This newly opened marketplace is well stocked with everything you'll need to take the tapas experience home. There's cheese and cured meats, olives and chips, etc. But the space also doubles as a cafe and takeout lunch counter with plans to introduce evening service in the near future.
Read my profile of Mercat Del Carmen in the grocery section.
After a brief stint in the city, American burger chain Carl's Jr will be closing up its two Toronto locations at 4 p.m. today, reports Newstalk 1010.
According to the local radio station, contractual problems between Carl's Jr and franchisee 6 Points Food Services led to this surprise shutdown.
Both the Queen Street West and Yonge and St. Clair outposts will shutter. But, if you ever start craving an Original Six Dollar Thickburger, crisscross fries and a milkshake, you can always head outside of Toronto to Guelph or Waterloo, two places that are still home to Carl's Jrs.
And, according to the brand's Twitter feed, Carl's Jr is planning to open 30 additional restaurants across Canada this year. Though, it's unclear whether any of these will be located in Toronto.
@CarlsJrCA im in a Canadian carls jr and the manager confirmed canadian locations are closing on the 14th #whyyoulie
— Tom (@savagebandito) January 7, 2016@CarlsJrCA Are we getting any in toronto?
— Tom (@savagebandito) January 12, 2016Now that Carl's Jr is leaving the building, we can only speculate about what'll eventually take over the massive, former HMV space at the corner of Queen and Beverly.
What do you think should replace it? Let us know in the comments.
Weekend events in Toronto will have you heading to some of the top concerts and music fests of the season. Alessia Cara, Muse and Majical Cloudz are all performing at Toronto venues this weekend. Long Winter is also back in session and The Silver Dollar's Class of 2016 continues to showcase up and coming indie talent.
For more events this weekend click on over to our Events section.
MUSIC
Class of 2016 #4 (Jan. 16)
Get your fill of indie music this week by heading to the Silver Dollar for the venue's annual music honour roll series. Saturday is the fourth night in this year's fest. You can catch acts like GABI, Wild Rivers, and ROLEMODEL for only $10.
Long Winter (Jan. 16)
Long Winter offers a smorgasbord of art-based performances and exhibits in the middle of January. For one night the Great Hall will be filled with some of the best and brightest artists, musicians, dancers and speakers. Best of all, the event is PWYC, so even those on a tight budget can get in on the action.
Majical Cloudz (Jan. 16)
With their 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 this Saturday.
Muse (Jan. 16)
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.
Alessia Cara (Jan. 16-17)
The Brampton-born singer has earned much acclaim since releasing her hit single "Here" and at this point can be put on the pedestal with Toronto heavy-hitters Drake and The Weeknd. Catch her Saturday and Sunday at the Danforth Music Hall. Unfortunately, tickets were scooped up fast, so you'll have to turn to StubHub.
PERFORMANCE
Next Stage Festival (Jan. 6-17)
Looking for something to tide you over until the next Fringe Fest in June? The Next Stage festival, now in full swing, has indie theatre lovers flocking to the Factory Theatre to see the works of Fringe up-and-comers. Some shows feature talkbacks at The Hoxton, if you want to engage with the artists over cocktails.
Progress Festival (Jan. 14-Feb. 7)
This three-and-a-half-week fest caters to lovers of the theatre. This weekend catch Riding on a Cloud, a Lebanese production, at The Theatre Centre Mainspace.
ART
Peter MacCallum: Skyline Series, 1979-1992 (Nov. 26-Jan. 16)
Take a look back at Toronto's past through MacCallum's photographs of the skyline. You'll get to see how the city changed over the past 36 years, especially from the perspective of Queen West -- that's where MacCallum took his first three photographs in this series, between 1979 and 1980. The exhibition closes on Saturday, so make sure you see it before then.
The Map and The Territory (Jan. 17-30)
The Red Head Gallery, located inside 401 Richmond, is celebrating its 25th birthday this year. In January, it's presenting an exhibition that looks at "scientific art and artistic science" through the work of smART mapmakers Ron Wild and Stephen Morris. Bonus points for Michel Houllebecq fans.
