Seedy Toronto can still be seen in certain corners of the city, but on the whole this is a place that's been highly sanitized over the last 30 years. The motels are mostly gone, neon is in decline, and the strip club's days are numbered. Will anybody mourn these soon-to-be-extinct species? Not so much. Perhaps we can agree that the character they provided our streetscape will be missed.

Here are 10 ways that Toronto used to be more seedy than it is today.

Strip clubs could be found everywhere
Toronto isn't bereft of strip clubs, but you used to find a whole lot more of them around town and in areas you might not expect. The wonderfully named Cheaters drew the ire of Yonge and Davisville residents throughout the '80s, but it was just one of hundreds of adult bars littered across the city. Today there are fewer than 20.

Everything was filthy
I mean this quite literally. When the city was run on coal, our buildings were covered in a thick layer of soot that made red brick appear brown and that gave Toronto a generally gritty look, particularly downtown.

The TTC featured a lot more graffiti
Back in the early 1980s, the state of some TTC stations was surprisingly poor. I know we tend to complain about the littlest things these days, but when the original Vitrolite tiles were coming apart at downtown stations back then, the platforms seemed like prime places for spray paint. Broken windows, they say...

Porn theatres were still a thing
The Metro Theatre, Toronto's last movie house dedicated to pornographic films, shut its doors for good at the end of 2013, drawing to a close a period when people would actually leave their homes to watch such things. Well, in fairness, it was never really just about watching.

Rumours of the Cherry Beach Express abounded
This was a powerful urban legend, most likely because it was founded in reality. According to the anecdotal accounts (and morethan one song), the Toronto police would take perps down to Cherry Beach to rough them up. Then in 1996 Thomas Kerr, a homeless man, alleged he was assaulted by police here. He ultimately won a $750,000 settlement from the force.

Yonge St. was alive with sex, drugs, and music
While not all the seediness has been extinguished from Yonge St., the process is very much underway. Between the 1950s and '80s, however, the sinful strip experienced its heyday. Littered with hotels, live music venues, movie theatres, sex shops, and strip clubs, it was a den for sleaze and illegal activity.

It was actually dangerous to walk around at night in some neighbourhoods
The flip side to Yonge Street's seediness is that it was legitimately dangerous, a fact dramatically and tragically driven home by the death of Emmanuel Jacques in 1977, but it wasn't the only area of the city that was overtly dangerous. Both Moss Park and Regent Park had terrible reputations in the 1970s, but a far longer list could be written.

Grindhouse theatres were dens of iniquity
In addition to porn theatres, Toronto's grindhouse cinemas were places where all sorts of people down on their luck could while away a day drinking wine that tasted like pure ethanol, getting high, and (maybe!) watching B-movies of the most kitschy kind. We shall never forget the Rio.

There was neon everywhere
The relationship between neon and seediness requires little explication (from late night diners to strip clubs to shimmering rent-rooms-by-the-hour hotel signs), and Toronto sure had a lot of neon up until the mid 1980s. This is one bit of seediness that I dearly miss.

Motels could be found in plentiful supply on the outskirts of the city
I couldn't write a post on seedy Toronto without offering a reminder that motel culture was once alive and well in this city. While a few of these remain in Scarborough, their pure seediness has been eclipsed by the survival instincts of those who call them home. Not so in the 1970s and '80s, when they were havens for extramarital affairs, criminal plotting, and drug deals.

What did I miss? Add your memories of seedy Toronto in the comments.

The top new menswear stores in Toronto will help kick your style up a few notches. The last year brought some fashionable new players to the city's retail scene. If your wardrobe is in need of an update, turn to these places to find something a little more unique than those on the racks at the local Gap.

Here are my picks for the top new menswear stores in Toronto.

Love & Greed
If you aspire to join the ranks of Toronto's top fashion bloggers, Love & Greed is worth a visit. The Parkdale shop stocks clothes for every occasion, with everything from Alexander Nash suits and tuxedos to Satya Twena hats in its stock. Bonus: there's a hidden whisky bar tucked away in the basement that you can reserve for private events.

