Fabrik Condos is a new Menkes development poised to to arrive in Toronto's Fashion District by 2015. This project will undoubtedly break the real estate mould, if primarily just because it spells "fabric" with a "K." (Sort of like how kids used to spell "cool" as "kewl" back in the days of ICQ, right?) This project will rise 16 storeys tall, complete with over 170 units and a pet spa on its main level. Here is a closer look at Fabrik Condos.

SPECS

Address:431 Richmond St West

Floors: 16

Total number of units: 174

Elevators: 2

Types of units: Studio, one bedroom, one-plus-den, two bedroom, two-plus-den, three bedroom

Unit sizes (in square feet): 424 -825

Ceiling heights: 9'

Prices from: $300,000

Parking: $42,000 (for select suites)

Maintenance fees: $0.55 (+hydro)

Developer:Menkes

Architect:Giovanni Tassone

Interior Design:Giannone Petricone

Amenities: Lounge, concierge (8-hour), pet grooming area, theatre room, guest suite, games room, outdoor terrace, fitness room, party room

Expected occupancy: July 2015

THE GOOD

What is this — 16 storeys?! That's basically a midrise by downtown Toronto standards. Richmond Street and area is already slated to welcome a collection of 35-, 40-, and 50-storey towers, so it's somewhat refreshing to see a project that keeps to less than 20 storeys. That said, Fabrik will be pretty tall compared to immediate Richmond and Spadina real estate, and will certainly have a more dominating sidewalk presence than the ghost of its former reservations-only past. As an aside — anyone still missing those $20 cocktails?

Height isn't the only bashful aspect of this new Menkes build. Pricing — at least for this area — has started off rather modestly at about $600 to $620 per square foot. Now, I recognize that by any other standard $620 per square foot is nowhere close to a steal, but compared to most of the other (grossly overpriced) new condos in the Fashion/Entertainment/Queen West area, Fabrik pricing isn't all that outrageous. Fabrik has also kept unnecessary amenities (with the exception of its much touted "pet spa") to a minimum, reducing the risk of skyrocketing maintenance fees once operating costs are made clear.

THE BAD

Fabrik, like so many new downtown Toronto condos, seems to have crammed as many suites as possible onto each of its resident floors. The symptom of such congestion, of course, is that some units become awkwardly arranged such that kitchen appliances are relegated to corridor areas and bedrooms exist with access to natural light. That is, some suites. Many of Fabrik's one-plus-den arrangements are actually quite acceptable (dare I say — pleasing?) with fair-sized balconies and dens that could function as autonomous spaces (as opposed to "nooks"). Finishes, still, are not exactly top-of-the-line, with laminate flooring as standard and that "lofty" 9' floor measured from unfinished floor to unfinished ceiling. Not terrible, mind you, but not laudable either.

The other Fabrik drawback is not necessarily a comment on the condo itself, but rather, its effect on the retail and architectural diversity in the area (I know, I know). Not that Fabrik is the first development to seize prime real estate and turn it into a five-year-old "coming soon" sign, but it is, nevertheless, somewhat of a shame to see a corner that once offered something to everyone become essentially invisible to all but its residents. Then again, 431 Richmond Street only offered something to you if you had a reservation.

THE VERDICT

Maybe I miss Goodnight after all...?

What do you think? Would you live here? Add your comments to the thread below.

Read other posts in this series via our Toronto Condos and Lofts Pinterest board

Late night eats north of the 401 prove that, contrary to what many people may think, there's quite a bit of activity in the area when the sun goes down. From bubble tea cafes to bars, and from pubs to karaoke, there's no shortage of ways to relieve your bulging wallet's contents on a weekend night. A natural corollary of that fact is that the urge to stuff our faces with unholy amounts of food arises around midnight, and late night dining up in the suburbs is alive and thriving.

Here are my top restaurant picks for late night eats north of the 401.

Chako Barbeque Izakaya (2190 McNicoll Avenue, Scarborough)
Nothing beats the late-night blues like sizzling pieces of marinated ribs cooking right in front of you. With special late night weekday pricing of $11.99 for all-you-can-eat barbecued meats, it's truly a place that will equally appeal to carnivores and turn off vegetarians everywhere. While you shouldn't expect ultra high-end cuts of meat, you do get an awesome array of solid choices ranging from beef to the ever-popular Korean short ribs. Throw in the hip and modern feel of the place, and you can easily see why it's a big hit. Open until 1 am.

Markham Station (5117 Sheppard Avenue, Scarborough)
It's practically impossible to find anybody growing up near Scarborough who hasn't heard of Markham Station. Truly one of the most popular stops (pun intended) on many a post-midnight journey from bars, parties, and other events where a teensy bit of intoxication may have occurred, Markham Station isn't a place you go to for fine dining and white tablecloths.

It's a 24-hour place where you can stuff your face with their all-day breakfast (containing 3 eggs, bacon, and homefries - just what every growing boy/girl needs) for 5 bucks and leave feeling a little less dizzy. The service may be a bit on the sparse side, but your tummy certainly won't be. And at 4 am, that's really what matters.

Tasty & Tasty (1883 McNicoll Avenue, Scarborough)
Despite the hilariously awful name, this restaurant draws quite a large clientele looking for some homestyle Asian cooking in the middle of the night. Frequented by many Scarborough students during post-party (or post-cramming session) hunger attacks, this small and almost hidden Northern Chinese restaurant serves up a large variety of hot dishes, such as their popular grilled fish in spicy soup, along with a nice side of bubble tea to cool down your fiery taste buds. Open until 4 am on most days.

Shawarma Max (4969 Yonge Street, North York)
Despite its modest interior and presentation, it's hard to get a better shawarma deal in the suburbs than Shawarma Max. For around $6, you can feast on a multitude of juicy and tasty shawarmas, lathered in a velvety smooth yogurt sauce and chockfull of refreshing vegetables, in the middle of the night. One bite of their popular chicken shawarma and you'll see why this place is a big hit for many in the area. They're even open until 4 am on weekends, perfect for when you're coming out of a late night Gangnam session in one of the many karaoke joints that populate the area.

