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New brunch spot serves up a killer stuffed French toast

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YAYA TorontoThis new cozy brunch joint adds unique twists to old favourites. Go for their stuffed French toast; it's packed with mascarpone cheese, vanilla-flavoured ricotta and lemon-lime zest before being dipped in eggs and milk and baked to order.

Read my profile of YAYA in the restaurants section.


5 Toronto restaurants with great art collections

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cactus club artToronto restaurants aren't just places to appreciate a fine meal but also original pieces from renowned artists. From paintings and installations to ceramics and sculptures, there's plenty to feast your eyes on while dining on steak or sushi.

Here's where to find great art at Toronto restaurants.

Cactus Club Cafe
The West Coast chain debuted with this big budget restaurant in the Financial District where the walls are adorned with commissioned pieces from Mr. Brainwash and curated works from Warhol and Basquiat.

america restaurant torontoAmerica
The restaurant on the 31st floor of the Trump Towers proudly displays oversized artworks from Chad Wys's Readymades series that sees streaks of colour overlaid over appropriated portraits.

art restaurant torontoPeter Pan
Carpeted hunter's trophies from London based artist, Debbie Lawson hang on the walls of this Queen West bistro. The restaurant is in good company, Lawson's work is held in the collections of Charles Saatchi, the House of Lords, and the Nottingham Castle Museum among many others.

shousin torontoShoushin
Sushi chef Jackie Lin fancies himself a photographer and has designed some of the tableware used in the restaurant. In addition to self made works, there's two Picasso ceramics on permanent display in the restaurant; Nature morte à la cuillère and poisson chiné are two acquisitions from Christie's that Brett Sherlock, Managing Director of Christie's Canada says "...have definitely found the perfect home."

art restaurant torontoMomofuku
You can appreciate Rising by Shanghai-based artist Zhang Huan, without ever even entering this restaurant. The 33-foot-tall, 22-tonne, stainless steel sculpture of birds in flight flanks the entrance of the multi-storey Momofuku complex on University.

What did I miss? Add your suggestions where to see great art hanging in Toronto restaurants to the comments.

18 restaurants for Valentine's Day dinner in Toronto

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valentines day TorontoValentine's Day in Toronto is nearly upon us again and restaurants are pulling out all the stops to help celebrate. Treat that special someone to a prix fixe splurge or romantic candlelit outing at one of these spots.

Indian Street Food Co.
Get hot and spicy at this Indian canteen in Leaside where a four-course prix-fixe menu is priced at $49 per person.

Boralia
The Ossington restaurant is offering a special four-course menu on Valentine's Day for $65 per person. The menu features butter poached lobster, hedgehog mushroom soup, roasted dry aged striploin and a dark chocolate tart for dessert.

Ufficio
Make a splash this V-Day at with a romantic dinner under the sea at Toronto's new Italian pescatarian restaurant. The $75 prix fixe menu features hamachi crudo, egg yolk raviolo and more.

Carbon Bar
The sultry smokehouse on Queen East is offering s five-course menu on Valentine's Day priced at $69 per person.

Thoroughbred
The "Romantical Weekend" at this Richmond Street restaurant includes set dinner menus priced at $50 and $70 available February 12 to 14.

Drake One Fifty
The restaurant in the Financial District is offering a seductive four-course dinner for $80 on Saturday, February 13 and Sunday February 14. The special menu includes dressed oysters, sea bream crudo, seared scallops in lobster sauce and pan roasted racks of lamb followed by indulgent desserts.

Fonda Lola
The Mexican restaurant on Queen West celebrates V-Day from Thursday, February, 11 to Saturday, February 13. The Mexican Fiesta features free shots of tequila, a multi course meal and a ​phallic dessert for $40.

Cafe Boulud
The Yorkville restaurant is offering a four course dinner for $125 per person on Saturday, February 13 and Sunday, February 14. Highlights include beef tartare, artichoke salad, roasted venison with red fife späetzle and tarte tatin.

Daishō
The second floor Momofuku restaurant is offering three or four course valentine's day prix fixe dinner menu for $75 per person and $95 per person respectively. Highlights include lobster or dry aged sirloin entrees.

The Depanneur
The College Street restaurant hosts Paula Costa for a Valentine's Day edition of its Supper Club dubbed 7 Deadly Sins. The dinner is BYOB (no corkage fee) and costs $80 per person for a seven dish supper.

Frings
Love is in the air at this Susur Lee/Drake collaboration. The restaurant will be offering a four course prix fixe menu priced at $95 per guest.

Colette Grand Cafe
The romantic Parisian bistro is offering special prix fixe menu for $85 per person featuring selections foie gras terrine, cheese soufflé, ricotta cavatelli and red snapper Almondine.

Skin + Bones
The Leslieville wine bar will be serving up a $55 feast on Saturday, February 13 and Sunday February, 14.

Parcae
Treat your loved one to an eight-course tasting menu at this restaurant hidden away inside the Templar Hotel. Dinner is priced at $100 per person including a complimentary glass of prosecco.

Nota Bene
The Queen West restaurant celebrates Valentine's Day with snacks, four courses and salted caramel truffles for $95. Selections include sea scallops and mushroom salad, ricotta ravioli with shaved Perigord black truffles and halibut cheeks a la plancha.

