It's only Wednesday and it has already been a tough week for restaurant closures in Toronto. The latest deadpool is Tortilla Flats, a long time fixture on Queen St. just west of Spadina. While many rightly complained about quality of food and service at this joint, there's no denying it continued to draw something of a crowd for its cheap drink specials ($3.49 daiquiri Mondays) and back patio.

Here's the note that recently surfaced on their front door claiming unpaid bills in excess of $40,000.

Thanks to redteamleader on Twitter for the photo and tip.

The Flip is one of the oldest mixed drinks to be prepared in North America, made famous in New England in the 1600's. It was one of the most popular drinks of colonial times, and the ceremony behind its preparation was intense: 3 eggs were beaten with brown sugar into a froth (this mixture was often aged for up to 2 days) before brandy and rum were added, along with a signature blend of spices, depending on the bar. Nutmeg, cinnamon, ginger, pumpkin, and lemon peel were the most common.

Everything was added to a pewter mug filled a third of the way with a warm ale before a red hot loggerhead poker that was heated over an open flame was placed into the glass. This caused the drink to hiss and boil in spectacular fashion before developing a frothy head. The sugars would then caramelize, making the whole bar smell of the sweet spiced drink.

With the general availability of red-hot loggerhead pokers in the modern bar being somewhat limited, the Flip has evolved since then into what it is today, a shaken cocktail consisting of a spirit, a whole egg (or just the yolk), sugar (or a sugar based syrup) and a spice, nutmeg and cinnamon being the most popular. Even the beer has been removed from the equation. In reality, the flips of today are not much different from a freshly-made eggnog, but don't require the same level of prep work.

Oliver Stern of Toronto Temperance Society was challenged one night to produce a flip with sherry, an ingredient he hadn't spent much time exploring in his years behind the stick. Searching through old recipes, he took inspiration from a classic: the Coffee Flip (oddly enough, this doesn't actually contain any coffee), and was so pleased with the result, he decided to enter it into Canada's heat for The Angostura Bitters Global Cocktail Challenge: he won. This weekend, he'll be travelling to Trinidad, and representing the country against 10 other outstanding bartenders from around the globe in the world final.

Oliver starts out with ten dashes of Angostura Bitters in a mixing glass, before cracking in a whole egg. An ounce each of Angostura 1919 rum and Amaro Nonino follow, with a quarter ounce each of Pedro Ximenez sherry and a cardamom-infused demerara syrup. The mix is dry-shaken for 20 seconds to incorporate the egg, then shaken again with ice. The resultant mix is fine-strained into a large cordial glass, and dusted with freshly-grated nutmeg.

Invoking the spirit of the hot poker, Oliver's final touch is dramatic. A mist of vodka and Angostura Bitters is sprayed over the top of the drink and promptly ignited to bring out the aromatic qualities of both the nutmeg and the bitters. I don't know what the scientific explanation is, but fire made it good.

INGREDIENTS

• Whole egg
• 10 dashes Angostura Bitters
• 1oz Angostura 1919 Rum
• 1oz Amaro Nonino
• ¼oz Cardamom-infused demerara syrup (add 8 cardamom pods to a litre of 1 part demerara sugar and 1 part water)
• ¼oz Gonzalez Byass Nectar Pedro Ximenez Dulce Sherry

Where to celebrate Chinese New Year in Toronto

To say that Chinese New Year (CNY) is a special time for most Chinese people is like saying that cartoon mice have a slight affinity for cheese with holes in it. Even though it already receives quite a bit of hubbub here in Toronto, over in Asian countries the excitement and anticipation of this event is absolutely batshit insane. Even in countries outside of China, many stores and shops are closed for days, to the great bemusement (and slight alarm) of foreign tourists everywhere. But regardless of how big or how small the celebration is, one thing unites the Chinese diaspora is having a great meal during this time with family and friends, usually on the eve of the big day itself.

I've been fortunate to experience a wide variety of CNY mealtimes with friends and family from all over the world, and there are definitely some restaurants here in Toronto that stand out in my mind. These establishments are almost always packed during this time of the year, when old grandmas and little drooling babies all get together over a large round table and enthusiastically stuff their collective gullets with everything from fried chicken to abalone (and Cantonese people, in particular, LOVE their abalones). Many places even have special set menus just to welcome the New Year, and these are always a treat as the items tend to change from one year to the next.

Here is a list of the places that I would personally recommend to ring in the year of the snake (and yes, they're suburban-heavy and Mandarin doesn't make the cut). So from my family to yours, Gong Xi Fa Cai! And may your year be blessed with prosperity, love, and good fortune!

Asian Legend (various - in particular 4452 Sheppard Avenue East, Scarborough)
Asian Legend is your go-to place to have a more posh-like, but still affordable, CNY dining experience. Especially true at the spacious and modern Scarborough location, it's almost like celebrating CNY inside a Moxie's.

Despite the whole place being extremely busy with activity, the service is always friendly and efficient. The food itself needs no introduction, as there have been many posts dedicated to this wonderful chain restaurant. What they do offer during this time is a special set menu, starting at $228 for 8 people containing a whopping 11 courses, ranging from their succulent Peking duck to melt-in-your-mouth tender steamed fish.