Park & Province
Park & Province sells trend-forward casual pieces right across the street from Trinity Bellwoods on West Queen West. The store carries a mix of hard to find brands and big name labels, so whether you're on the hunt for a pair of New Balance sneaks or Portuguese Flannel shirts they've got you covered.

Muddy George
This Bloorcourt boutique touts duds from homegrown brands like 18 Waits and Muttonhead, plus a smattering of labels from abroad. You'll find a healthy supply of overnight bags, knitwear, outerwear, chinos and button-downs on its shelves. It also has a small apothecary section, if you're looking to upgrade your skincare regimen.

Frank & Oak (Don Mills)
Frank & Oak isn't unfamiliar to lover's of contemporary menswear. The West Queen West store has been a staple for a couple years now, bolstering men's wardrobes with its brand of refined casual apparel. This past year it opened an outpost in the Shops At Don Mills, giving those on east side a new haunt. Caffeine lovers will also be pleased to know that this outpost has its every own Café Névé.

Simon Carter (Dundas West)
Simon Carter kissed its West Queen West boutique goodbye and relocated its flagship to a cozy space on Dundas West. Its stock includes dapper wool jackets, cashmere knits, leather trainers and more. If you're looking to inject your wardrobe with a bit of U.K. flair, this is where to go.

What did I miss? Add your favourite new menswear stores to the comments.

Photo of Park & Province by Hector Vasquez.

Pizza in Toronto has evolved throughout the years, excelling as a greasy street food staple, economical family meal and date-worthy destination. While the market for a hot pie has multiplied at a frenetic pace, there's a handful of pizzerias that have endured and thrived for decades.

Here's a round-up of old school pizzerias in Toronto.

See also:The Best Pizza in Toronto.

Vesuvio Pizzeria & Spaghetti House
The restaurant in The Junction claims the title of Toronto's first and oldest pizza parlour. Originally opened in 1957, the restaurant relocated in 1962 to its existing location on Dundas West, just seven doors down from the original. The founding Pugliese family can also be credited with an instrumental role in lifting the dry destination in The Junction.

Camarra Pizza
Camarra Pizza was established on Dufferin Street in 1958 after bringing over the family business from Italy. Initially opened as a market and commissary, their claim to fame is introducing the party-size pizza to Toronto. They even had to sit down with a paper company to design the boxes. To this day it's still a family business and the current operators are the fourth generation of pizza makers.

Il Paesano
This pizzeria on Browns Line in Etobicoke has won over generations of pizza lovers with its classic pies since it first opened in 1957. Some of the regulars are now sporting grey hair others have long since moved away and return now on nostalgic whims. The recipes are all original and the Deluxe featuring pepperoni, mushrooms and peppers is as popular as ever.

Milano's Pizza
Slinging pizza since 1963, this old school Etobicoke joint is a neighbourhood institution reputed for its delicious pies generously layered with toppings and bubbling cheese.

Frank's Pizza House
Since 1965, this pizzeria on St. Clair has been serving up familiar Italian fare. The current operators, the Taverniti family took over the business in 1992 and have upheld its reputation as a top source for dine-in and delivery in the neighbourhood. The menu bills a line-up of pizzas, pastas, soups, salads, sandwiches and one killer calzone.

Gerrard Spaghetti & Pizza House
This family business has been a Danforth mainstay since 1966. The ovens have been upgraded over the years and the menu has evolved into a full sit-down Italian experience, but the recipes for the dough and sauce are the same as ever. Customize pies to order or select from almost 65 pre-designed pies like ever popular Calabrese.

Bitondo Pizzeria & Sandwiches
The Little Italy institution has been dishing out piping hot pizzas since the late '60s. The original owner won the lottery twice before passing the business down to family who have garnered a loyal following nostalgic for simpler times, when pepperoni was supposed to be greasy A.F. and toppings only got as exotic as pineapple.

Regina Pizzeria & Trattoria
The Italian trattoria in the heart of Little Italy has been a neighbour staple since 1967 and is still as charming as ever. The staff are handsome older men with thick Italian accents, and the menu boasts a classic assortment of pies, one famously garlicky Caesar salad, and some of the best pasta dishes you didn't know you could get delivered.

