The top Toronto-based online fashion stores are the future of shopping. Though it's nice (and moreover, favourable) to see and touch products in the flesh just before making a purchase, e-commerce is on a steady rise. With services like free shipping and return policies, it's becoming more and more convenient to choose shopping via World Wide Web over the hassle of sifting through racks and waiting in line. These particular web shops make the guilty pleasure of sitting at home and browsing for hours feel so right that some don't even need to exist as a brick-and-mortar retailer.

Here are my top online fashion stores in Toronto.

Uncle Otis
Uncle Otis's online shop is the product of meticulous, dedicated work - and it shows. The straightforward layout takes nothing away from the clothing, which is always photographed and posted ASAP, and is sometimes modeled by the store's very own. Brands like Wings + Horns and Kin are represented so immaculately, it's almost like seeing the real thing.

Bicyclette Boutique
Bicyclette Boutique's brick-and-mortar shop is like a dreamland for girly girls, with its pristine appearance and slew of feminine products by brands like nOir Jewelry and Wildfox Couture. Their online boutique has successfully translated this atmosphere to the virtual world; the sparkly splash page and cutesy girls modeling the clothing almost feel like a unicorn sighting.

Shopcaster
Shopcaster knows it can be hard for small-time Toronto retailers to create a significant web presence, so they've made it their mission to be the best online platform for local brands. Each hosted store has the freedom to decide how to shoot their merchandise and when to update, but Shopcaster's simple layout makes them all pleasant to peruse; it's no surprise names like Coal Miner's Daughter and Of A Kind have opted for this type of web shop.

Sydney's
Just like their clothing, Sydney's online presence is tailored and all about the details. Visitors who are shopping for only the best menswear (but have no time to waltz into the Queen St. West store during work hours) are welcomed with an artsy slideshow uninterrupted by the clean navigation bar. A white background with the faintest bit of imagery creates visual interest and multiple views of the merchandise put the cherry on top of a pleasant shopping experience.

Shrimpton Couture
The queen of all vintage web shops, Shrimpton Couture owes all of its success to founder Cherie Federau's almost-suffocating standards of quality. Everything from her unlabeled flapper dresses to her massive selection of high-end names is guaranteed to be in the best condition possible. Plus, with a killer return policy and layaway services, you have nothing to lose.

Nomad
As one of Toronto's menswear favourites, it only makes sense that Nomad would take advantage of the growth of e-commerce. After all, the less time a guy spends in a retail store, the better (although what a good-looking retail store it is). The super minimal website leaves the clothes to do all the talking, and combined with a frequently updated blog and accessible promotions, Nomad's online shop is unstoppable.

L A B & iD
L A B & iD is one of the very few Toronto-based stores that are really pushing the boundaries of fashion for both men and women. The products, styling, and aesthetic of the entire web shop are unconventional to say the least; the selection of designers they carry - like Proudrace and Roberto Piqueras - come together to create the perfect mix of minimalism and maximalism, but with an urban twist.

Ukamaku
Ukamaku is the link between small-but-talented Canadian designers and the world. With a community of about 50 high-end as well as casual brands - including Toronto's own Emily Woudenberg, Rachel Sin, and Sarah Stevenson - the strictly-online website is a clean, professional platform from which to buy local, all in the comfort of your own home.

Lead photo showing items from Ukamaku

One of the fringe benefits of a sudden cold spell or winter storm is that the Toronto waterfront can turn into something of an open air art gallery with dazzling ice "sculptures" spread across the shore. It doesn't happen every year — last winter wasn't cold enough, for instance — but when the conditions are right, the results are spectacular.

Local photographer Frank Lemire was on hand this weekend to capture the ice formations in all their glory. "I grew up in the beaches and now live in Leslieville," he explains. Ashbridges Bay has long been one of my favorite places to get away from the city while still being in it. Every time a wave breaks on the shore (or ice) part of it flows back into the lake, the rest gets frozen as a fresh layer, like tree rings. If winds are strong enough and waves big enough, the water sprays over the top of the ice, freezing, and thus builds up thicker and thicker."

Unfortunately it's typically a short-lived show. With warm temperatures kicking in post-snowstorm, Lemire imagines that the formations have likely all melted by now. It's possible, of course, that they'll return again — but for now at least we have the pictures. Some of them look like Lawren Harris paintings, though the infrared ones might just be the most stunning of all.

To see more of Lemire's work, you can check out his website and his current show at Lazy Daisy's Cafe until March 1st.

PHOTOS

The Toronto Black Film Festival is Toronto's newest film festival. Created by the Fabienne Colas Foundation, which also launched the Montreal Black Film Festival in 2005, the Toronto Black Film Festival bills itself as cool, international, independent, politically incorrect and eye-opening. It aims to celebrate diversity in black communities and showcase this through a variety of films from around the world.

This year's inaugural line-up features films from Kenya, France, Germany, Nigeria, South Africa, Denmark, the US and Canada just to name a few. A number of the films included in the program have already made waves in other festivals--including Montreal filmmaker Kim Nguyen's Rebelle (War Witch) which premiered at TIFF and is nominated for an Academy Award for best foreign film.

To keep it simple, here are my top five films to check out at the Toronto Black Film Festival.

Nairobi Half-Life (2012) (Opening Film)

For a young, aspiring actor from the upcountry, Nairobi is the city of dreams, and despite his family's concerns, he decides to pursue his passion in the big city. But when he arrives he soon realizes that things are not always what they seem, and his plans for a better life threaten to be derailed when he is pulled into the world of smalltime crooks.
TIFF Bell Lightbox, Wednesday, February 13, 2013, 7PM $15


Last Flight to Abuja (2012) (Closing Film)

This Obi Emelonye directed flick is based on true events and details the fateful night of the last scheduled Flamingo Airways flight from Lagos to Abuja. It's a Friday night, and the passengers are drawn from many different worlds - young lovers, a corporate party, an elderly couple, a rising sports star - but they are all united by the sense of their impending doom. But one person seems to know something they don't...and this may be the deciding factor on whether or not they all survive the last flight to Abuja.
Royal Cinema, Sunday, February 17, 2013, 7PM, $10


Lost in Africa (2010)

When 11-year-old Simon and his adoptive Danish mother travel to Kenya, the country of his origin, the young boy unexpectedly gets lost in the largest city-slum in Africa when searching for his beloved soccer ball. His trendy clothes clearly mark him as different, and he is soon mugged, which makes him look like any other kid in the slums, and he even finds some friends. But when his mother Susanne offers a reward to get him back, he becomes a hunted boy in the slums and has to rely on his newfound friends to make it out.
Carlton Cinema, Friday, February 15, 2013, 7PM $10

Otelo Burning

Sometimes it's the simplest things that can help you escape. The setting for Sara Blecher's film is South Africa, 1988. Apartheid is raging on, but three Zulu boys have discovered surfing as a way to get away from it all. When Mandela is freed, however, they discover that beneath the surface of their newfound freedom, the old emotions of greed, jealousy and violence still simmer, waiting to erupt.
Royal Cinema, Friday, February 15, 2013 7PM $10

Phone Swap (2012)

In this comedy of errors, Akin, an uptight businessman, and Mary, on her way to solve a family crisis, meet for the first time when they literally run into each other at the airport. In the ensuing mix-up, they mistakenly pick up each other's identical phones, and when each receives a text message indicating destinations, they each find themselves travelling to where the other was supposed to go, without realizing the error until it's too late.
Carlton Cinema, Thursday, February 14, 2013 7PM $10

The Toronto Black Film Festival launches at the TIFF Bell Lightbox (350 King St W.) on February 13, 2013, but screenings will also be held at the Royal Cinema (608 College St) and Carlton Cinema (20 Carlton St) during its five day run. For a full schedule and list of films, as well as to purchase tickets, visit the Toronto Black Film Festival website.

