Toronto may not have (spoiler alert?) a portal into another dimension (that we know of...) or a monster on the loose a la Stranger Things, but our city's still experienced some weird, wonderful and sometimes, downright scary phenomena. Like the time Mike Wheeler (a.k.a. Finn Wolfhard) appeared in a PUP music video - while it was filmed in B.C., PUP's very much a Toronto band.

Regardless, here are some of the strangest things to have ever happened in Toronto.

The great Toronto mirage of 1894
On August 16, 1894, Toronto appeared on Buffalo's shoreline. This phenomenon known as Fata Morgana was documented a number of times in the Great Lakes region during the 19th century and it happened when specific atmospheric conditions made cities far away from each other (i.e. across Lake Ontario) seem super close together.

The Great Stork Derby
Yes, Toronto actually hosted a baby making competition. After notorious prankster and businessman Charles Vance Millar died, part of his will contained a slew of unusual requests, including that the remainder of his estate go to the woman (or women) who bore the most children within the next decade. By 1936, four women split $125,000 - each one gave birth to nine babies in 10 years.

The Cabbagetown Monster
Apparently there was a real monster running around Toronto back in the late 1970s. While searching for his cat in a tunnel off of Parliament, as the Torontoist writes, a man reportedly saw a furry creature that told him to "Get out, get out," before running away. The Toronto Sun reported the story in March 1979.

The underground room at King and Simcoe
When workers were digging the foundation for the New Massey Hall (aka today's Roy Thomson Hall), they hit something solid right under Simcoe Street. It turned out to be a small room, featuring a table, a chair, two mugs and a locked safe. They brought the safe to the surface and planned to open it. But, it disappeared before anyone got a chance to peak inside, so the mystery was never solved.

The York University Tunnel
Remember when someone discovered a seven metre-long tunnel near York University? Even though it turned out to be pretty benign, it not only captivated Toronto, but it also made it on to an episode of NPR's This American Life. You can listen to Ira Glass talk about this mysterious piece of local infrastructure here.

Photo by Richard Gottardo via the blogTO Flickr pool.

Free events in Toronto this week are so novel, they'll make you happy you stayed in town for the final leg of summer. Learning to dance like the girls in Justin Bieber's "Sorry" video before heading to the beach to watch a movie on a floating big screen? Sign me up.

Here are my picks for things to do if you've spent all your money on a new air conditioner.

Beginner Bieber Dance Class at Union Summer (August 16)
You might have noticed the summer-long market happening outside of Union Station. Well it's more than just food stalls and (actually fun) entertainment. They're also helping improve your club life by giving a one-off Bieber dance class courtesy of the Underground Dance Centre. It starts at 8 p.m.

The Gata: Water Ceremony (August 18)
The streams and dripping fountains of Sherbourne Common are already very cool. Let this performance show make them ever cooler. Starting at 6:30 p.m., this three hour piece moves through the spaces of the park with voice, dance, and live music. Come and watch as you please.

Sail-in Cinema (August 18-20)
It's finally here! The outdoor movie series that you can watch via a massive floating screen out on Lake Ontario. Boats pull in to watch from the water as you watch from the shore of Sugar Beach. Pre-movie activities at 6 p.m., movies at sundown.

Final Tragically Hip concert screenings (August 20)
The list keeps growing, but check out the link above to see where you can watch this legendary moment in Canadian music history, all for free. Bring your tissues and singing voice; it's going to be an emotional ride with the band as they perform live from Kingston.

Open Streets (August 21)
Ever want to star in an action film about post-apocalyptic Toronto? Empty streets, only lucky survivors? A few rats... etc. Well now you mostly can. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Bloor St. (from Dufferin to Parliament) and Yonge St. (from Bloor to Queen) will be closed to cars and opened solely for people. Run Free!

Did I miss an amazing free event this week? Let us all know about in the comments.

Photo of the Sail-In Cinema courtesy of Ports Toronto.

So close yet so far away. Many Liberty Village and West Queen West residents can see Hanlan's Point Beach from their condo windows. In Parkdale, you can use various bridges to walk to the waterfront, but the Islands are still a distant dream.

Those living in southwest neighbourhoods across Toronto must trek downtown (exactly where most want to avoid on those hot days) to get to one of the city's best summer spots.

