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Builder of mystery tunnel in Toronto comes forward

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Toronto tunnel builderThree days after the Toronto police hastily closed the case of the mystery tunnel near York University with little explanation, the builder of the bunker has come forward. 22 year old Elton McDonald filled in a number of holes in the story in an interview with The Sun, though he claims that there's still more to tell.

"I just want people to know that I meant no harm at all," he told columnist Joe Warmington. "It was not meant as a bad thing...It was just something I always wanted to do. I knew I could do it. It was kind of a fun project for me and some friends."

As for the specific motivation to build the tunnel, McDonald considered it an engineering challenge. As a construction worker, he decided it would be fun to build a hideout. And, to end one bit of the discussion, he points out that it was never meant to be a tunnel.

"It wasn't really a tunnel. I was going to expand it to have a couple of rooms. I was hoping to put in a TV. I did some barbecuing there. It was more a place to hang out."

So, there you have it. What the police cryptically referred to as "personal reasons" were just that: a 22 year old dude making his dream mancave. McDonald lives near York University, so the location was selected for convenience, rather than its proximity to the school or the Rexall Centre.

McDonald promises that he'll talk more about the tunnel soon, but it seems like we finally have a clear picture of what the mysterious cave was for.


The top 10 musicians from Degrassi

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degrassi musiciansIt seems every teen TV show since 1980 has had their in-show high school band, along with a drop-in pop star appearances. Degrassi High starts with the Zit Remedy, and the Next Generation would have Downtown Sasquatch, WhisperHug and others. Keke Palmer, Alanis Morisette, Billy Ray Cyrus, and Fefe Dobson were among the many stars to play themselves on TNG.

Of the list of actors on Degrassi High (originally Degrassi Jr. High), Degrassi (originally Degrassi: The Next Generation), and the TV movies, a number would pursue music careers after leaving the shows.

Here are my picks for the top 10 Degrassi actors to have music careers.

Drake
Acting under his given name, Aubrey (Drake) Graham, Drake played "Jimmy" Brooks the basketball star who would up crippled after a school shooting. Since graduating from the show, Drake's earned three Juno's, a Grammy, and over five million in album sales. This year he's already tied the Beatles with every song from If You're Reading This It's Too Late appearing at once on the Billboard charts. If Torontonians have their way, he may one day get a key to the city.

Amanda Stepto
Amanda Stepto played Christine "Spike" Nelson on Degrassi High and Degrassi for a total of 183 episodes. Spike became pregnant at 14 and her daughter Emma is in Degrassi. Stepto now can be heard as "DJ Demanda" and matched up with Stacie Mistysyn "DJ Mistylicious" playing regular gigs. Fans can now find her spinning the best of the 80's at Disgraceland.

Stacie Mistysyn
Stacie Mistysyn starred in Degrassi High as school journalist hopeful Caitlyn Ryan, and then a TV journalist on Degrassi. Fans followed Caitlyn's romantic relationships with Joey, Claude, Joey again, Claude again, Keith, and Jesse (and not Ms. Avery), and Mistysyn fans can follow her spinning discs as "DJ Mistylicious," often with DJ Demanda (see above).

Jake Epstein
Jake Epstein has landed a number of musical roles after playing bipolar musician Craig Manning on Degrassi. He's starred in productions of Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast, and Billy Elliot. He was the Broadway alternating lead in Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark, and as Gerry Goffin in Broadway's Beautiful: The Carole King.

Shane Kippel
Degrassi fans may love or hate "Spinner" Mason depending as the character transitioned from bully to suffering from ADHD to the school shooting and drumming in Downtown Sasquatch. Also the drummer in rock band Dear Love, Kippel is part of Sound Speed! with Degrassi alumni Raymond Ablack ("Sav") on vocals, Dalmar Abuzeid ("Danny") on bass, Jamie Johnston ("Peter") on guitar, Scott Paterson (Degrassi: "Johnny") on trumpet/key-tar.

Mike Lobel
Mike Lobel who played "Jay" Hogart, maintains his real life personality doesn't resemble his on-screen character. Jay was a bully who was involved in several illegal activities in Degrassi. A drummer since the age of nine, Lobel plays synth, percussion, and ukulele in the Toronto indie band Boys Who Say No.

