Toronto is already home to dog macarons and gourmet pet meals and now, gelato has gone to the dogs too.

G for Gelato has whipped up a special dairy-free hazelnut recipe with a soy base, and while the frozen treat is fit for human consumption (I tried some, it's good.), they're sprinkling it with chewy little dog treats and marketing it towards four legged friends.

It's a staple in the freezer case at Lick It Gelato on Toronto's Harbourfront too. The gelateria across from PawsWay was the first in Toronto to formulate a frozen treat for dogs and has been serving its own peanut butter banana, 0% milk fat yogurt gelato for dogs going on four years now.

@lildogbigcity was among the first to sample some at G For Gelato and he literally licked the bowl clean. There will be no more denying those puppy eyes when you treat yo'self on a hot day.

Will you feed your dog gelato? Let us know in the comments

Toronto festivals may be filling the city with alt-indie, jazz and R&B acts, but rest assured that those fond of nostalgia will have options for summer 2016, too. While some of these '80s legends are still releasing new material, let's be honest, the reason you go is to get down to their greatest hits from years past.

Here are my picks for the top '80s throwback concerts hitting Toronto this summer.

Sting and Peter Gabriel (June 29)
He may not be bringing The Police along for this show, but you can still harken back to the 80's with some grade A Sting choruses. The musician/actor/philanthropist will be joined by Peter Gabriel (another icon) for this tour, so if you've always wanted to hear "Sledgehammer" live, this may be your chance.

Journey and The Doobie Brothers (July 7)
If you're one of the many that head to karaoke with the intent of closing out the night with a stunning "Don't Stop Believin'" cover, this is the show for you. To make things even more enticing, The Doobie Brother's will also be on the scene to perform their greatest hits.

Def Leppard (July 16)
Iconic '80s band Def Leppard hits the Molson Canadian Amphitheatre on July 16 to fill the venue with their brand of glam rock. To pour some sugar on this already sweet deal, REO Speedwagon and Tesla will join them.

Guns N' Roses (July 16)
Wanna see Axl and Slash do their thing? Well, unsurprisingly, tickets for the Guns N' Roses show in our paradise city sold out pretty quick, so you'll have to make do with the seats available for resale (or attempt to navigate the murky waters of Craigslist).

Bryan Adams (July 26)
Bryan Adams has come a long way since he got his first real six-string at the five-and-dime. Catch him at the Molson Canadian Amphitheatre at the end of the July to get your fill of '80s Canadian chart-toppers.

Slayer (September 12)
More into metal? Slayer will be taking the stage at Sound Academy this September. Chances are most of the show will be dominated by songs from the band's most recent release, Repentless (which came out last year). However, for die hard fans of their older stuff, you'll still probably hear some favourites, too.

Steven Tyler (September 13)
To close out the summer roster of '80s throwbacks Aerosmith's eccentric frontman will be doing a solo gig at the Sony Centre. Rolling Stone has already gifted the world with his "Out on a Limb" set list and - lucky for you - favourites like "Cryin'", "Don't Wanna Miss a Thing" and "Janie's Got a Gun" are all included.

What did I miss? Add more '80s throwback concerts to the comments section.

Photo via Def Leppard

Diners in Toronto started our city's burger obsession. These local institutions are hardly gourmet, but they were innovating burgers before most of us were even born. One particular Toronto stalwart even claims to have invented the modern bacon cheeseburger. You gotta give credit where it's due.

Here are my picks for the top diner burgers in Toronto.

Fran's
Fran's claims to have created the world's first Banquet Burger by introducing beef patties to cheese slices and bacon strips sometime in the 1940s. In the years since, the diner has grown into a veritable mini chain while the banquet burger has been replicated to no end.

Zet's
Big, juicy burgers are a popular pick at this 24-hour diner near Pearson. You get yours with a single or double charbroiled patty as well as with cheese and bacon and an assortment of fresh toppings.

Detroit Eatery
The list of homemade burgers at this Danforth diner goes above and beyond the norm. The inventive takes are totally appropriate for the neighbourhood. For instance, the namesake Detroit burger comes loaded with peameal and cheese while the Greek burger features a beef patty slathered in tzatziki and sprinkled with feta.

Skyline Restaurant
The retro (but recently refurbished) diner in Parkdale has kept its banquet burger on the menu. And while the recipe might be the same, the kitchen is making each one with good quality ingredients, including house-ground meat, aged cheddar and thick slices of smoked bacon.

Thompson Diner
This 24-hour diner attracts club-goers as they stumble out of the nearby bars after last call. The menu features classic diner fare, including a cheese and peameal topped patty, but the real gem is the Tommy Mushroom Melt Burger loaded with sautéed mushrooms and melted Swiss cheese.

Thanks to Budweiser for sponsoring this post.

Photo of the Thompson Diner by Jesse Milns.

Ontario Craft Beer week (OCB) kicks off on Friday, June 10 across the province. From small sampling events to brewery tours and festivals, this annual extravaganza celebrates our ever-expanding craft brewing scene. Plenty of Toronto bars will feature tap takeovers and special in-house events, so check out the full calendar if you're looking for something more low-key.

Here are the top Toronto events for Craft Beer Week 2016.

OCB Week Launch Party, June 10
Head to Steam Whistle Brewing for this opening night party featuring a slew of craft brewers. A $30 ticket gets you in the door. It also gives you access to as many samples as you want; there won't be any tokens at this mini festival.

Session Toronto, June 11
This massive beer event takes over Yonge-Dundas Square with a slew of craft brewers serving up lots of one-offs and collaborations. There will also be live music and food vendors on site. New for this year is the Society of Beer Drinking Ladies (SOBDL) session from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Buffalo Bisons Road Trip, June 11
Shuffle off to Buffalo with Left Field Brewery. This road trip will bus you across the border to watch some minor league baseball at Coca-Cola Field. Your $65 ticket includes round trip bus fare, your baseball ticket and two Left Field Brews. How's that for a boozy road trip?