The Passenger
The Junction restaurant hosts an Anti-Valentines dance party for singles on Friday, February 12. Couples can enjoy an aphrodisiac inspired prix fixe menu on Sunday, February 14 priced at $65 per person including a glass of bubbly.

Little Shmiddy's Hot Meat House
The Cabbagetown restaurant invites couples to get cozy over a three-course meal priced at $50. Served Both Saturday and Sunday, each meal opens with a complimentary blood orange cocktail and includes selections like beef cheek parppardelle, rack of lamb and pavlova.

Humble Beginnings
The Junction restaurant presents a $40 four-course Valentine's Day menu themed around one night in Paris. Meat eaters and vegans alike will find something to love from choices including coq au vin and tagliatelle Provencal.

What did I miss? Share more suggestions on where to spend Valentine's Day in the comments. Do you know of any anti-Valentine's Day parties happening for singles? Email details to liora@blogto.com

Photo of Indian Street Food Co. by Hector Vasquez.

The 10 most famous animals in recent Toronto history

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Ikea MonkeyThe most memorable animals in Toronto history add to the city's quirkiness. The city is home to some offbeat critters and their antics have garnered more than a few views thanks to social media. We may not have international celebs like jiffpom but our dead racoons and shearling coat-adorned monkeys have proven to be more meme-worthy.

Here are the most famous animals in recent Toronto history.

IKEA Monkey
Darwin, the famed IKEA monkey, garnered International acclaim for his antics at the North York division of the Swedish furniture chain. Dressed in a dapper little coat, the monkey darted around the parking lot before being captured by security guards. What have we learned from this primate? Shearling coats look good on just about anyone.

High Park PeacockHigh Park Peacock
This majestic bird became famous after freeing itself from the High Park Zoo in May 2015. Instead of seeking refuge in the park, it decided to take a walk on the wild side and paraded around the streets of Roncy for a few days. Though Animal Control tried diligently to recapture the bird, he evaded their grasp by spending most of his time rooftopping but returned home on his own a few days later.

Donut-Stealing Raccoon
Everyone loves a good donut now and again, and it turns out Toronto raccoons aren't much different. While people don't usually cook up elaborate schemes to get their hands on a honey crueller, this little guy did. In December 2015, he was caught on camera climbing out from a ceiling tile and snatching a glazed confection from the top shelf at Tim Horton's.

White SquirrelWhite Squirrel(s)
The White Squirrel of Trinity Bellwoods is one of our city's most beloved mascots, even inspiring the name of a local cafe. Though we thought we saw the end of albino squirrel sightings in 2014, it turns out that there are several scurrying around the park as they have been spotted several times since.

Dead RaccoonConrad the Dead Raccoon
If you need any proof that Toronto's citizens are a sympathetic bunch, this is it. In July of 2015 a dead raccoon was discovered in the Yonge and Davenport area. Now what does one do in such a situation? Mourn, obviously. Flowers were laid, a roadside shrine was erected and soon after the fallen soldier was immortalized as a butter sculpture at the CNE (as if the story needed to get any weirder).

Baby Pandas
The city was blessed with some precious new additions at the end of 2015 when twin baby pandas were born at the Toronto Zoo. While they have yet to get up to antics like pastry theft, the duo takes the cake for most adorable critters on this list.

Rooftop RaccoonRooftopping Raccoon
Rooftopping has long history in the city - but normally it's instagrammers instead of animals that you'll find scaling Toronto's sky high structures. This brave little ball of fur was discovered 700 feet up by a crane operator in Spring 2015.

Albino Opossums
The Toronto Zoo's pint-sized pandas may be cute, but they aren't the only newborn creatures we've fawned over in the past few years. In 2011, a trio of albino opossums (which we mistakenly identified as raccoons, our bad) were born in the Victoria Park and Finch area. The video footage of the little guys tugged on the heart strings of every animal-lover in the city.

High Park CaimanHigh Park Caiman
In July 2014 a caiman was spotted in a High Park pond where it certainly did not belong. "What on earth is a caiman?" you ask. It's a alligator-like reptile that has no business lurking around Toronto's west side. Luckily, authorities were able to snatch it up before it gave the park's duck population the fright of their lives.

TTC Pigeon
This seasoned commuter impressed a subway car filled with Toronto travellers when it rode the train like a pro, even knowing when to exit the car. It didn't even adopt any of the annoying habits that some TTC frequenters have, so kudos to you, pigeon.

What did I miss? Add more videos of Toronto's weirdest animals to the comments.

Photos by Jeremy Gilbert, Aaron Forster, dzd_lisa, skyjacked793 and lucasimages.ca.

The top 10 events in Toronto for February 2016

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Sage FrancisThe top events in Toronto for February will have you heading to NBA All-Star Weekend events and winter music fests. The city will be swarming with basketball greats who may or may not pop up at some themed events - make sure you have your iPhone at the ready at all time. If you're more into music, Long Winter, Wavelength and Somewhere There are all on tap for the weeks ahead.

Here are my picks for the top events in Toronto this February.

NBA All-Star Weekend (Feb. 12-14)
Though chances are slim to none that you'll be heading to the main event of All-Star Weekend, there are plenty of events that same weekend worth braving the cold for. While many bars, clubs and venues will be hosting bashes from Friday to Sunday, the Space Jam live read and Shaq's All Star Comedy Jam remain the top contenders for best event of the weekend.