Chung King Garden Restaurant (4394 Steeles Avenue East, Scarborough)
For the longest time, I thought that this place's name was Chunky Garden (which would've been infinitely more entertaining, if I do say so myself), but the fact that this place is always packed, especially on CNY means that there's more than enough people who find enjoyment within its four walls even without a silly made-up name.

From old-timers to toddlers, this is hardcore Chinese eating at its best, and is almost like the anti-Asian Legend. They have, without a doubt, one of the most delicate and tasty Peking ducks in town. Along with their wildly popular crispy and spicy-sweet Szechuan beef, these two dishes are absolute staples for many regulars. The only downside is that they don't offer a special CNY menu.

Rol San Restaurant (323 Spadina Avenue, Toronto)
For those who want to experience classic hardcore CNY dining in the heart of Chinatown, then head over to Rol San. This place is the epitome of grungy yet delicious Cantonese family dining, complete with charming and polite old ladies that often address you as "handsome guy" or "pretty girl" as you come in or leave the restaurant. Their English may not be great, but they put in far more effort than many Chinese places I know, and the seafood selection is out of this world.

Sample some of their delicious steamed fish (a sign of prosperity for the coming new year for Chinese people) while gorging yourself silly on a collection of oysters, lobsters and other delicacies such as their steamed tofu with scallop (ridiculously good). They also have special set menus for CNY, though these vary quite a bit from year to year and are only revealed very close to the actual event itself.

Penglai Fairy Land (280 West Beaver Creek Road, Richmond Hill)
Penglai is the new restaurant replacing Markham's legendary Ambassador Restaurant (which was in itself a CNY staple) and provides a semi-upscale dining experience that mixes Chinese and Korean food (the husband is Chinese and the wife is Korean in case you're wondering) While I haven`t had an opportunity to spend the festivities here (the restaurant only opened a few months ago), I can comfortably recommend visiting this place to ring in the new year based on my regular dining experiences along with firsthand information on the scale of their first-ever CNY preparation.

This year's special set has a few highlights, in particular a large set (which can feed 3-4 families) consisting of 11 courses which includes soy sauce chicken with jellyfish, along with a delicious double lobster dish. At $668, it's not exactly the cheapest option, but it's definitely one of the most impressive ones on the list.

Gourmet Malaysia (4466 Sheppard Avenue East, Scarborough)
The Southeast Asian countries of Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia alone are home to almost 20 million Chinese people (thank you Wikipedia) and this restaurant represents the best that the region's cuisine has to offer. I've talked about Gourmet Malaysia before in my previous posts, and this is a great place to get a feel of the overseas Chinese community's celebration of CNY.

This is probably also the only place in town where you can order a CNY special set menu for anywhere from 6 to 12 people containing yu sheng, a unique raw fish salad that is only served in overseas Chinese households in Singapore and Malaysia (not even in China) to usher in good fortune, and other Southeast Asian specialties. The service, while friendly, can get pretty haphazard during busy times, but the quality of the food makes it a worthwhile endeavour. They are also planning to have live music on the CNY eve of February 10th.

T&T Supermarkets (various - in particular 9255 Woodbine Avenue, Markham)
I know, I know, this isn't a restaurant. But quite a lot of Chinese people prefer to hold CNY meals at home, and this widespread Asian supermarket chain has a special exotic (and extremely authentic) menu full of unique offerings for such an occasion. For this year`s collection, marvel at the amazingly exotic Fuzhou Buddha Temptations, a collection of Chinese delicacies consisting of abalones, sea cucumbers, and quail eggs to name a few.

Sample a fried rice dish made with sticky rice, mixed with the rich flavour of Chinese bacon, or for the less adventurous, gobble up the barbeque platter, where you can stuff your face with everything from honey bbq pork to roast duck. These items are all refrigerated and all you have to do is heat them up. My personal favourite is the Woodbine location, but these items are available at all T&T locations. They're also priced, charmingly, with the number '88' in all of them, and are generally a much cheaper option than dining out.

Chinese New Year 2013 will run from Sunday February 10th until Sunday February 24th.

Posted by Darren "DKLo" Susilo. He hangs out on the twitter and his own mansion.

The east end has a new watering hole. Serving up stiff drinks and delicious snacks, this new bar from the owner of Mercury Espresso also happens to be named after a famous and recently deceased scribe from Vanity Fair.

Read my review of Hitch in the bars section.

Winterlicious 2013 wraps up today, leaving its wake more than a few happy diners and a bevy of Instagram pics to prove just how nicely Toronto chefs plate their food. We ask our followers to share photos of their favourite meals from this year's festival, and the results are a mouth-watering collection of dishes. Please add your photos to the collection under the hashtag #winterliciousTO. Oh, and don't look at these if you're hungry — that'd just be unfair.

Be sure to follow blogTO on Instagram to keep up with all of our Toronto explorations. Lead photo by speedisdeceiving at Sassafraz

Photo by adds29 at Auberge du Pommier

Photo by the foreignflash at Starfish

Photo by bookishbird at Benihana Japanese Steakhouse

Photo by renzyd at Lee.