RunTOBeer, June 12
This local fitness group combines running with craft beer, which sounds like the best workout ever. For OCB, it's partnering with Niagara Oast House Brewers to take runners on a 15-kilometre journey from Trinity Bellwoods Park to 3030, which closed after a fire last fall. If you don't want to do the full 15 clicks, you can also join the group later 10, 5 or 3-kilometre jog.

Danforth Pub Crawl, June 13
Head east of the DVP for this seven-stop pub crawl along Danforth Avenue. The participating bars include The Shore Leave, The Wren and The Only Café. Each venue will feature one craft beer at a special price so you can sample the night away.

Ladies' Danforth Pub Strut, June 14
Mark your calendars for pub crawl round two on June 14. By taking a tour of local establishments owned by women (such as Sauce on the Danfort and Louis Cifer) this so-called pub strut celebrates women in the food and drink industry, an industry that still has a long way to go in terms of inclusivity.

Toronto Craft Beer Festival, June 17-18
While this festival might be in North York, it does offer a shuttle from Downsview Station to the rather strange outdoor venue at the Edward Village North York. Even still, this event will feature lots of craft brewers from across Ontario, including local newbies like Henderson Brewing.

Photo of the Only Cafe by Jesse Milns.

Weekend events in Toronto are all very exciting, but let's be honest, it's hard to top Bestival. Taking place at its new home in Woodbine Park, this year's festival features a stellar lineup, wild art installations, and costumes galore. For the more brooding music fan, Unsound takes over the Hearn on Friday and Saturday for Luminato.

Here are my top picks for what to get up to this weekend in Toronto.

FESTIVALS AND OUTDOORS

Luminato (June 9 - 26)
The mega-arts fest happening (mostly) inside an abandoned power station launches this weekend and runs until the end of June with non-stop programming. Check out my picks for the top events and be sure to remember that there's losts of free stuff to do as well.

Kingston Pop Up Weekend (June 10)
A pop-up weekend courtesy of another city. Isn't that nice of them? The City of Kingston takes over an alley off of Ossington to show off their finest. There will be beer.

Liberty Village art crawl (June 11)
65 artists and designers lay it all out for you alongside food trucks and DJs. It's free admission, and if you get there at 11 a.m. when if opens, you'll get a Circue Du Soleil grab bag. I bet there's a tiny little aerialist folded up in each one.

Dundas West Fest (June 11)
Dundas West Fest is my fave of all street fests in the city. It's calm, the food is good, the vendors are unque and the people are great to look at. Now there's also a music stage at the Lakeview Dinner.

Bloordale Laneway Crawl (June 11)
Take a walk through the laneways of Bloordale and help transform them into positive, colourful places with pop up mural events, live music, activities and yard sales.

Toronto Flower Market (June 11)
Grab you local and seasonally in bloom bunches of flowers at the CAMH Park at Queen and Shaw streets, from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Roncy Rocks (June 11)
The annual arts and music festival along Roncesvalles returns with multiple stages and types of music. Traditional Polish songs can be heard a block over from an atl-country duo. The Grapes Of Wrath, NQ Arbuckle are a couple the star groups performing.

ART

Womxn (June 10)
This is a magazine launch for the new Conscious Mind Camp magazine with contributions from dozens of artists. The launch will feature performances and temporary tattoos!

The Civilian Show (June 11)
According the event description, "Civilian will be a one-night performance/installation show that is a celebration of the mundane and the passive onlookers of society." It features the work of four local artists in the cool White House art space.

Hello Happy Market (June 12)
A carefully curated market of bright, modern Canadian designer stuff. This is a market originally from Vancouver and it's making it's Toronto debut today at the Richmond Gallery. $2 gets you in the door.

MUSIC

Florence and the Machine's
This is Toronto's stop on the How Beautiful Tour with openers Of Monsters and Men. There are a few cool music things happening this weekend, but Florence and Bestival are my events.

• Bestival (June 11 - 12)
• Summer Music in the Park with Christopher Platt (June 10)
• The Wilderness of Manitoba (June 10)
• Jayhawks (June 10)
• Isotopes (June 10)
• Afrobeat Festival (June 11)
• The songs of Peggy Lee (June 11)

FILM

Breakthroughs Film Festival (June 10 - 11)
Breakthroughs is the only festival in Canada devoted exclusively to short films by New Generation (18-30 year old) female directors. This year features 17 films from nine different countries, five of which are from Toronto. So cool.

Wild Things movie drinking game (June 10)
Get to this with a group of four people or more to truly enjoy the drinking game experience with this classic femme flick. It includes raffle prizes, gourmet popcorn, retro horror trailers and a themed cocktail.

Bollywood Classics: Pakeezah (June 11)
This classic will be screened under the stars in the courtyard of the Aga Khan! This film took 14 years to complete and is the final performance from the legendary Meena Kumari.

FOOD & DRINK

Session Craft Beer Festival Kickoff (June 11)
Beer lovers gather at Yonge-Dundas Square for Ontario Craft Beer Week to try new beers created in partnership with Canadian celebrities. Winners will be listed ta the LCBO. Past famous folk include Tom Green, Sam Roberts Band and K-OS.

Toronto Taste (June 12)
Head down to the Corus Quay and eat and drink for a very good cause. This foodie wonderland raises money for Second Harvest. This is a ticketed event that starts at 6 p.m. and features over 90 food and drink vendors from some of the city's most exciting chefs. There's also a high stakes Chef challenge competition between three master cooks.

DANCING

Look at this dance party list! Sumer dance fever is happening, and it's only early June! Get a cold cloth! Or don't... either way, try out the Renaissance: all '90s (June 11)">Blnd Tiger '90s dance party on June 11 with Mista Jiggz. It's the hottest on College Street right now.

