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Toronto pop-up might change how you see your body

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Body Thoughts TorontoToronto's getting a new pop-up this weekend, but it's not your typical retail space. Instead, it's an art installation that'll help you rethink your relationship with your body.

BodyThoughts will take over a large storefront at King and Peter street in the space the Detox Market previously occupied. It's an immersive, multi-media exhibition by photographer Alexa Mazzarello and former high-fashion model Erica McDonald.

As a photographer, Mazzarello saw women body shaming themselves when they stepped in front of her camera.

With a background in sociology and a Masters in public health, Mazzarello is using her academic background - as well as a series of self-portraits - to spark conversations about body image. But when she started out, she says, "it was about stepping in front of my own camera to reclaim my body."

Body Thoughts TorontoMcDonald, on the other hand, got involved after speaking at the first BodyThoughts pop-up in Vancouver. Mazzarello tells me the two met at McGill University six years ago, but they were really only Facebook acquaintances.

Last year, Mazzarello noticed an article online that McDonald wrote for xoJane.com about her negative experience as a successful, international model.

McDonald was first scouted in Calgary at age 13 and started modelling three years later. By the time she finished her first year at McGill, she was appearing in magazines such as Vogue Italia. But she hated it. "It was a very forced way of being," she says.

After reading about her experience, Mazzarello convinced McDonald to drive overnight to Vancouver for the BodyThoughts launch. And she's been on board ever since.

Body Thoughts TorontoIn Toronto, the BodyThoughts space is neutral; it's supposed to be welcoming for all people, regardless of their gender. Mazzarello's self-portraits line the walls. Each visitor gets a reflective question - like, "How do you feel in your body right now?" - when they walk in as well as a pair of headphones and a link to a 45 minute audio track.

Over the weekend, Mazzarello and McDonald will welcome guest speakers, such as Madison Schill and The Healthy Maven (Davida Kugelmass), into the space to help facilitate conversations about how women are portrayed in popular culture.

And that's one reason Mazzarello and McDonald are happy to host BodyThoughts in the Entertainment District. "It's an invitation to people in the industry who are noticing things that are not okay and don't have a platform necessarily to talk about it," says Mazzarello.

Body Thoughts TorontoSecuring their storefront, however, wasn't an easy process. The self-described adventurous duo arrived here on January 6 without a real plan. "We came to Toronto and we said, 'we're going to have a show''" says McDonald with a laugh.

Now, they have plans to bring BodyThoughts to San Francisco in April and hope to export it to other cities around the world as well.

BodyThoughts, at 367 King St. W. will run from February 11 to 14 and from February 18 to 21 between 7 p.m. and midnight. Tickets are $25 in advance or $35 at the door.

Body Thoughts TorontoIf you don't want to fork over for a ticket, you can peek around the store's small retail space, which features collaborative prints by Mazzarello and Los Angeles-based artist Vanessa Wirth.

Photos by Hector Vasquez.


Family Day Weekend Events in Toronto for 2016

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family day weekend events torontoFamily Day Weekend Events offer plenty of options for bonding with (or escaping from) your loved ones. Since NBA All-Star Weekend and Valentine's Day are happening this weekend, the city is stacked with parties and other happenings. Whether you want to celebrate with themed events or ignore basketball and romance completely, there's something on tap for you.

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

NBA ALL-STAR WEEKEND

NBA All-Star Weekend Parties and Events (Feb. 11-14)
While you may not be able to catch the big game, the city will be filled with parties and events in the name of NBA All-Star Weekend. Whether you want to spend an evening clubbing with Amber Rose and Blac Chyna or attempt to sneak into an exclusive soiree at the Thompson, there's plenty to do from Thursday to Sunday.

VALENTINE'S DAY

Valentine's Day Events
If you want to fully commit to the Hallmark holiday, there's more than a few decent date options on tap this weekend. Whether you want to hit up a warehouse parties or go to an aquarium soiree, one of these is sure to please your S.O. (if not, there's always Netflix and Chill).

Anti-Valentine's Day Events
Does it pain you to walk the red and pink clad aisles of Shoppers Drugmart at this time of year? Ditto. If Valentine's day is not for you, opt to attend one of these events with your galentine, bromantic partner or - if your feeling bold - go solo.

Valentine's Day Restaurants
Toronto's most well-loved restaurants are pulling out all the stops on Sunday night. Thoroughbred, the Drake One Fifty, Cafe Boulud and many more have created top-notch menus in celebration of Cupid's big day.

MUSIC

Neon Windbreaker (Feb. 12)
Hometown noiseniks Neon Windbreaker are unfortunately calling it quits after seven years, likely to focus on their numerous other projects (one member plays in Dilly Dally; another heads up label We Are Busy Bodies). This Smiling Buddha gig will be their last.

TR/ST (Feb. 12)
Apparently I'm the only person concerned that the Velvet Underground's surprise rebirth is being helmed by the same guys responsible for this and this, but I'm willing to put my pessimism aside for what's overall still happy news. Especially since one of our all-time fave goths, TR/ST, is headlining.

