The washrooms at concert venues aren't typically pristine places, but in Toronto we have our fair share of really bad ones. For some, this is just part of the edgy charm of the venue, while for others the nasty washroom is an experience to be survived and forgotten. In any case, make sure to wash your hands. Thank you.

Here are my picks for the concert venues with the worst washrooms in Toronto.

Sneaky Dee's
It's no surprise that the washrooms here are covered with wall-to-wall graffiti, but after a few beers it makes it extra tough to tell which one is the guys or girls as they both look exactly the same.

The Rock Pile
For the size of the venue the washrooms are tragically small - you can only fit three people in at a time. But the worst part is how dirty they are. Be prepared to tip toe in and out of them.

Hard Luck
Up three flights of stairs, the washroom at this Dundas West spot is so tight you need to squeeze past whoever is inside just to get out. Definitely not for those with personal space issues.

The Rivoli
It's like the Rivoli totally forgot about the washrooms when making the building and were forced to put them in an empty closet. It's time for a reno.

The Danforth Music Hall
The legendary Danforth concert venue has the capacity to hold a couple thousand people, but the washrooms have the space to hold maybe four people. Expect long lines just to get in and then expect a room you don't want to spend more than two minutes in.

Tattoo
The washrooms are pretty clean here most of the time, but they're down two sets of stairs and around a hallway. It's not a big deal at the start of the night, but after a few beers and lots of dancing it gets more difficult to navigate.

The Horseshoe Tavern
The only thing that isn't legendary about the Horeshoe is their washrooms. During big shows it can get very tight in these old spaces, especially as one the stalls is almost always out of order.

Molson Canadian Amphitheatre
The outdoor concert venue is not the best place to go to the bathroom. Picture a public pool washroom, complete with litter and and terribly long lineups.

The Rogers Centre
It's the large crowds here that are the issue. The design of the washrooms just can meet the heavy demand during peak times when thousands of concert-goers all need relief at the same time. It can become like a swamp with toilet paper here.

The Mod Club
The washroom here is found by going down two sets of stairs far away from the main floor. If you're at the back of the venue, get ready to push past tons of sweaty people dancing to reach your destination.

What did I miss? Add your suggestions for the concert venues with the worst washrooms in the comments.

Writing by Andrew Uyeno. Photo by Will on Flickr

It's the end of the line for Blacks, the longstanding camera and photo finishing shop dotted around the Canadian retail landscape. Alas, this doesn't come as much of a surprise. The heyday of the company was during the reign of film, when its processing services were one of the company's biggest money makers.

59 stores will close across the country as parent company TELUS pulls the plug on the struggling brand. The telecom giant purchased Blacks in 2009 and attempted to transform its stores into digital services specialists, but the rebranding just didn't end up generating the type of revenue required to keep the locations open.

According to the Globe and Mail, the closures will result in the loss of 485 jobs, though TELUS has indicated that it will try to reassign Blacks employees to its other retail locations.

This fifth location of one of Toronto's OG indie cafes is also where all the coffee shops' breads and baked goods are made. Artisanal pizzas exclusive to this take-out-centric outpost are made here every Wednesday and Thursday, and patrons of this spot get to try whatever else they're experimenting with in the kitchen. Oh, and the La Marzocco Strada (along with the barista) turns out some pretty wicked espresso-based beverages, too.

Read my profile of the new Dark Horse Espresso in the cafes section.

'Tis the season for outdoor concerts and movie screenings. Starting tonight, Casa Loma launches its Symphony in the Gardens series for another year, which brings together live classical music and the stately surroundings of E.J. Lennox's gothic masterpiece. Really, it's be difficult to think of a nicer place to take in the work of the Toronto Concert Orchestra.

The series runs on consecutive Tuesdays from June 9 until August 25, with a diverse array of classical and contemporary music. It'd be inaccurate to call the concerts free, as you do have to pay admission for the Casa Loma grounds, but there's no additional charge for the show (that means you're looking at about $24 all-in).

The music gets started at 7:30pm each night, while the castle remains open until 10pm for evening exploration and refreshments. If you're looking for a refined date, this could be the ticket.

This stately grande dame in High Park is a force to be reckoned with at just over $3 million. The romantic six bedroom boasting 4,000 square feet over three levels has only had four owners since it was built circa 1912.