Wonder Fusion Corp (505 Highway 7 East, Richmond Hill)
No, this isn't the name of a startup software company (or an underwear store, for that matter), but the rather unfortunately-mangled name of the Richmond Hill location of a popular Szechuan Chinese restaurant chain. This (very) northern location, in contrast to its North York and Scarborough locations, looks nicer and is significantly more spacious, making it a great place to grab some spicy fish (sui zhu yu) or fried chili chicken on any cold winter's night. The servers wearing LED name tags add a cute, if impractical, touch to your dining experience. Open until 2 am on most days.

Congee Wong (10 Ravel Road, North York)
An absolute staple for late night family meals and post-party munchdowns alike, Congee Wong has been serving up countless bowls of their popular namesake dish along with many other favourites such as the flavourful chili turnip cakes, and spicy Kung Pao chicken for what seems like an eternity.

It's not uncommon to see lineups out the door during mealtimes, where the odds of getting a seat are almost as long as winning anything above $10 on a scratch-and-win card, but this shouldn't pose too much of a problem for late-night revelers (especially as the place is open until 1 am most nights and 2 am on weekends).

Owl of Minerva (5324 Yonge Street, North York)
Despite boasting a name that always reminds me of a math tutorial place, this restaurant serves up what many would argue to be the best gam ja tang (Korean pork bone soup) in town. The restaurant chain has several locations, but the North York one is definitely among the top ones to visit, with cramped seating and random Korean TV shows in the background adding to its quirky charm.

If the spicy pork broth isn't up your alley (which would definitely put you in the minority), then scarf down on their marinated bulgogi. And did I mention it's open 24 hours? Win.

While there are multiple locations, the North York one is arguably the place to go, with an urban upscale feel, efficient service, and free wi-fi all the way until its closing time of around 3 am on weekends. And if you still want something to eat while slurping your delicious mango pudding, you can gorge on the various noodles, fried goodies, and fish balls that this place has to offer. Free parking at the rear!

Kayagum (5470 Yonge Street, North York)
If the idea of 24-hour bibimbap appeals to you, then head over to this Korean restaurant just south of the Finch subway station. Ordering at this simple restaurant is always a treat, as they frequently serve you with a nice combination of banchans and thick soup to tide you over. Some of their other delicious (and rather underrated) dishes include the spicy fried chicken and rice cakes.

Khorak Supermarket (6125 Yonge Street, North York)
"But that's a grocery store!" I hear some of you say. True, but it's also a place where you can pick up a smorgasbord of kebabs, giant meatballs, and Persian desserts, 24 hours a day. And you can do so while picking up your week's groceries in the relative peace that a 4 am shopping experience will grant you. Don't be surprised though, at the fact that you will still encounter quite a few shoppers/diners/students/curious souls even at said random hours--such is the popularity of this place among locals. After all, who needs a superMARKET when you have a superKHORAK?

The flavours are consistently strong, with friendly and efficient service to tie it all together. The large number of booth seats is a nice touch, while the decorations--which can only be described as classy with a touch of tacky--need to be seen to be believed.

Ajisen Ramen (5229 Yonge Street, North York)
Ajisen Ramen is seen by many around the world as the Tim Hortons of ramen due to its ubiquity, relatively low prices, and popularity. This location serves up all of Ajisen's signature ramens (such as their delicious namesake dish) along with a nice variety of rice dishes, such as the satisfying deep fried chicken curry rice, all the way until midnight. While not on the same level of sophistication as Momofuku or Kinton, this is still a great place to go for a quick hit of that hot noodle broth. It ain't fancy dining, but it'll certainly hit the spot.

BONUS SPOT! (FOR DESSERT)

Sugar Marmalade (5322 Yonge Street, North York)
Sometimes what you want in the middle of the night isn't heaping amounts of grease, but rather something to satisfy your sweet tooth craving. Sugar Marmalade aims to fill that gaping void in your stomach (or mouth?) by providing a large variety of both traditional and fusion Chinese desserts in a modern setting.

Want more late night eats? Download our Toronto bars, pubs & late night eats iPhone app.

Posted by Darren "DKLo" Susilo. He hangs out on the twitter and his own mansion.

If a viral video can win you a one-on-one with Galen Weston, perhaps a series of protests can convince him to abandon plans to open a store by Kensington Market? Anyone? No? OK.

A group of concerned Kensington Market advocates however, is a little more optimistic. "We've gone against big corporations before," says Venetia Butler, chair of the Kensington Market Action Committee. "And we've successfully demonstrated our ability to make change."

That group is hoping to change plans for a new 20,000 square foot Loblaws that is slated to open on the second floor of a new condo at College and Spadina. The worry among the anti-Loblaws crowd is that the new grocery store will drain business from the smaller independent food shops already operating in Kensington Market.

"We're not against all types of retail there," Venetia says of the condo development. "We're just saying that it's entirely impractical to put a big grocery store chain there when the area is underserviced in other ways. We'd be delighted to have a liquor store; a Staples would be fantastic."

The group already held a protest in Kensington Market this past weekend to voice its displeasure with the plans, and is planning to go against Councillor Adam Vaughan to seek to halt the Loblaws arrival.

"Kensington has had successful outcomes rallying against corporate entities, before" Venetia says, citing a battle with McDonald's back in the early 1990's and a more recent Starbucks threat. "Our primary objection is that by having a Loblaws so close by Kensington, some of the Kensington grocery dollar will be spent there."

Venetia admits that the group is still early in its efforts, but it has already launched an online petition and plans to hold an open community meeting someone soon.

Photo by sevres-babylone in the blogTO Flickr pool

This eclectic retailer of vintage fare, records, and handcrafted goods recently emerged beyond the depths of its basement location to take over street-level retail space. With its new digs, the store is drawing in visitors looking for unique finds, unexpected treasures, and a little kitsch.

Read my profile of Ransack the Universe in the Design section.

Harry Rosen on Bloor was the place to be on Wednesday night for a look at some of the personal photographs of Ralph Lauren. The collection of images featured the designer over the years at home, with his car collection and other intimate shots including some taken by Bruce Weber. The culinary team at the Harbord Room provided the eats and the crowd, of course, dressed for the occasion.

Check out all the looks in our Style section.

