Toronto Food Events rounds up the most delicious events, festivals, pop-ups, winemaker dinners, supper clubs and other food related happenings in Toronto this week and next. You can find us here every Friday morning.

THIS WEEK

• Sher-E-Punjab (351 Danforth Avenue) presents a Meatless Monday Curry Tasting with Toronto Common on Monday, December 28 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tickets are $20 for a meatless evening of family style dishes with a Cheetah beer.
• Ryoji Ramen & Izakaya (690 College Street) hosts its monthly Okinawa Night on Saturday December 26 from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.. The evening features an authentic Okinawan-style buffet, drinks and music.

UPCOMING

• The Stratford Chef's School presents a culinary collaboration featuring chef Gabrielle Hamilton at Richmond Station (1 Richmond Street West) on Sunday, January 17. Tickets are $150 for the four course meal served from 6:30 p.m. to 11 p.m..
• Reforma 35 (35 Baldwin Street) presents a Winter Fiesta on Monday, January 25. The evening kicks off with a vertical tequila tasting led by Andres Marques and hands on guac and ceviche making with chef Marcos Sanchez followed by a fiesta of January flavours.

Know of a Toronto food event coming up? Email liora@blogto.com.

Photo from Reforma 35 by Jesse Milns.

The top songs from Toronto artists in 2015 dominated the world and further entrenched the city's reputation as a musical hot spot. In the digital era where there's such a strong emphasis on releasing great singles instead of full lengths, these Toronto musicians pulled off an undeniably difficult task in creating songs that will stay with people for years to come.

Here are my picks for this year's top songs by Toronto bands and artists.

The Weeknd - "Can't Feel My Face"
Gaining global praise and comparisons to the legendary Michael Jackson, The Weeknd came out swinging with his smash hit "Can't Feel My Face." When this track was released this summer, you likely heard it everywhere and even if The Weeknd isn't typically your thing, you probably loved it.

Jazz Cartier - "Switch/The Downtown Cliche"
Jazz Cartier exploded onto Toronto's rap scene earlier this year with his debut mixtape Marauding in Paradise. Hit single "Switch/The Downtown Cliche" begins with a down low beat mixed with Cartier's intoxicating voice and rapid fire lyrics. Here Cartier shows his strength in having a vast vocal range and being able to meld songs together seamlessly.

Fucked Up - "California Cold"
Punk band Fucked Up have been releasing their highly experimental zodiac series of EPs for nearly a decade now but really hit the gold mine with Year Of The Hare. "California Cold" opens with a peaceful droning guitar line before the band comes in full swing. The eight minute track takes a minimalist approach in the second half with a flute section and ambient sounds that you could easily get lost in.

Drake - "Hotline Bling"
Drake took the world by storm when he released this viral hit, which this list just wouldn't be complete without. The easygoing beat and ultra catchy chorus made this a smash hit coupled with a music video that has become the punch line of a million jokes on social media. "Hotline Bling" was a career defining moment for Drake, even if it never hit number one on Billboard.

Dead Tired - "Dead Tired"
This hardcore punk jam from former Alexisonfire frontman George Pettit's new band is a no nonsense head banger. The opening feedback is a perfect setup for the song's old school hardcore guitar riffs. "Dead Tired" sounds like early Black Flag with a heavier, updated sound. The production on the song sounds crisp yet raw enough to still have that dive bar feel to it.

Metric - "Cascades"
Electronic rock group Metric put out the irresistibly upbeat sounding "Cascades" as their second single before releasing Pagans In Vegas. The song begins with a heavy synth pop intro that will slip itself into your head and never leave. Vocalist Emily Haines' echoes along with the song, complementing the heavier synth sounds with her soft voice.

Lily Frost - "Don't Explain"
Singer songwriter Lily Frost sends you into a state of euphoria with her track "Don't Explain". The song has a strong jazz sound to it coupled with the haunting and soulful voice of Frost. The reverb-heavy guitar line that runs throughout the track vibrates to the inner depths of your mind and really sets it up as one of the most beautifully peaceful songs to come out of Toronto this year.

BadBadNotGood & Ghostface Killah ft. DOOM - "Ray Gun"
The mellow vibes brought from jazz trio BadBadNotGood coupled with Wu Tang Clan member Ghostface Killah and UK rapper DOOM's smooth rhymes was a match made in heaven. "Ray Gun" starts off with a smooth, clean jazz beat with Ghostface belting out serious lines in rapid succession. The song closes with a bass heavy section filled with lots of horns and great drum lines to seal it off.

Ritual - "Pisces"
Former Dead And Divine frontman Matt Tobin has never sounded more aggressive than he does with his new band Ritual. Lead single "Pisces" hits like a ton of bricks with enough catchy riffs to keep your head banging all day long. The song begins with a grinding guitar line that leads into an infectious groove before slamming you in the face with some exceptionally chaotic breakdowns.

Whitehorse - "Baby What's Wrong?"
Hamilton folk duo Whitehorse created an undeniably groovy song with "Baby What's Wrong?" Opening with a clicky drum track coupled with a calm bass track and a very western sounding guitar line, this song embraces you like a bonfire on a cool summer night. The vocal pairing of husband and wife Luke Doucet and Melissa McClelland offers a haunting harmony.

What did I miss? Add your favourite Toronto songs of 2015 in the comments.

