One of the tallest cranes in Toronto is finally being disassembled, some three and a half years since the building it serviced topped off. The L Tower is a stunning addition to the city's skyline, but it's been marked by the presence of two cranes long after the exterior of the building was completed.

The larger of these cranes, which runs along the east facade of the building is now being disassembled. The smaller derrick crane at the top of the structure will remain in place as the final work is done to install the building maintenance unit (BMU). An earlier version of this derrick crane was replaced after safety concerns were cited last year.

The process by which the crane is dismantled is rather remarkable, whereby a brace is used to fortify the structure as sections are removed and lowered to the ground by the crane itself. It will take about a week to complete the process, at which time the L Tower will inch closer to final completion.

Photo by Lori Whelan in the blogTO Flickr pool.

It's Drake month(s) in the world and to mark the occasion SNL is getting in in the action on May 14. The 6 God is a natural fit for the show and will be showcasing his full range of performance skills that night pulling double duty as host and musical guest.

It won't be Drake's first time on SNL. His last appearance was back in January 2014 when he talked about his Canadian roots, his Bar Mitzvah and being from a city "where the rappers are polite and the Mayor smokes crack."

Today in Toronto celebrate Cinco de Mayo with Mexican food and drinks across the city. If tacos, tequila and guac aren't your thing, skip the margaritas and opt to catch a film at the opening night of the Toronto Jewish Film Festival.

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

• CONTACT Photography Festival (Various Locations)
• Hot Docs Film Festival (Bloor Cinema)
• Canadian Music Week (Various Locations)
• GradEx 101 (OCAD)
• Pages UnBound (AGO)
• Toronto Jewish Film Festival (Cineplex Odeon Varsity)
• Artbound pARTy (Maison Mercer)
• John Gets A Tattoo...LIVE (The Social Capital Theatre)
• North American Craft Beer Experience (Airship37)

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

Photo of el Catrin by Jesse Milns.

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

• The long awaited Maple Leaf Tavern has opened its doors at 955 Gerrard Street East. On the menu, ribeye steaks and pork chops from the wood burning grill and sides like hassleback potatoes, creamed spinach and braised mushrooms.
• Macho Radio Bar has debuted at 92 Fort York Boulevard and is serving up tacos, nachos and agua frescas.
• Village Pizza at 759 Dovercourt Road is now slinging slices and whole pies topped with BBQ Spam and pineapple.
• Petit Potato, a new Taiwanese tea room, is now open at 10 Ravel Road and serving up thick sliced toast topped with custard and bruleed marshmallows, durian pancakes, super sago and more.
• Burgatory food truck has opened a bricks and mortar restaurant at 719 College Street where Hey Meatball used to be.

RECENTLY REVIEWED

• Doomie's
• Death in Venice Gelato
• Hakata Ramen
• iQ Food Co. (First Canadian Place)

OPENING SOON

• Angelo's Coal Fired Pizza is coming to 106 Front Street East this June. The chain of pizzerias is already popular state side, but this will be the first in Canada to make pizza in a coal burning oven.
• Philthy Philly's Cheesesteak and Poutinerie is already known for its food truck and locations in Pickering, Whitby and Newmarket. Now the chain is coming to Scarborough, opening an outpost at Victoria Park and Sheppard.
• The Canadian Breakfast Bar, a new breakfast-oriented concept by Bacon Nation, is set to open in Kensington Market at 249 Augusta Avenue by the end of the month.

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

Photo of Macho Radio Bar.

700 King Street West is a spacious three bedroom, four bathroom suite on the market for $1,620,000. Located at Bathurst and King, the 14-storey building, which still looks more like an office tower than a residential condo, was converted into the Westside Lofts in 2001.

With retail space on the main level, the interior of the nondescript building is more unique than expected. This 11th floor unit features a rotunda-style layout, a curved dramatic foyer and high sculpted ceilings. At 2,800 square feet, the flat provides ample room for a couple or family.

King West is one of the city's most desirable areas for condo owners. The rebranded street was once a desolate stretch of industrial buildings (here's a few retro photos to refresh your memory), and is now exploding with retail, popular restaurants and an overdevelopment of new condo projects.