• Queer Slowdance (June 10)
• Friday Night Live: Beatz (June 10)
• Melting Pot (June 10)
• Home Turf (June 10)
• School Daze (June 10)
• Milk Pool (June 11)
• BEYness Woman's Special (June 11)
• Trade: Wolfpack party (June 11)
• Beaver Boys (June 11)
• Bed, Bathhouse and Beyond (June 12)

Photo at the 2015 Bestival by Alejandro Santiago.

This fancy new restaurant boasts a killer patio and a menu featuring crave-worthy plates of steak tartare, steamed seafood and fries galore.

Read my profile of Bar Reyna in the restaurants section.

Summer festivals in Toronto really show that we are the most diverse city in the world. There are so many reasons for other cities to be jealous of us, but this list just puts things over the top. Countless streets, parking lots, parks, clubs, neighbourhoods, and fields will showcase our most exciting food, people, music, art, theatre... and tons more.

Here are my picks for the top summer festivals in Toronto.

Pride (June 1 - July 3)
Pride takes over the city for an entire month this year, and we don't have a problem with that. Human rights panel talks, film screenings, a gay day at Canada's Wonderland... all culminating with the two final weekends of June, which are so packed with gay parties, you'll be washing glitter out of your hair and clothes for the rest of the summer.

Open Roof Fest (Every Tuesday from June 21 - Aug 24)
ORF is back at 99 Sudbury for another year, filling (a couple Tuesday and) Wednesday nights with music and movies all summer long. Each night will begin with a musical performance and will be followed by a feature film once the sun has set. Check out the full list of films here.

Taste of Toronto (June 23 - 26)
There were some great eats at last year's acclaimed foodie fest, and this year probably won't disappoint. 20 chefs, 54 dishes, 34 cooking demos all for $19. $45 gets you the VIP pass, which includes private washroom and free tastes of beer and wine.

Toronto Jazz Festival (June 24 - July 3)
Sarah McLachlan is among performers at this mega-jazz fest. Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings, Lee Fields, and Wynton Marsalis are some of the other mega names. Some will perform at Yonge-Dundas Square, while others will take the stage at the Sony Centre and other venues.

Taste of Asia (June 25)
Billed as Canada's largest Asian festival, this multicultural love-in of food, games, attractions and performance takes over Kennedy Road in Markham for two days of fun. Admission is free.

Digital Dreams (June 25-26)
The "largest electronic music festival in Canada" returns to the Flats at Ontario Place despite all that messy rain and mud last year with DJs like Above & Beyond, Armin Van Buren, Nassnectar and Danny Tenaglia. Don't forget to hydrate you crazy dancing kids.

Flavours of Fairbank (June 25-26)
Two-days of family friendly fun on Eglinton Avenue West at Dufferin. New this year to the newly renamed fest will be a traditional lion dance from Bamboo Kung Fu, a folk exhibition on the second stage, and a Euro Cup viewing screen at Game Central.

PS Kensington (June 26, July 31, Aug 28)
Judging by these photos from the first of this year's Pedestrian Sundays in Kensington Market, this summer in Toronto's hippie zone is going to rule. Happening the last Sunday of the month from May to October you can expect street performers, food on sticks, and the Kensington Market Art Fair.

Annex Family Festival (June 26)
Between Bathurst and and Spadina on Bloor St, this family fest is a busy one, now in it's 20th year! Lots of local booths and offerings from businesses on Bloor, as well as games and performances.

Fringe Festival (June 29-July 10)
The Fringe Fest is where so many amazing shows are born and go on to live successful lives of their own. This theatre, arts, dance, etc. fest is all about taking chances, going to see a few shows and getting caught up in the weird, wild fun.

Toronto Boat Festival (June 30)
Dragon Boat racers from all provinces across Canada, the U.S., the Caribbean Islands, Europe and Asia take over Centre Island for a weekend of colourful racing on the water.

Toronto Ribfest (June 30 - July 3)
This is a very messy festival. Ribs! They are delicious, but holy creepers does the sauce ever get everywhere. Please, no white clothing in Etobicoke's Centennial Park from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. There are also three concert stages and one stage strictly for kids.

Electric Island (July 1, Aug 1, September 4-5)
Electric Island seems to be the only music fest who can successfully pull off something on the Island. The July 1 edition features Honey Dijon and Tale of Us. There are food vendors, lots of fluffy grass to sit on and simple but stunning visuals.

Redpath Waterfront Festival (July 1-3)
The world's largest Viking ship, all the way from Norway, will sail in (among a few other impressive ships) to this waterside festival. There's a Royal Canadian Navy cook-off, an artisan market, food trucks and buskers.

Taste of Lawrence (July 8-10)
A three-day food and culture festival that takes place in the Wexford Heights. It's free admission and it's the largest outdoor event in Scarborough. There will be loads of international food, vendors and fairground type rides as well as two stages for live shows. Check their official website for headliners and more info as it's announced.

Afrofest (July 8-9)
Though programming hasn't been announced yet, this fest is always a good time. Celebrating African heritage, music, and culture, it takes place in Woodbine Park and there will be lots of amazing drumming.

Salsa on St. Clair (July 9-10)
Did you know Spanish is the most spoken foreign language in Canada? You'll do really well at this festival if you speak it (or even if you don't). This street festival is one of the busiest on offer, with salsa, Latin and Cuban bands among the many playing amongst the hoards of walkers and dancers.

Beaches Jazz Festival (July 2 - 24)
Bands like 7Sould, De Bruces A Mi and Johnny Rawls Big Band take to the main stages at Woodbine Park during Beaches Jazz Fest. Surrounded by food and all types of vendors, the party spill out onto the streets as well during the evenings of July 21 - 23. Otherwise, a variety of concerts, and mini festivals associated with Jazz Fest happen all month long.

