The top free events in Toronto this week will bring you to art galleries and concert venues. Gallery TPW is offering free entry to Photorama 2015, so you can peruse the works of both new and established artists without dropping a dime. If you'd rather catch some live music The Horseshoe is offering two nights of free shows.

Here's what to do if you've drained your chequing account.

LIT BANG! (November 26-December 20)
LIT BANG! kicks off this week with a few literary themed events to keep you busy at no cost. On tap this week is an art exhibition and the launch of gustave morin's Clean Sails. Check out the full festival schedule on the IN PRINT website.

Photorama 2015 (November 27)
TPWs 29th annual fundraising exhibition is in full swing, showcasing works by over 100 artists. You'll find photographs by well known Canadian artists like Edward Burtynsky, Geoffrey James, Chris Curreri, Robyn Cumming and a few promising new faces. Most works are priced under $600, so it's a great option if you're looking to start a collection.

Shoeless Mondays (November 30)
Kick off your week with a free live show. This Monday, Late Night Sanity, Cast In Cadence, and Christine Saade will be performing at the Horseshoe Tavern. If you can't make it out on Monday, the venue also hosts Dave Bookman's Nu Music Night every Tuesday, which is also a no cover event.

Comedy on College (December 1)
Having an off week? Lighten it up with some laughs at Comedy on College this Tuesday. The free show will feature stand-up by Matt Gass, Amanda Day, Kye Fox, Camille Cote, Ryan Long , DeAnne Smith, Mark Little and more. If you've got a couple bucks to spare, the food and drinks at Pour Boy are very budget-friendly.

Shameless Karaoke (December 4-5)
Let out your inner Mariah Carey by belting out high notes at the Gladstone Melody Bar this Friday and Saturday. You'll probably need a little bit of liquid courage, so I suggest pre-gaming for this one.

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

This compact, slightly-off-the-beaten-path coffee bar that occupies a shipping container in a loading dock also sells its own luxe brand of men's clothing along with carefully curated international candy and cannabis-related items.

Find out more in my profile of Tokyo Smoke in the cafes section.

Christmas ornaments, decor and decorations sell briskly in the month of December. The stores on this list will have you covered with everything from stockings to trees made out of paper. Bored with basic decorations? You can also find one-of-a-kind items that will make your home look as festive and unconventional as you desire.

Here's a round-up of stores for Christmas ornaments, decorations and decor in Toronto.

Bergo Designs
This Distillery District store has unique items like the Infinite Tree from Swedish designer Johannes Molin and Living Royal Socks with festive prints. Glass cases hold delicate Christmas figurines and there are a few stationary kits specifically for writing to Santa.

Drake General Store
Stockings and Christmas tree ornaments in the shape of doughnuts, macarons and burgers are some of the holiday goods available at Drake General Store. You can also get started on your present list with a variety of holiday gift sets.

The Paper Place
Across from Trinity Bellwoods, this store has a selection of holiday-themed decorations, made mostly from paper. Pick up a build-your-own North Pole scene with Santa, Mrs. Claus and Rudolph or a string of stockings and sparkly stars to hand up around your home. They also sells miniature paper Christmas trees.

CB2
At Queen and Bathurst, this American chain's holiday decor is sleek and contemporary. Ornaments come in several metal finishes, like copper and rose gold, and there's a good variety of hanging wreaths. There are also stylish silver pigs wearing mirror boots and disco gnomes, which have the added benefit of confusing your holiday guests.

Pied a Terre
Many of the decorations at this Leslieville antique store are winter-themed, including silver balsam trees and wise men statuettes. Ornaments, a must for Christmas decor retailers, are also available and because the store specializes in vintage decor, you're sure to find unique items that won't be hanging from someone else's tree.

West Elm
This Liberty Village home furniture store is huge, so there's lots of Christmas decorations to choose from. You can be more obvious with your decor, with seasonal wreaths and garlands or a snow-covered Christmas village covered in glitter. But, there are also more subtle options, like pillows printed in plaid and abstract snowflake art.

Anthropologie
If you want to take your Christmas decorating to the next level, you can update your plates with the snowmen and reindeer-printed tableware available at Anthropologie. Much of the decor focuses on the kitchen, like festive serving dishes, tablecloths and napkins. You can also find string lights, gift tag sets, and eye-catching ornaments.

Contrast Living
The Parkdale decor and gifts store has their Christmas corner all set up. Along with their usual selection of unique gifts, they have added holiday cards to their stationary section and made-in-Canada decor for your home's exterior, like decorative metal reindeer and snowmen.

What did I miss? Add your suggestions for where to find holiday decorations in the comments.