SPECS

• Address: #Uph11 - 700 King Street West
• Price: $1,620,000
• Square feet: 2,800
• Bedrooms: 3
• Bathrooms: 4
• Parking: 1
• Taxes: $8,017
• Maintenance fee: $1,825.72/monthly
• Walk Score: 98
• Listing agent: Eleonora Segal, Royal LePage
• Listing ID: C3450337

NOTABLE FEATURES

• Penthouse corner suite
• 11 ft. ceilings
• Heated floors
• Fireplaces
• Shared rooftop terrace
• Locker

GOOD FOR

A blackout. There's plenty of natural light in this suite with floor-to-ceiling windows and an impressive panoramic view of the city. You'll never need a flashlight.

MOVE ON IF

You need more bling on King. The neighbourhood is trendy but not as posh and polished as, say, Yorkville. Condo amenities are basic (fitness studio, party room), and the dated bathrooms could stand a modern makeover.

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS
Worth the $1.6M asking? Have your say in the comments section.

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

The University of Toronto has once again been ranked the best school in Canada in the Times Higher Education World Reputation Rankings. Placed at 23 in the world, that puts well ahead of its closest national competition in the form of the University of British Columbia, which was ranked 37th overall. Rounding out the top three from Canada was McGill in the 39th spot.

Three universities in the top 40 globally is quite good given that Canadian schools have less resources to work with than many of their private American counterparts, but it is remarkable to see just how dominant U.S. schools are in rankings of this type. The top three spots went to Harvard, MIT, and Stanford University.

While U of T takes top spot in these rankings, it did take a bit of a tumble compared to last year, when it occupied the 16th spot. Closer to home, the most recent rankings from Maclean's Magazine has the school ranked second behind McGill, though it consistently ranks better in international surveys of this type.

Photo by Jared Krause in the blogTO Flickr pool.

Nuit Blanche might be set to expand to Scarborough. The city is currently examining the possibility of using the Guild Inn as part of the annual all-night art celebration in 2017, a move that would bring the event to the former suburbs for the first time.

Scarborough Councillor Paul Ainslie made the request to Toronto's Economic Development Committee earlier this year, arguing that it was the right time to try out expansion of the one-night festival.

Hosting Nuit Blanche programming outside of downtown is not without precedence. The route in Paris reached well into the suburbs last year with success, and given the overcrowding that happens each in Toronto, there's a compelling reason to spread the installations out beyond the core.

It's an intriguing idea, particularly given the site. The Guild Inn is currently undergoing a major renovation and expansion as part of plans to re-launch it as an event venue. The adjacent park, which is currently home to a number of remnants from Toronto's architectural history, is also slated to be revitalized.

One imagines that the 88 acre site would be ideal for something like Nuit Blanche, which is often at its best when novel spaces are used for installations. The self-contained nature of the park would also allow for less walking between installations.

Beyond the venue, supporters of the idea note that Scarborough has a vibrant arts scene, but lacks an event of this magnitude and the exposure that comes along with it. This would certainly be a way to showcase what the creative culture that resides outside the core of Toronto.

Photo by Natta Summerky.

Toronto's fancy new green bins might not be as raccoon-proof as they've been advertised. Photos posted to Twitter show the tops of the city-issued organic waste bins chewed straight through by pesky urban wildlife shortly after delivery to residents in Scarborough.

The user who posted the photos claims that the new bins use thinner plastic than the prior version, which makes them susceptible to persistent pests looking for a food supply. Should this prove a trend, it would be quite embarrassing for the city, who awarded a $31 million contract to a California firm to redesign the green bin to be more raccoon-proof.

@311Toronto Here is my NEW green bin that hasn't been used yet. Squirrel emerged from hole this morning! pic.twitter.com/wyyqVCZo5r

— Chachacha (@chachacha2014JN) May 4, 2016

It would also prove a rare occasion when Giorigo Mammoliti was actually right about something. He was highly critical of the proposed new bins when they were debated at City Hall last year.

So far it looks like raccoon 1, city of Toronto 0.

Photo by @chachacha2014JN.

Newly revamped and relaunched, this east-side institution is now turning out scrupulously crafted cocktails, upscale bar snacks and meaty specialties from a wood burning grill. The casual spot is set to launch brunch, lunch and a new patio too - all welcome additions to the neighbourhood.

