Cider in Toronto isn't as prolific as beer, but the popularity of these fermented fruit beverages is growing along with the number of craft producers. Many of the ciders found in Toronto are of the apple variety which should be good news to those who subscribe to that old adage; an apple a day... plus you'll find plenty of fun experimental flavours to discover.

Here are my picks for the top places to drink cider in Toronto by neighbourhood.

BALDWIN VILLAGE
Strongbow and Thornbury on tap plus sweet and fruity tall cans of Somersby and Seagrams hard apple cider are among the most popular alternatives to beer at Sin & Redemption.

BAYVIEW & LEASIDE
Find Brickworks Batch 1904 Cider on tap at Against The Grain along with bottles of Pommies Dry Cider and Spirit Tree Applelager Light Cider.

BLOORCOURT
Wenona Lodge is the place to kick back and pretend that you're at the cottage. Finger-licking BBQ and tall cans of Coffin Ridge Forbidden Fruit and Pommies Farmhouse Cider help set the tone.

BLOOR WEST VILLAGE
Order a pint of Somersby Danish Apple Cider or crack open a can of Brickworks Batch 1904 Cider to go along with the top notch pub grub offered by The Kennedy Public House.

CABBAGETOWN
Find Thornbury Cider on draught at Stout Irish Pub along with at least a half dozen ciders in cans or bottles. Standouts include Pommies Dry Cider, Rusty Bling Red Cider and 66 Pick-Up Cider.

THE DANFORTH
The Only Cafe is among Toronto's best beer bars and here you'll find an always changing selection of brews on tap. Recent features have included Ironwood Tres Robles Oak Aged Apple Cider, Waupoos Blackberry Peach County Cider and Small Talk Vineyard Shiny Apple Cider.

DUNDAS WEST
The Get Well boasts an impressive selection of brews in bottles and cans among which you'll find at least a handful of ciders including Waupoos County Cider, Magners Irish Cider and Strongbow.

FINANCIAL DISTRICT
In addition to Beerbistro's rotating cider of the moment on tap, expect to find bottles of Spirit Tree Draught Cider behind the bar.

KING EAST
Cider drinkers know that C'est What is an ally. The beer bar focuses exclusively i\on craft Canadian brands and in addition to Waupoos always on tap, you'll find rotating features and bottles of Pommies Farmhouse Cider, Ironwood Cider, Brickworks Batch 1904 and Queen Street 501.

KING WEST
Sausages and ciders are a perfect pair at WVRST. Expect to find familiar labels like Pommies Dry Cider, west coast imports like Troy Cider Wild Apple and 101 Cider House, and rarities like Barrett Fuller's Secret bourbon barrel-aged cider from West Avenue.

KOREATOWN
West Avenue Cider on draught and tall cans of Sir Perry's Pear Cider and Brickworks Batch 1904 Cider are highlights on the bar menu at Clinton's Tavern.

LIBERTY VILLAGE
Over 120 craft brews on tap are the main attraction at Craft Brasserie. When it comes to ciders, expect to find selections like Brickworks Batch 1904 and Spirit Tree Estate Draught and Dry-Hopped ciders.

LITTLE ITALY
Graze your way through a spread of tapas at Bar Isabel and pretend you're in a Basque-style sagardotegi. The bar menu boasts an impressive collection of bottles including local faves like West Avenue Cherriosity and imports such as Itsastegi, Sagardo Naturala and Gérard Maeyaert, Poiré.

PARKDALE
Expect to find a rotating cider on tap at The Rhino as well as cans and bottles including Strongbow, Magners and Sir Perry Pear Cider.

ROSEDALE
The Rebel House is a midtown watering hole where the beer list boasts Waupoos County Cider on draught along with bottles of Pommies and king cans of Brickworks Batch 1904.

QUEEN WEST
Discerning cider drinkers will find a selection that surprises and delights on the weekly draught list at Barhop Brewco. The bottled options are impressive too featuring easy drinking options like Brickworks Batch 1904, Coffin Ridge Forbidden Fruit and Spirit Tree Draught ciders.

YONGE & DUNDAS
You'd expect a Brit pub like The Queen & Beaver to carry U.K. imports like Cornish Orchard Gold Cider. Less expected is the love for Ontario-produced ciders from labels like Pommies, Spirit Tree and West Avenue.

YONGE & ST. CLAIR
Cava embraces the Basque practice of pouring cider from a height to aerate the liquid before it reaches the glass. Here you'll find West Avenue Heritage Dry Cider along with French imports like Sidre Brut Eric Bordelet and still (not sparkling) Basque ciders like Bere Traditional and Isastegi Traditional.

YONGE & WELLESLEY
Along with the rotating tap selection at Bar Volo, look forward to bottles and cans of West Avenue Gold Dust, Spirit Tree Estate Sparkling Crab Apple and Coat-Albret Cidre Bouche de Bretagne.