Renovated with deep Notebook-style love, the owners carefully preserved the original character of the home while adding a few modern twists. The art deco fireplaces and wood panelling are still intact along with the intricate refurbished ceiling and windows.

The main floor features a formal layout, divided into smaller rooms, and unlike other modern renovations, there is no open layout. The grand curved staircase is a focal point, creaking at the main entrance, along with the towering bookshelves in the library.

The decor on the second and third levels is more modern than the rest of the home with a mix of carpet and hardwood flooring throughout, hidden reading nooks and a solarium attached to the bedroom. The spacious finished basement is 1,400 square feet and can be converted into a nanny's suite or better yet, the ultimate man (or woman) cave.

Despite the recent escapee from the High Park Zoo, the neighbourhood is typically tame, attracting young families and professionals, and known for its massive green space, indie shops and low-key restaurants. Like it or not, this Bloor West real estate pocket is a hot ticket item, even with a $3 million price tag.

SPECS

• Address: 54 High Park Boulevard
• Price: $ 3,300,000
• Lot Size: 52 x 152 FT
• Bedrooms: 6
• Bathrooms: 6
• Parking: 6
• Taxes: $10,476.00
• Walk Score: 80

NOTABLE FEATURES

• Approx 4,000 square feet
• Three floors
• Radiant heat
• Original fireplaces
• Heated bathroom floors
• Expansive backyard
• Private driveway with two car parking

GOOD FOR

High Park and Cherry Blossom season. The park is a main attraction in the neighbourhood with its free zoo, adventure playground, hiking trails and the annual bloom of the sakura trees. This home features its own VIP parking lot with a six car driveway, rent out a spot and earn some cash.

MOVE ON IF

Too much upkeep. With half a dozen beds and baths, the majestic 100 year old property can accommodate the entire Brady Bunch or Brangelina clan. Older homes often require more upgrades and maintenance, and you might want to consider a snow melting system on that long private driveway.

ADDITIONAL PHOTOSRead 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.

Remember Future Shop? It's been less than three months since Canada's former electronics king abruptly closed its Canadian stores. Now, it wants you to buy all its remaining appliances at deep discounts. There will be fridges, washing machines, dryers, dishwashers and ranges all up for grabs this weekend at the Future Shop Appliance Clearout.

The massive sale is taking place daily 10am to 9pm from June 12 through 21 at the International Centre. All appliances will be at least 50% off retail price and will include demo models and open box items. Want to replace that crummy old fridge with the crisper drawers that are broken and don't fit properly? This is your ticket.

Here's one more incentive to get yourself some of those unsold Pan Am Games tickets - transit will be free for ticket holders. The offer applies not only to the TTC but also GO trains and public transit systems in Peel, York, Oakville and other outlying areas where competitions will be held.

To take advantage of the free rides, ticket holders will simply need to show their tickets when they board a vehicle or access a subway, train or bus terminal. This good piece of news is undoubtedly meant to mitigate the rather aggravating inconvenience that there will be no parking at some of the major sporting facilities such as Exhibition Place.

In addition, Pan Am organizers recently announced that a dedicated HOV lane will be in effect on the QEW, Gardiner Expressway, Lake Shore Boulevard, DVP and Highways 401 and 427. A fine for driving in these lanes will cost $110 plus three demerit points.

What do you think about these transportation plans? Let us know in the comments.

Photo by Tanja-Tiziana in the blogTO Flickr Pool.

The CBC has fired Evan Solomon amidst another scandal at the national broadcaster. While no where near as shock-worthy as the allegations levelled at Jian Ghomeshi, Power and Politics host Evan Solomon had been the subject of scrutiny after the Star first reported that he was involved in major art deals with people he's dealt with as a television and radio host.

Solomon was pulled off the air as the CBC investigated the matter, prior to word from management that it had severed the relationship with the once rising star at the network earlier this evening.

The highlights of the Star investigation go like this. Solomon reached an agreement with prominent Toronto art dealer Bruce Bailey to act as something of a middle man, introducing the collector to prominent individuals who might be interested in purchasing from Bailey's collection.

The CBC code of ethics states that employees are forbidden from using "their positions to further their personal interests." Given that Solomon brokered deals with individuals he had been involved with via the CBC -- people like Jim Balsilie and Mark Carney -- management acted swiftly in letting him go.

