Day trips from Toronto are a ritual, but it can be tough to get in on the fun when you don't have access to a car. There are, however, some options worth exploring for the car-less among us. Whether it be through GO Transit or alternative services, it's possible to ditch Toronto in favour of the country with relatively little effort and expense even if you've never set foot behind the wheel.

Here are my picks for the top car-free day trips from Toronto.

Bring your bike to Niagara
Niagara Falls has always been one of the easiest day trips to make without a car thanks to the variousbuses that deliver people from Toronto to the kitsch capital of the country, but throughout the summer GO Transit also offers service from Union to Niagara-on-the-Lake that allows you to bring a bike and explore the region at large, which gives you way more options.

Soak up small town Ontario and some theatre in Stratford
Those looking to catch some theatre or to soak up the vibe of small town Ontario can take the Stratford Direct Bus, which runs on performance days between May and October. The return fare is $25 with a festival ticket, which makes this an affordable way to indulge in some culture while also escaping the big city.

Go on a waterfall hunt in Hamilton
There are so many reasons to go to Hamilton, but perhaps the most scenic is the city's host of waterfalls, many of which can be reached easily from downtown. Take the 45 minute ride on the GO Bus from Union Station and then head out to explore the Chedoke and Bruce trails, which are lined with breathtaking waterfalls and gorgeous vistas. You'll do a lot of walking, but the views are worth it.

Head to Lake Simcoe without getting stuck on the 400
If you're dying to get out of the city on an oppressively hot weekend, head north to Lake Simcoe and spend the day exploring Barrie. The city sometimes gets a bad reputation, but they have a nice waterfront area and there's a burgeoning beer scene here. For a day by the lake, take the train to Allandale Waterfront GO Station and head to Centennial Beach.

Hop on the Parkbus and explore Southern Ontario
In addition to weekend getaways to places like Algonquin Park, the Parkbus also heads to closer spots like the Elora Gorge, Kelso, Rattlesnake Point, and Albion Hills. These trips depart from a variety of downtown pickup spots in the morning and return in the evening, allowing you to forget about driving in favour of exploring some of Southern Ontario's best natural settings.

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

Photo via the Parkbus Facebook page.

Free events in Toronto this week include watching a Prince movie under the stars and a giant dance party on a beach where you're totally allowed to bring your dog. Who said summer was ending? Whoever that was, unfriend them and have a fun time this week with some friends who aren't spreading such propaganda.

Here are my picks for free events this week.

Under the Stars presents: Purple Rain (August 23, Regent Park)
This is the final movie under the stars for the season and it's an epic one. Catch the Purple One at this outdoor film screening in his legendary film role as the Kid trying to make it in Minneapolis. Movie around 9 p.m. pre show activities beforehand.

Family/Animation film festival (August 25, Carlton Cinema)
This is a popular little fest, so make sure to RSVP, but it is free and you can catch some of the finest family-friendly, animated short films from from Australia, Greece, UK, Latvia, Belguim and USA. Showtime is 7p.m.

TaiwanFest (August 26-28)
With activities like the Friendship picnic, a tango with Hong Kong and films, all happening at the Harbourfront Centre all weekend long! A free festival of film, talks, concerts, visual art and food.

CityFest (August 27)
From Noon to 9p.m. head down to the big red canoe and hang out with your neighbours at this laid back one-day festival. Artists, vendors, food trucks and finally seeing that person you've been watching from your condo for months, in the flesh! Totally free, here's the Facebook page.

Promise x Get Leashed: Dog-Friendly Cherry Beach Party (August 28)
This one's for "electronic music lovers and their canine companions" who are invited to bounce to the beats while basking in the sunshine at Cherry Beach. It's a dog-friendly dance party, and you don't need to have a dog to attend, you just need to like them. Animal portion of the day ends around 6 p.m. and the Promise party continues into the sunset.

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

Photo from the CityFest Facebook page.

The most iconic buildings in Toronto are not necessarily the oldest or the most architecturally significant, but instead the ones that we immediately conjure when we call to mind an image a of certain neighbourhood or part of the city. These are the buildings that frame Toronto's psychogeography, and exist as touchstones that help us to navigate the place we call home.

Here are my picks for the top iconic buildings in Toronto by neighbourhood.

THE ANNEX
The Annex is home to plenty of lovely bay-and-gable homes, but the building that garners the most attention and discussion is surely Robarts Library. Built in 1973, the Brutalist giant is one of the most recognizable buildings in the city.

THE BEACHES
The Fox Theatre is one of the oldest in the city, dating back to 1914. It exudes the type of charm that draws instant nostalgia from those who remember when Toronto was a city brimming with small neighbourhood movie houses

CHINATOWN
Prior to Frank Gehry's revamp of the AGO, the concrete building didn't attract many fans, but its now become an architectural centrepiece in the city, marked by the stunning Galleria Italia that faces Dundas St. West.

