It was only this past June that I wrote aboutRajiv Surenda's work as a chalk artist in Toronto. Since that time, business has boomed and he's been busy doing larger, indoor chalk boards for restaurants like John & Son's Oyster House and entire walls in offices spaces including one in the headquarters of Kraft Foods Canada (seen above). I caught up with Surenda over the holidays to find out what's up with all the demand for his work.

Why do you think there's so much demand in Toronto for chalk artistry right now?

Chalk walls seem to be a fresh new way of putting up some art in a working environment that doesn't feel stuffy or elitist; it's a really fun medium. We're all familiar with chalk and chalkboards from having to sit in front of them for our entire adolescent lives at school; so chalk art takes that seemingly mundane medium and elevates it to a much higher level.

It's why I solely work with white chalk on these boards; it's black and white as it appears in nature - black slate boards, and soft, white sedimentary limestone. When clients ask for work with coloured chalk, insisting that certain words need to stand out I try to convince them to trust me to make those words stand out by relying on layout and composition to do so, still using white chalk.

What's the difference between chalking a board vs. an entire wall?

A board usually isn't much larger than the breadth of my arms, but a whole wall involves quite a bit of physical labour, moving ladders around constantly just to lay down a few basic lines. The wall work is often intended to stay up permanently, so I focus on incorporating quite a bit of intricate detail.

Who was your first wall client?

My first office wall was for Smith Roberts, a communications agency with an office in the Distillery district.

How long does the typical wall take?

A whole wall usually takes a couple of days to complete. The wall I did for the headquarters of Kraft Foods Canada, which was 25feet wide and 9 feet high, took 7 days, working an average of 12 hours a day.

How many walls have you done so far?

I've done about half a dozen large walls so far...the trend is catching on in restaurants too. I'm starting to incorporate other elements to heighten the standards for chalk work. In the new oyster bar that opened up on Yonge Street, John & Sons, I used gold leaf to create simple borders around all the chalk walls, which framed the chalk work beautifully.

Who are some of your other wall clients?

Other clients include - Le Gourmand, Weslodge, Woodlot, Sanagan's Meat Locker, The Harbord Room, The Brainstorm Group (ad agency), Married to Giants (commercial and film editing), Taxi (ad agency), The Bellevue, Rock Lobster, The Spice Trader, Indie Alehouse, Olliffe Butchers.

What does a company need to do to maintain their walls and prevent them from getting damaged?

I've varnished a couple of walls, which protects them, but I really don't like doing this. There's something about the ephemeral quality of my work that makes it quite special. People are pretty good about respecting their working environment, and when they know that they have to be careful around these 'chalk walls' , they're surprisingly good at doing so. Some places have opted to paint walls that are not in high-traffic areas, behind the reception desk for example.

Are you still doing smaller boards?

Yup! I still try to do all the requests that come my way; sandwich boards, wedding signs, menus. I am very grateful to the cafe and restaurant owners that helped me to get my business off the ground, and keeping that in mind, no board is too small for my little white sticks of chalk.

Photos provided by Rajiv Surenda

The newly opened Shangri La Hotel might be better known for where to go to get some great tasting ramen and pork buns but over-eaters and fitness enthusiasts alike can rest easy knowing the hotel also offers pretty good yoga classes - and you don't need to be a guest at the hotel to take them.

Read my profile of Hotel Yoga in the fitness section.

What's open and closed on New Year's Day in Toronto 2013:

CLOSED

• All LCBO, Wine Rack and Beer Store locations
• Amsterdam and Steam Whistle Breweries
• Government offices and banks
• Libraries
• St. Lawrence Market
• No mail delivery
• Some malls, such as Yorkdale
• Major grocery stores and most pharmacies

OPEN

• Food Depot (Dupont and Davenport), Rabba grocery stores (various locations), most Kitchen Table locations, Bloor Superfresh (384 Bloor St W)
• The Pacific Mall, The Eaton Centre (12 p.m. - 5 p.m.), Square One (11 a.m. - 6 p.m.), Vaughan Mills (10 a.m. - 7 p.m.)
• Major movie theatres
• Most public ice skating rinks
• Attractions such as the AGO (10 a.m.-4 p.m.), ROM (10 a.m. - 8:30 a.m.), Ontario Science Centre (10 a.m. - 6 p.m.), CN Tower (although 360 Restaurant will be closed), and the Toronto Zoo

RESTAURANTS

Many restaurants will be closed, but some, like Lakeview Restaurant, will remain open.

TTC

The TTC and GO Transit will operate on a Sunday schedule.

Photo by mooncall2012 in the blogTO Flickr pool

Chef Massimo Capra is no stranger to Italian cuisine. Whether he's exploring the tastes of Italy, taping another culinary adventure, or advising struggling restaurant owners, Capra brings his knowledge and experience to the task at hand. His restaurant, Mistura, is no exception; one of the longstanding Italian restaurants in the city, Capra says he's struck a balance between serving the classics and keeping his restaurant interesting. Now, he's branching out with an airport trattoria that follows an undeniable wave of new Italian restaurants in the GTA.

If you weren't a chef, what could you see yourself doing?

I love carpentry and building furniture. I also love driving, so I'd be a driver of some sort. I love being on the road and getting lost. I don't envy the truck drivers on bad days though.

Where did you learn to cook? What's the biggest lesson you learned from another chef?

I was brought up in the cooking industry back in the 70s and I started when I was 15 years old. I went to chefs school in Italy and was placed in various restaurants and hotels throughout the country. The most valuable lesson that I've learned from my chefs was to always be observant. When you want to learn, there's nothing better than to observe how the best people do it and trying to understand their technique by trying to replicate it. When I started I had no recipes or even instructions; they just told me to watch. Practice makes perfect.

It seems Toronto's appetite for Italian cuisine is insatiable. Why do so many Italian restaurants keep opening in the city?

I was around the first time the pasta, pizza, and trattoria business was really popular. It was the late 80s, and now we're doing the same thing. I just opened a new trattoria in the airport, so I jumped on the bandwagon because this is what the public demands. I don't see new things, just stuff that people got tired of before and now they want again. So now the new generation is eating all the pizza, pasta and calamari in the world.