Photo by PJ Mixer in the blogTO Flickr pool

Mezcal is becoming something of a buzz word in most bars; made by distilling fermented mash from agave, the quality lies in the purity of its ingredients and the craftsmanship involved in its production. Enter Fortuna Mezcal, makes of artisanal mezcal using 100% pure agave, and who give back $1 from every bottle sold to the community of San Dionisio in Oaxaca, where it's produced. The project is a collaboration between Walter Meyenberg, Michael Martin, and Ignacio Martínez, the maestro Mezcalero of San Dioniso.

Fortuna Mezcal is holding its global launch in Toronto with Fortuna Week (February 25-March 3)--an epic week of Toronto venue-hopping that'll take you from Weslodge Saloon, to Spoke Club, to an appropriate finale at La Carnita. The founders will be on hand to demonstrate the Fortuna ritual--let's just say it involves oranges, chili powder, and roasted agave worms.

Most of these events are open to the public, and most importantly free (although some are private, and all are subject to the capacity of the venues). While you're partaking of the festivities, be sure to tweet to @fortunamezcal, and use the hashtag #fortunaweek.

Now, on to the contest.

THE PRIZES

1st correct commenter
Fortuna Night experience for you and 5 friends, where Fortuna Mezcal will come to your home to share the authentic Fortuna ritual experience (please note that your home must be within the downtown core, and the event will take place between March 18 and April 30), as well as 6 Fortuna custom glasses.

2nd correct commenter
1 pair of Fortuna Week Passports, which gives front-of-the-line access to all events during Fortuna Week (February 25 to March 3) and 2 Fortuna T shirts.

3rd correct commenter
1 pair of Fortuna Week Passports, and 4 Fortuna Mezcal custom pins.

HOW TO WIN

To win, just answer the following question: Complete Fortuna's tagline, to be found on their website: "Champagne is for the rich. Fortuna is for the_____."

Please make sure to include a valid email address in the comment form "Email Address" field so that we can contact you if you're a winner.

FINE PRINT

You must be a Toronto-area resident of legal drinking age to win. Only one comment and answer per person. If you include multiple answers or post multiple comments you will be disqualified, and the winner must pick up their own tickets.

UPDATE

This contest is now closed. Winners will be contacted shortly.

Peel back the layers of wallpaper in an old Victorian home and you're likely to uncover the patterns and pastimes of earlier generations. The thick walls and creaky floors are bound to have been party to a ground-shifting secret or two. Such is the premise of Bruce Norris's play Clybourne Park, written in response to Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin in the Sun.

Set in the same house in both 1959 and 2009, the debates in the living room — of race, gender, and community — are a touchstone of the times, as well as a reminder of a prevailing dialogue that still remains. Studio 180's production, directed by Joel Greenberg, is a cleverly written, adeptly directed comedy that tackles questions of racial tension.

The play starts conventionally enough in the home of Russ (Michael Healey) and Bev (Maria Ricossa) who, along with their Black housekeeper (Audrey Dwyer), are packing up their home in Clybourne Park to escape the overwhelming grief caused by the suicide of their son. After a neighbour informs them that their house was sold to a Black family, the members of the community debate the future implications of the house's sale. To say their opinions are divided is an understatement.

Act two unfolds 40 years later where two couples sit with a lawyer and a representative from a community committee to hash out plans for a new house in place of the old one. Lena (Dwyer) fights to preserve the modest dwelling, given its historical significance as one of the first homes inhabited by a Black family in the neighbourhood. Yuppies Steve (Mark McGrinder) and Lindsey (Kimwun Perehinec) politely question Lena's misgivings, which, over time, gives rise to a torrent of racially charged outbursts. Echos and parallels from act one abound.

Rarely have portraits of racial debate been so deftly blended with comedy. Each character contributes to the conversation in their own way, either blindly searching for middle ground or holding firm to their political position. Unfortunately for the characters, no one really comes out on top. Only Bev shows any real compassion for the members of her fellow community.

Greenberg finds a lot of important nuance in the text. The first act specifically builds to an incredible crescendo, courtesy of Healey's skill. His Russ is a boiling pot weighed down with a heavy lid of grief, and when he finally does boil over, it's the emotional highlight of the show.

The only unfortunate consequence is that the second act, while much more funny, does not reach the same poignant height. The same can be said for the footnote at the show's conclusion which seems rather unnecessary.

The acting is strong throughout, especially since each performer portrays two different characters. If Healey drives the first act, it's McGrinder and Dwyer's battle that defines the second. Each does well in escalating the conversation from query to full blown sparring match.

Norris' play shatters our cosmopolitan cocoon by interrogating all of the supposed good will which masks our under-the-surface fears. And to do it with such comedic style is a triumph.

—

Clybourne Park, written by Bruce Norris and directed by Joel Greenberg, runs at the Panasonic Theatre until March 3.

Photo courtesy of Mirvish

Watching the Academy Awards in Toronto is sometimes best designated to private parties of one, in your pyjamas, so as not to disturb those who are less passionately invested with your opinions, predictions, and inevitable outrage. There's something to be said, though, for setting your hair in Dietrich pincurls, donning a sleek crimson number, and debating the narrative merits of Beasts of the Southern Wild with die-hard fans of Lincoln (there surely must be one or two of you out there, somewhere). If nothing less than arguing who wore it best, and who muddled their acceptance speech the most will do, there are many venues in Toronto who'll be happy to have you come Sunday, February 24.

Here's the list of where to watch the 2013 Academy Awards in Toronto:

Toronto Oscar Party
With only 300 tickets available to this larger-than-life screening of the 2013 Oscars, this party is suitable for only those 19 and over, and a dress code is effect. Although no outside food or drink is permitted, your entrance fee will score you a free drink from their licensed bar, and a nomination form that may garner you prizes.
Projection Booth - East (1035 Gerrard St. E.) 5PM $15

Bloor Broadcast: 85th Academy Awards
The recently face-lifted Bloor Hot Docs Cinema's screening of the awards will be hosted by Thom Ernst of TVO's Saturday Night at the Movies, and you can expect trivia, prizes, themed eats and drinks, and a come-one-and-all dress code that means satin will mingle with Snuggies.
The Bloor Hot Docs Cinema (506 Bloor Street West) doors at 6:30PM Free