Wavelength (Feb. 12-14)
Instead of spending your Valentine's Day weekend stocking up on SOMA chocolate and trying to nail down reservations at Canoe, why not hit up a music festival? Wavelength is bringing Calvin Love, She-Devils, Soupcans, Duchess Says and more to the Garrison and the Markham House City Building Lab for three nights of shows.

Winter Stations (Feb. 15-March 20)
If you spent the end of January fawning over exhibits at the Toronto Design Offsite Festival, Winter Stations will be right up your alley. The competition will turn up to 13 life guard stations in the Beaches into works of art from February 13 until March 20. If you want a taste of what's to come, check out the winning installations here.

Long Winter (Feb. 17-19)
Long Winter, a seasonal staple, has hosts events throughout these cold months will close off in February with a giant maze and audio-visual experience at Artscape Sandbox and a second event at The Great Hall. Expect to see acts like For Esme and The Wooden Sky plus a bevy of art, performances, installations, dances and readings.

Rhubarb Festival (Feb. 17-28)
Fans of theatre, dance, music, and performance art will flock to Buddies in Bad Times at the end of the month for the venue's annual experimental art fest. The 37th edition of the event will kick off on February 17 with a party featuring performances by Girls Rock Camp and a few special surprises.

The Artist Project (Feb. 18-21)
The Artist Project isn't everyone's cup of tea, but it serves as a safe introduction for those looking to get a glimpse at this city's burgeoning contemporary art scene. Outside of the commercial work, be sure to visit the UNTAPPED Emerging Artist section, which features 20 of Canada's notable up-and-comers.

Blackout 6 Rap Battle (Feb. 19-20)
Venture to 99 Sudbury on February 19 and 20 to watch the lyrically gifted go head-to-head in the city's biggest rap battle event. If you want a taste of what's in store, check out the KOTD event trailer here. Unfortunately, it doesn't look like Drake will be making an appearance this year. Tickets will set you back $55 for a two-day GA pass.

Winter Brewfest (Feb. 19-20)
On February 19 and 20, the Enercare Centre will be filled with brew-loving Torontonians for the city's newest beer event: Winter Brewfest. If you couldn't get a ticket for Steamwhistle's frosty beer bash in January (the Roundhouse Craft Beer Festival), this is your chance to sample some of the best craft beverages the city has to offer.

Toronto Poetry Slam Finals (Feb. 27)
If you prefer poetry to three-pointers, this event will be right up your alley. The city's top wordsmiths will take the stage at Bloor Hot Docs Cinema on the 27th for the most eloquent throwdown of the year. Bonus: American hip-hop great Sage Francis will be making an appearance.

Somewhere There Creative Music Festival (Feb. 26-28)
This three-day fest celebrates the city's creative music scene. You'll be able to catch sets by more than 60 performers and composers, including SlowPitchSound, Ronley Teper's Lipliners and the Ugly Beauties. There's also a speakers' series that features homegrown thinkers, educators, and music presenters.

What did I miss? Add more events in the comments.

Photo by Sage Francis.

10 underrated items at popular Toronto restaurants

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Underrated menu TorontoPopular Toronto restaurants and homegrown chains are usually renowned for a few must-try dishes. What about the other menu items that often get overlooked? Some of these underrated items will force you to completely rethink your go-to orders at these oft-frequented eateries.

Here are 10 underrated menu items to try at popular Toronto restaurants.

Fried chicken sandwich from Porchetta & Co.
The Porchetta sandwich is obviously the star at Porchetta & Co. But if you don't eat pork, or want to try something new, the King West location boasts a buttermilk fried chicken sandwich as a permanent menu item, unlike on Dundas West where you could find it only in limited quantities.

Milkshake from Big Smoke Burger
Milkshakes are staple at fast food burger chains, but as one BlogTO staff member says, the frothy drinks at Big Smoke Burger are among the best she's ever had. Grab one - either chocolate, vanilla or strawberry - from this Toronto-based chain at its various locations across the city.

Garlic knots from North of Brooklyn Pizzeria
This mini-chain is best known for its thin-crust pies. But if you're grabbing a slice from one of North of Brooklyn Pizzeria's three locations, don't let the opportunity to carb-o-load pass you by. Add an order of garlic knots, made with leftover pizza dough, to your meal and you won't be sorry.

Vegetarian ramen at Kinton Ramen
Kinton Ramen's animal-friendly soup isn't as creamy as its pork and chicken counterparts. But it provides a lighter alternative for meat eaters and vegetarians alike. It's also massive and comes topped with golden tofu nuggets, corn, mushrooms and seaweed.

Caprese salad from Makers Pizza
Most pizza places offer salad to appease a few diet-conscious diners. Makers Pizza, however, serves up a massive Caprese salad, which features hearty layers of tomato, basil and fior di latte (or mozzarella) cheese.

Poutine from Fresco's Fish and Chips
If you're craving fries, gravy and cheese curds in Toronto, you'll likely head to Poutini's of Smoke's. Fresco's Fish and Chips, however, doesn't only deal in excellent deep-fried haddock; it also offers a better-than-average poutine if you're looking to up your fry game.

Sandwiches from FBI Pizza
At the west-end chain FBI (Full-Blood Italian) Pizza, pizza, of course, reigns supreme. Though if you're feeling all pied-out, don't be afraid to try a sandwich or a hoagie from this no-frills joint.

