It's only been here for 10 years, but already the annual Scotiabank Nuit Blanche art festival has grown from a modest local attempt to emulate a successful European arts festival to an economic and cultural behemoth, drawing hundreds of thousands of visitors to the city each Fall.

In French, the phrase Nuit Blanche means "all nighter," a day when the sun never sets. The first all night art festival of its kind was held in Paris in 2002 and the concept spread to other European cities, including Rome, Brussels, and Berlin, before making the leap to Montreal in 2004.

The brainchild behind Toronto's version of the festival was Rita Davies, the city's then-executive director of culture. She laid the groundwork for the festival under arts-friendly mayor David Miller, giving the city its first large-scale, highly public celebration of the arts. A "free all-night contemporary art thing," according to the first year's promotional material.

"We used to think of London, New York, Paris, Rome, and San Francisco as places that existed in an other realm," she told the Star in 2006. "But now Toronto is much like the cities we once envied--cities that work with their minds."

The first Nuit Blanche, themed "My Secret City," was centred on the Entertainment District, Yorkville, and the Distillery. 55 galleries stayed open from sunset at 7:00 p.m. on Sept. 30 to 7:00 a.m. on Oct. 1. and there were 130 installations dotted throughout the city.

Michael Snow (of the Eaton Centre geese) projected grazing sheep on the dome of the planetarium on Queen's Park, Trinity Community Recreation Centre at Crawford and Adelaide was turned into a Roman bath/nightclub, and parts of the U of T campus were overtaken by an eerie fog.

Elsewhere, at University Settlement House on Grange Ave., 10-year-old DJs spun tunes while adults rested in nap areas surrounded by colourful rubber balls.

In a coin car wash Queen West there was an ice sculpture tribute to Neil Stonechild, a Cree First Nations teen who died of hypothermia in 1990 after allegedly being abandoned in a field by Saskatoon police when the temperature was in the -20s. His name was spelled in melting blocks of ice.

Despite unseasonably cold weather and some rain, several thousand people wandered the streets until dawn, soaking in the artwork.

"It was like Halloween for über-chic twenty-somethings," wrote Star entertainment reporter Jen Gerson. "Some of it had a message: memorializing the dead, praying for peace, or giving a glimpse into the Hungarian Revolution. Other art was just too weird to classify: traveling beds, makeshift sandboxes, and lyrics spelled out in neon."

Today, Toronto's Nuit Blanche is among the largest and most successful events of its kind in the world. A minimum of a million people have attended every year since 2008, some 200,000 of them from out of town in 2014, according to figures published by the Globe and Mail. The economic impact on the city is somewhere in the region of $41 million.

Proof that Toronto really does like to stay up all night.

Follow Chris Bateman on Twitter at @chrisbateman.

Image: /blogTO Flickr pool.

The top bars for pinball offer the chance to show off your dexterity and passion. Alas, Toronto by-laws mean that no one place can have more than a couple of machines, but at least we're not shit out entirely. There's no better way to play than with a beer at hand, so head to one of these watering holes and get your game on.

Here, in no particular order, are my picks for the top bars for pinball in Toronto.

Get Well
Get Well has a reputation for its games. Nestled among old-school arcade favourites like Space Invaders and Tetris, you'll find a few well-loved pinball machines. And that's not all the bar has to offer, you'll also find a hefty craft beer selection and a quirky crowd of twenty-somethings.

Handlebar
Pinball is no joke to the folks over at Handlebar. They take the game so seriously that they threw a five-day long tourney this summer, aptly named the "Beer & Ball Festival". Like most Kensington bars, it gets pretty crowded at night, so prepare to throw some elbows if you want to get to the lone pinball machine.

3030
3030 has a lot going for it: a menu filled with quality tapas, live music, craft beers on tap, and a couple vintage pinball machines to top it all off. The space can hold up to 200 diners and drinkers, so you may have to fight off a few enthusiastic gamers to get your hands on a machine - but it's well worth it.

Hi Lo
Hi-Lo is your most easterly option for a game of bar 'ball. You'll only find one machine, but that's more than enough in this itty bitty bar. If the machine has beat you one too many times, you can always drown your sorrows in an expertly crafted Negroni, or if you're feeling apathetic, a can of PBR.