Both Toronto ferry service and water taxis docks are located in central locations along Queens Quay, something which makes less and less sense as populations increase in these highly dense areas to the west of Bathurst St.

Here is why there is no docking station on the western waterfront (for the moment):

Safety

The Toronto harbour is sheltered, making the water calm and somewhat predictable, which is why all docking stations are clustered along the waterfront between Spadina and Bay. "Once out of the harbour, conditions can quickly change, making the lake feel more like an open ocean," says Luc Cote, owner of Tiki Taxi, one of the Toronto's water taxi operators.

Timing

Trips would take longer, meaning fewer trips per day (i.e. fewer tickets sold) and more gas used. Operators would need to look at the business case for new docking locations.

Regulations

The licensing of the water taxi industry is still in its infancy (it began in late 2013). New pick up and drop off spots would require multiple groups to work together. The Toronto Port Authority, City of Toronto, Toronto Parks, Forestry and Recreation, Transportation Services and water taxi operators, amongst others, would all need to be engaged.

But this doesn't mean that a docking station isn't coming.

"The topic of expanding the water taxi service locations (both east and west) has come up in discussions and we will be considering the matter in the fall when we discuss the 2017 season," says Patrick McCabe from Toronto Parks, Forestry & Recreation, the body that oversees the Toronto water taxi industry.

"It needn't be public property, but there are questions of who owns the land and how the docking station would be operated", says Patrick. "Who maintains /pays for it, which operators can use it, meeting accessibility standards, safety of location, etc... are all things that would need to be considered."

Taxi operators like the idea. "We could run a route straight from the shore to Hanlan's Point - it would be the quickest and the safest - and I think it would be great,"says Luc of Tiki Taxi.

"Ideally the pitch would come from the operators", answers McCabe. "If they were to band together with a plan of sorts, it's reasonable that a location could be found and that the city would work to make it happen."

As Liberty Village, West Queen West and the adjoining neighbourhood populations continue to grow, the Islands may soon be that much closer, but it'll take a collective will to accomplish this task.

Have your say. Where else should Toronto water taxis operate from?

Writing by Matt Switzer. Photos by Mariela Avila and Tom Podolec.

The Leslie Street Spit is Toronto's ultimate rags to riches story. What started as a heap of dirt and bricks has become the city's most intriguing green space, all in the span of about 60 years. Few urban areas testify so loudly to nature's restorative will than this narrow stretch of land.

The very beginnings of the Spit date back to the 1950s, when the Harbour Commission started to make a breakwater for an outer harbour. The business case for such a project evaporated when massive shipping hubs formed along the East Coast, but the Spit was still extended five kilometres into the lake, reaching its peak in the early 1980s.

At the time, it was a barren tract of land covered in wood, garbage, and huge flocks of seagulls. If you told someone at the time that the Spit would become one of Toronto's most cherished park spaces in just a few decades, they would have laughed in your face. This was ugly Toronto in a nutshell.

It would be a mistake, however, to consider Leslie Street Spit of today as a finished place. While wildlife and vegetation has incredibly reclaimed this artificial strip, what makes it so special is the eerie combination of natural beauty and industrial junk. Toronto has so few places that remain unsanitized, and this is our most treasured.

Here you'll find hundreds of bird species, snakes, turtles, butterflies, coyotes, and even cacti. And what better place to feel the cooling effect of the lake, as a cool breeze seems to never cease after you get out a kilometre or two out onto the Spit. This is the essence of natural urban beauty.

The Scarborough Bluffs, visible just to the east of here, are a place to contemplate vast passages of time, the glacial past out of which the city was eventually born. Sitting on the shore of the Spit, on the other hand, the scale is entirely human. This place was born in our lifetime and has already completely transformed.

Look down, and pick up a brick. There are thousands to choose from. Notice its rounded edges, its smooth surface, the way it feels like sand. That's just 50 years of erosion. To note how quickly things change is an empowering and alarming thought. What an impact we can make in our lifespans - for better or worse.

I once met a person who said that he would move away from Toronto if the Leslie Street Spit was ever developed. He couldn't bear the thought of a Toronto without what he thought was its most sacred place. To think that this passion stems from what was once a project to bolster industry in this city.

