Free live music in Toronto this summer will make your head spin. All kinds of parks, streets, and a few back-alley garages will shut down to host music from right here at home to around the globe. Some of the free music events listed have seating, and that's cute and everything, but really good ones happen with enough space to let you rock your body.

So leave your cards on the counter and check out some free live music in Toronto this summer.

Music in St. James Park (June 2- September 1)
I don't know why, but the garden at St. James Park is one of the most lush areas in the whole city. Around this garden you can watch free music all summer long. From jazz to hip hop, reggae, Japanese drumming to salsa and indie pop. Just drop by any given Thursday at 7 p.m. to see what's up.

Dundas West Fest Concert (June 11)
The Dears, Neon Wave, Run with Kittens and a handful of other acts perform for free at the Lakeview Ave. stage from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. as part of Dundas West Fest. Or as I like to call it Fundas West Fest... or as my Portuguese neighbour likes to call it, grilled meat day.

Open Tuning (June 11)
The streets, garages, alleyways and porches of Seaton Village come alive with over 90 acts performing all types of musical genres. Participation is encouraged, so if you play something, bring it along; you'll probably be able to join in somewhere. Head to their site for artists and schedules.

Roncy Rocks (June 11)
Roncesvalles closes down for a day while bands and artists take over. There are live shows all day long until 8 p.m. with highlights being The Grapes Of Wrath and NQ Arbuckle.

Indie Fridays (June 24 - September 2)
Maybe the largest free summer music series in the city, Indie Fridays and Yonge and Dundas Square is curated by the folks at Massey Hall. Taking over the pedestrian zone every Friday at 8 p.m., the series boasts genres including hip hop, reggae, latin, soul and Francophone.

Summer Music in the Garden (June 30-September 18)
There are free classical and world music concerts every Thursday at 7 p.m. and and Sunday at 4 p.m. in the most gorgeous garden on our waterfront. There are benches around the concert zone, but screw that! Being a cozy blanket and some carefully disguised wine and relax.

Two-spirit Rainbow Pow Wow (July 1)
Part of Pride Toronto's weekend of crazy fun music and party programming, the two-spirit rainbow pow wow is a must-attend. From 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. at the TD Wellesley Stage, DJ Shub from a Tribe Called Red warms up the stage before Shawnee and then Juno award-winning duo Digging Roots perform.

Beaches Jazz Festival (July 2-24)
The Beaches Jazz Fest happens July 21-23, but it's such a popular festival they've pretty much taken over the month of July. Kicking off with a full weekend of Salsa, Woodbine Park hosts most shows, but there are stages all around the area every weekend of this summer month, all for free.

Blockorama (July 3)
Another Pride stage highlight, this one all the way Barbados, is soca queen Alison Hinds! Surrounded by a sick lineup of DJs and Alabama's fiercest cheerleading squad, the Prancing Elites, this is a free show, but get there early because it'll fill up fast.

AfroFest (July 9-10)
Though the lineup hasn't been announced yet, Afrofest is always a guaranteed great two-days of free, highly energetic and powerful shows and performers. It's the largest free African Music Festival in North America and last year's lineup included Kassan, Emmanuel Jal and a full-out drum zone.

Franco Fete (July 10-24)
Francophone folks takeover Yonge and Dundas Square for their annual celebration near Bastille Day. The lineup hasn't been announced yet, but it's usually a collection of the finest French pop, rock, hip hop and "world" music from the past year.

Ritmo & Color (July 15-17)
Shinning the spotlight on Mexico, this Latin-flavoured music fest is down by the water, surrounded by amazing food and features headliners Mamselle, Astrid Hadad and Centavrvs.

Edwards Gardens Summer music series (June 23-August 25)
This is a series of 10 concerts taking place at the Botanical Garden. These concerts go down rain or shine, and there's food and drink available. Fun acts include Club Django, Persian 4-piece Baarbad Ensemble and the Imbayakunas.

Beats, Breaks and Culture (August 5-7)
This free-music beast is geared towards those who really like to get down. Celebrating hip hop and electronic music culture, performers include the Jungle Brothers, Sinkane and 9-piece hip hop troupe Dirty B-Sides. Shows happen 9:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.

