OnDeck, a leader in small business lending, is expanding in Canada. To celebrate their launch OnDeck is awarding $5,000 (CAD) to one deserving small business in Toronto.

Get all the contest details here.

A short video clip from Citytv reporter Shauna Hunt has generated tons of buzz since it was posted on Twitter last night. In it, Hunt challenges an infantile group of men after they shout the bafflingly popular "f**k her right in the p**sy" into her microphone in the midst of an interview with soccer fans outside BMO Field.

At first it looks like she's going to ignore the immature act of sabotage, but the chance to hold these dudes accountable ultimately proves too seductive. "It's a disgusting thing to say...it's degrading to women," she firmly explains to them.

This response is refreshing partially because it puts the cat callers into the awkward position of having to justify their actions, which they completely fail to do (what a surprise). "Are you actually filming this?" is about the most articulate thing any of them can muster. Well done, guys.

1611 Woodbine Heights Boulevard is a newly listed property for $1,329,000 in the O'Connor-Parkview Hills neighbourhood. The dramatic exterior with its boxy faux brick facade is not your average East York bungalow. The faux brick might be a faux pas, but the interior will surprise and perhaps, even shock you.

The home is done up in a modern style, with a gourmet kitchen, high windows, floating staircase and glass walls. Sorry folks. This is no longer your grandmother's dowdy post-war bungalow.

By using high glass walls, 22-feet high vaulted ceilings and three skylights, the home is bathed in natural sunlight. There are six bathrooms, one around every corner, and almost every bedroom features its own private loft. The master has a sitting area and ensuite with a jacuzzi soaker tub.

Let's talk price. You won't find a property size with a driveway and garage like this for $1.3 million downtown. With Toronto's real estate market off the charts right now, local affordability comes in all shapes and sizes. Worth the asking price? Take a peek at the photos.

SPECS

• Address: 1611 Woodbine Heights Boulevard
• Price: $1,329,000
• Lot Size: 40 x 113 FT
• Bedrooms: 4
• Bathrooms: 6
• Parking: 2
• Taxes: $7,465 (2014)
• Walk Score: 58

NOTABLE FEATURES

• 3,000 square feet
• 3 skylights
• Master with jacuzzi tub
• Floating staircase & glass wall
• 22 Ft vaulted ceiling
• Private loft deck
• Driveway and garage

GOOD FOR

More bang for your buck. At over 3,000 square feet and a wide lot size, the home is move-in ready, minus that backyard that could use some work.

MOVE ON IF

You don't want to buy multiple baby gates. The multi-level floating staircases and the open staircase leading to the basement are just awkward for children and anyone with knee problems.

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

Thanks to Bosley Real Estate Ltd, Brokerage for sponsoring our House of the Week. All content and editorial selected and written by blogTO.

It might be difficult to notice sometimes, like watching a (giant) pot of water slowly come to boil, but Toronto is building new rapid transit. By 2025 (all being well) the Spadina line extension to York Region (which we recently got a peek at), the Eglinton-Crosstown and Finch West LRTs, and Scarborough subway will more than likely be complete. As a result, the TTC's longstanding system map will require a major overhaul.

The map above (full size here,) uploaded to Wikipedia by user Craftwerker late last month, shows the full extent of those changes.

In total, the city is due to add nine new subway and 40 light rail stops over the next 10 years. That is, of course, assuming there isn't a flip-flop on any of its existing commitments and the ongoing and upcoming construction projects wrap up roughly on time (2025, instead of 2023, allows for an overrun of several years on Finch West and in Scarborough.)

It's also possible other lines could be added to this map before 2025 (we live in hope, right?) The East Bayfront LRT that would run from Union Station to Parliament St. via Queens Quay has been kicked around for years. An environmental analysis was completed in 2010, but so far the funding for the project, which has an option to be extended into the revitalized Port Lands, hasn't been forthcoming.

One thing's for certain: there won't be a downtown relief line on the map for a while.

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

Image: Craftwerker/Creative Commons

It took two years of painstaking work, in tandem with the city's public health group, for C'est What to get detailed nutritional information printed on their menu - but it'll be gone again by the end of the summer.