Perhaps accidental beauty is the most remarkable kind. We should heed this lesson as we continue to develop the city, remembering always that forgotten things sometimes become the most valuable.

Photos by ~EvidencE~, the Toronto Archives, Dominic Bugatto, Scott Christie, A Great Capture, and picturenarrative.

There's no burger like a wood fire grilled burger and this joint has seen so much success over the years it has finally expanded to a second location.

Read my profile of the new location of Woody's Burgers in the restaurants section.

Toronto is home to an abundance of summertime treats from around the globe. From European pastries filled with soft serve to scoops of rolled ice cream made to order, you can cool down with treats from across the pond all summer long.

Here are my picks for the top summertime treats in Toronto by country.

BRAZIL
Brazilian eatery Mata Petisco Bar in Parkdale serves up an acai sorbet topped with a berry compote and toasted coconut shavings.

CANADA
There's no dessert more Canadian than BeaverTails so head to Pier 6 on the waterfront where you can get hot morsels of BeaverTails pastry served with gelato or frozen yogurt and toppings.

CHINA
Wooffles & Cream in Markham serves up a selection of sweet and savory Hong Kong style egg waffles with soft serve ice cream.

FRANCE
The macaron gets the ice cream treatment at Dundas West ice cream parlour Scoop Shop. Delicate meringue shells get loaded with made-from-scratch ice cream.

GREECE
Greek taverna Mamakas on Ossington serves up a wide selection of ice creams in flavours like milk and honey, rhubarb and coffee and cinnamon.

HUNGARY
You've probably come across Eva's Original Chimneys doughnut cones on Instagram over a dozen times this summer. What you may not know is that these actually aren't doughnuts. They're freshly baked Chimney Cakes, a Hungarian pastry popular in Eastern Europe.

INDIA
If you're looking to cool down with the tastes of India Bombay Street Food is where it's at. This Bay St. establishment serves up falooda sundaes and gulab jamun with malai kulfi soft serve and crushed pistachios.

IRAN
Persian supermarket Super Arzon dishes out an excellent saffron ice cream.

ITALY
Thanks to this St. Clair West storefront you can now enjoy a classic Italian dessert on a stick. Bar Ape crafts gelato bars in flavours like pistachio, mulberry and lemon and sage.

JAPAN
Since Japanese chain Tsujiri opened its doors in Toronto residents have been going wild for their desserts including their brightly coloured green matcha soft serve.

KOREA
Red Bean Waffle House is the place to go for fish shaped waffle cones. Think black sesame and green tea ice cream stuffed inside a fish-shaped red bean waffle.

LEBANON
There's lots to like about Beiruti Grand Cafe including their gelato which comes in flavours like sesame and ashta.

MEXICO
Paletas are the star of Kensington Market dessert house Seven Lives Paleteria. Get them in whimsical flavours like lime-kiwi and watermelon or infused with Froot Loops and Mexican chocolate.

PHILIPPINES
Filipino ube desserts are one of this year's breakout summer treats and Baldwin Village newcomer Platito woos customers with their waffles topped with a generous scoop of sweet purple yam ice cream, macapuno, shredded coconut and wafers.

SPAIN
Patria makes a delicious coffee ice cream with black olive marmalade, spiced cream and nut wafer.

SRI LANKA
Lingan Cream House is where to go for Sri Lankan ice cream and sherbet in flavours like mango, pineapple and vanilla.

TAIWAN
Asian fusion and dessert restaurant Sugar Marmalade has an extensive menu of delicacies from all over Asia including their Taiwanese shaved iced available in mango, honey dew, green tea or chocolate.

THAILAND
Thai rolled ice cream has taken Toronto by storm. Frosty Roll dishes theirs out in flavours like mango, white chocolate and strawberry and banana and Nutella.

USA
What's more American than an old fashioned doughnut? Toronto's brunch stalwart Uncle Betty's takes the American pastry and fills it to the nines with ice cream, drizzles and toppings.

VIETNAM
End your meal at Lan Restaurant in Riverside with Chuoi Chien - fried banana with coconut, mango or jackfruit ice cream.

Photos by Jesse Milns and Hector Vasquez.

