There's a lot at Sherbourne and Gerrard that's been sitting vacant for a long time now. But that'll change on May 7 when a group of Torontonians transform it into an urban farm.

For the past few years, the Bowery Project has been taking over empty spaces across the city to create mobile urban farms. This non-profit group plants everything in milk crates, making it easy to pack up and move.

For this upcoming farm, the Bowery Project - run by Rachel Kimel and Deena DelZotto - is partnering with developer Oben Flats. The company, which is well-known for its boutique rental building, owns the land at 307 Sherbourne St.

On May 7, volunteers will install 1,500 milk crates on site and will work with individuals from the Native Women's Resource Centre, Anishnawabe Health Toronto, Sherbourne Health Centre and the Robertson House on this incoming green initiative.

The Bowery Project will donate food grown at 307 Sherbourne to the Native Women's Resource Centre and will also sell some to local restaurants.

Toronto Public Library branches might be closed across the city next week as workers prepare to go on strike in the face of labour negotiations the union characterizes as of "extreme concern." The city's previous four-year contract with library workers expired on December 31, and negotiations have crawled along since February.

Library workers last went on strike during the negotiation of their previous contract during Rob Ford's tenure as mayor. Union representatives cite "precarious" work as chief among the issues that they'd like addressed in their next contract given that roughly half of the library workforce is employed part-time.

Should a settlement not get done in the coming days, some 2,200 workers could hit the picket lines as of Monday morning (May 2). It's also possible that if progress is made towards a deal, any strike action would be called off. According to the union, its members have given it a strong strike mandate heading into this stage of negotiations.

Photo by Katrin Ray in the blogTO Flickr pool.

Having fun for free in Toronto this May let's you stay social on a budget. Instead of spending your leisure time begging for a loan from your parents or digging through your couch for change, opt to attend one of these cost-friendly events - there's everything from art exhibitions to an all-day slumber party.

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

Contact Photography Festival (May 1-31)
The Contact Photography Festival stretches across the entire month of May, bringing out the best of the best in international photography. This year there are 20 free public installations, including Drape, What it Means to be Beautiful, Prada Marfa and more happening this month.

Free events at Hot Docs (Miscellaneous dates)
There are a number of free events at Toronto's annual documentary film festival including a talk on May 3 about gender representation in the documentary industry. If that's not your thing, there's another talk the next day about "how documentary and music video shooting can be a vehicle for change in Syria, Myanmar and Africa." Find the full list of free events on the festival web site.

GradEx 101 (May 4-8)
In its 101st year, GradEx will be a five-day exhibition across the OCAD University campus. Over 900 young artists and designers will showcase their work, including thesis work by graduating students. Over 18 different programs' work will be represented including photography, material art & design, printmaking, illustration and environmental design.

Blossom and Bloom (May 6-7)
The newly renovated West Wing and Oak Room of Union Station will be transformed into a floral wonderland for May 6 and 7. While you'll have to shell out some cash if you want to purchase any flora or fauna, there will be live music, a complimentary henna station and large scale sculpture flower garden which you can enjoy for free.

Jane's Walk Festival (May 6-8)
Jane's Walk, now in its tenth year, will bring free, locally-organized walking tours to neighbourhoods across the city. The point of the event is to uphold Jane Jacobs' legacy and "contribute to a city-wide dialogue about what our city needs and where it is headed."

CMW Day Rager & Merch Market (May 7)
Spent all your money on WAYHOME tickets and don't have enough cash for CMW? Well good news, you don't need a wristband to get into this event. The cost-free bash will bring bands like Huttch, The Spook School, Boyscott and more to the Garrison. If you've got a few bucks lying around, a few vendors like No Fun Press and Rosehound Apparel will be selling merch.

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.

Trinity Bellwoods Bed-In (May 22)
Get your pajamas, pillows and duvets washed because the annual Trinity Bellwoods Bed-In returns on May 22. Expect live music, plant swapping, yoga, art and more.

PS Kensington (May 29)
Pedestrian Sundays are returning to Kensington Market at the end of May. The street festival series will follow the same formula as year's past, continuing throughout the summer on the last Sunday of every month until October. Expect to find a host of street performers, food on sticks, vendors and more.

Doors Open (May 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.

What did I miss? Add more May free events to the comments.

Photo via PS Kensington on Facebook.

The best bike stores in Toronto cover a wide variety of specialities, from the needs of the humble commuter to the featherweight road racer. In general, the city's most established shops are run by cycling fanatics whose passion shines through in their service. While you might rightfully be loyal to a local shop, some speciality stores are worth the trip for service and selection.

These are the best bike stores in Toronto.

Toronto book stores haven't all packed up shop just yet. On the contrary, a survey of the city's book scene reveals that bricks and mortar shops are still plentiful despite the near-constant doom and gloom we hear related to online sales. In fact, the local book shops that have been the most resilient in the face of competition are independent outfits with a specific focus.

These are the top book stores in Toronto by type.

Academic Books
The Bob Miller Book Room is tucked away in the basement of a building near Bloor and Avenue Rd. but grad students will know it as a place to find academic trade paperbacks that you can't your hands on anywhere else. If you like literary theory and history, a visit here is a must.

African and Caribbean Literature
A Different Booklist is a cross-genre bookstore with a focus on literature and history related to Toronto's African and Caribbean communities, but it's more than that too. Here you'll find an excellent selection of books for youth, texts on international politics, and human rights.

Architecture and design
For coffee table worthy design and architecture books, look no further than Swipe Books at 401 Richmond. Owner David Michaelides is passionate about books and stocks his store with hard-to-find titles that you won't see on shelves elsewhere. The magazine stock is also pro.