Photo by littlegirlracer in the blogTO Flickr pool

Toronto events on February 13, 2013

FUNDRAISER | I LOVE SKETCHFEST - A Celebration and Fund Raiser
An evening centered around sketch comedy awaits you at the Steam Whistle Brewery tonight. This event is a fundraiser to help this year's The Toronto Sketch Comedy Festival, which takes place next month. Some awesome eats are promised as well, including oysters and charcuterie from Oyster Boy, and hors d'oeuvres provided by caterers Daniel & Daniel. Make sure to save some room for the performances, though! Live sketch comedy is the main course, and guests will have the opportunity to "adopt" a sketch troupe by auction. Tony Ho, Fratwurst, Vest Of Friends, and Primo will all be up for grabs, and providing some great entertainment. Come out and support sketch comedy and have a great evening out.
Steam Whistle Brewery (255 Bremner Blvd) 7PM $25

ART | Resolvere/Resolve A Solo Exhibition by Sarah Sands Phillips
Toronto artist, Sarah Sands Phillips, has her work featured at a solo exhibition this evening at The Brockton Collective. Phillips studied fine art at Queen's University, and is developing a body of work here in Toronto. Tonight marks her third solo exhibition, and focuses on the theme of resolve in the context of abstract art. There is plenty of ground to be explored here, as the many meanings of this word have many playful implications in the world of abstract visual art. Tonight is the opening reception for Resolvere/Resolve which runs until Sunday the 17th.
Brockton Collective Inc (442a Dufferin Street) 7PM

BOOKS & LIT | Toronto WordStage
The February edition of WordStage happens tonight at Q Space. This reading series is devoted to presenting both emerging and established talent in poetry, prose and drama. Featured tonight are poet Matthew Tierney, whose work has been shortlisted for a Trillium Award; Room Magazine Reader's Choice Winner, Naomi Freeman; New Brunswick musician and novelist, Chris Eaton, and performance poet and musician Cynthia Gould, a member of TO's own High Heels Lo Fi. Come out and support local literary talent!
Q Space (382 College Street) 7:30PM PWYC

MUSIC | Gojira @ The Phoenix
French metal outfit, Gojira, rocks The Phoenix tonight. These guys reveal their concerns about the environment in their lyrics, and have been together since 1996, forging a unique brand of metal that is often called "progressive" and even "groove metal". Their latest album, L'Enfant Sauvage, was released last year, and fuels their current tour. They are joined on the bill by Chicago post-metal band, The Atlas Moth, and esoteric Canadian musician, Devin Townshend, well-known from his former project, Strapping Young Lad. Should be a heavy one.
Phoenix Concert Theatre (410 Sherbourne Street) 7PM $22.50

OTHER EVENTS ON OUR RADAR

WU BLOCK feat. GHOSTFACE KILLAH & SHEEK LOUCH @ SOUND ACADEMY
Be Mein Valentine w/ Skin Tight Outta Sight & Boylesque T.O.
U of T Drama Festival

MORE EVENTS THIS WEEK

For more Toronto event suggestions, check out these posts:

• This week in music
• This week in food
• This week in film
• This week in fashion
• This week in theatre
• This week in comedy
• Toronto concerts, February 2013

Have an event you'd like to plug? Submit your own listing to the blogTO Toronto events calendar or contact us directly.

Photo by Roger Cullman in the blogTO Flickr pool

Coun. Adam Vaughan, one of Rob Ford's harshest critics, wants to be part of the mayor's inner circle with a place on the cabinet-like executive committee. Vaughan's chance aren't good - Deputy mayor Doug Holyday said selecting Vaughan, someone unlikely to tow the official line, "wouldn't make sense." Coun. Vince Crisanti is likely to get the nod to replace coun. Mike Del Grande instead.

Rob Ford's official schedule is back in the spotlight again thanks to the Globe and Mail (paywall.) The paper says the mayor regularly left city hall at 3:30 during the fall and gave large blocks of time to returning calls and attending meetings. The paper notes Ford's afternoons were labelled "private" after the paper reported on his after-school football practices.

The city will review the way it handled last week's snow storm, including the decision not to use special powers to ban parking on all streetcar routes. Speaking to reporters yesterday, coun. Denzil Minnan-Wong said the city could have "acted differently." He explained a so-called "snow emergency" wasn't called because the weather was expected to clear quickly. Could the city have reacted better?

The brief adventure of the Cabbagetown coyote came to a startling end Monday night when police officers shot the animal dead in Wellesley Park. Residents spotted the coyote over the weekend roaming near Carlton and Sackville streets. Police said they shot the wild canine, likely a native of the Don Valley, because it showed its teeth and seemed unafraid of people.

GO Transit's new Quiet Zone on the upper deck of its Barrie line cars could be expanded if it's a success. The Toronto Star reports the pilot project is likely to arrive on all lines when the current three-month trial period ends. Do you like the idea of quiet areas?

Finally, Toronto is going to get its own doggy UN when 36 dachshunds from around the GTA are assembled at the Harbourfront Centre later this month. Each dog will represent a country and be allowed to run free in a show in the Enwave theatre. Don't worry dog lovers, the show will be webcast too.

IN BRIEF:

• TTC musician Achilla Orru, renowned lokembe player, dead at 53 [Toronto Star]
• Councillor Josh Matlow calls for Toronto youth violence strategy [Toronto Sun]
• 'Limited resources' cited in fatal 3-hour ambulance delay [CBC]
• City hosts condo owner consultations [CBC]

Chris Bateman is a staff writer at blogTO. Follow him on Twitter at @chrisbateman.

Image: "Dovercourt Park Sunset" by John-Paul Darby/blogTO Flickr pool.

This new bakery from a longtime pastry chef is decorated in pink hues, girly accents, and vintage touches. Although the owner has been in the custom cake business for a long time, on offer here are cookies, butter tarts, brownies, and cakes, as well as teas and coffee.

Read my profile of ps by Pretty Sweet in the bakeries section.

This Week in Fashion rounds up the week's style news, store openings and closings, pop-up shops, sales and upcoming fashion and design events in Toronto. Find it here every Wednesday morning.