Photo by Philip Barlow in the blogTO Flickr pool.

This week, an update (PDF) to Metrolinx's offences and fines comes into effect under the Provincial Offences Act. The offences are not particularly surprising - they mainly concern parking on Metrolinx property.

But this isn't the only update that UP Express, GO train or bus users should be aware of. At the beginning of November, a more comprehensive update (PDF) was released where much of the focus was on rules of conduct for passengers.

Besides the common sense safety regulations, like not hanging on to the outside of a GO train, and basic rules of hygiene, like wearing shoes on trains, there are a few, more unusual things you can't do on a Metrolinx vehicle.

Here's a round-up of some of the more surprising things you can't do on a UP Express train, GO train, bus or any other Metrolinx property.

1. Expectorating (coughing or spitting up phlegm) on company property is not permitted. This carries a fine of $100 and according to Metrolinx spokesperson Mark Ostler, the offence falls under the etiquette section of Metrolinx by-laws. The purpose is to keep company property clean, a reasonable request, though also a highly visual one.

2. Operating a music device "at [a] volume that disturbs other passengers" can cost you $100. This is where over-the-ear headphones could save you from a decent fine.

3. You can't in-line skate or skateboard on Metronlinx property, and don't try to work around these regulations by roller-skating - all three are offences that could lead to an $85 fine.

4. Putting something on a nearby seat, like your feet or anything else that could damage the seat, may mean a fine of $75, as does lying down on company property, which has a heftier fine of $100.

5. Placing material on Metrolinx property can result in a $100 fine, but what exactly does material mean? Ostler clarifies that the offence refers to distributing flyers and other printed material without company permission.

As to be expected, most of these offences are in place to ensure travellers have a pleasant experience and don't injure themselves or others. While the regulations and their corresponding fines may seem harsh, Ostler says that transit safety officers have some discretion in "deciding whether not not to issue a notice of violation."

Just don't spit on your seat mate.

Are you surprised by any of these rules? Let us know in the comments.

Photo by MrDanMofo in the blogTO Flickr pool.

This recently opened restaurant might have made headlines by being Toronto's first restaurant to explicitly state a no-tipping policy but it's actually the food here that should be getting more press.

Read my profile of Indian Street Food Co. in the restaurants section.

Outdoor skating rinks in Toronto are the perfect opportunity to embrace winter and get outside. While the colder months can frequently bring out the desire to hibernate, we're lucky to live in a city that has a generous amount of rinks with a variety of sceneries and activities to nudge us out there.

Here are my picks for the top outdoor skating rinks in Toronto by neighbourhood.

Bayview & Leaside
The Hodgson Rink was rebuilt in 2014, and with that came a bright new change room overlooking the double ice surface. There's a well equipped rink for shinny and one for pleasure skating. CR, WS

Beaches
With less generous hours than other Toronto rinks, Kew Gardens Skating Rink has a list of amenities to make up for it. They have specific shinny schedules available for men, women and family. Pleasure skating is also available, and there's even a campfire cage that is frequently lit during evening skating to get a true Canadian winter experience. CR, LK, WS

Bloorcourt
Feel like a game of shinny followed by a less competitive, leisurely skate? You can do both at Dufferin Grove Park Rink, with two side by side rinks appealing to both sides of the skating spectrum. Their shinny schedule is filled with options, including a beginner shinny schedule, for those just getting comfortable with hockey. CR, SR, LK, WS

Bloor West Village
The Rennie Rink (or Swansea Rink) has a hockey rink and a pleasure rink. The pleasure rink is built around a tree, with no fences allowing for many late night skates. The hockey rink has proper hockey boards, a scoreboard and sound system, thanks to a partnership with Home Depot and Toronto Maple Leafs in 2005. There's also a large change room and observation room to watch your friends if you're not feeling up for skating. CR

Corktown
Regent Park South is equipped with washrooms, cubbies, benches and matting after a well deserved facelift in early 2015. The rink, located at Shuter and Sumach, has a decent schedule for shinny, with lights and fencing for improved playing. CR

Corso Italia
The Giovanni Caboto rink has two rinks available, offering a good schedule for shinny and public skating. CR, LK

Danforth
The Withrow Rink is a busy spot with a great shinny schedule. While the change rooms are on the small side, the atmosphere is relaxed and has great leisure skating as well. WS, CR

Dundas WestThe rink on Bathurst just south of Dundas in Alexandra Park boasts two surfaces, one for pleasure skating and one for shinny. The hockey rink, which is a skate park in the summer, is known to be just as busy in the winter with great games of shinny with players of all levels. Another bonus, the rink is walking distance to Starbucks and Tim Hortons to grab some warm beverages. CR, WS

