Italian restaurants in Toronto revere the numerous, surprisingly distinct culinary traditions spanning Italy's diverse provinces. From the pepperoncino laced food of the South to the dizzying array of fresh seafood of the Mediterranean or the hearty, truffle infused dishes of the north, these places offer up a range of dishes that you're unlikely to spot on a standard do-it-all menu.

Here are my picks for the top regional Italian restaurants in Toronto.

See also:

The best Italian restaurants in Toronto
The top 30 Italian restaurants in Toronto by neighbourhood

NORTHERN ITALIAN

F'Amelia is a popular Cabbagetown institution serving north-Italian inspired fare. Start with the fresh and impossibly sweet scallops or the spicy, pan-seared calamari served in a complex sausage sauce. From there, work your way to the gamey papardelle with braised rabbit or the vegetarian friendly green risotto served with seasonal accompaniments.

THE VENETO

Joso's in Yorkville serves impeccable seafood inspired by the Dalmatian coast. The spaghetti al nero di seppie, coloured glossy black by cuttlefish ink and tasting like Venetian fog, is certainly a nod to the north east Italian province. Alternatively, have a go at the strikingly fresh selection of grilled whole fish -- just don't expect to come out of this place without paying in the three digits.

ABRUZZO

La Cascina is an uptown eatery that does not attempt to be fashionable. Instead, it relies on delectably good food and a following of in-the-know regulars. The menu changes daily and is heavily dependent on seasonal, Ontario produce. Make sure to try the impressive, 12-dish antipasti menu, which offers a good glimpse of the seasonal charcuterie, cheeses and small prepared dishes on offer.

TUSCANY

Though the portion sizes at Tutti Matti might be on the smaller side, the flavours at this Entertainment District spot certainly aren't. In fact, this Tuscan restaurant serves some of the best pasta in the city. Make sure to pop by in late summer when they serve up sinful crisp zucchini flowers that melt in your mouth. Have a sip of your Aperol spritz, close your eyes and pretend you're in Florence.

ROME

For lunch, Falasca SPQR rotates though more than 30 traditional Roman pizzas al taglio -- priced by weight. The "Numero 1" -- a zucchini, four-cheese pizza -- is an award winning offering. For dinner look forward to bucattini all'Amatriciana, creamy Carbonara or bare bones Cacio e Pepe, all traditional Roman dishes that will certainly satisfy most any craving.

NAPLES

Though a number of pizzerias have opened up in recent years claiming to serve traditional Neapolitan pizza, Pizzeria Libretto still rules that scene. The blistered Magherita coated in rich tomato sauce and studded with basil and fresh Ontario fior di latte is an obvious favourite. For something with a kick, the Nduja pizza perfectly showcases Calabrian sausage pairing it with creamy stracciatella.

CALABRIA

Housed in an old bank on Etobicoke's lakeshore, Cellar Door serves up some of the city's best Calabrian dishes. Complimentary homemade rosemary foccacia with olive oil makes for a tasty starter. Pair it with their salumi platter, which is reflective of your party size. Share one as an appetizer or pick from the assortment of pizzas. For something different, try the smoky, wood-roasted potato gnocchi.

PUGLIA

At 7 Numbers you're sure to have an interesting dining experience - the food is cooked and served up by mama Rosa, a real-life Italian nonna. The menu changes daily so if you're lucky enough to catch it, make sure to try the fresh, oozy burrata or their tender and spicy braised rabbit. One item you're sure to always find is the veal lasagna -- some swear it's the best in the city.

SICILY

Black Skirt is a rare find in Little Italy, which is ironically lacking in good quality Italian food despite its name. Here they serve up superb Sicilian inspired food like arancini and lemony, grilled sardines. For something you're unlikely to have ever tasted unless you've been to Palermo recently, try the creamy pistachio pesto pasta.

LOMBARDIA

Stelvio is where you will find some of the best curated selection of cheese in Toronto, all hailing from Italy's Alps. The dishes here are hearty, evocative of their alpine origin. Start with the sciatt, perfect deep fried clouds of cheesy goodness. As a main, try the Zigeuner -- beef seasoned with rosemary, wrapped around a wooden stick and grilled -- and make sure to eat it as is, it's more fun that way.