Waffle ice cream sandwich from Dirty Bird
It's hard to avoid poultry at this Kensington Market hot-spot, especially considering it's called The Dirty Bird Chicken + Waffles. If you're looking to indulge your sweet tooth, choose a waffle ice cream sandwich. These decadent treats come filled with sauces and goodies like peanut butter, grape jelly and beef bacon.

Cold noodle salad from Mean Bao
Steamed bun sandwiches and dumplings get all the glory here, but Mean Bao also offers a cheap-and-cheerful cold noodle salad that's also vegan-friendly. For $4.95 you get a mix of tofu, cucumber, radish, carrot and of course, noodles.

Kale salad at P&L Burger
Salad may not be top of mind if you're heading out to dine a P&L Burger. Yet, this Parts & Labour offshoot serves up a mean kale caesar, which will undoubtedly make your meat-filled meal a tiny bit healthier.

What are your favourite underrated menu items? Let us know in the comments.

Photos of the fried chicken sandwich at Porchetta & Co. by Jesse Milns.

The top 5 free events in Toronto: February 1-7 2016

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Harbourfront CentreThe top free events in Toronto will have you practicing your skating skills and hitting up free shows. It's the last month of DJ Skate Nights (there are only three left), so if you have yet to hit the rink at the Harbourfront Centre, do it soon. If you'd rather skip outdoor events, there's still plenty for you to do. Head to The Tennessee for the free music night or the Burdock for a Bowie dance party.

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

NOW Free Flick Mondays: The Silence of the Lambs (Feb. 1)
If you want to give yourself the chills, head to The Royal Cinema on the first to watch Silence of the Lambs. As per usual, the theatre will give the first 100 guests free popcorn, so make sure you line up early.

Tennessee Tuesday's (Feb. 2)
Get your fill of free music by heading to The Tennessee this Tuesday. Scarlett's Hand, Sleeping Lies, Empty Threat and more be playing sets. If you can't make it to Parkdale, hit up the Horseshoe Tavern - it's also hosting a free music night on the same evening.

BOWIE Let's Dance Party (Feb. 5)
Bowie fans will congregate at Burdock on Friday to pay tribute to the late and great musician. The venue is hosting a cost-free dance party where you can get down to all of your favourite jams - from "Space Oddity" to "Changes". Remember to pregame if your wallet's a little light.

Kuumba (Feb. 5-7)
Kuumba, now in its 20th year, will take over the Harbourfront Centre for a weekend-long fest filled with comedy shows, panels, music events and more. You can catch discussion on black youth moderated by Desmond Cole and the Black Like She women in comedy showcase and more free of charge.

DJ Skate Nights: Kizomba, Bachata, Kompa on Ice (Feb. 6)
Head to the Harbourfront Centre on the first Saturday of the month for another DJ Skate Night. The music for this week's installment will be brought to you by Deejay NS, DJ Duck and DJ Kafe. 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 by Harbourfront Centre.

6 splurge-worthy artisanal food to try in Toronto

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artisanal torontoToronto foodies can feast on a cornucopia of artisanal products found at local farmers markets, independent retailers and corporately-owned grocery stores. While these items may induce some serious sticker shock, sometimes you just have to treat yourself.

Here are 6 splurge-worthy artisanal food items you can find in Toronto.

Ghee
Clarified butter is a staple in Indian cuisine thanks to its high smoke point. Toronto-based company Lee's Ghee created an entire line of ghee ($20.99 to $22.49), which includes maple sugar, za'atar and vanilla-flavoured varieties.

Jam
Kitten and The Bear in Parkdale whips up small batches of jam and preserves in a variety of seasonal flavours. These beautifully-packaged jars cost around $12, but they'll definitely jazz up a plain slice of toast or, better yet, a freshly-baked scone.

Tea
Sloane Tea offers its proprietary blends and flavours, like Heavenly Cream ($18 for 100 grams), in ornate yet well-designed tins. You can order tea online or find it in Toronto stores such as Pusateri's and Maisonette, among many others.

Cured Meat
Table Mountain Curing Company sells its elevated meat snacks at high-end grocery stores around the city. You can also order these beefy treats online. Six 60-gram packages of cured beef steak will cost you $39.99, cured slabs start at $29.95 and 400-grams of beer sticks go for $29.95.

Honey
For all your honey-related needs you can always head to The Bee Shop in Bloordale. Alternatively, go online and order a 250-gram jar of Nude Bee Honey Co.'s small-batch product for $14.99.

Smoked Salmon
Up your bagel-and-lox game with freshly-smoked salmon from The Smoke Bloke. You can order online and pick it up from the smokery's east end location.

Photo via Lee's Ghee.


Toronto has a new shrine to waffles

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WaffleUThese Liège waffles taste even better than they look, if that's even possible. This eatery will entice you with their made-to-order waffles that boast shiny, caramelized exteriors and unlimited toppings.

Read my profile of Waffle U in the restaurants section.

15 Toronto food photographers to follow on Instagram

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Food InstagramToronto-based food photographers are taking to Instagram to share their most delectable meals. With a click of a follow button you have access to thousands of photos of some of the most drool-worthy eats the city has to offer.

While we post our fair share of food photo on Instagram too, it's time to give props to some of my favourite Toronto food photographers to follow on Instagram.

See also:
15 chefs in Toronto to follow on Instagram
15 Instagram accounts for Toronto vegans to follow

Toronto Food Instagram@allons.y
With a staggering 141K Instagram followers, this account proves itself to be a must-follow. Discover stunning restaurant interior shots alongside crave-worthy food photos.