Winterfolk Music Festival (Feb. 12-14)
The Winterfolk Music Festival returns to the Danforth the weekend, bringing with it a handful of free and paid shows worth checking out. This year's lineup is filled with urban, blues, rock, jazz, country, folk and roots bands. You can catch sets by Alana & Leigh Cline, Danny Marks, DRUMHAND, The O'Pears, and many more. A three-day wrist band will set you back $15.

Wavelength 16 (Feb. 12-14)
The annual fest takes over Valentine's Day weekend once again with another round of cool and eclectic names. Calvin Love, Duchess Says, Steve Lambke, Foxes in Fiction and many more are slated to play.

MOVIES

Toronto Black Film Festival (Feb. 10-14)
The Toronto Black Film Festival is now in full swing and you can catch a bevy of features and shorts that are "international, independent, politically incorrect and eye-opening" this weekend.

Live Fast, Die Old: A Tribute To Lemmy (Feb. 12)
For one evening only Bloor Hot Docs is screening a tribute to the late and great rock and roll legend, Lemmy Kilmister. If you get to the venue early you'll get to catch a set by DJ Moe Berg and sip on drink specials.

TIFF Next Wave (Feb. 12-16)
TIFF Next Wave is geared toward young film lovers and creators, but that doesn't mean the programming is too youthful for those over twenty. This weekend you can catch flicks like Bottle Rocket, The Notebook and The Social Network at the Lightbox. It's also hosting the Space Jam live read for NBA All-Star Weekend.

ENTERTAINMENT

DJ Skate Nights: Lula Skate (Feb. 13)
Head to the Harbourfront Centre on the first Saturday of the month for the second to last DJ Skate Night of the season. The music for this week's installment will be brought to you by Lula Lounge's DJ Trambo.

Yeezy Taught Me (Feb. 13)
Head to Adelaide Hall for an all Yeezy all night dance party on Saturday. The team behind Never Grow Up: A Taylor Swift Dance Party will be playing all his greatest hits from All Falls Down to Bound 2, you'll be celebrating the Louis Vuitton Don all night with fellow Kanye lovers.

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 Shazia Khan.

Photo by Empty Quarter in the blogTO Flickr pool.

Toronto mayor to grant Drake key to the city

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Drake TorontoToronto Mayor John Tory is handing Drake a key to the city tomorrow, just in time for the NBA All-Star Weekend. It's about time.

In a Twitter video, Mayor Tory calls the key to the city Toronto's highest honour. And, rightfully so, considering Drake will join fellow key-holders such as J.K. Rowling, Mike Myers, the late Nelson Mandela, Celine Dion, The Rolling Stones, Neil Young, Joni Mitchell and Margaret Atwood.

Started from the bottom, and now we're here. Indeed.

Toronto Food Events: India From Street Level to Underground, Winter Brewfest, Pigeonhole at Omaw

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Maman Fondue TorontoToronto 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

  • There's still time to sample all four original soups at the Cantina by Campbell's hosted by Rock Lobster's chef Matt Dean Pettit. The pop-up soup is ladling out free soup at lunch and dinner until February 22 at 501 Queen West.
  • Maman (100 King Street West) is hosting a Fondue Night on Tuesday, February 16 at 7 p.m. Reservations are required for this $45 prix-fixe menu featuring an assortment of tapas and a creamy three-cheese fondue served with all the accoutrements.
  • Tickets ($75) are still available for the Indian feast dubbed From Street Level to Underground taking place at the Indian Street Food Company (1701 Bayview Avenue) on Wednesday, February 17. Look forward to dishes including chili garlic crab, lamb raan pau, chicken biryani and kulfi.

UPCOMING

  • Chef Justin Leboe of Calgary's Pigeonhole joins chef Matt Blondin for a collaborative 10-course dinner on Sunday, February 21 at Omaw (88 Ossington Avenue). The dinner is priced at $80 and reservations can be made by email.
  • Uncle Smoke hosts a pop-up https://www.universe.com/events/uncle-smoke-x-odin-sunday-night-bbq-dinner-tickets-toronto-HZP72S at Odin (514 King Street East) on Sunday, February 21. Tickets are $40 for this all-you-can-eat, multi-course feast featuring Norse-influenced, Viking-age foods like smoked wild boar, beer braised poultry and smoked cod and more.
  • Celebrate that extra day in February with the Leap Year Veganalia at The Depanneur (1033 College Street). The supper club dinner costs $50 to partake in a menu featuring creamy artichoke soup with mushroom-stuffed dumplings, seitan puttanesca and lemon curd tarts.
  • Drink Inc. and WineAlign presents the 5th annual County in the City on Thursday, April 14 at the Berkeley Church (315 Queen Street East). The event is open to the public between 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. and will feature samples of 70+ from Prince Edward County. Admission is $49 in advance and includes two food samples and all wine samples.