Laying bare the calorie and sodium counts for their bison burgers, beer-infused cheddar dips and club wraps has been a bit of a double-edged sword for the Front St. pub, who were one of 22 restaurants to join a Toronto Public Health pilot project on nutrition labeling in 2013 - and one of only four to see it through to completion.

The Savvy Diner project, launched to test the feasibility of adding calorie and sodium counts to menus, was created as a response to pending Ontario legislation that would require restaurant chains with 20 locations or more to post their nutritional info on menus.

"Because Toronto has such a massive restaurant industry, only a certain segment of that group would be captured by the legislation," says Toronto Public Health's Tara Brown.

As the city began working with restaurants to get the meticulous testing process underway, they eventually began dropping out of the program in waves - some due to closures, others due to health or family issues. But for many, Brown says, "it was too much, in addition to all the other work they had to do to run the restaurant."

C'est What co-owner Tim Broughton says that even with the restaurant's unusually-detailed archive of ingredient info, which they maintain for allergy purposes, it took his staff, working alongside dieticians, hundreds of man-hours to complete the process.

Detailed weight-to-volume conversions had to be obtained, and each ingredient had to be analyzed for its nutritional content. If a restaurant's grocery supplier delivered a higher-sodium brand of canned tomatoes on a given day, Broughton says, it would render the entire calculation useless.

Recipes also had to be standardized and reproduced to the letter every time. "For restaurants who aren't organized, it would be an even bigger nightmare to try to come up with that recipe, and try to stick to that recipe," he says.

Even after restaurants completed the process, Broughton says, "once they started to see the nutrition information on the dishes, they probably got cold feet and said, 'Do I really want to put the nutritional information in front of my customers?'

After C'est What reached the finish line, along with Bi Bim Bap, Hearty Catering and Taste of Beirut, Broughton analyzed the first two weeks of sales data with the new menu.

He found that while desserts (served in big, shareable portions) stayed steady, and entrees slightly skewed toward the healthier options, appetizer sales dried up completely. "People were looking at it going 'Oh, if I have the bacon shrimp and I have this stuff, I'm really overdoing it.'"

"In very rough terms, putting out a menu like this cost me $1,000 a week in sales. Now, that's big numbers for a restaurant. And this is where the interest of public health and the interests of a restaurant diverge."

Both sides seem to agree, however, that requiring independent restaurants to standardize and analyze their every dish may be biting off more than they can chew.

"It's very, very complicated," Brown says. "The restaurants that do this need to have the resources and money to be able to do this type of work." She adds that a full report on the program is slated to be released in June.

Broughton, for his part, is planning to pull the nutritional information from the menus, but still keep it handy for people who would like to see it. While plenty of diners told Broughton they liked having the information, many also said it didn't really change what they ordered - and there was a "significant subset of people that said 'I really hate this.'"

He envisions an alternative program that uses the availability of nutritional info as a selling point to diners - say, a gold/silver/bronze star ranking that can be posted on a front door. "The only way it can work is if they put in place some system that rewards someone like me for putting the effort in."

Brown says that the city is exploring options for such rewards-based programs - though not in the near future, as they'd like to study the effects of the upcoming provincial legislation first. For now, just revel in the fact that you don't need to know the calorie or sodium content of your next King's Crown or Vatican City.

Photo by Libby Roach

Canadian Music Week 2015 is a wrap. And not a minute too soon. We subjected our overactive ears to more than a week of abuse, and that constant ringing I hear is my internal alarm system letting me know I could definitely use a break.

Personal fatigue aside, the 2015 edition of CMW was not without its own small problems. Overzealous doormen and ridiculous lineups were a frustration that only stellar performances could overcome. Key sets by festival-vets Metz and legends Jesus and the Mary Chain were accompanied by discoveries like Fat White Family, Twin Peaks, and together PANGEA.

With so much to choose from (1000 bands over 10 days), any given recap is bound to be varied and to overlook some shows. That said, there were some obvious favourites that would likely make anyone's best of the fest list.