Nicole Stoffman
Nicole Stoffman's Degrassi High character Stephanie Kaye Kobalewsky would immediately be remembered for her attire ("pulling a Stephanie"). After Degrassi High she fell in love with jazz and gypsy jazz. In 2002 she played in Jeff Healey's Jazz Wizzards, formed Nicole Stoffman's Le Jazz Boheme (now disbanded), and performed in French cafes, jazz clubs, and corporate events.

Cassie Steele
Cassie Steele starred as the relationship troubled "Manny Santos" on Degrassi for 9 years. She was later on the L.A. Complex, and has since moved to L.A. and recorded two full length alt-rock/grunge albums and one EP. "How Much for Happy" was released in 2005 and has a version of Jimi Hendrix's "Hey Joe" on it. "Destructo Doll" was released in 2009; EP "Shifty" was released in 2014.

Anna Lewis
After sharing a two-year Degrassi onscreen relationship with Drake, as Hazel and Jimmy, Anna Lewis is happy to be transitioning from acting to music. Lewis played Degrassi's ethnically ashamed Muslim character on the show for five years. She has released two R&B albums, "Float Away" (2005) and "54321" (2010).

Melissa McIntyre
In a sort of life imitates art instance, Melissa McIntyre's character Ashley Kerwin on Degrassi leaves the series to pursue a career in music (with Craig). Melissa who loves singing, after Degrassi, would go on to sing as a harmony vocalist in (former INXE singer) JD Fortune's band Fortune.

Did I miss any Degrassi actors who have music careers? Let us know in the comments.

Don't forget to re-watch your favourite Degrassi Jr. High moments.

Massive sushi restaurant opening soon in Yorkville

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sushi yorkvilleKasa Moto, a new contemporary Japanese restaurant from the Chase Hospitality Group, is set to open in Yorkville this spring. It will be the fifth restaurant for the group behind upmarket establishments, The Chase, The Chase Fish & Oyster, Little Fin, and Colette.

The multi-storey building that was once home to Remy's (and more recently the flash in the pan that was Montage), is being revamped by award-winning firm II BY IV Design and will feature a dramatically lit, minimal space accented by warm woods and lush indoor topiaries.

The main floor will seat 150, while the 60-seat second floor will be occupied by Bar Moto, a private dining room and event venue. Crowning the dining experience will be a sprawling rooftop terrace with room for 180. You can expect this to be one of the most monied patios in Toronto.

On the food front, the early indication is that the menu from Chefs Tsuyoshi Yoshinaga (Yasu, Kaji) and Daisuke Izutsu (Don Don Izakaya, Kaiseki Sakura) will feature contemporary Japanese flavours and artful presentations. More info will become available as the restaurant nears its opening date.

Toronto gets a new chicken and waffles joint

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Chicken Waffles TorontoToronto's newest chicken and waffle joint officially opened yesterday and is now serving up that famous Southern staple with a northern twist. Succulent fried chicken here is dusted in a signature maple seasoning and served in multi-piece meals or with fluffy waffles.

Read my profile of The Dirty Bird in the restaurants section.

House of the week: 336 Melrose Avenue

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336 Melrose Toronto336 Melrose Avenue could be a California dream home, that is, if you overlook the icicles hanging off the front and the snow-covered backyard. Currently listed for $2,249,000, the sweet former bungalow near Avenue and Lawrence has been transformed into a sophisticated modern abode with four plus bedrooms and five bathrooms.

The exterior of the home is a teaser, tempting potential buyers and curious passerby's with its colourful stucco facade. Inside, it's a "jaw-dropping architectural masterpiece," (reads the brokerbabble), a claim that might be debated among readers. The interior is both enticing and confusing--a mishmash of colours, textures, pot lights and mahogany trim, trying to exist as one.

The main floor is open concept with high ceilings, a fire place, and a kitchen with a decorative wild grass inspired wrought iron screen. The second and third floors feature a master bedroom with a large walk-in closet, freestanding bathtub with a skylight and a TV room with an outdoor patio.