Photo by validaj at Luma

Photo by youngnfrivolous at Oliver and Bonacini Cafe

Photo by eunawong at Mildred Temple Kitchen

Photo by speedisdecieving at Quince

Photo by caysois at Jump

The best splurge brunch in Toronto takes our favourite midday weekend meal up a notch or two. Beyond the basic pancakes and eggs, these brunches feature freshly shucked oysters, lamb bacon, duck confit, and more, all of which pretty much demand a freshly squeezed mimosa or glass of a signature house brunch champagne. Which all goes to say — leave your pocket change at home. These brunches certainly fall on the steep end of the scale, but for freshly baked biscuits, house-smoked meats, and, um, a chance to get out of those sweatpants for brunch, we'd expect nothing less.

Here is the list of the best splurge brunch restaurants in Toronto.

See also:

The best brunch in Toronto
The best new brunch restaurants in Toronto, 2012
The best new brunch restaurants in Toronto, 2011
The best all-day breakfast in Toronto
The best cheap breakfast in Toronto
The best breakfast sandwiches in Toronto

Photo by Katrin Ray in the blogTO Flickr pool

Snowpocalypse, snowmageddon, whatever we're calling it is here. The white stuff is causing plenty of disruption this morning and there have already been numerous school closures. The bulk of the wild weather is expected during this morning's commute and Environment Canada is calling for up to 30 cms of snow and driving winds. Stay safe!

Cold weather is fun and games for a lot of people but for Toronto's homeless its a life or death battle that all too often ends in tragedy. The Grid has an important graphic illustrating all 700 homeless deaths on city streets since 1975, weather related or not.

Elsewhere, Rob Ford got up close and personal with a great horned owl at the Sportsmen's Show yesterday. The mayor also took part in a simulated fishing experience and fired pellet rounds in a shooting range during his tour of the event. The owl, who is accustomed to humans, briefly flapped its wings in Ford's face when startled by a flashbulb, resulting in yet another bad photo face and the beginnings of a new meme, "Fordcock." (h/t: @goldsbie and @RandyRisling)

Workplace fraud cost Toronto taxpayers more than $500,000 in 2012. According to a report from the auditor general, 774 complaints translated into 25 punishments for everything from fraudulent health care claims to to accessing porn on a city computer. The report will be presented to the audit committee next week. Here's a list of highlights.

Business is booming for Form Mate, the last carbon paper supplier in Canada. The sheets of inked paper, once used to duplicate documents in offices all over the world, gave their name to the "CC" (carbon copy) field in today's email applications. The Star found out how the North York company is able to keep itself afloat in the electronic world.

The Grid has traced weird sounds from a photobooth at Bathurst station to the TTC's latest attempt to stop pigeons boarding its subway trains. A box above the machine made by company Bird-B-Gone emits a sound the feathery critters, and some commuters, just can't stand. It's thought the in-station bakery is what entices the birds inside.

IN BRIEF:

• Toronto sisters get community service for clash with Miami Beach police [The Star]
• Driver of snowplow that killed officer seemed 'disturbed' [CBC]

Chris Bateman is a staff writer at blogTO. Follow him on Twitter at @chrisbateman.

Image: "Inhabiting Winter - 6" by Subjective Art/blogTO Flickr pool.

One of the more memorable productions from last year's Toronto Fringe Festival, and now currently on stage at the Young Centre, Rare is a journey through the emotions that make us human, collectively created by nine actors with Down Syndrome. By embracing a frank discussion of how the syndrome has affected their lives, the collective has created a truly unique and compelling drama.

Directed by acclaimed Canadian playwright Judith Thompson, Rare features vignettes which focus in on the hopes, frustrations, and life-altering moments of the nine members of the troupe. What elevates the performance is the inclusion of the trauma and tragedy that has touched some of the actors — no topic is deemed off-limits and, for that, it rings with authenticity. The performances are open, honest, and sincere.

Using a series of themes to structure the performance — such as love, hope, and anger — the actors share personal recollections of the ups and downs of their lives spent battling prejudice and overcoming fears. What most likely started out as exploratory acting exercises have developed into a patchwork of poignant scenes.

In a particularly striking scene, actresses from the troupe speak about the grief they've faced. Suzanne Love delivers a heartbreaking monologue about the murder of her brother, Sarah Carney describes the plea she made for her brother's drug addiction to end, and the other members (Nada Marie Christiane Mayla, Krystal Hope Nausbaum) speak to the loss of parents and grandparents. These are stories told by daughters and sisters that consider what it means to grieve.

The most pointed moment in the show, but arguably the most memorable, is the letter from Nausbaum to expectant mothers asking them to reconsider aborting a baby when faced with the possibility of having a child with Down Syndrome. Her striking plea resonates throughout the theatre.

The more serious moments are balanced with uplifting stories of the bond between the actors and their families and friends, as well as hopes for the future. Dylan Harman Livaja, who may be the troupe's youngest performer, questions why he can never be admitted to a professional theatre school — who can blame him?

Also memorable are Nicholas David Herd, who brings theatrical flair to each and every scene, and Michael Liu, who contributes an understated yet grounded presence.