The Real McCoy
Burgers and pizza are the specialty at this Scarborough institution that's been in business for over 45 years and it still operated by the original owners. The pizza's here aren't fancy; just good old fashioned junk food featuring the a classic selection of toppings.

Diamond Pizza & Grill
The original location on Main Street is an East York gem that's been serving its community since 1978. When it first launch, the menu focused exclusively on pizza and pasta but was expanded in the early '80s to also include charbroiled burgers, souvlaki and more.

What did I miss? Add your favourite old school pizza joint to the comments.

Photo of Bitondo's by Jesse Milns.

Police are asking the public to help them identity and find a suspect who got away with stealing over $1,500 of gum from a pharmacy in Markham.

According to the police, the man arrived at the drug store in a taxi. Surveillance footage shows the suspect, who the police have dubbed the "Fresh Breath Bandit," entering the pharmacy and filling up a garbage bag with what is purportedly chewing gum.

"A few moments later he re-enters the store, fills another garbage bag with chewing gum and walks out again," said Const. Andy Pattenden in a news release.

Police estimate that the value of the stolen gum is $1,528.

The theft happened this past December but police released the video and details of the crime only yesterday. They've reached a dead end in their investigation and are thus enlisting the public's assistance.

What would you do with $1,528 worth of gum? Let us know in the comments.

The top free events in Toronto will have you hitting up art exhibits all week long. The Toronto Design Offsite Festival is taking over Toronto's public spaces and galleries for a can't-miss citywide show. Check the event's festival map if you need help planning a route.

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

Toronto Design Offsite Festival (Jan. 18-24)
If you're counting down the days until Nuit Blanche returns, the Toronto Design Offsite Festival will be right up your alley. Public spaces will be turned into exhibition sites for one week, flaunting everything from window installations to blindfolded walking tours. See the 2016 schedule here.

Dave Bookman's Nu Music Nite (Jan. 21)
As per usual, Tuesday night shows are cost-free at the Horseshoe Tavern. This week Mad City, Gursky, HarpAcash and the Morals and Midnight Vesta will be playing sets from 9pm onwards. Expect to find the crowd full of new-music lovers.

Ryerson Winter Exhibitions Opening Party (Jan. 20)
Head to the Ryerson Image Centre on January 20th to celebrate this season's exhibition. You'll get the first glance of The Light Inside: Wendy Snyder MacNeil Photographs and Films; Spring Hurlbut: Airborne; Izabella Pruska-Oldenhof: The Relics of Lumen; and Ways of Seeing: Building the RIC Collection.

Fireside Tales: The Start/Beginning (Jan. 19)
Fireside Tales is keeping warm inside Comedy Bar until more hospitable weather returns. This week, the event will bring some of the city's top storytellers out to discuss beginnings. The lineup includes Zak McDonald, Meg MacKay, Rhonda Riche, Lori Lane Murphy and more.

DJ Skate Nights: Small World Grooves (Jan. 23)
Head to the Harbourfront Centre on the night of the 23rd for another DJ Skate Night. The music for this week's installment will be brought to you by DJ medicineman. You may not be downing shots on the dance floor, but it's much more cost effective and probably just as fun.

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

Photo via Toronto Design Offsite Festival / Marcin Barciak via Facebook.

A popular Toronto hair salon has outgrown its original location and expanded to a second spot in what used to be a vintage furniture store.

Read my profile of Untitled by Flaunt Boutique in the fashion section.

The top marathons in and around Toronto for 2016 all offer black toe-inducing distances, from half marathons all the way up to ultras. The best combine beautiful scenery with well-organized races peppered with volunteers urging you on.

Here are my picks for the top marathons in and around Toronto this year.

Around the Bay (April 3)
The 30K Around the Bay race is dubbed North America's longest-running marathon and features a picturesque view of the Hamilton Harbour. It's guaranteed to sell out so snag your spot early for this fan fave race.

Mississauga Marathon (May 1)
Runners love the Mississauga half and full marathons. The route is a blend of city, country and lakefront, with an overall drop of 80 metres from start to finish.