CHURCH WELLESLEY VILLAGE
The Village Green is one of the nicest 1960s era apartment complexes in Toronto, but it's the circular centrepiece - often dubbed the "Vaseline Tower" - that warrants iconic status for its novel shape and important role in the history of the Village.

CORKTOWN
Many passing by still wonder what the hell the strange structures near Eastern Ave. and Sumach are, but architecture buffs know that they're a Canadian version of Piet Blom's Cube Houses built by architect Ben Kutner and partner Jeff Brown in 1996. Yes, someone does indeed live there.

THE DANFORTH
Opened as Allen's Danforth Theatre in 1919 shortly after the construction of the Bloor Viaduct, the Danforth Music Hall become a live musical venue sometime in the 1970s, which gave the building a new lease on life that's lasted until today (despite a few hiccups along the way).

DISTILLERY DISTRICT
The whole district is a Toronto icon, but the Stone Distillery dates back to 1859 and is one of the oldest buildings in the entire city, so certainly worth an extra nod of attention. This building used to be right on the water when it was first built. It's incredible that it remains in such great condition.

EGLINTON WEST
The Eglinton Theatre is an Art Deco gem from 1936 that's been preserved through its use as an event venue. While it no longer advertises movie titles, the outstanding marque is still a fixture of the building, as is the sign which can be seen for kilometres when traveling along Eglinton Ave.

ETOBICOKE
I'm going to cheat here a bit and nominate a structure rather than a building as Etobicoke's most iconic contribution to Toronto architecture. Why? Because the Humber Bay Arch Bridge is one of the most photographed places in the city and synonymous with the former borough. The nearby Palace Pier would take the prize if we were being strict about the selection process.

FINANCIAL DISTRICT
This area is filled with important skyscrapers, but none so much as the Mies van der Rohe-designed TD Centre, which helped to modernize Toronto architecture and gave birth to Financial District that we know today.

HARBOURFRONT
Amidst the wall of condos that lines the waterfront, the now-small seeming Harbour Commission Building is a throwback to the area's history. It's an elegant Beaux-Arts building that once sat at the end of a pier at the southern most tip of downtown Toronto, but which has now been subsumed by development.

THE JUNCTION
The Campbell Block serves as something of an entranceway to the Junction. Completed in 1888 to the designs of architect James Augustus Ellis the building had fallen into into disrepair until a recent restoration revealed its former glory (even if they got a few details wrong).

JUNCTION TRIANGLE
Soon to be the future home of MOCA and the centrepiece of a burgeoning neighbourhood, the Tower Automotive Building hovers above the Lower Junction Triangle as a monument to our industrial past.

KING EAST
A collaboration between Chicago architect Henry Ives Cobb and E.J. Lennox (of Old City Hall and Casa Loma fame), the King Edward Hotel opened in 1903 and has remained one of the most stately in Toronto. Originally opened with 400 rooms, an addition in 1922 brought the number up to over 500.

KING WEST
The Royal Alex Theatre gets the nod on King West for most iconic historical building, but it's the rounded Roy Thomson Hall that takes the cake here. Built in 1982, the Arthur Erickson-designed concert hall was an instant icon.

LESLIEVILLE
Once home to the Wrigley Chewing Gum company, this industrial-relic-turned-loft-space dates back to 1917. It's brick exterior still cuts an imposing figure on Carlaw Ave, though the interiors are chic as can be.

LIBERTY VILLAGE
Dating back to the early 20th century, the Carpet Factory is the poster child for adaptive re-use in Liberty Village. The sprawling building covers 310,000 square feet, which is now used for modern offices. Walking alongside the exterior along Mowat Avenue can feel like you've entered a time warp (in a good way).

LITTLE ITALY
The Royal Cinema is an excellent of Art Moderne design (i.e. late Art Deco). Opened in 1939, the cinema has had a variety of names, but its distinctive marquee has been a fixture on College St. for the long haul.

MOUNT PLEASANT
Mount Pleasant is home to two historic movie theatres, the Regent and the eponymous Mount Pleasant Cinema. The latter is the more recognizable of the two, however, thanks to its bright neon sign. It opened in 1926 as the Hudson and was subsequently renamed in 1951.

NORTH YORK
It's the youngest building on this list, but the ZAS Architects-designed Bergeron Centre at York University has already eclipsed the competition for most iconic building in North York. "The Cloud," as it is affectionately referred to, is a marvel of contemporary design.