Photo by kotsy in the blogTO Flickr pool.

Today in Toronto will have you laughing as clowns take over the Factory Theatre for the Toronto Festival of Clowns. If you prefer more steamy performances, head to Tattoo where the city's best looking firefighters will be competing for a spot in the 2016 Toronto Firefighter Calendar.

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

• Guinness World Record for Most Pedicures (Dundas Square)
• Boards and Booty (The Steady)
• BookThug Summer Chapbook Launch Party (Videofag)
• Rise Up Tour (Mod Club)
• Toronto Festival of Clowns (Factory Theatre)
• The Toronto Firefighter Calendar Event (Tattoo)

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

Road closures in Toronto for the weekend of June 10 and 14 rounds up the key transportation shut-downs affecting the city, including street and TTC closures.

KEY ROAD CLOSURES IN TORONTO

Strachan: Lake Shore--Fleet and Lake Shore: Strachan--British Columbia Dr. Strachan closed starting Wednesday, June 10, at noon. Lake Shore after 9 p.m. the same day for the Honda Indy Weekend. Roads re-open Sunday, June 14, at midnight.

Various: Evans, West Mall, Kipling, and Lake Shore area. Ride to Conquer Cancer will require roads various roads in the west end of the city to be closed to vehicles on Saturday, June 13, from 6 to 10 a.m.

Old Kingston Road: Watson--Kingston Road and Morrish Road: Kingston Road--226 Morrish Rd. (south side.) Closed to traffic Saturday, June 13, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. for the Highland Creek Heritage Festival.

Lawson: Meadowvale--Kingston Road and Watson: Old Kingston Road--Thomas. Closed to traffic 10 a.m. to noon to accommodate the Highland Creek Heritage Parade and dispersal area.

Bloor: Spadina--Bathurst. The Festival on Bloor will be using the street on Sunday, June 14, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Lansdowne: Bloor--College. Portugal Day requires the street to be closed to traffic in both directions Sunday, June 14, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Wellington: Simcoe--John and various others in the Spadina, Wellesley, Bay, and Wellington area. Toronto Challenge Run event is taking place Sunday, June 14, from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m.

TTC CLOSURES

Line 2: Woodbine--Kennedy. On Saturday, June 13, all trains on Line 2 will turn back westbound at Woodbine Station. Replacement buses will stop at all stations. For customers requiring a station with an elevator, transportation will be available between Kennedy and Pape stations.

Over and above the special closures this weekend, construction projects across Toronto result in numerous other road restrictions across the city. For a comprehensive list of such closures, you can consult the official map maintained by the City of Toronto (also available as a PDF.)

The outdoor movie roster for this summer continues to fill in, as Christie Pits announces that it will once again host a free/pwyc outdoor screening series in 2015. One of the more intriguing outdoor series in Toronto, the Christie Pits Film Festival combines screenings of classics and well-known features with under the radar shorts and other works by up and coming filmmakers.

This year's opening screening on July 5th will feature something all together novel in the form of a live score from Del Bel to accompany the 1922 classic Nosferatu. Attendance is expected to hit about a thousand people each night, so bring your blanket and set up early to snag the best sight lines.

Screenings start at around 9pm, with a snack service up and running at 6pm. Have a look at this summer's lineup below.

July 5th: Nosferatu (F. W. Murnau, 1922) with a live score by Del Bel, Wakening (dir Danis Goulet), Silent Garden (Dylan Reibling).

July 12th: O Brother, Where Art Thou? (Joel Coen & Ethan Coen, 2000),
Blackfly (NFB)

July 19th: The Birds (Alfred Hitchcock, 1963), Foxed! (James Stewart),
A Small Misunderstanding (Leslie Supnet).

July 26th: Edwin Boyd: Citizen Gangster (Nathan Morlando, 2011),
Struck While the Iron Was Hot (Rob Swartz).

August 2nd: Mean Girls (Mark Waters, 2004), Lunchbox Loser (Virginia Abramovich).

August 9th: What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (Robert Aldrich, 1962),
Hysterica and the Wandering Womb (Michelle Lovegrove Thomson).

August 16th: There Will Be Blood (Paul Thomas Anderson, 2007), Paradise Falls, New Mexico (Christina Battle), Heritage Minute: Sam Steele (Historica Canada).