Maker Festival (July 9-10)
Hosted at the Toronto Reference Library, this is a festival for creative people to share new creations, demonstrate projects and make things together! Blending technology and craft, there are workshops, food and drinks.

Toronto Summer Music Festival (July 14 - Aug 7)
This year the classical music festival showcases the music of Great Britain. From baroque to the 20th century pop British Invasion, and includes a celebration of the 400th Anniversary of Shakespeare with 16 singers and leading Shakespeare scholars for a full day of sonnets, scenes, and songs.

Vector Festival (July 14-17)
This gaming and new media arts festival mainly goes down at Inter/Access on Ossington, but other exhibitions, performances, screenings, workshops and lectures happen at other venues around the city.

Night It Up! (July 15-17)
A giant night market in Markham is what this is. The Huawei sports zone featuring all kinds of games will help you work off all the amazing food you'll be wolfing down at the vendor stations. It's open 'till midnight on Friday and Saturday night (8pm on Sunday) and is modelled after traditional night markets in Taiwan and Hong Kong.

Festival of India (July 16-17)
This colourful fest starts with a parade from Bloor and Yonge street, all the way down to Queens Quay, where the party continues on Toronto Island. Celebrating a rich tradition, the two days of performances on the island include singing, dancing and drama. Yoga Meltdown also happens on the first day of the fest.

Summerlicious (July 18-24)
You know the drill. There will be prix-fix menus at over 220 of our city's finest restaurants. Happening pretty much everywhere at lunch and dinner, there are 24 new participants this year and here is a site where you can take a look at the full list.

UNITY Festival (July 20-23)
The 7th annual Unity Festival will bring local beatboxers, musicians and MCs to the city for the ultimate hip hop event. Many of the events happen at the Super Wonder Gallery and it all culminates with headliners DāM-FunK at the Unity concert on Saturday, July 23 at Yonge-Dundas Square.

T&T Night Market (July 22 - 24)
So there's an entertainment stage, a sports zone, and a film showcase at the waterfront festival, but we all know everyone's really going for the amazing food. Just look at our photographic examples of some of the goodies!

Wayhome (July 22 - 24)
This fest made a lot of fans happy last year with its music lineup and chill vibes. With a crazy 2016 lineup including Arcade Fire, Haim, and LCD Soundsystem, they're set to make even more friends. Don't forget, it's in Oro-Medonte, so plan on sleeping over with a tent.

Toronto's Festival of Beer (July 22-24)
Alert: Saturday's already sold out, but there are still tickets for Friday and Sunday. Second alert, House of Pain are playing on Friday, July 22. Taking place at Bandshell Park at Exhibition Place, this one is simply a playground of beer tents, music and food.

Festival of South Asia (July 23-24)
The Festival of South Asia is focused on food, and it closes down Gerrard Street in Little India from Coxwell to Greenwood. Aside from the eats, it's a great chance to take in some Bollywood music and dancing.

Big on Bloor (July 23 - 24)
Look forward to two days of shopping, entertainment, arts and culture when BIG on Bloor closes the street off to cars between Dufferin and Lansdowne. The event boasts a lengthy list of vendors, entertainers, and more. See the full list of participants here.

Toronto Burlesque Festival (July 28 - 31)
Taking place at both Revival and the Virgin Mobile Mod Club (basically across the street from one another), this one features the best of the best in the world of Burlesque. From The Stage Door Johnnies to NYC's Dirty Martini, prepare yourself for loads of tassels and teasing.

Caribana (July 28 - 31)
I went to Caribana last year and got danced on so hard it changed my life. Just look at the beautiful photos! This is the place to be for street dancing and people watching, if you're brave enough to sneak into the parade route. The weekend includes big parties, picnics and of course, the parade.

Toronto Food Truck Festival (July 29-31)
Woodbine Park hosts the Food Truck frenzy with about 40 vehicles pulling up and serving you the goods. Here's a full list of the vendors, but some of my faves include FeasTO and Original Chimney's.

OVO (July 29, 31, Aug 1)
This is actually the coolest summer festival in the city. With our city's love for Drake at an all time high, this show will be off the chain. Snoop Dogg and Wiz Khalifa and have already been announced, but we all know it's about the surprise guests. But don't worry if you can't get there, the fest overlaps with Drake's Summer Sixteen tour.

TD Irie Music Festival (July 30-31)
Nathan Phillip Square is taken over with the sounds, smells and tastes of African-Canadian culture with headliners Bushman, DaVille and the Summer Dance Showcase on closing night. This one's for people who want to dance and chill.

VELD (July 30-31)
EDM hasn't died just yet, and VELD is the only place for true fans to be. Taking place at Downsview Park over two days, this year's headliners include the Chainsmokers, Flume and Travis Scott.

SummerWorks Festival (August 4-14)
This 11-day Canadian cultural festival focuses on theatre, dance, music, and live art. Tickets are already on sale, and you can view the full list of performances here.

Taste of the Danforth (August 5-7)
This one is always fun, not only for fans of Greek food, and large, large crowds, but for fun activities like breaking Guinness World Records and hanging out in the Hollywood zone with some major blockbuster movie characters. Mind the crowds!

Kultura Festival (Aug 5 - 7)
This Filipino Arts festiva is a emulti-day celebration of food, art, dance, music and culture, topped off with a super fun marketplace. Schedule and details have yet to be revealed so keep an eye on their website.

Time Festival (August 6)
Fort York is transformed into a giant nightclub for Time Festival. It was a sticky one last year with the August heat wave in full-effect, but that never truly seems to impact the electronic music lovers. The lineup includes Run The Jewels, Broods, Joey Bada$$ and Kehlani. The full lineup is on their site now.

Jerk Fest (August 6 - 7)
Caribbean flavours and music take over Centennial Park in Etobicoke for this yummy fest. Reggae star Etana performs, as do L.U.S.T. and a major R&B singersoon to be announced. Hungry participants can get in on a dominos competition and eating contest. Gates open at 5 p.m.

