What will you remember as the defining moment of 2015? Were you swept up in the Pan Am Pandamonium? Did you catch Blue Jays fever? Are you mourning the loss of a notable restaurant or bar?

Here are my lasting Toronto memories from 2015.

Panamania enchants the city
With the incessant complaining and an apparent lack of ticket sales, it came as a surprise that many of us actually embraced the summer-long Panamania arts and cultural programming that brought free (and top-notch) concerts to public spaces such as Nathan Phillips Square. Let's hope these types of events become the norm and not the exception.

Toronto swells with Blue Jays pride
We made the playoffs for the first time in 22 years and it felt like the entire city jumped on the Jays bandwagon. From watching games in the Bird's Nest to sharing memes of Jose Bautista's bat flip, Toronto truly came together to rally behind our boys in blue.

Toronto artists top popular music charts
Some are calling 2015 the year of Drake, but many other local musicians made waves both in Toronto and around the world. From Alessia Cara's breakout hit "Here" to the Weeknd's stunning Beauty Behind the Madness Album, artists from the GTA reigned supreme on the charts and also racked up numerous Grammy nominations.

Another member of city council makes international headlines
If 2015 wasn't Drake's year, it was definitely Norm Kelly's. The Ward 40 city councillor became famous locally for his dad-joke-style tweets and gained worldwide attention after involving himself in the Drake versus Meek Mill feud.

New international-calibre music fest makes its debut
WayHome, though located outside of Toronto, was filled with urbanites who escaped the city for a magical weekend away. The inaugural festival went off seemingly without a hitch and included a three hour set from Neil Young and a Broken Social Scene reunion.

What are your lasting memories? Add them to the comments.

Photo of WayHome by Jesse Milns.

Restaurant openings in Toronto are full of promise for 2016. The city is due for an influx of new eateries ranging from AYCE Italian and porchetta sandwich shops to upscale new steakhouses, Hungarian eats, and Thai street food. This city's food scene is a train with no brakes (well, kind of).

Here are my picks for the most anticipated restaurant openings in 2016.

Carver
The burgeoning eatery from Robert Bragagnolo has been operating as a lunch delivery service since summer but will open as a bricks and mortar sandwich shop at 101 Peter Street later this year.

Cafeteria
The newest addition to the Playa Cabana family of restaurants comes in the form of this diner at 974 College St. Expect all day service for brunch, lunch and dinner including tacos and tortas served in a no-reservations bar area and an expanded menu available in the reservations-required back room.

Bangkok Buri
The owner of Khao San Road has teamed up with the folks that grew Burger's Priest into a city-wide sensation to open what will be a chain of quick service, Thai street food joints. The first location will open at Union Station, but you should expect a scattering of outlets to follow.

Palinka Bar & Bisztro
Coming to 585 College St. this February, this 90-seat Hungarian bar and restaurant will specialize in fruit brandy, hard-to-find wines, and shareable dishes from Central Europe.

The Chicago Don
All you can eat Italian food will take over 901 Bloor Street West this April. The restaurant isn't your typical Italian buffet, but rather a Chicago-style tapas joint where servers will come around with a different main course every 10 minutes.

Recess
The massive project from Brad Moore (of Old School) has been in the works for nearly two years now. Due to open in early 2016 at the base of the the ART condos at Sudbury and Dovercourt, the project will include the 24-hour Recess Diner, Bar Bronson, the Oven Bakery, a grocery story, mini bar and more.

Gusto 501
Another project long in the works is this sister restaurant to Gusto 101. Slated to open at 501 King Street East, the much-hyped Italian restaurant promises dishes from a Tuscan grill, rotisserie spit, and a wood fired pizza oven.

STK Steakhouse
The chain of chop houses based in the U.S. is set to arrive in Toronto this year. Coming soon to 155 Yorkville Avenue, the massive restaurant will boast 8,880 square feet and uphold a strict dress code. In other words, no plaid - please.

Jen Agg's new wine bar
Few details are available now, but there's good reason to get excited about a new Kensington Market wine and cider bar from the restaurateur behind Black Hoof and Rhum Corner.

Whatever GVG does next
Finally on our radar, the Globe writes that Grant van Gameren (of Bar Isabel and Bar Raval) is set to open a Latin American cocktail bar.

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

Photo of STK.

Today we're opening up voting in our end of year Best Of poll. Now you can have your say in 8 categories including the best new restaurant, bar, brunch, cafe, bakery, cheap eats, fashion and design store.