Nightowl
Nightowl has a lone pinball machine among its classic arcade games. If you can't make it to the machine or are willing to wait your turn, opt to watch some live music - the bar has a small stage used for open mics and small scale performances.

What did I miss? Add your favourite pinball bar to the comments below.

This Vietnamese canteen/health bar on King West is pretty much the only place in the area where one can chow down on rolls, pho (rice noodle soup), bun (vermicelli) or com (rice). There are gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan options on the menu, including a veggie pho that uses a mushroom broth. Lunch-time office workers looking for an affordable option, rejoice!

Read my profile of Bac Ky in the restaurants section.

Toronto gets a lot more scenic when the temperature starts to drop, and what better way to celebrate the beginning of fall than by seeing the colours of the leaves change. While you could head to a well known green space like Glen Stewart Ravine or Rouge Park, why not go off the beaten trail? These low key places will have you taking in the beauty of autumn without the crowds.

Here are my picks for the most underrated places to check out fall colours in Toronto.

Craigleigh Gardens Park
A mere kilometre from the Brick Works is Craigleigh Park, a peaceful 3.4 hectare reserve filled with greenery. When the seasons start to change its tree canopy is one of the most beautiful in the city. If you're looking to do more than see the fall colours, the park also features an off-leash area for dogs and is in close proximity to a ravine trail (for those who like to hike).

Park Lawn Cemetary
Though a cemetery doesn't normally seem like a joyous destination, it can be come fall time. Necropolis and Mount Pleasant are both popular destinations for checking out fall fall foliage, boasting trees galore and great views. However, Park Lawn should not be overlooked. Its grounds are filled will manicured trees and bushes that look even more stunning when they start to change.

Chatsworth Ravine
This ravine, just south of Yonge and Lawrence, is the optimal place to enjoy autumn outdoors near North York. It may not have the grandeur of Moore Park or Glen Stewart, but it looks mighty fine dressed up in fall colours. Plus, with it's below-the-radar status you'll find it distinctively less populated.

Guildwood Park
At Guildwood Park you'll find much more than just greenery. Among its trails and trees there are architectural gems from demolished buildings. It's a favourite for engagement photos, but even if you're not with a loved one you'll be able to snap some 'grams with the changing colours in the background.

Windfields Park
This former farm site offers 31 hectares of green space in the Bayview and Lawrence area. It boasts 15 bike trails as well as outdoor fitness equipment, making it ideal for those who want to view the fall colours while staying active (it really kills two birds with one stone).

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

Photo by DMVphotography

It was a pre-Nuit Blanche bash at the AGO for October's First Thursday, featuring appearances by Parisian artist JR and music from k-os. With a chill in the air, attendees busted out some fall-ish duds, with blazers, coats, and jackets on prominent display.

Check out all the looks in our Style section.

Nuit Blanche lasts one night per year. But if you missed some exhibitions yesterday, don't fret. Perhaps you were stuck in line, or maybe a 4 a.m. last call enticed you into a Queen West watering hole. Regardless, 14 installations will stick around until October 12 (or in some cases, later) meaning you can see them all on your own schedule (and without having to wade through the hordes of people that dominated our city streets on Saturday).

Inside Out
New York and Paris-based artist Nuit Blanche has been taking his massive participatory project around the world since 2011. See its first Canadian stop anytime at Nathan Phillips Square, but only until Oct. 12.

Campbell's House: Your Eye Inside Out
As part of JR's curated Black White Night zone, this project will take you inside the historic Campbell house at Queen and University. It'll be open to the public from 7 a.m. until 1 a.m.

Nuit Talks: Putting the extra-in-ordinary
Learn more about JR at this documentary-style video installation. It'll be up in the city hall council chamber from 9-5 p.m. daily. But don't expect much drama because council is not in session.

There Is No Away
This sculptural installation by Toronto-based artist Sean Martindale explores the expansive amount of garbage our city tosses out every day. Check it out at 100 Queen Street West, at the east side of City Hall.