Art and Photography
David Mirvish Books on Art might be long gone, but Acadia Art & Rare Books carries the mantle in Toronto, with a wonderful selection of monographs and photography books, some of which have become quite hard to find.

Asian
Chan Sheung Kee Book Company offers a wide variety of books, magazines, and newspapers from Asian countries, including covetable Japanese fashion magazines and fiction written in a variety of languages.

Comic Books
Toronto has a lot of comic book shops, but none rival The Beguiling for its selection and respect within the community. Owner Peter Birkemoe is an encyclopedia of knowledge on graphic novels, manga, and the animated arts in general. Hit him up for recommendations.

Conspiracy
If you think 911 might have been an inside job and the moon landings were faked, then you'll find a host of other compelling theories and sympathetic ears at Conspiracy Culture, Toronto's most suspicious bookstore.

Contemporary Hardcovers
Ben McNally Books isn't just a gorgeous space to browse for new fiction, biography, and local interest titles, but it's a shop that's devoted to offering the highest quality books with an emphasis placed on stocking first edition hardcovers.

Cookbooks
Toronto's dedicated cookbook store is a thing of the past, but Good Egg is still a great option for those looking to source the best cooking manuals and food books out there. The selection isn't huge, but the staff have chosen the stock carefully and are happy to recommend titles that will promote culinary inspiration.

General Interest
TYPE Books regularly tops lists compiling the best bookstores in Toronto, likely because it has a number of things going for it: the selection is contemporary but not completely predictable, readings and events are common, the staff are helpful and knowledgeable, and the window displays are works of art unto themselves.

Islamic Books
Toronto's dedicated Islamic bookstore on Gerrard St. offers texts in both English and Urdu covering both the religious and literary realms. They also stock the Quran in a variety of languages.

Kids Books
If there's one type of person that immensely benefits from being able to enter a bricks and mortar store to choose their reading material, it's kids. Mabel's Fables isn't so much a book shop as a young reader's playground, where children can get the tactile experience of books and fall in love with stories.

Kids Comics
Little Island Comics is like a candy store for kids but the products are good for their minds and won't rot their teeth. Big points go for stocking titles that deal with equality, gender roles, and other relevant social issues.

Limited Editions
There are books on art and there are books as art. Art Metropole carries the latter. Head to this bookstore/gallery for artist multiples, works in limited edition, and other novel takes on the book as art object.

Maps and Government Documents
Need a survey map of an area in cottage country? You just might find it at Federal Publications, along with a host of other documents on things like income tax, the criminal code, estate planning, and the national building code.

Mental Health
Indigo might have an extensive self-help section, but Caversham Books is one of the best sources for books on mental health in the entire world. If you're interested in the human mind and how it works, this store should be on your to-visit list.

Military History
Local military buffs will find a huge stock of books to peruse at Ayerego Books on St. Clair West. The second hand shop also has a solid selection of biographies, but it's battle history that the shop excels in.

Mystery
The Sleuth of Baker Street is one of those unique bookshops that every city should have. You won't find a better selection of mystery novels in the city, and if there's a particular title that you're after, the shop will track it down for you.

Nautical Books and Charts
Yes, Toronto even has a bookstore for aspiring and established seafarers. The Nautical Mind is appropriately located on Queens Quay and stocks everything from texts on knots for sailing to coffee table books on lighthouses.

New Age and the Occult
Nestled in the basement under Kilgour's, Seekers Books has a collection of CanLit and general fiction, but it's best known for its books on the Occult. There's something about the musty room that makes it all the more perfect as Toronto's chief purveyors of books on mysticism, meditation, and Eastern philosophy.

Parenting
Parenting is an art that's best not to wing entirely, and for that there are stores like Parentbooks, which carries an array of material on early learning, behavioural strategies, and family health in general.

Queer Lit
After a few scares, it looks like Glad Day is safe for the long haul in Toronto. That's a very good thing because this is one of the oldest queer book shops in the world. It's a gathering place, a historical marker, and safe space. You might be able to find the titles on the shelves on Amazon, but the importance of the store itself can't be underestimated.

Quirky and unusual
The Monkey's Paw is surely Toronto's most intriguing bookstore, complete with the Biblio-mat book dispenser at the back. The titles here aren't chosen for their use-value, but rather for their quirkiness and the degree to which they speak to the history of the book in all its diverse glory.

Rare books
If you've got a budget to blow of first edition copies of Hemingway and Woolf novels, Contact Editions is the place to go in Toronto. The sleepy shop has stock that dates back the beginning of the book and and awe-inspiring collection of highly collectible texts spanning multiple centuries.

Remainder books
BMV has a huge stock of used books, but it's the remainder editions that really make the place. Even in the age of online book buying, some of the deals one finds here on new books are unmatched elsewhere.

Science Fiction
It's not really surprising that Bakka Phoenix, Toronto's preeminent science fiction bookstore, has managed to continue as a bricks and mortar operation in the face of bookstore closures across the city. Not only is the selection unparalleled, but there's a real community here that uses the shop as a hub.

Signed First Editions
If you're looking to start a book collection and fancy a few prized signed first editions, head to A Good Read on Roncesvalles, which focuses on just such books, including some from the leading stars of CanLit.

Spanish
The aptly named Spanish Bookstore in Toronto is the city's best resource for books from Spanish-speaking countries and for those looking to acquire the language.