Etobicoke
The Colonel Samuel Smith Skating Trail is busy, but it's worth it. It is located next to the historical Power Plant building-which is known to be haunted-and there are large change rooms to store your things, but no lockers. The figure 8 trail offers a change of pace for many Toronto rinks, but there's no shinny available here. If you're looking for shinny in Etobicoke, the Westway Outdoor Rink is a great option. CR

Financial District
Given Nathan Phillips Square's proximity to the Eaton's Centre, it's natural this rink runs on the busier side. However, it's one of the best equipped rinks in the city, with change rooms, snack booths, skate rentals and food trucks, plus its walking distance from the subway. Plus, you can take your photo in front of the iconic Toronto sign. CR, SR, LK

Harbourfront
While Natrel Rink can be a bit more touristy than the rest, its location, shape and amenities make for an enjoyable skate. With the CN Tower facing North and the brisk Lake Ontario facing South, there's plenty of opportunities to take some great photos and take in the Toronto landscape. There are plenty of benches along the rink and a large change room to warm up and store your things. There's also a cafe with warm drinks and snacks. CR, SR, LK

Junction
Campbell Rink offers the same neighbourhood feel we've grown to love throughout the Junction. There's a snack bar available featuring traditional quick snack items like mini-pizzas and hot dogs, and hot beverages to warm up after your skate. There's no observation room to look over the rink, but there are spacious change rooms. CR, SR, LK

Junction Triangle
The Wallace Emerson Park rink is bright and friendly, with great staff offering skate and hockey lending services (with a suggested $1-$2 donation) and a snack bar to keep you there for the afternoon. SR, CR

Koreatown
If you're looking for a game of shinny while enjoying the view of the city skyline, head to Christie Pitts Rink. Located on the North West corner of the park, there's a well maintained hockey rink with pleasure skating, shinny and generous hours, all while overlooking Christie Pitts park. There's a woodstove in the changeroom area, but it's rarely used. CR

Leslieville
The Greenwood Rink has a bright, welcoming warming room allowing non-skaters to still hang out and watch. The rink has been newly rebuilt and has a covered hockey rink allowing for less snow build up and better conditions overall. CR, WS

Markham
Markham Civic Centre boasts one of the largest outdoor skating rinks in the GTA, and is a gorgeous rink for pleasure skating. While shinny isn't available here, it's a great rink to go for a skate outside of the Markham Civic Centre. SR, CR

North York
Mel Lastman square is the place to go for a quiet skate, and is conveniently walking distance from North York subway station plus a Starbucks for a post-skate warm up. There's music and lights in the evening, plus benches to take a break.CR

Richmond Hill
If you're not looking to play hockey, the Richmond Green Skate Trail is a great looped trail nestled amongst a natural forest. If you're looking for an escape from the city and an enjoyable afternoon escaping hibernation, this is your spot. CR

Rosedale
Ramsden Park has two outdoor rinks allowing for the perfect schedule with ample shinny and open skating. Recently renovated, it offers a larger indoor space for staff and guests. WS, CR

Scarborough
Nestled in the courtyard between the Scarborough Town Centre and Scarborough Civic Centre, Albert Campbell Square is another newly renovated rink to get outside and practise your skating. Rumour has it that it's frequently closed, but a friendly letter to the councillor could help that.

St. Clair West
The Cedarvale Rink has a large warming area and maintained rink surface to allow for a pleasurable shinny experience. WS, CR

West Queen West
While Trinity Bellwoods park may be the mecca for Toronto's youth in the summer, the rink is quieter in the winter, offering the perfect atmosphere to go for a skate or play some shinny without the crowds.

Yonge & Dundas
The Ryerson Rink is the closest you'll get to pond skating in Toronto, and given its close proximity to transit and the Eaton's Centre, it's surprisingly not very busy. Perhaps its due to the lack of maintenance or scheduled activities, but it's a common spot for late night shinny players, as there are no fences for it to ever really be "closed".

Yonge & Eglinton
Two outdoor rinks can be found at the North Toronto Memorial Community Centre (Eglinton Park), and have a generous offering of family skating, shinny opportunities and public skating. The rink is well equipped with lockers and change rooms to be well prepared for a full afternoon or evening of skating. WS, CR, LK

Yonge & Lawrence
The Otter Creek Centre may have a well-used warming area and change room area, but the rink itself is a great surface with a variety of skating opportunities scheduled. CR

KEY:

Changeroom = CR
Skate Rentals = SR
Lockers = LK
Women's Shinny = WS

What did I miss? Add your favourite outdoor skating rinks in the comments.