Thompson's simple and uncluttered direction places the spotlight firmly on the performances. She's helped draw out some wonderfully rich moments that, while they sometimes go to dark places, compose the types of stories we're meant to tell in the theatre. Singer/songwriter Victoria Carr, a picture of grace, accompanies the scenes on a variety of instruments.

While it may be a unique production featuring rare and talented performers, it's a troupe of actors and playwrights I'd look forward to seeing again. Their storytelling springs forth from an honest and sincere place, the likes of which is seldom seen on our stages.

—

Rare, written and performed by the collective, runs at the Young Centre for the Performing Arts until March 2.
Photo by John Gundy

Back in the early '80s in Toronto, Beth Lesser and her then-boyfriend, now-husband Dave Kingston were beginning to wean themselves off the local punk scene. The music they'd once loved was starting to take itself too seriously and was losing its sense of fun. Like many first-wave punkers, they began to cultivate a burgeoning interest in reggae and were soon hanging out at record stores devouring the latest releases and dipping their toes into Toronto's burgeoning culture.

Their interest would lead to the creation of fanzine-turned-magazine Reggae Quarterly, multiple trips to Jamaica to meet and interview artists, and a collection of incredible photos: candid shots of DJs, MCs, singers and their friends performing, recording, and hanging out in Jamaica and Toronto.

These photos are now part of Lesser's first public art exhibition "Reggae or Not: The Birth of Dancehall Culture in Jamaica and Toronto," launched on Friday night and running until February 28 at the Gladstone Hotel. The exhibit highlights a rare and special period where two separate scenes flourished concurrently.

Lesser recalls arriving in Jamaica for the first time following an invitation from dub artist Augustus Pablo, who was to be the subject of their first fanzine. In addition to an overall sense of culture shock, the music of Jamaica had evolved in ways they hadn't anticipated.

"The biggest coming from the outside, from a North American perspective, was that we had expected it (the Jamaican music scene) to be Rastafarian, heavy roots and dub," Lesser tells me. "Things had converted to dancehall already - sound systems, DJs, slackness, fun, party stuff. It wasn't at all 'burn down Babylon' anymore, and that was a real surprise, but a good surprise."

Although she's a trained journalist, Lesser had only dabbled in photography, and began taking pictures for Reggae Quarterly out of sheer necessity, using an SLR camera with a single 50-mm lens. The resulting images are beautifully unpolished.

Through repeated visits to Jamaica, Lesser and Kingston built up relationships with artists and members of the dancehall community, starting with Pablo, who introduced the couple to other artists within his collective. It was a good time to arrive: right-wing leader Edward Seaga had just been elected in 1980, and much of the violent political tension that had fragmented the country was starting to fade.

"You needed to have some context, some introductions," she explains. "If you had an artist with you and people knew you were traveling with so-and-so, you could get in anywhere. We were in the right place at the right time."

Lesser's subjects — both those based in Jamaica and the continuing culture back at home in Toronto — are captured in their natural environment during moments of downtime, unguarded and unposed. And it's through these photos that a unified vision of the scene in both cities emerges, from a shot of a stack of freshly-pressed vinyls cooling at Kingston, Jamaica's Sonic Sound to a photo of dub hitmaker Willi Williams posed in front of a decidedly Canadian cedar tree on Walmer Road in Toronto.

Lesser says it's taken a long time for these photos to be seen because for a long period, dancehall was perceived as a more frivolous pursuit outside of Jamaica in the wake of the mainstream success of politicized, popularized conscious roots reggae music. With the support of the exhibition's curator Kenneth Montague, however, these priceless photos are finally reaching a wider audience, and provide a historical significance that shines a light on an integral part of Toronto's culture.

"I hope that this exhibition gets more people listening to dancehall — giving it a try," Lesser says. "And for a long time, Jamaican culture in Toronto has simply existed in the background, not properly acknowledged — I want people to look and understand what it meant to leave Jamaica and come here, and see what was brought over, brought back during visits home and shared. I have so enjoyed our interactions with the Jamaican community, and I'd like to bring that to other people."

Writing by Alison Lang / Photos by Angelina Coccimiglio

The photos of the week collect each of the editor-selected photos of the day into one post for a contest to be decided by our readers. Sponsored by Posterjack, the photographer whose image receives the most votes will be awarded with a voucher code for a 24"x36" poster print of their work.

All the rules and fine-print can be found in the original announcement post on the blogTO Flickr page. One thing to add, however, is that the voting period ends at 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, after which the winner will be contacted with the good news.

For those photographers whose images are featured below, please feel free to give us a little information about your shot — i.e. where and when it was taken — in the comments section. Who knows? Maybe your description will sway voters in your favour!

Lead photo by ronnie.yip.

2.
Photo by Katrin Ray in the blogTO Flickr pool

3.
Photo by tyler hayward in the blogTO Flickr pool

4.
Photo by Acid_Punk in the blogTO Flickr pool.

5.
Photo by SnapHappyExpat in the blogTO Flickr pool.

6.
Photo by cookedphotos in the blogTO Flickr pool

7.
Photo by enedkl in the blogTO Flickr pool

OK, let's start with a disclaimer.