Read my profile of Maple Leaf Tavern in the restaurants section.

Weekend events in Toronto will have you hitting up shows in the name of Canadian Music Week. There are dozens of bands playing all over town this weekend, so choose wisely. Once you've gotten your fill of concerts, scope out what this year's OCAD grads have to offer at GradEx. Exhibits range from printmaking to environmental design.

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

MUSIC

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

Skepta (May 6)
2015 was a big year for UK hip-hop. Seemingly out of nowhere, grime artists like Skepta and Stormzy burst into the North-American market with their witty lyrics and punchy deliveries. Skepta is definitely a pioneer in this new frontier of grime, forming a tight relationship with Drake that helped elevate the genre to new levels. This will be a high-energy concert.

Dilly Dally (May 7)
The first time I heard Dilly Dally's debut album Sore, it was like a breath of fresh air. Look for a wild and sweaty show, and get ready to be amazed by lead singer Katie Monks voice and guitar work.

FILM

Hot Docs (April 28-May 8)
If you reserve your Netflix account for David Attenborough-narrated flicks and Cowspiracy-like educational movies, Hot Docs is the place to be this spring. The international documentary festival is the largest of its kind in North America and shows over 200 films from Canada and around the world to massive audiences.

FOOD & DRINK

Asia Food Fest (April 29-May 15)
More than 60 Asian restaurants from across Toronto and the GTA are participating in this 'Licious-like prix-fixe promotion happening between April 29 and May 15. Look forward to set menus priced between $10 and $45 per person at restaurants including KaKa All You Can Eat, Kingyo Izakaya, Jatajuk and many more.

Cinco de Mayo at Steam Whistle (May 6)
Steam Whistle is celebrating Cinco de Mayo a day late with a bash at the brewery. Expect to find pilsner, tequila, margaritas, quesadillas, piñatas and more. Feel free to drink a little more than you did on Thursday if your office is closed on weekends.

Veggielicious (May 6-22)
If you're sad because your vegetarian or vegan diet held you back from embracing the wonders of Summerlicious and Winterlicious, this is the event for you. Veggielicious is a two-week foodie celebration that features plant-based prix-fixe meals and deals at restaurants across the city.

ART

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 and more than 200 events, all featuring works from Canadian and international artists and photographers.

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 representing including photography, material art & design, printmaking, illustration and environmental design.

ENTERTAINMENT

Pages UnBound Festival (May 5-8)
Get your fill of lit events at Pages UnBound before it shuts down on May 8. Notable events on tap for this weekend include BURST: New Voices in Canadian Literature, Work and Visual Language.

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.

Dan and Phil: The Amazing Tour is Not on Fire (May 7-8)
YouTube's golden boys Dan Howell and Phil Lester are hitting the Sony Centre on May 7 and 8 for their joint show, The Amazing Tour is Not on Fire. The two U.K.-based web personalities are known for their lol-worthy vlogs, challenges and sketches and have garnered millions of views for their online antics. Expect to see all that brought to life when they hit the stage.

FASHION & DESIGN

INLAND (May 6-8)
See what contemporary Canadian fashion, apparel and accessory brands have to offer this weekend at Queen Richmond Centre West. Over 65 vendors will be selling their wares, including Coup de Tete, Mary Young, November Lark and many more.

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 Cinco de Mayo celebrations via Steam Whistle.

With contributions by Adam Pugsley and Liora Ipsum.

House of Commons is possibly Toronto's longest running underground restaurant. Since 2008, founder, Sarah Evans (formerly the GM of Rosedale's Le Petit Castor) has hosted diners in her home; supplying the select few (12 to 14 guests each night) with cryptic directions and passwords to get in.

The idea was inspired by the hospitality shown to her on a trip to Greece. Evans recalls how small talk with locals transpired from "my brother's out fishing" to "come back in an hour and we'll eat what he catches".

Here in Toronto, the dinners are often populated with strangers encouraged to converse in intimate quarters as they dine at the long but slender Italian-style common table. The style of service is chef driven and always in flux but sharing boards, family style presentations and plated entrees have all made appearances in the past.

Over the years House of Common has earned a reputation as an incubator for new restaurants as chefs have tested and templated new menus. Prior to launching, I'm told that Ursa operated out of Evan's residential kitchen for a week in preparation.