Time of the Empress
New York-based artists Anthony Aziz's and Sammy Cucher's new media installation will move from OISE to city hall. Watch their looping images of modernist buildings as the project looks at notions of "growth and decay."

refugees run the seas...
Check out this incredibly timely billboard installation at 284 Jarvis, right at Jarvis and Gerrard. Toronto-based artist Francisco-Fernando Granados found unlikely inspiration for it: the Wyclef Jean rap in Shakira's "Hips Don't Lie."

Sphinx
You'll start contemplating over how our city's changed in the past 50 years when you go see Luis Jacob's sculpture-based installation. It'll be on display at Allan Gardens Children's Conservatory from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.

Beaufort 10: Frío Estudio del Desastre
Since this installation is located outside the Westin Harbour Castle, you'll be able to see it 24 hours a day. But it may be unsettling when you walk by because Havana-based collective Los Carpinteros created what looks like a 3D explosion.

Beaufort 12: Black Cloud
Unlike other projects listed here, this one will stick around until January 3. Head to the clerestory at the Power Plant Contemporary Art Gallery and see Carlos Amorales transformed it with 30,000 black paper moths.

Silent Knight
Canadian artist Ekow Nimako used more than 50,000 pieces of LEGO to create a sculpture of a barn owl, a quintessential Ontario creature. Since owl sitings are rare in the city, you can always spot this one outside of the Gardiner Museum.

Pattern Study
Toronto's Amanda McCavour used fabric from H&M's Garment Collecting Program to create a participatory installation at Union Station. Move through it at the beginning or end of your commute or from 6 a.m. until midnight.

Mímir's Well
Based on Norse Mythology, Mímir's Well is another participatory sculpture project. Located at the Queen Richmond Centre (134 Peter Street), this one is only accessible October 5-8 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and October 9-12 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

EMPREINTES
Pascale Peyret, who's from Paris, created this installation to commemorate the 400 year history of Francophonie in Ontario. View it at the Bata Shoe Museum from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. daily.

Solid States
After relatively brief hiatus, Toronto's Sculpture Garden is back with an installation by Toronto artist An Te Liu. Solid States is also MOCCA's first pop-up exhibition and you'll be able to see it until December 6.

Nuit Blanche Toronto 2015 is set to get underway. There's rain in the forecast, but it looks to be modest, so fingers crossed that we get spared a damp night in the cold bouncing from installation to installation. The proceedings officially get under way at 7pm and extend to 7am, though if past years are any indication, the event starts to wrap at around 5am.

In an effort to help you out with last minute preparations, here's a roundup of our pre-coverage of this year's all-night art event. If you can make it out during the 3am to 5am window, you're likely to dodge lines but also to encounter greater instances of public drunkenness, which depending on your perspective might be entertaining or annoying.

What exhibits to see

• The top 25 exhibits to check out at Nuit Blanche 2015
• 14 Nuit Blanche exhibits on extended display in Toronto
• The top 5 renegade exhibits at Nuit Blanche 2015
• Main Nuit Blanche exhibit map

Where to eat and drink

• Late night eats at Nuit Blanche 2015
• Where to drink until 4am during Nuit Blanche 2015
• The best 24 hour restaurants in Toronto

Getting around

The subway will be running all night long, which is perfect if you're all set to stay out until the wee hours of the morning (or until last call at one of the bars open until 4 a.m.). Line 1 will stay open in its entirety. Line 2 will go between Kipling and Kennedy following regular operating hours.

To make getting around simple, you can grab a family pass ($11.50) valid for, according to the TTC, "up to six people, maximum two adults and 4 youths, 19 years of age or under." GO Transit will also beef up its service. And, parts of Queen West, Queens Quay, Bay Street and Queens Park will go car-free starting on Saturday afternoon.

For information about Nuit Blanche road closures, check out our roundup post here.

Photo contest

In celebration of the 10th edition of Nuit Blanche Toronto, initially inspired by Nuit Blanche Paris, the Consulate General of France in Toronto, France Canada Culture and Air France are pleased to offer you the chance to two round-trip flights from Toronto to France! Share your best Nuit Blanche Toronto 2015 pictures on Instagram using #snbTOblogTO and @francetoronto to enter. Submit your photos from Oct. 3 to Oct. 11, 2015.

