The newly opened snack bar is serving up tea-infused cocktails along with an eclectic line-up of Asian fusion snack food.

Read my profile of Te in the restaurants section.

Outdoor places to stay cool in Toronto let you experience the best of both worlds. Camping out in air conditioning on the hottest days of the year is a good way to miss summer altogether, so the key is knowing where to head outside that won't turn you into the human version of a melting popsicle.

Here are some outdoor places to stay cool in Toronto.

Leslie Street Spit
Something remarkable happens when you head far out onto the Leslie Street Spit on a hot day. The further you get from the mainland, the more comfortable it seems. It's not just the ample breeze. As the spit juts out into the lake, you can easily feel the effect of the water temperature, which makes it feel a few degrees cooler.

Sheraton Centre Pool
The Sheraton Centre is swimmable the entire year. That means on a hot spring day when the lake is too cold to dare wade into and most city-run pools have yet to be filled with water, you can alternate between sunbathing and refreshing dips. The only catch is that public access in $95 a month. Looking for a one-off option? Try the Hyatt-Regency. It's $39 for a day pass.

David Balfour Park
With one of the deepest ravines in the city, David Balfour Park provides one of the best ways to get outdoors without being exposed to the power of the sun's rays. The tree canopy here is thick enough that you can conceivably hide from the sun for hours. The depth of the ravine also keeps it cool, particularly in the morning.

The patio at Amsterdam Brewhouse
Located right on the water, this patio benefits from the cool lake temperatures and ample umbrellas for shade. Naturally it can get busy on summer weekends, but the best bet is to set up shop in the late morning and ride out the afternoon with a prime spot that benefits from the lake breeze. A similar situation can be had at Against the Grain by Corus Quay.

Humber Bay East
Both sides of Humber Bay Park jut out into the water for a nice breeze and the cooling effect of the lake, but the eastern park has way more mature trees for shade. Find a lake-facing spot under some foliage and you have one of the best picnic spots in the city.

Rotary Peace Park Pool
All of Toronto's outdoor public pools are great places to cool down when the mercury rises, but this west end pool takes the cake because it's consistently crowd-free. If throngs of people make you feel cramped and over-heated you won't have to worry about that here.

Marie Curtis Beach
It's not too often that you find a beach that boasts ample shade in the afternoon, and that's why Marie Curtis is such a desirable place to be in the midst of hot and sticky weather. This is a small, somewhat protected beach landscape-wise, so the breeze off the lake isn't super strong here, but it hardly matters when you've escaped the sun.

Grenadier Pond
Located at the southern tip of High Park, Grenadier Pond benefits from shores with tons of mature trees and its proximity to the big lake, which offers a couple of degrees of relief without even factoring in the impact of the breeze.

The Four Seasons Mist Garden
There is nothing quite so refreshing as being hit with a cool spray of mist on a scorcher of a day. Fortunately, there's a publicly accessible place where you can have this experience in Toronto. The Four Seasons mist garden is a small plot of land in Yorkville, but if you're in the area when it's hot out, relief awaits.

Hanlan's Point Beach
The best way to stay cool is to shed as many layers of clothing as possible, right? Well, you can't do better than a clothing optional beach in this capacity. Even if you're a bit shy, Hanlan's can be one of the coolest places in the city when the breeze is coming from the west (the direction the beach faces).

What did I miss? Add your favourite outdoor spots to cool down in the comments.

Photo of Against the Grain by Jesse Milns.

The top free events in Toronto this June make it easy for you to dance, eat, read and shop - all without bringing your wallet. I mean, bring it just in case you want to buy something, but no one will judge you if you don't have cards or cash on you.

Pride Month (June 1-31) (Various)
This year, Pride takes over the city for an entire month! That's a lot of gay. There are loads of ticketed events like the Bruce LaBruce launch party at AGO First Thursdays on June 2, but in addition to that, there is a human rights panel with Margaret Atwood, Dancing on the Pier with a gay flamenco dance show at Harbourfront, and a light parade on Ossington.

Afex Festival (June 12-18) (Various)
There are only two days with ticketed events at the 2nd annual African Experience Festival, and that's June 12 and 14. Otherwise, the entire thing is free, and it's pretty amazing. A photo exhibit, youth conference, soccer game and street festival on the final day.

Toronto Jazz Fest Free Friday (June 21) (Various)
Toronto Jazz Fests has a free-for-all Friday lineup for the Motown gods! Smokey Robinson and Martha Reeves and Vandellas perform in Nathan Phillips Square at 8pm. No admission fee. Jazz shows across the city are also free that day.