I gotta be honest with y'all, I know jack shit about Brazilian music. So please do not take any of this as a statement on Brazilian music and we'll reserve discussions of authenticity to the comment section. My vantage point was that of a simple man with an incredibly open mind who likes to party down to good music. And did this simple, openminded fun-time party dude get to get down in the way he likes? Read on to find out.

Are Os Tropies spiritual beings? I'm not asking if they have a souls or some other spiritual component. I am asking if they themselves are mythical beings visiting us from another plane to spread the sweet mysteries of the ether via the sacred rhythms of Tropicala music.

I've had a few such mystical/musical encounters here in Toronto before. I'm fairly certain Andrew W.K. is a genie if not a full blown gin. Fucked Up is fronted by some form of trickster coyote demi-god, who is accompanied by five sonicwall crashing Gollums. Why, just last week I came across a gathering of enchanted butts.

And now I've been touched by Os Tropies with their brand of self-described Brazilian Psychedelic Rock.

They appeared on the stage of the Piston around the stroke of midnight as mystical forms of the magician (bongo, misc percussion), the hippy (guitar player), the soul mama (singer), the genie (organ), the other genie (bass) and the swan (drummer). And these figures simply began to play and people began to move. It was like a spell, but one that didn't offend free will — it was more like a spell that asked you if you wanted magic to touch your heart.

"Yes," I exhaled.

Can I describe the music? Not particularly. Despite the familiar instrumental trappings of a rock and roll band (plus a bongo), there was a certain je ne sais quoi to it all. I think it had something to do with the rhythm structure, but I'll leave pinpointing that up to the nerds. The best way I can articulate it is that it had a definite swing to it, but not the familiar ass-orientated North American swing, rather a more mysterious-mystical-light/energy-snake-coursing-through-your-veins kind of swing.

Words are a testament to the breadth of the human experience/reality. But they necessarily fail when trying to describe something on the outside. The only thing I can say of this strange realm I speak of is that involves the confluence of music and fire — which I'm going to say is the same thing, because describing myself as a "fire writer" is WAY cool. This is the lesson of Os Tropies.

To get down to earth for a second, despite not being familiar with the genre I had a really, really good time. If any of this sounds appealing I would wholeheartedly encourage you to go see Os Tropies, along with an assortment of bands and DJs who play Brazilian or Brazilian inspired music during their February-long residency at the Piston.

Embrace the fire. Embrace the swing. Let the snake inhabit you. And move!

Additional Photos

Photos by Paige Lindsay

Just a few doors down from the former home of Burger Bar, a new burger spot is trying its hand at Kensington Market's patty cravings--and yes, it replaces Big Chubby Burger (burgers, burgers, everywhere). With a bold call to arms against shoddy burgers as its slogan, a menu that'll satisfy both meat and veggie cravings, and some damn good onions rings, it just might be here to stay.

Read my review of The Burgernator in the restaurants section.

The Dino De Laurentiis stink bomb remake of King Kong (1976) cratered out with poor reviews, insipid box-office returns, a broken robot monkey, and Jeff Bridges status as a Hollywood player in serious doubt. More bizarrely, it also inspired New York's Twin Towers to become a magnet for kaijū eiga, Chinese kung-fu stalwarts Shaw Brothers oddity The Mighty Peking Man (1977), and to date the only monster movie to be set in downtown Toronto - Yeti, the Giant of the 20th Century (1977).

After a "million-year-old" gigantic Yeti is discovered frozen in the icy wastelands of Northern Canada, greedy industrialist Morgan Hunnicut decides to exploit the beast as a mascot for his chain of grocery stores and gas stations by airlifting it to the top of a hotel in Toronto. But after falling in love with Hunnicut's beautiful granddaughter Jane, Yeti is woe to become a Ju-Ju for capitalism and breaks free of his oppressors. Running amok in Toronto, Yeti is caught between the hardball business machinations of Hunnicut's rivals who also wish to exploit him, and the Toronto Police department, who have been instructed to shoot him on site. Can Yeti get the girl and return to his peaceful sleep in the ice?

Directed by Italian cult cinema maestro Gianfranco Parolini under the pseudonym Frank Kramer, Yeti is a bruising, berserk, almost unwatchable catalogue of inanity. At once, a Family friendly mash-up of King Kong, The Golem and Lassie, backed by the most unconvincing green screen work ever committed to film, and a totally inappropriate soundtrack that veers from half decent funk in the title track "Yeti" by The Yetians (see what they did there?), to a low-rent version of "O Fortuna" (Carmina Burana) which seems to pop up every 10 minutes or so to add a sense of drama. Never mind the fact that Yeti looks like a filthy, smelly hippy.

Heaven only knows what Parolini was under the influence of while directing this, as his career up until that point was chock full of bad-ass Lee Van Cleef revenge movies like God's Gun and the Sabata trilogy, the kind of hard-boiled spaghetti westerns Quentin Tarantino riffed on in Django Unchained. Heaven also only knows how or why Toronto was selected as a back drop for this blessed madness, especially since other than a few establishing shots, the CN Tower is virtually ignored. One would assume the Tower might have been used for an exciting grand finale a la the Empire State Building in the original King Kong (1933), but no, the closest we get to anything like that is the Yeti skulking around City Hall.