Vernacular architecture is a style linked to a particular locality that arises out of various considerations like available materials, technological prowess, and the economic conditions of the community in which a building is constructed. Driven by utility, aesthetic concerns are rarely a primary factor in such design.

In affluent cosmopolitan cities like Toronto, this brand of architecture is often considered to be a historical element of the built environment, a throwback to a time before the rise of modern architectural firms and urban planning.

Yet, if Toronto has a contemporary vernacular when it comes to architecture, it's the condo tower. You know, the steel-framed, glass box that sits atop a multi-storey rectangular podium. In the span of the last 15 years, this architectural form has exploded in the city.

It often draws our collective ire - "yup, they knocked down (insert longstanding local business) to build another condo" - but to what degree has the city really reckoned with the condominium as its most significant (if not lauded) example of architecture?

So often our reactions to condo developments are knee-jerk. They're often characterized as villains that homogenize our built landscape, but I suspect few of us have spent much time thinking about the conditions out of which the condo boom has been given birth.

Perhaps if we do, we'll understand what it might take to re-imagine the condo in Toronto, and it's impact on the city at large.

"Even though most new condo buildings are, artistically considered, disappointing, and the final project is rarely better than the first design, they are fascinating as a cultural phenomenon, as architecture minus the art of architecture," writes Hans Ibelings in the introduction to Rise and Sprawl: The Condominiumization of Toronto.

It's a recently released book in collaboration with architecture and design firm PARTISANS that offers an at times clinical and at times lighthearted dissection of the Toronto condo.

This is an important book at this moment in Toronto's history because it grapples with the impact and possibilities of our most significant contemporary architectural form in a manner that's critical and hopeful at once.

Rather than a purely academic exercise, the book addresses the condo in terms we're all familiar with, from cataloging various marketing slogans to tracking the muted colour schemes that tend to mark our skyline.

It also introduces readers to the major architectural firms and developers in this city via mini descriptions taken from the companies' own websites.

Rise and Sprawl is often playful but never irreverent. Upon offering a short history of the condo in Toronto and a typological approach to its form, the book emerges as a self-heralded manifesto that outlines a different way of thinking about condos, the planning process, and calls for a marriage of architecture as art and good business.

Two insights will standout in particular for those who have ever wondered how Toronto has come to look the way it does these days.

The generic nature of our condos isn't the result of some accidental lapse in design sense. It's a by-product of myriad social and economic forces that range from planning guidelines to market logic to the existence of the Ontario Municipal Board.

An entire paradigm supports Toronto's "condo-industrial complex," and any change to the way that things are done will take incredible vision for even modest alteration.

But just as the financial success of early glass condos led to their proliferation (why change what you already know you can sell?), someone has to be willing to buck convention before widespread experimentation can take place.

On that, PARTISANS has much to say. In addition to the galvanized rhetoric of the Manifesto section, the firm lays out 11 principles for building a better Toronto.

These range from the pragmatic ("mix private and public housing") to the more stylistic ("blur shapes and boundaries to generate innovative hybrid typologies"), but never appear fantastical or wholly unrealistic.

There's a sense these days that we've inherited the modern glass condo tower and now we're stuck with it. That's a troubling way of thinking that Rise and Sprawl hopes to remedy.

Photos by Jason Cook, Shane Fester, and Derek Flack.

South Etobicoke is composed of three neighbourhoods - Mimico, New Toronto, Long Branch - that are related by their proximity to Lake Ontario but still boast distinct identities. If you don't get to this part of Toronto often, it's possible to explore the area in a full day if you're willing to do a lot of walking/riding and eating.

Here's how to spend a day in South Etobicoke.

BREAKFAST AND COFFEE

My favourite thing to do in morning around South Etobicoke is to explore the waterfront (more on that later), so I usually grab a coffee near Marie Curtis Park at Fair Grounds Organic Cafe & Roastery to start the day. If I'm riding along Lake Shore Blvd. from the east on a Saturday, I'll sometimes stop at Black Goat Coffee near the Humber campus to get caffeinated.

After developing an appetite by the water, I'll hit up New Toronto's Goodlake for breakfast. It's not a huge menu but I could live off their standard Brekkie ($10) or the Club Sandwich ($13). It's not the only option, though. For Mexican brunch, hit up Huevos Gourmet and for a healthy first meal Thrive Organic Kitchen is the spot.

