At around noon today, a fire broke on The Esplanade and thick clouds of black smoke billowed over downtown Toronto. According to CBC News, roofing material on top of the parking structure at the Backstage On The Esplanade condo construction site caught fire.

Approximately nine fire trucks rushed to the scene near Yonge Street and The Esplanade to extinguish the flames. No injuries were reported.

Here's a round-up of photos from today's dramatic midday fire.

Photo by @ChaeryBomb.

Photo by @arjundsehgal.

Photo by @MarComm_mama.

Photo by @yp1221.

Photo by @sachagud.

Along with the photos, YouTube user Jon Ray shot a quick video of the fire while on the Lake Shore. He posted it to Reddit earlier today.

Lead photo by @jessicaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhh via Instagram.

The Toronto Raptors may be getting more exposure thanks to their global ambassador Drake. However, Canada's only professional basketball team is still worth a little bit less than the average NBA franchise.

According to the latest Forbes Business of Basketball report, the Toronto Raptors are currently worth $980 million, while the average NBA team is worth a whopping $1.25 billion - that's a 13 percent increase since last year.

The Raptors are the 14th most valuable team out of 30. The New York Knicks ($3 billion), the LA Lakers ($2.7 billion), the Chicago Bulls ($2.3 billion), the Boston Celtics ($2.1 billion) and the LA Clippers ($2 billion) take spots one to five, respectively.

Photo by Neil Ta from the blogTO Flickr pool.

The 1998 amalgamation of Toronto is cited by some as a disastrous event in our city's civic history. Almost 20 years later, the debate rages on as to whether or not it was a good idea. But what was it like to live in the old city of Toronto?

Here are 10 signs you grew up in Toronto before amalgamation.

1. You remember yellow Plymouth cop cars branded with the words "Metro Police."

2. Mel Lastman was only the mayor of North York, which was an entirely different place than Toronto. That felt safer.

3. You remember a less diverse city. Despite pockets of multiculturalism, the old City of Toronto was a very white place.

4. You had garbage pickup envy. Local services like garbage collection were managed by each borough, which resulted in more frequent curbside visits for some.

5. The expression "Toronto - the city that works" actually had some accuracy.

6. You still remember jingles like "Metro moves on TTC! We've got a good thing going!"

7. Your Toronto was a much smaller place - literally. Along with the reduced geographic area, the population of old Toronto was under 700,000 residents.

8. There was more than one city hall. Naturally, each of the boroughs had their own civic centre, some of which were grand structures that reflected their municipal importance.

9. Scarborough really was the suburbs. In fact, so too were Etobicoke and North York. York and East York were a sort of middle ground.

10. You recall that everybody used the word "megacity" for a brief period before it was collectively dropped by the early 2000s.

What did I miss? Add your pre-amalgamation memories in the comments.

Photo of an old Metro Police car by Luke Hollins.

Today in Toronto it's time to see some seriously impressive hotel rooms. The Gladstone has invited creators to turn its rooms into works of art for the 13th edition of Come Up To My Room, and you're invited to check them out. If you're not into snooping around the hotel, head to the MTCC to see what's happening in the world of interior design at the IDS opening party.

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

• Toronto Design Offsite Festival (various locations)
• Progress Festival (The Theatre Centre)
• Come Up To My Room (Gladstone Hotel)
• Interior Design Show (Metro Toronto Convention Centre)
• Sound Image 2016 (Analogue Gallery)
• Rue Morgue Cinemacabre Movie Night (The Royal Cinema)
• Toronto Night Time Record Show (Monarch Tavern)

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

Photo by Gladstone Hotel.

Toronto Restaurant Openings highlights the latest restaurant openings and closings in Toronto and also gives a preview of what's coming soon. Find us here every Thursday morning.