EVENTS/PARTIES

Browse I'MONIQ's selection of insane statement jewellery at a 2-day pop-up shop happening at Fresh Collective (692 Queen St W) starting today (February 13) and continuing tomorrow (February 14). In addition to seeing the hand-dyed silk cuffs and one-of-a-kind earrings in the flesh, guests will have a chance to meet the designer behind the brand and potentially win a piece in a raffle.

University of Toronto's Party Smart Association and Fashion Networking Organization are pushing Torontonians to Make Time for Love at Sazerac Gastro Lounge (782 King St W) for a dazzling Valentine's Day (February 14) party involving cupcakes, cocktails, good company, and a live DJ. Plus, they'll be multiple giveaways (including tickets to see Lady Gaga and Rihanna) all night long, so be sure to grab your $10 tickets now.

Local label Chinedesign is hosting a masquerade ball at Daniels Spectrum (585 Dundas St E) on Friday (February 15) following a multi-media fashion presentation celebrating the African mask and the spirit of Carnival. Tickets are available on their website and doors open at 9 pm, but don't forget to grab a venetian-style mask and wear a black, gold, or red outfit, because it's mandatory for the ball!

SALES

Spread the love this Valentine's Day (February 14) by bringing in a pair of gently used jeans to Over the Rainbow (101 Yorkville Ave) to donate to the United Way. You'll get 20% off a new pair of jeans, and that warm fuzzy feeling that follows giving generously.

Until the 28th, Over the Rainbow (101 Yorkville Ave) is pretty much giving away their fall/winter merchandise with prices marked at up to 70% off. Brands like Line Knitwear will be available at ridiculously low prices, so you might as well stock up on the stylish cold weather wear before it's gone for good.

The Sample Sale Guys are back at it again, coming to Toronto (read: Richmond Hill) for yet another massive designer sale over the long weekend (February 14 - 18). Get men's and women's clothing - including Nudies and Michael Kors - from 40% - 80% off at The Sheraton Hotel (600 Hwy 7 E).

Photo courtesy of I'MONIQ

The top Toronto web series might most often encountered at 3am, when you're in pyjamas and illuminated only by your laptop screen, but that doesn't mean they're not addictive, quality programming. In fact, Toronto is home to some of the best web series in the world, having racked up nominations and awards from Paris, New York and L.A., and these homegrown web series (although not always set on the streets of the city) come with millions of views, tons of extras, production value, and well-crafted characters that could easily rival most Canadian TV shows.

Here is my list, in no particular order, of the top web series created or produced in Toronto.

Prison Dancer

Prison Dancer is an interactive musical web series inspired by the viral YouTube hit "Dancing Inmates Of Cebu." The story of 6 Filipino prisoners whose lives were changed by a dancing rehabilitation program, we follow journalist Matt Wells as he interviews and uncovers the people behind the sensation. Think a prison version of Glee. Prison Dancer has won a host of awards, was turned into a Broadway musical, and was most recently nominated for a Canadian Screen Award for Best Digital Program.

Out With Dad

Out With Dad is a family friendly (PG13) quirky drama about a teenage girl Rose (Kate Conway) and her single father (Will Conlon) struggling with coming-of-age and coming out of the closet. Tackling homophobia and heartbreaks, it's not afraid to encourage an open environment and show its support. Out With Dad is officially endorsed by PFLAG Canada, and has also been nominated for a Canadian Screen Award for Best Original Program or Series Produced for Digital Media.

Guidestones

Guidestones is probably Toronto's best known interactive web series. Having received recognition worldwide, it was recently nominated for a Canadian Screen Award for Best Original Program or Series produced for digital media. Based on the real mystery of the Georgia Guidestones, it follows Sandy Rai (Supinder Wraich) and Trevor Shale (Dan Fox), both Ryerson University School of Journalism students, as an unsolved murder starts them on a search for the truth, leading them to the mysterious monument in rural Georgia, and, of course, a conspiracy.

Microwave Porn

A live action Saturday morning cartoon for adults, Microwave Porn follows the story of humble architect assistant Dave (Ash Catherwood) and his talking, porn-addicted microwave, Allen. Together, they form an unlikely bond and traverse the urban dating scene with hilarity and perversity. Easy and fun to watch, it features guest appearances by Second City's Nigel Downer and Canadian comedy darling Nikki Payne.

Clutch

This femme fatale story follows the exploits of Kylie (Elitsa Bako), a pickpocket, who's forced to go on the run from a crime syndicate run by Marcel Obertovitch (Peter Hodgins), after her boyfriend, Matt (Matthew Carvery), betrays him. She teams up with a prostitute named Bridget (Lea Lawrynowicz) and fellow pickpocket Mike (Jeff Sinasac) to go on the offensive and rob Marcel. With sweet visuals and a great musical score, it's a fun and sometimes saucy look at the darker side of life.

Seth On Survival

Seth On Survival is hosted by supernatural survivologist (and teenager) Seth Greening. The goal? To give you all the supernatural resources that you need to survive in these troubled times. Episodes include survival tactics for, but not limited to: zombies, werewolves, vampires and leprechauns. You can even download the Monstrometer app for your iPhone or iPad to determine the probability of whether your friends might actually be a dangerous supernatural creature.

Sexy Nerd Girl

Sexy Nerd Girl follows the life of fictional character Valerie LaPomme (Hannah Spear), a self-professed sexy nerd girl who loves sci-fi, comics, video games, Pokemon, and sex. It covers every topic imaginable from online dating, to the friend zone, to The Hobbit.

Space Janitors

Space Janitors is a comedy/sci-fi series that follows the lives of two janitors, Mike Chet (Pat Thorton) and Darby Richards (Brendan Halloran) and their friends who serve aboard an evil, iconic space station. Complete with androids, rebellious forces, break-up drama, and the desire to better oneself, it sheds a humorous light on an otherwise stereotypically serious genre. Space Janitors is among the nominees for The Canadian Screen Awards Best Original Program or Series Produced for Digital Media.

B.J Fletcher: Private Eye

B.J Fletcher: Private Eye centres on the shenanigans of P.I Beatrix Jane Fletcher (Lindy Zucker), and her best friend/assistant Georgia Drew (Dana Puddicombe). We follow them as they grapple with everything from going undercover to running surveillance with varying degrees of success. One of the original lesbian web series, it won the 2008 web series competition run by AfterEllen.com.

Ruby Skye P.I

Another mystery-based web series (although this one trends younger), Ruby Skye P.I is reminiscent of Harriett The Spy. It follows the detective work of smart and stubborn Ruby Skye (Madison Cheeatow) as she tries to uncover mysteries, and stops at nothing to unravel the clues. Complete with best friends, an angst-ridden older sister, and a nemesis, Ruby Skye P.I is the perfect tween show. Entirely violence-free, full of blog entries and games, it's a great classroom resource for teachers, and a show parents can feel safe about letting their children watch.