YORKVILLE
Land a table on the flight deck at The Pilot to discover half a dozen different ciders on the menu. KW Craft Cider, Somersby Blackberry Cider, Strongbow and Magners are among the selections.

Thanks to the LCBO for sponsoring this post.

It's finally here. Simons has opened up its first ever Ontario store, located inside Mississauga's Square One mall. It features a wide selection of designer duds as well as affordable items from Simons' various private labels.

Read my profile of Simons in the fashion section.

While it may not look like much from the outside, this takeout spot, found in an unassuming strip plaza, doles out delicious and budget-friendly meals. Head here if you're looking to grab a jerk chicken sandwich on coco bread, a spicy beef patty or oxtail with rice and peas.

Read my profile of Allwyn's Bakery in the restaurants sections.

Toronto Food Events rounds up the most delicious events, festivals, pop-ups, winemaker dinners, supper clubs and other food related happenings in Toronto this week and next. You can find us here every Friday morning.

THIS WEEK

• Taste Haida Gwaii at Canoe (66 Wellington Street West) kicks off this Saturday, March 19 and will run until June. The limited time tasting menu priced at $115 per person is part of Canoe's ongoing Taste Series honouring different regions of Canada. Look forward to dishes like prawn and nettle chowder, smoked white salmon with fiddleheads, salmon candy, and more.
• Macaron Day is Sunday, March 20 and there are 17+ Toronto bakeries, patisseries and cafes offering freebies, special flavours and donating macaron proceeds for the day to charity.
• Montreal takes over The Drake Hotel (1150 Queen Street West) for a Poutine Party on Monday, March 21 as part of 86'D Mondays. The competitive cook-off is free to attend and will feature ooey-gooey poutine from Le Bremner's Danny Smiles and Hotel Herman's Marc-Alexandre Mercier.
• Fonda Lola (942 Queen Street West) hosts a Tequilla Tasting on Tuesday, March 22 at 7 pm. Owner and Mexico City expat Ernesto Rodriguez will showcase a range of house-aged silvers to top-shelf añejos in a guided tasting along with $2 tacos and free tortilla chips with pineapple-habanero salsa.

UPCOMING

• The Depanneur (1033 College Street) presents Ottomans in Toronto, a supper club instalment by M&T Foods on Sunday, April 3. The lavish meal priced at $60 per person will feature a menu of golden fried cauliflower with tahini, Turkish-style chickpea hummus, classic Turkish meze, saffron and almond pilaf and more.
• Curryfest happening on Saturday, April 9 at the Aga Khan Museum (77 Wynford Drive) has announced its lineup of vendors. Look forward to spicy dishes from Rickshaw Bar, Pai, Joshna Maharaj, Saffron Spice Kitchen, Kyla Rajkumar of The Gabardine, Nana, Bombay Street Food Co., Bannock, Gourmet Malaysia, Indian Street Food Co., and at least a couple more surprises. Tickets are on sale now.
• Cover Me Urban, a new food event in support of Youth Without Shelter, will take place on Wednesday, April 6, 2016 at The Glass Factory (99 Sudbury). General admission is $99 ($40 tax receipts will be issued upon purchase). The evening will feature live entertainment as well as street foods from 15 food and drink vendors.

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

Photo via the Depanneur.

Spring pop-up shops in Toronto will have your revamping your home and wardrobe for the seasons ahead. Stocking everything from locally-sourced food to designer bikinis, these makeshift shops will help give your life some new flair at bargain prices.

Here are my picks for the top pop-up shops in Toronto this spring.

Vitaly Pop-Up Shop + Sample Sale (March 8-21)
The fifth-annual Vitaly Pop-Up Shop has been open for the latter half of March and will be going strong until the 21st. It's taken over The Accessory Bar's old space at 350 Yonge Street and filled it with discounted accessories, clothing and watches.

OREJEN Fashion Lab Pop-Up Shop (March 18-20)
The multi-use space at 12 Ossington, formally known as Rally, will be filled with pieces from emerging fashion designers from around the globe until the March 20. Get in there before it closes to snag clothing and accessories from brands like COVRY and Studio 189.

Spring Equinox Pop-Up Market by Toronto Urban Collective (March 20)
Celebrate the first day of spring by filling your home and wardrobe with some new goods. 99 Sudbury will be brimming with independent artists, craft-makers, photographers, designers, and artisan chefs.

P.O.P Pop-Up Shop (April 1-3)
At the beginning of April the P.O.P Pop-Up Shop will take over a spot in Mirvish Village, selling a bevy of paintings, jewellery, bags, soaps, candles and more. If you want to party while you shop, head there on April 1st for the opening night bash.