For the full rules and regulations, click here.

The second prize will be an exclusive life-size Barn Owl sculpture from artist Ekow Nimako, who is part of the Nuit Blanche exhibition 10 for 10th - Memory Lane. Learn more about Ekow on Instagram @ekonomical and www.ekownimako.com. Project details here.

Photo by Matt Forsythe

People have been going to the Scarborough Bluffs for a brief reprieve from urban life for over two centuries. Often described as a geological wonder, the Bluffs were formed by an accumulation of sediment over 12,000 years ago, one which later contributed to the formation of the peninsula that would become the Toronto Islands.

Despite their long history, the Bluffs began to erode at a rapid pace (in geological terms) when cottages and homes were built in the area in the mid 20th century. This problem reached its peak in the 1970s before the city stepped in and implemented a number of measures to halt the erosion.

While the efforts have been largely successful, it's not difficult to spot the subtle differences between the Bluffs of these photos from the early 20th century and the ones we can visit today. They were more rugged a century ago, and there's fewer trees (many of which were planted as part of anti-erosion measures). In fact, in certain photos from the 1910s, the Bluffs look almost otherworldly.

One will also notice another difference in these photos from the Bluffs of today: there's so few people. Sure, you can still pay a quiet visit to the Bluffs in the off-season or during a weekday, but on weekends in the summer, this is one of Toronto's most popular beach destinations. And why not? This is surely one of the most beautiful places in Toronto.

MORE PHOTOS
Photos from the Toronto Archives

Fall colours in Toronto have yet to reach their peak for 2015, but are expected to do so over the course of the next two weeks. Right now, areas like the Don Valley are at approximately 20-25 per cent colour change, with very little leaf fall.

There are explosions of yellow and orange, but these are typically surrounded by a sea of green as our nights have yet to cool off enough to trigger the full transformation expected in the second half of the month. Areas further to the west of Toronto, like Dundas Peak for instance, are much further along in the process.

In fact, one of the better ways to keep tabs on the rate of colour change in Toronto is to track the Ontario Parks fall foliage reports for sites near Toronto like Bronte Creek and Darlington. Colour change can be quite specific to a particular geographic niche, but these reports provide very useful information about the way the colours are trending.

While the above photo of Burnett Park (near Bathurst and Sheppard) reveals that Thanksgiving weekend offered some reasonable fall foliage viewing opportunities, it's the next two weekends (Oct. 17/18 and 24/25) when Toronto folks would be best advised to plan their viewing excursions for destinations within the city.

For those leaving the confines of Toronto, the province-wide map from Ontario Parks is still your best bet for info related to colour change.

Toronto has a not unfair reputation as a city that likes to complain, but the driving force behind such a habit is, no doubt, the high standards we've collectively set for the livability of this place. Yet, there are times when one is compelled to pause and take stock of all the good things out there that are often overlooked or taken for granted.

In honour of Thanksgiving, this is a meandering list of things to give thanks for in Toronto right now.

The Blue Jays
Regardless of what happens in the ALDS, the Blue Jays late season run and post-season berth reinvigorated the pride this town has in its home teams. We've been so starved for meaningful post-season play over the last decade that this year's team really rallied the city together, and that excitement will continue into next season no matter what happens in these playoffs.

We rule the music world
Toronto has been a one horse town when it comes to Billboard superstars for the last few years, but now Drake has some company. The Weeknd currently tops the charts while Drizzy's infectious Hotline Bling has risen to third. Sitting in the middle is some dude named Justin Bieber.

We didn't bid for the Olympics
Not to be a curmudgeon, because an Olympic bid really would have been very exciting, but cooler heads prevailed. Just because the Pan Am Games went well doesn't mean we were ready to bid or that we would have won. There will be a right time to make another Olympic run, but this wasn't the year.

Beer sales at grocery stores is right around the corner
It won't be long now. Beer will hit grocery store shelves sometime in December, thereby modernizing an liquor/beer retail system that was hopelessly behind the times. The little guys will have difficulty competing, and we're still waiting on wine, but this is progress.