Toronto Art Book Fair (June 16-19) (Artscape Youngplace)
Celebrating print culture, in its most beautiful forms, it's the first ever Art Book Fair featuring national and international vendors, curated exhibitions, and community programming including a speakers series and workshops.

Junction Summer Solstice Festival (June 18) (The Junction)
Celebrate the longest day of the year from noon until midnight in the Junction with shows, workshops, laneway tours and a late-night projection show.

Toronto Etsy Midsummer Market (June 18) (Campbell House Museum)
Crafts, workshops, tutorials, snacks inside and outside of the Campbell House at Queen and Univeristy. A personal favourite, food jewelry by Candiware.

Day of Delight (June 19) (Dufferin Grove Park)
Join artists, puppeteers, actors, singers, circus performers and dancers as they frolic around Dufferin Grove park celebrating "courtship and desire." I think this means lots of people hanging from trees, flowing fabrics and kissy faces.

OM T.O. (June 19) (Distillery District)
A full day of free outdoor yoga in the Distillery District! Downward Dog your way around lost bridal parties as teachers from the city's top yoga studios from Moksha Yoga, Yoga Tree, The Yoga Sanctuary, Spynga, BeHot Yoga, Iam Yoga, Soghrati Yoga, Union Yoga and 889 Yoga teach and practice all over the place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Tape condition: Degraded (June 16- Sept 8) (Canadian Lesbian and Gay Archives)
Tape Condition: degraded is an immersive installation and community digitization station that engages with the CLGA's collection of more than 3,000 VHS tapes, about one-third of which are p0rn. The station is hidden behind a false wall. There's also a series of summer programs based around the station and a lot more.

Fresh City's Open Farm (June 26) (Downsview Park)
Free farm and greenhouse tours, a pop-up farmer's market, "farm flow yoga", live music and local beers and organic wine. Spend a day on the farm, in the city.

This week kicked off the remount of the Lemon Bucket Orkestra's 2015 Summerworks hit, Counting Sheep. Created by Mark and Marichka Marczyk, this self-described guerrilla folk opera is the retelling of the Marczyk's experience of the Maidan revolution.

The Maidan was a series of protests in 2013 and 2014 in Kiev, Ukraine, eventually leading to the overthrow of Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych. The events left approximately 780 people dead, many of whom were young adults.

The creators met in Kiev and interviewed protesters amidst their own participation in the events. The production was written later and developed with Toronto's own Lemon Bucket Orkestra.

The performance space at Broadview Place was set up with a long table in the middle that doubled as a stage, as well as seating around the perimeter for patrons who think they can just watch (however, sitting further away will not excuse you from getting involved in the production).

There were three large screens at the front of the space that introduced Counting Sheep by playing news broadcasts from Ukraine during the Maidan.

The story was told using multiple mediums; footage was shown on the screens, interspersed with information about the protests, Ukrainian songs were sung, realistic vignettes were excellently acted.

Instead of a narrative following one central character, the opera followed a group of protestors outfitted in sheep masks. It was intensely participatory, with very little of the production taking place with patrons sitting as an audience (though there was permanent seating for patrons with mobility issues).

Instead, patrons experienced snippets of life during the protests. We ate what protesters ate (borscht and pierogi), we danced at a wedding, we helped to build a barricade, and we mourned when a protester was murdered.

The entire 75-minute story was told without a single word of English being spoken. The text onscreen was English, but everything else- the songs, the small amount of dialogue- was all in Ukrainian.

Despite this, nothing was lost in translation. The intense emotion of the songs and the incredible acting clearly conveyed everything without the use of words. It's also worth noting the unique ways Counting Sheep used the space and minimal props to their advantage.

Every part of the set served multiple purposes and when a piece of the story can't tangibly exist in the space, they were able to recreate it so effectively, you would never know the difference.

For example, a bulldozer was created using a large snow shovel plus a group of players on instruments and using their voices to make what can only be describe as "bulldozer sounds".

If you had asked me what a "bulldozer sound" was prior to attending this show, I would have no idea, but upon seeing the bulldozer come to life, I now know precisely what a bulldozer sound is and it is exactly what they created.

Counting Sheep was an incredible experience. The story was intensely moving and it's told in such a beautiful, interesting way through multiple mediums, different experiences, and lots of interaction.

Like a revolutions, you don't just sit and watch - Counting Sheep happens all around you and you are called to participate.

