Food challenges in Toronto are rarely one of those things that inspire spectator envy. Indeed, when a competitor is 15-inches into a 2-foot shawarma with the clock winding down (and has yet to touch his or her drink or fries) most of us are happy just to sit on the sidelines. Yet for an ambitious group of eaters, the allure of a free t-shirt and spot on the wall of fame is usually incentive enough, and out comes the antacid, and later, the overwhelming feeling of regret.

Here is the list of 10 Toronto food challenges.

Real Sports Bar
Often way more exciting than watching the game, only a rare carnivorous (and possibly masochistic?) specimen dare take on the Hail Mary challenge. Participants must eat (and keep down) a 67oz AAA ribeye, along with a pound of coleslaw and a pound of fries in under one hour. Victors are comped the price of the mammoth meal and have their names engraved on the Hail Mary Fork of Fame. If you fail, you're on the hook for the $75+ price tag.

Hank Daddy
For those who like their challenge attempts witnessed by thousands of strangers. The Hank Daddy food truck pops up at various Toronto events (such as the Canadian National Exhibition and International Auto Show, to name a couple), daring barbeque-enthusiasts to take up its FireWing challenge. Contenders must eat 15 FireWings in 15 minutes or less (with nothing to drink) in order to win a free t-shirt and lifetime bragging rights. Must sign a waver.

Holy Chuck Burgers
Home of the Go Chuck Yourself Challenge, which is almost as hard to watch as it is to compete in. Brave gluttons must eat the Holy Chuck double cheeseburger with bacon and caramelized onions, along with any specialty milkshake, within six minutes or less in order to achieve Chuck Yourself glory. Winners get their meal on the house and a free t-shirt, and losers are immortalized on the "Wall of Shame" forever.

Best Grill
Testing your ultimate shawarma love, the Laffananza Challenge at Best Grill serves up a two-foot shawarma wrap, along with a pop and fries for its in-house extreme eating challenge. Contenders must consume the drink, fries, and the entire toddler-sized wrap in under 30 minutes to win a spot of the wall of fame. The meal (otherwise $20) is free for successful challengers.

Philthy McNasty's
Another burger challenge for the extremely hungry beef-lover, Philthy McNasty's "Showdown Burger" is one and a half pounds of pure beef, topped with cheese and bacon. Challengers must eat the entire burger plus a side of fries in under seven minutes to be declared victorious. Those who complete the challenge get the meal for free, along with the unofficial prize of plenty of cheering for enthusiastic cheerleader-types.

Stack Restaurant
I know what you're thinking, but this barbeque challenge (unfortunately?) does not involve devouring multiple racks of barbeque ribs. Instead, those who choose to partake in the "Great Stack Challenge" must eat two Stack burgers, plus a milkshake, plus fries, in under 30 minutes. You might get some ribs on the house of you succeed, but I doubt you'll really want them.

Shamrock Burgers
Perhaps a little more gentle than some of the other options on this list, Shamrock Burger's Monster Sham challenge is not necessarily time-sensitive. Contenders must simply devour the entire Monster Sham burger on his or her own, complete with two 10 oz patties, cheese, and selected toppings on a kaiser. Winners receive a free $5 Shamrock Burgers gift card, essentially earning a discounted burger.

ACME Burger
While some lament the quality of the now-ubiquitous ACME Burger, I bet a free t-shirt will soon change your mind! Still no? Anyway, the Man vs. ACME challenge is set to arrive in the spring, offering a free meal and t-shirt to those who can ingest a 20oz burger, a 20oz milkshake, and a pound of fries in under 30 minutes. At that rate, you probably won't even taste it.

All Star Wings
Another challenge wherein participants must sign a waiver before attempting to "compete." I wonder if a heart condition and/or pregnancy automatically renders you disqualified. In any case, eating the Armageddon wings at All Star will win you bragging rights and/or your name on the wall depending on the location, some keeping a tally of the most Armageddon wings eaten in one sitting, and others recording the feat of the shortest amount of time. Best to have Pepto and a designated driver on hand, just in case.

Corned Beef House
Every Monday is Man vs. Sandwich at Corned Beef House. Deliphiles assemble to take on a 40 oz deli sandwich (meat of their choice), which they must consume (plus a pickle) in one hour or less. Those who find themselves bested by the sandwich must fork over $29.99 plus tax; winners get the meal free and, most likely, the meat sweats.

Photo from Monika from Holy Chuck

The best ribs in Toronto are something of a mixed bag. You've got your Southern-style pork ribs, your Asian-inspired beef ribs, your sauce-coated sticky varieties and your smoke-infused dry offerings — and many that meet multiple criteria all at once. For the record, this variety is a good thing. Rib lovers tend to be an opinionated bunch, often claiming their preferred preparation method as the right one, but it need not be that way.

For my part, I tend to like a somewhat saucy St. Louis style rib, but I won't begrudge anyone their cut or cooking style of choice. The truth of the matter is that we're spoiled for choice these days. While Toronto has had its old reliable barbecue joints for years, in the last three or so, the options have increased considerably. My advice? Try them all. Go on a rib odyssey. But, to mix heroes and villains, beware the fate of the cyclops. Too many ribs can make you tired!

Here are the best ribs in Toronto.