UMBRIA

La Bruschetta in Corso Italia doesn't aim to be snobby - instead it exudes the quiet elegance of Italian food done right. Pass on the salad and start with spuntini, grilled polenta served with an assortment of toppings. Pasta is split up into short and long varieties which are dressed accordingly. An order of the Frascarelli will give you a real taste of Umbria with truffle shavings elevating humble, creamy ricotta.

EMILIA ROMAGNA

Paganelli's on Front Street is the perfect place to become a regular. For seafood lovers, start with the Gran Fritto, a crunchy, salty melange of calamari, squid and shrimp served with a rich, spicy tomato sauce. For your main have the pheasant risotto dressed with black truffle, a dish for which they're well known. For something meatier, make sure to try the spicy suckling pork, the chef's take on porchetta.

What did I miss? Add your suggestions for best regional Italian restaurants in the comments.

Writing by Maria Vanta

You're walking down the street feeling just fine. You have a comfortable job, a decent condo with stainless appliances, sex regularly enough that you can't complain, but then it happens: you encounter an abandoned couch on the street and this weird feeling builds in your stomach, crawls to your throat, and then hangs there, killing your appetite and optimism.

Existential dread. That's what you're in store for should you follow this relatively new Toronto Instagram account devoted to the street sofas of this city. These sites were popularized on Tumblr a while ago (my favourite is the Sofas of LA), but this one fosters a certain hometown horror that actually makes for some poignant images.

Always slightly askew, the lonely coach is a figure of displacement in general -- of lives in transition, and the sense of being left behind. Where the mattress is uniform, the couch is unique, and thus far more likely to be remembered. You wouldn't want to sit on one of these cast-offs, but the sense of meaninglessness gestured to by this forgotten furniture is intimate and uncomfortable all at once.

Check out more from @wetcouches on Instagram here.

Drake's Jungle Tour finally touched down in Toronto The 6 last night, which served as the occasion for the first hometown rendition of "Know Yourself," the wildly popular track that dudes in Montreal elevators tend to refer to as "that woes song."

It wouldn't be an exaggeration to suggest that this song has already become the city's true anthem (sorry, Kardi), one that's appropriately ambivalent and proud at the same time. In any case, when Drake performed the song at the ACC last night, it nearly brought the house down.

Here's a glimpse at the performance if you didn't get tickets. Fine issued and paid.

Photo via champagnepapi

The official start of summer is about two weeks away, but one of the surest signs that the warm weather is here to stay is the official opening of Toronto beaches. Nine beaches are set to open in Toronto on June 6th, which means that water quality will be monitored and lifeguards installed, even if the lake is too cold to enjoyably swim right now (the temperature is about 10 Celsius right now).

The following beaches will open this weekend in Toronto.

• Bluffer's Beach
• Centre Island Beach
• Cherry Beach
• Gibraltar Point Beach
• Hanlan's Point Beach
• Kew-Balmy Beach
• Ward's Island Beach
• Woodbine Beach

That's nine of Toronto's 11 beaches. The remaining two, Marie Curtis and Rouge Beach will open on June 19th and 23rd, respectively.

In the sea of fake events and block parties that have taken Toronto Facebook feeds by storm, it's rare to find a quirky, large-scale event that you can bet is actually going to happen. Hosted by Newmindspace (yup, the folks behind Pillow Fight Day), the Bubble Battle is just what it sounds like, a whimsical parade of bubble-blowing combatants.

The big fight goes down on June 13th at the Jack Layton Ferry Terminal. Participants are encouraged to "bring bubble toys, bubble generators, bubble solution, and plenty of AA batteries." Previous events have taken place on city streets, but there should be a bit more room to maneuver on the grounds of Terminal. The lakeside view, probably won't hurt either.

There are also Bubble Battles planned on June 13th in cities like New York, San Francisco, London, Barcelona, and Amsterdam.

Photo by candrika in the blogTO Flickr pool.

