There's a "for rent" sign in the window and 66 Nassau St. is currently listed for lease on Kijiji. This all means The Grilled Cheese in Kensington Market won't reopen.

In late June, the sandwich shop temporarily shut down after employees alleged that former owner Robbie Yuill sent threatening text messages and owed them hundreds of dollars in unpaid wages.

On June 27, Global News ran a report detailing the employees' accusations. Just days later The Grilled Cheese shuttered and the Ontario Ministry of Labour began looking into the restaurant's business practices.

What do you think about The Grilled Cheese's closure? Let us know in the comments.

Hidden a bit north of Bloor, the former El Cafecito in Bloorcourt is now under new ownership with a new name that reflects its penchant for fresh, organic produce and its offerings by local artisans. Expertly made coffee along with free WiFi, late night hours and a sweet patio make this spot a freelancer's dream.

Read my profile of Field Trip Cafe in the cafes section.

Photo by A Great Capture in the blogTO Flickr pool.

Today in Toronto you'll have the chance to head to stages, parks, and concert halls for the much anticipated SummerWorks Festival. There are plenty of shows happening around the city, and you can check our list for our top picks for the fest here. If you prefer parties to plays, head to The Hoxton for their 4th Anniversary Party. DJ SNAKE will be providing the soundtrack for the night.

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

• SummerWorks Festival (Various Locations)
• BBQ in the Park (St. James Park)
• The Hoxton 4 Year Anniversary Party (The Hoxton)
• Free Outdoor Movie Night: Chimpanzee (Earl Bales Park)
• Jamie xx (Danforth Music Hall)
• TLN Salsa (Ontario's Celebration Zone)

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

Photo of DJ Snake

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

• Descendant Detroit Style Pizza is now open at 1168 Queen Street East in Leslieville and serving up square pies.
• P'karos opened a couple weeks back at 645 Yonge Street. The new coffee, gelato and burger joint is serving up Venezuelan specialties including arepas, pepitos (beef sandwiches), and cachitos (ham filled croissants).
• Blinco's Crepes & Coffee is open at 5487 Dundas St. West in Etobicoke
• Yorkville's Caffe Bacio at 1240 Bay St. is now under new ownership, and is now going by Trattoria Bacio, a restaurant serving up Italian dishes.
• Infuse Cafe, a new coffee house that uses reverse atmospheric infusion to brew its coffee is open at 354 Yonge St.

RECENTLY REVIEWED

• On a Bun
• Otto's Berlin Doner
• Neo Coffee Bar
• Masheel Bistro

OPENING SOON

• Asada Mexican Grill is expanding with a new location going in at 1991 Yonge Street north of Davisville Station.

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

Photo of Asada Mexican Grill

Toronto has vending machines for nearly everything including groceries, loose leaf tea and fine art. Now, if you're too busy to take a trip to the library, you may soon be able to check out books at Union Station because the Toronto Public Library is looking to install lending kiosks (they're book vending machines) at the city's busiest commuter hub.

The TPL system is already one of the busiest in the world. According to a Toronto Star report, it wants to make itself even more accessible by bringing sought after books and DVDs to those who might not currently use TPL services, such as individuals who live outside of Toronto proper. Those who work or go to school in the city are also eligible for a Toronto library card.

Other cities, including Ottawa and Edmonton, already have book lending machines. Some, as the Star report notes, even have lockers where users can pick up items they've put on hold. However, it's still unclear what these machines will look like in Toronto because the TPL hasn't found a vendor for the project yet. And, it still needs to firm a location for the machine at Union Station.

What do you think of book lending machines? Let us know in the comments.

Photo of a lending machine in Edmonton by Cloned Milkman on Flickr.

The Distillery District might be one of Toronto's top tourist destinations but it's also home to ad agencies, art galleries and plenty of creative types. During the day, its cobblestone streets can be found filled with a mix of students, tourists and professional wanderers. How does their fashion measure up?

Check out all the looks in our Style section.

Dupont might be the street du jour with developers, restaurateurs and gallerists looking to build up what was once a predominantly industrial street. Construction of Fuse Condos is already well underway, which will soon bring 23 and 27 storey towers to Dupont and Lansdowne, but the portion of the street to the east could also see a major injection of density.

Might, however, is the key word. The idea of a large scale development on the north side of Dupont just west of Spadina has been floating around for at least eight years, but the Wynn Group was never able to get approval from the city.