MORNING ACTIVITY

For me, the allure of South Etobicoke is the waterfront. It's not one long beach or promenade, so it's worthwhile to explore the whole stretch from Humber Bay Shores all the way to Long Branch. Along the way, you'll find some beautiful waterfront paths beside the harbour in Mimico, lovely little lakefront parkettes in New Toronto, and the city's most underrated beach at Marie Curits.

A good bet is to explore by bike, starting in the east and heading west. That way you end at the beach and can camp out for an hour. Remember to pack a bathing suit, as the swimming here is excellent.

LUNCH

Once lunchtime rolls around, there are a ton of options to choose from based on your location and mood. For a dose of nostalgia, there's Woody's Burgers in Long Branch and New Toronto Fish & Chips just to the east. For something less common in Toronto, the Cuban sandwiches at Havana Style never disappoint.

If pizza is called for, FBI makes one of my favourite pies in the city. For roti, you could do a lot worse than Maurya East Indian Cuisine. I'd also be remiss not to mention Nimman Thai, which makes a mean khao soi.

SHOPPING AND CULTURE

South Etobicoke isn't a shopping mecca, but there are some gems here that should be on any list of a day's activities. Village Vinyl is a refreshing diversion from overpriced downtown record shops with a friendly vibe and some actual deals to snag. More than a few people would list Pendragon Comics as the best old school shop in the city.

You won't be able to take anything home, but I always make a point of checking out the window display portfolio at the Humber Fashion Institute. In fact, you could skip shopping altogether and spend an hour or two checking out the remarkable architecture at Humber's Lakeshore campus, which used to be a sprawling Psychiatric Hospital.

AFTERNOON SNACK

If you've got a bike, head a little north to SanRemo Bakery for an afternoon indulgence. There's a ton of pastries and doughnuts to choose from here, but if it's warm outside, you'll want to try to the donut panini ($3.99), which comes stuffed with a scoop of gelato and topped with Nutella.

Those exploring on foot can stick to Lake Shore and hit up Sweet Olenka's in New Toronto for gourmet ice cream bars ($3.50) or a whole lineup of other sweat treats.

DINNER

Most of the places on my lunch list are solid dinner spots as well, but for a more wine and booze-friendly dining experience, Cellar Door is one of my go-to spots. Robert Rubino's modern take on Italian staples is always on point and the dining room is comfortably chic. For Neapolitan cuisine, Pizzeria Oro di Napoli is a great bet. Tich Indian is a must for something a bit spicier.

DRINKS AND ENTERTAINMENT

You won't find a huge party scene in South Etobicoke, but Placebo Space is one of the most interesting bars and art spaces in Toronto. There's a regular rotation of live music, comedy and art shows that go down here, all of which are greeted by an engaged and vibrant crowd.

LATE NIGHT EATS

You'll have to make the tiny hike up to the Queensway, but South Etobicoke has one of my favourite late night dining spots in the city. The Grille serves up your typical comfort food favourites at 4 a.m. but the hidden gem on the menu is the corned beef sandwich. It can be a heaping mess if you don't eat it carefully, but it's heavenly for deli lovers.

What did I miss? Add your suggestions for how to spend a day in South Etobicoke to the comments.

Photos by Hector Vasquez, Jesse Milns, Marcanadian and generalpictures.

Today we're opening up voting in our latest Best Of poll. Now you can have your say in 10 categories including Mexican restaurants, nachos, cocktails, gluten free bakeries, menswear stores, barber shops and more.

Take the best of poll here

Voting in the poll ends at noon. on Tuesday August 16.

Today in Toronto there's a number of reasons to leave your comfy air conditioning. There's Toots and the Maytals playing live, one of the city's best farmers' markets, and a vintage camera sale for photography lovers.

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

• Old Cabin in Toronto (Holy Oak)
• Vintage camera sale (Snakes & Lattes)
• Sorauren Farmers' Market (Sorauren park)
• Toots and the Maytals (Danforth Music Hall)
• Canadian athletes pop-up (Canada Square)
• Open cellar Mondays (Gladstone Hotel)

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

Photo of the Sorauren Farmers Market by Vera.