FILM
Canada's Top Ten (Jan. 8-17)
Get acquainted with some of the best homegrown cinema at Canada's Top Ten. The 10-day fest offers up public screenings, Q&A sessions with filmmakers, industry panels, special events and more. A huge plus: tickets are (fittingly) a mere $10.
Wood Job! (Jan. 17)
Bloor Hot Docs Cinema hosts free screenings of Japanese films throughout January. If you're not fluent in Japanese, no worries -- all flicks will feature English subtitles. The series is currently in full swing, and this Sunday you can catch indie comedy/drama Wood Job! without dropping a dime.
ENTERTAINMENT
Toronto's Very Own Presents: Sounds of DRAKE OVO Night Toronto (Jan. 15)
If you (like everyone and their mother) fell in love with Drizzy over the past year, this is the party for you. Come Friday, SET will be blaring Drake's discography until the early hours of the morning. You'll want to brush up on everything from Take Care to What a Time To Be Alive before attending.
PULP : Paper Art Party 2016 (Jan. 16)
Environmental awareness is important, but not all of us want to watch doomsday documentaries on our changing planet. Skip talks and presentations in favour of a party celebrating sustainable designs. This Saturday, check out reclaimed material installations while drinking and dancing at 360 Geary Ave. All proceeds go to charity, so you'll also be doing some good.
DJ Skate Nights: Wavelength x Synthesexer (Jan. 16)
Head to the Harbourfront Centre on the 16th for another DJ Skate Night. The music for this week's installment will be brought to you by Wavelength and Synthesexer. You may not be downing shots on the dancefloor, but it's much more cost effective and probably just as fun.
SHOPPING
Bellwoods Flea One Year Anniversary (Jan. 16)
This Saturday marks the one year anniversary of the Bellwoods Flea. As per usual, you'll be able to find art, fashion, food and more from local vendors filling Dundas Video. If you're not in the mood to shop, there will be classic film screenings all day long and retro video games. Dogs are welcome, so feel free to bring your four-legged friend.
Gladstone Winter Flea Markets
The Gladstone is kicking off a series of winter flea markets starting this Saturday. You'll find a ton of one of kind fashion and home pieces plus a healthy share of vintage goods. If you can't stop by this weekend, it'll also pop up on February 21st and March 20th.
For more events this weekend click on over to our Events section. Have an event you'd like to plug? Submit it for free using this form.
With contributions by Amy Grief and Shazia Khan.
Photo by Muse by Brian Morton.
After months of planning, which included consultations with the public and the TTC, Metrolinx finally settled on names for the Eglinton Crosstown LRT during a conference call earlier today.
At last month's board meeting on December 3, 2015, as the Torontoist reports, Metrolinx held a lengthy debate over what to call the stations at Dufferin and Bathurst Streets and Scarborough's Lebovic Avenue.
Now, according to the Toronto Star, Metrolinx board members have finally compromised on Fairbank, Forest Hill and Hakimi Lebovic, respectively. And, just in time because the board needed to provide names to Crosslinx, who's constructing the LRT line, before January 20.
Here, from west to east, is what Metrolinx decided on.
Photo via @eglinton_crosstown.
If you're looking to explore Toronto's artistic side this winter, you'll want to head to Dundas and Ossington. That's because a diverse group of artists, designers and musicians will be taking over a gallery space at 1161 Dundas St. W. for Endless City, a multi-faceted festival that'll run from January 20 until February 26.
According to a news release, "Endless City is a multidisciplinary experiment led by a group of Toronto designers, curators and programmers exploring innovation in art, design and technology through performance, discussion and installation."
Castor Design will create a copper-themed installation - appropriately called CU - for the Toronto Design Offsite Festival. To go along with it, Parts & Labour chef Matty Matheson will be serving up an edible metallic dinner. Tickets are currently on sale for $150.
Beyond the food, there will be panel discussions - like one titled "Recontextualizing Cultural Experience" about musical performances in unconventional spaces for Invocation's first anniversary - as well as a slew of shows, demonstrations and workshop by various promoters, artists and groups throughout the month.