Take the best of poll here

Voting in the poll ends at 11:45 p.m. on Monday January 4.

Oh, what a city Toronto might have been by now if major infrastructure projects were completed on time. Rush hour service on the subway would be immaculate, there'd be an LRT along Finch Ave. West, and Union Station would be a world class transportation hub. Alas, for all our optimism, none of these projects have been completed by their initial target dates.

Here are 5 things Toronto was supposed to get by 2015 but didn't.

Spadina Subway Extension
The groundbreaking ceremony for the Spadina Subway Extension (PDF) took place in 2009, but as seems always to be the case with major infrastructure projects, the initial completion date was pushed back after numerous delays. The original target was December 2015, which was then altered to autumn 2016 before yet another year was added to the project.

Union Station Renovations
When work commenced on the Union Station revitalization, the initial completion date was pegged at 2015, but numerous delays have pushed the target back to 2017 at the earliest. Fortunately, we got a peek at what it'll look like when finished via the already-opened York GO Concourse.

Finch West LRT
Part of former mayor David Miller's Transit City project, the Finch West LRT was once scheduled to open in 2013. When Rob Ford took office back in 2010, he immediately cancelled plans for the line. When city council eventually restored the project, the completion date was pushed back to 2018. It's now projected to open in 2020. Think about that the next time you're riding the Finch bus.

A fleet of new streetcars
There should be over 65 new low-floor streetcars on Toronto's rails by now, but production problems at Bombardier have resulted in a mere 10 being delivered to the TTC. As a consequence, the TTC is suing the manufacturer for the delayed deliveries.

A new subway signal system
It's not the sexiest infrastructure project but the replacement of the TTC's dated subway signal system will improve the efficiency of rush hour service, which will have a significant impact on commuters' lives. When the TTC started the project, it estimated a completion date in 2012. This was then pushed back to 2016. The current target is 2020. Yikes.

Photo by Ilia Alshanetsky in the blogTO Flickr pool.

The top new restaurants for breakfast can fill you up in the morning throughout the week - not just weekends. From waffles and pancakes to steel cut oats and granola, the options available at these spots range from healthy and gluten-free to indulgent.

Here are my picks for the top new restaurants for breakfast in Toronto.

Cafe Neon
The new outpost on West Queen West serves all day breakfasts week-round. In addition to the excellent Sam James Cut Coffee, you'll find a lineup of a.m. essentials including Greek yoghurt, granola, oatmeal pots, egg-centric dishes and breakfast sandwiches.

Ashdale Brunch and Espresso
Open with house-made apple fritters at this Leslieville joint, then move on to classic egg dishes like French toast with bacon, or chimichurri pork and eggs. Breakfast is served daily from 8 a.m..

Impact Kitchen
The lofty eatery on King East is focused on clean eating, and it opens at 7:30 a.m. on weekdays. Get your morning caffeine fix at the espresso bar or stock up on fresh pressed juices made in house. Protein-packed breakfast options like the BLT bowl and the energy oatmeal will keep you fuelled until lunch.

Kupfert & Kim
The newly opened vegan eatery on Spadina starts mornings right with house-made granola, steel cut oats, gluten-free waffles and brown rice congee. Take it to go, or have a seat in the dining room.

Yaya
This sunny spot in Leslieville deals in breakfast food all day and every day. The menu features plates of spicy Mexican eggs, brioche stuffed with Canadian bacon and cheese, and breakfast-style grilled cheese sandwiches.

Bugigattolo
The compact Italian kitchen in Liberty Village caters to local clientele streaming in for work at nearby offices and studios. Daytime selections include a frittata, the PLT (prosciutto, lettuce, tomato), and the simple but delicious Uova affogato ($8.95), an open faced sandwich featuring sricotta and nduja smeared onto ciabatta and topped with a poached egg.

Bar Raval
The tapas bar on College Street isn't just a great place for late night cocktails and snacks. It opens at 8 a.m. every morning to serve up strong espresso-based drinks accompanied by doughnuts, bocadillo and more.

Hollandaise Diner
The East Danforth is home to this all-day breakfast destination that specializes in egg Benedicts, mix and match pancakes, and other eggy standards.

Pancer's Original Deli
The Jewish deli on Bathurst can be counted on for breakfast daily until 1 p.m. Find western omelettes and yogurt parfaits listed on the menu alongside eggs paired with fried salami, baby beef, or pastrami.