That's because the north side of Dupont from Kendal to Ossington runs directly in front of a busy Canadian Pacific Railway line. And, this stretch of land used to be zoned as as an employment area; meaning residential buildings weren't permitted. Now, as noted in a CBC report, they're allowed, but, according to the city, they must be set back 30 metres from the rail corridor and can be only mid-rise.

Still, the prospect of a large scale development here just won't die.

Earlier this year, Freed Developments took interest in the site and submitted a rezoning proposal, which included plans for two condo towers at 328 Dupont, rising 15 and 29 storeys high. This project would bring a total 560 residential units to the area. It's a modification of the original Wynn plan, but every bit as dramatic.

Sobeys also has a development in the works at Dupont and Shaw, where it currently has a grocery store, for two 11-storey condos or 393 units. Both of these projects are currently being appealed to the OMB, but don't expect an answer for quite some time.

There are real concerns that Dupont isn't well built for such an injection of density, though in the case of the Freed proposal it's hard to argue against building residential high rises so close to the subway and surrounding amenities.

While the stretch of Dupont east of Lansdowne remains condo free for now, don't expect this to be the case in the next decade. With the residential zoning amendment in place, developers are plotting out the next phase of the street, one that will transform it thoroughly.

What do you think of the changes that may be coming to Dupont Street? Let us know in the comments.

Since artisanal food markets appear to be the trend du jour, it's fitting that Club Monaco opened one up outside of its store at 157 Bloor St. W. Now, you no longer need to schlep down to Union Station to grab your lunch, or a cup of coffee, in the great outdoors. You can have it all right on the Mink Mile.

The Club Monaco Market opened yesterday and it'll run seven days a week until sometime mid-fall. It features an impressive lineup of vendors and foodstuffs including salads from Parts & Labour, upscale popsicles from Philip's Ice Pops, coffee from Boxcar Social and desserts from Bake Shoppe. Florist Sweet Woodruff will also be onsite selling flowers.

The food options on that stretch of Bloor Street are pretty sparse, so the market now provides variety for those who don't want to dine at Holts Cafe.

What do you think of the Club Monaco Market? Let us know in the comments.

If the city's numerous frozen yogurt shops haven't satiated your craving for this DIY dessert yet, you can soon try American chain Pinkberry because it's coming to Mississauga's Square One Shopping Centre on August 20.

This isn't Pinkberry's first store in Canada; it's already in Alberta and B.C. However, it's the company's initial foray into the GTA. Along with the Mississauga location, it'll open up in Sherway Gardens this September. And, it has its sights set on opening a downtown Toronto location in 2016.

Pinkberry bills itself as the company that ignited the froyo craze. If Larry David's Curb Your Enthusiasm can be trusted then this yogurt is delicious. You can try it for free at the Square One store's grand opening on August 20 from 6-9 p.m.

What do you think of Pinkberry? Let us know in the comment?

The best playgrounds in Toronto offer more than just your standard slides and swings. These parks engage and encourage kids of all ages and abilities to explore and test their physical prowess. Some are known for their picturesque park setting, others for their creative and unusual designs.

Here are the best playgrounds in Toronto.

Corktown Common
At the foot of the Don River you'll find Corktown Common Park. Weave your way to the picturesque playground that's built right into the hill, with slides and play structures rising up to give kids a dramatic view of the city as they slide down.

Dufferin Grove
Shady Dufferin Grove boasts a dreamy playground that seamlessly blends wooden play structures into the natural habitat, with onsite Cob Courtyard doling out healthy snacks. A massive sandpit with tools for digging gives kids a tactile experience.

Jamie Bell Adventure Playground- High Park
Arguably the most popular playground in Toronto and for good reason too. Rebuilt after a fire a few years ago, it has risen again thanks to community do-gooders, blending an immersive environment of climbing structures into a towering mini town.

Kew Gardens
Historic buildings dot this park by the lake in the Beaches. A castle-esque playground is surrounded by a Medieval village, giving creative kids all the ammunition they need for hours of play. A refreshing wading pool adds a nautical aspect.

Neshama Playground
A short jaunt from Davisville Subway, this park scores serious points for being not only accessible but inclusive as well. Kids of any size and ability will appreciate the sensory toys and a pond-themed splash pad anchoring the colourful playground.

Withrow Park
Riverdale is home to the incredible eight hectare Withrow Park, with two playgrounds, a wading pool, hexagonal climbing blocks, spinning rides, and tons of various swings of all sizes. Beach babes will dig the sandboxes, so BYOB (bring your own bucket).

