The TTC closed the intersection of College and Spadina at the outset of the week to replace its aging streetcar tracks. The closure is scheduled to last three weeks (until April 27), which sounds pretty horrible until you get a sense of what a huge undertaking the work is.
Case in point: the intersection has only been under construction since Monday, but it's already been completely gutted. It's not like you can accuse the workers of moving slowly. It's actually quite remarkable to see how quickly the teardown process takes place, and rather odd to get a glimpse of the intersection in this state.
The work at College and Spadina is part of an extensive program of upgrades that the TTC is doing to worn out streetcar tracks, which has included other major intersections along Spadina (including King, Queen, and Dundas). On the bright side, the next replacement won't take place for over 50 years.
The best cheesecake in Toronto can be had at bakeries and cafes where the indulgent dairy-lovers treat is put on a pedestal (or at least displayed prominently in the pastry case). These cakes are rich and moist, some served perfectly plain while others are made even more decadent with the addition of fruit, chocolate or candy pieces.
National Drone Day, undoubtedly one of Canada's newest and most unique holidays (its 
Manchester City will take on Toronto FC 
A huge foam party is set to mark Canada Day in Toronto. Because what better way to celebrate Confederation than by getting liquored on Smirnoff Ice and doused with foam? It just...makes sense.
Turn your kitties away from the screen or just hide them in a box for a few minutes so they don't see your face overcome with evil glee: Toronto has been chosen as a testing zone for the comical card game that's already become an internet sensation: 
It's been open for three weeks, and the line-ups have not let up since day one. Everyone has gone crazy for this light-as-a-cloud cheesecake that originated in Fukuoka, Japan that has taken Asia by storm. This location at Bay and Dundas is the first outside of the Asian continent, and with wait times that can go up to three hours, it's proving to be a resounding success.
The Pan Am Games are less than 100 days away, and there's plenty of lead-up activity that's starting to take shape. One example of this is the launch of 
This rather fascinating map 
Winter is officially over, at least according to the Toronto Port Authority. The first ocean vessel of the 2015 shipping season, the M/V Tundra out of Limassol, Cyprus, arrived in the harbour Monday, carrying with it roughly 19,500 tonnes of raw sugar from Santos, Brazil. 
Crafted by Christy's Hats of London some time before 1860, the hat was brought to Toronto by British-born captain John Hooper Meade and presented each year to the first sea captain, or "salty," to land in the Toronto harbour.
The M/V Tundra was built by Weihai Shipyard in Shandong Province, China, in 2009. It's 185 metres from front to back and 23.7 metres wide. During normal service it travels at 13 knots, about 25 km/h. The Tundra's six holds have a combined 15,632.89 cubic metres of bulk cargo space, which today is occupied by lots and lots of sugar, but sometimes hold corn, wheat, or soya beans.
The temporary steps up to the ship's deck are tippy and soaking wet. Only three people are allowed on a time. "I've seen some shit with these stairs," says one of the workers at the bottom.
Although the Tundra has cranes of its own, Redpath performs the unloading Toronto. It will take about three days to completely empty the ship of its cargo. The last of the sugar should be in the factory by midnight tonight.
The raw, unprocessed sugar is shipped inside covered containers during the ocean voyage. In port, the Redpath cranes reach inside and scoop it out with the help of a smaller digger. The gigantic proportions inside the hold play tricks on your eyes.
Despite the massive "no smoking" sign painted on the outside of the ship, the Tundra actually has a smoking room for its mostly Ukrainian crew. When I poke my head inside, a chef is sitting with a cup of coffee watching DVDs.
The bright green Redpath cranes deposit the sweet cane sugar into a massive hopper. Conveyor belts move the product around the facility prior to refining.
Immediately inside the Tundra there's a control room dedicated to managing ballast. Storing ocean water in tanks deep within the bowels of the ship ensures the propellor and rudder stay submerged even when the hold is empty and the Tundra is more buoyant. The poster warns against accidentally sucking in marine life when drawing in ballast.
Like Pearson, the Toronto waterfront is a port of entry into Canada. Drugs are not tolerated.
This barometer keeps track of atmospheric pressure. Sudden changes indicate wild weather ahead. "During this voyage I had to change course to avoid some storms. I lost maybe 50 miles, but I avoided the storm," says Captain Ovidiyenko. This, of course, is an antique. Ovidiyenko uses sophisticated satellite and radar information on the control deck when making navigation decisions.
The ship might only be six years old, but it has plenty of analogue technology on board in case of a technical failure. This is the Tundra's compass.
There are two seats on the bridge and a dizzying array of screens and buttons. It took about 20 days to make the journey up from Brazil, Captain Ovidiyenko says. "It was a different temperature. 40 degrees in Santos and here at the entrance to the St. Lawrence was -10." After unloading in Toronto, Ovidiyenko will return to Ukraine, but the ship will continue to Thunder Bay and Hamilton to fill up with wheat. After that, it's on to San Juan in Costa Rica.
In total, there are 93 flags in the Tundra's inventory, covering 92 countries. Today, the flag of Canfornav, the Tundra's chartering company, is flying on the main deck.
This lever controls the main engine, a Korean-made STX Man B&W. The giant power unit produces about 9,655 brake horsepower. A typical car engine generates less than 200 BHP, for comparison. The fuel tanks aboard the Tundra hold 1,633.7 cubic metres of diesel.
Though the control deck has large forward windows with panoramic views of the deck, visibility in other directions is limited. A periscope with built in compass helps Captain Ovidiyenko keep track of his surroundings.
This wheel steers the M/V Tundra when it's at sea. At low speeds and in the tight confines of the Toronto harbour, tugs controlled by a skilled pilot take control, guiding the ship safely into its waterfront slip.
Today in Toronto it's the first day of the Images Festival, possibly the world's most wide reaching film and media event. Much closer a bedfellow to art than a mega film fests like TIFF, the experimental finds a home here with feature and short screenings joined by installations, performance, art exhibits, and more.
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.
Cavalia Odysseo has returned to Toronto setting up under the can't-miss massive white tents at Cherry St. and Lakeshore Boulevard. 
This American burger chain is now open on Queen West, a neighbourhood already densely populated with burger joints. We stopped in to try offerings like the Original Six Dollar Burger (which is actually $7.49) and their signature crisscut fries. I was pleasantly surprised.
Just a few days after 
The controversy over the TSO cancelling the Toronto performance of Ukrainian pianist 
"I was runnin' through the 6 with my woes" might ultimately prove to be the most famous Drake lyric of all time. It's the quintessential combination of the rapper's desire to rep Toronto while also feeling sad. It is now also a major component of 
Rob Ford might be taking 
The humble hot dog is enjoying a bit of a heyday in Toronto right now, and this new eatery in the Beaches is the latest to get on board with the trend. They do a mean chili dog, and even mess around with Hawaiian-inspired options - but perhaps the most interesting item on the menu is the Nutella milkshake. 