The remains of a historic schooner unearthed during excavations for a condo building near Bathurst and Fort York Blvd. are going to get a permanent new home at Fort York. But first, archaeological experts will have to carefully extract it from the bottom of a deep pit.

The wooden hull was discovered in May by archaeological firm ASI at the bottom of the foundation pit for the Forward Condos at Concord CityPlace. Located six metres below the surface, the site also includes a wooden barrel and other nautical artifacts and may date from the 1830s.

Developer Concord Adex was required to carry out a detailed study of the land as a condition of receiving building permission, but Neil Hylton, the senior project manager, says he was still excited when the boat was unearthed.

"When I heard we were all excited about it ... I'm not a history buff, but I'm interested in old things, so when I saw it it was a thrill for me and Concorde," he says. "When Fort York said they were dying to have this on their property we said we would try and move it as best we can, no guarantees."

"Tomorrow's the big day and we'll see what happens."

The fragile hull is made of white oak and weighs several thousand pounds. Concord Adex has built a special metal cradle around the keel and tomorrow a 19-ton crane will gently ease the remains out of the ground, starting at around 9:30 a.m. All being well, the schooner will make its way to Fort York on a flatbed truck, where it will be stored near the armoury.

Concord Adex says it will cover the cost of the removal.

It's not clear how the boat ended up in its current location, but 150 years ago the area south of Fort York Blvd. at Bathurst St. used to be home to the Queen's Wharf, a docking area used by the military. The shoreline was extended south in the decades that followed by dropping waste material into the water to make new land--a process called infilling.

"A lot of the fill is actually municipal garbage, particularly the filling they did in the post 1880s period," says David Robertson, a senior archaeologist with ASI. "So all the household trash, all the industrial trash from basically Bathurst St. to Sherbourne St. and south of College St.--a huge area of the city--was contributing material to this fill."

"It's like our garbage today is shipped off to a landfill site north of the city, in those days it was sent into the lake," he says.

Robertson says it's not clear at this stage whether the schooner was dumped as part of the infilling process or perhaps used to shore up part of the old Queen's Wharf. Right now, his team is working under the assumption that the vessel is of American origin.

"It's going to take a long time to answer a lot of the questions about it. And it may require a lot of digging through archival records, newspaper reports, things like that and detailed analysis of the technology of the ship."

"It's a pretty interesting find and now there's an opportunity for people to look at it and study it extensively for the foreseeable future," he says.

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

Image: ASI

Photo by Dan...Mr. Dan in the blogTO Flickr pool.

Today in Toronto will have you embracing the 80's. Catch classic Tom Cruise flick Risky Business playing on the silver screen at The Royal Cinema tonight. If that's not your thing, the Craft Beer Passport is launching and there will be a suds-heavy launch party. Be prepared to try several brews and don't forget your cab fare.

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

• Power Ball XVII: Appetite for Success (The Power Plant Contemporary Art Gallery)
• Craft Beer Passport Launch Party (Revival Bar)
• Risky Business (The Royal Cinema)
• OneMethod Launch Party (Get Fresh)
• The Jurassic Games (Tranzac Club)
• Material World (Johnny Jackson)

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

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

OPEN NOW

• Raca Cafe and Bar has opened its doors at 1704 Queen St. West in Parkdate
• APieCalypse Now! Pizza & Snack Bar is now open at 735 Bloor St. West at Christie Pits. The new vegan shop is slinging pizza slices and doughnuts.
• Magpie is now Dundas Video, a new cocktail, beer and retro video game bar is now open at 831 Dundas St. West.
• Retro ice cream parlour, Bean & Baker Malt Shop is now open at 326 Harbord St.
• Ashdale Brunch & Espresso has opened at 1560 Queen St. East, formerly Voulez Vous Cafe.

RECENTLY REVIEWED

• Crave Healthy Habits (Richmond-Adelaide Centre)
• Old School
• Paisano's
• Barque Butcher Bar

OPENING SOON

• Fresco's Fish & Chips is opening a second location at 816 St. Clair Ave. West
• Fuel, an acai bowl pop-up has taken up residency at Citizenry at 982 Queen St. West.