OPEN NOW

• Rione XI, a Jewish-Roman kitchen is now open at 672 St. Clair West where Pizze e Pazzi used to be.
• Newly opened craft beer bar Round The Horn has replaced The Workshop by Lattitude at 331 Roncesvalles Avenue.
• Cock-A-Doodle-Doo, a gluten-free bakeshop, is now open at 830 Bloor Street West.
• Last week we reported that One Pizza at 169 King Street East had closed, but now we've confirmed that True True, a new concept from the same owners, is opening in its place.

RECENTLY REVIEWED

• Ufficio
• Kupfert & Kim
• Coo Cafe Bread or Rice
• Tapagria
• Emperor Hotpot

OPENING SOON

• Real Mo-Mo's, a European bistro tapping into the cuisines of Holland, Indonesia, New Zealand, Australian and the Canary Islands, is about six weeks away from opening at 51 Colborne Street.
• Cucina865, an Italian-Mediterranean restaurant, is slated to open February 1 at 865 York Mills Road at Don Mills in the space previously occupied by Mexican Amigos.

Have you seen restaurants opening or closing in your neighbourhood? Email tips to liora@blogto.com

Photo of Tapagria by Hector Vasquez.

A one-bedroom, two-bathroom suite in the Four Seasons Private Residence is listed for $1,278,000. Located at 55 Scollard Street in the heart of Yorkville, the new(ish) building is the holy grail when it comes to posh condo/hotels in T.O, with access to amenities like room service from Café Boulud downstairs.

At 1,100 square feet, the 11th floor suite is more minimalist than gussied up. The expanded space doesn't look like a hotel room, and features 10-foot windows as well as an oversized balcony overlooking skyscrapers and a hive of activity from the downtown core.

The private residence was constructed a few years ago, moving from its dated home near Avenue Road to a modern twin tower at Bay and Yorkville. If you're scoffing at the price for a mere one bedroom, a penthouse on the 55th floor previously sold for a record-breaking $28 million, the most expensive condo sale in Canada at the time. That luxe suite was 9,000 square feet.

SPECS

• Address: #1103 - 55 Scollard Street
• Price: $1,278,000
• Square feet: 1,100 square feet
• Bedrooms: 1
• Bathrooms: 2
• Parking: 1
• Taxes: $9,891
• Maintenance fee: $1,350/monthly
• Walk Score: 100
• Listing agent: Lisa Doorey, Sothebys

NOTABLE FEATURES

• 10-foot windows
• Marble counters and flooring
• Access to hotel amenities like the spa, room service and an indoor pool
• Underground parking

GOOD FOR

Anti-Trumps and/or amenities swag. Building amenities are plentiful when you live in a luxury condo/hotel. Similar to this recently featured five-star residence at 1 King West, the list of VIP amenities are impressive (room service, health spa, indoor pool, valet parking, etc.) and too long to name them all.

MOVE ON IF

You need another bedroom or a separate office space. While a spacious one bedroom, it's still only a one bedroom for almost $1.3 million. The space is more conducive for one or two people, and not ideal for those who hoard or require a home office.

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS
Would you live at the Four Seasons? Have your say in the comments section.

Thanks to Bosley Real Estate Ltd, Brokerage for sponsoring our Condo of the Week. All content and editorial selected and written by blogTO.

Fans of brunch fave Littlefish will no doubt love its new, significantly larger, sibling spot located right next door, with its affordable comfort fare and meatloaf cupcake among the main draws.

Read my profile of John Conrad in the restaurants section.

Restaurants for a power lunch in Toronto take to heart that old saying, "You gotta spend money to make money". Accordingly, these are places to splash some real bank, assert success over three finger cocktails, and still close that big deal in style.

Here are my picks for the top restaurants for a power lunch in Toronto.

Canoe
The restaurant on the 54th floor of the TD Tower is filled with distinguished business figures at lunch hour. Find a who's who of suits populating the dining room and discussing deals while dining on lobster clubhouse sandwiches and steak frites.

The Chase
Woo clients over an upscale business lunch at this seafood centric restaurant in the Financial District. The menu boasts seductive plates of beef tartare and shellfish poached in saffron broth.