Here are our picks of the top shows from an action-packed week at CMW.

Fat White Family, Thursday May 7, Bovine Sex Club
The biggest surprise of the festival. Having never heard of them, I really had no idea what to expect from a band with a name like this. Luckily, their Syd Barrett-fronted carnival rave-ups were the perfect pick-me-up for 2am in the morning.

Metz, Friday May 1, Lee's Palace
I have to go on record to say that Metz are easily one of the best live acts I've ever laid my ears on. Nevermind the fact that they're a sight to behold as well. Sensory overload. And their new album Metz II kicks the polite right out of me.

GOASTT, Friday May 8, The Horseshoe Tavern
Someone asked me who was the last great guitar player I saw. It was Prince but that was before Friday night. I really had no idea that Sean Lennon was that good a guitar player. With his obvious pedigree you might expect some kind of Liverpudlian throwback, but certainly not the face-melting psychedelia we were treated to.

Zoobombs, Saturday May 2, The Silver Dollar Room
"We love toronto. We not depressed," guitarist Don Matsuo says gleefully in his broken English. Though some nuance gets lost in translation, it's easy to see that this Japanese quartet love our city. They've become a perennial mainstay at the Silver Dollar every fest.

Joey Badass, Saturday May 9, The Danforth Music Hall
New York is in the blood. That's a popular myth that's certainly hard to dismiss after seeing Joey Badass tear up The Danforth Music Hall. Sounding like a direct descendent of A Tribe Called Quest, Nas, and MF Doom, he does a great job of paying homage to his forefathers while sounding wholly original.

The Jesus and Mary Chain, Friday May 1, The Phoenix Concert Theatre
The celebration of the thirtieth anniversary of the band's seminal album, Psychocandy, was kicked off in spectacular fashion. Just how special was this night? Creation records magnate and Mary Chain champion, Alan McGee, was in attendance.

Protomartyr, Friday May 1, Lee's Palace
Have you ever asked yourself what it would be like if Rodney Dangerfield fronted a post-punk band? Your answer comes direct to you from the motor city, it's wearing a suit jacket and is something truly worthy of your respect.

Dirty Frigs, Tuesday May 5, The Garrison
I can't think of a band that's more appropriately named. As sweaty and intense as the action they suggest, Dirty Frigs are certainly not vulgar. But they make you feel that funny feeling deep in the pit of your stomach. You just know this is leading somewhere.

Swervedriver, Wednesday May 6, The Horseshoe Tavern
I think the capacity crowd at the Horseshoe knew just how criminally under-valued this band is. Not the name on everyone's list when the shoegaze revival inevitably gets mentioned year after year, Swervedriver remain the juggernaut that kept the movement's airy ambitions grounded in rock n' roll ethos.

The Psychedelic Furs, Saturday May 9, The Phoenix Concert Theatre
Who said that time travel was impossible? Molly Ringwald's favorite cheerleaders propelled The Phoenix Concert Theatre back in time where it apparently functioned as the high school gymnasium from Shermer High School (The Breakfast Club). Singer Richard Butler's voice has been remarkably preserved as he sounded every bit as vital as when he released President Gas in 1982.

Sianspheric, Wednesday May 6, The Horseshoe Tavern
Having remained relatively low key for the past 12 years, Hamilton's sianSPHERIC hit back huge with their trippy take on indie drone. Bolstered by the guitar onslaught of Sean Ramsay and pedal wizardry of Ryan Ferguson, what comes next is bound to be pretty spectacular.

Twin Peaks, Thursday May 7, Lee's Palace
"Can you bring the crowd up in the monitors? 'Cos this crowd is weak," bassist Jack Dollan says, doing nothing to hide his contempt. The arrogance of youth is the river that runs through this band, using playful banter to antagonize. Luckily, they pushed all the right buttons.

together PANGEA, Friday May 8, The Silver Dollar Room
Breathing the same salty air as Wavves and FIDLAR, together PANGEA filled the Silver Dollar with sun-soaked anthems, lifting the venue straight up in to the stratosphere and dropping it firmly somewhere in Southern California.