Photos by Benson Kua, O'QuinnPhoto, MichaelMonastyrskyj, Martinho, Michael Ishlove and Gregory David in the blogTO Flickr pool.

The new building at Richmond and Peter entices passersby thanks to its cavernous, five storey (or 70 feet) atrium filled with soaring x-shaped delta frames.

"It's nice that it's almost an art installation in itself," says property manager Alicia Scott of the Queen Richmond Centre (QRC) West. Though the frames aren't just there for aesthetics; they're also an integral structural part of the building.

The QRC West is Allied Properties REIT's first new build. While the Toronto real estate company is well-known for restoring heritage properties, that component of its business isn't lost here. Architects at Sweeny &Co. incorporated the more than 100-year-old Weston factory - the original 134 Richmond - into a 17-storey tower.

With faded red bricks still visible in the lobby, other aspects of the bakery house - like its original wooden beams - are scattered throughout the massive 302,000 square-foot space. Most noticeable though, are the benches in the lobby.

Ricarda's restaurant will move into the first floor, though it won't open until June 2016. By that time, it'll feature a year-round patio in the atrium. It's also creating a separate wine bar.

Scott tells me that the building is 97 per cent leased and 93 per cent occupied. Anchor tenants include Sapient - which worked with Allied to present the Nuit Blanche installation Mimir's Well - Diageo and Entertainment One. "We didn't want to create your typical office building, we wanted something that was unique," Scott says describing QRC West's tenants.

Entertainment One occupies floors five through ten. Its offices will include a sky bridge to connect floor five to the top floor of the heritage building.

Despite being a commercial space, the QRC atrium is open to the public. Scott has a full schedule for programs that includes events as well as markets and free yoga classes for tenants.

Although, there's now another reason to hang out in the lobby because Early Bird Espresso just moved in with a mobile brew bar on Tuesday. Though temporary, the popular cafe will stick around until June and it's currently serving up espresso-based beverages and brewed coffee on weekdays until 5 p.m.

Like its original Queen and Bathurst location, it features a rotating roster of single origin beans as well as made-in-house baked goods, granola parfaits and chia seed pudding. It also serves up a variety of treats including pop tarts from Lindsey Bakes, cookies from Desmond & Beatrice and Mast Brothers chocolate.

Business is already steady and Scott imagines it getting even more popular as the cold weather sets in.

Photos by Hector Vasquez.

We're searching for a full-time Editor to join our team. As an Editor, you'll be primarily tasked with copy editing and web production related tasks with the opportunity to also take on an expanded role that may involve editorial planning, social media and writing for the site. You must be able to work early mornings (7 a.m. start time) and weekends.

Key responsibilities include:

• Actively manage the site's content schedule to ensure articles are submitted and published to the site on schedule.
• Edit articles submitted by the site's team of writers and prepare for publication.
• Select, prepare and add additional media to articles as applicable. This could include photos, videos, embedded audio files and social media, Storifys and Google maps.
• Edit photos as applicable.
• Monitor email and social media for feedback and make corrections and updates as applicable.
• Provide constructive feedback to writing and photography team as applicable.
• Assist in distributing content to the site's social channels.

The ideal candidate will have the following knowledge, skills and experience.

• An undergraduate Journalism degree or related experience.
• Two or more years of experience copy editing and web production for a digital media company.
• The ability to work quickly and meet tight deadlines.
• Excellent organizational skills, focus and attention to detail.
• A keen eye for photography and the ability to select the right photos to pair with articles.
• Advanced Photoshop skills in regards to photo editing, colour correcting and preparing photos for use online.
• Working knowledge of Content Management Systems like Wordpress.
• An understanding of basic HTML in order to debug issues that may be caused due to incorrect hyperlinking, bold tags etc.
• An extensive knowledge of Toronto and a keen interest in the variety of subject matters the site covers.

This job is based in Toronto. You'll be working from our offices near Queen and University.

HOW TO APPLY

Interested in applying for this role? Just send an email to jobs [at] blogto [dotcom] with the following info:

• Send us a bit of information about yourself (how long you've lived in Toronto, what neighbourhoods you have lived in) and your education and work experience. A link to your Linked-In or CV and social media footprint (Instagram, Twitter) will be helpful here.
• Let us know why you're interested in this role, why we should choose you, how soon you can start and how much compensation you would like to earn.
• Send us links to any relevant online content you've edited or created that you think will wow us.
• Detail your technology prowess including what type of computer and O/S you use, your current smartphone model, photography and photo editing capabilities.

Thanks in advance to everyone interested in applying for this role. We aim to respond to all applicants who send us a complete application as per the instructions above.