Toronto Food Instagram@fooddiva_toronto
Anna is taking Toronto's restaurant scene by storm. Whether she's brunching at Portland Variety or snacking on eclairs at Nugateau, she's sharing every moment along the way.

Toronto Food Instagram@dineandfash
While fashion may be a major focus of this account, the food photographs arguably steal the show. Cupcakes, croissants and doughnuts fill the feed.

Toronto Food Instagram@theeverydayfoodie
Lucky for us his camera always eats first. From glamorous ice cream cones to gluttonous poutine, get stuffed just staring at these photos.

Toronto Food Instagram@pekopekolife
Yuki is all about that hungry life. Follow her on her journey throughout Toronto's food scene and try not to drool on your phone while admiring.

Toronto Food Instagram@hypebelly
This guy has been everywhere - no really, everywhere. From Toronto's tastiest BBQ joints to your favourite ramen spots, this guy captures it all.

Toronto Food Instagram@cfooodie
Discover outrageous eats from all over the GTA. Markham, North York and downtown Toronto eateries are showcased in a way that will make your tummy growl.

Toronto Food Instagram@petite.cow
Who knew a food journey could be so beautiful? She has the ability to capture food in a way that makes it look almost too good to eat. Almost.

Toronto Food Instagram@wherejessate
Jess is always looking for new spots to try and takes her followers on adventures to her favourite food conquests.

Toronto Food Instagram@chewtoronto
Get up close and personal with some of Toronto's most delicious eats. From epic burgers to messy seafood boils, this account is a foodie's dream.

Toronto Food Instagram
@eatnmingle
Looking for all things scrumptious in Toronto? You've come to the right place. Gush over photos of French toast, ramen and mac and cheese.

Toronto Food Instagram@foodsisterhood
Join the sisterhood of the traveling pants - but for food. Monica and Clara have joined forces and have managed to acquire a strong following of over 10,000 food lovers.

Toronto Food Instagram@meetandeats
She's your guide to Toronto's latest and greatest eats. Marvel over her recent visits to Toronto's Maman, Kanpai and Inspire Restaurant.

Toronto Food Instagram@sincerelykn
One might question: where hasn't this girl been? Karen covers it all with visits to Toronto's hottest Italian eateries, brunch musts and go-to sushi spots.

Toronto Food Instagram@tastebytes
Bright food photos fill this feed and inspire the desire to go on a food adventure. Burgers, hot pot and dumplings are just a few of the things you will find if you click "follow."

Who did I miss? Add your favourite Toronto food photographer on Instagram in the comments.

Lead photo via @chewtoronto.

10 signs that Toronto is becoming more of a Music City

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toronto music cityToronto is becoming more of a Music City every day. For starters, the Toronto Music Advisory Council, along with Toronto's first-ever Music Sector Development Officer, Mike Tanner, have been searching for ways to make this city more music-friendly. And while there have been obstacles, there's now more music in more places in Toronto than ever before.

Here are 10 signs that Toronto is becoming more of a Music City.

More festivals
To add to the list of mainstays like Canadian Music Week, NXNE and the Beaches Jazz Festival, a number of new festivals were welcomed last year. The Toronto Islands hosted both Camp Wavelength and Bestival. The Night Owl was a new psychedelic fest. Wayhome was a success before it even happened. And Endless City arrived this year.

Venues got major makeovers
Two longstanding music venues are currently being revamped. INK Entertainment has promised a new concert hall for The Sound Academy. Meanwhile, renovations at Massey Hall are expected to continue for a few more years. The Cameron House and other venues also had lifts and tucks done.

New music venues
Though music fans briefly lamented the loss of a few institutions in 2015 (bye, Rancho), they can look forward to a long run of shows at newer, recently-opened venuesBurdock on Bloor St. is a musician-run microbrewery. Let's Be Frank serves up hot dogs and live music. And Fat City Blues may finally have killed the curse of 890 College St.

El Mo saved
Since Michael Wekerle saved the El Mo in November 2014, there's been little news on the renovations. We do know that this month, the iconic sign was brought down for a makeover, which is hopefully an indication that it's reopening soon. Meanwhile the Matador Ballroom, which turned 100 years, is very close to opening.

Drake
Drake brings more than just hip-hop stardom and class to Toronto's music scene. In 2015 he expanded the sixth OVO Fest to include a third day with J. Cole, Big Sean, and Kevin Hart on the roster. Forbes dubbed him the third highest-paid hip-hop star in the world. Hotline Bling went viral, and If You're Reading This It's Too Late topped the Billboard 200 chart.

Postering by-law killed
In June, The Toronto Music Advisory Council and Municipal Licensing and Standards stepped in and killed the existing postering by-law. Previously, venues (and musicians) could be fined $300 to 500 for plastering posters on non-designated spaces. Many fines ended up being challenged and thrown out in court.

311 now plays indie music
In July, City Hall and the TMAC changed the "on hold" music for 311, which is the number you call when you have a city-related inquiry or complaint. Now when you wait to speak to a city rep, you can enjoy various tracks by local indie musicians. The musicians featured receive an honorarium.

Wavelength Music City Discussion
Wavelength continues to lead discussions on how Toronto can be a better Music City with their "What Makes a Music City?" panel. The April 2015 Town Hall at the Garrison helped clarify city goals, initiated a dialogue on zoning bylaws, and offered attendees a chance to gripe on how things can improve for the music industry.