Content-driven dinners are becoming increasingly popular as well, giving the restaurant salon-like quality. Topical themes from an evening of abstract art to a focus on monogamy are recent examples woven through the menu and discussions at the table.

New this season (May to September), House of Commons is introducing weekend brunches, sometimes preceded by a yoga session other times cooked by Brad Kurtenbach of Thick Cut Brunch.

The price of each dinner is dictated by the chefs and menu but $85 is typical and includes a cocktail upon entry and at least one wine pairing. There's usually a cash bar too but Evans warns that if guests pass out on the couch (and they have), she'll automatically add $40 to their tab then supply a toothbrush and some eggs in the a.m. before calling a cab.

The summer season kicks off on May 12 when details are published online. Make reservations for dinner at mabelgrey.ca (named for Evans' bootlegging great grandma) and gain access to brunch (no reservations required) by texting the number posted on the site.

Photo by Jesse Milns

Sub sandwich offerings in Toronto go well beyond Subway and Mr. Sub. Many of Toronto's sandwich shops, pizzerias and diners take this classic sandwich to heights well beyond the corporate giants. Whether you call it a sub, hoagie or a hero, the versions from these eateries will hit the spot.

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

Belly Buster Submarines
Belly's is the reigning king of indie sub shops in Toronto. Boasting locations on Yonge St. north of Lawrence and on King West, this sub institution is ready to satisfy your cravings for turkey bacon subs any time of the day.

Maker Pizza
While the pies may be the star of this pizza joint, don't pass up the chance to dig into one of their subs. On the menu you'll find The Bodega which is loaded with cold cuts, Eggplant Parm and a Meatball Sub. Warning - you will need both hands to get ahold of these bad boys.

Fresh East
This offshoot of Paramount Fine Foods is a halal certified sandwich shop. Similar to other sub chains, all Fresh East subs are customizable to your liking.

The Grillway
This restaurant at Annette and Runnymede makes both hot and cold subs, including ones stuffed with BBQ pork, roast beef, philly steak and souvlaki. All subs on the menu come in at under $10.

FBI Pizza
This South Etobicoke pizzeria makes a mean hoagie. Offerings include the IFC which is loaded with fried chicken and The Incredible Hoagie which is consists of copious amounts of cold cuts.

Royale's Luncheonette
This charming 15-seat eatery on Dundas West mostly deals in daytime fare. Their roast pork sandwich is reminiscent of a big messy Chicago-style hero.

New York Subs & Burritos
New York Subway now goes by a new name, New York Subs & Burritos. Regardless of the minor name change, this indie sub joint still slings toasty grilled subs.

Pizza Flora
Head to this Roncesvalles pizza joint to get your hands on some delicious subs.These hot Italian sandwiches are available in your choice of veal, meatball, eggplant or chicken parmigiana.

Pape Subs & Grill
This little sub shop can be found in Pape Village. On the menu you'll find subs with your basic veggie toppings to more unique offerings like pizza supreme and corned beef.

Golden Pizza
Subs come particularly cheap at this Broadview Avenue stalwart with all options priced at $7 or less. Subs include assorted cold cuts, ham, veggie, hot beef, and the meatball.

What did I miss? Add your favourite sub shop in the comments.

Photo by Jesse Milns.

OCADU's annual Graduate Exhibition kicked off yesterday, featuring the work of hundreds of students embarking on their careers as artists and creators. As has been the case in previous years, the range of work on display is remarkable, from traditional media to installations and even architectural work. Many of these artists will be worth keeping an eye on as they develop.

Here's a collection of some of my favourite work from OCAD GradEx 2016.

Brunching in Yorkville doesn't need to be a lavish affair, although if you've got the dough why not drop it on a lobster Benny? The neighbourhood does indeed boasts its fare share of high-end destinations, but then you'll also find casual and relatively cheap alternatives at diners and cafes that are popular with the locals.

Here are my picks for where to brunch in Yorkville.

La Societe
Overlooking the Mink Mile, this French bistro embraces every opportunity to celebrate the joie de vivre. On the menu, lobster Benedicts, quiche, charcuterie and Croque Madame sandwiches.

Kasa Moto
Japanese restaurants in Toronto don't typically do brunch which makes the menu featuring salmon tataki on toast, breakfast bento boxes and morning kamameshi all the more unique.