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

Campbell CanadaThanks to Campbell Canada for sponsoring this post.

Khao San Road is closing and moving locations

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khao san roadWhat's your favourite Thai restaurant in Toronto? Many would quickly answer Khao San Road. Monte Wan's popular Adelaide Street eatery usually has a lineup snaking out the door as hungry customers wait around for dishes such as khao soi, pad thai and squash fritters.

But on February 26, Khao San Road will close up its original location before moving to a bigger space 250 metres away at 11 Charlotte St.

"As our lease is set to expire at our current location, we are forced to make the decision to close temporarily in order to transition to a larger space that will better serve our customers and employees," says Wan in a news release.

Khao San Road will remain closed for approximately three months, but the restaurant will still do delivery during its brief timeout. And of course, you can always head to it's sister restaurant Nana on Queen St. W.

Drake billboards continue to spread around Toronto

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drake billboardsDrake is continuing to plaster Toronto with Views From The 6 billboards (which you've probably noticed, unless you've been living under a rock.) On February 10, Drizzy tricked many of his loyal followers into thinking the album would drop sometime during NBA All-Star Weekend by erecting a massive billboard at Yonge and Dundas.

Now, it seems that the drop date is pretty much confirmed for April as many of the newer ads point toward 4/16 (which was the original assumed date). There's probably more to come, but here's a roundup of Drake/Views ads in Toronto right now.

Drake BillboardBilly Bishop - @mariobegner

Drake BillboardBilly Bishop - @boystellstoriesbouttheman

Drake BillboardDistillery District - @wordonrd

Drake BillboardExhibition Place - @wordonrd

Drake BillboardToronto Eaton Centre - @champagnepapi

Drake BillboardQueen Subway Station - @boystellstoriesbouttheman

Drake Billboard Toronto Eaton Centre - @sandraxdee

Sherway Gardens Sherway Gardens - @wordonrd

Drake Billboard Pearson International - @champagnepapi

Drake Billboard Pearson International - @champagnepapi

Lead photo of Yonge and Dundas by Richard Pham.

Playa Cabana's empire grows with 7th restaurant

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Cafeteria TorontoThe newest member of the Playa Cabana family has landed on College Street in the spot previously occupied by Black Skirt. On the menu are scratch-made tortillas, plus an array of non-taco options including a soft shell crab salad and steak Tampiquena.

Read my profile of Cafeteria in the restaurants section.

The Best Eggs Benedict in Toronto

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Eggs Benedict TorontoThe best Eggs Benedict in Toronto are a pleasure to dig into, guaranteed to be oozing with golden yolks, and doused in luscious buttery hollandaise. While the iconic recipe calls for a base of English muffins and peameal bacon, this list showcases compelling variations made with smoked meats, fish or veggies and served on top of brioche, cornbread, or even meatloaf

Here are the best Eggs Benedict in Toronto.

See also:The top 50 brunch restaurants in Toronto


The top 26 sandwiches in Toronto by country

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sandwiches TorontoToronto is home to an astounding variety of sandwiches from around the world. Weather looking for lunch time staples and street foods from across an ocean, or embracing the hand-held specialties of various continents - these sandwiches feature a multi-cultural array of breads, flavours and fillings that couldn't be more diverse or delicious.

Here are my picks for the top international sandwiches you'll find in Toronto.

ARGENTINIAN
Track down the Argentinian food truck, Che for a Choripan, featuring grilled chorizo on a crusty bun dressed with chimichurri, crumbly cheese and fresh salsa.

AMERICAN
To pick a single sandwich to represent our sprawling neighbours to the south is no easy feat, but I'll give this one to the all mighty pulled pork, a tail-gating specialty for some, an obsession-generating BBQ staple for others. Find a good one in Toronto at one of our city's finest Southern-inspired smokehouses including The Stockyards, Barque, and Holy Smokez).

sandwiches TorontoARMENIAN
Armenian style pizzas, a.k.a. lahmajoun, make for great sandwiches with a few simple tweaks. Have yours loaded up with cured meats, eggs and fresh toppings then folded into a perfect sandwich at Mamajoun in Scarborough.

sandwiches TorontoTHE BALKANS
Royals Meats and Big Butcher Barbeque both serve up Chevaps, a Balkan specialty featuring beef and lamb meat rolls traditionally served on a served on a lepinya bun with kajmak, a cream cheese-like sauce.

sandwiches TorontoBRITISH
Rashers in Leslieville is a sandwich shop devoted to all thing bacon, and here you'll find the Bacon Butty, a sandwich layered with bacon rashers and brown sauce on buttered slices of soft white bread.

sandwiches TorontoCANADIAN
Is the Montreal smoked meat more famous than Hogtown's peameal on a bun? Probably. Hit up a Jewish deli like Centre Street Deli or Caplansky's to find a sky-high pile of hand-carved Smoked Meat slathered with mustard and sandwiched between slices of rye.

sandwiches TorontoCHILEAN
Completo is the place to get a Churrasco, a classic Chilean street sandwich containing thin slices of griddled steak (or pork or chorizo sausage) dressed with mayo, diced tomatoes, mashed avocado, house hot sauce and roasted red pepper sauce on a toasted bun.

sandwiches TorontoCUBAN
La Cubana is a restaurant devoted to Cuban comfort foods and the thinly pressed Cuban sandwich layered with ham, pork, gruyere, red onions, cornichons and grainy mustard and mayo is house favourite.