Everyone thinks they're introducing something new and exciting or a different way of doing things, but we really only have one style of Italian restaurants in Toronto. At Mistura, I try to do things a little different, things that are more from the northern part of Italy where I'm from, but I get slammed a lot for it because most people don't understand the food.

Things like rapini, andouille sausage and burrata are virtually unknown in Italy, and they're very specific to small areas. But I'm happy that Italian food is so well regarded and Italy is so varied that there is so much variation. No one will ever tell you in Italy how a pizza should be. Everybody has their own style, so the more the merrier.

If you could take someone on an Italian food tour in Toronto, where would you go?

I love places like Buca, Terroni, and Bar Centrale - I love their appetizers, and I'm always there. Also places like Tutti Matti where you can have a truly Tuscan meal.

What's the secret to great pasta?

I strongly believe that the only real mistake that people make here is eating pasta overcooked. I'm always trying to serve pasta al dente, but I keep getting it sent back because people think it's too hard. It's proven that pasta al dente is healthier, and easier to digest too. It tastes better because you get a better crackling on the teeth and a better palate feel.

I have no issue with people using fresh or dried, because there is a pasta for every person. Pasta can be dressed however you want, and it's not true that pasta with cream sauce is bad; it's excellent if it's done well. Sometimes there is too much sauce; the goodness is inside the ravioli, not the sauce. There are so many techniques, and I love exploring Italian pastas. My aunt lives on one side of a river in Italy and my mother the other and they have different styles.

What's your all-time favourite dish to make?

I love a slow-cooked veil brisket roast with rosemary potatoes. Or, just a risotto parmigiano to accompany it. I go nuts for it. As I get older, I get more nostalgic about all the good traditional food that I used to eat when I was a kid. But I love the ethnic diversity of restaurants in Toronto; I go to Italy for two weeks and I'm dying to come back for some nice sushi, a bowl of pho, or a nice steak.

What's it like being a celebrity chef in Toronto?

It's really funny because I'm extremely approachable. I always shake hands and enjoy everyone. There are people in Toronto that stare me down like they want to eat me, and as soon as I turn around they walk away. And then they come back and rush over wanting a picture. It's fun and I can't complain about anything. People here are just used to all the celebrities, and I'm so low-level that I don't even register on the radar for most people. They'd rather go downtown and see Brad Pitt, Tom Cruise or Justin Bieber.

Do you miss shooting Restaurant Makeover? Do you have any other Food Network appearances planned?

We restarted the new series Restaurant Takeover. The only issue is that I've been so busy and tied up with different projects that I haven't been able to do any. I've only taped about two shows out of six allocated to me. Come this spring, I'll be a little bit more free and I'm going to do more shows. I also have my own show to tape; I'm doing season two of Gourmet Escapes, so that's going to keep me busy traveling. There was a lot of flying last year and I visited 13 different countries.

How would you like to see Mistura evolve? How do you keep a restaurant that's been around for a while relevant when mainstream media attention is often placed almost exclusively on new restaurants?

We're always trying to be on top of the trends. If we happen to create one, we love that too. We seem to be hitting the right notes, but there's always somebody that will complain about something. A prominent business owner in Italy told me once that our goal is to hit 96.5 per cent because there is always 3.5 per cent that you can never satisfy. Those are usually the ones that come in with a predetermined mind, or convictions so strong that you can never change their minds.

It's very simple; if you want the car to run, you have to put gas in it, and you have to maintain it. The reality is that Mistura has a style and a way of doing things that perhaps is a little stale because we have to do things that people want. For 15 years, we've had things on the menu that we cannot remove because people are just fixated on them.

I'm not going to be the one that takes it away from them. I've been to restaurants that advertise themselves as "market fresh" -- whatever that means. It's a ridiculous thing to say; I've been doing that for over 25 years now and I've never made it a point to write it on the menu. I'm a strong believer in local and seasonal and I keep my cooks interested by giving them half of the menu to play with.

You stay relevant by making little changes continuously. The style of service and look of the place is always being tweaked. And first and foremost, we always keep the place polished and really clean. If you start going to a restaurant and after two or three years things start falling apart and stuff starts smelling, you won't want to go there. You have to take care of your place, because it's not only about the food; it's the service, ambiance, and overall experience.

You're one of the many chefs in the city opening restaurants at Pearson. How did the trattoria come about? What's next for you?

We've been working on it for about a year, because we needed a restaurant that was different from the usual pub fare in the airport. We wanted to offer something that was fresh and made on site. I brought some pastas, fried artichokes, and prosciutto plate from Mistura, and we're just doing a lot of things. So far it's been nothing but good response. Other than that, I have another TV show concept that I want to promote, and that's about it. I want to take care of Mistura.

What do you like to do for fun when you're not in the kitchen?

It's been three long years of many projects. I love traveling, and I enjoy it when I'm not working while I'm traveling. But I'd love to go for a nice day on the hills and ski in the winter or enjoy a day at the beach with my jet ski.

RAPID FIRE QUESTIONS

Most underrated ingredient? Anchovies

Best culinary tool? Rasp

A chef that inspires you? I love how Mario Batali created a bridge between Italian and North American cuisine

What's one dish you can't live without? Pork chop Milanese and a beautiful green salad

Favourite Toronto restaurant?Origin

What would people be surprised to find in your fridge? Almost nothing in it

One food trend that needs to end? Super peppery flavours, like arugula

For more chef profiles, visit our Toronto Chefs Pinterest board.

Photos by Morris Lum

Almost fifteen years prior to Mayor Lastman calling in the army to assist in clearing up a nasty snow drop on the GTA, the city was busy buying television spots which actively encouraged citizens to pitch in and help clear it up themselves.

First and most memorably in a message from the City of Toronto, ex-pat cartoonist, author and all around wit Ben Wicks (http://regionalmapleleaf.com/news/ben-wicks) both illustrated and narrated this clever animated spot which introduced "Be nice, clear your ice" into the Hogtown lexicon.

Massive snow drifts and dumps were much more common in the 1980s (or so it seemed), and the popular spot returned the very next year with a slight textual revision, while the cartoon remained the same.

