Toronto's subway system is about to get a little greener. That's because the TTC - along with Toronto Public Health and the local non-profit FoodShare - is launching Grab the Good pop-up produce markets at three subway stations today.

The Grab the Good markets will open twice a week from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Downsview, Kipling and Victoria Park, writes Metro News. Hopefully, this initiative will spread to other stations too.

Instead of making extra stops to go grocery shopping, it'll now be easier for some commuters to pick up nutritious food on the go.

Photo by Gadjo Sevilla via the blogTO Flickr pool.

Based in South Carolina, this chain of barre fitness studios boasts over 300 locations across the United States. The recently opened Toronto gym is its first on Canadian soil, and a popular spot for those looking to get a ballet-inspired workout.

Read my review of Pure Barre in the fitness section.

Cheap drinks in Toronto can be hard to come by, which is exactly why you should pay attention to happy hour specials and daily drink deals. We've already sussed out all the $3 deals you need to know about, but for just one more dollar, you'll find even more enticing and economical ways to imbibe.

Here's a round-up of where to get $4 cheap drink deals in Toronto.

Lakeview
There's always a $4 drink special at this old-school diner on Dundas West. You can find wine, Caesars, mixed drinks and pints on offer.

Wolf Like Me
The self-proclaimed dive bar near Christie Pits is an economical hangout where $4 shots of Jager and Jameson are the norm.

Wide Open
This tiny bar on Spadina offers big bang for your buck every night if the week, but on Mondays, the whole menu is just $4.

Sneaky Dee's
This punk bar on College attracts thrifty drinkers with its daily specials. Sours and bar rail shots are on for $4 on Mondays, while shots of Tequila Olmeca go for $4 on Tuesdays.

The Antler Room
Caesar cocktails are usually $8, but they're $4 on Sundays. Go for the classic vodka-Clamato combo or have it made with your choice of Olmeca tequila or Beefeater gin.

Duffy's Tavern
Duffy's rewards day drinkers at its bar in the heart of Bloordale Village. Bottles of Bud, Blue, Keith's and 50 all hover around the $4 mark as long as you order them before suppertime.

The Ballroom
You can save a few bucks on bevies while you shell out $55 per hour to bowl thanks to daily drink specials. You'll find martinis (gin or vodka) on for $4 on Tuesdays and rail drinks for $4 on Sunday evenings.

The Bar With No Name
The Bar With No Name caters to a cash-strapped clientele. You'll find tall cans for $3.75 on Thursdays at this High Park-area establishment.

The Office Pub
On Thursdays and during happy hour on weekdays, wine is just $4 here. Coronas and margaritas go for $3 on Mondays and these are just a few of the cheap-and-cheerful drink specials on offer at this pub.

Bill Hicks
You wont find fancy cocktails, garnishes or freshly squeezed juices at this Leslieville bar. But this local gem is a bastion of budget-friendly drinking where tall cans, shots and mixed drinks go for $4-$5.

Photo of Duffy's Tavern by Jesse Milns.

Canada Goose already dominates in Toronto during the cold, winter months with its easily recognizable puffy jackets. But now the ubiquitous parka purveyor is expanding its reach by opening a standalone store inside Yorkdale Mall.

The more than 4,000 square-foot Canada Goose outlet will open some time this October, just in time for you to stock up on an $800 bomber (or two).

The Toronto-based brand will offer its hometown customer a vast selection of products in a wide variety of colours and styles. According to a press release, the store will periodically feature special collaborative lines as well as vintage pieces from Canada Goose's archives.

Along with the Yorkville location, Canada Goose will be debuting a Soho-area store in New York City in November.

Photo via Facebook.

If you're after a baller cocktail named after our city that won't break the bank, then look no further than this sweet little bar. You know you're living it up when your drink contains gold dust. If that ain't your thing, there are also craft beers and other bourbon-heavy cocktails to choose from.

Read my profile of The End in the restaurants section.

Weekend events in Toronto celebrate the fact that we mostly skipped spring and now just have summer. As the first heatwave of the year kicks in, there will be street festivals, dogs gatherings, and plenty of people with not enough sunscreen on. There's also lots of opportunities to dance and shop. What more can we ask for?