336 Melrose TorontoSPECS

  • Address: 336 Melrose Avenue
  • Price: $2,249,000 
  • Lot Size: 25x150 FT
  • Bedrooms: 4+1
  • Bathrooms: 5
  • Parking: 2
  • Taxes: $9,303
  • Walk Score: 87

336 Melrose TorontoNOTABLE FEATURES

  • Three-storeys
  • 27' ceilings
  • Alarm system
  • Basement guest suite
  • Private driveway
  • Landscaped backyard

336 Melrose TorontoGOOD FOR

A large private backyard. Although it's difficult to see in the winter, the backyard is landscaped with a high fence and room to expand.

336 Melrose TorontoMOVE ON IF

You hate stairs. The three-storey house has staircases galore, spread over five levels. Possibly troublesome for anyone with knee problems or young children.

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS336 Melrose Toronto336 Melrose Toronto336 Melrose Toronto336 Melrose Toronto336 Melrose Toronto336 Melrose Toronto336 Melrose Toronto336 Melrose Toronto336 Melrose Toronto336 Melrose Toronto336 Melrose Toronto336 Melrose Toronto

Worth the asking price? Have your say in the comments below.

Read other posts in this series via our House of the Week Pinterest board.

Thanks to Bosley Real Estate for sponsoring our House of the Week.

Shuttered Toronto vinyl shop comes to life in new home

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record store torontoAfter securing itself as one of Toronto's best known record shops on for 18 years on Queen West, crate diggers triggered by rumours of its closure will breathe a sigh of relief to know this classic vinyl hunting pit stop has not gone deadpool but relocated to much classier digs in Mirvish Village.

Read my profile of the newly relocated Neurotica in the services section.

Kids in the Hall kicking off new tour in Toronto

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kids in the hall torontoAs the Toronto Sketch Comedy Festival gets up and running, there's more laughter headed our way in spring: Kids in the Hall have announced they'll begin their newest tour with not one, not two, not three, but four live gigs in Toronto.

New and classic sketches will be performed at the Danforth Music Hall April 23-26 by Dave Foley, Bruce McCulloch, Kevin McDonald, Mark McKinney, and Scott Thompson. There's no note in the press release advising your to dress as your favourite old school character from the CBC show... but there's no warning not to.

Between now and April 23 you have approximately 1,134 hours to re-watch the hundred or so Kids in the Hall episodes. Tickets go on sale Friday, March 6th.

Whose grandmother's clothes will you be borrowing for this KITH tour? Describe your drag dreams in detail in the comments.

Tanya Tagaq & 1,000 performers to stage Apocalypsis

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Apocalypsis LuminatoEarlier this winter Luminato revealed that David Byrne will be bringing in St. Vincent, tUnE-yArDs, How to Dress Well, Kelis, Nelly Furtardo, and more for Contemporary Colour, but the summer festival's art blockbusters won't stop there.

A recreation of Apocalypsis, Murray Schafer's spooky 1980 apocalyptic mega-production, is slated for June, and while that might not ring any bells (it was only performed once before, and in London, Ontario), the jaw dropping part for most will be that 1,000 performers will be dancing and acting in the production in total - including Polaris Prize winner Tanya Tagaq, Laurie Anderson, Brent Carver, and Nina Arsenault.

Tagaq, who's in Toronto this weekend, is in to play The Old Woman, Anderson will voice the part of John, Arsenault will perform as the Whore of Babylon (jealous), and Carver will play the roll of a lifetime: the Antichrist.

The Sony Centre itself will be forced to shrink from 3,191 seats to 1,800 to accommodate the performance, which at one point will feature twelve string quartets. Multiple and abstract time signatures and visualizations of music as waves will lead conductors to use stop watches, and every single member of the Music Gallery will be there. I can't wait.

Learm more about Apocalypsis (June 26-28) online here.


The top weekend events in Toronto: March 6 - 8 2015

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Weekend events TorontoWeekend events in Toronto give you a ton of ways to celebrate the birth of our iced-over city. If you're more in the mood for extreme vintage shopping or stuffing your face candy and watching cult movies than partying, we understand, and we're here to help. Read on.