Toronto Vegan Food & Drink Fest (Aug 13)
There's music and stuff at this festival, but let's get real, we're here for the delicious vegan food and dranks. Featured vendors include, Doomies and Cardinal Rule. Hopefully they don't run out of food this year!

York-Eglinton International Street Fest (August 13-14)
Starting at 11 p.m. both days, not only features some amazing face painting, but some pretty fun stuff for whole fam. Eglinton Avenue West from Marlee to Dufferin will be closed for the celebration which will also include a petting zoo, live entertainment, food vendors and countless other attractions.

CNE (August 19-September 5)
The CNE rolls into town at the end of August and will run until September 5. Expect the regular roster of midway games, rides, exhibitions, fair foods and about a million ways to spend your hard earned money.

Sweetery Toronto (August 20-21)
David Pecaut Square is invaded with sweet treats and sweet people over these two days. Admission is free, you'll just need to shell out for the sugar. Master Chef Christopher Siu will have a booth, and the rest of the dessert-filled lineup will be announced soon.

Taste of Manilla (August 21 - 22)
Taking place in Little Manila (Bathurst and Wilson), this is Toronto's largest Filipino festival, and it's free. That being said, bring that cash because there's no way you won't want to buy food from the vendors. There'll also be loads of performances and fashion pageants, showing off this culture's knack for intricate design.

TAIWANfest (August 26 - 28)
Billed as a "cultural tango with Hong Kong" this fest at the Harbourfront is free to enter. Creating a cultural conversation between Taiwan and Hong Kong, the fest will blend food vendors (that's lots of bubble tea), and cultural programming. More details here.

Toronto Cider Festival (August 27)
The first-ever cider fest was a hit, so they're doing it again! And apples are in season at this point, so why not? Taking over Yonge-Dundas Square, there will be 30 different ciders from Canada and around the planet. It's a laid back affair with live music and snacks to be announced.

Tamil Fest (August 29-30)
This is the largest Tamil Street Festival outside of the Indian Sub-continent. This year it's happening on Morningside Road near Markham Avenue and will feature music, fashion, food, dance, comedy and more food. A full list is on their website.

Fan Expo (September 1 - 4)
Sigourney Weaver will be in attendance this year. Do I need to say anything else? OK, William Shatner and George Takei will also be there celebrating the 50th anniversary of Star Trek. Nerds unite!

Buskerfest (August 2 - 5)
Enough with food already! Let's get own to funny business. Clowns, acrobats, and show offs gather at Woodbine Park to entertain you! There will be over 100 performers, but this time, on the beach! Don't worry, like last year, there'll also be lots of food and drink.

Toronto International Film Festival (September 8 - 18)
Stars (and all kinds of less-exciting, but equally important film people) take over Toronto for most of the mont of September during TIFF. Our theatres are packed, our hotels are booked, the bars and restaurants are buzzing ... there's good and bad to the entire thing. Check their website for upcoming programming announcements.

Turf Festival (September 16 - 18)
Toronto's "Urban Roots Festival" takes over Fort York with 44 artists to rock your world. But not like a heavy rock kind of way. A pleasant summer rock kind of way. Lineup includes Death Cab for Cutie, Matt Good, Barenaked Ladies, The Hives, Drive-by Truckers, James Bay and 38 others. New this year, there are four stages. There are also three types of ticket packages.

Roncesvalles Polish Festival (Sept 17 - 18)
North America's largest celebration of Polish culture takes over Roncesvalles for a weekend of food, music, performance, dance, crafts and things from all the cute stores along the street. Don't you dare forget the Dance Under The Stars polks dance party on Saturday night. Take a look at our favourite foods from last year's festival.

Shout out to Alice Prendergast for her help with festival research. Photos by Alejandro Santiago, Mauricio Calero, Matt Forsythe, Jesse Milns, and Ryan Bolton.

As the battle to make the most Instagram worthy soft serve in Toronto heats up, this contender throws its hat into the ring with wildly photogenic cotton candy offerings that look like ice cream versions of flying saucers.

Find out more in my profile of Dolce 21 in the restaurants section.

Toronto Food Events rounds up the most delicious events, festivals, pop-ups, winemaker dinners, supper clubs and other food related happenings in Toronto this week and next. You can find us here every Friday morning.

THIS WEEK

• Toronto Taste in support of Second Harvest Food Rescue Programs takes place this Sunday, June 12 at Corus Quay. Tickets are $260, including a $125 charitable tax receipt.
• The Drake Hotel (1150 Queen St. W.) hosts Batch book launch on Monday, June 13 at 8 p.m. as part of its regular 86'd Mondays programming.
• The Stop's Night Market will transform an empty lot at 158 Sterling Rd. into a vibrant all-you-can-eat-and-drink food festival on Tuesday, June 14 and Wednesday, June 15. Tickets ($100) are still available.
• World Tapas Day is this Thursday, June 16 and over one dozen chefs and restaurants are congregating at 1 Adelaide St. for a pop-up festival between 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. It's free to attend and will feature food from Cava, Tapagria, Bespoke Butchers and more.

UPCOMING

• Taco Fest kicks off at 99 Sudbury on Friday, June 17. Tickets are $10 and the festival promises tacos, a margarita and sangria bar, hot sauce tastings, nacho and salsa samplings and live mariachi music.
• Experience a Taste of Ramadhan with local food blogger Aisha Silim and her family when they host Iftar on Saturday, June 25 at 8:30 p.m. at their Mississauga home. Tickets are $70.
• Kothu Fest on Sunday, July 24 is set to take over the Scarborough Civic Centre from noon to 10 p.m. This Sri Lankan food fest is free to attend.

Photo of Toronto Taste by Jesse Milns.