Writing by Kat Harlton

Hey look, a condo for less than $500,000! Line up, workers. One of 11 lofts in the Boiler Factory on Queen East, this condo is steps from the streetcar, steps from Moss Park, and a brief walk away from the Queen subway station. A good thing, too, since parking is not included. Channel your inner Mimi Marquez and check out this condo of the week.

SPECS:

Address: 189 Queen Street East, #5
Price: $469,900
Size: ~900 s.f.
Ceiling: 10 ft
Bedrooms: 1
Bathrooms: 1
Parking Spaces: N/A
Locker: N/A
Terrace: 235 s.f.
Exposure: North
Monthly Maintenance: $330.19
Taxes: $2,617
Building Amenities: Enter phone security system

NOTABLE FEATURES:

• Private 235 square foot rooftop terrace
• Office space
• Viking professional series gas range and hood
• Bosch dishwasher
• Three islands
• Original wood posts
• Exposed brick
• Across from Moss Park
• Window coverings and light fixtures included
• Laminate floors

GOOD FOR:

Moss Park chess players, streetcar advocates, and nude sunbathers. Good for people who actually enjoy cooking at home and/or die-hard Rent fans.

MOVE ON IF:

You're afraid of sound issues concerning loft living, uncovered light bulbs, or Moss Park. You think you should get at least two bedrooms for close to half a million dollars, or a parking space, or a locker. Negotiations should include that popcorn machine.

Additional photos:

If you had the dough, would you buy this home? Let us know where you stand in the comments below.

One of several smaller restaurants that have opened up in Roncesvalles Village over the past couple of years, The Westerly serves up a popular fusion of fine dining and comfort food incorporating aspects of French and Italian cuisine. The staff takes pride in its wine, beer, and cocktail list as much as the food menu, offering pairings with wine and beer including a range of mid and higher end wines at an affordable price.

I visited The Westerly to talk with head bartender Kyle Fawcett about his cocktail list, his love of beer, how he got into bartending, and his childhood love of hardcore and catching frogs.

Are you originally from Toronto?

I grew up near Thornbury, Ontario on a farm. My dad was the town manager of The Blue Mountains and my mum was a stay-at-home mum. So I'm a farm boy, walking around in underwear and rubber boots as a kid, catching frogs. I had no connection to any kind of restaurants. I think the first time I went to a restaurant, I was about 9 years old with my mum and dad. We had a lamb farm on one side, a veal farm on the other, and apple orchards behind us.

When did you come to Toronto?

As I went on to high school, I would go to hardcore show and metal shows in Toronto every single week, pretty much. One of our friends would have a car and make the two-hour drive. That's how I got connected with Toronto. I moved here when I was 18 or 19 for school. I went to University of Waterloo for a year--for architecture--and then I went to U of T for Arts & Science--politics, history, and psychology--and then I bartended. Because you don't get a job from doing that. [Laughs]

A lot of bartenders seem to have non-specific degrees like that!

That's the thing. I wanted to go out and be a political analyst and do all this stuff but I started working in restaurants in Collingwood when I was 13, just bussing and doing bullshit stuff the whole time, and then went to university, finished my degree, and I was like "I hate this."

I genuinely like dealing with people. When you're behind a desk, you don't get that face-to-face, and I just crave that. Especially as a bartender, I'm basically about customer service. That's what I get out of it. I've been thinking about going back to school, but each time I work here you meet new people every day, and it's easy but you get to use your brain; making different cocktails, selling wine, selling beer. It's real life.

Where did you start out?

I worked at The Blue Mountain Inn a bit as a kid, and my uncle owned quite a few restaurants. He was the general manager of 360 at the CN Tower and owns about 10 restaurants in Burlington. He got me into the restaurant business here and he owned The Miller Bistro. It was in Etobicoke, at Dundas and Kipling. I was there for about 3 years supervising and managing, and that gave me a base knowledge. Then they shut down. I came in one night to work my shift and it was empty. They had cleaned the fridges out, and they had cleaned all the grills. Everything was gone and I was like "Fuck. What am I gonna do now?"

Is 'face time' what drew you to bartending in the first place?

Yeah, man. Especially in a little bar like this--when I was at Terroni, it was basically the same size as this bar--you get all your regulars, especially in these little neighbourhoods. It's really comfortable; you get to know everyone and exactly what they want.

It also allows you to mess around and make up all the stuff you want to make up for them. Last night, I had people that I knew, and I was just making random cocktails all night. That's how I make them for the most part--I'll test them out on people that I know. I obviously don't charge them for it as they have to be my guinea pigs.

Do you like to play with classics and come up with your own twist?

With drinks like bourbon and stuff, I like to stick [to the traditions]. I'm not gonna mess with an Old Fashioned, I'm not gonna mess with a Manhattan. They're things that have been perfected. But with drinks like Chartreuse and stuff that people usually don't like--so many of my customers are like "Eww. Chartreuse? That's gross," and I'm like "No, it's not gross. Try it like this," and that will open that door for them to try stuff.

I think people are getting more adventurous of late.

Definitely industry people are. One of my favourite things is when I hear people talking about amaros or something that they don't know a lot about. To guide them into that cocktail that they normally wouldn't have, or even the drink itself, [is satisfying]. I had the chance to work at Terroni with all their amaros and I've learnt a lot from that kind of thing. But cocktails are probably about a fifth of what I do at this bar.

First and foremost, I love beer. If I can pair someone's beer or wine with their food, I'm happy, and then at the end of the meal I'll do some cocktail stuff with them. One of my favourite things to do is, instead of wine, pair a beer with someone's meal. There's been such an explosion in the craft beer scene in recent years which means a larger array of choices, so instead of just Stella or Moosehead, you can have a Brooklyn Lager for example.

Cocktails are trickier to pair with food as there's more than one thing going on usually. It tends to be a preprandial or after-dinner thing anyway.

Yeah, I think it also depends on the spot too. The Westerly is a small place and sees a young family, kinda mid-fifties age group. Then you get the young people that you know or who wander in here, and you can experiment a bit, but I'm just as happy selling someone a fantastic wine with their food. When I worked at Terroni, I had the pleasure of working with John Szabo, who is a fantastic wine sommelier, and a few of us were lucky enough to do his private wine tastings on Adelaide.

That makes me feel better as last time I was here I just had red wine.

Exactly. Being a bartender is not conducive to just making cocktails. I make coffees, we picked a really good beer list, and Tom does a fantastic job of building the wine list. When I first started working--at Miller's Bistro--I wasn't bartending. I was there for two and half years just supervising the serving. I would also sometimes bartend as it was a gigantic spot, but I was more into experience, and with the spots after it, I got more and more into bartending as I went. If you'd asked me 9 years ago if I was going to be really into cocktails--I don't know.

I also think that if you'd have asked me 10 years ago I would have seen cocktails as an elitist thing.

Yeah! Which has changed entirely. I think that specific people will come to The Westerly and try every single thing on the list, which I love. Our list is not changing lives. We have a Boulevardier and a Gimlet, stuff that I love, and stuff that you're gonna find at other spots, but maybe not done as well as we do. And it's those little tiny things that set aside those drinks; the attention to detail.