Counting Sheep runs until June 5 with tickets from $25-40.

Photo by Hector Vasquez.

Today in Toronto there are a couple noteworthy concerts, but one especially from Australia's Courtney Barnett who recently conquered SNL with an incredible performance. Catch the Nobody Cares If You Don't Go To The Party singer now before world domination kicks in.

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

• Courtney Barnett (Danforth Music Hall)
• Water Music Concert 1 (Centre Island)
• Nick Sherman (Yonge Dundas Square)
• Nail and Champagne Bar pop-up (Schulz Make Up & Beauty Studio)
• Monday night sketch comedy (Comedy Bar)

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

Photo from Courtney Barnett's Instagram.

The top events in Toronto this June are big. Like, everyone seriously had a meeting and was like, in June 2016 let's blow what we used to do out of the water. This explains Pride Month, Luminato's Hearn takeover and Bestival's monstrous venue change, among many other new and improved touches to early-summer faves.

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

Pride Month (June 1 - 31)
Pride Toronto completely takes over the city for the entire month of June with parties, music, theatre, film, human rights panels and other generally fun stuff. From the second the flag is raised at city hall on May 31, to the moment Justin Trudeau becomes the first Prime Minister to ever march in the Pride Parade, this is the gem of the month.

Lulaworld Festival (June 1-11)
The greatest collection of live music from around the planet is collected and presented at Lula Fest, which takes place at, you guessed it, Lula Lounge. Starting with a bang on opening night the festival features salsa, timba, jazz, blues and more, every single night until June 11. Times vary.

Field Trip (June 4-5)
Field Trip is the best because it's so spacious, laid back, and the grass hasn't yet been trampled on by thousands of festival folk. A mix of art, comedy, food, drink but most importantly the bands. The National and Robyn headline this year, and here's what it looked like last year.

Toronto Festival of Clowns (June 8-12)
To some, the Festival of Clowns is their greatest nightmare come to life. To others it's a hilarious, over the top weekend of buffoonery. Check out the official website for a full rundown of performers. Personal highlights would be Monsieur Faux Pas' aha! and Love with Leila.

Toronto Japanese Film Festival (June 9-23)
This film festival features 24 films in a variety of formats and genres. I'm no expert in this genre but judging by the film schedule and this amazing trailer, things looks pretty cool.

Ontario Craft Beer Week (June 10-19)
This is a province-wide festival celebrating the thriving independent craft beer industry in Ontario. Thriving? More like thunderously exploding! Breweries include Left Field and High Park.

Bestival (June 11-12)
The minute Bestival announced their full line up, Toronto smiled. But when they announced they were heading off the Island and into a new location, they signed up. This wacky and massive music and arts festival is the one. Tame Impala, The Cure and Grimes will all headline.

NXNE (June 13-19)
Forget everything you know about NXNE. On June 17 and 18 they're throwing a weekend-long outdoor music festival where Schoolboy Q will headline. But don't worry, there are still shows scattered through the city from June 15-19 and a tech and gaming takeover at Yonge and Dundas Square.

Luminato (June 10-26)
Luminato became a billion times cooler this year with the announcement that they would take over a abandoned power plant on the waterfront. Now the 17-day festival is upon us and it's all happening under one roof. I'm especially excited for the Yes Yes Y'all X Dudebox party and the opening bash.

Design Forward (June 16)
A runway show extravaganza where "top Canadian fashion designers who have made a commitment to ethical practices, without sacrificing style." Criteria includes: Locally made , use of organic, sustainable, or recycled fabrics, etc and it all goes down inside the Artscape Sandbox on Adelaide W.

What did I miss? Add your top event picks for May in the comments.

Photo by Andrew Williamson.

Customizable pies are the focus at this new Toronto pizza joint where in addition to classic options like the Margherita you can also build your own dessert pizza slathered with Nutella, peanut butter chocolate and apple pie.

Read my profile of Pi Co in the restaurants section.

The best wheat and gluten-free restaurants in Toronto make it easy to eat deliciously despite dietary restrictions or intolerances. While many of these celiac-friendly establishments also promote vegetarian and vegan lifestyles, there are still a few options on this list with steak on the menu.

Here is the list of the best wheat and gluten free restaurants in Toronto.

Dreamed up by the folks behind KaKa All You Can Eat, this lab-themed restaurant is the first in Toronto to do Japanese fusion burgers, including the likes of the The Tonkatsu Pork Burger and the Teppanyaki Teriyaki Chicken Burger. This is mad food science at its best.