Oscars and Oysters
For the Oscar high-roller, a night of award gold, artisanal cheeses, and oysters courtesy of Neptuno. Not quite what you'd expect from a grilled cheese shop, but this 8-course tasting comes complete with a screening of the Oscars, with proceeds benefitting the Stop Community Food Centre.
Cheesewerks (56 Bathurst St.) 7:30PM $85

Drake's Oscar Party
The Drake's Oscar Party is a long-standing tradition, and it returns with film critic Richard Crouse at the helm. Your hunches will be incentivized with prizes awarded for most correct guesses, and there'll be popcorn, ballots, and a champagne menu. Celebrity-worthy outfits are encouraged.
Drake Hotel (1150 Queen St W) 6 PM Free

Fox Theatre free screening
The Fox Theatre is opening its doors for a free screening of film's big night out, complete with all the cheers, tears, and jeers you can stomach. They recommend showing up at 7:15 p.m. for the pre-show, but early birds will score the most enviable seats.
Fox Theatre (2236 Queen St E) 7PM

A Red Carpet Affair
The Office Pub is throwing a stylish soiree, replete with a special Oscars menu and featured cocktails, trivia and prizes, and for a touch of cheese factor, there'll be a pro shutterbug on hand to capture your slinky stroll down the red carpet (you're instructed to "dress to impress").
The Office Pub (117 John St.) 7PM $5

Revue Cinema free screening
In the spirit of loving cinema, the Revue on Roncesvalles is treating die-hard Oscar fans to a free screening of the awards show. As with all things free and of limited seating, arrive early to secure a spot.
Revue Cinema (400 Roncesvalles Ave) 7PM Free

Oscars at Pegasus on Church
Pegasus is keeping it simple and sweet: customers will receive ballots and must make their predictions before 8 p.m., and the most prescient among you will win a $100 gift certificate to Pegasus. Regardless of whether you guess correctly or not, the awards will be screening, and the atmosphere will be, as always, fabulous.
Pegasus on Church (489B Church Street) before 8PM

Seven44 Oscar Night
Seven44 hosts an Oscar party for a fourth time, and the awards will screen live on 10 screens throughout the venue. There'll also be trivia, prizes, and dressing up as your favourite starlet or Hollywood hunk won't be taken amiss.
Seven44 (744 Mount Pleasant Road) 6PM $5

O'Grady's
The Oscars are an annual, all-out event at O'Grady's, with the staff dressing up as movie characters (and the Oscar statue). They screen the Oscars with full sound, and you'll have the option to buy into a trivia game for a cash prize. From the outdoor red carpet at the beginning of the night, to karaoke at the end, it's a great place to bury your sorrows if Life of Pi gets robbed.
O'Grady's on Church (518 Church St) 7PM Free

Zemra Bar Lounge
Zemra Bar Lounge is being taken over by Oscar fever, with a special Oscar-themed menu, a red carpet made for strutting (with shot-hungry paparazzi), an Oscar poll, and a competition for best and worst dressed. Added bonus: your entrance fee to the dineT.O.-sponsored soiree includes complimentary champagne and appetizers.
Zemra Bar Lounge (778 St. Clair Ave. W.) doors at 6PM $5

Who will take home the Gold?
The Tilted Kilt might be known for being a sports bar (and a naughty, pleated-skirt-and-push-up one at that), but they're cinephiles, too--they'll be screening the Oscars, and serving up their usual pub fare and pints (as well as showing sports on select TVs).
Tilted Kilt (38 The Esplanade) 8PM

Oscar Party 2013 at the Riverside Public House
The Riverside Public House will be screening the Academy Awards on their big screen, and there'll be Oscar-themed cocktails on offer throughout the night. Prizes will be awarded for the best red carpet look (either classic Hollywood or inspired by the nominees), and reservations for dinner are highly recommended.
Riverside Public House (725 Queen Street East) 5PM for dinner, prix fixe and regular menu available

Photo by PLTam in the blogTO Flickr pool

This Week in Food rounds up the week's food news, restaurants openings and closings, chef movements and upcoming food events in Toronto. Find us here every Friday morning.

OPENINGS & CLOSINGS

• Newly opened La Burrita has replaced Ethiopian restaurant Abyssinia at 735 Bloor Street West, and is now serving up fast casual Mexican food.
• New restaurant TenTen (from the team behind The Upper Crust) has quietly opened in Leslieville at 1010 Queen Street East.
• Also newly opened, The One Restaurant is now offering daily lunch and dinner menus plus weekend brunch at 895 Yonge Street.
• The Chase is slated to open two restaurant concepts this summer in the Dineen Building at Yonge and Temperance. The maritime-themed first floor will feature fish and oysters while the fifth floor is set to become a high-end Italian chop house.
• New take-away café, The Pink Grapefruit is set to open in April at 106 Queen Street East. The Pret A Manger-styled concept from chef Tatiana Shabotynsky (George, Auberge du Pommier) will feature coffee bar staples and healthy prepared foods.
• The Burger Press (167 Bathurst Street) has closed after less than a year in business, proving that the burger wars at Bathurst and Queen are heating up. Signs indicate that something called Downstairs Deli is soon to take over site.
• A sign announcing the imminent arrival of Broastyy has gone up at 1281 Bloor St. W.

UPCOMING EVENTS

• Seoul Food Co. presents Battle Kimchi: Yakitori Bar (1 Baldwin Street) on Saturday, February 23rd from 2 to 5pm. Billed as the Mother of all Kimchi battles, this event pits six of the city's best kimchi-makers against each other in a celebrity-judged battle. Tickets are $35.
• The Rusholme Park Supper Club presents Butter Love with Lauren Eden Jones at The Depanneur (1033 College Street) on Saturday, February 23rd at 7:30pm. This $40 dinner will include bread and homemade butter as well as a rich 3-course menu.
• Death Row Meals: Olde Hunters Feast takes place Sunday, February 24th at Luma (350 King Street West). Six great chefs will serve up a canapé reception and a 6-course, nose-to-tail tasting menu featuring Water Buffalo. Tickets are $95.
• Foodwares CHW DWN Pop-Up Lunch brings favourite food truck vendors indoors on Wednesday, February 27th to The Bay on Queen Street (located downstairs in the Foodwares Market Eatery). Fidel Gastro, Seven Lives Tacos, Neptuno and Swine Shrine will be serving up lunch between 11:30am and 2pm.
• Tickets are available for NOW Magazine's SLURP Noodlefest taking place on Sunday, March 3rd, from noon until 5pm at The Great Hall (1087 Queen Street West). This afternoon event will feature popular noodle dishes like pho and ramen as well as an array of street food snacks. Featured chefs include Cindy Arman (Babi & Co.), Victor Barry (Splendido), Carl Heinrich (Richmond Station), Adam Hynam-Smith (El Gastronomo Vagabundo), Nick Liu (Gwailo), Eric Wood (Hawthorne Food & Drink).