The recent controversy involving Action Bronson's free show at NXNE was the subject of much debate, but it's hardly the first time that Toronto has played host to fierce debate about the appropriateness of a performer or show. There's a long history of controversial concerts in Toronto.

These are my picks for the five most scandalous concerts in Toronto history.

Alice Cooper - September 13, 1969
The Toronto Rock and Roll Revival concert was one of the most important events in the city's musical history for a number of reasons, not the least of which because it was one of John Lennon's first performances sans the Beatles. It also hailed the beginning of Alice Cooper's "shock-rock" glory days. As the story goes, a chicken found its way onto the stage and Cooper, assuming it could fly, threw it into the crowd, where it was promptly torn apart.

Teenage Head, December 1, 1978
On December 1, 1978, a show at the Horseshoe Tavern featuring some of Toronto's most infamous punk bands went nuts when the police intervened and a riot ensued. It was the end of the road for local promoters the Garys (a.k.a. Gary Topp and Gary Cormier), who inadvertently ensured that their final night at the Shoe was one to remember. The ensuing riot was filmed and released as "The Last Pogo," and is considered one of the era's defining moments.

Rough Trade - April 14, 1982
Carole Pope's band Rough Trade built quite the reputation for its on stage antics, which, amongst other things, involved the singer performing in bondage gear. At the 1982 Juno Awards the band was asked not to perform certain lyrics from their song "High School Confidential," as the song depicted putatively inappropriate lesbian lust. Pope performed the song anyway, belting out the controversial line: "She makes me cream my jeans / When she's coming my way."

Madonna - May 27-9, 1990
Dubbed by many as "The Queen of Controversy," Madonna certainly lived up to the title in her 1990 "Blond Ambition" tour stop in Toronto. Her performance of "Like A Virgin" featured a not-so-subtle faux masturbation scene, which had the Toronto Police threatening her arrest if she tried to attempt it live. It ended up being a fake threat, but the buzz was remarkable.

Eminem - October 26, 2000
Recent outrage against Action Bronson might seem strong, but it pales in comparison to what Eminem faced after the release of "Kill You," from his 2000 album "The Marshall Mathers EP." The song featured the fictional death of his ex-wife Kim, and was graphic enough that then-Attorney General Jim Flaherty famously tried to ban the rapper from Canada for "hate speech."

Correction (June 10):An earlier version of this article incorrectly listed Madonna's Blonde Ambition Toronto tour stop as August 6th. We apologize for the error.

Writing by Sarah Niedoba

Photo via Square Madonna

Uh-oh. With the Pan Am Games set to arrive in Toronto, Canadian Olympic Committee head Marcel Aubut is talking about the city making another bid for the big games. Toronto has tried and failed to land the summer Olympics twice before, but Aubut believes that the venues built for Pan Am prime the city for a successful attempt.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has loosened a number of its rules pertaining to venues and their distance to the host city, which would mean many of the facilities built for the Pan Am Games outside of Toronto could be leveraged in an Olympic bid.

The question, of course, is whether or not the city should want to make a bid. In January 2014, Rob Ford and the economic development committee decided against spending money on a pre-bid analysis for 2024, believing Toronto's chances too low and the expenses of the bid process too high (it could cost more than $50 million to make an official bid).

Aubut isn't talking specifics right now, but wants to make a major push once the Pan Am Games wrap up later this summer. What do you think? Is it time for Toronto to go after the Olympics again?

The backlash over a transphobic Instagram post by the Warehouse Group, owners of El Furniture and Queen Street Warehouse, has continued in the wake of apologies from management. A new Facebook group calls for a boycott of El Furniture Warehouse during Pride Week.

Here's the gist from the Facebook event page:

"This boycott is based on two things...the apology was more than a little disingenuous as clearly such a large business has a duty to play a primarily administration and advertisement role on it's [sic] public pages and accounts. Also the apology clearly deadnames Caitlyn Jenner and demonstrates a continued pattern of misogyny in a transmisogynistic way."

Following the initial controversy, there was some confusion over whether or not the bar was hosting a Pride-affiliated event next week, but the organization has since made it clear that it is not related to official programming.

The comment thread on the boycott is also worth mentioning, as it indicates that the Warehouse Group has booked sensitivity and diversity training for its staff, which would indicate that company is committed to change. At present, the boycott remains posted, with roughly 350 people who have endorsed its call.