La Playa Pop-Up Shop (April 1-30)
La Playa Pop-Up Shop will help you prepare for the impending days of beach bumming and rooftop tanning. Melmira is bringing high-end designer beachwear pieces from its home at Yonge and Lawrence to 12 Ossington Avenue for a month-long pop-up running every week from Tuesday to Saturday. Expect to find labels like Cool Change and Josa at 40% off.

The Bespoke Pop-Up Shop (April 2-3)
Head to Love & Greed on the first weekend of April to up your menswear game. While the store is already known to stock some pretty stellar duds, it's about to get even more fashionable. Toronto-based designer Tre Paul will be hosting a Bespoke Pop-Up Shop for one weekend only, so save your dollars.

Ice Cream Pop-Up Shop (April 3)
In the market for some brand new bling? OCADU Material Art and Design students are hosting an event showcasing their jewelry and textile creations. In keeping with the iced-out theme, there will also be vegan ice cream making and tasting activities.

Marni's Mini Market Community Pop-Up Shop (May 15)
If you're more into food than fashionable finds, head to Marni Wasserman's Food Studio and Lifestyle Shop on May 15. The shop will feature everything from organic food and natural beauty products from local vendors. Lemon Lily Tea, Healthy Krunch, Au Naturel, Unbaked Cake Co., Yes, Peas!, Wood and Water and more.

What did I miss? Add more spring pop-ups to the comments.

Photo via Toronto Urban Collective.

How well is the TTC's proof-of-payment (POP) system working? That's what Toronto city councillor Joe Mihevc wants to find out now that city allows all-door boarding on streetcars. Mihevc says he takes the streetcar every day, but has yet to see a fare inspector.

The Ward 21 councillor, according to CP24, wants TTC staff to find how much money the city is losing from this type of fare evasion.

One anonymous TTC operator told the Toronto Sun that every day, thousands of people don't pay for transit.

As the Sun reports, there are usually 35 POP on duty at a time. However, the fare evasion rate on TTC streetcars currently sits at around 2 percent, which is apparently normal for a transit system.

Photo by Gareth Guo from the blogTO Flickr pool.

Earth Hour is Saturday March 19 starting at 8:30 p.m. From candlelight walks to acoustic shows, there are plenty of ways those of us in Toronto can participate.

Here are a few ways to celebrate Earth Hour in Toronto this year.

Lights Out with Mill St. Brewery
At 8:30 p.m. Mill Street Brewery will be hosting "Lights Out with Mill Street" -- a ton of parties in celebration of Earth Hour across the city. You'll get to catch live acoustic performances in candlelit bars across the city including the Mill St. Brew Pub, Stone Lion and Brooklyn Tavern. Check out the full list of bars and participating artists here.

AstroTour Earth Hour 2016
Get a little education during Earth Hour by heading to U of T's Earth Science Centre on Saturday. Prof. John Moores will be doing a lecture titled: "What if Earth was no longer habitable?" Aside from the main event, you'll get to take part in planetarium tours, chat with an astronomer, and do some telescope observing.

Candle Light Walks
Some of the most popular Earth Hour activities are candle light walks. Several neighbourhoods around the city are inviting anyone and everyone out to join in on short treks in celebration of Mother Earth. Need some guidence? Monarch Park and Roncesvalles are both starting points (but I'm sure you can track down several more).

Beaches 4th Annual Earth Hour LIGHTS OUT!
Head down to the east side to celebrate Earth Hour with Beaches residents. Expect an evening filled with live music, sing-a-longs by candlelight.

Earth Hour 2016 in Ward 13
Celebrate the event at Heritage York's historic Lambton House. There will a candlelight guided walk along the Humber River, acoustic music with George Linton, refreshments and more.

What did I miss? Add more ways to celebrate Earth Hour to the comments.

Photo by Stephen Young in the blogTO Flickr pool.

Cuban sandwiches aren't that common in Toronto but we do have some good ones. Find versions stacked with roasted pork, grilled ham, cheese, mustard and pickles and others that layer on genoa salami or sliced avocado.

Here are my picks for the top Cuban sandwiches in Toronto.

La Cubana
For a classic Cubano sandwich head to either location of this Cuban-styled diner that boasts locations on Ossington and on Roncesvalles. The plancha-pressed sandwich is crafted with layers of sliced ham, sous vide pork shoulder and gruyere cheese then finished with onions, pickles and chipotle mayo.

Ave Maria Latin Café
This unassuming Koreatown cafe and convenience store makes a mean Cuban sandwich to go. The El Cubano ($7.50) here is loaded with black forest ham, porchetta, and genoa salami, plus cheese, guacamole and pickles.

The Federal
This Dundas West brunch spot is home to a Cubano sandwich ($14) featuring roasted pork, ham and cheddar on sourdough with classic condiments; mustard, pickles, aioli and the added deliciousness of avocado. Each order includes salad or rosti potatoes on the side.