Today in Toronto it's time to embrace your inner foodie. The Drake is bringing Peter and Chris Neal, authors of Goodness: Recipes & Stories, to the hotel for a book signing and meet and greet. Or, if you didn't get enough on Black Friday, head to the One of a Kind Show to get some gift shopping done.

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

• Shoeless Monday (Horseshoe Tavern)
• Goodness Book Signing (The Drake hotel)
• One of a Kind Show (Exhibition Place)
• Bring Your Own Vinyl (Pour Boy)
• Monday Rotation (Handlebar)

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

University buildings in Toronto run the gamut from internationally recognized structures to infuriatingly confusing labyrinths (see Kerr Hall). Yet, all of them hold dear memories of stressful all-nighters, late assignments and mind-numbingly long lectures. And, despite our complaints, even our most derided campuses are turning the corner towards sunnier architectural days.

Here are some of the best and worst university buildings in Toronto.

BEST

Student Learning Centre (Ryerson)
The newly opened Student Learning Centre (SLC) puts Ryerson right on Yonge Street and provides the campus with much needed study space. The eight-floor building features an amphitheatre, a green roof and an even an indoor beach (check out the sixth floor if you have a OneCard). The New York Times also spotlighted it earlier this year.

The Sharp Centre for Design (OCAD)
While some say it looks like a high school on the inside, the exterior of this award-winning OCAD building is visually stunning. Located on McCaul Street, it's instantly recognizable for its pencil crayon stilts and tabletop design.

Bergeron Centre For Engineering Excellence (York)
This recent addition to York University might just signal a renaissance for its Keele campus. Inspired by natural objects, such as clouds and rocks, the minimalist, open-concept building was designed by ZAS Architects and Interiors. It's now the school of engineering's new home.

Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre (UofT)
Built for the Pan Am/Parapan Games, this 312,000 square foot facility is jointly owned by the City of Toronto and UofT. It features two 10-lane, 50-metre pools, a climbing wall, gym and conditioning centre, a field house and a track. It's safe to say that behind the Canary District, this is one of the best legacy projects from the 2015 Games.

Goldring Centre for High Performance Sport (UofT)
With a 2,000-seat field house suitable for court sports such as basketball and volleyball, this new athletic centre is open to the UofT community and the public alike. It features a gym and fitness studios along with a sports medicine clinic and research labs.

Terrence Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research (UofT)
This glass tower stands in stark contrast to many of the other buildings that dot the University of Toronto's St. George campus, but in a good way. Along with its impressive physique, the Donnelly Centre is an open-concept space that's responsible for world-class research in the STEM fields.

Schulich School of Business (York)
In 2003, Hariri Pontari Architects designed a brand new home for York University's prestigious business school and won the Governor General's Award for architecture in the process. The 340,000 square foot building houses Schulich's many programs and also features a hotel for "select clientele and guests."

WORST

Kerr Hall
Even seasoned Ryerson students get lost in Kerr Hall because the massive building is a veritable maze. Its classrooms are either too cold or too hot and the lineup at the second floor Tim Hortons is always way too long.

Ross Building (York)
This behemoth of a building at York University is also extremely difficult to navigate, especially for first year students. Ross is stunning example of the Brutalist architecture that once dominated the Keele campus. It's so ugly that Vari Hall was built at least partially to cover it up.

Ryerson Library/Podium Building (POD) (Ryerson)
Don't even bother trying to take an elevator at the Ryerson Library; they're always over-crowded. While the Librarians are always helpful, the building is usually over-heated and you're pretty much guaranteed to bump into someone on the awkward zig-zagging staircases. That said, POD now has The Hub cafeteria, which is awesome, so it's not all bad.

What are your favourite and least favourite university buildings in Toronto. Let us know in the comments.

Photos (in order) by Steve Chui, Scott Norsworthy, YAS Architects, the City of Toronto, Marcus Mitanis, U of T, York University, Wikipedia, Lori Whelan, and Brian Cameron.

Food lovers in Toronto are easy to treat thanks to the abundance of sweets, ceramics, kitchenware and cookbooks in stock this holiday season. For those who like to cook or those who just like to eat, this wish list has a little something for everyone.

Here are 10 holiday gift ideas for the Toronto food lover on your list.

Streetcar Butter Dish
Apparently there's a butter shortage this holiday season, so protect yours with this ceramic dish modelled after the city's iconic streetcars from Toronto designer Ian Vandenberg. Find it at The Drake General Store for $80.

Tea Cups
Who wouldn't want these party animals at your next tea party. Available from Whimworks at the Union Station Holiday Market.