Yeti's T-dot tour also includes the Sheraton Centre, Exhibition Stadium (where a gaggle of Jays fans holler at the announcement that Yeti is en route), the CNE Food Court and stationary Alpine Way, the Bank of Montreal building, and a host of others. As is usually the case, Toronto's geography is pretty messed up in the film's diagetic universe (from City Hall to Ex Stadium in a few moments; see also The New Avengers in Toronto.

City Hall appeared prominently in most of the movie's print advertising, probably because of its science-fiction-y look, courtesy of Finnish architect Viljo Revell, and probably why it featured twice in Star Trek, which all things considered is high art compared to the lowly Yeti.

Yeti remains a "lost" film, with nary a 30-year-old no-name label VHS release to its sullen name. Italian Antonella Interlenghi's dreamy green-eyed gaze is about the best thing the movie has going for it, although her pronunciation of Yeti ("Yheeeti") is suspect, as are the awkward moments when Yeti makes bedroom eyes at her. She falls for him when after eating a fish he uses its dry bones to comb her hair. Who would have guessed Yeti was such a mack?

So the ultimate Toronto giant monster movie remains to be made. This summer's hotly tipped Pacific Rim was shot here, but it's doubtful that any of our major landmarks will be getting attacked on screen. And whatever happened to Yeti? Legend has it he occasionally revisits his old City Hall haunt.

Retrontario plumbs the seedy depths of Toronto flea markets, flooded basements, thrift shops and garage sales, mining old VHS and Betamax tapes that less than often contain incredible moments of history that were accidentally recorded but somehow survived the ravages of time. You can find more amazing discoveries at www.retrontario.com.

This Week in Food rounds up the week's food news, restaurants openings and closings, chef movements and upcoming food events in Toronto. Find us here every Friday morning.

OPENINGS & CLOSING

• Black Rabbit Fresh Food Café is now open at 2312 Bloor Street West, offering a menu of soups, salads and sandwiches with a focus on organic and local ingredients.
• Boccone Trattoria Veloce from Massimo Capra (Mistura) is the first of Pearson Airport's upgraded restaurant offerings to open.
• Fidel Gastro's is set to take-over the recently shuttered Prague European Kitchen at 638 Queen Street West. The new restaurant named Lisa Marie will serve up his signature sandwiches as well as small plates of Venetian street food.
• Appetite has surfaced in the old Loic Gourmet space at 722 Queen Street East in Riverside.
• Mexi-Can Market at 310 College Street is suddenly deadpool. The original grocery store of the same name is still open at College east of Lansdowne.

UPCOMING EVENTS

• This weekend, the Sweets & Treats Food Tour departs from the Foodies on Foot Studio (75 Portland Street) at 11am on Saturday, February 9th and Sunday, February 10th. Tickets are $69-80 and include a guided tour and tastings at Valentine's Day-themed food stops.
• Parkdale's The Rhino (1249 Queen Street West) hosts the 1st Annual Rhino Winter Beer Festival on Sunday, February 10th from 11 am to 6 pm.
• The ongoing GE Café Chefs Series: Masters of Food is back at the Evergreen Brickworks (550 Bayview Avenue) on Tuesday, February 12th with an evening billed as Building Community Through Food, and is hosted by Chris Brown of the The Stop.
• Parts & Labour (1566 Queen Street West) serves up an All You Can Eat Valentine's Buffet starting at 8pm on Thursday, February 14th. Tickets are $30 in advance and available at the restaurant and Rotate This.
• Tickets are on sale now for a Kensington Market Dishcrawl on Wednesday, February 20th. The tour will stop in at 4 secret locations to sample the goods from some of this neighbourhood's diverse purveyors.

OTHER NEWS

• Starting this weekend, La Carnita will begin serving a Sunday brunch from 11am to 3pm.

Photo from our review of La Carnita

As part of Black History Month and TD's Then & Now celebrations, the CFC is hosting an evening with filmmaker John Singleton, whose best-known projects include Shaft, and Boys N the Hood (which he directed at just 23). He was also the first black filmmaker to be nominated for an Oscar. TIFF will honour his impressive body of work with an evening of film clips, conversation, and audience Q & A. It'll be a great opportunity to pick the brain of a filmmaker who has consistently brought bold and compelling characters to the screen.

Sound good? Read on for how to get your hands on a pair of tickets.

THE PRIZE

10 lucky readers will receive a pair of tickets each to An Evening with John Singleton on February 12, 2013 at 8:30 p.m. at TIFF Bell Lightbox (350 King St. West).

HOW TO WIN

To win, just answer the following question: What film earned Singleton his first Academy Award-nomination?

The first 10 correct commenters win the tickets. Please make sure to include a valid email address in the comment form "Email Address" field so that we can contact you if you're a winner.

FINE PRINT

You must be a Toronto-area resident to win. Only one comment and answer per person. If you include multiple answers or post multiple comments you will be disqualified, and the winner must pick up their own tickets.

Don't freak out! There's a little snow on the ground, and more on the way. At once an occasion for skipping school/work and getting wet feet, the good old fashioned snowstorm is also very picture-friendly. Let's not make it more complicated than that. What else is there to say? Trust me, you don't want to read my poetry — it's tinged with regret, sentimentality, and Wallace Stevens rip-offs.