Goodlife Fitness Toronto Marathon (May 1)
Beginning uptown at Mel Lastman Square, this run sees thousands of racers clog Yonge Street until just south of York Mills, where the killer hill splits the runners from the dreamers.

Seaton Trail Race (May 14)
Get down and dirty with the closest trail run to Toronto. Pickering is home to the "Seaton Soaker," aptly named for the full-on creek crossing at the finish. The route is a punishing 50K.

Buffalo Marathon (May 29)
If you prefer to see your mileage in miles and not kilometers, head to Buffalo for their flat and fast Boston pre-qualifier. This well-organized run is just a short drive from the 6.

Band on the Run (June 11)
Muskoka is home to the Band on the Run race, a fun-filled half marathon that'll see you dashing through town, a golf course and finally around a provincial park. Live music dots the race, with notable acts like The Sheepdogs having performed in the past.

Creemore Vertical Challenge (August 6)
This niche trail run allows for only 250 runners so if running uphill sounds like a good time (vertical climbs can go as long as mile in some spots), sign up for the 25, 50 or 75K routes that will see you navigate the rugged terrain around Creemore. Winners snag hand-crafted pottery and local maple syrup as prizes.

MEC Toronto Race SIX (September 11)
MEC runs a series of races of various lengths, but race six gives you ample time to get into prime 42.2 shape. This run meanders around the Leslie Street Spit and Tommy Thompson Park, a perfect backdrop for personal bests.

Oakville Half Marathon (September 25)
Lakefront views and pristine houses dot the route of the Oakville Half Marathon, a top choice for those looking for a half that's not quite as busy as the Toronto races.

Scotiabank Waterfront Marathon (Oct 16)
After a season of training, make it all count at this marquee race. International runners and locals cram the city's streets, as do the countless well-wishers who cheer them all on. Finish at Old City Hall for a 6 god feeling.

What marathons in and around Toronto do you run? Let us know in the comments.

Photo by PLTAM in the blogTO Flickr pool.

Toronto is home to many innovative people who've come up with great ideas and products but are short on the resources needed to bring their projects to fruition. These budding entrepreneurs have turned to crowdfunding sites like Kickstarter to enlist your help.

Here are 6 Toronto-based crowdfunding projects you can support right now.

Paragon Games
Since the popular Snakes and Lattes opened in Koreatown, Toronto has welcomed a lot more board game cafes. If they reach their goal of $5,000, the husband-and-wife team behind this Kickstarter campaign will open a cafe featuring board games, retro video games and locally-grown organic food.

The Ultimate Cutting Board
Marketed as the Swiss Army Knife of cutting boards, this nifty contraption is made of maple wood and has a disposal drawer for scraps and storage compartments for knives and a mandolin/cheese grater. There are also insets for a juicer and two measuring cups. It also doubles as a serving platter.

Tito Ron's
Having served their tasty lumpias at events like the T.O. Food Fest, this Filipino-Caribbean pop-up already has a devoted fanbase. In March, chef Tristen Petate will be ditching the temp tents and settling into a permanent location in Kensington Market. Donations will go toward much-needed renovations and equipment upgrades.

Luuup Litter Box
If you love Snuffles but can't stand cleaning his poop (cat owner problems), then you should support this campaign. This litter box uses a sifting mechanism that collects the clumped waste in one tray and filters out the clean litter for re-use onto another. It's a low-tech but nonetheless ingenious solution.

QTemp
Billed as a "personalized weather station," QTemp is a small UV reader that connects with your iPhone or Android through an app, in which you enter information about your particular skin type. QTemp will measure the UV levels and temperature in your immediate surroundings, and will even tell you if it's time to get out of the sun.

oJo
oJo is a small but powerful device containing a rare-earth magnet and a reusable adhesive that lets you attach your phone to virtually any surface. It's particularly useful when you're driving; you can securely mount your phone onto the console. The manufacturers promise that the magnet won't interfere with your phone's functionality.

Which projects will you support? Let us know in the comments.

Photo of Tito Ron's by Jesse Milns.