Here are my picks for the top events happening in Toronto March 6-8, 2015.

Happy Birthday Toronto (March 6, Steam Whistle Brewery)
Toronto turns 181 years old on Friday, which makes us more or less of a punk. Drink to our continuing history at the official bash at Steam Whistle, or stare out your window forlornly waiting for summer. Whichever sounds like more fun. Either way, bottoms up to the history of the 6.

FOOD

Sushi Festival (Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre, March 5-6)
The First Annual Toronto Sushi Festival runs until Friday 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.

Feast in the East (March 7, Jam Factory)
Here's the show that feeds you and your ears for a mere $8 in advance. Feast in the East this month will bring HSY (Buzz Records), Shrines, Retired, and We Are Not Who We Are to the east end, with a Southern American dinner by Stephanie Fielding & Heather Rule.

PARTY

Danny Krivit (March 7, Revival)
For the 17th anniversary of the Solid Garage parties, the soulful house promoters have booked NYC dance music pioneer Danny Krivit. A true underground icon, Krivit has a expert touch that reflects his 45 years of DJing, and he's sure to bring a huge selection of his acclaimed personal re-edits and remixes. 10 pm. BB

FILM

I for Iran (TIFF, Until April 3)
At TIFF, the I for Iran festival, curated by Iranian filmmakers, is screening a can't-miss retrospective until until April 3rd. Films this weekend include The Cow (1969), The Night of the Hunchback (1965), and Still Life (1974). Check out the programming here.

Romy & Michelle's Highschool Reunion (March 7, Videofag)
Eat junk food at this Romy & Michelle's Highschool Reunion screening and party this Saturday with friends - you get a surprise goody bag if you bring your best friend. Or a phone? There will be Cyndi Lauper sheet music.

LIVE MUSIC

Tanya Tagaq (Aga Khan Museum, March 6-7)
2014 Polaris Prize winner Tanya Tagaq is back for two nights, and this will be the perfect opportunity to check out the Aga Khan Museum's concert facilities. Get a preview of the brilliant contemporary throat singer's performance chops here - but my best advice is to just be at the show.

TOPS (March 8, Smiling Buddha)
More great deals - Montreal synthpop band TOPS will be in town, performing along with local spine-tingling psych folk group Tasseomancy. Should be a dreamy $8 night.

ART

Jean-Michel Basquiat: the Radiant Child (March 7, The Bloor Cinema)
Whether you've made it to the Jean-Michel Basquiat exhibit at the AGO yet or not, this documentary is a must-see for both long-time fans, art and graffiti lovers, or anyone who loves a good narrative - even though David Bowie isn't in this one.

Urban Goose Chase (?, March 7)
On Saturday Toronto artist Alex Millington will reveal the first clue to his newest brainchild, The Urban Goose Chase: a hunt around the city for a piece of artwork, namely a golden goose crafted by Millington himself. Read more here, and keep refreshing the page because early bird something something.

Art Feminism Wikipedia Edit-A-Thon (March 8, AGO)
On Sunday, the AGO will host a Feminism Wikipedia Edit-A-Thon for International Women's Day. All you need is a Wikipedia account (free). The AGO's list of artists and staff on site includes an amazing line up: Deirdre Logue and Allyson Mitchell, Rosamond Ivey, and Special Collections Archivist Amy Furness.

SHOPPING & LIFESTYLE

Vintage Clothing & Antique Show (March 7-8, Exhibition Place)
Want to "shop like it's 1969"? The Toronto Vintage Clothing Show and the Toronto Antique & Vintage Market are both included with admission to The Queen Elizabeth Building, so you can grab a vintage designer handbag and a tastefully weathered hook to hang it on.