Spirituality and Wellness
The smell of incense announces your arrival at WonderWorks, a spirituality and wellness bookstore in Baldwin Village that's been kickin' it since the 1990s, before this lifestyle trend became mainstream. Here you'll find books on astrology, meditation, and self-care.

Social Justice
Politicos know that Another Story is the best shop in the city to find books on world politics and themes of social justice and equality. It's also a great source for intelligent children's book.

Textbooks
There are obvious candidates for textbooks in the form of the campus bookstores at York and U of T, but those hoping to find a discount might try Batner Bookshop, which buys and sells used textbooks throughout the year. This is also a good spot for educational resources for children.

Used Cook Books
Having a stable of cookbooks is a great way to ensure that you continue to grow as a home chef, but it can get expensive if you're buying new all the time. That's where Eat Your Words comes in. Its stock of used cookbooks can help you build your collection.

Used Fiction
Any true book-lover will swoon over Eliot's towering wood shelves stocked with volumes of well-priced used fiction. There's more than this genre on offer, of course, but the second floor really is a playground for those looking to build a collection of literature written over the last 150 years.

What did I miss? Add your favourite book store in the comments.

Top photo of BMV by cookedphotos in the blogTO Flickr pool.

Today in Toronto Hot Docs is celebrating its opening night with a party at the Bloor Cinema. If documentaries aren't your thing, head to CineCycle for the Next Exit Film Festival. You'll get to see flicks from the future stars of Toronto's film world before they hit the big time.

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

• Digifest (Corus Entertainment)
• Everything Must End: Closing Party (Chester Station)
• Fred Eaglesmith's Traveling Steam Show (Horseshoe Tavern)
• Collective Arts x Gladstone Hotel presents Shy Kids (Gladstone Hotel)
• Hot Docs 2016 Opening Night Gala (Bloor Hot Docs Cinema)
• Next Exit Film Festival 2016 (CineCycle)
• One Man Star Wars Trilogy Show (St. Lawrence Centre For The Arts)
• Opera Peep Show (Campbell House Museum)
• The Eh List: Rupi Kaur (Toronto Reference Library)

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

Photo by Derek Flack.

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

OPEN NOW

• Doomie's opens for dinner today, Thursday April 28 at 1263 Queen St. W. The Hollywood-based restaurant is know for vegan comfort food, including meatless Big Macs, mac and cheese bites and pulled pork tacos.
• River Social, an unmarked spot for cheap breakfasts is now open at 121 River Street.
• Asada Mexican Grill has opened its second location. Find the fast casual eatery at 1991 Yonge St., north of Davisville.
• Lolliloot, a colourful new candy shop and loot bag store, celebrates its grand opening at 1378 Bathurst St., just south of St. Clair, on April 30.

RECENTLY REVIEWED

• Adamson Barbecue
• Yummy Cone
• Han Shi Fang
• Nanashake

OPENING SOON

• Watson's, a new neighbourhood bar is coming to 388 Richmond St. W.
• J&J Bar-B-Que, a new spot for Central Texas-style BBQ is taking over the former home of Thomas Lavers Cannery and Deli at 193 Baldwin St. in Kensington Market.
• Pinot's Palette, a paint studio and wine bar with multiple locations in the United States is opening its first Toronto outpost at 2866 Dundas St. W.
• 2nd Nature Bakery and Cafe is in the works at 1597 Dupont St. and slated to open in a couple months.
• A Turkish doner shop, Istanbul Shawarma, is opening soon at 430 College St. where El Rancho used to be.
• Aroma Espresso Bar is rapidly expanding with new locations going in at 5 St. Joseph St., 1 Rainsford Road, and 385 Bloor St. E. All three locations should be operational by the end of May.
• Mediterranean snack bar and cocktail lounge Bar Reyna is opening in May at 158 Cumberland St.

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

Photo by Jesse Milns.

8 Dovercourt Road is a modern two bedroom, three bathroom unit listed for $719,000. The description reads: "Is it a townhouse? Is it a loft? Is it heaven?" If your ideal condo features two levels, polished concrete ceilings and a floating glass staircase for under a million, this might be the place for you.

The Art Condos, designed by Hariri Pontarini Architects and Third Uncle, whose accolades include the Drake Hotel, was constructed a few years ago in just down the street from the notorious Bohemian Embassy.

The building and its third floor unit shows nicely. At just over 1,000 square feet, the white walled interior feels spacious, spread over two storeys, and having three bathrooms is always convenient. The private terrace offers a bit of unexpected quiet serenity.

SPECS

• Address: #314 - 8 Dovercourt Road
• Price: $719,000
• Square feet: 1,062
• Bedrooms: 2
• Bathrooms: 3
• Parking: 1
• Taxes: $3569.55
• Maintenance fee: $692.89/monthly
• Walk Score: 76
• Listing agent: Alex Brott, Sotheby's
• Listing ID: C3468550

NOTABLE FEATURES

• Two storeys
• Floating staircase
• Juliet balcony
• Barbecue
• Heated private terrace

GOOD FOR

Barbecues, evenings at the Drake or Gladstone. Eat out or cue up the grill -- the private heated patio is a great space for an intimate summertime cookout.

MOVE ON IF

You want to be on the subway line. The crowded streetcar can be a headache during rush hour or standing outside during a rainstorm.

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

Drake memes have taken over the internet in the past few months, with alternate takes on his new album cover just the latest example. The internet loves Drizzy and nowhere is that more clear than on Instagram where Drake cakes, spoofs and Views jokes rule the day.

Here's a roundup of some of the funniest Drake parody Instagram accounts.