Did I miss any free live music in Toronto events? Shame on me. Tell us about it in the comments.

Photo by Matt Forsythe.

The top markets and pop-up shops in Toronto this June get a solid A-grade for variety. Food, eco-friendly fashion, custom t-shirt parties, and one-night-only live recreations of violent paintings are all on the docket. There's plenty to see and do during these early summer weeks.

Here are my picks for the top markets and pop-ups in Toronto this June.

The Base Adidas Pop-up (June 3-July 10)
Adidas launches an interactive pop up shop celebrating Euro Cup. The Base (at 584 College Street) is a viewing lounge and retail store at 584 College Street featuring on-site jersey printing. This one's for the soccer fanatics.

teALCHEMY (June 3-17)
Setting up shop at 93 Bloor Street West, this is a pop up for tea lovers. They are loose tea and matcha specialists, but will also have healthy snacks on offer as well.

Triumph of Death pop-up (June 6)
Probably my favourite pop up shop this month is a recreation of artist Bruegel the Elder's The Triumph of Death. It's one of the most violent paintings in the history of Western art, and you participate along with craft beers and a skeleton army playing period-specific instruments like the lute and the hurdy-gurdy.

Eco Pop-up Show and Tell (June 9)
This pop-up is all about local DJs, socially conscious goods and brands, beverages from Greenhouse Juice Co. and snacks from The Good Grain.

Kingston Pop-up (June 10-12)
This pop-up is a chance to browse and shop the offerings of Kingston Ontario's artisans and makers, sample their hottest foods and enjoy some craft brew from Stone City Ales, MacKinnon Brothers Brewing Company, and Skeleton Park Brewery. There will also be live music. It goes down at 12 Ossington Ave from noon to 10 p.m.

Summer Sixteen Pop-up Market (June 11)
Shop around from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. with brands like Maison 6ix, By Chance, Povrich Apparel and TOFU Toronto alongside music by DJ Wyette and cocktails.

Hello Happy Market (June 12)
Originally from Vancouver, this cute pop-up market showcases bright, modern Canadian design objects. You'll have a chance to shop, meet the local craft makers and all just for $2 entry.

Clutch Life 85 Summer party and Pop-up (June 17)
For the t-shirt enthusiasts, Clutch Life 85's pop up includes music, a tee bar with custom t-shirt printing and design happening all night. From 9 p.m. 3 a.m., so you'll have clothing for an outfit change through the night if you need.

Field of Dreams Market (June 18)
In support of the Jays Care Foundation, this market happens behind Honest Ed's. It's pay-what-you-can to get into this jam with local food and art vendors and Jays ticket giveaways.

Etsy Midsummer Market (June 18)
Here you'll find crafts, workshops, tutorials, snacks, all around the Campbell House at University and Queen. Admission to this market is free and the first 50 people get a swag bag. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Leslieville Flea (June 19)
The Leslieville Flea happens the third Sunday of every month and features over 60 vendors selling vintage, furniture, antiques, collectables, and crafts. It's kind of like the anti-garage sale, 'cause you'll be going home with stuff instead of leaving it out on the lawn. 10 a.m to 5 p.m. with beer from Left Field.

Waterfront Artisan Market(June 18-19)
This huge market on the waterfront is back for the second instalment of the summer. My personal summer fave Angie's Ice Pops will be there, along with over 50 other food and art vendors. Here are 18 of the best eats at the market.

Trinity Bellwoods Flea (June 18)
This massive market is in support of Toronto Etsy vendors. From 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., you'll find fun, local, handmade goods, vintage, fashion and food from Steambox Dumpling and Chocollata Gourmet.

Liberty Village Art Crawl (June 11)
The massive Liberty Village art crawl doubles as an artist's market with 65 artists showing off their finest, food trucks and DJs. 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Pixel & Bristle (June 25)
For those of us who miss the good old days of print, this is a market at the Drake Underground that brings together the city's finest designers, illustrators and typographers. Admission is free and you'll find loads of unique prints, cards, signs, coasters, art, bags, and more.

What did I miss? Add more May markets and pop-ups in the comments.