Toronto fans of Lin-Manuel Miranda's Hamilton no longer have to feel so helpless. That's because the hit musical might be making its way to Toronto, reports the Globe and Mail today.

David Mirvish is not throwing away his shot to mount the Pulitzer Prize-winning show on a local stage. Instead, he's working with Hamilton producer Jeffery Seller to bring it to the great white north. As the Globe writes, they're looking at possibly putting up a production here using an all-Canadian cast.

The musical, as its name suggest, tells the story of the ten-dollar founding father Alexander Hamilton through hip-hop and rap as well as an array of other musical styles.

It's nearly impossible to see the show at the Richard Rodgers Theatre in Manhattan, unless you're willing to fork out nearly $1,000 for tickets on re-sale sites. But if you want a sneak peek, check out the Tony Awards this Sunday where Hamilton has a record-breaking 16 nominations.

While the Toronto production wouldn't happen for a while, my dreams of it finally making its way here can stay alive.

Photo via Facebook.

The top patios to watch a Jays game in Toronto offer ample space for you to root for the home team with a beer in hand. If you can't snag tickets to see Bautista, Dickey, Pillar and the rest of the boys of summer take the field, opt for one of these outdoor watering holes.

Here are my picks for the top patios to watch a Jays game in Toronto.

Broncos
Broncos has elected to show all the major Blue Jays games on its sidewalk patio. And, good news, instead of spending excessive amounts on subpar hot dogs and nachos at the Rogers Centre, you can purchase eats here for around the $5 mark (and they taste way better).

Scallywags
The rooftop patio at Scallywags boasts not one, not two, but fourteen screens that you can watch the Blue Jays do their thing on. The space comes equipped with a retractable awning and heaters, so you won't have to budge if Mother Nature decides to shake things up.

Oasis
Maintain the belief that bigger is better? Same with Oasis. The rooftop space (located above Wayne Gretzky's) has enough room to seat 220, so feel free to bring your entire squad to the patio. There are four TVs set up for game-watchers to enjoy, but if you want to get a good viewing spot I recommend hitting the bar early.

Stone Lion
If you hail from the east, the Stone Lion is your best bet. The patio itself has undergone a pretty drastic makeover since the restaurant changed ownership (RIP, Lion on the Beach), so expect to find more communal seating and enough screens to get a good view of the game from any angle.

Against the Grain
Against the Grain in Leaside boasts a couple of big screens for you to enjoy the game on. And forget about sub-par plastic furniture, you can watch all the action go down from the comfort of an outdoor sofa (however, if you're eager to see everything I suggest posting up by the bar).

Thanks to Strongbow for sponsoring our 2016 Patio Guide

Photo of Against the Grain by Jesse Milns

Glad Day Bookshop is not only Toronto's oldest bookstore; it's the world's oldest LGBTQ bookstore as well. It's been serving the city from its storefront on Yonge Street and now it's likely moving east to Church Street.

This issue is that the Glad Day Bookshop's current space isn't accessible to those with mobility issues. It wants its new location to be welcoming for all people.

When it moves, Glad Day will reportedly expand its offerings. Right now it's considering introducing new lines of business, such as a cafe and bar as well as board games when it relocates.

To help fund everything, the bookstore is running an Indiegogo campaign where it hopes to raise $50,000 to help fund the big move.

Photo via Glad Day Bookshop on Facebook.

The top events at Pride 2016 are much more than parties (that comes later!). This is a whole other set of happenings, but equally as entertaining... just not in a hands-in-the-air, shirts-off, glitter-fest kind of way. These are the top talks, films, art shows and parades over the course of Pride month.

Here are my picks for the top events at Pride Toronto 2016.

FILM

Muff Society presents: But I'm a Cheerleader (June 15)
The Muff Society and Inside Out present this amazingly hilarious lesbian classic film at Carlton Cinema starting at 9 p.m. It'll cost you $9, but get there early because "lobby fun" is promised for 8 p.m.

Mean Girls screening (June 22)
Pride and the Harbourfront Centre's Free Flicks series and TIFF partner up for an outdoor screening of Mean Girls. Star Daniel Franzese will be in the house to for live commentary! There will be other special guests as well, and "on Wednesday's, we wear pink," so show up dressed to impress.

The Watermelon Woman (June 23)
Queer cinema pioneer Cheryl Dunye introduces a new digital restoration of her directorial debut, The Watermelon Woman at TIFF. Such an important moment in queer cinematic history.

Truth or Dare screening (July 2)
Hot Docs and Pride team up for a special 25th anniversary screening of Madonna's Truth or Dare at the Ryerson Quad. Movie starts and 6 p.m. but lookout, remixer DJ Paulo will start his set quickly after the film is done to start a Madge dance party.

ART

You Can Show With Us (June 30)
This is an "open, non-curated" opportunity to show your digital artwork or digital media project at OCAD. Join artists as they celebrate diverse gender orientations, identities and expressions. Presentation slots are assigned on a first come, first serve basis and sign up is at 6 p.m., show at 8 p.m.

10X10 exhibit and Launch party (June 30)
This one is always fun. Every year 10x10 celebrates 10 Canadian, queer photographers' work as they produce 10 photos of their own and present them for the summer at the Gladstone Hotel. John Webster, N Maxwell Lander and Heartbeats duo Vivek Shraya and Karen Campos are among this year's talent.

That's So Gay: Opening Party (June 30)
The Gladstone turns into the Gaystone for the month of June, and this art party takes over the 2, 3 and 4th floors of the building. Come Together is this year's theme, which was curated by Syrus Marcus Ware and features 12 different artists.

TALKS

Pride is hosting a series of super interesting Human Rights Panels over the course of the month. I went to one about the 1981 Bathhouse Raids and it was packed to the rafters. Very interesting stuff. I highly recommend these.