OTHER NEWS

• Voting is open for the 2nd Annual GE Monogram® - Terroir Awards for Excellence in Hospitality. A $1000 cash prize will be awarded in three categories; favourite chef, mixologist/sommelier, and service staff at Terroir on Monday, April 8th.

Photo from our review of Seven Lives

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 mooncall2012

2.
Photo by Trevor_Hughes

3.
Photo by Tony Wei-Han Chen

4.
Photo by kaeko

5.
Photo by Ryan Tir

6.
Photo by enfys photography

7.
Photo by PJ Mixer

Add two more to the deadpool list. According to reports in Post City, Centro up at Yonge and Eglinton and Colborne Lane in King East will soon serve their last meals.

Claudio Aprile explains Colborne Lane's extremely imminent closure (last day is tomorrow) as a way of shifting his focus on other projects, telling Post City, "I feel that I've said everything I've had to say with this restaurant." Centro, on the other hand, will be converted into an entirely new Italian restaurant according to co-owner Armando Mano, one that will boast a new look, name, staff, and menu with lower price points than Centro. That new restaurant will be unveiled sometime in April.

In the 37 years since the CN Tower opened to the public, only two times has someone actually jumped off the top of it. Both times, it has been the same man - maverick daredevil Dar Robinson.

The steel-balled stuntman was paid a cool $150,000 to double for Christopher Plummer and jump off the Tower for the exciting conclusion to a 1982 (but filmed in 1979) heist gone awry rom-com Highpoint, itself a high point in a middling, convoluted Canuxploitation snoozer.

Academy award winner Plummer was really slumming it here as James Hatcher, a sleazy conman who embezzles millions from a joint CIA/Mafia sting operation. Original Dumbledore Richard Harris and throaty pre-Vacation Beverly D'Angelo give chase, as well as bumbling assassins played by customary Cancon haunts Saul Rubinek and Maury Chaykin, who also scheme to claim the money for themselves. After a series of increasingly slapstick encounters, all the players meet at the CN Tower for the film's climax.

Hilariously (in light of his mammoth contribution) credited as only the 2ND stunt performer, Dar Robinson's amazing Highpoint stunt in 1979 earned him instant untouchable world-wide cred, as previously only one other person had dared jump the 1,170-ft high tower, and that fellow did it when the structure was only half constructed. Dar had cut his stunt teeth on glossy big budget disaster movies like The Towering Inferno and Concord: Airport '79, but his fearless parachute jump in Highpoint signalled a bold new upping of the ante - a 700 foot free-fall relying on a concealed parachute to be opened at precisely the last possible moment.

The following year, Dar dutifully dropped 220 feet out of a Hyatt Regency Downtown in Atlanta for the tough neo-noir Sharky's Machine, directed by his good friend Burt Reynolds: "In terms of sheer courage" noted Reynolds, "Dar had no peer." With no parachute or harness, Dar instead relied on an inflatable mattress to break his fall, setting the record for highest wireless free-fall jump in a film (he went on to claim over 20 stunt records). Reynolds was so impressed he gave Dar a villainous on-screen role as psycho albino killer Moke in his 1985 adaptation of Elmore Leonard's Stick.

Around the same time, weekly TV series That's Incredible! was pushing the boundaries of human endeavour in the name of entertainment, usually featuring breathtaking stunts: "Don't try this at home" was the show's popular catch phrase. Hosted by the perfectly chiseled John Davidson, NFL legend Fran Tarkenton and sultry blonde Cathy Lee Crosby, That's Incredible! perhaps laid the ground for our YouTube era fascination with short clips of people doing cool stunts, hurting themselves, or very nearly killing themselves.

Dar saw That's Incredible! as a great forum for yet another next level stunt, revisiting Toronto and taking the tower again. However this time Dar wanted to try something different, so there would be no parachute. Dar and his team instead constructed a single 1/8" (3mm) wire attached to a breaking system controlled by his best friend and assistant "Rocketman" Ky Michaelson, which would be pulled at the very last moment, stopping only a short distance from the ground. No stranger to mixing precise mathematical projections with meticulous planning and devil-may-care brassiness, Dar remained an unshakeable force of nature.

However, with no Hollywood film crew a la Highpoint (which ironically had not even been released theatrically when Dar returned to leap from the Tower again), things were slightly more diy. After visiting the Tower, Ky quickly became concerned: "I saw that the base of the building actually flared out towards the bottom. This caused a vortex or a tornado effect with swirling very unstable winds. We set up some equipment to measure what the wind was doing at different levels. We found out that the winds were doing different things at every level up the tower."

The night before the jump, Dar declined a steak dinner and drinks with host Cathy Lee Crosby. "This was not like Dar at all" recalls Ky. Was the world's greatest stuntman in danger of losing his bottle?

While incredibly everything panned out, disaster was moments away. Not long after disconnecting Dar, the wind snapped the cable off the top of the Tower, chipping pieces of concrete off as it hurtled towards the ground. Questions of safety were raised at City Hall and Queen's Park, and while there was no outright banning of such stunts, here we are 30 plus years later and none have materialized. Finding someone to insure such foolhardiness may play a part, but that certainly didn't stop Super Dave Osborne from trying in the mid-1980s, natch.

Dar Robinson went on to perform more outrageous stunts in classic B-movies like Police Academy (also filmed in Toronto), Turk 182, To Live and Die in LA, and Vamp. Just as he had scored A-list cred with the amazing stunt work in Richard Donner's original Lethal Weapon (1987), Dar was killed in a motorcycle accident while shooting a forgettable thriller entitled Million Dollar Mystery. The movie was dedicated to him (as was Lethal Weapon), a Hollywood first, and as well he won a posthumous 1995 Academy Award for his innovations in the world of stunt work.

