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Road closures in Toronto: August 15-16 2015

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toronto road closuresRoad 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

Open Streets TO

  • Bloor Street will be closed from Spadina Avenue to Parliament Street and Yonge Street will be closed south of Bloor on Sunday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
  • Vehicles can cross Bloor Street at Spadina Avenue, Avenue Road, Bay Street, Ted Rogers Way, Church Street, Sherbourne Street and Parliament Street.
  • Vehicles will be able to cross Yonge Street at College Street/Carlton Street, Gerrard Street, Dundas Street, Shuter Street and Queen Street.

Closing ceremonies of the Parapan Games

  • Bay Street will be closed from Queen Street West to Dundas Street West from 4 p.m. to midnight on Saturday.
  • Wellington Street will be closed from Church Street to University Avenue from 5 p.m. until midnight.
  • Front Street will be closed from Church Street to Parliament Street from 5 p.m. until midnight.
  • James and Albert streets will be closed from 4 p.m. to midnight, while University Avenue northbound will be reduced to two lanes from Queen Street to Armoury Street from 8 a.m. to midnight

Festival of South Asia
Gerrard Street East will be closed from Coxwell Avenue to Glenside Avenue from 10 a.m. Saturday to 2 a.m. on Monday for the Festival of South Asia.

Wheels On The Danforth
Danforth Avenue will be closed from Byng to Warden Avenue, while Danforth Road will be shut down to Landry Avenue from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday for Wheels on the Danforth.

TTC CLOSURES

  • Line 1 will be closed between St. Clair West and Lawrence stations for emergency repairs by Toornto Hydro on Sunday between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Shuttle buses will be in service.
  • The 510 streetcar will be on diversion due to track repair in the tunnel leading to Spadina Station from 5am on Saturday to 5am Monday. Streetcars will divert in both directions via Spadina Avenue, College Street and Bathurst Street to Bathurst Station. Replacement buses will provide service on Spadina Avenue between Spadina Station bus platform and Adelaide Street. Board buses at curbside stops.

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.)


Toronto's pay what you want restaurant closes

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the atlantic restaurantThe Dundas West restaurant that charmed the so-called Million Dollar Critic, Giles Coren, with its bottom-feeder-friendly and menu-less service is no longer.

Nathan Isberg's The Atlantic has closed its doors for good, reports Toronto Life. Isberg dropped menus from his restaurant and allowed guests to pay what they wanted for their meals. Patrons could also barter for their dinner.

More recently, Isberg stopped serving booze as yet another way to push the limits of the restaurant concept.

Isberg is noted for experimenting with unusual ingredients but also for his unique approach to the dining experience itself. With the closure of this eccentric eatery, there's now a hole for Toronto diners looking for an unconventional dining experience.

Cake poutine coming to the CNE this year

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cake poutineWe all know about breakfast poutine, AYCE poutine, Japanese poutine and all sorts of fusion poutine, but leave it to the CNE to top them all with the introduction of cake poutine as part of 2015's so-crazy-it-might-just-kill-you food offerings.

While the CNE is waiting until Wednesday to reveal the rest of this year's food line-up, we learned that pastry chefs Alicia Cardoso and Natasha Falcioni with help from a group at Humber College have been busy figuring out what happens when cake meets poutine. Two weeks ago they figured it out with their first successful cake poutine creation.

Thankfully, no potatoes, cheese curds or gravy go into the making of cake poutine. Fries are made from a rich vanilla bean infused cake and lathered in warm chocolate, caramel or strawberry sauce. Bacon bits, marshmallows, strawberries and maple syrup are just some of the toppings.

Look for cake poutine at the Gourmet Kitchen section, located inside the Direct Energy building, hall "A", booth #1137. Each poutine will come in one size and cost $5, tax included.

cake poutineWill you be trying cake poutine at the CNE this year? Let us know in the comments.

Humber Bay

The top 5 Jewish brunch in Toronto

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Jewish brunch torontoJewish brunch in Toronto doesn't feature any bacon, but you'll still leave the table satisfied and full. Bagels and lox is a menu staple, but the options don't end there. Look for briney fish, a peppering of Middle Eastern dishes, and eggs poached in simmering shakshouka or fried with vursht and onions.

Here are my picks for the top Jewish brunch in Toronto.

Essen
Brunch at Essen entails brisket hash topped with poached eggs, chopped salads dusted in za'atar, omlettes on challah, and bagels dressed with whipped dill cream cheese, house smoked salmon, red onions and capers. Be'te-avon!