See Also:

The best BBQ restaurants in Toronto
The best chicken wings in Toronto

Lead photo of Barque's ribs by Angie Torres

Photo by Subjective Art in the blogTO Flickr pool

Toronto events on February 27, 2013

MUSIC | Beach Fossils at The Garrison
Beach Fossils hits town tonight for a show at The Garrison. This project began as a solo venture for band founder, Dustin Payseur, who recorded the band's inaugural, self-titled release all on his own, playing all instruments. Since then, a revolving door of players has seen the band through several tours. Their latest release, Clash The Truth just came out last week, and they will most likely be sharing much of it with you tonight. Locals, Grounders, and Beliefs get the ball rolling.
The Garrison (1197 Dundas Street West) 8:30PM $14.50

LECTURE | ROMCafé
ROMCafé is an "ask the experts" kind of event, but with an informal feel, and in a very laid back environment - 7 West Cafe. Tonight is the launch of the ROMCafé series, and it's a chance to connect and interact with the experts who normally inhabit the Royal Ontario Museum's galleries and labs in a less 'daunting' atmosphere. This first event will find ROM Technician Ian Nicklin hanging out and chatting about the Museum's recent research into meteorites: what exactly they are, and what we can learn from them about the Universe at large.
7 West Cafe (7 Charles Street West) 7PM

LAUNCH | "PIPE TROUBLE" VIDEO GAME LAUNCH @ Get Well Bar
Perhaps you've been to a CD launch, or a book launch, but how about a video game launch? Tonight's your chance. Get Well Bar is hosting a shindig celebrating the launch of Pipe Trouble, a satirical video game with a retro twist that is based upon Julian T. Pinder's documentary, Trouble In The Peace. Pinder's film looks at the business of "Big Oil" and natural gas and the array of issues surrounding them. The video game was created in conjunction with the film's production company, Six Island Productions, and TVO. You can give it a whirl tonight, and it will be available for purchase with a percentage going to the David Suzuki Foundation.
GET WELL BAR (1181 Dundas Street West) 7PM

BOOKS & LIT | Charles Taylor Prize for Literary Non-Fiction Finalists
A special panel made up of the five finalists for the 2013 Charles Taylor Prize for Literary Non-Fiction gathers tonight. Dance historian Carol Bishop-Gwyn, the Canadian War Museum's Great War historian Tim Cook, Professor (and biographer) Sandra Djwa, Ross King, winner of the Governor General's Literary Award for Non-Fiction, and professor Andrew Preston will participate in a panel discussion moderated by Dr. David Staines, who is a trustee of the Charles Taylor Foundation. The president of Rogers Publishing, Kenneth Whyte, hosts this event.
Harbourfront Centre (235 Queens Quay West) 7:30PM $10 (free members/students/youth)

ALSO OF NOTE

Daedelus, SALVA, Ryan Hemsworth & Samo Sound Boy @ Wrongbar
Giving Notice

MORE EVENTS THIS WEEK

For more Toronto event suggestions, check out these posts:

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

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

Photo courtesy of Beach Fossils

It's sloppy out there. The storm forecasters expected to dump a mix of snow and slushy rain on the city is doing exactly as predicted and making travel conditions extremely difficult. There's been a handful of school closures and bus cancellations, but otherwise things generally seem to be going to plan. The TTC is reporting a disabled streetcar at Dundas and Broadview but no other major issues. The weather is expected to continue for most of the day.

No trouble at Pearson airport for the mayor - he left this morning for Disney World in Florida. Dozens of other flights have been delayed or cancelled as a result of the weather.

Here's a strange one. Rob Ford has been invited to attend a prayer rally against certain parts of Toronto's harmonized bylaw rules. Christian leader Charles McVety, who's strongly against same-sex marriage and abortion, says proposed new rules, which restrict new places of worship in light industrial areas, are a war on the church. It's not been confirmed whether the mayor will attend.

Speaking of Ford, in his first one-on-one television interview since the city's audit committee decided not to recommend him for prosecution, Toronto's leader told David "You Can't Hide Behind the Gay Flag Brian Burke" Menzies he doesn't expect taxpayers to foot his recent legal bills. Ford called his recent legal troubles "simply the left wing coming after me trying to make hay when there's nothing there."

Toronto police have renewed calls for information about the shooting of a TTC worker at Dupont subway station in 2012. The mystery figure shown in CCTV stills demands money from the ticket booth before turning to leave and firing twice at William Anderson, 53. The suspect is white, heavyset, between the ages of 35 and 50, and around 5-foot-5.

Finally, after snubbing Hero Certified Burgers to run its Nathan Phillips Square concession stand, the city has received a tantalizing offer from Freshii, a local salad bar chain. The company says if it's allowed to operate the store it will donate its earnings to city environmental causes. Is that a better idea?

IN BRIEF:

• Deficit might eliminate hundreds of teaching jobs [The Star]
• Americans accused during Toronto G20 Summit nabbed in U.S. [National Post]
• Toronto's newfound interest in parks signals an urban maturity [Toronto Star]

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

Image: "32" by Ben Roffelsen/blogTO Flickr pool.

While many might hit up this First Markham place restaurant for a bowl of its namesake (and affordable) beef noodle in soup and array of classic Taiwanese dishes, it'd be a shame to pass on the stinky tofu here. Despite its overwhelming, uh, aroma its the dish that everyone seems to order and continues to draw the crowds.

Read my review of Mei Nung Beef Noodle House in the restaurants section.

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

NEWS

More than four years ago, Queen Street's Hudson's Bay store saw a 21,500 square-foot renovation, birthing our beloved The Room - a designer womenswear department located on the third floor. In 12 to 18 months (tentatively), the store will complete another long-awaited renovation - this time to emphasize menswear collections. The new men's offerings will include a shirts/ties shop, a section with lower price-points, and an expansion to designer departments White Space and West End Shop. So hang in there, dapper fellas; there's only a year and a half of patience to go.

EVENTS/PARTIES

If you missed last week's Etsy Craft-a-thon, you still have a chance to discover - and master - a new creative skill. Stacey Case, screenprinter extraordinaire, is opening up his studio at Merch Guy Screenprinting (89-B Niagara St) for a six-hour workshop course happening this Sunday (March 3) from noon to 6 pm. Find more information on the event page or email merchguy@rogers.com.