Thanks to the Pan Am/Parapan Am Games, 2015 brought a myriad of Toronto mega projects to fruition. From the much-maligned Union Pearson Express to the celebrated Canary District and revitalized Queens Quay, we witnessed numerous changes unfold over the past 12 months.

While many exciting projects, such as the Under Gardiner park, will arrive in 2017, there's still lots to look forward to in the new year.

Here are 5 upgrades coming to Toronto in 2016.

Presto will be excepted everywhere on the TTC
Like many transit systems worldwide, the TTC is moving away from token, tickets and passes to implement Presto across its entire fleet of streetcars, subways and buses by the end of 2016. New fare gates should arrive at most subway stations in February. And best of all, you can reload your Presto card online.

Toronto will sort out issues with taxis, ride sharing, Uber and UberX
One of the biggest issues that plagued Toronto this past year was the UberX versus taxi industry debate. On September 30, city council voted to consider regulating the ride-sharing service with a report due back in spring 2016. After the recent taxi protests, it seems like that report can't come soon enough.

Bloor will get bike lanes
It's no longer just a pipe dream; Bloor Street will be getting dedicated bike lanes in 2016 as part of a one year pilot project. Early in December, the city held its first public meeting where area residents could give feedback on three design options. Council will vote on a plan in the new year and the bike lanes should be ready to go for this summer.

Shopping options will expand
Not everyone is pleased that Toronto's first Saks Fifth Avenue is moving into the iconic Hudson's Bay store. However, this project is slated to include a 21,000 Pusateri's-run food hall and a three-storey Oliver & Bonacini restaurant. Yorkdale Shopping Centre is also getting a major 298,000 square-foot expansion that'll see a Nordstrom and Uniqlo move into the North York-area mall.

The Globe and Mail will get a new lease on life
Canada's national newspaper announced it would be moving across the city more than two year's ago. But now, the paper's new home is nearly complete. This development is noteworthy because, according to the Globe, it's the biggest such development east of Yonge Street, signalling significant growth for the area around King Street East.

What Toronto projects are you excited to see come to fruition in 2016? Let us know in the comments.

Photo by Mr. Dan Mofo in the blogTO Flickr pool.

Looking for Chinese food on Christmas Day? You're in luck as this unassuming spot is open. And better still, the menu is extensive with Taiwanese, Indian-Chinese (Hakka), and Thai food also on offer.

Read my review of Chef Lin in the restaurants section.

What's open and closed Boxing Day in Toronto 2015:

GENERAL

Closed

• Government offices and banks
• Libraries
• No mail delivery

TRANSIT

• The TTC will operate on holiday service schedule with a start time of 6am.

FOOD

Open
Most major chains and grocers will be open on Boxing Day, though many will operate reduced hours.

• Arz Fine Foods (1909 Lawrence Ave. East) - 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• Loblaws - Most stores open reduced hours
• No Frills - Most stores open reduced hours
• T&T - All stores open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. or later
• Whole Foods (85 Avenue Rd.) 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Whole Foods (4771 Yonge St.) 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Pusateri's (57 Yorkville) - 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., (2901 Bayview Ave.) 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Galleria Supermarket (7040 Yonge St.) - 7 a.m. to 12 a.m.
• Bloor Street Market (55 Bloor St. West) - 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Rabba Fine Food (various locations) - open 24 hours
• Food Depot (155 Dupont St. at Davenport) - open 24 hours
• Bloor Superfresh (384 Bloor St. W). - open 24 hours
• Kitchen Table (10 Queens Quay West) - 6 a.m. to 12 a.m., (389 Spadina Rd.) - 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., (595 Bay St., at Atrium on Bay) - 10 a.m to 8 p.m., (705 King St. West) - 6 a.m. to 2 a.m.
• Fresh & Wild (2294 Bloor St. West) - 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

DRINK

Open

• For a complete list of indie bottle shops in Toronto, see this directory. Holiday hours are provided where applicable but we advise calling ahead to confirm.
• Wine Rack (various locations) - See online for various store hours

Closed

• Beer stores and LCBO stores will be closed, though some LCBO agency stores may choose to open
• Amsterdam Brewhouse at 245 Queens Quay West

MALLS
Malls are open and operating extended hours.

ATTRACTIONS

Open

• Art Gallery of Ontario (317 Dundas St. West) - 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• The Ontario Science Centre (770 Don Mills Rd.) - 10am to 5pm
• The Royal Ontario Museum (100 Queen's Park) - 10am to 5:30pm.
• Ripley's Aquarium of Canada (288 Bremner Blvd.) - 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.
• The Toronto Zoo (2000 Meadowvale Rd.) - 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• Movie theatres citywide are open - see show times for details

Did I miss anything? Add it to the comments below.

Photo by generalpictures in the blogTO flickr pool.

Boxing Day sales in Toronto will have you spending all your hard-earned holiday cash on everything from discounted homeware to hair products. Whether you're brave enough to enter a Cadillac Fairview mall or online shopping from the warmth of your bed, you can bet on finding some stellar post Chritmas deals. This is for you, bargain hunters.

Here are my picks for the top Boxing Day sales in Toronto for 2015.

CLOTHING

Dutil Denim
At Dutil you'll be able to snag denim, knits and button ups for up to 98% off. If you arrive before 10 a.m. on Boxing Day you'll also have the chance to win a free pair of jeans.

Uncle Otis
Uncle Otis is offering up to 60% off select clothing items plus 15% off of non-seasonal items like accessories and bags.