United Bakers Dairy
Serving up Jewish style comfort foods since 1912, this restaurant on Lawrence Ave. West has 100+ years experience serving chopped herring, falafel, and blitnzes. At breakfast find eggs served with smoked salmon (in lieu of bacon), nova lox platters, and hearty bowls of shakshouka topped with a couple of runny eggs.

Free Times
On Sundays, this cafe on College St. pulls out all the stops, serving up the "Bella! Did Ya Eat?" buffet - a weekly tradition for almost two decades now. The $20 feast includes challah french toast, latkes with sour cream and apple sauce, gefilte fish, smoked salmon, salads, and an assortment of sweets. Klezmer bands or a Yiddish cabaret perform live each week.

Kiva's
At multiple Toronto locations you'll enjoy bagels with scoops and schmears, cheese blintzes, and even a sandwich dubbed Tel Aviv meets Tokyo, which adds a little wasabi to the traditional combo of cream cheese and lox.

Caplansky's
Nosh on chocolate babka french toast, Yiddish rancheros, smoked meat omlettes, and lox platters with Gryfe's bagels at any time of day (not just brunch) at this College St. deli.

What did I miss? Add your favourite Jewish brunch spots to the comments.

Photo of Essen.

Toronto's new microbrewery launches its first beers

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burdock beerRecently opened bar and music venue, Burdock, is looking to add yet another distinction to its split-personality vibe: microbrewey.

Since opening in March, Burdock has played host to a variety of musical acts, but this weekend marks the first time the microbrewery has officially had beer of its own on tap. A half dozen beers will be on offer in their restaurant and bar as well as in the music hall.

Brewer Matt Park says they're aiming to keep production as local as possible. "We're trying to focus on sourcing as much as we can from Ontario," he notes. "A few of the beers are all Ontario hops and we're also working with a new Ontario yeast company."

Brewer Siobhan McPherson, previously of Amsterdam Brewery and Mill Street, says that Burdock is committed to "traditional approaches and ingredients, just in non-traditional combinations."

A handful of beer styles will feature these non-traditional combinations for Burdock's inaugural release including a Westcoast Pilsner, a California Common, a Saison, a Grisette, something called a Summer Stout, and the now-mandatory-in-Ontario IPA.

The new lineup of beers officially launches on August 21st.

Photo via Burdock on Instagram.

The top 5 events at Toronto parks before summer ends

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toronto parksToronto has had no shortage of park events this summer, and lucky for us all there's plenty in store for the rest of the season. Aside from recurring events, you'll find these one-off events that'll take over green spaces this August and September.

Here are my picks of what to do in parks before summer ends.

Butterfly Festival (Tommy Thompson, August 22)
This event is ideal if you want a more family-friendly option. In celebration of the Monarch butterfly migration, Tommy Thompson is hosting a fest filled with nature hikes and educational displays. You'll be able to check out over 55 species of butterflies and moths while you roam the park grounds. A huge bonus, it's 100% free.

Cityfest (Canoe Landing Park, August 22)
Cityfest is a one-day-only event at Canoe Landing Park. Expect all the usual festival shenanigans: a beer garden, live music, food vendors and more. The best part? You don't have to drop a dime for entry.

Paws in the Park (Woodbine Park, August 23)
Poochella may have been cancelled in June, but have no fear - your pet can still have it's time in the limelight this summer. Paws in the Park is taking over Woodbine Park at the end of August and bringing along plenty of pet-themed fun for all you canine-enthusiasts. Expect to find everything from a photo booth to groomers offering up mini makeovers.

Queen West Art Crawl (Trinity Bellwoods, September 12-13)
Whether you're revamping your home or just like to do a little window shopping, outdoor art markets are a great way to pass the time. The Queen West Art Crawl, happening in Trinity Bellwoods, will bring a host of retail vendors and local artisans to the park to sell their wares. You'll also find food and a performance zone, which gives it more of a festival vibe (if you aren't there to shop).

Riot Fest (Downsview Park, September 19-20)
Riotfest's move to Downsview last year came with a big upgrade in their line-up, four times the stages and a second day, slowly edging closer to the monster size of their US counterparts. Thanks to this year's apparent "heavier + hip-hop" mandate, they've convinced Alexisonfire to reunite, bringing along however many of the Wu-Tang Clan can get across the border, Rancid, and many more.