Jazz Cartier, Saturday May 9, The Danforth Music Hall
If there was an award for "Most Enthusiatic," Jazz Cartier would have taken it--hands down. The rapper utilized every inch of the stage, lighting up the crowd with his boundless energy. It's no wonder he's the MC on every one's buzz list.

Cloud Nothings, Saturday May 9, Lee's Palace
When I first saw Cloud Nothings a few years back they struck me as incredibly naïve rising-blog stars. They had none of the worldliness that comes from years on the road. As expected, that has changed and their set has gained that extra bite to make their angst that much more believable.

What did we miss? Add your favourite CMW shows in the comments.

With contributions and photos from Matt Forsythe

Those FHRITP soccer fans that were shamed on camera by Citytv reporter Shauna Hunt have even bigger problems now. At least one of the big mouths is about to lose his job, and none of them should plan on attending any games played by MLSE-owned teams for the next year. The company has indicated it will ban those involved for at least a year.

In a statement released this afternoon, Hydro One also confirmed that it's taking steps to fire Shawn Simoes, the person who does much of the talking at the end of the now infamous video.

"Hydro One is taking steps to terminate the employee for violating our Code of Conduct," the release reads. "Respect for all people is ingrained in the code and our values. We are committed to a work environment where discrimination or harassment of any type is met with zero tolerance."

The others involved have yet to be publicly identified, but given all the attention the video has garnered, one wouldn't expect that to last very long.

Photo by twurdemann in the blogTO Flickr pool.

Today in Toronto it's time to be a social butterfly. Head to Kensington to play live Tinder and listen to comedians relay tales of online dating disasters at the launch of Tinder Tales. If you prefer business over pleasure, try out the Ignite! Cocktail Party. It'll have you mingling with Canada's top entrepreneurs over drinks and h'ors d'oeuvres.

For more events, click on over to our events section.

• Tinder Tales Launch (Supermarket)
• Indie Theatre Mock Wedding (Artscape Youngplace)
• Army Girls and Crushed Out (Burdock Music Hall)
• Mindful Martinis (Gladstone Hotel)
• Book Launch: I Can't Believe it's Not Better (The Garrison)
• Ignite! Cocktail Party (Arcadian Court)
• Food Truck Rally (Toronto City Hall)

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

The TTC was forced to reject several new streetcars due to serious manufacturing defects, according to the Toronto Star. Dodgy laminate and incorrectly sized under-frames meant there were significant delays getting the first in the fleet of 204 vehicles on Toronto's streets.

The problems were so bad, the Star writes, that CEO Andy Byford was concerned the vehicles would quickly break down if pushed into service. Rivets used to hold the walls to the frame in lieu of correctly fitting parts were a particular concern. Faulty wiring and loose screws were also noticed by the TTC after delivery, but those issues were rectified without pulling streetcars off the road.

Bombardier is running way behind its original delivery schedule. There were supposed to be 50 new, low-floor streetcars on the road by now, but due to the issues that have been traced to a Mexican factory and a two-month strike at the Thunder Bay plant, only five are up and running.

Byford is says he's still confident, however, that the $1.2 billion will be fulfilled on schedule by the end of 2019.

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

Image: Tom Ryaboi.

GO Transit will roll out a new cab car this summer, one that will add a sleek new look to the back end of trains. The new Bombardier units, which are due to begin arriving in Toronto in the next few weeks, will be wi-fi enabled, have better toilets, and energy-efficient LED lighting.

Metrolinx says the cab cars, which form part of an $200 million order placed in 2012 for 60 bi-level rail vehicles, will also help GO Transit increase capacity over the next few years by introducing two-way, all-day service on all seven GO rail lines.

According to the Railway Gazette, the new cars have been in production since 2013. In addition to the passenger-side upgrades, drivers will benefit from a larger, more comfortable workspace. The physical structure has also been beefed up to include crumple zones.

Two-floor passenger trains have been part of the GO Transit fleet since 1978.

The cab cars will be officially announced in the next week or so, Metrolinx says.