Toronto is no longer an international laughing stock
John Tory has been the mayor for about a year. Have you noticed that Toronto is no longer a fixture on late night talk shows and in the international press for shenanigans around city hall? It's a little early to evaluate Tory's work, but he's definitely helped to bring order and respectability back to the mayor's office.

We're top of the class
Toronto has always fared well on international livability rankings, but when the Economist pulled all of its data together from the various indexes that are used to rank cities, we came out at the very top. Why, thank you.

Andy Byford has made the TTC a better ride
It's far from perfect, but the TTC is actually getting better under the stewardship of Andy Byford. Station staff are friendlier, delays are communicated better, all-door boarding has been embraced on busy streetcars, and those new streetcars keep arriving. The Spadina Extension lurks in the dreams of York faculty and new students.

Mike Babcock
The Leafs will not be a good hockey team this year, but they just might have the best coach in the game right now, and that's a reason to be thankful if you're a local hockey fan. It finally seems as though management in Toronto is committed to a slow build, and once Babcock has some pieces to work with, you can expect the Leafs to return to respectability rapidly.

Our gallery scene is alive and well
Toronto's art gallery scene is in the midst of a massive migration north to the Junction Triangle and Dupont St., and there's never been a time to be more excited about its future prospects. The industrial spaces that house some of our most important art spaces aren't just bigger than the old storefronts, but they're breathing new life into long neglected neighbourhoods.

Slowly but surely, we're reclaiming the waterfront
So long a source of civic disappointment, the Toronto waterfront is actually coming along quite nicely, with a major component unveiled this summer in the form of the revamped Queens Quay. Up next is Ontario Place, and continued development on the eastern waterfront. Captain John's has finally sailed into the sunset, and the future looks bright (and clean).

What did I miss? Add your reasons to give thanks for Toronto right now.

Photo by Marcus Mitanis

Today in Toronto it's time to stock up on your winter reads. BookThug is hosting their fall launch party tonight at The Garrison, and bringing stacks of books with them. Browse through publications by Jess Taylor, Jean Marc Ah-Sen, Josh Massey, Liz Worth, Shannon Maguire, and more. There's also a steamy storytelling event at The Gladstone and a handful of live shows, if books aren't your thing.

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

• BIGBANG (Air Canada Centre)
• BookThug Fall 2015 Book Launch (The Garrison)
• Tell Me Something Good (The Gladstone)
• Comedy on College (Pour Boy)
• Titus Andronicus (Horseshoe Tavern)
• Andy Warhol Revisited (77 Bloor St. West)

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

There are no closures to report on DineSafe this week, but city inspectors did slap the only downtown location of T&T Supermarket with a conditional pass. The grocery store passed re-inspection the next day after complying with maintenance and pest control issues.

Find out who else got in trouble with the kitchen police last week.

New Lim Ga Ne (686 Bloor St. West)
Inspected on: October 5, 2015
Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
Number of infractions: 4 (Minor: 1, Significant: 2, Crucial: 1)
Crucial infractions include: Operator fail to wash hands when required.

Hakka Legend Asian Cuisine (789 Warden Ave.)
Inspected on: October 6, 2015
Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
Number of infractions: 3 (Significant: 2, Crucial: 1)
Crucial infractions include: Operator fail to maintain hazardous food(s) at 4C (40F) or colder.

Hurricanes Roadhouse (963 Bloor St. West)
Inspected on: October 6, 2015
Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
Number of infractions: 4 (Minor: 2, Significant: 2)
Crucial infractions include: N/A

Sunnyside Grill (1218 St. Clair Ave. West)
Inspected on: October 6, 2015
Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
Number of infractions: 1 (Significant: 1)
Crucial infractions include: N/A

Landmark Seafood Cuisine (3601 Victoria Park Ave.)
Inspected on: October 6, 2015
Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
Number of infractions: 7 (Minor: 3, Significant: 3, Crucial: 1)
Crucial infractions include: Fail to protect food from contamination or adulteration.