Sadly, not many people in Toronto know about Dar Robinson. Now that Edgewalk has popularized thrill seeking atop the CN Tower, it would be nice to think that Dar's amazing stunts for both Highpoint and That's Incredible! warrant a little more than internet curio. Perhaps a bronzed statue would be appropriate, seated on the edge of the rooftop, glaring down at the impossible heights and giving a thumbs up to fellow edgewalkers everywhere?

Note: The That's Incredible! clips presented here are from a 1987 TV special entitled The Ultimate Stuntman: A Tribute to Dar Robinson hosted by Chuck Norris, which repackaged much of the That's Incredible! footage, however not all of it. Chuck's grizzled delivery (cf "Toronto, Canada") more than makes up for any errant footage, however.

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.

Traditionally, art fairs have little to do with artists. Tense gallery owners and dealers display one or two pieces from an artist in their roster without context, and then attempt to explain to the masses just what it is and why it matters. Now in its sixth year, the Artist Project(TAP) subverts the typical art fair format and places the artists themselves within the booths. And with over 200+ artists participating, it's a great way to get acquainted with a full spectrum of styles and skill levels.

The show may host independent artists, but it's still a serious production. Organisers Informa Canada, who are responsible for dozens of major conventions across Canada, have made sure that every inch of the exhibition hall that doesn't have art hanging on it still has something for the eye. The fair's opening night was certainly an event, with multiple DJ's spinning crowd-friendly remixes, winding lineups for complementary wine and appetizers, and the lingering smell of tandoori shrimp mingling with that of the fresh paint. There was even an aggressively magenta "Art Lounge" where visitors could relax from the stress of viewing thousands of dollars worth of art with a free birthday cake vodka martini.

And in addition to the almost overwhelming amount of work, this year's TAP also features several themed events: Untapped Emerging Artists is a juried competition that awards young artists a free space at the show (booths are typically paid for), while the Installation Area grants space to several large-scale mixed-media and sculptural works.

Admission to the show also grants visitors access to Art Chats, a series of discussions on buying and appreciating contemporary art from speakers like Gallerists Manny Neubacher & Anya Shor, Stephen Bulger, and Canadian Art Managing Editor Bryne McLaughlin.

It wasn't long before sensory overload kicked in, but here are nine artists that make a lasting impression at this year's TAP:

Cate McGuire
My absolute favorite from the 2013 exhibition is also one of the easiest booths to miss. McGuire's abstracted architectural collages employ muted colors, but their emotional impact is anything but subdued. With both a BFA from Concordia and a graduate degree in Architecture from UBC, McGuire's thoughtful work blurs the boundaries between the two faculties.

Laird Kay
Kay's blurred family snapshots of mid-century South Africa hint at the country's impending political turmoil, while more broadly exploring the eerie qualities of nostalgia. Viewing his work is a thoroughly uncanny experience, but it's also endlessly compelling.

Mitchell Clark Meller
As a self-taught artist, Meller's work is filled with emotion and energy, and totally devoid of any formal constraints. Employing layers of acrylic, pastels, pencil, glaze, and even household paint, Meller's pieces have an incredible urgency not seen in the majority of the fair's more commercial offerings.

Nick Chase
TAP skews heavily in favour of painting and photography, but there are a few notable standouts in craft. Chase's delicate floral vases were both striking and completely marketable; a great combo for a populist art fair.

Nissim Benaderet
Tel Aviv-based artist Nissim Benadaret's expressionist line-work was hugely fun. According to Benadarets, his goal is to "create an image that is free from the constraints of logic," while still representing the movement of his actions and thought processes. And as the vast majority of TAP's participating artists are from Toronto, Benadert's pieces are a great insight into more international trends.

Christine Kim
Kim's meticulous process is fully evident in her final product, as her fine papercuts and pencil portraits require a careful eye to catch all the details. The organic interplay of shadows and light also plays a large role in her work, lending her pieces an almost interactive quality.

Rod Prouse
Last night, every odd-numbered booth seemed to be a rural Ontario landscape, but Rod Prouse's abstracted acrylic works still felt like definite originals. With their icy colour palette and sharply geometric abstraction, Prouse's paintings definitely inverted my expectations of Canadian pastoral painting.

Lana Filippone
Filippone's delightfully twee ceramic pieces are an inventive spin on a traditional medium. And as her selection as one of the artists-in-residence at the Harbourfront Centre confirms, Filippone's pieces are definite crowd-pleasers.

Adrienne Dagg
Dagg's works on oil and canvas all employ a distinct painting style full of vibrant colours and energetic brush strokes, but her subjects' personalities still clearly shine through. A very natural approach to narrative portraiture.

David Brown
A central figure on Toronto's arts scene thanks to his SpeakEasy series, Brown's own encaustic work never ceases to fascinate. Reminiscent of abstract expressionist work, his recent paintings are both visually stunning and emotionally charged. Who knew wax could be so evocative?

The Artist Project runs Friday 12PM - 8PM, Saturday 11AM - 8PM, and Sunday 11AM - 6PM at the Better Living Centre, 195 Princes' Boulevard, Exhibition Place. Ticketing info is available here.

Photos by Brian Chambers

The best late night burgers in Toronto seem to beckon as the night turns into the early morning. These burgers, in all of their diet-destroying glory, become evermore appealing after Friday night last call, when the only thing that will suffice is a little beef and a side of fries. These burgers range from classic diner, to sophisticated and decadently clad, and usually offer the perfect way to end off a night out.

Here is the list of the best late night burgers in Toronto.

Want more late night eats? Download our Toronto bars, pubs & late night eats iPhone app.

See also:

The best burgers in Toronto
The best old school burgers in Toronto
The best veggie burgers in Toronto
The best cheeseburgers in Toronto
The best restaurant burgers in Toronto

Weekend events in Toronto is our guide to events happening this Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Here's what's happening in Toronto this February 22-24, 2013.