Crave Healthy Habits
This take-out counter in the Richmond Adelaide Centre in the PATH offers hearty breakfast options (weekdays only) including yogurt parfaits, rolled oats in bowls with pecans, strawberry avocado puree and fruit, and sweet bowls of quinoa with house-made yogurt and lemon curd.

Photo of Bugigattolo by Jesse Milns.

This delightful new cafe has a real DIY spirit. Along with hosting community events like repair days it's a great place to hunker down with a laptop for some serious work. More interestingly, the owner, a former cobbler, built her own counters and makes and sells her woodworking items here.

Read my profile of Seesaw Cafe in the cafes section.

The annual Polar Bear dip went down in Toronto yesterday, as more than a hundred people rang in the new year in the coldest way possible. This year's pain-fest aimed to raise $65,000 for Habitat for Humanity, the charitable cause affiliated with the event for the last 11 years. If you think the mild winter made it easier on these daredevils, I'd suggest their facial expressions tell a different story.

Check out what this year's Polar Bear Dip looked like in this photo gallery.

Toronto had its fair share of viral videos over the course of 2015, from enraged taxicab drivers to beautiful bat flips to hard-to-watch police arrests. These videos capture both the highs and lows of the city over the last 12 months, which ranged from turbulent to jubilant.

These are my picks for the top Toronto videos from 2015.

Taxi driver vs. Uber driver
The fever pitch of tension between Toronto taxicab and UberX drivers is perfectly captured in this raw footage of a protesting cab driver grabbing onto an UberX vehicle before being dragged some 50 feet. Let's hope 2016 sees a city-led resolution to the battle.

Jose Bautista bat flip
This was the best sporting moment of the year, and likely much, much longer considering how dismal our pro teams have been when it comes to post-season play. The home run itself was electric, but the bat flip was already iconic mere minutes after it happened. Anyone who has a problem with it being "too showy" needs to get out more.

TTC constables get into altercation at Bloor-Yonge Station
When footage of the violent arrest of two TTC passengers by special constables landed on YouTube in March, it quickly blew up. The TTC ultimately handed the matter over to the police to investigate, and the constables were cleared in August.

Show Me Toronto
Instead of opting for the timelapse route, videographer Chris Hau shows off the city with sweeping shots that track the travels of an urban explorer who's sole mandate, it would appear, is to soak up Toronto's ample scenery. This is a beautiful and lighthearted video of the city.

Citytv reporter takedown of vulgar dudes
For the love of God, can we somehow end this FHRITP business? If more reporters confronted the idiots who belt out this ridiculous phrase in the same manner as Shauna Hunt does in the video above, perhaps things would get better.

Toronto police beating
One of the most disturbing videos to come out of Toronto this year depicted the violent (and mistaken) arrest of Santokh Bola. Warning: the footage is difficult to watch.

The Batmobile rips up Yonge St. for Suicide Squad
Toronto was treated to a few spectacular scenes courtesy of Suicide Squad this year, but the sight of the Batmobile screeching up Yonge St. was probably the most memorable.

Drake performs "Know Yourself" in Toronto for the first time
What to say? Drake doesn't even need to sing the infectious chorus to "Know Yourself" when he performs it for the first time in Toronto. You know how that sh*t goes...

A year in the life of Toronto
It wouldn't be an end-of-year video roundup without a couple of these "Toronto is beautiful" sequences. This one has a rather humble title and some curious editing choices, but it really does pull together a whole year's worth of fun in just a few minutes.

The Toronto Zoo's giant panda turns eight weeks old
Cuteness overload! While not quite as heart-melting as the baby polar bear's first steps (which went truly viral), this video of the Zoo's giant panda baby opening its eyes is downright adorable.

Did I miss any? Let us know in the comments.

Toronto's architectural heritage can't be summarized in one short list. The history is just too diverse, and I was bound to overlook important contributions to the city's built landscape. While I've already mentioned some of the biggest names in Toronto's architectural tradition, it seemed important to commemorate and celebrate some of the urban designers who get less ink these days.

Here's a roundup of influential yet underrated architects who shaped Toronto.

Darling & Pearson
Darling & Pearson were hugely influential in building the Toronto of early 20th century, designing such important buildings as Commerce Court North, The Art Gallery of Toronto (now the AGO), the ROM, Convocation Hall, the North Toronto Railway Station (now the flagship LCBO), the Toronto General Hospital (now the MaRS Discovery District), and so many more.