This week on DineSafe, Asian Legend in Chinatown gets shut down. The dim sum parlour on Dundas received citations for crucial infractions like failure to prevent gross unsanitary conditions and failure to ensure food is not contaminated/adulterated as well as a significant infraction for failure to provide adequate pest control.

See what other restaurants landed on this week's DineSafe list.

Asian Legend (418 Dundas St. W.)
Inspected on: August 8, 2016
Inspection finding: Red (Closed)
Number of infractions: 6 (Minor: 2, Significant: 2, Crucial: 2)
Crucial infractions include: Operator fail to prevent gross unsanitary conditions. Operator fail to ensure food is not contaminated/adulterated.

Bryan's BBQ (606 Bloor St. W.)
Inspected on: August 8, 2016
Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
Number of infractions: 3 (Minor: 2, Significant: 1)
Crucial infractions include: N/A

Congee Queen (895 Lawrence Ave. E.)
Inspected on: August 8, 2016
Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
Number of infractions: 4 (Minor: 3, Significant: 1)
Crucial infractions include: N/A

Sotto Voce (595 College St.)
Inspected on: August 8, 2016
Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
Number of infractions: 5 (Minor: 3, Significant: 1, Crucial: 1)
Crucial infractions include: Operator fail to maintain hazardous food(s) at 4C (40F) or colder.

Mezza Notte (5304 Yonge St.)
Inspected on: August 8, 2016
Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
Number of infractions: 4 (Minor: 3, Significant: 1)
Crucial infractions include: N/A

Fragrant Bakery (3833 Midland Ave.)
Inspected on: August 8, 2016
Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
Number of infractions: 4 (Minor: 3, Significant: 1)
Crucial infractions include: N/A

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

This locally famous soft serve parlour is best know for its epic creations that are bigger than your face. And at its newest location, the chain has introduced Mini Pimps, slightly smaller, more manageable cones that cost less than $5.

Read my profile of the newly opened Sweet Jesus in the restaurants section.

As you may have noticed, Toronto's been feeling downright tropical lately. And while summer '16 may not be the hottest season on record for our city, it's still pretty toasty. And now you can celebrate this year's heat wave with a new locally based clothing line.

The appropriately named Tropical Toronto features t-shirts, tank tops and tote bags for both kids and adults. "Inspired by the long, hot, humid days of 2016's summer, we bring you this collection of tropical-inspired and pool-related neighbourhood tees, tanks, prints and more," reads the company's website.

You can grab a Christie Pits Pool tee for $30 or a tank emblazoned with the phrase, "Sorry for the things I said when it was -30 outside," for $28.

And you may as well celebrate summer now because it'll be chilly out before you know it.

Photo via @tropicaltoronto_
.

Markham isn't necessarily known for its patio scene but there's an exception to the rule at this strip mall restaurant where comfort food like burgers, fried chicken and mac and cheese reign supreme.

Read my profile of Smash Kitchen in the restaurants section.

Toronto's Vegan Food & Drink Festival returned to Fort York this past weekend and totally redeemed itself following last year's food shortages and hectic lineups. Thunderstorms may have dampened the mood on Saturday, but overall it was a well organized event spotlighting an impressive variety of meat-free foods from local and visiting vendors.

Check out this photo gallery to see what you missed at the Vegan Festival in Toronto.

Shad's run as the host of CBC's q has come to end, as the network announced today that he'll be replaced by Tom Power. The Juno award-winning hip hop artist replaced disgraced host Jian Ghomeshi on the heels of controversy surrounding the show in March 2015, but despite a rebrand, the ratings never recovered.

Over his tenure, Shad's timid interview style and radio experience were occasionally called into question. It's hard to argue against the listener numbers in this case. According to the CBC, the show boasted 282,000 listeners in September 2014 with Ghomeshi, dropped to 220,400 in June 2015 shortly after Shad started, and then dipped to 168,000 in June 2016.

Two senior executives will also be replaced as part of the shakeup. CBC management claims to be exploring a new show for Shad to host, though there are no details about it at this time.

Shad's last broadcast as host of q will be tomorrow (August 16), after which Power will take over. He comes from a position as host of CBC Radio 2's morning show, and has been with the broadcaster since 2008, when he first hosted Deep Roots. An occasional guest host on q, he will now have a major hill to climb to restore the show's once sterling ratings.