Cafe Boulud
Sunday brunch is a prix-fixe affair at Daniel Boulud's Four Seasons restaurant. Two courses for $45, or three courses from $53 open with freshly squeezed juice, coffee or tea and then move on to indulgent options including house-baked viennoiserie, salad nicoise, duck confit hash and rotisserie chicken with waffles.

Buca Osteria & Bar
Chef Rob Gentile's Italian restaurant in Yorkville also occupies a plum spot in the Four Seasons. The morning menu features pasticceria, a sharable assortment of daily pastries as well as strapazzate, scrambled eggs with stracciatella cheese and black truffles.

Flo's Diner
Climb the stairs to this '50s-style diner hidden away on the second floor at the corner of Yorkville and Bellair. The menu bills all the greasy spoon favourites one could ask for plus some light options like turkey sausages and eggs, steelcut oatmeal and three egg omelettes packed with veggies.

MoRoCo Chocolat
You'd expect a boutique chocolatier to offer one hell of an indulgent brunch, and MoRoCo doesn't disappoint. With the exception of s'mores pancakes, the menu surprisingly sticks to savoury selections such as shakshuka, buttermilk fried chicken tenders with waffles and potato latkes topped with smoked salmon.

The Oxley
Full English breakfasts, BLTs topped with maple braised pork belly and kippers on toast with a poached egg are just some of the standouts on the brunch menu at this Brit-style public house.

Avenue Diner
Since 1944, this stalwart on Davenport has been dishing classic diner staples. Grab a table or a swiveling stool at the counter to tuck into peameal bacon on a bun, fluffy omelettes and fried egg breakfasts

Crepes A GoGo
The creperie is home to a menu of sweet and savoury fare that is very suitable for brunch. The menu offers delicate French pancakes stuffed with eggs, cheese and bacon, slathered with Nutella or filled with brie and raspberry jam.

Bloor Street Diner
The Sunday brunch buffet at this upscale diner in the Manulife Centre is priced at $26.50 for adults and features an AYCE assortment of pastries and breads, crudités, cheeses, smoked and poached salmon, salads and more.

Holts Cafe
Brunch is served weekends from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the cafe inside the high-end department store. Like the luxury goods sold in store, nothing is cheap, but a $20 mimosa or $18 stack of buttermilk pancakes might just be the most affordable price tag you'll see inside.

What did I miss? Add more Yorkville brunch spots to the comments.

Droids. Flying TTC buses. Pizza-delivering drones. Holograms and neon signs that spill pools of colourful lights onto the city's streets. A business that sells custom genetic alterations.

This is the future Toronto as depicted by artist Stephen Osborne in Neodot City. The ongoing pixel-art series reimagines the city's landscape as a cyberpunk playground, inhabited by "futuristic characters, urban decay and advanced technologies," as described in Osborne's artist statement.

Osborne said this project stemmed from his fascination with how the city has changed over time aesthetically.

"You see houses with storefronts built into the front yard, and you have signage hanging off of old Victorian houses. The layering you get, it's really interesting," he said.

"So I just wanted to take that further - to imagine what Toronto would look like in the future."

Each piece in the Neodot City series features an existing Toronto locale, transformed to reflect Osborne's idea of what it will look like in the years to come.

In this future Toronto, the residential area on Bathurst north of College has become a shady commercial corridor; the Lillian H. Smith Library has been converted into a pristine, high-tech shopping plaza; the Drake, the Gladstone and the Fairmont Royal York are all still hotels, but with new embellishments and new, punny names.

It's open-ended whether this future Toronto should be feared or embraced.

"I guess it's your position," Osborne said. "If you think there's nothing wrong with changing genes, swapping them around and stuff, it's up to you. I'm not saying it's negative or positive. I'm just presenting it."

Osborne said that in creating this series, he took inspiration from the late sci-fi author Philip K. Dick and from the concept artist Syd Mead, whose designs are featured in sci-fi films such as Blade Runner (based on Dick's novel, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?), Aliens and TRON.

Osborne's been working on this project for about eight months now. Given the amount of detail, each piece involves a painstaking process, taking about 20 to 30 hours to complete. All the illustration is done in MS Paint, while the layering and transparency effects are done in Photoshop.