Gourmet Jawbreakers
Twelve delicious layers of chocolate, caramel, and toffee symbolizing tree rings are formed around a roasted macadamia nut in this nostalgic sweet made by SOMA.

Breakfast Delivery
Oat Box Cereal Co. is a subscription service out of Montreal that starts mornings right with a constant supply of breakfast mixes delivered each month. Two packs of cereal with a jar and festive wrapping can be purchased online for $25.

Kitchen Knives
Toronto-made utility knives, honesuki knives, paring knives and more are crafted from local woods and honed metals. Contact Helve Haft & Handle Knives directly for purchase.

Chocolate
CXBO stands for Chocolates by Brandon Olsen and the beautiful confections come in flavours like raspberry rose fennel, orange blossom honey, and milk chocolate sherry. His shop isn't open yet but you can buy boxes online for $18 and up.

Saucy Lapel Pins
This enamelled Sriracha lapel pin from Lil Bullies is a sparkling way to share your love of hot sauce this holiday season. Buy online at Philistine Toronto for $12.

Goodness: Recipes & Stories
This cookbook from the Neal Brothers celebrates 37 chefs, entrepreneurs, growers, and food activists from across Canada who triumph accessibility to good, healthy food for all. Available on Amazon for $25.73.

Festive Candy
Gunny sugar plums, gingerbread men and snowmen from Sullivan & Bleeker Baking Co. are gift packed and ready at select Indigo stores for $15.50.

Art Prints
Toronto's Swell Made Co. is an excellent source for food-themed gift cards and gold foiled art prints that food lovers can relate to. But first, Coffee would look great hung in any kitchen or breakfast nook and can be bought for $28 online.

Thanks to Stella Artois for sponsoring our 2015 gift guide. The Stella Artois Holiday 750 ml bottle is the perfect gift to celebrate the Holiday season.

What did I miss? Add more gift ideas to the comments.

This sci-fi themed board game cafe and video game hub has been in the works for quite some time near the corner of Dundas and Keele. Now that it's open, you can soak up all its nerdy delights, including private booths for game play and well executed coffee and snacks.

Read my review of See-Scape in the cafes section.

Cavalcade of Lights returned to Nathan Phillips Square this past weekend celebrating its 49th year in action. The annual holiday tradition witnessed the lighting of Toronto's official Christmas Tree, live music, fireworks and a skating party. If you weren't able to make it to this year's festivities don't fret, we challenged Instagram to relive the evening for your viewing pleasure.

These photos represent the 9 finalists in our photo challenge and it's now up to you to vote for the winners. The top 3 vote-getters will receive prizes from Henry's.

1. Top photo by @esyaspie

2. Photo by @travellingfoodieexplores

3. Photo by @bora.vs.bora

4. Photo by @calledesign

5. Photo by @emmakathleenmurray

6. Photo by @4tones

7. Photo by @aabou079

8. Photo by @anetafiliciak

9. Photo by @jpbombales

VOTE

Photo for your favourite photo in the poll below.

The voting deadline is 11:59pm December 6 2015 . Prizes will be awarded to the top 3 vote-getters as follows:

• 1st place: $300 gift certificate to Henry's Camera
• 2nd place: $150 gift certificate to Henry's Camera
• 3rdplace: $50 gift certificate to Henry's Camera

Good luck to all finalists!

Want more Cavalcade of Lights? Photographer Matt Barnes has put together this video recap of the event.

It was the sandwich board advertising bulgogi burgers that drew me into this Korean grocer. The market is packed with sodas and snack foods, but the real gems are cooked fresh at the counter in the back.

Read my review of Cook's Fine Food Mart in the restaurants section.

Willowdale offers a concentrated tour of international tea houses and European-style espresso bars and dessert cafes. Bubble tea is especially prevalent, and despite the extreme saturation of establishments, you'll find most of these places bustling in the afternoons and late into the night.

Here's a round-up of bubble tea shops and dessert cafes in Willowdale.

i-migo
As cute as the cartoon mascot that marks its entrance is, this tea house offers drinks like the Potted Milk Tea sprouting with fresh mint leaves and drinkable desserts like the Tiramisu Cake Milk Tea. The savoury food menu is meant to contrast the sweet beverages and includes snack-sized portions of fried wings, saucy lo-mein, and takoyaki.

Pastel Creperie
This dessert house makes a mean matcha latte and specializes in sweet and savoury crepes, plus parfaits and pastries from Rahier. Highlights include the sweet black sesame crepe folded over peanuts, sesame seeds and sponge cake, sprinkled with cereal and served with a couple scoops of house-made sesame ice cream.