Toronto Live From City Hall
City Hall itself is participating in its Music City plan with an ongoing Live From City Hall series that launched this year. The rotunda will be transformed into a stage and feature musicians of all genres from across the GTA. Shows will happen on select afternoons. Artists receive a $200 honorarium.

What did I miss? Add your suggestions for ways Toronto is becoming a better Music City in the comments.

Photo by Jae Yang in the blogTO Flickr pool.

Drake drops new single from Views from the 6

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summer sixteenThe unstoppable Drake revealed yesterday that he'll soon be releasing his new album, Views from the 6.

As reported by the CBC, the April 2016 release date - 4/16 - is a nod to the city's area code. The exact date is yet to be confirmed, but Drizzy ensured listeners of his OVO Sound Radio show that he's "working overtime" to complete the album.

Over the course of the show, Drake played his new single, Summer Sixteen, several times. The song is now available on iTunes and Apple Music.

On the track, Drake takes jabs at several people including Kanye ("Now I got a bigger pool than Ye") and President Barack Obama ("Tell Obama that my verses are just like the whips that he in, they bulletproof"), who once said that Kendrick Lamar would beat Drake in a rap battle.

Of course, the Twitterverse was quick to chime in.




What do you think of Drake's new single? Let us know in the comments.

What Toronto will lose when Mirvish Village is gone

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Mirvish VillageIf ever there was a Toronto redevelopment scheme worthy of ambivalence, it's Westbank's plan for Honest Ed's and Mirvish Village. There are many reasons to be optimistic about what's coming to the micro neighbourhood that exists just beyond the southwest corner of Bathurst and Bloor, but it's also worth remembering that Mirvish Village as it exists today is a unique part of Toronto.

Amongst the things going for Westbank's plans for the area is the scale of the development. With about 1,000 residential units on the way, it's big, of course. But the vertical scale of the project is kept in check. The fact that these will also be rental units is also a boon for a neighbourhood that houses a significant chunk of U of T students.

Mirvish VillageOn the other hand, no matter what replaces Mirvish Village, the city will lose one of its most interesting retail areas not housed on a main street. The plan is to retain some commercial space along Markham in the future, but it's unclear if this type of strip can function in any other manner that's not organic.

Mirvish Village started as an artist colony thanks to cheap rent. Even today, one is reminded of these origins with the presence of shops like Suspect Video, The Beguiling, Vintage Video, Coal Miner's Daughter, and Neurotica Records. This is small retail strip that works in part because of the history from which it has arisen.

Mirvish VillageA teenage ritual of mine was to cut through the alley behind David Mirvish Books on the way to Suspect Video from my best friend's house on Palmerston. On occasion we would be be hassled for using the laneway, which we handled by claiming that our uncle Dave said it was okay - yes, as in David Mirvish.

We thought we were pretty clever, though I now suspect that no one believed our story. Yet at the time, we brimmed with the sort of confidence that's bred by watching countless gangster movies, which we found in no short supply at Suspect, a place that's been open on Markham since 1991.

David Mirvish BooksThere's no doubt that the 2009 closure of the bookstore was a hit to the old character of the neighbourhood. The store opened in 1974, and was one of the anchors of a neighbourhood that improbably retained an artsy identity even as property values in the area soared.

Still, Suspect carried on. The Beguiling remained a destination for lovers of comic books and graphic art. The stage at the Central played host to up-and-coming bands. Like a character from a Faulkner novel, Mirvish Village endured.

The next round of closures, due in less than a year, will be more decisive. The end of an era - one that started in the 1960s - is on the horizon for Markham St. You can keep the retail space, but the little bubble that has insulated the shops of Mirvish Village is set to burst, and it's dubious that the new development will be kind to the type of stores that currently exist here.

Mirvish VillageThere's nothing wrong with the redevelopment of neighbourhoods. It's necessary. It's also how Mirvish Village came into existence as a commercial strip on a residential street. What's troubling, however, is that the Toronto of today doesn't seem to give birth to new places like this any more.

Geary Ave. comes to mind, but the zoning laxity that once made an arts scene possible on Markham St. is a thing of the past.

As the city continues to sanitize itself, it's worth paying a visit to Mirvish Village for a look at what can happen when we loosen our regulations and allow things to happen organically.

Photos by Michelle Tribe, the Toronto Archives, Himy Syed, Dominic Bugatto, and blogTO.

Today in Toronto: La Poutine Week, Winterlicious, The Silence of the Lambs, Fockler Island People

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Bareburger PoutineToday in Toronto kick off the month by devouring mounds everyone's favourite salty snack: poutine. Bareburger, Poutineville, Victory Cafe and more will be serving up special edition poutines for La Poutine Week, so it's time to get indulgent. If you'd rather kick off your week with a free movie, The Silence of the Lambs will be playing free of charge at The Royal Cinema.

For more events, click on over to our events section

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

Photo of Bareburger poutine by Jesse Milns.

9 restaurants you can buy right now in Toronto

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Restaurants for saleIf you've been dreaming of opening your own restaurant, there might be something to your liking on the market right now. There's a variety of commercial properties currently for sale, from a modestly-sized takeout spot on West Queen West to a restaurant in Leslieville boasting tons of space and a rooftop patio.

Here are 9 restaurants you can buy right now in Toronto.