Torteria San Cosme
This Kensington Market sandwich shop starts their Cuban sandwich ($12) with telera buns and then loads them with smoked ham and slow roasted adobo pork smothered with melted gouda and dressed with avocado, tomatoes, chipotle sauce and spicy dijon mustard.

Mad Dog Cafe
This East Chinatown cafe's Cuban sandwich ($7.25) on multigrain bread is kind of like a deluxe ham and cheese featuring grilled ham and swiss cheese with pulled pork, BBQ sauce and pickles.

What did I miss? Add more Cuban sandwiches to the comments.

For homemade banquet burgers, fries and huge slices of greasy pizza, head to this neighbourhood institution that's been around for nearly 50 years.

Read my profile of The Real McCoy in the restaurants section.

Saks Fifth Avenue's outlet store has just landed in Toronto, with its first three locations littered across Ontario. This store - although enormous, jam-packed with product and somewhat overwhelming - is ideal for "thrill of the hunt" shoppers with plenty of patience and time.

Read my profile of Saks OFF 5TH in in the fashion section.

The best late night poutine in Toronto showcases the ultimate comfort food in its best light - after dark. Long past midnight and once fortified with a few drinks, this satisfying mess of carbs, gooey cheese and gravy looks more attractive than ever.

Here is the best late night poutine in Toronto.

I remember leaving the first bar I ever worked at 4am every night with tons of crazy stories. Much to my friends' delight (and my father's horror), these stories mainly revolved around drunk men doing things like carrying me into the men's washroom.

While there was no formal dress code, I was encouraged to trade in my jeans for a pair of short shorts and when I did I saw a raise in tips and an even bigger raise in drunk men's antics.

Recently, the question of whether or not female dress codes are biased and over sexualized has been brought to light, and apparently for good reason. National chains like Jack Astor's, Earls, Joey Restaurants and Cactus Club are facing judgement as more and more female servers are sharing their personal experiences relating to biased uniform standards.

Regardless of their formal uniform policies, it's apparent by walking into almost any restaurant the difference between the male and female uniforms. As a server myself, I have been exposed to these double standards daily and actually feel lucky to now work at a restaurant that doesn't force me to wear heels or an exposing uniform.

Jack Astor's has felt the wrath of this controversy as one server, Akua Agyemfra, made headlines when she shared her experience of being sent home because her hair was in a bun. Within the industry world, Jack Astor's is known to have overly strict uniform policies for their female servers.

One former Jack Astor's employee recalls the endless stories of girls being sent home, whereas she never saw a male server get sent home. "I got written up for having my hair half up because my black elastic was showing. I've also been sent home for minimal chipped nail polish and for not wearing a watch," she said.

She explained how detailed the female uniform requirements are, including wearing a minimum of three accessories, wearing a certain height heel and only being allowed to wear a jacket on the patio if it's under 15 degrees outside. A former male Jack Astor's server said the girls would be freezing on the patio, but complaining to management was pointless.

And while their female co-workers would be freezing, he said the men were fine as their uniform consists of jeans, sneakers and a branded t-shirt.

After working at two different locations for four years, she now works at Moxie's. There, male and female servers generally wear the same uniform, though females wear a skirt in certain sections of the restaurant. She has already had a more positive work experience.

The blatant difference between men and women's uniforms seems to be an ongoing trend throughout these major restaurant chains. At Joey restaurants, men's uniforms consist of black pants and a black button-up shirt, while girls have to follow several rules, including wearing a low-cut, tight dress without nylons.

Men are only allowed to work in certain sections of the restaurant, as the main cliental is men who apparently only want to be served by women.

Madeline, a former server at a Toronto Joey location, shares her experiences with the company, including a girl being told that in order to move to an improved section of the restaurant, she would need to wear more makeup (a line that I've heard too) and noting that the uniform dresses only come is sizes xxs, xs and small.

"In training there was such a huge emphasis on what you look like, how much makeup you wear and of course the heels," Madeline said. "I started getting back pains from working 9.5 hour shifts in heels.

We were allowed to wear flats if need be, however in my eight months working there, I only ever wore flats once because of my arthritis and I felt embarrassed. My managers made me feel guilty for not being 'on brand.'"

In the wake of Women's International Day on March 8, the Ontario Human Rights Commission released a policy position paper stating that sexualized dress codes are discriminatory and women shouldn't be expected to dress in short skirts, low-cut tops and high heels.

Earls was the only restaurant to respond to the policy paper, saying in a statement that their female servers would be getting more uniform options to match their own comfort levels.

Companies argue that their policies are versatile because they offer options such as pants for females on request or only suggest, rather than impose, certain regulations. What they are failing to recognize is the treatment these women get if they opt out for the less popular options.

When there are ultimatums imposed by management telling women to show more cleavage and wear more makeup if they want a better section or more shifts, it doesn't matter if the policies are formal or not because if you aren't willing to do it, someone else is.