Read my profile of Teara Lab in the restaurants section.

The Artisan Waterfront Market debuted at Toronto's HTO Park this past weekend and will be back on select weekends throughout the summer (see the full schedule here). The outdoor event, sandwiched between the lake and the CN Tower, is free to attend includes a healthy mix of food and retail vendors.

Check out this photo gallery to see some of the tasty highlights.

If you're out and about on Yonge Street, you won't be able to indulge in a deliciously greasy piece of pizza anymore. That's because The Big Slice, one of Toronto's most popular late-night pizza joints, served its last pie this morning, reports CBC News.

According to CBC, The Big Slice closed to make way for a pair of condos. And it's not alone. As we previously reported, many nearby businesses are shutting down because Yonge Street's undergoing a massive transformation. It'll look a lot different within the next few years as new developments move into the area, mainly between Bloor and College.

Though if you got some Big Slice this past weekend, consider yourself lucky. So long, and thanks for all the 'za.

Photo by sevres babylone in the blogTO Flickr pool.

You'd never know it wasn't officially summer if you spent your Saturday at Echo Beach for the 2016 CBC Music Festival. Blue skies, 30 degree-plus temps, food trucks, expensive beer and a full day of music could've fooled anyone into thinking it was mid-July. Hey Rosetta, Alvvays and Whitehorse topped a stacked bill as attendees soaked up the sunny skies.

Check out all the action from CBC Music Fest 2016 in this photo gallery.

The Tragically Hip added four more dates to their Man Machine Poem summer tour, including an additional stop at Toronto's ACC on August 14.

Tickets for the first round of concerts sold out in minutes this morning, with many ending up on re-seller sites such as StubHub for up to $800.

If you weren't successful snagging tickets today, you can try again on Friday, June 3 at 10 a.m.

Last week, frontman Gord Downie went public with the fact that he'd been diagnosed with terminal brain cancer. Soon after, The Hip announced their summer tour. As Exclaim writes, a portion of all ticket proceeds will go towards the Sunnybrook Foundation.

Photo by Ryan Kelpin in the blogTO Flickr pool.

The first Pedestrian Sunday of the 2016 season brought droves of people out to Kensington Market yesterday. With a heat wave in full effect, many spent the day soaking up the sun, dancing in the streets, drinking beers on patios and sampling an abundance of food and unique frozen treats.

Check out all the action in this photo gallery from Pedestrian Sunday.

A weekend outing turned sour for a pair of shoppers at a Toronto-area Costco. According to CTV News, police are currently investigating an apparent brawl that went down in the parking lot at the wholesale company's Mississauga store.

Peel Police say the two couples were fighting over a parking spot. They exchanged obscenities before getting physical.

Thankfully, no one was seriously injured.

Photo by kayehm via the blogTO Flickr pool.

Today in Toronto there's a night market at the Gladstone specializing in vintage garb, but more importantly, it's the 400th edition of Art Battle at the newly renovated Great Hall. Artists will help put the finishing touches on the reno before the intense live painting competitions get underway.

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

• Comedy on College 1 Year anniversary (Pour Boy)
• Art Battle 400 (The Great Hall)
• Gladstone Boozaar night market (Gladstone Hotel)
• True Stories Told Live in Toronto (The Garrison)
• Symphony in the Gardens (Casa Loma)
• JEDx 2016

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

Photo courtesy of Art Battle Toronto.

If you want to see what $17.5 million looks like in the Toronto housing market, look no further than 16 Glen Edyth Place. The lavish property near Casa Loma, is over 5,000 square feet, boasting five bedrooms, 11 bathrooms, and a front foyer than could double as a ballroom.

The owner is David Daniels of the Daniels Corporation, one of the most prominent developers in the city. The 1930s era home has undergone extensive renovations to restore original features like the staircase and to make it more energy efficient.

The quiet cul-de-sac is different from other elite neighbourhoods like the flashy Yorkville or Bridle Path. Many of Toronto's rich and famous live comfortably here and go relatively unnoticed.

SPECS

• Address: 16 Glen Edyth Place
• Price: $17,500,000
• Lot Size: 130 x 233 FT
• Bedrooms: 5+1
• Bathrooms: 11
• Parking: 6
• Taxes: $67,248
• Walk Score: 90
• Listing agent: James Malloy, Chestnut Park
• Listing ID: C3498985

NOTABLE FEATURES

• Approx. 5,000 square feet
• Eco-conscious materials
• Terrazzo staircase with metal railing
• Stainless steel kitchen with two islands
• Master with double ensuites and walk-in closets
• Landscaped gardens
• Outdoor swimming pool

GOOD FOR

The very wealthy buyer. This luxury mini mansion will appeal to bankers and real estate types or perhaps a celebrity who has $17.5 million to spend. Maybe Drake wants to invest in another Toronto property?