The Neodot City series is currently on display at the Gladstone Hotel's Melody Bar as part of the No Subject Art Exhibition.

On May 14, the Gladstone will be hosting a silent auction during which attendees can bid on Osborne's pieces and the other art on display. Half of the proceeds will go to the artist, while the other half will go to the charitable organization Rainbow Railroad.

The auction will run from about 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. and will be followed by live music and karaoke.

Images courtesy of the artist.

Most Toronto restaurants are not especially accommodating to the Paleo diet. Diners looking to mimic the presumed diet of early humans by loading up on meat, fish, fruits and veg, and avoiding dairy, grains and processed food are out of luck when it comes to fine dining, but should have no trouble at all satisfying lunch or a casual dinner out.

Here are a handful of paleo friendly restaurants in Toronto.

Impact Kitchen
The all-day eatery on King East is all about clean eating and the menu, while not exclusively paleo, promotes a diet of minimally processed and nutrient rich foods. Options like the Maverick power bowl are packed with an easily-digestible root vegetable mash, healthy fats from nuts and avocado, salsa fresca and an optional 4 oz. portion of lean but protein-rich shredded roast chicken.

Athletes Kitchen
Principles of the Paelo diet heavily influence the menu at this take-out shop in Liberty Village. Filling and nourishing options include grilled chicken over quinoa with chopped kale, sweet potatoes, avocado and shredded cabbage, and a bun-less burger wrapped in red cabbage leaves and served with a side of sweet potato wedges.

Oats & Ivy
Order take-out, delivery or catering from this Liberty Village eatery that can accommodate almost any diet or restriction. Those avoiding grains and dairy will find the Moroccan quinoa lunch box is an excellent choice loaded with sweet potatoes, cauliflower, peppers, green beans, onions, tomatoes, olives, raisins, chickpeas and fresh herbs. Add roasted chicken or wild trout for an extra hit of protein.

Kupfert & Kim
The vegan eatery offers a meat-free alternative that's still in line with principles of a Paleo diet. Get the aptly named, K&K Paleo Bowl for an influx of roast yams with baked hemp and sunflower balls accompanied by sauerkraut, fennel slaw and a medley of vegetables.

Crave Healthy Habits
The chain of eateries boasts multiple locations in The Path where signature steamed boxes and salad boxes can be customized to suit Paleo eaters. The Il Padrino, for instance, starts with a base of zucchini pasta and is topped with kale, brussels sprouts, pico de gallo, sweet potatoes and pecans. Add-ons include grilled chicken breast or salmon.

What did I miss? Add more paleo friendly restaurants to the comments.

Food truck season in Toronto has officially started and the trucks are rolling out to their usual crop of curbside locations across the city. So next time you're hankering for a food truck lunch there are some spots you're going to want to keep in mind.

Here are the locations in Toronto where you can regularly find food trucks.

Roy Thomson Hall
Head to King and John during the week and you're guaranteed to find a few trucks parked along King St across from Roy Thomson Hall. Trucks like Gotham Grill, Born2Eat and Mustache Burger frequent this spot all season long.

University & Dundas
This spot has gained some steam over the past few years. What started off as one or two trucks park along University Ave has grown into a food truck hot spot. Head there on your lunch and you'll often find four trucks parked, two on either side of the street. The trucks you'll usually spot here include Che, Prince Edward's Fries and Jerk Brothers.

University & College
Head past Dundas and you'll also find food trucks at the intersection of University & College. This is one of the original curbside vending spots found in the city and it's most often used by the ME.N.U Food Truck.

Church & Bloor
Food trucks have found a promising curbside spot in the Church & Bloor area to set up and serve lunch to the many hungry office workers in the area. So what kind of trucks will you spot here? Discover trucks like feasTO, Arepa Republic and Delight Bite.

East Liberty & Atlantic
The Liberty Village BIA and local restaurants have a reputation for being particularly hostile to food trucks but that doesn't mean the neighbourhood doesn't get its fill of food truck eats. You can find newbie trucks like Fully Loaded T.O and Feed The 6 at the corner of Atlantic Ave and E Liberty St.

Mel Lastman Square
Finally a popular spot outside of the downtown core. This North York location is frequently visited by many Toronto trucks including La Novela, Crazy Burrito and Road Grill.