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

FESTIVALS AND CULTURE

Doors Open Toronto (May 28-29)
You have two days to get your butt around Toronto and see some of our strangest, most beautiful or odd looking buildings you've always wanted to get inside of. Here's our list of Top 10 buildings to see this year.

CBC Music Festival (May 28)
Echo Beach hosts the fourth CBC Music Fest with artists like Hey Rosetta! Tanya Tagaq, Whitehorse, and other faves.

Woofstock (May 28-29)
Chicken-flavoured slush cones, doggy runway and meet and greet with Doug the Pug - all happening this year at North America's largest dog festival.

T.O. Webfest (May 27-29)
Happening at the MaRS Discovery District and Carlton Cinema, the 3rd annual WebFest is a three-day festival and conference showcasing web content from Canada and around the world, in all its forms.

Barbados on the Water (May 27-29)
Music, food, fashion, people-watching, more food and more music. Harbourfront Centre celebrates Barbados' 50th year of independence with this tropical fest.

Waterfront Artisan Market (May 28-29)
It's the first weekend of the massive open air food and artisan market happening once a month on the waterfront at HTO Park.

Pedestrian Sunday (May 29)
Pedestrian Sunday's in Kensington are back! In addition to walking around and taking in all the sights, smells, people, food and music, there's an art fair and a street party.

FOOD

Rainhard Brewing Co. Parking Lot party (May 28)
The Stockyards area brewery celebrates its first birthday with food from Food Dudes and four Unique One-Off Casks for you to eat and drink in a parking lot.

Feast on St Clair West (May 28)
This is a farmers' market style food-fest held at the Wychwood Barns. It's $75 a pop, but you'll get six "generous" food and drink tastings.

Appleseed Cider Festival (May 29)
Appleseed Cider Fest showcases 25 ciders as well as eats from vendors like Che Food Truck, Come and Get It, Heirloom Toronto, and Sugar Mamma's Mini Donuts.

FILM

Take 21 Film Fest (May 27)
An international student film festival based in Toronto dedicated to the work of filmmakers 21-and-under. The jury is made up of 10 students around the same age.

Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars (May 28)
Watch the legendary concert on the big screen! Get there early for a DJ set. Film starts at 9:30pm.

In Your Pocket: Dear Diary (May 29)
In association with Inside Out film fest and Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, In Your Pocket asks several artists to examine the unique ways in which LGBTQ people can use accessible video technologies to record personal narratives.

DANCING

Turning Point (May 28)
This is the Tropical Dancefloor Session Beginning of Summer Edition. There are so many amazing trigger words in that sub-title, this is one of the only dance party to head to this weekend. Vinyl Only! Below are the rest of my fun, dance-time recommendations.

• Thorgy Thor & Detox (May 27)
• Queer Nation (May 27)
• Shake a Tail (May 28)
• Sweet Tears Devotion (May 28)
• Wimmin (May 28)

SHOWS

Rupaul's Drag Race: Battle of the Seasons (May 27 & 29)
Drag queens from past seasons of Rupaul's Drag race perform live! In front of your eyes! The May 27th show is officially sold out, there there are still tickets to the Sunday show.

Ryan Hemsworth (May 27)
Canadian electronic producer, remixer and DJ visits the Hoxton for a super-dance-y show.

Carrie Underwood (May 28)
The country diva brings her big hair and voice to new country music fans at the ACC.

SHOPPING

Textile Bazaar (May 27)
The "not-to-be-missed event for textile and craft enthusiasts across the GTA."

Jenny Bird sample Sale (May 27-28)
The Toronto-based jewellery designer is having a big sale on her goods this weekend.

Trinity Bellwoods Flea (May 28)
Island Oysters doing buck-a-shuck oysters all day at this food and mostly fashion and arts flea in the park.

High Park record garage sale (May 28)
This massive music yard sale for vinyl heads happens in yards around the High Park neighbourhood from 9am-Noon. For the early birds.

Christie Pits Art Crawl (May 29)
Over 60 artists showing off their finest at the south end of the park just before the big hill.