Support sustainable fashion tomorrow (February 28) at Fashion Takes Action's showroom (15 Case Goods Ln, studio 202) with a designer sale running from 5 pm until 8 pm. For ample environmentally-friendliness, peruse JOOL's up-cycled (and locally sourced) vintage garments and Funky Buddha Clothing's pieces made of organic, silk-screened fabrics over a cup of Ethical Bean Coffee.

This Sunday (March 3) marks the 22nd annual Vintage Clothing and Textile Show & Sale at the Ontario Science Centre (770 Don Mills Rd). Eight dollars admission (although children under 12 years old are free) gets you access to exhibitions of vintage designer pieces, early textiles, heritage estate jewellery, and a fashion show featuring it all! The doors are open from 10 am until 5 pm, and a portion of the proceeds will go to the Canadian Cancer Society.

The Loved One, a bespoke online boutique, is partnering with milliner David Dunkley to host a one-day Spring Trunk Show at his boutique KC's Hats (998 Bathurst St). Visit the shop on Sunday (March 3) for a chance to see The Loved One's unique, vintage-inspired bridal accessories - like the feather headpieces and handmade clutches - in all their bejewelled glory.

SALES

From tomorrow (February 27) until Sunday (March 3), Gravity Pope has a buy one, get one promotion that takes the cake for the best sale ever. When you buy any sale item (excluding jewellery and housewares), you'll get a second sale item of equal or lesser value for free, so you could walk away with not one, but two pairs of Acne boots or Dr. Martens dress shoes.

If for whatever reason you need a costume this time of year, or you're looking to be really thrifty about an upcoming Halloween getup, visit Candy's Costume Shop (511 Mount Pleasant Rd) for their 75% off sale. Get costumes, wigs, makeup, and accessories for super cheap until tomorrow (February 28). Visit their website for business hours.

March 14th is the very last call for Holt Renfrew's Last Call; the store - located at Vaughan Mills Shopping Centre (1 Bass Pro Mills Dr) - is being replaced by new discount concept hr2. Until then, you can shop their goods at up to 80% off, which is undeniably their greatest markdown sale ever.

Photo from our profile of Gravitypope

A loft penthouse in the former CBC prop warehouse building, this one-bed, one-bathroom condo comes with its own private rooftop terrace — one that just happens to be larger than the average downtown one-bed, one-bath apartment. Outfitted with a seven-person self-cleaning hot tub outside and a fancy spiral staircase leading indoors, this Corktown loft will surely impress guests, just as long as you can somehow slip in how much you paid.

SPECS:

Address: 90 Sumach Street, #702
Price: $929,000
Square Footage: 1618
Bedrooms: 1
Bathrooms: 1
Parking Spaces: 1
Private rooftop Terrace: 642 square feet
Monthly Maintenance: $665.23
Building Amenities: Visitor parking, party room

NOTABLE FEATURES:

• Spiral staircase
• Floor-to-ceiling windows
• Private rooftop terrace with 7-person Hydropools hot tub
• Broadloom and concrete floors
• Stainless steel appliances
• Walk-in closet
• Heated bathroom floor
• Built-in bookcase
• South view

GOOD FOR:

Private midnight rooftop soaks, skyline-gazing, and those who own full-sized furniture. Good for those who appreciate natural light and raw floors, and hate interacting with fellow residents in common areas.

MOVE ON IF:

You think nearly $1 million should, at the very least, buy you two toilets. You're afraid of Corktown.

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

On April 1st, Nicholas Hoare's bookstore on Front Street will close its doors, following the shuttering of his two stores in Montreal and Ottawa last year. After 40 years, the nearly 70-year-old bookseller is retiring.

Since his announcement over a week ago, Hoare has done a lot of reflection. "My favourite memory of the Toronto store was discovering it and developing it from scratch... The love affair began from an architectural point of view," he says on the phone from Montreal.

Hoare and his wife were looking for a property with tall ceilings. They stumbled on the Front Street location by accident. "We found a sign that must have been at least eight feet tall plastered on what was left of a window... Here was this mausoleum of a building which looked like the back end of a bus, but we saw potential behind all this crap - brick walls, high ceilings and plenty of possibilities."

After signing a lease, they spent a year renovating from scratch. They hired a family of cabinetmakers from Cowansville, Quebec to build every piece in their store. The beautiful fixtures - including the comfy couches by the fireplace - helped create the store's intimate relaxed atmosphere.

The store specialized in British books, which became the backbone of his business. "We took the crapshoot on the fact that no one seemed to understand British books here unless they were John le Carré... They were hard to find then and they are still hard to find."

His passion for books began in his childhood. He was born in Britain to a banking family with 300 years of history. He grew up in Suffolk, in the East coast of England, and lived in a 15th century Elizabethan home. "We come from a very literary background. My father had an extremely well-known library and both my sisters were publishers."

He pursued the literary field when he came to Canada, moving permanently to Montreal on his 21st birthday. A few years later, in 1971, he opened the first Nicholas Hoare bookstore in Montreal and then expanded to Ottawa and Toronto.

Being selective about what the store offered was key to surviving. "We made a conscious decision never to sell things that weren't up to snuff... like Robert Ludlum and Danielle Steel. We didn't want mass market paperbacks. We certainly didn't want books from the celebrity field... It took us a very long time to establish our watermark but once it was there, it stuck and we were able to convert a handicap into a real asset."

The advent of online retailers and digital books also presented a huge challenge, because Hoare stubbornly refused to discount his books. But he says the store weathered the electronic storm, because they carried many books that were not available digitally.

Despite this resilience, he closed the Montreal and Ottawa stores last year, citing sharp rent hikes. Hoare says the reaction to the Toronto closure and his retirement has been overwhelming. "The managers are literally escorting some of our customers out in tears. It's gratifying on one hand and it's heartbreaking on the other."