GOTSYLE
Gotstyle is putting all suits, dress shirts, ties and pocket squares on BOGO. Plus, all regularly priced good will be 30% off and sale merch will be 50-70% off. Selected womenswear will also have markdowns of 30-70% off.

SAIL
From December 26th to the 31st you can save a minimum of 30% off of most regularly priced outwear and outerwear accessories. Those into fishing are in luck as the shop is also offering 15% off reels and rods as well.

Chosen Vintage
If you've got a penchant for preloved goods, head to this West Queen West shop on the 26th. It will be offering 50% off select items and 20% off everything else.

Jadore Evening Boutique
Jadore Evening Boutique at Yonge and Eglinton is offering 20%-40% off a range of gowns. If your special day is coming up, it's worth checking out.

Trove
Trove will cut the prices on almost everything by 25%-60% at its Annex, Bloor West and Danforth shops.

The Bay
The Bay sells everything from outerwear to appliances, making it a one stop shop. On Saturday and Sunday the store will be doing hundreds of mark downs, including 60% off select men and women's outwear and up to 70% clearance items.

Roots
On Saturday you'll be able to save up to 50% off selected goods at Roots. This includes everything from comfy loungewear to fashion-forward suede jackets.

Over the Rainbow
Over the Rainbow will be celebrating Boxing Day by offering up to 50% off all in-store and online purchases and door crasher specials marked down between $25 - $35.

Forever 21
Forever 21 is normally pretty good with prices, so it should come as no surprise that its Boxing Week prices are insanely low (up to 75% off). If you want to revamp your entire wardrobe, this is a one stop shop.

Korry's
The menswear shop on The Danforth will cut prices by up to 50% on select styles for Boxing Day. So if you're in need of a new blazer or full suit, now's the time to buy.

Holt Renfrew
If you like luxury goods but not their price tag, now's the time to head to Holts. The city's classiest shopping destination is reducing prices for Boxing Day. You'll find top of the line designer goods for up to 70% off. There are more than a few gift with purchase options, as well.

H&M
H&M is doing some hefty price cuts in the name of Boxing Day. Stock up on clothing and accessories for up to 70% off (deals start at $5). Plan to go as early as possible, as it tends to get crazy in all departments.

Rudsak
At Rudsak you'll be able to pick up everything from footwear to parkas for up to 50% off. The prices won't exactly be on par with Forever 21, but the quality makes up for that.

Reiss
Head to Yorkville or the Eaton Centre to pick up pieces from the UK retailer for up to 50% off. You'll find mid-priced cocktail dresses, suits, knits and office-appropriate attire for men and women.

Aritzia
At Aritzia you'll be able to grab pieces from Talula, TNA, Wilfred and more for up to 50% off. The sale is both online and in store, so feel free to shop from the comfort of your bed.

Motoretta
Head to Motoretta to get deals on goods from brands like Lee, Fred Perry, Daniel Wellington and Aigle. Everything in the store will be receiving price cuts from 50%-70% off.

North Standard
If you prefer supporting local brands, North Standard is worth hitting up. The shop is taking up to 70% off select merchandise. You'll be able to find everything from beanies to blankets by HBC, Tuck Shop Co. and more.

Haven
Haven is slashing prices on select items by up to 70%. You'll be able to find heavily discounted goods from coveted brands like Nike, Undercover and Bedwin.

Jonathan+Olivia
Jonathan+Olivia is cutting the prices by 40% on select stock. The Ossington shop carries goods from brands like Isabel Marant, Acne and Helmut Lang, so you're bound to find some great additions to your wardrobe.

Oak + Fort
If you want to stock up on cozy knits and minimalist pieces, head to Oak + Fort on Boxing Day. You'll be able to save up to 70% on select styles.

Capsule
In the market for hard to find sneakers, vintage kicks or streetwear? Capsule is offering up to 50% select goods this Saturday.

Sport Chek
In need of new work out apparel? Head to Sport Chek on Boxing Day to save 50% off selected shoes and hundreds of dollars of of equipment like snowboards and tennis rackets.

SHOES

Call It Spring
On Saturday Call It Spring will offering $20 off selected women's and men's boots as well as 30% off everything in-store.

ALDO
At ALDO you'll get 50% off the original price of all reduced footwear and 20% off all regularly price merch.

Little Burgundy
Little Burgundy has cut prices on all its sale merchandise by 50% and hacked 15%-20% off some of its regularly priced stock. You'll find Timberlands and UGGs among the on-sale stock, so if you need to invest in some winter footwear, now's the time.

Brown's
Brown's is cutting the prices on tons of men's and women's footwear styles. You'll be able to snag pairs from top brands like Hunter, Michael Kors and Fred Perry for up to 70% off.

Capezio
If you're in need of a stylish new pair of shoes, head to Capezio on Boxing Day. The store is offering 20% off both sale and regularly priced merchandise.

SVP Sports
This Saturday a ton of merch will be marked down 20%, that means you'll find shoes under $30, and clothing and accessories below the $10 mark.

Get Outside
Head to Get Outside to pick up kicks from top shoe brands like Converse and Hunter for 20% off.

BOOKS

Silver Snail Comics
If you're into comics, you're probably familiar with the Silver Snail. On Boxing Day only most of the stock will be marked down (details are still TBA) so you can buy up your favourite superhero stories and/or memorabilia without putting a huge dent in your bank account. Doors open at 8 a.m.

Indigo
Head to your local Indigo/Chapters/Coles to get stellar deals on books, stationary, and electronic goods - some discounted as much as 50% off.