Photo of last year's CBC Music Fest by Matt Forsythe.

The Toronto Urban Roots Festival (TURF) returns to Fort York from September 16 to 18 bringing with it a predictably stellar lineup. This year's headliners are James Bay and Death Cab for Cutie as well as a mystery band/artist that TURF has yet to announce.

Unlike many similar events in-and-around the GTA, TURF is usually laid-back. And despite rainy weather, last year's festival was no exception.

Along with the headliners, the lineup includes Barenaked Ladies, Dropkick Murphys, Explosions in the Sky, Matthew Good and the Sheepdogs. TURF will add an additional 19 artists to the roster.

Tickets for the full weekend start at $175 and go on sale tomorrow at noon.

Photo by Jesse Milns.

When Beyonce comes to town, she slays... a $3,500 bill at Caplansky's that is. Queen Bey was in town for her Formation tour last night and after playing a two-hour set at the Rogers Centre, she re-fuelled with the deli's famous Montreal-style smoked meat sandwiches.

Instead of filling up on knishes or latke poutine, Queen Bey and her entourage went straight for the good stuff. As Fader reports, the massive order was 99 per cent smoked meat - who needs kale when you can eat meat?

This unexpected Caplansky's endorsement arrived at an opportune time because the local deli is just starting to expand across Canada. Along with locations at Pearson Airport, there's now a Caplansky's in Yorkville.

Photo by Jesse Milns.

Part pet store, part cafe, this new concept is totally unique. You'll find coffee for humans on the menu along with freshly prepared pet food, treats and other essentials for all your favourite family members.

Read my profile of Tom & Sawyer in the services section.

The best vinyl record stores in Toronto continue to enjoy the resurgence of album as a physical object, complete with wall-worthy cover art and liner notes. It's been at least over two decades since the record shops were as robust as they are in this city, and the pay-off for consumers is excellent selection across a variety of genres that not so long ago would have required a visit to Ebay.

Here are the best vinyl record stores in Toronto.

Writing by Luke Corrado.

White water rafting can be the ultimate adventure escape from Toronto. Close to the city, the best time to hit the rapids is when the snow melts in early spring, but if you're willing to drive a few hours, there are some wild rides out there waiting to be mastered. Most rivers that boast navigable rapids are services by tour companies that offer instruction and equipment rentals to making planning easier.

Here's a round-up of 5 white water rafting adventures near Toronto.

Nith River
The best spot for white water rafting within a short distance of Toronto is the Nith River, a tributary of the Grand. It's about an hour or so away near Kitchner and has some excellent rapids to traverse, but the catch is that it's only raft-able during the annual snow melt in spring (i.e March-April) and after heavy rainfalls in the summer.

Grand River
If the idea of gently floating along is as appealing as bouncing over rapids, a trip down the Grand River is worth a try. While there aren't many difficult sections, you will get to encounter some white water to keep the blood flowing, and tours can take up to five hours, which is epic in its own right.

Gull River
Home to the Minden Wild Water Preserve, one of the venues for the 2015 Pan Am Games, the Gull River offers some excellent rapids for experienced kayakers. You can't, however, just go and plop down in the water if you're a beginner. The course is too challenging for that. Take classes at the nearby Boatwerks, which teaches white water classes on the Gull River.

Madawaska Kanu Centre
If you want to immerse yourself in the world of white water - be it in a kayak, canoe or raft - this lodge and instruction centre on the Madawaka River is one of the best places to do it. There's a huge number of options suited for beginners to enthusiasts looking to hone their skills. Plus the resort itself makes for a rustic but well equipped vacation.

River Run Rafting and Wilderness Resort
Located on the Ottawa River, River Run Rafting offers a white water experience that's probably similar to what you've seen on television shows, with quick rapids and a raft full of people looking like they're having the time of their lives as they careen down a river. With 12 people to a boat, the experience is actually well suited to beginners even as trip down the river is thrilling and wet.

What did I miss? Add your suggestions in the comments.

Photo via River Run Rafting.