FRENCH
A Croque Monsieur is a cafe favourite in both Paris and Toronto and can be distinguished as the only sandwich on this list that requires a fork and a knife. Head to The Tempered Room or Maman for very good instances of ham and cheese sandwich smothered in bechamel.

sandwiches TorontoGERMAN
Otto's Berlin Doner in Kensington Market slings Doner Kebabs, the famous street food found throughout Turkey and Germany. The sandwiches are built on a wedge of fladenbrot and filled with a choice of chicken, veal and lamb, fried halloumi, or veggies then doused with yogurt sauce and hot sauce, and finished with red cabbage, chopped cucumbers, tomatoes, onions and lettuce.

GREEK
Gyro and souvlaki are stars on the menu at any one of Toronto's Greek grills (try Messini, It's All GRK, or Square Boy) where skewered or shaved meats are nestled into puffy pita and dressed with tzatiki, chopped tomatoes and onions... maybe a few French fries or a sprinkling of feta.

HUNGARIAN
Schnitzel Queen in Corktown bills an extensive selection of schnitzel sandwiches loaded with breaded pork or chicken and dressed with fried onions, sauerkraut and potato salad.

sandwiches TorontoINDIAN
Pau are popular components in Indian fast foods like vada-pau, pau-bhaji, burji-pau, but here in Toronto you'll find them used as the base for the sweat-inducing Kerala chili beef fry sandwich at the Indian Street Food Co..

IRANIAN
Iranian cafe, Kad Banu does Nan O Paneer, nan sandwiches stuffed with sheeps milk cheese, cucumber, tomato, fresh mint and basil.

ISRAELI
Sabich is an Iraqi-Israeli sandwich featuring fried eggplant, hard boiled eggs, hummus, tahini, hot sauce and fresh and pickled veggies packed into a pita pocket or nestled into fresh laffa. Find it on the menus at Dr. Laffa and Famous Laffa.

sandwiches TorontoITALIAN
Schiacciata, or stuffed focaccia at Bar Buca comes filled with things like pistachio mortadella, green tomatoes, stracchino, pesto or spicy smoked calabrese sausage, rapini and stracciatella cheese.

sandwiches TorontoJAPANESE
Katsu sandos is aren't quite as readily available in Toronto as they are in Japan, but you'll still find an excellent rendition at HanMoto, where the Katsu Bun ($7) is loaded with a round slab of pork belly crusted in panko, deep fried, glazed in miso and sprinkled with sesame seeds.

sandwiches TorontoMEXICAN
Tenoch on St. Clair does this tortas on a Telera bun stuffed with tomatoes onions, beans, avocado, cheese and a choice of meaty fillings including ham and egg, breaded steak, shredded roast pork, or a combination of all these and more.

PAKISTANI
Head to Zeerah in Mississauga to find the the family-run fast food joint slinging bun kebab, typical of street vendors in Karachi. Less than $5 will buy you a soft bun loaded with a choice of chicken, beef, lentils or potato kabab and dressed with spicy chutney, onion and tomato.

PERUVIAN
Butifarra is a Peruvian sandwich you can mow down on at at Pisco 1641 in Little Italy. Here you'll find it built on French bread with Jamon del Pais, salsa criolla (pickled onions) and citrus mayo.

sandwiches TorontoPOLISH
Zapiekanka, the long, open faced Polish baguette sandwiches topped with things like mushrooms, melted cheese, kraut and pickles are the specialty of Toasty Zappi, a mobile kitchen you'll find at street festivals and events throughout the summer.

sandwiches TorontoSCANDINAVIAN
Karelia Kitchen has got Smorrebrod, open faced sandwiches on its menu layered with things like baby shrimp, lemon aioli, hard boiled duck egg, dill and pea shoots, or smoked salmon with fresh cheese, lemon zest, salmon roe, quail egg, capers and dill.

SPANISH
Enjoy a bocadillo along with a spread of tapas at Bar Raval where the Spanish snack bar stacks sandwiches high with thick slabs of adobo-sauced pork.

sandwiches TorontoTAIWANESE
Gua bao might be the quintessential snack food of Taiwan but Torontonians will devour them with equal enthusiasm. Head to Mean Bao, Momofuku, and Mii Sandwich Co. to find the pillowy steamed buns folded around things like pork belly, jerk chicken, and bulgogi beef.