In 1987, mighty Maple Leaf Wendel Clark and Blue Jay Loyd Moseby were drafted in to shake up the concept, however aside from creating another playground insult a la "Getzky" — "You should see me catch a baseball" — this spot was cast adrift and, after being cut down to 15 seconds, disappeared off television forever.

We'll never really know why the "Be Nice Clear Your Ice" campaign did not live on into the 1990s or beyond, only that those who recall it probably still hear the posthumous voice of Ben Wicks saying the phrase in his cheeky cockney accent when facing businesses or residents who don't bother to clean up after now seemingly rarified Toronto snowfalls.

Wicks passed away in 2000, but the best way to honour him (other than enjoying a pint at his still open old Cabbagetown pub would be to follow those sage words of advice — be nice, clear your ice.

Retrontario plumbs the seedy depths of Toronto flea markets, flooded basements, thrift shops and garage sales, mining old VHS and Betamax tapes that less than often contain incredible moments of history that were accidentally recorded but somehow survived the ravages of time. You can find more amazing discoveries at www.retrontario.com.

Photo by Subjective Art in the blogTO Flickr pool.

Despite suggesting he would be elsewhere for the new year, Rob Ford has announced he will indeed attend city council's annual levee where citizens have a chance to meet their civic leaders. Ford said earlier this month the event, a city fixture since 1968, would be cancelled or merged into a family skating event.

Around 250 Idle No More protestors, including activist Naomi Klein, staged a flash demonstration at the Eaton Centre Sunday over the Canadian government's handling of various environmental issues and Stephen Harper's refusal to meet with hunger-striking Attawapiskat Chief Theresa Spence. More protests are expected in Toronto later tonight.

More concrete was spotted falling from the Gardiner this weekend near the Humber Loop. The TTC temporarily suspended service on part of the 501 Queen streetcar while city crews made emergency repairs to a concrete underpass near the western terminus of the line.

Come rain, hail, or snow, Toronto's new year Polar Bear dip always ends in a freezing plunge into Lake Ontario. That said, according to the Toronto Star, the icy dip has been getting warmer of late. The air temperature is expected to be around -4 C on New Year's Day, relatively warm compared to other parts of Canada.

Bus, subway, same thing. [via Reddit]

'Tis the season for 2012 round-ups. Here's the year in review from the Globe and Mail's perspective, the Toronto StarCityNews, and the National Post. To summarize: Ford said and did stuff and we either laughed or cringed.

Toronto's own Tom Ryaboi made the Atlantic Cities' best time lapse video list for 2012. His City Rising film, which we featured back in late October, was cited among films from Chicago and Kuala Lampur.

Finally, a quick reminder that the TTC is free tonight after 10 pm and subway service will be extended to roughly 3:30 am. Happy 2013.

QUICK LINKS:

• Ontario reaches tentative deal with school support workers [CBC]
• Police identify man found in Dufferin St. schoolyard [The Star]
• Toronto sees uptick in firearm homicides in 2012 [The Star]
• Toronto-based Nigerian millionaire uses oil wealth to help Danzig [The Star]

FROM THE WEEKEND:

• That time when Toronto asked us to be nice, clear our ice
• Get to know a Chef: Massimo Capra, Mistura
• What's open and closed on New Year's Day 2013 in Toronto
• Where to do yoga in Toronto after gorging on pork buns
• Demand for chalk artistry in Toronto keeps growing
• This Week In Comedy

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

Photo: "Skyline and Western Gap" by grecomic from the blogTO Flickr pool.

Live music picks for MONDAY DECEMBER 31, 2012 through SATURDAY JANUARY 5, 2013.

MONDAY DECEMBER 31 / THE SADIES / HORSESHOE TAVERN / 368 QUEEN W / $31.50 / 19+

If you're still looking for something to do this New Year's Eve, this is a party that you'll definitely want to consider. Local alt-country legends The Sadies have performed at the Horseshoe on New Year's for the past 11 years, and it's always one of the better parties in the city. This is a band that's absolutely awesome live - I saw them open for the Sheepdogs back in September, and they killed it. They'll be playing two sets - one at 11:15 pm, and one at 1:15 am. Expect some special guests, too.

MONDAY DECEMBER 31 / YOUNG EMPIRES / LEE'S PALACE / 529 BLOOR W / $28.50 / 19+

If partying with The Sadies doesn't interest you, another Toronto band will be ringing in 2013 at Lee's Palace. Young Empires released their debut EP, Wake All My Youth, back in January, and it got extensive airplay on 102.1 The Edge and other radio stations; it also garnered considerable critical acclaim. Their unique sound, described by some as "future disco," may not be for everyone, but there's no doubt that this is a band that's going places. Decades, New Hands, and Coleco will offer support.

THURSDAY JANUARY 3 / RIVER TIBER / THE DRAKE HOTEL / 1150 QUEEN W / $10 / 19+

It's a great week for local acts playing in Toronto. River Tiber is the project of 22-year-old multi-instrumentalist, singer, and producer Tommy Paxton-Beesley. On Thursday, he'll be celebrating the release of his new album Synapse at the Drake, along with support from James & Blackburn and Kwikfiks. If you're a fan of dark, experimental electronic music, you may want to check this one out.

SATURDAY JANUARY 5 / CONNIE KALDOR / HUGH'S ROOM / 2261 DUNDAS W / $27.50 - $30 / ALL AGES

Fans of Canadian folk music are probably very familiar with Connie Kaldor. The Regina native has been one of the genre's most consistent artists for more than 30 years, and in that time she's released no less than 14 albums, the most recent being 2009's Postcards From the Road. Shows like this tend to draw great crowds, and it's safe to say that Kaldor will be bringing her A-game to Hugh's Room.

SATURDAY JANUARY 5 / THE DREADNOUGHTS / HARD LUCK BAR / 812 DUNDAS W / $13.50 / ALL AGES

If you're looking for something a little harder than traditional folk music on Saturday night, look no further than the Hard Luck Bar, where Vancouver quintet The Dreadnoughts will be taking the stage. The band draws their sound from a number of different genres, including punk, folk, and polka. Yes, polka. It sounds very unusual, and it is, but it works - this promises to be a very fun show.