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

Image: Metrolinx

One of the most well-known names in the city for caffeine fiends has opened a fifth location of his beloved brand of coffee shops, this time on Toronto St. Like the others, it serves Cut Coffee beans in a minimalist environment that puts the focus on the coffee. You might even catch the man himself working the machine here. Oh, and this location sells badass Toronto mugs to boot.

Read my profile of the newest Sam James in the cafes section.

Whether it's a dinner out with that special someone, a quick lunch break or drinks with friends, SIR Corp's restaurants at Yonge and Gerrard have what you're craving.

Swagger meets sociability at Reds Midtown Tavern with chef inspired food and cocktail menus, specially crafted for you to unwind and stay a while. SCADDABUSH Italian Kitchen & Bar is a little of this, a little of that and a whole new take on Italian. Dukes Refresher and Bar is your local midtown hangout with over 40 beers on tap.

We're giving away a $500 gift card to the SIR Corp family of restaurants to one lucky winner.

Get all the contest details here.

Newly opened in the former home of Yours Truly, this new beer destination boasts a dozen craft draught brews and about 45 local and imported cans and bottles. Sausages are the star on the food menu, and as an opening special you can have a choice from 15 available sausages on a bun paired with a pint for $11.

Read my profile of La Saucisserie in the restaurants section.

The best cupcakes in Toronto have outlasted the "craze" that consumed this city before macarons and doughnuts became all the rage. These nostalgic treats have proven their staying power and are sure to be fixtures at birthday parties, celebrations, and coffee breaks for years to come.

Here's are the best cupcakes in Toronto.

See also:The top 10 new cupcake shops in Toronto for 2014

Cheap lunch options in Toronto mean you don't need to brown bag it even if you're on a budget. This collection of cafes, eateries, food court vendors, and even bodegas has a diverse range of midday meals that'll fill you up without breaking the bank.

Here are my picks for the top cheap lunch options in Toronto by neighbourhood.

See also:

The top $5 lunches in Toronto by university campus
The top 10 cheap lunch options in the Financial District

ANNEX
This student-friendly neighbourhood is populated with a variety of cheap eats such as sushi, pub foods, and dosa. Try Sarah's Shawarma for ultra-filling wallet friendly fare like falafel starting at $4, and shawarma wraps starting at $5.

BEACHES
Order fresh Montreal bagels au natural or made into sandwiches at Bagels on Fire. The menu bills favourites like egg salad or a BLT for just $4.

BLOOR WEST VILLAGE
Lunch on a budget is very doable at Bread & Roses. Quiche, pot pie and spanakopita each sell for $5.29, while half a dozen cheese and potato filled pierogi cost $4.99.

BLOORDALE VILLAGE
Jerk chicken sandwiches for $6 and patties for a Toonie are just a couple of the cheap lunch options on the menu at Caribbean Queen of Patties.

CHURCH WELLESLEY VILLAGE
North of Brooklyn Pizza in The Village is a go-to for kale and bacon slices that'll only set you back $4.40.

CHINATOWN
Vietnamese sub shop, Banh Mi Ba Le serves up a wide variety of deli sandwiches for no more than $3.50.

CORKTOWN
$5 buys lunch at Mystic Muffin, where pita sandwiches loaded with ham and cheese, chicken salad or falafel are all on offer.

THE DANFORTH
Messini is an all time fave in Greektown for its hearty lunch options that are ideal for those light on cash but big on flavour. Priced at $5 or less, tzatziki-slathered pitas are packed with souvlaki, gyro, or kebab with all the fixings.

DUNDAS WEST
For a truly cheap lunch on DuWest, head to Market 707 where a smattering of vendors operate out of cargo containers. Kanto by Tita Flips is a favourite - they sell tocino (sweet Filipino bacon) with garlic fried rice and a fried egg in a meal for $6.

EAST CHINATOWN
Rose's Vietnamese Sandwiches is a deli where $3 will buy you a baguette layered with cold cuts, pate, grilled meats or sausage.