T&T Supermarket (222 Cherry St.)
Inspected on: October 7, 2015
Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
Number of infractions: 5 (Minor: 3, Significant: 1, Crucial: 1)
Crucial infractions include: Operator fail to wash hands when required.

Note: The above businesses each received infractions from DineSafe as originally reported on the DineSafe site. This does not imply that any of these businesses have not subsequently corrected the issue and received a passing grade by DineSafe inspectors. For the latest status for each of the mentioned businesses, including details on any subsequent inspections, please be sure to check the DineSafe site.

Toronto baseball fans had a lot to be thankful for this past long weekend. That's because the Blue Jays beat the Texas Rangers in games three and four of the ALDS.

The Jays will be on home turf for game five tomorrow, and this crucial ballgame will determine who moves on to the ALCS. Naturally, fans are stoked, especially those who'll be at the Rogers Centre.

The rest of us can watch from the BirdsNest at Nathan Phillips Square. And, you won't even need to duck out of work that early because the game starts at 4:07 EDT.

Despite our success in Texas, our trip down south wasn't without controversy thanks to Fox Sports analyst Harold Reynolds.

"We were talking about foul balls in the stands up in Toronto, and because there's not a lot of people that grew up playing baseball in Canada, they're not used to catching a lot of balls in the stands ... not many people catching that one, anyway," he said during game three. Reynold apologized prior to game four, but not before his comments went viral.

Now that we've tied the series, it's time to get pumped up for game five. In preparation, take a look at how fans reacted to the Jays' weekend in Arlington, Texas.

If you need your daily dose of cuteness, look no further. That's because Er Shun, the giant panda currently on loan to the Toronto Zoo, gave birth to twins earlier this morning.

The cubs, born at 3:31 and 3:44 a.m. are the first giant pandas ever to be born in Canada, reports the Toronto Star. They weighed 187.7 and 115 grams. For now, the zoo is keeping the newborns away from the public and we won't know their sexes for a little while. But there's already a heart melting photo making the rounds.

Back in May, Er Shun had two non-surgical artificial insemination procedures with sperm from Da Mao (who's also at the Toronto zoo) as well as frozen sperm from two giant pandas in China. The zoo found two separate fetal heartbeats and announced Er Shun's pregnancy about two weeks ago. According to the Star, the cubs' paternity is still unclear.

150 Wheeler Avenue, listed for almost $2.7 million, is a renovated four bedroom in the Beach neighbourhood. Designed by Toronto-based architect nkA, the two-storey house sticks out on the quiet street with its unconventional geometric exterior and brightly painted stucco.

The inside, however, blends seamlessly from room to room. The modern interior flows from the front entrance to the back with retractable doors and an L-shaped courtyard off the kitchen. The side courtyard is incredible, blending indoor and outdoor space and making it feel like one spacious and airy room.

Just above the floating staircase, there's an in-between level featuring a den, dining room and walkout. While debatably an awkward spot to dine, the space resembles a private dining area like that reserved table you always want in a restaurant.

The lower level houses the cinema room, and you won't have to travel far to workout with a basement fitness studio and its mirrored wall. In the back, the landscape yard basks in sun with a multi-tiered deck, waterfall pool and hot tub. Pool party anyone?

SPECS

• Address: 150 Wheeler Avenue
• Price: $2,699,900
• Lot Size: 50 x 102 FT
• Bedrooms: 4
• Bathrooms: 5
• Parking: 4
• Taxes: $11,494.29
• Walk Score: 86

NOTABLE FEATURES

• Approx. 2,500 square feet
• Floating staircase
• L-shaped courtyard beside the kitchen
• Retractable doors with south-facing terrace
• Outdoor swimming pool and hot tub

GOOD FOR

This house would be perfect in California where the weather is conductive to eating outdoors every night. Still, the indoor living space blends nicely into the outdoors, and the courtyard feels like an extension of the kitchen on the same elevation. The seasonal view from the breakfast bar is great year round.

MOVE ON IF

It's difficult to find fault in a property with an L-shaped courtyard, a swimming pool and an outdoor hot tub. The Douglas Fir retractable wall leading out to the courtyard may look pretty---alright, downright stunning---but could require costly maintenance and upkeep than regular sliding doors.