Photo via the CBC.

While some of Toronto's aging restaurants sadly close, others are lucky enough to get a new lease on life thanks to local restauranteurs keen to revitalize these friendly neighbourhood spots - like Harry's in Parkdale, which will soon be under the Grant van Gameren banner along with notable hotspots Bar Isabel, El Rey Mezcal Bar and Bar Raval.

In a post on the The Food and Wine Industry Career Navigator Facebook group, van Gameren writes that he's looking for cooks to join the Harry's team. He also revealed information about what the new Harry's will look like.

"After 48 years of good times and countless memories, Tommy and his brother George decided to flip their last burgers and pass the spatula torch into the trusting hand of Nate Young," says van Gameren on Facebook.

For the uninitiated, Harry's was the true definition of an old school joint. It was tucked next to the parking lot of the No Frills near King and Jameson, sported a jukebox that didn't worked and served regulars cheap beer and fried chicken.

"At the helm of his intentions, Nate (along with myself, Robin Goodfellow and Mykl Webster) is dedicated to preserving the genuine casual eatery vibe, entertaining the same style of service and energy the city, and more specifically the community of Parkdale has grown to depend on for nearly 50 years," continues van Gameren on Facebook.

Along with Harry's, van Gameren and crew are slated to open the Pretty Ugly cocktail bar in the same neighbourhood. And they're not the first team to take over a Parkdale diner. Earlier this year, Jud and Maggie Ruhl revamped the Skyline Restaurant and are continuing to run it like an old-school eatery.

It's been a hot and humid August in Toronto and we're all feeling a little parched. Thankfully, that's all about to change tomorrow because we're in for a wet Tuesday. But a little fall of rain can hardly hurt us now, considering it's been one of the driest summers on record in and around Toronto.

According to a special weather statement from Environment Canada, there's a "moisture-laden low pressure disturbance from Texas" heading our way. We can expect to see between 20 and 40 milimetres (or up to 50 milimetres in some areas) of rain tomorrow. You'll want to pack an umbrella because the rain's supposed to start overnight and continue into Tuesday evening.

And along with the rain, we'll probably see a few thunderstorms as well. If things get crazy out there tomorrow, don't forget to tag us in your #stormTO photos.

Photo by Sam Javanrouh via the blogTO Flickr pool.

Toronto brewery tours are a great way to get an up close look at the city's thriving craft beer scene. These tours not only give you a behind the scenes look into the brewing process, but they also offer a brief lesson in the city's beer-making history and, of course, a taste of the freshly brewed beer.

Here are some Toronto breweries that offer public tours.

Steam Whistle Brewing
Brewery tours at the Bremner Boulevard facility are offered seven days a week and range from $10 to $30. They can be booked Monday to Thursday by online reservation and Friday to Sunday on first-come-first-served basis. Here you'll discover how the beer is made, meet the staff behind the brewing process all while enjoying beer samples.

Amsterdam Brewery
The Leaside brewery offers tours and tastings every Saturday from 1 to 5 p.m. while over at the Harbourfront BrewHouse they do free tours on Monday and Tuesdays at 4 p.m. and Wednesday to Sunday at 12 p.m., 2 p.m., 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. Tours are offered in groups of 16, typically last 30 minutes and come with a free tasting.

Mill Street Brewery
Brewery tours here will set you back $10 and run Monday and Tuesdays at 4 p.m., Wednesday and Thursday's at 4 p.m., 5 p.m., 6 p.m and 7 p.m., Fridays at 4 p.m, 5 p.m. and 6 p.m, and every hour from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. on weekends. Tours include a tutored beer flight tasting and a sample of their Bierschnaps.

Great Lakes Brewery
Meet at Great Lakes' Beer Symposium for a guided brewery tour every hour from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Tours are $5, include four 5 oz. samples, and are limited to 15 people groups. Reserve a spot by booking online.

Henderson Brewing
Tours at this Junction Triangle brewery run almost every Tuesday - be sure to check their events calendar - at 7 p.m. For $5, you'll learn about the history of the neighbourhood and brewing in Toronto, get a guided tour of the brewery, and samples of the beers they have on tap. You can reserve a spot on their next tour via their website.