MUSIC

Somewhere There Music Festival
Trailblazing musicians demonstrate the creative diversity of the local music scene at Somewhere There Music Festival, which launches this Friday night. Over 40 thinkers, educators and musicians will entertain at The Tranzac throughout the weekend, playing orchestral, folk, and rock music between talks and panels with individuals like Scott Thomson, founder of Somewhere There, and composer Martin Arnold. A special appearance by renowned artist and pianist Michael Snow will take place as part of Saturday afternoon's program. All proceeds from ticket sales will go toward running the artist-run non-profit, and foster creative music making.
Tranzac (292 Brunswick Avenue), February 22-24, 2013, 7PM $10

Swedish House Mafia
On their final tour before they disband, Swedish House Mafia perform at the Rogers Centre this Saturday night. The Swedish electro dance trio will end their five-year career performing together after their current tour, aptly titled One Last Tour. The Grammy Award-winning act will spin music from their two collaboration albums as well as various other successful hits, including the current radio favourite, "Don't You Worry Child." Tickets are available through Ticketmaster.
Rogers Centre (1 Blue Jays Way), February 23, 2013, 8PM $43.55-$97.55

Oscar Winners: Music from the Movies
Going to the symphony isn't for everyone--that is, until everyone hears the Star Wars theme played by a live orchestra. In honour of this weekend's Academy Awards, the Etobicoke Philharmonic Orchestra will be playing the music of the movies that will include Oscar-winning scores. A pre-concert chat will open the show at 7:40PM with the EPO performing at 8PM. Celebrate all things Hollywood at Martingrove Collegiate Institute.
Martingrove Collegiate Institute (50 Winterton Drive), February 22, 2013, 7:40PM $10 student, $20 senior, $25 general

For more music listings, check out our This Week in Music and February Concerts posts.

PARTIES

cirQlar & Electro Swing Club Toronto present: THE LOST FINGERS
Are you in the mood for some gypsy jazz electro-swing? Juno-nominated trio The Lost Fingers are coming to the Revival this Friday, courtesy of the Electro Swing Club and cirQlar. The two-room space will be bustling thanks to burlesque artist Mina Lafleur and costumes are encouraged.
Revival (783 College St.) February 22, 2013 9PM $20

YES DETROIT Warehouse Party
The YES series returns this weekend, with a tribute to Detroit. Taking over the Academy of Lions space, the event will merge solid Americana tunes, a warehouse party, and a "music installation." Some of the evening's proceeds will go to Lift Toronto.
Academy of Lions (64 Ossington Ave.) February 23, 2013 $5 before 11PM

FASHION

Pardon Le Dopeness Party
Toronto lifestyle fashion brand Pardon Le Dopeness launches this week with a party designed for people who want to recklessly enjoy life. With music by DJ Crunch & DJ Techtwelve, the label's designers invite Toronto out to Fstop for bottles and dancing. Get on the guest list to ensure admission, and free yourself of inhibitions so you can party like the dopeness.
Fstop (420A Wellington Street West), February 22, 2013, 10PM

For more fashion listings, check out our This Week in Fashion post.

MULTIMEDIA

David Lynch presents Chrysta Bell
Chrysta Bell has been collaborating with David Lynch for several years, most recently co-writing her 2011 album This Train. The iconic filmmaker most recently has developed visuals for the breathy ingenue's Toronto performance at The Drake this Sunday night, which will also feature works by Dutch Rall and Bell herself. Toronto's own ALX will open the show for the dreampop singer-songwriter.
The Drake Underground (1150 Queen Street West), February 24, 2013, 8PM $17 advance, $20 door

GAMING

Vector: Game + Art Convergence
Vector, the annual gaming art showcase, is well underway, and weekend programming has a lot to offer those with a keen interest in contemporary game-based art. Exhibitions, panels, video screenings, workshops and parties are littered throughout the weekend at InterAccess (9 Ossington Avenue), Bento-Miso (#300-862 Richmond Street West) and Propeller (984 Queen Street West). Best things to check out at this year's festival? Try Saturday afternoon's Board Game Remix Jam and Sunday's panel on appropriation politics in gaming. Tickets are available through the Vector tumblr site but all panels are free to attend.
Various locations, February 20-24, 2013, 1PM Free (screening prices vary)

COMEDY

The Underground Comedy Railroad Tour
Black Comedy is putting down roots in Toronto with the beginnings of The Underground Comedy Railroad Tour, a comedy show taking place all weekend long at The Lower Ossington Theatre's new comedy spot. In honour of Black History Month, black comedians like Rodney Ramsey, Keesha Brownie, Andrew Searles, Daniel Woodrow, Chris Robinson and Hoodo Hersi will perform stand-up for two nights. Tickets are available at undergroundcomedyrailroad.com.
The Lower Ossington Theatre (100 Ossington Avenue), February 22-23, 2013, 10PM $15 advance, $20 door

For more comedy listings, check out our This Week in Comedy post.

ART

How Can I Forget?
Described as a multimedia dream, Sook-Yin Lee's latest performance piece explores memories through troubled relationships. With an original musical score, photography and video by Lee, and input from choreographer Benjamin Kamino and writer/musician Adam Litovitz, How Can I Forget? premieres at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre this weekend as part of the Rhubarb Festival. Limited tickets are available to see Lee perform within an experimental narrative live.
Buddies In Bad Times Theatre (12 Alexander Street), February 22-23, 2013, 9:30PM $20

Check out our full preview of the 2013 Artist Project, taking place this weekend at Exhibition Place.

FILM

Paris, Manhattan
An adorable French romantic comedy about a 30-something single pharmacist living in Paris, Sophie Lellouche's Paris, Manhattan opens in Toronto this Sunday. Screening at Cineplex Odeon Sheppard Cinemas, the story follows Alice the pharmacist, who uses her obsession with Woody Allen to cure her customers of their ailments. Prescribing Allen's films and serving up movie quotes as cures, Alice finds ways to insert her favourite filmmaker into everything she does--including in between her and a potential love interest. The film runs on a limited engagement.
Cineplex Odeon Sheppard Cinemas (4861 Yonge Street), February 24, 2013, 4PM

Toronto Oscar Party
The Projection Booth East is now the Big Picture Cinema and to celebrate their name change and the biggest film event of the year, the theatre will host a Toronto Oscar Party. 300 guests will be invited into Toronto's oldest cinema, where drinks and prizes will be available while watching the 85th Academy Awards. A free drink and entry into the Oscar pool are included with the ticket price. See pictures win big at Big Picture Cinema for just $15.
Big Picture Cinema (1035 Gerrard Street East), February 24, 2013, 5PM $15

For more film listings, check out our This Week in Filmpost. Also, check out our round-up of Oscar parties and screenings going on this Sunday.