THEATRE & COMEDY

Sketch Comedy Festival (Until March 15)
The Sketch Comedy Festival is on at venues around Toronto until March 15th, if your funny bone is hurting for attention. Check out their website for two weeks of hilarious, SAD curing programming here here

Blithe Spirit (Princess of Wales Theatre, February 11 - March 15)
Angela Lansbury plays Madame Arcati in Noel Coward's Blithe Spirt, which comes to Toronto after critically acclaimed runs on Broadway and in West End London. The television star has been lauded for her performance in the sophisticated comedy that pits two wives -- one dead, one living -- against one another in a battle for the heart of Charles Condomine. KB

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 Keith Bennie, Ben Boles

Photo by Mark Sivilia via Ben's Beer Blog

The Best Pilates in Toronto

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pilates in torontoThe best pilates studios in Toronto offer the foundation of pilates: strength, length and core. And there are plenty of studio choices in Toronto, all with their own unique way of teaching. Initially, pilates - which was named after founder Joseph Pilates - was invented for rehabilitation and physical therapy. Now, studios have evolved their teaching styles as they continue to learn more about the intricacies of the body's biomechanics.

Here are best pilates studios in Toronto.

See also:The best yoga studios in Toronto

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Toronto Food Events: TIFF Food On Film, Curry Fest, Beerworking, Songkran, Terroir Symposium

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songkran torontoToronto Food Events rounds up the most delicious events, festivals, pop-ups, winemaker dinners, supper clubs and other food related happenings in Toronto this week and next. You can find us here every Friday morning.

THIS WEEK

  • The Consulate General of Italy and King Street Food Company are partnering together to bring some of Italy's top chefs to Toronto for a series titled Sotto una buona stella (Under a lucky star). Three-star Michelin chef Massimo Bottura flies in to kick off the series tonight, Friday, March 6 for a collaborative six course dinner with Rob Gentile at Buca Osteria & Bar (53 Scollard St.)
  • TIFF's Food On Film series kicks off on Thursday March 11 with Vikram Vij and Meeru Dhalwala hosting a screening of The Lunchbox at 6:30pm. Single tickets are available now for $35 (or $28 for TIFF members), expect free vegetable pakoras supplied by Whole Foods at the launch.

UPCOMING

  • More details about Curry Fest, happening Sunday, March 22 at 2nd Floor Events (461 King St. West), has been announced. Participating vendors (to name a few) include Nana, who will serve Bangkok-inspired dishes like a southern curry sandwich and curry ice cream, and, Bespoke Butchers serving South African lamb curry, Bunny Chow. Tickets are $10.
  • Beerworking hosts it's first beer and bourbon dinner on Sunday, March 22nd at Project OWL (20 Camden St, unit 200). This event will feature Caplansky sandwiches paired with Stack Brewing's suds and bourbons from Buffalo Trace, Eagle Rare and 1792. Tickets are $50 and include, 3 beers, 3 bourbons and 3 sandwiches. Vegetarians should sit this one out.
  • Khao San Road and sister restaurant Nana, celebrate the Songkran Thai New Year on April 12 with its fifth annual street-style party and waterfight festival. This year's party will be held indoors at Nana (785 Queen Street West) over four sessions. Tickets are $40.
  • Tickets ($229) are on sale now for the Terroir Symposium happening all day on Monday, May 11 at Arcadian Court. Now in its 9th year, Canada's leading hospitality symposium, will bring together influential chefs, food and wine experts, restaurateurs and global influencers in gastronomy.


Iron Chef Morimoto to open Toronto restaurant

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Iron Chef Morimoto TorontoIron Chef Morimoto is opening a restaurant in Toronto -- finally. Long rumoured to have his eye on this market, it appears he's settled on a spot in the Theatre Park condo development (224 King St. West) based on information gleaned from Brad Lamb's website.

Urban Toronto reports that the 27-storey development next to the Royal Alexandra Theatre will house a two-level bar, terrace and restaurant - a befitting home for an Iron Chef who was a force to be reckoned with not only on the original Japanese TV series, but also the American spin off.

Chef Masaharu Morimoto already operates restaurants spanning the globe, including locations in Mumbai, New York and Miami. One can expect a slick space given the existing work done by Architects Alliance and II by IV Design. Allez Cuisine!