A former employee at Cactus Club says even though she complained to management about working for nine hours in heels, they told her it was a nonnegotiable policy. Just like the skin-tight uniform dresses they have to wear (that are so tight this server wasn't even able to wear underwear).

Female servers' complaints about the sexualization of uniforms is not a new issue. There are several successful cases that have even been to the human rights tribunal relating to discrimination, but even after those public cases, there has been no solution to this issue. It seems that even when companies formally change their policies to ensure protection from public outcry, the industry is what it is.

And by that I mean with an industry so engrained in sexualizing women and convincing them that cleavage is a way to more money and with a clientele that seems to confirm this, it will take way more than policy changes to even begin to equalize women and men's uniforms in restaurants.

Want to know about your favourite chain restaurant's uniform policies? Here's how it breaks down.

JACK ASTOR'S

• Girls: skirt (either lululemon or Jack's brand) or yoga pants (no visible logos); black yoga lululemon zip if under 15 degrees on patio; Jack's branded tank top or t-shirt; 3 accessories; hair down and styled, only allowed up if styled properly; 1 1/5 inch black polishable heel; knee high socks optional; Jack's pouch; full make up; nails fully done, no chips.
• Guys: jeans allowed; any colour shoe or sneaker; Jack's branded t-shirt

MOXIE'S

• Girls: dining room - dark skinny jeans; 1 1/5 inch polishable heel; black button up shirt; long apron; hair down - no hair pins or any accessories in hair. Lounge: skirt (inch above the knee); shirt (varies on colour; red, white or black - depends on day); hair down; black pouch with black belt.
• Guys: dining room: same as girls- black button up; dark jeans; apron. Lounge: dark jeans; button up shirt.

JOEY RESTAURANTS

• Girls: dresses only come in xxs, xs and small- given black a-line dress, low cut and tight, not allowed to have bra showing; expected to wear jewellery; hair styled; black heels; no tights or nylons.
• Guys: dress shoes; black pants; black button up shirt.

CACTUS CLUB

• Girls: tailored black dress (gets fitted to you), 2 options of dresses both very tight, not plunging or short; heels- non negotiable; hair down & styled; no coloured hair; no facial piercings; full make up; girls with tattoo sleeves need long sleeve dress.
• Guys: dress shoes; black dress pants; black dress shirt; hair styled; no 'scruff' facial.

3 BREWERS

• Girls: branded t-shirt; black, fitted dress pants or skirt; black, polished shoes; hair styled; full makeup; nails optional; apron; no coloured hair; jewellery optional.
• Guys: branded t-shirt, black, polished dress shoes; black dress pants; apron; belt.

THE KEG STEAKHOUSE

• Dining room: girls & guys wear same thing - white, fitted, long-sleeve button up dress shirts with a tie; black dress pants; white apron with keg tie clip; black dress shoes.
• Bar: all women servers - keg-approved black tight-fitted dress, must be just above knee (one has a built in push-up bra, another has a v-neck); in the winter black nylons and cardigan go over top; min. 1 inch wedge hell; full make up; hair styled; light perfume; mild jewellery acceptable.
• Bartenders: black pants; button-up shirts.

Photo by PLTam in the blogTO Flickr pool.

Brunch options abound on King St. East and throughout Corktown. You'll find everything from splurge worthy French toast with duck confit to seafood-topped Benedicts, to ultra satisfying and wallet-friendly standards at retro diners and cafes.

Here are my top picks for brunch on King East and in Corktown.

Odin
The Nordic-Canadian cafe in Corktown serves up brunch favourites on weekends. Settle in for a latte and a sizzling skillet of shakshuka or tall stack of chai flavoured pancakes.

Betty's
This quirky King East pub offers a brunch buffet from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. every weekend. Highlights include food stations featuring carved meats, poutine, DIY waffles, fruit and dessert dishes.

Corktown Kitchen
Brunch is served Sundays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at this eclectic kitchen on the east side and features an array of breakfast standards and four different types of eggs Benedict including a deluxe lobster and crab version.

Morning Glory
Brunch any day of the week at this cozy breakfast spot in Corktown. Highlights on the menu include fried eggs with rosti potatoes, smoked salmon plates, and breakfast burritos packed with scrambled eggs, cheese, veggies and guac'.

Le Petit Dejeuner
Early birds flock to this breakfast nook on King East for brunch on weekends served 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.. Here you'll find an array of omelettes, Bennies, crepes and waffles.

George Street Diner
This red retro diner is open 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on weekends for brunch consisting of blueberry pancakes, pulled pork Benedicts and fried egg breakfasts with beans, bangers and toast.

Origin
Short rib hash, French toast with duck confit, and egg white frittatas are on the menu at Claudio Aprile's upscale restaurant on King East.