Littlefish
This popular brunch spot in the Junction can be yours for $85,000. The 24-seat space is a modest 800 square feet plus a basement. The exposed brick wall with imprinted cat paws is a nice touch.

Le Papillon on the Park
This French restaurant in Leslievillerecently shut its doors. The 6295 square-foot building is going for $2,490,000, which gets you a fully-equipped restaurant that comes with a rooftop patio and adjoining public parking space.

Akram's Shoppe
Regulars of this Kensington Market stalwart should fill up on falafel while they can. You can own this restaurant and the building it's housed in for $2,629,000. This three-storey property includes a finished basement and comes with fully-operational kitchen equipment.

Chelo and Co
This property on West Queen West is currently home to a pricey Persian takeout spot that opened last year. It can be yours for $128,000. It's a small space, but on the plus side there's a lot of foot traffic in the area.

El Rancho
The owner of this longstanding restaurant-bar on College St. is retiring. For $3,750,000 you can own the 9069 square-foot building. Included in the price is the restaurant itself, including the equipment and the liquor license.

Thai Country Kitchen
This family-run Thai restaurant is housed in a three-storey building on Spadina Avenue in the heart of Chinatown. It's going for $1,698,000.

Pho Tien
If you've ever wanted to run your own pho restaurant, here's your chance. For $1,990,000 you can own this 2200 square-foot eatery, plus two two-bedroom apartments at Dundas and Bathurst.

The Savoy
Want to run a bar on West Queen West? The asking price for this establishment near The Drake is $2,299,000, which gets you the business including the liquor license and a "newly-installed" kitchen, as well as a renovated three-bedroom loft apartment on the second and third floors.

Leonard's Family Restaurant
This neighbourhood breakfast haunt in Leaside can be yours. For $2,599,900 you get the restaurant, a three-bedroom unit on the second floor, and nine parking spots. The listing notes that it's only steps from a future Eglinton Crosstown LRT station.

Which restaurant would you buy? Let us know in the comments.


8 things to do in Toronto during reading week

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reading week torontoReading week in Toronto is regarded as the most wonderful time of the year by maxed out students who are in desperate need of some R&R. This year, U of T and Ryerson will be celebrating from February 13 to 19, trading in textbooks for events and outings. If you weren't able to save enough cash to jet set to Punta Cana, there's still a lot to do in the city.

Here are a round-up of things to do in Toronto during reading week.

Actually read
For avid partygoers, this idea may seem like a foreign concept, but it may just help turn your D's into C's. If you've spent the first half of your winter semester hitting the bar more than the books, reading week could help turn things around for you. Hit up one of these study sanctuaries - or a new haunt like Quantum Coffee, Krave Coffee or Constantinople - to invest some time in essays and exam prep.

Do some unusual activities
By now you've probably gotten your fill of axe throwing and escape rooms, but Toronto's got a ton more to offer in terms of indoor activities. If the weather is less-than-hospitable (and let's face it, February probably won't be so nice) hone your skills at indoor surfing, medieval martial arts or parkour instead of lying around in sweat pants.

Get out of town
Getting out of town doesn't always involve stepping onto a plane. Want to go on a vacation without leaving Southern Ontario? All of these destinations are only a car ride away. Whether you're into camping, cottaging or want to have a poor man's Vegas experience in Niagara Falls, there's plenty of options available.

De-stress at a spa
Just because you can't get spa treatments by the beach doesn't mean you shouldn't get them at all. Invest a little bit of cash and kick back at one of these relaxation destinations in the city (they may not be in Tahiti, but they're a few steps up from your apartment bathroom). If you don't have the funds for head-to-toe pampering, go for less expensive treatments at places like Blitz Facial Bar.

Have a staycation
If you, like so many Torontonians, failed to get a driver's license in your youth, a staycation is the way to go. Trade in your dorm digs for an Airbnb property and be a tourist in your own city. Even if you can drive, who wants to shell out gas money when you could have just as good a time in the city?

Get creative at a DIY spot
Spending a few days bonding with your Netflix account may seem ideal after weeks of lectures, but you should probably loosen your grasp on your laptop for at least a few hours this reading week. If you want to leave the internet behind for a little while, try one of these workshops. You may find you're good at something other than tracking down appropriate response GIFs .

Taste something new
2015 brought more than a few impressive eateries to Toronto, but not all come with hefty price tags. If your student budget has you considering eating food from your meal plan, think about trying one of these more affordable new restaurants. There's everything from mac n' cheese to bahn mi on these menus, so your bound to find something worth leaving campus for.

Attend some events
Lucky for you, one of the most star-studded athletic events is happening during reading week. The NBA All-Star Weekend will bring athletes, comedians and more to the city from Febraury 12-14. If you're not into sports, no worries. There's also TIFF's Next Wave, the final instalments of Long Winter and more happening that week. Check our events section for listings.

What did I miss? Add what you'll be doing during reading week to the comments.

Photo by Ernie Kwong in the blogTO Flickr Pool.

10 signs you grew up in the Beaches

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Leuty Lifeguard StationThe Beaches is regarded as one of the most idyllic places to grow up in Toronto. It has parks galore, decent public schools and a strong sense of community. Though you probably remember those things, you're more likely to look back on the less G-rated parts of growing up in the city's south east.

Here are 10 signs you grew up in the Beaches.