Far Niente
Settle into a deep leather booth to strike deals while appetites are sated at this Bay Street restaurant. The expense account-flexing menu features steaks, a lobster salad and seared branzino.

Harbour Sixty Steakhouse
Chilled seafood salads and prime rib sandwiches are among the lustrous lunch options on the menu at this landmark Toronto steakhouse. The multi-level restaurant caters to corporate clients with private enclaves and extensive wine lists.

Miku
Reserve a table at this chic sushi restaurant on Toronto's waterfront to close big deals over chilled seafood platters, aburi nigiri and sous-vide ribeye steaks.

Thanks to CraveTV for sponsoring this post.

What did I miss? Add more restaurants to the comments.

Photo of Miku by Jesse Milns.

This newly opened public house upholds the name of the 19th century Toronto landmark while bringing the interior and menu into this century. Expect to find a roster of seasonal beers on tap plus a menu featuring the bar foods du jour including bao and avocado toast.

Read my profile of the Dominion Pub & Kitchen in the restaurants section.

The world's largest bubble tea chain is opening its first downtown location next month. CoCo Fresh Tea & Juice, which already has Toronto area locations in North York and Scarborough and tops our list of the best bubble tea shops, has a loyal following in such countries as Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Taiwan, China and the Philippines.

Their signature drinks include the 3 Guys (milk tea with tapioca, pudding, grass jelly), Bubble GaGa (passion fruit tea with tapioca and coconut) and the Sago Taro Milk Tea (taro milk tea served with sago bubble).

The opening follows the recent trend of popular Asian chains opening near Yonge and Dundas. Uncle Tetsu and Hot-Star Large Fried Chicken have become Toronto institutions in the last year. Fellow bubble tea chains Chatime and Sharetea have also expanded their Toronto footprint in the last 12 months.

The new location of CoCo Fresh Tea & Juice is slated to open on February 14 at 648 Yonge Street - just south of Irwin.

Weekend events in Toronto will fill your schedule with concerts, art events and more. If you haven't had the chance to see any of this year's TO DO exhibits, now's the time (the fest ends on Sunday). If you're not down to trek around the city to see installations, opt to hit up one of the season's top music events: Kygo, Oh Wonder, The Knocks and more are slated to play at the city's top venues.

For more events this weekend click on over to our events section.

MUSIC

Class of 2016 #5 (Jan. 22)
Get your fill of indie music this week by heading to the Silver Dollar for the venue's annual music honour roll series. Friday is the fifth night in this year's fest. You can catch acts like West Nile, Scott Hardware and Germaphobes for only $10.

Kygo (Jan. 22)
If you're pining for the days of Electric Island and Digital Dreams, Kygo's concert this weekend will help tide you over. The Norwegian DJ is hitting the Enercare Centre this Friday to spin his most loved tracks.

The Knocks (Jan. 22)
Electro-pop duo The Knocks have amped up their game with three memorable EPs, and in March will finally release their debut full-length album, titled 55. Catch them at the Mod Club this Friday.

Sleep (Jan. 22)
Before Matt Pike became the noted, incredibly shirtless metal chieftain of High on Fire, he forged the sludgiest riffs for San Jose band Sleep at the dawn of the stoner rock era. On the rare lucky occasion, they reunite for a brief string of live dates such as this. You'll have to hunt for a ticket because Friday's show is sold out.

Oh Wonder (Jan. 23)
This pop duo from London engineered a totally atypical path to success. Before even setting foot on a stage, they released one single online a month (the collection of tracks eventually became their debut album). Considering they've racked up millions of Soundcloud plays and instantly sold out many of their first live dates, the strategy seems genius.

ART

Toronto Design Offsite Festival (Jan. 18-24)
Toronto Design Offsite is in full swing but you've only got a few days left to get in on the action. Luckily, there's plenty to do and see, including Outside the Box, SMORGASBORD and blindfolded walking tours. See the 2016 here.