MUSIC

Kops Records
Kops Records is have a blowout sale at all three locations. Scoop up new music on the cheap. All $1 Records will be priced at 20¢ each or 15 for $2. All $2 45s will sell for 20¢ each or 15 for $2. And all $2.99 Mix and Match LPs will be $1 each, or 15 for $10.

Vortex Records
Vortex Records will be closing its doors for good after Boxing Day, so if you want to get your hands on some budget-friendly music now's the time. From December 26th to the 28th CDs and Records $3 each and on the 29th and 30th they'll be $2.

Long & McQuade
If you want to make your own music, head to Long & McQuade this Saturday. Select stores will have discounts on everything from banjos to celtic amps. There's also a ton of audio equipment on sale.

TECH

Best Buy
Best Buy is a favourite destination for sale-savvy techies on Boxing Day. Those who are willing to brave the chaos will find select TVs, DSLR cameras, and computers with hundreds of dollars hacked off the price tags. Doors open at 6 a.m. sharp, so set your alarm.

Henry's
Henry's has deals on all sorts of camera gear and related products including $250 off the DJI Phantom 3 Professional, $400 off a Nikon D7100 DSLR and $250 off a Canon EOS Rebel T5i.

The Source
The Source is putting hundreds of items on sale for its Boxing Day extravaganza. If you can get to the store early, you may be able to get your hands on a discounted Beats Headphones ($159.99) or a Canon EOS Rebel SL1 ($499.99). They also have a few online exclusives.

Microsoft Store
There are deals on PCs, Xbox One, Surface and computer accessories. Discounts run for the duration of Boxing Week.

HOME

Elte Market
The furniture sold at Elte Market normally comes with a hefty price tag attached. However, this Saturday you'll be able to purchase some pieces at IKEA prices. Aim to go early as the first 100 customers in the store will receive a gift card worth up to $500 off.

EAT & DRINK

David's Tea
If you're in need of mugs, teas and steeping accessories, head to David's on Saturday. You'll be able to snag select items for up to 40%.

Kitchen Stuff Plus
If you need to upgrade your kitchen, this is where to go on Saturday. The store is offering hefty price cuts on culinary gadgets, gizmos and utensils. If you've been lusting after Kitchen Aid mixer, now's the time to pick one up.

What did I miss? Leave your top pick for Boxing Day sales in the comments.

Boxing Day events in Toronto will have you kissing the Christmas season goodbye with live music. After you've finished hitting all the sales around the city, the Solaris Winter Music Festival and the Drake Hotel's annual What's In The Box event kick off this evening.

For information as to what's open and closed today, be sure to check out our roundup here.

And for more events, click on over to our events section.

• What's In The Box (Drake Hotel)
• Solaris Winter Music Festival (Enercare Centre)
• Rainbow Rewind Film Classics: Brazil (Rainbow Cinemas Market Square)
• Toastr: Boxing Day at the Gladstone official GirlPlay event (Gladstone Hotel)
• Skittles Holiday Pawn Shop (242 Queen St. West)
• Platinum Blonde (Danforth Music Hall)

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

Photo via Hardwell's Facebook page.

Along with songs and albums) Toronto artists spent 2015 contributing a wealth of memorable music videos to the landscape. Although some would argue the age of the music video is long gone, Toronto-based artists were behind some of the most beautiful, amusing and internationally-celebrated videos this year - proving that the art of the music video is not all that lost.

Here are my picks for the top music videos from Toronto artists in 2015.

The Shade - Metric
The video for this Pagans from Vegas single alternates between shots of Toronto indie-rock staples Metric performing on a rooftop and a series of amazing images that, according to Haines in an interview with Rolling Stone, depict "humanity and nature caught in patterns and loops of beauty, destruction and decay."

Hotline Bling - Drake
In the year's most talked about and impersonated music video, hometown hip-hop hero Drake shimmied and cha-chaed his way up the charts and into our hearts with this undeniable earworm. For the endless memes, parodies and return of the chunky men's turtleneck - we're forever indebted.

Can't Feel My Face - The Weeknd
Whether dancing around pyrotechnics during live performances of this contemporary pop masterpiece, or literally becoming a ball of dancing fire as he does in this video - Abel Tesfaye obviously recognized that an explosive song deserves a fiery video.

The Gates - Young Empires
Toronto electro-rockers Young Empires blew back onto the scene this year with their long-awaited debut album, and several excellent videos to boost. While it was hard choosing just one, the stunning imagery that supports the LP's melodic title-track is a powerful statement on their unique artistic vision.

Lover Come Back - City and Colour
Although originally from St. Catherine's, now Toronto-based singer-songwriter Dallas Green couldn't be excluded after releasing this beautiful montage of a lone dancer performing through nature to the accompanying alt-country ballad.

Running With The Boys - Lights
Released very early this year, Lights managed to perfectly pair visuals of bike riding, girl bonding and summery fun with the pretty pop ode off her most recent album, Little Machines.

My Love - Majid Jordan (feat. Drake)
Definitely one of OVO's biggest artists to watch in 2016, producer/artist duo Majid Jordan did well when they linked up with their label head Drake for this hazy R&B cut and dimly lit, lady-filled video.

Wake Me Up When It's Over - Jazz Cartier
One of the strongest songs off rising Toronto hip-hop star Jazz Cartier's excellent Marauding in Paradise, "Wake Me Up When It's Over" gets video treatment in the form of a cryptic, rags-to-riches love story.