VENEZUELAN
Arepa Cafe and El Arepazo are top spots to find Arepa, maize pockets stuffed with things like queso and avocado, chorizo, plantains, or roasted pork.

sandwiches TorontoVIETNAMESE
Banh Mi built on crusty French baguettes slathered with pate and cold cuts or loaded with pork belly, grilled or fried meats have become fixtures at lunch counters city wide. Find good ones at Banh Mi Boys, Baguette & Co., and Rose's Vietnamese Sandwiches.

Lead photo of Che by Jesse Milns.

What did I miss? Add your favourite international sandwiches to the comments.

The history of Toronto streetcars as told in LEGO

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toronto streetcars LEGOYou can build just about anything if you're good with LEGO. Case in point, this wonderfully intricate history of Toronto's streetcars by Trevor Parkins-Sciberras. From the city's first trolleys to our new Flexity Outlook models.

toronto streetcars legoYou might remember Parkins-Sciberras from his detailed model of the Junction's Campbell Block we wrote about last year. That model included a Haddon horse-drawn car, which is the first in the series. It roamed Toronto's streets from 1861-1891. Other highlights in the collection include iconic vehicles like the Petter Witt, PCC, and the CLRV.

toronto streetcars legoEach of the streetcars is remarkably accurate when you consider the building material. It's hard to pick a favourite, but the bend-ability of the Flexity recreation is certainly one of the most interesting feats its creator managed to pull off. If you squint, it looks just like the real thing.

Photos via Steampunk Junction.

Inside the NBA All-Star lounge at the Thompson Hotel

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Thomposn HotelIt's officially NBA All-Star Weekend in Toronto. Drake kicked it off with an exclusive soiree at Fring's last night, and there are plenty of parties planned for the next few days.

But, where's a celebrity to go if they want to duck out of the spotlight? A VIP lounge filled with $3,100 beverages, perhaps?

NBA TorontoThe French ultra-luxury brand Rémy Martin Louis XIII created a pop-up on the first floor of the Thompson Hotel. Louis XIII ambassador Olivia Tran tells me that it's supposed to be a safe haven for visiting A-listers.

NBA TorontoThe room is filled with plush furniture and is dotted with bottles of Louis XIII cognac, which retail for $3,100 at the LCBO.

NBA TorontoTran pours me a shot (though, shot seems disrespectful when you're sipping out of crystal glassware by Christophe Pillet) of this liquid gold. If you manage to slip inside the Thompson, you can try it yourself at the Library Bar for $295 per ounce.

NBA TorontoI also snap a few pics at the on-site photobooth because it's not every day that I get sip on a drink that costs more than everything I own.

NBA TorontoYou can access the lounge by invitation only, but Tran tells me it's restricted to an influential crowd; apparently Fabolous hung around until about 5 a.m. last night/this morning.

Photos by Hector Vasquez.

Vancouver clothing store opens huge space in Toronto

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eighth main torontoA massive contemporary men's and women's clothing store just opened up on Yonge Street. At first, I mistook the Vancouver-based chain for another Urban Outfitters, but soon noticed less absurd price points for the same down-to-earth duds.

Read my profile of 8th + Main in the fashion stores section.

Auto Show brings the cars of the future to Toronto

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Canadian Auto Show TorontoIf you believe the keynote speeches given on media day at the Canadian International Auto Show, the whole industry is lurching from crisis to crisis. This might be true - it sure hasn't been a good year for Volkswagen - but according to outgoing Audi keynote speaker Martin Sander, it's a good thing.

He contends that revolutionary new technologies are transforming the industry's products into what will be, in his words, better ones.

Canadian Auto Show TorontoThe cars of the future will be unrecognizable by our past standards because the cars of the near future - including many of the models in the Audi booth and across the show floors beyond it - were incredible harbingers of new, greener power and connected technologies.

They will make driving safer and easier than ever before, the ultimate aim of which will be the car that drives us, freeing up commuter hours and eliminating human error.

Canadian Auto Show TorontoFor their part Audi had the H-Tron (lead photo), a hydrogen fuel cell concept SUV, and a self-driving RS7 sedan that they showed off by hurtling ex-Top Gear host James May around a racetrack. Elsewhere on the convention centres floors Chevy showed off their new Bolt EV crossover, Tesla brought in their Model X crossover SUV with its dramatic "falcon-wing" doors.

Canadian Auto Show TorontoCanadian Auto Show TorontoCanadian Auto Show TorontoThere are plenty of luxurious new sedans and powerful sports cars - and no shortage of crushingly ho-hum hatchbacks and crossovers and compact cars and trucks - but occasionally someone looks like they might have come up with something.

Canadian Auto Show TorontoCanadian Auto Show TorontoCanadian Auto Show TorontoThis year it was Toyota, who put their U2 "urban utility" vehicle in the centre of the their booth - a small but really useful-looking van-thing that was described as perfect for small businesses and youthful entrepreneurs. They even kitted it out with the livery of a hypothetical fixie bike store.

