, which has photos of some of the old restaurant PCCs and detailed stories about the fate of Toronto's once mighty streetcar fleet.)

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

Lead photo by Frank Yang