Talk To Me - Rainer + Grimm
A modern day spin on Bonnie and Clyde, the video for this Toronto DJ duo's first original single tells the enthralling story of a Las Vegas showgirl who ditches the strip for criminal escapades with her cab driver-turned-lover.

Quit The City - Grandtheft feat. Lowell
Although a dark depiction of sex workers, the Barcelona-shot video for this dreamy synth-pop collab between Toronto natives Lowell and DJ/producer Grandtheft is powerful in its rawness.

What did I miss? Add your picks for 2015's top music videos from Toronto artists in the comments.

Boxing Day brunch is a popular tradition in Toronto, and whether you've already been up for hours scoring deals or are making it a lazy morning, there's plenty of opportunities to savour a Caesar cocktail and devour some eggs.

Here are my picks for the top brunch spots open on Boxing Day in Toronto.

Rose & Sons
This restaurant on Dupont kicks off 10 days of brunch on Boxing Day. The restaurant calls it "a post holidays cleanse and [recommends] that you stay on the program for the entire 10 days.

Rock Lobster
The Queen West location of Rock Lobster hosts a huge seafood-centric brunch on Boxing Day starting at 11 a.m. There will even be a DIY Caesar station.

Lisa Marie
No need to be a door crasher for brunch at this Queen West restaurant. Boxing Day brunch is an extended affair that runs December 26 to 30.

Mildred's Temple Kitchen
This restaurant in Liberty Village is ready to feed you on an extended holiday starting with brunch on Boxing Day and running until January 3.

The Borough
Brunch at will served from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m on Boxing Day at this gastropub on the Danforth. Look forward to Yorkie BLTs and buttermilk pancakes.

The Federal
This daytime destination on Dundas West is taking some time off throughout the holidays, but brunch is a go on Boxing Day.

La Societe
Yorkville's swank Parisian bistro is open from 11 a.m. on Boxing Day for brunch featuring a la carte eggs benny, smoked salmon croissants and pain perdu with Nutella and caramelized bananas.

Hollandaise Diner
This little gem is the newest brunch spot on the East Danforth. Open Boxing day from 8 a.m. to satisfy cravings for eggs Benedict and pancakes.

Cluny
The brunch menu at this French Bistro and boulangerie features omelettes, French toast and chilled crab salad - all on offer until 4 p.m.

Scratch Kitchen
Find this eatery on Yonge Street north of Lawrence serving up eggs and flapjacks from 9 a.m. as usual on Saturdays.

Photo of Hollandaise Diner by Jesse Milns.

Toronto has witnessed a surge in Tiki culture of late, but no establishment quite nails the vibe like this Vancouver transplant. Not merely a matter of decor, the cocktails and food here nail Tiki cuisine (yes, with copious amounts of rum) to go along with the kitsch.

Read my review of Shameful Tiki Room in the restaurants section.

It was a wild and wacky year in Toronto filled with enough memes and 6-related social media antics to keep us satiated for some time to come. Yet, as we roll into 2016, it's high time we scroll reflect back on what kept us entertained - or had us cringing - online this year.

Here are 10 social media hits and blunders from Toronto in 2015.

Bad first date gets live tweeted
Local writer Anne Thériault documented an awkward first coffee date gone wrong on Twitter. No, she wasn't on it. Rather, the whole devastating exchange unfolded at the table next to hers.

#DeadRaccoonTO
Conrad, the unfortunately deceased raccoon, went viral this past summer after some seemingly benevolent Torontonians erected a memorial around him. After lying on the sidewalk for more than 12 hours, Animal Control finally picked him up. Conrad launched into our public consciousness again in August when Olenka Kleban created a butter sculpture of his likeness at the CNE.

The High Park peacock
Toronto animals are notorious for appearing in rather ridiculous situations (remember the Ikea Monkey?), like the beautiful peacock who escaped from the High Park Zoo. The bird explored Roncesvalles Village for a few days before returning home. You keep doing you, Toronto animals.

Fashion Santa
Paul Mason's Fashion Santa emerged like a bearded mirage at the tail-end of this year. While holed up at the Yorkdale Shopping Centre, Fashion Santa made headlines around the world and even took a selfie with Justin Bieber.

#ComeTogether
Remember when the hashtag #ComeTogether included an adorable maple leaf emoji? Just think back to the late summer and fall when Toronto was infected with Blue Jays fever. We truly rallied behind our baseball team, both in real life and on social media. Despite our eventual elimination, 2015 marked our best season in 22 years, so we still have lots to be thankful for.

The Toronto Sign
Though it's only been here for a few short months, this new Toronto landmark has already reached iconic status, well at least on Instagram. On any given day, you can find tourists and locals alike posing with this multi-coloured sign. And, when the city considered moving it from Nathan Phillips Square, many jumped on social media to suggest creative new homes for it.

Warehouse backlash for Caitlyn Jenner Instragram
The Warehouse Group, which is behind the Annex's El Furniture Warehouse and the Queen Street Warehouse, made headlines for all the wrong reasons when it posted a transphobic image regarding Caitlyn Jenner to its Instagram feed.

Taxis in the bike lanes at Cactus Club
When the Cactus Club Cafe opened its swanky new restaurant in the Financial District, it naturally offered its customers valet parking. This, however, encroached on the city's designated bike lanes and many cyclists were rather displeased. They vented their frustrations on Reddit and Twitter before the Cactus Club axed its valet service altogether.