It's much more important for me to do the classics incredibly well than my own concoctions, especially if someone has a favourite they've been drinking for years; just in case you've been to spot where this drink was invented, served by a fantastic bartender that changed your life with this drink, and that's why you're ordering it!

Do you have any particular habits when it comes to bartending?

I get made fun of--I have this thing where I stand up and stick my leg out and shake my cocktail like an idiot. I don't know why I do that, but I'll act like an idiot. You bartend to have fun, right? That's why I'm not a psychiatrist, or a psychologist, or a political analyst. I'm here to have fun.

So you're just working here right now?

Yeah. When I was at La Societe, I worked like 6 days a week. Insane hours. I only work 4 days a week here. They might be the busiest days, but I wanted so desperately to have a small spot to play around with. Tom, the owner, and Beth, just kinda let you free. I'm very much allowed to do whatever I want to do with beer and cocktails.

How did you find out about the place?

I came here randomly one day about a year ago. I was working at La Societe, which is bow tie and vest. You're supposed to wear a tie--the only liberty I had was to wear a bow tie instead of a tie. That was my fashion statement. Yeah! Bow tie. I'm different.

I came here for brunch here one day and Tom was here, and Trevor who I had worked with at Terroni in the past was working here. He worked at Buca; he works a lot around the city. I didn't even know Tom owned a restaurant and I'd served him for years at Terroni. I'd never worked at a small spot and always wanted to.

So was there a cocktail list here when you started?

There was Trevor's cocktail list at the time, which was great. I'd worked with him at Terroni in the past and he's a great bartender. The thing with this spot is, we're not about doing a 3-page cocktail list. I think this one has 7 cocktails on it. They're not crazy. They're interesting. They're easy to make, and they're just done well.

It sounds incredibly cheesy, but it's about simplicity to perfection; doing things that have been done at every single bar around the city a thousand times, but doing them better than those spots. I have people that come back here to drink the Manhattans that I make. Something (that seems) simple, but it's not. I like to make a drink where someone is like "That's the best one of these I had," and that's why you do it.

I think the Manhattan is a good litmus test of how a bar or bartender makes drinks.

Exactly. It's the same as going to a pizza place and ordering the Margherita. Even a simple classic like a Manhattan can vary from place to place, and you don't necessarily need Antica Formula to make a great one. Last night, I was trying to make a Chartreuse sour. I was using Chartreuse and Knob Creek, which has this smoky, I would almost say peatiness to it, and blended it with agave, lime juice, and egg white. It was a little too sweet, but verging on what I want to make.

Sometimes there's just too many adjectives in food and cocktail menus.

So much! Sometimes it's about selling the sentence, not the food or the cocktail. I know, especially going through university for psychology, that your impression is your whole thing, but things should stand on their own. If I feel like I'm not good enough to make those specific drinks, then I'm not going to until I've been trained by someone who knows better than me, or until I've spent a lot of time researching and making it for myself.

What do you use as references for making cocktails?

I bought a couple of cocktail books that I have here, including the PDT book, which is awesome. We had the Vauvert Slim, which is Chartreuse with grapefruit juice, egg white and a Laphroaig scotch rinse, which is from that book. Right now it's cold outside, and one drink I make for people at the bar is an Aperol Cucumber Smash. It reminds me of summer. It's Aperol, blood orange, and cucumber. Aperol and cucumber go great together, and I just top it with Cava and sparkling blood orange.

That's what I'm trying to do with cocktails--those little moments where it's like "That's amazing, it's summer time," and yeah, look outside. It's not! [Laughs] You still have to go outside and walk home tonight, but this will make it a little bit better. You may not be able to afford to go to Mexico, but you can have this summery cocktail and it will help.

So what would you drink when you're on the other side of the bar?

Depends where I go. Usually it'll be wine or beer. If I do order a cocktail, it'll be something simple like a Manhattan or anything with [Amaro] Nonino in it. I'm a sucker for amaros. Usually if I go out, it'll be bourbon straight, like at a place like 1602 Dundas West and try their scotch list or their bourbon list to taste the alcohol on its own. I think its important as a bartender to taste alcohol on its own and know its properties.

I never go to a spot to try something. Usually, I'll go to see friends or for the food. Making cocktails every day of the week, when I'm going out, I just want to be served by someone and enjoy it, and have a good time. Me and my girlfriend have a tradition of going to Enoteca Sociale and doing their cheese board--cheese is my favourite thing in the world--and pairing that with a really nice bottle of wine. That's all I need. Just give me cheese and I'm a happy man!

Check out all our Toronto bartender profiles via our Pinterest board

Photos by Jesse Milns

Toronto's Hayden rose to prominence in the 1990s with a string of critically acclaimed records and lots of industry buzz. Since then, he's turned into a bit of a recluse; he didn't actually tour or do any press for his last record, 2009's The Place Where We Lived. We got a chance to check out some of this material back in December at Jason Collett's Basement Revue, but needless to say, while it may have only been four years, it's felt like a lifetime to many Hayden fans. The release of Us Alone marks his return, and what a return it is.

Us Alone opens with "Motel," and we find the singer driving his infant daughter around in order to get her to fall asleep. While doing so, he's forced to admit that he "can't go on pretending this song / is about young lovers, born to run / when it's so clearly about you and me." It's a song about parenthood, but also about the realization that adulthood--where actions have consequences, and things rarely turn out the way one would wish--is at last, and inescapably, upon you.

The record is a beautiful collection of stories, which are bare and almost universally compelling. Obviously, it'd be a mistake to infer too much into any possibly-autobiographical touches--although there's not much room for ambiguity in lines like "But I'm recording once again / While my kid is upstairs in bed / And I admit that now and then / That some nights when I'm strumming or maybe just jumpy / And music is still everything / Well, almost everything." (That's from "Almost Everything," by the way.)

There's already a video for the first single, "Rainy Saturday," featuring a fussing infant, some viral car wash advertising and one really sweet toque.

Other songs, though (I'm thinking "Just Give Me A Name"), work more as reflections on partnership in all its difficulties and its impossibilities. The record works as a slow kind of heartbreak, but a beautiful one, for sure. There are some beautiful instrumental moments, such as in "Instructions," which ends without a resolution, leaving the audience hanging. The guitars are covered in slow tremolo throughout the record, lending a dreamlike, reflective quality to the album.

Us Alone is as dense and subtle a record as you'll find, its meaning unfolding endlessly as you listen again and again. Look for this on best-of-2013 lists come next December.

What? It's not too early for that sort of prophesying, is it?

Hayden's playing a short string of shows next week to promote the record: February 20th at the Dakota Tavern, the 21st at the Cameron House and the 22nd at the Rivoli. Now, the other two shows will be incredibly intimate just because of the choice of venue, but the Rivoli gig will be the only one he's playing with Lou Canon (who sings guest vocals on "Blurry Nights,") so I'm sure there are people to whom it made sense to buy tickets to more than one night.