For the full lineup of events, visit Endless City's website.
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
UPCOMING
Know of a Toronto food event coming up? Email liora@blogto.com
Photo of the Underground Chef Co. via Facebook.
Toronto Design Offsite is returning to Toronto and bringing with it a hefty roster of art-focused soirees and exhibitions. You'll find the festival schedule packed with tried and true favourites (like Come Up To My Room) plus a healthy share of new events.
Here are my picks for 10 events and exhibits to check out at this year's festival.
TO DO Festival Party (Jan. 18)
On the 18th, celebrate the start of TO DO by mixing and mingling with art-minded Torontonians. The Shopify offices will be brimming with designers, architects and artists in celebration of this year's fest. Aside from socializing, you'll be able to check out Installations by designer Jacqueline Lane and throw back a cocktail or two.
Umbra + TO DO Compact Living Product Exhibition (Jan. 18-24)
Umbra is hosting a design exhibition all about compact living. With more and more people moving into condos, space is a luxury that most people just can't afford (I mean, unless you've got enough cash to buy a place like this). Expect to find design pieces that cater to small-scale living but don't sacrifice style.
#ROMInk (Jan. 18-24)
Celebrate Toronto tattoo culture by hitting up this exhibit at SMASH. It celebrates homegrown artists the stories behind their work. If you're considering getting some fresh new ink anytime soon, this event may just hook you up with your future artist.
Outside the Box (Jan. 18 -24)
While the festival does a good job bolstering local designers and artists, Outside the Box, which is now in its third year, gives props to makers from nine different North American cities. This time around the artists are giving their creative interpretations of the theme "multiples".
Come Up To My Room (Jan. 21)
The 13th edition of Come Up To My Room kicks off on January 21, bringing the works of Canadian and American artists, designers and collectives to the Gladstone. If you want to party with art-minded individuals, head to the hotel on the 23rd for the Love Design Party. You'll get the chance to drink and dance in the ballroom and then head out to explore the exhibits. Don't miss Ferris Bueller's bedroom.
Monogram Dinner by Design (Jan. 22-24)
Toronto boasts more than a few impeccably designed restaurants, but this event will take table settings to a whole other level. A mix of local designers and international artists will be taking over the Design Exchange for three days, showing the city how to make dinner more than just a meal with 3D dining installations.
SMORGASBORD (Jan. 22-25)
If you're a Toronto foodie (you know, the kind that already has a few Winterlicious resos nailed down) you'll probably be a fan of this exhibit. It will feature the works of ten designers who created pieces all about eats. I highly suggest dining beforehand.
TO DO Talks Symposium (Jan. 23)
Want to do more than just look at pretty things? Head to MaRS on the 23rd to hear multidisciplinary experts speak about design. Joanna Choukeir, Lindy Wilkins, Karen Oikonen, Selma Durand, Koby Barhad and more will be giving talks on the place of design in society.
Decoding Digifest (Jan. 23)
For those that want to give their minds a bit of a workout there's Decoding Digifest at George Brown College. A series of strategically placed games will be set up in an artist's studio and teams will have half an hour to solve them. If you manage to crack it in the shortest amount of time, you'll win tickets to this year's instalment of Digifest.
Blindfolded Walking Tour (Jan. 23)
Don a blindfold (no, this is not some sort of BDSM trick) and go out for a guided tour lead by philosopher Jonathan Silver. The non-visual walk will have you experiencing the city you know so well in new ways, using all senses but your sight.
What did I miss? Leave your picks for TO DO 2016 in the comments.
Photo from TO DO 2015 via Facebook.
The TTC can be a storehouse of nostalgia for people who grew up in Toronto. Given that this particular brand of longing isn't necessarily related to happy memories so much as past experiences that at one point became familiar to us, things like red subway cars, Vitrolite tiles, and the rubbery smell of an old TTC bus can invoke strong feelings despite their relative banality.
Here are 10 signs you rode the TTC in the 1980s.