Some customers have taken to the store's blog to say goodbye. "I am really heartbroken to hear that it will be closing," posted Chloe. "I vividly remember playing in the children's section at the back..."

But it's business as usual until April 1, says Hoare. "We're shipping them buckets of things every other day... There is absolutely no interruption."

When the doors close, there will be a massive cleanup. The books will be returned to publishers. Hoare admits he's worried about finding a home for the furniture. "Each one of these pieces is a work of art; some of them weigh 450 pounds... An auction is probably the ultimate solution."

The closure follows other indie bookstore closures, including Pages and Toronto Women's Bookstore. Hoare believes there is a future for indie bookstores, but in niche markets only instead of general bookselling. "This is particularly true of food and wine - in conjunction with cooking classes; art, architecture and design; mysteries with a strong European emphasis and British books only."

The next chapter for Hoare, it seems, is not so much a retirement, but rather, a new chapter. Him and his wife will relocate from Montreal to their 350-acre home in Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia, one of the oldest communities in Canada with a population of 450.

"My wife and I hope to embark on a long term project in which we can not only breathe life into a property that has not been touched for close to 50 years but also into the community," says Hoare. This includes building an 18,000 volume research library - including his father's treasured books.

When the store closes, Hoare says he will miss his staff the most. "I don't like my staff, I love them. The people who came through the pipe over the years were memorable. Some became publishers; some went into other aspects of the field. A lot of them (like Ben McNally Books) are still in the business... The success of the store was not (me). I'm just in the steering room of the ship. It was the people in the steerage, manning the boat and making sure that it was well taken care of."

Photo by Bernard C in the blogTO Flickr pool

Chains that rule late night dining in Toronto seem to always interrupt the path from last call to home in bed. These dining chains are attuned to our collective fallibility when it comes to late night hunger pangs, extending their hours into the wee morning to seduce us with promises of cheap eats. Consistency is key when it comes to the success of late night dining chains, and the 10 on this list have, indeed, proved the power of a familiar, reliable late night plate.

Here are 10 chains that rule late night dining in Toronto.

Ali Baba's
It's everywhere, open terrifically late, and perfect for when you just have a few bucks left in your pocket. Ali Baba's is perhaps the king of late night dining chains, with a dozen or so locations throughout the city and another one probably opening by the time you finish reading this post. The prospect of two pretty delicious shawarma wraps for under $10 is made even more delicious by way of the fact that you can get it as late as 4 a.m.

Smoke's Poutinerie
Nothing says "late night" like squeaky cheese and gluttonous gravy. Smoke's knows this. Emerging on the Toronto scene in 2008, Smoke's has since exploded with a fury only known to those touting double-smoked bacon. Smoke's has ten locations, and most are open until 4 a.m. on weekends, helping to ensure you don't end your night without a mound of wet fries sitting heavy in your stomach.

Pizzaiolo
Write it off as just another pizza chain if you must, but Pizzaiolo actually does make a pretty delicious slice. The toppings, believe it or not, are actually fresh and varied, and each location usually has more than a few vegan and/or vegetarian options on hand. With 18 locations in Toronto's downtown core alone, Pizzaiolo is certainly making itself known to the late night crowd, offering its "Soprano" pie and others until 4 a.m. at most spots on weekends.

Owl of Minerva
Ah yes, Owl of Minerva's beloved anytime pork bone soup. Though some refined palates attest to distinct differences between the Koreatown 3 a.m. bowl, the 5 a.m. Chinatown option, and the midnight Scarborough soup, few will leave without sucking down those last few drops. Open 24 hours, Owl of Minerva is good for those Korean cravings at any hour, though many fans stick exclusively to late night soup.

Ghazale
The Ghazale chain has snagged some superb late night real estate. It's strategically located outside of The Bloor for a shawarma after the show, right by the Village for post-club kebabs, and in the heart of College West for a bite after the bar. Ghazale, you dog. With many locations open to 4 a.m. or later throughout the week, Ghazale often proves both difficult to avoid, and to resist.

Gino's Pizza
Gino's Pizza is seemingly everywhere, blanketing Toronto with close to a dozen locations. Its pizza is classic, familiar, and not especially out-of-the-box, but if you're keen on a slice after last call, something from Gino's will usually suffice. Downtown locations are usually open until 1 a.m. or 2 a.m. on weekends, though seating is typically sparse.

Hero Burger
Love it or loathe it, it's everywhere. And spreading. Hero Certified Burgers has entered the realm of 24-hour-availability with its Queen and Spadina corner post, though most locations stick to more "reasonable" hours, and only stay open until 3 a.m. or 4 a.m. It's not upscale dining by any means, but it is a reasonably priced option when you want an alternative to the midnight fast food burger.

Amato Pizza
Sure, it's had a few, um, staffing hiccups but several Amato locations have managed to survive (and thrive?), offering their take on "REAL" pizza to the late night pie-enthusiasts. Good for a cheap slice and a pop before heading home to bed, with the locations on College and Yonge open especially late (4 a.m.) on weekends.

Pita Land
Can you find better falafel in Toronto? Probably. But Pita Land's strategic self-placement and regular night-owl-friendly hours have allowed it to creep forward in terms of late night chain dining domination. The Middle Eastern restaurant has outposts at Bloor and Sherbourne, River and Dundas, King and Sherbourne, and other major intersections, but its Ryerson-adjacent spot on Gerrard is certainly one of the busiest (and best?) of the lot.

Mamma's Pizza
Pizza just like mamma used to make, I suppose, just as long as your mother worked at an Ontario pizza franchise. Mamma's Pizza has a handful of locations across Toronto and the GTA, with several spots open late on weekends (1 a.m. to 4 a.m.) the closer you get to the downtown core.

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

Hero Burger photo by Kim Yokota in the blogTO Flickr pool

If you happened to be riding the TTC last Sunday, you might have got the rare chance to experience in-ride beverage service. That's right — in its latest subway intervention, Improv in Toronto took to the subway equipped as "flight" attendants ready to serve weary travellers.