Unfortunately, the most up-to-date information we have indicates all 3 dates are sold out, but if you have any friends who are Hayden fans, now you'll know where they'll be on the 20th, 21st and 22nd.

Us Alone is available online at GalleryAC as well as just about all your local record shops. Soundscapes does have a nifty window display up, though. Just sayin'.

Noura Sakkijha and her husband Majed Masad wanted to unite jewelry designers and consumers in a virtual marketplace. That's exactly what they did when they launched the beta version of Mejuri, a Toronto-based jewelry crowdsourcing startup, this past September. Since then, it has gained about 250 designers in more than 21 countries. And a couple of weeks ago, Mejuri won the International Startup Festival's Elevator World Tour at the CN Tower, beating out about 100 other startups.

I recently connected with Sakkijha to learn more about Mejuri, why she launched it, and how she plans on competing with other jewelry stores - online and offline.

What was the inspiration for launching Mejuri?

My family has been working in the fine jewelry industry since 1953, so jewelry has always been an important part of my life. When looking at the industry, I noticed there isn't much innovation in the fine jewelry industry, especially when you compare it with costume jewelry. Even though there are many talented designers out there, customers still struggle to find unique designs. We thought of crowdsourcing to bridge the gap between the designers and the customers.

When you're buying fine jewelry, you should invest in the quality of the piece and the story behind it. This is what we provide. The customer's experience is personalized as they learn more about the designers and the inspiration behind each design.

How does the process work?

Designers from all over the world submit their designs, people comment and vote, and we then manufacture and sell the designs through our website. We share the profit with the designers through royalties, and we market for them. We have challenges and open calls for the designers.

Challenges typically have a theme and specific timelines. There are several winners per challenge and one top winning design. All winners get royalties and marketing, but the top winning designer receives additional rewards such as monetary awards and/or features in publications.

Open calls don't follow a specific theme and have no timelines. This means that designers can submit any design that they want at any time; the design goes through the same process of voting and commenting and the winning designers get royalties and marketing.

How are winning designs selected?

1. The Crowd Vote: Voting allows us to better understand which designs have the most demand. We look at the overall score relative to the number of votes.

2. Social Media: We analyze social media virality and interest. The more people sharing, pinning, commenting and posting, the better.

3. In-house experts: Our internal team of stylists, jewelry manufacturers and jewelry experts look at the trendiness and uniqueness of the designs, as well as any manufacturing complexities.

How do you compete with other jewelry stores - both online and offline?

A great value that we bring to the customers is the unique design aspect. Designers from different walks of life and different inspirations submit their designs on one platform. We personalize the process by connecting the designers and the customers together. The crowdsourcing aspect enables us to be more of a customer-centric company; it means we're constantly taking customer feedback in and catering to their needs.

Additionally, we produce high quality products that will stay with our customers forever. We're now online, but the sky's the limit. We're planning to go through offline channels as well.

How do designers benefit if their piece is manufactured and sold?

From a monetary perspective, the designers can win a cash award if they participate in design challenges. Every winning design gets royalties on each piece sold. We see our relationship with the designers as a partnership so we share the profit with them through royalties. We focus on marketing for the designers on our website and any publications that our products get featured in.

Designers' profiles are attached to their products, and even when we send the products to customers, they receive a card telling them who the designer is and what the inspiration was behind their design.

What do you have planned for Mejuri in the future?

From a tech perspective, we're working on enhancing the functionalities of our website and, most importantly, launching a community section. The community section will facilitate the creation of a community of jewelry lovers and designers; we are planning for some interesting features in the future that will make the process more engaging, which includes gamification and loyalty programs.

From a business perspective, our target this year is to spread the word about Mejuri and start establishing offline distribution channels. We're also looking to implement trunk shows to allow our customers to come and see the products and build higher levels of trust.

Writing by Samuel Dunsiger

At long last, someone for the 647 area code users to turn their noses down at. Starting March 25, the 437 area code will be added to the 416 and 647 area codes as a result of increasing demands for numbers in the region. The 905/289 will also see an additional area code: 365.

The new area codes should not affect existing numbers of change the way long distance numbers are dialed out. And for those who are worried about remembering an extra few numbers; in the wise words of The Simpsons: "Well, scientists have discovered that even monkeys can memorize ten numbers. Are you stupider than a monkey?"

Photo by Michael Fraser photography in the blogTO Flickr pool

Today we're excited to announce the release of our newest iPhone app. Following in the footsteps of our main blogTO app and our summer patio guide app we now have a third app to add to our roster: the Toronto bars, pubs and late night eats app.

As the name suggests, this new app, sponsored by Questrade, is intended to serve as your go-to guide for a night out in Toronto. The app not only includes photos and need-to-know details about hundred of locals bars and pubs but it's the first app that we know of that helps you satisfy those 3am hunger cravings after last call.

Here's a complete rundown of what we've packed into the app:

• Photos and info for hundreds of bars, pubs and late night eat spots in Toronto
• Call, map and get directions at the touch of a button
• Look up places by nearby, neighbourhood or venue type (bar, pub, nightclub, karaoke bar, late night eat etc.)
• View complete hours of operation for each business
• Search for places based on what's open right now, open today or open tomorrow
• See what beer is on tap, what hour the kitchen closes, and whether the place has live music or a patio
• Filter search results based on whether the place has live music, a patio, serves pitchers of beer or has beer on tap
• Look up places by keyword search
• Can't decide where to go? "Shake" the phone for a suggestion
• Connect the app with your Facebook account and blogTO user profile
• Create a list of your favourite places for easy access
• Share places in the app via Twitter, Facebook, email and SMS

And here are some screenshots so you can know what to expect.

The screen on the left shows the different ways you can find a bar, pub or late night eat spot. You can search by name, filter results by neighbourhood, opening time as well as additional options (under More Options). Tapping the Reset button will set all your filters back to the original/default state. The screen on the right shows the results. From this screen you can tap on a photo/place for more details.And these screens show the details for a specific bar, pub or late night eat spot.

Best of all, the app is free. Go download it now and let us know what you think of it in the comments below.

Photo by -Jacques in the blogTO Flickr pool

Coun. Giorgio Mammoliti received loans totaling more than $275,000 from real estate investors he helped place billboards along Highway 401, reports the CBC. Though are no laws requiring councillors to formally declare these sorts of transactions, the mortgages fall in an ethical grey area, according to an expert quoted by the broadcaster. It's thought the billboards could bring in around $250,000 in revenue to the owner. Was it a good idea for Mammoliti to accept these loans even if it's not strictly against the rules?

Rob Ford has apologized to Toronto's medical officer ten months after calling his salary "an embarrassment." Integrity commissioner Janet Leiper found the mayor and his brother breached the council code of conduct on their weekly radio show while criticizing Dr. David McKeown's recommendation for lower speed limits. McKeown accepted the apology.

Metrolinx says it's considering charging drivers to park and ride at its GO stations to help fund the province's next wave of transit projects. Parking is currently free to those lucky enough to snag one of its 65,000 unreserved spaces. GO charges drivers who want a space held for them.