Cherry Beach Sports Fields
While the adjacent soccer and lacrosse pitches are the main focus of this sports park, the real attraction here is the unexpected addition of a wood-lined pirate ship. Here, maidens and mateys alike gather portside to plan their next nautical adventure.

Regent Park Central Park Playground
After years of planning, this playground adjacent to the stunning new aquatics facility has proven well worth the wait, with loads of modern play structures and cheerful bouncy obstacles to tempt tots into burning off a little extra steam.

Marie Curtis
Located at the western edge of Etobicoke, visitors to this lakeside park are greeted by a giant climbing spider web, but the real draw is the massive splash pad that gets a dose of colour courtesy of the umbrellas and Muskoka chairs that surround it.

David Crombie Park
Front and Jarvis is home to the tidy David Crombie Park, and while it may be dwarfed by the larger parks, this centrally located recreational space still boasts two playgrounds, sprinklers and the most artistic basketball courts in the city for your junior ballers.

Jean Sibelius Park
Dupont and Bathurst is home to this tiny park, which crams two separate playgrounds into its small space. A flying saucer swing comfortably seats two and the small play house in the toddler area gives wee ones a chance to recharge before the next game of tag.

Vermont Square
This park near Dupont and Bathurst is a perfect blend of modern design and urban landscape. Flanked by a giant wooden boat, kids love walking the plank (it's a twisty slide), or making mud pies in the natural play area, home to a sandbox with a tap.

Thanks to Ritz for sponsoring this post.

What did I miss? Add your suggestions in the comments.

Jamie Bell photo by Jeanette Greaves. David Crombie Park photo by Jason Cook in the blogTO Flickr pool.

This one bedroom, one bathroom loft is going for $519,000 in the Parkdale neighbourhood. A funky lower level unit near Dufferin and Queen West, it was originally built as an industrial warehouse in 1910 and converted into lofts before the '90s.

This unit has been bouncing around the market for awhile, previously priced at $499,900 with lower maintenance fees around $560/month. But still, a space worthy of attention spotlighting a few notables like surround sound, heated floors, built-in shelving and wood ceilings.

The layout is completely open but works in the space, making it feel like separate rooms with bespoke furniture and large art pieces. The dark wood kitchen along with the rest of the unit, has been upgraded, and now ideal for cooking and jamming.

It's the ultimate affordable pad (yes, $500K is considered affordable in Toronto) for the hip professional who craves brick and beam and a kitchen filled with hanging pot (and pans). Take a peek.

SPECS

• Address: #G12 - 24 Noble Street
• Price: $519,000
• Square feet: Approx. 1,000
• Bedrooms: 1
• Bathrooms: 1
• Parking: 1
• Taxes: $4,078
• Maintenance fees: $616.05/monthly
• Walk Score: 96

NOTABLE FEATURES

• Renovated kitchen, stainless steel appliances
• 10 ft ceilings
• Wrap-around windows
• Built-in speakers
• Wood ceilings
• Sliding barn door

GOOD FOR

Bike parking. It's a great building for the eco-friendly cyclist with indoor and outdoor parking. For bigger wheels, the unit includes one car parking.

MOVE ON IF

This lower level unit is realtor code for "basement loft." A basement unit might sound unappealing, but in reality, it's a spacious one bedroom and doesn't feel like it's destined for a dark crawl space. Plenty of natural light and 10 foot ceilings, you almost forget you are below ground.

Photos via Virtual GTA

Weekend events in Toronto will have your camera roll filled with food photos. With your plate full of food events like the Toronto Vegan Food and Drink Festival and Jerk Fest, you're bound to snap and sample plenty of Instagrammable eats. Once you've gotten your fill of food, head over to one of the many SummerWorks venues for a show.

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

FESTIVALS

Kultura (August 5-9)
Kultura is a can't miss celebration of Filipino arts. On Friday and Saturday head to the Kapisanan Philippine Centre for Arts & Culture for the PSL showcase and a weaving workshop. The big event happens Sunday, when Dundas Square is taken over by street eat vendors, dancers, musicians and much more.

SummerWorks (August 6-16)
This eleven-day Canadian cultural festival focuses on theatre, dance, music, and live art. Tickets are already on sale, and you can view the full list of performances here.