"Our mission was simple, transform the old every day nature of riding the subway into a luxury flight experience, making it more a comfortable, enjoyable, and eventful ride," reads a recent blog post about the event. "Equipped with snacks, drinks and blankets, our sharp looking flight subway attendants and captain tended to the riders of this particular train. We went and offered these amenities to each of the riders, hopefully making this particular subway ride, a memorable one."

Why doesn't this happen every day? Attention Karen Stintz, Andy Byford and Chris Upfold — can you get on this like right away? To see how it all played out, check out the video below.

Photo from Improv Toronto

Museum station isn't like all the others. Thanks to a 2006 injection of community and donor cash, the TTC was able to give the stop beneath Queen's Park a major overhaul, replacing the original austere tile job with a series of visually-engaging Greek, Chinese, Egyptian, and First Nations columns.

The design and construction was funded in part by the Toronto Community Foundation - a charitable group with assets of more than $225 million - and was intended to be the first in a series of station revitalization projects on the University line.

To reflect its Dundas Street location, St. Patrick was slated to receive a makeover inspired by works at the Art Gallery of Ontario. Osgoode would have been tweaked to match the Four Seasons Centre a short time later as shown in the preliminary designs above and below. So, what happened? The answer, of course, is money.

The $5 million cost of the Museum station work was split between the Toronto Community Foundation and the province, with the Toronto Transit Commission chipping in the final million. The TTC and TCF joined forces with a pool of donors, stakeholders and community leaders to create the "Arts on Track" program to oversee the initiative.

When construction wrapped up on the graffiti-proof columns and new station sign in 2008, internal TTC documents estimated work would begin on St. Patrick in 2010 and Osgoode a year later. Long-awaited improvements to Pape and Victoria Park stations on the Bloor-Danforth line would also start around the same time.

(Pape was actually supposed to be the first to get a new look but construction delays have meant the project is still incomplete. A new exterior and set of windows for the previously bunker-like Victoria Park station finished in 2011. The TTC's plan at the time was to modernize one station a year - excluding Coxwell, Woodbine, High Park, and Keele - at $6 million each.)Not everyone was enthusiastic about the new look. Local transit advocate Steve Munro told the Toronto Star at the time that the project was "a nice show-off piece."

"The station was in good shape; the tiles were in good shape. It would have been way down the list for renovation ... This is the same system that can't find two pennies to rub together to run the buses."

Unfortunately for those supportive of the Museum refit, funding for the University line's renaissance dried up quickly in the wake of its initial success, a development that forced Arts on Track to put the St. Patrick and Osgoode projects on the back-burner, says the TTC's Brad Ross.

Simone Dalton, from the Toronto Community Foundation, says discussions are "ongoing" but confirms that there are "no specific plans at this point" to resume. It's not clear why the money vanished.

Would you like to see the project restarted? Were these preliminary designs good enough? Should the TTC use a similar model - i.e. a mix of charitable and provincial money - to fund other aesthetic improvement projects?

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

Image: TTC and "Museum Station" by tomms, "365 - 322" by yedman/blogTO Flickr pool.

Today's the kind of day that reminds me of David Hasselhoff eating a cheeseburger — it's a mess. While it won't go down as much of a storm (about 11cm of snow was recorded at Pearson as of noon today) the fact that slush was falling from the sky throughout most of the morning was kind of weird and, quite frankly, uncomfortable. It's probably best not to discuss what the sidewalks and streets look like (Hasselhoff again).

Sure, it's just winter weather. And sure, anonymous commenters to come, it's not really a big deal. But I like pictures. I like pictures of slush. I like pictures of snow. And I even like knowing that some sweatpant-clad dude in his basement apartment gets angry because I post such pictures on the internet. So more No-Name brand potato chips for him! And pretty photos for the rest of us!

To add your pics to the collection, follow blogTO on Instagram or join our Flickr pool and tag them #snowTO or #slushTO. Stay dry if you can!

Lead photo by Ben Roffelsen.

Photo by ashtonpal

Photo by soteeoh

Photo by stay_rich

Photo by tat_a_tat

Photo by _superv

Photo by wowiezawi

Photo by aaronrinas

Photo by tirob

Photo by cohengilad

Photo by jasonfitzzz

Photo by szabrodski

Photo by blogTO

From Flickr...

Ben Roffelsen

zv15

jazzman37

Jamaalism

A look back at Queen Street East has been a long time coming, especially insofar as I've already given the historical treatment to western portion of this most important of Toronto streets. That post is worth a look if you're unaware that prior to being named after the monarch, Queen was referred to as Lot Street and was crucial to the way that John Graves Simcoe laid out the Town of York. With possession of this information, you can spot remaining evidence of the old city and its sprawling lots all over the place.

But Queen East is interesting for other reasons as well. Amongst them (and there really are too many to name) is the general character of the street, which, for the most part, was every bit as developed and interesting as the west side even 100 years ago. Where Queen West has the Gladstone Hotel, Queen East has the Broadview Hotel. And while the current state of these buildings would come out in the former's favour, I make the comparison merely to underscore the degree to which an intersection like Queen and Broadview has posed as hub for over a century.

The presence of the old Woodbine racetrack should also be noted. Although it's a little difficult to imagine now, horse racing was a major draw in the 1920s, one that saw Toronto's monied residents bust out their finest attire. Old photos from Woodbine have a decidedly Great Gatsby-like quality about them, and offer a little portal into what this city was like so long ago.

Other highlights from the collection below include the various photos of the Queen Street Bridge over the Don River, the Don Railway Station, the ubiquitous streetcar tracks and the wonderful images of the Teck and Joy Theatres, neither of which remain. Watch out for some neighbourhood-specific posts on the east end in the coming weeks, but for now check out what Queen East used to look like back in the day.