ETOBICOKE
If you love mini pastries stuffed with deliciousness, but find yourself on a budget in Etobicoke, head to The Empanada Company. Here you'll find tamales ($5) and Chilean-style pockets starting at $3.25 stuffed with traditional meats, olives and raisins, as well as creative interpretations featuring coconut curry chicken and Cajun pulled pork.

FINANCIAL DISTRICT
While cheap eats generally mean fast food, Naturally Yours in First Canadian Place is an exception. The selection at the vegan hot table changes daily but entrees like the lentil loaf come in around $7.

KENSINGTON MARKET
Sure you could drop a fiver on a fish taco. They're delicious, but you might still be hungry after you're done. Saunter next door to Rasta Pasta where a $5 lunch special available 'til 2 pm is made up of jerk chicken or pork with rice and veg.

KING WEST
Sandwiches for $6.20 ($4 for half) and scratch-made soups ($3-$4.20) are favourites for lunch at Wagamama, a bakery cafe on King West.

KOREATOWN
Tacos El Asador is an El Salvadorian taqueria where traditional tamales, enchiladas, and tacos (soft or crispy) are all on the menu for under $4 each.

LESLIEVILLE
Gale's Snack Bar is divey retro diner where menu prices are as dated as the decor. A club sandwich costs $2.50, while you'll get change from a toonie when ordering a cheeseburger.

LIBERTY VILLAGE
Quesadillas at Maizal are a great bang for your buck. Find veggie options filled with things like Oaxacan cheese, caramelized onions and mushrooms for $5 (meaty versions start at $6) or bring a friend and save $1.50 by ordering two at a time.

LITTLE ITALY
A convenience store is an unlikely place to find substantial meal options, but the Student Sandwich from Crawford Market is just that. For just $3 you can get a Jamaican patty on a Portuguese bun with fresh toppings and a choice of condiments.

THE JUNCTION
Lunchtime at Sorella features freshly made grilled sausages on a bun for $5 with add ons including caramelized onions, rapini, and house-made garlic oil.

OSSINGTON
The trendy strip of restaurants here is not as budget friendly as some other areas. But for lunch under $10, try La Saucisserie where 15 varieties of sausage on a bun hover around $7.50.

PARKDALE
Take your pick at the many affordable Tibetan restaurants in this 'hood. My pick is Loga's Corner where aloo momos (deep fried potato dumplings) cost only a dollar, while curry-stuffed parathas are sold two at a time for $5 and steamed momos are $6 for ten.

QUEEN WEST
New York Subway is divey spot where $5 will buy you a regular sized burrito filled with chicken, ham, spinach, cauliflower or potato. Upsize to a jumbo burrito for $7 or less.

REGENT PARK
J Pizza Plus on Parliament doesn't just do pizza, though a slice at $2.50 is pretty enticing. Also worthwhile are the butter chicken wraps for $4.95 and the chicken biryani sold for $6.95.

RICHMOND HILL
Jim Chai Kee is an outstanding source for delicious, cheap and filling midday meals served incredibly fast. The menu boasts $5 dishes like beef vermicelli, and shrimp wontons with egg noodles.

Scarborough
Mamajoun is an Armenian pizzeria that specializes in lahmajoun, flatbreads dusted with za'taar ($4.50), Akawi cheese ($4.50), red pepper paste ($4.50) or Armenian soujouk sausage ($5.50) - all of which can be folded into a sandwich dressed with fresh herbs, veggies and condiments.

THORNHILL
Adjacent to the restaurant at the back of Sababa's Middle Eastern grocery store, the lunch counter is a hidden gem. Spend just $3.75 for a fried-to-order falafel loaded into fresh, house-baked pita, or splurge on the shawarma priced at $6.

UPPER BEACHES
Hand-crafted personal-sized pies at The Stone Pizza cost only $3.50, even when dressed with premium ingredients. Try the Don Ho; it's topped with fresh pineapple and spicy capicolla.

YONGE & DUNDAS
You will be hard pressed to find a cheaper lunch option than Patties Express in this neck of the woods. The takeout shop sells golden yellow pastries filled with minced meat or veg for $1.89 a piece. Order two at a time with a can of soda for $4.39 or have any patty nestled into a house-baked coco bun for $3.39.