1. You still remember the lights going out on the old Gloucester Trains. The last G-series trains were scrapped in the fall of 1990, which means '80s kids still have vivid memories of their bright red exterior and the propensity for the lights to go out mid-tunnel, casting the train in blackness.
2. You recall a dazzling light display at Yorkdale Station in the form of Michael Hayden's Arc en Ciel, a multi-coloured neon installation that lit up each time a train entered the station. Minor water damage led the TTC to dismantle it in the 1990s.
3. The last stop on the Spadina Line was Wilson. Downsview Station didn't open until 1996. Can you imagine what the commute to York was like back then, having to take a bus from Wilson? Shudder.
4. Most subway cars featured a private seat behind the driver's booth. You won't find these amazing seats on the TTC's current fleet of subway cars no matter what the model, but back when the the H-series cars were on the rails one could always dream of snoozing without the possibility of awkward human contact.
5. You remember the black bench seats on the old Fishbowl buses. In fact, you remember a whole lot of these fishbowl buses in general. They ruled the road. But the early ones had that awful black seating with red/pink trim that smelled a bit like tar on a hot day.
6. Spadina Station had an airport-like moving sidewalk. Oh the fun one could get up to riding a bike along this thing. Constantly on the fritz and not widely used, the 150 metre walkway was the only one of its kind on the TTC. It was removed in 2004, though the "Please Hold Handrail" signs remain.
7. ALRV streetcars were new and exciting. While a prototype double streetcar (or Articulated Light Rail Vehicle) hit the streets in Toronto in 1982 shortly after the CLRV streetcars arrived en masse, it wasn't until 1987 that the main fleet was delivered. While these rail warriors seem like relics now, they were a welcome sight given that the ancient PCCs were still riding the rails in the 1970s (and beyond).
8. Spoons' Romantic Traffic made the subway seem cool for once. It's one of the all time best Toronto music videos and somehow managed to allow people to imagine commuting on the TTC as something more than a perfunctory exercise. Sure, the hairstyles look hilarious, but these subway scenes are the stuff of instant nostalgia.
9. Vitrolite tile could still be spotted at many downtown subway stations. Notice something about the appearance of Bloor Station in the video above? Yeah, it was still outfitted in the old bathroom-style tiles. By the end of the decade, almost all of the original interiors had been replaced with the designs we encounter now.
10. You know why it is that there's a song called Spadina Bus. The quirkiest Toronto anthem of all time is strange for a few reasons, one of which is the fact that buses no longer operate on Spadina Avenue. But they did in 1986 when the eponymous ditty was released! Between 1948 and 1997 Spadina was serviced by buses, which allowed the Shuffle Demons to immortalize the 77 route in 1986.
What did I miss? Add your memories of riding the TTC in the 1980s via the comments.
Photos by Charles A. Bray, Chris Bateman, and Ben Mark Holzberg.
The Toronto area has its fair share of quirky streets, but none so mysterious and illicit-feeling as Convair Drive. The street snakes around the western edge of Pearson International, which means that it's technically in Mississauga, but I'll claim it for Toronto on the basis on its proximity to our main airport.
In any case, it's in the Toronto area, and it's about as fascinating as our roads get. What makes Convair Drive intriguing is that it feels very much like it leads to a forbidden section of airport property.
Named after the now defunct aerospace company that provided planes for some of the earliest airlines to use what was once called Malton Airport (and later Toronto International), it's not exactly surprising that the street services parts of Pearson that the vast majority of travellers never set their sights on.
Located on Convair Drive are the Greater Toronto Airports Authority administrative offices, Transport Canada's Pearson offices, and the Peel Regional Police's Airport Division.
It's with the latter that my mind wanders when driving here. Even as there's absolutely nothing remotely illegal about exploring the area, it's easy to feel on edge, as if you're doing something wrong - particularly if you're taking photos.
The sense that you're in a place you shouldn't be is established by a whole host of features, not the least of which are the multiple gates that you have to pass through as you travel along Convair Drive (there's also a particularly foreboding one if you fork off and take Brittania Road to its eastern terminus).