PHOTOS

Queen Street Bridge, 1899

The view southeast from the Kew Beach Firehall, 1900s

Queen looking east of Lee, 1906

Woodbine, 1907

Looking west toward the Queen Street Bridge, 1910

Queen looking east from River, 1911

Queen & Bellefair, 1912

630-34 Queen Street East, 1912

Queen Street Bridge, 1914

Junction of King and Queen streets, 1915

Queen & George looking east, 1917

Leslie Farm, 1920

Peter Witt streetcar near Queen & Woodbine, 1920s

Bank of Montreal, 1921 (intersection guesses?)

Queen & Kingston Road, 1922

779 Queen Street East, 1930

Teck Theatre, 1932

Queen & Logan looking east, 1934

Queen & Sherbourne looking east, 1934

Queen looking east of Jones, 1934

Queen Street between Leslie and Greenwood, 1937

Dominion Hotel, 1945

Broadview Hotel, 1945 (yes, this is now Jilly's)

Queen & Ontario streets, 1947

Joy Theatre, 1950s

Queen & Berkeley, 1960

See also:

The history of Toronto in photos

Photos from the Toronto Archives

Photo by cookedphotos in the blogTO Flickr pool

Toronto events on February 28, 2013

GAMING | Games Weekend: Mario Kart 64 Tournament & Retro Video Gaming Night
Competitive and recreational retro gaming is having a moment at A&C Games tonight, where rare and vintage games rule and everyone is invited to play. Game Cube, Duck Hunt, Street Fighter and Melee are just some of the games that will be open to play at this weekend-long event with a special Mario Kart tournament happening at 7PM tonight. It's $5 to get in and there will be prizes, food, and drink available for competitors. Discover gaming history and get nostalgic for your childhood until March 3rd.
A & C Games (706 Spadina Avenue) 5:30PM $5

ART | The Cold Show
The Cold Show is all about chill art in a space where everything is all about being cold. An unheated gallery in the Landsdowne area, The Cold Space plays host to a multidisciplinary show featuring works by photographers, artists and designers like Dimitri Karakostas, Thomas van der Zaag and Ryan Mathieson on the topic of being cold. 15 young Canadian artists familiar with the winter chill come out to display tonight at the opening reception. The show runs until Sunday.
The Cold Space (154 Wallace Avenue) 7PM Free

FILM | The Gatekeepers Screening & Discussion
Fresh off the loss of the Oscar to Searching For Sugar Man, Best Documentary Feature nominee The Gatekeepers has a pre-commercial release screening at the ROM tonight. A film featuring interviews with the living former heads of Shin Bet, the Israeli security agency, this special screening will be followed by a discussion with Ami Ayalon, former director of the agency from 1996-2000. Student tickets have sold out, but for an extra $60, you can attend the cocktail reception that follows this exclusive screening and talk.
Royal Ontario Museum Theatre (100 Queen's Park) 6:30PM $40

MUSIC | Major Lazer
It's official: Diplo has a love for Toronto, as he returns tonight for the third time in five months to perform with DJ Switch, his partner in Major Lazer. The duo behind the 2009 top electronic album Guns Don't Kill People...Lazers Do play Sound Academy tonight to continue dominating the dancehall revival scene. Tickets are cheap but no doubt will sell out so get them while you can still find them.
Sound Academy (11 Polson Street) 9PM $30

ART | Kodak Lectures Present: Alfredo Jaar
Chilean filmmaker, artist and architect Alfredo Jaar has conceived over 60 artistic projects around the world, which will be the basis of this evening's lecture at Ryerson Image Arts Centre, titled "It Is Difficult." Having developed many public works, including six years of toil on The Rwanda Project and the more recent A Logo for America, this Guggenheim Fellow will discuss his career span and the difficulties of being an artist on a global scale. The lecture complements a new exhibit, Alfredo Jaar: The Politics of Images, which is now on display at Ryerson. Admission is free.
Ryerson University Room LIB-72 (350 Victoria Street) 7PM Free

ALSO OF NOTE

• Documentary Film Screening & Discussion: Chasing Ice
• Command Type: Dair to be Different
• El Mocambo Revival with Modern Superstitions, Michael Rault, Actual Water, The Costanzas, After the Emp

MORE EVENTS THIS WEEK

For more Toronto event suggestions, check out these posts:

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

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

Photo courtesy of Major Lazer

Rob Ford is still writing to lobbyists asking for donations to his football foundation, according to the Toronto Star. Integrity commissioner Janet Leiper ruled soliciting money in this way violates the council code of conduct's "improper use of influence" rules and led to Ford's recent conflict of interest trial. One lobbyist says he received a letter just days after the mayor won his appeal in late January. Ford is currently at Disney World in Florida. Will he ever learn his lesson?

Prince Philip will visit Toronto in April to present a new regimental colour to the Third Battalion of the Royal Canadian Regiment who are normally based in Petawawa. The Duke of Edinburgh doesn't have plans to do much else while he's here.

How much do you value your plasma? A Toronto company is hoping to be the first in Ontario to pay people for the straw-colored liquid that holds cells within the blood. A clinic in Winnipeg is the only other company to pay for blood. The going price is $20 for a donation. Would you be interested?

In perhaps the least dramatic moment during yesterday's slush storm, a group of school kids were trapped on a bus for a few minutes after a television wire fell on the hood. The bus was a block away from Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic School, its destination. The kids were 50 minutes late for class.

Clowns, magicians, and shopping mall Santas will need a license to operate in Brampton soon. The city is introducing a new bylaw that requires all children's entertainers to undergo a background check. Is this something that other cities should embrace?

Police are searching for a suspect after a man was stabbed on board a TTC train at Davisville station last night. Witnesses say a man was walking through the train harassing riders; when confronted he lashed out with a knife. The man is expected to recover from his injuries.