What did I miss? Add your favourite park event to the comments.

Photo of Riot Fest

10 wacky adult learning courses you can take in Toronto

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adult learning torontoSeptember is almost here and it's time to go back to school - for everyone. In addition to offering certificates and diplomas, The Toronto District School Board also offers a host of more lighthearted classes for adults. They're generally gloriously cheap, a good way to meet people, and potentially so oddball that they'll make you the star of the next party you're at.

From ghost-busting to nordic pole walking, here are my picks for courses you should considering taking this September.

Healing Runes
Do you find your newspaper horoscope grossly inaccurate? Are you tired of spending your grocery money on faulty psychic readings? Well lucky for you, the TDSB is offering a how-to course on reading healing runes. If by the end of the one week course you figure out how to see your own future, you won't regret forking over the $21 fee.

Fruit Carving
Some of us just aren't cut out to be master chefs, but that doesn't mean we have to give up our culinary dreams entirely. For those who can't broil, baste, or saute with the best of 'em, turn to the fine art of fruit carving. In this class you'll learn how to transform everything from peppers to pineapples into works that rival Michelangelo's.

Productive Anger
Instead of turning to axe throwing and table flipping to deal with your anger, learn how to turn it into something productive. This week-long workshop will help you make rage your new best friend, giving you handy checklists and lessons on how to manage your emotions. If you're more comparable to the Incredible Hulk than Bruce Banner, you probably want to consider enrolling.

Age Defying Facial Exercises
Let's face it, nobody is a fan of fine lines and wrinkles. Well forget facial creams with questionable ingredients and bi-annual shots of botox, this 5-week course will get you glowing from within by simply stretching some muscles. For only 36 bucks, you'll be saving a fortune at Sephora.

Finding Your Destiny
Feeling less than ambitious? Have no fear, this course is here to help you find your way in life. Get handy tips on getting out of your own way and discovering your path to success. Plus, for figuring out your life, $14 purpose seems entirely reasonable.

How Boundaries Make Everything Better
Have you been known to play fast and loose with your emotions? Well it's time you build up some boundaries, my friend. Learn the all the benefits of living a structured life in this week-long workshop.

Everything You Want to Know About Ghosts but are Afraid to Ask
Forget the naysayers, in this on week course you'll be surrounded by folks who believe in all things spooky and supernatural. You'll learn valuable lessons like how to recognize when you're imagination is playing tricks on you and how to protect your pad and body from unwanted visitors from the great beyond.

Smudging 101
Once you've learned everything you need to know about ghosts, and you've determined you may have some unwanted visitors, you better learn how to get rid of them. Learn the process of spiritual purification in this this week-long Smudging workshop. You can kiss your ghosts goodbye and bring some positive energy back into your home.

Nordic Pole Walking
Nordic pole walking is perfect if you're looking for something more quirky than your average beer league to take part in. Basically skiing minus the skis, this activity transforms walking into a full-body workout for optimal health benefits. The downside: there are no cool jerseys or cult following to give you a motivational boost.

Foot Fitness
This ain't your ordinary workout class. Forget pilates, kickboxing, and every other athletic endeavour, it's time to exercise your feet. You won't walk away with chiseled abs, but you'll have more flexible and fit feet than any of your friends (I'm not sure whether this is an enviable trait).

Check this PDF for a full list of all the courses on offer this year.

Photo by Jason Cook.


Toronto bakery creates geeked-out custom cakes

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geek cakes torontoThe desserts at this Toronto bakery will satisfy your sweet tooth and your love for geek culture. Owner Samantha Anderson creates custom cakes and chocolates, as well as ready-to-eat sweets that'll delight fans across a variety of genres.

Read my profile on Cakes Cove in the bakeries section.

The top 10 restaurants in Oakville

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oakville restaurantsThe top restaurants in Oakville set themselves above the pricey and mediocre offerings that tend to abound, especially along the Lake Shore drag. Whether you're looking for a quick lunch or a lavish dinner affair, there are high quality options spread around town.

Here are my picks for the top restaurants in Oakville.

The Plank Restobar
The Plank is a rustic-chic oasis in the middle of downtown Oakville overlooking the harbour. The interior pays homage to cosy Canadiana consisting of panelling sourced from reclaimed wood. The menu is a tapas-inspired take on standard pub fare that changes seasonally. Make sure to try the cauliflower fritters and the selection of sliders.