For more music listings, check out our events calendar.

Looking for tickets? Check out Rotate This or Soundscapes to avoid Ticketmaster robbery.

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

Photo of The Dreadnoughts courtesy of 803 on Flickr.

The Eaton Centre sure knows how to draw a crowd during the holidays and this year's boxing week has been no exception. It looks some convincing but we were able to distract some busy shoppers to tell us about the look they were rocking in (and around) the mall.

Check out all the looks in our Style section.

It was a banner year for new restaurant openings in Toronto and already it seems as if 2013 will keep up the frenetic pace. These soon-to-open establishments are just a sample of what we can look forward to in the new year ahead.

Porzia
The new Italian restaurant from chef Basilio Pesce (Biff's Bistro). Located at 1314 Queen Street West, the new Parkdale eatery will offer seasonal menus making use of ethically raised and local ingredients.

Crown Cooks
Already garnering lots of buzz because the new restaurant is from the ever popular Chef Grant van Gameren (Enoteca Sociale, The Black Hoof) and is slated to open this January at 797 College Street in the space formerly home to Grappa Ristorante.

Nu Bügel
At 240 Augusta Avenue, this is the one restaurant I'm personally most excited for. After months of delays, the new retail shop/cafe looks almost ready to start serving up steaming hot Montreal bagels in Kensington Market.

The continued expansion of dining options at YYZ.
Terminals 1 and 3 will see an influx of new eateries like Trillium, a global tapas restaurant and bar from chef Claudio Aprile (Origin), Corso, a rustic Italian concept from Chef Rocco Agostino (Pizzeria Libretto) and Acer, a Japanese restaurant from chef Guy Rubino (Strada 241).

Osteria dei Ganzi
This place will operate as a restaurant and event venue when it opens its doors in the enormous historic mansion it occupies at 504 Jarvis Street. The restaurant's website promises a unique European atmosphere and authentic Italian cuisine.

Banh Mi Boys's second location
This popular sandwich shop has already made its mark on Queen West but now it's set to open a much anticipated second location as early as this January at 399 Yonge Street (at Gerrard).

Ryoji Ramen and Izakaya
Here's hoping Toronto maintains its appetite for casual Japanese eateries that have popped-up all across the city this past year. This chain from Okinawa, Japan is set to open its first Toronto location in mid-January at 692 College Street in Little Italy.

Tabule in Riverside
Popular Middle Eastern restaurant Tabule is opening a second location some time this February in Riverside at 810 Queen Street East. Finally, something that's not an Irish pub or Italian restaurant opening in the 'hood.

The Cactus Club
This casual west coast chain will open its first Ontario location some time this year. Executive Chef Rob Feenie will bring his globally inspired menu sourced from fresh, local ingredients to 100 King Street West in the Financial District.

Bricco Kitchen and Wine Bar
This restaurant is but a license application in the window of 3047 Dundas Street West, but will be a welcome addition to the ongoing revival of the Junction's nightlife.

Duffy's Diner
The venerable Duffy's Tavern at 1238 Bloor St. West just got a major update courtesy of Restaurant Takeover and as part of the overhaul they've now added a diner in the space immediately adjacent on the east side. Signage is already up and furniture is half installed so an opening date looks likely for sometime in January.

Cafe+Bar+Pasta
Locals can't wait for the opening of this new spot at 1588 Dundas West that promised to serve up coffee, wine and pasta. They're currently working out the final kinks and according to their Instagram they should be opening sometime in January.

The Guild Restaurant
Just down the street at 1442 Dundas St West, The Guild Restaurant has been under construction forever with the owner posting updates frequently on Facebook. Or, at least he was posting updates under the former name, NoNo's, which was plastered on the window for most of this past year. Here's hoping owner/chef Mani Binelli can get this thing open soon.

Samuel J Moore
There were once rumblings of a new restaurant from Cowbell's Mark Cutrara, but we're still watching to see if the Samuel J. Moore inside The Great Hall materializes. Former Brockton General head chef Alexandra Feswick may or may not still be involved.

Red Rocket Cafe
I know this isn't a restaurant but I couldn't resist....I'm told the lease isn't yet finalized but there's a strong possibility that Red Rocket Cafe will be returning to Leslieville and opening this spring across the street from its former location (now Rakia Bar) and beside the Russell streetcar yard.

What restaurant opening are you most looking forward to in 2013? Share the love in the comment thread below.

Toronto New Year's Eve 2013 parties will be equal parts celebration for the new year, as well as revelry in the fact that the world didn't actually come to an end. Simple pleasures, right? As usual, there are seemingly endless options for welcoming in 2013, the best of which usually offer some sort of celebratory hat and champagne ("champagne") toast after the clock strikes midnight. No money? No problem. The annual New Year's Bash at City Hall is back with The Tenors, Kardinal Offishall, Jully Black, and Shawn Desman.

So put away that Mayan calendar analysis, and check out these options for New Year's Eve (fingers crossed) 2013.

NEW YEAR'S EVE PARTIES: EVENT SPACES/ALTERNATIVE VENUES

Raunch 'N Roll New Year at the Metro Theatre (677 Bloor Street West)
They say the way you ring in the new year will set the precedent for the rest of the year. So why not welcome 2013 by watching people take off their clothes? The Skin Tight Outta Sight burlesque troupe will be celebrating the new year with "Maximum Nudies," "Maximum Music" and "Maximum Party" at the Metro Theatre on Bloor, with guests encouraged to dress in "Hair Metal Spandex Groupie Style." I have no idea what that means. Tickets are $40 to $160 and can be purchased online in advance.

YLMC NYE 2013: Dwayne Gretzky and Summer Fling DJs at the Palais Royal
Young Lions Music Club will take over the historic Palais Royale for NYE 2013 where you'll get a chance to hear what is arguably one of the best cover bands around: Dwayne Gretzky. It's been quite the year for the band — who consistently exceed expectations with their range and on-stage energy — and there might not be a better platform for them to do their thing than a New Year's party. There promises to be a little something for almost all musical tastes. Summer Fling DJs will also perform, and there's food! $62 gets you access to the event and some damn fine sounding dishes. If you're eating elsewhere, admission is $30. Check out the Facebook event page for all the details, including info on early bird specials and a discount via Bicyclette Boutique.