Photo of the Artisan Waterfront Market by Hector Vasquez

This bike shop has made locals around Dovercourt Village happy for more than five years. Now it's taken its community-driven approach to a busy cycle route southeast of the original shop, where it'll likely garner a whole lot more attention for its excellent service, fair prices, and enthusiastic staff.

Find out more in my profile of Riders Cycle and Board.

National Donut Day is June 3 and local bakeries are offering sweet deals to celebrate. As an annual tradition since 1938, this event is about more that just devouring honey crullers and beignets. The Salvation Army first established National Donut Day to honour the Donut Lassies who handed out treats to soldiers during World War I.

Here's how you can mark National Donut Day in Toronto.

Jelly Modern Doughnuts
All locations are participating by giving away free vanilla glazed mini donuts filled with chocolate pastry cream. Donuts decorated with happy faces will also be on sale with 10 per cent going to the Salvation Army. Contests in store will give you the chance to win donuts for a year.

SanRemo
The Italian bakery in Etobicoke is whipping up special flavours for the big day. Find Lucky Charms, strawberry shortcake and s'mores donuts available while quantities last.

The Rolling Pin
This bakeshop is going all out on Donut Day by offering special flavours like a s'mores funnel cake, Station Cold Brew and toasted oatmeal, bourbon ginger peach pie and dulce de leche crullers to name just a few. Pre-orders are encouraged.

Glory Hole Doughnuts
This Parkdale donut shop is still finessing the details for its Donut Day celebrations, but expect an abundance of deep-fried delicacies, along with cold brew coffee floats, in store.

Through Being Cool Vegan Baking Co.
Celebrate the sweet day at this vegan bakeshop in Bloordale. It's not doing anything too crazy for Donut Day, though you'll still find 20 different flavours in store if you want to take the celebrations home... or to the park.

Tori's BakeShop
The vegan bakeshop in The Beaches will be offering a double decker cupcake donut just for the sweet treat features a donut baked inside a cupcake topped with a donut.

Krispy Kreme
Get a free donut at any location on Friday, June 3. There's no purchase necessary, but you're encouraged to donate to The Salvation Army's Red Kettles stationed at the cash registers.

Photo of the Rolling Pin by Jesse Milns.

If you wanted an adrenaline rush last week in Toronto, you didn't need to schlepp all the way to Wonderland. Instead, you could have simply taken a trip on the Red Rocket.

That's because last Friday, at around 6 p.m., the door on an east-bound TTC subway train stayed open as it sped over the Bloor Viaduct. One passenger caught the whole thrilling ride on camera.

@CityNews TTC tried to fix door of a subway Car on line 2. Then TTC let the train go from Castle Franck to Broadview pic.twitter.com/Er0YC7ysr5

— KJ (@NEWSFORWORLD) May 27, 2016

The TTC says the incident was the result of human error. The Toronto Star reports that the individual responsible has been fired.

As the Star writes, the subway train can't leave the station if a door remains open. If one won't close, there are certain safety procedures a train guard must go through, including evacuating the affected car and barricading the malfunctioning door.

Photo by David Dang via the blogTO Flickr pool.

Vegans rejoice! Toronto is getting yet another vegan food truck. Earlier this spring we saw the launch of the city's first vegan truck, The Vegan Extremist, and soon a vegan dessert truck is going to hit the streets.

The Sweet Teeth food truck will be serving up a 100% vegan menu of gourmet waffles and dairy free frozen treats including soft serve, sundaes, milkshakes and a chocolate waffle topped with banana, chocolate, peanut butter drizzle and icing sugar.

Truck owners Cam and Taz plan to debut the city's first vegan dessert truck in early July but have currently set up a Kickstarter to speed up the process.

Image via the Sweet Teeth Food Truck.

The official Pride and Trans flags were raised at the same time for the first time ever today to help kick off Pride Month. Never have the two flags been raised simultaneously to launch North America's largest Pride event, and never before has there been a Pride Month in Toronto. Who says a week is enough to celebrate Pride? Who cares!

Both flags could not be raised on the main flag pole at City Hall because of city protocols, so the Trans flag is flying on Queen Street, next to the fountains.

Both Mayor John Tory and Pride Executive Director Mathieu Chantelois highlighted positive developments in the LGBT community with the introduction of Bill C-16 (guaranteeing rights and protection for transgender people under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms) as well as funding for two LGBT youth shelters.