JAC's Bistro
This place serves Italian- and French-inspired fare in an elegant, white brick dining room perfect for a quiet night for two or for a larger celebration. Though the food is executed to perfection, don't expect anything overly creative - standard mains include steak frites and penne arrabiata. Make sure to try the grilled calamari starter tossed in creamy pesto-white wine sauce.

Cucci Ristorante
Cucci is likely Oakville's best kept secret when it comes to fine dining. Located on a quiet side street off the main road, here you will find contemporary Italian food served in a stunning ambiance with impeccable service. The menu is short, consisting of a handful or starters, primi and secondi. Try the lobster linguini, I implore you!

Bru Restaurant
Come to Bru for the craft beer - six taps and more than 30 bottles, many from Ontario - and stay for the food. The menu is short and to the point, made up of quirky takes on traditional pub fare like Hoisin Grilled Calamari and Jerk Chicken Skewers.

Stoney's Bread Company
Named after Norm Stoneburgh who played for the Toronto Argonauts, this casual restaurant has been a local favourite since 2004, so much so that it was featured on Food Network's You Gotta Eat Here. The food is unpretentious but delicious, consisting of Italian-inspired pasta and pizza dishes as well as a wide array of sandwiches.

La Parisienne
This traditional crêperie was opened 25 years ago by a French couple from Paris and is still serving their wildly popular offerings today. Here you will find a good selection of both sweet and savory options as well as several bistro style sandwiches, salads and soups to choose from. The rich Normande is a favourite, though you really can't go wrong with anything.

Adonis Mediterranean Restaurant
Located in a nondescript strip mall, this humble restaurant serves east Mediterranean favourites from Greece all the way to Lebanon. The varied mazes and mixed meat grill platter are perfect for sharing, though they also have plenty of individual sized portions. Whatever you pick, expect to leave this place stuffed and content as the portion sizes are on the generous side.

Mye Japanese
Oakville's first Japanese restaurant was opened back in the '80s at the request of the then mayor and is still run by a Japanese chef - a rarity around these parts. Aside from traditional appetizers and entrées, expect to find the standard selection of maki rolls as well as several in-house specials, most of which are available gluten free should you request it.

Mo's Family Restaurant
Mo's is an American-style dinner serving up sinful, artery-clogging favourites like monster burgers, baby beef liver and veal parmigiana alongside their all day breakfast menu. For those feeling particularly adventures - or wanting to shave a few years off - Mo's offers up a scary burger challenge or an ultimate breakfast challenge, though be warned, it ain't pretty.

Julia's Ristorante
Julia's is a bit of an oddity: the restaurant mainly serves Latin American-inspired fare with a couple of Italian dishes mixed in for good measure. Though the offerings are a dizzying mish-mash of dishes - there's paella right next to pollo assado and jerk chicken - they're well executed and do not skimp out on portion size. Wash it all down with a refreshing glass of homemade sangria.

Did I miss anything? Add your favourite restaurants in Oakville to the comments. Photo via Plank Restobar on Facebook.

If you fall, land on a cloud

The top 5 free events in Toronto: August 17-23 2015

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free events torontoFree events in Toronto will get you excited for the weekend. Throughout the week you'll find enough free outdoor movies to keep you busy, but the weekend is where it's at (so far as free events are concerned). There's five festivals on tap that you can attend without dropping a dime. Look forward to live music, entertainment and plenty of dancing in the streets.

Here's a round-up of free festivals to attend this week.

Tirgan Fest (August 20-23)
The Harbourfront Centre is hosting Tirgan Fest, the world's largest celebration of Iranian art and culture. Look forward to live music, films, theatre and more when the festival kicks off at the end of August. Free events include: the Tombak Workshop (August 21), 1507 performance (August 21), Dance Lounge (August 21-22), and more.

Cityfest (August 22)
Cityfest is a one-day-only event at Canoe Landing Park. Expect all the usual festival shenanigans: a beer garden, live music, food vendors and more. The best part? You don't have to drop a dime for entry.

Taste of Manila (August 22-23)
Taste of Manila offers plenty of free festival fun, from dancing to live music. If you have a few dollars to spare you can indulge in everything from dumplings to deep fried bananas.

BIG on Bloor (August 22-23)
Look forward to two days of shopping and entertainment when BIG on Bloor closes the street off to cars between Lansdowne and Dufferin. The event boasts a lengthy list of vendors, entertainers, and more. See the full list of participants here.