Adding to the intrigue are the various examples of airport technology that you encounter along the way. Driving south along Convair you encounter the ILS infrastructure that services runways 6L and 6R. Later, once the road begins to head east, it passes by a domed weather tower that seems like a giant relic from the space age.
The point at which the road makes its transition from south to east is where Air France Flight 358 crashed on August 2, 2005. Having skidded off of runway 24L (which is the designation given to the strip that's also used by 6L but for plans approaching from the east), the Air Bus A340 roared past Convair Drive, eventually coming to rest just short of Etobicoke Creek.
This too is mildly off-putting in that even during a quick jaunt along Convair you're bound to see numerous planes take off and land. You surely doesn't expect that something bad is about to happen, but there are plenty of situational reminders that commercial flight doesn't always go according to plan.
And yet, it's also enthralling to soak up the rhythm of the planes coming and going. It's remarkable how tightly choreographed arrivals and departures are, something you only really get a sense of when you stop and watch as the planes cue up to land and take off on the same runway.
The most dramatic place to do this is near the Petro Canada station on Airport Road at the base of runway 23, but pulling onto the shoulder and taking in the scene from Convair gives a more holistic view of the action at the airport.
I only stopped for a few minutes on account of my irrational fear that I'd be hassled by airport security, but it was worth the temporary anxiety.
Convair Dr. is most mysterious at night, when the shimmering runway lights add another element of intrigue. As I've said before, X-Files fans driving here will feel as though they're playing Mulder and Scully as they case Ellens Air Force Base for prototype military planes based on UFO technology. It just has that vibe.
Even if you haven't watched the show, and even if you don't care much for planes, Convair is worth a detour to explore for its various pleasures, the most palpable of which is the sense that you're trespassing without that ever actually being the case. This is more captivating than you might think.
Photos by Derek Flack.
Many Toronto menus feature tantalizing descriptions and promise to deliver a palate-pleasing feast filled with artisanal and locally sourced foodstuffs. But sometimes, what you read isn't what you end up getting on your plate.
According to a Toronto Star report, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) found that after three separate inspections, Azure Restaurant, in the Intercontinental Toronto Centre, had "misrepresented" or incorrectly described food items 20 times between 2013 and 2015.
An Intercontinental employee tipped off the CFIA, writing, as the Star says, "The public is being mislead to believe they are getting a high quality product when they are actually getting a much cheaper lower quality food product."
In response, the Intercontinental's general manager Alexi Hakim told the Toronto paper that Azure now has a policy to ensure accuracy on all of its menus. And, as the Star notes, the CFIA emailed restaurant employees in October 2015, saying all menus had been corrected.
Here are some of the "misrepresentations" the Star describes in its report:
Are you surprised by these claims? Let us know in the comments.
The Toronto Star announced this morning that it's shutting down its Vaughan printing plant. Instead, starting in July, it'll be outsourcing to Transcontinental Printing for at least the next five years.
According to the Globe and Mail, this move means that 220 full-time and 65 part-time employees will lose their jobs.
As Global News reports, Canada's largest newspaper has been focusing on its digital properties after launching the Star Touch tablet app last fall. However, the Globe notes that the five-year deal with Transcontinental means the paper likely has no plans to quash its print edition any time soon.
"This move will allow us to focus our efforts increasingly on creating great content and engaging audiences across many platforms while at the same time reducing costs and improving the production quality of the newspaper," said Toronto Star publisher John Cruickshank in a Torstar news release.
Photo by Jason Blacquiere in the blogTO Flickr pool.
This newly opened restaurant embraces comfort foods of all kinds. The menu takes a novel approach presenting each main ingredient in two ways; on bread or on rice, in an effort to showcase how our collective cravings are quite similar no matter whether you're eating Western or Eastern-style preparations.
Read my profile of Coo Cafe Bread or Rice in the restaurants section.
Toronto's York Spadina subway extension is running $400 million over budget, according to a new TTC report (PDF).