The top wineries in Ontario are concentrated in the Niagara and Prince Edward County regions and responsible for producing some of the finest Riesling, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Cabernet Franc in the world. Those aren't the only grapes that have success in this province, but they do tend to makeup the lion's share of our best bottles, which are now internationally recognized for their quality.

Here's a round-up of some of the top wineries in Toronto.

Thirty Bench
One of the flagship properties on the Beamsville Bench, this winery produces excellent Riesling and Cabernet Franc (which is often blended with other varietals) from old vines that show off the potential that this microclimate has to produce complex wines with healthy minerality. Bonus points for an excellent visitor experience.

Hidden Bench
Established by Harald Thiel over a decade ago now, Hidden Bench makes only high quality wines in low qualities in an effort to do justice to the Beamsville Bench. There are a number of varietals planted here, but the Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are standouts. That said, their Nuit Blanche wine, a white Bordeaux blend, is legendary among wine geeks.

Fielding Estate
Fielding Estate should be commended for its cheerful "Fireside" white blend, which offers surprising quality at under $15. If you're looking for more complexity, the winery's single white varietals are also highly recommended, including Riesling and Gewurztraminer. On the red side of things, Fielding makes one of Ontario's best cabernet blends.

Norman Hardie
It's all about the Burgundian varietals at this Prince Edward County trailblazer. Part of the region's reputation for making top notch Pinot is built on Hardie's wines, which aim to express the unique character of this cool weather climate.

Closson Chase
One of Prince Edward County's oldest producers, Closson Chase only offers Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, both of which express the limestone rich soil that marks these vineyards. It's amazing to think that the winery is less than 20 years old given the quality that it's now known for.

Five Rows
The quintessence of a boutique wine, Five Rows wine comes from two vineyards planted predominantly with Pinot Noir. There are five other varietals that come in quantities of about a 100 cases per year including Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, and Riesling.

Stratus
Everything about Stratus screams quality, from the slick tasting room to the stately branding, but the wine must stand on its own apart from such things, which it most certainly does. It's not cheap, but Stratus aims to make complex blended wines worthy of age and special occasion enjoyment.

Leaning Post
If you ever doubt that the Niagara region is capable of producing world class Pinot Noir, uncork a bottle of Leaning Post and be amazed at the almost cherry cola-like palate of this wine. The 2010 vintage is outstanding.

Charles Baker
Charles Baker turns out some of the finest Riesling in the province, which is a good thing because that's all this boutique label produces in conjunction with Stratus. These are fantastic small-batch wines.

Karlo Estates
Another Prince Edward County Winery, Karlo bucks the trend here by splitting its focus on a diverse set of varietal including rare-for-Ontario plantings of Sangiovese and Petit Verdot. The results are intriguing and often outstanding.

Tawse
Tawse is another winery that capitalizes on the micro climate and limestone-rich soil of the Beamsville Bench to turn out excellent Riesling and surprisingly lush Cabernet. The 2011 Van Bers Vineyard Cabernet Franc is one of the best expressions of this grape that you'll encounter in the province.

Le Clos Jordanne
More than a few people would say that Le Clos Jordanne is Niagara's preeminent producers of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, both of which are early ripening grapes well-suited to the local climate, which the winemakers here believe is a foil for Burgundy.

13th Street
13th Street has vineyards all around the Vineland region, which manifest in blends as well as single varietals. If there's a signature wine here, I'd say it's the Syrah, which isn't a common grape in the region but still shines under the stewardship of winemaker Jean-Peirre Colas.

Cave Spring
Bigger isn't necessarily better when it comes to winemaking, but a production as well established as Cave Spring has some advantages, including mature wines that produces lovely Riesling. The Cabernet Franc and Chardonnay are also worthy of praise.

Reif Estate
One of the older wine operations in Niagara, Reif boasts an array of plantings across the region from Gewurztraminer to Merlot and much in between. Their "First Growth" series, which features low yield wines from the estate's oldest vines, is worth the investment for a sample of the quality that Niagara is capable of.

Share your favourite Ontario wineries in the comments.

Photo of Closson Chase vineyards.