Inside Normative's Kensington Market office space

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normative designA neighbourhood known for its eclectic shops, vibrant community and great food, Kensington is now home to the new offices of Normative, a design firm that works with Fortune 500 companies as well as startups in Toronto, New York, San Francisco and Los Angeles.

On a messy, snowy February morning, it's easy to gloss over the old vacuum pump packaging warehouse. The newly renovated office boasts 5,400 sq. feet of refinished hardwood floors, sand-blasted exposed brick walls, and soaring 16 foot ceilings.

normative designFormerly located at The Foundery Building near Bathurst and Dundas, Normative is a team of 30 designers, marketers, and thinkers. Co-founders Matthew Milan and Jon Tirmandi started Normative in 2008 with a vision to bring together the best of traditional and modern design practices to better the lives of people and companies in the 21st century.

normative designThe ground floor of 91 Oxford, which is still very much under construction, is a stark contrast to the newly renovated second floor. Robyn, one of the designers at the firm finds me shaking the ice off my boots in the lobby and takes me upstairs to meet Amrita Chandra, the head of marketing at Normative, who also happens to be an expert pancake-maker and a very gracious host.

normative designAside from the obvious love of good design, the team likes to bond over good food and conversation as well. This morning, they're all taking turns manning the pancake and bacon stations for breakfast.

normative designNormative works collaboratively with their clients and a lot of their office space is dedicated to facilitating that type of interaction. One side of the office houses all the full-time staff, while the other side is dedicated to open stations for clients to come in and work with the in-house team on different projects.

normative designWork stations vary from standing desks to smaller rooms with rollable whiteboards for quick prototyping and ideation.

normative office torontoDesigners and design offices are known to be big fans of whiteboards. To support the team's need for writable surfaces while also using the natural light to its full potential, the glass walls of the board room and meeting rooms can all be written on.

normative office torontoThe new trend in office spaces seems to be turning warehouses into offices, and Normative's new space is no different. When Jon first visited the building, he knew it needed some TLC to fully realize its potential. But he liked that the neighbourhood was different, that it wasn't where you'd expect a design company's offices in Toronto to be located, and that it fit the personality of his team.

normative office torontoConverting a vacuum parts packaging company's facilities, however, took a lot of work and roughly six months from signing the lease to actually having the space move-in ready. The team is currently leasing two floors in the three-storey warehouse and plans to expand to the third floor later this year.

normative designIf showers, in-office puppy therapy, and breakfasts weren't perks enough, being located in Kensington offers the team a lot of great lunch options, their favourites include Seven Lives and Rasta Pasta.

A big supporter of Toronto's thriving design scene, Normative is set to host XX+UX Happy Hour on March 25. You can reach the team on Twitter here, and take a look at some of their work here.

Photos by Jimmy Lu.

Legendary nightclub is back and better than ever

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fly torontoThis long-running Toronto nightclub is back in business after closing and undergoing some major renovations. The old dance floor, booming music, and largely cooler-based drink selection remain intact - but some new additions, like a quiet second-floor lounge area, take things up a notch.

Read my review of Fly 2.0 in the bars section.


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This is what the TTC's revamped SRT cars look like

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Scarborough RT makeoverThe TTC recently announced that a makeover was in store for its Scarborough RT trains. With the aging transit line forced to operate until the completion of a new subway line in Scarborough (at least a decade away), it wasn't possible to put off upgrades any longer. Despite the notorious unreliability of the cars, the city is stuck with them for now, so the the TTC will invest $132 million to overhaul the fleet.

The first car has been re-wrapped as part of the makeover. It will travel the SRT to draw attention to the project and allow for the TTC to solicit feedback on the new design. At first glance, it's a major improvement over the dated 1980s aesthetic of the original trains, though it does bear an odd resemblance to the Montreal Metro.

It's also clear that the TTC is invested in rebranding the SRT to "Line 3," with each car prominently marked with this still MTA-looking label (though, in fairness, New York isn't the only city to number its subway lines). That's not a bad idea given the bad reputation that line has accrued over the years, with loads of service delays each winter.

Almost five million rides are taken on the SRT each year, so if this renovation project helps to make the experience better for the next decade, it will likely have been worth it, even if the construction of an LRT instead of a subway would have made this upgrade unnecessary.