Capriccio Cafe
The pastry counter at this coffee house is stocked with a rainbow of macarons, mousses and petit fours. You can take a whole cake home, but the thing to do here is grab a slice and espresso.

L'Opera Patisserie et Cafe
Desserts like delicate crepe cakes, creme brûlée, decadent waffles, and macarons are all on the menu at this bakery cafe. With good cappuccino, this place is like a little slice of heaven.

Sweet O'Clock
The menu at this cafe will satisfy sweet tooths with cold desserts like like red bean shaved ice, traditional tofu pudding, and herbal jellies. Wash it down with a fruit slushie, and brewed or milk tea.

Annvita
This chain of Victorian tea rooms originates in Shanghai and boasts multiple locations across China. The North York location is the sole outpost in North America, offering formal afternoon tea service featuring tiers of pastries and crustless sandwiches along with steeped beverages in fine bone china.

Gong Cha
The chic International bubble tea chain already boasts a location in Markham and has now opened on Yonge Street too. Signature offerings include yogurt drinks and fruity teas served with optional mix-ins including the usual tapioca pearls and herbal jelly options, plus unique items like black sugar jelly, basil seeds, extra milk foam, and puddings.

Bake Code
This Taiwanese bakery cafe deals in espresso-based drinks, "teapressos," and bubble tea from Chatime along with scratch-made baked goods including pork floss buns, Japanese cheesecake, mille crepes cake, and Hokkaido chiffon cupcakes.

Zen Q
The Yonge Street outpost of this Taiwanese dessert chain puts a twist on traditional desserts. Bubble tea and fruity yogurt drinks are the main draw while the menu of sweets and snacks includes collagen-enriched grass jellies, creamy frappes, glutinous rice desserts and even fried chicken.

Coco Fresh Tea & Juice
Compared to some on this list, Coco Fresh Tea & Juice offers a rather pared down menu free of whimsical garnishes and over-the-top desserts. The chain from Taipai is more interested in creating premium drinks, which involves direct relationships with tea growers and a commitment to using fresh fruits in their juices and purees.

Did I miss one? Add your favourite Willdowdale bubble tea shop or dessert cafe to the comments.

The best bakery cafes in Toronto do it all, pouring perfect cups of coffee, making baked goods from scratch and even offering a cozy space to settle in. From upscale pastries paired with espresso to regular ol' drip coffee and doughnuts, these coffee houses offer crave-worthy goods.

Here are the best bakery cafes in Toronto.

Seven Grams Espresso Bar closed today after a nearly five year run. The Popular Yorkville-area cafe had been serving up cold drip coffee since before it was cool and was well-known for showcasing visual artists as well as local musicians at its Sunday afternoon performances.

Last week, owner Heran Choi posted a message on Seven Gram's Facebook page thanks customers for their patronage but offering little in the way of an explanation as to why they decided to close. We reached out for additional comment and have yet to hear back.

This is the second popular indie coffee shop to announce their closure in recent days. Last week we reported that Sam James on Ossington was getting the boot in the wake of their building being sold to an American retailer.

Will you miss Seven Grams? Let us know in the comments.

The top events in Toronto this December will fill the gaps in your holiday schedule with music festivals and markets. While you probably have your plate full with awkward family gatherings, there's a roster of events worth pulling the "I'm sick" card out for.

Here are my picks for the top events in Toronto this December.

Union Station Holiday Market (November 30 - December 20)
The Union Station Holiday Market has filled John A. MacDonald Square with some of the city's favourite local designers for the better part of December. You'll find everything from Tuck Shop Co. hats to Mad Mexican salsa. If you're looking for gifts that can't be found in big name stores, it's worth visiting.

Junction Flea Holiday Market (December 4 - 6)
If the mere thought of entering the Eaton Centre in the month of December gives you an anxiety attack, the Junction Flea Holiday Market may be the answer to your prayers. The weekend-long shopping event is less like a battle royale and more like a party where you can get a little boozy and dance to your heart's content while gift-buying.

Andy Kim Christmas Show (December 9)
Head to the Phoenix on December 9th to get your fix of live music while being philanthropic. Andy Kim is bringing his most talented friends to the concert venue for one night only to raise money for CAMH Foundation's Gifts of Light Program. Who's Playing? Tom Cochrane, Barenaked Ladies, Ron Sexsmith, Beaches, Kardinal Offishall, Finger Eleven and many more.

Jason Collett's Basement Revue (December 1, 8, 15, 22, 29)
Jason Collett's Basement Revue takes over the Dakota Tavern this December for it's 9th year in action. Every Tuesday Jason Collett and Damian Rogers will bring out a host of musicians, poets and special guests. As per usual, the lineup is hush hush, but last year's event brought out acts like A Tribe Called Red, Jennifer Castle and Lee Maracle, so you can expect some good shows.