John B. Parkin
I really should have put John B. Parkin on my first list of architects who shaped Toronto, but at least he can sit near the top of this one. Parkin is responsible for a ton of iconic Toronto structures (both standing and otherwise) including the Bata Shoe Headquarters, Toronto Aeroquay terminals 1 and 2, Don Mills and Yorkdale malls, Rosedale Subway Station, and the Sheraton Centre (to name only a few).

WMZH Architects
This firm, founded by former associates of Peter Dickinson, is a Toronto titan, having designed or consulted on such hugely important structures as the CN Tower, Scotia Plaza, Royal Bank Plaza, the Bay Adelaide Centre, and the recent Waterpark Place. In other words, the firm's fingerprints are all over the Financial District.

Benjamin Brown
Somehow Benjamin Brown doesn't even have a Wikipedia entry, this despite being Toronto's first prominent Jewish architect and designer of gorgeous structures like the Art Deco-styled Balfour Building at Spadina and Adelaide streets. Other notable structures from Brown include the Tower Building, the Hermant Building, and the Primrose Club.

John G. Howard
Not much remains of John G. Howard's work in Toronto, but as the first professional architect in Toronto, he was instrumental in shaping the early city. His legacy can still be found in buildings like the Bank of North America at Yonge and Wellington streets, the Albany Club at 91 King St. East as well as the very existence of High Park, which he gifted to the city in 1873.

Henry Langley
Some of Toronto's most architecturally significant buildings are its churches, and Henry Langley designed many of them. Langley is the architect behind the spire of St. Michael's Cathedral, St. Peter's Anglican Church, the Metropolitan United Church, and some 65 more. He also worked with Edmund Burke on the majestic McMaster University Building.

Chapman and Oxley
The designers of the original Toronto Star Building (which was a true Art Deco masterpiece) also left their mark on Toronto via the Princes' Gates, the Harbour Commission Building, Sunnyside Bathing Pavilion, the Palais Royale, and the vastly underrated Sterling Tower at Bay and Richmond streets.

William Thomas
William Thomas was also a designer of churches in Toronto, though he contributed numerous important secular buildings as well. As the principal architect behind St. Michael's Cathedral (Langley would later add the tower and spire), St. Lawrence Hall, and the Don Jail, Thomas show a range of architectural styles, from Gothic Revival to Renaissance to Italianate.

Did I miss someone important? Add your suggestions to the comments.

Photos by Tom Ryaboi, the City of Toronto, Archives, and the Wikimedia Commons.

Driving along Dixon Rd. near the Toronto airport these days, it's not hard to imagine that the place was once a hotbed for motor hotels, that strange hybrid structure of the 1960s that combined the modern economy of design witnessed in the conventional motel and the amenities traditionally affiliated with the hotel experience.

There are, after all, hotels everywhere around here. The airport hotel strip isn't in danger of disappearing anytime soon, even as it's profoundly changed over the last 30 years. Where once you'd encounter unique motor hotels with novel ideas as to how to lure business travellers, now the corporate chains reign supreme. The rooms are nice enough, but the character has fled.

Two airport hotels in particular come to mind when I think of the glory days here: the Regal Constellation and the Valhalla Inn, both of which were demolished within the last five years as relics of their former selves. While both were worse for wear when they met the wrecking ball, back in the '60s and '70s, these places were palaces of kistchy pleasure.

In their heyday, both hotels boasted exotic pools, which were a central attraction. Where the Constellation's watery oasis included islands and live plants, the Valhalla was even more outlandish with its underwater windows that opened to the cocktail bar below.

It's like they took the most famous pool in Las Vegas and transported it Toronto (with a few upgrades to boot).

Then again, if I was judging based solely on kitsch potential, the former would take the cake for its purchase of a Lockheed Super Constellation aircraft to serve as a cocktail lounge in 1996. Things were already getting desperate at this point, but what's remarkable to remember is that both of these hotels came from significant architectural pedigree.

The Valhalla was designed to be a Norse paradise by George Robb, and despite the more over-the-top features, always had a certain elegance to its layout. Sure, the Mermaid Bar had underwater windows to the pool, but the bar itself was majestic. Meanwhile, the original Constellation was designed by Bregman + Hamann before the eyesore of a tower was added later.