This isn't the first time we've heard about this six stop, 8.6-kilometre route going over its initial $2.6 billion budget.
For this latest increase, Toronto will likely have to shell out $240 million, while York Region will be on the hook for $160 million.
Back in March 2015, the Toronto Star reported that the extension was $400 million over budget - though the mayor's office wouldn't confirm these numbers at the time.
However, later that same month, the TTC fired two high-ranking managers working on the extension and said the project required a "complete reset" if it was going to be ready by 2017. And, the Transit Commission also announced it needed $150 million more to complete the project on time.
Now, the extension, which runs from the current Downsview Station to York University, is 80 percent complete. The TTC's Andy Byford said it would likely open late next year.
Photo by Tom Ryaboi.
Toronto's famed Splendido served its last supper on New Year's Eve and wrapped up 25 years as one of this city's most highly rated restaurants. But starting January 16, the Harbord Street institution will be putting a bunch of its furniture up for sale.
While Splendido's tasting menu may have been pricey, the items up for grabs are actually quite reasonable - think $50 for one orange leather dining room chair and $50 for a leather swivel chair.
If you're looking to add some Toronto fine-dining history to your home, head to 88 Harbord Street between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Saturday.
Photo via Splendio.
Organizations all across Toronto are playing tribute to David Bowie this weekend, from Choir! Choir! Choir!'s sold-out "Space Oddity" sing-a-long at the Art Gallery of Ontario to Much Music's 24-hours of Bowie happening this Sunday.
And, if you head down to the Harbourfront Centre this evening, you can skate along to the Starman's tunes for free.
Yes, from 8 p.m. until 11 p.m. tonight, weather permitting, Harbourfront is hosting a "Bowie on Ice" event featuring an all-Bowie playlist curated by DJs Phil V and Misty Rock'n'Roll.
The regularly scheduled weekly DJ skate night series will continue on Saturday.
There's a new restaurant to indulge in a wide variety of Spanish food and sangria. While the space is huge, the majority of the plates are small, allowing you to do some major exploration with friends.
Read my profile of Tapagria in the restaurants section.
Art galleries in Toronto are not confined to any one pocket of the city. Increasingly, gallery owners are leaving bustling (and expensive) areas like West Queen West and resettling northward near Dupont St., where's there now a burgeoning arts scene. But there are still newcomers who have settled into some of the spaces left behind.
Here's a round-up of notable new art galleries in Toronto.
Only One Gallery
Only One Gallery in Parkdale has taken over the space formerly occupied by Neubacher Shor. The space is vast with exposed-brick walls and high ceilings. Aside from its focus on contemporary art the gallery frequently hosts events and product launches.
Warner Gallery
At Ossington and Dupont, this gallery is housed in an unassuming building with rusted grates over the windows, reminiscent of a prison - so that's how you know it's legit. The gallery dedicates itself to showcasing contemporary art by emerging Toronto artists.
Zalucky Contemporary
This gallery is found in a small and narrow storefront in the Junction. Their very first exhibition showcased a series called Small Monuments by Laura Moore. The artist created multiple generations of computer mice sculpted from soapstone.
Alison Milne Gallery
This former Niagara St. gallery has relocated north to the Junction Triangle. They continue to showcase exciting work from emerging local talent working in all mediums.
Neubacher Shor
The former Parkdale gallery now calls Dupont and Lansdowne home. Their mandate hasn't changed, though; they remain dedicated to nurturing and exhibiting the talents of young Canadian artists.
What's your favourite new art gallery in Toronto? Let us know in the comments. Photo via Only One Gallery.
Local artists regularly reimagine Toronto using a variety of media. One, however, works with tape - yes, like duct tape - to stunningly depict different areas of the city.
Emanuel Pavao is one of the finalists in the Artist Project's Untapped Emerging Artists competition and he makes his locally focused pieces using all sorts of household tape, including duct, masking and electrical varieties.
At the tail end of last summer, he showed off his work as a participant at the 2015 Outdoor Art Exhibition , where he won the show's Best of Mixed Media award.