Impact Kitchen
If "cheat day" has already come and gone but you still feel like brunching, head to this lofty Corktown eatery where breakfast is served from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Options like BLT bowls featuring oven-baked bacon with spinach, tomato, scrambled eggs, pesto and pea sprouts feel suitably indulgent and are still nutrient-dense and light on carbs.

Figs
The brunch menu at this daytime restaurant has something for everyone. Whether craving the sweet or savoury, you can choose from a long list of French toast, pancakes, waffles, bacon and eggs, Benedicts and omelettes.

Patrician Grill
This old school diner on King East is open for brunch on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Look forward to a menu of breakfast standards including steak and eggs, western omelettes, and pancakes slathered with butter and smothered in syrup.

What did I miss? Add your favourite King East and Corktown brunch spots in the comments.

Lead photo of Odin by Hector Vasquez.

Toronto has become flush with brewpubs in recent years, but this long-lived beer bar was certainly among the first. Triumphing all-Canadian craft brews, there's always something new on tap to try as well as exclusive house brews and a cross-cultural menu of comfort foods.

Read my profile of C'est What in the restaurants section.

Toronto kids had more fun in the 1990s than they do today. While the free-for-all of the '80s had gone by the wayside, I still recall a prevailing openness to things that would these days be considered dangerous. There was less supervision and regulation, which allowed for the possibility to explore the city just for the sake of it.

Here are 10 fun things Toronto kids did in the 1990s.

1. You rode the Monorail at the Toronto Zoo, even though it was widely considered dangerous after two trains collided in 1991.

2. Your first Imax experience came at Ontario Place's Cinesphere, which was just about the coolest building in the city.

3. Along with watching it on TV, at one point or another you actually recorded yourself acting like an idiot at Speaker's Corner.

4. Despite the small screens and crappy sound, you loved hitting up toonie flicks at the Eaton Centre Cineplex.

5. You made fun of kids from the 905, an area code that was brand new back then and seemed the perfect way to ostracize suburbanite posers.

6. You legitimately marvelled at the SkyDome and its moving roof. The fact that it also served McDonald's was also mind-blowing.

7. You missed the Mad Hatter, but birthday parties at the Organ Grinder were still pretty great.

8. You actually watched music videos on MuchMusic - and a lot of them. Shows like Rap City and the Wedge became must-watch TV and broadened your musical horizons.

9. Even if it was meant to be educational, you listened to the Sunday Night Sex Show with Sue Johanson because you found such straight talk hilarious (and at times arousing).

10. You derived endless pleasure from making fun of the kid in the acne PSA, even though you had plenty of zits yourself.

What did I miss? Share your memories in the comments.

Photo by Stephen Gardiner in the blogTO Flickr pool.

The top events in Toronto for spring will have you embracing the warm weather with parties, concerts and festivals. Whether you want to spend the season with high-brow arts-lovers or indie concert-goers, there's something for you. It's time to hit the defrost button on your social life and leave the comfort of your apartment, so get to planning.

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

Fashion Art Toronto (April 12-16)
Toronto Fashion Week may have wrapped, but that doesn't mean you should trade in your more eccentric duds for a Roots' sweat suit anytime soon. Fashion Art Toronto will allow you to put your gear to good use when it hits the city on April 12. Expect an impressive roster of fashion-focused runway shows, photography, art exhibits, installations, performances and films.

Images Festival (April 14-23)
Toronto's annual experimental film and media event, the Images Festival, returns to Toronto on April 14. As per usual, the fest will boast a bevy of short screenings, installations, performances, art exhibits and more at local galleries.

Hot Docs (April 28-May 8)
If you reserve your Netflix account for David Attenborough-narrated flicks and Cowspiracy-like educational movies, Hot Docs is the place to be this Spring. The International Documentary Festival is the largest of its kind in North America and shows over 200 films from Canada and around the world to massive audiences. With so many choices, I suggest putting together a game plan ASAP.

Contact Photography Festival (May 1-31)
Contact Photography Festival stretches across the entire month of May, bringing out the best of the best in international photography. This year there will be 20 free public installations and more than 200 events, all featuring works from Canadian and international artists and photographers. If you're a budding Annie Leibovitz or Ansel Adams, you'll want to check it out.

Canadian Music Week (May 2-8)
This recurring music fest is rolling into town at the beginning of May. Top-notch homegrown and international artists, like Eagles of Death Metal, Dilly Dally and Tegan and Sara, will be hitting stages all over the city - from Lee's Palace to Massey Hall. If you're in the market for more than music, there will be comedy shows and movies on all week, as well.

Toronto Comic Arts Festival (May 14-15)
If you spend your down time rifling through the graphic novel selections at Silver Snail and The Beguiling, you should probably hit up TCAF. The two-day exhibition brings out hundreds of comic creators and fanatics from around the world, meaning you'll be in some pretty good company. Look forward to readings, interviews, panels, workshops, gallery shows, art installations, and more.