Come Up To My Room (Jan. 21-24)
The 13th edition of Come Up To My Room has brought 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 Saturday 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.

Interior Design Show (Jan. 21-24)
If you believe that IKEA is the pinnacle of home decor, you should probably reserve tickets for the Interior Design Show. The event will introduce you to leading brands and homegrown talent, showcasing pieces much more interesting than EKERÖ armchairs and LEIRVIK bed frames.

Bite Me (Until Jan. 23)
Erin Rothstein, a Montrealer who's currently based in Toronto, creates hyperrealistic paintings of food. Satiate your craving for art by checking out her solo show happening right now at Coldstream Fine Art. It ends on the 23rd, so get there ASAP.

Complex Social Change (Until Jan. 24)
This incredibly relevant exhibition, happening on the University of Toronto Scarborough campus, is an import from the University of Lethbridge. Considering the very public protests and debates happening at universities across North America, this is a show that'll give you lots to think about before it closes on Sunday.

FILM

Alan Rickman Tribute Screening (Jan. 22)
If you, like the rest of the world, are still mourning the loss of Alan Rickman, head to Rainbow Cinemas Market Square on Friday. The theatre is screening Die Hard free of charge in honour of Rickman. Feeling charitable? It'll be accepting donations to the Canadian Cancer Society, as well.

Ferris Bueller's Day Off Quote-Along (Jan. 22)
If you're a devoted Bueller fan, this weekend has a lot to offer you. After checking out Ferris's bedroom at the Gladstone, head to Bloor Cinema to quote all your favourite lines from the flick.

ENTERTAINMENT

Sorry Not Sorry Justin Bieber Dance Party (Jan. 22)
Developed a guilty pleasure for the music of Justin Bieber in 2015? You are not alone. The folks behind BEY BEY ALL NIGHT are bringing Beliebers new and old to Studio Bar on January 22nd for a night of shameless JB loving. Expect to hear everything from "Baby" to "Sorry," and be prepared to show off your best dance moves (bonus points if you've mastered the choreography from his videos).

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 instalment 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.

Something Strange Circus Sideshow Festival (Jan. 23)
The circus is coming to town this weekend, but you won't find a big tent filled with jolly clowns and tight rope walkers at this event. Come Saturday, the Mod Club will be overtaken by weird and wonderful entertainers including a contortionist, a sword swallower, showgirls and burlesque performers.

TECH

Decoding Digifest (Jan. 23)
For those who want to give their minds a bit of a workout, head to 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.

RUNNING

MEC Race 1 (Jan. 24)
A cheapie race with an entrance fee of only $15, this 5K or 8K run is part of a series that MEC hosts every year that brings out seasoned runners all competing for PBs along the Martin Goodman Trail.

Robbie Burns 8K Road Race (Jan. 24)
While there won't be any Scotch at the finish line, there will be plenty of kilts (and likely chafing). Choose between 5K or 8K routes with all funds raised going to JumpStart.

SHOPPING

The Trinity Bellwoods Flea: The Local Food Edition (Jan. 23)
Do a little shopping this Saturday at the Trinity Bellwoods Flea. This weekend it's spotlighting local food, so this is the optimal time to stock up on artisanal eats. If you have a couple extra bucks to spare, $5 champagne mimosas will be served - so you can get a bit boozy while you browse.

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, Shazia Khan and Libby Roach.

Photo of Oh Wonder by Tom Pullen.

Comedian Dave Chappelle is coming back to Toronto for the first time since 2012. But good luck trying to find tickets to see him.

From February 9 to 13, Chappelle will take up a five night residency at the Danforth Music Hall. Tickets went on sale last night and reportedly sold out incredibly quickly, leaving many fans in the lurch.

Many are taking to Reddit and Facebook in the hopes of securing a spot at the east side venue, which has capacity for 1,500 people.

For this event, however, Ticketmaster has made tickets non-transferable. But that hasn't stopped a number of them from appearing on sites like Kijiji - some of which are going for more than $500 (they were originally $91.75 each).