CLOSED

• In advance of their move to a new address in the Financial District (happening this fall) Osteria dei Ganzi has closed its mansion restaurant at 504 Jarvis St.

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

Vegan pizza is not nearly as scarce in Toronto as it once was, and the quality and selection just keeps getting better and better. Whether you want a raw, sprouted crust, Daiya cheese or a nutty alternative, these places can deliver.

Even chains like Pizza Nova, Mamma's and Panago are happy to accommodate vegan eaters, and at bakeries like Through Being Cool you'll find garlicky pizza rolls, while Bunner's does pizza pockets.

Here are my picks for where to find vegan pizza in Toronto.

Za Pizzeria
This pizzeria in The Annex deals in BBQ'd pizzas cooked in a custom oven. While the menu changes seasonally, a vegan option is a fixture and comes topped with tomato sauce, sautéed mushrooms, zucchini, peppers, and a in place of cheese, a cauliflower and macadamia nut puree. A slice sells for $4.50, while a full pie sells for $15.

Apiecalypse Now Pizza & Snack Bar
Exclusively vegan slices ($4.25) are now available (along with donuts FYI) across from Christie Pits Park. Choose from selections like the faux-meat lover's Pig Destroyer Destroyer, or try the Mac & Charlie featuring soy chicken and jalapeño Daiya cheese.

Tori's After Hours
This Beaches bakeshop converts into a full service restaurant and vegan wine bar from 6pm, Thursday through Sunday. Pizzas ($17) on the menu feature regular or gluten free crust and are topped with house made tomato sauce, seasonal toppings like grilled eggplant and asparagus, and a soy yogurt-based cheese, that actually melts.

The Vegan Duchess
Located at Yonge and Eglinton, this vegan eatery offers a couple options to satisfy pizza cravings. These pizzas are crafted on sprouted buckwheat sunflower seed crusts and come in choices like the Raw Pizza ($15) with spinach and parsley hemp seed pesto, pineapple, olives, a medley of veggies, and almond "parmesan."

Pizzaiolo
This chain of pizzerias offers a trio of choices for vegans including the Whole Wheat Diana with mushrooms, spinach, herbed tomatoes, and marinated zucchini, as well as the Fredo, a white pizza with potatoes and herbs. Prices for whole pizzas vary by size, but luckily there are the usual slices in stock for solo diners.

Thrive Organic Kitchen
Pizzas are a popular pick on the menu at this all-natural, all-vegan eatery in Etobicoke. Choose from options like the Bella ($12) with kale pesto topped with roasted red peppers, grilled eggplant, black olives and avocado.

Live Organic Food Bar
Specializing in plant-based foods, this vegan raw bar offers individual sized pizzas ($16) built on a veggie almond crust and topped with red pepper marinara, arugula, tomato, black olives, artichokes, cashew "feta," and almond "parmesan."

Pizza Rustica
This sit-down pizza parlour located near the Roger's Centre is an ideal spot for a pie post-Jay's game. Vegans will find three options on the menu including a version with caramelized onions and arugula ($16) that comes dressed with basil pesto, sun-dried tomato pesto, vegan pepperoni, and Daiya mozzarella.

Pizza Del Arte
Vegans will find eight different options at this pizza joint at Bathurst and St. Clair. Start by selecting a size ($15-$26) and then choose from pies like the Vegan Wild Funghi with double roasted mushrooms, fresh basil, and Daiya cheese, or the Vegan Pomodoro covered with sundried tomatoes, marinated tomatoes, basil, roasted garlic, and Daiya cheese.

Magic Oven
Multiple locations get big points for offering an abundance of vegan options. Meat-free, dairy-free selections include the Black Magic with pesto, steamed kale, sun-dried tomatoes, and Daiya, as well as, the unique Hot Potato Magic with chili-tomato sauce, tandoori sweet potato, caramelized onions. Prices range between $11 and $26 for an entire pie.

What did I miss? Add your go-to vegan pizza joint to the comments.