Photo from our review of El Furniture Warehouse

Luminato lurks right around the corner, and with it a huge Brazilian block party planned for David Pecaut Square on Saturday, June 27th. The party is curated by Uma Nota, and is conceived as an all-day carnival with tons of live music, food, and dancing.

I guess the best part is that you can also count on it happening because it's not one of the myriad Facebook events with little information and murky organizers. The day's musical lineup is robust as can be, combining live acts and DJs, many of whom have performed as part of Uma Nota in the past.

We still don't know if summer 2015 is the season of the block party in Toronto, but this one is a sure bet.

Photo of a previous Uma Nota block party

This new cafe and sandwich shop located at the western edge of the Junction Triangle somehow manages to marry sustainable food with cheap prices. The shop offers an array of banh mi-like sandwiches, fresh juices, Thai soups, and a mix of eastern and western-inspired salads.

Read my review of Baguette & Co. in the restaurants section.

Action Bronson will not make an appearance in Toronto for NXNE this year, despite the festival's offer to move his show from Yonge and Dundas Square to a private venue. The controversial rapper has, however, been replaced by some homegrown talent (London is close enough, guys) in the form of Shad.

Shad's a pretty good pick as a replacement when you consider that NXNE has likely had enough of the controversy broadly related to the cancelled Bronson performance. His replacement needed to be safe and possess just enough cachet to warrant the billing at YD Square. The recently anointed host of CBC's q satisfies both of these requirements.

Photo by Hannah Johr

To the same degree that this summer has witnessed a surge in large musical festivals in Toronto, the more intimate outdoor concert series is also gaining in popularity. Along with series at the Toronto Music Garden and Casa Loma, "Play the Parks" returns for its third year at a variety of Toronto's downtown park spaces.

The series kicks off on June 19th at Trinity Square, where Project ATX6 will play in this unique urban park space beside the Eaton Centre. Following this year's launch, performances will take place throughout the summer at three additional locations including the College Park Courtyard, Miller Granby Parkette, and Mackenzie House.

The free series is hosted by the Downtown Yonge BIA and 4479 Toronto, which aims to make good on the notion that Toronto is a music city. Few of the performers involved with "Play the Parks" are household names, but the scheduling is robust, which means there will be plenty of opportunity to enjoy live music in the open air.

For more info on schedules and location, check out the Play the Parks page.

Photo of Trinity Square by Snuffy

Crowdfunding is a mixed bag. For every futuristic high-tech bike there's also a litany of ill-conceived ideas that never come to fruition. Lucky for you, we've sorted through the mess that's the Indiegogo Toronto page and picked out projects that deserve your support.

Here are 5 Toronto Indiegogo campaigns worth supporting right now.

The Cocky Vegan
All day breakfast and cruelty-free too? Sign me up. This wanna be vegan breakfast joint from the founders of the Green Smoothie Bar in Hamilton needs money for all the basics to start a restaurant including reclaimed wood tables and a juicer. A $50 contribution gets you an invite to their opening party.

Accidental Parkland
Want to know more about Toronto's vast ravine system? Skip your weekly trip to the Carlton and put $10 to use to help local filmmaker Dan Berman tell the story about a land area in the city that's thirty times the size of Central Park in New York. Spacing co-founder and Toronto Star Columnist Shawn Micallef is already slated to host.

Buzzing Lights: The Book
If you're a fan of vintage signs you're going to want to own this book by local photographer (and former blogTO Editor) Tanja-Tiziana. Chronicling aging and long-gone neon signs from Tiziana's excursions across North America, the book will also include snaps of local luminaries like the Senator, The China House and Sam the Record Man.

The Gratitude Bag
Now here's a good idea - a contribution of just $10 will have the impact of delivering 20 meals to hungry Toronto families. But what's the bag? It's a simple vehicle to gather and contribute non-perishable food items from homes across the city. Just fill the bag, leave it on your porch and volunteers do the rest. Watch the video for more specifics.

Monte & Coe premium handcrafted luggage
Need a stylish weekend bag that's not too pricey but also locally made? Toronto fashion brand Monte & Coe has the answer but needs $20K to make their vision a reality. Get in before the deadline and you might be able to tell your kids how you funded the second-coming of Roots.

What Indiegogo campaigns did we miss? Add them to the comments.

Photo of the China House by Tanja-Tiziana.