Metropolis NYE 2013 at Metropolis Living Factory Store (50 Edwin Ave)
Set in the Metropolis Living Factory Store in the Junction Triangle, Metropolis NYE is a Mansion event featuring Machinedrum, XI and John Roman. In short; music, flashing lights, rustic, raw surroundings. Sound good? Advance tickets start at $44.50 and are available online, as well as on location at Soundscapes, Rotate This, and Play De Record.

• Voyeur NYE at the Great Hall
• NYE at the Bloor Cinema with the Big Lebowski
• Avant Garde NYE at Loft 580
• Grand 2013 at Liberty Grand (Exhibition Place)
• Singles New Year's Gala at the Bata Shoe Museum (327 Bloor St W)
• Midnight Kiss NYE at the Arcadian Court (401 Bay Street)
• The Royal Ball at Fountain Blu (200 Princess Blvd)
• Majestic 2013 at Sheraton Centre (123 Queen St W)
• James Bond 007 at Westin Harbour Castle (1 Harbour Sq)
• New Year's Eve Cruise at Mariposa Cruises (207 Queens Quay W)
• NYE with Singles at Arta Gallery
• NYE 2013 at the Thompson Hotel
• Toronto Salsa Ball at 212 Delaware Avenue
• NYE Party at Casa Loma
• A Time to Remember at Ganzi on Jarvis
• Shine NYE at Pia Bouman Ballet School

NEW YEAR'S EVE PARTIES: BARS + RESTAURANTS

Luck 13 - NYE at the Gladstone Hotel (1214 Queen St W)
Key words: Vegas-style buffet. The Gladstone will become a sort of pseudo-Vegas for New year's Eve, complete with games tables, karaoke, DJ rooms, and the aforementioned buffet. Games will be played to win prizes, not money, so at least you don't have to worry about forfeiting your watch at the end of the night. Dinner packages start at $50 and are available online.

Nyood NYE Prom 2013 at Nyood Restaurant and Bar (1096 Queen St W)
Bust out the taffeta, ladies. Nyood is reviving your worst high school memory by hosting its very own prom on New Year's Eve. The evening will include a photo backdrop station, spiked punch (not from your parents' liquor cabinet) and a special NYE menu that varies depending on your package. Tickets start at $40 per person and black tie is encouraged.

• NYE 2013 at The Hoxton (69 Bathurst St)
• P&L NYE + White Girl at Parts & Labour (1566 Queen St W)
• NYE at Wrongbar with RAC and Goldroom
• Apocalyptic New Years Eve at Phoenix Concert Theatre (410 Sherbourne St)
• Chronologic NYE at The Garrison (1197 Dundas St W)
• Lee's Palace NYE (529 Bloor St W)
• Rock N Roll Dance Party at The Silver Dollar Room (486 Spadina Ave)
• Truly Outrageous at The Henhouse
• Leave Your Resolutions at the Door at Brassaii (461 King St W)
• Holiday Soul II at Mitzi's Sister (1554 Queen St W)
• Feed The Soul at Harlem Underground (745 Queen St W)
• New Year's Eve at The Local Company (511 Danforth Ave)
• NYE at Andy Poolhall (489 College St)
• Crush Party NYE at The Central (603 Markham St)
• POP MACHINE NYE 2013 Party at What Are You Looking At (966 Queen St E)
• Bangs & Blush NYE at Clintons (693 Bloor St W)
• Back in the Day at 6 Degrees (2335 Yonge Street)
• New Year's Eve at the Bovine Sex Club (542 Queen St W)
• NYYYE 2013 at The Annex WreckRoom (794 Bathurst St)
• New Year's Eve at Mod Club (722 College St W)
• Glow in the dark NYE party at the Office Pub
• Get Blown at Sneaky Dee's
• NYE with Bump N' Hustle-Garage 416-Footprints at the Rivoli
• Lifetime NYE at Revival
• Hungamama 2013 at the Hard Rock Cafe
• Reggae NYE 2013 at Waterfall Indian Tapas
• New Year's with The Brains and Dearly Beloved at Cherry Colas
• Salsa NYE at Lula Lounge
• NYE at the Bowery
• Downtown Motown NYE at The May
• Just Another Night at the Emmet Ray
• Funreal NYE at the Boat
• Pop Lobster at the Magpie
• Do Right and Milk at Supermarket
• NYE at the Stirling Room
• NYE at the Flying Beaver
• New Year's Eve at SPiN

NEW YEAR'S EVE PARTIES: CLUBS

Cirque New Year's Eve at Solarium (11 Polson St)
Solarium at Sound Academy will be made over for New Year's eve, sporting a circus-esque look that's fairly reminiscent to (dare I say?) the defunct CiRCA nightclub. Never mind. The event will include over 20 VIP booths, music by DJ Glew and DJ Mix N Match, a live countdown (of course) and balloon drop. A strict dress code will be enforced and doors open at 10 p.m. Tickets are $25 and available online now.

New Year's Eve Club Crawl 2013 at OhSo Nightclub (and beyond)
Really, who sticks with one party these days? (Probably most people, but never mind). this year's club crawl with start at OhSo Nightclub on Peter, moving onto Crocodile Rock, London Tap House, Tryst, Play on Queen, and City Nightclub. Better wear comfortable shoes, in other words. Tickets start at $20 with limo transportation available for a slightly higher cost. Includes NYE 2013 hats.

• Moskito + Bite NYE 2013 with DirtyCycle
• uNYtE New Year's Eve at Uniun Nightclub (473 Adelaide St W)
• Go Hard NYE at Club 120
• NYE with DJ Sneak at Footwork Nightclub
• NYE 13 at Foundation Room (19 Church St)
• Decadence NYE 2013 at Century Room (580 King St W)
• EMB Party and Panic Retro Party at Nocturne (550 Queen St W)
• Champagne Showers at Tryst Nightclub (82 Peter St)
• Singles NYE party at Crown Lounge
• Cinema Presents Winter Wonderland
• NYE 2013 at Maison Mercer
• NYE at Bloke & 4th
• NYE at Atelier
• Static NYE at the Guvernment

Have additional suggestions for New Year's Eve 2013 events? Let us know in the comments. We'll also add more links to this post as further events are announced.