For some of the city's best fish tacos, head to this tiny spot in Kensington Market. You may have to wait in line, but it'll all be worth it once you stuff your face with the Gobernador filled with house-smoked tuna, shrimp and cheese.

Read my profile of Seven Lives in the restaurants sections.

BBQ brisket in Toronto can be found at some of the city's best barbecue joints and smokehouses. These tender slabs of meat are cooked with care for hours at a time and don't need to be devoured on a bun. Whether you like it sauced up or au natural, these restaurants are the spots to visit for your brisket fix.

Here are my picks for the top places to get BBQ brisket in Toronto.

Adamson Barbecue
Toronto food truck Stoke Stack BBQ has gone bricks and mortar. This BBQ joint found by Bayview and Leaside serves up their brisket ($7 1/4 lbs., $22 1lbs.) encrusted in salt and spices.

Barque Smokehouse
Roncesvalles favourite smokehouse does their brisket for 12 hours, before making it available in a 4oz portion for $8 and a 7oz portion for $13. It's also available in their platter for four ($99), which they call the ultimate BBQ meat experience.

The Carbon Bar
This Southern-inspired eatery on Queen East serves up USDA Prime Beef Brisket ($23) on its own and in their Pit Master Platter ($30 per person) accompanied by pork ribs, buttermilk fried chicken, pickles and french fries.

Hogtown Smoke
Here's another food truck gone bricks and mortar. Hogtown Smoke does a lot of things well, but their brisket is a must-try. Their signature smoked brisket ($24 1/2 lbs., $38 1lbs.) is served alongside a choice of two sides. I'd opt for the root beer baked beans and creamy slaw.

Smoque N' Bones
Smoque N' Bones brings Southern hospitality to West Queen West. Their stacked menu of BBQ eats includes some delectable beef brisket. For $8.90 you can get 1/4 lbs, it's a 1/2 lbs. for $12.90 and you can pig out on a pound for $27.90.

Greenwood Smokehouse BBQ
Among the meaty offerings you'll discover at this Danforth and Pape restaurant, their brisket is one of the best. It's available a la carte for $14. The order consists of tender wood-smoked beef with Memphis BBQ sauce and caramelized onions.

What did I miss? Add your favourite place to eat BBQ brisket in the comments.

Photo of Hogtown Smoke by Jesse Milns.

Walk-up windows are awesome and I wish Toronto had more of them. Whether you're grabbing a bite with your pooch or you're just super serious about perfecting your tan, these establishments will serve you without ever making you step inside.

White Squirrel
This espresso bar across from Trinity Bellwoods is majorly appreciated by every park-going, coffee-drinking dog owner in Toronto.

Bobbie Sue's
For those moments when you're just way too drunk to walk into any respectable establishment, this all-mac 'n cheese shop just off Ossington has got you. Just step right up.

Sweet Jesus (Riverside)
You know that feeling of wanting to spend every possible second of summer outside? This soft serve window on Queen East understands and they're serving up monstrous twisty cones to the sidewalk.

The Pie Commission (Etobicoke)
No need to go inside to get your butter chicken pie fix. Head to the back of this factory outlet in Etobicoke to find the walk-up window serving hungry customers.

Casa Acoreana Coffee
Counter culture in Kensington is alive and kicking. This long-established coffee bar on Augusta is a local fave for lattes, chit-chat and prime people-watching patio seats.

Share your favourite walk-up windows in the comments.

Lead photo from Bobbie Sue's by Jesse Milns

Indulgent burgers in Toronto sometimes come with a hefty price tag. Others let you devour an ungodly number of calories. These burgers are next level and feature premium toppings, like truffles or foie gras, or they're stacked so high that you'll barely be able to stretch your fingers around the bun.

Here are the most indulgent burgers in Toronto.

The Holy Duck at Holy Chuck's
The local burger chain is home to this decadent creation featuring a single beef patty topped with a slab of seared foie gras, double-smoked bacon, white truffle oil, maple syrup and freshly shaved white truffles for good measure.