"I hope to push the limits of what is possible with this medium of tape and with myself," he writes on his website.
Check out some of his Toronto-centric pieces below.
Burlesque shows in Toronto can be seen at prominent venues, such as the Mod Club and the Great Hall, as well as more frequent performances - many of which are body positive - in smaller rooms, mainly on Toronto's west side.
Here are eight bars and clubs that regularly feature burlesque.
Revival
Revival sees a steady stream of tassels thanks to a number a groups, such as Les Femmes Fatales, who regularly perform at this Little Italy spot. It's also home to Kitty Night Toronto, an event that rolls around on the third Saturday of every month.
Painted Lady
This narrow Ossington Avenue bar serves up a wide selection of craft beer, snacks and cocktails as well as live music, and of course, burlesque. And that's fitting considering it calls itself a music and burlesque bar.
Bovine Sex Club
You'll want to head to this well-known Queen West spot on hump day. Why? Because it plays host to Pussy Whipped Wednesdays, a weekly burlesque series that's usually themed.
Cherry Cola's
Instead of watching Netflix and chilling on your couch, finish off your weekend at Cherry Cola's because it's home to Sinful Sundays, another themed weekly burlesque show and cabaret.
Rivoli
In the back room at this Queen West stalwart, you can find the monthly Reveal Me at the Rivoli show. This four-year-old fixture features burlesque newbies, or virgins, as well as more established performers.
Smiling Buddha
Not only is this venue a haven for emerging musicians, but it's also where Toronto's Nerd Girl Burlesque performs. This troupe of artists takes inspiration from a slew of nerdy subcultures and at Smiling Buddha, it holds a board game social following each show.
Ballet
This burlesque lounge on Lower Ossington maintains a more club-like vibe than many of the other bars listed here. But, you can expect to see dancers here most nights of the week.
Candyland
This dinner theatre venue and club offers a range of live entertainment, including burlesque performances. It's open Thursday through Sundays, from 7 p.m. onward.
Photo via the Toronto Burlesque Festival / Angela McConnell
The top Toronto covers of Drake songs prove that the city's musicians love the 6 God as much as the rest of us. More than a few artists have taken his songs and turned them into different - possibly even better - versions of themselves, giving them pop, punk and classical twists. Even if you aren't a fan of Drizzy, these covers may make you fall in love with his lyrics and melodies.
Here are my picks for the top Toronto covers of Drake songs.
Alessia Cara - "Hotline Bling"
BBC Radio 1 Live Lounge is renown for producing some top-notch covers and Alessia Cara's take on Hotline Bling is no exception. While Florence and the Machine, Arctic Monkeys and Foster the People have all done Drake justice in the Live Lounge, Alessia Cara's reigns supreme (plus, her Toronto connection gives her some bonus points).
Toronto Symphony Orchestra - "Know Yourself"
The TSO deserves props for making something so far from classical music into a piece worthy of being played at Roy Thomson Hall. If you want to feel classy while running through the six with your woes, this should be your new soundtrack.
Lights - "Hotline Bling"
Lights swung by Paste magazine's studio to show Drake a little love with an indie-pop cover of "Hotline Bling". The all-acoustic ditty is a far cry from the R&B-meets-trap original, but that doesn't make it any less loveable. Unfortunately, she doesn't do any meme-worthy dancing in the video.
Andrew Huang - "Hotline Bling"
Andrew Huang, one of the Toronto's top YouTubers, covered Hotline Bling as part of his "Song Challenge" series. Instead of merely singing over an instrumental track, Huang uses a dial tone, the default iPhone ring and other phone-related beats to perform Drizzy's hit song. Kudos to him for doing something completely original.
Dilly Dally - "Know Yourself"
Dilly Dally has transformed "Know Yourself" into a grunge-punk's dream with their hardcore-leaning cover. Drake's almost spoken-word chorus has been given an edge as lead singer Katie Monk literally screams the song's most beloved line: "I was runnin' through the six with my woes".
What did I miss? Add your favourite Drake cover by a Toronto artist to the comments.
Photo by BBC Radio 1.