IN BRIEF:

• Privacy commissioner wants councillors included in freedom of information laws [Toronto Star]
• Toronto man sentenced to life in prison for murdering common-law wife in Leaside [National Post]
• Max Pacioretty, Canadiens get revenge on Leafs [CBC]

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

Image: "End of School" by picturenarrative/blogTO Flickr pool.

Personally I'm more of a Star Wars guy. Mark it up to a joie-de-vivre, more sociable personality or dumber brain, but I'd rather employ hyper speed than warp drive. And so, frankly, I was glad to watch a rockstar physicist mathematically lampoon the Star Trek Universe for the first of the "Science at the Movies" series. Best leave Star Wars out of it.

There tends to be a strange notion that science education ends at around grade 10 unless you want to make a career out of it. What this attitude results in is a populous ignorant to basic scientific precepts in a science fiction-filled world. This is a big problemo because this knowledge gap is a perfect place for politicians, big business and snake oil salesmen to manipulate us Joe Schmos into voting, investing, and buying against our own interests. Knowledge is power, for real.

Enter the University of Toronto Scientific Engagement website and the Treehouse Group who are trying to bridge the gap between the lab coat and the layman. And what's a better way to do that than with Hollywood Movies!

For the first installment of the series, a screening of Star Trek: First Contact was bookended by a talk and Q&A with rockstar physicist Dr. Lawrence Krauss, author of The Physics of Star Trek among other things I have not read. And yes, I understand that a physicist talking about science of Star Trek sounds so nerdy that your privates are likely to fall off, but hear me out.

The good doctor was very engaging, employing the right balance of a physicist's bluntness, dry lefty humour and anecdotal name dropping. His pre-movie lecture consisted of addressing the plausibility of some key Star Trek technologies including warp drive (maybe), wormholes (maybe), transporters (nope) and time travel (maybe).

He was able to explain these pretty complex ideas with simple props like balloons and toilet paper tubes so that even I could grasp them. Of course, being an ignoramus I have no idea if he was full of shit or not, but I'm assuming someone in the audience would have called him out if he was.

After the screening of Star Trek: First Contact, a movie about James Cromwell being visited by futuristic space/time travelers, audience members were able to ask Dr. Krauss any questions they could muster, including queries as to his thoughts on aliens (probably assholes), the Big Bang Theory (he'd like it more if he got a cameo) and actual science stuff.

While not quite as inclusive as a straight up lecture, I left feeling entertained and edified. It was an enjoyably augmented night of the movies and at $10 ain't too bad on the wallet. There are two more films left in the series, the cult genetic drama Gattaca and the third best sentient robot movie ever made, Short Circuit*. Star Wars is not included, probably because it is completely scientifically plausible.

*The second best being Terminator 2 and the best being Short Circuit 2.

This Week in Film rounds up noteworthy new releases in theatres, rep cinema and avant-garde screenings, festivals, and other special cinema-related events happening in Toronto.

NEW RELEASES

Stoker (Varsity)

This is shaping up to be a big year for South Korean American crossovers. With Bong Joon-ho (The Host, Mother) set to debut his all-star vehicle Snowpiercer this summer and Spike Lee finishing work on his remake of Park Chan-wook's breakout hit Oldboy, a wide new audience is about become acquainted with some pretty talented veteran filmmakers.

Which isn't to say that Park hasn't had a fair share of success. His revenge trilogy put him on the map in a big way (especially the aforementioned film being remade by Spike), so it's unsurprising that he's attracted a star of Nicole Kidman's caliber to star in his first English-language production. Stoker is an enigmatic thriller with all of the carefully calibrated plot turns and tension we expect from Park; fans of his ought to have no trouble recognizing the man behind the camera.

Also opening in theatres this week:

• California Solo (Carlton)
• Charlie Zone (The Royal)
• Future Weather (Carlton)
• The Gatekeepers (Varsity)
• I, Me Aur Main (Cineplex Yonge & Dundas)
• Jack the Giant Slayer (Carlton, Rainbow Market Sq., Scotiabank)
• The Last Exorcism Part II (Rainbow Market Sq., Cineplex Yonge & Dundas)
• Lost Rivers (Bloor Hot Docs Cinema)
• 21 & Over (Carlton, Rainbow Market Sq., Scotiabank)

REP CINEMA

Free Friday Films - Warriors of the Rainbow: Seediq Bale (Friday, March 1 at 7PM; Innis Town Hall)

In case you had a chance to see this extremely violent aboriginal epic about the fifty-year Japanese occupation of Taiwan and you had the sense that the 2.5 hour film might be missing something, it turns out you were right. University of Toronto's Cinema Studies Student Union are offering a cut of the film that is two hours longer than the one that screened at TIFF11, and, saints that they are, they will be showing it in a 35mm print. The film itself depicts two races of people - the Japanese and the Seediqs - as they clashed in defense of their faiths. One race believed in rainbows, the other in the sun. Assuming your bottom can handle it, be sure to also attend the two-hour panel discussion before the film at 4:30PM, when panelists Colin Geddes, Scott Simon, and Bart Testa will discuss the film and its politics.

The Catch: Japanese Cinema of the Eighties (March 5 - April 6; TIFF Bell Lightbox)

You've immersed yourself in the suffering and plight of the Japanese Divas, observed the flash and horror of the Nikkatsu studio, and now it's time for a glimpse at what Japanese cinema was all about while we were over here delighting in John Hughes' coming-of-age comedies and synthpop. This series isn't about presenting the country's best films from the '80s, like The Ballad of Narayama and Tampopo; rather, these are some hidden gems from auteurs who'd supposedly peaked in the '50s, '60s, and '70s, like Hiroshi Teshigahara (Rikyu), Nobuhiko Obayashi (I Are You, You Am Me), and Kinji Fukasaku (Fall Guy). For some much welcomed perspective on the canonical masterworks, these films are musts. It all starts next Tuesday, March 5 with Violent Cop at TIFF Bell Lightbox.