Photo from Za Pizzeria by Jesse Milns.

Toronto might have a very colourful weekend in store late this summer if the latest in a long list of events posted to Facebook is to be trusted. Billed as Canada's first Festival of Colour, the proposed gathering is based on the Hindu festival of colours, Holi. While the city has witnessed events like "Color Me Rad" in the past, this doesn't sound like a test of one's fitness.

Will it happen? This event has a slightly more legitimate feel based on its clearly laid out focus and the fact that a location and date have already been specified (Woodbine Beach, August 30). That said, the familiar hallmarks of other dubious events are also present here in the form of a huge "attending" number and the fact that details are promised to be revealed shortly.

I'll put the odds of this one happening at 50/50, but it would sure make for a fantastic photo op if it does go down.

Toronto food trucks are reinventing the old while dishing out the new. Next this year, expect a twist on classic food truck fare like burgers and poutine along with something we haven't seen before with dumplings and breakfast. From po'boys to beet infused burgers these trucks are ready for the new season.

Here are my picks for the top new food trucks in Toronto.

feasTO
FeasTO earned their way to food truck status by winning Food Network's Food Truck Face Off. Now you can catch them on the streets serving handmade dumplings with a variety of different fillings. Enjoy unusual flavours like pho, duck and foie gras and pumpkin.

The Egg Man
The Egg Man is Toronto's first and only gourmet breakfast food truck. Start your morning off with menu items like the breakfast poutine, the manwich and the croque madame. Find them in the morning at their usual spot at Yonge and Elm.

Blazin Cajun
Blazin Cajun is spicing up the streets of Toronto with their authentic Cajun grub. Menu items include Cajun staples like gumbo and po' boys. You can often find this colourful truck along Bloor.

Mustache Burger
Mustache Burger is bringing real gourmet burgers to the streets of Toronto. Enjoy beef burgers, turkey burgers, chicken burgers, veggie burgers and more. Catch them for lunch at King & John and for dinner at St. George & Hardbord.

Born2Eat
Born2Eat is bringing their take on classic Canadian comfort dishes to the streets. Menu items include their beet beef burger, mac and cheese hot dog and poutine. Catch them along side Mustache Burger at King & John for lunch.

Thanks to Heineken for sponsoring this post.

Please note that locations are subject to change. Stayed informed on the latest food truck locations and news by downloading the Food Trucks app (iPhone, Android) or by visiting torontofoodtrucks.com.

What did I miss? Add your suggestions for new food trucks in the comments.

The newest endeavour from the folks behind The Chase is this freshly opened Japanese restaurant in the former Remy's space, complete with a sushi bar, robata selections, and an impressive (and massive) rooftop patio.

Read my profile of Kasa Moto in the restaurants section.

The top weekend events in Toronto will a have you doing everything from devouring copious amounts of mac and cheese to supporting the work of local artists. There are street fests, music fests and design shows all happening between Friday and Sunday. Get ready for one heck of a weekend as soon as you clock out of work.

Here are my picks for the top events happening in Toronto June 5-7, 2015.

For more events this weekend click on over to our Events section.

MOVIES

Scarborough Film Festival (June 2-7)
Head out to the city's east end to catch the final days of the Scarborough film festival. The celebration has brought movies from five continents to multiple locations across Scarborough. This year, the lin up includes everything from a wordless underwater adaptation of Homer's Odyssey to a three-minute animated film about inspiration.

Breakthroughs Film Festival (June 5-6)
The Breakthrough Film Festival features a number of short films brought together by the theme of identity. A two night festival pass is only twenty bucks, so this event is really a no-brainer if your into cinema.

MUSIC

Field Trip (June 6-7)
Arts & Crafts' family-friendly Field Trip to Fort York returns for year three. Alabama Shakes and My Morning Jacket top the bill, with Arkells, Father John Misty, Purity Ring, and more spread over two stages and two days. Food, local vendors, bouncy castles for the kids: there's something for everyone.

Summerdaze Season Opening Weekender (June 6-7)
Summerdaze is back for a new season with a new beachfront location. Head to Gibraltar Point to see Bedouin, Jon Charnis, Sonny Fodera, and many more take the stage.