Also in parking, coun. Paula Fletcher says drivers should get some leeway when it comes time to move their cars to the other side of the street. Parking enforcement officers have been known to issue tickets minutes after the 9 am switch time required on many residential streets. Should there be a grace period for parking tickets?

OCAD U's part of the proposed Mirvish-Gehry condos will be named for the late Princess Diana, the university has announced. The Princess of Wales Visual Arts Centre will join retail space and a museum at street level on King Street under the plans currently working their way through the approvals process.

IN BRIEF:

• Police seek to ID woman seen near slain couple's U.S. home [CBC]
• Firefighters fall from landing in Toronto building under construction [Toronto Star]
• Cyclist's leg broken after police chase, ends with driver in custody [Toronto Star]

Chris Bateman is a staff writer at blogTO. Follow him on Twitter at @chrisbateman.

Image: "_DSC8962" by mikepop2ca/blogTO Flickr pool.

The photos of the week collect each of the editor-selected photos of the day into one post for a contest to be decided by our readers. Sponsored by Posterjack, the photographer whose image receives the most votes will be awarded with a voucher code for a 24"x36" poster print of their work.

All the rules and fine-print can be found in the original announcement post on the blogTO Flickr page. One thing to add, however, is that the voting period ends at 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, after which the winner will be contacted with the good news.

For those photographers whose images are featured below, please feel free to give us a little information about your shot — i.e. where and when it was taken — in the comments section. Who knows? Maybe your description will sway voters in your favour!

Lead photo by DroolingCow.

2.
Photo by -Jacques

3.
Photo by Jesse Herzog

4.
Photo by littlegirlracer

5.
Photo by Dan Cronin

6.
Photo by ~EvidencE~

7.
Photo by Keith Armstrong

Take a sip and wipe your lips
Keep my forties getting warm
I'm audi, gots to fill— E.P.M.D. "East Meets West Malt Liquor"

Described as "the silly season" by Lagerheads author Paul Brent, the early 1990's saw Canada's two major breweries Molson and Labatt declare all-out, scorched earth war. Each brand launched successive gimmicks aimed at luring unsuspecting beer drinkers over to their (dark) side, with the promise of exciting new brewing techniques, tough guy branding and cheap canned-heat head rock for those on a budget.

Not co-incidentally around the same time, malt liquor was fast becoming an object of cult adoration due to its omnipresence in the emerging mainstream hip-hop scene, with labels like Olde English 800, Colt 45, Schlitz and St. Ides appearing frequently in videos seen on Much Music's trailblazing Rap City and Soul in the City. For a time malt liquor had the stigma of a ghetto beverage, popular in inner cities, with advertising aimed squarely at black audiences, like Billy Dee Williams' smooth as Colt 45 spots. All of this was about to change.

First developed by Labatt in 1993, Ice Beer was brewed using a low-temperature process that caused unwanted proteins and tannins to precipitate at a faster rate. This act supposedly resulted in a smoother taste, but a much higher alcohol content, roughly 5.6 per cent alcohol, thus ensuring every under age drinker in Canada wanted a piece. Who better to sell this new bad man barley pop than Hans Gruber's right hand man, Karl, aka Alexander Godunov, Soviet defector, classical ballet dancer, and uh, Tom Hanks' love rival in The Money Pit.

Not only did Godunov's Karl-esqe sneering bad assery help position the new brew's attitude, but Johnny Marr's insane shredding from The Smith's B-side "How Soon is Now" sound-tracked it, proving to be the first time many 90s kids had dealt with The Smiths (interestingly, Chris Nolan instructed Hans Zimmer to recreate this nuclear bassline during the opening bank robbery sequence in The Dark Knight. Check it!). Shot on location at Ontario Place, this spot was also memorable for Godunov's chilling warning "if it's not ice brewed, it's not ice beer."

Moments after the arrival of Labatt Ice, Molson jumped into the fray with Canadian Ice and Dry Ice, offering even more buzz for your buck at 5.7 per cent alcohol. Word began to spread that Labatt was secretly engineering an even more potent sud which was due to hit the market in late 1993. In a staggeringly cheeky effort to score PR points, Molson began to lobby the government and cozy up to MADD, claiming real concern over the trend towards stronger beer. Damning the torpedoes, Labatt's in turn unleashed Maximum Ice onto the populace, clocking in at a whopping and unprecedented at the time 7.1 per cent alcohol content. And who better to sell this bottle of liquid sorcery than Michael Ironside?

Kind of, sort of re-creating his General Katana role from 1991's Highlander II: The Quickening, Ironside's tough as leather persona accompanied by thunder bolts and thrashing guitars brought about a sense that this brew contained unrestrained dark powers. Sales and popularity of Maximum Ice soared, as anyone who remembers the cold winter of 1993/1994 will tell you nary a concert, party or school function was complete without someone puking off too much Max Ice. In early 1994, the previously "concerned" Molson's launched XXX, an even more foul tasting swill at an even more teen enticing 7.3 per cent alcohol content. High School dances would never be the same.

With the launch of XXX a catalyst for even more wantonly drunken behavior, the media finally took notice of the gut rot carnage and along with the support of MADD called out Molson and Labatt. Watching the Ironside Maximum Ice commercial, it is patently obvious the intended demo was angry 15 year old head banging boys, and no doubt both companies were behaving irresponsibly by marketing such low grade, high alcohol content swill to anyone, never mind kids. The cool commercials disappeared, and the price point went way up.

Both Labatt Maximum Ice and Molson XXX are still available at the Beer Store, and remain a hobo favorite, but the days of Hollywood actors appearing in advertising to champion their taste and embody their spirit are long gone. Tragically, Alexander Godunov died of alcohol related illness in 1995 after a short but promising career ending on the cruel irony that his final performance ever was shooting commercials for Labatt Ice in Toronto.

Retrontario plumbs the seedy depths of Toronto flea markets, flooded basements, thrift shops and garage sales, mining old VHS and Betamax tapes that less than often contain incredible moments of history that were accidentally recorded but somehow survived the ravages of time. You can find more amazing discoveries at www.retrontario.com.

You've probably seen posters or flyers for parties decorated with half-naked satyrs, cavemen, ghouls, superheroes, and even subversively-clad football jocks. If you're wondering what they're advertising, the answer is, quite accurately, Sodom. The city of Sodom was destroyed by God in the Old Testament for various reasons, most of them involving breaching certain laws of 'moral hygiene,' to put it lightly.

Radical journalist Mitchel Raphael is the founder and one of the driving creative forces behind the almost four-year running theme nights that incorporate drag shows, live performances, DJs, and debauchery. (See our previous style pics from various Sodom nights here and here). However, the theme nights only came into effect well into their first year, after noticing that their mixed 'all-inclusive' partygoers were hungry for a night that let them dress up, in a really big way.