More rep cinema this week:

• Bram Stoker's Dracula (Friday, March 1 at 9PM; TIFF Bell Lightbox)
• Dragnet Girl (Saturday, March 2 at 3PM; TIFF Bell Lightbox)
• Tokyo Drifter (Saturday, March 2 at 10PM; TIFF Bell Lightbox)
• Books on Film: Richard Russo on Nobody's Fool (Monday, March 4 at 7PM; TIFF Bell Lightbox)
• Dracula (Tuesday, March 5 at 6:30PM; TIFF Bell Lightbox)
• A Wife Confesses (Thursday, March 7 at 6:30PM; TIFF Bell Lightbox)

SPECIAL SCREENINGS

Yo Yo (Sunday, March 3 at 7PM; CineCycle)

In one of those stories of criminal neglect so unfathomable that ten years from now we'll hardly believe it was ever true, Pierre Étaix's feature film work has been virtually unknown in the West for...pretty much...ever. Eclipsed at the time by the infinitely more popular Jacques Tati (whom he worked with), there must have only been room for one Chaplin-esque French comedienne in the '60s and '70s, that is until Criterion and Janus Films sorted out the legal troubles behind his filmography and brought it all back into the world.

Anyone who attends this special and rare screening of a 16mm print will be able to attest to this after Sunday, and Yo Yo really is a perfect choice for re-introducing the man to Toronto. It's probably Étaix's most well-known films, and is his own personal favourite of his movies.

FILM FESTIVALS

Made IN Toronto Festival (March 1-3)

Since March 2011, the Made IN Toronto (MINT) folks have been supporting Toronto filmmakers, musicians and artists by connecting them with citizens through screenings, concerts and collective discussions. This year, two leading voices in the quest to find solutions to the social and environmental challenges we face as a species - filmmaker Velcrow Ripper and economist Charles Eisenstein - will present an assortment of imagery, sound and speech to provide an opportunity for us to understand and appreciate one another in an increasingly disconnected age.

The festival weekend opens with a live performance featuring the music of Chris Birkett, Robert Graham and Glen Alan along with a few Leonard Cohen standards like "First We Take Mahattan" and "Democracy." Need another reason to attend? 10% of every MINT Film Festival Ticket sold goes to a fund that supports filmmakers and artists. For tickets, please go here.

Lead still from Stoker

How did Pretty Pretty turn a post-punk, no wave, minimal synth and dark techno dance night into one of Toronto's most intriguing upstart record labels?

The story is familiar: Pretty Pretty Records happened naturally, a matter of right time, right place, and right people. The three minds - and musical talents - behind Pretty Pretty are united in their vision of Toronto as a breeding ground for weird yet danceable electronic artists, so we've done what was most natural to us: asked them to make a mixtape!

When not DJ-ing or recording their own music, Elliot Jones, Cam Findlay, and John M released PPR's impressive first LP in late 2012, Kontravoid's (ex Crystal Castles) self-titled full-length. This year has seen them put out Yacht Club's 12" single "Flash," Prince Innocence's single "To My Right," and Tarantula X's debut EP Ammonia, and they promise more to come from Toronto's SINS, Prince Innocence, Dark Ages, Jubal Brown, and more.

This weekend, Pretty Pretty will celebrate their label's one year anniversary - and four years strong as a dance party - at The Comfort Zone. It goes without saying the affair will be heavy on masks, metallics, leather, and Crystal Castles fans, but we wanted a closer peek at what's going on behind Pretty Pretty's black curtains. Elliot Jones took some time to answer our questions, and supply this awesome sampler of PPR artists. Warning: we're not responsible for any incidents of drinking blood this mixtape may cause.

Who is Pretty Pretty Records, and how did you get started?

Elliot Jones [EJ] : Pretty Pretty Records is run by me, Cam Findlay, and John M. The record label started when John and Cam released the Kontravoid record independently about a year ago. We then integrated the label with the monthly dance party I had already been running for the past few years. We wanted to take the theme of the monthly party, and release albums by bands of a similar nature. 

Are you musicians or DJs yourselves?

EJ: Yes. We all occasionally DJ local parties as well as perform with our own bands/projects. I perform with Ell V Gore, Cam is the mind behind Kontravoid, and John is Tarantula X.

What would you say Pretty Pretty is all about?

EJ: We like to see and hear what happens when the sun goes down. PP is just all about being your weird-pretty self. We simply wanted to bring together fans of post-punk, no wave, minimal synth and dark techno. Our monthly parties sustain our drive and pushes us to produce more and more.

What's been the most excellent part of running a label so far?

EJ: Being able to create a certain scene in Toronto. There have been many similar parties/labels in the past, but we feel as if none have stuck around long enough to see the changes. We just want to see it stay alive here. It's amazing being able to spit out records we dig and promote bands that we think people will love.

What's coming up in 2013?

EJ: Come springtime, we have two records on the way from SINS and Prince Innocence, as well as a digital single by Dark Ages coming very soon. There's also one more surprise band we're keeping under wraps for now. Finally, we are releasing what promises to be a very interesting DVD with the work of Toronto A/V artist Jubal Brown. 

What should we expect at your anniversary show?

EJ: The show is on Saturday, March 2nd at the Comfort Zone with Automelodi, Kontravoid, Dream Affair, Dark Ages and Tiers. We are really excited about this line up. We highly recommend checking out these acts. Expect our usual party format with bands, DJs, freaks, debauchery, and a heavy dance floor.

The Pretty Pretty Records One Year Anniversary kicks off at 9PM this Saturday at the Comfort Zone.

Photos of Elliot Jones by Denise McMullin.