@viewsfromwayup
This account has taken full advantage of the Views album cover, transporting a seated Drizzy everywhere from Honest Ed's to Walt Disney World. If you don't think the edits are up to snuff, you can easily make a your own version.

@draketwins
What's better than one Drake? Two, obviously. Scroll through this feed to see Aubrey and Aubrey hit Raptors games, perform duets and take to the skies.

@typical.drake
Tired of waiting for @fuckjerry to post a meme of your hometown hero? Click yourself over to @typical.drake to get your fix. The account posts lol-worthy edits and Twitter screen grabs, all featuring Toronto's golden boy. The photo quality isn't the sharpest, but the jokes are on point.

@uoftdrizzy
Drake is known to make appearances at Raptors games and Fring's, but you probably won't catch him roaming the Scarborough campus of U of T on the regular. One ingenious individual saw that as an issue and remedied it with the magic of Photoshop. On this feed you'll see Drizzy pop up at the IITS Student Helpdesk, in labs and mingling with fellow students.

@drakeoncake
New Orleans-based baking Queen @joythebaker has put her talents to good use, crafting colourful cakes with popular Drake lyrics. The edible art account showcases confections with lyrics to hits like Energy, Right Hand and Hold On, We're Going Home.

What did I miss? Add more Drake parody Instagram accounts to the comments section.

Toronto's Ryerson University is hoping to help students, alumni and entrepreneurs innovate the music industry with its newest incubator, the Music Den.

Based out of the Transmedia Zone in the school's faculty of communication and design (FCAD), the Music Den launched last night with three startups; Sodatone (a web app for A&R professionals), the youth-focused magazine Canada Talent and Lefty Music, a development and production agency.

The Music Den gives startups access to industry experts for guidance and mentorship opportunities.

Along with the Music Den in the Transmedia Zone, Ryerson's launched numerous incubators - including ones for fashion, urban energy and social ventures - as part of its zone-learning model.

Photo courtesy Brian Bettencourt

You'll be able to use your PRESTO card in Toronto more often this summer. That's because the TTC is starting to roll out PRESTO card readers to buses across the city.

On Monday, 20 buses will drive out of the Queensway garage with PRESTO card readers and the TTC will continue to outfit additional routes throughout the summer.

The TTC's executive director of corporate communications Brad Ross says multiple routes will have PRESTO card readers this summer, while all of the city's 1,895 buses will get them by the end of 2016.

All of streetcars got PRESTO card readers last year and the TTC's continuing to install them across our subway system now.

#TTC buses now getting @PRESTOcard readers! Service starts Monday out of Queensway garage with 20 buses and all 1,895 buses by summer.

— Brad Ross (@bradTTC) April 27, 2016

Re: Presto on buses... multiple routes this summer - got a little excited there. But all buses, incl Wheel-Trans, subway stations in 2016

— Brad Ross (@bradTTC) April 27, 2016

Photo by Austin Zhang via the blogTO Flickr pool.

The latest Facebook event blowing up Toronto-area newsfeeds is one advertising a lantern festival at Cherry Beach. Since the image of thousands of lanterns lighting up the Toronto skyline is an appealing one, nearly 45,000 people have said they're interested in attending this upcoming fest.

While it doesn't look like one of last year's pervasive bait-and-switch events, it's hard to imagine Sky Full of Lighters, which says it'll use biodegradable lanterns, going off without a hitch. We have reached out the organizers for comment, but have yet to hear back.

Sack Lunch Productions - the group behind Color Me Rad and Slide the City - hosts lantern festivals across the United States. It costs between $25 to $50 to participate, but there's no word on pricing for the upcoming and unaffiliated Toronto event.

UPDATE: According to Toronto Fire Services open air burning is not permitted in the City of Toronto under the Ontario Fire Code. This includes bonfires, fireplaces, chiminea and sky lanterns. As such, it's likely that this event will not proceed as planned.

Photo via @lanternfest on Instagram - not the group running the Toronto event.

Weekend events in Toronto will fill your schedule with documentaries, photography exhibits and parties. Hot Docs and CONTACT are kicking off and you can check out the many films and shows on deck for the upcoming weeks. If you want to escape the art world, head to the ROM for the first Friday Night Live event of the season.

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

MUSIC

Hopsin (April 29)
California-based Hopsin is hitting the Danforth Music Hall this Friday to showcase his latest and greatest. Tickets are still available, but you'll want to snatch them up quick.

Little York Festival (May 1)
The inaugural Little York Festival is happening this Sunday at the Tranzac Club. The aim of the event is to bring together the city's varied folk and roots musicians for an event like none other. You can expect plenty of workshops, concerts and dancing.

Opera Peep Show (April 28-30)
Four Toronto indie opera companies are coming together at the end of the month to host the Opera Peep Show at the Campbell House Museum. The choose-your-own-adventure type experience involves audience members selecting different opera scenes off a menu and then paying a fee to enter already in-progress shows happening in various rooms around the museum.

6 Cent Concert (May 1)
Head to Ryerson this Sunday so see DJ Esco - Future's official DJ - live, along with a surprise special guest (fingers crossed that Drake returns to the campus). Unfortunately - and expectedly - tickets to this budget-friendly concert have sold out, so you'll have to try and bribe your way in. May the odds be ever in your favour.

FILM

Hot Docs (April 28-May 8)
The annual documentary festival is the largest of its kind in North America. Not sure what to see? Check out our list of can't miss flicks at this year's festival. Also, CMW has teamed up with Hot Docs to screen a few music-oriented movies. This weekend catch Strike a Pose, Madonna: Truth or Dare and Hip-Hop Evolution.