It's also worth mentioning, Rachel Clark, member of the Pride Board of Directors, will be the first trans woman ever to throw the pitch at a Blue Jays game on June 9.

It's great that the flags are now up, but things really get started at AGO's First Thursdays party in partnership with Pride and curated by Bruce LaBruce. The parties, talks, film screenings, lectures, art shows, performances and finally, three parades all follow suit. There are over 60 events over the span of 33 days.

Brace yourself, and prepare your liver and dancing legs for the tremendous workout to come.

Doors Open Toronto has come and gone for another season, having shed more light on some of the city's most fascinating and often hard to access buildings. As always the event resulted in an epic crop of photos. We've narrowed our contest submissions down to our 10 favourites and now ask that you vote for your favourite of the finalists.

1. Lead photo by @mingsiu37 at Leslie Barns.

2. Photo by @alexandramack22 at Commerce Court.

3. Photo by @aimhernandez at Osgoode Hall.

4. Photo by @pplunar at the City Hall Rotunda.

5. Photo by @campbell6999 at the Queen Richmond Centre.

6. Photo by @comoaguapara at Ryerson.

7. Photo by @ophisar at Billy Bishop.

8. Photo by @pascalarseneau at Glendon.

9. Photo by @vl_ronnie at the Don Jail.

10. Photo by @kyrojopho at City of Toronto Archives.

VOTE FOR YOUR FAVOURITE PHOTO

Voting will remain open until end of day June 7, 2016. The top three vote getters will receive the following prizes from Henry's Canada.

• 1st place: $300 gift certificate
• 2nd place: $150 gift certificate
• 3rd place: $50 gift certificate

A big thanks to everyone who submitted photos to the contest.

Today in Toronto marks a very important day for food and drink fans. It's the second annual insect eating tasting series with 707 Dundas food stall diva Cookie Martinez, and it's also the Craft Beer Passport launch party. Your passport gets you $2 draught all over the city. There are also things that don't involve eating and brewskis -- check them out below!

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

• Craft Beer Passport launch party (Revival)
• Eating Insects Tasting Series (Cookie Martinez at 707 Dundas St West)
• We Were Promised Jet Packs (Lee's Palace)
• Summer Knife Throwing League (Toronto Knife Throwing)
• She Wrote It Series (The Plaid Zebra HQ)
• Sky Yard Launch party (Drake Hotel)

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

Photo of Cricket Kebab via Cookie Martinez.

Patio season in Toronto offers an ideal opportunity to get all starry-eyed with your crush. Decked out with twinkle lights or blossoming with flowers, these patios are ready for romance whether you're just testing the waters over cocktails or letting things heat up over dinner.

Here are my picks for the top patios for a first date in Toronto.

Foxley
Al fresco cocktails and small plates are a match made in heaven at this secluded backyard patio on Ossington. Regardless of whether you hit it off, you'll find yourselves swooning over the sea bream ceviche and dumplings stuffed with lamb and duck prosciutto.

Burdock
Keep things casual and fun at this brew pub and music hall in Bloordale. Grab a seat on the side patio and get to know each other over a few pints, then if things are going well, head inside to take in a live show where the deafening volume will call for you to lean in just a little closer.

El Rey
Get to know your new love interest over chocolate coconut pisco cocktails and plates of ceviche verde at this mezcal bar in Kensington Market. If sparks are flying, work up the courage for a kiss with a few shots of mezcal or take a post-cocktail stroll through the market after dark.

Smith
The side patio at this restaurant in The Village feels especially enchanting at night when string lights cast a warm glow over the enclosed area populated with two tops. Kir cocktails and oysters on the half shell might just be the perfect recipe for romance.

Tabule
This pretty backyard patio in Riverside offers an ideal setting for a first time encounter. Start with cocktails and share a few plates of mezze and cocktails before committing to stay for a second course.

Thanks to Strongbow for sponsoring our 2016 Patio Guide

Photos by Jesse Mins.

The Open Roof Festival returns to Toronto for summer 2016 with its seventh season of outdoor fun. The festival, which celebrates indie film and live music has announced this year's lineup, which starts June 21 and closes shop with two back-to-back screenings on August 23 and 24.