Just look at the pics, ok? Also, for more like this be sure to follow blogTO on Instagram. Lead photo by francislm.

PHOTOS

Photo by chefgc7

Photo by anthoney1979

Also by francislm

Photo by jaihuang

Photo by steph0999

Photo by adamgeezy

Photo by jcgreen87

Photo by soteeoh

Photo by jessicadibi

Photo by siveuno

Photo by krista_d

Photo by jessanselmo

Photo by cfccreates

Photo by chefgc7

That's 15. More to come as the snow keeps falling!

SEE ALSO

Vintage photos of snow in Toronto

Weekend events in Toronto is our guide to events happening this Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Here's what's happening in Toronto this February 8-10, 2013.

MUSIC

FUCKED UP'S LONG WINTER PT. 4
You know that Winter isn't over yet - and the name of this event couldn't be more appropriate! Fucked Up's Long Winter Part 4 goes down tonight at The Great Hall, and this multi-room and multimedia extravaganza is a night you won't want to miss. The music will be taking place in two different rooms, and will be provided by Fucked Up, Holy Fuck, The Sadies, Maylee Todd, and others, with a special DJ appearance by none other than filmmaker Bruce La Bruce! In addition, a mini-festival of short films will be taking place in one area, and there will also be art on display in the form of installations, photography, sound sculpture, and paintings. Not to worry, there will also be a special dance area zoned out, and even some movement-oriented performances.
The Great Hall (1087 Queen Street West) February 8, 2013 8PM PWYC

7th Annual Bob Marley Tribute Concert w/ House of David Gang
Bob Marley's B-Day is taken very seriously by music fans. It could be that the ideals of peace and unity Marley wore of his sleeve have never gone out of fashion. Although his birthday was on the 6th, it's tradition to keep the festivities going across the nearest weekend, and TO Reggae faves House Of David Gang are doing just that with a dance party to be reckoned with this Saturday night at Lee's Palace. They've just released their new CD, Reggae Warrior, and will be joined by Michael Garrick, Melodic Yoza, Dub Connection, DJ Chocolate, and Partick Roots. Your admission will be reduced if you bring a canned food donation, which will go directly to the Parkdale Food Bank.
Lee's Palace (529 Bloor Street West) February 9, 2013 9PM $15 ($10 with canned food donation)

Jaron Freeman-Fox & The Opposite of Everything
TO fiddler Jaron Freeman-Fox celebrates the release of his latest album Sunday evening at Lula Lounge along with his ensemble, The Opposite of Everything. The creation of this CD has been an extended labour of love for the busy musician who has been globe-trotting for the last few years with the much-lauded and very danceable Delhi2Dublin. The band will be joined by some special guests who made an appearance on the recording, and opening acts Ronley Teper and Bull Kelp will definitely be worth catching, as well.
Lula Lounge (1585 Dundas Street West) February 10, 2013 7PM $15 ($25 w/CD) / $8 students + "broke artist folk"

Music City North: College St. Festival
Music City North--a collective of artists, venue owners, managers, and fans--seeks to bring awareness to the Toronto music community. This weekend's festival is the first of four neighbourhood-centric events. Concerts will take place at a selection of 5 venues along College St., including Free Times Cafe, Sneaky Dee's and Sushi House.
Various venues along College St., February 8-9, 2013, $25 for wristbands, individual shows $6-$10

For more music listings, check out our This Week in Music and February concerts in Toronto posts.

FOOD

Valentine's Sweets and Chocolates Tour
If you're looking to get a kick-start on wooing your Valentine (and don't mind a trek through the fallout of today's winter storm), there's no better way to get in the mood than a walk through Kensington Market, stopping in at various businesses to sample Valentine's Day sweets, and enjoying discounts at selected merchants.
Ding Dong Bakery (321 Spadina Ave) February 10, 2013, 11AM and 2:30PM, $30 pp

For more food events, check out our This Week in Food post.

FILM

The 8 Fest - Super8 Film Festival
The 8 Fest begins tonight, celebrating its sixth year, and will be running for three nights. This festival is devoted to all forms of "small gauge" film, especially Super 8, but also regular 8mm, and 9.5, and will showcase the 70 year history of these formats, as the medium for home filmmaking, contemporary experimental film, instructional loops, and more. The festival's format will consist of seven programmes including some live performance, a workshop, and an artists talk, with all films are shown in their original format. The 8 Fest runs until Sunday. Check out our preview.
Workman Arts Theatre (651 Dufferin Street) Begins February 8, 2013, $5 per event/ $25 festival passes

King Street Alternative Film and Video Fest
The King Alt Film Fest showcases creative short films and video art works out of "non-traditional setting"--in this case, King East bar Betty's. The bulk of the films are made by Toronto artists (although there's a few from elsewhere in Canada), and cover such diverse subjects as the life of a waiter, and what happens when two friends are transported to another reality. Seating will be limited.
Betty's (240 King St. E.) February 8-9, 2013, doors at 8PM, Free

For more film listings, check out our This Week in Film post.