The top bakeries for eclairs in Toronto are wise to have one of the most sought-after French pastries on their menu. While many have tarnished the dessert's reputation with bad pastry dough, too much sugar and fake chocolate glaze, Toronto chefs are redeeming the eclair by combining traditional French recipes with innovative flavours.

Here are my picks for the top bakeries for eclairs in Toronto.

The Tempered Room
This Parkdale gem serves beautifully-crafted mini eclairs ($3.75 each or 3 for $10) that come in three flavours. Chef Bertrand Alépée is known for adding a modern twist to traditional French recipes. Some of the flavours include matcha sesame, raspberry bergamot, and cacao passion fruit. And because of their modest size it is totally acceptable to try them all.

Nugateau Patisserie
Nugateau is Toronto's first pastry shop dedicated solely to the eclair. Pastry chef Atul Palghadmal offers 12 to 14 flavour each day, including salted caramel, Persian pistachio, Japanese matcha and maple bacon. Nugateau is the only place where you'll find savoury eclairs, such as the ones with foie gras or wasabi smoked salmon.

Delysees
Ever wanted to eat gold? You can at Delysees when you order their renowned gold eclair, which is filled with hazelnut cream. But if gold isn't your thing, you can also find a wide variety of flavours like lemon meringue, red velvet, Madagascar dark chocolate, salted caramel, blackberry cream, roasted pistachio and almond cream.

Roselle Desserts
Head to this Corktown gem for a special kind of eclair. Master pastry chef Stephanie Duong takes classic French pastry techniques and combines them with ingenious flavour combinations. Her banana cream pie eclair ($7) is the epitome of #treatyoself. It's got white chocolate, caramelized bananas and rum, and is surprisingly not overly sweet.

MoRoCo Chocolat
MoRoCo Chocolat offers more than just a posh assortment of chocolates and high tea. The Yorkville chocolatier has a regular spread of salted caramel, rum raison, raspberry,and chocolate eclairs on display. They also offer seasonal flavours, like peppermint during Christmas.

Maman
You can't go wrong when you order anything from Maman. That includes an order of their delicious eclairs. You can typically find a small batch on display at lunchtime from Wednesday to Friday with flavours such as chocolate, coffee and key lime.

Mon K Patisserie
This bakery takes French recipes and adds a Japanese flair - so it should be of no surprise that they bake a delicious green-tea eclair, along with salted caramel and chocolate ($3.75 each). Be sure to place your order three days in advance, however, as eclairs are only baked to order.

Thobors Boulangerie Patisserie Cafe
This Parisian cafe now with two locations in Toronto is all about keeping it simple and sticking to a classic French menu, similar to what you would find on a Paris street corner. Here is where you can expect to find a classic chocolate eclair along with other delectable French pastries.

Le Neuf
Amidst the chaos of the downtown core is this little oasis serving an assortment of classic French pastries, including eclairs. Le Neuf bakes classic chocolate-glazed éclairs, a nice treat to have with your café au lait. No frills, no fancy flavours, just plain choux pastry filled with a light custard and topped with a thin layer of chocolate ganache.

Pain Perdu
This bakery-cafe on St. Clair West serves eclairs in chocolate or vanilla. Here you will find traditional French eclairs to indulge in after a classic French lunch.

What did I miss? Add your suggestions for the top bakeries for eclairs in the comments.

Writing by Sarah Resendes. Photo of Nugateau Patisserie's eclairs by Hector Vasquez.

Toronto has so much history that hides in plain sight, from our old cottage architecture to buried rivers that still run underneath the modern city. Even the most unremarkable of buildings, a rather anonymous midtown thrift shop, has an intriguing story to tell.

Walking by 665 St. Clair West today you wouldn't think that it was once an important incubator for Toronto's punk scene in the 1970s and early '80s. But, like the street itself, there used to be an incredible amount of energy here.

What now serves as an outlet for the Salvation Army chain of thrift stores started as The Christie Theatre, one of a surprising number of cinemas that used to line the street from the turn of the century to the 1960s when most of them shuttered on account of television's rise as the dominant form of visual entertainment.