MOVE ON IF

You need an indoor swimming pool. Sadly, this house is quite tame in terms of opulent Versailles-esque amenities. Throw in a moat, a putting green, or a custom Ferrari playroom and I'm sold.

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS
Will it sell for close to asking? Have your say in the comments.

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

This week on DineSafe, inspectors shut down Weston Pizza & Wings for failure to prevent an insect infestation. Also on the list with conditional passes for less severe infractions are Mo'Ramyun and Sumac Kitchen Kebab.

See which other restaurants landed on DineSafe this week.

Cafe La Gaffe (26 Baldwin Street)
Inspected on: May 24, 2016
Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
Number of infractions: 5 (Minor: 2, Significant: 3)
Crucial infractions include: N/A

La Prep (20 Adelaide Street)
Inspected on: May 25, 2016
Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
Number of infractions: 3 (Significant: 3)
Crucial infractions include: N/A

Tasty Falafel (2422 Bloor Street West)
Inspected on: May 25, 2016
Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
Number of infractions: 2 (Minor: 2, Significant: 1)
Crucial infractions include: N/A

Grossman's Tavern (377 Spadina Avenue)
Inspected on: May 26, 2016
Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
Number of infractions: 2 (Minor: 3, Significant: 2)
Crucial infractions include: N/A

Mo'Ramyun (1 Baldwin Street)
Inspected on: May 26, 2016
Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
Number of infractions: 4 (Minor: 2, Significant: 1, Crucial: 1)
Crucial infractions include: Operator fail to ensure food is not contaminated/adulterated.

Sumac Kitchen Kebab (287 Dundas Street West)
Inspected on: May 26, 2016
Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
Number of infractions: 6 (Minor: 2, Significant: 4)
Crucial infractions include: N/A

Weston Pizza & Wings (1239 Weston Road)
Inspected on: May 26, 2016
Inspection finding: Red (Closed)
Number of infractions: 2 (Significant: 1, Crucial: 1)
Crucial infractions include: Operator fail to prevent an insect infestation.

Caldense (337 Symington Avenue)
Inspected on: May 27, 2016
Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
Number of infractions: 5 (Minor: 2, Significant: 1, Crucial: 2)
Crucial infractions include: Operator fail to wash hands when required. Operator fail to maintain hazardous food(s) at 4C (40F) or colder.

Note: The above businesses each received infractions from DineSafe as originally reported on the DineSafe site. This does not imply that any of these businesses have not subsequently corrected the issue and received a passing grade by DineSafe inspectors. For the latest status for each of the mentioned businesses, including details on any subsequent inspections, please be sure to check the DineSafe site.

This hyper popular Korean restaurant doesn't get the acclaim of some of its more centrally located counterparts but there's no denying the homemade food here is among the most authentic in the city.

Read my profile of Cho Sun Ok in the restaurants section.

It's easy to fill up in front of Union Station thanks to the station's summer-long pop-up food market. But on June 18 and 19 it'll be even easier (and cheaper) to pig-out out at our city's transit hub.

That's because Luminato's throwing a Neighbourhood Food Festival on Front Street where 16 local restaurants will sell dishes for a cool $6. Parts & Labour will be on-site running the bar and DJs medicineman and Phil V will provide the tunes on June 18 and 19, respectively.

Along with eating and dancing your face off, you can see various chef demonstrations in presentations hosted by chef, speaker and activist Joshna Maharaj.

Entry's free, though you'll have to fork out cash if you want to eat. The Neighbourhood Food Festival will run from noon until 8 p.m. on June 18 and from noon to 6 p.m. on June 19.

I'd go hungry because you can expect to see food from:

• Hey Meatball
• Death in Venice Gelato
• Caplansky's
• Valdez (on June 19)
• The Rolling Pin
• My Little Dumplings
• Doug McNish
• Feast
• Khao San Road/Nana
• Le Petit Déjeuner
• Paintbox
• Hawthorne Food & Drink
• Providore Catering
• The Sweet Escape Patisserie
• Bespoke Butchers
• Royal York Hotel

Photo by Jesse Milns.