Electric Island (May 23)
The first Electric Island concert of the year will be taking over Hanlan's Point at the end of May. Full lineups for this years' shows are still TBA, but you can expect plenty of EDM, dancing and maybe a few contraband substances. If you can't make it out in May, don't get too stressed, you'll only have to wait until July 1 for a follow-up bash.

Inside Out Festival (May 26-June 5)
Inside Out, not to be confused with the Oscar-winning animated picture of the same name, showcases flicks made by and focusing on the LGBTQ community. Over 11 days you'll be able to catch screenings, artist talks and discussions and attend some pretty killer parties.

Anime North (May 27-29)
If you laboured over your cosplay costume for ComiCon, good news, you can put it to good use this May. At the end of the month Anime North is coming to the Toronto Congress Centre and International Plaza Hotel for its annual convention. Expect to find plenty of vendors, speakers and performers dressed in their most creative costumes.

Doors Open (May 27-29)
Ever wondered what lies behind the doors of Toronto's most architecturally, historically, culturally and socially important buildings? Well at the end of May you can find out when Doors Open gives everybody a free pass to snoop around inside of them. Remember to charge your iPhone, folks, these places are very Instagrammable.

Field Trip (June 4-5)
Fort York Garrison Common will be taken over by indie music lovers at the beginning of June for this years' instalment of Field Trip. The lineup is pretty impressive, featuring big names like The National, Robyn, Santigold and July Talk (plus a bevy of others).

Luminato (June 10-19)
The 10th edition of Luminato kicks off mid-June and will bring a smorgasbord of art and performance events to the city. Expect plenty of food vendors, dance performances, concerts, and much more. Unsound Toronto will also return as part of the fest, if you missed the action at the Hearn last year.

Bestival (June 11-12)
UK-transplant Bestival is coming back to the city with a new and impressive lineup and location. Aside from the kickass roster of performers, there'll be a costume party and parade, circus troupes, a Day of the Dead cocktail bus and plenty more to keep you entertained.

Ontario Craft Beer Week (June 10-19)
This spring has no shortage of events for booze-loving Torontonians: there's the Session Craft Beer Festival, SOBDL's All Ladies Craft Beer Festival and the Wine and Spirits Festival (just to name a few). Ontario Craft Beer Week, however, takes the cake, offering countless craft brews at venues across the city over a ten-day stint.

NXNE (June 15-19)
NXNE will return on June 15 with its usual grab bag of homegrown talent (performers TBA) and arts-related programming. The festival is shaking things up this year by adding a weekend-long outdoor music festival in the Port Lands, which is an untapped venue for the event. Fingers crossed we don't have any Action Bronson drama like last year.

What did I miss? Add more spring events to comments.

Photo of Unsound by Jesse Milns.

If you're ever in the mood for a Sam James cappuccino or a matcha-flavoured treat from Tsujiri, you usually have to scrounge around for change because both of these popular spots are cash-only.

Some local eateries, however, are taking the opposite stance. Instead of shunning plastic, mini-chain IQ Food Co. is embracing it by going cash-free at its two newest locations, in First Canadian Place and Equinox Yorkville, respectively.

Founder and CEO Alan Bekerman tells me this move not only frees up valuable counter space, but it's also more efficient for both his customers and employees.

"If our managers have a finite number of hours in their day to do their job, I'd rather them dedicate an hour to empowering their team and minding the store than sitting in a back room counting cash and going to the bank," says Bekerman.

Bekerman was inspired to go this route after flying Air Canada. While he was soaring 35,000 feet above the ground, he made a small on-board purchase and wanted to pay cash. But he wasn't allowed to. "At first I was irked by it. I'm like, 'what do you mean I can't pay with cash?' And then I was like, I totally get it," he recalls, noting how cashless transactions are more seamless.

So far, his customers have responded well to his company's policy. However, he notes, this isn't a cost-saving measure. "From an economic perspective, it's not a trade-up. We, as a company, incur higher processing fees by taking more credit than cash," he says.

But IQ isn't the only one banning cash. Sorry Coffee Co., which is under the Kit and Ace umbrella, also unapologetically takes only cash-less forms of payment. One barista tells me it's a time saver for both customers and employees. It's also more hygienic.

In fact, Kit and Ace doesn't take paper money or coins at any of its retail locations. "We say we're omni-channel because we want to provide that same service on all the platforms," says Toronto store director Darryl Haas, noting how customers can get the same level of service regardless of where they are in the world.

"We are a very future-focused company," she continues, "and so we feel eventually everyone's going to be cash-less."

That's a sentiment Bekerman agrees with. "It [cash] doesn't really make much sense when you think about how easily accessible your money is by way of plastic."