Resurrection & Bloor
Food trucks will be rolling into Etobicoke for Food Truck'n Friday all season long. You can chow down on food trucks eats at this bi-weekly event in the parking lot at Resurrection Rd. & Bloor St. W from 4:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. on every other Friday.

To find out where your favourite food trucks will be each day, check back on Toronto Food Trucks or download the Food Trucks app for iPhone or Android.

This cozy neighbourhood pub has it all: craft and classic beers, good grub, darts, pinball, billiards, flat screens for sports-watching and the occasional acoustic live music night. Owned by a veteran Toronto bartender, this unpretentious spot knows how to keep 'em coming back.

Read my profile of The Wicket in the restaurants section.

A reliable fish monger is a good friend to have, and every Toronto seafood lover should be able to call on a local expert to answer questions and dish-out cooking advice. Whether searching for salmon or shellfish, there's a fish market nearby ready to share the daily catch.

Here are my picks for the top fishmongers in Toronto by neighbourhood.

AVENUE & LAWRENCE
Avenue Seafood is a reliable source for good quality fish, oysters and other seafood. It's not the cheapest fish monger in town but the quality and prices are fair.

BAYVIEW & LEASIDE
De La Mer boasts locations on Roncesvalles and The Danforth, but it's the original outpost on South Bayview that spawned all the success. The fresh fish market is passionate about seafood and prides itself on educating customers on sustainable fishing practices all while suggesting pairings and cooking tips.

BAYVIEW VILLAGE
Taro's Fish is a Japanese fishmonger that carries a seasonal selection of fresh fish ranging from halibut to sea-bream. You'll also find sashimi-grade products in store and a kitchen ready to cook-up any catch. Highlights from the takeout counter include the BBQ eel rice balls, teriyaki black cod and shrimp tempura.

BEACHES
Sustainable seafood is the specialty at Beach Fish House. Here you can buy organic, fresh or frozen, wild or farmed, local or international... the options go on. Hungry already? Order sushi, seafood chowder and lobster rolls from the lunch counter.

BLOORCOURT
Newport Fish & Seafood is an importer that retails to the public. Here you'll find a range of products from Europe spanning fresh options like Spanish mackerel to frozen selections such as sea-bream and sea bass.

BLOOR WEST VILLAGE
Since 1999 Snapper's Fish Market has been a reputable source for fresh seafood in this neighbourhood. Friendly staff are happy to answer questions and educate consumers on the intricacies of wild caught, farmed, organic, and sustainable options.

CORSO ITALIA
Tavora Foods is one of three locations in the GTA that carries a wide variety of flash frozen fish imported directly from Portugal. Head here for sardines, stickleback, saber fish and conger.

THE DANFORTH
Ocean's Treasures Fish Market has everything from Arctic char and tuna to salmon and a variety of shellfish.

EAST CHINATOWN
Bill's Lobster might be best known for its tanks of live lobsters but the passionate and knowledgeable service is also a plus. In addition to crustaceans, find seasonal catch of salmon, dry scallops and shrimp, each labeled by point of origin.

EAST YORK
Hand sliced, hickory flavoured salmon is the specialty at Valentino's Smokin Salmon. The family recipe starts with sushi grade Atlantic Salmon that's then cured and cold smoked for three days to produce a fresh, delicate product that needs nothing more than a bagel and smear of cream cheese to be enjoyed.

ETOBICOKE
Whether searching for king crab or salmon, Mike's Fish Market has got it. Beautiful fillets fill the display cases while live lobster and prepared foods like crab-stuffed sea bass are also available.

THE JUNCTION
Honest Weight isn't just a fish counter but a seafood-centric eatery too. In store daily you'll find a seasonal selection of whole fish and seafood plus hard-to-find options like Ontario farmed shrimp and limpits. Take the daily catch home for DIY cooking, or let the experts whip up an okonomiyaki, steamed shellfish, or smoked fish plate.

JUNCTION TRIANGLE
Osler Fish Warehouse is a seafood market that's open to the public. In the main room you'll find a vast inventory of fresh fish and frozen seafare along with select Portuguese groceries, while there's a whole other room devoted to salted cod and another that carries rare and unusual finds.