How does it work? Once a week there will be a musical performance followed by a film screening once the sun has set. Tickets are $15.

Returning to 99 Sudbury, the fest has once again partnered with Amsterdam Brewery and a bunch of food trucks, including Food Dudes, to keep you fed and watered. There will be something a bit different every week to keep things interesting. Below is the band and film lineup for this year's fest.

June 21
Film:Everybody Wants Some!!
Band: Matrox

June 28
Film: Sing Street
Band:Fresh Snow

July 5
Film:The Lobster
Band: Kayla Diamond

July 13
Film:Sleeping Giant
Band:Bruce Penninsula

July 20
Film: Off the Rails
Band: Tomi Swick

August 3
Film: TBA
Band:Grand Analogu

August 10
Film:A Bigger Splash
Band:Chloe Charles

August 17
Film:My Blind Brother
Band:Sam Drysdale

August 23
Film: Bonus Screening film TBA
Band:Yuka

August 24
Film:Hunt for The Wilderpeople
Band:Most People

Find more details on their official website.

Photo courtesy of the Open Roof Festival.

How was your commute this morning? For many in Toronto, it was rather nightmarish as Line 2 (the Bloor-Danforth Line) shut down between Pape and St. George due to a small fire at Bloor-Yonge Station.

As the Toronto Star reports, the fire broke out at around 5:30 a.m. and service resumed more than three hours later. Shuttle buses were of course on site to ferry Torontonians to and fro.

As my Line 1 train rolled into Bloor Station, I noticed how frustrated many of my fellow passengers were. And here's how others in the city reacted to the latest subway delays.

When it's a new month, a #TTC delay is making you late for work, and you're holding that $141.50 Metropass like: pic.twitter.com/wHWN6zeXxT

— JP Larocque (@jplarocque) June 1, 2016

Hard to worry about declining #TTC ridership on morning like this.

— kari (@ariadnekb) June 1, 2016

I don't know what's worse: parking rates downtown or the ttc.

— Optimus Pekpek (@mamamarthiie) June 1, 2016

The #TTC in the morning is a special kind of hell

— Caitlynn Fairbarns (@cfairbarns) June 1, 2016

Nothing unites Torontonians like the shared hatred of our transit system. Thanks for this morning #TTC!

— Christopher Turner (@Turnstylin) June 1, 2016

@trickety_trik ttc be like pic.twitter.com/x8gHv2HWrl

— 416 Raccoon (@416raccoon) June 1, 2016

Photo by Phat Lemur on Twitter.

May was a really good month for restaurant openings in Toronto. From fancy French bistros and raucous Tex Mex bars to fast-food joints and revamped diners, there are new dining destinations for everyone on this list.

Here are my picks for the top new restaurants that opened in Toronto last month.

El Rey
Kensington Market's new mezcal bar from Grant van Gameren and team is the place you'll want to be this summer. Score a seat on the patio to sip potent agave cocktails while munching on chicharron sandwiches, ceviche and peanut-cricket snack mix.

Bombay Street Food
Skip the rich curries in favour of lighter, handheld Indian eats this summer. The chicken Frankie roti wrap and eggplant bhaaji pav are among the popular picks at this quick-service eatery on Bay. A vibrant, but casual, dining room make it even more appealing.

Skyline Restaurant
The newly made over Parkdale institution has kept the vintage interior mostly intact with just a few enhancements. The menu from Peter Ramsay (formerly of the Geraldine) features classic banquet burgers and turkey salad club sandwiches made with premium ingredients.

Macho Radio Bar
Summer in CityPlace just got even better. A huge patio, sangria and margs by the pitcher and a menu of addictive Tex Mex munchies will give condo dwellers an incentive to leave their blissfully air conditioned units.

Street Shak
Queen West gained a fast-casual Caribbean joint this month and it's really good. The jerk chicken boast big, bold flavours and some serious heat. The fish sandwich is incredible. I'm due for a repeat visit and this time I NEED that oxtail and beef poutine.