Human Rights Film Festival (December 10 - 13)
If you want to see some truly inspiring cinematic works, grab tickets for the Human Rights Film Festival. The movies screened at this event focus on human rights issues around the globe, spotlighting people that have made a difference in the world. You can check out the full schedule here.

City of Craft (December 11 - 13)
If you like craft shows, this one blows most others out of the water. On the second weekend of December 30 craft vendors will take over The Theatre Centre, selling all the things you never knew you needed. There will also be craft-based installations and free workshops, if you need a break from spending.

WinterFest (December 18 - 20)
For those who fully embrace the holiday season, WinterFest is tried and true. While the pastry eating contest, dog stunt show, and a cappella concert will be entertaining, the Ugly Christmas Sweater Cocktail Cruise is the star of the show. Don your most horrendous holiday ensemble and head aboard the Northern Spirit for an evening of drinking, dancing, and good, old-fashioned holiday fun.

Kensington Market Winter Solstice (December 21)
Tired of holiday parties with faux Santas and ugly sweaters? Head to Kensington Market to celebrate the winter solstice with its annual parade/party. Past parades have featured everything from pyrotechnic displays to puppeteers, so if you're a fan of pomp and spectacle, this'll be up your alley.

Solaris Winter Music Festival (December 26-27)
Winter is a bit of a dry season for music fests, but the Solaris Music Festival will help tide you over until the return of WAYHOME and Field Trip (to name only a couple). This year's lineup of DJs includes Hardwell, Steve Angello, Fedde Le Grand and more.

What's in the Box at Drake Hotel (December 26 - December 30)
If you weren't able to plan a post-holiday trip to Cuba, The Drake is where to spend the final days of 2015. The venue's annual mini music fest returns on December 26th, and though we don't have all the details yet, the lineup has never disappointed in the past. Expect to find dancing, drinking, and a ton of live performances.

What did I miss? Add other December events in the comments.

Photo of the Kensington Market Winter Solstice by Christian Bobak

Today in Toronto it's time to show off your spelling skills at The Ossington's Spelling Bae. If you've never had a knack for words, you can always spend your Tuesday night hitting up live shows. Joseph Arthur is playing at the Drake Underground and Tanya Tagaq and Owen Pallett will be taking the stage at Massey Hall.

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

• Adult Wine and Colouring Night (Story Planet and Intergalactic Travel Authority)
• Spelling Bae (The Ossington)
• Tanya Tagaq & Owen Pallett (Massey Hall)
• BeerProv (Comedy Bar)
• Hack & Tell (Top Hat)
• Joseph Arthur (Drake Underground

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

Photo of Tanya Tagaq by Alejandro Santiago

This week on DineSafe Atwina Marfo, a butcher on Morningside, was shut down for a rodent infestation. While that was the only red card to be doled out, also on the hit list with a conditional pass were Joy Bistro and the Amaya Express in First Canadian Place. Tsk. Tsk.

Follow along to see which other restaurants landed on DineSafe this week.

Joy Bistro (884 Queen Street East)
Inspected on: November 23, 2015
Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
Number of infractions: 6 (Minor: 3, Significant: 3)
Crucial infractions include: N/A

Friendly Magnolia (548 College Street)
Inspected on: November 24, 2015
Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
Number of infractions: 3 (Minor: 1, Significant: 1, Crucial: 1)
Crucial infractions include: Operator fail to ensure food is not contaminated/adulterated.

Amaya Express (100 King Street West)
Inspected on: November 26, 2015
Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
Number of infractions: 2 (Minor: 2, Significant: 2)
Crucial infractions include:N/A

Atwina Marfo Enterprises (287 Morningside Avenue)
Inspected on: November 26, 2015
Inspection finding: Red (Closed)
Number of infractions: 3 (Minor: 1, Significant: 1, Crucial: 1)
Crucial infractions include: Operator fail to prevent a rodent infestation.

Kensington Natural Bakery (460 Bloor Street West)
Inspected on: November 26, 2015
Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
Number of infractions: 3 (Minor: 1, Significant: 2)
Crucial infractions include: N/A

Time Square Diner (531 Wilson Heights Boulevard)
Inspected on: November 25, 2015
Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
Number of infractions: 6 (Minor: 2, Significant: 1, Crucial: 3)
Crucial infractions include: Operator fail to ensure premises cleaned to prevent food contamination. Operator fail to ensure food is not contaminated/adulterated. Operator fail to maintain hazardous food(s) at 4C (40F) or colder.

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.