Black Oak Brewing
Discover how Black Oak brews are made on a $5 guided tour. They're offered every Saturday and typically run an hour in length. Reserve a spot on their next tour by emailing info@blackoakbeer.com.

Photo via Steam Whistle Brewery.

The 1970s were Toronto's coming of age decade, and nowhere is this more obvious than the city's built landscape. Our modern skyline was born during this period, and many of Toronto's most important buildings can be traced back to this 10 year flurry of architectural activity. We might not love concrete like we once did, but the best of these structures have stood the test of time.

Behold, my picks for the top Toronto buildings from the 1970s.

Commerce Court West
The black steel of the TD Centre will always garner more attention than I. M. Pei's stainless tower, but Commerce Court West is also a modern masterpiece of a skyscraper that still looks great today. Built in 1972, it originally featured a otherworldly aviary and observation deck on the top floor. Apparently, workers had great difficult removing the birds, who didn't want to leave.

The Manulife Centre
Concrete was the "it" building material in 1970s Toronto and Brutalism was all the rage. Designed by Clifford and Lawrie Architects and opened in 1974, the Manulife Centre appears monolithic from a distance, but its podium has always maintained a human scale at street level. Unfortunately, its distinctive design will soon be covered in glass as part of a retrofit.

Robarts Library
Is there a building more fiercely debated than Robarts Library (1973) in Toronto? Lovers of Brutalism defend it passionately, while many claim it's the ugliest building in the city. Love it or hate it, the sprawling library at U of T designed by Mathers & Haldenby Architects is one of Toronto's most recognizable buildings.

First Canadian Place
First Canadian Place still holds the title of tallest building (rather than structure) in Canada, though its days are numbered. Completed in 1975, the original version was clad in Carrara marble as a symbol of its stature. Alas, when chunks started to fall, the building was re-clad in glass panels, a retrofit that completely reinvigorated the Bregman + Hamann Architects-designed tower.

CN Tower
What is there to say about the CN Tower? It's far and away Toronto's best known structure, and the city would be almost unrecognizable without its presence on the skyline. It was a marvel of engineering when it opened in 1976, and remained the tallest freestanding structure in the world until 2007.

The Eaton Centre
The Eaton Centre (1977) has always been a two-faced building. The downtown mall has a terrible relationship with Yonge Street along its east side despite efforts to make it more engaging. Nevertheless, the glass roof and open floors of the interior are an excellent example of postmodernist design for which architect Eberhard Zeidler deserves much credit.

Toronto Reference Library
Raymond Moriyama's Toronto Reference Library (1977) has always been defined by its soaring atrium, but perhaps the greatest pleasure of the building is its northeast side, where (mostly) indirect sunlight pours in and vistors can gaze out upon lush Rosedale. It's the complete opposite of a claustrophobic space, which makes it so inviting for studying/researching.

Eglinton West Station
Some of the finest architecture on the TTC can be found on the Spadina Line, which opened in 1978. While it doesn't get much love these days, Arthur Erickson's Eglinton West Station is a lovely example of concrete architecture, integrated as it is into the hill out of which the Allen Expressway begins. It's an intuitively designed building that's easy to navigate, feels airy, and treats concrete with delicacy.

Palace Pier
Palace Pier was one of Toronto first luxury condominiums, built all the way back in 1978 to the designs of Edward I. Richmond. Boy has it aged well. Most people passing by Humber Bay would be hard pressed to distinguish it from its newer sibling Palace Place, which was built in the early 1990s. The cruciform shape of each tower is a rarity in Toronto, and the views from the units are spectacular.

Harbour Castle
Built in 1975, the Harbour Castle Hotel was one of the first major buildings on Toronto's waterfront. The tower rises out of a sloped podium and peaks with disc-shaped rooftop that was once a rotating restaurant. It tends to get lost in all of the development that's taken place since it first graced the skyline, but the hotel was a trailblazer for the post-industrial Queens Quay.

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

Photos by Lori Whelan, the Toronto Archives, Jared Krause, George Socka, John Cavacas, gardinergirl, photoanalysis, benitotambara, twurdemann, Westin Hotels.