Le Baratin
Salade Niçoise, gravlax tartine and boeuf bourguignon sandwiches are all on the daytime menu at this modern French bistro on Dundas West. In the evenings, expect to find chicken liver pate, duck confit and steak frites.

Ardo
Southern Italian soul food is on the menu at this King West restaurant from chef and owner Roberto Marotta. A sip of the blood orange cocktail will transport you to the Sicilian coast and once there, you can savour pizza topped with mascarpone, prosciutto and melon, and seafood-studded couscous.

Tio's Urban Mexican
Tacos and cervezas are the main attraction at this newly opened eatery from the same team behind Uncle Betty's. In addition to classic tortilla-centric fare, look forward to pork chops al pastor, Mexican corn, churros and more.

Bar Reyna
This ultra feminine dining room in Yorkville is the passion project from Nicki Laborie, former editor-in-chief of View The Vibe. Presumably, this is a woman who knows what people want to eat. She sure knows what I want to eat: seafood for days, loaded shoestring fries, zucchini fritters and braised octopus.

Greta Solomon's
This French bistro in Leslieville offer more than a dozen wines by the glass and the menu seduces diners with dishes like foie gras and mushrooms, bacon-studded swiss chard gratin and beef tartare.

Photo of Bay Reyna by Jesse Milns.

With more than 250 kilometres worth of laneways and alleys in Toronto, The Laneway Project is working to reanimate these oft-unused spaces. That's why it's hosting a Laneway Crawl series this summer.

The 2016 Laneway Crawl will unfold over various weekends between June and September. And these events will bring together artists, musicians, BIAs and residents' associations to transform these overlooked back roads for people throughout Toronto.

The Laneway Project describes its latest initiative as a series of pop-up festivals and is looking for community involvement to make them work. It hosted one such crawl in Bloordale last summer and it's now expanding to four additional neighbourhoods.

While many of us don't use Toronto's laneways, this locally based organizations knows they're full of potential and is working to change how we think about them.

Here's the 2016 Laneway Crawl schedule:

• June 11, noon to 4 p.m. - Bloordale Laneway Crawl
• June 18, 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. - Summer Solstice Laneway Crawl in the Junction
• July 16 - Reggae Lane Crawl and mural unveiling (Eglinton and Oakwoods) (
• August 20 - Danforth East Laneway Crawl
• September 25 - Crawlfest (Christie Pits)

Photo via the Bloordale Laneway Project on Facebook

As temperatures reached summer heights in May, Toronto photographers were out en masse to capture the city in all its blooming glory. From double rainbows to Raptors games to explosions in the sky, it was a visually stunning month in Toronto, a fact corroborated by these photos.

These are my picks for the top photos from the blogTO Flickr pool last month.

This multifaceted gym has just opened a new location after 12 years in business and expanded beyond spin and yoga to now include Crossfit. It also features state of the art spinning equipment and a yoga room with infrared solar panels and Iyengar rope wall.

Read my profile of Energia Athletics in the fitness section.

The best frozen yogurt in Toronto is a crave-worthy alternative to ice cream and because it's available in a seemingly endless combination of flavours. From soft, milky swirls decorated with candy to frozen kefir and vegan varieties, there's something for everyone on this list.

Here are the best places to grab frozen yogurt in Toronto.

The top warehouse and samples sales in Toronto this June have you covered for summer. From camping gear to makeup, you'll look fantastic in the woods. The ultimate gem on this list however is the Avenue Road sample sale. It's designer furniture (and pricing) fit for the gods. The store alone is a wonder. Good luck!

Coleman (June 3-4)
Thinking of going camping this summer? Or to a cottage? Or just to your own backyard and pretending you're going to either of those out-of-the-way, need-a-car-to-get-there places? Coleman's warehouse sale will have sleeping bags, coolers, and my favourite, blowup mattresses. 20 Hereford Street, Brampton.

Kitchen Stuff Plus (June 3-5)
You'll find Cuisinart, Umbra and KitchenAid stuff for up to 90% off at this warehouse jaunt. 135 Wendell Avenue (near Highway 401 and Jane St).

Avenue Road Warehouse Sale (June 9)
If you know designer furniture, you know Avenue Road. It's beautiful furniture that you can't afford to even sit on. This is their second ever warehouse sale and there are items for 80% off. Bring your parents, and your grandparents or any rich relative you can find. 28 Logan Avenue.