NYE ON INSTAGRAM

Tag your New Year's Eve photos #blogtonye2013 and we'll feature a selection of our favourites on the site. Not following us on Instagram? You can find us here.

Photo by Nana Arbova in the blogTO Flickr pool

This post was originally published on December 14th. It has been re-posted today for your convenience.

Photo by ~EvidencE~ in the blogTO Flickr pool

New Year's Day 2013 events in Toronto:

COMMUNITY | Polar Bear Dip
Probably one of the better ways to cure a hangover (you've got to shock the system, right?), Sunnyside Beach is the place of choice for the Polar Bears to take their annual dip in the frigid waters of Lake Ontario this morning. Ringing in the New Year with a quick bath at the unsavoury waterfront, the Polar Bears welcome any and all interested in registering to appear at the shore at 10:30AM. The minimum donation or sponsorship is $30, with all money going to Habitat for Humanity, and there will be plenty of pre-dip events. Be forewarned--the weather will be dipping below 0 today.
Sunnyside Beach (1755 Lake Shore Boulevard West) 10:30AM $30

POLITICS | Annual Mayor's New Year's Levee
Well, this is awkward. Rob Ford is inviting the entire city of Toronto to greet him and all city councillors at the Mayor's levee this afternoon, a tradition that takes place every New Year's Day. Though the reception is simply to exchange greetings with local politicians, there's no telling what may take place, especially given Ford's recent problems in office. The reception takes place at 2PM, with complaints expected shortly thereafter.
Toronto City Hall (100 Queen Street West) 2PM Free

THEATRE | The Amorous Adventures of Anatol
A contemporary re-envisioning of Arthur Schnitzler's "Anatol" sees the romantic title character chase after many women, each time believing that he's found the one. When he woos seven successive women, his psychologist friend Max tries to rein in the Casanova, only to help Anatol realize what he really wants. This adaptation by Canadian director Morris Panych previews tonight with Mike Shara in the role of Anatol and opens on January 9th for a 3 week run.
Tarragon Theatre Mainspace (30 Bridgman Avenue) 8PM $27-$53

MUSIC | Comfort Zone with Nicole Moudaber and 24 DJs
Comfort Zone will host a New Year's Eve after party that will continue well into the day with over 24 DJs performing sets from 3AM onward. International DJ and producer Nicole Moudaber will headline with local acts like Manzone and Strong, Nathan Barato, Jonathan Rosa, Chris Larsen and Joee Cons. Tickets will be available at the door.
Comfort Zone Bar and Grill (486 Spadina Avenue) 3AM $75

OTHER EVENTS ON OUR RADAR:

• New Year's 2013--After Party
• New Year's Day Brunch

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

Photo by George_grrl in the blogTO Flickr pool

It's the first day of 2013 and as has been tradition for us it's time to look back at the last twelve months and revisit some of the most viewed posts on the site. In sum, the site received just over 45 million page views last year and reached more than 8.2 million unique visitors. Also, our iPhone and iPad apps generate more than 1 million page views a month. Some of the topics that resonated the most this year included monkeys, our Mayor, male strippers, Google, Liberty Village and Astral info pillars and bus shelters. Measured by page views, these are the top 20 posts from 2012.

20. What's the grossest things you've seen on the TTC?
19. A first look at the colossal new Massey Tower condo
18. Revisiting the beer store monopoly and why it sucks
17. Photos of the 2012 no pants subway ride
16. Ikea monkey goes viral in Toronto
15. The food at the CNE is trying to kill you
14. Confessions of a male stripper in Toronto
13. The new Google HQ in Toronto is better than your office
12. What Liberty Village looked like before the condos
11. The top 8 foods trends in Toronto for 2012
10. Rob Ford removed as Mayor of Toronto
9. Photos of the new Robocop being filmed in Toronto
8. Guerrilla art groups hacks dozens of Astral info pillars
7. A lesson in heritage restoration at Queen and Bathurst
6. City Hall gets a zip line for a limited time
5. A TTC etiquette guide, vintage edition
4. Astral TTC bus shelter ads get hacked
3. Vintage photographs of winter in Toronto
2. Photos of the World Naked Bike Ride in 2012
1. A roundup of Union Station flood funnies

See also:

The top 20 most viewed posts of 2011
The top 20 most viewed posts of 2010
The top 10 most viewed posted of 2009

Toronto concerts worth knowing about in January, 2013.

Happy New Year's Day, you guys! Does your head hurt? Is your "resolution" to "never drink again?" Classic everybody. As usual this month sees old favourites come through town as well as some potential new faves! But to be honest, this month is slim pickins! So let's hope February is better for both concert selection and decisions. Don't tell me what your resolutions are in the comments, but instead feel free to spout off about any shows that you think are worth adding.

HOT TICKETS

YACHT CLUB W/DIGITS / JANUARY 4 / 9PM / POLYHAUS / $7
Ben Cook and Matt DeLong formerly of No Warning and Fucked Up (Cook), got together and wrote some poppy 80s-tinged tunes. No big deal. Put on a linen suit and sway back and forth contentedly. Digits is from Toronto but living in Berlin now probably because we don't give him (or any musicians) enough money so go see him too and give him money.

FIRST RATE PEOPLE / JANUARY 4 / 9PM / LEE'S PALACE / $7
Super happy girls and boys from Grey-Bruce landed in Toronto and make super happy pop/r'n'b/electronic music. I think their show at Lee's will be their biggest headlining spot yet so...go be happy with them?

OUTTACONTROLLER / JANUARY 4 / 10PM / THE SHOP / $5
Mark Pesci booked a punk rock band from Halifax at The Shop, so that's really all you need to know — it will be a good fucking time. Their Facebook page says it all "Beer. Plaid." You get the picture.