North York Festival (August 7)
Mel Lastman Square is hosting two events this Friday: the North York Festival and the 2015 Diaspora Book Festival. Pick up some new lit from Canadian and International authors and then head over to the North York Festival for live entertainment, food and more.

PANAMANIA (August 7-12)
PANAMANIA returns this weekend and the fun and free events are back. This week see Chromeo (August 7), The Roots (August 8), Janelle Monae (August 9) tons of world music artists and lots more -- all for free at Nathan Phillips Square. Check the schedule and show up early.

FOOD & DRINK

Taste of the Danforth (August 7-9)
Taste of the Danforth is one of the city's most popular street festivals. The food is plentiful, with more souvlaki than anyone can handle. There's dancing, music, and lots of live entertainment. Be warned though: the festival is this popular for a reason, so the crowds are massive.

Toronto Vegan Food and Drink Festival (August 8)
Celebrate the best of Toronto's vegan dining scene along with plenty of beer, wine and live music at Garrison Common in historic Fort York on August 8. General admission is $10, or $20 including three drink tickets.

Feast in the East (August 8)
Head to The Jam Factory to attend this months' installment of Feast in the East. You'll find all the makings of a good Saturday: music, food, art installations, and plenty of people.

Live Green Toronto Lovin' Local Food Fest (August 8)
Head to Dundas Square this Saturday for a free fest. You may have to spend a couple bucks to indulge in some eats, but music and entertainment is 100% cost-free. Look forward to Heirloom Toronto, Vertical Restaurant, Bindia Indian Bistro, and more will be serving up food at the event.

Jerk Fest (August 8-9)
If you find yourself dining at The Real Jerk on a weekly basis, this one's for you. The fest will fill Centennial Park with the sweet scent of Caribbean food for two full days. Head down to sample everything from classic jerk chicken to alligator.

Roundhouse Craft Beer Fest (August 8-9)
Offering beers from the Ontario Craft Brewers, this festival at Roundhouse Park is still a relatively casual affair. Expect to find over 30 breweries and tons of local gourmet food trucks serving up food and drink on the scene. A bonus, any beer tokens you have from the Winter Craft Beer Fest or last year's summer Roundhouse Craft Beer Fest can be used at this event. A ticket will set you back $20 (or $25 at the door).

MUSIC

Boots and Hearts (August 6-9)
If your idea of a good time is sliding on your cowboy boots and listening to some Brad Paisley, you're in luck. Boots and Hearts is happening this weekend on the same grounds as Wayhome and the line-up includes everyone from Florida Georgia Line to Eric Church. You'll have to turn to StubHub if your grabbing your tickets late in the game.

Van Halen (August 7)
Tired of all the EDM festivals? Get your 70's/80's rock fix this weekend when Van Halen takes to the stage at the Molson Amphitheatre.

Caribou (August 8)
Not into Van Halen? No problem. Caribou and Egyptrixx will be performing at Danforth Music Hall this Saturday night. Look forward to a night of indie electronica that won't disappoint.

Questlove (August 8)
Questlove, acclaimed member of The Roots, will be taking the stage at Wrongbar on Saturday night. If tickets sell out before you can snag some, you can catch Questlove with The Roots at their PANAMANIA concert for free.

MOVIES

TIFF in Your Park: Beyond the Lights (August 7)
This week's installment of TIFF in Your Park will be held at Maidavale Park this Friday. It will feature Beyond the Lights, a romantic flick about a musician who falls in love with the officer assigned to protect her.

Toronto Palestine Film Festival Outdoor Screening (August 7)
Head to Christie Pits Park for a free screening of When I Saw You (check out the trailer for the film here). You'll want to show up early if you want to grab a good viewing spot.

Lost Episode Festival Toronto (August 7-9)
LEFT is a 3-day horror, sci-fi, and fan film fest at Carlton Cinemas. Packed with all the gore-filled and gruesome flicks you could ever want, this fest is a must for those who want to scare themselves silly.

7th Annual Queer West Film Festival (August 7-9)
The Queer West Film Fest showcases LGBTQ feature length films, shorts, and documentaries over the course of three days. Check out the full schedule on their website.

ENTERTAINMENT

Uma Nota Summer Block Party (August 9)
Summer isn't summer without a block party. Luckily, there's one on this weekend at the Clay & Paper Theatre. Expect to find it buzzing with live music and DJs, an artist marketplace, food vendors and more.