Back in 2012 Dave Chappelle sold out three nights at the Winter Garden Theatre.

It looked like Toronto was living up to its "no fun" moniker when city staff released a report recommending against the pursuit of a street art program that would bring colourful murals to local roadways.

Today, however, Toronto's Public Works and Infrastructure Committee voted unanimously to green light a pilot program that'll bring these murals to up to four different wards this summer.

"I think it was the best outcome we could have hoped for," says David Meslin, a community organizer who helped spearhead Toronto's first street mural project in the Regal Heights neighbourhood back in June.

That piece of art, though technically illegal, is located in the centre of Springmount Avenue. And, it came about thanks to a grassroots process, inspired by other cities around North America, such as Portland, Oregon, who have used these murals take over their local streets, beautify their neighbourhoods and build community.

And as Meslin writes in Spacing magazine, "the final product also serves as a traffic-calming measure as cars tend to slow down as they approach the painting."

For the past few months, Meslin has been working with Ward 17 Councillor Cesar Palacio to bring an official Street Mural program to Toronto.

"We're really just playing catch up with other cities. They're already doing this across Canada, from Halifax to Vancouver," Meslin says.

He spoke at today's meeting, along with Riverdale resident Gerry Brown, former art teacher Barbara Mathews, and Melissa Frew, the artist behind the Regal Heights mural.

Afterwards, councillors raised concerns about issues of cost, safety and accessibility, but for the most part, they enthusiastically supported the initiative.

"We have a chance here to create a permanent process for the city if we can make sure that these four murals, as a pilot, go really smoothly and beautifully," says Meslin. And, as he notes, Toronto will hopefully see its first legal street murals later this year.

While the Public Works and Infrastructure Committee approved the pilot program today, this item will now be considered by City Council on February 3.

Lead photo by Jimmy Wu. Second photo by Dave Meslin.

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

• Tickets ($55) remain for the Winter Fiesta at Reforma (35 Baldwin Street) on Monday, January 25. The evening kicks off with a vertical tequila tasting led by Andres Marques and hands on guac and ceviche making with chef Marcos Sanchez followed by a fiesta of January flavours.
• Figo (295 Adelaide Street West) and La Carnita team up for a Pizza Party on Tuesday, January 26 featuring collab pizza-taco hybrids.
• Colette Grande Café (550 Wellington Street West) presents a Perigord Truffle & Louis Jadot Dinner on Wednesday, January 27. Headed by Executive Chef, Amira Becarevic the multi-course menu with wine pairings priced at $175 per guest. Highlights include a goat cheese soufflé and a halibut farcie.
• The French Patisserie Post Grad Program at George Brown has launched a weekly French Patisserie pop-up at the Waterfrount Campus (51 Dockside Drive). Taking place every Thursday from 8 a.m. until they sell out, expect to find a selection of freshly baked French viennoiseries, patisseries and savoury baked goods priced between $2 and $6.

UPCOMING

• Hopgood's Foodliner (325 Roncesvalles Avenue) celebrates four years in business on Sunday January 31 with a lobster supper featuring four courses for $60 per guest.
• Hitch (1216 Queen Street East) opens early (3 p.m.) on Sunday, January 31 for A Taste of Holland, a Borrel brunch and afternoon drinks served until 8 p.m.
• U-Feast presents From Street Level to Underground on Wednesday, February 17 at the Indian Street Food Company (1701 Bayview Avenue). Tickets are $75 per head for the dinner featuring galouti kebab, chili garlic crab, lamb raan pau, chicken biryani and kulfi.
• Tickets for Chefs For Change are selling out fast, but there are still seats left for the dinners happening February 18 and March 3 at Propeller Coffee (50 Wade Avenue). Each night features culinary collaborations from up to eight chefs from Toronto and across Canada while proceeds go to support Community Food Centres Canada.
• The Home Grown Dinner Project, a dinner from chef Romain Avril (La Societie) and guests will take place March 13 at Actinolite (971 Ossington Avenue). Ticket sales TBA.