In addition to the new-look exterior, the TTC will replace the motors of these vehicles as well as other aging parts and upgrade the interior space in an effort to make the trains more accessible and bright.

What do you think of the new design?

Photo via TTC Design on Twitter

Toronto gets a chocolate and baklava bar

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meli baklava torontoEver wanted to get a whole baklava cake? Now you can, at this kiosk selling high-end baklava, chocolate truffles and florentines at the Queen Live Fresh Food Market. It's hard to resist passing by the enticing display of dainty and delicate sweets that look like fine pieces of jewellery in glass cases. With both traditional and modern versions of this Greek pastry, this is the perfect place to spoil yourself (or someone else) and indulge a sweet tooth.

Read my profile of Meli Baklava & Chocolate Bar in the bakeries section.

Is the Toronto Sushi Festival the worst event ever?

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Toronto sushi festThe two-day Toronto Sushi Festival kicked off yesterday and while it resumes tonight, ticket holders might want to just eat the $30 ticket price and save themselves the aggravating and underwhelming experience. We'll let you decide if it was worse than Grilled Cheese Fest, but the event was most definitely indicative of what's been ailing Toronto food festivals.

The festival was billed as the "largest annual sushi festival in Canada" and promised "a wide range of sushi delicacies from renowned sushi restaurants and acclaimed Japanese chefs throughout Ontario". A promising venue change from Roy Thompson Hall to the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre seemed to add credibility to the event when organizers cited a positive initial response "since there are over 500 sushi restaurants in the city".

Disappointment (and reality) sunk in when I realized there were only 10 vendors present (to serve 3,000 attendees over two days). What's worse was the lack of signage and the fact that many of the tables were staffed by volunteers who couldn't even tell me whose food they were serving (in some cases they couldn't tell me what they were serving).

The event layout positioned the majority of vendors in the front half of the room, meaning long queues formed in a gauntlet and chaos ensued as line-ups crisscrossed each other.

Food tickets priced at $1.50 each were sold in blocks of 10. Most samples (comprising one or two pieces at a time) cost two to three tickets. The food for the most part was unremarkable. The number of California rolls, cucumber rolls and salmon rolls witnessed was embarrassing - the promise of authentic Japanese food was hardly realized.

Not all the food was bad - some delicious and interesting interpretations were offered by Rock Paper Ciseaux who served Filipino, ceviche-style salmon rolls as well as milk fish rolls with pickled ginger. In the back corner, hidden away in the 'VIP' section, Dailo offered another Filipino-inflected option, freshly sliced vinegar-rinsed, beet-cured rainbow trout delicately layering over coconut sticky rice.

I left at 6:30pm, an hour and a half into the event, and even then I wasn't the first. Waiting in line to retrieve my coat at coat check, the common sentiment was "we're going out for sushi right now" or "I wish we had just gone out for sushi instead."

Did you go to the first Toronto Sushi Festival? Are you planning to? Let us know in the comments.

Photo by Natta Summerky

Two holdouts remain in Honest Ed's redevelopment

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Mirvish Village holdoutsLost in all of the discussion related to the flashy new plans for the Honest Ed's site revealed earlier this week is the presence of two key properties that Westbank was not able to secure when it bought a huge chunk of Mirvish Village back in 2013.

At present, the plan is to build around the buildings at 756 and 758 Bathurst St. If you look closely enough at the renderings distributed at Wednesday's open house, you can see the manner in which these holdouts have been incorporated into the preliminary site designs. Interestingly, they don't really look so out of place. In fact, they provide a nice little historical element to what is otherwise a hyper-contemporary development.

According to Metro, the reason for the holdouts is pretty straightforward: the asking price was too high for Westbank's tastes. Should the project proceed as planned without these buildings, it would be great to see the properties eventually restored in some capacity. Currently home to A Leg Up Pet Services and Alternative Thinking bookstore, they're not exactly in the best shape.

That said, the bones are there. Normally there's more drama related to holdout situations, but this could be the exception to rule.

Photo via the Mirvish Village BIA

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