SPORTS

Rogers Cup 2015
Let's face it, we can't all make it to Wimbledon. But we've got the next best thing right here in the city thanks to the Rogers Cup, kicking off this Saturday. See everyone from Serena to Eugenie take to the courts. The qualifying rounds begin this weekend.

MARKETS

Toronto Flower Market (August 8)
Celebrate local florists and growers at the Toronto Flower Market. Get your hands on some new arrangements or do a little window shopping.

Parkdale Flea (August 9)
Embrace the warm weather by rummaging around the Parkdale Flea for some vintage treasures. Bring your appetite because savoury and sweet bites will being served on the scene.

Etsy Market at Evergreen Brickworks (August 9)
Head to the Evergreen Brickworks to experience the joys of Etsy offline. More than 30 vendors will be selling their one-of-a-kind, vintage, and handmade pieces. Expect to find everything from bohemian jewelry to 100% Canadian soy candles.

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.

Photo of Taste of the Danforth

First opened under the name Show & Tell back in 2009, this gallery has undergone a number of changes over the years, but none perhaps as significant as its recent relocation to Dupont St. The new space heralds a coming of age for a gallery that's fought hard to show and sell contemporary art in Toronto.

Read my review of the new Cooper Cole in the galleries section.

Big Daddy's Bourbon Street Bistro & Oyster Bar has served its final plate of crawfish and kissed King West goodbye. The restaurant shut down on July 19th, after years of serving Louisiana inspired eats to seafood-loving locals and hungry tourists. Many regulars are less than impressed and have taken to the Big Daddy's Facebook page to express their sadness over the closing.

However, if you favour carnitas over cajun fried alligator, you're in luck. Lone Star Texas Grill, which already has one Financial District location at Simcoe and Front, will be opening in its place. They've begun renovations and expect to open early September.

Will you miss Big Daddy's? Let us know in the comments.

The most famous acronyms in Toronto reveal our city's dynamism and resilience. Remember the year of SARS when we endured a viral outbreak, a massive blackout and one of the largest concerts in North America? Other phrases, like those unveiled for the Pan Am Games confused us. Yet, the acronyms that remain entrenched in our local vernacular point to oft discussed transit woes and our love affair with the arts. And, they all serve to unite us as Torontonians.

Here are my picks for the most famous acronyms in Toronto history.

SARS
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome plagued our city in 2003 and tragically resulted in 44 deaths. It left many quarantined, fearful and confused and resulted in a severe economic downturn for Toronto. This prompted SARS-Stock, the enormous summer concert at Downsview Park that featured the Rolling Stones as the headliner.

NXNE
Not to be confused with Austin's famous music and tech fest SXSW, Toronto's annual multi-day musical celebration brings big names to the city and features numerous homegrown musicians and bands at private venues as well as free concerts in Yonge-Dundas Square.

WAMCO
White, Alomar, Molitor, Carter and Olerud. That was the batting lineup that helped the Blue Jays win the World Series in 1993. Despite the Jay's recent acquisitions, the team still isn't nearly as stacked as it was in the early 90s.

TIFF
It's one of the biggest film festivals in the world and all the magic happens in Toronto. This year TIFF will celebrate its 40th birthday with an opening film starring Jake Gyllenhaal. The rest of the programming features numerous blockbusters, short films and documentaries that are sure to garner buzz come award season.

TTC
Love it or hate it, most of us take it every single day and gleefully complain about slow service, packed streetcars or subway delays. Riders act as heroes, fight and sometimes, ride each other. Regardless of your daily feelings, deep down everyone has a soft spot for the Red Rocket.

DVP
The Don Valley Parkway is usually jam-packed with traffic making commutes in and out of the downtown core a frustrating endeavour. However, thanks to the Pan Am Games, the Bloor Viaduct's Luminous Veil is finally aglow, making your ride slightly more majestic.

HOV
Closely related to the DVP, the temporary HOV lanes that emerged thanks to the Pan Am Games caused enough drama to last until the 2024 Olympics. They resulted in thousands of tickets, silly hijinks and one pretty awesome time-lapse video.

AGO
The Art Gallery of Ontario isn't just a stuffy museum filled with tired landscape portraits. Rather, it brings in exhibitions both you and your grandmother can get excited about. And, it hosts popular parties (which usually sell out) on the first Thursday of every month.

ROM
If you haven't returned to the ROM since an elementary school field trip, go for a Friday Night Live event when the museum stays open late into the night. You can eat, drink and dance as you peruse the various exhibits. If you prefer the more traditional route, go Friday after 4:30 p.m. when ticket prices drop down to $10.