ADDITIONAL PHOTOSWhat do you think of this Beach property? Let us know in the comments.

Thanks to Bosley Real Estate Ltd, Brokerage for sponsoring our House of the Week. All content and editorial selected and written by blogTO.

On October 5, Toronto Mayor John Tory launched another tag-and-tow blitz in attempt to speed up the rush hour commute. After the first day of this crackdown, police issued nearly 700 tickets and towed 100 vehicles, reports the Toronto Sun.

But despite these numbers, can a program such as this actually get traffic moving faster?

That's what the Globe and Mail wanted to find out when it asked GPS company TomTom to study traffic conditions on downtown Toronto roads. TomTom analyzed Richmond, Adelaide, Spadina, Yonge and Gerrard at peak morning and evening hours. It looked at traffic conditions from the first four months of 2015 in comparison to 2014.

Based on this, TomTom found that traffic on only two streets, Richmond in the morning and southbound Spadina in the evening, improved. The Globe quotes TomTom as saying that based on its data, no-stopping campaigns alone aren't making a making a "dramatic, measurable difference."

However, this study had many limits. For example, it couldn't account for all traffic in the city as well as other factors (such as construction) that might have increased travel times. And, as the Globe notes, TomTom can't conclusively say whether or not tag-and-tow rules made a difference in terms of speeding traffic.

Photo by Dan Mofo in the blogTO Flickr pool.

The Toronto Maple Leafs continue to be the ultimate whipping boy for ESPN, who has once again ranked the team dead last in its annual "Ultimate Standings" list. Yes, that would be 122nd out of 122 teams.

The rankings are based on eight different categories, some of which include coaching, affordability, championship potential, and overall value. One might have though that the addition of Babcock behind the bench would have help bump the team out of the basement, but those voting on the list clearly weren't moved by Toronto's off season moves.

In other news, the Raptors were ranked 94th (from 74th last year), and the Jays came in at 99th, though the rankings were put together long before the spectacular close to the team's season and playoff berth. One suspects that they'd fare much better on an updated list.

I probably don't need to state the obvious, but Toronto teams struggle on these types of lists in general based on ticket prices. Big city teams across North America tend to receive lower rankings because of the weight accorded to affordability and overall value. Naturally, it doesn't help when the fan experience is expensive and the team under performs.

Photo via the Toronto Maple Leafs Facebook page.

Why would someone choose to play soccer from within an 18-pound plastic bubble? No idea, but it is a lot of fun, albeit slightly scary. Now, you can play this somewhat extreme sport inside all winter long thanks to AT Bubble Soccer, which opened up over the Thanksgiving long weekend in Vaughan, less than one block north of Steeles Avenue.

Check out my profile of AT Bubble Soccer in the fitness section.

Toronto's food scene is filled with servers, bartenders and chefs that make local and international diners fall in love with the delicious fare located throughout our city.

For nearly one year, Toronto-based photographer and George Brown-trained chef Brilynn Ferguson has been posting photos to her Industry Ink Instagram account. As the name suggests, she profiles those who work in the culinary industry and documents their unique (and often food-related) tattoos.

She finds the story behind each piece and highlights individuals as well as the establishments they work at. She mostly spotlights local chefs, servers and bartenders. But, she has also photographed heavy-hitters such as Mark McEwan as well as international stars such as Massimo Bottura.

Here's some of Ferguson's most recent work to ogle at.

Ben Heaton, Chef, Citta

Ivan Kuuts, Cook, The Emerson

Dimitri, Bartender, The 47

Erin Petty, Bartender, Odd Thomas/Mascot Brewery

Sam Dobie, Bartender, The Gaslight

Nick Lui, Chef, DaiLo

Grant van Gameren, Chef, Bar Isabel/Bar Raval

Top photo of Robin Goodfellow, Bartender/partner Bar Raval

A small sandwich joint has opened next to the Ontario Giant Runt Club on Brock Avenue. The already popular spot offers tasty breakfast sandwiches, paratha omelette wraps and house-marinated pressed sandwiches to the Bloordale community, who can't seem to get enough of them.

Read my profile of North Haven in the restaurants section.