Canadian Auto Show TorontoGearheads have a soft spot in their hearts for Italian carmakers, and this year's show had a treat for them with the return of Alfa Romeo to North American shores. After testing the waters last year with their 4C sports car, they went big with the Giulia Quadrifoglio, a powerful "sports sedan" that had Alfa all over its very lovely front grille and a whole lot of BMW from the front wheel arches back.

Canadian Auto Show TorontoHidden in the Fiat display was another treat - the 124 Spider, a very pretty little sports car that's really just a Miata with an Italian makeover, but it's been done right, at least as it sat on the showroom floor.

Canadian Auto Show TorontoVolkswagen began their media day presentation with a big mea culpa in their keynote speech, owning up to the turmoil that's overcome the company since the scandal over their faked diesel engine emissions broke, before moving on to present the new VW Beetle Dune meant to evoke Baja bugs and surf bums.

Then they brought out their GTI Roadster concept, inspired by a digital vehicle created for Gran Turismo 6. It was the auto show equivalent of shouting "squirrel!!" to distract a dog.

Canadian Auto Show TorontoLincoln brought their new Continental to the show after it made a big splash at car shows south of the border, while Hyundai jumped into the same luxury sedan market with their new G90, presenting it to the media with the help of a string quartet of young ladies sawing away furiously to the music on the speakers overhead - classically naff auto show media day theatre.

Canadian Auto Show TorontoCanadian Auto Show TorontoOn the fringes of the big showroom floors are the little displays that will warm the hearts of gearheads - a room full of historic Indy 500 open wheel race cars, another loaded with beautifully restored Cobble Beach Concours D'Elegance show cars.

Not to forget the Auto Exotica room, where the people who import and service Lambos and Astons and Bentleys and McLarens feature the stuff that car dreams are made of.

Canadian Auto Show TorontoIn the far corner of the room sat my favorite car in the whole show - a red Dino from Ferrari of Ontario. When it came out in 1968 it was considered a bit of an ugly duckling, but it looks fabulous today, which says something profound either about how amazing cars looked in the '60s or how dull they look today.

If you believe the nice man at Audi, though, it probably doesn't matter anymore, since it won't be long until we shop for a car they way we do for a new cellphone.

Photos by the author.

10 restaurants for Family Day brunch in Toronto

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Family Day Brunch TorontoBrunch is the perfect way to take advantage of the extra day off this Family Day Weekend in Toronto. After the excitement surrounding All-Star weekend and the inevitable Valentine's Day hangover, it's totally reasonable to want to spend the day with loved ones, even if you're counting mimosas and eggs among them.

Here's a roundup of restaurants serving brunch this Family Day in Toronto.

Emma's Country Kitchen
The St. Clair restaurant will be dishing out its famous Hangover Helper along with other brunch-time fare from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Family Day.

The Depanneur
Thick Cut Brunch is on for an extra day at this College Street kitchen. The menu boasts mix and match selections plus sweet and savoury flapjack stacks featuring the namesake thick cut bacon.

Beast
Wind down the long weekend with an extra day of breakfast sandwiches and challah French toast served 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on holiday Mondays at Scott Vivian's restaurant on Tecumseth Street.

Lisa Marie
Cure your post V-Day hangover with an double pancake pork burger at this Queen West establishment that's serving an extra day of brunch on Monday.

Cocoa 70
Head to this chocolate-centric spot in the Distillery District to take advantage of their week-round brunch menu. Savoury items including egg dishes and cheesy crepes are in no short supply, but the thing to get here are the sweets like the waffles drizzled in chocolate and sprinkled with candied hazelnuts, toffee bananas and vanilla ice cream.

Portland Variety
Earlybirds will find the cafe at this King West restaurant open at 7 a.m. on Family Day while brunch service featuring favourites like brioche French toast and fried egg bravas are on offer between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.

Cafe Boulud
The fancy French restaurant in Yorkville has extended its Sunday brunch menu for Family Day. Spend the extra day off sipping bellinis and splurging on dishes like steak tartare, lemon ricotta hotcakes and duck confit hash.

Maha's
The popular Egyptian brunch spot on the east side is closing a couple hours early on Family Day but fear not; you'll still be able to get your sunny eggs with foole and basturma scramble from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The Federal
The Dundas West eatery wants you to bring the whole fam on Monday between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. for brunch featuring watermelon rhubarb mimosas and French toast with foie gras.

The Drake Hotel
Celebrate the holiday Monday at this West Queen West hotel serving brunch from 11 a.m.. You'll find the menu flush with fried chicken and waffles, Bennies and more.

Photo at Maha's Jesse Milns

Why is much of Toronto's public art found in condos?

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public art torontoIn Toronto, you don't have to go to a gallery or museum to see notable art installations. That's because our city has a robust public art program that brings impressive pieces to parks and civic spaces as well as to private properties, such as condos and office buildings.

Why are some of Toronto's most prominent public artworks located in and around these condos and skyscrapers? Because of Section 37 of the province's Planning Act, which as the City of Toronto writes, "authorizes municipalities to grant increases in height and density of development, in exchange for the provision of facilities, services or matters."