The Canadiana at Shamrock Burgers
At $12.99, this burger won't break the bank, but by eating you'll exceed your caloric intake for the day, and maybe even for the week. The 8-ounce patty comes on a bun with saucy pulled pork, peameal bacon, strip bacon, crispy fried onions and poutine.

The Double Jackpot at Toma Burger Addiction
On Queen West, ultra luxe toppings like foie gras, truffle mayo, cremini mushrooms, caramelized onions, double smoked bacon, swiss cheese, arugula, balsamic glaze and truffle oil all land on this burger built on a soft, fluffy house-baked milk bun.

The Frenchie Burger at Cafe Boulud
World-renowned chef Daniel Boulud does his take on the American classic with this 7-ounce burger ($25) dressed with Morbier cheese, dijon mustard, pork belly, tomato-onion compote and arugula on a black pepper bun.

The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse at Burger's Priest
Instead of buns, two grilled cheese sandwich surround two patties and two panko-crusted cheese-stuffed mushrooms with all the fixins' on this secret-menu monstrosity.

The Double Pancake Pork Burger at Lisa Marie
Visit during the day to experience this brunch burger ($17) like no other. This massive morning feast features two 4-ounce pork burger patties stacked between pancake buns topped with lettuce, cheese and tomatoes and served with a side of maple syrup to douse over top.

The Classic at Bymark
A $38 burger better be indulgent. This creation from Mark McEwan's Financial District restaurant features Brie de Meaux, shaved truffles and grilled porcini mushrooms atop an 8-ounce beef patty.

The Bombolone Burger at Bar Buca
This rare beef and lardo burger ($14) is somewhat refined compared some of the beasts on this list. Even still, this is one crave-worthy creation dressed in rosemary olive oil zabaglione and topped with cured tomatoes and radicchio.

Surf & Turf Burger at Smash Kitchen & Bar
For a seafood topped burger ($19), head to Markham where this double patty is layered along with a deep fried seafood cake and topped with cheddar cheese, tomatoes, lettuce, and basil aioli.

The House Burger at La Societe
You'd expect to find luxurious burgers near Mink Mile in Yorkville. Caramelized onions, truffles and gruyere are what puts this burger ($23) over the top.

Thanks to Budweiser for sponsoring this post.

Photo from Shamrock Burgers by Jesse Milns.

Secret beaches in and around Toronto offer a reprieve from the crowds that you'll find at Woodbine and on the Islands in the summer. From quiet spring-fed lakes to windswept shores beside hulking power plants, there's a host of relatively unknown beaches around the city that offer the perfect hot weather day trip.

Here are 7 secret beaches to seek out in and around Toronto.

Marie Curtis
Surely the most under-appreciated of Toronto's official beaches, Marie Curtis Park is a breath of fresh air if you're used to crowds that flock to Woodbine and the Scarborough Bluffs in the summer. It's a relatively short stretch of sand, but it's nicely secluded from the rest of the city.

50 Point Beach
Tucked away near Hamilton, 50 Point Beach offers a stunning view of Toronto in the background, but also a lovely protected beach that never gets super busy based on the other options in the area (e.g. Beach Park). Water temperatures here are consistently some of the warmest in Lake Ontario.

Christie Lake Conservation Area
Christie Lake can get busy on mid-summer weekends, but it still feels like a hidden place tucked away in a conservation area in Dundas, Ontario. In the past the water was chlorinated to keep bacteria levels down, but that practice ended five years ago when it became clear that the lake didn't require such treatment. It's now a far nicer place to swim.

Cedar Beach
Located on the spring-fed Musselman Lake in Stouffville, this beach offers excellent swimming in wonderfully clean water. Most of the waterfront here is privately owned, but access to Cedar Resort is cheap and easy, which gets you to this sandy beach just 40 minutes from Toronto.

Frenchman's Bay
Surely one of the strangest beaches in the province, Frenchman's Bay sits right beside the Pickering Nuclear Station. The beach itself is also intriguing in that it forms a barrier between Lake Ontario and the bay after which it's named, making it a shallow sandy strip in the midst of the huge landscape that surrounds it. It's rather stunning if you can believe it.