FOOD

Mac & Cheese Festival (June 5-7)
If you need a dose of comfort food this weekend, you're in luck. Liberty Market will be filled with the sweet scent of mac and cheese from as the city's first ever Mac and Cheese Festival takes over. The long list of participants includes Cheesewerks, Fonda Lola, and Cardinal Rule. And, good news, there are no entrance fees so you can reserve all your funds for food.

The Toronto Raw Vegan Festival (June 6-7)
If Mac & Cheese seems a little too damaging to your health, head to the Toronto Raw Vegan Festival to give your body a break. Over 60 vendors will be on the scene serving up plant-based eats. There will also be ethical clothing, cruelty-free cosmetics, and a number of other items up for sale.

Toronto Taste (June 7)
50 top chefs will be showcasing some of their best dishes at Toronto Taste. Tickets may cost an arm and a leg ($250, with $125 being tax-deductible) but each ticket helps cartable organization Second Harvest rescue and deliver food for 500 meals.

ENTERTAINMENT

Stage Select Gaming Expo (June 6)
If you're a gamer, this one's for you. Talks by game industry professionals, interactive digital game art installations, game-themed musical performances and more are on this Saturday's roster.

Canadian Furniture Show (June 7)
Whether you're on the market for some new home decor or you just have a penchant for interior decoration, the CFS is a great way to spend your Sunday. Browse everything from armoires to area rugs and see all the things that you'll never see at Ikea.

COMMUNITY

100In1Day (June 6)
Feel like making a change? 100In1Day encourages small community-driven action across the city. This Saturday, in the hopes of making Toronto a better place, 100 different initiatives will be happening around the GTA.

Dundas West Fest (June 6)
The Dundas West Fest is back for its second year and is promising a day everything from comedic performances to dance lessons. There will be plenty of food, drinks and general merriment to take part in as the fest lasts the entire day.

Riverdale Art Walk (June 6-7)
Stroll along Queen East and see 170 local artists exhibit their work, everything from photography to sculpture. In usual street fest fashion, there will be food vendors and music on the scene.

Really Really Free Market (June 6)
Everything is up for grabs at the Really Really Free Market; no strings attached. Do some spring cleaning of your own and donate all your excess bits and bobs. Free vegan food will also be served on site by Food Not Bombs.

For more events this weekend click on over to our Events section. Have an event you'd like to plug? Submit it for free using this form.

Contributions by Matthew Forsythe

Field Trip photo by Roger Cullman

The Warehouse Group, the ownership team behind El Furniture Warehouse and Queen Street Warehouse, find themselves in hot water with its social media followers after an Instagram post related to Caitlyn Jenner proved the subject of criticism for its alleged tastelessness.

The photo in question depicts the hypothetical rear perspective of the now famous Vanity Fair cover. I probably don't need to do any further descriptive work as the photo speaks for itself. What exactly it says, however, is another matter entirely.

Followers were quick to criticize the post, characterizing it as "really fucking obnoxious" and "tasteless," while the Reddit thread that followed when a screen grab was posted there is equally harsh at times.

An apology has yet to be issued from the restaurant group, though it has notably made its Instagram account private in the wake of the criticism. That's unlikely to mollify anyone now that the post is attracting attention beyond the Warehouse Group's social media following.

What do you think of the photo and response?

Update (2:30pm): The Warehouse Group has now apologized for the image and provided an explanation for its posting and subsequent removal.

The top patios in the Financial District will have you mingling with Toronto's business elite. Whether you're out for a business lunch or celebrating your latest merger, these patios will get you out of the office and into the sun.

Here, in no particular order, are my picks for the top patios in the Financial District.

For more patio ideas, check out our Toronto Patio Guide or download our iPhone or Android app.

Reds Wine Tavern
Rustic-chic wooden tables and outdoor lighting fixtures made from wine bottles make this sidewalk terrace one of the best-decorated in the area. If you're in the market for trendy patio with a substantial wine list, this is one of the best in the city.