COMMUNITY

Bloor-Yorkville IceFest
It's below freezing, which makes it the perfect timing for Yorkville to freeze over with ice sculptures. The Bloor-Yorkville IceFest takes place this Saturday and Sunday with carving competitions and skating performances at Cumberland and Bellair. Festivities begin at noon with 30,000 lbs. of carved ice on display.
Village of Yorkville Park (Cumberland Street And Bellair Street), February 23-24, 2013, 1PM Free

FOOD & DRINK

Hogtown Winter Beer Festival
The Hogtown Pub and Oysters is brewing something good with the introduction of Hogtown Winter Beer Festival. Sampling the national drink as interpreted by many of Canada's finest breweries, the Winter Beer Festival will offer up brands like Beau's and McAuslan, as well as pub standards like Mill Street and Creemore for patrons to taste. Groom your winter beard for drinking winter beers, and taste all of Hogtown's best brews this Saturday night.
The Hogtown Pub and Oysters (633 College Street West), February 23, 2013, 7PM Free

For more food listings, check out our This Week in Food post.

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

First photo courtesy of Batara in the blogTO Flickr pool, second photo courtesy of Chrysta Bell.

Do you like asking people questions? Are you detail-oriented? Do you prefer maple donuts to lemon ricotta ones? If you answered yes to at least two of these questions (preferably the first two, although if you dream of lemon ricotta we can live with that) then you might be just the person we're looking for to join the blogTO team.

We have an immediate part-time opening for an Editorial Assistant. As an Editorial Assistant you'll work directly with the blogTO editorial team and be tasked with the following:

• Research, data gathering and data input. This will include visiting, calling and emailing local businesses to gather information from them, fact checking, maintaining and inputting data into our web site databases and ensuring accuracy of the data.
• Event curation and administration. This will include adding events to our events database, approving submitted events, editing events, removing duplicate or irrelevant events and working with the editorial team to highlight the most interesting events of the week.
• Other miscellaneous support to the editorial team. This may or may not involve donuts.

This role is part-time (10-20 hours a week). Location and timing are flexible. When not conducting research "in the field" you can work from home/cafe etc. or from the confines of our office space near Yonge and Queen.

Applicants must be detail oriented, outgoing/personable (not afraid to approach people you don't know), presentable, able to consistently meet deadlines and be willing/able to travel anywhere in the GTA (access to a car is preferable but not mandatory).

If interested in this role as Editorial Assistant, please email jobs [at] blogto [dotcom] and tell us why you'd be a perfect fit. Please also include your earliest available start date and hours/days you are available each week to take on this role.

Photo by Mike Falkner in the blogTO Flickr pool

From what I can see on Rotten Tomatoes, most of the movies playing right now suck. Thankfully, Toronto's comedy scene is one of the finest in North America. Don't believe me? Follow me as I walk you through This Week In Comedy.

SUN FEB 24 / ALL BLACK COMEDY SHOW / YUK YUK'S / 224 RICHMOND W / 830PM / $20

In the early '90s, BET's Comic View and Def Comedy Jam started shows that featured all-black comedians. In the same spirit, Kenny Robinson and Mark Breslin created the, "Nubian Disciples of Pryor" to feature the best that the great black north had to offer. The show is immensely popular, with the likes of Dave Chappelle, Will Smith, and even DMX dropping by when they're in town. In accordance with the HRDC (or because comedians don't write new material on a regular basis), a non-black comedian is included in the mix every week.

MON FEB 25 / ALTdot COMEDY LOUNGE / RIVOLI / 332 QUEEN W / 9PM / $5

ALTdot delivers another stellar line-up of comedians this week, with multiple acts that could easily headline their own show taking a set. Mark Forward's your host, recently making us proud when he took center mic on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson. Mark's awesome. The thing I love about him is that he's always hilariously connected with the crowd, even when upset with their lack of engagement. I've seen him berate audiences, all the while keeping them on his side. How does he do that? How do you stay likeable even when making fun of the audience as a whole? I don't know, but it's talent like that which makes Mark a regular at one of Toronto's most fickle rooms.

WED FEB 27 - SUN MAR 3 / TOMMY SAVITT ft. TOBY MURESIANU / ABSOLUTE COMEDY / 2335 YONGE / 8PM / $6-15

Your headliner, Tommy Savitt, won the 2007 Boston Comedy Festival. If that doesn't impress you, consider that comics like Bill Burr, Conan O'Brien, Doug Stanhope, John Pinette, and Louis C.K. have all started in the same crucible. I guess what I'm trying to say is, whatever you do, don't heckle. The comedy scene in Boston is like the US Rangers' tryouts; only the strong survive. His opening act, Toby Muresian, is not to be overlooked. The guy's opened up for Doug freakin' Stanhope and has written for Real Time with Bill Maher. Wowzers. When you see his act, you'll see what happens when comedic talent is mixed with degrees in computer science and psychology from Brown University.

THURS FEB 28 / ANDY KINDLER / COMEDY BAR / 945 BLOOR W / 8PM & 10PM / $20

HBO, Just for Laughs, Daily Show, David Letterman...you get the picture. But what sets Andy apart? Other than the fact that he looks like he could still be living in his parent's basement, it's his experience. Your typical funny comedian will stick to a pattern of crowd greeting, improvisation, then joke 1, joke 2, etc. That's not saying they won't be funny, but just like a pop song has a pattern, so does their routine. Andy breaks convention. He knows his material so well that he can swerve all over the lane with the crowd in tow while he gets a few things off his chest. Watch the clip and you'll see what I mean.

About the Author: This is Michael Jagdeo, and I refuse to write about myself in the third-person. My blog, Diary of a Stand-up Comedian, walks you through the up's and down's (they're mostly down's, really) in my quest to become a killer comic in Toronto.

It's sort of like a country kitchen embedded in urban development. Literally. This tiny bake shop on the ground floor of a North York condo boasts artisan breads, homestyle cookies, croissants, loaves, and of course, cinnamon buns, all of which are made with an emphasis on local, and a dedication to only using natural starters.

Read my profile of Bread Stuff Bakery in the bakeries section.