KENSINGTON MARKET
Hooked operates locations in Leslieville and Kensington Market that deal exclusively in products obtained from sustainable harvests and traditional fishing practices. In addition to expertly scaled and filleted fish, there's also a variety of prepared foods available for purchase including crab cakes, soups and stocks.

LESLIEVILLE
Family owned and operated since 1953, Kristapsons prides itself on producing some of the best cold smoked salmon in Hogtown. Buy in packages from 100 grams to savour on weekend bagels or impress guests with a kilo's worth beautifully presented on platters or blinis.

NORTH YORK
City Fish inhabits an unassuming strip mall on Dufferin but inside it smells like the sea. The shop carries live lobsters in tanks, whole fish on ice, and an assortment of seasonal harvests including molluscs, scallops and more.

PORT LANDS
The seafood counter at T&T Supermarket is notable for its variety and value. Multiple locations across the GTA stock live crab and lobster as well as hard-to-find fare like geoduck and eel.

ROSEDALE
Pisces is a boutique fish market specializing in ultra-fresh fruit from the sea. They'll even cook, crack and split fresh lobsters for take-home enjoy and also provide a range of prepared foods.

SCARBOROUGH
Diana's Seafood Delight is the wholesale supplier to many Toronto restaurants and also open to the public. The retail shop carries an impressive assortment of fresh fish and shellfish, as well as molluscs and some more exotic catches including abalone and sea urchin roe.

ST. LAWRENCE MARKET
Seafront Fish Market stands out from competitng fish mongers in the market thanks to display cases packed with an abundance of salt and fresh water fish. Seafood-wise you'll find live lobsters and molluscs along with scallops, octopus and squid. Visit late in the afternoons on Saturdays for deep discounts before the counter closes-up shop until Tuesday.

WEST QUEEN WEST
Sushi and sashimi grade fish are in stock at Sanko. In addition to fish, the Japanese trading company carries all the accessories, from bamboo mats to wasabi, for making sushi at home.

WOODBRIDGE
Seafood Depot is a 25,000 square foot outlet for all your seafood needs. Expect to find an extensive selection of fresh, frozen and live products along regular grocery store items and a line-up of housewares at competitive prices.

YONGE & EGLINTON
Yonge Seafood Gourmet is owned and operated by a fisherman's son with a discerning taste for seafood. The shop specializes in fresh wild caught, organic seafood for sale as well as caters custom seafood platters for entertaining.

Disagree with my selections in the comments. Lead photo of Honest Weight.

If you drive the roads of Ontario long enough, you might pronounce the province just "bush land, scrub land." There's so much granite beyond Toronto, one rejoices to arrive at a hamlet carved out of the earth. Spread along the back roads, you might find a temporary home and have "some opinion of what beauty is."

Here are my picks for 5 small towns worth visiting within a three hour drive of Toronto.

Napanee
Forget Avril and the Hell Holes sign off the 401 exit, after you pass the Tim Hortons and McDonalds on Centre St., Napanee is the most quaint river-side place. Sit on the long patio at the Waterfront River Pub and Terrace and wonder why you don't leave Toronto often enough.

Grand Bend
Go to Grand Bend for the Beach, stay for the party. This is one of the chief shirt-less zones in Ontario, and after the sun goes down, the bars on Main St. are as raucous as King West. Failing that dubious distinction, the bike trail that runs just off the shore is one of the best Ontario.

Campbellford
It's all about chocolate and beer in Campbellford. This is a town with a great farmers' market, arts scene, and culinary culture that downtown foodies dream of. Ferris Provincial Park is immediately adjacent to the main drag in case you require a quite injection of nature.

Bala
Port Carling attracts all the tourists, but Bala is where it's at. Just south of the major tourist action, here you might linger at Bala Falls before eating breakfast at Don's Bakery. The Kee to Bala remains a big deal up here some 75 years after its inauguration.

Port Dover
Lake Erie tends to be under-appreciated by Toronto folks, but much to our detriment. Port Dover as a town is as quaint as they come, but the beach is five stars. In other words, bring your bathing suit. The waterfront is positively bumping in the summer months as the crowds take advantage of the warm waters and small-town hospitality.

What's your favourite small town within three hours of Toronto. Let us know in the comments.

Photo of Port Dover by Brian Krouskie.