QUICKSAND W/SINGLE MOTHERS / JANUARY 9 / 8PM / THE PHOENIX / $29
Quicksand is a band you would've heard of if you had your head in the 90s NYC hardcore scene but if you did you're probably not reading blogTO today, so you'll have to trust me. They reunited in June 2012 for one show but have been playing together ever since, aw. My ex-boyfriend's band will open and that's just so great for you.

THE WALKMEN W/FATHER JOHN MISTY / JANUARY 16 / 7PM / DANFORTH MUSIC HALL / $33.50
The Walkmen's singer may have the nerdiest name (Hamilton Leithauser) and sure, their sound has calmed a bit over the years but he still has one of the most confident and commanding voices that's a must to experience live. They've recently released a 7" follow-up to their latest full length release Heaven, but you can count on hearing lots of good oldies. Father John Misty has a real name and it is "Joshua Tillman" — he played with Fleet Foxes and now he plays with himself. Zing.

FUCKED UP'S LONG WINTER VOL. 3 W/BUCK 65, MOON KING, MALOO, LIGHTS FIRES / JANUARY 11 / 8PM / THE GREAT HALL / PWYC
I hope you've been going to these things, man. The first and second volumes were a great success and there's no chance of redundancy for the last two. There will be wicked music, food and at least one thing that makes you go "??!!!?" I suspect this is good for our brains. They're definitely something out of the norm to break up the monotony winter / live shows in general.

CHELSEA WOLFE / JANUARY 21 / 8PM / THE DRAKE HOTEL / $15
She doesn't have any pupils and plays "drone-metal-art-folk," so what the fuck do I know. I wish I didn't like it, but I do.

JULIE DOIRON / JANUARY 25 / 9PM / THE HORSESHOE / $15
More badass than the above mentioned Ms. Wolfe (if I do say so myself), she just released her 9th studio album this past October titled So Many Days produced by a former Eric's Trip bandmate, has published a book of her photography, has three young kids and teaches yogo in my neighbourhood. "Consolation Prize" from 2009's I Can Wonder What You Did With Your Day is one of my favourites from her catalogue.

OTHER NOTEWORTHY CONCERTS

• THE DREADNOUGHTS / JANUARY 5 / 8:30PM / HARD LUCK / $13.50
• CLASS ASSASSINS / JANUARY 11 / 9PM / BOVINE SEX CLUB / FREE!
• DATSIK / JANUARY 11 / 8PM / THE GUVERNMENT / $20
• G.LOVE & SPECIAL SAUCE / JANUARY 13 / 7PM / THE OPERA HOUSE / $25
• ALL TIME LOW&YELLOWCARD / JANUARY 17 / 6:30PM / SOUND ACADEMY / $36.50
• FREELANCE WHALES / JANUARY 17 / 6:30PM / THE MOD CLUB / $16
• BETA FRONTIERS / JANUARY 17 / 9PM / PLAY / $7
• UNDEROATH / JANUARY 18 / 6PM / THE PHOENIX / $24
• CHRISTOPHER OWENS / JANUARY 18 / 7PM / THE MOD CLUB / $20
• LUNICE W/THUGLI / JANUARY 18 / 10PM / THE HOXTON / $15
• TREY ANASTASIO BAND / JANUARY 18 / 7PM / DANFORTH MUSIC HALL / $48
• HOLLY COLE / JANUARY 19 / 7PM / WINTER GARDEN THEATRE / $44.50-74.50
• ONUINU / JANUARY 19 / 8PM / THE DRAKE HOTEL / $10
• THE QUEEN EXTRAVAGANZA / JANUARY 21 / 7PM / QUEEN ELIZABETH THEATRE / $29.50-69.50
• LINDI ORTEGA AND DUSTEN BENTAL & THE SMOKES / JANUARY 24 / 8PM / RIVOLI / $10
• SOUNDGARDEN / JANUARY 25 & 26 / 7PM / SOUND ACADEMY / $68
• THE GROWLERS / JANUARY 28 / 8:30PM / THE HORSESHOE / $11.50
• HOT WATER MUSIC / JANUARY 29 / 7PM / DANFORTH MUSIC HALL / $24.50
• BETWEEN THE BURIED & ME / JANUARY 31 / 7PM / THE PHOENIX / $24.50

Photo by Cristina Naccarato

Photo by Jonathan Castellino in the blogTO Flickr pool

BOOKS & LIT | WordSpell Spoken Word Showcase
The folks at WordSpell Collective and Cytopoetics present this special showcase tonight featuring some of TO's most promising and established female poets and spoken word artists. The Wordspell Collective is a new organization that just came together last year, and is hosting events like this on the first Monday of the month, six months of the year. Tonight, Lillian Allen will be a featured performer, and she is very well-known in these parts, having a long history as a dub poet, performer, playwright, Juno Award winner, and professor. Emilee Nimetz, an emerging performer, is also part of tonight's lineup, and together they will both be sure to give 2013 a strong start for WordSpell.
Free Times Cafe (320 College Street) Doors open at 7:30PM $6

COMEDY | John Hastings Headlining Yuk Yuks Toronto
Comedian John Hastings begins a short run of shows at Yuk Yuk's this evening. Singled out by The Canadian Comedy Network as one of five "comedians to watch," Hastings has made quite a splash in the last few years, from winning Best Newcomer Award at the Just for Laughs Festival in Montreal in 2010, to making it to the finals in the 2011 San Francisco International Comedy Festival, and this guy is just getting started. Come and find out what the buzz is about! Hastings will be at Yuk Yuk's until January 6th.
Yuk Yuks Toronto (224 Richmond Street West) 8PM $13-22

THEATRE | Memorial by Steven Gallagher
Steven Gallagher's Memorial opens tonight at The Factory Theatre as part of the Next Stage Festival. D Jeremy Smith directs this forward thinking story of a new relationship that intersects with a family situation. A solid cast supports this work, and brings it to live for your viewing pleasure. Memorial runs until January 13th.
Factory Theatre (125 Bathurst Street) 9PM $15

VARIETY | Reveal Me at the Rivoli - JANUARY!
Burlesque madness returns to The Rivoli tonight as Reveal Me delivers its monthly provocative showcase and party, loaded with entertainment, food and drink. Tonight will feature NYC's Calamity Chang, Lucky Minx, and Hamilton's Mz Kitty Demure, as well as first time performer at Reveal Me, Natalie Presty. If you are interested in joining the fun onstage, be sure to get in touch with the organizers (follow the event link for more info), as they are always on the lookout for fresh blood, so to speak.
The Rivoli (334 Queen Street West) 8PM $10

OTHER EVENTS ON OUR RADAR

Wednesday Comedy Night
TOP STAR debuts at THE FLYING BEAVER PUBARET
Nouveau Duo at the Festival of New Formats

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

Photo courtesy of John Hastings

Despite almost canceling the event, Rob Ford attended the traditional city hall new year's levee where members of the public are allowed to rub shoulders with the mayor and members of council. Ford met a man who declared him "the greatest mayor Toronto has ever had" and received a panama hat from an Ecuadorian-born couple.