• Trans Rights in the New Generation (June 14)
• Cairo's 2013 Bathhouse Raid (June 16)
• 35 Years of Women's Activism at the Interections (June 21)
• Blackness and Queer Politics (June 29)

SPORT

Pride Knife Throwing (June 23)
The Toronto Knife Throwing team is hosting a night for LGBTQ friends and family. $45 gets you a one-on-one coach, intro lesson, music and food. Just don't stab anyone in the back.

Muddy York Touch Game (July 2)
Toronto's (extremely attractive) gay rugby teams host an open clinic and touch-game in time for Pride! This is for anyone who's ever been curious about rugby and wants to learn the basics and play a no-contact game afterwards. Who knows, you might love it and join the team for their next season!

CULTURE

Nuit Rose (June 25)
A queer, contemporary art thing in two of the city's gayest 'hoods. Church-Wellesley Village and Queen West both get indoor and outdoor art happenings, including a light parade on Ossington, and a DJ set from Bruce LaBruce. This one is best if you're looking for an adventure of discovery out in the city... it will take some digging, but you'll find things as it runs from 7 p.m. - late.

Circus So Gay (June 25 - 26)
Church Street closes down for a colourful street festival with roaming circus performances, DJs, Drag Queens and many, many, many gorgeous/topless people.

Church Street Comedy Pride Edition (June 26)
The Church Street Comedy series at Pegasus Bar on Church Street gets a Pride upgrade with a massive lineup of LGBT comedians starting at 8 p.m. It's pay what you can.

AIDS Candlelight Vigil (June 28)
This event takes place in Barbara Hall Park at the 519 on Church St. It's a beautiful ceremony created to commemorate, celebrate and remember the many amazing people we've lost to AIDS. Take a moment away from all the parties and fun-loving activities and pay tribute anytime from 9-11 p.m. in the park.

Naked Boys Reading (June 28)
Accurately described as "a titillating queer literary salon featuring sexy, unclothed literary buffs reading, in the buff, to you." Now in its third year, the readings start on the third floor of Glad Day Bookshop at 8 p.m.

Starry Night (June 30)
A night under the stars to help kick off the Greenspace Festival at the 519, this is the event to see everyone before the parties really kick off. Rupaul's Drag Race fan fave Kim Chi will be there along with Fay Slift, Sonfonda Cox, Brooke Lynn Hytes, Tynomi Banks, Donnarama, and a small army of other wonderfully talented local queens. This is a night to mix and mingle and see a good show.

Street Fair (July 1 - 3)
The Gay Village gets even gayer with a weekend-long street fair of food and vendors, all surrounded by multiple stages of entertainment and DJs. Put a bouncy case on your camera, cause you'll be whipping that thing out for photos not stop. Also: sunscreen.

French Rendez-vous (July 3)
Franco Fierte celebrates Pride for Francophones in the city with a day of live music from 2 - 5 p.m. Check out the Tresor Otshudi choir and Royal Tribal Belly dancing at Church and Wellesley.

STAGE

Buddies Pride (June 12 - July 3)
The Pride programming at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre every year is always super impressive. This year doesn't disappoint. Annual shows like Bitch Salad, Butch Femme Salon, Bizarre Ball are essential, but so are new things like Raid: Operation Soap , Rough, and the Bi Visibility Cabaret.

Black Boys: A night of spiritual Pride (June 18)
Artists and community join forces to celebrate black queerness during Pride. Hosted by Saga Collectif Virgilia Griffith, Stephen Jackman-Torkoff, Tawiah Ben MCarthy, Thomas Olajide, and Jonathan Seinen, it's a night of performance, art, music and a preview of the Black Boys show.

Rufus Does Judy (June 23)
Part of the Luminato Festival, Rufus takes on Judy Garland's legendary 1961 concert from start to finish, inside The Hearn. It doesn't get gayer than this, and there will most definitely be special guests.

An Evening with George Takei (June 26)
Take a comfy seat the Ryerson Theatre and listen to Star Trek's own George Takei talk about his life. If you follow him on Twitter you know how brilliant and smart and quick he is, this should be a hilarious and insightful evening. Bonus: there's a Q&A afterwards!

Viva Cabaret (June 30)
A one-man show of Diva impersonations at The Rivoli. This show constantly sells out, so beware. Yury Ruzhyev takes on 25 divas during the show, which turns into a dance party afterwards.

Fruit Loopz (July 2)
Queer and Trans youth take over this stage at the Ryerson Quad for a day of art, words and ideas. Spoken word artists, poetry, music and dance will all happen.

Drag On! (July 2)
Yonge-Dundas Square hosts this drag queen extravaganza starting at 2 p.m. This year the show attemps to set a Guinness Book of World Records title for Largest Drag Stage Performance. It's hosted by Lady Bunny and Bianca De Rio and features over 50 local queens as well as Rupaul's Drag Race Britney bitch, Derrick Barry.

MUSIC

Showtunes Karaoke (June 15)
The Second City Acting Up Stage company hosts a night of showtunes, karaoke style. From Kinky Boots to Rent to Kander and Ebb and Les Miserables, this is your chance to shine and belt it out for some forgiving strangers at a comedy club.

Yalla Bara (July 2 - 3)
A celebration of Middle Eastern culture during Pride, this night of music and performance is headlined by Beirut's Mashrou' Leila. There'll also be DJs Louay and Sylosurf and Arabesque Dance Company, Troupe Joy. Set over two days, there's a lot more to watch and move to.

PARADES

Trans March (July 1)
The rally starts at 7 p.m. and the March stars at 8 p.m. So get to the corner of Church and Hayden streets and get ready for a powerful moment in the streets. This is one of the largest trans events in Canada.

Dyke March (July 2)
The annual march starts at 2 p.m. at Church and Bloor streets. This Dyke March is less of a parade and more of a political demonstration of critical mass, celebrating the passion and power of LGBTTIQQ2SA women and trans people.