The Christie Theatre operated between 1919 and 1963. It was one of the first Toronto cinemas to host double bills, a concept that had yet to be popularized in the 1920s.

When the space ceased to show movies it was converted into a dance hall known as the Maple Leaf Ballroom.

Little is known about the venue through the late '60s, but by the '70s it had become a key punk venue in the city. This might seem improbable based on the current state of the midtown neighbourhood, but St. Clair West was significantly seedier and culturally vibrant in a youthful sense 30+ years ago.

Along with hosting local bands, the Maple Leaf Ballroom provided a stage for touring groups that would go on to achieve international acclaim. The Pretenders played one of these early and now legendary shows (1978), but it's U2's second Toronto gig that lives on as the most famous event to take place here.

The date was March 11, 1981. The upstart band was touring in support of their first album Boy, which had got them enough attention to earn a spot on Citytv's The New Music. Even if the music was more rough around the edges, a few U2 character traits were already in place when they played Toronto for the second time (the first gig was at the El Mocambo in 1980).

For one, Bono would talk about himself and the band with a defiant confidence that would become one of his hallmarks. But, perhaps more importantly, the surviving reports from the concert are unanimous in noting just how energetic, tight, and attention-commanding U2 were back then.

Yes, the aging rockers aren't so cool now, but in 1981 they turned heads. So too did The Diodes, the much-loved Toronto punk group who opened the set. In an effort to drum up some excitement, the lead singer, Paul Robinson, reputedly knocked down the mirrored ball that spun above the ballroom.

His last attempt sent him crashing off the stage, a feat that simultaneously earned the respect and chagrin of the 300 or so people assembled to watch this seminal Toronto concert.

While U2 was the most famous band to play the Maple Leaf Ballroom, it's crucial to note that throughout the '80s, it had become a venue that supported the burgeoning reggae and rap scenes in Toronto. Not much is recorded about this period, though the venue was important enough of a place to host the second annual Canadian Black Music Awards.

By the early 1990s, the concert venue had given way to a bingo hall. The arrow-shaped sign that now adorns its facade derives from this period. Some rather austere aluminum siding was added to the exterior of the building before its current plaster job was smeared on.

So many layers to the palimpsest of history here.

Walking through the aisles of mothball-scented clothing today, one can still trace the signs of the old music hall. The varying height of the ceiling hints at the old balcony, while the temporary fixtures and sheer size of the interior serve as reminders that this was once a place meant for hundreds to congregate.

The last time I found myself in the place, summer of 2014, I was perusing the haphazardly assembled music section. Sitting among the old Billy Ocean, Glass Tiger, and classical music cassettes, there was a bashed up copy of Boy semi-miraculously sitting there.

I didn't buy it, though.

It seemed to belong contained within these walls.

Archival materials via Angel Wells and Reggae Toronto.

Toronto brewers Simon DaCosta and Jon Hodd are finally opening their own brewery and tap room in Leslieville come springtime. Radical Road Brewing, an offshoot of the Etobicoke-based Black Oak Brewery, has two beers in its lineup so far: Canny Man, a 9.1% barrel-aged Scotch ale; and The Wayward Son, a 7.5% golden ale.

Presumably, both ales will be available for your enjoyment when Radical Road Brewing opens its doors at 1177 Queen Street East near Queen and Jones, across the street from Descendent Pizza. It's taking over the space once home to Village Wine, a boutique wine-making facility.

Radical Road joins a growing number of craft brewers on Toronto's east side. Later this year, the former brewmaster at Dieu du Ciel is slated to open a massive brewpub in Little India. Left Field Brewery, Muddy York and Louis Cifer Brew Works have already gained strong local followings while The Danforth Brewery is also in the works.

Know of any other breweries opening in Toronto? Let us know in the comments.

Today in Toronto kick off your week in style at the Toronto Design Offsite Festival's opening bash. You'll get the chance to mix and mingle with local designers, architects and artists at the Shopify offices. Today marks the beginning of the fest, so you can also check out some of the exhibitions around the city.