Earl's
With ten-person wooden cabanas, outdoor sofas, and just about everything but plastic patio furniture, this courtyard makes drinking a pint a five-star experience.

Duke of Devon
Offering the perfect summer retreat from filing cabinets and folders, this elevated sidewalk space gives patio-goers a place to unwind in the sun. With enough space for about 170, you can bring all your colleagues for a post work pint.

Bymark
Overlooking Wellington, this expansive sidewalk space is a great option whether the sun is up or down. With a contemporary design, high-class menu and outdoor bar, this place has really pulled out all the stops for their patio.

The Chase
The modern rooftop patio at The Chase gives a scenic view of the Financial District. Completely exposed, this is where to go if you need a drastic change from fluorescent office lighting.

The Keg
The Keg is a tried and true option. The food is familiar and the patio caters to a more diverse crowd than many of the other suit-and-tie options in the area. With plush pillow-clad seating, this is where to kick back once you've closed your last deal of the day.

Drake 150
The Drake's most easterly offshoot offers a sidewalk space outfitted with brightly coloured lounge furniture. If you want to something to sip on, the drink menu is quite sizeable, including unique cocktails like the aptly named Beets by Drake.

3 Brewers
The 3 Brewers has an expansive patio that gets a lot of shade from the surrounding buildings. If you're looking for a retreat from the sun and some next level pub food, check it out.

America
If you're looking for a good view, America's got it. Located on the 31st floor of Trump Tower, you'll be taking in all the city has to offer while you sip Moet and dine on foie gras.

Speakeasy 21
This elevated sidewalk patio is the ideal place to grab a post-work cocktail. They have an extensive drink menu offering almost every libation you could ever want.

Thanks to Strongbow for sponsoring our 2015 Toronto Patio Guide.

Did I miss any? Add your favourite Financial District patios to the comments.

This two-level suite at the corner of Davenport and Bedford Road is new to market, currently listed for $798,000. Located in the Creed Building, a 1930s fur warehouse converted into lofts, the one-plus-den spans 1,200 square feet with high ceilings and a telling history.

In a time when Yorkville was more bohemian, that upscale, the curved brick building was used to store furs until bankruptcy hit in the late 80s. The low-rise building was constructed just before the millennium, consisting of 19 chic loft-style units, the largest around 2,100 square feet.

Feeling more like a spacious townhouse than a condo, the black-and-white unit features a combined living and small dining area and a second floor master bedroom with an open layout. There's a south-facing terrace connected to the master and even in this low-rise building, you still have a nice view of the city. Also included is a locker and two-car underground parking.

With massive towers and the upscale Yorkville hood just around the corner, it's rare to find a large suite under $1 million anymore. In any case, it's a sweet suite in the stylish Creed Building. Check out the photos and see if you agree.

SPECS

• Address: #215 - 295 Davenport Road
• Price: $798,000
• Square feet: 1,200
• Bedrooms: 1+1
• Bathrooms: 2
• Parking: 2
• Taxes: $4,240.45
• Maintenance fee: $975.22/monthly
• Walk Score: 96

NOTABLE FEATURES

• Two-level loft
• Skylights
• Fireplace
• Hardwood floors
• South-facing terrace
• Underground parking and locker

GOOD FOR
Displaying artwork. With soaring ceilings and expansive walls, it's the ideal space for dressing up those white walls with art on a blank canvas.

MOVE ON IF
You need more bedrooms. It's a one-plus-den with an open master bedroom, re-designed to accommodate a small nursery. Luckily the rest of the unit is quite spacious and the second floor walkout provides nature light and a little escape.

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS
Thanks to Zoocasa for sponsoring our Condo of the Week. To find your dream condo visit Zoocasa.com

Photo by twurdemann in the blogTO Flickr pool.