Their next event is the Vampire Love Ball IV this Saturday, just in time for post-Valentine's Day raunchiness, where powerhouse diva Slimthick Monroe of the House Of Monroe Ballroom crew will be crowned the next queen. I talked to Raphael about drag shows, music, and what it takes to put on a really great party.

How did you end up at the venue, Club 120?

Starting in 2008, I had always wanted to do a party that was a good mix of people. Obviously, it's not for everybody, but it's a mix of true diversity with women, men, gay, straight, and trans Club 120 (formerly Goodhandy's, Club Rockit, and other incarnations) has a history of marginalized groups.

It was also used by DJ BlackCat, one of the founders of the gay urban party scene. They still use it for many of the Ballroom parties [Ballroom scene as in vogue], and they do the Trans nights, too. That place has been christened by so many different groups, so it was a logical thing. I also wanted to do something creative that highlighted Toronto's diversity.

Some people create a party only to make a buck, because they think they can fill a void, or play a certain kind of music that people want, but Sodom does not make money. It's a labour of love but the pay-off is good. You meet people there that you wouldn't meet anywhere else. One of my friends came with a group who just wanted a standard night, but they ended up partying with a group of Japanese foreign exchange students.

Artists from the National Gallery like Kent Monkman have been there. Another artist that's shown up unexpectedly was Lady Starlight, a performance artist who has collaborated with Lady Gaga. Even members of parliament like Olivia Chow and Libby Davies have come.

Was there any media backlash?

When you're a politician that has confidence in your identity and you believe what you believe, then you can do whatever you want. No one's going to question you if you have a track record of promoting the marginalized and creative classes of society; they would almost be hypocritical if they didn't come. But I'm always sensitive if someone ends up blowing that up in his or her face.

Well, you are the photographer.

Yeah, and these aren't stealth pictures from the side, I am clearly taking front-facing photos. Political people from all parties have been actually, like staffers to Tim Hudak, the Progressive Conservative leader.

I've always been of the belief that the stimulants to enhance your night out should be the mood and the atmosphere. You shouldn't have to walk into a club and have your first need be to get wasted or do a bump of something for a good time. I took that as a challenge. I thought we could do something to put people into a good mood, and get them excited from walking in, where the stimulants will be the experience.

Who comes out aside from celebrities and art stars?

We have the regulars and a rotation of people that come for the different themes. We've had people come from weddings in full suits, but you could probably come dressed to any Sodom party in a Star Trek uniform and you'd fit right in, regardless of the theme. People like the challenge of dressing up to fit in with a concept. If you try to do the Warhol thing and invite people to come as 'something crazy,' they might freeze and do nothing.

Tell me about some of your theme nights.

We originally didn't have themes. We just wanted a high-energy night with lots of décor, that ended up getting bigger and bigger. In December 2009, we had our Naughty and Nice party where people dressed up with more holiday creations, and then we had an Angel party. We noticed that lots of people wanted to dress up, so we did the Vampire Love Ball 1, and that's when all the people came dressed up.

It wasn't just a goth crowd. It's for anyone who ever wanted to dress up like a vampire, but doesn't want a night filled with industrial music. It's for people who might want to hear Marilyn Manson, and wouldn't mind a Lady Gaga song or some Brit-pop, but with fangs and a full white face. There aren't a lot of nights that cater to that!

What was the original décor for Sodom?

We built a sarcophagus that the dancers came out of, we had stuffed tigers, and we had this bust that was Lot's wife, the pillar of salt from the bible story. The funny part was that it became a fixture at the bar, and a good conversation piece. Not enough people knew the whole story of the city of Sodom being destroyed and the angel telling her not to look back, but she does, so she's turned into a pillar of salt. Which was also a great slogan for the club, "Don't Look Back!"

Tell me a bit about the name.

There was also a political motivation. Sodom is the last used 'code' to attack gay people, even though the city of Sodom was a 'mixed crowd', ha ha. You always hear 'fag' being used by the religious right, but once the word 'queer' became used in a TV show (Queer Eye For The Straight Guy), that term is kind of lost. If you're telling someone that you're going to Sodom, it still raises an eyebrow. It works on other levels, like let's say we had a Justin Bieber in Sodom night.

Does Bieber get played at your nights?

Yes, sometimes, and he's made some appearances in our drag shows like the Sodom Fairy Tales show we did. But you can guarantee that there will be a Nightwish song at Vampire Love Ball IV. The music has shifted. The biggest challenge for the DJs is that they need to prepare their sets based on what people might like to hear, but they also have to accommodate, so we are very good with catering to requests. But what people dressed as cavemen (Sodom Stone Age night) vs. what people dressed as vampires or princesses might like can be really different. That's a challenge.

They have to figure out where the night is going and toss some songs out there. That's why we've moved hip-hop more to the end of the night. But at Sodom TV Suburbia, a lot of people from the Ballroom scene showed up, so Blackcat just put Ballroom house beats on. When they take over the dance floor, it's not the moment to play Justin Bieber. We were initially going to play a very eclectic amount of music--mixing it up too much in the beginning with rock, hip-hop, house, (which to some, in theory, can sound amazing)--but a night that musically morphs with the crowd is generally a better night.

Can you tell me about some of the more popular themes and their interactive aspects?

The Vampire Love Ball, Superheroes and Villains, and cavemen themes have been very popular, so over the years, we repeat them with new angles. We did Sodom Stone Age in the summer, and all you can do is put a loincloth on to cover your breasts and junk with a bit of fur. We had a clay station with clay makeup for people. It stuck to you amazingly well when you were sweaty, but when it dried off you were covered in this clay powder and the whole club was covered in it. We were joking about how many people were going to wake up the next morning with clay all over themselves.

We've had performers like a fortune teller in the crowd at Sodom Olympus. At the Witches of Sodom party, transsexual artist Nina Arsenault took Japanese colour candles and dripped them on someone's chest as people watched. At the superhero party, we had artist Ricky Kruger do superhero paintings. Sometimes we have OCAD people do props, and then other volunteers will just paint everything one colour.

Do you incorporate drag shows at every event?

Yes, but at this point we can't even call them drag shows anymore. We have a whole team of people that build props and sets for weeks before the event. A lot of drag performers don't get that. They are more like theatrical productions. The Sodom TV Suburbia show had a whole cast of performers, but the only character in actual drag was Consuela, the maid from Family Guy. We're not Mirvish by any means, but in terms of classic, over the top, campy shows, we have lots of that.

The way we approach our shows is, if you're going to interrupt people grooving on the dance floor, then it better be for a good reason, and you better deliver something they feel happy about afterwards.

Drag shows or club performances have a reputation of being half-assed, like where the biggest highlight was when their wig fell off. Like, really? That's the highlight? I'd rather the reaction be "Oh my god, they had Consuela from Family Guy, and a 7.5 foot giant can of Lemon Pledge descend from the ceiling with confetti exploding from it." For me, it seems more fun to talk about than "oh, they slipped," or "they were too drunk."

The next Sodom party, Vampire Love Ball 4, goes down this Saturday night (February 16th) at Club 120.

Photos by Mitchel Raphael