The Constellation has always shared something in common with the Inn on the Park, both thanks to its ample use of field stone and the manner in which the hotel shelters the Miami-like outdoor pool and lounge area. In other words, these were serious places, built by architects with serious ambition.

Although a little further afield, you might throw the Ascot 27 Hotel into the mix here. It opened in 1960 near Highway 27 and Rexdale Blvd., still close to the airport but more importantly to the new Woodbine Racetrack (1956).

It too was designed by George Robb, and featured a cathedral like entrance marked by soaring stained glass windows. It was less outlandish by amenities, but offered lovely views of the Humber Valley.

Back when the Valhalla closed its doors, Rick McGinnis eloquently summed up why these relics couldn't hold on in today's hotel economy. "Today, business trips are more crowded, the expectations to produce more keen and technology has woven a more robust tether to employers and clients, so their room is their office, boardroom and bedroom."

The appetite for exotic features just isn't there. Comfort has replaced recreation on the priority chart. Nevertheless, it's a testament to the design of these places that they hung on for as long as they did. The airport strip is certainly a less interesting places for their loss.

Photo of the Regal Constellation's aircraft cocktail lounge by Steve Tournay. Postcards via Chuckman's Collection.

Toronto's west side is dotted with locally owned craft breweries and in 2016, it's going to get one more.

Bandit Brewery is slated to open some time in the next few months, but co-owner Shehzad Hamza won't give an exact date just yet. Though, he does say that both he and his business partner Stephane Dubois were inspired by Europe's laid back beer gardens.

The 2125 Dundas St. W. space will lets patrons mingle over small plates as they sip on craft beer made on site. And, Hamza hopes to introduce Torontonians to brews - like sours and barrel-aged varieties - they may not have tried elsewhere yet.

"We like those experimental types of beer that not many people get to taste because they're pretty one off, they're pretty rare," Hamza says.

While the Roncesvalles space isn't ready just yet, Bandit made its debut with at the West End Brew Project: #WECollab event. It collaborated with the Junction Craft Brewery to create a Black IPA called Raccoon Roll.

Photo via Facebook.

The top free events in Toronto will help you stick to your New Year's resolutions about being more frugal. While you could easily shell out big bucks to see live music performances, there's plenty to do that won't cost a dime. Instead of putting a dent in your chequing account, ride the subway without pants, check out a few free comedy skits, or show off your dance moves at the Harbourfront.

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

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.

JS Code Club Hack Night (Jan. 6​)
The JS (JavaScript) Code Club is hosted by OK GROW! an app development studio that opens the doors of its downtown office on the first Wednesday of every month to seasoned developers and newbies alike. The club offers a spot for developers to talk shop and facilitates collaboration with a Code Club Project Board app that helps match developers to projects that interest them.

Do Right On Ice (Jan. 9)
Head to the Harbourfront Centre on the night of the 9th for another DJ Skate Night. This week's instalment will feature music by Do Right Music label head, John Kong. You may not be downing shots on the dancefloor, but it's much more cost effective and probably just as fun.

No Pants Subway Ride & Dance Party (Jan. 10)
Let's be real, nobody actually likes wearing pants - and this Sunday you won't have to. On January 10th join hundreds of Torontonians as they drop their drawers, dance and travel around the city on the subway. If you don't plan on getting in on the action yourself, it's still quite the spectacle - just don't get creepy.

Japanese Movies at the Bloor Cinema (Jan. 10-24)
Bloor Hot Docs Cinema is hosting free screenings of Japanese films throughout January. If you're not fluent in Japanese, no worries, all flicks will feature English subtitles. The series kicks off this Sunday with a screening of The Floating Castle.

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

With contributions from Rose Behar.

Brunch restaurants on the Danforth are scattered all along the east-end corridor - from Broadview and the heart of Greektown to Woodbine and the burgeoning East Danforth neighbourhood. These eateries elevate
traditional brunch items through their use of quality ingredients and their ability to add a
unique flare to old favourites.

Here are my picks for the top brunch restaurants on the Danforth.

The Wren
The Wren's menu takes its inspiration from Southwestern comfort food and Mexican cuisine. Popular brunch items include the Huevos Tostadas ($11 or $14.50 with chicken tinga) and the Brisket Hash served with cornbread ($13). Wash it all down with a mimosa ($8) or a Caesar with an odd price tag ($7.08).