PARKDALE
The building is certainly worse for wear, but if you squint a little, you can still see signs of the former Ocean House Hotel's former glory at Queen/King and Roncesvalles. The building dates back to 1884 when it was an upscale inn for those entering Toronto from the west or inner city vacationers looking to take advantage of its proximity to the lake.

PORT LANDS
The towering Hearn Generating Station has returned to the city's collective consciousness after playing host to this year's Luminato Festival. The hulking former power plant has returned to life as a film set, but there's still hope that it'll host future public events.

QUEEN WEST
The most iconic building on the street named Queen West is undoubtedly Viljo Revell's City Hall, but if you're thinking of the neighbourhood's centrepiece rather than the city's as a whole, that would have to be 299 Queen Street West, former home of MuchMusic and Citytv.

RIVERSIDE
It's currently in the midst of a transformation and major additions, but the Broadview Hotel remains the landmark building in this neighbourhood, and will likely only become better known as it begins its new life as a boutique hotel, venue, and restaurant destination.

RONCESVALLES VILLAGE
Toronto's oldest cinema somewhat tragically lost its marquee in 2007, but more importantly the Revue managed to keeps its doors operating as the longest standing cinema in the city. Even without the marquee, the building is the neighbourhood gem.

ROSEDALE
One of the most gorgeous buildings in the city, the former North Toronto Railway Station now serves as the LCBO's flagship location. The design is based on St Mark's Campanile in Venice and dates back to 1916. It only operated as a train station until 1930, though a restoration in 2004 preserved many of its original elements.

SCARBOROUGH
Not so long ago the Scarborough Civic Centre would have ranked as the former borough's most iconic building, but that title now goes to the adjacent library recently opened on the same site. The dramatic wood-framed building is a stunning bit of architecture that improbably complements the older Raymond Moriyama municipal building.

ST. CLAIR WEST
Formerly a TTC streetcar maintenance facility, the Wychwood Barns helped to establish Artscape's reputation for artist-focused redevelopment. The complex blends historical and contemporary design to act as neighbourhood hub that's both practical and pleasing to the eye.

ST. LAWRENCE MARKET
No surprises here. The St. Lawrence Market is the foundation upon which the surrounding neighbourhood is built. Established in the early 19th century, the current building dates back to 1904 and was renovated in the 1970s.

WEST QUEEN WEST
The Drake Hotel might be the busier spot, but the Gladstone Hotel is the most iconic building along West Queen West for its longer history and Romanesque architectural legacy, which has been far less altered over its century plus existence than its neighbour.

YONGE & BLOOR
Built in 1977, Raymond Moriyama's Toronto Reference Library 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.

YONGE & COLLEGE
The idea of opening a grocery store in Maple Leaf Gardens was cause for much controversy when it was first proposed, but the joint occupation of the building by Ryerson and Loblaws meant that the building would still be home to a hockey rink and the great cathedral-like ceiling would remain in place..

YONGE & DUNDAS
The Eaton Centre is the old standby at Yonge and Dundas, but the new Ryerson Student Learning Centre has a much better relationship to the street, and for it will now wear the crown of most iconic building in the area, even if the title is a ad premature.

What buildings did I miss? Disagree with my selections in the comments.

Photos by Jared Krause, Ryan Couldrey, Ferit Onurlu, Rick McGinnis, Dennis Marciniak, Benson Kua, the Toronto Archives, ~EvidencE, Vik Pahwa, George Socka, Derek Flack, MOCA, Ben Roffelsen,Bryson Gilbert, Frank Lemire, Michael Monastyrskyj, Michael NewmanWilliam Kimber, ZAS Architects, the Toronto Archives, Andrew Williamson, Chris Bateman, Sean Go, Blackwell, photoanalysis, Derek Flack, and Vik Pahwa.

The fourth outpost from this well-established chain of taquerias is now open and it's serving up its popular lineup of signature tacos, dips and Mexican bar snacks. In addition to the classics, find exclusive offerings uptown that include at least a couple seafood-centric features.

Read my profile of the new La Carnita in the restaurants section.

Avard Woolaver arrived in Toronto in September 1980 to study photography at what was then called Ryerson Polytechnical Institute. Coming from rural Nova Scotia, the young photographer was dazzled by the big city that he now called home and immediately started shooting. Fortunately for us, the record of these wonder years is now available as a book titled "Toronto Flashback."

For those of us interested in mining the visual archive of the 1980s, the Ellis Wiley Fonds at the Toronto Archives are indispensable, but for all the crucial documentation of the the decade, the photos are mostly snapshots. That's one of the reasons Woolaver's work is so fascinating. This is a record of Toronto with a soul.

"Many of the early photos from '80 and '81 came from school assignments -- reflections, shadows, exploration of the frame, use of graphic elements, etc.," Woolaver explains. "Aside from completing these projects, my aim was to document the city, and try to show a sense of humanity, as well as to expand my photographic vision."