Estee Lauder Mac (June 10-12)
Estee Lauder, Clinique, Bobbi Brown and yup, MAC makeup are all on mega-sale at this sample sale event. 10108 McCowan Road, Markham.

Baker Shoe Company (June 10-12)
The thing about this Baker Show Company sale is that they have a deal on OTZ shoes. They're kind of like Tom's, but without the logo and people seem to be going nuts for them. 88 Arrow Road, North York.

Dean Davidson sample sale (June 16-18)
Dean Davidson is sort of a big deal in the Canadian jewellery world and they're moving into a new studio this summer. Pieces are going for up to 80% so that there aren't as many boxes to carry to the new studio space. 90 Sumach St, unit 514, buzz 0835.

Did I miss a warehouse or sample sale this month? Let us know in the comments.

Photo from the Avenue Road's Facebook page.

Strawberry picking in Toronto is a summertime tradition and a source of nostalgia for anyone who grew up in southern Ontario. In most cases, you'll have to leave Toronto proper to go pick your own berries, but it's a totally delicious and fruitful experience.

Here are some farms to go strawberry picking in and around Toronto.

19th Ave. Farmers Market
North of Highway 7, just off the 404, this family farm in Markham will bus you to its strawberry fields where you can fill up baskets with fruit..

Andrews' Scenic Acres
Nestled southeast of the Niagara Escarpment, this Milton farm boasts 35 acres of strawberry fields. While you're there, pick up a bottle from the Scotch Block Winery to sample berries in wine form.

Applewood Farm Winery
This Stouffville-area farm charges a $7 admission fee, but this includes a two-litre basket of pick-your-own strawberries plus access to the farm animals, wagon rides, nature trails and more. You should also check out the Applewood Farm Winery's strawberry cider.

Brantwood Farms
While you'll find strawberries in this farm's market from spring to fall, the strawberry fields are open to the public from about mid-June into July. Bring your own containers or buy or borrow when you're there.

Downey's Farm Market
Head to the fields for strawberry picking at this Caledon farm from mid-to-late June. It'll cost you $3 to enter the patch, but that fee is deducted from the price of your strawberries when you cash out.

Forsythe Family Farms
Pick-your-own strawberries are the big draw at this family farm in Uxbridge. But strawberries are just the beginning; as summer progresses, peas, beans, tomatoes and pumpkins are all available for DIY harvesting.

Organics Family Farm
This Markham farm opens to the public annually at the beginning of strawberry season. It went organic back in 2001 and now grows crops free of pesticides and inorganic fertilizers.

Reesor's Farm Market
At this farm, market and bakery on Ninth Line in Markham, you can pick your own berries when they're in season or just select the perfect pint at the market. You should also check out the strawberry pies and crumbles featuring the season's best.

Watson Farms
Call the "crop report" to check picking conditions and hours of operation before heading out this U-Pick farm in Bowmanville. It's open for strawberry picking starting in mid-to-late June each year. The owners like to joke "...we should weigh the kids when they leave, not the baskets."

Whittamore's Berry Farm
You don't have to travel too far to visit this farm located alongside the Rouge River Valley. The pick-your-own season starts with strawberries in mid-June and wraps up with pumpkins in the fall.

Photo by Arieh Singer in the blogTO Flickr pool.

Toronto is set to get a one-stop Scarborough subway extension whether people ride it or not. City officials have unveiled new ridership projections for the line that paint a troubling picture of barely used trains.

"By 2031, at its busiest hour in its busiest direction, 7,300 people are expected to ride the new subway," according to a report in the Star today.

That would make it one of the least used portions of the line, along with stations like Ellesmere and Bessarion. The ridership was initially projected at roughly twice these numbers, but that was when it was planned as a three-stop line and before John Tory's SmartTrack idea got traction.

The numbers unveiled this week once again suggest that an LRT better suits the needs of this community, even if there's fierce political will to complete a subway extension in Scarborough.

The mayor's response to questions about the latest ridership projections was basically if we build it they will come, but the city's own reports don't seem to support that belief.

Photo by dtstuff9 in the blogTO Flickr pool.