Melanie's Bistro
The brunch menu at Melanie's boasts plenty of seafood options. Get the Newfoundland Breakfast Special ($14) which comes with pan-friend cod cakes, poached eggs, herbed hollandaise and toast. While there's classic eggs benny on offer, there's also a version with panko-crusted crab cakes ($15).

Hollandaise Diner
If you're after customizable brunch, look no further than Hollandaise Diner. With the "Build A Benny" option (starting at $11.95), you can replace the classic English-Muffin base with grilled tomato, baked polenta, grilled cheese, bitter greens or even meatloaf. There are eight kinds of toppings and four different takes on the traditional dish.

Cafe Fiorentina
The eggs benny ($15) at Cafe Fiorentina features two farm-fresh duck eggs and super-tender beef tongue but is also sometimes served with lobster, pastrami, rabbit and duck confit.

Patisserie La Cigogne
Owner-chef Thierry Schmitt opened the Danforth outpost of Patisserie La Cigogne following the success of his original operation on Bayview Avenue. Both locations offer all-day breakfast and brunch, seven days a week. A popular item is the Croque Madam, which consists of brioche layered with ham and cheese and topped with a fried egg ($9.50).

What did I miss? Add your suggestions for the top brunch spots on the Danforth in the
comments. Photo of Hollandaise Diner.

Gyms that opened in Toronto in 2015 have provided some great options for new workout spaces. These new facilities offer options from group training to indoor obstacle courses - all of which have the potential to inspire you to stick to your future fitness goals.

Here are my picks for the top new gyms in Toronto for 2015.

F45 Training
F45 Training is my favourite workout in the city. The gym offers a HIT circuit training with different workouts at each station for an impressive and sweaty 45-minute workout. The Liberty Village studio is the first of its kind in Canada after amassing a huge following in Australia.

Pursuit OCR
An indoor obstacle course for adults? That's one way to sweat and get in shape. The playzone is a 10,000 square foot facility north of Queen and Dufferin with 19 obstacle courses including a ball pit.

Anchored Social Club
This Leslieville gym has a slightly different approach to the team workout. It gets down to the nitty gritty of a workout and uses your body strength as a gauge. The weights consist of makeshift items like bags of rice and a giant handmade climbing wall. Owner Ben Dussault is behind the minimalist gym, and trains people to rely on their own strength.

Planet Fitness
Planet Fitness opened inside the Galleria Mall on Dupont. If you want a basic workout without the excessive price tag this is your place.There are no group classes or swimming pools, but memberships are only $10 per month. This gym is ideal if you're a fitness beginner, and don't mind that the elliptical isn't hooked up to a TV.

Forme Fitness
Owned by personal trainers the Smits Brothers, this 5,500-square foot facility near Queen and Broadview focuses on resistance training and metabolic intervals. The trainers also offer one-on-one training as as well group classes, nutrition counselling and monitoring. Forme is also the first gym in Canada with an indoor 3 lane turf track.

Did I miss any? Add your favourite new gym in the comments.

Photo of F45 Training.

Toronto restaurant openings in December were a diverse bunch that included a couple new French concepts, snack bars, a noodle house, a new all day breakfast option and a slick pub. Entering the new year, it just spells more temptations to derail post-holiday diets and health-oriented resolutions.

Here are my picks for the top Toronto restaurants that opened in December.

Shameful Tiki Room
Tropical cocktails, spam maki, tuna poke and fish tacos are all on the menu at this new tiki bar that's arrived in Toronto by way of Vancouver.

The Wickson Social
This handsome new public house is pouring pints of craft beer and serving up a hearty menu of eclectic comfort foods at the base of one of Toronto's most promising condos. The hand-chopped burger is a must.

Chabrol
The new Southern French restaurant from the folks behind Cava is now open in Yorkville and serving up riesling-poached foie gras, tartine of rabbit and chestnut soup with sheep's milk crème fraîche.

Bar Begonia
Anthony Rose's fifth restaurant on Dupont Street opened just in time for the holidays. Look forward to a menu featuring absinthe frappes paired with tartare and gaufrette potatoes.

Magic Noodle
The chain famous for hand pulled noodles landed at 93 Harbord Street this month and is serving up noodles in a range of thickness, Shanxi style burgers, sizzling squid skewers. For now the hours are listed from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., but with any luck they'll stretch late into the night or even become 24 hours like in Scarborough.