ART

DXPresents: PlastiScene (April 29)
Hit the DX on Friday to see plastic installations by Canadian artists. Aside from some pretty stellar works of art, you can spend the night getting down on the dancefloor - DJ Rocker Dave will be spinning vinyl.

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. We round-up our must-seek exhibits here.

FOOD & DRINK

13th Annual East Coast Charity Ball (April 30)
This Saturday, the Design Exchange is being transformed into the biggest East Coast Kitchen Party to hit the city. What should you expect? Music by Signal Hill, Alexander Keith's and authentic Halifax donairs courtesty of Tony's Donair & Pizza.

Gluten Free Garage (May 1)
Toronto's pop-up marketplace devoted to gluten-free eating kicks off Celiac Awareness Month on May 1 at Artscape Wychwood Barns. Billed as a one-stop shopping and sampling event, expect to find 65-plus exhibitors, guest speakers, food trucks and beer and cider tastings. Tickets are on sale now for $11.50.

BOOKS

Celebrate 10 Years of Type Books (April 30)
Toronto's most beloved independent bookstore, Type Books, is celebrating its tenth year in action this Saturday. Head there to catch a bit of storytelling or to get book recommendations from local writers like Aisha Sasha John and Howard Akler.

TECH

Digifest (April 28-30)
Digifest is taking over the Corus Quay building this weekend to showcase the latest and greatest advances in digital media, art, design and technology. Following the formula of year's past, the event will boast international speakers, interactive installations collaborative workshops and more.

PARTIES

A Video Dance Party: School Daze (April 29)
If you miss the days of Much Music Video Dance parties, head to the Garrison this Friday. The bar will be playing all your favourite hits from 1997 to 2009 accompanied by video projections and special guests. You may want to whip out your old burnt CDs in preparation.

BEYviews: A Beyonce & Drake Dance Party (April 29)
Want to get in on another tribute dance party? Last weekend Queen B released Lemonade and this weekend Drake is releasing Views, so expect an evening stacked with hits.

Friday Night Live #ROMink (April 29)
Friday Night Live returns on April 29 for its spring session. The season's kickoff bash syncs up with the current tattoo exhibition, #ROMink, so all you body art lovers are in luck. Tickets fo the event are a mere $15, making them less expensive than most bashes coming to town this spring.

Factory Art Party (April 30)
If you didn't get your fill of warehouse bashes when the House of Vans took over the space on Dupont earlier this month, hit up this party on Saturday. You'll find Dj's, group painting, social sculpture, food, and live painting. All proceeds will go to support Blank Canvases, so you'll also be doing some good.

NULOVE (April 30)
NULOVE is bringing yoga, dancing, live music, meditation, art and more to the Dovercourt House on Saturday. If you want to get in on all the evening's events, you'll want to arrive before the yoga session kicks off at 8:00 p.m.

Prince Tribute: Retro Guilty Pleasures (April 29)
The Velvet Underground will be playing songs from all of Prince's albums and projecting his videos around the club.

When Doves Cry: A Prince Tribute Party (May 1)
The Drake Hotel is honouring the High Priest of Pop with a bash celebrating his lifelong career. Expect to hear "When Doves Cry," "Let's Go Crazy," "Kiss," "Batdance" and "Cream" accompanied by curated visuals. Costumes are encouraged, so dust off your purple suit.

POP-UPS AND MARKETS

Vitaly Pop-Up Shop + Sample Sale (March 8-June 1)
The fifth-annual Vitaly Pop-Up Shop has been open for the latter half of March and will be going strong until the beginning of June. It's taken over The Accessory Bar's old space at 350 Yonge Street and filled it with discounted accessories, clothing and watches.

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 seven days a week. Expect to find labels like Cool Change and Josa at 40% off.

Annual Yard Sale @ Dundas and Carlaw (April 30)
Every year Dundas and Carlaw throws a garage sale, bringing the neighbourhood together to sell unwanted items and mingle. Expect to find a ton of vintage duds and items plus BBQ fare served up by the restaurant.

Spring Clothing Swap (April 30)
Head to the Junction City Music Hall on Saturday to swap in your old duds for some fresh finds while sipping on cocktails. The event will run you a mere $5 plus a bag of clothes for trading.

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.

Photo of the Gluten Free Garage by Jesse Milns.

Toronto is big on board games, and even the New York Times knows it. Businesses across the city offer cozy destinations that let you socialize and unleash your inner child.

Here are my picks for the top bars and cafes to play board games in Toronto by neighbourhood.

ANNEX
Bampot on Harbord is a cozy spot where $5 lets you access more than 125 board games, including strategy games such as Blockus and party games like Pit.

CABBAGETOWN
Pints paired with Trivial Pursuit or a rowdy game of Cards Against Humanity are the perfect match at Stout Irish Pub. A long beer list and a menu featuring nachos and wings will keep you happy as you play.

CHINATOWN
Castle Board Game Cafe on Spadina charges $2.50 per hour and lets you access its game library that's stock with 500-plus titles. Keep things PG-13 with nostalgic snack foods like mac 'n cheese and soda floats or go grown-up with beers, cocktails and spiked coffees.

EAST DANFORTH
Time Capsule Cafe is outfitted like the ultimate rec room, complete with bean bag chairs, puzzles and boards games.

DUNDAS WEST
Swan Dive on Dundas West is an unpretentious place for unadulterated fun. Munch on free popcorn with tallboys or cocktails whilst exploring the house collection of board games, books and novelties.

HIGH PARK
Whelan's Gate is a pub near the park that offers the perfect refuge from a rained-out picnic. Climb the stairs to the second floor and head to the back room to play foosball or help yourself to a healthy selection of games.