Inspired by the work of photographers like Robert Frank and Lee Friedlander, Woolaver's documentation of 1980s Toronto is gritty and delicate all at once. Along with showing just how different the urban landscape of Toronto was 30 years ago, the collection is a reminder that the city had more of a working class vibe during this period.

"I started out feeling that Toronto was cold and impersonal, but that changed quite quickly as I got settled in," Woolaver recalls. "I realized the city was a multicultural centre with a vibrant arts and music scene. My friends and I rented a large storefront in the Junction and started New Image Studio and Gallery. It was before the housing bubble and condo era --ventures like that were still possible."

Woolaver left Toronto to move back to Nova Scotia in 2005. Returning to the city almost 10 years later, he noticed profound changes that helped to inspire turning his Toronto Flashback collection into a book.

"The book idea came up one night when my friend Michael Amo and I were looking at some of our old slide," Woolaver explains. "He and I shared a lot of experiences in Toronto back when I was taking these photos. I realized that the images from the '80s were quite nostalgic and portrayed a city that in some ways no longer exists."

"The Brunswick House is long gone, as are the Edge, Nuts and Bolts, and the Twilight Zone," he continues. Eaton's and Sam the Record Man are also gone. But I feel the biggest change to Toronto, as well as to every city in the world, is the impact of digital technology. People interact with the city and with each other in quite a different way."

Perhaps that's why Toronto Flashback inspires an emotional response from viewers who recall the era the photographs capture. Toronto was much less polished back in the 1980s. It was a grittier city, but in some ways also a friendlier and less cynical place. It was a city with character, much of which has been lost to the march of progress.

Additional Photos

The Junction

College at Yonge looking west

Yonge Street looking south

The Shuffle Demons

Nathan Phillips Square

Gerrard and Jarvis streets

Kensington Market

Elm Street at Yonge Sreet

Toronto Flashback (1980-1986) is available through Amazon and Blurb.

When's the last time you were out at a party and there was a female DJ spinning dance music? Not hip hop or club anthems but a mind melting set of house and techno?

You're resisting, aren't you... I hear crickets... The reason your answer is probably "not in a long time" or "uh... never?" is because there's a serious lack of dance music DJs who are women on this planet, let alone Toronto, which is feeding into super sexist dance music landscape.

Cindy Li is the woman who is changing this.

"I'm proud to be a woman and that is a feeling my mother instilled in me from a very young age," Li says. Li (aka CL), started an all-femme music show called Lady Flash while at Queen's University, which eventually informed her as a DJ, a curator and radio host for the Work in Progress project on the now defunct TRP.

Along with collaborator Nancy Chen, they throw parties under the same name and Li is also involved in the It's Not U It's Me collective.

I asked why the dance music scene was specifically so dude heavy. A misogynist world where women in the business are constantly asked to prove themselves as if their music knowledge and skills are any less valuable than a male DJ.

There's no hard set answer to this, but there are most definitely some powerful solutions to rid of the current state of things.

First solution, fight it with feminism.

"It's become current and ok to say that you're a feminist," Li says. "I read an advertising trend report for 2016, which rounds up the biggest things in culture, social issues for ad companies for their strategy and I think #3 is feminism. It's become something that's youth culture has now tapped into and so it's cool. I'm happy about it."

One of her biggest challenges has been not allow feminism to become schtick, or something for publications to use as coolness crutch. "I need to be more critical and careful, use my discretion in how much people are wanting to write about me because they want to tap into this topic and how much of it is genuinely something they believe in," she says.

Second solution is, don't hate the player hate the game, and fuck with the game.

"You see so much of reaction to that in the underground world, which is I work in, where if you're a woman and you're a DJ and you're attractive, you're not supposed to play that up. If you're attractive, people immediately thing she didn't get here based on her talent, it's based on her looks," Li says.

Media in general, but dance music websites and publications specifically, judge women in a much harsher way than men. Why aren't people complaining or judging with Calvin Harris beefs up, takes his clothes off and poses in magazines? There's still a crazy amount of sexism when it comes to women behind the decks and what they look like.

"I know so many female DJs who if they have a gig they try to dress down because they're afraid of not being taken seriously," Li explains. "It's not our fault that men objectify us or judge us on our looks. I want to dress nice, I'm going to dress nice.

"When I DJ I'll wear something really slutty because having long sleeves when you're DJing is annoying as fuck. I'm going to wear frilly dress, I don't have to look like a boy to be taken seriously like a boy."

My mind goes straight to people like Paris Hilton spinning for thousands in the desert or super cute girls with beautiful headphones playing at trendy launch parties, but what's the difference between that and any other cheeseball male playing the same style of music at these events?