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

• TO DO Festival Party (Shopify)
• Toronto Design Offsite Festival (Various Locations)
• Maple Blues Awards (Koerner Hall)
• Cameron House Comedy (Cameron House)
• Jennifer Budd & Mental Friction (Horseshoe Tavern)
• 86'd Whisky Month (Drake Hotel)

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

Photo via official Jennifer Budd website

All Goodwill stores in Toronto suddenly closed yesterday. The registered charity that has sold second-hand clothing and goods for over 80 years, announced the closure which includes 16 stores, 10 donation centres and 2 offices in Toronto, Mississauga, Brampton, Newmarket, Barrie, Orillia and Brockville.

"Due to a number of factors affecting the retail environment, Goodwill is facing a cash flow crisis," said CEO Keiko Nakamura in a statement.

More than 430 people are left without a job. Many Goodwill employees showed up to work on Sunday to find the doors closed without warning or explanation.

Union lawyer Denis Ellickson told the Toronto Star that the employees, who are represented by the Canadian Airport Workers Union, were not given the 30 to 60 days notice that they are legally entitled to.

It's unclear at this point whether any of the stores will reopen, or when. According to Nakamura's statement, Goodwill "is exploring a variety of options to continue its decades-long mission" and "will be reaching out to the union, stakeholders and all levels of government to bring clarity as soon as possible."

The Star reported that the charity received more than $4 million in government funding in 2014.

Goodwill is expected to release an update on its website by noon today.

Photo by tysonwilliams.com in the blogTO Flickr pool.

Cars currently reign supreme on Toronto's King Street, but that could change over the next few years. Yes, there's finally real hope for those of us who bike, walk and take the TTC to get around the city's downtown core.

That's because the City of Toronto is looking to redesign King Street, from Liberty Village all the way to the Distillery District.

As the Toronto Star reports today, the city has commissioned a "King Street Visioning Study," and will hold public consultations this spring, with some sort of pilot project expected a year later, in 2017.

Public Work, the group behind the Queens Quay revitalization, is spearheading this revamp. And, as the Star notes, it has partnered with internationally renowned urban design rockstars Gehl Architects and Sam Schwartz Transportation Consultants, along with local firm Swerhun.

Toronto's chief planner Jennifer Keesmaat told the Star that cars likely won't be cut off completely from King Street. Though, as the paper notes, the city's request for proposal calls for a plan that prioritizes public transit and pedestrians.

And, what's particularly exciting is that we hopefully won't have to wait long to see real change on this main Toronto thoroughfare.

What would you like to see happen on King Street? Let us know in the comments.

Photo by Andreas Marx in the blogTO Flickr pool.

Toronto's drop-in choral society Choir! Choir! Choir! helped break the AGO's website last week when it announced it'd be covering "Space Oddity" in the gallery's Walker Court.

Luckily, more than 500 fans managed to snag tickets to the sing-a-long on Saturday, January 16 and they gathered together to perform a touching tribute to the late David Bowie.

If you need to give your Monday morning some lift off, have a listen below to Daveed Goldman and Nobu Adilman's arrangement of Bowie's 1969 hit.

This year old coffee shop doubles as a bar and raises the stakes with their Baileys Latte, a creamy coffee with an Irish whisky twist. The cafe also makes a delicious deep dish cookie.

Read my profile of Black Cat Espresso Bar in the cafes section.

Adult colouring books are all the rage in Toronto. And now, you can bring the #6God to your next pencil crayon pity party.

Sugoi Books, a new print label based out of the U.K., created Under Star Projectors: The Unofficial Drake Coloring Book. "We wanted to talk with some of our favourite illustrators and create an ode to the ultimate lover boy," a Sugoi rep tells me via email.

This 32-page homage to Drizzy clocks in at £7, or around $20 CAD, including shipping, and features work from 15 different illustrators.

Along with keeping you satiated until Views From The 6 drops, this colouring book would also jazz up your next "listen to Drake songs and cry" session.

Would you invest in a Drake colouring book? Let us know in the comments.

The newest outpost from this chain of vegan eateries isn't in the PATH like its predecessors. Taking full advantage of its new aboveground status, this location is open late (until 10 p.m.) and on weekends. It's serving up beer, cider and even spiked kombucha cocktails.