THE JUNCTION
Cafe, gallery and gaming lounge, See Scape is set up with intimate cubbies that are perfect for a few rounds of Strange Synergy with a sandwich. It also has as an array of gaming consoles with 150-plus games.

KING EAST
Cozy up by the fireplace at C'est What to unwind with friends over a game of Backgammon or Scrabble. Other attractions include more than three dozen Canadian craft brews, billiards, darts and live music.

KOREATOWN
The original Snakes & Lattes on Bloor has been a neighbourhood attraction since day one. Just scoring a table is a win, but once you're inside, $5 buys unlimited access to the games library.

LESLIEVILLE
Comic book-themed cafe The Sidekick serves up plenty of distractions to accompany your cup of joe. In addition to a wide selection of graphic reading material, you'll find a handful of board games.

LITTLE ITALY
Snakes & Lattes on College is a sprawling cafe and bar that can easily accommodate big groups. The board game library is huge and the menu is equally expansive, offering coffees and beers along with sandwiches, soups, salads and snacks.

MARKHAM
Chit-Chat-Play Board Game Cafe houses more than 150 games and serves up waffles and pie a la mode with coffees. Unlimited play ranges from $8 to $12 for the day.

NORTH YORK
Cafe Princess in Willowdale offers a handful of classic games (Clue, Monopoly, Jenga, etc.) priced at $2.50 per each. BYOBoard games and skip the charge while getting cozy in the tea party-inspired room that features a menu of cakes and bubble tea.

OSSINGTON
The Well is a cafe and bar where you can multi-task during your leisure time by watching sports games on the big screen and a game of Battleship at your table.

QUEEN WEST
A-Game Cafe has almost 250 board games and you can find it above Me Va Me. Limitless play costs $7 so there's no need to rush Settlers of Catan. If you get hungry opt for nostalgic snack foods like cookies and milk, PB&J sandwiches and grilled cheese.

RONCESVALLES
BoardAgain Games is a retailer that hosts drop-in games nights on site as well as games nights at bars around the city. The collection of playable games tops 130, while the inventory for sale is even bigger with both classic and obscure selections.

WEST QUEEN WEST
Lipstick & Dynamite is a laid back spot where a list of craft beers accompanies a lineup of reasonably priced vegetarian pub foods. Find a pile of board games available for free play, including classics like Candy Land, Balderdash and Taboo.

YONGE & DUNDAS
Infuse Cafe is just below the Hairy Tarantula, which keeps the cafe stocked with games like Boss Monster and Ghost Blitz and guests are welcome to stay and play as they unwind.

YONGE & EGLINTON
Crosstown Coffee Bar can be found tucked away on Highbourne Road, just south of Eglinton. Here you'll find espresso-based drinks sourced from Hale coffee along with iconic board games including Jumbo Jenga, Settlers of Catan and Cards Against Humanity.

YONGE & LAWRENCE
For The Win Cafe boasts a growing collection of more than 700 games. Enjoy the entire library for $5 along with a menu of grilled cheese sandwiches and bubble tea.

YONGE & WELLESLEY
The Riddle Room is a games cafe and escape room that's passionate about puzzles, games and coffee. Find more than 200 board games and a selection of video games available to play with no cover fee. If you're peckish, try the pizza panini or nibble on Japanese popcorn, chips and various baked goods.

What did I miss? Disagree with my selections in the comments..

Bored at work? Well, you can now kill some time chucking Drizzy off the CN Tower with Drop Drake. As a Drake fan, this seems mildly sacrilegious, but not everyone is waiting with bated breath for his album like myself, so I understand the appeal.

As you drop young Aubrey, you can hear him cry out in soundbites of songs. Also, with every few drops you get awarded new perks, which makes you feel like you've really achieved something.

After about a hundred drops, I've unlocked Zero Gravity, Hotline Bling Drake, Courtside Drake (pictured above), Double Gravity and Big Head Mode. There's probably several new outfits and skills to discover, so go ahead and try to find them all.

Eating out in Toronto for $10 doesn't mean you have to rely on snack foods and appetizers. There are plenty of places where you can fill up for real on big, sloppy sandwiches or satisfying bowls of noodle soup (tax and tip not included).

Here's where to eat in Toronto for less than $10.

Kub Khao
This Scarborough Thai restaurant features lunch specials like chicken pad Thai, fried chicken with sticky rice and pad woon sen beef, which ring in at $7.95 each. At dinnertime, you'll find a selection of noodles, rice dishes and curries for $9.95.

Beiruti Grand Cafe
This French-Mediterranean cafe offers an elegant setting and a surprisingly affordable menu. Get yourself a soujouk-topped flat bread for $9, fresh crepes for $10 (or less) and a sandwich with soup or salad starting at $6.

Wonder Chicken
For $9, you can grab a bento box at this Taiwanese fried chicken joint with rice, seaweed salad, a soft-boiled egg and either popcorn chicken or dried pork sausage. Or, spend even less money for boxes topped with braised pork belly or vegetable curry.

Magic Noodle
Here, $9 gets you fresh la mian (hand-pulled noodles) in bowls of beef stock with a medley of meats (pulled chicken, sliced beef, fried eggs, braised lamb and tripe). Or, go for daoxiao (shaved noodles) in soup with chunks of braised pork belly for $9.49.

Basil Box
This popular eatery at the base of the Ryerson Student Learning Centre serves customizable boxed meals for $9.45 each. Start with a base of salad, chilled rice noodles or rice and add on veggies, sauces, chilis, nuts and either lemongrass chicken, coconut curry tofu, five spice steak or chili lime shrimp.