Jack Darling Memorial Park
Sometimes it pays to drive a little bit out of the city for your beach experience. Located at the southern tip of Mississauga, Jack Darlin Memorial Park faces the Toronto skyline but it feels a world away as the rustic beach is never crowded and a great place to camp out for a disruption-free day.

Tottenham Conservation Area
The sandy beach at this mostly hidden conservation area stretches just over 100 metres alongside a small lake that reaches comfortably swimmable temperatures in late spring. The ample grassy areas beyond the beach also make this an ideal place to picnic between dips in the water.

What did I miss? Share your favourite secret beach in the comments.

Photo by ulla in the blogTO Flickr pool.

North York has some of Toronto's most beautiful parks, many of which were formerly private estates donated to the city around the turn of the 20th century. The lower density of this former borough means that green spaces tend to be large and less manicured than you find closer to downtown. There are also excellent sporting facilities to be found here including soccer fields and cricket pitches.

Here are my picks for the top parks in North York.

Sunnybrook Park
This is a park that absolutely buzzes with activity on summer weekends, as families get together for sprawling barbecues, cricket matches take place on three different fields, cyclists zip along the gently curving roads, and horseback riders trot along on their steeds. It's a park that has it all.

Downsview Dells
The nearby Downsview Urban Park tends to get all the press, but it's the Dells where all the scenery is at. This, in fact, is one of Toronto's most picturesque parks with wetlands, bike trails, and a natural setting along Black Creek that seems wholly separated from the urban environment in which it's embedded. The fire pits are a nice touch as well.

G Ross Lord Park
This massive park is for the sports lovers out there. In addition to three soccer fields, there's also a couple of cricket pitches and an extensive network of bike trails. There's less lush terrain here than other parks on this list, but that's because this green space is designed for more than just hiking and picnicking.

Windfields Park
One of the city's most underrated parks, Windfields connects to the Canadian Film Centre, which is probably one of the best places in all of Toronto to plan a secluded picnic on a weekend. There's hardly ever anyone around. Windfields itself is a valley surrounding Wilket Creek that's also quiet and picturesque, though there's tennis courts and a community centre at its easterly edge.

Edward's Gardens
One of the most beautiful places in Toronto, Edwards Gardens features beautiful flower beds as well as scenic bridges, mature oak trees, a rock garden, and ravine trails. Yes, it gets very busy on weekends from spring to fall, but just go in the morning to enjoy the place without throngs of other visitors.

What did I miss? Add your favourite North York parks in the comments.

Photo of Sunnybrook Park by Ilona in the blogTO Flickr pool.

Free events in Toronto this week are so cool, I could write a short novel about them. There's Ojibway singer-songwriter Nick Sherman who you cannot miss (and he's playing during your lunch hour!) and the month-long Chroma Lives art project. So many great artists have come together to create an amazing, interactive, historical-yet-new-age art project and installation.

Here's what to do in Toronto this week if all you've got is lint in your pockets.

Nick Sherman (May 30)
Lunchtime live at Yonge and Dundas is a free music series, and this week they present Ojibway singer-songwriter Nick Sherman. This guy is worth checking out. Great voice, beautiful lyrics and a guitar.

Craft Beer Passport launch (June 1)
Imagine a passport that gets you $2 (near) pints of beer all over the city? What a wonderful lager loving fantasy that would be. Oh wait! It does exist! This is the launch party. There's no admission charge for the big bash, which includes DJs and door prizes, but you'll have throw down the odd toonie for beer.

Chroma Lives (June 1-30)
With an opening reception on Friday, June 3, this is an exhibition and archive project that reenacts Toronto' s 1983 exhibition Chromaliving: New Designs for Living. It's hard to explain in one sentence, but this is a month-long, living art project with some amazing local talent not-to-be-missed!

Sharing Dance Day (June 3)
Canada's National Ballet School hosts a day of dance and performance at Yonge and Dundas Square. Jully Black, KasheDance, and Gadfly perform alongside free ballet, street dance and Afro-Caribbean dance classes.

Riverside Eats & Beats (June 4)
10 vibrant blocks between the Don Valley Parkway to just past Degrassi Street on Queen Street East host their annual street festival. There's lots of local food, live music, street dancing and workshops on tap from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.