OVO
It stands for October's Very Own and OVO Sounds is a recording label founded in part by Drake. Recent controversies aside, the rapper does a fine job representing our city as well as Canada's only NBA team. You can even purchase your own OVO gear at the label's Dundas West store.

What did I miss? Add more acronyms to the comments.

Photo by Dtstuff9 in the blogTO Flickr pool.

Photo by Duane Schermerhorn 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

• Taste of the Danforth kicks off at 6pm tonight, Friday August 7 and runs all weekend. Now in its 22nd year, the street festival will take over Greektown and is promising a weekend full of food, live music, family friendly activities, and even an attempt to break the world record for most olives eaten in eight hours.
• Satay Street hosts a series of pop-up dinners at This End Up (1454 Dundas St. West) every Friday and Saturday in August. Look forward to a three course prix-fixe menu for $25 featuring South East Asian street foods like charcoal grilled satays and lettuce wraps.
• Gates for Toronto's 14th annual Jerk Festival open at 11am on Saturday, August 8 and Sunday, August 9 at Centennial Park in Etobicoke. Admission is $15 at the gate for a day filled with Caribbean foods, a vendor marketplace, live music, kids zone, and jerk seasoning workshops.
• The inaugural Toronto Vegan Food & Drink Festival takes place at Garrison Commons at Fort York this weekend on Saturday, August 8 from 11am to 7pm. The meat-free festival bills comfort foods, craft brews, wine, and spirits as the main draw. Admission is $10 in advance, or $15 at the door.

UPCOMING

• Toronto is slated to host the Coconut Festival and Marketplace at David Pecaut Square (215 King St. West) on Sunday, August 23 between 11am and 7pm. The event is free to attend and will highlight food vendors, purveyors of natural products, health and wellness lecturers, children's games, coconut bowling contests, hula contests, free yoga, and cultural performers.
• Tickets ($10) are on sale now for Pintxos Toronto presented by Estrella Damm. The festival of Spanish cuisine will take place on August 23 from noon until 6pm at Royal Bank Plaza (200 Bay St.) and will spotlight local vendors including Carmen, Marben, and Patria (to name a few) plus special guests, NYC's Donostia, and Simply Fosh from Mallorca, Spain.
• Wild Blueberry Fest will take place at the Evergreen Brick Works (550 Bayview Ave.) on Sunday, August 23 from 10am to 3:30pm. The family friendly event will feature a blueberry pie bake-off, panels on growing, eating, and cooking blueberries, kombucha and canning workshops, and a limited edition blueberry cask ale brewed by Bar Volo.
• Stella Artois presents Sensorium, an immersive five course dinner with beer pairings inspired by each of the five senses. Taking place in the "sensorial dome" at 525 King St. West, dinner seatings are available from September 10 to 27 for $125.

Photo of Taste of the Danforth

Road closures in Toronto for the weekend of August 16 and 17 rounds up the key transportation shut-downs affecting the city, including street and TTC closures.

KEY ROAD CLOSURES IN TORONTO

Danforth: Broadview--Jones. Closed to auto traffic in both directions from Friday, August 7 at 11 a.m. to Monday, August 10 at 3 a.m. for Taste of the Danforth.

Lake Shore: Colborne Lodge--Strachan Avenue, Bloor: Ellis Park--Parkside, Queensway: Claude--Ellis, Parkside: Lake Shore--Bloor, Ellis, and Ellis Park. Due to the Parapan Am cycling race, the preceding streets will be closed to autos or reduced in capacity on Friday, August 7 from 10 a.m. to noon and on Saturday, August 8 from 1 a.m. until 6 p.m.

In addition to these closures, there will be full road closures of Colborne Lodge Drive, Centre Road, West Road, Spring Road and High Park Boulevard from 1 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, August 8 for men's and women's road-race set up.

Gardiner Expressway ramps: Eastbound Gardiner Expressway to Lake Shore Boulevard at Jameson Avenue will be closed on Saturday, August 8 from 1 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The ramp from the westbound Gardiner Expressway to Lake Shore Boulevard from Dunn Avenue/Jameson Avenue will be closed Saturday, August 8 from 1 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

TTC CLOSURES

No closures planned this weekend. The subway will, however, be opening at approximately 6 a.m. instead of 9 a.m. on Sundays during the Parapan Am Games.