YONGE & BLOOR
The entire menu at Salad Days is commendably fresh and affordable. The house special salad for $6 is perhaps the best deal on the board, featuring a choice of chicken breast or salmon with Greek salad, stuffed vine leaves, a scoop of sweet potato mash, and hummus.

YONGE & COLLEGE
Japanese curries are the specialty at Kaiju, a food court vendor found in the Shops at Aura. The house curry with rice and salad will only set you back $6.80, but if you can scrounge together a couple more bucks, try the chicken katsu for $8.

What did I miss? Disagree with my selections in the comments.

Lead photo from the Mamajoun by Jesse Milns.

Apparently Jared Harris, the actor who portrayed Lane Pyrce on the wildly popular AMC drama Mad Men, doesn't think much of Toronto architecture.

Speaking at a public meeting in support of a Manhattan grocer/deli that's witnessed a steady decline in business due to longterm construction on Houston Ave., Harris suggested that the loss of such a shop would have terrible consequences for the city. It would make New York like Toronto. Oh no.

"This area is attractive to people, to real estate developers, because this area has character," Harris proclaimed. "If you rip down the buildings and rip out all the character, you just end up with Toronto, which is a fantastic city, but everything looks the same there."

Ouch. We'll take fantastic city (thank you very much), but is our architecture really that bland?

Harris might have a point; this city's track record on heritage preservation is abysmal, but it's not exactly a Toronto-specific problem. Mom and pop shops are disappearing from New York at a breakneck rate.

Is Toronto architecture as characterless as Harris suggests? Perhaps it might seem that way on a short visit to the city, but if you get out and explore, there's a ton of messy urbanism to soak up. Put your dukes up, Lane. I'm up for the argument.

Photo via Charles Brodi in the blogTO Flickr pool

Victoria Day fireworks in Toronto for 2015 will be centred at Ashbridges Bay, but the waterfront spectacle isn't the only show to be aware of. Along with a host of unofficial ceremonies in parks and on neighbourhood streets across the city, there's also two events worth noting just beyond our borders.

While there's sure to be people who MacGyver their own pyrotechnic displays in backyards citywide, the only official event is at Ashbridges Bay. The show will begin at 10pm on Monday, May 18 and will happen rain or shine. You're going to want to head down early to grab some prime beach real estate and avoid cramped TTC rides.

If you're looking for an even more impressive show - and don't mind trekking out of the city - head to Canada's Wonderland. Fireworks begin at 10pm on Sunday, May 17. You're going to have to cough up the $47.99 admission charge, but you can also strategically position yourself outside of the park for the show. This performance boasts 6,000 fireworks and fire divers jumping from the heights of Wonder Mountain.

Those who live in the west end of the city and want to take in holiday fireworks might consider heading to the annual display at Dundas Driving Park, happening on May 17 at 9:30pm. It might just be faster than navigating across the city, and it's always an impressive show.

Know of a community fireworks event you'd like to share? Tell us about it in the comments.

Photo by Bruce Wang in the blogTO Flickr pool.

Photo by Raymond Dang in the blogTO Flickr pool.

Today in Toronto it's time to celebrate the Victoria Day long weekend just a little early. Kick off your festivities by heading to Hanlan's Point for Electric Island to dance to some of your favourite DJs. Headliners include Tuskegee, Steve Lawler, and Lee Burridge. If you'd rather skip the ferry ride, get tipsy at the Brewer's Backyard annual Queen Victoria's Secret event.

For more events, click on over to our events section.

• Electric Island (Hanlan's Point)
• Brewer's Backyard: Queen Victoria's Secret (Evergreen Brick Works)
• Bubble Ball Fest (Crawford Academy Field)
• The Expat Show (Bad Dog Comedy Theatre)
• Perfect Match (The Social Capital Theatre)
• Love Scene & GREX (Burdock Music Hall)

For information on Victoria Day fireworks, check out this post.

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