Jamie's Italian
Jamie Oliver's first Toronto outpost opened in Yorkdale Mall this month. The restaurant has introduced a signature menu of casual Italian fare that's already proved popular across the pond. Look forward to fresh pastas, cured meat planks, while fish preparations and more.

Hollandaise Diner
The new diner in the Danforth does all day breakfasts, specializing in poached eggs and perfectly silky emulsions of butter and eggs. The menu boasts signature creations and DIY eggs Benedicts plus classic two egg breakfasts, mix and match pancakes and frittatas.

Bugigattolo
The compact Italian kitchen in Liberty Village is doing breakfast, lunch, and dinner that
At this compact Italian in Liberty Village, chef Quin Josey credits some dishes to his nonna while others draw from inspiration from his previous experiences at Bar Buca. Pizzas and pastas are among the highlights, including the comforting lasagne alla zucchini.

Kupfert & Kim
The chain of vegan eateries already dominates daytime eating in the PATH. The newest and biggest location on Spadina is the first above ground and not only is there a dine-in option, but it's also licensed and serving brunch.

Bar Batavia
The new cocktail lounge and snack bar opened this month above the Little Sister food bar in midtown. The dimly lit joint primarily deals in tipples, but you'll find a menu of Indo-Dutch snack foods on offer as well.

What was your favourite new restaurant that opened last month? Give it props in the comments.

Photo of Jamie's Italian by Hector Vasquez.

New pubs established themselves across Toronto in the past year. These destinations for drinking and dining offer cozy vibes, craft brews, and hearty comfort foods that make them feel like a home away from home. Toronto's pub scene only gets better over time.

Here are my picks for the top new pubs in Toronto.

Bar Hop Brewco
The two storey brewpub on Peter Street represents loads of local craft brewers with 36 beers on tap and a rotating selection of casks. To eat, there's a menu from chef Mark Cutrara featuring atypical bar snacks like chicharron in ranch seasoning, roasted pig's head nachos, and whole roasted branzino tacos.

Old Laurel
Davy Love, the heart and soul behind The Bristol Yard, and more recently The Bristol, branched off on his own this year to open this two-floor College Street pub that deals in hearty English eats like traditional breakfasts. It's a great place to catch the morning broadcasts of European football.

Lansdowne Brewery
The microbrewery and brewpub on Lansdowne between Dundas and College forgoes the old-timey pub vibe in favour of a contemporary, but still comfy setting. Look forward to beer-friendly foods like pickled eggs, deep fried pickles, and burgers.

Queen St. Warehouse
Dubbed a premium dive bar, this outpost from the El Furniture Warehouse family opened on Queen West earlier this year. Highlights include a menu of pub grub priced at a steady $4.95, along with similarly priced shooters, pints starting at $5.75, and cocktails like the Red Eye Corona ($11.50), which features an upside-down bottle of cerveza presented inside in a spicy Caesar.

The Craft Brasserie
This massive beer hall in Liberty Village boasts over 100 beers on tap along with a menu of pub standards with a twist. Not sure where to start? Try a flight of 5 oz beers and knock back a couple orders of galbi smoked wings, asada fries, and adobo short ribs.

Refinery Public House
Situated on Lakeshore West, this Etobicoke watering hole deals in beer, wine and spirits accompanied by a menu featuring skillet nachos, maple poutine, and pan seared pierogi. In addition to the food and drinks, look forward to live music, trivia, and student discount nights.

The Thirsty Duck
This public house in Leslieville styled after a Halifax bar might be new, but inside it feels reassuringly worn in. The menu will satisfy nostalgic cravings of east coast transplants with dishes like shrimp toast, donairs, and deep fried pepperoni.

The Wickson Social
The owners of The Oxley and The Queen and Beaver introduced this neighbourhood gem recently. Menus for lunch, dinner and weekend brunch include a roster of comfort foods like slow roasted lamb with curried aioli and a hand chopped burger.

Dominion Pub & Kitchen
The newest local in Corktown is this reinstated pub on Queen East. Behind the bar you'll find two dozen taps pulling craft beers as well as over 20 bottled brews to be enjoyed with a menu of pub standards including wings, nachos, pub pies, and more.

The Grover
The pub in the Upper Beaches has been around since 1982, but new management took over this year and revamped everything about it. Now sporting a new look, new staff and new menu, the neighbourhood local is as good as new.

Photo of Bar Hop Brewco.