Drake's Instagram blunder
Even #6gods aren't immune to social media blunders. Drake posted a delightful cartoon on Instagram, but didn't credit artist Dave Valeza for the image. Eventually Drake (and his team) removed the picture from his feed but not before he got plenty of backlash.

Norm Kelly
Also known as #6Dad, the Ward 40 city councillor emerged as Canada's most valuable Tweeter this year, much to many-a-Torontonian's chagrin. Norm also played a major role in the Drake vs. Meek Mill feud and now has his face on a myriad of Toronto-themed merch. Will Norm drop a mixtape next year? Keep your eyes glued to Twitter to find out.

What did I miss? Add your nominees for social media highs and lows from last year in the comments.

Photo by Josephine in the blogTO Flickr pool.

I lost a bet, so I have to write this post. The subject under debate was whether or not Toronto has any streets with the official designation north or south. I couldn't think of any at the time, so claimed that this was not the case, my reasoning being that there was no central street that acted as a north/south divider in the way that Yonge St. splits east and west.

I was right about that, at least -- but not in general. Toronto does, indeed, have a small number of streets divided into north and south sections. One of these is Westmoreland Ave., which is split at Dupont St. by a warehouse and the CPR rail tracks. When the street resumes north of Geary, it bears the designation Westmoreland Avenue North.

Well, it does on maps at least. The street sign still merely reads "Westmoreland Av." The interesting thing is that, given the numbering of the street, it makes sense that the "north" is kept off the sign. It's not really necessary to add such a designation when the street numbers run sequentially without repetition.

Unlike streets that bear the east/west designation, addresses do not repeat on each section of Westomoreland. A street like Queen, however, is numbered sequentially on either side of Yonge St., such that you have both 1 Queen St. East and 1 Queen St. West (among a host of other repetitions).

In other words, the addition of the "north" heading to Westmoreland is just a little wayfinding aid. It doesn't need to appear on the street sign because if you've made it to the section north of Geary, you don't require further direction.

If, on the other hand, you're walking north from Bloor and looking for number 333, say, then it helps to know that it's on Westmoreland Ave. North because the street temporarily ends at Dupont. The addition of the "N" lets you know that the street continues ahead of you. The same holds true for Salem Avenue, one street to the west, which is also split at Dupont.

A similar situation exists on Bellamy Rd. in Scarborough. Once a continuous street, a CN grade separation built in the 1960s divided the street into two sections. The addresses still run sequentially with no double-ups, but the portion of the street north of Eglinton bears the "N" designation and vice versa to the south.

One street that does not bear such a useful split designation is Gerrard St., which gets completely wonky on the east side of Toronto. While the street is divided into east/west sections at Yonge St., when it hits Coxwell the street has upper and lower sections, though the designation is unofficial.

One wonders why it isn't official, though. For someone unfamiliar with the area, it's a complete nightmare navigating Gerrard when it does its jog to the north. At least city mapmakers and planners were in a kind mood when it came to Westmoreland and Bellamy.

Free events in Toronto will help you ring in the new year on a budget. While there are plenty of costly parties happening in the city, why not opt for something that won't break the bank? Instead of putting a pile of cash towards tickets, drinks and party apparel, head to the Harbourfront or Nathan Phillips Square for a cost-free alternative on the 31st.

Here's a roundup of free events in Toronto this week.

IISuperwomanII Meet and Greet at the Skittles Holiday Pawn Shop (Dec. 28)
On Monday, pay a visit to the Skittles Holiday Pawn Shop to meet Torontonian/YouTube sensation Lilly Singh. Remember to bring your unwanted Christmas presents with you, the shop will swap 'em for Skittles.

Dave Bookman's Nu Music Nite (Dec. 29)
Shoeless Monday may have been cancelled this week at the Horseshoe in favour of an Electric Six performance, but you can still get your fill of free indie music on Tuesday. Eight Five Two, Custom Tease, Kandy Face, Countless Numbers and The Owns will all be performing.

New Year's Eve Skating Party (Dec. 31)
Toronto is filled with NYE parties, but if you want to save your pennies, this Harbourfront bash is a tried and true option. You'll get to brush up on your skating skills while a DJ plays 2015's greatest hits - remember not to pre-game too hard or you'll be falling more than usual. If you can't make it down to the water, a similar party is happening at Nathan Phillips Square.

NYE @ Dundas Video (Dec. 31)
If you want more of a party atmosphere (or just aren't that good at skating) head to Dundas Video for New Year's Eve bash with no cover. King Rustic and Firkin on King are also hosting free soirees, if you want to party hop.

Festival of New Formats at Comedy Bar (Jan. 2-6)
Comedy Bar's Festival of New Formats brings Toronto's funny men and women to the stage for five nights of performances at the beginning of January. You'll get to catch experimental sketch, improv and stand-up shows without dropping a dime. It may not have the star power of JFL42, but you'll probably get in a few laughs.

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

Photo courtesy of the Harbourfront.

The top Toronto concerts for January are a jumble of heavy guitars, bedroom synths and buzz-worthy pop with nothing in common except a valiant effort to enliven our city during the dreariest time of year (or maybe not so dreary, depending on how the rest of this El Niño thing plays out). Time to put away our AOTY lists and look forward to our musical future; even city hall wants us to.

One New Year's reflection of note: where do we stand on the state of nu-metal in 2016? Because judging by Orgy coming to Rockpile West and the Family Values tribute planned for this month, I'm worried we've become too forgiving of past sins.