Chinatown Festival (August 22-23)
This neighbourhood is always alive with Chinese culture, but with this festival, the sheer volume of street foods on offer is astounding. You can also catch a dragon winding its way through the area, with lion dances at night.

Have a free event you'd like to plug? Submit it to our Toronto events calendar using this form.

Photo of Big on Bloor by Andrew Williamson.

A snapshot of downtown Toronto in 1956

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toronto 1956In 1956, the Hockey Hall of Fame at Front and Yonge was still a branch of the Bank of Montreal, the headquarters of the TTC was still the Board of Trade Building, the King Edward Hotel was still a Sheraton, and there were no modern skyscrapers in Toronto.

All of that information and more is contained in a newly available map of land ownership in the Toronto core from 1956.

toronto business map archiveStored at the University of Toronto and now available in a large size digital format here, it shows how much of the central city has been eaten up by land-hungry skyscrapers and office complexes.

By comparing the map to the current street grid, it's possible to track down a few lost, cropped, or otherwise diverted streets.

toronto business map archiveThe map was made by the Nirenstein National Realty Map Company of Springfield, Massachusetts, which was founded by Russian-born map maker Nathan Nirenstein in 1925. According to the University of Connecticut, Nirenstein also owned Bowles Lunch, a chain of restaurants that once had outposts on Bloor and Queen streets in Toronto during the 20th century. See what you can find.

Chris Bateman is a staff writer at blogTO. Follow him on Twitter at @chrisbateman. Image: University of Toronto Map & Data Library, G3524 .T62 G46 1 [1945- 1956] B-2 Rare

The top 15 bars and pubs on Bloor St.

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bloor st barBars and pubs on Bloor St. range from microbreweries and concert venues to traditional neighbourhood pubs. Establishments in this area, which spans from the Annex to Bloor West Village, tend to have staying power in part because they gain a strong base of local clientele. But many are destinations in their owe right, offering a product or vibe unique enough to make it worth crossing the city for.

Here are our picks for the top bars and pubs on Bloor St.

3 Speed
3 Speed is cozy spot that was one of the first on the Bloordale scene. Locals come for its backyard patio (complete with a wood burning oven), cozy atmosphere and always dependable lineup of food and drinks. It's not spot for fancy cocktails but it does boast a solid beer list.

Bar Neon
This bar was the epitome of cool when it opened back in 2011, but it's stayed a neighbourhood mainstay on account of its solid menu, daily specials, and top notch cocktails (that Boulevadier is still excellent). Hungry? You'll find inventive fare with a Mediterranean twist.

Bryden's
This Bloor West Village pub attracts a loyal following of neighbourhood folks. The main draw is the beer selection, which boasts 17 draught options, a number of which showcase local craft beers on a rotating basis. Food-wise the menu is all over the place, featuring everything from pad Thai to butter chicken to pulled pork sandwiches.

BurdockBurdock
Burdock does it all with a bar and restaurant, concert venue, and on-site microbrewery. The comfort-food focus is on point and the beer list is spectacular.

Civil Liberties
Some call it the "pineapple bar" after its exterior signage, though you're not going to find a whole lot of fruity drinks here. The cocktails are of the traditional bent, though you could probably ask for anything you want and one of the bartenders would make it. Food-wise, the charcuterie boards are the way to go.

Clinton's Tavern
For a 78-year-old establishment, Clinton's sure knows how to show guests a good time. Think of it as a mohawk with a low-key bar and restaurant in the front and a venerable dance and concert hall in the back. Whether you stop by for greasy food, a local band or a '90s-style dance party, a night at Clinton's is always a good idea.

Drift
Drift can almost get lost is the sea of surrounding bars that have transformed Bloorcourt/dale over the last five years or so, but it's got plenty of merits, the most notable being that it doesn't try to be particularly cool or trendy.

El Furniture WarehouseEl Furniture Warehouse
The Annex location in this chain of premium dive bar offers all of its food items for $4.95. Pair them with beer, cocktails or shooters. If you're up for an adventure, you can take a group shot off of a ski.

The Gaslight
You can find this cozy, candle-lit space in the Junction Triangle. Feast on heightened bar snacks as you sip cocktails and craft beer. In the summer, you can take the fun outside on the Gaslight's Patio.