Hastings Snack Bar
Do brunch on a budget, Polish-style, at this Leslieville snack bar. The two-egg breakfast with a Polish sausage, potato pancakes and rye bread is $9. Meanwhile, an order of cabbage rolls or eight pierogi costs $8.

Knuckle Sandwich
Nothing on the menu at this sandwich shop in East York tops $10. Fill up on a shrimp po'boy, a porchetta on a bun, a beer-braised brisket sammy, a salad or a meal-sized poutine.

San Cosme
This torteria carries a few sandwiches under the $10 mark. The hunger-crushing Del Chavo stacked with smoked ham, Oaxaca cheese, avocado and refrito is well worth its $9.75 price tag. Also noteworthy are snacks like elote (Mexican corn) and charros (bean stew), which are $3.75 each.

The Veggie Thali
Toronto's newest vegetarian Indian restaurant on Victoria Park sells their namesake thali for $8.99 but there's lots of other budget friendly offerings here including $5.99 hot table selections that include aloo gobi, dal makhni and dudhi channa dal.

Almighty Bao
Massive steamed buns, like the pork belly bao ($7) and the vegetabao ($6), are specialties at this tiny eatery inside the Churchill. Split an order of mighty fries with a friend and you'll still come in under budget.

Photo from Kub Khao by Jesse Milns.

Toronto has an insatiable appetite for artwork you can't find anywhere else. With large-scale murals covering some of the city's most thoughtfully designed restaurants such as Bar Isabel, Rhum Corner and El Catrin, there's no shortage of fresh paint in a city full of burgeoning designers, illustrators and mural artists.

Pulling from the city's latest projects, collaborations and murals, here's my list of Toronto-based artists that everyone should know about.

Christiano De Araujo
Jimmy's Coffee made history with the famous Mount Rushmore mural on Gerrard and Bay. Painted by Christiano De Araujo, this mural artist recently transformed the new Flight Center on Queen West, replacing the former Beer Store piss wall.

Ben Johnston
You can thank Ben for the Kit and Ace stamp design and Sorry Coffee graphics, in addition to the handful of typographic murals commissioned by Lululemon, Vitaly, Jameson Canada, Nike and PanAm Games. Full-time freelancing as a self-taught designer, Ben's got a way with hand-painted words.

Jennifer Ilett
If you've had the pleasure of devouring a currywurst at Otto's Berlin Doner, chances are, you've seen the exploding mural by Kensington artist, Jennifer Ilett.

Andrea Manica
In Harbord Village, watch out for freshly painted lions in David French Lane painted by illustrator and mural artist, Andrea Manica. See more of her work, alongside The Buck Teeth Girl's Club, at Burdock Brewery, Second Cup and graffiti alleys across the city.

Jeff Blackburn
As part of the "Outside The Box" project, artist Jeff Blackburn adds a touch of wildlife with pink grizzly bears and raccoons occupying the traffic signal boxes in front of The Rex and other places across the city.

Jimmy Chiale
West of Northwood, you'll find Studio 835's Make Good mural by 416Gallery Owner and artist Jimmy Chiale. Casting light on the corner of Bloor and Shaw, it's hard to miss with Chiale's signature bold black lines and pockets of colour. See more of his work at Tequila Bookworm.

Luke Pollard
King West's Campechano is a newish taqueria joint complete with a large-scale acrylic masterpiece by fine artist Luke Pollard. Emphasizing causal street food, Pollard brings a realism that's traditional and pretty.

Madison van Rijn
Lock eyes with the 30-foot caped woman, posing next to a bottle of vermouth on the east-facing wall of Bar Isabel. Painted last summer, artist Madison van Rijn adds a romantic touch to Grant van Gameren's beloved Spanish tavern.

Tara Rose
Inside buzzy local hubs like Bolt Fresh Bar and ODIN Hus, you'll find extraordinary artwork by Tara Rose, a local artist well-known for body painting, intricate designs and tattoos.

Wild Altar
Toronto is obsessed with plants. Artists Madison van Rijn and Lauren Alexandra Wilson team up to create enchanting plant-based installations across the city. See their latest work at Holt Renfrew and LoversLand on Instagram.

Photo of Christiano De Araujo's mural via his web site. All other photos via the artists' Instagram accounts.

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

• Asia Food Fest starts tonight, April 29, and runs until May 15. More than 60 Asian restaurants from across the GTA are participating in this 'Licious-like prix-fixe promotion priced between $10 and $45 per person.
• The Gluten Free Garage pops up at Artscape Wychwood Barns on Sunday, May 1. Tickets are $11.50 for the marketplace, which will feature more than 65 exhibitors, plus guest speakers, food trucks and beer and cider tastings.
• Momofuku Bun Month is back. Daisho will host a different guest chef each week during May to serve up creative spins on steamed buns.
• Oliver & Bonacini's Jump Restaurant presents Beers and Steers on Friday, May 6. Chefs Luke Kennedy (Jump) and Ryan O'Flynn (of the yet-to-open The Guild in Calgary) team up for a four-course Prairie-themed feast, featuring wild boar and bison dishes with beer pairings from Big Rock Brewery. Tickets are $80.