Basically, condo developers get to do things like construct taller buildings if they promise to pay for publicly beneficial entities, such as artwork. And that's where Public Art Management comes in.

This locally based company works with developers, including Concord Adex, the Minto Group and Cadillac Fairview, to bring high-calibre artwork to properties all over the city. And, it's behind recognizable pieces such as Douglas Coupland's red Canoe at CityPlace and the James Turrell Straight Flush installation at the Bay-Adelaide Centre.

I spoke with vice president Ben Mills to learn more how he helps bring art to condos and office buildings, a process that generally takes between 18 and 36 months.

Each public artwork must be equal to one percent of the gross construction cost of the project, says Mills as he explains the Percent for Public Art Program. Once he and the developer determine a site for the installation, he works to develop a public art plan, which eventually goes to Toronto's Public Art Commission, an all-volunteer committee that advises the city about incoming art projects.

After the Public Art Commission approves the plan, it goes to Community Council and eventually to City Council.

"Once we get City Council endorsement," says Mills, "we can proceed with running our competition."

These competitions are usually by invitation only. And submissions go to a small jury comprised of one Toronto artist, one ward resident with some sort of arts-related expertise and at least one representative from the development company - the developer ultimately has the power of veto.

Mills's role is that of an arbitrator, but he also helps educate developers about the contemporary art world.

Ultimately, each piece that's realized needs to be both relevant and timeless. "They're permanent, so they have to look good permanently," says Mills.

And, these artworks aren't limited to massive sculptures. Some, pieces are incorporated directly into certain buildings through glazing or other innovative techniques.

Yet, this is all just one side of the art coin; the city also spearheads initiatives to bring creativity into truly public spaces.

Photo by Michael Mitchener.


5 old school Italian restaurants in Toronto

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Old School Italian TorontoOld school Italian restaurants in Toronto are a source for red sauce staples otherwise known as Italian-American classics. These are restaurants that are decades old, retro in style and still offering up something different in Toronto's restaurant landscape.

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

Vesuvio's Pizzeria & Spaghetti House
This pizza and pasta parlour has been a mainstay in The Junction since 1957 and played an influential roll in shaping its community. Visit today to enjoy a menu that reads like a time-capsule of Italian-American classic ranging from minestrone soup and calamari fritti to penne a la vodka and chicken marsala.

Gerrard Spaghetti & Pizza House
Since 1966, this Italian restaurant on The Danforth has been a bastion of Italian hospitality and old school recipes. In the same family for three generations now, the restaurant is beloved for its ragu smothered pastas, breaded veal sandwiches and pizzas.

Regina Pizzeria & Trattoria
The Italian trattoria on College Street has been a neighbour stalwart since 1967 and local fave for garlicky Caesar salads, pizzas and pasta dishes like an ultra rich carbonara and soft pillowy gnocchi in sweet pomodoro sauce.

Cafe Diplomatico
Located in the heart of Little Italy since 1968, the Dip was founded by Rocco Mastrangelo Sr. as a place for Italian nationals to congregate over their morning espresso. To this day the Mastrangelo family is still in charge, though the cafe has evolved in to a full restaurant offering a menu featuring pizzas and mix 'n match pastas and sauces. The patio is a true gem.

Old Spaghetti Factory
This true red sauce restaurant is part of chain first established in 1969 in Portland, Oregon. The 600-seat Toronto location is almost as old dating back to 1971 and it boasts an ultra-kitschy and unique setting filled with stained glass and quirky artifacts. There are six spaghetti dishes to choose from along with other classic Italian-American options.

What did I miss? Add your favourite old school Italian restaurant to the comments.

Photo by Fion N in the blogTO Flickr pool

Where to eat thick cut bacon in Toronto

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The Depanneur TorontoThis "corner store" on College is a multi-use venue for workshops, supper clubs and weekly drop-in dinners. While the food and the faces are always in flux, one thing that is consistent is weekend brunch offering an array of signature dishes along with mix and match options featuring some seriously thick cut bacon.

Read my profile of The Depanneur in the restaurants section.

5 new shops for Valentine's Day gifts in Toronto

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valentines gifts torontoNew shops for Valentine's Day gifts in Toronto will help get you out of the cliche chocolates and roses routine. A bevy of shops touting jewellery, lingerie and other giftable goods have popped up in the past year, giving you more than a couple of excuses to skip the lines at Victoria's Secret and your local florist.

Here are a few new shops for Valentine's Day gifts in Toronto this year.

Souvenir Studios
This Little Italy shop carries a melange of carefully curated accessories, home goods and apothecary items perfect for gifting. The ever-changing range of products sold here will help you get your hands on unique pieces that can't be found at any of the big chain stores. If you're on the hunt for a little bling for your bae, its selection of Foe and Dear bobbles should do the trick.