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

Photo of Nick Sherman from Nick Sherman's website.

The top concerts in Toronto for June are interspersed among a jumble of festivals - Field Trip, Bestival, Luminato Unsound and TD Toronto Jazz Festival will grab most of the headlines this month, but there are still other shows worthy of your attention.

All eyes are on the makeover of NXNE, and though the pared-down lineup is devoid of free gigs and generally meh, let's not bury the obvious lede: it contains a reunited Prozzäk. Buzz Records however is hosting a cool NXNE alternative called No Fest, with labelmates performing alongside the likes of Chastity Belt and Speedy Ortiz. Imagine, a rock fest with female headliners!

Aside from that, here are my picks for the top concerts to check out this month.

Wolf Eyes and Nadja (June 3, Garrison)
Detroit noise giants Wolf Eyes will make their first pit stop in Toronto in five years alongside some wonderfully weird Canadian-born company. Experimental expats Nadja, Winnipeg's Burden and our own Doom Tickler join the fracas at the Garrison.

I Mother Earth (June 3-4, Phoenix)
Yet another 20th anniversary album party is here to make us feel old, though this one's a bit  unexpected. Original frontman Edwin, whose falling out with the IME crew always seemed fairly permanent, rejoins the group to pay Scenery and Fish tribute for two nights only.

The Pack A.D. (June 4, Lee's Palace)
The loud Vancouver duo are gearing up to release sixth full-length Positive Thinking, an album they say thematically hinges on the whole making lemons out of lemonade thing - no Beyoncé relation, although, the singer's name isBecky...hope I'm starting a wild rumour right here.

Brand New (June 9-10, Sound Academy)
Still no new album announcement, but standalone singles and surprise tours continue to trickle out in painfully teasing fashion from your favourite alt-emo dudes. Hit up Brand New's TO shows to investigate both what they're up to currently and whether Sound Academy really is less horrible now.

Florence and the Machine (June 10, Molson Amphitheatre)
Roughly a year out from her headlining Bestival appearance and the release of How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful, Florence Welch returns to Toronto, this time fully healed any playing the Amphitheatre.

Grandmaster Flash (June 18, Velvet Underground)
After cancelling last-minute at the final House of Vans pop-up, legendary DJ and victim of elderly Facebook tags Grandmaster Flash has scheduled a make-up date at the Velvet Underground.

Ellie Goulding (June  19, ACC)
The pop powerhouse from across the pond has been on a massive world tour for third LP Delirium all year, and will finally touch down in Toronto with Matt and Kim at the ACC.

Modern Baseball (June 19, Opera House)
The last time MoBo was in town, I saw their set get dramatically cut short when a tiny girl was knocked unconscious in the pit and removed via stretcher. I don't know if the band knows how much more insane Opera House shows have been since then, but they've at least set up a hotline in the interest of safer shows. Now please, mosh gently, children.

Against Me! (June 22, Phoenix)
The influential punk band's got a busy year ahead with a new album on the way and Laura Jane Grace penning her own memoir, but they're still managing to squeeze as much touring as humanly possible into the packed schedule.

Flag and DOA (June 23, Lee's Palace)
Fans of old-school hardcore, ready your denim vest patches: Flag, the Black Flag splinter that many argue is more like the original than Greg Ginn's current version, comes to demolish Lee's with DOA. War on Women and The Dirty Nil are along for the ride.

At the Drive-In (June 23-24, Phoenix)
Though it's not the perfect reunion we envisioned, At the Drive-In's return is definitely real and happening. Get out all the aggression you've repressed since 2000's Relationship of Command over two nights at the Phoenix.

Primitive Man (June 26, Coalition: T.O)
Kick off the first week of summer by getting your ears righteously obliterated at a DIY in Kensington. Doomy sludge masters Primitive Man headline, but the entire bill is stellar: see ex-Gaza guys Cult Leader, blackened hardcore Of Feather and Bone and locals IRN and John XII.

What did I miss? Leave your June concert picks in the comments.

Photo by Matt Forsythe.