"People criticize Paris Hilton and people are mean about it," she says. "I don't like Paris Hilton and I'm sure she's a horrible DJ ... but women get called out way more for getting somewhere for their connections or looks. If people objectify us anyway, then why not use it?!

"It speaks more on the people themselves that the person they're criticizing."

Third solution is, bringing power to the people.

Li brings up people like her past Soft Stroke party mates (a night they used to throw at Bambi's) Serena Passion and Raven Sierra, E-Saggila, Bridget bardont and Edna King as women doing good in the house and techno world of Toronto.

Li also teaches young girls how to DJ with the Intersessions program

"It's fairly new, it's run by Chippy Nonstop," Li says. "All the teachers are women, I'm the only DJ in it who strictly does house and techno.

"It's really awesome to hang out with other women and not have to worry about dudes and having them berating us and forcing us to prove our music knowledge to them. It's a really positive space."

Until TRP comes back in some form Work in Progress will continue in party form, so watch Li's Facebook page for updates.

Her and Chen have a party coming up on August 27 where they've booked two male DJs (Bill Converse and Antwon Falkner), going beyond all-female parties to get to a point where males and females playing amazing music together is the main goal. As it should be.

"Everything is stacked up against us," she says. "You just have to keep pushing on, have these conversations, take risks and hope [people] come along with you."

Photo by Hector Vasquez.

Looking for a job can be a lot of work. Depending on the type of work you're looking for, searching on job boards like Indeed sometimes isn't enough. Luckily, Toronto is packed with job fairs that allow you to literally meet your potential future employer face to face. Make a good impression because it could change your year and your bank account balance drastically.

Here's a round-up of job fairs happening in Toronto over the next two months.

People Store Staffing (August 25)
You'll want to get up early for this fair, People Store Staffing are hiring 100 busy bees to work at Hudson's Bay downtown! If you're going to work retail, it might as well be in one of our city's finest department stores.

Retail Council of Canada Job Fair (September 8)
A "retail job fair for youth and adults seeking career and seasonal opportunities in the Retail Sector." This one's a bit old school in that it's recommended you bring at least 10+ copies of your resume and dress to impress. There will be 20+ retailers with over 500 job opportunities.

Bilingual Job Fair (September 8)
Êtes-vous à la recherche d'un emploi? Pamplemousse? Bibliothèque? Then this fair is for you. 40 companies and about 500 jobs for the taking will be there representing everything from government to HR, to finance and tourism.

Toronto Job Fair (September 9)
Admission is free to this mega-job fair featuring work from all across the GTA. You can get an interview on the spot, attend a career workshop or just search out a gig with the hundreds of people there looking to fill all types positions.

Out on Bay (September 16-17)
This one's LGBT folks who are business minded. This day two conference at the Chelsea Hotel allows students the chance to meet professionals and employers, learn about LGBT issues in the workplace, as well as meet future mentors, take in some panels, workshops and a career fair.

U of T Recruitment Conference (September 17 and 24)
This is brand new event aimed at UofT graduating students and recent graduates. Think of it as a one-stop shop for students to meet representatives from over 20 organizations to hear about full-time and co-op opportunities that they are hiring for. Each participating employer will host a 45-minute information session about positions available at their company.

Canada Job Expo (September 21)
It's recommended you bring many resume's and dress professionally to this job bonanza. "One of the most attended and free job fairs in the Greater Toronto Area with an environment of networking, learning and a day of professional interactions." Past events have included folks from Apple Canada, Rogers Communications, Bell Canada, Canada Post.

York U fall Career Fair (September 22)
Employers exhibiting at this year's fair are recruiting York students and new grads for: full-time jobs, part-time jobs, internships and summer jobs.

U of T Career Information Days (September 22-23)
This is the University's largest annualcareer fair for students. Admission to CID is restricted to University ofToronto students and recent graduates from all three campuses and is a great
opportunity for students to meet with representatives from over 100 top organizations.

Missassauga Career Fair (September 28)
Get to the Living Arts Centre for this job fair featuring 100's of current job openings. If you're looking to gain valuable career advice from influential people in the Recruitment Industry and even find a job stat in this part of the city, this fair is the one for you. Register now for this puppy.

Toronto Startup Job Fair (October 24)
I've been to this one and it's intense, but amazing. Go to this job fair and get ready to be yourself, bring things to backup your background and what you do and then be ready to be hired by a Toronto startup. Lots of young companies looking to work the city's brightest talent.

Ryerson Career Fairs (Various dates)
Best thing to do if you're a current Ryerson student or a graduate is to check out their website and see of them listed. There are options for types of jobs, new students, mature students, tech, part-time ... the list goes on and there's lots of opportunity's not to work at the Eaton Centre if you don't want to.