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

Photo of Reforma.

The Interior Design Show is back in Toronto this weekend at the Metro Convention Centre. The sprawling annual event is a showcase for the latest and greatest in interior design with a healthy dose of new designers, industry stalwarts and exciting prototypes.

Check out our picks for 12 great design finds at IDS Toronto in this photo gallery.

Toronto's Westin Harbour Castle will be up for sale next week. As the Globe and Mail reports today, the 40-year-old hotel is hitting the market and could fetch between $350 to $400 million - a record amount - thanks to its prime lakeside location on 3.5 acres of land.

The property has changed hands numerous times since 1975, and as the Globe notes, it could be redeveloped because it's zoned for both commercial and residential purposes. However, it'd have to be rezoned for more density before condos move in.

Along with the current hotel, there's room for another tower as well as two additional towers where the conference centre sits across the road at 11 Bay St.

As the city's waterfront readies itself for change, it'll be interesting to watch what happens to this centrally located site.

"Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it," says Ferris Bueller in John Hughes's classic 1986 movie. Not so this weekend, because you can now take a trip back in time to 1986 at Toronto's Gladstone's Hotel.

For the 13th annual Come Up To My Room design exhibition, artists Sarah Keenlyside and Joseph Clement recreated Bueller's bedroom complete with a softly snoring mannequin, a clunky IMB computer and an E-MU II Emulator.

Keenlyside and Clement went on a scavenger hunt of sorts to source all the items necessary for their seemingly authentic replication. The room is filled with minute details that make it feel real, such as a set of blue Hardy Boys books, stacks of 80s-era records, a clarinet and photos of Sloane Peterson (actress Mia Sara), Ferris's girlfriend.

Without even realizing it, Keenlyside and Clement unveiled their project just in time for Ferris Bueller's Day Off's 30th anniversary. When I visit, Clement says he and Keenlyside might even bring it to Chicago for Ferris Fest, but that hasn't been confirm just yet.

Come Up To My Room runs until Sunday, January 24 as part of the Toronto Design Offsite Festival.

Photos by Natta Summerky.

Bad news for those whose lunchtime routine includes eating at the First Canadian Place food court. Last night, someone with he username TO-OfficeWorker uploaded the below video to Reddit in which they claim to have captured a mouse scurrying around beneath some of the tables.

The First Canadian Place food court is thought to be one of the better ones in the city - although now we're not sure it's the cleanest. It's home to fast food chains such as Amaya Express, Five Guys, Mucho Burrito and Ruby Thai and is in the progress of a major expansion that has seen it add Maman, iQ Food Co. and the Greenhouse Juice Co.

Popular Financial District hangout The Cactus Club also has an entrance off the food court.

Saw 3 mice at the First Canadian Place food court - only managed to catch one on video. This happened just near the Cactus Club entrance

Mice in restaurants and food courts is, sadly, not a rarity in Toronto but it's not everyday that someone manages to get photo or video evidence. Last year someone captured a video of a mouse at Gerrard Square. In 2008, we posted photos of a family of rats feasting just inside the window of the Dumpling House in Chinatown.

The city of Toronto has finally issued Uber a taxi brokerage licence. The American-based company first applied for one back in May 2015.

However, as the Toronto Star reports today, this licence doesn't cover UberX, one of Uber's more popular and lower-cost services.

What this means then is that through its smartphone app, Uber can legally dispatch licensed taxicabs (just like companies such as Beck) - and not unlicensed UberX drivers - to its customers.

The city is still working on how to regulate UberX in Toronto. We can expect to see a report this spring.

Toronto's Gladstone Hotel is hosting its 13th annual Come Up To My Room art and design exhibition as part of the Toronto Design Offsite Festival. This event brings a slew of installations into the hotel's rooms and hallways, and this year, it's filled with immersive dystopian environments and a nod to a certain 1986 John Hughes movie. You can see it until Sunday, January 24.

View all the installations in this photo gallery.