Juice bars in Toronto continued to squeeze their way into an already saturated market this past year. These purveyors of liquid pick-me-ups can be found spanning the city, hawking restorative and refreshing fruit and vegetable blends.

Here are my picks for the top new juice bars to open in Toronto.

Impact Kitchen
This restaurant in Corktown is focused on nutrient rich, minimally processed foods, and the lineup of house-made cold pressed juices and nut milks fits the bill. The Smooth Green is among the most popular picks; it's made with kale, green apple, basil and lime.

The Grow Op
The juice bar and eatery on Ossington bottles its own cold-pressed juices all in a basement "lab" along with hemp milks that make their way into smoothies. Order intriguing mixes like the Cold-FX-like Golden Potion combining turmeric, grapefruit, clementines, oranges, ginger and lemon.

Gud to Go
This entirely kosher operation on Eglinton Avenue West sells cold pressed staples like the Lively Lemon, a tangy citrus beverage sweetened with maple syrup. Another standout is the Better Berry (also $8), a bright pink blend of strawberries, blueberry, pineapple, apple and lemon.

Oats & Ivy
This former bike cart delivery service is now serving up healthy lunches and a lineup of juices made on-site (in a massive hydraulic cold press) in Liberty Village. Made with entirely organic ingredients, you'll find a juice menu featuring super-smooth chai-spiced almond milk, and favourites like the watermelon, lime and basil Ruby Soho.

Anti Vice
The juicery on College at Ossington deals in potent, immunity-boosting juices like the version with apple, pineapple, chaga mushroom tea, grapefruit, and echinacea plus multi-day cleanse programs, fresh seasonal blends, and custom beverages made to order from a list of fresh ingredients.

Drink Juice Co.
This boutique juice bar in Leaside offers a line-up of all organic, cold pressed juices in nutrient-dense blends like the Fineapple, a sweet tropical bevy that boasts a little kick from jalapeno peppers.

The Organic Press
This juice bar in Kensington Market took over the former address of 4 Life Natural Foods this year and has introduced a line up of bottles filled with turmeric lemonade and bright red blends of beets and ginger.

The Fix and Co.
The Fix and Co. opened in Long Branch this year and aims to make healthy, convenient foods more accessible than ever. The menu lists juices, elixirs, smoothies and nut milks including house faves like the Antidote made with kale, celery, cucumber, dandelion greens. granny smith apples, parsley and lemon.

Greenhouse Juice
The new outlet in Commerce Court fuels the Financial District with signature raw and organic cold press juice blends, immunity boosting shots and detox cleanses. The Gold Rush, made with pineapple, cucumber, lemon, and ginger, is a house fave.

Union Juice
The sunny cafe on John Street is the second, much larger location of this juice bar originating in The Annex. The menu includes coffee, panini and salads too, but green juices like the zingy Mow My Lawn made with kale, spinach, green apple and ginger, are the real draw.

Photo of Union Juice.

Although the sign still remains, the old Cafe Regional Bar and Grill is no more - replaced by a modern Japanese kitchen that has many of the usual izakaya offerings as well as cockails, ramen and katsu curry rice set meals.

Read my review of Imanishi Japanese Kitchen in the restaurants section.

Today in Toronto it's time to battle your case of the Mondays with movies and music. Everyone's favourite Hayao Miyazaki flick, My Neighbor Totoro, will be playing on the big screen at the Revue Cinema. If anime isn't your cup of tea, opt to see some live music instead. One of the top concerts of the month, Cloakroom and Wildhoney, is happening at Smiling Buddha.

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

• Cloakroom & Wildhoney (Smiling Buddha)
• My Neighbor Totoro (Revue Cinema)
• Shoeless Monday (Horseshoe Tavern)
• Festival of New Formats (Comedy Bar)
• 2015 Cannes Lions Awards: The World's Best Commercials (Bloor Hot Docs Cinema)

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

Photo via Wildhoney's Facebook page.

Get ready to bundle up in Toronto because Dr. David McKeown, the city's Medical Officer of Health, issued an extreme cold weather alert yesterday morning.

Temperatures will remain chilly today. Environment Canada is predicting a high of -11 C. With the wind chill, it could feel like -25 C this morning. Along with dressing appropriately, the city recommends checking on vulnerable loved ones and neighbours.

It also keeps two 24-hour drop-in centres open during these cold weather alerts, along with two women-only locations.

Photo by carlosbezz in the blogTO Flickr pool.