Aesop Toronto
Want to pamper your S.O.? Head to Aesop and pick them up a new fragrance and some massage oil. The West Queen West boutique, which opened last summer, carries just about every skin and haircare product under the sun, so if you want to amp up your gift throw in a new cleanser or some oil burner blends.

Gigi's House of Frills
Lingerie rarely fails as a Valentine's Day gift as it usually pleases all parties involved. If you're looking for something a little bit different than the lace and silk selections of Victoria's Secret and La Vie en Rose, opt for some of the vintage pieces sold at Gigi's. The Annex shop stocks pin-up style bras, panties and loungewear that would be a welcome addition to any ladies' wardrobe.

King's Crown
This North York grooming supply mecca popped up in Bayview Village last fall giving men accross the city a new reason to ditch their Gillette razors. If your main man likes to maintain perfectly coiffed facial hair a la Tom Hardy, one of the gift sets sold might make for the perfect gift.

Papabubble Toronto
Chocolate may be the go-to Valentine's treat, and while everyone enjoys a good truffle now and again, it may be time to try something different. The artisanal sweets sold at this Yonge & Lawrence shop are more than just your average pick n' mix items, they're so impressive looking that they'll probably last more than a day.

What did I miss? Add your go-to Valentine's Day shops in the comments.

Photo of Souvenir Studios by Hector Vasquez.

What kind of apartment does $1500 get you in Toronto?

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1500 dollar apartment torontoThe $1500 benchmark is an important one in the Toronto rental market. For that price, one should be able to acquire a livable two-bedroom or a rather nice one-bedroom apartment. A review of available listings mostly confirms this, but it also demonstrates just how expensive rentals are today. Well, that and the fact that unoccupied condos have flooded the market in this price range.

This is what a $1500 a month apartment looks like in Toronto.

rental apartment toronto$1500 near High Park
If you have $1500 to spend on rent and only need a one-bedroom, there are a few things that you should rightly expect, like a decent/newish kitchen, more than 400 square feet of living space, and proximity to major amenities and transit. This Roncesvalles apartment ticks all the checks, and features a clean open-layout with lots of light.

Thompson Hotel rental$1500 at the Thompson Hotel
Would-be landlords love to list bachelor apartments as one-bedrooms, even if that's not entirely honest. You'd think you'd be spared such a thing at this price-point, but if you want to live in the Thompson for $1500, you'll have to stick a bed in the entry-area near the kitchen. Not recommended for people who like to cook regularly.

rental apartment toronto$1550 for a three-bedroom at DVP and Lawrence
If you're not tied to a downtown address, the $1500 range can buy you a lot of space. This townhouse-style unit near the DVP and Lawrence has three bedrooms, a community pool, and nice hardwood floors. You'll probably need to own a car to get around, so the $45 monthly parking fee needs to be factored in.

2016211-king-brant.jpg$1550 at King and Brant
This unit is one of hundreds of similar-looking condo/apartments available in this price range. These living spaces are centrally located, mostly open-concept, and feature decent-looking kitchens and appliances. Your money is buying you something that's quite new, even if these units tend to lack character. The BBQ hookup here is a nice bonus.

apartment rental toronto$1500 in the heart of the Annex
If it is character that you're after, $1500 will buy you a lot of it, and even in a good neighbourhood. I'd argue that this unit is considerably overpriced based on its age and the state of its finishes (old appliances and parquet floors), but the little deck at the back looks nice and the square footage is decent.

apartment rental toronto$1450 at Queen and Broadview
The difference between King West and Riverside would appear to be $100 of monthly rent according to this comparison. Here you're getting a unit that's quite similar to the one at King and Brant with features like a balcony, condo-affiliated amenities, and a decent size at 535 square feet. There's even a built in iPod dock -- as if that's worth anything.

Would you shell out $1500 for any of these apartments? Let us know in the comments.

This is what the True North All-Star venue looks like

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True North NBA All Star VenueNBA All-Star festivities are in full swing in Toronto right now, which means we've caught a glimpse of some the various special venues in use for the off-court action. There's the VIP lounge at the Thompson, complete with bottles of Louis XIII at $265 an ounce, but also the sprawling True North Entertainment complex at Roundhouse Park.

This is the VIP experience for those who can't afford $265 shots of cognac. The first parties and concerts were held last night (Usher and Gwen Stefani took the stage), which made about 3,000 people very happy, including some easy-to-recognize NBA alumni (though no Drake who had his hands full coaching the celebrity game).

NBA True North venueGiven the price tag started at $1000 (ACC season ticket holders were given first dibs outside of celebrities), they've tried to make the place plush, but there's only so much you can do with a makeshift structure. The neon basketball nets are a nice touch, as is the massive chandelier hovering above the bar area.

There are still two nights of events and concerts here, so you better get working on your Luxy profile right now if you haven't already secured a pass.

MORE PHOTOS
NBA True North venueNBA True North venueNBA True North venueNBA True North venueNBA True North venuePhotos by Jesse Milns.

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