Did I miss a job fair this fall that you think is worth mentioning? Let us know in the comments.

Photo by Jimmy Lu

Today in Toronto there are a few low key events to ease you into this summery week, but most notably is a great big Elvis tribute concert at The Ex! Happening in the Bandshell theatre, it's an exact replication of the King's 1973 Aloha from Hawaii concert.

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

• Havana Club Cuban Pig Roast (Drake Hotel)
• Remembering our friend Jack (Riverdale Park West)
• Toronto Film Society Summer Screening double bill (Carlton Cinema)
• Aloha Elvis (The Ex)
• Music Mondays - Dueling Cellos (Church of the Holy Trinity)
• A.Chal (Drake Underground)

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

Photo by Natta Summerky

Odds are if you've got a favourite pizza place that's truly authentically Italian, the wood-burning pizza oven inside was imported all the way from Italy. This the case with a new pizza joint with a front patio, and not only do they serve hot, fresh, and flavourful pies, but handmade pasta and whole grilled fish too, all made in just as traditional a style.

Read my profile of Pizzeria Oro di Napoli in the restaurants section.

This week on DineSafe two Ali Baba's locations received conditional passes, while East Gate Restaurant on Kingston Road got shut down for failing to prevent gross unsanitary conditions, among other infractions.

See which other restaurants landed on DineSafe this week.

Ali Baba's (768 Dundas St. W.)
Inspected on: August 16, 2016
Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
Number of infractions: 7 (Minor: 3, Significant: 3, Crucial: 1)
Crucial infractions include: Operator fail to maintain hazardous food(s) at 4C (40F) or colder.

Il Sogno (1993 Yonge St.)
Inspected on: August 16, 2016
Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
Number of infractions: 5 (Minor: 2, Significant: 3)
Crucial infractions include: N/A

Platito (35 Baldwin St.)
Inspected on: August 16, 2016
Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
Number of infractions: 4 (Significant: 3, Crucial: 1)
Crucial infractions include: Operator fail to maintain hazardous food(s) at 4C (40F) or colder.

Ali Baba's (715 Queen St. W.)
Inspected on: August 17, 2016
Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
Number of infractions: 5 (Minor: 2, Significant: 2, Crucial: 1)
Crucial infractions include: Operator fail to ensure food is not contaminated/adulterated.

El Rincon Mexicano (653 St. Clair Ave. W.)
Inspected on: August 17, 2016
Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
Number of infractions: 3 (Minor: 1, Significant: 2)
Crucial infractions include: N/A

Grapefruit Moon (968 Bathurst St.)
Inspected on: August 18, 2016
Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
Number of infractions: 3 (Minor: 2, Significant: 1)
Crucial infractions include: N/A

East Gate Restaurant (2268 Kingston Rd.)
Inspected on: August 18, 2016
Inspection finding: Red (Closed)
Number of infractions: 6 (Minor: 2, Significant: 2, Crucial: 2)
Crucial infractions include: Operator fail to ensure food is not contaminated/adulterated. Operator fail to prevent gross unsanitary conditions.

Landmark Seafood Cuisine (3601 Victoria Park Ave.)
Inspected on: August 18, 2016
Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
Number of infractions: 9 (Minor: 3, Significant: 5, Crucial: 1)
Crucial infractions include: Maintain hazardous foods at internal temperature between 4 C and 60 C.

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.

Every good Torontonian knows where to get their favourite shawarma, or at least their fave Middle Eastern. Within this realm of knowledge lie standby chains that are just plain reliable, turning out wraps, shish tawouk, kofta, and other dishes where you know exactly what to expect and that's what you'll get. One such chain has opened yet another great location.

Read my profile of Paramount Fine Foods in the restaurants section.

It's not always easy to bike around in Toronto, and one local courier knows this first hand after an incident with a taxicab on Thursday.

In the video footage, which is now spreading online, the cab looks like it hits the Favour Delivery person and knocks him to the sidewalk. After he gets up he yells, "You're going to jail, that is assault."

A number of bystanders, including another cyclist, appear to stick around. "For two blocks you've been on his ass," says one onlooker to the taxi driver.

@CityNews@CTVToronto Taxi driver assaulting a cyclist caught on video.#Toronto(OriginalVid:https://t.co/LQtAh6xwxd) pic.twitter.com/x7BMQ4wypU

— Brammezan (@brammezan) August 19, 2016

As the Toronto Star reports, police are now looking into the crash, which happened on Bay near Charles. Favour Delivery, which is headquartered in Texas, is also looking into this apparent altercation.