UPCOMING

• Toast!, a new pop-up featuring breads and spreads will appear on weekends in May at 45 Mill St. in the Distillery District. You'll find treats like dark chocolate sourdough slathered with peanut butter and Nutella cheesecake mousse on top of golden semolina.
• Canoe hosts Calgary at Canoe on Saturday, May 7. The collaborative five-course tasting menu from Justin Leboe (Model Milk and Pigeonhole), Ryan O'Flynn (The Guild), John Horne (Canoe), Coulson Armstrong (Canoe) and Anthony Walsh (Oliver & Bonacini Restaurants) will pay tribute to the rich ingredients of Alberta. Tickets are $120 and include a cocktail reception.

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

Photo of KaKa All You Can Eat by Hector Vasquez.

Mogo, with its red hanging sign and dark windows, looks like every other store on West Queen West. Yet despite its on-trend design and wall stocked with Herschel bags and American Apparel graphic teas, this shop is actually a bank of sorts. Well, it's more of a finance-focused lounge for young, urban 20-somethings.

"Mogo is a financial brand that's really focused on millennials," says Chantel Chapman, Mogo's Financial Fitness Coach. She teaches the company's Adulting 101 courses.

"We really believe that you don't need to go into a bank branch or a finance retail branch anymore because basically your bank branch is on your phone now," she continues.

Basically, Mogo is trying to disrupt the world of banking, just as Uber shook up the taxi industry. And while the company is based online, it now wants to exist in the real world too. So, it opened up a permanent bricks-and-mortar storefront.

Manager Christina Kavanagh tells me that while you can come in and sign up for Mogo - using in-store iPads or you own phone - the space is more about education than sales. Though once you're inside, of course, you can easily find out your credit score and inquire about getting loan.

Since Mogo's focused on millennials, the space is quintessentially 2016. There's a marquee sign quoting Game of Thrones ("A Lannister always pays his debts. Be like a Lannister).

There's Mogo-branded swag everywhere, including the aforementioned Herschel bags, t-shirts and hats.

Mogo condoms featuring the lines, "Getting screwed by the banks?" and "Getting screwed by credit cards?" are also on hand; I supposed they're there to encourage passersbys to practice safe banking.

Since this is a lounge and not a financial institution, per say, the back area features a couch, a coffee table and a few comfy chairs. A book shelf separates this section from the rest of the store and it fittingly holds titles such as Freakonomics and Howard Schultz's Onward.

Like many brands, Mogo is collaborating with local influencer, artists and designers. Some, such as Kastor and Pollux, will eventually have their designs on the company's pre-paid Visa cards. Right now, you can spot their work on Mogo's free water bottles.

I go in intending to hate the space. Banks make me nervous and I'm skeptical about anything that screams "millennial." The staff, however, are lovely and the space is open to those who just want to hang out and discuss Beyonce's Lemonade, all while using Mogo's free WiFi, of course.

Photos Hector Vasquez.

Cinco de Mayo events in Toronto are widespread and give everyone the opportunity to celebrate. Whether you're Mexican or not, there's really no better excuse to spend the day sipping on tequila and chowing down on tacos and other yummy foods.

Here's a round-up of places hosting Cinco de Mayo events in Toronto for 2016.

Valdez
Tequila cocktails, modern Latin tapas, a mariachi band and beats by DJ Grouch are among the highlights happening at this party sponsored by Sauza, Hornitos Tequila and the LCBO. Join the fun on May 5 from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. Tickets are $20.

La Carnita
Chicharron vheladas, margaritas, honey-habanero ribs and a limited edition print by Caroline Shaw are all part of the festivities happening at La Carnita's three locations.

Fonda Lola
Weather permitting, Fonda Lola's party will spill out onto the back patio where you'll find colourful piñatas plus food and drink specials, including $5 handheld Caesar salads and quecas and $5 margaritas and Mexican beers.

El Caballito
A bottle of Corona comes with every ticket (from $10) for this party on King West sponsored by Tromba Tequila and Corona Canada. Doors open at 1 p.m. for a 19-plus celebration featuring a live Mariachi band, a DJ, tequila, tacos and more.

Milagro
Reservations are a must on Cinco de Mayo at all Milagro locations. In addition to the regular menu, you'll find tequila flight specials along with coctel de camarones and cochinita pibil tortas.

The Drake Hotel
Guest chef Donnie Masterton (of San Miguel de Allende's Taco Lab and Birdie's Burgers) will be on hand for an evening of tequila shakes, inventive Mexican classics and burgers. Reservations are a must.

Drake One Fifty
At The Drake's restaurant in the Financial District, guest chef Elena Reygadas (of Mexico City restaurant Rosetta) will present a pop-up prix-fixe menu for $75.

Reposado
This Ossington bar will sell buckets of Mexican beer for $22. On the back patio, expect Tromba tequila tastings and Real de Jalpa Mezcal cocktails at the tiki bar.

El Catrin
The spectacular Cinco de Mayo Fiesta at this cantina in the Distillery District will feature Mexican eats, DJs and dancing. The party kicks off at 4 p.m. on Thursday, May 5.

Early Mercy
Sol beer and tequila specials are all part of the celebrations at this King West bar and lounge. The party kicks off with a live Mariachi band and DJ at 8 p.m.

RichTree
Cinco de Mayo celebrations at RichTree in the Eaton Centre and at Square One span three days. Running May 5 to 7, the festivities include a Mariachi band at lunchtime along with a special menu featuring items like huevos rancheros flat bread and tacos Gobernador.

Steam Whistle Brewing
Celebrate on Friday, May 6 in support of the Ride to Conquer Cancer. Doors open at 8 p.m. and the party promises pilsner, tequila, margaritas, quesadillas and piñatas. Tickets are $10 in advance or $15 at the door.

Unless otherwise indicated, all listed Cinco de Mayo events take place during dinner/evening hours on May 5 2016.