Read my profile of the Spadina location of Kupfert & Kim in the restaurants section.

Toronto is filled with shops that'll help dress your bedroom up to the nines. Regardless of your budget, you can find high-quality mattresses, linens and furniture at locally-owned businesses. So whether you're moving into a studio apartment or a swanky Rosedale-area pad, you never have to sacrifice good design.

Here are 10 essential Toronto shops you'll need to visit to outfit your bedroom.

Mattresses
While Endy Sleep has a showroom located at Queen and Bathurst, it's primarily an online business that hopes to make mattress shopping easier. You can order yours via Endy Sleep's website and the company will deliver it directly to your doorstep.

Bed Frames
Stylegarage is one of Toronto's most well-known independent furniture stores for a reason. It offers up stylish contemporary furniture and its bed frames are no exception. It specializes in low-profile models and has storage options for those looking to save space with under-the-bed drawers.

Bedding
Your dream mattress is useless unless you have comfy sheets, and a nice warm duvet, to slide into at the end of a long day. Au Lit, on Yonge near Davisville, has you covered with Egyptian cotton bedding, down duvets as well as a slew of other options including eco-friendly bamboo sheets.

Wallpaper
Ink Shuffle, a Toronto-based company, lets you redecorate on a whim. With customized prints available, you can decorate with a serene seascape, a calming geometric pattern or a 50-feet by 50-feet photo of your cat. Best of all, this wallpaper is easy to put on and peels right off when you're bored of it.

Rugs
If you don't want a giant wall decal of your kitty, how about a custom cat rug? It's actually one of the services that Totem Rugs offers. This Toronto-based retailer will work with you to create your ideal rug or tapestry, meaning you can jazz up your bedroom in your own unique style.

Nightstands
Pavilion on Gladstone Avenue sells a wide variety of furniture, including an array of night and side tables in a bevy of sizes and customizable finishes, whether you're looking to augment your storage space or are just looking for a decorative piece.

Floor Mirror
Kroft+Co bills itself as a purveyor of "slow-design" furniture. And the company's new floor mirror seems to fit that aesthetic. It's made of white oak and walnut and you don't even need to hang it up. Simply prop it against a wall and you're good to go.

Table lamps
For an array of vintage lamps, head to Eclectic Revival in the Junction. You won't find contemporary reading lights here though. Instead, search for fixtures from the early 1900s or consider a custom piece to make a statement in your bedroom.

Dressers
Shelter Furniture in the Castlefield Design District has dressers as well as credenzas to help you keep your bedroom neat and tidy, especially if you lack sought-after closet space.

Hampers
Avoid lugging around your dirty laundry thanks to this wheely cart from the Old Faithful Shop located in the West Queen West neighbourhood. This shop, an import from Vancouver, stocks an array of homeware, but this canvas laundry cart would work well in your bedroom.

Thanks to Au Lit Fine Linens for sponsoring this post.

Photo of Stylegarage by Jesse Milns.

The Alexander Muir mural in Toronto's Leslieville neighbourhood will soon disappear. A local street artist, however, will replace it with an original new piece.

In July, Leslievillians were miffed when their BIA unveiled a new mural without consulting them. Since then, Ward 30 Councillor Paula Fletcher, along with the Leslieville BIA and the Leslieville Historical Society, worked to solicit design proposals from a short list of six artists. Now, they've chosen their top three: Elicser, Mediah and Dan Bergeron.

From 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. tonight, residents can give their feedback at Parts Gallery, 1142 Queen St. E. There's also an online survey open until Sunday, January 24 for those who can't make it.

Both Elicser (mural at top of this page) and Mediah explain that they were inspired by the maple leaf - and Alexander Muir's "Maple Leaf Forever." Bergeron's piece features a "repetitive deconstruction" of the word Leslieville, to represent the changes happening in the neighbourhood.

Here are the other two finalists:

Dan Bergeron

Mediah

And, in case you forget, here's what the current mural looks like:

Which mural do you like the best? Let us know in the comments.