What do you think? Is cash-free the better way to pay at restaurants?

Photo via IQ Food Co.'s Instagram.

Starbucks has been busy trying to stay competitive in Toronto lately, what with the brand's first express store in the city (and in Canada) at Union Station and its plans to serve wine and beer in the evenings at select locations. Now it's also possible to get a Grande Caramel Frappuccino and a breakfast sandwich without even having to physically step inside a shop - if you have a car, that is.

A new location in Leslieville at Lakeshore Blvd E. and Leslie St. opened this week in what used to be a Burger King, complete with drive-thru window - a first for a Starbucks so close to downtown Toronto. While there are drive-thru locations in North York, Scarborough and Etobicoke, there's never been one so close to the core.

This could be a wise strategic decision for the coffee corporation, as this is a car-heavy area, with the enormous Loblaws sharing a parking lot, and, incidentally, a Tim Hortons and Wendy's drive-thru right across the street.

And for those car-less folk and/or those who would actually prefer to spend time in the shop, the interior is pretty spacious with lots of seating, and is already filled with locals excited to have this place open in the neighbourhood.

Photos by Hector Vasquez.

Toronto is chock full of hidden and secret treasures, but some are more mysterious than others. Truth be told, many of the places we characterize as secret are better termed "barely known," but this fact hardly dampens our intrigue with such places. Whether it be on account of the sensitive work done at these sites or the valuable collections they house, these buildings are kept mostly under wraps.

Here are 5 secret buildings that you didn't know existed in Toronto.

Hydro houses
Perhaps the best known of these so-called secrets, I suspect even those who are broadly aware of the existence of Toronto's transformer homes have still passed by one or two without realizing what they were. There are over 250 Toronto Hydro substations spread across Toronto, many of them in residential-looking homes, like the one depicted above at 555 Spadina Rd.

FJ Horgan Water Treatment Plant
Toronto has four water treatment facilities, of which the R.C. Harris plant is the best known. The F.J. Horgan plant, on the other hand, is the most secret, partially because it is built into the Scarborough Bluffs and descends roughly 10 and a half storeys into the ground. While tours are offered on occasion, it has a much lower profile than other facilities around the city.

SciNet
SciNet's sounds like it comes straight from the Terminator series, which is fitting given that it's Canada's most powerful supercomputer. The consortium behind the project, which includes multiple government agencies and the University of Toronto, has office space at College and McCaul streets, but the computer itself is located in an unremarkable building in Vaughan near Keele and Highway 7.

Clare R. Copeland Transformer Station
This is a massive infrastructure project underway beneath the CN Tower. When complete, the 50,000 square foot building will exist almost entirely underground adjacent to Roundhouse Park. Tunnel boring machines have been used to connect the new station to the grid at Windsor Station, which sits at Wellington and John streets. The transformer is expected to go online in 2017.

Toronto's hidden history warehouse
In the absence of an official museum of Toronto, thousands of historical artifacts from our city's past are housed in an unlabeled warehouse in Liberty Village. The city doesn't make the location of the site public knowledge because of the value of the materials stored here and the fact that it's not suitable for anything other than small tours, which are occasionally granted to Heritage Toronto members.

Photos via Reimar Construction, SciNet, Toronto Hydro, Alison Norman, and Derek Flack.

Free events in Toronto this week include live music performances, comedy shows and a few other events that'll prevent you from dipping into your savings account.

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

Montreal Takeover Poutine Party (March 21)
Join 86'd Mondays' host Ivy Knight for a poutine party featuring the eats of Montreal chefs Danny Smiles (Le Bremner) and Marc-Alexandre Mercier (Hotel Herman's). There's sure to be plenty of samples up for grabs, so try to keep the rest of your meals low-sodium.

Shoeless Mondays (March 21)
This week Hidden Hierarchies, The Tired Flames and Sarah Wickett will be playing sets from 9 p.m. onwards at the Horseshoe. Expect to find the crowd full of new music lovers. Dave Bookman's Nu Music Nite isn't happening this Tuesday, so if you want to catch a show, Monday's the night.

Comedy on College (March 22)
In desperate need of a good laugh? Brighten your week by heading to Pour Boy on College for this week's installment of Comedy on College. The pub grub here is good quality and under the $10, if you've got some change to spare.

That's How I Remember It Live (March 23)
If you're a podcast junkie, head to The Ossington on Wednesday night to catch a live recording of That's How I Remember It. As per usual, the show's cast will turn an audience-suggested movie into a fully improvised radio play with the help of a few special guests.

Gladstone Presents: Katie McBride & Noble Oak (March 24)
If you didn't get your free music fix on Monday, hit up the Gladstone Hotel on Thursday evening. Katie McBride and Noble Oak will be gracing the stage, providing you with some cost-free entertainment.

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

Photo via Sarah Wickett's Facebook page.