"We are extremely concerned by the incident involving one of our Favour Runners and a motorist in Toronto," Favour Delivery spokesperson Tina Heileman tells us via email

"The safety of our Runners is a top priority. We are in close contact with the Runner. The police have been informed and are currently investigating the incident."

Toronto is a city well-known for its painters. Found at top galleries, lofty studios and Kensington hangouts, these workaholics are the talk of the town by word-of-mouth reputation. So who are these fantastical human beings? I asked The Drake Hotel's Head of Cultural Programming, Mia Nielsen, to share her picks.

These along with mine and other notable mentions are below.

Laura Dawe
This self-taught painter, writer, art director and Internet goddess was named "One of the greatest artists of all time," by a fan who commented on one of her Instagram photos. And it's true, Dawe captures a restless 21st-century energy with her dazzling portraits and dreamy entourage. Don't miss her opening show at Likely General on September 8 (6 p.m. - 9 p.m.)

Erin Armstrong
Armstrong is a contemporary figurative artist with a vibrant portfolio of contemporary portraits. Her work has been spotted at Miami Art Basel, AGO and Prince Edward County's Drake Devonshire, with her latest showcase at Kit and Ace (779 Queen Street).

Kris Knight
Go ahead and read "Pretty Boys" by Sasha Chapin. He'll tell you about Kris Knight's penetrating and ethereal portraits, much better than I can.

Caroline Larson
There's a car burning on a cross-stitch. The catch is that the cross-stitch is actually a canvas of thick dabs of oil paint, and you've just been duped by painting perfectionist, Caroline Larson. But don't touch it, you might get burned from the shiny oil beams of the car flames.

Margaux Williamson
Pssst, there's Margaux Williamson and Sheila Heti on West Queen West! Fifteen years after her first exhibit, Williamson still carries the extraordinary allure of a local hero, spotted frequently with BFF and writer, Sheila Heti. So go ahead, buy her book, I Could See Everything, and geek out over this spellbinding artist.

Charles Bierk
Is it a black-and-white photograph or an oil painting? Dividing and conquering his large-scale canvas square by square, Bierk's hyper-real painting style is intriguingly deceiving. Coated with an ambient after-glow, hold eye contact without blinking, and become mesmerized by his eerie portrait collection.

Stephen Andrews
Forget Pitbull, Stephen Andrews is Toronto's unofficial Mr. Worldwide. With work showcased in Scotland, France, Italy, Germany, Brazil, US, and Canada (to name a few), Andrews is a mass-media and analog phenomenon that revels in identity and technology as floating light matter bubbles to the surface of all of his canvases.

Tessar Lo
The world is painted surreal, as artist Tessar Lo paints a dreamy reality of shapes, textures and vivid patterns. Back in 2015, Tessar repainted the stairs of The Drake Underground with a tropical jungle.

Dorian Fitzgerald
What does Stefano Gabbana's yacht, a Faberge egg and a Cartier bracelet all have in common? Toronto-based painter, Dorian Fitzgerad. Well known for his whirling and intricate portrayals of upper-class, Fitzgerald is at the forefront of Canadian art with his flashy, over-the-top depictions of the high life.

Alex Bierk
You can feel the temperature drop in Bierk's spooky paintings, where Kensington, blackout intersections and familiar spots are painted in a shadow of a Gotham City filter. A must-know artist from Canadian Art - there's a serene stillness in his work tied to addiction and recovery.

OTHER NOTABLE MENTIONS

• Izaak Sacrebleu
• Anders Oinonen
• Jamie Ashforth
• Katie Pretti
• Brad Phillips

Who did we miss? Add more painters to the comments.

Image via Charles Bierk

Bars in the Junction have only been around for about 20 years - the city overturned the area's dry designation in 1997. The burgeoning bar scene is less dense than elsewhere in the city, but even among the limited options there's lots to like.

Here are my picks for the top bars in the Junction.

3030 Dundas West
This craft beer bar is a neighbourhood gem beloved for its selection of local brews and seasonal menu of small plates and hearty entrees. Live music and vintage arcade games contribute to the good vibes.

Hole in The Wall
This cozy and compact bar showcases a revolving selection of Canadian craft beer brands and the kitchen puts out rustic plates, like spätzle and cheese. There's also a rotating cast of bands, comedians and karaoke nights that come through on a weekly basis.

Junction City Music Hall
From the same folks behind Hole in The Wall, this subterranean space hosts DJs and live bands all while keeping locals happy with batch cocktails, cheap tall cans and a collection of vintage pinball and arcade games.

Shamone
Settle into a picnic table at this casual, but chic Dundas West watering hole. It's home to a lineup of European beers on tap, cheap cocktails and a modest selection of bar snacks that are often free.

Junction Local
This bar and restaurant serve Southern-style comfort food that pairs well with the local craft beer on tap, the new world wines on the menu and the collection of tequila and bourbon.