Toronto could be getting beer and wine in its supermarkets, or something close to it, if a new LCBO pilot project gets tested out in the city. As a counter proposal to the PC's plan to put beer in corner stores, the Liberal government has announced a scheme to put LCBO "express" counters in 10 stores on a trial basis. Customers will still have to pay a separate clerk but is this a step in the right direction for Ontario boozing?

With each new year comes the obligatory "first babies" news stories, and yesterday was no exception. This year's first boy was delivered at St. Michael's Hospital at exactly midnight to Jane Maggs, the partner of Casey Laforet, frontman of local indie band Elliott Brood. The first girl arrived out in Credit Valley Hospital in Mississauga at 12:07.

Journalist Michael Vaughan believes it's time to join other cities that have buried (or are burying) their downtown highways. Sinking the Gardiner and adding tolls, he argues, is the only viable option for the aging and crumbling concrete el. Is this the best way of fixing the problem - is it too early for us to contemplate removing the road entirely?

Climbing land values and new planning policies in Toronto seem to be having an impact on how the city preserves its heritage buildings, according to a piece by Raja Moussaoui in the Toronto Star. Developers are increasingly sweet to renovating important buildings in exchange for dense, high-rise towers on the same site (think the James Cooper Mansion on Sherbourne and the proposed Massey Tower condo.) Is this a good way of saving the city's past while encouraging development?

Finally, Canada's representation on the International Space Station, Commander Chris Hadfield, Tweeted a picture of snowy GTA from 400 kilometres above the Earth's surface on Dec. 30. Uncleared hydro corridors, Downsview airport, and the city's sheltered ravine system stand out clearest on the monochromatic image. Lovely.IN BRIEF:

• 7-year-old killed in Highway 401 collision [CBC]
• Fatal stabbing at Keele St. bar; police seek two men [The Star]
• Shooting victims drive to hospital [The Star]

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

Photo: "Untitled" by Stephen Sokolov from the blogTO Flickr pool, and Twitter.

Your first theatre festival of 2013 comes courtesy of the Toronto Fringe, who launch their annual Next Stage Festival this week. The twelve-day affair features ten shows spread throughout the three stages of Factory Theatre. With these productions chosen from some of the best independent theatre in the city, the calibre of the shows is strong and the beer tent will be bustling. Here are some of the most exciting on offer in 2013.

Awake / Expect Theatre & Spark Collective / Factory Theatre Mainspace
Inspired by interviews with gang members, police officers, and families who have lost children, Awake explores the devastating effects of gun violence on communities touched by tragedy. Combining hip-hop with church hymns, the show features a cast of six who sing, dance, and alternate between characters. Set at the funeral of a victim of gun violence, the Walmer Baptist Church provided a fitting setting during its Fringe run in 2011.

The Peace Maker / Pomme Grenade Productions / Factory Theatre Mainspace
A production that has traveled its way through Toronto's new play development circles (TPM's Buzz Festival, Nightwood's Write from the Hip, and The Harold Green Jewish Theatre's In the Beginning Festival), Natasha Greenblatt's The Peace Maker considers a woman's struggle to bring compromise to Israel and Palestine during peacekeeping efforts in the Middle East. Directed by Jennifer Brewin, the show features Sam Kalileh, Michael Rubenfeld, and Razi Shawhadi.

Pitch Blond / Convection Productions / Factory Theatre Antechamber
A fringe darling from festivals across the country, Pitch Blond documents the testimony of actress Judy Holliday, who was called before Senator McCarthy's House Committee on Un-American Activities. Appearing in the Factory Theatre Antechamber, the play is being performed as a 30 minute version of its original 60 minute production. Laura Anne Harris wrote the show and stars as the Oscar-winning actress.

Post Eden / Suburban Beast / Factory Theatre Studio
A twist on the conventions of verbatim theatre, Jordan Tannahill's Post Eden combines interview material from residents of the Richmond Hill street of Neighbourly Lane with elements of a multi-media fantasia. The result is a highly unique, surrealist take on life in suburbia. Sascha Cole, Lindsey Clark, and Kevin Walker star in the tale, in which a girl exhumes the dog buried in her backyard in an attempt to combat a family curse.

Sudden Death / Pyretic Productions / Factory Theatre Mainspace
With the NHL lockout threatening to cancel the entirety of the season, the business of professional hockey continues to steal the spotlight away from the talents of the game's players. Charlotte Corbeil-Coleman examines another recent and controversial hockey topic, the role of the "enforcer" in the wake of the deaths of Derek Boogaard, Rick Rypien, and Wade Belak. She considers the last night of enforcer John "Rambo" Kordic (Tony Nappo) who played for seven seasons in the NHL before dying of a drug overdose in 1992.

With Love and a Major Organ / QuestionMark-Exclamation Theatre / Factory Theatre Studio
Julia Lederer's With Love and a Major Organ was a sold-out highlight of this past summer's Fringe Festival. Under direction from Andrew Lamb, the playwright's unique brand of comedy proved to be a hit with audiences. The play follows three hopeless romantics on their quest to find answers — Anabel offers her heart to a man she meets on the subway, George has trouble escaping the romantic comedies that distract him, and Mona resorts to GoogleShrink and speed dating.

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The Next Stage Theatre Festival runs from January 2-13. Visit the Toronto Fringe Festival website for tickets, venue information, and the complete festival lineup.

Photo from Awake