1. You drank your fair share of beers and vodka coolers at Leuty Lifeguard Station.

2. You befriended Hollywood (AKA the pen guy) and were genuinely concerned about his untimely "death".

3. You cured your hangovers at Sunset Grill or The Goof.

4. You hung around outside Mac's Milk during the Jazz Fest until the cops broke up the crowds.

5. You've had to clarify that you went to this Malvern not this Malvern.

6. You refer to it as The Beaches not The Beach or The Beach Village (sorry, non-believers).

7. You feared the crowds at the Victoria Day Fireworks - or any fireworks for that matter.

8. You never actually went in the lake (unless very inebriated).

9. Your entire CD collection came from Sound City.

10. You remember when McDonald's existed at the foot of Lee and Queen.

What did I miss? Add your suggestions in the comments.

Photo by Kim Yokota in the blogTO Flickr pool.

Top secret entertainment hub being built in Toronto

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toronto nba all star gameIf you've been in the vicinity of Roundhouse Park recently you might have wondered about the massive construction site that's taken over the area. Turns out it's a top secret entertainment hub that MLSE is building for the NBA All-Star Weekend in Toronto.

Initial rumours suggested that the hub might include an outdoor basketball court but that's not happening. Instead, it'll function as a live music venue that will feature high profile performers expected to be announced in the coming weeks.

The hub, dubbed True North, will host what MLSE calls "the hottest private parties and events of NBA All-Star 2016." The custom built facility will be used from February 12 to 14 and feature performances by, among others, Snoop Dogg as DJ Snoopadelic.

Toronto learns parties in malls can only be so much fun

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long winter galleria mallToronto's Galleria Shopping Centre isn't typically a hub for the arts. In fact, the nearly 45-year-old mall likely won't be around for much longer. Instead, condos will someday grace the corner of Dufferin and Dupont.

On Saturday night, however, the mall played host to thousands of party-goers for Long Winter Galleria, a monthly music and art festival that usually happens at the Great Hall.

long winter galleria mallNaturally, Long Winter Galleria generated enormous hype and many seemed to clamour at the opportunity to attend a night-time event in an unconventional location, especially one that evokes feelings of nostalgia for many city-dwellers.

While the prospect of partying in an aging mall was undoubtedly exciting, the venue came with some unavoidable constraints.

Long Winter Galleria TorontoMalls are generally echoey places, so the acoustics weren't great, and the lack of coat check was annoying. Party-goers seemed to be in good spirits, however, though many were frustrated by the long lineups that seemed unavoidable throughout the evening.

long winter galleria mallOnly two rooms (both empty storefronts) were licensed. This made getting drinks ($5 each) a little tough. At one point, I waited more than 15 minutes just to hear that I'd have to stand in yet another line for beer and liquor.

Long Winter Galleria TorontoLuckily, no one seemed to want red wine, so I hopped right on over to the Dionysus-inspired booth and grabbed a glass.

Long Winter Galleria TorontoThe "It's Not U It's Me Shoppers Dance Mart" took over another one of these empty storefronts. It featured music and video installations from local artists, as well as a bar. Unsurprisingly, this proved to be popular, with many people dancing under the pulsating strobe lights for hours.

Long Winter Galleria TorontoBands like S.H.I.T, TEENANGER, The Highest Order, VCR and New Fries played short sets in the atrium, and at midnight, a surreal runway show dominated this main space.

long winter galleria mallArt installations, such as a giant pigeon head made out of plastic bags by Andrew Lamb and performance pieces by Carolyn Tripp and Jeremy Bailey, were situated in alcoves and hallways along with a BUNZ swap shop, enabling anyone to make trades on site.

Long Winter Galleria TorontoVintage photo booths, video games and coin-operated kiddie rides - many of which are permanent Galleria fixtures - were also a big draw.

long winter galleria mall"It was kind of fun to embrace the weirdness of it," one young woman told me as we were leaving the mall at around 1 a.m., when the event seemed to be dying down.

Long Winter Galleria TorontoWhile the venue definitely had its limitations, the lead-up to Saturday night illustrated how starved we are in Toronto for unique and imaginative events. Let's hope Long Winter Galleria was just the first of many.

long winter galleria mallHow as your Long Winter at Galleria Mall? Let us know in the comments.

Photos by Andrew Williamson.

Play De Record bids goodbye to Yonge Street

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Play de RecordPlay De Record is leaving Yonge St., though thankfully not Toronto. The retail institution, which has called the city's main artery home for a quarter century, is relocating to Spadina and College as of March 1st.

It's not exactly surprising news. Yonge St. is in the midst of a massive transformation, one that's witnessing the progressive loss of mom and pop retail in favour of sprawling, street-level box stores at the base of new condo developments. While Play De Record isn't being forced out by development, the change of scenery makes sense.

This area of Yonge St. was once, of course, a mecca for music fans. 10 years ago, Sam the Record Man was just a stone's throw away from Play De Record. And while the shop has always been something of a destination spot thanks to its selection of hip hop and dance records, the touristy nature of its existing location isn't exactly ideal.

The new space at 411 Spadina Ave., on the other hand, seems well located to help the shop capitalize on vinyl's resurgence. It's immediately east of Kensington Market, and certainly close enough to Sonic Boom for record shoppers on the hunt for something elusive to pay a visit to both stores.

As for Yonge St., it loses another bit of character. But we're getting very used to this by now.

Photo by Ryan Bolton.

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