Thanks to Grolsch for sponsoring this post

Photo of Shamone by Jesse Milns.

The best barber shops in Toronto take hair super seriously. Guys (and some gals) pick and usually stick with their barber for life. These shops each have their own aesthetic and pump great music as they get you groomed and ready to go.

Here are the best barber shops in Toronto.

Taste of Manila took over Bathurst and Wilson this past weekend and the delicious Filipino street festival was flush with putok batok eats. From deep-fried delicacies to barbecued-goodness and ube-flavoured sweets, it was a good time for all - even the Prime Minister made a cameo.

Check out this photo gallery of all the great eats from Taste of Manila 2016.

Ever since Toronto Fashion Week abruptly shut down, many have been wondering what would replace it. While we have plenty of sartorial alternatives, one group has now announced it'll be bringing back a multi-day event dedicated to womenswear.

This weekend, Toronto Men's Fashion Week (TOMFW) announced it would be introducing Women's Fashion Week in February 2017. Details for it remain limited right now, but it'll likely run around the same time as TOMFW.

While it looks like we might just have the answer as to what it'll replace the now-cancelled fashion week, we'll just have to wait and see whether Toronto designers and sponsors are ready to give another one a try.

Photo by Jason Hargrove via the blogTO Flickr pool.

It might still be summertime in Toronto but soon we'll have to start stocking up on outerwear before the cold sets in. And now we'll have a new place to shop at as the New Zealand brand Icebreaker gets ready to move into a storefront on Queen West.

Icebreaker will open at 278B Queen St. W., in the old Showroom space. While Icebreaker products are already available at places such as Sporting Life and SAIL, this incoming outpost will be its first standalone TouchLab location in Toronto.

To celebrate, it's throwing a grand opening event on August 27. It'll feature a DJ, juice as well as discounts for the first 100 people in the door.

Photo via Icrebreaker.

Today in Toronto we have a few epic events. Hamilton (the musical) Karaoke returns to the Cameron House by very, very popular demand, there's a Game of Thrones the card game tournament and the one and only Barbra Streisand takes over the ACC with her tear-inducing vocals.

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

• Game of Thrones Summer Tournament (Snakes & Lattes)
• Open Roof Second Last Event (99 Sudbury)
• Hamilton Karaoke (Cameron House)
• Skye & Ross of Morcheeba (Danforth Music Hall)
• Isn't Anything (Unlovable)
• Korn (Molson Amphitheatre)
• Barbra Streisand (Air Canada Centre)

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

Photo via barbrastreisand.com

Toronto inventors, innovators and creative thinkers use crowdfunding platforms like Kickstarter and Indiegogo to make their wildest dreams come true. Our city's launched some pretty unique gadgets and even restaurants, but there are always new products, services and creative projects hitting the web.

Here are 7 Toronto crowdfunding projects you can support right now.

Ultimate Backpack for Travellers V2.0
The first Ultimate Backpack for Travellers was enormously popular on Kickstarter when Standard Luggage Co., launched it in March 2015. Now, the locally based company has updated its signature bag with features that make it an even better carry-on and travel backpack.

Biotraps
Toronto-based Morgan Wyatt and his environmentally friendly mosquito trap made headlines after they travelled to Rio during the Olympics to help fight Zika. For $25, you can support this project and get five of your very own Biotraps.

Hinge Toaster
If you live in a small space, you probably have a hard time cramming all of your appliances in your kitchen. Enter the Hinge Toaster, a new take on this classic device designed to save you valuable counter space. This sleek four-slice toaster pivots 180 degrees, so you can configure it in a myriad of ways.

MOONSHOT The Indigenous Comics Collection Volume 2
For the second time, editor Hope Nicholson and publisher AH Comics are bringing together Indigenous artists from across North America to create a 200 page comic book filled with incredible-looking art and stories centred on "present-day indigenous spirituality and tradition."

Unbound Apparel
This clothing line is geared towards backpackers and those who travel light. Since everything's made out of 100 per cent Merino wool, it's apparently antibacterial and odour-resistant and it dries super quickly. So instead of washing your clothes while you're away, you can just wear Unbound. Get your credit card ready because this campaign has already raised nearly $200,000.

Hogtown Horror
If you're looking to support something a little less techy or futuristic, consider this comic book, which brings together more than 25 indie artists. In this anthology, the artists will dream up Toronto-based horror stories to freak you out the next time you walk through the city at night.

Love Never Dies - A Zom Com Film
One young filmmaker is trying to make a Wes Anderson-inspired zombie comedy film right here in Toronto. While the project's been fully funded, you can still support his noble pursuit.

Photo via @thehingetoaster.