FASHION

Valentine's Day Shopping Event
The Black Box Boutique in Yorkville plays host to a pre-Valentine's Day shopping extravaganza, featuring wares from Canadian jewellery company Nayme. But this two-day event isn't just for the ladies: you'll also be able to browse and purchase the men's collection from Liel and Lentz, and men's clothing line Blast.
The Black Box Boutique (106 Yorkville Ave, 2nd floor), February 9-10, 2013

For more fashion events, check out our This Week in Fashion post.

FESTIVALS

Chinese New Year Festival
Chinese New Year is upon us. The day, known in Chinese culture as Spring Festival, falls on Sunday this year, but in anticipation, the Chinatown BIA has performances scheduled at the Chinatown Centre today and Saturday from noon to six o'clock, including music and dancing, to give a good taste of the traditions and to get the celebrations underway. On Sunday, the ceremonies will kick off at noon, followed by lion dancing at 1pm at the nearby Dragon City Mall. Also check out the 2013 CIBC Lunarfest, and our list of 6 restaurants to feast at on Chinese New Year.
Chinatown Centre (222 Spadina Avenue) February 8-10, 2013, 12PM

1st Annual Rhino Winter Beer Festival
We all know that beer is a beverage that is not bound by the seasons, and while it's always more fun to enjoy a delicious ale outdoors in the summer, winter consumption can be just as rewarding. With this in mind, the timing of the First Annual Rhino Winter Beer Festival is spot on, and goes down this Sunday! The venue is, of course, The Rhino Restaurant & Bar on Queen West, and the festivities begin early, with an 11am start for VIP ticket holders, who will enjoy a breakfast buffet before they begin their "tasting." Regular and general admission ticket holders enter later, but there's plenty of great stouts, ales, and more to go around! Snacks will be available for purchase, along with sampling tickets. This event runs until 6pm, and you can check out our preview for more information.
The Rhino Restaurant & Bar (1249 Queen Street West) February 10, 2013, VIP $40 / Regular $20 / General Admission Free

ART

Camera Solo: Patti Smith at the AGO
The AGO continues its recent trend of bringing buzz-worthy exhibits to Toronto with the arrival of Patti Smith's photo work. While Smith will also perform at the gallery (March 7th) tickets for that event are long gone. But the rock-icon's photographs are certainly interesting too. Composed of 70 black and white images along with personal objects and a 16mm film, the show offers a rare opportunity to glimpse at a side of Smith's creative process.
AGO (317 Dundas St W), Feb 9 - May 19

Fiona Smyth and Silvia Argiolas
The Robert Kananaj Gallery presents a ten year retrospective of Fiona Smyth's works to celebrate a recently clinched "association" with the well-known TO artist. Smyth's work is a part of Toronto cultural history, and was near-ubiquitous in the '90s when her distinct style was all over the pages of Exclaim Magazine, and various large-scale works throughout the city, including the interior of The Dance Cave and the exterior of Sneaky Dee's. Also part of Saturday's exhibition is emerging Italian artist and finalist for the 2006 Celeste Prize, Silvia Argiolas.
Robert Kananaj Gallery (1267 Bloor Street West) February 9, 2013, 4PM

COMEDY

Static Zine's Romantic Comedy
Tonight, the folks at Static Zine hold a special night of comedy and fundraising at The Central. The evening begins with standup comedy from Carolyn Nesling, Andrew Barr, Marc Hallworth, Ashley Moffatt, and Nigel Grinstead, with this portion of the night hosted by Mike Kellet. Following the hilarity, the rest of the evening with be dedicated to dancing with Alex Pulec of TO's The Ruby Spirit at the helm, providing hip-shaking sounds you'll surely dig. Proceeds from this party will go towards funding Static Zine's sixth issue, due out very soon.
The Central (603 Markham Street) February 8, 2013 9:30PM $10

For more comedy listings, check out our This Week in Comedy post.

MARKETPLACE

Seventh Annual Toronto Erotic Arts and Crafts Fair
The Toronto Erotic Arts and Crafts Fair happens Saturday at The Gladstone Hotel, and as always, is presented by TO's beloved "worker-owned sex shop," Come As You Are. This event, now in its seventh year, brings together both local and international erotic crafters, clothing makers, knitters, zine makers, and artists of all kinds. As usual, the timing of the fair falls deliberately close to Valentine's Day, so you can make good use of your visit to get that special something for the source of all things "erotic" in your life. The fair runs until eight o'clock, and will be followed by an afterparty.
Gladstone Hotel (1214 Queen Street West) February 9, 2013 12PM

Have an event you'd like to plug? Submit your own listing to the blogTO Toronto events calendar or contact us directly.

Lead photo from our coverage of F*cked Up's 1st Long Winter event, second photo from our profile of Black Box Boutique

Photo by Keith Armstrong in the blogTO Flickr pool

The Carlu played host to the Canadian Film Centre's annual gala and auction, titled "Celebrating a Quarter Century of Creativity." Guests were treated to a 4-course dinner courtesy of Daniel et Daniel, and a performance from Stacey Kay, and the event (which was presented by Cineplex and Holt Renfrew) saw a stylish, put-together set come out to bid on luxurious auction items. There were men in suits and bowties, and ladies in enviable frocks.

Check out all the looks in our Style section.