Pride Parade (July 3)
Starting at 2 p.m. at Yonge and Church streets, this is the big one. Our Prime Minister will march in the parade for the first time in Canadian history, which will be lead by The Prancing Elites, Black Lives Matter and trans superstar athlete Aydian Dowling, among many other very cool people.

Did I miss anything? Let us know in the comments.

Photo by Mauricio Calero.

Thai ice cream rolls are now available in Toronto but you'll likely need to line up to taste one. Since opening a couple of weeks ago this new shop has become an instant Instagram star thanks to its colourful takes on stir fried ice cream.

Read my profile of Arctic Bites in the restaurants section.

Toronto's Luminato Festival turns 10 this year, and to celebrate it has turned the once abandoned Hearn Generating Station into a massive arts hub. Shipping containers have been used to create a 1,200-seat theatre, while the power plant's old control room has been transformed into a venerable French restaurant. The overall effect is downright stunning.

Check out what the Hearn looks like for Luminato 2016.

Toronto smoked meat fans must be kvelling because Caplansky's College Street delicatessen will reopen tomorrow at 9 a.m.

Zane Caplansky was locked out of his restaurant and his lease was terminated earlier this week for "failing to effect repairs not authorized by the landlord." Caplansky filed an injunction and appeared in court this morning.

Justice prevails. See you tomorrow at 9am.

— Caplansky's Deli (@CaplanskysDeli) June 10, 2016

The judge ruled in his favour, allowing him back into his College Street space. But this isn't the end of the smoked meat saga. According to CityNew, the subsequent lawsuit will go before the courts at another time.

Photo by Natta Summerky.

Road closures in Toronto this weekend will cause a headache for drivers but offer plenty of chance for pedestrians to frolic in the sun. While no highways are closed on June 11 and 12, a number of street festivals and events will shut down major streets across the city.

The most significant road closure takes place on Saturday the 11th for Dundas West Fest, which shuts down the eponymous street to cars between Roxton Rd. and Lansdowne Ave. between 8 a.m. and midnight. If the crowds are like previous years, it'll also be difficult to ride a bike through this stretch as pedestrians and patios take over.

Also on Saturday is the Toronto leg of the Ride to Conquer Cancer, which will witness the closure of the westbound lanes of Lake Shore Blvd. between Strachan Ave. and Windermere Ave. from 6:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. A section of Kingston Rd. will also be closed on Saturday between Danforth Ave. and Birchmount Rd. from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. for a triathlon.

Sunday is Portugal Day, which brings the closure of Lansdowne Ave between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. Given that the Euro is about to ramp up, you expect to see a ton of flags out on display.

There are also two running events with road closures to be aware of on Sunday. The Shoppers Run for Women will close Queen's Park between College St and Bloor St. West between 7 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.

Meanwhile the Toronto Challenge Run will shut down Wellington St. from John Street to University Avenue from 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. There will also be related closures in the area as the run proceeds.

Lastly, the TTC has a partial closure on Sunday with Line 2 shut down for maintenance from Pape to St. George.

For the full list of road closures and restrictions, head to the City of Toronto's dedicated website.

Photo of Dundas West Fest by Jesse Milns.

If you have $400K to spend on a condo in Toronto, you can afford to live in most neighbourhoods, but you still might have to sacrifice on space if you opt to buy right downtown. A decade ago, this figure would have easily secured a two bedroom condo in most parts of the city, but now you have to weigh size against area and amenities.

This is what a $400K condo looks like in Toronto.

$389,400 at Dundas and Roncesvalles
This loft space satisfies the cool factor, but it's a bit on the small side with one bedroom and no den. On the flip side, there's lots of outdoor space including a sweet balcony. Maintenance fees are on the low side at just over $300 a month.

$394,000 at Humber Bay Shores
This unit is located in one of Toronto's most popular condo communities on the shore of lake Ontario. For just under $400K you get a one bedroom plus den and a balcony that looks over the waterfront. Add to that some decent amenities and reasonable maintenance fees, and you have a condo that will be attractive to car-owners.

$399,999 at Yonge and Lawrence
This one bedroom plus den near Yonge and Lawrence features a sprawling master bedroom as well as a rooftop patio. The corner unit gets lots of light throughout the day, which makes it feel a bit bigger than it is. The downside? Hardcore home cooks will find the kitchen cramped. Maintenance fees come in at just over $300 a month.

$409,500 in the West Don Lands
This River City condo comes with an underground parking spot, a balcony, and a bedroom/den, which helps to make it feel spacious despite relatively small square footage. Area-wise, the West Don Lands are booming, and this development is considered one the nicest among those that have cropped up in the last five years.

$409,900 on Kingston Rd.
The Upper Beaches is starting to see condo development ramp up, which makes lots of sense. Kingston Rd. has become an ever more interesting retail strip, and the lake is just a quick downhill bike ride away. This slick unit features two bedrooms and two bathrooms, which will make it attractive to a wide variety of buyers. Caveat emptor: maintenance fees come in at over $500, though.

$419,900 at Mount Pleasant and Davisville
Located on a quiet stretch of Mount Pleasant south of Davisville, this condo is spread across two floors, with the bedroom and en suite above the kitchen and living area. At over 700 square feet, it's a comfortable size for a couple who like to entertain. The open concept lower floor can accommodate plenty of guests, while the balcony adds usable square footage in the summer.

Would you buy any of these condos? Let us know in the comments.

Toronto's newest Mexican restaurant has a sweet front patio, summery cocktails and a menu of tacos and more that is entirely gluten-free. The only thing not celiac-friendly is the beer.

Read my profile of El Pocho in the restaurants section.

The best fish stores in Toronto sell a wide variety of delicacies and also give out cooking-related advice and information on harvesting methods. Some of these stores are locally famous for their excellent value or selection of exotic fare, while others have made it their mission to encourage ocean-friendly eating.

Here are the best fish stores in Toronto.