I know January's a tough month, but there's no need for us to go back to our dropped tunings and backwards red ball caps just yet. Think positive!

If you need better concert inspiration, here are my picks for the best shows in town this month.

Cloakroom and Wildhoney (January 4, Smiling Buddha)
Cloakroom's self-coined "stoner emo" tag sounds like a joke and probably is, but damn if it isn't an accurate description of their music (in a good way, promise). They're joined by youthful pop-shoegazers Wildhoney and others for this noisy night at Smiling Buddha.

Syrian Refugee Support Show (January 8, The Garrison)
Toronto's art-music underground is doing its part to welcome the new Syrian refugee influx with this eclectic benefit show. PWYC and catch cool locals such as multisensory electronic artist Petra Glynt, muddy garage band Dirty Frigs and post-goth project Vallens, among others.

ILOVEMAKONNEN (January 14, Hoxton)
Despite the grave possibility he's been cast out of Drake's golden kingdom (that Twitter unfollow is serious as a heart attack), Atlanta hip-hop upstart ILOVEMAKONNEN still managed to have a pretty good 2015. This Hoxton set comes on the heels of his latest well-received EP.

Majical Cloudz (January 15, The Garrison)
With second full-length Are You Alone? fresh off the presses and garnering a warm critical reception, the emotionally charged electronic work of duo Devon Walsh and Matthew Otto is primed for live unveiling during their upcoming North American tour, kicking off in Toronto.

Muse (January 16, ACC)
Some might find sprawling dystopian concept albums performed by ultra-glam futuristic Queen disciples to be, shall we say, a tad excessive. But Muse? They call it "back to basics." That's the kind of unabashed dedication to showmanship worth paying top concert dollar for.

The Long Winter (January 16, The Great Hall)
The fourth year of this successful art and music series is well underway with another promising January installment. TUNS (featuring Sloan, Super Friendz and Inbreds members) and about 16 other acts will provide the tunes alongside visual artists, comedy troupes, artisanal food makers and more.

Hamilton Leithauser and Paul Maroon (January 20, Dakota Tavern)
The Walkmen's former frontman settled into life as a solo crooner after his mid-2014 retro-pop debut Black Hours, but recently re-teamed with fellow ex-Walkmen Paul Maroon, most recently offering collab EP I Could Have Sworn. Hear the new stuff early - no, literally. It's a 6pm show.

Sleep (January 22, Phoenix)
Before Matt Pike became the noted, incredibly shirtless metal chieftain of High on Fire, he forged the sludgiest riffs for San Jose band Sleep at the dawn of the stoner rock era. On the rare lucky occasion, they reunite for a brief string of live dates such as this. If you got a ticket early, pat yourself on the bong, because it's already sold out.

Oh Wonder (January 23, Danforth Music Hall)
This pop duo from London engineered a totally atypical path to success; before even setting foot on a stage, they've been releasing one single online a month to culminate in their debut album. Considering they've racked up millions of Soundcloud plays and instantly sold out many of their first live dates, the strategy seems genius.

Smiling Buddha's 1.5-Year Anniversary (January 29-30, Smiling Buddha)
The long-held dive on the outskirts of Little Italy has chosen an odd midpoint to celebrate their 2014 reinvention to a buzz-band hub, but I certainly won't complain with alumni such as Odonis Odonis, New Fries, Greys and Mimico performing.

Neon Indian (January 30, Lee's Palace)
Alan Palomo's 80s-washed synth nostalgia is fun on record and even better coupled with his live energy. The band's closing out current tour for VEGA INTL. Night School, a seedier take on chillwave, at Lee's.

Did I miss your most anticipated show? Tell us about it in the comments.

Photo via Petra Glynt's Facebook page

What's open and closed on New Year's Day in Toronto 2016:

GENERAL

Closed

• Government offices and banks
• Libraries
• St. Lawrence Market
• No mail delivery
• Major grocery stores and most pharmacies

TRANSIT

• The TTC and GO Transit will operate on a Sunday schedule.

FOOD

Closed
Major chains and grocers like Arz Fine Foods, No Frills, Fresh Co., Loblaws, Metro, T&T, Whole Foods, Pusateri's, Bloor Street Market, Fresh & Wild, and Galleria Supermarket will be closed, with a few confirmed exceptions listed below.

Open

• Loblaws (60 Carlton St.) - 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• T&T (7070 Warden Ave.) - 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.; (9255 Woodbine Ave.) 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.
• Whole Foods (85 Avenue Rd.) 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Rabba Fine Food (various locations) - open 24 hours
• Food Depot (155 Dupont St., at Davenport) - open 24 hours
• Bloor Superfresh (384 Bloor St. W). - open 24 hours
• Kitchen Table (10 Queens Quay West) - 9 a.m. to 11 p.m., (389 Spadina Rd.) - 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., (595 Bay St., at Atrium on Bay) - 9 a.m to 12 a.m., (705 King St. West) - 8 a.m. to 12 a.m.

DRINK

Closed


• All LCBO, Wine Rack and Beer Store locations
• For a complete list of indie bottle shops in Toronto, see this directory. Holiday hours are provided where applicable but we advise calling ahead to confirm.

MALLS

Open


• The Pacific Mall - 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• The Eaton Centre - 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.
• Square One - 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• Vaughan Mills - 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Toronto Premium Outlets (13850 Steeles Avenue West, Halton Hills) - 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.