Mugshot Tavern
This is a local favourite among High Park residents. It pairs an excellent burger, good beer selection a lovely rooftop patio. This is one of the better pubs on the western section of Bloor.

NorthwoodNorthwood
Located across from Christie Pits park, Northwood is a cafe by day and a romantic cocktail and craft beer bar by night. Spend an evening sipping handcrafted drinks or draught beer and then grab a bottle of the owners' signature Two Bears cold brew to revive yourself in the morning.

The Piston
This Bloorcourt bar has a large back room and features live music and weekly dance parties. When you get tired, there's a smokehouse BBQ menu filled with savoury treats for you to snack on.

WenonaWenona Craft Beer Lodge
As its name suggests, Wenona harkens back to lazy days at the cottage. Its campfire-inspired menu is filled with simple dishes such as octo corndogs. With an extensive beer list, featuring many local favourite for you to choose from, you'll be feeling relaxed in no time.

Whelan's Gate
This Irish-style pub has a menu chock-full of made-in-house goodies inspired by the Emerald Isle. Irish beers, such as Guinness, Kilkenny and Smithwick's, are on tap along with local brands. If you're not up for a pint, you can always choose from one of the bar's signature cocktails.

Wise Bar
This unassuming beer bar is a nice place to spend time. The staff are always friendly, there's an obvious passion for craft beer and the bartenders are always up for helping customers decide what to order.

What did we miss? Add your favourite Bloor St. bars and pubs in the comments.

Writing by Amy Grief and Derek Flack.

Toronto gets a new vegan Caribbean restaurant

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Veggie DLight TorontoReplacing the Kensington Market shopfront that was formerly Hot Beans, this new takeout spot hopes to satisfy cravings for curry and jerk seasonings from a vegan approach. The food is mostly quite mild, so if spicy is your thing, don't skimp on the fiery hot sauce.

Read my profile of Veggie D'Light in the restaurants section.


What are the east vs. west boundaries of Toronto?

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east vs west torontoYou wouldn't think there'd be a debate but there are quite a few opinions on what marks the dividing line between Toronto's east and west side. The results from an impromptu poll of our Twitter followers highlights both the confusion and passion that underwrites these discussions.

Someone will tell you that "everyone knows Yonge St. acts as the dividing line" while others might suggest Spadina or the Don Valley is the obvious answer.

For my part, I've always adopted the latter suggestion with the proviso that there's a centre area in Toronto that's neither the east nor the west side. Call it "downtown" or "central Toronto" (no one seems to use this expression, though), but Bay St. doesn't feel like the west side any more than Church St. seems like the east.

Making a steadfast distinction between east and west in Toronto is also complicated by the fact that there isn't widespread agreement on the boundaries between downtown, midtown, and uptown. In some sense, the right answer is the one that a person can argue for most convincingly. Perhaps that's the way it should be.

Here's a round-up of suggestions from our Twitter followers on what marks the boundaries between the east and west side.


What do you think are the boundaries between Toronto's east and west side? Let us know in the comments.

Pusateri's gourmet grocery store damaged by fire

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pusateris fireThe near-term future of North Toronto's favourite gourmet grocer is in doubt after a three alarm fire broke out last night. The Toronto Star reports that smoke and fire caused significant damage to the store's interior as well as the food products.

There's no word yet on what caused the fire but thankfully the store was closed to shoppers when it happened. According to Toronto Fire four cleaners were inside the building at the time and all escaped unharmed.

Pusateri's has been in business since 1986. Aside from the Avenue and Lawrence location, the family owned operation has storefronts in Yorkville and Bayview Village. In 2011 the store was shut down by the City due to poor sanitation and pest control issues but the grocer quickly recovered and wooed customers back with a lavish party celebrating their 25th anniversary.

A video posted by Peter Muscat (@petermuscat) on


In a statement posted this morning to their Facebook page, management indicated that the store would be "closed until further notice."

Photo and video by Peter Muscat on Instagram.

15 amazing eats from Toronto's downtown night market

Blue Hour Aura

Today in Toronto: Vic Mensa, Blockbuster Week, Dear Diary, Wizard of Ossington, Monday Rotation

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Today in torontoToday in Toronto you can start your week off right at Bad Dog Comedy Theatre. Today is the start of their summer Blockbuster Week, sure to be filled with hilarious improvisations. Not your thing? No problem, there's plenty more to do. Go to The Hoxton to get your party on at the Vic Mensa Show.

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

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

Photo of Vic Mensa

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