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

THIS WEEK

• Double Trouble Brewing and The Food Dudes join forces for a series of pop-ups this summer at the Gardiner Museum (111 Queens Park) in part of the recurring Park Avenue Pop Up. The first event is happening today, Friday, June 5 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. while additional pop-ups are planned for July 17, August 14 and September 11.
• Mac & Cheese Fest, a three day festival devoted to the nostalgic comfort food starts tonight and runs all weekend wrapping up on Sunday, June 7. Liberty Market host the free festival that is promises live music, street performances and vendors including Cheesewerks, Cardinal Rule, and Local Public Eatery.
• The Toronto Raw Vegan Festival is on at 918 Bathurst Street (north of Bloor Street) this Saturday, June 6, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and in Sunday, June 7, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free for the event featuring food demos, sampling, guest speakers, food vendors, and more.
• Toronto Taste presented by The Daniels Corporation, takes place this Sunday, June 7 from 6pm at Corus Quay. The Second Harvest fundraiser event will feature 50 chefs and a startling array of beverages. Tickets are still available for $250, including all food and drink plus a charitable tax receipt issued for $125.
• High Tea & High Tops in part of Chef Feswick's Freestyle at The Drake Hotel (1150 Queen St. West), takes place Wednesday, June 10 from 7pm to 11pm. Look forward to a selection of $5 dishes including canapés, pastries and cocktails that can be had five at a time for $20.

UPCOMING

• Chef Rob Gentile teams up with Michelin star chef and restaurateur Andrea Berton for Sotto una buona stella, a dinner at Buca Osteria & Bar (53 Scollard St.) on Sunday, June 14. Tickets are $300 per person for a six-course showcase of Italy's rich culinary traditions. Proceeds will benefit Community Food Centres Canada (CFCC).
• Tickets are still available for both nights of The Stop's Night Market taking place on June 16 and 17 from 7pm to at 181 Sterling Road. The fundraiser event for The Stop Community Food Centre is billing 48+ food and drink purveyors unique to each night in an AYCE feeding frenzy for $100.
• Tilde (699 Danforth Ave.) is hosting Tacos & Beer for Carnivores in partnership with Wellington Brewery on June 17., for one night only, we are offering an exclusive prix fixe dinner with 7 courses and five Wellington half-pints for $33.
• U-Feast hosts Biker Chef Ivan Flowers Hits Hogtown in part of its Chef Concert Series this summer. Priced at $125 per person, the dinner will take place on Thursday, June 18 at Boehmer (93 Ossington Ave) and will feature a protein heavy menu including lobster bisque, quail, pork belly and more.

Photo from Mac and Cheese Fest

National Donut Day is an annual tradition started in 1938 by The Salvation Army as a way to honour the men and women who served doughnuts to soldiers during WWI. Taking place the first Friday of June each year, this year's celebration takes place today.

Krispy Kreme is giving away a free donut at all locations, while the following Toronto indie donut shops are offering samples, in-store promotions, and special flavours.

See also:

The Best Donuts in Toronto
The top 25 doughnuts in Toronto by neighbourhood

Jelly Modern Doughnuts
All locations are participating by giving away mini donut samples, plus offering contests to win a dozen donuts, and smiley face donuts for sale in support of the Salvation Army.

Von Doughnuts
This donut shop on the Danforth is offering a free Von Kebob (a skewer of mini Madagasgar vanilla or French toast-glazed donuts) with purchase of any dozen donuts while supplies last.

The Rolling Pin
Celebrate this most sweet day at this Yonge and Lawrence bakeshop with eight special flavours for sale. Look forward features like a deluxe maple bacon filled with maple fudge, and the Butter My Scotch topped with whipped cream and caramel and filled with butterscotch custard.

Tori's Bakeshop
The Beaches bakery is still finessing the details for their Donut Day celebration, but they promise "It'll be a mess of donuts all over this place...Donuts on everything!"

Through Being Cool Vegan Baking Co.
"We're not doing anything crazy for Donut Day," staff tell us. Well, that is, unless you count making 20 different flavours available for one day only.

Glory Hole Doughnuts
Parkdale's notoriously named donut shop is running a contest on National Donut Day. Tag @gloryholedoughnuts with a photo of your favourite GH doughnut for a chance to win doughnuts for a year.

Know of a Donut Day deal or special? Add it to the comments.