ONGOING CLOSURES

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.)

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

Toronto in the 1990s was truly an awesome spot. Technology had yet to overtake our lives; instead it constantly delivered cool new toys and mouth-watering possibilities. Things got grungier, sexier and rawer. Our local television universe expanded, while the internet blew everything wide open.

We stared into an impending millennium and projected a beautiful future... that still hasn't quite arrived. Everyone who grew up in Toronto in the 1990s will remember it slightly differently, but these are some of the retro ties which universally bind us.

Behold, 30 signs you grew up in Toronto in the '90s.

1. Your Toronto Blue Jays won the World Series in 1992. And then again, the following year, and you wondered how anything could possibly ever top that.

2. You or someone you knew owned the Barenaked Ladies yellow tape.

3. You dropped a lot of change into Streetfighter II arcades, which luckily could be found in most Pizza Pizza locations.

4.You thought PJ "Phresh" Phil was the coolest guy on TV, and as you watched him daily on YTV's The Zone and hoped one day you might be 1/1000th as awesome as he was.

5. You were slightly freaked out by Bert & Gert, the rabbits from Stay Alert Stay Safe who appeared on TV and in school to warn you of stranger danger with alarming frequency.

6. You bought many CDs at the HMV at 333 Yonge St, which amazingly allowed you to actually listen to them on the 2nd floor before purchase.

7. Your go-to guy for pop music was the mighty Tarzan Dan, on TV and radio.

8. You watched Speaker's Corner religiously because you once dropped $1 to record one and wondered if it ever made it on air. You also learned about the existence of the Barenaked Ladies, Scott Speedman and Zanta thanks to the show.

9. March 4, 1994 officially became the saddest day ever when you heard that John Candy had died.

10. You engaged in home karaoke sessions thanks to Polytel.

11. You noticed that everyone wore Cotton Ginny.

12. As the decade rolled on, you were increasingly haunted by the demented narrator who demanded we "buy Phantom by phone" forThe Phantom of the Opera at the Pantages Theatre.

13. You got your first lesson in corporate re-branding when you visited Canada's Wonderland and noticed it was now called Paramount's Canada's Wonderland and was overrun with Klingons and rides based upon feature films likeDays of Thunder and Top Gun.

14. You watched Star Trek: The Next Generation on Citytv ("Your Federation Station") but drew the line at attending the finale with 40,000 trekkies at the SkyDome.

15. You took full advantage of $2 Tuesdays at Cineplex, even if the Eaton Centre theatre screen was not much bigger than your TV at home.

16. You rented video games and VHS tapes at Blockbuster, and there seemed to be one on every corner.

17. You cheered the arrival of the Toronto Raptors in 1995 and after the Jays back-to-back World Series wins were sure it was the birth of a new Toronto sports dynasty.

18. You went to Lee's Palace and had your ears blown off by a live show, or simply checked out the latest Britpop or Electronica being played at the Dance Cave.

19. You listened to the Jesse & Gene show on AM640, and felt like it was really pushing the envelope.

20.You were in awe of the rich people and drug dealers who had cell phones.

21. You endured scrambled signals on Pay-Per-View in the faint hope the picture would stabilize for a split second.

22. You stayed up late to see Dave Bronstein aka "the Prince of Love" tell you how to pick up girls in Toronto night clubs, and if you were really brave you called his 1-900 number and put a $50 charge on your parent's phone bill.

23. You made regular pilgrimage to 299 Queen Street West, home of MuchMusic and Citytv, - epicentre of all cool things in the city. No matter the time of day, this temple of pop-culture hegemony was guaranteed to be a hive of activity.

24. You regularly watched Electric Circus to "make fun of it", but you secretly loved Monika Deol and the EC dancers.

25. You looked at NOW because it was actually a useful alt-weekly.

26. You owned at least one Chris Sheppard Pirate Radio Sessions CD.

27. You heard a lot about Ice beer and how strong it was and figured if you were gonna crush brew it might as well be that.

28. You went to a rave at the Ontario Science Centre.

29.. You found Rap City on MuchMusic to be essential viewing for a dose of hip-hop, rap and ragga, as it was pretty much the only place you could find it.

30. You didn't really notice Toronto's official millennial mascot - "Millenni" - but went to Nathan Phillip's Square anyways to usher in the year 2000 and all the amazing things the new millennium would bring...

What signs did I miss? Please add your suggestion to the comments.

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.