ATTRACTIONS

Open


• Major movie theatres
• Most ice skating rinks (weather permitting)
• Art Gallery of Ontario (317 Dundas St. West) - 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• The Ontario Science Centre (770 Don Mills Rd.) - 10am to 5pm
• The Royal Ontario Museum (100 Queen's Park) - 10am to 5:30pm.
• Ripley's Aquarium of Canada (288 Bremner Blvd.) - 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.
• The Toronto Zoo (2000 Meadowvale Rd.) - 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• Movie theatres citywide are open - see show times for details

Did I miss anything? Add it to the comments below.

Photo by Michael Monastyrskyj in the blogTO flickr pool.

Fun ice activities aren't dependent on the weather in Toronto because thankfully we're blessed with a myriad of skating surfaces all across the city. If you want to take advantage of the season, Toronto's outdoor rinks generally stay open from late November until mid-March. And if you're not into skating, there are still plenty of other ways to hit the ice.

Here are five fun things to do on ice this winter in Toronto.

Skate a trail
Toronto has numerous outdoor ice rinks and a few include skating trails. The Brick Works, Etobicoke's Colonel Samuel Smith Skating Trail and the Greenwood Park rink in Leslieville are all good options. Those north of Steeles can skate on the Richmond Green Skate Trail in Richmond Hill.

Go curling
Canada excels at this on-ice sport, so why not pick up a broom and give it a try? Luckily, you don't need to join one of Toronto's many curling clubs to test it out. Instead, you can rent equipment and book free ice time thanks to the Toronto Curling Association.

Play a game of shinny at Maple Leaf Gardens
The iconic Maple Leaf Gardens is now the home to Ryerson University's Mattamy Athletic Centre. Thankfully, you can still hop on this historic sheet of ice to play friendly games of shinny in the shadows of the Original Six. For more shinny options, see this post.

Go night skating
There are plenty of rinks around the city that are open at night from neighbourhood spots like Wallace-Emerson to tried-and-true destinations like Nathan Phillips Square. Some keep the lights on as late as 3 a.m.

Cosplay and skate
Like a Disney-on-ice show that you can participate in, this grassroots Winter Wonderland event is happening at the Harbourfront Centre's outdoor rink on January 30, 2016. Pay homage to your favourite fandom while skating by the lakeside. And if you stick around into the evening, you'll even get to party at the weekly DJ Skate Night.

Did I miss your favourite on-ice activity? Add your suggestions in the comments.

Photo by twurdeman in the blogTO Flickr pool.

Toronto bars and restaurants inhabit a fiercely competitive space, and while many like to make themselves known with flashy lights and screaming signage, others take a more calculated approach embracing an air of mystery that feels all the more rewarding when found.

Here's a round-up of recently opened hidden bars and restaurants in Toronto.

Parcae
Found in the basement level of the Templar Hotel this restaurant rewards those in the know with an adventurous array of dishes from chefs Danny Hassell (ex-Buca) and Joseph Awad (formerly of Au Pied De Cochon). Look forward to seasonal, nose-to-tail cuisine including horse carpaccio, deep fried lamb brains, and sausage-stuffed chicken legs.

Alo
Without much street presence to draw you in, it'd be easy to miss this fine French restaurant located on the upper levels at Queen and Spadina. The restaurant triumphs tasting menus featuring a couple of choices for each course, plus a parade of surprises along the way.

Apt. 200
There's little signage to mark the entrance to this second floor bar near Queen and Ossington. Inside is decked out like an apartment complete with a well stocked bar, couches, video games and pool table.

Golden Cafe
Tucked away in a former uniform factory at the end of a small street off Dundas West, this cafe, bakery and lunch counter caters to locals in-the-know and local businesses like Ninutik and SOMA's cocoa bean lab among others who work in the building.

Bar Batavia
Located above Little Sister in midtown, this cocktail bar offers a dimly lit destination to imbibe while nibbling on Indo-Dutch snack foods.

Did I miss any? Add your suggestions in the comments.

Photo of Parcae.

Toronto's newest sushi restaurant will have fans of Jiro Dreams of Sushi flocking here for decadent omakase that'll make you question the very existence of Dragon Rolls. Fish is sourced via Tokyo suppliers and offered up with painstaking attention to detail.

Read my profile of Shoushin in the restaurants section.

Today in Toronto it's time to start packing up your Christmas ornaments and holiday classics. While the festive events may be gone until next year, there's still a ton to do around the city. YouTube star Lilly Singh will be dropping by the Skittles Holiday Pawn Shop, a roster of top-notch artists will be performing at the Drake Hotel, and Electric Six will be hitting up the Horseshoe.

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

• Electric Six (Horseshoe Tavern)
• Lilly Singh aka IISuperwomanII Meet and Greet (Skittles Holiday Pawn Shop)
• T I M E M A C H I N E (Gladstone Hotel)
• What's In The Box (Drake Hotel)
• Royal Ballet: Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (Bloor Hot Docs Cinema)
• 2001: A Space Odyssey (TIFF Bell Lightbox)

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

Photo of Electric Six

With cold days ahead the time is now to feast on hot pot. And thankfully downtown dwellers no longer need to trek north to Scarborough and Markham to get their fix. Near Dundas and Spadina in the heart of Chinatown, Toronto's newest hot pot restaurant will both fill you up and cure you of the winter chills.

Read my profile of Morals Village in the restaurants section.